bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rigid shells enhance survival of gekkotan eggs
Authors: Andrews Robin M.
Published: July 2015

The majority of lizards and snakes produce permeable parchment‐shelled eggs that require high moisture conditions for successful embryonic development. One clade of gekkotan lizards is an exception; females produce relatively impermeable rigid‐shelled eggs that normally incubate successfully under low moisture conditions. I tested the hypothesis that the rigid‐shell increases egg survival during incubation, but only under low moisture conditions. To test this hypothesis, I incubated rigid‐shelled eggs of Chondrodactylus turneri under low and under high moisture conditions. Eggs were incubated with parchment‐shelled eggs of Eublepharis macularius to insure that incubation conditions were suitable for parchment‐shelled eggs. Chondrodactylus turneri eggs had very high survival (>90%) when they were incubated under low moisture conditions. In contrast, eggs incubated under high moisture conditions had low survival overall, and lower survival than those of the parchment‐shelled eggs of E. macularius. Mortality of C. turneri and E. macularius eggs incubated under high moisture conditions was the result of fungal infection, a common source of egg mortality for squamates under laboratory and field conditions. These observations document high survival of rigid‐shelled eggs under low moisture conditions because eggs escape from fungal infection. Highly mineralized rigid shells also make egg survival independent of moisture availability and may also provide protection from small invertebrates in nature. Enhanced egg survival could thus compensate for the low reproductive output of gekkotans that produce rigid‐shelled eggs. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 607–615, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interunit handoffs from emergency department to inpatient care: A cross‐sectional survey of physicians at a university medical center
Authors: Smith Christopher J. , Britigan Denise H. , Lyden Elizabeth , Anderson Nathan , Welniak Ted J. , Wadman Michael C.
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Emergency department (ED) to inpatient physician handoffs are subject to complex challenges. We assessed physicians' perceptions of the ED admission handoff process and identified potential barriers to safe patient care.

METHODS

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey at a 627‐bed tertiary care academic medical center. Eligible participants included all resident, fellow, and faculty physicians directly involved in admission handoffs from emergency medicine (EM) and 5 medical admitting services. The survey addressed communication quality, clinical information, interpersonal perceptions, assignment of responsibilities, organizational factors, and patient safety. Participants reported their responses via a 5‐point Likert scale and an open‐ended description of handoff‐related adverse events.

RESULTS

Response rates were 63% for admitting (94/150) and 86% for EM physicians (32/37). Compared to EM respondents, admitting physicians reported that vital clinical information was communicated less frequently for all 8 content areas (P < 0.001). Ninety‐four percent of EM physicians felt defensive at least “sometimes.” Twenty‐nine percent of all respondents reported handoff‐related adverse events, most frequently related to ineffective communication. Sequential handoffs were common for both EM and admitting services, with 78% of physicians reporting they negatively impacted patient care.

CONCLUSION

Physicians reported that patient safety was often at risk during the ED admission handoff process. Admitting and EM physicians had divergent perceptions regarding handoff communication, and sequential handoffs were common. Further research is needed to better understand this complex process and to investigate strategies for improvement. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:711–717. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Accuracy and the effect of possible subject‐based confounders of magnitude‐based MRI for estimating hepatic proton density fat fraction in adults, using MR spectroscopy as reference
Authors: Heba Elhamy R. , Desai Ajinkya , Zand Kevin A. , Hamilton Gavin , Wolfson Tanya , Schlein Alexandra N. , Gamst Anthony , Loomba Rohit , Sirlin Claude B. , Middleton Michael S.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To determine the accuracy and the effect of possible subject‐based confounders of magnitude‐based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for estimating hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) for different numbers of echoes in adults with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, using MR spectroscopy (MRS) as a reference.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective analysis of 506 adults, hepatic PDFF was estimated by unenhanced 3.0T MRI, using right‐lobe MRS as reference. Regions of interest placed on source images and on six‐echo parametric PDFF maps were colocalized to MRS voxel location. Accuracy using different numbers of echoes was assessed by regression and Bland–Altman analysis; slope, intercept, average bias, and R2 were calculated. The effect of age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) on hepatic PDFF accuracy was investigated using multivariate linear regression analyses.

Results

MRI closely agreed with MRS for all tested methods. For three‐ to six‐echo methods, slope, regression intercept, average bias, and R2 were 1.01–0.99, 0.11–0.62%, 0.24–0.56%, and 0.981–0.982, respectively. Slope was closest to unity for the five‐echo method. The two‐echo method was least accurate, underestimating PDFF by an average of 2.93%, compared to an average of 0.23–0.69% for the other methods. Statistically significant but clinically nonmeaningful effects on PDFF error were found for subject BMI (P range: 0.0016 to 0.0783), male sex (P range: 0.015 to 0.037), and no statistically significant effect was found for subject age (P range: 0.18‐0.24).

