bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To compare the efficacy of tamsulosin and alfuzosin as medical expulsive therapy for ureteric stones
Authors: Singal Rikki , Bhatia Gaurav , Mittal Amit , Singal Samita , Zaman Muzzafar
Published: June 2017

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin and alfuzosin for the distal ureteral stone. This study assessed the spontaneous passage and expulsion of the stone. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Surgery at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, from May 2013 to May 2014. A total number of 136 patients diagnosed as distal ureteric stone (US) of size <10 mm were included in this study. It was divided into two groups (I and II) out of which 36 cases were excluded. Group I received tablet tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day, and Group II received alfuzosin 10 mg/day. The efficacy of tamsulosin and alfuzosin as an adjunctive medical therapy was determined. Results: Both the drugs can be safely used for the distal USs. The stone expulsion rate was seen in 36 patients (72.0%) in Group I, and in 34 patients (68.0%) in Group II (P = 0.545). The passage of stones noticed by 32 patients in each Groups I and II (P = 1.000). The mean number of pain attacks was 2.91 ± 1.01 for Group I, and 1.8 ± 0.83 for Group II (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Thus, we propagate the use of alfuzosin significantly lower number of pain attacks. The drug-related side-effects were postural hypertension (four in Group I and one in Group II) and retrograde ejaculation (eight in Group I, and one in Group II). Thus, the difference was statistically significant in terms of retrograde ejaculation but insignificant for postural hypotension. Conclusion: There is no difference between both medications in term of efficacy (passing stones) for the management of distal ureteral stones. Both medications are safe and effective. In addition, alfuzosin was better tolerated than tamsulosin as it has fewer side effects.
Surface Rolling and Other Methods for Mechanical Prestressing of Metals
Authors:   Surface Enhancement Committee
Published: June 2017
Modelling micro- and macrophysical contributors to the dissipation of an Arctic mixed-phase cloud during the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS)
Authors: Loewe Katharina , Ekman Annica M. L. , Paukert Marco , Sedlar Joseph , Tjernström Michael , Hoose Corinna
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The Arctic climate is changing; temperature changes in the Arctic are greater than at midlatitudes, and changing atmospheric conditions influence Arctic mixed-phase clouds, which are important for the Arctic surface energy budget. These low-level clouds are frequently observed across the Arctic. They impact the turbulent and radiative heating of the open water, snow, and sea-ice-covered surfaces and influence the boundary layer structure. Therefore the processes that affect mixed-phase cloud life cycles are extremely important, yet relatively poorly understood. In this study, we present sensitivity studies using semi-idealized large eddy simulations (LESs) to identify processes contributing to the dissipation of Arctic mixed-phase clouds. We found that one potential main contributor to the dissipation of an observed Arctic mixed-phase cloud, during the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS) field campaign, was a low cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) of about 2 cm−3. Introducing a high ice crystal concentration of 10 L−1 also resulted in cloud dissipation, but such high ice crystal concentrations were deemed unlikely for the present case. Sensitivity studies simulating the advection of dry air above the boundary layer inversion, as well as a modest increase in ice crystal concentration of 1 L−1, did not lead to cloud dissipation. As a requirement for small droplet numbers, pristine aerosol conditions in the Arctic environment are therefore considered an important factor determining the lifetime of Arctic mixed-phase clouds.
Denitrification, dehydration and ozone loss during the Arctic winter 2015/2016
Authors: Khosrawi Farahnaz , Kirner Oliver , Sinnhuber Björn-Martin , Johansson Sören , Höpfner Michael , Santee Michelle L. , Froidevaux Lucien , Ungermann Jörn , Ruhnke Roland , Woiwode Wolfgang , Oelhaf Hermann , Braesicke Peter
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The Arctic winter 2015/2016 was one of the coldest stratospheric winters in recent years. A stable vortex formed by early December and the early winter was exceptionally cold. Cold pool temperatures dropped below the Nitric Acid Trihydrate (NAT) existence temperature of about 195 K, thus allowing Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) to form. The low temperatures in the polar stratosphere persisted until early March allowing chlorine activation and catalytic ozone destruction. Satellite observations indicate that sedimentation of PSC particles led to denitrification as well as dehydration of stratospheric layers. Model simulations of the Arctic winter 2015/2016 nudged toward European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analyses data were performed with the atmospheric chemistry–climate model ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) for the Polar Stratosphere in a Changing Climate (POLSTRACC) campaign. POLSTRACC is a High Altitude and LOng Range Research Aircraft (HALO) mission aimed at the investigation of the structure, composition and evolution of the Arctic Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS). The chemical and physical processes involved in Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion, transport and mixing processes in the UTLS at high