bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiohepatic interactions in heart failure: clinical and therapeutic implications
Authors: Nikolaou M. , Mebazaa A.
Published: October 2017

Liver involvement in chronic heart failure has long been recognized and reflects the systemic hemodynamic changes that occur during the evolution of heart failure syndrome. Apart from venous congestion and backward failure, other fundamental mechanisms also exist such as decreased hepatic blood flow, decreased arterial saturation, and sinusoidal thrombosis. In the acute setting, the decrease in cardiac output, accompanied by severe and profound hypotension is the main cause of acute liver injury, whereas increased venous pressure also plays an important role. The biochemical dominance of a cholestatic profile is rather related to congestion and increased systemic venous pressures, whereas the hepatotoxic profile is rather related to hypoperfusion.

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[(CH3)3NH]3Bi2I9: A Polar Lead‐Free Hybrid Perovskite‐Like Material as a Potential Semiconducting Absorber
Authors: Zhang Jing , Han Shiguo , Ji Chengmin , Zhang Weichuan , Wang Yuyin , Tao Kewen , Sun Zhihua , Luo Junhua
Published: October 2017

Perovskite hybrids of lead organometal halides, most notably CH3NH3PbI3, have shown extremely promising applications in the field of optoelectronics, because of their remarkable semiconducting and light‐absorbing properties. However, two key issues—the toxicity of lead and the poor ambient instabilities—have restrained their further commercialization. Herein, we have designed a new stable polar lead‐free hybrid material by utilizing the strategy of cation substitution, [(CH3)3N]3Bi2I9 (1), which adopts the 0D inorganic perovskite‐like architecture by face‐sharing BiI6 octahedra. It is interesting that 1 displays excellent absorbing properties with a narrow optical band gap of ≈2.0 eV, and positive temperature‐dependent conductivity confirms its semiconducting behaviors. In addition, 1 has good phase stability against decomposition under ambient conditions, much superior to that of CH3NH3PbI3. This work suggests the potential of 1 as a lead‐free semiconducting absorber with high phase stability for photoelectric applications.
Peroxidase‐Mimicking Nanozyme with Enhanced Activity and High Stability Based on Metal–Support Interactions
Authors: Li Zhihao , Yang Xiangdong , Yang Yanbing , Tan Yaning , He Yue , Liu Meng , Liu Xinwen , Yuan Quan
Published: October 2017

Peroxidase‐mimicking nanozymes offer unique advantages in terms of high stability and low cost over natural peroxidase for applications in bioanalysis, biomedicine, and the treatment of pollution. However, the design of high‐efficiency peroxidase‐mimicking nanozymes remains a great challenge. In this study, we adopted a structural‐design approach through hybridization of cube‐CeO2 and Pt nanoparticles to create a new peroxidase‐mimicking nanozyme with high efficiency and excellent stability. Relative to pure cube‐CeO2 and Pt nanoparticles, the as‐hybridized Pt/cube‐CeO2 nanocomposites display much improved activities because of the strong metal–support interaction. Meanwhile, the nanocomposites also maintain high catalytic activity after long‐term storage and multiple recycling. Based on their excellent properties, Pt/cube‐CeO2 nanocomposites were used to construct high‐performance colorimetric biosensors for the sensitive detection of metabolites, including H2O2 and glucose. Our findings highlight opportunities for the development of high‐efficiency peroxidase‐mimicking nanozymes with potential applications such as diagnostics, biomedicine, and the treatment of pollution.
C9/12 Ribbon‐Like Structures in Hybrid Peptides Alternating α‐ and Thiazole‐Based γ‐Amino Acids
Authors: Bonnel Clément , Legrand Baptiste , Simon Matthieu , Martinez Jean , Bantignies Jean‐Louis , Kang Young Kee , Wenger Emmanuel , Hoh Francois , Masurier Nicolas , Maillard Ludovic T.
Published: October 2017

According to their restricted conformational freedom, heterocyclic γ‐amino acids are usually considered to be related to Z‐vinylogous γ‐amino acids. In this context, oligomers alternating α‐amino acids and thiazole‐based γ‐amino acids (ATCs) were expected to fold into a canonical 12‐helical shape as described for α/γ‐hybrid peptides composed of cis‐α/β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids. However, through a combination of X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, FTIR experiments, and DFT calculations, it was determined that the folding behavior of ATC‐containing hybrid peptides is much more complex. The homochiral α/(S)‐ATC sequences were unable to adopt a stable conformation, whereas the heterochiral α/(R)‐ATC peptides displayed novel ribbon structures stabilized by unusual C9/12‐bifurcated hydrogen bonds. These ribbon structures could be considered as a succession of pre‐organized γ/α dipeptides and may provide the basis for designing original α‐helix mimics.
Synergistic Hydrogenation over Palladium through the Assembly of MIL‐101(Fe) MOF over Palladium Nanocubes
Authors: Bakuru Vasudeva Rao , Kalidindi Suresh Babu
Published: October 2017

