bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Edaravone and cyclosporine A as neuroprotective agents for acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Matsumoto Shohei , Murozono Michihiro , Kanazawa Masahiro , Nara Takeshi , Ozawa Takuro , Watanabe Yasuo
Published: May 2018

It is well known that acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and subsequent reperfusion produce lethal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neuronal cells, which are generated in mitochondria. Mitochondrial ROS production is a self‐amplifying process, termed “ROS‐induced ROS release”. Furthermore, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is deeply involved in this process, and its opening could cause cell death. Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, is the only neuroprotective agent for AIS used in Japan. It captures and reduces excessive ROS, preventing brain damage. Cyclosporine A (CsA), an immunosuppressive agent, is a potential neuroprotective agent for AIS. It has been investigated that CsA prevents cellular death by suppressing MPTP opening. In this report, we will outline the actions of edaravone and CsA as neuroprotective agents in AIS, focusing on their relationship with ROS and MPTP.
Toward an environmentally sustainable natural gas‐based ethylene production process through exergy‐aided pinch analysis
Authors: Ghannadzadeh Ali , Sadeqzadeh Majid
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a case study on improving the energy integration of a gas‐based ethylene process by focusing on major sources of thermal exergy losses. Exergy analysis is used to find the main sources of thermal exergetic inefficiency. Thermal solutions are then developed, leading to a comprehensive list of cold and hot process streams that could potentially reduce exergy losses from these sources. Pinch analysis is then carried out to screen these streams so only those, which can minimize the energy requirement, are maintained. Besides this, pinch analysis is used to select utilities and to explore cogeneration potential. Thus, the methodology used in this paper takes advantage of both exergy and pinch analyses, in a way that all the possible thermal solutions supported by exergy analysis are considered, preventing exclusion of any hot or cold process stream with high potential for heat integration during pinch analysis.
Guaranteed‐Performance Consensualization for High‐Order Lipschitz Nonlinear Multi‐Agent Systems with Balanced Directed Switching Topologies
Authors: Zheng Tang , Xi Jianxiang , Fan Zhiliang , Liu Guangbin
Published: May 2018

Guaranteed‐performance consensus design problems for both the leaderless and leader‐following high‐order multi‐agent systems with balanced directed switching topologies and Lipschitz nonlinear dynamics are investigated. Consensus protocols and quadratic performance functions based on state errors are proposed to obtain the guaranteed‐performance consensus. By a state decomposition method, the consensualization problems for leaderless cases are transformed into asymptotic stability ones of a reduced‐order subsystem and the guaranteed‐performance cost is determined by the Lyapunov stability analysis of the reduced‐order subsystem, and the state error method is utilized to deal with the guaranteed‐performance consensualization problems for leader‐following cases. Then, by using the structure property of the transformation matrix and the Lipschitz condition, the impacts of Lipschitz nonlinear terms can be determined. Moreover, guaranteed‐performance consensualization criteria are presented based on linear matrix inequalities for both leaderless and leader‐following cases with directed switching topologies. Furthermore, the guaranteed‐performance costs are determined, which can respectively reflect the structures of the interaction topologies of leaderless and leader‐following cases. Finally, two numerical simulations are presented to verify the validity of theoretical results.
Using Existing Cascade Tray Aeration Infrastructure to Strip Total Trihalomethanes
Authors: Yoakum Benjamin A. , Duranceau Steven J.
Published: May 2018

To assess the efficacy of using falling‐cascade tray aeration to reduce total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) from potable water, a pilot aerator was constructed and operated in a recirculated mode. In addition, a full‐scale water treatment plant and distribution system serving less than 10,000 people were monitored for eight months while operating a falling‐cascade tray aerator with and without recirculation. Pilot results showed that 56.5 μg/L of TTHMs could be reduced to below the detection limit after five passes through the tray aerator. Full‐scale results showed an approximate 40 μg/L TTHM reduction at several monitoring locations. Although pilot and full‐scale results confirmed that recirculation will not significantly impact THM re‐formation postaeration, both pilot and full‐scale monitoring results indicated that recirculated cascade tray aerators could reduce TTHM content to concentrations below regulated levels. The average increase in operating cost, resulting from an increase in electrical power when recirculating water on site, approximated $850/month.
Everolimus drug‐eluting stent performance in patients with long coronary lesions: The multicenter Longprime registry
Authors: Díaz Fernández José Francisco , Camacho Freire Santiago Jesús , Fernández Guerrero Juan Carlos , Delarche Nicolas , Bretelle Christophe , Zueco Gil Javier , Palop Ramón López , García del Blanco Bruno , Mainar Tello Vicente , Albert Franck
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of the Xience Prime everolimus‐eluting stent (EES) in long coronary lesions in a real‐world population.

Background

Long lesions are considered difficult technically and in terms of achieving successful clinical outcomes. With first generation DES, MACE can be as high as 10% at a short‐medium term follow‐up. There are a few data available in this subset regarding the use of second generation DES

Methods

A prospective, multicenter registry of consecutive patients (aged 64.8 ± 11.2 years, 77% men and 33% diabetics) in 29 tertiary hospitals with de novo > 24 mm lesions in vessels of 2.25–4 mm was performed. The primary and secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization) and stent thrombosis (ST) at 1, 12, and 24 months. Patients were on dual antiplatelet therapy during 12 months.

