bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alterations in lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic histopathological changes in diabetic rats following the treatment with Salvadora persica
Authors: Saeedi Borujeni Mohammad Javad , Esfandiary Ebrahim , Ghanadian Mustafa , Valiani Ali , Baradaran Azar , Yazdani Amid
Published: October 2018

We examined the effects of various partitions of Salvadora persica extract on lipid profile (LP), lipid peroxidation, and insulin sensitivity (IS) of diabetic rats. The rats were divided into normal control, diabetic control (DC), standard, sham, and test groups. The test groups were treated with an oral dose of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of crude, aqueous, and ethyl acetate partition of
S. persica extract. After 21 days of experiment, the fasting blood glucose (FBS), LPs, lipid peroxidation, IS, liver enzymes levels, liver histopathology, and body weight alteration were evaluated. A significant decrease in FBS and lipid profile (except HDL) were observed in rats treated with various dose of extract compared with the DC rats (
P < 0.05). Treating diabetic rats with various extracts of
S. persica meaningfully decreased the level of malondialdehyde (
P < 0.05). Animals treated with various dose of aqueous extract showed better results (
P < 0.01). On the basis of used indirect indexes to determine IS, all partitions of extracts showed anti‐insulin resistance effects in diabetic rats. On the basis of our statistical analyzing, treating diabetic rats with all of the three extracts of
S. persica decreased the elevated levels of alanine phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transferase. Also, pathological changes in the liver tissue were reduced following treatment with the
S. persica. In conclusion, our results give evidence that the
S. persica extract, especially aqueous partition, has a healing effect on diabetes and can be considered as an alternative therapy for this disease.
Symptomatic venous thromboembolism after non‐operatively treated foot or ankle injury
Authors: Prince Robert M. , Lubberts Bart , Buda Matteo , Guss Daniel , DiGiovanni Christopher W.
Published: October 2018

The purpose was to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing below knee immobilization for non‐operative foot or ankle injury. We included all foot and ankle patients between January 2005 and May 2016 who underwent non‐operative management using below knee immobilization with cast, splint, brace, and/or boot. The primary outcome was the development of a venous thromboembolism within 90 days of immobilization initiation. Of 6,088 patients, twenty‐three (0.38%) developed a venous thromboembolism. Risk factors for venous thromboembolism were age>50 years, unremovable immobilization, Achilles tendon rupture, Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index>2, patients on chemoprophylaxis, varicose veins, history of venous thromboembolism, known hypercoagulability disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. Routine thromboprophylaxis after below‐knee immobilization for non‐operative foot or ankle injury may be beneficial in these specific subpopulations. These data can facilitate more substantive shared decision‐making between providers and patients with respect to use of thromboprophylaxis. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
Topical rifampin powder for orthopaedic trauma part II: Topical rifampin allows for spontaneous bone healing in sterile and contaminated wounds
Authors: Shiels Stefanie M. , Tennent David J. , Lofgren Alicia L. , Wenke Joseph C.
Published: October 2018

Infectious complications can reduce fracture healing rate. Broad spectrum antibiotics are commonly administered to prevent and treat musculoskeletal infections. Local antibiotics are applied to the wound site to increase therapeutic concentrations without increasing systemic toxicity, however, may hinder local tissue recovery. Rifampin has been shown to eradicate mature Staphylococcal biofilms and its use proven for treating musculoskeletal infections. In this study, a spontaneously healing defect model in a rat was used to investigate the impact rifampin powder has on endogenous bone healing in both a sterile and contaminated wound. No significant differences were identified in bone volume fraction via microcomputed tomography, radiological scoring, or histology between an empty defect and animals that received vancomycin or rifampin powder in a sterile wound. When applied to a contaminated musculoskeletal wound, the rifampin powder had significantly greater bone formation compared to the control, as measured by microcomputed tomography, plain radiology, and histology. In addition, the animals treated with rifampin powder had reduced bacteria, reduced white blood cell count and reduced number of clinical indications of infection. Interestingly, while the vancomycin group still displayed signs of infection via quantitative microbiology, plain radiology, and histology, there was significant bone formation within the defect and reduction of systemic signs of infection. We demonstrated that the use of rifampin powder allows bone to heal in both a sterile and contaminated model of musculoskeletal infection. To our knowledge, this is the first time the direct impact of local antibiotics on bone healing has been investigated. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. J Orthop Res 36:3142–3150, 2018.
Aggregation Behavior of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Mixtures in Aqueous/Chitosan Solution at Various Temperatures: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach
Authors: Mahbub Shamim , Rahman Marzia , Rana Shahed , Rub Malik Abdul , Hoque Md. Anamul , Khan Mohammed Abdullah , Asiri Abdullah M.
Published: October 2018

