bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presence of early stage cancer does not impair the early protein metabolic response to major surgery
Authors: Engelen Mariëlle P.K.J. , Klimberg V. Suzanne , Allasia Arianna , Deutz Nicolaas EP
Published: January 2017

Background

Combined bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction is a common major surgical procedure in women with breast cancer and in those with a family history of breast cancer. As this large surgical procedure induces muscle protein loss, a preserved anabolic response to nutrition is warranted for optimal recovery. It is unclear whether the presence of early stage cancer negatively affects the protein metabolic response to major surgery as this would mandate perioperative nutritional support.

Methods

In nine women with early stage (Stage II) breast malignancy and nine healthy women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer undergoing the same large surgical procedure, we examined whether surgery influences the catabolic response to overnight fasting and the anabolic response to nutrition differently. Prior to and within 24 h after combined bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, whole body protein synthesis and breakdown rates were assessed after overnight fasting and after meal intake by stable isotope methodology to enable the calculation of net protein catabolism in the post‐absorptive state and net protein anabolic response to a meal.

Results

Major surgery resulted in an up‐regulation of post‐absorptive protein synthesis and breakdown rates (P < 0.001) and lower net protein catabolism (P < 0.05) and was associated with insulin resistance and increased systemic inflammation (P < 0.01). Net anabolic response to the meal was reduced after surgery (P < 0.05) but higher in cancer (P < 0.05) indicative of a more preserved meal efficiency. The significant relationship between net protein anabolism and the amount of amino acids available in the circulation (R2 = 0.85, P < 0.001) was independent of the presence of non‐cachectic early stage breast cancer or surgery.

Conclusions

The presence of early stage breast cancer does not enhance the normal catabolic response to major surgery or further attenuates the anabolic response to meal intake within 24 h after major surgery in patients with non‐cachectic breast cancer. This indicates that the acute anabolic potential to conventional feeding is maintained in non‐cachectic early stage breast cancer after major surgery.
Three months of Western diet induces small intestinal mucosa alteration in TLR KO mice
Authors: Sardi Claudia , Luchini Patrizia , Emanuelli Andrea , Giannoni Amedeo , Martini Elisa , Manara Lucia M , Sfondrini Lucia , Kallikourdis Marinos , Sommariva Michele , Rumio Cristiano
Published: January 2017

Several studies support the role of Western‐style diet (WD) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Toll‐like receptors/NOD‐like receptors (TLRs/NLRs) are important to maintain a healthy epithelium as well as inducing inflammation. Given that dietary factors influence IBD development, that epithelial dysfunction is thought to be involved in initiating intestinal inflammation and that TLR‐NLR are involved in maintenance of the functionality of intestinal epithelium as well as in regulating inflammation, we decided to examine the role of TLR signals in the triggering events that lead to alteration of the small intestinal epithelium associated to consumption of WD. C57BL/6J mice deficient for TLR2, 4, 9, or NOD2 and wild‐type (WT) were fed a WD or a standard diet for 3 months. The effects of WD on small intestinal samples were evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. After 3 months, WD modifies the morphology and the organization of the small intestine in TLR9 KO mice compared with WT mice and the others TLRs. The most interesting change involved the expression of proliferative and differentiation markers of WNT signaling, Ki67 and FzD5. Mice deficient in TLR2, 4, and NOD2 have a significant reduction in the proliferative cell numbers but do not show any signs of histological alterations. Our results suggest that TLR9 is an important protective factor in intestinal epithelial homeostasis and provide new insights into an unrecognized role of TLR9 signaling in the small intestinal mucosa dysfunction associated with WD.
Alternative with a Future
Authors: Raykis Oleg
Published: January 2017

If you are looking for Susanna Friedel & Klaus Stolberg: Femtosecond Laser Micro Milling Using Special Trepanning Optics, Laser Tech. J. 14 (2), April 2017, pp. 24–27, please click here: 10.1002/latj.201700010.

The threat of a ban on hard chrome plating of metal components from the beginning of September 2017 in Europe has led to the development of new coating technologies and systems. Thermal spraying, which is already an established industrial process scores with its high flexibility, but for many applications, the quality of the created protected coatings remains insufficient. A real alternative for hard chrome plating is extreme high‐speed laser metal deposition, which was developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, ILT, with components from Laserline.
Polyelectrolyte Oil‐Core Nanocarriers for Localized and Sustained Delivery of Daunorubicin to Colon Carcinoma MC38 Cells: The Case of Polysaccharide Multilayer Film in Relation to PEG‐ylated Shell
Authors: Bazylińska Urszula , Pietkiewicz Jadwiga , Rossowska Joanna , Chodaczek Grzegorz , Gamian Andrzej , Wilk Kazimiera A.
Published: January 2017

