bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neue Einsatzmöglichkeiten einseitiger Kernspinresonanzmesstechnik in der Baustoffforschung
Authors: Schulte Holthausen Robert , Raupach Michael
Published: February 2018

Mithilfe der einseitigen Kernspinresonanz kann eine Vielzahl interessanter und für die Bauwerkserhaltung relevanter Informationen gewonnen werden. Dieses vergleichsweise junge Messverfahren erlaubt es, Materialoberflächen bis zu einer Tiefe von ca. 25 mm mit einer hochpräzisen Tiefenauflösung zerstörungsfrei zu charakterisieren. Da die Kernspinresonanz, wie alle anderen zerstörungsfreien Messtechniken auch, nur indirekte Messinformationen zugänglich machen kann, erfordern die Interpretation und der Rückschluss auf wesentliche Baustoffeigenschaften kontrollierte Messungen zur Korrelation. Im Rahmen dieses Beitrags werden mehrere Beispiele aus den Forschungstätigkeiten am Institut für Baustoffforschung (ibac) zu den Einsatzmöglichkeiten einseitiger Kernspinresonanz in der Bauwerkserhaltung erläutert. Es werden die zerstörungsfreie Diagnose von säurebeständigem polymergebundenen Mörtel, das Quellverhalten von polymeren Dichtungsbahnen sowie die Möglichkeiten zur Charakterisierung der Porosität von zementären Mörteln und Betonen beschrieben. Für die einzelnen Anwendungen werden Grenzen diskutiert wie auch zukünftiges Entwicklungs‐ und Forschungspotenzial aufgezeigt.
Amphetamine, but not methylphenidate, increases ethanol intake in adolescent male, but not in female, rats
Authors: Ruiz Paul , Calliari Aldo , Genovese Patricia , Scorza Cecilia , Pautassi Ricardo Marcos
Published: February 2018

Introduction

There has been an increasing interest in analyzing the interactions between stimulants and ethanol during childhood and adolescence. Stimulants are used to treat attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in these developmental stages, during which ethanol initiation and escalation often occur.

Methods

This study assessed the effects of repeated d‐amphetamine (AMPH) or methylphenidate (MPH) treatment during adolescence [male and female Wistar rats, between postnatal day (PD) 28 to PD34, approximately] on the initiation of ethanol intake during a later section of adolescence (PD35 to PD40).

Results

Amphetamine and MPH exerted reliable acute motor stimulant effects, but there was no indication of sensitized motor or anxiety responses. MPH did not affect dopamine (DA) levels, whereas AMPH significantly reduced insular levels of DA in both sexes and norepinephrine levels in females only. Repeated treatment with AMPH, but not with MPH, enhanced ethanol intake during late adolescence in male, but not in female, rats.

Conclusion

A short treatment with AMPH during adolescence significantly altered DA levels in the insula, both in male and females, and significantly enhanced ethanol intake in males. The present results suggest that, in adolescent males, a very brief history of AMPH exposure can facilitate the initiation of ethanol intake.
Ketamine induces apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating the expression of CD69
Authors: Zhou Xuhui , Zhang Peihong , Luo Wei , Zhang Lei , Hu Rong , Sun Yu , Jiang Hong
Published: February 2018

Ketamine, an anesthetic, analgesic, or sedative, is widely used for the treatment of cancer pain. Recently, ketamine has been also reported to be tumor repressor for inhibiting proliferation, invasion, and migration, and inducing apoptosis in many cancers. However, whether ketamine can induce the apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and which downstream molecular mediates its function remain largely unknown. A LUAD cell line A549 was incubated with ketamine at 0, 1, 10, and 100 μmol/L for 24 h. Trypan blue staining was used to detect the cell viability. Flow cytometry (FACS) was applied to evaluate cell apoptosis proportion. The expression of CD69 was quantitated by western blotting. Ketamine induced the A549 cell apoptosis in a concentration‐dependent manner. CD69 was downregulated in LUAD patients’ cancer tissue compared with the normal tissue. CD69 can be upregulated in ketamine treating A549 cells and induce the A549 cell apoptosis. Rescue experiment showed that downregulation of CD69 significantly blocked the function of ketamine on inducing apoptosis. Taken together, our results demonstrated that ketamine induced LUAD cells apoptosis by upregulating the CD69 expression. This study suggests that the ketamine can be potential drug for LUAD treatment, and the ketamine/CD69 signaling may be the new potential therapeutic target LUAD therapy.
Effect of PPARG on AGEs‐induced AKT/MTOR signaling‐associated human chondrocytes autophagy
Authors: Wang Zhao‐Jun , Zhang Hai‐Bin , Chen Cheng , Huang Hao , Liang Jian‐Xia
Published: February 2018

