bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Dietary Diversity with General and Abdominal Obesity in Female Amateur Athletes of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Keymaram Solmaz , Farzanegi Parvin , Azadbakht Leila , Alinejad Hadi
Published: December 2018

Background: The prevalence of obesity in the world shows the impact of environmental factors such as sex, marital status, and changes in eating patterns as well as the replacement of high-fat diets rather than healthy diets. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary diversity score, general obesity, and abdominal obesity among female athlete students of Mazandaran University of Medical Science. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 143 healthy amateur athletes aged 18 to 28 years old were randomly selected as female students. The usual food intake was evaluated using a 24-hour recall questionnaire for three consecutive days. Dietary scores were calculated based on scores of five food groups. Weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured based on standard methods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression were used. Results: There was an inverse and significant relationship between the dietary diversity score and general and abdominal obesity in amateur female students (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: There is an inverse and significant relationship between the adherence to a high-diversity diet and obesity patterns. Finding dietary patterns associated with obesity can help obesity prevention and provide a healthy diet for controlling this epidemic in the community.
L’adoption d’un Drive par le client : une approche interactionniste par la socialisation organisationnelle et le rôle du personnel en contact
Authors: Henriquez Tatiana , Frisou Jean , Filser Marc
Published: December 2018

Alors que le rôle du personnel de vente a été sensiblement réduit dans les plus récentes innovations de format des points de vente, cet article analyse sa place dans le processus d’apprentissage et d’adoption d’un Drive par les clients. L’étude qualitative réalisée met en évidence que ce processus est favorisé par l’interaction entre l’employé et le client. Cette interaction permet au client de développer sa socialisation organisationnelle au Drive et par là-même de renforcer son lien avec le point de vente, même dans ce contexte d’interaction minimale. Autrement dit, le facteur humain reste fondamental lors de l’apprentissage d’une innovation commerciale, même lorsque celle-ci intègre une composante digitale importante. En effet, à partir de l’analyse des entretiens menés auprès de 74 clients et non clients, il ressort que cette interaction permet au client de développer sa socialisation organisationnelle, qui contribue elle-même à l’adoption du nouveau format. De tels résultats permettent : (1) d’identifier les actions à conduire pour favoriser l’apprentissage et l’adoption de ce format de vente, et (2) plus généralement de mettre en évidence le rôle du personnel en contact dans la stratégie de création de valeur. Ils apportent en outre aux managers des éléments de réflexion, les incitant à soutenir, par des actions concrètes, les clients dans leurs efforts d’apprentissage.
Qu’est-ce qu’une marque forte ? Une approche par les configurations des associations de la marque
Authors: Koll Oliver , Raïes Karine , Grohs Reinhard , Mühlbacher Hans
Published: December 2018

La littérature actuelle montre que plus les consommateurs associent à la marque de nombreuses associations fortes, positives et consensuelles plus la marque détient une image forte. La force d’une marque, définie comme la réponse évaluative des consommateurs vis-à-vis de la marque, influence les choix des consommateurs et donc la performance de la marque sur le marché. Utilisant une approche configurationnelle, cette recherche met à jour qu’il n’y a pas de recette unique permettant de développer une marque forte. Différentes combinaisons de caractéristiques d’associations de marque (nombre, favorabilité, unicité et consensus perçu) peuvent rendre une marque forte. Ces combinaisons varient entre les consommateurs et les marques.
A Passenger Flow Routing Model for High-speed Railway Network in Different Transportation Organization Modes
Authors: Wang Ying , Han Bao-Ming , Wang Jia-Kang
Published: December 2018

Reasonable selection of passenger flow routes consideringdifferent transportation organization modes can meetthe demands of adapting to large-scale high-speed railwaynetworks and improving network efficiency. Passenger flowrouting models are developed to find and optimize a setof passenger flow routes for a high-speed railway network considering different transportation organization modes. In this paper, we presented a new approach minimizing the operating costs, including traveling cost, cost of travel time differences between different lines, and penalties for the inter-line. The network was reconstructed to solve the directed graph with four nodes (node-in-up, node-in-down, nodes-outup, and nodes-out-down) indicating one station. To tackle our problem, we presented an integer non-linear programming model, and direct passenger demand was guaranteed owing to volume constraints. Binary variables were introduced to simplify the model, and the algorithm process was optimized. We suggested a global optimal algorithm by Lingo 11.0. Finally, the model was applied to a sub-network of the Northeast China railway system. Passenger flow routes were optimized and the transportation organization mode was discussed based on passenger volume, traveling distance, and infrastructure.
Thalamic reticular control of local sleep in mouse sensory cortex
Authors: Fernandez Laura MJ , Vantomme Gil , Osorio-Forero Alejandro , Cardis Romain , Béard Elidie , Lüthi Anita
Published: December 2018

