bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flubendazole elicits anti‐metastatic effects in triple‐negative breast cancer via STAT3 inhibition
Authors: Oh Eunhye , Kim Yoon‐Jae , An Hyunsook , Sung Daeil , Cho Tae‐Min , Farrand Lee , Jang Seojin , Seo Jae Hong , Kim Ji Young
Published: May 2018

Tumor metastasis remains the cause of 90% of cancer‐related deaths. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are thought to be responsible for the aggressive and metastatic nature of triple‐negative breast cancers (TNBC), and new therapeutic strategies are being devised to target them. Flubendazole (FLU) is a widely used anthelmintic agent that also exhibits anticancer activity in several cancer types. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism of action of FLU on breast cancer stem cell (BCSC)‐like properties and metastasis in TNBC. FLU treatment caused a significant induction of apoptosis, accompanied by G2/M phase accumulation, caspase‐3/‐7 activation and the dysregulation of STAT3 activation in TNBC cells. The latter phenomenon was associated with impairment of cancer stem‐like traits, concomitant with a reduction in the CD24low/CD44high, CD24high/CD49fhigh subpopulation, ALDH1 activity and mammosphere formation. The BCSC‐enriched populations exhibited enhanced metastasis with higher STAT3 activation, while FLU administration inhibited tumor growth, angiogenesis and lung and liver metastasis, coinciding with decreased MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 levels in circulating blood. FLU kills not only rapid proliferating tumor cells but also effectively eradicates BCSC‐like cells in vitro and in vivo. Our findings warrant further investigation of FLU as a treatment for metastatic TNBC.
A systematic review of randomized trials of mind‐body interventions for PTSD
Authors: Niles Barbara L. , Mori DeAnna L. , Polizzi Craig , Pless Kaiser Anica , Weinstein Elizabeth S. , Gershkovich Marina , Wang Chenchen
Published: May 2018

Objective

To systematically review outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind–body treatments for PTSD.

Methods

Inclusion criteria based on guidelines for assessing risk of bias were used to evaluate articles identified through electronic literature searches.

Results

Twenty‐two RCTs met inclusion standards. In most of the nine mindfulness and six yoga studies, significant between‐group effects were found indicating moderate to large effect size advantages for these treatments. In all seven relaxation RCT's, relaxation was used as a control condition and five studies reported significant between‐group differences on relevant PTSD outcomes in favor of the target treatments. However, there were large within‐group symptom improvements in the relaxation condition for the majority of studies.

Conclusions

Although many studies are limited by methodologic weaknesses, recent studies have increased rigor and, in aggregate, the results for mindfulness, yoga, and relaxation are promising. Recommendations for design of future mind–body trials are offered.
(−)‐ Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate induces GRP78 accumulation in the ER and shifts mesothelioma constitutive UPR into proapoptotic ER stress
Authors: Martinotti Simona , Ranzato Elia , Burlando Bruno
Published: May 2018

GRP78 is a molecular chaperone of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that aids proper folding of nascent polypeptides. When unfolded proteins accumulate, GRP78 triggers unfolded protein response (UPR), involving activation of transcription factors like XBP1 and CHOP that may restore cell homeostasis. Increased expression of GRP78 and mild UPR can be constitutive in cancer cells, hindering apoptosis, and promoting cell survival, for example, by GRP78 relocation to the plasma membrane that activates MAPK and PI3 K/AKT pathways. These processes are thought to favor the insurgence of chemoresistance and worsen patient outcome. We have previously shown that (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) enhances ROS production and alters Ca2+ homeostasis in cell lines deriving from therapy‐recalcitrant malignant mesothelioma (MMe). We consider here the EGCG impact on GRP78 and downstream factors by using qRT‐PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, caspase assays, GRP78 siRNA silencing, and cell surface ELISA. MMe cells were found to display mild constitutive UPR, as shown by increased levels of GRP78, and presence of the protein at the cell surface, linked to AKT activation. Exposure to EGCG further increased GRP78 in the ER, and induced ATF4, spliced XBP1, CHOP, and EDEM expressions, combined with a reduction of cell surface GRP78 and a rise in caspase 3 and 8 activities. We propose that GRP78 accumulation in the ER, caused by EGCG, converts constitutive UPR of MMe cells into proapoptotic ER stress. This argues for a possible therapeutic use of EGCG in the treatment of MMe as a co‐drug able to abolish chemoresistance to conventional drugs at tolerable doses.
Improved spectra for MALDI MSI of peptides using ammonium phosphate monobasic in MALDI matrix
Authors: Ucal Yasemin , Ozpinar Aysel
Published: May 2018

MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables analysis of peptides along with histology. However, there are several critical steps in MALDI MSI of peptides, 1 of which is spectral quality. Suppression of MALDI matrix clusters by the aid of ammonium salts in MALDI experiments is well known. It is asserted that addition of ammonium salts dissociates potential matrix adducts and thereafter decreases matrix cluster formation. Consequently, MALDI MS sensitivity and mass accuracy increase. Up to our knowledge, a limited number of MALDI MSI studies used ammonium salts as matrix additives to suppress matrix clusters and enhance peptide signals. In this work, we investigated the effect of ammonium phosphate monobasic (AmP) as alpha‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (α‐CHCA) matrix additive in MALDI MSI of peptides. Prior to MALDI MSI, the effect of varying concentrations of AmP in α‐CHCA was assessed in bovine serum albumin tryptic digests and compared with the control (α‐CHCA without AmP). Based on our data, the addition of AmP as matrix additive decreased matrix cluster formation regardless of its concentration, and specifically, 8 mM AmP and 10 mM AmP increased bovine serum albumin peptide signal intensities. In MALDI MSI of peptides, both 8 and 10 mM AmP in α‐CHCA improved peptide signals especially in the mass range of m/z 2000 to 3000. In particular, 9 peptide signals were found to have differential intensities within the tissues deposited with AmP in α‐CHCA (AUC > 0.60). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MALDI MSI of peptides work investigating different concentrations of AmP as α‐CHCA matrix additive to enhance peptide signals in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues. Further, AmP as part of α‐CHCA matrix could enhance protein identifications and support MALDI MSI‐based proteomic approaches.
Synthesis and application of an alkylated pyrazole‐based azo dye for electrofluidic display
Authors: Deng Yong , Jiang Hongwei , Ye Dechao , Zhou Rui , Li Hui , Tang Biao , Jin Mingliang , Li Nan , Guo Yuanyuan , Zhou Guofu
Published: May 2018

Electrofluidic display (EFD) is one of the most promising reflective displays for its full color and video speed. Colored EFD oil, normally formulated by soluble organic dyes in non‐polar solvent, dominates the color, electro‐optical behavior, and reliability performances for EFD devices. In this paper, a novel yellow electrofluidic dye with excellent solubility in non‐polar EFD solvent was achieved based on the introduction of long alkyl chain into pyrazole azo dye. The resulting EFD device fabricated by the dye showed excellent application properties, such as fast switching speed (17.8 ms), high aperture ratio (68.5%), low threshold voltage (24v), good light stability (240 h under accelerated conditions), and low backflow phenomenon.
Survival Outcomes in Split Compared With Whole Liver Transplantation
Authors: Chul Yoon Kyung , Song Sanghee , Jwa Eun‐Kyoung , Lee Sanghoon , Man Kim Jong , Kim Ok‐kyoung , Kyun Hong Suk , Yi Nam‐Joon , Lee Kwang‐Woong , Soo Kim Myoung , Hwang Shin , Suh Kyung‐Suk , Lee Suk‐Koo
Published: May 2018

Split‐liver transplantation (SLT) should be cautiously considered because the right trisection (RTS) graft can be a marginal graft in adult recipients. Herein, we analyzed the outcomes of RTS‐SLT in Korea, where >75% of adult liver transplantations are performed with living donor liver transplantation. Among 2462 patients who underwent deceased donor liver transplantations (DDLTs) from 2005 to 2014, we retrospectively reviewed 86 (3.5%) adult patients who received a RTS graft (RTS‐SLT group). The outcomes of the RTS‐SLT group were compared with those of 303 recipients of whole liver (WL; WL‐DDLT group). Recipient age, laboratory Model for End‐Stage‐Liver Disease (L‐MELD) score, ischemia time, and donor‐to‐recipient weight ratio (DRWR) were not different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). However, malignancy was uncommon (4.7% versus 36.3%), and the donor was younger (25.2 versus 42.7 years) in the RST‐SLT group than in the WL‐DDLT group (P < 0.05). The technical complication rates and the 5‐year graft survival rates (89.0% versus 92.8%) were not different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate (63.1%) and graft‐failure‐free survival rate (63.1%) of the RTS‐SLT group were worse than that of the WL‐DDLT group (79.3% and 79.3%; P < 0.05). The factors affecting graft survival rates were not definite. However, the factors affecting OS in the RTS‐SLT group were L‐MELD score >30 and DRWR ≤1.0. In the subgroup analysis, OS was not different between the 2 groups if the DRWR was >1.0, regardless of the L‐MELD score (P > 0.05). In conclusion, a sufficient volume of the graft estimated from DRWR‐matching could lead to better outcomes of adult SLTs with a RTS graft, even in patients with high L‐MELD scores.
Understanding cross‐product purchase intention in an IT brand extension context
Authors: Guo Yue , Zhu Ying , Barnes Stuart J. , Bao Yongchuan , Li Xiaotong , Le‐Nguyen Khuong
Published: May 2018

