bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the ultimate limit state design proof for laterally loaded piles
Authors: Thieken Klaus , Achmus Martin , Schmoor Kirill Alexander
Published: March 2014

According to Eurocode 7, the geotechnical ultimate limit state (ULS) design proof can be provided by either a GEO‐2 or a GEO‐3 design equation. In offshore engineering applications a GEO‐3 proof is usually carried out in the design of laterally loaded piles. In Germany a GEO‐2 proof is required according to DIN 1054; this standard also describes a special procedure on how to do this. This paper compares the results of the different approaches. The p‐y method, usually used for calculating the pile load‐bearing behaviour, is validated with respect to German regulations (e.g. with DIN 4085 regarding ultimate bedding stresses). In general it was found that the p‐y method can be used in ULS design. It is further shown that the special ULS design procedure described in DIN 1054 can yield erroneous results (i.e. depending on system parameters and loading type, admissible loads may be either too small or too large). The GEO‐3 proof generally produces reasonable results, but here the actual level of safety depends on the soil parameters. This paper recommends a new and simple design procedure, which is a GEO‐2 proof but also gives correct admissible pile head loads in all cases considered and allows for the consideration of soils with strength degradation.

Zum Tragfähigkeitsnachweis für horizontal belastete Pfähle. Gemäß Eurocode 7 kann der Tragfähigkeitsnachweis (ULS) sowohl im Grenzzustand GEO‐2 als auch im Grenzzustand GEO‐3 geführt werden. Im Bereich der Offshore Anwendungen ist international der Nachweis für horizontal belastete Pfähle im Grenzzustand GEO‐3 üblich. In Deutschland ist dagegen gemäß der DIN 1054 ein Nachweis im Grenzzustand GEO‐2 vorgeschrieben, dessen spezielle Vorgehensweise zur Durchführung ebenfalls in dieser Norm dargelegt ist. Im folgenden Artikel werden die Ergebnisse dieser beiden Nachweisverfahren miteinander verglichen. Die p‐y Methode, welche üblicherweise zur Ermittlung des Lastverschiebungsverhaltens eingesetzt wird, wird unter Berücksichtigung der deutschen Regularien validiert (d.h. der maximale Bettungswiderstand wird den Ergebnissen der DIN 4085 gegenübergestellt). Hierbei kann die p‐y Methode grundsätzlich als geeignet für den Tragfähigkeitsnachweis identifiziert werden. Weiterhin kann gezeigt werden, dass die in der DIN 1054 beschriebene spezielle Vorgehensweise des Nachweises zu fehlerhaften Ergebnissen führen kann (d.h. in Abhängigkeit der Systemparameter und der Belastungsart können die zulässigen Belastungen sowohl zu klein als auch zu groß sein). Der Nachweis GEO‐3 gibt grundsätzlich plausible Ergebnisse, allerdings hängt das tatsächliche Sicherheitsniveau von den Bodenparametern ab. Der Artikel empfiehlt einen neuen und einfachen Bemessungsansatz im Grenzzustand GEO‐2, der für sämtliche Randbedingungen korrekte zulässige Pfahlkopfbelastungen ergibt. Der Ansatz erlaubt zudem auch die Berücksichtigung von Böden mit Entfestigung.
Alpha‐synuclein mRNA expression in oligodendrocytes in MSA
Authors: Asi Yasmine T. , Simpson Julie E. , Heath Paul R. , Wharton Stephen B. , Lees Andrew J. , Revesz Tamas , Houlden Henry , Holton Janice L.
Published: March 2014

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease presenting clinically with parkinsonian, cerebellar, and autonomic features. α‐Synuclein (αsyn), encoded by the gene SNCA, is the main constituent of glial cytoplasmic inclusion (GCI) found in oligodendrocytes in MSA, but the methods of its accumulation have not been established. The aim of this study is to investigate alterations in regional and cellular SNCA mRNA expression in MSA as a possible substrate for GCI formation. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed on postmortem brain samples from 15 MSA, 5 IPD, and 5 control cases to investigate regional expression in the frontal and occipital regions, dorsal putamen, pontine base, and cerebellum. For cellular expression analysis, neurons and oligodendrocytes were isolated by laser‐capture microdissection from five MSA and five control cases. SNCA mRNA expression was not significantly different between the MSA, IPD and control cases in all regions (multilevel model, P = 0.14). After adjusting for group effect, the highest expression was found in the occipital cortex while the lowest was in the putamen (multilevel model, P < 0.0001). At the cellular level, MSA oligodendrocytes expressed more SNCA than control oligodendrocytes and expression in MSA neurons was slightly lower than that in controls, however, these results did not reach statistical significance. We have demonstrated regional variations in SNCA expression, which is higher in cortical than subcortical regions. This study is the first to demonstrate SNCA mRNA expression by oligodendrocytes in human postmortem tissue using qPCR and, although not statistically significant, could suggest that this may be increased in MSA compared to controls. GLIA 2014;62:964–970
A proinvasive role for the Ca2+‐activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in malignant glioma
Authors: Turner Kathryn L. , Honasoge Avinash , Robert Stephanie M. , McFerrin Michael M. , Sontheimer Harald
Published: March 2014

Main Points

Using the NCI database, we found that upregulation of KCa3.1 correlates with poor prognosis in patients.

Pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockdown of KCa3.1 decreases glioma migration, as investigated in vitro and in situ in multiple glioma cell types, including patient‐derived xenograft‐propagated tumors.

Glioma invasion is also attenuated by shRNA knockdown of KCa3.1 in tumor cells implanted in mice in vivo.
Methylation epigenotypes and genetic features in colorectal laterally spreading tumors
Authors: Sakai Eiji , Ohata Ken , Chiba Hideyuki , Matsuhashi Nobuyuki , Doi Noriteru , Fukushima Junichi , Endo Hiroki , Takahashi Hirokazu , Tsuji Shingo , Yagi Koichi , Matsusaka Keisuke , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Nakajima Atsushi , Kaneda Atsushi
Published: March 2014

Aberrant DNA methylation plays an important role in genesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Previously, we identified Group 1 and Group 2 methylation markers through genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis, and classified CRC and protruded adenoma into three distinct clusters: high‐, intermediate‐ and low‐methylation epigenotypes. High‐methylation epigenotype strongly correlated with BRAF mutations and these aberrations were involved in the serrated pathway, whereas intermediate‐methylation epigenotype strongly correlated with KRAS mutations. Here, we investigated laterally spreading tumors (LSTs), which are flat, early CRC lesions, through quantitative methylation analysis of six Group 1 and 14 Group 2 methylation markers using pyrosequencing. Gene mutations in BRAF, KRAS and PIK3CA, and immunostaining of TP53 and CTNNB1 as well as other clinicopathological factors were also evaluated. By hierarchical clustering using methylation information, LSTs were classified into two subtypes; intermediate‐methylation epigenotype correlating with KRAS mutations (p = 9 × 10−4) and a granular morphology (LST‐G) (p = 1 × 10−7), and low‐methylation epigenotype correlating with CTNNB1 activation (p = 0.002) and a nongranular morphology (LST‐NG) (p = 1 × 10−7). Group 1 marker methylation and BRAF mutations were barely detected, suggesting that high‐methylation epigenotype was unlikely to be involved in LST development. TP53 mutations correlated significantly with malignant transformation, regardless of epigenotype or morphology type. Together, this may suggest that two molecular pathways, intermediate methylation associated with KRAS mutations and LST‐G morphology, and low methylation associated with CTNNB1 activation and LST‐NG morphology, might be involved in LST development, and that involvement of TP53 mutations could be important in both subtypes in the development from adenoma to cancer.
Association study of a functional copy number variation in the WWOX gene with risk of gliomas among Chinese people
Authors: Yu Ke , Fan Jin , Ding Xin , Li CongYang , Wang Jun , Xiang Yang , Wang Qing Song
Published: March 2014

Gliomas represents more than 80% of all malignant brain tumors. However, the etiology still remains largely unknown. Human WW domain‐containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), which is located at 16q23.1–16q23.2, the common fragile site 16D (FRA16D), an area with a high frequency of gene deletions or chromosomal alterations, has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancers. In current study, we analyzed the WWOX deletion (CNV‐67048) in a large, case–control study of 3,622 adult Chinese people (including 1,798 glioma cases and 1,824 healthy controls). All participants were genotyped using real‐time qualitative PCR (qPCR), and its biological effect was validated with mRNA expression assays. The deletion was significantly associated with glioma risk, with ORs (95% CIs) of 1.21 (1.05–1.41) associated with 1 copy deletion and 1.94 (1.37–2.75) associated with 2 copy deletion as compared with subjects with no deletion (p for trend = 8.05 × 10−6). Additional adjustments and stratified analyses did not change the results materially. The mRNA levels of WWOX in glioma tissues were significantly lower than that of their border tissues (p = 0.007), especially in the loss genotyped subjects. Our data suggest that the loss genotypes of CNV‐67048 in WWOX gene predispose their carriers to gliomas, and WWOX gene deletion may be a new biomarker for predicting risk of gliomas.
A Long Story of Sensitized One‐Electron Photo‐oxidation of Methionine
Authors: Ignasiak Marta Teresa , Marciniak Bronislaw , Houée‐Levin Chantal
Published: March 2014

The one‐electron oxidation of methionine residues in peptides and proteins has been studied for more than 20 years thanks to the time‐resolved techniques of pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis. Methionine oxidation causes highly damaging effects associated with aging processes and disease states such as Alzheimer’s or prion disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. In this Minireview, we focus on the photoinduced processes that help in the understanding of the primary processes of methionine residue oxidation. The photosensitizers were mostly derivatives of carboxybenzophenone. The methionine radical cations are stabilized by two‐center three‐electron bonds of various natures. However, despite numerous studies, data about the final product are still missing.
A Bayesian Semiparametric Competing Risk Model with Unobserved Heterogeneity
Authors: Burda Martin , Harding Matthew , Hausman Jerry
Published: March 2014

