bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reusing tissue paper mill effluent water as corrugated paper mill intake water: Case study of a new clean production measure
Authors: Tao Jinsong , Long Xiangbao , Li Zijian , Ying Gaoxiang
Published: September 2017

To relief the water shortage crisis in China, the Chinese government has initiated a series of clean production (CP) measures to reduce the freshwater consumption and wastewater discharge from paper industry. In this study, a new CP technology was introduced in the paper industry to reuse tissue paper mill effluent water as intake water of corrugated paper mill. The feasibility and impact of the new CP technology was investigated in three different scales, laboratory experiments, pilot‐scale testing, and long‐term implementation. Results show that the water quality of treated tissue paper mill effluent water is competitive with that of freshwater and some water quality indexes are even better, indicating that treated tissue paper mill effluent water is a suitable alternative to replace the freshwater as intake water for the corrugated paper mill. By reusing tissue paper mill effluent water as intake water of corrugated paper mill, most physical properties of different corrugated paper layers are improved or similar as those by using freshwater as intake water in all different scale experiments. Moreover, the new CP technology significantly reduced the freshwater consumption for the corrugated paper mill, eliminated the wastewater discharged from the tissue paper mill, and at the same time, lowered the operation cost for both paper mills in terms of freshwater consumption and wastewater treatment cost. Total 216,000 RMB will be saved every year with an assumption that tissue paper mill provides annual daily average 2000 cubic meter of effluent water to corrugated paper mill every day. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 934–941, 2018
Drug therapy adherence and health outcomes in the presence of physician and patient unobserved heterogeneity
Authors: Atella Vincenzo , Belotti Federico , Depalo Domenico
Published: September 2017

Understanding the role that drug adherence has on health outcomes in everyday clinical practice is central for the policy maker. This is particularly true when patients suffer from asymptomatic chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and diabetes). By exploiting a unique longitudinal dataset at patient and physician level in Italy, we show that patients and physicians unobserved characteristics play an important role in determining health status, at least as important as drug adherence. Most importantly, we find that both adherence and prescribed treatment regimen effects are highly heterogeneous across physicians, highlighting their crucial role in shaping patients' health status.
The life‐saving effect of hospital proximity
Authors: Bertoli Paola , Grembi Veronica
Published: September 2017

We provide a new assessment of the effect of hospital proximity in an emergency situation—road‐traffic accidents—exploiting the exogenous variation in the proximity to cities that are legally allowed to have a hospital on the basis of their population size. Our instrumental variable results show that a one‐standard‐deviation increase in the distance to the nearest hospital (5 km) raises the fatality rate by 13.84% at the sample average. This figure is equal to 0.92 additional deaths per 100 accidents. We show that both ordinary least squares and difference‐in‐differences estimates, common approaches in the literature, provide a downward‐biased measure of the true effect of hospital proximity because they do not fully solve spatial sorting problems. Proximity is more important when the level of road safety is low, when emergency services are less responsive, and when the nearest hospital has relatively low quality standards.
Evaluating behavioral skills training to teach safe tackling skills to youth football players
Authors: Tai Sharayah S. M. , Miltenberger Raymond G.
Published: September 2017

With concussion rates on the rise for football players, there is a need for further research to increase skills and decrease injuries. Behavioral skills training is effective in teaching a wide variety of skills but has yet to be studied in the sports setting. We evaluated behavioral skills training to teach safer tackling techniques to six participants from a Pop Warner football team. Safer tackling techniques increased during practice and generalized to games for the two participants who had opportunities to tackle in games.
Improvements on the density of maximal 1‐planar graphs
Authors: Barát János , Tóth Géza
Published: September 2017

A graph is 1‐planar if it can be drawn in the plane such that each edge is crossed at most once. A graph, together with a 1‐planar drawing is called 1‐plane. A graph is maximal 1‐planar (1‐plane), if we cannot add any missing edge so that the resulting graph is still 1‐planar (1‐plane). Brandenburg et al. showed that there are maximal 1‐planar graphs with only edges and maximal 1‐plane graphs with only edges. On the other hand, they showed that a maximal 1‐planar graph has at least edges, and a maximal 1‐plane graph has at least edges. We improve both lower bounds to .
Effective factors on not using the N95 respirators among health care workers: Application of Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP)
Authors: Honarbakhsh Marzieh , Jahangiri Mehdi , Farhadi Payam
Published: September 2017

Using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) including N95 respirators is one of the most important ways to protect health care workers (HCWs) against respiratory hazards. The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize the problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators among HCWs in Iran. In this cross‐sectional study, problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators were identified and ranked by experts, using Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Additionally, HCWs were asked to give their opinions about obstacles in using N95 respirators in order to form an opinion. Of 15 important obstacles in using N95 respirators identified by Fuzzy Delphi method, 6 factors were entered into the FAHP model: heat around the face, inaccessibility to respirator, difficulty breathing, pressure on the nose, trouble communicating with patients and colleagues, and no one does it. Identified problems and obstacles in using N95 respirators could be controlled during the selection of respirators, as well as by training and administrative measures.
Distributed ledger technology: Applications and implications
Authors: Maull Roger , Godsiff Phil , Mulligan Catherine , Brown Alan , Kewell Beth
Published: September 2017

Distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) are rewriting conventional notions of business transacting, creating fresh opportunities for value creation and capture. Using qualitative interview data as a primary resource, the proposed five‐point model synthesizes these possibilities, demonstrating how they may lead to “disruptive innovation.” A further conceptual model is subsequently provided with a view to assisting future problem solving in the area.
Building the blockchain world: Technological commonwealth or just more of the same?
Authors: Manski Sarah
Published: September 2017

Blockchain technologies are reconfiguring the global economy, though often in contradictory ways. Blockchain technologies are disrupting key economic and financial sectors. Some blockchain applications allow for democratization of finance, services, agriculture, and governance, yet they may also deepen inequality and weaken democracy. We need new understandings of the countervailing tendencies of blockchain technologies and the contingencies that shape their deployment.
Novel chelant‐based washing method for soil contaminated with Pb and other metals: A pilot‐scale study
Authors: Lestan Domen
Published: September 2017

Remediation with chelants can restore metal‐contaminated soils for use as a natural resource. Calcareous soil from Meza Valley, Slovenia, and acidic soils from Arnoldstein, Austria, and Pribram, Czech Republic (with 1,028, 862, and 926 mg ∙Pb∙kg−1, respectively), were washed with 60–100 mmol EDTA per kilogram of air‐dried soil in series of 30 batches (50 kg soil batch−1). The approach involves a novel reaction that incorporates alkaline substitution, precipitation and adsorption of toxic metals on polysaccharides, and chelant acidic precipitation via 83% EDTA (on average) and complete process water recycling (no wastewater was generated). The pH gradient was imposed by Ca(OH)2 and H2SO4, and excess reagent was removed with the remediated soil as CaSO4, thereby preventing the salification of the recycled waters. Remediation removed 60%, 78%, and 71% of the Pb from the Meza, Arnoldstein, and Pribram soils, respectively, and reduced the Pb bioaccessibility levels in the simulated human gastrointestinal phase by 5.0, 7.7, and 8.1 times. Residual emissions (EDTA, toxic metals) were reduced with soil aging and remediated soil deposition on a reactive permeable barrier. The solid waste generated from the process totaled 10.8 kg tons−1 of the air‐dried soil, and the material/energy costs of remediation reached 20.6 € tons−1. These results demonstrate the robustness, efficiency, and safety of this novel approach.
Third‐generation bisphosphonates for cochlear otosclerosis stabilizes sensorineural hearing loss in long‐term follow‐up
Authors: Jan Taha A. , Remenschneider Aaron K. , Halpin Christopher , Seton Margaret , McKenna Michael J. , Quesnel Alicia M.
Published: September 2017

Objective

To assess long‐term hearing outcomes in patients treated with third‐generation bisphosphonates for otosclerosis‐related progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Study Design

Retrospective case series review

Methods

We performed a retrospective case series review of patients with otosclerosis and progressive SNHL. Patients were treated with either risedronate or zoledronate after a diagnosis of otosclerosis with a significant SNHL component. Bone conduction pure tone threshold averages (BC‐PTAs) and word recognition scores (WRS) before and after bisphosphonate administration in long‐term follow‐up was analyzed. Significant change in BC‐PTA was defined as greater than 10dB or between 4% and 18% in WRS based on binomial variance.

Results

Seven patients were identified and 14 ears met inclusion criteria. Three patients were female and the mean age was 48.3 ± 10.3 years. The mean duration between treatment with bisphosphonate administration and long‐term post‐treatment follow‐up audiometry was 87.6 ± 18.3 months, with a range of 61.6 to 109.1 months and median of 89.2 months. Analysis using BC‐PTA and WRS demonstrated that 11 ears remained stable while 2 improved and 1 worsened. No patient experienced any major complication as the result of bisphosphonate therapy.

Conclusion

Treatment with third‐generation bisphosphonates is associated with stability in otosclerosis‐related sensorineural hearing over 5‐ to 9‐year period. These results suggest that such medications may prevent the progression of SNHL in patients with otosclerosis.

Level of Evidence

4 (Case series).
Liver biopsy in assessment of extended criteria donors
Authors: Oliver Joseph B. , Machineni Praveena , Bongu Advaith , Patel Trusha , Nespral Joseph , Kadric Carie , Goldstein Michael J. , Lerner Harvey , Gee David , Hillbom Richard , Brown Lloyd , Washburn Kenneth , Koneru Baburao
Published: September 2017