This study investigates why some customers of a brand tend to purchase IT products launched by the same brand in a different category, but others do not. Combining insights from marketing and information systems research, this study develops an integrative model of cross‐category purchases of IT products in a brand extension context. This research extends the information system (IS) continuance model by integrating brand extension factors such as perceived fit into the new model. The proposed model is empirically tested using data collected from 342 Xiaomi customers. The results show that in addition to post‐acceptance usefulness perceptions and brand satisfaction, the perceived service quality and perceived fit of the initial purchase also have strong effects on consumers’ continuance purchase intentions toward a brand extension product. Hedonic and utilitarian expectancy mediate the relationship between consumers’ post‐consumption views of the initial purchase and their intention of the subsequent purchase of a different product under the same brand.
Overexpression of SHCBP1 promotes migration and invasion in gliomas by activating the NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Zhou Yanqing , Tan Zhanyao , Chen Kun , Wu Wenjiao , Zhu Jinrong , Wu Geyan , Cao Lixue , Zhang Xin , Zeng Xin , Li Jun , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2018

Gliomas are common, aggressive central nervous system tumors with poor overall survival rates. Despite improvements in neurosurgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the outcomes of patients with malignant gliomas remain poor. Therefore, increased knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate glioma progression is crucial to identify novel therapeutic targets. Here, we reported that SHCBP1, a member of Src homolog and collagen homolog (Shc) family, was significantly overexpressed in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines compared to the corresponding normal tissues and cells. Ectopic overexpression of SHCBP1 promoted glioma cell migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of endogenous SHCBP1 had the opposite effects. Importantly, we demonstrated that SHCBP1 promoted aggressiveness in gliomas by activating the NF‐κB signaling pathway. Collectively, our study indicates that SHCBP1 plays a pivotal role to promote progression in gliomas and targeting the oncogenic effects of SHCBP1 may provide a clinical strategy to treat gliomas.
A new method for CT dose estimation by determining patient water equivalent diameter from localizer radiographs: Geometric transformation and calibration methods using readily available phantoms
Authors: Zhang Da , Mihai Georgeta , Barbaras Larry G. , Brook Olga R. , Palmer Matthew R.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Water equivalent diameter (Dw) reflects patient's attenuation and is a sound descriptor of patient size, and is used to determine size‐specific dose estimator from a CT examination. Calculating Dw from CT localizer radiographs makes it possible to utilize Dw before actual scans and minimizes truncation errors due to limited reconstructed fields of view. One obstacle preventing the user community from implementing this useful tool is the necessity to calibrate localizer pixel values so as to represent water equivalent attenuation. We report a practical method to ease this calibration process.

Methods

Dw is calculated from water equivalent area (Aw) which is deduced from the average localizer pixel value (LPV) of the line(s) in the localizer radiograph that correspond(s) to the axial image. The calibration process is conducted to establish the relationship between Aw and LPV. Localizer and axial images were acquired from phantoms of different total attenuation. We developed a program that automates the geometrical association between axial images and localizer lines and manages the measurements of Dw and average pixel values. We tested the calibration method on three CT scanners: a GE CT750HD, a Siemens Definition AS, and a Toshiba Acquilion Prime80, for both posterior–anterior (PA) and lateral (LAT) localizer directions (for all CTs) and with different localizer filters (for the Toshiba CT).

Results

The computer program was able to correctly perform the geometrical association between corresponding axial images and localizer lines. Linear relationships between Aw and LPV were observed (with R2 all greater than 0.998) on all tested conditions, regardless of the direction and image filters used on the localizer radiographs. When comparing LAT and PA directions with the same image filter and for the same scanner, the slope values were close (maximum difference of 0.02 mm), and the intercept values showed larger deviations (maximum difference of 2.8 mm). Water equivalent diameter estimation on phantoms and patients demonstrated high accuracy of the calibration: percentage difference between Dw from axial images and localizers was below 2%. With five clinical chest examinations and five abdominal‐pelvic examinations of varying patient sizes, the maximum percentage difference was approximately 5%.

Conclusions

Our study showed that Aw and LPV are highly correlated, providing enough evidence to allow for the Dw determination once the experimental calibration process is established.
Retrospective analysis of RF heating measurements of passive medical implants
Authors: Song Ting , Xu Zhiheng , Iacono Maria Ida , Angelone Leonardo M. , Rajan Sunder
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The test reports for the RF‐induced heating of metallic devices of hundreds of medical implants have been provided to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a part of premarket submissions. The main purpose of this study is to perform a retrospective analysis of the RF‐induced heating data provided in the reports to analyze the trends and correlate them with implant geometric characteristics.

Methods

The ASTM‐based RF heating test reports from 86 premarket U.S. Food and Drug Administration submissions were reviewed by three U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewers. From each test report, the dimensions and RF‐induced heating values for a given whole‐body (WB) specific absorption rate (SAR) and local background (LB) SAR were extracted and analyzed. The data from 56 stents were analyzed as a subset to further understand heating trends and length dependence.

Results

For a given WB SAR, the LB/WB SAR ratio varied significantly across the test labs, from 2.3 to 11.3. There was an increasing trend on the temperature change per LB SAR with device length. The maximum heating for stents occurred at lengths of approximately 100 mm at 3 T, and beyond 150 mm at 1.5 T.

