bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nurses' views on patient self‐management: a qualitative study
Authors: Been‐Dahmen Janet M.J. , Dwarswaard Jolanda , Hazes Johanna M.W. , van Staa AnneLoes , Ista Erwin
Published: September 2015

Aims

To unravel outpatient nurses' views on the role of people with chronic conditions in self‐management, nurses' own support role and to establish how these views relate to nurse‐led self‐management interventions.

Background

Providing self‐management support is a core task of nurses in outpatient chronic care. However, the concept of self‐management is interpreted in different ways and little is known about nurses' views on patients' role in self‐management and nurses' own support role.

Design

Qualitative design.

Methods

Individual semi‐structured interviews were held in 2012–2013 with outpatient nurses at a university medical hospital in the Netherlands. After transcription, data‐driven codes were assigned and key elements of views and experiences were discussed in the research team. Finally, insights were merged to construct and characterize types.

Results

Twenty‐seven nurses were interviewed. The analysis identified three divergent views on self‐management support: adhering to a medical regimen; monitoring symptoms; and integrating illness into daily life. These views differ with respect to the patient's role in self‐management, the support role of the nurse and the focus of activities, ranging from biomedical to biopsychosocial. The first two were mainly medically oriented. Nurses applied interventions consistent with their individual views on self‐management.

Conclusion

Nurses had distinct perceptions about self‐management and their own role in self‐management support. Social and emotional tasks of living with a chronic condition were, however, overlooked. Nurses seem to lack sufficient training and practical interventions to provide self‐management support that meets the integral needs of patients with a chronic condition.
Testing the dimensional structure of DSM‐5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a nonclinical trauma‐exposed adolescent sample
Authors: Liu Liyong , Wang Li , Cao Chengqi , Qing Yulan , Armour Cherie
Published: September 2015

Background

The current study investigated the underlying dimensionality of DSM‐5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a trauma‐exposed Chinese adolescent sample using a confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) alternative model approach.

Methods

The sample consisted of 559 students (242 females and 314 males) ranging in age from 12 to 18 years (M = 15.8, SD = 1.3). Participants completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5, the Major Depression Disorder and Panic Disorder subscales of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Aggressive Behavior subscale of the Youth Self‐Report.

Results

Confirmatory factor analytic results indicated that a seven‐factor model comprised of intrusion, avoidance, negative affect, anhedonia, externalizing behavior, anxious arousal, and dysphoric arousal factors emerged as the best‐fitting model. Further analyses showed that the external measures of psychopathological variables including major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and aggressive behavior were differentially associated with the resultant factors.

Conclusions

These findings support and extend previous findings for the newly refined seven‐factor hybrid model, and carry clinical and research implications for trauma‐related psychopathology.
Convective Drying Behavior of Tarhana Dough
Authors: Sakin‐Yilmazer Melike
Published: September 2015

In this study, convective air drying was applied to tarhana dough using an electric pilot oven. A three‐stage drying process was recommended as a means of shortening the overall drying period. This consisted of the drying of one‐side of a thin layer of tarhana dough, a subsequent drying of the reverse‐side thin layer of tarhana dough, followed by that of flake drying, which is obtained after the flaking of the semi‐dried thin layers. The moisture transfer behavior of the thin layers of tarhana dough and flakes was determined by observing the moisture content and drying rate (kg moisture/m2/s) profiles at air temperatures of 60, 80 and 100C, until the equilibrium of the final moisture content. The moisture diffusivities for each stage were predicted by the analytical solution of Fick's second law of diffusion. At each drying temperature, considerably higher effective diffusivity values were obtained for flake drying (16.3–36.4 × 10−8 m2/s) as compared with thin layer dough drying (0.7–2.6 × 10−8 m2/s; p < 0.05). The convective drying of tarhana in three stages was then simulated by an implicit finite difference numerical solution using the predicted effective moisture diffusivity values as input. A suitable agreement between the numerical and experimental moisture profiles was achieved. The volatile compounds of tarhana powders and their concentrations were determined by headspace solid‐phase micro‐extraction. A sharp reduction in the concentration of specific volatile compounds with applied air temperatures, which are equal to and higher than 80C, was observed.

Practical Applications

Tarhana is a traditional Turkish fermented food and generally consumed as a dry soup mix. Tarhana soup is one of the selected traditional recipes from Turkey, a partner country for inclusion in the work package on “Traditional Foods” of a EuroFIR pilot study, funded under the EU 6th Framework Food Quality and Safety Programme. The drying of tarhana dough is one of the critical steps. In the traditional sun drying method for tarhana dough, a large amount of manual labor is required for homogenous drying. This study recommends mechanical stage‐by‐stage convective oven drying, which can be applied industrially instead of either sun drying or a continual static process. Also presented is the simulation of convective drying of tarhana dough by the implicit finite difference numerical solution, which is a numerical tool to predict the time‐moisture content of the tarhana dough during an industrial convective drying.
An In Vivo Evaluation of the Fit of Zirconium‐Oxide Based, Ceramic Single Crowns with Vertical and Horizontal Finish Line Preparations
Authors: Vigolo Paolo , Mutinelli Sabrina , Biscaro Leonello , Stellini Edoardo
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Different types of tooth preparations influence the marginal precision of zirconium‐oxide based ceramic single crowns. In this in vivo study, the marginal fits of zirconium‐oxide based ceramic single crowns with vertical and horizontal finish lines were compared.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐six teeth were chosen in eight patients indicated for extraction for implant placement. CAD/CAM technology was used for the production of 46 zirconium‐oxide‐based ceramic single crowns: 23 teeth were prepared with vertical finishing lines, 23 with horizontal finishing lines. One operator accomplished all clinical procedures. The zirconia crowns were cemented with glass ionomer cement. The teeth were extracted 1 month later. Marginal gaps along vertical planes were measured for each crown, using a total of four landmarks for each tooth by means of a microscope at 50× magnification. On conclusion of microscopic assessment, ESEM evaluation was completed on all specimens. The comparison of the gap between the two types of preparation was performed with a nonparametric test (two‐sample Wilcoxon rank‐sum test) with a level of significance fixed at p < 0.05. All data were analyzed with STATA12.

