bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Periodontal regeneration by leukocyte and platelet‐rich fibrin with autogenous bone graft versus enamel matrix derivative with autogenous bone graft in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: A randomized non‐inferiority trial
Authors: Paolantonio Michele , Di Tullio Marcella , Giraudi Marta , Romano Luigi , Secondi Lorenzo , Paolantonio Giulia , Graziani Filippo , Pilloni Andrea , De Ninis Paolo , Femminella Beatrice
Published: April 2020

Background

Aim of the present study was to ascertain if a combination of leukocyte and platelet‐rich fibrin (L‐PRF) + autogenous bone graft (ABG) may be a clinically “non‐inferior” treatment modality as compared with the association of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) with ABG in the management of intrabony defects (IBDs).

Methods

A total of forty‐four patients, exhibiting at least one unfavorable intraosseous defect, were treated by L‐PRF associated with ABG (22 patients; test group) or EMD+ABG (control group) in each defect. At baseline and 12 months, a complete clinical and radiographic examination was done. Pre‐ and post‐therapy clinical (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment level [CAL], gingival recession [GR]) and radiographic (defect Bone level [(DBL)] parameters for the different treatments were compared. To guarantee the test treatment's efficacy 1mm was chosen as non‐inferiority margin; for clinical relevance, a second non‐inferiority margin = 0.5 mm was set.

Results

Clinical and radiographic parameters significantly improved 12 months after surgery in both test and control sites, without inter‐groups differences for each measurement. The control group – test group differences for the parameters CAL gain −0.248 mm (−0.618 to 0.122), PPD Reduction −0.397 mm (−0.810 to 0.015), GR Change 0.059 mm (−0.300 to 0.418), DBL Gain −0.250 mm (−0.746 to 0.246) were all within the non‐inferiority margin of 0.5 mm.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the L‐PRF+ABG combined treatment of non‐contained IBDs produces non‐inferior results in terms of CAL gain, PPD reduction, GR increase and DBL gain in comparison with the EMD+ABG combination.
Rapid identification of chemical compositions in callicarpa kwangtungensis Chun by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole orbitrap high‐resolution accurate mass spectrometry
Authors: Yang Lanping , Zhai Yangyang , Chen Xingying , Zhang Zhenzhen , Gong Xueyun , Zhou Dejun , Kong Jichuan , Zhang Wenkui , Zhang Qingling , Niu Chao , Wang Zhenhui , Sun Zhi
Published: April 2020

Callicarpa kwangtungensis Chun is a traditional Chinese medicine that has various therapeutic effects. Despite its wide use in Chinese medicine, the study is still quite limited, especially its chemical compositions. In this research, an ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole‐orbitrap high‐resolution accurate mass spectrometry tandem mass spectrometry method was utilized to analyze its chemical compositions for the first time. As a result, a total of 124 compounds, including 20 phenylethanoid glycosides, 31 flavonoids, 36 organic acids, 26 terpenoids and 11 phenols, were identified or tentatively characterized in 30 min. Among them, 49 compounds, including 5 phenylethanoid glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 16 organic acids, 12 terpenoids, and 4 phenols, were identified in Callicarpa kwangtungensis Chun for the first time. Besides, the fragmentation pathways were also discussed. This research established a rapid and reliable method to analyze the chemical compositions of complicated herb without the process of isolation, and provide abundant information on the chemical material basis for further bioactivity and quality control studies.
Folic acid‐modified nonionic surfactant vesicles for gambogenic acid targeting: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Lin Tong‐Yuan , Chang Jia‐Li , Xun Yan , Zhao Yi , Peng Wang , Yang Wang , Ding Bai‐Jing , Chen Wei‐Dong
Published: April 2020

The aim of present study was to develop folic acid (FA)‐modified nonionic surfactant vesicles (NISVs, niosomes) as carrier systems for targeted delivery of gambogenic acid (GNA). The FA‐GNA‐NISVs exhibited a mean particle size of 180.77 ± 2.41 nm with a narrow poly dispersion index of 0.147 ± 0.08 determined by dynamic light scattering. Transmission electron microscopy also revealed that the FA‐GNA‐NISVs were spherical with double‐layer structure. Entrapment efficiency (EE%) and zeta potential of the optimal FA‐GNA‐NISVs were 87.84 ± 1.06% and −37.33 ± 0.33 mV, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the GNA was in a molecular or amorphous state inside the FA‐NISVs in vitro release profiles suggested that FA‐GNA‐NISVs could release GNA at a sustained manner, and less than 60% of GNA was released from the FA‐NISVs within 12 hours of dialysis. in vivo pharmacokinetic results illustrated that FA‐GNA‐NISVs had considerably higher Cmax, area under curve (AUC0 − t) and accumulation in lung. The cell proliferation study shown that the FA‐GNA‐NISVs significantly enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy further demonstrated that the FA‐GNA‐NISVs increased apoptosis compared with nonmodified GNA‐NISVs and free GNA. Moreover, FA‐GNA‐NISVs induced A549 cell apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, cellular uptake assays showed a higher uptake of FA‐GNA‐NISVs than GNA‐NISVs as well as free GNA. Taken together, it could be concluded that FA‐GNA‐NISVs were proposed as a novel targeting carriers for efficient delivering of GNA to cancers cells.
Interaction of functional and participation issues on quality of life after total laryngectomy
Authors: Leemans Maartje , van Sluis Klaske E. , van Son Rob J. J. H. , van den Brekel Michiel W. M.
Published: April 2020

Objective

Total laryngectomy (TL) leads to lifelong physical changes which can lead to functional and participation issues. To assess the relationship between self‐reported quality of life and functional and participation issues, a large international online questionnaire was used.

