bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species associations overwhelm abiotic conditions to dictate the structure and function of wood‐decay fungal communities
Authors: Maynard Daniel S. , Covey Kristofer R. , Crowther Thomas W. , Sokol Noah W. , Morrison Eric W. , Frey Serita D. , van Diepen Linda T. A. , Bradford Mark A.
Published: February 2018

Environmental conditions exert strong controls on the activity of saprotrophic microbes, yet abiotic factors often fail to adequately predict wood decomposition rates across broad spatial scales. Given that species interactions can have significant positive and negative effects on wood‐decay fungal activity, one possibility is that biotic processes serve as the primary controls on community function, with abiotic controls emerging only after species associations are accounted for. Here we explore this hypothesis in a factorial field warming‐ and nitrogen‐addition experiment by examining relationships among wood decomposition rates, fungal activity, and fungal community structure. We show that functional outcomes and community structure are largely unrelated to abiotic conditions, with microsite and plot‐level abiotic variables explaining at most 19% of the total variability in decomposition and fungal activity, and 2% of the variability in richness and evenness. In contrast, taxonomic richness, evenness, and species associations (i.e., co‐occurrence patterns) exhibited strong relationships with community function, accounting for 52% of the variation in decomposition rates and 73% in fungal activity. A greater proportion of positive vs. negative species associations in a community was linked to strong declines in decomposition rates and richness. Evenness emerged as a key mediator between richness and function, with highly even communities exhibiting a positive richness–function relationship and uneven communities exhibiting a negative or null response. These results suggest that community‐assembly processes and species interactions are important controls on the function of wood‐decay fungal communities, ultimately overwhelming substantial differences in abiotic conditions.
Plant responses to fertilization experiments in lowland, species‐rich, tropical forests
Authors: Wright S. Joseph , Turner Benjamin L. , Yavitt Joseph B. , Harms Kyle E. , Kaspari Michael , Tanner Edmund V. J. , Bujan Jelena , Griffin Eric A. , Mayor Jordan R. , Pasquini Sarah C. , Sheldrake Merlin , Garcia Milton N.
Published: February 2018

We present a meta‐analysis of plant responses to fertilization experiments conducted in lowland, species‐rich, tropical forests. We also update a key result and present the first species‐level analyses of tree growth rates for a 15‐yr factorial nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) experiment conducted in central Panama. The update concerns community‐level tree growth rates, which responded significantly to the addition of N and K together after 10 yr of fertilization but not after 15 yr. Our experimental soils are infertile for the region, and species whose regional distributions are strongly associated with low soil P availability dominate the local tree flora. Under these circumstances, we expect muted responses to fertilization, and we predicted species associated with low‐P soils would respond most slowly. The data did not support this prediction, species‐level tree growth responses to P addition were unrelated to species‐level soil P associations. The meta‐analysis demonstrated that nutrient limitation is widespread in lowland tropical forests and evaluated two directional hypotheses concerning plant responses to N addition and to P addition. The meta‐analysis supported the hypothesis that tree (or biomass) growth rate responses to fertilization are weaker in old growth forests and stronger in secondary forests, where rapid biomass accumulation provides a nutrient sink. The meta‐analysis found no support for the long‐standing hypothesis that plant responses are stronger for P addition and weaker for N addition. We do not advocate discarding the latter hypothesis. There are only 14 fertilization experiments from lowland, species‐rich, tropical forests, 13 of the 14 experiments added nutrients for five or fewer years, and responses vary widely among experiments. Potential fertilization responses should be muted when the species present are well adapted to nutrient‐poor soils, as is the case in our experiment, and when pest pressure increases with fertilization, as it does in our experiment. The statistical power and especially the duration of fertilization experiments conducted in old growth, tropical forests might be insufficient to detect the slow, modest growth responses that are to be expected.
Left ventricular chamber geometry in cardiomyopathies: insights from a computerized anatomical study
Authors: Juliani Paulo Sérgio , Das‐Neves‐Pereira João‐Carlos , Monteiro Rosangela , Correia Aristides Tadeu , Moreira Luiz Felipe Pinho , Jatene Fabio Biscegli
Published: February 2018

Aims

Some authors have hypothesized that left ventricular chamber dilatation in ischaemic and idiopathic cardiomyopathies results in spherical transformation. Aiming to characterize how this transformation occurs, a study was performed by comparing normal and dilated specimens regarding sphericity and proportionality in left heart chambers. It is important to provide data for the development of therapeutic strategies in these diseases.

Methods and results

An anatomical study was performed by comparing normal (n = 10), ischaemic (n = 15), and idiopathic (n = 18) dilated human cardiomyopathic specimens regarding left ventricular chambers and their segmental proportionality to normal hearts. It was performed by capturing and processing images with proper software in three different levels of left ventricular chamber (basal, equatorial, and apical). These obtained data were analysed based on sphericity and proportionality by two dedicated indexes. Spherical shape: Calculated segmental indexes showed that dilated specimens were not spherical because they were smaller than as expected for a spherical shape (all values were <70% of a perfect sphere). Proportionality: There was no difference between basal index perimeters among groups, but apical index was lower in dilated specimens than in normal hearts, and so dilatation was not proportional to normal hearts.