A conductometric study of the mixed micellization behavior between cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, a cationic surfactant) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, an anionic surfactant) was carried out in the absence/presence of various percentages of chitosan in the temperature range of 298.15–318.15 K. The deviations of critical micelle concentration (cmc) from the ideal values indicate the interaction between CTAB and SDS. The micellar mole fraction values according to different proposed models X1Rub (Rubingh), X1M (Motomura), X1Rod (Rodenas), and X1id (ideal mole fraction) were estimated and the results obtained reveal the high contribution of CTAB in the mixed micellization, which enhances with the increase of the mole fraction of CTAB. The negative magnitudes of indicate the spontaneous formation of mixed micelles between CTAB and SDS. The values of activity coefficients (f1 and f2) were less than unity and the values of the interaction parameter (β) are negative in all cases, which indicate the attractive interaction between CTAB and SDS. The negative values of excess free energy of micellization (ΔGex) signify the stability of the mixed micelles. The negative values of in the chitosan systems indicate that micellization is exothermic. The values of were found to be positive in all cases.
Effect of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on patulin produced by Penicillum expansum and involved mechanism
Authors: Zhang Xiaomin , Fu Maorun , Chen Qingmin
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Patulin, produced by Penicillium expansum in apple fruit, has side effects affecting human and animal health. The effect of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on patulin production, and the mechanisms involved in this, were investigated.

RESULTS

Patulin production by P. expansum was reduced by ClO2 treatment, both in apples and in a potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium, which was attributed to the antifungal effect of ClO2, but not the direct reaction between ClO2 and patulin. Fumigation with ClO2 also significantly reduced disease development in apples infected with P. expansum, and inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination. After ClO2 treatment, P. expansum mycelial morphology was strongly affected, leading to the loss of plasma membrane integrity and causing cellular leakage.

CONCLUSION

These data provide useful information that enables the inhibitory mechanism of ClO2 on patulin production by P. expansum to be better understood. It can also assist the development of effective methods to control patulin production in apples and other postharvest fruits. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Anti‐hyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective properties of wheat bran with different particle sizes
Authors: Junejo Shahid A , Zhang Liang , Yang Liping , Wang Naifu , Zhou Yibin , Xia Yuesheng , Wang Haisong
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Wheat bran has been shown to have health‐promoting benefits in relation to diabetes, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and gastrointestinal disease. However, its effects on obesity, hyperglycemia, hepatotoxicity, and hyperlipidemia are not yet clear. The effects of the consumption of wheat bran of different particle sizes (coarse, 427.55 µm versus ultra‐fine, 11.63 µm) on body weight, serum glucose, liver, and blood lipid metabolism levels in high‐fat‐diet induced rats fed for 5 weeks were investigated.

RESULTS

The high‐fat diet significantly increased body weight, serum glucose, serum and liver lipids, and malondialdehyde levels. However, addition of coarse and ultra‐fine wheat bran to a high‐fat diet decreased weight gain, reduced the levels of serum and liver total cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, serum low‐density lipoprotein, and serum glucose, and improved serum high‐density lipoprotein. Moreover, when two particle sizes were compared, the highest impact was exhibited by the wheat bran containing the larger particle size.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that micronized wheat bran significantly improves anti‐hyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective properties that might provide a safeguard to protect humans against metabolic syndrome abnormalities and other acute, recurrent, or chronic diseases. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Scaling the Graft Length and Graft Density of Irradiation‐Grafted Copolymers
Authors: Nagy Gergely , Sproll Véronique , Gasser Urs , Schmidt Thomas J. , Gubler Lorenz , Balog Sandor
Published: October 2018

Irradiation‐induced graft copolymerization is often the easiest route to combine the functionality of two polymers and, furthermore, the average composition of the copolymer is straightforward to control. However, control of the graft length and the graft density is more difficult and has been considered to be infeasible. To test the hypothesis that the graft density and graft length may be increased or decreased via increasing or decreasing the dose of irradiation and graft level, polymer electrolytes are characterized in terms of water sorption, proton conductivity, and nanostructure. Based on the premise that graft density and graft length define ion transport and phase segregation, impedance spectroscopy and small‐angle scattering support the hypothesis. The method therefore represents a novel degree of freedom in the design and synthesis of radiation grafted copolymers.
Salt‐dependent regulation of archaellins in Haloarcula marismortui
Authors: Syutkin Alexey S. , van Wolferen Marleen , Surin Alexey K. , Albers Sonja‐Verena , Pyatibratov Mikhail G. , Fedorov Oleg V. , Quax Tessa E. F.
Published: October 2018