Method

A questionnaire was sent out to 8119 recipients of whom 1705 (21%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of 26 questions regarding demographic information, product use of the respondents, experienced overall health and independence, and functional and participation issues. Respondents were grouped based on sex, age, time since TL, educational level, and country of residence. Questions were grouped in one measure of reported quality of life (r‐QoL) and seven issue themes (“esthetic issues,” “experienced limitations in daily activities,” “avoiding social activities,” “communication issues,” “experienced vulnerability due to environmental factors,” “pulmonary issues,” and “sleep issues”) to assess the underlying relations.

Results

This study showed that more functional and participation issues and a lower r‐QoL are reported in the group of younger respondents (<60 years), women, and respondents who have had the TL procedure less than 2 years ago. The issue themes “experienced limitations in daily activities” and “avoiding social activities” are related to r‐QoL. Most participants report “pulmonary issues,” and these issues have a strong correlation with most other themes.

Conclusion

The ability to participate in meaningful and social activities is a major factor in r‐QoL. Due to the frequency and strong correlations of pulmonary issues with other issue themes, pulmonary issues might be an underlying cause of many other issues.

Level of evidence

3b
Investigation of corrosion behavior at elbow by array electrode and computational fluid dynamics simulation
Authors: Si Xiaodong , Si Hongtao , Li Manyi , Zhang Rui , Zhou Keyi
Published: April 2020

The present study focuses on the flow‐accelerated corrosion (FAC) behavior of A106Gr.B steel at 90° elbow by electrochemical measurement and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The FAC rates under turbulent flows with a velocity of 3 and 1.5 m/s were measured by an array electrode technique in a loop system. The experimental results reveal that the maximum FAC rate appears at the extrados of 90° elbow, consistent with the locations from the rupture of the carbon steel piping in the worst cases at elbows. In addition, an effective mass transfer coefficient in consideration of the geometric factor was used to evaluate the FAC rate at intrados and extrados of the 90° elbow by CFD simulation. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental values.
Design and characterization of selective laser‐melted Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloy for dental implants
Authors: Zong Weian , Zhang Song , Zhang Chunhua , Ren Ling , Wang Qiang
Published: April 2020

Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys have potential biomedical applications due to their adequate antibacterial properties. However, the wear and corrosion properties of these alloys are also crucial for dental implants. In the present study, Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The microstructure and composition of Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys by SLM were evaluated. The wear properties of the alloys in the simulated saliva environment and the atmospheric environment, as well as the electrochemical properties in the simulated saliva environment, were systematically investigated. The results showed that the crystal structure of Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys was mainly composed of α‐Ti and Ti2Cu. In the SLM process, no preferred texture was observed due to the complex direction of the heat flux. The formation of Ti2Cu can improve the strength of the material and make the titanium copper alloy have higher microhardness. Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloy showed a satisfactory wear resistance in both wear media. The addition of Cu reduced the second‐phase content of the alloy. Meanwhile, the number of microcells was reduced, which was a positive factor to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloys.
Effect of microstructure on discharge performance of Al–0.8Sn–0.05Ga–0.9Mg–1.0Zn (wt%) alloy as anode for seawater‐activated battery
Authors: Wu Zibin , Zhang Haitao , Zou Jing , Qin Ke , Ban Chunyan , Cui Jianzhong , Nagaumi Hiromi
Published: April 2020

The electrochemical performance and discharge behavior of Al–0.8Sn–0.05Ga–0.9Mg–1.0Zn (wt%) alloys in as‐cast, homogenized, and annealed states were investigated through electrochemical means, corrosion rate test, and discharge test in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Results suggest that the discharge performance of this alloy is enhanced by rolling and subsequent annealing treatment. This is attributed to the fact that the microstructure of the alloy is greatly improved through rolling and subsequent annealing treatment. The 400°C‐annealed alloy exhibits the most excellent discharge activity than alloys in other states, which is due to more regions being activated by a finer and more uniform Sn‐rich phase. Furthermore, the anode efficiency of the 400°C‐annealed alloy is higher than that of as‐cast and homogeneous alloys due to the more uniform distribution of Sn in the aluminum matrix.
Effects of geometric angle and cutting speed on cutting forces and tool wear of ceramic cutting tools during peripheral up‐milling of high‐density fiberboard
Authors: Guo X.L. , Deng M.S. , Wang J.X. , Zhu Z.L.
Published: April 2020