Conclusions

Left ventricular chambers of anatomical specimens with dilated cardiomyopathies did not display a spherical shape and were not proportional to normal hearts.
Genetic determinants of heart failure: facts and numbers
Authors: Czepluch Frauke S. , Wollnik Bernd , Hasenfuß Gerd
Published: February 2018

The relevance of gene mutations leading to heart diseases and hence heart failure has become evident. The risk for and the course of heart failure depends on genomic variants and mutations underlying the so‐called genetic predisposition. Genetic contribution to heart failure is highly heterogenous and complex. For any patient with a likely inherited heart failure syndrome, genetic counselling is recommended and important. In the last few years, novel sequencing technologies (named next‐generation sequencing – NGS) have dramatically improved the availability of molecular testing, the efficiency of genetic analyses, and moreover reduced the cost for genetic testing. Due to this development, genetic testing has become increasingly accessible and NGS‐based sequencing is now applied in clinical routine diagnostics. One of the most common reasons of heart failure are cardiomyopathies such as the dilated or the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Nearly 100 disease‐associated genes have been identified for cardiomyopathies. The knowledge of a pathogenic mutation can be used for genetic counselling, risk and prognosis determination, therapy guidance and hence for a more effective treatment. Besides, family cascade screening for a known familial, pathogenic mutation can lead to an early diagnosis in affected individuals. At that timepoint, a preventative intervention could be used to avoid or delay disease onset or delay disease progression. Understanding the cellular basis of genetic heart failure syndromes in more detail may provide new insights into the molecular biology of physiological and impaired cardiac (cell) function. As our understanding of the molecular and genetic pathophysiology of heart failure will increase, this might help to identify novel therapeutic targets and may lead to the development of new and specific treatment options in patients with heart failure.
Regulatory T cells are required for normal and activin‐promoted wound repair in mice
Authors: Haertel Eric , Joshi Natasha , Hiebert Paul , Kopf Manfred , Werner Sabine
Published: February 2018

Healing of skin wounds is orchestrated by various types of immune cells, but little is known about the role of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in this process. Here, we determined if Tregs are important for wound healing in normal mice and if they contribute to the accelerated healing of mice overexpressing the growth and differentiation factor activin. Diphtheria toxin induced Treg depletion prior to injury caused impaired healing characterized by delayed reepithelialization, reduced wound contraction, and impaired vessel maturation. The accelerated wound repair of activin‐transgenic mice was also abrogated. Mechanistically, we found a strong increase in IL‐4 levels combined with overrepresentation of T‐bet+ and GATA‐3+ αβ T cells in Treg‐depleted 7‐day wounds. In addition, numbers of IFN‐γ‐ or IL‐17A‐producing CD4+ and CD4− T cells were elevated. These results demonstrate that Treg depletion in wounds facilitates the expansion of an αβ T‐cell population with features of Th1 and Th2 cells, and suggest that concomitant changes in the cytokine milieu disturb the healing process.
ZnCl2‐Catalyzed Aza‐Diels–Alder Reaction for the Synthesis of 1H‐Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐4,5‐dicarboxylate Derivatives
Authors: Tseng Ching‐Chun , Yen Wan‐Ping , Tsai Shuo‐En , Hu Yu‐Tzu , Takayama Hiroyuki , Kuo Yueh‐Hsiung , Fuh Wong Fung
Published: February 2018

A new ZnCl2‐catalyzed aza‐Diels–Alder reaction was developed for the preparation of pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐4,5‐dicarboxylates through the reaction of pyrazoylimines with acetylenedicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (diethyl but‐2‐ynedioate). Based on optimization studies and economic factors, the best amount of ZnCl2 was established to be 20 mol‐% relative to the azadiene. On the other hand, N,N‐diisopropylamidinyl N‐pyrazoyl imine was found to be the best azadiene substrate.
Direct Conversion of C6 Monosaccharide‐Based Carbohydrates to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural by the Combination of Sulfated Zirconia and Ceria Catalysts
Authors: Zhang Yunlei , Xiong Qingang , Zhu Enwei , Liu Meng , Pan Jianming , Yan Yongsheng
Published: February 2018

In this work, a series of ceria and sulfated zirconia (SZ) incorporated mesoporous SBA‐15 catalysts were prepared via layer‐by‐layer grafting and subsequent wet impregnation methods. And the obtained catalysts were well characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TG, ICP‐OES, PY‐IR, NH3/CO2‐TPD, and XPS. The catalytic activity of the prepared SBA‐15 supported catalysts was investigated for the conversion of C6 monosaccharide‐based carbohydrates including fructose, glucose, inulin, sucrose, cellobiose, maltose, starch and cellulose into 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with the presence of iPrOH‐mediated solvents, successively producing moderate to excellent yields of HMF under atmospheric pressure. Regeneration test showed the catalyst can be easily recovered and reused at least five times without significant loss of catalytic activity. The developed reaction system in this paper avoids the use of large amount of environmentally hazardous solvent, and offers a new route to large‐scale economical viable processes for carbohydrates conservation.
Comparative study on different turning device alignments for household food waste composters
Authors: Prommuak Chattip , Jarunglumlert Teeraya , Putmai Namtip , Sawatdee Sopanat , Sanguanwong Amaret , Pavasant Prasert
Published: February 2018