Sleep affects brain activity globally, but many cortical sleep waves are spatially confined. Local rhythms serve cortical area-specific sleep needs and functions; however, mechanisms controlling locality are unclear. We identify the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) as a source for local, sensory-cortex-specific non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) in mouse. Neurons in optogenetically identified sensory TRN sectors showed stronger repetitive burst discharge compared to non-sensory TRN cells due to higher activity of the low-threshold Ca2+ channel CaV3.3. Major NREMS rhythms in sensory but not non-sensory cortical areas were regulated in a CaV3.3-dependent manner. In particular, NREMS in somatosensory cortex was enriched in fast spindles, but switched to delta wave-dominated sleep when CaV3.3 channels were genetically eliminated or somatosensory TRN cells chemogenetically hyperpolarized. Our data indicate a previously unrecognized heterogeneity in a powerful forebrain oscillator that contributes to sensory-cortex-specific and dually regulated NREMS, enabling local sleep regulation according to use- and experience-dependence.
Mutations in gliclazide‐associated genes may predict poor bladder cancer prognosis
Authors: Wen Weiheng , Gong Jinru , Wu Peili , Zhao Min , Wang Ming , Chen Hong , Sun Jia
Published: December 2018

In recent years, an increasing number of patients have had diabetes and cancer simultaneously; thus, it is crucial for physicians to select hypoglycemic drugs with the lowest risk of inducing cancer. Gliclazide is a widely used sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drug, but its cancer risk remains controversial. Here, we explored the primary targets of gliclazide and its associated genes by querying an available database to construct a biological network. By using DrugBank and STRING, we found two primary targets of gliclazide and 50 gliclazide‐associated genes, which were then enrolled for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis using WebGestalt. From this analysis, we obtained the top 15 KEGG pathways. Accurate analysis of these KEGG pathways revealed that two pathways, one linked to bladder cancer and the other linked to the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase–AKT signaling pathway, are functionally associated with gliclazide, and from these we identified four overlapping genes. Finally, genomic analysis using cBioPortal showed that genomic alterations of these four overlapping genes predict poor prognosis for patients with bladder cancer. In conclusion, gliclazide should be used with caution as a hypoglycemic drug for diabetic patients with cancer, especially bladder cancer. In addition, this study provides a functional network analysis to flexibly explore drug interaction systems and estimate their safety.
A new counterintuitive training for adult amblyopia
Authors: Lunghi Claudia , Sframeli Angela T. , Lepri Antonio , Lepri Martina , Lisi Domenico , Sale Alessandro , Morrone Maria C.
Published: December 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate whether short‐term inverse occlusion, combined with moderate physical exercise, could promote the recovery of visual acuity and stereopsis in a group of adult anisometropic amblyopes.

Methods

Ten adult anisometropic patients underwent six brief (2 h) training sessions over a period of 4 weeks. Each training session consisted in the occlusion of the amblyopic eye combined with physical exercise (intermittent cycling on a stationary bike). Visual acuity (measured with ETDRS charts), stereoacuity (measured with the TNO test), and sensory eye dominance (measured with binocular rivalry) were tested before and after each training session, as well as in follow‐up visits performed 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year after the end of the training.

Results

After six brief (2 h) training sessions, visual acuity improved in all 10 patients (0.15 ± 0.02 LogMar), and six of them also recovered stereopsis. The improvement was preserved for up to 1 year after training. A pilot experiment suggested that physical activity might play an important role for the recovery of visual acuity and stereopsis.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a noninvasive training strategy for adult human amblyopia based on an inverse‐occlusion procedure combined with physical exercise.
Achieving 20% Efficiency for Low‐Temperature‐Processed Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Yang Daobin , Sano Takeshi , Yaguchi Yuma , Sun He , Sasabe Hisahiro , Kido Junji
Published: December 2018

Low‐temperature‐processed inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) attract increasing attention because they can be fabricated on both rigid and flexible substrates. For these devices, hole‐transporting layers (HTLs) play an important role in achieving efficient and stable inverted PVSCs by adjusting the anodic work function, hole extraction, and interfacial charge recombination. Here, the use of a low‐temperature (≤150 °C) solution‐processed ultrathin film of poly[(9,9‐dioctyl‐fluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐co‐(4,4′‐(N‐(4‐secbutylphenyl) diphenylamine)] (TFB) is reported as an HTL in one‐step‐processed CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3)‐based inverted PVSCs. The fabricated device exhibits power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 20.2% when measured under AM 1.5 G illumination. This PCE makes them one of the MAPbI3‐based inverted PVSCs that have the highest efficiency reported to date. Moreover, this inverted PVSC also shows good stability, which can retain 90% of its original efficiency after 30 days of storage in ambient air.
Ink Processing for Thermoelectric Materials and Power‐Generating Devices
Authors: Jo Seungki , Choo Seungjun , Kim Fredrick , Heo Seung Hwae , Son Jae Sung
Published: December 2018

The growing concern over the depletion of hydrocarbon resources, and the adverse environmental effects associated with their use, has increased the demand for renewable energy sources. Thermoelectric (TE) power generation from waste heat has emerged as a renewable energy source that does not generate any pollutants. Recently, ink‐based processing for the preparation of TE materials has attracted tremendous attention because of the simplicity in design of power generators and the possibility of cost‐effective manufacturing. In this progress report, recent advances in the development of TE inks, processing techniques, and ink‐fabricated devices are reviewed. A summary of typical formulations of TE materials as inks is included, as well as a discussion on various ink‐based fabrication methods, with several examples of newly designed devices fabricated using these techniques. Finally, the prospects of this field with respect to the industrialization of TE power generation technology are presented.
Realizing Ultralow Concentration Gelation of Graphene Oxide with Artificial Interfaces
Authors: Luo Chong , Lv Wei , Qi Changsheng , Zhong Lixiang , Pan Zheng‐Ze , Li Jia , Kang Feiyu , Yang Quan‐Hong
Published: December 2018

