bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes after complete endoscopic sinus surgery and aspirin desensitization in aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease
Authors: Adappa Nithin D. , Ranasinghe Viran J. , Trope Michal , Brooks Steven G. , Glicksman Jordan T. , Parasher Arjun K. , Palmer James N. , Bosso John V.
Published: November 2017

Background

In this study we assessed patient outcomes after complete endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and aspirin desensitization for patients with aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients with aspirin challenge–proven AERD who underwent complete ESS followed by aspirin desensitization. Outcomes assessed included need for revision surgery and quality‐of‐life measures using the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT‐22). Data were collected preoperatively, postoperatively prior to desensitization, and then at intervals post‐desensitization through 30 months after aspirin desensitization. A longitudinal linear mixed‐effects model was used for data analysis.

Results

Thirty‐four patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Thirty‐two patients successfully completed aspirin desensitization and were subsequently followed for 30 months after desensitization. Two patients were unable to complete desensitization. Five patients discontinued aspirin maintenance therapy due to gastrointestinal and respiratory side effects. Within the follow‐up period, there were only 3 (9.4%) revision sinus surgeries. Notably, 1 of these revision cases occurred in a patient who had discontinued aspirin maintenance therapy. After surgical treatment and prior to desensitization patients had significant reductions in SNOT‐22 scores. Our results demonstrate that total SNOT‐22 scores remained statistically unchanged from immediate post‐desensitization throughout the 30‐month follow‐up period.

Conclusion

Complete sinus surgery followed by timely aspirin desensitization and maintenance therapy is an effective combination in the long‐term management of sinus disease in patients with AERD.
Experimental research of drop‐on‐demand droplet jetting 3D printing with molten polymer
Authors: Jiao Zhiwei , Li Fei , Xie Liyang , Liu Xiaojun , Chi Baihong , Yang Weimin
Published: November 2017

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology has become an effective method for parts manufacturing and got a certain application in many fields. Now, drop‐on‐demand droplet jetting 3D printing appears as a new method of manufacturing technology which has a proven research progress for metal, colloid, and liquid resin materials. However, there are hardly any researches of droplet jetting 3D printing with molten polymer. So, considering molten polymer as the jetting material with droplet jetting method is an explorative direction. In order to attain the molten polymer droplets and achieve droplet jetting 3D printing with molten polymer, the 3D printing technology of differential melt (3DPDM) is developed independently. According to 3DPDM, a complete set of drop‐on‐demand droplet jetting 3D printer have been developed. In this work, PP (6820) was chosen as the experimental material. Under the different print parameters such as the rotation speed of screw, nozzle diameter, mechanical impact frequency, heating temperature, the space between nozzle and platform, the form, and deposition of droplets were studied. Furthermore, the optimal print parameters were summarized. By printing models with the optimal print parameters, it turned out that the 3DPDM is able to achieve drop‐on‐demand droplet jetting 3D printing with molten polymer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45933.
Roll‐to‐roll printed carbon nanotubes on textile substrates as a heating layer in fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Fischer Thomas , Rühling Julia , Wetzold Nora , Zillger Tino , Weissbach Thomas , Göschel Thomas , Würfel Matthias , Hübler Arved , Kroll Lothar
Published: November 2017

The performance of wind turbines suffers from icing in regions with extreme climate. One approach is to incorporate heating elements into the most susceptible areas of the wind turbine blade as protection against icing and for de‐icing. Cost‐efficient and reproducible fabrication, as well as easy integration is important due to the large area of wind turbine blades. In this work, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes are applied on a 50% poly(ethylene terephthalate) and 50% polyamide non‐woven textile substrate by rotary‐screen printing. The printed layers function as resistive heating elements in a fiber‐reinforced composite. The heating areas are provided with flexographic or screen inline‐printed silver‐electrodes and can be integrated by means of vacuum infusion into a glass fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite laminate. These laminates, which are connected to an intelligent electrical control system, are suitable for melting ice on the surface of components or for preventing the formation of ice. The first promising experiments on heating structures in a rotor blade of a wind turbine at laboratory scale (2 m length) are the basis of studies on intelligent electrical control of heating structures and their behavior at different temperatures. The heating elements were able to melt a 3–4 mm thick ice layer within 25 min in a climate chamber at −5 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45950.
Aerobic anti‐gravity exercise in patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease types 1A and X: A pilot study
Authors: Knak Kirsten L. , Andersen Linda K. , Vissing John
Published: November 2017

Background

Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease is a hereditary neuropathy associated with impaired walking capacity. Some patients are too weak in the lower extremity muscles to walk at gravity with sufficient intensity or duration to gain benefit.

Aim

The aim was to investigate the effect of aerobic anti‐gravity exercise in weak patients with CMT 1A and X.

Methods

Five adult patients performed moderate‐intensity aerobic anti‐gravity exercise 3/week for 10 weeks.

Results

There was a significant positive difference in Berg balance scale and postural stability test between test occasions, and walking distance in the 6‐min walk test trended to increase.

