bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LncRNA LINC01512 Promotes the Progression and Enhances Oncogenic Ability of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhang Fan , Wang Junjun , Hu Lijuan , Chen Jian , Xu Gang , Wang Yumin
Published: June 2017

Previously, a significantly upregulated lncRNA, LINC01512, in lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) was obtained, while its biological function and molecular mechanisms were unclear. The expression level of LINC01512 was estimated by qPCR from 100 pairs of LAD and NT samples. The correlation of LINC01512 to clinical data of LAD patients was analyzed. LINC01512 was knocked down and overexpressed in SPCA‐1 and A549 cell lines by lentivirus‐mediated technology, and the oncological behavioral changes of SPCA‐1 and A549 cells were observed, as well as, tumorigenicity in experimental nude mice. Compared to the adjacent tissues, LINC01512 was obviously upregulated in LAD. The expression level of LINC01512 was closely related to lymph node metastasis and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage. Survival analysis showed that the survival time of high expression LINC01512 group was significantly shorter than the low‐expression group in LAD. Knockdown or overexpression test unanimously confirmed that LINC01512 can increase the ability of cell migration, invasion, proliferation, colony formation, adhesion, and S phase and G2/M phase cells, whereas decrease the apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cells. Nude mice experiments confirmed that LINC01512 significantly enhanced the speed and weight of tumorigenicity. LINC01512 is an oncogenic lncRNA gene that promotes the progression and distinctly enhances the oncogenic ability in lung adenocarcinoma. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3102–3110, 2017. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc.
A Convenient Regioselective Synthesis of Novel 1,4‐Phenylenemethylene‐6,6′‐bis‐([1,2,4‐triazolo]‐[4,3‐b][1,2,4]‐triazin‐7(1H)‐ones)
Authors: Hassaneen Hamdi M. , Saleh Fatma M. , Mohammed Yasmin Sh. , Awad Enas M.
Published: June 2017

The target compounds 6,6′‐(1,4‐phenylenedimethylene)‐bis(3‐thioxo‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(1H)‐one) 4,5 were prepared from reaction of oxazolone 1 with thiosemicarbazide and 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazide, in potassium hydroxide solution, respectively. Reaction of 4 with hydrazonoyl halides 6 afforded triazolotriazine derivatives 7. Also, 5 reacted with 6 to give the corresponding substitution products 8. Antimicrobial and antitumor activities for some compounds were studied.
Chemiedozententagung 2017
Authors: Langer Robert
Published: June 2017

Die jährliche Chemiedozententagung, bei der Nachwuchswissenschaftler ihre eigenständige Forschung der deutschen Chemie‐Wissenschaftselite präsentieren, fand dieses Jahr Mitte März an der Universität Marburg statt. Die 400 Teilnehmer konnten auf der dreitägigen Veranstaltung 99 angemeldete Vorträge in drei parallel verlaufenden Vortragsreihen hören. Eine Besonderheit dieses Jahr: Erstmals hatten auch Postdoktoranden die Möglichkeit, ihre wissenschaftlichen Ergebnisse zu präsentieren. Im Zusammenhang mit dieser Neuerung steht auch die einzige negative Meldung dieser Tagung: Einer deutsch‐iranischen Postdoktorandin vom Massachusetts Institute of Technology wurde abgeraten, zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt aus den Vereinigten Staaten auszureisen – es galt als wahrscheinlich, dass ihr die Wiedereinreise verweigert würde [Nachr. Chem. 2017, 65, 460].
An Osteometric Study on the Variation in Orientation of the Lesser Trochanter in an Early Medieval Human Skeletal Assemblage and Comparison with an Individual from the Late Upper Palaeolithic
Authors: Flohr S. , Rieger A. , Orschiedt J. , Kierdorf H. , Kierdorf U.
Published: June 2017

Anatomical textbooks describe the lesser trochanter in contemporary humans as being oriented posteromedially. In contrast, orientation of the lesser trochanter towards posterior was observed in some human femora from the Upper Palaeolithic, including the femur of a young adult individual from Germany (Irlich 1), radiocarbon dated to 12 500–11 200 bp (calibrated AMS age). The present study analysed the orientation of the lesser trochanter in femora originating from an early medieval skeletal assemblage (Greding, Germany) and compared the results with those for the Irlich 1 femur. Eleven landmarks, four on the proximal femur, four on the mid‐shaft and three on the distal femur, were recorded with a MicroScribe® digitizer and analysed using AutoCAD® 2010 software. Seven angles and five distances were measured. In the Greding femora, significant differences (p < 0.05) between sexes were found for several linear measurements, while no significant sex‐related differences existed for angular measurements. For some angular variables related to the orientation of the lesser trochanter, the values for the Irlich 1 femur lay outside the range of variation of the Greding specimens, reflecting the more posterior orientation of the lesser trochanter in the Irlich 1 femur. This posterior orientation of the lesser trochanter was not associated with a particularly low degree of femoral anteversion. It is hypothesised that the differences in orientation of the lesser trochanter between the Irlich 1 femur (and other femora of Upper Palaeolithic individuals) and the femora from Greding could basically reflect differences in traction exercised by the iliopsoas muscle during infancy and childhood between the sedentary agricultural population from Greding and Upper Palaeolithic hunter‐gatherers with a mobile lifestyle. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of illumination on the depth profile of thermally annealed MEH‐PPV/dPS blends
Authors: Morgan Brian , Dadmun Mark D.
Published: June 2017

