bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does reproductive isolation reflect the segregation of color forms in Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames complex (Orchidaceae) in the Chinese Himalayas?
Authors: Tao Zhi‐Bin , Ren Zong‐Xin , Bernhardt Peter , Liang Huan , Li Hai‐Dong , Zhao Yan‐Hui , Wang Hong , Li De‐Zhu
Published: April 2018

Isolation between species, or taxa sharing a common lineage, depends primarily on the relative strengths of various reproductive barriers. Previous studies on reproductive isolation between orchids emphasized mechanical and ethological barriers in flowers of species showing food and/or sexual mimicry. In this study, we investigated and quantified a series of prepollination and postpollination barriers between pink and white forms of Spiranthes sinensis sl, a nectar‐secreting complex. We generated ML trees based on trnS‐G and matK to explore phylogenetic relationships in this species complex. Spiranthes sinensis sl segregated from some other congeners, but the white form constituted a distinct clade in relation to the pink form. The white form secreted 2‐Phenylethanol as it is a single‐scent compound and was pollinated almost exclusively by native, large‐bodied Apis cerana and Bombus species (Apidae). Apis cerana showed a high floral constancy to this form. The scentless, pink form was pollinated primarily by smaller bees in the genera Ceratina (Apidae), and members of the family Halictidae, with infrequent visits by A. cerana and Bombus species. Fruit set and the production of large embryos following interform pollination treatments were significantly lower compared to intraform pollination results for the white form. Our results suggested that pollinator isolation, based on color and scent cues, may result in greater floral constancy in white populations when both forms are sympatric as two different, guilds of pollinators forage selectively preventing or reducing prospective gene flow. Postpollination barriers appear weaker than prepollination barriers but they also play a role in interform isolation, especially in the white form. Our findings suggest that floral color forms in S. sinensis do not represent an unbalanced polymorphism. Interpretations of the evolutionary status of these forms are discussed.
Nightjars may adjust breeding phenology to compensate for mismatches between moths and moonlight
Authors: English Philina A. , Nocera Joseph J. , Green David J.
Published: April 2018

Phenology match–mismatch usually refers to the extent of an organism's ability to match reproduction with peaks in food availability, but when mismatch occurs, it may indicate a response to another selective pressure. We assess the value of matching reproductive timing to multiple selective pressures for a migratory lunarphilic aerial insectivore bird, the whip‐poor‐will (Antrostomus vociferus). We hypothesize that a whip‐poor‐will's response to shifts in local phenology may be constrained by long annual migrations and a foraging mode that is dependent on both benign weather and the availability of moonlight. To test this, we monitored daily nest survival and overall reproductive success relative to food availability and moon phase in the northern part of whip‐poor‐will's breeding range. We found that moth abundance, and potentially temperature and moonlight, may all have a positive influence on daily chick survival rates and that the lowest chick survival rates for the period between hatching and fledging occurred when hatch was mismatched with both moths and moonlight. However, rather than breeding too late for peak moth abundance, the average first brood hatch date actually preceded the peak moth abundance and occurred during a period with slightly higher available moonlight than the period of peak food abundance. As a result, a low individual survival rate was partially compensated for by initiating more nesting attempts. This suggests that nightjars were able to adjust their breeding phenology in such a way that the costs of mismatch with food supply were at least partially balanced by a longer breeding season.
Biofilm formation and toxin production provide a fitness advantage in mixed colonies of environmental yeast isolates
Authors: Deschaine Bernadette M. , Heysel Angela R. , Lenhart B. Adam , Murphy Helen A.
Published: April 2018

Microbes can engage in social interactions ranging from cooperation to warfare. Biofilms are structured, cooperative microbial communities. Like all cooperative communities, they are susceptible to invasion by selfish individuals who benefit without contributing. However, biofilms are pervasive and ancient, representing the first fossilized life. One hypothesis for the stability of biofilms is spatial structure: Segregated patches of related cooperative cells are able to outcompete unrelated cells. These dynamics have been explored computationally and in bacteria; however, their relevance to eukaryotic microbes remains an open question. The complexity of eukaryotic cell signaling and communication suggests the possibility of different social dynamics. Using the tractable model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can form biofilms, we investigate the interactions of environmental isolates with different social phenotypes. We find that biofilm strains spatially exclude nonbiofilm strains and that biofilm spatial structure confers a consistent and robust fitness advantage in direct competition. Furthermore, biofilms may protect against killer toxin, a warfare phenotype. During biofilm formation, cells are susceptible to toxin from nearby competitors; however, increased spatial use may provide an escape from toxin producers. Our results suggest that yeast biofilms represent a competitive strategy and that principles elucidated for the evolution and stability of bacterial biofilms may apply to more complex eukaryotes.
Current challenges in distinguishing climatic and anthropogenic contributions to alpine grassland variation on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Lanhui , Zhang Yili , Liu Linshan , Wu Jianshuang , Li Shicheng , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Binghua , Ding Mingjun , Wang Zhaofeng , Paudel Basanta
Published: April 2018