Conclusions

The study indicates that the anti‐gravity treadmill training of patients with CMT should be pursued in larger CMT cohorts.
Memory and the hippocampal formation following pediatric traumatic brain injury
Authors: DeMaster Dana , Johnson Chad , Juranek Jenifer , Ewing‐Cobbs Linda
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Previous research indicates disruption of learning and memory in children who have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Objective

This research evaluates the impact of pediatric TBI on volumetric differences along the long axis of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that is critical for explicit memory.

Methods

Structural brain data and behavioral measures were collected 6 weeks following TBI or extracranial injury (EI), in children aged 8–15 years and from a group of age matched typically developing controls (TDC). Total hippocampal volume and hippocampal subregion volumes corresponding to hippocampal head, body, and tail were compared across groups and were examined in relation to verbal and visual memory.

Results

Group differences were evident such that hippocampal body volume was found to be smaller for TBI and EI groups compared to the TDC group. Analysis restricted to the TBI group indicated that hippocampal head volume was associated with severity of injury. The relation between severity of injury and hippocampal head volume is particularly important considering results from our investigation of hippocampal volume‐to‐memory performance relations indicating positive correlations between hippocampal head volume and performance on memory measures for both the TBI group and the TDC group. Significant negative correlations between hippocampal body volume and memory were evident for the TBI group but not EI or TDC groups. Correlations between memory performance and hippocampal tail volume were not significant for the TBI or TDC groups, although for the EI group, a positive correlation was found between hippocampal tail volume and memory.

Conclusion

Together these results underscore an important relation between hippocampal structure and memory function during the subacute stage of recovery from pediatric TBI.
Mesostructured Catalysts Based on the BEA Topology for Olefin Oligomerisation
Authors: Silva Andreia F. , Fernandes Auguste , Neves Patrícia , Antunes Margarida M. , Rocha Sílvia M. , Ribeiro Maria F. , Silva Carlos M. , Valente Anabela A.
Published: November 2017

Mesostructured solid acid catalysts based on the BEA topology were explored for olefin oligomerisation, which is an attractive synthetic route to produce clean, sulfur‐free fuels or fuel additives with reduced aromatics content. Specifically, the oligomerisation of 1‐butene, which may derive from (non‐)renewable sources, was performed under high pressure and continuous‐flow operation. The mesostructured catalysts consisted of a hierarchical zeotype (BEA‐hier) synthesized by a one‐pot approach using a dual‐function template and, on the other hand, a composite (BEA/TUD) possessing zeolite nanocrystallites embedded in a mesoporous matrix synthesised under hydrothermal conditions. The influence of the material properties, catalyst activation temperature and reaction parameters were investigated by combining characterisation, two‐dimensional gas chromatography combined with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ToFMS) studies, and catalytic studies. The catalytic performances were compared to those of commercial nano/microcrystalline zeolites of different topologies and COD‐900 (type of catalyst for the conversion of olefins to distillates process). BEA‐hier performed superiorly in terms of conversion and space–time yields to diesel cut products.
Fructose Dehydrogenase Electron Transfer Pathway in Bioelectrocatalytic Reactions
Authors: Kizling Michal , Bilewicz Renata
Published: November 2017

We present kinetic and mechanistic studies of fructose oxidation by fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) using the electrochemical methods of stationary and rotating disk voltammetry. FDH was physically adsorbed on unmodified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to study direct electron transfer (DET) parameters, and for comparison an MWCNT with an adsorbed pyrene derivative of naphthoquinone employed as the mediator in mediated electron transfer, MET, was also examined. Kinetic parameters, such as the number of electrons transferred, the turnover number, and the electron transfer rate constant, were calculated. Comparison of the non‐turnover and catalytic behaviour revealed the role of the heme c active site in the electron transfer of FDH. It was also shown that a mediator with a sufficiently low formal potential, such as the naphthoquinone, substitutes for the heme c site in the electron transfer to the electrode. The kinetic parameters of the processes proved that the application of the mediator results in an increase in the rate of fructose catalytic oxidation compared to that of the DET oxidation process.
Phthalocyanine‐Conjugated Upconversion NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2 Nanospheres for NIR‐Triggered Photodynamic Therapy in a Tumor Mouse Model
Authors: Kostiv Uliana , Patsula Vitalii , Noculak Agnieszka , Podhorodecki Artur , Větvička David , Poučková Pavla , Sedláková Zdenka , Horák Daniel
Published: November 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered immense attention as a minimally invasive clinical treatment modality for malignant cancers. However, its low penetration depth and photodamage of living tissues by UV and visible light, which activate a photosensitizer, limit the application of PDT. In this study, monodisperse NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanospheres 20 nm in diameter, that serve as near‐infrared (NIR)‐to‐visible light converters and activators of a photosensitizer, were synthesized by high‐temperature co‐precipitation of lanthanide chlorides in a high‐boiling organic solvent (octadec‐1‐ene). The nanoparticles were coated with a thin shell (≈3 nm) of homogenous silica via the hydrolysis and condensation of tetramethyl orthosilicate. The NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2 particles were further functionalized by methacrylate‐terminated groups via 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate. To introduce a large number of reactive amino groups on the particle surface, methacrylate‐terminated NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2 nanospheres were modified with a branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) via Michael addition. Aluminum carboxyphthalocyanine (Al Pc‐COOH) was then conjugated to NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2‐PEI nanospheres via carbodiimide chemistry. The resulting NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2‐PEI‐Pc particles were finally modified with succinimidyl ester of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in order to alleviate their future uptake by the reticuloendothelial system. Upon 980 nm irradiation, the intensive red emission of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2‐PEI‐Pc‐PEG nanoparticles completely vanished, indicating efficient energy transfer from the nanoparticles to Al Pc‐COOH, which generates singlet oxygen (1O2). Last but not least, NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2‐PEI‐Pc‐PEG nanospheres were intratumorally administered into mammary carcinoma MDA‐MB‐231 growing subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. Extensive necrosis developed at the tumor site of all mice 24–48 h after irradiation by laser at 980 nm wavelength. The results demonstrate that the NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2‐PEI‐Pc‐PEG nanospheres have great potential as a novel NIR‐triggered PDT nanoplatform for deep‐tissue cancer therapy.
Evidence of separate subgroups of juvenile southern bluefin tuna
Authors: Chambers Mark S. , Sidhu Leesa A. , O'Neill Ben , Sibanda Nokuthaba
Published: November 2017

