bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observed decrease in atmospheric mercury explained by global decline in anthropogenic emissions
Authors: Zhang Yanxu , Jacob Daniel J. , Horowitz Hannah M. , Chen Long , Amos Helen M. , Krabbenhoft David P. , Slemr Franz , St. Louis Vincent L. , Sunderland Elsie M.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Anthropogenic mercury poses risks to humans and ecosystems when converted to methylmercury. A longstanding conundrum has been the apparent disconnect between increasing global emissions trends and measured declines in atmospheric mercury in North America and Europe. This work shows that locally deposited mercury close to coal-fired utilities has declined more rapidly than previously anticipated because of shifts in speciation from air pollution control technology targeted at SO2and NOx. Reduced emissions from utilities over the past two decades and the phase-out of mercury in many commercial products has led to lower global anthropogenic emissions and associated deposition to ecosystems. This implies that prior policy assessments underestimated the regional benefits of declines in mercury emissions from coal-fired utilities.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection enhances
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilm growth through dysregulation of nutritional immunity
Authors: Hendricks Matthew R. , Lashua Lauren P. , Fischer Douglas K. , Flitter Becca A. , Eichinger Katherine M. , Durbin Joan E. , Sarkar Saumendra N. , Coyne Carolyn B. , Empey Kerry M. , Bomberger Jennifer M.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is the major respiratory pathogen that promotes disease progression in chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and resides in antibiotic-resistant biofilm communities in the lungs of patients. Little is known about host factors that contribute to the development of bacterial biofilms in the lung. We have observed that respiratory virus coinfection and the antiviral immune response aid in the transition of
P
.
aeruginosa
to a biofilm mode of growth through inappropriate release of the nutrient iron. Defining molecular mechanisms by which
P
.
aeruginosa
biofilms develop in the lung affords a better opportunity to target therapies to eliminate life-threatening infections in CF and in other chronic lung diseases.
Properties of the shear stress peak radiated ahead of rapidly accelerating rupture fronts that mediate frictional slip
Authors: Svetlizky Ilya , Pino Muñoz Daniel , Radiguet Mathilde , Kammer David S. , Molinari Jean-François , Fineberg Jay
Published: January 2016

Significance

The transition from stick to slip is governed by rupture fronts propagating along a frictional interface. It has long been suggested that rapid acceleration of these ruptures generates a shear stress peak that propagates ahead of the front. These peaked waves are strong; they can reach amplitudes that are large enough to trigger secondary supershear ruptures. We provide the first extensive quantitative experimental study to our knowledge of these highly directed waves and their relation to the rupture fronts driving them. Combining our experiments with finite-element simulations, we observe how these waves scale. This study provides insight into how rupture fronts accelerate beyond the shear-wave speed and may offer a possibility to obtain illusive information about propagating earthquakes.
Autoregulatory loop of nuclear corepressor 1 expression controls invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis
Authors: Martínez-Iglesias Olaia A. , Alonso-Merino Elvira , Gómez-Rey Sara , Velasco-Martín Juan Pedro , Martín Orozco Rosa , Luengo Enrique , García Martín Rosa , Ibáñez de Cáceres Inmaculada , Fernández Agustín F. , Fraga Mario F. , González-Peramato Pilar , Varona Constantino , Palacios José , Regadera Javier , Aranda Ana
Published: January 2016

Significance

Inactivating nuclear corepressor 1 (
NCoR
) mutations have been found in human tumors. Here, we report that NCoR has a tumor-suppressive role, inhibiting extravasation, metastasis formation, and tumor growth in mice. These changes are related to repressed transcription of genes associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis in cancer patients. An autoregulatory loop maintains
NCoR
gene expression, suggesting that NCoR loss can be propagated, contributing to tumor progression in the absence of
NCoR
gene mutations. The nuclear receptor thyroid hormone receptor β1 increases NCoR expression, and this induction is essential in mediating its tumor-suppressive actions. Both are reduced in human hepatocarcinoma and aggressive breast cancer tumors, identifying NCoR as a potential molecular target for the development of novel therapies.
Modular degradable dendrimers enable small RNAs to extend survival in an aggressive liver cancer model
Authors: Zhou Kejin , Nguyen Liem H. , Miller Jason B. , Yan Yunfeng , Kos Petra , Xiong Hu , Li Lin , Hao Jing , Minnig Jonathan T. , Zhu Hao , Siegwart Daniel J.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Liver cancer is a leading cause of death and a global health problem. Unfortunately, five small-molecule drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recently failed phase III clinical trials partly because late-stage liver dysfunction amplifies drug toxicity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) present a promising alternative treatment strategy but require development of delivery vehicles that can avoid this cancer-induced dysfunction, which exacerbates toxicity. We overcame this challenge by developing dendrimer nanoparticles that mediate miRNA delivery to late-stage liver tumors with low hepatotoxicity. An aggressive,
MYC
-driven transgenic liver cancer model was used to examine
let-7g
tumor suppressor efficacy, resulting in a significant survival benefit. These dendrimer carriers provide high potency in tumors without negatively affecting normal tissues, solving a critical issue in treating aggressive liver cancer.
Sufficient oxygen for animal respiration 1,400 million years ago
Authors: Zhang Shuichang , Wang Xiaomei , Wang Huajian , Bjerrum Christian J. , Hammarlund Emma U. , Costa M. Mafalda , Connelly James N. , Zhang Baomin , Su Jin , Canfield Donald E.
Published: January 2016

