bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays as a thermal interface material
Authors: Ping Linquan , Hou Peng-Xiang , Liu Chang , Cheng Hui-Ming
Published: February 2019

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays are considered a promising candidate for a thermal interface material (TIM) due to their good stability, high thermal conductivity, and desirable mechanical properties. In the last few decades, extensive studies have been performed on the preparation and properties of VACNT arrays for TIM applications. In this perspective, we introduce recent progress on improving the intrinsic thermal conductivity, decreasing the thermal contact resistance, and the efficient transfer of VACNT arrays, then discuss challenges that need to be overcome, and predict the future of VACNT-based TIMs.
Design and fabrication of a 2D-isotropic flexible ultra-thin metasurface for ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting
Authors: Ghaneizadeh Alireza , Mafinezhad Khalil , Joodaki Mojtaba
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the design of a new flexible ultra-thin curvature metasurface energy harvester is presented. The use of cylindrical metasurface electromagnetic (EM) harvester would be desirable for the ambient EM energy harvesting since it can absorb the EM energy with maximum efficiency. The harvester is made by an 11×11 unit-cell metasurface with a flexible substrate to demonstrate the 2D-isotropic harvesting; as a small slice of the cylinder. We have proposed a sub-wavelength (∼0.13λ0) complementary quad split ring resonator (CQSRR) unit-cell which is loaded with a lump resistor mounted on the metal-backed substrate. The full-wave simulation shows that the efficiency of the flat metasurface energy harvester with thickness of 0.004λ0 at 5.33 GHz (WiFi) is up to 0.86 for normal radiation. It is 0.72 and 0.62 for 70° oblique angle of incidence from H- and E-plane. In addition to this, the experimental results show an agreement with the results of full-wave simulations. Due to the non-uniform mutual coupling between the cells in the finite array of the fabricated energy harvester and efficiency definition for the central cell as a metric of evaluating the device performance, an effective area for the central cell has been obtained experimentally which is 4.3 times greater than the physical area of a single unit-cell in an infinite array.
Rocky Outcrops in Australia
Authors: Michael Damian , Lindenmayer David
Published: February 2019

Rocky outcrops are landscape features with disproportionately high biodiversity values relative to their size. They support specialised plants and animals, and a wide variety of endemic species. To Indigenous Australians, they are sacred places and provide valuable resources. Despite their ecological and cultural importance, many rocky outcrops and associated biota are threatened by agricultural and recreational activities, forestry and mining operations, invasive weeds, altered fire regimes and climate change.
Rocky Outcrops in Australia: Ecology, Conservation and Management contains chapters on why this habitat is important, the animals that live and depend on these formations, key threatening processes and how rocky outcrops can be managed to improve biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes, state forests and protected areas. This book will be an important reference for landholders, Landcare groups, naturalists interested in Australian wildlife and natural resource managers.
Recipient of the 2018 Whitley Certificate of Commendation for Landscape Zoology
Bouncing Back
Authors: Cleave Rohan , Tulloch Coral
Published: February 2019

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Australia's most threatened species. When their existence came under extreme threat from habitat loss, predators and human development, Eastern Barred Bandicoots found refuge in the most unlikely of places – a rubbish tip. This captivating true story details the plight these small, nocturnal marsupials faced, and the outstanding efforts that ensured their protection. Written by Rohan Cleave and illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Bouncing Back shows that even on the brink of extinction, there is hope for the survival of our most vulnerable species.
Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch's first book, Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, won a Whitley Award for Children's Natural History Book and was an Honour Book in the Children's Book Council of Australia Book Awards (Eve Pownall Information Book category).
Bouncing Back is perfect for primary aged readers.
Allure of Fungi
Authors: Pouliot Alison
Published: February 2019

Although relatively little known, fungi provide the links between the terrestrial organisms and ecosystems that underpin our functioning planet.
The Allure of Fungi presents fungi through multiple perspectives – those of mycologists and ecologists, foragers and forayers, naturalists and farmers, aesthetes and artists, philosophers and Traditional Owners. It explores how a history of entrenched fears and misconceptions about fungi has led to their near absence in Australian ecological consciousness and biodiversity conservation.
Through a combination of text and visual essays, the author reflects on how aesthetic, sensate experience deepened by scientific knowledge offers the best chance for understanding fungi, the forest and human interactions with them.
Zobi and the Zoox
Authors: Wild Ailsa , Reed Aviva , Barr Briony , Crocetti Gregory
Published: February 2019

With her home under threat from a warming ocean, Zobi, a brave rhizobia bacterium, teams up with a family of slow but steady Zoox (zooxanthellae). As the coral bleaches, everyone begins to starve...
Can Zobi and the Zoox work together to save the day?
This beautifully illustrated science-adventure story, set on the Great Barrier Reef, was originally published in 2015, but has been extensively re-written and revised to delight and captivate primary school-aged readers.
Zobi and the Zoox: A Story of Coral Bleaching is the first in the new Small Friends Books series – Stories of Partnership and Cooperation in Nature.
Could microechinate orbicules be related to the release of pollen in anemophilous and ‘buzz pollination' species?
Authors: Galati Beatriz G. , Gotelli Marina M. , Dolinko Andrés E. , Rosenfeldt Sonia
Published: February 2019

