bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of in situ stress and its influence on coalbed methane development: A case study in the eastern part of the southern Junggar Basin, NW China
Authors: Fu Haijiao , Yan Detian , Yang Shuguang , Wang Xiaoming , Zhang Zheng , Sun Mengdi
Published: November 2019

Based on 54 sets of well test data of 29 coalbed methane (CBM) wells, the distribution characteristic of in situ stress in the eastern part of the southern Junggar Basin and its control on permeability (K), reservoir pressure (Po), and gas content (G) were discussed systematically. The results show that three types of in situ stress regime exist and are converted corresponding to a certain depth, (1) <600 m is the strike‐slip fault regime (σH > σv > σh); (2) 600‐1050 m is the stress transition zone (σH ≈ σv > σh); and (3) >1050 m is the normal fault regime (σv > σH>σh). Regionally, with depths < 1050 m, stress regime also changes from west to east, that is, σH > σv > σh type in the western Miquan, σH ≈ σv > σh type in the middle Fukang, and σv > σH > σh type in the eastern Jimushaer, respectively. Controlled by stress regime and vertical belting, coal K shows a trend of “remarkably decreased, rebounded increase and greatly decreased,” and two decreasing stages (<600 m and > 1050 m) are mainly influenced by horizontal stress and vertical stress, respectively. Taking a burial depth of 1000‐1150 m as a boundary, the relationship between G and depth converts from “continually increasing” to “gradually decreasing,” which is in good agreement with the converted interface of stress regime from σH ≈ σv > σh type to σv > σH > σh type. Taking the converted interfaces of G (1000‐1150 m), K (800 m), and the prediction depth of the weathered zone (400 m) into consideration, CBM development potential in the study area can be divided into three grades, that is, (1) 400‐800 m (high K and medium G), (2) 800‐1150 m in Miquan and 800‐1000 m in Fukang (medium K and high G), and (3) >1150 m in Miquan and >1000 m in Fukang (low K and poor G). Overall, a key CBM development breakthrough will most likely be made in the study area within the scope of 600‐800 m due to the better G and higher K.
Aluminum‐based thermal storage system with solar collector using nanofluid
Authors: Kalbande Vednath P. , Walke Pramod V. , Shelke Rupesh
Published: November 2019

Metal and phase change material (PCM) is used for thermal storage system. Aluminum as a metal and erythritol as the PCM is a better option for the thermal storage. This thermal storage is charging with the help of solar energy through a solar collector. Parabolic trough solar collector is used to collect the solar energy. Evacuated tube was used to absorb solar radiation and soybean oil‐based nanofluid containing Al2O3 nanoparticles at volume concentration of 0.1% is filled in tube to transfer heat from absorber tube to thermal storage. Nanofluid was prepared with the help of ultrasonication. The heat transfer from the absorber to thermal storage through self‐circulation unit. Experimentation is carried out with and without nanofluid. Nanofluid of soybean oil and Al2O3 is enhanced the performance of solar collector. The thermal storage and absorber temperature is reached upto the 153°C and 178°C while using nanofluid. The discharging of PCM is carried out through experimentation. The PCM is filled in thermal storage, which changes its phase and stores the energy which can be used at night when solar energy is not available.
Epigenetic regulation of microglial phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase pathway involved in long‐term potentiation and synaptic plasticity in rats
Authors: Saw Genevieve , Krishna Kumar , Gupta Neelima , Soong Tuck Wah , Mallilankaraman Karthik , Sajikumar Sreedharan , Dheen S. Thameem
Published: November 2019

Microglia are the main form of immune defense in the central nervous system. Microglia express phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), which has been shown to play a significant role in synaptic plasticity in neurons and inflammation via microglia. This study shows that microglial PI3K is regulated epigenetically through histone modifications and posttranslationally through sumoylation and is involved in long‐term potentiation (LTP) by modulating the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has been shown to be involved in neuronal synaptic plasticity. Sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, upregulates PI3K expression, the phosphorylation of its downstream effectors, AKT and cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB), and the expression of BDNF in microglia, suggesting that BDNF secretion is regulated in microglia via epigenetic regulation of PI3K. Further, knockdown of SUMO1 in BV2 microglia results in a decrease in the expression of PI3K, the phosphorylation of AKT and CREB, as well as the expression of BDNF. These results suggest that microglial PI3K is epigenetically regulated by histone modifications and posttranslationally modified by sumoylation, leading to altered expression of BDNF. Whole‐cell voltage‐clamp showed the involvement of microglia in neuronal LTP, as selective ablation or disruption of microglia with clodronate in rat hippocampal slices abolished LTP. However, LTP was rescued when the same hippocampal slices were treated with active PI3K or BDNF, indicating that microglial PI3K/AKT signaling contributes to LTP and synaptic plasticity. Understanding the mechanisms by which microglial PI3K influences synapses provides insights into the ways it can modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity in learning and memory.
Comparing aversions to outcome inequality and social risk in health and income: An empirical analysis using hypothetical scenarios with losses
Authors: Abásolo Ignacio , Tsuchiya Aki
Published: November 2019