Results

A total of 610 patients with 705 long lesions were included (1.2 per patient). Lesion length was 34.59 ± 11.17 mm and vessel size 2.93 ± 0.41 mm. Stented length was 39.83 ± 14.08 mm (1.4 stents per lesion). Predilatation/postdiltatation was performed in 75 and 33% of the cases, intravascular ultrasound in 15%.

The device success rate was 99.1%. MACE and ST rates at 1, 12, and 24‐months follow‐up were 0.3, 2.1, and 5.4% and 0.2, 0.7, and 1.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

In this real‐world population, the Xience Prime EES performs extremely well in long lesions, with a very low rate of both MACE and ST.
Stimuli‐Responsive Organic Dyes with Tropylium Chromophore
Authors: Lyons Demelza Josephine Marion , Crocker Reece Douglas , Nguyen Thanh Vinh
Published: May 2018

Tropylium ions possess an interesting combination of structural stability and chemical reactivity due to its Hückel aromaticity and its positively charged polyene nature, respectively. Herein we exploit the chemical versatility and unique structural properties of the tropylium ion to derive a family of novel push–pull organic dyes with strong absorption in the visible range via simple and practical synthetic protocols. These stable organic dyes are highly stimuli‐responsive, as demonstrated by their sensitivity towards solvent, pH change, redox reaction, Lewis base and counterion, which marks them as potentially useful compounds for opto‐electronic applications.
Tramadol Hydrochloride at Steady State Lacks Clinically Relevant QTc Interval Increases in Healthy Adults
Authors: Massarella Joseph , Ariyawansa Jay , Natarajan Jaya , Francke Stephan , Murtaugh Thomas , DeLemos Byron , Vaughan Subusola , Fonseca Sergio
Published: May 2018

We evaluated the effects of therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of tramadol hydrochloride on the corrected QT (QTc) interval in healthy adults (aged 18‐55 years) in a randomized, phase I, double‐blind, placebo‐ and positive‐controlled, multiple‐dose, 4‐way crossover study. Participants were randomized to receive 1 of 4 treatments (A‐D), 1 each in 4 treatment periods (1‐4), separated by a washout period (7‐15 days). Treatment A comprised tramadol 400 mg (therapeutic dose) on days 1 through 3, tramadol 100 mg and moxifloxacin‐matched placebo on day 4, and placebo on all 4 days. Treatment B comprised tramadol 600 mg (supratherapeutic dose) on days 1 through 3, and tramadol 150 mg and moxifloxacin‐matched placebo on day 4. Treatment C comprised placebo on days 1 through 4 and moxifloxacin‐matched placebo on day 4. Treatment D comprised placebo on days 1 through 4 and moxifloxacin 400 mg on day 4. Of 68 participants enrolled, 57 (83.8%) completed the study. Both therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of tramadol were shown to be noninferior to placebo regarding their effect on QTc prolongation. Sixty‐one of 68 (89.7%) participants reported at least 1 treatment‐emergent adverse event (mild); nausea was the most frequently reported treatment‐emergent adverse event. Summarizing, tramadol at doses up to 600 mg/day did not cause clinically relevant QTc interval prolongation in healthy adults.
A multisensor data fusion strategy for path selection in Internet‐of‐Things oriented wireless sensor network (WSN)
Authors: Kumar Shishupal , Chaurasiya Vijay Kumar
Published: May 2018

To give the complete description of an environment or to take a robust decision, a number of observations are collected and combined from multiple sensor nodes. The process of combining and analyzing the observations is called multisensor data fusion. The fusion is used to produce more consistent, accurate, and useful information rather than provided by any individual sensor node. Data fusion finds wide application in many areas of such as object recognition, wireless sensor network, image processing, environment mapping, and localization. Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) utilizes wireless sensor network (WSN) as a necessary platform for data sensing and communication. For efficiency, data fusion is performed on the sensed sample collected by the sensor nodes. However, fusion of the network parameters is also essential to select an appropriate sensor node for the forwarding of data. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a multisensor data fusion (MDF) strategy that performs fusion of the collected network parameters like bandwidth and centrality for the selection of an appropriate path. Extensive simulations were made, and related results showed that our proposed scheme has a better performance compared with other schemes in our simulated scenarios.
Increasing the peaks of non‐linear electron density near critical density in terahertz–plasma interaction
Authors: Hashemzadeh M.
Published: May 2018

Increasing the peaks of non‐linear electron density in the interaction between high‐power terahertz beams and plasmas with electron density and electron temperature ramps is investigated. Considering the linear inhomogeneities and using the non‐linear electron density, a non‐linear differential equation governing the wave propagation is derived. Results show that the slope of the temperature and density ramps and their signs affect the amplitude and wavelength of oscillations of electric and magnetic fields. These effects are a result of the ponderomotive non‐linearity that changes the distribution of plasma density and leads to the modification of electric and magnetic fields. Furthermore, increase or decrease in the electric field amplitude is because of the energy exchange between electrons and electric field. Profiles of the non‐linear electron density indicate that, for positive values of temperature ramp, the amplitude of non‐linear electron density decreases, and the wavelength of oscillations increases. However, for negative values of temperature ramp, this behaviour is vice versa. It is also illustrated that, close to critical density, electrons become more steepened. Finally, it is concluded that both positive values of density ramp and negative values of temperature ramp increase the peaks of non‐linear electron density, especially near the critical density.
Pressurized hot water extraction of bioactive compounds from artichoke by‐products
Authors: Pagano Imma , Piccinelli Anna Lisa , Celano Rita , Campone Luca , Gazzerro Patrizia , Russo Mariateresa , Rastrelli Luca
Published: May 2018

Artichoke by‐products are a suitable source of health‐promoting ingredients for the production of dietary supplements and food additives. A pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) was developed to recover caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and flavone glycosides (FLs) from agro‐industrial artichoke by‐products. The main factors influencing PHWE efficiency and CQA isomerization (temperature, numbers of cycles, modifier, and extraction time) were carefully studied and optimized by response surface design. The proposed PHWE procedure provides an exhaustive extraction of CQAs and FLs (recoveries: 93–105% and 90–105%) from artichoke external bracts and leaves of different cultivars (p > 0.05), without significant formation of artefacts generated by high temperatures. PHWE extracts showed CQA and FL levels (14–37 mg/g and 3–19 mg/g, respectively) comparable to commercial products and marked antioxidative effects (EC50 11–83 μg/mL) by cellular antioxidant activity assay in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. These results proved that PHWE is an excellent green technique to recover bioactive compounds from artichoke agro‐industrial residues.
Structural and technological characterization of pectin extracted with sodium citrate and nitric acid from sunflower heads
Authors: Muñoz‐Almagro Nerea , Rico‐Rodriguez Fabián , Wilde Peter J. , Montilla Antonia , Villamiel Mar
Published: May 2018

An optimization of temperature, time, and extracting agent concentration of pectin extraction from sunflower heads using sodium citrate and nitric acid (SP‐SC and SP‐NA) was carried out. At optimal conditions, the yield of extraction with nitric acid (SPO‐NA) was twofold greater than the corresponding with sodium citrate (SPO‐SC) (14.3 versus 7.7%, respectively). Regarding pectin structure, the galacturonic acid (GalA) content in both, SPO‐SC and SPO‐NA, was similar (∼85%). However, SPO‐NA showed lower molecular weight (Mw) (88.9 kDa) and neutral sugar content (4%) than SPO‐SC (464 kDa, 9%), indicating that nitric acid deeply degraded pectin structure. These differences derived into dissimilar behavior in their technological functionality. SPO‐SC showed higher viscosity and better emulsifying capacity than SPO‐NA, although any of them were able to stabilize the oil/water emulsion. Both sunflower pectins formed gels with Ca2+ (75 mg/g of pectin) at pH 3.0. However, when sucrose was added, the gels formed by SP‐SC and 20% sucrose presented the same hardness as those of SP‐NA with 40% sucrose. These results suggest that the pectin extracted with sodium citrate, an eco‐friendly agent, could be a promising ingredient, with good thickening and gelling properties.
Chemical Looping Combustion Using Two Different Perovskite Based Oxygen Carriers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mayer Karl , Piesenberger Stephan , Penthor Stefan , Pröll Tobias , Hofbauer Hermann
Published: May 2018

Two perovskite type oxygen carriers, for the application in chemical looping combustion, called C14 and C28 are investigated. The composition of C14 is CaMn0.9Mg0.1O3−δ and CaMn0.775Mg0.1Ti0.125O3−δ for C28, respectively. Both oxygen carriers allow chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU), they release oxygen under conditions with low oxygen partial pressure. The materials are tested in a 120 kWth pilot plant at TU Wien. Operating temperatures from 800 °C to 960 °C are investigated, further the influence of active inventory and air equivalence number is reviewed. In addition to the experiments in the pilot plant, particle analysis is performed. In total, the CLC operation for C14 was 29.5 h and 22.7 h for C28, resulting in 75 different operating points. Both oxygen carrier materials are able to fully convert the natural gas, used as fuel. A temperature dependency is noticeable for both, the best results are achieved at 960 °C, the highest investigated temperature. Both, C14 and C28 are able to release about 10 % of the total available oxygen via oxygen uncoupling. The performance of both oxygen carriers is strongly linked to the air equivalence number and the resulting amount of excess oxygen in the air reactor. Low oxygen partial pressures lead to incomplete fuel conversion.
Modeling the health effects of time‐varying complex environmental mixtures: Mean field variational Bayes for lagged kernel machine regression
Authors: Liu Shelley H. , Bobb Jennifer F. , Claus Henn Birgit , Schnaas Lourdes , Tellez‐Rojo Martha M. , Gennings Chris , Arora Manish , Wright Robert O. , Coull Brent A. , Wand Matt P.
Published: May 2018

There is substantial interest in assessing how exposure to environmental mixtures, such as chemical mixtures, affects child health. Researchers are also interested in identifying critical time windows of susceptibility to these complex mixtures. A recently developed method, called lagged kernel machine regression (LKMR), simultaneously accounts for these research questions by estimating the effects of time‐varying mixture exposures and by identifying their critical exposure windows. However, LKMR inference using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods (MCMC‐LKMR) is computationally burdensome and time intensive for large data sets, limiting its applicability. Therefore, we develop a mean field variational approximation method for Bayesian inference (MFVB) procedure for LKMR (MFVB‐LKMR). The procedure achieves computational efficiency and reasonable accuracy as compared with the corresponding MCMC estimation method. Updating parameters using MFVB may only take minutes, whereas the equivalent MCMC method may take many hours or several days. We apply MFVB‐LKMR to Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS), a prospective cohort study in Mexico City. Results from a subset of PROGRESS using MFVB‐LKMR provide evidence of significant and positive association between second trimester cobalt levels and z‐scored birth weight. This positive association is heightened by cesium exposure. MFVB‐LKMR is a promising approach for computationally efficient analysis of environmental health data sets, to identify critical windows of exposure to complex mixtures.
The effect of thermochromic coatings of VO2 on the fire performance of windows
Authors: Ochoterena Raúl , Försth Michael
Published: May 2018

The effect of thermochromic coatings of vanadium dioxide (VO2) on the fire performance of windows was experimentally tested. Prototypes were subjected to radiant heat and the radiation transmitted through the specimens was measured as a function of time. The results indicate that windows coated with VO2 can reduce radiative heat transfer from fires and thereby also reduce or prevent fire spread. The results clearly show that VO2 coatings on BK7 substrates hinder approximately 30% of the transmission of radiation from fire sources when compared with the performance of uncoated windows. It is expected that VO2 will not be solely implemented for the purpose of increasing fire performance of windows, but it will rather provide a secondary positive effect if such windows are realized for energy‐saving purposes.
Flexural behavior of hybrid PVA fibers reinforced ferrocement panels at elevated temperatures
Authors: Abushawashi N.F. , Vimonsatit V. , Shaikh F.U.A.
Published: May 2018

Fire safety should consider not only the performance of the structure after the fire but also the behavior during the fire. The structural fire reliability performance of hybrid PVA fiber reinforced ferrocement (HFF) panels is experimentally determined based on its flexural characteristics and damage during the exposure to elevated temperatures. The residual compressive strength of 60 cubs was also tested after exposed to temperatures. In addition, 30 HFF panels were tested to evaluate their structural capacity by conducting an in‐situ binding test during the heating of up to 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C, and compared with control samples tested at ambient (24°C) temperature condition. The main parameters investigated were the specimen thickness and the effect of using mineral admixtures (fly ash and silica fume) in the mortar mixtures. The results show a strength decline of both flexural and compressive strengths as temperature increases. The bending capacity at 800°C is reduced to about 90% of the ambient capacity only. In between the 2 temperatures, the reduction rate is found to be almost linear. A theoretical prediction of the moment capacity reduction shows a good agreement with the test results.
Medical service provider networks
Authors: Mougeot Michel , Naegelen Florence
Published: May 2018

In many countries, health insurers or health plans choose to contract either with any willing providers or with preferred providers. We compare these mechanisms when two medical services are imperfect substitutes in demand and are supplied by two different firms. In both cases, the reimbursement is higher when patients select the in‐network provider(s). We show that these mechanisms yield lower prices, lower providers' and insurer's profits, and lower expense than in the uniform‐reimbursement case. Whatever the degree of product differentiation, a not‐for‐profit insurer should prefer selective contracting and select a reimbursement such that the out‐of‐pocket expense is null. Although all providers join the network under any‐willing‐provider contracting in the absence of third‐party payment, an asymmetric equilibrium may exist when this billing arrangement is implemented.
The Immunobiology of Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor Kappa B Ligand and Myeloid‐Derived Suppressor Cell Activation in Immunoglobulin G4–Related Sclerosing Cholangitis
Authors: Lian Min , Wang Qixia , Jiang Xiang , Zhang Jun , Wei Yiran , Li Yanmei , Li Bo , Chen Weihua , Zhang Haiyan , Miao Qi , Peng Yanshen , Xiao Xiao , Sheng Li , Zhang Weici , Fang Jingyuan , Tang Ruqi , Gershwin M. Eric , Ma Xiong
Published: May 2018

The primary function of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) is reflected in their immune modulatory role in several immune‐mediated diseases. In immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)–related disease (IgG4‐RD), it has been hypothesized that there are selective regulatory defects that lead to a T helper 2 (Th2) bias immune response. Herein we have taken advantage of a large cohort of patients with IgG4‐related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4‐SC), the most common extrapancreatic involvement of IgG4‐RD, as well as controls consisting of primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and healthy volunteers, to study MDSCs. We report dramatically increased levels of receptor activator for nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) expression in serum and liver from patients with IgG4‐SC compared to both liver‐disease and healthy controls. Moreover, in IgG4‐SC liver, RANKL‐secreting cells specifically colocalized with cluster of differentiation 38–positive plasma cells and MDSCs, particularly monocytic MDSCs, and express the RANKL receptor in liver. Similarly, the frequency and number of peripheral blood MDSCs were significantly increased. Importantly, serum expression levels of RANKL were inversely correlated with the serum level of gamma‐glutamyltransferase but significantly positively correlated with the frequency of MDSCs. Moreover, we confirmed that RANKL induced the expansion and activation of MDSCs through the RANKL/RANK/nuclear factor kappa B signal pathway. Of note, RANKL‐treated MDSCs suppressed T‐cell proliferation and induced Th2 differentiation. Conclusion: Our data suggest that plasma cell–derived RANKL induces the expansion and activation of MDSCs, which suppress T‐cell proliferation and contribute to the Th2‐type response characteristic of IgG4‐SC.
Opening the Door for the Opportunistic Use of Interim Financing: A Critical Assessment of the EU Draft Directive on Preventive Restructuring Frameworks
Authors: de Weijs Rolef , Baltjes Meren
Published: May 2018

The European Union Draft Directive on a Preventive Restructuring Framework and Second Chance (the ‘Draft Directive’) provides rules for adopting reorganisation plans in order to avoid insolvency. The Draft Directive also provides rules on the related problem of interim financing. According to the Draft Directive, interim financing should be encouraged and not be made subject to claw back unless parties have committed fraud or acted in bad faith. The Draft Directive thereby fails to recognise that finance transactions are too diverse in nature to provide the company and its financial creditors with a transaction avoidance free period. If the Draft Directive is adopted in its current form, it will open the door for opportunistic use of interim financing by both debtors and professional lenders. It will allow debtors to make final bets with other people's money and will also allow for conduit pipe financing reducing the exposure of existing shareholders. Lenders will also be able to make opportunistic use of the rules, most notably in the form of cross‐collateralisation and aggressive loan‐to‐own strategies under the guise of interim financing.

There are several possible solutions to the potential for opportunistic use. The courts could be involved ex ante. This would, however, turn the Draft Directive into a fully fledged court supervised procedure instead of the currently intended preventive restructuring procedure which avoids such court procedures. An alternative would be to simply take out the provisions on interim financing. Another possibility would be to limit the protection offered in the Draft Directive to cases of new security against new money necessary and used for the continuation of the business. Copyright © 2018 The Authors International Insolvency Review published by INSOL International and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Gold‐Catalyzed Hydrofunctionalizations and Spiroketalizations of Alkynes as Key Steps in Total Synthesis
Authors: Pflästerer Daniel , Rudolph Matthias , Hashmi A. Stephen K.
Published: May 2018

This contribution summarizes the application of homogeneous gold catalysis in hydrofunctionalization and spiroketalization reactions in total synthesis, the most frequent applications of gold catalysis in that sector.
Teaching social perception skills to adolescents with autism and intellectual disabilities using video‐based group instruction
Authors: Stauch Tiffany A. , Plavnick Joshua B. , Sankar Sudha , Gallagher Annie C.
Published: May 2018

Few interventions focus on teaching social skills to adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) that are consistently used during interactions with peers ( Carter et al., 2014). The present study evaluated the effects of video‐based group instruction (VGI) on the acquisition of social perception skills of five adolescents with ASD or ID in a public school setting. Social perception involves observing affective behaviors of others, discriminating relevant environmental stimuli, and differentially reinforcing the affective behavior of another person. Typically developing peers supported VGI implementation as social partners for participants. A multiple probe design across behaviors demonstrated the effectiveness of VGI for teaching social perception skills. Four of five participants acquired and maintained the targeted social perception skills, and we observed some transfer to a nontreatment setting. Results of this study suggest VGI may support the acquisition of social perception among adolescents with ASD or ID.
Curcumin down‐regulates IL‐17A mediated p53‐fibrinolytic system in bleomycin induced acute lung injury in vivo
Authors: Gouda Mahesh M. , Bhandary Yashodhar P.
Published: May 2018

Bleomycin (BLM) induced cellular damage causes inflammation in the alveolar compartment and impairment of fibrinolytic system leads to alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis. Here, we describe novel inflammatory pathway associated with p53‐fibrinolytic system and apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells and pharmacological efficiency of curcumin against this action. In the present study we used C57BL/6 mice. The specific dose and time interval of curcumin were analyzed to assess the intervention. Experiments were designed to investigate the IL‐17A mediated modulation in the alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and injury. Various techniques such as Western blot, RT‐PCR, Immunohistochemistry were used for this study. We observed that the BLM‐induced lung injury and its progression were successfully regulated by the effective dose and time intervention of curcumin. There was also decreased expression of chemokines, p53, and fibrinolytic components such as PAI‐1 and increased uPA, uPAR expression, and decreased alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis, which indicates the IL‐17A mediated novel inflammatory pathway. It is confirmed that the IL‐17A involved in the modulation of p53‐fibrinolytic system and epithelial cell apoptosis in BLM induced mice. The cross‐talk between the inflammatory, fibrinolytic, and apoptotic pathways were resolved by curcumin intervention. This pathway and intervention could serve as a modern therapy to resolve the complications to cure the lung injury and its progression.
Epidemiological analysis of maternal lipid levels during the second trimester in pregnancy and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome adjusted by pregnancy BMI
Authors: Yue Chao‐Yan , Ying Chun‐Mei
Published: May 2018

Background

Pregnancy is accompanied by profound changes in lipid metabolism. We aimed to assess whether effects of second trimester body mass index and maternal lipid concentrations are associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

We investigated the serum levels of maternal lipids during the second trimester in pregnancy, and analyzed associations between the lipid levels and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Seven hundred and seventy‐four pregnant women were enrolled in this study between February 2016 and June 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relative risk between maternal lipids and adverse pregnancy outcome.

Results

Compared with the control group, during the second trimester of pregnancy, BMI, TG, and Lp(a) were risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus; middle trimester pregnancy BMI, Lp(a), and APO‐B were risk factors for pre‐eclampsia; second trimester BMI and TG/HDL‐C were risk factors for macrosomia; age and Lp(a) were uterine atony postpartum hemorrhage risk factors, while APO‐AI was a protective factor of uterine inertia and postpartum hemorrhage; second trimester BMI, TCH, Lp(a), and TG/HDL‐C were risk factors for fetal distress, while parity was a protective factor against fetal distress.

Conclusion

Abnormal blood lipid levels in pregnancy are significantly associated with GDM, pre‐eclampsia, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Passive engineering mechanism enhancement of a flexor digitorum longus tendon transfer procedure
Authors: Pihl Connor M. , Stender Christina J. , Balasubramanian Ravi , Edinger Kylie M. , Sangeorzan Bruce J. , Ledoux William R.
Published: May 2018

Standard treatments of adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) fail to correct associated dysfunction of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT). This study aimed to determine if a novel passive engineering mechanism (PEM) enhanced flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon transfer procedure would better restore physiologic PTT function to improve AAFD gait parameters compared to standard treatment. We evaluated the kinetic, pedobarographic, and kinematic effects of a pulley‐based PEM‐enhancement system utilizing a cadaveric flatfoot model and robotic gait simulator. FDL tendon force, FDL tendon excursion, regional peak plantar pressures, center of pressure, and foot bone/joint motions were quantified. Throughout the stance phase of gait, PEM‐enhancement significantly increased FDL tendon forces, resulting in gait cycle medial column unloading, lateral column loading, forefoot adduction, hindfoot inversion, and increased plantar flexion (p < 0.05). This proof‐of‐concept study demonstrated that an innovative PEM‐enhanced FDL tendon transfer procedure better restored physiologic PTT function, resulting in improved correction of the distinctive AAFD gait characteristics—medial column collapse, hindfoot eversion, and forefoot abduction. Clinical significance: Novel PEM‐enhancement of a FDL tendon transfer procedure holds promise as a method for improved treatment of AAFD. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3033–3042, 2018.
Authorship trends in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Seetharam Abhijit , Ali Mohammed T. , Wang Christine Y. , Schultz Katherine E. , Fischer James P. , Lunsford Shatoria , Whipple Elizabeth C. , Loder Randall T. , Kacena Melissa A.
Published: May 2018

Publications are an important tool to measure one's success and achievement in academia. They can help propel a career forward and move one into a position of leadership. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate changes in bibliometric variables, authorship, and collaboration trends in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research (JOR®), since its inception in 1983. A bibliometric analysis was completed for all manuscripts meeting the inclusion criteria (638), which were published throughout the inaugural year plus one representative year of each decade. Several parameters were investigated including numbers of manuscripts, authors, collaborating institutions/countries, references, pages, and citations; region of origin and gender of authors over time and by region were main focuses. Significant increases over time were observed in all bibliometric variables analyzed except in the number of pages and citations. There was an approximate 27% point increase for both female first and corresponding authors from 1983 to 2015. While this is most likely due to the increase in the number of women that have entered the field over time, similar increases in the percentage of women holding positions on the JOR editorial board or in leadership positions within in the field may have also contributed to improvements in gender parity. Understanding changes in publishing characteristics over time, by region, and by gender are critical, especially with the rising demands of publishing in academia. JOR has seen increase in most variables analyzed, including improvements in authorship by women in the field of orthopaedic research. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3071–3080, 2018.
The contrasting influences of incidental anger and fear on responses to a service failure
Authors: Su Lei , Wan Lisa C. , Wyer Robert S.
Published: May 2018

Customers’ disposition to register a formal complaint about an inferior product or poor service is often mediated by attributions of responsibility. However, the anger or fear that people happen to be experiencing for totally irrelevant reasons can also influence this disposition. Two field studies and four laboratory experiments indicate that when people feel angry at the time they encounter a service failure, they are more likely to blame the service provider for the failure and more likely to register a complaint. When they experience fear, however, they are uncertain about the cause of their misfortune and decrease their negative reactions relative to conditions in which fear is not experienced. The effects of these incidental emotions are evident both when a service failure is personally experienced and when it is only observed. These effects are eliminated, however, when individuals do not have the cognitive resources available to assess the reasons for the service failure and the conditions surrounding it.
Elastic Fiber Supercapacitors for Wearable Energy Storage
Authors: Qin Si , Seyedin Shayan , Zhang Jizhen , Wang Zhiyu , Yang Fangli , Liu Yuqing , Chen Jun , Razal Joselito M.
Published: May 2018

The development of wearable devices such as smart watches, intelligent garments, and wearable health‐monitoring devices calls for suitable energy storage devices which have matching mechanical properties and can provide sufficient power for a reasonable duration. Stretchable fiber‐based supercapacitors are emerging as a promising candidates for this purpose because they are lightweight, flexible, have high energy and power density, and the potential for easy integration into traditional textile processes. An important characteristic that is oftentimes ignored is stretchability—fiber supercapacitors should be able to accommodate large elongation during use, endure a range of bending motions, and then revert to its original form without compromising electrical and electrochemical performance. This article summarizes the current research progress on stretchable fiber‐based supercapacitors and discusses the existing challenges on material preparation and fiber‐based device fabrication. This article aims to help researchers in the field to better understand the challenges related to material design and fabrication approaches of fiber‐based supercapacitors, and to provide insights and guidelines toward their wearability.
A new conservative fourth‐order accurate difference scheme for solving a model of nonlinear dispersive equations
Authors: Ghiloufi Ahlem , Rouatbi Asma , Omrani Khaled
Published: May 2018

This article is devoted to the study of a nonlinear conservative fourth‐order difference scheme for a model of nonlinear dispersive equations that is governed by the RLW‐KdV equation. The existence of the approximate solution and the convergence of the difference scheme are proved, by using the energy method. In addition, the convergent order in maximum norm is 2 in temporal direction and 4 in spatial direction. The unconditional stability as well as uniqueness of the difference scheme is also derived. An application on the RLW and MRLW equations is discussed numerically in details. Furthermore, interaction of solitary waves with different amplitudes are shown. The 3 invariants of the motion are evaluated to determine the conservation proprieties of the system. The temporal evaluation of a Maxwellian initial pulse is then studied. Some numerical examples are given to validate the theoretical results.
Living with chronic pain: Patients' experiences with healthcare services in Norway
Authors: Gjesdal Kine , Dysvik Elin , Furnes Bodil
Published: May 2018

Aim

To explore the experiences with healthcare received by people living with chronic nonmalignant pain in Norway.

Design

A descriptive and explorative qualitative design.

Methods

A total of 18 individual semistructured interviews was conducted in 2015. Qualitative content analysis was applied.

Results

The findings revealed challenges related to a multifaceted pain condition. Participants described interactions with a supportive health care where being listened to, believed in and experiencing mutual trust were emphasized. When interactions with healthcare professionals made the participants feel insignificant, they found it difficult to express their needs, which seemed to reinforce practical difficulties and unfulfilled expectations and make them lose hope in their recovery. This implies the importance of a holistic understanding of and support for more person‐centred practice to accommodate patients' expectations and expressed needs. Here, the nurses have an essential role in having a positive impact on future healthcare services.
Integrating public affairs information strategy with organizational practices in healthcare delivery organizations
Authors: Vamstad Brian S. , Gordon Mark
Published: May 2018

To develop and implement policy, lawmakers rely on the input from external experts and stakeholders. Public affairs professionals are responsible for monitoring the sociopolitical environment and responding to public policy proposals on behalf of firms and organizations. However, how public affairs operate intraorganizationally and develop information strategies is not clear nor consistent in the literature. The purpose was to explore how public affairs engage with internal stakeholders to leverage their knowledge for information strategies in responding to policymakers. Knowledge transfer served as a theoretical framework through a qualitative multiple case study of 3 not‐for‐profit healthcare delivery organizations. Primary data were collected using semistructured interviews from public affairs (n = 11) and healthcare professionals (n = 18) along with a review of organizational documents and public records. Patterns and themes emerged through cross‐case synthesis, presented as a process‐based model and theory. Public affairs structures and decision‐making processes varied across cases indicating no coherent approach by practitioners. Intraorganizational engagement and knowledge transfer processes were managed both consistently and ad hoc, through informal and formal methods. Practitioner strategies and tactics were identified to facilitate internal interaction such as filtering policy issues and effective communication methods. Common institutional barriers were identified that made stakeholder engagement a challenge. This study provides insight into understanding how public affairs practice internally and supports the fundamental importance of linking knowledge into public policymaking.
αE‐catenin is a candidate tumor suppressor for the development of E‐cadherin‐expressing lobular‐type breast cancer
Authors: de Groot Jolien S , Ratze Max AK , van Amersfoort Miranda , Eisemann Tanja , Vlug Eva J , Niklaas Mijanou T , Chin Suet‐Feung , Caldas Carlos , van Diest Paul J , Jonkers Jos , de Rooij Johan , Derksen Patrick WB
Published: May 2018

Although mutational inactivation of E‐cadherin (CDH1) is the main driver of invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC), approximately 10–15% of all ILCs retain membrane‐localized E‐cadherin despite the presence of an apparent non‐cohesive and invasive lobular growth pattern. Given that ILC is dependent on constitutive actomyosin contraction for tumor development and progression, we used a combination of cell systems and in vivo experiments to investigate the consequences of α‐catenin (CTNNA1) loss in the regulation of anchorage independence of non‐invasive breast carcinoma. We found that inactivating somatic CTNNA1 mutations in human breast cancer correlated with lobular and mixed ducto‐lobular phenotypes. Further, inducible loss of α‐catenin in mouse and human E‐cadherin‐expressing breast cancer cells led to atypical localization of E‐cadherin, a rounded cell morphology, and anoikis resistance. Pharmacological inhibition experiments subsequently revealed that, similar to E‐cadherin‐mutant ILC, anoikis resistance induced by α‐catenin loss was dependent on Rho/Rock‐dependent actomyosin contractility. Finally, using a transplantation‐based conditional mouse model, we demonstrate that inducible inactivation of α‐catenin instigates acquisition of lobular features and invasive behavior. We therefore suggest that α‐catenin represents a bona fide tumor suppressor for the development of lobular‐type breast cancer and as such provides an alternative event to E‐cadherin inactivation, adherens junction (AJ) dysfunction, and subsequent constitutive actomyosin contraction. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Heritage of Stanislaw Ciechanowski (1869‐1945)—Discoverer of pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia‐passionis insignia signis fulgent mirificis
Authors: Wincewicz Andrzej , Woltanowski Piotr , Sulkowski Stanisław
Published: May 2018

Background

Prostatic enlargement was first correctly recognized as a prostatic hyperplasia by professor of anatomic pathology, Stanisław Ciechanowski (1869‐1945) in Cracow on contrary to Parisian urologist Jean Casimir Félix Guyon's concepts of progressing atherosclerosis as a morphological cause of prostatic overgrowth and mechanical insufficiency of lower urinary tract.

Methods

Primary resources were analyzed about Stanisław Ciechanowski mainly from depositories of the Section of Special Collection, Stanisław Konopka Main Medical Library Warsaw and Polish bibliograhy of Estreichers at Jagiellonian University.

Results

Professor of anatomic pathology, Stanisław Ciechanowski (1869‐1945) was the first to state that chronic inflammation induced overgrowth of parenchymatous and stromal prostate components in course of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ciechanowski preformed also pioneer and notable studies in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and classification of cancer in Poland. As one of the major Polish medical editors and a father of Polish modern medical language he was also very prolific author in the field of congenital pathology, sclerosis of pulmonary arteries, endemic goiter, intestinal emphysema, etc. Due to magnitude of autopsies, he preformed, Stanislaw Ciechanowski was a perfect candidate to complete the first edition of several volumes of main Polish handbook on anatomy of a human body after tragic death of professor Adam Bochenek.

Conclusions

Ciechanowski gained such a high authority, that his opinion was found crucial in prewar Poland in the field of medical publications, but his world‐famous achievement was scientific explanation of prostate overgrowth as inflammation induced hyperplasia.
Photon Quantization in Sm3+ Doped Red Glass Phosphors for Laser‐Induced Illumination
Authors: Zhang Yuhang , Li Desheng , Zhao Xin , Pun Edwin Yue Bun , Lin Hai
Published: May 2018

Multi‐peak red fluorescence emissions in Sm3+‐doped multicomponent‐alkali‐alkaline‐borate (MCAAB) glasses for laser‐induced illumination are quantitatively characterized, revealing that the quantum yield (QY) is closely related with the wavelength of pumping sources. Under the excitation of 370 nm UVA‐LED, the net emission photon numbers of 1.00 wt% Sm2O3‐doped MCAAB glasses are derived to be 58.0 × 1012 cps, and the QY reaches to 25.3% which is about twice as much as 12.2% under 469 nm blue‐LED pumping, which is attributed to the better excitability in UVA spectral region. In order to extend the effective excitation range to UVB, Ce3+ is co‐doped in Sm3+‐doped MCAAB glasses as a sensitizer, which results in an enhancement of Sm3+ excitation intensity by a maximum sensitization factor of 9.16 in the UVB region. Absolute spectral parameters under 453 nm blue laser excitation exhibit that net emission photon numbers are up to 199.4 × 1012 cps in 1.00 wt% Sm2O3 doping case, and QY is solved to be 6.2%. Higher QY of the Sm3+‐doped MCAAB glasses is expected to be achieved by further adopting wavelength‐matched pumping laser, implying that Sm3+‐doped MCAAB glasses is a promising candidate as high power‐density light source in special laser‐induced illumination.
Discrimination between virgin and recycled polystyrene containers by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and principal component analysis
Authors: Song Xue‐Chao , Lin Qin‐Bao , Chen Chao‐Fang , Chen Jing‐Hong , Hu Chang‐Ying
Published: May 2018

A rapid and reliable method for discriminating virgin and recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) containers was developed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy combined with principal component analysis. Standard normal variate, first and second‐order derivative spectra were compared for the discrimination results. The results show that carbonyl region (1780‐1620 cm−1) spectra using first derivative transformation give the optimum classification results. In addition, the carbonyl compounds in EPS containers were detected to clarify the chemical difference between virgin and recycled containers, with a higher concentration of carbonyl compounds observed in recycled EPS containers. The combination of carbonyl region of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with chemometrics proved to be a promising method to discriminate virgin and recycled EPS containers, which could function as an additional tool for quality control of plastics.