Significance

How have environmental constraints influenced the timing of animal evolution? It is often argued that oxygen first increased to sufficient levels for animal respiration during the Neoproterozoic Eon, 1,000 million to 542 million years ago, thus explaining the timing of animal evolution. We report geochemical evidence for deep-water oxygenation below an ancient oxygen minimum zone 1,400 million years ago. Oceanographic modeling constrains atmospheric oxygen to a minimum of ∼4% of today’s values, sufficient oxygen to have fueled early-evolved animal clades. Therefore, we suggest that there was sufficient atmospheric oxygen for animals long before the evolution of animals themselves, and that rising levels of Neoproterozoic oxygen did not contribute to the relatively late appearance of animal life on Earth.
Cortical cell and neuron density estimates in one chimpanzee hemisphere
Authors: Collins Christine E. , Turner Emily C. , Sawyer Eva Kille , Reed Jamie L. , Young Nicole A. , Flaherty David K. , Kaas Jon H.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Chimpanzees are our closest relatives, and understanding the organization of their brains can help us understand our own evolution. Here we present a detailed examination of cell and neuron densities across the chimpanzee cortex. We found similarities to other mammals, including primary sensory areas with high neuron densities and a trend of decreasing neuron densities along the posterior to anterior axis of the cortex. However, we also found a prefrontal region with anomalously high neuron density that disrupts the trend of decreased neuron densities in frontal brain regions. The data reported here allow valuable comparisons among the brains of our close relative and those of humans and other primates.
Alcohol Screening Scores and the Risk of Intensive Care Unit Admission and Hospital Readmission
Authors: Clark Brendan J. , Rubinsky Anna D. , Ho P. Michael , Au David H. , Chavez Laura J. , Moss Marc , Bradley Katharine A.
Published: January 2016

Background: The association between alcohol misuse and the need for intensive care unit admission as well as hospital readmission among those discharged from the hospital following a critical illness is unclear. This study sought to determine whether alcohol misuse was associated with (1) admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) among a cohort of patients receiving outpatient care and (2) hospital readmission among those discharged from the hospital following critical illness. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted with data from 24 Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities between 2004 and 2007. Scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire were used to identify patients with past-year abstinence, lower-risk alcohol use, moderate alcohol misuse, or severe alcohol misuse. The primary outcome was admission to a VA intensive care unit within the year following administration of the AUDIT-C. In an analysis focused on patients discharged from the ICU, the 2 main outcomes were hospital readmission within 1 year and within 30 days. Results: Among 486,115 veterans receiving outpatient care, the adjusted probability of ICU admission within 1 year was 2.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7%–2.3%) for abstinent patients, 1.6% (95% CI: 1.3%–1.8%) for patients with lower-risk alcohol use, 1.8% (1.4%–2.3%) for patients with moderate alcohol misuse, and 2.5% (2.0%–2.9%) for patients with severe alcohol misuse. Among the 9,030 patients discharged from an ICU, the adjusted probability of hospital readmission within 1 year was 48% (46%–49%) in abstinent patients, 44% (42%–45%) in patients with lower-risk alcohol use, 42% (39%–45%) in patients with moderate alcohol misuse, and 55% (49%–60%) in patients with severe alcohol misuse. Conclusions: Alcohol misuse may represent a modifiable risk factor for a cycle of ICU admission and subsequent hospital readmission.
Ophthalmic Artery Occlusion Following Transconjunctival Orbitotomy
Authors: Ganguly Anasua , Pappuru Rajeev Reddy , Ali Mohammad Javed , Mishra Dilip Kumar , Naik Milind N.
Published: January 2016

Postoperative blindness after orbital surgery is an extremely rare and a disastrous complication. Ophthalmic artery occlusion as a cause of such unexpected vision loss has not been documented in literature. The authors report a case of a middle aged man who developed sudden vision loss due to ophthalmic artery occlusion following transconjunctival excision of orbital schwanomma. The possible mechanisms contributing to the loss of vision are discussed and preventive strategies are suggested to reduce the incidence of this complication.
Immunosuppressant-Related Lower Eyelid Edema in Transplant Patients
Authors: Logan Sarah A. , Thyparampil Preeti J. , Yen Michael T.
Published: January 2016

