bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Powerful statistical method to detect disease‐associated genes using publicly available genome‐wide association studies summary data
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Zhao Zihan , Guo Xuan , Guo Bin , Wu Baolin
Published: August 2019

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have thus far achieved substantial success. In the last decade, a large number of common variants underlying complex diseases have been identified through GWAS. In most existing GWAS, the identified common variants are obtained by single marker‐based tests, that is, testing one single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at a time. Generally, the basic functional unit of inheritance is a gene, rather than a SNP. Thus, results from gene‐level association test can be more readily integrated with downstream functional and pathogenic investigation. In this paper, we propose a general gene‐based p‐value adaptive combination approach (GPA) which can integrate association evidence of multiple genetic variants using only GWAS summary statistics (either p‐value or other test statistics). The proposed method could be used to test genetic association for both continuous and binary traits through not only one study but also multiple studies, which would be helpful to overcome the limitation of existing methods that can only be applied to a specific type of data. We conducted thorough simulation studies to verify that the proposed method controls type I errors well, and performs favorably compared to single‐marker analysis and other existing methods. We demonstrated the utility of our proposed method through analysis of GWAS meta‐analysis results for fasting glucose and lipids from the international MAGIC consortium and Global Lipids Consortium, respectively. The proposed method identified some novel trait associated genes which can improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in ‐cell function, glucose homeostasis, and lipids traits.
Encouraging use of prenatal care through conditional cash transfers: Evidence from JUNTOS in Peru
Authors: Díaz Juan‐José , Saldarriaga Victor
Published: August 2019

We use a difference‐in‐differences strategy to estimate the effects of JUNTOS, a conditional cash transfer program targeted to poor rural households in Peru, on use of prenatal care. Using data from the Peruvian Demographic and Health Surveys over the period 2000–2011, we find that JUNTOS increased prenatal care utilization among program‐eligible women. Even more, we find positive effects of JUNTOS on the probability of receiving prenatal care delivered by a skilled professional, including specific medical checkups during the prenatal visits, and a negative effect on the probability of experiencing obstetric emergencies during labor and childbirth.
Current trends in constructal law and evolutionary design
Authors: Lorente Sylvie , Bejan Adrian
Published: August 2019

The constructal law was postulated in 1996 as the law of physics that accounts for the phenomenon of time evolution of configuration in all flow systems that have the freedom to morph: animate and inanimate, human made and not human made, social and individual. The constructal‐law field has grown rapidly during the past two decades, particularly with applications to evolutionary design in technology, and with predictions of evolutionary design in biology, geophysics, and social organization. In this review, we highlight some of the current research trends in this field. The topics chosen are from the past 5 years from the activity in our own group, for example, energy storage, heat exchangers, porous media, and technology evolution. The review ends with future directions for research in this very active field.
Simple model for hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide)/carbon nanotubes nanobiosensor in neutral phosphate‐buffered saline solution
Authors: Zare Yasser , Rhee Kyong Y. , Park Soo‐Jin
Published: August 2019

In this study, the hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend and PLA/PEO/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanobiosensors in neutral phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) solution was investigated by experimental and theoretical approaches. A simple model was developed to estimate the degradation fraction by applying the average degradation rate (K) and time exponent. The predictions of the developed model were compared to the experimental results. Moreover, CNT concentration, CNT size, sample thickness, diffusion coefficient, and concentration of the PEO phase influenced the K value. The impacts of the parameters on the degradation rate were studied to confirm the developed equation. All samples were rapidly degraded during the first week, while the degradation slowly progressed in the following weeks. The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that CNTs quicken the degradation of samples. The degradation fraction of a nanobiosensor depends directly on the values of K and the time exponent. Furthermore, a high concentration of PEO, small thickness of the sample, high concentration of thin CNTs, and high diffusion coefficient desirably improve the degradation rate.
Microwave‐assisted synthesis of water‐soluble styrylpyridine dye‐capped zinc oxide nanoparticles for antibacterial applications
Authors: Giridhar Manjunath , Naik Halehatty S. Bhojya , Sudhamani Chatnalli N. , Prabakara Mustur C. , Kenchappa Rajappa , Venugopal Nagaraju , Patil Sameer
Published: August 2019

ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a microwave method, whose surface was modified with {4‐[(E)‐2‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethenyl]pyridin‐1‐ium‐1‐yl}acetate as a capping agent (1 and 3%). Their structural properties were investigated using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, and UV–visible spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the Wurtzite structure for all compounds, a size of 30.6 nm for uncapped and 22.9 nm for 3% dye‐capped nanoparticles were calculated from Scherer's equation. Hexagonal wurtzite shape of nanoparticles can be clearly seen in the SEM images. The DFT calculations were carried out using quantum espresso. These dye‐capped ZnO nanoparticles were proved to be potential antibacterial agents, the minimum concentrations of dye‐capped ZnO nanoparticles that inhibit the growth of bacteria are 1.5 mg/mL for Escherichia coli and 0.78 mg/mL for Bacillus subtilis, which are much lower than those of uncapped ZnO. The bioactivity data suggest these organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles emerged as a new class of antibacterial agents.
Ruminative responses to interpersonal precipitants mediate borderline personality disorder features’ effects on distress reactivity and recovery in daily life
Authors: Yaroslavsky Ilya , Napolitano Skye C. , France Christopher M.
Published: August 2019

Objective

We tested whether negative interpersonal events (NIEs) precipitate rumination at times of distress in the daily lives of those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) features and whether such responses mediate associations between BPD and the reactivity and recovery components of emotion dysregulation.

Materials and Method

One hundred twenty‐one women completed clinical interviews, survey measures, and a 7‐day ecological momentary assessment.

Results

Elevated BPD features predicted ruminative response deployment only in the context of NIEs. Though elevated BPD features and NIEs predicted heightened distress reactivity, the indirect effect of BPD on distress reactivity via ruminative responses was conditional on NIE occurrence. Ruminative responses also mediated the conditional effects of BPD features on prolonged recovery from distress; trait rumination served as a second indirect pathway between BPD features and distress recovery.

Conclusion

Results suggest that though contextual, rumination is a common pathway for emotional hyperarousal and slow recovery from distress for those with elevated BPD features.
Incidental finding of an asymptomatic pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma: A case report
Authors: Guo Di‐chen , Yang Yuan‐hua , Liu Yan , Sun Lan‐lan , Zhu Wei‐wei , Lu Xiu‐zhang , Li Yi‐dan
Published: August 2019

Primary cardiac tumors are rare, but papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is reportedly the most common form, which usually occurs on the left‐side valves of the heart. However, PFE involving the tricuspid and pulmonary valves has also been documented. Although PFE is benign and seldom associated with valvular dysfunction, the associated embolic complications may lead to serious consequences. Most patients with PFE lack specific clinical symptoms and the diagnosis is incidental. Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment for PFE in order to prevent the occurrence of embolic complications. In this report, we present a case of a rare asymptomatic PFE of the pulmonary valve, which was incidentally noted during a routine examination with transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). There was neither valvular dysfunction nor hemodynamic change. The PFE was surgically removed, and the diagnosis was further confirmed with histopathology.
Interdecadal variation of Changma (Korean summer monsoon rainy season) retreat date in Korea
Authors: Choi Jae‐Won , Kim Hae‐Dong , Wang Bin
Published: August 2019

This study applied statistical change‐point analysis to the time series of the Changma retreat date (CRD) on the Korean Peninsula over a recent 30‐year period (1985–2014) and detected that the CRD has been delayed by about 10 days since 2000. The average CRD is July 14 for 1985–1999 and July 24 for 2000–2014. Corresponding to the CRD delay, the July rainfall is concentrated in the northern South Korea during 2000–2014, whereas tends to be intense along the southern coast during 1985–1999. The delayed CRD is associated with, in the lower and mid‐troposphere, a strengthened cyclonic circulation around Lake Baikal–eastern Sea of Japan and an enhanced anticyclonic circulation in East China Sea. Thus, northerlies from strengthened cyclones and anomalous southerlies from the enhanced anticyclones converge at the northern‐central Korean Peninsula. The anomalous anticyclone is associated with the strengthening of the western North Pacific subtropical high that has strengthened in meridional direction in the later epoch, supplying warm and moist air to Korean Peninsula. The result is verified by the enhanced warm and moist anomalous upward flows in the latitude where Korean Peninsula is placed. The delayed CRD in the latter epoch is related to the decreased spring snowfall over East Asia except for the vicinity of the Lake Baikal, which results in severely hot weather in the East Asia continent from spring to July. The continent heating from spring to July weakened (increases), the thermal gradient between continent and ocean, thereby forming a low‐pressure system on East Asia and a high‐pressure system in western North Pacific, resulting in the strengthening of Changma rain belt in July and delayed the Changma withdrawal.
Binding characteristics of polyphenols as milk plasmin inhibitors
Authors: Yildirim‐Elikoglu Seda , Vural Halil
Published: August 2019

BACKGROUND

The potential use of polyphenols to improve the functional characteristics of dairy products has gained much attention. However, the effects of the polyphenols on naturally occurring enzymes in milk have not been studied extensively. Excess plasmin activity in dairy products might result in several quality defects. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of polyphenols to inhibit plasmin in milk using a molecular and kinetic approach.

RESULTS

Epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin (QUER), and myricetin (MYR) caused a significant decrease in plasmin activity by 60, 86, 65, and 90%, respectively. The inhibition rates were alleviated in the presence of milk proteins. EGCG, QUER, and MYR, exhibited noncompetitive inhibition against plasmin, whereas ECG caused a mixed‐type inhibition. A decrease in the random structure of plasmin upon the complex formation with ECG, EGCG, QUER, and MYR was found. The other phenolics that were evaluated did not cause any significant changes in plasmin conformation. The observed inhibitory phenolic‐plasmin interactions were dominated by H‐bonds and electrostatic attractions. Green tea extract (GTE) rich in catechins also inhibited plasmin activity in the milk.

CONCLUSION

Significant changes in the secondary structure of plasmin upon binding of ECG, EGCG, QUER, and MYR led to diminished plasmin activity both in the absence and presence of milk proteins. These flavonoids with promising plasmin inhibitory potential could be used in new dairy formulations leading to controlled undesired consequences of plasmin activity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Melodamide A from Melodorum fruticosum — Quantification using HPLC and one‐step‐isolation by centrifugal partition chromatography
Authors: Engels Nora S. , Waltenberger Birgit , Schwaiger Stefan , Huynh Loi , Tran Hung , Stuppner Hermann
Published: August 2019

Melodamide A, a phenolic amide from the leaves of Melodorum fruticosum Lour., has previously shown pronounced anti‐inflammatory activity. In order to rapidly isolate larger quantities for biological testing, a fast, one‐step isolation method by centrifugal partition chromatography was developed within this study. Fractionation of the dichloromethane extract was performed with a two‐phase solvent system consisting of n‐hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water (3:7:5:5, v/v), leading to the isolation of melodamide A with a purity of >90% and a yield of 6.7 w% within 32 min. The developed method can also be used in dual mode for the enrichment of further constituents like flavonoids or chalcones. In order to support the centrifugal partition chromatography method development, additionally, a high‐performance liquid chromatography method was established and validated to determine quantities of melodamide A in plant material and crude extracts. Analysis of M. fruticosum leaves and a dichloromethane extract obtained from this plant material showed a total melodamide A content of 0.19 ± 0.008 and 8.9 ± 0.249 w%, respectively.
Continuous grass coverage as a management practice in humid environment vineyards increases compaction and CO2 emissions but does not modify must quality
Authors: Bogunovic Igor , Andabaka Zeljko , Stupic Domagoj , Pereira Paulo , Galic Marija , Novak Kristina , Telak Leon Josip
Published: August 2019

Few works have been carried out on the coupled impacts of different management practices and tractor traffic on soil properties and degradation in vineyards, grape productivity and must quality. The influence of different tillage practices (conventional tillage—CT; grass coverage in a given year—INV‐GC; tillage in a given year—INV‐T) and continuous grass coverage (CGC) on bulk density (BD), soil water content (SWC), CO2 emissions, grape yield and must quality have been investigated in a vineyard in Zagreb, Croatia. During 2017, soil properties were analysed in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers after 3, 6 and 11 tractor traffic passes. The results showed that tractor traffic increased the BD in the CGC, INV‐GC and INV‐T treatments. The BD at the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths was significantly higher in CGC than in CT. During the wet year of 2017, CT and INV‐T had significantly higher SWCs than did CGC and INV‐GC. The CO2 emissions under different management practices were INV‐T (120.3 CO2 ha−1 yr−1) > CGC (111.4 CO2 ha−1 yr−1) > INV‐GC (71.7 CO2 ha−1 yr−1) > CT (51.5 kg CO2 ha−1 yr−1). The effects of soil management on must quality and grape composition measurements were also detected. Grape yield was as follows: CT (5.37 kg vine−1) > INV‐GC (4.43 kg vine−1) > CGC (4.06 kg vine−1) > INV‐T (3.87 kg vine−1). Treatments had a significant impact only on pruning weight, pH value and free amino nitrogen (FAN), whereas no significant differences were found in the cluster number per vine, mean cluster weight, sugar content and titratable acids.
Strong increase of leukocyte apha‐galactosidase A activity in two male patients with Fabry disease following oral chaperone therapy
Authors: Lamari Foudil , Mauhin Wladimir , Koraichi Fairouz , Khrouf Walid , Bordet Celine , London Jonathan , Lidove Olivier , Charron Philippe
Published: August 2019

Background

Fabry disease (OMIM 301500) is an X‐linked disorder caused by alpha‐galactosidase A (α‐Gal A) deficiency. The administration of a pharmacologic chaperone (migalastat) in Fabry patients with amenable mutations has been reported to improve or stabilize organ damages and reduce lyso‐Gb3 plasma level. An increase of α‐Gal A activity has been observed in vitro in cells expressing amenable GLA mutations when incubated with migalastat. The impact of the drug on α‐Gal A in vivo activity has been poorly studied.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of two unrelated male Fabry patients with p.Asn215Ser (p.N215S) variant.

Results

We report the important increase of α‐Gal A activity in blood leukocytes reaching normal ranges of activity after about 1 year of treatment with migalastat. Cardiac parameters improved or stabilized with the treatment.

Conclusion

We confirm in vivo the effects of migalastat that have been observed in N215S carriers in vitro. The increase of α‐Gal A activity may be the strongest marker for biochemical efficacy. The normalization of enzyme activity could become the new therapeutic target to achieve.
Existence and uniqueness of almost periodic solutions to discrete mixed monotone hematopoiesis model
Authors: Zhou Hui
Published: August 2019

This paper is devoted to studying a generalized nonlinear discrete hematopoiesis model with delays. By applying mixed monotone operator fixed point theorem in an appropriate cone, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of positive almost periodic solution to this model. Four cases are classified based on parameters of the concerned model. The main results provided in the paper are more general than that of some previously known results, which are extended and complemented. Two particular examples are provided to illustrate that the obtained results, which are reasonable.
Pharmacokinetic modeling of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI using a reference region and input function tail
Authors: Ahmed Zaki , Levesque Ives R.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Quantitative analysis of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) requires an arterial input function (AIF) which is difficult to measure. We propose the reference region and input function tail (RRIFT) approach which uses a reference tissue and the washout portion of the AIF.

Methods

RRIFT was evaluated in simulations with 100 parameter combinations at various temporal resolutions (5‐30 s) and noise levels (σ = 0.01‐0.05 mM). RRIFT was compared against the extended Tofts model (ETM) in 8 studies from patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Two versions of RRIFT were evaluated: one using measured patient‐specific AIF tails, and another assuming a literature‐based AIF tail.

Results

RRIFT estimated the transfer constant and interstitial volume with median errors within 20% across all simulations. RRIFT was more accurate and precise than the ETM at temporal resolutions slower than 10 s. The percentage error of had a median and interquartile range of −9 ± 45% with the ETM and −2 ± 17% with RRIFT at a temporal resolution of 30 s under noiseless conditions. RRIFT was in excellent agreement with the ETM in vivo, with concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) of 0.95 for , 0.96 for , and 0.73 for the plasma volume using a measured AIF tail. With the literature‐based AIF tail, the CCC was 0.89 for , 0.93 for and 0.78 for .

Conclusions

Quantitative DCE‐MRI analysis using the input function tail and a reference tissue yields absolute kinetic parameters with the RRIFT method. This approach was viable in simulation and in vivo for temporal resolutions as low as 30 s.
Accurate identification of myocardial viability after myocardial infarction with novel manganese chelate‐based MR imaging
Authors: Wen Ling‐yi , Yang Zhi‐gang , Li Zhen‐lin , Ai Hua , Xia Chun‐chao , Zhang Li‐zhi , Lin Bin‐bin , Zhang Kun , Fu Hang , Wu Chang‐qiang , Yang Li , Fan Hai‐ming , Guo Ying‐kun
Published: August 2019

We developed a novel manganese (Mn2+) chelate for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of myocardial viability in acute and chronic myocardial infarct (MI) models, and compared it with Gadolinium‐based delay enhancement MRI (Gd3+‐DEMRI) and histology. MI was induced in 14 rabbits by permanent occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery. Gd3+‐DEMRI and Mn2+ chelate‐based delayed enhancement MRI (Mn2+ chelate‐DEMRI) were performed at 7 days (acute MI, n = 8) or 8 weeks (chronic MI, n = 6) after surgery with sequential injection of 0.15 mmol/kg Gd3+ and Mn2+ chelate. The biodistribution of Mn2+ in tissues and blood was measured at 1.5 and 24 h. Blood pressure, heart rate (HR), left ventricular (LV) function, and infarct fraction (IF) were analyzed, and IF was compared with the histology. The Mn2+ chelate group maintained a stable hemodynamic status during experiment. For acute and chronic MI, all rabbits survived without significant differences in HR or LV function before and after injection of Mn2+ chelate or Gd3+ (p > 0.05). Mn2+ chelate mainly accumulated in the kidney, liver, spleen, and heart at 1.5 h, with low tissue uptake and urine residue at 24 h after injection. In the acute MI group, there was no significant difference in IF between Mn2+ chelate‐DEMRI and histology (22.92 ± 2.21% vs. 21.79 ± 2.25%, respectively, p = 0.87), while Gd3+‐DEMRI overestimated IF, as compared with histology (24.54 ± 1.73%, p = 0.04). In the chronic MI group, there was no significant difference in IF between the Mn2+ chelate‐DEMRI, Gd3+‐DEMRI, and histology (29.50 ± 11.39%, 29.95 ± 9.40%, and 29.00 ± 10.44%, respectively, p > 0.05), and all three were well correlated (r = 0.92–0.96, p < 0.01). We conclude that the use of Mn2+ chelate‐DEMRI is reliable for MI visualization and identifies acute MI more accurately than Gd3+‐DEMRI.
Evaluation of the usefulness of saliva for DNA methylation analysis in cohort studies
Authors: Murata Yui , Fujii Ayaka , Kanata Sho , Fujikawa Shinya , Ikegame Tempei , Nakachi Yutaka , Zhao Zhilei , Jinde Seiichiro , Kasai Kiyoto , Bundo Miki , Iwamoto Kazuya
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Epigenetic information such as DNA methylation is a useful biomarker that reflects complex gene‐environmental interaction. Peripheral tissues such as blood and saliva are commonly collected as the source of genomic DNA in cohort studies. Epigenetic studies mainly use blood, while a few studies have addressed the epigenetic characteristics of saliva.

Methods

The effects of methods for DNA extraction and purification from saliva on DNA methylation were surveyed using Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Using 386 661 probes, DNA methylation differences between blood and saliva from 22 healthy volunteers, and their functional and structural characteristics were examined. CpG sites with DNA methylation levels showing large interindividual variations in blood were evaluated using saliva DNA methylation profiles.

Results

Genomic DNA prepared by simplified protocol from saliva showed a similar quality DNA methylation profile to that derived from the manufacturer provided protocol. Consistent with previous studies, the DNA methylation profiles of blood and saliva showed high correlations. Blood showed 1,514 hypomethylated and 2099 hypermethylated probes, suggesting source‐dependent DNA methylation patterns. CpG sites with large methylation difference between the two sources were underrepresented in the promoter regions and enriched within gene bodies. CpG sites with large interindividual methylation variations in blood also showed considerable variations in saliva.

Conclusion

In addition to high correlation in DNA methylation profiles, CpG sites showing large interindividual DNA methylation differences were similar between blood and saliva, ensuring saliva could be a suitable alternative source for genomic DNA in cohort studies. Consideration of source‐dependent DNA methylation differences will, however, be necessary.
Multi‐input control design for a constrained bilinear biquadratic regulator with external excitation
Authors: Halperin Ido , Agranovich Grigory , Ribakov Yuri
Published: August 2019

This study addresses an optimal control problem that is defined for a type of bilinear excited plant, multiple control inputs, a biquadratic finite horizon performance index, and control trajectory constraints. A novel sequence of improving functions, which suits this problem, is derived, and the corresponding Krotov's algorithm is formulated. The significance of the results is illustrated by a structural control design for a structure that is subjected to a harmonic ground acceleration input and semi‐active control constraints.
Shared personal reflections on the need to broaden the scope of conservation social science
Authors: Moon Katie , Adams Vanessa M. , Cooke Benjamin
Published: August 2019

Social science has a more diverse and meaningful role to play in conservation science and ecology than is currently being published within this field.

We reflect on our personal research experiences to demonstrate how our in‐field learning has provided us with shared understandings of the importance of a broader engagement with social science methods, methodologies and philosophy.

We focus on the value that comes from understanding that social science is not just answers, but stories; not just data, but meaning; and that place is a critical part of understanding socio‐ecological phenomena and processes.

We engage in a shared process of reflexivity of our doctoral research experiences to show the potential of social science beyond its predominant positivist applications in the conservation science and ecology literature. We each discuss our experiences of our social science research endeavours in the context of private land conservation. We then distil our experiences into three themes that aim to advance social science engagement for conservation scientists: the partiality of knowledge, situating research within socio‐ecological context and researcher positionality.

We conclude by acknowledging that as researchers we are not the exclusive authority on knowledge; that a deep understanding of conservation and ecology challenges might not provide simple or reducible answers that can be abstracted and applied universally; and that we must reflect on the possibilities for a more plural and diverse research practice for conservation and ecology through a wider engagement with the social sciences.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Double‐conditioning regimen consisting of high‐dose thiotepa and melphalan with autologous stem cell rescue for high‐risk pediatric solid tumors: A second report
Authors: Okada Keiko , Yamasaki Kai , Nitani Chika , Fujisaki Hiroyuki , Osugi Yuko , Hara Junichi
Published: August 2019

Background

Pediatric patients with high‐risk, relapsed, or refractory solid tumors have a poor prognosis. We have previously reported a dose‐finding experience of high‐dose chemotherapy consisting of thiotepa and melphalan (“double‐conditioning regimen”). Using doses derived from that study, we have treated patients since 2005. We now report a retrospective review of patients treated by this fixed dose.

Procedure

We reviewed 50 patients (median 4 years; range 0–15 years) with high‐risk or relapsed/refractory solid tumors treated by this dose‐fixed, double‐conditioning regimen from April 2005 to May 2014. Doses were thiotepa 800 mg/m2 and melphalan 280 mg/m2 for children ≥2 years of age, and 32 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg, respectively, for children <2 years of age. Further, doses were reduced according to creatinine clearance with poor renal function.

Results

Nonhematological toxicity was mainly gastrointestinal—grade 3 mucositis (n = 41) and grade 3–4 diarrhea (n = 10). Neurological, renal, and endothelial cell toxicity and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome were not observed. There were two toxic deaths (interstitial viral pneumonia). This regimen demonstrated antitumor activity against several types of tumors. Although the frequency of gastrointestinal toxicity was high, other severe toxicity was not observed.

Conclusions

Our double‐conditioning regimen was very well tolerated and demonstrated antitumor activity. We are moving forward with multi‐institutional trials now.
Pregnant women with confirmed neoplasms should not have noninvasive prenatal testing
Authors: Lenaerts Liesbeth , Van Calsteren Kristel , Che Huiwen , Vermeesch Joris Robert , Amant Frédéric
Published: August 2019

What's already known about this topic?

Incidental diagnoses of an occult maternal malignancy have been reported upon aberrant routine noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT).

The presence of tumor‐derived cell‐free DNA in the maternal circulation can skew the NIPT profile.

What does this study add?

Pregnant women with a confirmed neoplastic disease should not have NIPT testing for fetal aneuploidy screening since NIPT results cannot accurately be applied to assess the fetal chromosomal constitution in this condition.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or noninvasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV‐NAVA) for preterm infants with respiratory distress after birth: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yagui Ana C. , Meneses Jucille , Zólio Bianca A. , Brito Gabriela M. G. , da Silva Rafael Justino , Rebello Celso M.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To compare rates of treatment failure between the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and noninvasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV‐NAVA) in infants with respiratory distress after birth.

Methods

A randomized, unblinded, double‐center trial was conducted in infants with birth weights (BWs) less than or equal to 1500 g and respiratory distress receiving noninvasive respiratory support for less than or equal to 48 hours of life; some infants were initially treated with minimally invasive surfactant therapy as the standard of care. Primary outcome: need for endotracheal intubation with use of mechanical ventilation (MV) at less than or equal to 72 hours of life using prespecified failure criteria. Secondary outcomes: use of surfactant, duration of noninvasive support, duration of MV, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and death.

Results

A total of 123 infants were included (NCPAP group = 64 and NIV‐NAVA group = 59). Population characteristics were similar between groups. No difference in the primary outcome was observed: NCPAP = 10 (15.6%) and NIV‐NAVA = 12 (20.3%), P = .65. Groups were also similar in the use of surfactant (19 vs 17), duration of noninvasive support (147 ± 181 hours vs 127 ± 137 hours), BPD incidence and death. However, duration of MV was significantly longer in NCPAP group (95.6 ± 45.8 hours vs 28.25 ± 34.1 hour), P = .01.

Conclusion

In infants with respiratory distress after birth, no differences in treatment failures were observed between NIV‐NAVA and NCPAP. These results require further evaluation in a larger study.
Breast cancer risk associated with antipsychotic use
Authors: Lam Y. W. Francis
Published: August 2019

The etiology of breast cancer is complicated and not fully understood. In addition to genetic influences, however, it is believed that disturbances in the secretion of prolactin, which regulates differentiation, proliferation, and survival of mammary gland epithelial cells, could play a role.
Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of aristolochic acids in soil samples collected from Serbia: Link to Balkan endemic nephropathy
Authors: Chan Chi‐Kong , Chan K.K. Jason , Pavlović Nikola M. , Chan Wan
Published: August 2019

Rationale

Over the past six decades, residents of farming villages in multiple countries of the Balkan peninsula have been suffering from a unique type of chronic renal disease, Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). It was speculated that environmental pollution by aristolochic acids (AAs) produced naturally by Aristolochia clematitis L., a weed that grows in the area, was causing the disease. However, the human exposure pathway to this class of phytotoxin remains obscure. Knowledge of the sink and stability of AAs in the environment would assist in the formulation of policy reducing exposure risk.

Methods

Using our newly developed liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method of high sensitivity and selectivity, we analysed over 130 soil samples collected from cultivation fields in southern Serbia for the presence of AAs. The environmental stability of AAs was also investigated by incubating soil samples spiked with AAs at various temperatures.

Results

The analysis detected AA‐I in over two‐fifths of the tested samples at sub‐μg/kg to μg/kg levels, with higher concentrations observed in more acidic farmland soil. Furthermore, analysis of soil samples incubated at various temperatures revealed half‐lives of over 2 months, indicating that AAs are relatively resistant to degradation.

Conclusions

Cultivation soil in southern Serbia is being extensively contaminated with AAs released from the decomposition of A. clematitis weeds. Since AAs are resistant to degradation, it is possible that AAs could have been taken up by root absorption and transported to the edible part of food crops. Prolonged exposure to AA‐contaminated food grown from polluted soil could be one of the main aetiological mechanisms of BEN observed in the area.
Solar X‐Ray Physics
Authors: BORNMANN P. L.
Published: August 2019

This is a review of the research in solar x‐ray phenomena that has been done by American scientists in the last four years. This research ranges from new instrumentation, such as multilayer mirrors and high spectral resolution detectors, to refined theories and observations of the flare process. Contributions have been made in our understanding of x‐ray bright points, solar active regions, solar flares, and flare‐associated phenomena. The hard x‐ray spectra during the impulsive phase of solar flares have been examined in greater detail and found, among other things, to fit a double power law. Models for the hard x‐ray emissions have focused largely on electron acceleration by field‐aligned currents, although other models such as proton beams, waves, and neutral beams have also been investigated. Correlations between the hard x‐ray emission and radio, ultraviolet, and gamma‐ray emissions have been used to provide additional constraints on the flare models. The process known as chromospheric evaporation, which is seen as blueshifts of the soft x‐ray line profiles, has been explored through further analysis of the observations and the development of new models. New atomic calculations have been performed so that further information about the plasma properties during the decay phase of solar flares can be derived from the soft x‐ray line emissions. Spatially resolved observations have been used to identify new x‐ray features such as flaring arches and giant post‐flare arches. Other topics of investigation included the energy in solar flares and the long‐term variations in solar indices, the 155‐day periodicity of solar flares, and the distribution of flares on the solar disk. Finally, associations have been made between the solar x‐ray emission and the phenomena of coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particles, as well as the effect of this radiation on the earth's upper atmosphere.
“You are the architect of your own success”: Selling financial freedom through real estate investment after the foreclosure crisis of 2008
Authors: Youngling Elizabeth
Published: August 2019

After the U.S. foreclosure crisis of 2008, residential real estate investment became a dubious financial strategy. But in the real estate investment seminars I attended in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs in 2014 and 2015, the housing market's recent collapse was being repackaged into a space for ordinary people to seize financial freedom and find opportunity in the wake of crisis. This article explores how real estate seminar speakers use the long‐standing cultural and economic valorization of residential real estate and the reality television–driven approachability of house flipping to turn the grim inequities the crisis produced into a platform for selling insider knowledge to people with limited financial resources and experience. I argue that the seminars offer a window into understanding how market logics of taking on risk to build wealth circulate and become incorporated into the financial subjectivities and dreams of both investors and ordinary people. Seminar speakers insist that just as devalued homes can become valuable assets, passive workers can transform themselves into empowered market makers. Their framings speak to the pervasive power of rags‐to‐riches stories in the United States and to the cyclical nature of market making and dissolution under capitalism.
Stereoselective Reducing Complexes Supported in Solid Phase: Preparation and Reactivity Study
Authors: Vargas‐Durazo Judas , Aguilar‐Martínez Milagros , Ochoa‐Terán Adrian , Santacruz‐Ortega Hisila , Alonzo Fernando Rocha , Meza Nohemi Gamez , Galvez‐Ruiz Juan Carlos
Published: August 2019

Twelve new chiral chelating resins have been prepared using solid phase organic synthesis with the Merrifield and Wang resins and the bidentate amine 1,2‐ethylenediamine, followed by the coupling of asymmetric ketones such as 1‐phenyletanone, 4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone 4‐nitroacetophenone and 4‐methoxyacetophenone to form prochiral imines. The enantioselective reduction with borane and (R)‐(+)‐2‐Methyl‐CBS‐oxazaborolidine leads to the chiral resins with yields greater than 86%. We used these chiral resins to prepare 24 reducing complexes with alkali tetrahydroborates in a very simple way giving yields greater than 87%. Finally, we achieved a preliminary enantioselective reduction of acetophenone employing the Merrifield's chiral chelating resins obtaining the corresponding S alcohol in a 70:30 ratio with the R analog alcohol.
Reducing renewable power curtailment and CO2 emissions in China through district heating storage
Authors: Zheng Wandong , Hennessy Jay J. , Li Hailong
Published: August 2019

Emissions reductions are often achieved through the increased share of renewable energy sources (RES) and China is the leader in the growth of RES in the power sector. This growth has led to high levels of curtailment of RES power due to insufficient reinforcement of the electricity grid to support such growth and due to competition with other power sources. Although the problem of curtailment has been alleviated in recent years, large amounts of power are still discarded, and it is important to consider how to address this problem in the short term and how much CO2e emissions could be avoided as a result. The use of district heating systems to reduce the curtailment of renewable power has seen increasing interest in recent years. Based on a review of potential energy storage in district heating, the current paper assesses the capability to use the national storage potential of district heating systems in China to reduce curtailment and to determine what effects that may have on avoiding CO2e emissions. The distribution networks and the thermal inertia of buildings connected to district heating are considered as two major forms of storage that can be “charged” using power that would otherwise be curtailed. The results show that there may be sufficient storage available to absorb all renewable power that is currently curtailed in those provinces using district heating during the heating season, resulting in avoided emissions of up to 14 MtCO2e/annum.

This article is categorized under:

Energy and Climate > Economics and Policy

Wind Power > Climate and Environment

Energy Infrastructure > Climate and Environment

Energy and Urban Design > Climate and Environment
Magnetized baryons and the QCD phase diagram: NJL model meets the lattice
Authors: Endrődi G. , Markó G.
Published: August 2019

Abstract

We determine the baryon spectrum of 1 + 1 + 1-flavor QCD in the presence of strong background magnetic fields using lattice simulations at physical quark masses for the first time. Our results show a splitting within multiplets according to the electric charge of the baryons and reveal, in particular, a reduction of the nucleon masses for strong magnetic fields. This first-principles input is used to define constituent quark masses and is employed to set the free parameters of the Polyakov loop-extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model in a magnetic field-dependent manner. The so constructed model is shown to exhibit inverse magnetic catalysis at high temperatures and a reduction of the transition temperature as the magnetic field grows — in line with non-perturbative lattice results. This is contrary to the naive variant of this model, which gives incorrect results for this fundamental phase diagram. Our findings demonstrate that the magnetic field dependence of the PNJL model can be reconciled with the lattice findings in a systematic way, employing solely zero-temperature first-principles input.
Pancreatectomy with Hepatic Artery Resection for Pancreatic Head Cancer
Authors: Yang Feng , Wang Xiaoyi , Jin Chen , He Hang , Fu Deliang
Published: August 2019

Background

To report our experiences and outcome of pancreatectomy with hepatic artery resection (PT‐HAR) for advanced pancreatic head cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study of clinical data from 14 patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing PT‐HAR in a tertiary academic center between March 2010 and June 2017 was performed. Furthermore, a comparison in a match‐pair analysis (1:3) with patients received standard pancreatectomy during the same period was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcome.

Results

The PT‐HAR cohort included pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 11) and total pancreatectomy (n = 3). Of them, six underwent portal/superior mesenteric vein resection and reconstruction and three underwent hepatic artery reconstruction. Four patients without arterial reconstruction developed liver perfusion failure. No perioperative mortality occurred, with a median postoperative hospital stay of 10.5 days (range 6–39). The median overall survival was 30 months (95% confidence interval 9.8–50.2 months), with the 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year survival rates of 81.8%, 63.6%, and 42.4%, respectively. The matched‐pair data analysis showed no significant differences between PT‐HAR and standard pancreatectomy, except that liver perfusion failure occurred more frequently after PT‐HAR.

Conclusions

PT‐HAR can be performed with acceptable morbidity, mortality, and survival for advanced pancreatic head cancer. Considering the potential risk of liver perfusion failure, only highly selected patients are eligible for PT‐HAR without reconstruction.
Detection and Removal of Motion Artifacts in PPG Signals
Authors: Pollreisz David , TaheriNejad Nima
Published: August 2019

With the rise of wearable devices, which integrate myriad of health-care and fitness procedures into daily life, a reliable method for measuring various bio-signals in a daily setup is more desired than ever. Many of these physiological parameters, such as Heart rate (HR) and Respiratory Rate (RR), are extracted indirectly and using other signals such as Photoplethysmograph (PPG). Part of the reason is that in some cases, such as RR measurements, the devices which directly measure them are cumbersome to wear and thus, rather impractical. On the other hand, signals, such as PPG from which the RR can be extracted, are not very clean. This poses a challenge on reliable extraction of these metrics. The most important problem is that they are corrupted by motion artifacts. In this paper, we review the state of the art algorithms which are used to detect and filter motion artifacts in PPG signals and compare them in terms of their performance. The insight provided by this paper can help the scientists and engineers to obtain a better understanding of the field and be able to use the most suitable technique for their work, or come up with innovative solutions based on existing ones.
Self-similar turbulent vortex rings: interaction of propellant gases with blood backspatter and the transport of gunshot residue
Authors: Comiskey P. M. , Yarin A. L.
Published: August 2019

Self-similar turbulent vortex rings are investigated theoretically in the framework of the semi-empirical turbulence theory for the modified Helmholtz equation. The velocity and vorticity fields are established, as well as the transport of passive admixture by turbulent vortex rings. Turbulent vortex rings of propellant gases originating from the muzzle of a gun after a gunshot are an important phenomenon to consider in crime scene reconstruction. In this work, it is shown that this has a significant repercussion on the outcome of backward blood spatter resulting from a gunshot. Turbulent vortex rings of propellant gases skew the distribution of bloodstains on the ground and can either propel blood droplets further from the target, or even turn them backwards towards the target. This is revealed through the final bloodstain locations and the respective distributions of the number of stains and their area as a function of distance from the target for two different shooter-to-target distances. An image of the propagating muzzle gases after bullet ejection is overlaid with the predicted flow field, which reveals satisfactory agreement. Gunshot residue is an important factor in determining the events of a violent crime due to a gunshot and are considered to be entrained and transported by the propellant gases. The self-similar solutions for the flow, vorticity and concentration of gunpowder particles are predicted and the results are shown to be within the measured range of a limited set of experimental data.
Spatial stability analysis of subsonic corrugated jets
Authors: Lajús F. C. , Sinha A. , Cavalieri A. V. G. , Deschamps C. J. , Colonius T.
Published: August 2019

The linear stability of high-Reynolds-number corrugated jets is investigated by solving the compressible Rayleigh equation linearized about the time-averaged flow field. A Floquet ansatz is used to account for periodicity of this base flow in the azimuthal direction. The origin of multiple unstable solutions, which are known to appear in these non-circular configurations, is traced through gradual perturbations of a parametrized base-flow profile. It is shown that all unstable modes are corrugated jet continuations of the classical Kelvin–Helmholtz modes of circular jets, highlighting that the same instability mechanism, modified by corrugations, leads to the growth of disturbances in such flows. It is found that under certain conditions the eigenvalues may form saddles in the complex plane and display axis switching in their eigenfunctions. A parametric study is also conducted to understand how penetration and number of corrugations impact stability. The effect of these geometric properties on growth rates and phase speeds of the multiple unstable modes is explored, and the results provide guidelines for the development of nozzle configurations that more effectively modify the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability.
The Xiangxiang dialect of Chinese
Authors: Zeng Ting
Published: August 2019

Xiangxiang ([ɕjaŋ44 ɕjaŋ44]) is a Chinese dialect spoken by a population of 885,552 in the urban area of Xiangxiang (CN-430381), a city located in the centre of Hunan Province, China (Jiang 2008: 6). It belongs to Xiang ([ɕjaŋ44], ISO: 639-3: [hsn]), which is one of the ten major dialect groups of Chinese (LAC 2012).1 Xiang has two main subgroups, New Xiang and Old Xiang (Zhou & You 1985, Yuan 2001), and Xiangxiang is often cited as a representative dialect of Old Xiang (H. Bao 2001, Jiang 2008).2 Rather than denoting different historical stages, ‘old’ and ‘new’ reflect more and less conservative varieties among contemporary Xiang dialect speakers. Some impressionistic descriptions of the sounds and tones of Xiangxiang dialect will be found in Chao & Wu (1974), S. Zeng (2001) and Jiang (2008).