bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Threat or Just a Book? Analyzing Responses toThirteen Reasons Whyin a Discourse Community
Authors: Walter Brooklyn , Boyd Ashley S.
Published: December 2018

In this study, the authors examined how parents, preservice teachers, and teens responded to their reading of one controversial young adult novel. Analyzing the discourse of participants through the lens of positioning theory, the authors found that student readers approached the book as a story, examining its various literary elements. Youths also noted the reality of the text and drew personal connections to plot elements. Parents, however, considered the book as a tool and expressed concerns over the text's message and potentially negative influence. The authors also discuss conflicts that arose in the dialogue and conclude with implications for teachers and teacher educators.
Polarizable force field for RNA based on the classical drude oscillator
Authors: Lemkul Justin A. , MacKerell Alexander D.
Published: December 2018

RNA molecules are highly dynamic and capable of adopting a wide range of complex, folded structures. The factors driving the folding and dynamics of these structures are dependent on a balance of base pairing, hydration, base stacking, ion interactions, and the conformational sampling of the 2′‐hydroxyl group in the ribose sugar. The representation of these features is a challenge for empirical force fields used in molecular dynamics simulations. Toward meeting this challenge, the inclusion of explicit electronic polarization is important in accurately modeling RNA structure. In this work, we present a polarizable force field for RNA based on the classical Drude oscillator model, which represents electronic degrees of freedom via negatively charged particles attached to their parent atoms by harmonic springs. Beginning with parametrization against quantum mechanical base stacking interaction energy and conformational energy data, we have extended the Drude‐2017 nucleic acid force field to include RNA. The conformational sampling of a range of RNA sequences were used to validate the force field, including canonical A‐form RNA duplexes, stem‐loops, and complex tertiary folds that bind multiple Mg2+ ions. Overall, the Drude‐2017 RNA force field reproduces important properties of these structures, including the conformational sampling of the 2′‐hydroxyl and key interactions with Mg2+ ions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α pathway attenuates tumor necrosis factor alpha‐induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells by activating autophagy
Authors: Chen Lu , Liu Lei , Xie Zhi‐Yang , Wang Feng , Zhu Lei , Zhang Cong , Fan Pan , Sinkemani Arjun , Hong Xin , Wu Xiao‐Tao
Published: December 2018

Cellular loss induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) contributes to the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Cellular stress induced by TNF‐α activates several processes to restore cell homeostasis. These processes include autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and related unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the effect and mechanism of UPR and autophagy regulated by TNF‐α in IVD degeneration (IDD) remain unclear. The effect of autophagy on biological changes in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) also remains elusive. In this study, rat NPCs were cultured with TNF‐α in the presence or absence of the UPR or autophagy pathway small‐interfering RNAs. The associated genes and proteins were evaluated through immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot analyses to monitor UPR and autophagy signaling and identify the regulatory mechanism of autophagy by the UPR pathway. Trypan blue exclusion assay, cell flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, qRT‐PCR, and western blot analyses were performed to examine the apoptosis of NPCs. The results showed that the acute exposure of TNF‐α induced the apoptosis of rat NPCs and activated the protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (PERK/eIF2α) pathway of UPR and initiated autophagy. Silencing the PERK/eIF2α pathway or inhibiting autophagy enhanced the apoptosis of NPCs. Interference of the PERK/eIF2α pathway suppressed the autophagy of rat NPCs under TNF‐α stimulation. Taken together, the PERK/eIF2α pathway reinforces the survival of NPCs under TNF‐α stimulation by activating autophagy. Therefore, PERK/eIF2α‐dependent autophagy could be a novel biological therapeutic target for IDD.
Role of histone modification and DNA methylation in signaling pathways involved in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Shafabakhsh Rana , Aghadavod Esmat , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon , Asemi Zatollah
Published: December 2018

Retinopathy, characterized by an alteration of the retinal microvasculature, is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. These changes can cause increased permeability and alter endothelial cell proliferation, edema, and abnormal neovascularization and eventually result in blindness. The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is complicated, involving many factors/mediators such as genetic susceptibility, microRNAs, and cytokines. One of the factors involved in DR pathogenesis is epigenetic changes that can have a key role in the regulation of gene expression; these include microRNAs, histone modifications, and methylation of DNA. The main epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation and posttranslational modifications of the histones. Generally, the studies on epigenetics can provide new opportunities to investigate the molecular basis of diseases with complicated pathogenesis, including DR, and provide essential insights into the potential design of strategies for its treatment. The aim of this study is an investigation of DR pathogenesis and epigenetic modifications that involve in DR development.
Forkhead box O4 transcription factor in human neoplasms: Cannot afford to lose the novel suppressor
Authors: Lu Chenxi , Yang Zhi , Jiang Shuai , Yang Yang , Han Yuehu , Lv Jianjun , Li Tian , Chen Fulin , Yu Yuan
Published: December 2018