In this paper, cutting forces and tool wear of ceramic cutting tools are investigated by up‐milling high‐density fiberboard under different geometric angles and cutting speeds. The results show that tangential force (Ft) and normal force (Fr) decrease with the increase of rake angle. The values of Ft and Fr at the higher speed cutting condition are lower than that at the lower speed condition. The flank wear (VB) declines with increased clearance angle and decreased cutting speed. The tool wear patterns observed on the ceramic cutting tools are pull‐out of grain, cracking, tipping, and flanking. Abrasive wear and adhesive wear are the main mechanisms of the ceramic cutting tools. In all, on the premise of guaranteeing the ceramic cutting tools’ strength, the ceramic cutting tool with a bigger rake angle and clearance angle is advisable in high‐density fiberboard machining, in terms of lowering the energy consumption and production cost required for machining.
Preparation and optimization of a low cost, high breakage resistance ceramic proppant special for the coal‐bed methane
Authors: Qin M. , Zhou Y. , Wang K. , Li G. , Tian Y. , Chai Y.
Published: April 2020

A kind of low cost, high breakage resistance ceramic proppant special for exploitation of the coal‐bed methane is successfully produced. The producing conditions are optimized through orthogonal experimental design method. The breakage resistance results of the orthogonal analyses show the best condition of this kind of ceramic proppant is A4B3C3D2, which means sintering temperature of 1350 °C, manganese mineral powder content of 5 wt.%, weight ratio of 75/25 (second grade bauxite to mujie clay), and holding time of 3 h. The ceramic proppants under this very condition of A4B3C3D2 are then prepared and their phase structure and microstructure are characterized subsequently. X‐ray diffraction pattern exhibits that mullite and corundum are the main crystallographic phases. Scanning electron microscopy illustrates the A4B3C3D2 sample is with non‐porous morphology and small amount of corundum grains and liquid phase, which play the role of improving strength. It reveals the orthogonal experimental design is a feasible optimization method and the ceramic proppant made under the condition of A4B3C3D2 is a promising material for exploiting the coal‐bed methane resources.
Enhancement of the mechanical properties of EN52CrMoV4 spring steel by deep cryogenic treatment
Authors: Özden R.C. , Anik M.
Published: April 2020

The effect of the deep cryogenic treatment on the micro‐structure and mechanical properties (tensile strength, toughness, residual stress and fatigue strength) of the medium carbon spring steel, which is subjected to different heat treatment steps, is investigated. Deep cryogenic treatment causes spring steel to keep compressive residual stress more efficiently due to an increase in the density of the crystalline defects, retardation in the stress relief after the phase transformations and nano‐cluster carbide formations. If deep cryogenic treatment is applied before the tempering then the homogeneously distributed fine carbides form after the tempering and the grains remain relatively fine. The microstructure with homogeneously distributed fine carbides and fine grains cause spring steels to have simultaneously enhanced tensile strength, ductility and fatigue strength. If deep cryogenic treatment is applied after the conventional heat treatment (quenching+tempering), however, the coarse carbides form in the micro‐structure and the improvement in the mechanical properties of the spring steel is limited.
Preparation and film formation mechanism of an environmental‐friendly polyester/epoxy ester coil coating primer
Authors: Zhang F. , Zhang G.B. , Chen Z. , Long Z.Z.
Published: April 2020

In this investigation, we have prepared an environmental‐friendly waterborne coil coating primer. Waterborne saturated polyester resin and waterborne epoxy ester resin were selected as the binder resins, and methylated melamine resin and waterborne blocked isocyanate were selected as crosslinking resins. ZnMoO4, Zn3(PO4)2, Zn3Al(PO4)3, and AlH2P3O10 were selected as the anti‐corrosion pigments, and modified nano‐TiO2 particles and other fillers were also employed to further enhance the primer performance. It was found that when polyester/epoxy ester equals to 7/3; binder resins/curing agent equals to 5/1; pigments/binder resin is in range of 1.4–1.6; additives of each is in amount of 0.5 wt.%–1.5 wt.%, the obtained primer has ideal properties, such as T‐bend performance and qualified adhesion, and the salt spray resistance test can reach 360 h with the primer film thickness in range of 6 μm–7 μm after baking at 224 °C for 45 s. As to the coil coating primer film formation mechanism, Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis indicates that both the amino resin and blocked isocyanate may react with the binder resin, and such chemical reactions can make them crosslinked to form a stereo‐network film, giving birth to a good overall performance of the obtained primer.
Power dissipation efficiency and temperature sensitivity coefficient of 2024Al/Al18B4O33w composite deformed at strain rate up to 10.0 s−1
Authors: Shi W.C. , Bo Y. , Xu F. , Gong D.M.
Published: April 2020

Power dissipation efficiency and temperature sensitivity coefficient of 2024Al/Al18B4O33w composite under high strain rate (>0.01 s−1) at elevated temperature is studied. The composite has two instability zones with the one under low temperature and high strain rate. The power dissipation efficiency of composite from 0.08 to 0.30 is lower than that of unreinforced 2024Al alloy, showing the poorer hot forgeability of composite.
Numerical investigations on the mechanical properties of metallic hollow spheres structure with perforations under compression
Authors: Dai M. , Deng J. , Jiang H. , Dai X. , Yang F. , He X.
Published: April 2020