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in articular cartilage is thought to represent a major risk factor for osteoarthritis development. In this study we aimed to probe the role of AGEs in human chondrocytes and to determine the impact of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARG) on AGEs‐induced cell autophagy. Cell viability was measured after human chondrocytes were treated with different concentrations of AGEs with or without the PPARG inhibitor, T0070907, or agonist, pioglitazone. Autophagy activation markers (MAP2LC3, BECN1 and SQSTM1/P62), expression of PPARG and the phosphorylation levels of Akt/MTOR were determined by Western blotting; autophagosome formation was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM); autophagic flux was detected with mRFP‐GFP‐LC3 tandem construct. Low doses of AGEs over a short amount of time stimulated chondrocyte proliferation and autophagy by limiting phosphorylation of Akt/MTOR signaling. The addition of PPARG inhibitor T0070907 lead to defective autophagy. High dose and long exposure to AGEs inhibited cell viability and autophagy by increasing phosphorylation levels of Akt/MTOR signaling. The agonist, pioglitazone, was shown to protect cell autophagy in a dose‐dependent manner. Our findings suggest AGEs can downregulate PPARG and that PPARG maintains cell viability by activating the Akt/MTOR signaling pathway as well as inducing chondrocyte autophagy.
Bladder squamous cell cancer accompanied by Trousseau's syndrome: a case report
Authors: Kayukawa Satoshi , Ina Kenji , Furuta Ryuichi , Nishio Tomoko , Miyashita Tadayuki , Umeda Shun , Kataoka Takae
Published: February 2018

Key Clinical Message

The association between thrombosis and cancer has been recognized since Trousseau's report in 1865. We present a case of bladder squamous cell carcinoma associated with multiple cerebral infarctions. This patient was diagnosed as having Trousseau's syndrome and received radiotherapy for bladder cancer treatment, along with anticoagulation therapy.
Easy Access to Enantiopure (S)‐ and (R)‐Aryl Alkyl Alcohols by a Combination of Gold(III)‐Catalyzed Alkyne Hydration and Enzymatic Reduction
Authors: Schaaf Patricia , Gojic Vladimir , Bayer Thomas , Rudroff Florian , Schnürch Michael , Mihovilovic Marko D.
Published: February 2018

Chemoenzymatic one‐pot processes based on the combination of metal catalysis and biocatalysis open up highly attractive perspectives regarding the production of enantiopure compounds. By combining a gold‐catalyzed hydration reaction with an enzymatic reduction, we present a straightforward and atom‐economical chemoenzymatic method for the synthesis of secondary alcohols with excellent optical purity. Efficient cofactor recycling exploits the solvent of the metal‐catalyzed step as an auxiliary substrate for the enzymatic step.
Kinetics of the Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Coupling of Furfural with Biomass‐Derived Alcohols
Authors: Goulas Konstantinos A. , Gokhale Amit A.
Published: February 2018

The tandem dehydrogenation and aldol condensation of butanol with furfural was investigated over homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts using kinetics and isotope effects. In the homogeneous system, Ni(dppe)Cl2 catalyzes the transfer dehydrogenation of butanol to the furfural, whereas the aldol condensation of butyraldehyde and furfural takes place over the basic K2CO3 cocatalyst. In the heterogeneous system, a transition‐metal‐free mixed Mg–Al oxide, both the transfer hydrogenation and aldol condensation take place over the basic sites of the catalyst, and the rate‐determining step is the alpha‐hydride transfer from the butanol to the furfural.
Prediction of Power Consumption in a Mechanically Agitated Gassed Reactor in Viscous Batches
Authors: Petříček Radim , Moucha Tomáš , Rejl František Jonáš , Valenz Lukáš , Haidl Jan
Published: February 2018

Volumetric mass transfer coefficient, power input, and gas holdup are key parameters in the design of mechanically agitated gas‐liquid contactors. Although the majority of industrial batches are of higher viscosity, reliable transport characteristics correlations for viscous batches are lacking in literature. These correlations are often based on the power input as the scale of energy dissipation. In order to develop reliable power input correlations, its measurements were carried out in a pilot‐plant vessel using multiple impellers of various types and diameters. Power input correlation shapes providing the best match with the comprehensive database are also expected to predict most precisely the impeller power in industrial‐scale vessels.
Highly Reversible Water Oxidation at Ordered Nanoporous Iridium Electrodes Based on an Original Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Schlicht Stefanie , Haschke Sandra , Mikhailovskii Vladimir , Manshina Alina , Bachmann Julien
Published: February 2018

Nanoporous iridium electrodes are prepared and electrochemically investigated towards the water oxidation (oxygen evolution) reaction. The preparation is based on ‘anodic’ aluminum oxide templates, which provide straight, cylindrical nanopores. Their walls are coated using atomic layer deposition (ALD) with a newly developed reaction which results in a metallic iridium layer. The ALD film growth is quantified by spectroscopic ellipsometry and X‐ray reflectometry. The morphology and composition of the electrodes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. Their catalytic activity is quantified for various pore geometries by cyclic voltammetry, steady‐state electrolysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. With an optimal pore length of L≈17–20 μm, we achieve current densities of J=0.28 mA cm−2 at pH 5 and J=2.4 mA cm−2 at pH 1. This platform is particularly competitive for achieving moderate current densities at very low overpotentials, that is, for a high degree of reversibility in energy storage.
A Sulfonozanamivir Analogue Has Potent Anti‐influenza Virus Activity
Authors: Hadházi Ádám , Li Linghui , Bailly Benjamin , Maggioni Andrea , Martin Gael , Dirr Larissa , Dyason Jeffrey C. , Thomson Robin J. , Gao George F. , Borbás Anikó , Ve Thomas , Pascolutti Mauro , von Itzstein Mark
Published: February 2018

