bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of radiation therapy in primary breast diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma in the Rituximab era: a SEER database analysis
Authors: Liu Pan‐pan , Wang Ke‐feng , Jin Jie‐tian , Bi Xi‐wen , Sun Peng , Wang Yu , Yang Hang , Li Zhi‐ming , Jiang Wen‐qi , Xia Yi
Published: April 2018

Primary breast diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (PB‐DLBCL) is an uncommon extranodal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which was traditionally treated with anthracycline‐containing regimens followed by consolidative radiation therapy (RT) to add therapeutic benefits. The introduction of anti‐CD20 antibody rituximab for the treatment of B‐cell NHLs has significantly improved the clinical outcome of these malignant diseases. It is unclear, however, whether consolidative RT could still add therapeutic benefits for PB‐DLBCL patients treated with rituximab. To answer this important question, we used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to evaluate the impact of RT on the clinical outcomes of PB‐DLBCL patients in the rituximab era. Information on patient age, year of diagnosis, stage, race, laterality, and RT status for PB‐DLBCL patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2014 were extracted. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were plotted, and log‐rank test was used to compare the potential survival difference. Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model was employed to determine the impact of RT and other factors such as age, race, tumor laterality, stage, and year of diagnosis on survival. Among the 386 patients identified, the median follow‐up time was 45 months (range, 0–167 months); the median age was 64 years (range, 19–93 years); 33.9% of the patients were younger than 60 years of age; 69.9% of the patients were stage I; 79.0% were white; 51.8% received RT. The 5‐year OS and cause‐specific survival (CSS) for the whole cohort were 72.3% and 82.5%, respectively. The 5‐year OS was significantly superior for patients who received RT compared to those who did not receive RT (78.1% vs. 66.0%, P = 0.031). In multivariable analysis, RT remained significantly associated with improved OS (P = 0.026). In summary, our study suggests that RT still adds significant therapeutic benefits for patients with PB‐DLCBL in the rituximab era.
Antibiotic‐mediated bacteriome depletion in ApcMin/+ mice is associated with reduction in mucus‐producing goblet cells and increased colorectal cancer progression
Authors: Kaur Kamaljeet , Saxena Arpit , Debnath Irina , O'Brien Jacqueline L. , Ajami Nadim J. , Auchtung Thomas A. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Sougiannis Alexander‐Jacques , Depaep Sarah , Chumanevich Alexander , Gummadidala Phani M. , Omebeyinje Mayomi H. , Banerjee Sourav , Chatzistamou Ioulia , Chakraborty Paramita , Fayad Raja , Berger Franklin G. , Carson James A. , Chanda Anindya
Published: April 2018

Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to antibiotics in early‐to‐middle adulthood is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma. However, mechanistic studies in established preclinical cancer to examine these claims are extremely limited. Therefore, we investigated the effect of long‐term exposure of an antibiotic cocktail composed of Vancomycin, Neomycin, and Streptomycin, on tumor development and progression in the ApcMin/+ mouse, an established genetic model for familial adenomatous polyposis. Clinical pathologies related to tumor development as well as intestinal and colon tissue histopathology were studied at ages 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, which correspond to the approximate ages of development of neoplasia, gut inflammation with polyposis, and cancer progression, respectively, in this animal model. We show that the antibiotics significantly increase the severity of clinical symptoms, including effects on intestinal histology and goblet cell numbers. In addition, they promote small intestinal polyposis. Finally, metagenomic analysis of fecal samples demonstrated that antibiotic exposure is associated with a significant but nonuniform depletion of the animal's natural gut flora. Overall, these findings support the premise that long‐term antibiotic exposure mediates the selected depletion of gut microbial communities and the concomitant thinning of the protective mucus layer, resulting in an increase in tumor development.
Selective Imaging of Lipids in Adipocytes by Using an Imidazolyl Derivative of Perylene Bisimide
Authors: Mishra Ruchika , Mushtaq Zeeshan , Regar Ramprasad , Mallik Bhagaban , Kumar Vimlesh , Sankar Jeyaraman
Published: April 2018