Conclusions

Differences in the LB/WB SAR ratios across testing labs and various MRI scanners could lead to inconsistent WB SAR labeling. Magnetic resonance (MR) conditional labeling based on WB SAR should be derived from a conservative estimate of global LB/WB ratios.
A flexible, reliable, and adaptive timeslot‐based advance bandwidth‐reservation mechanism for media delivery services
Authors: Barshan Maryam , Moens Hendrik , Volckaert Bruno , De Turck Filip
Published: May 2018

Media‐centric networks deal with exchanging large media files between geographical distributed locations with strict deadlines. In such networks, resources need to be available at predetermined timeslots in the future and thus need to be reserved in advance, based on either flexible or fixed timeslot sizes. Reliability of the transfers is also important and can be attained by advance provisioning of redundant reservations. This, however, imposes additional costs, because redundant reservations are rarely in use, causing network resources to be wasted. Further adaptation and network utilization can be achieved at runtime by reutilizing unused reservations for transferring extra data as long as no failure has been detected. In this article, we design, implement, and evaluate a resilient advance bandwidth‐reservation approach based on flexible timeslots, in combination with a runtime adaptation approach. We take into account the specific characteristics of media transfers. Quality and complexity of the proposed approach have been extensively compared with that of a fixed timeslot algorithm. Our simulation results reveal that the highest admittance ratio and percentage of fully transferred requests in case of failures are almost always achieved by flexible timeslots, while the execution time of this approach is up to 17.5 times lower, compared with the approaches with fixed timeslot sizes.
DSSDN: Demand‐supply based load balancing in Software‐Defined Wide‐Area Networks
Authors: Sahoo Kshira Sagar , Tiwary Mayank , Sahoo Bibhudatta , Dash Ratnakar , Naik Kshirasagar
Published: May 2018

One of the unexplored research areas in Software Defined Networks (SDN) is load balancing of control messages (e.g. packet_in) among distributed controllers in Wide Area Networks. In SDN, on every unsuccessful match in the flow table for the incoming traffic flows, the switch sends packet_in to the controller for further action against the traffic flow. The packet_in messages are one of the major contributors of the control request (load) received by the controller. When it exceeds a certain threshold limit, the response time for the control request increases nonlinearly due to the over CPU utilization and congestion. When the controller gets overloaded, typically the OpenFlow‐enabled Devices (OFDevices) are migrated from the current controller to another under loaded controller domain. This migration might cause large degradation of end users' QoS metrics. To resolve this issue, we introduce basic demand and supply curve based DSSDN, a new load balancing method that utilizes the load factors of Software Defined Wide Area Networks controllers. This method selects the OFDevice which causes maximum load on the controller and traversing minimum users traffic through it. The Karush‐Kuhn‐Tucker conditions are employed during the optimal controller selection by the OFDevices to improve the response time effectively. During implementation, virtual threads running on the controller representing the OFDevices are used to take the optimal decision instead of actual OFDevices. The experimental results show that during migration, the DSSDN stabilizes the load hikes, improves QoS, and increase the end users' utility without much disruptions in the network state.
Modeling impact‐induced damage and debonding using level sets in a sharp interface Eulerian framework
Authors: de Brauer A. , Rai N.K. , Nixon M.E. , Udaykumar H.S.
Published: May 2018

This work presents a level‐set–based sharp interface technique to simulate the evolution of damage in ductile materials under high velocity impact conditions. The level‐set method is adopted to track all interfaces including damage zones within the materials. Two types of damage are considered, ie, the creation of spall zones due to damage accumulation in homogeneous ductile materials and interfacial debonding in heterogeneous materials. Spall is simulated using continuum damage models and a level‐set–based crack generation and evolution algorithm. Three continuum damage models are tested for metal targets subjected to flyer impact; the results from the current code (SCIMITAR3D) are compared with the two widely used computer codes EPIC and CTH, and to experimental data; it is found that the computer codes are in good agreement among each other, but agreement of all methods with experimental data is not uniform. At material interfaces, damage is handled using a cohesive zone model and evolving level sets to create void spaces because of material separation due to debonding. Finally, ductile damage combined with debonding is simulated in an Al‐Ni laminate impacted by a projectile. The results demonstrate the ability of the present approach to simulate various types of damage in materials with heterogeneities and inclusions.
Structure and thermal behaviors of poly(vinyl alcohol)/surfactant composites: Investigation of molecular interaction and mechanism
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Zhu , Liu Yun , Li Ting , Ma Piming , Bai Huiyu , Xie Yi , Chen Mingqing , Dong Weifu
Published: May 2018