Results

In the group with horizontal finish line preparations, the median value of the gap was 35.45 μm (Iqr, 0.33); for the vertical finish line group, the median value of the gap was 35.44 μm (Iqr, 0.40). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (two‐sample Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, p = 0.0872).

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, the gaps of the zirconium‐oxide‐based ceramic CAD/CAM crowns with vertical and horizontal finish line preparations were not different.
Incomplete Inclusion: Legal Violence and Immigrants in Liminal Legal Statuses
Authors: Abrego Leisy J. , Lakhani Sarah M.
Published: September 2015

Although US political discourse suggests otherwise, no simple dichotomy separates “documented” from “undocumented” immigrants. By examining the integration prospects of immigrants in “liminal” legal standings beyond undocumented status but short of permanent residency, we demonstrate that even when they are legally present, the implementation practices of a multilayered immigration policy regime may cause them harm. Our analyses draw on 108 qualitative interviews with immigrants who have been granted humanitarian relief, includingU Visa holders, beneficiaries of theViolence againstWomenAct provisions, political asylees, andTemporaryProtectedStatus recipients. As a result of “legal violence,” these legally present immigrants remain vulnerable to blocked mobility, persistent fear of deportation, and instability, confusion, and self‐blame.
Reforming Global Sport: Hybridity and the Challenges of Pursuing Transparency
Authors: Henne Kathryn
Published: September 2015

In light of recent controversies in global sport, this article surveys the challenges of pursuing transparency in this particular domain of governance. Although corruption in sport is attracting more scholarly attention, there remains little sociolegal research that reflects critically on corporate governance in sport and its implications. This article outlines current calls for greater transparency in global sport and considers how capitalistic underpinnings and distinct hybrid arrangements complicate the task of transparency. It concludes by reflecting on how insights from studies of regulatory capitalism can inform alternative approaches to transparency and accountability in global sport.
Survey of the incidence of pectinate ligament dysplasia and glaucoma in theUKLeonberger population
Authors: Fricker Georgina V. , Smith Kerry , Gould David J.
Published: September 2015

Objective

To determine the prevalence of pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD) inUKLeonbergers and identify cases affected by glaucoma. Also, to define the spectrum of pectinate ligament (PL) appearance in this breed and determine whether gonioscopic monitoring should be recommended.

Animals studied

Data were compiled from 78 prospective gonioscopy examinations performed by one author (GF) and retrospective analysis of 233UKeye scheme certificates (2009–2014). Clinical cases of glaucoma in Leonbergers diagnosed byUKveterinary ophthalmologists, where gonioscopy of the fellow eyes or histology of affected eyes had been performed, were also reviewed.

Procedure

In the prospective study, intraocular pressure was recorded prior to gonioscopy using a rebound tonometer. Gonioscopy was performed using a slit‐lamp biomicroscope with a Koeppe goniolens.PLDwas categorized according to the percentage of the iridocorneal drainage angle affected (grade 0 = <25% affected; grade 1 = 25–50% affected; grade 2 = 51–75% affected; and grade 3 = >75% affected), and the degree of narrowing of the angle was noted.

Results

Of 78 dogs examined prospectively, 64/78 (82%) were grade 0, 7/78 (9%) were grade 1, 3/78 (4%) were grade 2, and 4/78 (5%) were grade 3. A large phenotypic variation was observed. Spearman's rank correlation showed a positive correlation between age and severity ofPLD(P < 0.0055). 52 (22%) of Leonbergers examined under theUKeye scheme 2009–2014 were affected byPLD. Five clinical cases of glaucoma were reviewed where gonioscopy had been performed and one where histology was performed. All individuals had grade 3PLDwith gonioscopy of the contralateral eye or severe goniodysgenesis with histological sections of the affected eye.

