bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel p.T139M mutation in HSPB1 highlighting the phenotypic spectrum in a family
Authors: Amornvit Jakkrit , Yalvac Mehmet E. , Chen Lei , Sahenk Zarife
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Mutations in the HSPB1 gene encoding the small heat shock protein B1 are associated with an autosomal dominant, axonal form of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease 2F (CMT2F) and distal hereditary motor neuropathy. Recently, distal myopathy had been described in a patient carrying HSPB1 mutation adding to the complexity of phenotypes resulting from HSPB1 mutations.

Methods

Five patients in a family with concerns of hereditary neuropathy were included. Detailed clinical examinations, including assessments of motor and sensory function, and electrophysiological data were obtained. Genetic analysis was requested through a commercial laboratory. In vitro studies were carried out to assess the pathogenicity of the novel mutation found in this family studies.

Results

All patients carried a novel mutation, c.146 C>T (p.T139M), substitution in the α‐crystallin domain of HSPB1 causing a clinical phenotype with hyperreflexia and intrafamilial variability, from muscle cramps as the only presenting symptom to a classic CMT phenotype. In vitro studies showed that cells expressing HSPB1‐T139M displayed decreased cell viability with increased expression of apoptosis markers. Moreover, overexpression of the mutant, not the wild‐type HSPB1, caused formation of congophilic aggregates.

Conclusions

In vitro findings strongly support the pathogenicity of this novel mutation. We propose that Congo red histochemical stain may serve as a simple screening tool for investigating if the aggregates in mutant cells have misfolded β‐pleated sheet secondary structures.
The impact of hemodynamic variability and signal mixing on the identifiability of effective connectivity structures in BOLD fMRI
Authors: Bielczyk Natalia Z. , Llera Alberto , Buitelaar Jan K. , Glennon Jeffrey C. , Beckmann Christian F.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Multiple computational studies have demonstrated that essentially all current analytical approaches to determine effective connectivity perform poorly when applied to synthetic functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) datasets. In this study, we take a theoretical approach to investigate the potential factors facilitating and hindering effective connectivity research in fMRI.

Materials and Methods

In this work, we perform a simulation study with use of Dynamic Causal Modeling generative model in order to gain new insights on the influence of factors such as the slow hemodynamic response, mixed signals in the network and short time series, on the effective connectivity estimation in fMRI studies.

Results

First, we perform a Linear Discriminant Analysis study and find that not the hemodynamics itself but mixed signals in the neuronal networks are detrimental to the signatures of distinct connectivity patterns. This result suggests that for statistical methods (which do not involve lagged signals), deconvolving the BOLD responses is not necessary, but at the same time, functional parcellation into Regions of Interest (ROIs) is essential. Second, we study the impact of hemodynamic variability on the inference with use of lagged methods. We find that the local hemodynamic variability provide with an upper bound on the success rate of the lagged methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate that upsampling the data to TRs lower than the TRs in state‐of‐the‐art datasets does not influence the performance of the lagged methods.

Conclusions

Factors such as background scale‐free noise and hemodynamic variability have a major impact on the performance of methods for effective connectivity research in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
A hybrid method for overlapping speech detection in classroom environment
Authors: Jiang Dazhi , Chen Yifei , Garg Akhil
Published: July 2017

Classroom discourse, which is a major composition of classroom, contains a slew of useful information such as providing the feedback to the teachers may lead to an improvement of the teaching quality. Generally, the classroom discourse can be divided into four categories/activities: teacher discourse, student discourse, quiet, and discussion. The automatic classification of activities provides a practical way to deal with the classroom discourse. However, the recognition of the discussion activity (a kind of overlapping speech) poses a great challenge to the treatment of the classroom discourse analysis. Therefore, in this paper, a new hybrid method based on the silence distribution and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) was proposed for the detection of overlapping speech. The results were found to be satisfactory and in good agreement with an experimental data. Based on these experimental results, the performance of the speaker segment of classroom event can be efficiently analyzed.
Reactive Bubbly Flows
Authors: Schlüter Michael , Billet Anne‐Marie , Herres‐Pawlis Sonja
Published: July 2017

No abstract.
Synthesis and Characterization of 2,2′‐Dinitramino‐5,5′‐bi(1‐oxa‐3,4‐diazole) and Derivatives as Economic and Highly Dense Energetic Materials
Authors: Hermann Tobias S. , Karaghiosoff Konstantin , Klapötke Thomas M. , Stierstorfer Jörg
Published: July 2017

2,2′‐Dinitramino‐5,5′‐bi(1‐oxa‐3,4‐diazole) (2) is a new highly energetic material with superior calculated detonation performance in comparison to cyclo‐1,3,5‐trimethylene‐2,4,6‐trinitramine (RDX) and penta‐erythritoltetranitrate (PETN) and can be prepared by an economical and practical two‐step synthesis. The starting material 2,2′‐diamino‐5,5′‐bi(1‐oxa‐3,4‐diazole) (1) is synthesized by the reaction of oxalyl dihydrazide with cyanogen bromide. Nitration of 1 yields the title compound in perfect yield and purity. The combination of its high density of 1.986 g cm−3, the positive heat of formation (+190 kJ mol−1), and a slightly positive oxygen balance (+6.2 %) results in ideal calculated detonation parameters (e.g. detonation velocity 9296 m s−1). The sensitivities toward impact and friction can be adjusted by deprotonation and formation of corresponding nitrogen‐rich salts, for example, ammonium (3), hydroxylammonium (4), and guanidinium (5) salts.
Hierarchical Hybrids Integrated by Dual Polypyrrole‐Based Porous Carbons for Enhanced Capacitive Performance
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Chen Nannan , Mi Hongyu , Ma Junhong , Xie Yahong , Qiu Jieshan
Published: July 2017

