bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetation and precipitation shifts interact to alter organic and inorganic carbon storage in cold desert soils
Authors: Huber David P. , Lohse Kathleen A. , Commendador Amy , Joy Stephen , Aho Ken , Finney Bruce , Germino Matthew J.
Published: March 2019

Dryland ecosystems are experiencing shifts in rainfall and plant community composition, which are expected to alter cycling and storage of soil carbon (C). Few experiments have been conducted to examine long‐term effects on (1) soil organic C (SOC) pools throughout the soil profile, and (2) soil inorganic C (SIC) pools as they relate to dynamic changes in C storage and climate change. We measured SOC and SIC from 0 to 1 m beneath plants and in adjacent interplant microsites following nearly 20 yr of experimental manipulations of plant community (native sagebrush steppe or monoculture of exotic crested wheatgrass) and the amount and timing of water availability (ambient, or doubling of annual rainfall in the dormant, DORM, or growing, GROW, season). Under sagebrush plants, GROW increased both SOC and SIC pools, resulting in total carbon (TC) pools 15% greater than plots receiving ambient precipitation, while DORM decreased SOC and SIC pools, decreasing TC pools 20% from ambient. Under crested wheatgrass plants, GROW increased SOC by 73% but decreased SIC by 11% relative to ambient, netting no change in TC pools, while DORM SIC pools were 5% greater than ambient, with no significant increase in either SOC or TC pools. GROW significantly increased TC pools for interplant microsites, regardless of vegetation treatment. At the community scale and summing C pools weighted by percent patch cover, patterns of TC pool were similar to plot measurements. Our findings suggest that sagebrush communities can become a net C source to the atmosphere with increases in dormant season rainfall rather than a C sink as previously predicted.We also provide evidence of SIC as an important and dynamic C sequestration mechanism in drylands. Consideration of vegetation type, all or most of the soil profile, and both organic and inorganic C pools are all important to accurately predict C sequestration with changing climate and disturbance in drylands.
A camouflage conundrum: unexpected differences in winter coat color between sympatric species
Authors: Davis Brandon M. , Kumar Alexander V. , Mills L. Scott
Published: March 2019

Across the globe, more than 21 species undergo seasonal changes in coloration, molting white in winter to become camouflaged against snow. Given the adaptive value of seasonal camouflage against local snow duration, one might predict that sympatric coat color changing species would have similar winter coat color. This hypothesis, however, contrasts with anecdotal evidence and modeling results that predict sympatric winter white and winter brown species in some areas with transient snow cover. In one such area, West Virginia, we document coat color phenology between three sympatric species: snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), long‐tailed weasels (Mustela frenata), and least weasels (Mustela nivalis). Using a combination of field methods, we document and quantify each species’ winter coat color, illustrating an interspecific polymorphic response in winter coloration among sympatric winter white snowshoe hares and winter brown weasels. We then hypothesize what forces drive the interspecific differences between snowshoe hare and weasel winter coloration, highlighting areas of focus for future seasonal coat color research.
A microscopic physical description of electrothermal‐induced flow for control of ion current transport in microfluidics interfacing nanofluidics
Authors: Liu Weiyu , Ren Yukun , Chen Feng , Song Jingni , Tao Ye , Du Kai , Wu Qisheng
Published: March 2019

The phenomenon of electrothermal (ET) convection has recently captured great attention for transporting fluidic samples in microchannels embedding simple electrode structures. In the classical model of ET‐induced flow, a conductivity gradient of buffer medium is supposed to arise from temperature‐dependent electrophoretic mobility of ionic species under uniform salt concentrations, so it may not work well in the presence of evident concentration perturbation within the background electrolyte. To solve this problem, we develop herein a microscopic physical description of ET streaming by fully coupling a set of Poisson‐Nernst‐Planck‐Navier‐Stokes equations and temperature‐dependent fluid physicochemical properties. A comparative study on a standard electrokinetic micropump exploiting asymmetric electrode arrays indicates that, our microscopic model always predicts a lower ET pump flow rate than the classical macroscopic model even with trivial temperature elevation in the liquid. Considering a continuity of total current density in liquids of inhomogeneous polarizability, a moderate degree of fluctuation in ion concentrations on top of the electrode array is enough to exert a significant influence on the induction of free ionic charges, rendering the enhanced numerical treatment much closer to realistic experimental measurement. Then, by placing a pair of thin‐film resistive heaters on the bottom of an anodic channel interfacing a cation‐exchange medium, we further provide a vivid demonstration of the enhanced model's feasibility in accurately resolving the combined Coulomb force due to the coexistence of an extended space charge layer and smeared interfacial polarizations in an externally‐imposed temperature gradient, while this is impossible with conventional linear approximation. This leads to a reliable method to achieve a flexible regulation on spatial‐temporal evolution of ion‐depletion layer by electroconvective mixing. These results provide useful insights into ET‐based flexible control of micro/nanoscale solid entities in modern micro‐total‐analytical systems.
Biocatalytic solutions to cyclomethicones problem in cosmetics
Authors: Montiel María Claudia , Máximo Fuensanta , Serrano‐Arnaldos Mar , Ortega‐Requena Salvadora , Murcia María Dolores , Bastida Josefa
Published: March 2019