In this study, two in‐vessel composters with a turning device aligned horizontally or vertically were compared for their performances in composting food waste. Both composters were operated in batch mode at the fixed temperature of 55–60°C, and biological digestion was allowed to take place for 6 days. Both composters exhibited comparable performance with similar CO2 evolution characteristics and similar composted food waste properties, including moisture content, C:N ratio, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH. However, the reactor with the horizontal agitator provided a better stability of the final product, as the product from the vertical composter had traces of post‐anaerobic reaction. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1901–1907, 2018
Mentalization and the left inferior frontal gyrus and insula
Authors: McAdams Carrie J. , Harper Jessica A. , Van Enkevort Erin
Published: February 2018

Objective

To determine if an interpersonal attribution bias associated with self‐perception, the externalizing bias, was related to neural activations during mentalization.

Methods

A functional magnetic resonance imaging task involving verbal appraisals measured neural activations when thinking about oneself and others in 59 adults, including healthy women as well as women with and recovered from anorexia nervosa. Whole‐brain regressions correlated brain function during mentalization with the externalizing bias measured using the Internal, Personal, and Situational Attributions Questionnaire.

Results

Women with anorexia nervosa had a lower externalizing bias, demonstrating a tendency to self‐attribute more negative than positive social interactions, unlike the other groups. The externalizing bias was correlated with activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus and posterior insula, when comparing thinking about others evaluating oneself with direct self‐evaluation.

Discussion

Externalizing biases may provide an office‐based assay reflecting neurocognitive disturbances in social self‐perception that are common during anorexia nervosa.
Unraveling the roles of asymmetric uplift, normal faulting and groundwater flow to drainage rearrangement in an emerging karstic landscape
Authors: Authemayou Christine , Brocard Gilles , Delcaillau Bernard , Molliex Stéphane , Pedoja Kevin , Husson Laurent , Aribowo Sonny , Cahyarini Sri Yudawati
Published: February 2018

Landscape adjustment to tectonic, lithologic and climatic forcing leads to drainage reorganization and migration of divides. The respective contribution of these forcings, especially on carbonate landscapes is not well defined. Here, we have addressed this issue by combining field observations, satellite image interpretation and digital elevation model (DEM) quantitative analysis to assess drainage response to spatially heterogeneous rainfall, asymmetric uplift, and normal faulting on an emerging carbonated platform (Sumba Island, Indonesia). We map geomorphic markers of fluvial dynamics and drainage rearrangement and compute a χ parameter that incorporates the contributions of unevenly distributed precipitation and asymmetric uplift to estimate erosional disequilibrium across drainage divides. We find that asymmetric emergence of Sumba Island created an initial parallel drainage, asymmetric across a divide that propagates landwards. Soon after establishing itself on the emerging slopes this drainage was disturbed by normal faulting, which has become the main force driving drainage rearrangement. Vertical offsets across normal fault scarps first triggered aggradation within valleys over the hanging walls, and then disconnected upstream reaches from downstream reaches, leading to the formation of wind gaps atop the fault scarps and upstream perched sedimentary basins. The defeat of rivers by growing fault scarps was catalysed by the possibility for surface water to be rerouted near the fault scarps into underground water networks inside the underlying carbonates. At the end of the process, the opposite drainage across the main water divide captured the struggling drainage. Capture mechanisms include initial groundwater capture of the perched alluvial aquifers, followed by ground sapping at the head of the opposite drainage and surface stream diversion by avulsion. Finally, normal faulting is the main driving force of drainage rearrangement allowing avulsion and karstic rerouting whereas asymmetric uplift and climate forcings have shown a low efficiency. The role of karstification is more ambiguous, catalysing or inhibiting drainage rearrangement. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A hybrid V2V system for collision‐free high‐speed internet access in intelligent transportation system
Authors: Guchhait Arghya , B Maji , D Kandar
Published: February 2018

