bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor–regulated genes and superoxide dismutase in the Antarctic eelpout Pachycara brachycephalum exposed to benzo[a]pyrene
Authors: Strobel Anneli , Mark Felix C. , Segner Helmut , Burkhardt-Holm Patricia
Published: January 2018

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway mediates many, if not all, responses of fish to dioxin-like compounds. The Southern Ocean is progressively exposed to increasing concentrations of anthropogenic pollutants. Antarctic fish are known to accumulate those pollutants, yet nothing is known about their capability to induce chemical biotransformation via the AhR pathway. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether Antarctic eelpout, Pachycara brachycephalum, respond to anthropogenic pollutants by activation of the AhR and its target gene cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), and of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which served as a representative for oxidative stress. We exposed P. brachycephalum to 10 and 100 mg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)/kg body weight for 10 d and measured the expression of AhR, CYP1A, and SOD in liver tissue via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We identified two distinct AhR isoforms in the liver of P. brachycephalum. Antarctic eelpout responded to both BaP exposures by an up-regulation of AhR and SOD, and by a particularly strong induction of CYP1A expression, which remained high until day 10 of the exposure time. Our data suggest that P. brachycephalum possesses the potential to up-regulate xenobiotic biotransformation pathways, at least at the gene expression level. The time course of the AhR and CYP1A response points to an efficient but slow xenobiotics metabolism. Moreover, BaP exposure could include adverse effects such as oxidative stress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1487–1495. © 2018 SETAC
Environmental risk assessment of engineered nano-SiO2, nano iron oxides, nano-CeO2, nano-Al2O3, and quantum dots
Authors: Wang Yan , Nowack Bernd
Published: January 2018

Many research studies have endeavored to investigate the ecotoxicological hazards of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). However, little is known regarding the actual environmental risks of ENMs, combining both hazard and exposure data. The aim of the present study was to quantify the environmental risks for nano-Al2O3, nano-SiO2, nano iron oxides, nano-CeO2, and quantum dots by comparing the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) with the predicted-no-effect concentrations (PNECs). The PEC values of these 5 ENMs in freshwaters in 2020 for northern Europe and southeastern Europe were taken from a published dynamic probabilistic material flow analysis model. The PNEC values were calculated using probabilistic species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The order of the PNEC values was quantum dots < nano-CeO2 < nano iron oxides < nano-Al2O3 < nano-SiO2. The risks posed by these 5 ENMs were demonstrated to be in the reverse order: nano-Al2O3 > nano-SiO2 > nano iron oxides > nano-CeO2 > quantum dots. However, all risk characterization values are 4 to 8 orders of magnitude lower than 1, and no risk was therefore predicted for any of the investigated ENMs at the estimated release level in 2020. Compared to static models, the dynamic material flow model allowed us to use PEC values based on a more complex parameterization, considering a dynamic input over time and time-dependent release of ENMs. The probabilistic SSD approach makes it possible to include all available data to estimate hazards of ENMs by considering the whole range of variability between studies and material types. The risk-assessment approach is therefore able to handle the uncertainty and variability associated with the collected data. The results of the present study provide a scientific foundation for risk-based regulatory decisions of the investigated ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1387–1395. © 2018 SETAC
Tidal extension and sea‐level rise: recommendations for a research agenda
Authors: Ensign Scott H , Noe Gregory B
Published: January 2018

Sea‐level rise is pushing freshwater tides upstream into formerly non‐tidal rivers. This tidal extension may increase the area of tidal freshwater ecosystems and offset loss of ecosystem functions due to salinization downstream. Without considering how gains in ecosystem functions could offset losses, landscape‐scale assessments of ecosystem functions may be biased toward worst‐case scenarios of loss. To stimulate research on this concept, we address three fundamental questions about tidal extension: Where will tidal extension be most evident, and can we measure it? What ecosystem functions are influenced by tidal extension, and how can we measure them? How do watershed processes, climate change, and tidal extension interact to affect ecosystem functions? Our preliminary answers lead to recommendations that will advance tidal extension research, enable better predictions of the impacts of sea‐level rise, and help balance the landscape‐scale benefits of ecosystem function with costs of response.
Developing a standardized definition of ecosystem collapse for risk assessment
Authors: Bland Lucie M , Rowland Jessica A , Regan Tracey J , Keith David A , Murray Nicholas J , Lester Rebecca E , Linn Matt , Rodríguez Jon Paul , Nicholson Emily
Published: January 2018

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems is a powerful tool for classifying threatened ecosystems, informing ecosystem management, and assessing the risk of ecosystem collapse (that is, the endpoint of ecosystem degradation). These risk assessments require explicit definitions of ecosystem collapse, which are currently challenging to implement. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, we systematically review evidence for ecosystem collapses reported in two contrasting biomes – marine pelagic ecosystems and terrestrial forests. Most studies define states of ecosystem collapse quantitatively, but few studies adequately describe initial ecosystem states or ecological transitions leading to collapse. On the basis of our review, we offer four recommendations for defining ecosystem collapse in risk assessments: (1) qualitatively defining initial and collapsed states, (2) describing collapse and recovery transitions, (3) identifying and selecting indicators of collapse, and (4) setting quantitative collapse thresholds.
Promoter hypermethylation inactivate tumor suppressor FAM134B and is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Islam Farhadul , Gopalan Vinod , Pillai Suja , Lu Cu‐tai , Kasem Kais , Lam Alfred King‐yin
Published: January 2018