Microorganisms require a motility structure to move towards optimal growth conditions. The motility structure from archaea, the archaellum, is fundamentally different from its bacterial counterpart, the flagellum, and is assembled in a similar fashion as type IV pili. The archaellum filament consists of thousands of copies of N‐terminally processed archaellin proteins. Several archaea, such as the euryarchaeon Haloarcula marismortui, encode multiple archaellins. Two archaellins of H. marismortui display differential stability under various ionic strengths. This suggests that these proteins behave as ecoparalogs and perform the same function under different environmental conditions. Here, we explored this intriguing system to study the differential regulation of these ecoparalogous archaellins by monitoring their transcription, translation, and assembly into filaments. The salt concentration of the growth medium induced differential expression of the two archaellins. In addition, this analysis indicated that archaellation in H. marismortui is majorly regulated on the level of secretion, by a still unknown mechanism. These findings indicate that in archaea, multiple encoded archaellins are not completely redundant, but in fact can display subtle functional differences, which enable cells to cope with varying environmental conditions.
Myo‐inositol‐1‐phosphate synthase (Ino‐1) functions as a protection mechanism in Corynebacterium glutamicum under oxidative stress
Authors: Chen Can , Chen Keqi , Su Tao , Zhang Bing , Li Guizhi , Pan Junfeng , Si Meiru
Published: October 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in aerobic metabolism and oxidative stress lead to macromolecules damage, such as to proteins, lipids, and DNA, which can be eliminated by the redox buffer mycothiol (AcCys‐GlcN‐Ins, MSH). Myo‐inositol‐phosphate synthase (Ino‐1) catalyzes the first committed step in the synthesis of MSH, thus playing a critical role in the growth of the organism. Although Ino‐1s have been systematically studied in eukaryotes, their physiological and biochemical functions remain largely unknown in bacteria. In this study, we report that Ino‐1 plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance in the gram‐positive Actinobacteria Corynebacterium glutamicum. Deletion of the ino‐1 gene resulted in a decrease in cell viability, an increase in ROS production, and the aggravation of protein carbonylation levels under various stress conditions. The physiological roles of Ino‐1 in the resistance to oxidative stresses were corroborated by the absence of MSH in the Δino‐1 mutant. In addition, we found that the homologous expression of Ino‐1 in C. glutamicum yielded a functionally active protein, while when expressed in Escherichia coliBL21(DE3), it lacked measurable activity. An examination of the molecular mass (Mr) suggested that Ino‐1 expressed in E. coliBL21(DE3) was not folded in a catalytically competent conformation. Together, the results unequivocally showed that Ino‐1 was important for the mediation of oxidative resistance by C. glutamicum.
Culturing marine bacteria from the genus Pseudoalteromonas on a cotton scaffold alters secondary metabolite production
Authors: Timmermans Marshall L. , Picott Katherine J. , Ucciferri Lorena , Ross Avena C.
Published: October 2018

The discovery of secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms is beset by numerous challenges including difficulties cultivating and subsequently eliciting expression of biosynthetic genes from marine microbes in the laboratory. In this paper, we describe a method of culturing three species from the marine bacterial genus Pseudoalteromonas using cotton scaffold supplemented liquid media. This simple cultivation method was designed to mimic the natural behavior of some members of the genus wherein they form epibiotic/symbiotic associations with higher organisms such as sponges and corals or attach to solid structures as a biofilm. Our scaffolded cultivation is highly effective at stimulating an attachment/biofilm phenotype and causes large changes to metabolite profiles for the microbes investigated. Metabolite changes include alteration to the production levels of known molecules such as violacein, thiomarinol A, and the alterochromide and prodiginine families of molecules. Finally and critically, our technique stimulates the production of unknown compounds that will serve as leads for future natural product discovery. These results suggest our cultivation approach could potentially be used as a general strategy for the activation of silent gene clusters in marine microbes to facilitate access to their full natural product biosynthetic capacity.
Metagenomic analysis of nitrogen‐cycling genes in upper Mississippi river sediment with mussel assemblages
Authors: Black Ellen M. , Chimenti Michael S. , Just Craig L.
Published: October 2018

We investigated the impact of native freshwater mussel assemblages (order Unionoida) on the abundance and composition of nitrogen‐cycling genes in sediment of an upper Mississippi river habitat. We hypothesized that the genomic potential for ammonia and nitrite oxidation would be greater in the sediment with mussel assemblages, presumably due to mussel biodeposition products, namely ammonia and organic carbon. Regardless of the presence of mussels, upper Mississippi river sediment microbial communities had the largest genomic potential for nitrogen fixation followed by urea catabolism, nitrate metabolism, and nitrate assimilation, as evidenced by analysis of nitrogen cycling pathway abundances. However, genes encoding nitrate and nitrite redox reactions, narGHI and nxrAB, were the most abundant functional genes of the nitrogen cycling gene families. Using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), we found nitrification genes were the most important biomarkers for nitrogen cycling genomic potential when mussels were present, and this presented an opposing effect on the abundance of genes encoding nitric oxide reduction. The genes involved in nitrification that increased the most were amoA associated with comammox Nitrospira and nxr homologs associated with Nitrospira. On the other hand, the most distinctive biomarkers of microbial communities without mussels were norB and nrfA, as part of denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium pathways, respectively. Ultimately, this research demonstrates the impact of native mollusks on microbial nitrogen cycling in an aquatic agroecosystem.
Wege zu neuen Medikamenten
Authors: Nussbaumer Peter , Klebl Bert
Published: October 2018

Eine Reaktion auf den Strukturwandel in der Arzneimittelforschung ist das vor zehn Jahren gegründete Unternehmen Lead Discovery Center. Es vermittelt zwischen Industrie und Akademia.
Schon immer die gleiche Medizin
Authors: Engl Tobias
Published: October 2018

Antibiotika können einen Befall mit Mikroorganismen heilen oder ihm vorbeugen. Obwohl immer mehr Resistenzen gegen Antibiotika entstehen, lassen sich diese Mittel unter bestimmten Bedingungen über einen langen Zeitraum nutzen. Eine Gruppe von Grabwespen tut dies seit 68 Millionen Jahren.
Lanthanoide – biologisch wichtig
Authors: Lumpe Henning , Daumann Lena J.
Published: October 2018

