bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controversies in regenerative medicine: Should intervertebral disc degeneration be treated with mesenchymal stem cells?
Authors: Loibl Markus , Wuertz‐Kozak Karin , Vadala Gianluca , Lang Siegmund , Fairbank Jeremy , Urban Jill P.
Published: January 2019

Low back pain (LBP) can significantly reduce the quality of life of patients, and has a considerable economic and social impact worldwide. It is commonly associated with disc degeneration, even though many people with degenerate discs are asymptomatic. Degenerate disc disease (DDD), is thus a common term for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration associated with LBP. Degeneration is thought to lead to LBP because of nerve ingrowth into the degenerate disc, inflammation, or because degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) alters spinal biomechanics inappropriately. Thus, while the objectives of some interventions for LBP are to control pain intensity, other interventions aim to deal with the consequences of disc degeneration through stabilizing the disc surgically, by inserting artificial discs or by repairing the disc biologically and preventing progressive IVD degeneration. Despite tremendous research efforts, treatment of LBP through the use of regenerative interventions aiming to repair the IVD is still controversial. The use of mesenchymal stem cells for IVD regeneration in a patient‐based case will be discussed by an ensemble of clinicians and researchers.
Characterization of the multiple chemical components of Glechomae Herba using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry with diagnostic ion filtering strategy
Authors: Li Junmao , Wen Quan , Feng Yulin , Zhang Jing , Luo Yun , Tan Ting
Published: January 2019

Glechomae Herba is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of urolithiasis, cholelithiasis, and urinary tract infections in China. Identification of chemical constituents is helpful to discover the potential active ingredients. However, this significant work is stymied by complex chemical constituents. Therefore, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis with diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filtering strategy was established for chemical profiling of Glechomae Herba. The diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filtering strategy simplified spectral elucidation. A total of 120 compounds, including 10 chlorogenic acids, 10 gallic acids, 21 phenylpropionic acids, and 77 flavonoids, were reasonably identified in Glechomae Herba. Sixty‐five constituents were first discovered in Glechomae Herba. Four types of chlorogenic acids (caffeoylquinic acid, feruloylquinic acid, p‐coumaroylquinic acid, and di‐caffeoylquinic acid), three types of galloylglucoses (di‐O‐galloyl‐glucose, tri‐O‐galloyl‐glucose, and tetra‐O‐galloyl‐glucose), three types of phenylpropionic acid skeletons (p‐coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and rosmarinic acid) and five types of flavonoid aglycone skeletons (apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, and chrysin) were identified in Glechomae Herba. The results indicated that the developed strategy was feasible and rational technique for identifying the complex chemical constituents in Glechomae Herba.
Comparison of Sonazoid and SonoVue in the Diagnosis of Focal Liver Lesions: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Zhai Hong‐yan , Liang Ping , Yu Jie , Cao Feng , Kuang Ming , Liu Feng‐yong , Liu Fang‐yi , Zhu Xin‐yuan
Published: January 2019

Objective

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Sonazoid and SonoVue in subjects with focal liver lesions.

Methods

The patients who had untreated focal solid liver lesions confirmed by B‐mode ultrasonography were eligible for the study. The target lesion and whole liver were scanned by gray scale ultrasonography; then, contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography was performed, and the results were evaluated blindly. The main end point was accuracy improvement with postcontrast versus precontrast ultrasound examination for diagnosis of the target lesion of interest as malignant or benign against the reference standard.

Results

There were 65 patients with 65 hepatic tumors enrolled in the study. The improvement of diagnostic accuracy was 0.30 in the Sonazoid group and 0.16 in the SonoVue group (95% confidence interval, –0.828–0.168; P = .24). Using 20% as the noninferiority margin, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (0.168) was less than 0.20. The number of lesions detected during the whole‐liver scanning in the Sonazoid group was significantly more than that detected in the SonoVue group (P = .024).

Conclusion

The diagnosis value of Sonazoid is noninferior to SonoVue, and this new contrast agent can improves the whole‐liver image quality.
An Injectable Self‐Healing Multifluorescent Hydrogel Formed by Engineered Coiled‐Coil Polypeptide and Quantum Dots
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhao Sun‐Duo , Jin Rui‐Mei , Zhao Dong‐Hui , Chen Wei , Hu Wei , Wang Qiong , Liu Bo
Published: January 2019

An injectable and self‐healing multifluorescent hydrogel system based on engineered coiled‐coil polypeptide and CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) is developed. The mechanical properties of the PC10A‐QD hydrogel are able to be tuned by changing the concentrations of PC10A and QDs. The G′ of PC10A hydrogel increases from 800 to 1000 Pa by doping 6 nm oil‐soluble CdSe@ZnS QDs. The PC10A‐QD hydrogel can easily pass through a 26‐gauge needle without clogging. In addition, through interfacial assembly of PC10A polypeptide on the surface of the PC10A‐QD hydrogel, each of these hydrogel can self‐assemble into a multifluorescent hydrogel. This approach for preparation of injectable self‐healing multifluorescent hydrogels is expected to apply in biomedicine.
Towards operational use of aircraft‐derived observations: a case study at London Heathrow airport
Authors: Mirza Andrew K. , Ballard Susan P. , Dance Sarah L. , Rooney Gabriel G. , Stone Edmund K.
Published: January 2019