Conclusion

Hepatic magnitude‐based MRI PDFF estimates using three, four, five, and six echoes, and six‐echo parametric maps are accurate compared to reference MRS values, and that accuracy is not meaningfully confounded by age, sex, or BMI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:398–406.
Pulmonary CT and MRI phenotypes that help explain chronic pulmonary obstruction disease pathophysiology and outcomes
Authors: Hoffman Eric A. , Lynch David A. , Barr R. Graham , van Beek Edwin J.R. , Parraga Grace ,   IWPFI Investigators
Published: July 2015

Pulmonary x‐ray computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research and development has been motivated, in part, by the quest to subphenotype common chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For thoracic CT and MRI, the main COPD research tools, disease biomarkers are being validated that go beyond anatomy and structure to include pulmonary functional measurements such as regional ventilation, perfusion, and inflammation. In addition, there has also been a drive to improve spatial and contrast resolution while at the same time reducing or eliminating radiation exposure. Therefore, this review focuses on our evolving understanding of patient‐relevant and clinically important COPD endpoints and how current and emerging MRI and CT tools and measurements may be exploited for their identification, quantification, and utilization. Since reviews of the imaging physics of pulmonary CT and MRI and reviews of other COPD imaging methods were previously published and well‐summarized, we focus on the current clinical challenges in COPD and the potential of newly emerging MR and CT imaging measurements to address them. Here we summarize MRI and CT imaging methods and their clinical translation for generating reproducible and sensitive measurements of COPD related to pulmonary ventilation and perfusion as well as parenchyma morphology. The key clinical problems in COPD provide an important framework in which pulmonary imaging needs to rapidly move in order to address the staggering burden, costs, as well as the mortality and morbidity associated with COPD. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2016;43:544–557.
The effect of raw materials on thermo‐oxidative stability and glycidyl ester content of palm oil during frying
Authors: Aniołowska Magda A , Kita Agnieszka M
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of the water content of food incorporated into frying oil on oil degradation and the content of glycidyl esters. Potato chips, French fries and snacks were fried intermittently in palm oil, which was heated at 180 °C for 8 h per day over five consecutive days. Thermo‐oxidative and physical alterations, changes in fatty acid composition, total polar components, polar fraction composition, and water content were analysed. The content of glycidyl esters was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

More polar compounds were formed in the oil used for frying chips (252 g kg−1) than for French fries (229 g kg−1) or snacks (196 g kg−1). Reductions in glycidyl esters were found in oils used for frying – greater for frying snacks and French fries (95% and 93%) than for potato chips (87%). The rate of decrease of glycidyl esters was correlated with frying parameters, most strongly with the concentrations of diacylglycerols (r = 0.98) and total polar components (r = −0.98).

CONCLUSION

The raw material had a greater influence on polymerization conversion and glycidyl ester content than on hydrolytic and oxidative changes in the frying oil. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
A Chemical Kinetic Mechanism for 2‐Bromo‐3,3,3‐trifluoropropene (2‐BTP) Flame Inhibition
Authors: Burgess Donald R. , Babushok Valeri I. , Linteris Gregory T. , Manion Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2015

In this work, we report a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism to describe the flame inhibition chemistry of the fire‐suppressant 2‐bromo‐3,3,3‐trifluoropropene (2‐BTP), under consideration as a replacement for CF3Br. Under some conditions, the effectiveness of 2‐BTP is similar to that of CF3Br; however, like other potential halon replacements, it failed an U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) qualifying test for its use in cargo bays. Large overpressures are observed in that test and indicate an exothermic reaction of the agent under those conditions. The kinetic model reported herein lays the groundwork to understand the seemingly conflicting behavior on a fundamental basis. The present mechanism and parameters are based on an extensive literature review supplemented with new quantum chemical calculations. The first part of the present article documents the information considered and provides traceability with respect to the reaction set, species thermochemistry, and kinetic parameters. In additional work, presented more fully elsewhere, we have combined the 2‐BTP chemical kinetic mechanism developed here with several other submodels from the literature and then used the combined mechanism to simulate premixed flames over a range of fuel/air stoichiometries and agent loadings. Overall, the modeling results qualitatively predicted observations found in cup‐burner tests and FAA Aerosol Can Tests, including the extinguishing concentrations required and the lean‐to‐rich dependence of mixtures. With these data in hand, in a second phase of the present work, we perform a reaction path analysis of major species under several modeled conditions. This analysis leads to a qualitative understanding of the ability of 2‐BTP to act as both an inhibitor and a fuel, depending on the conditions and suggests areas of the kinetic model that should be further investigated and refined.
Orthotopic Osteogenecity Enhanced by a Porous Gelatin Sponge in a Critical‐Sized Rat Calvaria Defect
Authors: Kanda Naofumi , Anada Takahisa , Handa Takuto , Kobayashi Kazuhito , Ezoe Yushi , Takahashi Tetsu , Suzuki Osamu
Published: July 2015

The gelatin (Gel) powders, derived from acidic and basic extractions of porcine dermis (referred to as AE and BE), were processed for the porous sponge preparation. The disks, which were less than or greater than 500 μm in diameter [small (S) and large (L) pores, respectively] in both extractions and had an interconnected structure respectively, were implanted in critical‐sized defects (CSD) of rat calvaria for 4 and 8 weeks to analyze the bone repair capability. Only the AE‐S disk induced bone formation (over 60%) histomorphometrically in the CSD after 8 weeks, although the collagen orientation of the regenerated bone was still immature. Osteoblastic cell culture until 14 days did not substantiate marked superiority of AE‐S disk regarding the proliferation and the differentiation, although the initial attachment was enhanced on AE‐S disk than BE‐L disk. The results provide the findings that a Gel sponge with a specific porous structure is capable of inducing orthotopic bone formation in vivo environment.
Gray and white matter imaging: A biomarker for cognitive impairment in early Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Duncan Gordon W. , Firbank Michael J. , Yarnall Alison J. , Khoo Tien K. , Brooks David J. , Barker Roger A. , Burn David J. , O'Brien John T.
Published: July 2015

Background

The aim of this work was to investigate the cortical and white matter changes that underlie cognitive impairment in patients with incident Parkinson's disease (PD) disease using voxel‐based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging.

