bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Walk Score and objectively measured physical activity within a national cohort
Authors: Twardzik Erica , Judd Suzanne , Bennett Aleena , Hooker Steven , Howard Virginia , Hutto Brent , Clarke Philippa , Colabianchi Natalie
Published: April 2019

Background

There have been mixed findings regarding the relationship between walkability and level of physical activity in adults.

Methods

Participants from The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort (N=7561) were used to examine the association between Walk Score and physical activity measured via accelerometry. The subsample included geographically diverse adults, who identified as black or white, and were over the age of 45. Linear regression was used to examine the direct effects, as well as the interaction, of Walk Score by sex, age and race.

Results

The majority of participants lived in a ‘Very Car-Dependent’ location (N=4115). Only 527 lived in a location that was ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’. Living in a location with a Walk Score of ‘Very Car-Dependent’ compared with ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’ was associated with 19% (0.81; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.90) lower predicted minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, after adjustment for covariates. There was no evidence of statistically significant interactions between Walk Score and sex, age or race (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Accumulated daily time in moderate to vigorous physical activity was higher for participants living in neighbourhoods designated as ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’. This effect was not moderated by sex, age or race of participants.
Early-life inequalities and biological ageing: a multisystem Biological Health Score approach inUnderstandingSociety
Authors: Karimi Maryam , Castagné Raphaële , Delpierre Cyrille , Albertus Gaëlle , Berger Eloïse , Vineis Paolo , Kumari Meena , Kelly-Irving Michelle , Chadeau-Hyam Marc
Published: April 2019

Social position is known to play a role in the quality of ageing, notably through the stimulation/dysregulation of key physiological systems in response to external stresses. Using data from one wave ofUnderstanding Societyincluding 9088 participants, we defined, as an extension of the allostatic load, a synthetic Biological Health Score (BHS) capturing the wear-and-tear of four physiological systems (endocrine, inflammatory, cardiovascular and metabolic systems) and two organs (liver and kidney). We used 16 established blood-derived biomarkers of these systems to calculate the BHS and explored the relative contribution of socioeconomic position to the BHS and its main components across age groups. We identified a systematic decreasing education-related gradient of the BHS (p<0.001) leading to lower biological risk in participants with longer education. Education-related differences in the BHS were detected early in life, and were not attributable to lifestyle and behavioural factors. We found a consistent contribution of the inflammatory and metabolic systems to the overall score throughout from early adulthood onwards, while the contribution of the other four systems seems to vary across age groups and gender. Our findings highlight the social-to-biological processes ultimately leading to health inequalities, and suggest that such disparities can already be detected in the 20–40 years old age group and cannot be fully explained by lifestyle and behavioural factors. This may define early adulthood social condition as a precursor to accelerated biological ageing and as an important target for public health policies.
SARS coronavirus protein nsp1 disrupts localization of Nup93 from the nuclear pore complex
Authors: Gomez Garret N. , Abrar Fareeha , Dodhia Maya P. , Gonzalez Fabiola G. , Nag Anita
Published: April 2019

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) is a key factor in virus-induced down-regulation of host gene expression. In infected cells, nsp1 engages in a multipronged mechanism to inhibit host gene expression by binding to the 40S ribosome to block the assembly of translationally competent ribosome, and then inducing endonucleolytic cleavage and the degradation of host mRNAs. Here, we report a previously undetected mechanism by which nsp1 exploits the nuclear pore complex and disrupts the nuclear–cytoplasmic transport of biomolecules. We identified members of the nuclear pore complex from the nsp1-associated protein assembly and found that the expression of nsp1 in HEK cells disrupts Nup93 localization around the nuclear envelope without triggering proteolytic degradation, while the nuclear lamina remains unperturbed. Consistent with its role in host shutoff, nsp1 alters the nuclear–cytoplasmic distribution of an RNA binding protein, nucleolin. Our results suggest that nsp1, alone, can regulate multiple steps of gene expression including nuclear–cytoplasmic transport.
Ab initio investigation of the optical properties of layered MoSxSe(2−x) (0 ≤ x ≤ 2): By GGA and mBJ approaches
Authors: Bishal Ghazal , Moradian Rostam
Published: April 2019

Based on the density functional theory (DFT) and using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA-mBJ approximations, the electronic and optical properties of the bulk and mono-layer Molybdenum sulphoselenide MoS[Formula: see text]Se[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) are calculated. In both bulk and mono-layer cases, the energy gap decreases by increasing the density of the Se atom, so that the reduction in the mono-layer case is more observable than the bulk case. Also, the variation of the exchange-correlation (XC) potential has the maximum and minimum effects on the bulk MoS2 and the mono-layer MoSe2 cases, respectively. The static dielectric function of MoS2 in the [Formula: see text] as well as its optical conductivity is less than the other two compounds. In the mono-layer case along [Formula: see text]-direction, the first response to the incident photon belongs to MoS2 in the infrared region, while the other two compounds respond in the edge of the visible area. The intensity of the MoSSe response, unlike its bulk case, is less than the other compounds. Along [Formula: see text]-direction, the first response is observed in the visible area. The remarkable point is that the optical stability in the bulk case is more than that in the mono-layer case.
Large nonlinear Hall effect in (FeCo)0.67Ge0.33/Ge heterojunctions
Authors: Pei Juan , Xiao Shu-Qin , He Li-Min , Zhang Kun , Li Huan-Huan , Yang Ai-Chun , Dai You-Yong , Kang Shi-Shou , Yan Shi-Shen
Published: April 2019