Forkhead box O4 (FOXO4), a member of FOXO family, has been highlighted as an essential transcriptional regulator in many diverse carcinomas. Accumulated studies have demonstrated that FOXO4 is downregulated and associated with tumorigenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis of most human cancer. FOXO4 alteration is also closely linked to the prognosis of various types of cancer. The aim of this review is to comprehensively present the clinical and pathological significance of FOXO4 in human cancer. Additionally, the potential clinical applications of future FOXO4 research are discussed. Collectively, the information reviewed here should increase the potential of FOXO4 as a therapeutic target for cancer.
Hormetic effects of curcumin: What is the evidence?
Authors: Moghaddam Nazanin Sadat Aghili , Oskouie Mohammad Nosrati , Butler Alexandra E. , Petit Patrice X. , Barreto George E. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: December 2018

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the yellow powder prepared from the roots of Curcuma longa or Zingiberaceae (known as turmeric) is not only widely used to color and flavor food but also used as a pharmaceutical agent. Curcumin demonstrates anti‐inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiaging, and antioxidant activity, as well as efficacy in wound healing. Notably, curcumin is a hormetic agent (hormetin), as it is stimulatory at low doses and inhibitory at high doses. Hormesis by curcumin could be also a particular function at low doses (i.e., antioxidant behavior) and another function at high dose (i.e., induction of autophagy and cell death). Recent findings suggest that curcumin exhibits biphasic dose–responses on cells, with low doses having stronger effects than high doses; examples being activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway or antioxidant activity. This indicates that many effects induced by curcumin are dependent on dose and some effects might be greater at lower doses, indicative of a hormetic response. Despite the consistent occurrence of hormetic responses of curcumin in a wide range of biomedical models, epidemiological and clinical trials are needed to assess the nature of curcumin’s dose–response in humans. Fortunately, more than one hundred clinical trials with curcumin and curcumin derivatives are ongoing. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive analysis supportive of the hormetic behavior of curcumin and curcumin derivatives.
Tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐p‐metacirculants
Authors: Zhang Mi‐Mi , Zhou Jin‐Xin
Published: December 2018

A graph is half‐arc‐transitive if its full automorphism group acts transitively on its vertex set and edge set, but not arc set. A graph is said to be
a bi‐Cayley graph over a group if it admits as a group of automorphisms acting semiregularly and with two orbits on the vertex set. In this paper, a classification is given of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐Cayley graphs over metacyclic ‐groups for each odd prime , and this is then used to give a classification of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive graphs of order twice a prime cube.
Fine structure of the silk gland in the mite Ornithocheyletia sp. (Prostigmata, Cheyletidae)
Authors: Filimonova Svetlana
Published: December 2018

Silk spinning is widely‐spread in trombidiform mites, yet scarse information is available on the morphology of their silk glands. Thus this study describes the fine structure of the prosomal silk glands in a small parasitic mite, Ornithocheyletia sp. (Cheyletidae). These are paired acinous glands incorporated into the podocephalic system, as typical of the order. Combined secretion of the coxal and silk glands is released at the tip of the gnathosoma. Data obtained show Ornithocheyletia silk gland belonging to the class 3 arthropod exocrine gland. Each gland is composed of seven pyramidal secretory cells and one ring‐folded intercalary cell, rich in microtubules. The fine structure of the secretory cells points to intensive protein synthesis resulted in the presence of abundant uniform secretory granules. Fibrous content of the granules is always subdivided into several zones of two electron densities. The granules periodically discharge into the acinar cavity by means of exocytosis. The intercalary cell extends from the base of the excretory duct and contributes the wall of the acinar cavity encircling the apical margins of the secretory cells. The distal apical surface of the intercalary cell is covered with a thin cuticle resembling that of the corresponding cells in some acarine and myriapod glands. Axon endings form regular synaptic structures on the body of the intercalary cell implying nerve regulation of the gland activity.
Development of endocrine pancreatic islets in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix (Lepidosauria, Serpentes)
Authors: Kowalska Magdalena , Rupik Weronika
Published: December 2018

Differentiation of the pancreatic islets in grass snake Natrix natrix embryos, was analyzed using light, transmission electron microscopy, and immuno‐gold labeling. The study focuses on the origin of islets, mode of islet formation, and cell arrangement within islets. Two waves of pancreatic islet formation in grass snake embryos were described. The first wave begins just after egg laying when precursors of endocrine cells located within large cell agglomerates in the dorsal pancreatic bud differentiate. The large cell agglomerates were divided by mesenchymal cells thus forming the first islets. This mode of islet formation is described as fission. During the second wave of pancreatic islet formation which is related to the formation of the duct mantle, we observed four phases of islet formation: (a) differentiation of individual endocrine cells from the progenitor layer of duct walls (budding) and their incomplete delamination; (b) formation of two types of small groups of endocrine cells (A/D and B) in the wall of pancreatic ducts; (c) joining groups of cells emerging from neighboring ducts (fusion) and rearrangement of cells within islets; (d) differentiated pancreatic islets with characteristic arrangement of endocrine cells. Mature pancreatic islets of the grass snake contained mainly A endocrine cells. Single B and D or PP–cells were present at the periphery of the islets. This arrangement of endocrine cells within pancreatic islets of the grass snake differs from that reported from most others vertebrate species. Endocrine cells in the pancreas of grass snake embryos were also present in the walls of intralobular and intercalated ducts. At hatching, some endocrine cells were in contact with the lumen of the pancreatic ducts.
A randomized clinical trial of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives in donor site of connective tissue grafts
Authors: Stavropoulou Chrysi , Atout Reem N. , Brownlee Meredith , Schroth Robert J. , Kelekis‐Cholakis Anastasia
Published: December 2018

Background

The purpose was to compare patient‐centered outcomes, early wound healing, and postoperative complications at palatal donor area of subepithelial connective tissue grafts (CTG) between cyanoacrylates tissue adhesives and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sutures.