Methods

Newly diagnosed nondemented PD (n = 125) and control subjects (n = 50) were recruited from the Incidence of Cognitive Impairment in Cohorts with Longitudinal Evaluation in Parkinson's Disease Study and completed cognitive assessments and 3T structural and diffusion tensor MR imaging. Voxel‐based morphometry was performed to investigate the relationship between gray matter volume and cognitive ability. Microstructural white matter changes were assessed with diffusion tensor imaging measures of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity using tract‐based spatial statistics.

Results

Increased mean diffusivity was observed bilaterally in subjects with PD, relative to controls (P = 0.019). Increased mean diffusivity was associated with performance on the semantic fluency and Tower of London tasks in frontal and parietal white matter tracts, including the cingulum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus. There was no difference in total gray matter volume between groups; however, bilateral reductions in frontal and parietal gray matter volume were associated with reduced performance on measures of executive function in PD subjects.

Conclusions

At the earliest stages of PD, regionally specific increases in central white matter mean diffusivity are present and suggest early axonal damage. Such changes are not accompanied by significant gray matter volume loss and are consistent with proposed models of pathological progression of the disease. Structural MRI, especially diffusion tensor imaging analysis, offers potential as a noninvasive biomarker reflecting cognitive impairment in PD. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Furostanolic saponins from Trigonella foenum‐graecum alleviate diet‐induced glucose intolerance and hepatic fat accumulation
Authors: Hua Yinan , Ren Sidney Y. , Guo Rui , Rogers Olivia , Nair Rama P. , Bagchi Debasis , Swaroop Anand , Nair Sreejayan
Published: July 2015

Scope

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fenugreek furostanolic saponins (FenfuroTM) either alone or in combination with chlorogenic acid (GCB‐70TM) on insulin resistance in mice.

Methods and results

Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a normal or high‐fat diet (HFD) and were randomly assigned to receive FenfuroTM, GCB‐70TM, or their combination for 24 wk. Metabolic parameters, glucose tolerance, serum triglycerides, cardiac function, and hepatic insulin signaling were evaluated using indirect open‐circuit calorimetry, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, oil red O staining, echocardiography, and Western blotting, respectively. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test revealed glucose intolerance in the mice receiving HFD, which was attenuated by FenfuroTM. Serum triglyceride that was elevated following an HFD was reconciled by both FenfuroTM and the combination. HFD compromised myocardial contractile function, which was unaffected by the treatment. Insulin‐stimulated phosphorylation of Protein kinase B (AKT) in the liver was attenuated in mice receiving HFD, which was partially rescued by GCB‐70TM. Neither treatment altered metabolic parameters or energy expenditure.

Conclusion

Collectively, our data suggest that fenugreek furostanolic saponins and green coffee bean extract may have potential benefits in treating insulin resistance and related conditions.
Expression profile of doublesex/male abnormal‐3‐related transcription factor‐1 during gonadal sex change in the protogynous wrasse, Halichoeres trimaculatus
Authors: Nozu Ryo , Horiguchi Ryo , Kobayashi Yasuhisa , Nakamura Masaru
Published: July 2015

Sex change in fish involves a dramatic transformation of gonadal tissue and a switch in gametogenesis. Doublesex/male abnormal‐3‐related transcription factor‐1 (DMRT1), encoded by the DMRT1 gene, is involved in testicular differentiation in a wide range of vertebrates as well as in sexual differentiation and gonadal sex change. In the present study, we investigated changes in the expression of dmrt1 during artificial gonadal sex change in the three‐spot wrasse, Halichoeres trimaculatus, by real‐time quantitative PCR and immunolocalization, using an anti‐wrasse‐Dmrt1 antibody that we prepared. We found that dmrt1 expression was predominantly observed in the testes, and that Dmrt1 was expressed in Sertoli cells of testes and a few granulosa cells surrounding vitellogenic oocytes of the ovary. Additionally, the upregulation of dmrt1 expression was consistent with an increase in spermatogenic cyst quantity rather than proliferation of presumptive spermatogonia, suggesting that dmrt1 is involved in the progression of spermatogenesis during sex change. Changes in the localization of Dmrt1 during gonadal sex change further implied that Sertoli cells originate from somatic cells adjacent to gonial germ cells during testicular formation in the three‐spot wrasse. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 859–866, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fatigue screening in breast cancer patients: identifying likely cases of cancer‐related fatigue
Authors: Goedendorp Martine M. , Jacobsen Paul B. , Andrykowski Michael A.
Published: July 2015

Objective

For clinical and research purposes, efficient identification of cases of cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) is important, as CRF can be persistent and interfere with usual functioning. While various fatigue‐screening instruments are available, no brief screening indices have been developed using formally diagnosed CRF cases as the criterion.

Methods

Breast cancer patients (n = 385) completed a fatigue diagnostic interview and self‐report fatigue measures (Profile of Mood States‐fatigue subscale, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and SF‐36 vitality subscale), after initial adjuvant therapy (post‐treatment (post‐Tx) 1 assessment), after completion of radiotherapy for women receiving chemotherapy + radiotherapy (post‐Tx 2 assessment), and 6 months after completion of all adjuvant therapy (6‐month post‐Tx assessment). CRF cases were identified using specific diagnostic criteria. ROC analyses identified screening indices, which could accurately identify CRF cases after initial adjuvant therapy. Screening indices were cross‐validated using post‐Tx 2 and 6‐month follow‐up assessment data.

