bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of reburning zone conditions on no reduction efficiency in an online precalciner‐type kiln system
Authors: Du Long , Jin Baosheng , Zheng Xin , Niu Miaomiao
Published: August 2015

Nitrous oxide (NO) reduction of online precalciner‐type kiln systems by coal reburning was investigated experimentally using a one‐dimensional furnace system. NO reduction can reach as high as ∼70–80% in the tested reburning zone stoichiometry range (SR2) of ∼0.6–1.0. The NO reduction efficiency of bituminous coal is lower than that of anthracite (0.5 < SR2 <0.65). A higher temperature can lead to a higher NO reduction efficiency since 0.6 < SR2 < 0.7. There is an exponential correlation between the NO reduction efficiency and residence time, which may be influenced by several parameters, such as reburning zone stoichiometry and reburning coal characteristics. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 439–446, 2016
Carvone (R)‐(‐) and (S)‐(+) enantiomers inhibits upper gastrointestinal motility in mice
Authors: Silva Camila M. S. , Wanderley Carlos W. S. , Lima‐Junior Francisco J. B. , de Sousa Damião P. , Lima Julianeli T. , Magalhães Pedro J. C. , Santos Armênio A. , Palheta‐Junior Raimundo C.
Published: August 2015

Carvone is a monoterpene ketone that occurs naturally as (R)‐(‐) and (S)‐(+) enantiomers in some essential oils that are used in the food and flavour industry and in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders. However, the actions of carvone enantiomers on the gastrointestinal motility in vivo models are not well known. The effects of (R)‐(‐)‐ and (S)‐(+)‐carvone on gut motility were evaluated in mice by measuring gastric dye emptying and the rate of intestinal transit. It was also evaluated by measuring intragastric pressure monitored in vivo, and the contractile behaviour of gut strips from mice was studied in vitro. (R)‐(‐)‐carvone and (S)‐(+)‐carvone caused gastric retention, reflected by decreased gastric dye emptying. These effects were accompanied by a reduction of the propulsive behaviour of the small intestine. The retarding effects of carvone on gastric emptying were also related to a decrease in the magnitude of intragastric pressure waves. The carvone‐induced effects in vivo resembled those of the positive control, loperamide. In vitro, carvone relaxed sustained contractions induced by carbachol in strips of longitudinal gastric fundus and duodenum. In fundic strips under Ca2+‐free conditions, (S)‐(+)‐carvone inhibited both the phasic and tonic phases of carbachol‐induced contractions and contractions caused by electrical field stimulation. Carvone inhibited duodenal tissues more than gastric tissues, especially when plasmalemmal Ca2+ influx was pharmacologically stimulated. Both enantiomers (R)‐(‐)‐carvone and (S)‐(+)‐carvone exerted myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects on gut smooth muscle in vitro and inhibited gastrointestinal motility in awake mice. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multifaceted roles for astrocytes in spreading depolarization: A target for limiting spreading depolarization in acute brain injury?
Authors: Seidel Jessica L. , Escartin Carole , Ayata Cenk , Bonvento Gilles , Shuttleworth C. William
Published: August 2015

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are coordinated waves of synchronous depolarization, involving large numbers of neurons and astrocytes as they spread slowly through brain tissue. The recent identification of SDs as likely contributors to pathophysiology in human subjects has led to a significant increase in interest in SD mechanisms, and possible approaches to limit the numbers of SDs or their deleterious consequences in injured brain. Astrocytes regulate many events associated with SD. SD initiation and propagation is dependent on extracellular accumulation of K+ and glutamate, both of which involve astrocytic clearance. SDs are extremely metabolically demanding events, and signaling through astrocyte networks is likely central to the dramatic increase in regional blood flow that accompanies SD in otherwise healthy tissues. Astrocytes may provide metabolic support to neurons following SD, and may provide a source of adenosine that inhibits neuronal activity following SD. It is also possible that astrocytes contribute to the pathophysiology of SD, as a consequence of excessive glutamate release, facilitation of NMDA receptor activation, brain edema due to astrocyte swelling, or disrupted coupling to appropriate vascular responses after SD. Direct or indirect evidence has accumulated implicating astrocytes in many of these responses, but much remains unknown about their specific contributions, especially in the context of injury. Conversion of astrocytes to a reactive phenotype is a prominent feature of injured brain, and recent work suggests that the different functional properties of reactive astrocytes could be targeted to limit SDs in pathophysiological conditions. GLIA 2016;64:5–20
Serial pharmacological prescribing practices for tic management in Tourette syndrome
Authors: Farag Mena , Stern Jeremy S. , Simmons Helen , Robertson Mary M.
Published: August 2015