The present study aims to examine promoter methylation status of FAM134B in a large cohort of patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. The clinical significances and correlations of FAM134B promoter methylation with its expression are also analysed. Methylation‐specific high‐resolution melt‐curve analysis followed by sequencing was used to identify FAM134B promoter methylation in colorectal adenomas (N = 32), colorectal adenocarcinomas (N = 164), matched adjacent non‐neoplastic colorectal mucosae (N = 83) and colon cancer cell lines (N = 4). FAM134B expression was studied by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blots. FAM134B promoter methylation was more frequent in adenocarcinomas (52%; 85/164) when compared to that of adenomas (28%; 9/32) and non‐neoplastic mucosae (35%; 29/83). Cancer cells exhibited higher methylation when compared to non‐neoplastic cells. FAM134B promoter methylation was inversely correlated with low FAM134B copy number and mRNA/protein expressions, whereas in‐vitro demethylation has restored FAM134B expression in colon cancer cells. FAM134B promoter methylation was associated with high histological grade (P = .025), presence of peri‐neural infiltration (P = .012), lymphovascular invasion (P = .021), lymph node metastasis (P = .0001), distant metastasis (P = .0001) and advanced pathological stages (P = .0001). In addition, FAM134B promoter methylation correlated with cancer recurrence and poor survival rates of patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. To conclude, FAM134B promoter methylation plays a key role in regulating FAM134B expression in vitro and in vivo, which in turn contributes to the prediction of the biological aggressiveness of colorectal adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, FAM134B methylation might act as a marker in predicting clinical prognosis in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas.
Developing Evidence to Decision Frameworks and an Interactive Evidence to Decision Tool for Making and Using Decisions and Recommendations in Health Care
Authors: Rosenbaum Sarah E. , Moberg Jenny , Glenton Claire , Schünemann Holger J. , Lewin Simon , Akl Elie , Mustafa Reem A. , Morelli Angela , Vogel Joshua P. , Alonso‐Coello Pablo , Rada Gabriel , Vásquez Juan , Parmelli Elena , Gülmezoglu A. Metin , Flottorp Signe A. , Oxman Andrew D.
Published: January 2018

Evidence‐informed health care decisions and recommendations need to be made systematically and transparently. Mediating technology can help manage boundaries between groups making decisions and target audiences, enhancing salience, credibility, and legitimacy for all. This article describes the development of the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework and an interactive tool to create and use frameworks (iEtD) to support communication in decision making. Methods: Using a human‐centered design approach, we created prototypes employing a broad range of methods to iteratively develop EtD framework content and iEtD tool functionality. Results: We developed tailored EtD frameworks for making evidence‐informed decisions and recommendations about clinical practice interventions, diagnostic and screening tests, coverage, and health system and public health options. The iEtD tool provides functionality for preparing frameworks, using them in group discussions, and publishing output for implementation or adaption. EtD and iEtD are intuitive and useful for producers and users of frameworks, and flexible for use across different types of topics, decisions, and organizations. They bring valued structure to panel discussions and transparency to published output. Conclusion: EtD and iEtD can resolve some of the challenges inherent in multicriteria, multistakeholder decision systems. They are freely available online for all to use at https://ietd.epistemonikos.org/ and https://gradepro.org.
Estimating active layer thickness and volumetric water content from ground penetrating radar measurements in Barrow, Alaska
Authors: Jafarov E. E. , Parsekian A. D. , Schaefer K. , Liu L. , Chen A. C. , Panda S. K. , Zhang T.
Published: January 2018

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has emerged as an effective tool for estimating active layer thickness (ALT) and volumetric water content (VWC) within the active layer. In August 2013, we conducted a series of GPR and probing surveys using a 500 MHz antenna and metallic probe around Barrow, Alaska. We collected about 15 km of GPR data and 1.5 km of probing data. Here, we describe the GPR data processing workflow from raw GPR data to the estimated ALT and VWC. We include the corresponding uncertainties for each measured and estimated parameter. The estimated average GPR‐derived ALT was 41 cm, with a standard deviation of 9 cm. The average probed ALT was 40 cm, with a standard deviation of 12 cm. The average GPR‐derived VWC was 0.65, with a standard deviation of 0.14.
Development and decline of the ancient harbor of Neapolis
Authors: Di Donato Valentino , Ruello Maria R. , Liuzza Viviana , Carsana Vittoria , Giampaola Daniela , Di Vito Mauro A. , Morhange Christophe , Cinque Aldo , Russo Ermolli Elda
Published: January 2018