Archival tagging studies of southern bluefin tuna (SBT, Thunnus maccoyii) have revealed that juveniles residing in the Great Australian Bight (GAB) over the austral summer undertake seasonal cyclic migrations to the southeast Indian Ocean and the Tasman Sea during winter. However, there remains disagreement about the extent of mixing between juvenile SBT regularly caught by longline fleets south of Africa and those observed in the GAB. Some researchers have argued that archival tag recoveries indicate most juveniles reside in the GAB over the austral summer. Others have suggested that recoveries of conventional and archival tags are better explained by a juvenile population consisting of separate groups on the eastern and western sides of the Indian Ocean with limited intermixing. We present analyses of catch and tag recovery data and re‐examine archival tagging studies. The evidence provided strongly favors the hypothesis of separate juvenile subgroups, or contingents, with limited intermixing. We draw some tentative conclusions about the nature of the putative contingents and discuss some implications of these findings for the interpretation of existing datasets and future research priorities. We also provide the first evidence that the migration choices of juveniles that summer in the GAB are influenced by fidelity to winter feeding grounds and suggest this helps explain the collapse of the surface fishery off New South Wales in the 1980s.
Is there plasticity in developmental instability? The effect of daily thermal fluctuations in an ectotherm
Authors: Kielland Øystein Nordeide , Bech Claus , Einum Sigurd
Published: November 2017

Diversified bet‐hedging (DBH) by production of within‐genotype phenotypic variance may evolve to maximize fitness in stochastic environments. Bet‐hedging is generally associated with parental effects, but phenotypic variation may also develop throughout life via developmental instability (DI). This opens for the possibility of a within‐generation mechanism creatingDBHduring the lifetime of individuals. If so,DIcould in fact be a plastic trait itself; if a fluctuating environment indicates uncertainty about future conditions, sensing such fluctuations could triggerDIas aDBHresponse. However, this possibility has received little empirical attention. Here, we test whether fluctuating environments may elicit such a response in the clonally reproducing crustaceanDaphnia magna. Specifically, we exposed genetically identical individuals to two environments of different thermal stability (stable vs. pronounced daily realistic temperature fluctuations) and tested for effects onDIin body mass and metabolic rate shortly before maturation. Furthermore, we also estimated the genetic variation inDI. Interestingly, fluctuating temperatures did not affect body mass, but metabolic rate decreased. We found no evidence for plasticity inDIin response to environmental fluctuations. The lack of plasticity was common to all genotypes, and for both traits studied. However, we found considerable evolvability forDI, which implies a general evolutionary potential forDBHunder selection for increased phenotypic variance.
THE MAGIC OF PLAY: LOW‐INCOME MOTHERS’ AND FATHERS’ PLAYFULNESS AND CHILDREN'S EMOTION REGULATION AND VOCABULARY SKILLS
Authors: Cabrera Natasha J. , Karberg Elizabeth , Malin Jenessa L. , Aldoney Daniela
Published: November 2017

Using data from a diverse sample of low‐income families who participated in the Early Head Start Research Evaluation Project (n = 73), we explored the association between mothers’ and fathers’ playfulness with toddlers, toddler's affect during play, and children's language and emotion regulation at prekindergarten. There were two main findings. First, fathers’ playfulness in toddlerhood was associated with children's vocabulary skills in prekindergarten whereas mothers’ playfulness was related to children's emotion regulation. Cross‐parental effects were found only for mothers. The association between mothers’ playfulness and children's vocabulary and emotion regulation was strengthened when fathers engaged in more pretend play and when children were affectively positive during the play. These findings show that playfulness is an important source of variation in the vocabulary and emotion regulation of children growing up in low‐income families. They also point to domain‐specific ways that mothers and fathers promote children's regulatory and vocabulary skills, and highlight the importance of children's positive engagement in play.
Enhancing bone regeneration by combining mesenchymal stem cell sheets with β‐TCP/COL‐I scaffolds
Authors: Lin Jun , Shao Jiaqi , Juan Li , Yu Wenke , Song Xiaojia , Liu Pengruofeng , Weng Wenjian , Xu Jinghong , Mehl Christian
Published: November 2017

