bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Destillate (Erdöl), mit Wasserstoff behandelte leichte [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2018]
Authors: Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: February 2018

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has re‐evaluated the maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value) and the Pregnancy Risk Group of hydrotreated light petroleum distillates [
64742‐47‐8
].

Critical effect of the vapour phase of hydrotreated light petroleum distillates is CNS depression in exposed subjects. A MAK value of 50 ml/m
3
had been set taking into account the increased respiratory volume at the workplace as compared with volunteers at rest (see List of MAK and BAT values, chapters I b and I c). For the aerosol phase the critical effect is considered to be the lung toxicity seen in rats and mice. A MAK value of 5 mg/m
3
had been set as the respirable fraction (R). This value is now reaffirmed even considering the increased respiratory volume at the workplace.

Hydrotreated light petroleum distillates had been classified in Pregnancy Risk Group C because the NOAEC for developmental toxicity in rats is 400 ml/m
3
, the highest concentration tested. There is no new data on developmental toxicity. This classification is retained even considering the increased respiratory volume at the workplace.
Thin Film Condensation on Nanostructured Surfaces
Authors: Oh Junho , Zhang Runyu , Shetty Pralav P. , Krogstad Jessica A. , Braun Paul V. , Miljkovic Nenad
Published: February 2018

Water vapor condensation is a ubiquitous process in nature and industry. Over the past century, methods achieving dropwise condensation using a thin (<1 µm) hydrophobic “promoter” layer have been developed, which increases the condensation heat transfer by ten times compared to filmwise condensation. Unfortunately, implementations of dropwise condensation have been limited due to poor durability of the promoter coatings. Here, thin‐film condensation which utilizes a promoter layer not as a condensation surface, but rather to confine the condensate within a porous biphilic nanostructure, nickel inverse opals (NIO) with a thin (<20 nm) hydrophobic top layer of decomposed polyimide is developed. Filmwise condensation confined to thicknesses <10 µm is demonstrated. To test the stability of thin‐film condensation, condensation experiments are performed to show that at higher supersaturations droplets coalescing on top of the hydrophobic layer are absorbed into the superhydrophilic layer through coalescence‐induced transitions. Through detailed thermal‐hydrodynamic modeling, it is shown that thin‐film condensation has the potential to achieve heat transfer coefficients approaching ≈100 kW m−2 while avoiding durability issues by significantly reducing nucleation on the hydrophobic surface. The work presented here develops an approach to potentially ensure durable and high‐performance condensation comparable to dropwise condensation.
Lewis acid‐mediated defluorinative [3+2] cycloaddition/aromatization cascade of 2,2‐difluoroethanol systems with nitriles
Authors: Hsieh Min‐Tsang , Lee Kuo‐Hsiung , Kuo Sheng‐Chu , Lin Hui‐Chang
Published: February 2018

The properties of C−F bonds, including high thermal and chemical stability, make derivatization of organic fluorine‐containing compounds by the activation of the C−F bond and subsequent functionalization quite challenging. We herein report a Lewis acid‐mediated defluorinative cycloaddition/aromatization cascade of 2,2‐difluoroethanols with nitriles as a novel synthetic method for the preparation of 2,4,5‐trisubstituted oxazoles. This reaction, which involves cleavage of two C−F bonds and the consecutive formation of C−O and C−N bonds in a one‐pot fashion, features a broad substrate scope and moderate to high reaction yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction is initiated by the Lewis acid‐mediated ring closure of the 2,2‐difluoroethanol to produce the fluoroepoxide intermediate.

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Recent updates in the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer
Authors: Matsuda Takeru , Yamashita Kimihiro , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Oshikiri Taro , Hosono Masayoshi , Higashino Nobuhide , Yamamoto Masashi , Matsuda Yoshiko , Kanaji Shingo , Nakamura Tetsu , Suzuki Satoshi , Sumi Yasuo , Kakeji Yoshihiro
Published: February 2018

Because of recent advances in medical technology and new findings of clinical trials, treatment options for colorectal cancer are evolutionally changing, even in the last few years. Therefore, we need to update the treatment options and strategies so that patients can receive optimal and tailored treatment. The present review aimed to elucidate the recent global trends and update the surgical treatment strategies in colorectal cancer by citing the literature published in the last 2 years, namely 2016 and 2017. Although laparoscopic surgery is still considered the most common approach for the treatment of colorectal cancer, new surgical technologies such as transanal total mesorectal excision, robotic surgery, and laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection are emerging. However, with the recent evidence, superiority of the laparoscopic approach to the open approach for rectal cancer seems to be controversial. Surgeons should notice the risk of adverse outcomes associated with unfounded and uncontrolled use of these novel techniques. Many promising results are accumulating in preoperative and postoperative treatment including chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and targeted therapy. Development of new biomarkers seems to be essential for further improvement in the treatment outcomes of colorectal cancer patients.
Greatly reduced phylogenetic structure in the cultivated potato clade (Solanum section Petota pro parte)
Authors: Spooner David M. , Ruess Holly , Arbizu Carlos I. , Rodríguez Flor , Solís‐Lemus Claudia
Published: February 2018

Premise of the Study

The species boundaries of wild and cultivated potatoes are controversial, with most of the taxonomic problems in the cultivated potato clade. We here provide the first in‐depth phylogenetic study of the cultivated potato clade to explore possible causes of these problems.