Understanding the chemistry in the gelation (interfacial assembly) of graphene oxide (GO) is very essential for the practical uses of graphene‐based materials. Herein, with the designed artificial interfaces due to the introduction of water‐miscible isopropanol, the gelation of GO is achieved in water at an ultralow concentration (0.1 mg mL−1, the lowest ever‐reported) with a solvothermal treatment. Intrinsically, with a lower intercalation energy, water shows much stronger attraction with GO than isopropanol, inducing a microphase separation in the miscible mixture of isopropanol and water. In the solvothermal process, the partially reduced GO sheets interact with each other along the water–isopropanol interface and assemble into interconnected frameworks. In general, the formation of the artificial interface results in locally concentrated GO in the water phase, which is the final driving force for the gelation at ultralow concentration. Thus, the threshold for the GO gelation concentration is dependent upon the water fraction in the mixture and water acts as the spacer to facilitate the gelation and final control of the resulting materials microstructure. This study enriches interface/gelation chemistry of GO and indicates a practical way for precise structural control and scale‐up preparation of graphene‐based materials.
A Readily Accessible Functional Nanofibrous Membrane for High‐Capacity Immobilization of Ag Nanoparticles and Ultrafast Catalysis Application
Authors: Liu Ke , Cheng Pan , Kong Chuncai , Guo Qihao , Lu Zhentan , Liu Qiongzhen , Li Mufang , Wang WenWen , Wang Yuedan , Zhong Weibing , Sun Gang , Wang Dong
Published: December 2018

Constructing macroscopic materials with optimal surface structure to immobilize silver nanoparticles polluted in water environment and further maximize their practical functionality still remains a great challenge. An infrequent strategy is developed to build a flexible material system combining PVA‐co‐PE nanofiber membrane (NFM) scaffold and mussel‐inspired polydopamine (PDA), which provides a formidable surface interacting with polyethyleneimine (PEI). The resultant PEI/PDA/NFM presents an ultrahigh adsorption capacity (727.8 mg g−1) to citrate‐capped silver nanoparticles much higher than the values reported in the literatures. The broad applicability of the multifunctional composite membranes in water treatment is further demonstrated. Interestingly, a promising concurrent performance of antibacterial, antifouling, and catalysis is acquired in bacterial filtrations. Benefiting from the structure, a plasma process further enhances the catalytic performance of AgNPs‐PEI/PDA/NFM with an ultrahigh turnover frequency value: 6.65 × 10−1 mol mol−1 min−1, which facilitates the fast degradation treatment of p‐nitrophenol (p‐NP) in continuous‐flow filtration. The excellent properties can be rationally assigned to the optimized surface structure synergistically determined by the high specific area of porous nanofiber scaffold and high substrate adaptability of reactive polydopamine. This implies the superiority of membranes obtained by present strategy in recycling Ag NPs contaminant and further applies it in fast‐efficient wastewater treatment applications.
Hyperfiltration during early childhood precedes albuminuria in pediatric sickle cell nephropathy
Authors: Lebensburger Jeffrey D. , Aban Inmaculada , Pernell Brandi , Kasztan Malgorzata , Feig Daniel I. , Hilliard Lee M. , Askenazi David J.
Published: December 2018

Background

In patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperfiltration precedes the development of albuminuria. Pediatric sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients have a high prevalence of hyperfiltration and albuminuria during early childhood and adolescence. We tested the hypothesis that hyperfiltration precedes the development of albuminuria in a longitudinal pediatric SCA cohort.

Methods

We identified 91 participants with HbSS or SB0 thalassemia 5‐21 years of age enrolled in a longitudinal sickle cell nephropathy cohort study who had a cystatin C measured during early childhood (4‐10 years of age). Early hyperfiltration was defined as a mean eGFR >180 mL/min/1.73m2 using cystatin C obtained from 4 to 10 years of age. Persistent albuminuria was defined as an albumin to creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g on two of three untimed urine specimens. Time to event analysis estimated survival curves for participants with and without hyperfiltration using Kaplan‐Meier curves and used logrank test for categorical variables to assess the association with time to development of the first episode persistent albuminuria.

Results

Persistent albuminuria occurred more often and at an earlier age in participants with early hyperfiltration compared to those without early hyperfiltration (log‐rank, P = .004). Participants who developed albuminuria have a significant increase in their eGFR during childhood (P = .003) as compared to participants who have not yet progressed to albuminuria (P = .26). For every 1 g/dL increase in hemoglobin, the hazard ratio for developing persistent proteinuria decreased by 0.56 (95% CI: 0.3, 1.06, P = .07).

