bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case report of the long treatment experience of a Sézary syndrome responder patient: 16 years through all the systemic and innovative therapies
Authors: Nanni Laura , Morigi Alice , Casadei Beatrice , Broccoli Alessandro , Stefoni Vittorio , Argnani Lisa , Cavo Michele , Zinzani Pier Luigi
Published: January 2019

Existing therapies for Sézary syndrome (SS) are limited in efficacy and in disease control, and patients have very poor prognosis. Here, we report a case report of a patient who has a 16‐year history of SS and related treatments (both standard and experimental). In particular, two drugs, one conventional (gemcitabine) and one experimental (mogamulizumab), were able to induce long lasting response. Patient refused to undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation. After eleven lines of therapeutic approaches, the patient is in very good partial response and free of therapy at the latest available follow‐up.
Higher hydration performance and bioactive response of the new endodontic bioactive cement MTA HP repair compared with ProRoot MTA white and NeoMTA plus
Authors: Jiménez‐Sánchez María del Carmen , Segura‐Egea Juan José , Díaz‐Cuenca Aránzazu
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to characterize the hydration performance and the bioactive response of the new bioactive endodontic cement MTA HP repair (HP), comparing its physicochemical parameters with those of ProRoot MTA White (Pro) and NeoMTA Plus (Neo). Un‐hydrated precursor materials were characterized by X‐ray fluorescence, laser diffraction, N2 physisorption and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG‐SEM). Setting time was assessed according to ASTM specification C 266. Hydrated materials were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and (FEG‐SEM). Bioactivity evaluation in vitro was carried out, by soaking processed cement disk in simulated body fluid (SBF) during 168 h. The cements surface was studied by FT‐IR, FEG‐SEM, and energy dispersive X‐ray. Release to the SBF media of ionic degradation products was monitored using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. HP showed shorter initial setting time compared to Pro and Neo and produce a quick and effective bioactive response in vitro in terms of phosphate phase surface coating formation. This higher bioactive response for HP is correlated with increasing calcium aluminate content, increasing surface area of un‐hydrated powder precursor and the increasing release capacity of Si ionic products of the final hydrated product. The higher bioactive response of MTA HP repair highlights this material, as very interesting to further investigate its performance to improve the outcome of vital pulp therapy procedures. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 2109–2120, 2019.
Overexpression of periostin is positively associated with gastric cancer metastasis through promoting tumor metastasis and invasion
Authors: Zhong Hai , Li Xiang , Zhang Junhua , Wu Xu
Published: January 2019

Background

Gastric tumors generally have a poor prognosis and molecular markers to improve early detection and predict outcomes are greatly needed. The present study reports that periostin (POSTN), a secretory protein that can alter the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, is highly expressed in gastric tumors.

Materials and Methods

Gastric tissues were collected from patients at the Department of Thoracic Surgery/Huiqiao Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. These patients provided an informed consent and were approved by the institute. Normal, cancer, and metastatic gastric tissues from lymph nodes and tissues adjacent to the tumor were collected from patients diagnosed with gastric cancer.

Results

Periostin expression gradually increased as the risk grade of the NIH classification increased, and this was closely correlated with disease‐free survival and overall survival. Compared with adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues, protein expression of POSTN in gastric cancer tissues and metastases was significantly higher by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In addition, POSTN was upregulated in advanced gastric cancer tissues than in early gastric cancer tissues. Moreover, the ectopic expression of POSTN in the immortalized human gastric cell line could increase the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Conclusion

The present results could establish the significance of POSTN in driving oncogenesis and metastasis in gastric tumors, with implications for its potential use as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker, and as a candidate therapeutic target.
Biodiesel production via esterification of oleic acid catalyzed by MnO2@Mn(btc) as a novel and heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Amouhadi Elham , Fazaeli Razieh , Aliyan Hamid
Published: January 2019

The main objective of this study is to develop efficient and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. For this purpose, a heterogeneous MnO2@Mn(btc) catalyst was prepared by the solvothermal method, and the prepared catalyst was tested for the esterification of oleic acid. Various techniques such as X‐ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and NH3‐TPD (temperature programmed desorption) analysis were employed for the characterization of the solid catalyst. The solid catalyst with MnO2@Mn(btc) loading of 15% showed high catalytic activity and long durability in the esterification of oleic acid, in which the fatty acid methyl ester yield reached 98% consecutively for at least five cycles under mild conditions.
Upregulation of microRNA‐424 relieved diabetic nephropathy by targeting Rictor through mTOR Complex2/Protein Kinase B signaling
Authors: Wang Guofeng , Yan Yongxin , Xu Ning , Hui Yuan , Yin Dong
Published: January 2019

Objective

To investigate the role of miR‐424 in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its relationship with Rictor in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) C2/Akt signaling.

