bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commitment to Aerobic Glycolysis Sustains Immunosuppression of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Liu Yijun , Yuan Xuegang , Muñoz Nathalie , Logan Timothy M. , Ma Teng
Published: October 2018

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) promote endogenous tissue repair in part by coordinating multiple components of the host immune system in response to environmental stimuli. Recent studies have shown that hMSCs are metabolically heterogeneous and actively reconfigure metabolism to support the biochemical demands of tissue repair. However, how hMSCs regulate their energy metabolism to support their immunomodulatory properties is largely unknown. This study investigates hMSC metabolic reconfiguration during immune activation and provides evidence that the hMSC metabolic state significantly influences their immunomodulatory properties. Specifically, hMSC immune polarization by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) treatment leads to remodeling of hMSC metabolic pathways toward glycolysis, which is required to sustain the secretion of immunosuppressive factors. IFN-γ exposure also inhibited mitochondrial electron transport activity, and the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species plays an important signaling role in this metabolic reconfiguration. The results also show that activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is required for metabolic reconfiguration during immune polarization and that interruption of these metabolic changes alters the immune response in IFN-γ licensed hMSCs. The results demonstrate the potential of altering hMSC metabolism to enhance their immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic efficacy in various diseases. Stem Cells Translational Medicine  2019;8:93–106
Effects of the crystalline structure of Ga2O3 on the photocatalytic activity for CO production from CO2
Authors: Kawaguchi Yu , Yamamoto Muneaki , Ozawa Akiyo , Kato Yuma , Yoshida Tomoko
Published: October 2018

Ga2O3 samples with different crystalline structures were prepared by calcination of a gallium nitrate powder around 800 K. Ga2O3 samples with mixed phases of γ and β showed high photocatalytic activity for CO production from CO2 reduction with water, and the activity was even higher than that for an Ag‐loaded β‐Ga2O3. The photocatalytic activity increased with time. The increase was attributed to the appearance of GaOOH resulting from the interaction of Ga2O3 with water during the reaction as revealed by XRD and XPS analyses. In situ FT‐IR measurements revealed that bicarbonates and bidentate carbonate species were adsorbed on GaOOH. Therefore, the increase of the photocatalytic activity with time would be derived from the formation of GaOOH phase on the γ‐Ga2O3 and β‐Ga2O3 sample.
Electrospun TiO2 nanofibers coated with polydopamine for enhanced sunlight‐driven photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes
Authors: Hou Xuebin , Cai Yibing , Song Xiaofei , Wu Yue , Zhang Junhao , Wei Qufu
Published: October 2018

Controlled polydopamine (PDA)‐coated TiO2 composite nanofibers (NFs) were successfully fabricated via a facile electrospinning process and exposing TiO2 NFs into a slightly alkaline dopamine solution. Chemical composition, structural morphology, and photocatalytic degradation property of as‐prepared TiO2 NFs and PDA‐coated TiO2 composite NFs were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared, X‐ray photoelectron spectra, transmission electron microscopy, UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and photocatalytic degradation experiments. The results indicated that the core‐shell TiO2@PDA composite NFs were successfully prepared and the thickness of PDA shell was highly controlled within several nanometers. And obtained TiO2@PDA composite NFs exhibited improved photocatalytic performance after PDA coating, which is attributed to the photosensitization of PDA shell. Moreover, with increased pH values of initial solution, both absorption capacity in the dark and photocatalytic performance of TiO2@PDA composite NFs showed significant improvement. Additionally, the obtained composite NFs showed different degrees of enhancement in photocatalytic performance based on different dyes, which is related to the “bait” effect of PDA shell. Comparing with anionic dyes, TiO2@PDA composite NFs tended to adsorb and degrade more cationic dye molecules. It is anticipated that the fabricated composite NFs with controlled core‐shell structure have great potential to be applied for organic pollutants removal, especially cationic dyes.
Vector autoregression and envelope model
Authors: Wang Lei , Ding Shanshan
Published: October 2018

Vector autoregression is an important technique for modelling multivariate time series and has been widely used in a variety of applications. Owing to its fast growth of parameters with the dimension of the time series vector, dimension reduction is often desirable in multivariate time series analysis. The envelope model is a new approach to achieve dimension reduction and allows efficient estimation in multivariate analysis. In this paper, we provide the first work to explore the application and extension of envelope models to multivariate time series data. We present the envelope and partial envelope formulations for vector autoregression and elaborate model selection, parameter estimation and asymptotic results. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate the efficiency gains of the envelope vector autoregression models compared with the standard models in terms of estimation. Meanwhile, the envelope models can excel in prediction improvement.
Structure as Space
Authors: Helbig Thorsten , Peter Boris , Müller Thomas , Oppe Matthias
Published: October 2018