Conclusion

Hyperfiltration precedes the development of persistent proteinuria in pediatric SCA patients. Intervention strategies should target lowering eGFR during early childhood.
The Elementary Charge for the Definition and Realization of the Ampere
Authors: Jeckelmann Beat , Piquemal François
Published: December 2018

The elementary charge e is one of the seven defining constants in the revised International System of Units (SI). Here, the determination of the elementary charge with the highest precision is discussed, including the results of the special CODATA adjustment leading to the fixed value of e. The various options to realize the ampere and the other electrical units in the revised SI, either through the counting of electrons by using single‐electron tunneling devices or through the Josephson and quantum Hall effect, respectively, are further elucidated.
Coordination‐driven self‐assembly of Cp*Rh‐based rectangles in novel families of hetero‐bimetallic metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Lin Lin , Lin Yue‐jian , Jin Guo‐xin
Published: December 2018

The crystal and molecular structures of a series of structurally related 1,2,3‐triazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate (LHtzdc = 1,2,3‐triazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate) ligands for second metal ions were established via single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis. [Cu (en)]2+ (en = ethylenediamine) was selected as a second metal ion, the two spare sites of the O atom from LHtzdc are coordinated to a single [Cu (en)]2+, and the [Cu (en)]2+ metal centres act as two outer pockets, which is an effective and innovative method of controlling the assembly of heterometallic cages.
Dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride by Nanoscale Nickeled Zero‐Valent Iron @ Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Impact of reaction conditions, kinetics and mechanism
Authors: Chen Xiao , Lv Xiaofan , Yang Qi , Wang Yeyao , Jin Xin , Wang Jing , Yang Zhilin
Published: December 2018

The nanoscale nickeled zero‐valent iron @ multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (NF@MWCNTs) were synthesized, characterized and used to dispose carbon tetrachloride (CT) in aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) gas sorptometry measurements were conducted to characterize the microstructure of the NF@MWCNTs. And batch experiments under different operation parameters were conducted to investigated the activity of NF@MWCNTs on degrading CT, including the content of NF@MWCNTs composites, temperature, catalyst dosage, initial pH and different anions. The experimental results showed that 4% nickel content of Ni/Fe bimetal and 2:1 doping ratio of Fe/MWCNTs were the wise choices in this study, which provided excellent degradation efficiency of CT when compared with nanoscale zero‐valent iron (nZVI) (97.44% and 55.28%, respectively). That was benefited from the fact that MWCNTs as an excellent support material could reduce the activation energy of 7.952 kJ/mol, and the nickel metal further reduced the reaction activation energy of 11.022 kJ/mol as presented in the conceptual model. Beyond that, NF@MWCNTs showed good reusability after five times consecutive reaction. Based on these, the reaction mechanism and degradation pathway also had been discussed.
Ideation as an Intellectual Information Acquisition and Use Context: Investigating Game Designers' Information‐Based Ideation Behavior
Authors: Makri Stephann , Hsueh Tsui‐Ling , Jones Sara
Published: December 2018

Human Information Behavior (HIB) research commonly examines behavior in the context of why information is acquired and how it will be used, but usually at the level of the work or everyday‐life tasks the information will support. HIB has not been examined in detail at the broader contextual level ofintellectual purpose(that is, the higher‐order conceptual tasks the information was acquired to support). Examination at this level can enhance holistic understanding of HIB as a “means to an intellectual end” and inform the design of digital information environments that support information interaction for specific intellectual purposes. We investigateinformation‐based ideation(IBI) as a specific intellectual information acquisition and use context by conducting Critical Incident‐style interviews with 10 game designers, focusing on how they interact with information to generate and develop creative design ideas. Our findings give rise to a framework of their ideation‐focused HIB, which systems designers can leverage to reason about how best to support certain behaviors to drive design ideation. These findings emphasize the importance of intellectual purpose as a driver for acquisition and desired outcome of use.
Behaviors classification based distance measuring system for pedestrians via a foot‐mounted inertial sensor
Authors: Zhou Zebo , Mo Shanhui , Wu Jin , Fourati Hassen
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we develop a foot‐mounted pedestrian navigation system prototype with the emphasis on distance measuring with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) which implies the characteristics of pedestrian gait cycle and thus can be used as a crucial step indicator for distance calculation. Conventional methods for step detection and step length estimation cannot adapt well to the general pedestrian applications since the parameters in these methods may vary for different persons and motions. In this paper, an adaptive time‐ and frequency‐domains joint distance measuring method is proposed by utilizing the means of behaviors classification. Two key issues are studied: step detection and step length determination. For the step detection part, first behavior classification along with state transition strategy is designed to identify typical pedestrian behaviors including standing still, walking, running and irregular swing. Then a four‐stage step detection method is proposed to adaptively determine both step frequency and threshold in a flexible window. Based on the behavior classification results, a two‐segment functional based step length model is established to adapt the walking and running behaviors. Finally, real experiments are carried out to verify our proposed step detection method and step length model. The results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing representative methods and it exhibits the merits of accuracy and adaptability for different persons in real time and significantly improves the accuracy of distance measuring.
Maternal residential exposure to specific agricultural pesticide active ingredients and birth defects in a 2003–2005 North Carolina birth cohort
Authors: Rappazzo Kristen M. , Warren Joshua L. , Davalos Angel D. , Meyer Robert E. , Sanders Alison P. , Brownstein Naomi C. , Luben Thomas J.
Published: December 2018

Background

Previously we observed elevated odds ratios (ORs) for total pesticide exposure and 10 birth defects: three congenital heart defects and structural defects affecting the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems. This analysis examines association of those defects with exposure to seven commonly applied pesticide active ingredients.

