bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Rhizosphere Contribution to the Environmental Fate of the Herbicide Prometryn
Authors: Hand Laurence H. , Gougoulias Christos , Bramke Irene , Thomas Kevin A. , Oliver Robin G.
Published: October 2019

Plant protection products (PPPs) undergo rigorous regulatory assessment to ensure that they do not pose unacceptable risks to the environment. Elucidation of their fate and behavior in soil is an integral part of this environmental risk assessment. The active substance degradation in soil of PPPs is first assessed in laboratory studies (typically following Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] test guideline 307). Conditions in guideline laboratory studies are far removed from those occurring under agricultural use, and the contribution of crop roots has currently not been assessed. We integrated viable plant root systems, representative of 3 different crop types, into the OECD test guideline 307 design to assess their impact on the dissipation of the herbicide prometryn. Significantly faster decline of parent residue and higher formation of nonextractable residues were observed in all 3 planted systems. This led to a reduction in the time required for 50% of the compound to dissipate (DT50) of approximately one-half in the presence of rye grass and hot pepper and of approximately one-third in the presence of red clover. These findings imply that plants and their associated root networks can have a significant influence on PPP dissipation. Based on these data, greater environmental realism could be added to the standardized laboratory study design by the inclusion of plant root systems into higher tier studies, which, in turn, could serve to improve the environmental risk assessment process. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:450–457. © 2019 SETAC

Abstract

Investigation of the rhizosphere effect on prometryn dissipation, using a flow-through test system with a full mass balance. OECD 307 = Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development test guideline 307 (2002).
Analysis of metabolomics associated with quality differences between room‐temperature‐ and low‐temperature‐stored litchi pulps
Authors: Guo Xiaomeng , Luo Tao , Han Dongmei , Wu Zhenxian
Published: October 2019

Studies on how temperature affects the postharvest quality of litchi have focused mainly on pericarp browning but rarely on the metabolites in postharvest litchi pulp. In this study, the differences in respiration rates, total soluble solid content, and titratable acid content demonstrated that room and low temperatures have different effects on the quality of “Feizixiao” litchi pulp. UHPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS/MS analysis was performed to compare the differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in litchi pulp after 8 days of storage at room temperature (RT‐8 d) with those in litchi pulp after 28 days of storage at low temperature (LT‐28 d). Nineteen carbohydrates (phosphohexoses, sorbitol, and mannose), fifteen acids, seven amino acids, nine energy metabolites and nucleotides, and six aliphatic and secondary metabolites were identified as common DEMs in RT‐8 d and LT‐28 d pulps. These findings indicated active fructose and mannose metabolism and increased catabolism of nicotinate, nicotinamide, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate. Four carbohydrates (mainly phosphohexoses), five acids, ten amino acids, three aliphatic and secondary metabolites, and one hormone were identified as unique DEMs in RT‐8 d pulp, the consumption of key metabolites in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and accumulation of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Active consumption of nucleotide metabolites and biosynthesis of aliphatics in LT‐28 d pulp were indicated by unique DEMs (eleven carbohydrates, four acids, seven amino acids, seven energy metabolites and nucleotides, and six aliphatic and secondary metabolites). These results provided an unambiguous metabolic fingerprint, thereby revealing how room and low temperatures differentially influenced the quality of litchi pulp.
Robust Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate methods for detection and quantification of urea adulteration in fresh milk samples
Authors: Mabood Fazal , Ali Liaqat , Boque Ricard , Abbas Ghulam , Jabeen Farah , Haq Quazi Mohammad Imranul , Hussain Javid , Hamaed Ahmed Moahammed , Naureen Zakira , Al‐Nabhani Mahmood , Khan Mohammed Ziauddin , Khan Ajmal , Al‐Harrasi Ahmed
Published: October 2019

Urea is added as an adulterant to give milk whiteness and increase its consistency for improving the solid not fat percentage, but the excessive amount of urea in milk causes overburden and kidney damages. Here, an innovative sensitive methodology based on near‐infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis has been proposed for the robust detection and quantification of urea adulteration in fresh milk samples. In this study, 162 fresh milk samples were used, those consisting 20 nonadulterated samples (without urea) and 142 with urea adulterant. Eight different percentage levels of urea adulterant, that is, 0.10%, 0.30%, 0.50%, 0.70%, 0.90%, 1.10%, 1.30%, and 1.70%, were prepared, each of them prepared in triplicates. A Frontier NIR spectrophotometer (BSEN60825‐1:2007) by Perkin Elmer was used for scanning the absorption of each sample in the wavenumber range of 10,000–4,000 cm‐1, using 0.2 mm path length CaF2 sealed cell at resolution of 2 cm‐1. Principal components analysis (PCA), partial least‐squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA), and partial least‐squares regressions (PLSR) methods were applied for the multivariate analysis of the NIR spectral data collected. PCA was used to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral data and to explore the similarities and differences among the fresh milk samples and the adulterated ones. PLS‐DA also showed the discrimination between the nonadulterated and adulterated milk samples. The R‐square and root mean square error (RMSE) values obtained for the PLS‐DA model were 0.9680 and 0.08%, respectively. Furthermore, PLSR model was also built using the training set of NIR spectral data to make a regression model. For this PLSR model, leave‐one‐out cross‐validation procedure was used as an internal cross‐validation criteria and the R‐square and the root mean square error (RMSE) values for the PLSR model were found as 0.9800 and 0.56%, respectively. The PLSR model was then externally validated using a test set. The root means square error of prediction (RMSEP) obtained was 0.48%. The present proposed study was intended to contribute toward the development of a robust, sensitive, and reproducible method to detect and determine the urea adulterant concentration in fresh milk samples.
The EUSTACE global land station daily air temperature dataset
Authors: Brugnara Yuri , Good Elizabeth , Squintu Antonello A. , van der Schrier Gerard , Brönnimann Stefan
Published: October 2019