Mode‐Selective Enhanced Surveillance (Mode‐S EHS) aircraft reports can be collected at a low cost and are readily available around busy airports. The new work presented here demonstrates that observations derived from Mode‐S EHS reports can be used to study the evolution of temperature inversions since the data have a high spatial and temporal frequency. This is illustrated by a case study centred around London Heathrow airport for the period January 4–5, 2015. Using Mode‐S EHS reports from multiple aircraft and after applying quality control criteria, vertical temperature profiles are constructed by aggregating these reports at discrete intervals between the surface and 3,000 m. To improve these derived temperatures, four smoothing methods using low‐pass filters are evaluated. The effect of smoothing reduces the variance in the aircraft derived temperature by approximately half. After smoothing, the temperature variance between the altitudes 3,000 and 1,000 m is 1–2 K; below 1,000 m, it is 2–4 K. Although the differences between the four smoothing methods are small, exponential smoothing is favoured because it uses all available Mode‐S EHS reports. The resulting vertical profiles may be useful in operational meteorology for identifying elevated temperature inversions above 1,000 m. However, below 1,000 m they are less useful because of the reduced precision of the reported Mach number. A better source of in situ temperature observations would be for aircraft to use the meteorological reporting function of their automatic dependent surveillance system.
The Combination of Curcumin and Salsalate is Superior to Either Agent Alone in Suppressing Pro‐Cancerous Molecular Pathways and Colorectal Tumorigenesis in Obese Mice
Authors: Wu Xian , Koh Gar Yee , Huang Yueyi , Crott Jimmy W. , Bronson Roderick T. , Mason Joel B.
Published: January 2019

Scope

High‐fat diets (HFDs) and adiposity increase colorectal cancer risk, in part by elevating pro‐inflammatory cytokines that activate pro‐cancerous signaling pathways. Curcumin (CUR), a dietary polyphenol and salsalate (SAL), an non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) lacking the gastrotoxicity of aspirin, each suppress inflammatory signaling, but via different cellular pathways.

Methods and results

A/J mice (n = 110) are fed a low‐fat diet (LFD, 10% kcal), a HFD (60% kcal), a HFD containing 0.4% CUR, a HFD containing 0.3% SAL, or a HFD containing both agents (CUR/SAL). All mice receive six injections of azoxymethane. Compared to LFD‐fed mice, HFD‐fed mice display elevated colonic cytokines, crypt cell proliferation, and increased tumorigenesis (p < 0.05). CUR/SAL significantly reduces colonic cytokines (p < 0.01), suppresses activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF‐κB/Wnt pathways (p < 0.01), activates AMPK (p < 0.01), attenuates abnormal proliferation of the colonic mucosa (p < 0.05), and reduces tumor multiplicity and burden (p < 0.05), in comparison to the HFD control. In contrast, CUR or SAL alone does not suppress abnormal crypt cell proliferation or tumor multiplicity, and is largely ineffective in modifying activation of these signaling pathways.

Conclusion

These observations demonstrate the superiority of the CUR/SAL over the individual agents and provide a scientific basis for future translational studies in obese subjects and/or those habitually consuming HFDs.
NMR‐based differentiation of conventionally from organically produced chicken eggs in Germany
Authors: Ackermann Svenja M. , Lachenmeier Dirk W. , Kuballa Thomas , Schütz Birk , Spraul Manfred , Bunzel Mirko
Published: January 2019

Both the German and European organic food markets are growing fast, and there is also a rising demand for organic chicken eggs. Consumers are willing to pay higher prices for organic eggs produced in an animal‐appropriate environment considering animal welfare. Strict labelling requirements do not prevent chicken eggs from being a subject of food fraud. Conventionally produced (barn/free‐range) eggs can easily be mislabeled as organic eggs. Especially because the demand for organically produced chicken eggs is likely to exceed supply in the future, mislabeling appears to be a realistic scenario. Therefore, there is a need for analytical methods that are suitable to classify eggs as being either conventionally or organically produced.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariate data analysis is a suitable tool to screen eggs according to the different systems of husbandry. Sample preparation is based on a fat extraction method, which was optimised for application to freeze‐dried egg yolk. Samples were analysed using typical q‐NMR parameters.

A nontargeted approach was used for the analysis of the 1H NMR data. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied followed by a linear discriminant analysis (PCA‐LDA) and Monte Carlo cross‐validation. In total, 344 chicken eggs (214 barn/free‐range eggs and 130 eggs from organic farms), most of them originating from Germany, were used to build and validate the prediction model. The results showed that the prediction model allowed for the correct classification of about 93% of the organic eggs.
Slovenia: Interest group developments in a postsocialist‐liberal democracy
Authors: Novak Meta , Fink‐Hafner Danica
Published: January 2019

Slovenia has a rich tradition of associations and interest group activity dating back to the 19th century. To some extent, the development of the group system was stymied by the 60 years of authoritarian rule from the early 1930s to the late 1980s. However, the resilience of this tradition is evident in major developments in group activity since the return to democracy. In addition to influences from the past, including a neocorporatist tradition, is the impact of Slovenia's process of integration into the European Union. This article considers the extent to which the modern nature of the interest group system is both constrained by hangovers from the past but enhances by European integration, both of which have affected the development of Slovenia's majoritarian democracy.
Hepatitis C virus infection induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in human fetal liver stem cells
Authors: Guo Xuan , Liu Wei‐Li , Yang Dong , Shen Zhi‐Qiang , Qiu Zhi‐Gang , Jin Min , Li Jun‐Wen
Published: January 2019