The safety and liver utilization with prerecovery liver biopsy (PLB) in extended criteria liver donors are unclear. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 1323 brain death donors (PLB = 496) from 3 organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Outcomes were complications, preempted liver recovery (PLR), and liver transplantation (LT). Additional analyses included liver‐only and propensity score–matched multiorgan donor subgroups. PLB donors were older (57 versus 53 years; P < 0.001). Hepatitis C antibody positivity (14.3% versus 9.6%, P = 0.01) and liver‐only donors (42.6% versus 17.5%; P < 0.001) were more prevalent. The PLB cohort had fewer complications (31.9% versus 42.3%; P < 0.001). In the PLB cohort, PLR was significantly higher (odds ratio [OR], 3.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.42‐4.92) and LT lower (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52‐0.91). In liver‐only and propensity score–matched multiorgan donor subgroups, PLR was significantly higher (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.06‐2.94 and OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.37‐3.82, respectively) without a decrease in LT (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.43‐1.18 and OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.63‐1.33, respectively) in PLB subgroups. In conclusion, in extended criteria liver donors, PLB is safe and decreases futile liver recovery without decreasing LT. Increased use of PLB, especially in liver‐only donors, is likely to save costs to OPOs and transplant centers and improve efficiencies in organ allocation. Liver Transplantation 24 182–191 2018 AASLD.
Tear drop‐free anterolateral thigh flap, a versatile design for lower limb reconstruction after trauma
Authors: Razzano Sergio , Ramadan Sami , Figus Andrea , Haywood Richard M.
Published: September 2017

Background

In lower limb reconstruction the cosmetic outcome is influenced by the contouring of the flap at the recipient site as well as by the donor site closure. It is also important to minimise compression of the flap pedicle. We discuss the outcomes of a versatile ALT flap design that allows freedom in skin paddle tailoring without elongating the scar, reduction of the tension over the pedicle and improved cosmetic results of both donor and recipient sites.

Methods

Between January 2009 and October 2015, 27 patients underwent reconstruction using tear drop ALTs. The age ranged between 20 and 89 years. Seventeen were elective procedures and 10 were urgent. The locations of the defects were: knee (1 case), achilles tendon (2 cases), os calcis (1 case), lateral malleolus (1 case), fibula (3 cases), tibia (6 cases), tibia/fibula (5 cases), and ankle (8 cases). The sizes of the defects ranged from 4 × 3 cm to 9 × 7 cm.

Results

The size of the flap ranged from 6 × 4 cm to 11 × 7 cm. One venous congestion and a wound dehiscence occurred, no flap loss. Two defatting procedures were performed. The mean follow‐up was 16.44 months. Final outcomes showed good functional and cosmetic results in both the donor and recipient sites.

Conclusions

The tear drop ALT is a useful tool in lower limb reconstruction allowing to improve skin paddle tailoring without elongating the donor site scar. It allows minimal tension over the pedicle while optimizing the contour of both the donor and recipient sites.
Molecular sieves supported recyclable catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization using hydration approach
Authors: Aggarwal Ravi , Baskaran Durairaj
Published: September 2017

Molecular Sieves (MS) were used as a recyclable support for atom transfer radical polymerization. The catalyst complex, CuBr2/ligand was supported on hydrated MS and used for the polymerization of benzyl methacrylate at room temperature in anisole. The polymerization using CuBr2/PMDETA (pentamethyl diethyltetraamine) catalyst that is physically held by the hydration of MS exhibited moderate control and produced catalyst free polymers (<0.1 ppm) with narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.33). The polymerization occurred at the interface between the hydrated support and the solution containing initiator and monomer. The hydrated MS supported catalyst was recycled efficiently without a significant loss in activity. The polymerization proceeded in a “living”/controlled manner as was evident from first‐order time conversion plots. The split kinetics experiment affirmed that there was no propagation in the solution in the absence of the supported catalyst. The reaction order plot showed zero‐order dependence on the bulk initiator concentration in solution. The results of MS supported catalyst were compared to Na‐clay supported catalyst system and the improved results were attributed to high self‐diffusion coefficient and low diffusion activation energy of water on its surface. Published 2017.§ J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3875–3883
PAMAM Dendrimers Attached to Collagen via a Malondialdehyde Linker
Authors: Zaręba Magdalena , Uram Łukasz , Białońska Agata , Stompor Monika , Wołowiec Stanisław
Published: September 2017

Functionalization of polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) for use as macromolecular drug carriers with aldehydes was performed using aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal (AADA) and malondialdehyde (MDA). AADA was used to obtain low molecular weight product upon reaction with dimethyl succinate and PAMAM G‐0.5. The structure of succinate bis‐(dimethylacetal)acetamide was elucidated by X‐ray crystallography. This product, as well as the product of condensation of PAMAM G‐0.5 with AADA, were resistant to hydrolysis. MDA reacted withiso‐butylamine and polyamidoamine PAMAM G0 dendrimers to give 3‐[N‐(2‐methylpropyl)amino]prop‐2‐enal and PAMAM G0 with four arms ending with prop‐2‐enal groups. The compounds were characterized by NMR, MS and/or elemental analysis. PAMAM G3 was also converted to aldehyde‐terminated dendrimer with excess MDA, however, the product was water insoluble. The low molecular weight water soluble analogue prop‐2‐enal terminated PAMAM G0 dendrimer was tested for toxicity on normal human fibroblasts and glioblastoma cell cultures. The toxicity of prop‐2‐enal terminated PAMAM G0 was comparable with that of amine ending PAMAM G0. Finally, fluorescein‐labeled PAMAM G3 was covalently attached to a collagen scaffold via a MDA linker as demonstrated by confocal microcopy. This rapid method of covalent attachment of PAMAM‐drug conjugates to MDA‐activated collagen opens new pathways for delivery of drugs into tissue.
Nonlinear Optical Properties of the Hula Hoop [n]‐Cycloparaphenylenes and Their Halo Derivatives at Nd:YAG Laser Frequency
Authors: Seal Prasenjit
Published: September 2017

