bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of turkey bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Liu Qian , Zhu Yaxi , Qi Jun , Amadio Peter C. , Moran Steven L. , Gingery Anne , Zhao Chunfeng
Published: December 2018

Flexor tendon injury is often associated with suboptimal outcomes and results in substantial digit dysfunction. Stem cells have been isolated from several experimental animals for the growing interest and needs of utilizing cell‐based therapies. Recently, turkey has been developed as a new large animal model for flexor tendon research. In the present study, we reported the isolation and characterization of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from 8‐ to 12‐month‐old heritage‐breed turkeys. The isolated cells demonstrated fibroblast‐like morphology, clonogenic capacity, and high proliferation rate. These cells were positive for surface antigens CD90, CD105, and CD44, but were negative for CD45. The multipotency of turkey BMSCs was determined by differentiating cells into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and tenogenic lineages. There was upregulated gene expression of tenogenic markers, including mohawk, tenomodulin, and EGR1 as well as increased collagen synthesis in BMP12 induced cells. The successful isolation and verification of bone marrow‐derived MSCs from turkey would provide opportunities of studying cell‐based therapies and developing new treatments for tendon injuries using this novel preclinical large animal model. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1419–1428, 2019.
Exploring the binding interaction of Maillard reaction by‐product 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furaldehyde with calf thymus DNA
Authors: Zhou Zhisheng , Hu Xing , Zhang Guowen , Wang Rui , Gong Deming
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND

5‐Hydroxymethyl‐2‐furaldehyde (5‐HMF), a by‐product of the Maillard reaction, usually present in fried and baked food, may cause potential harm to the human body. Here, the interaction between 5‐HMF and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) under physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was studied using multi‐spectroscopic methods combined with multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) chemometrics and molecular simulation techniques.

RESULTS

The concentration profiles and pure spectra of the three components (5‐HMF, ctDNA and 5‐HMF–ctDNA complex) were extracted from highly overlapping spectra using MCR‐ALS analysis, which verified the formation of 5‐HMF–ctDNA complex. The binding constant being of the order of 103 L mol−1 at four temperatures (292, 298, 304 and 310 K) indicated a weak affinity in the binding of 5‐HMF to ctDNA. The binding interaction was mainly driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Viscosity analysis, melting assay, ionic strength effect and competitive fluorescence studies ascertained that 5‐HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding, and it tended to bind to guanine–cytosine rich region of ctDNA which was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra and molecular docking. Circular dichroism spectral analysis and DNA cleavage assays indicated that the ctDNA conformation was altered from B to A form and 5‐HMF caused DNA damage at higher concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that 5‐HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding and caused DNA damage. This research may contribute to understand the binding mechanism of 5‐HMF to ctDNA and to the assessment of the toxicological effect of 5‐HMF in biological processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Real‐Time Light‐Guided Vocal Fold Injection: Ex Vivo Feasibility Study in a Canine Model
Authors: Cha Wonjae , Ro Jung Hoon , Yang Sun Choel , Choi Chang Jun , Yang Inchul , Kang Hochul , Cho Il‐Young , Jo Min‐gyu , Seo Hyoseok
Published: December 2018

Objective

The transcricothyroid (CT) membrane approach is a good option for office‐based vocal fold injection (VFI). However, because the needle tip is invisible during injection using the CT approach, precise localization requires a high level of experience, and mastering this approach involves a steep learning curve. To overcome current limitations, we conceptualized a novel technique: real‐time light‐guided VFI (RL‐VFI), which enables simultaneous VFI under direct visualization of the lighted needle tip. Herein, we aimed to verify the feasibility of RL‐VFI in cadaveric canine model, simulating the setting of office‐based VFI, as well as to explore its clinical usefulness.

Study Design

Animal study.

Methods

A customized prototype device was developed. It consisted of three parts: light source, controller, and injector. Light source comprised laser diodes of two wavelengths (635 nanometers [nm], red; 532 nm, green). Four types of injector were developed using 40‐mm needles of 23‐ and 25‐gauge and optic fibers of 50 and 100 μm. ex vivo canine larynx was prepared for the experiment. Flexible laryngoscopy system was used to examine canine vocal folds.

Results

Various routes from three insertion points (3 mm, 10 mm, and 17 mm from the midline) were validated using the device. Regardless of the injection routes, the location of the needle tip was accurately indicated by light. RL‐VFI was feasible under light guidance without difficulties. Moreover, precise and simultaneous re‐injection could be performed at the intended point using the device.

Conclusion

We introduced RL‐VFI using our customized prototype device in an ex vivo canine larynx, simulating the setting of office‐based VFI. Clinical application of RL‐VFI will improve safety and precision of CT approach, as well as expand its applications in laryngology.

Level of Evidence

NA. Laryngoscope, 129:935–942, 2019
Vestibular atelectasis: Decoding pressure and sound‐induced nystagmus with bilateral vestibulopathy
Authors: Maslovara Sinisa , Butkovic‐Soldo Silva , Pajic‐Matic Ivana , Sestak Anamarija
Published: December 2018

We present the case of a 27‐year‐old male who presented with vertigo when pressing the entrance of his right auditory meatus and exposing his right ear to loud noise. A diagnostic procedure revealed bilateral labyrinth weakness, which was confirmed by caloric and rotational testing. The ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials investigation demonstrated a significant weakness of the right utriculus, whereas the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were normal, indicating preservation of the saccular response. Radiologic studies did not show evidence of labyrinthine dehiscence. We suspect the newly described association of this clinical syndrome with the previously described histopathology of vestibular atelectasis accounts for these findings.