Methods

Thirty‐six patients who required harvesting of CTG were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial and assigned to one of two groups. In the “suture” group, wound closure was achieved with standardized continuous interlocking 6‐0 PTFE sutures, while in the “cyanoacrylate” group, a high viscosity blend of n‐butyl and 2‐octyl cyanoacrylate was applied until hemostasis was achieved. The primary outcome was the discomfort (eating, speaking, etc.) from the donor site during the first postoperative week; this was self‐reported on a visual analog scale questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were the time required for suture placement or cyanoacrylate application, patient self‐reported pain on the first day and the first week after surgery, the analgesic intake and the modified early‐wound healing index (MEHI).

Results

The median value of discomfort was 1.49 in the “suture” group and 1.86 in the “cyanoacrylate” (P = 0.56). The mean time required for suture placement was 7.31 minutes and for cyanoacrylate application 2.16 minutes (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found between the two methods in reported pain level, analgesic intake, and MEHI.

Conclusions

Cyanoacrylate performs similarly to sutures and can be used for wound closure of the donor site of CTG. The application was about 5 minutes faster than conventional suture placement, reducing the total time of the surgical procedure.
Use of Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman scattering for new applications
Authors: Kauffmann Thomas H. , Kokanyan Ninel , Fontana Marc D.
Published: December 2018

We show the interest in recording both Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman spectra in two peculiar applications. In one case, the comparison between these two parts of the spectrum, measured at one temperature only, allows to distinguish between first‐ and second‐order phonon bands. In the second example, the difference between Stokes and anti‐Stokes spectra provides separation between vibrational and emission lines. We describe the different stages needed in the measurements and data treatment.
Single‐cell Raman microscopy of microengineered cell scaffolds
Authors: Baldock Sara J. , Talari Abdullah C.S. , Smith Rachael , Wright Karen L. , Ashton Lorna
Published: December 2018

Studying cells in a three‐dimensional (3D) environment has great potential in understanding cell behaviours such as morphology, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Microengineered 3D cell scaffolds with precise defined geometries have offered a new approach to study cell behaviour and its interactions with scaffolds. The use of Raman spectroscopy to characterise biomolecules is a rapidly expanding area and has been implemented in numerous fields including pharmacology, microbiology, toxicology, and single‐cell studies. However, one area where it remains unexploited despite the vast potential of the technique is in the investigation of 3D cell scaffolds. A combination of Raman microscopy and chemometric approaches have employed to investigate the structure and biochemistry of nanofabricated scaffolds and a cell–scaffold complex. The 3D Raman mapping combined with the use of nanofabricated 3D scaffolds offers a unique opportunity to assess the influence of scaffold architecture on cell body and cell nuclei morphology and biochemistry. For the first time, we have cultured a human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line on OrmoComp scaffolds and determined the structure and biochemistry of nanofabricated scaffolds and a cell–scaffold complex with the use of Raman microscopy combined with appropriate data analysis protocols. The results demonstrate the potential of 3D Raman mapping for identifying biochemical and physical variation within single cells as they grow and adhere to 3D scaffolds.
Cereal type significantly affects the composition and reconstitution characteristics of dried fermented milk‐cereal composites
Authors: Shevade Ashwini V , O'Callaghan Yvonne C , Kennedy Deirdre , O'Brien Nora M , O'Connor Tom P , Guinee Timothy P
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND

Dairy and cereal products are frequently combined to create composites with enhanced nutritional benefits. Commercially available dried dairy‐cereal composites are typically reconstituted and cooked to produce porridge or soup.

RESULTS

Dried fermented milk‐cereal composites (FMCC) with ∼193 g kg−1 protein were prepared by blending fermented milk with parboiled oats (FMCCo), wheat (FMCCw), or barley (FMCCb), incubating the blend, drying, and milling. Cereal type significantly affected the composition of the FMCC and the properties of the reconstituted, cooked FMCC (R‐FMCC). The FMCCo had a higher starch and fat content and lower levels of lactose, lactic acid, and amylose than FMCCb. The R‐FMCCo had higher viscosity during cooking at 95 °C and cooling to 35 °C, and higher values of yield stress (σ0), consistency index (K) and viscosity on shearing from 20 to 120 s−1 at 60 °C than R‐FMCCb. The FMCCw had lower levels of fat and β‐glucan than FMCCo or FMCCb, but was otherwise closer to FMMCb with respect to composition, cooking properties and flow behavior.