Methods

The western blot analysis and real‐time polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the differential expression of Rictor, mTOR, and miR‐424 in DN rats. The upregulation of miR‐424 was achieved by caudal vein injection of miR‐424 mimics. The renal lesion was evaluated by hematoxylin‐eosin staining (H&E) and periodic acid schiff staining. The dual‐luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine the binding target of miR‐424. The effect of miR‐424 upregulation on apoptosis was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated 2‐Deoxyuridine‐5‐Triphosphate (dUTP) nick‐end labeling assay and western blot analysis.

Results

A significantly lower expression of miR‐424 and a significantly higher expression of Rictor and mTOR were found in renal tissues of DN rats. The upregulation of miR‐424 improved renal lesion and DN symptoms of blood glucose level, urine protein level, body weight, creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen, and KW/BW ratio. The upregulation of miR‐424 could significantly reduce apoptosis rates of tissue cells by decreasing the expression levels of caspase‐3 and Bax as well as increasing the level of Bcl‐2. Furthermore, Rictor was the direct target for miR‐424, and upregulation of miR‐424 inhibited Rictor through Akt signaling in renal tissue of DN rats and high‐glucose‐treated human glomerular mesangial cells.

Conclusion

miR‐424 contributes to alleviating the symptoms in DN rat models by targeting Rictor through mTORC2/Akt signaling.
Vaccarin prevents titanium particle‐induced osteolysis and inhibits RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis by blocking NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathways
Authors: Liu Yun , Song Fang‐Ming , Ma Shi‐Ting , Moro Abu , Feng Wen‐Yu , Liao Shi‐Jie , Lin Xi‐Xi , Zhao Jin‐Min , Wang Zi‐yi , Xu Jiake , Zhan Xin‐Li , Liu Qian
Published: January 2019

Wearing titanium particle‐induced osteoclastogenesis, accompanied by peri‐implant osteolysis, is the main cause of long‐term failure of hip prosthesis. Currently, medications used for the prevention and treatment of peri‐implant osteolysis show serious side effects. Therefore, development for more effective new drugs with less side effects is extremely urgent. Vaccarin is a natural flavonoid extracted from Vaccaria segetalis, with various biological functions, including antioxidantory, anti‐inflammatory, and promotion of angiogenesis. However, the putative role of vaccarin in the inhibition of titanium particle‐induced osteolysis has not been reported. In this study, it was indicated that vaccarin could effectively inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis, fusion of F‐actin rings, bone resorption, and expression of osteoclast marker genes in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, vaccarin could also inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis via the inhibition of NF‐κB and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of downstream transcription factors, such as c‐Fos and NFATc1. Consistent with in vitro results, this in vivo study showed that vaccarin exhibited an inhibitory effect on titanium particle‐induced osteolysis by antiosteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, vaccarin could be a promising agent for preventing and treating peri‐implant osteolysis.
Rn7SK small nuclear RNA is involved in cellular senescence
Authors: Musavi Maryam , Kohram Fatemeh , Abasi Mozhgan , Bolandi Zohreh , Ajoudanian Mohammad , Mohammadi‐Yeganeh Samira , Hashemi Seyed Mahmoud , Sharifi Kazem , Fathi Hamid reza , Ghanbarian Hossein
Published: January 2019

Rn7SK is a conserved small nuclear noncoding RNA which its function in aging has not been studied. Recently, we have demonstrated that Rn7SK overexpression reduces cell viability and is significantly downregulated in stem cells, human tumor tissues, and cell lines. In this study, we analyzed the role of Rn7SK on senescence in adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD‐MSCs). For this purpose, Rn7SK expression was downregulated and upregulated via transfection and transduction, respectively, in AD‐MSCs and subsequently, various distinct characteristics of senescence including cell viability, proliferation, colony formation, senescence‐associated β galactosidase activity, and differentiation potency was analyzed. Our results demonstrated the transient knockdown of Rn7SK in MSCs leads to delayed senescence, while its overexpressions shows opposite effects. When osteogenic differentiation was started, however, they exhibited a greater differentiation potential than the original MSCs, suggesting a potential tool for stem cell‐based regenerative medicine.
Critical limb ischemia: Current and novel therapeutic strategies
Authors: Hassanshahi Mohammadhossein , Khabbazi Samira , Peymanfar Yaser , Hassanshahi Alireza , Hosseini‐Khah Zahra , Su Yu‐Wen , Xian Cory J.
Published: January 2019