Laryngoscope, 129:1685–1688, 2019
Poly(DL‐Lactide‐co‐ε‐Caprolactone)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Composite Implant for Controlled Delivery of Cationic Drugs
Authors: Janićijević Željko , Ninkov Marina , Kataranovski Milena , Radovanović Filip
Published: December 2018

Poly(DL‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)/poly(acrylic acid) implantable composite reservoirs for cationic drugs are synthesized by sequentially applying photoirradiation and liquid phase inversion. The chemical composition and microstructure of reservoirs are characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy‐attenuated total reflection (FTIR‐ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Drug loading and release properties are investigated using methylene blue as the drug model. Biocompatibility of reservoirs is examined through a series of in vitro tests and an in vivo experiment of subcutaneous implantation in Dark Agouti rats. Reservoirs show good ion‐exchange capacity, high water content, and fast reversible swelling with retained geometry. Results of drug loading and release reveal excellent loading efficiency and diffusion‐controlled release during 2 weeks. Biocompatibility tests in vitro demonstrate the lack of implant proinflammatory potential and hindered adhesion of L929 cells on the implant surface. Implants exhibit low acute toxicity and elicit a normal acute foreign body reaction that reaches the early stages of fibrous capsule formation after 7 days.
Polymer Crystallization Studied by Hyphenated Rheology Techniques: Rheo‐NMR, Rheo‐SAXS, and Rheo‐Microscopy
Authors: Räntzsch Volker , Özen Mürüvvet Begüm , Ratzsch Karl‐Friedrich , Stellamanns Eric , Sprung Michael , Guthausen Gisela , Wilhelm Manfred
Published: December 2018

Rheological set‐ups with in situ analytical sensors, combine information on the flow and deformation behavior of soft matter, with simultaneous insights into structural and dynamic features. Furthermore, they permit the study of soft matter under well‐defined flow conditions. Herein are presented hyphenations of rheology and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and optical microscopy. They are employed to unravel relationships between the molecular dynamics, morphology, and rheology of crystallizing polymers. The results confirm a physical gelation process during polymer crystallization, mediated by the interaction of growing superstructures at volume fractions of 10–15%. The buildup of row‐nucleated structures during flow‐induced crystallization is found to reduce the time of gelation as detected by the rheological response. These investigations help to clarify the crystallization mechanism, structure–property relationships, and the hardening behavior of crystallizing polymers.
Needleless Electrospinning from a Tube with an Embedded Wire Loop
Authors: Jahan Israt , Wang Lijing , Wang Xin
Published: December 2018

Enhancing the production rate while maintaining control in electrospinning has been a challenge for years. This work proposes a novel spinneret from a tube with a single wire loop embedded in its one end. With the feeding of solution precisely controlled and the spinning process stablized, multiple polymer jets can be continuously generated from the wire loop. The as‐spun fibers show nanofibrous structure and its fiber diameter is greatly affected by the applied voltage and polymer concentration. As compared to needle electrospinning, the wire loop spinneret generates a stronger electric field with a larger spinnable area due to its special geometrical structure and a higher applied voltage it is connected to. Slightly coarser nanofibers are fabricated as compared to the nanofibers from needle electrospinning and the production rate is as high as 0.48 g h−1.
Some minimal submanifolds generalizing the Clifford torus
Authors: Choe Jaigyoung , Hoppe Jens
Published: December 2018

The Clifford torus is a product surface in and it is helicoidal. It will be shown that more minimal submanifolds of have these properties.
Genome sequence of Methylocystis hirsuta CSC1, a polyhydroxyalkanoate producing methanotroph
Authors: Bordel Sergio , Rodríguez Elisa , Muñoz Raúl
Published: December 2018

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable plastics that can be produced by some methanotrophic organisms such as those of the genus Methylocystis. This allows the conversion of a detrimental greenhouse gas into an environmentally friendly high added‐value bioproduct. This study presents the genome sequence of Methylocystis hirsuta CSC1 (a high yield PHB producer). The genome comprises 4,213,043 bp in 4 contigs, with the largest contig being 3,776,027 bp long. Two of the other contigs are likely to correspond to large size plasmids. A total of 4,664 coding sequences were annotated, revealing a PHA production cluster, two distinct particulate methane monooxygenases with active catalytic sites, as well as a nitrogen fixation operon and a partial denitrification pathway.
Simultaneous degradation of β‐cypermethrin and 3‐phenoxybenzoic acid by Eurotiumcristatum ET1, a novel “golden flower fungus” strain isolated from Fu Brick Tea
Authors: Hu Kaidi , Deng Weiqin , Zhu Yuanting , Yao Kai , Li Jinyong , Liu Aiping , Ao Xiaolin , Zou Likou , Zhou Kang , He Li , Chen Shujuan , Yang Yong , Liu Shuliang
Published: December 2018