Das begehbare Dachtragwerk der TRUMPF Smart Factory in Chicago ist als ‚Structure as Space’ entwickelt. Die Stahlstruktur, in die ein Stegsystem über dem Ausstellungsraum von Werkzeugmaschinen der Firma TRUMPF integriert ist, wurde als Rahmenträger nach dem von Artur Vierendeel Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts eingeführten Konzept entwickelt. Dabei wurde durch eine kraftflussgerechte Formoptimierung und die konsequente Anwendung moderner Analyse‐ und Fertigungsverfahren das 120 Jahre alte Konstruktionsprinzip als eine effiziente und wirtschaftliche Konstruktionslösung neu interpretiert. Die Smart Factory wurde 2018 mit dem „Preis des Deutschen Stahlbaues” ausgezeichnet. Dieser Artikel erläutert den Entwurfsansatz, die statische Berechnung und die Umsetzung der Dachstruktur.
Interaktive, wissensbasierte CAD/CAM‐Systeme des Stahlbaus
Authors: Pegels Georg
Published: October 2018

Faksimile aus „Der Stahlbau 57 (1988), H. 11, S. 321–324”
SOX2 Activation Using CRISPR/dCas9 Promotes Wound Healing in Corneal Endothelial Cells
Authors: Chang Yoon Kyung , Hwang Jin Sun , Chung Tae-Young , Shin Young Joo
Published: October 2018

There are no effective treatments for corneal endothelial diseases, except for corneal transplantation, as human corneal endothelial cells (hCECs) do not regenerate. The regeneration of hCECs could be induced through regulation of the expression of specific genes. In this study, we investigated whether the overexpression of sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) can regenerate hCECs in vivo and in vitro. SOX2 was activated using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/deactivated CRISPR-associated protein 9 (dCas9) activation system. Genes were transfected into the corneal endothelium of Sprague-Dawley rats. Central corneal thickness and opacity were measured, and alizarin red S staining was performed. Corneal opacity and central corneal thickness were reduced in the SOX2 group compared with the control group. The density of CECs was higher in the SOX2 group compared with the control group. Additionally, hCECs were cultured and analyzed after overexpressing SOX2. Cell viability, proliferation rate, and the number of cells in S-phase were increased after SOX2 overexpression (p < .05). Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and cyclin D1 were found to be overexpressed (p < .05). WNT signaling was repressed, and the AKT pathway was activated by SOX2 overexpression. Mitochondrial oxidative stress and energy production were increased by SOX2 overexpression (p < .05). In conclusion, SOX2 activation promotes wound healing and regeneration in CECs. SOX2 activation using the CRISPR/dCas9 system may thus be useful for the treatment of hCEC diseases.
Identification of a Novel Bone Marrow Cell-Derived Accelerator of Fibrotic Liver Regeneration Through Mobilization of Hepatic Progenitor Cells in Mice
Authors: Yanagawa Takayo , Sumiyoshi Hideaki , Higashi Kiyoshi , Nakao Sachie , Higashiyama Reiichi , Fukumitsu Hiroshi , Minakawa Kaori , Chiba Yosuke , Suzuki Yuhei , Sumida Kayo , Saito Koichi , Kamiya Akihide , Inagaki Yutaka
Published: October 2018

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to ameliorate impaired liver function in patients with advanced liver diseases through mobilization and proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We previously showed that G-CSF treatment increased the number of bone marrow (BM)-derived cells migrating to the fibrotic liver following repeated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injections into mice. In this study, we identified opioid growth factor receptor-like 1 (OGFRL1) as a novel BM cell-derived accelerator of fibrotic liver regeneration in response to G-CSF treatment. Endogenous Ogfrl1 was highly expressed in the hematopoietic organs such as the BM and spleen, whereas the liver contained a relatively small amount of Ogfrl1 mRNA. Among the peripheral blood cells, monocytes were the major sources of OGFRL1. Endogenous Ogfrl1 expression in both the peripheral blood monocytes and the liver was decreased following repeated CCl4 injections. An intrasplenic injection of cells overexpressing OGFRL1 into CCl4-treated fibrotic mice increased the number of HPC and stimulated proliferation of hepatic parenchymal cells after partial resection of the fibrotic liver. Furthermore, overexpression of OGFRL1 in cultured HPC accelerated their differentiation as estimated by increased expression of liver-specific genes such as hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, cytochrome P450, and fatty acid binding protein 1, although it did not affect the colony forming ability of HPC. These results indicate a critical role of OGFRL1 in the mobilization and differentiation of HPC in the fibrotic liver, and administration of OGFRL1-expressing cells may serve as a potential regenerative therapy for advanced liver fibrosis. Stem Cells  2019;37:89–101
Concise Review: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Regulation of Tooth Initiation
Authors: Balic Anamaria
Published: October 2018