Influenza virus infection continues to cause significant, often severe, respiratory illness worldwide. A validated target for the development of anti‐influenza agents is the virus surface protein sialidase. In the current study, we have discovered a highly potent inhibitor of influenza virus sialidase, based on a novel sialosyl sulfonate template. The synthesised 3‐guanidino sialosyl α‐sulfonate, a sulfonozanamivir analogue, inhibits viral replication in vitro at the nanomolar level, comparable to that of the anti‐influenza drug zanamivir. Using protein X‐ray crystallography we show that the sialosyl α‐sulfonate template binds within the sialidase active site in a 1C4 chair conformation. The C1‐sulfonate moiety forms crucial and strong‐binding interactions with the active site's triarginyl cluster, while the 3‐guanidino moiety interacts significantly with conserved active site residues. This sulfonozanamivir analogue provides a new direction in anti‐influenza virus drug development.
Regional deposition of nasal sprays in adults: A wide ranging computational study
Authors: Kiaee Milad , Wachtel Herbert , Noga Michelle L. , Martin Andrew R. , Finlay Warren H.
Published: February 2018

The present work examines regional deposition within the nose for nasal sprays over a large and wide ranging parameter space by using numerical simulation. A set of 7 realistic adult nasal airway geometries was defined based on computed tomography images. Deposition in 6 regions of each nasal airway geometry (the vestibule, valve, anterior turbinate, posterior turbinate, olfactory, and nasopharynx) was determined for varying particle diameter, spray cone angle, spray release direction, particle injection speed, and particle injection location. Penetration of nasal spray particles through the airway geometries represented unintended lung exposure. Penetration was found to be relatively insensitive to injection velocity, but highly sensitive to particle size. Penetration remained at or above 30% for particles exceeding 10 μm in diameter for several airway geometries studied. Deposition in the turbinates, viewed as desirable for both local and systemic nasal drug delivery, was on average maximized for particles ranging from ~20 to 30 μm in diameter, and for low to zero injection velocity. Similar values of particle diameter and injection velocity were found to maximize deposition in the olfactory region, a potential target for nose‐to‐brain drug delivery. However, olfactory deposition was highly variable between airway geometries, with maximum olfactory deposition ranging over 2 orders of magnitude between geometries. This variability is an obstacle to overcome if consistent dosing between subjects is to be achieved for nose‐to‐brain drug delivery.
Comparison of biofilm formation and migration of Streptococcus mutans on tooth roots and titanium miniscrews
Authors: Laosuwan Kittipong , Epasinghe Don Jeevanie , Wu Zhaoming , Leung Wai Keung , Green David William , Jung Han Sung
Published: February 2018

Periodontitis and peri‐implantitis are inflammatory diseases caused by periodontal pathogenic bacteria leading to destruction of supporting periodontal/peri‐implant tissue. However, the progression of inflammatory process of these two diseases is different. The bacterial biofilm is the source of bacteria during the inflammatory process. As the bacteria migrate down the surface of tooth or titanium implant, the inflammation spreads along with it. Streptococcus mutans has an important role in oral bacterial biofilm formation in early stage biofilm before the microbiota shift to late stage and become more virulent. The other major difference is the existence of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells in normal teeth but not in peri‐implant tissue. This study aims to compare the S. mutans bacterial biofilm formation and migration on 2 different surfaces, tooth root and titanium miniscrew. The biofilm was grown with a flow cells system to imitate the oral dynamic system with PDL cells. The migration distances were measured, and the biofilm morphology was observed. Data showed that the biofilm formation on miniscrew was slower than those on tooth root at 24 hr. However, there were no difference in the morphology of the biofilm formed on the tooth root with those formed on the miniscrew at both 24 and 48 hr. The biofilm migration rate was significantly faster on miniscrew surface compare with those on tooth root when observe at 48 hr (p < .001). There are no significant differences in biofilm migration within miniscrew group and tooth root group despite the exiting of PDL cell (p > .05). The biofilm's migration rate differences on various surfaces could be one of the factors accounting for the different inflammatory progression between periodontitis and peri‐implantitis disease.
Extraction of DNA from captive‐sourced feces and molted feathers provides a novel method for conservation management of New Zealand kiwi (Apteryxspp.)
Authors: Ramón‐Laca Ana , White Daniel J. , Weir Jason T. , Robertson Hugh A.
Published: February 2018

