bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Ferrocene Derivatives Allowing Linear Free Energy Studies of Redox Potentials
Authors: Lim Byung Joon , Hwang Inhong , Ellington Andrew D. , Sessler Jonathan L.
Published: December 2018

A series of ferrocene derivatives, which have diverse redox potentials modulated by functional groups, have been synthesized as potential ‘multi‐potential’ probes. A Hammett constant analysis revealed a linear free energy correlation between the redox potentials and the electron density of the ferrocene derivatives as determined by the choice of functional group used to modify the ferrocene core.
Numerical simulation of turbulent natural convection of nanofluid with thermal radiation inside a tall enclosure under the influence of magnetohydrodynamic
Authors: Rahmati Ahmad Reza , Sepehrnia Mojtaba , Motamedian Mahdi
Published: December 2018

In the present study, the natural convective heat transfer in the turbulent flow of water/CuO nanofluid with volumetric radiation and magnetic field inside a tall enclosure has been numerically investigated. The thermophysical properties of nanofluid have been considered variable with temperature and the effects of Brownian motion of nanoparticles have been considered. The main objective of this work is an investigation of the effect of using water/CuO nanofluid and presence of magnetic field on turbulent natural convection in three types of enclosures (vertical, inclined, and horizontal) by considering the volumetric radiation. The governing equations on turbulent flow domain under the influence of the magnetic field and by considering the combination of volumetric radiation and natural convection have been solved by a coupled algorithm. For validating the present research, a comparison has been carried out with the laminar natural convection flow under the influence of the magnetic field and radiation effects and also, the natural turbulent convection flow of previous studies and a proper coincidence has been achieved. The results indicated that by increasing volume fraction and Hartmann number the average Nusselt number enhances and reduces, respectively. By adding 1% CuO nanoparticles to the base fluid, heat transfer improves from 10.59% to 17.05%. However, by increasing the volume fraction from 1% to 4%, heat transfer improves from 1.35% to 4.90%. By increasing Hartmann number from 0 to 600, heat transfer reduces from 9.29% to 22.07%. Also, the results show that the ratio of deviation angle of the enclosure to the horizontal surface has considerable effects on heat transfer performance. Therefore, in similar conditions, the inclined enclosure with a deviation angle of 45° compared to the vertical and horizontal enclosure has better thermal performance.
Adomian decomposition solution for propulsion of dissipative magnetic Jeffrey biofluid in a ciliated channel containing a porous medium with forced convection heat transfer
Authors: Manzoor Naeema , Maqbool Khadija , Bég Osman Anwar , Shaheen Sidra
Published: December 2018

Physiological transport phenomena often feature ciliated internal walls. Heat, momentum, and multispecies mass transfer may arise and additionally non‐Newtonian biofluid characteristics are common in smaller vessels. Blood (containing hemoglobin) or other physiological fluids containing ionic constituents in the human body respond to magnetic body forces when subjected to external (extracorporeal) magnetic fields. Inspired by such applications, in the present work we have considered the forced convective flow of an electrically conducting viscoelastic physiological fluid through a ciliated channel under the action of a transverse magnetic field. The presence of deposits (fats, cholesterol, etc.) in the channel is mimicked with a Darcy porous medium drag force model. The effect of energy loss is simulated via the inclusion of viscous dissipation in the energy conservation (heat) equation. The velocity, temperature, and pressure distribution are computed in the form of infinite series constructed by Adomian decomposition method and numerically evaluated in a symbolic software (Mathematica). The influence of Hartmann number (magnetic parameter), Jeffrey first and second viscoelastic parameters, permeability parameter (modified Darcy number), and Brinkman number (viscous heating parameter) on velocity, temperature, pressure gradient, and bolus dynamics is visualized graphically.
Impact of the Cattaneo‐Christov thermal and solutal diffusion models on the stagnation point slip flow of Walters' B nanofluid past an electromagnetic sheet
Authors: Nayak M. K. , Oyelakin I. S. , Mondal S. , Sen S. S.
Published: December 2018

The present study investigates the effect of Cattaneo‐Christov thermal and solutal diffusion on the stagnation point flow of Walters' B nanofluid past an electromagnetic sheet subject to velocity, thermal, and solutal slips. The study analyzed the role of electromagnetic fields. In addition, the authors introduced the heat transfer aspect due to Brownian motion and thermophoretic force. The numerical solution of the transformed governing equations employed the spectral local linearization method. Comparisons showed an excellent agreement with the numerical data presented in previous notable works. The study reveals that the developed electromagnetic field due to the arrangement of the sheet causes accelerated fluid motion, and diminution of nondimensional temperature and concentration. In addition, augmented velocity, thermal, and solutal slips develop the corresponding descending boundary layers. The augmented short memory coefficient enhances the skin friction coefficient. The Cattaneo‐Christov thermal and solutal diffusion upsurge the heat and mass transfer rates from the electromagnetic sheet, respectively.
Nonlinear thermal radiation and chemical reaction effects on Maxwell fluid flow with convectively heated plate in a porous medium
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Kh. , Gholinia M. , Jafari B. , Ghanbarpour A. , Olfian H. , Ganji D. D.
Published: December 2018