latitudes, polar stratospheric clouds as well as cirrus clouds are investigated. In this study an overview of the chemistry and dynamics of the Arctic winter 2015/2016 as simulated with EMAC is given. Further, chemical-dynamical processes such as denitrification, dehydration and ozone loss during the Arctic winter 2015/2016 are investigated. Comparisons to satellite observations by the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (Aura/MLS) as well as to airborne measurements with the Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere (GLORIA) performed on board of HALO during the POLSTRACC campaign show that the EMAC simulations are in fairly good agreement with observations. We derive a maximum polar stratospheric O3 loss of ~ 2 ppmv or 100 DU in terms of column in mid March. The stratosphere was denitrified by about 8 ppbv HNO3 and dehydrated by about 1 ppmv H2O in mid to end of February. While ozone loss was quite strong, but not as strong as in 2010/2011, denitrification and dehydration were so far the strongest observed in the Arctic stratosphere in the at least past 10 years.
Remote sensing of PM2.5 during cloudy and nighttime periods using ceilometer backscatter
Authors: Li Siwei , Joseph Everette , Min Qilong , Yin Bangsheng , Sakai Ricardo , Payne Megan K.
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Monitoring PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter d ≤  2.5 µm) mass concentration has become of more importance recently because of the negative impacts of fine particles on human health. However, monitoring PM2.5 during cloudy and nighttime periods is difficult since nearly all the passive instruments used for aerosol remote sensing are not able to measure aerosol optical depth (AOD) under either cloudy or nighttime conditions. In this study, an empirical model based on the regression between PM2.5 and the near-surface backscatter measured by ceilometers was developed and tested using 6 years of data (2006 to 2011) from the Howard University Beltsville Campus (HUBC) site. The empirical model can explain  ∼  56,  ∼  34 and  ∼  42 % of the variability in the hourly average PM2.5 during daytime clear, daytime cloudy and nighttime periods, respectively. Meteorological conditions and seasons were found to influence the relationship between PM2.5 mass concentration and the surface backscatter. Overall the model can explain  ∼  48 % of the variability in the hourly average PM2.5 at the HUBC site when considering the seasonal variation. The model also was tested using 4 years of data (2012 to 2015) from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site, which was geographically and climatologically different from the HUBC site. The results show that the empirical model can explain  ∼  66 and  ∼  82 % of the variability in the daily average PM2.5 at the ARM SGP site and HUBC site, respectively. The findings of this study illustrate the strong need for ceilometer data in air quality monitoring under cloudy and nighttime conditions. Since ceilometers are used broadly over the world, they may provide an important supplemental source of information of aerosols to determine surface PM2.5 concentrations.
Differences in liquid cloud droplet effective radius and number concentration estimates between MODIS collections 5.1 and 6 over global oceans
Authors: Rausch John , Meyer Kerry , Bennartz Ralf , Platnick Steven
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Differences in cloud droplet effective radius and cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) estimates inferred from the Aqua–MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) collections 5.1 (C5.1) and 6 (C6) cloud products (MYD06) are examined for warm clouds over global oceans for the year 2008. Individual pixel level retrievals for both collections are aggregated to 1°  ×  1° and compared globally and regionally for the three main spectral channel pairs used for MODIS cloud optical property retrievals. Comparisons between both collections are performed for cases in which all three effective radii retrievals are classified by the MODIS cloud product as valid. The contribution to the observed differences of several key MYD06 Collection 6 algorithm updates are also explored, with a focus on changes to the surface reflectance model, assumed solar irradiance, above-cloud emission, cloud-top pressure (CTP), and pixel registration. Global results show a neutral to positive (> 50 cm−3) change for C6-derived CDNC relative to C5.1 for the 1.6 and 2.1 µm channel retrievals, corresponding to a neutral to −2 µm difference in droplet effective radius (re). For 3.7 µm retrievals, CDNC results show a negative change in the tropics, with differences transitioning toward positive values with increasing latitude spanning −25 to +50 cm−3 related to a +2.5 to −1 µm transition in effective radius. Cloud optical thickness (τ) differences were small relative to effective radius and found to not significantly impact CDNC estimates. Regionally, the magnitude and behavior of the annual CDNC cycle are compared for each effective radius retrieval. Results from this study indicate significant inter-collection differences in aggregated values of effective radius due to changes to the precomputed retrieval lookup tables (LUTs) for ocean scenes, changes to retrieved cloud-top pressure, solar irradiance, or above-cloud thermal emission, depending upon spectral channel. The observed differences between collections may have implications for existing MODIS-derived climatologies and validation studies of effective radius and CDNC.
Defining metrics of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in global climate models
Authors: Schenzinger Verena , Osprey Scott , Gray Lesley , Butchart Neal
Published: June 2017

