bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Racial‐ethnic Identity in Context: Examining Mediation of Neighborhood Factors on Children's Academic Adjustment
Authors: Witherspoon Dawn P. , Daniels Lisa L. , Mason Amber E. , Smith Emilie Phillips
Published: March 2016

Research consistently shows that neighborhood socio‐demographic characteristics and residents’ neighborhood perceptions matter for youth well‐being, including a positive sense of racial‐ethnic identity. Although elementary‐school children are likely in the earlier phases of identity formation, the authors examined whether objective and subjective neighborhood characteristics are related to their racial‐ethnic identity and, in turn, their academic adjustment. A diverse sample (30.4% African American, 35.2% White, 12.3% Latino, & 22.0% Other) of 227 children in Grades 2 through 5 were surveyed in afterschool programs. Bivariate correlations showed that youth living in disadvantaged neighborhoods reported more barriers due to their race‐ethnicity, but these barriers were not related to their sense of academic efficacy. Residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood was unrelated to youth's academic self‐efficacy. However, path analyses showed that positive neighborhood perceptions were associated with a stronger sense of race‐ethnicity (i.e., affirmation and belonging), which was in turn related to greater academic efficacy. These results suggest that neighborhood connection provides a source of affirmation and value for young children, helping them to understand who they are as part of a racial‐ethnic group and helping to foster a sense of future achievement opportunities. This study provides additional evidence that along with other important proximal contexts (e.g., family, school), young children's neighborhood context is important for development. Results are discussed to highlight environmental influences on young children's awareness of race‐ethnicity and the implications of the combined impact of neighborhood and racial‐ethnic identity on psychosocial adjustment.
Analysis of consumption of medical resources in terms of intensive care unit/hospital stay and severity using Japan Trauma Data Bank
Authors: Oda Jun
Published: March 2016

Aim

We analyzed the length of intensive care unit or hospital stay of trauma patients to assess the consumption of medical resources using the Japan Trauma Data Bank.

Methods

We classified 60,580 cases registered between 2004 and 2010 in the Japan Trauma Data Bank by hospital ward on emergency admission.

Results

A total of 9,564 intensive care patients could be moved to the general ward before hospital transfer or discharge; 6,217 cases were transferred to another hospital and 9,444 cases were discharged directly from the intensive care unit. The length of intensive care unit or hospital stay correlated with the injury severity score. There were 5,856 patients (68%) from the non‐survivors who died within 3 days of admission.

Conclusion

Based on the Japan Trauma Data Bank data for many trauma patients, there are numerous cases of long‐term stay ≥15 days in intensive care in patients who could not be transferred to a general ward and who consumed the medical resources in the critical care department.
Self‐inflicted injuries are an important cause of penetrating traumatic injuries in Japan
Authors: Izawa Yoshimitsu , Suzukawa Masayuki , Lefor Alan K.
Published: March 2016

Aim

Japan has a low crime rate, but a high suicide rate. The aim of this study is to review the causes of penetrating traumatic injuries in a tertiary care emergency center in Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all admissions for traumatic injuries over a 3‐year period, and calculated the proportion of patients with penetrating traumatic injuries. Weapon used, age, gender, Injury Severity Score, cause of injury, and site of injury in all patients with penetrating injuries were reviewed. The proportion of patients with penetrating injuries among patients with all types of traumatic injuries requiring surgical intervention was calculated.

Results

Of 1,321 patients admitted over 3 years, 65 patients (5%) suffered from penetrating injuries. Most were stab wounds, with only one gunshot (2%). The most common site of injury was an extremity (48%). The most common cause of penetrating injury was self‐inflicted (38%). The abdomen is the most common site injured among self‐inflicted injuries. Of patients with all types of traumatic injuries requiring surgical intervention, penetrating injuries accounted for 23%.

Conclusion

Penetrating injuries represent 23% of all patients with traumatic injuries who required surgical intervention. Self‐inflicted penetrating injuries were most common, supporting the need for preventive services. Acute care surgeons must be familiar with the surgical management of penetrating traumatic injuries, even in a country with a low crime rate.
Lanthanum immobilized on chitosan: a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for facile synthesis of novel (α,β‐unsaturated) β‐aminoketones
Authors: Tarannum Saima , Siddiqui Zeba N.
Published: March 2016

A new heterogeneous catalyst, lanthanum immobilized on chitosan, was synthesized and used for the aza‐Michael reaction of β‐enaminone under microwave irradiation. The characteristic structural features of the catalyst were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The stability of the catalyst was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis. The use of recyclable catalyst and glycerol as solvent makes this procedure environmentally benign and economically viable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ruthenium(II) complexes containing 4‐methoxybenzhydrazone ligands: synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, DNA cleavage, radical scavenging and in vitro cytotoxic activity
Authors: Mohanraj Maruthachalam , Ayyannan Ganesan , Raja Gunasekaran , Jayabalakrishnan Chinnasamy
Published: March 2016