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the advanced stage of peripheral artery disease spectrum and is defined by limb pain or impending limb loss because of compromised blood flow to the affected extremity. Current conventional therapies for CLI include amputation, bypass surgery, endovascular therapy, and pharmacological approaches. Although these conventional therapeutic strategies still remain as the mainstay of treatments for CLI, novel and promising therapeutic approaches such as proangiogenic gene/protein therapies and stem cell‐based therapies have emerged to overcome, at least partially, the limitations and disadvantages of current conventional therapeutic approaches. Such novel CLI treatment options may become even more effective when other complementary approaches such as utilizing proper bioscaffolds are used to increase the survival and engraftment of delivered genes and stem cells. Therefore, herein, we address the benefits and disadvantages of current therapeutic strategies for CLI treatment and summarize the novel and promising therapeutic approaches for CLI treatment. Our analyses also suggest that these novel CLI therapeutic strategies show considerable advantages to be used when current conventional methods have failed for CLI treatment.
The evolution of body composition in oncology—epidemiology, clinical trials, and the future of patient care: facts and numbers
Authors: Brown Justin C. , Cespedes Feliciano Elizabeth M. , Caan Bette J.
Published: January 2019

There is growing interest from the oncology community to understand how body composition measures can be used to improve the delivery of clinical care for the 18.1 million individuals diagnosed with cancer annually. Methods that distinguish muscle from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, such as computed tomography (CT), may offer new insights of important risk factors and improved prognostication of outcomes over alternative measures such as body mass index. In a meta‐analysis of 38 studies, low muscle area assessed from clinically acquired CT was observed in 27.7% of patients with cancer and associated with poorer overall survival [hazard ratio: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.32–1.56]. Therapeutic interventions such as lifestyle and pharmacotherapy that modify all aspects of body composition and reduce the incidence of poor clinical outcomes are needed in patients with cancer. In a meta‐analysis of six randomized trials, resistance training exercise increased lean body mass assessed from dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [mean difference (MD): +1.07 kg, 95% CI: 0.76–1.37; P < 0.001] and walking distance [MD: +143 m, 95% CI: 70–216; P < 0.001] compared with usual care control in patients with non‐metastatic cancer. In a meta‐analysis of five randomized trials, anamorelin (a ghrelin agonist) significantly increased lean body mass [MD: +1.10 kg, 95% CI: 0.35–1.85; P = 0.004] but did not improve handgrip strength [MD: 0.52 kg, 95% CI: −0.09–1.13; P = 0.09] or overall survival compared with placebo [HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.85–1.14; P = 0.84] in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. Early screening to identify individuals with occult muscle loss, combined with multimodal interventions that include lifestyle therapy with resistance exercise training and dietary supplementation combined with pharmacotherapy, may be necessary to provide a sufficient stimulus to prevent or slow the cascade of tissue wasting. Rapid, cost‐efficient, and feasible methods to quantify muscle and adipose tissue distribution are needed if body composition assessment is to be integrated into large‐scale clinical workflows. Fully automated analysis of body composition from clinically acquired imaging is one example. The study of body composition is one of the most provocative areas in oncology that offers tremendous promise to help patients with cancer live longer and healthier lives.
Trace elements bioaccumulation inPorcellionides pruinosus(Brandt, 1833) and related biomarkers of exposure
Authors: Droutsa Angeliki , Emmanouil Nikolaos , Raptopoulos Konstantinos , Salvaggio Antonio , Mazzei Veronica , Pecoraro Roberta , Messina Giuseppina , Copat Chiara , Ferrante Margherita , Brundo Maria Violetta , Lombardo Bianca Maria
Published: January 2019

In the last years, the increase of anthropogenic activities has led to a progressive pollution of ecosystems. Oniscidean isopods are a group of terrestrial animals known as excellent bio‐indicators and bio‐accumulators, because of their capacity to accumulate contaminants and to implement appropriate strategies of detoxification. For this study, we collectedPorcellionides pruinosusfrom two different sites in the Corinth region (Greece), a polluted site and a control site, to assess the heavy metal pollution status. We conducted an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) analysis for the detection of trace elements in animals' hepatopancreas and soil; we performed also immunohistochemistry for detection of metallothioneins 1 (MT1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70s). The results suggest a great capacity of the species in trace elements bioaccumulation and the high degree of pollution of the area near Agioi Theodoroi where the metal pollution index (MPI) is threefolds higher than the control site, due to the presence of significantly higher concentration of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and lead found in hepatopancreas and soil. The environmental stress is confirmed by the expression of the relative biomarkers of exposure MT1 and HSP70. Our study, with a multimarker approach, consents getting a complete analysis of environmental quality and the effect of pollution on organisms and shows for the first time the heavy metals contamination status in certain Greece area. Furthermore,P. pruinosusproved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.
Interferometric investigation of the opto‐mechanical and structural properties of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers
Authors: Sokkar T. Z. N. , El‐Bakary M. A. , Raslan M. I. , Al‐Kalali N. A. , El‐Dessouky H. M.
Published: January 2019