Abstract. As the dominant mode of variability in the tropical stratosphere, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) has been subject to extensive research. Though there is a well-developed theory of this phenomenon being forced by wave–mean flow interaction, simulating the QBO adequately in global climate models still remains difficult. This paper presents a set of metrics to characterize the morphology of the QBO using a number of different reanalysis datasets and the FU Berlin radiosonde observation dataset. The same metrics are then calculated from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 and Chemistry-Climate Model Validation Activity 2 simulations which included a representation of QBO-like behaviour to evaluate which aspects of the QBO are well captured by the models and which ones remain a challenge for future model development.
Beyond Translation: The Matrice of Frankétienne's Dezafi
Authors: McFee Mollie
Published: June 2017

In this article, I analyze two novels by the Haitian author Frankétienne, Dézafi, written in Haitian Creole in 1975, and Les Affres d'un défi, written in French in 1979, as well as his theorization of the relationship between the two texts. These novels are identical in plot, character, setting, and temporal frame, but the author insists in a paratextual note that they are not translations of one another, but products of the same matrice. I examine existing scholarship in translation theory, demonstrating that Frankétienne's theorization of the texts as interrelated productions of his own multilingual creative capacities propose the matrice as a model for understanding work by multilingual authors. Each text intimates a shared aesthetic and political message to audiences with varying experience of the political and cultural milieu in which Frankétienne wrote. Ultimately, the interconnection of the texts and the languages in which they are written expresses a historical tension between the marginal and dominant, between the local and the global. Multiple iterations in conflict, rather than a single endeavor to resolve them, most fully express this ongoing struggle.
The Impact of Public Expenditure and Public Debt on Taxes: A Case Study of Jordan
Authors: Alawneh Ateyah
Published: June 2017

The study aimed to estimate the impact of capital expenditure, current expenditure and external and internal public debt on taxes in Jordan during the period 2001–2014. It adopted the multiple linear regression method by E-views program to study the impact of the independent variables (represented by capital expenditure, current expenditure, external and internal public debit) on the dependent variable (taxes). The statistical analysis showed a statistically significant, positive impact of both the capital expenditure and the current expenditure on taxes. The study also found a statistically significant, positive relationship between external and internal public debt on taxes in Jordan. The study presented a number of recommendations, most importantly for the public sector, taking into account the capital expenditure, the current expenditure and the external and internal public debt, which directly affect the tax increases in Jordan. There is a need to use non-traditional alternatives to finance capital expenditures instead of external public debt and internal sources, such as Sukuk Murabaha Islamic participation, to finance capital expenditure for the Government to build schools, hospitals and other government services. The Government should take into account the current expenditure of tax revenues, while capital expenditure should be covered by non-traditional means.
Impact of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash as an Amendment on the Physical Properties, Nutrient Content and Seedling Growth of a Certified Organic Greenhouse Growing Media
Authors: Webber III Charles L. , White Jr Paul M. , Spaunhorst Douglas J. , Petrie Eric C.
Published: June 2017

Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after removing the sucrose, water, and other impurities (filter mud) from the millable sugarcane. Louisiana sugarcane mills use a portion of the sugarcane bagasse to produce steam power to run equipment within the mill and/or as a boiler fuel for the clarification, evaporation, and crystallization processes. Sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) is a by-product of the thermal conversion of the sugarcane bagasse. The purpose of this research was to investigate the use of SBA as an amendment to soilless planting media for the production of vegetable seedlings. The SBA was combined by volume with a commercial certified organic soilless growing media into 5 combinations (0%:100%, 25%:75%, 50%:50%, 75%:25%, and 100%:0%, SBA and growing media, respectively). Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) var. ‘Bowie’ and Chinese kale (Brassica alboglabra) var. ‘South Sea’ were planted in each of the 5 different planting mixtures. As the percentage of SBA increased from 0% to 100%, the bulk densities increased, 0.118 to 0.712 g/cm3, while the porosity, water saturation percentage, and water at field capacity decreased. Increasing the SBA percentage significantly impacted total exchange capacity, pH, organic matter, estimated nitrogen release, and all other nutrients measured, except for sodium. The research indicates that the addition of SBA can enhance bean and Chinese kale seedling growth depending on the percentage of the ash added to the growth media. Bean and Chinese kale harvest parameters typically peaked at 25% SBA, and then decreased with increasing SBA %. Adding 25% SBA did benefit the seedling growth by providing additional nutrients for seedling growth, while reducing the cost of production by supplementing the more expensive greenhouse media by a readily available by-product of the sugarcane industry. Increasing the SBA % to 50% or greater is not recommend. Additional research is needed to determine the percentage above 25% and below 50% SBA that would still benefit seedling plant growth.
Meat Quality of Dairy Steers Fed Mesquite Pod Meal in Semi-Arid
Authors: Almeida Marina De Paula , Souza Evaristo J. Oliveira de , Véras Antonia Sherlânea C. , Ferreira Marcelo De Andrade , Torres Thaysa R. , Cavalcante Edwilka O. , Lima Ewerton Ivo M. de , Silva Alisson H. da
Published: June 2017

The exploitation of dairy steers for meat production is an alternative to improve production rates, but feed alternatives to cereal grains like corn used in animal feed should be researched. In this study, we aimed to evaluate performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of dairy steers consuming different levels (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, dry matter basis) of mesquite pod meal replacing corn. Twenty-five intact Holstein-Zebu dairy steers at approximately 18 months of age and with an initial body weight of 219±22 kg were used. A completely randomized design with five treatments (replacement levels) and five replications (animals) was adopted, and data were analyzed using PROC GLM for analysis of variance and PROC REG for regression analysis. There was no significant influence of the levels of replacement of corn by the mesquite pod meal as regards dry matter intake, final body weight, weight gain, carcass weight, or carcass yield (P > 0.05). The meat quality of the cattle was not significantly affected by the different levels of replacement (P > 0.05). Mesquite pod meal can fully replace corn in diets for dairy steers.
Mesquite Extract as Phytogenic Additive to Improve the Nutrition of Sheep
Authors: Alves Júnior Renato Tonhá , Souza Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de , Melo Airon Aparecido Silva de , Silva Dulciene Karla De Andrade , Torres Thaysa Rodrigues , Perreira Gerfesson Felipe Cavalcanti , Silva Camila Sousa da , Silva José Ricardo Coelho da
Published: June 2017