Hin und wieder als „Vitamine der Industrie“ bezeichnet, aber auch für manche Organismen lebensnotwendig: Lanthanoide, also die Elemente von Lanthan bis Lutetium. Vor kurzem sind sie wegen ihrer biologischen Funktion in den Fokus von Mikrobiologen und Koordinationschemikern gerückt.
Properties of flame‐retardant TPU based on para‐aramid fiber modified with iron diethyl phosphinate
Authors: Chen Xilei , Wei Zhibiao , Wang Wenduo , Jiao Chuanmei
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a new type of flame retardant (AF‐Fe) based on para‐aramid fiber (AF) which was modified with iron diethyl phosphinate was applied for thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). The flame‐retardant properties of TPU were tested using cone calorimeter test, smoke density test, and thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry. The cone calorimeter test showed that AF‐Fe can greatly reduce the heat release rate, total heat release, smoke factor, and other parameters of TPU composites compared with the sample of TPU/AF. For example, the pHRR of the composite with 1.0 wt% AF‐Fe was reduced by 15.19% compared with the sample with the same content of pure AF. In addition, the smoke factor of TPU/AFFe3 was reduced by 50.52% and 15.63% compared with TPU0 and TPU/AF respectively. The results of smoke density test showed that the luminous flux of TPU/AFFe3 was increased by 79.26% compared with the sample of TPU/AF. The TG results revealed that the sample with TPU/AFFe3 had lower weight loss rate and higher char residue content at 700°C compared with the sample of TPU/AF.
Thermal degradation and flame retardancy of fumaric acid in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer
Authors: Wei Zhibiao , Chen Xilei , Jiao Chuanmei
Published: October 2018

In this paper, fumaric acid (FA) which was a new type of environmental and low‐cost flame retardant was applied for thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). The flame‐retardant properties of TPU were tested using limiting oxygen index, cone calorimeter test, smoke density test, and thermogravimetric/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It has been proved that FA could improve the difficulty of the ignition of the sample; the limiting oxygen index value of the sample (FA‐4) increased by 29.7% when 2.0 wt% FA was added to TPU. The cone calorimeter test showed that FA can greatly reduce heat release and smoke production during the combustion process of TPU composites. For example, compared with the pure TPU, the peak heat release rate and total smoke release of the sample (FA‐4) with 2.0 wt% FA were decreased by 50.8% and 51.5% respectively. The results of smoke density test showed that the luminous flux of the samples contained 0.5 wt% FA was increased by 79.2% compared with the pure TPU. The TG results revealed that the sample of FA‐4 had higher char residue content compared with the sample of TPU. The results of thermogravimetric/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved that FA could decrease the initial decomposition temperature for TPU composites and increase the release of CO2 and H2O. All results of test illustrated that FA had good flame‐retardant effect on TPU.
NOX2 in autoimmunity, tumor growth and metastasis
Authors: Martner Anna , Aydin Ebru , Hellstrand Kristoffer
Published: October 2018

Myeloid cell NADPH oxidase isoform 2 (NOX2) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that participate in defense against microbial pathogens. Humans with compromised NOX2‐mediated ROS formation develop chronic granulomatous disease characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections. Additionally, impaired NOX2 function entails hyperactive lymphocytes and autoimmunity in humans and in murine models. The impact of NOX2 and ROS on cancer development is only partly explored. Recent research published in the Journal of Pathology showed that genetic depletion of any of the NOX2 subunits Cyba, Cybb, Ncf1, Ncf2 and Ncf4 reduced the formation of lung metastases following intravenous injection of murine tumor cells. These findings, together with the role of NOX2 in maintaining self‐tolerance, imply that NOX2 is a targetable immune checkpoint in cancer. In particular, the possibility of modulating NOX2 to improve lymphocyte‐mediated control of metastatic cells merits further investigation. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Limitations of HLH‐2004 criteria in distinguishing malignancy‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Gurunathan Arun , Boucher Alexander A. , Mark Melissa , Prus Kristina M. , O'Brien Maureen M. , Breese Erin H. , Mizukawa Benjamin E. , Absalon Michael J. , Nelson Adam S. , Jordan Michael B. , Grimley Michael S. , Lorsbach Robert B. , Rotz Seth J. , Mathanda Reema , Kumar Ashish R.
Published: October 2018

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is characterized by dysregulated immune activation.  Primary HLH involves hereditary deficits in cytotoxic lymphocytes while secondary HLH is triggered by extrinsic factors. The HLH‐2004 criteria are widely used for clinical diagnosis, yet their specificity for HLH or their ability to differentiate primary from secondary disease is unclear, potentially leading to inappropriate treatment. We describe several cases where fulfillment of HLH‐2004 criteria obscured the diagnoses of underlying malignancies and delayed curative management. These issues are remedied without waiting for genetic testing results through an alternative diagnostic approach using flow cytometry–based immunologic assays and a thorough investigation for malignancy.
Enterovirus infections in pediatric hematologic/oncologic patients
Authors: Strenger Volker , Kessler Harald H. , Stelzl Evelyn , Aberle Stephan W. , Keldorfer Markus , Zach Klara , Karastaneva Anna , Sperl Daniela , Lackner Herwig , Benesch Martin , Urban Christian , Dornbusch Hans Jürgen
Published: October 2018

Background

Enteroviruses (EV) are a large group of Picornaviruses associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurologic symptoms in the immunocompetent host. Little is known about the epidemiologic and clinical impact in pediatric hematologic/oncologic patients.

