bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduced olfactory bulb volume in depression—A structural moderator analysis
Authors: Rottstädt Fabian , Han Pengfei , Weidner Kerstin , Schellong Julia , Wolff‐Stephan Sylvia , Strauß Timmy , Kitzler Hagen , Hummel Thomas , Croy Ilona
Published: March 2018

Background

Removal of the olfactory bulb (OB) leads to depression like behavior in rodents. A link between depression and olfactory function is also established in humans. We hypothesized that the human OB volume relates to depressive state and tested whether such a potential coherence is moderated by structural alterations in other brain regions.

Methods

Eighty‐three participants (32 patients with major depression and 51 matched healthy controls) underwent structural MR scanning. Individual OB volumes were compared between patients and controls and the impact of depression and comorbidity was analyzed with multiple regression analysis. Whole‐brain voxel‐based morphometry revealed structures co‐varying with both depressive state and OB volume.

Results

The OB volume of patients was significantly reduced and this reduction averaged out at 17% compared to the controls. The OB volume was correlated to the volume of the insula, superior temporal cortex, and amygdala. The independent variables of depression (β = −.37), age (β = −.25), and gender (β = −.40) explained the individual OB volume variation (R2 = .37). The correlation between OB volume and depression was moderated by volumetric reductions in a cluster including the insula and superior temporal gyrus (STG).

Conclusions

The OB volume relates to depression in humans and to the volume of structures which are critical for salience detection. We assume that a reduced OB volume causes diminished neural olfactory input which facilitates volume reduction in the insula and STG. The OB volume may hence constitute a factor of vulnerability to depression. Olfactory‐based deep brain stimulation is discussed as a future therapeutic approach.
Targeting liver sinusoidal endothelial cells with miR‐20a‐loaded nanoparticles reduces murine colon cancer metastasis to the liver
Authors: Marquez Joana , Fernandez‐Piñeiro Ines , Araúzo‐Bravo Marcos J. , Poschmann Gereon , Stühler Kai , Khatib Abdel‐Majid , Sanchez Alejandro , Unda Fernando , Ibarretxe Gaskon , Bernales Irantzu , Badiola Iker
Published: March 2018

Phenotypic transformation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells is one of the most important stages of liver metastasis progression. The miRNA effects on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells during liver metastasis have not yet been studied. Herein, whole genome analysis of miRNA expression in these cells during colorectal liver metastasis revealed repressed expression of microRNA‐20a. Importantly, downregulation of miR‐20a occurs in parallel with upregulation of its known protein targets. To restore normal miR‐20a levels in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, we developed chondroitin sulfate‐sorbitan ester nanoparticles conjugated with miR‐20a in a delivery system that specifically targets liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. The restoration of normal mir‐20a levels in these cells induced downregulation of the expression of its protein targets, and this also resulted in a reduction of in vitro LSEC migration and a reduction of in vivo activation and tumor‐infiltrating capacity and ability of the tumor decreased by ∼80% in a murine liver metastasis model.
Interaction analysis between germline susceptibility loci and somatic alterations in lung cancer
Authors: Wang Yuzhuo , Wang Cheng , Zhang Jiahui , Zhu Meng , Zhang Xu , Li Zhihua , Dai Juncheng , Ma Hongxia , Hu Zhibin , Jin Guangfu , Shen Hongbing
Published: March 2018

Emerging evidence indicates that germline variations may interact with somatic events in carcinogenesis. However, the germline–somatic interaction in lung cancer remains largely unknown. We investigated whether lung cancer driver genes (CDGs) were more likely to locate within cancer susceptibility regions. Pathway analysis was performed to identify common pathways underlying CDGs and cancer susceptibility genes (CSGs). Next, we analyzed the associations between lung cancer risk SNPs and somatic alterations, including mutations and copy number alterations, in the level of genes, pathways, and overall burden of alterations. Enrichment analysis showed that lung CDGs are more likely to locate within cancer susceptibility regions (p = 8.40 × 10−3). Both of lung CSGs and CDGs showed significant enrichment in pathways such as cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. Gene‐based analysis showed that rs36600 (22q12.2) was associated with somatic mutations within ARID1A (OR = 2.45, 95%CI: 1.47–4.08, p = 5.78 × 10−4). Pathway‐based analysis of somatic truncation mutations identified rs2395185 and rs3817963 at 6p22.1 was associated with cell cycle pathway (OR = 1.56, p = 3.61 × 10−4 for rs2395185; OR = 1.58, p = 4.15 × 10−4 for rs3817963), and rs3817963 was also associated with MAPK signaling pathway (OR = 1.54, p = 8.58 × 10−4). Further analysis associated rs2395185 at 6p22.1 (HLA class II genes) with increased APOBEC3A expression (p = 9.50 × 10−3) and elevated APOBEC mutagenesis (p = 3.58 × 10−3). These results indicate germline–somatic interactions in lung tumorigenesis, and help to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying lung cancer risk SNPs.
Impact of maternal HIV on umbilical cord lactate measurement at delivery in a South African labor ward
Authors: Allanson Emma R. , Pattinson Robert C. , Nathan Elizabeth A. , Dickinson Jan E.
Published: March 2018

Objective

To assess umbilical artery lactate levels and perinatal outcomes among women with and without HIV infection.