This paper investigated the chemically reactive radiating flow by using a two‐dimensional Darcy‐Forchheimer model with the convectively heated plate. The nonlinear thermal radiation is described by Joule heating and heat generation. Also, Darcy‐Forchheimer equation is related to porous medium flows. For the solution of equations, we used the numerical method. Further, more physical interpretation of the parameters was demonstrated with figures. It is found that an increase in the Prandtl number had a direct effect on the Nusselt number and temperature, whereas the opposite scenario was observed in the Eckert number.
Sensitivity analysis of the effects of the thermal parameters of exhaust gases on the output of a thermoelectric generator
Authors: Mostafavi Seyed Alireza , Taheri Moein , Mahmoudi Mojtaba
Published: December 2018

Recovering the dissipated heat from exhaust is a useful means of reducing the energy consumption level as well as cutting down on environmental pollution. An efficient technique for recovering this lost heat is the use of thermoelectric generators, which directly convert the dissipated heat into useful electrical energy. In this paper, a whole thermoelectric generator system installed on the exhaust pipe of a vehicle has been modeled, and the effects of thermal parameters on the output of this thermoelectric generator have been measured and evaluated by means of sensitivity analysis. The E‐Fast sensitivity analysis method has been used in this study. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that, among the thermal parameters examined, the temperature of gases entering the heat sink installed at exhaust pipe outlet () has the greatest influence (37%) and the flow rate of fluid entering the heatsink installed on the cold side of thermoelectric modules () has the second greatest influence (17%) on the output power of the considered thermoelectric generator. By using these results, the best cases of hot exhaust gases from various industries and vehicles with the highest potential of recovering the dissipated energy and heat from them by thermoelectric generators can be identified.
Correlation of abrin‐mediated inhibition of protein synthesis and apoptosis
Authors: Tiwari Vinita , Karande Anjali A.
Published: December 2018

The plant toxin, abrin, a type‐II ribosome inactivating protein, is extremely lethal, the human fatal dose being ~1 μg/kg body weight. Abrin has been classified as an agent for bioterrorism, which is of concern. Conversely, the high toxic property of abrin has been employed in generating immunotoxins, whereas its toxin moiety is conjugated to cell surface marker‐specific antibodies for cell‐targeted killing. Different cell types exhibit variable levels of sensitivity to abrin toxicity; therefore, adequate knowledge of the molecular mechanism that governs the activity of the protein would be a safeguard. To gain insights into this, two cell lines requiring strikingly different concentrations of abrin for inactivating ribosomes were studied. Employing conjugates of the wild‐type and active site mutant of abrin A chain with the ricin B chain, it was found that abrin‐induced apoptosis was dependent on inhibition of protein synthesis (PSI) leading to ER‐stress in Ovcar‐3 cells, but not in KB cells. Abrin was also observed to cause direct DNA damage in KB cells, while in Ovcar‐3 cells abrin‐induced DNA damage was found to be dependent on caspases. Overall, the study demonstrates that the correlation of abrin‐mediated PSI and apoptosis is cell‐specific and abrin can induce more than one pathway to cause cell death. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(3):357–363, 2019
Electrochemical potential zone of viability on CoCrMo surfaces is affected by cell type: Macrophages under cathodic bias are more resistant to killing
Authors: Wiegand Michael J. , Kubacki Gregory W. , Gilbert Jeremy L.
Published: December 2018

Electrochemical interactions at the cell–metal interface determine cell viability and influence behavior in response to different electrode potential conditions, specifically cathodic biases. Mechanically assisted crevice corrosion, for example, induces cathodic potentials and the associated electrochemical consequences of increased reduction reactions at the implant surface may affect cell viability in a manner that is different for various cell phenotypes. Monocyte macrophage‐like U937 cells were cultured on cobalt–chromium–molybdenum (CoCrMo) metal surfacesin vitrofor 24 h to assess cell behavior in response to sustained applied voltages. The electrochemical zone of viability for U937 cells polarized for 24 hin vitrowas −1000 ≤ mV < +500, compared to −400 < mV < +500 for MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblast‐like cells cultured under the same conditions, likely as a result of intrinsic apoptosis. Voltages above +250 mV had a lethal effect on U937 cells that was similar to that seen previously for MC3T3‐E1 cells on biased CoCrMo surfaces. It appears that cell phenotype directly influences behavior in response to cathodic electrochemical stimuli and that the monocyte macrophage‐like cells are more resistant to cathodic potential stimuli than preosteoblasts. This may be due to a glutathione‐based increased ability to quench reactive oxygen species and inflammatory‐associated radicals hypothesized to be generated during reduction of oxygen. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 526–534, 2019.
Tumor Cell Dormancy and Reactivation in Bone: Skeletal Biology and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Byrne Niall M , Summers Matthew A , McDonald Michelle M
Published: December 2018

In the advanced stages of many cancers, tumor cells disseminate from the primary site and colonize distant locations such as the skeleton. These disseminated tumor cells colonizing bone can evade treatments and survive for prolonged periods in a dormant state before becoming reactivated to form overt metastases. The precise interactions between tumor cells and the bone microenvironment that promote survival, dormancy, and reactivation are currently unknown; as a result, bone metastases remain incurable. In this review we discuss the unique cellular and microenvironmental features of endosteal bone that tumor cells engage with to persist and survive, and ultimately reactivate and proliferate. Specifically, we provide a detailed summary of current perspectives on the processes of tumor cell colonization of the skeleton, and the endosteal bone cells as critical controllers of the dormant cancer cell phenotype, as well as relevant microenvironmental effects such as hypoxia. Evidence for the role of the osteoclast in controlling dormant cancer cell reactivation in bone is highlighted, preceding a discussion of therapeutics targeting the bone microenvironment, including anti‐RANK ligand and bisphosphonate therapies and their potential utility in preventing tumor cell reactivation in addition to protecting bone from tumor‐induced destruction. © 2018 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Mineral Homeostasis in Murine Fetuses Is Sensitive to Maternal Calcitriol but Not to Absence of Fetal Calcitriol
Authors: Ryan Brittany A , Alhani Kamal , Sellars K Berit , Kirby Beth J , St-Arnaud René , Kaufmann Martin , Jones Glenville , Kovacs Christopher S
Published: December 2018

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) null fetuses have normal serum minerals, parathyroid hormone (PTH), skeletal morphology, and mineralization but increased serum calcitriol, placental calcium transport, and placental expression of Pthrp, Trpv6, and (as reported in this study) Pdia3. We examined Cyp27b1 null fetal mice, which do not make calcitriol, to determine if loss of calcitriol has the same consequences as loss of VDR. Cyp27b1 null and wild-type (WT) females were mated to Cyp27b1+/- males, which generated Cyp27b1 null and Cyp27b1+/- fetuses from Cyp27b1 null mothers, and Cyp27b1+/- and WT fetuses from WT mothers. Cyp27b1 null fetuses had undetectable calcitriol but normal serum calcium and phosphorus, PTH, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), skeletal mineral content, tibial lengths and morphology, placental calcium transport, and expression of Trpv6 and Pthrp; conversely, placental Pdia3 was downregulated. However, although Cyp27b1+/- and null fetuses of Cyp27b1 null mothers were indistinguishable, they had higher serum and amniotic fluid calcium, lower amniotic fluid phosphorus, lower FGF23, and higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D than in WT and Cyp27b1+/- fetuses of WT mothers. In summary, loss of fetal calcitriol did not alter mineral or bone homeostasis, but Cyp27b1 null mothers altered mineral homeostasis in their fetuses independent of fetal genotype. Cyp27b1 null fetuses differ from Vdr null fetuses, possibly through high levels of calcitriol acting on Pdia3 in Vdr nulls to upregulate placental calcium transport and expression of Trpv6 and Pthrp. In conclusion, maternal calcitriol influences fetal mineral metabolism, whereas loss of fetal calcitriol does not. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 2‐(4‐Aminophenyl)benzothiazole Analogues as Antiproliferative Agents
Authors: Narva Suresh , Chitti Surendar , Amaroju Suresh , Goud Sridhar , Alvala Mallika , Bhattacharjee Debanjan , Jain Nishant , Kondapalli Venkata Gowri Chandra Sekhar
Published: December 2018

A series of 28 novel 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzothiazole analogues have been synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques like 1H NMR, 13C NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and IR and bioevaluated for their antiproliferative activity over a group of three human cancer cell lines, namely, lung cancer (A549), cervical cancer (HeLa), and breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐231), using sulforhodamine B assay method. Few synthesized molecules (5a, 5c, 5d, 5f, 7b, and 7j) displayed effective growth inhibition (GI50) activity against the tested human cancer cell lines at lower micromolar concentration (GI50) values in the range 0.2–1.7 μM. Noticeably, compound 7b exhibited reasonable activity in all three cancer cell lines in the GI50 range 0.55–1.2 μM. Further, when 7b was screened for tubulin polymerization inhibition, it exhibited more than 55% inhibition at concentration of 5.0 μM. The molecular docking simulations supported the molecular interactions of the derivatives with the targeted receptor. These derivatives may serve as lead structures for development of potential anticancer drug candidates, and 7b might act as a potential microtubule polymerization inhibitor.
Synthesis, In Vitro Biological Screening, and In Silico Computational Studies of Some Novel Imidazole‐2‐thiol Derivatives
Authors: Daraji Drashti G. , Patel Kinjal D. , Patel Hitesh D. , Rajani Dhanji P.
Published: December 2018

Substituted imidazole analogues 2‐((5‐acetyl‐4‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐yl)thio)‐N‐phenylacetamides (3a–3m) have been synthesized from 1‐[1‐(phenyl)‐2‐mercapto‐4‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐5‐yl]‐ethanone (1a–1e) and 2‐chloro‐N‐phenylacetamide (2a–2i) in the presence of potassium carbonate as a catalyst in dimethylformamide under microwave irradiation as well as conventional method. Structures of the obtained compounds have been confirmed by advance spectroscopic techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial and antituberculosis activities. Good antibacterial molecules were further screened for the bacterial resisted cell line, from which compound 3b shows maximum inhibition. In silico molecular docking study was carried out to discover the binding affinity of synthesized compounds with active site of transferase (PDB ID: 1HNJ) and antibiotic resistance (PDB ID: 1W3R) protein. Moreover, molecular dynamics study of the 3b‐1W3R complex has also been performed, as 3b has a good antibacterial activity as compared with other.
Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Quinoxaline Derivatives as a Potent Antimicrobial Agent
Authors: Dewangan Dhansay , Nakhate Kartik , Mishra Achal , Thakur Alok Singh , Rajak Harish , Dwivedi Jaya , Sharma Swapnil , Paliwal Sarvesh
Published: December 2018

A series of quinoxalinone derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of o‐phenylenediamine with oxalic acid to yield 1, 4‐dihydro quinoxaline‐2, 3‐dione (1) and then treated with thionyl chloride to yield 2, 3 dichloro quinoxaline (2). This was further reacted with hydrazine hydrate to produce 2, 3‐dihydrazinyl quinoxaline (3). This was finally reacted with substituted aromatic aldehydes to produce 2,3‐bis[2‐(sustituted benzylidine) hydrazinyl] quinoxalines (4). These quinoxalinone derivatives were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MASS spectral data. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. The results of the antimicrobial study revealed that compounds 4c, 4d, and 4i were active and exhibited better inhibitory activities as compared to standard drug ciprofloxacin. The results were further checked with protein legend interaction by using docking studies, and all the compounds exhibited good docking scores between −8.72 and −11.29 kcal/mol against dihydrofolate reductase protein fragment from Staphylococcus aureus (PDB ID‐4XE6). Among all compound, 4c has shown maximum docking score and found in agreement to in vitro studies.
Improving transparency and scientific rigor in academic publishing
Authors: Prager Eric M. , Chambers Karen E. , Plotkin Joshua L. , McArthur David L. , Bandrowski Anita E. , Bansal Nidhi , Martone Maryann E. , Bergstrom Hadley C. , Bespalov Anton , Graf Chris
Published: December 2018

Progress in basic and clinical research is slowed when researchers fail to provide a complete and accurate report of how a study was designed, executed, and the results analyzed. Publishing rigorous scientific research involves a full description of the methods, materials, procedures, and outcomes. Investigators may fail to provide a complete description of how their study was designed and executed because they may not know how to accurately report the information or the mechanisms are not in place to facilitate transparent reporting. Here, we provide an overview of how authors can write manuscripts in a transparent and thorough manner. We introduce a set of reporting criteria that can be used for publishing, including recommendations on reporting the experimental design and statistical approaches. We also discuss how to accurately visualize the results and provide recommendations for peer reviewers to enhance rigor and transparency. Incorporating transparency practices into research manuscripts will significantly improve the reproducibility of the results by independent laboratories.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation incidence over long dry sequences and their impact on soil water storage in Argentina
Authors: Penalba Olga C. , Pántano Vanesa C. , Spescha Liliana B. , Murphy Guillermo M.
Published: December 2018

The deficit of daily precipitation, persistent over time (long dry sequences [LDS]), causes economic losses in the east–northeast of Argentina where agriculture production is the main economic activity. For this reason, an improvement in the seasonal prediction of the frequency of precipitation is required. Among several forcings influencing the region of study, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been identified as responsible for a great part of the inter‐annual variability of precipitation. Therefore, in this study, we assess the ENSO signal on LDS and the response of soil water storage under the different phases.

In order to assess this issue, daily data were used from 30 meteorological stations. Based on this information, dry sequences were quantified considering a dry day when the accumulated precipitation of two consecutive days was lower than 5 mm. From the dry sequences, two different thresholds were used to identify LDS. On one hand, the 85th percentile was selected as a spatially variable threshold and, on the other hand, 15‐day length was used as a fixed one. Based on this selection, the severity and the number of LDS were analysed. In general terms, La Niña (El Niño) phase presents higher (lower) severity and higher (lower) probability in the occurrence of more than one LDS per season, except in winter. This result is in concordance with negative (positive) anomalies of accumulated precipitation under La Niña (El Niño) phase. Regarding the impact on the water balance, soil water storage responds to accumulated precipitation anomalies in all the seasons.
Prediction of Prolonged ICU Stay in Cardiac Surgery Patients as a Useful Method to Identify Nutrition Risk in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Stoppe Christian , Ney Julia , Lomivorotov Vladimir V. , Efremov Sergey M. , Benstoem Carina , Hill Aileen , Nesterova Ekaterina , Laaf Elena , Goetzenich Andreas , McDonald Bernard , Peine Arne , Marx Gernot , Fehnle Karl , Heyland Daren K.
Published: December 2018

Background

Cardiovascular surgery patients with a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay may benefit most from early nutrition support. Using established scoring systems for nutrition assessment and operative risk stratification, we aimed to develop a model to predict a prolonged ICU stay ≥5 days in order to identify patients who will benefit from early nutrition interventions.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective observational study of patients undergoing elective valvular, coronary artery bypass grafting, or combined cardiac surgery. The nutrition risk was assessed by well‐established screening tools. Patients’ preoperative EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), primary disease, and intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were included as independent variables in a multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict a prolonged ICU stay (>4 days).

Results

The number of cardiac surgery patients included was 1193. Multivariate analysis revealed that for prediction of ICU stay >4 days, both Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (area under the curve (AUC): 0.716, P = .020) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score (AUC: 0.715, P = .037) were significant, whereas for prediction of ICU stay >5 days, only the MNA score showed significant results (AUC: 0.762, P = .011).

Conclusion

Present data provide first evidence about the combined use of EuroSCORE, primary disease, CPB time, and nutrition risk screening tools for prediction of prolonged ICU stay in cardiac surgery patients. If prospectively evaluated in adequately designed studies, this model may help to identify patients with prolonged ICU stay to initiate early postoperative nutrition therapy and thus, facilitate an enhanced recovery.
Hospital discharge opioid guidelines and policies: a Victorian survey
Authors: Downie Shane P. , Wood Penelope J. , Summers Richard J. , McDonough Michael , Wong Grace O. Y.
Published: December 2018

Background

Opioid prescribing has increased over the past two decades in Australia and has been associated with a rise in opioid‐related harm, including hospitalisations. Guidelines for supplying opioids at discharge from hospitals may reduce these associated risks. Examples of these guidelines exist worldwide, but it is unknown what strategies Victorian hospitals are using.

Aim

The aim of the present study was to discover what strategies, if any, Victorian hospitals are using to decrease risk associated with opioids prescribed on discharge and the perceived barriers to implementing these strategies.

Methods

An online survey was sent to each Victorian hospital. Participants were asked questions about whether their service was using an opioid discharge guideline, the barriers to using these guidelines and whether they would use industry‐ or peer‐developed guidelines if available.

Results

Staff from 41 (19.62%) hospitals responded to the survey. Ten hospitals reported having a guideline. Nearly half (41.5%) of the hospitals that did not have a guideline reported that they would consider using an industry‐ or peer‐developed guideline. Time, funding, collaboration between stakeholders and staffing inconsistencies were reported as barriers to development and implementation.

Conclusion

Only a small number of Victorian hospitals are using opioid discharge prescribing guidelines. Development of industry‐ or peer‐developed guidelines may bypass many of the barriers to development and implementation.
The use of mathematical modeling studies for evidence synthesis and guideline development: A glossary
Authors: Porgo Teegwendé V. , Norris Susan L. , Salanti Georgia , Johnson Leigh F. , Simpson Julie A. , Low Nicola , Egger Matthias , Althaus Christian L.
Published: December 2018

Mathematical modeling studies are increasingly recognised as an important tool for evidence synthesis and to inform clinical and public health decision‐making, particularly when data from systematic reviews of primary studies do not adequately answer a research question. However, systematic reviewers and guideline developers may struggle with using the results of modeling studies, because, at least in part, of the lack of a common understanding of concepts and terminology between evidence synthesis experts and mathematical modellers. The use of a common terminology for modeling studies across different clinical and epidemiological research fields that span infectious and non‐communicable diseases will help systematic reviewers and guideline developers with the understanding, characterisation, comparison, and use of mathematical modeling studies. This glossary explains key terms used in mathematical modeling studies that are particularly salient to evidence synthesis and knowledge translation in clinical medicine and public health.
Cover Image, Volume 99, Issue 1
Authors: Huang Yaohua , Ye Xiaofei P , Doona Christopher J , Feeherry Florence E , Radosevich Mark , Wang Siqun
Published: December 2018

The cover image is based on the Research Article An investigation of inactivation mechanisms of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores in non‐thermal plasma of ambient air by Yaohua Huang et al., DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9198.

image
Scoured or suffocated: Urban stream ecosystems oscillate between hydrologic and dissolved oxygen extremes
Authors: Blaszczak Joanna R. , Delesantro Joseph M. , Urban Dean L. , Doyle Martin W. , Bernhardt Emily S.
Published: December 2018

Headwater streams draining urbanized watersheds are subject to frequent and intense storm flows. These floods can disrupt metabolic processes occurring in benthic biofilms via the removal of biomass (i.e., scouring flows, bed mobilization) or light attenuation due to turbidity. Furthermore, channel incision caused by frequent hydraulic disturbance alters the geomorphology of streams, indirectly changing the flow and light regimes experienced by benthic biofilms. We measured dissolved oxygen (DO) and modeled whole‐stream metabolism for 18 months in six urban headwater streams in the North Carolina Piedmont, U.S.A. All streams were heterotrophic and had low rates of productivity despite relatively high streamwater nutrient concentrations. Light availability at the channel surface explained more of the day to day variation in gross primary productivity within each stream than did hydrologic disturbance. Yet among streams, the explanatory power of light declined with increasing hydrologic flashiness. We found a surprisingly wide range in DO regimes, which ranged from frequent hypoxia to near constant saturation. Hypoxia was more common in streams with lower channel gradients where bedrock outcroppings and culverts create rapid slope transitions between pools. We hypothesize this geomorphic change increases the susceptibility of benthic biota to perturbation during storms and the mean water residence time during baseflow. Increased water residence times together with elevated organic matter and nutrient inputs can set up ideal conditions for hypoxia at baseflows punctuated by frequent scouring storm flows. As a result, benthic biota are caught between hydrologic and chemical extremes that constrain their productivity.
Intertidal clams exhibit population synchrony across spatial and temporal scales
Authors: Barber Julie S. , Ruff Casey P. , McArdle James T. , Hunter Lindy L. , Speck Camille A. , Rogers Douglas W. , Greiner Courtney M.
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Long‐term datasets can be particularly useful for parsing out factors influencing populations, yet few studies have utilized continuous datasets to quantify population dynamics in bivalve molluscs. We used dynamic factor analysis on a clam biomass dataset spanning 28 yr and five distinct regions in the southern Salish Sea to determine (1) if native intertidal clam populations exhibit synchrony and (2) what environmental covariates may be correlated with these population trends. Once covariates were accounted for, the model with the most data support included three predominant trends to describe multidecadal change in clam biomass. Intraspecific synchrony was highest among Saxidomus gigantea and Leukoma staminea populations, with no clear evidence of covariance in Clinocardium nuttallii. Specifically, we quantified a pronounced decadal decline in L. staminea and an increase in S. gigantea biomass on most beaches. No beaches showed synchrony in trends across all three species, indicating that species‐specific trends (regardless of location) were more common than beach‐specific trends (regardless of species). Seven environmental covariates were evaluated in their capacity to explain variability in annual mean biomass. Of these, the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation lagged 4 yr prior to the observation year was most supported by the data in the best fitting model, implying that 4 yr old clam biomass is partially determined by oceanographic processes affecting larval clams. Although results suggest large‐scale density‐independent factors play a role in venerid clam population dynamics, it is also likely local factors account for variability not explained by our model.
Outcomes of long‐pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment of basal cell carcinoma: A retrospective review
Authors: Ahluwalia Jusleen , Avram Mathew M. , Ortiz Arisa E.
Published: December 2018

Background and Objective

Recent prospective trials have supported treatment of nonfacial BCC with long‐pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser based on short‐term histologic clearance rates. Studies have yet to identify the long‐term clinical clearance rates of this specific laser therapy for BCC.

Study Design/Material and Methods

This is a retrospective review of BCC treated with long‐pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, which have been clinically monitored for at least 6 months, to assess for recurrence and cosmetic outcomes of the treated area.

Results

16 BCC lesions (11 subjects) treated with 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser were enrolled. Our analysis revealed 100% clearance rate in all subjects (16 of 16 BCC) treated with long‐pulsed Nd:YAG laser based on mean follow‐up of 9 months (range 6–15 months). Minimal scarring and no long‐term adverse events were noted.

Conclusions

This study supports the use of 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser as a therapeutic modality for BCC based on the absence of clinical recurrence upon a mean follow‐up of 9 months. As studies progress, we are beginning to observe a potential role for laser as an alternative to patients who refuse surgery, have multiple co‐morbidities, or decline non‐surgical therapies. Laser treatment with 1064 nm Nd:YAG is an evolving, promising story that we continue to investigate to optimize parameters. Lasers Surg. Med. 51:34–39, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topological elementary equivalence of regular semi‐algebraic sets in three‐dimensional space
Authors: Geerts Floris , Kuijpers Bart
Published: December 2018

We consider semi‐algebraic sets and properties of these sets that are expressible by sentences in first‐order logic over the reals. We are interested in first‐order properties that are invariant under topological transformations of the ambient space. Two semi‐algebraic sets are called topologically elementarily equivalent if they cannot be distinguished by such topological first‐order sentences. So far, only semi‐algebraic sets in one and two‐dimensional space have been considered in this context. Our contribution is a natural characterisation of topological elementary equivalence of regular closed semi‐algebraic sets in three‐dimensional space, extending a known characterisation for the two‐dimensional case. Our characterisation is based on the local topological behaviour of semi‐algebraic sets and the key observation that topologically elementarily equivalent sets can be transformed into each other by means of geometric transformations, each of them mapping a set to a first‐order indistinguishable one.
Boundedness of solutions to the critical fully parabolic quasilinear one‐dimensional Keller–Segel system
Authors: Bieganowski Bartosz , Cieślak Tomasz , Fujie Kentarou , Senba Takasi
Published: December 2018

In this paper we consider a one‐dimensional fully parabolic quasilinear Keller–Segel system with critical nonlinear diffusion. We show uniform‐in‐time boundedness of solutions, which means, that unlike in higher dimensions, there is no critical mass phenomenon in the case of critical diffusion. To this end we utilize estimates from a well‐known Lyapunov functional and a recently introduced new Lyapunov‐like functional in .
Novel Functional TPE Polymers: Aggregation‐Induced Emission, pH Response, and Solvatochromic Behavior
Authors: Huang Wei , Bender Markus , Seehafer Kai , Wacker Irene , Schröder Rasmus R. , Bunz Uwe H. F.
Published: December 2018

Four tetraphenylethylene (TPE)‐based aryleneethynylene polymers with amino or nitro groups are reported. They display strong aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). The functional groups trigger acidochromic changes in the emission behavior of these polymers. Amino‐substituted P1–P3 exhibit pH response through protonation of the amino groups. The position of the amino groups (on TPE or the side chains) influences the fluorescence intensity or emission wavelength as a response to different pH values. Nitro‐P4 is solvatochromic due to its donor–acceptor structure. AIE, intramolecular charge transfer, and Förster resonance energy transfer define the fluorescence‐based performance of the polymers. The amino‐functionalized TPE polymers show excellent nitroarene‐sensing performance. P4 is less effective than the amino polymers. A sensor array based on P1–P3 identifies 12 different nitroarenes in water.
Wyoming bill would amend counseling licensing requirements
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2018

Mental health providers in Wyoming have expressed concerns related to a legislative proposal that would amend requirements for certified addictions practitioners to be certified based on experience rather than education, as long as they are under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor.
Senate approves legislation addressing Alzheimer's, TBI
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2018

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Nov. 28 concluded its 115th Congress by passing five additional bills and approving four more qualified nominations. At last week's mark‐up, which was the committee's final of this Congress, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R‐Tenn.), in a press release, said, “the work this Committee has done over the last two years will have an impact on the lives of virtually every American.”
Complex abdominopelvic reconstruction by combined tensor fascia latae and superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flaps
Authors: Luca‐Pozner V , Boissiere F , Rodriguez T , Karra A , Herlin C , Chaput B
Published: December 2018

Background

Extensive full thickness abdominopelvic defects pose a difficult challenge to surgeons. Autologous tissues are versatile and can provide a satisfying reconstructive option for this type of defects. The tensor fascia latae (TFL) and superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) flaps provide a large area of vascularized tissue and their use in reconstructive surgery is well‐known. In this report, the authors present the experience of using combined TFL and propeller SCIP flaps for covering large abdominal and pelvic defects.

Methods

Four patients underwent reconstruction of soft‐tissue abdominopelvic defects by combined TFL and SCIP flaps. Three were men and one woman, aged from 52 to 76 years. The etiologies of the defects were tissue loss after tumor resection in 3 cases and necrotizing fasciitis in the fourth case. Defect dimensions ranged from 32 × 20 cm to 45 × 17 cm. An acoustic handheld Doppler was utilized to detect perforator vessels, then TFL and SCIP flaps were elevated at the same time by 2 surgical teams. Donor sites of the flaps were closed primary except for one TFL flap donor site. The latter one was treated with negative pressure therapy and finally with a split‐thick skin graft.

Results

The size of the TFL flaps ranged from 25–38 × 10–14 cm. Concerning the SCIP flaps, the dimensions ranged from 18–32 × 12–18 cm. The average flap dimensions were 30.25 × 11.75 cm for the TFL and 26.75 × 14 cm for the SCIP. Two TFL flaps presented a necrosis of the distal tip. All the other flaps survived entirely. Complete healing was achieved in all patients. Patients were followed for an average of 4 months postoperatively (ranging between 2 and 8 months).

Conclusions

Combined TFL and SCIP flaps may represent an alternative reconstructive procedure for large abdominopelvic defects in well‐selected cases.
Global well‐posedness of classical solutions to 3D compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations with large potential force
Authors: Lin Zhilin , Huang Bingyuan , Huang Jinrui
Published: December 2018

We consider the Cauchy problem of isentropic compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations with large potential force in
. When the initial data (ρ0,u0,H0) is of small energy, we investigate the global well‐posedness of classical solutions where the flow density is allowed to contain vacuum states.
Compact wideband transparent antenna for 5G communication systems
Authors: Desai Arpan , Upadhyaya Trushit , Patel Riki
Published: December 2018

A compact wideband transparent antenna designed on plexiglass substrate (10 × 12 × 1.48 mm3) is presented. The optically transparent antenna consists of a radiation patch and a ground plane fabricated using AgHT‐8. The antenna design comprises of rectangular shaped branches optimized to attain the wideband characteristics. The proposed antenna design has impedance bandwidth of 58.71% covering the frequency range of 23.92‐43.8 GHz. The radiation pattern of the proposed antenna shows directional radiation pattern with electrical tilt. All calculated and measured results show that proposed compact transparent antenna is an excellent candidate for 5G communication systems and wideband code division multiple access applications.
A new type of planar 180° hybrid using intentional impedance mismatch for improved bandwidth and arbitrary power division ratio
Authors: Jang Youna , Koo Seo , Lee Daeung , Lim Jongsik , Ahn Dal
Published: December 2018

A wideband planar 180 hybrid is proposed for arbitrary power division ratios and implementing cascaded planar structure. In addition, the proposed structure not only has the same function as the conventional ring hybrid, but also has a planar cascade connection when connecting other components because the output ports have same direction. The proposed planar 180 hybrid consists of two 3 dB couplers, and 4 transmission lines (TLs) with symmetrical TLs connected in series with different impedances of ZA and ZB. The design theory of the proposed structure is based on a cascaded multiport connection form, converged from transmission matrix to S‐parameter, and the ratio of ZA and ZB impedances is derived for wideband performance. The design equations are verified as the measurement results of the magnitude and phase characteristics. The proposed structure, regardless of whether 2 TLs are connected in cascaded form, has a 29% reduced area compared with the conventional ring hybrid.
Woodpile EBG waveguide as a DC electrical break for microwave ion sources
Authors: Mauro Giorgio S. , Locatelli Andrea , Torrisi Giuseppe , Celona Luigi , De Angelis Costantino , Sorbello Gino
Published: December 2018