Vehicle‐to‐vehicle communication can be effective in avoiding accident and traffic collision using dedicated short‐range communication (DSRC) in intelligent transportation systems. The problem of DSRC is it works in a short range of 1000 m and its frequency band cannot support a large number of users simultaneously, which leads to multiaccess interference, (MAI) noise, and low transmission rate. Multiaccess interference is referred as the overlapping of signals from different users in the network. A combination of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and the DSRC is proposed to improve the quality of service and network congestion using multiuser detection (MUD) and scheduling technique. This paper proposes a scheduling algorithm called league championship priority scheduling algorithm. In the league championship priority scheduling algorithm, the message will be sent on priority basis, depending on the bandwidth values and network coverage, so that MAI can be avoided. Moreover, MUD plays a major role in identifying the active users and nonactive users based on the condition of the threshold frequency and bandwidth. Thus, the implementation result shows that the proposed algorithm provides high‐transmission data rate and multiaccess interference can be avoided. The performance is evaluated to validate and estimate the performance of MUD and scheduling algorithm.
Enhancing physical layer security in AF relay–assisted multicarrier wireless transmission
Authors: Aman Waqas , Sidhu Guftaar Ahmad Sardar , Furqan Haji M. , Ali Zain
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we study the physical layer security problem in the dual‐hop orthogonal frequency division multiplexing–based wireless communication system. First, we consider a single‐user single‐relay system and study a joint power optimization problem at the source and relay subject to individual power constraint at the 2 nodes. The aim is to maximize the end‐to‐end secrecy rate with optimal power allocation over different subcarriers. Later, we consider a more general multiuser multirelay scenario. Under high signal‐to‐noise ratio approximation for end‐to‐end secrecy rate, an optimization problem is formulated to jointly optimize power allocation at the base station, the relay selection, subcarrier assignment to users, and the power loading at each of the relaying node. The target is to maximize the overall security of the system subject to independent power budget limits at each transmitting node and the orthogonal frequency division multiple access–based exclusive subcarrier allocation constraints. A joint optimization solution is obtained through the duality theory. Dual decomposition allows to exploit convex optimization techniques to find the power loading at the source and relay nodes. Furthermore, an optimization for power loading at relaying nodes along with relay selection and subcarrier assignment for the fixed power allocation at the base station is also studied. A suboptimal scheme that explores joint power allocation at all transmitting nodes for the fixed subcarrier allocation and relay assignment is investigated. Finally, simulation results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed schemes.
A lightweight reliability mechanism proposed for datagram congestion control protocol over wireless multimedia sensor networks
Authors: Ahmed Adel A. , Ali Waleed
Published: February 2018

Transmission of multimedia data over wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs) is a challenging task and requires an effective design for the transport layer protocols to meet both the resource‐constrained WMSN and the requirements of multimedia streaming. The standard transport layer protocols (eg, UDP, TCP, SCTP, and DCCP) have been shown inefficient to transport multimedia data over WMSN without modification in the design of end‐to‐end (ETE) reliability and the congestion control mechanisms. This paper proposed a lightweight reliability mechanism for datagram congestion control protocol (LW‐DCCP) over WMSNs. The lightweight reliability mechanism consists of caching and retransmission algorithms that consider the resource‐constrained WMSNs and the requirements of video streaming over WMSN. Moreover, this paper presents an important modification to TCP‐friendly rate control congestion control mechanism that calculates the loss interval based on intracoded frame sending time. The LW‐DCCP has been evaluated through comprehensive simulation experiments and compared with baseline transport protocols using the 2 frameworks (Eval‐SCTP and Eval‐DCCP) that we developed in NS‐2 environment. The experimental results show that LW‐DCCP ensures effective congestion control and ETE reliability for video transmission over WMSN. In addition, LW‐DCCP experiences better performance in terms of energy consumption, ETE delay, jitter delay, frame delivery ratio, frame peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, and visual quality of the received video as compared to the baseline transport layer protocols.
A heating method for producing frozen pizza ingredients with increased total polyphenol content and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity
Authors: Cheung Lennie K. Y. , Tomita Haruo , Takemori Toshikazu
Published: February 2018

Despite growing demand for more healthful frozen pizza, current technologies for increasing potential healthfulness such as reformulation or enrichment of raw ingredients may lead to undesirable changes in the final product. This study evaluated alternative heat treatments of selected frozen pizza ingredients as methods for increasing the healthfulness of frozen pizza. Four common vegetable toppings (i.e., onion, corn, Japanese green pepper, and red pepper) were heated on a 250°C hot plate, and commercially available par‐baked pizza base was reheated at 500°C for 50 s to induce browning. These alternatively heat‐treated (AHT) ingredients were compared to their conventional counterparts (e.g., steam‐blanched vegetable toppings and commercially available par‐baked pizza base, respectively) in terms of total polyphenol content (TPC) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH RSA). TPC increased and was correlated with internal temperature for onion and peppers during alternative heat treatment, while increases in DPPH RSA of AHT onion and pizza base may be due to the formation of Maillard reaction products. Replacing conventional samples with AHT counterparts increased TPC and DPPH RSA by 1.2‐fold to 1.6‐fold and 1.3‐fold to 2.1‐fold, respectively, for vegetable toppings after reheating at 230°C for 12 min. Significant differences in acceptability of sensory attributes (i.e., appearance, taste, aroma, texture, and overall preference) were not observed between AHT and conventional vegetable topping when incorporated into pizza. These results suggest that alternative heat treatment of raw ingredients, particularly vegetable toppings, for the purpose of increasing TPC and DPPH RSA may be a viable method for increasing the potential healthfulness of frozen pizza.
Retracted: Experimentally investigated the asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) drying with flat‐plate collector under the natural convection indirect solar dryer
Authors: Ullah Fahim , Kang Min , Khattak Mansoor Khan , Wahab Said
Published: February 2018