Development of teeth depends on the reciprocal interactions between the surface epithelium (ectoderm) and the underlying neural crest-derived mesenchyme. These interactions are facilitated by the conserved signaling pathways, which build a complex network of signals and transcription factors. Tooth development starts at specific and predetermined loci in the oral ectoderm and is described as a morphologically distinct thickening of oral ectoderm, named dental lamina. Cells within the dental lamina invaginate into the underlying mesenchyme, generating placodes that mark the onset of individual tooth development. In the following stages of development, the tooth epithelium buds and folds transitioning through various shapes, including bud, cap, and bell shapes, which also identify the specific stages of tooth development. Although much of the molecular regulation of tooth development has been unraveled, the regulation of the initial stages of tooth development, as well as the cellular mechanisms that govern tooth development remain largely unknown. This review provides a systematic overview of the current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that guide initial stages of tooth development and outlines the challenges which temper the progress. Stem Cells  2019;37:26–32
The Error in Trial and Error: Exercises on Phrasal Verbs
Authors: Strong Brian , Boers Frank
Published: October 2018

An analysis of 44 commercially available English as a foreign language (EFL) textbooks found that it is common for textbooks to present learners with exercises on phrasal verbs without first providing relevant input to help them. In these cases, learners are likely to resort to trial and error and are then expected to learn from feedback. The authors report an experiment conducted with Japanese EFL students (N = 140) that compared the effectiveness of such a trial‐and‐error method with a retrieval procedure in which students first study a set of phrasal verbs and then complete an exercise. Scores on both an immediate and a 1‐week delayed posttest suggest superiority of retrieval over the trial‐and‐error procedure, where, despite the provision of feedback, 25% of the wrong exercise responses were reproduced in the delayed posttest.
Using Photography in a Culturally Responsive Curriculum: Invitations to Read, Write, and Think
Authors: Laman Tasha Tropp , Henderson Janelle W.
Published: October 2018

The authors share how culturally relevant photographs reflecting children's lives and communities were curated and integrated into the literacy curriculum.
Preimplantation factor modulates acute inflammatory responses of equine endometrium
Authors: Nash Deborah M. , Paddison Jennifer , Davies Morel Mina C. G. , Barnea Eytan R.
Published: October 2018

Persistent mating‐induced endometritis (PMIE) is a significant cause of mare infertility hence its treatment would advance the management of susceptible mares. Preimplantation factor (PIF) is secreted by viable embryos, including human, mouse and cattle, and is essential for maternal immune‐tolerance without immune‐suppression by modulating inflammation. This preliminary study aimed to test whether PIF exerts inflammatory‐modulating properties upon equine endometrium challenged with Escherichia coli‐derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using endometrial explant culture. Follicular (n = 3), luteal (n = 4), anoestrous (n = 4) and transitional (n = 4) stage endometrial explants were established and cultured in triplicate in either serum‐free medium alone (control) or medium with; 50 or 100 nmol/L synthetic PIF (sPIF); 3 μg/mL LPS; LPS and 50 or 100 nmol/L sPIF; or scrambled PIF (PIFscr; same amino acid composition arranged in a different order). Media samples were collected at 24 and 72 h, representing acute and chronic inflammatory response. Radioimmunoassay determined Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) as an inflammatory marker. The only significant observation was the abrogation of PGF2α response to LPS challenge by 100 nmol/L PIF for follicular stage tissue, 24 h after treatment. Further studies are therefore, warranted to realise PIF potential in managing PMIE.
Rigorous justification of the asymptotic model describing a curved‐pipe flow in a time‐dependent domain
Authors: Castiñeira G. , Marušić‐Paloka E. , Pažanin I. , Rodríguez J. M.
Published: October 2018

This paper is devoted to the mathematical justification of an asymptotic model of a viscous flow in a curved tube with moving walls by proving error estimates. To this aim, we first construct the space correctors near the pipe's inlet and outlet due to the boundary layer phenomenon. In order to guarantee the adequate properties for these correctors we study what we called modified Leray's problem defined in a semi‐infinite strip. We ensure the existence and uniqueness of an exponential decaying solution when the axial variable tends to infinity. Then, by deriving a Poincaré's type inequality and other estimates for the boundary value problems taking into account the condition on the pipe's lateral boundary, we evaluate the difference between the asymptotic approximation and the exact solution of the problem.
Review of materials used in laser-aided additive manufacturing processes to produce metallic products
Authors: Niu Xiaodong , Singh Surinder , Garg Akhil , Singh Harpreet , Panda Biranchi , Peng Xiongbin , Zhang Qiujuan
Published: October 2018