Architectural design of nitrogenous polymer‐based carbons represents a facile and efficient strategy to improve performance because of their morphological diversity, tailorability, and N‐containing structure. In this research, 0D and 1D forms of polypyrrole‐derived porous carbons (A‐PCS and A‐PCT, respectively) are first integrated into nitrogen‐doped hierarchically porous A‐PCS/PCT hybrids by applying an easy multistep method. This integration, along with chemical activation, prevents serious agglomeration of carbon particles or tubes and creates a connected porous network structure, leading to improved textural properties (high surface area of 1684 m2 g−1, high pore volume of 1.57 cm3 g−1, and hierarchical porosity). Thus, A‐PCS/PCT hybrids in a three‐electrode setup reach high specific capacitances of 224 and 206 F g−1 at 1 and 20 A g−1, respectively, with high rate capability (92 % capacitance retention). A symmetrical supercapacitor with A‐PCS/PCT electrodes presents the highest power and energy densities of 12.6 kW kg−1 and 8.58 Wh kg−1, respectively, and exceptional cycling life and stability with 92.4 % retention for up to 20 000 cycles. This study on conductive polymer‐based hybrid materials may guide the design of architectures with new structures for applications in energy storage and conversion technologies.
Structural Insights into Borates with an Anion‐Templated Open‐Framework Configuration: Asymmetric K2BaB16O26 versus Centrosymmetric K3CsB20O32 and Na2M2NB18O30 (M=Rb, Cs; N=Ba, Pb)
Authors: Mutailipu Miriding , Zhang Min , Su Xin , Yang Zhihua , Chen Yanna , Pan Shilie
Published: July 2017

Five new mixed‐metal borate crystals, namely, K2BaB16O26, K3CsB20O32, Na2Cs2BaB18O30, Na2Rb2PbB18O30, and Na2Cs2PbB18O30, have been synthesized by the high‐temperature solution method. These structures were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and their B−O configurations are shown to feature complicated three‐dimensional (3D) open‐framework structures incorporating different types of channels. For all five compounds, the frameworks can be reduced to four‐connected (4‐c) uninodal nets with sra‐, dia‐ and nbo‐type topologies by assigning the [B5O10]5− and [B3O7]5− clusters as basic nodes. First‐principles calculations have shown that the multiple cations in mixed‐metal borates influence the ground‐state electronic structures and associated optical absorptions. In addition, the crystal structures, thermal stabilities, and IR spectra of the title compounds have also been performed.
Reversible Pressure‐Controlled Depolymerization of a Copper(II)‐Containing Coordination Polymer
Authors: Clegg Jack K. , Brock Aidan J. , Jolliffe Katrina A. , Lindoy Leonard F. , Parsons Simon , Tasker Peter A. , White Fraser J.
Published: July 2017

A unique pressure‐induced Cu−N bond breaking/bond forming reaction is reported. The variation of pressure on a single crystal of a one‐dimensional copper‐ (II)‐containing coordination polymer (Cu2L2(1‐methylpiperazine)2]n, where H2L is 1,1′‐(1,3‐phenylene)‐bis(4,4‐dimethylpentane‐1,3‐dione)), was monitored using single crystal X‐ray diffraction with the aid of a diamond anvil cell. At a very low elevated pressure (≈0.05 GPa) a remarkable reversible phase change was observed. The phase change results in the depolymerization of the material through the cleavage and formation of axial Cu−N bonds as well as “ring flips” of individual axially coordinated 1‐methylpiperazine ligands. Overall, the pressure‐induced phase change is associated with a surprising (and non‐intuitive) shift in structure‐from a 1‐dimensional coordination polymer to a discrete dinuclear complex.
Chromatographic profiles of tryptophan and kynurenine enantiomers derivatized with (S)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole using LC–MS/MS on a triazole‐bonded column
Authors: Iizuka Hideaki , Harashima Takahiro , Takahashi Shuhei , Kuwabara Ryosuke , Naito Yoko , Sakamoto Tatsuya , Onozato Mayu , Ichiba Hideaki , Fukushima Takeshi
Published: July 2017

d‐ and l‐Tryptophan (Trp) and d‐ and l‐kynurenine (KYN) were derivatized with a chiral reagent, (S)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DBD‐PyNCS), and were separated enantiomerically by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a triazole‐bonded column (Cosmosil HILIC) using tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection. Effects of column temperature, salt (HCO2NH4) concentration, and pH of the mobile phase in the enantiomeric separation, followed by MS detection of (S)‐DBD‐PyNCS‐d,l‐Trp and ‐d,l‐KYN, were investigated. The mobile phase consisting of CH3CN/10 mM ammonium formate in H2O (pH 5.0) (90/10) with a column temperature of 50–60 °C gave satisfactory resolution (Rs) and mass‐spectrometric detection. The enantiomeric separation of d,l‐Trp and d,l‐KYN produced Rs values of 2.22 and 2.13, and separation factors (α) of 1.08 and 1.08, for the Trp and KYN enantiomers, respectively. The proposed LC–MS/MS method provided excellent detection sensitivity of both enantiomers of Trp and KYN (5.1–19 nM).
DNA‐Forensik
Authors: Kremer Kerstin , Fritzsch Sabrina , Stahl Frank
Published: July 2017