The above article, published online on 21 February 2018 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Y. Martin Lo, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed at the authors’ request due to unattributed overlap between this article and the following article published in the Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, “Analysis of ginger drying inside a natural convection indirect solar dryer: An experimental study” by S. K. Sansaniwal and M. Kumar, Volume 9, pp. 1671–1685.
Nutrient, phytochemical, and antinutrient composition of Citrus maxima fruit juice and peel extract
Authors: Ani Peace Nwanneka , Abel Happiness Chiamaka
Published: February 2018

Nutrient, phytochemical, and antinutrient composition of Citrus maxima fruit juice and peel extract were determined. The fruit was procured from a garden in Trans‐Ekulu, Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Mature undamaged Citrus maxima fruits were thoroughly washed with distilled water to remove contamination, dirt, and air‐dried. The peel was separated from the pulp. The pulp (100 g) was blended and filtered through a muslin cloth to obtain a clear juice. The peel (50 g) was macerated with 200 ml of ethanol for 20 min. The peel extract was filtered through filter paper. The supernatant was concentrated by rotary evaporation. The peel extract was weighed and stored in a plastic container until needed. Proximate, mineral, vitamins, antinutrient, and phytochemical composition of the juice and peel extract were determined using standard procedures. Citrus maxima peel extract contains significantly (p < .05) higher crude fiber (2.58%), fat (9.74%), ash (2.49%), and carbohydrate (71.57%) compared with Citrus maxima juice. Alkaloid, phenolics, and flavonoids were also significantly (p < .05) higher in the peel extract. The mineral composition revealed the order Ca > Na > Ph > Fe > Mg > K in the juice and Ca > Ph > Na > Fe > K > Mg in the peel extract. Vitamin C content of the juice and peel extract were 26.36 mg/100 g and 19.34 mg/100 g, respectively. Citrus maxima peel is highly nutritive and rich in phytochemicals, further research is recommended to investigate its therapeutic effect.
Evaluation of physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of kombucha “Tea Fungus” during extended periods of fermentation
Authors: Amarasinghe Hashani , Weerakkody Nimsha S. , Waisundara Viduranga Y.
Published: February 2018

Kombucha fermentation is traditionally carried out by inoculating a previously grown tea fungal mat into a freshly prepared tea broth and incubating under aerobic conditions for 7–10 days. In this study, four kombucha beverages were prepared by placing the tea fungal mats in sugared Sri Lankan black tea at varying concentrations for a period of 8 weeks. The antioxidant activities, physicochemical, and qualitative properties were monitored prior to the commencement of the fermentation process, one day after the inoculation with the microorganisms and subsequently on a weekly basis. All samples displayed a statistically significant decrease (p < .05) in the antioxidant activity at the end of 8 weeks, which was indicative of the decreasing functional properties of the beverage. The physicochemical properties indicated increased acidity and turbidity, which might decrease consumer appeal of the fermented beverage. Further studies are necessary to test the accumulation of organic acids, nucleic acids, and toxicity of kombucha on human organs following the extended period of fermentation.
Intrinsic motivation as a mediator of the relationship between organizational support and quantitative workload and work‐related fatigue
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Fan Jingyan , Fu Yujin , Liu Fangyu
Published: February 2018

The aim of this study is to explore how organizational support and quantitative workload influence work‐related fatigue. We collected 688 questionnaires from product line workers in 6 Chinese iron and steel factories. Confirmatory factor analysis and bootstrapping were used in the data analysis, and structural equation modeling was adopted to test the hypothetical model. The results showed that intrinsic motivation fully mediates the relationship between organizational support and work‐related fatigue, while partly mediating the relationship between quantitative workload and work‐related fatigue. The results of this study indicate the potential benefit of improving motivation to alleviate work‐related fatigue. Finally, this study puts forward suggestions for future studies.
Incorporating spatially heterogeneous infiltration capacity into hydrologic models with applications for simulating post‐wildfire debris flow initiation
Authors: McGuire Luke A. , Rengers Francis K. , Kean Jason W. , Staley Dennis M. , Mirus Benjamin B.
Published: February 2018

Soils in post‐wildfire environments are often characterized by a low infiltration capacity with a high degree of spatial heterogeneity relative to unburned areas. Debris flows are frequently initiated by run‐off in recently burned steeplands, making it critical to develop and test methods for incorporating spatial variability in infiltration capacity into hydrologic models. We use Monte Carlo simulations of run‐off generation over a soil with a spatially heterogenous saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) to derive an expression for an aerially averaged saturated hydraulic conductivity (
) that depends on the rainfall rate, the statistical properties of Ks, and the spatial correlation length scale associated with Ks. The proposed method for determining
is tested by simulating run‐off on synthetic topography over a wide range of spatial scales. Results provide a simplified expression for an effective saturated hydraulic conductivity that can be used to relate a distribution of small‐scale Ks measurements to infiltration and run‐off generation over larger spatial scales. Finally, we use a hydrologic model based on
to simulate run‐off and debris flow initiation at a recently burned catchment in the Santa Ana Mountains, CA, USA, and compare results to those obtained using an infiltration model based on the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number.
Alcohol consumption and risk of hematological malignancies: A meta‐analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Psaltopoulou Theodora , Sergentanis Theodoros N. , Ntanasis‐Stathopoulos Ioannis , Tzanninis Ioannis‐Georgios , Tsilimigras Diamantis I. , Dimopoulos Meletios A.
Published: February 2018