CONCLUSION

Differences in composition and consistency associated with cereal type are likely to affect the nutritional value of the FMCC. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Differences in video head impulse test gains from right versus left or outward versus inward head impulses
Authors: Park Jun Woo , Kim Tae Su , Cha Eun Hye , Kang Byung Chul , Park Hong Ju
Published: December 2018

Objective

To investigate the effect of the right/left and outward/inward head impulses on video head impulse test (vHIT) gains.

Methods

Video head impulse test gains were calculated by recording the right eye movements with an infrared camera in a cohort of 24 healthy subjects (26–39 years old, 30 ± 9 years old). We compared the vHIT gains in four different situations in which the right and left lateral semicircular canals (LSCC) were stimulated through outward or inward head impulses.

Results

The vHIT gains from stimulating the right LSCC were significantly larger than those stimulating the left LSCC, regardless of whether the head impulse was outward or inward (1.06 ± 0.1 by right outward vs. 0.98 ± 0.08 by left outward, P = 0.003; 1.02 ± 0.1 by right inward vs. 0.92 ± 0.07 by left inward, P < 0.0001). The mean difference in vHIT gain between stimulating the right or left LSCC was 0.09. The gains from outward vHITs were significantly larger than those from the inward tests, regardless of the LSCC side stimulated (1.06 ± 0.1 from right outward vs. 1.02 ± 0.1 from right inward, both stimulating the right LSCC, P = 0.013; 0.98 ± 0.08 from left outward vs. 0.92 ± 0.07 from left inward, both stimulating the left LSCC, P = 0.001). The mean difference in the vHIT gains between the outward and inward tests was 0.05.

Conclusion

The right/left vHIT gain difference (0.09) is higher than the outward/inward vHIT gain difference (0.05). These are independently significant differences when using a vHIT system, which records movements in the right eye. An understanding of these differences may be helpful when interpreting vHIT results.

Level of Evidence

4

Laryngoscope, 129:1675–1679, 2019
Engineering of a novel gene from a halophyte: Potential for agriculture in degraded coastal saline soil
Authors: Kumari Anupam , Jha Bhavanath
Published: December 2018

To feed the ever increasing world population, more crops production per hectare has become a necessity. Soil salinity is one of the important factors causing land degradation leading to low soil aeration and water conductance. It adversely impacts plant growth and development. Adaption through modern molecular tools is an important strategy for alternative use for degraded land. To achieve this aim, we have cloned a novel salt responsive gene Salicornia brachiata RNA Poly III Complex 5 Like subunit (SbRPC5L) from an extreme halophyte and transformed it into tobacco for abiotic stress tolerance. The gene is intronless, 1,202 bp long, membrane‐localized, encoding a protein of 196 amino acids and shows upregulation under salt and osmotic stress. Tobacco plants harboring SbRPC5L perform better under stress and have more water content, membrane stability, and stress tolerance indices as compared with control plants. The transgenics exhibited lower electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species (ROS), H2O2, and Na+, more negative value of osmotic potential, higher K+ content, and K+/Na+ ratio. Some of the important antioxidant genes, namely, NtAPX, NtPOX, and NtSOD, get upregulated in transgenic lines. The results suggest that this novel gene has a potential to be used as a promising alternative to impart abiotic stress tolerance for climate resilient agriculture in degraded costal saline areas.
Minimal volume invariants, topological sphere theorems and biorthogonal curvature on 4‐manifolds
Authors: Costa Ezio , Ribeiro Ernani
Published: December 2018

The goal of this article is to establish estimates involving the Yamabe minimal volume, mixed minimal volume and some topological invariants on compact 4‐manifolds. In addition, we provide topological sphere theorems for compact submanifolds of spheres and Euclidean spaces, provided that the full norm of the second fundamental form is suitably bounded.
Ergodicity for the 3D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations perturbed by Lévy noise
Authors: Mohan Manil T. , Sakthivel K. , Sritharan Sivaguru S.
Published: December 2018

In this work we construct a Markov family of martingale solutions for 3D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations (SNSE) perturbed by Lévy noise with periodic boundary conditions. Using the Kolmogorov equations of integrodifferential type associated with the SNSE perturbed by Lévy noise, we construct a transition semigroup and establish the existence of a unique invariant measure. We also show that it is ergodic and strongly mixing.
The Immunomodulatory Properties of Propyl‐Propane Thiosulfonate Contribute to its Intestinal Anti‐Inflammatory Effect in Experimental Colitis
Authors: Vezza Teresa , Algieri Francesca , Garrido‐Mesa José , Utrilla María Pilar , Rodríguez‐Cabezas María Elena , Baños Alberto , Guillamón Enrique , García Federico , Rodríguez‐Nogales Alba , Gálvez Julio
Published: December 2018

Scope

Propyl‐propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) is a component isolated from garlic (Allium sativum) with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties. In consequence, PTSO can be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Methods and results

The anti‐inflammatory effects of PTSO are studied in two mice models of colitis: 2,4‐dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) (PTSO doses: 0.01–10 mg kg–1) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (PTSO doses: 0.01–0.1 mg kg–1). The immunomodulatory effects of PTSO (0.1–25 µm) are also shown in vitro in Caco‐2 and THP‐1 cells, reducing the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and downregulating mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. This compound displays beneficial effects in both models of mouse colitis by reducing the expression of different pro‐inflammatory mediators and improving the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. Moreover, PTSO ameliorates the altered gut microbiota composition observed in DSS colitic mice.