Four concentrations (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg extract per ml of water) of mesquite extract were used as phytogenic additive to verify the potential to increase the nutritional value of the feed, ruminal parameters (primarily propionate production) and nitrogen use efficiency, microbial protein synthesis and quantify the reduction of ciliated protozoa and characterize the ingestive behavior of sheep. Ten adult male sheep were subjected to a 5 × 5 double Latin square design. Prior to feeding, the animals received the mesquite extract. Nutrient intake was estimated from the difference of the amount of feed provided and the total surplus. Rumen content samples were collected to evaluate the profile of short-chain fatty acids, ammonia nitrogen, pH, ciliated protozoa, turnover rate and disappearance rate. To estimate the microbial protein synthesis, the technique of purine derivatives was used. The mesquite extract quadratically increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients, as well as increased propionate production, acetate:propionate ratio and microbial protein synthesis. The numbers of ciliate protozoa in the rumen decreased as a result of mesquite extract inclusion in the diet. The use of mesquite pod extract at a concentration of 488 mg/mL is recommended to improve digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients, and to optimize microbial protein synthesis and increase propionic acid production.
Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Grain Yield, Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Daba Nano Alemu
Published: June 2017

The study was conducted in Eastern Ethiopia, namely Meta and Tullo districts, during the 2015 cropping season to determine the effect of N fertilizer levels on N uptake, N use efficiency (NUE) and grain yield on bread wheat cultivars. Factorial combinations of five N levels (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha-1) and four bread wheat cultivars (Danda’a, Digalu, Kakaba and local cultivar) were laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The interactions of sites, N levels, and cultivars significantly (p ≤ 0.01) affected grain yield (GY), nitrogen uptake by grains, total nitrogen uptake, nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and nitrigen use efficiency for grain yield (NUEGY). Main effects of sites, N levels and cultivars had significant (p < 0.01) effect on grain and straw N contents, straw N uptake, N biomass production efficiency, N utilization efficiency (NUtE) and nitrogen harvest index (NHI). The cultivar Kakaba at rate of 90 kg N ha-1 produced the highest grain yield (4880 kg ha-1) in Tullo, which was statistically similar with the grain yield (4816 kg ha-1) obtained from the cultivar Digalu with 120 kg N ha-1 in Meta district. The NUEGY was higher with values of 24.2 and 24.1 kg grain kg-1 N in Tullo and Meta districts, respectively, for Digalu cultivar at 30 kg N ha-1 application rate than the remaining N levels and variety interactions at both sites. Cultivars variations in NUEGY under low N application levels were mainly due to higher variations in NUpE than in NUtE. Therefore, there is a need for exploration of the effectiveness of various combinations of N rates with time of applications for improvements of N-use efficiency traits and cost effectiveness in improved wheat cultivars production.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 9, No. 7
Authors: Brown Anne
Published: June 2017

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 9, No. 7, 2017.
Histochemical Screening of Leaves Compared to in situ and in vitro Calluses of Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq.
Authors: Dantas Luciana Arantes , Melo Anielly Monteiro , Pereira Paulo Sérgio , Souza Lucas Anjos , Vasconcelos Filho Sebastião Carvalho , Silva Fabiano Guimarães
Published: June 2017

Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. is a shrub considered to have valuable medicinal potential in folk medicine in China and Nepal. The fruit extract is used for toothache, scabies, headache, dandruff and lice infestation. A limited number of reports address techniques of tissue culture for this plant. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to establish the species in vitro from seeds and subsequently to compare the production of primary and secondary metabolites in the plant’s leaves in situ and in vitro and in calluses obtained from leaf segments. Seedlings were established from seeds in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with a 50% salt concentration.The seedlings were kept under a photoperiod of 16 h of photosynthetically active radiation at 45-55 µmol m-2 s-1 provided by fluorescent bulbs. The callus induction experiment followed a completely randomized design consisting of 2 doses of kinetin (KIN), 2.5 and 10 mg L-1, in the absence or presence of light. Segments were inoculated in glass bottles containing 50% MS medium, 30 g L-1 of sucrose, 3.5 g L-1 of agar and 1 mg L-1 of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), with the pH adjusted to 5.7±0.03. We observed that in vitro cultivation of calluses resulted in greater secondary metabolite production and accumulation, regardless of KIN concentration. In calluses, the best alternative for potentiation occurred in cultivation in the absence of light when compared to the tissues of both in situ and in vitro leaves.
Systems Thinking, Big Data, and Data Protection Law
Authors: Pearce Henry
Published: June 2017

Systems Thinking, Big Data, and Data Protection Law: Using Ackoff’s Interactive Planning to Respond to Emergent Policy Challenges

This article examines the emergence of big data and how it poses a number of significant novel challenges to the smooth operation of some of the European data protection framework’s fundamental tenets. Building on previous research in the area, the article argues that recent proposals for reform in this area, as well as proposals based on conventional approaches to policy making and regulatory design more generally, will likely be ill-equipped to deal with some of big data’s most severe emergent difficulties. Instead, it is argued that novel, and possibly unorthodox, approaches to regulation and policy design premised on systems thinking methodologies may represent attractive and alternative ways forward. As a means of testing this general hypothesis, the article considers Interactive Planning, a systems thinking methodology popularized by the organizational theorist Russel Ackoff, as a particular embryonic example of one such methodological approach, and, using the challenges posed by big data to the principle of purpose limitation as a case study, explores whether its usage may be beneficial in the development of data protection law and policy in the big data environment.
EMPTY THE MUSEUM, DECOLONIZE THE CURRICULUM, OPEN THEORY
Authors: Mirzoeff Nicholas
Published: June 2017