Methods

The present prospective cohort study recruited women planning to undergo vaginal delivery at Kalafong Hospital, South Africa, between March 3 and November 12, 2014. Umbilical artery lactate levels were measured and perinatal outcome data were recorded. Outcome analyses were stratified by maternal HIV status, and a subgroup analysis was performed where women with a CD4 count below 350 × 106 cells/L were compared with women without HIV.

Results

In total, 936 women with singleton fetuses were enrolled. Maternal HIV status was available for 897 (95.8%) participants, of whom 202 (21.6%) had HIV infections. Overall, 186 (92.1%) women with HIV infections received prophylaxis or treatment. There was no difference between participants with and without HIV infections in the preterm delivery rate (P=0.770), mode of delivery (P=0.354), neonatal resuscitation rate (P=0.717), 1‐ or 5‐minute Apgar scores below 7 (P=0.353), or the rate of having an umbilical artery lactate level above 5.45 mmol/L (P=0.301). Similarly, there were no differences in outcomes in the subgroup analysis of women with a CD4 count below 350 × 106 cells/L.

Conclusion

Umbilical artery lactate levels and perinatal outcomes were found to be comparable between patients with and without HIV infections in a South African setting.
Size‐dependent superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles dictate interleukin‐1β release from mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophages
Authors: Chen Shuzhen , Chen Suyun , Zeng Yun , Lin Lin , Wu Chuang , Ke Yanyan , Liu Gang
Published: March 2018

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely investigated for their biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging, targeting therapy, cell labeling, etc. It has been well documented that macrophages produce interleukin (IL)‐1β via several signaling pathways, such as inflammasome activation in response to particles including silica, asbestos and urea crystals with lipopolysaccharide priming. However, the size and dose effects of SPIONs on macrophages and the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we explored the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of the synthesized SPIONs with different size distributions of 30, 80 and 120 nm, and compared their potential capability in inducing IL‐1β release in mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMs). We found that SPIONs induced IL‐1β release in a size‐ and dose‐dependent manner, in which the smallest SPIONs triggered the highest IL‐1β in BMMs. When cellular uptake of SPIONs was inhibited by the actin polymerization inhibitor, cytochalasin D, SPION‐induced IL‐1β release was suppressed in BMMs. Preventing lysosome damage with bafilomycin A1 or CA‐074‐Me also counteracted SPION‐induced IL‐1β release. Moreover, SPION‐activated IL‐1β release was also attenuated by reactive oxygen species scavengers, diphenylene iodonium or N‐acetylcysteine. Our results elucidated the effects of size and dose on the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of IL‐1β release of SPIONs on macrophages, which facilitate the theoretical and experimental application of SPIONs in biotechnology and biomedicine in the future.
Morphology and ultrastructure of the esophagus during the ontogeny of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla (Decapoda, Brachyura, Majidae)
Authors: Castejón Diego , Rotllant Guiomar , Ribes Enric , Durfort Mercè , Guerao Guillermo
Published: March 2018

The esophagus of the eucrustaceans is known as a short tube that connects the mouth with the stomach but has generally received little attention by the carcinologists, especially during the larval stages. By this reason, the present study is focused on the morphology and ultrastructure of the esophagus in the brachyuran Maja brachydactyla during the larval development and adult stage. The esophagus shows internally four longitudinal folds. The simple columnar epithelium is covered by a thick cuticle. The epithelial cells of the adults are intensively interdigitated and show abundant apical mitochondria and bundles of filamentous structures. The cuticle surface has microspines and mutually exclusive pores. Three muscle layers surrounded by the connective tissue are reported: circular muscles forming a broad continuous band, longitudinal muscle bundles adjacent to the circular muscles, and dilator muscles crossing the connective tissue vertically toward the epithelium. The connective tissue has rosette glands. The esophagus of the larvae have epithelial cells with big vesicles but poorly developed interdigitations and filamentous structures, the cuticle is formed by a procuticle without differentiated exocuticle and endocuticle, the connective layer is thin and the rosette glands are absent. The observed features can be explained by his role in the swallowing of the food.
Quantification of hand synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis: Arterial mask subtraction reinforced with mutual information can improve accuracy of pixel‐by‐pixel time–intensity curve shape analysis in dynamic MRI
Authors: Kobayashi Yuto , Kamishima Tamotsu , Sugimori Hiroyuki , Ichikawa Shota , Noguchi Atsushi , Kono Michihito , Iiyama Toshitake , Sutherland Kenneth , Atsumi Tatsuya
Published: March 2018

Background

Synovitis, which is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), needs to be precisely quantified to determine the treatment plan. Time–intensity curve (TIC) shape analysis is an objective assessment method for characterizing the pixels as artery, inflamed synovium, or other tissues using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI).

Purpose/Hypothesis

To assess the feasibility of our original arterial mask subtraction method (AMSM) with mutual information (MI) for quantification of synovitis in RA.

Study Type

Prospective study.