Fibers that missing specific features and functionalities could be innovated and functionalised via nano additives, in particular metal oxides. Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been added to isotactic polypropylene (iPP) to form iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers. Three samples of iPP/TiO2 fibers were extruded at three extrusion speeds 25, 50, and 78 m/min were considered in this study. Mach–Zehnder interferometer was used to assess the changes in the opto‐mechanical and geometrical parameters of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers along the fiber axis. The mechanical drawing device along with Mach–Zehnder interferometer was utilized to stretch the filaments to different draw ratios. The effect of mechanical cold drawing and extrusion speed on the optical and physical characteristics of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers were determined along the fiber axis. The optical and physical variation along the nanocomposite samples were characterized by measuring their refractive indices, birefringence, refractive index profile along the fiber axis. The diffraction of He–Ne laser beam was used to define the variation of the fiber diameter along the fiber axis through their cross‐sectional area and shape. A sample of uniform diameter from neat iPP fibers was used as reference material for studying the variation of the iPP/TiO2 fiber diameter along the fiber axis. As result, the iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers exhibited nonuniform diameters. The dispersion of TiO2 particles in nanocomposite fibers influences the properties' consistency along and across the fiber.
The impact of health anxiety on perceptions of personal and children’s health in parents with Lynch syndrome
Authors: Albiani Jenna J. , McShane Kelly E. , Holter Spring , Semotiuk Kara , Aronson Melyssa , Cohen Zane , Hart Tae L.
Published: January 2019

This study examined the differences in perceptions of one's health and one's child's health between parents with Lynch syndrome (LS) characterized with high versus low health anxiety. Twenty‐one parents completed semistructured telephone interviews about their perceptions of their own health and the health of their children. Qualitative content analysis using a template coding approach examined the differences between parents with high and low health anxiety. Findings revealed that the most prevalent difference emerged on perceptions of personal health, showing individuals with high health anxiety reported more extreme worries, were more hypervigilant about physical symptoms, experienced the emotional and psychological consequences of LS as more negative and severe, and engaged in more dysfunctional coping strategies than those with low health anxiety. Unexpectedly, with regards to perceptions of their children, parents in the high and low health anxiety groups exhibited similar worries. However, high health anxiety parents reported using dysfunctional coping about their children's health more frequently than those with low health anxiety. The findings suggest that health anxiety is of clinical significance for individuals with LS. Accurately identifying and treating health anxiety among this population may be one avenue to reduce the distress experienced by LS carriers.
Minimum codegree condition for perfect matchings in k‐partite k‐graphs
Authors: Lu Hongliang , Wang Yan , Yu Xingxing
Published: January 2019

Let be a ‐partite ‐graph with vertices in each partition class, and let denote the minimum codegree of . We characterize those with and with no perfect matching. As a consequence, we give an affirmative answer to the following question of Rödl and Ruciński: if is even or , does imply that has a perfect matching? We also give an example indicating that it is not sufficient to impose this degree bound on only two types of ‐sets.
Advanced pulmonary MRI to quantify alveolar and acinar duct abnormalities: Current status and future clinical applications
Authors: Westcott Andrew , McCormack David G. , Parraga Grace , Ouriadov Alexei
Published: January 2019

There are serious clinical gaps in our understanding of chronic lung disease that require novel, sensitive, and noninvasive in vivo measurements of the lung parenchyma to measure disease pathogenesis and progressive changes over time as well as response to treatment. Until recently, our knowledge and appreciation of the tissue changes that accompany lung disease has depended on ex vivo biopsy and concomitant histological and stereological measurements. These measurements have revealed the underlying pathologies that drive lung disease and have provided important observations about airway occlusion, obliteration of the terminal bronchioles and airspace enlargement, or fibrosis and their roles in disease initiation and progression. ex vivo tissue stereology and histology are the established gold standards and, more recently, micro‐computed tomography (CT) measurements of ex vivo tissue samples has also been employed to reveal new mechanistic findings about the progression of obstructive lung disease in patients. While these approaches have provided important understandings using ex vivo analysis of excised samples, recently developed hyperpolarized noble gas MRI methods provide an opportunity to noninvasively measure acinar duct and terminal airway dimensions and geometry in vivo, and, without radiation burden. Therefore, in this review we summarize emerging pulmonary MRI morphometry methods that provide noninvasive in vivo measurements of the lung in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others. We discuss new findings, future research directions, as well as clinical opportunities to address current gaps in patient care and for testing of new therapies.

Level of Evidence: 5

Technical Efficacy: Stage 5

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:28–40.
MRI screening for uterine leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Tong Angela , Kang Stella K. , Huang Chenchan , Huang Kathy , Slevin Adam , Hindman Nicole
Published: January 2019

Background

Uterine fibroids are a common benign tumor and can be symptomatic, necessitating resection. Surgical myomectomy is an effective treatment option with a risk of disseminating occult uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS), creating a need for an effective presurgical screening protocol. Clinical collaboration with contrast‐enhanced MRI including T2 and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) can be utilized as a screening exam.