Three ruthenium(II) hydrazone complexes of composition [RuCl(CO)(PPh3)2L] were synthesized from the reactions of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] with hydrazones derived from 4‐methoxybenzhydrazide and 4‐formylbenzoic acid (HL1), 4‐methylbenzaldehyde (HL2) and 2‐bromobenzaldehyde (HL3). The synthesized hydrazone ligands and their metal complexes were characterized using elemental analysis and infrared, UV–visible, NMR (1H, 13C and 31P) and mass spectral techniques. The hydrazone ligands act as bidentate ones, with O and N as the donor sites, and are predominantly found in the enol form in all the complexes studied. The molecular structures of the ligands HL1, HL2 and HL3 were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The interactions of the ligands and the complexes with calf thymus DNA were studied using absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry which revealed that the compounds could interact with calf thymus DNA through intercalation. The DNA cleavage activity of the complexes was evaluated using a gel electrophoresis assay which revealed that the complexes act as good DNA cleavage agents. In addition, all the complexes were subjected to antioxidant assay, which showed that they all possess significant scavenging activity against 2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl, OH and NO radicals. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes examined on cancerous cell lines (HeLa and MCF‐7) showed that the complexes exhibit substantial anticancer activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Second modification of a polyamide membrane surface
Authors: Akbari Ahmad , Mohtasham Khani Saeedeh , Mojallali Rostami Seyed Majid
Published: March 2016

The aim of this study was to develop the water flux and antifouling properties of a polyamide (PA) nanofiltration membrane. A nascent PA membrane was prepared with an interfacial polymerization technique and modified with 2,5‐diaminobenzene sulfonic acid (2,5‐DABSA) as a second modification. The effects of the 2,5‐DABSA monomer concentration and the modification time on the membrane performance were investigated. The chemical structure, morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity, molecular weight cutoff, and antifouling properties of the membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, poly(ethylene glycol) tracers, and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide filtration, respectively. The PA membrane with optimized performance was shown to have a greater than 44% higher water permeate flux with a change in the salt rejection in the order RNa2SO4 > RCaCl2 > RNaCl to RNa2SO4 > RNaCl > RCaCl2. The improvement of the hydrophilicity led to excellent antifouling properties in the new PA membranes and illustrated a promising and simple method for the fabrication of high‐performance PA membranes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43583.
Radiometric dates are a robust proxy for long‐term demographic change: A comment on Attenbrow and Hiscock (2015)
Authors: WILLIAMS ALAN N. , ULM SEAN
Published: March 2016

Attenbrow and Hiscock (2015) raise a series of concerns about the use of radiocarbon dates as data (sum probability distributions), including sample selection, taphonomic bias, and the relationship of charcoal and radiocarbon data to human activity. We show that these concerns have been widely acknowledged and addressed in the literature. We advocate the considered use of dates as data approaches as a heuristic tool for broad regional‐ and continental‐scale questions, used in conjunction with other archaeological proxies, and within the constraints of documented and well‐known methodological limitations.
Dimensions of trust in scholarly communication: Problematizing peer review in the aftermath of John Bohannon's “Sting” in science
Authors: Haider Jutta , Åström Fredrik
Published: March 2016

This study investigates online material published in reaction to a Science Magazine report showing the absence of peer‐review and editorial processes in a set of fee‐charging open access journals in biology. Quantitative and qualitative textual analyses are combined to map conceptual relations in these reactions, and to explore how understandings of scholarly communication and publishing relate to specific conceptualizations of science and of the hedging of scientific knowledge. A discussion of the connection of trust and scientific knowledge and of the role of peer review for establishing and communicating this connection provides for the theoretical and topical framing. Special attention is paid to the pervasiveness of digital technologies in formal scholarly communication processes. Three dimensions of trust are traced in the material analyzed: (a) trust through personal experience and informal knowledge, (b) trust through organized, internal control, (c) trust through form. The article concludes by discussing how certain understandings of the conditions for trust in science are challenged by perceptions of possibilities for deceit in digital environments.
Health information technologies: From hazardous to the dark side
Authors: Saunders Carol , Rutkowski Anne F. , Pluyter Jon , Spanjers Ronald
Published: March 2016

This article explores the effects of health information technologies (HIT) in operating rooms (ORs). When functioning well, HIT are a boon to mankind. However, HIT in the OR also create hazards for patients for a number of interrelated reasons. We introduce 5 interrelated components of hazard situations for medical teams operating in the OR: complexity, overload/underload, inadequate individual training, inadequate training of medical teams, and overconfidence of surgeons. These components of hazard situations in the OR may negatively impact patient safety. We discuss implications, especially in terms of individuals and medical teams in the OR, as well as work substitution as a broader aspect of the potential dark side of health IT.
ResearchGate articles: Age, discipline, audience size, and impact
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Kousha Kayvan
Published: March 2016