Conclusion

This survey suggests the prevalence ofPLDis sufficient to justify ongoing screening of Leonbergers.
Flexible composite stamp for thermal nanoimprint lithography based on OrmoStamp
Authors: Papenheim Marc , Steinberg Christian , Dhima Khalid , Wang Si , Scheer Hella-Christin
Published: September 2015

Flexible stamps are common for roll-to-roll processing but less common with planar processing, although they offer a number of benefits as, e.g., an improved conformal contact at reduced pressure. A simple way to realize such a flexible stamp is to use a two layer system with a structured top layer and a flexible backplane. The structured top layer is most easily obtained by molding, the backplane provides the flexibility envisaged. For use in a thermal nanoimprint process, a high thermal stability is required for both. This investigation addresses the preparation of flexible composite stamps with OrmoStamp as the structured top layer and polyimide as the flexible backplane. The process recommended for stamp preparation with OrmoStamp has to be modified to avoid bending after the hard bake that is required after ultraviolet-curing of the material to obtain a high stability of the top layer. Reduction of bending is advised, in particular, for large area stamps, where the hard bake step is in conflict with preparation of a flat stamp and limits applicability for thermal nanoimprint. A small scale almost flat flexible composite stamp is prepared and employed for low-pressure nanoimprint; it provides full area imprint at a reduced pressure of 25 bar. The replicated structures, lines of 300 nm, are of high quality and image the stamp structures. Stamps prepared in this way allow a tuning of the flexibility simply by changing the thickness of the backplane.
Relationship Between Physical Qualities and Minutes Played in International Women’s Rugby Sevens
Authors: Goodale Tyler L. , Gabbett Tim J. , Stellingwerff Trent , Tsai Ming-Chang , Sheppard Jeremy M.
Published: September 2015

Purpose:

To investigate the physical qualities that differentiate playing minutes in international-level women’s rugby sevens players.

Methods:

Twenty-four national-level female rugby sevens players underwent measurements of anthropometry, acceleration, speed, lower- and upper-body strength, lower-body power, and aerobic fitness. Playing minutes in international competition were used to differentiate players into 2 groups, a high- or low-playing-minutes group. Playing minutes were related to team selection, which was determined by the coaching staff. Playing minutes were therefore used to differentiate performance levels.

Results:

Players in the high-playing-minutes group (≥70 min) were older (mean ± SD 24.3 ± 3.1 vs 21.2 ± 4.3 y, P = .05, effect size [ES] = 0.77 ± 0.66, 90% confidence limit) and had greater experience in a national-training-center environment (2.4 ± 0.8 vs 1.7 ± 0.9 y, P = .03, ES = 0.83 ± 0.65), faster 1600-m time (374.5 ± 20.4 vs 393.5 ± 29.8 s, P = .09, ES = –0.70 ± 0.68), and greater 1-repetition-maximum upper-body strength (bench press 68.4 ± 6.3 vs 62.2 ± 8.1 kg, P = .07, ES = 0.80 ± 0.70, and neutral-grip pull-up 84.0 ± 8.2 vs 79.1 ± 5.4 kg, P = .12, ES = 0.68 ± 0.72) than athletes who played fewer minutes. Age (rs = .59 ± ~.28), training experience (rs = .57 ± ~.29), bench press (r = .44 ± ~.36), and 1600-m time (r = –.43 ± ~.34) were significantly associated with playing minutes. Neutral-grip pull-up and bench press contributed significantly to a discriminant analysis. The average squared canonical correlation was .46. The discriminant analysis predicted 7 of 9 and 6 of 10 high- and low-playing-minutes athletes, respectively.

Conclusions:

Age, training experience, upper-body strength, and aerobic fitness differentiated athlete playing minutes in international women’s rugby sevens.
Physiological Aspects of Early Specialized Athletic Training in Children
Authors: Rowland Thomas W.
Published: September 2015

Performance in all forms of motor activity related to sport performance improves progressively during the course of the childhood years as a consequence of normal growth and development. Whether (a) sport training can accelerate and ultimately enhance this biological development and (b) the existence of certain ages when training might prove to be more effective in improving performance, particularly early in childhood, remains uncertain. Physiological adaptations to endurance training in prepubertal children (improvements in maximal oxygen uptake) are dampened compared with adults, but enhancements of strength following resistance training are equally effective at all ages. The extent that intensive training regimens characteristic of early sport specialization in children can trigger physiological and performance adaptations may therefore depend on the form of exercise involved. Clearly, additional research is needed to enhance the understanding of the physiological responses to intensive sport training in prepubertal individuals.
Early Sport Specialization: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Smith Maureen M.
Published: September 2015

This article provides a historical overview of the practice of early sport specialization, primarily in the United States. Sport specialization as practiced by young athletes has been a common occurrence in several individual sports for more than 60 years. More recently, focusing on one sport has gained traction as common practice for young athletes involved in team sports. Sport specialization as a topic of research inquiry has been examined by various disciplines in kinesiology to determine the efficacy of the practice, the physiological effects, and the advantages and disadvantages, as well as to offer possible solutions to the drawbacks associated with sport specialization. Popular press outlets, including newspapers, books, magazines, and online sources, have also joined the debate over the merits of sport specialization.
The reinvigoration of the Southern Ocean carbon sink
Authors: Landschützer Peter , Gruber Nicolas , Haumann F. Alexander , Rödenbeck Christian , Bakker Dorothee C. E. , van Heuven Steven , Hoppema Mario , Metzl Nicolas , Sweeney Colm , Takahashi Taro , Tilbrook Bronte , Wanninkhof Rik
Published: September 2015

Uptake uptick

Has global warming slowed the uptake of atmospheric CO
2
by the Southern Ocean? Landschützer
et al.
say no (see the Perspective by Fletcher). Previous work suggested that the strength of the Southern Ocean carbon sink fell during the 1990s. This raised concerns that such a decline would exacerbate the rise of atmospheric CO
2
and thereby increase global surface air temperatures and ocean acidity. The newer data show that the Southern Ocean carbon sink strengthened again over the past decade, which illustrates the dynamic nature of the process and alleviates some of the anxiety about its earlier weakening trend.