Beta‐cypermethrin (β‐CY) and its major metabolite 3‐phenoxybenzoic acid (3‐PBA) spread extensively in the environment because of utilization in agricultural and home formulations, exerting negative impact on environment as well as human health. Several golden flower fungi were isolated from fu brick tea, by which the biodegradation of β‐CY and 3‐PBA was evaluated, turning out strain Eurotium cristatum ET1 had the highest capacity. Furthermore, β‐CY and 3‐PBA degradation rates were positively correlated with biomass of E. cristatum ET1, and the processes of degradation fitted well with a first‐order kinetic equation. The half‐lives of β‐CY and 3‐PBA ranged from 3.382 to 11.517 days and 1.749 to 3.194 days, respectively, under different substrate concentrations, incubation temperatures, and pH values. The degraded products were analyzed using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and results showed that E. cristatum ET1 degrades β‐CY by transforming it into 3‐PBA, which is then gradually metabolized into phenol and catechol. Moreover, E. cristatum ET1 showed efficiency in degrading these metabolites. Our results suggest that this strain is a potential microorganism for bioremediation of pesticide‐contaminated environments and fermented foods.
Estimating Exploitation Rates in the Alabama Red Snapper Fishery Using a High-Reward Tag–Recapture Approach
Authors: Sackett Dana K. , Catalano Matthew , Drymon Marcus , Powers Sean , Albins Mark A.
Published: December 2018

Accurate estimates of exploitation are essential to managing an exploited fishery. However, these estimates are often dependent on the area and vulnerable sizes of fish considered in a study. High-reward tagging studies offer a simple and direct approach to estimating exploitation rates at these various scales and in examining how model parameters impact exploitation rate estimates. These methods can ultimately provide a better understanding of the spatial dynamics of exploitation at smaller local and regional scales within a fishery—a measure often needed for more site-attached species, such as the Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus. We used this approach to tag 724 Red Snapper during 2016 in the Alabama Artificial Reef Zone within the northern Gulf of Mexico to estimate recreational exploitation rates in Alabama waters. We fitted a series of tag return models, analyzed using maximum likelihood, to examine how release depth, movement between depth strata, fish length, and the rate at which anglers released fish impacted estimates of exploitation rate under a range of assumed natural and tagging mortality rates. Our model results suggested higher fishing mortality in the shallower depth stratum than in the deep stratum, constant movement rates with release depth, and constant release rates across fish lengths. Exploitation rate for the aggregate tagged population across the entire sample area was estimated at 0.14. Exploitation rates estimated for each depth stratum were 0.20 (shallow stratum: <36.5 m) and 0.06 (deep stratum: 36.5–61.0 m). In addition, length-based vulnerability to harvest was dome-shaped, with peak exploitation rates of 0.37 (shallow stratum) and 0.12 (deep stratum) occurring at 600–700 mm TL. Although previous studies have suggested higher exploitation rates in shallower waters compared to deeper waters, few estimates exist at these smaller spatial scales.
Impact of erythrocytapheresis on natural anticoagulant levels in children with sickle cell disease: A pilot study
Authors: Sharma Ruchika , Woods Gary M. , Creary Susan , O'Brien Sarah , Stanek Joseph , Hor Kan , Gallagher Christina , Dunn Amy L. , Kumar Riten
Published: December 2018

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is being increasingly recognized in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). In a retrospective cohort study, we identified bilateral central venous catheter (CVC) placement as an independent risk factor for VTE. At our institution, the only indication for bilateral CVC placement in children with SCD is erythrocytapheresis. To investigate the impact of erythrocytapheresis on coagulation, we measured levels of natural anticoagulants in 11 patients with SCD on chronic erythrocytapheresis, immediately before and after apheresis. We demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in most parameters. Additional studies are needed to further investigate the exact etiology and clinical impact of this acute decrease.
Correlation analysis of tensile strength and chemical composition of basalt fiber roving
Authors: Ding Lining , Liu Ying , Liu Jianxun , Wang Xin
Published: December 2018

This article studies the correlation between the tensile strength and the chemical composition of basalt fiber roving and analyzes rovings with different chemical compositions to derive equations that predict the roving strength. The tensile properties of different types of basalt fiber roving that were impregnated with two types of resins were first tested, while the chemical compositions of the basalt fibers were analyzed. The functional roles played by different chemical constituents and their contributions to the tensile strength were analyzed and used to verify the correlation between the strength and the effective composition. A numerical method was used to derive equations to predict the strength of the basalt fibers. The results show that the tensile strengths of the impregnated basalt fiber roving vary from 2313 to 2714 MPa, depending on the manufacturers, and were 7–25% higher than that of E‐glass fiber roving. The chemical constituents of the basalt fibers play four different functional roles, network formers, network intermediates, network changers and network modifiers. Chemical composition groups are subsequently identified that have positive, negative and uncertain effects on the tensile strength. The weighting factors of the chemical composition are regressed, resulting in predictions for the tensile strength that are in good agreement with experimental measurements. The results from this study can be used to predict the strength of basalt fibers in basalt mineral analysis. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2959–2966, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Thermally Crosslinkable and Chemically Modifiable Aromatic Polyesters Possessing Pendant Propargyloxy Groups
Authors: Verma Savita , Maher Deepak M. , Nagane Samadhan S. , Tawade Bhausaheb V. , Wadgaonkar Prakash P.
Published: December 2018