Methods

Cases were live‐born singleton infants from the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program linked to birth records for 2003–2005; noncases served as controls (total n = 304,906). Pesticide active ingredient exposure was assigned using a previously constructed metric based on crops within 500 m of residence, dates of pregnancy, and likely chemical application dates for each pesticide‐crop combination. ORs (95% CI) were estimated with logistic regression for categories of exposure compared to unexposed. Models were adjusted for maternal race/ethnicity, age at delivery, education, marital status, and smoking status.

Results

Associations varied by birth defect and pesticide combinations. For example, hypospadias was positively associated with exposures to 2,4‐D (OR50th to <90th percentile: 1.39 [1.18, 1.64]), mepiquat (OR50th to <90th percentile: 1.10 [0.90, 1.34]), paraquat (OR50th to <90th: 1.14 [0.93, 1.39]), and pendimethalin (OR50th to <90th: 1.21 [1.01, 1.44]), but not S‐metolachlor (OR50th to <90th: 1.00 [0.81, 1.22]). Whereas atrial septal defects were positively associated with higher levels of exposure to glyphosate, cyhalothrin, S‐metolachlor, mepiquat, and pendimethalin (ORs ranged from 1.22 to 1.35 for 50th to <90th exposures, and 1.72 to 2.09 for >90th exposures); associations with paraquat were null or inconsistent (OR 50th to <90th: 1.05 (0.87, 1.27).

Conclusion

Our results suggest differing patterns of association for birth defects with residential exposure to seven pesticide active ingredients in North Carolina.
Resting‐state connectivity within and across neural circuits in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Uniacke Blair , Wang Yun , Biezonski Dominik , Sussman Tamara , Lee Seonjoo , Posner Jonathan , Steinglass Joanna
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Obsessional thoughts and ritualized eating behaviors are characteristic of Anorexia Nervosa (AN), leading to the common suggestion that the illness shares neurobiology with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Resting‐state functional connectivity MRI (rs‐fcMRI) is a measure of functional neural architecture. This longitudinal study examined functional connectivity in AN within the limbic cortico‐striato‐thalamo‐cortical (CSTC) loop, as well as in the salience network, the default mode network, and the executive control network (components of the triple network model of psychopathology).

Methods

Resting‐state functional connectivity MRI scans were collected in unmedicated female inpatients with AN (n = 25) and healthy controls (HC; n = 24). Individuals with AN were scanned before and after weight restoration and followed for one month after hospital discharge. HC were scanned twice over the same timeframe.

Results

Using a seed‐based correlation approach, individuals with AN had increased connectivity within the limbic CSTC loop when underweight, only. There was no significant association between limbic CSTC connectivity and obsessive–compulsive symptoms or prognosis. Exploratory analyses of functional network connectivity within the triple network model showed reduced connectivity between the salience network and left executive control network among AN relative to HC. These abnormalities persisted following weight restoration.

Conclusions

The CSTC findings suggest that the neural underpinnings of obsessive–compulsive symptoms may differ from those of OCD. The inter‐network abnormalities warrant examination in relation to illness‐specific behaviors, namely abnormal eating behavior. This longitudinal study highlights the complexity of the neural underpinnings of AN.
Group screening for rare events based on incomplete block designs
Authors: Eskridge Kent M. , Gilmour Steven G. , Posadas Luis G.
Published: December 2018

Fields such as, diagnostic testing, biotherapeutics, drug development, and toxicology among others, center on the premise of searching through many specimens for a rare event. Scientists in the business of “searching for a needle in a haystack” may greatly benefit from the use of group screening design strategies. Group screening, where specimens are composited into pools with each pool being tested for the presence of the event, can be much more cost‐efficient than testing each individual specimen. A number of group screening designs have been proposed in the literature. Incomplete block screening designs are described here and compared with other group screening designs. It is shown under certain conditions, that incomplete block screening designs can provide nearly a 90% cost saving compared to other group screening designs such as when prevalence is 0.001 and screening 3876 specimens with an ICB‐sequential design vs. a Dorfman design. In other cases, previous group screening designs are shown to be most efficient. Overall, when prevalence is small (≤0.05) group screening designs are shown to be quite cost effective at screening a large number of specimens and in general there is no one design that is best in all situations. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol Progress, 35: e2770, 2019.
Utilizing a regulated targeted integration cell line development approach to systematically investigate what makes an antibody difficult to express
Authors: Tadauchi Tomofumi , Lam Cynthia , Liu Laura , Zhou Yizhou , Tang Danming , Louie Salina , Snedecor Brad , Misaghi Shahram
Published: December 2018