We describe a global dataset of quality‐controlled in situ daily air temperature observations covering the period 1850–2015, developed in the framework of the EUSTACE (EU Surface Temperature for All Corners of Earth) project (www.eustaceproject.org). The dataset includes a total of 35,364 daily series of maximum and minimum temperature obtained from seven different collections. About 97% of the series are publicly available in a common format, while the remaining 3% can be obtained from the original data providers. Unlike other similar products, duplicates have been removed without blending of series, which simplifies data traceability and improves the temporal homogeneity of the individual series at the cost of a smaller average length. Residual artificial signals (breakpoints) in the series caused by station relocations, changes in instrumentation, etc., have been detected by means of the combination of four breakpoint detection tests, four variables and three temporal aggregations. The combined results give not only the most probable position of the breakpoints, but also a measure of their likelihood. The reliability of the detection was estimated for each year of each target series, based on the number of reference series and on their correlation with the target series. Moreover, its general performance was evaluated through a benchmark of synthetic series. This product will be combined with datasets of marine and ice in situ air temperature observations and with measurements from satellite to produce the first complete global statistical reconstruction of daily near‐surface air temperature.
Environmental trends between 2400 and 1200 BP in Barrancas, Argentinean Puna: Impacts on local resource variability and socioeconomic organization
Authors: Oxman Brenda I. , Pirola Malena , Bustos Sabrina , Morales Marcelo R. , Tchilinguirian Pablo , Orgeira María Julia
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a multiproxy analysis—geomorphology, organic matter, and carbonate content, diatoms, pollen, and magnetic properties of sediments—of the Barrancas Pueblo profile, located in Barrancas, Jujuy, Argentina (S 23°18′08,7; W 66°05′15,2; 3666 m.a.s.l.) to explore local environmental change over the last few millennia. This study is part of a broader investigation of the environmental conditions that facilitated and/or triggered the development of a mixed herding and hunting economic strategy during the late Holocene. The results suggest ongoing local moisture availability for most of the late Holocene; between 2400 and 1500 BP there was a stable, low energy environment that supported a vegetated floodplain, resulting in high availability of pasture and water. However, throughout most of the studied period, there were punctual arid episodes and erosion of the river catchment. High environmental variability post‐3000 cal BP could have put a premium on strategies to reduce the risk associated with resource unpredictability, such as economic specialization and intensification and storage practices designed to control and mitigate resource variability. This process could have ultimately lead to the consolidation of the Andean pastoralist way of life ca. 3000–2500 BP.
Subcortical structural variations associated with low socioeconomic status in adolescents
Authors: Jenkins Lisanne M. , Chiang Jessica J. , Vause Katherine , Hoffer Lauren , Alpert Kathryn , Parrish Todd B. , Wang Lei , Miller Gregory E.
Published: October 2019

Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with a higher probability of multiple exposures (e.g., neighborhood violence, poor nutrition, housing instability, air pollution, and insensitive caregiving) known to affect structural development of subcortical brain regions that subserve threat and reward processing, however, few studies have examined the relationship between SES and such subcortical structures in adolescents. We examined SES variations in volume and surface morphometry of subcortical regions. The sample comprised 256 youth in eighth grade (mean age = 13.9 years), in whom high dimensional deformation mapping of structural 3T magnetic resonance imaging scans was performed. Vertex‐wise linear regression analyses examined associations between income to poverty ratio and surfaces of the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens and pallidum, with the covariates age, pubertal status, and intracranial volume. Given sex differences in pubertal development and subcortical maturation at this age, the analyses were stratified by sex. Among males, who at this age average an earlier pubertal stage than females, the relationship between SES and local shape variation in subcortical regions was almost entirely positive. For females, the relationship between SES and local shape variation was negative. Racial identity was associated with SES in our sample, however supplementary analyses indicated that most of the associations between SES and subcortical structure were independent of it. Although these cross‐sectional results are not definitive, they are consistent with a scenario where low SES delays structural maturation of subcortical regions involved with threat and reward processing. Future longitudinal studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in advanced stage ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Salman Lina , Sabah Gad , Jakobson‐Setton Ariella , Raban Oded , Yeoshoua Effi , Eitan Ram
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the prognostic significance of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) upon diagnosis, and its impact on surgical outcome, among patients with advanced stage ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study included all women with stage IIIC and IV ovarian carcinoma receiving NACT in Rabin Medical Center, Petah‐Tikva, Israel; January 1, 2005, to June 30, 2017. Demographics and treatment outcome were compared between patients with NLR at diagnosis ≥6.0 and those with NLR <6.0. Primary outcome was optimal debulking (<1 cm largest residual disease). Overall survival was compared between groups using Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis.