Purpose

To review the accuracy and feasibility of an interdisciplinary prospective contrast‐enhanced MRI pelvis with DWI screening system for LMS prior to fibroid resection.

Study Type

Retrospective cohort study.

Population

In all, 1960 adult female patients aged 18–87 undergoing screening MRI pelvis prior to uterine fibroid resection.

Field Strength/Sequence

T1 and T2‐weighted imaging, DWI, and contrast‐enhanced images were acquired at 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

Assessment

Each radiologist at the time of clinical study prospectively designated a confidence level of presence of LMS in the impression, which was reviewed retrospectively. A separate retrospective evaluation of the histologically proven LMS and the false positives was performed for the presence of five MRI features of LMS including low ADC values, intermediate/high T2 signal intensity, irregular margins, hemorrhage, and necrosis. A preliminary cost‐effectiveness analysis was performed, comparing the costs of treatment of uterine fibroids with vs. without a collaborative screening protocol using MRI.

Statistical Tests

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were obtained from the prospective evaluations. Student's t‐tests were used to compare demographics and apparent diffusion coefficient values between LMS and false‐positive results.

Results

We prospectively identified LMS patients with 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Preliminary cost analysis demonstrated that the MR screening protocol increased life expectancy by 0.04 years at a cost of $12,937 per life‐year gained.

Data Conclusion

MRI is an effective and potentially economic screening test, especially with standardized reporting and coordination with clinicians.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy Stage: 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.
Low‐field MRI: An MR physics perspective
Authors: Marques José P. , Simonis Frank F.J. , Webb Andrew G.
Published: January 2019

Historically, clinical MRI started with main magnetic field strengths in the ∼0.05–0.35T range. In the past 40 years there have been considerable developments in MRI hardware, with one of the primary ones being the trend to higher magnetic fields. While resulting in large improvements in data quality and diagnostic value, such developments have meant that conventional systems at 1.5 and 3T remain relatively expensive pieces of medical imaging equipment, and are out of the financial reach for much of the world. In this review we describe the current state‐of‐the‐art of low‐field systems (defined as 0.25–1T), both with respect to its low cost, low foot‐print, and subject accessibility. Furthermore, we discuss how low field could potentially benefit from many of the developments that have occurred in higher‐field MRI.

In the first section, the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) dependence on the static magnetic field and its impact on the achievable contrast, resolution, and acquisition times are discussed from a theoretical perspective. In the second section, developments in hardware (eg, magnet, gradient, and RF coils) used both in experimental low‐field scanners and also those that are currently in the market are reviewed. In the final section the potential roles of new acquisition readouts, motion tracking, and image reconstruction strategies, currently being developed primarily at higher fields, are presented.

Level of Evidence: 5

Technical Efficacy Stage: 1

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.
The impact of climate change and urban growth on urban climate and heat stress in a subtropical city
Authors: Chapman Sarah , Thatcher Marcus , Salazar Alvaro , Watson James E.M. , McAlpine Clive A.
Published: January 2019

Urban residents face increasing risk of heat stress due to the combined impact of climate change and intensification of the urban heat island (UHI) associated with urban growth. Considering the combined effect of urban growth and climate change is vital to understanding how temperatures in urban areas will change in the future. This study investigated the impact of urban growth and climate change on the UHI and heat stress in a subtropical city (Brisbane, Australia) in the present day (1991–2000) and medium term (2041–2050; RCP8.5) during summer. A control and urban growth scenario was used to compare the temperature increase from climate change alone with the temperature increase from climate change and urban growth. Average and minimum temperatures increased more with climate change and urban growth combined than with climate change alone, indicating that if urban growth is ignored, future urban temperatures could be underestimated. Under climate change alone, rural temperatures increased more than urban temperatures, decreasing the effect of the UHI by 0.4 °C at night and increasing the urban cool island by 0.8 °C during the day. With climate change, the number of hot days and nights doubled in urban and rural areas in 2041–2050 as compared to 1991–2000. The number of hot nights was higher in urban areas and with urban growth. Dangerous heat stress, defined as apparent temperature above 40 °C, increased with climate change and occurred on average 1–2 days every summer during 2041–2050, even in shaded conditions. There was higher temperature increases with urban growth and climate change than with climate change alone, indicating that reducing the effect of the UHI is vital to ensuring urban growth does not increase the heat stress risks that urban residents will face in the future.
ENSO teleconnections to the Indian summer monsoon under changing climate
Authors: Roy Indrani , Tedeschi Renata G. , Collins Matthew
Published: January 2019