New aromatic (co)polyesters containing pendant propargyloxy groups were synthesized by phase transfer‐catalyzed interfacial polycondensation of 5‐(propargyloxy)isophthaloyl chloride (P‐IPC) and various compositions of P‐IPC and isophthaloyl chloride with bisphenol A. FTIR and NMR spectroscopic data, respectively, revealed successful incorporation of pendant propargyloxy groups into (co)polyesters and formation of (co)polyesters with desired compositions. (Co)polyesters exhibited good solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and tetrahydrofuran and could be cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films from chloroform solution. Inherent viscosities and number average molecular weights of (co)polyesters were in the range 0.77–1.33 dL/g and 43,600–118,000 g/mol, respectively, indicating the achievement of reasonably high‐molecular weights. The 10% weight loss temperatures of (co)polyesters were in the range 390–420 °C, demonstrating their good thermal stability. (Co)polyesters exhibited Tg in the range 146–170 °C and Tg values decreased with increase in mol % incorporation of P‐IPC. The study of non‐isothermal curing by DSC indicated thermal crosslinking of (co)polyesters via propargyloxy groups. The utility of pendant propargyloxy group was demonstrated by post‐modification of the selected copolyester with 1‐(4‐azidobutyl)pyrene, 9‐(azidomethyl)anthracene, and azido‐terminated poly(ethyleneglycol) monomethyl ether via copper(I)‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. FTIR and 1H NMR spectra confirmed that click reaction was quantitative. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 588–597
Randomised controlled trial of a repeated consultation support intervention for patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Shepherd Sarah C. , Hacking Belinda , Wallace Louise M. , Murdoch Sarah E. , Belkora Jeff
Published: December 2018

Objective

UK healthcare policy for improving cancer outcomes supports participation of patients in care decisions with clinicians. Consultation Planning, Recording and Summarising (CPRS) has shown evidence of increasing patient decision self‐efficacy, reducing uncertainty, and regret of decisions. This is the first trial of CPRS within the colorectal cancer population and delivered over serial medical consultations.

Methods

This randomised controlled trial compared usual care to the addition of CPRS over consecutive oncology consultations with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Edinburgh, Scotland. The study primarily evaluated patients' perception of their decision self‐efficacy, preparation for decision‐making, decisional conflict, and decisional regret, with secondary measures of anxiety and depression.

Results

Compared with usual care, overall, the intervention group reported significantly higher decision self‐efficacy (P = 0.001) and preparation for decision‐making (P < 0.001) and significantly lower decisional conflict (P = 0.018) and regret (P = 0.039). The repeated intervention patients felt significantly better prepared for each consultation (P < 0.05); reported higher DSE before (P = 0.05) and after (P = 0.031) consultation one, and after consultation three (P = 0.004); and reported lower decisional conflict after consultation two (P = 0.007). Analyses comparing groups over time on decisional variables and anxiety and depression were underpowered because of attrition.

Conclusions

Among colorectal cancer patients, CPRS was associated with decisional benefits before and after each consultation and 3 months after the last consultation. It appears that CPRS patients began their first medical consultation on a better trajectory but did not widen the gap over time. More research is needed on the benefits of CPRS being administered once or consecutively.
Development of a Class Prediction Model to Discriminate Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma from Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor by MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: Casadonte Rita , Kriegsmann Mark , Perren Aurel , Baretton Gustavo , Deininger Sören‐Oliver , Kriegsmann Katharina , Welsch Thilo , Pilarsky Christian , Kriegsmann Jörg
Published: December 2018

Purpose

To define proteomic differences between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (pDAC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI).

Experimental design

Ninety‐three pDAC and 126 pNET individual tissues are assembled in tissue microarrays and analyzed by MALDI MSI. The cohort is separated in a training (52 pDAC and 83 pNET) and validation set (41 pDAC and 43 pNET). Subsequently, a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model based on 46 peptide ions is performed on the training set and evaluated on the validation cohort. Additionally, two liver metastases and a whole slide of pDAC are analyzed by the same LDA algorithm.

Results

Classification of pDAC and pNET by the LDA model is correct in 95% (39/41) and 100% (43/43) of patients in the validation cohort, respectively. The two liver metastases and the whole slide of pDAC are also correctly classified in agreement with the histopathological diagnosis.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

In the present study, a large dataset of pDAC and pNET by MALDI MSI is investigated, a class prediction model that allowed separation of both entities with high accuracy is developed, and differential peptide peaks with potential diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive values are highlighted.
Research advancements in the neurological presentation of flaviviruses
Authors: Chen Tingting , He Xiaoen , Zhang Peiru , Yuan Yawen , Lang Xinyue , Yu Jianhai , Qin Zhiran , Li Xujuan , Zhang Qiwei , Zhu Li , Zhang Bao , Wu Qinghua , Zhao Wei
Published: December 2018