Results

Of 111 patients, 33 (29.7%) had NLR ≥6.0 at diagnosis, and 78 (70.3%) had NLR <6.0. No difference was found in rates of optimal debulking between the group with NLR ≥6.0 and that with NLR <6.0 (78.9% vs 84.7%, respectively, P=0.555).

Using Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis, NLR ≥6.0 was associated with significantly worse overall survival (P<0.05). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, elevated NLR was not statistically associated with poor overall survival (P=0.080).

Conclusions

In advanced stage ovarian carcinoma, NLR ≥6.0 at diagnosis did not predict surgical outcome, however it was a predictive factor for poor overall survival.
Preparation and preclinical evaluation of two novel Staphylococcus aureus capsular polysaccharide 5 and 8‐fusion protein (Hla‐MntC‐SACOL0723) immunoconjugates
Authors: Ahmadi Khadijeh , Aslani Mohammad M. , Pouladfar Gholamreza , Faezi Sobhan , Kalani Mehdi , Pourmand Mohammad R. , Ghaedi Tayebe , Havaei Seyed A. , Mahdavi Mehdi
Published: October 2019

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens in the hospital and the community. The emergence of broad‐spectrum antibiotic resistance in S. aureus has made the treatment process more difficult. Therefore, it is obvious that an effective prevention strategy against the pathogen could significantly reduce costs related to care in hospitals. In this report, we describe a simple approach to conjugate S. aureus capsular polysaccharide 5 (CP5) from S. aureus Reynolds strain and 8 (CP8) from S. aureus Becker strain to a fusion protein (Hla‐MntC‐SACOL0723) and investigation of its bioactivity. The conjugation was done by using ADH (as a bridge) and EDAC (as a coupling agent). The immunoconjugates were characterized by routine polysaccharide/protein contents assays followed by reverse phase chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy. The groups of mice were immunized with conjugate vaccines, capsular polysaccharides, and phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) as a control group. The functional activity of the vaccine candidates was evaluated by ELISA, opsonophagocytosis tests, and determination of bacterial load in challenge study. The results showed that the specific antibody (total IgG) titers raised against conjugate molecules were higher than those of the nonconjugated capsular polysaccharides. The opsonic activity of the conjugate vaccines antisera was significantly higher than polysaccharides alone (58% reduction in the number of bacteria versus 16.3% at 1:2 dilution, p < .05), Further, the conjugate vaccine group had a significant reduction in bacterial load after challenge with S. aureus COL strain cells as compared to the PBS and nonconjugated controls. In conclusion, the immunoconjugates could be developed as a potential vaccine candidate against S. aureus.
Effects of delayed time‐out on problem behavior of preschool children
Authors: Slocum Sarah K. , Vollmer Timothy R. , Donaldson Jeanne M.
Published: October 2019

Time‐out is a common negative punishment procedure in home and school settings. Although prior studies have shown time‐out is effective, more research is needed on its effects when implementation is imperfect. We evaluated delays to time‐out with 4 preschool children who engaged in some combination of aggression, property destruction, and rule breaking. Target behavior decreased for all subjects exposed to delayed time‐out, with 3 of 4 subjects displaying low levels of target behavior even when time‐out was delayed by 90‐120 s. These data suggest delayed time‐out might be effective in situations in which a caregiver or teacher cannot implement time‐out immediately.
Effects of decreasing intersession interval duration on graduated exposure treatment during simulated routine dental care
Authors: Szalwinski Julia , Thomason‐Sassi Jessica L. , Moore Emily , McConnell Kelly
Published: October 2019

Reports suggest that individuals with developmental disabilities often engage in behavior during dental visits that precludes regular dental care. Graduated exposure therapies are an effective treatment for avoidant behavior in people with developmental delays, and some studies show that the duration of the intersession interval (ISI) can impact the effectiveness of graduated exposure treatments for typically developing individuals. The current study examined the effects of decreasing ISI on outcomes of a graduated exposure treatment during simulated routine dental care for 3 individuals diagnosed with autism. Treatment consisted of graduated exposure and extinction for disruptive behavior. Initially, sessions were conducted once per week. In subsequent conditions, treatment sessions were conducted 3‐5 times per week. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline across subjects design was used to demonstrate experimental control. Results suggest that decreasing ISI durations can produce improved treatment outcomes.
Interplay of temperature, thermal‐stresses and strains in laser‐assisted modification of collagenous tissues: Speckle‐contrast and OCT‐based studies
Authors: Baum Olga I. , Zaitsev Vladimir Y. , Yuzhakov Alexey V. , Sviridov Alexander P. , Novikova Maria L. , Matveyev Alexander L. , Matveev Lev A. , Sovetsky Alexander A. , Sobol Emil N.
Published: October 2019