The large multidisciplinary academic social website ResearchGate aims to help academics to connect with each other and to publicize their work. Despite its popularity, little is known about the age and discipline of the articles uploaded and viewed in the site and whether publication statistics from the site could be useful impact indicators. In response, this article assesses samples of ResearchGate articles uploaded at specific dates, comparing their views in the site to their Mendeley readers and Scopus‐indexed citations. This analysis shows that ResearchGate is dominated by recent articles, which attract about three times as many views as older articles. ResearchGate has uneven coverage of scholarship, with the arts and humanities, health professions, and decision sciences poorly represented and some fields receiving twice as many views per article as others. View counts for uploaded articles have low to moderate positive correlations with both Scopus citations and Mendeley readers, which is consistent with them tending to reflect a wider audience than Scopus‐publishing scholars. Hence, for articles uploaded to the site, view counts may give a genuinely new audience indicator.
The use of a graph‐based system to improve bibliographic information retrieval: System design, implementation, and evaluation
Authors: Zhu Yongjun , Yan Erjia , Song Il‐Yeol
Published: March 2016

In this article, we propose a graph‐based interactive bibliographic information retrieval system—GIBIR. GIBIR provides an effective way to retrieve bibliographic information. The system represents bibliographic information as networks and provides a form‐based query interface. Users can develop their queries interactively by referencing the system‐generated graph queries. Complex queries such as “papers on information retrieval, which were cited by John's papers that had been presented in SIGIR” can be effectively answered by the system. We evaluate the proposed system by developing another relational database‐based bibliographic information retrieval system with the same interface and functions. Experiment results show that the proposed system executes the same queries much faster than the relational database‐based system, and on average, our system reduced the execution time by 72% (for 3‐node query), 89% (for 4‐node query), and 99% (for 5‐node query).
How collaborators make sense of tasks together: A comparative analysis of collaborative sensemaking behavior in collaborative information‐seeking tasks
Authors: Tao Yihan , Tombros Anastasios
Published: March 2016

Collaborative information‐seeking (CIS) tasks, such as holiday planning, academic research, medical/health information seeking, cannot be tackled without making sense of the task and the encountered information together with collaborators, that is, collaborative sensemaking. In CIS, collaborative sensemaking is an important but understudied aspect. A thorough understanding of collaborative sensemaking behavior in CIS tasks is essential to develop tools to support collaborative sensemaking activities in CIS. In this article, we investigate the general patterns and differences in collaborative sensemaking behavior in travel planning and topic research tasks using the data from 2 observational user studies. The results show the common stages of the collaborative sensemaking process and the differences in users' collaborative sensemaking strategies and activities between the 2 tasks. This comparative study enhances our understanding of the collaborative sensemaking process in CIS tasks and the differences in user's sensemaking behavior according to tasks, and describes implications for supporting collaborative sensemaking behavior in CIS tasks.
Screening for co‐occurring conditions in adults with autism spectrum disorder using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire: A pilot study
Authors: Findon James , Cadman Tim , Stewart Catherine S. , Woodhouse Emma , Eklund Hanna , Hayward Hannah , De Le Harpe Golden Daniel , Chaplin Eddie , Glaser Karen , Simonoff Emily , Murphy Declan , Bolton Patrick F. , McEwen Fiona S.
Published: March 2016

Adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at elevated risk of co‐occurring mental health problems. These are often undiagnosed, can cause significant impairment, and place a very high burden on family and carers. Detecting co‐occurring disorders is extremely important. However, there is no validated screening tool for this purpose. The aim of this pilot study is to test the utility of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for co‐occurring emotional disorders and hyperactivity in adolescents and adults with ASD. The SDQ was completed by 126 parents and 98 individuals with ASD (in 79 cases both parent and self‐report were available from the same families). Inter‐rater reliability, test‐retest stability, internal consistency, and construct validity were examined. SDQ subscales were also compared to clinically utilized measures of emotional disorders and hyperactivity to establish the ability to predict risk of disorder. Inter‐rater reliability (r = 0.42), test‐retest stability (r = 0.64), internal consistency (α = 0.52–0.81) and construct validity (r = 0.42–0.57) for the SDQ subscales were comparable to general population samples. Parent‐ and self‐report SDQ subscales were significantly associated with measures of anxiety, depression and hyperactivity (62–74% correctly classified). Parent‐report performed significantly better than self‐report; adults with ASD under‐reported difficulties. The SDQ shows promise as a simple and efficient way to screen for emotional disorders and hyperactivity in adolescents and adults with ASD that could help reduce the impact of these disorders on individuals and their families. However, further more systematic attempts at validation are warranted. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1353–1363. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mutagenic and genotoxic potential of direct electric current in Escherichia coli and Salmonella thyphimurium strains
Authors: Gomes Marina das Neves , Cardoso Janine Simas , Leitão Alvaro Costa , Quaresma Carla Holandino
Published: March 2016

