bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin is expressed in human corneal stromal cells and secreted upon protease‐activated receptor 1 activation
Authors: Yin Hongbo , Tian Yan , Luo Rongying , Deng Yingping
Published: June 2017

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin‐7 (IL‐7) like cytokine that triggers inflammatory responses through activating dendritic cell. It is demonstrated to be involved in a number of disorders, including cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In addition, TSLP is also found to be able to induce itch sensation by directly activating the itch sensory neurons. The expression of human TSLP is detected in various tissues such as heart, liver, testis, and prostate. In this study, we report that TSLP was expressed in the human corneal stromal cells, the highly specialized cells that are critical for the function of the cornea. Furthermore, we found that activation of the protease‐activated receptor 1 (PAR1) induced secretion of TSLP by the corneal stromal cells. Beside the canonical activator thrombin, PAR1 can also be activated by a few matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) such as MMP1 and MMP13. Since MMPs including MMP1 and MMP13 are upregulated in many corneal diseases as well as the corneal wound healing process, we proposed that TSLP might function as the link between increased protease activity and inflammatory responses or itch sensation in the corneas. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(8):606–610, 2017
UK consensus statement on the use of plerixafor to facilitate autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection to support high‐dose chemoradiotherapy for patients with malignancy
Authors: Douglas Kenneth W. , Gilleece Maria , Hayden Patrick , Hunter Hannah , Johnson Peter R. E. , Kallmeyer Charlotte , Malladi Ram K. , Paneesha Shankara , Pawson Rachel , Quinn Michael , Raj Kavita , Richardson Deborah , Robinson Stephen , Russell Nigel , Snowden John , Sureda Anna , Tholouli Eleni , Thomson Kirsty , Watts Mike , Wilson Keith M.
Published: June 2017

Plerixafor is a CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR4) antagonist that mobilizes stem cells in the peripheral blood. It is indicated (in combination with granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor [G‐CSF]) to enhance the harvest of adequate quantities of cluster differentiation (CD) 34+ cells for autologous transplantation in patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma whose cells mobilize poorly. Strategies for use include delayed re‐mobilization after a failed mobilization attempt with G‐CSF, and rescue or pre‐emptive mobilization in patients in whom mobilization with G‐CSF is likely to fail. Pre‐emptive use has the advantage that it avoids the need to re‐schedule the transplant procedure, with its attendant inconvenience, quality‐of‐life issues for the patient and cost of additional admissions to the transplant unit. UK experience from 2 major centers suggests that pre‐emptive plerixafor is associated with an incremental drug cost of less than £2000 when averaged over all patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplant. A CD34+ cell count of <15 µl−1 at the time of recovery after chemomobilization or after four days of G‐CSF treatment, or an apheresis yield of <1 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg on the first day of apheresis, could be used to predict the need for pre‐emptive plerixafor.
Last Glacial pollen–climate reconstructions from Northland, New Zealand
Authors: Newnham R.M. , Alloway B. V. , Holt K.A. , Butler K. , Rees A.B.H. , Wilmshurst J.M. , Dunbar G. , Hajdas I.
Published: June 2017

Despite wide‐ranging interest in the vegetation and climate of Northland, New Zealand, during the last glacial cycle, the region and timeframe lack quantitative climate reconstructions while land‐based pollen records have tended to be poorly dated and fragmentary. The region is also important for geochronology due to the co‐occurrence of the Rotoehu tephra, a widely dispersed isochron near the current limits of radiocarbon dating, and extensive subfossil wood remains of Agathis australis, with strong dendrochronological and dendroclimatological potential. We present new pollen records and temperature reconstructions from three sites set in coastal dune belts from western mid‐Northland (∼35°S), all containing Rotoehu tephra, that collectively span the last 70 ka. The phases and amplitude of temperature changes broadly align with those reported from elsewhere in New Zealand and with marine isotope climate–stratigraphic records, including maximum temperature depression of 6–8 °C during the last glacial maximum. We argue that these climatic patterns are intimately linked to shifts in the southern westerly wind belt, the northern margins of which extend to the region today. Correspondence between the Northland temperature shifts and atmospheric CO2 supports the model of ocean–atmosphere CO2 flux modulated by latitudinal migration of the southern westerlies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of the pigments for smoked mural by confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Fengping , Fu Xinyi , Sun Zhijun , Xu Yingqing
Published: June 2017

Smudging is one of the most serious damages of Mogao Grottoes' murals. In this paper, confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopy is adopted to investigate the smoked murals in Mogao Grottoes. The exutive fragments from the smoked murals in 71 Grotto have been analyzed. The white pigment, which is covered by a layer of black, is identified as calcite, and the black is amorphous carbon. No any other chromatic pigments were found in all exutive fragments. From which, we may speculate that the white pigment (CaCO3) is stable undergoing smoking and other chromatic pigments may have been destroyed by smoking. Based on the analysis and the records of the Mogao Grottoes' murals, a representative smoking process was designed to explore the degradation of the pigments in an imitative mural. The typical pigments, including white (aragonite), black (carbon) and red (vermilion), are analyzed from imitated smoked mural, and the results show that aragonite is stable and vermilion is damaged. It is judged that the vermilion has been destroyed by the smoking process, in which the high‐temperature smoke makes the vermilion easily react with oxygen and produce the mercury vapor and sulfur dioxide. The simulative smoking experiment is reliable and feasible for investigating the degradation process of pigments and is proposed to investigate more pigments which can supply significant and important information for the restoration and conservation of smoked murals in Mogao Grottoes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman hyperspectral imaging and analysis of fat spreads
Authors: van Dalen G. , van Velzen E. J. J. , Heussen P. C. M. , Sovago M. , van Malssen K. F. , van Duynhoven J. P. M.
Published: June 2017