Silicones are polymers that have properties of great interest for cosmetic and personal care industry, especially D4 (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane) and D5 (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane), generically named cyclomethicones. However, different studies show the hypothesis that the use of these products is harmful and, therefore, several countries have adopted legislative actions to limit their use in personal care and cosmetic products. Faced with this new situation, different cosmetic companies began to look for different alternatives to cyclomethicones, mainly: organomodified silicones or esters. The former are based on the addition of functional groups to the main chain of silicon and oxygen. The latter represent a totally different line, since their functional group is the ester, but they have properties similar to silicones. Esters, especially branched‐chain ones are currently the more promising alternative to replace cyclomethicones in cosmetic formulations. Nowadays, most of them are obtained by chemical reactions that require high temperatures and non‐selective /contaminant catalysts that lead to low‐quality final products. As an alternative, biocatalytic synthesis occurs always at mild operation conditions supplying ultra‐pure, odor, and colorless products with less wastes and side reactions. Therefore, biocatalysis is a valid and environmentally sustainable option for the synthesis of silicone‐substitute esters used in cosmetic formulations.
Different functionalized chord and twist distributions in aerodynamic design of HAWTs
Authors: Tahani Mojtaba , Kavari Ghazale , Mirhosseini Mojtaba , Ghiyasi Samira
Published: March 2019

In this study, blade element momentum (BEM) theory has been used to calculate power output and performance of 100 kW and 1 MW horizontal axis wind turbine. Riso‐A1‐21 airfoils are considered as utilized section along the blade span. Generally, Riso family of airfoils is appropriate for wind turbine application. In order to improve the accuracy of turbine performance prediction, lots of corrections have been applied on the BEM method. The aim of this research study is proposing a new procedure to introduce the chord and twist distributions by fitting different types of functions on them. Accordingly, 48 functions are selected as possible distributions for chord and twist angle profiles. These functions are selected in such a way that their behavior is close to the trend of their classical distributions. The utilized design method in this study is optimum in terms of performance and also making distribution of chord and twist functional which is more appropriate for manufacturing process. Finally, the effect of using best functions on blade aerodynamic coefficients has been studied. Results show that despite the changing chord and twist distributions from their classical trends, the aerodynamic coefficients are approximately similar to those in the classical design except in some region of blade. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13108, 2019
Fenton oxidation treatment of recalcitrant dye in fluidized bed reactor: Role of SiO2 as carrier and its interaction with fenton's reagent
Authors: Bello Mustapha Mohammed , Abdul Raman Abdul Aziz , Asghar Anam
Published: March 2019

The role of SiO2 and its interaction with Fenton's reagent in fluidized bed Fenton (FBF) process were investigated in this work. Due to the inherent complexity of fluidized bed process, theoretical and experimental approaches were adopted in the study. Quantum computational approach was employed to predict the thermodynamic feasibilities of the possible interactions in the process. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of carrier loading and its contribution to the pollutant removal. FESEM/EDX and FTIR analyses were used to investigate the changes on the surface of the carriers due to interaction with Fenton's reagent. The results of quantum analysis show that with ΔG = −0.3263052 kcal/mol, complex formation between SiO2 and H2O2 is highly feasible. This is attributed to the siloxane bridge (Si–O–Si) of the SiO2 network. The experimental results revealed that carrier loading has a positive effect on the process and more than 23% of the initial COD can be removed through adsorption. The fluidization process resulted in 20% higher COD removal compared to the conventional Fenton oxidation. The results of both experimental and quantum computation indicated that besides iron crystallization on the carriers, other interactions are also possible in the FBF process. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13146, 2019
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Can Be Transformed by Anaerobic Microbiomes in the Environment and in Waste-Treatment Processes
Authors: Wolfson Sarah J. , Porter Abigail W. , Villani Thomas S. , Simon James E. , Young Lily Y.
Published: March 2019

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging environmental contaminants that can be transformed by anaerobic microorganisms in anoxic environments. The present study examined 2 consortia, enriched under methanogenic and sulfate-rich conditions, that demethylate the phenylmethyl ether anti-inflammatory drug naproxen to 6-O-desmethylnaproxen. Both enriched consortia were also able to demethylate a range of phenylmethyl ether compounds of plant-based origin or used as PPCPs. Results from 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the 2 communities were very different despite sharing the same PPCP metabolism. In most cases, the demethylated metabolite was not further degraded but rather accumulated in the culture medium. For the expectorant guaifenesin, this resulted in a novel microbial metabolite. Furthermore, to our knowledge, this is the first report of methylparaben metabolism under methanogenic conditions. The wide range of phenylmethyl ether substrates that underwent O-demethylation in both methanogenic and sulfate-rich conditions suggests that there are potentially bioactive transformation products in the environment that have not yet been quantified. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1585–1593. © 2019 SETAC