Der Begriff Forensik fasst die wissenschaftlichen Arbeitsmethoden zusammen, mit denen Straftaten untersucht, analysiert und aufgeklärt werden können. Dienen der Aufklärung DNA‐Spuren, die am Tatort vorgefunden wurden, spricht man von DNA‐Forensik oder forensischer Genetik. Häufig liegt am Tatort nicht nur die DNA‐Spur des Täters vor, sondern es sind auch die DNA von Opfer, Zeugen und berechtigten Personen (Ersthelfer, Polizeikräfte, etc.) usw. aufzufinden. Dann wird die Analyse komplex und das Verhältnis der DNA‐Spuren zueinander bedeutsam. Seit einigen Jahren steht die DNA‐Forensik vor völlig neuen Möglichkeiten, die neu entwickelte, moderne Sequenzierungstechniken, die zusammengefasst als Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) oder inzwischen sogar als Third Generation Sequencing (SMRT) bezeichnet werden, bieten. Diese Techniken erlauben eine schnelle Sequenzierung des gesamten Genoms und damit Merkmale wie Augenfarbe und Haarfarbe einer Person zu bestimmen. So könnte aus dem abstrakten DNA‐Profil in den nächsten Jahren ein plastisches DNA‐Phantombild werden. Die Entwicklungen erfordern eine Anpassung der gesetzlichen Regelungen und öffentliche Akzeptanz. Im vorliegenden Artikel werden die aktuellen Praktiken der DNA‐Forensik am Tatort und in den Laboratorien beschrieben und ein Ausblick auf zukünftige Möglichkeiten der forensischen DNA‐Analyse gegeben werden.
Application of a multi‐gene next‐generation sequencing panel to a non‐invasive oesophageal cell‐sampling device to diagnose dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus
Authors: Katz‐Summercorn Annalise , Anand Shubha , Ingledew Sophie , Huang Yuanxue , Roberts Thomas , Galeano‐Dalmau Nuria , O'Donovan Maria , Liu Hongxiang , Fitzgerald Rebecca C
Published: July 2017

The early detection and endoscopic treatment of patients with the dysplastic stage of Barrett's oesophagus is a key to preventing progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. However, endoscopic surveillance protocols are hampered by the invasiveness of repeat endoscopy, sampling bias, and a subjective histopathological diagnosis of dysplasia. In this case‐control study, we investigated the use of a non‐invasive, pan‐oesophageal cell‐sampling device, the Cytosponge™, coupled with a cancer hot‐spot panel to identify patients with dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) Cytosponge™ samples from 31 patients with non‐dysplastic and 28 with dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus with good available clinical annotation were selected for inclusion. Samples were microdissected and amplicon sequencing performed using a panel covering >2800 COSMIC hot‐spot mutations in 50 oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Strict mutation criteria were determined and duplicates were run to confirm any mutations with an allele frequency <12%. When compared with endoscopy and biopsy as the gold standard the panel achieved a 71.4% sensitivity (95% CI 51.3–86.8) and 90.3% (95% CI 74.3–98.0) specificity for diagnosing dysplasia. TP53 had the highest rate of mutation in 14/28 dysplastic samples (50%). CDKN2A was mutated in 6/28 (21.4%), ERBB2 in 3/28 (10.7%), and 5 other genes at lower frequency. The only gene from this panel found to be mutated in the non‐dysplastic cases was CDKN2A in 3/31 cases (9.7%) in keeping with its known loss early in the natural history of the disease. Hence, it is possible to apply a multi‐gene cancer hot‐spot panel and next‐generation sequencing to microdissected, FFPE samples collected by the Cytosponge™, in order to distinguish non‐dysplastic from dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus. Further work is required to maximize the panel sensitivity.
Removal of Heavy Metal Ions From Aqueous Solutions Using Bacillus subtilis Biomass Pre‐Treated by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Al‐Gheethi Adel , Mohamed Radin , Noman Efaq , Ismail Norli , Kadir Omar Ab.
Published: July 2017

Surface properties of bacterial cells enable them to be used in the removal of heavy metals. Moreover, the inactivation of bacterial cells via chemical or physical processes may enhance the biosorption efficiency for heavy metals. The use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) to inactivate bacteria based on destruction of cell walls took place due to the pressurized CO2. In this study, the pre‐treatment of Bacillus subtilis cells by SC‐CO2 (BM1), steam autoclaving (BM2), and untreated living cells (BM3) were investigated to show improvement in heavy metal removal. The removal process was optimized based on the main factors affecting bacterial biosorption, which included heavy metals ion concentrations, cell biomass concentrations, pH, time, and temperature. The efficiency of bacterial biomass in removing Ni2+ ions in the presence of different concentrations of Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ was also tested. BM1 and BM2 exhibited the highest potential for the removal of nickel ions in comparison to BM3. The maximum efficiency was 98.54, 99.2, and 96.3% for BM1, BM2, and BM3, respectively. Moreover, BM1 displayed a higher biosorption capacity for Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ (>150 mg g−1) than BM2 and BM3. Biosorption on bacterial cell biomass of Ni2+ ions shows lower removal affinity in the presence of other metal ions. In conclusion, the pre‐treatment of bacterial cells biomass by SC‐CO2 enhanced the removal process of heavy metal ions compared to untreated living cells.
Optimization magnetic resonance imaging shim coil using second derivative discretized stream function
Authors: Hu Yang , Wang Qiuliang , Zhu Xuchen , Niu Chaoqun , Wang Yaohui
Published: July 2017

