bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tools and concepts for environmental sustainability in the food‐energy‐water nexus: Chemical engineering perspective
Authors: Das Tapas , Cabezas Heriberto
Published: October 2017

This work primarily deals with environmental sustainability and/or sustainable development, and with methodologies to design or redesign sustainable chemical and allied processes and products using sustainability concepts and LCA thinking. The overall approach is illustrated with two case studies involve: (1) an eco‐sugar complex producing sugar, ethanol, and paper using water and energy as inputs to the process, and (2) the leather industry in Tamil Nadu, India which requires substantial amounts of water and energy to process leather from cattle—a food source. Also, this work focuses on what chemists, chemical engineers, and other disciplines can further contribute to fully visualize, establish and implement environmental sustainability and sustainable development. Sustainability has traditionally had three underlying bases: (1) economic viability—cost and business aspects; (2) social concern—human health and social welfare; and (3) natural or ecological issues—depletion of natural capital and environment. Sustainable development has become a major driving initiative in engineering throughout the world today. Here, our focus is on various aspects of sustainability or sustainable development including environmental, industrial, business, economical, ethical, and social sustainability. The work concludes with some summary thoughts on available tools and the nature of sustainability. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 73–81, 2018
Copper toxicity and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seedling tolerance: Monitoring of related biomarkers
Authors: Chaâbene Zayneb , Hakim Imen Rekik , Rorat Agnieszka , Elleuch Amine , Mejdoub Hafedh , Vandenbulcke Franck
Published: October 2017

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seeds were exposed to different copper (Cu) solutions to examine plant stress responses. Low Cu concentrations (0.02 and 0.2 mM) caused an increase of seed germination, whereas higher Cu amounts (2 mM) significantly inhibited seed germination, delayed hypocotyl elongation, increased seedling mortality, and reduced the germination index by more than 90%. Metal-related toxicity symptoms appeared after 15 d of 2 mM of Cu exposure. Biochemical activities such as amylase activity and redox balance elements were examined to study the relationship between external Cu amount and internal plant response. The present study showed that amylolytic activity was dose- and time-dependent. Likewise, H2O2 production increased after exposure to Cu, which was correlated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) accumulation. Furthermore at low Cu concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased, suggesting that date palm seed stimulated its metal homeostasis networks. However, the highest cupric ion amounts increased cell oxidant accumulation and reduced enzyme production. Gene expression level measures of P. dactylifera phytochelatin synthase (Pdpcs) and P. dactylifera metallothionein (Pdmt) encoding genes have been carried out to investigate the implication of PdPCS and PdMT proteins in Cu homeostasis and/or its sequestration. Phoenix dactylifera metallothionein induction reached a peak after 30 d of exposure to 0.2 mM of Cu. However, it was down-regulated in plants exposed to higher Cu concentrations. In the same conditions, Pdpcs was overexpressed during 1 mo of exposure before it decreased thereafter. These observations provide a new insight into date palm cell response to Cu, a metal that can be toxic but that is also an essential element. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:797–806. © 2017 SETAC
Key odorants or key associations? Insights into elemental and configural odour processing
Authors: Romagny Sébastien , Coureaud Gérard , Thomas‐Danguin Thierry
Published: October 2017

Determining whether odorants can be perceived in an odour mixture or whether the mixture smells different from its components remains challenging. Even in highly complex mixtures, the odour qualities of some elements can be perceived; thus, their identity is conserved within the mixture. Such elements are considered key components and support the elemental perception of the mixture. The concept of key components is also related to elements that do not necessarily carry the odour quality of the mixture but that induce a change in overall mixture perception when they are omitted. In this case, mixture perception often relies on configural processing. To disentangle these multiple aspects of these so‐called key odorants, we sought to study the perceptual role of odorants included in mixtures that are elementally or configurally perceived. Two mixtures, known to be processed configurally and elementally and containing the same 6 odorants in different proportions, were used as references in 4 similarity‐rating experiments. A total of 246 participants evaluated the similarity between the references and single odorants or mixtures of 2 to 6 odorants. This procedure aimed to evaluate whether single odorants or combinations of odorants can evoke the odour quality of the mixtures. Overall, the results highlighted that elemental perception depended primarily on the odour quality and concentration ratio of many of the mixed odorants, whereas configural perception depended on specific associations of odorants in strict concentration ratios. These results led us to reconsider the impact of key elements in odour mixtures within the framework of a perceptual model stating that elemental perception of odour mixtures relies on perception of key odorants, the perceptual features of which are still perceived within the mixture, whereas configural perception relies on key associations of odorants that lose their individual identity when mixed at specific concentration ratios.
Robust forecast aggregation: Fourier L2E regression
Authors: Cross Daniel , Ramos Jaime , Mellers Barbara , Tetlock Philip E. , Scott David W.
Published: October 2017