This paper generalizes existing econometric models for censored competing risks by introducing a new flexible specification based on a piecewise linear baseline hazard, time‐varying regressors, and unobserved individual heterogeneity distributed as an infinite mixture of generalized inverse Gaussian (GIG) densities, nesting the gamma kernel as a special case. A common correlated latent time effect induces dependence among risks. Our model is based on underlying latent exit decisions in continuous time while only a time interval containing the exit time is observed, as is common in economic data. We do not make the simplifying assumption of discretizing exit decisions—our competing risk model setup allows for latent exit times of different risk types to be realized within the same time period. In this setting, we derive a tractable likelihood based on scaled GIG Laplace transforms and their higher‐order derivatives. We apply our approach to analyzing the determinants of unemployment duration with exits to jobs in the same industry or a different industry among unemployment insurance recipients on nationally representative individual‐level survey data from the US Department of Labor. Our approach allows us to conduct a counterfactual policy experiment by changing the replacement rate: we find that the impact of its change on the probability of exit from unemployment is inelastic. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A first pre‐pilot system for the combined treatment of dye pollutants by electrocoagulation/EAOPs
Authors: Thiam Abdoulaye , Zhou Minghua , Brillas Enric , Sirés Ignasi
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Based on promising results obtained at laboratory scale with a two‐step electrochemical treatment of Tartrazine solutions by electrocoagulation (EC) coupled with electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), this work addresses its scale‐up to degrade 1.85 dm3 of solutions of this dye. Monopolar and bipolar configurations have been compared in EC. The effect of supporting electrolyte, pH, applied current, dye concentration and electrolysis time has been assessed.

RESULTS

Electrocoagulation with four Fe electrodes was first optimized for the treatment of 278 mg dm−3 Tartrazine solutions. The bipolar series configuration led to enhanced coagulation due to the larger electrode consumption. Solutions with 0.05 mol dm−3 NaCl at pH 6.3 were quickly decolorized with 60% total organic carbon removal, being more convenient than Na2SO4 and NaNO3 electrolytes due to the synergistic action of coagulation and oxidation by active chlorine. Among the EAOPs, carried out with a Ti/IrO2‐RuO2 anode and an air‐diffusion cathode to electrogenerate H2O2, electro‐Fenton (EF) with 0.5 mmol dm−3 Fe2+ was much better than electro‐oxidation owing to the oxidative action of active chlorine and •OH formed in the bulk from Fenton's reaction. Photoelectro‐Fenton (PEF) was even better by the additional photolysis of by‐products under incident UVA photons.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of an EC reactor in bipolar configuration for 12.5 min at 1.50 A followed by PEF treatment for 360 min at 1.50–2.00 A ensured mineralization >90%, which encourages further optimization at larger scale for the treatment of a variety of organic pollutants in real wastewaters. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Isolation of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain Z1 and its mechanism of bioleaching copper from waste printed circuit boards
Authors: Nie Hongyan , Yang Chong , Zhu Nengwu , Wu Pingxiao , Zhang Ting , Zhang Yongqing , Xing Yijia
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) are solid hazardous materials and may pose serious problems to the environment and human health. Bioleaching has been used to recover metal from waste PCBs. This study aims to isolate an effective Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain and investigate its bioleaching mechanism during the process.

RESULTS

An A. ferrooxidans strain Z1 with average 0.2307 g L−1 h−1 ferrous ion oxidation rate was isolated from self‐prepared mixed culture of acidophilic bacteria. After 7 days, 96% of the copper was extracted from metal concentrates by A. ferrooxidans at an initial Fe2+ concentration of 12 g L−1. Protons produced by the ionization of sulfuric acid and the hydrolysis Fe3+ played only a slight role in the extraction of copper. Dialysis bag experiments show 81.43% of copper was leached out by bioleaching without dialysis bag compared with 47.90% in the encapsulated bioleaching system.

CONCLUSION

An A. ferrooxidans strain with effective ferrous ion oxidation rate and high copper leaching efficiency was isolated. The extraction of copper was mainly through the indirect oxidation process via ferric ions biogenerated by A. ferrooxidans. Both contact and non‐contact mechanisms led to the dissolution of copper from waste PCBs. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Validation of a generic approach to muscle water T2 determination at 3T in fat‐infiltrated skeletal muscle
Authors: Azzabou Noura , Loureiro de Sousa Paulo , Caldas Ericky , Carlier Pierre G.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

To introduce a novel method for skeletal muscle water T2 determination in fat‐infiltrated tissues, using a tri‐exponential fit of the global muscle signal decay.

Materials and Methods

In all, 48 patients with various neuromuscular diseases were retrospectively selected and their thigh muscles analyzed. Each patient was imaged using a multispin‐echo (MSME) sequence with a 17‐echo train. The transmit field (B1+) inhomogeneities were evaluated using the actual flip angle imaging method toward voxel sorting. Muscle water T2 was quantified using a tri‐exponential signal decay model. The difference between water T2 of voxels within the same muscle but having different fat ratio was analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests. In addition, we evaluated the correlation between fat ratio and T2 values obtained using both a mono‐ and tri‐exponential approach.

Results

The results showed that muscle water T2 values obtained using a tri‐exponential approach combined with B1+ map‐based voxel sorting were independent of the fat infiltration degree inside the muscle (R2 < 0.03). This was not the case using the mono‐exponential model, which measured different T2s between voxels of the same muscle but with various fat ratio (R2 > 0.67; P < 10e−4).

Conclusion

The tri‐exponential model is an accurate tool to monitor muscle tissue disease activity devoid of bias introduced by fat infiltration. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:645–653. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hepatic fat during fasting and refeeding by MRI fat quantification
Authors: Narayan Sreenath , Flask Chris A. , Kalhan Satish C. , Wilson David L.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

To explore the sensitivity of high‐field small animal magnetic resonance imaging to dynamic changes in fat content in the liver and to characterize the effect of prandial state on imaging studies of hepatic fat.

Materials and Methods

A total of three timepoints were acquired using asymmetric spin‐echo acquisitions for 12 mice with 24‐hour spacing. After the first scan, half of the cohort was placed on a water‐only diet. The second half of the cohort continued to have access to their high‐fat chow. The scans were repeated after 24 hours. All animals were then returned to the high‐fat diet, and the scans were again repeated after 24 hours. Fat fraction maps were computed using previously described methods. Regions of interests were manually drawn in the livers and the patterns of the two groups over time were compared.

Results

Five out of six of the animals in the starved group showed an increase in hepatic fat fraction during the fasting period (average increase 0.54 ± 0.48), which decreased on refeeding. Analysis of variance indicated that the results significantly depended on both the group and the timepoint (P = 0.003).

Conclusion

Fat‐water imaging methods are able to measure hepatic fat changes caused by short‐term dietary perturbations. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:347–353.© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Trends in the daily and extreme temperatures in the Qiantang River basin, China
Authors: Xia Fang , Liu Xingmei , Xu Jianming , Wang Zhonggen , Huang Jingfeng , Brookes Philip C.
Published: March 2014

Temporal and spatial changes in the annual and seasonal temperatures in a typical basin of the Qiantang River were analysed based on the time series databases of daily temperatures from 14 meteorological stations. Both the Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test and simple linear regression analyses were employed to detect trends in the mean and extreme temperatures. The temperature changes during the three periods of 1960–1990, 1960–2000 and 1960–2006 were investigated at each meteorological station and over the entire basin as an average. The spatial and temporal changes were characterized by significant warming throughout the region, with the minimum temperature (Tn) increasing the most, particularly after 1990. Various percentiles of extreme temperatures, as well as their corresponding frequencies, were chosen to explore the trends of extreme climate change in this region. Linear regression analyses showed a significant warming trend in cold events both on an annual and seasonal basis, especially in the winter. Conversely, the hot events were dominated by an insignificant warming trend (p > 0.05). When comparing the time series before and after 1990, trend shifts were apparent in both the mean and extreme temperatures, particularly in the spring and winter. In addition to the large‐scale circulation, regional factors may have influenced the observed climate change in the studied region. Climate change has already influenced human society by, for example, increasing the frequency of haze in the study region. We conclude that the warming here is mainly attributed to changes in the minimum temperature.
Quantitative assessment of climate and human impacts on surface water resources in a typical semi‐arid watershed in the middle reaches of the Yellow River from 1985 to 2006
Authors: Hu Zhidan , Wang Lei , Wang Zhongjing , Hong Yang , Zheng Hang
Published: March 2014

The surface water resources of a typical semi‐arid watershed (Huangfuchuan) in the middle reaches of the Yellow River have drastically decreased over the past decade, which has affected the governance strategies of the entire Yellow River. The causes of the decrease in surface water are generally attributed to climate fluctuations and human activities. In this study, a distributed biosphere hydrological model the Water and Energy Budget‐based Distributed Hydrological Model (WEB‐DHM) and a Contribution Assessment method were jointly applied to diagnose and quantify climate and human impacts on the streamflow change. Long‐term hydrometeorological trends were analysed first and one major change‐point (in 1998) in the annual streamflow series was identified through the nonparametric Mann–Kendall test and the annual precipitation‐streamflow double cumulative curve method. The WEB‐DHM model was calibrated and validated over the baseline period of 1985–1998; the natural streamflow was reconstructed for the impacted period of 1999–2006. Then, the contributions of climate fluctuations and human activities to streamflow change were determined quantitatively by comparing the natural streamflow with the observed value. The mean annual streamflow significantly decreased from 34.05 mm year−1 to 13.72 mm year−1 in the baseline and impacted periods, respectively, showing a reduction of 60%. Climate fluctuations accounted for a decrease in mean annual streamflow of approximately 10.38 mm year−1 (51.03%), whereas human activities (including soil–water conservation measures, artificial water intakes and man‐made water storage infrastructure) caused a decrease of approximately 9.96 mm year−1 (48.97%). These findings are potentially helpful to support the water resources planning and management in the middle reaches of the Yellow River.
Tropical Pacific and Northern Hemisphere influences on the coherence of Pacific Decadal Oscillation reconstructions
Authors: Wise Erika K.
Published: March 2014

Proxy‐based reconstructions of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are essential for understanding pre‐instrumental variability in this low‐frequency oscillation. Multiple reconstructions of the PDO exist but demonstrate weak coherence prior to the 20th century. Analyses of atmospheric moisture and pressure patterns in teleconnected tree‐ring sites used for the reconstructions indicate that terrestrial climate impact patterns associated with northern Pacific conditions have been spatially variable over the instrumental period. Tropical Pacific and Northern Hemisphere climate modes influence these surface patterns and are reflected in the PDO reconstructions. Divergence prior to the 20th century calibration period may be due to time‐dependent nonlinearities in the PDO and changes in the influence of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation system over time.
The detection of copper resinate pigment in works of art: contribution from Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Conti Claudia , Striova Jana , Aliatis Irene , Possenti Elena , Massonnet Geneviève , Muehlethaler Cyril , Poli Tommaso , Positano Matteo
Published: March 2014

Copper resinate is a green pigment widely used by the 16th century painters, as many surveys on Italian and European paintings proved. The pigment is a transparent green glaze, and its color is due to copper salts of resin acids. The oldest recipes suggest the preparation of copper resinate by mixing verdigris with terpenic resins as Venice turpentine (conifer resins) on hot ashes. The detection of copper resinate in paintings is up to this time an analytical challenge. We examined the Raman features of copper resinate (powder and in a mock paint film with linseed oil) and compared them with verdigris. Six laser sources (488, 514, 532, 633, 785, and 830 nm) were used in different laboratories to highlight the drawbacks and advantages of a specific excitation source. The obtained results were applied in the analyses of a famous Caravaggio's painting. For a detailed interpretation and full exploitation of the Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements were carried out as well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Catechin concentrates of garden tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.): extraction/isolation and evaluation of chemical composition
Authors: Gadkari Pravin Vasantrao , Kadimi Udaya Sankar , Balaraman Manohar
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Solid–liquid (SLE) and liquid–liquid (LLE) extraction techniques were applied to extract catechins and caffeine from quick mechanically expelled tea leaf juice (QMETLJ) and freeze‐dried (FD)‐QMETLJ of Camellia sinensis L. The concentrates obtained were analyzed for total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH• inhibition, FRAP and phosphomolybdenum assay). Catechins were identified and quantified using HPLC.

RESULTS

Overall, 95% (v/v) ethanol was the best solvent system for extracting total polyphenols (355.26 ± 23.68 to 457.89 ± 28.94 g GAE kg−1 extractable solid yield (ESY)) and antioxidants (DPPH• inhibition, 16.97 ± 0.52 to 20.83 ± 3.11%; FRAP, 4.15 ± 0.32 to 6.38 ± 0.57 mmol TE g−1 ESY; Mo(V) reduction, 2.47 ± 0.19 to 3.84 ± 0.39 mmol AAE g−1 ESY) from FD‐QMETLJ. Similarly, in LLE, ethyl acetate showed the best results for recovering polyphenols (960.52 ± 7.89 g GAE kg−1 ESY) and antioxidants (DPPH• inhibition, 42.39 ± 0.91%; FRAP, 11.39 ± 0.83 mmol TE g−1 ESY; Mo(V) reduction, 6.71 ± 1.14 mmol AAE g−1 ESY) from QMETLJ.

CONCLUSION

It was found that 95% ethanol can be used to increase the total polyphenols and antioxidants in extracts from FD‐QMETLJ, while ethyl acetate can be effectively employed for concentrating catechins from QMETLJ. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Obstructive sleep apnea in patients undergoing endoscopic surgical repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea
Authors: Fleischman Gitanjali M. , Ambrose Emily C. , Rawal Rounak B. , Huang Benjamin Y. , Ebert Charles S. , Rodriguez Kenneth D. , Zanation Adam M. , Senior Brent A.
Published: March 2014

Objectives/Hypothesis

To examine the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Design

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent surgical repair of encephaloceles and/or CSF rhinorrhea at a tertiary medical center over a 12‐year period.

Methods

Pertinent demographic, clinical, and surgical data including age, sex, and medical and surgical history were obtained. Patients were classified by etiology of CSF leak into a spontaneous leak group and a nonspontaneous leak group, which included patients with documented trauma, malignancy, or known iatrogenic injury.

Results

We retrospectively identified 126 patients who underwent repair of encephalocele or CSF rhinorrhea. Of these, 70 (55.5%) were found to have a spontaneous etiology, whereas 56 (44.4%) had a nonspontaneous cause. Patients with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea were more likely than their nonspontaneous counterparts to have a diagnosis of OSA (30.0% vs. 14.3%, P = .0294) and radiographic evidence of an empty sella on magnetic resonance imaging MRI (55.4% vs. 24.3%, P = .0027). Overall, patients in the spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea group were more likely to be female compared to the nonspontaneous group (84.3% vs. 41.1% female, P = .0001).

Conclusions

Our study shows that patients with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea are significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of OSA compared to those with nonspontaneous causes of CSF leaks, or to the general population (incidence of 1%–5% in various population studies). Given the known association between OSA and intracranial hypertension (ICH), it may be prudent to screen all patients with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea for symptoms of OSA as well as for ICH, and vice versa.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 124:2645–2650, 2014
Efficacy of high‐intensity focused ultrasonography for noninvasive body sculpting in Chinese patients
Authors: Shek Samantha Y.N. , Yeung Chi K. , Chan Johnny C.Y. , Chan Henry H. L.
Published: March 2014

Background and Objectives

High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive technology for body contouring. HIFU is focused within the subcutaneous adipose tissue, causing coagulative necrosis and cell death. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a HIFU device for sculpting of the abdomen.

Materials and Methods

The system has a set focal depth of 1.3 cm. Twelve subjects with adipose thickness no less than 2.5 cm who met the screening criteria were recruited. Each subject received one treatment to the abdomen. The total fluence used per site was 150–165 J/cm2 with a mean of 161 J/cm2. The waist circumference at iliac crest and the point of maximum circumference were recorded at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post‐treatment, as well as their weight and BMI. Subjects' rating on comfort level and satisfaction were collected via questionnaires at every follow‐up. Standardized photographs were also taken with the Canfield System® at each visit.

Results

Seven out of 12 subjects were satisfied with the outcome and 9 out of 12 would recommend this treatment to their friends and family. There was statistically significant improvement in the waist circumference measured at both the iliac crest (P‐value 0.013, 0.002, 0.005) and maximum waistline (P‐value 0.003, 0.034, 0.023) at 4, 8, 12 weeks post‐treatment. Spearman's rho for correlation of energy level versus improvement showed that at 12 weeks post‐treatment follow‐up, the improvement significantly correlated with the total fluence per treatment (P‐value 0.041). The higher the total fluence delivered, the larger the decrease in waist circumference.

Conclusions

High‐intensity focused ultrasound effectively decreases waist circumference in Chinese. The higher the total fluence delivered, the larger the decrease in waist circumference was observed. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:263–269, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spontaneous Assembly into Pseudopolyrotaxane Between Cyclodextrins and Biodegradable Polyphosphoester Ionomers
Authors: Tamura Atsushi , Tokunaga Masahiro , Iwasaki Yasuhiko , Yui Nobuhiko
Published: March 2014

The development of novel biodegradable supermolecules is of importance in designing functionalized biomaterials utilized in the field of tissue engineering and drug delivery. In this regard, the focus here is on biocompatible and biodegradable polyphosphoester ionomers, and their pseudopolyrotaxane (PPRX) formation with α‐, β‐, or γ‐cyclodextrins (CDs) is examined. Poly(2‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorane) (PHP) is found to form a precipitate upon mixing with α‐CD in water. Also, precipitation is observed by mixing PHP and γ‐CD, although its yield is lower than with α‐CD. The stoichiometry ratio of PHP monomer unit:α‐CD is determined to be 1:1 from the 1H NMR spectra of the precipitate. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction pattern of the precipitate between PHP and α‐CD clearly supports the formation of PPRX, and its crystalline structure is well consistent with previously reported α‐CD‐based PPRXs. This finding contributes to the design of novel supramolecular biomaterials.

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Alcohol intake and risk of Parkinson's disease: A meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Zhang Dongfeng , Jiang Hong , Xie Junxia
Published: March 2014

Background

The association of alcohol intake with risk of Parkinson's disease remains unclear.

Methods

Pertinent studies were identified in PubMed and EMBASE. The fixed‐effect or random‐effect model was selected based on heterogeneity. The dose‐response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic splines.

Results

We included 32 articles, involving 677,550 subjects (9994 cases). The smoking‐adjusted risk of Parkinson's disease for the highest versus lowest level of alcohol intake was relative risk (RR) 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67‐0.92) overall, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75‐0.995) in prospective studies, and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58‐0.96) in matched case‐control studies. A significant association was found with beer (0.59; 95% CI, 0.39‐0.90) but not with wine and liquor, and for males (0.65; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.90) after a sensitivity analysis but not for females. The risk of Parkinson's disease decreased by 5% (0.95; 95% CI, 0.89‐1.02) for every 1 drink/day increment in alcohol intake in a linear (Pfor nonlinearity = 0.85) dose‐response manner.

Conclusions

Alcohol intake, especially beer, might be inversely associated with risk of Parkinson's disease © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Peptide‐Based Proteasome Inhibitors in Anticancer Drug Design
Authors: Micale Nicola , Scarbaci Kety , Troiano Valeria , Ettari Roberta , Grasso Silvana , Zappalà Maria
Published: March 2014

The identification of the key role of the eukaryotic 26S proteasome in regulated intracellular proteolysis and its importance as a target in many pathological conditions wherein the proteasomal activity is defective (e.g., malignancies, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.) prompted several research groups to the development of specific inhibitors of this multicatalytic complex with the aim of obtaining valid drug candidates. In regard to the anticancer therapy, the peptide boronate bortezomib (Velcade®) represents the first molecule approved by FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma in 2003 and mantle cell lymphoma in 2006. Since then, a plethora of molecules targeting the proteasome have been identified as potential anticancer agents and a few of them reached clinical trials or are already in the market (i.e., carfilzomib; Kyprolis®). In most cases, the design of new proteasome inhibitors (PIs) takes into account a proven peptide or pseudopeptide motif as a base structure and places other chemical entities throughout the peptide skeleton in such a way to create an efficacious network of interactions within the catalytic sites. The purpose of this review is to provide an in‐depth look at the current state of the research in the field of peptide‐based PIs, specifically those ones that might find an application as anticancer agents.
Max‐type system of difference equations with positive two‐periodic sequences
Authors: Ibrahim Tarek F. , Touafek Nouressadat
Published: March 2014

This paper deals with the form and the periodicity of the solutions of the max‐type system of difference equations
urn:x-wiley:1704214:media:mma2995:mma2995-math-0001
where , and are positive two‐periodic sequences and initial values x0, x − 1, y0, y − 1 ∈ (0, + ∞ ). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On well‐posedness of nonclassical problems for elliptic equations
Authors: Ashyralyev A. , Ozesenli Tetikoglu F.S.
Published: March 2014

In the present paper, we consider nonclassical problems for multidimensional elliptic equations. A finite difference method for solving these nonlocal boundary value problems is presented. Stability, almost coercive stability and coercive stability for the solutions of first and second orders of approximation are obtained. The theoretical statements for the solutions of these difference schemes are supported by numerical examples for the two‐dimensional elliptic equations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global analysis of virus dynamics model with logistic mitosis, cure rate and delay in virus production
Authors: Vargas‐De‐León Cruz , Chí Noé Chan , Vales Eric Ávila
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we study a virus dynamics model with logistic mitosis, cure rate, and intracellular delay. By means of construction of a suitable Lyapunov functionals, obtained by linear combinations of Volterra—type functions, composite quadratic functions and Volterra—type functionals, we provide the global stability for this model. IfR0, the basic reproductive number, satisfiesR0 ≤ 1, then the infection‐free equilibrium state is globally asymptotically stable. Our system is persistent ifR0 > 1. On the other hand, ifR0 > 1, then infection‐free equilibrium becomes unstable and a unique infected equilibrium exists. The local stability analysis is carried out for the infected equilibrium, and it is shown that, if the parameters satisfy a condition, the infected equilibrium can be unstable and a Hopf bifurcation can occur. We also have that ifR0 > 1, then the infected equilibrium state is globally asymptotically stable if a sufficient condition is satisfied. We illustrate our findings with some numerical simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Beale–Kato–Majda criterion for the 3D viscous magnetohydrodynamic equations
Authors: Yang Xinguang , Qin Yuming
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we investigate the Cauchy problem for the 3D viscous incompressible magnetohydrodynamic equations and establish a Beale–Kato–Majda regularity criterion of smooth solutions in terms of the velocity vector in the homogeneous bounded mean oscillations space. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of glutamate, glutamine, and glutathione by radiofrequency suppression and echo time optimization at 7 tesla
Authors: An Li , Li Shizhe , Murdoch James B. , Araneta Maria Ferraris , Johnson Christopher , Shen Jun
Published: March 2014

Purpose

To achieve detection of glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and glutathione (GSH) by minimizing the N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) multiplet signals at 2.49 ppm using a echo time (TE) ‐optimized PRESS pulse sequence and a novel J‐suppression radiofrequency pulse.

Methods

Using density matrix simulations, a PRESS sequence with (TE1, TE2) = (69, 37) ms and an inserted 90° J‐suppression pulse were found to minimize the NAA multiplet at 2.49 ppm.

Results

NAA phantom experiments confirmed the successful suppression of the NAA multiplet at 2.49 ppm. A study of eight healthy volunteers found both Glu and Gln to be significantly higher in gray matter (GM) dominant medial prefrontal cortex voxels than in white matter (WM) dominant right frontal cortex voxels. Time‐course 1H spectra acquired during intravenous [U‐13C6]glucose infusion showed gradually changing Glu C4 and Gln C4 proton resonance signals in a spectral pattern predicted by numerical simulations.

Conclusion

Reliable detection of Glu, Gln, and GSH was achieved. Glu and Gln levels were significantly higher in frontal lobe GM than in frontal lobe WM. It is feasible to use the proposed proton MR spectroscopy method to measure the kinetics of 13C incorporation into Glu and Gln during infusion of 13C labeled glucose. Magn Reson Med 73:451–458, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A double‐quadrature radiofrequency coil design for proton‐decoupled carbon‐13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in humans at 7T
Authors: Roig Eulalia Serés , Magill Arthur W. , Donati Guillaume , Meyerspeer Martin , Xin Lijing , Ipek Ozlem , Gruetter Rolf
Published: March 2014

Purpose

Carbon‐13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C‐MRS) is challenging because of the inherent low sensitivity of 13C detection and the need for radiofrequency transmission at the 1H frequency while receiving the 13C signal, the latter requiring electrical decoupling of the 13C and 1H radiofrequency channels. In this study, we added traps to the 13C coil to construct a quadrature‐13C/quadrature‐1H surface coil, with sufficient isolation between channels to allow simultaneous operation at both frequencies without compromise in coil performance.

Methods

Isolation between channels was evaluated on the bench by measuring all coupling parameters. The quadrature mode of the quadrature‐13C coil was assessed using in vitro 23Na gradient echo images. The signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) was measured on the glycogen and glucose resonances by 13C‐MRS in vitro, compared with that obtained with a linear‐13C/quadrature‐1H coil, and validated by 13C‐MRS in vivo in the human calf at 7T.

Results

Isolation between channels was better than −30 dB. The 23Na gradient echo images indicate a region where the field is strongly circularly polarized. The quadrature coil provided an SNR enhancement over a linear coil of 1.4, in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

It is feasible to construct a double‐quadrature 13C‐1H surface coil for proton decoupled sensitivity enhanced 13C‐NMR spectroscopy in humans at 7T. Magn Reson Med 73:894–900, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wavelet analysis of quadriceps power spectra and amplitude under varying levels of contraction intensity and velocity
Authors: Croce Ronald , Miller John , Chamberlin Kent , Filipovic David , Smith Wayne
Published: March 2014

Introduction: We investigated the effect of contraction intensity [100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)] and movement velocity (50°, 100°, 200°, and 400°/s) on surface electromyography root mean square amplitude (SEMGRMS) and median frequency (SEMGMDF) of rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM). Methods: SEMGs during knee extension were resolved into their respective frequencies using wavelet transformations. Results: RF, VL, and VM muscles displayed increased SEMGMDF as contraction intensity increased from 25% to 50% MVC and from 75% to 100% MVC, and each muscle displayed its own unique frequency shifting patterns. The SEMGMDF was not influenced by movement velocity. SEMGRMS increased in all 3 muscles as contraction intensity increased and was influenced by movement velocity, with the highest values observed at 400° and 200°/s. Conclusions: We infer that increasing contraction intensity facilitates greater recruitment of fast‐twitch muscle fibers, but there are differing responses in RF, VL, and VM muscles. Muscle Nerve 50: 844–853, 2014
Interface Jacobian‐based Co‐Simulation
Authors: Sicklinger S. , Belsky V. , Engelmann B. , Elmqvist H. , Olsson H. , Wüchner R. , Bletzinger K.‐U.
Published: March 2014

