bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CMV drives the expansion of highly functional memory T cells expressing NK‐cell receptors in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Makwana Nandini , Foley Bree , Fernandez Sonia , Lee Silvia , Irish Ashley , Pircher Hanspeter , Price Patricia
Published: June 2017

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic infection encountered in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and may be reactivated without symptoms at any time post‐transplant. We describe how active and latent CMV affect T‐cell subsets in RTRs who are stable on maintenance therapy. T‐cell responses to CMV were assessed in RTRs (n = 54) >2 years post‐transplant, and healthy controls (n = 38). Seven RTRs had CMV DNA detectable in plasma. CMV antibody and DNA aligned with increased proportions of CD8+ T cells and reduced CD4/CD8 ratios. This paralleled an expansion of effector memory T‐cell (TEM), terminally differentiated T‐cell (TEMRA) and CD57+ TEMRA cell populations. Expression of NK‐cell receptors, LIR‐1 and KLRG1 on CD4+ and CD8+ CD57+ TEM and TEMRA cells correlated with elevated interferon‐γ and cytotoxic responses to anti‐CD3 and increased cytotoxic responses to CMV phosphoprotein (pp) 65 in RTRs who carried CMV DNA. CD8+ T cells from all CMV seropositive RTRs responded efficiently to CMV immediate early (IE) ‐1 peptides. The data show that latent and active CMV infection can alter T‐cell subsets in RTRs many years after transplantation, and up‐regulate T‐cell expression of NK‐cell receptors. This may enhance effector responses of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells against CMV.
Palladium‐Catalysed Chemo‐ and Regioselective C–H Bond Acylation of Pyridine N‐Oxides with Benzyl Halides and Alcohols
Authors: Kianmehr Ebrahim , Gholamhosseyni Maral
Published: June 2017

A palladium‐catalysed method for the acylation of ortho C–H bonds of pyridine N‐oxides using readily available benzyl halides and benzyl alcohols as the active acylating agents is described. This procedure provides a new approach to 2‐acylpyridine N‐oxides, which may be used as precursors for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
A Strategy to Employ Polymerised Riboflavin in the Development of Electrochemical Biosensors
Authors: Celiešiūtė Raimonda , Radzevič Aneta , Žukauskas Airidas , Vaitekonis Šarūnas , Pauliukaite Rasa
Published: June 2017

Electrochemically polymerised riboflavin (PRf) film was applied in development of glutamate and hypoxanthine biosensors using appropriate oxidases as recognition elements. PRf served as an enzyme immobilisation matrix composed of natural monomer and as a redox mediator. The PRf film was deposited on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) or on the laser‐designed microstructures of the chitosan‐graphene oxide (Chit‐GO) film deposited on glass slide, which served as a chip sensor. The redox polymer was stable and efficient mediator, however, Chit‐GO was placed on the top of PRf/GCE in order to increase the response signal. Such an approach allowed to extend the stability of glutamate and hypoxanthine biosensors to at least 1 month and 15 days, respectively. The chip microelectrode was a single use disposable biosensor due to insufficiently good Chit‐GO adhesion on the top of the cover‐glass. The glutamate microbiosensor had extremely high sensitivity of 16 μA cm−2 μmol L−1.
Winsight™ Assessment System: Preliminary Theory of Action
Authors: Wylie E. Caroline
Published: June 2017

The Winsight™ Assessment System integrates summative, interim (including both benchmark assessments and testlets), and formative assessment components initially focused on mathematics and English language arts (ELA) in Grades 3–8 and high school. This report provides a preliminary theory of action for the Winsight Assessment System. A theory of action illustrates the claims made about a program through a logic model (a diagram that links program components to intermediate and long‐term outcomes for various stakeholders) and a review of supporting literature for those claims. We first briefly describe the assessment and professional support components of the system, and then we identify 5 principles that undergird the theory of action and the logic model. We then present the logic model diagram and set of claims in the logic model that are ultimately intended to lead to improved student outcomes in the educational system. The report ends with a summary of logical, theoretical, and empirical evidence that supports these claims.
The Water Footprint of Hydropower Production—State of the Art and Methodological Challenges
Authors: Bakken Tor Haakon , Killingtveit Ånund , Alfredsen Knut
Published: June 2017

This paper reviews published estimates of water consumption from hydropower production and the methodologies applied. Published values range from negative to more than 115 000 m3 MWh−1. Most gross water consumption rates are in the range 5.4–234 m3 MWh−1, while most net values are in the range 0.2–140 m3 MWh−1. Net values are often less than 40% of the gross values, sometimes only 1% of the gross water consumption estimates. The extremely wide range in estimates is explained by an inconsistent methodology and the very site‐specific nature of hydropower projects. Scientific challenges, such as allocation from multipurpose reservoirs, and spatial assignments in river basins with several hydropower plants, affect the results dramatically and remain unresolved. As such, it is difficult to propose “typical values” for water consumption from hydropower production. This paper points out directions of research in order to prepare a consistent and improved methodology for the calculation of water consumption from hydropower projects. This should take into account the role of reservoirs in the provision of a large range of water services, as well as providing regulated power to the energy system.
Feasibility of CO2 sequestration in shallow transition zones
Authors: Yang Fang , Bai Baojun , Dunn‐Norman Shari , Yang Fen , Zhou Ruisong
Published: June 2017