The Good Judgment Team led by psychologists P. Tetlock and B. Mellers of the University of Pennsylvania was the most successful of five research projects sponsored through 2015 by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity to develop improved group forecast aggregation algorithms. Each team had at least 10 algorithms under continuous development and evaluation over the 4‐year project. The mean Brier score was used to rank the algorithms on approximately 130 questions concerning categorical geopolitical events each year. An algorithm would return aggregate probabilities for each question based on the probabilities provided per question by thousands of individuals, who had been recruited by the Good Judgment Team. This paper summarizes the theorized basis and implementation of one of the two most accurate algorithms at the conclusion of the Good Judgment Project. The algorithm incorporated a number of pre‐ and postprocessing steps, and relied upon a minimum distance robust regression method called L2E. The algorithm was just edged out by a variation of logistic regression, which has been described elsewhere. Work since the official conclusion of the project has led to an even smaller gap.
Time series forecasting using functional partial least square regression with stochastic volatility, GARCH, and exponential smoothing
Authors: Kim Jong‐Min , Jung Hojin
Published: October 2017

We propose a method for improving the predictive ability of standard forecasting models used in financial economics. Our approach is based on the functional partial least squares (FPLS) model, which is capable of avoiding multicollinearity in regression by efficiently extracting information from the high‐dimensional market data. By using its well‐known ability, we can incorporate auxiliary variables that improve the predictive accuracy. We provide an empirical application of our proposed methodology in terms of its ability to predict the conditional average log return and the volatility of crude oil prices via exponential smoothing, Bayesian stochastic volatility, and GARCH (generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) models, respectively. In particular, what we call functional data analysis (FDA) traces in this article are obtained via the FPLS regression from both the crude oil returns and auxiliary variables of the exchange rates of major currencies. For forecast performance evaluation, we compare out‐of‐sample forecasting accuracy of the standard models with FDA traces to the accuracy of the same forecasting models with the observed crude oil returns, principal component regression (PCR), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) models. We find evidence that the standard models with FDA traces significantly outperform our competing models. Finally, they are also compared with the test for superior predictive ability and the reality check for data snooping. Our empirical results show that our new methodology significantly improves predictive ability of standard models in forecasting the latent average log return and the volatility of financial time series.
Interbrain phase synchronization during turn‐taking verbal interaction—a hyperscanning study using simultaneous EEG/MEG
Authors: Ahn Sangtae , Cho Hohyun , Kwon Moonyoung , Kim Kiwoong , Kwon Hyukchan , Kim Bong Soo , Chang Won Seok , Chang Jin Woo , Jun Sung Chan
Published: October 2017

Recently, neurophysiological findings about social interaction have been investigated widely, and hardware has been developed that can measure multiple subjects' brain activities simultaneously. These hyperscanning studies have enabled us to discover new and important evidences of interbrain interactions. Yet, very little is known about verbal interaction without any visual input. Therefore, we conducted a new hyperscanning study based on verbal, interbrain turn‐taking interaction using simultaneous EEG/MEG, which measures rapidly changing brain activities. To establish turn‐taking verbal interactions between a pair of subjects, we set up two EEG/MEG systems (19 and 146 channels of EEG and MEG, respectively) located ∼100 miles apart. Subjects engaged in verbal communication via condenser microphones and magnetic‐compatible earphones, and a network time protocol synchronized the two systems. Ten subjects participated in this experiment and performed verbal interaction and noninteraction tasks separately. We found significant oscillations in EEG alpha and MEG alpha/gamma bands in several brain regions for all subjects. Furthermore, we estimated phase synchronization between two brains using the weighted phase lag index and found statistically significant synchronization in EEG and MEG data. Our novel paradigm and neurophysiological findings may foster a basic understanding of the functional mechanisms involved in human social interactions. Hum Brain Mapp 39:171–188, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topography and timing of activity in right inferior frontal cortex and anterior insula for stopping movement
Authors: Bartoli Eleonora , Aron Adam R. , Tandon Nitin
Published: October 2017

Stopping incipient action activates both the right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC) and the anterior insula (rAI). Controversy has arisen as to whether these comprise a unitary cortical cluster—the rIFC/rAI—or whether rIFC is the primary stopping locus. To address this, we recorded directly from these structures while taking advantage of the high spatiotemporal resolution of closely spaced stereo‐electro‐encephalographic (SEEG) electrodes. We studied 12 patients performing a stop‐signal task. On each trial they initiated a motor response (Go) and tried to stop to an occasional stop signal. Both the rIFC and rAI exhibited an increase in broadband gamma activity (BGA) after the stop signal and within the time of stopping (stop signal reaction time, SSRT), regardless of the success of stopping. The proportion of electrodes with this response was significantly greater in the rIFC than the rAI. Also, the rIFC response preceded that in the rAI. Last, while the BGA increase in rIFC occurred mainly prior to SSRT, the rAI showed a sustained increase in the beta and low gamma bands after the SSRT. In summary, the rIFC was activated soon after the stop signal, prior to and more robustly than the rAI, which on the other hand, showed a more prolonged response after the onset of stopping. Our results are most compatible with the notion that the rIFC is involved in triggering outright stopping in concert with a wider network, while the rAI is likely engaged by other processes, such as arousal, saliency, or behavioral adjustments. Hum Brain Mapp 39:189–203, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical yield of magnetoencephalography distributed source imaging in epilepsy: A comparison with equivalent current dipole method
Authors: Pellegrino Giovanni , Hedrich Tanguy , Chowdhury Rasheda Arman , Hall Jeffery A. , Dubeau Francois , Lina Jean‐Marc , Kobayashi Eliane , Grova Christophe
Published: October 2017