Subjects

Ten RA patients (nine women and one man; mean age, 56.8 years; range, 38–67 years).

Field Strength/Sequence

3T/DCE‐MRI.

Assessment

After optimization of TIC shape analysis to the hand region, a combination of TIC shape analysis and AMSM was applied to synovial quantification. The MI between pre‐ and postcontrast images was utilized to determine the arterial mask phase objectively, which was compared with human subjective selection. The volume of objectively measured synovitis by software was compared with that of manual outlining by an experienced radiologist. Simple TIC shape analysis and TIC shape analysis combined with AMSM were compared in slices without synovitis according to subjective evaluation.

Statistical Tests

Pearson's correlation coefficient, paired t‐test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

TIC shape analysis was successfully optimized in the hand region with a correlation coefficient of 0.725 (P < 0.01) with the results of manual assessment regarded as ground truth. Objective selection utilizing MI had substantial agreement (ICC = 0.734) with subjective selection. Correlation of synovial volumetry in combination with TIC shape analysis and AMSM with manual assessment was excellent (r = 0.922, P < 0.01). In addition, negative predictive ability in slices without synovitis pixels was significantly increased (P < 0.01).

Data Conclusions

The combination of TIC shape analysis and image subtraction reinforced with MI can accurately quantify synovitis of RA in the hand by eliminating arterial pixels.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:687–694.
Trendbericht Physikalische Chemie 2017: Elektronenspektroskopie an Lithiumionenbatterien
Authors: Hausbrand René
Published: March 2018

Elektronenspektroskopische Analysen an Batteriegrenzflächen liefern Informationen über deren elektronische Struktur und chemische Reaktivität. Elektronisch höchst angeregte Moleküle lassen sich mit Photoassoziationsspektroskopie untersuchen. Fortschritte in Experiment und Theorie vertiefen das Verständnis für die hochdimensionale Dynamik atomarer und molekularer Tunnelprozesse.
Trendbericht Theoretische Chemie 2017: Quantenchemie für Funktionsmaterialien
Authors: Tonner Ralf
Published: March 2018

Quantenchemische Untersuchungen an Funktionsmaterialien leisten Beiträge zu deren konzeptionellem Verständnis und geben Impulse für neue Experimente. Multiskalensimulationen helfen dabei, organische Solarzellen zu optimieren. Bei Moleküldynamik‐Simulationen besteht heute die Herausforderung vor allem in der statistischen Analyse des resultierenden hochdimensionalen Datensatzes.
Optimal zeroing dynamics with applications to control of serial and parallel manipulators
Authors: Zhang Yunong , Li Jian , Li Shuai , Chen Dechao , He Liangyu
Published: March 2018

The appearance of robot manipulators has dramatically improved the productivity in manufacturing. Serial and parallel manipulators are 2 classes of most popularly investigated manipulators, which have been playing an important role in robotic domain for a long time. Optimal control theory is a widely employed method that can achieve the objective constrained by some equations as subtasks, whereas zeroing dynamics is another powerful method to solve time‐varying problems with an exponential rate of error convergence. Intuitively, the cross‐fertilization of optimal control theory and zeroing dynamics may reach the capability to deal with time‐varying problem in a cost‐optimal manner. In this paper, we make progress along this direction by combining the optimal control theory and zeroing dynamics to propose a novel method called optimal zeroing dynamics for motion control of manipulators. The proposed method is applied to the control of serial and parallel manipulators, and the corresponding results have illustrated high accuracy and low sensitivity of the proposed optimal zeroing dynamics to disturbances.
The challenge of the management of adolescents and young adults with soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Ferrari Andrea , Bleyer Archie , Patel Shreyaskumar , Chiaravalli Stefano , Gasparini Patrizia , Casanova Michela
Published: March 2018

Soft tissue sarcomas are relatively frequent in adolescents and young adults and their clinical management may be complex, partly due to tumor associated factors, but also because different approaches have been adopted by pediatric and adult medical oncologists dealing with the same disease. However, times are changing and in the last few years, management has tended to converge towards a common strategy. Continued and increased international collaboration between pediatric and adult sarcoma groups is of critical importance to improve the quality of treatment as well as research programs dedicated to young patients with soft tissue sarcomas.
Mechanical properties of compression‐molded electrospun silica fiber/nylon‐6 composites
Authors: Wangworn Piyada , Wanakamol Panitarn
Published: March 2018

In this study, we utilized electrospun silica fibers (ESFs) as reinforcement in sandwiched nylon‐6 composites. The silica fibers were fabricated via electrospinning of sol‐gel precursor, prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate. The process yielded non‐woven silica fiber mats with fiber diameter about 350 nm, which is much smaller than conventional glass fibers. Each ESF mat was sandwiched in between two nylon‐6 sheets and the layers were compression‐molded to produce a composite sample. These composites were prepared with varying silica fiber content, approximately at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.9 wt%. The ESF blended well and chemically bonded with the nylon matrix, as observed through scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Tensile tests revealed that tensile modulus and tensile strength increased with ESF content. Notch Izod impact test showed that impact strength also increased with ESF content. The tensile and impact properties were significantly improved, considering the use of such low silica fiber percentages, which could be due to ultra‐fine fiber diameter and fiber continuity. From flexural test, however, flexural modulus and flexural strength decreased slightly by the addition of ESF. Specimen geometry and fabrication process play important roles in governing the composites mechanical behavior. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1123–1131, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
The impact of permissive and restrictive pharmaceutical policies on quetiapine dispensing: Evaluating a policy pendulum using interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Brett Jonathan , Schaffer Andrea , Dobbins Timothy , Buckley Nicholas A. , Pearson Sallie‐Anne
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of 2 policy changes on quetiapine dispensing in Australia: removal of prior authorisation for prescribing (policy 1: July 2007) and removal of repeat prescriptions for 25‐mg quetiapine (policy 2: January 2014).

Methods

We performed an interrupted time series analysis using Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims data (July 2005 to December 2015). We assessed the impact of both policies on monthly quetiapine dispensing (25 mg and >25 mg) and the impact of policy change 2 on monthly rates of 25‐mg discontinuation and switching from 25 mg to other quetiapine strengths. We also estimated the impact of both policies on the proportion of people with potentially inappropriate therapy (no evidence of dose escalation) following 25‐mg initiation.

Results

Following removal of prior authorisation, 25‐mg and >25‐mg quetiapine dispensing in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 10% sample increased by 11/month (95% CI: 2–21) and 14/month (95% CI: 8–20), respectively. After removing 25‐mg repeats, there was a permanent decrease of 1072 (95% CI 773–1371) dispensings and an increase in discontinuation of this strength; 48% of people dispensed the 25‐mg strength that discontinued, discontinued quetiapine completely; the remainder continued to use higher quetiapine strengths. We observed minimal switching to other quetiapine strengths. There was no change in inappropriate 25‐mg therapy following policy change 1 and a small decrease (79% to 76%, P = 0.05) following policy change 2.

Conclusion

More nuanced policies are needed to ensure the appropriate access to 25‐mg quetiapine for dose escalation while discouraging use for indications where the evidence of risk and benefit is unclear.
Lipid membrane interactions of a fluorinated peptide with potential ion channel‐forming ability
Authors: Auger Maud , Lefèvre Thierry , Otis François , Voyer Normand , Auger Michèle
Published: March 2018

Fluorinated peptides attract much interest in the biomedical area because they generally exhibit an enhanced stability compared to their hydrogenated counterparts and because fluorine atoms represent efficient probes to investigate peptide assemblies, especially in membranes. We previously designed and characterized a fluorinated peptide intended to form ion channels in membranes. This peptide, designated as LX2, adopts a predominantly α‐helical structure and acts as a selective ion channel for various cations. Molecular dynamics indicated that the peptide tetrameric form would be favored. However, the interactions of LX2 with model membranes have not been studied experimentally. Here we investigated the interactions of LX2 and its acetylated form, Ac‐LX2, with eukaryotic model membranes using CD and infrared spectroscopy, as well as 19F, 2H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. 19F NMR results indicate that the peptides undergo restrained motions in the presence of membranes, which strongly suggests their insertion in membranes. Both LX2 and Ac‐LX2 adopt a well‐defined α‐helical structure, in contrast with the secondary structure observed in hexafluoroisopropanol. The alterations of lipid organization due to LX2 peptides appear overall relatively small but the results suggest that the two peptides are located in the membrane hydrophobic core, LX2 being closer to the interfacial region than Ac‐LX2.
Neuartiger Röntgenblick auf Kristallversetzungen
Authors: Hänschke Daniel , Hamann Elias , Baumbach Tilo
Published: March 2018

Versetzungen spielen eine zentrale Rolle für die Materialeigenschaften von Kristallen. Durch die Kombination zweier Röntgenmethoden mit einer Form der Lichtmikroskopie ist es gelungen, neuartige dreidimensionale Bilder von Netzwerken dieser linienförmigen Gitterdefekte zu erstellen und deren Auswirkung auf die Kristalloberfläche abzubilden.
Sonne und Mond digital auf der Spur
Authors: Burde Jan‐Philipp , Wilhelm Thomas , Kuhn Jochen
Published: March 2018

Die Android‐App Sun Locator (Lite) zeigt nicht nur per Kameraeinblendung den aktuellen Sonnen‐ und Mondstand an, sondern ermöglicht in der kostenpflichtigen Pro‐Version auch die Simulation ihres Verlaufs innerhalb eines Jahres. Zusätzlich stehen Informationen wie die aktuelle Tageslänge oder die Uhrzeit des Sonnenauf‐ und ‐untergangs zur Verfügung. Sun Locator eignet sich deshalb sowohl für praktische Anwendung wie Fotografie als auch für didaktische Zwecke.
Das Muster der Rose
Authors: Vilgis Thomas
Published: March 2018

Eine Englische Creme, küchensprachlich Crème Anglais, ist eine Universalcreme aus Zucker, Eigelb, Milch und Sahne, die für sich bereits als ausgezeichnetes Dessert schmeckt, aber auch als Basis für Eis, Puddings oder Füllungen für Gebäck dient. Damit die komplexe Flüssigkeit ihre cremige Konsistenz erhält, wird sie „zur Rose abgezogen“. Hinter diesem Begriff verbirgt sich komplizierte Physik.
Siegfried Lenz – Einstein überquert die Elbe bei Hamburg
Authors: Heydenreich Aura
Published: March 2018

Siegfried Lenz inszeniert die Relativität der Gleichzeitigkeit und führt Zeitdilatation und Längenkontraktion erzählerisch vor.
The use of pharmacogenomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics to improve childhood asthma management: Where do we stand?
Authors: Farzan Niloufar , Vijverberg Susanne J. , Kabesch Michael , Sterk Peter J. , Maitland‐van der Zee Anke H.
Published: March 2018

Asthma is a complex multifactorial disease and it is the most common chronic disease in children. There is a high variability in response to asthma treatment, even in patients with good adherence to maintenance treatment, and a correct inhalation technique. Distinct underlying disease mechanisms in childhood asthma might be the reason of this heterogeneity. A deeper knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms of asthma has led to the recent development of advanced and mechanism‐based treatments such as biologicals. However, biologicals are recommended only for patients with specific asthma phenotypes who remain uncontrolled despite high dosages of conventional asthma treatment. One of the main unmet needs in their application is lack of clinically available biomarkers to individualize pediatric asthma management and guide treatment. Pharmacogenomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics are three omics fields that are rapidly advancing and can provide tools to identify novel asthma mechanisms and biomarkers to guide treatment. Pharmacogenomics focuses on variants in the DNA, epigenomics studies heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence but lead to alteration of gene expression, and transcriptomics investigates gene expression by studying the complete set of mRNA transcripts in a cell or a population of cells. Advances in high‐throughput technologies and statistical tools together with well‐phenotyped patient inclusion and collaborations between different centers will expand our knowledge of underlying molecular mechanisms involved in disease onset and progress. Furthermore, it could help to select and stratify appropriate therapeutic strategies for subgroups of patients and hopefully bring precision medicine to daily practice.
Montelukast reverses airway remodeling in actively sensitized young mice
Authors: Debelleix Stephane , Siao‐Him Fa Valérie , Begueret Hugues , Berger Patrick , Kamaev Andy , Ousova Olga , Marthan Roger , Fayon Michael
Published: March 2018

Asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation leading to airway remodeling (AR). In children, AR may occur very early prior to the age of 6 years. Treatments to prevent or reverse AR are unknown.

Aim

We sought to determine (i) whether short allergenic sensitization at a young age in a mouse model may induce enhanced AR and inflammation compared to adults; (ii) the effect of Montelukast on such AR.

Methods

Immature and adult Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. AHR and AR were measured using cultured precision‐cut lung slices and inflammation by bronchoalveolar lavage. Experiments were repeated after administration of Montelukast.

Results

OVA‐challenged mice developed AHR to methacholine regardless of age of first exposure to OVA. Young mice developed greater thickened basement membrane, increased smooth muscle mass, and increased area of bronchovascular fibrosis compared with adult mice. Cellular infiltrates in BAL differed depending upon animal age at first exposure with higher eosinophilia measured in younger animals. Montelukast decreased ASM mass, BAL cellularity.

Conclusion

We provide thus evidence for a greater degree of AR after allergenic sensitization and challenge in younger mice versus adults. This study provides proof of concept that airway remodeling can be prevented and reversed in this case by anti‐asthmatic drug Montelukast in this model.
Efficiency of physiotherapy with Caycedian Sophrology on children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Romieu Huguette , Charbonnier Françoise , Janka Dora , Douillard Aymeric , Macioce Valérie , Lavastre Kathleen , Abassi Hamouda , Renoux Marie‐Catherine , Mura Thibault , Amedro Pascal
Published: March 2018

Background

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in pediatrics. Along with the usual drug therapy using corticosteroids and bronchodilators, some interest has been shown for adjuvant therapies, such as sophrology. However, the level of evidence for non‐pharmaceutical therapies in asthma remains low, especially in children. This study aimed to assess whether in children with asthma, peak expiratory flow (PEF) improved more after a sophrology session alongside standard treatment than after standard treatment alone.

Methods

We carried out a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial among 74 children aged 6‐17 years old, hospitalized for an asthma attack. Group 1: conventional treatment (oxygen, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, physiotherapy) added to one session of sophrology. Group 2: conventional treatment alone. The primary outcome was the PEF variation between the initial and final evaluations (PEF2‐PEF1).

Results

Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups at baseline. Measures before and after the sophrology session showed that the PEF increased by mean 30 L/min in the sophrology group versus 20 L/min in the control group (P = 0.02). Oxygen saturation increased by 1% versus 0% (P = 0.02) and the dyspnea score with visual analogue scale improved by two points point (P = 0.01). No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of duration of hospitalization, use and doses of conventional medical treatment (oxygen, corticosteroids, and bronchodilators), and quality of life scores.

Conclusions

Sophrology appears as a promising adjuvant therapy to current guideline‐based treatment for asthma in children.
Turbulence kinetic energy budget in the stable boundary layer over a heterogeneous surface
Authors: Babić Karmen , Rotach Mathias W.
Published: March 2018

This study presents turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) budget terms above tall, deciduous walnut canopy in the wintertime stable boundary layer (SBL) and makes a comparison to well‐known results of horizontally homogeneous and flat (HHF) terrain. Turbulence measurements performed at five levels above the canopy height (approximately h=18 m) enable the investigation of joint effect of the roughness sublayer (RSL) and the transition layer on the TKE budget terms. Each term of the TKE budget is investigated within the framework of local similarity theory. Kolomogorov's similarity hypothesis assumes local isotropy within the inertial subrange. Thoroughly testing the local isotropy hypothesis for the present dataset results in a ratio of the horizontal spectral densities (Sv/Su) approaching 4/3, while the ratio of the vertical to the longitudinal spectral density (Sw/Su) is less than the canonical value of 4/3 (even less than 1) for all levels indicating anisotropic turbulence even at very small scales above the canopy. As a consequence, estimated values of TKE dissipation rate (ε) from the vertical component are smaller than those obtained from the horizontal velocity components. This finding has a direct influence on the applicability of classical Kansas spectral models valid for HHF terrain as well as on the budget of wind variances. Additionally, the behavior of the non‐dimensional gradient of mean wind speed is tested with regard to conformity to z‐less scaling requirements (i.e. linear dependence on stability). It is confirmed that a stability threshold (such as Rf > 0.25, where Rf is the flux Richardson number) is a stronger determinant of z‐less behavior than the existence of a well‐defined inertial subrange ‐ opposite to observations in the SBL over ideal flat surfaces. Finally, the local equilibrium between the production and destruction of TKE within the RSL and transition layer is analyzed.
Endolysosomal‐Escape Nanovaccines through Adjuvant‐Induced Tumor Antigen Assembly for Enhanced Effector CD8+ T Cell Activation
Authors: Qiu Liping , Valente Michael , Dolen Yusuf , Jäger Eliezer , Beest Martin ter , Zheng Liyan , Figdor Carl G. , Verdoes Martijn
Published: March 2018

The activation of tumor‐specific effector immune cells is key for successful immunotherapy and vaccination is a powerful strategy to induce such adaptive immune responses. However, the generation of effective anticancer vaccines is challenging. To overcome these challenges, a novel straight‐forward strategy of adjuvant‐induced tumor antigen assembly to generate nanovaccines with superior antigen/adjuvant loading efficiency is developed. To protect nanovaccines in circulation and to introduce additional functionalities, a biocompatible polyphenol coating is installed. The resulting functionalizable nanovaccines are equipped with a pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) to facilitate endolysosomal escape and to promote cytoplasmic localization, with the aim to enhance cross‐presentation of the antigen by dendritic cells to effectively activate CD8+ T cell. The results demonstrate that pHLIP‐functionalized model nanovaccine can induce endolysosomal escape and enhance CD8+ T cell activation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, based on the adjuvant‐induced antigen assembly, nanovaccines of the clinically relevant tumor‐associated antigen NY‐ESO‐1 are generated and show excellent capacity to elicit NY‐ESO‐1‐specific CD8+ T cell activation, demonstrating a high potential of this functionalizable nanovaccine formulation strategy for clinical applications.
A negotiation‐based service selection approach using swarm intelligence and kernel density estimation
Authors: Mezni Haithem , Sellami Mokhtar
Published: March 2018

Nowadays, the cloud computing environment is becoming a natural choice to deploy and provide Web services that meet user needs. However, many services provide the same functionality and high quality of service (QoS) but different self‐adaptive behaviors. In this case, providers' adaptation policies are useful to select services with high QoS and high quality of adaptation (QoA). Existing approaches do not take into account providers' adaptation policies in order to select services with high reputation and high reaction to changes, which is important for the composition of self‐adaptive Web services. In order to actively participate to compositions, candidate services must negotiate their self‐* capabilities. Moreover, they must evaluate the participation constraints against their capabilities specified in terms of QoS and adaptation policies. This paper exploits a variant of particle swarm optimization and kernel density estimation in the selection of service compositions and the concurrent negotiations of their QoS and QoA capabilities. Selection and negotiation processes are held between intelligent agents, which adopt swarm intelligence techniques for achieving optimal selection and optimal agreement on providers' offers. To resolve unknown autonomic behavior of candidate services, we deal with the lack of such information by predicting the real QoA capabilities of a service through the kernel density estimation technique. Experiments show that our solution is efficient in comparison with several state‐of‐the‐art selection approaches.
What's Going On in a Graphic Novel?
Authors: Smith Jennifer M. , Pole Kathryn
Published: March 2018

The increase of graphic novels in libraries and schools and on award lists illustrates one way that children's literature is changing. This article explores the relation between words and illustrations in a popular graphic novel. The multimodal format of graphic novels requires readers to consider the words, graphics, panel sizes, and uses of color and line. Thus, the authors propose that (a) students need explicit instruction on how to read graphic novels, (b) graphic novel reading requires slow reading to attend to the details, and (c) opportunities to talk about text are necessary to explore the complexities of graphic novels.
The politics of adaptive climate management: Scientific recipes and lived reality
Authors: Warner Jeroen F. , Wesselink Anna J. , Geldof Govert D.
Published: March 2018

While excited about the ground‐breaking work coming out of the epistemic community promoting adaptive (climate) management (AM), we worry about its tendency to ignore normative implications originating in the implicit worldviews underlying AM literature. Generally, AM has a “green” ideology and focuses on the bioregion as the only sensible level for analysis and action. This tendency for systemic functionalism of AM‐as‐(green)‐policy‐prescription depoliticizes an issue (“what to do about climate change”) that is political through and through. For example, those who stand to lose their livelihood as a result of AM plans or simply cannot adapt so fast may resist AM propositions. Implementing AM in practice thereby often leads to social and institutional engineering to overcome resistance. AM in academia seems quite far removed from the “real worlds” of social deliberation and praxis where policy is made and implemented, and where other values and interests than those implicit in AM prevail. We therefore highlight the importance of practices on the ground, claiming AM is not achieved by bioregional policies, but developed “on the hoof” at locally appropriate scales. Everyday professional work is characterized by “organized improvisation” where tacit professional and experiential knowledge are of prime importance.

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation
Correction to: Interior Immigration Enforcement and Political Participation of U.S. Citizens in Mixed-Status Households
Authors: Amuedo-Dorantes Catalina , Lopez Mary J.
Published: March 2018

Ruggles, S., Genadek, K., Goeken, R., Grover, J., & and Sobek, M. (2017). Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 7.0 [Data set]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V7.0.
Similar pattern of atrophy in early‐ and late‐onset Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Eckerström Carl , Klasson Niklas , Olsson Erik , Selnes Per , Rolstad Sindre , Wallin Anders
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Previous research on structural changes in early‐onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) have reported inconsistent findings.

Methods

In the present substudy of the Gothenburg MCI study, 1.5 T scans were used to estimate lobar and hippocampal volumes using FreeSurfer. Study participants (N = 145) included 63 patients with AD, (24 patients with EOAD [aged ≤65 years], 39 patients with LOAD [aged >65 years]), 25 healthy controls aged ≤65 years, and 57 healthy controls aged >65 years.

Results

Hippocampal atrophy is the most prominent feature of both EOAD and LOAD compared with controls. Direct comparison between EOAD and LOAD showed that the differences between the groups did not remain after correcting for age.

Discussion

Structurally, EOAD and LOAD does not seem to be different nosological entities. The difference in brain volumes between the groups compared with controls is likely due to age‐related atrophy.
Early striatal amyloid deposition distinguishes Down syndrome and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease from late‐onset amyloid deposition
Authors: Cohen Ann D. , McDade Eric , Christian Brad , Price Julie , Mathis Chester , Klunk William , Handen Benjamin L.
Published: March 2018

Introduction

The objective of this study was to evaluate amyloid β (Aβ) deposition patterns in different groups of cerebral β amyloidosis: (1) nondemented with amyloid precursor protein overproduction (Down syndrome); (2) nondemented with abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein (preclinical autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease); (3) presumed alteration in Aβ clearance with clinical symptoms (late‐onset AD); and (4) presumed alterations in Aβ clearance (preclinical AD).

Methods

We performed whole‐brain voxelwise comparison of cerebral Aβ between 23 Down syndrome, 10 preclinical autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease, 17 late‐onset AD, and 16 preclinical AD subjects, using Pittsburgh Compound B–positron emission tomography.

Results

We found both Down syndrome and preclinical autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease shared a distinct pattern of increased bilateral striatal and thalamic Aβ deposition compared to late‐onset AD and preclinical AD.

Conclusion

Disorders associated with early‐life alterations in amyloid precursor protein production or processing are associated with a distinct pattern of early striatal fibrillary Aβ deposition before significant cognitive impairment. A better understanding of this unique pattern could identify important mechanisms of Aβ deposition and possibly important targets for early intervention.
Dog bites in the emergency department: a descriptive analysis
Authors: Morzycki Alexander , Simpson Andrew , Williams Jason
Published: March 2018

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of adult dog bites presenting to a medium size Canadian city’s Emergency Departments.

Methods

All adult (≥16 years) patients presenting to Emergency Departments in our region during a 30-month period (January 2013 to June 2015) were identified. Demographics, injury patterns, and dog-specific characteristics were studied.

Results

A total of 475 dog bites were identified. The greatest proportion of dog bites occurred in the summer months (140, 30%). Pit-bull type was the most frequently implicated breed (27%). The majority of patients identified were female (295, 62%). The majority of bites occurred in the hands (264 cases, 56%). Bites occurring in the head and neck accounted for 11% of all injuries. Although 50% of injuries required only washout and dressing, 15 cases (3%) required a complex primary closure. The operating room was utilized in the reconstruction of eight defects (2%). There were four (1%) tendon repairs, one (0.2%) nerve repair, and one injury requiring a skin graft (0.2%). Three patients were admitted to hospital. We identified an overall infection rate of 10%.