The large nonlinear Hall effect was found in (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text]/Ge heterojunctions formed by sputtering amorphous [Formula: see text]-type (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text] magnetic semiconductor films on near intrinsic n-type Ge substrate. It is very interesting that the mechanisms of the large nonlinear Hall effect in (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text]/Ge heterojunctions are different at different temperature ranges. Below 10 K, the Hall resistance of (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text]/Ge heterojunctions is almost the same as the anomalous Hall effect of (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text] ferromagnetic films. While the temperature increased from 10 to 60 K, the nonlinear Hall resistance, longitudinal conductance, and magnetoresistance all increased quickly and reached the maximum at T[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]60 K. In this case, thermally excited conducting carriers can tunnel through the interfacial potential barrier in (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text]/Ge heterojunctions. Thus, in the range of 10–60 K, the enhanced nonlinear Hall resistance can be attributed to the anomalous Hall effect which was further enhanced by interfacial Rashba spin–orbit coupling effect. When the temperature further increased from 60 to 250 K, the interfacial potential barrier weakened gradually, and the Hall resistance and magnetoresistance decreased due to the shunting of the Ge substrate. In this case, the nonlinear Hall effect of (FeCo)[Formula: see text]Ge[Formula: see text]/Ge heterojunctions can be explained very well by the two-band model of nonlinear Hall effect.
INFLUENCE OF EMBEDDED TUNGSTEN PARTICLES ON MECHANICAL BEHAVIORS OF CVD DIAMOND COATING
Authors: WANG YAO , HE PING , CHEN YINGCHAO , LIU MUSEN , LI CHENG , CHEN NAICHAO , REN JIANXING , ZHU QUANJUN
Published: April 2019

Diamond coating has gained intensive attraction in the tribological field due to its high hardness. However, its weak flexibility always gives rise to the fragile crack, which causes the delamination and peeling off from substrate. In this work, a novel deposition method combining the conventional hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) and particles doping technique is proposed to balance the hardness and flexibility of diamond coating, by which the diamond coating with tungsten particles is deposited on the co-cemented tungsten carbide substrate. The as-deposited diamond coating is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, surface roughness and Raman spectrum. The indentation tests are conducted to evaluate the crack propagation of diamond coating. Tribological behavior is examined on a reciprocating ball-on-plate tribometer. The results indicate that tungsten carbide may be formed between tungsten particles and diamond coating. The W–WC–amorphous carbon–diamond structural coating can validly inhibit the crack propagation and decrease the friction coefficient. Hence, adding embedding particles into the diamond coating may provide a useful way in enhancing the mechanical properties of diamond coating.
Does the Financial Integration in ASEAN+3 Respond to Financial Cooperation Agreement and Influence the Real Sectors?
Authors: Rahman Md. Saifur , Shahari Farihana
Published: April 2019

This paper aims to investigate the degree of financial integration by employing Markov Switching (MS) technique. It further examines the influence of financial integration on the real sectors by employing GMM approach. The finding indicates following outcomes; (1) the financial markets of ASEAN[Formula: see text]3 economies are weakly integrated during pre-agreement periods; (2) the degree of financial integration improves during post-agreement period in which financial integration has positive influence on the real economy; (3) higher degree of financial integration indicates a positive influence on the real economies. Finally, this study offers policy implication for stabilizing the real economy.
Characterization of Mesoporous Silicon Using DSC Thermoporometry
Authors: Shilyaeva Y. , Volovlikova O. , Poyarkov K. , Yuditskaya S. , Gavrilov S.
Published: April 2019

The thermal behavior of water confined in mesopores of silicon membrane was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed strong supercooling of water inside the pores which allowed us to estimate the content of freezable pore water and nonfreezable pore water in the analyzed membranes.
Effect of Graphene Coating on SERS Performance of Plasmonic Nanostructures Based on Silvered Porous Silicon
Authors: Panarin A. , Mojzes P. , Ranishenka B. , Terekhov S.
Published: April 2019

The degradation of the Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal under laser illumination during spectral measurements is typically observed. To improve the stability of the SERS spectra intensity, hybrid plasmonic structures involving graphene-based protective layers were formed. An observation of the time evolution of the characteristic peak from analyte molecules indicates that the graphene coating can be used to improve the stability of the SERS signal.
CPEC: A Game Changer in the Balance of Power in South Asia
Authors: Khan Zahid , Changgang Guo , Ahmad Riaz , Wenhao Fang
Published: April 2019