A small molecule, perylene bisimide imidazolyl derivative (PBI‐ID), has been identified and developed as a specific marker for labelling multifunctional fat bodies in various organisms, including Drosophila and mammalian adipocytes. Interestingly, PBI‐ID neither labels the plasma membranes nor cell nuclei by trapping into it. A remarkable feature of unbound PBI‐ID is diminished fluorescence, which reduces the background emission noise, while contrasting the bound state effectively.
De novo tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis is impaired in the inflammed striatum of parkin(−/−) mice
Authors: de Paula Martins Roberta , Glaser Viviane , Aguiar Jr Aderbal S. , de Paula Ferreira Priscila Maximiliano , Ghisoni Karina , da Luz Scheffer Débora , Lanfumey Laurence , Raisman‐Vozari Rita , Corti Olga , De Paul Ana Lucia , da Silva Rodrigo Augusto , Latini Alexandra
Published: April 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second‐most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is primarily characterized by neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in motor impairment. Loss‐of‐function mutations in parkin are the major cause of the early onset familial form of the disease. Although rodents deficient in parkin (parkin(−/−)) have some dopaminergic system dysfunction associated with central oxidative stress and energy metabolism deficiencies, these animals only display nigrostriatal pathway degeneration under inflammatory conditions. This study investigated the impact of the inflammatory stimulus induced by lypopolisaccharide (LPS) on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) synthesizing enzymes (de novo and salvage pathways), since this cofactor is essential for dopamine synthesis. The mitochondrial content and architecture was investigated in the striatum of LPS‐exposed parkin(−/−) mice. As expected, the LPS (0.33 mg/kg; i.p.) challenge compromised spontaneous locomotion and social interaction with juvenile parkin(−/−) and WT mice. Moreover, the genotype impacted the kinetics of the investigation of the juvenile. The inflammatory scenario did not induce apparent changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure; however, it increased the quantity of mitochondria, which were of smaller size, and provoked the perinuclear distribution of the organelle. Furthermore, the BH4 de novo biosynthetic pathway failed to be up‐regulated in the LPS challenge, a well‐known stimulus for its activation. The LPS treatment increased sepiapterin reductase (SPR) expression, suggesting compensation by the salvage pathway. This might indicate that dopamine synthesis is compromised in parkin(−/−) mice under inflammatory conditions. Finally, this scenario impaired the striatal expression of the transcription factor BDNF, possibly favoring cell death.
Plastic Resistance of I‐ and U‐sections under Bending and Torsion
Authors: Baláž I. , Koleková Y.
Published: April 2018

This article is not available for publication.
Recent Advances in Liquid Metal Manipulation toward Soft Robotics and Biotechnologies
Authors: Yu Yue , Miyako Eijiro
Published: April 2018

Interest has grown significantly in the field of soft robotics, which seeks to develop machinery capable of duplicating the elastic and rheological properties of typically polymeric or elastomeric biological tissues and organs. As a result of a number of unique properties, gallium‐based liquid metals (LMs) are emerging as materials used in the forefront of soft robotics research. Finding methods to enable the sophisticated manipulation of LMs will be essential for further progress in the field. This review provides a critical discussion of the manipulation of LMs and on important biotechnological applications of LMs including microfluidics, healthcare devices, biomaterials, and nanomedicines.
Synthetic Approaches to Tetracyclic Indolines as Versatile Building Blocks of Diverse Indole Alkaloids
Authors: Wang Yanshi , Xie Fukai , Lin Bin , Cheng Maosheng , Liu Yongxiang
Published: April 2018

Indole alkaloids bearing the tetracyclic indoline scaffolds of 1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]carbazole have shown fascinating chemical diversity and significant biological activities. The development of efficient synthetic methodologies for such a tetracyclic scaffold remains highly desirable in both synthetic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This review outlines key strategies for the construction of the tetracyclic indoline scaffolds in total syntheses of many indole alkaloids. The key strategies include nucleophilic additions, Diels–Alder reactions, radical cyclizations, and palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions. The representative examples and their applications in the total syntheses are described here and discussed in depth.
Dynamic Ureas with Fast and pH‐Independent Hydrolytic Kinetics
Authors: Cai Kaimin , Ying Hanze , Cheng Jianjun
Published: April 2018

Low cost, high performance hydrolysable polymers are of great importance in biomedical applications and materials industries. While many applications require materials to have a degradation profile insensitive to external pH to achieve consistent release profiles under varying conditions, hydrolysable chemistry techniques developed so far have pH‐dependent hydrolytic kinetics. This work reports the design and synthesis of a new type of hydrolysable polymer that has identical hydrolysis kinetics from pH 3 to 11. The unprecedented pH independent hydrolytic kinetics of the aryl ureas were shown to be related to the dynamic bond dissociation controlled hydrolysis mechanism; the resulting hindered poly(aryl urea) can be degraded with a hydrolysis half‐life of 10 min in solution. More importantly, these fast degradable hindered aromatic polyureas can be easily prepared by addition polymerization from commercially available monomers and are resistant to hydrolysis in solid form for months under ambient storage conditions. The combined features of good stability in solid state and fast hydrolysis at various pH values is unprecedented in polyurea material, and will have implications for materials design and applications, such as sacrificial coatings and biomaterials.
Structure‐retention relationship for enantioseparation of selected fluoroquinolones
Authors: Hassan Rasha M. , Yehia Ali M. , Saleh Ola A. , El‐Azzouny Aida A. , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y.
Published: April 2018