Enhancing catalytic performance of metal nanoparticles is highly sought for many industrial catalytic processes. In this regard, assembly of crystalline porous super‐tunable metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) around preformed metal nanoparticles is an attractive prospect as this strongly influences the activity of the entire nanoparticle surface. Herein, we assembled a MlL‐101(Fe) MOF onto the Pd nanocubes and evaluated the catalytic properties of the hybrid material for the hydrogenation of the α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds cinnamaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, and β‐ionone. Owing to the synergestic effects originating from the Lewis acid sites present on MOF and Pd active sites, striking improvements in the activities and selectivities were observed for the Pd⊂MIL‐101(Fe) hybrid material. The turnover frequency (TOF) values increased up to roughly 20 fold and in all three studied substrates, C=C was preferentially hydrogenated compared to C=O. Furthermore, the Pd⊂MIL‐101(Fe) catalyst was readily reusable and highly stable.
Chemistry and Biology of Teixobactin
Authors: Guo Chuchu , Mandalapu Dhanaraju , Ji Xinjian , Gao Jiangtao , Zhang Qi
Published: October 2017

Bacterial resistance to existing drugs is becoming a serious public health issue, urging extensive search for new antibiotics. Teixobactin, a cyclic depsipeptide discovered in a screen of uncultured bacteria, shows potent activity against all the tested Gram‐positive bacteria. Remarkably, no teixobactin‐resistant bacterial strain has been obtained despite extensive efforts, highlighting the great potential of teixobactin as a lead compound in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This review summarizes recent progresses in the understanding of many aspects of teixobactin, including chemical structure, biological activity, biosynthetic pathway, and mode of action. We also discuss the different synthetic strategies in producing teixobactin and its analogues, and the structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies.
Highly K+‐Selective Fluorescent Probes for Lifetime Sensing of K+ in Living Cells
Authors: Schwarze Thomas , Mertens Monique , Müller Peter , Riemer Janine , Wessig Pablo , Holdt Hans‐Jürgen
Published: October 2017

Invited for the cover of this issue is the groups of Pablo Wessig and Hans‐Jürgen Holdt at the University of Potsdam. The image depicts a fluorescent probe consisting of the highly K+‐selective N‐(o‐isopropoxy)phenylaza‐18‐crown‐6 ionophore and the bright [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐f][1,3]benzodioxole fluorophore. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201703799.
Likelihood inflating sampling algorithm
Authors: Entezari Reihaneh , Craiu Radu V. , Rosenthal Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2017

Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling from a posterior distribution corresponding to a massive data set can be computationally prohibitive as producing one sample requires a number of operations that is linear in the data size. In this article we introduce a new communication‐free parallel method, the “Likelihood Inflating Sampling Algorithm (LISA),” that significantly reduces computational costs by randomly splitting the data set into smaller subsets and running MCMC methods “independently” in parallel on each subset using different processors. Each processor will be used to run an MCMC chain that samples sub‐posterior distributions which are defined using an “inflated” likelihood function. We develop a strategy for combining the draws from different sub‐posteriors to study the full posterior of the Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) model. The performance of the method is tested using simulated data and a large socio‐economic study. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 46: 147–175; 2018 © 2017 Statistical Society of Canada
Identification of vivianite, an unusual blue pigment, in a sixteenth century painting and its implications
Authors: Cruz António João , Eires Erica , Dias Luís , Desterro Teresa , Rego Carla
Published: October 2017

Vivianite, a blue pigment employed in the past practically only in Northern and Central Europe, but with very limited use, was identified in an early sixteenth century painting, stylistically with Flemish features, from a church in Portugal. The identification of this iron phosphate mineral was made by SEM‐EDS based on the atomic ratio between phosphorus and iron in layers of blue paint (area analysis) and in particles of these same layers (spot analysis). This painting, about which there is no document to prove its authorship, becomes the first case, known in detail, of a sixteenth century painting containing vivianite. Moreover, this find and the presence of a chalk ground, also identified, strongly support the hypothesis of being a Flemish painting.
Development of a novel tissue‐mimicking color calibration slide for digital microscopy
Authors: Clarke Emily L. , Revie Craig , Brettle David , Shires Michael , Jackson Peter , Cochrane Ravinder , Wilson Robert , Mello‐Thoms Claudia , Treanor Darren
Published: October 2017

Digital microscopy produces high resolution digital images of pathology slides. Because no acceptable and effective control of color reproduction exists in this domain, there is significant variability in color reproduction of whole slide images. Guidance from international bodies and regulators highlights the need for color standardization. To address this issue, we systematically measured and analyzed the spectra of histopathological stains. This information was used to design a unique color calibration slide utilizing real stains and a tissue‐like substrate, which can be stained to produce the same spectral response as tissue. By closely mimicking the colors in stained tissue, our target can provide more accurate color representation than film‐based targets, whilst avoiding the known limitations of using actual tissue. The application of the color calibration slide in the clinical setting was assessed by conducting a pilot user‐evaluation experiment with promising results. With the imminent integration of digital pathology into the routine work of the diagnostic pathologist, it is hoped that this color calibration slide will help provide a universal color standard for digital microscopy thereby ensuring better and safer healthcare delivery.
The Relative Bioavailability, Food Effect, and Drug Interaction With Omeprazole of Momelotinib Tablet Formulation in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Xin Yan , Shao Lixin , Maltzman Julie , Stefanidis Dimitrios , Hemenway Jeffrey , Tarnowski Thomas , Deng Wei , Silverman Jeffrey A.
Published: October 2017

