bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Great Principles of Computing
Authors: Denning Peter J. , Martell Craig H.
Published: March 2019

A new framework for understanding computing: a coherent set of principles spanning technologies, domains, algorithms, architectures, and designs.

Computing is usually viewed as a technology field that advances at the breakneck speed of Moore's Law. If we turn away even for a moment, we might miss a game-changing technological breakthrough or an earthshaking theoretical development. This book takes a different perspective, presenting computing as a science governed by fundamental principles that span all technologies. Computer science is a science of information processes. We need a new language to describe the science, and in this book Peter Denning and Craig Martell offer the great principles framework as just such a language. This is a book about the whole of computing—its algorithms, architectures, and designs.

Denning and Martell divide the great principles of computing into six categories: communication, computation, coordination, recollection, evaluation, and design. They begin with an introduction to computing, its history, its many interactions with other fields, its domains of practice, and the structure of the great principles framework. They go on to examine the great principles in different areas: information, machines, programming, computation, memory, parallelism, queueing, and design. Finally, they apply the great principles to networking, the Internet in particular.

Great Principles of Computing will be essential reading for professionals in science and engineering fields with a “computational” branch, for practitioners in computing who want overviews of less familiar areas of computer science, and for non-computer science majors who want an accessible entry way to the field.
IOCBIO Sparks detection and analysis software
Authors: Laasmaa Martin , Karro Niina , Birkedal Rikke , Vendelin Marko
Published: March 2019

Analysis of calcium sparks in cardiomyocytes can provide valuable information about functional changes of calcium handling in health and disease. As a part of the calcium sparks analysis, sparks detection and characterization is necessary. Here, we describe a new open-source platform for automatic calcium sparks detection from line scan confocal images. The developed software is tailored for detecting only calcium sparks, allowing us to design a graphical user interface specifically for this task. The software enables detecting sparks automatically as well as adding, removing, or adjusting regions of interest marking each spark. The results of the analysis are stored in an SQL database, allowing simple integration with statistical tools. We have analyzed the performance of the algorithm using a large set of synthetic images with varying spark sizes and noise levels and also compared the analysis results with results obtained by software established in the field. The use of our software is illustrated by an analysis of the effect of isoprenaline (ISO) on spark frequency, amplitude, and spatial and temporal characteristics. For that, cardiomyocytes from C57BL/6 mice were used. We demonstrated an increase in spark frequency, tendency of having larger spark amplitudes, sparks with a longer duration, and occurrence of multiple sparks from the same site in the presence of ISO. We also show that the duration and the width of sparks with the same amplitude were similar in the absence and presence of ISO. The software was released as an open source repository and is available for free use and collaborative development.
Green potential ofPleurotusspp. in biotechnology
Authors: Sekan Alona S. , Myronycheva Olena S. , Karlsson Olov , Gryganskyi Andrii P. , Blume Yaroslave B.
Published: March 2019

Background

The genusPleurotusis most exploitable xylotrophic fungi, with valuable biotechnological, medical, and nutritional properties. The relevant features of the representatives of this genus to provide attractive low-cost industrial tools have been reported in numerous studies to resolve the pressure of ecological issues. Additionally, a number ofPleurotusspecies are highly adaptive, do not require any special conditions for growth, and possess specific resistance to contaminating diseases and pests. The unique properties ofPleurotusspecies widely used in many environmental technologies, such as organic solid waste recycling, chemical pollutant degradation, and bioethanol production.

Methodology

The literature study encompasses peer-reviewed journals identified by systematic searches of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, NCBI, Springer, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and ISI Web of Knowledge. The search scheme was divided into several steps, as described below.

Results

In this review, we describe studies examining the biotechnological feasibility ofPleurotusspp. to elucidate the importance of this genus for use in green technology. Here, we review areas of application of the genusPleurotusas a prospective biotechnological tool.

Conclusion

The incomplete description of some fungal biochemical pathways emphasises the future research goals for this fungal culture.
NASEM report changes term from MAT to medication‐based
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2019

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report last month that calls for medications to treat opioid use disorder. And the report flatly declares what many in the field have suspected for years: medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) is not the right term.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Hybrid Bi2Se3/Organic Superlattice for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion
Authors: Zong Peng‐An , Zhang Peng , Yin Shujia , Huang Yujia , Wang Yiliang , Wan Chunlei
Published: March 2019

Hybrid inorganic/organic thermoelectric materials have recently gained increasing research interest, due to their mechanical flexibility and the wide tunability of their components and properties. In this Communication, a new strategy to fabricate an inorganic/organic superlattice of Bi2Se3hexylamm‐onium0.11dimethylsulfoxide0.06 (Bi2Se3HA0.11DMSO0.06) through a series of chemical reaction processes, including lithium intercalation, ionic exchange, and organic exchange, is put forward. It is shown that the organic molecules expand the interlayer space between the Bi2Se3 layers and form a triple‐layer structure, where the hexylammonium ions are ionically bonded to the negatively charged Bi2Se3 layers. The lattice vibration modes of the Bi2Se3 layers in this hybrid superlattice are found to be softened due to weakened interlayer interaction and phonon confinement effect. The hybrid Bi2Se3HA0.11DMSO0.06 shows a power factor of 950 µW m−1 K−2 at room temperature, among the best in n‐type flexible thermoelectric materials. A huge reduction of thermal conductivity is observed, which contributes to the large enhancement of zT value. The current research on Bi2Se3‐based inorganic/organic superlattices can stimulate exploration of novel high‐performance flexible thermoelectric materials by hybridizing inorganic and organic materials at the atomic scale.
Report of a Collaboration Between a Law School and an Emergency Medicine Residency Program for a Full‐scale Medical Malpractice Litigation Simulation
Authors: Curato Mark , Shlahet Adam
Published: March 2019