The combination of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and biological scaffolds has been demonstrated to be a promising strategy for bone regeneration. However, this method does not result in satisfactory bone regeneration, because the BMSCs are dispersed in the biological scaffolds. The current study developed a new bone regeneration system, which combines synthetic porous three‐dimensional scaffolds of β‐TCP/COL‐I composite with cultured osteogenic sheets of BMSCs. Activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a marker of bone regeneration, was assayedin vitrousing enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.In vivobone regeneration was assayed in male nude mice. The study samples were BMSC sheet, scaffold/scattered BMSCs, scaffold/BMSC sheet, and scaffold alone. The samples were implanted dorsally in the mice.In vitroanalysis showed that β‐TCP/COL‐I scaffold combined with BMSC sheets significantly upregulated both gene expression and protein levels of ALP, osteocalcin, and osteopontin. Histological and micro‐computed tomography showed that the only implants that demonstrated new bone formation after 4 weeks were scaffold/BMSC sheet implants. These results underscore the crucial requirement of a synergistic effect of β‐TCP/COL‐I scaffolds and BMSC sheets. This could be a promising novel strategy for bone tissue engineering. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2037–2045, 2018.
Modulation of scar tissue formation in injured nervous tissue cultivated on surface‐engineered coralline scaffolds
Authors: Weiss Orly Eva , Hendler Roni Mina , Canji Eyal Aviv , Morad Tzachy , Foox Maytal , Francis Yitshak , Dubinski Zvy , Merfeld Ido , Hammer Liat , Baranes Danny
Published: November 2017

Following traumatic brain injury, there is no restoration of the lost nervous tissue, mainly due to the formation of a scar. One promising strategy to overcome this hurdle is grafting scaffolds that can disturb the scar blockade, enabling cell invasion into the wound. The aragonite skeleton of corals is useful scaffolds for testing this strategy, being supportive for neural cells in culture. The purpose of this work was to check if a contact between a coralline scaffold and an injured nervous tissue affects scar formation and if this effect can be regulated by engineering the scaffold's surface topology. To address that, hippocampal slices were cultivated on a coral skeleton having two distinct surface shapes: (1) intact skeleton pieces (ISP): porous, microrough surface; (2) grained skeleton (GS): nonporous, macrorough surface. On ISP, slices deformed by engulfing the scaffold's outer surface without penetrating the pores, yet, they preserved their coherence. By contrast, on GS slices were flat, but broken into interconnected small segments of tissue. In addition, whereas on ISP astrocytes were significantly more active and diffusely distributed, on GS reactive astrocytes tightened into a single <90 μm wide scar‐like stripe at the slice's periphery. Hence, by grafting coralline scaffolds of predesigned surface roughness and porosity into brain wounds, control over scar tissue formation can be gained, providing an opportunity for cell migration and damage repair. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2295–2306, 2018.
Ethical guidelines for publishing in the journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle: update 2017
Authors: von Haehling Stephan , Morley John E. , Coats Andrew J.S. , Anker Stefan D.
Published: November 2017

This article details an updated version of the principles of ethical authorship and publishing in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (JCSM). At the time of submission to JCSM, the corresponding author, on behalf of all co‐authors, needs to certify adherence to these principles. The principles are as follows:

All authors listed on a manuscript considered for publication have approved its submission and (if accepted) publication as provided to JCSM.

No person who has a right to be recognized as author has been omitted from the list of authors on the submitted manuscript.

Each author has made a material and independent contribution to the work submitted for publication.

The submitted work is original and is neither under consideration elsewhere nor that it has been published previously in whole or in part other than in abstract form.

All authors certify that the work is original and does not contain excessive overlap with prior or contemporaneous publication elsewhere, and where the publication reports on cohorts, trials, or data that have been reported on before these other publications must be referenced.

All original research work has been approved by the relevant bodies such as institutional review boards or ethics committees.

All conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, that may affect the authors' ability to present data objectively, and relevant sources of funding have been duly declared in the manuscript.

The manuscript in its published form will be maintained on the servers of JCSM as a valid publication only as long as all statements in the guidelines on ethical publishing remain true.