Conclusions

Dog bites most commonly occurred in the hands and upper extremities, and carried an infection risk of approximately 10%. Large, muscular breeds were the most frequently implicated. The effectiveness of breed-specific legislation remains unclear, but educational programs for dog owners, children, and health care workers may help decrease the number and severity of attacks.
Stability of thin fluid films characterised by a complex form of effective disjoining pressure
Authors: Lam Michael-Angelo Y.-H. , Cummings Linda J. , Kondic Lou
Published: March 2018

We discuss instabilities of fluid films of nanoscale thickness, with a particular focus on films where the destabilising mechanism allows for linear instability, metastability, and absolute stability, depending on the mean film thickness. Our study is motivated by nematic liquid crystal films; however, we note that similar instability mechanisms, and forms of the effective disjoining pressure, appear in other contexts, such as the well-studied problem of polymeric films on two-layered substrates. The analysis is carried out within the framework of the long-wave approximation, which leads to a fourth-order nonlinear partial differential equation for the film thickness. Within the considered formulation, the nematic character of the film leads to an additional contribution to the disjoining pressure, changing its functional form. This effective disjoining pressure is characterised by the presence of a local maximum for non-vanishing film thickness. Such a form leads to complicated instability evolution that we study by analytical means, including the application of marginal stability criteria, and by extensive numerical simulations that help us develop a better understanding of instability evolution in the nonlinear regime. This combination of analytical and computational techniques allows us to reach novel understanding of relevant instability mechanisms, and of their influence on transient and fully developed fluid film morphologies. In particular, we discuss in detail the patterns of drops that form as a result of instability, and how the properties of these patterns are related to the instability mechanisms.
Evaporation-driven vapour microflows: analytical solutions from moment methods
Authors: Rana Anirudh S. , Lockerby Duncan A. , Sprittles James E.
Published: March 2018

Macroscopic models based on moment equations are developed to describe the transport of mass and energy near the phase boundary between a liquid and its rarefied vapour due to evaporation and hence, in this study, condensation. For evaporation from a spherical droplet, analytic solutions are obtained to the linearised equations from the Navier–Stokes–Fourier, regularised 13-moment and regularised 26-moment frameworks. Results are shown to approach computational solutions to the Boltzmann equation as the number of moments are increased, with good agreement for Knudsen number${\lesssim}1$, whilst providing clear insight into non-equilibrium phenomena occurring adjacent to the interface.
ENRIQUES’ CLASSIFICATION IN CHARACTERISTIC 0$" height="12pt">: THE -THEOREM
Authors: CATANESE FABRIZIO , LI BINRU
Published: March 2018

The main goal of this paper is to show that Castelnuovo–Enriques’
$P_{12}$
- theorem (a precise version of the rough classification of algebraic surfaces) also holds for algebraic surfaces
$S$
defined over an algebraically closed field
$k$
of positive characteristic (
$\text{char}(k)=p>0$
). The result relies on a main theorem describing the growth of the plurigenera for properly elliptic or properly quasielliptic surfaces (surfaces with Kodaira dimension equal to 1). We also discuss the limit cases, i.e., the families of surfaces which show that the result of the main theorem is sharp.
Overnight Returns and Firm-Specific Investor Sentiment
Authors: Aboody David , Even-Tov Omri , Lehavy Reuven , Trueman Brett
Published: March 2018

We examine the suitability of using overnight returns to measure firm-specific investor sentiment by analyzing whether they possess characteristics expected of a sentiment measure. We document short-term overnight-return persistence, consistent with existing evidence of short-term persistence in the share demand of sentiment-influenced investors. We find that short-term persistence is stronger for harder-to-value firms, consistent with existing evidence that sentiment plays a larger role for such firms. We show that stocks with high (low) overnight returns underperform (outperform) over the longer term, consistent with prior evidence of temporary sentiment-driven mispricing. Overall, our evidence supports using overnight returns to measure firm-specific sentiment.
Precolonial Legacies and Institutional Congruence in Public Goods Delivery
Authors: Wilfahrt Martha
Published: March 2018

Scholars have long identified political bias in the way African politicians distribute state resources. Much of this literature focuses on the role of group identities, mainly ethnicity, and partisanship. This article shifts the focus to local governments, which have become increasingly important players in basic social service provision, and argues that public goods allocation under democratic decentralization is intimately shaped by historical identities. Specifically, the author highlights the role of identities rooted in the precolonial past. To explain this, she articulates a theory of institutional congruence, arguing that greater spatial overlap between formal institutional space and informal social identities improves the ability of elites to overcome local coordination problems. Looking to the West African state of Senegal, the author deploys a nested analysis, drawing on interviews with rural Senegalese elites to understand how the precolonial past shapes local politics today via the social identities it left behind. She also tests the argument with a unique, geocoded data set of village-level public goods investments in the 2000s, finding that areas that were once home to precolonial states distribute goods more broadly across space. These patterns cannot be explained by ethnic or electoral dynamics. Two brief examples from on-the-line cases illuminate how the presence of precolonial identities facilitates local cooperation. The article thus calls into question the tendency to treat identities as static over time, highlighting the interactive relationship between institutions and identities while drawing attention to emerging subnational variation in local government performance following decentralization reforms across the developing world.