Pharmacological treatments for Tourette syndrome (TS) vary in efficacy between different patients. The evidence base is limited as even high quality controlled studies tend to be of relatively short duration which may lose relevance in clinical usage. Patients are frequently treated with serial agents in the search for efficacy and tolerability. The success of this strategy has not been previously documented. We examined 400 consecutive TS patients seen over a 10‐year period, some with a longer prior history in other clinics; 255/400 (64%) were prescribed medication. We present this heterogeneous cohort in terms of the number of drugs they had tried, and as a proxy measure of some benefit of the last drug used, whether it had been prescribed under our supervision for ≥5 months. The most commonly prescribed medications were aripiprazole (64%), clonidine (40%), risperidone (30%) and sulpiride (29%) with changes in prescribing practises over the period examined. The number of different drugs tried were one (n = 155), two (n = 69), three (n = 36), four (n = 14), five (n = 15), six (n = 5), seven (n = 2) and eight (n = 1). The data illustrate the difficulty in drug treatment of tics and suggest that even after trials of several agents there is potential benefit in trying further options. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential Susceptibility to Parenting in Middle Childhood: Do Impulsivity, Effortful Control and Negative Emotionality Indicate Susceptibility or Vulnerability?
Authors: Slagt Meike , Semon Dubas Judith , van Aken Marcel A. G.
Published: August 2015

In this longitudinal study, we examined whether children differ in their susceptibility to harsh and responsive parenting as reflected in their externalizing and prosocial behaviour two years later. We focused on three potential susceptibility markers assessed during middle childhood: Negative emotionality, impulsivity, and effortful control. Participants were 120 Dutch children (6–11 years old; 54% girls). Parenting was assessed using both observations and self‐report questionnaires. Parental responsiveness predicted decreased externalizing behaviour two years later among children high on impulsivity (in case of observed responsiveness) or low on effortful control (in case of observed and self‐reported responsiveness) but not among children low on impulsivity or high on effortful control. Observed harsh parenting predicted decreased prosocial behaviour, especially among children with average or high negative emotionality. The findings support a diathesis–stress model more than they do a differential susceptibility model. High impulsivity seemed to be a vulnerability factor, predicting increased externalizing behaviour when parents lacked responsiveness. Also, high negative emotionality served as a vulnerability factor, predicting decreased prosocial behaviour when parents were harsh, while low negative emotionality served as a protective factor, buffering against decreased prosocial behaviour. Finally, low effortful control might operate as a vantage‐sensitivity factor, predicting decreased externalizing behaviour when parents were responsive. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyclic 4‐Colorings of Graphs on Surfaces
Authors: Nakamoto Atsuhiro , Noguchi Kenta , Ozeki Kenta
Published: August 2015

To attack the Four Color Problem, in 1880, Tait gave a necessary and sufficient condition for plane triangulations to have a proper 4‐vertex‐coloring: a plane triangulation G has a proper 4‐vertex‐coloring if and only if the dual of G has a proper 3‐edge‐coloring. A cyclic coloring of a map G on a surface F2 is a vertex‐coloring of G such that any two vertices x and y receive different colors if x and y are incident with a common face of G. In this article, we extend the result by Tait to two directions, that is, considering maps on a nonspherical surface and cyclic 4‐colorings.
Evidence of neurodegeneration in obstructive sleep apnea: Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly
Authors: Daulatzai Mak Adam
Published: August 2015

The incidence of dementia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases with age. Late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease of the elderly characterized by amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The disease involves widespread synaptic loss in the neocortex and the hippocampus. Rodent and clinical studies suggest that OSA impairs the structural integrity of several brain regions, including the medial temporal lobe. Indeed, hypoxia, hypertension, hypoperfusion, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress noted in OSA patients also occur in AD patients. This Review highlights pathological commonality, showing that OSA upregulates Aβ, tau hyperphosphorylation, and synaptic dysfunction. Indeed, OSA and hypertension trigger hypoperfusion and hypometabolism of brain regions, including cortex and hippocampus. Several studies show that hypertension‐driven brain damage and pathogenic mechanisms lead to an Aβ increase. The pathophysiological mechanism by which OSA enhances hypertension may be linked to sympathoexcitation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Strong pathophysiological similarities that exist between OSA and AD are underscored here. For example, the hippocampus is negatively impacted in both OSA and AD. OSA promotes hippocampal atrophy, which is associated with memory impairment. Cognitive impairment, even in the absence of manifest dementia, is an important independent predictor of mortality. However, several pathophysiological mechanisms in OSA are reversible with appropriate therapy. OSA, therefore, is a modifiable risk factor of cognitive dysfunction, and treating OSA prior to mild cognitive impairment may be an effective prevention strategy to reduce risk for cognitive decline and AD in middle‐aged persons and the elderly. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Micro‐RNA‐30a regulates ischemia‐induced cell death by targeting heat shock protein HSPA5 in primary cultured cortical neurons and mouse brain after stroke
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhang Nan , Liang Jia , Li Jiefei , Han Song , Li Junfa
Published: August 2015