Rapid prototyping (RP) or layered manufacturing (LM) technologies have been extensively used to manufacture prototypes composed mainly of plastics, polymers, paper, and wax due to the short product development time and low costs of these technologies. However, such technologies, with the exception of selective laser melting and sintering, are not used to fabricate metallic products because of the resulting poor life, short cycle, poor surface finish, and low structural integrity of the fabricated parts. The properties endowed by these parts do not match those of functional parts. Therefore, extensive research has been conducted to develop new additive manufacturing (AM) technologies by extending existing RP technologies. Several AM technologies have been developed for the fabrication of metallic objects. These technologies utilize materials, such as Ni-, Al-, and Ti-based alloys and stainless steel powders, to fabricate high-quality functional components. The present work reviews the type of materials used in laser-based AM processes for the manufacture of metallic products. The advantages and disadvantages of processes and different materials are summarized, and future research directions are discussed in the final section. This review can help experts select the ideal type of process or technology for the manufacturing of elements composed of a given alloy or material (Ni, Ti, Al, Pb, and stainless steel).
Lessons learned from a student-driven initiative to design and implement an Organ and Tissue Donation course across Canadian medical schools
Authors: Fletcher Alexandra , Chen Bing Yu , Benrimoh David , Shemie Sam , Lubarsky Stuart
Published: October 2018

The competencies required of the well-trained physician are constantly evolving, and medical education must adapt accordingly. In response, a growing number of influential medical education licensing and accreditation bodies have proposed frameworks that outline society’s expectations of physician competencies. In Canada, undergraduate and graduate curricula have undergone major changes to meet the specifications of the CanMEDS framework, and similar efforts are underway internationally. Nonetheless, ensuring the values enshrined within such frameworks become integral to a physician’s identity remains challenging. We believe that student-led curricular initiatives represent a novel way of approaching this shifting medical education landscape. In this article, we reflect on lessons we learned as medical students spearheading an initiative to change how organ and tissue donation is taught in Canadian medical schools. Citing relevant medical education literature where applicable, we include a detailed description of our approach as a roadmap for students contemplating their own curricular innovations. By outlining the factors influencing this project’s implementation, as well as the benefits and limitations of student participation in curriculum reform, we offer educators a fresh perspective on optimizing the student role in this important process. Ultimately, the authors argue that not only can student participation render curricular content more accessible to learners, but that the responsibilities students take on in this role naturally lead to the development of CanMEDs-based competencies such as advocacy, scholarship, and inter-professionalism.
Exploratory analysis of mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior
Authors: Ammerman Brooke A. , Serang Sarfaraz , Jacobucci Ross , Burke Taylor A. , Alloy Lauren B. , McCloskey Michael S.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Suicide is a major public health concern. One consistently cited risk factor for suicide is childhood maltreatment, which also may play a role in the transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior.

Method

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and suicide attempts during adolescence (N = 4834; 52.1% female; 67.5% Caucasian). Data from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were utilized. Forty‐six theoretically‐relevant risk factors were explored as potential mediators of this relationship using an exploratory mediation data analytic method.

Results

Results demonstrated a significant childhood maltreatment ‐ suicide attempt relationship only among females. After considering demographics and suicidal ideation, having received counseling in the previous 12 months was the most influential mediator, followed by having a friend attempt suicide in the previous 12 months.

Conclusions

These findings highlight potential gender differences in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later suicide attempts, and, moreover, the importance of assessing for recent exposure to peer suicidal behavior in suicide risk assessments.
Femoral artery entrapment after cerclage wiring of distal femoral shaft fracture: A case report
Authors: Gunadham Ukris , Kongkreangkrai Thumrong
Published: October 2018

Femoral artery injury after femoral fracture fixation is a rare complication. Previous literature studies focused mostly on proximal femur fracture. We described a case of superficial femoral artery entrapment after internal fixation augmented with cerclage wire. An 80-year-old female underwent fixation with distal femur locking compression plate augmented with cerclage wire. Six hours after the operation, she developed pulseless limb and computed tomography angiogram showed femoral artery entrapped by cerclage wire. After vascular exploration and cerclage wire removal, the femoral artery returned to normal flow without further complication. We review available literature studies on vascular injury after cerclage wiring especially in the distal part of the femur, the so-called safe zone, for the great care needed before cerclage wiring and the importance of immediate diagnosis and treatment.
White paper from a CTSA workshop series on special and underserved populations: Enhancing investigator readiness to conduct research involving LGBT populations
Authors: Matthews Alicia K. , Rak Kevin , Anderson Emily , Bostwick Wendy , Ramirez-Valles Jesus , Ruiz Raymond A. , Macapagal Kathryn , Watson Karriem S. , Jeremiah Rohan D. , Castillo Amparo , Choure Wendy
Published: October 2018

Despite the significant health disparities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations, few investigators affiliated with the National Institutes of Health-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award Programs are conducting research related to this underserved population. We provide recommendations shared during a half-day workshop aimed at increasing researcher readiness to conduct LGBT research. This workshop was presented as part of a series on conducting research with underserved populations offered by the Recruitment, Retention, and Community Engagement Program of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Six LGBT health research experts provided focused presentations. The workshop presentations included a summary of significant health inequality issues, theoretical models relevant to research on LGBT health, best practices in measuring sexual orientation and gender identity, recommendations for recruitment and retention, a discussion of community engagement, and ethical considerations in conducting LGBT research. We provide a summary of recommendations to guide future research, training, and public policy related to LGBT health. The information can increase capacity among Clinical and Translational Science Award affiliated researchers in conducting research in this special population.
Rethinking Masculinity in the Neoliberal Order: Cameroonian Footballers, Fijian Rugby Players, and Senegalese Wrestlers
Authors: Besnier Niko , Guinness Daniel , Hann Mark , Kovač Uroš
Published: October 2018

