bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tensile properties of plant fibre‐polymer composites in fire
Authors: Bhat T. , Kandare E. , Gibson A. G. , Di Modica P. , Mouritz A. P.
Published: June 2017

The structural performance of polymer composites reinforced with plant fibres when exposed to fire was experimentally evaluated and compared against an E‐glass fibre laminate. Fire testing under combined one‐sided radiant heating and static tensile loading revealed that flax, jute, or hemp fibre composites experience more rapid thermal softening and fail within much shorter times than the fibreglass laminate, which is indicative of vastly inferior structural performance in fire. The plant fibre composites soften and fail before the onset of thermal decomposition of the plant fibres and polymer matrix, whereas the E‐glass fibres provide the composite with superior tensile properties to higher temperatures and higher applied tensile stresses. The tensile performance of the three types of plant fibre composites in fire was not identical. When exposed to the same radiant heat flux, the flax fibre composite could withstand higher tensile stresses for longer times than the hemp and jute laminates, which showed similar performance.
Sexual dimorphism in the inflammatory response to traumatic brain injury
Authors: Villapol Sonia , Loane David J. , Burns Mark P.
Published: June 2017

The activation of resident microglial cells, alongside the infiltration of peripheral macrophages, are key neuroinflammatory responses to traumatic brain injury (TBI) that are directly associated with neuronal death. Sexual disparities in response to TBI have been previously reported; however it is unclear whether a sex difference exists in neuroinflammatory progression after TBI. We exposed male and female mice to moderate‐to‐severe controlled cortical impact injury and studied glial cell activation in the acute and chronic stages of TBI using immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization analysis. We found that the sex response was completely divergent up to 7 days postinjury. TBI caused a rapid and pronounced cortical microglia/macrophage activation in male mice with a prominent activated phenotype that produced both pro‐ (IL‐1β and TNFα) and anti‐inflammatory (Arg1 and TGFβ) cytokines with a single‐phase, sustained peak from 1 to 7 days. In contrast, TBI caused a less robust microglia/macrophage phenotype in females with biphasic pro‐inflammatory response peaks at 4 h and 7 days, and a delayed anti‐inflammatory mRNA peak at 30 days. We further report that female mice were protected against acute cell loss after TBI, with male mice demonstrating enhanced astrogliosis, neuronal death, and increased lesion volume through 7 days post‐TBI. Collectively, these findings indicate that TBI leads to a more aggressive neuroinflammatory profile in male compared with female mice during the acute and subacute phases postinjury. Understanding how sex affects the course of neuroinflammation following brain injury is a vital step toward developing personalized and effective treatments for TBI.
Constructing a Prototype: Realizing a Scholarship of Practice in General Education
Authors: Wells Cynthia A.
Published: June 2017

This chapter will construct a prototype of a scholarship of practice through specific application to general education. The chapter includes specific illustrations and potential challenges for such an endeavor.
Hepatitis B virus X protein–elevated MSL2 modulates hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA by inducing degradation of APOBEC3B to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Gao Yuen , Feng Jinyan , Yang Guang , Zhang Shuqin , Liu Yunxia , Bu Yanan , Sun Mingming , Zhao Man , Chen Fuquan , Zhang Weiying , Ye Lihong , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: June 2017

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause in the occurrence of hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer, in which nuclear HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the genomic form that templates viral transcription and sustains viral persistence, plays crucial roles. In the present study, we explored the hypothesis that HBV X protein (HBx)‐elevated male‐specific lethal 2 (MSL2) activated HBV replication by modulating cccDNA in hepatoma cells, leading to hepatocarcinogenesis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression of MSL2 was positively associated with that of HBV and was increased in the liver tissues of HBV‐transgenic mice and clinical HCC patients. Interestingly, microarray profiling identified that MSL2 was associated with those genes responding to the virus. Mechanistically, MSL2 could maintain HBV cccDNA stability through degradation of APOBEC3B by ubiquitylation in hepatoma cells. Above all, HBx accounted for the up‐regulation of MSL2 in stably HBx‐transfected hepatoma cell lines and liver tissues of HBx‐transgenic mice. Luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that the promoter region of MSL2 regulated by HBx was located at nucleotide −1317/−1167 containing FoxA1 binding element. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay validated that HBx could enhance the binding property of FoxA1 to MSL2 promoter region. HBx up‐regulated MSL2 by activating YAP/FoxA1 signaling. Functionally, silencing MSL2 was able to block the growth of hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: HBx‐elevated MSL2 modulates HBV cccDNA in hepatoma cells to promote hepatocarcinogenesis, forming a positive feedback loop of HBx/MSL2/cccDNA/HBV. Our finding uncovers insights into the mechanism by which MSL2 as a promotion factor in host cells selectively activates extrachromosomal DNA. (Hepatology 2017;66:1413–1429).
Development of ergonomic gun barrel cleaning method: Automation and its advantages
Authors: Nam Kyung Hyun , Lee Songil , Kyung Gyouhyung , An Jihwan , An Sangjin
Published: June 2017