Intended as a pilot flagship project under the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has received relatively positive responses from actors in and outside the South Asian region. Islamabad, New Delhi, and Washington have offered their support to the project to varying degrees, because the financial commitments made by Beijing can help narrow the substantial funding gap for regional infrastructure connectivity. Nevertheless, enduring animosity and mistrust between India and Pakistan and growing strategic competition between Beijing and Washington present the biggest challenges to the project’s sustainable progress. Although the unfolding U.S.-China competition has not tangibly affected regional cooperation, as Washington’s enthusiasm for and investment in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC) remain low compared with China’s down payment, the potential change in the balance of power in South Asia has triggered increasing concern from and collaboration between the United States and India. By highlighting the positive-sum logic of improved infrastructure interconnection as well as greater economic integration, and contributing to a more stable geopolitical environment in South Asia, Beijing can help alleviate the longstanding enmity between India and Pakistan and assuage Washington’s and New Delhi’s skepticism about its strategic intentions.
Endogenous amylin contributes to birth of microglial cells in arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and area postrema during fetal development
Authors: Lutz Thomas A. , Le Foll Christelle
Published: April 2019

Amylin acts in the area postrema (AP) and arcuate nucleus (ARC) to control food intake. Amylin also increases axonal fiber outgrowth from the AP→nucleus tractus solitarius and from ARC→hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. More recently, exogenous amylin infusion for 4 wk was shown to increase neurogenesis in adult rats in the AP. Furthermore, amylin has been shown to enhance leptin signaling in the ARC and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN). Thus, we hypothesized that endogenous amylin could be a critical factor in regulating cell birth in the ARC and AP and that amylin could also be involved in the birth of leptin-sensitive neurons. Amylin+/− dams were injected with BrdU at embryonic day 12 and at postnatal day 2; BrdU+ cells were quantified in wild-type (WT) and amylin knockout (KO) mice. The number of BrdU+HuC/D+ neurons was similar in ARC and AP, but the number of BrdU+Iba1+ microglia was significantly decreased in both nuclei. Five-week-old WT and KO littermates were injected with leptin to test whether amylin is involved in the birth of leptin-sensitive neurons. Although there was no difference in the number of BrdU+c-Fos+ neurons in the ARC and dorsomedial nucleus, an increase in BrdU+c-Fos+ neurons was seen in VMN and lateral hypothalamus (LH) in amylin KO mice. In conclusion, these data suggest that during fetal development, endogenous amylin favors the birth of microglial cells in the ARC and AP and that it decreases the birth of leptin-sensitive neurons in the VMN and LH.
Highlighting of Urinary Sodium and Potassium among Indonesian Schoolchildren Aged 9–12 Years: The Contribution of School Food
Authors: Farapti Farapti , Sulistyowati Muji , Artanti Kurnia Dwi , Setyaningtyas Stefania Widya , Sumarmi Sri , Mulyana Bibit
Published: April 2019

Background. Sodium (Na) and potassium (K), the essential nutrients, have vital role in promoting cellular growth including growth and development of children. Excessive Na intake and inadequate K consumption, which consequently increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, have been reported. Spot electrolyte urine was highly correlated and validated with gold standard to estimate electrolyte dietary intake. This study aimed at predicting sodium and potassium intake using morning spot urine among Indonesian schoolchildren. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 155 healthy elementary students aged 9–12 years. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for Na, K, and creatinine. Predicted 24 h Na and K excretions were compared to the Indonesian recommendation dietary allowances. The Na and K contribution from school food was reported by observing directly and the dietary recall method. Results. A total of 80 boys and 75 girls recruited as samples in this study demonstrated that their estimated urinary Na and K were 105.42 ± 66.05 mmol/day and 16.39 ± 12.57 mmol/day, respectively. Na intake was on average higher than recommended; meanwhile, almost all subjects showed very low compliance of K intake recommendation. Furthermore, food intake at school contributed to those conditions. Na and K content of school food contributed 33% and 29% of the daily intake of each nutrient and contributed 125% and 25% higher than the Na and K school standard, respectively. Conclusions. Indonesian schoolchildren aged 9–12 years are categorized by excessive Na intake and very deficient K intake. The present study highlights the need for policies in the environmental school setting to reduce Na intake and K intake.
Effects of High-Density Pulse Currents on the Solidification Structures of Cu-SiCp/AZ91D Composites
Authors: Hao Xi , Hao Weixin , Geng Guihong , Ma Teng , Wang Chen , Zhao Fuqiang , Song Hao , Li Yugui
Published: April 2019

In this study, Cu-SiCp/AZ91D composites were prepared with high-density pulse currents. The wettability between SiCp and matrix during solidification was improved by coating 0.095-μm thick copper film on the surface of SiCp. By comparing the composites prepared with/without pulse currents, the solidification structure and its formation mechanism of Cu-SiCp/AZ91D composites were analyzed under different conditions. The Cu-SiCp/AZ91D composites prepared without high-density pulse currents were mainly composed of α-Mg, β-Mg17Al12, and a small amount of Mg2Si phases, with coarse grains and uneven structures. Under the action of high-density pulse currents, the structures of Cu-SiCp/AZ91D composites were transformed into α-Mg and Mg2Si phases with refined grain, and the homogeneity of the structures was improved significantly.
Simulation-Based Framework for Estimating Crash Modification Factors (CMFs): A Case Study for ITS Countermeasures
Authors: Das Plaban , Park Seri , Bhavsar Parth
Published: April 2019