The authors examine properties of daunorubicin (DNR)‐loaded oil‐core multilayer nanocapsules prepared via layer‐by‐layer approach with different polyelectrolyte (PE) coatings such as a standard one (containing polysodium 4‐styrenesulphonate/poly(diallyldimethyl‐ammonium) chloride) and a polysaccharide‐based shell (dextran/chitosan), in regard to the outer layer of poly‐l‐glutamic acid (PGA) grafted with polyethylene glycol (PGA‐g‐PEG). The nanocarriers are obtained on a cationic nanoemulsion template (stabilized by dicephalic‐type surfactant, N,N‐bis[3,30‐(trimethylammonio)propyl]‐dodecanamide dimethylsulfate) and layered with the PE shell of different thicknesses resulting in average size of 150 nm in diameter (as shown by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and cryogenic‐transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy). The nanocapsules demonstrate efficient DNR encapsulation and its sustained release under physiological conditions or in the attendance of human serum albumin. The biocompatibility studies using colon carcinoma MC38 and macrophage P388D1 cell lines as well as human erythrocytes reveal that surface charge and outer PE layer type determine nanocarrier features that control their biological activity: protein adsorption, cellular internalization and localization, induction of apoptosis, and hemolytic activity. The investigations indicate that polysaccharide‐coated nanocapsules present a considerable potential for application as efficient DNR delivery systems in chemotherapy of colon cancer as an alternative to nanocarriers with PEG‐ylated shell.

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Design and Fabrication of Fibrous Nanomaterials Using Pull Spinning
Authors: Deravi Leila F. , Sinatra Nina R. , Chantre Christophe O. , Nesmith Alexander P. , Yuan Hongyan , Deravi Sahm K. , Goss Josue A. , MacQueen Luke A. , Badrossamy Mohammad R. , Gonzalez Grant M. , Phillips Michael D. , Parker Kevin Kit
Published: January 2017

The assembly of natural and synthetic polymers into fibrous nanomaterials has applications ranging from textiles, tissue engineering, photonics, and catalysis. However, rapid manufacturing of these materials is challenging, as the state of the art in nanofiber assembly remains limited by factors such as solution polarity, production rate, applied electric fields, or temperature. Here, the design and development of a rapid nanofiber manufacturing system termed pull spinning is described. Pull spinning is compact and portable, consisting of a high‐speed rotating bristle that dips into a polymer or protein reservoir and pulls a droplet from solution into a nanofiber. When multiple layers of nanofibers are collected, they form a nonwoven network whose composition, orientation, and function can be adapted to multiple applications. The capability of pull spinning to function as a rapid, point‐of‐use fiber manufacturing platform is demonstrated for both muscle tissue engineering and textile design.

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Discordance in selected designee for return of genomic findings in the event of participant death and estate executor
Authors: Goodman Jessie L. , Amendola Laura M. , Horike‐Pyne Martha , Trinidad Susan B. , Fullerton Stephanie M. , Burke Wylie , Jarvik Gail P.
Published: January 2017

Background

Legal and ethical questions arise regarding disseminating genetic research results to family members in the event of a research participant's death; failure to return or return to legal next of kin or estate executor may not reflect participant desires. We sought to determine participant preferences for whether and to whom they would like their data released in the case of their death prior to receiving genomic results, focusing on whether the person selected was also their estate executor.

Methods

The University of Washington NEXT Medicine Study of the Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research program previously reported participant preferences regarding designating an individual to receive genomic results in the event of death, including whether they want results shared, and if so, with what person. Participants were also asked whether this designee is executor of their will or estate.

Results

To date, 61 individuals were asked about the concordance of their study designee and legal representative: 42 (69%) reported having a will or estate plan and of these, 14 (33%) chose someone other than their executor to receive their results. For the 14 who chose someone other than their estate executor to receive genetic results, 12 (86%) chose a family member, typically a biological relative, as their designee. Those with a different genomic designee than their executor were less likely to be partnered (P = 0.0024). For those partnered participants without an estate plan, spouses were not always chosen for return of genomic results.

Conclusion

For one‐third of our participants, the individual deemed most appropriate by the participant to receive their genomic results was not the executor. In the absence of an explicit designation, HIPAA may prohibit access to genomic results to persons other than the executor; hence asking for designation at the time of study enrollment (or initiation of clinical testing) is important.
Software platform for simulation of a prototype proton CT scanner
Authors: Giacometti Valentina , Bashkirov Vladimir A. , Piersimoni Pierluigi , Guatelli Susanna , Plautz Tia E. , Sadrozinski Hartmut F.‐W. , Johnson Robert P. , Zatserklyaniy Andriy , Tessonnier Thomas , Parodi Katia , Rosenfeld Anatoly B. , Schulte Reinhard W.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Proton computed tomography (pCT) is a promising imaging technique to substitute or at least complement x‐ray CT for more accurate proton therapy treatment planning as it allows calculating directly proton relative stopping power from proton energy loss measurements. A proton CT scanner with a silicon‐based particle tracking system and a five‐stage scintillating energy detector has been completed. In parallel a modular software platform was developed to characterize the performance of the proposed pCT.