Micro‐RNAs (miRs) have emerged as key gene regulators in many diseases, including stroke. We recently reported that miR‐30a protects N2A cells against ischemic injury, in part through enhancing beclin 1‐mediated autophagy. The present study explores further the involvement of miR‐30a in ischemia‐induced apoptosis and its possible mechanisms in primary cortical neurons and stroked mouse brain. We demonstrate that miR‐30a level is significantly decreased in cortical neurons after 1‐hr oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD)/24‐hr reoxygenation. Overexpression of miR‐30a aggravated the OGD‐induced neuronal cell death, whereas inhibition of miR‐30a attenuated necrosis and apoptosis as determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐di‐phenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase, TUNEL, and cleaved caspase‐3. The amount of HSPA5 protein, which is predicted to be a putative target of miR‐30a by TargetScan, could be reduced by pre‐miR‐30a, whereas it was increased by anti‐miR‐30a. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR‐30a directly binds to the predicted 3′‐UTR target sites of the hspa5 gene. The cell injury regulated by miR‐30a in OGD‐treated cells could be aggravated by HSPA5 siRNA. We also observed an interaction of HSPA5 and caspase‐12 by coimmunoprecipitation and speculate that HSPA5 might be involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress‐induced apoptosis. In vivo, reduced miR‐30a increased the HSPA5 level and attenuated ischemic brain infarction in focal ischemia‐stroked mice. Downregulation of miR‐30a could prevent neural ischemic injury through upregulating HSPA5 protein expression, and decreased ER stress‐induced apoptosis might be one of the mechanisms underlying HSPA5‐mediated neuroprotection. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Insight into the transcriptome of Arthrobotrys conoides using high throughput sequencing
Authors: Ramesh Pandit , Reena Patel , Amitbikram Mohapatra , Chaitanya Joshi , Anju Kunjadia
Published: August 2015

Arthrobotrys conoides is a nematode‐trapping fungus belonging to Orbiliales, Ascomycota group, and traps prey nematodes by means of adhesive network. Fungus has a potential to be used as a biocontrol agent against plant parasitic nematodes. In the present study, we characterized the transcriptome of A. conoides using high‐throughput sequencing technology and characterized its virulence unigenes. Total 7,255 cDNA contigs with an average length of 425 bp were generated and 6184 (61.81%) transcripts were functionally annotated and characterized. Majority of unigenes were found analogous to the genes of plant pathogenic fungi. A total of 1749 transcripts were found to be orthologous with eukaryotic proteins of KOG database. Several carbohydrate active enzymes and peptidases were identified. We also analyzed classically and nonclassically secreted proteins and confirmed by BLASTP against fungal secretome database. A total of 916 contigs were analogous to 556 unique proteins of Pathogen Host Interaction (PHI) database. Further, we identified 91 unigenes homologous to the database of fungal virulence factor (DFVF). A total of 104 putative protein kinases coding transcripts were identified by BLASTP against KinBase database, which are major players in signaling pathways. This study provides a comprehensive look at the transcriptome of A. conoides and the identified unigenes might have a role in catching and killing prey nematodes by A. conoides.
Raman spectroscopic probing of plant material using SERS
Authors: Espina Palanco Marta , Mogensen Klaus Bo , Kneipp Katrin
Published: August 2015

We report surface‐enhanced Raman studies on intact plant material using onion layers as a biological target, and silver nanoaggregates and silver island films as enhancing plasmonic structures. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement allows the detection of strong Raman signatures of chemical constituents of the surface of the onion layer such as cellulose, proteins, and flavonols. Because of long‐time incubation, SERS sensors can access the extracellular space in the inner of the layer. The location of silver nanoparticles inside the onion layer has been monitored by the SERS images collected from chemicals present in the onion and/or reporter molecules attached to the nanoparticles. Our studies show a competitive adsorption of intrinsic bio molecules of the onion layer and reporter molecules. Different spectra from different places of the layer indicate the complex heterogeneous chemical structure of the plant material. The pH‐sensitive reporter molecule para mercapto benzoic acid attached to the nanoparticles allows us to infer pH values inside the extracellular matrix of the onion layer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐assembly of silver nanocolloids in the Langmuir–Blodgett Film of stearic acid: Evidence of an efficient SERS sensing platform
Authors: Saha Somsubhra , Ghosh Manash , Dutta Bipan , Chowdhury Joydeep
Published: August 2015

Highly sensitive surface‐enhanced Raman scattering active substrate obtained by self‐assembly of silver nanocolloids (AgNCs) in the bilayer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film of stearic acid (SA) has been reported. Rhodamine 6G (R6G) has been used as the probe molecule to test the efficacy of the as prepared substrate. Gigantic enhancement factors ~1012 orders of magnitude have been estimated from the surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering [SER(R) S] spectrum of R6G, which proves that the as prepared substrate is superior or comparable with silver nanoparticle as dried AgNC solutions on microscopic slides. The optical properties of the as prepared substrates have been envisaged by ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectra, while their morphological features are mapped through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. A correlation has been drawn between the SER(R) S efficacy and the corresponding FESEM and AFM images of the as prepared substrates. Electric field distributions around the aggregated AgNCs have been estimated with the aid of three‐dimensional finite difference time domain simulation studies. Localized surface plasmon coupling between the nanoaggregated geometries may be altered by lifting the LB film of SA at various surface pressures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A shifted‐excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) evaluation strategy for the efficient isolation of Raman spectra from extreme fluorescence interference
Authors: Gebrekidan Medhanie Tesfay , Knipfer Christian , Stelzle Florian , Popp Juergen , Will Stefan , Braeuer Andreas
Published: August 2015