Geological CO2 sequestration requires suitable storage sites to store CO2 at a large scale. Shallow aquifers could be a viable regional solution for stationary CO2 emitters because of their broad distribution, considerable capacity, and the potential low drilling cost associated with the shallow depths. This study introduces a shallow transition zone in which CO2 can transit from a gaseous phase into supercritical CO2 within the pressure range for CO2 injection; thus, considerable storage capacity is expected. The characteristics and major influencing factors of shallow transition zone storage were compared with those of deep storage to determine the feasibility of CO2 sequestration in shallow transition zones. The transition zone was found to provide a comparable storage capacity, greater storage efficiency, and a higher proportion of stable CO2 than a deep aquifer. The depth of this transition zone can be as shallow as 537 m for a warm basin and 656 m for a cold basin. At a depth of 600–1000 m, the primary factors affecting CO2 storage capacity are formation thickness and porosity, with reservoir heterogeneity and depth having lesser effects. Therefore, depth is of less concern when estimating CO2 storage potential. This work explored the transition zone as an effective new option when seeking means of sequestering CO2. These results not only establish parameters for CO2 sequestration in shallow aquifers, but also strengthen the current understanding of CO2 sequestration in deep aquifers. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Significance of oliguria in critically ill patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Amathieu Roland , Al‐Khafaji Ali , Sileanu Florentina E. , Foldes Emily , DeSensi Rebecca , Hilmi Ibtesam , Kellum John A.
Published: June 2017

Clinical guidelines recommend using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria for the diagnosis and classification of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Concerns have been raised about the use of urine output (UO) criteria in CLD. We examined the significance of oliguria meeting the urine output criteria for AKI (AKI‐UO) and examined its association with clinical outcomes in CLD patients. Using an 8‐year clinical database from a large university medical center, 3458 patients with CLD were identified. AKI occurred in 2854 (82.5%) patients when they fulfilled any KDIGO criteria. When serum creatinine (SC) and UO criteria were used, 604 patients (17.5%) had no evidence of AKI and had the lowest hospital mortality rate (5%). Using AKI‐UO criteria alone, 2103 patients (60.8%) were classified as stage 2‐3 AKI. When only SC criteria were applied, 1281 (61%) of those patients with stage 2‐3 AKI‐UO were misclassified as either no AKI or AKI stage 1. Patients reclassified with AKI according to UO criteria (AKI‐UO) had nearly a 3‐fold increased rate of hospital mortality compared with patients without any AKI (14.6% versus 5%; P < 0.001) and more than a 50% increased mortality compared with stage 1 AKI‐SC (14.6% versus 9%; P < 0.001). Patients with transient oliguria (AKI‐UO stage 1) had increased mortality rates compared with patients without oliguria (14.9% versus 6.9%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: CLD patients have a high incidence of AKI. Compared with creatinine criteria alone, incorporating UO into the diagnostic criteria increased the measured incidence of AKI. Stage 2‐3 AKI‐UO has a high negative impact on hospital mortality. (Hepatology 2017;66:1592–1600)
Small heterodimer partner deletion prevents hepatic steatosis and when combined with farnesoid X receptor loss protects against type 2 diabetes in mice
Authors: Akinrotimi Oludemilade , Riessen Ryan , VanDuyne Philip , Park Jung Eun , Lee Yoon Kwang , Wong Lee‐Jun , Zavacki Ann M. , Schoonjans Kristina , Anakk Sayeepriyadarshini
Published: June 2017

Nuclear receptors farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and small heterodimer partner (SHP) are important regulators of bile acid, lipid, and glucose homeostasis. Here, we show that global Fxr
–/–
Shp
–/– double knockout (DKO) mice are refractory to weight gain, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis when challenged with high‐fat diet. DKO mice display an inherently increased capacity to burn fat and suppress de novo hepatic lipid synthesis. Moreover, DKO mice were also very active and that correlated well with the observed increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression, type IA fibers, and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that liver‐specific Shp deletion protects against fatty liver development by suppressing expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma 2 and lipid‐droplet protein fat‐specific protein 27 beta. Conclusion: These data suggest that Fxr and Shp inactivation may be beneficial to combat diet‐induced obesity and uncover that hepatic SHP is necessary to promote fatty liver disease. (Hepatology 2017;66:1854–1865)
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of vitamin D
Authors: Sawyer Megan E. , Tran Hien T. , Evans Marina V.
Published: June 2017