If any of the aforementioned statements ceases to be true, the authors have a duty to notify the Editors of JCSM as soon as possible so that the available information regarding the published article can be updated and/or the manuscript can be withdrawn.
Physical exercise alters the activation of downstream proteins related to BDNF‐TrkB signaling in male Wistar rats with epilepsy
Authors: de Almeida Alexandre Aparecido , Gomes da Silva Sérgio , Lopim Glauber Menezes , Vannucci Campos Diego , Fernandes Jansen , Cabral Francisco Romero , Arida Ricardo Mario
Published: November 2017

There are a considerable number of studies concerning the behavioral effects of physical exercise on the epileptic brain; however, the intracellular signaling mechanisms involved remain unclear. We investigated the effects of aerobic exercise on hippocampal levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), expression of its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), and activation of intracellular proteins related to BDNF‐TrkB signaling in male Wistar rats with pilocarpine‐induced epilepsy. Thirty days after the first spontaneous seizure, rats from the exercise group undertook a 30‐day physical exercise program on the treadmill. Thereafter, BDNF levels, expression of TrkB, and activation of intracellular proteins were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and multiplex assay, respectively. Statistical analyses were conducted using nonparametric tests. Rats with epilepsy presented decreased BDNF levels compared with control rats. BDNF levels increased significantly in the exercise group compared with the epileptic and control groups. Expression of full‐length and truncated TrkB was increased in rats with epilepsy, and physical exercise restored its expression to control levels. RAC‐alpha serine/threonine‐protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase activation were reduced in rats with epilepsy, and exercise increased activation compared with control and epilepsy groups. Increased cAMP response element binding protein activation was observed in the exercise group compared with the epilepsy group. Our findings indicate that the beneficial effects of exercise in the epileptic brain can be in part related to alterations in the activation of proteins related to the BDNF‐TrkB signaling pathway.
Ephemeral aggregate layers in the water column leave lasting footprints in the carbon cycle
Authors: Prairie Jennifer C. , Ziervogel Kai , Camassa Roberto , McLaughlin Richard M. , White Brian L. , Johnson Zackary I. , Arnosti Carol
Published: November 2017

Marine aggregates play a critical role in the biological pump, both as a dominant component of carbon flux and as hotspots for organic matter remineralization by microbial communities. In this study, we used laboratory experiments to investigate how aggregate thin layers, such as those commonly found in the coastal ocean, affect the distribution of bacteria and their activity. Diatom aggregates were added to a stratified water column, forming layers within which both microbial concentration and extracellular enzyme activity were substantially increased relative to background levels. Importantly, this enhancement of bacterial concentration and activity persisted long after the marine snow aggregates settled through the tank—that is, 10 times longer than the duration of the aggregate layer at the density interface. Thus, these small‐scale microbial interactions within aggregate layers leave behind considerable “carbon processing footprints” in the water column that may affect biogeochemical cycles at much larger temporal and spatial scales.
Level‐ limit linear series
Authors: Esteves Eduardo , Nigro Antonio , Rizzo Pedro
Published: November 2017

We consider all one‐parameter families of smooth curves degenerating to a singular curve X and describe limits of linear series along such families. We treat here only the simplest case where X is the union of two smooth components meeting transversely at a point P. We introduce the notion of level‐δ limit linear series on X to describe these limits, where δ is the singularity degree of the total space of the degeneration at P. If the total space is regular, that is, , we recover the limit linear series introduced by Osserman in . So we extend his treatment to a more general setup. In particular, we construct a projective moduli space parameterizing level‐δ limit linear series of rank r and degree d on X, and show that it is a new compactification, for each δ, of the moduli space of Osserman exact limit linear series. Finally, we generalize by associating with each exact level‐δ limit linear series on X a closed subscheme of the dth symmetric product of X, and showing that, if is a limit of linear series on the smooth curves degenerating to X, then is the limit of the corresponding spaces of divisors. In short, we describe completely limits of divisors along degenerations to such a curve X.
Low back pain due to superior cluneal nerve entrapment: A clinicopathologic study
Authors: Kim Kyongsong , Shimizu Jun , Isu Toyohiko , Inoue Kiyoharu , Chiba Yasuhiro , Iwamoto Naotaka , Morimoto Daijiro , Isobe Masanori , Morita Akio
Published: November 2017

Introduction

We studied the clinical and nerve pathologic features in 6 patients whose low back pain (LBP) was relieved by superior cluneal nerve (SCN) neurectomy to determine whether nerve compression was the mechanism underlying this type of LBP.

Methods

All 6 patients (7 nerves) underwent SCN neurectomy for intractable LBP. Their clinical outcomes and the pathologic features of 7 nerves were reviewed.

Results

All patients reported LBP relief immediately after SCN neurectomy. Pathologic study of the 7 resected nerves showed marked enlargement, decreased myelinated fiber density, an increase in thinly myelinated fibers (n = 2), perineurial thickening (n = 5), subperineurial edema (n = 4), and Renaut bodies (n = 4). At the distal end of 1 enlarged nerve, we observed a moderate reduction in the density and marked reduction in the number of large myelinated fibers.