The cellular mechanisms by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication might mediate cytopathic effects are controversial and not entirely clear. In this study, we found that blood‐borne HCV (bbHCV) infection could lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐stress and mitochondria‐related/caspase‐dependent apoptosis at the early stages of infection based on use of the highly efficient bbHCV cell culture model established previously. Sections of bbHCV‐infected human fetal liver stem cells (hFLSCs) revealed convolution and nonlinear ER, cell vacuolization, swelling of mitochondria, and numerous double membrane vesicles (DMVs). The percentage of apoptotic hFLSCs infected by bbHCV reached 29.8% at 16 h postinfection, and the amount of cytochrome c increased remarkably in the cytosolic protein fraction. However, over time, apoptosis was inhibited due to the activation of NF‐κB. The expression of NF‐κB‐p65, Bcl‐xL, XIAP, and c‐FLIPL in hFLSCs was increased significantly 24 h after in infection by bbHCV. The accelerated cell death cycles involving apoptosis, regeneration and repair by bbHCV infection might give rise to the development of cirrhosis, and ultimately to hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The innate immune architecture of lung tumors and its implication in disease progression
Authors: Milette Simon , Fiset Pierre O , Walsh Logan A , Spicer Jonathan D , Quail Daniela F
Published: January 2019

Lung malignancies are the leading cause of cancer‐related mortality. By virtue of its unique physiological function, the lung microenvironment is highly dynamic and constantly subjected to mechanical, chemical and pathogenic stimuli. Thus, the airways rely on highly organized innate defense mechanisms to rapidly protect against pathogens and maintain pulmonary homeostasis. However, in the context of lung malignancy, these defenses often provide collateral inflammatory insults that can foster tumor progression. This review summarizes the interactions between cancer cells, recruited immune cells and tissue‐resident cell subpopulations, such as airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages, during homeostasis and disease. Furthermore, we examine the role of the lung immune landscape in response to current therapeutic interventions for cancer. Given the prevalence of lung malignancies, we propose that consideration of lung physiology as a whole is necessary to understand and treat these lethal diseases. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanical performance of thermoplastic olefin composites reinforced with coir and sisal natural fibers: Influence of surface pretreatment
Authors: Pereira João F. , Ferreira Diana P. , Bessa João , Matos Joana , Cunha Fernando , Araújo Isabel , Silva Luís F. , Pinho Elizabete , Fangueiro Raul
Published: January 2019

In this research, composites based on thermoplastic olefin (TPO) elastomers reinforced with natural fibers were developed, having had very interesting results, aiming toward an application in the automotive industry, for manufacturing car interior components. For the first time, sisal and coir fibers were used as reinforcement of TPO composites. The best‐performing samples have had a successfully reduced maximum elongation and improved both maximum stress and Young's modulus values. Different compositions were studied regarding several parameters: type of fiber (coir or sisal treated and nontreated), coupling agent presence (maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene [MAPP]) and fiber content. Overall, the presence of fibers has had a clear positive impact on the composites' mechanical properties, enhanced by the presence of MAPP, mostly when using 4% (w/w) of fiber content. The fibers' surface treatment was especially important in this work, enabling the evaluation of the fibers' alkali treatment's influence in the final mechanical properties of the composites. The treatment successfully removed some of the most hydrophobic constituents of the natural fibers, like lignin, improving the possibility of a better adhesion of the fibers to the matrix. Finally, the mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated, and it was concluded that the alkali pretreatment had a very positive effect on several of them, aided by the presence of MAPP. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3472–3481, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Modeling interaction between gp120 HIV protein and CCR5 receptor
Authors: Guryanov I. , Real‐Fernández F. , Sabatino G. , Prisco N. , Korzhikov‐Vlakh V. , Biondi B. , Papini A.M. , Korzhikova‐Vlakh E. , Rovero P. , Tennikova T.
Published: January 2019

The study of the process of HIV entry into the host cell and the creation of biomimetic nanosystems that are able to selectively bind viral particles and proteins is a high priority research area for the development of novel diagnostic tools and treatment of HIV infection. Recently, we described multilayer nanoparticles (nanotraps) with heparin surface and cationic peptides comprising the N‐terminal tail (Nt) and the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of CCR5 receptor, which could bind with high affinity some inflammatory chemokines, in particular, Rantes. Because of the similarity of the binding determinants in CCR5 structure, both for chemokines and gp120 HIV protein, here we expand this approach to the study of the interactions of these biomimetic nanosystems and their components with the peptide representing the V3 loop of the activated form of gp120. According to surface plasmon resonance results, a conformational rearrangement is involved in the process of V3 and CCR5 fragments binding. As in the case of Rantes, ECL2 peptide showed much higher affinity to V3 peptide than Nt (KD = 3.72 × 10−8 and 1.10 × 10−6 M, respectively). Heparin‐covered nanoparticles bearing CCR5 peptides effectively bound V3 as well. The presence of both heparin and the peptides in the structure of the nanotraps was shown to be crucial for the interaction with the V3 loop. Thus, short cationic peptides ECL2 and Nt proved to be excellent candidates for the design of CCR5 receptor mimetics.
Radiation, surface temperature and evaporation over wet surfaces
Authors: Yang Yuting , Roderick Michael L.
Published: January 2019