This paper numerically investigates the compressive mechanical properties of the perforated hollow spheres structures with different geometrical and physical properties. In these structures, the metallic hollow spheres are perforated regularly with several holes, which open the inner sphere volume and surface and are bonded in simple cubic, body‐centered cubic and face‐centred cubic patterns. The 5×5 cells finite element models under uniaxial compression are established by ABAQUS 6.14 software for simulation. The influence of the spheres’ spatial pattern, as well as base materials for the spheres and bonding necks on the structural mechanical properties are evaluated. By changing the wall thickness, hole diameter and bonding radius in the body‐centered cubic packing finite element model, the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and initial yield stress are calculated and discussed as functions of these geometrical parameters and their average densities.
Hydrogen effects in X30MnCrN16‐14 austenitic steel
Authors: Michler T. , Bruder E. , Lindner S.
Published: April 2020

Chrome‐manganese‐nitrogen austenitic steels show a technically relevant combination of proprties, i. e. high strength, high ductility, non magnetic and good corrosion resistance at costs being much lower compared to conventional chrome‐nickel austenitic stainless steels which are widely used for hydrogen applications. Hydrogen environment embrittlement of steel X30MnCrN16‐14 is investigated by slow displacement rate tensile testing in hydrogen atmosphere at 10 MPa and room temperature. Compared to the values in air, the elongation at fracture as well as the reduction of area are severely reduced in the presence of hydrogen. The microstructure is characterized in detail and the deformation modes are previously reported. It is assumed that the inherent planar deformation modes are facilitated by hydrogen resulting in premature failure.
Stabilized cyclic stress‐strain calculation for metals under multiaxial loading
Authors: Li J. , Qiu Y.Y. , Wang H.D. , Wang Z.X.
Published: April 2020

A simple plasticity model for modeling the stabilized cyclic stress‐strain responses is developed to consider the effect of non‐proportional additional hardening. In the proposed model, the plastic modulus for uniaxial loading is extended to multiaxial loading by introducing the non‐proportionality factor and the additional hardening coefficient. The two introduced factors take into account the effects of non‐proportional additional hardening, not only on the shape of the loading path, but also on the material and its microstructure. And then, the basic Armstrong‐Frederick nonlinear hardening rule is modified to model the evolution of the back stress. The consistency condition is enforced to obtain the relationship between the back stress and plastic modulus. The proposed model requires only six material constants for estimating the stabilized responses. Comparisons between the test results (30CrNiMo8HH steel, SA 333 Gr.6 steel, and 1 %CrMoV steel) and model predictions show that the proposed model predicts relatively accurate stress responses under both proportional and non‐proportional loading paths.
A novel terpenoid class for prevention and treatment of KRAS‐driven cancers: Comprehensive analysis using in situ, in vitro, and in vivo model systems
Authors: Ganaie Arsheed A. , Siddique Hifzur R. , Sheikh Ishfaq A. , Parray Aijaz , Wang Lei , Panyam Jayanth , Villalta Peter W. , Deng Yibin , Konety Badrinath R. , Saleem Mohammad
Published: April 2020

Inhibiting the disease progression in KRAS‐driven cancers after diagnosis has been a difficult task for clinicians to manage due to the lack of effective intervention/preventive therapies. KRAS‐driven cancers depend on sustained KRAS signaling. Although developing inhibitors of KRAS signaling has proven difficult in the past, the quest for identifying newer agents has not stopped. Based on studies showing terpenoids as modulators of KRAS‐regulated downstream molecular pathways, we asked if this chemical family has an affinity of inhibiting KRAS protein activity. Using crystal structure as a bait in silico, we identified 20 terpenoids for their KRAS protein‐binding affinity. We next carried out biological validation of in silico data by employing in situ, in vitro, patient‐derived explant ex vivo, and KPC transgenic mouse models. In this report, we provide a comprehensive analysis of a lup‐20(29)‐en‐3b‐ol (lupeol) as a KRAS inhibitor. Using nucleotide exchange, isothermal titration calorimetry, differential scanning fluorimetry, and immunoprecipitation assays, we show that lupeol has the potential to reduce the guanosine diphosphate/guanosine triphosphate exchange of KRAS protein including mutant KRASG12V. Lupeol treatment inhibited the KRAS activation in KRAS‐activated cell models (NIH‐panel, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia) and patient tumor explants ex vivo. Lupeol reduced the three‐dimensional growth of KRAS‐activated cells. The pharmacokinetic analysis showed the bioavailability of lupeol after consumption via oral and intraperitoneal routes in animals. Tested under prevention settings, the lupeol consumption inhibited the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in LSL‐KRASG12D/Pdx‐cre mice (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression model). These data suggest that the selected members of the triterpene family (such as lupeol) could be exploited as clinical agents for preventing the disease progression in KRAS‐driven cancers which however warrants further investigation.
Asleep Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Ventralis Intermedius for Essential Tremor Using Indirect Targeting and Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Single‐Institution Case Series
Authors: Gravbrot Nicholas , Burket Aaron , Saranathan Manojkumar , Kasoff Willard S.
Published: April 2020

Background

Literature on asleep deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventralis intermedius (Vim) nucleus in essential tremor is relatively sparse. Furthermore, controversy exists as to whether indirect (“consensus” or “atlas‐based”) targeting of the Vim requires physiologic adjustment for effective clinical outcomes in DBS surgery.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of asleep Vim DBS using indirect coordinates and real‐time interventional magnetic resonance imaging guidance.