Moderate heating of collagenous tissues such as cartilage and cornea by infrared laser irradiation can produce biologically nondestructive structural rearrangements and relaxation of internal stresses resulting in the tissue reshaping. The reshaping results and eventual changes in optical and biological properties of the tissue strongly depend on the laser‐irradiation regime. Here, a speckle‐contrast technique based on monochromatic illumination of the tissue in combination with strain mapping by means of optical coherence elastography (OCE) is applied to reveal the interplay between the temperature and thermal stress fields producing tissue modifications. The speckle‐based technique ensured en face visualization of cross correlation and contrast of speckle images, with evolving proportions between contributions of temperature increase and thermal‐stresses determined by temperature gradients. The speckle‐technique findings are corroborated by quantitative OCE‐based depth‐resolved imaging of irradiation‐induced strain‐evolution. The revealed relationships can be used for real‐time control of the reshaping procedures (e.g., for laser shaping of cartilaginous implants in otolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery) and optimization of the laser‐irradiation regimes to ensure the desired reshaping using lower and biologically safer temperatures. The figure of waterfall OCE‐image demonstrates how the strain‐rate maximum arising in the heating‐beam center gradually splits and drifts towards the zones of maximal thermal stresses located at the temperature‐profile slopes.
Therapeutic effect of high‐frequency ultrasound‐assisted dye laser on hemangioma and its influence on serum HIF‐1α in patients
Authors: Hu Hongzhang , Song Pengyuan , Yang Jinyan , Wang Xia , Chen Zhaohui , Fang Jianhua
Published: October 2019

Background

To analyze the therapeutic effect of high‐frequency ultrasound (HFU)‐assisted dye laser on hemangioma patients and changes in serum hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α).

Methods

A total of 20 patients diagnosed with hemangioma in our hospital from January 2013 to March 2018 were selected, including 12 males and eight females. All patients were treated with HFU‐assisted dye laser. The site and type of hemangioma and age distribution of patients were collected, and changes in data and area of hemangioma and serum HIF‐1α before and after treatment were analyzed.

Results

The vascular condition of hemangioma in all patients was significantly improved at 7, 14, and 30 days after treatment. Gray‐scale ultrasound displayed that the tumor area was reduced by more than 50%. After treatment, the serum HIF‐1α level declined obviously after treatment compared with that before treatment, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

HFU‐assisted dye laser can effectively reduce the tumor area, decrease the serum HIF‐1α level, and improve the prognosis in the treatment of hemangioma.
Long noncoding RNA FBXL19‐AS1 induces tumor growth and metastasis by sponging miR‐203a‐3p in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Liming , Zhang Xin , Liu Yang , Xu Shun
Published: October 2019

The pivotal roles of long noncoding RNAs have been reported in various cancers. Recently, FBXL19‐AS1 was proposed to be involved in tumor progression. However, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains elusive. In this study, we observed that FBXL19‐AS1 was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues and high FBXL19‐AS1 expression in LUAD was associated with a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, miR‐203‐3p showed the opposite effect. Moreover, cell viability and apoptosis analysis revealed that FBXL19‐AS1 knockdown could arrest LUAD cells in G0/G1 phase and inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and inhibited LUAD tumor progress in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified FBXL19‐AS1 could act as a miR‐203a‐3p sponge using dual‐luciferase reporter assay. In addition, we demonstrated that downregulation of miR‐203a‐3p reversed growth inhibition of LUAD cells caused by FBXL19‐AS1 knockdown. Finally, FBXL19‐AS1/miR‐203a‐3p axis was found to associate with baculoviral IAP repeat‐containing protein 5.1‐A‐like (survivin), distal‐less homeobox 5, E2F transcription factor 1, and zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 2 to regulate metastasis in LUAD cells. This study reveals a significance and mechanism of FBXL19‐AS1 in LUAD proliferation and metastasis and offers a potential prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for patients with LUAD.
Upcycling brewer's spent grain waste into activated carbon and carbon nanotubes for energy and other applications via two‐stage activation
Authors: Osman Ahmed I , O'Connor Edward , McSpadden Glenn , Abu‐Dahrieh Jehad K , Farrell Charlie , Al‐Muhtaseb Ala'a H , Harrison John , Rooney David W
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND

Brewer's Spent Grain (BSG), a form of lignocellulosic biomass more commonly known as barley waste was used to synthesize activated carbon (AC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The produced materials were used in water remediation application.

RESULTS

A novel approach involving two activation steps; first, with phosphoric acid (designated BAC‐P) and then using potassium hydroxide (designated BAC‐K) was proposed for the production of AC and CNTs from BSG. The AC produced showed a surface area as high as 692.3 m2 g−1 with a pore volume of 0.44 cm3 g−1. This can help aid and facilitate the circular economy by effectively upcycling and valorizing waste lignocellulosic biomass to high surface area AC and subsequently, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Consequently, MWCNTs were prepared from the produced AC by mixing it with the nitrogen (N)‐based material melamine and iron precursor, iron (III) oxalate hexahydrate, where it produced hydrophilic MWCNTs. Both AC and CNT materials were used in heavy metal removal (HMR), where the maximum lead absorption was observed for sample BAC‐K with 77% removal capacity after the first hour of testing.