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a promising biocompatible polymer, whose applicability is limited by its narrow processing window. Here, we adopted a facile approach to broaden the processing windows of PVA based on phosphoric ester of poly(ethylene oxide) (10) nonylphenyl (NP‐10P). Thermal analysis shows that both the melting temperature (Tm) and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PVA decrease noticeably as NP‐10P content increases, indicating good miscibility of NP‐10P with PVA. The thermal degradation kinetics suggests composites display excellent thermal stability compared with neat PVA. The pyrolysis mechanism of PVA before and after modification with NP‐10P varies from chain unzipping degradation followed by chain random scission to chain random scission. The processing window of PVA is broadened from 9°C to 98°C with low content NP‐10P (5 wt%). Moreover, the composites maintain significant mechanical performance and transparency. This work provides an environmentally friendly and economical method to improve the possibility of thermal melt processing for PVA.
Neuroproteins in Cancer: Assumed Bystanders Become Culprits
Authors: Li Xiang , Dun Matt D. , Faulkner Sam , Hondermarck Hubert
Published: May 2018

Recent breakthrough discoveries have highlighted the stimulatory role of nerves in cancer initiation and progression, through the release of neurotransmitters and growth factors by nerve terminals in the tumor microenvironment. Intriguingly, neuroproteins such as neuronal membrane proteins, synaptic proteins, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic growth factors as well as their corresponding receptors, to name only a few, are frequently found in proteomic analyses of cancer tissues external to the brain and central nervous system. While the usual explanation was that neuroproteins were actually not specific to the nervous system and were therefore also expressed in cancer cells, it now appears that the presence of neuroproteins in cancer is largely due to the infiltration of nerves in the tumor microenvironment. Given the newly identified function of nerves as promoters of cancer growth and metastasis, neuroproteins should be considered with great attention because they may actually represent innovative biomarkers and therapeutic targets in oncology.
Accuracy of oscillatory pressure measured by mechanical ventilators during high frequency oscillatory ventilation in newborns
Authors: Veneroni Chiara , Tossici Marta , Zannin Emanuela , Milesi Ilaria , Dellaca’ Raffaele L.
Published: May 2018

Background

Oscillatory pressure (ΔP) measurement during high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is technically challenging and influenced by all the components of the measurement system.

Objectives

To evaluate the differences between the ΔP delivered at the inlet of the endotracheal tube and those displayed by commercial neonatal mechanical ventilators and monitoring devices and to characterize how the ventilator circuit and the flowmeter proximal to the patient affect these differences.

Methods

Six devices were evaluated while ventilating three mechanical analogues representing the newborn respiratory system in different disease states. ΔP measured at different points of the ventilator circuit were compared.

Results

ΔP accuracy is highly variable and decreases with increasing oscillation frequency and amplitude, independently of the mean airway pressure. At 15 Hz, a ΔP displayed by ventilators of 40 cmH2O resulted in a ΔP effectively delivered at the tracheal tube ranging from 22 to 49 cmH2O, depending on the ventilator model, the ventilator circuit, and the patient condition. At these settings, the errors exclusively due to the ventilator circuit and the presence of the flowmeter ranged from 6 to 9 cmH2O and from 1 to 6 cmH2O, respectively.

Conclusions

The ventilator model, the breathing circuit, the flowmeter, and the patient condition severely impacts ΔP measurement accuracy during HFOV, leading to highly variable performances. This prevents the possibility of using the ΔP required to normalize gas exchange as an indicator of patients’ condition, complicates comparison of ventilators performances, and adds a significant element of complexity in clinical management of HFOV.
Weighted adaptive multivariate CUSUM control charts
Authors: Haq Abdul
Published: May 2018

An adaptive multivariate cumulative sum (AMCUSUM) control chart has received considerable attention because of its ability to dynamically adjust the reference parameter whereby achieving a better performance over a range of mean shifts than the conventional multivariate cumulative sum (CUSUM) charts. In this paper, we introduce a progressive mean–based estimator of the process mean shift and then use it to devise new weighted AMCUSUM control charts for efficiently monitoring the process mean. These control charts are easy to design and implement in a computerized environment compared with their existing counterparts. Monte Carlo simulations are used to estimate the run‐length characteristics of the proposed control charts. The run‐length comparison results show that the weighted AMCUSUM charts perform substantially and uniformly better than the classical multivariate CUSUM and AMCUSUM charts in detecting a range of mean shifts. An example is used to illustrate the working of existing and proposed multivariate CUSUM control charts.
Robotic‐assisted approach to Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome with left gastric artery originating directly from the aorta. Report of a case and review of the current mini‐invasive treatment modalities
Authors: Podda Mauro , Gusai Gian Pietro , Balestra Francesco , Argenio Giulio , Pulighe Fabio , Di Saverio Salomone , De Nisco Carlo
Published: May 2018

Background

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) is a rare clinical condition.

Methods

Through the analysis of a case report and a review of the international literature, we examined whether robotic and laparoscopic MAL release are safe and feasible.

Results

Of 354 and 19 patients who underwent laparoscopic MAL release (LMALr) and robotic‐assisted MAL release (RMALr), respectively, conversion to open surgery occurred in 6.8% of cases following LMALr, whereas no case of conversion was reported following RMALr. Immediate symptomatic improvement was reported in 92.1% of cases following LMALr and in 84.2% of cases following RMALr. In the LMALr group 9% of patients presented with recurrence of symptoms, whereas the percentage in the RMALr group was 5.3%. LMALr was related to a higher overall complication rate when compared with RMALr (7.3% vs 5.3%).