Methods

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed to identify patients with essential tremor undergoing asleep Vim DBS using interventional magnetic resonance imaging guidance. Stereotactic and clinical outcomes were abstracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 12 consecutive patients were identified, all of whom were available for 6‐month clinical follow‐up. Stereotactic (radial) error was 0.5 ± 0.2 mm on the left and 0.5 ± 0.3 mm on the right. Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin tremor scores in the treated limb(s) decreased by 71.2% ± 31.0% (P = 0.0088), The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale activities of daily living improved by 74.9% ± 23.7% (P < 0.0001), and The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale performance improved by 64.3 ± 16.2% (P = 0.0004). Surgical complications were mild and generally transient. Stimulation‐related side effects were similar to those reported in historical series of awake Vim DBS.

Conclusions

Asleep Vim DBS using indirect targeting and interventional magnetic resonance imaging–guided placement is safe and effective, with 6‐month clinical results similar to those achieved with awake placement. These data support the use of asleep surgery in essential tremor and represent a baseline for comparison with future studies using more advanced targeting techniques.
Nilotinib Fails to Prevent Synucleinopathy and Cell Loss in a Mouse Model of Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Lopez‐Cuina Miguel , Guerin Paul A. , Canron Marie‐Hélène , Delamarre Anna , Dehay Benjamin , Bezard Erwan , Meissner Wassilios G. , Fernagut Pierre‐Olivier
Published: April 2020

Background

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, untreatable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by accumulation of α‐synuclein in oligodendroglial inclusions. As such, MSA is a synucleinopathy along with Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. Activation of the abelson tyrosine kinase c‐Abl leads to phosphorylation of α‐synuclein at tyrosine 39, thereby promoting its aggregation and subsequent neurodegeneration. The c‐Abl inhibitor nilotinib used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia based on data collected in preclinical models of PD might interfere with pathogenic mechanisms that are relevant to PD and dementia with Lewy bodies, which motivated its assessment in an open‐label clinical trial in PD and dementia with Lewy bodies patients. The objective of this study was to assess the preclinical efficacy of nilotinib in the specific context of MSA.

Methods

Mice expressing human wild‐type α‐synuclein in oligodendrocytes received daily injection of nilotinib (1 or 10 mg/kg) over 12 weeks. Postmortem analysis included the assessment of c‐Abl activation, α‐synuclein burden, and dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

Results

α‐Synuclein phosphorylated at tyrosine 39 was detected in glial cytoplasmic inclusions in MSA patients. Increased activation of c‐Abl and α‐synuclein phosphorylation at tyrosine 39 were found in transgenic mice. Despite significant inhibition of c‐Abl and associated reduction of α‐synuclein phosphorylation at tyrosine 39 by 40%, nilotinib failed to reduce α‐synuclein aggregate burden (including phosphorylation at serine 129) in the striatum and cortex or to lessen neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra.

Conclusions

This preclinical study suggests that partial inhibition of c‐Abl and reduction of α‐synuclein phosphorylation at tyrosine 39 may not be a relevant target for MSA. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A higher‐order unconditionally stable scheme for the solution of fractional diffusion equation
Authors: Ghaffar Fazal , Ullah Saif , Badshah Noor , Khan Najeeb Alam
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a higher‐order compact finite difference scheme with multigrid algorithm is applied for solving one‐dimensional time fractional diffusion equation. The second‐order derivative with respect to space is approximated by higher‐order compact difference scheme. Then, Grünwald–Letnikov approximation is used for the Riemann–Liouville time derivative to get an implicit scheme. The scheme is based on a heptadiagonal matrix with eighth‐order accurate local truncation error. Fourier analysis is used to analyze the stability of higher‐order compact finite difference scheme. Matrix analysis is used to show that the scheme is convergent with the accuracy of eighth‐order in space. Numerical experiments confirm our theoretical analysis and demonstrate the performance and accuracy of our proposed scheme.
NMR shielding in helium‐3 atoms modified by gaseous nitrogen and oxygen
Authors: Garbacz Piotr , Misiak Maria , Jackowski Karol
Published: April 2020

Helium‐3 nuclear magnetic resonance (3He NMR) measurements were carried out for the gaseous mixtures of helium‐3 with pure nitrogen and synthetic air as the solvents. It was found that 3He shielding is linearly dependent on solvent density up to approx. 6 mol/L. At higher density of the gaseous solvent, the change of 3He shielding is nonlinear and especially distinct when helium‐3 atoms can interact with two O2 molecules. The interaction with paramagnetic oxygen molecules can induce two kinds of 3He shielding changes: (1) due to the isotropic Fermi contact interaction and (2) from the dipolar magnetic interaction between unpaired O2 electrons and 3He nuclear magnetic dipole moment. The two paramagnetic effects in helium‐3 shielding cannot be experimentally separated, although for such small molecular objects, they could be presumably modeled by advanced theoretical calculations.
Efficient spiral in‐out and EPI balanced steady‐state free precession cine imaging using a high‐performance 0.55T MRI
Authors: Restivo Matthew C. , Ramasawmy Rajiv , Bandettini W. Patricia , Herzka Daniel A. , Campbell‐Washburn Adrienne E.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Low‐field MRI offers favorable physical properties for SNR‐efficient long readout acquisitions such as spiral and EPI. We used a 0.55 tesla (T) MRI system equipped with high‐performance hardware to increase the sampling duty cycle and extend the TR of balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) cardiac cine acquisitions, which typically are limited by banding artifacts.