Method

The modular pCT software platform consists of (1) a Geant4‐based simulation modeling the Loma Linda proton therapy beam line and the prototype proton CT scanner, (2) water equivalent path length (WEPL) calibration of the scintillating energy detector, and (3) image reconstruction algorithm for the reconstruction of the relative stopping power (RSP) of the scanned object. In this work, each component of the modular pCT software platform is described and validated with respect to experimental data and benchmarked against theoretical predictions. In particular, the RSP reconstruction was validated with both experimental scans, water column measurements, and theoretical calculations.

Results

The results show that the pCT software platform accurately reproduces the performance of the existing prototype pCT scanner with a RSP agreement between experimental and simulated values to better than 1.5%.

Conclusions

The validated platform is a versatile tool for clinical proton CT performance and application studies in a virtual setting. The platform is flexible and can be modified to simulate not yet existing versions of pCT scanners and higher proton energies than those currently clinically available.
Highly sensitive detection of E2 activity in ubiquitination using an artificial RING finger
Authors: Miyamoto Kazuhide , Sumida Miho , Yuasa‐Sunagawa Mayumi , Saito Kazuki
Published: January 2017

The ubiquitin‐conjugating (E2) enzymes of protein ubiquitination are associated with various diseases such as leukemia, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Rapid and accurate detection of E2 enzymatic activities remains poor. Here, we described the detection of E2 activity on a signal accumulation ISFET biosensor (AMIS sensor) using an artificial RING finger (ARF). The use of ARF enables the simplified detection of E2 activity without a substrate. The high‐sensitivity quantitative detection of E2 activities was demonstrated via real‐time monitoring over a response range of femtomolar to micromolar concentrations. Furthermore, the monitoring of E2 activities was successfully achieved using human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells following treatment with the anticancer drug bortezomib, which allowed the assessment of the pathological conditions. This strategy is extremely simple and convenient, and the present detection could be widely applied to specific E2s for various types of cancers. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reliability Estimation for Accelerated Life Tests Based on a Cox Proportional Hazard Model with Error Effect
Authors: Rodríguez‐Borbón Manuel Iván , Rodríguez‐Medina Manuel Arnoldo , Rodríguez‐Picón Luis Alberto , Alvarado‐Iniesta Alejandro , Sha Naijun
Published: January 2017

In this paper, a Cox proportional hazard model with error effect applied on the study of an accelerated life test is investigated. Statistical inference under Bayesian methods by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques is performed in order to estimate the parameters involved in the model and predict reliability in an accelerated life testing. The proposed model is applied to the analysis of the knock sensor failure time data in which some observations in the data are censored. The failure times at a constant stress level are assumed to be from a Weibull distribution. The analysis of the failure time data from an accelerated life test is used for the posterior estimation of parameters and prediction of the reliability function as well as the comparisons with the classical results from the maximum likelihood estimation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive fault‐tolerant spacecraft attitude control using a novel integral terminal sliding mode
Authors: Gui Haichao , Vukovich George
Published: January 2017

The attitude tracking of a rigid spacecraft is approached in the presence of uncertain inertias, unknown disturbances, and sudden actuator faults. First, a novel integral terminal sliding mode (ITSM) is designed such that the sliding motion realizes the action of a quaternion‐based nonlinear proportional‐derivative controller. More precisely, on the ITSM, the attitude dynamics behave equivalently to an uncertainty‐free system, and finite‐time convergence of the tracking error is achieved almost globally. A basic ITSM controller is then designed to ensure the ITSM from onset when an upper bound on the system uncertainties is known. Further, to remove this requirement, adaptive techniques are employed to compensate for the uncertainties, and the resultant adaptive ITSM controller stabilizes the system states to a small neighborhood around the sliding surface in finite time. The proposed schemes avoid the singularity intrinsic to terminal sliding mode‐based controllers and the unwinding phenomenon associated with some quaternion‐based controllers. Numerical examples demonstrate the advantageous features of the proposed algorithm. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Daylighting Design Strategies on Social Sustainability Through the Built Environment
Authors: Zarghami Esmaeil , Fatourehchi Dorsa , Karamloo Mohammad
Published: January 2017

Despite the recent trends toward sustainable architecture, the concept of social sustainability has not been practically addressed through design strategies. This paper aims to address this disparity through an investigation of daylighting design strategies and situate social sustainability aspects related to the built environment in Iranian traditional four‐season courtyard houses in a hot and arid region. The methods of the investigation are based on a qualitative and quantitative approach to infuse theories of social sustainability aspects into practice. Results show that daylighting design strategies in these houses were implemented based on a human‐centered design with a careful attention to social sustainability aspects in the built environment context. Findings can be considered in designing contemporary housing with a similar cultural and climatic response. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
An image edge based approach for image password encryption
Authors: Sreelaja N. K. , Sreeja N. K.
Published: January 2017