Background

Medical malpractice litigation is a prevalent challenge for emergency physicians, but there is a dearth of dedicated training in residency programs on this subject. As a result, when emergency physicians become the subject of a medical malpractice action they often find themselves ill‐equipped to successfully navigate the process.

Objectives

We sought to create an in‐depth medical malpractice simulation encompassing all key aspects of medical practice litigation. We collaborated with a law school for a semester‐long simulation of a fabricated medical malpractice case brought against an emergency medicine (EM) resident.

Discussion

In harnessing the legal expertise of law students and faculty we were able to deliver a months‐long medical malpractice simulation to our EM residency program. Similarly, in lending the medical expertise of our residents and faculty to the project, the law students were afforded a unique practical experience in learning to litigate medical malpractice.

Conclusions

The project resulted in a rich educational experience for both the EM residents and the law students. We present a guide for replication by any residency program in collaboration with a law school.
Vierpunkt‐Biegeversuch für thermisch gebogenes Glas
Authors: Bukieda Paulina , Engelmann Michael , Weller Bernhard , Elstner Michael , Broich Markus , Teichmann Thomas , Kohn Jürgen , Gruber Reinhard , Wittwer Jost
Published: March 2019

Thermisch gebogene Gläser bieten im Bauwesen, aber auch im Fahrzeugbau und anderen Branchen, eine Vielzahl neuer gestalterischer Möglichkeiten. Allerdings fehlt bisher eine standardisierte Methode zur Ermittlung der Festigkeit von gebogenem Glas, welche das spröde Materialverhalten des anspruchsvollen Baustoffs berücksichtigt. Mittels einer umfangreichen experimentellen und numerischen Studie wurde ein solches Verfahren entwickelt und soll nunmehr in einem zweiteiligen Beitrag vorgestellt werden. Im ersten Teil wird das experimentelle Versuchsprogramm zur Ableitung eines Vierpunkt‐Biegeversuchs als Erweiterung der bestehenden Flachglasprüfung dargelegt. Dabei wurde aus einem weit variierten Versuchsspektrum mit 363 Prüfkörpern ein Anwendungsbereich festgelegt, der grundlegend erfasst, welche Geometrien geprüft werden können. Mit den ermittelten Beziehungen zwischen Prüfkraft und Verzerrung der Glasoberfläche wird anschließend die Validierung des numerischen Modells beschrieben. Dabei werden insbesondere die spezifischen Anforderungen an eine geometrisch nichtlineare, numerische Versuchsmodellierung diskutiert. Auf dieser Grundlage wird im zweiten Teil des Beitrags das Effektivspannungskonzept eingeführt und ein normreifes Prüfkonzept vorgestellt.
Ermüdung von Beton bei mehrachsiger und mehrstufiger Beanspruchung
Authors: Heek Peter , Mark Peter
Published: March 2019

Betonstrukturen wie Verkehrsflächen oder Industrieböden sind zyklischen Beanspruchungen aus Verkehr oder Maschinenvibrationen ausgesetzt. Zur Abschätzung der Ermüdungslebensdauer dienen Wöhlerlinien, die in der Regel experimentell an Referenzprobekörpern bei einachsiger Beanspruchung konstanter Frequenz, Amplitude und Oberspannung validiert werden. Unter realen Betriebsbedingungen treten Einwirkungen jedoch häufig mehrachsig und mit variabler Lasthöhe auf, sodass die im Zeitverlauf progressiv zunehmende Materialschädigung rechnerisch zu akkumulieren ist. In der Praxis hat sich dazu die lineare Akkumulationsregel nach Palmgren‐Miner etabliert, obwohl diese bekannte Effekte aus der Belastungsreihenfolge vernachlässigt. Im Beitrag wird zunächst das Wöhlerkonzept durch Einführung einer Vergleichsspannung auf mehrachsige Spannungszustände erweitert und anschließend ein modifizierter Schädigungsakkumulationsansatz entwickelt, welcher die Auswirkungen von Be‐ und Entlastungen mehrstufiger Lastprozesse auf verbleibende Bruchlastspielzahlen berücksichtigt. Der Ansatz wird anhand von Literaturdaten verifiziert und in Form eines Bemessungshilfsmittels zur praktischen Nutzung aufbereitet. Die Anwendung ist am Beispiel demonstriert.
Triplet Diradical‐Cation Salts Consisting of the Phenothiazine Radical Cation and a Nitronyl Nitroxide
Authors: Tahara Takuma , Suzuki Shuichi , Kozaki Masatoshi , Shiomi Daisuke , Sugisaki Kenji , Sato Kazunobu , Takui Takeji , Miyake Yota , Hosokoshi Yuko , Nojiri Hiroyuki , Okada Keiji
Published: March 2019