Due to its simplicity and cost‐effectiveness, single solution casting of organic optoelectronics has grown in popularity for device fabrication to produce technologies such as organic photovoltaics and thin film transistors. In order to explore the structural evolution that occurs in the film formation of a blend composed of polystyrene and the benchmark conjugated polymer MEH‐PPV, we have performed a series of neutron reflectivity experiments focused on studying the film structure as it changes through the thermal annealing process both in the presence and absence of white light. Results indicate the formation of a nonhomogeneous blend upon casting, which becomes stratified with thermal annealing. More importantly, the extent of stratification varies with illumination, where exposure to white light increases stratification. This data suggests in situ illumination is a potential novel tool to manipulate device‐relevant morphologies of optoelectronic active layers throughout the fabrication process, offering a cheap nondestructive tool to effectively tune desired structural parameters. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 1142–1149
Post‐tuberculosis mycetoma: bronchoscopic removal
Authors: Chawke Liam J. , Hunt Eoin B. , Kennedy Marcus P. , Murphy Desmond M.
Published: June 2017

A 76‐year‐old male non‐smoker presented to our institution with cough and haemoptysis. He had been treated for cavitatory pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the right upper lobe 10 years previously. Chest radiograph and subsequent computed tomography (CT) of the chest demonstrated a right upper cavity containing a mass suspicious for mycetoma. Flexible bronchoscopy under conscious sedation demonstrated a mass obstructing the anterior segment of the right upper lobe. The abnormality was subsequently removed using a flexible endobronchial cryoprobe. Histopathological analysis demonstrated abundant fungal organisms morphologically consistent with Aspergillus species. Microbiological culture of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from the cavity isolated both Aspergillus fumigatus and Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was commenced on the anti‐fungal drug posaconazole and received a course of flucloxacillin. Three months later, there was no endobronchial obstruction and lavage of the affected cavity again isolated Staphylococcus aureus without Aspergillus species. Repeat thoracic CT and flexible bronchoscopy demonstrated no further re‐occurrence of the mycetoma at 3 months.
First‐Principles Calculation of Phase/Size Characteristic in Yb3+/Tm3+/ZnO Upconversion Nanoparticles through Metal Ga3+ Doping
Authors: Li Yuemei , Li Yongmei , Wang Rui , Xu Yanling , Zheng Wei , Liu Zhihua
Published: June 2017

The crystal size of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can be effectively controlled by doping metal ions, which remarkably enhances upconversion luminescence (UCL) intensity and pure color turning. This study investigates phase and size properties of Yb3+/Tm3+/ZnO with various concentrations of Ga3+. In Yb3+/Tm3+/ZnO UCL system, Ga3+‐doping controls the structure (nanocrystal size/phase) of UCNPs and the resulting effect of UCL fluorescence properties. The first principles calculations is used to study variety of the band structure state of density and electronic density of ZnO with different Ga3+ ions. Consequently, it is found that such a series of Yb3+/Tm3+/ZnO nanoparticles doped with x mol% Ga3+ (x= 0, 1, 2, 3 mol%) can increase the electron charge density and decrease the size of nanoparticles, thereby exhibiting greatly enhancement of UC intensity.
Carbonyl Directed Regioselective Hydration of Alkynes under Ag‐Catalysis
Authors: Santhi Jampani , Baire Beeraiah
Published: June 2017

A mild strategy for highly regioselective hydration of the alkynes (internal and terminal) has been developed employing intramolecular ketone as the directing group under Ag(I) catalysis. In this process both internal and terminal alkynes exhibited 100 % complementary reactivity i. e. 6‐endo‐dig vs. 5‐exo‐dig respectively, and provided two regio‐isomeric dicarbonyl products as exclusive products. This process found very broad scope for the ketones and alkynes. The 1,5‐diketones were efficiently transformed in to synthetically and pharmaceutically important naphthalene derivatives employing an intramolecular Aldol condensation.
[3+3] Cycloaddition of in Situ Formed Azaoxyallyl Cations with Nitrones: Synthesis of 1,2,4‐Oxadiazinan‐5‐one Derivatives
Authors: Xuan Jun , Cheng Xiao , Cao Xia
Published: June 2017

A [3+3] cycloaddition reaction of the in situ generated azaoxyallyl cations with nitrones under mild reaction conditions is presented. The reaction provides an efficient method to various biologically important 1,2,4‐oxadiazinan‐5‐one derivatives in good to high yields. More importantly, the method can be further expanded to modify some natural aldehydes and drug molecules. The broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and the importance of the corresponding heterocyclic products render this approach attractive and valuable.
Synthesis of Quinone‐Based N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles: Chemical Reactivity of Rh(II) Azavinyl Carbenes and Antitumor Activity
Authors: Valença Wagner O. , Baiju Thekke V. , Brito Fernanda G. , Araujo Maria H. , Pessoa Claudia , Cavalcanti Bruno C. , de Simone Carlos A. , Jacob Claus , Namboothiri Irishi N. N. , da Silva Júnior Eufrânio N.
Published: June 2017

Quinone‐based N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles were synthesized by click chemistry and subsequently evaluated against eight types of cancer cell lines. Some of the compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity with IC50 values < 1.0 μM. Also, the cytotoxic potential of the quinones was evaluated against peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) and V79 cells. Additionally, the chemical reactivity of Rh(II) aza‐vinyl carbenes generated in situ from these triazoles was studied. These compounds could provide promising new lead derivatives for more potent anticancer drug development.
Activated Carbon / Graphene Hybrid Aerogels as Electrode Materials for High Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhu Qizhen , Ma Li , Wang Haoran , Jia Mengqiu , Guan Yibiao , Xu Bin
Published: June 2017

Activated carbon / graphene hybrid aerogels (AC/rGO) with high surface area and 3D structure were prepared with a simple hydrothermal treatment of a mixture of AC and graphene oxide (GO) aqueous solution. The AC/rGO aerogels with high surface area of 2400 m2 g−1 exhibit good electrochemical performances as an electrode material for supercapacitors in both aqueous and non‐aqueous electrolytes. In 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, a satisfying specific capacitance of 294 F g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and an excellent rate capability retention of 70.4% at 20 A g−1 can be obtained for the AC/rGO electrode, indicating the rGO can dramatically improve the rate performance with negligible sacrifice of the specific capacitance. Furthermore, due to the high electrode density (0.58 g cm−3), the volumetric capacitance of AC/rGO electrode reaches up to 170.5 F cm−3 at 0.05 A g−1. In 1 M TEABF4/PC non‐aqueous electrolyte, the AC/rGO electrode presents capacitances of 144 F g−1 and 96 F g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and 20 A g−1, respectively. The superior performance of the AC/rGO aerogels can be attributed to the synergy between the AC with high surface area and the rGO aerogel with 3D conductive structure, which makes the AC/rGO aerogel a promising electrode material for high performance supercapacitors.
Protective effects of Ziziphora tenuior extract against chlorpyrifos induced liver and lung toxicity in rat: Mechanistic approaches in subchronic study
Authors: Yazdinezhad Alireza , Abbasian Meysam , Hojjat Hosseini Seyed , Naserzadeh Parvaneh , Agh‐Atabay Abdol‐Hakim , Hosseini Mir‐Jamal
Published: June 2017

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus, which has spurred renewed interest. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of ziziphora tenuior extract against CPF‐induced liver and lung toxicity. This study conducted 8‐week rat sub‐chronic toxicity study and then the effect of ziziphora tenuior extract in 3 different doses (40, 80, 160 mg/kg) was determined. We administrated maximum tolerated dose of CPF (6.75 mg/kg) by gavage for 8 weeks (5 times in week) to male rats. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after last dose and the biochemical analysis, which confirms involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of CPF toxicity in liver including increased in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, and ROS formation, glutathione depletion, decreased of antioxidant effect via frap oxidation and cytochrome c expulsion. In addition, pathological lesions confirm the dysfunction of the organs (liver and lung). In addition, using of ziziphora extract as an antioxidant is resulted in amelioration of oxidative stress marker in liver and lung damage. In conclusion, the current study revealed that CPF toxicity is related to oxidative stress and induction of cell death signaling and cotreatment with ziziphora extract is recommended in the routine therapy for the protection against CPF induced liver and lung tissue damage.
Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanosilver in stable GADD45α promoter‐driven luciferase reporter HepG2 and A549 cells
Authors: Che Bizhong , Luo Qiulin , Zhai Bingzhong , Fan Guoqiang , Liu Zhiyong , Cheng Kaiming , Xin Lili
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The intense commercial application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been raising concerns about their potential adverse health effects to human. This study aimed to explore the potency of AgNPs to induce GADD45α gene, an important stress sensor, and its relationships with the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity elicited by AgNPs.

Methods

Two established HepG2 and A549 cell lines containing the GADD45α promoter‐driven luciferase reporter were treated with increasing concentrations of AgNPs for 48 hours. After the treatment, transcriptional activation of GADD45α indicated by luciferase activity, cell viability, cell cycle arrest, and levels of genotoxicity were determined. The uptake and intracellular localization of AgNPs, cellular Ag doses as well as Ag+ release were also detected.

Results

AgNPs could activate GADD45α gene at the transcriptional level as demonstrated by the dose‐dependent increases in luciferase activity in both the reporter cells. The relative luciferase activity was greater than 12× the control level in HepG2‐luciferase cells at the highest concentration tested where the cell viability decreased to 17.0% of the control. These results was generally in accordance with the positive responses in cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest of Sub G1 and G2/M phase, Olive tail moment, micronuclei frequency, and the cellular Ag content.