Momelotinib is a potent and selective small‐molecule inhibitor of JAK1/2 that is under investigation for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. In a phase 1/2 study in myelofibrosis patients, once‐daily dosing of a 300‐mg momelotinib capsule was selected for further development based on a favorable benefit:risk profile. A tablet formulation was recently developed for further clinical evaluation. In this study, the relative bioavailability of the tablet formulation versus the initial capsule formulation and the effect of food and omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics of a single‐dose momelotinib tablet were evaluated in healthy subjects. The momelotinib tablet, 200 mg, provided plasma exposure equivalent to the 300‐mg capsule. Plasma exposure of momelotinib increased less than dose‐proportionally from 100 to 800 mg. Food intake modestly increased Cmax (38% and 28% increase for low‐ and high‐fat meals, respectively) and AUCinf (16% and 28% increase for low‐ and high‐fat meals, respectively) for the momelotinib tablet. Omeprazole reduced the exposure of the momelotinib tablet by 36% for Cmax and 33% for AUCinf. Neither the food effect nor the omeprazole effect on momelotinib exposure was considered clinically meaningful because of the safety and efficacy profile of momelotinib.
In Situ TEM Studies of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials: An Application to Mg‐Doped Zn4Sb3 Alloy
Authors: Ngo Duc‐The , Hung Le Thanh , Van Nong Ngo
Published: October 2017

We demonstrate an advanced approach using state of the art in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the interplay between nanostructures and thermoelectric (TE) properties of high‐performance Mg‐doped Zn4Sb3 TE systems. By using the technique, microstructure and crystal evolutions of TE material have been dynamically captured as a function of temperature from 300 K to 573 K. On heating, we have clearly observed precipitation and growth of a Zn‐rich secondary phase as nanoinclusions in the matrix of primary Zn4Sb3 phase. Elemental mapping by STEM‐EDX spectroscopy reveals enrichment of Zn in the secondary Zn6Sb5 nanoinclusions during the thermal processing without decomposition. Such nanostructures strongly enhances phonon scattering, resulting in a decrease in the thermal conductivity leading to a zT value of 1.4 at 718 K.
Factors Influencing the Mechanical Properties of Formamidinium Lead Halides and Related Hybrid Perovskites
Authors: Sun Shijing , Isikgor Furkan H. , Deng Zeyu , Wei Fengxia , Kieslich Gregor , Bristowe Paul D. , Ouyang Jianyong , Cheetham Anthony K.
Published: October 2017

Invited for this month′s cover is the group of Prof. Tony Cheetham and Dr. Paul Bristowe at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with Dr. Gregor Kieslich at TU Munich and Prof. Jianyong Ouyang at the National University of Singapore. The Cover image shows how the structural–mechanical properties of hybrid perovskites can be determined by using a combination of nanoindentation measurements and crystallographic studies. The Communication itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201700991.
Simple approximate phase cancellation for repetitive control of CVCF PWM inverters
Authors: Li Dapeng , Ye Yongqiang
Published: October 2017

In this paper, a simple approximate phase cancellation repetitive controller is proposed for a constant‐voltage constant‐frequency pulse‐width modulation inverter. The compensator is a linear combination of linear phase compensators, which can better fit the inverse of a plant model phase curve compared with the conventional linear phase compensator. Repetitive controllers with the proposed phase compensator can improve pulse‐width modulation inverter system's stability, tracking accuracy, and error convergence rate. An optimization method is applied to design the parameters of the proposed phase compensation repetitive controller. Analysis and design of the proposed repetitive controller are presented. Furthermore, simulations and experiments are provided to demonstrate the advantages of the approximate phase cancellation repetitive controller design.
Genome comparisons indicate recent transfer ofwRi‐likeWolbachiabetween sister speciesDrosophila suzukiiandD. subpulchrella
Authors: Conner William R. , Blaxter Mark L. , Anfora Gianfranco , Ometto Lino , Rota‐Stabelli Omar , Turelli Michael
Published: October 2017

Wolbachiaendosymbionts may be acquired by horizontal transfer, by introgression through hybridization between closely related species, or by cladogenic retention during speciation. All three modes of acquisition have been demonstrated, but their relative frequency is largely unknown.Drosophila suzukiiand its sister speciesD. subpulchrellaharborWolbachia, denotedwSuz andwSpc, very closely related towRi, identified in California populations ofD. simulans. However, these variants differ in their induced phenotypes:wRi causes significant cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) inD. simulans, butCIhas not been detected inD. suzukiiorD. subpulchrella. Our draft genomes ofwSuz andwSpc contain full‐length copies of 703 of the 734 single‐copy genes found inwRi. Over these coding sequences,wSuz andwSpc differ by only 0.004% (i.e., 28 of 704,883 bp); they are sisters relative towRi, from which each differs by 0.014%–0.015%. Using published data fromD. melanogaster,Nasoniawasps andNomadabees to calibrate relative rates ofWolbachiaversus host nuclear divergence, we conclude thatwSuz andwSpc are too similar—by at least a factor of 100—to be plausible candidates for cladogenic transmission. These threewRi‐likeWolbachia, which differ inCIphenotype in their native hosts, have different numbers of orthologs of genes postulated to contribute toCI; and theCIloci differ at several nucleotides that may account for theCIdifference. We discuss the general problem of distinguishing alternative modes ofWolbachiaacquisition, focusing on the difficulties posed by limited knowledge of variation in absolute and relative rates of molecular evolution for host nuclear genomes, mitochondria, andWolbachia.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Contact Doping Effects in Dinaphthothienothiphene Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: YAMAMOTO RYO , NODA KEI , WADA YASUO , TOYABE TORU
Published: October 2017