Owing to the large‐scale epidemic of Zika virus disease and its association with microcephaly, properties that allow flaviviruses to cause nervous system diseases are an important area of investigation. At present, although potential pathogenic mechanisms of flaviviruses in the nervous system have been examined, they have not been completely elucidated. In this paper, we review the possible mechanisms of blood‐brain barrier penetration, the pathological effects on neurons, and the association between virus mutations and neurotoxicity. A hypothesis on neurotoxicity caused by the Zika virus is presented. Clarifying the mechanisms of virulence of flaviviruses will be helpful in finding better antiviral drugs and optimizing the treatment of symptoms.
Larger Stabilizing Particles Make Stronger Liquid Marble
Authors: Liu Zhou , Zhang Yuyan , Chen Chengliu , Yang Tiyun , Wang Jidong , Guo Ling , Liu Peng , Kong Tiantian
Published: December 2018

Understanding the mechanical stability of granular‐armored liquid marbles is prerequisite for their applications including encapsulation, sensors, microreactions, and miniaturized liquid storage. Most liquid marbles are armored with agglomerated granular structure which complicates the wetting and interacting states of particles, hence, impeding one from understanding the effect of granular size on the mechanical stability of marbles. In this work, using a custom‐built platform to examine the liquid marbles armored by a single layer of uniform grains, it is revealed that larger microsized grains produce stronger liquid marble. This finding is attributed to the gravity‐induced capillary attraction which dominates the interaction of particles and provides additional tension to the granular network of the marble surface, which enhances the mechanical stability of marbles. In addition, different granular network structures are formed at the marble surface by using a binary mixture of monodisperse grains, and their effect on the mechanical stability of marbles is explored. The understandings offer important insights for application involving liquid marbles and provides guideline to formulate robust marble‐based products.
From source code to test cases: A comprehensive benchmark for resource leak detection in Android apps
Authors: Riganelli Oliviero , Micucci Daniela , Mariani Leonardo
Published: December 2018

Android apps share resources, such as sensors, cameras, and Global Positioning System, that are subject to specific usage policies whose correct implementation is left to programmers. Failing to satisfy these policies may cause resource leaks, that is, apps may acquire but never release resources. This might have different kinds of consequences, such as apps that are unable to use resources or resources that are unnecessarily active wasting battery. Researchers have proposed several techniques to detect and fix resource leaks. However, the unavailability of public benchmarks of faulty apps makes comparison between techniques difficult, if not impossible, and forces researchers to build their own data set to verify the effectiveness of their techniques (thus, making their work burdensome). The aim of our work is to define a public benchmark of Android apps affected by resource leaks. The resulting benchmark, called AppLeak, is publicly available on GitLab and includes faulty apps, versions with bug fixes (when available), test cases to automatically reproduce the leaks, and additional information that may help researchers in their tasks. Overall, the benchmark includes a body of 40 faults that can be exploited to evaluate and compare both static and dynamic analysis techniques for resource leak detection.
Toxicological evaluation of metal oxide nanoparticles and mixed exposures at low doses using zebra fish and THP1 cell line
Authors: Kaur Jasreen , Khatri Madhu , Puri Sanjeev
Published: December 2018

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are being used in different industries now‐a‐days leading to their unavoidable exposure to humans and animals. In the present study, toxicological testing was done using nanoparticles of copper oxide, cerium oxide and their mixture (1:1 ratio) on zebra fish embryos and THP‐1 cell line. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.01 μg/ml to 50 μg/ml concentrations of dispersed nanoparticles using a 96 well plate and their effects were studied at different hours post fertilization (hpf) i.e. 0 hpf, 24 hpf, 48 hpf, 72 hpf and 96 hpf respectively. Results showed that copper oxide nanoparticles has drastic effects on the morphology and physiology of zebra fish whereas cerium oxide nanoparticles and mixture of these nanoparticles did not show much of the effects. Comparable results were obtained from in vitro study using human monocyte cell line (THP‐1). It is concluded that these nanoparticles may cause toxicological effects to humans and environment.
The influence of dam construction on water quality in the lower Geum River, Korea
Authors: Shim Moo Joon , Yoon Sang Chul , Yoon Yi Yong
Published: December 2018

The Geum River has been faced with extreme environmental change due to the construction of three dams in midstream since 2012 (Four Major River Restoration Project). We hypothesized that suspended solids (SS) and total particulate phosphorus (TPP) decreased after the dam construction. To test our hypothesis, we investigated the influence of the dam construction on water quality by measuring possible impacts of decreasing SS, total phosphorus (TP), and TPP on the ecosystem in the lower Geum River and the Geum River estuary. For this study, we chose one site to compare the monthly water quality data pre‐construction (2008) and post‐construction (2015). Dissolved oxygen and pH were not significantly different between pre‐ and post‐construction, while electric conductivity (EC) increased. The increase in the EC may be related to a decrease in river discharge (RD) after the dam construction. As we expected, TP and TPP decreased post‐construction, but SS did not show significant differences between pre‐ and post‐construction. This suggests that the decline of TPP concentrations post‐construction were not related to SS levels. The explosive algal bloom and sedimentation of the algae may be an important factor in explaining the decrease in TP and TPP. The decline of SS, TP, and TPP flux to the lower Geum River was observed. This could be a potential reason for the erosion of the mud flat of the Geum River estuary in the future. Therefore, to determine the long‐term effects of the SS and the phosphorus fluxes to the lower Geum River, these factors should be monitored periodically over longer periods of time than this study.
Quark and gluon contributions to the QCD trace anomaly
Authors: Hatta Yoshitaka , Rajan Abha , Tanaka Kazuhiro
Published: December 2018