The aims of this study were to assess postural risks associated with the current gun barrel cleaning method and to develop an ergonomic gun barrel cleaning method that could reduce such risks. The inner surfaces of gun barrels should be cleaned after use to maintain their firing function. The current method of cleaning gun barrels requires multiple soldiers to push and pull a long cleaning pole for 1–3 hr. Such motions require both hands to be raised to shoulder height. The current manual method and a newly designed automated method were compared in terms of safety and effectiveness. Postural risk assessments were performed using OWAS, RULA, and REBA. Results: The manual cleaning method involves the highest postural risk level (Action Category/Level 4), requiring immediate intervention, and exposes multiple soldiers to life‐threatening situations for a longer time during wartime. The postural risk associated with using the automated cleaning system was much lower (Action Category/Level 2). Once loaded into the gun barrel by a single soldier, the automated system takes approximately 20 min to complete cleaning. The automated cleaning method reduces musculoskeletal disorder risks associated with cleaning gun barrels and increases military power. The automated gun barrel cleaning method is an ergonomic solution that can be used for cleaning gun barrels within a short time without exposing soldiers to postural risks.
Effect of local wrist muscle fatigue on multiple assembly‐related psychomotor skills
Authors: Tsao Liuxing , Ma Liang , Wang Luoru
Published: June 2017

Human operators are still a vital resource in modern manufacturing systems, especially for fine assembly tasks. Declining muscle strength due to physical tasks can impair psychomotor skills and can cause adverse effects on assembly quality. To understand how local muscle fatigue can influence multiple psychomotor skills, 20 subjects participated in an experiment in which four psychomotor tests were performed to mimic fine assembly tasks, and their performances under nonfatigued wrist and fatigued wrist conditions were compared. Results showed that wrist fatigue caused significant decrements in the dexterity of fingers and fingertips, but there was no significant influence on arm‐hand steadiness. Local muscle fatigue impairs psychomotor skills to different extents but does not necessarily lead to lower performance. Humans are capable of coordinating motion units to compensate for the influence of muscle fatigue, but this is rather limited. It is suggested that in assembly operations, tasks should be arranged according to different task demands on diverse psychomotor skills.
Theta band power increases in the posterior hippocampus predict successful episodic memory encoding in humans
Authors: Lin Jui‐Jui , Rugg Michael D. , Das Sandhitsu , Stein Joel , Rizzuto Daniel S. , Kahana Michael J. , Lega Bradley C.
Published: June 2017

Functional differences in the anterior and posterior hippocampus during episodic memory processing have not been examined in human electrophysiological data. This is in spite of strong evidence for such differences in rodent data, including greater place cell specificity in the dorsal hippocampus, greater sensitivity to the aversive or motivational content of memories in ventral regions, connectivity analyses identifying preferential ventral hippocampal connections with the amygdala, and gene expression analyses identifying a dorsal–ventral gradient. We asked if memory‐related oscillatory patterns observed in human hippocampal recordings, including the gamma band and slow‐theta (2.5–5 Hz) subsequent memory effects, would exhibit differences along the longitudinal axis and between hemispheres. We took advantage of a new dataset of stereo electroencephalography patients with simultaneous, robotically targeted anterior, and posterior hippocampal electrodes to directly compare oscillatory subsequent memory effects during item encoding. This same data set allowed us to examine left–right connectivity and hemispheric differences in hippocampal oscillatory patterns. Our data suggest that a power increase during successful item encoding in the 2.5–5 Hz slow‐theta frequency range preferentially occurs in the posterior hippocampus during the first 1,000 ms after item presentation, while a gamma band power increase is stronger in the dominant hemisphere. This dominant–nondominant pattern in the gamma range appears to reverse during item retrieval, however. Intrahippocampal phase coherence was found to be stronger during successful item encoding. Our phase coherence data are also consistent with existing reports of a traveling wave for theta oscillations propagating along the septotemporal (longitudinal) axis of the human hippocampus. We examine how our findings fit with theories of functional specialization along the hippocampal axis.
Seizure severity‐dependent selective vulnerability of the granule cell layer and aberrant neurogenesis in the rat hippocampus
Authors: Uemori Takeshi , Toda Keiko , Seki Tatsunori
Published: June 2017

The pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus rodent model has been commonly used to analyze the mechanisms of human temporal lobe epilepsy. Recent studies using this model have demonstrated that epileptic seizures lead to increased adult neurogenesis of the dentate granule cells, and cause abnormal cellular organization in dentate neuronal circuits. In this study, we examined these structural changes in rats with seizures of varying severity. In rats with frequent severe seizures, we found a clear loss of Prox1 and NeuN expression in the dentate granule cell layer (GCL), which was confined mainly to the suprapyramidal blade of the GCL at the septal and middle regions of the septotemporal axis of the hippocampus. In the damaged suprapyramidal region, the number of immature neurons in the subgranular zone was markedly reduced. In contrast, in rats with less frequent severe seizures, there was almost no loss of Prox1 and NeuN expression, and the number of immature neurons was increased. In rats with no or slight loss of Prox1 expression in the GCL, ectopic immature neurons were detected in the molecular layer of the suprapyramidal blade in addition to the hilus, and formed chainlike aggregated structures along the blood vessels up to the hippocampal fissure, suggesting that newly generated neurons migrate at least partially along blood vessels to the hippocampal fissure. These results suggest that seizures of different severity cause different effects on GCL damage, neurogenesis, and the migration of new neurons, and that these structural changes are selective to subdivisions of the GCL and the septotemporal axis of the hippocampus.
Variability and trends in runoff in the rivers of British Columbia's Coast and Insular Mountains
Authors: Hernández‐Henríquez Marco A. , Sharma Aseem R. , Déry Stephen J.
Published: June 2017