The function of orbicules has been a matter of speculation for a long time and until now no satisfactory answer has been put forward. We propose two hypotheses that could contribute to the elucidation of their function: (1) that anemophilous and ‘buzz pollination’ species have microechinate orbicules; and (2) that microechinate orbicules are advantageous for pollen release in both pollination modes. To test the first hypothesis, orbicule morphology of species in which the pollen is released by anther shaking (20 anemophilous and three with buzz-pollination) was analysed. We also conducted a literature review, noting the orbicule surface type and the presence of floral traits suggesting that pollen is released by anther shaking. Ninety-two percent of the species with microechinate orbicules are anemophilous or present ‘buzz pollination’. Orbicules without spinules are present in species that lack floral traits linked to anther shaking for pollen release. To test the second hypothesis, a computational simulation that reveals the electric field produced by electrostatically charged orbicules was used. Results showed that the field is increased at the tip of each orbicule spinule. Therefore, an anther loculus surface coated by pointed structures increases the repulsion force of the pollen grains. This is an advantage when pollen is released by shaking the anther.
Sex‐related differences in joint‐angle‐specific hamstring‐to‐quadriceps function following fatigue
Authors: El‐Ashker Said , Allardyce Joanna M. , Carson Brian P.
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fatiguing exercise on sex‐related differences in the function of hamstring and quadriceps muscles at several angular velocities and joint angles. Physically active participants (50 male: 28.7 ± 4.5y, 1.82 ± 0.07 m, 82.3 ± 6.87 kg; 50 female: 27.0 ± 5.8y, 1.61 ± 0.08 m, 68.75 ± 9.24 kg) carried out an isokinetic assessment to determine concentric and eccentric torques during knee extension and flexion actions at three different angular velocities (60/180/300°/s). The H/QFUNCT was calculated using peak torque (PT) values at 3 different joint‐angle‐specific (15°, 30° and 45° of knee flexion). A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare within group results. Between group comparisons of sex‐related differences were assessed by independent T‐tests. Fatiguing exercise in males resulted in a decrease in H/QFUNCT ratios for each angle of knee flexion at both 60°/s and 300°/s angular velocities (p < 0.05). In females, significant decreases in H/QFUNCT ratios were observed following fatiguing exercise for each angle of knee flexion and angular velocity (p < 0.01). Significant differences in H/QFUNCT ratios following fatiguing exercise were evident between males and females at each joint angle and angular velocity (p < 0.01). These findings indicate sex related differences in H/QFUNCT ratios following fatiguing exercise. Females have greater reductions in torque and H/QFUNCT ratios following fatigue than their male counterparts. This potentially exposes females to higher risks of injury, particularly when fatigued. Practitioners should attend to the imbalance in fatigue resistance of hamstring and quadriceps function, particularly in female athletes.
New simulation and analysis fiber Bragg grating: narrow bandwidth without side lobes
Authors: Toba Mofreh , Mustafa Fathy M , Barakat Tamer M
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this paper is to simulate and analyze the spectral characteristics of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to obtain narrow bandwidth and minimization side lobes in reflectivity. Fiber Bragg grating has made a big revolution in telecommunication systems. The existence of fiber Bragg grating is needed when an optical fiber amplifier and filter are used. They can be used as band reject filter or band pass filter for optical devices. The model equations of the cascaded uniform fiber Bragg grating and different cascaded apodization functions such as, Hamming apodized fiber Bragg grating, Barthan apodized fiber Bragg grating, Nuttal apodized fiber Bragg grating, Sinc apodized fiber Bragg grating and Proposed apodized fiber Bragg grating are numerically handled and processed via specially cast software to achieve maximum Reflectivity, narrow bandwidth without side lobes.
Fascetto interacting protein ensures proper cytokinesis and ploidy
Authors: Swider Zachary T. , Ng Rachel K. , Varadarajan Ramya , Fagerstrom Carey J. , Rusan Nasser M.
Published: February 2019

Cell division is critical for development, organ growth, and tissue repair. The later stages of cell division include the formation of the microtubule (MT)-rich central spindle in anaphase, which is required to properly define the cell equator, guide the assembly of the acto-myosin contractile ring and ultimately ensure complete separation and isolation of the two daughter cells via abscission. Much is known about the molecular machinery that forms the central spindle, including proteins needed to generate the antiparallel overlapping interzonal MTs. One critical protein that has garnered great attention is the protein regulator of cytokinesis 1, or Fascetto (Feo) in Drosophila, which forms a homodimer to cross-link interzonal MTs, ensuring proper central spindle formation and cytokinesis. Here, we report on a new direct protein interactor and regulator of Feo we named Feo interacting protein (FIP). Loss of FIP results in a reduction in Feo localization, rapid disassembly of interzonal MTs, and several defects related to cytokinesis failure, including polyploidization of neural stem cells. Simultaneous reduction in Feo and FIP results in very large, tumorlike DNA-filled masses in the brain that contain hundreds of centrosomes. In aggregate, our data show that FIP acts directly on Feo to ensure fully accurate cell division.
Trends of renal diseases in Germany: review of a regional renal biopsy database from 1990 to 2013
Authors: Zink Corinna M , Ernst Sabine , Riehl Jochen , Helmchen Udo , Gröne Hermann-Josef , Floege Jürgen , Schlieper Georg
Published: February 2019

Background

Several renal biopsy registries in Europe have shown geographical and temporal variations in the patterns of renal diseases. However, there is a lack of current data on trends of renal disease in Central Europe.