Quantifying the impact of climate change and human activities on grassland dynamics is an essential step for developing sustainable grassland ecosystem management strategies. However, the direction and magnitude of climate change and human activities in driving alpine grassland dynamic over the Tibetan Plateau remain under debates. Here, we systematically reviewed the relevant studies on the methods, main conclusions, and causes for the inconsistency in distinguishing the respective contribution of climatic and anthropogenic forces to alpine grassland dynamic. Both manipulative experiments and traditional statistical analysis show that climate warming increase biomass in alpine meadows and decrease in alpine steppes, while both alpine steppes and meadows benefit from an increase in precipitation or soil moisture. Overgrazing is a major factor for the degradation of alpine grassland in local areas with high level of human activity intensity. However, across the entire Tibetan Plateau and its subregions, four views characterize the remaining controversies: alpine grassland changes are primarily due to (1) climatic force, (2) nonclimatic force, (3) combination of anthropogenic and climatic force, or (4) alternation of anthropogenic and climatic force. Furthermore, these views also show spatial inconsistencies. Differences on the source and quality of remote sensing products, the structure and parameter of models, and overlooking the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of human activity intensity contribute to current disagreements. In this review, we highlight the necessity for taking the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of human activity intensity into account in the models of attribution assessment, and the importance for accurate validation of climatic and anthropogenic contribution to alpine grassland variation at multiple scales for future studies.
Fabrication of a Flowerlike Ag Microsphere Film with Applications in Catalysis and as a SERS Substrate
Authors: Dai Qijun , Li Lu , Wang Chungang , Lv Changli , Su Zhongmin , Chai Fang
Published: April 2018

Three‐dimensional flowerlike Ag microstructures were assembled in situ on a substrate to fabricate Ag microflower (Ag MF) films. The morphology and size of the Ag MFs can be easily controlled by varying the reaction time. The mechanism of growth of Ag MFs was investigated by SEM. The shape evolution revealed that the Ag MFs are assembled from thin nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles (NPs), and the elemental composition of the NPs was evidenced by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopic analysis. The potential of the film as a catalyst in the reduction of nitrophenols was investigated. The reusability of the catalyst was estimated by recycling catalysis of 4‐nitrophenol. Moreover, the Ag MF film could be used as a versatile substrate for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for detection of Rhodamine 6G with a detection limit as low as 1 × 10–7 m. The results demonstrated that the Ag MF film exhibits excellent SERS enhancement ability and catalytic activity.
Ruthenium Amide Complexes – Synthesis and Catalytic Activity in Olefin Metathesis and in Ring‐Opening Polymerisation
Authors: Gawin Anna , Pump Eva , Slugovc Christian , Kajetanowicz Anna , Grela Karol
Published: April 2018

A set of olefin metathesis catalysts bearing a ruthenium amide moiety was synthesised. In the ruthenium amide form these complexes exhibit very low activity in standard metathesis reactions. However, a dramatic increase of activity was observed upon in situ activation with trimethylsilyl chloride or HCl, allowing successful application of such catalysts in a number of model ring‐closing metathesis, cross‐metathesis and enyne transformations. Moreover, such activated complexes proved to be very effective catalysts for bulk polymerisation of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). The influence of factors such as temperature and the nature of additives on the properties of poly‐DCPD was examined.
High Performance Aqueous Sodium‐Ion Capacitors Enabled by Pseudocapacitance of Layered MnO2
Authors: Zhang Yadi , An Yufeng , Jiang Jiangmin , Dong Shengyang , Wu Langyuan , Fu Ruirui , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: April 2018

Aqueous sodium‐ion capacitors (ASICs) are becoming increasingly important due to the remarkable advantages of aqueous electrolyte about the excellent ionic conductivity, non‐flammability and low cost compared with organic systems. But, low capacitance of the electric double‐layer capacitive material and narrow potential window of aqueous electrolyte both have negative effects on the enhancement of energy density. Therefore, we employ typical pseudocapacitive material, layered MnO2/CNTs composite as cathode to fabricate sodium ion capacitor. It needs to be emphasized that the electrochemical process involves two kinds of energy storage mechanisms, such as the reversible Na+ adsorption/desorption onto the surface of each layer and fast Na+ (de)intercalation into the 2D interlayer space. Thus, the composite delivers a high specific capacitance (322.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and an excellent cycle stability (5000 cycles with capacitance retention of approximately 90 %). By means of the synergistic effects of the layered MnO2/CNTs cathode, sodium‐ion water‐in‐salt electrolyte (NaWiSE) and polyimide organic anode, the as‐assembled ASIC achieves a high energy density of 78.5 Wh kg−1, accompanied by high power density of 11000 W kg−1 and excellent cycle performance (even 77 % capacity retention after 10000 cycles).
Seismic intensity measures for above‐ground liquid storage tanks
Authors: Bakalis Konstantinos , Kohrangi Mohsen , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios
Published: April 2018