Predicting evaporation from wet surfaces (water, wet soil and canopy surfaces) has long been of major interest in hydrological, meteorological and agricultural communities. In practical applications of the existing models/theories of wet surface evaporation (e.g. the Priestley–Taylor model), net radiation (Rn) and/or surface temperature (Ts; or near‐surface air temperature) are considered to be independent external forcings that determine the evaporation rate. However, neither Rn nor Ts are independent of evaporation, since Rn directly depends on Ts via the outgoing long‐wave radiation. In this study, we use monthly data for the global ocean to investigate the relation between radiation, evaporation and surface temperature. We use a new theoretical formulation to show that as Ts increases, a greater fraction of Rn is partitioned to evaporation (i.e. higher evaporative fraction) but Rn declines because of an increase in outgoing long‐wave radiation. The consequence is that a maximum evaporation rate emerges naturally from that trade‐off. We find that this maximum corresponds to the actual evaporation over global ocean surfaces at both local and global scales. In addition, the maximum in evaporation defines a Ts that corresponds to independent estimates of sea‐surface temperature. These results suggest that the concept of maximum evaporation reported here is a natural attribute of an extensive wet evaporating surface.
Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (CWAO) of Phenol in a Fixed Bed Reactor Using Supported Ru and Ru‐Au Catalysts: Effect of Gold and Ce Loading
Authors: Izquierdo‐Colorado Armando , Torres‐Torres Gilberto , Gamboa‐Rodríguez María Teresa , Silahua‐Pavón Adib Abiu , Arévalo‐Pérez Juan C. , Cervantes‐Uribe Adrián , Cordero‐García Adrián , Beltramini Jorge N.
Published: January 2019

Catalysts of Ru and Ru−Au prepared by the wet impregnation and Deposition‐Precipitation methods supported on ZrO2 modified by CeO2(10 and 20 wt%) synthetized by sol‐gel method, in order to study Au and CeO2 addition effect in the catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol, carried out in an automatized continuous fixed‐bed reactor using oxygen as an oxidizing source. Characterizations of the catalysts were made by X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Specific Surface Area (BET), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Ultraviolet–visible Spectroscopy (UV‐vis) and Temperature Programmed Desorption of Ammonia (NH3‐TPD). The effect of Au is reflected in the selectivity to CO2 of the catalysts Ru‐ZrO2 and Ru−Au‐ZrO2 with the increase in selectivity from 89 to 95% related to the increase in acidity which increases from 70 to 102 (μmol of NH3/ gCat). Ce loading effect in this case was important to the enhance the CO2 selectivity explained by the formation of Ce4+‐O2−‐M that could favor the oxygen transfer between the catalyst surface and the adsorbed species by a redox mechanism.
Preparation and Characterization of Erythritol/Graphene Oxide Shape‐Stable Composites with Improved Thermal‐Physical Property
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Zhengfei , Zhang Ting , Qin Ziyi , Zhang Deyi , Ji Hui
Published: January 2019

In order to improve thermal‐physical properties of erythritol (ET), two kinds of shape‐stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) were fabricated and the effects of graphene oxide (GO), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on supercooling degree and heat release performance of ET were discussed. The results revealed that the encapsulated ET displays excellent shape stability and slightly improved thermal‐physical performance, while the capsules containing 0.7 wt% CMC exhibit significant enhancement in thermal‐physical properties. The optimal composites, with ET content as high as 97 wt%, melt at 121.9 °C with latent heat of 316.8 J g−1 and freeze at 104.0 °C with enthalpy of 295.1 J g−1. The heat release percentage increased to 93.2% and the supercooling degree decreased to 17.9 °C due to the heterogeneous nucleation of GO and the inhibition of CMC on components separation. Also, the two composites present similar core–shell‐like structure, excellent thermal reliability and stability during repeated utilization. In a word, GO can be used as shell to improve thermal conductivity and prevent leakage while CMC can be employed to relax the supercooling degree of ET.
3D Laser Scribed Graphene Derived from Carbon Nanospheres: An Ultrahigh‐Power Electrode for Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Lei Yongjiu , Jiang Qiu , Ming Fangwang , Costa Pedro M. F. J. , Alshareef Husam N.
Published: January 2019

Laser scribed graphene (LSG) electrodes hold great potential as supercapacitor electrodes. However, the rate performance of LSGs has been limited by the micropore‐dominated electrode structure. Here, a new method is proposed to prepare LSG electrodes with a 3D porous framework dominated by meso‐ and macro‐pores, a property that enables exceptional rate performance. The process uses amorphous carbon nanospheres (CNS) as precursors, which, after laser scribing, are transformed into highly turbostratic graphitic carbon electrodes (henceforth denoted as CNS‐LSG) with a 3D framework structure dominated by meso‐ and macro‐pores. When used as electrodes in conventional supercapacitor devices, the CNS‐LSG electrodes exhibit a high volumetric power density of 28 W cm−3, which is 28 times higher than that of current commercial activated carbon supercapacitors, and is the highest among all the reported laser scribed/induced graphene electrodes.
Preparation and evaluation of partially‐substituted 3‐chloro‐4‐methylphenylcarbamate‐β‐cyclodextrin bonded silica particles as chiral stationary phase for multi‐mode HPLC
Authors: Meng Min , Ma Mingxuan , Yi Jingxuan , Xu Lu , Yin Xiaoxing , Gu Qinglong , Yin Jiale , Du Lei , Zhu Xia , Zhou Xueyan , Wei Qunli , Gong Yinhan
Published: January 2019