The spin–spin and magnetic properties of two (nitronyl nitroxide)‐(di‐p‐anisylamine‐phenothiazine) diradical cation salts, (DAA‐PTZ)+‐NN⋅MBr4− (M=Ga, Fe), have been investigated. These diradical‐cation species were prepared by the cross‐coupling of iodophenothiazine DAA‐PTZ‐I with NN‐AuPPh3 followed by oxidation with the thianthrenium radical cation (TA+⋅MBr4−). These salts were found to be highly stable under aerobic conditions. For the GaBr4 salt, large ferromagnetic intramolecular and small antiferromagnetic intermolecular interactions (J1/kB=+320 K and J2/kB=−2 K, respectively) were observed. The magnetic property of the Fe3+ salt was analyzed by using a six‐spin model assuming identical intramolecular exchange interaction (J3/kB=+320 K) and the other exchange interactions (J4/kB=−7 K and J5/kB=−4 K). A significant color change was observed in the UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra upon electrochemical oxidation of the doublet DAA‐PTZ‐NN to the triplet (DAA‐PTZ)+‐NN.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Vincadifformine Enabled by a Thiourea‐Phosphonium Salt Catalyzed Mannich‐Type Reaction
Authors: Pan Lu , Zheng Chang‐Wu , Fang Guo‐Sheng , Hong Hao‐Ran , Liu Jun , Yu Long‐Hui , Zhao Gang
Published: March 2019

An asymmetric total synthesis of vincadifformine is described. The limited tactics with chiral cation‐directed catalysis in total synthesis inspired the development of our strategy for accessing this alkaloid in enantionrich form. The route features a thiourea–phosphonium salt catalyzed Mannich‐type reaction, a phosphine‐promoted aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction and a trifluoroacetic acid promoted deprotection/amidation cascade process.
Tailoring Diindenochrysene through Intramolecular Multi‐Assemblies by C−F Bond Activation on Aluminum Oxide
Authors: Akhmetov Vladimir , Feofanov Mikhail , Troyanov Sergey , Amsharov Konstantin
Published: March 2019

The unique nature of the alumina‐mediated cyclodehydrofluorination gives the opportunity to execute the preprogrammed algorithm of the C−C couplings rationally built into a precursor. Such multi‐assemblies facilitate the construction of the carbon‐skeleton, superseding the conventional step‐by‐step by the one‐pot intramolecular assembly. In this work, the feasibility of the alumina‐mediated C−F bond activation approach for multi‐assembly is demonstrated on the example of a fundamental bowl‐shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (diindenochrysene) through the formation of all “missing” C−C bonds at the last step. Beside valuable insights into the reaction mechanism and the design of the precursors, a facile pathway enabling the two‐step synthesis of diindenochrysene was elaborated, in which five C−C bonds form in a single synthetic step. It is shown that the relative positions of fluorine atoms play a crucial role in the outcome of the assembly and that governing the substituent positions enables the design of effective precursor molecules “programmed” for the consecutive C−C bond formations. In general, these findings push the state of the field towards the facile synthesis of sophisticated bowl‐shaped carbon‐based nanostructures through multi‐assembly of fluoroarenes.
Enumeration of the Invasion Efficiency of Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro in Four Different Red Blood Cell Populations Using a Three‐Color Flow Cytometry‐Based Method
Authors: Vimonpatranon Sinmanus , Chotivanich Kesinee , Sukapirom Kasama , Lertjuthaporn Sakaorat , Khowawisetsut Ladawan , Pattanapanyasat Kovit
Published: March 2019

A novel in vitro culture system using variable concentrations of biotin/streptavidin to label red blood cells (RBCs) that allows for the simultaneous comparison of growth rates in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite in four heterogeneous target RBC populations is described. Donor RBCs containing both P. falciparum‐infected RBCs and non‐infected RBCs at 0.5% parasitemia were first labeled with 7‐hydroxy‐9H‐(1,3‐dichloro‐9,9‐dimethylacridin‐2‐one) succinimidyl ester (DDAO‐SE) followed by co‐culture with a mixture of equal numbers of four differentially biotin/streptavidin labeled RBC populations. After two to three schizogonic growth cycles, co‐cultures were harvested and stained with streptavidin‐phycoerythrin (SA‐PE) followed by staining of parasite‐infected RBCs with nucleic acid fluorochrome SYBR Green I. To demonstrate the application of this method, some target RBC populations that had sialic acid residues removed using neuraminidase treatment were mixed with RBC populations without enzymatic treatment and incubated with donor parasitized RBCs strain W2 (sialic acid‐dependent) or 3D7 (sialic acid‐independent). Significant less susceptibility to malaria parasite invasion was obtained with enzyme‐treated RBC populations when compared with non‐treated RBCs in blood samples from the same individual when using malaria parasite strain W2, whereas no difference in percent parasitemias was noted following infection with malaria parasite strain 3D7. This novel malaria culture method is cheap and provides increased sensitivity for direct comparison of parasite growth over time of any of the four RBC populations under identical conditions and eliminates the experimental bias due to contaminated donor RBCs. The application of biotin‐labeled RBCs will therefore provide a better understanding of invasion phenotype‐specific host–parasite interactions and the extent of complex malaria invasion mechanism. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
The species richness pattern of vascular plants along a tropical elevational gradient and the test of elevational Rapoport's rule depend on different life‐forms and phytogeographic affinities
Authors: Zhou Yadong , Ochola Anne C. , Njogu Antony W. , Boru Biyansa H. , Mwachala Geoffrey , Hu Guangwan , Xin Haiping , Wang Qingfeng
Published: March 2019