This essay reviews the possibility of the space of appearance under the authoritarian nationalism that has been ushered in by Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. For those working in and around higher education, I propose that the tasks with which we should begin are: decolonizing the curriculum; emptying the museum; and opening theory. Each of these categories has both a history in past resistance and liberation movements and a present-day dynamic that is explored here from the South African Rhodes Must Fall movement via Occupy Wall Street to the Free University and Antiuniversity.
PHOTOGRAPHY CLICHÉS: ON BAUDELAIRE’S MEDIA AESTHETICS AND THE MECHANICAL ARTS
Authors: Grøtta Marit
Published: June 2017

The aim of this article is two-folded. First, I wish to situate Baudelaire in the midst of 19th-century media, bring attention to the way he explored the new media of his day, and suggest that he developed his own media aesthetics. Second, I wish to examine Baudelaire’s relation to photography more specifically, emphasizing his love of commonplaces and clichés. I begin by contextualizing Baudelaire’s notorious attack on photography in the Salon de 1859 and then examine three poems in light of the photographic culture of Baudelaire’s day. Central here is the experiment on the notion of identity that was carried out with the spread of portrait photography: the notation of a unique identity was undermined, processes of multiplication were explored, and the poetic discourse of the “soul” was radically changed.
Etiology of Onychomycosis in Patients in Turkey
Authors: Cengiz Fatma Pelin , Cemil Bengu Cevirgen , Emiroglu Nazan , Bahali Anil Gulsel , Ozkaya Dilek Biyik , Su Ozlem , Onsun Nahide
Published: June 2017

Background:

Onychomycosis is a chronic nail infection caused by dermatophytes, Candida, nondermatophyte molds, and Trichosporon. The purpose of this study was to identify the underlying pathogen in patients with onychomycosis in our region.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of 225 cases with onychomycosis, diagnosed over a 27-month period at the Department of Dermatoveneorology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey, and confirmed with culture, was performed.

Results:

Patient age ranged from 2 to 87 years (mean ± SD, 41.59 ± 17.61), and female patients were more commonly affected (120 cases, 53.3%) than male patients. Lateral and distal subungual onychomycosis was detected in 180 cases (80%). Etiologic agents were as follows: Trichophyton rubrum, 77 cases (34.2%); Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 30 cases (13.3%), Candida albicans, 28 cases (12.4%); Candida parapsilosis, 25 cases (11.1%); Acremonium species, one case (0.4%); Aspergillus species, two cases (0.9%); Fusarium species, four cases (1.3%); and Trichosporon species, three cases (1.3%).

Conclusions:

The most frequent isolated etiologic agents were T rubrum for toenails and C albicans for fingernails.
Affimer proteins are versatile and renewable affinity reagents
Authors: Tiede Christian , Bedford Robert , Heseltine Sophie J , Smith Gina , Wijetunga Imeshi , Ross Rebecca , AlQallaf Danah , Roberts Ashley PE , Balls Alexander , Curd Alistair , Hughes Ruth E , Martin Heather , Needham Sarah R , Zanetti-Domingues Laura C , Sadigh Yashar , Peacock Thomas P , Tang Anna A , Gibson Naomi , Kyle Hannah , Platt Geoffrey W , Ingram Nicola , Taylor Thomas , Coletta Louise P , Manfield Iain , Knowles Margaret , Bell Sandra , Esteves Filomena , Maqbool Azhar , Prasad Raj K , Drinkhill Mark , Bon Robin S , Patel Vikesh , Goodchild Sarah A , Martin-Fernandez Marisa , Owens Ray J , Nettleship Joanne E , Webb Michael E , Harrison Michael , Lippiat Jonathan D , Ponnambalam Sreenivasan , Peckham Michelle , Smith Alastair , Ferrigno Paul Ko , Johnson Matt , McPherson Michael J , Tomlinson Darren Charles
Published: June 2017

Molecular recognition reagents are key tools for understanding biological processes and are used universally by scientists to study protein expression, localisation and interactions. Antibodies remain the most widely used of such reagents and many show excellent performance, although some are poorly characterised or have stability or batch variability issues, supporting the use of alternative binding proteins as complementary reagents for many applications. Here we report on the use of Affimer proteins as research reagents. We selected 12 diverse molecular targets for Affimer selection to exemplify their use in common molecular and cellular applications including the (a) selection against various target molecules; (b) modulation of protein function in vitro and in vivo; (c) labelling of tumour antigens in mouse models; and (d) use in affinity fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy. This work shows that Affimer proteins, as is the case for other alternative binding scaffolds, represent complementary affinity reagents to antibodies for various molecular and cell biology applications.
Magnetic resonance imaging of Takayasu's aortitis in an infant
Authors: Mitchell Craig S. , Parisi Marguerite T.
Published: June 2017

A fusiform aneurysm involving the ascending aorta and aortic arch in an 8month-old infant was imaged with magnetic resonance. Histologic studies of the excised aneurysm indicated Takayasu's arteritis. Takayasu's arteritis has rarely been reported in infants, and involvement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch is an unusual finding in this age group.
Redescription and establishment of a holotype and three paratypes for the species Hemimycale mediterranea sp. nov.
Authors: Uriz Maria J. , Garate Leire , Agell Gemma
Published: June 2017

Background

In a recent paper, we described a new sponge species named Hemimycale mediterranea Uriz, Garate & Agell, 2017. However, we failed to designate a holotype and a type locality, as required by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Although the validity of the previous conclusions remains unchanged, the species name cannot be considered available according to ICZN regulations until a holotype is designated.