Methods

After exclusion of transplant and re-biopsies, the renal biopsy registry of the German RWTH Aachen University Hospital included data of 1208 biopsies over a period of 24 years (1990–2013). Trends in the biopsy rate and diagnosis of glomerular diseases were analysed.

Results

The average annual biopsy incidence was 6.1 biopsies per 100 000 population. The frequency of kidney biopsies increased significantly over the years (P < 0.001). Primary glomerulonephritis (GN) accounted for nearly two-thirds (58.4%) of all native kidney biopsies, and immunoglobulin A-nephropathy (IgAN) was the leading histological diagnosis (34.7%) followed by necrotizing GN (RPGN) at 18.7%. IgAN increased 2-fold over the study periods (+195%, P < 0.001). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis accounted for 6.1% of all diagnoses, and its frequency rose to 3.9-fold (+388%, P < 0.001). Lupus nephritis showed a doubling in incidence (P = 0.0499), while acute tubular necrosis decreased to 3.5-fold (P = 0.0008). All other disease entities failed to exhibit linear trends over time. In children, the most common pathologies were IgAN (26.1%) and minimal change disease (21.7%), whereas RPGN (19.4%) dominated in the group of patients >60 years.

Conclusion

IgAN was the most common primary glomerular disease in our centre and its prevalence increased over 24 years.
Glucocorticoid receptor–IRS-1 axis controls EMT and the metastasis of breast cancers
Authors: Shi Weiwei , Wang Dongmei , Yuan Xinwang , Liu Yi , Guo Xiaojie , Li Jingsong , Song Jianguo
Published: February 2019

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is involved in the transcriptional regulation of genes that are important for various biological functions, including tumor growth and metastatic progression. However, the cellular and biological effects of GR remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of GR and its underlying mechanism in mediating breast cancer cell survival and metastasis. We observed that the GR levels were increased in drug-resistant breast cancer cells and in metastatic breast cancer samples. GR promoted tumor cell invasion and lung metastasis in vivo. The GR expression levels were negatively correlated with the survival rates of breast cancer patients. Both ectopic expression and knockdown of GR revealed that GR is a strong inducer of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is consistent with its effects on cell survival and metastasis. GR suppressed the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) by acting as an IRS-1 transcriptional repressor. In addition, GR has an opposite effect on the expression levels of IRS-2, indicating that GR is able to differentially regulate the IRS-1 and IRS-2 expression. The cellular and biological effects elicited by GR were consistent with the reduced levels of IRS-1 observed in cancer cells, and GR-mediated IRS-1 suppression activated the ERK2 MAP kinase pathway, which is required for GR-mediated EMT. Taken together, our results indicate that GR–IRS-1 signaling axis plays an essential role in regulating the survival, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells.
MicroRNA-24 promotes pancreatic beta cells toward dedifferentiation to avoid endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis
Authors: Zhu Yunxia , Sun Yi , Zhou Yuncai , Zhang Yan , Zhang Tao , Li Yating , You Weiyan , Chang Xiaoai , Yuan Li , Han Xiao
Published: February 2019

Current research indicates that beta cell loss in type 2 diabetes may be attributed to beta cell dedifferentiation rather than apoptosis; however, the mechanisms by which this occurs remain poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated that elevation of microRNA-24 (miR-24) in a diabetic setting caused beta cell dysfunction and replicative deficiency. In this study, we focused on the role of miR-24 in beta cell apoptosis and dedifferentiation under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions. We found that miR-24 overabundance protected beta cells from thapsigargin-induced apoptosis at the cost of accelerating the impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and enhancing the presence of dedifferentiation markers. Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed that elevation of miR-24 had an inhibitory effect on XBP1 and ATF4, which are downstream effectors of two key branches of ER stress, by inhibiting its direct target, Ire1α. Notably, elevated miR-24 initiated another pathway that targeted Mafa and decreased GSIS function in surviving beta cells, thus guiding their dedifferentiation under ER stress conditions. Our results demonstrated that the elevated miR-24, to the utmost extent, preserves beta cell mass by inhibiting apoptosis and inducing dedifferentiation. This study not only provides a novel mechanism by which miR-24 dominates beta cell turnover under persistent metabolic stress but also offers a therapeutic consideration for treating diabetes by inducing dedifferentiated beta cells to re-differentiation.
Impact of Antibiotic Therapy in the Microbiological Yield of Healthcare–Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis
Authors: Rogers Thomas , Sok Kevin , Erickson Timothy , Aguilera Elizabeth , Wootton Susan H , Murray Kristy O , Hasbun Rodrigo
Published: February 2019