Direct electric current has several therapeutic uses such as antibacterial and antiprotozoal action, tissues scarring and regeneration, as well as tumor treatment. This method has shown promising results in vivo and in vitro, with significant efficacy and almost no side effects. Considering lack of studies regarding direct electric current mutagenic and/or genotoxic effects, the present work evaluated both aspects by using five different bacterial experimental assays: survival of repair‐deficient mutants, Salmonella‐histidine reversion mutagenesis (Ames test), forward mutations to rifampicin resistance, phage reactivation, and lysogenic induction. In these experimental conditions, cells were submitted to an approach that allows evaluation of anodic, cathodic, and electro‐ionic effects generated by 2 mA of direct electric current, with doses ranging from 0.36 to 3.60 Coulombs. Our results showed these doses did not induce mutagenic or genotoxic effects. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:234–243, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasmonic activation of gold nanorods for remote stimulation of calcium signaling and protein expression in HEK 293T cells
Authors: Sanchez‐Rodriguez Sandra P. , Sauer Jeremy P. , Stanley Sarah A. , Qian Xi , Gottesdiener Andrew , Friedman Jeffrey M. , Dordick Jonathan S.
Published: March 2016

Remote activation of specific cells of a heterogeneous population can provide a useful research tool for clinical and therapeutic applications. Here, we demonstrate that photostimulation of gold nanorods (AuNRs) using a tunable near‐infrared (NIR) laser at specific longitudinal surface plasmon resonance wavelengths can induce the selective and temporal internalization of calcium in HEK 293T cells. Biotin‐PEG‐Au nanorods coated with streptavidin Alexa Fluor‐633 and biotinylated anti‐His antibodies were used to decorate cells genetically modified with His‐tagged TRPV1 temperature‐sensitive ion channel and AuNRs conjugated to biotinylated RGD peptide were used to decorate integrins in unmodified cells. Plasmonic activation can be stimulated at weak laser power (0.7–4.0 W/cm2) without causing cell damage. Selective activation of TRPV1 channels could be controlled by laser power between 1.0 and 1.5 W/cm2. Integrin targeting robustly stimulated calcium signaling due to a dense cellular distribution of nanoparticles. Such an approach represents a functional tool for combinatorial activation of cell signaling in heterogeneous cell populations. Our results suggest that it is possible to induce cell activation via NIR‐induced gold nanorod heating through the selective targeting of membrane proteins in unmodified cells to produce calcium signaling and downstream expression of specific genes with significant relevance for both in vitro and therapeutic applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2228–2240. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Critical shear stress for incipient motion of non‐cohesive particles in open‐channel flows of pseudoplastic fluids
Authors: Tamburrino Aldo , Carrillo Daniela , Negrete Felipe , Ihle Christian F.
Published: March 2016

The results of a theoretical and experimental study on the conditions of incipient motion of non‐cohesive solid particles in laminar flows of pseudoplastic fluids are presented in the article. It is concluded that, for practical purposes, using a modified particle Reynolds number that includes the consistency coefficient and the flow index, the motion threshold condition is well defined by the Shields diagram, with a slight modification to that presented by Mantz for low Reynolds numbers. The range of particle Reynolds numbers covered in the study was from 0.026–12.56.
Multicenter cohort study on the survival time of cancer patients dying at home or in a hospital: Does place matter?
Authors: Hamano Jun , Yamaguchi Takashi , Maeda Isseki , Suga Akihiko , Hisanaga Takayuki , Ishihara Tatsuhiko , Iwashita Tomoyuki , Kaneishi Keisuke , Kawagoe Shohei , Kuriyama Toshiyuki , Maeda Takashi , Mori Ichiro , Nakajima Nobuhisa , Nishi Tomohiro , Sakurai Hiroki , Shimoyama Satofumi , Shinjo Takuya , Shirayama Hiroto , Yamada Takeshi , Morita Tatsuya
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Although the place of death has a great influence on the quality of death and dying for cancer patients, whether the survival time differs according to the place of death is unclear. The primary aim of this study was to explore potential differences in the survival time of cancer patients dying at home or in a hospital.

METHODS

This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan from September 2012 through April 2014 and involved 58 specialist palliative care services.

RESULTS

Among the 2426 patients recruited, 2069 patients were analyzed for this study: 1582 receiving hospital‐based palliative care and 487 receiving home‐based palliative care. A total of 1607 patients actually died in a hospital, and 462 patients died at home. The survival of patients who died at home was significantly longer than the survival of patients who died in a hospital in the days' prognosis group (estimated median survival time, 13 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.3‐15.7 days] vs 9 days [95% CI, 8.0‐10.0 days]; P = .006) and in the weeks' prognosis group (36 days [95% CI, 29.9‐42.1 days] vs 29 days [95% CI, 26.5‐31.5 days]; P = .007) as defined by Prognosis in Palliative Care Study predictor model A. No significant difference was identified in the months' prognosis group. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the place of death had a significant influence on the survival time in both unadjusted (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78‐0.96; P < .01) and adjusted models (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77‐0.97; P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with cancer patients who died in a hospital, cancer patients who died at home had similar or longer survival. Cancer 2016;122:1453–1460. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Two different motor systems are needed to generate human speech
Authors: Holstege Gert , Subramanian Hari H.
Published: March 2016