Abstract

We show that, in dimensional regularization in the minimal subtraction scheme, the QCD trace anomaly can be unambiguously decomposed into two parts coming from the renormalized quark and gluon energy momentum tensors. We carry out this decomposition at the two-loop level. The result can be used to constrain the renormalization group properties of the nucleon’s twist-four gravitational form factor

$$ {\overline{C}}_{q,g} $$

C
¯

q
,
g

.
Non-unitary evolution in the general extended EFT of inflation & excited initial states
Authors: Ashoorioon Amjad
Published: December 2018

Abstract

I study the “general” case that arises in the Extended Effective Field Theory of Inflation (gEEFToI), in which the coefficients of the sixth order polynomial dispersion relation depend on the physical wavelength of the fluctuation mode, hence they are time-dependent. At arbitrarily short wavelengths the unitarity is lost for each mode. Depending on the values of the gEEFToI parameters in the unitary gauge action, two scenarios can arise: in one, the coefficients of the polynomial become singular, flip signs at some physical wavelength and asymptote to a constant value as the wavelength of the mode is stretched to infinity. Starting from the WKB vacuum, the two-point function is essentially singular in the infinite IR limit. In the other case, the coefficients of the dispersion relation evolve monotonically from zero to a constant value in the infinite IR. In order to have a finite power spectrum starting from the vacuum in this case, the mode function has to be an eigensolution of the Confluent Heun (CH) equation, which leads to a very confined parameter space for gEEFToI. Finally, I look at a solution of the CH equation which is regular in the infinite IR limit and yields a finite power spectrum in either scenario. I demonstrate that this solution asymptotes to an excited state in past infinity in both cases. The result is interpreted in the light of the loss of unitarity for very small wavelengths. The outcome of such a non-unitary phase evolution should prepare each mode in the excited initial state that yields a finite two-point function for all the parameter space. This will be constraining of the new physics that UV completes such scenarios.
Factoring the strong CP problem
Authors: Agrawal Prateek , Howe Kiel
Published: December 2018

Abstract

We present a new mechanism to solve the strong CP problem using N ≥ 2 axions, each dynamically relaxing part of the θ parameter. At high energies M ≫ ΛQCD the SU(3)
c
group becomes the diagonal subgroup of an SU(3)
N
gauge group, and the non-perturbative effects in each individual SU(3) factor generate a potential for the corresponding axion. The vacuum is naturally aligned to ensure

$$ \overline{\theta} = 0 $$

θ
¯

=

0

at low energies, and the masses of these axions can be much larger than for the standard QCD axion. This mechanism avoids the introduction of a discrete Z2 symmetry and associated ‘mirror’ copies of the SM fermions, and also avoids the introduction and stabilization of new light colored states to modify the running of the QCD gauge coupling found in other heavy axion models. This strengthens the motivation for axion-like particles solving the strong CP problem at points beyond the standard QCD axion curve in the (m

a
, f

a
) plane.
Numerical study of the $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ Landau-Ginzburg model with two superfields
Authors: Morikawa Okuto
Published: December 2018

Abstract

In the low energy limit, the two-dimensional massless

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

Wess-Zumino (WZ) model with a quasi-homogeneous superpotential is believed to become a superconformal field theory. This conjecture of the Landau-Ginzburg (LG) description has been studied numerically in the case of the A
2, A
3, and E
6 minimal models. In this paper, by using a supersymmetric-invariant non-perturbative formulation, we simulate the WZ model with two superfields corresponding to the D
3, D
4, and E
7 models. Then, we numerically determine the central charge, and obtain the results that are consistent with the conjectured correspondence. We hope that this numerical approach, when further developed, will be useful to investigate superstring theory via the LG/Calabi-Yau correspondence.
Risk inherent in delay accounts for magnitude effects in intertemporal decision making
Authors: Białaszek Wojciech , Marcowski Przemysław , Ostaszewski Paweł
Published: December 2018

If the future is indeed uncertain, then is the subjective riskiness of future gains and losses amount-dependent? To address this question, we performed two experiments, one regarding hypothetical monetary gains and the other regarding hypothetical monetary losses. Our main objective was to determine whether the magnitude effect observed in delay discounting can be explained by the subjective probability of receiving a future outcome. We employed a well-grounded discounting paradigm with a fixed-sequence procedure and the Subjective Probability Questionnaire across different magnitudes of gains and losses. We replicated prior findings indicating that the magnitude effect (observed in delay discounting) or the reverse magnitude effect (observed in probability discounting) are present for monetary gains but not for monetary losses. We found that the subjective probability of receiving future outcomes is amount-dependent for gains but not for losses. We propose that the magnitude effect can be a by-product of the risk associated with future payoffs of different magnitudes, as shown by mediation analysis. Our secondary goal was to investigate the form of the subjective probability function over time to determine if the change in risk inherent in delay is best described by the hyperbolic or exponential equations. We demonstrate that delay and probability discounting, as well as the subjective probability function, are best described by a simple hyperbolic model.
Tolerability and effectiveness of an antitrauma cream with comfrey herb extract in pediatric use with application on intact and on broken skin
Authors: Kucera Alexander , Barna Milos , Holcova Simona , Horacek Ondrej , Hladiková Marie , Ottillinger Bertram
Published: December 2018

Objective:

The safety of comfrey herbal cream application to broken skin is still a matter of regulatory debate. It was therefore examined in children with intact and with broken skin treated for blunt traumas and sports injuries, with the aim of collecting data for pharmacovigilance and clinical safety assessments.