Evaluation of future social welfare may not only depend on the aggregate of individual prospects, but also on how the prospects are distributed across individuals. The latter in turn would depend on how people perceive inequality and risk at the collective level (or “social risk”). This paper examines distributional preferences regarding inequality in outcomes and social risk for health and income in the context of losses. Specifically, four kinds of aversions are compared, (a) outcome‐inequality aversion in health, (b) outcome‐inequality aversion in income, (c) social‐risk aversion in health, (d) and social‐risk aversion in income. Face‐to‐face interviews of a representative general public sample in Spain are undertaken using hypothetical scenarios involving losses in health or income across otherwise equal groups. Aversion parameters are compared assuming social welfare functions with constant relative or constant absolute aversion. We find that in both domains, outcome‐inequality aversion and social‐risk aversion are not the same; and that neither aversion is the same across the two domains. Outcome‐inequality aversion in income is the strongest, followed by social‐risk aversion in income and social‐risk aversion in health, and outcome‐inequality aversion in health coming last, where most of these are statistically significantly different from each other.
Pregenomic HBV RNA and Hepatitis B Core‐Related Antigen Predict Outcomes in Hepatitis B e Antigen–Negative Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Suppressed on Nucleos(T)ide Analogue Therapy
Authors: Carey Ivana , Gersch Jeffrey , Wang Bo , Moigboi Christiana , Kuhns Mary , Cloherty Gavin , Dusheiko Geoffrey , Agarwal Kosh
Published: November 2019

Background and Aims

A dichotomous separation of hepatitis B viral DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) concentrations occurs during the natural history and treatment of chronic hepatitis B. We have evaluated the ability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA and hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) as surrogates of silencing of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), to characterize this dissociation, and virological outcomes.

Approach and Results

Three cohorts of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative patients were studied: cohort A: 66 HBeAg‐negative patients on long‐term nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy; cohort B: 23 antibodies against hepatitis B e antigen (anti‐HBe)‐positive patients who stopped treatment; and Cohort C: 19 anti‐HBe‐positive patients on long‐term NA treatment who achieved HBsAg loss and in whom treatment was withdrawn. Concentrations of HBV serological/virological biomarkers (HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBcrAg, and HBV RNA) were measured in sequential samples at different time points on/off therapy. Cohort A: After 3 years of antiviral therapy, 33% and 30% had detectable HBcrAg and HBV RNA, respectively, despite all being HBV‐DNA negative. After 5 years’ therapy with NA, 27% and 14% had detectable HBcrAg and HBV RNA. Detectable HBcrAg and HBV RNA at the time of treatment withdrawal was only observed in those patients who developed a severe aminotransferase flare. Only those patients with HBV reactivation in cohort C had detectable HBV RNA at treatment withdrawal, but HBcrAg and HBV DNA were not detected.

Conclusions

HBcrAg and HBV RNA are sensitive biomarkers of continued transcription of cccDNA in HBeAg‐negative patients despite marked HBV‐DNA suppression by NA. These markers were predictors of severe alanine transaminase flares, after treatment withdrawal, and HBV‐DNA reactivation. Their measurement during the natural history of hepatitis B, and on treatment with current and new agents, could characterize residual HBV‐RNA transcription from cccDNA and assist drug development and disease management.
Out of pocket health expenditures in Turkey following introduction of co‐payments along with improved primary care services
Authors: Erus Burcay
Published: November 2019

In 2002, Turkey started to implement reforms in health care aiming to improve access and increase efficiency. Reforms increased health insurance coverage and resulted in higher number of outpatient and inpatient treatments at both public and private hospitals. Later, to change preference towards the use of secondary and tertiary care over primary care and rein in increasing health expenditures, a series of co‐payments were instituted along with an extension of primary care services through a family‐medicine system that provided free access to all. This work aims to measure the impact of these two simultaneous policy measures on out‐of‐pocket expenditures. We find that while contributory payments resulted in higher OOP health expenditures, especially for lower income households, the impact was small. We also observe that inability to consult a physician and to visit a hospital, especially for monetary reasons, was reduced after the policy change.
The use of evidence in decision making by hospital managers in Lebanon: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hilal Nadeen , Harb Sara , Jamal Diana , El‐Jardali Fadi
Published: November 2019

Background

Knowledge synthesis products have emerged as support agents for decision making in clinical practice and policy. However, their use for evidence‐informed decision making remains limited in health care management especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study assesses the use of evidence by middle and senior managers in Lebanese hospitals.

Methods

This multihospital cross‐sectional study used a self‐administered web survey of middle and senior managers. Hospitals were purposively selected, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results

Hospital participation rate was 25%, while adjusted managers' response rate was 44.8%. Prevalence of using evidence was 70%, while prevalence of evidence‐seeking behavior was 90%. Evidence was mainly used in design of policies, protocols, and procedures; nursing issues; or procurement decisions. Facilitators for evidence‐informed decision making included upper management support and organizational culture, whereas limited resources such as funding, time, and training hindered use of evidence.