The research about species richness pattern and elevational Rapoport's rule (ERR) have been carried out mostly in the temperate regions in the recent years and scarcely in the tropical mountains; meanwhile, it is unclear whether the ERR is consistent among different life‐forms and phytogeographic affinities. Here, we compiled a database of plant species of Mount Kenya, a tropical mountain of East Africa, and divided these species into twelve groups depending on the life‐form and phytogeographic affinity of each species. We inspected the species richness pattern of each group along the elevation gradient and also tested ERR of each group using Stevens' method. Our results showed that species richness of the total species showed a positively skewed (hump‐shaped) pattern along the elevation gradient and different life‐forms and phytogeographic affinities showed similar hump‐shaped patterns as the total species. The average elevation range size of the total species and herbaceous species showed increasing patterns along the elevation gradient, while lycophytes and ferns, and woody species showed an obvious downward trend after peaking in the high elevation regions. We concluded that the widely distributed herbaceous species which also have broad elevation range sizes are more applicable to ERR, while the narrowly distributed woody species with small elevation range sizes occurring in the higher elevations could reverse ERR. Therefore, we concluded that the ERR is not consistent among different organisms in the same region.
Sensitive amperometric detection for capillary electrophoresis of phenol carbamates with in‐line thermal hydrolysis strategy
Authors: Zhang Xia , Lin Jian , Chen Yiqi , Lin Chenchen , Lin Xucong , Liu Shaofeng , Xie Zenghong
Published: March 2019

A strategy on amperometric detection for CZE of phenol carbamates as model analytes with a facile in‐line thermal hydrolysis was presented, in which a thermal hydrolysis, subsequent CZE separation and final column‐end amperometric detection were accomplished in an intact capillary. Key parameters of hydrolysis dynamics of carbamates and electrochemical detection of the hydrolysates were studied, as well as electrophoretic conditions. Under the optimal conditions, the capillary was utilized as chambers for in situ hydrolysis, CZE separation, and electrochemical detection. The successive separation of hydrolysates of five carbamates (propoxur, carbofuran, 3‐OH‐carbofuran, carbaryl and bendiocarb) were achieved within 17 min. Applied to vegetable samples, the recoveries of carbamates fortified at 0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg were ranging in 88–107.2 and 86.3–107.3%, respectively. The success in the implementation of such a scheme resulted in a simple instrument as compared with those current analytical methods with post‐column derivization or pre‐column hydrolysis, or online enrichment in chip, respectively. This protocol might possess a potential utility for the sensitive amperometric detection of phenol carbamates.
Assessment of different correlations to estimate distinct technology PV module operating temperature for Indian site
Authors: Mohammed Humaid , Gupta Rajesh , Sastry Oruganti , Magare Dhiraj
Published: March 2019

India is implementing one of the world's largest solar PV program. For better performance assessment of large PV installations, module temperature plays an important role. Estimation of power generation in hot climatic countries like India can be improved by the use of appropriate module temperature correlation. The accuracy of module temperature correlations has been observed to be related with climatic conditions. In this work, different explicit and implicit correlations have been evaluated in different temperature ranges based on frequency of occurrence of three very different technology PV modules: amorphous silicon, hetero‐junction intrinsic thin layer, and multicrystalline silicon at Indian site. Results show that Faiman correlation is most efficacious for all technology PV modules under highest frequency of occurrence temperature range. It has been observed that accuracy of correlations decreases from low module temperature range toward high module temperature range for all technology PV modules, except in case of Faiman correlation. In case of multicrystalline silicon, which is most widely used technology, the variation in accuracy of correlations was highest. This frequency of occurrence‐based comparison of correlation's accuracy is efficient and beneficial for better performance assessment of PV systems, especially in Indian context due to its large solar mission.
Egomotion‐related visual areas respond to active leg movements
Authors: Serra Chiara , Galletti Claudio , Di Marco Sara , Fattori Patrizia , Galati Gaspare , Sulpizio Valentina , Pitzalis Sabrina
Published: March 2019