Methods

We examined 131 diploid accessions, using 12 nuclear orthologs, producing an aligned data set of 14,072 DNA characters, 2171 of which are parsimony‐informative. We analyzed the data to produce phylogenies and perform concordance analysis and goodness‐of‐fit tests.

Key Results

There is good phylogenetic structure in clades traditionally referred to as clade 1+2 (North and Central American diploid potatoes exclusive of Solanum verrucosum), clade 3, and a newly discovered basal clade, but drastically reduced phylogenetic structure in clade 4, the cultivated potato clade. The results highlight a clade of species in South America not shown before, ‘neocardenasii’, sister to clade 1+2, that possesses key morphological traits typical of diploids in Mexico and Central America. Goodness‐of‐fit tests suggest potential hybridization between some species of the cultivated potato clade. However, we do not have enough phylogenetic signal with the data at hand to explicitly estimate such hybridization events with species networks methods.

Conclusions

We document the close relationships of many of the species in the cultivated potato clade, provide insight into the cause of their taxonomic problems, and support the recent reduction of species in this clade. The discovery of the neocardenasii clade forces a reevaluation of a hypothesis that section Petota originated in Mexico and Central America.
Gratitude, protective buffering, and cognitive dissonance: How families respond to pediatric whole exome sequencing in the absence of actionable results
Authors: Werner‐Lin Allison , Zaspel Lori , Carlson Mae , Mueller Rebecca , Walser Sarah A. , Desai Ria , Bernhardt Barbara A.
Published: February 2018

Clinical genome and exome sequencing (CGES) may identify variants leading to targeted management of existing conditions. Yet, CGES often fails to identify pathogenic diagnostic variants and introduces uncertainties by detecting variants of uncertain significance (VUS) and secondary findings. This study investigated how families understand findings and adjust their perspectives on CGES. As part of NIH's Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research Consortium, children were recruited from clinics at the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) and offered exome sequencing. Primary pathogenic and possibly pathogenic, and some secondary findings were returned. Investigators digitally recorded results disclosure sessions and conducted 3‐month follow up interviews with 10 adolescents and a parent. An interdisciplinary team coded all transcripts. Participants were initially disappointed with findings, yet reactions evolved within disclosure sessions and at 3‐month interviews toward acceptance and satisfaction. Families erroneously expected, and prepared extensively, to learn about risk for common conditions. During disclosure sessions, parents and adolescents varied in how they monitored and responded to each others reactions. Several misinterpreted, or overestimated, the utility of findings to attribute meaning and achieve closure for the CGES experience. Participants perceived testing as an opportunity to improve disease management despite results that did not introduce new treatments or diagnoses. Future research may examine whether families experience cognitive dissonance regarding discrepancies between expectations and findings, and how protective buffering minimizes the burden of disappointment on loved ones. As CGES is increasingly integrated into clinical care providers must contend with tempering family expectations and interpretations of findings while managing complex medical care.
Phenylselenylation of Ethers using Diphenyl Diselenide–Tributylphosphine–Molecular Oxygen System under Mild Reaction Conditions
Authors: Sano Ryota , Kudo Asaki , Tsubogo Tetsu , Uchiro Hiromi
Published: February 2018

An efficient method for phenylselenylation of ethers using a diphenyl diselenide–tributylphosphine–molecular oxygen system has been successfully developed. The reactions proceed under mild conditions in good to high yield. A plausible reaction mechanism for the phenylselenylation via C(sp3)−H activation was also proposed, and a tributylphosphonium peroxide radical was assumed as an important intermediate in the C(sp3)−H activation.
Confinement Effects on the Benzene Orientational Structure
Authors: Falkowska Marta , Bowron Daniel T. , Manyar Haresh , Youngs Tristan G. A. , Hardacre Christopher
Published: February 2018

Liquids under confinement exhibit different properties compared with their corresponding bulk phases, for example, miscibility, phase transitions, and diffusion. The underlying cause is the local ordering of molecules, which is usually only studied using pure simulation methods. Herein, we derive experimentally the structure of benzene confined in MCM‐41 using total neutron scattering measurements. The study reveals a layering of molecules across a pore, and four concentric cylindrical shells can be distinguished for a pore with the radius of 18 Å. The nanoscale confinement of the liquid has a major effect on the spatial and orientational correlations observed between the molecules, when compared with the structure of the bulk liquid. These differences are most marked for molecules in parallel configurations, and this suggests differences in chemical reactivity between the confined and bulk liquids.
Amyloid Polymorphism in the Protein Folding and Aggregation Energy Landscape
Authors: Adamcik Jozef , Mezzenga Raffaele
Published: February 2018