Results

The present work fulfills the requirements of the ICZN by designating a holotype, three paratypes and the type locality for the new species Hemimycale mediterranea and has been registered in ZooBank.
Ficus septicaplant extracts for treating Dengue virusin vitro
Authors: Huang Nan-Chieh , Hung Wan-Ting , Tsai Wei-Lun , Lai Feng-Yi , Lin You-Sheng , Huang Mei-Shu , Chen Jih-Jung , Lin Wei-Yu , Weng Jing-Ru , Chang Tsung-Hsien
Published: June 2017

Dengue virus types 1-4 (DENV-1-4) are positive-strand RNA viruses with an envelope that belongs to theFlaviviridae. DENV infection threatens human health worldwide. However, other than supportive treatments, no specific therapy is available for the infection. In order to discover novel medicine against DENV, we tested 59 crude extracts, without cytotoxicity, from 23 plantsin vitro; immunofluorescence assay revealed that the methanol extracts of fruit, heartwood, leaves and stem fromFicus septicaBurm. f. had a promising anti-DENV-1 and DENV-2 effect. However, infection with the non-envelopepicornavirus, Aichi virus, was not inhibited by treatment withF. septicaextracts.F. septicamay be a candidate antiviral drug against an enveloped virus such as DENV.
Usefulness of Fluorescence Vascular Imaging for Preserving the Remnant Stomach After Distal Pancreatosplenectomy: A Case Report
Authors: Kawasaki Yota , Maemura Kosei , Kurahara Hiroshi , Mataki Yuko , Minami Koji , Iino Satoshi , Sakoda Masahiko , Ueno Shinichi , Shinchi Hiroyuki , Takao Sonshin , Natsugoe Shoji
Published: June 2017

Due to recent developments in medical treatment, the number of patients that undergo multiple surgical procedures for secondary metachronous cancer is increasing. In cases in which patients undergo distal pancreatosplenectomy after distal gastrectomy, surgeons might have concerns about whether they are able to preserve the remnant proximal stomach because the main feeding vessels will have been divided in the previous procedure. Herein, we report a case in which a patient underwent distal pancreatosplenectomy 20 years after undergoing distal gastrectomy, and the remnant proximal stomach was successfully preserved with the help of intraoperative fluorescence vascular imaging using indocyanine green (FVI-ICG). A 65-year-old female was referred to our hospital due to upper gastric pain and was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreatic body. She had undergone distal gastrectomy 20 years earlier for early stage gastric cancer. Therefore, the blood supply to the remnant stomach left after the distal pancreatectomy procedure might have been insufficient. To determine the adequacy of the blood supply to the remnant proximal stomach after distal pancreatosplenectomy, we conducted intraoperative FVI-ICG. Because strong fluorescence was detected, we were able to safely preserve the remnant stomach. At 4 and 8 months after surgery, computed tomography showed good blood flow through the remnant stomach. FVI-ICG is useful for evaluating the blood supply to tissues, and hence, can be used to predict the blood supply of residual organs.
Metal Immiscibility Route to Synthesis of Ultrathin Carbides, Borides, and Nitrides
Authors: Wang Zixing , Kochat Vidya , Pandey Prafull , Kashyap Sanjay , Chattopadhyay Soham , Samanta Atanu , Sarkar Suman , Manimunda Praveena , Zhang Xiang , Asif Syed , Singh Abhisek K. , Chattopadhyay Kamanio , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: June 2017

Ultrathin ceramic coatings are of high interest as protective coatings from aviation to biomedical applications. Here, a generic approach of making scalable ultrathin transition metal‐carbide/boride/nitride using immiscibility of two metals is demonstrated. Ultrathin tantalum carbide, nitride, and boride are grown using chemical vapor deposition by heating a tantalum‐copper bilayer with corresponding precursor (C2H2, B powder, and NH3). The ultrathin crystals are found on the copper surface (opposite of the metal–metal junction). A detailed microscopy analysis followed by density functional theory based calculation demonstrates the migration mechanism, where Ta atoms prefer to stay in clusters in the Cu matrix. These ultrathin materials have good interface attachment with Cu, improving the scratch resistance and oxidation resistance of Cu. This metal–metal immiscibility system can be extended to other metals to synthesize metal carbide, boride, and nitride coatings.
Modular Assembly of Reversible Multivalent Cancer‐Cell‐Targeting Drug Conjugates
Authors: Santos Fábio M. F. , Matos Ana I. , Ventura Ana E. , Gonçalves João , Veiros Luís F. , Florindo Helena F. , Gois Pedro M. P.
Published: June 2017