Fluoroquinolones are popular class of antibiotics with distinct chemical functionality. Most of them are ampholytes with one chiral center. Stereogeneic center is located either in the side ring of Gatifloxacin (GFLX) or in the quinolone core of Ofloxacin (OFLX). These two amphoteric fluoroquinolones have terminal amino groups in common. The unusual Nadifloxacin (NFLX) is an acidic fluoroquinolone with a core chiral center. Owing to chirality and functionality differences among GFLX, OFLX, and NFLX, we mapped these enantiomers onto structure‐retention relationship. Amount of acetic acid modifier was studied in screened mobile phase and cellulose tris(3‐chloro‐4‐methyl phenyl carbamate) (Lux cellulose‐2) stationary phase. Experimental design of acetic acid% along with column temperature have been applied. Resolution and enantioselectivity have been related to structural features of the studied enantiomers. High amount of acid (0.4%) was optimum for the separation of either side chirality with a proximate amino group (GFLX) or core chirality without basic functionality (NFLX), while low amount (0.2%) is optimum for core chiral center with distal amino group (OFLX). Temperature has no significant effect on resolution and retention of enantiomers except for OFLX. Enantio‐retention explains possible chiral selective and nonselective interactions. The proposed methods have been validated for pharmaceutical analyses.
Pelvic Rhabdomyosarcomas in Childhood
Authors: HAYS DANIEL M.
Published: April 2018

The diagnosis of pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood may ordinarily be established without laparotomy. A search for dissemination is rarely positive at the time of discovery of the tumor. Regimens of combined therapy including 1) radical surgical excision, 2) pelvic irradiation, and 3) multiple‐agent long‐range chemotherapy have resulted in survival rates of 60–90% in children with apparently localized disease. Satisfaction with the results of such regimens, relative to survival, is offset by the adverse effects of the exenteration procedures required and to a lesser extent by the morbidity associated with pelvic irradiation. New approaches have been developed in an attempt to avoid exenteration and radiotherapy. These include limited local surgery, i.e., partial cystectomy or tumorectomy, in rhabdomyosarcomas of the bladder, for example. The results of these procedures have been markedly better than those that followed the use of similar, limited operations before the use of effective chemotherapy. More radical departures from accepted tumor management, i.e., primary chemotherapy regimens which do not include initial surgery (except biopsy) and which may or may not include radiotherapy, have also been employed. In approximately 70% of infants and small children with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma, tumor dissemination can be controlled by an approach that first uses only chemotherapy. On this regimen, a majority of these neoplasms will be reduced in size to the extent that a limited surgical excision is possible, or they may be treated without excisional surgery.
Results of a lay health education intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening among Filipino Americans: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cuaresma Charlene F. , Sy Angela U. , Nguyen Tung T. , Ho Reginald C. S. , Gildengorin Ginny L. , Tsoh Janice Y. , Jo Angela M. , Tong Elisa K. , Kagawa‐Singer Marjorie , Stewart Susan L.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Filipino colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates fall below Healthy People 2020 goals. In this study, the authors explore whether a lay health educator (LHE) approach can increase CRC screening among Filipino Americans ages 50 to 75 years in Hawai‘i.

METHODS

A cluster randomized controlled trial from 2012 through 2015 compared an intervention, which consisted of LHEs delivering 2 education sessions and 2 telephone follow‐up calls on CRC screening plus a CRC brochure versus an attention control, in which 2 lectures and 2 follow‐up calls on nutrition and physical activity plus a CRC brochure were provided. The primary outcome was change in self‐reported ever receipt of CRC screening at 6 months.

RESULTS

Among 304 participants (77% women, 86% had > 10 years of residence in the United States), the proportion of participants who reported ever having received CRC screening increased significantly in the intervention group (from 80% to 89%; P = .0003), but not in the control group (from 73% to 74%; P = .60). After covariate adjustment, there was a significant intervention effect (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.0‐3.5). There was no intervention effect on up‐to‐date screening.

CONCLUSIONS

This first randomized controlled trial for CRC screening among Hawai‘i's Filipinos used an LHE intervention with mixed, but promising, results. Cancer 2018;124:1535‐42. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Colorectal cancer beliefs, knowledge, and screening among Filipino, Hmong, and Korean Americans
Authors: Tran Mi T. , Jeong Matthew B. , Nguyen Vickie V. , Sharp Michael T. , Yu Edgar P. , Yu Filmer , Tong Elisa K. , Kagawa‐Singer Marjorie , Cuaresma Charlene F. , Sy Angela U. , Tsoh Janice Y. , Gildengorin Ginny L. , Stewart Susan L. , Nguyen Tung T.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

To the authors' knowledge, there are few studies to date regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) beliefs, knowledge, and screening among multiple Asian American populations, who are reported to have lower CRC screening rates compared with white individuals. The current study was performed to assess knowledge and beliefs regarding the causes of CRC, its prevention, and factors associated with CRC screening among 3 Asian American groups.

METHODS

The authors conducted an in‐language survey with Filipino (Honolulu, Hawaii), Hmong (Sacramento, California), and Korean (Los Angeles, California) Americans aged 50 to 75 years who were sampled through social networks. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with CRC screening.

