bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Les liens entre la consommation de boissons énergisantes et la consommation de psychotropes chez les jeunes : que connaissons-nous du phénomène ?
Authors: Picard-Masson Marianne , Loslier Julie , Paquin Pierre , Bertrand Karine
Published: July 2015

Cette recension des écrits, sous forme d’une revue narrative critique, a pour but de dresser un bilan de l’état des connaissances concernant la consommation de boissons énergisantes chez les jeunes et les conduites qui y sont associées telles que la consommation de psychotropes et les autres comportements à risque. L’analyse des études recensées indique que les boissons énergisantes sont consommées par les jeunes adultes pour différents motifs et dans diverses occasions. De plus, ces boissons seraient surtout appréciées par des consommateurs d’autres substances psychoactives telles que le tabac, l’alcool et les drogues. Cette polyconsommation de psychotropes peut entraîner des effets plus souvent préjudiciables que bénéfiques. D’ailleurs, les résultats de différentes études nous renseignent sur le fait que la consommation de boissons énergisantes alcoolisées est associée à des comportements à risque tels que conduire après avoir bu de l’alcool, prendre la route avec un conducteur sous l’influence de l’alcool, avoir des relations sexuelles sous l’influence de substances psychoactives et agir de manière agressive. Néanmoins, les recherches produites comportent certaines limites, notamment le devis majoritairement transversal de ces investigations ne permet pas d’établir de relations de causes à effets. Ce constat incite à la prudence dans l’interprétation des données. Toutefois, la consommation de boissons énergisantes en combinaison avec d’autres substances psychoactives est un phénomène préoccupant en raison de ses effets potentiellement indésirables.
Sensibilidade de plantas de café micorrizadas à herbicidas
Authors: Carvalho Felipe Paolinelli , França André Cabral , Franco Miguel Henrique Rosa , Avelar Moisés , Moreira Samuel Dias , Alecrim Ademilson Oliveira , Santos José Barbosa dos
Published: July 2015

Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o efeito de herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência em plantas de café arábica inoculadas com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial 2 x 6, sendo mudas de café arábica cultivar Catuaí IAC 99 inoculadas e não inoculadas com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares, e cinco herbicidas (chlorimuron-ethyl, oxyfluorfen, fluazifop-p-butil, fomesafen, [fluazifop-p-butil+fomesafen]) e uma testemunha, com quatro repetições. As mudas inoculadas com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (Rhizophagus clarus e Gigaspora margarita) e produzidas em sacolas plásticas contendo solo e esterco (3:1) foram transplantadas para vasos de 20 dm3 de solo, no estádio de cinco pares de folhas. No estádio de sete pares de folhas foram submetidas a aplicação dos herbicidas. Após a aplicação do herbicida foram mensuradas: porcentagem de intoxicação, altura, área foliar, volume radicular, matéria seca das folhas e raízes, teor nutricional da folha e colonização radicular. Observou-se que a aplicação de chlorimuron-ethyl, oxyfluorfen e [fluazifop-p-butil+fomesafen] resultaram em menor incremento das variáveis e maior intoxicação. O fluazifop-p-butil apresentou maior seletividade para as plantas de café. As plantas inoculadas obtiveram maior colonização radicular de fungos micorrízicos que as não inoculadas. Apenas o fluazifop-p-butil não causou interferência na colonização, sendo que as plantas inoculadas mostraram menor intoxicação que as não inoculadas. Considerando todos os parâmetros avaliados conclui-se que as plantas de café arábica cultivar Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99 inoculadas com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares apresentaram maior tolerância ao fluazifop-p-butil. Da mesma forma, conclui-se também que plantas de café quando inoculadas com FMAs apresentaram-se mais tolerantes aos efeitos negativos dos herbicidas chlorimuron-ethyl, fomesafen, oxyfluorfen e [fluazifop-p-butil+fomesafen].
Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Risk and Severity of Chronic Widespread Pain: Results From a UK Population‐Based Study
Authors: Macfarlane Gary J. , Beasley Marcus
Published: July 2015

Objective

To determine whether the reported level of alcohol consumption is associated with the likelihood of reporting chronic widespread pain (CWP) and, among persons with CWP, the associated disability.

Methods

In a population‐based study in 2 areas of the UK, participants self‐completed a postal questionnaire. They were classified according to whether they met the American College of Rheumatology definition of CWP and whether the pain was disabling (Chronic Pain Grade III or IV). They reported their usual level of alcohol consumption. Potential confounding factors on which information was available included age, sex, cigarette smoking, employment status, self‐reported weight and height, and level of deprivation.

Results

A total of 13,574 persons participated (mean age 55 years, 57% women) of whom 2,239 (16.5%) had CWP; 28% reported never regularly consuming alcohol, 28% reported consuming up to 5 units/week, 20% reported 6–10 units/week, and 24% reported >10 units/week. Among persons with CWP, disability was strongly linked to level of alcohol consumption. Prevalence of disability decreased with increasing alcohol consumption up to 35 units/week (odds ratio [OR]21–35 units alcohol/week versus never drinkers 0.33 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.19–0.58]) adjusted for confounders. A similar relationship was found between reporting CWP and level of alcohol consumption (adjusted OR21–35 units alcohol/week versus never drinkers 0.76 [95% CI 0.61–0.94]).