Conclusions

The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of AgNPs seems to occur mainly via particles uptake and the subsequent liberation of ions inside the cells. And furthermore, the GADD45α promoter‐driven luciferase reporter cells, especially the HepG2‐luciferase cells, could provide a new and valuable tool for predicting nanomaterials genotoxicity in humans.
Wind tunnel investigation on the effect of the turbine tower on wind turbines wake symmetry
Authors: Pierella Fabio , Sætran Lars
Published: June 2017

In wind farms, the wake of the upstream turbines becomes the inflow for the downstream machines. Ideally, the turbine wake is a stable vortex system. In reality, because of factors like background turbulence, mean flow shear, and tower‐wake interaction, the wake velocity deficit is not symmetric and is displaced away from its mean position. The irregular velocity profile leads to a decreased efficiency and increased blade stress levels for the downstream turbines. The object of this work is the experimental investigation of the effect of the wind turbine tower on the symmetry and displacement of the wake velocity deficit induced by one and two in‐line model wind turbines (,D= 0.9 m). The results of the experiments, performed in the closed‐loop wind tunnel of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim (Norway), showed that the wake of the single turbine expanded more in the horizontal direction (side‐wall normal) than in the vertical (floor normal) direction and that the center of the wake vortex had a tendency to move toward the wind tunnel floor as it was advected downstream from the rotor. The wake of the turbine tandem showed a similar behavior, with a larger degree of non‐symmetry. The analysis of the cross‐stream velocity profiles revealed that the non‐symmetries were caused by a different cross‐stream momentum transport in the top‐tip and bottom‐tip region, induced by the turbine tower wake. In fact, when a second additional turbine tower, mirroring the original one, was installed above the turbine nacelle, the wake recovered its symmetric structure. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Statistical investigation of extraction parameters of keratin from chicken feather using Design-Expert
Authors: Kamarudin Nuruldiyanah Binti , Sharma Swati , Gupta Arun , Kee Chua Gek , Chik Syed Mohd Saufi Bin Tuan , Gupta Ritu
Published: June 2017

Uncontrolled disposal of feathers from the poultry industry and slaughterhouses is environmentally undesirable. The feathers are composed of approximately 90% of keratin which is an important ingredient of cosmetics, shampoos and hair treatment creams. This study aimed to determine the optimum conditions for the extraction of keratin from chicken feathers. The extraction of keratin using various reducing agents was studied using statistical experimental design. In the extraction process, pH, temperature, ratio of reducing agents, mass of chicken feathers and incubation time were analyzed. The keratin in the total extracted protein was purified by size exclusion chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and further characterized using amino acids profile analysis. The surface morphology and chemical composition were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Sodium sulfide (Na2S) yielded 84.5% of keratin as compared to sodium hydroxide (43.8), urea mixture (50.6), mixture of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium bisulfite (18.3) and a mixture of Na2S and sodium hydroxide (41.5%) under optimized conditions. The optimum yield of keratin was achieved at 80.9 °C in 9.5 h with 0.05 M sodium sulfide using response surface methodology (RSM). Among the five parameters screened, pH was found not to be significant because the p value was greater than 0.05.
A comparative study reveals the higher resolution of RAPD over ARDRA for analyzing diversity of Nostoc strains
Authors: Chakdar Hillol , Pabbi Sunil
Published: June 2017

Nostoc is a diverse genus of filamentous cyanobacteria with tremendous potential for agricultural and industrial applications. Morphometric methods and routine 16S rDNA-based identification undermines the genetic diversity and impedes strain-level differentiation. A comparative study to deduce the discriminatory power of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) for analyzing the genetic diversity of 20 Nostoc strains of diverse geographical origin was carried out. The RAPD primer used in the study generated 100% polymorphic profile. HIP TG primer produced the highest number of bands and fragments. Five primers, viz. OPA 08, OPA 11, HIP GC, OPAH 02 and OPF 05 could produce unique bands for 11 strains. Cluster analysis using the RAPD profile showed 12.5–25% similarity among the strains. Following in silico restriction analysis, two restriction enzymes, viz. HaeIII and HinfI were selected for ARDRA. However, clustering based on the restriction pattern showed 22.5–100% similarity. Results of the present study clearly indicate higher resolution of RAPD which can be reliably used for strain-level differentiation of Nostoc strains.
Re-positioning faculty development as knowledge mobilization for health professions education
Authors: Ng Stella L. , Baker Lindsay R. , Karen Leslie Karen
Published: June 2017

Faculty development as knowledge mobilization offers a particularly fruitful and novel avenue for exploring the research-practice interface in health professions education. We use this ‘eye opener’ to build off this assertion to envision faculty development as an enterprise that provides a formal, recognized space for the sharing of research and practical knowledge among health professions educators. Faculty development’s knowledge mobilizing strategies and outcomes, which draw upon varied sources of knowledge, make it a potentially effective knowledge mobilization vehicle.

First, we explain our choice of the term knowledge mobilization over translation, in an attempt to resist the false dichotomy of ‘knowledge user’ and ‘knowledge creator’. Second, we leverage the documented strengths of faculty development against the documented critiques of knowledge mobilization in the hopes of avoiding some of the pitfalls that have befallen previous attempts at closing knowing-doing gaps.

Through faculty development, faculty are indeed educated, in the traditional sense, to acquire new knowledge and skill, but they are also socialized to go on to form the systems and structures of their workplaces, as leaders and workers. Therefore, faculty development can not only mobilize knowledge, but also create knowledge mobilizers. Achieving this vision of faculty development as knowledge mobilization requires an acceptance of multiple sources of knowledge, including practice-based knowledge, and of multiple purposes for education and faculty development, including professional socialization.
Interactive effects between Lymphotoxin α +252 polymorphism and habits of substance use on risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tsai Jung‐Fa , Chen Shinn‐Chern , Lin Zu‐Yau , Dai Chia‐Yen , Huang Jee‐Fu , Yu Min‐Lung , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: June 2017

This case–control study aimed to assess the interactive effect between polymorphisms of lymphotoxin (LT) α +252 and habitual substance use on risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We enrolled 150 pairs of sex‐ and age‐matched HCC patients and unrelated healthy controls. LTα genotypes were detected with polymerase‐chain reaction and restrictive fragment length polymorphisms. Information about habits of substance use was obtained through personal interview. Multivariate analysis indicated that LTα +252 G/G genotypes [odds ratio (OR) = 3.36], Hepatitis B surface antigen (OR = 16.68), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (OR = 34.88) and having at least two habits of substance use (OR = 2.50) were independent risk factors for HCC. There were additive interactions among LTα +252 G/G genotype, chronic viral hepatitis, and habit of each substance use. In conclusion: There are independent and additive interactions between LTα +252 G/G genotype, chronic viral hepatitis, and habits of substance use on risk of HCC.
The Reform of the General Court: An Exercise in Minimalist (but Radical) Institutional Reform
Authors: SARMIENTO Daniel
Published: June 2017

In this article, I scrutinise the impact of the reform that will double the number of judges at the General Court. I examine the consequences of a wider use of a five-judge chamber, the continuation of generalist chambers, and the possible departure from the General Court’s minimal standard of review of legality. But greater efficiency at the General Court will have important consequences for the Court of Justice too. The Court of Justice must anticipate more appeals following the General Court’s increase in productivity; the transfer of jurisdiction to the General Court to hear preliminary references is considered. Profound changes at the General Court will lead to the Court of Justice becoming a very different institution to the one we know.
Attributable Mortality of Healthcare-Associated Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Authors: Nelson Richard E. , Slayton Rachel B. , Stevens Vanessa W. , Jones Makoto M. , Khader Karim , Rubin Michael A. , Jernigan John A. , Samore Matthew H.
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) on mortality following infection, regardless of patient location.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with an inpatient admission in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system between October 1, 2007, and November 30, 2010. We constructed multivariate log-binomial regressions to assess the impact of a positive culture on mortality in the 30- and 90-day periods following the first positive culture, using a propensity-score–matched subsample.

RESULTS

Patients identified with positive cultures due to MDR Acinetobacter (n=218), MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=1,026), and MDR Enterobacteriaceae (n=3,498) were propensity-score matched to 14,591 patients without positive cultures due to these organisms. In addition, 3,471 patients with positive cultures due to MRSA were propensity-score matched to 12,499 patients without positive MRSA cultures. Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria were associated with a significantly elevated risk of mortality both for invasive (RR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.85–2.92) and noninvasive cultures (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.22–1.44) during the 30-day period. Similarly, patients with MRSA HAIs (RR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.39–3.21) and colonizations (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.22–1.50) had an increased risk of death at 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that HAIs due to gram-negative bacteria and MRSA conferred significantly elevated 30- and 90-day risks of mortality. This finding held true both for invasive cultures, which are likely to be true infections, and noninvasive infections, which are possibly colonizations.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:848–856
Perturbation analysis of subphase gas and meniscus curvature effects for longitudinal flows over superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Crowdy Darren G.
Published: June 2017

Integral expressions for the first-order correction to the effective slip length for longitudinal flows over a unidirectional superhydrophobic surface with rectangular grooves are determined under the assumptions that the meniscus curvature is small and the viscosity contrast between the groove-trapped subphase gas and the working fluid is significant. Both pressure-driven channel flows and semi-infinite shear flows are considered. Reciprocity ideas, based on use of Green’s second identity, provide the integral expressions with integrands dependent on known flat-meniscus solutions found by Philip (Z. Angew. Math. Phys., vol. 23, 1972, pp. 353–372). The results extend earlier work by Sbragaglia & Prosperetti (Phys. Fluids, vol. 19, 2007, 043603) on how weak meniscus curvature affects hydrodynamic slip. In particular, we derive a new integral expression for the first-order slip length correction due to weak meniscus curvature.
Fish parasites as indicators of organic pollution in southern Brazil
Authors: Lacerda A.C.F. , Roumbedakis K. , Bereta Junior J.G.S. , Nuñer A.P.O. , Petrucio M.M. , Martins M.L.
Published: June 2017

Increasing urbanization along riverbanks is a constant source of stressors to the aquatic community, and the use of bioindicators is suitable to detect and monitor the effect of each stressor. We investigated the parasites of the ‘cará’ fish (Geophagus brasiliensis) as potential bioindicators in a river whose banks are subject to increasing anthropogenic pressure. Samples were taken at four points of the Sangradouro River, in Florianópolis, southern Brazil, bimonthly for 12 months. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and salinity were measured at each point and water samples were taken for nutrient analysis (total nitrogen, nitrite, total ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, phosphate), and total and faecal coliforms. A generalized linear model (GLM) was constructed using the abundance of each parasite species as the response variable and biometric characteristic of the fish and water variables as possible predictors. Among the 137 fish examined, 114 (83.2%) were parasitized by at least one parasite species. Two species of ectoparasites (Sciadicleithrum guanduensis and Neascus-type metacercariae) and two species of endoparasites (Pandosentis aff. iracundus and Homalometron pseudopallidum) were observed. This is the first record of the genus Pandosentis in Brazilian waters and the first record of the species G. brasiliensis as a host for this parasite. Among the analysed groups of parasites, monogeneans and acanthocephalans proved to be the most sensitive to the concentrations of dissolved oxygen, faecal coliforms and total ammonia nitrogen in the water. Our study suggests that the abundance of both monoxenic and heteroxenous parasites can be negatively affected by organic pollution in the aquatic environment, reinforcing the potential of fish parasites as indicators of water quality.
Real-time parameter estimation of Zika outbreaks using model averaging
Authors: SEBRANGO-RODRÍGUEZ C. R. , MARTÍNEZ-BELLO D. A. , SÁNCHEZ-VALDÉS L. , THILAKARATHNE P. J. , DEL FAVA E. , VAN DER STUYFT P. , LÓPEZ-QUÍLEZ A. , SHKEDY Z.
Published: June 2017

Early prediction of the final size of any epidemic and in particular for Zika disease outbreaks can be useful for health authorities in order to plan the response to the outbreak. The Richards model is often been used to estimate epidemiological parameters for arboviral diseases based on the reported cumulative cases in single- and multi-wave outbreaks. However, other non-linear models can also fit the data as well. Typically, one follows the so called post selection estimation procedure, i.e., selects the best fitting model out of the set of candidate models and ignores the model uncertainty in both estimation and inference since these procedures are based on a single model. In this paper we focus on the estimation of the final size and the turning point of the epidemic and conduct a real-time prediction for the final size of the outbreak using several non-linear models in which these parameters are estimated via model averaging. The proposed method is applied to Zika outbreak data in four cities from Colombia, during the outbreak ocurred in 2015–2016.
The role of inorganic nitrate and nitrite in CVD
Authors: Jackson Jacklyn , Patterson Amanda J. , MacDonald-Wicks Lesley , McEvoy Mark
Published: June 2017

CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, a consequence of mostly poor lifestyle and dietary behaviours. Although whole fruit and vegetable consumption has been consistently shown to reduce CVD risk, the exact protective constituents of these foods are yet to be clearly identified. A recent and biologically plausible hypothesis supporting the cardioprotective effects of vegetables has been linked to their inorganic nitrate content. Approximately 60–80 % inorganic nitrate exposure in the human diet is contributed by vegetable consumption. Although inorganic nitrate is a relatively stable molecule, under specific conditions it can be metabolised in the body to produce NO via the newly discovered nitrate–nitrite–NO pathway. NO is a major signalling molecule in the human body, and has a key role in maintaining vascular tone, smooth muscle cell proliferation, platelet activity and inflammation. Currently, there is accumulating evidence demonstrating that inorganic nitrate can lead to lower blood pressure and improved vascular compliance in humans. The aim of this review is to present an informative, balanced and critical review of the current evidence investigating the role of inorganic nitrate and nitrite in the development, prevention and/or treatment of CVD. Although there is evidence supporting short-term inorganic nitrate intakes for reduced blood pressure, there is a severe lack of research examining the role of long-term nitrate intakes in the treatment and/or prevention of hard CVD outcomes, such as myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality. Epidemiological evidence is needed in this field to justify continued research efforts.
Prior indigenous technological species
Authors: Wright Jason T.
Published: June 2017

One of the primary open questions of astrobiology is whether there is extant or extinct life elsewhere the solar system. Implicit in much of this work is that we are looking for microbial or, at best, unintelligent life, even though technological artefacts might be much easier to find. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) work on searches for alien artefacts in the solar system typically presumes that such artefacts would be of extrasolar origin, even though life is known to have existed in the solar system, on Earth, for eons. But if a prior technological, perhaps spacefaring, species ever arose in the solar system, it might have produced artefacts or other technosignatures that have survived to present day, meaning solar system artefact SETI provides a potential path to resolving astrobiology's question. Here, I discuss the origins and possible locations for technosignatures of such a prior indigenous technological species, which might have arisen on ancient Earth or another body, such as a pre-greenhouse Venus or a wet Mars. In the case of Venus, the arrival of its global greenhouse and potential resurfacing might have erased all evidence of its existence on the Venusian surface. In the case of Earth, erosion and, ultimately, plate tectonics may have erased most such evidence if the species lived Gyr ago. Remaining indigenous technosignatures might be expected to be extremely old, limiting the places they might still be found to beneath the surfaces of Mars and the Moon, or in the outer solar system.
Developing a “toolkit” to measure implementation of concurrent palliative care in rural community cancer centers
Authors: Zubkoff Lisa , Dionne-Odom J. Nicholas , Pisu Maria , Babu Dilip , Akyar Imatullah , Smith Tasha , Mancarella Gisella A. , Gansauer Lucy , Sullivan Margaret Murray , Swetz Keith M. , Azuero Andres , Bakitas Marie A.
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Despite national guidelines recommending early concurrent palliative care for individuals newly diagnosed with metastatic cancer, few community cancer centers, especially those in underserved rural areas do so. We are implementing an early concurrent palliative care model, ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends) in four, rural-serving community cancer centers. Our objective was to develop a “toolkit” to assist community cancer centers that wish to integrate early palliative care for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer and their family caregivers.

Method:

Guided by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness–Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework, we undertook an instrument-development process based on the literature, expert and site stakeholder review and feedback, and pilot testing during site visits.

Results:

We developed four instruments to measure ENABLE implementation: (1) the ENABLE RE-AIM Self-Assessment Tool to assess reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance; (2) the ENABLE General Organizational Index to assess institutional implementation; (3) an Implementation Costs Tool; and (4) an Oncology Clinicians' Perceptions of Early Concurrent Oncology Palliative Care survey.

Significance of results:

We developed four measures to determine early palliative care implementation. These measures have been pilot-tested, and will be integrated into a comprehensive “toolkit” to assist community cancer centers to measure implementation outcomes. We describe the lessons learned and recommend strategies for promoting long-term program sustainability.
Life-cycle greenhouse gas assessment of Community Supported Agriculture in California's Central Valley
Authors: Christensen Libby O. , Galt Ryan E. , Kendall Alissa
Published: June 2017

Many consumers are trying to reduce their food's environmental impact by purchasing more locally sourced food. One choice for local food is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), in which farmers provide a share of produce on a regular basis to pre-paying farm members. The number of CSAs in the USA has grown from two in the mid-1980s to perhaps as many as 12,617 according to the latest US census of agriculture (2014). We use a case study approach to investigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with five CSA operations in the Sacramento Valley of California. By understanding the GHG emissions of CSAs and the practices that might be improved, we hope to support innovative strategies to reduce GHG emissions in these agricultural production systems. Input, production and distribution data were collected from each farm and reported in CO2e emissions for 1 kg CSA produce at the pickup location. Results show large variation in total emissions, ranging from 1.72 to 6.69 kg CO2e kg−1 of produce with an average of 3.94 kg CO2e kg−1 produce. The largest source of emissions was electricity, contributing over 70% of total CO2e emissions on average. Based on our findings, despite the seemingly similarities between these operations in terms of production site, acreage, customers and production practices, there is still a large amount of variability with regard to total GHG. Thus we argue coming up with a standardized production function for diversified production and deriving GHGs or calculating average total emissions overlooks the heterogeneity of the system. Food systems can never be reduced to a simple binary of local is better and conventional is worse, or its inverse local is worse and conventional is better, because of the complexities of the production and distribution systems and their relationship to GHG emissions. Yet, we can say that localized production systems that are low in electricity use (or use renewable energy sources) and use efficiently-produced compost use have lower GHG emissions than those that do not.
In vitro expansion impaired the stemness of early passage mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of cartilage defects
Authors: Jiang Tongmeng , Xu Guojie , Wang Qiuyan , Yang Lihui , Zheng Li , Zhao Jinmin , Zhang Xingdong
Published: June 2017

In vitrocultured autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within passage 5 have been approved for clinical application in stem cell-based treatment of cartilage defects. However, their chondrogenic potential has not yet been questioned or verified. In this study, the chondrogenic potential of bone marrow MSCs at passage 3 (P3 BMSCs) was investigated both in cartilage repair andin vitro,with freshly isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) as controls. The results showed that P3 BMSCs were inferior to BMMNCs not only in their chondrogenic differentiation ability but also as candidates for long-term repair of cartilage defects. Compared with BMMNCs, P3 BMSCs presented a decay in telomerase activity and a change in chromosomal morphology with potential anomalous karyotypes, indicating senescence. In addition, interindividual variability in P3 BMSCs is much higher than in BMMNCs, demonstrating genomic instability. Interestingly, remarkable downregulation in cell cycle, DNA replication and mismatch repair (MMR) pathways as well as in multiple genes associated with telomerase activity and chromosomal stability were found in P3 BMSCs. This result indicates that telomerase and chromosome anomalies might originate from expansion, leading to impaired stemness and pluripotency of stem cells.In vitroculture and expansion are not recommended for cell-based therapy, and fresh BMMNCs are the first choice.
The novel hypoxia-inducible factor-1α inhibitor IDF-11774 regulates cancer metabolism, thereby suppressing tumor growth
Authors: Ban Hyun Seung , Kim Bo-Kyung , Lee Hongsub , Kim Hwan Mook , Harmalkar Dipesh , Nam Miso , Park Song-Kyu , Lee Kiho , Park Joon-Tae , Kim Inhyub , Lee Kyeong , Hwang Geum-Sook , Won Misun
Published: June 2017

HIF-1 is associated with poor prognoses and therapeutic resistance in cancer patients. We previously developed a novel hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 inhibitor, IDF-11774, a clinical candidate for cancer therapy. We also reported that IDF-1174 inhibited HSP70 chaperone activity and suppressed accumulation of HIF-1α. In this study, IDF-11774 inhibited the accumulation of HIF-1α in vitro and in vivo in colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, IDF-11774 treatment suppressed angiogenesis of cancer cells by reducing the expression of HIF-1 target genes, reduced glucose uptake, thereby sensitizing cells to growth under low glucose conditions, and decreased the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate of cancer cells. Metabolic profiling of IDF-11774-treated cells revealed low levels of NAD+, NADP+, and lactate, as well as of intermediates in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, we observed elevated AMP and diminished ATP levels, resulting in a high AMP/ATP ratio. The level of AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation also increased, leading to inhibition of mTOR signaling in treated cells. In vivo xenograft assays demonstrated that IDF-11774 exhibited substantial anticancer efficacy in mouse models containing KRAS, PTEN, or VHL mutations, which often occur in malignant cancers. Collectively, our data indicate that IDF-11774 suppressed hypoxia-induced HIF-1α accumulation and repressed tumor growth by targeting energy production-related cancer metabolism.
Loss of epidermal AP1 transcription factor function reduces filaggrin level, alters chemokine expression and produces an ichthyosis-related phenotype
Authors: Young Christina A , Rorke Ellen A , Adhikary Gautam , Xu Wen , Eckert Richard L
Published: June 2017

AP1 transcription factors are important controllers of epidermal differentiation. Multiple family members are expressed in the epidermis in a differentiation-dependent manner, where they function to regulate gene expression. To study the role of AP1 factor signaling, TAM67 (dominant-negative c-jun) was inducibly expressed in the suprabasal epidermis. The TAM67-positive epidermis displays keratinocyte hyperproliferation, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, delayed differentiation, extensive subdermal vasodilation, nuclear loricrin localization, tail and digit pseudoainhum and reduced filaggrin level. These changes are associated with increased levels of IFNγ, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 (Th1-associated chemokines), and CCL1, CCL2, CCL5 and CCL11 (Th2-associated chemokines) in the epidermis and serum. S100A8 and S100A9 protein levels are also markedly elevated. These changes in epidermal chemokine level are associated with increased levels of the corresponding chemokine mRNA. The largest increases were observed for CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and S100A8 and S100A9. To assess the role of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, which bind to CXCR3, on phenotype development, we expressed TAM67 in CXCR3 knockout mice. Using a similar strategy, we examine the role of S100A8 and S100A9. Surprisingly, loss of CXCR3 or S100A8/A9 did not attenuate phenotype development. These studies suggest that interfering with epidermal AP1 factor signaling initiates a loss of barrier function leading to enhanced epidermal chemokine production, but that CXCR3 and S100A8/A9 do not mediate the phenotypic response.
The putative tumor suppressor microRNA-30a-5p modulates clear cell renal cell carcinoma aggressiveness through repression of ZEB2
Authors: Chen Zhenhua , Zhang Jiaxing , Zhang Zhiling , Feng Zihao , Wei Jinhuan , Lu Jun , Fang Yong , Liang Yanping , Cen Junjie , Pan Yihui , Huang Yong , Zhou Fangjian , Chen Wei , Luo Junhang
Published: June 2017

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common subtype of renal cell carcinoma, can easily invade local tissues and metastasize, and is resistant to currently available treatments. Recent studies profiling microRNA expression in ccRCC have suggested miR-30a-5p may be deregulated in these cancer cells. To determine its role and mechanism of action in ccRCC, miR-30-5p expression levels were quantified and functions were analyzed usingin vitroandin vivoexperiments and bioinformatics. A decrease in miR-30a-5p expression was frequently noted in ccRCC cells and tissues. Importantly, low miR-30a-5p levels were significantly associated with a poor ccRCC patient prognosis. Stable overexpression of miR-30a-5p in 769-P cells was sufficient to prevent cellular proliferation and invasionin vitroandin vivo. Upon further examination, it was found that miR-30a-5p directly targeted the 3′-UTR of ZEB2 and suppressed ccRCC cell epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In addition, miR-30a-5p may be downregulated by the long non-coding RNA DLEU2. Taken together, these data reveal an important role for miR-30a-5p in the regulation of ccRCC proliferation and invasion, and indicate the potential for miR-30a-5p in applications furthering ccRCC prognostics and therapeutics.