Conclusion

PTSO exerts intestinal anti‐inflammatory activity in experimental colitis in mice. This anti‐inflammatory activity can be associated with the immunomodulatory properties of PTSO through the regulation of the activity of cells involved in the inflammatory response. Furthermore, PTSO is able to restore the intestinal epithelial barrier function and to ameliorate the intestinal microbiota homeostasis, thus supporting its future development in human IBD.
Through‐the‐floor localization of a static person by a multistatic UWB radar
Authors: Švecová Mária , Kocur Dušan , Demčák Jakub , Buša Ján , Gamcová Mária , Slovák Stanislav
Published: December 2018

A new approach to through‐the‐floor localization of a static person using an ultra‐wide band (UWB) radar is introduced in this article. The proposed solution is based on a multilateration method appropriately modified for target localization by a multistatic UWB radar employing 1 transmitting (Tx) and 4 receiving antennas (Rxi). Due to an appropriate radar antenna array layout, a geometrical interpretation of the considered problem of localization allows finding the target coordinates by a simple computation of 2 intersections of 2 pairs of ellipses. The mentioned ellipses are defined by the antenna layout and time‐of‐arrivals corresponding to the target that were estimated for the particular pairs of Tx–Rxi antennas. Experimental analysis of the proposed method of through‐the‐floor localization of a person confirmed its good accuracy, despite being such a complex scenario.
A broadband wire hexagon antenna array for future 5G communications in 28 GHz band
Authors: Ullah Hidayat , Tahir Farooq A.
Published: December 2018

A broadband antenna array for 28 GHz 5G communications is presented in this paper. The antenna array has dimensions of 45 × 20 mm2 and has a measured operating band in 25.052‐34.923 GHz frequency range. A 4‐way feed network to excite its array elements was designed and optimized for the operating band. The single element consists of two co‐centric wire hexagons backed by another hexagonal ground loop of larger radius. The resulting monopole is surrounded by vias arranged in an inverted U‐shape manner for better performance. The antenna array has a minimum radiation efficiency of 85% with peak gain of 12.15 dBi. The antenna has narrow beam‐widths of 44.3° and 12.5° in two of its respective planes. The antenna is fabricated on an ultra‐thin Rogers substrate. The proposed antenna is deemed suitable for future 5G communication systems due to its simple design, compact size and low fabrication cost.
Comparison of in vivo lung morphometry models from 3D multiple b‐value 3He and 129Xe diffusion‐weighted MRI
Authors: Chan Ho‐Fung , Collier Guilhem J. , Weatherley Nicholas D. , Wild Jim M.
Published: December 2018

Purpose

To compare in vivo lung morphometry parameters derived from theoretical gas diffusion models, the cylinder model and stretched exponential model, in a range of acinar microstructural length scales encountered in healthy and diseased lungs with 3He and 129Xe diffusion‐weighted MRI.

Methods

Three‐dimensional multiple b‐value 3He and 129Xe diffusion‐weighted MRI was acquired with compressed sensing at 1.5 T from 51 and 31 subjects, respectively, including healthy volunteers, ex‐smokers, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. For each subject, the stretched exponential model–derived mean diffusive length scale (LmD) was calculated from the diffusion signal decay, and was compared with the cylinder model–derived mean chord length (Lm) and mean alveolar diameter (LAlv) in order to determine the relationships among the different lung morphometry parameters.

Results

For both 3He and 129Xe diffusion‐weighted MRI, the mean global LmD value was significantly related (P < .001) to Lm in a nonlinear power relationship, whereas the LAlv demonstrated excellent linear correlation (P < .001) with LmD. A mean bias of +1.0% and 2.6% toward LmD was obtained for Bland‐Altman analyses of 3He and 129Xe LmD and LAlv values, suggesting that the two morphometric parameters are equivalent measures of mean acinar dimensions.

Conclusion

Within the experimental range of parameters considered here for both 3He and 129Xe, the stretched exponential model–derived LmD is related nonlinearly to cylinder model–derived Lm, and demonstrates excellent agreement with the cylinder model–derived LAlv.
Mix‐&‐Read Determination of Mercury(II) at Trace Levels with Hybrid Mesoporous Silica Materials Incorporating Fluorescent Probes by a Simple Mix‐&‐Load Technique
Authors: Climent Estela , Hecht Mandy , Witthuhn Heike , Gawlitza Kornelia , Rurack Knut
Published: December 2018