This study examines the 1914–2015 runoff trends and variability for 136 rivers draining British Columbia's Coast and Insular Mountains. Rivers are partitioned into eastward and westward flowing rivers based on flow direction from the Coast Mountains. Thus, eastward and westward runoff trends and influence of topography on runoff are explored. Our findings indicate that rivers flowing eastward to the Nechako and Chilcotin plateaus contribute the lowest annual runoff compared to westward rivers where runoff is high. Low interannual runoff variability is evident in westward rivers and their alpine watersheds, whereas eastward rivers exhibit high interannual runoff variability. On Vancouver Island, some of the rivers with the highest annual runoff exhibit high interannual variability. A significant (p < .05) negative correlation exists between mean annual runoff (Rm) and latitude, gauged area, mean elevation, and its corresponding coefficient of variation. However, a significant positive correlation was found between the glacierized area of mountainous regions and Rm. The mean coefficient of variation in annual runoff is significantly negatively correlated with latitude and glacierized area, but significantly positively correlated with longitude. Annual and seasonal runoff trend analyses of each river were performed for an early (1936–2015), a middle (1966–2015), and a late (1986–2015) period using the Mann–Kendall test. Trend analyses revealed a shift towards more positive detectable (signal‐to‐noise ratio > 1) trends in annual and seasonal runoff from the middle to the late period across the study domain. Most positive detectable seasonal runoff trends in the middle period occur in spring in glacierized westward rivers located >1,200 m, whereas in the late period, they all occur in fall and are regionally coherent around Vancouver Island and south coastal BC. Rivers draining eastward exhibit more positive trends over 1986–2015 compared to westward rivers. This study provides crucial information on the hydrology of mountain watersheds across British Columbia's coast in response to Pacific Decadal Oscillation phase changes, the elevational amplification of regional climate change, and their influences on precipitation and glacier retreat.
Effect of bisphenol A on reproductive processes: A review of in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological studies
Authors: Tomza‐Marciniak Agnieszka , Stępkowska Paulina , Kuba Jarosław , Pilarczyk Bogumiła
Published: June 2017

As bisphenol A (BPA) is characterized by a pronounced influence on human hormonal regulation, particular attention has been aimed at understanding its role in reproductive processes in males and females, as well as on fetal development. Owing to the increasing number of alarming reports on the negative consequences of the presence of BPA in human surroundings, more and more studies are being undertaken to clarify the negative effects of BPA on human reproductive processes. The aim of this work was to collect and summarize data on the influence of BPA exposure on reproductive health. Based on an analysis of selected publications it was stated that there is strong proof confirming that BPA is an ovarian, uterine and prostate toxicant at a level below the lowest observed adverse effect level (50 mg kg−1 bodyweight) as well as a level below the proposed safe level (4 μg kg−1 bodyweight). It seems there is also reliable evidence in relation to the negative effect of BPA on sperm quality and motility. Limited evidence also pertains to the case of the potential of BPA to affect polycystic ovary syndrome occurrence. Although in epidemiological studies this disease was common, in studies on animal models such results were still not confirmed. No unambiguous results of epidemiological studies and with animal models were obtained in relation to the evaluation of associations between BPA and implantation failure in women, evaluation of associations between BPA and sexual dysfunction in men, and impact of BPA on birth rate, birth weight and length of gestation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zearalenone induces ROS‐mediated mitochondrial damage in porcine IPEC‐J2 cells
Authors: Fan Wentao , Shen Tongtong , Ding Qiaoqi , Lv Yanan , Li Li , Huang Kehe , Yan Liping , Song Suquan
Published: June 2017

In this study, the mitochondrial damage effect and mechanism of zearalenone (ZEA) in swine small intestine IPEC‐J2 cells in vitro were comprehensively characterized. The analyses revealed that ZEA at high doses (8 and 7 μg/mL) can significantly increase P < 0.05 the malondialdehyde levels and decrease antioxidant enzymes activities after 48 h of exposure. Meanwhile, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation increased in high dose ZEA‐treated groups after 2 h treatment, but decreased due to the ROS‐induced mitochondrial damage and the caused cell apoptosis after 48 h of high does ZEA treatment. Moreover, the decreasing of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨ) in high dose ZEA exposure was observed in line with the increasing ROS production in mitochondria. Results suggest that ZEA exposure can induce mitochondrial damage by reducing antioxidant enzyme activities, accumulation of ROS, and decreasing MMP. The mitochondrial damage had a dramatic concentration–effects relationship with ZEA.
Overexpression of Circular RNA ciRS‐7 Abrogates the Tumor Suppressive Effect of miR‐7 on Gastric Cancer via PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Pan Haiyan , Li Tao , Jiang Yugang , Pan Congcong , Ding Yuanlin , Huang Zhigang , Yu Haibing , Kong Danli
Published: June 2017

Gastric cancer (GC) has one of the highest mortality rates of malignancies globally. Currently, ciRS‐7, a novel circular RNA, has emerged as a potential sponge for miR‐7. However, few studies on ciRS‐7 in GC have been performed. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance and function of ciRS‐7 in GC. First, the expression levels of ciRS‐7 in 102 primary GC tissues and the matched para‐carcinoma tissues were evaluated and the clinical relevance was confirmed in an independent validation cohort (n = 154). Second, the effects of ciRS‐7 on miR‐7, PTEN, and PI3K were evaluated. Finally, the function of ciRS‐7 in GC was analyzed with cell lines and nude mice. The expression of ciRS‐7 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with the matched para‐carcinoma tissues (P = 0.0023), and the upregulation of ciRS‐7 was linked to poor survival in the testing (P = 0.0143) and validation cohort (P = 0.0061). Multivariate survival analysis revealed that ciRS‐7 was probably an independent risk factor of overall survival (P < 0.05). Furthermore, overexpression of ciRS‐7 blocked the miR‐7‐induced tumor suppression in MGC‐803 and HGC‐27 cells and led to a more aggressive oncogenic phenotype, via antagonizing miR‐7‐mediated PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. ciRS‐7 may act as a prospective prognostic biological marker and a promising therapeutic target for GC. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 440–446, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Macrophage Activation Induced by Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac Protoxin Involves ERK1/2 and p38 Pathways and the Interaction with Cell‐Surface‐HSP70
Authors: Rubio‐Infante Nestor , Ilhuicatzi‐Alvarado Damaris , Torres‐Martínez Marilu , Reyes‐Grajeda Juan Pablo , Nava‐Acosta Raúl , González‐González Edith , Moreno‐Fierros Leticia
Published: June 2017

Here, we aimed to further characterize the mechanisms involved in protoxin (p) Cry1Ac‐induced macrophage activation. We demonstrated that pCry1Ac induces MAPK ERK1/2, p38, and JNK phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Because MAPK activation is mainly triggered via ligand–receptor interactions, we focused on the identification of potential pCry1Ac‐receptor proteins. Flow cytometry and confocal analysis showed specific saturable pCry1Ac‐binding to the macrophage surface and evidenced its internalization via the clathrin‐pathway. We performed immunoprecipitation assays and identified by MALDI‐TOF‐TOF several possible pCry1Ac‐binding proteins, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), vimentin, α‐enolase, and actin; whose interaction and presence was confirmed, respectively, by ligand blot and Western blot assays. We also detected cell‐surface (cs) pCry1Ac‐HSP70 colocalization, so HSP70 was chosen for further characterization. Co‐immunoprecipitation with HSP70 antibodies followed by Western blot confirmed the pCry1Ac‐HSP70 interaction. Furthermore, pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with HSP70 antibodies reduced pCry1Ac‐induced ERK1 phosphorylation and MCP‐1 production; thus suggest the functional participation of csHSP70 in pCry1Ac‐induced macrophage activation. csHSP70 also was evaluated in peritoneal‐cavity (PerC) macrophages of untreated BALB/c mice, interestingly it was found that the predominant population namely large‐peritoneal‐macrophages (LPM) displayed csHSP70 + hi. Furthermore, the dynamics of PerC macrophage subsets, LPM, and small‐peritoneal macrophages (SPM) were evaluated in response to in vivo pCry1Ac stimuli in presence or not of phenylethynesulfonamide (PES) a functional HSP70 inhibitor. It was found that pCry1Ac increased the proportion of SPM CD11b + F4/80 + lowMHCII + csHSP70 + low and markedly reduced the amount of LPM CD11b + F4/80 + hiMHCII‐csHSP70 + hi; while PES, partially suppressed this pCry1Ac‐induced effect, further suggesting the participation of HSP70 in macrophage activation process. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 580–598, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiple Functions of Long Non‐Coding RNAs in Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage Response and Cancer Progression
Authors: Tehrani Sadra Samavarchi , Karimian Ansar , Parsian Hadi , Majidinia Maryam , Yousefi Bahman
Published: June 2017

In addition to aberrant alternation of transcriptome, it is now suggested that dysregulation of the non‐coding transcripts, particularly long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which comprise the majority of the genome, is contributed to cancer initiation and progression. As the result of recent huge efforts, the possible roles of numerous lncRNAs in the human cancers were characterized, as well as various strategies with inhibitory effects to target these transcripts on the transformed cells. Moreover, DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is a complex regulatory network responsible for the identification of disruptions in DNA structure, integrity and stability‐ it is reported to be associated with the up‐regulation and down‐regulation of lncRNAs. This review explores the involvement of the various lncRNAs in different human cancers, afterwards discusses the association of the lncRNAs expression with the DDR and oxidative stress, which are implicated in a myriad pathophysiological and physiological intra‐ and extracellular damages. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 223–236, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distinct Coping Profiles Are Associated With Mental Health Differences in Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adults
Authors: Freese Rebecca , Ott Miles Q. , Rood Brian A. , Reisner Sari L. , Pantalone David W.
Published: June 2017

Objective

This study assessed the unique coping strategies of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in the United States used to manage gender‐related stress, and examined associations between specific coping profiles and mental health.

Methods

Data were from 316 participants in the 2014–2015 Transgender Stress and Health Study, an online study of TGNC mental and sexual health. A factor analysis of the coping measure (Brief COPE) was followed by a k‐means cluster analysis to evaluate distinct profiles of coping with gender‐related stress. Proportional odds models and logistic regression models indicated how coping profiles related to levels of self‐reported depressive symptoms and suicidality.

Results

A 4‐factor structure was identified with three distinct profiles of coping with gender‐related stress, each representative of the frequency (high or low) in which participants used functional and dysfunctional coping strategies: (a) high‐functional/low‐dysfunctional, (b) high‐functional/high‐dysfunctional, and (c) low‐functional/low‐dysfunctional. There were significant differences in depressive symptoms and suicidality based on distinct gender‐related coping profiles. The high‐functional/high‐dysfunctional group reported significantly poorer mental health compared with the high‐functional/low‐dysfunctional group.

Conclusion

To improve mental health outcomes in TGNC individuals, health providers and researchers should strive to not only promote functional coping strategies for managing gender‐related stress but also decrease dysfunctional coping strategies.
A perspective on stem cell therapy for ear disorders
Authors: Mittal Rahul , Jung Hyunseo D. , Mittal Jeenu , Eshraghi Adrien A.
Published: June 2017

The use of stem cells in cell‐based therapy is an emerging concept for the treatment of ear disorders. Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) and inner ear disorders are some of the most commonly presented otologic disorders that can benefit from advances in cell‐based therapy. Studies have already demonstrated that stem cell‐based therapy can potentially be an effective treatment modality for acute and chronic TMP. Recent studies have also shown promise in application of cell‐based approach to treat inner ear dysfunction. In this perspective, we will discuss the recent advancements regarding the use of cell‐based therapy for ear disorders.
Combination of nanotechnology with vascular targeting agents for effective cancer therapy
Authors: Jahanban‐Esfahlan Rana , Seidi Khaled , Banimohamad‐Shotorbani Behnaz , Jahanban‐Esfahlan Ali , Yousefi Bahman
Published: June 2017

As a young science, nanotechnology promptly integrated into the current oncology practice. Accordingly, various nanostructure particles were developed to reduce drug toxicity and allow the targeted delivery of various diagnostic and therapeutic compounds to the cancer cells. New sophisticated nanosystems constantly emerge to improve the performance of current anticancer modalities. Targeting tumor vasculature is an attractive strategy to fight cancer. Though the idea was swiftly furthered from basic science to the clinic, targeting tumor vasculature had a limited potential in patients, where tumors relapse due to the development of multiple drug resistance and metastasis. The aim of this review is to discuss the advantages of nanosystem incorporation with various vascular targeting agents, including (i) endogen anti‐angiogenic agents; (ii) inhibitors of angiogenesis‐related growth factors; (iii) inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors; (iv) inhibitors of angiogenesis‐related signaling pathways; (v) inhibitors of tumor endothelial cell‐associated markers; and (vi) tumor vascular disrupting agents. We also review the efficacy of nanostructures as natural vascular targeting agents. The efficacy of each approach in cancer therapy is further discussed.
Volatile organic compound analysis by pulsed glow discharge time of flight mass spectrometry as a structural elucidation tool
Authors: Bouza Marcos , Fandino Jonatan , Bordel Nerea , Pereiro Rosario , Sanz‐Medel Alfredo
Published: June 2017

Pulsed glow discharge (PGD) coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) has been investigated for volatile organic compound (VOC) identification and determination. Optimization of PGD operational conditions (chamber design, applied power, pressure and duty cycle) was performed using acetone and benzene as model compounds. During the different optimizations, molecular, fragment and elemental information were obtained when characteristic GD pulse regions were measured. An exploratory study for several VOCs (lineal hydrocarbons, oxygen‐containing compounds and aromatic compounds) revealed the capability of the PGD to provide crucial information to elucidate structures (fragments), molecular ions or even proton affinity nature of the molecules; this last information is a consequence of the enriched proton environment generated along the afterglow region for the ionization chamber used. Analytical characteristics were evaluated with solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography coupled to PGD‐TOFMS for special aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene: BTEX) in water, showing a good performance in terms of reproducibility and sensitivity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity of temperature to physical parameterization schemes of RegCM4 over the CORDEX‐Southeast Asia region
Authors: Cruz F. T. , Narisma G. T. , Dado J. B. , Singhruck P. , Tangang F. , Linarka U. A. , Wati T. , Juneng L. , Phan‐Van T. , Ngo‐Duc T. , Santisirisomboon J. , Gunawan D. , Aldrian E.
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

This study examines the simulated temperature over Southeast Asia (SEA) using the Regional Climate Model version 4.3 (RegCM4.3), and its sensitivity to selected cumulus and ocean surface flux schemes. Model simulations were conducted for the SEA domain at 36 km spatial resolution for the period of 1989–2008, as part of the Southeast Asia Regional Climate Downscaling/Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment‐Southeast Asia (SEACLID/CORDEX‐Southeast Asia) project. A total of 18 sensitivity experiments were conducted with a combination of six cumulus parameterization schemes and three ocean surface flux schemes. The model's skill in representing mean, maximum and minimum temperatures is evaluated against observed gridded data sets. Results indicate a predominant cold bias in all simulations, particularly over mainland SEA (Indochina) during the season of December to February. Nevertheless, the seasonal correlation is highest over this region. The cold bias of the model is also evident in the temperature distributions, such that there are more cold months than observed, which may be associated with the underestimation of the daily maximum temperature. A few simulations also reveal a warm bias over some areas in the Maritime Continent. Further examination shows that both radiative and surface fluxes influence the simulated temperature, which may also have effects that partially offset each other in some areas. Comparison of the sensitivity experiments reveals differences in model performance, and underlines the importance in choosing the appropriate configuration for RegCM4.3 before it is used to downscale climate projections, particularly for the SEA region. This study also shows a strong influence of the choice of cumulus scheme on temperature. Based on performance metrics for temperature among the schemes tested, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Emanuel cumulus scheme and the Biosphere‐Atmosphere Transfer Scheme version 1e (BATS1e) ocean surface flux scheme can be used in future simulations for the region.
Seasonal variability and synoptic characteristics of dust cases over southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mashat Abdul‐Wahab S. , Alamoudi Ahmad O. , Awad Adel M. , Assiri Mazen E.
Published: June 2017

The synoptic characteristics and statistical variability of seasonal dust over southwestern Saudi Arabia are studied for the period from 1979 to 2006 using the aerosol index (AI) from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) satellite, dust observations from surface stations, and meteorological data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data set.

The seasonal AI distribution indicates that approximately 80% of each year was dusty and that most of the dust occurred during hot months. In addition, the surface observations of the dust types show that the stations with the largest number of dust observations throughout the year were close to the desert, except during the summer, when the stations near the Red Sea had the largest number of dust observations.

The synoptic forces that influenced the dust cases were the relative positions of high‐pressure systems (Azores or Siberian) and low‐pressure systems (Sudan or Indian), alongside their interactions. The relative positions of the atmospheric systems are highly pronounced at a pressure level of 850 hPa; at this pressure, the systems are oriented from north (anticyclonic system) to south (cyclonic system), turn anticlockwise to become oriented from west (anticyclonic system) to east (cyclonic system) during the summer, and then turn clockwise during the winter. Moreover, the interaction of the atmospheric systems influences the wind pattern of the seasonal composition over the southern Arabian Peninsula, which produces an anticyclonic wind pattern during winter, a cyclonic wind pattern during spring, a northerly/northwesterly wind pattern during summer and an anticyclonic wind pattern during autumn.

The dust sources changed because of the relative positions of these atmospheric systems, in which the ‘Toker Gap’ Sudan was the summer/autumn dust source, and the ‘central and eastern’ Arabian Peninsula was the winter/spring dust source.
Is axillary surgery beneficial for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast?
Authors: Welsh Jessemae L. , Keeney Michael G. , Hoskin Tanya L. , Glazebrook Katrina N. , Boughey Judy C. , Shah Sejal S. , Hieken Tina J.
Published: June 2017

Background and Objectives

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, typically triple‐negative, breast cancer reported to have a favorable prognosis and low rate of nodal metastasis. No consensus guidelines exist for axillary staging and treatment.

Methods

We identified all patients with ACC evaluated at our institution from January 1994 to August 2016. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were abstracted and analyzed.

Results

We identified 20 pure ACCs (0.13% of all invasive breast cancers) with size range 0.2‐4.8 cm, in 19 women, median age 59 years. Preoperative axillary ultrasound was normal in 10/13 women and suspicious in 3/13 who had a subsequent negative lymph node fine needle aspiration (FNA). Fifteen patients (75%) had sentinel lymph node surgery and were pathologically node‐negative, while the remaining five had no axillary surgery. With 3.6 years median follow‐up (range 0.2‐38.6 years), three patients experienced an in‐breast recurrence at 2, 16, and 17 years, respectively, while none recurred in regional nodes.

Conclusions

We observed no cases of nodal metastasis in 20 consecutive cases of ACC of the breast. Preoperative axillary ultrasound with FNA of suspicious nodes accurately predicted pathologic nodal stage. These data suggest axillary surgery might be omitted safely in patients with pure ACC and a clinically negative axilla.
Xeno‐pericardial patch repair of the inferior vena cava for radical resection of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus
Authors: Fukushima Satsuki , Uemura Motohide , Gotoh Kunihito , Ujike Takeshi , Wada Hiroshi , Miyagawa Shigeru , Toda Koichi , Sawa Yoshiki
Published: June 2017

Background and Objectives

For tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) complicated with kidney cancer, we built a surgical team to achieve (1) en bloc tumor resection; (2) xeno‐pericardial patch IVC repair; and (3) minimum organ damages. We reviewed outcome of the case series to verify rationale of this approach.

Methods

A consecutive series of 12 patients having the IVC tumor thrombus by renal cell carcinoma in the last 3 years was enrolled. Minimum kidney ischemia was induced in five cases (Procedure I), whereas liver and kidney ischemia was induced in five cases (Procedure II). Mild hypothermic extracorporeal circulation was used in two cases (Procedure III).

Results

There was no mortality or severe morbidities related to the surgery. Postoperative recovery was most prompt by the Procedure I. Liver and kidney ischemic time was longer in the Procedure III than the Procedure II, whereas organ function was not substantially impaired in either series. The resected IVC margin was free from the cancer in all cases, while local recurrence was not seen in any cases.

Conclusions

En bloc resection with xeno‐pericardial patch repair of the IVC was successfully performed in the tumor thrombus complicated with kidney cancer with minimum organ damage.
The natural history of recoverable vocal fold paralysis: Implications for kinetics of reinnervation
Authors: Mau Ted , Pan Hao‐Min , Childs Lesley F.
Published: June 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) are commonly told to wait 12 months for spontaneous recovery. This study aims to 1) determine the time to vocal recovery in UVFP, 2) use that data to develop a neurophysiologically plausible model for recovery, and 3) use the model to generate meaningful predictions for patient counseling.

Study Design

Case series with de novo mathematical modeling.

Methods

Patients with UVFP who could pinpoint a discrete onset of vocal improvement were identified. The time‐to‐recovery data were modeled by assuming an “early” recovery group with neuropraxia and a “late” recovery group with more severe nerve injury. For the late group, a two‐stage model was developed to explain the time to recovery: regenerating axons must cross the site of injury in stage 1 (probabilistic), followed by unimpeded regrowth to the larynx in stage 2 (deterministic).

Results

Of 727 cases of UVFP over a 7‐year period, 44 reported spontaneous recovery with a discrete onset of vocal improvement. A hybrid distribution incorporating the two stages (exponentially modified Gaussian) accurately modeled the time‐to‐recovery data (R2 = 0.918). The model predicts 86% of patients with recoverable UVFP will recover within 6 months, with 96% recovering within 9 months. Earlier vocal recovery is associated with recovery of vocal fold motion and younger age.

Conclusions

Waiting 12 months for spontaneous recovery is probably too conservative. Repair across the site of injury, and not regrowth to larynx, is likely the rate‐determining step in reinnervation, consistent with other works on peripheral nerve regeneration.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2585–2590, 2017
Hot or Cold Ablation – That's the Question
Authors: Nießen Markus , Bürgermeister Lisa , Hambach Nelli
Published: June 2017

A new generation of ultrafast lasers with high average powers and high repetition rates is coming to the market. Those systems in principle bring together high precision processing and high throughput. But with high average power thermal effects show up the demand for a careful process planning. A new simulation tool from Fraunhofer ILT incorporates such effects and allows for precise process optimization even at high average laser power.
Thermal Spraying with Diode Lasers
Authors: Molitor Thomas
Published: June 2017

Boiler tubes in biomass and incineration plants are exposed to extreme operating conditions. To create vapor pressure within the pipes that makes an effective drive of the power‐plant turbines possible, flue gas temperatures of up to 1000 °C must be realized within the combustion chamber of the boiler. No pipe‐material will sustain the chemical processes induced in this way for very long. Already at temperatures of 350 °C, the chlorine in the flue gas increasingly reacts with the iron of the ferritic pipe materials. A rapid and progressive oxidation process begins and reduces the wall thickness of the pipes, which can lead – using unprotected pipes – to tube leakage in some cases within less than one year (Fig. 1). In order to improve the lifetime of pipes, many power plant operators count on metallic or ceramic corrosion‐protection coatings. With their help, the material decomposition process can be delayed and the lifetime of the pipes can be tripled or even quadrupled. However, the investment in a coating in most cases is profitable already if lifetime of pipes is doubled because the exchange of corroded pipes requires new tubes plus a temporary shutdown of the whole boiler system.
Paleofire Dynamics in Central Spain during the Late Holocene: The Role of Climatic and Anthropogenic Forcing
Authors: López‐Sáez José Antonio , Vargas Grettel , Ruiz‐Fernández Jesús , Blarquez Olivier , Alba‐Sánchez Francisca , Oliva Marc , Pérez‐Díaz Sebastián , Robles‐López Sandra , Abel‐Schaad Daniel
Published: June 2017

The use of fire and, consequently, its severity and incidence on the environment have grown steadily during the last millennia throughout the Mediterranean. This issue can be assessed in several mountain ranges of central Iberia where changes in the management policy on anthropic activities and exploitation of high‐mountain environments have promoted a remarkable increase on fire frequency. Our research focuses on fire dynamics throughout the last 3,000 years from three peat bog charcoal records of the Gredos range (central Iberia). Our aim is to reconstruct past fire regimes according to forest vegetation typology (Castanea sativa, Pinus pinaster, and Pinus sylvestris). Charcoal influx shows low values between 3,140 and 1,800 cal. year bp when forests were relatively dense in both high and mid‐mountain areas. Fire appeared synchronous between 1,800 and 1,700 cal. year bp for Lanzahíta and Serranillos and around 1,400–1,240 cal. year bp for the three sites, suggesting anthropogenic fire control between the Late Roman and Visigothic periods that can be related to the cultivation of olive trees in the valleys and a greater human impact in high‐mountain areas. By contrast, during the Muslim period (1,240–850 cal. year bp), fire dynamics becomes asynchronous. Later, fires turn again coeval in the Gredos range during the Christian period (850–500 cal. year bp) and can be also correlated with drought phases during the Late Medieval Warm Episode. In short, our study demonstrates that fire activity has been enormously variable during the late Holocene in response to both short‐term and long‐term regional and global climate, vegetation dynamics, and land use changes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fisheye correction by CGA non‐linear transformation
Authors: Hrdina Jaroslav , Matoušek Radomil , Návrat Aleš , Vašík Petr
Published: June 2017

We provide a non‐linear image transformation by means of conformal geometric algebra (CGA) elements and operations. We show the correspondence to the fisheye correction algorithms; more precisely, we prove the proportionality of classical models with CGA algorithm and provide exact formula in terms of CGA. Consequently, we show that the geometric construction allows to determine the inverse model quite universally.
A discovery‐driven approach to elucidate urinary metabolome changes after a regular and moderate consumption of beer and nonalcoholic beer in subjects at high cardiovascular risk
Authors: Quifer‐Rada Paola , Chiva‐Blanch Gemma , Jáuregui Olga , Estruch Ramon , Lamuela‐Raventós Rosa M.
Published: June 2017

Scope

The aim of this work was to study the urinary metabolomics changes of participants that consumed beer, nonalcoholic beer (na‐beer), and gin.

Methods and results

Thirty‐three males at high cardiovascular risk between 55 and 75 years old participated in an open, randomized, crossover, controlled trial with three nutritional interventions consisting of beer, na‐beer, and gin for 4 wk. Diet and physical activity was monitored throughout the study and compliance was assessed by measurement of urinary isoxanthohumol.

Metabolomic analysis was performed in urine samples by LC coupled to an LTQ‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer combined with univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Ten metabolites were identified. Eight were exogenous metabolites related to beer, na‐beer, or gin consumption, but two of them were related to endogenic changes: hydroxyadipic acid linked to fatty acid oxidation, and 4‐guanidinobutanoic acid, which correlated with a decrease in urinary creatinine. Plasmatic acylcarnitines were quantified by targeted MS. A regular and moderate consumption of beer and na‐beer decreased stearoylcarnitine concentrations.

Conclusion

Humulinone and 2,3‐dihydroxy‐3‐methylvaleric acid showed to be potential biomarkers of beer and na‐beer consumption. Moreover, the results of this trial provide new evidence that the nonalcoholic fraction of beer may increase fatty oxidation.
Resveratrol suppresses lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 expression by reducing oxidative stress in macrophages and animal models
Authors: Sun Shengnan , Zhang Mingjun , Yang Qiangbing , Shen Ziying , Chen Jiahuan , Yu Biao , Wang He , Qu Jiali , Pang Daxin , Ren Wenzhi , Ouyang Hongsheng , Tang Xiaochun
Published: June 2017

Scope

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound with known cardioprotective, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Here, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on Lp‐PLA2 expression in vitro and in vivo and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and results

Human monocytic cells (THP‐1) were induced to differentiate into macrophages for an in vitro experimental model. Resveratrol suppressed Lp‐PLA2 expression and reduced inflammation; lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α, 10 ng/mL) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were employed to stimulate an increase in Lp‐PLA2 expression and ROS levels, and the stimulation was inhibited by resveratrol (50 μM) and other antioxidants. The inhibition of resveratrol was inversed partially by sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitors (Nicotinamide, 1–10 mM) (p<0.05). Next, a chronic inflammation mouse model induced by a HFD (high fat diet) supplemented with resveratrol 100 mg/kg/day orally for 12 weeks, resulted in resveratrol‐induced decreases in the Lp‐PLA2 levels in the plasma and liver and increases in the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression in the liver (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Based on our results, the protective effects of resveratrol on cardiovascular events may be related to its ability to suppress Lp‐PLA2 expression.
Relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms and cardiovascular risk scores including Framingham risk score and ACC/AHA risk score
Authors: Lee Bora , Lee Sang Wook , Kang Hye Rim , Kim Dae In , Sun Hwa Yeon , Kim Jae Heon
Published: June 2017

Aims

This study attempted to investigate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and CVD risk scores and to overcome the limitations of previous relevant studies.

Methods

A total of 2994 ostensibly healthy males, who participated in a voluntary health check in a health promotion center from January 2010 to December 2014, were reviewed. CVD risk scores were calculated using Framingham risk score and American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) score. Correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict the CVD risk severity were performed.

Results

Correlation between total IPSS with CVD risk scores demonstrated significant positive associations, which showed higher correlation with ACC/AHA score than the Framingham score (r = 0.18 vs 0.09, respectively). For ACC/AHA score, the partial correlation after adjustment of body mass index (BMI) showed significant positive correlations between all LUTS parameters and PSA. For the Framingham score, all variables, except IPSS Q2 and IPSS Q6, showed significant positive correlations. After adjustment of BMI, prostate volume and PSA, only the severe LUTS group showed significant relationship with intermediate‐high CVD risk severity, as compared with normal LUTS group (OR = 2.97, 95%CI (1.35‐6.99)).

Conclusion

Using two validated CVD risk calculators, we observed that LUTS is closely associated with future CVD risk. To predict the intermediate‐high CVD risk severity, severe LUTS was a sentinel sign, the presence of which warrants the importance of an earlier screening for CVD.