Abstract

Natural and manmade chemicals that contain a phenylmethyl ether moiety can be demethylated by anaerobic consortia.
Land Use Contributions to Adverse Biological Effects in a Complex Agricultural and Urban Watershed: A Case Study of the Maumee River
Authors: Cipoletti Nicholas , Jorgenson Zachary G. , Banda Jo A. , Hummel Stephanie L. , Kohno Satomi , Schoenfuss Heiko L.
Published: March 2019

Agricultural and urban contaminants are an environmental concern because runoff may contaminate aquatic ecosystems, resulting in stress for exposed fish. The objective of the present controlled, field-based study was to assess the impacts of high-intensity agriculture and urban land use on multiple life stages of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), using the Maumee River (Toledo, OH, USA) as a case study. Laboratory cultured adult and larval fathead minnows were exposed for 21 d, and embryos were exposed until hatching to site-specific water along the lower reach of the Maumee River. Adult minnows were analyzed for reproduction and alterations to hematologic characteristics (vitellogenin, glucose, estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone). Water and fish tissue samples were analyzed for a suite of multiresidue pesticides, hormones, and pharmaceuticals. Contaminants were detected in every water and tissue sample, with 6 pesticides and 8 pharmaceuticals detected in at least 82% of water samples and at least half of tissue samples. Effects differed by exposed life stage and year of exposure. Fecundity was the most sensitive endpoint measured and was altered by water from multiple sites in both years. Physiological parameters associated with fecundity, such as plasma vitellogenin and steroid hormone concentrations, were seldom impacted. Larval fathead minnows appeared to be unaffected. Embryonic morphological development was delayed in embryos exposed to site waters collected in 2016 but not in 2017. A distinction between agricultural and urban influences in the Maumee River was not realized due to the great overlap in contaminant presence and biological effects. Differences in precipitation patterns between study years likely contributed to the observed biological differences and highlight the need for environmental exposure studies to assess the environmental risk of contaminants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;00:1-17. © 2019 SETAC
The Mystery and Value of Place Names: Can History Help Us Get to the Bottom of Sturgeon Pool?
Authors: Webb Tess , Meyer Andrew
Published: March 2019

Efforts are being made throughout the world to reconnect fish habitat by removing dams and other stream barriers. Many such opportunities exist for habitat reconnection along the tributaries of the Hudson River Estuary, in New York. The migratory fish runs are much diminished in the Hudson when compared to historical accounts of eyewitnesses, and several species, including sturgeon, could potentially benefit from restoring their historic habitat by removing human-made in-stream barriers. We use historical research and toponymy, the study of place names and their origins, to investigate whether an area referred to as “Sturgeon Pool” on a tributary to the Hudson River might be correctly named as historic habitat of Shortnose Sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum. Sturgeon Pool is currently inaccessible to sturgeon and most other migratory fish because of the Eddyville Dam, and our research corroborates the view that sturgeon historically used this habitat.
Germline large deletion of BAP1 and decreased expression in non‐tumor choroid in uveal melanoma patients with high risk for inherited cancer
Authors: Boru Getachew , Grosel Timothy W. , Pilarski Robert , Stautberg Meredith , Massengill James B. , Jeter Joanne , Singh Arun , Marino Meghan J. , McElroy Joseph P. , Davidorf Frederick H. , Cebulla Colleen M. , Abdel‐Rahman Mohamed H.
Published: March 2019

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common phenotype in patients with germline BAP1 mutation. This study aimed to identify selection criteria for BAP1 germline testing and assessed the role of large deletion/duplication and epigenetic inactivation. One hundred seventy‐two UM patients with high risk of hereditary cancer were included. Germline variants in BAP1 were assessed by direct sequencing and large deletion/duplication by multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification. BAP1 expression in unaffected choroid tissue from a patient with UM was assessed by quantitative RT‐PCR and methylation by pyrosequencing. Twenty‐eight patients had one or more germline sequence variants in BAP1; seven of these were pathogenic. One hundred forty patients were assessed for large deletion/duplication and in one BAP1 whole gene deletion was detected. In total, eight patients (4.7%) had pathogenic alterations in BAP1 with the highest frequencies of in patients with a personal/family history of ≥2 BAP1‐related cancers 6/16 (38%), age of onset <35 years 4/21 (19%) and familial UM 6/34 (18%). One of 19 non‐tumor choroid tissues tested showed uncharacteristically low expression as compared to the controls decrease in BAP1 RNA expression but no evidence of constitutional promotor hypermethylation was detected. UM patients with a strong personal or family history of cancers associated with BAP1, early age of onset and familial UM should be assessed for germline variants in BAP1, including large deletions.
Near infrared and hyperspectral studies of archaeological stratigraphy and statistical considerations
Authors: Linderholm Johan , Geladi Paul , Gorretta Nathalie , Bendoula Ryad , Gobrecht Alexia
Published: March 2019

The paper proposes a methodology based on near‐infrared (NIR) spectrometry for studying stratigraphy and depth profiles in archaeological excavations. The NIR spectra can be used to describe and complement the wet chemical analysis. Soil samples were collected from a 0.8 m deep stratigraphy of a Neolithic site that were analyzed by three different NIR instrumentations. Phosphate‐ and magnetic susceptibility and inductively‐coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements were also conducted as reference analysis.