CONCLUSION

This result signifies that the synthesis of these upcycled materials can have an application in the areas of wastewater treatment or other AC/CNT end uses with a rapid cycle time. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Evolutionary transitions revisited: Holobiont evo‐devo
Authors: Gilbert Scott F.
Published: October 2019

John T. Bonner lists four essential transformations in the evolution of life: the emergence of the eukaryotic cell, meiosis, multicellularity, and the nervous system. This paper analyses the mechanisms for those transitions in light of three of Dr. Bonner's earlier hypotheses: (a) that the organism is its life cycle, (b) that evolution consists of alterations of the life cycle, and (c) that development extends beyond the body and into interactions with other organisms. Using the notion of the holobiont life cycle, this paper attempts to show that these evolutionary transitions can be accomplished through various means of symbiosis. Perceiving the organism both as an interspecies consortium and as a life cycle supports a twofold redefinition of the organism as a holobiont constructed by integrating together the life cycles of several species. These findings highlight the importance of symbiosis and the holobiont development in analyses of evolution.
An Eco‐friendly Synthesis and Biological Screening of Fused Heterocyclic Compounds Containing a Thiophene Moiety via Gewald Reaction
Authors: El‐Borai Mohamed A. , Rizk Hala F. , Ibrahim Seham A. , Fares Amira K.
Published: October 2019

5‐Amino‐3‐phenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)‐1H‐thieno[3,2‐c]pyrazole‐6‐carbonitrile (2) was designed and synthesized by one‐pot multicomponent reaction. Compound 2 was reacted with different reagents to obtain new condensed moieties with our thienopyrazole skeleton. The compounds were prepared by using environmentally benign techniques as microwave irradiation, ultrasonic irradiation, and ball‐milling. The structure of the prepared compounds was elucidated through spectroscopic methods. The new compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal potentialities.
Climatic trends in fog occurrence over the Indo‐Gangetic plains
Authors: Kutty Saumya Govindan , Dimri Ashok Priyadarshan , Gultepe Ismail
Published: October 2019

The Indo‐Gangetic plains (IGP) in India witness widespread fog during winter months of December–January–February (DJF) since 1970s at temperatures between 5 and 20°C. Despite its vast spatial extent, the localized physical nature of fog over various time and space scales limits successful attempts of its accurate prediction. This poses a challenge towards reducing calamities and huge economic losses associated with the consequent visibility degradation. Increasing rate of urbanization and both enhanced natural and anthropogenic forcing influence fog formation, persistence, and dissipation. It is imperative to understand the associated changes in fog trends to ascertain the effect of these forcing on fog and quantify its prediction. Therefore, the trends in fog occurrence over the Indo‐Gangetic plains are assessed for a period of 37 years from 1977/1978–2013/2014 (DJF). A statistically significant increasing trend in fog frequency is found to be related to changes in associated meteorological parameters. The shift of visibility around year of 1998 is indicated by important changes occurred in temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Distinct patterns before and after 1998 are observed for fog visibility conditions and that may have significant implications for weather forecasts and local climate change.
Recent developments in DNA adduct analysis using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry
Authors: Tang Yu , Zhang Jin‐Lan
Published: October 2019

The formation of DNA adducts by genotoxic agents is an early event in cancer development, and it may lead to gene mutations, thereby initiating tumor development. The measurement of DNA adducts can provide critical information about the genotoxic potential of a chemical and its mechanism of carcinogenesis. In recent decades, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry has become the most important technique for analyzing DNA adducts. The improvements in resolution achievable with new chromatographic separation techniques coupled with the high specificity and sensitivity and wide dynamic range of new mass spectrometry systems have been used for both qualitative and quantitative analyses of DNA adducts. This review discusses the challenges in qualitative and quantitative analyses of DNA adducts by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and highlights recent developments towards overcoming the limitations of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry methods. The key steps and new solutions, such as sample preparation, mass spectrometry fragmentation, and method validation, are summarized. In addition, the fundamental principles and latest advances in DNA adductomic approaches are reviewed.
Resveratrol Inhibits Human Visceral Preadipocyte Proliferation and Differentiation in vitro
Authors: Sun Wenxing , Yu Shali , Han Haiyin , Yuan Qianting , Chen Jie , Xu Guangfei
Published: October 2019