Authentication plays a major role in ensuring the security of the system by allowing only the authorized user. The traditional authentication system of using text‐based passwords has many flaws in the aspects of usability and security issues. Hence, graphical passwords, which consist of clicking or dragging activities on the pictures rather than typing textual characters, were introduced to overcome this problem. However, it is found that these graphical passwords are susceptible to brute force and dictionary attack methods. To overcome this drawback, images can be used as password replacing alphanumeric and graphical passwords. The challenge lies in encrypting the image password and storing it in the database. An image edge password encryption (IEPE) algorithm is proposed to encrypt the image passwords based on its edge values. Experimental results are shown to prove that encrypted image passwords using IEPE algorithm requires a less internal storage space when compared with the existing password encryption techniques. It is also shown that IEPE algorithm scales better when compared with the existing text‐based and graphical password authentication methods. Also, IEPE algorithm is shown to resist various password cryptanalytic attacks. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Citizen science and community‐based rain monitoring initiatives: an interdisciplinary approach across sociology and water science
Authors: Tipaldo Giuseppe , Allamano Paola
Published: January 2017

Why do people engage in citizen science projects? The aim of this contribution is to explore the social mechanisms that push nonexperts (i.e., citizens) to invest energy, time, and (sometimes) money in collaborative initiatives on the ground of scientific research. Some relevant examples from the domain of community‐based rain measuring are scrutinized, merging the views of a water scientist and a social scientist. After briefly discussing the limits of outdated approaches to science‐technology‐society issues, social identity theory and new media mechanisms are analyzed as key variables to understand what is new in today's science coming across citizenship. A discussion on the importance of accounting for the uncertainty inherent with the observations coming from crowdsourcing initiatives, possibly the most challenging side effect of what we call Citizen Science 2.0, closes the paper. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1200. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1200

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Methods

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented
XAFS structural characterization of Cu vapour derived catalysts supported on poly‐4‐vinylpyridine and carbon
Authors: Balerna Antonella , Evangelisti Claudio , Tiozzo Cristina
Published: January 2017

The use of supported metallic nanoparticles (NPs) is fundamental for the development of new catalysts with high activity and selectivity. For this reason, the choice of a suitable support, the selection of metal precursors and the preparation methods become quite important. In the present work, we show the structural effects induced on metal vapour synthesis (MVS) derived Cu NPs by different carbon‐based supports such as poly‐4‐vinylpyridine (PVPy) and carbon and how these effects can affect their catalytic activities in Huisgen azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC). The influence of the two supports on the structure of the Cu NPs was studied using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. As shown by XAFS analysis, Cu NPs, immobilized on PVPy, resulted in a Cu(I) oxidized phase while the ones on carbon were in a Cu(II) phase. The structural effects induced by the different supports determined a completely different catalytic behaviour of the two catalytic systems in a model CuAAC reaction: the PVPy‐supported Cu system was active and re‐usable whereas the analogous carbon‐based system was almost inactive. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and X‐ray Crystallography of Two Lead(II) Decahydro‐closo‐Decaborate Hydrates
Authors: Zimmermann Lucas W. , Kleeberg Fabian M. , Schleid Thomas
Published: January 2017

The reaction of Pb[CO3] with an aqueous solution of (H3O)2[B10H10] in an equimolar ratio leads to two lead(II) decahydro‐closo‐decaborate hydrates both as triclinic, pale yellow single crystals. The water‐rich compound with the formula [Pb(H2O)3]2Pb[B10H10]3·5.5H2O crystallizes in the space group P1 (a = 711.72(4), b = 1243.14(8), c = 2064.83(12) pm, α = 81.806(3), β = 83.795(3), γ = 80.909(3)°) with Z = 2. The compound with the lower water content, [Pb(H2O)3]Pb[B10H10]2·1.5H2O, also crystallizes in P1 (a = 718.46(4), b = 1288.75(8), c = 1279.91(8) pm, α = 70.145(3), β = 75.976(3), γ = 80.324(3)°) with Z = 2. Both structures can be described as layered arrangements and contain one Pb2+ cation each, which is only coordinated by the hydridic hydrogen atoms of the hydroborate anions. All the others are primarily surrounded by three water molecules in a non‐planar fashion and additional hydrogen atoms of [B10H10]2– anions. The non‐lead‐bonded crystal water molecules in both structures are all connected via hydrogen bonds to the water molecules, which coordinate the Pb2+ cations, as well as via non‐classical hydrogen bonds to the cluster anions and reside between the layers. The [B10H10]2– anions show only slight distortions from their ideal shape as bicapped square antiprisms.
Phase Equilibria in the System CuO‐NiO‐P4O10 and Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Characterization of the New Copper Nickel Oxide Phosphate Cu3NiO(PO4)2
Authors: Weimann Iren , Feller Jörg , Žák Zdirad
Published: January 2017