Solid organ transplantation is the preferred method of treatment for a number of advanced medical conditions, but it requires systemic immunosuppression to prevent transplant rejection. The authors report 2 unique cases of persistent eyelid edema following solid organ transplantation believed to be related to their systemic immunosuppression. The eyelid findings developed after initiation of the immunosuppressant sirolimus. In 1 patient, the eyelid edema has persisted despite discontinuation of the medication. In the second patient, the immunosuppression could not be altered; therefore, he underwent surgical excision of the edematous lower eyelid. Sirolimus associated eyelid edema is an important medication side effect for ophthalmic and eyelid specialists to consider when a patient with a history of organ transplantation presents with localized noninflamed eyelid edema. This edema can persist despite discontinuation of the medication. Surgical excision of the edematous eyelid can achieve good results.
Over-expression of Plk4 induces centrosome amplification, loss of primary cilia and associated tissue hyperplasia in the mouse
Authors: Coelho Paula A. , Bury Leah , Shahbazi Marta N. , Liakath-Ali Kifayathullah , Tate Peri H. , Wormald Sam , Hindley Christopher J. , Huch Meritxell , Archer Joy , Skarnes William C. , Zernicka-Goetz Magdalena , Glover David M.
Published: January 2016

To address the long-known relationship between supernumerary centrosomes and cancer, we have generated a transgenic mouse that permits inducible expression of the master regulator of centriole duplication, Polo-like-kinase-4 (Plk4). Over-expression of Plk4 from this transgene advances the onset of tumour formation that occurs in the absence of the tumour suppressor p53. Plk4 over-expression also leads to hyperproliferation of cells in the pancreas and skin that is enhanced in a p53 null background. Pancreatic islets become enlarged following Plk4 over-expression as a result of equal expansion of α- and β-cells, which exhibit centrosome amplification. Mice overexpressing Plk4 develop grey hair due to a loss of differentiated melanocytes and bald patches of skin associated with a thickening of the epidermis. This reflects an increase in proliferating cells expressing keratin 5 in the basal epidermal layer and the expansion of these cells into suprabasal layers. Such cells also express keratin 6, a marker for hyperplasia. This is paralleled by a decreased expression of later differentiation markers, involucrin, filaggrin and loricrin. Proliferating cells showed an increase in centrosome number and a loss of primary cilia, events that were mirrored in primary cultures of keratinocytes established from these animals. We discuss how repeated duplication of centrioles appears to prevent the formation of basal bodies leading to loss of primary cilia, disruption of signalling and thereby aberrant differentiation of cells within the epidermis. The absence of p53 permits cells with increased centrosomes to continue dividing, thus setting up a neoplastic state of error prone mitoses, a prerequisite for cancer development.
Correlated pay-offs are key to cooperation
Authors: Taborsky Michael , Frommen Joachim G. , Riehl Christina
Published: January 2016

The general belief that cooperation and altruism in social groups result primarily from kin selection has recently been challenged, not least because results from cooperatively breeding insects and vertebrates have shown that groups may be composed mainly of non-relatives. This allows testing predictions of reciprocity theory without the confounding effect of relatedness. Here, we review complementary and alternative evolutionary mechanisms to kin selection theory and provide empirical examples of cooperative behaviour among unrelated individuals in a wide range of taxa. In particular, we focus on the different forms of reciprocity and on their underlying decision rules, asking about evolutionary stability, the conditions selecting for reciprocity and the factors constraining reciprocal cooperation. We find that neither the cognitive requirements of reciprocal cooperation nor the often sequential nature of interactions are insuperable stumbling blocks for the evolution of reciprocity. We argue that simple decision rules such as ‘help anyone if helped by someone’ should get more attention in future research, because empirical studies show that animals apply such rules, and theoretical models find that they can create stable levels of cooperation under a wide range of conditions. Owing to its simplicity, behaviour based on such a heuristic may in fact be ubiquitous. Finally, we argue that the evolution of exchange and trading of service and commodities among social partners needs greater scientific focus.
Evolution of social behaviour in the primitively eusocial waspRopalidia marginata: do we need to look beyond kin selection?
Authors: Gadagkar Raghavendra
Published: January 2016

Ropalidia marginatais a primitively eusocial wasp widely distributed in peninsular India. Although solitary females found a small proportion of nests, the vast majority of new nests are founded by small groups of females. In such multiple foundress nests, a single dominant female functions as the queen and lays eggs, while the rest function as sterile workers and care for the queen's brood. Previous attempts to understand the evolution of social behaviour and altruism in this species have employed inclusive fitness theory (kin selection) as a guiding framework. Although inclusive fitness theory is quite successful in explaining the high propensity of the wasps to found nests in groups, several features of their social organization suggest that forces other than kin selection may also have played a significant role in the evolution of this species. These features include lowering of genetic relatedness owing to polyandry and serial polygyny, nest foundation by unrelated individuals, acceptance of young non-nest-mates, a combination of well-developed nest-mate recognition and lack of intra-colony kin recognition, a combination of meek and docile queens and a decentralized self-organized work force, long reproductive queues with cryptic heir designates and conflict-free queen succession, all resulting in extreme intra-colony cooperation and inter-colony conflict.
How institutions shaped the last major evolutionary transition to large-scale human societies
Authors: Powers Simon T. , van Schaik Carel P. , Lehmann Laurent
Published: January 2016