Protein folding involves a large number of steps and conformations in which the folding protein samples different thermodynamic states characterized by local minima. Kinetically trapped on‐ or off‐pathway intermediates are metastable folding intermediates towards the lowest absolute energy minima, which have been postulated to be the natively folded state where intramolecular interactions dominate, and the amyloid state where intermolecular interactions dominate. However, this view largely neglects the rich polymorphism found within amyloid species. We review the protein folding energy landscape in view of recent findings identifying specific transition routes among different amyloid polymorphs. Observed transitions such as twisted ribbon→crystal or helical ribbon→nanotube, and forbidden transitions such helical ribbon↛crystal, are discussed and positioned within the protein folding and aggregation energy landscape. Finally, amyloid crystals are identified as the ground state of the protein folding and aggregation energy landscape.
PCEC hydrogel used on sustained‐release hyaluronic acid delivery with lubrication effect
Authors: Guo Junde , Li Yue , Lu Hailin , Li Yu , Li Xing , Qin Liguo , Dong Guangneng
Published: February 2018

Injection of bionic synovial fluid (BSF) is a conventional method to improve the lubricity of artificial joints, but BSF cannot maintain long due to the dilution and degradation of BSF in human body. To prolong the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is the major component of BSF, this study applies a temperature‐sensitive poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCEC) hydrogel loaded with HA to achieve long‐term lubrication. In addition, Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and gel permeation chromatography spectra were used to analyze the structure of the synthetic hydrogel. Rheological test and test tube inverting method were used to characterize the thermosensitivity. The lubrication properties of the released solution were characterized by UV–vis, tribological tests, SEM, and 3D laser confocal scanning microscope. The experimental results reveal that the triblock PCEC hydrogel contains both hydrophilic block and hydrophobic block, and both PCEC and PCEC/HA hydrogels have phase‐changed effect when the temperature increases from room temperature to body temperature. Moreover, the friction coefficient of the released solution from PCEC/HA hydrogel is approximatively 38% lower than that of phosphate buffer saline. And the ability of shear resistance and creep recovery of PCEC/HA hydrogel are better than that of PCEC hydrogel. This study provides an effective approach to achieve long‐time lubrication effect for artificial joints. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46228.
Tough, stable spiroacetal thiol‐ene resin for 3D printing
Authors: Sycks Dalton G. , Wu Tiffany , Park Hyun Sang , Gall Ken
Published: February 2018

Though over 30 years old, 3D printing has seen an explosion of interest in recent years as technology has become sufficiently advanced and affordable, enabling widespread usage, and investigation of the technique as a method of manufacture. However, the materials commonly used for printing applications frequently suffer from poor mechanical properties and are only suitable for prototyping and non‐load‐bearing objects. We report a stable, tough resin formulation which incorporates spiroacetal molecules into the polymer backbone and displays widely varying and tunable mechanical properties. We characterize the system via (photo‐)DSC, rheology, and tensile testing; further, we detail a comprehensive heat treatment investigation to optimize material performance and elucidate the structure–property relationships present in the printed and non‐printed semi‐crystalline photopolymer. Annealing the material at 40 °C for 120 hours produced a tough thiol‐ene with a homogenous crystal structure. Printed samples exhibited comparable morphology their cast analogues, but suffered from reduced tensile properties as a result of interlayer adhesion. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46259.
A novel risk analysis methodology to evaluate the economic performance of a biorefinery and to quantify the economic incentives for participating biomass producers
Authors: Wang Yu , Ebadian Mahmood , Sokhansanj Shahab , Webb Erin , Zerriffi Hisham , Lau Anthony
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a novel risk analysis methodology is presented to evaluate the economic performance of a biorefinery given the volatility in the market price of the final product and the variability in the biomass delivered cost. In addition, potential economic incentives for participating biomass producers are quantified for different farm participation rates. The Monte Carlo simulation model, IBSAL‐MC, is used to estimate the biomass delivered cost distribution, and a modified risk heat map is used to visualize the expected return on investment (ROI) for various combinations of the market price of the final product and the biomass delivered cost. The developed methodology is applied to an under‐construction cellulosic sugar facility located in Sarnia, southwestern Ontario. Four farm participation rates of 20% (base‐case scenario), 30%, 40% and 50% are studied. The results show that the expected annual ROI for the base‐case scenario is estimated to be 1.3%. As the farm participation rate increases, the expected annual ROI increases from 1.3% at 20% farm participation rate to 3.4%, 4.6% and 5.1% at 30%, 40% and 50% rates, respectively. At high sugar market prices ($375–$525/tonne), the overall expected annual ROI increases to 9.5%, 11.4%, 12.6% and 13.0% in 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% farm participation rates, respectively. In this case, the economic incentives to share with biomass producers are estimated to be $14.10/dry tonne (dt), $15.77/dt and $16.33/dt by increasing the farm participation rate from 20% to 30%, 40% and 50%, respectively. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Transcranial DC stimulation modifies functional connectivity of large‐scale brain networks in abstinent methamphetamine users
Authors: Shahbabaie Alireza , Ebrahimpoor Mitra , Hariri Ali , Nitsche Michael A. , Hatami Javad , Fatemizadeh Emad , Oghabian Mohammad Ali , Ekhtiari Hamed
Published: February 2018

Background

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation tool suited to alter cortical excitability and activity via the application of weak direct electrical currents. An increasing number of studies in the addiction literature suggests thattDCSmodulates subjective self‐reported craving through stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The major goal of this study was to explore effects of bilateralDLPFCstimulation on resting state networks (RSNs) in association with drug craving modulation. We targeted three large‐scaleRSNs; the default mode network (DMN), the executive control network (ECN), and the salience network (SN).