Contact doping effects in p‐channel dinaphthothienothiphene (DNTT) thin‐film transistors with a bottom‐gate, top‐contact configuration were investigated with both experimental and numerical approach. Characteristic variation in transistor parameters such as the gate threshold voltage and the field‐effect mobility for devices with various channel lengths was suppressed by the contact doping with tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) as an acceptor dopant. The gate‐voltage dependence of contact resistance and channel resistance was also evaluated separately to examine the contact doping effect in detail. In addition, device simulation considering a Schottky barrier at a metal/semiconductor interface successfully reproduced the experimental current–voltage characteristics by using a hole concentration of the active DNTT layer in the order of 1017 cm−3, which was estimated by capacitance–voltage measurement for a metal/insulator/semiconductor capacitor structure. This study suggests the importance of establishing both the carrier doping and carrier concentration measurements toward realizing practical applications of organic transistors.
Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane‐Derived Building Blocks for Click Chemistry
Authors: Kokhan Serhii O. , Valter Yevheniia B. , Tymtsunik Andriy V. , Komarov Igor V. , Grygorenko Oleksandr O.
Published: October 2017

Syntheses of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane‐derived azides and terminal alkynes – interesting substrates for click reactions – are described. With a few exceptions, these compounds were prepared in two or three steps starting from common synthetic intermediates – the corresponding carboxylic acids. The key step in the synthesis of 1‐azidobicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes is a copper‐catalysed diazo‐transfer reaction with imidazole‐1‐sulfonyl azide. The preparation of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl‐substituted alkynes relies on a Seyferth–Gilbert homologation with dimethyl 1‐diazo‐2‐oxopropylphosphonate (Ohira–Bestmann reagent). Both types of target compounds were found to be suitable substrates for click reactions, and thus they are promising building blocks for medicinal, combinatorial and bioconjugate chemistry. A practically important side result of this study was a multigram preparation of Boc‐monoprotected 1,3‐diaminobicyclo[1.1.1]pentane – a representative bicyclic conformationally restricted diamine derivative.
Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust and serum cytokine levels
Authors: Dai Yufei , Ren Dianzhi , Bassig Bryan A. , Vermeulen Roel , Hu Wei , Niu Yong , Duan Huawei , Ye Meng , Meng Tao , Xu Jun , Bin Ping , Shen Meili , Yang Jufang , Fu Wei , Meliefste Kees , Silverman Debra , Rothman Nathaniel , Lan Qing , Zheng Yuxin
Published: October 2017

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust (DEE) as a human lung carcinogen. Given that inflammation is suspected to be an important underlying mechanism of lung carcinogenesis, we evaluated the relationship between DEE exposure and the inflammatory response using data from a cross‐sectional molecular epidemiology study of 41 diesel engine testing workers and 46 unexposed controls. Repeated personal exposure measurements of PM2.5 and other DEE constituents were taken for the diesel engine testing workers before blood collection. Serum levels of six inflammatory biomarkers including interleukin (IL)‐1, IL‐6, IL‐8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1β, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1 were analyzed in all subjects. Compared to unexposed controls, concentrations of MIP‐1β were significantly reduced by ∼37% in DEE exposed workers (P < 0.001) and showed a strong decreasing trend with increasing PM2.5 concentrations in all subjects (Ptrend < 0.001) as well as in exposed subjects only (Ptrend = 0.001). Levels of IL‐8 and MIP‐1β were significantly lower in workers in the highest exposure tertile of PM2.5 (>397 µg/m3) compared to unexposed controls. Further, significant inverse exposure‐response relationships for IL‐8 and MCP‐1 were also found in relation to increasing PM2.5 levels among the DEE exposed workers. Given that IL‐8, MIP‐1β, and MCP‐1 are chemokines that play important roles in recruitment of immunocompetent cells for immune defense and tumor cell clearance, the observed lower levels of these markers with increasing PM2.5 exposure may provide insight into the mechanism by which DEE promotes lung cancer. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:144–150, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An On‐Demand Safety Gas Generator for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Systems
Authors: Engelbracht M. , Peters R. , Tiedemann W. , Hoven I. , Blum L. , Stolten D.
Published: October 2017

With their high electrochemical efficiency, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolyzers (SOEs) offer viable means of reducing energy sector greenhouse gas emissions and storing surplus renewably‐generated power. At present, these systems have operating temperatures of over 600 °C. During start‐up, following cooling or in an emergency shut‐off situation, a premixed safety gas is necessary which prevents damage to the cell's anode substrate. To date, safety gas has been industrially produced and stored in compressed gas cylinders. Given an SOFC system's size, these cylinders must be transported and stored in close proximity and replaced following gas expenditure. The storage space required, as well as the continuous replacement of gas cylinders, increases system size and costs. This paper presents a solution to this problem in the form of a specially developed safety gas generator that generates an on‐demand synthetic safety gas via the system's infrastructure. The functionality of this component is experimentally validated in tests conducted with a 4‐cell stack.
Two‐way Operations of a DMFC with a Vapor Feed and With a Liquid Feed
Authors: Saito J. , Ishitobi H. , Nakagawa N.
Published: October 2017