Visceral obesity is a high‐risk factor for diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, has been reported to inhibit preadipocyte differentiation. However, the effect of resveratrol on human visceral preadipocyte (HPA‐v) differentiation remains largely unknown. LIM domain only 3 (LMO3) promotes human preadipocyte differentiation by enhancing peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) transcriptional activity, which is the master regulator of adipogenesis. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of resveratrol (0–50 μM) on HPA‐v proliferation and differentiation, and the role of LMO3 in resveratrol‐mediated regulation of HPA‐v differentiation. Resveratrol inhibited HPA‐v proliferation and differentiation in a dose‐dependent manner, and significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of PPARG, CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein α (CEBPA), fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP4), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) (p < 0.05) at 10, 20, and 50 μM. The mRNA and protein levels of LMO3 were significantly reduced by ≥20 μM resveratrol (p < 0.05), and overexpression of LMO3 partially attenuated resveratrol‐induced reduction of HPA‐v differentiation by enhancing the PPARG transcriptional activity. Together, our study suggested that resveratrol reduced HPA‐v proliferation and differentiation, as well as LMO3, which was partially responsible for the reduction of resveratrol‐mediated adipocyte differentiation.
Gut Vibes in Parkinson's Disease: The Microbiota‐Gut‐Brain Axis
Authors: Bullich Clara , Keshavarzian Ali , Garssen Johan , Kraneveld Aletta , Perez‐Pardo Paula
Published: October 2019

Background

The complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) is attributable to multifactorial changes occurring at a molecular level, influenced by genetics and environmental interactions. However, what causes the main hallmarks of PD is not well understood. Recent data increasingly suggest that imbalances in the gut microbiome composition might trigger and/or exacerbate the progression of PD.

Objective

The present review aims to (1) report emerging literature showing changes in microbiota composition of PD patients compared to healthy individuals and (2) discuss how these changes may initiate and/or perpetuate PD pathology.

Methods

We analyzed 13 studies published from 2015 and included in this review. Altered microbial taxa were compiled in a detailed table summarizing bacterial changes in fecal/mucosal samples. The methodology was systematically reviewed across the articles and was also included in a table to facilitate comparisons between studies.

Results

Multiple studies found a reduction in short‐chain fatty‐acid–producing bacteria that can rescue neuronal damage through epigenetic mechanisms. Overall, the studies showed that changes in the gut microbiota composition might influence colonic inflammation, gut permeability, and α‐synuclein aggregation, contributing to the neurogenerative process.

Conclusion

Further studies with larger cohorts and high‐resolution sequencing methods are required to better define gut microbiota changes in PD. Furthermore, additional longitudinal studies are required to determine the causal link between these changes and PD pathogenesis as well as to study the potential of the intestinal microbiota as a biomarker.
Determination of automatic weather station self‐heating originating from accompanying electronics
Authors: Pavlasek P. , Merlone A. , Sanna F. , Coppa G. , Izquierdo C. G. , Palencar J. , Duris S.
Published: October 2019

Atmospheric air temperature values are fundamental in meteorology and climate studies. To achieve high accuracy in the measurements, the features, characteristics and performances of instruments are of high importance. This study focuses on the most commonly used temperature sensors within automatic weather stations, with a specific focus on evaluating the self‐heating effect. Self‐heating in automatic weather stations originates not only from the temperature sensor itself but also from the electrical components housed together within. This effect introduces extra heating in the system, causing biases and errors in temperature records. The conducted measurements show the temperature change in the close vicinity of the thermometers over a time period of more than 66 hr with electric current and voltage supply values recommended by the respective sensor manufacturers. Furthermore, the temperature changes after increasing the voltage supply levels up to 80% of the maximum voltage recommended by the manufacturer are presented as well. The results of overall self‐heating indicated a +0.07°C increase in temperature for the tested sensors when using the manufacturers’ recommended electric current and voltage supply. However, the use of elevated voltage levels shows a considerably higher temperature increase in the vicinity of the temperature sensors. In the present study, the measured difference from the initial measured temperature can be as high as +0.32°C.
Retracted: Circular RNA circ‐TSPAN4 promotes lung adenocarcinoma metastasis by upregulating ZEB1 via sponging miR‐665
Authors: Ying Xiwang , Zhu Jianwei , Zhang Yuanhui
Published: October 2019

Background

Cancer metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer‐related deaths. Recently, circular RNA (circRNA) is deemed to be an important regulator of cancer progression. However, little is known about the role of circRNA in the metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Herein, we investigated the clinical implication and regulatory effect of circ‐TSPAN4 (hsa_circ_0020732) in LUAD.

Methods

Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE104854) was used to identify the aberrantly expressed circRNAs in LUAD. The expression levels of circ‐TSPAN4, miR‐4731‐5p, miR‐665, and ZEB1 were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR). The functional experiments were carried out with wound healing and transwell assays. And, the luciferase reporter and RNA pull‐down assays were employed to examine the crosstalk between circ‐TSPAN4, miR‐665, and ZEB1. In vivo metastasis experiment was tested by the lung metastasis model.

Results

Circ‐TSPAN4 was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues and cell lines. The increased circ‐TSPAN4 was linked to advanced tumor‐node‐metastasis stage, lymph node and distant metastasis, and poor outcome. Lentivirus‐mediated stably circ‐TSPAN4 knockdown dramatically attenuated the metastatic ability of LUAD cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circ‐TSPAN4 directly interacted with miR‐665, but not miR‐4731‐5p, to increase the expression of ZEB1, which is a well‐known metastasis trigger. Importantly, the reduced metastatic capacity caused by circ‐TSPAN4 depletion was partially rescued by miR‐665 silencing or ZEB1 overexpression.