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are conventionally used to generate therapeutic cell lines via random integration (RI), where desired transgenes are stably integrated into the genome. Targeted integration (TI) approaches, which involve integration of a transgene into a specific locus in the genome, are increasingly utilized for CHO cell line development (CLD) in recent years. None of these CLD approaches, however, are suitable for expression of toxic or difficult‐to‐express molecules, or for determining the underlying causes for poor expression of some molecules. Here we introduce a regulated target integration (RTI) system, where the desired transgene is integrated into a specific locus and transcribed under a regulated promoter. This system was used to determine the underlying causes of low protein expression for a difficult‐to‐express antibody (mAb‐A). Interestingly, we observed that both antibody heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) subunits of mAb‐A independently contributed to its low expression. Analysis of RTI cell lines also revealed that while mAb‐A LC triggered accumulation of intracellular BiP, its HC displayed impaired degradation and clearance. RTI pools, generated by swapping the WT or point‐mutant versions of difficult‐to‐express antibody HC and LC with that of an average antibody, were instrumental in understanding the contribution of HC and LC subunits to the overall antibody expression. The ability to selectively turn off the expression of a target transgene in an RTI system could help to directly link expression of a transgene to an observed adverse effect. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 35: e2772, 2019.
A systematic review of the morphology and function of the sacrotuberous ligament
Authors: Aldabe Daniela , Hammer Niels , Flack Natasha A.M.S. , Woodley Stephanie J.
Published: December 2018

The sacrotuberous ligament (STL) has been linked to conditions such as pelvic girdle pain and pudendal nerve entrapment, yet its contribution to pelvic stability is debated. The purpose of this review was to explore the current understanding of the STL and highlight any gaps in knowledge regarding its anatomy and function. A systematic search of the literature was conducted, focussing on the morphology and attachments of the STL, the relationship of the STL with surrounding structures, and its neurovascular supply and function. A total of 67 papers and four textbooks were obtained. The attachment sites of the STL are largely consistent; however, the extent of its connections with the long head of biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, piriformis, the posterior layer of the thoracolumbar fascia, and sacrospinous ligament are unclear. Morphometric parameters, such as mean STL length (6.4–9.4 cm), depth (0.3–0.4 cm), and width (1.8–3.5 cm, at its mid‐point) are variable within and between studies, and little is known about potential side‐, age‐, or sex‐related differences. The STL is pierced in several sites by the inferior and superior gluteal arteries, but information on its innervation pattern is sparse. Functionally, the STL may limit sacral nutation but it appears to have a limited contribution to pelvic stability. Some morphological aspects of the STL warrant further investigation, particularly its connections with surrounding structures, innervation pattern and function. Knowledge of the detailed anatomy and function of this ligament is important to better understanding its role in clinical conditions. Clin. Anat. 32:396–407, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oxaliplatin regulates myeloid‐derived suppressor cell‐mediated immunosuppression via downregulation of nuclear factor‐κB signaling
Authors: Kim Na‐Rae , Kim Yeon‐Jeong
Published: December 2018

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represent one of the major types of immunoregulatory cells present under abnormal conditions, including cancer. These cells are characterized by their immature phenotype and suppressive effect on various immune effectors. In both human and mouse, there are two main subsets of MDSCs: polymorphonuclear (PMN)‐MDSCs and mononuclear (Mo)‐MDSCs. Thus, strategies to regulate MDSC‐mediated immunosuppression could result in the enhancement of anticancer immune responses. Oxaliplatin, a platinum‐based anticancer agent, is widely used in clinical settings. It is known to induce cell death by interfering with double‐stranded DNA and interrupting its replication and transcription. In this study, we found that oxaliplatin has the potential to regulate MDSC‐mediated immunosuppression in cancer. First, oxaliplatin selectively depleted MDSCs, especially Mo‐MDSCs, but only minimally affected T cells. In addition, sublethal doses of oxaliplatin eliminated the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs and induced the differentiation of MDSCs into mature cells. Oxaliplatin treatment diminished the expression of the immunosuppressive functional mediators arginase 1 (ARG1) and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) in MDSCs, while an MDSC‐depleting agent, gemcitabine, did not downregulate these factors significantly. Oxaliplatin‐conditioned MDSCs had no tumor‐promoting activity in vivo. In addition, oxaliplatin modulated the intracellular NF‐κB signaling in MDSCs. Thus, oxaliplatin has the potential to be used as an immunoregulatory agent as well as a cytotoxic drug in cancer treatment.
Methamphetamine‐induced renal pseudovasculitis: Suspicion is the key
Authors: Chamarthi Gajapathiraju , Lee Loy Justin , Koratala Abhilash
Published: December 2018

Key Clinical Message

It is important to recognize drug‐induced vasculitis as patients with true vasculitis often require immunosuppressive therapy and delay in treatment can result in significant mortality. Illicit drug use (specifically methamphetamine and cocaine) should be in the differential diagnosis of vasculitis as it typically resolves with cessation of the drug.
To Be or Not to be Temp? An Analysis of the Moderating Role of Motives for Accepting Temporary Employment
Authors: Lo Presti Alessandro , Callea Antonino , Pluviano Sara
Published: December 2018