A series of scalar and vector intensity measures is examined to determine their suitability within the seismic risk assessment of liquid storage tanks. Using a surrogate modelling approach on a squat tank that is examined under both anchored and unanchored support conditions, incremental dynamic analysis is adopted to generate the distributions of response parameters conditioned on each of the candidate intensity measures. Efficiency and sufficiency metrics are used in order to perform the intensity measure evaluation for individual failure modes, while a comparison in terms of mean annual frequency of exceedance is performed with respect to a damage state that is mutually governed by the impulsive and convective modes of the tank. The results reveal combinations of spectral acceleration ordinates as adequate predictors, among which the average spectral acceleration is singled out as the optimal solution. The sole exception is found for the sloshing‐controlled modes of failure, where mainly the convective period spectral acceleration is deemed adequate to represent the associated response due to their underlying linear relationship. A computationally efficient method in terms of site hazard analysis is finally proposed to serve in place of the vector‐valued intensity measures, providing a good match for the unanchored tank considered and a more conservative one for the corresponding anchored system.
Parental characteristics in association with disordered eating in 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds: A study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
Authors: Larsen Pernille Stemann , Strandberg‐Larsen Katrine , Olsen Else Marie , Micali Nadia , Nybo Andersen Anne‐Marie
Published: April 2018

We examined the association between parental characteristics and disordered eating among 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Frequency of fasting, purging, and binge eating was obtained by self‐report from 37,592 children and combined into a measure of disordered eating (no, monthly, and weekly). Information on parental characteristics was obtained during pregnancy, from the 7‐year follow‐up, and by linkage to population registers. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression models with robust standard errors. In total, 3.1% reported weekly and 4.1% reported monthly disordered eating. Parental young age, low educational level, and overweight/obesity were associated with disordered eating. The relative risk ratios for, respectively, weekly and monthly disordered eating according to maternal eating disorder were 1.01 [0.75, 1.37] and 1.09 [0.84, 1.42]. Disordered eating is common among children and is associated with several parental characteristics. We found social inequality in disordered eating, but our data did not support an association with maternal eating disorder.
Robust sidelobe amplitude and phase modulation for dual‐function radar‐communications
Authors: de Oliveira Ferreira Aline , Sampaio‐Neto Raimundo , Fortes José Mauro
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we address the topic of sidelobe modulation in dual‐function radar‐communication platforms, which consists in embedding communication messages into the radar emissions by varying the phase and/or amplitude values of the radar transmit beampattern at a receiver direction within the sidelobe. An advantage of this type of communication link is that it is inherently secure as the communication symbol is transmitted correctly only at a specific direction. However, this advantage may become a major problem, causing an expressive decrease in performance, if the real receiver position does not match exactly the predefined one. This scenario easily arises from the relative movement between the radar and the receiver. We propose 2 original methods for embedding the sidelobe amplitude/phase modulation into the radar transmit beampattern that have simple closed‐form equations and are robust to small angular errors in the receiver's direction. We also propose a noncoherent signaling strategy for sidelobe phase modulation and present its analytical bit error rate expression for the binary case. Simulation results and comparisons illustrate the advantages of the proposed techniques.
Crowd-Sourced Databases as Essential Elements for Forest Service Partnerships and Aquatic Resource Conservation
Authors: Isaak Daniel J , Young Michael K , McConnell Callie , Roper Brett B , Archer Eric K , Staab Brian , Hirsch Christine , Nagel David E , Schwartz Michael K , Chandler Gwynne L
Published: April 2018

High-quality information is needed for conservation and management of aquatic resources on lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Information is ultimately derived from data, so the USFS maintains a series of databases that are used to describe the status and trends of aquatic habitats and biota. The databases are spatially explicit and are crowd-sourced, meaning that distributed networks of professionals and technicians operating throughout the National Forest System collect stream and biological measurements, which are stored in central repositories. How those databases are developed is evolving and ranges from agency-specific endeavors to collaborative projects that involve dozens of natural resource organizations and extensive user-communities throughout the USA. The rate of data collection is accelerating and databases now often encompass millions of records, so proper archiving and maintenance by information technology specialists are necessary to maximize the utility of data for natural resource planning. Here, we describe several of the aquatic databases maintained by the USFS, applications arising from novel syntheses of databases, and the increasingly important roles databases play in collaborative partnerships and cost-effective stewardship of aquatic resources.
Effect of total replacement of egg by soymilk and lecithin on physical properties of batter and cake
Authors: Hedayati Sara , Mazaheri Tehrani Mostafa
Published: April 2018

The baking industry is interested in finding cost‐effective and healthful alternatives for eggs. Therefore, in this study the effects of total replacement of egg by soymilk (SM) in combination with 0–6% soy lecithin (SL) on batter (density, microstructure, viscosity, and texture) and cakes (height, volume, density, texture, color parameters, and sensory attributes) were determined and compared with cakes manufactured with eggs. The results showed that all batters had shear thinning behavior and provided a good fit for the power law model. The egg‐free cake in the absence of SL was downgraded because of high density and viscosity, small air bubbles, dark color, firm texture, low volume, and sensory scores. Inclusion of up to 4% SL to the SM was found to be significant in improving cake quality and led to cakes more similar to the control sample; however, higher levels of SL had negative effects on organoleptic properties of cakes.
Effects of livestock grazing on Anemone coronaria L. in drylands: Implications for nature conservation
Authors: Stavi Ilan , Shuker Shimshon , Barkai Daniel , Knoll Yaakov M. , Zaady Eli
Published: April 2018