Principal component analysis on the data from three different NIR instrumentations gave useful score plots that allowed grouping of the samples. The results from the lab spectrometer were most useful, although the hyperspectral NIR camera was the fastest method to obtain spectra of many samples from one image. The paper shows how the NIR spectral data can be used for multivariate analysis to get meaningful conclusions on archaeological soils and sediments, especially in terms of understanding site development/phases and soil formation.
Carbonation curing of industrial solid waste‐based aerated concretes
Authors: Guo Ruonan , Chen Qiyang , Huang Hao , Hu Xutao , Wang Tao
Published: March 2019

Mineral carbonation for concrete curing is a promising route to large‐scale CO2 sequestration and the economic production of building materials. In this work, the carbonation curing of a kind of lightweight concrete, aerated concrete, was comprehensively studied. Three typical industrial wastes – fly ash, blast furnace slag, and red mud – were employed to replace part of the cement and to reduce the carbon footprint of products. The effects of carbonation curing time, pressure, and water‐to‐solids ratio on the CO2 uptake and compressive strength were investigated. Aerated concrete with red mud showed the highest CO2 uptake capacity, followed by concrete with fly ash, and concrete with blast furnace slag. The main crystalline carbonation products, needle‐like calcite and rod‐like aragonite, were observed to be embedded in the surface of fly ash and blast‐furnace‐slag‐based specimens. The orderly structures of carbonated crystals, as well as the reduction of mesoscale porosity (< 50 nm), resulted in an enhancement of mechanical properties. For red‐mud‐based specimens, calcite crystals with the appearance of grains (smaller than 1μm) were formed due to deeper carbonation. The rapid growth of calcite grains may lead to cracks from inside red‐mud‐based specimens and cause a negative effect on mechanical properties. In terms of mechanical performance, the blast furnace slag specimens, after carbonation curing, exhibited the largest compressive strength of 7.3 MPa, which was over 197% higher than that of natural curing for the same duration. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extreme value analysis of high‐frequency cryptocurrencies
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Chan Stephen , Nadarajah Saralees
Published: March 2019

Using extreme value analysis, we investigate the tail risk behavior of the high‐frequency (hourly) log returns of four most popular cryptocurrencies. The analysis is conducted on high‐frequency returns data, estimating value at risk and expected shortfall with varying thresholds. We find that Ripple is the most risky cryptocurrency exhibiting the largest potential gain or loss for both positive and negative (hourly) log returns at every percentile and threshold. Bitcoin is the least risky cryptocurrency.
A classification approach to reconstruct local daily drying dynamics at headwater streams
Authors: Beaufort Aurélien , Carreau Julie , Sauquet Eric
Published: March 2019

Headwater streams (HSs) are generally naturally prone to flow intermittence. These intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams have recently seen a marked increase in interest, especially to assess the impact of drying on aquatic ecosystems. The two objectives of this work are (a) to identify the main drivers of flow intermittence dynamics in HS and (b) to reconstruct local daily drying dynamics. Discrete flow states—“flowing” versus “drying”—are modelled as functions of covariates that include information on climate, hydrology, groundwater, and basin descriptors. Three classifiers to estimate flow states using covariates are tested on four contrasted regions in France: (a) a linear classifier with regularization (LASSO for least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) and two non‐linear non‐parametric classifiers, (b) a one‐hidden‐layer feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) classifier, and (c) a random forest (RF) classifier. The three classifiers are compared with a benchmark classifier (BC) that simply estimates dominant flow state for each month based on observations (without using covariates). The performance assessment over the period 2012–2016 carried out by cross‐validation shows that the three classifiers for flow state based on covariates outperformed the BC. This demonstrates the predictive power of the covariates. ANN is the classifier that globally achieves the best performance to predict the daily drying dynamics whereas both RF and LASSO tend to underestimate the proportion of drying states. The covariates are ranked in terms of relevance for each classifier. The monthly proportion of drying states provided by the discrete observation network has a major importance for the three classifiers ANN, LASSO, and RF. This may reflect the proclivity of a site to flow intermittence. ANN gives higher importance to climatic and hydrological covariates and its non‐linearity allows a greater degree of freedom.
Modulating cancer cell mechanics and actin cytoskeleton structure by chemical and mechanical stimulations
Authors: Azadi Shohreh , Tafazzoli‐Shadpour Mohammad , Soleimani Masoud , Warkiani Majid Ebrahimi
Published: March 2019