Herein is described a new modular platform for the construction of cancer‐cell‐targeting drug conjugates. Tripodal boronate complexes featuring reversible covalent bonds were designed to accommodate a cytotoxic drug (bortezomib), poly(ethylene glycol) (Peg) chains, and folate targeting units. The B‐complex core was assembled in one step, proved stable under biocompatible conditions, namely, in human plasma (half‐life up to 60 h), and underwent disassembly in the presence of glutathione (GSH). Stimulus‐responsive intracellular cargo delivery was confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy, and a mechanism for GSH‐induced B‐complex hydrolysis was proposed on the basis of mass spectrometry and DFT calculations. This platform enabled the modular construction of multivalent conjugates with high selectivity for folate‐positive MDA‐MB‐231 cancer cells and IC50 values in the nanomolar range.
A Strategy for Creating Organisms Dependent on Noncanonical Amino Acids
Authors: Xuan Weimin , Schultz Peter G.
Published: June 2017

The use of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) to control the viability of an organism provides a strategy for the development of conditional “kill switches” for live vaccines or engineered human cells. We report an approach inspired by the posttranslational acetylation/deacetylation of lysine residues, in which a protein encoded by a gene with an in‐frame nonsense codon at an essential lysine can be expressed in its native state only upon genetic incorporation of N‐ϵ‐acetyl‐l‐Lys (AcK), and subsequent enzymatic deacetylation in the host cell. We applied this strategy to two essential E. coli enzymes: the branched‐chain aminotransferase BCAT and the DNA replication initiator protein DnaA. We also devised a barnase‐based conditional suicide switch to further lower the escape frequency of the host cells. This strategy offers a number of attractive features for controlling host viability, including a single small‐molecule‐based kill switch, low escape frequency, and unaffected protein function.
Polycarbonate/silica nanocomposite membranes: Fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation
Authors: Idris Alamin , Man Zakaria , Maulud Abdulhalim Shah
Published: June 2017

Polycarbonate/silica nanocomposite membranes at low silica loading were fabricated by solution blending and solvent evaporation technique. The functionalized silica nanoparticles used were synthesized by co‐condensing hydrolyzed tetraethylorthosilicate with 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane in the sol–gel process. The membranes morphology, composition, surface, structure, thermal and mechanical properties were analyzed by the standard characterization techniques. The gas permeation tests were conducted in four‐channel permeation cells. Field emission scanning electron microscopy results reveal that membranes above 3 wt % silica content formed distinguishable voids and agglomerates. Fair distribution of silica nanoparticles and absence of residual solvents were observed by energy dispersive X‐ray and thermogravimetric analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra confirmed the presence of new functional groups (NH) and (OH) bonds. The X‐ray diffraction pattern revealed the polymer‐particle interactions, the formation of rigidified polymer chain, and nanostructured silicon crystals. Further, the thermogravimetric analysis results revealed thermal stability enhancement while differential scanning calorimetry results of increased glass transition temperatures confirmed the presence of rigidified polymer chain. Furthermore, enhancements in mechanical strength of the membranes were observed. Moreover, at all feed pressures, increased CO2, N2, and CH4 gas permeation was observed. At 6 bar feed pressure, the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 ideal selectivities of PC membranes with 3 wt % silica loading have increased from 19.2 to 38.0 and 29.2, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45310.
Temperature effects on rigid nano‐silica and soft nano‐rubber toughening in epoxy under impact loading
Authors: Huang De‐Dong , Xu Feng , Du Xu‐Sheng , Lee Zheng‐Hang , Wang Xiao‐Jun
Published: June 2017

The rigid nano‐silica and soft nano‐rubber toughening effects on neat epoxy under impact loading in a range of −50 to 80 °C were investigated. Nanosilica particles (20 nm) toughened neat epoxy at all temperatures with a maximum toughening efficiency at −50 °C and lower efficiency at elevated temperatures. In contrast, except at −50 °C, nano‐rubber particles (100 nm) showed the deterioration effect on the impact fracture toughness of epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscopy examinations revealed that the crack pinning and local epoxy deformation induced by rigid particles in term of nano‐silica/epoxy and nano‐rubber/epoxy interfacial debonding (at −50 °C) led to positive toughening efficiency on neat epoxy. However, at 20 and 80 °C, the rubber cavitations/void plastic growth was significantly suppressed under the impact loading, which led to the negative toughening efficiency on epoxy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45319.
Azo‐Based Fluorogenic Probes for Biosensing and Bioimaging: Recent Advances and Upcoming Challenges
Authors: Chevalier Arnaud , Renard Pierre‐Yves , Romieu Anthony
Published: June 2017