The present study aims to establish the role of halogen substituents in tuning the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of cycloparaphenylenes. We employed time dependent density functional theory as our prime investigating tool to estimate the frequency dependent components of first order hyperpolarizability tensors of these systems at neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser frequency. Our results indicate that pristine cycloparaphenylenes have high nonlinear optical properties which corroborates well with reported experimental findings and one can increase this nonlinearity by adding halogen to these species and tuning them as well. This tuning is of great significance as this will allow us to design and synthesize new compounds which have the strong potential to act as NLO materials. Our results also show functional dependence for the NLO tensor components while calculating the NLO properties for molecular systems. The basis set and the solvent effects, however, is not appreciable for the cycloparaphenylenes.
Improving a Redox Flow Battery Working under Realistic Conditions by Using of Graphene based Nanofluids
Authors: Lobato Justo , Mena Esperanza , Millán María
Published: September 2017

This work reports, for the first time, the behavior of a Redox Flow Battery using nanoparticles based on graphene in the vanadium based electrolytes to act as nanofluids and working under a solar profile radiation (realistic conditions) for renewable energy storage. It has been demonstrated that the use of graphene based nanofluids improves the performance of this energy storage system and enhances the durability of the redox flow battery.
Synthesis and Antitumoral Lung Carcinoma A549 and Antioxidant Activity Assays Of New Chiral β‐Aryl‐Chalcogenium Azide Compounds
Authors: Tabarelli Greice , Dornelles Luciano , Iglesias Bernardo A. , Gonçalves Débora Farina , Terra Stefanello Sílvio , Soares Félix A. A. , Piccoli Bruna Candia , D'Avila da Silva Fernanda , da Rocha João B. T. , Schultze Eduarda , Bonemann Bender Camila , Collares Tiago , Kömmling Seixas Fabiana , Peterle Marcos M. , Braga Antônio L. , Rodrigues Oscar E. D.
Published: September 2017

The synthesis of chiral azido organochalcogenium compounds prepared from inexpensive and commerciallyavailable α‐amino alcohols through diazo transfer reaction are disclosed. The products were obtained in good yields in a modulate synthetic route, affording an efficient methodology for preparing new chiral β‐aryl‐chalcogenium azide compounds. These compounds were evaluated for in vitro antitumoral lung carcinoma A549 as well as electrochemical and antioxidant assays. They presented prominent activities of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induction as well as antioxidant properties. Additionally, the toxicities in vivo for the most effective compounds were evaluated and no overt sign of toxicity was observed.
Immobilizing Multifunctional Fe2O3‐SnO2 Nanoparticles to Carbon Nanospheres: An Extremely Active and Selective Catalyst for Hydrogen Transfer Reaction
Authors: Qi Li , Li Yunong , Liu Lei , Zhou Junjie , Ai Yongjian , Tang Zhike , Wang Jingting , Bao Hongjie , Zhang Cheng , Liang Qionglin , Sun Hongbin , Niu Dun
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we have developed a new branch of multifunctional iron tin oxide composite as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of the nitroarenes. The iron‐tin bimetallic oxide nanoparticles anchored on the carrier of carbon nanospheres synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) were the active sites. And in the presence of the multi‐component catalyst C@Fe2O3‐SnO2, the nitroaromatics were quantitatively converted into aromatic amines with the hydrogen source of hydrazine hydrate. The synergy interaction between the two kinds of metallic oxides provided a certain enhancement for the catalytic activity of iron based catalyst. Moreover, these nanocatalysts could be collected through magnetic separation, and recycled for 10 times without any loss of catalytic activity. These results showed that the catalyst system possessed the superiority of wide application scope, safety, high efficiency and good chemoselectivity.
Discovery of Novel and Selective DNA Methyltransferase 1 Inhibitors by Pharmacophore and Docking‐Based Virtual Screening
Authors: Hassanzadeh Malihe , Kasymov Rustem , Mahernia Shabnam , Adib Mehdi , Emperle Max , Dukatz Michael , Bashtrykov Pavel , Jeltsch Albert , Amanlou Massoud
Published: September 2017

Abnormal DNA methylation has key roles in the development and progression of diseases including cancer. Mechanism based DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors (DNMTi) which inhibit all DNMTs, like 5‐azacytidine and decitabine, are in clinical use for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, selective inhibitors for specific DNMTs may improve therapy and would be very useful in basic research. Targeting the binding pocket of DNMT1 for the flipped target base, we employed pharmacophore modeling based on known nucleoside‐derived DNMTi followed by virtual screening of 500 compounds and docking studies for selection of potential DNMT1 inhibitors. DNMT inhibition assays with selected compounds led to the discovery of novel small molecule scaffolds with a high DNMT1 inhibitory potency. Compound 4b selectively inhibits DNMT1 with Ki in the low micromolar range while inhibition of DNMT3 enzymes is at least 50‐fold weaker. Analysis of the inhibitory mechanism revealed non‐competitive inhibition with the DNA and mixed with S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine in good agreement with the mode of action predicted from virtual screening.
The Role of Weak Interactions in Supramolecular Compounds: A Synthetic and Theoretical Study of Novel Elongated Cavitands
Authors: Kégl Tímea , Csekő György , Mikle Gábor , Takátsy Anikó , Kollár László , Kégl Tamás
Published: September 2017