What drove the transition from small-scale human societies centred on kinship and personal exchange, to large-scale societies comprising cooperation and division of labour among untold numbers of unrelated individuals? We propose that the unique human capacity to negotiate institutional rules that coordinate social actions was a key driver of this transition. By creating institutions, humans have been able to move from the default ‘Hobbesian’ rules of the ‘game of life’, determined by physical/environmental constraints, into self-created rules of social organization where cooperation can be individually advantageous even in large groups of unrelated individuals. Examples include rules of food sharing in hunter–gatherers, rules for the usage of irrigation systems in agriculturalists, property rights and systems for sharing reputation between mediaeval traders. Successful institutions create rules of interaction that are self-enforcing, providing direct benefits both to individuals that follow them, and to individuals that sanction rule breakers. Forming institutions requires shared intentionality, language and other cognitive abilities largely absent in other primates. We explain how cooperative breeding likely selected for these abilities early in theHomolineage. This allowed anatomically modern humans to create institutions that transformed the self-reliance of our primate ancestors into the division of labour of large-scale human social organization.
Network structural features affect stability of Calvin Bassham Benson (CBB) pathway in plants
Authors: Theisen Matthew K
Published: January 2016

The stability of the Calvin Bassham Benson (CBB) cycle remains an area of active computational research. Our understanding of biology and the prospect for bioengineered plants with higher productivity may both be impacted by a greater understanding of this area. Here we use the ensemble modelling robustness analysis (EMRA) framework to show that the action of the phosphate/G3P antiporter is much more significant for maintenance of stability than a recently proposed G6P shunt. Additionally, we interpret recent results suggesting that overexpression of RuBiSCO does not improve growth rate of plants but overexpression of SBPase does. Our simulations reproduce this result, but only in models which do not include the G6P shunt. Taken together, these results may suggest a situational role for the G6P shunt, possibly in dynamic situations under starvation or other stress conditions.
Efficient detection of repeating sites to accelerate phylogenetic likelihood calculations
Authors: Kobert Kassian , Stamatakis Alexandros , Flouri Tomáš
Published: January 2016

The phylogenetic likelihood function is the major computational bottleneck in several applications of evolutionary biology such as phylogenetic inference, species delimitation, model selection and divergence times estimation. Given the alignment, a tree and the evolutionary model parameters, the likelihood function computes the conditional likelihood vectors for every node of the tree. Vector entries for which all input data are identical result in redundant likelihood operations which, in turn, yield identical conditional values. Such operations can be omitted for improving run-time and, using appropriate data structures, reducing memory usage. We present a fast, novel method for identifying and omitting such redundant operations in phylogenetic likelihood calculations, and assess the performance improvement and memory saving attained by our method. Using empirical and simulated data sets, we show that a prototype implementation of our method yields up to 10-fold speedups and uses up to 78% less memory than one of the fastest and most highly tuned implementations of the phylogenetic likelihood function currently available. Our method is generic and can seamlessly be integrated into any phylogenetic likelihood implementation.
Statistical Evidence for Common Ancestry: Testing for Signal in Silent Sites
Authors: Bontrager Martin , Larget Bret , Ané Cécile , Baum David
Published: January 2016

The common ancestry of life is supported by an enormous body of evidence and is universally accepted within the scientific community. However, some potential sources of data that can be used to test the thesis of common ancestry have not yet been formally analyzed.

We developed a new test of common ancestry based on nucleotide sequences at amino acid invariant sites in aligned homologous protein coding genes. We reasoned that since nucleotide variation at amino acid invariant sites is selectively neutral and, thus, unlikely to be due to convergent evolution, the observation that an amino acid is consistently encoded by the same codon sequence in different species could provide strong evidence of their common ancestry. Our method uses the observed variation in codon sequences at amino acid invariant sites as a test statistic, and compares such variation to that which is expected under three different models of codon frequency under the alternative hypothesis of separate ancestry. We also examine hierarchical structure in the nucleotide sequences at amino acid invariant sites and quantified agreement between trees generated from amino acid sequence and those inferred from the nucleotide sequences at amino acid invariant sites.

When these tests are applied to the primate families as a test case, we find that observed nucleotide variation at amino acid invariant sites is considerably lower than nucleotide variation predicted by any model of codon frequency under separate ancestry. Phylogenetic trees generated from amino-acid invariant site nucleotide data agree with those generated from protein-coding data, and there is far more hierarchical structure in amino-acid invariant site data than would be expected under separate ancestry.