Although some taxa are increasing in number due to active management and predator control, the overall number of kiwi (Apteryxspp.) is declining. Kiwi are cryptic and rare, meaning current monitoring tools, such as call counts, radio telemetry, and surveys using detection dogs are labor‐intensive, yield small datasets, and require substantial resources or provide inaccurate estimates of population sizes. A noninvasive genetic approach could help the conservation effort. We optimized a panel of 23 genetic markers (22 autosomal microsatellite loci and an allosomal marker) to discriminate between all species of kiwi and major lineages within species, while simultaneously determining sex. Markers successfully amplified from both fecal and shed feather DNA samples collected in captivity. We found that DNA extraction was more efficient from shed feathers, but DNA quality was greater with feces, although this was sampling dependent. Our microsatellite panel was able to distinguish between contemporary kiwi populations and lineages and provided PI values in the range of 4.3 × 10−5to 2.0 × 10−19, which in some cases were sufficient for individualization and mark–recapture studies. As such, we have tested a wide‐reaching, noninvasive molecular approach that will improve conservation management by providing better parameter estimates associated with population ecology and demographics such as abundance, growth rates, and genetic diversity.
Anthropogenic food provisioning and immune phenotype: Association among supplemental food, body condition, and immunological parameters in urban environments
Authors: Hwang Jusun , Kim Yongbaek , Lee Sang‐Won , Kim Na‐Yon , Chun Myung‐Sun , Lee Hang , Gottdenker Nicole
Published: February 2018

Direct or indirect supplemental feeding of free‐ranging animals occurs worldwide, resulting in significant impacts on population density or altered demographic processes. Another potential impact of increased energy intake from supplemental feeding is altered immunocompetence. As immune system maintenance is energetically costly, there may be trade‐offs between immune responses and other energy‐demanding physiological processes in individual animals. Although increased availability of food sources through supplemental feeding is expected to increase the overall immunocompetence of animals, empirical data verifying the association between supplemental feeding and different immune parameters are lacking. Understanding the potential influence of supplemental feeding on immune phenotypes is critical, as it may also impact host–pathogen dynamics in free‐ranging animals. Using urban stray cats as a study model, we tested for associations between the intensity of supplemental feeding due to cat caretaker activity (CCA); body condition; and immune phenotype (bacterial killing assay (BKA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, and leukocyte counts). Significantly higher bacterial killing ability was observed in cats from high CCA districts, whereas higher IgG concentration and eosinophil counts were observed in cats from low CCA districts. Other leukocyte counts and body condition indices showed no significant association with CCA. We observed varying patterns of different immune components in relation to supplemental feeding. Out data suggest that supplemental feeding influences immune phenotype, not only by means of energy provisioning, but also by potentially reducing exposure rates to parasite infections through stray cat behavioral changes.
Threat of predation alters aggressive interactions among spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) larvae
Authors: Hossie Thomas J. , MacFarlane Shawn , Clement Amy , Murray Dennis L.
Published: February 2018

Intraspecific aggression represents a major source of mortality for many animals and is often experienced alongside the threat of predation. The presence of predators can strongly influence ecological systems both directly by consuming prey and indirectly by altering prey behavior or habitat use. As such, the threat of attack by higher level predators may strongly influence agonistic interactions among conspecifics via nonconsumptive (e.g., behaviorally mediated) predator effects. We sought to investigate these interactions experimentally using larval salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) as prey and dragonfly nymphs (Anax junius) as predators. Specifically, we quantified salamander behavioral responses to perceived predation risk (PPR) from dragonfly nymphs and determined the degree to whichPPRinfluenced intraspecific aggression (i.e., intraspecific biting and cannibalism) among prey. This included examining the effects of predator exposure on the magnitude of intraspecific biting (i.e., extent of tail damage) and the resulting change in performance (i.e., burst swim speed). Salamander larvae responded toPPRby reducing activity and feeding, but did not increase refuge use. Predator exposure did not significantly influence overall survival; however, the pattern of survival differed among treatments. Larvae exposed toPPRexperienced less tail damage from conspecifics, and maximum burst swim speed declined as tail damage became more extensive. Thus, escape ability was more strongly compromised by intraspecific aggression occurring in the absence of predation risk. We conclude that multitrophic indirect effects may importantly modulate intraspecific aggression and should be considered when evaluating the effects of intraspecific competition.
Increasing connectivity between metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology
Authors: Howell Paige E. , Muths Erin , Hossack Blake R. , Sigafus Brent H. , Chandler Richard B.
Published: February 2018

Metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology aim to understand how spatial structure influences ecological processes, yet these disciplines address the problem using fundamentally different modeling approaches. Metapopulation models describe how the spatial distribution of patches affects colonization and extinction, but often do not account for the heterogeneity in the landscape between patches. Models in landscape ecology use detailed descriptions of landscape structure, but often without considering colonization and extinction dynamics. We present a novel spatially explicit modeling framework for narrowing the divide between these disciplines to advance understanding of the effects of landscape structure on metapopulation dynamics. Unlike previous efforts, this framework allows for statistical inference on landscape resistance to colonization using empirical data. We demonstrate the approach using 11 yr of data on a threatened amphibian in a desert ecosystem. Occupancy data forLithobates chiricahuensis(Chiricahua leopard frog) were collected on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR), Arizona,USAfrom 2007 to 2017 following a reintroduction in 2003. Results indicated that colonization dynamics were influenced by both patch characteristics and landscape structure. Landscape resistance increased with increasing elevation and distance to the nearest streambed. Colonization rate was also influenced by patch quality, with semi‐permanent and permanent ponds contributing substantially more to the colonization of neighboring ponds relative to intermittent ponds. Ponds that only hold water intermittently also had the highest extinction rate. Our modeling framework can be widely applied to understand metapopulation dynamics in complex landscapes, particularly in systems in which the environment between habitat patches influences the colonization process.
Upgrading Biocrude of Grindelia Squarrosa to Jet Fuel Precursors by Aqueous Phase Hydrodeoxygenation
Authors: Yang Xiaokun , Pereira Marcus V. , Neupane Bishnu , Miller Glenn C. , Poulson Simon R. , Lin Hongfei
Published: February 2018