The system CuO‐NiO‐P4O10 was investigated using a solid state reaction between CuO, NiO, and (NH4)2HPO4 in quartz crucibles at 900 °C. The powder samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, TG/DTA, electrochemical measurements, IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Single crystals of a new quaternary phase Cu3NiO(PO4)2 were achieved by cooling the melted compound in a sealed, evacuated quartz ampoule. Cu3NiO(PO4)2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n (no 14) with a = 8.2288(2) Å, b = 9.8773(2) Å, c = 8.2777(3) Å, β = 107.82(2)°, Z = 4. The three‐dimensional framework consists of distorted tetragonal pyramides [Cu1O5], distorted planar squares [Cu2O4], octahedra [Cu3O6], and [NiO6] and [PO4] tetrahedra. The TG‐DTA of the new phase showed an incongruent melting at 1055 °C. The open circuit voltage of this material was measured to determine the electrochemical properties. The measurement revealed an initial capacity of 236 Ah·g–1 and a voltage plateau at 2.05 V. Furthermore, it was possible to identify the phase equilibria and to obtain the phase diagram at 900 °C.
Two Pairs of Homochiral Coordination Polymers with Helices Based on Semi‐rigid Lactic Acid Ligands
Authors: Xu Zhong‐Xuan , Ma Yu‐Lu , Liu Yang , Zhao Hua‐Jun
Published: January 2017

Utilizing semirigid lactic acid derivatives (R)‐H2CBA and (S)‐H2CBA as chiral ligands, two pair of homochiral coordination polymers formulated as [Zn((R)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)]·H2O (1‐D), [Zn((S)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)]·H2O (1‐L), [Co((R)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)]·H2O (2‐D) and [Co((S)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)]·H2O (2‐L) were prepared under solvothermal reaction condition. Single X‐ray diffraction study reveals that all the complexes are comprised of three kinds of helical chains, which are constructed by corresponding metal ions, CBA2– ligands, and/or 1,4‐DIB ligands. Moreover, some physical characteristics, such as PXRD, thermal stabilities, solid‐state circular dichroism (CD), luminescent and magnetic properties are also investigated.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Fluorescent and Antioxidation Properties of Cerium(III) and Europium(III) Complexes with Bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)‐3‐oxapentane‐1,5‐diamine
Authors: Tang Xia , Shi Xinkui , Xu Yuling , Shen Kesheng , Mao Shanshan , Wu Huilu
Published: January 2017

Two aliphatic ether Schiff base lanthanide complexes (Ln = Eu, Ce) with bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)‐3‐oxapentane‐1,5‐diamine (Bod), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. [Eu(Bod)(NO3)3] (1) is a discrete mononuclear species and [Ce(Bod)(NO3)3DMF]∞ (2) exhibits an inorganic coordination polymer. In the two complexes, the metal ions both are ten‐coordinated and the geometric structure around the LnIII atom can be described as distorted hexadecahedron. Under excitation at room temperature, the red shift in the fluorescence band of the ligand in the complexes compared with that of the free ligand can be attributed to coordination of the rare earth ions to the ligand. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of the two complexes were investigated. The results demonstrated that the complexes have better scavenging activity than both the ligand and the usual antioxidants on the hydroxyl and superoxide radicals.
A program analysis framework for
tccp
based on abstract interpretation
Authors: Comini Marco , Gallardo María-del-Mar , Titolo Laura , Villanueva Alicia
Published: January 2017

The timed concurrent constraint language (
tccp
) is a timed extension of the concurrent constraint paradigm.
tccp
was defined to model reactive systems, where infinite behaviors arise naturally. In previous works, a semantic framework and abstract diagnosis method for the language have been defined. On the basis of that semantic framework, this paper proposes an abstract semantics that, together with a widening operator, is suitable for the definition of different analyses for
tccp
programs. The abstract semantics is correct and can be represented as a finite graph where each node represents a hypothetical (abstract) computational step of the program. The widening operator allows us to guarantee the convergence of the abstract fixpoint computation.
Genetic and Epigenetic Intra‐tumour Heterogeneity in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Jones Huw Geraint , Jenkins Gareth , Williams Namor , Griffiths Paul , Chambers Phil , Beynon John , Harris Dean
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, with pathologically similar cancers having completely different responses to treatment and patient survival. Intra‐tumour heterogeneity (defined as distinct morphological and phenotypic differences) has recently been demonstrated to be an important factor in the development and behaviour of cancer cells and can be used to determine response to anticancer therapy.

Method

Patients with resected CRC had DNA extracted from eight defined tumour areas which were analysed for two genetic mutations (BRAF and KRAS) and one epigenetic trait (CpG island methylator phenotype/CIMP). Normal adjacent tissue was studied as control.

Results

Twelve patients with CRC were included. Intra‐tumoural heterogeneity for KRAS mutation was seen in 2 patients (17%). There was no statistical evidence of CIMP status heterogeneity (p = 0.85), but 6 of the 12 patients (50%) demonstrated at least one heterogeneous area within the tumour.

Discussion

Intra‐tumoural heterogeneity for both genetic and epigenetic factors in CRC is more prevalent than previously thought in Stage II and Stage III CRC. This study provides new insight into epigenetic heterogeneity of CRC and supports the development of a more targeted biopsy strategy to support expansion of personalised treatment.
Intercostal Trocars Enable Easier Laparoscopic Resection of Liver Tumors in Segments 7 and 8
Authors: Hirokawa Fumitoshi , Hayashi Michihiro , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Shimizu Tetsunosuke , Inoue Yoshihiro , Uchiyama Kazuhisa
Published: January 2017

Background

Laparoscopic resection of posterosuperior (PS) tumors of the liver is more difficult than that of anterolateral (AL) tumors, owing to the narrow surgical field in the PS location. In this retrospective cohort study, our aim was to determine if port insertion through the intercostal space would lead to improved outcomes for laparoscopic resection of tumors in PS liver segments 7 and 8.

Method

Between January 2006 and December 2015, 153 patients underwent laparoscopic resection of solitary liver tumors at Osaka Medical College Hospital. Of these, 107 patients had AL lesions, and 46 had PS lesions. Of the 46 patients with a PS lesion, 23 underwent an abdominal‐only approach, and 23 underwent the intercostal trocar approach. Multivariate analyses were performed to investigate outcomes.

Results

Conventional abdominal‐only laparoscopic resection of PS liver tumors resulted in prolonged surgical time (P = 0.031), increased bleeding (P = 0.012), and a higher open conversion rate (P = 0.022) compared with AL tumors. Among patients with PS tumors, the open conversion rate was significantly higher for those treated with the abdominal‐only approach than with the intercostal trocar approach (P = 0.047). Appropriate surgical margins were obtained equally using the intercostal trocar approach (P = 0.648). There was no significant difference in occurrence of complications between the abdominal‐only group and the intercostal trocar group.

Conclusion

Using the intercostal trocar approach for PS liver lesions is a safe and effective method, which significantly reduced the open conversion rate compared with the conventional abdominal‐only approach.
Efficient production of free fatty acids from ionic liquid-based acid- or enzyme-catalyzed bamboo hydrolysate
Authors: Mi Le , Qin Dandan , Cheng Jie , Wang Dan , Li Sha , Wei Xuetuan
Published: January 2017

Two engineered Escherichia coli strains, DQ101 (MG1655 fadD−)/pDQTES and DQ101 (MG1655 fadD−)/pDQTESZ were constructed to investigate the free fatty acid production using ionic liquid-based acid- or enzyme-catalyzed bamboo hydrolysate as carbon source in this study. The plasmid, pDQTES, carrying an acyl-ACP thioesterase ‘TesA of E. coli in pTrc99A was constructed firstly, and then (3R)-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase was ligated after the TesA to give the plasmid pDQTESZ. These two strains exhibited efficient fatty acid production when glucose was used as the sole carbon source, with a final concentration of 2.45 and 3.32 g/L, respectively. The free fatty acid production of the two strains on xylose is not as efficient as that on glucose, which was 2.32 and 2.96 g/L, respectively. For mixed sugars, DQ101 (MG1655 fadD−)-based strains utilized glucose and pentose sequentially under the carbon catabolite repression (CCR) regulation. The highest total FFAs concentration from the mixed sugar culture reached 2.81 g/L by DQ101 (MG1655 fadD−)/pDQTESZ. Furthermore, when ionic liquid-based enzyme-catalyzed bamboo hydrolysate was used as the carbon source, the strain DQ101 (MG1655 fadD−)/pDQTESZ could produce 1.23 g/L FFAs with a yield of 0.13 g/g, and while it just produced 0.65 g/L free fatty acid with the ionic liquid-based acid-catalyzed bamboo hydrolysate as the feedstock. The results suggested that enzymatic catalyzed bamboo hydrolysate with ionic liquid pretreatment could serve as an efficient feedstock for free fatty acid production.
Age of onset of hypertension and risk of dementia in the oldest‐old: The 90+ Study
Authors: Corrada María M. , Hayden Kathleen M. , Paganini-Hill Annlia , Bullain Szofia S. , DeMoss Jaime , Aguirre Colette , Brookmeyer Ron , Kawas Claudia H.
Published: January 2017

Introduction

We investigated the association between age of onset of hypertension and dementia risk in an oldest‐old cohort.

Methods

Participants are fromThe 90+ Study, a population‐based longitudinal study of people aged 90+ who are survivors from the Leisure World Cohort Study. We estimated hypertension onset age using self‐reported information from The 90+ Study and Leisure World Cohort Study, collected about 20 years earlier. A total of 559 participants without dementia were followed every 6 months for up to 10 years.

Results

A total of 224 participants developed dementia during follow‐up (mean = 2.8 years). Compared with those without hypertension, participants whose hypertension onset age was 80 to 89 years had a lower dementia risk (hazard ratio = 0.58,P = .04) and participants with an onset age of 90+ years had the lowest risk (hazard ratio = 0.37,P = .004).

Discussion

Developing hypertension at older ages may protect against dementia. Understanding the mechanisms for this lower risk is important for determining ways to prevent dementia in the very elderly.
CONTINUOUS-TIME SEMI-MARKOV INFERENCE OF BIOMETRIC LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH A LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PORTFOLIO
Authors: Biessy Guillaume
Published: January 2017

Unlike the mortality risk on which actuaries have been working for more than a century, the long-term care (LTC) risk is relatively new and as of today hardly mastered. Semi-Markov processes have been identified as an adequate tool to study this risk. Nevertheless, access to data is limited and the associated literature still scarce. Insurers mainly use discrete time methods directly inspired from the study of mortality in order to build experience tables. Those methods however are not perfectly suited for the study of competing risk situations. This article provides a theoretical framework to estimate biometric laws associated with a LTC insurance portfolio. The presented method relies on a continuous-time semi-Markov model with three states: autonomy, disability and death. The process describing the state of disability is defined through its transition intensities. We provide a formula to infer the mortality of autonomous people from the mortality of the whole portfolio, on which we have more reliable knowledge. We then propose a parametric expression for the remaining intensities of the model. In particular, incidence in LTC is described by a logistic formula. Under the assumption that the disabled population is a mixture of two latent populations with respect to the category of pathology that caused LTC, we show that the resulting intensity of mortality in LTC takes a very peculiar form and depends on time spent in the LTC state. Estimation of parameters relies on the maximum likelihood method. Our parametric approach, while inducing model uncertainty, eliminates issues related to segmentation in age categories, smoothing or extrapolation at higher ages and thus proves very convenient for the practitioner. Finally, we provide an application using data from a real LTC insurance portfolio.
Innovations for Tomorrow: Summary of the 2016 Disaster Health Education Symposium
Authors: Gulley Kelly , Strauss-Riggs Kandra , Kirsch Thomas D. , Goolsby Craig
Published: January 2017

In an effort to enhance education, training, and learning in the disaster health community, the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH) gathered experts from around the nation in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 8, 2016, for the 2016 Disaster Health Education Symposium: Innovations for Tomorrow. This article summarizes key themes presented during the disaster health symposium including innovations in the following areas: training and education that saves lives, practice, teaching, sharing knowledge, and our communities. This summary article provides thematic content for those unable to attend. Please visit http://ncdmph.usuhs.edu/ for more information. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:160–162)
Atrial septal defect with right-to-left shunt in the absence of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Manuel Devi A. , Ghosh Gopal C. , Alex Anoop G.
Published: January 2017

We describe the case of a 27-year-old gentleman who developed late-onset clubbing and cyanosis. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a 27-mm ostium secundum atrial septal defect and a large, floppy Eustachian valve directing right atrial blood to the left side of the heart.
THE (UN)INTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
Authors: Sewell Abigail A.
Published: January 2017

Recent immigration and migration patterns have altered the ethnoracial composition of Alameda County, California. Sociopolitical leaders have struggled to adjust to these changes. In an effort to facilitate limited English speakers’ access to critical municipal services, Oakland—the largest municipal in Alameda County—passed an Equal Access to Services Ordinance on May 8, 2001, which is a groundbreaking language access legislation for the City of Oakland’s public administration. Using data from the 2000 Census and the 2005–2011 American Community Survey, this study examines the impact of bilingual employment policies on the ethnoracial segmentation of Alameda County workers. Logistic regression reveals that bilingual employment policies have reorganized both targeted (i.e., public contact) and non-targeted occupations within the local government public administration sector. Specifically, Spanish/Chinese bilingual speakers made gains in the public administration sector (the intended effects), while Black monolingual English speakers experienced losses (the unintended effects). The representation of Black monolingual English speakers in public contact jobs within the local government public administration sector declined by as much as 18 percentage points after the implementation of the nation’s first municipal-level bilingual employment policy. The impact of bilingual employment policies on the East Bay’s Black/Brown relations and African American’s hold on low-skilled jobs in service industries is examined.
Impacts of chemical gradients on microbial community structure
Authors: Chen Jianwei , Hanke Anna , Tegetmeyer Halina E , Kattelmann Ines , Sharma Ritin , Hamann Emmo , Hargesheimer Theresa , Kraft Beate , Lenk Sabine , Geelhoed Jeanine S , Hettich Robert L , Strous Marc
Published: January 2017

Succession of redox processes is sometimes assumed to define a basic microbial community structure for ecosystems with oxygen gradients. In this paradigm, aerobic respiration, denitrification, fermentation and sulfate reduction proceed in a thermodynamically determined order, known as the ‘redox tower’. Here, we investigated whether redox sorting of microbial processes explains microbial community structure at low-oxygen concentrations. We subjected a diverse microbial community sampled from a coastal marine sediment to 100 days of tidal cycling in a laboratory chemostat. Oxygen gradients (both in space and time) led to the assembly of a microbial community dominated by populations that each performed aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in parallel. This was shown by metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and stable isotope incubations. Effective oxygen consumption combined with the formation of microaggregates sustained the activity of oxygen-sensitive anaerobic enzymes, leading to braiding of unsorted redox processes, within and between populations. Analyses of available metagenomic data sets indicated that the same ecological strategies might also be successful in some natural ecosystems.
Contribution of classical end-joining to PTEN inactivation in p53-mediated glioblastoma formation and drug-resistant survival
Authors: Kang Youn-Jung , Balter Barbara , Csizmadia Eva , Haas Brian , Sharma Himanshu , Bronson Roderick , Yan Catherine T.
Published: January 2017