Current convincing evidence suggests that alcohol intake increases the risk of several carcinomas, which might subsequently lead to a recommendation toward limiting alcohol consumption. However, there are accumulating data worth meta‐analyzing that show a different effect on the risk of hematological malignancies. Eligible cohort studies were sought in PubMed database up to August 31, 2016. Separate analyses were performed by subtype of hematological malignancy (non‐Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL] and subtypes, Hodgkin lymphoma [HL], leukemia and subtypes), time status (ever, current, former), level of consumption (light, moderate, heavy), alcoholic beverage (total alcohol, beer, liquor, wine) and gender. Moderate and heavy alcohol consumption were significantly associated with reduced risk of NHL (relative risk [RR] = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.90 and RR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.60–0.89, respectively); a protective trend was also shown for light alcohol intake (RR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.87–1.00). Specifically, beer consumption was associated with reduced NHL risk (RR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.81–0.95). However, the association regarding other alcoholic beverages seemed null. The beneficial effects of alcohol mainly pertained to Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) (RR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.77–0.89) and Follicular Lymphoma (FL) (RR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.78–0.93). There was also no association between alcohol consumption and risk of HL or leukemias. In contrast to most solid malignancies, alcohol seems to confer a protective effect on NHL risk, especially on DLBCL and FL subtypes, with beer being notably beneficial.
Alexithymia and risk preferences: Predicting risk behaviour across decision domains
Authors: Panno Angelo , Sarrionandia Ainize , Lauriola Marco , Giacomantonio Mauro
Published: February 2018

Risk‐taking is a critical health factor as it plays a key role in several diseases and is related to a number of health risk factors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of alexithymia in predicting risk preferences across decision domains. One hundred and thirteen participants filled out an alexithymia scale (Toronto Alexithymia Scale—TAS‐20), impulsivity and venturesomeness measures (I7 scale), and—1 month later—the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE questionnaire). The hierarchical regression analyses showed that alexithymia positively predicted risk preferences in two domains: aggressive/illegal behaviour and irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The results also highlighted a significant association of the alexithymia facet, externally oriented thinking (EOT), with risky sexual activities. EOT also significantly predicted aggressive/illegal behaviour and irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The alexithymia facet, Difficulty Identifying Feelings, significantly predicted irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The results of the present study provide interesting insights into the connection between alexithymia and risk preferences across different decision domains. Implications for future studies and applied interventions are discussed.
Challenges for the next level of digital divide in rural Indonesian communities
Authors: Onitsuka Kenichiro , Hidayat AR Rohman Taufiq , Huang Wanhui
Published: February 2018

In recent years, information and communication technology (ICT) has rapidly spread across the globe, along with increased market penetration and easy availability of economical smartphones and cellphones with both wired and nonwired connections to access the Internet; this leapfrogging in the Internet access is true even in the rural areas of the world's developing countries. Indonesia has the largest population of Internet users even though the Internet penetration rate is still under the regional average among Southeast Asian countries. To date, however, scholarly discourse on ICT use in rural communities in developing countries has, for the most part, been limited to the conventional discussion regarding the gap that exists between the “haves” and the “have nots,” often referred to as the digital divide. The current study applies a contemporary conceptualization of digital divide to the case of a rural village in Indonesia with a growing young population to arrive at policy recommendations for using ICT to improve this village as a possible model for other rural communities in developing countries. Semistructured interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted targeting digital natives, identifying a gap in Internet use between younger and older residents within the digital natives. The study then applied a model that examined a succession of 4 types of access—motivational access, material access, skills access, and usage access—for respondents who were grouped by age and level of Internet use. This analysis combined with an examination of the Internet paradox revealed the positive effects of Internet use on community participation and networking. Analysis also indicated distinctive challenges for each group at multiple stages of the digital divide, leading to policy recommendations for each group to take advantage of Internet technology for future rural development in the case study village and for possible use as a model for other rural areas of developing countries around the world.
Synthesis and discovery of potent carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and α‐glycosidase enzymes inhibitors: The novel N,N′‐bis‐cyanomethylamine and alkoxymethylamine derivatives
Authors: Taslimi Parham , Caglayan Cuneyt , Farzaliyev Vagif , Nabiyev Oruj , Sujayev Afsun , Turkan Fikret , Kaya Ruya , Gulçin İlhami
Published: February 2018