Despite the plethora of studies discussing the benefits of vitamin D on physiological functioning, few mathematical models of vitamin D predict the response of the body on low‐concentration supplementation of vitamin D under sunlight‐restricted conditions. This study developed a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model utilizing published human data on the metabolic cascade of orally derived, low‐concentration (placebo, 5 μg and 10 μg) supplementation of vitamin D over the course of 28 days in the absence of sunlight. Vitamin D and its metabolites are highly lipophilic and binding assays of these compounds in serum may not account for binding by lipids and additional proteins. To compensate for the additional bound amounts, this study allowed the effective adipose–plasma partition coefficient to vary dynamically with the concentration of each compound in serum utilizing the Hill equation for binding. Through incorporating the optimized parameters with the adipose partition coefficient adaptation to the PBPK model, this study was able to fit serum concentration data for circulating vitamin D at all three supplementation concentrations within confidence intervals of the data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of the Treatment Strategies for Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) and the Factors Affecting Treatment Outcome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study with Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Hayashida Saki , Soutome Sakiko , Yanamoto Souichi , Fujita Shigeyuki , Hasegawa Takumi , Komori Takahide , Kojima Yuka , Miyamoto Hironori , Shibuya Yasuyuki , Ueda Nobuhiro , Kirita Tadaaki , Nakahara Hirokazu , Shinohara Mitsuyo , Umeda Masahiro
Published: June 2017

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an adverse event that may inhibit the treatment of primary disease and remarkably influence the patient's quality of life. The treatment methods for MRONJ, nonsurgical and surgical, are controversial, with no agreement as to which method provides the best outcome and should therefore be recommended. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to investigate the treatment methods and outcome in a large number of patients with MRONJ in Japan, utilizing propensity score matching analysis. A total of 361 patients with MRONJ, at eight hospitals, were registered in this study retrospectively. Various demographic and treatment-related variables were examined and analyzed to determine their correlation with the treatment outcome. After propensity score matching for treatment methods (nonsurgical versus surgical treatment), 176 patients were analyzed by logistic regression. It was shown that those with low-dose administration of an antiresorptive agent and surgical treatment had better outcomes. Furthermore, in 159 patients who underwent surgical treatment, those who underwent extensive surgery experienced significantly better treatment outcomes than those who underwent conservative surgery. This is the first study to compare treatment methods for MRONJ using propensity score matching analysis. The results indicated that extensive surgical treatment should be performed as first-choice therapy for patients with MRONJ. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Paule‐Mandel estimators for network meta‐analysis with random inconsistency effects
Authors: Jackson Dan , Veroniki Areti Angeliki , Law Martin , Tricco Andrea C. , Baker Rose
Published: June 2017

Network meta‐analysis is used to simultaneously compare multiple treatments in a single analysis. However, network meta‐analyses may exhibit inconsistency, where direct and different forms of indirect evidence are not in agreement with each other, even after allowing for between‐study heterogeneity. Models for network meta‐analysis with random inconsistency effects have the dual aim of allowing for inconsistencies and estimating average treatment effects across the whole network. To date, two classical estimation methods for fitting this type of model have been developed: a method of moments that extends DerSimonian and Laird's univariate method and maximum likelihood estimation. However, the Paule and Mandel estimator is another recommended classical estimation method for univariate meta‐analysis. In this paper, we extend the Paule and Mandel method so that it can be used to fit models for network meta‐analysis with random inconsistency effects. We apply all three estimation methods to a variety of examples that have been used previously and we also examine a challenging new dataset that is highly heterogenous. We perform a simulation study based on this new example. We find that the proposed Paule and Mandel method performs satisfactorily and generally better than the previously proposed method of moments because it provides more accurate inferences. Furthermore, the Paule and Mandel method possesses some advantages over likelihood‐based methods because it is both semiparametric and requires no convergence diagnostics. Although restricted maximum likelihood estimation remains the gold standard, the proposed methodology is a fully viable alternative to this and other estimation methods.
Prediction of canned black bean texture (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from intact dry seeds using visible/near infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging data
Authors: Mendoza Fernando A , Cichy Karen A , Sprague Christy , Goffnett Amanda , Lu Renfu , Kelly James D
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Texture is a major quality parameter for the acceptability of canned whole beans. Prior knowledge of this quality trait before processing would be useful to guide variety development by bean breeders and optimize handling protocols by processors. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the predictive power of visible and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (visible/NIRS, 400–2498 nm) and hyperspectral imaging (HYPERS, 400–1000 nm) techniques for predicting texture of canned black beans from intact dry seeds. Black beans were grown in Michigan (USA) over three field seasons. The samples exhibited phenotypic variability for canned bean texture due to genetic variability and processing practice. Spectral preprocessing methods (i.e. smoothing, first and second derivatives, continuous wavelet transform, and two‐band ratios), coupled with a feature selection method, were tested for optimizing the prediction accuracy in both techniques based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) models.

RESULTS

Visible/NIRS and HYPERS were effective in predicting texture of canned beans using intact dry seeds, as indicated by their correlation coefficients for prediction (Rpred) and standard errors of prediction (SEP). Visible/NIRS was superior (Rpred = 0.546–0.923, SEP = 7.5–1.9 kg 100 g−1) to HYPERS (Rpred = 0.401–0.883, SEP = 7.6–2.4 kg 100 g−1), which is likely due to the wider wavelength range collected in visible/NIRS. However, a significant improvement was reached in both techniques when the two‐band ratios preprocessing method was applied to the data, reducing SEP by at least 10.4% and 16.2% for visible/NIRS and HYPERS, respectively. Moreover, results from using the combination of the three‐season data sets based on the two‐band ratios showed that visible/NIRS (Rpred = 0.886, SEP = 4.0 kg 100 g−1) and HYPERS (Rpred = 0.844, SEP = 4.6 kg 100 g−1) models were consistently successful in predicting texture over a wide range of measurements.