Monkey neurophysiology and human neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that passive viewing of optic flow stimuli activates a cortical network of temporal, parietal, insular, and cingulate visual motion regions. Here, we tested whether the human visual motion areas involved in processing optic flow signals simulating self‐motion are also activated by active lower limb movements, and hence are likely involved in guiding human locomotion. To this aim, we used a combined approach of task‐evoked activity and resting‐state functional connectivity by fMRI. We localized a set of six egomotion‐responsive visual areas (V6+, V3A, intraparietal motion/ventral intraparietal [IPSmot/VIP], cingulate sulcus visual area [CSv], posterior cingulate sulcus area [pCi], posterior insular cortex [PIC]) by using optic flow. We tested their response to a motor task implying long‐range active leg movements. Results revealed that, among these visually defined areas, CSv, pCi, and PIC responded to leg movements (visuomotor areas), while V6+, V3A, and IPSmot/VIP did not (visual areas). Functional connectivity analysis showed that visuomotor areas are connected to the cingulate motor areas, the supplementary motor area, and notably to the medial portion of the somatosensory cortex, which represents legs and feet. We suggest that CSv, pCi, and PIC perform the visual analysis of egomotion‐like signals to provide sensory information to the motor system with the aim of guiding locomotion.
Administrative challenges of clinical governance in military and university hospitals of Kerman/Iran
Authors: Mirzaei Saeid , Noorihekmat Somayeh , Oroomiei Nadia , Vali Leila
Published: March 2019

Background

Over the recent years, clinical governance model has been applied to improve the quality of university and private hospitals in Iran. In addition to university hospitals, military hospitals have an effective role in the preservation and promotion of public health. The challenges of clinical governance implementation have not been investigated in such settings. Hence, the present study objective is to identify the administrative challenges of clinical governance in military and university hospitals of Kerman/Iran

Methods

This qualitative study was carried out through phenomenology in 2017. A sample of managers and experts in the implementation and execution of clinical governance was purposefully selected from three university hospitals and three military hospitals in Kerman, Iran. A total of 39 managers and experts were interviewed, and data were gathered via semistructured interviews with open questions. For data analysis, conventional content analysis method was employed.

Results

In this study, five main codes and 17 subcodes were obtained. Main codes were structural challenges, educational challenges, limitations, evaluation, and human resource challenges.

Conclusions

Clinical governance is being implemented hastily with no appropriate structural, financial, and training facilities, ensuing a waste of resources, more difficult work for staff and a negative view of personnel.
Lymph node metastasis in oral cancer is strongly associated with chromosomal instability and DNA repair defects
Authors: Biswas Nidhan K. , Das Chitrarpita , Das Subrata , Maitra Arindam , Nair Sudhir , Gupta Tejpal , D'Cruz Anil K. , Sarin Rajiv , Majumder Partha P.
Published: March 2019

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is highly prevalent in south and southeast Asia. Many (30–50%) OSCC patients develop lymph node metastasis (LNM), which is the most important prognostic factor in OSCC. To identify genomic correlates of LNM, we compared exome sequences and copy number variation data of blood and tumor DNA from highly contrasting subgroups of patients to reduce false inferences—(i) patients with LNM and (ii) patients with late stage disease but without LNM. We found that LNM is associated with (i) specific hotspot somatic mutations in TP53 and CASP8; (ii) rare nonsilent germline mutations in BRCA2 and FAT1; (iii) mutations in mito‐G2/M and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways; (iv) recurrent deletion of genes for DNA repair by homologous recombination; and (v) chromosomal instability. LN+ patients with NHEJ pathway mutations have longer disease‐free survival. Five genomic features have a high predictive value of LNM.
Examining program quality in early childhood home visiting: From infrastructure to relationships
Authors: Korfmacher Jon , Frese Mary , Gowani Saima
Published: March 2019

Although there are many examples of evidence‐based early childhood home‐visiting programming, the field itself struggles with modest outcomes and variable levels of program effectiveness. This article documents the experience of creating a statewide monitoring system to assess home‐visiting program quality and compliance to identified standards, integrating multiple sources of information across different domains of functioning. Monitoring results from 57 programs are summarized, with variable but promising levels of quality. Programs generally report satisfaction and benefit from the process. In addition, the relationship between direct observations of home visits and home‐visitor report of their approach to working with families is analyzed. Results suggest significant, albeit small, associations. Although there are trade‐offs between comprehensiveness of information gathering and practical application, the use of monitoring findings to support home‐visiting programs holds potential for quality improvement.
Evaluating the effects of physical reactions on aggression via concurrent‐operant analyses
Authors: Hood Stephanie A. , Rodriguez Nicole M. , Luczynski Kevin C. , Fisher Wayne W.
Published: March 2019

Under naturally occurring conditions, the individual who is the target of aggression is likely to physically react to evade the aggressor and avoid physical harm. Like other forms of attention that occur following problem behavior, physical reactions may maintain problem behavior. However, evaluating the effects of physical reactions is complicated by issues related to therapists' ability to consistently and safely control their reactions, which may prove difficult to achieve in functional analyses. We evaluated the utility of a concurrent‐operant analysis to test behavioral sensitivity to physical reactions. The results suggest that the concurrent‐operant analysis may be useful when therapists cannot consistently refrain from responding contingent on problem behavior in the control condition of a more typical functional analysis.
Elucidating the role of size of hydroxyl apatite particles toward the development of competent antiosteoporotic bioceramic materials: In vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Kaur Kulwinder , Singh K. J. , Anand Vikas , Bhatia Gaurav , Singh Amrit Pal , Kaur Manpreet
Published: March 2019