The synthesis, characterization, and application of mesoporous materials containing boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY) moieties that allow the sensitive and selective detection of HgII in aqueous environments by fluorescence enhancement is reported. For this purpose, BODIPY dye I containing a thia‐aza crown ether receptor as the fluorescent probe for the detection of HgII in aqueous environments is encapsulated into mesoporous materials to avoid self‐quenching or aggregation in water. Determination of HgII is accomplished within a few seconds with high selectivity and sensitivity, reaching a limit of detection of 12 ppt. The determination of trace amounts of HgII in natural waters and in fish extracts is demonstrated by using our sensing material. The incorporation of the material into several μ‐PAD strips yields a portable, cheap, quick, and easy‐to‐handle tool for trace HgII analysis in water.
Weight self‐stigma and weight loss during behavioural weight loss intervention
Authors: Lillis J. , Thomas J. G. , Olson K. , Wing R. R.
Published: December 2018

Objective

Despite the myriad negative effects of weight self‐stigma, its role in weight loss intervention has not been thoroughly examined. The aim of this study was to examine the association between weight self‐stigma and weight loss.

Methods

This longitudinal study examined the association between weight loss and changes in self‐stigma, assessed by the Weight Self‐Stigma Questionnaire, which distinguished between self‐devaluation and fear of enacted stigma. Participants were adults with overweight or obesity enrolled in a 24‐month weight loss intervention trial (groups were collapsed for this post hoc analysis) who were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Results

Baseline levels of self‐stigma were not associated with weight loss outcomes. However, mixed models analysis showed that reductions in one aspect of weight self‐stigma, self‐devaluation, was associated with greater weight loss (p = 0.01). Cross products mediation analysis showed that increases in use of weight control strategies mediated the association between reductions in self‐devaluation and greater weight loss (F = 14.86, p < 0.001; CI 0.09–0.37).

Conclusions

Results suggest that there may be potential for incorporating intervention methods targeting the reduction of self‐stigma in order to improve weight loss outcomes.
Lifestyle behaviours or socioeconomic characteristics? Gender differences in covariates of BMI in Hungary
Authors: Jarosz E.
Published: December 2018

Objective

Lifestyle behaviours are everyday activities that result from individual's values, knowledge, and norms shaped by broader cultural and socioeconomic context. These behaviours affect body weight as well as overall health and are influenced by a number of social characteristics. The aim of this paper was to examine the net effects of lifestyle behaviours and socioeconomic factors on body mass index (BMI), and how these differed by gender.

Methods

This study used the 2009/2010 Hungarian Time Use Survey combining behavioural records, background information, and measures of self‐reported health and weight. The sample (n = 7765) was representative for the Hungarian population. Multivariate linear OLS regression models were employed to analyse the net effects of lifestyle and sociodemographic variables.

Results

Daily behaviours were associated with BMI for women, but not for men, except for smoking. Meals frequency and duration of sleep had negative effects on female BMI, whereas duration of TV viewing had a positive effect. Occupational class was associated with male BMI, but not with female. The strong negative effect of smoking was significant for both genders.

Conclusions

Lifestyle behaviours were linked with female BMI, with socioeconomic characteristics impacting on male BMI. These results suggest that a gender‐specific approach may be appropriate to address obesity issues in the Hungarian population.
Comparing external and internal validation methods in correcting outcome misclassification bias in logistic regression: A simulation study and application to the case of postsurgical venous thromboembolism following total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Ni Jiayi , Dasgupta Kaberi , Kahn Suzan R. , Talbot Denis , Lefebvre Geneviève , Lix Lisa M. , Berry Greg , Burman Mark , Dimentberg Ronald , Laflamme Yves , Cirkovic Alain , Rahme Elham
Published: December 2018

Purpose

We assessed the validity of postsurgery venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnoses identified from administrative databases and compared Bayesian and multiple imputation (MI) approaches in correcting for outcome misclassification in logistic regression models.

Methods

Sensitivity and specificity of postsurgery VTE among patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement (THR/TKR) were assessed against chart review in six Montreal hospitals in 2009 to 2010. Administrative data on all THR/TKR Quebec patients in 2009 to 2010 were obtained. The performance of Bayesian external, Bayesian internal, and MI approaches to correct the odds ratio (OR) of postsurgery VTE in tertiary versus community hospitals was assessed using simulations. Bayesian external approach used prior information from external sources, while Bayesian internal and MI approaches used chart review.

Results

In total, 17 319 patients were included, 2136 in participating hospitals, among whom 75 had VTE in administrative data versus 81 in chart review. VTE sensitivity was 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.48‐0.69) and specificity was 0.99 (0.98‐0.99), overall. The adjusted OR of VTE in tertiary versus community hospitals was 1.35 (1.12‐1.64) using administrative data, 1.45 (0.97‐2.19) when MI was used for misclassification correction, and 1.53 (0.83‐2.87) and 1.57 (0.39‐5.24) when Bayesian internal and external approaches were used, respectively. In simulations, all three approaches reduced the OR bias and had appropriate coverage for both nondifferential and differential misclassification.