We investigate the role of contract volition and motives for accepting temporary employment in the relationship between precariousness of life and negative psychological symptoms in a sample of 275 Italian temps. Results suggest that the negative effect of contract volition on negative psychological symptoms is partially mediated by precariousness of life. A moderated mediation model shows that specific motives moderate the negative effects of contract volition on precariousness of life, so that when contract volition is higher, workers with weaker motives feel less precarious. This study broadens our understanding of temporary employment outcomes by showing that the negative consequences of precariousness of life seem to be less troublesome among temporary workers with higher contract volition and lower motivation. © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparison of anti‐arrhythmic efficacy of carvedilol vs metoprolol succinate in patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators
Authors: Ayan Mohamed , Habash Fuad , Alqam Bilal , Gheith Zaid , Cross Michael , Vallurupalli Srikanth , Paydak Hakan
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND

The effects of carvedilol and metoprolol succinate on appropriate and inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are not fully understood.

HYPOTHESIS

The hypothesis of our study is possible carvedilol superiority over metoprolol in patients with ICD.

METHODS

All patients with ICD registered to a single device clinic between 1/2012 and 6/2017 (n = 569) were identified. Patients with systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%) treated with carvedilol vs metoprolol succinate were compared. Primary endpoint was difference in survival free of appropriate device therapy (shock or anti‐tachycardia pacing, ATP). Secondary endpoints were freedom from inappropriate therapy (shock or ATP) and all cause death.

RESULTS

A total of 225 patients were included in the analysis with median follow up of 57 months (IQR 33.7‐90). The 2 groups were comparable in the baseline characteristics. Carvedilol was superior to metoprolol succinate in improving survival free of appropriate ICD therapy (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.24‐0.72, P = 0.01). This difference was driven by reduction in survival free of appropriate shocks (HR 0.30; 95% CI 0.15‐0.63, P = −0.01) while there was no significant difference in appropriate ATP (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.28‐1.1, P = 0.12). There was no significant difference in time to inappropriate shocks (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.19‐5.6, P = 0.97), inappropriate ATP (HR 0.93, OR 0.24‐3.5, p value 0.9) or all cause death (HR 0.8; 95% CI 0.42‐1.5, P = 0.52).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that carvedilol use was associated with improved survival free of appropriate ICD therapy compared to metoprolol succinate in patients with HFrEF.
Insulin resistance influences the impact of hypertension on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in a community sample
Authors: Bamaiyi Adamu J. , Woodiwiss Angela J. , Peterson Vernice , Gomes Monica , Libhaber Carlos D. , Sareli Pinhas , Norton Gavin R.
Published: December 2018

Background

Although obesity‐associated metabolic abnormalities (insulin resistance‐IR) may not play as marked a role in determining left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) as hypertension, the impact of combinations of these risk factors on DD is unknown.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that IR influences the impact of hypertension on DD.

Methods

In 704 randomly selected participants from a community sample with a high prevalence of hypertension (50.6%) and obesity (46.5%), we determined adiposity indices, IR from the homeostasis model (HOMA‐IR) and LV diastolic function using standard echocardiographic techniques.

Results

HOMA‐IR was independently associated with lateral wall e' and E/e' (P < 0.05 to P < 0.005) as well as a diagnosis of DD (P < 0.02). Importantly, however, an enhanced relationship between HOMA‐IR and E/e' in hypertensives (n = 356, partial r = 0.15, P < 0.005) as compared to normotensives (n = 348, partial r = 0.02 P = 0.75) was noted. Consequently, as compared to normotensives, with adjustments for confounders, hypertension was independently associated with DD only in those with the highest tertile of HOMA‐IR (odds ratio = 2.65, 95% confidence interval = 1.29‐5.42, P < 0.01), while in those with the lowest tertile of HOMA‐IR, hypertension failed to show a higher prevalence of DD (P = 0.22).

Conclusions

Insulin resistance enhances the impact of hypertension on LV DD. Thus, DD is more likely to occur with the combination of hypertension and IR.
Fluoxetine delays the cognitive function decline and synaptic changes in a transgenic mouse model of early Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhou Chun‐ni , Chao Feng‐lei , Zhang Yi , Jiang Lin , Zhang Lei , Fan Jin‐hua , Wu Yong‐xin , Dou Xiao‐yun , Tang Yong
Published: December 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline. Previous studies have reported that the syndrome of AD begins with subtle alterations in hippocampal synapses prior to frank neuronal degeneration. It has recently been reported that fluoxetine (FLX) shows positive effects on AD patients who have depression and anxiety. However, it is unclear whether FLX can affect the pathogenesis of AD mice in the early stage of AD. To address this question, 8‐month‐old male APP/PS1 double‐transgenic AD mice were administered a 10‐week course of FLX (10 mg/kg/day) injections. Then, spatial learning and memory were evaluated using a Morris water maze test. Immunohistological staining and an unbiased stereological method were used to estimate the total number of dendritic spine synapses in the hippocampus. We found that FLX significantly shortened the mean escape latencies of the 10‐month‐old mice; reduced the elevated levels of soluble Aβ40, Aβ42, and amyloid plaques in the hippocampus; and prevented the decrease in dendritic spine synapses and in postsynaptic protein PSD‐95 density in the dentate gyrus, CA1/2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Our results indicate that reversing synaptic impairment might be considered a promising therapeutic approach for alleviating the cognitive deficits associated with early AD. Moreover, our results suggest that FLX may be a safe and effective drug for delaying the progress of AD, which might provide a starting point for further research into new preventative measures and treatments for AD.
Node‐Fusion: Topology‐aware virtual network embedding algorithm for repeatable virtual network mapping over substrate nodes
Authors: Wang Desheng , Zhang Weizhe , He Hui , Liu Chuanyi
Published: December 2018