The teleconnection between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian summer monsoon rainfall is analysed in CMIP5 simulations in both historical and future scenario. A subset of models is selected, based on their ability to simulate mean rainfall and the ENSO teleconnection in the historical simulations, and those are used to examine future predictions in the central northeast region of India. For canonical and mixed canonical Modoki ENSO events, the rainfall teleconnection is spatially extended over most of India in the future. For pure Modoki ENSO events, the teleconnection disappears, and practically no influence is detected in any parts of India. Analysis of zonal wind at 200 mb indicates that for the Modoki events, there is a larger spread of changes across the models, while for canonical events there is more inter‐model consistency. A rainfall decomposition technique reveals a battle between changes in circulation which act to weaken the rainfall teleconnection and changes in moisture change which act to strengthen it. The picture is most consistent in the sub‐ensemble of models in the central northeast region but less consistent in regions covering southern India.
Impacts of various types of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and ENSO Modoki on the rainy season over the Huaihe River basin
Authors: Cao Qing , Hao Zhenchun , Zhou Junwei , Wang Wenzhuo , Yuan Feifei , Zhu Wenbin , Yu Chao
Published: January 2019

Precipitation is a significant parameter in many aspects such as agriculture, water management and climate variability. To characterize rainy season variations is important to understand precipitation variability under the effect of climate change. In this study, rainy season features (i.e., onset, retreat and rainy‐season precipitation) over the Huaihe River basin (HRB) and the response to different types of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), that is, central Pacific warming (CPW), eastern Pacific warming (EPW), eastern Pacific cooling (EPC), conventional ENSO and ENSO Modoki in the developing and decaying phases are evaluated. The multi‐scale moving t test was used to capture onset and retreat of rainy season. The possible dynamic causes of ENSO‐induced precipitation over the HRB, such as monsoon and atmospheric circulation, were also explored. Results show that (a) onset (retreat) of rainy season progressed northwards (westwards), with rainy‐season precipitation increasing from north to south; (b) rainy‐season precipitation showed a strong correlation to Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in Niño regions. Dry and wet signals were identified in different regions of the HRB in the developing and decaying phases of CPW, EPC and EPW. Special attention should be paid on decaying EPW, where totally dry signals were found, which can reach down to 25% below average precipitation; (c) developing El Niño Modoki and decaying El Niño showed totally dry signals, with decaying El Niño Modoki and conventional La Niña demonstrating overall increasing precipitation; (d) different performances of ENSO‐induced precipitation during rainy season over the HRB are attributable to the combined influences of the monsoon from the India Ocean and the anticyclonic flow in the western North Pacific (WNP). Stronger anticyclone and monsoon are generally associated with increasing rainy‐season precipitation. These results can improve predictability of rainy season features and ENSO‐induced precipitation over the Huaihe River basin.
Creativity: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Selection of Creative Ideas
Authors: Zhu Yuxi , Ritter Simone M. , Dijksterhuis Ap
Published: January 2019

Creative idea selection—the selection of the most creative idea(s) from available ideas—is an important yet understudied topic. Creative idea selection can be performed by the idea generator (i.e.,intrapersonalselection) or by another person (i.e.,interpersonalselection). In the current research, we examined whether these two types of selection lead to different levels of performance. Participants generated six creative ideas to solve a societal problem. Thereafter, two selection tasks—intrapersonal selection and interpersonal selection—were performed. During intrapersonal selection, the idea generator selected the most creative idea from his/her own ideas; during interpersonal selection, another person made the selection from the same ideas. We found no effect of intrapersonal and interpersonal selection on creative idea selection performance: People selected ideas of identical creativity, irrespective of whether that idea was from themselves or from others. Moreover, we replicated the earlier finding that people perform suboptimally at creative idea selection, failing to select ideas that were more creative than an average idea, for both intrapersonal and interpersonal selection.
Emerging trends in government venture capital policies in smaller peripheral economies: Lessons from Finland, New Zealand, and Estonia
Authors: Owen Robyn , Mason Colin
Published: January 2019

Emerging trends from the developing venture capital industries of three smaller peripheral economies (Finland, New Zealand, and Estonia), demonstrate that government policy can overcome scale and distance barriers to assist in establishing venture capital to support innovative potential high growth ventures. Eight common policy themes for successful venture capital development are: new venture stimulation; dedicated finance policy institutions; stable, internationally harmonized tax and regulations; business angel development; inward investment; international venture capital fund development; smooth pipeline of investment; effective investment exit market. Venture capital policy development themes are interconnected, requiring a holistic ecosystem approach. A blueprint for successful small peripheral economy venture capital development requires an initial phase of new venture demand stimulation and ensuing simultaneity of policies to engineer venture capital development.
Thermal stability and oral absorbability of astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis in Balb/c mice
Authors: Zhou Qingxin , Xu Jie , Yang Lu , Gu Caixia , Xue Changhu
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Astaxanthin is used as a functional nutraceutical and pigment in many food products. It is mostly exists in the form of a fatty acid ester in nature. However, no detailed descriptions are available concerning the stability and oral absorbability of astaxanthin esters. In the present study, the thermal stability and absorbability of astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis were evaluated in comparison with free‐form astaxanthin.