Grazing in nature reserves, or other sensitive lands, could affect the abundance of important plant species. In the Mediterranean basin, the Anemone coronaria is considered a flagship geophyte species. Studies conducted in the Mediterranean region of northern Israel showed that livestock grazing increased the abundance of A. coronaria. This was attributed to the consumption of other herbaceous vegetation species, resulting in better accessibility of A. coronaria to sunlight. Also, it was suggested that consumption of this species is limited due to its toxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of livestock on the abundance of A. coronaria, and on specific soil properties in a dryland environment, where primary productivity is determined by water availability. A long‐term study was established in the Israeli Negev, where early‐, mid‐, and late‐season grazing treatments took place over the course of a decade, and studied over three consecutive years between 2013/2014 and 2015/2016. The study revealed that the abundance of A. coronaria followed the order of non‐grazing (control) > late‐season grazing > mid‐season grazing > early‐season grazing. However, this effect was not significant (p = .0668). One way or another, the largest adverse impact of early‐season grazing is attributed to consuming fresh and not yet toxic shoots of A. coronaria at that phenological stage. The soil properties were studied in summer 2016. The analysis showed a significant increase in bulk density under all of the grazing treatments compared with those in the control plots. It was concluded that, in drylands, trampling over wet soil during the growing season increases its compactability, degrading the soil‐moisture status, and limiting A. coronaria abundance. Recommendations for nature conservation in drylands are, therefore, to negate grazing during A. coronaria's early‐growing season, as well as shortly after rain events when the soil moisture level is high.
Action and semantic tool knowledge – Effective connectivity in the underlying neural networks
Authors: Kleineberg Nina N. , Dovern Anna , Binder Ellen , Grefkes Christian , Eickhoff Simon B. , Fink Gereon R. , Weiss Peter H.
Published: April 2018

Evidence from neuropsychological and imaging studies indicate that action and semantic knowledge about tools draw upon distinct neural substrates, but little is known about the underlying interregional effective connectivity. With fMRI and dynamic causal modeling (DCM) we investigated effective connectivity in the left‐hemisphere (LH) while subjects performed (i) a function knowledge and (ii) a value knowledge task, both addressing semantic tool knowledge, and (iii) a manipulation (action) knowledge task. Overall, the results indicate crosstalk between action nodes and semantic nodes. Interestingly, effective connectivity was weakened between semantic nodes and action nodes during the manipulation task. Furthermore, pronounced modulations of effective connectivity within the fronto‐parietal action system of the LH (comprising lateral occipito‐temporal cortex, intraparietal sulcus, supramarginal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus) were observed in a bidirectional manner during the processing of action knowledge. In contrast, the function and value knowledge tasks resulted in a significant strengthening of the effective connectivity between visual cortex and fusiform gyrus. Importantly, this modulation was present in both semantic tasks, indicating that processing different aspects of semantic knowledge about tools evokes similar effective connectivity patterns. Data revealed that interregional effective connectivity during the processing of tool knowledge occurred in a bidirectional manner with a weakening of connectivity between areas engaged in action and semantic knowledge about tools during the processing of action knowledge. Moreover, different semantic tool knowledge tasks elicited similar effective connectivity patterns.
Endogenously generated gamma‐band oscillations in early visual cortex: A neurofeedback study
Authors: Merkel Nina , Wibral Michael , Bland Gareth , Singer Wolf
Published: April 2018

Human subjects were trained with neurofeedback (NFB) to enhance the power of narrow‐band gamma oscillations in circumscribed regions of early visual cortex. To select the region and the oscillation frequency for NFB training, gamma oscillations were induced with locally presented drifting gratings. The source and frequency of these induced oscillations were determined using beamforming methods. During NFB training the power of narrow band gamma oscillations was continuously extracted from this source with online beamforming and converted into the pitch of a tone signal. We found that seven out of ten subjects were able to selectively increase the amplitude of gamma oscillations in the absence of visual stimulation. One subject however failed completely and two subjects succeeded to manipulate the feedback signal by contraction of muscles. In all subjects the attempts to enhance visual gamma oscillations were associated with an increase of beta oscillations over precentral/frontal regions. Only successful subjects exhibited an additional marked increase of theta oscillations over precentral/prefrontal and temporal regions whereas unsuccessful subjects showed an increase of alpha band oscillations over occipital regions. We argue that spatially confined networks in early visual cortex can be entrained to engage in narrow band gamma oscillations not only by visual stimuli but also by top down signals. We interpret the concomitant increase in beta oscillations as indication for an engagement of the fronto‐parietal attention network and the increase of theta oscillations as a correlate of imagery. Our finding support the application of NFB in disease conditions associated with impaired gamma synchronization.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase mutations in plasma DNA in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or cirrhosis: Prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Jiao Jingjing , Watt Gordon P. , Stevenson Heather L. , Calderone Tiffany L. , Fisher‐Hoch Susan P. , Ye Yuanqing , Wu Xifeng , Vierling John M. , Beretta Laura
Published: April 2018