3‐Chloro‐4‐methylphenylcarbamate‐(3‐(2‐O‐β‐cyclodextrin)‐2‐hydroxypropoxy)‐propylsilyl‐appended silica particles (CMP‐CD‐HPS), a new type of partially‐substituted cyclodextrin‐bonded phase, have been successfully synthesized and applied as a chiral stationary phase in high‐performance liquid chromatography under multi‐mode conditions including normal phase, reversed phase, and polar organic mobile phase conditions. Chemical characterization for the CMP‐CD‐HPS was carried out by elemental analysis. The chromatographic performance of CMP‐CD‐HPS‐packed column was evaluated by separating the positional isomers of nitrophenol and nitraniline and the enantiomers of some chiral drug compounds. The separation results show that CMP‐CD‐HPS exhibited excellent selectivity for separating the positional isomers of disubstituted benzenes and the enantiomers of the chiral drugs. The hydroxyl residues of partially‐substituted β‐cyclodextrin and the stable spacer linking to secondary hydroxyl site of the β‐cyclodextrin in the new CMP‐CD‐HPS phase play important roles in the chromatographic separations.
CRX Expression in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptors Marks a Transplantable Subpopulation of Early Cones
Authors: Collin Joseph , Zerti Darin , Queen Rachel , Santos-Ferreira Tiago , Bauer Roman , Coxhead Jonathan , Hussain Rafiqul , Steel David , Mellough Carla , Ader Marius , Sernagor Evelyne , Armstrong Lyle , Lako Majlinda
Published: January 2019

Death of photoreceptors is a common cause of age-related and inherited retinal dystrophies, and thus their replenishment from renewable stem cell sources is a highly desirable therapeutic goal. Human pluripotent stem cells provide a useful cell source in view of their limitless self-renewal capacity and potential to not only differentiate into cells of the retina but also self-organize into tissue with structure akin to the human retina as part of three-dimensional retinal organoids. Photoreceptor precursors have been isolated from differentiating human pluripotent stem cells through application of cell surface markers or fluorescent reporter approaches and shown to have a similar transcriptome to fetal photoreceptors. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional profile of CRX-expressing photoreceptor precursors derived from human pluripotent stem cells and their engraftment capacity in an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa (Pde6brd1), which is characterized by rapid photoreceptor degeneration. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis revealed the presence of a dominant cell cluster comprising 72% of the cells, which displayed the hallmarks of early cone photoreceptor expression. When transplanted subretinally into the Pde6brd1 mice, the CRX+ cells settled next to the inner nuclear layer and made connections with the inner neurons of the host retina, and approximately one-third of them expressed the pan cone marker, Arrestin 3, indicating further maturation upon integration into the host retina. Together, our data provide valuable molecular insights into the transcriptional profile of human pluripotent stem cells-derived CRX+ photoreceptor precursors and indicate their usefulness as a source of transplantable cone photoreceptors. Stem Cells  2019;37:609–622
Optimum design of multiple positioned tuned mass dampers for structures constrained with axial force capacity
Authors: Nigdeli Sinan Melih , Bekdaş Gebrail
Published: January 2019

The stories of structure may have different and limited axial force capacity. In order to passively control the translational movement of structures, a tuned mass damper (TMD) positioned on a story may cause to exceed axial force capacity of a story. The optimum performance is achieved when all additional masses are positioned on the top story. Whereas, the top stories of structure may be constructed with lower axial force capacity than the lower stories. In that case, the maximum allowed TMD mass for upper stories may be low. In that situation, several TMDs may be positioned on several stories. In the current study, the optimum tuning of TMDs positioned on multiple stories of structure is investigated. By using small masses, it is also possible to obtain effective passive control with dampers that have small damping coefficients comparing with a single TMD on the top of the structure. The design variables of the optimization problem such as the period and damping ratio of TMD are tuned according to a metaheuristic algorithm called flower pollination algorithm. The TMD is optimized for near‐fault excitations by using impulsive motions during the optimization process. The proposal was applied to four case studies. According to the results, the multiple positioned TMDs may be a practical and effective option comparing with the use of a single heavy TMDs on the top of a structure.
Web‐based evaluation system for closing the education gap in Kampo medicine between facilities
Authors: Iizuka Norio , Nakae Hajime , Segawa Makoto , Tanaka Koichiro , Fujita Yusuke , Ogihara Hiroyuki , Nakahara Kyoko , Takeo Eiichiro , Itasaka Kazumasa , Hasunuma Naoko , Hamamoto Yoshihiko
Published: January 2019

Aim

The aim of this study was to clarify whether the common three‐question test works well in assessing learning effectiveness in medical students (MS) who took heterogeneous programs in kampo medicine (KM) education in Japan.