Objective

Source localization of interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) is clinically useful in the presurgical workup of epilepsy patients. It is usually obtained by equivalent current dipole (ECD) which localizes a point source and is the only inverse solution approved by clinical guidelines. In contrast, magnetic source imaging using distributed methods (dMSI) provides maps of the location and the extent of the generators, but its yield has not been clinically validated. We systematically compared ECD versus dMSI performed using coherent Maximum Entropy on the Mean (cMEM), a method sensitive to the spatial extent of the generators.

Methods

340 source localizations of IEDs derived from 49 focal epilepsy patients with foci well‐defined through intracranial EEG, MRI lesions, and surgery were analyzed. The comparison was based on the assessment of the sublobar concordance with the focus and of the distance between the source and the focus.

Results

dMSI sublobar concordance was significantly higher than ECD (81% vs 69%, P < 0.001), especially for extratemporal lobe sources (dMSI = 84%; ECD = 67%, P < 0.001) and for seizure free patients (dMSI = 83%; ECD = 70%, P < 0.001). The median distance from the focus was 4.88 mm for ECD and 3.44 mm for dMSI (P < 0.001). ECD dipoles were often wrongly localized in deep brain regions.

Conclusions

dMSI using cMEM exhibited better accuracy. dMSI also offered the advantage of recovering more realistic maps of the generator, which could be exploited for neuronavigation aimed at targeting invasive EEG and surgical resection. Therefore, dMSI may be preferred to ECD in clinical practice. Hum Brain Mapp 39:218–231, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of schizotypy with striatocortical functional connectivity and its asymmetry in healthy adults
Authors: Wang Yi , Ettinger Ulrich , Meindl Thomas , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: October 2017

Altered striatocortical functional connectivity has been suggested to be a trait marker of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including schizotypal personality. In the present study, we examined the association between schizotypal personality traits and striatocortical functional connectivity in a sample of healthy adults. The German version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire was obtained from N = 111 participants recruited from the general public. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired at 3T. Six striatal seed regions in each hemisphere were defined and striatocortical resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) as well as its lateralization indices was calculated. Regression analysis showed that schizotypy scores, especially from the positive dimension, were positively correlated with rsFC between ventral striatum and frontal cortex and negatively associated with rsFC between dorsal striatum and posterior cingulate. No significant associations were found between negative dimension schizotypy and striatocortical rsFC. We also found positive correlations between schizotypy total scores and lateralization index of right dorsal caudate and right rostral putamen. In conclusion, the present study extends previous evidence of altered striatocortical rsFC in the schizophrenia spectrum. The observed associations resemble in part the alterations observed in psychotic patients and their relatives, providing support for dimensionality from schizotypal personality to the clinical disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 39:288–299, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Income‐rich and wealth‐poor? The impact of measures of socio‐economic status in the analysis of the distribution of long‐term care use among older people
Authors: Rodrigues Ricardo , Ilinca Stefania , Schmidt Andrea E.
Published: October 2017

This article aims to investigate the impact of using 2 measures of socio‐economic status on the analysis of how informal care and home care use are distributed among older people living in the community. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for 14 European countries, we estimate differences in corrected concentration indices for use of informal care and home care, using equivalised household net income and equivalised net worth (as a proxy for wealth). We also calculate horizontal inequity indices using both measures of socio‐economic status and accounting for differences in need. The findings show that using wealth as a ranking variable results, as a rule, in a less pro‐poor inequality of use for both informal and home care. Once differences in need are controlled for (horizontal inequity), wealth still results in a less pro‐poor distribution for informal care, in comparison with income, whereas the opposite is observed for home care. Possible explanations for these differences and research and policy implications are discussed.
Snail‐mediated cancer stem cell‐like phenotype in human CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell
Authors: Peng Shan , Wu Cheng , Sun Wei , Liu Dongbo , Luo Min , Su Beibei , Zhang Linli , Mei Qi , Hu Guoqing
Published: October 2017

Background

Cancer stem cell (CSC)‐like phenotype, which has been proven to play a critical role in invasion and metastasis of many kinds of cancers, has also been reported to be associated with epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. Snail, a potent repressor of E‐cadherin expression, was found to have a function to regulate the aforementioned processes.