We definitively reject the separate ancestry of the primate families, and demonstrate that our tests can be applied to any group of interest to test common ancestry.
Low-temperature powder X-ray diffraction measurements in vacuum: analysis of the thermal displacement of copper
Authors: Wahlberg Nanna , Bindzus Niels , Christensen Sebastian , Becker Jacob , Dippel Ann-Christin , Jørgensen Mads Ry Vogel , Iversen Bo Brummerstedt
Published: January 2016

A serious limitation of the all-in-vacuum diffractometer reported by Straasø, Dippel, Becker & Als-Nielsen [J. Synchrotron Rad.(2014),21, 119–126] has so far been the inability to cool samples to near-cryogenic temperatures during measurement. The problem is solved by placing the sample in a jet of helium gas cooled by liquid nitrogen. The resulting temperature change is quantified by determining the change in unit-cell parameter and atomic displacement parameter of copper. The cooling proved successful, with a resulting temperature of ∼95 (3) K. The measured powder X-ray diffraction data are of superb quality and high resolution [up to sinθ/λ = 2.2 Å−1], permitting an extensive modelling of the thermal displacement. The anharmonic displacement of copper was modelled by a Gram–Charlier expansion of the temperature factor. As expected, the corresponding probability distribution function shows an increased probability away from neighbouring atoms and a decreased probability towards them.
A qualitative case study of MNE legitimacy
Authors: Pavlovich Kathryn , Sinha Paresha N , Rodrigues Mark
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– An international joint venture (IJV) helps multinational enterprises (MNEs) overcome the “liability of foreignness.” However, in the presence of institutional voids, MNE’s overreliance on the local partner can result in the MNE unwittingly becoming involved in a corporate scandal. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the causes, impacts and outcomes on the MNE’s legitimacy following a corporate scandal.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using secondary data, this paper presents a qualitative case study of the Fonterra-Sanlu milk-powder scandal in China.

Findings

– The paper identifies the institutional voids that contributed to the scandal. It also examines the effects of the scandal on the MNE’s legitimacies and evaluates the appropriateness of its actions in China during the formation, erosion and repair stages of its legitimacy.

Research limitations/implications

– It contributes to legitimacy literature by discussing the importance of MNE’s active commitment when entering the emerging market. It argues that the building of pragmatic legitimacy is not sufficient, and explains why attendance to moral obligations is part of building moral and cognitive legitimacy.

Originality/value

– This unique case study of a corporate scandal offers deep insights into how, what and why questions regarding how the three forms of legitimacy are necessary for improving IJV performance by MNEs operating in emerging economies. It particularly highlights the importance of moral legitimacy as a mechanism for overcoming institutional voids.
Are you ready? Tasks and roles for academic libraries in supporting Research 2.0
Authors: Koltay Tibor
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify tasks and roles that academic libraries have to fulfil to react to the developments brought in by the appearance of Research 2.0.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of current literature about the topic was performed.

Findings

– Literature used reveals that currently, there is a need for providing information literacy (IL) education (mainly in the form of data literacy), providing research data services (RDSs) (addressing data quality and data citation), raising awareness of faculty members on different issues and providing individual support to them.

Originality/value

– The paper intends to be an add-on to the body of knowledge about academic library support to researchers.
Surface modification of light hollow polymer microspheres and its application in external wall thermal insulation coatings
Authors: Ye Chao , Wen Xiufang , Lan Jia-ling , Cai Zhi-qi , Pi Pi-hui , Xu Shou-ping , Qian Yu
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to modify light hollow polymer microsphere (LHPM) with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) to improve its compatibility with latex and apply the obtained nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles in external wall thermal insulation coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles were prepared via vigorous stirring. The morphology and chemical composition of the produced nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion spectrum, thermo-gravimetric analyzer and Fourier transform infrared. The performance of this new composite coating was evaluated by checking its stability, density, radiation reflectivity, thermal conductivity and the resulting insulation temperature difference when forming coating film.

Findings

– It was found that a 9:1 mass ratio of nano-TiO2/LHPM with total 10 weight per cent composite particles in the thermal insulation paint showed low density, good stability, low thermal conductivity (0.1687 W/m·K) and high insulation temperature difference (5.8°C).

Research limitations/implications

– The LHPM can be modified by other nanoparticles to improve its insulation performance in thermal insulation coatings.

Practical implications

– This work provides a simple, robust, but effective approach to produce new thermal insulation coatings with nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles.

Originality/value

– This method for surface modification of LHPMs is novel and the modified hollow polymer microspheres could be applied to external wall insulation coatings.
Synthesis of azo disperse dyes containing pyridine ring for dyeing polyester and polyacrylic fibres
Authors: Fadda A.A. , Abbas N.S.
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the synthesis of new azo disperse dyes containing pyridine ring for dyeing acetate polyester and other fibres.

Design/methodology/approach

– Cycloaddition reaction of 3-formylchromone (Compound 1) with ethyl vinyl ether (Compound 2) afforded 3-ethoxy-4,4a-dihyro-3H,10H-pyrano[4,3-b]chromen-10-one (Compound 3). Reaction of 3 with aqueous ammonium sulphite in ethanol furnishes 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)pyridine (Compound 5). Compound 5 was fully characterised by spectroscopic techniques. Ten arylazo derivatives of Compound 6 have been prepared for use as dyestuffs. The effect of the nature and orientation of substituents in the diazonium component on the colour of azo dyes is discussed. Dyeing performance of the dyes on different fibres has also been assessed.

Findings

– Most of the dyes showed good affinity to polyester fibres. On the other hand, polyacrylic fibres were only stained to weak shades.