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, a set of shim coils are designed to generate specific magnetic fields, thus eliminating harmonic components of magnetic field to obtain a high level homogeneous magnetic field within the region of interesting (ROI). In the electromagnetic design process, in order to produce the desired magnetic field, the deviation between the calculated magnetic field of shim coil and the theoretical magnetic field is treated as a kind of traditional objective functions to optimize the distribution of current density on the surface of shim coil skeleton. However, such function is ill‐posed because of the overdetermined or underdetermined system of equations. The regularization method is commonly used to solve such problem by constructing the regularization term. This article proposes a new iterative optimization method for the design of shim coils in MRI. Based on the boundary element method (BEM), the discretized stream functions can be obtained by discretizing the surface of coil skeleton using a set of triangular elements. As the regularization term, the second derivative stream function is included in the minimization of the deviation between calculated magnetic fields and target magnetic fields. The distribution of coil which meets the design requirements can be obtained by using the Broyden‐Fletcher‐Goldfarb‐Shanno (BFGS) algorithm. At last, the cubic spline interpolation is used to make lines as smooth as possible to be processed. In this article, the proposed method was employed to design two kinds of room temperature shim coils for cylindrical and/or biplanar MRI shim coil system. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and practical.
Advances in Electrocatalysis for Energy Conversion and Synthesis of Organic Molecules
Authors: Holade Yaovi , Servat Karine , Tingry Sophie , Napporn Teko W. , Remita Hynd , Cornu David , Kokoh K. Boniface
Published: July 2017

Ubiquitous electrochemistry is expected to play a major role for reliable energy supply as well as for production of sustainable fuels and chemicals. The fundamental understanding of organics‐based electrocatalysis in alkaline media at the solid–liquid interface involves complex mechanisms and performance descriptors (from the electrolyte and reaction intermediates), which undermine the roads towards advance and breakthroughs. Here, we review and diagnose recently designed strategies for the electrochemical conversion of organics into electricity and/or higher‐value chemicals. To tune the mysterious workings of nanocatalysts in electrochemical devices, we examine the guiding principles by which the performance of a particular electrode material is governed, thus highlighting various tactics for the development of synthesis methods for nanomaterials with specific properties. We end by examining the production of chemicals by using electrochemical methods, from selective oxidation to reduction reactions. The intricate relationship between electrode and selectivity encourages both of the communities of electrocatalysis and organic synthesis to move forward together toward the renaissance of electrosynthesis methods.
Animal‐assisted psychotherapy for young people with behavioural problems in residential care
Authors: Muela Alexander , Balluerka Nekane , Amiano Nora , Caldentey Miguel Angel , Aliri Jone
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an animal‐assisted psychotherapy (AAP) programme on clinical symptoms, personal adjustment, and adaptive skills in a group of adolescents in residential care who had experienced childhood trauma and who presented mental health problems and difficulties adapting to the care home environment. The 87 participants (Mage = 15.17, SD = 1.53) were divided into two groups: a treatment group (25 girls and 27 boys; Mage = 15.00, SD = 1.55) and a control group (9 girls and 26 boys; Mage = 15.42, SD = 1.50). The programme consisted of 34 sessions involving both group (23 sessions) and individual (11 sessions) AAP. The Behaviour Assessment System for Children was used to evaluate clinical and adaptive dimensions of behaviour and personality. The results indicated that, in comparison with controls, the young people who took part in the AAP programme reported a significant improvement on two measures of internalizing symptoms, namely, depression and sense of inadequacy. Although no significant differences were observed in relation to externalizing symptoms, the adolescents who received the AAP programme showed improved social skills in terms of their ability to interact satisfactorily with peers and adults in the care home environment, as well as a more positive attitude towards teachers at school. These results suggest that AAP may be a promising treatment for young people who have experienced childhood trauma and who subsequently find it difficult to adapt to the residential care setting.
Vinylation of Aryl Ether (Lignin β‐O‐4 Linkage) and Epoxides with Calcium Carbide through C−O Bond Cleavage
Authors: Teong Siew Ping , Lim Jenny , Zhang Yugen
Published: July 2017

Calcium carbide has been increasingly used as a sustainable, easy‐to‐handle, and low‐cost feedstock in organic synthesis. Currently, methodologies of using calcium carbide as “solid acetylene” in synthesis are strictly limited to activation and reaction with X−H (X=C, N, O, S) bonds. Herein, a mild and transition‐metal‐free protocol was developed for the vinylation of epoxides and aryl ether linkage (β‐O‐4 lignin model compound) with calcium carbide through C−O bond cleavage, forming valuable vinyl ether products. Calcium carbide plays a vital role in the C−O bond activation and cleavage, and in providing acetylide source for the formation of vinylated products. These exciting results may provide new methodologies for organic synthesis and new insights toward lignin‐ or biomassrelated degradation to useful products.
Internal quality control in an academic cytopathology laboratory for the introduction of a new reporting system for endometrial cytology
Authors: Margari Niki , Pouliakis Abraham , Aninos Dionysios , Meristoudis Christos , Stamataki Magdalini , Panayiotides Ioannis , Karakitsos Petros
Published: July 2017

Background

To evaluate reproducibility of a reporting system for endometrial cytology.