The efficient movement of users and goods is the primary purpose of the surface transportation system. Roadway traffic crashes have devastating impacts on quality of life of the users as well as health of the system. While researchers are utilizing advanced computing and communication tools to reduce number of crashes on the roadways, there is still an absence of appropriate method to evaluate the safety performances of these advanced technologies in the planning stage. Development of crash modification factors (CMFs) is a standard method to evaluate the safety effect of proposed countermeasures. Though, the current practices of developing CMFs are not efficient and cost-effective in case of addressing impacts of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) countermeasures. This study demonstrated a proof of concept of simulation-based framework for determining CMFs for ITS countermeasures. The proposed framework includes the application of traffic microsimulation model and Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) developed by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The integration of these two models is suggested to estimate CMFs efficiently. However, the calibration of traffic microsimulation model and SSAM model is essential to portrait the real-world scenarios. A case study for estimating CMFs of ITS countermeasures was conducted to validate the proposed simulation-based approach. Four ITS countermeasures were considered: ramp metering, variable speed limit, junction control, and dynamic lane assignment. They were coded in traffic microsimulation environment and vehicle trajectory files were generated to import into SSAM model. After analyzing these trajectory files in SSAM tool, it was found that all proposed ITS countermeasures, except variable speed limit assignment, could reduce the number of crashes at crash prone locations.
Interleukin 6 Function in the Skin and Isolated Keratinocytes Is Modulated by Hyperglycemia
Authors: Lee Eric G. , Luckett-Chastain Lerin R. , Calhoun Kaitlin N. , Frempah Benjamin , Bastian Anja , Gallucci Randle M.
Published: April 2019

Diabetes currently affects over twenty-five million Americans. Annual health care cost of diabetes exceeds $254 billion and is associated with a distinct set of diabetic complications that include delayed wound healing and diabetic ulcers. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays an important role in wound healing and is known to be elevated in the serum of both type I and type II diabetes patients. This study assesses the expression and function of IL-6 in the hyperglycemic epidermis and keratinocyte culture. Streptozotocin-treated mice were wounded six weeks after induction of hyperglycemia. Wound closure, protein, and mRNA expression were assessed up to 13 days of postwounding. Wound closure was delayed 4-5 days in hyperglycemic animals. Hyperglycemic wounds displayed greater IL-6 and IL-6Rαprotein expression at 1, 7, and 10 days of postwounding compared to euglycemic control. However, IL-6RαmRNA expression was reduced at all time points beyond day 1, while IL-6 mRNA expression did not significantly differ at any time point. SOCS3 mRNA expression was higher in the hyperglycemic skin at every time point. Imaging of fluorescent immunohistology also revealed significantly lower expression of SOCS3, but higher nuclear pSTAT3 in the epidermis of the hyperglycemic skin. Primary mouse keratinocytes cultured in high glucose for 7 days displayed 2-fold higher IL-6RαmRNA and higher rmIL-6-induced nuclear pSTAT3, but lower SOCS3 basal levels compared to normal glucose-cultured cells. Thus, it appears that delayed diabetic skin wound healing is associated with increased induction and expression of IL-6 and its receptor, but its function in epidermal keratinocytes may be impaired.
Influence of Hydrogen Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of ER5183 Wires
Authors: Han Yilong , Xue Songbai , Fu Renli , Lin Lihao , Lin Zhongqiang , Pei Yinyin , Sun Huawei
Published: April 2019

This work focused on the influence of hydrogen content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ER5183 Al-Mg-Mn alloy wires for aluminum alloy welding. The hydrogen content of the ER5183 wires was measured, the macroscopic and microscopic morphologies of fractures were observed as well as the microstructure of the wires, and the tensile strength of the wires was also tested and investigated. The experimental results demonstrated three typical irregular macroscopic fractures of the wires appeared during the drawing process when the hydrogen content exceeded 0.23 μg/g. In the meantime, the aggregated pores were observed in the microstructure of the ϕ5.2 mm wire with the hydrogen content of 0.38 μg/g. Such defects may become the origin of cracks in subsequent processing and tensile tests. Moreover, higher hydrogen content in the ϕ5.2 mm welding wire will bring obvious changes in the fracture surface, which are internal cracks and micropores replacing the original uniform and compact dimples. With the higher hydrogen content, the tensile strength and plastic strain rate of ϕ1.2 mm wires would decrease. At the same time, unstable crack propagation would occur during the process of plastic deformation, leading to fracture. Considering the mechanical properties and microstructure, the hydrogen content of the ER5183 wires should be controlled below 0.23 μg/g.
Bioprinting of Vascularized Tissue Scaffolds: Influence of Biopolymer, Cells, Growth Factors, and Gene Delivery
Authors: Sarker M. D. , Naghieh Saman , Sharma N. K. , Ning Liqun , Chen Xiongbiao
Published: April 2019