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated strong associations between level of alcohol consumption and both CWP and related disabilities. However, the available evidence does not allow us to conclude that the association is causal. The strength of the associations means that specific studies to examine this potential relationship are warranted.
Multidimensional Model of Disability and Role Functioning in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Ormseth Sarah R. , Draper Taylor L. , Irwin Michael R. , Weisman Michael H. , Aréchiga Adam E. , Hartoonian Narineh , Bui Thuy , Nicassio Perry M.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To examine a model addressing the roles of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease burden, mood disturbance, and disability as determinants of impairments in role functioning.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional design, 103 RA patients recruited from the community to participate in a clinical trial completed assessments of self‐assessed disease burden (total joint pain and disease activity), mood disturbance (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale depressed mood, somatic symptoms, lack of positive affect, and interpersonal problems), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index gross and fine motor), and role functioning (Short Form 36 health survey physical and social). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine direct and indirect mechanisms linking disease burden to role functioning.

Results

SEM results indicated that the model had excellent fit: S‐Bχ2(30) = 38.59, P = 0.135; comparative fit index = 0.977, standardized root mean residual = 0.062, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.053. Mediational analyses demonstrated that, while disease burden was associated with poor role functioning, its effects were jointly mediated by mood disturbance and disability. After the effects of mood disturbance and disability were taken into account, the effect of disease burden on role functioning was not significant.

Conclusion

The results indicate that mood disturbance and disability may serve as important pathways through which RA disease burden affects role functioning. Future longitudinal research is suggested to replicate these findings and further explore the mediational mechanisms examined in this study.
Pinensine: Die ersten antimykotischen Lantibiotika
Authors: Mohr Kathrin I. , Volz Carsten , Jansen Rolf , Wray Victor , Hoffmann Judith , Bernecker Steffen , Wink Joachim , Gerth Klaus , Stadler Marc , Müller Rolf
Published: July 2015

Lantibiotika (Lanthionin enthaltende Antibiotika) aus Gram‐positiven Bakterien wirken üblicherweise antibakteriell auf Gram‐positive Keime. Wir beschreiben hier die Aktivität und Struktur der Pinensine A (1) und B (2), der ersten aus einem natürlichen, Gram‐negativen Produzenten (Chitinophaga pinensis) isolierten Lantibiotika. Erstaunlicherweise zeigten Pinensine eine hohe Aktivität gegen zahlreiche filamentöse Pilze und Hefen, jedoch nur eine geringe antibakterielle Aktivität. Fungizide Lantibiotika wurden nach unserem Wissen bisher nicht beschrieben. Eine eingehende, bioinformatische Analyse des zugehörigen Biosynthesegenclusters bestätigte den ribosomalen Ursprung und ermöglichte die Identifizierung von weiteren Kandidatengenen, die für alle notwendigen Funktionen zur posttranslationalen Modifikation kodieren. Zusätzliche kodierte Funktionen ermöglichten die Aufstellung einer ersten Hypothese zu Biosynthese, Export, Perzeption und letztlich Import dieses interessanten Lantibiotikums.
Room‐Temperature Decarboxylative Alkynylation of Carboxylic Acids Using Photoredox Catalysis and EBX Reagents
Authors: Le Vaillant Franck , Courant Thibaut , Waser Jerome
Published: July 2015

Alkynes are used as building blocks in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and materials science. Therefore, efficient methods for their synthesis are the subject of intensive research. Herein, we report the direct synthesis of alkynes from readily available carboxylic acids at room temperature under visible‐light irradiation. The combination of an iridium photocatalyst with ethynylbenziodoxolone (EBX) reagents allowed the decarboxylative alkynylation of carboxylic acids in good yields under mild conditions. The method could be applied to silyl‐, aryl‐, and alkyl‐ substituted alkynes. It was particularly successful in the case of α‐amino and α‐oxo acids derived from biomass.
Acid‐Labile Thermoresponsive Copolymers That Combine Fast pH‐Triggered Hydrolysis and High Stability under Neutral Conditions
Authors: Zhang Qilu , Hou Zhanyao , Louage Benoit , Zhou Dingying , Vanparijs Nane , De Geest Bruno G. , Hoogenboom Richard
Published: July 2015

Biodegradable polymeric materials are intensively used in biomedical applications. Of particular interest for drug‐delivery applications are polymers that are stable at pH 7.4, that is, in the blood stream, but rapidly hydrolyze under acidic conditions, such as those encountered in the endo/lysosome or the tumor microenvironment. However, an increase in the acidic‐degradation rate of acid‐labile groups goes hand in hand with higher instability of the polymer at pH 7.4 or during storage, thus posing an intrinsic limitation on fast degradation under acidic conditions. Herein, we report that a combination of acid‐labile dimethyldioxolane side chains and hydroxyethyl side chains leads to acid‐degradable thermoresponsive polymers that are quickly hydrolyzed under slightly acidic conditions but stable at pH 7.4 or during storage. We ascribe these properties to high hydration of the hydroxy‐containing collapsed polymer globules in conjunction with autocatalytic acceleration of the hydrolysis reactions by the hydroxy groups.
Monocarboxylate Transporter 4, Associated With the Acidification of Synovial Fluid, Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Inflammatory Arthritis
Authors: Fujii Wataru , Kawahito Yutaka , Nagahara Hidetake , Kukida Yuji , Seno Takahiro , Yamamoto Aihiro , Kohno Masataka , Oda Ryo , Taniguchi Daigo , Fujiwara Hiroyoshi , Ejima Akika , Kishida Tsunao , Mazda Osam , Ashihara Eishi
Published: July 2015

Objective

Synovial fluid pH is decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We undertook this study to examine the mechanism by which synovial fluid pH is regulated and to explore the possibility of a therapeutic strategy by manipulating this mechanism.

Methods

We determined the pH and lactate concentration in synovial fluid from 16 RA patients. Cultured synovial fibroblasts (SFs) from the inflamed joints of 9 RA patients (RASFs) were examined for the expression of ion transporters that regulate intracellular and extracellular pH. The ion transporter up‐regulated in RASF lines was then suppressed in RASFs by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the effect of transfection on viability and proliferation was investigated. Finally, we examined the therapeutic effect of electrotransfer of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4)–specific siRNA into the articular synovium of mice with collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA).

Results

Synovial fluid pH correlated inversely with both the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the C‐reactive protein level and the synovial fluid lactate levels. RASFs exhibited up‐regulated transcription of MCT4 messenger RNA. MCT4 exported intracellular lactate into the extracellular space. RASFs had significantly higher MCT4 protein levels than did SFs from patients with osteoarthritis. Knockdown of MCT4 induced intrinsic apoptosis of RASFs, thereby inhibiting their proliferation. Moreover, electrotransfer of MCT4‐specific siRNA into the articular synovium of mice with CIA significantly reduced the severity of arthritis.

Conclusion

RA activity correlated with decreased synovial fluid pH. This may be due to increased MCT4 expression in RASFs. Silencing MCT4 induced apoptosis in RASFs and reduced the severity of CIA, suggesting that MCT4 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory arthritis.
Brief Report: Enhancement of Patient Recruitment in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials Using a Multi‐Biomarker Disease Activity Score as an Inclusion Criterion
Authors: van Vollenhoven Ronald F. , Bolce Rebecca , Hambardzumyan Karen , Saevarsdottir Saedis , Forslind Kristina , Petersson Ingemar F. , Sasso Eric H. , Hwang C. C. , Segurado Oscar G. , Geborek Pierre
Published: July 2015

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials often exclude patients who have low C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels, which slows enrollment into the trial. The purpose of this study was to determine whether high Multi‐Biomarker Disease Activity (MBDA) scores (>44) in RA patients with low CRP levels (≤10 mg/liter) could be used as a complement to CRP levels >10 mg/liter to enhance patient recruitment without affecting clinical trial outcomes.

Methods

We evaluated patients from the Swedish Pharmacotherapy (SWEFOT) trial, which did not include any selection criteria for CRP levels. Clinical outcomes were assessed after 3 months of methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy in MTX‐naive RA patients (n = 220) and after 3–10 months of add‐on therapy in patients who were incomplete responders to MTX alone (MTX‐IR) (n = 127). Radiographic outcomes were assessed at 1 year in all patients. Within each cohort, the outcomes were compared between patients with a CRP level of ≤10 mg/liter and an MBDA score of >44 at the start of the respective treatment interval versus those with a CRP level of >10 mg/liter.

Results

Patients with both a CRP level of ≤10 mg/liter and an MBDA score of >44 at baseline had clinical and radiographic outcomes that were comparable to those in patients with a CRP level of >10 mg/liter at baseline. This broadened definition of the inclusion criteria identified an additional 24% of patients in the MTX‐naive cohort and 47% in the MTX‐IR cohort.

Conclusion

Patient recruitment into RA clinical trials may be substantially enhanced, without any decrease in clinical and radiographic outcomes, by using as an inclusion criterion “a CRP level of >10 mg/liter and/or an MBDA score of >44.”
Exacerbation of Collagen Antibody–Induced Arthritis in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Peroxiredoxin 6
Authors: Kim Dae Hwan , Lee Dong Hun , Jo Mi Ran , Son Dong Ju , Park Mi Hee , Hwang Chul Ju , Park Ju Ho , Yuk Dong Yeon , Yoon Do Young , Jung Young‐Suk , Kim Youngsoo , Jeong Jae Hwang , Han Sang Bae , Hong Jin Tae
Published: July 2015

Objective

Peroxiredoxin 6 plays important and complex roles in the process of inflammation, but its role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. We undertook this study to investigate the roles and mechanisms of peroxiredoxin 6 in the development of collagen antibody–induced arthritis (CAIA) and antigen‐induced arthritis (AIA) in peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice, in peroxiredoxin 6–transfected RAW 264.7 cells, in macrophages isolated from peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice, and in synoviocytes from arthritis patients.

Methods

CAIA and AIA were induced using standard methods. Peroxiredoxin 6–transfected RAW 264.7 cells, macrophages isolated from peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice, and synoviocytes from arthritis patients were used to study proinflammatory responses and mechanisms. Clinical scores and histopathologic changes were determined in peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice and wild‐type (WT) mice with CAIA or AIA. Generation of nitric oxide (NO), expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase 2, and activity of NF‐κB and activator protein 1 (AP‐1) were determined in cultured macrophages and synoviocytes as well as in joint tissue from mice by Western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and immunohistochemical analysis.

Results

Development of CAIA and AIA and proinflammatory responses were more exacerbated in peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice than in WT mice. Overexpression of peroxiredoxin 6 increased lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 cells, in macrophages isolated from peroxiredoxin 6–overexpressing transgenic mice, and in synoviocytes from arthritis patients, and this was accompanied by up‐regulation of the JNK pathway. Moreover, a JNK inhibitor completely blocked RA development and proinflammatory responses.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that overexpression of peroxiredoxin 6 might promote development of RA through NF‐κB and AP‐1 activity via the JNK pathway.
Viral vaccines and their manufacturing cell substrates: New trends and designs in modern vaccinology
Authors: Rodrigues Ana F. , Soares Hugo R. , Guerreiro Miguel R. , Alves Paula M. , Coroadinha Ana S.
Published: July 2015

Vaccination is one of the most effective interventions in global health. The worldwide vaccination programs significantly reduced the number of deaths caused by infectious agents. A successful example was the eradication of smallpox in 1979 after two centuries of vaccination campaigns. Since the first variolation administrations until today, the knowledge on immunology has increased substantially. This knowledge combined with the introduction of cell culture and DNA recombinant technologies revolutionized vaccine design. This review will focus on vaccines against human viral pathogens, recent developments on vaccine design and cell substrates used for their manufacture. While the production of attenuated and inactivated vaccines requires the use of the respective permissible cell substrates, the production of recombinant antigens, virus‐like particles, vectored vaccines and chimeric vaccines requires the use – and often the development – of specific cell lines. Indeed, the development of novel modern viral vaccine designs combined with, the stringent safety requirements for manufacture, and the better understanding on animal cell metabolism and physiology are increasing the awareness on the importance of cell line development and engineering areas. A new era of modern vaccinology is arriving, offering an extensive toolbox to materialize novel and creative ideas in vaccine design and its manufacture.
Current progress in high cell density yeast bioprocesses for bioethanol production
Authors: Westman Johan O. , Franzén Carl Johan
Published: July 2015

High capital costs and low reaction rates are major challenges for establishment of fermentation‐based production systems in the bioeconomy. Using high cell density cultures is an efficient way to increase the volumetric productivity of fermentation processes, thereby enabling faster and more robust processes and use of smaller reactors. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the application of high cell density yeast bioprocesses for first and second generation bioethanol production. High biomass concentrations obtained by retention of yeast cells in the reactor enables easier cell reuse, simplified product recovery and higher dilution rates in continuous processes. High local cell density cultures, in the form of encapsulated or strongly flocculating yeast, furthermore obtain increased tolerance to convertible fermentation inhibitors and utilize glucose and other sugars simultaneously, thereby overcoming two additional hurdles for second generation bioethanol production. These effects are caused by local concentration gradients due to diffusion limitations and conversion of inhibitors and sugars by the cells, which lead to low local concentrations of inhibitors and glucose. Quorum sensing may also contribute to the increased stress tolerance. Recent developments indicate that high cell density methodology, with emphasis on high local cell density, offers significant advantages for sustainable second generation bioethanol production.
A global RNA‐seq‐driven analysis of CHO host and production cell lines reveals distinct differential expression patterns of genes contributing to recombinant antibody glycosylation
Authors: Könitzer Jennifer D. , Müller Markus M. , Leparc Germán , Pauers Martin , Bechmann Jan , Schulz Patrick , Schaub Jochen , Enenkel Barbara , Hildebrandt Tobias , Hampel Martin , Tolstrup Anne B.
Published: July 2015

Boehringer Ingelheim uses two CHO‐DG44 lines for manufacturing biotherapeutics, BI‐HEX‐1 and BI‐HEX‐2, which produce distinct cell type‐specific antibody glycosylation patterns. A recently established CHO‐K1 descended host, BI‐HEX‐K1, generates antibodies with glycosylation profiles differing from CHO‐DG44. Manufacturing process development is significantly influenced by these unique profiles. To investigate the underlying glycosylation related gene expression, we leveraged our CHO host and production cell RNA‐seqtranscriptomics and product quality database together with the CHO‐K1 genome. We observed that each BI‐HEX host and antibody producing cell line has a unique gene expression fingerprint. CHO‐DG44 cells only transcribe Fut10, Gfpt2 and ST8Sia6 when expressing antibodies. BI‐HEX‐K1 cells express ST8Sia6 at host cell level. We detected a link between BI‐HEX‐1/BI‐HEX‐2 antibody galactosylation and mannosylation and the gene expression of the B4galt gene family and genes controlling mannose processing. Furthermore, we found major differences between the CHO‐DG44 and CHO‐K1 lineages in the expression of sialyl transferases and enzymes synthesizing sialic acid precursors, providing a rationale for the lack of immunogenic NeuGc/NGNA synthesis in CHO. Our study highlights the value of systems biotechnology to understand glycoprotein synthesis and product glycoprofiles. Such data improve future production clone selection and process development strategies for better steering of biotherapeutic product quality.
Association of BMI with overall survival in patients with mCRC who received chemotherapy versus EGFR and VEGF‐targeted therapies
Authors: Patel Gargi S. , Ullah Shahid , Beeke Carol , Hakendorf Paul , Padbury Robert , Price Timothy J. , Karapetis Christos S.
Published: July 2015

Although a raised body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and recurrence after adjuvant treatment, data in the metastatic setting is limited. We compared overall survival (OS) across BMI groups for metastatic CRC, and specifically examined the effect of BMI within the group of patients treated with targeted therapies (TT). Retrospective data were obtained from the South Australian Registry for mCRC from February 2006 to October 2012. The BMI at first treatment was grouped as underweight <18.5 kg/m2, Normal = 18.5 to <25 kg/m2, Overweight = 25 to <30 kg/m2, Obese I = 30 to <35 kg/m2, Obese II ≥35 kg/m2. Of 1174 patients, 42 were underweight, 462 overweight, 175 Obese I, and 77 Obese II. The OS was shorter for patients who were underweight and overweight compared to normal (OS 13.7 and 22.3 vs. 24.1 months, respectively, hazard ratio [HR] 2.21 and 1.23). The adjusted median OS was longer for normal versus overweight or obese I patients receiving chemotherapy + targeted therapy (35.7 vs 25.1 or 22.8 months, HR 1.59 and 1.63, respectively) with no difference in OS for chemotherapy alone. On breakdown by type of targeted therapy, overweight and obese I patients had a poorer outcome with Bevacizumab. The BMI is predictive of a poorer outcome for underweight and overweight patients in the whole population. Of those receiving chemotherapy and targeted therapy, BMI is an independent predictor for OS for overweight and obese I patients, specifically for those treated with Bevacizumab. Patients who are overweight or obese (group I) may be a target group for lifestyle and nutrition advice to improve OS with TT.
The International Surface Pressure Databank version 2
Authors: Cram Thomas A. , Compo Gilbert P. , Yin Xungang , Allan Robert J. , McColl Chesley , Vose Russell S. , Whitaker Jeffrey S. , Matsui Nobuki , Ashcroft Linden , Auchmann Renate , Bessemoulin Pierre , Brandsma Theo , Brohan Philip , Brunet Manola , Comeaux Joseph , Crouthamel Richard , Gleason Byron E. , Groisman Pavel Y. , Hersbach Hans , Jones Philip D. , Jónsson Trausti , Jourdain Sylvie , Kelly Gail , Knapp Kenneth R. , Kruger Andries , Kubota Hisayuki , Lentini Gianluca , Lorrey Andrew , Lott Neal , Lubker Sandra J. , Luterbacher Jürg , Marshall Gareth J. , Maugeri Maurizio , Mock Cary J. , Mok Hing Y. , Nordli Øyvind , Rodwell Mark J. , Ross Thomas F. , Schuster Douglas , Srnec Lidija , Valente Maria Antónia , Vizi Zsuzsanna , Wang Xiaolan L. , Westcott Nancy , Woollen John S. , Worley Steven J.
Published: July 2015

The International Surface Pressure Databank (ISPD) is the world's largest collection of global surface and sea‐level pressure observations. It was developed by extracting observations from established international archives, through international cooperation with data recovery facilitated by the Atmospheric Circulation Reconstructions over the Earth (ACRE) initiative, and directly by contributing universities, organizations, and countries. The dataset period is currently 1768–2012 and consists of three data components: observations from land stations, marine observing systems, and tropical cyclone best track pressure reports. Version 2 of the ISPD (ISPDv2) was created to be observational input for the Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project (20CR) and contains the quality control and assimilation feedback metadata from the 20CR. Since then, it has been used for various general climate and weather studies, and an updated version 3 (ISPDv3) has been used in the ERA‐20C reanalysis in connection with the European Reanalysis of Global Climate Observations project (ERA‐CLIM). The focus of this paper is on the ISPDv2 and the inclusion of the 20CR feedback metadata. The Research Data Archive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research provides data collection and access for the ISPDv2, and will provide access to future versions.
Multi‐Species Multi‐Channel (MSMC): An Ab Initio‐based Parallel Thermodynamic and Kinetic Code for Complex Chemical Systems
Authors: Duong Minh V. , Nguyen Hieu T. , Truong Nghia , Le Thong N.‐M. , Huynh Lam K.
Published: July 2015

Multi‐Species Multi‐Channel (MSMC) is an ab initio parallel program to calculate thermodynamic quantities (e.g., , , , and , time‐dependent species profiles, and rate coefficients as functions of temperature and pressure for complex chemical reaction systems, which consist of multiple stable species and multiple reaction channels interconnecting them. Thermodynamic properties of the species involved are calculated using statistical mechanics with molecular information from electronic structure calculations. Temperature‐ and pressure‐dependent behaviors are rigorously characterized within the eigenpair master equation/Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (ME/RRKM) framework. Corrections, e.g., for hindered internal rotation and tunneling treatment, are included. With the implementation of an ultra‐high precision package and rigorous matrix setup, MSMC is able to correctly mimic real behaviors of different types of chemical systems. Different eigenpair‐based approaches to extract phenomenological/macroscopic rate coefficients are implemented for different applications. Moreover, a friendly and platform‐independent graphical‐user‐interface (GUI) is provided to facilitate the use of MSMC and the pre‐/postcalculation data visualization/analysis on the fly. The program can be freely downloaded at https://sites.google.com/site/msmccode/.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of hospital‐grade hochuekkito extract, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, on methotrexate‐induced intestinal mucositis in mice
Authors: Sekiya Michiko , Kiyohara Hiroaki , Maruyama Hiroko , Tsukada Naoya , Yasuda Ayano , Nagai Takayuki , Yamada Haruki
Published: July 2015

Aim

Hospital‐grade extract of hochuekkito, a traditional Japanese herbal (Kampo) formula, has been found to be clinically effective against mucositis induced by anticancer drugs, but the mechanism of action of this formula has not been clarified as yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effects of hochuekkito against chemotherapy‐induced mucositis in a mice model.

Methods

Mucositis in jejunum was induced by i.p. injection with methotrexate (MTX, 100 mg/kg) in BALB/c mice. Hospital‐grade hochuekkito extract (TJ‐41) was administered in oral doses (1 g/kg/day).

Results

The tissue damage score of jejunum was improved in early stage mucositis (at day 3 after one‐off MTX injection). Expression of tumor necrosis factor (
TNF
)‐α and interleukin‐1β mRNA in jejunum of MTX‐treated mice was downregulated by TJ‐4 at day 2 and 3 after one‐off MTX injection. mRNA expression of regulatory adaptor molecules such as interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase‐3 (
IRAK‐M
), single immunoglobulin and toll‐interleukin 1 receptor domain (
SIGIRR
), tumor necrosis factor‐α‐induced protein 3 (
A20
) and cylindromatosis (
Cyld) was significantly enhanced at day 1 of oral TJ‐41 treatment, but these changes were not observed on MTX treatment alone.

Conclusions

TJ‐41 reduces intestinal mucositis induced by MTX. TJ‐41 induces specific expression of regulatory adaptor molecules, such as IRAK‐M, SIGIRR, A20 and Cyld, in the MyD88‐associated inflammatory signal cascade under conditions of inflammation, and this phenomenon is postulated to be associated with the anti‐inflammatory effect of the formula on intestinal mucositis.
Dispersion for 1-D Schrödinger and wave equations with BV coefficients
Authors: Zuazua Enrique , Beli Constantin N. , Ignat Liviu I.
Published: July 2015

In this paper we analyze the dispersion for one dimensional wave and Schrödinger equations with BV coefficients. In the case of the wave equation we give a complete answer in terms of the variation of the logarithm of the coefficient showing that dispersion occurs if this variation is small enough but it may fail when the variation goes beyond a sharp threshold. For the Schrödinger equation we prove that the dispersion holds under the same smallness assumption on the variation of the coefficient. But, whether dispersion may fail for larger coefficients is unknown for the Schrödinger equation.
A complete characterisation of local existence for semilinear heat equations in Lebesgue spaces
Authors: Vidal-López A. , Laister R. , Robinson J.C. , Sierżęga M.
Published: July 2015

We consider the scalar semilinear heat equation

u_{t}−\mathrm{\Delta }u = f(u)

, where

f:[0,\infty ) \rightarrow [0,\infty )

is continuous and non-decreasing but need not be convex. We completely characterise those functions

f

for which the equation has a local solution bounded in

L^{q}(\mathrm{\Omega })

for all non-negative initial data

u_{0} \in L^{q}(\mathrm{\Omega })

, when

\mathrm{\Omega } \subset \mathbb{R}^{d}

is a bounded domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions. For

q \in (1,\infty )

this holds if and only if

\mathrm{\lim }\:\mathrm{\sup }_{s\rightarrow \infty }\:s^{−(1 + 2q/ d)}f(s) < \infty

; and for

q = 1

if and only if

\int _{1}^{\infty }s^{−(1 + 2/ d)}F(s)\:\mathrm{d}s < \infty

, where

F(s) = \mathrm{\sup }_{1 \leq t \leq s}⁡f(t)/ t

. This shows for the first time that the model nonlinearity

f(u) = u^{1 + 2q/ d}

is truly the ‘boundary case’ when

q \in (1,\infty )

, but that this is not true for

q = 1

.

The same characterisations hold for the equation posed on the whole space

\mathbb{R}^{d}

provided that

\mathrm{\lim }\:\mathrm{\sup }_{s\rightarrow 0}\:f(s)/ s < \infty

.
Clinical use of amyloid‐positron emission tomography neuroimaging: Practical and bioethical considerations
Authors: Witte Michael M. , Foster Norman L. , Fleisher Adam S. , Williams Monique M. , Quaid Kimberly , Wasserman Michael , Hunt Gail , Roberts J. Scott , Rabinovici Gil D. , Levenson James L. , Hake Ann Marie , Hunter Craig A. , Van Campen Luann E. , Pontecorvo Michael J. , Hochstetler Helen M. , Tabas Linda B. , Trzepacz Paula T.
Published: July 2015

Until recently, estimation of β‐amyloid plaque density as a key element for identifying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology as the cause of cognitive impairment was only possible at autopsy. Now with amyloid‐positron emission tomography (amyloid‐PET) neuroimaging, this AD hallmark can be detected antemortem. Practitioners and patients need to better understand potential diagnostic benefits and limitations of amyloid‐PET and the complex practical, ethical, and social implications surrounding this new technology. To complement the practical considerations, Eli Lilly and Company sponsored a Bioethics Advisory Board to discuss ethical issues that might arise from clinical use of amyloid‐PET neuroimaging with patients being evaluated for causes of cognitive decline. To best address the multifaceted issues associated with amyloid‐PET neuroimaging, we recommend this technology be used only by experienced imaging and treating physicians in appropriately selected patients and only in the context of a comprehensive clinical evaluation with adequate explanations before and after the scan.
Modulation of the transglycosylation activity of plant family GH18 chitinase by removing or introducing a tryptophan side chain
Authors: Umemoto Naoyuki , Ohnuma Takayuki , Osawa Takuo , Numata Tomoyuki , Fukamizo Tamo
Published: July 2015

Transglycosylation (TG) activity of a family GH18 chitinase from the cycad, Cycas revoluta, (CrChiA) was modulated by removing or introducing a tryptophan side chain. The removal from subsite +3 through mutation of Trp168 to alanine suppressed TG activity, while introduction into subsite +1 through mutation of Gly77 to tryptophan (CrChiA‐G77W) enhanced TG activity. The crystal structures of an inactive double mutant of CrChiA (CrChiA‐G77W/E119Q) with one or two N‐acetylglucosamine residues occupying subsites +1 or +1/+2, respectively, revealed that the Trp77 side chain was oriented toward +1 GlcNAc to be stacked with it face‐to‐face, but rotated away from subsite +1 in the absence of GlcNAc at the subsite. Aromatic residues in the aglycon‐binding site are key determinants of TG activity of GH18 chitinases.
Glucuronoyl esterases are active on the polymeric substrate methyl esterified glucuronoxylan
Authors: Biely Peter , Malovíková Anna , Uhliariková Iveta , Li Xin-Liang , Wong Dominic W.S.
Published: July 2015

Alkali extracted beechwood glucuronoxylan methyl ester prepared by esterification of 4‐O‐methyl‐d‐glucuronic acid side residues by methanol was found to serve as substrate of microbial glucuronoyl esterases from Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Schizophyllum commune and Trichoderma reesei. The enzymatic deesterification was monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy and evaluated on the basis of the decrease of the signal of the ester methyl group and increase of the signal of methanol. The results show for the first time the action of enzymes on polymeric substrate, which imitates more closely the natural substrate in plant cell walls than the low molecular mass artificial substrates used up to present.
The AQP2 mutation V71M causesnephrogenic diabetes insipidus in humans but does not impair the function of a bacterial homolog
Authors: Klein Noreen , Kümmerer Nadine , Hobernik Dominika , Schneider Dirk
Published: July 2015

Several point mutations have been identified in human aquaporins, but their effects on the function of the respective aquaporins are mostly enigmatic. We analyzed the impact of the aquaporin 2 mutation V71M, which causesnephrogenic diabetes insipidus in humans, on aquaporin structure and activity, using the bacterial aquaglyceroporin GlpF as a model. Importantly, the sequence and structure around the V71M mutation is highly conserved between aquaporin 2 and GlpF. The V71M mutation neither impairs substrate flux nor oligomerization of the aquaglyceroporin. Therefore, the human aquaporin 2 mutant V71M is most likely active, but cellular trafficking is probably impaired.
BioCluster: Tool for Identification and Clustering of Enterobacteriaceae Based on Biochemical Data
Authors: Abdullah Ahmed , Sabbir Alam S.M. , Sultana Munawar , Hossain M. Anwar
Published: July 2015

Presumptive identification of different Enterobacteriaceae species is routinely achieved based on biochemical properties. Traditional practice includes manual comparison of each biochemical property of the unknown sample with known reference samples and inference of its identity based on the maximum similarity pattern with the known samples. This process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, error-prone, and subjective. Therefore, automation of sorting and similarity in calculation would be advantageous. Here we present a MATLAB-based graphical user interface (GUI) tool named BioCluster. This tool was designed for automated clustering and identification of Enterobacteriaceae based on biochemical test results. In this tool, we used two types of algorithms, i.e., traditional hierarchical clustering (HC) and the Improved Hierarchical Clustering (IHC), a modified algorithm that was developed specifically for the clustering and identification of Enterobacteriaceae species. IHC takes into account the variability in result of 1–47 biochemical tests within this Enterobacteriaceae family. This tool also provides different options to optimize the clustering in a user-friendly way. Using computer-generated synthetic data and some real data, we have demonstrated that BioCluster has high accuracy in clustering and identifying enterobacterial species based on biochemical test data. This tool can be freely downloaded at http://microbialgen.du.ac.bd/biocluster/.
Successful treatment of severe gastrointestinal manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and factor XIII deficiency using cryoprecipitate transfusion
Authors: Sonbul Abdullah Al , Noor Abdullah , Ahmed Naser , Al-Mutairi Norah , Jokhadar Asma , Al-Marri Munira , Al-Mayouf Suliman
Published: July 2015

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) might present with severe gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. Herein, we report 3 cases of HSP with severe GI manifestations in the form of hematemesis, melena, pancreatitis, and erosive gastritis. Different treatment modalities were not successful. Low factor XIII levels were found in all patients and Cryoprecipitate transfusion resulted in significant immediate clinical improvement.
Dementia incidence declined in African‐Americans but not in Yoruba
Authors: Gao Sujuan , Ogunniyi Adesola , Hall Kathleen S. , Baiyewu Olusegun , Unverzagt Frederick W. , Lane Kathleen A. , Murrell Jill R. , Gureje Oye , Hake Ann M. , Hendrie Hugh C.
Published: July 2015

Introduction

To compare dementia incidence of African‐American and Yoruba cohorts aged ≥70 years enrolled in 1992 and 2001.

Methods

African‐Americans residing in Indianapolis and Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria without dementia were enrolled in 1992 and 2001 and evaluated every 2–3 years until 2009. The cohorts consist of 1440 African‐Americans, 1774 Yoruba in 1992 and 1835 African‐Americans and 1895 Yoruba in the 2001 cohorts aged ≥70 years.