A biochemical characterization of pathologies in biological tissue can be provided by Raman spectroscopy. Often, the raw spectrum is severely affected by fluorescence interference. We report and compare various spectra‐processing approaches required for the purification of Raman spectra from heavily fluorescence‐interfered raw spectra according to the shifted‐excitation Raman difference spectroscopy method. These approaches cover the entire spectra‐processing chain from the raw spectra to the purified Raman spectra. In detail, we compared (1) area normalization versus z‐score normalization, (2) direct reconstruction of the difference spectra versus reconstruction of zero‐centered difference spectra and (3) collective baseline correction of the reconstructed spectra versus piecewise baseline correction of the reconstructed spectra and, finally, (4) analyzed the influence of the shift of the excitation wavelength on the quality of the reconstructed spectra. Statistical analysis of the spectra showed that – in our experiments – the best results were obtained for the z‐score normalization before subtraction of the normalized spectra, followed by zero‐centering of the difference spectra before reconstruction and a piecewise baseline correction of the pure Raman spectra. With our equipment, a wavelength shift from 784 to 785 nm provided reconstructed spectra of best quality. The analyzed specimens were different tissue types of pigs, tissue from the oral cavity of humans and a model solution of dye dissolved in ethanol. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Roles of the gut and the liver and metabolic modulation by some dietary factors and especially long‐chain n‐3 PUFA
Authors: Delarue Jacques , Lallès Jean‐Paul
Published: August 2015

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries. NASH increases the risk for fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms underlying the steatosis to NASH transition remain incompletely understood despite recent progress in cellular and molecular aspects. Our primary aim is to analyze recent advances in understanding deviations in hepatic fat metabolism and the implication of gut physiology and microbiota in this transition. Our second aim is to gather experimental and clinical data on the capability of long‐chain n‐3 PUFA (LC n‐3 PUFA), including docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids to prevent or alleviate NAFLD. Our main conclusions are: (i) increasing data support a pivotal role for the gut toward NASH development; (ii) LC n‐3 PUFA have often proven preventive or therapeutic effect toward NASH development in rodent models. In patients with NASH they appear to have no therapeutic effects, but they could have preventive effects, which require to define better the specific roles, modes of action, and doses of DHA and EPA.
In vivo free‐breathing DTI and IVIM of the whole human heart using a real‐time slice‐followed SE‐EPI navigator‐based sequence: A reproducibility study in healthy volunteers
Authors: Moulin Kevin , Croisille Pierre , Feiweier Thorsten , Delattre Benedicte M.A. , Wei Hongjiang , Robert Benjamin , Beuf Olivier , Viallon Magalie
Published: August 2015

Purpose

In this study, we proposed an efficient free‐breathing strategy for rapid and improved cardiac diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) acquisition using a single‐shot spin‐echo echo planar imaging (SE‐EPI) sequence. Methods: A real‐time slice‐following technique during free‐breathing was combined with a sliding acquisition‐window strategy prior Principal Component Analysis temporal Maximum Intensity Projection (PCAtMIP) postprocessing of in‐plane co‐registered diffusion‐weighted images. This methodology was applied to 10 volunteers to quantify the performance of the motion correction technique and the reproducibility of diffusion parameters. Results: The slice‐following technique offers a powerful head–foot respiratory motion management solution for SE‐EPI cDWI with the advantage of a 100% duty cycle scanning efficiency. The level of co‐registration was further improved using nonrigid motion corrections and was evaluated with a co‐registration index. Vascular fraction f and the diffusion coefficients D and D* were determined to be 0.122 ± 0.013, 1.41 ± 0.09 × 10−3 mm2/s and 43.6 ± 9.2 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively. From the multidirectional dataset, the measured mean diffusivity was 1.72 ± 0.09 × 10−3 mm2/s and the fractional anisotropy was 0.36 ± 0.02. Conclusion: The slice‐following DWI SE‐EPI sequence is a promising solution for clinical implementation, offering a robust improved workflow for further evaluation of DWI in cardiology. Magn Reson Med 76:70–82, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
3D interslab echo‐shifted FLASH sequence for susceptibility weighted imaging
Authors: Ma Ya‐Jun , Liu Wentao , Zhao Xuna , Tang Weinan , Li Huanjie , Fan Yang , Tang Xin , Zhang Yaoyu , Gao Jia‐Hong
Published: August 2015

Purpose

To develop a novel three‐dimensional (3D) sequence for susceptibility weighted imaging that is able to reduce scan time substantially while maintaining high image signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).

Methods

The proposed fast T2*‐weighted sequence was based on a 3D full‐balanced gradient frame and a pair of crusher gradients. The pair of crusher gradients were used to shift MR signal from the repetition time where the MR signal was originated to a later repetition time to enhance T2* weighting. To avoid image SNR reduction due to the repeated signal excitations by later RF pulses, as it would occur for typical echo‐shifted (ES) FLASH, an interslab scan mode for the fast T2*‐weighted sequence was introduced for signal acquisition. The effectiveness of this novel sequence was evaluated by comparing it with 3D FLASH and ES‐FLASH sequences.

Results

The proposed interslab ES T2*‐weighted sequence was able to reduce the scan time by half with a SNR comparable to the typical multislab FLASH. Besides, it yielded a higher image SNR than the traditional multislab ES‐FLASH and was more flexible than the whole‐volume ES‐FLASH.