Methods

We performed Web‐based tests composed of the three common and other questions at two medical universities with different KM education programs. We examined performance of the common three‐question test in the assessment of learning effectiveness.

Results

In total, 105 and 123 fourth‐year MS took the Web‐based test after KM education at universities A and B, respectively. MS with total scores higher than the mean + 1 SD (n = 19) and those with total scores lower than the mean – 1 SD (n = 11) on the Web‐based tests were defined as high and low achievers, respectively, at university A. Likewise, 25 and 19 MS were defined as high or low achievers, respectively, at university B. The predictor, consisting of the three common questions, classified MS as high achievers if they correctly answered two or three of the three common questions, and as low achievers if they gave only one or no correct answers. The predictor accurately classified high and low achievers in 30/30 (accuracy, 100%; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 100%) and in 36/44 cases (accuracy, 81.8%; sensitivity, 96.0%; specificity, 63.1%) at universities A and B, respectively.

Conclusion

A test composed of only three common questions could consistently assess the effectiveness of different education programs for KM at two medical universities.
A Water Stable CdII‐based Metal‐Organic Framework as a Multifunctional Sensor for Selective Detection of Cu2+ and Cr2O72– Ions
Authors: Hu Chang‐Jiang , Yu Li , Dong Wen‐Wen , Wu Ya‐Pan , Li Dong‐Sheng , Zhao Jun
Published: January 2019

A water stable tetrazolate‐containing metal‐organic framework, [Cd2(L)(OH)(H2O)2]n (1) [H3L = 5‐(4‐(tetrazol‐5‐yl)phenyl)isophthalic acid], was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compound 1 displays a three dimensional porous network with one dimensional tubular channels based on trinuclear cluster [Cd3(μ3‐OH)N4C] units. Notably, 1 exhibits highly sensitive response to Cu2+ and Cr2O72– through luminescence quenching effects with the detection limit of 0.666 ppm for Cu2+ and 0.846 ppm for Cr2O72–, respectively. The possible mechanism of the luminescence quenching was discussed in detail.
Gravitational production of super-Hubble-mass particles: an analytic approach
Authors: Chung Daniel J. H. , Kolb Edward W. , Long Andrew J.
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Through a mechanism similar to perturbative particle scattering, particles of mass m

χ
larger than the Hubble expansion rate H
inf during inflation can be gravitationally produced at the end of inflation without the exponential suppression powers of exp(−m

χ

/H
inf ). Here we develop an analytic formalism for computing particle production for such massive particles. We apply our formalism to specific models that have been previously been studied only numerically, and we find that our analytical approximations reproduce those numerical estimates well.
Spinning faster: protein NMR at MAS frequencies up to 126 kHz
Authors: Penzel Susanne , Oss Andres , Org Mai-Liis , Samoson Ago , Böckmann Anja , Ernst Matthias , Meier Beat H.
Published: January 2019

We report linewidth and proton T1, T1ρ and T2′ relaxation data of the model protein ubiquitin acquired at MAS frequencies up to 126 kHz. We find a predominantly linear improvement in linewidths and coherence decay times of protons with increasing spinning frequency in the range from 93 to 126 kHz. We further attempt to gain insight into the different contributions to the linewidth at fast MAS using site-specific analysis of proton relaxation parameters and present bulk relaxation times as a function of the MAS frequency. For microcrystalline fully-protonated ubiquitin, inhomogeneous contributions are only a minor part of the proton linewidth, and at 126 kHz MAS coherent effects are still dominating. We furthermore present site-specific proton relaxation rate constants during a spinlock at 126 kHz MAS, as well as MAS-dependent bulk T1ρ (1HN).
Possibility of Strengthening Aluminum Using Low-Symmetry Phases of the Fe-Al Binary System
Authors: Ciołek Sylwia , Jóźwiak Stanisław , Karczewski Krzysztof
Published: January 2019

This study analyzes the effects of manufacturing parameters such as the temperature and heating time on the shape and size of high-aluminum-phase precipitates produced from a 95.5 wt pct Al and 4.5 wt pct Fe powder mixture. The samples were prepared by powder metallurgy, and the changes in the heat flux during the simulation of the sintering process by differential thermal analysis were recorded to determine the temperature of the transformation. To identify the resulting structures, microscopic observations (scanning electron microscope) and chemical composition analyses were performed simultaneously. The distribution and shape of the resulting high-aluminum-phase precipitates were determined. Microhardness measurements were also performed, and Meyer’s law and Kick’s similarity law were applied to the results to analyze the influence of the high-aluminum phases on the reinforcement of the aluminum matrix.
Adherence to Guidelines at a Stroke Prevention Clinic: A Follow-up Study
Authors: Chen Bing Yu , Perkins Heather , Ehrensperger Eric , Minuk Jeffrey , Vieira Lucy , Wein Theodore , Côté Robert
Published: January 2019

Background

In 2010, we published our stroke prevention clinic’s performance as compared to Canadian stroke prevention guidelines. We now compare our clinic’s adherence with guidelines to our previous results, following the implementation of an electronic documentation form.

Methods

All new patients referred to our clinic (McGill University Health Center) for recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke between 2014 and 2017 were included. We compared adherence to guidelines to our previous report (N=408 patients for period 2008–2010) regarding vascular risk management and treatment.

Results

Three hundred and ninety-two patients were included, of which 36% had a TIA and 64% had an ischemic stroke, with a mean age of 70 years and 43% female. Although the more recent cohort has shown a higher proportion of cardioembolic stroke compared to previous (19.1% vs. 14.7%) following new guidelines regarding prolonged cardiac monitoring, increased popularity in CT angiography has not translated into greater proportion of large-artery stroke subtype (26.3% vs. 26.2%). Blood pressure (BP) targets were achieved in 83% compared with 70% in our previous report (p<0.01). Attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target was also improved in our recent study (66% vs. 46%, p<0.01). No significant difference was found in the consistency of antithrombotic use (97.7% vs. 99.8%, p=0.08). However, there was a decline in smoking cessation (35% vs. 73%, p=0.02). Overall, optimal therapy status was better attained in the present cohort compared to the previous one (52% vs. 22%, p<0.01). The male sex was associated with better attainment of optimal therapy status (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–2.51). The number of follow-up visits and the length of follow-up were not associated with attainment of stroke prevention targets.

Conclusions

Our study shows improvement in attainment of therapeutic goals as recommended by Canadian stroke prevention guidelines, possibly attributed in part to the implementation of electronic medical recording in our clinic. Areas for improvement include smoking cessation counseling and diabetes screening.
Nutrients in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Interaction of Diet, Drugs and Disease
Authors: Liyanage S. Imindu , Vilekar Prachi , Weaver Donald F.
Published: January 2019

In recent decades, clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have failed at an unprecedented rate. The etiology of AD has since come under renewed scrutiny, both to elucidate the underlying pathologies and to identify novel therapeutic strategies. Here, diet has emerged as a potential causative/protective agent. A variety of nutrients, including lipids, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and sugars as well as broader dietary patterns and microbiotal interactions have demonstrated associations with AD. Although clinical trials have yet to definitively implicate any singular dietary element as therapeutic or causative, it is apparent that dietary preferences, likely in complex synergies, may influence the risk, onset and course of AD. This review catalogs the impact of major dietary elements on AD. It further examines an unexplored reciprocal association where AD may modulate diet, as well as how potential therapeutics may complicate these interactions. In doing so, we observe diet may have profound effects on the outcome of a clinical trial, either as a confounder of a drug/disease interaction or as a generally disruptive covariate. We therefore conclude that future clinical trials in AD should endeavor to control for diet, either in study design or subsequent analyses.
Shock formation in two-layer equal-density viscous gravity currents
Authors: Dauck Tim-Frederik , Box Finn , Gell Laura , Neufeld Jerome A. , Lister John R.
Published: January 2019

The flow of a viscous gravity current over a lubricating layer of fluid is modelled using lubrication theory. We study the case of an axisymmetric current with constant influx which allows for a similarity solution, which depends on three parameters: a non-dimensional influx rate ${\mathcal{Q}}$; a viscosity ratio $m$ between the lower and upper layer fluid; and a relative density difference $\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}$. The limit of equal densities $\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}=0$ is singular, as the interfacial evolution equation changes nature from parabolic to hyperbolic. Theoretical analysis of this limit reveals that a discontinuity, or shock, in the interfacial height forms above a critical viscosity ratio $m_{crit}=3/2$, i.e. for a sufficiently less viscous upper-layer fluid. The physical mechanism for shock formation is described, which is based on advective steepening of the interface between the two fluids and relies on the lack of a contribution to the pressure gradient from the interfacial slope for equal-density fluids. In the limit of small but non-zero density differences, local travelling-wave solutions are found which regularise the singular structure of a potential shock and lead to a constraint on the possible shock heights in the form of an Oleinik entropy condition. Calculation of a simplified time-dependent system reveals the appropriate boundary conditions for the late-time similarity solution, which includes a shock at the nose of the current for $m>3/2$. The numerically calculated similarity solutions compare well to experimental measurements with respect to the predictions of self-similarity, the radial extent and the self-similar top-surface shapes of the current.
Direct numerical simulation of turbulence over systematically varied irregular rough surfaces
Authors: Kuwata Y. , Kawaguchi Y.
Published: January 2019

Lattice Boltzmann direct numerical simulation of turbulent open-channel flows over randomly distributed hemispheres at $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}=600$ is carried out to reveal the influence of roughness parameters related to a probability density function of rough-surface elevation on turbulence by analysing the spatial and Reynolds- (double-) averaged Navier–Stokes equation. This study specifically concentrates on the influence of the root-mean-square roughness and the skewness, and profiles of turbulence statistics are compared by introducing an effective wall-normal distance defined as a wall-normal integrated plane porosity. The effective distance can completely collapse the total shear stress outside the roughness sublayer, and thus the similarity of the streamwise mean velocity is clearer by introducing the effective distance. In order to examine the influence of the root-mean-square roughness and the skewness on dynamical effects that contribute to an increase in the skin friction coefficient, the triple-integrated double-averaged Navier–Stokes equation is analysed. The main contributors to the skin friction coefficient are found to be turbulence and drag force. The turbulence contribution increases with the root-mean-square roughness and/or the skewness. The drag force contribution, on the other hand, increases in particular with the root-mean-square roughness whereas an increase in the skewness does not increase the drag force contribution because it does not necessarily increase the surface area of the roughness elements. The contribution of the mean velocity dispersion induced by spatial inhomogeneity of the rough surfaces substantially increases with the root-mean-square roughness. A linear correlation is confirmed between the root-mean-square roughness and the equivalent roughness while the equivalent roughness monotonically increases with the skewness. A new correlation function based on the root-mean-square roughness and the skewness is developed with the available experimental and direct numerical simulation data, and it is confirmed that the developed correlation reasonably predicts the equivalent roughness of various types of real rough surfaces.
The regulatory space of equality and human rights in Britain: the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Authors: Barrett David
Published: January 2019