Originality/value

– No details regarding the synthesis and dyeing performance of such dyes are reported before in the literature.
Preparation of LX1180-SO3− and the comparative study on the adsorption behaviour of LX1180 and LX1180-SO3−
Authors: Huo Ting , Chen Zhenbin , Long Jiapeng , Kang Lei , Di Duolong , Du Xueyan
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– This work focused on the sulphonation modification research of highly crosslinking non-polarity macroporous adsorption resin (MAR) LX1180; the adsorption behaviour of LX1180 and its chloromethylation- and sulphonation-modified products (LX1180-Cl and LX1180-SO3−); and the inﬂuence of the structure parameters matching degree of MAR and ﬂavonoids on the adsorption feature and adsorption kinetics.

Design/methodology/approach

– LX1180-SO3− was obtained by the processes of chloromethylation first and then sulphonation. LX1180-Cl and LX1180-SO3− were prepared through the principle of substitution reaction from LX1180 and LX1180-Cl, respectively. First, Monochloromethyl ether (ME), pre-treated ZnCl2, NaCl and iron powder were added into the swollen LX1180 to obtain the chloromethylated LX1180. Thereafter, NaCl, NaOH and SAA were added into the swollen LX1180-Cl to obtain the sulphonation modification LX1180. The conditions were investigated and optimised; the structures of LX1180-Cl and LX1180-SO3− were characterised by Fourier transform infrared chromatography (FTIR) and a specific surface area instrument. Finally, the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm were used to evaluate the adsorption capacity of LX1180-Cl and LX1180-SO3− for flavonoids, and the adsorptions and desorptions of LX1180-SO3− with different sulphonation degree on different flavonoids were investigated systemically.

Findings

– Results showed that LX1180-Cl and LX1180-SO3− had been prepared successfully, and that after the sulphonation, the adsorption capacity tended to increase with the increase of adsorption time, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity of LX1180-SO3− was also higher than that of LX1180.

Research limitations/implications

– The research only investigated the adsorption and desorption properties for only one kind of functional group, and other functional groups should also be studied in future work.

Practical implications

– This contribution can provide a further base for the research of separation and purification of natural products with the aim to improve food additive removal or isolation and purification of flavonoids used for healthcare applications.

Originality/value

– The adsorptions and desorptions of LX1180-SO3− with different sulphonation degree on different flavonoids were investigated. The relationship between sulphonation degree and the adsorption and desorption capacities of flavonoids were also explored, and the results showed that with the increase of sulphonation degree, the adsorption of LX1180-SO3− to rutin and cyanidin was maximum, while the desorption ratio was minimum at the same sulphonation degree; this phenomenon could be ascribed to the variation in the polarity matching degree.
Integrated regulation of the cellular metabolism and function of immune cells in adipose tissue
Authors: Oishi Yumiko , Manabe Ichiro
Published: January 2016

Obesity is known to associate with low‐grade, sustained, systemic inflammation, which is considered to be a key pathological basis for obesity‐associated diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. Immune cells, including both lymphocytes and macrophages, play physiological and pathological roles in adipose tissue. They increasingly infiltrate obese adipose tissue as body weight is gained, after which the infiltrated cells promote adipose tissue inflammation and strongly impact systemic metabolism. Recent studies have shown that the immune and metabolic systems are highly integrated with one another. This recognition has provided new insight into the mechanisms of metabolic diseases. In addition to the link at the tissue level, studies have shown that immune cell function is coordinately regulated with cellular metabolism. This review summarizes the current understanding of the specific metabolic signatures adopted by lymphocytes and macrophages to mediate proper effecter function. These findings will be related to the regulation of adipose tissue homeostasis and inflammation.
Peritoneal Dialysis Registry With 2012 Survey Report
Authors: Hasegawa Takeshi , Nakai Shigeru , Moriishi Misaki , Ito Yasuhiko , Itami Noritomo , Masakane Ikuto , Hanafusa Norio , Taniguchi Masatomo , Hamano Takayuki , Shoji Tetsuo , Yamagata Kunihiro , Shinoda Toshio , Kazama Junichiro , Watanabe Yuzo , Shigematsu Takashi , Marubayashi Seiji , Morita Osamu , Wada Atsushi , Hashimoto Seiji , Suzuki Kazuyuki , Kimata Naoki , Wakai Kenji , Fujii Naohiko , Ogata Satoshi , Tsuchida Kenji , Nishi Hiroshi , Iseki Kunitoshi , Tsubakihara Yoshiharu , Nakamoto Hidetomo
Published: January 2016