Conclusion

An interslab ES sequence was developed with high time efficiency and relatively high image SNR compared with the conventional acquisition sequences. Magn Reson Med 76:222–228, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Highly accelerated chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements with linear algebraic modeling
Authors: Zhang Yi , Heo Hye‐Young , Jiang Shanshan , Lee Dong‐Hoon , Bottomley Paul A. , Zhou Jinyuan
Published: August 2015

Purpose

In clinical studies, compartmental average chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements rather than voxel‐by‐voxel CEST images may suffice for evaluating its diagnostic value. A recently developed method—spectroscopy with linear algebraic modeling, or SLAM—could directly provide compartmental measures with dramatically reduced scan time and optimal signal‐to‐noise ratios. Here, we test whether SLAM can be adapted to significantly accelerate CEST acquisitions.

Theory and Methods

Conventional anatomical images and raw CEST image k‐space data were acquired from seven brain tumor patients. SLAM was applied to the CEST data using acceleration factors of R = 1–45, after segmenting compartments from co‐registered images. SLAM‐CEST measures were compared with average values from the identical compartments obtained by conventional Fourier transform (FT) CEST.

Results

SLAM generated compartmental average CEST z‐spectra that were indistinguishable from conventional FT‐CEST for R ≤ 45. SLAM‐CEST z‐spectra at ±3.5 ppm were highly correlated with FT‐CEST measures (r2 ≥ 0.98 for R ≤ 9; r ≥ 0.995 for R ≤ 45). The average error of SLAM‐CEST versus FT‐CEST measures was ≤10% for R ≤ 45, in acquisitions requiring as few as a single k‐space phase‐encoding step.

Conclusion

Applied to patients with brain tumors, SLAM‐CEST can yield results that are quantitatively equivalent to conventional CEST up to 45 times faster, which could prove enabling in clinical settings where scan time is limiting. Magn Reson Med 76:136–144, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research on Positive Indicators for Teacher–Child Relationship in Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Matsushima Kanae , Kato Toshihiro
Published: August 2015

Teacher–child relationships (TCRs) are important factors in socio‐emotional development and academic and behavioural outcomes. In Japan, occupational therapists (OTs) work with teachers and children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in school environment considering TCRs. This study aimed to identify positive indicators in TCRs among children with ID. We conducted interviews with 23 Japanese preschool teachers working with children with ID in child development support centres (CDSCs) and used the Delphi method to evaluate and select positive indicators. We obtained 49 positive indicators belonging to 15 conceptual indicators related to TCRs. The indicators that reached a high degree of agreement and consensus seems to be related to more fundamental social interaction aspects. These indicators could be used to enhance collaboration between OTs and teachers in the school environment, including CDSCs. We could not examine differences of positive social aspects depending on diagnostic features. It will be important for future work to examine differences in positive social aspects among children with other diagnostic features. Our findings could contribute to the development of an assessment tool to evaluate positive aspects of teacher–child interactions and their progress. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homoepitaxial growth of CVD diamond after ICP pretreatment
Authors: Muchnikov A. B. , Vikharev A. L. , Butler J. E. , Chernov V. V. , Isaev V. A. , Bogdanov S. A. , Okhapkin A. I. , Yunin P. A. , Drozdov Y. N.
Published: August 2015

The surface morphology of vicinal (100) single‐crystal diamond surfaces homoepitaxially grown in a microwave plasma‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) reactor is studied. High‐pressure and high‐temperature (HPHT) single‐crystal diamond substrates produced by different vendors are used as substrates. Prior to the CVD growth, substrates were mechanically polished and etched in a separate inductively coupled plasma/reactive ion etching (ICP/RIE) tool using an Ar/Cl2 gas mixture. The impact of (a) ICP etching regime of the HPHT substrate, (b) substrate polishing, and (c) the HPHT substrate misorientation (off‐axis) vicinal angle on the surface morphology is examined. It was found that the ICP etching removes polishing‐induced defects in the bulk and also removes diamond particles which are left on the surface of single‐crystalline diamond after polishing. The morphology of the surface of the homoepitaxial CVD diamond grown on a substrate, which is free of polishing defects, depends not only on the parameters of the growth process (substrate temperature, composition of the gas mixture, pressure, etc.), but also on the value and direction of the off‐axis angle.
Intraseasonal variability of tropical Atlantic sea‐surface temperature: air–sea interaction over upwelling fronts
Authors: Diakhaté Moussa , de Coëtlogon Gaëlle , Lazar Alban , Wade Malick , Gaye Amadou T.
Published: August 2015