Over the past decades, tissue regeneration with scaffolds has achieved significant progress that would eventually be able to solve the worldwide crisis of tissue and organ regeneration. While the recent advancement in additive manufacturing technique has facilitated the biofabrication of scaffolds mimicking the host tissue, thick tissue regeneration remains challenging to date due to the growing complexity of interconnected, stable, and functional vascular network within the scaffold. Since the biological performance of scaffolds affects the blood vessel regeneration process, perfect selection and manipulation of biological factors (i.e., biopolymers, cells, growth factors, and gene delivery) are required to grow capillary and macro blood vessels. Therefore, in this study, a brief review has been presented regarding the recent progress in vasculature formation using single, dual, or multiple biological factors. Besides, a number of ways have been presented to incorporate these factors into scaffolds. The merits and shortcomings associated with the application of each factor have been highlighted, and future research direction has been suggested.
Vortices in Vacuumless Systems
Authors: Marques M. A.
Published: April 2019

We investigate the presence of vortex solutions in potentials without vacuum state. The study is conducted considering Maxwell and Chern-Simons dynamics. Also, we use a first-order formalism that helps us to find the solutions and their respective electromagnetic fields and energy densities. As a bonus, we get to calculate the energy without knowing the explicit solutions. Even though the solutions present a large “tail” which goes far away from the origin, the magnetic flux remains a well defined topological invariant.
People with Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Support to Abuse by Caregivers: Results of EPIDEMCA-FU Program in Congo
Authors: Kehoua Gilles , Dubreuil Catherine-Marie , Ndamba-Bandzouzi Bébène , Guerchet Maëlenn , Mbelesso Pascal , Dartigues Jean-François , Preux Pierre-Marie ,   EPIDEMCA group
Published: April 2019

Background/Aims: Dementia is an emerging public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In SSA, the stigma suffered by people with dementia (PWD) can be strongly linked to pejorative social representations, interfering in social relationships with informal caregivers. The objective of the study was to analyze the consequences of social representations of PWD in social interactions with informal caregivers. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Republic of Congo among 93 interviewees. Nondirectional interviews were conducted in local languages and complemented by participating observations. The collected data were transcribed literally, synthesized, and then coded to allow extraction and organization of text segments. Results: Informal caregivers, daughters-in-laws, were considered as abusers and granddaughters as benevolent. The leaders of syncretic churches and traditional healers were the first therapeutic itineraries of PWD, due to pejorative social representations of disease. Of these, some PWD have appeared at front of a customary jurisdiction for accusations of witchcraft. Dementia, perceived as a mysterious disease by informal caregivers, wasn’t medicalized by leaders of syncretic churches, traditional healers, nurses, or general practitioners. Conclusion: Stigma, generated by social representations, can change the patient’s behavior and the one of informal caregivers, leading to time delay in the search for appropriate help.
Die deutsche Übersetzung der Distress-Intoleranz-Skala
Authors: Otto Josephine , Linden Michael
Published: April 2019

Distress-Intoleranz spielt eine zentrale Rolle in der Pathogenese psychischer Beschwerden. Die Verbesserung von Distress-Intoleranz ist ein häufiges Ziel, sowohl von Verhaltenstherapeuten als auch von Zuweisern oder Patienten. Deutschsprachige und vor allem ökonomische Instrumente fehlen bisher. Die neu übersetze Distress Intolerance Scale soll diese Lücke schließen. Die hier vorgestellten ersten Ergebnisse an einer psychosomatischen Stichprobe sind in Bezug auf die Item- und Skalenkennwerte vielversprechend und sollten Ausgangspunkt für weitere Untersuchungen sein.
Dermal Peptide Delivery Using Enhancer Molecules and Colloidal Carrier Systems – Part IV: Search for an Alternative Model Membrane for Future ATR Permeation Studies Using PKEK as the Model Substance
Authors: Foerster Ann-Christin , Neubert Reinhard H.H.
Published: April 2019

The main barrier of the human skin is the stratum corneum (SC). Its properties (also depending on the health and age of the individual) and its influence on improved penetration of active ingredients into the skin are the subject of many research projects. Since the availability of human skin, as the ideal model membrane, is limited, the aim of this study was to find a suitable alternative model membrane from the animal kingdom. The alternative model membrane should be used in subsequent permeation experiments with the Teflon diffusion cell instead of human SC. Previous studies have already investigated the permeation properties of pig, snake, and human skin, but not in a Teflon diffusion cell using ATR. Therefore, it first had to be proven that comparable results can be achieved with animal membranes even under these measurement conditions. This is the precondition for meaningful future permeation experiments with potential enhancers. For this purpose, permeation experiments on various model membranes (human isolated SC, sunburned SC, pig isolated SC, and shed snake skin) by means of FTIR-ATR in a Teflon diffusion cell containing the acceptor and the donor compartment as well as the model membrane were conducted and concentration-time courses of the model peptide PKEK determined. These concentration-time courses were used to calculate and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters (permeation coefficients, lag time, and flux). The starting point was a 10% PKEK solution in D2O. It turned out that snake skin is the appropriate alternative model membrane for this type of permeation test.
Implementation of Intentional Touch for Geriatric Patients with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Pilot Study
Authors: Stöckigt Barbara , Suhr Ralf , Sulmann Daniela , Teut Michael , Brinkhaus Benno
Published: April 2019