Discussion

The pathologic findings and effectiveness of neurectomy suggest that, in our patients, SCN neuropathy likely elicited LBP via nerve compression. Muscle Nerve 57: 777–783, 2018
Dendritic poly(benzyl ether)‐b‐poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) block copolymers: Self‐organization in aqueous media, thermoresponsiveness and biocompatibility
Authors: Tang Gang , Hu Minqi , He Fuxi , You Dan , Qian Yangyang , Bi Yunmei
Published: November 2017

Four generations of new amphiphilic thermoresponsive linear‐dendritic block copolymers (LDBCs) with a linear poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) block and a dendritic poly(benzyl ether) block are synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N‐vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) using dendritic poly(benzyl ether) chlorides as initiators. The copolymers have been characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and GPC showing controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI ≤ 1.25). Their self‐organization in aqueous media and thermoresponsive property are highly dependent on the generation of dendritic poly(benzyl ether) block. It is observed for the LDBCs that the self‐assembled morphology changes from irregularly spherical micelles, vesicles, rod‐like large compound vesicles (LCVs), to the coexistence of spherical micelles and rod‐like LCVs, as the generation of the dendritic poly(benzyl ether) increases. The results of a cytotoxicity study using an MTT assay method with L929 cells show that the LDBCs are biocompatible. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 300–308
Self‐Assembled Silver–Gold Nanoisland Films on Glass for SERS Applications
Authors: Babich Ekaterina , Redkov Alexey , Reduto Igor , Lipovskii Andrey
Published: November 2017

We present a study of resonant optical properties of gold‐protected silver nanoisland films. Silver nanoislands were grown on a glass substrate using out‐diffusion technique, the growth was followed by the deposition of nanometer‐thick gold coatings. Scanning electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy were used to characterize morphology and extinction spectra of the grown combined silver–gold nanostructures. Micro Raman spectroscopy of the combined nanoislands has demonstrated their signal enhancement factor exceeding that one of the initial silver nanoislands.
Thickness Dependence of Photoconductance in Strained BiFeO3 Thin Films With Planar Device Geometry
Authors: Huang Zhifeng , Li Peilian , Fan Zhen , Fan Hua , Luo Qiuyuan , Chen Chao , Chen Deyang , Zeng Min , Qin Minghui , Zhang Zhang , Lu Xubing , Gao Xingsen , Liu Jun‐Ming
Published: November 2017

The recent discovery of efficient charge separation in tetragonal–rhombohedral (T‐R) polymorphic phase boundaries (PPBs) in strained BiFeO3 (BFO) films is of great interest, and also raised a question of whether the PPBs could enhance the performance of BFO‐based planar photodetectors. To address it, we prepare BFO films with thickness ranging from 8 to 90 nm on the LaAlO3 substrates, in which the BFO evolves from a pure T phase (without PPBs) to a T‐R mixed phase (with PPBs) due to the strain relaxation. Then, we comparatively investigate the photoconductive properties of these BFO films with the planar device geometry. It is found that the photoconductance first increases and then decreases with increasing film thickness. Particularly, the 50‐nm film containing the pure T phase without any detectable PPBs exhibits the highest photoconductance. This unexpected observation can be understood by analyzing the effects of increasing film thickness and associated phase evolution on the photoconduction‐related parameters.
Large‐scale identification and visualization of N‐glycans with primary structures using GlySeeker
Authors: Xiao Kaijie , Wang Yue , Shen Yun , Han Yuyin , Tian Zhixin
Published: November 2017

Rationale

Most of the current popular tandem mass spectrometers have the capability of resolving the primary structures (monosaccharide composition, sequence and linkage) of N‐glycans; however, compositions or putative structures have mostly been reported so far. Identification and visualization tools of N‐glycans are needed.

Methods

The isotopic mass‐to‐charge ratio and envelope fingerprinting algorithm, which has been successfully used for intact protein database search and identification, was adapted for N‐glycan database search, and a stand‐alone N‐glycan database search engine, GlySeeker, for automated N‐glycan identification and visualization was developed and successfully benchmarked. Both pseudo 2D graph and one‐line text formats with one‐letter symbols for monosaccharides were proposed for representing N‐glycans. N‐glycans were identified with comprehensive interpretation of product ions and false discovery rate (FDR) control.

Results

In a database search of reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC/MS/MS) datasets of the N‐glycome enriched from OVCAR‐3 ovarian cancer cells, with FDR ≤1% and number of best hits (NoBHs) = 1–30, 1525 N‐glycans with comprehensive primary structural information (composition, sequence and linkage) were identified and visualized; among these 1525 N‐glycans, 559 had NoBHs = 1, i.e. their structures were uniquely identified. This represents a large‐scale identification and visualization of N‐glycans with primary structures from tandem mass spectra.

Conclusions

A stand‐alone N‐glycan database search engine called GlySeeker has been developed for large‐scale identification and visualization of N‐glycans with comprehensive interpretation of tandem mass spectra and FDR control.
Are senior cardiac sonographers adequately prepared to provide echo training and supervision to students? Survey results from senior cardiac sonographers and echo educators in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Williamson Jacqueline Maree
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Workplace supervision and training of cardiac sonographers in Victoria is largely undertaken by senior cardiac sonographers including echo educators. Effective clinical supervision is made difficult by a desire to maintain patient throughput and a lack of adequate staffing in the workplace. Many senior sonographers do not have the desired skills or adequate training to provide effective supervision.

Methods

Twenty‐five senior cardiac sonographers and echo educators were surveyed to establish current trends in clinical supervision. Participants completed a survey regarding the frequency, perceived quality and confidence in providing echo training and supervision.