Using a cell module with a porous carbon plate, two‐way operations of a specific direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a vapor feed (VF) of neat methanol and a liquid feed (LF) of a dilute methanol solution were conducted, and the cell performances were compared to each other in order to clarify which condition produced the better performance. The comparison was conducted at different air humidities, i.e., 30, 60, 90 and 100%, and cell temperatures, i.e., 313, 323 and 333 K. As a result, about a 10% higher power density was obtained by the LF‐DMFC, whereas about a 2% higher efficiency was obtained by the VF‐DMFC at the optimum air humidity and 323 K. These performances were achieved by significantly different mass transports through the membrane.
Eco‐Friendly and High Performance Supercapacitors for Elevated Temperature Applications Using Recycled Tea Leaves
Authors: Bhoyate Sanket , Ranaweera Charith K. , Zhang Chunyang , Morey Tucker , Hyatt Megan , Kahol Pawan K. , Ghimire Madhav , Mishra Sanjay R. , Gupta Ram K.
Published: October 2017

Used tea leaves are utilized for preparation of carbon with high surface area and electrochemical properties. Surface area and pore size of tea leaves derived carbon are controlled by varying the amount of KOH as activating agent. The maximum surface area of 2532 m2 g−1 is observed, which is much higher than unactivated tea leaves (3.6 m2 g−1). It is observed that the size of the electrolyte ions has a profound effect on the energy storage capacity. The maximum specific capacitance of 292 F g−1 is observed in 3 m KOH electrolyte with outstanding cyclic stability, while the lowest specific capacitance of 246 F g−1 is obtained in 3 m LiOH electrolyte at 2 mV s−1. The tea leaves derived electrode shows almost 100% capacitance retention up to 5000 cycles of study. The symmetrical supercapacitor device shows a maximum specific capacitance of 0.64 F cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2 and about 95% of specific capacitance is retained after increasing current density to 12 mA cm−2, confirming the high rate stability of the device. An improvement over 35% in the charge storage capacity is seen when increasing device temperature from 10 to 80 °C. The study suggests that used tea leaves can be used for the fabrication of environment friendly high performance supercapacitor devices at a low cost.
Reduced striato‐cortical and inhibitory transcallosal connectivity in the motor circuit of Huntington's disease patients
Authors: Garcia‐Gorro Clara , de Diego‐Balaguer Ruth , Martínez‐Horta Saul , Pérez‐Pérez Jesus , Kulisevsky Jaime , Rodríguez‐Dechicha Nadia , Vaquer Irene , Subira Susana , Calopa Matilde , Muñoz Esteban , Santacruz Pilar , Ruiz‐Idiago Jesús , Mareca Celia , Caballol Nuria , Camara Estela
Published: October 2017

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is primarily associated with striatal degeneration. However, the alterations in connectivity of this structure in HD have been underinvestigated. In this study, we analyzed the functional and structural connectivity of the left putamen, while participants performed a finger‐tapping task. Using fMRI and DW‐MRI, 30 HD gene expansion carriers (HDGEC) and 29 healthy participants were scanned. Psychophysiological interaction analysis and DTI‐based tractography were employed to examine functional and structural connectivity, respectively. Manifest HDGEC exhibited a reduced functional connectivity of the left putamen with the left and the right primary sensorimotor areas (SM1). Based on this result, the inhibitory functional connectivity between the left SM1 and the right SM1 was explored, appearing to be also decreased. In addition, the tract connecting these areas (motor corpus callosum), and the tract connecting the left putamen with the left SM1 appeared disrupted in HDGEC compared to controls. Significant correlations were found between measures of functional and structural connectivity of the motor corpus callosum, showing a coupling of both types of alterations in this tract. The observed reduction of functional and structural connectivity was associated with worse motor scores, which highlights the clinical relevance of these results. Hum Brain Mapp 39:54–71, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Consistency of magnetoencephalographic functional connectivity and network reconstruction using a template versus native MRI for co‐registration
Authors: Douw Linda , Nieboer Dagmar , Stam Cornelis J. , Tewarie Prejaas , Hillebrand Arjan
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Studies using functional connectivity and network analyses based on magnetoencephalography (MEG) with source localization are rapidly emerging in neuroscientific literature. However, these analyses currently depend on the availability of costly and sometimes burdensome individual MR scans for co‐registration. We evaluated the consistency of these measures when using a template MRI, instead of native MRI, for the analysis of functional connectivity and network topology.

Methods

Seventeen healthy participants underwent resting‐state eyes‐closed MEG and anatomical MRI. These data were projected into source space using an atlas‐based peak voxel and a centroid beamforming approach either using (1) participants’ native MRIs or (2) the Montreal Neurological Institute's template. For both methods, time series were reconstructed from 78 cortical atlas regions. Relative power was determined in six classical frequency bands per region and globally averaged. Functional connectivity (phase lag index) between each pair of regions was calculated. The adjacency matrices were then used to reconstruct functional networks, of which regional and global metrics were determined. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated and Bland–Altman plots were made to quantify the consistency and potential bias of the use of template versus native MRI.