Bio‐jet fuel is increasingly attracting attention in attempts to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation fuels. Feedstocks like camelina, jatropha and algae have been extensively studied, and exhibit fair performance in producing low‐density hydrocarbon biofuels, mainly from triglyceride lipids. Grindelia squarrosa is a promising feedstock since the primary diterpenoid, grindelic acid with the branched tricyclic structure, is the major component in its biocrude. Herein, a heterogeneous bi‐functional catalyst, palladium with the reductive properties supported on tungstate zirconia with acidic properties and good stability in hydrothermal media, was used for the conversion of Grindelia squarrosa biocrude to potential bio‐jet fuels. Different solid acid catalyst supports and a variety of reaction conditions, such as temperature, catalyst loading, hydrogen pressure, and reaction time, were systematically investigated. At the optimum conditions, the oxygen content deceased from 18.1 % in the Grindelia squarrosa biocrude feedstock to 5.6 % in the final product, and is ready for further industrial treatment. The upgrading method utilized in this work can produce jet fuel precursors for synthesizing high‐density cyclic hydrocarbons.
Changes in the saltation flux following a step‐change in macro‐roughness
Authors: Gillies John A. , Etyemezian Vicken , Nikolich George , Nickling William G. , Kok Jasper F.
Published: February 2018

The effect of a step change in macro‐roughness on the saltation process under sediment supply limited conditions was examined in the atmospheric boundary layer. For an array of roughness elements of roughness density λ = 0.045 (λ = total element frontal area/total surface area of the array) the horizontal saltation flux was reduced by 90% (±7%) at a distance of ≈150 roughness element heights into the array. This matches the value predicted using an empirical design model and provides confidence that it can be effectively used to engineer roughness arrays to meet sand flux reduction targets. Measurements of the saltation flux characteristics in the vertical dimension, including: saltation layer decay (e‐folding) height and particle size, revealed that with increasing distance into the array, the rate of mass flux change with increasing height decreased notably, and (geometric) mean particle diameter decreased. The distribution of the saltation mass flux in the vertical remains exponential in form with increasing distance into the roughness array, and the e‐folding height increases as well as increasing at a greater rate as particle diameter diminishes. The increase in e‐folding height suggests the height of saltating particles is increasing along with their mean speed. This apparent increase in mean speed is likely due to the preferential removal, or sequestration, of the slower moving particles across the size spectrum, as they travel through the roughness array. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Making Policies about Emerging Technologies
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E. , Gusmano Michael K.
Published: February 2018

Can we make wise policy decisions about still‐emerging technologies—decisions that are grounded in facts yet anticipate unknowns and promote the public's preferences and values? There is a widespread feeling that we should try. There also seems to be widespread agreement that the central element in wise decisions is the assessment of benefits and costs, understood as a process that consists, at least in part, in measuring, tallying, and comparing how different outcomes would affect the public interest. But how benefits and costs are best weighed when making decisions about whether to move forward with an emerging technology is not clear. Many commentators feel that the weighing is often inadequate or inappropriate. Those who argue for a “precautionary” approach to the weighing do so precisely because they feel the need for a restraint on the dominant decision‐making tools and processes for assessing outcomes.

This Hastings Center special report examines those tools and processes, taking the method known as cost‐benefit analysis as a starting point. In U.S. governance, CBA, sometimes informed by risk assessment, is the most widely used and extensively studied method, and authoritative reports on genetic and reproductive technologies often use language suggestive of cost‐benefit analysis. There is also a long‐running debate about the role of values in CBA and other formal impact assessment mechanisms—and about how those mechanisms compare to the precautionary principle. The guiding idea in the report is to engage in a close examination of the strengths and limits of CBA for ensuring that emerging technologies are used in ways that square with the public's values, drawing on applications of synthetic biology to illustrate and sharpen the analysis and then considering corrections to CBA and some alternative methodologies that handle values differently.
Demystifying Evidence‐Based Policy Analysis by Revealing Hidden Value‐Laden Constraints
Authors: Finkel Adam M.
Published: February 2018

Consider any choice that affects some social policy. A decision that considers evidence will, at its heart, contain some kind of explicit or implicit “because” statement: “We are doing X because the evidence says Y.” But can evidence ever truly speak for itself, in the sense of being reducible to objective utterances that are either correct or in need of correction? Before answering, consider what you'd prefer. Would you rather receive evidence that was free of any value judgments imposed by human actors, that was laden with value judgments that you agree with, or laden with value judgments that you disagree with? The central assertion of this essay is that, throughout policy analysis but especially in assessments of the costs and benefits of regulating versus encouraging new technologies (cost‐benefit analysis, or CBA), the first possibility above is a mirage, and the second and third are self‐contradictory. Instead, we are overwhelmingly confronted with a fourth possibility: we receive evidence that appears to be (or is deliberately touted as) value neutral but is suffused with hidden value judgments.