RESULTS

The thermal stability of astaxanthin esters was found to be higher than that of free‐form astaxantin. After gavage with astaxanthin esters, only free‐form astaxanthin was detected in the digestive tract wall, blood plasma and liver, indicating that astaxanthin esters must be hydrolyzed to free‐form astaxanthin in the gut before absorption. Furthermore, there was a considerable selective accumulation of different astaxanthin isomers in Balb/c mice, which selectivity decreased in the order: 13‐cis > all‐trans > 9‐cis. Accumulated astaxanthin was mainly distributed in the heart, liver, spleen, muscle and adipose tissue, although significant differences between tissues were observed.

CONCLUSION

From the present study, it can be concluded that astaxanthin esters had a higher thermal stability and higher bioavailability than free‐form astaxanthin. These results provide important evidence with respect to using astaxanthin esters as bioactive components to replace free‐form astaxanthin in functional food products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
In ovodelivery of various biological supplements, vaccines and drugs in poultry: current knowledge
Authors: Saeed Muhammad , Babazadeh Daryoush , Naveed Muhammad , Alagawany Mahmoud , Abd El‐Hack Mohamed E , Arain Muhammad A , Tiwari Ruchi , Sachan Swati , Karthik Kumaragurubaran , Dhama Kuldeep , Elnesr Shaaban S , Chao Sun
Published: January 2019

The technique of delivering various nutrients, supplements, immunostimulants, vaccines, and drugs via thein ovoroute is gaining wide attention among researchers worldwide for boosting production performance, immunity and safeguarding the health of poultry. It involves direct administration of the nutrients and biologics into poultry eggs during the incubation period and before the chicks hatch out.In ovodelivery of nutrients has been found to be more effective than post‐hatch administration in poultry production. The supplementation of feed additives, nutrients, hormones, probiotics, prebiotics, or their combination viain ovotechniques has shown diverse advantages for poultry products, such as improved growth performance and feed conversion efficiency, optimum development of the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing carcass yield, decreased embryo mortality, and enhanced immunity of poultry.In ovodelivery of vaccination has yielded a better response against various poultry pathogens than vaccination after hatch. So, this review has aimed to provide an insight onin ovotechnology and its potential applications in poultry production to deliver different nutrients, supplements, beneficial microbes, vaccines, and drugs directly into the developing embryo to achieve an improvement in post‐hatch growth, immunity, and health of poultry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Multiple mycotoxins analysis in animal feed with LC‐MS/MS: Comparison of extract dilution and immunoaffinity clean‐up
Authors: Jedziniak Piotr , Panasiuk Łukasz , Pietruszka Katarzyna , Posyniak Andrzej
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was a performance comparison of two clean‐up procedures (dilutions versus immunoaffinity columns) in the simultaneous determination of eight mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1 & B2, ochratoxin A, toxin T‐2 & HT‐2 and zearalenone) in the animal feed. After extraction the analytes were separated on a Kinetex Biphenyl column with a gradient elution using methanol/0.01 M ammonium acetate as a mobile phase and analyzed with the LC‐MS/MS technique. Both of the procedures were validated by analysis of a series of spiked feed samples (n = 6) at three different concentration levels. Better signal to noise ratios were observed for immunoaffinity clean‐up. The recoveries of analyses were in the range 88–110% for the dilution procedure and 78–120% for the immunoaffinity clean‐up. The dilution procedure was more precise (coefficient of variation of the within‐laboratory reproducibility for it was 7.8–22.4% in comparison to 12–35.5% for the immunoaffinity clean‐up. The results show that both procedures fulfilled the requirements for mycotoxin analysis and can be used successfully in multi‐analyte determination. Although the dilution procedure shows better precision and trueness, the immunoaffinity clean‐up procedure can have advantages in more complex feed samples thanks to lower matrix effect and limits of detections.
Graphene oxide based molecularly imprinted polymers modified with β‐cyclodextrin for selective extraction of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in environmental waters
Authors: Wang Chengjun , Cheng Lidong , Zhang Lin , Zuo Yuegang
Published: January 2019

Graphene oxide based molecularly imprinted polymers modified with β‐cyclodextrin were prepared as solid‐phase extraction column sorbents for specific recognition and sensitive detection of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in water samples. The morphology and composition of synthesized sorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The conditions affecting the performance of extraction procedures such as desorption solvent types and volume, sample pH and volume were investigated. The loading capacity (8.2 μg/mg) of the prepared sorbents increased eight times after modification with β‐cyclodextrin. The developed extraction procedures coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography exhibited good linearity (0.2–500 μg/L), low limit of detection (0.052 μg/L), and good precision (relative standard deviation˂5.7%) under optimized conditions. The developed solid‐phase extraction technique with prepared sorbents has been successfully applied in extracting trace di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate from real natural waters with high efficiency, good selectivity, and desirable recoveries.
Groundbreaking study examines ADHD, life expectancy in children and adults
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: January 2019

The persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to adulthood has been linked to a nearly 13 percent reduction in estimated life expectancy, according to the first study to employ health and lifestyle factors for estimating life expectancy in children and adults with ADHD. The research signals the need for more awareness of ADHD as a broader public health issue, said researchers.
Modified Galerkin algorithm for solving multitype fractional differential equations
Authors: Alsuyuti Muhammad M. , Doha Eid H. , Ezz‐Eldien Samer S. , Bayoumi Bayoumi I. , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: January 2019

The primary point of this manuscript is to dissect and execute a new modified Galerkin algorithm based on the shifted Jacobi polynomials for solving fractional differential equations (FDEs) and system of FDEs (SFDEs) governed by homogeneous and nonhomogeneous initial and boundary conditions. In addition, we apply the new algorithm for solving fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs) with Robin boundary conditions and time‐fractional telegraph equation. The key thought for obtaining such algorithm depends on choosing trial functions satisfying the underlying initial and boundary conditions of such problems. Some illustrative examples are discussed to ascertain the validity and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Also, some comparisons with some other existing spectral methods in the literature are made to highlight the superiority of the new algorithm.
Decreased expression of heat shock protein A4L in spermatozoa is positively related to poor human sperm quality
Authors: Liu XueXia , Wang Xiong , Liu FuJun
Published: January 2019

Heat shock protein A4L (HSPA4L), which is highly expressed in the testis, is correlated with male fertility. However, the relationship between HSPA4L expression and sperm quality remains unknown. In the present study, a systematic characterization of HSPA4L expression on spermatozoa was performed. HSPA4L is highly expressed in the human testis, characterized by abundant localization in testicular spermatocytes and round spermatids. Compared with the testis from young adults (aged 27–36 years old), downregulated expression of HSPA4L in the testis from elderly adults (aged 78–82 years old) was observed. Immunofluorescence quantification demonstrated the localization of HSPA4L in the middle piece of sperm. Compared with mature spermatozoa, a similar lower intensity and localization percentage of HSPA4L in immature and asthenozoospermic spermatozoa were observed, and the consistently decreased expression of HSPA4L in immature and asthenozoospermic spermatozoa was validated by western blot analysis. Functional analysis revealed a correlation between HSPA4L and sperm motility by Spearman correlation analysis and its involvement in sperm–oocyte penetration by the human sperm–hamster egg penetration test. The current study demonstrates that HSPA4L is a promising marker for the assessment of sperm quality and provides clues for exploring biomarkers for the molecular diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
Activated carbon spheres (ACS)@SnO2@NiO with a 3D nanospherical structure and its synergistic effect with AHP on improving the flame retardancy of epoxy resin
Authors: Liu Hao , Wu Weihong , He Shaorui , Song Qingyi , Li Weihao , Zhang Jingyi , Qu Hongqiang , Xu Jianzhong
Published: January 2019

A novel activated carbon spheres (ACS)@SnO2@NiO hierarchical hybrid architecture was first synthesized and applied for enhancing the flame retardancy of epoxy (EP) resin via a cooperative effect. Herein, using activated carbon microspheres as the template, SnO2 and NiO nanospheres were successively anchored to it by a sedimentation‐calcination strategy. The well‐designed ACS@SnO2@NiO significantly enhanced the flame retardancy for consistency of EP composites, as demonstrated by thermogravimetric and cone calorimeter experiments. For instance, the incorporation of 2 wt% ACS@SnO2@NiO decreased by 15.5% maximum in the total smoke production, accompanying the higher graphitized char layer. In addition, the synergetic mechanism of flame retardancy between ACS@SnO2@NiO and aluminum hypophosphite (AHP) was investigated. The obtained sample satisfied the UL‐94 V‐0 rating with a 5.0 wt% addition of AHP and ACS@SnO2@NiO (the ratio of the mass fraction of AHP to ACS@SnO2@NiO is 4.5:0.5). Notably, the incorporation of AHP and ACS@SnO2@NiO resulted in a significant decrease in the fire hazard properties of EP resin; for instance, 4.5AHP‐0.5ACS@SnO2@NiO/EP resulted in a maximum decrease of 32.4% in the total smoke production as compared with that of pure EP resin. It should be noted that the improved flame‐retardant performance for the EP composites is primarily attributed to the synergistic effect of ACS@SnO2@NiO and AHP in promoting the formation of residual char in the condensed phase.