Methods

We developed a high‐efficiency spiral in‐out bSSFP acquisition, with zeroth‐ and first‐gradient moment nulling, and an EPI bSSFP acquisition for cardiac cine imaging using a contemporary MRI system modified to operate at 0.55T. Spiral in‐out and EPI bSSFP cine protocols, with TR = 8 ms, were designed to maintain both spatiotemporal resolution and breath‐hold length. Simulations, phantom imaging, and healthy volunteer imaging studies (n = 12) were performed to assess SNR and image quality using these high sampling duty‐cycle bSSFP sequences.

Results

Spiral in‐out bSSFP performed favorably at 0.55T and generated good image quality, whereas EPI bSSFP suffered motion and flow artifacts. There was no difference in ejection fraction comparing spiral in‐out with standard Cartesian imaging. Moreover, human images demonstrated a 79% ± 21% increase in myocardial SNR using spiral in‐out bSSFP and 50% ± 14% increase in SNR using EPI bSSFP as compared with the reference Cartesian acquisition. Spiral in‐out acquisitions at 0.55T recovered 69% ± 14% of the myocardial SNR at 1.5T.

Conclusion

Efficient bSSFP spiral in‐out provided high‐quality cardiac cine imaging and SNR recovery on a high‐performance 0.55T MRI system.
Lowering the cutoff value for increment increases the sensitivity for the diagnosis of Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Authors: Lipka Alexander F. , Titulaer Maarten J. , Tannemaat Martijn R. , Verschuuren Jan J.G.M.
Published: April 2020

Background

Increment of compound muscle action potential amplitude is a diagnostic hallmark of Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Making a diagnosis can be challenging, therefore, a proper cutoff for abnormal increment is highly relevant for improved recognition of this rare disease.

Methods

We determined the sensitivity and specificity of 60% and 100% cutoff values in all consecutive patients who underwent increment testing in our hospital from 1999 to 2016.

Results

We included 156 patients, 63 with LEMS and 93 without LEMS. Sensitivity of a 60% cutoff for increment testing was 77.8% (95% confidence interval 65.5%–87.3%) and 58.7% (45.6%–71.0%) for 100%. Specificity was 98.9% (94.2%–100%) and 100% (96.1%–100%) using a threshold of 60% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

Lowering the cutoff value for abnormal increment to 60% greatly increases sensitivity to diagnose LEMS without an overt loss in specificity.
Pressure‐volume analysis of rat's micturition cycles in vivo
Authors: Peng Hsien‐Yu , Lai Cheng‐Yuan , Hsieh Ming‐Chun , Ho Yu‐Cheng , Lin Tzer‐Bin
Published: April 2020

Aims

Though the pressure‐volume analysis (PVA), a method based on thermodynamics, is broadly used for assaying cardiac functions, its potential application on the physiology/pathophysiology of the urinary bladder, which processes resemble thermodynamic cycles to the heart, has not been established.

Methods

Cystometry recording intravesical pressure (IVP) and intravesical volume (IVV) of rhythmic voiding contractions caused by a constant saline infusion (0.04 mL/min) were carried out in forty urethane‐anesthetized female Sprague‐Dawley rats, and the PVA was established by plotting IVP against IVV.

Results

Pressure‐volume points shaped coincident enclosed loops, and loop‐associated urodynamic parameters kept stable under a constant infusion rate (0.04 mL/min). Enhancing preload (by elevating infusion rates to 0.08 and 0.12 mL/min) increased the area enclosed by the loop (Apv) and shifted loops to the right and slightly upward. Augmenting afterload (by enhancing resistances using 1/4 and 1/2 urethra clamping) increased Apv and shifted loops markedly to the right and upward. Without affecting Apv, muscarine (0.01 and 0.1 mM)‐induced inotropic states shifted loop to the left and upward that was as opposed to the atropine (0.01 and 0.1 mM)‐induced anti‐inotropic state.

Conclusions

Not only consistently assayed baseline bladder functions, PVA but also validly measured modified bladder functions due to altered extrinsic environment and intrinsic contractility of the bladder itself. In accompanied by cystometry, PVA could provide a clear concept about the relationship between time, pressure, and volume in the voiding activity.
Information theory for ranking and selection
Authors: Delshad Saeid , Khademi Amin
Published: April 2020