The impact of antibiotic therapy on the diagnosis of healthcare–associated ventriculitis and meningitis (HCAVM) is unknown. Antibiotics were administered before obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 217 out of 326 (66%) patients with HCAVM, and they impacted the sensitivity of the cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain and culture (P ≤ .004).
Outcomes of a Career Development Program for Underrepresented Minority Investigators in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group
Authors: Velásquez Gustavo E , Huaman Moises A , Powell Kimberly R , Cohn Susan E , Swaminathan Shobha , Outlaw Martine , Schulte Gail , McNeil Quinteka , Currier Judith S , Del Rio Carlos , Castillo-Mancilla Jose
Published: February 2019

We surveyed awardees of the Minority HIV Investigator Mentoring Program (MHIMP) of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Most reported clinical specialization in infectious diseases or HIV medicine (86%), and all but 1 (95%) are engaged in medical/health sciences research. The MHIMP helped retain early-career minority investigators in HIV/AIDS-related research.
Sexually Transmitted Infections, Public Health, and Ethics
Authors: Ott Mary , Santelli John
Published: February 2019

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) control is a core function of public health systems. “Control” refers to public health activities, such as surveillance and contact tracing, focused on preventing and treating STIs, including HIV. Control activities can curtail infection, but they also raise two important types of ethical concerns. The first is how to balance respect for individual liberties with maximizing population sexual health. The harm principle is one approach to navigating these trade-offs. The second is the ethical imperative to address disparities in STI disease outcomes, along with underlying disparities in access to STI information, prevention, and treatment. Both types of disparities map onto other cross-cutting issues of social justice, including poverty, gender, sexual orientation, race, and age. A human rights approach highlights inequalities and underlying structural determinants of health, with the goal of interrupting STI transmission and preventing future infection.
“The Bureaucracy” as an Interest Group
Authors: Dunleavy Patrick
Published: February 2019

Rational choice theories of bureaucratic interests started simple and have become somewhat more sophisticated over time. Early, “classical” models stressed either budget maximization or rent seeking as dominant motivations and predicted chronically unbalanced or dysfunctional outcomes—respectively, bureaucratic oversupply or radical undersupply (to create artificial scarcity rents). They also assumed a woefully uninformed legislature or ministers. Revisionist models stress more complex pictures. Bureau-shaping theory argues that the diversity of agency structures creates differing motivations—so that some top officials may oversupply (e.g. in defense), while others create queues or overcut budgets (e.g. in welfare areas). Some agencies or nongovernmental organizations achieve particular “market” constructs, where a pooling equilibrium is successfully created, attracting only intrinsically motivated staff to work in a mission-specific organization. Bureaucracies’ use of hierarchy has also been defended in economic terms—for reasons analogous to those maintaining large firms, or as a rational response to delegation issues in “normal” democracies, where delegation is straightforward. In the United States, delegation to bureaucracies is more complex and directly contingent on political factors, in Congress especially.
International Law and Treaty Obligations, Mutual Legal Assistance, and EU Instruments
Authors: Böse Martin
Published: February 2019

This chapter deals with international and European Union law that provides a legal framework for international cooperation in crime-related matters. The relevant provisions of international law form part of treaties combating transnational crime and of bilateral and multilateral agreements establishing a general framework for international cooperation in criminal matters as well as the new instruments under EU law that are based upon the principle of mutual legal assistance. The chapter first outlines the scope and elements of international cooperation in criminal matters before discussing international cooperation in criminal matters and human rights. It then considers the principle of mutual recognition, new international cooperation instruments such as extradition, and enforcement of criminal sentences and measures. In particular, it examines the transfer of convicted persons and enforcement of prison sentences, along with enforcement of pecuniary sanctions and asset recovery.
Gender as a Critical Perspective in Marketing Practice
Authors: Dobscha Susan , Høngsmark Knudsen Gry
Published: February 2019

This chapter argues that marketing naively adopts gender theories from other fields that perpetuate outdated stereotypes. This is demonstrated by means of an existing example that shows how Jung’s archetypes leads to sexist advertising practices. The authors argue that a similar process will happen within consumption studies’ borrowing of evolutionary psychology. To counter this process, the authors suggest that researchers and educators need to interrupt the inertia of the wheel of marketing knowledge by applying more critical perspectives; adopting theories from other fields including the critical perspectives from these fields; publishing more studies on gender in marketing; learning from practitioners when they attempt to promote new perspectives on gender; and finally updating gender perspectives in textbooks to better educate future marketers and avoid propagation of outdated and negative stereotypes of gender.
Heat Pain and Cold Pain
Authors: Viana Félix , Voets Thomas
Published: February 2019

