bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simplified laparoscopic sacropexy avoiding deep vaginal dissection
Authors: Cosma Stefano , Petruzzelli Paolo , Chiadò Fiorio Tin Michela , Parisi Silvia , Olearo Elena , Fassio Federica , Zizzo Roberto , Danese Saverio , Benedetto Chiara
Published: August 2018

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a “simplified” laparoscopic sacropexy approach.

Methods

Data were retrospectively assessed from women with apical prolapse of stage 2 or higher who underwent “simplified” laparoscopic sacropexy between October 1, 2010, and May 31, 2017 at the St Anna Hospital, City of Health and Science, Torino, Italy. Patients were treated with the “simplified” laparoscopic sacropexy, where meshes were anchored solely to the vaginal apex, even in the presence of advanced multi‐compartment vaginal prolapse. Data on prolapse stage and urogenital functions collected through clinical examinations, and questionnaires at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and annually thereafter were examined.

Results

Overall, 121 women were included in the analysis; the mean follow‐up was 33.2 months. Mean operative time was 135.1 minutes; there were no intraoperative visceral or vascular injuries. There was 1 (0.8%) patient who experienced recurrence, and 2 (1.7%) who experienced vaginal erosion. Both urogenital symptom scores (all P<0.05) and quality of life scores (all P<0.05) improved significantly.

Conclusion

Adequate re‐suspension of only the apex was sufficient to correct other vaginal compartments, even for women with preoperative multi‐compartment prolapse higher than POP‐Q stage 2. The “simplified” laparoscopic sacropexy was an efficacious intraoperative time‐saving technique; it could reduce adverse events caused by deep vaginal dissection up to puborectal muscles and the bladder trigone.
Intertwin membrane separation in dichorionic twin pregnancy associated with intrauterine co‐twin demise
Authors: Suzuki Shunji
Published: August 2018

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of intertwin membrane separation complicated by single intrauterine fetal demise in dichorionic twin pregnancy.
Girls and boys: Economic crisis, fertility, and birth outcomes
Authors: Lee Soohyung , Orsini Chiara
Published: August 2018

We investigate the impact of an economic downturn on natality and birth weight for newborns when parents prefer sons. We examine South Korea, unexpectedly hit by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. For identification, we exploit regional and time variation in the crisis, focusing on women who were already pregnant when the downturn began. We find that the number of girls would have been 2% higher absent the crisis and that birth outcomes for girls were no better than those for boys—findings that differ from the Trivers–Willard Hypothesis. This relative disadvantage of girls is more severe among newborns who have at least two older siblings.
Development and in vivo test of a miniature Raman probe for early cancer detection in the peripheral lung
Authors: McGregor Hanna C. , Short Michael A. , Lam Stephen , Shaipanich Tawimas , Beaudoin Eve‐Léa , Zeng Haishan
Published: August 2018

The management of cancer in the periphery lung is in critical need of new strategies. Here, the development and test of a novel miniature Raman probe capable of navigating the peripheral lung architecture is reported. The probe was 1.35 mm in diameter, with a minimum bend radius of 13 mm and had a large light collection area for its size. Peripheral lung Raman spectra were successfully obtained from normal tissue and cancerous nodule using the probe coupled to a home‐made rapid Raman spectroscopy system with a fast integration time of 1 second and a low excitation power of 15 mW. This is the first time in vivo Raman spectra from the periphery lung being reported. The collected spectra showed lipid, protein and deoxyhemoglobin signatures that might be useful for classifying pathology. Large scale clinical study is planned to confirm the utility of this new technology for improving periphery lung cancer detection. Left: Radial ultrasound image of a peripheral lung nodule: size given by crosshairs D1 and D2. Right: Truncated Raman spectra of a cancerous nodule, whole blood, and normal peripheral airway tissue. Spectra were shifted on intensity scale for clarity.
NFκB sensing IL‐4 secreting mesenchymal stem cells mitigate the proinflammatory response of macrophages exposed to polyethylene wear particles
Authors: Lin Tzuhua , Kohno Yusuke , Huang Jhih‐Fong , Romero‐Lopez Monica , Pajarinen Jukka , Maruyama Masahiro , Nathan Karthik , Yao Zhenyu , Goodman Stuart B.
Published: August 2018