Methods

Cytologic slides from 49 patients, prepared via liquid based cytology, were blindly examined by five cytopathologists of various experience levels, applying a recently introduced reporting system as previously reported. The agreement among cytopathologists was evaluated via Kappa (κ) statistics and the Kendall's Coefficient of Variation (W); cytologic results were compared with the relevant histologic report.

Results

Substantial agreement among all five raters was found in the benign, ACE‐L and malignant categories, fair agreement in inadequate and ACE‐H categories, whereas only slight agreement in ACE‐U. For the three more experienced cytopathologists, an almost perfect agreement was found in inadequate, benign, and ACE‐L categories, substantial agreement in ACE‐H and malignant categories and fair agreement in ACE‐U category. Overall agreement for all five cytopathologists and for all categories was moderate, whereas it was very high for the three senior raters. Using the Kendall's test, both five cytopathologists (W = 0.81) and the three senior ones (W = 0.93) had very high agreement. Sensitivity: 83.33–92.59%, specificity: 83.33–94.74%, ROC area: 71.72–90.3%.

Conclusion

Application of appropriate statistical tests shows that integration of a new reporting cytologic system is effective with an overall accuracy around 90%. Both statistical tests applied disclosed lower agreement rates among both all five raters and the three most experienced ones in the intermediate categories constituting the gray zone, thus delineating the need for better training of cytopathologists to correctly identify diagnostic criteria for classification of a given case into these categories.
Impacts of natural factors and farming practices on greenhouse gas emissions in the North China Plain: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Xu Cong , Han Xiao , Bol Roland , Smith Pete , Wu Wenliang , Meng Fanqiao
Published: July 2017

Requirements for mitigation of the continued increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are much needed for the North China Plain (NCP). We conducted a meta‐analysis of 76 published studies of 24 sites in the NCP to examine the effects of natural conditions and farming practices on GHG emissions in that region. We found that N2O was the main component of the area‐scaled total GHG balance, and the CH4 contribution was <5%. Precipitation, temperature, soil pH, and texture had no significant impacts on annual GHG emissions, because of limited variation of these factors in the NCP. The N2O emissions increased exponentially with mineral fertilizer N application rate, with y = 0.2389e0.0058x for wheat season and y = 0.365e0.0071x for maize season. Emission factors were estimated at 0.37% for wheat and 0.90% for maize at conventional fertilizer N application rates. The agronomic optimal N rates (241 and 185 kg N ha−1 for wheat and maize, respectively) exhibited great potential for reducing N2O emissions, by 0.39 (29%) and 1.71 (56%) kg N2O‐N ha−1 season−1 for the wheat and maize seasons, respectively. Mixed application of organic manure with reduced mineral fertilizer N could reduce annual N2O emissions by 16% relative to mineral N application alone while maintaining a high crop yield. Compared with conventional tillage, no‐tillage significantly reduced N2O emissions by ~30% in the wheat season, whereas it increased those emissions by ~10% in the maize season. This may have resulted from the lower soil temperature in winter and increased soil moisture in summer under no‐tillage practice. Straw incorporation significantly increased annual N2O emissions, by 26% relative to straw removal. Our analysis indicates that these farming practices could be further tested to mitigate GHG emission and maintain high crop yields in the NCP.
Extensive wildfires, climate change, and an abrupt state change in subalpine ribbon forests, Colorado
Authors: Calder W. John , Shuman Bryan
Published: July 2017

Ecosystems may shift abruptly when the effects of climate change and disturbance interact, and landscapes with regularly patterned vegetation may be especially vulnerable to abrupt shifts. Here we use a fossil pollen record from a regularly patterned ribbon forest (alternating bands of forests and meadows) in Colorado to examine whether past changes in wildfire and climate produced abrupt vegetation shifts. Comparing the percentages of conifer pollen with sedimentary δ18O data (interpreted as an indicator of temperature or snow accumulation) indicates a first‐order linear relationship between vegetation composition and climate change with no detectable lags over the past 2,500 yr (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). Additionally, however, we find that the vegetation changed abruptly within a century of extensive wildfires, which were recognized in a previous study to have burned approximately 80% of the surrounding 1,000 km2 landscape 1,000 yr ago when temperatures rose ~0.5°C. The vegetation change was larger than expected from the effects of climate change alone. Pollen assemblages changed from a composition associated with closed subalpine forests to one similar to modern ribbon forests. Fossil pollen assemblages then remained like those from modern ribbon forests for the following ~1,000 yr, providing a clear example of how extensive disturbances can trigger persistent new vegetation states and alter how vegetation responds to climate.
Cervical stability training with and without core stability training for patients with cervical disc herniation: A randomized, single‐blind study
Authors: Buyukturan B. , Guclu‐Gunduz A. , Buyukturan O. , Dadali Y. , Bilgin S. , Kurt E.E.
Published: July 2017

Background

This study aims at evaluating and comparing the effects of cervical stability training to combined cervical and core stability training in patients with neck pain and cervical disc herniation.