A new resorcinol‐based tetraazidocavitand (2) has been prepared via substitution reaction started from the corresponding tetrabromocavitand (1). This tetraazidocavitand was used as a starting material for azide‐alkyne cycloaddition with different alkynes and this way four novel deepened cavitands have been synthesized under mild conditions. Molecular dynamics, semiempirical PM6 and DFT PBEPBE/6‐31G(d,p) studies have been carried out for these new triazole ring containing structures to reveal the exact geometry in solution, furthermore theoretical NMR chemical shift calculations were completed at B3LYP−D3/6‐31G(d,p) GIAO level in order to compare with the experimental NMR data. QTAIM analysis at B3LYP−D3/def2‐TZVP level was performed and NCI isosurfaces were generated to reveal the potential intramolecular weak interactions between the cavitand branches.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation in South Asia: Single Center Experience on Intermediate‐Term Outcomes
Authors: Dar Faisal S. , Bhatti Abu Bakar H. , Qureshi Ammal I. , Khan Nusrat Y. , Eswani Zahaan , Zia Haseeb H. , Khan Eitzaz U. , Khan Nasir A. , Rana Atif , Shah Najmul H. , Salih Mohammad , Nazer Rashid
Published: September 2017

Background

There is paucity of data on intermediate‐term post liver transplant outcomes from South Asia. The objective of this study was to determine survival outcomes in patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in a busy liver transplant center in Pakistan.

Methods

This study was a review of patients who underwent LDLT between 2012 and 2016. A total of 321 patients were included in this study. Early (within 90 days) and late (>90 days) morbidity and mortality was assessed. Estimated 1‐ and 4‐year survival was determined.

Results

Median age was 48 (18–73) years. Male to female ratio was 4.5:1. Out of total 346 complications, 184 (57.3%) patients developed 276 (79.7%) complications in early post‐transplant period, whereas there were 70 (21.3%) late complications. Most common early complication was pleural effusion in 46 (16.6%) patients. Biliary complications were the most common late complication and were seen in 31/70 (44.2%) patients. Overall 21.4% patients had a biliary complication. The 3‐month mortality was 14%. The estimated 1‐ and 4‐year OS for a MELD cutoff of 30 was 84.5 versus 72 and 80 versus 57% (P = 0.01). There was no donor mortality.

Conclusion

Acceptable intermediate‐term post‐transplant outcomes were achieved with LDLT. There is a need to improve outcomes in high‐MELD patients.
Variations in aggression and activity levels amongst squirrels inhabiting low and high density areas
Authors: Haigh Amy , O'Riordan Ruth , Butler Fidelma
Published: September 2017

Variation in an individual animal's behavioural traits has been observed in a wide range of species and is believed to have important fitness consequences. As part of a larger study, it was observed that squirrels occurred at different densities on a 315 ha island, and this subsequently led to variations in faecal cortisol metabolite levels. This study aimed to examine whether living at different densities would also lead to variations in activity and aggression levels and in their survival probability, breeding and body condition. In order to examine variations in activity and aggression, behavioural tests (open field test, mirror image stimulation, breath rates and struggle rate tests) were conducted on 32 individuals (15♀, 17♂), a total of 69 times. Activity in the wild was investigated through radio tracking. There was a significant correlation between the time a squirrel was active and in their aggressive behaviour during the behavioural tests, with more aggressive individuals also being more active. Squirrels in the low density area spent a greater proportion of time active and engaged in aggressive behaviour in the open field test but also moved further in the wild and had a lower breath rate and higher struggle rates. Squirrels in the high density area were the least aggressive, had a smaller home range and higher breath and lower struggle rates. However, this was found to have no effect on survival probability, breeding or body condition. These variations may be the result of sampling dispersing squirrels.
Sustainable Oxidative Cleavage of Vegetable Oils into Diacids by Organo‐Modified Molybdenum Oxide Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Ello Aimé Serge , Enferadi‐kerenkan Amir , Trokourey Albert , Do Trong‐On
Published: September 2017