Methods

In the current study, expression of putative CSCs biomarkers and the ratio of CSC‐like CNE2 (cancer cell line) in total CNE2 were measured, and CSC‐like characteristics were analyzed with tumor‐sphere self‐renewal and colony‐forming assays. Migration and invasion properties were determined by using transwell and wound healing assays. Xenograft tumor assays in vivo were done to evaluate the function of Snail and radiation in the tumor forming ability.

Results

In human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, overexpression of Snail mediates a CSC‐like phenotype, which enhances the initiation, invasion, and migration ability of cancer cells.

Conclusion

Thus, Snail is a potential therapeutic target in NPC.
Myeloid Notch1 deficiency activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway and aggravates hepatocellular damage in mouse ischemic livers
Authors: Lu Ling , Yue Shi , Jiang Longfeng , Li Changyong , Zhu Qiang , Ke Michael , Lu Hao , Wang Xuehao , Busuttil Ronald W. , Ying Qi‐Long , Kupiec‐Weglinski Jerzy W. , Ke Bibo
Published: October 2017

Notch signaling plays an emerging role in the regulation of immune cell development and function during inflammatory response. Activation of the ras homolog gene family member A/Rho‐associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathway promotes leukocyte accumulation in tissue injury. However, it remains unknown whether Notch signaling regulates ras homolog gene family member A/ROCK–mediated immune responses in liver ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. This study investigated intracellular signaling pathways regulated by Notch receptors in the IR‐stressed liver and in vitro. In a mouse model of IR‐induced liver inflammatory injury, we found that mice with myeloid‐specific Notch1 knockout showed aggravated hepatocellular damage, with increased serum alanine aminotransferase levels, hepatocellular apoptosis, macrophage/neutrophil trafficking, and proinflammatory mediators compared to Notch1‐proficient controls. Unlike in the controls, myeloid Notch1 ablation diminished hairy and enhancer of split‐1 (Hes1) and augmented c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)/stress‐activated protein kinase–associated protein 1 (JSAP1), JNK, ROCK1, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) activation in ischemic livers. Disruption of JSAP1 in myeloid‐specific Notch1 knockout livers improved hepatocellular function and reduced JNK, ROCK1, PTEN, and toll‐like receptor 4 activation. Moreover, ROCK1 knockdown inhibited PTEN and promoted Akt, leading to depressed toll‐like receptor 4. In parallel in vitro studies, transfection of lentivirus‐expressing Notch1 intracellular domain promoted Hes1 and inhibited JSAP1 in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated bone marrow–derived macrophages. Hes1 deletion enhanced JSAP1/JNK activation, whereas clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein 9–mediated JSAP1 knockout diminished ROCK1/PTEN and toll‐like receptor 4 signaling. Conclusion: Myeloid Notch1 deficiency activates the ras homolog gene family member A/ROCK pathway and exacerbates hepatocellular injury by inhibiting transcriptional repressor Hes1 and inducing scaffold protein JSAP1 in IR‐triggered liver inflammation; our findings underscore the crucial role of the Notch–Hes1 axis as a novel regulator of innate immunity‐mediated inflammation and imply the therapeutic potential for the management of organ IR injury in transplant recipients. (Hepatology 2018;67:1041–1055)
Gamification's impact on manufacturing: Enhancing job motivation, satisfaction and operational performance with smartphone‐based gamified job design
Authors: Liu Minyang , Huang Yanqun , Zhang Dawei
Published: October 2017

Gamification is defined as applying game design elements to non‐game contexts. The integration of gamification into the workplace adds a stimulating and captivating game‐like layer to the working experience of employees. This is predicted to improve their positive affect at work and operational performance to a certain extent. With the ubiquity of smartphones and Internet technology, smartphone‐based interactive operations can better facilitate the implementation of gamification in work processes. Against a backdrop of a drastic transformation facing the Chinese equipment manufacturing industry, we gamified a number of  computer numerical control machine operational jobs. A gamified job design framework was proposed, based on the job characteristics model and the game elements hierarchy. To achieve gamification in this context, a smartphone application was designed. We then hypothesized that smartphone‐based gamified job design (SGJD) would enhance participants’ three key indicators, namely, (i) job motivation, (ii) job satisfaction, and (iii) operational performance. We also analyzed how participants’ willingness to embrace gamified job design, known as “consent,” affected the improvement in the three key indicators. The results illustrated that SGJD significantly increased participants’ job motivation, job satisfaction, and operational performance. Furthermore, our experiment showed that consent to SGJD was positively correlated to the improvement in job motivation. However, no significant correlation was observed between consent to SGJD and an improvement in job satisfaction or operational performance.
Improved understanding of spatio‐temporal controls on regional scale groundwater flooding using hydrograph analysis and impulse response functions
Authors: Ascott Matthew J. , Marchant Ben P. , Macdonald David , McKenzie Andrew A. , Bloomfield John Paul
Published: October 2017

Controls on the spatio‐temporal extent of groundwater flooding are poorly understood, despite the long duration of groundwater flood events and distinct social and economic impacts. We developed a novel approach using statistical analysis of groundwater level hydrographs and impulse response functions (IRFs) and applied it to the 2013/2014 Chalk groundwater flooding in the English Lowlands. We proposed a standardized index of groundwater flooding which we calculated for monthly groundwater levels for 26 boreholes in the Chalk. We grouped these standardized series using k‐means cluster analysis and cross‐correlated the cluster centroids with the Standardized Precipitation Index accumulated over time intervals between 1 and 60 months. This analysis reveals 2 spatially coherent groups of standardized hydrographs that responded to precipitation over different timescales. We estimated IRF models of the groundwater level response to effective precipitation for 3 boreholes in each group. The IRF models corroborate the Standardized Precipitation Index analysis showing different response functions between the groups. We applied identical effective precipitation inputs to each of the IRF models and observed differences between the hydrographs from each group. It is suggested this is due to the hydrogeological properties of the Chalk and of overlying relatively low permeability superficial deposits (recent unconsolidated sediments overlying the bedrock, such as clays and tills), which are extensive over 1 of the groups. The overarching controls on groundwater flood response are concluded to be a complex combination of antecedent conditions, rainfall, and catchment hydrogeological properties. These controls should be taken into consideration when anticipating and managing future groundwater flood events. The approach presented is generic and parsimonious and can be easily applied where sufficient groundwater level and rainfall data are available.
Body fatness at an early age and risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Hidayat Khemayanto , Yang Chun‐Mei , Shi Bi‐Min
Published: October 2017

While there is convincing evidence that excess body fatness in adulthood is positively associated with colorectal cancer risk, the association between body fatness at an early age (≤30 years) and the risk of colorectal cancer has been equivocal. The present meta‐analysis was performed to clarify this association. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies that investigated this association. The risk estimates from each study were transformed into a continuous variable for each 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index (BMI). A random effects model was used to calculate the summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 15 observational studies (13 cohort studies and two case‐control studies) were included in this meta‐analysis. Each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was significantly associated with a 13% (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.08, 1.19), 17% (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09, 1.25) and 8% (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04, 1.11) higher risk of colorectal cancer overall, in men, and in women, respectively. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies. Based on the anatomic subsite, each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was significantly associated with a 14% (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07, 1.22) higher risk of colon cancer, whereas no association (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.95, 1.13) was observed with rectal cancer. In summary, body fatness at an early age may affect colon cancer risk later in life. Prevention of overweight and obesity in young individuals should be emphasized to prevent early‐onset colon cancer attributed to excess body fatness.
Corporate governance structure and efficiencies of cooperative banks
Authors: Yamori Nobuyoshi , Harimaya Kozo , Tomimura Kei
Published: October 2017

How to discipline managers of cooperative structured financial institutions (co‐ops) is considered a critical issue by the Japanese financial regulatory authorities because co‐ops play a significant role in the domestic banking market, especially for small and medium‐sized enterprises. This paper seeks to clarify whether the effect of the governance‐related variables on firm performance varies across stock and cooperative banks in Japan. We consider regional banks as a proxy of stock banks and Shinkin banks, one of the representative co‐ops, as a proxy of cooperative banks. We use cost and profit efficiency scores obtained from stochastic frontier analysis as performance measures. The results in this paper confirmed that having a large number of board members has negative effects on efficiency measures for both stock and cooperative banks. On the other hand, the presence of outside directors has a significant effect on efficiency measures for cooperative banks, whereas such variables have no significant effect for stock banks. These results suggest that outside directors' discipline is more necessary for cooperative banks than for stock banks, which are under strong pressure from shareholders. For cooperative banks, a high ratio of representative council members, which is the most important decision‐making body for Shinkin banks, has negative effects on efficiency measures. Our findings support the current proposals of the financial regulatory authorities' council to appoint outside directors to the board as a means for strengthening governance of the co‐ops.
Photobiomodulation alters matrix protein activity in stressed fibroblast cells in vitro
Authors: Ayuk Sandra M. , Abrahamse Heidi , Houreld Nicolette N.
Published: October 2017

A balance is maintained between matrix synthesis and degradation, and a prolonged increase in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) affects healing. Photobiomodulation (PBM) speeds up healing and alters wound environment. The study aimed to determine changes in protein and gene expression of collagen type 1 (Col‐I), MMP‐3 and ‐9 and TIMP‐1 in fibroblasts irradiated at 660 or 830 nm. Commercially purchased human skin fibroblast cells were modeled into five groups namely, normal, normal wounded, diabetic wounded, hypoxic wounded and diabetic hypoxic wounded. Control cells were sham irradiated. Laser irradiation was conducted at 660 or 830 nm (108/or 94 mW, 9.1 cm2, 420/or 483 s) with 5 J/cm2. Forty‐eight hours post‐irradiation, protein expression of TIMP‐1, MMP‐3, −9 and Col‐I was determined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, and gene expression by real‐time RT‐PCR. There was an increase in TIMP‐1 and Col‐I, and a decrease in MMP‐3 and ‐9, as well as an alteration in mRNA expression of MMP3, MMP9, TIMP1 and COL1A1 in irradiated cells. Due to the responsiveness of the diabetic hypoxic wounded model, the findings propose this model as appropriate for wound healing studies and suggest that PBM promotes the remodeling phase of wound healing by decreasing matrix degradation and upregulating synthesis.
Insight into plant cell wall chemistry and structure by combination of multiphoton microscopy with Raman imaging
Authors: Heiner Zsuzsanna , Zeise Ingrid , Elbaum Rivka , Kneipp Janina
Published: October 2017

Spontaneous Raman scattering microspectroscopy, second harmonic generation (SHG) and 2‐photon excited fluorescence (2PF) were used in combination to characterize the morphology together with the chemical composition of the cell wall in native plant tissues. As the data obtained with unstained sections of Sorghum bicolor root and leaf tissues illustrate, nonresonant as well as pre‐resonant Raman microscopy in combination with hyperspectral analysis reveals details about the distribution and composition of the major cell wall constituents. Multivariate analysis of the Raman data allows separation of different tissue regions, specifically the endodermis, xylem and lumen. The orientation of cellulose microfibrils is obtained from polarization‐resolved SHG signals. Furthermore, 2‐photon autofluorescence images can be used to image lignification. The combined compositional, morphological and orientational information in the proposed coupling of SHG, Raman imaging and 2PF presents an extension of existing vibrational microspectroscopic imaging and multiphoton microscopic approaches not only for plant tissues.
Effect of decellularized spinal scaffolds on spinal axon regeneration in rats
Authors: Zhu Junyi , Lu Yingfeng , Yu Fangzheng , Zhou Lebin , Shi Jiawei , Chen Qihui , Ding Weili , Wen Xin , Ding Yu‐Qiang , Mei Jin , Wang Jian
Published: October 2017

A series of complex influencing factors lead to failure of neural regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Up to now, there is no robust treatment that can restore the loss of function caused by injury. Because damaged spinal axons do not spontaneously regenerate in their naturally inhibitory microenvironments, biomaterials that induce neural regeneration to appear as attractive treatments to improve the microenvironmental conditions after SCI. In this study, we report the novel use of decellularized (DC) scaffolds to provide contact guidance for axonal regrowth in vivo. The idea is that the scaffolds comprise some cytokines and a physical compartment that may facilitate regeneration. To evaluate the efficacy of scaffolds in supporting neural regeneration after SCI, the scaffold was implanted into an injured spinal cord of the rat. The injured spinal scaffolds showed a significant increase of the expression of GAP43, NF200, and Nestin in the scaffold implant groups compared with controls without the scaffold. In addition, the motor function has a better recovery. Together, these results demonstrate that spinal acellular scaffold is capable of promoting axonal regeneration after SCI and may serve as a potential tool in the treatment of SCI. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 698–705, 2018.
Parameterization of the GPR119 Receptor Agonist AR231453
Authors: Hamilton John , Kotsikorou Evangelia
Published: October 2017

The GPR119 receptor is a class A G protein‐coupled receptor expressed mainly in pancreatic beta cells. Since GPR119 receptor activation ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes through an increase in glucose‐dependent insulin release, the development of new GPR119 receptor agonists would be worthwhile. A better understanding of the way agonists interact with the receptor would help to design better ligands for the receptor. It also would help to better understand the agonist mechanism of action. An understanding of how agonists interact with the receptor can be acquired using molecular dynamics simulations, which cannot be performed without having force field parameters for the ligand molecule. This study presents the development of CHARMM force field parameters for AR231453, the prototypical first potent and orally available GPR119 agonist, using the Force Field Tool Kit. The parameters are validated through Normal Mode Analysis calculations and molecular dynamics simulations in combination with infrared spectroscopy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A classification of flag‐transitive point‐imprimitive 2‐designs with block size 6
Authors: Zhan Xiaoqin , Zhou Shenglin
Published: October 2017

We determine all 2‐ designs admitting a flag‐transitive point‐imprimitive automorphism group.
Perceptions of animal‐assisted interventions: The influence of attitudes toward companion animals
Authors: Crossman Molly K. , Kazdin Alan E.
Published: October 2017

Objective

We tested whether people are prone toward positive perceptions of Animal‐Assisted Interventions (AAIs). We additionally evaluated whether this effect is stronger for people who have positive attitudes toward companion animals.

Method

We presented 210 participants with fictitious news reports, each describing a study of an AAI or a control intervention. Participants rated the news reports on their credibility, acceptability, and general appeal and completed a measure of attitudes toward companion animals.

Results

Individuals with positive attitudes toward companion animals evaluated AAIs as more credible, acceptable, and positive than did individuals with negative attitudes toward companion animals. There was no difference in how people with positive and negative attitudes toward companion animals evaluated control treatments.

Conclusion

We found that individuals with positive attitudes toward companion animals perceived AAIs as more credible, acceptable, and positive, relative to individuals with more negative attitudes toward companion animals.
Neighborhood sexual violence moderates women's perceived safety in urban neighborhoods
Authors: Hoffman Erin E. , Mair Tanisha T. M. , Hunter Bronwyn A. , Prince Dana M. , Tebes Jacob Kraemer
Published: October 2017

Perceptions of neighborhood safety are positively associated with perceptions of neighborhood violence. However, research has yet to examine whether this relationship is moderated by specific types of violence, such as sexual violence, that are more salient for women. Using street‐intercept interviews with 343 adults in 9 neighborhoods of a U.S. city with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and crime, we examine the relationship of perceived neighborhood violence to perceived safety in the context of gender while controlling for neighborhood assets that moderate perceptions of neighborhood safety and violence. We hypothesized that gender would moderate the relationship between perceived neighborhood violence and safety, and that women's perceptions of neighborhood safety would be significantly influenced by neighborhood sexual violence, but not other types of violence. Although women and men in these high crime, urban neighborhoods did not differ in their perceptions of neighborhood safety or violence, perceived sexual violence did significantly moderate safety by gender; women's perceptions of neighborhood sexual violence predicted perceived safety in their neighborhood. Importantly, gender did not moderate perceived safety for other types of violence. These results illustrate the importance of taking gender and perceived sexual violence into account to understand neighborhood safety in adults, particularly women.
The importance of prenatal 3‐dimensional sonography in a case of a segmental overgrowth syndrome with unclear chromosomal microarray results
Authors: Asoglu Mehmet Resit , Higgs Amanda , Esin Sertac , Kaplan Julie , Turan Sifa
Published: October 2017

PIK3CA‐related overgrowth spectrum, caused by mosaic mutations in the PIK3CA gene, is associated with regional or generalized asymmetric overgrowth of the body or a body part in addition to other clinical findings. Three‐dimensional ultrasonography (3‐D US) has the capability to display structural abnormalities in soft tissues or other organs, thereby facilitating identification of segmental overgrowth lesions. We present a case suspected of having a segmental overgrowth disorder based on 3‐D US, whose chromosomal microarray result was abnormal, but apparently was not the cause of the majority of the fetus's clinical features.
Morphological characterization of ckd in cats: Insights of fibrogenesis to be recognized
Authors: Morais G. B. , Viana D. A. , Verdugo J. M. , Roselló M. G. , Porcel J. O. , Rocha D. D. , Xavier Júnior F. A. F. , Barbosa K. D. S. M. , Silva F. M. O. , Brito G. A. C. , Sampaio C. M. S. , Evangelista J. S. A. M.
Published: October 2017

Renal fibrosis is characterized by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis and its pathogenesis is associated with the activity of mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts), being essentially characterized by a process of excessive accumulation resulting from the deposition of extracellular matrix components. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological presentation of chronic and fibrotic lesions in the glomerular, tubular, interstitial, and vascular compartments in feline CKD, as well as the possible participation of myofibroblasts in renal fibrotic processes in this species. Cat kidneys were collected and processed according to the conventional techniques for light microscopy, circular polarization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Fibrotic alterations were present in all compartments analyzed. The main findings in the glomerular compartment were different degrees of glomerular sclerosis, synechia formation, Bowman's capsule calcification, in addition to glomerular basement membrane thickening and pericapsular fibrosis. The tubulointerstitial compartment had intense tubular degeneration and the immunostaining in tubular cells for mesenchymal cell markers demonstrated the possibility of mesenchymal epithelial transition and consequent involvement of myofibroblasts in the development of interstitial tubule damage. Infiltration of inflammatory cells, added to vessel thickening and fibrosis, demonstrated the severity and role of inflammation in the development and perpetuation of damage. Thus, we may conclude that fibrotic lesions play a relevant role in feline CKD and the mechanism of perpetuation of these lesions need further elucidation regarding the origin and participation of myofibroblasts and consequent mesenchymal epithelial transition in this species.
Livelihood Diversification Strategies to Climate Change among Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana
Authors: Asravor Richard Kofi
Published: October 2017

Employing the Margalef index of diversification, the linear regression model and three‐step feasible generalised least square, we analyse the impact of climate variability and expectation on the diversification strategies and vulnerabilities of rural households in Northern Ghana. The finding indicates households have diversified on and off the farm. The decrease average rainfall increases the diversification of total labour and female labour supply whilst decreasing diversification of cropland and income. Higher average rainfall lowers mean and variable per capita consumption. Extension service is an effective policy variable under high climate variability. We recommend increasing extension services and women economic empowerment. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, 99mTc‐labeling, and preliminary biological evaluation of DTPA‐melphalan conjugates
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Yang Wenjiang , Xue Jinquan , Zhang Yanhua , Liu Yu
Published: October 2017