Methods

Fifty patients with neck pain and cervical disc herniation were included in the study, randomly divided into two groups as cervical stability and cervical‐core stability. Training was applied three times a week in three phases, and lasted for a total duration of 8 weeks. Pain, activation and static endurance of deep cervical flexor muscles, static endurance of neck muscles, cross‐sectional diameter of M. Longus Colli, static endurance of trunk muscles, disability and kinesiophobia were assessed.

Results

Pain, activation and static endurance of deep cervical flexors, static endurance of neck muscles, cross‐sectional diameter of M. Longus Colli, static endurance of trunk muscles, disability and kinesiophobia improved in both groups following the training sessions (p < 0.05). Comparison of the effectiveness of these two training methods revealed that the cervical stability group produced a greater increase in the right transverse diameter of M. Longus Colli (p < 0.05). However, static endurance of trunk muscles and kinesiophobia displayed better improvement in the cervical‐core stability group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Cervical stability training provided benefit to patients with cervical disc herniation. The addition of core stability training did not provide any additional significant benefit. Further research is required to investigate the efficacy of combining other techniques with cervical stability training in patients with cervical disc herniation.

Significance

Both cervical stability training and its combination with core stability training were significantly and similarly effective on neck pain and neck muscle endurance in patients with cervical disc herniation.
Short-term toxicity of 1-methylnaphthalene to Americamysis bahia and 5 deep-sea crustaceans
Authors: Knap Anthony , Turner Nicholas R. , Bera Gopal , Renegar D. Abigail , Frank Tamara , Sericano Jose , Riegl Bernhard M.
Published: July 2017

There are few studies that have evaluated hydrocarbon toxicity to vertically migrating deep-sea micronekton. Crustaceans were collected alive using a 9-m2 Tucker trawl with a thermally insulated cod end and returned to the laboratory in 10 °C seawater. Toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-methylnaphthalene to Americamysis bahia, Janicella spinacauda, Systellaspis debilis, Sergestes sp., Sergia sp., and a euphausiid species was assessed in a constant exposure toxicity test utilizing a novel passive dosing toxicity testing protocol. The endpoint of the median lethal concentration tests was mortality, and the results revealed high sensitivity of the deep-sea micronekton compared with other species for which these data are available. Threshold concentrations were also used to calculate critical target lipid body burdens using the target lipid model. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3415–3423. © 2017 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC
Feedback control of laminar flow separation on NACA23012 airfoil by POD analysis and using perturbed Navier‐Stokes equations
Authors: Zare A. , Emdad H. , Goshtasbirad E.
Published: July 2017

The main purpose of this article is to develop a forced reduced‐order model based on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)/Galerkin projection (on isentropic Navier‐Stokes equations) and perturbation method on the compressible Navier‐Stokes equations. The resulting forced reduced‐order model will be used in optimal control of the separated flow over a NACA23012 airfoil at Mach number of 0.2, Reynolds number of 800, and high incidence angle of 24°. The main disadvantage of the POD/Galerkin projection method for control purposes is that controlling parameters do not show up explicitly in the resulting reduced‐order system. The perturbation method and POD/Galerkin projection on the isentropic Navier‐Stokes equations introduce a forced reduced‐order model that can predict the time varying influence of the controlling parameters and the Navier‐Stokes response to external excitations. An optimal control theory based on forced reduced‐order system is used to design a control law for a nonlinear reduced‐order system, which attempts to minimize the vorticity content in the flow field. The test bed is a laminar flow over NACA23012 airfoil actuated by a suction jet at 12% to 18% chord from leading edge and a pair of blowing/suction jets at 15% to 18% and 24% to 30% chord from leading edge, respectively. The results show that wall jet can significantly influence the flow field, remove separation bubbles, and increase the lift coefficient up to 22%, while the perturbation method can predict the flow field in an accurate manner.
Integration of white matter network is associated with interindividual differences in psychologically mediated placebo response in migraine patients
Authors: Liu Jixin , Ma Shaohui , Mu Junya , Chen Tao , Xu Qing , Dun Wanghuan , Tian Jie , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2017

Individual differences of brain changes of neural communication and integration in the modular architecture of the human brain network exist for the repeated migraine attack and physical or psychological stressors. However, whether the interindividual variability in the migraine brain connectome predicts placebo response to placebo treatment is still unclear. Using DTI and graph theory approaches, we systematically investigated the topological organization of white matter networks in 71 patients with migraine without aura (MO) and 50 matched healthy controls at three levels: global network measure, nodal efficiency, and nodal intramodule/intermodule efficiency. All patients participated in an 8‐week sham acupuncture treatment to induce analgesia. In our results, 30% (n = 21) of patients had 50% change in migraine days from baseline after placebo treatment. At baseline, abnormal increased network integration was found in MO patients as compared with the HC group, and the increased global efficiency before starting clinical treatment was associated with their following placebo response. For nodal efficiency, significantly increased within‐subnetwork nodal efficiency and intersubnetwork connectivity of the hippocampus and middle frontal gyrus in patients' white matter network were correlated with the responses of follow‐up placebo treatment. Our findings suggested that the trait‐like individual differences in pain‐related maladaptive stress interfered with and diminished the capacity of chronic pain modulation differently, and the placebo response for treatment could be predicted from a prior white matter network modular structure in migraineurs. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5250–5259, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does hospital ownership influence hospital referral region health rankings in the United States
Authors: Hamadi Hanadi , Apatu Emma , Spaulding Aaron
Published: July 2017