RESULTS

The sample of 981 participants was 78.3% female and 73.8% reported limited proficiency in English. Few of the participants were aware that age (17.7%) or family history (36.3%) were risk factors for CRC; 6.2% believed fate caused CRC. Only 46.4% of participants knew that screening prevented CRC (74.3% of Filipino, 10.6% of Hmong, and 55.8% of Korean participants; P<.001). Approximately two‐thirds of participants reported ever having undergone CRC screening (76.0% of Filipino, 72.0% of Hmong, and 51.4% of Korean participants; P<.001) and 48.6% were up to date for screening (62.2% of Filipino, 43.8% of Hmong, and 41.4% of Korean participants; P<.001). Factors found to be significantly associated with ever screening were being Korean (compared with Filipino), having a family history of CRC, having health insurance or a regular source of health care, and knowing that a fatty diet caused CRC. Believing that fate caused CRC and that praying prevented it were found to be negatively associated with ever screening. Factors associated with being up to date for CRC screening included being born in the United States, having a family history of CRC, and having access to health care.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge regarding the causes of CRC and its prevention among Filipino, Hmong, and Korean individuals is low. However, health care access, not knowledge or beliefs, was found to be a key determinant of CRC screening. Cancer 2018;124:1552‐9. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Perspectives of Chinese American smoker and nonsmoker household pairs about the creating smokefree living together program
Authors: Saw Anne , Paterniti Debora A. , Fung Lei‐Chun , Tsoh Janice Y. , Tong Elisa K.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Chinese men smoke at high rates, and this puts household members at risk for tobacco‐related diseases. Culturally responsive interventions that provide education and support are needed to promote smokefree living and reduce smoke exposure, particularly for US immigrants who experience changes in smokefree social norms. This qualitative study examines perspectives of Chinese American smoker and nonsmoker household pairs in the Creating Smokefree Living Together program.

METHODS

Four focus groups were conducted with 30 Chinese American participants (15 smokers and 15 nonsmokers) who, in household pairs, completed smokefree education interventions of either brief or moderate intensity. Nearly three‐quarters of the smokers continued to smoke after the intervention at the time of focus group participation. All smokers were male, and most household nonsmokers were female spouses. All participants had limited English proficiency. Focus group meetings were recorded, and the recordings were translated and transcribed. Transcripts and field notes were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

The following themes, shared by smokers and nonsmokers across interventions, were identified: 1) there was a preference for dyadic and group interventions because of the support offered, 2) increased knowledge of the health harms of smoke exposure within a pair improved the nonsmoker's support for smokefree living, 3) learning communication strategies improved household relationships and assertiveness for smokefree environments, 4) biochemical feedback was useful but had short‐term effects, and 5) project magnets provided cues to action.

CONCLUSIONS

Involving household partners is critical to smokefree interventions. Simple reminders at home appear to be more powerful than personal biochemical feedback of smoke exposure for sustaining motivation and engagement in ongoing behavioral changes within the household. Cancer 2018;124:1599‐606. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of aerobic training in pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Scott Jessica M. , Iyengar Neil M. , Nilsen Tormod S. , Michalski Meghan , Thomas Samantha M. , Herndon James , Sasso John , Yu Anthony , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Dang Chau T. , Comen Elizabeth A. , Dickler Maura N. , Peppercorn Jeffrey M. , Jones Lee W.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The investigation of exercise training in metastatic breast cancer has received minimal attention. This study determined the feasibility and safety of aerobic training in metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

Sixty‐five women (age, 21‐80 years) with metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer (57% were receiving chemotherapy, and >40% had ≥ 2 lines of prior therapy) were allocated to an aerobic training group (n = 33) or a stretching group (n = 32). Aerobic training consisted of 36 supervised treadmill walking sessions delivered thrice weekly between 55% and 80% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) for 12 consecutive weeks. Stretching was matched to aerobic training with respect to location, frequency, duration, and intervention length. The primary endpoint was aerobic training feasibility, which was a priori defined as the lost to follow‐up (LTF) rate (<20%) and attendance (≥70%). Secondary endpoints were safety, objective outcomes (VO2peak and functional capacity), and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs; quality of life).

RESULTS

One of the 33 patients (3%) receiving aerobic training was LTF, whereas the mean attendance rate was 63% ± 30%. The rates of permanent discontinuation and dose modification were 27% and 49%, respectively. Intention‐to‐treat analyses indicated improvements in PROs, which favored the attention control group (P values > .05). Per protocol analyses indicated that 14 of 33 patients (42%) receiving aerobic training had acceptable tolerability (relative dose intensity ≥ 70%), and this led to improvements in VO2peak and functional capacity (P values < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Aerobic training at the dose and schedule tested is safe but not feasible for a significant proportion of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The acceptable feasibility and promising benefit for select patients warrant further evaluation in a dose‐finding phase 1/2 study. Cancer 2018;124:2552‐60. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic importance of lymphovascular invasion in urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis
Authors: Danzig Matthew R. , Mallin Katherine , McKiernan James M. , Stadler Walter M. , Sridhar Srikala S. , Morgan Todd M. , Bochner Bernard H. , Lee Cheryl T.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to assess the impact of lymphovascular invasion on the survival of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis.