Results

The majority of respondents provided workplace supervision to student cardiac sonographers as part of their usual duties. The time allocated to this varied from less than 1 day per month to up to 4 or 5 days per week. Most had no formal qualification in providing echo training and supervision while some had minimal training. All respondents rated the quality of the training and supervision provided as average or above.

Discussion

Senior cardiac sonographers in Victoria suggest an increase in staffing levels and undertaking training in clinical supervision would assist them in providing effective workplace, training and supervision of student cardiac sonographers.
Influence of DEHP on thyroid, sex steroid‐related genes and gonadal differentiation in Rana chensinensis tadpoles
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Li Xinyi , Gao Jinshu , Wang Hongyuan
Published: November 2017

In the present study, responses of the Chinese brown frog (Rana chensinensis) to exposure to di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, during the larval period were characterized. The effects of DEHP on metamorphosis rate, thyroid hormone, thyroid histology and the expression of genes involved in the steroid hormone synthesis in gonad were investigated. Metamorphosis rate and 50 percent of the tadpoles to reach Gosner stage 42 (T0.5) were significantly slower in all DEHP groups. The thyroid glands of the tadpoles exposed to DEHP clearly exhibited colloid depletion. In addition, decreased concentrations of T4 and T3 were observed in the tadpoles exposed to DEHP. Moreover, the highest DEHP exposure (10 µmol/L DEHP) showed increased ratio of females significantly. Also, up‐regulation significantly of transcripts of cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) gene was detected in male tadpoles exposed to DEHP. The present results indicate that this increase in estrogens could lead to female‐biased sex ratio in DEHP exposure group. Taken together, the present study indicates that DEHP disrupt thyroid hormone and sex steroid signaling in R. chensinensis tadpoles. Our present observations support evidence of a crosstalk between TH and sex steroids in gonad differentiation.
Filling the gaps in ecological studies of socioecological systems
Authors: Chen I‐Ching , Hsieh Chih‐hao , Kondoh Michio , Lin Hsing‐Juh , Miki Takeshi , Nakamura Masahiro , Ohgushi Takayuki , Urabe Jotaro , Yoshida Takehito
Published: November 2017

Our human‐dominant world can be viewed as being built up in two parts, social and ecological systems, each consisting of multi‐level organizations that interact in a complex manner. However, there are knowledge gaps among those interactions. In this paper, we focus on studies filling two types of gaps in the socioecological system, some of which are case studies in the East Asia region and others are discussed in a more general context. First, we address the gaps between different levels of organizations in ecological systems, namely, (1) the importance of plant trait plasticity in bridging evolution and ecology, (2) linking primary producer diversity and the dynamics of blue carbon in coastal ecosystems in the Asia–Pacific region, and (3) research direction of climate change biology to fill the gaps across evolution, community, and ecosystem. Also included is (4) the gap between ecological monitoring programs and theories, which also addresses the potential of citizen science. Second, we illustrate the gaps between ecological and social systems through ongoing development of an ecosystem management framework, i.e., ecosystem‐based disaster risk reduction. Finally, we summarize the benefits of filling the gaps for ecologists and society.
Satisfaction of psychotic patients with care and its value to predict outcomes
Authors: Vermeulen J.M. , Schirmbeck N.F. , van Tricht M.J. , de Haan L.
Published: November 2017

Background

A key indicator of quality of treatment from the patient's perspective is expressed by satisfaction with care. Our aim was to (i) explore satisfaction and its relation to clinical outcome measures; and (ii) explore the predictive value of satisfaction for the course of outcomes over three years.

Methods

Data of 654 patients with a non-affective psychosis included in a naturalistic longitudinal cohort study were analyzed. We included 506 males and 148 females with a mean age of 30.47 (SD 7.24) from The Netherlands. Satisfaction was measured with the self-rating Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8. A wide range of interviewer-rated (e.g., Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) and self-rated (e.g., World Health Organization Quality of Life); outcomes of low, intermediate and high satisfied patients were compared using ANOVA, Chi2 or Kruskal–Wallis tests. The predictive value of satisfaction level on clinical outcomes after three years was tested using regression models.

Results

Satisfaction levels were low (19.4%), intermediate (48.9%) or high (31.7%). High satisfied patients showed significantly better interviewer-rated outcomes, e.g., less severe psychotic symptoms, and self-rated outcomes, e.g., better quality of life, compared to patients with intermediate or low satisfaction. Higher levels of satisfaction with care at baseline predicted a reduction of positive symptoms three years later (B=–.09, P-value=.013).