Noxious cold and noxious heat have detrimental effects on key biological macromolecules and thus on the integrity of cells, tissues, and organisms. Thanks to the action of a subset of somatosensory neurons, mammals can swiftly detect noxiously cold or hot objects or environments. These temperature-sensitive nociceptor neurons become activated when the temperature at their free endings in the skin or mucosae reaches noxious levels, provoking acute pain and rapid avoidance reflexes. Whereas acute temperature-induced pain is essential to prevent or limit burn injury, pathological conditions such as inflammation or tissue injury can deregulate the thermal sensitivity of the somatosensory system, resulting in painful dysesthesias such as heat and cold hypersensitivity. In recent years, important advances have been made in our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the detection of painful heat or cold. These research efforts not only provided key insights into an evolutionary conserved biological alarm system, but also revealed new avenues for the development of novel therapies to treat various forms of persistent pain.
Green and Climate-Resilient Transformation in Ethiopia
Authors: Medhin Haileselassie , Mekonnen Alemu
Published: February 2019

Through its Climate-Resilient Green Economy strategy, and its successive Growth and Transformation Plans, Ethiopia is pursuing a rapid, green, and climate-resilient structural transformation. The country anticipates maintaining near double-digit growth while keeping emissions low and building climate resilience. This chapter attempts to provide a perspective on this ambitious development agenda. It examines the rationale and foundations of the vision, as well as assessing the implications of the vision for the trajectories of different sectors. The analysis indicates that Ethiopia’s green and climate-resilient development vision is founded on a valid rationale that fits the context of the country’s economy, but at the same time requires multiple and simultaneous transformations across different sectors which is a key challenge. The chapter ends by identifying some issues that should be considered in the implementation process.
Building an Industrial Workforce in Ethiopia
Authors: Oya Carlos
Published: February 2019

This chapter provides an overview of the factors and dynamics involved in the creation and formation of an industrial workforce in an agrarian-based economy. The main argument is that the process of building an industrial working class is uneven, protracted, and requires interventions and important economic and social shifts over long periods of time. Historical lessons of early and late industrializers are highly relevant for contemporary Ethiopia as it seems that history does repeat itself in some ways. The chapter focuses on a number of structural obstacles to the process of building an industrial workforce, particularly: addressing socio-cultural barriers and the problem of ‘work cultures’ and work ethic; sourcing workers, managing and especially housing migrant labour; scarcity of employable skills (including soft skills); mismatch in expectations between employers and workers, largely related to wage-setting mechanisms, non-wage conditions, and labour productivity.
Introduction
Authors: Cheru Fantu , Cramer Christopher , Oqubay Arkebe
Published: February 2019

From a war-torn and famine-plagued country at the beginning of the 1990s, Ethiopia is today emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Growth in Ethiopia has surpassed that of every other sub-Saharan country over the past decade and the government has set its sights on transforming the country into a middle-income country by 2025, and into a leading manufacturing hub in Africa. Ethiopia’s unique model of development, where the state plays a central guiding role, has attracted much research interest from academics and the mainstream media. The major focus of this book, however, is the recent economic history, policies, and performance of the Ethiopian economy during a moment of ongoing and significant structural change. Recent experiences are set against the deeper background of the long-run trajectories and features of Ethiopian economic history and the wider sub-Saharan African political economy.
Back pain and school bag weight – a study on Indian children and review of literature
Authors: Oka Gauri A. , Ranade Ashish S. , Kulkarni Aditi A.
Published: February 2019

Back pain in children is a complex phenomenon, which has been shown to be associated with physical and psychosocial factors. None of the studies on Indian children have investigated the possible association between back pain and psychosocial factors. We decided to determine the prevalence of back pain in students and association with both physical and psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 163 students from two city schools. Physical factors were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Strengths and difficulties questionnaire was used to assess psychosocial factors. The studied sample consisted of 49.7% boys and 50.3% girls. Mean school bag weight was 6.1±2.4 kg (range: 2.2–15.6 kg). Mean weight of school bag as a percentage of body weight was 13.5±6.2%. Approximately 76% students carried more than 10% of their body weight. The prevalence of back pain (over last 1 month) was 53.9%. No associations were found between back pain and weight of school bag, weight of school bag as a percentage of body weight and physical activities. Significant associations were found between back pain and number of hours spent watching television [odds ratio (OR): 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–7.5; P=0.003], history of injury to the back (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.47–15.8, P=0.003), presence of a family member complaining of back pain (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.25–3.14, P=0.002), conduct (P=0.042) and hyperactivity problems (P=0.045). Thus, there appears a need to consider psychosocial factors along with physical factors when evaluating a young student with back pain.
Racial and Insurance-related Disparities in Delivery of Immunotherapy-type Compounds in the United States
Authors: Verma Vivek , Haque Waqar , Cushman Taylor R. , Lin Chi , Simone Charles B. , Chang Joe Y. , McClelland Shearwood , Welsh James W.
Published: February 2019