METHODS

Patients with urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis who underwent radical nephroureterectomy from 2010 through 2015 were identified in the National Cancer Data Base. Patients were characterized according to demographic and clinical factors, including pathologic tumor stage and lymphovascular invasion. Associations with overall survival were assessed through proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 4177 patients were identified; 1576 had lymphovascular invasion. Patients with T3 disease and lymphovascular invasion had 5‐year survival that was significantly worse than that of patients with T3 disease without lymphovascular invasion (34.7% vs 52.6; P < .001 by the log‐rank test), and approached that of patients with T4 disease without lymphovascular invasion (34.7% vs 26.5%; P = .002). On multivariate analysis controlling for age, comorbidities, grade, lymph node status, surgical margin status, race, sex, and chemotherapy administration, patients with T3 disease and lymphovascular invasion also were found to have significantly worse survival compared with patients with T3 disease without lymphovascular invasion (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4‐1.91).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphovascular invasion status is a key prognostic marker that can stratify the risk of patients with pT3 upper tract urothelial carcinoma further. Patients with this pathologic feature should be carefully considered for clinical trials exploring existing and novel therapies. Cancer 2018;124:2507‐14. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Towards Long‐Term Thermal Stability of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Mohammadnezhad Mahyar , Selopal Gurpreet Singh , Wang Zhiming M. , Stansfield Barry , Zhao Haiguang , Rosei Federico
Published: April 2018

In this study, the effect of incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the thermal stability of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. Under identical measurement conditions (aging at 80 °C for 240 h), DSSCs based on a bare TiO2 anode presented a significant loss in photoconversion efficiency (PCE), dropping to 59 % of their initial value, whereas the DSSCs based on a TiO2–MWCNT nanocomposite anode attained a promising thermal stability with only 20 % loss of PCE. This degradation of cell performance is mainly associated with a dramatic reduction in the short‐circuit current density (Jsc). To understand the mechanisms that underpin these changes in device performance under thermal stress, both types of cells were investigated using various techniques. The incorporation of MWCNTs could eliminate the formation of cracks and improve electron charge transfer. The results of this study indicate a promising new method to enhance the thermal stability of DSSCs using a nanocomposite anode made of one‐dimensional carbon materials.
Multiuser access control searchable privacy‐preserving scheme in cloud storage
Authors: Cao Laicheng , Wang Yafei , Dong Xiaoye , Liu Yufei , Zhang Yangyang , Guo Xian , Feng Tao
Published: April 2018

Searchable encryption scheme‐based ciphertext‐policy attribute‐based encryption (CP‐ABE) is a effective scheme for providing multiuser to search over the encrypted data on cloud storage environment. However, most of the existing search schemes lack the privacy protection of the data owner and have higher computation time cost. In this paper, we propose a multiuser access control searchable privacy‐preserving scheme in cloud storage. First, the data owner only encrypts the data file and sets the access control list of multiuser and multiattribute for search data file. And the computing operation, which generates the attribute keys of the users' access control and the keyword index, is given trusted third party to perform for reducing the computation time of the data owner. Second, using CP‐ABE scheme, trusted third party embeds the users' access control attributes into their attribute keys. Only when those embedded attributes satisfy the access control list, the ciphertext can be decrypted accordingly. Finally, when the user searches data file, the keyword trap door is no longer generated by the user, and it is handed to the proxy server to finish. Also, the ciphertext is predecrypted by the proxy sever before the user performs decryption. In this way, the flaw of the client's limited computation resource can be solved. Security analysis results show that this scheme has the data privacy, the privacy of the search process, and the collusion‐resistance attack, and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can effectively reduce the computation time of the data owner and the users.
Slope of change in HbA1c from baseline with empagliflozin compared with sitagliptin or glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: DeFronzo Ralph A. , Ferrannini Ele , Schernthaner Guntram , Hantel Stefan , Elsasser Ulrich , Lee Christopher , Hach Thomas , Lund Søren S.
Published: April 2018

Aims

To analyse the effect of baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) on the reduction in HbA1c with empagliflozin compared with sitagliptin or glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and methods

Using regression analyses of individual patient data from two Phase III studies, we compared the change in HbA1c according to a unit change in baseline HbA1c (the slope) with empagliflozin 10 mg or 25 mg vs sitagliptin (monotherapy) after 24 weeks, and with empagliflozin 25 mg vs glimepiride (as add‐on to metformin) after 52 weeks.

Results

Steeper slopes of HbA1c decline were observed with empagliflozin 10 or 25 mg vs sitagliptin monotherapy at week 24. Regression analysis showed slopes of −0.59 (95% CI −0.70, −0.47), −0.49 (95% CI −0.62, −0.37) and −0.29 (95% CI −0.42, −0.15) for empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg and sitagliptin, respectively (P < .001 and P < .05 for empagliflozin 10 mg and empagliflozin 25 mg, respectively, vs sitagliptin). Similarly, a steeper slope of HbA1c decline was observed with empagliflozin 25 mg vs glimepiride as add‐on to metformin at week 52. Regression analysis showed slopes of − 0.52 (95% CI −0.59, −0.44) and −0.32 (95% CI −0.39, −0.25) for empagliflozin 25 mg and glimepiride, respectively (P < .001 for empagliflozin 25 mg vs glimepiride).