Vocalizations such as mews and cries in cats or crying and laughter in humans are examples of expression of emotions. These vocalizations are generated by the emotional motor system, in which the mesencephalic periaqueductal gray (PAG) plays a central role, as demonstrated by the fact that lesions in the PAG lead to complete mutism in cats, monkeys, as well as in humans. The PAG receives strong projections from higher limbic regions and from the anterior cingulate, insula, and orbitofrontal cortical areas. In turn, the PAG has strong access to the caudal medullary nucleus retroambiguus (NRA). The NRA is the only cell group that has direct access to the motoneurons involved in vocalization, i.e., the motoneuronal cell groups innervating soft palate, pharynx, and larynx as well as diaphragm, intercostal, abdominal, and pelvic floor muscles. Together they determine the intraabdominal, intrathoracic, and subglottic pressure, control of which is necessary for generating vocalization. Only humans can speak, because, via the lateral component of the volitional or somatic motor system, they are able to modulate vocalization into words and sentences. For this modulation they use their motor cortex, which, via its corticobulbar fibers, has direct access to the motoneurons innervating the muscles of face, mouth, tongue, larynx, and pharynx. In conclusion, humans generate speech by activating two motor systems. They generate vocalization by activating the prefrontal‐PAG‐NRA‐motoneuronal pathway, and, at the same time, they modulate this vocalization into words and sentences by activating the corticobulbar fibers to the face, mouth, tongue, larynx, and pharynx motoneurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:1558–1577, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript peptide (CART) in the brain of zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata: Organization, interaction with neuropeptide Y, and response to changes in energy status
Authors: Singh Omprakash , Kumar Santosh , Singh Uday , Kumar Vinod , Lechan Ronald M. , Singru Praful S.
Published: March 2016

Cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) has emerged as a potent anorectic agent. CART is widely distributed in the brain of mammals, amphibians, and teleosts, but the relevant information in avian brain is not available. In birds, CART inhibits food intake, whereas neuropeptide Y (NPY), a well‐known orexigenic peptide, stimulates it. How these neuropeptides interact in the brain to regulate energy balance is not known. We studied the distribution of CART‐immunoreactivity in the brain of zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata, its interaction with NPY, and their response to dynamic energy states. CART‐immunoreactive fibers were found in the subpallium, hypothalamus, midbrain, and brainstem. Conspicuous CART‐immunoreactive cells were observed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hypothalamic paraventricular, supraoptic, dorsomedial, infundibular (IN), lateral hypothalamic, Edinger‐Westphal, and parabrachial nuclei. Hypothalamic sections of fed, fasted, and refed animals were immunostained with cFos, NPY, and CART antisera. Fasting dramatically increased cFos‐ and NPY‐immunoreactivity in the IN, followed by rapid reduction by 2 hours and restoration to normal fed levels 6–10 hours after refeeding. CART‐immunoreactive fibers in IN showed a significant reduction during fasting and upregulation with refeeding. Within the IN, double immunofluorescence revealed that 94 ± 2.1% of NPY‐immunoreactive neurons were contacted by CART‐immunoreactive fibers and 96 ± 2.8% NPY‐immunoreactive neurons expressed cFos during fasting. Compared to controls, superfused hypothalamic slices of fasted birds treated with CART‐peptide showed a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in NPY‐immunoreactivity in the IN. As in other vertebrates, CART in the brain of T. guttata may perform several functions, and has a particularly important role in the hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:3014–3041, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comprehensive computational human lung model incorporating inter‐acinar dependencies: Application to spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation
Authors: Roth Christian J. , Ismail Mahmoud , Yoshihara Lena , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: March 2016

In this article, we propose a comprehensive computational model of the entire respiratory system, which allows simulating patient‐specific lungs under different ventilation scenarios and provides a deeper insight into local straining and stressing of pulmonary acini. We include novel 0D inter‐acinar linker elements to respect the interplay between neighboring alveoli, an essential feature especially in heterogeneously distended lungs. The model is applicable to healthy and diseased patient‐specific lung geometries. Presented computations in this work are based on a patient‐specific lung geometry obtained from computed tomography data and composed of 60,143 conducting airways, 30,072 acini, and 140,135 inter‐acinar linkers. The conducting airways start at the trachea and end before the respiratory bronchioles. The acini are connected to the conducting airways via terminal airways and to each other via inter‐acinar linkers forming a fully coupled anatomically based respiratory model. Presented numerical examples include simulation of breathing during a spirometry‐like test, measurement of a quasi‐static pressure–volume curve using a supersyringe maneuver, and volume‐controlled mechanical ventilation. The simulations show that our model incorporating inter‐acinar dependencies successfully reproduces physiological results in healthy and diseased states. Moreover, within these scenarios, a deeper insight into local pressure, volume, and flow rate distribution in the human lung is investigated and discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relaxed fuzzy observer‐based output feedback control synthesis of discrete‐time nonlinear control systems
Authors: Yu Hongxia , Xie Xiangpeng , Zhang Jiawei , Ning Donghong , Jing Yuan‐Wei
Published: March 2016