In the second part of this essay, entitled “A Guided Tour through Inevitable Value Judgments,” I identify in a systematic way approximately sixty‐five value judgments that are routinely (in some cases, invariably) made in CBA, but that are kept hidden. For each judgment, I discuss its genesis as it is most commonly invoked in CBA, explain how it is hidden in plain sight, and offer one or more value judgments that could be made instead of or in addition to the conventional one. The alternative judgments highlight the width of the spectrum of reasonable conclusions an analyst could reach merely by substituting other judgments for the ones currently embedded.

Bringing hidden value judgments to light is doubly valuable. First, it allows discussion to ensue on a level playing field; instead of conclusory statements about what the evidence says, transparency permits statements taking the form of “when channeled through these value judgments, the evidence says this.” Perhaps more importantly, transparency about value judgments permits participants in the discussions to offer interpretations of evidence contingent on there being different value judgments chosen at one or more points in the analysis, interpretations that may suggest that alternative course(s) of action are preferable to the one being championed.
Behavioral Economics and the Public Acceptance of Synthetic Biology
Authors: Oliver Adam
Published: February 2018

Different applications of synthetic biology are alike in that their possible negative consequences are highly uncertain, potentially catastrophic, and perhaps irreversible; therefore, they are also alike in that public attitudes about them are fertile ground for behavioral economic phenomena. Findings from behavioral economics suggest that people may not respond to such applications according to the normal rules of economic evaluation, by which the value of an outcome is multiplied by the mathematical probability that the outcome will occur. Possibly, then, synthetic biology applications challenge the normative postulates of the standard approach, too.

I want to first consider how some of the phenomena described by behavioral economists—and behavioral scientists more broadly—might affect people's perceptions of the uncertainties associated with synthetic biology. My analysis will be far from complete, however, because behavioral economics is essentially the study of human behavior, and thus its reach is potentially vast and its development longstanding and ongoing. Nonetheless, I hope to give an indicative perspective on how some aspects of behavioral economics might affect the assessment and perceived acceptability of synthetic biology. I will then consider the issue of agency. Should policy‐makers respect people's reactions to synthetic biology when those reactions are known to be driven by behavioral economic phenomena rather than following the normative postulates of rational choice theory? Or should policy‐makers dismiss these reactions as inherently biased? I will argue that the normative force of these human reactions (probably) depends on phenomenon and context.
From CBA to Precautionary Appraisal: Practical Responses to Intractable Problems
Authors: Stirling Andrew , Coburn Josie
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this essay is to critically review the design of methods for ethically robust forms of technology appraisal in the regulation of research and innovation in synthetic biology. It will focus, in particular, on the extent to which cost‐benefit analysis offers a basis for informing decisions about which technological pathways to pursue and which to discourage. A further goal is to consider what (if anything) the precautionary principle might offer in enabling better decisions. And this, in turn, raises questions about why mention of precaution can excite accusations of unscientific bias or irrational, “anti‐innovation” extremism. What does the polarized debate tell us about the politics around synthetic biology? In seeking more rigorous, timely, and practical ways to govern these remarkable new technologies, what might we be missing?

The sophistication, diversity, and scope of synthetic biology may seem to make it a rather idiosyncratic area for exploring these general issues. It may seem to be a special case, with the bewildering pace of change amplifying the difficulties. But at root, some of the trickiest issues are just specific instances of familiar and long‐standing conundrums in the governance of science and technology. The basic challenge is how to weigh up, for a wide range of potential options, the various pros and cons, as viewed from divergent perspectives, and find a way to justify the best course of action on behalf of society as a whole. This is the central problem addressed by a number of techniques in CBA. On the face of it, synthetic biology seems to present just one more application of these well‐established and self‐confident prescriptive methods.

But there do emerge several obstinate, even prohibitive, difficulties for CBA. Although they are well acknowledged by the scholarly literature on and around this topic, they are often sidelined in practice. Yet all are central to the case for applying the concept of precaution to a field like synthetic biology. This essay will briefly explore multicriteria mapping, an appraisal method for exploring contrasting perspectives on emerging technologies, as one practical way to address them. The essay focuses on MCM, not because it presents any sort of panacea for appraisal, but because it is illustrative of the concrete implications of precaution. Setting out even just one among potentially many practical alternative methods at least refutes the last‐ditch argument that CBA is the only operational choice.
Long‐term outcomes of patients undergoing simultaneous liver transplantation and sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Zamora‐Valdes Daniel , Watt Kymberly D. , Kellogg Todd A. , Poterucha John J. , Di Cecco Sara R. , Francisco‐Ziller Nicki M. , Taner Timucin , Rosen Charles B. , Heimbach Julie K.
Published: February 2018

Obesity is increasingly common before and after liver transplantation (LT), yet optimal management remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the long‐term outcomes for obese patients undergoing LT, including a noninvasive weight loss program and combined LT and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Since 2006, all patients referred for LT with a body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2 were enrolled. Patients who achieved weight loss (BMI <35) underwent LT alone, and those who did not underwent simultaneous LT + SG. Analysis of long‐term outcomes for patients ≥3 years posttransplant was performed. Since 2006, there were 36 in the weight loss intervention (LT cohort) and 13 in the LT + SG cohort with >3 years of follow‐up, whereas overall, a total of 29 patients underwent LT + SG. Patients in the LT cohort had less severe obesity at enrollment (40.0 ± 2.7 vs. LT + SG cohort 46.0 ± 4.5; P < 0.001). In the LT cohort, 83.3% (30 of 36) achieved >10% loss in total body weight (TBW) pre‐LT. Three years posttransplant, 29.4% of patients in the LT cohort maintained >10% loss in TBW, whereas 100% of the LT + SG patients did (P < 0.001). Patients who underwent LT + SG maintained a significantly higher percentage of total body weight loss after 3 years of follow‐up (LT cohort 3.9 ± 13.3% vs. LT + S G cohort 34.8 ± 17.3%; P < 0.001). Patients in the LT + SG also had a lower prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis and required fewer antihypertensive medications and lipid agents at last follow‐up. Conclusion: Whereas weight loss before transplantation was achieved by obese patients, weight regain was common in the LT cohort. Combined LT + SG resulted in more effective and more durable weight loss, as well as fewer metabolic complications at last follow‐up. (Hepatology 2018).
Meta‐standardization as a remedy for tensions and complexities: The case of medical service lists in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thanh , Pham Thanh Chi , Santos Emanuel , Son Ha Thai
Published: February 2018

Standards are vital components in building large‐scale and complex information systems, but not all standards are well functioning. Therefore, standardization, the process that produces standards, plays a crucial role in creating good standards. This paper contributes to standardization literature by presenting a case study involving negotiation and development of a standardized medical service list through mapping separated existing standards. In our conceptualization, meta‐standardization is not a project but should be perceived as an open‐ended learning process where no individual or institutions are omnipotent to foresee all the dynamics and offer a universal working solution at the first attempt. This process was part of a larger attempt to build a national electronic insurance claim system in Vietnam. We propose the concept of meta‐standardization to understand the 3 aspects of that process: convergence/differentiation, learning, and multilevel. Practical implications include the following strategies for resolving tensions and complexities: building upon what exists, organizing a learning process, and automating the standardization.
Chitosan porous 3D scaffolds embedded with resolvin D1 to improve in vivo bone healing
Authors: Vasconcelos Daniela P. , Costa Madalena , Neves Nuno , Teixeira José H. , Vasconcelos Daniel M. , Santos Susana G. , Águas Artur P. , Barbosa Mário A. , Barbosa Judite N.
Published: February 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect chitosan (Ch) porous 3D scaffolds embedded with resolvin D1 (RvD1), an endogenous pro‐resolving lipid mediator, on bone tissue healing. These scaffolds previous developed by us have demonstrated to have immunomodulatory properties namely in the modulation of the macrophage inflammatory phenotypic profile in an in vivo model of inflammation. Herein, results obtained in an in vivo rat femoral defect model demonstrated that two months after Ch + RvD1 scaffolds implantation, an increase in new bone formation, in bone trabecular thickness, and in collagen type I and Coll I/Coll III ratio were observed. These results suggest that Ch scaffolds embedded with RvD1 were able to lead to the formation of new bone with improvement of trabecular thickness. This study shows that the presence of RvD1 in the acute phase of the inflammatory response to the implanted biomaterial had a positive role in the subsequent bone tissue repair, thus demonstrating the importance of innovative approaches for the control of immune responses to biomedical implants in the design of advanced strategies for regenerative medicine. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1626–1633, 2018.
A case‐control study and meta‐analysis reveal the association between COX‐2 G‐765C polymorphism and primary end‐stage hip and knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Huang Wei , Deng Chen , Tian Feng , Gao Weilu , Ding Zhenfei , Rao Xianliang , Yin Zongsheng
Published: February 2018

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a popular arthrosis featured as pain, limited joint activity, and deformity. Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) has been reported to be up‐regulated in arthritic tissues and is integral to the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies showed the COX‐2 promoter G‐765C polymorphism could influence COX‐2 expression. However, the relationship between the variant and OA risk is contrasting.

Methods

We conducted a case‐control study with 196 primary end‐stage hip and knee OA cases and 196 controls in a Chinese Han population. Subsequently, we integrated this case‐control study in a meta‐analysis to acquire greater statistical power. The results from our case‐control study using MassARRAY genotyping technology and binary logistic regression statistical methods.

Results

The variant carriers in the Chinese Han population had a lower primary end‐stage hip and knee OA susceptibility (C vs G: OR = 0.350, 95%CI: 0.154‐0.797, P = .012; GC vs GG: adjusted OR = 0.282, 95%CI: 0.118‐0.676, P = .005). Stratification studies indicated that a higher GC frequency in women decreased not only knee OA susceptibility but also unilateral knee OA risk. The meta‐analysis showed that the variant exhibited a significantly decreased OA risk through comparisons involving allelic, homozygous, heterozygous, and dominant models.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the COX‐2 G‐765C polymorphism exerts a protective effect against primary end‐stage knee osteoarthritis in a female Chinese Han population.
Proposal for new selection criteria considering pre‐transplant muscularity and visceral adiposity in living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Hamaguchi Yuhei , Kaido Toshimi , Okumura Shinya , Kobayashi Atsushi , Shirai Hisaya , Yao Siyuan , Yagi Shintaro , Kamo Naoko , Okajima Hideaki , Uemoto Shinji
Published: February 2018

Background

The significance of pre‐operative body composition has recently attracted much attention in various diseases. However, cut‐off values for these parameters remain undetermined, and these factors are not currently included in selection criteria for recipients of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods

Using computed tomography of 657 donors for LDLT, skeletal muscle mass, muscle quality, and visceral adiposity were evaluated by using skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), and visceral‐to‐subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR). Sex‐specific cut‐offs for SMI, IMAC, and VSR were determined, and correlations with outcomes after LDLT in 277 recipients were examined with the aim of establishing new selection criteria for LDLT.

Results

On the basis of younger donor data, we determined sex‐specific cut‐off values for low SMI, high IMAC, and high VSR (mean ± 2 standard deviations). Patients with all three factors showed the lowest survival rate after LDLT (1 year survival rate, 41.2%; P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, low SMI (P = 0.002), high IMAC (P = 0.002), and high VSR (P = 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality after LDLT. Based on these findings, we have excluded patients showing all three factors (low SMI, high IMAC, and high VSR) as candidates for LDLT since October 2016.

Conclusions

Using cut‐off values determined from healthy donors, we have established new selection criteria for LDLT including body composition, which should improve post‐transplant outcomes.
Metals in aqueous solutions and real effluents: biosorption behavior of a hemp‐based felt
Authors: Loiacono Sonia , Crini Grégorio , Chanet Gilles , Raschetti Marina , Placet Vincent , Morin‐Crini Nadia
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

In this study, a hemp‐based material in the form of a felt was used to adsorb metals in individual aqueous solutions and in polycontaminated effluents using the batch method. The factors affecting the biosorption process were initial metal concentration, biosorbent dosage, contact time and pH.

RESULTS

In controlled conditions, results showed that: (i) the felt exhibited high adsorption capacities towards metals in the following order: Pb > Cd > Cu > Zn > Co ∼ Fe ∼ Ni ∼ Cr ∼ Al ∼ Mn; (ii) no significant differences were observed for the three salts used (sulfate, chloride and nitrate); (iii) the process was rapid: 10 min were sufficient to attain equilibrium; (iv) the biosorption efficiency increased considerably with the increase of the biosorbent dosage; and (v) the adsorption capacities were independent of pH between 4 and 6. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cd, Cu, Zn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cr, Al and Mn were 27.47, 14.64, 10.59, 7.99, 7.85, 7.87, 6.53, 6.38 and 4.55 mg g–1, respectively. Interesting results also were obtained for real polymetallic effluents. Ecotoxicological tests also confirmed the efficiency of the biosorption to radically decrease the effluent toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, hemp‐based felt could serve as a novel and efficient biosorbent material for pollutant removal from industrial effluents. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Utility of Bis‐Hydrazonoyl Chlorides as Precursors for Synthesis of New Functionalized Bis‐Thiadiazoles as Potent Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Gomha Sobhi M. , El_Gendy Marwa S. , Muhammad Zeinab A. , Abdelhamid Abdou O. , Abdel‐Aziz Marwa M.
Published: February 2018

N′,N″‐([1,1’‐Biphenyl]‐4,4′‐diyl)bis(2‐oxopropanehydrazonoyl chloride) is considered to be the key intermediate for the synthesis of a variety bis‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole derivatives in one step methodology with good yields by reaction of with a series of hydrazinecarbodithioate derivatives 2a–e, 6a,b, and 8a–e. The assigned structures for all the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses and spectral data (infrared, NMR, and mass), and the mechanisms of their formation were also discussed. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity for twelve selected products was screened, and the results obtained exploring the high potency of some of the tested compounds compared with the employed standard bactericides and fungicides. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the tested compounds was determined, and the results obtained exploring the high potency of three of the tested compounds against all the tested microorganisms.
An Efficient One‐Pot Synthesis of Highly Substituted Pyridone Derivatives and Their Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity
Authors: Pandit Archana B. , Savant Mahesh M. , Ladva Kartik D.
Published: February 2018

A series of carboxamide and cyano functionalized pyridone derivatives 4a–q have been synthesized via one‐pot synthesis of various aldehydes 1a–q, acetoacetanilide 2, and cyanoacetamide 3. The reaction was simple and afforded pyridone derivatives in good yield, 89 to 93%. The novel pyridone derivatives were achieved by Hantzch one‐pot synthesis. Moreover, the synthesized compounds were screened against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi for their activity. Among them, compound 4c shows highest inhibition at 4.25 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 3.75 mm against Escherichia coli Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, respectively.