CONCLUSION

Visible/NIRS and HYPERS have great potential for predicting the texture of canned beans; the robustness of the models is impacted by genotypic diversity, planting year and phenotypic variability for canned bean texture used for model building, and hence, robust models can be built based on data sets with high phenotypic diversity in textural properties, and periodically maintained and updated with new data. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
The synergistic potential of various teas, herbs and therapeutic drugs in health improvement: a review
Authors: Malongane Florence , McGaw Lyndy J , Mudau Fhatuwani N
Published: June 2017

Tea is one of the most widely consumed non‐alcoholic beverages in the world next to water. It is classified as Camellia sinensis and non‐Camellia sinensis (herbal teas). The common bioactive compounds found mainly in green teas are flavan‐3‐ols (catechins) (also called flavanols), proanthocyanidins (tannins) and flavonols. Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins and white tea contains l‐theanine and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), while herbal teas contain diverse polyphenols. Phytochemicals in tea exhibit antimicrobial, anti‐diabetic and anti‐cancer activities that are perceived to be helpful in managing chronic diseases linked to lifestyle. Many of these phytochemicals are reported to be biologically active when combined. Knowledge of the synergistic interactions of tea with other teas or herbs in terms of biological activities will be of benefit for therapeutic enhancement. There is evidence that various types of teas act synergistically in exhibiting health benefits to humans, improving consumer acceptance and economic value. Similar observations have been made when teas and herbs or medicinal drugs were combined. The aim of this review is to highlight potential beneficial synergies between combinations of different types of teas, tea and herbs, and tea and medicinal drugs. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Pilot‐scale radiofrequency blanching of potato cuboids: heating uniformity
Authors: Zhang Zhenna , Guo Chaofan , Gao Tong , Fu Hongfei , Chen Qin , Wang Yunyang
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Traditional hot water blanching has a slow heat transfer rate, whereas radiofrequency (RF) heating has the advantages of a much faster heating rate and a higher penetration depth. In the present study, RF heating was applied to improve heating uniformity for subsequent blanching experiments involving potato cuboids. Potato cuboids were treated in a pilot‐scale, RF heating system (27.12 MHz, 6 kW) under different operating conditions.

RESULTS

The dielectric constant increased first and then decreased with temperature, whereas the loss factor increased as the temperature increased. The results of the present study reveal that the electrode gap, sample height and NaCl solution had significant effects (P < 0.05) on the temperature distribution and heating uniformity of the sample after RF heating. The optimum RF heating uniformity was obtained at an electrode gap of 120 mm, a sample height of 60 mm and when immersed in NaCl solution of 0.5 s m–1. The central heating pattern was presented in a sample. Cold spots were located at the edge of the top surface of the sample.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows the great potential of RF heating for the blanching of vegetables. Future studies should aim to determine changes in the texture and nutrient contents of vegetables during RF heating. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
One‐pot preparation of an organic polymer monolith by thiol‐ene click chemistry for capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Wang Jiannan , Shen Shufen , Lu Xin , Ye Fanggui
Published: June 2017

A novel organic monolith was successfully fabricated by a one‐pot thiol‐ene click reaction of triallyl isocyanurate with pentaerythritol tetrakis‐(2‐mercaptoacetate) and mercaptopropionic acid in the presence of porogens. We investigated the effects of the ratio of monomer and cross‐linking agent, the type and ratio of porogen, and click reaction temperature on the permeability and morphology of the prepared poly triallyl isocyanurate‐co‐pentaerythritol tetrakis (2‐mercaptoacetate) monoliths. The monolith was also characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that the monoliths had continuous porous framework, good permeability, and high mechanical stability. A series of analytes with different properties such as alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, anilines, and phenols were used to evaluate the electrochromatographic performance of the prepared monoliths in pressurized capillary electrochromatography. The prepared polymer monolith showed typical reversed‐phase electrochromatographic behavior for hydrophobic substances. Moreover, the prepared monolith showed a mix of reversed‐phase and cation exchange interaction modes for basic aniline compounds. The minimum plate height of the monolith was 8.76 μm (132 100 plates/m) for propylbenzene. These results demonstrated that one‐pot thiol‐ene click chemistry can provide a simple and reliable method for the preparation of organic monoliths.
Lung Consolidation Locations for Optimal Lung Ultrasound Scanning in Diagnosing Pediatric Pneumonia
Authors: Milliner Brendan H. A. , Tsung James W.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

Lung ultrasound (US) has been shown to be accurate in diagnosing pneumonia in children. Evidence to inform an optimal scanning protocol is limited. Our objective is to describe an optimized lung US scanning protocol for pediatric pneumonia based on the anatomic location and transducer orientation.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of data and images from 2 prospective lung US studies for the emergency department diagnosis of pneumonia in children (0–21 years). The anatomic location of each lung consolidation was mapped to 1 or more of 6 anatomic zones on the chest, noting the transducer orientation (sagittal or transverse) in which it was identified.