Results

A total of 104 women (27%) met CRF criteria after initial adjuvant therapy. Six two‐item screening indices were identified. For all indices, area under the curve exceeded 0.80, sensitivity exceeded 0.80, and specificity exceeded 0.57. Cross‐validation suggested that, except for the index based on SF‐36, all the indices continued to accurately identify CRF cases at the post‐Tx 2 and 6‐month post‐Tx assessments. Overall, a two‐item composite index based on Fatigue Symptom Inventory ‘most severity’ and ‘work interference’ items performed best.

Conclusions

Breast cancer patients and survivors meeting CRF diagnostic criteria can be accurately identified using brief screening indices derived from common self‐report fatigue measures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prolactin‐ and testosterone‐induced carboxypeptidase‐D correlates with increased nitrotyrosines and Ki67 in prostate cancer
Authors: Thomas Lynn N. , Merrimen Jennifer , Bell David G. , Rendon Ricardo , Too Catherine K. L.
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Carboxypeptidase‐D (CPD) cleaves C‐terminal arginine for conversion to nitric oxide (NO) by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Prolactin (PRL) and androgens stimulate CPD gene transcription and expression, which increases intracellular production of NO to promote viability of prostate cancer (PCa) cells in vitro. The current study evaluated whether hormonal upregulation of CPD and NO promote PCa cell viabilty in vivo, by correlating changes in expression of CPD and nitrotyrosine residues (products of NO action) with proliferation marker Ki67 and associated proteins during PCa development and progression.

METHODS

Fresh prostate tissues, obtained from 40 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or PCa, were flash‐frozen at the time of surgery and used for RT‐qPCR analysis of CPD, androgen receptor (AR), PRL receptor (PRLR), eNOS, and Ki67 levels. Archival paraffin‐embedded tissues from 113 men with BPH or PCa were used for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of CPD, nitrotyrosines, phospho‐Stat5 (for activated PRLR), AR, eNOS/iNOS, and Ki67.

RESULTS

RT‐qPCR and IHC analyses showed strong AR and PRLR expression in benign and malignant prostates. CPD mRNA levels increased ∼threefold in PCa compared to BPH, which corresponded to a twofold increase in Ki67 mRNA levels. IHC analysis showed a progressive increase in CPD from 11.4 ± 2.1% in benign to 21.8 ± 3.2% in low‐grade (P = 0.007), 40.7 ± 4.0% in high‐grade (P < 0.0001) and 50.0 ± 9.5% in castration‐recurrent PCa (P < 0.0001). Immunostaining for nitrotyrosines and Ki67 mirrored these increases during PCa progression. CPD, nitrotyrosines, and Ki67 tended to co‐localize, as did phospho‐Stat5.

CONCLUSIONS

CPD, nitrotyrosine, and Ki67 levels were higher in PCa than in benign and tended to co‐localize, along with phospho‐Stat5. The strong correlation in expression of these proteins in benign and malignant prostate tissues, combined with abundant AR and PRLR, supports in vitro evidence that the CPD‐Arg‐NO pathway is involved in the regulation of PCa cell proliferation. It further highlights a role for PRL in the development and progression of PCa. Prostate 75:1726–1736, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additively‐manufactured piezoelectric devices
Authors: Woodward David I. , Purssell Christopher P. , Billson Duncan R. , Hutchins David A. , Leigh Simon J.
Published: July 2015

A low‐cost micro‐stereolithography technique with the ability to additively manufacture dense piezoelectric ceramic components is reported. This technique enables the layer‐wise production of functional devices with a theoretical in‐plane resolution of ∼20 μm and an out‐of‐plane resolution of <1 μm without suffering a significant reduction in the piezoelectric properties when compared to conventionally produced ceramics of the same composition. The ability to fabricate devices in complex geometries and with different material properties means that conventional limits of manufacturing are not present. A hollow, spherical shell of the piezoelectric material 0.65Pb(Mg⅓Nb⅔)O3–0.35PbTiO3, built without tooling or recourse to additional equipment or processes, is shown generating ultrasound in the MHz range.
Properties of near‐surface layer of 64Zn+ ion hot‐implanted Si
Authors: Privezentsev Vladimir , Kulikauskas Vaclav , Steinman Eduard , Tereshchenko Alexey , Bazhenov Anatoly , Tabachkova Nataliya , Batrakov Alexander
Published: July 2015

We have investigated nanoparticles (NPs) formation in Si by 64Zn+ ion implantation at substrate temperature of 350 °C. Hot implantation was chosen to avoid amorphization of Si near‐surface layer. In as‐implanted samples the Zn crystal NPs were created. Then the samples were subsequently subjected to isochronous annealing in oxygen at elevated temperatures. The depth profile of implanted Zn was analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. The dependence of photo‐luminescence spectra on annealing temperatures was observed. In these spectra the peak at 370 nm attributable to ZnO phase and wide peak at 430 nm due to defects were revealed. The visualization and identification of NPs were obtained by transmission electron microscopy and transmission electron diffraction of cross‐section samples. From these study it follows, that after annealing at temperature of 700 °C and higher the NPs with structure of Zn(core)/ZnO · Zn2SiO4(shell) were formed. Auger electron spectroscopy investigation followed the phase content in depth profile was varied from ZnO Zn2SiO4 at a substrate surface to metal Zn in a substrate body. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Treatment of Lateral Epicondylosis by Using Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lee Sang Yoon , Kim Won , Lim Chaiyoung , Chung Sun G.
Published: July 2015