Racial and/or socioeconomic factors affect the type of therapies delivered for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Given the rapid expansion of immunotherapy for NSCLC, it is a crucial public health priority to evaluate disparities in administration thereof. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC. Patients were dichotomized based on receipt of immunotherapy-type compounds (ICs) based on NCDB coding. Multivariable logistic regression ascertained factors associated with IC delivery. Subgroup analysis, performed by univariate logistic regression modeling, evaluated the effect of race while stratifying for insurance type. Of 504,447 patients, 11,420 (2.3%) received ICs, and 493,027 (97.7%) did not. From 2004 to 2012, ≤1% of patients received ICs; however, 4.9% did so in 2013, 6.6% in 2014, and 8.7% in 2015. ICs were more likely administered to younger and healthier patients, those living farther from treating facilities, and in more educated areas (P<0.05 for all). ICs were more often delivered to adenocarcinomas, and patients who received chemotherapy but not radiotherapy (P<0.05 for all). In addition to geographic differences, uninsured and Medicaid populations received ICs less often, along with African Americans. On subgroup analysis, African Americans were less likely to receive ICs even when stratified for Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurances. Because IC utilization is expected to amplify even further going forward, these public health and economic issues are essential to identify and address appropriately, and have implications on pharmaceutical/insurance companies, value-based oncology, and public health policy. Methods to address these inequalities are also discussed.
Effects of monoamine uptake inhibitors on pain-related depression of nesting in mice
Authors: Alexander Khadijah S. , Rodriguez Taylor R. , Sarfo Amma N. , Patton Tadd B. , Miller Laurence L.
Published: February 2019

Pain is a significant public health problem, and assessment of pain-related impairment of behavior is a key clinical indicator and treatment target. Similar to opioids and NSAIDs, dopamine (DA) transporter inhibitors block pain-related depression of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) in rats. The primary goal of the present study was to determine if the effects of monoamine uptake inhibitors on pain-related depression of ICSS in rats extend to an assay of pain-related depression of nesting in mice. We hypothesized that the DA transporter-selective uptake inhibitor bupropion would block depression of nesting behavior produced by intraperitoneal injection of lactic acid, whereas selective serotonin transporter-selective citalopram, norepinephrine transporter-selective nisoxetine, and the mixed action selective serotonin transporter/norepinephrine transporter inhibitor milnacipran would be ineffective. Effects of the NSAID ketoprofen were also obtained to facilitate interpretation of the effects of the monoamine uptake inhibitors. Consistent with previous findings, ketoprofen blocked pain-related depression of nesting. In contrast, none of the monoamine uptake inhibitors blocked pain-related depression of nesting, although they all blocked pain-related stimulation of stretching. Unlike findings from studies of pain-related depression of ICSS, these results do not support consideration of DA uptake inhibitors for treatment of pain-related depression of behavior.
Diversity of Ocular Surface Bacterial Microbiome Adherent to Worn Contact Lenses and Bacterial Communities Associated With Care Solution Use
Authors: Retuerto Mauricio A. , Szczotka-Flynn Loretta , Mukherjee Pranab K. , Debanne Sara , Iyengar Sudha K. , Richardson Brian , Cameron Mark , Ghannoum Mahmoud A.
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

This study assessed microbiome adherent to contact lenses and defined the bacterial communities associated with use of lens care solutions.

Methods:

Among 84 lenses screened for adherent ocular surface bacterial microbiome using 16S rRNA molecular amplification, 63 (75%) generated bacterial-specific amplicons processed using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine workflow. Data were stratified by solution use (peroxide vs. polyhexamethylene biguanide [PHMB]–preserved multipurpose solution [MPS]). Diversity of lens-adherent microbiome was characterized using Shannon diversity index and richness index. Data were analyzed using principal components analysis and Kruskal–Wallis tests.

Results:

We identified 19 phyla and 167 genera of bacteria adherent to the lenses. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phyla, followed by Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. The most abundant bacterial genera (>1% abundance) were Ralstonia, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Halomonas, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Shewanella, Rhodococcus, and Cobetia. Sixteen of 20 lenses (80%) negative for bacterial DNA were worn by participants using peroxide solutions while only 4 (20%) were MPS-treated lenses (P=0.004). Genera diversity of lens-adherent microbiome showed a significant increase in MPS-treated lenses compared with peroxide (P=0.038). Abundance of Corynebacterium, Haemophilus, and Streptococcus were increased 4.3-, 12.3-, and 2.7-fold, respectively, in the MPS group compared with peroxide (P=0.014, 0.006, 0.047, respectively).

Conclusions:

Commensal, environmental, and pathogenic bacteria known to be present in the conjunctival microbiome can be detected on worn contact lenses. Although most contact lenses worn by asymptomatic wearers harbor bacterial DNA, compared with peroxide, lenses stored in a PHMB–preserved MPS have more quantifiable, abundant, and diverse bacterial communities adherent to them.
Medial femoral condyle free flap for head and neck reconstruction
Authors: Banaszewski Jacek , Gaggl Alexander , Andruszko Agata
Published: February 2019

Purpose of review

The aim of this article is to review the literature on medial femoral condyle (MFC) free flap in head and neck reconstruction.