Conclusions

Findings indicate that utilization of evidence was comparable with that of high‐income countries. Training and continuous education were crucial for advancing evidence‐informed decision making among hospital managers. However, neither the quality nor the sources of evidence used for decision making were assessed in this study. Future studies should assess the quality and sources of evidence utilized in decision making.
Mobile money use and social health insurance enrolment among rural dwellers outside the formal employment sector: Evidence from Kenya
Authors: Obadha Melvin , Colbourn Tim , Seal Andrew
Published: November 2019

Background

The study set out to explore whether mobile money use (mobile phone‐based financial services) increased the probability of rural dwellers outside the formal employment sector of being enrolled in Kenya's social health insurance, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Methods

We used data from the 2015 FinAccess Household Survey and analysed responses of 4282 rural individuals outside the formal employment sector. Probit and bivariate probit models were used and adjusted for mobile phone ownership, sex, age, age‐squared, education, wealth quintile, bank account use, informal group membership, occupation, and health shocks.

Results

We found that 16.26% (95% CI, 14.58% to 18.10%) of mobile money users had NHIF cover as compared with 2.44% (95% CI, 1.83% to 3.23%) of nonusers. Importantly, mobile money use increased the probability of being enrolled in NHIF by 4.6% (95% CI, 2.1% to 7.1%) after controlling for confounders. Access to mobile money was associated with reduced travel time and lower transport costs, which are likely to be key mechanisms for increasing NHIF enrolment.

Conclusion

By lowering transport costs and saving travel time, mobile money provides an easy means to pay social health insurance premiums thus incentivising its uptake among rural people outside of formal employment.
Motivations for capital controls and their effectiveness
Authors: Pandey Radhika , Pasricha Gurnain K. , Patnaik Ila , Shah Ajay
Published: November 2019

We assess the motivations for changing capital controls and their effectiveness in India, a country with the legal and administrative machinery to implement controls. We focus on the controls on foreign borrowing that can, in principle, be motivated by macroprudential concerns. We construct a fine‐grained dataset of capital control actions on foreign borrowing in India. Using event study methodology, we assess the factors that motivate these capital control actions. We find that capital controls are tightened after appreciation and eased after depreciation of the exchange rate. We also assess the impact of controls. The results suggest no impact of capital controls on most variables, including the currency.
Phosphate functionalization and enzymatic calcium mineralization synergistically enhance oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] hydrogel osteoconductivity for bone tissue engineering
Authors: George Matthew N. , Liu Xifeng , Miller Alan Lee , Xu Haocheng , Lu Lichun
Published: November 2019

A current approach in bone tissue engineering is the implantation of polymeric scaffolds that promote osteoblast attachment and growth as well as biomineralization. One promising polymer is oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] (OPF), a polyethylene glycol‐based material that is biocompatible, injectable, and biodegradable, but in its native form does not support robust bone cell attachment or growth. To address this issue, this study evaluated the osteoconductivity of bis[02‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (BP) functionalized OPF hydrogels (OPF‐BP) using MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblast cells, both before and after enzymatic mineralization with a calcium solution. The inclusion of negatively charged functional groups allowed for the tailored uptake and release of calcium, while also altering the mechanical properties and surface topography of the hydrogel surface. In cell culture, OPF‐BP hydrogels with 20 and 30% (w/w) BP optimized osteoblast attachment, proliferation, and differentiation after a 21‐day in vitro period. In addition, the OPF‐BP30 treatment, when mineralized with calcium, exhibited a 128% increase in osteocalcin expression when compared with the non‐mineralized treatment. These findings suggest that phosphate functionalization and enzymatic calcium mineralization can act synergistically to enhance the osteoconductivity of OPF hydrogels, making this processed material an attractive candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.
A metadynamics perspective on the reduction mechanism of the Pt(IV) asplatin prodrug
Authors: Ponte Fortuna , Piccini GiovanniMaria , Sicilia Emilia , Parrinello Michele
Published: November 2019

Enhanced sampling molecular dynamics has been used to model the reduction mechanism of the antitumoral Asplatin Pt(IV) complex, c,c,t‐[PtCl2(NH3)2(OH)(aspirin)] in the presence of l‐ascorbic acid as reducing agent. In order to overcome the timescale problem, characteristic of many chemical reactions, we enhanced the sampling of the free energy landscape using Metadynamics. To achieve such a goal, the selection of adequate collective variables is crucial for the application of the method. Recently, a new method called Multi‐Class Harmonic Linear Discriminant Analysis (MC‐HLDA) has been proposed as a tool for constructing collective variables (CVs) for complex chemical processes. The method reduces the dimensionality of the variable space by generating appropriate linear combinations of several relevant chemical descriptors. The aim of this work is to assess the ability and performance of this method in describing the fundamental features of complex chemical reactions such as the Asplatin reduction mechanism in a compact, simple, and physically transparent manner. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhancement of methane production from high solid anaerobic digestion of pretreated palm oil decanter cake using a modified solid inclined reactor
Authors: Eko Heryadi , Chaiprasert Pawinee
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

The potential of methane production from high solid anaerobic digestion (AD) of oil palm decanter cake (OPDC) in a laboratory‐scale modified solid inclined (MSI) reactor was investigated. The OPDC was pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW) before being fed to the MSI reactor which operated under high solid content (21% total solids, TS) with leachate recirculation once a day at ambient temperature. The result was compared to the non‐pretreated OPDC. The performance of the MSI reactor was evaluated in term of the percentages of solid reduction, methane production rate and yield including removal of organic solids (lignocelluloses and oil and grease). The process stability was also monitored.