The microstructure of fat spreads is of fundamental importance to their sensorial properties such as texture, mouthfeel and spreadability. Fat spreads are water in oil emulsions, with a continuous phase supported by a fat crystal network. Confocal Raman microscopy offers the possibility for the spatial mapping of the microstructure of fat spreads: It can distinguish the solid and liquid phases of the lipids and the emulsifiers present at the water–oil interface. A constraint multivariate curve resolution with an alternating least squares approach using a fixed set of pure component spectra is a suitable method to extract the spatial distribution information of each individual component present in the fat spread. A new normalization method provides semi‐quantitative concentration maps, allowing good microstructural comparison. The technique was able to determine the spatial distribution of sunflower oil, water, emulsifier and solid fat in various investigated spreads. This method can be applied to a wide range of different food emulsions such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise and salad dressings. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman bands of twisted bilayer graphene
Authors: Popov Valentin N.
Published: June 2017

A theoretical approach to the modelling of the resonant Raman scattering by phonons in twisted bilayer graphene is developed and presented. The normally very large unit cells of twisted bilayer graphene hinder the large scale calculation of the electronic, vibrational, and optical properties by microscopic models. Here, a perturbative approach within a non‐orthogonal tight‐binding model is proposed that allows for a significant reduction of the computational time for such calculations. This approach is applied to the electronic band structure, electronic density of states, dielectric function, and Raman excitation profile of the most intense first‐order Raman band – the G band – for twisted bilayer graphene with up to a few hundred carbon atoms in the unit cell. The computational scheme can easily be extended to second‐order Raman bands of twisted bilayer graphene as well. The obtained theoretical predictions can be used for characterization of twisted bilayer graphene samples, using experimental Raman data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pressure‐induced Fermi resonance between fundamental modes in 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane
Authors: Sun Chenglin , Zhao Hongliang , Liu Chunyu , Zhou Mi
Published: June 2017

Herein, in‐situ high pressure Raman spectra of 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) have been measured up to 10 GPa, and a first‐order phase transition was detected at about 2.3 GPa. An anharmonic coupling (Fermi resonance) between fundamental modes was observed. The relationship of Fermi resonance parameters (intensity ratio, coupling coefficient, frequency separation and frequency separation of unperturbed transition) with pressure was discussed. The frequency separation dominated the decay of the intensity ratio of Fermi resonance doublets, and this would be another character of anharmonic coupling between fundamental modes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeted use of LEDs in improvement of production efficiency through phytochemical enrichment
Authors: Taulavuori Erja , Taulavuori Kari , Holopainen Jarmo K , Julkunen‐Tiitto Riitta , Acar Canan , Dincer Ibrahim
Published: June 2017

Based on available literature, ecology and economy of light emitting diode (LED) lights in plant foods production were assessed and compared to high pressure sodium (HPS) and compact fluorescent light (CFL) lamps. The assessment summarises that LEDs are superior compared to other lamp types. LEDs are ideal in luminous efficiency, life span and electricity usage. Mercury, carbon dioxide and heat emissions are also lowest in comparison to HPS and CFL lamps. This indicates that LEDs are indeed economic and eco‐friendly lighting devices. The present review indicates also that LEDs have many practical benefits compared to other lamp types. In addition, they are applicable in many purposes in plant foods production. The main focus of the review is the targeted use of LEDs in order to enrich phytochemicals in plants. This is an expedient to massive improvement in production efficiency, since it diminishes the number of plants per phytochemical unit. Consequently, any other production costs (e.g. growing space, water, nutrient and transport) may be reduced markedly. Finally, 24 research articles published between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed for targeted use of LEDs in the specific, i.e. blue range (400–500 nm) of spectrum. The articles indicate that blue light is efficient in enhancing the accumulation of health beneficial phytochemicals in various species. The finding is important for global food production. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of dietary supplementation of red pepper (Schinus terebinthifoliusRaddi) essential oil on performance, small intestinal morphology and microbial counts of weanling pigs
Authors: Cairo Pedro Leon Gomes , Gois Franz Dias , Sbardella Maicon , Silveira Hebert , de Oliveira Roberto Maciel , Allaman Ivan Bezerra , Cantarelli Vinicius Souza , Costa Leandro Batista
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Many strategies, such as the antibiotic growth promoters, have been developed to improve intestinal health and performance of newly weaned piglets. Natural products such as essential oils have been scientifically recognized as growth enhancer feed additives for weanling pigs, replacing the antibiotics. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that Brazilian red pepper could replace performance‐enhancing antibiotics also in weanling pig diets. However, one experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary Brazilian red pepper essential oil or antimicrobial growth promoter on intestinal health and growth performance of weanling pigs.

RESULTS

No effects of treatments were observed on performance and organ weights (P > 0.05). Overall, both additives [red pepper essential oil (RPEO) or antibiotic (ANT)] increased gutLactobacilluscounts compared to negative control, as well as reduced villi density (P < 0.05). Animals fed diets containing 1.5 g kg−1RPEO presented the lowest incidence of diarrhea (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that essential oil from Brazilian red pepper or chlorohydroxyquinoline added in weanling pig diets affect gut microbiota and histology without affecting performance and organ weights. In addition, there was an indication that high doses of essential oil could reduce the incidence of diarrhea. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Application of high‐resolution melting analysis for authenticity testing of valuable Dendrobium commercial products
Authors: Dong Xiaoman , Jiang Chao , Yuan Yuan , Peng Daiyin , Luo Yuqin , Zhao Yuyang , Huang Luqi
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

The accurate identification of botanical origin in commercial products is important to ensure food authenticity and safety for consumers. The Dendrobium species have long been commercialised as functional food supplements and herbal medicines in Asia. Three valuable Dendrobium species, namely Dendrobium officinale, D. huoshanense and D. moniliforme, are often mutually adulterated in trade products in pursuit of higher profit.

RESULTS

In this paper, a rapid and reliable semi‐quantitative method for identifying the botanical origin of Dendrobium products in terminal markets was developed using high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis with specific primer pairs to target the trnL‐F region. The HRM analysis method detected amounts of D. moniliforme adulterants as low as 1% in D. huoshanense or D. officinale products.

CONCLUSION

The results have demonstrated that HRM analysis is a fast and effective tool for the differentiation of these Dendrobium species both for their authenticity as well as for the semi‐quantitative determination of the purity of their processed products. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction using carbon‐based adsorbents for the sensitive determination of verapamil in plasma samples coupled with capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Jouyban Abolghasem , Hamidi Samin
Published: June 2017

A dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction procedure coupled with capillary electrophoresis ultraviolet detection was developed for determination of verapamil in plasma samples. Graphene oxide/polydopamin was synthesized by a one‐step polymerization method, and graphene oxide/Fe3O4 (magnetic graphene oxide) nanocomposite was prepared by coprecipitation method. Moreover, they were fully characterized. The use of hazardous and water‐immiscible solvents was scaled down, and only 500 μL of acetone was required as the desorption solvent. The detector response concentration plots were linear in the range of 5–500 ng/mL, and the proposed method was validated according to guidelines. The precision and accuracy were less than 15%. Dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method provides a rapid, environmentally friendly, and sensitive analysis for the verapamil in patient plasma samples, which is adequate for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies.
Thalamic deep brain stimulation for orthostatic tremor: A multicenter international registry
Authors: Merola Aristide , Fasano Alfonso , Hassan Anhar , Ostrem Jill L. , Contarino Maria Fiorella , Lyons Mark , Krauss Joachim K. , Wolf Marc E. , Klassen Bryan T. , van Rootselaar Anne‐Fleur , Regidor Ignacio , Duker Andrew P. , Ondo William , Guridi Jorge , Volkmann Jens , Wagle Shukla Aparna , Mandybur George T. , Okun Michael S. , Witt Karsten , Starr Philip A. , Deuschl Günther , Espay Alberto J.
Published: June 2017

Background

We report the accumulated experience with ventral intermediate nucleus deep brain stimulation for medically refractory orthostatic tremor.

Methods

Data from 17 patients were reviewed, comparing presurgical, short‐term (0‐48 months), and long‐term (≥48 months) follow‐up. The primary end point was the composite activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living score. Secondary end points included latency of symptoms on standing and treatment‐related complications.

Results

There was a 21.6% improvement (P = 0.004) in the composite activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living score, which gradually attenuated (12.5%) in the subgroup of patients with an additional long‐term follow‐up (8 of 17). The latency of symptoms on standing significantly improved, both in the short‐term (P = 0.001) and in the long‐term (P = 0.018). Three patients obtained no/minimal benefit from the procedure.

Conclusions

Deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus was, in general, safe and well tolerated, yielding sustained benefit in selected patients with medically refractory orthostatic tremor. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
MTF and DQE enhancement using an apodized‐aperture x‐ray detector design
Authors: Nano Tomi F. , Escartin Terenz , Ismailova Elina , Karim Karim S. , Lindström Jan , Kim Ho Kyung , Cunningham Ian A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Acquisition of high‐quality x‐ray images using low patient exposures requires detectors with high detective quantum efficiency (DQE). We describe a novel apodized‐aperture pixel (AAP) design that increases high‐frequency modulation transfer function (MTF) and DQE values. The AAP design makes a separation of physical sensor elements from image pixels by using very small sensor elements (e.g., 0.010–0.025 mm) to synthesize desired larger image pixels (e.g., 0.1–0.2 mm).

Methods

A cascaded systems model of signal and noise propagation is developed to describe the benefits of the AAP approach in terms of the MTF, Wiener noise power spectrum (NPS), and DQE. The theoretical model was validated experimentally using a CMOS/CsI detector with 0.05 mm sensor elements to synthesize 0.20 mm image pixels and a clinical Se detector with 0.07 mm sensor elements to synthesize 0.28 mm pixels. A Monte Carlo study and x‐ray images of a star‐pattern and rat leg are used to visually compare AAP images.

Results

When used with a high‐resolution converter layer and sensor elements one quarter the size of image pixels, the MTF is increased by 53% and the DQE by a factor of 2.3× at the image sampling cut‐off frequency. Both simulated and demonstration images show improved detectability of high‐frequency content and removal of aliasing artifacts. Evidence of Gibbs ringing is sometimes seen near high‐contrast edges.

Conclusions

It is shown that the AAP approach preserves the MTF of the small sensor elements and attenuates frequencies above the image sampling cut‐off frequency. This has the double benefit of improving the MTF while reducing both signal and noise aliasing, resulting in an increase of the DQE at high spatial frequencies. For optimal implementation, the converter layer must have very high spatial resolution and the detector must have low readout noise.
Suprameatal urethrolysis with Martius flap for refractory bladder outflow obstruction following stress incontinence surgery in females
Authors: Oliver Janine L. , Raz Shlomo
Published: June 2017

Aims

To present our technique of suprameatal urethrolysis with Martius flap (SMUM) and outcomes of this procedure for refractory female bladder outflow obstruction (BOO).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify female patients who underwent SMUM between January 2010 and August 2016 after failed transvaginal urethrolysis (TVU) for BOO due to prior stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as patient ability to void volitionally without need for catheterization or additional surgery for BOO. Secondary outcomes assessed included perioperative outcomes, intraoperative and 30‐day complications, change in post‐void residual volume (PVR), resolution of urge urinary incontinence (UUI), incidence of recurrent SUI, and treatment for any urinary incontinence.

Results

Eleven patients were identified. After a median follow‐up of 10.8 months (range 3.1‐20.1), the procedure was successful in nine patients (82%). Postoperative median PVR was 29 cc (range 0‐425) and median change in PVR was a 280 cc (range 29‐1050) decrease (P < 0.01). Among the seven patients who required catheterization preoperatively, five patients (71%) recovered volitional voiding. Two patients (18%) continued to require indwelling or intermittent catheterization and underwent additional surgery for BOO. SUI recurred in one patient (9%). UUI persisted in all four patients who reported this preoperatively.

Conclusions

SMUM is successful in improving or relieving refractory BOO in this challenging patient population. After TVU, we believe that Martius flap interposition is critical to preventing recurrent fixation of the urethra to the pubic bones and thus achieving improved voiding.
Inhibition of microRNA‐500 has anti‐cancer effect through its conditional downstream target of TFPI in human prostate cancer
Authors: Cai Bing , Chen Wei , Pan Yue , Chen Hongde , Zhang Yirong , Weng Zhiliang , Li Yeping
Published: June 2017

Purpose

We investigated the prognostic potential and regulatory mechanism of microRNA‐500 (miR‐500), and human gene of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in prostate cancer.

Methods

MiR‐500 expression was assessed by qRT‐PCR in prostate cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Cancer patients’ clinicopathological factors and overall survival were analyzed according to endogenous miR‐500 level. MiR‐500 was downregulated in DU145 and VCaP cells. Its effect on prostate cancer proliferation, invasion in vitro, and tumorigenicity in vivo, were probed. Possible downstream target of miR‐500, TFPI was assessed by luciferase assay and qRT‐PCR in prostate cancer cells. In miR‐500‐downregulated DU145 and VCaP cells, TFPI was silenced to see whether it was directly involved in the regulation of miR‐500 in prostate cancer. TFPI alone was either upregulated or downregulated in DU145 and VCaP cells. Their effect on prostate cancer development was further evaluated.

Results

MiR‐500 is upregulated in both prostate cancer cells and primary tumors. In prostate cancer patients, high miR‐500 expression is associated with poor prognosis and overall survival. In DU145 and VCaP cells, miR‐500 downregulation inhibited cancer proliferation, invasion in vitro, and explant growth in vivo. TFPI was verified to be associated with miR‐500 in prostate cancer. Downregulation of TFPI reversed anti‐cancer effects of miR‐500 downregulation in prostate cancer cells. However, neither TFPI upregulation nor downregulation alone had any functional impact on prostate cancer development.

Conclusion

MiR‐500 may be a potential biomarker and molecular target in prostate cancer. TFPI may conditionally regulate prostate cancer in miR‐500‐downregualted prostate cancer cells.
Missing data in clinical trials: control‐based mean imputation and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Mehrotra Devan V. , Liu Fang , Permutt Thomas
Published: June 2017

In some randomized (drug versus placebo) clinical trials, the estimand of interest is the between‐treatment difference in population means of a clinical endpoint that is free from the confounding effects of “rescue” medication (e.g., HbA1c change from baseline at 24 weeks that would be observed without rescue medication regardless of whether or when the assigned treatment was discontinued). In such settings, a missing data problem arises if some patients prematurely discontinue from the trial or initiate rescue medication while in the trial, the latter necessitating the discarding of post‐rescue data. We caution that the commonly used mixed‐effects model repeated measures analysis with the embedded missing at random assumption can deliver an exaggerated estimate of the aforementioned estimand of interest. This happens, in part, due to implicit imputation of an overly optimistic mean for “dropouts” (i.e., patients with missing endpoint data of interest) in the drug arm. We propose an alternative approach in which the missing mean for the drug arm dropouts is explicitly replaced with either the estimated mean of the entire endpoint distribution under placebo (primary analysis) or a sequence of increasingly more conservative means within a tipping point framework (sensitivity analysis); patient‐level imputation is not required. A supplemental “dropout = failure” analysis is considered in which a common poor outcome is imputed for all dropouts followed by a between‐treatment comparison using quantile regression. All analyses address the same estimand and can adjust for baseline covariates. Three examples and simulation results are used to support our recommendations.
Assessing the recovery of fish assemblages downstream of hydrological barriers in India's Western Ghats
Authors: Atkore V. , Kelkar N. , Krishnaswamy J.
Published: June 2017

River flow regulation by dams and barrages threatens freshwater fish diversity globally. However, factors contributing to the recovery of fish communities downstream of barriers to river flow are not well understood. It is crucial to identify processes that might enable river restoration despite the presence of river barriers. In this study, we assess recovery of fish species, including endemics, downstream of large and small barriers in the Malaprabha basin in the Western Ghats of India. We define “fish species recovery” as the proportion of fish species occurring in river reaches downstream of barriers, of the species pool occurring in upstream unregulated segments with similar elevation, stream order, and habitat characteristics. As per the serial discontinuity concept, we predicted that recovery will reduce immediately after, but gradually increase with, increasing distance downstream of barriers, due to contributions from unregulated streams joining the river. As expected, fish recovery decreased immediately downstream of barriers and increased at greater distances and declined when the number of upstream barriers increased, indicating cumulative impacts. Dissolved oxygen and total alkalinity were positively and negatively correlated with both recovery and distance from barrier. Water temperature and rocky instream habitat influenced recovery positively, but independent of distance from barriers. Recovery of fish species, including Western Ghats endemics, was promising even under the current level of river regulation in the area, mainly due to connectivity with undammed tributaries. Strict limits on future stream regulation within already regulated basins will be critical for conservation of freshwater fish biodiversity in this region.
Fish age and size distributions and species composition in a large, hydropeaking Prairie River
Authors: Enders E. C. , Watkinson D. A. , Ghamry H. , Mills K. H. , Franzin W. G.
Published: June 2017

Fluctuations in river flows result from diverse natural and/or anthropogenic causes. Hydropeaking, an important anthropogenic flow alteration, results from the rapid increase or decrease of water releases from reservoirs at hydroelectric power stations to meet variable demand for electrical power, thereby altering the flow regime of the river downstream of the hydroelectric power station. Hydropeaking causes short‐term, artificial fluctuations in flow on an hourly, daily, and/or weekly basis. The frequent and regular occurrences of these high and low flow events are fundamentally different from natural flood and drought events and may affect fish fauna. We compared the fish species composition and fish age and size distributions in the Saskatchewan River (Saskatchewan, Canada) downstream of a hydropeaking facility with results from an unaffected Reference Site situated upstream of the reservoir. Lower fish diversity was observed in the 2 downstream sites (Sites 1 and 2, number of species = 11 and 9, respectively) closest to Generating Station in comparison to Site 3 (n = 15) situated further downstream and the upstream reference site (n = 13). There was no difference in the age–length relationship of any of the fish species above and below the Generating Station suggesting that fish grew at the same rates. However, lower numbers of small‐bodied and juvenile fish were caught downstream of the Generating Station suggesting the possibility of increased mortality, decreased habitat suitability, or altered behaviour of small fish downstream of the dam. These data illustrate potential impacts of hydropeaking power stations and has management implications.
Patient‐Related Risk Factors for Postoperative Infection After Cholecystectomy
Authors: Jaafar Gona , Hammarqvist Folke , Enochsson Lars , Sandblom Gabriel
Published: June 2017

Background

The impact of patient‐related risk factors on the incidence of postoperative infection after cholecystectomy is relatively unknown.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore potential patient‐related risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) and septicaemia following cholecystectomy.

Materials and methods

All cholecystectomies registered in the Swedish national population‐based register for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks) 2006–2014 were identified. The study cohort was cross‐matched with the Swedish National Patient Register in order to obtain data on patient history and postoperative infections. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed in order to assess the impact of various comorbidities on the risk for SSI and septicaemia.

Results

A total of 94,557 procedures were registered. A SSI was seen following 5300 procedures (5.6%), and septicaemia following 661 procedures (0.7%). There was a significantly increased risk for SSI in patients with connective tissue disease (odds ratio [OR] 1.404, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.208–1.633), complicated diabetes (OR 1.435, CI 1.205–1.708), uncomplicated diabetes (OR 1.391, CI 1.264–1.530), chronic kidney disease (OR 1.788, CI 1.458–2.192), cirrhosis (OR 1.764, CI 1.268–2.454) and obesity (OR 1.630, CI 1.475–1.802). There was a significantly higher risk for septicaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (OR 3.065, CI 2.120–4.430) or cirrhosis (OR 5.016, CI 3.019–8.336).

Conclusion and discussion

Certain comorbidities have an impact on the risk for postoperative infection after cholecystectomy, especially SSI. This should be taken into account when planning the procedure and when deciding on prophylactic antibiotic treatment.
The New Coimbra Method for Recording Entheseal Changes and the Effect of Age-at-Death
Authors: Henderson C.Y. , Mariotti V. , Santos F. , Villotte S. , Wilczak C.A.
Published: June 2017

Entheseal changes have been widely used in anthropology to study activity patterns, but there is an increasing awareness that ageing is associated with these changes. The aim of this study was to test each feature of the new Coimbra method for its variability, side asymmetry and its relationship with age. In addition to this, an overall relationship with age was tested for a larger sample. Males 16 and over from the Coimbra skeletal collection of historically identified individuals were recorded using the new method (N= 260). To reduce the impact of occupation, side variability in asymmetry and age were only tested in the labourers (N= 51). All occupation groups were included to test the overall relationship with age using a random forest test. The results show that scores lack variability for many of the features and entheses. Where there is side asymmetry this is typically in favour of higher scores in the right side, excepting the biceps brachii insertion. Most of the features scored show a relationship with ageing, but this is not uniform for all features or entheses. Some features are associated with an increase in age (bone formation and erosions), while others generally occur in younger individuals (fine porosity and textural change). Logistic regression showed that ageing explains at most 44% of the variability. This alongside the side asymmetry may indicate that biomechanics has an explanatory role.
SOME DEFINABLE GALOIS THEORY AND EXAMPLES
Authors: LEÓN SÁNCHEZ OMAR , PILLAY ANAND
Published: June 2017

We make explicit certain results around the Galois correspondence in the context of definable automorphism groups, and point out the relation to some recent papers dealing with the Galois theory of algebraic differential equations when the constants are not “closed” in suitable senses. We also improve the definitions and results on generalized strongly normal extensions from [Pillay, “Differential Galois theory I”,Illinois Journal of Mathematics, 42(4), 1998], using this to give a restatement of a conjecture on almost semiabelianδ-groups from [Bertrand and Pillay, “Galois theory, functional Lindemann–Weierstrass, and Manin maps”,Pacific Journal of Mathematics, 281(1), 2016].
Human-centered design of complex systems: An experience-based approach
Authors: Boy Guy André
Published: June 2017

This position paper presents a new approach based on my experience in the evolution of human-centered design (HCD) during four decades, and how it has struggled to become a discipline in its own right in complex socio-technical systems’ creation, development and operations. The 20th century saw tremendous industrial developments based on tangible materials that were transformed and assembled to make washing machines, cars, aircraft and power plants; during its last three decades, electronics and software were incrementally added to hardware machines. Operationalization issues moved from hardware to software, making automation and user interfaces central issues. From the beginning of the 21st century, we began to do the exact opposite! Currently, we typically start a project by designing and developing technology on computers, using software only, which is later transformed into hardware (and software). I denote this shift, the ‘socio-technical inversion’. Operationalization issues are moving from software to hardware, making tangibility a central issue. Three useful conceptual models are presented: the SFAC (Structure/Function versus Abstract/Concrete) model; the NAIR (Natural/Artificial versus Cognitive/Physical) model; and the AUTOS (Artifact, User, Task, Organization and Situation) pyramid. Concepts developed in this article are based on the rationalization of a long experience in the aerospace domain.
On the accumulation sets of exponential rays
Authors: FU JIANXUN , ZHANG GAOFEI
Published: June 2017

We show that there exist non-landing exponential rays with bounded accumulation sets. By introducing folding models of certain rays, we prove that each of the corresponding accumulation sets is an indecomposable continuum containing part of the ray, an indecomposable continuum disjoint from the ray or a Jordan arc.
The set of uniquely ergodic interval exchange transformations is path-connected
Authors: CHAIKA JON , HENSEL SEBASTIAN
Published: June 2017

Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$ be a non-degenerate permutation on at least four symbols. We show that the set of uniquely ergodic interval exchange transformations with permutation $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$ is path-connected.
Strengthening ice through cyclic loading
Authors: ILIESCU DANIEL , MURDZA ANDRII , SCHULSON ERLAND M. , RENSHAW CARL E.
Published: June 2017

New experiments reveal that the flexural strength of fresh water, columnar-grained ice loaded normal to the columns may be increased by about a factor of two upon reversed cyclic loading at a frequency of ~0.1 Hz at stress amplitudes of 1.3–2.6 MPa. The effect is explained in terms of a reduction in deformation-induced stress concentration through the activation of grain boundary sliding, which is evident through boundary decohesion.
Dietary magnesium intake and fracture risk: data from a large prospective study
Authors: Veronese Nicola , Stubbs Brendon , Solmi Marco , Noale Marianna , Vaona Alberto , Demurtas Jacopo , Maggi Stefania
Published: June 2017

Research considering the relationship between dietary Mg and osteoporosis as well as fractures are sparse and conflicting. We therefore aimed to investigate Mg intake and the onset of fractures in a large cohort of American men and women involved in the Osteoarthritis Initiative over a follow-up period of 8 years. Dietary Mg intake (including that derived from supplementation) was evaluated through a FFQ at baseline and categorised using sex-specific quintiles (Q); osteoporotic fractures were evaluated through self-reported history. Overall, 3765 participants (1577 men; 2071 women) with a mean age of 60·6 (sd9·1) years were included. During follow-up, 560 individuals (198 men and 368 women) developed a new fracture. After adjusting for fourteen potential confounders at baseline and taking those with lower Mg intake as reference (Q1), men (hazard ratio (HR) 0·47; 95 % CI 0·21, 1·00,P=0·05) and women (HR 0·38; 95 % CI 0·17, 0·82,P=0·01) in the highest quintile reported a significantly lower risk for fracture. Women meeting the recommended Mg intake were at a 27 % decreased risk for future fractures. In conclusion, higher dietary Mg intake has a protective effect on future osteoporotic fractures, especially in women with a high risk for knee osteoarthritis. Those women meeting the recommended Mg intake appear to be at a lower risk for fractures.
Materials assurance through orthogonal materials measurements: X-ray fluorescence aspects
Authors: Rodriguez Mark A. , Van Benthem Mark H. , Susan Donald F. , Griego James J. M. , Yang Pin , Mowry Curtis D. , Enos David G.
Published: June 2017

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has been employed as one of several orthogonal means of screening materials to prevent counterfeit and adulterated products from entering the product stream. We document the use of principal component analysis (PCA) of XRF data on compositionally similar and dissimilar stainless steels for the purpose of testing the feasibility of employing XRF spectra to parse and bin these alloys as the same or significantly different alloy materials. The results indicate that XRF spectra can separate and assign alloys via PCA, but that important corrections for detector drift and scaling must be performed in order to achieve valid results.
The rule of law, central bank independence and price stability
Authors: NURBAYEV DANIYAR
Published: June 2017

This work empirically investigates the effect of the interaction between the rule of law and legal central bank independence (CBI) on price stability (the level of inflation and inflation volatility), employing a panel dataset that covers up to 124 countries over the period from 1970 to 2013. A new, largely complete legal CBI dataset, covering 182 countries was used for the work. The results indicate that the effect of legal CBI on price stability depends on the strength of the rule of law. Moreover, the results reveal that legal CBI has no significant effect on price stability when the rule of law is weak. The findings also show that 67% of advanced countries possess a rule of law that is strong enough to maintain price stability by increasing central bank autonomy, while only 4.5% of developing countries possess it.
Resolving mixed mechanisms of protein subdiffusion at the T cell plasma membrane
Authors: Golan Yonatan , Sherman Eilon
Published: June 2017

The plasma membrane is a complex medium where transmembrane proteins diffuse and interact to facilitate cell function. Membrane protein mobility is affected by multiple mechanisms, including crowding, trapping, medium elasticity and structure, thus limiting our ability to distinguish them in intact cells. Here we characterize the mobility and organization of a short transmembrane protein at the plasma membrane of live T cells, using single particle tracking and photoactivated-localization microscopy. Protein mobility is highly heterogeneous, subdiffusive and ergodic-like. Using mobility characteristics, we segment individual trajectories into subpopulations with distinct Gaussian step-size distributions. Particles of low-to-medium mobility consist of clusters, diffusing in a viscoelastic and fractal-like medium and are enriched at the centre of the cell footprint. Particles of high mobility undergo weak confinement and are more evenly distributed. This study presents a methodological approach to resolve simultaneous mixed subdiffusion mechanisms acting on polydispersed samples and complex media such as cell membranes.
The Timescale of Emergence and Spread of Turnip Mosaic Potyvirus
Authors: Yasaka Ryosuke , Fukagawa Hirofumi , Ikematsu Mutsumi , Soda Hiroko , Korkmaz Savas , Golnaraghi Alireza , Katis Nikolaos , Ho Simon Y. W. , Gibbs Adrian J. , Ohshima Kazusato
Published: June 2017

Plant viruses have important global impacts on crops, and identifying their centre and date of emergence is important for planning control measures. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae and is a major worldwide pathogen of brassica crops. For two decades, we have collected TuMV isolates, mostly from brassicas, in Turkey and neighbouring countries. This region is thought to be the centre of emergence of this virus. We determined the genomic sequences of 179 of these isolates and used these to estimate the timescale of the spread of this virus. Our Bayesian coalescent analyses used synonymous sites from a total of 417 novel and published whole-genome sequences. We conclude that TuMV probably originated from a virus of wild orchids in Germany and, while adapting to wild and domestic brassicas, spread via Southern Europe to Asia Minor no more than 700 years ago. The population of basal-B group TuMVs in Asia Minor is older than all other populations of this virus, including a newly discovered population in Iran. The timescale of the spread of TuMV correlates well with the establishment of agriculture in these countries.
Reduced adiposity attenuates FGF21 mediated metabolic improvements in the Siberian hamster
Authors: Lewis Jo E. , Samms Ricardo J. , Cooper Scott , Luckett Jeni C. , Perkins Alan C. , Adams Andrew C. , Tsintzas Kostas , Ebling Francis J. P.
Published: June 2017

FGF21 exerts profound metabolic effects in Siberian hamsters exposed to long day (LD) photoperiods that increase appetite and adiposity, however these effects are attenuated in short day (SD) animals that display hypophagia and reduced adiposity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the beneficial effects of a novel mimetic of FGF21 in the LD state are a consequence of increased adiposity or of the central photoperiodic state. This was achieved by investigating effects of FGF21 in aged hamsters, which is associated with reduced adiposity. In LD hamsters with increased adiposity, FGF21 lowered body weight as a result of both reduced daily food intake and increased caloric expenditure, driven by an increase in whole-body fat oxidation. However, in LD animals with reduced adiposity, the effect of FGF21 on body weight, caloric intake and fat oxidation were significantly attenuated or absent when compared to those with increased adiposity. These attenuated/absent effects were underpinned by the inability of FGF21 to increase the expression of key thermogenic genes in interscapular and visceral WAT. Our study demonstrates the efficacy of a novel FGF21 mimetic in hamsters, but reveals attenuated effects in the animal model where adiposity is reduced naturally independent of photoperiod.
Magnetic particles with perpendicular anisotropy for mechanical cancer cell destruction
Authors: Mansell Rhodri , Vemulkar Tarun , Petit Dorothée C. M. C. , Cheng Yu , Murphy Jason , Lesniak Maciej S. , Cowburn Russell P.
Published: June 2017

We demonstrate the effectiveness of out-of-plane magnetized magnetic microdiscs for cancer treatment through mechanical cell disruption under an applied rotating magnetic field. The magnetic particles are synthetic antiferromagnets formed from a repeated motif of ultrathin CoFeB/Pt layers. In-vitro studies on glioma cells are used to compare the efficiency of the CoFeB/Pt microdiscs with Py vortex microdiscs. It is found that the CoFeB/Pt microdiscs are able to damage 62 ± 3% of cancer cells compared with 12 ± 2% after applying a 10 kOe rotating field for one minute. The torques applied by each type of particle are measured and are shown to match values predicted by a simple Stoner-Wohlfarth anisotropy model, giving maximum values of 20 fNm for the CoFeB/Pt and 75 fNm for the Py vortex particles. The symmetry of the anisotropy is argued to be more important than the magnitude of the torque in causing effective cell destruction in these experiments. This work shows how future magnetic particles can be successfully designed for applications requiring control of applied torques.
Observed behaviours of precipitable water vapour and precipitation intensity in response to upper air profiles estimated from surface air temperature
Authors: Fujita Mikiko , Sato Tomonori
Published: June 2017

Extremely heavy precipitation affects human society and the natural environment, and its behaviour under a warming climate needs to be elucidated. Recent studies have demonstrated that observed extreme precipitation increases with surface air temperature (SAT) at approximately the Clausius–Clapeyron (CC) rate, suggesting that atmospheric water vapour content can explain the relationship between extreme precipitation and SAT. However, the relationship between atmospheric water vapour content and SAT is poorly understood due to the lack of reliable observations with sufficient spatial and temporal coverage for statistical analyses. Here, we analyse the relationship between atmospheric water vapour content and SAT using precipitable water vapour (PWV) derived from global positioning system satellites. A super-CC rate appears in hourly PWV when the SAT is below 16 °C, whereas the rate decreases at high SAT, which is different from the precipitation-SAT relationship. The effects of upper air temperature and water vapour can consistently explain the super-CC rate of PWV relative to SAT. The difference between moist and dry adiabatic lapse rates increases with SAT, in consequence of more ability to hold water vapour in the free atmosphere under higher SAT conditions; therefore, attainable PWV increases more rapidly than the CC rate as SAT increases.
Single-cell transcriptome of early embryos and cultured embryonic stem cells of cynomolgus monkeys
Authors: Nakamura Tomonori , Yabuta Yukihiro , Okamoto Ikuhiro , Sasaki Kotaro , Iwatani Chizuru , Tsuchiya Hideaki , Saitou Mitinori
Published: June 2017

In mammals, the development of pluripotency and specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) have been studied predominantly using mice as a model organism. However, divergences among mammalian species for such processes have begun to be recognized. Between humans and mice, pre-implantation development appears relatively similar, but the manner and morphology of post-implantation development are significantly different. Nevertheless, the embryogenesis just after implantation in primates, including the specification of PGCs, has been unexplored due to the difficulties in analyzing the embryos at relevant developmental stages. Here, we present a comprehensive single-cell transcriptome dataset of pre- and early post-implantation embryo cells, PGCs and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of cynomolgus monkeys as a model of higher primates. The identities of each transcriptome were also validated rigorously by other way such as immunofluorescent analysis. The information reported here will serve as a foundation for our understanding of a wide range of processes in the developmental biology of primates, including humans.