To date, a myriad of strategies has been suggested for targeting the chemical signaling of cancer cells. Also, biomechanical features are gaining much more attention. These features can be used as biomarkers which influence cancer progression. Current approaches on cancer treatment are mainly focused on changing the biochemical signaling of cancer cells, whereas less attention was devoted to their biomechanical properties. Herein, we propose targeting of cancer cell mechanics through the microenvironmental mechanical and chemical cues. As such, we examined the role of substrate stiffness as well as the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blockade in the cell mechanics. As a mechanical stimulus, stiff and soft polydimethylsiloxane substrates were utilized, while as a chemical stimulus, EGFR blockade was considered. Thus, breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDA‐MB‐231, were cultured among chemical and mechanical groups. The local elasticity of cancer cells was assessed by atomic force microscopy nanoindentation method. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of mentioned mechanical and chemical treatments on the morphology, actin cytoskeleton structures, and cancer cell migration abilities. The stiffness and migration ability of cancer cells increased by substrate stiffening while Cetuximab treatment demonstrated an elevation in the elastic modulus of cells followed by a reduction in the migration ability. These findings indicate that cancer cell mechanics is modulated not only by the mechanical cues but also by the chemical ones through EGFR signaling pathway. Overall, our results illustrate that manipulation of cell mechanics allows for the possible modulation of tumor cell migration. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1569–1581, 2019.
Differential inflammatory landscape stimulus during titanium surfaces obtained osteogenic phenotype
Authors: da S. Feltran Georgia , Bezerra Fábio , da Costa Fernandes Célio Júnior , Ferreira Marcel Rodrigues , Zambuzzi Willian F.
Published: March 2019

Molecular mechanism governing inflammatory scenario in response to titanium (Ti)‐nanotexturing surfaces needs to be better addressed. Thus, we subjected pre‐osteoblast to different Ti‐texturing surfaces, as follows: machined (Mac), double acid‐etching (DAE), and nanoscaled hydroxyapatite‐blasted titanium surface (nHA), considering the cells chronically responding either directly (when the cells were cultured onto the surfaces) or indirectly (when the cells were challenged with the conditioned medium by the surfaces), up to 10 days. Our results showed that there is a dynamic requirement of inflammatory‐related genes activation in response to nHA by up expressing IL1ß, IL6, IL10, and IL33 (direct condition) and IL6, IL10, IL18 (indirect condition). Importantly, our data show that there is inflammasome involvement, once NLRP3, ASC1, and CASP1 genes were also required. As we found a strong signal of IL10, an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, we further investigated Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascade. Surprisingly, Shh ligand and Smoothened (Smo) genes were up‐modulated in response to nHA, while Patched (Ptc) was down‐modulated. Finally, an interactome was built using bioinformatics reinforcing Shh signaling cascade on modulating IL10 transcripts by Src mediating this process and this prevalence of anti‐inflammatory picture might explain the low profile of RANKL transcripts in response to nHA, compromising the osteoclastogenesis surrounding the implants. Taking our results into account, our data show that the inflammatory landscape promoted by nHA is strictly modulated by Shh signaling promoted anti‐inflammatory pathways. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1597–1604, 2019.
The Fracture Callus Is Formed by Progenitors of Different Skeletal Origins in a Site‐Specific Manner
Authors: Wang Yongmei , Chen Ling , Kang Misun , Ling Lin , Tian Faming , Won‐Kim Sun Hee , Ho Sunita , Bikle Daniel D.
Published: March 2019

We evaluated repair following a mid‐diaphyseal fracture of the tibia in 3‐month‐old mice. We observed differences in the repair process at three different sites of the callus. Site 1: bone developing from the outer layer of the periosteum of the cortex; site 2: bone developing within the bridge/central region of the fracture; and site 3: bone developing within the marrow of the ends of broken bones. We characterized these sites by correlating datasets from X‐ray CT and histology. Correlated data demonstrated the involvement of different cells and different rates of mineralization. The origin of the progenitors and mechanism of progenitor differentiation involved at these sites was then evaluated using lineage tracing of cells expressing Prx1 and Col.2. The Prx1 progeny contributed to intramembranous bone formation (IBF) at site 1 and endochondral bone formation (EndoBF) at site 2 but not to intramedullary bone formation (IMBF) at site 3. IBF at site 1 was confirmed without a chondrocyte intermediate unlike EndoBF at site 2. Additionally, the presence of Col.2 progeny contributed to EndoBF in site 2 and IMBF in site 3 but not to IBF in site 1. However, the Col.2 progeny in IMBF in site 3 appeared to come from Col.2‐expressing osteocytes originating in the cortices of the ends of the fractured bone. In conclusion we have identified three sites of bone fracture repair that differ in their origin of cells and their mechanisms of bone formation. © 2019 The Authors JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
DeepIon: Deep learning approach for classifying ion transporters and ion channels from membrane proteins
Authors: Taju Semmy Wellem , Ou Yu‐Yen
Published: March 2019

The movement of ions across the cell membrane is an essential for many biological processes. This study is focused on ion channels and ion transporters (pumps) as types of border guards control the incessant traffic of ions across cell membranes. Ion channels and ion transporters function to regulate membrane potential and electrical signaling and play important roles in cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation. In their behaviors, it is found that ion channels differ significantly from ion transporters. Therefore, a method for automatically classifying ion transporters and ion channels from membrane proteins is proposed by training deep neural networks and using the position‐specific scoring matrix profile as an input. The key of novelty is the three‐stage approach, in which five techniques for data normalization are used; next three imbalanced data techniques are applied to the minority classes and then, six classifiers are compared with the proposed method. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A study of psychological sense of community as a mediator between supportive social systems, school belongingness, and outcome behaviors among urban high school students of color
Authors: Lardier David T. , Opara Ijeoma , Bergeson Carrie , Herrera Andriana , Garcia‐Reid Pauline , Reid Robert J.
Published: March 2019