Conclusions

Incremental reductions in HbA1c with increasing baseline HbA1c are greater with empagliflozin compared with sitagliptin or glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A Deca‐9‐Fluorenolato‐deca‐Samarium Oxide Cage
Authors: Werner Daniel , Deacon Glen B. , Junk Peter C.
Published: April 2018

The 9‐fluorenone (fn) ketyl in [YbIII(DippForm)2(fn·‐O)] {DippForm = N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)formamidinate}, underwent reduction to the dianion ({C13H8}‐O) upon single electron transfer from SmIII2(thf)2. The dianion was obtained as a decanuclear, deca‐9‐fluorenolato, tetraoxido mixed‐oxidation‐state samarium cage [Sm10O4{(C13H8)‐O}10(thf)10], obtained after ligand redistribution. The structure is relevant to the deoxygenation of ketones by lanthanoid metals.
Empowerment Evaluation's Roots in Community
Authors: Fetterman David M.
Published: April 2018

David M. Fetterman describes the powerful sense of community he grew up in. The link between respecting local knowledge, social justice, community ownership, and his own evaluation values and processes are apparent. His ethnographic and Eempowerment approaches to evaluation reflect the way he was raised. See the interview document here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/ev.20289/suppinfo. Read only. This should not be used in any form without explicit permission from the author.
Evaluation: The Wary Way
Authors: Adelman Clement
Published: April 2018

Clement Adelman connects his childhood experiences in boarding schools, his life in a jazz band, and his interest in film with reflections on a long life of evaluation, drawing parallels to his formal evaluation approach. The skepticism he developed as a child and his ways of protecting himself from conflict and attack were formative to ways he conducted and experienced evaluation—professionally and otherwise—along with a conviction to pursue what he thought was valuable: speaking and thinking only the truth. See the interview document here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/ev.20304/suppinfo. Read only. This should not be used in any form without explicit permission from the author.
Theoretical analysis of lithium‐ion battery failure characteristics under different states of charge
Authors: Jiang Fengwei , Liu Kai , Wang Zhirong , Tong Xuan , Guo Linsheng
Published: April 2018

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are extensively applied in various portable electronic equipment because of their high energy density power. However, accidents related to LIBs frequently occur. This study focuses on failure results, characteristics, and phenomena. Lithium‐ion batteries under different states of charge (SOCs) (0%, 30%, 50%, 80%, 100%, and 120%) at high temperatures have been investigated with the thermal abuse test. During the experiments, several typical failure processes were captured. According to the phenomena, 2 failure modes (smoke and jet fire) and 3 stages (primary reaction, tempestuous reaction in the middle time period, and extinguishing reaction in the final stage) were observed. A substantial amount of gas was vented, and jet fire was detected in the middle period. Only gas vented when the SOC was lower than 50%, whereas vented gas and jet fire were detected simultaneously when the SOC exceeded 50%. The results indicated combustible behaviors and exothermic reactions related to the SOC. An increase in the SOC caused a decrease in the thermal runaway initial temperature and the maximum increase in temperature. A higher SOC determined intense chemical reactions in the cell at higher temperatures, which caused a significant amount of materials to spew out of the batteries as well as additional mass loss. Relationships between failure characteristics and internal reactions were analyzed. The SOC should be lower than 50% in transportation or storage. The intercalated lithium capacities were the main reason for the series of domino reactions, which caused runaway in the terminal. These studies can serve as a reference for safety applications, transportation, and loss prevention in LIBs.
Distribution characteristics, genesis analyses, and research significance of Triassic regional structural fractures in the Ordos Basin, Central China
Authors: Dang Ben , Zhao Hong , Qu Mengmeng , Wang Teng , Mi Weiwei , Guo Xiaodan , Fan Jingtao , Liu Pengfei
Published: April 2018

Through systematic investigations and measurements of Triassic structural fractures on outcrops in the Ordos Basin, as well as massive observations of fractures from drill cores in areas of coverage, combined with the data synthetic analyses of fracture logging, core fracture location, and oil‐field development performance, it is shown that Triassic structural fractures are well developed and mainly vertical or steeply dipping. These fractures are distributed differently in different areas. The fractures usually appear in pairs and belong to X conjugate shear fracture systems: One set is opening fractures with extension‐shear characteristics (striking NE, ENE, or near S‐N), and the other set is closing fractures with compression‐shear characteristics (striking NW, NNW, or near E‐W). Regional horizontal compression as well as the reactivation of basement faults and peripheral faults in the Ordos Basin are responsible for the development of the fracture system. The geodynamic background is the remote tectonic compression produced by the convergence of the Siberia Plate, the Pacific Plate, and the Tethys block during Yanshanian period. Moreover, the Indian Plate converged with the East Asia Continent Plate during Himalayan period. Triassic fractures are mainly formed during Yanshanian, but there are superposition and transformation since the Himalayan period. The distribution, development, and evolution of the fractures in Triassic Yanchang Formation are very important to further study the migration and accumulation of oil and gas as well as exploration and development of low permeable oil‐gas deposits in the Ordos Basin. Furthermore, the origin analysis of regional structure fractures is important to explore the relationship between the Ordos Basin and Qinling orogenic belt.
New insights about the Mesoproterozoic sedimentary framework of North China Craton
Authors: Li Zhenhong , Xi Shengli , Hu Jianmin , Dong Xiaopeng , Zhang Guisong
Published: April 2018