Extensive evidence demonstrates that a hospital's organizational ownership structure impacts its overall performance, but little is known concerning the influence of hospital structure on the health of its community. This paper explores the association between US hospital referral region (HRR) health rankings and hospital ownership and performance. Data from the 2016 Commonwealth Fund Scorecard on Local Health System Performance, the American Hospital Association dataset, and the Hospital Value‐Based Purchasing dataset are utilized to conduct a cross‐sectional analysis of 36 quality measures across 306 HRRs. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the association among hospital ownership, system performance measures—access and affordability, prevention and treatment, avoidable hospital use and cost, and healthy lives—and performance as measured by value‐based purchasing total performance scores. We found that indicators of access and affordability, as well as prevention and treatment, were significantly associated across all 3 hospitals' organizational structures. Hospital referral regions with a greater number of not‐for‐profit hospitals demonstrated greater indications of access and affordability, as well as better prevention and treatment rankings than for‐profit and government hospitals. Hospital referral regions with a greater number of government, nonfederal hospitals had worse scores for healthy lives. Furthermore, the greater the total performance scores score, the better the HRR score on prevention and treatment rankings. The greater the per capita income, the better the score across all 4 dimensions. As such, this inquiry supports the assertion that performance of a local health system is dependent on its community's resources of health care delivery entities and their structure.
Contributions of Interleukin‐33 and TSLP in a papain‐soaked contact lens‐induced mouse conjunctival inflammation model
Authors: Sugita Jobu , Asada Yosuke , Ishida Waka , Iwamoto Satoshi , Sudo Katsuko , Suto Hajime , Matsunaga Toru , Fukuda Ken , Fukushima Atsuki , Yokoi Norihiko , Ohno Tatsukuni , Azuma Miyuki , Ebihara Nobuyuki , Saito Hirohisa , Kubo Masato , Nakae Susumu , Matsuda Akira
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Pathological changes of severe chronic allergic conjunctivitis are driven not only via acquired immunity but also via innate immunity. Type 2 immune response‐initiating cytokines may play some roles as innate immunity‐dependent components of the ocular surface inflammation. To investigate the involvement of type 2 immune response‐initiating cytokines in innate immunity‐dependent, papain‐induced conjunctival inflammation model using IL‐25‐, IL‐33‐, and TSLP receptor (TSLPR)‐knockout (KO) mice with reference to basophils and ILC2.

Methods

Papain‐soaked contact lenses (papain‐CLs) were installed in the conjunctival sacs of C57BL/6‐IL‐25 KO, IL‐33 KO, TSLPR KO, Rag2 KO, Bas‐TRECK, and wild‐type mice and their eyes were sampled at day 5. The eosinophil and basophil infiltration in papain‐CL model was evaluated histologically and cytokine expression was examined. To clarify the roles of basophils and ILC2, basophil/ILC2‐depletion experiments were carried out.

Results

Papain‐induced conjunctival inflammation exhibited eosinophil infiltration and upregulation of Th2 cytokine expression. Reduction of eosinophil and basophil infiltration and attenuated Th2 cytokine expression were observed in the papain‐CL model using IL‐33 KO and TSLPR KO mice. Depletion of basophils or ILC2s in the conjunctivae of the papain‐CL model reduced eosinophil infiltration.

Conclusions

Innate immunity‐driven type 2 immune responses of the ocular surface are dependent on IL‐33, TSLP, basophils, and ILC2. These components may be possible therapeutic targets for refractory allergic keratoconjunctivitis.
Prognosis following cancer surgery during holiday periods
Authors: Lagergren Jesper , Mattsson Fredrik , Lagergren Pernilla
Published: July 2017

Surgery is the mainstay curative treatment in most cancer. We aimed to test the new hypothesis that cancer surgery performed during holiday periods is associated with worse long‐term prognosis than for non‐holiday periods. This nationwide Swedish population‐based cohort study included 228,927 patients during 1997–2014 who underwent elective resectional surgery for a cancer where the annual number of resections was over 100. The 16 eligible cancer sites were grouped into 10 cancer groups. The exposure, holiday periods, was classified as wide (14‐weeks) or narrow (7‐weeks). Surgery conducted inside versus outside holiday periods was compared regarding overall disease‐specific (main outcome) and overall all‐cause (secondary outcome) mortality. Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, hospital volume, calendar period and tumor stage. Surgery conducted during wide and narrow holiday periods were associated with increased HRs of disease‐specific mortality for cancer of the breast (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.13 and HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.12) and possibly of cancer of the liver‐pancreas‐bile ducts (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.99–1.20 and HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.99–1.26). Sub‐groups with cancer of the colon‐rectum, head‐and‐neck, prostate, kidney‐urine bladder and thyroid also experienced statistically significantly worse prognosis following surgery conducted during holiday periods. No influence of surgery during holiday was detected for cancer of the esophagus‐stomach, lung or ovary‐uterus. All‐cause HRs were similar to the disease‐specific HRs. The prognosis following cancer surgery might not be fully maintained during holiday periods for all cancer sites.
Low maternal pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A during the first trimester of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Kaijomaa Marja , Rahkonen Leena , Ulander Veli‐Matti , Hämäläinen Esa , Alfthan Henrik , Markkanen Helene , Heinonen Seppo , Stefanovic Vedran
Published: July 2017

Objective

To assess the association between pregnancy‐associated placental protein A (PAPP‐A) levels in the first trimester of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Method

A retrospective study included data from a group of patients in the first trimester of pregnancy with PAPP‐A levels below 0.3 multiples of median who attended the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2012; an age‐matched control group of patients with PAPP‐A levels 0.9–1.1 multiples of median was also enrolled. The incidences of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the two groups were compared.