Background: Intentional Touch (InTouch) refers to a soft physical touch with the aim to ease complaints and enhance well-being. Central questions were perception of InTouch by nurses and patients and possible effects on pain perception. Patients and Methods: InTouch was developed by stakeholder involvement. Nurses working in geriatric care received expert training in InTouch. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation (including video recording) were conducted with nurses applying and patients with chronic pain receiving InTouch after the beginning of the intervention and after 4 weeks. Interviews were analyzed based on Qualitative Content Analysis and video recordings based on Qualitative Visual Analysis. Results: Six elderly patients with chronic pain and 6 nurses were included. Nurses and patients equally described relaxation, well-being, and a sensation of warmth during the intervention. Patients reported no pain during the intervention. After the intervention, 3 patients each experienced pain relief or no change. Patients described better drive and positive feelings, and nurses felt empowered in their nursing work. Empathetic attention had special importance for improving the therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that InTouch promoted relaxation, well-being, and pain relief for elderly people suffering from chronic pain and may contribute positively to the therapeutic relationship.
On the Variable Clinical Presentation of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization
Authors: Vieira Alexandre Rezende , Manton David J.
Published: April 2019

Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a condition that is defined based on its peculiar clinical presentation. Original reports on the etiology of the condition and possible risk factors were inconclusive, and we refuted the original suggestion that MIH is an idiopathic condition and suggested that MIH has complex inheritance and is due to the interaction of more than one gene and the environment. Our group was the first to suggest MIH has a genetic component that involves genetic variation in genes expressed during dental enamel formation. Later we expanded this work to include genes related to the immune response. In this report, we provide a rationale to explain the variation seen in the clinical presentation of MIH, which can affect just one molar out of the four or just a portion of a particular molar.
The Muddied Waters of Ibrutinib Therapy
Authors: Schamroth Pravda Miri , Schamroth Pravda Nili , Lishner Michael
Published: April 2019

A 37-year-old male was admitted with an atypical presentation of central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis while on ibrutinib therapy for a CNS relapse of mantle cell lymphoma. This case highlights the importance of a high clinical suspicion of opportunistic infections in patients receiving small-molecule kinase inhibitors. This report includes a review of reported cases of Aspergillus infections in patients receiving ibrutinib and the shared features of these cases.
Brain Changes during Phyletic Dwarfing in Elephants and Hippos
Authors: Lyras George A.
Published: April 2019

Of all known insular mammals, hippos and elephants present the extremes of body size decrease, reducing to 4 and a mere 2% of their ancestral mainland size, respectively. Despite the numerous studies on these taxa, what happens to their relative brain size during phyletic dwarfing is not well known, and results are sometimes conflicting. For example, relative brain size increase has been noted in the Sicilian dwarf elephant, Palaeoloxodon falconeri, whereas relative brain size decrease has been postulated for Malagasy dwarf hippos. Here, I perform an analysis of brain, skull, and body size of 3 insular elephants (Palaeoloxodon “mnaidriensis,” P. tiliensis, and P. falconeri) and 3 insular hippos (Hippopotamus madagascariensis, H. lemerlei, and H. minor) to address this issue and to test whether relative brain size in phyletic dwarf species can be predicted. The results presented here show that the encephalization of all insular elephants and hippos is higher than that of their continental relatives. P. falconeri in particular has an enormous encephalization increase, which has so far not been reported in any other insular mammal. Insular brain size cannot be reliably predicted using either static allometric or ontogenetic scaling models. The results of this study indicate that insular dwarf species follow brain-body allometric relationships different from the expected patterns seen for their mainland relatives.
Pathologic Complete Response of Pancreatic Cancer following Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX Treatment in Hepatic Metastasized Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Luu Andreas Minh , Hoehn Philipp , Vogel Sina Rabea , Reinacher-Schick Anke , Munding Johanna , Uhl Waldemar , Braumann Chris
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease and often asymptomatic. Therefore, it is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The standard approach in a metastasized tumor stage is palliative chemotherapy. However, the prognosis remains extremely poor. Case Report: We present the case of a patient who was diagnosed with a cancer of the head of the pancreas with hepatic metastases. After receiving palliative intended chemotherapy with the FOLFIRINOX regimen, staging computed tomography revealed the disappearance of the liver metastases and local resectability of the pancreatic head tumor. The patient underwent an uneventful Whipple’s procedure. Surprisingly, pathohistological investigation revealed a complete pathological response. Conclusion: Pathological complete response after FOLFIRINOX treatment in hepatic metastasized pancreatic cancer is extremely rare. It enables surgical resection and increases the survival rate significantly.
Renal Parenchymal Thickness as a Predictor of Post Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy Complication
Authors: Zhang Wen-Jun , Zhang Zhong-Lei , Guo Shao-wen , Yuan Yan , Chang Jun-Jie , He Yun
Published: April 2019