We study the classical ranking and selection problem, where the ultimate goal is to find the unknown best alternative in terms of the probability of correct selection or expected opportunity cost. However, this paper adopts an alternative sampling approach to achieve this goal, where sampling decisions are made with the objective of maximizing information about the unknown best alternative, or equivalently, minimizing its Shannon entropy. This adaptive learning is formulated via a Bayesian stochastic dynamic programming problem, by which several properties of the learning problem are presented, including the monotonicity of the optimal value function in an information‐seeking setting. Since the state space of the stochastic dynamic program is unbounded in the Gaussian setting, a one‐step look‐ahead approach is used to develop a policy. The proposed policy seeks to maximize the one‐step information gain about the unknown best alternative, and therefore, it is called information gradient (IG). It is also proved that the IG policy is consistent, that is, as the sampling budget grows to infinity, the IG policy finds the true best alternative almost surely. Later, a computationally efficient estimate of the proposed policy, called approximated information gradient (AIG), is introduced and in the numerical experiments its performance is tested against recent benchmarks alongside several sensitivity analyses. Results show that AIG performs competitively against other algorithms from the literature.
Optimal redesign decisions through failure rate estimates
Authors: Ge Qianru , van Jaarsveld Willem , Atan Zümbül
Published: April 2020

To reduce the time‐to‐market of newly developed systems, manufacturers increasingly adopt strategies where systems are brought to market while system field reliability is still uncertain. These systems are typically sold under performance‐based contracts, which incentivizes potential customers to invest in them despite reliability uncertainty. Such contracts make the manufacturer (partly) responsible for the availability of the system. Subsequently, when field reliability is lower than anticipated, the manufacturer may choose to redesign the system to avoid high contract penalties. Redesign is a costly effort which may substantially increase field reliability. Deciding when to redesign is challenging, especially because the initial failure rate estimate by the system's engineers is refined over time as failure data accrues. We propose a model that endogenizes the failure rate updating to analyze this tactical redesign decision. We study additive and multiplicative redesigns and show that the optimal policy has a control limit structure. We benchmark our optimal policy against a static counterpart numerically, and conclude that basing redesign decisions on the updated estimate of the failure rate can substantially reduce costs.
The role of registered nurses in primary care and public health collaboration: A scoping review
Authors: Swanson Monica , Wong Sabrina T. , Martin‐Misener Ruth , Browne Annette J.
Published: April 2020

Aim

The purpose of this work was to examine the roles of Registered Nurses (RNs) in primary care (PC) and public health (PH) collaboration. Additionally, we aimed to explore whether the current scope of practice for RNs is adequate to support their roles in PC/PH collaboration.

Design

A scoping review of current literature relating to the RN’s role in PC/PH collaboration was conducted using the PRISMA 2009 checklist.

Methods

The review used key terms: primary care, public health, collaboration, nursing and nurse role across six electronic databases; 23 articles that were included in the final review were published over a 7‐year span.

Results

Four key RN roles relating to PC/PH collaboration were identified: relationship builder, outreach professional, programme facilitator and care coordinator. RNs supported transitions in chronic disease, communicable disease care and maternity care at various healthcare system levels including systemic, organizational, intrapersonal and interpersonal levels.
Positive childbirth experience: A qualitative study
Authors: Hosseini Tabaghdehi Monirolsadate , Keramat Afsaneh , Kolahdozan Sakineh , Shahhosseini Zohreh , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Motaghi Zahra
Published: April 2020

Aim

This study aimed to explore the meaning of a positive childbirth experience expressed by women who had given birth in Iran.

Design

Qualitative exploratory study.

Methods

This is a qualitative study conducted on 10 women aged 20–38 years with positive childbirth experience. Data were collected using semi‐structured interviews from 72 hr–2 months after childbirth.

Results

Data analysis led to into two themes and five subthemes. The themes include control and empowerment. Control theme consisted of three subthemes of preparation, coping and support; and empowerment theme consisted of two subthemes of self‐efficacy and self‐esteem. Women's sense of empowerment to childbirth can be the result of a positive childbirth experience. Therefore, it seems that providing positive experience factors of childbirth plays an important role in women's self‐efficacy and self‐esteem, which requires cooperation and effort at the level of the individual, family, education system and healthcare system.
Development and planning of sustainable airports
Authors: Chourasia Avin S. , Jha Karunakar , Dalei Narendra N.
Published: April 2020

Air transport is considered an important part of the transportation infrastructure and it has a great impact on urbanisation as well as long‐term economic growth. Airports significantly add to local economy and facilitate a country's integration into the global economy and also provide social benefits to the society. However, together with the socioeconomic benefits, airports adversely affect to the surrounding environments, ecology and society. Some of the main concern, that is, emission from aircraft, noise while take‐off and landing of aircraft, land use, waste disposal and energy consumption, are raised with respect to airport's functioning which requires the attention of the regulatory authorities. The authorities to find the balance approach for the development of airports and to minimise the unfavourable consequences. Therefore, the efforts to be made to develop the “sustainable airports”. “Sustainable development” practises in the airports, improves the social, financial and operational benefits of the airport and also lessen the negative impacts on the environment. After understanding the concept of “Sustainability”, next challenge is to make airport sustainable. The main objective of the article is to find, how to make airport sustainable, when it is called that the airport is a “sustainable airport”. After reviewing the relevant literatures, it may be concluded that “sustainable airports” can be developed by incorporating the sustainability concept in to the airport planning and then taking care of the airport sustainability issues and barriers and airport sustainability components, that is, policy making, commerce, social responsibility, environmental and service quality.
Incorporation of POSS to improve thermal stability of bio‐based polymethacrylates by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization: Polymerization kinetics and characterization
Authors: Hajiali Faezeh , Marić Milan
Published: April 2020

Nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) was used to polymerize methacrylate‐functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, POSSMA, in a controlled manner with bio‐based C13 methacrylate (C13MA) to improve the thermal stability of the latter by copolymerization (using 10 mol% acrylonitrile controlling comonomer). Kinetic experiments (80–110 °C) revealed the relatively low ceiling temperature of POSSMA (135 °C). Synthesis of poly(POSSMA‐co‐AN) with f
AN,0 = 0.10 at 90 °C resulted in low dispersity (1.16) and relatively high conversion (~50%) after 3 hr in 50 wt% toluene. Assuming binary statistical copolymerizations, POSSMA was slightly less reactive than C13MA toward the propagating species (r
POSSMA = 0.91 ± 0.07 and r
C13MA = 1.94 ± 0.13). Incorporating POSSMA up to 68 mol% improved decomposition temperature of C13MA‐based copolymers from 190 to 262 °C. Chain end fidelity of POSSMA‐rich compositions was confirmed by subsequent chain extensions to make block and gradient copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed multiple transition temperatures in block copolymers, suggesting microphase separation. Powder X‐ray diffraction confirmed crystalline domains ~30 nm in POSSMA‐rich statistical copolymers while transmission electron microscopy revealed weakly ordered lamellar morphology for poly(C13MA‐co‐AN)‐b‐(POSSMA‐co‐AN) block copolymer at a smaller length scale. Oscillatory shear measurements of block copolymers indicated primarily viscous character below 200 s−1 but crossover above this frequency, indicating POSS–POSS interactions were increasing the elasticity of the block copolymers.
miR‐30a inhibits androgen‐independent growth of prostate cancer via targeting MYBL2, FOXD1, and SOX4
Authors: Li Xinjun , Jiao Meng , Hu Jing , Qi Mei , Zhang Jing , Zhao Mingfeng , Liu Hui , Xiong Xueting , Dong Xuesen , Han Bo
Published: April 2020

Background

Castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is an aggressive and lethal disease. The pathogenesis of CRPC is not fully understood and novel therapeutic targets need to be identified to improve the patients' prognosis. MicroRNA‐30a (miR‐30a) has been demonstrated to be a tumor suppressor in many types of solid malignancies. However, its role in androgen‐independent (AI) growth of prostate cancer (PCa) received limited attention as yet.

Methods

The clinical association of miR‐30a and its potential targets with AI growth was characterized by bioinformatics analyses. Regulation of cell proliferation and colony formation rates by miR‐30a were tested using PCa cell models. Xenograft models were used to measure the regulation of prostate tumor growth by miR‐30a. The real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to validate whether miR‐30a and its targets regulate cell cycle control genes and androgen receptor (AR)‐dependent transcription. Bioinformatics tools, Western blot, and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify miR‐30a targets.

Results

Bioinformatic analysis showed that low expression of miR‐30a is associated with castration resistance of PCa patients and poor outcomes. Transfection of miR‐30a mimics inhibited the AI growth of PCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Upregulation of miR‐30a in 22RV1 cells altered the expression of cell cycle control genes and AR‐mediated transcription, while downregulation of miR‐30a in LNCaP cells had the opposite effects to AR‐mediated transcription. MYBL2, FOXD1, and SOX4 were identified as miR‐30a targets. Downregulation of MYBL2, FOXD1, and SOX4 affected the expression of cell cycle control genes and AR‐mediated transcription and suppressed the AI growth of 22RV1 cells.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that miR‐30a inhibits AI growth of PCa by targeting MYBL2, FOXD1, and SOX4. They provide novel insights into developing new treatment strategies for CRPC.
A robustness study of a finite‐time/exponential tracking continuous control scheme for constrained‐input mechanical systems: Analysis and experiments
Authors: Zamora‐Gómez Griselda I. , Zavala‐Río Arturo , Vázquez‐Ramírez Emilio , Reyes Fernando , Santibáñez Víctor
Published: April 2020

The closed‐loop analysis of a recently proposed continuous scheme for the finite‐time or exponential tracking control of constrained‐input mechanical systems is reformulated under the consideration of an input‐matching bounded perturbation term. This is motivated by the poor number of works devoted to support the so‐cited argument claiming that continuous finite‐time controllers are more robust than asymptotical (infinite‐time) ones under uncertainties and the limitations of their results. We achieve to analytically prove that, for a perturbation term with sufficiently small bound, the considered tracking continuous control scheme leads the closed‐loop error variable trajectories to get into an origin‐centered ball whose radius becomes smaller in the finite‐time convergence case, entailing smaller posttransient variations than in the exponential case. Moreover, this is shown to be achieved for any initial condition, avoiding to restrain any of the parameters involved in the control design, and under the suitable consideration of the nonautonomous nature of the closed loop. The study is further corroborated through experimental tests on a multi‐degree‐of‐freedom robotic manipulator, which do not only confirm the analytical result but also explore the scope or limitations of its conclusions under adverse perturbation conditions.