In the Global South since the 1980s, when economic downturns under pressure from the forces of neoliberalism eroded social relations, sport and athletes’ bodies have become major loci where masculinity is constituted and debated. Sport masculinity now fills a vacuum left by the evacuation of traditional forms of masculinity, which are no longer available to the new generations of men. For them, the possibility of employment in the sport industries in the Global North has had a transformative effect, despite the extremely limited probability of success. During the same period of time, the world of sport has become commoditized, mediatized, and corporatized, transformations that have been spearheaded by the growing importance of privatized media interests. Professional athletes have become neoliberal subjects responsible for their own destiny in an increasingly demanding and unpredictable labor market. In Cameroon, Fiji, and Senegal, athletic hopefuls prospectively embody this new gendered subjectivity by mobilizing locally available instruments that most closely resemble neoliberal subjectivity, such as Pentecostalism and maraboutism. Through the conduit of sport, the masculine self has been transformed into a neoliberal subject in locations where this is least expected. What emerges is a new approach to masculinity that eschews explanations based on the simple recognition of diverse and hierarchically organized masculinities, and instead recognizes masculinity in its different manifestations as embedded, scalar, relational, and temporally situated.
The Aboriginal Alibi: Governing Dispossession in Colonial Bombay
Authors: Chhabria Sheetal
Published: October 2018

This article analyzes representations of the Koli as aboriginal in colonial Bombay, and explores the ends to which various actors have narrated Koli aboriginality. It examines the relationship between the historical deployment of the concept of aboriginality and its mediating role in the power of capital and state-making practices in one colonial urban context. The article shows how the Koli, as Bombay's “aboriginals,” gained concessions that served as an alibi for the market-based dispossession of the remainder of the city's population, and also as a pretext for claim-making by peoples with competing collective identities who used the tale of Koli identity and history as a narrative resource to argue for their own nativity. The Koli case helps us understand the co-emergence of the powers of caste and capital in Bombay, and compels us to revisit important, broader questions about relationships between aboriginal or indigenous peoples, capitalism, colonialism, liberalism, and governance.
Theologies of Auspicious Kingship: The Islamization of Chinggisid Sacral Kingship in the Islamic World
Authors: Brack Jonathan
Published: October 2018

This article explores the fashioning of a new discursive realm of Islamic kingship in thirteenth–fourteenth-century Mongol-ruled Iran (the Ilkhanate). It examines how literati, historians, and theologians ingeniously experimented at the Ilkhanid court with Persian and Islamic concepts and titles to translate and elaborate their Mongol patrons’ claims to govern through a unique affinity with heaven. The fusion of Mongol and Islamic elements formulated a new political vocabulary of auspicious, sacred, cosmic, and messianic rulership that Turco-Mongol Muslim courts, starting in the fifteenth century, extensively appropriated and expanded to construct new models of imperial authority. A comparison with Buddhist and Confucian assimilative approaches to the Mongol heaven-derived kingship points to a reciprocal process. Mongol rulers were not simply poured into preset Muslim and Persian molds; symbols and titles were selectively appropriated and refashioned into potent vessels that could convey a vision of Islamic kingship that addressed Chinggisid expectations. From their desire to collect and assume local religious and political traditions that could support and enhance their own legitimizing claims, the Mongols set in motion a process that led to their own integration into the Perso-Islamic world, and also facilitated the emergence of new political theologies that enabled models of divine kingship to inhabit the Islamic monotheistic world.
Toxocara sero-prevalence and its relationship with allergic asthma in asthmatic patients in north-eastern Iran
Authors: Khozime A. , Mirsadraee M. , Borji H.
Published: October 2018

Toxocariasis is an important neglected tropical disease that has been suggested as a possible etiologic agent of asthma. The objective of the present study was to investigate possible significant association between Toxocara seroprevalence and asthma in a clinic-based case-control study. Blood samples were collected from human subjects aged 5–70 years, 50 of whom had signs of asthma and 50 of whom had no signs of asthma. Risk factors for asthma and Toxocara spp. infection were assessed by a questionnaire given to each patient. Blood samples were analysed to measure levels of anti-Toxocara spp. immunoglobulin G (IgG). Patients with bronchial asthma were observed to have higher Toxocara spp. seropositivity than that of the non-asthmatic controls (6 vs 2%, P = 0.47). The mean anti-Toxocara spp. antibody titre was not significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma than in individuals without asthma (P = 0.395, 95% CI = 0.579–1.45). There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, social class, exposure to smoking and presence of domestic dog or cat at home between the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). The presence of anti-Toxocara spp. IgG was statistically associated with higher blood eosinophils, but it was not associated with asthma (P ≥ 0.05). The observed relationship between exposure to Toxocara spp. infection and bronchial asthma in Iranian patients warrants further evaluation. An understanding of any potential influence on the pathogenesis of human asthma provides a potential avenue for prevention.
New Punitiveness on the Move: How the US Prison Model and Penal Policy Arrived in Colombia
Authors: DE DARDEL JULIE , SÖDERSTRÖM OLA
Published: October 2018