This article presents a dielectric waveguide, operating at 18 GHz that can sustain 40 kV DC voltages and can be used to feed microwave ion sources. The metallic‐to‐woodpile waveguide transition optimization gives a very low maximum insertion loss of 0.3 dB over a 3.75% bandwidth.
Validation of an electronic version of the Self‐Awareness Questionnaire in English and Italian healthy samples
Authors: Hughes Laura , Betka Sophie , Longarzo Mariachiara
Published: December 2018

Objectives

Interoception is a general sensitivity to bodily sensations that informs motivational processes and behaviours. Interoceptive abilities seem to be impaired in several clinical conditions, and the development of new pragmatic instruments to assess subjective components of interoception are crucially needed. An easy to use paper and pencil questionnaire measuring sensitivity to bodily sensations was validated in an Italian sample (Self‐Awareness Questionnaire; SAQ).

Methods

In the present study, we created and evaluated an electronic version of the SAQ in Italian and English language.

Results

Psychometric properties of both electronic versions of the SAQ were validated in an Italian (n = 206) and an English (n = 275) sample, using factorial analyses. Differences in factorial structures observed between the two samples were discussed in terms of cultural impact on emotional regulation and bodily sensations processing.

Conclusions

The electronic version of SAQ in English and Italian provides a pragmatic and validated tool to evaluate bodily signal sensitivity in clinical settings, informing the development of a new therapy targeting interoceptive processes, in a wide range of psychopathological conditions.
The choice of embedding media affects image quality, tissue R2*, and susceptibility behaviors in post‐mortem brain MR microscopy at 7.0T
Authors: Dusek Petr , Madai Vince Istvan , Huelnhagen Till , Bahn Erik , Matej Radoslav , Sobesky Jan , Niendorf Thoralf , Acosta‐Cabronero Julio , Wuerfel Jens
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The quality and precision of post‐mortem MRI microscopy may vary depending on the embedding medium used. To investigate this, our study evaluated the impact of 5 widely used media on: (1) image quality, (2) contrast of high spatial resolution gradient‐echo (T1 and T2*‐weighted) MR images, (3) effective transverse relaxation rate (R2*), and (4) quantitative susceptibility measurements (QSM) of post‐mortem brain specimens.

Methods

Five formaldehyde‐fixed brain slices were scanned using 7.0T MRI in: (1) formaldehyde solution (formalin), (2) phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), (3) deuterium oxide (D2O), (4) perfluoropolyether (Galden), and (5) agarose gel. SNR and contrast‐to‐noise ratii (SNR/CNR) were calculated for cortex/white matter (WM) and basal ganglia/WM regions. In addition, median R2* and QSM values were extracted from caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, WM, and cortical regions.

Results

PBS, Galden, and agarose returned higher SNR/CNR compared to formalin and D2O. Formalin fixation, and its use as embedding medium for scanning, increased tissue R2*. Imaging with agarose, D2O, and Galden returned lower R2* values than PBS (and formalin). No major QSM offsets were observed, although spatial variance was increased (with respect to R2* behaviors) for formalin and agarose.

Conclusions

Embedding media affect gradient‐echo image quality, R2*, and QSM in differing ways. In this study, PBS embedding was identified as the most stable experimental setup, although by a small margin. Agarose and Galden were preferred to formalin or D2O embedding. Formalin significantly increased R2* causing noisier data and increased QSM variance.
Local and parallel finite element method for solving the biharmonic eigenvalue problem of plate vibration
Authors: Zhao Ruilin , Yang Yidu , Bi Hai
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we establish a new local and parallel finite element discrete scheme based on the shifted‐inverse power method for solving the biharmonic eigenvalue problem of plate vibration. We prove the local error estimation of finite element solution for the biharmonic equation/eigenvalue problem and prove the error estimation of approximate solution obtained by the local and parallel scheme. When the diameters of three grids satisfy H4 = ϑ(w2) = ϑ(h), the approximate solutions obtained by our schemes can achieve the asymptotically optimal accuracy. The numerical experiments show that the computational schemes proposed in this paper are effective to solve the biharmonic eigenvalue problem of plate vibration.
Reforming policy roles in the Jordanian policy‐making process
Authors: Tbaishat Rami , Rawabdeh Ali , Hailat Khaled Qassem , A Aladwan Shaker , Al Balas Samir , Al Ajlouny Mohammed Iqbal
Published: December 2018

The aim of this diagnostic analysis is to identify the weaknesses in the process of reforming policy in Jordan. This study will first present a diagnostic analysis of the characteristics of administrative reform in Jordan. Following this, weaknesses will be identified with a focus on policy roles in the policy‐making process. Administrative reform has long been an area of interest and development in Jordan since the early 1980s. Conferences were held, political and technical committees formed, and expertise and resources invested. The outcomes of these programs have been below expectations, with inadequate impact. This investigation paid attention on how Jordan can best invest its resources to maximize efficiency in the public sector, specifically the process of reforming policy. This study concludes that the primary factor impacting efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness is the degree of authority at both national and organizational level. Recent efforts in Jordan to tackle these issues could create more conflicts that threaten the Jordanian government's stability. Other resources have been dedicated to reviewing the rules and values that govern the relationship between state and society.