Conclusions

Circ‐TSPAN4 plays a pivotal metastasis‐promoting role in LUAD through acting as a sponge for miR‐665 and upregulating ZEB1.
Efficacy and safety assessment of lymphovenous anastomosis in patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema: A systematic review of prospective evidence
Authors: Rosian Katharina , Stanak Michal
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Lymphoedema is a chronic, debilitating condition caused by an affected lymphatic system. Supermicrosurgical techniques like lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) have gained popularity because of its minimal invasiveness, better aesthetic outcome, and lower costs in comparison to physical medicine. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of LVA in comparison to conservative or other surgical treatments for primary or secondary lymphoedema patients.

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in four databases in December 2017. We applied a methodological framework based on the HTA Core Model®. According to the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) scheme, we synthesized the data on each selected outcome category. The studies were systematically assessed for risk of bias (RoB) using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non‐randomized controlled studies (RoBANS) and the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) Risk of Bias checklist for case series.

Results

A total of 629 citations were identified and five studies were assessed eligible for final inclusion (one non‐randomized controlled trial and four prospective single‐arm studies). Across the studies, 217 patients were enrolled. All studies showed a moderate to high RoB. The strength of evidence for the effectiveness and safety of LVA is “very low.” Due to the methodological shortcomings of the available evidence, no conclusions can be made about the effectiveness of the procedure.

Conclusion

LVA might be a safe technique for patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema—particularly because no serious complications were reported. Furthermore, LVA may have a role in the prevention of lymphoedema.
A wideband dual‐circularly polarized 2 × 1 array antenna using multi‐layer substrate for compact structure
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Asad , Nishiyama Eisuke , Toyoda Ichihiko
Published: October 2019

A novel compact dual‐circularly polarized (CP) 2 × 1 microstrip array antenna with wideband characteristic is proposed. The antenna is realized using multi‐layer technique. The antenna consists of two orthogonally fed patch elements integrated with a 90° branch‐line coupler for achieving dual‐CP operation. The complete feed network, inspired by double‐sided MIC technology, is designed using microstrip lines and slot lines distributed in different three metal layers. ±90° out‐of‐phase signals caused by the branch‐line coupler are combined with two orthogonal feed lines of the patches to excite right‐hand circular polarization (RHCP) or left‐hand circular polarization (LHCP). More than 40% size reduction is achieved by employing multilayer structure instead of single‐layer structure. The measured 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidths of RHCP/LHCP are 8.31/10.19%. Peak gain is more than 9 dBic with good CP radiation performance. The antenna performance is validated by measured data.
Super compact ultrathin quad‐band with wide angle stability polarization independent metamaterial absorber
Authors: Singh Hari S.
Published: October 2019

In this article, a compact ultrathin polarization‐insensitive wide‐angle metamaterial‐based microwave absorber with quad‐band characteristics is presented. The designed microwave absorber provides simulated peak absorption of 99.16%, 98.21%, 98.32%, and 99.76% at 3.7 GHz, 6.4 GHz, 10.7 GHz, and 14.3 GHz, respectively. The absorption frequency lies in microwave frequency bands of S, C, X, and Ku. The unit cell of the proposed microwave absorber consists of two diagonally connected closed ring resonator (CRR) along with one metallic patch enclosed by the inner CRR. Each side of the enclosed patch is connected with inner CRR at the center of length. The unit cell of the proposed 0.0197λlowest (wavelength at lowest frequency) thick multiband absorber fits in a volume of 8 × 8 × 1.6 mm3. The proposed metamaterial‐based microwave absorber exhibits identical absorption characteristics for both transverse‐electric and transverse‐magnetic polarized radiations and also provides well peak absorption for an oblique incidence up to 75°. Finally, the absorber is fabricated and experimental result validates simulated one.
A microwave interferometer for human breath monitoring in proton therapy applications
Authors: Donelli Massimo , Manekiya Mohammedhusen , Cunial Davide , Cristoforetti Luca , Fracchiolla Francesco
Published: October 2019

In this letter, a microwave continuous‐wave interferometer for monitoring the human breath activity in proton therapy is proposed. The microwave interferometer operates in the K band at 24 GHz, and it can correctly identify the chest movements due to the respiratory activity with the accuracy of a few millimeters. The obtained experimental results show that this system can effectively detect the chest movements with a high degree of accuracy, permitting better synchronization of the proton beam and maximization of the efficacy of the therapy.
3D printing for rapid prototyping of low‐Z/density ionization chamber arrays
Authors: Brivio Davide , Naumann Louise , Albert Steffen , Sajo Erno , Zygmanski Piotr
Published: October 2019

Purpose

To explore 3D printing for rapid development of prototype thin slab low‐Z/density ionization chamber arrays viable for custom needs in radiotherapy dosimetry and quality assurance (QA).