Conclusions

Satisfaction of patients with psychosis is a valuable monitoring measure since high satisfied patients show more favorable outcomes ranging from psychopathological symptoms to quality of life. Further research into explanations of lower levels of satisfaction is commendable in order to improve outcomes.
On the stability of the μ(I) rheology for granular flow
Authors: Goddard J. D. , Lee Jaesung
Published: November 2017

This article deals with the Hadamard instability of the so-called$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$model of dense rapidly sheared granular flow, as reported recently by Barkeret al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 779, 2015, pp. 794–818). The present paper presents a more comprehensive study of the linear stability of planar simple shearing and pure shearing flows, with account taken of convective Kelvin wavevector stretching by the base flow. We provide a closed-form solution for the linear-stability problem and show that wavevector stretching leads to asymptotic stabilization of the non-convective instability found by Barkeret al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 779, 2015, pp. 794–818). We also explore the stabilizing effects of higher velocity gradients achieved by an enhanced-continuum model based on a dissipative analogue of the van der Waals–Cahn–Hilliard equation of equilibrium thermodynamics. This model involves a dissipative hyperstress, as the analogue of a special Korteweg stress, with surface viscosity representing the counterpart of elastic surface tension. Based on the enhanced-continuum model, we also present a model of steady shear bands and their nonlinear stability against parallel shearing. Finally, we propose a theoretical connection between the non-convective instability of Barkeret al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 779, 2015, pp. 794–818) and the loss of generalized ellipticity in the quasi-static field equations. Apart from the theoretical interest, the present work may suggest stratagems for the numerical simulation of continuum field equations involving the$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$rheology and variants thereof.
Revisiting ignited–quenched transition and the non-Newtonian rheology of a sheared dilute gas–solid suspension
Authors: Saha Saikat , Alam Meheboob
Published: November 2017

The hydrodynamics and rheology of a sheared dilute gas–solid suspension, consisting of inelastic hard spheres suspended in a gas, are analysed using an anisotropic Maxwellian as the single particle distribution function. For the simple shear flow, the closed-form solutions for granular temperature and three invariants of the second-moment tensor are obtained as functions of the Stokes number ($St$), the mean density ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$) and the restitution coefficient ($e$). Multiple states of high and low temperatures are found when the Stokes number is small, thus recovering the ‘ignited’ and ‘quenched’ states, respectively, of Tsao & Koch (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 296, 1995, pp. 211–246). The phase diagram is constructed in the three-dimensional ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D708},St,e$)-space that delineates the regions of ignited and quenched states and their coexistence. The particle-phase shear viscosity and the normal-stress differences are analysed, along with related scaling relations on the quenched and ignited states. At any $e$, the shear viscosity undergoes a discontinuous jump with increasing shear rate at the ‘quenched–ignited’ transition. The first (${\mathcal{N}}_{1}$) and second (${\mathcal{N}}_{2}$) normal-stress differences also undergo similar first-order transitions: (i) ${\mathcal{N}}_{1}$ jumps from large to small positive values and (ii) ${\mathcal{N}}_{2}$ from positive to negative values with increasing $St$, with the sign change of ${\mathcal{N}}_{2}$ identified with the system making a transition from the quenched to ignited states. The superior prediction of the present theory over the standard Grad’s method and the Burnett-order Chapman–Enskog solution is demonstrated via comparisons of transport coefficients with simulation data for a range of Stokes number and restitution coefficient.
Organizational and Ideological Strategies for Nationalization: Evidence from European Parties
Authors: Borz Gabriela , de Miguel Carolina
Published: November 2017

How does a party’s organizational structure affect its chances of becoming a national party? While existing explanations of party nationalization focus on country-level institutional and societal variables, we argue that aspects of party organization such as the degree of centralization of authority, ideological unity and leadership factionalism also matter. By bringing the analysis to the party level, this article provides a multilevel analysis of institutional and party organization variables and disentangles the effect of each set of influences. We use original data on party organization and party nationalization for 142 parties across twenty European countries. This research contributes to the literature on nationalization and party development by advancing organizational strategies which parties could adopt in different social and institutional environments.
Pimavanserin for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis: number needed to treat, number needed to harm, and likelihood to be helped or harmed
Authors: Citrome Leslie , Norton James C. , Chi-Burris Kathy , Demos George
Published: November 2017

Objective

Our aim was to describe the efficacy and tolerability of pimavanserin, a highly selective serotonin 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist/antagonist indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP), using the metrics of number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH).

Methods

Categorical efficacy and tolerability data were extracted from the clinical trial databases of the double-blind placebo-controlled studies of pimavanserin in persons with PDP. NNT and NNH values were calculated with their respective 95% confidence intervals. The likelihood to be helped or harmed (LHH) was then calculated contrasting therapeutic response versus discontinuation because of an adverse event.

Results

NNT values for pimavanserin 34 mg/d versus placebo for several definitions of clinical response are <10, and as robust as 4. NNH values for tolerability outcomes for pimavanserin 34 mg/d (as well as for doses that range from 8.5 to 51 mg/d) are >10, and/or are not statistically significant, and/or show an advantage for pimavanserin over placebo (such as for postural hypotension). In terms of LHH, pimavanserin 34 mg/d is about five times more likely to result in clinical response (as measured by a ≥3 point decrease from baseline on the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms adapted for Parkinson’s disease) versus discontinuation due to an adverse event.

Conclusions

Using the metrics of NNT, NNH, and LHH, pimavanserin 34 mg/d for the treatment of PDP appears to have a compelling benefit/risk profile.