Conclusion

VTE identified from administrative data had low sensitivity and high specificity. The Bayesian external approach was useful to reduce outcome misclassification bias in logistic regression; however, it required accurate specification of the misclassification properties and should be used with caution.
2018 Auto TPO: 20 Years Young
Authors: Malnati Peggy
Published: December 2018

Special treats were in store for the record‐breaking 992 attendees at the 2018 SPE TPO Automotive Engineered Polyolefins Conference in Troy, Mich., to celebrate the event's 20th anniversary. Attendees from around the globe gathered Oct. 7 to 10 to discuss the latest automotive innovations in thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), and short‐ and long‐glass polypropylene (PP) compounds.
Bio‐Based PLA Finds Novel Packaging Uses
Authors: Grace Robert
Published: December 2018

Two entrepreneurial U.S. companies have developed novel but very different consumer packaging applications for polylactic acid biopolymers. For one, the prospects may be sky high; for the other, they are literally repellent.

PLA thermoplastic resins are polymers derived from renewable natural resources. The firms in question—Sana Packaging Inc. in Denver, Colo., and EarthKind LLC in Bismarck, N.D.—are each using bio‐filled PLA in their products.
In Vitro and In Vivo Proteomic Comparison of Human Neural Progenitor Cell‐Induced Photoreceptor Survival
Authors: Jones Melissa K. , Lu Bin , Chen Dawn Zhaohui , Spivia Weston R. , Mercado Augustus T. , Ljubimov Alexander V. , Svendsen Clive N. , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Wang Shaomei
Published: December 2018

Retinal degenerative diseases lead to blindness with few treatments. Various cell‐based therapies are aimed to slow the progression of vision loss by preserving light‐sensing photoreceptor cells. A subretinal injection of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) into the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model of retinal degeneration has aided in photoreceptor survival, though the mechanisms are mainly unknown. Identifying the retinal proteomic changes that occur following hNPC treatment leads to better understanding of neuroprotection. To mimic the retinal environment following hNPC injection, a co‐culture system of retinas and hNPCs is developed. Less cell death occurs in RCS retinal tissue co‐cultured with hNPCs than in retinas cultured alone, suggesting that hNPCs provide retinal protection in vitro. Comparison of ex vivo and in vivo retinas identifies nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (NRF2) mediated oxidative response signaling as an hNPC‐induced pathway. This is the first study to compare proteomic changes following treatment with hNPCs in both an ex vivo and in vivo environment, further allowing the use of ex vivo modeling for mechanisms of retinal preservation. Elucidation of the protein changes in the retina following hNPC treatment may lead to the discovery of mechanisms of photoreceptor survival and its therapeutic for clinical applications.
Influence of remote intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the acidity of hydroxy‐1,4‐benzoquinonederivatives: A DFT study
Authors: Bayat Ahmad , Fattahi Alireza
Published: December 2018

In this study, the effects of the remote intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the acidity of hydroxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone derivatives have been investigatedab initioby employing density functional theory (DFT) methods. The computational studies were performed for both gas and solution (H2O, DMSO, and MeCN solutions) phases. Our results indicated that remote hydrogen bonding could play an important role in increasing the acidity of hydroxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone.Noncovalent interaction reduced density gradient (NCI‐RDG) methods were used to visualize the attractive and repulsive interactions in the studied acids and their conjugate bases. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to confirm intramolecular hydrogen bonding effect on acidity. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was also used to study the nature of hydrogen bonds. QTAIM results showed that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in these structures are electrostatic (closed‐shell) interactions in nature.
The challenge for botanic garden science
Authors: Smith Paul
Published: December 2018

Societal Impact Statement

Plants are fundamental to solving many of humanity's most important challenges: food insecurity, water scarcity, energy, health, and climate change. With more than 20% of the world's plant species currently threatened with extinction, the loss of plant diversity will result in reduced options for human innovation, adaptation, and resilience. The world's botanic gardens already conserve and manage around a third of all known plant species in their living collections as well as seed banks as an insurance policy against extinction and as a resource to support scientific research. This work needs to be expanded rapidly if we are to avoid further plant species extinctions.

Historically, botanic garden science has been dominated by the disciplines of economic botany and taxonomy. Today, with around 20% of plant species threatened with extinction, the author argues that unless botanic gardens shift their efforts toward the conservation, management and use of plants, the loss of plant diversity will stifle human innovation, adaptation, and resilience. The enormous body of taxonomic knowledge, skills, data, and collections built up over the past two centuries is fundamental to managing plant diversity. These resources need to be used to address challenges such as food insecurity, water scarcity, renewable energy, human health, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. At a time when botanic gardens are increasingly seen as visitor attractions, rather than scientific institutions, refocusing their efforts is in the best interests of botanic gardens as well as those of broader society. The author gives examples of how botanic gardens are already supplying crop wild relatives to plant breeders; using their living collections to assess resilience to climate change and vulnerability to pests and diseases; and conserving rare and threatened plant species for future use. However, in spite of these efforts, only a small fraction of the estimated 60,000 plant scientists and specialist horticulturists in the world's botanic gardens are engaged in scientific research that has demonstrable impact on how we conserve or manage plant diversity. The author argues that it is time for botanic gardens to develop a new contract with society—a contract that delivers outcomes for society that only botanic gardens, as custodians of the world's plant diversity, can deliver.
Self‐organizing researcher networks in the plant sciences
Authors: Dodd Antony N. , Harper Helen , Hiscock Simon J. , Koch Marcus A. , Kudoh Hiroshi , Oyama Tokitaka , Schumacher Karin , Shimada Tomoo , Tamura Minoru N.
Published: December 2018