Results

Seventy‐eight patients were included; 51% were female, and the median age was 3 years (interquartile range, 1–7 years). Overall, 46.5% (95% CI confidence interval [CI], 37.9%–55.1%) of lung zones with a visible consolidation were posterior; 31.0% (95% CI, 23.0%–39.0%) were anterior; and 22.5% (95% CI, 15.3%–29.1%) were axillary. A total of 54.3% (95% CI, 45.7%–62.9%) of affected lung zones were in the lower lung compared to the upper lung (8.5%; 95% CI, 3.7%–13.3%) and middle lung (37.2%; 95% CI, 28.9%–45.5%). Most lung consolidations were seen in both transducer orientations: 96.2% (95% CI, 92.0%–100%) of patients had a visible consolidation on the transverse view, whereas 85.9% (95% CI, 78.2%–93.6% had a consolidation on the sagittal view.

Conclusions

Efficient lung US scanning may start with the posterior, anterior, and then lateral chest zones if no pneumonia is identified. A transverse transducer orientation detects more pneumonia than a sagittal orientation. Omission of either orientation or any lung zone may miss pneumonia.
Temporal and spatial variability of in situ nitrogen fixation activities associated with the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica meadows
Authors: Agawin Nona S. R. , Ferriol Pere , Sintes Eva , Moyà Gabriel
Published: June 2017

This study provides the first extensive data on in situ rates of N2 fixation in minimally disturbed Posidonia oceanica meadows and their temporal and spatial variability along the Mallorcan coasts in the Mediterranean Sea. Benthic bell‐jar chambers were deployed underwater enclosing (1) natural P. oceanica shoots, (2) matted sediment of P. oceanica with the leaves carefully removed by clipping to assess the contribution of N2 fixation associated with leaves, and (3) adjacent unvegetated sediment to assess the contribution of N2 fixation by the sediment. In all of the chambers, N2 fixation varied seasonally, with highest rates during summer and lowest in winter. Average N2 fixation rates in chambers enclosing natural P. oceanica shoots ranged from 0.06 mg N m−2 d−1 to 1.51 mg N m−2 d−1 (0.004–0.107 mmol N m−2 d−1) in summer. Careful removal of leaves generally reduced N2 fixation rates by 16–89%. The N2 fixation rates in unvegetated sediments ranging from 0.01 mg N m−2 d−1 to 1.99 to mg N m−2 d−1 (7.1 × 10−4–0.14 mmol N m−2 d−1) have similar magnitudes in sediments with P. oceanica. This suggests that these sediments are “hot spots” for N2 fixation. Exploratory analyses of environmental factors that may influence N2 fixation rates highlight temperature and pore water total phosphorus concentrations as important factors.
Ice fish otoliths record dynamics of advancing and retreating sea ice in Antarctica
Authors: McMullin Rebecca M. , Wing Stephen R. , Reid Malcolm R.
Published: June 2017

Trace element concentrations within fish otoliths act as biological tags and environmental chronometers within aquatic environments. Linking patterns in elemental concentrations within ice fish otoliths to sea ice dynamics allows us to better understand the chemical dynamics of ice‐covered environments. Here laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the concentrations of conservative and bioactive trace elements in yearly otolith bands of two benthic ice fishes and one cryopelagic ice fish collected from sites along the gradient in sea ice persistence in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. We used a 12‐yr time series of satellite images to define summertime extent of ice cover from 2002 to 2014. Elemental concentrations of Sr and Li were higher in the otoliths of the cryopelagic species, while Mn concentrations were higher in the otoliths of benthic species, reflecting differences in species' association with sea ice melt and formation. Multivariate dispersion of individual elemental concentrations was greater within the cryopelagic species, indicative of their more transient residence among sites. Key bioactive and conservative elements differed among years with contrasting sea ice dynamics for both cryopelagic and benthic ice fish species. These differences were likely due to sea ice formation concentrating trace metals from the water column and incorporating resuspended sediments, dust, or glacial meltwater with high metal content. Our results provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of trace element concentration profiles in otoliths as environmental recorders of the dynamics of sea ice conditions, and for the role of ice fish as environmental sentinels in Antarctica.
Role of gas ebullition in the methane budget of a deep subtropical lake: What can we learn from process‐based modeling?
Authors: Schmid Martin , Ostrovsky Ilia , McGinnis Daniel F.
Published: June 2017

We analyzed the processes affecting the methane (CH4) budget in Lake Kinneret, a deep subtropical lake, using a suite of three models: (1) a bubble model to determine the fate of CH4 bubbles released from the sediment; (2) the one‐dimensional physical lake model Simstrat to calculate the mixing dynamics; and (3) a biogeochemical model implemented in Aquasim to quantify the CH4 sources and sinks. The key pathways modeled include diffusive and bubble release of CH4 from the sediment, aerobic CH4 oxidation, and atmospheric gas exchange. The temporal and spatial dynamics of dissolved CH4 concentrations observed in the lake during 3 years could be well represented by the combined models. Remarkably, the relative contributions of ebullition and diffusive transport to the accumulation of CH4 in the hypolimnion during the stratified period could not be accurately constrained based only on the observed evolution of CH4 concentrations in the water column. Importantly, however, our analysis showed that most (∼99%) of the CH4 supplied to the water column by bubble dissolution and diffusive transport from the sediment is aerobically oxidized, whereas a substantial fraction (∼60%) of the sediment‐released bubble CH4 is directly transported to the atmosphere. Ebullition is thus responsible for the bulk of the emissions from Lake Kinneret to the atmosphere. Therefore, as in all freshwaters, ebullition quantification is crucial for accurately assessing CH4 emissions to the atmosphere. This task remains challenging due to high spatio‐temporal variability, but combining in situ measurements with a process‐based modeling can help to better constrain flux estimates.
Building a learning health community: By the people, for the people
Authors: Okun Sally , Goodwin Kim
Published: June 2017

The journey of illness as lived by patients and caregivers is not routinely captured for systematic sharing or continuous learning. Consequently, far too many people face the uncertainty of what to expect when confronted with the challenges of illness and caregiving. Patients and caregivers muddle through unfamiliar territory without the benefit of the accumulated knowledge of others who have been on the journey before them. Why do patients and caregivers continually need to search out or reinvent solutions to manage their daily lives with life‐changing illness when others have surely faced similar challenges? Are not the lived experiences and contextual perspectives of patients and caregivers valuable for a learning health system? At PatientsLikeMe, an online patient research network, we believe it is not possible to realize the full potential of a continuously learning health system without the expertise and knowledge of patients and caregivers.

This paper describes the development of the Patient and Caregiver Journey Framework and related patient‐informed principles for design and measurement created by PatientsLikeMe in partnership with patients and caregivers using qualitative research methods, immersive observation and directed one‐on‐one conversations. These tools provide a person‐centric foundation upon which the knowledge and experience of patients and caregivers are collected, curated, aggregated and shared to support a data‐driven learning health community continuously powered by the people and for the people.
Ultrastiff Hydrogels Prepared by Schiff's Base Reaction of Bis(p‐Formylphenyl) Sebacate and Pillar[5]arene Appended with Multiple Hydrazides
Authors: Ju Huaqiang , Zhu Fengbo , Xing Hao , Wu Zi Liang , Huang Feihe
Published: June 2017

Herein a facile method is reported to prepare polymer gels based on the formation of acylhydrazone bond under mild conditions. A pillar[5]arene derivative appended with ten hydrazide groups provides multiple sites for the reaction with the aldehyde groups of bis(p‐formylphenyl) sebacate in the presence of a small amount of HCl as the catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), producing transparent polymer organogels. The mechanical properties of gels can be easily tuned by the molar ratio of the reactant compounds. After solvent exchange from DMSO to water, translucent polymer hydrogels with dramatically enhanced strength and stiffness are obtained. The tensile breaking stress and Young's modulus of hydrogels are 20−60 and 1.2–2.7 MPa, respectively, 100 and 20 times those of the corresponding organogels. These robust hydrogels with ultrahigh stiffness should find applications such as in load‐bearing artificial organs. This work should merit designing functional materials using other macrocycles.

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Novel therapeutic clues in thyroid carcinomas: The role of targeting cancer stem cells
Authors: Antonelli Alessandro , La Motta Concettina
Published: June 2017

Thyroid carcinomas (TCs), the most common endocrine tumors, represent the eighth most common cancer diagnosed worldwide in both women and men. To treat these malignancies, several drugs are now available and a number of novel ones have been enrolling in clinical trials, addressing both oncogenic pathways in cancer cells and angiogenic pathways in tumor endothelial cells. However, their use is not devoid of serious toxicities and their efficacy is limited, being dependent on carcinoma typology and the occurrence of acquired resistance. Accordingly, it is time to recast therapeutic strategies against these types of tumors to get to newer and fully effective drugs. In this perspective, latest findings demonstrate that cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a challenging target to strike. They possess core traits of self‐renewal and differentiation, being resistant to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation and playing a key role in mediating metastasis. Therefore, basic molecular elements sustaining both development of thyroid cancer stem cells and their residence in the stemness condition represent a set of innovative and still unexplored targets to address. In this review, a thorough literature survey has been accomplished, to take stock of mechanisms governing thyroid carcinomas and to point out both their currently available treatments and the novel forthcoming ones. Pubmed, Scifinder and ClinicalTrials.gov were exploited as research applications and registry database, respectively. Original articles, reviews, and editorials published within the last ten years, as well as open clinical investigations in the field, were analyzed to suggest new exciting therapeutic opportunities for people affected by TCs.
Extracellular vesicles in the tumor microenvironment: Therapeutic resistance, clinical biomarkers, and targeting strategies
Authors: Han L. , Xu J. , Xu Q. , Zhang B. , Lam E. W.‐F. , Sun Y.
Published: June 2017

Numerous studies have proved that cell‐nonautonomous regulation of neoplastic cells is a distinctive and essential characteristic of tumorigenesis. Two way communications between the tumor and the stroma, or within the tumor significantly influence disease progression and modify treatment responses. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), malignant cells utilize paracrine signaling initiated by adjacent stromal cells to acquire resistance against multiple types of anticancer therapies, wherein extracellular vesicles (EVs) substantially promote such events. EVs are nanoscaled particles enclosed by phospholipid bilayers, and can mediate intercellular communications between cancerous cells and the adjacent microenvironment to accelerate pathological proceeding. Here we review the most recent studies of EV biology and focus on key cell lineages of the TME and their EV cargoes that are biologically active and responsible for cancer resistance, including proteins, RNAs, and other potentially essential components. Since EVs are emerging as novel but critical elements in establishing and maintaining hallmarks of human cancer, timely and insightful understanding of their molecular properties and functional mechanisms would pave the road for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and effective targeting in the global landscape of precision medicine. Further, we address the potential of EVs as promising biomarkers in cancer clinics and summarize the technical improvements in EV preparation, analysis, and imaging. We highlight the practical issues that should be exercised with caution to guide the development of targeting agents and therapeutic methodologies to minimize cancer resistance driven by EVs, thereby allowing to effectively control the early steps of disease exacerbation.
DMclust, a Density‐based Modularity Method for Accurate OTU Picking of 16S rRNA Sequences
Authors: Wei Ze‐Gang , Zhang Shao‐Wu , Zhang Yi‐Zhai
Published: June 2017

Clustering 16S rRNA sequences into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) is a crucial step in analyzing metagenomic data. Although many methods have been developed, how to obtain an appropriate balance between clustering accuracy and computational efficiency is still a major challenge. A novel density‐based modularity clustering method, called DMclust, is proposed in this paper to bin 16S rRNA sequences into OTUs with high clustering accuracy. The DMclust algorithm consists of four main phases. It first searches for the sequence dense group defined as n‐sequence community, in which the distance between any two sequences is less than a threshold. Then these dense groups are used to construct a weighted network, where dense groups are viewed as nodes, each pair of dense groups is connected by an edge, and the distance of pairwise groups represents the weight of the edge. Then, a modularity‐based community detection method is employed to generate the preclusters. Finally, the remaining sequences are assigned to their nearest preclusters to form OTUs. Compared with existing widely used methods, the experimental results on several metagenomic datasets show that DMclust has higher accurate clustering performance with acceptable memory usage.
A diffusive logistic equation with concentrated and nonlocal sources
Authors: Caicedo A. , Cruz F. W. , Limeira R. , Viana A.
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we study a reaction‐diffusion equation where nonlinear memory and concentration effects are considered at the same time. We are specially concerned with the local solvability of this problem for singular initial data in Lebesgue spaces. We also analyze the vanishing concentration problem and prove a blow‐up alternative. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sperm motility initiating substance may be insufficient to induce forward motility of Cynops ensicauda sperm
Authors: Sato Tae , Yokoe Misato , Endo Daisuke , Morita Masaya , Toyama Fubito , Kawamura Yuuki , Nakauchi Yuni , Takayama‐Watanabe Eriko , Watanabe Akihiko
Published: June 2017

Sperm motility‐initiating substance (SMIS) is a key protein for internal fertilization of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, and commonly enhances forward sperm motility in some amphibian species, including external fertilizers. SMIS action varies among different species in correlation with a species‐specific reproductive environment. In the present study, we identified the gene of C. ensicauda SMIS (CeSMIS) and examined the mechanism of SMIS action with reference to that of the closely related Cynops species. The CeSMIS was identified by a 176‐amino acid sequence including seven amino acids critical for the initiation of sperm motility. The amino acid sequence showed 91% homology to the whole sequence of C. pyrrhogaster SMIS (CpSMIS). By immunostaining with an anti‐CpSMIS antibody, CeSMIS was shown to be localized in the outer layer of the egg jelly. A peptide presenting the active site of SMIS was observed to bind to the axial rod of the midpiece in C. ensicauda sperm. The localization and binding patterns of CeSMIS were fundamentally similar to those of CpSMIS. However, the SMIS peptide did not induce forward motility of C. ensicauda sperm, although it induced a fast wave of the undulating membrane. Forward sperm motility was induced in the egg jelly extract containing CeSMIS. These results suggest that the mechanism of initiation of sperm motility is differentiated between C. ensicauda and C. pyrrhogaster.
Low eddy current RF shielding enclosure designs for 3T MR applications
Authors: Lee Brian J. , Watkins Ronald D. , Chang Chen‐Ming , Levin Craig S.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Magnetic resonance–compatible medical devices operate within the MR environment while benefitting from the superior anatomic information of MRI. Avoiding electromagnetic interference between such instrumentation and the MR system is crucial. In this work, various shielding configurations for positron emission tomography (PET) detectors were studied and analyzed regarding radiofrequency (RF) shielding effectiveness and gradient‐induced eddy current performances. However, the results of this work apply to shielding considerations for any MR‐compatible devices.

Methods

Six shielding enclosure configurations with various thicknesses, patterns, and materials were designed: solid and segmented copper, phosphor bronze mesh (PBM), and carbon fiber composite (CFC). A series of tests was performed on RF shielding effectiveness and the gradient‐induced eddy current.

Results

For the shielding effectiveness, the solid copper with various thickness and PBM configurations yield significantly better shielding effectiveness (>15 dB) compared with CFC and segmented configurations. For the gradient‐induced eddy current performance, the solid copper shielding configurations with different thicknesses showed significantly worse results, up to a factor of 3.89 dB, compared with the segmented copper, PBM, and the CFC configurations.

Conclusions

We evaluated the RF shielding effectiveness and the gradient‐induced eddy current artifacts of several shielding designs, and only the PBM showed positive outcomes for both aspects. Magn Reson Med 79:1745–1752, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
A comparative study of null‐space factorizations for sparse symmetric saddle point systems
Authors: Rees Tyrone , Scott Jennifer
Published: June 2017

Null‐space methods for solving saddle point systems of equations have long been used to transform an indefinite system into a symmetric positive definite one of smaller dimension. A number of independent works in the literature have identified that we can interpret a null‐space method as a matrix factorization. We review these findings, highlight links between them, and bring them into a unified framework. We also investigate the suitability of using null‐space factorizations to derive sparse direct methods and present numerical results for both practical and academic problems.
The 3D Nanoscale Evolution of Platinum–Niobium Oxide Fuel Cell Catalysts via Identical Location Electron Tomography
Authors: Rossouw David , Chinchilla Lidia , Kremliakova Natalia , Botton Gianluigi A.
Published: June 2017

Current state‐of‐the‐art catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, comprised of platinum nanoparticles on a high surface area carbon support, are susceptible to platinum dissolution and carbon support corrosion during operation. The use of transition metal oxides in the support material is proposed to stabilize the catalyst material by minimizing platinum dissolution and carbon corrosion. Here, the 3D structural changes are tracked for a hybrid Pt–Nb oxide on carbon catalyst before and after potential cycling utilizing identical location electron tomography. Pt dissolution is observed to varying degrees in both high and low Nb oxide content structures and appreciable carbon support corrosion in the high Nb oxide content structure but not in the low Nb oxide structure.
Upregulation of the long non‐coding RNA FALEC promotes proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cell lines and predicts prognosis of PCa patients
Authors: Zhao Ruizhe , Sun Feng , Bei Xiaoyu , Wang Xingjie , Zhu Yiping , Jiang Chenyi , Zhao Fujun , Han Bangmin , Xia Shujie
Published: June 2017

Background

LncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in various cancer types and were found to be a responsible prognosis biomarker and therapeutic target of many human cancers.

Methods

In this study, we characterized the expression profile of FALEC in prostate cancer and paired histologically normal tissues. Additionally, biological function of FALEC in prostate cancer cell lines was determined by in vitro and in vivo assays.

Results

In a total of 85 patients, FALEC expression was significantly increased in clinical PCa tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and can be considered as an independent prognostic factor in patients with PCa. Downregulation of FALEC could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. In vivo tumorigenesis study and orthotopic bioluminescence image also support the evidence that FALEC may promote the progression of prostate cancer. We also find FALEC is a potential hypoxia induced lncRNA and can be induced by the hypoxia master regulator HIF‐1α.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that FALEC may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in patients with prostate cancer.
The role of hydrogenation and gettering in enhancing the efficiency of next‐generation Si solar cells: An industrial perspective
Authors: Hallam Brett , Chen Daniel , Kim Moonyong , Stefani Bruno , Hoex Bram , Abbott Malcolm , Wenham Stuart
Published: June 2017

We discuss the importance of gettering and hydrogenation for next‐generation silicon solar cells in the context of industrial cell fabrication. Gettering and hydrogenation play a vital role for p‐type cell technologies in improving the silicon material's minority charge carrier lifetime. These mechanisms are naturally incorporated during screen‐printed cell fabrication through the phosphorus emitter diffusion, silicon nitride deposition and subsequent metallisation firing processes. While the transition towards emitters with lower dopant concentrations and/or thermal oxide passivation can reduce surface recombination, it can negatively impact the ability to getter common impurities such as iron. For cell technologies with alternative low‐temperature metallisation approaches, the ability to hydrogenate bulk defects is greatly reduced. Ultra‐high efficiency n‐type technologies tend to use heterojunction structures rather than diffused layers, but in doing so, do not benefit from phosphorus gettering. Also, particularly for amorphous silicon‐based heterojunction structures, the imposed temperature constraints strongly limit the ability to passivate bulk defects. As a result, high‐efficiency n‐type technologies rely on the use of ‘high‐quality’ wafers or would require the deliberate addition of gettering and hydrogenation processes before cell fabrication. A potential high‐efficiency hybrid homojunction/heterojunction structure is then discussed that could naturally enable gettering and bulk hydrogenation throughout cell fabrication.

Calibrated implied open circuit voltage (Voc) map of a p‐type mono‐crystalline wafer highlighting the impact of pre‐hydrogenating the top half of the wafer.