At the south‐western margin of the North China Craton (NCC), there existed a lot of Mesoproterozoic strata. However, it is hardly known about the Mesoproterozoic stratigraphic sequence and deep structures of the south‐western part of NCC (most is the Ordos Block) due to the thick Phanerozoic sedimentary cover above the Precambrian basement and strata. Combining the drilling well data, seismic profiles, and outcrops around the whole Ordos Block, it becomes possible to reveal the deep structure and distribution of Mesoproterozoic strata. The distribution and sedimentation of Mesoproterozoic at the southwestern margin of NCC were controlled by a series of NE–SW extension deep faults just existed in Mesoproterozoic Changcheng System and Jixian System. According to the drilling well data, the Changchang System includes several various thickness volcanic rocks, and the stratigraphic sequence and lithological combination are similar to the Yanliao Rift. During the sedimentation from Longjiayuan Formation to Duguan Formation, the water got deeper revealed by the content of Ce element gradually decreasing. However, the content of Ce element unusually increases during the steady subsidence of the Mesoproterozoic basin, while the Xunjiansi Formation sedimented. The deposition of tephra or hydrothermal might contribute a lot to the increase of the Ce element's content. Besides that, numerous soft‐sediment deformation structures developed in carbonate rocks of Mesoproterozoic Xunjiansi Formation at the south‐western margin of NCC. What's more, the Xunjiansi Formation with soft‐sediment deformation structures can be regarded as a marker bed for the comparison with the Wumishan Formation in Yanliao Rift. Besides that, there is a set of residual sandstone conformably covered the dolomite of Mesoproterozoic Fengjiawan Formation. It corresponds with Xiamaling Formation of Building System in Yanliao Rift System based on the stratigraphic sequence and relative sedimentary time limited by the youngest zircon U–Pb age peak 1,511.1 ± 10 Ma (n = 7) and single zircon U–Pb age 1,436 ± 28 Ma. Therefore, the south‐western part of NCC have high similarity of stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary framework with Yanliao Rift. Moreover, the development of volcanic rocks in Changcheng System, soft‐sediment deformation structures, and Ce abnormal increasing in Xunjiansi Formation might suggest that there developed an active Mesoproterozoic Rift in the south‐western part of the NCC similar to Yanliao Rift. Generally, the south‐western part of NCC share similar tectonic background with Yanliao Rift.
Genome “Surgery”?
Authors: Klein Marnie
Published: April 2018

When Kai Kupferschmidt writes about CRISPR‐based gene editing in German, he faces an obstacle: there's no exact translation for “editing” that has the same connotations as it has in English. Instead, as he explained last fall at The Hastings Center's preconference symposium on new genetic technologies at the World Conference of Science Journalists, he draws on a variety of phrases, including “genome surgery,” which conveys precision in Kupferschmidt's assessment, and “gene scissors,” which communicates CRISPR's mechanistic nature. But in any language, explaining CRISPR is difficult. It's a challenge I face at The Hastings Center, where I write about biotechnology for a public audience.
Separation of trait and state in stuttering
Authors: Connally Emily L , Ward David , Pliatsikas Christos , Finnegan Sarah , Jenkinson Mark , Boyles Rowan , Watkins Kate E
Published: April 2018

Stuttering is a disorder in which the smooth flow of speech is interrupted. People who stutter show structural and functional abnormalities in the speech and motor system. It is unclear whether functional differences reflect general traits of the disorder or are specifically related to the dysfluent speech state. We used a hierarchical approach to separate state and trait effects within stuttering. We collected sparse‐sampled functional MRI during two overt speech tasks (sentence reading and picture description) in 17 people who stutter and 16 fluent controls. Separate analyses identified indicators of: (1) general traits of people who stutter; (2) frequency of dysfluent speech states in subgroups of people who stutter; and (3) the differences between fluent and dysfluent states in people who stutter. We found that reduced activation of left auditory cortex, inferior frontal cortex bilaterally, and medial cerebellum were general traits that distinguished fluent speech in people who stutter from that of controls. The stuttering subgroup with higher frequency of dysfluent states during scanning (n = 9) had reduced activation in the right subcortical grey matter, left temporo‐occipital cortex, the cingulate cortex, and medial parieto‐occipital cortex relative to the subgroup who were more fluent (n = 8). Finally, during dysfluent states relative to fluent ones, there was greater activation of inferior frontal and premotor cortex extending into the frontal operculum, bilaterally. The above differences were seen across both tasks. Subcortical state effects differed according to the task. Overall, our data emphasise the independence of trait and state effects in stuttering.
Epidemiology, outcome, and risk factors for infectious complications in myelofibrosis patients receiving ruxolitinib: A multicenter study on 446 patients
Authors: Polverelli Nicola , Palumbo Giuseppe A. , Binotto Gianni , Abruzzese Elisabetta , Benevolo Giulia , Bergamaschi Micaela , Tieghi Alessia , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Breccia Massimo , Catani Lucia , Tiribelli Mario , D'Adda Mariella , Sgherza Nicola , Isidori Alessandro , Cavazzini Francesco , Martino Bruno , Latagliata Roberto , Crugnola Monica , Heidel Florian , Bosi Costanza , Ibatici Adalberto , Soci Francesco , Penna Domenico , Scaffidi Luigi , Aversa Franco , Lemoli Roberto M. , Vitolo Umberto , Cuneo Antonio , Russo Domenico , Cavo Michele , Vianelli Nicola , Palandri Francesca
Published: April 2018