Psychological sense of community (SOC) has been examined minimally among the youth of color, and as a mediating variable, as well as construct implicated in promoting wellness. Using data from a sample of 401 students of color (Mage = 16.55, standard deviation = 1.31; 54.7% female; 57% Hispanic/Latina[o]) from an underserved northeastern US urban community, we examined the mediating relationship of psychological SOC between social support, participation in youth‐based community programs, and outcomes including school belongingness, risk behaviors such as substance use and violent behavior, and psychological symptoms, including depression. Results indicated that access to social supports and youth‐based community programs was negatively associated with risk behaviors and experiencing depressive symptoms, through both psychological SOC and school belongingness. Implications include the need for community‐based activities for youth that not only foster support but encourage a positive psychological SOC and in‐turn offset negative developmental trajectories and risk behaviors.
Genetic variations and haplotypes in the annexin A5 gene are associated with the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss
Authors: Lan Yanli , Wang Jing , Zhang Qinghua , Yang Xuezhou , Li Lin , Yin Jiu , Li Hemei , Song Xuan , Chen Zhilan , Liu Yun
Published: March 2019

The expression of annexin A5 (ANXA5) was shown to affect the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). In this study, the effects of two haplotypes, M1 and M2, on the transcription efficiency of ANXA5 promoter were explored. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the association between the single‐nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes in ANXA5 promoter and the risk of RPL. And a luciferase reporter assay was carried out to study the effects of haplotypes M1 and M2 on the transcription efficiency of the ANXA5 promoter. To study the association between ANXA5 haplotypes and the risk of RPL, real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry assays were conducted to observe the expressions of ANXA5 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. Compared to M1 haplotype carriers, M2 haplotype carriers were associated with a higher risk of RPL. Additionally, compared to GATGTC haplotype carriers, GATGGC haplotype carriers were associated with a higher risk of RPL. Compared with RPL cases, the incidences of M2 haplotype were lower in both the population control and parous control cases. Furthermore, M2 carriers showed more significantly decreased activity of ANXA5 promoter compared to the carriers of other haplotypes, indicating that the haplotypes of ANXA5 promoter may be used as a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of RPL. Moreover, the activity of ANXA5 as well as the mRNA/protein expression of ANXA5 was significantly downregulated in RPL patients, indicating that the M2 haplotype significantly increased the risk of RPL. Therefore, haplotype M2 increased the risk of RPL by inhibiting the expression of ANXA5.
Hemojuvelin is a novel suppressor for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and age‐related muscle wasting
Authors: Zhang Peng , He Jian , Wang Fei , Gong Jing , Wang Lu , Wu Qian , Li Wenjiong , Liu Hongju , Wang Jing , Zhang Kunshan , Li Mao , Huang Xusheng , Pu Chuanqiang , Li Ying , Jiang Fengjie , Wang Fudi , Min Junxia , Chen Xiaoping
Published: March 2019

Background

Muscle wasting occurs in response to various physiological and pathological conditions, including ageing and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) contributes to muscle pathogenesis in elderly people and DMD patients; inhibition of TGF‐β1 signalling is a promising therapeutic strategy for muscle‐wasting disorders. Hemojuvelin (HJV or Hjv as the murine homologue) is a membrane‐bound protein that is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, heart, and liver. In hepatic cells, Hjv acts as a coreceptor for bone morphogenetic protein, a TGF‐β subfamily member. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Hjv plays an essential role in muscle physiological and pathophysiological processes by acting as a coreceptor for TGF‐β1 signalling.

Methods

Conventional and conditional Hjv knockout mice as well as mdx and aged mice transfected with Hjv overexpression vector were used to study the role of Hjv in muscle physiology and pathophysiology. qRT‐PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry examinations were conducted to evaluate gene, protein, and structural changes in vivo and in vitro. Exercise endurance was determined using treadmill running test, and muscle force was detected by an isometric transducer. RNA interference, immunoprecipitation, and dual‐luciferase reporter assays were utilized to explore the mechanism by which Hjv regulates TGF‐β1 signalling in skeletal muscle.

Results

Conventional and conditional Hjv knockout mice displayed muscle atrophy, fibrosis, reduced running endurance, and muscle force. HJV was significantly down‐regulated in the muscles of DMD patients (n = 3, mean age: 11.7 ± 5.7 years) and mdx mice as well as in those of aged humans (n = 10, 20% women, mean age: 75.1 ± 9.5 years) and mice. Overexpression of Hjv rescued dystrophic and age‐related muscle wasting. Unlike its function in hepatic cells, the bone morphogenetic protein downstream phosphorylated p‐Smad1/5/8 signalling pathway was unchanged, but TGF‐β1, TGF‐β receptor II (TβRII), and p‐Smad2/3 expression were increased in Hjv‐deficient muscles. Mechanistically, loss of Hjv promoted activation of Smad3 signalling induced by TGF‐β1, whereas Hjv overexpression inhibited TGF‐β1/Smad3 signalling by directly interacting with TβRII on the muscle membrane.