RESULTS

Pretreatment of OPDC with LHW (OPDC‐P) influenced lignocellulosic materials by increasing decrystalline cellulose from 50.6 to 28.9% and partial solubilization by reduction of hemicellulose and lignin from 7.6 to 4.9 and 10.6 to 9.5%, respectively. It was found that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in OPDC‐P was increased from 28.5.9 to 62.95 g.L−1. The methane yield and rate of OPDC‐P from the anaerobic MSI reactor were as high as 411 L kg−1VSadded and 23.8 L d−1(respectively) within a short time of only 15 days compared to corresponding values for nonpretreated OPDC of 245 L kg−1VSadded and 4.9 L d−1 within 50 days. The MSI reactor had high stability within a pH range of 7–8 and a TVA:alkalinity ratio of 0.1–0.2.

CONCLUSION

The anaerobic MSI reactor was able to handle high solid content at 21% of OPDC with high performance and stability within a short incubation time. This reactor could be implemented and promoted to utilize solid waste in the palm oil industry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Stunting and growth velocity of adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: differential evolution for males and females. A multiregional analysis from the IeDEA global paediatric collaboration
Authors: Jesson Julie , Schomaker Michael , Malasteste Karen , Wati Dewi K , Kariminia Azar , Sylla Mariam , Kouadio Kouakou , Sawry Shobna , Mubiana‐Mbewe Mwangelwa , Ayaya Samuel , Vreeman Rachel , McGowan Catherine C , Yotebieng Marcel , Leroy Valériane , Davies Mary‐Ann ,   the IeDEA global cohort consortium
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Stunting is a key issue for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (APH) that needs to be better understood. As part of the IeDEA multiregional consortium, we described growth evolution during adolescence for APH on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods

We included data from sub‐Saharan Africa, the Asia‐Pacific, and the Caribbean, Central and South America regions collected between 2003 and 2016. Adolescents on ART, reporting perinatally acquired infection or entering HIV care before 10 years of age, with at least one height measurement between 10 and 16 years of age, and followed in care until at least 14 years of age were included. Characteristics at ART initiation and at 10 years of age were compared by sex. Correlates of growth defined by height‐for‐age z‐scores (HAZ) between ages 10 and 19 years were studied separately for males and females, using linear mixed models.

Results

Overall, 8737 APH were included, with 46% from Southern Africa. Median age at ART initiation was 8.1 years (interquartile range (IQR) 6.1 to 9.6), 50% were females, and 41% were stunted (HAZ<−2 SD) at ART initiation. Males and females did not differ by age and stunting at ART initiation, CD4 count over time or retention in care. At 10 years of age, 34% of males were stunted versus 39% of females (p < 0.001). Females had better subsequent growth, resulting in a higher prevalence of stunting for males compared to females by age 15 (48% vs. 25%) and 18 years (31% vs. 15%). In linear mixed models, older age at ART initiation and low CD4 count were associated with poor growth over time (p < 0.001). Those stunted at 10 years of age or at ART initiation had the greatest growth improvement during adolescence.

Conclusions

Prevalence of stunting is high among APH worldwide. Substantial sex‐based differences in growth evolution during adolescence were observed in this global cohort, which were not explained by differences in age of access to HIV care, degree of immunosuppression or region. Other factors influencing growth differences in APH, such as differences in pubertal development, should be better documented, to guide further research and inform interventions to optimize growth and health outcomes among APH.
Inborn errors of metabolite repair
Authors: Veiga‐da‐Cunha Maria , Van Schaftingen Emile , Bommer Guido T.
Published: November 2019