Co‐simulation is a prominent method to solve multi‐physics problems. Multi‐physics simulations using a co‐simulation approach have an intrinsic advantage. They allow well‐established and specialized simulation tools for different fields and signals to be combined and reused with minor adaptations in contrast to the monolithic approach. However, the partitioned treatment of the coupled system poses the drawback of stability and accuracy challenges. If several different subsystems are used to form the co‐simulation scenario, these issues are especially important. In this work, we propose a new co‐simulation algorithm based on interface Jacobians. It allows for the stable and accurate solution of complex co‐simulation scenarios involving several different subsystems. Furthermore, the Interface Jacobian‐based Co‐Simulation Algorithm is formulated such that it enables parallel execution of the participating subsystems. This results in a high‐efficient procedure. Furthermore, the Interface Jacobian‐based Co‐Simulation Algorithm handles algebraic loops as the co‐simulation scenario is defined in residual form. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Friction properties of sisal fiber/nano‐silica reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites
Authors: Wei Chun , Zeng Ming , Xiong Xuemei , Liu Hongxia , Luo Kun , Liu Tianxi
Published: March 2014

The friction‐resistant sisal fiber/nano‐silica phenol formaldehyde resin composites were prepared through compression molding. To enhance the bonding between the sisal fiber (SF) and polymer matrix, SF were treated with different surface modifiers. The worn surfaces of composites were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The result shows that the matrix of nano‐silica phenol formaldehyde resin can relieve the heat fade of the friction materials. Meanwhile sisal fibers treated with borax have effectively improved the friction and wear properties of the composites when the fiber content was 15%. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:433–438, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Simplified first‐trimester fetal cardiac screening (four chamber view and ventricular outflow tracts) in a low‐risk population
Authors: Orlandi Emanuela , Rossi Cinzia , Perino Antonio , Musicò Giulia , Orlandi Francesco
Published: March 2014

Objectives

Our aim was to assess the accuracy of a simplified fetal cardiac study, inclusive of four‐chamber view (4CV) and ventricular outflow tracts, performed during the 11–14 week screening by well‐trained obstetricians to detect congenital heart diseases (CHDs).

Methods

A transabdominal ultrasound was performed on 4820 singleton pregnant women at 11–14 weeks to visualize the visceral site, the 4CV, and the outflow tracts. Neonatal outcomes were recorded 6 and 12 months after birth.

Results

Among the 4820 patients reviewed, 790 were excluded because of loss at prenatal or postnatal follow‐up (649 cases), or inability to obtain adequate first‐trimester sonographic cardiac evaluation (141 cases). Among the 4030 included cases, 32 CHD cases were detected (20 major and 12 minor); 18 of the major (90%) and five of the minor (42%) were detected or suspected in the first trimester, one major and six minor in the second trimester, and one major and one minor only after birth.

Conclusions

A simplified protocol is an effective tool to screen for CHD at 11–14 weeks. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of acid treatment at different temperatures on the surface dielectric properties of low‐density polyethylene
Authors: Simonović Kosta , Petronijević Ivan , Kostoski Dušan , Dojčilović Jablan , Luyt Adriaan S , Dudić Duško
Published: March 2014

The surface dielectric properties of acid‐etched low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were analysed in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 200kHz. Samples were treated with various acids for a period of one hour, at temperatures ranging from 20 to 70 °C. After the treatment, the samples were analysed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealing chemical and crystallinity changes on the surface, as a direct result of the treatment. The sample surfaces were analysed using atomic force microscopy. The micrographs show that the acid treatment increases the roughness of the samples. Compared to untreatedLDPE, the etched samples may exhibit significantly different conductance values at low frequencies. It is also observed that an increase in the acid treatment temperature can result in lower values of conductance and susceptance compared to untreated samples.LDPEfilms with low value of surfaceACconductivity after acid treatment are potentially useful substrates for high‐speed electro‐sensing applications. The presented results indicate that a suitable choice of acid treatment ofLDPEcan effect surface polarization while preserving low values of surfaceACconductivity of the polymer. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Cash Transfers for Poverty Alleviation Under Double Asymmetric Information Regarding Income and Productivity
Authors: Nakamura Yui
Published: March 2014

When a government makes cash transfers as a part of a poverty alleviation program, it often faces a screening problem in identifying those individuals who most deserve to be supported financially because individual productivity levels cannot be monitored. Self‐selection mechanisms such as in‐kind transfers have been proven to be able to overcome this screening problem when individual income levels can be observed by the government. However, especially in developing countries, it is also often difficult for the government to observe individual income. In this article, we thus propose a mechanism that enables cash transfers to support deserving individuals, even though individual income levels cannot be monitored. Moreover, the proposed system allows the government to obtain the necessary financial resources by collecting taxation from productive individuals.