This work develops the development of observer‐based output feedback control design of discrete‐time nonlinear systems in the form of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model. Lately, previous results have been improved in virtue of a two‐step method. From a technical point of view, it is not flawless and related problems have not been completely resolved. In this study, more advanced two‐steps approach is further developed while the relative sizes among different normalized fuzzy weighting functions are utilized by introducing some additional matrix variables. As a result of the above work, those main defects of the existing method can be redressed and a desired solution in aspect of not only reducing the conservatism but also alleviating the computation complexity is provided for some special cases. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed result is shown at length by means of an illustrative example. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 593–601, 2016
Enhanced multiplexing in mass cytometry using osmium and ruthenium tetroxide species
Authors: Catena Raúl , Özcan Alaz , Zivanovic Nevena , Bodenmiller Bernd
Published: March 2016

Mass cytometry facilitates high‐dimensional, quantitative, single‐cell analysis. The method for sample multiplexing in mass cytometry, called mass‐tag cellular barcoding (MCB), relies on the covalent reaction of bifunctional metal chelators with intracellular proteins. Here, we describe the use of osmium and ruthenium tetroxides (OsO4 and RuO4) that bind covalently with fatty acids in the cellular membranes and aromatic amino acids in proteins. Both OsO4 and RuO4 rapidly reacted and allowed for MCB with live cells, crosslinked cells, and permeabilized cells. Given the covalent nature of the labeling reaction, isotope leaching was not observed. OsO4 and RuO4 were used in a 20‐sample barcoding protocol together with palladium isotopes. As mass channels occupied by osmium and ruthenium are not used for antibody detection the number of masses effectively utilized in a single experiment is expanded. OsO4 and RuO4 can therefore be used as MCB reagents for a wide range of mass cytometry workflows. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Speaking of that: Terms to avoid or reconsider in the eating disorders field
Authors: Weissman Ruth S. , Becker Anne E. , Bulik Cynthia M. , Frank Guido K.W. , Klump Kelly L. , Steiger Howard , Strober Michael , Thomas Jennifer , Waller Glenn , Walsh B. Timothy
Published: March 2016

Inspired by an article on 50 terms that, in the interest of clarity in scientific reasoning and communication in psychology, psychiatry, and allied fields, “should be avoided or at most be used sparingly and only with explicit caveats,”1 we propose a list of terms to avoid or think twice about before using when writing for the International Journal of Eating Disorders (IJED). Drawing upon our experience as reviewers or editors for the IJED, we generated an abridged list of such terms. For each term, we explain why it made our list and what alternatives we recommend. We hope that our list will contribute to improved clarity in scientific thinking about eating disorders, and that it will stimulate discussion of terms that may need to be reconsidered in our field's vocabulary to ensure the use of language that is respectful and sensitive to individuals who experience an eating disorder. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:349–353)
Jet flow over foredunes
Authors: Hesp Patrick A. , Smyth Thomas A. G.
Published: March 2016

Jet flows, which are localized flows exhibiting a high speed maxima, are relatively common in nature, and in many devices. They have only been occasionally observed on dunes, and their dynamics are poorly known. This paper examines computational fluid dynamic (CFD) two‐dimensional (2D) modelling of jet flow over a foredune topography. Flow was simulated in 10° increments from onshore (0°) to highly oblique alongshore (70°) incident wind approach angles. CFD modelling reveals that the formation of a jet is not dependent on a critical wind speed, and an increase in incident wind velocity does not affect the magnitude of jet flow. A jet is first formed at ~1.0 m seawards of the foredune crest on the Prince Edward Island foredune morphology example examined here. A jet is not developed when the incident wind is from an oblique approach angle greater than ~50° because there is significantly less flow acceleration across a much lower slope at this incident angle. The presence of a scarp does influence the structure of the crest jet, in that the jet is more pronounced where a scarp is present. Surface roughness affects the magnitude of jet expansion and jets are better developed on bare surfaces compared to vegetated ones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alleviation of environmental risks associated with severely contaminated mine tailings using amendments: Modeling of trace element speciation, solubility, and plant accumulation
Authors: Pardo Tania , Bes Cleménce , Bernal Maria Pilar , Clemente Rafael
Published: March 2016

Tailings are considered one of the most relevant sources of contamination associated with mining activities. Phytostabilization of mine spoils may need the application of the adequate combination of amendments to facilitate plant establishment and reduce their environmental impact. Two pot experiments were set up to assess the capability of 2 inorganic materials (calcium carbonate and a red mud derivate, ViroBindTM), alone or in combination with organic amendments, for the stabilization of highly acidic trace element–contaminated mine tailings using Atriplex halimus. The effects of the treatments on tailings and porewater physico-chemical properties and trace-element accumulation by the plants, as well as the processes governing trace elements speciation and solubility in soil solution and their bioavailability were modeled. The application of the amendments increased tailings pH and decreased (>99%) trace elements solubility in porewater, but also changed the speciation of soluble Cd, Cu, and Pb. All the treatments made A. halimus growth in the tailings possible; organic amendments increased plant biomass and nutritional status, and reduced trace-element accumulation in the plants. Tailings amendments modified trace-element speciation in porewater (favoring the formation of chlorides and/or organo-metallic forms) and their solubility and plant uptake, which were found to be mainly governed by tailing/porewater pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon content, as well as soluble/available trace-element concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2874–2884. © 2016 SETAC
Impacts of Deepwater Horizon crude oil exposure on adult mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) swim performance
Authors: Stieglitz John D. , Mager Edward M. , Hoenig Ronald H. , Benetti Daniel D. , Grosell Martin
Published: March 2016