Recent findings

The MFC flap is a superb material for head and neck reconstruction, especially in smaller bony defects. As an alternative to fibular free flap, it presents many advantages. Combining the periosteal bone with skin and/or muscle paddle, the MFC flap is suitable for complex reconstructions with favorable healing process. Even though this flap has a longer history of orthopedic and traumatologic reconstructions, a number of cases in head and neck surgery have been recently reported.

The MFC flap has been successfully used to reconstruct various head and neck sites, from the orbit, maxilla, and mandible, to the laryngeal and tracheal scaffolds.
Anti–interferon-α receptor 1 antibodies attenuate inflammation and organ injury following hemorrhagic shock
Authors: Cagliani Joaquin , Yang Weng-Lang , McGinn Joseph T. , Wang Zhimin , Wang Ping
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) is a life-threatening condition resulting from rapid and significant loss of intravascular volume, leading to hemodynamic instability and death. Inflammation contributes to the multiple organ injury in HS. Type I interferons (IFNs), such as IFN-α and IFN-β, are a family of cytokines that regulate the inflammatory response through binding to IFN-α receptor (IFNAR) which consists of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 chains. We hypothesized that type I IFNs provoke inflammation and worsen organ injury in HS.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6 mice (20–25 g) underwent hemorrhage by controlled bleeding via the femoral artery to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 27 ± 2.5 mm Hg for 90 minutes, followed by resuscitation for 30 minutes with two times shed blood volume of Ringer's lactate solution containing 1 mg/kg body weight of anti-IFNAR1 antibody (Ab) or control isotype-matched IgG (IgG). Blood and tissue samples were collected at 20 hours after the resuscitation for various analyses.

RESULTS

The expression of IFN-α and IFN-β mRNAs was significantly elevated in lungs and liver of the mice after HS. The IFNAR1-Ab treatment significantly decreased serum levels of organ injury markers lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as improved the integrity of lung and liver morphology, compared to the IgG control. The protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, and mRNA expression of proinflammatory chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), and keratinocyte cytokine (KC) in the lungs of the HS mice were significantly decreased after treated with IFNAR1-Ab. Moreover, the myeloperoxidase activity and number of apoptotic cells in the lungs of HS mice treated with IFNAR1-Ab were decreased in comparison to the IgG control.

CONCLUSION

Administration of IFNAR1-Ab reduces inflammation and tissue injury. Thus, type I IFN signaling may be a potential therapeutic target for mitigating organ dysfunction in patients suffering from HS.

STUDY TYPE

Translational animal model.
Pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Rodriguez-Araujo Gerardo , Nakagami Hironori
Published: February 2019

Diabetes mellitus elicits cellular, epigenetic, and post-translational changes that directly or indirectly affect the biology of the vasculature and other metabolic systems resulting in the apparition of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we provide a current perspective on the most recent discoveries in this field, with particular focus on hyperglycemia- induced pathology in the cardiovascular system. We also provide perspective on the clinical importance of molecular targeting of cardiovascular and diabetes mellitus therapies to treat hyperglycemia, inflammation, thrombosis, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension.
Serum leptin in male hypothyroid prediabetic patients: Association with cardiovascular risk
Authors: El-Zawawy Hanaa T.
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Hyperliptenemia is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Hypothyroidism and prediabetes confer an increased cardiovascular risk. Few studies have addressed the role of leptin in hypothyroid prediabetic patients and its effect on CHD risk factors.

Objective

The aim of this study was to detect serum levels of leptin in hypothyroid prediabetic patients and their relationship with risk factors for CHD.

Patients and methods

The study included three groups; group A included 120 hypothyroid male patients with normal glucose tolerance, group B included 120 hypothyroid male patients with prediabetes, and group C included 120 healthy individuals matched for age and sex as a control group. All groups were subjected to assessment of history, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including fasting and 2 h postprandial blood glucose, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), free T3, free T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and fasting serum leptin.

Results

Serum leptin was significantly higher in groups A and B compared with group C (P=0.0001), whereas there was no significant difference in serum leptin between groups A and B. In comparison with group A, the patients in group B had significantly higher serum TC (P=0.02), LDL (P=0.04), and lower serum HDL (P=0.02). In group B, serum leptin correlated positively with serum TC (P=0.0001), TG (P=0.041), and LDL (P=0.036), and negatively with serum HDL (P=0.039).

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism is associated with high serum leptin independent of prediabetic state. Serum leptin in hypothyroid prediabetic patients showed a direct relationship with some primary markers of metabolic syndrome; thus, leptin may predict the development of CHD in those patients.
Photoacclimation and induction of light-enhanced calcification in the mesophotic coralEuphyllia paradivisa
Authors: Eyal Gal , Cohen Itay , Eyal-Shaham Lee , Ben-Zvi Or , Tikochinski Yaron , Loya Yossi
Published: February 2019