Results

Co‐registration with the template yielded largely consistent relative power, connectivity, and network estimates compared to native MRI.

Discussion

These findings indicate that there is no (systematic) bias or inconsistency between template and native MRI co‐registration of MEG. They open up possibilities for retrospective and prospective analyses to MEG datasets in the general population that have no native MRIs available. Hum Brain Mapp, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Brain Mapp 39:104–119, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Depression hurts, depression costs: The medical spending attributable to depression and depressive symptoms in China
Authors: Hsieh Chee‐Ruey , Qin Xuezheng
Published: October 2017

Due to its fast economic growth and lifestyle changes, China is experiencing a rapid epidemiological transition from communicable to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Mental disorder such as depression is an important yet often neglected NCD and is becoming a growing cause of disability, suicides, and disease burden. This paper provides the first nationally representative estimate of the medical cost attributable to depression and depressive symptoms among the adult population in China. On the basis of the 2012 China Family Panel Studies survey, our results indicate that these mental health conditions have significant impacts on the individual medical expenditure, and they jointly contribute to 14.7% of total personal expected medical spending in China, with depression and depressive symptoms accounting for 6.9% and 7.8%, respectively. Given that patients with mental illness face multiple psychological and institutional barriers in seeking appropriate treatment, the high depression‐induced medical costs may be primarily driven by the cost‐shifting effect from mental health care to general health care, as mental disorders often coexist with other NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension. As an implication, our study calls for an urgent reform of China's mental health and insurance systems to remove the policy‐induced obstacles for the access to mental health care resources.
Validation of the eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for human papillomavirus‐associated oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Cramer John D. , Hicks Kate E. , Rademaker Alfred W. , Patel Urjeet A. , Samant Sandeep
Published: October 2017

Background

The eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual includes major changes in staging of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). We evaluated the new staging system in order to validate this shift in classification.

Methods

We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify patients with human papillomavirus‐associated (HPV‐positive) OPC from 2010‐2013. We restaged patients using the eighth edition guidelines and compared them with those from the seventh edition. We calculated stage‐specific overall survival and concordance indices.

Results

We identified 15 116 patients with a median follow‐up period of 29.1 months. Clinical and pathological staging changed for 93.9% and 91.7% of patients, respectively. Survival concordance indices for both clinical (0.621‐0.656) and pathological (0.640‐0.663) staging were improved in the eighth edition compared to the seventh edition.

Conclusion

The eighth edition guidelines have profoundly altered staging of HPV‐positive OPC and seem to demonstrate improved survival discrimination.
A population‐based study of the effect of pregnancy history on risk of stillbirth
Authors: Räisänen Sari , Hogue Carol J.R. , Laine Katariina , Kramer Michael R. , Gissler Mika , Heinonen Seppo
Published: October 2017

Objective

To examine the effect of pregnancy history on the risk of stillbirth.

Methods

In a population‐based cross‐sectional study, data were reviewed from all women aged at least 20 years with singleton pregnancies in Finland between 2000 and 2010. The primary outcome—stillbirth—was defined as fetal death after 22 gestational weeks or death of a fetus weighing at least 500 g.

Results

Among 604 047 singleton pregnancies, the prevalence of stillbirth was 3.17 per 1000 deliveries. Prevalence was lowest for multiparous women without previous pregnancy loss after adjusting for major pregnancy complications associated with stillbirth (placenta previa, placental abruption, and pre‐eclampsia) and other confounders. Relative to these women, stillbirth prevalence was higher among multiparous women with previous spontaneous abortion and/or stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.36), nulliparous women with no previous pregnancy loss (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.38), and nulliparous women with prior spontaneous abortion (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.18–1.74).

Conclusion

Previous pregnancy loss was found to be an independent risk factor for stillbirth, irrespective of the number of prior deliveries.
Uptake rates of ammonium and nitrate by phytoplankton communities in two eutrophic tropical reservoirs
Authors: Gasparini Fernandes Cunha Davi , Fernandes de Melo Lima Vitória , Menegante Néri Amanda , Albino Marafão Gabriela , Cristina Poli Miwa Adriana , do Carmo Calijuri Maria , Albertino Bendassoli José , Tromboni Flavia , Maranger Roxane
Published: October 2017

While excess phosphorus typically results in the eutrophication of inland waters, there is growing evidence that excess nitrogen (N) and the availability of different N forms influence phytoplankton community composition, often favoring potentially toxic genera. In this study, the environmental dynamics, phytoplankton community structure, and N uptake rates were investigated in two tropical reservoirs. Phytoplankton ammonium () and nitrate () acquisition was assessed through 15N addition experiments over 2 years. We found that changes in ambient nutrient concentrations and temperature influenced different phytoplankton groups, which tended to have different N uptake strategies. The preferred N‐source by Cyanobacteria was while Dinophyceae and other groups seemed adapted to also take up , possibly due to competition. Potential uptake rates (maximum of 8.5 μM‐N hr−1 for and 1.3 μM‐N hr−1 for ) were high in comparison to previous reports from temperate freshwater or marine systems, likely due to elevated algal biomass and temperature. When normalized to biomass as chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a), specific uptake rates varied between 0.01–3.4 μmol‐N μgChl‐a−1 day−1 for and <0.01–0.8 μmol‐N μgChl‐a−1 day−1 for and were comparable to those reported for other eutrophic and hypereutrophic aquatic systems. In addition, higher temperatures favored Cyanobacteria (e.g., Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa), while a more diverse community was found during colder months. Results highlight how high loading of reduced forms of nitrogen and high temperatures can exacerbate harmful Cyanobacteria blooms in tropical reservoirs and be a concern for drinking water quality.
Effects of exposure to six chemical ultraviolet filters commonly used in personal care products on motility of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Alamer Maha , Darbre Philippa D.
Published: October 2017

Benzophenone (BP)‐1, BP‐2, BP‐3, octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC), 4‐methylbenzilidenecamphor and homosalate are added to personal care products to absorb ultraviolet light. Their presence in human milk and their oestrogenic activity suggests a potential to influence breast cancer development. As metastatic tumour spread is the main cause of breast cancer mortality, we have investigated the effects of these compounds on migration and invasion of human breast cancer cell lines. Increased motility of oestrogen‐responsive MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells was observed after long‐term exposure (>20 weeks) to each of the six compounds at ≥10−7 m concentrations using three independent assay systems (scratch assay, live cell imaging, xCELLigence technology) and increased invasive activity was observed through matrigel using the xCELLigence system. Increased motility of oestrogen‐unresponsive MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells was observed after 15 weeks of exposure to each of the six compounds by live cell imaging and xCELLigence technology, implying the increased migratory activity was not confined to oestrogen‐responsive cells. Molecular mechanisms varied between compounds and cell lines. Using MCF‐7 cells, reduction in E‐cadherin was observed following 24 weeks' exposure to 10−5 m BP‐1 and 10−5 m homosalate, and reduction in β‐catenin was noted following 24 weeks' exposure to 10−5 m OMC. Using MDA‐MB‐231 cells, increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 were observed after 15 weeks exposure to 10−7 m OMC and 10−7 m 4‐methylbenzilidenecamphor. Although molecular mechanisms differ, these results demonstrate that exposure to any of these six compounds can increase migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells.
Chemical warfare agent simulants for human volunteer trials of emergency decontamination: A systematic review
Authors: James Thomas , Wyke Stacey , Marczylo Tim , Collins Samuel , Gaulton Tom , Foxall Kerry , Amlôt Richard , Duarte‐Davidson Raquel
Published: October 2017

Incidents involving the release of chemical agents can pose significant risks to public health. In such an event, emergency decontamination of affected casualties may need to be undertaken to reduce injury and possible loss of life. To ensure these methods are effective, human volunteer trials (HVTs) of decontamination protocols, using simulant contaminants, have been conducted. Simulants must be used to mimic the physicochemical properties of more harmful chemicals, while remaining non‐toxic at the dose applied. This review focuses on studies that employed chemical warfare agent simulants in decontamination contexts, to identify those simulants most suitable for use in HVTs of emergency decontamination. Twenty‐two simulants were identified, of which 17 were determined unsuitable for use in HVTs. The remaining simulants (n = 5) were further scrutinized for potential suitability according to toxicity, physicochemical properties and similarities to their equivalent toxic counterparts. Three suitable simulants, for use in HVTs were identified; methyl salicylate (simulant for sulphur mustard), diethyl malonate (simulant for soman) and malathion (simulant for VX or toxic industrial chemicals). All have been safely used in previous HVTs, and have a range of physicochemical properties that would allow useful inference to more toxic chemicals when employed in future studies of emergency decontamination systems.
The Direct Electron Transfer of Iron‐containing Metal Organic Frameworks (Mil‐100) and Its Catalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Room‐Temperature Alkaline Media on a Glass Carbon Electrode
Authors: Seyyedi Behnam
Published: October 2017

The most common electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are platinum‐based ones. This work demonstrates the performance of iron‐containing metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as non‐platinum‐based nano‐electrocatalysts for ORR in an alkaline medium. As a new non‐platinum catalyst to achieve the active sites for the ORR, Mil‐100 (Fe) nanoparticles were used in aqueous KOH by the rotating‐disk electrode method. The main objectives of this study are the investigations on the electron transfer number (n), Tafel slope, and catalytic performance. The particles size of the obtained powders is in the nanoscale range (approximately 25 nm). The electron transfer number for the ORR on the surface of iron‐containing catalyst is approximately 4, and the Tafel slope of diffusion‐corrected kinetic current density is ~50.7 mV per decade at low overpotential. This work might extend a new non‐precious‐metal catalyst structure for ORR for use in low‐temperature fuel cells.
Left ventricular twist is impaired in acromegaly: Insights from the three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR‐Path Study
Authors: Kormányos Árpád , Domsik Péter , Kalapos Anita , Orosz Andrea , Lengyel Csaba , Valkusz Zsuzsanna , Trencsányi Attila , Forster Tamás , Nemes Attila
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, disfiguring, and debilitating disease caused, in 90% of cases, by a benign monoclonal growth hormone–secreting pituitary adenoma. The present study aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) rotational and twist mechanics in acromegalic patients and to compare their results to age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls.

Methods

The present study comprised 24 acromegalic patients, from which 4 were excluded due to insufficient image quality (mean age: 57.8 ± 13.7 years, 7 men). The control group consisted of 18 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy individuals (mean age: 54.8 ± 6.9 years, 8 men).