Tropical Atlantic sea‐surface temperatures (SSTs) maximum intraseasonal variability (ISV) and their interaction with local surface winds are investigated, applying statistical analysis to observations and to a recent coupled reanalysis over the 2000–2009 decade. Five cores of strong ISV emerge, with standard deviation reaching about 1 °C in frontal areas of the three main upwelling systems: equatorial, Angola‐Benguela and Senegal‐Mauritania (the southern side of the Canary upwelling). West of 10 °W along the Equator, a 20–60‐day peak caused by tropical instability waves is shown to generate surface wind anomalies through the adjustment of the horizontal surface pressure gradient in addition to the modification of near‐surface atmospheric stratification. East of 10°W along the Equator, an intense biweekly oscillation increases the ocean and atmosphere ISV. In the two coastal upwelling fronts, intraseasonal SST anomalies resemble each other. They are shown to be influenced by coastal Kelvin waves in addition to large‐scale wind forcing. Over the Angola‐Benguela upwelling, coastal wind bursts controlling the SST ISV are associated with anomalously strong pressure patterns related to the Madden–Julian Oscillation, the St Helena anticyclone and the Antarctic Oscillation. In the Senegal‐Mauritania upwelling, the wind anomalies mainly linked to the Azores anticyclone in the southern front during November to May appear to be connected to the Saharan heat‐low in the northern front from June to September. In all five regions and as expected for such upwelling regimes, vertical oceanic mixing represents the dominant term in the mixed‐layer heat budget. In the equatorial band, as found in previous studies, horizontal advection is equally important, while it appears surprisingly weak in coastal fronts. Finally, a striking result is the general lack of surface wind signal related to the SST ISV in the coastal upwellings.
Summer Arctic clouds in the ECMWF forecast model: an evaluation of cloud parametrization schemes
Authors: Sotiropoulou Georgia , Sedlar Joseph , Forbes Richard , Tjernström Michael
Published: August 2015

Mixed‐phase clouds are an integral part of the Arctic climate system, for precipitation and for their interactions with radiation and thermodynamics. Mixed‐phase processes are often poorly represented in global models and many use an empirically based diagnostic partition between the liquid and ice phases that is dependent solely on temperature. However, increasingly more complex microphysical parametrizations are being implemented allowing a more physical representation of mixed‐phase clouds.

This study uses in situ observations from the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS) field campaign in the central Arctic to assess the impact of a change from a diagnostic to a prognostic parametrization of mixed‐phase clouds and increased vertical resolution in the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecast System (IFS). The newer cloud scheme improves the representation of the vertical structure of mixed‐phase clouds, with supercooled liquid water at cloud top and ice precipitating below, improved further with higher vertical resolution. Increased supercooled liquid water and decreased ice content are both in closer agreement with observations. However, these changes do not result in any substantial improvement in surface radiation, and a warm and moist bias in the lowest part of the atmosphere remains. Both schemes also fail to capture the transitions from overcast to cloud‐free conditions. Moreover, whereas the observed cloud layer is frequently decoupled from the surface, the modelled clouds remain coupled to the surface most of the time. The changes implemented to the cloud scheme are an important step forward in improving the representation of Arctic clouds, but improvements in other aspects such as boundary‐layer turbulence, cloud radiative properties, sensitivity to low aerosol concentrations and representation of the sea‐ice surface may also need to be addressed.
Identifying Oncological Patient Information Needs to Improve e‐Health Communication: a preliminary text‐mining analysis
Authors: Falotico Rosa , Liberati Caterina , Zappa Paola
Published: August 2015

Extant healthcare literature has demonstrated that providing oncological patients with detailed, continuous, and diversified information on their pathology positively affects patient empowerment and care continuum effectiveness.

Medical information is traditionally conveyed by physicians and professional care givers. In the latest years, however, there has been a rapid rise in the use of web media as a source of health information. Improving cancer care continuum requires also the implementation of a reliable and high‐quality oncological web communication system, as well as a deeper understanding of patients' requirements in this respect. To the best of our knowledge, however, no papers have investigated the importance and role of web communication, and of websites, in particular.

This work aims to address these aspects explicitly, proposing the use of text mining as a tool for identifying oncological patient communication needs. For this purpose, we conducted an exploratory study on a sample of rare cancer patients. Text mining techniques were applied on transcriptions of semi‐structured interviews on patients' information requirements, and the text content was synthetized. By means of correspondence analysis, the main concepts expressed by patients were identified, and the association between patients and concepts was represented in an appropriate metric space.

Although our study is at an early stage, the findings highlighted by this preliminary text mining analysis could support the design of a patient‐centered e‐health communication system and be the basis for further analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An ultrastructural study on corkscrew hairs and cigarette‐ash‐shaped hairs observed by dermoscopy of tinea capitis
Authors: Lu Mao , Ran Yuping , Dai Yaling , Lei Song , Zhang Chaoliang , Zhuang Kaiwen , Hu Wenying
Published: August 2015

This study was aimed to explain the formation mechanisms of corkscrew hairs and cigarette‐ash‐shaped hairs observed by dermoscopy of tinea capitis. In the present work, the ultrastructure of the involved hairs collected from a girl with tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton violaceum was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). SEM observation of the corkscrew hair revealed bent hair shaft and asymmetrically disrupted cuticle layer. TEM findings demonstrated the hair shaft became weak. The corkscrew hairs closely covered by scales on the scalp were observed under dermoscopy. We speculate that the formation of corkscrew hairs is a result of a combination of internal damage due to hair degradation by T. violaceum and external resistance due to scales covering the hair. SEM observation of the cigarette‐ash‐shaped hair revealed irregularly disrupted and incompact end, which might represent the stump of the broken corkscrew hair after treatment. SCANNING 38:128–132, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOT1L Activity Promotes Proliferation and Protects Cortical Neural Stem Cells from Activation of ATF4-DDIT3-Mediated ER Stress In Vitro
Authors: Roidl Deborah , Hellbach Nicole , Bovio Patrick P. , Villarreal Alejandro , Heidrich Stefanie , Nestel Sigrun , Grüning Björn A. , Boenisch Ulrike , Vogel Tanja
Published: August 2015