Procedure

From 2001 through 2017, different clinical specimens were collected from pediatric hematologic/oncologic patients and were tested for enteroviral RNA.

Results

Of 13 004 specimens collected from 761 patients, 38 (0.3%) obtained from 14 patients (1.8%) tested positive for EV RNA. Viral shedding was observed without viremia and vice versa. None of 80 cerebrospinal fluid specimens obtained from 60 patients with neurologic symptoms were positive for EV RNA. None of 14 patients positive for EV RNA showed EV‐specific symptoms. In 11/14 patients, EV RNA was found to be negative in the follow‐up specimen. The remaining patient with a severe primary immune deficiency showed repeated positive EV RNA results for >5 years.

Conclusions

In this pediatric hematologic/oncologic cohort, EV infection occurred rarely and without related symptoms. Specimens concurrently obtained from one patient are commonly not in accordance with each other. In the vast majority of patients, EV RNA appears to turn negative in the follow‐up specimen. EV infections seem to have a low impact in this patient cohort.
Treatment outcome and pattern of failure in hepatoblastoma treated with a consensus protocol in Hong Kong
Authors: Liu Anthony P. Y. , Ip Janice J. K. , Leung Alex W. K. , Luk C. W. , Li C. H. , Ho Karin K. H. , Lo Regina , Chan Edwin K. W. , Chan Albert C. Y. , Chung Patrick H. Y. , Chiang Alan K. S.
Published: October 2018

Background and aim

We reviewed the results and pattern of failure of the consensus HB/HCC 1996 treatment protocol for pediatric hepatoblastoma (HB) in Hong Kong. The role of SIOPEL and Children's Hepatic tumors International Collaboration (CHIC) risk stratification was evaluated.

Methods

Patients enrolled on the protocol from 1996 to 2014 were included. PRETEXT staging, SIOPEL, and CHIC risk groups were retrospectively assigned.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled with median age at diagnosis of 1.1 years and median follow‐up time of 6.8 years. Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) was raised (>100 ng/mL) in 58 (97%) patients. Five (8%) had metastases at presentation and 7 (12%) experienced tumor rupture prior to or during treatment. Twenty‐nine patients (48%) received a first‐line cisplatin, 5‐fluorouracil, and vincristine regimen only while 23 (38%) also had alternative chemotherapeutic agents. Hepatic resection could be performed in 48 (80%) patients. Three (5%) patients underwent upfront liver transplantation. Five‐year event‐free survival and overall survival rates were 69.2% ± 6.1% and 77.6% ± 5.5% respectively. Among the 16 patients with relapse/progression, 9 had intrahepatic failure only, 5 had distant failure only, and 2 had combined local and distant failure. Predictors of inferior outcome included advanced Evans staging, disease involving both lobes, rupture, low AFP, and suboptimal response to first‐line chemotherapy. Assigned in 44 patients, PRETEXT staging, SIOPEL, and CHIC risk groups significantly predicted EFS and OS.

Conclusions

Although the consensus HB/HCC 1996 protocol led to cure in three‐quarters of pediatric HB patients, an upfront risk stratification system is required to identify and improve the outcome of high‐risk patients.
CD5 positive B‐ALL, a uniquely aggressive subcategory of B‐ALL? A case report and brief review of the literature
Authors: Staley Elizabeth M. , Feldman Alexander Z. , Koenig Richard G. , Hill Benjamin
Published: October 2018

CD5 antigen expression in B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) is exceptionally rare. There are six detailed case reports in the literature, with only 16 cases described. Case series analyzing the frequency of aberrant B‐ALL immunophenotypes suggest that this variant may occur in as little as 2‐4.5% of all B‐ALL cases, with one series having no CD5+ positive cases. Herein we report a case of CD5+ B‐ALL in a 15‐year‐old female, and review the previously reported cases. As limited information is available, more data from prospective clinical trials are required to determine whether CD5 positivity portends a poorer prognosis.
Hope and benefit finding: Results from the PRISM randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rosenberg Abby R. , Bradford Miranda C. , Barton Krysta S. , Etsekson Nicole , McCauley Elizabeth , Curtis J. Randall , Wolfe Joanne , Baker K. Scott , Yi‐Frazier Joyce P.
Published: October 2018

Background

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are at risk for poor psychosocial outcomes, perhaps because they have not acquired skills to navigate the adversities of illness. In a recent phase II randomized controlled trial (RCT), the “Promoting Resilience in Stress Management” (PRISM) intervention was associated with improved patient‐reported resilience, quality of life, and distress. In this planned analysis of secondary aims, we hypothesized PRISM would also improve targeted coping skills of hopeful thinking, benefit finding, and goal setting.