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mutation is the most frequent genetic alteration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aims were to investigate whether TERT mutations can be detected in circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) of patients with HCC and/or cirrhosis and characterize clinical parameters associated with these mutations. We retrieved data on TERT C228T and C250T promoter mutations in 196 HCCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We measured these TERT mutations in plasma cfDNA in 218 patients with HCC and 81 patients with cirrhosis without imaging evidence of HCC. The prevalence of TERT mutations in The Cancer Genome Atlas HCC specimens was 44.4%. TERT mutations were detected with similar prevalence (47.7%) in plasma cfDNAs from 218 patients with HCC. TERT mutations, either within the HCC or in cfDNA, were associated with male sex, hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholic cirrhosis, family history of cancer, and poor prognosis. The high prevalence of TERT mutations in HCCs in male patients with cirrhosis caused by HCV and/or alcohol was confirmed in an independent set of HCCs (86.6%). Finally, TERT mutations were detected in cfDNA of 7 out of 81 (8.6%) patients with cirrhosis without imaging evidence of HCC, including 5 male patients with cirrhosis due to HCV and/or alcohol. Genes involved in xenobiotic and alcohol metabolism were enriched in HCCs with TERT mutations, and vitamin K2 was identified as an upstream regulator. Conclusion: TERT mutations are detectable in plasma cfDNA. Long‐term imaging surveillance of patients with cirrhosis with cfDNA TERT mutations without evidence of HCC is required to assess their potential as early biomarkers of HCC. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:718‐731)
Have out‐of‐pocket health care payments risen under free health care policy? The case ofSriLanka
Authors: Pallegedara Asankha , Grimm Michael
Published: April 2018

Compared to its neighbors, Sri Lanka performs well in terms of health. Health care is provided for free in the public sector, yet households' out‐of‐pocket health expenditures are steadily increasing. We explore whether this increase can be explained by supply shortages and insufficient public health care financing or whether it is rather the result of an income‐induced demand for supplementary and higher quality services from the private sector. We focus on total health care expenditures and health care expenditures for specific services such as expenses on private outpatient treatments and expenses on laboratory and other diagnostic services. Overall, we find little indication that limited supply of public health care per se pushes patients into the private sector. Yet income is identified as one key driver of rising health care expenditures, ie, as households get richer, they spend an increasing amount on private services suggesting a dissatisfaction with the quality offered by the public sector. Hence, quality improvements in the public sector seem to be necessary to ensure sustainability of the public health care sector. If the rich and the middle class increasingly opt out of public health care, the willingness to pay taxes to finance the free health care policy will certainly shrink.
Determination of antibiotic resistance and high‐performance liquid chromatography profiles for Mycobacterium species
Authors: Toka Özer Türkan , Yula Erkan , Doğan Metin , Baskın Hüseyin
Published: April 2018

Background

Incidence of mycobacterial infections has been increasing. However, diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections can be difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the mycolic acids for rapid identification and dendrogram cluster analysis of mycobacterium species.

Methods

Clinical specimens received for mycobacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test were processed by standard laboratory protocols. Positive cultures were analyzed with HPLC method. Mycolic acid analysis with HPLC was used for diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. These reports were compared with Sherlock Library mycobacterial species, and the similarity index was analyzed. This value was formed by a software in multidimensional space that was the calculation of the average distance between the nearest library profile and unknown profile.

Results

The ninety‐two samples were identified as M. tuberculosis. (similarity index between 0.593 and 0.994). One of the other strains was identified as M. avium intracellulare (strain No. 82) (SI = 0.906); one of them was identified as M. interjectum (strain no. 89) (SI = 0.644). Total 94 samples were identified, and dendrogram was applied to these samples. Profile A (10.6%), profile B (59.6%), profile C (11.7%), profile D (3.2%), and other profiles as single different profiles were identified. Rates for each as 1% (89, 94, 1, 82, 26, 42, 32, 41, 100, 43, 47, 44, 40, 35).

Conclusion

High‐performance liquid chromatography is a useful, rapid, reliable, and practical method for diagnosis of mycobacterium species.
Effects of an entertaining, culturally targeted narrative and an appealing expert interview on the colorectal screening intentions of African American women
Authors: Kennedy May G. , McClish Donna , Jones Resa M. , Jin Yan , Wilson Diane B. , Bishop Diane L.
Published: April 2018

Universal screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is recommended for individuals 50–75 years of age, but screening uptake is suboptimal and African Americans have suffered persistent racial disparities in CRC incidence and deaths. We compared a culturally tailored fictional narrative and an engaging expert interview on the ability to increase intentions to be screened for CRC among African American women. In a post‐only experiment, women (N = 442) in face‐to‐face listening groups in African American churches heard audio recordings of either a narrative or an expert interview. Questionnaires were completed immediately afterward and 30 days later. Women who heard narratives reported stronger intentions to be screened with a home stool blood test than women who heard the interview; the effect lasted at least 30 days. Culturally tailored, fictional narratives appear to be an effective persuasive strategy for reducing racial disparities in CRC outcomes.
Photoreceptor cells as a source of fundus autofluorescence in recessive Stargardt disease
Authors: Paavo Maarjaliis , Lee Winston , Allikmets Rando , Tsang Stephen , Sparrow Janet R.
Published: April 2018