Melphalan (MFL) is a typical nitrogen mustard for the treatment of many types of cancer. For the purpose to develop novel 99mTc‐labeled tumor imaging agents with SPECT, MFL was directly labeled by 99mTc using diethylene triamine pentacetate acid (DTPA) as bifunctional chelating agent. The novel ligands were successfully synthesized by conjugation of DTPA to MFL to get monosubstituted DTPA‐MFL and bis‐substituted DTPA‐2MFL. Radiolabeling was performed in high yield to get 99mTc‐DTPA‐MFL and 99mTc‐DTPA‐2MFL, respectively, which were hydrophilic and stable at room temperature. The high initial tumor uptake with retention, good tumor/muscle ratios, and satisfactory scintigraphic images suggested the potential of 99mTc‐DTPA‐MFL and 99mTc‐DTPA‐2MFL for tumor imaging. However, the slow normal tissue clearance would be a great obstacle. Further modification on the linker and/or 99mTc‐chelate to improve the tumor targeting efficacy and in vivo kinetic profiles is currently in progress.
Molecularly imprinted polymers synthesized via template immobilization on fumed silica nanoparticles for the enrichment of phosphopeptides
Authors: Duarte Mariana , Subedi Prabal , Yilmaz Ecevit , Marcus Katrin , Laurell Thomas , Ekström Simon
Published: October 2017

Phosphorylation is a protein post‐translational modification (PTM) that plays an important role in cell signaling, cell differentiation, and metabolism. The hyper phosphorylated forms of certain proteins have been appointed as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, and phosphorylation‐related mutations are important for detecting cancer pathways. Due to the low abundance of phosphorylated proteins in biological fluids, sample enrichment is beneficial prior to detection. Thus, a need to find new strategies for enriching phosphopeptides has emerged. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic polymeric materials manufactured to exhibit affinity for a target molecule. In this study, MIPs have been synthesized using a new approach based on the use of fumed silica as sacrificial support acting as solid porogen with the template (phosphotyrosine) immobilized on its surface. Phosphotyrosine MIPs were tested against a mixture of peptides and phosphopeptides by performing micro‐solid phase extraction using MIPs (μMISPE) packed in a pipette tip. First, the capability of the materials to preferentially enrich phosphopeptides was evaluated. In a next step, the enrichment of phosphopeptides from a whole‐cell lysate of human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells was performed. The eluates were analyzed using MALDI‐MS in the first case and with nano‐HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS in the second case. The results showed that the MIPs provided affinity for phosphopeptides, binding preferentially to multi‐site phosphorylated peptides. The MIPs could enrich phosphopeptides in over 10‐fold compared with the number of phosphopeptides found in a cell lysate without enrichment.
Predictability of late‐season tropical cyclone accumulated kinetic energy around Taiwan 2 months ahead
Authors: Lu Mong‐Ming , Lee Ching‐Teng , Wang Bin
Published: October 2017

Long‐lead seasonal forecast of tropical cyclone (TC) activity is strongly demanded, albeit challenging, for hazard prevention and preparedness in the area prone to TCs. This article attempts to present a late‐season (September–November, SON) empirical prediction model to predict the accumulative cyclone kinetic energy (ACE) around Taiwan. The predictors are the sea‐surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea‐level pressure (SLP) anomaly during the preceding spring and summer seasons over tropical Southeast Asia, subtropical western and central North Pacific, and subtropical North Atlantic. Three prediction models are established with the lead times of 0, 1, and 2 months. Different types of large‐scale influence on the TC activity are found for the above and below‐normal‐ACE years, respectively. For the above‐normal‐ACE years, the favourable large‐scale condition is warm SSTs over the west Pacific, South China Sea (SCS), and eastern Indian Ocean, and the associated anomalous cyclonic winds and low SLP over the west Pacific marginal seas. The robust precursors are the warm SSTs over mid‐latitude west North Pacific and North Atlantic, and the low SLP over Atlantic during the preceding spring season. For the below‐normal‐ACE years, the favourable large‐scale condition is cold SSTs over Indonesian seas and equatorial west Pacific, warm SST and low SLP over equatorial east Pacific, and the anomalous anticyclonic circulation over the SCS and the Philippine Sea. The robust precursors are the anomalous SST and SLP during the preceding spring season, with the opposite signs to the above‐normal‐ACE years. The presented models built on the precursor signals are proved able to generate skilful forecast 2 months ahead. The product ACE‐SON can be used for seasonal TC activity outlook in a larger area including the coastal region of southeast China and for seasonal rainfall outlook in Taiwan.