Within the neocolonial context of ‘Plan Colombia’ in the early 2000s, agents of the US Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) took up position in the heart of the Colombian penitentiary administration to lead a reform based on the United States’ ultra-punitive penal regime. This paper analyses how the reform was set up on the ground, shedding light on the partially divergent expectations of the two governments. Drawing on recent literature on the mobility of policies and built forms, the paper argues that the introduction of US-inspired prisons in Colombia is a striking case where a mobile policy and a travelling architectural type coincided and complemented each other.
Stability and dynamics of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in relativistic thermal quantum plasma
Authors: Mahajan Ranju , Richa  , Gill Tarsem Singh , Kaur Ravinder , Aggarwal Munish
Published: October 2018

This paper presents an investigation on the self-focusing of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in the thermal quantum plasma (TQP) by taking into account the effects of relativistic nonlinearity. An appropriate nonlinear Schrödinger equation has been solved analytically by applying the variational approach. The self-focusing and the self-phase modulation are examined under a variety of parameters. The self-trapping of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam is further studied at various values of the decentered parameter, b with different absorption levels, ${k}^{\prime}_i$. Numerical analysis shows that these parameters play a vital role in propagation characteristics. The significant contribution of the quantum effects to enhance the self-focusing and minimize the longitudinal phase has been observed. Further, a comparison has been made with the classical relativistic (CR), the relativistic cold quantum (RCQ), and the thermal quantum (TQ) regimes. The self-focusing is found to occur earlier and is strongest for the case of TQP in the present analysis.
Leveraging human knowledge in tabular reinforcement learning: a study of human subjects
Authors: Rosenfeld Ariel , Cohen Moshe , Taylor Matthew E. , Kraus Sarit
Published: October 2018

Reinforcement learning (RL) can be extremely effective in solving complex, real-world problems. However, injecting human knowledge into an RL agent may require extensive effort and expertise on the human designer’s part. To date, human factors are generally not considered in the development and evaluation of possible RL approaches. In this article, we set out to investigate how different methods for injecting human knowledge are applied, in practice, by human designers of varying levels of knowledge and skill. We perform the first empirical evaluation of several methods, including a newly proposed method named State Action Similarity Solutions (SASS) which is based on the notion of similarities in the agent’s state–action space. Through this human study, consisting of 51 human participants, we shed new light on the human factors that play a key role in RL. We find that the classical reward shaping technique seems to be the most natural method for most designers, both expert and non-expert, to speed up RL. However, we further find that our proposed method SASS can be effectively and efficiently combined with reward shaping, and provides a beneficial alternative to using only a single-speedup method with minimal human designer effort overhead.
Transition to nestedness in multi- to one-dimensional optimal transport
Authors: CHIAPPORI PIERRE-ANDRÉ , MCCANN ROBERT , PASS BRENDAN
Published: October 2018

We study a one-parameter class of examples of optimal transport problems between a two-dimensional source and a one-dimensional target. Our earlier work identified a nestedness condition on the surplus function and marginals, under which it is possible to solve the problem semi-explicitly. In the family of examples we consider, we classify the values of parameters which lead to nestedness. In those cases, we derive an almost explicit characterisation of the solution.
Onobrychis viciifolia; a comprehensive literature review of its history, etymology, taxonomy, genetics, agronomy and botany
Authors: Mora-Ortiz M. , Smith L. M. J.
Published: October 2018

Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) is a forage legume crop with many positive agronomic, environmental, nutritional and nutraceutical attributes. Farmers also benefit from its drought tolerance in areas of low rainfall and light free draining soil, mainly due to its deep taproot. It is resistant to most common pest and diseases and is a valuable resource for pollinators, specifically cultivated for honey production in some regions. It has many benefits for animals, being highly palatable and without danger of bloat, which can be life-threatening to livestock. Its decline in Northern Europe started during the Green Revolution and was impacted by changes towards more intensive farming. Unlike other forage legume crops such as red clover and lucerne, sainfoin does not respond well to inputs and is difficult to establish and maintain. Sainfoin could be classified as an ‘orphan crop’ with very little genetic improvement or agronomic studies in the past 60 years. In the past 5–10 years, however, there has been a resurgence in interest and this has given rise to a number of studies and initiation of systematic improvement of the crop, which is indispensable to its reintroduction into the farmed environment. Interest has been driven in part by considerable evidence to suggest that condensed tannins present in the legume foliage, together with other polyphenol compounds, have positive effects on animal nutrition together with anthelmintic properties. These compounds are also thought to play a role in environmental benefits. There remain many challenges to address in order to optimize the potential for cultivation of sainfoin and its use as a beneficial forage crop. This review makes particular reference to a recently completed project; ‘Legume Plus’, funded by the European Union and embracing a multi-disciplinary approach to both understand and improve the crop for farmers. The present review covers results from both this project and other studies during the past 5 years, also drawing on historic studies of etymology, taxonomy, genetics, agronomy and botany, aiming to be a useful resource for research and for practical plant breeders and agronomists.
Effects of Curcumin on Alveolar Bone Loss in Experimental Periodontitis in Rats: A Morphometric and Histopathologic Study
Authors: Akpinar Aysun , Calisir Metin , Cansın Karakan Nebi , Lektemur Alpan Aysan , Goze Fahrettin , Poyraz Omer
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Background: Curcumin is found in the rhizomes of the turmeric plant that has been showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemic curcumin therapy on alveolar bone loss in an experimental periodontitis model in rats. Material and Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided to 4 groups: 75 mg/kg/daily curcumin (C75; n =8), 150 mg/kg/daily curcumin (C150; n =8), Control (n =8), and Ligated (n =8). Curcumin was administrated using gastric gavage. After 12 days, the rats were sacrificed. Right mandibles samples were histopathologically examined. Alveolar bone loss was measured. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) were evaluated in the serum samples and gingival homogenates. Results: The measurements of alveolar bone loss in the mandibular molars revealed significantly higher bone-loss values in the Ligated group than the Control, C75 and C150 groups. The IL-1β levels in the gingival homogenates were significantly increased in the Ligated group compared to those of the Control, C75 and C150 groups. The serum IL-1β levels in the Ligated group were significantly higher than the Control group. The mean osteoblast numbers in the Ligated group were lower than those of the Control, C75 and C150 groups. The C150 groups showed significantly more osteoblasts than the Control group. The osteoclast numbers in the Ligated group increased significantly compared to the C75, C150 and control groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that systemic administration of curcumin at the 75 and 150mg/kg doses reduced alveolar bone loss in the periodontal disease in rats.

Keywords: Alveolar bone loss, Antioxidant, Curcumin, Ligature-induced, Histomorphometric, Micronutrition
Depression as a Predictor of Facebook Surveillance and	Envy
Authors: Scherr Sebastian , Toma Catalina L. , Schuster Barbara
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Prior research has shown an association between Facebook users’ likelihood of engaging in social surveillance (i.e., browsing through friends’ postings without directly interacting with them), their experience of envy, and their depressive symptoms. Yet the directionality and duration of this effect are unclear. Drawing on the stress generation hypothesis, we postulate that depression increases Facebook surveillance and envy, which may increase depression over time. Using a cross-lagged longitudinal design with two waves spaced 1 year apart, we find that, as expected, depression was associated with more Facebook surveillance and more envy, both initially and 1 year later. However, neither Facebook surveillance nor envy at Time 1 increased depression at Time 2. Instead, depression predicted envy, and envy predicted Facebook surveillance over time. The results show the utility of the stress generation hypothesis in a social media context and have implications for Facebook users’ psychological well-being.
Ambient Particulate Matter Size Distributions Drive Regional and Global Variability in Particle Deposition in the Respiratory Tract
Authors: Kodros J. K. , Volckens J. , Jathar S. H. , Pierce J. R.
Published: October 2018

Human exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) increases the risk of negative health outcomes; however, substantial uncertainty remains in quantifying these exposure‐response relationships. In particular, relating increased risk of mortality to exposure to PM with diameters smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) neglects variability in the underlying size distribution of PM2.5 exposure and size‐resolved deposition in human airways. In this study, we combine a size‐resolved respiratory particle‐deposition model with a global size‐resolved aerosol model to estimate the variability in particle deposition along the respiratory tract due to variability in ambient PM size distributions. We find that the ratio of deposited PM mass in the tracheobronchial and alveolar regions per unit ambient PM2.5 exposure (deposition ratio and DRTB + AV) varies by 20–30% between populated regions due to variability in ambient PM size distributions. Furthermore, DRTB + AV can vary by as high as a factor of 4 between the fossil‐fuel‐dominated region of the Eastern United States and the desert‐dust‐dominated region of North Africa. When considering individual PM species, such as sulfate or organic matter, we still find variability in the DRTB + AV on the order of 30% due to regional variability in the size distribution. Finally, the spatial distribution of DRTB + AV based on number or surface area is substantially different than the DRTB + AV based on mass. These results suggest that regional variability in ambient aerosol size distributions drive variability in PM deposition in the body, which may lead to variability in the health response from exposure to PM2.5.
Lithospheric Deformation and Asthenospheric Flow Associated With the Isabella Anomaly in Southern California
Authors: Yu Youqiang , Zhao Dapeng
Published: October 2018