Archaeological excavations, undertaken since 2004 for the construction of the new Naples subway, have unearthed the harbor basin of the Greco–Roman town of Parthenope–Neapolis, furnishing scientists with the opportunity to recover abundant archaeological remains and a thick succession of diverse infill sediments. The latter underwent sedimentological, paleontological, and volcanological analyses. Compositional data analysis, applied to all three data sets, highlighted three main paleoenvironmental changes in the harbor basin from the Augustan Age up to the 6th century A.D. The beginning of harbor activity is recorded during the 3rd century B.C. when sedimentation was interrupted by intensive dredging of the sea‐bottom. The impact of the A.D. 79 Vesuvius eruption, recorded for the first time in the Neapolitan territory, led to a reduction in Posidonia meadows and to an ensuing phase of more restricted water circulation and pollution. At the beginning of the 5th century A.D., an open lagoon environment was established, attesting to coastal progradation. The final closure of this part of the bay occurred at the end of the 5th to the beginning of the 6th century A.D., due to increased alluvial input linked to both natural and anthropogenic causes.
NACSELD acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (NACSELD‐ACLF) score predicts 30‐day survival in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis
Authors: O'Leary Jacqueline G. , Reddy K. Rajender , Garcia‐Tsao Guadalupe , Biggins Scott W. , Wong Florence , Fallon Michael B. , Subramanian Ram M. , Kamath Patrick S. , Thuluvath Paul , Vargas Hugo E. , Maliakkal Benedict , Tandon Puneeta , Lai Jennifer , Thacker Leroy R. , Bajaj Jasmohan S.
Published: January 2018

The North American Consortium for the Study of End‐Stage Liver Disease's definition of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (NACSELD‐ACLF) as two or more extrahepatic organ failures has been proposed as a simple bedside tool to assess the risk of mortality in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. We validated the NACSELD‐ACLF's ability to predict 30‐day survival (defined as in‐hospital death or hospice discharge) in a separate multicenter prospectively enrolled cohort of both infected and uninfected hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. We used the NACSELD database of 14 tertiary care hepatology centers that prospectively enrolled nonelective hospitalized patients with cirrhosis (n = 2,675). The cohort was randomly split 60%/40% into training (n = 1,605) and testing (n = 1,070) groups. Organ failures assessed were (1) shock, (2) hepatic encephalopathy (grade III/IV), (3) renal (need for dialysis), and (4) respiratory (mechanical ventilation). Patients were most commonly Caucasian (79%) men (62%) with a mean age of 57 years and a diagnosis of alcohol‐induced cirrhosis (45%), and 1,079 patients had an infection during hospitalization. The mean Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score was 19, and the median Child score was 10. No demographic differences were present between the two split groups. Multivariable modeling revealed that the NACSELD‐ACLF score, as determined by number of organ failures, was the strongest predictor of decreased survival after controlling for admission age, white blood cell count, serum albumin, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score, and presence of infection. The c‐statistics were 0.8073 for the training set and 0.8532 for the validation set. Conclusion: Although infection status remains an important predictor of death, NACSELD‐ACLF was independently validated in a separate large multinational prospective cohort as a simple, reliable bedside tool to predict 30‐day survival in both infected and uninfected patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2018;67:2367‐2374).
A qualitative study of the role of playgroups in building community capacity
Authors: Keam Georgia , Cook Kay , Sinclair Sarah , McShane Ian
Published: January 2018

Issue addressed

Given that approximately half of all Australian families with children aged 2‐3 years participate in playgroups, these settings may provide an important venue for social support and community capacity building. The aim of this study is to assess the benefits that parents and the wider community derive from such participation.

Methods

We examined community capacity building opportunities through qualitative interviews conducted with a self‐selected sample of 33 playgroup participants. All participants were the child's biological mother, and many had been involved in the playgroup committee of management, including 11 participants who were currently, or had previously been, a playgroup coordinator.

Results

We found that playgroups act as key sites for building community capacity through developing community connections, skill building and creating leadership pathways. We found that playgroup committee participation was often women's first foray into community volunteering, and often translated into future community leadership, such as kindergarten committees of management and primary school councils.

Conclusions

Community playgroups play a key role in building the capacity of communities and provide a vehicle for the development of new volunteers.

So what?

Local governments, schools and other community organisations that rely on volunteer committees would benefit from providing support to community playgroups to foster future community leaders.
Australia's National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health: Critical reflections from States and Territories
Authors: Wutzke Sonia , Morrice Emily , Benton Murray , Milat Andrew , Russell Lesley , Wilson Andrew
Published: January 2018

Issue addressed

Australian efforts to tackle the burden from chronic diseases through prevention have included numerous strategies, committees, policies and programs. This research reflects on this changing landscape, with focus on the most recent, and most significant, investment and subsequent disinvestment in preventive health, the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH). The purpose is to better understand the place of the NPAPH in Australia's prevention landscape, explore views from senior health department personnel on the NPAPH and identify lessons for the future.

Methods

Individual and small group semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 19 senior public health managers and program implementation staff from State and Territory health departments across Australia. A grounded theory approach was used to generate themes relevant to the research.

Results

Participants reflected positively on the NPAPH, mostly that it established a strong platform for the national roll out of programs supporting healthy lifestyles, it created core infrastructure that elevated the rigour and sophistication of prevention activities and it was achieving or on the way to achieving its desired outputs. However, despite promising potential, governance arrangements over chronic disease prevention were not clearer either throughout or post the NPAPH. While partnerships between State and Territory governments, as well as with other sectors, were seen as a strength of the NPAPH, many viewed the role of the Commonwealth in the NPAPH as limited to funding.