Since 2009, the peritoneal dialysis (PD) registry survey has been carried out as part of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the Statistical Survey Committee of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy with the cooperation of the Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. In this report, the current status of PD patients is presented on the basis of the results of the survey conducted at the end of 2012. The subjects were PD patients who lived in Japan and participated in the 2012 survey. Descriptive analysis of various items was performed, which included the current status of the combined use of PD and another dialysis method such as hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF), the method of exchanging dialysate, the use of an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machine, and the rates of peritonitis and catheter exit‐site infection. From the results of the facility survey in 2012, the number of PD patients was 9514, a decrease of 128 from 2011. Among the entire dialysis patient population, 3.1% were PD patients, a decrease of 0.1%. Among the studied patients, 347 had a peritoneal catheter and underwent peritoneal lavage, 175 were started on PD in 2012 but introduced to other blood purification methods in the same year, and 1932 underwent both PD and another dialysis method such as HD or HDF. The percentage of patients who underwent PD and another dialysis method increased with PD vintage: <1 year, 4.8%; 1 to <2 years, 9.2%; 2 to <4 years, 16.3%; 4 to <8 years, 32.0%; and ≥8 years, 47.5%. The percentage of PD patients who completely manually exchanged the dialysate was 29.8%. The percentages of PD patients who used a double‐bag exchange system with ultraviolet‐light irradiation and those who used the same system but with a sterile connecting device were 54.7 and 13.9%, respectively. The percentage of patients on PD for <1 year using an APD machine was 43.4%, and it decreased with a PD vintage of ≥2 years. The mean rate of peritonitis was 0.22 per patient per year. The mean rate of catheter exit‐site infections was 0.36 per patient per year.
Once‐daily liraglutide (1.2 mg) compared with twice‐daily exenatide (10 μg) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients: An indirect treatment comparison meta‐analysis
Authors: Twigg Stephen M. , Daja Mirella M. , O’leary Beth A. , Adena Michael A.
Published: January 2016

Background

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists provide effective hyperglycemia management in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a randomized head‐to‐head trial, liraglutide 1.8 mg q.d. led to greater reductions in HbA1c than exenatide 10 μg b.i.d. There are no direct comparisons of liraglutide 1.2 mg q.d. and exenatide b.i.d.; therefore, in the present study, an indirect comparison and meta‐analysis were undertaken.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials of liraglutide 1.2 mg q.d. or exenatide b.i.d. with HbA1c as an outcome and ≥25 subjects. Key data were extracted and analyzed. A random‐effects model was used to incorporate heterogeneity between studies.

Results

Three liraglutide 1.2 mg q.d. (n = 1060) and 10 exenatide b.i.d. (n = 2609) placebo‐controlled studies were identified, allowing indirect comparison with placebo as the common arm. Baseline characteristics were mean age ~55 years, disease duration ~7 years, HbA1c ~8%, and body mass index ~32 kg/m2. Compared with exenatide b.i.d., liraglutide 1.2 mg was associated with significantly greater reductions from baseline in HbA1c (–0.29%; 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.53, –0.05) and fasting plasma glucose (–0.92 mmol/L; 95% CI –1.43, –0.41), with shorter duration of nausea (3 vs 14 days; P = 0.002) and fewer withdrawals (odds ratio 0.34; 95% CI 0.22, 0.52). The incidence of adverse events (including nausea) and withdrawals because of adverse events were similar between treatments.

Conclusions

Liraglutide 1.2 mg provided a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c than exenatide 10 μg b.i.d. The significantly shorter duration of nausea with liraglutide than exenatide may be appreciated by patients.
Mitochondrial metabolites extend lifespan
Authors: Mishur Robert J. , Khan Maruf , Munkácsy Erin , Sharma Lokendra , Bokov Alex , Beam Haley , Radetskaya Oxana , Borror Megan , Lane Rebecca , Bai Yidong , Rea Shane L.
Published: January 2016

Disruption of mitochondrial respiration in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can extend lifespan. We previously showed that long‐lived respiratory mutants generate elevated amounts of α‐ketoacids. These compounds are structurally related to α‐ketoglutarate, suggesting they may be biologically relevant. Here, we show that provision of several such metabolites to wild‐type worms is sufficient to extend their life. At least one mode of action is through stabilization of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1). We also find that an α‐ketoglutarate mimetic, 2,4‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4‐PDA), is alone sufficient to increase the lifespan of wild‐type worms and this effect is blocked by removal of HIF‐1. HIF‐1 is constitutively active in isp‐1(qm150) Mit mutants, and accordingly, 2,4‐PDA does not further increase their lifespan. Incubation of mouse 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts with life‐prolonging α‐ketoacids also results in HIF‐1α stabilization. We propose that metabolites that build up following mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction form a novel mode of cell signaling that acts to regulate lifespan.
Priorities of Care Among Older Adults in the Emergency Department: A Cross‐sectional Study
Authors: Hunold Katherine M. , Pereira Gregory F. , Jones Christopher W. , Isaacs Cameron G. , Braz Valerie A. , Gadi Sneha R. , Platts‐Mills Timothy F.
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Emergency departments (EDs) are an increasingly important site of care for older adults, but little is known about the priorities of emergency care in this population. We sought to describe and rank priorities of care among older adults receiving care in the ED.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of cognitively intact patients aged 65 years and older receiving care in two U.S. EDs. Participants provided up to three open‐ended responses to a single question asking what would make their ED visit successful, useful, or valuable. A literature review and patient responses were used to generate priority categories and larger metacategories. Each response was then assigned to one of the categories by independent reviewers. We report the percentage of patients identifying a priority in each category and metacategory and the relative weight of each category based on the frequency and order of priorities provided by patients.