Osteoporosis caused by overdose of steroids is one of the major concerns for the orthopedic surgeons. Current therapeutic strategies offer limited success due to their inability to regenerate damaged bone at osteoporosis site. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a material having bone regeneration ability and also, ability to cure osteoporosis simultaneously. In this work, nanosized and microsized hydroxyl apatite (HAp) particles doped with europium (Eu) were prepared for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in biomedical engineering. Particles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction to confirm the formation of HAp phase and transmission electron microscopy technique has been used to explore the size of microparticle and nanoparticle. In vitro release of antibiotic drug and degradation behavior in two different pHs of phosphate buffered saline was checked. Controlled drug release behavior and conversion of degraded ions into HAp is estimated by Higuchi's and 3D diffusion model, respectively. Osteoporosis was induced in 36 female Wistar rats by administering dexamethasone once a week for four consecutive weeks. Rats were treated with different doses of nano‐HAp (25, 50, and 100 μg/kg intravenous single dose) and single dose of microsized HAp (100 μg/kg). After treatment, authors have evaluated sensitive biochemical markers of bone in serum. Continuous improvement in ultimate stiffness and Young's modulus of femur shaft of rats was observed with the increase in the dose of nano‐HAp from 25 to 100 μg/kg. Results strongly suggest that europium‐doped nano‐HAp is more effective for treating severe osteoporosis in humans. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1723–1735, 2019.
Toll‐like receptors, long non‐coding RNA NEAT1, and RIG‐I expression are associated with HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients in the active phase
Authors: Zeng Yongbin , Wu Wennan , Fu Ya , Chen Shanjian , Chen Tianbin , Yang Bin , Ou Qishui
Published: March 2019

Background

Innate immunity plays a crucial role in host‐virus interactions and greatly influences viral replication including HBV infection. However, few studies have investigated the possible antiviral immune roles played by TLRs, RIG‐I, and long no‐coding RNA NEAT1 in chronic HBV infection (CHB) patients in clinical samples and their relationships among immune responses. In this study, we sought to investigate the mRNA expression levels of TLR1‐10, RIG‐I, and NEAT1 expression in HBeAg‐positive CHB treatment‐naïve patients with the active phase.

Methods

The expression levels of TLR1‐10, RIG‐I, and NEAT1 of CHB patients with the active phase and healthy controls were measured by qPCR. Serum HBV DNA and routine liver biochemistry including ALT, etc were also measured to evaluate the impaired physiological function of the liver affected by CHB.

Results

The expression levels of TLR1 and TLR6 in CHB with active phase were remarkably lower than that in healthy controls. The levels of TLR3 in CHB patients with active phase were remarkably higher than that in healthy controls. The total NEAT1 expression was abnormally decreased in CHB patients as compared with healthy controls. The levels of RIG‐I were significantly decreased in CHB patients in the active phase when compared to healthy controls. The expression of TLR6 and RIG‐I was closely correlated with NEAT1 expression. TLR6 level was positively correlated with RIG‐I level.

Conclusion

Chronic HBV infection can alter the innate immune response by downregulating functional expression of TLR1, TLR6, NEAT1.
Impact of atopy on the severity and extrapulmonary manifestations of childhood Mycoplasmapneumoniae pneumonia
Authors: Wang Zhihua , Sun Jian , Liu Yan , Wang Yushui
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The impact of atopy on disease severity and extrapulmonary manifestations in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia is unknown.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with MP pneumonia between January 2016, and December 2017, were enrolled in this study. A total of 150 MP pneumonia patients were enrolled at diagnosis and divided into the atopic group (n = 48) and the nonatopic group (n = 102). Furthermore, these patients were also assessed after being divided into the pulmonary group (n = 120) and the extrapulmonary group (n = 30). Clinical characteristics, respiratory disease severity, any allergy history, and specific allergen sensitizations were collected from all patients. The serum interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and total immunoglobulin E (lgE) levels were also measured.

Results

More children in the atopic group than those in the nonatopic group presented with severe MP pneumonia, tachypnea, oxygen therapy, steroid treatment, atopic conditions including asthma attack, a previous history of asthma, decreased IL‐17 levels, and increased IgE levels (all P < 0.05). When compared with those in the pulmonary group, the patients in the extrapulmonary group showed higher percentages of atopy, higher total lgE levels, and lower IL‐17 levels (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Atopy may be a risk factor for disease severity and extrapulmonary manifestations in children with MP pneumonia.
Association between rs2188380 and the risk of breast cancer in southwest Chinese population
Authors: Huang Lin , Liao Jinling , Chen Yang , Mo Zengnan
Published: March 2019

Background

Previous studies have revealed that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2188380 was identified as a novel locus of gout. Interestingly, gout resulting from high serum uric acid (SUA) was also identified to be associated with the risk of breast cancer (BC). We hypothesized that maybe there was a relationship between rs2188380 and the risk of BC. Therefore, our study was conducted to investigate whether this novel gout‐related SNP (rs2188380) was associated with BC risk as well as the clinical and pathological characteristics in the southwest Chinese population.

Materials and methods

We performed a case‐control study including 104 breast cancer patients and 112 healthy controls to investigate whether rs2188380 is associated with BC risk in the southwest Chinese population. The genotyping was performed by the SNP scan method. General characteristics and clinicopathological characteristics of tumors were also included in the analysis. The statistical evaluations were performed using the Student t test, the chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test, and unconditional logistic regression analysis.

Results

The C/C genotype of rs2188380 might be related to BC risk to some extent compared with G/G genotype (OR = 9.241, 95% CI = 1.122‐76.101, P = 0.039). Furthermore, after adjusting the age, the association still existed (OR = 8.788, 95% CI = 1.063‐72.636, P = 0.044). However, no significant association was observed between rs2188380 and the clinicopathological characteristics of BC.

Conclusions

Our study primarily indicated that rs2188380 might have a potential association with BC risk to some extent. With a limited sample size and statistical power, further studies based on larger populations are needed to confirm the association.
Morphological and elemental mapping of gallstones using synchrotron microtomography and synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Bakthavatchalam Mohana , Venkataraman Jayanthi , Ramana Ramya J , Jain Mayank , Singh Balwant , Thanigai Arul K , Velyoudam Vaithiswaran , Manickam Neethirajan Saravanan , Tiwari Manoj K , Agarwal Ashish K , Kalkura Narayana S
Published: March 2019

Background and Aim

Regional differences in gallstone (GS) composition are well documented in the Indian subcontinent. The reasons for the same are unknown. Etiopathogenesis of GS remains elusive despite advances in instrumentation. This was an in‐depth analysis of the chemical, structural, and elemental composition of GS with special reference to synchroton studies.

Methods

We used high‐end sensitive analytical complementary microscopic and spectroscopic methods techniques, such as X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SR‐XRF), and 2D and 3D synchrotron microtomography (SR‐μCT), to study the ultra structure and trace element composition of three major types of GS (cholesterol, mixed, and pigment). SR‐XRF quantified the trace elements in GS.

Results

The cholesterol GS (monohydrate and anhydrate) were crystalline, with high calcium content. The pigment GS were amorphous, featureless, black, and fragile, with high calcium bilirubinate and carbonate salts. They had the highest concentration of iron (average 31.50 ppm) and copper (average 92.73 ppm), with bacterial inclusion. The mixed stones had features of both cholesterol and pigment GS with intermediate levels of copper (average 20.8 ppm) and iron (average 17.78 ppm).

Conclusion

SR‐μCT has, for the first time, provided cross‐sectional computed imaging delineating the framework of GS and mineral distribution. It provided excellent mapping of cholesterol GS. SR‐XRF confirmed that pigment GS had high concentrations of copper and iron with bacterial inclusions, the latter possibly serving as a nidus to the formation of these stones.
Synthesis of Norcantharidin Complex Salts
Authors: Zhao Changkuo , Jia Jia , Wang Xianheng , Luo Canmin , Wang Yuhe
Published: March 2019

A new series of norcantharidin salt derivatives was designed and synthesized in good yield. The compounds structures were characterized by 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and IR spectra. These norcantharidin salts 5 exhibit good antitumor activity against both liver cancer and colon cancer cell lines in vitro, which seems to direct a right trend for the modification on cantharidin structure.
Toward a framework for best practices and research guidelines for perinatal depression research
Authors: Kimmel Mary C. , Bauer Anna , Meltzer‐Brody Samantha
Published: March 2019

This review article highlights the current state of perinatal depression (PND) research including established standards of care and innovative research in progress. PND can have a significant adverse impact on mother, child, and family; however, to date, wide‐scale identification, prevention, and treatment have been limited. PND is heterogenous in presentation with likely multifactorial etiologies for each woman. Challenges in PND research are discussed including a need for universal tools, standardized measures, benchmarks, and best practices. Current examples are reviewed that highlight approaches to novel treatment paradigms and interventions. This includes reviewing epidemiologic studies in PND research, examining the biological underpinnings of PND, and discussing examples from this field and other fields currently developing translational research that spans from bench to bedside. Current and future challenges and opportunities in developing best practices for the treatment of PND are outlined. We also discuss the use of the NIMH Research Domain Criteria approach for PND research and provide recommendations for future directions in PND research collaboration. In conclusion, greater precision in perinatal psychiatry can be possible in the future with the development of guidelines and best practices that build on current work and apply innovative and collaborative approaches of scientists, providers, patients, community members, and government officials.
Reconditioning and weather conditions affect black spot damage during storage of potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) tubers
Authors: Grudzińska Magdalena , Mańkowski Dariusz
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

In potatoes (Solanum tuberosumL.), mechanical damage can cause the formation of black spots in the tuber flesh as the result of oxidation of phenolic compounds. This damage can result in substantial economic losses and degradation of quality. External factors contributing to the formation and the prevention of black spot damage (BSD) are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of weather conditions, using a hydrothermal coefficient, and of two potato tuber reconditioning methods on the formation of BSD. Five potato varieties were divided into high, moderate and low BSD susceptibility groups. The research was carried out over two growing seasons that differed greatly in precipitation and temperature. The black spot index was determined immediately after harvest and after 3 and 7 months of storage. Two reconditioning methods, applied for 7 days at 8 °C and for 7 days at 15 °C, were used for each variety.

RESULTS

The incidence of BSD in susceptible varieties did not depend significantly on weather conditions, although statistically significant variation was observed. We found a correlation between the hydrothermal coefficient (dry conditions) and BSD in the Etiuda variety. There was no significant effect of storage time and temperature on BSD incidence in susceptible or moderately susceptible varieties. The reconditioning methods significantly reduced the formation of BSD in tubers after storage in all three groups. Regardless of the level of susceptibility of the variety, storage time and storage temperature, the most efficient treatment to limit BSD was reconditioning for 7 days at 15 °C.

CONCLUSION

Identification of the significant effects of weather, and strong reduction of BSD in tubers that had been reconditioned, allows examination of the underlying mechanisms. The described reconditioning method can lead to satisfactory reduction of BSD in potato tubers. Data from this research will be of interest to potato breeders, particularly if valuable alleles that affect this phenomeon can be isolated. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Semi‐automated analysis of 4D flow MRI to assess the hemodynamic impact of intracranial atherosclerotic disease
Authors: Vali Alireza , Aristova Maria , Vakil Parmede , Abdalla Ramez , Prabhakaran Shyam , Markl Michael , Ansari Sameer A. , Schnell Susanne
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study evaluated the feasibility of using 4D flow MRI and a semi‐automated analysis tool to assess the hemodynamic impact of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). The ICAD impact was investigated by evaluating pressure drop (PD) at the atherosclerotic stenosis and changes in cerebral blood flow distribution in patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods

Dual‐venc 4D flow MRI was acquired in 25 healthy volunteers and 16 ICAD patients (ICA, N = 3; MCA, N = 13) with mild (<50%), moderate (50–69%), or severe (>70%) intracranial stenosis. A semi‐automated analysis tool was developed to quantify velocity and flow from 4D flow MRI and to evaluate cerebral blood flow redistribution. PD at stenosis was estimated using the Bernoulli equation. The PD calculation was examined by an in vitro phantom study against flow simulations.

Results

Flow analysis in controls indicated symmetry in blood flow rate (FR) and peak velocity (PV) between the brain hemispheres. For patients, PV in the affected hemisphere was significantly (65%) higher than the normal side (P = 0.002). However, FR to both hemispheres of the brain was the same. The PD depicted significant correlation with PV asymmetry in patients (ρ = 0.67 and P = 0.02), and it was significantly higher for severe compared to moderate stenosis (3.73 vs. 2.30 mm Hg, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

4D flow MRI quantification enables assessment of the hemodynamic impact of ICAD. The significant difference of the PD between patients with severe and moderate stenosis and its correlation with PV asymmetry suggest that PD may be a pertinent hemodynamic biomarker to evaluate ICAD.
Development of a three‐dimensional soil model for the dynamic analysis of end‐bearing pile groups subjected to vertical loads
Authors: Luan Lubao , Zheng Changjie , Kouretzis George , Cao Guangwei , Zhou Hang
Published: March 2019

This paper presents a new analytical model for calculating the steady‐state impedance of pile groups subjected to vertical dynamic loads. The derived solution allows considering effects of radially but also vertically propagating soil waves on the soil attenuation function, pile interaction factor, and pile group impedance. The proposed model provides accurate estimates of the soil stress field and of the response of the pile group in the low as well as in the high‐frequency range, unlike earlier solutions based on the plane‐strain model to describe the soil surrounding the piles, which ignores the vertical soil stress gradient. The latter assumption results in underestimating pile group impedance and overestimating radiation damping for frequencies lower than the cutoff frequencies of the system, which are explicitly captured with the proposed solution.
Identifying the translational complexity of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in neonates and infants
Authors: Moss Hunter G. , Jenkins Dorothea D. , Yazdani Milad , Brown Truman R.
Published: March 2019

Little attention has been paid to relating MRS outputs of vendor‐supplied platforms to those from research software. This comparison is crucial to advance MRS as a clinical prognostic tool for disease or injury, recovery, and outcome.

The work presented here investigates the agreement between metabolic ratios reported from vendor‐provided and LCModel fitting algorithms using MRS data obtained on Siemens 3 T TIM Trio and 3 T Skyra MRI scanners in a total of 55 premature infants and term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We compared peak area ratios in single voxels placed in basal ganglia (BG) and frontal white matter (WM) using standard PRESS (TE = 30 ms and 270 ms) and STEAM (TE = 20 ms) MRS sequences at multiple times after birth from 5 to 60 days.

A total of 74 scans met quality standards for inclusion, reflecting a spectrum of neonatal disease and several months of early infant development. For the long TE PRESS sequence, N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) and Choline (Cho) ratios to Creatine (Cr) correlated strongly between LCModel and vendor‐supplied software in the BG. For shorter TEs, the ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were more closely related using STEAM at TE = 20 ms in BG and WM, which was significantly better than using PRESS at TE = 30 ms in the BG of HIE infants.

At short TEs, however, it is still unclear which MRS sequence, STEAM or PRESS, is superior and thus more work is required in this regard for translating research‐generated MRS ratios to clinical diagnosis and prognostication, and unlocking the potential of MRS for in vivo metabolomics. MRS at both long and short TEs is desirable for standard metabolites such as NAA, Cho and Cr, along with important lower concentration metabolites such as myo‐inositol and glutathione.