Materials and methods

We designed and fabricated parallel plate ionization chambers and ionization chamber arrays using an off‐the‐shelf 3D printing equipment. Conductive components of the detectors were made of conductive polylactic acid (cPLA) and insulating components were made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). We characterized the detector responses using a Varian TrueBeam linac at 95 cm SSD in slab solid water phantom at 5 cm depth. We measured the current‐voltage (IV) curves, the response to different energy beam lines (2.5 MV, 6 MV, 6 MV FFF) for various dose rates and compared them to responses of a commercial Exradin A12 ionization chamber. We measured off‐axis ratio (OAR) for several small field static multi‐leaf collimators field sizes (0.5–3 cm) and compared them to OAR data obtained for commissioning of stereotactic radiotherapy.

Results

We identified the printing capability and the limitations of a low‐cost off‐the‐shelf 3D printer for rapid prototyping of detector arrays. The design of the array with sub‐millimeter size features conformed to the 3D printing capabilities. IV‐curve for the array showed a strong polarity effect (8%) due to the design. Results for the parallel plate and the array compared well with A12 chamber: monitor unit (MU) dependence for the array was within a few % and the response to different energy beam lines was within 1%. Off‐axis dose profiles measured with the array were comparable to dose profiles obtained in water tank and stereotactic diode after accounting for the size of the chambers. Dose error was within 2% at the center of the profile and slightly larger at the penumbra.

Conclusions

Rapid prototyping of ion chambers by means of low‐cost 3D printing is feasible with certain limitations in the design and spatial accuracy of the printed details.
Vitamin D3 treatment regulates apoptosis, antioxidant defense system, and DNA integrity in the epididymal sperm of an aged rat model
Authors: Jeremy Malsawmhriatzuala , Gurusubramanian Guruswami , Roy Vikas Kumar
Published: October 2019

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 in the epididymal sperm cells of D‐gal‐induced aged rats. It is well known that during aging sperm quality and quantity declines and leads to age‐related infertility problems in males. The results of the present study showed that there were elevated levels of oxidative stress and poor DNA integrity of sperm of aged rats. The expression of BCL2 also showed a significant decline in the sperm of aged rats, however, the expression of BAX and active caspase‐3 did not show significant change compared with the control group. The treatment of vitamin D3 at lower doses to aged rats showed increased expression of BAX and active caspase‐3 in the sperm, this finding suggests that increased apoptosis may be responsible for removal of poor quality sperm during aging. Vitamin D3 treatment at both doses showed improvement in the oxidative stress and DNA integrity in the sperm of aged rats. We also investigated the expression of AGER, visfatin, and HSPA1A in the epididymal sperm. It has been found that expression of AGER, visfatin, and HSPA1A increased in the sperm aged rats and vitamin D3 treatments at both doses decreased its expression. Thus, it might be suggested that during aging vitamin D3 treatment would be important for managing the sperm quality by regulating the apoptosis, antioxidant system and DNA integrity via modulation of visfatin and HSPA1A.
Accelerating implant RF safety assessment using a low‐rank inverse update method
Authors: Stijnman Peter R. S. , Tokaya Janot P. , van Gemert Jeroen , Luijten Peter R. , Pluim Josien P. W. , Brink Wyger M. , Remis Rob F. , van den Berg Cornelis A. T. , Raaijmakers Alexander J. E.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Patients who have medical metallic implants, e.g. orthopaedic implants and pacemakers, often cannot undergo an MRI exam. One of the largest risks is tissue heating due to the radio frequency (RF) fields. The RF safety assessment of implants is computationally demanding. This is due to the large dimensions of the transmit coil compared to the very detailed geometry of an implant.

Methods

In this work, we explore a faster computational method for the RF safety assessment of implants that exploits the small geometry. The method requires the RF field without an implant as a basis and calculates the perturbation that the implant induces. The inputs for this method are the incident fields and a library matrix that contains the RF field response of every edge an implant can occupy. Through a low‐rank inverse update, using the Sherman–Woodbury–Morrison matrix identity, the EM response of arbitrary implants can be computed within seconds. We compare the solution from full‐wave simulations with the results from the presented method, for two implant geometries.

Results

From the comparison, we found that the resulting electric and magnetic fields are numerically equivalent (maximum error of 1.35%). However, the computation was between 171 to 2478 times faster than the corresponding GPU accelerated full‐wave simulation.

Conclusions

The presented method enables for rapid and efficient evaluation of the RF fields near implants and might enable situation‐specific scanning conditions.
Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in the mandibular gingiva
Authors: Iyoda Manabu , Koike Kazuyuki , Saito Tomoaki , Nakashima Dai , Kasamatsu Atsushi , Endo‐Sakamoto Yosuke , Sunohara Masataka , Shiiba Masashi , Uzawa Katsuhiro , Tanzawa Hideki
Published: October 2019

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a histologically distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this report, we present a case of a 67‐year‐old man diagnosed with BSCC in the mandibular gingiva. The patient underwent resection of the gingival tumor with a partial mandibulectomy and a functional neck dissection. The mandibular gingiva was reconstructed with forearm free flap. The patient remained in good general health and free of disease for 44 months.