Exploiting vegetable oils to produce industrially valuable diacids via an eco‐friendly process requires an efficient and recyclable catalyst. In this work, a novel catalytic system based on organo‐modified molybdenum trioxide was synthesized by a green hydrothermal method in one simple step, using Mo powder as precursor, hydrogen peroxide, and amphiphilic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetramethylammonium bromide (TMAB) as capping agents. The synthesized materials were first characterized by different techniques including XRD, SEM, TGA, and FT‐IR. Interestingly, various morphologies were obtained depending on the nature of the surfactants and synthetic conditions. The synthesized catalysts were employed in oxidative cleavage of oleic acid, the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid, to produce azelaic and pelargonic acids with a benign oxidant, H2O2. Excellent catalytic activities resulting in full conversion of initial oleic acid were obtained, particularly for CTAB‐capped molybdenum oxide (CTAB/Mo molar ratio of 1:3) that gave 83 and 68% yields of production of azelaic and pelargonic acids, respectively. These are the highest yields that have been obtained for this reaction by heterogeneous catalysts up to now. Moreover, the CTAB‐capped catalyst could be conveniently separated from the reaction mixture by simple centrifugation and reused without significant loss of activity up to at least four cycles.
Impaired self-agency inferences in schizophrenia: The role of cognitive capacity and causal reasoning style
Authors: Prikken M. , van der Weiden A. , Kahn R.S. , Aarts H. , van Haren N.E.M.
Published: September 2017

Background

The sense of self-agency, i.e., experiencing oneself as the cause of one's own actions, is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. Normally, inferences of self-agency are enhanced when actual outcomes match with pre-activated outcome information, where this pre-activation can result from explicitly set goals (i.e., goal-based route) or implicitly primed outcome information (i.e., prime-based route). Previous research suggests that patients show specific impairments in the prime-based route, implicating that they do not rely on matches between implicitly available outcome information and actual action-outcomes when inferring self-agency. The question remains: Why? Here, we examine whether neurocognitive functioning and self-serving bias (SSB) may explain abnormalities in patients’ agency inferences.

Methods

Thirty-six patients and 36 healthy controls performed a commonly used agency inference task to measure goal- and prime-based self-agency inferences. Neurocognitive functioning was assessed with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) and the SSB was assessed with the Internal Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire.

Results

Results showed a substantial smaller effect of primed outcome information on agency experiences in patients compared with healthy controls. Whereas patients and controls differed on BACS and marginally on SSB scores, these differences were not related to patients’ impairments in prime-based agency inferences.

Conclusions

Patients showed impairments in prime-based agency inferences, thereby replicating previous studies. This finding could not be explained by cognitive dysfunction or SSB. Results are discussed in the context of the recent surge to understand and examine deficits in agency experiences in schizophrenia.
MiR‐194 is involved in morphogenesis of spiral ganglion neurons in inner ear by rearranging actin cytoskeleton via targeting RhoB
Authors: Du Jintao , Zhang Xuemei , Cao Hui , Jiang Di , Wang Xianren , Zhou Wei , Chen Kaitian , Zhou Jiao , Jiang Hongyan , Ba Luo
Published: September 2017

Many microRNAs participate in the development, differentiation and function preservation of the embryonic and adult inner ear, but many details still need to be elucidated regarding the numerous microRNAs in the inner ear. Based on previous investigations on the microRNA profile in the inner ear, we confirmed that several microRNAs are expressed in the inner ear, and we detected the spatial expression of these microRNAs in the neonatal mouse inner ear. Then we focused on miR‐194 for its specific expression with a dynamic spatiotemporal pattern during inner ear development. Overexpression of miR‐194 in cultured spiral ganglion cells significantly affected the dendrites of differentiated neurons, with more branching and obviously dispersed nerve fibres. Furthermore, the cytoskeleton of cultured cells was markedly affected, as disordered actin filaments resulting from miR‐194 overexpression and enhanced filaments resulting from miR‐194 knockdown were observed. Together with the bioinformatic methods, the RT‐qPCR and western blot results showed that RhoB is a candidate target of miR‐194 in the morphogenesis of spiral ganglion neurons. Additionally, the double luciferase reporter system was used to identify RhoB as a novel target of miR‐194. Finally, the inhibition of RhoB activation by Clostridium difficile toxin B disturbed the organization of the actin filament, similar to the effects of miR‐194 overexpression. In summary, we investigated microRNA expression in the mouse inner ear, and demonstrated that miR‐194 is dynamically expressed during inner ear development; importantly, we found that miR‐194 affects neuron morphogenesis positively through Rho B‐mediated F‐actin rearrangement.
Spinal Implants can be Retained in Patients with Deep Spine Infection: A Cohort Study
Authors: Hey Hwee W.D. , Ng Li W.N. , Kumar Nishant , Lau Tze-Chun E. , Joseph Thambiah , Naresh Kumar , Leok-Lim Lau , Liu Ka-Po G. , Anupama Vasudevan , Dale Fisher , Hee-Kit Wong , Tambyah Paul A.
Published: September 2017

Background/Purpose

It is unclear whether implant removal is necessary when deep spine infection of spinal instrumentation occurs. This study compares mortality, relapse, and reoperation rates between such patients with and without removal of spine implants.

Methods

A total of 20 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics of the implant removal and nonremoval groups were compared. Outcome measures between groups were compared using multivariable logistic regression and predictors of each outcome identified.

Results

There were no significant differences in mortality, relapse, or reoperation rates between groups. Multiple vertebral level involvement was common (85%), and the L4 (30%) and L5 (35%) levels were most commonly involved. The majority of patients had osteomyelitis/spondylodiscitis (50%) and Staphylococcus aureus infections (60%). Thoracic spine infection was associated with relapse (odds ratio = 1.26) and reoperation (odds ratio = 1.101).

Conclusion

Implant removal is not always necessary in cases of deep spine infection as retention of implants is not associated with higher mortality, relapse, or reoperation rates.
A Systematic Review of Exercise Systematic Reviews in the Cancer Literature (2005‐2017)
Authors: Stout Nicole L. , Baima Jennifer , Swisher Anne K. , Winters‐Stone Kerri M. , Welsh Judith
Published: September 2017

Background

Evidence supports the benefits of exercise for patients with cancer; however, specific guidance for clinical decision making regarding exercise timing, frequency, duration, and intensity is lacking. Efforts are needed to optimize clinical recommendations for exercise in the cancer population.

Objectives

To aggregate information regarding the benefit of exercise through a systematic review of existing systematic reviews in the cancer exercise literature.

Data Sources

PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE.

Study Eligibility Criteria

Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of the impact of movement‐based exercise on the adult cancer population.

Methods

Two author teams reviewed 302 abstracts for inclusion with 93 selected for full‐text review. A total of 53 studies were analyzed. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) was used as a quality measure of the reviews. Information was extracted using the PICO format (ie, participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes). Descriptive findings are reported.

Results

Mean AMSTAR score = 7.66/11 (±2.04) suggests moderate quality of the systematic reviews. Exercise is beneficial before, during, and after cancer treatment, across all cancer types, and for a variety of cancer‐related impairments. Moderate‐to‐vigorous exercise is the best level of exercise intensity to improve physical function and mitigate cancer‐related impairments. Therapeutic exercises are beneficial to manage treatment side effects, may enhance tolerance to cancer treatments, and improve functional outcomes. Supervised exercise yielded superior benefits versus unsupervised. Serious adverse events were not common.

Limitations

Movement‐based exercise intervention outcomes are reported. No analysis of pooled effects was calculated across reviews due to significant heterogeneity within the systematic reviews. Findings do not consider exercise in advanced cancers or pediatric populations.

Conclusions

Exercise promotes significant improvements in clinical, functional, and in some populations, survival outcomes and can be recommended regardless of the type of cancer. Although generally safe, patients should be screened and appropriate precautions taken. Efforts to strengthen uniformity in clinical trial reporting, develop clinical practice guidelines, and integrate exercise and rehabilitation services into the cancer delivery system are needed.
Episodic deposition of Illinois Valley Peoria silt in association with Lake Michigan Lobe fluctuations during the last glacial maximum
Authors: Nash Thomas A. , Conroy Jessica L. , Grimley David A. , Guenthner William R. , Curry Ben Brandon
Published: September 2017

The chronology and cause of millennial depositional oscillations within last glacial loess of the Central Lowlands of the United States are uncertain. Here, we present a new age model that indicates the Peoria Silt along the Illinois River Valley accumulated episodically from ~28,500 to 16,000 cal yr BP, as the Lake Michigan Lobe margin fluctuated within northeastern Illinois. The age model indicates accelerated loess deposition coincident with regional glacial advances during the local last glacial maximum. A weakly developed paleosol, the Jules Geosol, represents a period of significantly slower deposition, from 23,700 to 22,000 cal yr BP. A gastropod assemblage-based reconstruction of mean July temperature shows temperatures 6–10°C cooler than modern during Peoria Silt deposition. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope values (δ18O and δ13C) of gastropod carbonate do not vary significantly across the pedostratigraphic boundary of the Jules Geosol, suggesting slower loess accumulation was a result of reduced glacial sediment supply rather than direct climatic factors. However, a decrease in δ18O values occurred between 26,000 and 24,000 cal yr BP, synchronous with the Lake Michigan Lobe’s southernmost advance. This δ18O decrease suggests a coupling of regional summer hydroclimate and ice lobe position during the late glacial period.
Molecular characterization and distribution of Plasmodium matutinum, a common avian malaria parasite
Authors: VALKIŪNAS GEDIMINAS , ILGŪNAS MIKAS , BUKAUSKAITĖ DOVILĖ , PALINAUSKAS VAIDAS , BERNOTIENĖ RASA , IEZHOVA TATJANA A.
Published: September 2017

Species of Plasmodium (Plasmodiidae, Haemosporida) are widespread and cause malaria, which can be severe in avian hosts. Molecular markers are essential to detect and identify parasites, but still absent for many avian malaria and related haemosporidian species. Here, we provide first molecular characterization of Plasmodium matutinum, a common agent of avian malaria. This parasite was isolated from a naturally infected thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia (Muscicapidae). Fragments of mitochondrial, apicoplast and nuclear genomes were obtained. Domestic canaries Serinus canaria were susceptible after inoculation of infected blood, and the long-lasting light parasitemia developed in two exposed birds. Clinical signs of illness were not reported. Illustrations of blood stages of P. matutinum (pLINN1) are given, and phylogenetic analysis identified the closely related avian Plasmodium species. The phylogeny based on partial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences suggests that this parasite is most closely related to Plasmodium tejerai (cyt b lineage pSPMAG01), a common malaria parasite of American birds. Both these parasites belong to subgenus Haemamoeba, and their blood stages are similar morphologically, particularly due to marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm in growing erythrocytic meronts. Molecular data show that transmission of P. matutinum (pLINN1) occurs broadly in the Holarctic, and the parasite likely is of cosmopolitan distribution. Passeriform birds and Culex mosquitoes are common hosts. This study provides first molecular markers for detection of P. matutinum.
Bank vole immunoheterogeneity may limit Nephropatia Epidemica emergence in a French non-endemic region
Authors: DUBOIS A. , CASTEL G. , MURRI S. , PULIDO C. , PONS J.-B. , BENOIT L. , LOISEAU A. , LAKHDAR L. , GALAN M. , MARIANNEAU P. , CHARBONNEL N.
Published: September 2017