Corals and their photosymbionts experience inherent changes in light along depth gradients, leading them to have evolved several well-investigated photoacclimation strategies. As coral calcification is influenced by light (a process described as LEC—‘light-enhanced calcification’), studies have sought to determine the link between photosynthesis and calcification, but many puzzling aspects still persist. Here, we examine the physiology ofEuphyllia paradivisa, a coral species found at a wide range of depths but that is strictly mesophotic in the Red Sea; and also examines the coupling between photosynthesis and LEC by investigating the response of the coral under several controlled light regimes during a long-term experiment.E. paradivisaspecimens were collected from 40 to 50 m depth and incubated under three light conditions for a period of 1 year: full-spectrum shallow-water light (approx. 3 m, e.g. shallow-light treatment); blue deep-water light (approx. 40 m, e.g. mesophotic-light treatment) or total darkness (e.g. dark treatment). Net photosynthesis remained similar in the shallow-light-treated corals compared to the mesophotic-light-treated corals, under both low and high light. However, calcification increased dramatically with increasing light intensity in the shallow-light-treated corals, suggesting a decoupling between these processes. Photoacclimation to shallow-water conditions was indicated by enhanced respiration, a higher density of zooxanthellae per polyp and lower chlorophyllacontent per cell. The dark-treated corals became completely bleached but did not lower their metabolism below that of the mesophotic-light-treated corals. NoSymbiodiniumclade shift was found following the year-long light treatments. We conclude thatE. paradivisa, and its original symbiont clade, can adapt to various light conditions by controlling its metabolic rate and growth energy investment, and consequently induce LEC.
Ag-doped ZnO nanorods embedded reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for photo-electrochemical applications
Authors: Khurshid Farheen , Jeyavelan M. , Hudson M. Sterlin Leo , Nagarajan Samuthira
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the Ag-doped zinc oxide nanorods embedded reduced graphene oxide (ZnO:Ag/rGO) nanocomposite was synthesized for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the water. The microstructural results confirmed the successful decoration of Ag-doped ZnO nanorods on rGO matrix. The photocatalytic properties, including photocatalytic degradation, charge transfer kinetics and photocurrent generation, are systematically investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent transient response (PCTR) and open circuit voltage decay (OCVD). The results of photocatalytic dye degradation measurements indicated that ZnO:Ag/rGO nanocomposite is more effective than pristine ZnO to degrade the MO dye, and the degradation rate reached 40.6% in 30 min. The decomposition of MO with ZnO:Ag/rGO nanostructure followed first-order reaction kinetics with a reaction rate constant (
K
a
) of 0.01746 min
−1
. The EIS, PCTR and OCVD measurements revealed that the Ag doping and incorporation of rGO could suppress the recombination probability in ZnO by the separation of photo-generated electron–hole pairs, which leads to the enhanced photocurrent generation and photocatalytic activity. The photocurrent density of ZnO:Ag/rGO, ZnO/rGO and pristine ZnO are 206, 121.4 and 88.8 nA cm
−2
, respectively.
Controllable synthesis of pomelo peel-based aerogel and its application in adsorption of oil/organic pollutants
Authors: Shi Guangyu , Qian Yizhu , Tan Fengzhi , Cai Weijie , Li Yuan , Cao Yafeng
Published: February 2019

Oil/water separation is a field of high significance as it might efficiently resolve the contamination of industrial oily wastewater and other oil/water pollution. In this paper, an environmentally-friendly hydrophobic aerogel with high porosity and low density was successfully synthesized with renewable pomelo peels (PPs) as precursors. Typically, a series of sponge aerogels (HPSA-0, HPSA-1 and HPSA-2) were facilely prepared via high-speed dispersion, freeze-drying and silanization with methyltrimethoxysilane. Indeed, the physical properties of aerogel such as density and pore diameter could be tailored by different additives (filter paper fibre and polyvinyl alcohol). Hence, their physico-chemical properties including internal morphology and chemical structure were characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Thermal gravimetric analyzer (TG) etc. Moreover, the adsorption capacity was further determined and the results revealed that the PP-based aerogels presented excellent adsorption performance for a wide range of oil products and/or organic solvents (crude oil 49.8 g g
−1
, soya bean oil 62.3 g g
−1
, chloroform 71.3 g g
−1
etc.). The corresponding cyclic tests showed the absorption capacity decreased slightly from 94.66% to 93.82% after 10 consecutive cycles, indicating a high recyclability.
The unified transform for mixed boundary condition problems in unbounded domains
Authors: Colbrook Matthew J. , Ayton Lorna J. , Fokas Athanassios S.
Published: February 2019

This paper implements the unified transform to problems in unbounded domains with solutions having corner singularities. Consequently, a wide variety of mixed boundary condition problems can be solved without the need for the Wiener–Hopf technique. Such problems arise frequently in acoustic scattering or in the calculation of electric fields in geometries involving finite and/or multiple plates. The new approach constructs a global relation that relates known boundary data, such as the scattered normal velocity on a rigid plate, to unknown boundary values, such as the jump in pressure upstream of the plate. By approximating the known data and the unknown boundary values by suitable functions and evaluating the global relation at collocation points, one can accurately obtain the expansion coefficients of the unknown boundary values. The method is illustrated for the modified Helmholtz and Helmholtz equations. In each case, comparisons between the traditional Wiener–Hopf approach, other spectral or boundary methods and the unified transform approach are discussed.