It is traditionally assumed that enzymes of intermediary metabolism are extremely specific and that this is sufficient to prevent the production of useless and/or toxic side‐products. Recent work indicates that this statement is not entirely correct. In reality, enzymes are not strictly specific, they often display weak side activities on intracellular metabolites (substrate promiscuity) that resemble their physiological substrate or slowly catalyse abnormal reactions on their physiological substrate (catalytic promiscuity). They thereby produce non‐classical metabolites that are not efficiently metabolised by conventional enzymes. In an increasing number of cases, metabolite repair enzymes are being discovered that serve to eliminate these non‐classical metabolites and prevent their accumulation. Metabolite repair enzymes also eliminate non‐classical metabolites that are formed through spontaneous (ie, not enzyme‐catalysed) reactions. Importantly, genetic deficiencies in several metabolite repair enzymes lead to ‘inborn errors of metabolite repair’, such as L‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria, D‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria, ‘ubiquitous glucose‐6‐phosphatase’ (G6PC3) deficiency, the neutropenia present in Glycogen Storage Disease type Ib or defects in the enzymes that repair the hydrated forms of NADH or NADPH. Metabolite repair defects may be difficult to identify as such, because the mutated enzymes are non‐classical enzymes that act on non‐classical metabolites, which in some cases accumulate only inside the cells, and at rather low, yet toxic, concentrations. It is therefore likely that many additional metabolite repair enzymes remain to be discovered and that many diseases of metabolite repair still await elucidation.
Binding mechanism of maltol with catalase investigated by spectroscopy, molecular docking, and enzyme activity assay
Authors: Huo Mengling , Zhao Lining , Wang Ting , Zong Wansong , Liu Rutao
Published: November 2019

Maltol is a flavor additive that is widely used in the daily diet of humans, and its biosafety attention is concomitantly increasing. Catalase (CAT) is an antioxidant enzyme to maintain homeostasis in the tissue's environment of human body and protect cells from oxidative damages. The adverse effects of maltol to CAT activity within mouse hepatocytes as well as the structural and functional changes of CAT on molecular level were investigated by multiple spectroscopy techniques, enzyme activity experiments, and molecular docking. Results suggested that when the maltol concentrations reached to 8 × 10−5 mol L−1, the viability of hepatocytes decreased to 93%, and CAT activity was stimulated by maltol to 111% than the control group after exposure for 24 hours. Changes in CAT activity on molecular level were consistent with those on cellular level. The fluorescence quenching of CAT by maltol was static with the forming of maltol‐CAT complex. Moreover, ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐visible) absorption, synchronous fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra reflected that the presence of maltol caused conformational change of CAT and made the CAT molecule skeleton loose and increased α‐helix of CAT. Maltol mainly bound with CAT through hydrogen bond, and binding site that is near the heme ring in the enzyme activity center did not interact with its main amino acid residues. This study explores the combination between maltol and CAT, providing references for evaluating health damages caused by maltol.
Task‐Specific Perturbation Training Improves the Recovery Stepping Responses by Women With Knee Osteoarthritis Following Laboratory‐Induced Trips
Authors: Foucher Kharma C. , Pater Mackenzie L. , Grabiner Mark D.
Published: November 2019

Trip‐specific training improves the kinematics of trip‐specific compensatory stepping response (CSR) in the laboratory and reduces prospectively measured trip‐related fall‐rate of middle age and older women. We examined whether one session of trip‐specific perturbation training could improve recovery step kinematics in women with knee osteoarthritis (OA), a condition known to increase fall risk. Seventeen women with self‐reported symptomatic knee OA (age 61.1 ± 7.7 years, body mass index [BMI] 29.7 ± 5.9 kg/m2) and 22 control women (age 59.5 ± 6.8 years, BMI 28.4 ± 6.2 kg/m2) completed a brief training protocol consisting of 20 trials of treadmill‐delivered trip‐specific perturbations. We assessed pre‐ and post‐training recovery step length and trunk kinematics at the instant of recovery step completion. Repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of between‐group differences following the training protocol, and to evaluate the significance of within‐group pre‐to‐post changes in the variables of interest. The group by training interaction effects for step length (p = 0.466), trunk flexion angle (p = 0.751), and trunk angular velocity (p = 0.413) were not significant and the pre‐to‐post changes in step length were not significant (p = 0.286). However, pre‐to‐post trunk flexion angle improved by 26% and 34% in the OA and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001) and trunk flexion angular velocity decreased by 193% in the OA group and by 32% in the control group, respectively (p < 0.001), often reflecting a transition to the direction of extension. The results suggest that trip‐specific training can improve CSR kinematics in women with knee OA. It is important to determine, the effectiveness of trip‐specific training in decreasing trip‐specific fall‐rate by women with knee OA. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:663–669, 2020
Gram‐Negative Bacteria Are Internalized Into Osteocyte‐Like Cells
Authors: Saunders Ray K. , Infanti Joseph , Ali Hibah , Shuey Timothy , Potteiger Courtney , McNeilly Shelby , Adams Christopher S.
Published: November 2019

While Gram‐positive organisms are the most common causative agent of initial bone infections, the percentage of Gram‐negative species increases in reoccurring bone infections. As bacterial internalization has been suggested as one cause of reoccurring bone infection, we tested the hypothesis that Gram‐negative species of bacteria can be internalized into bone cells. Using the MLO‐A5 and the MLO‐Y4 cell lines as our cell models, we demonstrated that the Gram‐negative species, Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens, can be internalized in these cells using an internalization assay. This rate at which these two species were internalized was both time‐ and initial concentration‐dependent. Confocal analysis demonstrated the presence of internalized bacteria within both cell types. Inhibition of the cellular uptake with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin and chloroquine both reduced internalized bacteria, indicating that this process is, at least in part, cell mediated. Finally, we demonstrated that the presence of internalized P. mirabilis did not impact cell viability, measured either by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release or 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) activity, while the presence of S. marcescens, on the other hand, both increased LDH release and reduced MTT activity, indicating a loss of cell viability in response to the organism. These results indicated that both species of Gram‐negative bacteria can be internalized by bone cells and that these internalized bacteria could potentially result in reoccurring bone infections. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:861‐870, 2020
Does Raman spectroscopy recognize different G‐quadruplex arrangements?
Authors: Palacký Jan , Mojzeš Peter , Kejnovská Iva , Vorlíčková Michaela
Published: November 2019