Ecoevolutionary processes affecting hosts, vectors and pathogens are important drivers of zoonotic disease emergence. In this study, we focused on nephropathia epidemica (NE), which is caused by Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) whose natural reservoir is the bank vole,Myodes glareolus. We questioned the possibility of NE emergence in a French region that is considered to be NE-free but that is adjacent to a NE-endemic region. We first confirmed the epidemiology of these two regions and we demonstrated the absence of spatial barriers that could have limited dispersal, and consequently, the spread of PUUV into the NE-free region. We next tested whether regional immunoheterogeneity could impact PUUV chances to circulate and persist in the NE-free region. We showed that bank voles from the NE-free region were sensitive to experimental PUUV infection. We observed high levels of immunoheterogeneity between individuals and also between regions. Antiviral gene expression (TnfandMx2) reached higher levels in bank voles from the NE-free region. During experimental infections, anti-PUUV antibody production was higher in bank voles from the NE-endemic region. These results indicated a lower susceptibility to PUUV for bank voles from this NE-free region, which might limit PUUV persistence and therefore, the risk of NE.
Progressions of a New Language: Characterizing Explanation Development for Assessment With Young Language Learners
Authors: Bailey Alison L.
Published: September 2017

Few studies have detailed the emergence and growth of the oral language and discourse characteristics of school-age students at different grades and across time (Bailey, 2010; Hoff, 2013). Yet general education teachers and English language specialists need well-articulated, preferably empirically derived progressions of language learning to support their students’ oral language development, particularly with those students who are acquiring English as a new or second language. Explanation skills, which encompass the development of many different language and discourse features, were the focus of this study. The language learners whose elicited oral explanations were used to characterize the order of emergence of features were in kindergarten and third grade (5–6 and 8–9 years old). These students were acquiring English in school with predominantly Spanish as their first language. Development of explanations by a cohort of English monolingual or proficient students provides grade-specific comparison language trajectories. The results are placed within the context of a formative assessment framework in order to assist teachers and students in placing explanations at different phases of sophistication on the progressions. This facilitates charting development and identifying with greater specificity which language and discourse features might be effective targets of contingent instruction to promote students’ oral explanation abilities.
A Critical Review of Bilingual Education in the United States: From Basements and Pride to Boutiques and Profit
Authors: Flores Nelson , García Ofelia
Published: September 2017

In this article we connect the institutionalization of bilingual education to a post–Civil Rights racial formation that located the root of educational inequalities in the psychological condition of people of color in ways that obscured the structural barriers confronting communities of color. Within this context, bilingual education was institutionalized with the goal of instilling cultural pride in Latinx students in ways that would remediate their perceived linguistic deficiencies. This left bilingual educators struggling to develop affirmative spaces for Latinx children within a context where these students continued to be devalued by the broader school and societal context. More recent years have witnessed the dismantling of these affirmative spaces and their replacement with two-way immersion programs that seek to cater to White middle-class families. While these programs have offered new spaces for the affirmation of the bilingualism of Latinx children, they do little to address the power hierarchies between the low-income Latinx communities and White middle-class communities that are being served by these programs. We end with a call to situate struggles for bilingual education within broader efforts to combat the racialization of Latinx and other minoritized communities.
A Port City in Northeast China: Dengzhou in the Long Eighteenth Century
Authors: PO RONALD C.
Published: September 2017

If we were asked to recall a coastal city of early modern China, most of us would choose Shanghai, Canton, Xiamen, or Macau. These port cities became famous for facilitating trans-regional sea trade that linked the Qing Empire to the rest of the world. Attentive observers know that all of these cities are located on the Southeast China coast, by which we mean the coastal areas south of Shanghai. Taking Shanghai as the dividing line between the northeastern and southeastern coastlines, the port cities of the south are far more likely to be familiar to us than are those of the north. I consider this phenomenon (i.e. the focus on the coast of early modern China) to be a “Southeast China centrism.” And although we might all concede that some southeastern seaports were vital to transoceanic interactions, it is shortsighted to ignore the northern port cities and the role they played in connecting China with the maritime world. In this article I investigate the importance of Northeast China's port cities by focusing particular attention on the less familiar coastal seaport of Dengzhou. By detailing and examining the political and economic importance of this port city in the early modern period, I will show that Qing China's northeastern coast was no less important than the southeast. Even if China's northern port cities might not have been as economically vibrant as those in the south, we should not overlook their functions and histories. Indeed, they also attained unique patterns of political and economic development throughout the long eighteenth century.