Methods

Fifteen males were recruited after signing written informed consent. We conducted a double‐blinded sham‐controlled crossover study. Twenty‐minute “real” and “sham”tDCS(2 mA) were applied over theDLPFCon two separate days in random order. Each subject received both stimulation conditions with a 1‐week washout period. The anode and cathode electrodes were located over the right and leftDLPFC, respectively. Resting statefMRIwas acquired before and after real and sham stimulation. Subjective craving was assessed before and after eachfMRIscan. TheRSNs were identified using seed‐based analysis and were compared using a generalized linear model.

Results

Subjective craving decreased significantly after realtDCScompared to sham stimulation (p = .03). Moreover, the analysis shows significant modulation ofDMN,ECN, andSNafter realtDCScompared to sham stimulation. Additionally, alteration of subjective craving score was correlated with modified activation of the three networks.

Discussion

Given the observed alteration of the targeted functional brain networks in methamphetamine users, new potentials are highlighted fortDCSas a network intervention strategy and rsfMRIas a suitable monitoring method for these interventions.
Loss of philological purity: Hybrid vigor or mongrelism?
Authors: Neumann Paul E.
Published: February 2018

Although disparaged by philologists, hybrid words enrich technical and scientific vocabularies. They are common, so, like it or not, they are here to stay. On the other hand, where there are pre‐existing purebred compound or affixed words, they should generally be given preference over hybrids. Some adjectives (e.g., laryngeus and sphenoideus) are discussed to illustrate these recommendations. Clin. Anat. 31:771–773, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetic resonance elastography of the lumbar back muscles: A preliminary study
Authors: Creze Maud , Soubeyrand Marc , Yue Jin Long , Gagey Olivier , Maître Xavier , Bellin Marie‐France
Published: February 2018

Back pain is associated with increased lumbar paraspinal muscle (LPM) stiffness identified by manual palpation and strain elastography. Recently, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has allowed the stiffness of muscle to be characterized noninvasively in vivo, providing quantitative 3D stiffness maps (elastograms). The aim of this study was to characterize the stiffness (shear modulus, SM) of the LPM (multifidus and erector spinae) using MRE. MRE of the lumbar region was performed on seven adults in supine position. MRE was acquired in three muscular states: relaxed with outstretched legs, stretched with passive pelvis flexion, and contracted with outstretched legs and tightened trunk muscles. The mean SM was measured within a region of interest manually defined in the multifidus, erector spinae, and the entire paraspinal compartment. The intermuscular difference and the effects of stretching and contraction were assessed by ANOVA and t‐tests. At rest, the mean SM of the paraspinal compartment was 1.6 ± 0.2 kPa. It increased significantly with stretching to 1.65 ± 0.3 kPa, and with contraction to 2.0 ± 0.7 kPa. Irrespective of muscular state, the erector spinae was significantly stiffer than the multifidus. The multifidus underwent proportionally higher stiffness changes from rest to contraction and stretching. MRE can be used to measure the stiffness of the LPM in different muscular states. We hypothesize that, irrespective of posture, the erector spinae behaves as semi‐rigid beam, and ensures permanent stiffness of the spine. The multifidus behaves as an adaptable muscle that provides segmental flexibility to the spine and tunes the spine stiffness. Clin. Anat. 31:514–520, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Based Adaptive Neuro‐Fuzzy Inference System for Benzene Detection
Authors: Pannu Husanbir S. , Singh Dilbag , Malhi Avleen K.
Published: February 2018

Benzene is a carcinogen and employing hardware sensors to detect its concentration is expensive, along with limited operational efficiency. There is a relation among various atmospheric gas concentrations and therefore, some heuristic regression approaches can be applied for benzene forecasting, if given the concentration level of other gases. This paper proposes a new adaptive benzene prediction model using an improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) based adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Improved PSO enhances the performance of ANFIS by considering the multi‐objective fitness function involving accuracy, root mean squared error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (r2). The proposed technique has been tested on both publicly available air quality datasets and a real world dataset of Patiala City in India. Extensive analysis reveals that the proposed technique outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art techniques, making it well suited for building effective and economical benzene prediction models.
Head‐of‐line blocking avoidance in Slim Fly networks using deadlock‐free non‐minimal and adaptive routing
Authors: Yébenes Pedro , Escudero‐Sahuquillo Jesus ,  García Pedro J. , Quiles Francisco J. , Hoefler Torsten
Published: February 2018