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was created in 2006 with wide-ranging powers to protect human rights, promote equal opportunities and encourage mutual respect between different groups. Alongside the Commission, individuals through the courts, and sector-specific enforcers (such as ombudsmen and regulators) have also been given equality and human rights enforcement powers. Within this enforcement landscape, the Commission has struggled to craft an enforcement role for itself. For the first time, this paper, through the mapping of these different actors in their shared regulatory space, outlines a role for the Commission in equality and human rights enforcement. This role consists of three primary tasks: (i) taking action that courts and sector-specific enforcers are unable to perform; (ii) overcoming some of the limitations of private enforcement in the courts; and (iii) coordinating and supporting sector-specific enforcers. The paper concludes by exploring how the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) can effectively fulfil this role.
Existence and non-existence of minimal graphic and p-harmonic functions
Authors: Casteras Jean-Baptiste , Heinonen Esko , Holopainen Ilkka
Published: January 2019

We prove that every entire solution of the minimal graph equation that is bounded from below and has at most linear growth must be constant on a complete Riemannian manifold M with only one end if M has asymptotically non-negative sectional curvature. On the other hand, we prove the existence of bounded non-constant minimal graphic and p-harmonic functions on rotationally symmetric Cartan-Hadamard manifolds under optimal assumptions on the sectional curvatures.
Neuropsychological Characteristics of the Confusional State Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Keelan Rachel E. , Mahoney Elaine J. , Sherer Mark , Hart Tessa , Giacino Joseph , Bodien Yelena G. , Nakase-Richardson Risa , Dams-O’Connor Kristen , Novack Thomas A. , Vanderploeg Rodney D.
Published: January 2019

Objectives: Individuals with moderate–severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience a transitory state of impaired consciousness and confusion often called posttraumatic confusional state (PTCS). This study examined the neuropsychological profile of PTCS. Methods: Neuropsychometric profiles of 349 individuals in the TBI Model Systems National Database were examined 4 weeks post-TBI (±2 weeks). The PTCS group was subdivided into Low (n=46) and High Performing PTCS (n=45) via median split on an orientation/amnesia measure, and compared to participants who had emerged from PTCS (n=258). Neuropsychological patterns were examined using multivariate analyses of variance and mixed model analyses of covariance. Results: All groups were globally impaired, but severity differed across groups (F(40,506)=3.44; p<.001; ŋp2 =.206). Rate of forgetting (memory consolidation) was impaired in all groups, but failed to differentiate them (F(4,684)=0.46; p=.762). In contrast, executive memory control was significantly more impaired in PTCS groups than the emerged group: Intrusion errors: F(2,343)=8.78; p<.001; ŋp2=.049; False positive recognition errors: F(2,343)=3.70; p<.05; ŋp2=.021. However, non-memory executive control and other executive memory processes did not differentiate those in versus emerged from PTCS. Conclusions: Executive memory control deficits in the context of globally impaired cognition characterize PTCS. This pattern differentiates individuals in and emerged from PTCS during the acute recovery period following TBI. (JINS, 2019, 25, 302–313)
Discretionary intake among Australian adults: prevalence of intake, top food groups, time of consumption and its association with sociodemographic, lifestyle and adiposity measures
Authors: Fayet-Moore Flavia , McConnell Andrew , Cassettari Tim , Tuck Kate , Petocz Peter , Kim Jean
Published: January 2019

Objective

To profile discretionary food and beverage (DF) consumption among Australian adults.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis. Dietary and sociodemographic data were used to profile DF intake. Prevalence of DF consumption, DF servings (1 serving=600 kJ), nutrient contribution from DF and top DF food groups by self-reported eating occasions were determined. DF consumers (>0 g) were classified according to quartile of DF intake and general linear models adjusted for age and sex were used to determine associations.

Setting

2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS).

Participants

Adults aged ≥19 years (n 9341) who participated in the NNPAS 2011–12.

Results

Most adults consumed DF (98 %) and over 60 % exceeded 3 DF servings/d, with a mean of 5·0 (se 0·0) DF servings/d. Cakes, muffins, scones, cake-type desserts contributed the most DF energy (8·4 %) of all food groups, followed by wines (8·1 %), pastries (8·0 %) and beers (6·1 %), with all these food groups consumed in large portions (2·3–3·0 DF servings). Lunch and dinner together contributed 45 % of total DF energy intake. High DF consumers had an average of 10 DF servings, and this group contained more younger adults, males, low socio-economic status, lower usual fruit intake and higher mean waist circumference, but not higher BMI.

Conclusions

A focus on DF consumed in large portions at lunch and dinner may help improve interventions aimed at reducing DF intake and addressing negative adiposity-related measures found in high DF consumers.