Growing evidence suggests that the lysine methyltransferase DOT1L/KMT4 has important roles in proliferation, survival, and differentiation of stem cells in development and in disease. We investigated the function of DOT1L in neural stem cells (NSCs) of the cerebral cortex. The pharmacological inhibition and shRNA-mediated knockdown of DOT1L impaired proliferation and survival of NSCs. DOT1L inhibition specifically induced genes that are activated during the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that two genes encoding for central molecules involved in the ER stress response, Atf4 and Ddit3 (Chop), are marked with H3K79 methylation. Interference with DOT1L activity resulted in transcriptional activation of both genes accompanied by decreased levels of H3K79 dimethylation. Although downstream effectors of the UPR, such as Ppp1r15a/Gadd34, Atf3, and Tnfrsf10b/Dr5 were also transcriptionally activated, this most likely occurred in response to increased ATF4 expression rather than as a direct consequence of altered H3K79 methylation. While stem cells are particularly vulnerable to stress, the UPR and ER stress have not been extensively studied in these cells yet. Since activation of the ER stress program is also implicated in directing stem cells into differentiation or to maintain a proliferative status, the UPR must be tightly regulated. Our and published data suggest that histone modifications, including H3K4me3, H3K14ac, and H3K79me2, are implicated in the control of transcriptional activation of ER stress genes. In this context, the loss of H3K79me2 at the Atf4- and Ddit3-promoters appears to mark a point-of-no-return that activates the death program in NSCs.
Targeting the Wnt-Regulatory Protein CTNNBIP1 by microRNA-214 Enhances the Stemness and Self-Renewal of Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Lung Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Qi Wei , Chen Junying , Cheng Xiaoming , Huang Jiani , Xiang Tong , Li Qijing , Long Haixia , Zhu Bo
Published: August 2015

A novel hypothesis in cancer biology proposes that cancer growth is driven by cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs), also called tumor-initiating cells, which can self-renew and differentiate into multilineage progeny in a fashion similar to stem cells. However, the impact and underlying mechanisms of this process in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that microRNA-214 (miR-214) contributes to cell self-renewal by directly targeting catenin beta interacting protein 1 (CTNNBIP1), a member of the Wnt signaling pathway. We demonstrate that miR-214 overexpression enhances stem-like properties in LAC cells and that miR-214 shows increased expression in CSLCs derived from primary tumor tissue and from two LAC cell lines (A549 and NCI-H1650). Strikingly, downregulation of miR-214 expression in CSLCs resulted in a significant decrease in spheroid formation and the expression of the stem-cell markers Nanog, Oct-4, and Sox-2. Finally, CTNNBIP1 was identified as a target of miR-214. miR-214 expression in LAC was negatively correlated with CTNNBIP1 expression and positively correlated with differentiated cellular states. Moreover, CTNNBIP1 expression correlated with longer overall survival in LAC patients. This study reveals that miR-214 plays a critical role in CSLC self-renewal and stemness by targeting CTNNBIP1. The identification of this functional miR-214-CTNNBIP1 interaction that regulates self-renewal in CSLCs has the potential to direct the development of novel therapeutic strategies for LAC. Stem Cells  2015;33:3423–3436
TIMP3 Attenuates the Loss of Neural Stem Cells, Mature Neurons and Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Gibb Stuart L. , Zhao Yuhai , Potter Daniel , Hylin Michael J. , Bruhn Roberta , Baimukanova Gyulnar , Zhao Jing , Xue Hasen , Abdel-Mohsen Mohamed , Pillai Satish K. , Moore Anthony N. , Johnson Evan M. , Cox Charles S. , Dash Pramod K. , Pati Shibani
Published: August 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to have potent therapeutic effects in a number of disorders including traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying these protective effects are largely unknown. Herein we demonstrate that tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3), a soluble protein released by MSCs, is neuroprotective and enhances neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro. In vivo in a murine model of TBI, intravenous recombinant TIMP3 enhances dendritic outgrowth and abrogates loss of hippocampal neural stem cells and mature neurons. Mechanistically we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that TIMP3-mediated neuroprotection is critically dependent on activation of the Akt-mTORC1 pathway. In support of the neuroprotective effect of TIMP3, we find that intravenous delivery of recombinant TIMP3 attenuates deficits in hippocampal-dependent neurocognition. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that TIMP3 has direct neuroprotective effects that can mitigate the deleterious effects associated with TBI, an area with few if any therapeutic options. Stem Cells  2015;33:3530–3544
MiR-126 Contributes to Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cell-Induced Neurorestorative Effects After Stroke in Type-2 Diabetic Mice
Authors: Chen Jieli , Ning Ruizhuo , Zacharek Alex , Cui Chengcheng , Cui Xu , Yan Tao , Venkat Poornima , Zhang Yi , Chopp Michael
Published: August 2015