Interconnection network performance is a key issue in HPC systems and datacenters, especially as their number of end nodes grows, to cope with application needs. The network topology and the routing algorithm are important factors for performance and cost. Topologies such as fat‐tree or Dragonfly were proposed to maximize network performance while reducing network resources. One of the most promising topologies is Slim Fly, which offers high network bandwidth assuring low network diameter. However, adversarial traffic and/or congestion situations may degrade Slim Fly's performance dramatically. Non‐minimal routings, such as Valiant or UGAL, can mitigate the former problem while queuing schemes can handle the latter one. In this paper, we proposed a combined mechanism to provide Slim Fly network with both non‐minimal routing and queuing schemes by using several virtual networks to guarantee deadlock freedom. Each virtual network consists of a set of virtual channels to store packets separately according to a mapping policy. This diminishes the interaction among traffic flows, thus reducing head‐of‐line blocking. The results obtained from a simulation‐based evaluation show that our proposal enhances the performance in all the traffic cases, in contrast to other mechanisms whose performance drops in certain scenarios.
Accelerated Development of the Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist ACT‐541468: Integration of a Microtracer in a First‐in‐Human Study
Authors: Muehlan Clemens , Heuberger Jules , Juif Pierre‐Eric , Croft Marie , van Gerven Joop , Dingemanse Jasper
Published: February 2018

The orexin system regulates sleep and arousal and is targeted by ACT‐541468, a new dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA). Healthy male subjects received a single oral dose of 5–200 mg to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), mass balance, metabolism, and absolute bioavailability utilizing a 14C‐labeled, orally and intravenously (i.v.) administered microtracer. The drug was safe and well tolerated; the PK profile was characterized by quick absorption and elimination, with median time to reach maximum concentration (tmax) of 0.8–2.8 h and geometric mean terminal half‐life (t1/2) of 5.9–8.8 h. Clear dose‐related effects on the central nervous system were observed at ≥25 mg, indicating a suitable PK‐PD profile for a sleep‐promoting drug, allowing for rapid onset and duration of action limited to the intended use. This comprehensive first‐in‐human study created a wealth of data, while saving resources in drug development.
Molecular analyses of two bacterial sampling methods in ligature‐induced periodontitis in rats
Authors: Fontana Carla Raquel , Grecco Clovis , Bagnato Vanderlei Salvador , de Freitas Laura Marise , Boussios Constantinos I. , Soukos Nikolaos S.
Published: February 2018

The prevalence profile of periodontal pathogens in dental plaque can vary as a function of the detection method; however, the sampling technique may also play a role in determining dental plaque microbial profiles. We sought to determine the bacterial composition comparing two sampling methods, one well stablished and a new one proposed here. In this study, a ligature‐induced periodontitis model was used in 30 rats. Twenty‐seven days later, ligatures were removed and microbiological samples were obtained directly from the ligatures as well as from the periodontal pockets using absorbent paper points. Microbial analysis was performed using DNA probes to a panel of 40 periodontal species in the checkerboard assay. The bacterial composition patterns were similar for both sampling methods. However, detection levels for all species were markedly higher for ligatures compared with paper points. Ligature samples provided more bacterial counts than paper points, suggesting that the technique for induction of periodontitis could also be applied for sampling in rats. Our findings may be helpful in designing studies of induced periodontal disease‐associated microbiota.
Heart failure: a weak link in CHA2DS2‐VASc
Authors: Friberg Leif , Lund Lars H.
Published: February 2018

Aims

In atrial fibrillation, stroke risk is assessed by the CHA2DS2‐VASc score. Heart failure is included in CHA2DS2‐VASc, but the rationale is uncertain. Our objective was to test if heart failure is a risk factor for stroke, independent of other risk factors in CHA2DS2‐VASc.

Methods and results

We studied 300 839 patients with atrial fibrillation in the Swedish Patient Register 2005–11. Three definitions of heart failure were used in order to assess the robustness of the results. In the main analysis, heart failure was defined by a hospital discharge diagnosis of heart failure as first or second diagnosis and a filled prescription of a diuretic within 3 months before index + 30 days. The second definition counted first or second discharge diagnoses <1 year before index + 30 days and the third definition any heart failure diagnosis in open or hospital care before index + 30 days. Associations with outcomes were assessed with multivariable Cox analyses. Patients with heart failure were older (80.5 vs. 74.0 years, P < 0.001) and had higher CHA2DS2‐VASc score (4.4 vs. 2.7, P < 0.001). The 1 year incidence of ischaemic stroke without warfarin was 4.4% with heart failure and 3.1% without. Adjustment for the cofactors in CHA2DS2‐VASc eradicated the difference in stroke risk between patients with and without heart failure (hazard ratio 1.01 with 95% confidence interval 0.96–1.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for CHA2DS2‐VASc was not improved by points for heart failure.

Conclusions

A clinical diagnosis of heart failure was not an independent risk factor for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, which may have implications for anticoagulation management.
Storage Stability of DHA in Enriched Liquid Eggs
Authors: Klensporf‐Pawlik Dorota , Aladedunye Felix , Przybylski Roman
Published: February 2018

The oxidative stability of liquid eggs enriched with very long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids and liquid regular eggs stored under refrigerated temperature, is investigated. Oxidized lipids can alter both nutritional and sensorial properties of foods. The extent of lipid oxidation is evaluated by quantification of total lipids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and peroxide value (PV), but also by assessment of total tocopherols and γ‐tocopherol losses. Additionally, the development of fishy off‐flavor is evaluated. Results highlight significant differences between omega and regular liquid eggs stability. Although, the oxidative changes are observed in both types of liquid eggs, more susceptible to oxidation are omega liquid eggs.

Practical Applications: Food enrichment with essential nutrients contributes to human health by providing the proper intake of essential nutrients. The results of this study suggest that fortification of eggs with highly unsaturated fatty acids should be in conjunction with the addition of natural antioxidants to retard undergoing oxidative changes.

Liquid omega eggs are, unfortunately, more susceptible to oxidation than regular liquid eggs under simulated long time storage. The high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids improved their nutrition value but at the same time these products are less stable and unfavorable changes are more prominent. Therefore, the very long chain fatty acids in liquid omega eggs should be protected from undergoing deterioration. Although, the liquid omega eggs samples are stored at refrigerated temperature, significant changes are observed. The storage period led to a modification of the odor of liquid omega eggs, the increase in the fishy odor intensity is noticeable. And for the consumer, off‐flavor is generally the first factor which will make the product unacceptable.
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels
Authors: Dolgova Svetlana , Popp Brian N. , Courtoreille Kevin , Espie Richard H.M. , Maclean Bruce , McMaster Mark , Straka Jason R. , Tetreault Gerald R. , Wilkie Steve , Hebert Craig E.
Published: February 2018

Levels of biomagnifying contaminants are greatest in high–trophic level biota (e.g., predatory birds such as gulls). Gull eggs have been used to assess contaminant spatial patterns and sources, but such assessments must consider how organism trophic position may influence spatial inferences. Stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) in bulk tissue are routinely used in this context. However, bulk δ15N values are only useful if spatial differences in baseline δ15N values are considered. Amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis can generate estimates of baseline δ15N values and trophic position from the same sample. In the present study, eggs (n = 428) of California (Larus californicus), herring (Larus argentatus smithsonianus), and ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) gulls were used to assess spatial patterns in mercury (Hg) availability in 12 western Canadian lakes located over 14 degrees of latitude, with amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis adjustment of egg Hg levels for trophic position. Mean trophic position–adjusted egg Hg levels (micrograms per gram, dry wt) were greatest at sites in receiving waters of the Athabasca River (X¯ = 0.70) compared to southern (X¯ = 0.39) and northern (X¯ = 0.50) regions. Research is required to investigate factors (e.g., local Hg released as a result of human activities, processes influencing Hg methylation) which may be responsible for greater Hg availability in the lower Athabasca River basin. However, it is clear that amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool for assessing contaminant spatial patterns. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1466–1475. © 2018 SETAC

Abstract
Augmented upwind numerical schemes for the groundwater transport advection‐dispersion equation with local operators
Authors: Allwright A. , Atangana A.
Published: February 2018

When solute transport is advection‐dominated, the advection‐dispersion equation approximates to a hyperbolic‐type partial differential equation, and finite difference and finite element numerical approximation methods become prone to artificial oscillations. The upwind scheme serves to correct these responses to produce a more realistic solution. The upwind scheme is reviewed and then applied to the advection‐dispersion equation with local operators for the first‐order upwinding numerical approximation scheme. The traditional explicit and implicit schemes, as well as the Crank‐Nicolson scheme, are developed and analyzed for numerical stability to form a comparison base. Two new numerical approximation schemes are then proposed, namely, upwind–Crank‐Nicolson scheme, where only for the advection term is applied, and weighted upwind‐downwind scheme. These newly developed schemes are analyzed for numerical stability and compared to the traditional schemes. It was found that an upwind–Crank‐Nicolson scheme is appropriate if the Crank‐Nicolson scheme is only applied to the advection term of the advection‐dispersion equation. Furthermore, the proposed explicit weighted upwind‐downwind finite difference numerical scheme is an improvement on the traditional explicit first‐order upwind scheme, whereas the implicit weighted first‐order upwind‐downwind finite difference numerical scheme is stable under all assumptions when the appropriate weighting factor (θ) is assigned.
Physicochemical evaluation of sausages prepared by lantern fish (Benthosema pterotum) protein isolate
Authors: Moosavi‐Nasab Marzieh , Mohammadi Rezvan , Oliyaei Najme
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this study was to show how sausages produced with lantern fish (Benthosema pterotum) protein isolate at two levels 4% (sample A) and 2% (sample B), and then, the physicochemical and sensory properties of sausages (A and B) were determined during the storage (14, 30, and 60 days) at 4°C. Firstly, fish protein isolate (FPI) prepared at alkaline pH (12). It was found that the acidic value, peroxide value (PV), and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value of sausages increased during the storage. The highest level of TBA value was found at the second month of storage as 0.51 mg malonaldehyde/kg. The PV and acidic value reached to 9.45 meq/kg and 4.82 at the end of storage, respectively. Moreover, the stiffness, adherence, and springiness were assessed by texture profile analysis which was found sausages containing FPI had stronger texture and structure compared to control sample. The SDS–PAGE analysis identified the proteins from 15.4 to 202.3 kDa, which exhibit no major differences in protein patterns of two types of sausages. Furthermore, sensory evaluation diagnostic was carried out in terms of the sensory attributes such as texture, flavor, odor, color, and overall acceptability, and the results indicated the greatest overall acceptability in samples containing 2% FPI.
TBM tunnelling under the Suez Canal – Port Said tunnels in challenging ground conditions
Authors: Rizos Dimitrios , Williams Derek , Fouda Ahmed , Amin Tarek , Aboudshiesh Mohamed , Nicola Anis Dimitry
Published: February 2018

The Port Said Tunnels Project consists of twin road tunnels crossing the Suez Canal with a planned capacity of 2,100 mixed vehicles/hour in each direction. The dual carriageway tunnels are an important part of the Suez Canal Region Development Plan, which will connect the Sinai with other Egyptian provinces to provide a gateway for investment opportunities and speed up the development of Sinai province. The project is located 19 km south of Port Said city, near the northern entrance of the Suez Canal. The tunnels are constructed using slurry shield TBMs in difficult ground conditions, including the presence of methane gas. This paper demonstrates the main challenges encountered during tunnelling and the measures taken to mitigate potential risks during construction and to control long‐term differential settlements in the upper, very soft soil. The tunnels are connected by two cross passages which are being constructed using ground freezing and conventional tunnelling.
Intestinal T‐cell lymphoma with enteropathy‐associated T‐cell lymphoma‐like features arising in the setting of adult autoimmune enteropathy
Authors: Ciccocioppo Rachele , Croci Giorgio A. , Biagi Federico , Vanoli Alessandro , Alvisi Costanza , Cavenaghi Giorgio , Riboni Roberta , Arra Mariarosa , Gobbi Paolo G. , Paulli Marco , Corazza Gino R.
Published: February 2018

Enteropathy‐associated T‐cell lymphoma is regarded as a dismal, late complication of coeliac disease, though a single case of T‐cell lymphoma with such features arising in the setting of autoimmune enteropathy of the adult has been reported to date. We aim to describe the case of a 41‐year‐old woman complaining of severe malabsorption syndrome, who was diagnosed with autoimmune enteropathy based on the presence of flat intestinal mucosa unresponsive to any dietary restriction and positivity for enterocyte autoantibodies. Steroid therapy led to a complete recovery of both mucosal and clinical findings over 12 years, when disease relapse was accompanied by the appearance of monoclonal rearrangement of T‐cell receptor‐γ and peculiar T‐cell phenotypic abnormalities, leading to a rapid transition to an overt T‐cell lymphoma with features of the enteropathy‐associated subtype. Despite intensive treatment, the patient developed cerebral metastasis and died 9 months later. Our case enhances the concept of enteropathy‐associated T‐cell lymphoma as a disease that may arise in the setting of enteropathies other than coeliac disease, thus representing a heterogeneous entity. Moreover, our observations support the need of a close follow‐up of these patients, coupled with comprehensive characterization of mucosal biopsies.
“Zweckoptimismus” and the Paris process will not save the world from climate catastrophe
Authors: Clémençon Raymond
Published: February 2018

Politicians, government officials, business representatives, and nongovernmental climate activists all in various ways emphasize what they see as progress being made in the aftermath of the Paris Agreement, even if they continue to warn of the dire consequences of business as usual. Indeed, there is no lack of encouraging private and public sector initiatives on climate change. Some macro trends seem to be moving in the right direction, as well. But, closer scrutiny shows that these positive trends are still far from adding up to the necessary fundamental shift in the global energy economy. Furthermore, the public may greatly overestimate the advancement of renewable solar and wind energy technology, which contributes to a false sense of progress and lessens political urgency. Without determined and reinvigorated political leadership from the European Union (EU), there is little hope that necessary emission reduction goals to stay below 2 °C above preindustrial levels can be met. The EU has driven international climate policy from the beginning of climate negotiations, and there is unfortunately no other source of leadership in sight. It will require difficult political decisions to be taken sooner rather than later to force a much quicker domestic energy transition and to raise financing to help developing countries with their own energy transition and adaptation to a rapidly warming world. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:198–201. © 2018 SETAC

Key Points

The Paris Agreement is a noteworthy achievement compared with languishing international negotiations in other areas, but its only legally binding provision is a commitment to a process to review and revise the adequacy of the voluntary nationally determined commitments. By the end of 2016, solar and wind contributed only about 1% of the world's total primary energy consumption and 5.5% of the world's total electricity consumption, significantly below public perception. A massive mobilization of resources is needed to help developing countries leapfrog into the green energy transition and grow their economies sustainably.
DR4 mediates the progression, invasion, metastasis and survival of colorectal cancer through the Sp1/NF1 switch axis on genomic locus
Authors: Wu Shenshen , Meng Qingtao , Zhang Chengcheng , Sun Hao , Lu Runze , Gao Na , Yang Hongbao , Li Xiaobo , Aschner Michael , Chen Rui
Published: February 2018