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a novel regenerative approach for treating tendinopathy. Here, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (allo-ASC) in treating lateral epicondylosis (LE). Under ultrasound guidance, allo-ASCs mixed with fibrin glue were injected into the hypoechoic common extensor tendon lesions of 12 participants with chronic LE; 6 subjects each were administered 106 or 107 cells in 1 ml. Safety was evaluated at day 3 and weeks 2, 6, 12, 26, and 52 post-injection. Efficacy was assessed by measuring patients’ visual analog scale (VAS) score for elbow pain, modified Mayo clinic performance index for the elbow, and by evaluating longitudinal and transverse ultrasound images of tendon defect areas after 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. No significant adverse effects of allo-ASC injection were observed through 52 weeks of follow-up. From baseline through 52 weeks of periodic follow-up, VAS scores progressively decreased from 66.8 ± 14.5 mm to 14.8 ± 13.1 mm and elbow performance scores improved from 64.0 ± 13.5 to 90.6 ± 5.8. Tendon defects also significantly decreased through this period. Allo-ASC therapy was thus safe and effective in improving elbow pain, performance, and structural defects for 52 weeks. This clinical study is the first to reveal therapeutic value of mesenchymal stem cell injection for treating chronic tendinopathy. Stem Cells  2015;33:2995–3005
Concise Review: Stem Cells in Pancreatic Cancer: From Concept to Translation
Authors: Raj Deepak , Aicher Alexandra , Heeschen Christopher
Published: July 2015

Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been first described in 2007 and since then have emerged as an intriguing entity of cancer cells with distinct functional features including self-renewal and exclusive in vivo tumorigenicity. The heterogeneous pancreatic CSC pool has been implicated in tumor propagation as well as metastatic spread. Clinically, the most important feature of CSCs is their strong resistance to standard chemotherapy, which results in fast disease relapse, even with today's more advanced chemotherapeutic regimens. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies to most efficiently target pancreatic CSCs are being developed and their careful clinical translation should provide new avenues to eradicate this deadly disease. Stem Cells  2015;33:2893—2902
CHD1L Regulated PARP1-Driven Pluripotency and Chromatin Remodeling During the Early-Stage Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Jiang Bo-Hua , Chen Wei-Yi , Li Hsin-Yang , Chien Yueh , Chang Wei-Chao , Hsieh Pei-Chen , Wu Ping , Chen Chieh-Yu , Song Hui-Yung , Chien Chian-Shiu , Sung Yen-Jen , Chiou Shih-Hwa
Published: July 2015

PARP1 and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) have been shown to be essential for the initial steps of cellular reprogramming. However, the mechanism underlying PARP1/PARylation-regulated activation of pluripotency loci remains undetermined. Here, we demonstrate that CHD1L, a DNA helicase, possesses chromatin remodeling activity and interacts with PARP1/PARylation in regulating pluripotency during reprogramming. We found that this interaction is mediated through the interplay of the CHD1L macro-domain and the PAR moiety of PARylated-PARP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the co-occupancy of CHD1L and PARP1 at Pou5f1, Nanog, and Esrrb pluripotency loci. Knockdown of CHD1L significantly blocked the binding activity of PARP1 at pluripotency loci and inhibited the efficiency of PARP1-driven reprogramming. Notably, we found that CHD1L-promoted reprogramming requires both a PARP1-interacting domain and DNA helicase activity, partly contributing to the chromatin-remodeling states of pluripotency loci. Taken together, these results identify CHD1L as a key chromatin remodeler involved in PARP1/PARylation-regulated early-stage reprogramming and pluripotency in stem cells. Stem Cells  2015;33:2961–2972
Four Metal Complexes Based on Bulky Imidazole Ligands: Solvothermal Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Fluorescence Properties
Authors: Zhang Xue , Li Sai , He Yue‐Jiao , Han Tong , Wang Xiao‐Ling , Chen Bang , Zou Kang‐Yu , Li Zuo‐Xi
Published: July 2015

In order to explore the influences of (de‐)protonation of the imidazole ring on the structural diversity of the resulting complexes, the imidazole‐based ligands 4, 5‐diphenylimidazole (Hdpi) and 1H‐phenanthro[9, 10‐d]imidazole (Hpi) were utilized as bulky building blocks to construct four complexes by solvothermal reactions, i.e. [Ag(Hdpi)2](NO3)·(H2O) (1), [Cu(dpi)]∞ (2), [Cu(Hpi)(NO3)]∞ (3), and [(H2pi)(NO3)]·H2O (4). In complex 1, two Hdpi ligands adopt a monodentate pattern and coordinate with one AgI ion to form a mononuclear unit, which is further connected by hydrogen bonds into a 1D supramolecular helix. The deprotonated dpi ligand of 2 acts in bidentate mode, and bridges CuI ions to afford a 1D chain. In 3, the NO3– ion, acts as a monodentate bridging ligand and joins CuI ions to generate a 1D chain. The Hpi ligand employs a monodentate mode to bond with CuI ions of the 1D chain. 4 is protonated and two H2pi nitrogen atoms are free of coordination. Interestingly, hydrogen bonds among the NO3– ion, the H2pi ligand, and the water molecule yield a macro ring R44(14). The resulting structural diversity reveals that the (de‐)protonation of imidazole ring directly steers the coordination number of ligand, and thus causes a significant effect on the structure, especially the dimensionality. Furthermore, the solid‐state fluorescence properties of the free ligands and compounds 1–4 were studied at room temperature.
Cloaking using complementary media in the quasistatic regime
Authors: Nguyen Hoai-Minh
Published: July 2015