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate the underused potential of Raman spectroscopy in detecting formation of DNA G‐quadruplex (G4) and differentiating between various G4‐folding topologies. As model structures, we used a 22‐mer human telomere fragment AG3(TTAG3)3 (denoted here as wt) and its two variants with adenine abasic lesions at the position 19 (ap19) or at the positions 7, 13, and 19 (ap7‐13‐19), the structures of which were previously characterized. These oligonucleotides adopt three basic G4‐folds: a basket‐type form for wt in Na+, a (3+1) hybrid form for ap19 in K+, and a parallel G4 for ap7‐13‐19 in K+, the last one furthermore stabilized at increased temperatures. We show that although wt and ap7‐13‐19 in Na+ adopt predominately antiparallel G4‐folds, these oligonucleotides in K+ display several Raman features of parallel G4 folds. Interestingly, ap19 has a Raman spectrum with some features of parallel G4 folds in both Na+ and K+ solutions. Raman signals indicative of parallel G4 are most obvious with ap7‐13‐19 in K+. The population of ap7‐13‐19 guanosines (unlike of wt and ap19 in K+) in the C2'‐endo/anti geometry gradually increases with increasing temperature, reaching its maximum at ~50°C, where an all‐parallel topology is observed. In summary, Raman spectroscopy has been proven to distinguish between different conformational properties of G4‐DNA structures, with reliability comparable with circular dichroism spectra, and with the potential to provide additional structural information.
Highly Stretchable and Tough Physical Silk Fibroin–Based Double Network Hydrogels
Authors: Zhao Yu , Guan Juan , Wu Su Jun
Published: November 2019

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) is a promising biomedical material, but the poor mechanical properties of RSF hydrogels may hinder the use as structural components. Herein, an equilibrium RSF hydrogel is prepared and optimized based on the double network (DN) concept. After sufficient soaking in water and removal of small molecules, the equilibrium RSF DN hydrogels prove stable in water, strong, highly extensible, and tough with 0.26–0.44 MPa tensile strength, 500–900% elongation, and 2 MJ m−3 work of extension. The combination of high strength and extensibility is attributed to the homogeneous morphology and the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding between the two networks. The strategy in this work overcomes the previous issue of swelling and eventual fracture of as‐prepared RSF/SDS DN hydrogels in water. In addition, such mechanically superior RSF DN hydrogels also display low cytotoxicity. It concludes that the elastic and tough RSF DN hydrogels could be engineered by introducing widely used polymer networks, and the hydrogels from inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and biocompatible silk fibroin may hold great potential in biomedical applications.
Multiple System Atrophy: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives
Authors: Meissner Wassilios G. , Fernagut Pierre‐Olivier , Dehay Benjamin , Péran Patrice , Traon Anne Pavy‐Le , Foubert‐Samier Alexandra , Lopez Cuina Miguel , Bezard Erwan , Tison François , Rascol Olivier
Published: November 2019

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a variable combination of parkinsonism, cerebellar impairment, and autonomic dysfunction. The pathologic hallmark is the accumulation of aggregated α‐synuclein in oligodendrocytes, forming glial cytoplasmic inclusions, which qualifies MSA as a synucleinopathy together with Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The underlying pathogenesis is still not well understood. Some symptomatic treatments are available, whereas neuroprotection remains an urgent unmet treatment need. In this review, we critically appraise significant developments of the past decade with emphasis on pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment development. We further discuss unsolved questions and highlight some perspectives. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Identification of a novel somatic mutation of POU6F2 by whole‐genome sequencing in prolactinoma
Authors: Miao Yazhou , Li Chuzhong , Guo Jing , Wang Hongyun , Gong Lei , Xie Weiyan , Zhang Yazhuo
Published: November 2019

Background

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are one of the most common intracranial tumors; approximately half of PAs are prolactin (PRL)‐secreting PAs (prolactinomas). The genetic alterations prevalent in prolactinomas are unknown.

Methods

Here, we present a patient with an extremely aggressive and giant prolactinoma accompanied by serious destruction of the surrounding bone mass. This patient exhibited resistance to dopaminergic drugs. Through whole‐genome sequencing, we identified two novel somatic mutations in the POU6F2 gene (NM_001166018.2: c. 839 C>T; NM_001166018.2: c. 875A>G).