The temporal and geographic attributes of the Deepwater Horizon incident in 2010 likely exposed pelagic game fish species, such as mahi-mahi, to crude oil. Although much of the research assessing the effects of the spill has focused on early life stages of fish, studies examining whole-animal physiological responses of adult marine fish species are lacking. Using swim chamber respirometry, the present study demonstrates that acute exposure to a sublethal concentration of the water accommodated fraction of Deepwater Horizon crude oil results in significant swim performance impacts on young adult mahi-mahi, representing the first report of acute sublethal toxicity on adult pelagic fish in the Gulf of Mexico following the spill. At an exposure concentration of 8.4 ± 0.6 µg L−1 sum of 50 selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; mean of geometric means ± standard error of the mean), significant decreases in the critical and optimal swimming speeds of 14% and 10%, respectively (p < 0.05), were observed. In addition, a 20% reduction in the maximum metabolic rate and a 29% reduction in aerobic scope resulted from exposure to this level of ΣPAHs. Using environmentally relevant crude oil exposure concentrations and a commercially and ecologically valuable Gulf of Mexico fish species, the present results provide insight into the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on adult pelagic fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2613–2622. © 2016 SETAC
A parallel adaptive numerical method with generalized curvilinear coordinate transformation for compressible Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Gao X. , Owen L. D. , Guzik S. M. J.
Published: March 2016

A fourth‐order finite‐volume method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations on a mapped grid with adaptive mesh refinement is proposed, implemented, and demonstrated for the prediction of unsteady compressible viscous flows. The method employs fourth‐order quadrature rules for evaluating face‐averaged fluxes. Our approach is freestream preserving, guaranteed by the way of computing the averages of the metric terms on the faces of cells. The standard Runge–Kutta marching method is used for time discretization. Solutions of a smooth flow are obtained in order to verify that the method is formally fourth‐order accurate when applying the nonlinear viscous operators on mapped grids. Solutions of a shock tube problem are obtained to demonstrate the effectiveness of adaptive mesh refinement in resolving discontinuities. A Mach reflection problem is solved to demonstrate the mapped algorithm on a non‐rectangular physical domain. The simulation is compared against experimental results. Future work will consider mapped multiblock grids for practical engineering geometries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nuc‐ErbB3 regulates H3K27me3 levels and HMT activity to establish epigenetic repression during peripheral myelination
Authors: Ness Jennifer K. , Skiles Amanda A. , Yap Eng‐Hui , Fajardo Eduardo J. , Fiser Andras , Tapinos Nikos
Published: March 2016

Nuc‐ErbB3 an alternative transcript from the ErbB3 locus binds to a specific DNA motif and associates with Schwann cell chromatin. Here we generated a nuc‐ErbB3 knockin mouse that lacks nuc‐ErbB3 expression in the nucleus without affecting the neuregulin‐ErbB3 receptor signaling. Nuc‐ErbB3 knockin mice exhibit hypermyelination and aberrant myelination at the paranodal region. This phenotype is attributed to de‐repression of myelination associated gene transcription following loss of nuc‐ErbB3 and histone H3K27me3 promoter occupancy. Nuc‐ErbB3 knockin mice exhibit reduced association of H3K27me3 with myelination‐associated gene promoters and increased RNA Pol‐II rate of transcription of these genes. In addition, nuc‐ErbB3 directly regulates levels of H3K27me3 in Schwann cells. Nuc‐ErbB3 knockin mice exhibit significant decrease of histone H3K27me3 methyltransferase (HMT) activity and reduced levels of H3K27me3. Collectively, nuc‐ErbB3 is a master transcriptional repressor, which regulates HMT activity to establish a repressive chromatin landscape on promoters of genes during peripheral myelination. GLIA 2016;64:977–992
Down‐regulation of TIMP2 by HIF‐1α/miR‐210/HIF‐3α regulatory feedback circuit enhances cancer metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kai Alan Ka‐Lun , Chan Lo Kong , Lo Regina Cheuk‐Lam , Lee Joyce Man‐Fong , Wong Carmen Chak‐Lui , Wong Jack Chun‐Ming , Ng Irene Oi‐Lin
Published: March 2016