Cloaking using complementary media was suggested by Lai et al. in [8]. The study of this problem faces two difficulties. Firstly, this problem is unstable since the equations describing the phenomenon have sign changing coefficients, hence the ellipticity is lost. Secondly, the localized resonance, i.e., the field explodes in some regions and remains bounded in some others as the loss goes to 0, might appear. In this paper, we give a proof of cloaking using complementary media for a class of schemes inspired from [8] in the quasistatic regime. To handle the localized resonance, we introduce the technique of removing localized singularity and apply a three spheres inequality. The proof also uses the reflecting technique in [11]. To our knowledge, this work presents the first proof on cloaking using complementary media.
Cultural embeddedness in supply networks
Authors: Wu Zhaohui , Pullman Madeleine E.
Published: July 2015

Recent studies on structural and relational embeddedness suggest that favorable position and connections in supply networks benefit a firm. While fruitful, this focus misses the motivations that prompt firms to take economic action in the first place. Understanding cultural embeddedness provides insight into why individuals and firms behave as they do and how their behavior can influence network structure. Contrary to the belief that firms act solely for profit and growth, we note that cultural contents such as values, social issues and political ideologies explain firms’ motives and guide their economic activities. We explore the role of cultural embeddedness through a grounded study of Country Natural Beef, a sustainability‐oriented agricultural cooperative in the western United States. This supply network demonstrates strongly competing cultural claims among its members as well as a unique institutionalized culture. Cultural interactions at the node and network levels explain the functioning of and changes to the network. Through interviews, analysis of archival information and direct observation of pivotal events over a period of 5 years, we unpack cultural embeddedness and take an incremental step toward a theory of cultural embeddedness in cooperative supply networks.
Classifying orbits of the affine group over the integers
Authors: CABRER LEONARDO MANUEL , MUNDICI DANIELE
Published: July 2015

For each $n=1,2,\ldots ,$ let $\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\ltimes \mathbb{Z}^{n}$ be the affine group over the integers. For every point $x=(x_{1},\ldots ,x_{n})\in \mathbb{R}^{n}$ let $\text{orb}(x)=\{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}(x)\in \mathbb{R}^{n}\mid \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}\in \text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\ltimes \mathbb{Z}^{n}\}.$ Let $G_{x}$ be the subgroup of the additive group $\mathbb{R}$ generated by $x_{1},\ldots ,x_{n},1$. If $\text{rank}(G_{x})\neq n$ then $\text{orb}(x)=\{y\in \mathbb{R}^{n}\mid G_{y}=G_{x}\}$. Thus, $G_{x}$ is a complete classifier of $\text{orb}(x)$. By contrast, if $\text{rank}(G_{x})=n$, knowledge of $G_{x}$ alone is not sufficient in general to uniquely recover $\text{orb}(x)$; as a matter of fact, $G_{x}$ determines precisely $\max (1,\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}(d)/2)$ different orbits, where $d$ is the denominator of the smallest positive non-zero rational in $G_{x}$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$ is the Euler function. To get a complete classification, rational polyhedral geometry provides an integer $1\leq c_{x}\leq \max (1,d/2)$ such that $\text{orb}(y)=\text{orb}(x)$ if and only if $(G_{x},c_{x})=(G_{y},c_{y})$. Applications are given to lattice-ordered abelian groups with strong unit and to AF $C^{\ast }$-algebras.
Gap Analysis of Infection Control Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Weinshel Kristy , Dramowski Angela , Hajdu Ágnes , Jacob Saul , Khanal Basudha , Zoltán Maszárovics , Mougkou Katerina , Phukan Chimanjita , Inés Staneloni Maria , Singh Nalini
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated infection rates are higher in low- and middle-income countries compared with high-income countries, resulting in relatively larger incidence of patient mortality and disability and additional healthcare costs.

OBJECTIVE

To use the Infection Control Assessment Tool to assess gaps in infection control (IC) practices in the participating countries.

METHODS

Six international sites located in Argentina, Greece, Hungary, India, Nepal, and South Africa provided information on the health facility and the surgical modules relating to IC programs, surgical antibiotic use and surgical equipment procedures, surgical area practices, sterilization and disinfection of equipment and intravenous fluid, and hand hygiene. Modules were scored for each country.

RESULTS

The 6 international sites completed 5 modules. Of 121 completed sections, scores of less than 50% of the recommended IC practices were received in 23 (19%) and scores from 50% to 75% were received in 43 (36%). IC programs had various limitations in many sites and surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was not consistently performed. Lack of administration of perioperative antibiotics, inadequate sterilization and disinfection of equipment, and paucity of hand hygiene were found even in a high-income country. There was also a lack of clearly written defined policies and procedures across many facilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that adherence to recommended IC practices is suboptimal. Opportunities for improvement of IC practices exist in several areas, including hospital-wide IC programs and surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, written and posted guidelines and policies across a range of topics, surgical instrument sterilization procedures, and improved hand hygiene.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(10):1208–1214
Reuse of Insulin Pens Among Multiple Patients at 2 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers
Authors: Schirmer Patricia , Winston Carla A. , Lucero-Obusan Cynthia , Winters Mark , Lesse Alan , de Comarmond Charles , Oda Gina , Martinello Richard A. , Holodniy Mark
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether reuse of insulin pens among multiple patients resulted in transmission of bloodborne pathogens (BBP).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Two Veterans Affairs medical centers.

PATIENTS

Veterans who received insulin via insulin pens from 2010 to 2013.

METHODS

Patients were identified through electronic health records, notified of possible exposure, and serotested for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus. Newly discovered case patients were assessed in relation to potential proximate patients to determine viral strain relatedness by HCV envelope (env) gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Of 1,791 hospitalized veterans who received insulin via insulin pen, 1,155 were tested for at least 1 viral infection after exposure. Of these, 67 patients were newly diagnosed with 1 or more viral BBPs. For human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus no additional strain testing of case or proximate patients was possible; 8 HCV cases and 45 proximates (40 unique patients; 5 patients were positive for 2 genotypes) were identified as needing strain testing. Only 3 cases and their 19 proximates had samples available for further testing. None of the 26 remaining proximate patients had blood available for further testing. Median genetic distance between the HCV env sequences of those available for additional testing ranged from 14% to 24%, indicating nonrelatedness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation revealed that exposure to insulin pen reuse did not result in HCV transmission among patients who had viral genetic analysis performed. Analysis for any additional potential transmission of blood-borne pathogens was limited by the available samples.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;36(10):1121–1129
Scaling bounds on dissipation in turbulent flows
Authors: Seis Christian
Published: July 2015

We propose a new rigorous method for estimating statistical quantities in fluid dynamics such as the (average) energy dissipation rate directly from the equations of motion. The method is tested on shear flow, channel flow, Rayleigh–Bénard convection and porous medium convection.
Can weakly nonlinear theory explain Faraday wave patterns near onset?
Authors: Skeldon A. C. , Rucklidge A. M.
Published: July 2015

The Faraday problem is an important pattern-forming system that provides some middle ground between systems where the initial instability involves just a single mode, and in which complexity then results from mode interactions or secondary bifurcations, and cases where a system is highly turbulent and many spatial and temporal modes are excited. It has been a rich source of novel patterns and of theoretical work aimed at understanding how and why such patterns occur. Yet it is particularly challenging to tie theory to experiment: the experiments are difficult to perform; the parameter regime of interest (large box, moderate viscosity) along with the technical difficulties of solving the free-boundary Navier–Stokes equations make numerical solution of the problem hard; and the fact that the instabilities result in an entire circle of unstable wavevectors presents considerable theoretical difficulties. In principle, weakly nonlinear theory should be able to predict which patterns are stable near pattern onset. In this paper we present the first quantitative comparison between weakly nonlinear theory of the full Navier–Stokes equations and (previously published) experimental results for the Faraday problem with multiple-frequency forcing. We confirm that three-wave interactions sit at the heart of why complex patterns are stabilised, but also highlight some discrepancies between theory and experiment. These suggest the need for further experimental and theoretical work to fully investigate the issues of pattern bistability and the role of bicritical/tricritical points in determining bifurcation structure.
AN ALGEBRA WHOSE SUBALGEBRAS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY DENSITY
Authors: VIGNATI ALESSANDRO
Published: July 2015

We refine a construction of Choi, Farah, and Ozawa to build a nonseparable amenable operator algebra ${\rm {\cal A}}$ ⊆ ℓ∞ (M2) whose nonseparable subalgebras, including ${\rm {\cal A}}$, are not isomorphic to a C*-algebra. This is done using a Luzin gap and a uniformly bounded group representation.

Next, we study additional properties of ${\rm {\cal A}}$ and of its separable subalgebras, related to the Kadison Kastler metric.
AXIOM I0 AND HIGHER DEGREE THEORY
Authors: SHI XIANGHUI
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we analyze structures of Zermelo degrees via a list of four degree theoretic questions (see §2) in various fine structure extender models, or under large cardinal assumptions. In particular we give a detailed analysis of the structures of Zermelo degrees in the Mitchell model for ω many measurable cardinals. It turns out that there is a profound correlation between the complexity of the degree structures at countable cofinality singular cardinals and the large cardinal strength of the relevant cardinals. The analysis applies to general degree notions, Zermelo degree is merely the author’s choice for illustrating the idea.