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a high risk factor for stroke and leads to more severe vascular and white-matter injury than stroke in non-DM. We tested the neurorestorative effects of delayed human umbilical cord blood cell (HUCBC) treatment of stroke in type-2 diabetes (T2DM). db/db-T2DM and db/+-non-DM mice were subjected to distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAo) and were treated 3 days after dMCAo with: (a) non-DM + Phosphate buffered saline (PBS); (b) T2DM + PBS; (c) T2DM + naïve-HUCBC; (d) T2DM + miR-126−/−HUCBC. Functional evaluation, vascular and white-matter changes, neuroinflammation, and miR-126 effects were measured in vivo and in vitro. T2DM mice exhibited significantly decreased serum and brain tissue miR-126 expression compared with non-DM mice. T2DM+HUCBC mice exhibited increased miR-126 expression, increased tight junction protein expression, axon/myelin, vascular density, and M2-macrophage polarization. However, decreased blood-brain barrier leakage, brain hemorrhage, and miR-126 targeted gene vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 expression in the ischemic brain as well as improved functional outcome were present in HUCBC-treated T2DM mice compared with control T2DM mice. MiR-126−/−HUCBC-treatment abolished the benefits of naïve-HUCBC-treatment in T2DM stroke mice. In vitro, knock-in of miR-126 in primary cultured brain endothelial cells (BECs) or treatment of BECs with naïve-HUCBCs significantly increased capillary-like tube formation, and increased axonal outgrowth in primary cultured cortical neurons; whereas treatment of BECs or cortical neurons with miR-126−/−HUCBC attenuated HUCBC-treatment-induced capillary tube formation and axonal outgrowth. Our data suggest delayed HUCBC-treatment of stroke increases vascular/white-matter remodeling and anti-inflammatory effects; MiR-126 may contribute to HUCBC-induced neurorestorative effects in T2DM mice.
Preconditioning Human Cardiac Stem Cells with an HO-1 Inducer Exerts Beneficial Effects After Cell Transplantation in the Infarcted Murine Heart
Authors: Cai Chuanxi , Guo Yiru , Teng Lei , Nong Yibing , Tan Min , Book Michael J. , Zhu Xiaoping , Wang Xiao-Liang , Du Junjie , Wu Wen-Jian , Xie Wei , Hong Kyung U. , Li Qianhong , Bolli Roberto
Published: August 2015

The regenerative potential of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) is severely limited by the poor survival of cells after transplantation in the infarcted heart. We have previously demonstrated that preconditioning human CSCs (hCSCs) with the heme oxygenase-1 inducer, cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), has significant cytoprotective effects in vitro. Here, we examined whether preconditioning hCSCs with CoPP enhances CSC survival and improves cardiac function after transplantation in a model of myocardial infarction induced by a 45-minute coronary occlusion and 35-day reperfusion in immunodeficient mice. At 30 minutes of reperfusion, CoPP-preconditioned hCSCsGFP+, hCSCsGFP+, or medium were injected into the border zone. Quantitative analysis with real-time qPCR for the expression of the human-specific gene HLA revealed that the number of survived hCSCs was significantly greater in the preconditioned-hCSC group at 24 hours and 7 and 35 days compared with the hCSC group. Coimmunostaining of tissue sections for both green fluorescent protein (GFP) and human nuclear antigen further confirmed greater hCSC numbers at 35 days in the preconditioned-hCSC group. At 35 days, compared with the hCSC group, the preconditioned-hCSC group exhibited increased positive and negative left ventricular (LV) dP/dt, end-systolic elastance, and anterior wall/apical strain rate (although ejection fraction was similar), reduced LV remodeling, and increased proliferation of transplanted cells and of cells apparently committed to cardiac lineage. In conclusion, CoPP-preconditioning of hCSCs enhances their survival and/or proliferation, promotes greater proliferation of cells expressing cardiac markers, and results in greater improvement in LV remodeling and in indices of cardiac function after infarction. Stem Cells  2015;33:3596–3607
Poly(vinyl chloride) films plasticized with novel poly‐nadic‐anhydride polyester plasticizers
Authors: Miao Hongyan , Zhao Hui , Jiang Pingping
Published: August 2015

In this work, several novel poly‐nadic‐anhydride polyester plasticizers were developed to be used in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film fabrication for the first time. Mechanical properties of the films, the compatibility of plasticizers in PVC resin, as well as testing of migration of the plasticizers, were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of plasticization. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize the unplasticized and plasticized polymer. The results demonstrated that the as‐prepared poly‐nadic‐anhydride plasticized PVC film significantly improved the plasticization efficiency of PVC film based on the increase in the break in elongation of the films. According to scanning electron microscopy analysis, the poly‐nadic‐anhydride polyester plasticizers presented good compatibility with PVC resin. In volatility and extraction tests, PVC films plasticized with the poly‐nadic‐anhydrides showed enhanced migration resistance. The plasticizing effects induced by the poly‐nadic‐anhydride polyester plasticizers were also confirmed by a glass transition temperature shift toward lower temperatures in the plasticized films. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:321–328, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers