bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revitalized and synovialized allograft for intrasynovial flexor tendon reconstruction in an in vivo canine model
Authors: Zhang Tao , Lu Cheng‐Chang , Reisdorf Ramona L. , Thoreson Andrew R. , Gingery Anne , Moran Steven L. , Amadio Peter C. , Zhao Chunfeng
Published: August 2018

This study was to test our hypothesis that flexor tendon reconstruction with an allograft revitalized with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and synovialized with carbodiimide derivatized autologous synovial fluid (cd‐SYN) would result in better digit functional restoration than the conventional allograft tendon. A total of 32 flexor digital profundus tendons from the second and fifth digit of 16 dogs were created a repair failure model first. Then, failed‐repaired tendons were reconstructed with either a revitalized‐synovialized allograft tendon or a clinical standard autograft tendon (control group). The allograft tendon was seeded with autologous BMSCs in multiple slits and the graft surface was coated with cd‐SYN. A 6 weeks after tendon reconstruction, the digits were harvested and evaluated for digit function, adhesion status, tendon gliding resistance, attachment strength, cell viability, and histologic factors. The allograft group had significantly improved digit function compared with the control group through decreased work of flexion, increased digit range of motion under 2‐Newton force, and less adhesion score (p < .05). However, the distal attachment‐site strength and stiffness in the allograft tendon were significantly weaker than the autografts (p < .05). No significant difference was found for gliding resistance. Histologically, allograft tendons coated with allograft had smoother surfaces and showed tendon‐to‐bone and tendon‐to‐tendon incorporation. Viable BMSCs were found in the tendon slits 6 weeks after the graft. In conclusion, cellular lubricant‐based modification of allograft tendons improved digit function and reduced the adhesions compared with autograft for flexor tendon reconstruction. However, improvement of graft‐to‐host tendon healing is still challenging. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2218–2227, 2018.
Interaction with macrophages attenuates equine fibroblast‐like synoviocyte ADAMTS5 (aggrecanase‐2) gene expression following inflammatory stimulation
Authors: Morgan Rhiannon E. , Clegg Peter D. , Hunt John A. , Innes John F. , Tew Simon R.
Published: August 2018

The joint synovium consists of a heterogeneous cell population, chiefly comprised of macrophages, and fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS). An inter‐species co‐culture model was developed to examine interactions between these cells. Equine FLS and the canine macrophage line DH82 were differentially labeled using fluorescent markers and results from direct co‐culture compared with those from both indirect co‐culture, and conditioned media experiments. The transcript expression of IL‐1β, IL‐6, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 in each cell type were determined using species‐specific qPCR assays. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of EFLS rapidly increased IL‐1β, IL‐6, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 mRNAs. The induction of ADAMTS5 was significantly reduced when equine FLS were cultured with DH82 cells directly or indirectly. Exposure of equine FLS to denatured conditioned media also significantly reduced ADAMTS5 induction. DH82 cells increased interleukin‐1β expression substantially following LPS stimulation. However, knockdown of interleukin‐1β in DH82 cells, or inhibition of NF‐κB in equine FLS prior to co‐culture did not change the inhibitory effect on equine FLS ADAMTS5 gene expression. This work indicates that macrophages can influence FLS gene expression through a soluble mediator, and modulate the expression of an enzyme critical in osteoarthritis pathology during inflammatory stimulation. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® Published by WileyPeriodicals, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 36:2178–2185, 2018.
Methods to calculate uncertainty in the estimated overall effect size from a random‐effects meta‐analysis
Authors: Veroniki Areti Angeliki , Jackson Dan , Bender Ralf , Kuss Oliver , Langan Dean , Higgins Julian P.T. , Knapp Guido , Salanti Georgia
Published: August 2018

Meta‐analyses are an important tool within systematic reviews to estimate the overall effect size and its confidence interval for an outcome of interest. If heterogeneity between the results of the relevant studies is anticipated, then a random‐effects model is often preferred for analysis. In this model, a prediction interval for the true effect in a new study also provides additional useful information. However, the DerSimonian and Laird method—frequently used as the default method for meta‐analyses with random effects—has been long challenged due to its unfavorable statistical properties. Several alternative methods have been proposed that may have better statistical properties in specific scenarios. In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of available methods for calculating point estimates, confidence intervals, and prediction intervals for the overall effect size under the random‐effects model. We indicate whether some methods are preferable than others by considering the results of comparative simulation and real‐life data studies.
Modern techniques and alternative flaps in microsurgical breast reconstruction
Authors: Seth Akhil K. , Allen Robert J.
Published: August 2018

Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue has become an essential part of the breast cancer patient care algorithm, with the abdomen being the most common tissue donor site. However, within this field, the technology and surgical techniques available to the reconstructive breast surgeon have evolved over time. This review aims to summarize the literature surrounding current techniques in microsurgical breast reconstruction including the use of alternative, nonabdominal flaps.
Use of Ultrasonography for Lung Transplant Recipients on Postoperative Care
Authors: Droneau Sylvain , Noel‐Savina Elise , Plat Gavin , Murris‐Espin Marlene , Leborgne‐Krams Aurélie , Brouchet Laurent , Dahan Marcel , Didier Alain
Published: August 2018

The authors report their findings regarding lung ultrasound profiles in a population of transplant recipients. Twenty‐two patients were studied once each in multiple different ultrasound windows focusing on pleural, lung, and diaphragmatic signatures. All studies were performed in presumably otherwise healthy recipients at an outpatient follow‐up visit at least 3 months after transplantation. Those with recent pulmonary infections or decline in lung function were excluded from enrollment. The majority of scans revealed otherwise normal lungs with lung sliding, but there were more abnormalities than one would expect in a healthy control group.

Lung ultrasonography will likely never replace other cross‐sectional imaging given its inherent visual limitations but adds another modality to interrogate the lung/pleural interface and diaphragmatic function.
Description of relations between regularity coefficients of time‐varying linear systems
Authors: Czornik Adam , Niezabitowski Michał , Vaidzelevich Aliaksei
Published: August 2018

In this paper we consider regularity coefficients of a discrete linear time‐varying systems. The main result presents a complete description of the relations between Lyapunov, Perron and Grobman regularity coefficients of mutually adjoint systems.
Dual use of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells enhances engraftment and immune cell trafficking in an allogeneic humanized mouse model of head and neck cancer
Authors: Morton John J. , Keysar Stephen B. , Perrenoud Loni , Chimed Tugs‐Saikhan , Reisinger Julie , Jackson Brian , Le Phuong N. , Nieto Cera , Gomez Karina , Miller Bettina , Gao Dexiang , Somerset Hilary , Wang Xiao‐Jing , Jimeno Antonio
Published: August 2018

In this report, we describe in detail the evolving procedures to optimize humanized mouse cohort generation, including optimal conditioning, choice of lineage for engraftment, threshold for successful engraftment, HNSCC tumor implantation, and immune and stroma cell analyses. We developed a dual infusion protocol of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), leading to incremental human bone marrow engraftment, and exponential increase in mature peripheral human immune cells, and intratumor homing that includes a more complete lineage reconstitution. Additionally, we have identified practical rules to predict successful HSPC/MSC expansion, and a peripheral human cell threshold associated with bone marrow engraftment, both of which will optimize cohort generation and management. The tremendous advances in immune therapy in cancer have made the need for appropriate and standardized models more acute than ever, and therefore, we anticipate that this manuscript will have an immediate impact in cancer‐related research. The need for more representative tools to investigate the human tumor microenvironment (TME) has led to the development of humanized mouse models. However, the difficulty of immune system engraftment and minimal human immune cell infiltration into implanted xenografts are major challenges. We have developed an improved method for generating mismatched humanized mice (mHM), using a dual infusion of human HSPCs and MSCs, isolated from cord blood and expanded in vitro. Engraftment with both HSPCs and MSCs produces mice with almost twice the percentage of human immune cells in their bone marrow, compared to mice engrafted with HSPCs alone, and yields 9‐ to 38‐fold higher levels of mature peripheral human immune cells. We identified a peripheral mHM blood human B cell threshold that predicts an optimal degree of mouse bone marrow humanization. When head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors are implanted on the flanks of HSPC‐MSC engrafted mice, human T cells, B cells, and macrophages infiltrate the stroma of these tumors at 2‐ to 8‐fold higher ratios. In dually HSPC‐MSC engrafted mice we also more frequently observed additional types of immune cells, including regulatory T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and MDSCs. Higher humanization was associated with in vivo response to immune‐directed therapy. The complex immune environment arising in tumors from dually HSPC‐MSC engrafted mice better resembles that of the originating patient's tumor, suggesting an enhanced capability to accurately recapitulate a human TME.
Protease‐activated receptor 2 promotes actomyosin dependent transforming microvesicles generation from human breast cancer
Authors: Das Kaushik , Prasad Ramesh , Singh Arpana , Bhattacharya Anindita , Roy Abhishek , Mallik Suman , Mukherjee Ashis , Sen Prosenjit
Published: August 2018

Apart from blood coagulation, coagulation proteases are involved inextricably in cancer progression/propagation via intra/inter‐cellular signaling, mediated predominantly by protease‐activated receptors (PARs). Microvesicles (MVs), a plasma membrane shredded component, has recently been identified as an important contributor to human breast cancer metastasis. However, the role of PAR2 in promoting MVs generation from breast cancer cells remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study is to investigate whether coagulation protease‐mediated human breast cancer propagation commences via MVs and also to decipher the underlying signaling mechanism. Here, we elicited that coagulation factor‐FVIIa and Trypsin activates PAR2, which governs MVs shedding from MDAMB231 cells by altering actomyosin dynamics. Treatment of cells with PAR2 activators facilitate MVs generation by activating three independent (MAPK, P38, and Rho) signaling cascades. MAPK, signals through activating MLCK followed by MLC phosphorylation to alter myosin organization whereas, P38 reorganizes actin dynamics by the sequential activation of MK2 and HSP27. RhoA‐dependent ROCK‐II activation again contributes to remodeling myosin II activity. Further, both our in vitro and in vivo analyses showed that these MVs potentiate invasive and migratory property to the recipient cells. Breast cancer patients blood show an elevation of TF‐bearing, pro‐metastatic MVs than normal. These findings give an insight into the detailed signaling mechanism involved in the production of MVs with transforming ability from PAR2‐activated human breast cancer cells. Understanding these mechanistic details will certainly help to identify crucial targets for therapeutic interventions in MVs‐associated human breast cancer metastasis.
Predictive Models for Kinetic Parameters of Cycloaddition Reactions
Authors: Glavatskikh Marta , Madzhidov Timur , Horvath Dragos , Nugmanov Ramil , Gimadiev Timur , Malakhova Daria , Marcou Gilles , Varnek Alexandre
Published: August 2018

This paper reports SVR (Support Vector Regression) and GTM (Generative Topographic Mapping) modeling of three kinetic properties of cycloaddition reactions: rate constant (logk), activation energy (Ea) and pre‐exponential factor (logA). A data set of 1849 reactions, comprising (4+2), (3+2) and (2+2) cycloadditions (CA) were studied in different solvents and at different temperatures. The reactions were encoded by the ISIDA fragment descriptors generated for Condensed Graph of Reaction (CGR). For a given reaction, a CGR condenses structures of all the reactants and products into one single molecular graph, described both by conventional chemical bonds and “dynamical” bonds characterizing chemical transformations. Different scenarios of logk assessment were exploited: direct modeling, application of the Arrhenius equation and temperature‐scaled GTM landscapes. The logk models with optimal cross‐validated statistics (Q2=0.78–0.94 RMSE=0.45–0.86) have been challenged to predict rates for the external test set of 200 reactions, comprising both reactions that were not present in the training set, and training set transformations performed under different reaction conditions. The models are freely available on our web‐server: http://cimm.kpfu.ru/models.
A simple noniterative method for recovering a space‐dependent load on the Euler‐Bernoulli beam equation
Authors: Liu Chein‐Shan , Jhao Wun‐Sin , Chang Chih‐Wen
Published: August 2018

When adjoint eigenfunctions are adopted as the test functions in Green's second identity for the Euler‐Bernoulli beam equation, we can develop a quite simple noniterative numerical algorithm to recover an unknown space‐dependent external force H(x) exerted on the beam. The spatial parts of the adjoint eigenfunctions are used as the bases to expand the unknown function H(x), where we view the two end values of H(x) as two unknown coefficients for the simply supported and hinged‐clamped beams, and the left end value of H(x) as an unknown coefficient for the cantilevered beam. We can derive closed‐form solutions of the expansion coefficients, and thus closed‐form series solutions of H(x). Consequently, we have a noniterative method to recover the unknown force H(x) supplemented by the noisy final time displacement data. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the novel methods in the recovery of unknown forces on the simply supported, cantilevered, and hinged‐clamped beams.
Margin and PTV volume reduction using a population based library of plans strategy for rectal cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Beekman Chris , van Triest Baukelien , van Beek Suzanne , Sonke Jan‐Jakob , Remeijer Peter
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Day‐to‐day shape variation in the rectum CTV results in considerable geometric uncertainties during rectal cancer radiotherapy. To ensure coverage a large CTV‐to‐PTV margin is required. The purpose of this study was to increase the accuracy of treatment delivery by building a population based library of planning CTVs for rectal cancer patients and to evaluate its potential for rectum PTV margin and PTV volume reduction.

Methods

Analysis was done retrospectively on 33 early‐stage rectal cancer patients with daily repeat CTs who received short‐course pre‐operative radiotherapy in 5 fractions of 5 Gy. We created signed distance maps from the planning rectum CTV to each of the repeat CTVs, from which we calculated the group mean, systematic and random error. The correlation between different regions of the rectum CTV was analyzed and used in combination with the distance maps to create the library of nine planning CTVs. For each of the repeat CTVs the best fitting CTV structure in the library was automatically selected defined by the plan that minimized the mean absolute distance between the repeat and library CTV. Residual distance maps were calculated from which a new PTV margin was constructed. Bootstrapping was performed on the margin difference to assess its significance.

Results

Residual errors were found to decrease with the number of plans in the library, but adding more than five plans yields negligible further error reduction. Margin reduction of up to 50% was achieved at the upper‐anterior site of the mesorectum. The average PTV volume decreased by 15.5% when a library is introduced.

Conclusions

A library of plans strategy for rectal cancer based on population statistics is feasible and results in a considerably reduced average rectum PTV volume compared to conventional radiotherapy.
A bottom‐up design for spatial search in large networks and clouds
Authors: Uddin Misbah , Stadler Rolf , Clemm Alexander
Published: August 2018

Information in networked systems often has spatial semantics: routers, sensors, or virtual machines have coordinates in a geographical or virtual space, for instance. In this paper, we propose a design for a spatial search system that processes queries against spatial information that is maintained in local databases inside a large networked system. In contrast to previous works in spatial databases and peer‐to‐peer designs, our design is bottom‐up, which makes query routing network aware and thus efficient, and which facilitates system bootstrapping and adaptation. Key to our design is a protocol that creates and maintains a distributed index of object locations based on information from local databases and the underlying network topology. The index builds upon minimum bounding rectangles to efficiently encode locations. We present a generic search protocol that is based on an echo protocol and uses the index to prune the search space and perform query routing. The response times of search queries increase with the diameter of the network, which is asymptotically optimal. We study the performance of the protocol through simulation in static and dynamic network environments, for different network topologies, and for network sizes up to 100 000 nodes. In most experiments, the overhead incurred by our protocol lies well below 30% of a hypothetical optimal protocol. In addition, the protocol provides high accuracy under significant churn.
Iterative coupling algorithms for large multidomain problems with the boundary element method
Authors: Wang Bin , Feng Yin , Pieraccini Sandra , Scialò Stefano , Fidelibus Corrado
Published: August 2018

A new parallel Robin‐Robin adaptive iterative coupling algorithm with dynamic relaxation parameters is proposed for the boundary element method (BEM), and relaxation parameters are derived for other existing iterative coupling algorithms. The performances of the new algorithm and of the modified existing algorithms are investigated in terms of convergence properties with respect to the number of subdomains, mesh density, interface mesh conformity, and BEM element types. Results show that the number of subdomains and the refinement level of the mesh are the two dominant factors affecting the performances of the considered algorithms. The proposed parallel Robin‐Robin algorithm shows the best overall convergence behavior for the tested large problems, thanks to its effectiveness in handling complex boundary conditions and large number of subdomains, thus resulting to be very promising for efficient parallel BEM computing and large coupling problems.

Source code is available at https://github.com/BinWang0213/PyBEM2D.
The hybrid element‐free Galerkin method for three‐dimensional wave propagation problems
Authors: Meng Z. J. , Cheng H. , Ma L. D. , Cheng Y. M.
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a hybrid element‐free Galerkin (HEFG) method for solving wave propagation problems. By introducing the dimension split method, the three‐dimensional wave propagation problems are transformed into a series of two‐dimensional ones in other one‐dimensional directions. The two‐dimensional problems are solved using the improved element‐free Galerkin (IEFG) method, and the finite difference method is used in the one‐dimensional splitting direction and the time space. Then, the formulas of the HEFG method for three‐dimensional wave propagation problems are obtained. Numerical examples are selected to show the effectiveness and the advantage of the HEFG method. The convergence and error analysis of the HEFG method are discussed according to the numerical results under different splitting directions, weight functions, node distributions, scale parameters of the influence domain, penalty factors, and time steps. The numerical results are given to show the convergence and advantages of the HEFG method over the IEFG method. Comparing with the IEFG method, the HEFG method has greater computational precision and speed for three‐dimensional wave propagation problems.
The effect of the introduction of the three‐vessel view on the detection rate of transposition of the great arteries and tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Everwijn Sheila M.P. , van Nisselrooij Amber E.L. , Rozendaal Lieke , Clur Sally‐Ann B. , Pajkrt Eva , Hruda Jaroslav , Linskens Ingeborg H. , van Lith Jan M. , Blom Nico A. , Haak Monique C.
Published: August 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the annual detection rate (DR) of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and tetrology of Fallot (ToF), after the introduction of the three‐vessel view as a mandatory plane in 2012.

Methods

All registered TGA and ToF cases were retrospectively extracted from our registry between 2007 and 2016. We compared the DR in a 10‐year period, before 2011, with the DR of TGA and ToF after 2012.

Results

In the period before 2012, 23 of the 52 TGA cases were prenatally detected (44.2%), compared with 42 of the 51 cases (82.4%) after 2012. For ToF, the DRs increased from 28 of 64 cases (43.8%) to 42 of 62 cases (67.7%) in the aforementioned periods. The increase in DRs for both defects was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

In this nationally organized prenatal screening program with a quality monitoring system and a uniform protocol, DRs of 82.4% for TGA and 67.7% for ToF were reached after the introduction of the three‐vessel view as a mandatory item. The three‐vessel view significantly contributes to the detection of these conotruncal anomalies.
The treatment of type 2 diabetes in heart failure
Authors: Llano Andrea , McKay Gerry
Published: August 2018

Heart failure is a common complication associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and the presence of both carries a poorer prognosis. Recent cardiovascular outcome trials have drawn attention to the contrasting effects of the different classes of agents used in the management of T2DM on heart failure outcomes. While SGLT‐2 inhibitors and some GLP‐1 agonists are associated with improved outcomes with regard to heart failure, thiazolidinediones and certain DPP‐4 inhibitors have been shown to increase this risk.

In this review article, we will review each of these drug classes and discuss the evidence, if any, for their use in heart failure. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons.
Organ‐specific phytohormone synthesis in two Geranium species with antithetical responses to far‐red light enrichment
Authors: Gommers Charlotte M. M. , Buti Sara , Tarkowská Danuše , Pěnčík Aleš , Banda Jason P. , Arricastres Vincent , Pierik Ronald
Published: August 2018

Plants growing in high densities experience a reduced red (R) to far‐red (FR) light ratio and shade‐intolerant species respond with accelerated elongation growth to reach the top of the canopy: the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). FR‐enriched light inactivates phytochrome photoreceptors, which results in subsequent action of several plant hormones regulating growth. SAS is adaptive for shade‐intolerant plants, but is suppressed in shade‐tolerant plant species. Inspired by a previously published transcriptome analysis, we use two species of the genus Geranium here to study the involvement of auxin, brassinosteroids (BRs), and gibberellins (GAs) in supplemental FR‐induced elongation growth. G. pyrenaicum, a shade‐avoiding species, strongly induces auxin and gibberellin levels, but not BR, in elongating petioles. We show that, in this species, FR light perception, hormone synthesis, and growth are local and restricted to the petiole, and not the leaf lamina. Using chemical hormone inhibitors, we confirm the essential role of auxin and GAs in supplemental FR‐induced elongation growth. Shade‐tolerant G. robertianum does not display the change in hormone levels upon FR light enrichment, resulting in the lack of a shade avoidance response.
Beta interferons and glatiramer acetate for treatment of MS: TA guidance 2018
Authors: Gaber Tarek , Shippen Clare , Cheng Lin
Published: August 2018

A recent NICE technology appraisal has updated the 2002 guidelines on the use of beta interferons and glatiramer for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Initial draft guidance in December 2017 proposed not recommending the use of glatiramer and other beta interferons apart from interferon beta‐1b (Extavia) as interferon beta‐1a and glatiramer were deemed to be not cost effective. Many clinicians and patients disagreed with that conclusion and NICE has duly agreed to revisit the data, integrating best supportive care measures rather than relying completely on a head‐to‐head comparison with the newer medication options.
Challenges of residual symptoms and functioning in management of MDD
Authors: Rasmussen Jill , Young Allan H
Published: August 2018

Major depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. 2017 marked the year when the World Health Organization led a one‐year global campaign with the goal that more people with depression both seek and get help.1,2 In England, Hospital Episode Statistics and Mental Health and Learning Disabilities data sets show that one in three patients with depression are unrecognised. Those who are recognised are often then under‐treated, fail to achieve remission and have difficulty returning to full functioning.
Primary hyperparathyroidism and neuropsychiatric symptoms
Authors: Narayana Usha , Ashton Katy , Rivers Emma , Nirodi Pratibha
Published: August 2018

The psychiatric and metabolic symptoms associated with hyperparathyroidism are complex and the correlation between symptom severity and degree of hypercalcaemia is poor. Here, the authors explore such a case of hypercalcaemia and primary hyperparathyroidism which required psychotropic medication and a plan for surgical treatment in the longer term.
Confusion‐inducing drugs in a memory assessment service: an audit
Authors: Bowditch Eva , Padmanathan Prianka , Martinez‐Clavera Clara , Kuruvilla Tarun
Published: August 2018

A commonly encountered problem within memory services is the identification of medications that cause cognitive side‐effects. Here, the authors report on the findings of a clinical audit used to evaluate practice of medical staff against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on the ‘assessment and diagnosis of dementia’. The audit highlights the importance of reviewing prescriptions of confusion‐inducing drugs within memory services and barriers to improving clinical practice.
Understanding the Interaction of Glutamate Salts with Serum Albumin Protected Prism‐Shaped Silver Nanoparticles toward Glutamate Sensing
Authors: Zeng Yuan , Chang Yu‐Hsin , Gharib Mustafa , Parak Wolfgang J. , Chakraborty Indranath
Published: August 2018

Surface plasmon spectroscopy of serum albumin protected prism‐shaped silver nanoparticles is used as simple and effective sensing tool to detect glutamate salts. The approach does not require any electrochemical setup to detect glutamates, in contrast to common techniques to detect glutamates in general. Experiments reveal that upon presence of high concentrations of glutamate salts, the prism‐shaped nanoparticles are transformed to smaller‐sized nanoclusters, while the remaining nanoparticles are assembled to form aggregates. Control experiments confirm that the interaction is specific to the serum albumin coating, the prism shape of the nanoparticles, and to silver.
Genetic Modification of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Overexpressing Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Increases Cell Migration to Injured Lung in LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury Mice
Authors: Xu Xiu-Ping , Huang Li-Li , Hu Shu-Ling , Han Ji-Bin , He Hong-Li , Xu Jing-Yuan , Xie Jian-Feng , Liu Ai-Ran , Liu Song-Qiao , Liu Ling , Huang Ying-Zi , Guo Feng-Mei , Yang Yi , Qiu Hai-Bo
Published: August 2018

Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation has been shown to promote the lung respiration in acute lung injury (ALI) in vivo, its overall restorative capacity appears to be restricted mainly because of low retention in the injured lung. Angiotensin II (Ang II) are upregulated in the injured lung. Our previous study showed that Ang II increased MSCs migration via Ang II type 2 receptor (AT2R). To determine the effect of AT2R in MSCs on their cell migration after systemic injection in ALI mice, a human AT2R expressing lentiviral vector and a lentivirus vector carrying AT2R shRNA were constructed and introduced into human bone marrow MSCs. A mouse model of lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI was used to investigate the migration of AT2R-regulated MSCs and the therapeutic potential in vivo. Overexpression of AT2R dramatically increased Ang II-enhanced human bone marrow MSC migration in vitro. Moreover, MSC-AT2R accumulated in the damaged lung tissue at significantly higher levels than control MSCs 24 and 72 hours after systematic MSC transplantation in ALI mice. Furthermore, MSC-AT2R-injected ALI mice exhibited a significant reduction of pulmonary vascular permeability and improved the lung histopathology and had additional anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, there were less lung retention in MSC-ShAT2R-injected ALI mice compared with MSC-Shcontrol after transplantation. Thus, MSC-ShAT2R-injected group exhibited a significant increase of pulmonary vascular permeability and resulted in a deteriorative lung inflammation. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of AT2R enhance the migration of MSCs in ALI mice and may provide a new therapeutic strategy for ALI.
AR(1) latent class models for longitudinal count data
Authors: Henderson Nicholas C. , Rathouz Paul J.
Published: August 2018

In a variety of applications involving longitudinal or repeated‐measurements data, it is desired to uncover natural groupings or clusters that exist among study subjects. Motivated by the need to recover clusters of longitudinal trajectories of conduct problems in the field of developmental psychopathology, we propose a method to address this goal when the response data in question are counts. We assume the subject‐specific observations are generated from a first‐order autoregressive process that is appropriate for count data. A key advantage of our approach is that the class‐specific likelihood function arising from each subject's data can be expressed in closed form, circumventing common computational issues associated with random effects models. To further improve computational efficiency, we propose an approximate EM procedure for estimating the model parameters where, within each EM iteration, the maximization step is approximated by solving an appropriately chosen set of estimating equations. We explore the effectiveness of our procedures through simulations based on a four‐class model, placing a special emphasis on recovery of the latent trajectories. Finally, we analyze data and recover trajectories of conduct problems in an important nationally representative sample. The methods discussed here are implemented in the R package inarmix, which is available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (http://cran.r-project.org).
Control of Particle Adsorption for Stability of Pickering Emulsions in Microfluidics
Authors: Yao Xiaoxue , Liu Zhou , Ma Mingze , Chao Youchuang , Gao Yongxiang , Kong Tiantian
Published: August 2018

Studying the stability of Pickering emulsion is of great interest for applications including catalysis, oil recovery, and cosmetics. Conventional methods emphasize the overall behavior of bulk emulsions and neglect the influence of particle adsorbing dynamics, leading to discrepancies in predicting the shelf‐life of Pickering emulsion–based products. By employing a microfluidic method, the particle adsorption is controlled and the stability of the Pickering emulsions is consequently examined. This approach enables us to elucidate the relationship between the particle adsorption dynamics and the stability of Pickering emulsions on droplet‐level quantitatively. Using oil/water emulsions stabilized by polystyrene nanoparticles as an example, the diffusion‐limited particle adsorption is demonstrated and investigated the stability criteria with respect to particle size, particle concentration, surface chemistry, and ionic strength. This approach offers important insights for application involving Pickering emulsions and provides guidelines to formulate and quantify the Pickering emulsion–based products.
GSEPIM: A roadmap for software process assessment and improvement in the domain of global software development
Authors: Khan Arif Ali , Keung Jacky , Niazi Mahmood , Hussain Shahid , Shameem Mohammad
Published: August 2018

Software development firms have begun adopting the practice of global software development (GSD). The main reason for the shift toward globalization is the various benefits received by software development firms. However, there are several issues faced by GSD organizations, particularly those associated with software process improvement (SPI). It has been noticed that a formal process improvement approach could assist in successfully executing development activities in GSD. The core objective of this research work is to develop a global software engineering process improvement model (GSEPIM) to assess and improve software process activities in a GSD environment. The proposed model will be developed based on existing models in other domains, an empirical study conducted with GSD practitioners, and an understanding of critical success factors and challenges of SPI. In this study, the first step in the development of GSEPIM is completed by identifying the challenges of SPI in GSD and presenting a solution in the form of a robust framework.
Surface Trap States Passivation for High‐Performance Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Yuan Jifeng , Zhang Linxing , Bi Chenghao , Wang Mengru , Tian Jianjun
Published: August 2018

Cesium halide perovskite CsPbX3 has emerged to be a promising candidate for photovoltaic materials due to their componential and thermal stability. During the fabrication of CsPbX3 films, rich halide ions could cause deep trap states on the surface of the perovskite film, leading to much charge recombination. Herein, Pb2+ solution post‐processing strategy is introduced to passivate the deep trap states of CsPbI2Br films. The dissociative Pb2+ in the solution effectively combines with the excess halide ions on the perovskite surface to reduce the deep trap states of Pb vacancy (VPb) and I interstitial (Ii). As a result, the average photoluminescence lifetimes τave of the perovskite film prolonged nearly double after passivation. The trap density of perovskite is effectively decreased from 8 × 1016 to 6.64 × 1016 cm−3. The CsPb2Br solar cell shows an open‐circuit‐voltage as high as 1.29 V and power conversion efficiency of 12.34% with small hysteresis. The postprocessing method would provide an avenue to improve further the efficiency of inorganic perovskite solar cells via reducing surface traps.
Inline wireless mobile sensors and fog nodes placement for leakage detection in water distribution systems
Authors: Hu Chengyu , Shu Xin , Yan Xuesong , Zeng Deze , Gong Wenyin , Wang Lei
Published: August 2018

Burst or leakage in drinkable water distribution system has occurred frequently in recent years, causing severe damages, economic loss, and long‐lasting society impact. A viable solution is to use agile inline mobile sensors to detect and so as to mitigate the burst or leakage. Distinguishing from online fixed sensors, mobile sensors can swim freely along the piles in water distribution network, thus giving a more precise detection. To combat the low power, low computation, and low communication capability of mobile sensors, the newly emerged fog computing provides a promising means to gather and preprocess the sensing data. In practice, due to the budget limitation, we can deploy a limited number of sensors and fog nodes in the system. This introduces a challenging problem on how to deploy them in the system, ie, sensor and fog node placement. We first formulate mobile sensor placement (MSP) as a path cover problem and prove it as NP‐complete, and then we propose a customized genetic algorithm and a mixed greedy algorithm to solve MSP and fog node placement, respectively. The correctness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm are illustrated by a comprehensive experiment. Moreover, some critical factors, eg, sensor battery lifetime and movement pattern, are all extensively investigated and the results show the coverage ratio is sensitive to these factors.
A Managerial Early Warning System at a Smart Factory: An Intuitive Decision‐making Perspective
Authors: Bertoncel Tine , Erenda Ivan , Bach Mirjana Pejić , Roblek Vasja , Meško Maja
Published: August 2018

Early warning systems are becoming increasingly important in high‐risk industries, because of their potential to detect all kinds of subtle threats and opportunities, that is, weak signals, in order to avoid strategic surprises. However, it is an under‐researched area within the context of smart factories. For the purpose of the study, semi‐structured group interviews were used to investigate how managers at a smart factory, a highly innovative global supplier in the automotive industry sense weak signals, perceive the role of intuition, smart systems and business model adjustments. The results of the study show that managers perceive early warning systems as highly important for timely response to development changes and that both smart systems and intuition play an essential role in detecting and responding to weak signals. Based on this study, we propose a managerial early warning system model with four stages, namely, identifying, screening, appraising and responding to weak signs, within the context of a smart factory. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On approximating optimal weighted composite likelihood method for spatial models
Authors: Li Furong , Sang Huiyan
Published: August 2018

Conventional likelihood‐based model inference methods, such as maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian inference, are computationally expensive for many spatial models with large data sets. As an alternative inference tool, composite likelihood (CL) methods have gained considerable attention in recent years because of their simplicity and sound asymptotic properties. However, CL estimators often result in substantial loss in statistical efficiency with respect to maximum likelihood estimation. In this paper, we propose a new weight function to construct CL for the inference of spatial Gaussian process models. This weight function approximates the optimal weight derived from the theory of estimating equations. It combines block‐diagonal approximation and the tapering strategy to facilitate computations. Gains in statistical and computational efficiency over existing CL methods are illustrated through simulation studies. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human resource management in multinational and domestic enterprises: A comparative institutional analysis in Southeast Asia
Authors: Singh Satwinder , Wood Geoffrey , Darwish Tamer K. , Fleming Jocelyne , Mohamed Abdul Fattaah
Published: August 2018

This article looks at the relative impact of context on the role of senior managers. It compares HR directors of domestic enterprises (DEs) with those of multinational enterprises (MNEs), within an emerging market setting, based on a survey of HR directors in Brunei. We found that, with the exception of some aspects of selection and recruitment, HR directors of MNEs accorded a higher priority to strategic tasks but were more reluctant to delegate. This study confirms the importance of MNEs in pioneering more modern and integrated approaches to people management but also demonstrates the limitations to the extent where they might act as evangelists of new practices that are adopted by their local peers. In contrast, local firms were more likely to concentrate their attention on administrative, rather than strategic, issues. We draw out the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
Practices of energy use management and sustainable performance in Brazilian mineral industries
Authors: Perlin Ana Paula , Gomes Clandia Maffini , Kneipp Jordana Marques , Motke Francies Diego
Published: August 2018

Energy is an essential asset for the existence of industrial activities, however, the absence of energy use management may lead to numerous environmental, economic, and social impacts. Thus, industries, which are major consumers of energy, play an essential role in seeking to preserve the energy system. This study aimed at analyzing the practices of energy use management and their relation to sustainable performance in the industries within the Brazilian mineral sector. The practices of energy use management were measured using the model proposed by Liu et al. (2012, Journal of Cleaner Production, 26, 79–89). After that, evidence of sustainable performance was identified based on performance indicators developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (2006, 2010, 2014). The study is characterized as quantitative, and it was conducted through a survey of industries linked to the Brazilian Mining Association. Through our results, we verified that the practices related to energy use management existent in the companies that we studied are subjected to periodic verification of the impacts caused by company activities on the environment, and that attention to energy use provides an incentive to daily practices of energy saving. On the other hand, the practices of energy use management are still little disseminated among these companies, as is certification to the International Organisation for Standardization's (ISO) Energy Management Systems framework, ISO 50001. In general, through the analyses that we performed, we can verify the existence of positive associations between the factors related to the practices of energy use management and to corporate sustainable performance.
London's weather and the everyday: two centuries of newspaper reports
Authors: Hulme Mike , Burgess Nicholas
Published: August 2018

This study surveys 200 years of London's weather and its public reporting in newspapers to reveal some of the recurring modes of reporting and linguistic styles that are used to describe and make sense of the human experience of weather. These modes include: the cultural anxieties prompted by ‘unusual weather’, the visual dramas of ‘great storms’, the weather as culpable, and the bench‐marking of extreme weather. Even as the broader processes and patterns of our climate are changing, at the level of the everyday the human and cultural experience of weather remains remarkably familiar.
Cationic Diiodo‐Phosphoranides through Oxidative I2 Addition to Tricyclic Phosphamethine Cyanines
Authors: Cicač‐Hudi Mario , Schlindwein Simon H. , Feil Christoph M. , Nieger Martin , Gudat Dietrich
Published: August 2018

Reaction of methylene‐ and ethylene‐bridged bis‐imidazolium salts with white phosphorus in the presence of KOtBu furnished moderate yields of tricyclic bis‐imidazolio‐phosphanide halides. Further oxidation of the products with one equivalent of I2 gave bis‐imidazolio‐diiodophosphoranide iodides. All newly prepared compounds were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic data and single‐crystal XRD studies. DFT calculations provide evidence for substantial stabilization of cyclic bis‐imidazolio‐phosphanide cations by π‐conjugation effects and suggest describing the bis‐imidazolio‐diiodophosphoranide cations as charge‐transfer complexes of dicationic iodophosphines with iodide.
Kaizen in Practice
Authors: Sugimoto Seiji
Published: August 2018

Kaizen is a continuous activity to fill the gap between the current and ideal states. Japanese manufactures imported many management technologies from the US to reduce Muda, which were transformed to Kaizen technologies such as QC circle activities. Toyota Production System (TPS), which is directly opposite to mass production and mass consumption systems, is quite different. It has had a significant impact on Kaizen. In general, improvements using management technologies are considered Kaizen. However, to improve quality and equipment efficiency, Kaizen is often combined with inherent technologies. Kaizen stresses achieving results while enhancing workers’ motivation and problem-solving abilities. To sustain Kaizen activities in developing countries, it is necessary to establish a mechanism to share the results of Kaizen among workers and the company.
Testing AdS6/CFT5 in Type IIB with stringy operators
Authors: Bergman Oren , Rodríguez-Gómez Diego , Uhlemann Christoph F.
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We provide further evidence that the recently constructed warped AdS6solutions in Type IIB supergravity are dual to 5d SCFTs that correspond to (p, q) 5-brane webs with large numbers of like-charged external 5-branes. We study a number of specific examples, including theTNtheory, and identify the bulk states dual to a class of operators with$$ \mathcal{O} $$O(N) scaling dimensions in terms of strings and string-webs embedded in the solutions.
The geometry of $$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$ AdS4 in massive IIA
Authors: De Luca G. Bruno , Monaco Gabriele Lo , Macpherson Niall T. , Tomasiello Alessandro , Varela Oscar
Published: August 2018

Abstract

The geometry of the

$$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$

N
=
3

, SO(4)-invariant, AdS4 solution of massive type IIA supergravity that uplifts from the

$$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$

N
=
3

vacuum of D = 4

$$ \mathcal{N}=8 $$

N
=
8

dyonic ISO(7) supergravity is investigated. Firstly, a D = 4, SO(4)-invariant restricted duality hierarchy is constructed and used to uplift the entire, dynamical SO(4)-invariant sector to massive type IIA. The resulting consistent uplift formulae are used to obtain a new local expression for the

$$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$

N
=
3

AdS4 solution in massive IIA and analyse its geometry. Locally, the internal S
6 geometry corresponds to a warped fibration of S
2 and a hemisphere of S
4. This can be regarded as a warped generalisation of the usual twistor fibration geometry. Finally, the triplet of Killing spinors corresponding to the

$$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$

N
=
3

solution are constructed and shown to obey the massive type IIA Killing spinor equations.