Science
, this issue p.
1221
; see also p.
1165
Direct observation of ultrafast collective motions in CO myoglobin upon ligand dissociation
Authors: Barends Thomas R. M. , Foucar Lutz , Ardevol Albert , Nass Karol , Aquila Andrew , Botha Sabine , Doak R. Bruce , Falahati Konstantin , Hartmann Elisabeth , Hilpert Mario , Heinz Marcel , Hoffmann Matthias C. , Köfinger Jürgen , Koglin Jason E. , Kovacsova Gabriela , Liang Mengning , Milathianaki Despina , Lemke Henrik T. , Reinstein Jochen , Roome Christopher M. , Shoeman Robert L. , Williams Garth J. , Burghardt Irene , Hummer Gerhard , Boutet Sébastien , Schlichting Ilme
Published: September 2015

Observing ultrafast myoglobin dynamics

The oxygen-storage protein myoglobin was the first to have its three-dimensional structure determined and remains a workhorse for understanding how protein structure relates to function. Barends
et al.
used x-ray free-electron lasers with femtosecond short pulses to directly observe motions that occur within half a picosecond of CO dissociation (see the Perspective by Neutze). Combining the experiments with simulations shows that ultrafast motions of the heme couple to subpicosecond protein motions, which in turn couple to large-scale motions.

Science
, this issue p.
445
, see also p.
381
Interference of atomic clocks
Authors: Arndt Markus , Brand Christian
Published: September 2015

The time dilation of gravity is mimicked with atomic clocks in magnetic fields

[Also see Report by

Margalit
et al.

]
An increasing carbon sink?
Authors: Mikaloff-Fletcher S. E.
Published: September 2015

Southern Ocean carbon uptake may have strengthened between 2002 and 2012, slowing climate change

[Also see Report by

Landschützer
et al.

]
Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces caatingaensis
CMAA 1322, a New Abiotic Stress-Tolerant Actinomycete Isolated from Dried Lake Bed Sediment in the Brazilian Caatinga Biome
Authors: Santos Suikinai Nobre , Gacesa Ranko , Taketani Rodrigo Gouvêa , Long Paul F. , Melo Itamar Soares
Published: September 2015

The genome sequence of the first
Streptomyces
species isolated from the Brazilian Caatinga is reported here. Genes related to environmental stress tolerance were prevalent and included many secondary metabolic gene clusters.
Orbital fractures in the emergency department: a review of early assessment and management
Authors: Delpachitra S N , Rahmel B B
Published: September 2015

Orbital fractures are a common, potentially vision-threatening presentation to an emergency department. Appropriate early management and referral by the emergency medicine practitioner has a significant role in preventing cosmetic and functional sequelae of orbital trauma. In this paper, we review the emergency, non-specialist management of traumatic injuries to the orbit.
School smoking policies and educational inequalities in smoking behaviour of adolescents aged 14–17 years in Europe
Authors: Kuipers Mirte A G , de Korte Rosaline , Soto Victoria Eugenia , Richter Matthias , Moor Irene , Rimpelä Arja H , Perelman Julian , Federico Bruno , Kunst Anton E , Lorant Vincent
Published: September 2015

Background

Studies on the effects of school smoking policies are inconclusive and there is no research on whether the effects of school policies vary by educational level. We examined the association between school smoking policies and smoking behaviour among adolescents aged 14–17 years in Europe and assessed educational inequalities in these associations.

Methods

Data on 10 325 adolescents from 50 schools in six European cities were obtained from the 2013 SILNE survey. We measured student perceived policy, staff reported policy and its three subscales: regulations, communication and sanctions. The association between school policies and smoking outcomes (daily smoking and smoking on school premises) was adjusted for individual characteristics and for parental smoking. We tested interaction between school policies and educational level.

Results

Daily smoking was not associated with school smoking policies (eg, OR total policy=1.04, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.16 and OR student perceived policy=1.04, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.10). Smoking on school premises was less prevalent in schools with stronger staff reported total policy (OR=0.71, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.96). Other policy variables were also negatively associated with smoking on school premises, but not significantly (eg, OR student perceived policy=0.89, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.02). Associations between policy and smoking on school premises tended to be stronger in those with a low educational level, but none of the interactions tested were statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that school smoking policies may not have a direct effect on daily smoking but may reduce smoking on the school premises. We found no clear evidence for the effects of school policies to differ by educational level.
Atrioesophageal fistula following ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation: systematic review of case reports
Authors: Chavez Patricia , Messerli Franz H , Casso Dominguez Abel , Aziz Emad F , Sichrovsky Tina , Garcia Daniel , Barrett Connor D , Danik Stephan
Published: September 2015

Background

Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but serious adverse event of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Objective

To identify the clinical characteristics of AEF following ablation procedures for AF and determine the associated mortality.