Conclusions

Our findings identify an unrecognized role of HJV in skeletal muscle by regulating TGF‐β1/Smad3 signalling as a coreceptor for TβRII. Unlike the TGF‐β1/Smad3 pathway, HJV could be a reliable drug target as its expression is not widespread. Novel therapeutic strategies could potentially be devised to interfere only with the muscle function of HJV to treat DMD and age‐related muscle wasting.
Data‐driven synthetic MRI FLAIR artifact correction via deep neural network
Authors: Ryu Kanghyun , Nam Yoonho , Gho Sung‐Min , Jang Jinhee , Lee Ho‐Joon , Cha Jihoon , Baek Hye Jin , Park Jiyong , Kim Dong‐Hyun
Published: March 2019

Background

FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) imaging via synthetic MRI methods leads to artifacts in the brain, which can cause diagnostic limitations. The main sources of the artifacts are attributed to the partial volume effect and flow, which are difficult to correct by analytical modeling. In this study, a deep learning (DL)‐based synthetic FLAIR method was developed, which does not require analytical modeling of the signal.

Purpose

To correct artifacts in synthetic FLAIR using a DL method.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

A total of 80 subjects with clinical indications (60.6 ± 16.7 years, 38 males, 42 females) were divided into three groups: a training set (56 subjects, 62.1 ± 14.8 years, 25 males, 31 females), a validation set (1 subject, 62 years, male), and the testing set (23 subjects, 57.3 ± 20.4 years, 13 males, 10 females).

Field Strength/Sequence

3 T MRI using a multiple‐dynamic multiple‐echo acquisition (MDME) sequence for synthetic MRI and a conventional FLAIR sequence.

Assessment

Normalized root mean square (NRMSE) and structural similarity (SSIM) were computed for uncorrected synthetic FLAIR and DL‐corrected FLAIR. In addition, three neuroradiologists scored the three FLAIR datasets blindly, evaluating image quality and artifacts for sulci/periventricular and intraventricular/cistern space regions.

Statistical Tests

Pairwise Student's t‐tests and a Wilcoxon test were performed.

Results

For quantitative assessment, NRMSE improved from 4.2% to 2.9% (P < 0.0001) and SSIM improved from 0.85 to 0.93 (P < 0.0001). Additionally, NRMSE values significantly improved from 1.58% to 1.26% (P < 0.001), 3.1% to 1.5% (P < 0.0001), and 2.7% to 1.4% (P < 0.0001) in white matter, gray matter, and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) regions, respectively, when using DL‐corrected FLAIR. For qualitative assessment, DL correction achieved improved overall quality, fewer artifacts in sulci and periventricular regions, and in intraventricular and cistern space regions.

Data Conclusion

The DL approach provides a promising method to correct artifacts in synthetic FLAIR.

Level of Evidence: 4

Technical Efficacy: Stage 1

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1413–1423.
Wave digital model of a TiN/Ti/HfO2/TiN memristor
Authors: Solan Enver , Pérez Eduardo , Michaelis Dennis , Wenger Christian , Ochs Karlheinz
Published: March 2019

Memristors—nonlinear resistors with memory—are potential candidates for the utilization in self‐organizing circuits. These novel elements need innovative technological developments in order to incorporate them into integrated electrical circuits. Alternatively, HfO2‐based resistive random access memories (RRAMs) are complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) compatible and can also be interpreted as memristive devices. A fingerprint of such devices is their rapid change between the high‐ and low‐resistance state. It is intended to exploit this feature in self‐organizing circuits to achieve a desired overall functionality. But the huge device variabilities exacerbate preinvestigations of real circuits including such devices. To this end, a wave digital model based on a mathematical and a physical model of a hafnium oxide (HfO2) memristor is introduced. Utilizing the wave digital approach yields a flexible, real‐time capable algorithmic model, which is suitable for live parameter fitting in real circuits. Comparisons of the emulated hysteresis with measured data of RRAM cells verify the functionality of the presented emulator. The proposed method for emulating physical systems is not restricted to single devices. Indeed, whole subcircuits can be emulated before fabrication in order to save development costs.
Contracting outsourced services with collaborative key performance indicators
Authors: Akkermans Henk , van Oppen Willem , Wynstra Finn , Voss Chris
Published: March 2019