Methods

We conducted this parallel RCT at Seattle Children's Hospital from January 2015 to October 2016. English‐speaking AYAs (12‐25 years old) with cancer were randomized one‐to‐one to PRISM or usual care (UC). PRISM teaches stress‐management, goal‐setting, cognitive‐reframing, and meaning‐making skills in four sessions delivered in‐person every other week. Participants completed surveys at enrollment and 6 months later. Mixed effects linear regression models evaluated associations between PRISM and benefit finding (Benefit‐Finding Scale for Children), hopeful thinking (Hope Scale), and an exploratory outcome of goal setting (queried with open‐ended items about participant's goals, measured qualitatively by three blinded reviewers).

Results

Of N = 92 AYAs (48 PRISM, 44 UC), 73% were 12‐17 years old, 43% female, and 62% diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma. PRISM was associated with improved benefit finding and hope with moderate‐to‐large effect sizes—benefit finding: +3.1 points, 95% CI 0.0, 6.2, d = 0.4, and P = 0.05; and hope: +3.6 points, 95% CI 0.7, 6.4, d = 0.6, and P = 0.01. We did not detect changes in goal setting (–0.5 points, 95% CI –1.2, 0.3, d = –0.3, P = 0.23).

Conclusions

PRISM was associated with improvements in benefit finding and hopeful thinking, two adaptive coping skills which may mitigate long‐term psychosocial risk.
Defining an optimal time window to screen for hepatoblastoma in children with Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome
Authors: Mussa Alessandro , Duffy Kelly A. , Carli Diana , Ferrero Giovanni Battista , Kalish Jennifer M.
Published: October 2018

Patients with Beckwith‐Wiedemann spectrum (BWSp) undergo quarterly alpha‐fetoprotein measurement for hepatoblastoma (HB) screening up to 4 years of age, paralleling the epidemiology of nonsyndromic HB. However, specific data on the timing of HB development in BWSp are lacking. Here we compare the timing of presentation of HBs in BWSp with a control cohort of consecutive HB cases, demonstrating that halving screening duration of screening procedures in BWSp likely will not impact its effectiveness.
Theoretical elucidation on the mechanism of 1H‐1,2,4‐diazaphospholes synthesis from 1,3‐bis (amino)‐2‐phosphaallyl chlorides with hydrazine
Authors: Huo Rui‐Ping , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Cai‐Feng
Published: October 2018

The mechanism of the reaction of 1,3‐bis (amino)‐2‐phosphaallyl chlorides with hydrazine for the synthesis of 1H‐1,2,4‐diazaphospholes in CHCl3 solvent has been extensively investigated at the B3LYP/6‐311G (d, p) level. The reaction is initiated by the elimination of HCl and formation of a key intermediate A, then A subsequently undergoes H‐migration‐cyclization (A → B) and Me2NH elimination reactions (B → C) to afford carbene intermediate C, and C can transform to F along both single and triplet potential energy surfaces in three steps. H‐migration‐cyclization (A → B) step was identified as a proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) process, and singlet‐triplet PES crossing should be important in decomposition of C to D1 and D2. For R═Me, Ph and H, the rate control step should be the decomposition of C, while for R═tBu, the first Me2NH removal step is the rate control one. Theoretical results suggested that tBu is a preferable group than Ph, Me, and H in this reaction, which can be attributed to hyperconjugation effects of tBu, showing good agreement with experimental data.
Mechanically tough and recoverable hydrogels via dual physical crosslinkings
Authors: Yang Fengyu , Ren Baiping , Cai Yongqing , Tang Jianxin , Li Ding , Wang Ting , Feng Zhangqi , Chang Yung , Xu Lijian , Zheng Jie
Published: October 2018

Development of functional tough hydrogels with new network structures and energy dissipation mechanisms has great promise for many applications. Here, a new type of physical hydrogel crosslinked by hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonds was synthesized by a facile micellar copolymerization of hydrophobic methyl acrylate (MA) monomers and hydrophilic N‐hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA) monomers in the presence of Tween80 micelles. Strong hydrophobic association between inner MA and Tween80 and hydrogen bonds between external polyHEAA and Tween80 provide two distinct crosslinkers to construct mechanically tough and recoverable network. Mechanical properties of polyHEAA‐MA@Tween80 hydrogels strongly depended on network components (HEAA, MA; Tween80 concentrations). At optimal conditions, the hydrogels can achieve fracture stress of 700 kPa, fracture strain of 1687 mm/mm, elastic modulus of 195 kPa, and tearing energy of 1598 J/m2. Due to the reversible nature of physical interactions, polyHEAA‐MA@Tween80 hydrogels can achieve fast stiffness/toughness recovery of 60%/33% without any external stimuli and resting time at room temperature. This work demonstrates a new design strategy to fabricate a new a single‐network hydrogel with high mechanical and self‐recovery properties by incorporating both hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonds in the network, which may provide alternative viewpoint for the design of multifunctional tough hydrogels. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 1294–1305
Pneumatically Controlled Nanofluidic Devices for Contact‐Free Trapping and Manipulation of Nanoparticles
Authors: Gerspach Michael Adrian , Mojarad Nassir , Sharma Deepika , Ekinci Yasin , Pfohl Thomas
Published: October 2018