Conclusions

Both laparoscopic and robotic‐assisted MAL lysis with celiac ganglionectomy can be safely performed with minimal patient morbidity.
“It is easy for women to ask!”: Gender and digital finance in Kenya
Authors: Kusimba Sibel
Published: May 2018

This article examines the role of gender in the use of digital finance in Kenya, including the well‐known case of mobile money but also the emerging use of smartphone apps, payment tills, digital credit services, and digital fund‐raising computer programs. Development professionals have explicitly feminist goals in bringing digital finance to women in the Global South. In several recent reports, they outline the belief that gender norms are a barrier to women's use of finance. They hope digital finance will bring women agency and control over money and consequently shift restrictive gender norms. This article offers a critique of these assumptions based on ethnographic conversations, a diary exercise, and network self‐portraiture conducted in Kenya in 2016 among both rural farmers and urbanites. Adopting a distributed agency perspective, the ethnographic study demonstrates that Kenyan women and men use digital finance not to seek individual control of their money but to produce themselves as connected and trustworthy members of financial groups and collectivities. Gender norms may not hinder women from finance but rather enhance and deepen women's and men's financial relationships and bring women success in amassing funds.
Improving the interfacial property of carbon fiber/PI resin composite by grafting modification of carbon fiber surface
Authors: Chunzheng Peng
Published: May 2018

The poor interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers (CFs) and polyimide (PI) resin has seriously hampered the application of CF/PI composites. In this work, the interfacial adhesion was efficiently enhanced by grafting on the CF surface. Surface morphology and surface composition of modified carbon fibers were characterized, which indicated that acrylamide was grafted successfully on the CF surface and the surface roughness was increased slightly. After grafting, the interface shear strength of modified carbon fibers/PI composites was significantly improved by 86.96%, and the interlaminar shear strength was enhanced by 55.61% due to the covalent bonds in interphase and the toughening effect of sizing agent. Moreover, the mechanical properties of composites with different interfacial adhesion were measured, which further confirmed the effect of the grafting modification.
Soft X‐ray characterization of ion beam sputtered magnesium oxide (MgO) thin film
Authors: Sinha Mangalika , Gupta Mukul , Jonnard Philippe , Modi Mohammed H.
Published: May 2018

In the present study, surface and interface characterization of magnesium oxide (MgO) thin film is carried out by using non‐destructive soft X‐ray reflectivity and absorption technique. To get a further insight about the in‐depth and surface composition, secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurement is also carried out. The analysis of the reflectivity data indicates the presence of Mg‐Si‐O layer between the principal layer (MgO) and Si substrate interface. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy spectra corroborate well with the model assumed in the analysis of the reflectivity data. Combined soft X‐ray reflectivity‐total electron yield result confirms the presence of low‐density MgO on top of principal MgO layer. Total electron yield result confirms the rocksalt structure of the film and provides a glimpse of the electronic structure near the O‐K absorption edge.
Band gap tailoring of chemically synthesized lead sulfide thin films by in situ Sn doping
Authors: Hone Fekadu Gashaw , Dejene F.B. , Echendu O.K.
Published: May 2018

In the present report, undoped and tin (Sn)‐doped lead sulfide thin films were synthesized via chemical bath deposition method. The effects of Sn molar concentration on the optical, structural, and morphological properties were systematically studied. The concentration of Sn in the chemical bath was characterized by the ratio of [Sn+2]/[Pb+2] and varied from 0 to 15 at.%. Both doped and undoped thin films were polycrystalline in nature with a face‐centered cubic crystal structure; however, the preferred orientations of the crystallites were varied along the (111) and (200) planes with Sn‐doping concentration. The X‐ray powder diffraction results also showed that peak intensities and the crystalline size were decreased with increasing Sn concentration. The lattice constant varied with Sn concentration and found in the range of 6.020 to 5.944 Å. The variation of Sn concentration in PbS:Sn thin films were confirmed by energy dispersive X‐ray analyses study. The scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy studies revealed that Sn doping had a critical role on the surface roughness and morphology of the PbS:Sn thin films. The optical band gap study showed that the band gap of PbS:Sn thin films were engineered from 0.676 to 1.345 eV because of incorporation of Sn+2 ions via cost‐effective chemical route. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed a well‐defined peak at 427 nm and shoulders at 405 and 462 nm for all Sn‐doped and undoped PbS samples.
Shell thickness determination for PTFE‐PS core‐shell nanoparticles using scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy (STXM)
Authors: Müller A. , Swaraj S. , Sparnacci K. , Unger W.E.S.
Published: May 2018

A scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy (STXM)‐based methodology is introduced for determining the dimensions (shell thickness, core and total diameter) of core‐shell nanoparticles, which exhibit a strong X‐ray absorption contrast and a well‐defined interface between core and shell material. A low radiation dosage during data acquisition and, therefore, less X‐ray beam‐induced damage of the sample is achieved by recording STXM images only at 2 predetermined energies of maximum absorption contrast, instead of recording a stack of images across the whole absorption edge. A model core‐shell nanoparticle, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cores with polystyrene (PS) shell, is used for demonstration. Near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirms the significant difference in X‐ray absorption behavior between PTFE and PS. Additionally, because of the insolubility of styrene in PTFE a well‐defined interface between particle core and shell is expected. To validate the STXM results, both the naked PTFE cores as well as the complete core‐shell nanoparticles are examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The introduced STXM‐based methodology yields particle dimensions in agreement with the SEM results and provides additional information such as the position of the particle core, which cannot be extracted from a SEM micrograph.
BRISC: bootstrap for rapid inference on spatial covariances
Authors: Saha Arkajyoti , Datta Abhirup
Published: May 2018

In geostatistics, inference on spatial covariance parameters of the Gaussian process is often critical to scientists for understanding structural dependence in data. Finite‐sample inference customarily proceeds either using posterior distributions from fully a Bayesian approach or via resampling/subsampling techniques in a frequentist setting. Resampling methods, in particular, the bootstrap, have become more attractive in the modern age of big data as, unlike Bayesian models that require sequential sampling from Markov chain Monte Carlo, they naturally lend themselves to parallel computing resources. However, a spatial bootstrap involves an expensive Cholesky decomposition to decorrelate the data. In this manuscript, we develop a highly scalable parametric spatial bootstrap that uses sparse Cholesky factors for parameter estimation and decorrelation. The proposed bootstrap for rapid inference on spatial covariances (BRISC) algorithm requires linear memory and computations and is embarrassingly parallel, thereby delivering substantial scalability. Simulation studies highlight the accuracy and computational efficiency of our approach. Analysing large satellite temperature data, BRISC produces inference that closely matches that delivered from a state‐of‐the‐art Bayesian approach, while being several times faster. The R package BRISC is now available for download from GitHub (https://github.com/ArkajyotiSaha/BRISC) and will be available on CRAN soon. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring extended scalar sectors with di-Higgs signals: a Higgs EFT perspective
Authors: Corbett Tyler , Joglekar Aniket , Li Hao-Lin , Yu Jiang-Hao
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We consider extended scalar sectors of the Standard Model as ultraviolet complete motivations for studying the effective Higgs self-interaction operators of the Standard Model effective field theory. We investigate all motivated heavy scalar models which generate the dimension-six effective operator, |H|6, at tree level and proceed to identify the full set of tree-level dimension-six operators by integrating out the heavy scalars. Of seven models which generate |H|6 at tree level only two, quadruplets of hypercharge Y = 3Y

H
and Y = Y

H
, generate only this operator. Next we perform global fits to constrain relevant Wilson coefficients from the LHC single Higgs measurements as well as the electroweak oblique parameters S and T. We find that the T parameter puts very strong constraints on the Wilson coefficient of the |H|6 operator in the triplet and quadruplet models, while the singlet and doublet models could still have Higgs self-couplings which deviate significantly from the standard model prediction. To determine the extent to which the |H|6 operator could be constrained, we study the di-Higgs signatures at the future 100 TeV collider and explore future sensitivity of this operator. Projected onto the Higgs potential parameters of the extended scalar sectors, with 30 ab−1 luminosity data we will be able to explore the Higgs potential parameters in all seven models.
Zero-range effective field theory for resonant wino dark matter. Part III. Annihilation effects
Authors: Braaten Eric , Johnson Evan , Zhang Hong
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Near a critical value of the wino mass where there is a zero-energy S-wave resonance at the neutral-wino-pair threshold, low-energy winos can be described by a zero-range effective field theory (ZREFT) in which the winos interact nonperturbatively through a contact interaction and through Coulomb interactions. The effects of wino-pair annihilation into electroweak gauge bosons are taken into account through the analytic continuation of the real parameters for the contact interaction to complex values. The parameters of ZREFT can be determined by matching wino-wino scattering amplitudes calculated by solving the Schrödinger equation for winos interacting through a real potential due to the exchange of electroweak gauge bosons and an imaginary potential due to wino-pair annihilation into electroweak gauge bosons. ZREFT at leading order gives an accurate analytic description of low-energy wino-wino scattering, inclusive wino-pair annihilation, and a wino-pair bound state. ZREFT can also be applied to partial annihilation rates, such as the Sommerfeld enhancement of the annihilation rate of wino pairs into monochromatic photons.
School Progress Among Children of Same-Sex Couples
Authors: Watkins Caleb S.
Published: May 2018