Results

A total of 185 participants provided 351 priorities. Twenty‐four categories and seven metacategories were identified. Sixty‐two percent (N = 114) of participants reported at least one priority in the “evaluation, treatment, and outcomes” metacategory. Of these, the most common priorities included treatment of the medical problem (n = 37, 20%), accurate diagnosis (n = 36, 19%), competent staff and provider (n = 28, 15%), and desirable health outcome (n = 24, 13%). The second and third most common metacategories were “timely care” (n = 67, 36%), and “service” (n = 38, 21%). Nineteen patients (10%) expressed a desire to be discharged; one patient (1%) expressed a desire for admission. The ranking of weighted priorities were identical to the unweighted rank order by frequency.

Conclusions

Among a sample of cognitively intact older ED patients, the most common priorities were related to the accuracy and efficiency of the medical evaluation. These priorities should be considered by those attempting to improve the emergency care of older adults.
Cost‐effectiveness Analysis of Follow‐up Strategies for Thunderclap Headache Patients With Negative Noncontrast CT
Authors: Malhotra Ajay , Wu Xiao , Kalra Vivek B. , Schindler Joseph , Forman Howard P.
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Accurate diagnosis of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is critical in thunderclap headache patients due to high morbidity and mortality associated with missed aneurysmal bleeds. The objective of this study was to determine the utility of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in managing patients with acute, severe headaches and negative noncontrast CT and assess the cost‐effectiveness of three different screening strategies—no follow up, CTA, and lumbar puncture (LP).

Methods

A modeling‐based economic evaluation was performed with a time horizon of 1 year for thunderclap headache patients in the emergency department with negative noncontrast CT for SAH. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the effect of sensitivity of CT and the prevalence of SAH on cost‐effectiveness.

Results

Lumbar puncture follow‐up has the lowest cost and the highest utility in the mathematical model. The Monte Carlo simulation shows noncontrast CT with LP follow‐up to be the most cost‐effective strategy in 85.3% of all cases even at a $1 million/quality‐adjusted life‐years willingness‐to‐pay. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that LP follow‐up should be performed, except for when CT sensitivity exceeds 99.2% and the SAH prevalence is below 3.2%, where no follow‐up may be considered.

Conclusions

Although CTA is frequently used for evaluation of thunderclap headache patients, its utility is not clearly defined. LP follow‐up is shown to be the most cost‐effective strategy for evaluation of thunderclap headache patients in most clinical settings.
Intra‐Amniotic Administration of HMGB1 Induces Spontaneous Preterm Labor and Birth
Authors: Gomez‐Lopez Nardhy , Romero Roberto , Plazyo Olesya , Panaitescu Bogdan , Furcron Amy E. , Miller Derek , Roumayah Tamara , Flom Emily , Hassan Sonia S.
Published: January 2016

Problem

Sterile intra‐amniotic inflammation is associated with spontaneous preterm labor. Alarmins are proposed to mediate this inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to determine whether intra‐amniotic administration of an alarmin, HMGB1, could induce preterm labor/birth.

Method of Study

Pregnant B6 mice were intra‐amniotically or intraperitoneally injected with HMGB1 or PBS (control). Following injection, the gestational age and the rates of preterm birth and pup mortality were recorded.

Results

Intra‐amniotic injection of HMGB1 led to preterm labor/birth [HMGB1 57% (4/7) versus PBS 0% (0/6); P = 0.049) and a high rate of pup mortality at week 1 [HMGB1 60.9 ± 11.7% (25/41) versus PBS 28.9 ± 12.6% (11/38); P = 0.001). Intraperitoneal injection of HMGB1 did not induce preterm labor/birth.

Conclusion

Intra‐amniotic administration of HMGB1 induces preterm labor/birth.
Review: Aberrant EVI1 expression in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Hinai Adil A. , Valk Peter J. M.
Published: January 2016

Deregulated expression of the ecotropic virus integration site 1 (EVI1) gene is the molecular hallmark of therapy‐resistant myeloid malignancies bearing chromosomal inv(3)(q21q26·2) or t(3;3)(q21;q26·2) [hereafter referred to as inv(3)/t(3;3)] abnormalities. EVI1 is a haematopoietic stemness and transcription factor with chromatin remodelling activity. Interestingly, the EVI1 gene also shows overexpression in 6–11% of adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases that do not carry any 3q aberrations. Deregulated expression of EVI1 is strongly associated with monosomy 7 and 11q23 abnormalities, which are known to be associated with poor response to treatment. However, EVI1 overexpression has been revealed as an important independent adverse prognostic marker in adult AML and defines distinct risk categories in 11q23‐rearranged AML. Recently, important progress has been made in the delineation of the mechanism by which EVI1 becomes deregulated in inv(3)/t(3;3) as well as the cooperating mutations in this specific subset of AML with dismal prognosis.