Methods

A systematic review of observational cases of AEF following ablation procedures for AF was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement protocol.

Results

53 cases were identified. Mean age was 54±13 years; 73% (39/53) of cases occurred in males. Mean interval between procedure and presentation was 20±12 days, ranging from 2 to 60 days. AEF was observed in 12 patients who underwent surgical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and in 41 patients with percutaneous RFA. Fever was the most common presenting symptom (n=44) followed by neurological deficits (n=27) and haematemesis (n=19). CT of the chest (n=27) was the preferred diagnostic test. Patients who did not receive a primary esophageal repair were more likely to have a deadly outcome (34% vs 83%; p<0.05). No difference in mortality rate was found between patients who underwent surgical RFA when compared with percutaneous RFA (58% vs 56%; p=0.579). No association was found between onset of symptoms and mortality (19±10 vs 23±14 days; p=0.355).

Conclusions

AEF following ablation procedures for AF is a serious complication with high mortality rates. Presenting symptoms most often include a triad of fever, neurological deficit and/or haematemesis within 60 days of procedure. The preferred diagnostic test is CT of the chest. The treatments of choice is surgical repair.
Long-term effect of potassium chloride treatment on improving the soil behavior of highly sensitive clay — Ulvensplitten, Norway
Authors: Helle Tonje Eide , Nordal Steinar , Aagaard Per , Lied Ole Kristian
Published: September 2015

Re-establishing high salt concentration in leached low-saline, highly sensitive clays significantly improves their mechanical properties. Long-term effects on quick clay exposed to diffusion of potassium chloride (KCl) from salt wells installed in 1972 at Ulvensplitten, Oslo, Norway, are investigated. The increased undrained and remolded shear strengths, as well as increased Atterberg limits, remain 30 to 40 years later. The undisturbed shear strength increased from less than 10 to 25–30 kPa, and the remolded shear strength increased from less than 0.5 to more than 6 kPa. The liquid limit increased beyond the natural water content. Adding KCl to quick clay improved the properties to such an extent that it no longer appears as quick. Recent ground investigations in the area suggest a permanent effect on an engineering time scale. Consequently, the method may be suitable to prevent large flow slides in quick clay areas.
Phosphate solubilization and promotion of maize growth by Penicillium oxalicum P4 and Aspergillus niger P85 in a calcareous soil
Authors: Yin Zhongwei , Shi Fachao , Jiang Hongmei , Roberts Daniel P. , Chen Sanfeng , Fan Bingquan
Published: September 2015

Alternative tactics for improving phosphorus nutrition in crop production are needed in China and elsewhere, as the overapplication of phosphatic fertilizers can adversely impact agricultural sustainability. Penicillium oxalicum P4 and Aspergillus niger P85 were isolated from a calcareous soil in China that had been exposed to excessive application of phosphatic fertilizer for decades. Each isolate excreted a number of organic acids into, acidified, and solubilized phosphorus in a synthetic broth containing insoluble tricalcium phosphate or rock phosphate. Isolate P4, applied as a seed treatment, increased maize fresh mass per plant when rock phosphate was added to the calcareous soil in greenhouse pot studies. Isolate P85 did not increase maize fresh mass per plant but did significantly increase total phosphorus per plant when rock phosphate was added. Significant increases in 7 and 4 organic acids were detected in soil in association with isolates P4 and P85, respectively, relative to the soil-only control. The quantity and (or) number of organic acids produced by these isolates increased when rock phosphate was added to the soil. Both isolates also significantly increased available phosphorus in soil in the presence of added rock phosphate and effectively colonized the maize rhizosphere. Studies reported here indicate that isolate P4 is adapted to and capable of promoting maize growth in a calcareous soil. Plant-growth promotion by this isolate is likely due, at least in part, to increased phosphorus availability resulting from the excretion of organic acids into, and the resulting acidification of, this soil.
Can maternal DHA supplementation offer long-term protection against neonatal hyperoxic lung injury?
Authors: Lingappan Krithika , Moorthy Bhagavatula
Published: September 2015

The effect of adverse perinatal environment (like maternal infection) has long-standing effects on many organ systems, including the respiratory system. Use of maternal nutritional supplements is an exciting therapeutic option that could be used to protect the developing fetus. In a recent issue of the journal, Ali and associates (Ali M, Heyob KM, Velten M, Tipple TE, Rogers LK. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 309: L441–L448, 2015) specifically look at maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation and its effect on chronic apoptosis in the lung in a mouse model of perinatal inflammation and postnatal hyperoxia. Strikingly, the authors show that pulmonary apoptosis was augmented even 8 wk after the hyperoxia-exposed mice had been returned to room air. This effect was significantly attenuated in mice that were subjected to maternal dietary DHA supplementation. These findings are novel, significantly advance our understanding of chronic effects of adverse perinatal and neonatal events on the developing lung, and thereby offer novel therapeutic options in the form of maternal dietary supplementation with DHA. This editorial reviews the long-term effects of adverse perinatal environment on postnatal lung development and the protective effects of dietary supplements such as DHA.
Effects of serotonergic agents on respiratory recovery after cervical spinal injury
Authors: Hsu Shih-Hui , Lee Kun-Ze
Published: September 2015