This study uses logit regressions on a pooled sample of children from the 2012, 2013, and 2014 American Community Survey to perform a nationally representative analysis of school progress for a large sample of 4,430 children who reside with same-sex couples. Odds ratios from regressions that compare children between different-sex married couples and same-sex couples fail to show significant differences in normal school progress between households across a variety of sample compositions. Likewise, marginal effects from regressions that compare children with similar family dynamics between different-sex married couples and same-sex couples fail to predict significantly higher probabilities of grade retention for children of same-sex couples. Significantly lower grade retention rates are sometimes predicted for children of same-sex couples than for different-sex married couples, but these differences are sensitive to sample exclusions and do not indicate causal benefits to same-sex parenting.
2437
Authors: Varma Deepthi S. , Mack Jasmine , Cottler Linda
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Depression is one of the leading causes of diseases and disability among women of all ages in the United States. Lack of resources to meet one’s daily needs, access to health care, job opportunities, and drug use significantly contribute to depression among women. This paper aimed to explore the determinants of depression among women from a large community-based sample. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: HealthStreet is a community engagement research initiative at the University of Florida that utilizes the community health worker (CHW) model to assess health concerns and conditions of community members and link them to available social and medical services and health research. From October 2011 through December 2016, CHWs assessed 8469 community members from various locations in the community such as grocery stores, bus stops, health fairs, laundromats, and others. Among these 8469 participants contacted and assessed by the CHWs, 4952 (58.5%) were women. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Of the total 8469 participants, 4952 were women and 1839 (37.1%) reported ever having depression. Mean age of women who reported depression was 44.1 years (SD±14.4). Women who were current users of 3 or more drugs were 10 times more likely (95% CI: 5.73, 18.40; OR 10.27) to report depression compared with those who did not currently use any drugs. Those who were food insecure in the past 12 months (95% CI: 1.970, 2.576; OR 2.253) were twice more likely to report depression, while never married (95% CI: 0.576, 0.771; OR 0.666), and currently unemployed (95% CI: 0.535, 0.715; OR 0.619) women were less likely to report depression. Chronic health conditions such as hypertension (41.6% vs. 33.7%), diabetes (14% vs. 10.5%), and cancer (12.1% vs. 8.3%), and comorbid psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety (54.2% vs. 10.8%) and bipolar disorder (23.8% vs. 2.8%) were significantly higher (p<0.001) among women with depression compared with their counterparts. Significantly more women without a history of depression had medical insurance (68.8% vs. 64.3%) as compared with women with depression. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Depression was associated with food insecurity and drug use. The impact of drug use continues to be a major mental health concern among community-based women. Further, these findings emphasize the importance of community engagement programs such as HealthStreet, which utilizes the CHWs’ model to link community members to social and medical services within the community, in improving the mental health of women.
2440
Authors: Adejumo Adeyinka C. , Alliu Samson , Onyeakusi Nnaemeka , Opeyemi Ajayi Tokunbo , Oluwole Muyiwa Adegbala , Akinjero Akintunde , Adejumo Kelechi , Lichstein Edgar
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To assess the effect of cannabis on impaired judgment and health outcomes among heart failure patients in the emergency room. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Patients with heart failure presenting to the emergency room. Cannabis with confounders such as income level, insurance type, tobacco use, and age. Discharged against medical advice to assess impaired judgment. Hospitalization rates, length of stay, and death rate to assess health outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression to access the odds of each of these outcomes from cannabis RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Cannabis is associated with impaired outcome (increase in discharge against medical advice). Cannabis have poorer health outcome in terms of more hospitalizations from the emergency department. Cannabis also have better health outcome in terms of shorter length of stay and death rate among cannabis users Versus nonusers. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This is crucial to inform health care providers to ensure better counseling of cannabis users. This result should also be considered to interpret other publications that shows better outcomes in patients taking cannabis. Cannabis users might only seem to have a better outcome because they tend to discharge against medical advice and thereby die outside the hospital, etc.
2490
Authors: Rodriguez-Rabassa Mary S. , Joshipura Jinraj Kaumudi , Campos Rivera Maribel , Michopoulos Vasiliki , Yamamura Yasuhiro
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Childhood obesity has become an issue of some concern worldwide. Some reviews and a recent study in adults have indicated that obesity-related inflammatory responses produce brain damage. However, studies exploring associations between inflammation and executive functions in children are overlooked. Therefore, the objective of this cross-sectional study is to determine whether difficulties in executive functions and emotional processing are associated with obesity and inflammation. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We have recruited 12 of a total of 60 children aged 6–8 years old. They have completed the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery and the NEPSY II Affect Recognition tests. Samples of plasma and saliva were collected to quantify inflammatory biomarkers cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) assay by Luminex procedure. We performed descriptive analysis and Mann-Whitney U test to compare obese Versus nonobese groups. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Obese children have lower scores in measures of affect recognition than healthy weight children. They also showed higher median scores in both salivary and plasma IL-6 and TNF-α. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Although no statistical differences were found among groups in either measurement, these preliminary data based on the initial recruitment suggest that children with higher body mass index may have difficulties in emotional processing. More data will be available after completing recruitment to determine if the association between obesity and affect recognition is significant and if it is mediated by inflammation.