Methods:

A total of 712 children (386 children with intact skin and 326 children with abrasions and superficial wounds) were openly treated for up to 2 weeks with 1–5 applications daily of comfrey herb cream after presenting for blunt traumas and sports accidents. The incidence rate of adverse events was calculated, next to a global assessment of treatment effects.

Results:

No adverse events occurred in the group of children with intact skin, and one intolerability reaction (burning and reddening) was observed after application to broken skin. The overall incidence rate of intolerability reactions per patient was calculated as 0.14% (95% CI 0.00–0.78%) and that of systemic adverse effects as 0.00% (95% CI 0.00–0.42%). Accordingly, the probability of the occurrence of local reactions and systemic adverse events is well below, which is one in 100 treated patients. The global assessment of effects corresponded to previously published experience.

Conclusion:

These studies confirm an excellent benefit-to-risk ratio for the application of comfrey herb cream in the treatment of blunt traumas and sports injuries in children with intact and with broken skin.
A quality initiative to improve exclusive breast milk feeding in preterm neonates
Authors: Bagga Nitasha , Nadipineni Ramya , Mohamed Ashik , Poddutoor Preetham , Chirla Dinesh Kumar
Published: December 2018

Background and Objective:

Preterm babies thrive well on exclusive breastfeeding with fewer complications. In a retrospective analysis, challenges were noticed in the form of delayed first milk expression and frequency of expression, which was limited to 2–3 times a day. A quality improvement initiative was designed to increase the exclusive breast milk feeding rates in admitted preterm babies. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the proportion of preterm neonates receiving mother's own milk by day 7 of life after such an initiative.

Methods:

The quality improvement initiative was conducted at a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit from May 10, 2018, to August 10, 2018. Inborn preterm neonates <34 weeks with a minimum hospital stay of 7 days were included. Neonates of critically sick mothers and neonates having major congenital malformations were excluded. Mothers were given structured antenatal counseling regarding expressing breast milk (EBM). Postnatal visits were conducted to provide information through a video and a leaflet and formation of breastfeeding support group.

Results:

A total of 30 babies were recruited during a period of 3 months and compared to historical controls. The median age of the first EBM improved from 2.5 days to 1.16 days, and the amount of EBM on the first day improved from 0.24 ml to 2.6 ml (P = .002). The proportion of babies receiving EBM on the first day improved from 24% to 80% (P = .0001), and at the end of 7 days, it increased to 73% from 46% (P = .02). The factors time to reach full enteral feeds, time to regain birth weight, rate of necrotizing enterocolitis, rate of sepsis, and proportion of babies on exclusive mother's milk during discharge appear comparable in both the groups.

Conclusions:

A simple quality improvement approach through the formation of breastfeeding support group, antenatal counseling, and postnatal support for breast milk expression has made a significant improvement in milk expression from mothers delivered prematurely. It reflects on a team approach using the available resources.
Subjective cognitive decline and rates of incident Alzheimer's disease and non–Alzheimer's disease dementia
Authors: Slot Rosalinde E.R. , Sikkes Sietske A.M. , Berkhof Johannes , Brodaty Henry , Buckley Rachel , Cavedo Enrica , Dardiotis Efthimios , Guillo‐Benarous Francoise , Hampel Harald , Kochan Nicole A. , Lista Simone , Luck Tobias , Maruff Paul , Molinuevo José Luis , Kornhuber Johannes , Reisberg Barry , Riedel‐Heller Steffi G. , Risacher Shannon L. , Roehr Susanne , Sachdev Perminder S. , Scarmeas Nikolaos , Scheltens Philip , Shulman Melanie B. , Saykin Andrew J. , Verfaillie Sander C.J. , Visser Pieter Jelle , Vos Stephanie J.B. , Wagner Michael , Wolfsgruber Steffen , Jessen Frank ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   the DESCRIPA working group,   the INSIGHT‐preAD study group,   SCD‐I working group, van der Flier Wiesje M.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

In this multicenter study on subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in community‐based and memory clinic settings, we assessed the (1) incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non‐AD dementia and (2) determinants of progression to dementia.