Cloud computing has become a new Internet application model, where network virtualization is recognized as an important technology for allowing multiple heterogeneous virtual networks (VNs) to coexist on a shared substrate network (SN). As demands in cloud computing increase, the scale of VN greatly increases as well, and providing an end‐to‐end SN to embed VNs in terms of scale is difficult. To utilize SN resources fully, we devise a topology‐aware Node‐Fusion algorithm, which is different from the traditional virtual network embedding (VNE) algorithms, for repeatable VNE over substrate nodes problem. We rank the resource of nodes through a novel solution by considering the CPU and bandwidth of adjacent link capacity and the number of adjacent links of each node as resources, and rank a node on the basis of resources. Furthermore, we embed several virtual nodes into the same substrate node together in accordance with Node‐Fusion interconnection value during the node mapping process, which can greatly improve the success ratio of the subsequent link mapping phase. Evaluation results confirm that Node‐Fusion outperforms traditional classical heuristics (Link‐opt, Node‐opt, and ORSTA), which are modified to fit into our model, with regard to acceptance ratio, long‐term revenue, long‐term cost, and revenue‐cost ratio.
Bridging market demand, proactivity, and technology competence with eco‐innovations: The moderating role of innovation openness
Authors: Liao Yi‐Chuan , Tsai Kuen‐Hung
Published: December 2018

This study develops a contingency framework by drawing upon on the perspectives of resource‐based view, stakeholder, and open innovation to investigate how and when market demand, environmental proactivity, and technology competence affect a firm's decision on the scope of eco‐innovation. A sample composed of 1,717 service firms is utilized to test the hypotheses. A zero‐truncated negative binomial approach is adopted to analyze the data. The results reveal that innovation openness plays a significant moderating role in the influence of proactivity and technology competence on the scope of eco‐innovation. Specifically, environmental proactivity has a stronger effect on the scope of eco‐innovation under high levels of search breadth and depth. Moreover, technology competence has more influence on the scope of eco‐innovation under a high level of search breadth. In addition, the results reveal that market demand positively affects the scope of eco‐innovation.
Cross‐layer optimization for full‐duplex cognitive radio network with cooperative spectrum sensing
Authors: Li Haitao , Liu Changjun
Published: December 2018

In this paper, the cross‐layer optimal design of multihop ad hoc network employing full‐duplex cognitive radios (CRs) is investigated. Firstly, the analytical expressions of cooperative spectrum sensing performance for multihop CR networks over composite fading channels are derived. Then, the opportunistic throughput and transmit power of CRs are presented based on the derivation of false alarm and missed detection probability. Finally, a multiobjective optimization model is proposed to maximize the opportunistic throughputs and minimize the transmitting power. Simulation results indicate that Pareto optimal solution of sensing duration, decision threshold, and transmit power can be achieved by cross‐layer multiobjective optimization, it can balance the conflicts between different objective functions and reap the acceptable outcomes for multihop CR network.
D2D communications with subchannel reusing for throughput‐guaranteed relay selection in LTE
Authors: Kao Shang‐Juh , Luo Sin‐Yu , Kao Ming‐Tsung , Chang Fu‐Min
Published: December 2018

Using full‐duplex relaying in device‐to‐device (D2D) communication, spectrum efficiency can be further improved as compared with traditional half‐duplex relaying. Due to the increasing demands for more system capacities and higher data rate, a throughput‐guaranteed and power‐aware relay selection mechanism is essential so that services can be successfully accomplished within tolerable power consumption. It is also imperative to prevent cellular users from interfering and preserve resources for more users at the same time. In current paper, we proposed an efficient relay selection scheme with subchannel reusing. Using the nonconflict group discovery algorithm, firstly, we divided D2D pairs into different groups based on the neighbor lists of all the devices. The D2D pairs in the same group were considered nonconflictive. By building a matrix that represents the power consumption of D2D transmission peers through relays, we proposed a group‐oriented relay selection scheme based on the Hungarian method allowing subchannel reuse over relay‐assisted D2D networks. Applying this mechanism, different D2D pairs are able to transmit messages at the same subchannel, whenever they are in the same group. Better throughput and spectrum usage than currently available relay selection schemes without subchannel reusing can be obtained. Particularly, more D2D pairs in high dense networks can be accommodated, and spectrum resources can be better preserved. The simulation results showed that our proposed mechanism can improve the total throughput by up to 35% as compared with an existing relay selection scheme without subchannel reusing, called as PRS‐D2D, when most D2D pairs are in a few groups.