Cancer metastasis is a multistep process that involves a series of tumor‐stromal interaction, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which requires a concerted action of multiple proteolytic enzymes and their endogenous inhibitors. This study investigated the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 2 in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. We found that TIMP2 was the most significantly down‐regulated member among the TIMP family in human HCCs. Moreover, TIMP2 underexpression was frequent (41.8%; 23 of 55) in human HCCs and was significantly associated with liver invasion and poorer survival outcomes of HCC patients. Furthermore, stable silencing of TIMP2 in HCC cell lines enhanced cell invasive ability and ECM degradation associated with formation of invadopodia‐like feature, suggesting that TIMP2 is a negative regulator of HCC metastasis. Using an orthotopic tumor xenograft model, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of TIMP2 open reading frame in the highly metastatic HCC cell line, MHCC‐97L, significantly reduced HCC progression as well as pulmonary metastasis. Mechanistically, TIMP2 suppression, in a hypoxic environment, was induced through a regulatory feedback circuit consisting of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) 1 alpha, microRNA‐210 (miR‐210), and HIF‐3α. Conclusion: TIMP2 is frequently down‐regulated in human HCCs and its down‐regulation is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and poorer patient outcome. Its suppression is under the regulation of a novel feedback circuit consisting of HIF‐1α/miR‐210/HIF‐3α. TIMP2 is an important regulator of ECM degradation and HCC metastasis. (Hepatology 2016;64:473‐487)
Leukostasis in adult acute hyperleukocytic leukemia: a clinician's digest
Authors: Ali Alaa M. , Mirrakhimov Aibek E. , Abboud Camille N. , Cashen Amanda F.
Published: March 2016

Leukostasis is a poorly understood and life‐threatening complication of acute hyperleukocytic leukemia. The incidence of hyperleukocytosis and leukostasis differs among various subtypes of leukemias. While the pathophysiology of leukostasis is not fully understood, recent research has elucidated many novel pathways that may have therapeutic implications in the future. Respiratory and neurological compromise represents the classical clinical manifestations of leukostasis. If it is not diagnosed and treated rapidly, the one‐week mortality rate is approximately 40%. Targeted induction chemotherapy is an important component of the successful treatment of leukostasis, although other modalities of cytoreduction are being used and investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sclerostin Expression in Bile Ducts of Patients With Chronic Cholestasis May Influence the Bone Disease in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Authors: Guañabens Núria , Ruiz-Gaspà Silvia , Gifre Laia , Miquel Rosa , Peris Pilar , Monegal Ana , Dubrueil Marta , Arias Ana , Parés Albert
Published: March 2016

Sclerostin is involved in the regulation of osteoblastogenesis and little is known about its role in the development of bone disease in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), characterized by low bone formation. Therefore, we have assessed the circulating levels and the liver expression of sclerostin in this cholestatic disease. Serum sclerostin levels were measured in 79 women with PBC (mean age 60.6 ± 1.2 years) and in 80 control women. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD), as well as parameters of mineral metabolism and bone remodeling, were measured. Moreover, sclerostin gene (SOST) expression in the liver was assessed by real-time PCR in samples of liver tissue taken by biopsy in 11 PBC patients and in 5 normal liver specimens. Presence and distribution of sclerostin was evaluated in liver slices from 11 patients by immunohistochemistry. The severity of histologic lesions was assessed semiquantitatively in the same liver samples. PBC patients had higher sclerostin levels than controls (75.6 ± 3.9 versus 31.7 ± 1.6 pmol/L, p < 0.001). Serum sclerostin correlated inversely with markers of bone formation and resorption. Sclerostin mRNA in the liver was overexpressed compared with control samples (2.7-fold versus healthy liver). Sclerostin was detected by immunohistochemistry in 7 of the 11 liver samples, mainly located in the bile ducts. Liver sclerostin was associated with the severity of cholangitis (p = 0.02) and indirectly with the degree of lobular inflammation (p = 0.03). Sclerostin mRNA expression was higher in samples that tested positive by immunohistochemistry and particularly in those with lobular granuloma (p = 0.02). The increased expression of sclerostin in the liver and the association with histologic cholangitis may explain the high serum levels of this protein in patients with PBC, thus suggesting that sclerostin may influence the decreased bone formation in this cholestatic disease. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Probing the Interaction between Acotiamide Hydrochloride and Pepsin by Multispectral Methods, Electrochemical Measurements, and Docking Studies
Authors: He Jiawei , Ma Xianglin , Wang Qing , Huang Yanmei , Li Hui
Published: March 2016

The interaction between acotiamide hydrochloride and pepsin was systematically characterized by fluorescence and electrochemical approaches. Fluorescence lifetime measurements showed that acotiamide hydrochloride quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of pepsin with a new complex formation via static mode, which was reconfirmed by cyclic voltammetry results. Both of the binding number and binding constants were calculated from differential pulse voltammetry analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The values obtained from the above two methods displayed a relatively high degree of consistency. Thermodynamic parameters suggested that acotiamide hydrochloride interacted with pepsin spontaneously by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. These results were consistent with the results obtained from molecular docking analysis. As revealed by synchronous fluorescence, three‐dimensional fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and circular dichroism spectra, acotiamide hydrochloride could affect the microenvironment and slightly change the secondary structure of pepsin. Furthermore, acotiamide hydrochloride can inhibit pepsin activity in vitro, as explained by the molecular docking.