Results

In 4 out of 20 acromegalic patients, LV showed near absence of twist, as the so‐called LV “rigid body rotation” (RBR). Between all acromegalic patients without LV‐RBR and controls, both LV basal (–3.76 ± 1.73 vs. −6.17 ± 2.66°, P = .004) and apical rotation (6.12 ± 4.03 vs. 10.81 ± 3.65°, P = .001) and LV twist (9.88 ± 4.74 vs. 16.98 ± 3.88°, P < .001) differed significantly. Between active and nonactive acromegaly subgroups, only the time‐to‐peak LV twist (377 ± 78 vs. 229 ± 97 ms, P = .005) showed significant difference.

Conclusions

Acromegaly is associated with impaired LV rotation and twist as assessed by 3‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. LV‐RBR is a frequent phenomenon in acromegaly.
The effect of unit, depth, and probe load on the reliability of muscle shear wave elastography: Variables affecting reliability of SWE
Authors: Alfuraih Abdulrahman M. , O'Connor Philip , Hensor Elizabeth , Tan Ai Lyn , Emery Paul , Wakefield Richard J.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

There is currently no standardized method for muscle shear wave elastography (SWE). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of unit of measurement, depth, and probe load on the reliability of muscle SWE.

Methods

The vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, biceps brachii, and abductor digiti minimi muscles were scanned on 20 healthy participants. The SWE readings were measured in shear wave velocity (m/s) and Young's modulus (kPa). Three acquisitions of varying depths were acquired from vastus lateralis. Minimal probe load was compared with the use of a standoff gel layer. Three repeated measurements were acquired to assess reliability using intraclass correlations (ICC).

Results

The mean elasticity varied across muscle groups and ranged from 1.54 m/s for biceps femoris to 2.55 m/s for abductor digiti minimi (difference = 1.01 m/s [95% confidence interval, CI = 0.92, 1.10]). Reporting readings in meters per second resulted in higher ICC of 0.83 (0.65, 0.93) in comparison to 0.77 (0.52, 0.90) for kilopascal for the vastus lateralis muscle only. Variance increased proportionally with depth reaching 0.17 (equivalent to ±0.82 m/s) at 6 cm. Using a standoff gel decreased ICC to 0.63 (0.20, 0.84) despite similar mean elasticity readings to minimal probe load.

Conclusions

Different acquisition and technical factors may significantly affect the reliability of SWE in skeletal muscles. Readings acquired in the unit of shear wave velocity (m/s) from depths less than 4 cm using a minimal probe load without a standoff gel yielded the best reliability.
Contrast‐enhanced transoral carotid ultrasonography for the diagnosis and follow‐up of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection: A case report
Authors: Hagiwara Yuta , Shimizu Takahiro , Hasegawa Yasuhiro
Published: October 2017

A 56‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital because of amaurosis fugax. The carotid angiogram showed irregularly stenotic lesions of the left and right internal carotid arteries (ICAs), suggestive of dissection. Follow‐up evaluation was performed by transoral carotid ultrasonography (TOCU) with contrast enhancement (CE), which yielded better vessel lumen and intramural hematoma visualization than color Doppler imaging. CE‐TOCU is useful for evaluating ICA dissections that extends to the high cervical portion.
Study of morphological and mechanical features of multinuclear and mononuclear SW480 cells by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Liu Jinyun , Qu Yingmin , Wang Guoliang , Wang Xinyue , Zhang Wenxiao , Li Jingmei , Wang Zuobin , Li Dayou , Jiang Jinlan
Published: October 2017

This article studies the morphological and mechanical features of multinuclear and mononuclear SW480 colon cancer cells by atomic force microscopy to understand their drug‐resistance. The SW480 cells were incubated with the fullerenol concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml. Morphological and mechanical features including the height, length, width, roughness, adhesion force and Young's modulus of three multinuclear cell groups and three mononuclear cell groups were imaged and analyzed. It was observed that the features of multinuclear cancer cells and mononuclear cancer cells were significantly different after the treatment with fullerenol. The experiment results indicated that the mononuclear SW480 cells were more sensitive to fullerenol than the multinuclear SW480 cells, and the multinuclear SW480 cells exhibited a stronger drug‐resistance than the mononuclear SW480 cells. This work provides a guideline for the treatments of multinuclear and mononuclear cancer cells with drugs.
Diabetes prevention in the real world: Insights from the JDPP and J‐DOIT1
Authors: Sakane Naoki
Published: October 2017

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes prevention is an urgent issue in Japan. The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study and US Diabetes Prevention Program revealed that intensive lifestyle intervention can prevent or delay the development of T2D in high‐risk populations. Translational research varies in hospitals, primary care, communities, the workplace, and other settings. Translational research is feasible but less effective. There have been no long‐term follow‐ups. The outcome of the studies was mainly weight changes. The Japan Diabetes Prevention Program (JDPP) is a trial to test the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention program, which carried out in a primary healthcare setting using existing resources. The Japan Diabetes Outcome Trial‐1 (J‐DOIT1) is a nationwide telephone‐delivered lifestyle intervention in a real‐world setting. This review will focus on the effectiveness of a diabetes prevention program (recruitment, target population, method of intervention, and evaluation) in the real world and insights from the JDPP and J‐DOIT1.