While service outsourcing may benefit from the application of performance‐based contracts (PBCs), the implementation of such contracts is usually challenging. Service performance is often not only dependent on supplier effort but also on the behavior of the buying firm. Existing research on performance‐based contracting provides very limited understanding on how this challenge may be overcome. This article describes a design science research project that develops a novel approach to buyer–supplier contracting, using collaborative key performance indicators (KPIs). Collaborative KPIs evaluate and reward not only the supplier contribution to customer performance but also the customer's behavior to enable this. In this way, performance‐based contracting can also be applied to settings where supplier and customer activities are interdependent, while traditional contracting theories suggest that output controls are not effective under such conditions. In the collaborative KPI contracting process, indicators measure both supplier and customer (buying firm) performance and promote collaboration by being defined through a collaborative process and by focusing on end‐of‐process indicators. The article discusses the original case setting of a telecommunication service provider experiencing critical problems in outsourcing IT services. The initial intervention implementing this contracting approach produced substantial improvements, both in performance and in the relationship between buyer and supplier. Subsequently, the approach was tested and evaluated in two other settings, resulting in a set of actionable propositions on the efficacy of collaborative KPI contracting. Our study demonstrates how defining, monitoring, and incentivizing the performance of specific processes at the buying firm can help alleviate the limitations of traditional performance‐based contracting when the supplier's liability for service performance is difficult to verify.
Synthesis and Surface Properties of Polyether‐Based Silicone Surfactants with Different Siloxane Groups
Authors: Tan Jinglin , He Ziyan , Miao Yongxiang , Lin Miaomiao
Published: March 2019

A series of polyether‐based silicone surfactants with different hydrophobic chains (trimethylsiloxy, triethylsiloxy, and triisopropylsiloxy) were synthesized. The molecular structures were confirmed using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, 29Si NMR, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The effect of the siloxane groups on the physicochemical properties, surface tension (γ), critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γCMC), adsorption efficiency (pC20), surface pressure at the CMC (πCMC), maximum surface excess (Γmax), single silicone surfactant molecule at the air/water interface (Amin), and the standard free energy of adsorption (), of the polyether‐based silicone surfactants was investigated. Results indicate that the polyether‐based silicone surfactants can reduce the surface tension of water to approximately 25–31 mN m−1 and the surface activity of silicone surfactants is enhanced with increasing branched trimethylsiloxyl and sterically hindered siloxane groups.
Identification of a nine‐gene panel as a prognostic indicator for recurrence with muscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Han Yuying , Zheng Qiyu , Tian Ye , Ji Zhengguo , Ye Haihong
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

Bladder cancer is one of the most common and highly recurrent cancers worldwide. Recurrence‐associated genes may potentially predict cancer recurrence. We aimed to construct a recurrence‐associated gene panel to improve the prognostic prediction of bladder cancer.

Methods

Based on DNA sequencing and clinical data from the TCGA‐BLCA project, we identified 10 potential driver genes significantly associated with recurrence of bladder cancer. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to construct an optimized recurrence prediction model with nine recurrence‐associated genes (EME1,
AKAP9,
ZNF91,
PARD3,
STAG2,
ZFP36L2,
METTL3, POLR3B, and
MUC7) and clinical information as the independent variables.

Results

The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.80 in this model, much higher than that of the baseline model (AUC = 0.73) and the same trend was also validated in its subset. Decision curve analysis also revealed that there is a significant net benefit gained by adding nine genes mutation to the baseline model. Furthermore, Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis showed that eight out of the nine genes (excluding MUC7) had good effects on the overall prognosis of patients.

Conclusions

This nine‐gene panel will most likely be a useful tool for prognostic evaluation and will facilitate the personalized management of patients with bladder cancer.
Reliability Indicators for 2‐Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography
Authors: O'Hara Sandra , Zelesco Marilyn , Rocke Karen , Stevenson Gil , Sun Zhonghua
Published: March 2019

Ultrasound (US) shear wave technology providers have either point shear wave elastography (SWE) or 2‐dimensional SWE available on their US systems. With 2‐dimensional SWE, larger regions of interest can be interrogated, with both the main acoustic radiation pulses and the resultant shear waves potentially being affected by US artifacts. Some providers assist the operator with elastographic maps indicating the reliability or precision of the shear wave propagation. This Technical Innovation explores the importance of the consideration of the precision maps and standard deviation output available on some devices and the implications for conversion of shear wave speed to pressure.
In vitro effect of caveolin‐1 as a slow‐release material on bone‐tendon junction healing: A comparative study
Authors: Liang Lin‐Lin , Su Zheng‐Bing
Published: March 2019

Bone tendon junction injury is hard to cure because of its special anatomical structure, and the treatment applied for bone‐tendon junction injury cannot result in the perfect vascular regeneration and restoration of the fibrocartilage zone. In this article, we aim to explore the effect of caveolin‐1 as a slow‐release material on bone‐tendon junction healing. Seventy‐two New Zealand rabbits were randomly selected and assigned into the experimental, sham‐operated and control groups (n = 24). Caveolin‐1 microspheres and microcapsule were developed as drug delivery system. At the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks after surgery, quadriceps muscle patella‐patellar tendon (QMPPT) was obtained from each rabbit to observe the tendon‐to‐bone tunnel healing, and X‐ray examination, histological examination and biomechanical testing were applied for evaluating new bone formation. As the X‐ray showed, caveolin‐1 increased the new bone area at each time point. At the 4th and 8th weeks after surgery, the rabbit treated with caveolin‐1 slow release material showed repair of fibrocartilage. According to the biomechanical results, the cross‐sectional area, breaking load and ultimate tensile strength were increased along with time. At the same time point, caveolin‐1 increased the ultimate tensile strength. Our study demonstrates that caveolin‐1 as a slow‐release material could accelerate bone‐tendon junction healing by promoting the formation of the transition zone.