Results

This report is the first to identify these somatic mutations in the POU6F2 gene in a prolactinoma. We found that these two mutations obviously decreased the expression level of POU6F2. Inhibition of POU6F2 activity increased the cell proliferation and PRL secretion in rat pituitary cells, but proliferation and PRL secretion were decreased in cells with POU6F2 overexpression.

Conclusions

POU6F2 might play a crucial role in the development of prolactinomas and may be a promising target for developing new therapies against prolactinomas.
Peers can play essential role in combating personal stigma
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: November 2019

The role of peers has evolved over the years. They not only bring hope to individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders and help them with a strategy to fulfill their vision, but they also play a central role in reducing the personal stigma experienced by individuals in recovery.
The singular solutions to a nonsymmetric system of Keyfitz‐Kranzer type with initial data of Riemann type
Authors: Sun Meina
Published: November 2019

The solutions to the Riemann problem for a nonsymmetric system of Keyfitz‐Kranzer type are constructed explicitly when the initial data are located in the quarter phase plane. In particular, some singular hyperbolic waves are discovered when one of the Riemann initial data is located on the boundary of the quarter phase plane, such as the delta shock wave and some composite waves in which the contact discontinuity coincides with the shock wave or the wave back of rarefaction wave. The double Riemann problem for this system with three piecewise constant states is also considered when the delta shock wave is involved. Furthermore, the global solutions to the double Riemann problem are constructed through studying the interaction between the delta shock wave and the other elementary waves by using the method of characteristics. Some interesting nonlinear phenomena are discovered during the process of constructing solutions; for example, a delta shock wave is decomposed into a delta contact discontinuity and a shock wave.
Macrofaunal Assemblages on Oyster Aquaculture and Rock Reef Habitat in Long Island Sound
Authors: Mercaldo-Allen Renee , Clark Paul , Liu Yuan , Meseck Shannon , Milke Lisa , Redman Dylan
Published: November 2019

Trap sampling was used to survey the relative abundance of juvenile fish and invertebrates near three habitats including an off-bottom oyster cage farm (cage farm), a traditional on-bottom oyster culture area (shell bottom), and a natural cobble and boulder reef (rock reef) in a coastal embayment in Long Island Sound near Milford, Connecticut. Ten traps, deployed on two subsites within each habitat (20/habitat), were allowed to soak for ~24 hours, two to three times per week, from June through September 2016. The assemblages of juvenile finfish appeared to be similar on the cage farm and rock reef, while the composition of the invertebrate community was more variable among the three habitats. These preliminary observations suggest that oyster cage farms may provide functional habitat that is populated by structure-oriented finfish communities similar to those that are found on natural rock reefs in Long Island Sound.
Leading collective action to address wicked problems
Authors: Alexander Benjamin N.
Published: November 2019

The alleviation of wicked problems requires collective action because these issues are characterized by significant uncertainty and complexity. This research extends prior work by examining how conveners' use robust action to navigate wicked problems' defining characteristics in the mobilization process. It provides a longitudinal study of a health care nonprofit attempting to engage other stakeholders in addressing the high costs and inadequate quality of health care in a region of the United States. Specifically, the convener sought to address this wicked problem by developing a health information exchange. The findings relate five robust action tactics through which the convener advanced collective action.
What Don't You Know About Your Distribution System?
Authors: Brewer Todd F.
Published: November 2019

The Partnership for Safe Water, a continuous improvement and optimization program, was launched in 1995 with a suite of resources focused on self‐assessment and continuous improvement for conventional surface water treatment plants. During the past 25 years, the program and the resources available to subscribing utilities have grown and evolved, much as the regulatory requirements have grown and changed with the availability of new information.
Listen Up to Protect Your Hearing
Authors:   AWWA Staff
Published: November 2019

A good analogy to explain how hearing loss occurs is to visualize a thick grassy lawn. As you walk across the grass, it bends down because of your weight. After you pass, the grass stands back up. The more you walk across the same area, the longer it takes for the grass to stand upright, until eventually it will die and the area becomes a dirt path.
A review of nutrition labeling and food choice in the United States
Authors: Dumoitier Alice , Abbo Vincent , Neuhofer Zachary T. , McFadden Brandon R.
Published: November 2019

A proliferation of processed food and labeling claims motivated the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, which mandated the Nutrition Facts Label. Providing nutrition information is often put forth as a way to change food choice; however, despite efforts to provide dietary information using nutrition labeling, more than a third of the US has obesity and portions of the population continue to under consume vital nutrients. There has been progress beyond the Nutrition Facts Label in recent years with front‐of‐package labeling and menu labeling, which is crucial given changes in consumption trends for food‐away‐from‐home. Additionally, changes were recently made to the Nutrition Facts Label due to lack of awareness, understanding, and ability to effectively improve diet quality. This paper explores the literature to track the evolution of knowledge about attention to nutrition information and how nutrition information affects dietary choices.
A Conveying Model of Fluid Partially Filled in a Nontwin Screw Extruder Allowing for a Positive Displacement
Authors: Yu Huiwen , Xu Baiping , Liu Biao , Du Yaoxue , Song Jian , Feng Yanhong
Published: November 2019

Fill degree is a key parameter impacting twin screw extruders' (TSEs) mixing performance and melting behavior. The conventional conveying model of partially filled fluid relies mainly on empirical methods. A nontwin screw geometry introduces a speed difference between the two intermeshing screws to change the conveying means, and this speed difference offers a challenge for establishing a new conveying model. A visualization prototype with a global transparent barrel was developed in this article with carboxymethylcellulose sodium solution used as working fluid. Fill length was measured under different outputs and screw rotation speeds in a nontwin screw channel versus a corresponding twin screw channel; thus, fill degree was obtained using the observed fill lengths and nontwin screw geometries. A new conveying model of partially filled fluid was proposed which isolated positive displacement flow as an independent factor, and visualization observations revealed that due to differences in screw flight width, the positive displacement flow in a nontwin screw channel is larger than that in a traditional twin‐screw channel. Results showed that dimensionless positive displacement conveying increased linearly with fill degree for a non‐TSE geometry while it was independent of fill degree for a TSE geometry. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:151–160, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
High‐accuracy protein structures by combining machine‐learning with physics‐based refinement
Authors: Heo Lim , Feig Michael
Published: November 2019

Protein structure prediction has long been available as an alternative to experimental structure determination, especially via homology modeling based on templates from related sequences. Recently, models based on distance restraints from coevolutionary analysis via machine learning to have significantly expanded the ability to predict structures for sequences without templates. One such method, AlphaFold, also performs well on sequences where templates are available but without using such information directly. Here we show that combining machine‐learning based models from AlphaFold with state‐of‐the‐art physics‐based refinement via molecular dynamics simulations further improves predictions to outperform any other prediction method tested during the latest round of CASP. The resulting models have highly accurate global and local structures, including high accuracy at functionally important interface residues, and they are highly suitable as initial models for crystal structure determination via molecular replacement.
Dynamic and static nature of activated interactions in transition states as elucidated by quantum theory of atoms‐in‐molecules dual functional analysis: A case of ligand exchange at the N of sulfonylimino‐λ3‐bromanes
Authors: Nakanishi Waro , Hayashi Satoko , Nishide Taro , Otsuki Shota
Published: November 2019

A method to elucidate the dynamic and static natures of the activated interactions in transition states (TSs) is proposed using quantum theory of atoms‐in‐molecules (QTAIM) dual functional analysis (QTAIM‐DFA). The natures are determined for the ligand exchange at the N of sulfonylimino‐λ3‐bromanes, RBr‐*‐N(SO2CF3)‐*‐X′R′ (R, R′ = Me or Ph, X′ = Br′ or I′). Asterisks (*) emphasize the presence of bond critical points within the interactions in question. While data from the optimized structures of TSs correspond to the static nature, those from the perturbed and optimized structures represent the dynamic nature. The nature of the interactions in Br‐*‐N‐*‐X′ calculated with QTAIM‐DFA, using the perturbed structures generated using the normal coordinates for the imaginary frequencies (NIV), was very similar to that in trigonal bipyramidal adduct formation through charge transfer. The results with NIV were precisely the same as those obtained based on intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC). The high applicability of QTAIM‐DFA is demonstrated when analyzing the activated interactions in TSs.
Using post‐column infused internal standard assisted quantitative metabolomics for establishing prediction models for breast cancer detection
Authors: Huang Marisa , Li Hung‐Yuan , Liao Hsiao‐Wei , Lin Ching‐Hung , Wang Chin‐Yi , Kuo Wen‐Hung , Kuo Ching‐Hua
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women and its associated mortality is on the rise. Metabolomics is a potential strategy for breast cancer detection. The post‐column infused internal standard (PCI‐IS)‐assisted liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for quantitative metabolomics. In this study, we evaluated the performance of targeted metabolomics with the PCI‐IS quantification method to identify women with breast cancer.

Methods

We used metabolite profiling to identify 17 dysregulated metabolites in breast cancer patients. Two LC/MS/MS methods in combination with the PCI‐IS strategy were developed to quantify these metabolites in plasma samples. Detection models were built through the analysis of plasma samples from 176 subjects consisting of healthy volunteers and breast cancer patients.

Results

Three isotope standards were selected as the PCI‐ISs for the metabolites. The accuracy was within 82.8–114.16%, except for citric acid and lactic acid at high concentration levels. The repeatability and intermediate precision were all lower than 15% relative standard deviation. We have identified several metabolites that indicate the presence of breast cancer. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve, sensitivity and specificity of the linear combinations of metabolite concentrations and age with the highest AUROC were 0.940 (0.889–0.992), 88.4% and 94.2% for pre‐menopausal woman, respectively, and 0.828 (0.734–0.922), 73.5% and 85.1% for post‐menopausal women, respectively.

Conclusions

The targeted metabolomics with PCI‐IS quantification method successfully established prediction models for breast cancer detection. Further study is essential to validate these proposed markers.