Both laboratory experiments and seismic observations indicate that the solid Earth is composed of strongly anisotropic materials and its dynamics can be better constrained by exploring seismic anisotropy. Due to the limited number and poor depth resolution of currently available seismic anisotropy measurements, tectonic regimes of upper mantle deformations beneath Southern California still remain enigmatic and controversial. Here we present high‐resolution three‐dimensional models of P wave azimuthal and radial anisotropy in the crust and upper mantle beneath Southern California obtained by a joint inversion of local‐seismic and teleseismic P wave data. Our results reveal significant depth‐dependent anisotropy in which fast orientations in the lithospheric mantle closely follow the strike of the San Andreas fault and those in the asthenosphere are characterized as a predominantly circular pattern centered in the robust high‐velocity Isabella anomaly beneath the Great Valley. The Isabella anomaly is possibly a remnant of the fossil Farallon slab and is currently experiencing a tectonic regime of lithospheric downwelling, contributing to the development of a circular asthenospheric flow. High‐velocity anomalies are revealed below 300‐km depth beneath areas surrounding the Great Valley, which may reflect the delaminated lithospheric segments. Different rifting processes may take place beneath the Inner Borderland and the Salton Trough whose developments are possibly related to regional mantle upwelling and lithospheric stretching, respectively.
Coseismic Slip Distribution of the 12 June 2017 Mw = 6.3 Lesvos Earthquake and Imparted Static Stress Changes to the Neighboring Crust
Authors: Chousianitis Konstantinos , Konca A. Ozgun
Published: October 2018

We jointly inverted near‐source data consisting of static GPS displacement vectors and 1‐Hz global positioning system time series and inferred the slip model of the 12 June 2017 Mw = 6.3 Lesvos earthquake. The slip distribution is characterized by one slip patch with peak amplitude 1 m that released the entire seismic moment and is located 12 km northwest of the epicenter. The unilateral rupture propagation along with the observed damage distribution implies source directivity. Coulomb stresses determined from the coseismic slip distribution highlighted that the entire aftershock sequence is explained by stress transfer and no further spatial migration of seismicity is justified. The results also underline a triggering relationship between pure extensional structures with smaller strike‐slip faults that coexist in the area. The main shock gave evidence for the presence of an active diffuse microplate boundary between Lesvos Island and Karaburun Peninsula and demonstrated that Coulomb stress calculations are reliable in such tectonic boundaries.
Dust Production by Abrasion of Eolian Basalt Sands: Analogue for Martian Dust
Authors: Bristow Charlie S. , Moller Torsten H.
Published: October 2018

Dust is nearly ubiquitous on Mars, covering much of the planet's surface, having been redistributed by dust storms. Analysis of dust via landed instrumentation indicates a basaltic composition for its protolith; the same is interpreted for the dark dune sands encountered at rover field sites. In this paper, we used samples of eolian sands derived from basaltic volcanoes in an experiment to simulate dust production from basalt dune sands within an abrasion chamber. In addition, we used samples from gypsum dunes because gypsum is found within dune fields on the northern plains of Mars. The results, expressed as weight percent of sample reduced to dust, show a remarkably broad range over 4 orders of magnitude. Eolian abrasion of basalt sands can produce similar amounts of dust, as is the case for some desert sands on Earth. Some plausible Mars analogue materials can produce large amounts of dust, suggesting that eolian movement of basaltic sand and volcanic sediments on the surface of Mars is a potential source of fine‐grained sediment or dust.
Plasmonic bacteria on a nanoporous mirror via hydrodynamic trapping for rapid identification of waterborne pathogens
Authors: Whang Keumrai , Lee Jong-Hwan , Shin Yonghee , Lee Wooju , Kim Young Wan , Kim Dongchoul , Lee Luke P. , Kang Taewook
Published: October 2018

A rapid, precise method for identifying waterborne pathogens is critically needed for effective disinfection and better treatment. However, conventional methods, such as culture-based counting, generally suffer from slow detection times and low sensitivities. Here, we developed a rapid detection method for tracing waterborne pathogens by an innovative optofluidic platform, a plasmonic bacteria on a nanoporous mirror, that allows effective hydrodynamic cell trapping, enrichment of pathogens, and optical signal amplifications. We designed and simulated the integrated optofluidic platform to maximize the enrichment of the bacteria and to align bacteria on the nanopores and plasmonic mirror via hydrodynamic cell trapping. Gold nanoparticles are self-assembled to form antenna arrays on the surface of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by replacing citrate with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in order to amplify the signal of the plasmonic optical array. Owing to the synergistic contributions of focused light via the nanopore geometry, self-assembled nanoplasmonic optical antennas on the surface of bacteria, and plasmonic mirror, we obtain a sensitivity of detecting E. coli as low as 102 cells/ml via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. We believe that our label-free strategy via an integrated optofluidic platform will pave the way for the rapid, precise identification of various pathogens.