During this investigation, N,N′‐bis‐azidomethylamines, N,N′‐bis‐cyanomethylamine, new alkoxymethylamine and chiral derivatives, which are considered to be a new generation of multifunctional compounds, were synthesized, functional properties were investigated, and anticholinergic and antidiabetic properties of those compounds were studied through the laboratory tests, and it was approved that they contain physiologically active compounds rather than analogues. Novel N‐bis‐cyanomethylamine and alkoxymethylamine derivatives were effective inhibitors of the α‐glycosidase, cytosolic carbonic anhydrase I and II isoforms, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with Ki values in the range of 0.15–13.31 nM for α‐glycosidase, 2.77–15.30 nM for human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I (hCA I), 3.12–21.90 nM for human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes II (hCA II), 23.33–73.23 nM for AChE, and 3.84–48.41 nM for BChE, respectively. Indeed, the inhibition of these metabolic enzymes has been considered as a promising factor for pharmacologic intervention in a diversity of disturbances.
Comparative toxicity studies on bromochloroacetate, dibromoacetate, and bromodichloroacetate in J774A.1 macrophages: Roles of superoxide anion and protein carbonyl compounds
Authors: Hassoun Ezdihar A. , Zeng Xiaoqun
Published: February 2018

The brominated and mixed bromo‐chloro‐haloacetates, such as dibromoacetate (DBA), bromochloroacetate (BCA), and bromodichloroacetate (BDCA), are by‐products of water chlorination and are found at lower levels than the fully chlorinated acetates in the drinking water. The toxicities of the compounds were assessed in J774A.1 cells and were found to induce concentration‐dependent increases in cell death and superoxide anion and protein carbonyl compounds production. Compared to the previously tested concentrations of dichoroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) in the same cell line, the tested haloacetates induced similar effects on cellular viability and superoxide anion production but at DBA and BCA concentrations that were approximately 40–160 times lower than those of DCA and TCA, and at BDCA concentrations that were 4–16 times lower than those of DCA and TCA. Also, production of super oxide anion, protein carbonyl compounds, and induction of phagocytic activation are suggested to play a role in their toxicity.
An Efficient Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Some Novel 2‐Azetidinone Derivatives of 4H‐1,2,4‐Triazoles Under Mild Conditions
Authors: Khan Takallum , Yadav Ritu , Gound Surendra Singh
Published: February 2018

We have synthesized the novel 2‐azetidinone derivatives by using Schiff bases of 1,2,4‐triazoles via a single step protocol. We used DABCO as a good homogenous, ecofriendly, highly reactive, easy to handle, and nontoxic catalyst. In DABCO catalyzed synthesis of active 2‐oxo‐azetidine, a highly electrophilic ketene intermediate can react with weakly nucleophilic (N═CH) linkage, which is used as the precursor for the cycloaddition reaction to deliver the desired products in excellent yields with protic solvents. In addition, the DABCO as an economically viable and readily available catalyst is soluble in almost all solvents and their salts easily filtered off from the reaction medium. Moreover, this new synthetic protocol features high conversion in green solvents and a straightforward procedure.
Embryonic and early development of the Zagros tooth‐carp, Aphanius vladykovi (Actinopterygii: Cyprinodontidae)
Authors: Sanjarani Vahed Nafiseh , Esmaeili Hamid Reza , Masoudi Mojtaba , Ebrahimi Mehregan
Published: February 2018

The embryonic and early larval development of laboratory reared Zagros tooth‐carp, Aphanius vladykovi Coad, 1988, are described and illustrated. Development and embryogenesis start with the external fertilization of sticky, transparent and spherical telolecithal/macrolecithal eggs with a mean diameter of 1.61± 0.12 mm and it continues with meroblastic/radial cleavage, blastulation/blastula formation, epibolic cell migration during gastrulation and organogenesis resulting in a newly hatched larvae of 5.23 ± 0.09 mm in length with attached yolk sac at about 164 hr (at 24 ± 1°C) after fertilization.
Hepatitis E virus infection in HIV‐infected patients: A large cohort study in Yunnan province, China
Authors: Zhou Shiyi , Ren Li , Xia Xueshan , Miao Zhijiang , Huang Fen , Li Yunlong , Zhu Mei , Xie Zhenrong , Xu Yu , Qian Yuan , Pan Qiuwei , Wang Kunhua
Published: February 2018

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in immunocompromised patients often results in distinct outcome, compared to the infection in general population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, potential risk factors, and clinical features of HEV infection among HIV patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Yunnan province, China. A total of 770 HIV‐infected patients between May 2015 and February 2016 were enrolled in Yunnan, China. All patients received ART. All plasma samples were tested for anti‐HEV IgG, anti‐HEV IgM antibodies using ELISA kits, and HEV RNA by real‐time qRT‐PCR. Association between anti‐HEV antibody positivity and demographic, clinical and laboratory measures was assessed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Of the 770 HIV‐infected patients, 342 patients (44.42%) were anti‐HEV IgG antibody positive, and six patients (0.78%) were anti‐HEV IgM antibody positive. None of the patients was HEV RNA positive, as tested in our assays. We found that age, gender, CD4 cell count, WHO stage, marital status, and total cholesterol levels were associated with HEV infection. We report a high seroprevalence rate and several potential risk factors of HEV infection in a large HIV cohort from Yunnan province in China. Further research on identification of the circulating HEV strains and the clinical outcome of this patient population is required.
Characterization of cellular and matrix alterations in the early pathogenesis of osteochondritis dissecans in pigs using second harmonic generation and two‐photon excitation fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Finnøy Andreas , Olstad Kristin , Lilledahl Magnus B.
Published: February 2018

Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint disease that is observed in several species. The disease can develop as a cause of ischemic chondronecrosis in the epiphyseal growth cartilage. Some lesions of chondronecrosis undergo spontaneous resolution, but it is not possible to predict whether a lesion will resolve or progress and require intervention. Proliferation of cells into clusters occurs at the lesion margin, but it is unclear if the clusters have a repair function. The aims of the current study were to examine clusters and potential matrix changes in response to ischemic chondronecrosis in the distal femur of 10 pigs aged 70–180 days using advanced microscopy based on two‐photon excitation fluorescence and second harmonic generation. These microscopy techniques can perform 3D imaging of cells and collagen without staining. The results indicated a lower collagen density in the chondronecrotic areas compared to the normal growth cartilage, and fissures and breaks in the matrix integrity were demonstrated that potentially can propagate and cause osteochondritis dissecans. A higher number of cells in clusters was correlated with reduction in collagen density in the lesions. Some of the cells in the clusters had a morphology similar to progenitor cells, suggesting a potential repair role of the clusters. The study has shed further light on the secondary responses after initial lesion formation, which information can be of potential use to create models that can predict lesion progression and that may hence avoid unnecessary interventions in the future. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2089–2098, 2018.
Vein wrapping promotes M2 macrophage polarization in a rat chronic constriction injury model
Authors: Hirosawa Naoya , Uchida Kentaro , Kuniyoshi Kazuki , Murakami Kenichi , Inoue Gen , Miyagi Masayuki , Matsuura Yusuke , Orita Sumihisa , Inage Kazuhide , Suzuki Takane , Takaso Masashi , Ohtori Seiji
Published: February 2018

Although the therapeutic potential of vein wrapping (VW) for recurrent compressive neuropathy has been widely reported, the mechanisms underlying this technique have not been characterized. M2 macrophages induced by interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) or interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) have an anti‐inflammatory function and play an important role in peripheral nerve repair. To evaluate whether VW promotes M2 polarization, we divided chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats into untreated and VW (CCI + VW)‐treated groups. Pain withdrawal thresholds in both groups were evaluated using von Frey filaments. Expression of the anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐10 in vein and nerve were quantified using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and expression of the anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophage markers CD206 and arginase‐1 (Arg1) after VW was assessed by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry. To evaluate the effect of exogenous IL‐4 or IL‐10 on M2 macrophage‐marker expression, CD11b‐positive macrophages isolated from sciatic nerve were stimulated with recombinant IL‐4 and IL‐10. VW significantly increased the pain withdrawal threshold. IL‐4 and IL‐10 mRNA expression was higher in veins than in the sciatic nerve. VW significantly increased CD206 and Arg1 mRNA expression compared to the CCI group. The number of CD206‐ and Arg1‐immunoreactive cells in nerve bundles was twofold higher in the CCI + VW than CCI group. Application of exogenous IL‐4 doubled CD206 and Arg1 mRNA expression in CD11b‐positive macrophages. These results show that vein‐derived IL‐4 potentiates the benefit of VW through the activation of M2 macrophages in the sciatic nerve. Our results may help to optimize current procedures for treating recurrent compressive neuropathy. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2210–2217, 2018.
Inhibition of ADAM10 in satellite cells accelerates muscle regeneration following muscle injury
Authors: Mizuno Sakiko , Yoda Masaki , Shimoda Masayuki , Chiba Kazuhiro , Nakamura Masaya , Horiuchi Keisuke
Published: February 2018

Muscle injury is one of the most common orthopedic and sports disorders. For severe cases, surgical repair may be indicated; however, other than immobilization and the administration of anti‐inflammatory drugs there is currently no effective conservative treatment for this condition. Satellite cells (SCs) are muscle‐specific stem cells and are indispensable for muscle regeneration after muscle injury. SCs are activated upon muscle injury to proliferate and differentiate into myoblasts, which subsequently fuse into myofibers and regenerate the damaged muscle. We have previously shown that ADAM10, a membrane‐anchored proteolytic enzyme, is essential for the maintenance of SC quiescence by activating the Notch signaling pathway in SCs. Because suppression of ADAM10 activity in SCs can activate SC differentiation, we asked whether inactivation of ADAM10 in SCs after muscle injury could enhance muscle regeneration. Using Adam10 conditional knockout mice, in which ADAM10 activity can specifically be suppressed in SCs, we found that partial inactivation of ADAM10 accelerates muscle regeneration after muscle injury. Nearly identical results were obtained by the administration of GI254023X, a selective ADAM10 inhibitor. The findings of the present study thus indicate that transient enhancement of SC differentiation after muscle injury expedites muscle regeneration and that ADAM10 can be a potential molecular target in treating muscle injuries. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2259–2265, 2018.