Unilateral cervical spinal cord hemisection (i.e., C2Hx) usually interrupts the bulbospinal respiratory pathways and results in respiratory impairment. It has been demonstrated that activation of the serotonin system can promote locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury. The present study was designed to investigate whether serotonergic activation can improve respiratory function during the chronic injury state. Bilateral diaphragm electromyogram and tidal volume were measured in anesthetized and spontaneously breathing adult rats at 8 wk post-C2Hx or C2laminectomy. A bolus intravenous injection of a serotonin precursor [5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 10 mg/kg], a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine, 10 mg/kg), or a potent agonist for serotonin 2A receptors (TCB-2, 0.05 mg/kg) was used to activate the serotonergic system. Present results demonstrated that 5-HTP and TCB-2, but not fluoxetine, significantly increased the inspiratory activity of the diaphragm electromyogram ipsilateral to the lesion for at least 30 min in C2Hx animals, but not in animals that received sham surgery. However, the tidal volume was not increased after administration of 5-HTP or TCB-2, indicating that the enhancement of ipsilateral diaphragm activity is not associated with improvement of the tidal volume. These results suggest that exogenous activation of the serotonergic system can specifically enhance the ipsilateral diaphragmatic motor outputs, but this approach may not be sufficient to improve respiratory functional recovery following chronic cervical spinal injury.
Delayed Graft Function in Kidney Transplants: Time Evolution, Role of Acute Rejection, Risk Factors, and Impact on Patient and Graft Outcome
Authors: Chaumont Martin , Racapé Judith , Broeders Nilufer , El Mountahi Fadoua , Massart Annick , Baudoux Thomas , Hougardy Jean-Michel , Mikhalsky Dimitri , Hamade Anwar , Le Moine Alain , Abramowicz Daniel , Vereerstraeten Pierre
Published: September 2015

Background. Although numerous risk factors for delayed graft function (DGF) have been identified, the role of ischemia-reperfusion injury and acute rejection episodes (ARE) occurring during the DGF period is ill-defined and DGF impact on patient and graft outcome remains controversial.Methods. From 1983 to 2014, 1784 kidney-only transplantations from deceased donors were studied. Classical risk factors for DGF along with two novel ones, recipient’s perioperative saline loading and residual diuresis, were analyzed by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results. Along with other risk factors, absence of perioperative saline loading increases acute rejection incidence (OR = 1.9 [1.2–2.9]). Moreover, we observed two novel risk factors for DGF: patient’s residual diuresis ≤500 mL/d (OR = 2.3 [1.6–3.5]) and absence of perioperative saline loading (OR = 3.3 [2.0–5.4]). Area under the curve of the ROC curve (0.77 [0.74–0.81]) shows an excellent discriminant power of our model, irrespective of rejection. DGF does not influence patient survival(P=0.54). However, graft survival is decreased only when rejection was associated with DGF(P<0.001).  Conclusions. Perioperative saline loading efficiently prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is the predominant factor inducing DGF. DGFper sehas no influence on patient and graft outcome. Its incidence is currently close to 5% in our centre.
On the Synthesis of Molybdenum Nanoparticles under Reducing Conditions in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Ayi Ayi A. , Anyama Chinyere A. , Khare Varsha
Published: September 2015

We report on attempts to synthesize Mo nanoparticles under reducing conditions in ionic liquids (ILs). Ionic liquids were based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Emim and Bmim, resp.) cations and the dicyanamide N(CN)2, triflate (OTf), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-(NTf2), tetrafluoroborate (BF4), ethyl sulfate (ES), and methylsulfonate (MS) anions. (NH4)6Mo7O24∗4H2O and NaBH4 were reacted in a set of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) at 180°C to evaluate the potential of the ILs for stabilization of metallic Mo nanoparticles. XRD and TEM reveal a strong influence of the IL anion on the particle sizes, shapes, and crystal structures. The influence of the IL cation and the reaction temperature is much less pronounced.
Dysphagia and Neck Swelling in a Case of Undiagnosed Lhermitte-Duclos Disease and Cowden Syndrome
Authors: Hu Zishuo Ian , Bangiyev Lev , Seidman Roberta J. , Cohen Jules A.
Published: September 2015

We report a case of a 37-year-old woman presenting with dysphagia and thyroid masses who was subsequently diagnosed with Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) based on MRI scan and histopathology. Additional imaging subsequently revealed the presence of thyroid nodules and bilateral breast cancers. Genetic testing later confirmed the diagnosis of Cowden syndrome. This case illustrates the importance of the overlap between LDD, Cowden syndrome, thyroid disease, and breast cancer.
A Hybrid Intelligent Search Algorithm for Automatic Test Data Generation
Authors: Xing Ying , Gong Yun-Zhan , Wang Ya-Wen , Zhang Xu-Zhou
Published: September 2015

The increasing complexity of large-scale real-world programs necessitates the automation of software testing. As a basic problem in software testing, the automation of path-wise test data generation is especially important, which is in essence a constraint optimization problem solved by search strategies. Therefore, the constraint processing efficiency of the selected search algorithm is a key factor. Aiming at the increase of search efficiency, a hybrid intelligent algorithm is proposed to efficiently search the solution space of potential test data by making full use of both global and local search methods. Branch and bound is adopted for global search, which gives definite results with relatively less cost. In the search procedure for each variable, hill climbing is adopted for local search, which is enhanced with the initial values selected heuristically based on the monotonicity analysis of branching conditions. They are highly integrated by an efficient ordering method and the backtracking operation. In order to facilitate the search methods, the solution space is represented as state space. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperformed some other methods used in test data generation. The heuristic initial value selection strategy improves the search efficiency greatly and makes the search basically backtrack-free. The results also demonstrate that the proposed method is applicable in engineering.
TDR Technique for Estimating the Intensity of Evapotranspiration of Turfgrasses
Authors: Janik Grzegorz , Wolski Karol , Daniel Anna , Albert Małgorzata , Skierucha Wojciech , Wilczek Andrzej , Szyszkowski Paweł , Walczak Amadeusz
Published: September 2015

The paper presents a method for precise estimation of evapotranspiration of selected turfgrass species. The evapotranspiration functions, whose domains are only two relatively easy to measure parameters, were developed separately for each of the grass species. Those parameters are the temperature and the volumetric moisture of soil at the depth of 2.5 cm. Evapotranspiration has the character of a modified logistic function with empirical parameters. It assumes the form , where: ETR(θ2.5 cm, T2.5 cm) is evapotranspiration [mm·h−1], θ2.5 cm is volumetric moisture of soil at the depth of 2.5 cm [m3·m−3], T2.5 cm is soil temperature at the depth of 2.5 cm [°C], and A, B, and C are empirical coefficients calculated individually for each of the grass species [mm·h1], and [—], [(m3·m−3·°C)−1]. The values of evapotranspiration calculated on the basis of the presented function can be used as input data for the design of systems for the automatic control of irrigation systems ensuring optimum moisture conditions in the active layer of lawn swards.
Enriched Element-Free Galerkin Method for Fracture Analysis of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Materials
Authors: Meng Guang Wei , Wang Hui , Zhou Li Ming , Li Feng
Published: September 2015

A new method using the enriched element-free Galerkin method (EEFGM) to model functionally graded piezoelectric materials (FGPMs) with cracks was presented. To improve the solution accuracy, extended terms were introduced into the approximation function of the conventional element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) to describe the displacement and electric fields near the crack. Compared with the conventional EFGM, the new approach requires smaller domain to describe the crack-tip singular field. Additionally, the domain of the nodes was not affected by the crack. Therefore, the visibility method and the diffraction method were no longer needed. The mechanical response of FGPM was discussed, when its material parameters changed exponentially in a certain direction. The modifiedJ-integrals for FGPM were deduced, whose results were compared with the results of the conventional EFGM and the analytical solution. Numerical example results illustrated that this method is feasible and precise.
Modulation of Immunity and Inflammation by the Mineralocorticoid Receptor and Aldosterone
Authors: Muñoz-Durango N. , Vecchiola A. , Gonzalez-Gomez L. M. , Simon F. , Riedel C. A. , Fardella C. E. , Kalergis A. M.
Published: September 2015

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a ligand dependent transcription factor. MR has been traditionally associated with the control of water and electrolyte homeostasis in order to keep blood pressure through aldosterone activation. However, there is growing evidence indicating that MR expression is not restricted to vascular and renal tissues, as it can be also expressed by cells of the immune system, where it responds to stimulation or antagonism, controlling immune cell function. On the other hand, aldosterone also has been associated with proinflammatory immune effects, such as the release of proinflammatory cytokines, generating oxidative stress and inducing fibrosis. The inflammatory participation of MR and aldosterone in the cardiovascular disease suggests an association with alterations in the immune system. Hypertensive patients show higher levels of proinflammatory mediators that can be modulated by MR antagonism. Although these proinflammatory properties have been observed in other autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects remain unknown. Here we review and discuss the scientific work aimed at determining the immunological role of MR and aldosterone in humans, as well as animal models.
Deep Neural Networks with Multistate Activation Functions
Authors: Cai Chenghao , Xu Yanyan , Ke Dengfeng , Su Kaile
Published: September 2015

We propose multistate activation functions (MSAFs) for deep neural networks (DNNs). These MSAFs are new kinds of activation functions which are capable of representing more than two states, including theN-order MSAFs and the symmetrical MSAF. DNNs with these MSAFs can be trained via conventional Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) as well as mean-normalised SGD. We also discuss how these MSAFs perform when used to resolve classification problems. Experimental results on the TIMIT corpus reveal that, on speech recognition tasks, DNNs with MSAFs perform better than the conventional DNNs, getting a relative improvement of 5.60% on phoneme error rates. Further experiments also reveal that mean-normalised SGD facilitates the training processes of DNNs with MSAFs, especially when being with large training sets. The models can also be directly trained without pretraining when the training set is sufficiently large, which results in a considerable relative improvement of 5.82% on word error rates.
Kinome RNAi Screens Reveal Synergistic Targeting of MTOR and FGFR1 Pathways for Treatment of Lung Cancer and HNSCC
Authors: Singleton Katherine R. , Hinz Trista K. , Kleczko Emily K. , Marek Lindsay A. , Kwak Jeff , Harp Taylor , Kim Jihye , Tan Aik Choon , Heasley Lynn E.
Published: September 2015

The FGFR1 is a therapeutic target under investigation in multiple solid tumors and clinical trials of selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are underway. Treatment with a single TKI represents a logical step toward personalized cancer therapy, but intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms limit their long-term benefit. In this study, we deployed RNAi-based functional genomic screens to identify protein kinases controlling the intrinsic sensitivity of FGFR1-dependent lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) cells to ponatinib, a multikinase FGFR-active inhibitor. We identified and validated a synthetic lethal interaction between MTOR and ponatinib in non–small cell lung carcinoma cells. In addition, treatment with MTOR-targeting shRNAs and pharmacologic inhibitors revealed that MTOR is an essential protein kinase in other FGFR1-expressing cancer cells. The combination of FGFR inhibitors and MTOR or AKT inhibitors resulted in synergistic growth suppression in vitro. Notably, tumor xenografts generated from FGFR1-dependent lung cancer cells exhibited only modest sensitivity to monotherapy with the FGFR-specific TKI, AZD4547, but when combined with the MTOR inhibitor, AZD2014, significantly attenuated tumor growth and prolonged survival. Our findings support the existence of a signaling network wherein FGFR1-driven ERK and activated MTOR/AKT represent distinct arms required to induce full transformation. Furthermore, they suggest that clinical efficacy of treatments for FGFR1-driven lung cancers and HNSCC may be achieved by combining MTOR inhibitors and FGFR-specific TKIs. Cancer Res; 75(20); 4398–406. ©2015 AACR.
HMDB and 5-AzadC Combination Reverses Tumor Suppressor CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein Delta to Strengthen the Death of Liver Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Chien-Feng , Tsai Hsin-Hwa , Ko Chiung-Yuan , Pan Yen-Chun , Yen Chia-Jui , Lai Hong-Yue , Yuh Chiou-Hwa , Wu Wan-Chen , Wang Ju-Ming
Published: September 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can arise from chronic inflammation due to viral infection, organ damage, drug toxicity, or alcohol abuse. Moreover, gene desensitization via aberrant CpG island methylation is a frequent epigenetic defect in HCC. However, the details of how inflammation is linked with epigenetic-mediated desensitization of tumor suppressor genes remains less investigated. In this study, we found that loss of CEBPD enhances the growth of liver cancer cells and is associated with the occurrence of liver cancers, as determined by the assessment of clinical specimens and in vivo animal models. Moreover, E2F1-regulated epigenetic axis attenuated CEBPD expression in liver cancer cells. CEBPD is responsive to the hydroxymethyldibenzoylmethane (HMDB)-induced p38/CREB pathway and plays an important role in the HMDB-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Regarding depression of epigenetic effects to enhance HMDB-induced CEBPD expression, the combination of HMDB and 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC) could enhance the death of liver cancer cells and reduce the tumor formation of Huh7 xenograft mice. In conclusion, these results suggest that CEBPD could be a useful diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in HCC. The results also reveal the therapeutic potential for low-dose 5-AzadC to enhance the HMDB-induced death of HCC cells. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(11); 2623–33. ©2015 AACR.
Histone Demethylase JMJD2A Inhibition Attenuates Neointimal Hyperplasia in the Carotid Arteries of Balloon-Injured Diabetic Rats via Transcriptional Silencing: Inflammatory Gene Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Qi Hu , Jing Zhang , Xiaolin Wu , Changwu Xu , Xiaorong Hu , Jian Yang , Jing Chen , Hong Jiang
Published: September 2015

Background/Aims: Diabetic patients suffer from severe neointimal hyperplasia following angioplasty. The epigenetic abnormalities are increasingly considered to be relevant to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiovascular complications. But the epigenetic mechanisms linking diabetes and coronary restenosis have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of demethylases JMJD2A inhibition in balloon-injury induced neointimal formation in diabetic rats. Methods: JMJD2A inhibition was achieved by the chemical inhibitor 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). In vitro, we investigated the proliferation, migration and inflammation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to high glucose (HG). In vivo, diabetic rats induced using high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (35mg/kg) underwent carotid artery balloon injury. Morphometric analysis was performed using hematein eosin and immumohistochemical staining. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was conducted to detect modification of H3K9me3 at inflammatory genes promoters. Results: The global JMJD2A was increased in HG-stimulated VSMCs and balloon-injured arteries of diabetic rats, accompanied by decreased H3K9me3. The inhibition of JMJD2A suppressed VSMCs proliferation, migration and inflammation induced by high glucose (HG) in vitro. And JMJDA2A inhibition attenuated neointimal formation in balloon-injured diabetic rats. The underlying mechanisms were relevant to the restoration of H3K9me3 levels at the promoters of MCP-1 and IL-6, and then the suppressed expression of MCP-1 and IL-6. Conclusion: The JMJD2A inhibition significantly attenuated neointimal formation in balloon injured diabetic rats via the suppression of VSMCs proliferation, migration, and inflammation by restoring H3K9me3.