Objective: To investigate the relationship of renal parenchymal thickness and the risk of developing post-procedure hematoma. Methods: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy was performed in 122 patients who underwent percutaneous kidney biopsy between January 2013 and ­December 2013 at Tai-he hospital. Post-biopsy renal ultrasound was performed within 12 h after the biopsy to assess the presence of hematoma in biopsied kidney. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of parenchymal thickness on formation of hematoma adjusted for other nonstructural patient-related factors such as age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, and urea. Results: The incidence of complication was 19.4%, all of which were hematoma less than 5 cm. None of the patients went on to have severe complications that required clinical, surgical, or radiological intervention. Out of the collected clinical and anatomical parameters, renal parenchymal thickness of the biopsied kidney was found to be the only factor with strong association with complication risks. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the impact of structural perimeters on complication risks of percutaneous renal biopsy. Renal parenchymal thickness is a significant predictor of presence of hematoma evident on post-biopsy ultrasound evaluation, which would be used in the early prevent the complications of percutaneous renal biopsy.
Rationale and Design of EMPOWER, a Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Automated Hovering in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Mehta Shivan J. , Volpp Kevin G. , Asch David A. , Goldberg Lee R. , Russell Louise B. , Norton Laurie A. , Iannotte Lauren G. , Troxel Andrea B.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Congestive heart failure is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and cost. Disease management programs have shown promise but lack firm evidence of effectiveness and scalability. We describe the motivation, design, and planned analyses of EMPOWER (Electronic Monitoring of Patients Offers Ways to Enhance Recovery), a randomized clinical trial of an innovative intervention incorporating behavioral economic principles with remote monitoring technology embedded within a healthcare system.

Methods and Results:

EMPOWER is an ongoing, pragmatic, randomized clinical trial comparing usual care to an automated hovering intervention that includes patient-level incentives for daily weight monitoring and diuretic adherence combined with automated feedback into the clinical care pathway, enabling real-time response to concerning clinical symptoms. Identification of eligible patients began in May 2016, and implementation of the intervention is feasible. Trial processes are embedded into existing clinical pathways. The primary outcome is time to readmission for any cause. Cost-effectiveness analyses are planned to evaluate the healthcare costs and health outcomes of the approach.

Conclusions:

The EMPOWER trial incorporates leading-edge approaches in human motivation, derived from behavioral economics, with contemporary technology to provide scale and exception handling at low cost. The trial is also implemented within the naturalized environment of a health system, as much as possible taking advantage of the existing journeys of patients and workflows of clinicians. A goal of this pragmatic design is to limit resource utilization and also to test an intervention that would need minimal modification to be translated from research into a new way of practice.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02708654.
Three new species and new records of foliicolous lichen genus Porina (Porinaceae, Ostropales) and artificial key to species from Thailand
Authors: NAKSUWANKUL KHWANYURUAN , LÜCKING ROBERT
Published: April 2019

Foliicolous material of the lichenized genus Porina was collected in different types of forest in Thailand. Three new species were discovered: P. subatriceps Naksuwankul & Lücking, characterized by a yellowish brown, K+ reddish involucrellum and oblong, 7–11–septate ascospores, P. lumbschii Naksuwankul & Lücking, with large, muriform ascospores, and P. thailandica Naksuwankul & Lücking, having, small, oblong, 3–septate ascospores and a dark brown to black, K–involucrellum, morphologically close to P. homala and P. subhomala which differ by having 7–septate ascospores. An artificial key to species for a total of 55 taxa found in Thailand is provided and 20 new records are listed for the country.
The KUMEMEJIMA 2009 Expedition: station data and collecting sites
Authors: NARUSE TOHRU
Published: April 2019

The present paper introduces the sampling methods employed during the Marine Biodiversity Expedition — KUMEJIMA 2009. Data of all sampling stations are listed.
Taxonomy and distribution of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) from deep water of the northeastern Pacific
Authors: EASH-LOUCKS WENDY E. , FAUTIN DAPHNE G.
Published: April 2019

Sea anemones sensu lato (members of cnidarian orders Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) occurring in water of thenortheastern Pacific Ocean greater than 1,000 m (to the abyssal plain) are poorly known. Based on the literature andspecimens we examined in the four largest collections of animals from this area, we estimate that approximately 35 speciesoccur in these deep-water habitats and fewer than half have been documented there. Of the largest and most abundantepibenthic species, based on morphology, we identified two species of Corallimorpharia (both previously known) and 12of Actiniaria (three new). Half the sea anemone species are widely distributed: Actinauge verrillii McMurrich, 1893,Actinoscyphia groendyki n. sp., Actinostola faeculenta (McMurrich, 1893), Bathyphellia australis Dunn, 1983, Liponemabrevicorne (McMurrich, 1893), Metridium farcimen (Brandt, 1835), and Monactis vestita (Gravier, 1918). The others areknown only from the northeastern Pacific Ocean: Corallimorphus pilatus Fautin, White, and Pearson, 2002,Corallimorphus denhartogi Fautin, White, and Pearson, 2002, Anthosactis nomados White, Wakefield Pagels, and Fautin,1999, Bolocera kensmithi n. sp., Paraphelliactis pabista Dunn, 1982, Sagartiogeton californicus (Carlgren, 1940) (forwhich we designate a neotype), and Sicyonis careyi n. sp. A naturally occurring oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) off Oregonis expanding, and the marine life living within its virtually anoxic areas is threatened. Nine of the species we examined occur within the current depth range of the OMZ and may be threatened if the OMZ continues to strengthen and expand.
The advertisement call of Leptobrachella liui Fei and Ye, 1990 (Anura: Megophryidae)
Authors: DING GUO-HUA , CHEN ZHI-QIANG , TANG YUN , LIN ZHI-HUA
Published: April 2019