The use of nonfluorescent azo dyes as dark quenchers in activatable optical bioprobes based on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism and designed to target a wide range of enzymes has been established for over two decades. The key value of the azo moiety (−N=N−) to act as an efficient “ON–OFF” switch of fluorescence once introduced within the core structure of conventional organic‐based fluorophores (mainly fluorescent aniline derivatives) has recently been exploited in the development of alternative reaction‐based small‐molecule probes based on the “profluorescence” concept. These unprecedented “azobenzene‐caged” fluorophores are valuable tools for the detection of a wide range of reactive (bio)analytes. This review highlights the most recent and relevant advances made in the design and biosensing/bioimaging applications of azo‐based fluorogenic probes. Emphasis is also placed on relevant achievements in the synthesis of bioconjugatable/biocompatible azo dyes used as starting building blocks in the rational and rapid construction of these fluorescent chemodosimeters. Finally, a brief glimpse of possible future biomedical applications (theranostics) of these “smart” azobenzene‐based molecular systems is presented.
Combination of Mass Signal Amplification and Isotope‐Labeled Alkanethiols for the Multiplexed Detection of miRNAs
Authors: Kang Hyunook , Hong Seol‐Hye , Sung Jiha , Yeo Woon‐Seok
Published: June 2017

We report a fast and sensitive method for the multiplexed detection of miRNAs by combining mass signal amplification and isotope‐labeled signal reporter molecules. In our strategy, target miRNAs are captured specifically by immobilized DNAs on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which carry a large number of small molecules, called amplification tags (Am‐tags), as the reporter for the detection of target miRNAs. For multiplexed detection, we designed and synthesized four Am‐tags containing 0, 4, 8, 12 isotopes so that they had same molecular properties but different molecular weights. By observing the mass signals of the Am‐tags on AuNPs decorated along with different probe DNAs, four types of miRNAs in a sample could be easily discriminated, and the relative amounts of these miRNAs could be quantified. The practicability of our strategy was further verified by measuring the expression levels of two miRNAs in HUVECs in response to different CuSO4 concentrations.
A Novel Chemical Route to Atomic Layer Deposition of ZnS Thin Film from Diethylzinc and 1,5‐Pentanedithiol
Authors: Ko Dong‐Hyun , Kim Sungjoon , Jin Zhenyu , Shin Seokhee , Lee Sun Young , Min Yo‐Sep
Published: June 2017

This study describes a novel chemical route to grow ZnS thin films via atomic layer deposition (ALD). By using diethylzinc and 1,5‐pentanedithiol as precursors of Zn and S, respectively, ZnS films are grown on substrates with an atomic precision by repeating self‐limiting chemisorption of each precursor. The growth‐per‐cycle of the ALD process is around 0.1 Å per cycle at 150°C, and the as‐grown films are characterized to be amorphous ZnS by X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Protozoa inhibition by different salts: Osmotic stress or ionic stress?
Authors: Li Changhao , Li Jingya , Lan Christopher Q. , Liao Dankui
Published: June 2017

Cell density and morphology changes were tested to examine the effects of salts including NaHCO3, NaCl, KHCO3, and KCl at 160 mM on protozoa. It was demonstrated that ionic stress rather than osmotic stress led to protozoa cell death and NaHCO3 was shown to be the most effective inhibitor. Deformation of cells and cell shrinkage were observed when protozoan cells were exposed to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or any of the salts. However, while PEG treated cells could fully recover in both number and size, only a small portion of the salt‐treated cells survive and cell size was 36–58% smaller than the regular. The disappearance of salt‐treated protozoa cells was hypothetically attributed to disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane of these cells. It is further hypothesized that the PEG‐treated protozoan cells carried out regulatory volume increase (RVI) after the osmotic shock but the RVI of salt‐treated protozoa was hurdled to varied extents. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1418–1424, 2017
Effectiveness of continuous low‐dose fasudil on refractory coronary vasospasm subsequent to cardiopulmonary arrest
Authors: Ooshiro Daisuke , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Kakazu Masanori , Arasaki Osamu
Published: June 2017

Key Clinical Message

Refractory coronary vasospasm subsequent to reperfusion, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or revascularization, for myocardial infarction may respond to fasudil in the superacute phase. Continuous low‐dose fasudil administration should be an option for refractory coronary vasospastic angina (VSA).
Towards the implementation of Multi‐band Multi‐standard Software‐Defined Radio using Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration
Authors: Sadek Ahmad , Mostafa Hassan , Nassar Amin , Ismail Yehea
Published: June 2017

The vast evolution of fixed and mobile standards urges upgrading the hardware to be compatible with them. An efficient approach to reduce the required cost and effort is hardware reusability, which in turn can be achieved by a dynamically reconfigurable field programmable gate array (FPGA). This flexible hardware time multiplexing allows more logic to fit within the same area, which means fitting bigger designs into smaller less expensive devices, with more optimization of power consumption. This work shows the advantages of using the dynamic partial reconfiguration (DPR) technique, on a fine‐grained block level, in implementing a baseband physical layer processing module for software‐defined radio (SDR) chain that supports 3G, long‐term evolution (LTE), and WIFI standards. The benefits increase when the reconfiguration is not only dynamic but also takes place in run‐time without the need to switch off the system. A comparison is held on Xilinx Virtex 5 design kit XUPV5‐LX110T between the implementation of the baseband processing module with and without using the DPR technique in the 3G, long‐term evolution, and WIFI standards. The comparison addresses the area, power, memory, and time overhead. Experimental results reveal that the DPR technique improves the area and the power consumption with an acceptable increase in memory and latency. Xilinx ISE 14.7 is used for modules implementation, Xilinx PlanAhead is used in floorplanning for the different designs and applying the DPR technique, and Xilinx Power Analyzer is used to measure the power consumption.