I0(λ) is the assertion that there is an elementary embedding j : L(Vλ+1) → L(Vλ+1) with critical point < λ. We show that under I0(λ), the structure of Zermelo degrees at λ is very complicated: it has incomparable degrees, is not dense, satisfies Posner–Robinson theorem etc. In addition, we show that I0 together with a mild condition on the critical point of the embedding implies that the degree determinacy for Zermelo degrees at λ is false in L(Vλ+1). The key tool in this paper is a generic absoluteness theorem in the theory of I0, from which we obtain an analogue of Perfect Set Theorem for “projective” subsets of Vλ+1, and the Posner–Robinson follows as a corollary. Perfect Set Theorem and Posner–Robinson provide evidences supporting the analogy between $$AD$$ over L(ℝ) and I0 over L(Vλ+1), while the failure of degree determinacy is one for disanalogy. Furthermore, we conjecture that the failure of degree determinacy for Zermelo degrees at any uncountable cardinal is a theorem of $$ZFC$$.
EMBEDDINGS OF P(ω)/Fin INTO BOREL EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS BETWEEN ℓp AND ℓq
Authors: YIN ZHI
Published: July 2015

We prove that, for 1 ≤ p < q < ∞, the partially ordered set P(ω)/Fin can be embedded into Borel equivalence relations between ℝω/ℓp and ℝω/ℓq. Since there is an antichain of size continuum in P(ω)/Fin, there are continuum many pairwise incomparable Borel equivalence relations between ℝω/ℓp and ℝω/ℓq.
A STRONG MULTI-TYPED INTUITIONISTIC THEORY OF FUNCTIONALS
Authors: KACHAPOVA FARIDA
Published: July 2015

In this paper we describe an intuitionistic theory SLP. It is a relatively strong theory containing intuitionistic principles for functionals of many types, in particular, the theory of the “creating subject”, axioms for lawless functionals and some versions of choice axioms. We construct a Beth model for the language of intuitionistic functionals of high types and use it to prove the consistency of SLP.

We also prove that the intuitionistic theory SLP is equiconsistent with a classical theory TI. TI is a typed set theory, where the comprehension axiom for sets of type n is restricted to formulas with no parameters of types > n. We show that each fragment of SLP with types ≤ s is equiconsistent with the corresponding fragment of TI and that it is stronger than the previous fragment of SLP. Thus, both SLP and TI are much stronger than the second order arithmetic. By constructing the intuitionistic theory SLP and interpreting in it the classical set theoryTI, we contribute to the program of justifying classical mathematics from the intuitionistic point of view.
THE NEXT BEST THING TO A P-POINT
Authors: BLASS ANDREAS , DOBRINEN NATASHA , RAGHAVAN DILIP
Published: July 2015

We study ultrafilters onω2produced by forcing with the quotient of${\cal P}$(ω2) by the Fubini square of the Fréchet filter onω. We show that such an ultrafilter is a weak P-point but not a P-point and that the only nonprincipal ultrafilters strictly below it in the Rudin–Keisler order are a single isomorphism class of selective ultrafilters. We further show that it enjoys the strongest square-bracket partition relations that are possible for a non-P-point. We show that it is not basically generated but that it shares with basically generated ultrafilters the property of not being at the top of the Tukey ordering. In fact, it is not Tukey-above [ω1]<ω, and it has only continuum many ultrafilters Tukey-below it. A tool in our proofs is the analysis of similar (but not the same) properties for ultrafilters obtained as the sum, over a selective ultrafilter, of nonisomorphic selective ultrafilters.
MAD SPECTRA
Authors: SHELAH SAHARON , SPINAS OTMAR
Published: July 2015

The mad spectrum is the set of all cardinalities of infinite maximal almost disjoint families on ω. We treat the problem to characterize those sets ${\rm {\cal A}} $ which, in some forcing extension of the universe, can be the mad spectrum. We give a complete solution to this problem under the assumption $\vartheta ^{ < \vartheta } = \vartheta $, where $\vartheta = {\rm{min}}\left( {\rm {\cal A}} \right) $.
Fluctuation of potential zinc status biomarkers throughout a reproductive cycle of primiparous and multiparous sows
Authors: van Riet Miriam M. J. , Millet Sam , Nalon Elena , Langendries Karolien C. M. , Cools An , Ampe Bart , Du Laing Gijs , Tuyttens Frank A. M. , Maes Dominiek , Janssens Geert P. J.
Published: July 2015

Fluctuations in Zn metabolism throughout gestation and lactation might affect Zn requirements. However, scientific data on Zn requirements for breeding sows are limited. The objective of the present study was to assess the Zn status of primiparous and multiparous sows using different Zn status biomarkers, to identify periods of critical Zn status throughout the reproductive cycle at different parities. Blood samples were taken after overnight fasting before feeding in the morning from five primiparous and ten multiparous sows at fixed time intervals during gestation (days − 5, 0 (insemination), 21, 42, 63 and 84), around parturition (days 108, 112, 115 (parturition) and 118) and during lactation (days 122, 129 and 143 (weaning)). At parturition, blood samples were collected from two randomly selected piglets per sow before colostrum intake. Plasma was analysed for Zn and Cu contents, whereas serum was analysed for alkaline phosphatase, metallothionein and albumin concentrations. Independently of parity, all biomarkers fluctuated differently during gestation and lactation (P< 0·050). This reflects their different roles in Zn metabolism, and suggests that the choice of a Zn status biomarker necessitates careful consideration. Low average plasma Zn concentration at the end of gestation and throughout lactation seem to be replenished towards weaning.
Positive Curvature, Partial Vanishing Theorems and Coarse Indices
Authors: Roe John
Published: July 2015

We generalize the relative index theorem of Gromov and Lawson, using coarse geometry.
ON COLIMITS OVER ARBITRARY POSETS
Authors: DOKUCHAEV M. , NOVIKOV B.
Published: July 2015

We characterize those partially ordered setsIfor which the canonical mapsMi→ colimMjinto colimits of abstract sets are always injective, provided that the transition maps are injective. We also obtain some consequences for colimits of vector spaces.