Bisretinoid fluorophores form in photoreceptor outer segments from nonenzymatic reactions of vitamin A aldehyde. The short‐wavelength autofluorescence (SW‐AF) of fundus flecks in recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) suggests a connection to these fluorophores. Through multimodal imaging, we sought to elucidate this link. Flecks observed in SW‐AF images often colocalized with foci exhibiting reduced or absent near‐infrared autofluorescence signal, the source of which is melanin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. With serial imaging, changes in near‐infrared autofluorescence (NIR‐AF) preceded the onset of fleck hyperautofluorescence in SW‐AF images and fleck profiles in NIR‐AF images tended to be larger. Flecks in SW‐AF and NIR‐AF images also corresponded to hyperreflective lesions traversing photoreceptor‐attributable bands in horizontal SD‐OCT scans. The hyperreflective lesions interrupted adjacent OCT reflectivity bands and were associated with thinning of the outer nuclear layer. These SD‐OCT findings are attributable to photoreceptor cell degeneration. Progressive increases and decreases in the SW‐AF intensity of flecks were evident in color‐coded quantitative fundus autofluorescence maps. In some cases, flecks appeared to spread radially from the fovea to approximately 8° of eccentricity, beyond which a circumferential spread characterized the distribution. Since the NIR‐AF signal is derived from melanin and loss of this autofluorescence is indicative of RPE atrophy, the SW‐AF of flecks cannot be accounted for by bisretinoid lipofuscin in RPE. Instead, we suggest that the bisretinoid serving as the source of the SW‐AF signal, resides in photoreceptors, the cell that is also the site of bisretinoid synthesis.
Children With Intestinal Failure Undergoing Intestinal Rehabilitation Are at Risk for Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
Authors: Gunnar Riikka , Lumia Mirka , Pakarinen Mikko , Merras‐Salmio Laura
Published: April 2018

Background

Essential fatty acid (EFA) status may be compromised during the intestinal failure (IF) rehabilitation. Parenteral lipid restriction is used to treat intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD), while the enteral fatty acid (FA) absorption remains limited. We analyzed the FA status among pediatric IF and intestinal insufficiency patients.

Methods

We evaluated 49 patients aged 0–18 years attending our nationwide IF referral center. Their serum FA fractions were determined and examined against previous nutrition, parenteral lipid emulsion, and intestinal anatomy data. The patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to their dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN): full enteral (EN) (n = 33), supplemental PN (n = 14) or predominantly PN (n = 20). Trien:tetraen ratio (TTR) ≥0.2 was considered diagnostic for essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) and increased risk was suspected if TTR exceeded 0.1.

Results

We identified 8 (16%) patients with elevated TTR ≥0.1; in 3 of them the ratio exceeded 0.2. Five of these children belonged to supplemental PN group. This group carried the highest incidence of elevated TTR (P = 0.0016), with median TTR at 0.06 (interquartile range 0.03–0.09) and two‐thirds of the analyzed TTR ≥0.5. Increased EFAD risk was associated with young age (P = 0.0291), current PN with low parenteral lipid content (P = 0.0003), and short remaining small bowel (P = 0.0013).

Conclusions

IF children with supplemental PN carry the highest overall risk for EFAD. Young age, current PN, and short remaining small bowel also increase the risk for EFAD.
In Vitro Performance Testing of Legacy and ENFit Gastrostomy Tube Devices Under Gravity Flow Conditions
Authors: Guha Suvajyoti , Ravi Nivetita , Silverstein Joshua S. , Cooper Jeffrey , Myers Matthew R.
Published: April 2018

Background

Changes in connector design for the gastrostomy tube were implemented to reduce the risk of misconnections. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in gravity flow rates between legacy devices and the ENFit devices intended to replace them.

Materials and Methods

We compared 5 legacy gastrostomy tube brands with 3 corresponding ENFit brands, sized between 14 French (Fr) and 24 Fr. Seven commercial diets were used. One comparison involved low‐profile devices.

Results

Whether an ENFit device manifested a lower flow rate than a legacy device was not a strong function of diet. One 14‐Fr ENFit device, because of its reduced distal inner tube diameter, produced an average feeding time of 56 (±13) minutes from a 20‐minute baseline. For other 14‐Fr ENFit devices, the increase was much less pronounced (25 ± 4 minutes). At larger sizes, both decreases and increases in feeding time were observed, depending on device type; on average, the 20‐minute feeding time increased to 25 (±7) minutes. For low‐profile devices, across all sizes, an increase in 20‐minute feeding time occurred, but the difference was small (23 ± 2).

Conclusion

Statistically lower flow rates were observed for 70% of ENFit devices relative to their legacy counterparts. We estimate that 30% of the differences may be noticeable. In the scenarios studied, lower flow rates (relative to other devices at the same Fr number) arise from energy losses in straight tubing. This difference can be reduced by increasing the tube inner diameters in distal end of ENFit tubes.
Pediatric Intestinal Failure: The Key Outcomes for the First 100 Patients Treated in a National Tertiary Referral Center During 1984–2017
Authors: Merras‐Salmio Laura , Mutanen Annika , Ylinen Elisa , Rintala Risto , Koivusalo Antti , Pakarinen Mikko P.
Published: April 2018

Background: Pediatric‐onset intestinal failure (IF) remains a severe illness with life‐threatening consequences. In this study, we analyzed a single center's outcomes of IF over 3 decades. Methods: All children with IF who required parenteral nutrition (PN) >2 months or small‐intestinal resection ≥50% managed since 1984 were included for retrospective outcome analyses. Results: In total, 100 patients with median PN duration of 1.2 (interquartile range, 0.4–3.5) years were identified. Causes of IF were short bowel syndrome (SBS; n = 78), primary intestinal motility disorders (n = 14), and congenital intestinopathies (n = 8). Patients with SBS had median 40 (25–60) cm of small bowel remaining. Overall, Kaplan‐Meier 5‐ and 10‐year weaning‐off estimates were 67% (95% CI, 57–77) and 73% (95% CI, 63–84), respectively. Weaning off PN was predicted by remaining bowel anatomy, multidisciplinary treatment era, and absence of immune deficiency. Catheter‐related bloodstream infections decreased from 1.4 to 0.6/1000 PN days (P = .0003) with systematic use of taurolidine locks. None had progressive liver disease. Thirty‐one percent of patients with SBS underwent autologous intestinal reconstructive surgery. Five patients received and 2 were listed for isolated intestinal transplantation. Eight patients died, and overall 15‐year survival rate estimate was 91% (95% CI, 85–98). Conclusions: Despite reassuring rates of survival and weaning off PN, long‐term PN failed in 14% of patients solely because of catheter complications in the recent era. Achievement of enteral autonomy in those with the shortest remaining small bowel and functional cause of IF remains challenging.
No Gut No Gain! Enteral Bile Acid Treatment Preserves Gut Growth but Not Parenteral Nutrition–Associated Liver Injury in a Novel Extensive Short Bowel Animal Model
Authors: Villalona Gustavo , Price Amber , Blomenkamp Keith , Manithody Chandrashekhara , Saxena Saurabh , Ratchford Thomas , Westrich Matthew , Kakarla Vindhya , Pochampally Shruthika , Phillips William , Heafner Nicole , Korremla Niraja , Greenspon Jose , Guzman Miguel A. , Kumar Jain Ajay
Published: April 2018

Background

Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides nutrition intravenously; however, this life‐saving therapy is associated with significant liver disease. Recent evidence indicates improvement in PN‐associated injury in animals with intact gut treated with enteral bile acid (BA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and a gut farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, which drives the gut–liver cross talk (GLCT). We hypothesized that similar improvement could be translated in animals with short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Methods

Using piglets, we developed a novel 90% gut‐resected SBS model. Fifteen SBS piglets receiving PN were given CDCA or control (vehicle control) for 2 weeks. Tissue and serum were analyzed posteuthanasia.

Results

CDCA increased gut FXR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction; P = .008), but not downstream FXR targets. No difference in gut fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19; P = .28) or hepatic FXR (P = .75), FGF19 (P = .86), FGFR4 (P = .53), or Cholesterol 7 α‐hydroxylase (P = .61) was noted. PN resulted in cholestasis; however, no improvement was noted with CDCA. Hepatic fibrosis or immunostaining for Ki67, CD3, or Cytokeratin 7 was not different with CDCA. PN resulted in gut atrophy. CDCA preserved (P = .04 vs control) gut mass and villous/crypt ratio. The median (interquartile range) for gut mass for control was 0.28 (0.17–0.34) and for CDCA was 0.33 (0.26–0.46).

Conclusions

We note that, unlike in animals with intact gut, in an SBS animal model there is inadequate CDCA‐induced activation of gut‐derived signaling to cause liver improvement. Thus, it appears that activation of GLCT is critically dependent on the presence of adequate gut. This is clinically relevant because it suggests that BA therapy may not be as effective for patients with SBS.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Some New Trimeric‐Type Cationic Surfactants
Authors: El‐Said Waleed A. , Moharram Ahmed S. , Hussein Essam M. , El‐Khawaga Ahmed M.
Published: April 2018

In recent years, trimeric surfactants have created excitement in the surfactant field because of their properties, which have been found to be better than monomeric or dimeric homologues. Only a limited number of trimeric surfactants have been synthesized and studied so far, probably owing to the difficulty in synthesis. In this article, we synthesized some novel star‐shaped trimeric cationic surfactants based on the alkylation of the 3 hydroxyl groups of the phloroglucinol nuclei as a core (i.e., spacer) with 3 dodecyl or 3 octyl groups (as tails) for the surfactant. The chemical structures were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis; also the critical micelle concentration was determined by electrical conductivity measurements. These surfactants were used in the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles by the sol–gel method. The silica particles shape and size were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy images. Furthermore, the corrosion inhibitor capability of these surfactants was investigated by monitoring the corrosion rate of iron sheets in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid in the presence and in the absence of different surfactants at 45°C based on the weight loss method. We have used cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a positive control, the obtained results showed a high inhibition efficiency at very low concentrations, and the prepared trimeric surfactants exhibited a higher anticorrosion efficiency than the CTAB surfactants.
Study of image quality using event‐related potentials and eye tracking measurement
Authors: Jia Lixiu , Tu Yan , Wang Lili , Zhong Xuefei , Wang Ying
Published: April 2018

The image quality was investigated using electroencephalography and eye‐tracking measurements simultaneously. Different image qualities were obtained by changing σ values in the Gaussian kernel function. The experimental results illustrated that the measurable event‐related potentials and eye‐tracking parameters varied with the change of the image quality. The more blurred the image, the higher and earlier the P300 (event‐related potentials at latency about 300–550 ms) was elicited. Meanwhile, the visual fixation duration decreased and the detection rate increased with the increase of σ. The blurred image quality could be evaluated based on the synthetic results of the reciprocal of P300 latency and the visual fixation duration. The result showed a good correlation with the subjective rating scores, which proved the feasibility of utilizing electroencephalography and eye‐tracking technology to evaluate the blurred image quality.
Mortality of Calanus helgolandicus: Sources, differences between the sexes and consumptive and nonconsumptive processes
Authors: Maud Jacqueline L. , Hirst Andrew G. , Atkinson Angus , Lindeque Penelope K. , McEvoy Andrea J.
Published: April 2018

While losses from mortality are as important as gains from reproduction in zooplankton population dynamics, the former are more challenging to quantify. We used two approaches to provide complementary insights into the mortality of a biomass‐dominant copepod, Calanus helgolandicus, at Station L4 in the English Channel. Using a neutral‐red staining method, we found that dead carcasses represented a mean of 9% of the C. helgolandicus copepodites sampled. The resulting nonconsumptive mortality rates are the first that have been derived for C. helgolandicus; and estimates suggest a contribution of 0–54% (median of 4.4%) to the total mortality rate. Consumptive mortality (i.e., that due to removal by predation), dominated for most of the year and contributed a mean of 89% to total mortality. Nonconsumptive mortality increased during summer and winter, and was positively related to maximum wind speed during the preceding 72 h, indicating that extreme weather events may lead to increased mortality. Using the Vertical Life Table approach, mortality rates across the CV‐adult male stage pair were on average ∼ 2.5 times greater than those of CV‐adult females. Adult male consumptive mortality rates were ∼ 6 times greater than those for females; adult male nonconsumptive rates were twice those of females, suggesting that predation is of greater significance to male loss rates. Summer CV‐adult mortality rates were positively correlated to temperature, and to the abundance of predatory chaetognaths and siphonophores, suggesting that the gelatinous predator assemblage is the dominant agent for population control of late stage copepodites of C. helgolandicus at L4.
Depolymerization of Trityl End‐Capped Poly(Ethyl Glyoxylate): Potential Applications in Smart Packaging
Authors: Fan Bo , Salazar Rómulo , Gillies Elizabeth R.
Published: April 2018

The temperature‐dependent depolymerization of self‐immolative poly(ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG) capped with triphenylmethyl (trityl) groups is studied and its potential application for smart packaging is explored. PEtGs with four different trityl end‐caps are prepared and found to undergo depolymerization to volatile products from the solid state at different rates depending on temperature and the electron‐donating substituents on the trityl aromatic rings. Through the incorporation of hydrophobic dyes including Nile red and IR‐780, the depolymerization is visualized as a color change of the dye as it changes from a dispersed to aggregated state. The ability of this platform to provide information on thermal history through an easily readable signal makes it promising in smart packaging applications for sensitive products such a food and other cargo that is susceptible to degradation.
Preliminary development of porous aluminum via powder metallurgy technique
Authors: Jamal N.A. , Maizatul O. , Anuar H. , Yusof F. , Nor Y. Ahmad , Khalid K. , Zakaria M.N.
Published: April 2018

Porous aluminum has been extensively studied, particularly in the field in which lightweight and high stiffness properties are essential. In this study, a preliminary investigation is performed to determine the optimum sintering temperature to develop porous aluminium by a powder metallurgy technique, using polymethylmethacrylate as a space holder. The effects of the sintering temperatures on the physical characteristics, oxidation level, microstructure and sintered density of the porous specimen are systematically evaluated. Based on the results, an increase in the sintering temperature from 580 °C to 600 °C changes the colour of the porous aluminum body from a silver‐like colour to a gold‐like colour, with some of the specimens encountering severe cracking, spalling and even collapsing. As such, the oxygen content is significantly increased from 0.45 wt.% to 2.14 wt. %, suggesting the oxidation phenomenon. In line with this, an obvious appearance of particle boundaries with less macro‐pores formation is also observed. Additionally, the sintered density of the porous specimen is found to reduce from 1.305 g/cm3 to 0.908 g/cm3. Therefore, fabrication of the resultant porous aluminium at 580 °C is an ideal condition in this study, owing to the ideal combination of physical characteristics, microstructure, oxidation level and sintered density.