Societal Impact Statement

The next generation of plant scientists must have expertise in a broad range of fields and experimental approaches to overcome the grand challenges of the 21st century. Plant science will play a role in addressing these challenges, for example, our plant scientists must contribute to diverse areas, from plant breeding to ensure robust and resilient crops; to large‐scale climate modeling in response to climate change events. Small international networks led by early career scientists can help facilitate the progression of such individuals to leadership roles in the plant sciences and thus can help nurture our next generation of scientific pioneers.
An evolutionary and cultural biography of ginkgo
Authors: Crane Peter R.
Published: December 2018

Societal Impact statement

Ginkgo biloba is a distinctive living tree with a unique place in plant evolution and human culture. It is valued in horticulture and as a street tree, is a source of edible “nuts” and popular in herbal medicine, and it has proved inspirational in art, literature, and religion. Ginkgo is also a living link to diverse seed plants that flourished over 100 million years ago. With recent discoveries of extinct fossil ginkgo relatives, and the recent draft sequence of its genome, ginkgo offers opportunities to increase public understanding of plant science and the importance of plant conservation.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is one of the world’s most distinctive trees and has no close living relatives. It is the last survivor of an ancient and once diverse lineage that was almost extinguished by the Pleistocene glaciations and survived only as a relic in restricted areas of eastern and central China. Remarkably, since then, through its association with people, ginkgo has undergone a dramatic resurgence. In China, Japan, and Korea, it has long been prized as an edible nut and it is also revered in eastern religions. Ginkgo is also one of the world’s most widely used street trees, has become a popular horticultural novelty, and has featured prominently in art of all kinds. Extracts from its leaves are a widely used herbal supplement. In the context of current threats to plant diversity, ginkgo is a good news story: an unusual exemplar that highlights how people can contribute to species survival in the world of plants.
Successful treatment of a solitary brain metastasis from small cell lung cancer with whole brain radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery boost: A case report
Authors: Jammal Mustafa , Hilal Lara , Assi Hazem , Faddoul Daniel , Youssef Bassem
Published: December 2018

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with a high potential for brain metastases. Treatment for metastatic SCLC is systemic chemotherapy, but the median overall survival remains poor. Cranial irradiation for palliative purposes using whole brain radiotherapy is the standard‐of‐care for patients with symptomatic brain metastases. However, few reports showed a prolonged survival in SCLC patients with solitary brain metastasis treated with a definitive intent. We report a case of a 62‐year‐old man who presented with solitary brain metastasis secondary to SCLC who was successfully treated with definitive radiotherapy to the primary lesion and the solitary brain metastasis, and followed up for 2 years.
Getting it right for projects in early design phase: Advanced techniques to ensure accurate explosion assessments
Authors: Botwinick Drew , Davis Scott
Published: December 2018

A large vapour cloud explosion followed by a fire is one of the most dangerous and high‐consequence events that can occur at petrochemical facilities. As the size and complexity of facilities increase, designs must consider the potential adverse effects associated with vapour cloud explosions in large congested areas. Designing topside structures to withstand a maximum credible event by avoiding unacceptable escalation of events and damage to safety critical equipment is an essential part of the path toward safer designs. One main factor inhibiting inherently safer designs is the lack of detailed geometry information in the early design phase. When congestion due to small components is not integrated into the explosion pressure analysis model, the design blast loads will be severely underestimated. This article will compare detailed computer‐aided design (CAD) models obtained for both early design phase and as‐built final detailed design, and demonstrate the gross under prediction of accidental explosion loads of the early phase models, as compared to as‐built. In fact, the explosion overpressures can differ by an order of magnitude underlining the need for guidance on the necessary levels of congestion required to obtain reliable blast loads.

Gexcon has evaluated traditional congestion parameters such as volume blockage ratio, surface area to volume ratio and packing density as indicators of predicted overpressure as they are commonly used for explosion siting studies. On their own, these parameters have not proven reliable indicators of predicted overpressure and have shown no direct correlation to predicted overpressure across varying geometries. The lack of a direct relationship makes assessing the amount of required congestion to be added to early design phase models challenging. This study will focus on evaluating alternative ways of quantifying congestion, such as non‐dimensional congestion parameters, row spacing, and special obstruction density gradients, to evaluate combustion and eddy/turbulence decay downstream of obstructed areas. With these alternative parameters, we have further refined our anticipated congestion method for petrochemical facilities for accurate predictions of explosion consequences with early design phase models (concept or front‐end engineering design (FEED), phase). This methodology will define what levels of anticipated congestion are necessary to supplement CAD models in early design phase to ensure accurate assessment of explosion hazards and include recommendations for required congestion level for supplementing early phase designs. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 38: e11995, 2019