Results

In African‐Americans, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) incidence rates were significantly lower in 2001 than 1992 for all age groups except the oldest group. The overall standardized annual dementia incidence rates were 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2%–4.1%) in the 1992 cohort and 1.4% (95% CI, 1.2%–1.7%) in the 2001 cohort. There was no significant difference in dementia or AD incidence between the Yoruba cohorts.

Discussion

Future research is needed to explore the reasons for the differential changes in incidence rates in these two populations.
Linking business strategy to service failures and financial performance: Empirical evidence from the U.S. domestic airline industry
Authors: Mellat‐Parast Mahour , Golmohammadi Davood , McFadden Kathleen L. , Miller Jason W.
Published: July 2015

Developing an understanding of the relationship between service quality and profitability is of central importance to operations management scholars. In this study we seek to reconcile inconsistencies between extant theory and empirical findings regarding the relationship between service quality and profitability in the airline industry. More specifically, we draw on theories from strategic management, operations strategy, and economics to explain why the relationship between measures of service quality and profitability will be moderated by an airline's competitive strategy. We test our hypotheses by fitting mixed‐effects models to longitudinal data obtained from several governmental databases in the context of the U.S. domestic airline industry. We find that airline strategy moderates the relationship between some service failures and profitability. Specifically, we find that mishandled baggage and customer complaints more negatively affect the profitability of focused than non‐focused airlines. We also find the relationship between arrival delays on profitability is universally negative for focused airlines, but displays an inverted U‐shaped relationship for non‐focused airlines. Our findings provide significant contributions to the existing body of knowledge in service quality and operations strategy. We further outline the implications of these findings for practice and future research.
“I’m not hoarding, I’m just stocking up before the hoarders get here.”
Authors: Sterman John D. , Dogan Gokhan
Published: July 2015

When suppliers are unable to fill orders, delivery delays increase and customers receive less than they desire. Customers often respond by seeking larger safety stocks (hoarding) and by ordering more than they need to meet demand (phantom ordering). Such actions cause still longer delivery times, creating positive feedbacks that intensify scarcity and destabilize supply chains. Hoarding and phantom ordering can be rational when customers compete for limited supply in the presence of uncertainty or capacity constraints. But they may also be behavioral and emotional responses to scarcity. To address this question we extend Croson et al.’s (2014) experimental study with the Beer Distribution Game. Hoarding and phantom ordering are never rational in the experiment because there is no horizontal competition, randomness, or capacity constraint; further, customer demand is constant and participants have common knowledge of that fact. Nevertheless 22% of participants place orders more than 25 times greater than the known, constant demand. We generalize the ordering heuristic used in prior research to include the possibility of endogenous hoarding and phantom ordering. Estimation results strongly support the hypothesis, with hoarding and phantom ordering particularly strong for the outliers who placed extremely large orders. We discuss psychiatric and neuroanatomical evidence showing that environmental stressors can trigger the impulse to hoard, overwhelming rational decision‐making. We speculate that stressors such as large orders, backlogs or late deliveries trigger hoarding and phantom ordering for some participants even though these behaviors are irrational. We discuss implications for supply chain design and behavioral operations research.
How analytic reasoning style and global thinking relate to understanding stocks and flows
Authors: Weinhardt Justin M. , Hendijani Rosa , Harman Jason L. , Steel Piers , Gonzalez Cleotilde
Published: July 2015

Understanding stock‐flow relationships is fundamental to the management of operational systems. In their most basic form, stock‐flow systems consist of resources that accumulate and flows that change their level. Managing stock‐flow systems is an indispensable part of operations management, including supply chain, inventory, and capacity planning. Previous studies have shown that most people, even experts and well‐educated individuals, make persistent errors when inferring the behavior of accumulation (i.e., stock) over time. However, little is known about what individual characteristics make a decision maker better or worse at understanding stock‐flows. In this paper, we report the results of investigating the relationship between analytical‐intuitive thinking and global‐local processing on performance in a simple stock‐flow problem.

We find that individuals with an analytical thinking style, rather than an intuitive one, perform significantly better on a stock‐flow problem; whereas individuals with a global, rather than a local, thinking style do not necessarily perform better. However, even individuals who exhibit analytical thinking have a poor understanding of stock‐flow problems. Analytical thinking may be related to understanding stock and flows, but more work is needed to better understand what cognitive abilities are required to solve these problems.
Cost‐sharing in directed networks: Experimental study of equilibrium choice and system dynamics
Authors: Liu Caiyun , Mak Vincent , Rapoport Amnon
Published: July 2015

This study reports the results of an experiment on directed networks with positive externalities induced by cost‐sharing. Subjects participated in a network game in which they had to choose between private and public transportations. If a player chose public transportation, then she shared the travel cost equally with other players making the same choice, whereas if she chose private transportation, then her travel cost was fixed. Travel costs on the private route were manipulated across the two experimental conditions. In one condition, these costs were homogeneous among players; in the other condition, they were heterogeneous among players and only privately known. We found that half (none) of the player groups in the homogeneous (heterogeneous) condition converged toward the efficient equilibrium. Examination of the system dynamics shows that convergence toward efficiency was facilitated by: (1) the existence of an intermediate equilibrium choice; and (2) strategic teaching by which a farsighted player chooses strategies with poor short‐term payoff in order to shift group decisions to the efficient equilibrium and thereby increase her own long‐term benefit.