Infections represent one of the major concerns regarding the utilization of ruxolitinib (RUX) in patients with myelofibrosis. With the aim to investigate epidemiology, outcome and risk factors for infections in RUX‐exposed patients, we collected clinical and laboratory data of 446 myelofibrosis patients treated with RUX between June 2011 and November 2016 in 23 European Hematology Centers. After a median RUX exposure of 23.5 months (range, 1‐56), 123 patients (28%) experienced 161 infectious events (grades 3‐4 32%, fatal 9%), for an incidence rate of 17 cases per 100 pts/y. The rate of infections tended to decrease over time: 14% of patients developed the first infection within 6 months, 5% between 6 and 12 months, 3.7% between 12 and 18 months, 3.4% between 18 and 24 months, and 7.9% thereafter (P < .0001). Respiratory tract infections were more frequently observed (81 events, 50%), and bacteria were the most frequent etiological agents (68.9%). However, also viral (14.9%) and fungal infections (2.5%) were observed. In multivariate analysis, previous infectious event (HR 2.54; 95% CI, 1.51‐4.28; P = .0005) and high international prognostic score system category (IPSS) (HR 1.53; 95% CI, 1.07‐2.20; P = .021) significantly correlated with higher infectious risk. On the contrary, spleen reduction ≥50% from baseline after 3 months of treatment (P = .02) was associated with better infection‐free survival. Taken together, these findings reinforce the concept of disease severity as the most important risk factor for infections, and describe, for the first time, that a positive therapeutic effect in reducing splenomegaly may also reduce subsequent infectious complications.
Toward an ontology‐driven blockchain design for supply‐chain provenance
Authors: Kim Henry M. , Laskowski Marek
Published: April 2018

An interesting research problem in our age of Big Data is that of determining provenance. Granular evaluation of provenance of physical goods (e.g., tracking ingredients of a pharmaceutical or demonstrating authenticity of luxury goods) has often not been possible with today's items that are produced and transported in complex, interorganizational, often internationally spanning supply chains. Recent adoptions of the Internet of Things and blockchain technologies give promise at better supply‐chain provenance. We are particularly interested in the blockchain, as many favored use cases of blockchain are for provenance tracking. We are also interested in applying ontologies, as there has been some work done on knowledge provenance, traceability, and food provenance using ontologies. In this paper, we make a case for why ontologies can contribute to blockchain design. To support this case, we analyze a traceability ontology and translate some of its representations to smart contracts that execute a provenance trace and enforce traceability constraints on the Ethereum blockchain platform.
Impact of wedelolactone in the anti‐glycation and anti‐diabetic activity in experimental diabetic animals
Authors: Shahab Uzma , Faisal Mohammad , Alatar Abdulrahman A. , Ahmad Saheem
Published: April 2018

The glycation reaction is the addition of free carbonyl group of reducing sugar to the free amino groups of proteins, lipoproteins and nucleic acids which results in the formation of an Amadori product which may ultimately lead to the generation of advanced glycation products (AGEs). The impact of AGEs on proteins consequently generates free radicals, “a key player” for the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Gel electrophoresis was carried out to see the visual changes taking place as a result of the glycation reaction. In this study, the anti‐glycation and anti‐diabetic effect of wedelolactone (WED) was seen both in vitro and in vivo. WED reverted various biochemical markers in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats along‐with the improvements in the oxidative stress markers. It also decreased the levels of the glycated serum protein and fasting blood glucose. Broadly, WED not only inhibited glycation in vitro but also proved to be an effective in vivo anti‐glycating agent. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(6):547–552, 2018
Pages From the Past
Authors: Mercer Kenneth L.
Published: April 2018

To begin with, Abel Wolman was a sound practitioner and a true visionary in the areas of water, sanitation, and public health, and there are many reasons AWWA's most prestigious academic scholarship bears his name. In a 1937 paper, Wolman reviews then‐recent (~1936) activities and progress on water issues in the United States ‐ issues that remain around the world still and that the water profession will likely wrestle with far beyond 2017. One can read many modern narratives in Wolman's descriptions of the past, from calls for better monitoring and data analysis to the need to improve financial policies and all‐around coordination. Still, it's hard to reconcile that 80 years have passed, and even with the best efforts of Wolman and all water professionals from then to now, many of these same issues confront us today. Perhaps this reflects the ongoing need to catch up to social, technological, and regulatory evolution, but regardless, water professionals will certainly enjoy and appreciate Wolman's skill at weaving reason and respect for facts into his goals for progress.