Total joint replacement is a highly effective treatment for patients with end‐stage arthritis. Proinflammatory macrophages (M1) mediate wear particle‐associated inflammation and bone loss. Anti‐inflammatory macrophages (M2) help resolve tissue damage and favor bone regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)‐based therapy mitigates the M1 dominated inflammatory reaction and favorably modulates the bone remodeling process. In the current study, the immunomodulating ability of (1) unmodified MSCs, (2) MSCs preconditioned by NFκB stimulating ligands [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus TNFα], and (3) genetically modified MSCs that secrete IL‐4 as a response to NFκB activation (NFκB‐IL4) was compared in a macrophage/MSC co‐culture system. Sterile or LPS‐contaminated ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene particles were used to induce the proinflammatory responses in the macrophages. Contaminated particles induced M1 marker expression (TNFα, IL1β, and iNOS), while NFκB‐IL4 MSCs modulated the macrophages from an M1 phenotype into a more favorable M2 phenotype (Arginase 1/Arg 1 and CD206 high). The IL4 secretion by NFκB‐IL4 MSCs was significantly induced by the contaminated particles. The induction of Arg 1 and CD206 in macrophages via the preconditioned or naïve MSCs was negligible when compared with NFκB‐IL4 MSC. Our findings indicated that NFκB‐IL4 MSCs have the “on‐demand” immunomodulatory ability to mitigate wear particle‐associated inflammation with minimal adverse effects. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2744–2752, 2018.
A theoretical quantitative estimation of acidity of uracil and its derivatives through the pKa values
Authors: Ilyina Margarita G. , Khamitov Edward M. , Mustafin Akhat G. , Khursan Sergey L.
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we propose a computational scheme for the theoretical estimation of gas‐phase acidity of uracil and its derivatives. The calculation of the acidities (рKа) of the compounds under study was performed using quantum chemical calculations with the composite G3MP2B3 method. The solvent effect was taken into account within the polarizable continuum model and density functional theory calculations by the Polarizable continuum model (solvate model density) ‐ the exchange functional of Tao, Perdew, Staroverov, and Scuseria method. We evaluated the influence of the nonspecific solvation using two approaches (single‐point calculations versus full optimization of the studied structures) and found that the use of full optimization of the geometry of the compound for calculating the solvent effect significantly enhances the accuracy of numerical estimation of the рKа values. The mean absolute deviation decreases by 0.60 and 0.37 units of рKа in the case of the single‐point and full‐optimization approaches, respectively. The most pronounced advantage of the latter approach is its universality. Indeed, because of the implicit accounting of solvation, this computational scheme may be applied to the calculations of the рKа values of any class of compounds without reservations. The proposed computational scheme for the estimation of acidity opens new opportunities for further studies in the field of acidity.
Synthesis, structures, and properties of Co(II) and Zn(II) coordination polymers based on 1,3‐dicarbo‐hydrazine benzene
Authors: Zhang Jianxin , Liu Yuancheng , Wang Jun
Published: August 2018

Two coordination polymers, CoII(dchb)(H2O)2[NO3]2·2H2O (CP1) and ZnII(dchb)(H2O)[NO3]2·2H2O (CP2) (dchb = 1,3‐dicarbo‐hydrazine benzene), were synthesized by the reaction of dchb with the corresponding nitrate under hydrothermal conditions. CP1 and CP2 were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, CHN elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that CP1 and CP2 are isostructural: they both crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n and possess one‐dimensional structures. Moreover, their activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was investigated in the degradation of ibuprofen in an aqueous solution under neutral pH conditions. The results showed that ibuprofen degradation activated by CP2 was not successful, but efficient degradation of ibuprofen was achieved by CP1.
Oxidative stress‐induced dysregulation of excitation–contraction coupling contributes to muscle weakness
Authors: Qaisar Rizwan , Bhaskaran Shylesh , Premkumar Pavithra , Ranjit Rojina , Natarajan Kavithalakshmi Satara , Ahn Bumsoo , Riddle Kaitlyn , Claflin Dennis R. , Richardson Arlan , Brooks Susan V. , Van Remmen Holly
Published: August 2018

Background

We have previously shown that the deletion of the superoxide scavenger, CuZn superoxide dismutase, in mice (Sod1−/−mice) results in increased oxidative stress and an accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and force that mirror the changes seen in old control mice. The goal of this study is to define the effect of oxidative stress and ageing on muscle weakness and the Excitation Contraction (EC) coupling machinery in age‐matched adult (8–10 months) wild‐type (WT) andSod1−/−mice in comparison with old (25–28 months) WT mice.

Methods

In vitrocontractile assays were used to measure muscle contractile parameters. The activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase (SERCA) pump was measured using an NADH‐linked enzyme assay. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence techniques were used to measure protein expression, and real‐time reverse transcription PCR was used to measure gene expression.

Results

The specific force generated by the extensor digitorum longus muscle was reduced in theSod1−/−and old WT mice compared with young WT mice along with significant prolongation of time to peak force, increased half relaxation time, and disruption of intracellular calcium handling. The maximal activity of the SERCA calcium uptake pump was significantly reduced in gastrocnemius muscle from both old WT (≈14%) and adultSod1−/−(≈33%) mice compared with young WT mice along with increased expression of sarcolipin, a known inhibitor of SERCA activity. Protein levels of the voltage sensor and calcium uptake channel proteins dihydropyridine receptor α1 and SERCA2 were significantly elevated (≈45% and ≈57%, respectively), while the ratio of calstabin, a channel stabilizing protein, to ryanodine receptor was significantly reduced (≈21%) inSod1−/−mice compared with young WT mice. The changes in calcium handling were accompanied by substantially elevated levels of global protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the muscle weakness inSod1−/−and old WT mice is in part driven by reactive oxygen species‐mediated EC uncoupling and supports a role for reduced SERCA pump activity in compromised muscle function. The novel quantitative mechanistic data provided here can lead to potential therapeutic interventions of SERCA dysfunction for sarcopenia and muscle diseases.
Cover Image, Volume 93, Issue 9
Authors: Yang Yi , Zhang Huiping , Yan Ying
Published: August 2018

The cover image, by Yi Yang et al., is based on the Research Article Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of m‐cresol over novel Fe2O3 loaded microfibrous entrapped CNT composite catalyst in a fixed‐bed reactor, DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5609.

image
Platinum(II) reduction to platinum nanoparticles in anaerobic sludge
Authors: Simon‐Pascual Alvaro , Sierra‐Alvarez Reyes , Field Jim A
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

To help mitigate future problems in the supply of platinum group metals (PGM) due to their scarcity and high demand, new recovery processes must be developed. Microbial processes are a great alternative for the recovery of PGM from waste since they are clean and environmentally friendly techniques. This research studied the microbial reduction of Pt(II) using an anaerobic granular sludge under different physiological conditions.