Contact‐free trapping and manipulation of individual nano‐objects in solution are of great scientific interest and remain one of the challenges in nanofluidics. Geometry‐induced electrostatic (GIE) trapping is one powerful method that enables stable trapping of charged nano‐objects smaller than 100 nm without the need of externally applied fields. However, due to the absence of external control, there is a lack of the function to actively control and manipulate the trapped objects. Here, novel trapping devices are fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based soft lithography replica molding, which simplifies fabrication and results in high‐throughput and low cost production. The development and implementation of a pneumatic system is described that makes the PDMS‐based GIE trapping devices capable of controlling the height of the nanofluidic channels. This setup enables fast and flexible tuning of the potential depth and trap stiffness as well as active trapping and release of the nanoparticles during the experiment, paving the way toward high‐throughput manipulation of nanoparticles.
Development of pull and push–pull systems for management of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, in poultry houses using alarm and aggregation pheromones
Authors: Hassemer Marla J , Borges Miguel , Withall David M , Pickett John A , Laumann Raul A , Birkett Michael A , Blassioli‐Moraes Maria C
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is the most important insect pest affecting poultry production around the world, with all life stages being susceptible to infection by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Control of A. diaperinus in poultry houses using intensive insecticide application is not effective due to the cryptic behaviour of this pest. Here, we evaluated the potential of recently identified A. diaperinus alarm (1,4‐benzoquinone, 2‐methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone and 2‐ethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone) and aggregation [(R)‐limonene, 2‐nonanone, (E)‐ocimene, (S)‐linalool, (R)‐daucene and (E,E)‐α‐farnesene] pheromones as tools for the management of this pest in poultry houses in Brazil.

RESULTS

Laboratory arena assays with synthetic alarm pheromone confirmed A. diaperinus repellency. In an initial field assay, traps baited with synthetic aggregation pheromone captured significantly more insects than control traps. In further field assays that compared a pull (aggregation pheromone) and a push–pull (simultaneous alarm/aggregation pheromone deployment) system, a higher number of A. diaperinus were captured in aggregation pheromone‐baited traps in the push–pull system.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that alarm and aggregation pheromones can be deployed in poultry houses to trap significant numbers of adult A. diaperinus. Studies are underway to determine the potential for using these components as part of an integrated A. diaperinus management strategy. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Translocal space across migrant generations: The case of a Greek Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom
Authors: Kallis Gina , Yarwood Richard , Tyrrell Naomi
Published: October 2018

This paper examines the changing importance of translocal space to three generations of Greek Cypriot migrants in the United Kingdom. Focusing on a Greek Orthodox Church, the paper draws upon participant observations and interviews to examine how translocal space is given meaning by migrants and, in turn, how the meaning and use of translocal space is renegotiated and altered by later generations. Based on this evidence, we argue that translocal space strengthens community ties and offers a way of performing particular ideas of identity and culture. It provides social and cultural links to distant people and places through shared religious practices. Furthermore, an intergenerational perspectives allows us to understand how translocal places are reproduced, challenged, and changed by successive generations. In doing so, the paper advances our understanding of translocality, the different ways that translocal space is used by migrant generations, and the changing significance of places of worship to migrant identities.
A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Kidney Model of Diabetes Associated Renal Hyperfiltration and the Effects of SGLT Inhibitors
Authors: Balazki Pavel , Schaller Stephan , Eissing Thomas , Lehr Thorsten
Published: October 2018

The early stage of diabetes mellitus is characterized by increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), known as hyperfiltration, which is believed to be one of the main causes leading to renal injury in diabetes. Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown to be able to reverse hyperfiltration in some patients. We developed a mechanistic computational model of the kidney that explains the interplay of hyperglycemia and hyperfiltration and integrates the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of the SGLT2i dapagliflozin. Based on simulation results, we propose kidney growth as the necessary process for hyperfiltration progression. Further, the model indicates that renal SGLT1i could significantly improve hyperfiltration when added to SGTL2i. Integrated into a physiologically based PK/PD (PBPK/PD) Diabetes Platform, the model presents a powerful tool for aiding drug development, prediction of hyperfiltration risk, and allows the assessment of the outcomes of individualized treatments with SGLT1‐inhibitors and SGLT2‐inhibitors and their co‐administration with insulin.
A heuristic method for obtaining quasi ARL‐unbiased p‐Charts
Authors: Argoti Marco Antonio , Carrión‐García Andrés
Published: October 2018

It is known that control charts based on equal tail probability limits are ARL biased when the distribution of the plotted statistic is skewed. This is the case for p‐Charts that serve to monitor processes on the basis of the binomial distribution. For the particular case of the standard three‐sigma Shewhart p‐Chart, which is built on the basis of the binomial to normal distribution approximation, this ARL‐biased condition is particularly severe, and it greatly affects its monitoring capability. Surprisingly, in spite of this, the standard p‐Chart is still widely used and taught. Through a literature search, it was identified that several, simple to use, improved alternative p‐Charts had been proposed over the years; however, at first instance, it was not possible to determine which of them was the best. In order to identify the alternative that excelled, an ARL performance comparison was carried out in terms of their ARL bias severity level (ARLBSL) and their In‐Control ARL (ARL0). The results showed that even the best performing alternative charts would often be ARL‐biased or have nonoptimal ARL0. To improve on the existing alternatives, the “Kmod p‐Chart” was developed; it offers easiness of use, superior ARL performance, and a simple and effective method for verifying its ARL‐bias condition.
Uncontracted core Pople basis sets in vibrational frequency calculations
Authors: Hanson‐Heine Magnus W. D.
Published: October 2018

The effects that uncontracting the core 1s basis functions in the Pople basis sets have on the calculation of harmonic vibrational frequencies, scaling factors, and anharmonic frequencies are examined for a selection of hybrid and meta‐hybrid density functional theory methods across a wide range of molecules. Median improvements of around half a wavenumber indicate that uncontracting the core functions provides modest improvements for harmonic calculations. The importance of these core functions is found to increase when using meta‐hybrid or anharmonic methods. The core functions are also found to be particularly important for several types of vibrational coordinate, including some carbonyl and carbon‐nitrogen stretching modes, where interaction between the uncontracted 1s functions and triple‐ζ 2s functions appear to play a significant role. Extra core functions are also particularly important for anharmonic second‐order perturbation theory calculations involving alkyne molecule bending modes, where individual transitions can change by as much as 230 wavenumbers.
Study of spin‐orbit interaction for the Makarov potential
Authors: Chen Chang‐Yuan , You Yuan , Lu Fa‐Lin , Sun Dong‐Sheng , Dong Shi‐Hai
Published: October 2018

We study the spin‐orbit interaction (SOI) for the Makarov potential to correct the nonrelativistic Schrödinger energy levels and discuss the degeneracy of the energy levels. For a certain principal quantum number n, when we do not consider the spin the degeneracy of the energy levels with magnetic quantum number m = 0 is n, while the degeneracy with the magnetic quantum number
m ≠ 0 becomes 2(n − |m|). However, when we consider the spin s = 1/2 the degeneracy of the energy levels with magnetic quantum number m = 0 is 2n, while the degeneracy with the magnetic quantum number
m ≠ 0 is 4(n − |m|). After taking SOI into account, the degeneracy in this case is still 2n since the energy levels with the magnetic quantum number m = 0 are not split, but the energy levels with the magnetic quantum number
m ≠ 0 will be split into 2(n − |m|) energy levels, each of which has the degeneracy 2. The size and sequence of the energy level splitting are relevant for the potential parameters
β and
γ except for depending on those quantum numbers
n, l, and m. We find that the degenerate energy levels are reversed at the critical values by considering the SOI effect.
Input/output stability of a damped string equation coupled with ordinary differential system
Authors: Barreau Matthieu , Gouaisbaut Frédéric , Seuret Alexandre , Sipahi Rifat
Published: October 2018

The input/output stability of an interconnected system composed of an ordinary differential equation and a damped string equation is studied. Issued from the literature on time‐delay systems, an exact stability result is firstly derived using pole locations. Then, based on the small‐gain theorem and on the quadratic separation framework, some robust stability criteria are provided. The latter follows from a projection of the infinite dimensional system states onto an orthogonal basis of Legendre polynomials. Numerical examples comparing these results with the ones in the literature are presented along with demonstrations of the effectiveness of the developed robust stability criteria.
To What Extent and How Are Reading Comprehension Strategies Part of Language Arts Instruction? A Study of Lower Secondary Classrooms
Authors: Magnusson Camilla G. , Roe Astrid , Blikstad‐Balas Marte
Published: October 2018

The authors examined naturally occurring reading comprehension strategies instruction (RCSI) across four consecutive lessons in 47 Norwegian language arts classrooms at the lower secondary level via video observations (n = 178). Although numerous studies have examined the effectiveness of RCSI for improving reading outcomes, few studies have focused on descriptions of real‐world classroom instruction. This study thus provides additional insights into the extent to which and how language arts teachers in lower secondary schools provide RCSI. Further, the study sheds light on additional aspects of reading comprehension instruction to obtain a broader picture of what this instruction encompasses. The authors address these issues by providing an overview of the amount of RCSI used in language arts classrooms, a characterization of provided RCSI, the frequency of salient features of reading comprehension instruction, and an examination of the possible connections between strategy instruction and students’ gains on national reading tests. The authors used the Protocol for Language Arts Teacher Observation manual to guide the first step of the analytic process, followed by qualitative content analyses of the provided RCSI and inductive coding of the reading comprehension instruction. The findings revealed limited evidence of explicit RCSI. When provided, the explicit instruction varied as either contextual or decontextual instruction. Several teachers demonstrated strategy knowledge, but in many cases, instruction seemed oriented more toward nontransferable activities than explicit strategy teaching. Mainly, the teachers focused their instruction on text‐based discussions and text structure. The authors discuss various reading instructional practices, teachers’ repertoire of strategies, and different approaches to explicit strategies instruction.