Leptobrachella (Anura: Megophryidae) is currently composed of seventy-one species distributed in China and Southeast Asia (Frost 2018). Fourteen species of Leptobrachella are currently known from southern China: L. alpina (Fei, Ye & Li, 1990), L. laui (Sung, Yang & Wang, 2014), L. liui (Fei & Ye, 1990), L. mangshanensis (Hou, Zhang, Hu, Li, Shi, Chen, Mo & Wang, 2018), L. maoershanensis (Yuan, Sun, Chen, Rowley & Che, 2017), L. oshanensis (Liu, 1950), L. purpura (Yang, Zeng & Wang, 2018), L. tengchongensis (Yang, Wang, Chen & Rao, 2016), L. wuhuangmontis (Wang, Yang & Wang, 2018), L. yingjiangensis (Yang, Zeng & Wang, 2018), L. yunkaiensis (Wang, Li, Lyu & Wang, 2018), L. ventripunctata (Fei, Ye & Li, 1990), L. pelodytoides (Boulenger, 1893) and L. sungi (Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov & Ho, 1998) and the first eleven species are endemic of this region (AmphibiaChina 2018). Many new species in this genus were discovered based on molecular, morphometric and bioacoustic data in recent years (Frost 2018). In comparison to molecular and morphological data, bioacoustics is especially useful in species identification of Leptobrachella in field surveys (Rowley et al. 2016). Although the advertisement calls of many Leptobrachella species were described along with the species descriptions (e.g., Rowley et al. 2016), the advertisement calls of only three Chinese endemic species (L. alpinus; L. laui and L. oshanensis) are known (Jiang et al. 2002; Matsui 2006; Xu et al. 2005). Here, we describe the advertisement calls of L. liui, which inhabits rocky streams in southeastern China (Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejinag) and is morphologically diagnosed by the combination of a set of external color traits (Fig. 1).
Twelve Years of Daily Weather Descriptions in North America in the Eighteenth Century (Mexico City, 1775–86)
Authors: Domínguez-Castro F. , Gallego M. C. , Vaquero J. M. , Herrera R. García , Peña-Gallardo M. , El Kenawy A. , Vicente-Serrano S. M.
Published: April 2019

The weather diary of Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros was recorded in Mexico City from 1775 to 1786. It is the earliest meteorological observational record of Mexico. The diary provides daily meteorological information for rain frequency, temperature, frost, hail, thunderstorms, and wind, with higher resolution than any other contemporary documentation or natural proxy from this region. The seasonal distributions of rainy days, temperature, hail, and thunderstorms correspond well with those from the Tacubaya Observatory in Mexico City (1886–2016). Two drought periods (1780/81 and 1785/86) and one wet period (1782/83) were identified. The drought spanning from 1785 to 1786 is known in the literature as “the hunger year” because it represented the most severe famine during the colonial period (1521–1821). This paper analyzes—for the first time—this event at a daily scale. Similar to the reported droughts of 1909/10 and 2010/11, 1785/86 was a very dry period. But the dry conditions of 1785 were followed by intense frosts that started in late August and continued through September and October. This combination led to the destruction of crops and subsequent famine. The duration of the frost does not have analogs during the instrumental period, probably because of the intense warming and land changes registered over the last years in the region.
Global Precipitation Forecasts by Merging Extrapolation-Based Nowcast and Numerical Weather Prediction with Locally Optimized Weights
Authors: Kotsuki Shunji , Kurosawa Kenta , Otsuka Shigenori , Terasaki Koji , Miyoshi Takemasa
Published: April 2019

Over the past few decades, precipitation forecasts by numerical weather prediction (NWP) models have been remarkably improved. Yet, precipitation nowcasting based on spatiotemporal extrapolation tends to provide a better precipitation forecast at shorter lead times with much less computation. Therefore, merging the precipitation forecasts from the NWP and extrapolation systems would be a viable approach to quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF). Although the optimal weights between the NWP and extrapolation systems are usually defined as a global constant, the weights would vary in space, particularly for global QPF. This study proposes a method to find the optimal weights at each location using the local threat score (LTS), a spatially localized version of the threat score. We test the locally optimal weighting with a global NWP system composed of the local ensemble transform Kalman filter and the Nonhydrostatic Icosahedral Atmospheric Model (NICAM-LETKF). For the extrapolation system, the RIKEN’s global precipitation nowcasting system called GSMaP_RNC is used. GSMaP_RNC extrapolates precipitation patterns from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP). The benefit of merging in global precipitation forecast lasts longer compared to regional precipitation forecast. The results show that the locally optimal weighting is beneficial.