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), −397G > T (rs13278062) polymorphism, in the promoter of Death Receptor 4 (DR4) had been reported to be associated with a significantly increased risk for bladder cancer. However, the association of this SNP with the risk of colorectal cancer has not been reported. In this study, we performed a case–control study in 1,078 colorectal cancer patients and 1,175 matched healthy controls to evaluate the association of the potential functional genetic variants in DR4 with risk and survival of colorectal cancer. PCR‐TaqMan were used to genotype the rs13278062, rs1000294 and rs2235126 polymorphisms. We found that subjects carrying the rs13278062 GT/TT genotypes had a significantly lower risk and increased survival time when compared to the GG genotype. We also constructed the rs13278062 GT/TT genotype in SW480 and SW620 cells (rs13278062 is GG in both cell lines) with the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Flow cytometry experiments showed that the rs13278062 TT genotype promoted apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments established that the rs13278062 G to T mutation inhibited carcinogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that the rs13278062 G > T polymorphism altered the binding affinity of the transcription factors Sp1/NF1 to the rs13278062 mutation region. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and qPCR corroborated that the rs13278062 GT/TT genotypes increased the expression of DR4 protein in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. In conclusion, these findings indicate that DR4 mediated progression, invasion, metastasis and survival of colorectal cancer via the Sp1/NF1 switch axis on genomics locus.
J-Shaped Association Between Postoperative Levothyroxine Dosage and Fracture Risk in Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Shin Dong Wook , Suh Beomseok , Lim Hyunsun , Yun Jae Moon , Song Sun Ok , Park Youngmin
Published: February 2018

Long-term administration of supraphysiologic dosages of levothyroxine can have detrimental effect on the bone. We aimed to investigate fracture incidence among post-thyroidectomy thyroid cancer patients compared with a matched comparison group, and explore the association between levothyroxine dosage and fracture risk. From the Korean National Health Insurance database, virtually all thyroid cancer patients who received thyroidectomy in Korea from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2012 were included. Matched subjects were selected by 1:1 propensity score matching. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine relative risk of osteoporotic fracture. Of 185,956 thyroid cancer patients identified, fracture events were observed in 1096 subjects (0.56%) over a mean 4.35 years of follow-up. Compared to the matched comparison group, thyroid cancer patients had no elevated risk of osteoporotic fracture (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94 to 1.12); however, the highest dosage group (≥170 μg/day) showed significantly higher risk (HR 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.45), while the second quartile dosage group (115-144 μg/day) showed lower risk (HR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.84) compared to a matched comparison group. When the second quartile dosage group was considered as reference, increased fracture risk was observed in those who took either lower (first quartile: adjusted HR 1.31; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.59) or higher dosage of levothyroxine (third quartile: adjusted HR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.79; fourth quartile: adjusted HR 1.79; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.13). Thyroid cancer patients were more likely to be treated with osteoporosis medication (HR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.26) than the matched comparison group. Both high and low dosage of levothyroxine treatment was associated with a higher risk for fractures in a J-shaped dose-dependent manner in post-thyroidectomy patients. Future studies are needed to determine how to optimize thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression and how to screen and manage fracture risk. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Navigating the First Semester: An Exploration of Short‐Term Changes in Motivational Beliefs Among Engineering Undergraduates
Authors: Snyder Kate E. , Barr Sebastian M. , Honken Nora B. , Pittard Caroline M. , Ralston Patricia A. S.
Published: February 2018

Background

The first semester in undergraduate engineering is often challenging for students, making this a potentially fruitful time period for exploring motivational changes and relations between motivational beliefs and achievement.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The purpose of the current study was to examine changes in implicit beliefs about intelligence and effort beliefs across the first semester of undergraduate engineering education, to investigate how these beliefs may contribute to first‐semester achievement, and to explore changes in students’ perceptions of the relative contributions of effort and ability/intelligence to grades.

Design/Method

Data from first‐time, full‐time engineering undergraduates at a large Midwestern university were collected at Weeks 1 and 13 of the first semester. Analyses were replicated across two cohorts (2013 and 2014).

Results

On average, students entered and ended the semester with relatively incremental and positive effort beliefs. Surprisingly, incremental beliefs did not predict grade point average (GPA). Positive effort beliefs were associated with GPA in both cohorts. Findings regarding the role that perceived effort plays in achievement were replicated across cohorts. The average trajectory was as follows: at Week 1, students perceived that ability/intelligence was the primary contributor to high school achievement but anticipated that effort would play a greater role in undergraduate coursework; at Week 13, students on average reflected that the role of effort was less than originally anticipated.

Conclusion

Although implicit beliefs about intelligence and effort beliefs remained fairly stable across the first semester, students in both cohorts exhibited similar shifts in perceptions of the importance of effort (relative to ability/intelligence) for academic success.