DNA repair gene defects are found in virtually all human glioblastomas, but the genetic evidence for a direct role remains lacking. Here we demonstrate that combined inactivation of the XRCC4 non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair gene and p53 efficiently induces brain tumours with hallmark characteristics of human proneural/classical glioblastoma. The murine tumours exhibit PTEN loss of function instigated by reduced PTEN mRNA, and increased phosphorylated inactivation and stability as a consequence of aberrantly elevated CK2 provoked by p53 ablation and irrevocably deregulated by NHEJ inactivation. This results in DNA damage-resistant cytoplasmic PTEN and CK2 expression, and the attenuation of DNA repair genes. CK2 inhibition restores PTEN nuclear distribution and DNA repair activities and impairs tumour but not normal cell survival. These observations demonstrate that NHEJ contributes to p53-mediated glioblastoma suppression, and reveal a crucial role for PTEN in the early DNA damage signalling cascade, the inhibition of which promotes tumorigenicity and drug-resistant survival.
Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling
Authors: Tschirhart Tanya , Kim Eunkyoung , McKay Ryan , Ueda Hana , Wu Hsuan-Chen , Pottash Alex Eli , Zargar Amin , Negrete Alejandro , Shiloach Joseph , Payne Gregory F. , Bentley William E.
Published: January 2017

The ability to interconvert information between electronic and ionic modalities has transformed our ability to record and actuate biological function. Synthetic biology offers the potential to expand communication ‘bandwidth’ by using biomolecules and providing electrochemical access to redox-based cell signals and behaviours. While engineered cells have transmitted molecular information to electronic devices, the potential for bidirectional communication stands largely untapped. Here we present a simple electrogenetic device that uses redox biomolecules to carry electronic information to engineered bacterial cells in order to control transcription from a simple synthetic gene circuit. Electronic actuation of the native transcriptional regulator SoxR and transcription from the PsoxS promoter allows cell response that is quick, reversible and dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the imposed electronic signals. Further, induction of bacterial motility and population based cell-to-cell communication demonstrates the versatility of our approach and potential to drive intricate biological behaviours.
Specific and Sensitive Isothermal Electrochemical Biosensor for Plant Pathogen DNA Detection with Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles as Probes
Authors: Lau Han Yih , Wu Haoqi , Wee Eugene J. H. , Trau Matt , Wang Yuling , Botella Jose R.
Published: January 2017

Developing quick and sensitive molecular diagnostics for plant pathogen detection is challenging. Herein, a nanoparticle based electrochemical biosensor was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of plant pathogen DNA on disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. This 60 min assay relied on the rapid isothermal amplification of target pathogen DNA sequences by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) followed by gold nanoparticle-based electrochemical assessment with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Our method was 10,000 times more sensitive than conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/gel electrophoresis and could readily identify P. syringae infected plant samples even before the disease symptoms were visible. On the basis of the speed, sensitivity, simplicity and portability of the approach, we believe the method has potential as a rapid disease management solution for applications in agriculture diagnostics.
Describing polyhedral tilings and higher dimensional polytopes by sequence of their two-dimensional components
Authors: Nishio Kengo , Miyazaki Takehide
Published: January 2017

Polyhedral tilings are often used to represent structures such as atoms in materials, grains in crystals, foams, galaxies in the universe, etc. In the previous paper, we have developed a theory to convert a way of how polyhedra are arranged to form a polyhedral tiling into a codeword (series of numbers) from which the original structure can be recovered. The previous theory is based on the idea of forming a polyhedral tiling by gluing together polyhedra face to face. In this paper, we show that the codeword contains redundant digits not needed for recovering the original structure, and develop a theory to reduce the redundancy. For this purpose, instead of polyhedra, we regard two-dimensional regions shared by faces of adjacent polyhedra as building blocks of a polyhedral tiling. Using the present method, the same information is represented by a shorter codeword whose length is reduced by up to the half of the original one. Shorter codewords are easier to handle for both humans and computers, and thus more useful to describe polyhedral tilings. By generalizing the idea of assembling two-dimensional components to higher dimensional polytopes, we develop a unified theory to represent polyhedral tilings and polytopes of different dimensions in the same light.
Rich structure in the correlation matrix spectra in non-equilibrium steady states
Authors: Biswas Soham , Leyvraz Francois , Monroy Castillero Paulino , Seligman Thomas H.
Published: January 2017

It has been shown that, if a model displays long-range (power-law) spatial correlations, its equal-time correlation matrix will also have a power law tail in the distribution of its high-lying eigenvalues. The purpose of this paper is to show that the converse is generally incorrect: a power-law tail in the high-lying eigenvalues of the correlation matrix may exist even in the absence of equal-time power law correlations in the initial model. We may therefore view the study of the eigenvalue distribution of the correlation matrix as a more powerful tool than the study of spatial Correlations, one which may in fact uncover structure, that would otherwise not be apparent. Specifically, we show that in the Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process, whereas there are no clearly visible correlations in the steady state, the eigenvalues of its correlation matrix exhibit a rich structure which we describe in detail.