Conclusion

Longer term investment in, and leadership for, chronic disease prevention is necessary. The NPAPH built on positive reforms at the time, creating opportunities for implementing programs at scale, building workforce capacity and improving evaluations. Early termination of the NPAPH meant potential return on investment was unrealised, new partnerships could not always be sustained and the prevention workforce was again under threat. Furthermore, responsibility for prevention, which was never clear, became even more opaque.

So what?

The NPAPH, as a national initiative for achieving improvements to the prevention of chronic disease, was a welcome investment. Disinvestment in the NPAPH, as well as other promising reforms of the time, led to a loss of credibility in outcomes focussed funding collaborations as well as missed opportunities for the future health and wellbeing of the Australian population. Australia needs a recommitment at all levels of government to investment and action in prevention and a restoration of funding in prevention commensurate with the size of the health burden.
A 24‐year prospective study of dietary α‐linolenic acid and lethal prostate cancer
Authors: Wu Juan , Wilson Kathryn M. , Stampfer Meir J. , Willett Walter C. , Giovannucci Edward L.
Published: January 2018

Several meta‐analyses have attempted to determine the relationships between intake of α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and prostate cancer, but results were inconclusive. 47,885 men aged 40–75 years without prior cancer in the Health Professionals Follow‐Up Study were prospectively followed from 1986 to 2010. Intake of ALA was determined from validated food frequency questionnaires every 4 years. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lethal prostate cancer (distant metastasis or prostate cancer death). 386 lethal prostate cancers were diagnosed in the pre‐PSA era (before February, 1994) and 403 cancers in the PSA era. Intake of ALA was associated with increased risk of lethal prostate cancer in the pre‐PSA era (comparing top to bottom quintile of intake, multivariate‐adjusted HR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.22–2.06; ptrend = 0.003), but not in the PSA era (HR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.56–1.17; ptrend = 0.53), and the difference in associations was statistically significant (p for interaction = 0.02). Mayonnaise, a primary food source of ALA intake in our cohort, was likewise only significantly associated with lethal prostate cancer in the pre‐PSA era. Among many other fatty acids that are correlated with ALA due to shared food sources, none was associated with lethal prostate cancer in the pre‐PSA era. In conclusion, higher intake of ALA was associated with an increased risk of lethal prostate cancer in the pre‐PSA era, but not in the PSA era. Potential reasons for the differential associations warrant further investigation.
Circulating anti‐Müllerian hormone and breast cancer risk: A study in ten prospective cohorts
Authors: Ge Wenzhen , Clendenen Tess V. , Afanasyeva Yelena , Koenig Karen L. , Agnoli Claudia , Brinton Louise A. , Dorgan Joanne F. , Eliassen A. Heather , Falk Roni T. , Hallmans Göran , Hankinson Susan E. , Hoffman‐Bolton Judith , Key Timothy J. , Krogh Vittorio , Nichols Hazel B. , Sandler Dale P. , Schoemaker Minouk J. , Sluss Patrick M. , Sund Malin , Swerdlow Anthony J. , Visvanathan Kala , Liu Mengling , Zeleniuch‐Jacquotte Anne
Published: January 2018

A strong positive association has been observed between circulating anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH), a biomarker of ovarian reserve, and breast cancer risk in three prospective studies. Confirming this association is important because of the paucity of biomarkers of breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. We conducted a consortium study including ten prospective cohorts that had collected blood from premenopausal women. A nested case–control design was implemented within each cohort. A total of 2,835 invasive (80%) and in situ (20%) breast cancer cases were individually matched to controls (n = 3,122) on age at blood donation. AMH was measured using a high sensitivity enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay. Conditional logistic regression was applied to the aggregated dataset. There was a statistically significant trend of increasing breast cancer risk with increasing AMH concentration (ptrend across quartiles <0.0001) after adjusting for breast cancer risk factors. The odds ratio (OR) for breast cancer in the top vs. bottom quartile of AMH was 1.60 (95% CI = 1.31–1.94). Though the test for interaction was not statistically significant (pinteraction = 0.15), the trend was statistically significant only for tumors positive for both estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR): ER+/PR+: ORQ4–Q1 = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.46–2.64, ptrend <0.0001; ER+/PR−: ORQ4–Q1 = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.40–1.68, ptrend = 0.51; ER−/PR+: ORQ4–Q1 = 3.23, 95% CI = 0.48–21.9, ptrend = 0.26; ER−/PR−: ORQ4–Q1 = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.63–2.09, ptrend = 0.60. The association was observed for both pre‐ (ORQ4–Q1= 1.35, 95% CI = 1.05–1.73) and post‐menopausal (ORQ4–Q1 = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.03–2.53) breast cancer (pinteraction = 0.34). In this large consortium study, we confirmed that AMH is associated with breast cancer risk, with a 60% increase in risk for women in the top vs. bottom quartile of AMH.
Systemic risk and the optimal seniority structure of banking liabilities
Authors: Bougheas Spiros , Kirman Alan
Published: January 2018