Results

There were 961 patients included in each of the groups. Significantly increased risks of aneuploidies (odds ratio [OR] 116.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.2–836.6) and spontaneous abortion (OR 7.7; 95% CI 2.7–22.0) were observed among patients with low PAPP‐A (both P<0.001). Preterm delivery (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8–3.5), pre‐eclampsia (OR 10.9, 95% CI 4.3–27.6), and small for gestational age neonates (OR 4.9, 95% CI 3.2–7.5) were also observed more frequently among patients with low PAPP‐A (all P<0.001). There were 9 (0.9%) stillbirths recorded among patients with low PAPP‐A and none recorded in the control group.

Conclusion

Low PAPP‐A was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and aneuploidy. These risks should be considered when planning follow‐up for patients with low PAPP‐A pregnancies.
Evaluation of sonographic endometrial patterns and endometrial thickness as predictors of ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Yadav Poonam , Singla Anshuja , Sidana Anu , Suneja Amita , Vaid Neelam B.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To evaluate whether endometrial patterns and thickness could be used for the prediction of ectopic pregnancy (EP).

Methods

A prospective study was conducted in a center in India between October 2007 and December 2008. It included 100 women with an early pregnancy confirmed by urine pregnancy testing but for whom an intrauterine gestational sac was not visualized on transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS). The women were divided into an EP group and an intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) group depending on the final diagnosis. The endometrial pattern and endometrial thickness were determined by TVS. Sensitivity and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine the predictive value.

Results

A heterogenous hyperechoic or trilaminar endometrial pattern was noted in 53 (77%) of 69 women in the EP group and 12 (39%) of 31 in the IUP group, and a homogenous hyperechoic pattern in 3 (4%) women in the EP group and 13 (42%) in the IUP group. An endometrial thickness of less than 9.8 mm was predictive of EP (P<0.001), and an endometrial pattern other than homogenous hyperechoic had a sensitivity and a negative predictive value of 81.3% for the diagnosis of EP.

Conclusion

Evaluation of endometrial thickness and pattern by TVS helps to identify women with a pregnancy of unknown location for close supervision.
Role of plasma exchange, leukocytapheresis, and plasma diafiltration in management of refractory macrophage activation syndrome
Authors: Kinjo Noriko , Hamada Kazuya , Hirayama Chika , Shimizu Masaki
Published: July 2017

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a life‐threating complication of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (s‐JIA). Steroid and cyclosporine (CsA) are effective for MAS, but, treatment for steroid‐ and CsA‐resistant patients is still challenging. We report the case of steroid and CsA resistant s‐JIA associated MAS misdiagnosed as Kawasaki disease (KD), who was successfully treated with the combination of plasma exchange (PE) and leukocytapheresis (LCAP) followed by plasma diafiltration (PDF). PE + LCAP effectively removed proinflammatory cytokines and reduced the number of peripheral white blood cells. Furthermore, PDF also removed proinflammatory cytokines as effectively as PE + LCAP. Early diagnosis of s‐JIA is necessary to avoid developing MAS. The measurement of serum ferritin and IL‐18 levels are useful for differentiating s‐JIA from KD. Apheresis therapies are an alternative option to induce remission for severe patients with steroid‐ or CsA‐resistant MAS.
Radiation therapists' perspectives on participating in research
Authors: Halkett Georgia K. B. , Berg Melissa , Ebert Martin A. , Cutt David , Davis Michael , Hegney Desley , House Michael , Judson Michelle , Kearvell Rachel , Krawiec Michele , Lester Leanne , Maresse Sharon , McLoone Peter , McKay Jan
Published: July 2017

Introduction

The objectives of this research were to: (1) determine the extent of Australian radiation therapists (RTs) research participation; (2) evaluate the impact of research involvement on career perceptions (3) explore which research topics require investigation and (4) identify benefits and barriers to research participation.

Methods

This study used mixed methods to collect qualitative and quantitative data using an online survey from a larger workforce study of RTs and radiation oncology medical physicists. Participants practising in Australia completed questions about their research involvement. Chi‐square tests and logistic regression were used to analyse quantitative data and content analysis was used to explore qualitative data.

Results

Two hundred and ninety‐six RTs answered the research questions. Forty‐six percent had been involved in research. Of these, 91% had been involved in departmental, 28% in national, 14% in international and 29% in informal or self‐directed research studies. Eleven RTs (8%) had received funding as a chief/principal investigator. Involvement in research was associated with a desire to make a career change. However, it also appeared to be associated with greater satisfaction with career progression and staying in the career. Respondents identified a range of potential research topics, benefits of participating in research and barriers which included lack of time, support and cost.

Conclusion

Almost half of the RT participants identified that they were participating in research. Our data suggest that continued involvement in research, and opportunities to participate, improve RT job satisfaction. RTs' research activities are likely to be extended through provision of additional time and support.