Methods

Eleven cohorts provided 2978 participants with SCD and 1391 controls. We estimated dementia incidence and identified risk factors using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

In SCD, incidence of dementia was 17.7 (95% Poisson confidence interval 15.2‐20.3)/1000 person‐years (AD: 11.5 [9.6‐13.7], non‐AD: 6.1 [4.7‐7.7]), compared with 14.2 (11.3‐17.6) in controls (AD: 10.1 [7.7‐13.0], non‐AD: 4.1 [2.6‐6.0]). The risk of dementia was strongly increased in SCD in a memory clinic setting but less so in a community‐based setting. In addition, higher age (hazard ratio 1.1 [95% confidence interval 1.1‐1.1]), lower Mini–Mental State Examination (0.7 [0.66‐0.8]), and apolipoprotein E ε4 (1.8 [1.3‐2.5]) increased the risk of dementia.

Discussion

SCD can precede both AD and non‐AD dementia. Despite their younger age, individuals with SCD in a memory clinic setting have a higher risk of dementia than those in community‐based cohorts.
Angehörigen- und Familienwirkung als Pflegebezugspunkt in Qualifikation und Berufspraxis
Authors: Rohde Katrin S.
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Angehörige übernehmen in Deutschland vielfach (familien)pflegerische Verantwortung. Pflege begegnet aktiv verschiedenen Familienkonstellationen und -bildern. Pflegende können in der professionellen Begleitung dazu beitragen, dass das Leben betreuter Personen durch unterstützende Interaktion geprägt ist. Pflegerisches Handeln wird mit bestimmt durch den Blick auf die Familien und daraus resultierende Handlungsoptionen. Eine Möglichkeit der Betrachtung dieser Konstellationen wird hier beschrieben.
The Evolution of Same-Sex Attraction in Women
Authors: Apostolou Menelaos
Published: December 2018

Abstract. A considerable proportion of the population experiences varying degrees of same-sex attraction. It has been proposed that men exhibit high tolerance to their partner’s same-sex infidelity, which allows such predispositions to exist in a relative high frequency in the population. On this basis, the hypothesis was tested that heterosexual men and women would differ in their tolerance level, with men exhibiting higher tolerance to same-sex infidelity than women. Evidence from an online sample of 590 heterosexual Greek-speaking participants provided strong support for this hypothesis. In particular, the vast majority of women exhibited low tolerance, while about one in two men exhibited high tolerance to same-sex infidelity. Furthermore, men and women exhibited higher tolerance to the same-sex infidelity of their long-term than of their short-term partners, with men exhibiting higher tolerance in the latter case. In addition, women exhibited low tolerance to opposite-sex and same-sex infidelity, but men exhibited low tolerance to opposite-sex infidelity, but much higher tolerance to same-sex infidelity.
Attribution of the Influence of Human‐Induced Climate Change on an Extreme Fire Season
Authors: Kirchmeier‐Young M. C. , Gillett N. P. , Zwiers F. W. , Cannon A. J. , Anslow F. S.
Published: December 2018

A record 1.2 million ha burned in British Columbia, Canada's extreme wildfire season of 2017. Key factors in this unprecedented event were the extreme warm and dry conditions that prevailed at the time, which are also reflected in extreme fire weather and behavior metrics. Using an event attribution method and a large ensemble of regional climate model simulations, we show that the risk factors affecting the event, and the area burned itself, were made substantially greater by anthropogenic climate change. We show over 95% of the probability for the observed maximum temperature anomalies is due to anthropogenic factors, that the event's high fire weather/behavior metrics were made 2–4 times more likely, and that anthropogenic climate change increased the area burned by a factor of 7–11. This profound influence of climate change on forest fire extremes in British Columbia, which is likely reflected in other regions and expected to intensify in the future, will require increasing attention in forest management, public health, and infrastructure.
Ocean Science Decade Comes at Time of Precarious Decline
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: December 2018

The UN-endorsed decade from 2021 to 2030 promises to advance ocean science and sustainable use of the oceans and reverse the decline in the health of the oceans.
A Simple Model of Convectively Coupled Equatorial Rossby Waves
Authors: Fuchs‐Stone Željka , Raymond David J. , Sentić Stipo
Published: December 2018

Intraseasonal oscillations affect the weather not just in the tropics but all around the globe. The convectively coupled equatorial Rossby wave is observed as the westward‐moving intraseasonal oscillation. The fundamental physics of its coupling is still unknown; thus, many questions remain unanswered. How is its phase speed altered by convection? What makes it unstable? Why is it an intraseasonal oscillation? Using the Fuchs and Raymond model with linearized governing equations on an equatorial beta plane, first baroclinic mode vertical structure, and moisture and wind‐induced surface heat exchange (WISHE) convective parametrizations, this paper seeks a fundamental analytical theory that can explain the basic features of the convectively coupled equatorial Rossby wave. The WISHE‐moisture theory leads to a large‐scale, unstable westward propagating mode in the n = 1 case, which we call the westward propagating WISHE‐moisture mode. We find that the westward propagating WISHE‐moisture mode is indeed the free equatorial Rossby wave in the absence of moisture closure and WISHE. It is propagating westward due to the beta effect, and it slows down when it is convectively coupled. Its phase speed decreases mainly due to WISHE and cloud‐radiation interactions. The x‐y structure of the pressure and horizontal winds is similar to the free and observed Rossby wave, with convergent net flow. The strongest easterlies are to the west of the precipitation maximum increasing the moisture in that area. The mode is unstable due to the interplay of surface fluxes and moisture, which increases as a function of zonal wavelength.