The paper argues that systemic risk must be taken into account when designing optimal bankruptcy procedures in general, and priority rules in particular. Allowing for endogenous formation of links in the interbank market, we show that the optimal policy depends on the distribution of shocks and the severity of fire sales.
Chinese adolescents with higher social dominance orientation are less prosocial and less happy: A value‐environment fit analysis
Authors: Yang Ying , Li Wenqi , Sheldon Kennon M. , Kou Yu
Published: January 2018

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social dominance orientation (SDO) and subjective well‐being among Chinese adolescents (N = 4246), and to examine the mediating role of prosocial behaviour in this relationship. The structural equation model's results showed that SDO was negatively associated with prosocial behaviour and subjective well‐being, that prosocial behaviour was positively associated with subjective well‐being, and also that (low) prosocial behaviour partially mediated the negative relationship between SDO and subjective well‐being. Multi‐group analyses showed that the mediation model was generally similar between boys and girls, but that the negative relationship between SDO and prosocial behaviour was somewhat stronger among girls than boys. This study sheds light on how SDO is associated with positive outcomes among Chinese adolescents and highlights the mediating role of prosocial behaviour as an underlying mechanism between SDO and subjective well‐being. Future studies are needed to further discover the role of culture values in the association between SDO and subjective well‐being.
A multi‐modal, multi‐atlas‐based approach for Alzheimer detection via machine learning
Authors: Asim Yousra , Raza Basit , Malik Ahmad Kamran , Rathore Saima , Hussain Lal , Iftikhar Mohammad Aksam
Published: January 2018

The use of biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) improves the accuracy of imaging‐based prediction of AD and its prodromal stage that is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Brain parcellation‐based computer‐aided methods for detecting AD and MCI segregate the brain in different anatomical regions and use their features to predict AD and MCI. Brain parcellation generally is carried out based on existing anatomical atlas templates, which vary in the boundaries and number of anatomical regions. This works considers dividing the brain based on different atlases and combining the features extracted from these anatomical parcellations for a more holistic and robust representation. We collected data from the ADNI database and divided brains based on two well‐known atlases: LONI Probabilistic Brain Atlas (LPBA40) and Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL). We used baselines images of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) to calculate average gray‐matter density and average relative cerebral metabolic rate for glucose in each region. Later, we classified AD, MCI and cognitively normal (CN) subjects using the individual features extracted from each atlas template and the combined features of both atlases. We reduced the dimensionality of individual and combined features using principal component analysis, and used support vector machines for classification. We also ranked features mostly involved in classification to determine the importance of brain regions for accurately classifying the subjects. Results demonstrated that features calculated from multiple atlases lead to improved performance compared to those extracted from one atlas only.
Key Factors in Handling Conflicts in the Isahaya Bay Land Reclamation Project, Japan: A Case Study Focusing on Social Aspects
Authors: Ota Shinsuke
Published: January 2018

The Isahaya Bay land reclamation project is one of the most controversial public works in Japan. The dike closure in 1997 became a target of the mass media as a symbol of ecological destruction. The bad seaweed crop in 2000 triggered fishermen's protests which led to short‐term opening of the dike gates. The author became involved in a series of events as a responsible government official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in Japan. This paper illustrates how the Ministry coped with a difficult situation and brings out basic approaches and practical measures for better coordination as a result of these experiences, focusing on the social aspects. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Water Management in Thailand
Authors: Apipattanavis Somkiat , Ketpratoom Sitha , Kladkempetch Pradab
Published: January 2018

The government of Thailand is now promoting the Thailand 4.0 model to escape its middle‐income level trap. The model uses an innovative ‘value‐based economy’ for climbing up to the high‐income level. The three main elements of this are: (i) a knowledge‐based economy; (ii) an inclusive society with equitable access; (iii) sustainable development. At present, Thailand consumes 90.4% of its fresh water for agricultural activities, while upper‐middle‐ and high‐income countries consume only 67.8 and 40.8% respectively. Therefore, Thailand is now developing strategic plans for proper water management for the next 20 years. The plans take the following concerns into consideration: (i) the principle of a water basin integrated framework and sustainable water management; (ii) government policies and the national economic and social development plan; (iii) the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. The strategies are still under discussion and not yet finalized at this moment. However, the plans will certainly hold significant weight in government project funding in the next 20 years. All of the water‐related projects will be carried out with the plans as a guideline. Meanwhile, each project will maintain the concepts of culture, tradition, geography and demography to obtain the highest compatibility with Thai society. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of the Groundwater Salinity Used for Irrigation and Risks of Soil Degradation in Souss‐Massa, Morocco
Authors: El Oumlouki Kaoutar , Moussadek Rachid , Douaik Ahmed , Iaaich Hamza , Dakak Houria , Chati Mohamed Taoufiq , Ghanimi Ahmed , El Midaoui Azzedine , El Amrani Mahacine , Zouahri Abdelmjid
Published: January 2018