RESULTS

The anaerobic granular sludge was able to reduce Pt(II) to Pt(0) nanoparticles that were deposited intracellularly as well as extracellularly as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Hydrogen (H2) and formate supported the chemical reduction of Pt(II) while ethanol supported the biologically catalyzed reduction of Pt(II). Increasing initial concentrations of Pt(II), ethanol or biomass were each shown to increase the Pt(II) reduction rates.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reported for the first time the reduction of Pt(II) using anaerobic granular sludge and provided insights that could help develop biorecovery techniques to alleviate future problems in the supply of PGMs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Low oxygen start‐up of partial nitrification‐anammox process: mechanical or gas agitation?
Authors: Jara‐Muñoz Pamela , Guzmán‐Fierro Víctor , Arriagada Constanza , Campos Víctor , Campos José L , Gallardo‐Rodríguez Juan José , Fernández Katherina , Roeckel Marlene
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

Partial nitrification‐anammox (PN‐A) is a widely recognized technology to remove nitrogen from different types of wastewater. Low oxygen concentration is the most used strategy for PN‐A start‐up, but stability problems arise during the operation; thus, in the present study the effects of the type of agitation, oxygenation and shear stress on the sensitivity, energy consumption and performance were evaluated. Recognition of these parameters allows considered choice of the design of an industrial process for nitrogen abatement.

RESULTS

A mechanically agitated reactor (MAR) was compared to a stable, long‐term operation period bubble column reactor (BCR), both started under low dissolved oxygen concentration conditions. MAR microbial assays confirmed the destruction of the nitrifying layer and an imbalance of the entire process when the oxygen to nitrogen loading ratio (O2:N) decreased by 25%. The granule sedimentation rate and specific anammox activity were 17% and 87% higher (respectively) in BCR. Economic analysis determined that the cost of aeration for the MAR and for the BCR were 23.8% and 1% of the total PN‐A energy consumption, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The BCR showed better results than the MAR. This study highlights the importance of type of agitation, oxygenation and shear stress for industrial‐scale PN‐A designs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Validity of the Iwate criteria for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing minimally invasive liver resection
Authors: Krenzien Felix , Wabitsch Simon , Haber Philipp , Kamali Can , Brunnbauer Philipp , Benzing Christian , Atanasov Georgi , Wakabayashi Go , Öllinger Robert , Pratschke Johann , Schmelzle Moritz
Published: August 2018

Background

Recently proposed by the International Consensus Conference on Laparoscopic Liver Resection, the Iwate criteria (IC) can be used by surgeons to predict the operative difficulty of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and were validated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common indication for LLR.

Methods

The IC comprise six preoperative factors that allow the grading of operative difficulty as low, intermediate, advanced, or expert. IC scores were validated in patients with HCC who underwent LLR (n = 77).

Results

The median operative time was 212 min (range 57–461 min). The difficulty of the resections was categorized as low in 9% (n = 7), intermediate in 38% (n = 29), advanced in 36% (n = 28), and expert in 15% (n = 12) of the patients. IC score was significantly linked to operative time, length of stay and liver function (P < 0.05). The rates of postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo >II) for low, intermediate, advanced and expert were 0% (n = 0), 10% (n = 3), 3.5% (n = 1) and 50% (n = 6), respectively (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

The IC can be used to preoperatively assess difficulty of LLR and to predict postoperative complications in HCC patients. Thus, the IC score may be useful to differentiate easy procedures from difficult procedures and is ideal to build an LLR curriculum for upcoming surgeons.
Using medicolegal data to support safe medical care: A contributing factor coding framework
Authors: McCleery Adele , Devenny Kirsten , Ogilby Catherine , Dunn Cynthia , Steen Anne , Whyte Eileen , Darling Renee , VanderHoek Robin , MacIntyre Anna , Carpenter Stephanie , Wallace Gordon , Calder Lisa
Published: August 2018

Objective

Traditional medicolegal data analysis focuses on physician care, without a full acknowledgment of the effects of team, organizational, and system factors. We developed a patient safety–informed contributing factor framework to strengthen the coding and analysis of medicolegal data.

Materials and Methods

We incorporated patient safety theory and human factors science into our medicolegal case coding practices to improve our understanding of the many factors that contribute to medicolegal events.

Results and Discussion

A new framework was developed that has at its core, patients and their experience, and looks beyond the provider factors that are often the focus of medicolegal analysis to give greater consideration to the influence of team, organizational, and system factors. We anticipate that this substantial shift will strengthen our knowledge translation efforts to help improve the safety of medical care.

Conclusion

We believe that reframing medicolegal case coding systems to better identify the influence of team, organizational, and system factors will increase the utility of this analysis in patient safety research, and health care quality improvement.
Reliable semiquantitative whole‐joint MRI score for the shoulder joint: The shoulder osteoarthritis severity (SOAS) score
Authors: Jungmann Pia M. , Gersing Alexandra S. , Woertler Klaus , Dietrich Tobias J. , Baum Thomas , Baumann Frederic , Bensler Susanne
Published: August 2018

Background

Shoulder osteoarthritis causes severe pain and functional disability. Preventive surgical procedures aiming to halt the progression of degenerative changes are increasingly applied. However, no MRI‐based score exists that may be applied for scoring of osteoarthritic changes and their progression.

Purpose

To establish a semiquantitative MRI‐based shoulder osteoarthritis severity (SOAS) evaluation system and to test its reliability.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

A total of N = 60 patients (73.2 ± 7.3 years; 30/60 female) was included; n = 15 subjects for each of the four radiographic grades of osteoarthritis (Samilson score 0 to 3).

Assessment

Based on the MRIs of the shoulder, the SOAS scoring system was created. All MRIs were assessed by six readers. The severity of degeneration was evaluated for: rotator cuff, labral‐bicipital‐complex, cartilage, osseous findings, joint capsule, and acromion. The total SOAS score ranged between 0 (absence of osteoarthritis) and 100 (most severe osteoarthritis). SOAS scores were correlated with radiographic Samilson, Hamada and Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) gradings.

Statistics

Pearson correlations, t‐tests, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results

Intra‐ (ICC = 0.99) and interreader agreement (ICC 0.96–0.98) for the total SOAS score was excellent. The range of SOAS scores was from 1 to 88. SOAS correlated significantly with radiographic Samilson and KL scores (R = 0.82, P < 0.001), but not with Hamada scores (R = –0.07, P = 0.60). The highest correlations with Samilson scores were found for cartilage (R = 0.82, P < 0.001) and osseous findings (R = 0.86, P < 0.001). SOAS scores were significantly different between different Samilson grades (Samilson 0, 13.4 ± 7.6; Samilson 1, 26.0 ± 9.1; Samilson 2, 38.2 ± 19.2; Samilson 3, 65.5 ± 13.0; P < 0.05). The ability of the SOAS score to predict incident radiographic shoulder OA (KL grade ≥2) was excellent (AUC = 0.91; P < 0.001).

Data Conclusion

The newly developed semiquantitative MRI‐based SOAS score represents the severity of global shoulder OA and structure‐specific shoulder degeneration with excellent reliability in a standardized manner and may therefore be helpful in MRI research studies of the shoulder.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018.
The impact of a radiologist‐led workshop on MRI target volume delineation for radiotherapy
Authors: Kumar Shivani , Holloway Lois , Roach Dale , Pogson Elise , Veera Jacqueline , Batumalai Vikneswary , Lim Karen , Delaney Geoff P. , Lazarus Elizabeth , Borok Nira , Moses Daniel , Jameson Michael G. , Vinod Shalini
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used for target volume delineation in radiotherapy due to its superior soft tissue visualisation compared to computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a radiologist‐led workshop on inter‐observer variability in volume delineation on MRI.

Methods

Data from three separate studies evaluating the impact of MRI in lung, breast and cervix were collated. At pre‐workshop evaluation, observers involved in each clinical site were instructed to delineate specified volumes. Radiologists specialising in each cancer site conducted an interactive workshop on interpretation of images and anatomy for each clinical site. At post‐workshop evaluation, observers repeated delineation a minimum of 2 weeks after the workshops. Inter‐observer variability was evaluated using dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and volume similarity (VOLSIM) index comparing reference and observer volumes.

Results

Post‐workshop primary gross tumour volumes (GTV) were smaller than pre‐workshop volumes for lung with a mean percentage reduction of 10.4%. Breast clinical target volumes (CTV) were similar but seroma volumes were smaller post‐workshop on both supine (65% reduction) and prone MRI (73% reduction). Based on DSC scores, improvement in inter‐observer variability was seen for the seroma cavity volume on prone MRI with a reduction in DSC score range from 0.4–0.8 to 0.7–0.9. Breast CTV demonstrated good inter‐observer variability scores (mean DSC 0.9) for both pre‐ and post‐workshop. Post‐workshop observer delineated cervix GTV was smaller than pre‐workshop by 26.9%.

Conclusion

A radiologist‐led workshop did not significantly reduce inter‐observer variability in volume delineation for the three clinical sites. However, some improvement was noted in delineation of breast CTV, seroma volumes and cervix GTV.
Propensity‐Score Matched Comparative Study on Effects of Intravenous Human Serum Albumin Administration in Critically Ill Adult Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Mateu‐de Antonio Javier , Echeverria‐Esnal Daniel , Barceló‐Vidal Jaime , Fernández‐Sala Xènia
Published: August 2018

Background

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of intravenous human serum albumin administration (IV HSA) on nutrition markers, including non–serum‐albumin plasma protein levels, in adult critically ill patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN).

Methods

This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data. Patients included in an initial cohort were patients who initiated IV HSA within 24 hours of start of PN. A second cohort who did not received IV HSA during PN was manually selected, matching several variables. Subsequently, both cohorts were propensity‐score matched, resulting in 2 final cohorts: the cohort receiving IV HSA (ALB) and the cohort not receiving IV HSA (NOALB).

Results

A total of 42 patients, 21 in each cohort, entered the study. Both cohorts were similar in demographics, anthropometrics, comorbidities, diagnoses, PN composition, and severity of the disease, biochemistry, and nutrition markers. Patients in the ALB cohort received IV HSA at a dose of 30.0 g/day during 5 days. The ALB cohort presented higher values of final serum albumin level and serum albumin level change from baseline, but also presented lower values of final non–serum‐albumin plasma protein levels and their change and lower final prealbumin. In addition, bilirubin in the ALB cohort increased, whereas it decreased in the NOALB cohort.

Conclusion

Patients receiving IV HSA and PN for several days increased serum albumin level, but decreased non–serum‐albumin plasma protein levels. In addition, bilirubin clearance could be slightly impaired in these patients.
Characterizing formation processes of Rimrock Lake, a Late Pleistocene–Holocene playa, Harney Basin, south‐eastern Oregon, USA, using an end‐member mixing analysis
Authors: Collins Joe D. , Gill Thomas E. , Langford Richard
Published: August 2018

Playas collect sediments from different transported processes, producing grain‐size distributions (GSDs) reflecting changes in environment. End‐member mixing analysis (EMMA) was used to derive end‐members (EMs) from 256 sediment samples from Rimrock Lake (Harney Basin, Oregon, USA) and a nearby relict channel. EMMA identified six EMs representing deposition in fluvial, lacustrine, littoral and colluvial environments. Stratigraphy was time‐correlated using nine radiocarbon dates. Results show that Rimrock Lake existed by ∼ 18 535 cal a BP. A relict playa surface also was exposed along its margin and indicates lake contraction ∼ 6190–5990 cal a BP. In the relict channel, a dominant eolian environment is identified at ∼ 8000 cal a BP. These results represent a shift to a more arid environment in the Harney Basin beginning around the mid‐Holocene and are in general agreement with other studies reported in the Great Basin. This study demonstrates the application of EMMA for analyzing complex playa sediments and for linking environmental response across separate but related geomorphic environments. Our results provide a paleoenvironmental record along Harney Basin's western margin between ∼ 18 500 and 6000 cal a BP and demonstrate the use of small playas in the basin as environmental archives.
Saponins as Natural Raw Materials for Increasing the Safety of Bodywash Cosmetic Use
Authors: Nizioł‐Łukaszewska Zofia , Bujak Tomasz
Published: August 2018

Saponins are a class of active substances found in plants. They have gained widespread interest and popularity in the cosmetic industry, where they are used as natural washing, foaming, and emulsifying agents. Extracts of saponin‐rich plants have applications as active ingredients in cosmetics, mainly on account of their antioxidant, regenerative, and antiaging properties. This study was aimed at performing a comprehensive assessment of three saponin‐containing plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Viola tricolor, and Solanum dulcamara) as multifunctional cosmetic materials. The highest antioxidant potential was demonstrated for the V. tricolor extract. Isolated saponins were added to the formulations of model bodywash gels based on ingredients of natural origin. Compared to the (saponin‐free) baseline sample, the addition decreases the skin‐irritation potential of bodywash gels by about 40–50%. The strongest ability to reduce the irritant activity was noted for saponins isolated from S. dulcamara.
Effects of Oleic Acid and Phospholipids on the Formation of Lecithin Organogel and Microemulsion
Authors: Murashova Nataliya M. , Prokopova Liliya A. , Trofimova Ekaterina S. , Yurtov Eugeny V.
Published: August 2018

The formation of organogels and microemulsions of lecithin in the presence of a biocompatible cosurfactant, oleic acid, was studied. Low content of oleic acid ([oleic acid]/[lecithin] < 0.1) in the lecithin–oleic acid–dodecane–water system leads to an expansion of the region of existence and to a decrease in the viscosity of lecithin organogels. At high contents of oleic acid ([oleic acid]/[lecithin] > 0.6), low‐viscosity microemulsion exists in the system. Phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and other phospholipids that are present as impurities in the commercial samples of soybean lecithin can act as cosurfactants. For the first time, the formation of lecithin organogels in the systems containing commercial samples of soybean lecithin with phosphatidylcholine concentrations of 69.3 wt% (Lipoid S75) and 52.9 wt% (Lipoid S45) and saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons is demonstrated. The gelation is observed at T =25 °C in octane, decane, dodecane, and hexadecane for Lipoid S75 and in dodecane and hexadecane for Lipoid S45. A decrease in the degree of purification of lecithin leads to an expansion of the regions of existence of the organogels and to a reduction of their viscosity.
Incorporating detection probability to estimate pheasant density
Authors: Williamson Lacey T. , Walter W. David , Klinger Scott R. , Diefenbach Duane R.
Published: August 2018

Indices of abundance, such as point counts, commonly are used to monitor trends in bird populations. In some circumstances, however, an index of abundance provides insufficient information for making management decisions and accurate density estimates are necessary. Wild ring‐necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were translocated to 10 study areas in Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2014 with the goal of establishing female densities of 3.86 pheasants/km2. We developed a population density estimator that used 3‐minute crowing counts adjusted for probability of detection to estimate male pheasant density and flushing surveys to estimate the female:male ratio. To account for detection probability, we estimated the probability a pheasant was available to be detected by monitoring crowing frequency of male pheasants fitted with radio‐transmitters and the probability an observer was able to detect a crowing pheasant at distances from 0 to 0.93 km. We found the probability a pheasant crowed during 3 minutes decreased linearly over our survey period from 0.66 in mid‐April to 0.46 by the end of May. At the farthest distance we were able to accurately detect a crowing pheasant. We estimated the probability of detecting a pheasant at 0.80 km to be 0.019 ± 0.005 (SE), which means that we could not assume any fixed distance beyond which crowing birds could not be detected. Therefore, we replaced the probability of detection in the standard distance sampling estimator with the effective area of detection. The estimation of the effective area of detection is robust to choice of radius of the point and did not require observers to estimate the distance to crowing pheasants. We estimated the female:male ratio to be 1.02:1, despite the ratio of released pheasants being 4.46:1. Only 1 study area achieved the female density goal ( = 4.16); the maximum density at all other study areas was <2 females/km2. The estimator we developed incorporated multiple detection probabilities to provide density estimates and simplified the crowing count protocol by eliminating the need for observers to estimate their distance from a detected bird, which makes the estimator useful for estimation of population abundance when explicit population density objectives must be evaluated. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Rusty blackbird patch use during winter in suburban landscapes
Authors: Newell Wohner Patricia J. , Cooper Robert J. , Schweitzer Sara H. , Greenberg Russell S.
Published: August 2018

The rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a species of conservation concern throughout its range because of rapid population decline. During winter, relatively large flocks are in suburban landscapes within the Georgia and South Carolina Piedmont Plateau of the southeastern United States. We studied radio‐tagged blackbirds within flocks that moved daily among 3 distinct patch types: pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and small‐seeded oak (Quercus spp.) groves, shallowly flooded forested wetlands, and residential areas landscaped with turf grass. The patch types used for foraging have varying availability of invertebrate and mast food. We investigated the relationship between daily observations of blackbird flocks and previous, current, and oncoming short‐term weather. Suburban landscapes with the appropriate configuration of shallow wetland, residential lawns, and mast grove patches within a 153–415‐ha area, the size of patch aggregations in this study, likely constitute high quality wintering areas for this species. Blackbird flocks were 1.6–1.8 times more likely to be observed foraging in wetlands with each 10°C increase in current temperature, 1.5 times more likely in wetlands for every 5 days with no previous precipitation, and 3.2 times more likely in wetlands with every 10 extra hours of oncoming cold weather. Blackbirds were 4.1–4.5 times less likely to be observed foraging in forested wetlands with every 5‐mm increase in current precipitation. Blackbirds were 2.2 times more likely to be observed in mast groves with every 5‐mm of oncoming precipitation. Radio‐tagged blackbirds used pecan groves for foraging in 2011 but not 2012, which was an overall warmer winter. Pecan groves may be a sporadically used component of a combination of foraging patches that are rarely near flooded forested wetlands or residential areas. Our results can be used to identify and conserve patch components used by rusty blackbird flocks during winter in suburban nature parks and greenways. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) via ARGET ATRP and study of the effect of solvents and temperatures on its polymerization kinetics
Authors: Dhar Anjana , Koiry Bishnu P. , Haloi Dhruba J.
Published: August 2018

This investigation reports the synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) and studies the effect of solvents and temperature on its polymerization kinetics. ARGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in different solvents and at different temperatures using CuBr2 as catalyst in combination with N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as a ligand. Methyl 2‐chloro propionate was used as ATRP initiator and ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent in the ARGET ATRP of MMA. The conversion was measured gravimetrically. The semilogarithmic plot of monomer conversion versus time was found to be linear, indicating that the polymerization follows first‐order kinetics. The linear polymerization kinetic plot also indicates the controlled nature of the polymerization. N,N‐Dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and methyl ethyl ketone were used as solvents to study the effect on the polymerization kinetics. The effect of temperature on the kinetics of the polymerization was also studied at various temperatures. It has been observed that polymerization followed first‐order kinetics in every case. The rate of polymerization was found to be highest (kapp = 6.94 × 10−3 min−1) at a fixed temperature when DMF was used as solvent. Activation energies for ARGET ATRP of MMA were also calculated using the Arrhenius equation.
Estimating the very fine sand fraction for calculating the soil erodibility K‐factor
Authors: Corral‐Pazos‐de‐Provens Eva , Domingo‐Santos Juan M. , Rapp‐Arrarás Ígor
Published: August 2018

The K‐factor of the universal soil loss equation is a core component in many erosion models, as a measure of soil erodibility. It can be estimated by a nomograph, where the summed fractions of silt and very fine sand (VFS) are basic inputs. Frequently, only the three broad particle‐size classes of sand, silt, and clay are measured in laboratories; thus, the VFS fraction must be estimated. Three models are currently available for this estimation, namely, (a) the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation formula, (b) the European Soil Data Centre method, and (c) the Shirazi–Boersma theory, all three use just the sand fraction as explanatory variable. Nevertheless, their accuracy has never been assessed, and this is the main purpose of this study. The data used to test the VFS estimation methods were drawn from the National Cooperative Soil Survey Soil Characterization Database, incorporating data from more than 300,000 soil horizon samples. The test results show a poor performance of the models, all of which were found to be unsuitable for 31.1% of the textural triangle, accounting for 32.3% of the soil samples. Moreover, it is demonstrated that any conceivable model based solely on the broad particle‐size classes would suffer from a high degree of uncertainty. Consequently, the number of explanatory variables should be increased in order to improve the performance of models. An alternative prediction chart is provided for the first approximation of K‐factor, based on the textural triangle.
Quantitation of Human Whole‐Body Synthesis‐Secretion Rates of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoate Acid from Circulating Unesterified α‐Linolenic Acid at Steady State
Authors: Lin Yu‐Hong , Hibbeln Joseph R. , Domenichiello Anthony F. , Ramsden Christopher E. , Salem Nicholas M. , Chen Chuck T. , Jin Haksong , Courville Amber B. , Majchrzak‐Hong Sharon F. , Rapoport Stanley I. , Bazinet Richard P. , Miller Bernard V.
Published: August 2018

The rate at which dietary α‐linolenic acid (ALA) is desaturated and elongated to its longer‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in humans is not agreed upon. In this study, we applied a methodology developed using rodents to investigate the whole‐body, presumably hepatic, synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified n‐3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in 2 healthy overweight women after 10 weeks of low‐linoleate diet exposure. During continuous iv infusion of d5‐ALA, 17 arterial blood samples were collected from each subject at −10, 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, and 210 min, and at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h after beginning infusion. Plasma esterified d5‐n‐3 PUFA concentrations were plotted against the infusion time and fit to a sigmoidal curve using nonlinear regression. These curves were used to estimate kinetic parameters using a kinetic analysis developed using rodents. Calculated synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified eicosapentaenoate, n‐3 docosapentaenoate, docosahexaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenate, and tetracosahexaenoate from circulating unesterified ALA were 2.1 and 2.7; 1.7 and 5.3; 0.47 and 0.27; 0.30 and 0.30; and 0.32 and 0.27 mg/day for subjects S01 and S02, respectively. This study provides new estimates of whole‐body synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified longer‐chain n‐3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in human subjects. This method now can be extended to study factors that regulate human whole‐body PUFA synthesis‐secretion in health and disease.
Dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes from common Florida Bay (U.S.A.) sponges
Authors: Hoer Daniel R. , Tommerdahl Jake P. , Lindquist Niels L. , Martens Christopher S.
Published: August 2018

Sponge biomass represents the largest heterotrophic component of benthic biota in the Florida Bay ecosystem. These organisms can significantly alter the water quality of their surrounding environment through biogeochemical transformations of nutrient elements resulting from their dynamic pumping, water filtration, and respiration processes. Ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate plus nitrite (NO3− + NO2−; NO
x−) fluxes were obtained for 11 ecologically important species at three sites within Florida Bay, Florida (U.S.A.) utilizing chamber incubations on undisturbed individual sponges. Significant dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) effluxes ranging between 9.0 ± 2.2 μmol N h−1 Lsponge−1 and 141 ± 26 μmol N h−1 Lsponge−1 were observed for eight of the 11 tested sponges; specifically, from six of eight tested high‐microbial abundance (HMA) sponges, and from two of three tested low‐microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. The abundant HMA species Chondrilla nucula showed the highest, volume‐normalized rate of DIN release. These fluxes represent a continuation of the previously observed dichotomy in the chemical speciation of DIN in exhalent waters of LMA and HMA sponges, with NH4+ and NO
x− dominating their respective exhalent jets. Surprisingly, we found that dissolved organic matter (DOM) appeared to make a negligible contribution to the total released N, but we hypothesize that the lack of DOM utilization or production was due to methodological limitations. Our flux data combined with sponge biomass estimates indicate that sponges, particularly HMA species, are a large, and potentially dominant, source of inorganic nitrogen to Florida Bay waters.
On the fluorometric measurement of ammonium in oligotrophic seawater: Assessment of reagent blanks and interferences
Authors: Zhu Yifan , Liu Jing , Huang Tao , Wang Lifang , Trull Thomas W. , Dai Minhan
Published: August 2018

Dynamically distributed at trace levels in the open ocean, ammonium is one of the most important and reactive nitrogen compounds in the marine environment. Obtaining reliable measurements of ammonium concentrations is thus a prerequisite to fully understand its role in marine biogeochemical processes, but remains challenging. Among others, quantification and identification of different sources of blanks is an outstanding issue, due partly to the fact that ammonium‐free water is very difficult to prepare and/or preserve. Building on a recently developed method using solid phase extraction combined with fluorescence detection (SPE‐Flu), we examined the kinetics of the ortho‐phthaldialdehyde‐sulfite‐ammonium reaction and introduce a new approach to quantifying reagent blanks via a “reagents addition” method. The reagent blank of the method, equivalent to 6.7 ± 1.5 nmol L−1 of ammonium under our experimental settings, accounted for up to 27% of the ammonium background in seawater samples collected from the oligotrophic ocean. We also showed that the SPE‐Flu method is highly specific, with negligible interference from three types of amines and 15 types of amino acids at nanomolar concentrations, which are typical of open ocean regimes. The determination of the reagent blank allowed for optimized data reduction, which was applied to a study in the oligotrophic South China Sea. Water column profiles showed a very well‐defined structure and smooth distribution of ammonium concentrations, consistent with the distribution of other parameters. We thus contend that our proposed approach provides a way to further optimize the quantification of ammonium concentrations in natural seawater via the SPE‐Flu method.
Influence of commercial DNA extraction kit choice on prokaryotic community metrics in marine sediment
Authors: Ramírez Gustavo A. , Graham Dennis , D'Hondt Steven
Published: August 2018

Commercial DNA extraction kits are widely used for cultivation‐free surveys of marine sediment. However, the consequences of popular extraction‐kit choices for sequence‐based biological inferences about marine sedimentary communities have not previously been exhaustively assessed. To address this issue, we extracted DNA from multiple paired subsamples of marine sediment using two popular commercial extraction kits (MO BIO Laboratories PowerSoil® DNA isolation kit and MP Biomedicals FastDNATM Spin Kit for Soil). We report comparisons of (1) total DNA yield, (2) extract purity, (3) gene‐targeted quantification, and (4) post‐sequencing ecological inferences in near‐seafloor (< 1 meter below seafloor [mbsf]) and subsurface (> 1 mbsf) marine sediment. In near‐seafloor sediment, the MP Biomedicals FastDNATM Spin Kit for Soil exhibits higher extraction yields, higher 16S rRNA gene loads, higher taxonomic diversity, and lower contaminant loads. In subseafloor sediment, both kits yield similar values for all of these parameters. The MO BIO Laboratories PowerSoil® DNA isolation kit generally co‐extracts less protein with the DNA in both near‐seafloor and subseafloor sediment. For samples from all depths, both kits exhibit similar depth‐dependent community richness patterns, taxonomic composition, and ordination‐based similarity trends. We conclude that, despite kit‐specific differences in extract yields, purity and reagent contaminant loads, ecological inferences based on next‐generation sequencing of DNA extracted using these popular commercial kits are robustly comparable, particularly for subseafloor sediment samples.
Data and knowledge standards for learning health: A population management example using chronic kidney disease
Authors: Cameron Blake , Douthit Brian , Richesson Rachel
Published: August 2018

The widespread creation of learning health care systems (LHSs) will depend upon the use of standards for data and knowledge representation. Standards can facilitate the reuse of approaches for the identification of patient cohorts and the implementation of interventions. Standards also support rapid evaluation and dissemination across organizations. Building upon widely‐used models for process improvement, we identify specific LHS activities that will require data and knowledge standards. Using chronic kidney disease (CKD) as an example, we highlight the specific data and knowledge requirements for a disease‐specific LHS cycle, and subsequently identify areas where standards specifications, clarification, and tools are needed. The current data standards for CKD population management recommendations were found to be partially ambiguous, leading to barriers in phenotyping, risk identification, patient‐centered clinical decision support, patient education needs, and care planning. Robust tools are needed to effectively identify patient health care needs and preferences and to measure outcomes that accurately depict the multiple facets of CKD. This example presents an approach for defining the specific data and knowledge representation standards required to implement condition‐specific population health management programs. These standards specifications can be promoted by disease advocacy and professional societies to enable the widespread design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence‐based health interventions, and the subsequent dissemination of experience in different settings and populations.
Liver Transplantation for Propionic Acidemia and Methylmalonic Acidemia: Perioperative Management and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Critelli Kristen , McKiernan Patrick , Vockley Jerry , Mazariegos George , Squires Robert H. , Soltys Kyle , Squires James E.
Published: August 2018

Propionic acidemia (PA) and methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) comprise the most common organic acidemias and account for profound morbidity in affected individuals. Although liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a bulk enzyme‐replacement strategy to stabilize metabolically fragile patients, it is not a metabolic cure because patients remain at risk for disease‐related complications. We retrospectively studied LT and/or liver‐kidney transplant in 9 patients with PA or MMA with additional focus on the optimization of metabolic control and management in the perioperative period. Metabolic crises were common before transplant. By implementing a strategy of carbohydrate minimization with gradual but early lipid and protein introduction, lactate levels significantly improved over the perioperative period (P < 0.001). Posttransplant metabolic improvement is demonstrated by improvements in serum glycine levels (for PA; P < 0.001 × 10–14), methylmalonic acid levels (for MMA; P < 0.001), and ammonia levels (for PA and MMA; P < 0.001). Dietary restriction remained after transplant. However, no further metabolic crises have occurred. Other disease‐specific comorbidities such as renal dysfunction and cardiomyopathy stabilized and improved. In conclusion, transplant can provide a strategy for altering the natural history of PA and MMA providing stability to a rare but metabolically brittle population. Nutritional management is critical to optimize patient outcomes.