In the Issen irrigated perimeter of the Souss‐Massa Plain, Morocco, under a semi‐arid climate, the use of irrigation is inevitable for most crops. Therefore, groundwater is increasingly being used. Hydrochemical and statistical studies were conducted; they were carried out on the major and secondary elements of water (EC, Ca2+, pH, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl‐, SO42‐, HCO3‐, CO32‐, SAR and turbidity). The sampling period lasted over 2 years (2013 and 2014) spread over 3 seasons. The 36 wells that were analysed were spread across the studied plain. The values recorded during the sampling period showed that 11% of the analysed wells are highly saline in which EC > 3 dS m−1. Chemical analysis revealed a wide variety of chemical composition; samples are divided between two facies: sulphated magnesium calcium bicarbonate and sodium chloride. Then, statistical analyses of the studied parameters showed great variability and the results of analysis allowed maps of salinity and the SAR risk of irrigation water to be drawn. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feasibility study of modeling liver thermal damage using minimally invasive optical method adequate for in situ measurement
Authors: Zhao Jinzhe , Zhao Qi , Jiang Yingxu , Li Weitao , Yang Yamin , Qian Zhiyu , Liu Jia
Published: January 2018

Liver thermal ablation techniques have been widely used for the treatment of liver cancer. Kinetic model of damage propagation play an important role for ablation prediction and real‐time efficacy assessment. However, practical methods for modeling liver thermal damage are rare. A minimally invasive optical method especially adequate for in situ liver thermal damage modeling is introduced in this paper. Porcine liver tissue was heated by water bath under different temperatures. During thermal treatment, diffuse reflectance spectrum of liver was measured by optical fiber and used to deduce reduced scattering coefficient (μ′s). Arrhenius parameters were obtained through non‐isothermal heating approach with damage marker of μ′s. Activation energy (Ea) and frequency factor (A) was deduced from these experiments. A pair of averaged value is 1.200 × 105 J mol−1 and 4.016 × 1017 s−1. The results were verified for their reasonableness and practicality. Therefore, it is feasible to modeling liver thermal damage based on minimally invasive measurement of optical property and in situ kinetic analysis of damage progress with Arrhenius model. These parameters and this method are beneficial for preoperative planning and real‐time efficacy assessment of liver ablation therapy.
Local administration of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 inhibitor to suppress early resorption and inflammation induced by bone morphogenetic protein‐2
Authors: Kim Ri Youn , Seong Yeju , Cho Tae Hyung , Lee Beomseok , Kim In Sook , Hwang Soon Jung
Published: January 2018

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)‐c1 is known as a key regulator in osteoclast differentiation and immune response. This study is a follow‐up to our previous study showing the antiresorptive activity of VIVIT, a peptide type NFATc1 inhibitor, using absorbable collagen sponge (ACS). This study aimed to investigate the effective concentration range of local VIVIT that suppresses early excessive osteoclast activation and inflammation induced by high‐dose recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)‐2 and concomitantly enhances bone healing in a rat critical‐sized calvaria defect model. High‐dose rhBMP‐2 (40 μg/defect) alone significantly increased in vivo osteoclast activation and expression of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β and transforming necrosis factor‐α on the scaffold at 7 days after surgery. However, rhBMP‐2 had no direct effect on osteoclast activation in vitro. Osteoclast activation by rhBMP‐2 was significantly suppressed by combined treatment with VIVIT at concentrations of 75 and 150 μM, but not at 15 μM, whereas suppression of inflammation occurred at all doses of VIVIT. Microcomputed tomography at 4 and 8 weeks after implantation revealed that the combination of rhBMP‐2 and VIVIT at 75 μM VIVIT led to a greater bone fraction at the initial defect area, compared with rhBMP‐2 alone. These findings revealed that local administration of VIVIT at certain concentrations has multiple positive effects that weaken early excessive osteoimmunological responses and enhance bone healing after rhBMP‐2 administration. VIVIT has the potential to expand the therapeutic area of high‐dose rhBMP‐2 therapy to inflammatory bone loss. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1299–1310, 2018.
Osteogenic cellular activity around onlaid octacalcium phosphate‐gelatin composite onto rat calvaria
Authors: Iwama Ryosuke , Anada Takahisa , Shiwaku Yukari , Tsuchiya Kaori , Takahashi Tetsu , Suzuki Osamu
Published: January 2018

The activity and the distribution of osteogenic cells around octacalcium phosphate (OCP) granules combined with gelatin matrix (OCP/Gel) onlaid on rat calvaria were analyzed histomorphometrically and immunohistochemically during vertical bone augmentation under mechanical or nonmechanical environment until 8 weeks. OCP/Gel disk was placed in subperiosteal pocket on the calvaria with or without polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) support. The latter is a nonmechanical stress model to alleviate the mechanical stress from the subcutaneous tissues. Onlay grafts of gelatin (Gel) sponge disk and OCP granules were also carried out for the comparison purpose. When bone augmentation was evaluated in first area from bone surface (area until 150 μm high from bone surface) and second area above the newly formed bone (area until 150 µm high from the first area), bone formation was enhanced most in first area followed by second area of OCP/Gel with PTFE. The appearance of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)‐positive osteoclast‐like cells was suppressed more in the newly formed tissue with PTFE than those without PTFE with an emphasis of the presence of gelatin. Although Runx2 positive‐cells were accumulated more in both OCP/Gel with and without PTFE, osteocalcin‐positive cells were abundant in OCP/Gel with PTFE than that without PTFE, suggesting that nonmechanical stress condition is more suitable for osteoblast differentiation. The appearance of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)‐kappaB ligand (RANKL)‐positive cells was restrained in OCP/Gel and Gel with PTFE while osteoprotegerin‐positive cells were most accumulated in OCP/Gel without PTFE. The results suggest that OCP/Gel composite under the mechanical stress‐alleviated condition can enhance bone augmentation through balanced osteoblastic and osteoclastic cellular activities. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1322–1333, 2018.
Composite porous scaffold of PEG/PLA support improved bone matrix deposition in vitro compared to PLA‐only scaffolds
Authors: Bhaskar Birru , Owen Robert , Bahmaee Hossein , Wally Zena , Sreenivasa Rao Parcha , Reilly Gwendolen C.
Published: January 2018

Controllable pore size and architecture are essential properties for tissue‐engineering scaffolds to support cell ingrowth colonization. To investigate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) addition on porosity and bone‐cell behavior, porous polylactic acid (PLA)–PEG scaffolds were developed with varied weight ratios of PLA–PEG (100/0, 90/10, 75/25) using solvent casting and porogen leaching. Sugar 200–300 µm in size was used as a porogen. To assess scaffold suitability for bone tissue engineering, MLO‐A5 murine osteoblast cells were cultured and cell metabolic activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone‐matrix production determined using (alizarin red S staining for calcium and direct red 80 staining for collagen). It was found that metabolic activity was significantly higher over time on scaffolds containing PEG, ALP activity and mineralized matrix production were also significantly higher on scaffolds containing 25% PEG. Porous architecture and cell distribution and penetration into the scaffold were analyzed using SEM and confocal microscopy, revealing that inclusion of PEG increased pore interconnectivity and therefore cell ingrowth in comparison to pure PLA scaffolds. The results of this study confirmed that PLA–PEG porous scaffolds support mineralizing osteoblasts better than pure PLA scaffolds, indicating they have a high potential for use in bone tissue engineering applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1334–1340, 2018.
Synthesis and Antifungal Activity Evaluation of Novel Substituted Pyrimidine‐5‐Carboxamides Bearing the Pyridine Moiety
Authors: Wang Shi‐Chun , Wan Fu‐Xian , Liu Si , Zhang Shuai , Jiang Lin
Published: January 2018

A series of novel N‐(substituted phenyl/benzyl)‐2‐methylthio‐4‐((pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)amino)pyrimidine‐5‐carboxamides were synthesized by multistep reactions. The structures of the target compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. Their in vitro antifungal activities against two kinds of plant pathogenic fungi were evaluated by the mycelial growth rate method. The result showed that at the dosage of 100 μg/mL, several of these compounds exhibited moderate activity against Botrytis cinerea with inhibition rates of ~70%, and most compounds (e.g., 5a, 5c, 5e, 5f, and 5h) possessed excellent activity against Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum with more than 90% inhibition rate.
Aesthetics and the psychotherapist's office
Authors: Jackson Devlin
Published: January 2018

The physical spaces in which we conduct psychotherapy are an important yet underacknowledged aspect of psychotherapeutic work. Although a few contemporary publications have provided suggestions for the creation of welcoming, comfortable, and efficient practice spaces, considerations of what it means to transform a room into a therapeutic space have remained largely absent from recent literature. This paper reviews the existing literature on this subject and describes the ways in which the therapist's office is intimately tied to several processes of the therapy itself, by way of creating an adaptive environment that is able to meet the needs of both therapist and client over the course of their work together.
Introduction: The transformative powers of aesthetic experiences in psychotherapy
Authors: Geller Jesse D.
Published: January 2018

This issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session contains seven essays that give expression to three basic convictions. The first is that therapists who are consistently able to help their patients make constructive changes in their lives practice psychotherapy creatively, whether or not they conceive of therapy as an applied science or as an art form. The second is that cultivating an aesthetic perspective on the communicative exchanges that take place in therapy can enhance a therapist's capacity to serve creatively as an agent of change. The third is that therapists can make better choices on behalf of their patients if they take inspiration from what artists have to teach us about the aesthetic domain of existence.
The key genes underlying pathophysiology association between the type 2‐diabetic and colorectal cancer
Authors: Peng Wen‐Fang , Bai Feng , Shao Kan , Shen Li‐Sha , Li Hui‐Hua , Huang Shan
Published: January 2018

Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is reported as an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) in many researches, the underlying pathophysiology is still unclear. We investigated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for the diabetes and CRC to reveal the underlying pathophysiological association between the type 2‐diabetic (T2D) and CRC. Gene expression profiles for T2D (GSE55650), CRC (GSE8671), and Metformin treated cell lines (GSE67342) were downloaded from GEO database. The DEGs between T2D samples and their control samples were identified with t‐test and variance analysis. After cluster analysis and functional enrichment analysis, protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to find potential genes for diabetes and CRC in Metformin's treatment. Totally, we identified 583 overlapped genes, 169 common DEGs, and 414 independent DEGs between T2D and CRC samples. The common genes contained 89 up‐regulated (DEGs1) and 80 down‐regulated genes (DEGs3); and independent DEGs contained 270 down‐regulated genes (DEGs4) in diabetes and 144 down‐regulated genes (DEGs2) in CRC. In enrichment analysis, the Ribosome pathway was significantly enriched by the independent DEGs. The common genes were mainly enriched in some inflammatory related pathways. Two target genes of Metformin were significantly interacted with six hub genes (HADHB, NDUFS3, TAF1, MYC, HNFF4A, and MAX) with significant changes in expression values (P < 0.05, t‐test). To summary, it is suggested that the six hub genes might play important roles in the process of Metformin treatment for diabetes and CRC. However, specific pathology remains to be further studied.
The small GTPase RhoA regulates the LIMK1/2‐cofilin pathway to modulate cytoskeletal dynamics in oocyte meiosis
Authors: Duan Xing , Zhang Yu , Chen Kun‐Lin , Zhang Hao‐Lin , Wu Lan‐Lan , Liu Hong‐Lin , Wang Zhen‐Bo , Sun Shao‐Chen
Published: January 2018

LIM kinases (LIMK1/2) are LIM domain‐containing serine/threonine/tyrosine kinases that mediate multiple cellular processes in mitosis. In the present study, we explored the functional roles and potential signaling pathway of LIMK1/2 during mouse oocyte meiosis. Disruption of LIMK1/2 activity and expression significantly decreased oocyte polar body extrusion. Live‐cell imaging revealed that spindle migration was disturbed after both LIMK1 and LIMK2 knock down, and this might be due to aberrant distribution of actin filaments in the oocyte cytoplasm and cortex. Meanwhile, our results demonstrated that the function of LIMK1 and LIMK2 in actin assembly was related to cofilin phosphorylation levels. In addition, disruption of LIMK1/2 activity significantly increased the percentage of oocytes with abnormal spindle morphologies, which was confirmed by the abnormal p‐MAPK localization. We further, explored the upstream molecules of LIMK1/2, and we found that after depletion of ROCK, phosphorylation of LIMK1/2 and cofilin were significantly decreased. Moreover, RhoA inhibition caused the decreased expression of ROCK, p‐LIMK1/2, and cofilin. In summary, our results indicated that the small GTPase RhoA regulated LIMK1/2‐cofilin to modulate cytoskeletal dynamics during mouse oocyte meiosis.
Purification and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from a Bacillus megaterium strain using various dehydration techniques
Authors: Akdoğan Murat , Çelik Eda
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biodegradable polymers synthesized by several microorganisms. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is the most well‐characterized biopolymer produced abundantly by Bacillus species. In order to get a better PHA recovery, efficient pretreatment steps, especially dehydration, have a large impact on PHA purification from microbial PHA‐rich biomass. In this study, we have described the effects of lyophilization (‐L), microwave‐assisted drying (‐M) and ethanol/heat‐treatment (‐E) dehydration techniques on PHA production by B. megaterium NRRL B‐14308 strain.

RESULTS

After 66 h of batch cultivation, cells reached the maximum PHA accumulation (PHA‐L: 1.36 g L–1, PHA‐E: 1.55 g L–1, PHA‐M: 2.08 g L–1). The highest overall volumetric productivity for PHA was obtained as 0.226 g L–1 h‐1 for PHA‐M, which was 1.5‐fold higher than PHA‐L. Structural and thermal properties of PHA were characterized by GC–MS, FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR, TGA and DSC analyses. Analyses of the accumulated PHA by GC–MS, FT‐IR and 1H‐NMR revealed that the biopolymer was made up of 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3‐hydroxyvalerate(3 HV) monomers, irrespective of the dehydration technique.

CONCLUSION

The present study offers an alternative biomass drying technique (microwave‐assisted drying) to conventional drying techniques that is favorable in terms of energy efficiency and processing times, and should help to enhance biopolymer production processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of packing material configuration and liquid recirculation rate on the performance of a biotrickling filter treating VOCs
Authors: Caicedo Francisco , Estrada José M , Silva Juan P , Muñoz Raúl , Lebrero Raquel
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Gas–liquid mass transfer still constitutes an important constraint for hydrophobic volatile organic compound (VOC) removal in biotrickling filters (BTFs), packing material and liquid recirculation rate being two key parameters governing this mass transfer. The combined impact of both parameters on the abatement of VOCs has not been yet assessed. This work evaluated the influence of the trickling liquid velocity on process performance under two packed bed configurations (random vs. structured) in a BTF treating toluene and ethylbenzene.

RESULTS

Similar removal efficiencies >90% for both toluene and ethylbenzene (corresponding to elimination capacities of ∼50 and 32 g m–3 h–1, respectively) were achieved regardless of the configuration. However, less intensive operating conditions were applied in the structured BTF compared to those implemented in the random packed‐bed BTF (optimal trickling liquid velocities of 10 and 20 m h–1 and liquid renewal rates of 400 and 800 mL d–1, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The superior performance of the structured monolith packing at milder operating conditions was attributed to an improved liquid distribution and the reduction of dead volumes and preferential gas flow channels. Proper selection of the packing material would result in an important reduction in both energy and fresh water consumption. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry