bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cell, but not CD8+ T‐ or B‐cell, tolerance corrupts cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Snook Adam E. , Magee Michael S. , Schulz Stephanie , Waldman Scott A.
Published: April 2014

Self‐tolerance, presumably through lineage‐unbiased elimination of self‐antigen‐specific lymphocytes (CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and B cells), creates a formidable barrier to cancer immunotherapy. In contrast to this prevailing paradigm, we demonstrate that for some antigens, self‐tolerance reflects selective elimination of antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells, but preservation of CD8+ T‐ and B‐cell populations. In mice, antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cell tolerance restricted CD8+ T‐ and B‐cell responses targeting the endogenous self‐antigen guanylyl cyclase c (GUCY2C) in colorectal cancer. Although selective CD4+ T‐cell tolerance blocked GUCY2C‐specific antitumor immunity and memory responses, it offered a unique solution to the inefficacy of GUCY2C vaccines through recruitment of self‐antigen‐independent CD4+ T‐cell help. Incorporating CD4+ T‐cell epitopes from foreign antigens into vaccines against GUCY2C reconstituted CD4+ T‐cell help, revealing the latent functional capacity of GUCY2C‐specific CD8+ T‐ and B‐cell pools, producing durable antitumor immunity without autoimmunity. Incorporating CD4+ T‐cell epitopes from foreign antigens into vaccines targeting self‐antigens in melanoma (Trp2) and breast cancer (Her2) produced similar results, suggesting selective CD4+ T‐cell tolerance underlies ineffective vaccination against many cancer antigens. Thus, identification of self‐antigens characterized by selective CD4+ T‐cell tolerance and abrogation of such tolerance through self‐antigen‐independent T‐cell help is essential for future immunotherapeutics.
Tiger nut oil (Cyperus esculentus L.): A review of its composition and physico‐chemical properties
Authors: Ezeh Onyinye , Gordon Michael H , Niranjan Keshavan
Published: April 2014

Despite its high nutritional value, tiger nut oil is hardly used in food industries compared to other vegetable oils such as olive and peanut oil. However, its benefits are increasingly being recognized, including its stability and similarity to olive oil in particular. This review discusses its composition, physico‐chemical properties and economic potential. Literature reveals that tiger nut oil shares a similar fatty acid profile with olive, avocado and hazelnut oil. Its low content of polyunsaturated fatty acid, tocopherol and phytosterol contributes to its high stability. When compared to soy bean oil, its phospholipids composition (3.1–5.4%) is higher. Its iodine and acid values reflect its quality at 76.60 and 0.03 mg KOH/g oil, respectively. Roasted tiger nut oil was found to contain vanillin and to a lesser extent 2, 3‐dihydro‐3, 5‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one and 5‐ethylfurfural as key odorants contributing to the overall aroma of the oil. Its low viscosity makes it suitable for use in coating industry and as fuel. In‐depth studies on the oils' constituents are on‐going but efficient and environmentally friendly extraction techniques are needed. Based on the available data, tiger nut oil has been established as an oil of good nutritional value which may be exploited to the great benefit of growers, processors and dealers of the tuber.

This review discusses the composition, physico‐chemical properties and economic potential of tiger nut oil.
Enzymeless Glucose Detection Based on CoO/Graphene Microsphere Hybrids
Authors: Ci Suqin , Mao Shun , Huang Taizhong , Wen Zhenhai , Steeber Douglas A. , Chen Junhong
Published: April 2014

An ultrasonic nebulizer‐based spray method was developed to fabricate microshpere hybrids of crumpled graphene (CG) loading cobalt oxide (CoO). The as‐prepared CoO/CG microsphere hybrids were used for constructing an enzymeless sensor for glucose detection in alkaline solution. The as‐developed enzymeless glucose sensor exhibited rapid response (less than 3 s), high sensitivity (669.78 µA mM−1 cm−2), wide detection range (0.83 µM–8.61 mM), good reproducibility and stability, and low detection limit (0.46 µM) (S/N=3). Moreover, the detection of glucose in human blood serum samples with the as‐developed sensor agreed well with the results obtained from commercial glucose meters.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, dechlorane plus, and polychlorinated biphenyls in tree bark near the upper Yellow River, China
Authors: He Chang , Jin Jun , Wang Ying , Ma Zhaohui , He Songjie , Li Mingyuan
Published: April 2014

Willow tree bark samples from urban and rural sites in Inner Mongolia, Ningxia Province, and Gansu Province, in the Yellow River basin, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dechlorane plus (DP), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) to compare their relative levels in air in these areas (i.e., treating bark as a passive air sampler). No difference was found between the pollutant concentrations in Salix matsudana and Salix babylonica bark samples. The mean concentrations of the total PBDEs, DP, and total DL-PCBs were 13 000 ± 6400, 46 ± 44, and 26 ± 17 pg/g dry weight, respectively, with urban samples containing much higher concentrations (19 000 ± 5700 pg/g, 51 ± 27 pg/g, and 37 ± 29 pg/g dry wt in PBDEs, DP, and DL-PCBs, respectively) than rural samples (10 000 ± 5200 pg/g, 45 ± 53 pg/g, 22 ± 9 pg/g dry wt). A strong positive correlation between PBDEs and DP was found in all of the samples (r = 0.712, p = 0.006), but correlations between PCBs and the other pollutants were only found in the rural samples. The total DL-PCB concentration in the tree bark correlated with population density. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1732–1738. © 2014 SETAC
Toxicity of biosolids-derived triclosan and triclocarban to six crop species
Authors: Prosser Ryan S. , Lissemore Linda , Solomon Keith R. , Sibley Paul K.
Published: April 2014

Biosolids are an important source of nutrients and organic matter, which are necessary for the productive cultivation of crop plants. Biosolids have been found to contain the personal care products triclosan and triclocarban at high concentrations relative to other pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The present study investigates whether exposure of 6 plant species (radish, carrot, soybean, lettuce, spring wheat, and corn) to triclosan or triclocarban derived from biosolids has an adverse effect on seed emergence and/or plant growth parameters. Plants were grown in soil amended with biosolids at a realistic agronomic rate. Biosolids were spiked with triclosan or triclocarban to produce increasing environmentally relevant exposures. The concentration of triclosan and triclocarban in biosolids-amended soil declined by up to 97% and 57%, respectively, over the course of the experiments. Amendment with biosolids had a positive effect on the majority of growth parameters in radish, carrot, soybean, lettuce, and wheat plants. No consistent triclosan- or triclocarban-dependent trends in seed emergence and plant growth parameters were observed in 5 of 6 plant species. A significant negative trend in shoot mass was observed for lettuce plants exposed to increasing concentrations of triclocarban (p < 0.001). If best management practices are followed for biosolids amendment, triclosan and triclocarban pose a negligible risk to seed emergence and growth of crop plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1840–1848. © 2014 SETAC
A compatibly differenced total energy conserving form of SPH
Authors: Michael Owen J.
Published: April 2014

We describe a modified form of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) in which the specific thermal energy equation is based on a compatibly differenced formalism, guaranteeing exact conservation of the total energy. We compare the errors and convergence rates of the standard and compatible SPH formalisms on a variety of shock test problems with analytic answers. We find that the new compatible formalism reliably achieves the expected first‐order convergence for these analytic shock tests and, in all cases, improves the accuracy of the numerical solution over the standard formalism. We also examine the performance of our new formalism on a more complicated applied problem: the diversion of an asteroid by a kinetic impactor. We find the compatible discretization demonstrates measurable improvement in the convergence of properties such as the deflection velocity in this kind of applied problem as well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Different exosome cargo from plasma/bronchoalveolar lavage in non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Rodríguez Marta , Silva Javier , López‐Alfonso Ana , López‐Muñiz María Belen , Peña Cristina , Domínguez Gemma , García Jose Miguel , López‐Gónzalez Ana , Méndez Miriam , Provencio Mariano , García Vanesa , Bonilla Félix
Published: April 2014

Tumor‐derived exosomes mediate tumorigenesis by facilitating tumor growth, metastasis, development of drug resistance, and immunosuppression. However, little is known about the exosomes isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with lung neoplasm. Exosomes isolated in plasma and BAL from 30 and 75 patients with tumor and nontumor pathology were quantified by acetylcholinesterase activity and characterized by Western Blot, Electron Microscopy, and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. Differences in exosome cargo were analyzed by miRNA quantitative PCR in pooled samples and validated in a second series of patients. More exosomes were detected in plasma than in BAL in both groups (P < 0.001). The most miRNAs evaluated by PCR array were detected in tumor plasma, tumor BAL, and nontumor BAL pools, but only 56% were detected in the nontumor plasma pool. Comparing the top miRNAs with the highest levels detected in each pool, we found close homology only between the BAL samples of the two pathologies. In tumor plasma, we found a higher percentage of miRNAs with increased levels than in tumor BAL or in nontumor plasma. The data reveal differences between BAL and plasma exosome amount and miRNA content. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Geology, geochemistry and genesis of the Huachanggou gold deposit, western Qinling Orogen, central China
Authors: Zhou Zhenju , Lin Zhenwen , Qin Yan
Published: April 2014

The large Huachanggou gold deposit, on the southern margin of the Mian‐Lue Suture in western Qinling Orogen (central China), is hosted in the Devonian Sanhekou Group composed of spilite, limestone and phyllite. The mineralization is considered to have occurred in three stages: (1) Early quartz–pyrite veins, (2) Middle quartz–sulphides veins, and (3) Late carbonate–quartz veinlets, with gold being introduced mainly in the second stage. Quartz formed in the two earlier stages contains four types of fluid inclusions, namely (1) Pure CO2, (2) CO2–H2O, (3) Solid‐bearing and (4) NaCl–H2O, whereas the late‐stage minerals contain only the NaCl–H2O inclusions. The inclusions in quartz formed in the early‐, middle‐ and late stages have yielded total homogenization temperatures of 272−385 °C, 232−395 °C and 118−228 °C, respectively, with salinities no higher than 12 wt.% NaCl equiv. For the middle‐stage, trapping pressures estimated from the CO2–H2O inclusions for the altered spilite‐type (123−326 MPa) and quartz vein‐type (132−342 MPa) orebodies correspond to mineralization depths of 12 km and 13 km, respectively. We suggest that fluid boiling and mixing may have caused rapid precipitation of metallic sulphides and native gold. Through boiling and influx of meteoric water, the ore‐forming fluid system has evolved from CO2‐rich to CO2‐poor and from metamorphic to meteoric, as indicated by the decreasing δ18Owatervalues from the early‐ to late stages. Integrating the evidence obtained from regional geology, ore deposit geology, fluid inclusion and C–H–O isotope geochemistry, we conclude that the Huachanggou gold deposit is best ascribed to be an orogenic‐type system formed in the tectonic setting of the north‐vergent oceanic plate subduction along the Mian‐Lue Suture during the Late Triassic. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IL-20 and IL-20R1 antibodies protect against liver fibrosis
Authors: Chiu Yi-Shu , Wei Chi-Chen , Lin Yih-Jyh , Hsu Yu-Hsiang , Chang Ming-Shi
Published: April 2014

Interleukin (IL)-20 is a proinflammatory cytokine of the IL-10 family and involved in rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, stroke, and osteoporosis. However, the pathophysiological roles of IL-20 in liver injury have not been extensively studied. We explored the involvement of IL-20 in liver injury and the therapeutic potential of IL-20 antagonists for treating liver fibrosis. Compared with normal liver tissue from healthy individuals, the amount of IL-20 was much higher in hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells in liver biopsies from patients with fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment induced IL-20 that further up-regulated the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and p21WAF1 and resulted in cell cycle arrest in the Clone-9 rat hepatocyte cell line. IL-20 activated quiescent rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and up-regulated TGF-β1 expression. IL-20 also increased TGF-β1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and type I collagen (Col-I) expression, and promoted the proliferation and migration of activated HSCs. Serum IL-20 was significantly elevated in mice with short-term and long-term CCl4-induced liver injury. In mice with short-term liver injury, anti-IL-20 monoclonal antibody (7E) and anti-IL-20 receptor (IL-20R1) monoclonal antibody (51D) attenuated hepatocyte damage caused by CCl4, TGF-β1, and chemokine production. In mice with long-term liver injury, 7E and 51D inhibited CCl4-induced cell damage, TGF-β1 production, liver fibrosis, HSC activation, and extracellular matrix accumulation, which was caused by the reduced expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases as well as increased metalloproteinase expression and Col-I production. IL-20R1-deficient mice were protected from short-term and long-term liver injury. Conclusion: We identified a pivotal role of IL-20 in liver injury and showed that 7E and 51D may be therapeutic for liver fibrosis. (Hepatology 2014;60:1003–1014)
Power and trust in organizational relations: an empirical study in Turkish public hospitals
Authors: Bozaykut Tuba , Gurbuz F. Gulruh
Published: April 2014

Given the salience of the interplay between trust and power relations in organizational settings, this paper examines the perceptions of social power and its effects on trust in supervisors within the context of public hospitals. Following the theoretical background from which the study model is developed, the recent situation of hospitals within Turkish healthcare system is discussed to further elucidate the working conditions of physicians. Sample data were collected employing a structured questionnaire that was distributed to physicians working at seven different public hospitals. The statistical analyses indicate that perceptions of supervisors' social power affect subordinates' trust in supervisors. Although coercive power is found to have the greatest impact on trust in supervisors, the influence of the power base is weak. In addition, the results show that perceptions of social power differ between genders. However, the results do not support any of the hypotheses regarding the relations between trust in supervisors and the examined demographic variables. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employment in Chinese MNEs: Appraising the Dragon's Gift to Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Jackson Terence
Published: April 2014

China's international engagement is changing geopolitical dynamics to an extent that Western governments appear concerned. Negative reports of this engagement in Africa abound, not least in the area of employment relations and human resource management. Yet currently there is a lack of serious management research and theory development in this area, leaving international HR managers to rely on anecdotal information. The way Chinese management engages with African workforces may be quite different from Western managers’. The current work suggests that understanding this engagement should be informed by China's recent anti‐imperialist involvement in Africa, its commercial motivation coupled with its political‐seeking motive, the values such as paternalism that modify Western influences on Chinese HRM that are brought to Africa, and possible synergies with African values. Yet the current work identifies from the current published evidence a disparity between China's professed strategic level of engagement and what happens at the organizational level, indicating that many Chinese organizations may be contributing to employment, but not to upskilling of workers, mutual learning, or engagement with local communities. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The impact of reclamation cover depth on the performance of reclaimed shale overburden at an oil sands mine in Northern Alberta, Canada
Authors: Huang Mingbin , Barbour S. Lee , Carey Sean K.
Published: April 2014

Multilayer covers are widely accepted reclamation designs in the oil sands region of northern Alberta, Canada, with an ultimate goal of revegetating to species characteristic of predisturbance native plant communities. To determine the optimal depth of reclamation material required to reclaim overburden shale from an oil sands mine, an evaluation was made of the long‐term performance of six reclamation soil cover depths all placed over overburden. The measured soil water contents from different cover thicknesses at South Bison Hills located at the Syncrude Mine site north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, were used to calibrate and validate a dual‐porosity model in HYDRUS‐1D. The calibrated and validated model was then used to evaluate the influence of cover thickness and climatic variability on plant available water for forest growth. The frequency distributions of actual transpiration (Tr) for six cover treatments with a range of leaf area index (LAI) cases were developed. These Tr frequency distributions were then modified by coupling Tr and LAI. The modified frequency distributions for annual Tr for the six simulated cover thickness highlight the strong nonlinearity between the distributions of Tr over a long‐term (60 years) climate cycle in that incremental increases in cover thickness do not produce proportional increases in Tr. The results indicated that, once the cover thickness exceeds 100 cm, there is little incremental increase in the median value of Tr over the 60‐year climate cycle. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of variable‐time versus contingent reinforcement delivery on problem behavior maintained by escape
Authors: Mevers Joanna E. Lomas , Fisher Wayne W. , Kelley Michael E. , Fredrick Laura D.
Published: April 2014

Results of previous research indicate that the delivery of positive reinforcement (e.g., food) for an appropriate, alternative target response (e.g., compliance) or delivery of food on a time‐based schedule can decrease problem behavior reinforced by escape, even when problem behavior continues to produce negative reinforcement (e.g., Lalli et al., 1999; Lomas, Fisher, & Kelley, 2010). In this study, we compared the levels of both compliance and problem behavior when food and praise were delivered either contingent on compliance or on a time‐based schedule. Results for 3 of the 4 participants showed that contingent delivery of preferred edible items and praise was more effective in both reducing problem behavior and increasing compliance compared to variable‐time delivery of these same items. These findings are discussed in the context of motivating operations and competition between positive and negative reinforcement.
Establishing fire safety skills using behavioral skills training
Authors: Houvouras Andrew J. , Harvey Mark T.
Published: April 2014

The use of behavioral skills training (BST) to educate 3 adolescent boys on the risks of lighters and fire setting was evaluated using in situ assessment in a school setting. Two participants had a history of fire setting. After training, all participants adhered to established rules: (a) avoid a deactivated lighter, (b) leave the training area, and (c) report the lighter to an adult. The response sequence was maintained for both participants after training. The use of in situ assessment to evoke and observe infrequent behavior is discussed.
Controlled release of BMP‐2 using a heparin‐conjugated carrier system reduces in vivo adipose tissue formation
Authors: Lee Jung‐Seok , Lee Sun‐Kyoung , Kim Byung‐Soo , Im Gun‐Il , Cho Kyoo‐Sung , Kim Chang‐Sung
Published: April 2014

There is growing concern about unwanted effects associated with the clinical use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2) at high concentrations, including cyst‐like bone formation and excessive fatty marrow formation. We, therefore, evaluated the induction of mineralized/adipose tissue formation and the bone‐healing pattern associated with the controlled release of E. coli‐derived rhBMP‐2 (ErhBMP‐2) by a heparin‐conjugated fibrin (HCF) system using ectopic and orthotopic in vivo models, respectively. In the ectopic transplantation model, mineralized tissue formed at the most superficial layer of the transplanted area and on the surfaces of grafted materials, and most of the interstitial space within the transplanted area was filled with excessive adipose tissue specifically at sites that received ErhBMP‐2. However, sites that received ErhBMP‐2 and HCF showed significantly increased mineralized tissue formation and decreased adipose tissue formation compared to the normal fibrin system with ErhBMP‐2. In the orthotopic (calvarial defect) model, controlled release of ErhBMP‐2 induced by HCF significantly reduced adipose tissue formation within the defect area compared to the clinically approved absorbable collagen sponge. From these results, it can be concluded that the use of a HCF system loaded with ErhBMP‐2 may reduce adipose tissue formation and enhance mineralized tissue formation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 545–554, 2015.
Crosslinked fibrin gels for tissue engineering: Two approaches to improve their properties
Authors: Gamboa‐Martínez Tatiana C. , Luque‐Guillén Victoria , González‐García Cristina , Gómez Ribelles José Luis , Gallego‐Ferrer Gloria
Published: April 2014

Fibrin is a protein that can be used as an ideal scaffolding material to promote tissue regeneration. In order to enhance its physical properties in this study a natural crosslinker, genipin (GP), was employed with the aim to obtain a hydrogel with tuneable properties for tissue engineering applications. The fibrin gel was crosslinked by two different methods using four concentrations of GP to get a stable hydrogel network. Crosslinking density, mechanical properties, swelling, and enzymatic degradation of the hydrogels were tested for each GP content and method employed. The method I: Crosslinking after gel formation promotes a high crosslinking and retains the gel shape for long term whilst the method II: Simultaneous gel formation and crosslinking improves the mechanical properties of the gel. This study confirms the use of GP at different concentrations as a suitable crosslinker of fibrin that promotes the cellular viability of L929 for 21 days of in vitro culture. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 614–621, 2015.
Oriented bone formation using biomimetic fibrin hydrogels with three‐dimensional patterned bone matrices
Authors: Sasaki Jun‐Ichi , Matsumoto Takuya , Imazato Satoshi
Published: April 2014

Cortical bone exerts its biological properties through internal orientations of hydroxyapatite. Recently, we succeeded in fabricating three‐dimensional (3D) patterns of bone matrices using fibrin gels. We hypothesized that these fibrin gels would induce cortical bone‐like tissue in vivo and offer promising prospects for biomimetic materials. The purposes of this study were to assess the characteristics of osteoblastic‐induced fibrin gels in vitro and evaluate whether fibrin gels with biomimetic matrices formed cortical bone‐like tissue in vivo. When bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC)‐containing fibrin gels were uniaxially fixed and cultured, BMSCs became aligned parallel to the fixed direction. The tensile strengths of the gels increased dramatically from 1.5 to 218 kPa after 50 days in culture. Furthermore, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the fibrin gel constituents changed into those of native bone. Quantitative analyses of specific components demonstrated that the amounts of calcium and osteopontin in the gels increased with prolonged culture. After subcutaneous implantation into immunodeficient mice, cortical bone‐like tissues that possessed layered structures were formed. The results indicated that 3D patterned bone matrices induced 3D patterned cortical bone formation in vivo. These biomimetic materials containing 3D patterned bone matrices are promising tools for the field of bone regenerative medicine. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 622–627, 2015.
Protective Association of Milk Intake on the Risk of Hip Fracture: Results from the Framingham Original Cohort
Authors: Sahni Shivani , Mangano Kelsey M , Tucker Katherine L , Kiel Douglas P , Casey Virginia A , Hannan Marian T
Published: April 2014

Dairy foods are rich in bone-beneficial nutrients, yet the role of dairy foods in hip fracture prevention remains controversial. Our objective was to evaluate the association of milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and milk + yogurt intakes with incident hip fracture in the Framingham Original Cohort. A total of 830 men and women from the Framingham Original Cohort, a prospective cohort study, completed a food-frequency questionnaire (1988 to 1989) and were followed for hip fracture until 2008. In this population-based study, Cox-proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) by categories of energy-adjusted dairy intake (servings/wk), adjusting for standard confounders and covariates. The exposure was energy-adjusted intakes of milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and milk + yogurt (servings/wk). Risk of hip fracture over the follow-up was the primary outcome; the hypothesis being tested was formulated after data collection. The mean age at baseline was 77 years (SD 4.9, range 68 to 96). Ninety-seven hip fractures occurred over the mean follow-up time of 11.6 years (range 0.04 to 21.9 years). The mean ± SD (servings/wk) of dairy intakes at baseline were: milk = 6.0 ± 6.4; yogurt = 0.4 ± 1.3; cheese = 2.6 ± 3.1; and cream = 3.4 ± 5.5. Participants with medium (>1 and <7 servings/wk) or higher (≥7 servings/wk) milk intake tended to have lower hip fracture risk than those with low (≤1 serving/wk) intake (high versus low intake HR 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31–1.06, p = 0.078; medium versus low intake HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.36–1.08, p = 0.071; p trend = 0.178]. There appeared to be a threshold for milk, with 40% lower risk of hip fracture among those with medium/high milk intake compared with those with low intake (p = 0.061). A similar threshold was observed for milk + yogurt intake (p = 0.104). These associations were further attenuated after adjustment for femoral neck bone mineral density. No significant associations were seen for other dairy foods (p range = 0.117 to 0.746). These results suggest that greater intakes of milk and milk + yogurt may lower risk for hip fracture in older adults through mechanisms that are partially, but not entirely, attributable to effects on bone mineral density. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Constitutive Expression of GsαR201C in Mice Produces a Heritable, Direct Replica of Human Fibrous Dysplasia Bone Pathology and Demonstrates Its Natural History
Authors: Saggio Isabella , Remoli Cristina , Spica Emanuela , Cersosimo Stefania , Sacchetti Benedetto , Robey Pamela G , Holmbeck Kenn , Cumano Ana , Boyde Alan , Bianco Paolo , Riminucci Mara
Published: April 2014

Fibrous dysplasia of bone (FD) is a crippling skeletal disease associated with postzygotic mutations (R201C, R201H) of the gene encoding the α subunit of the stimulatory G protein, Gs. By causing a characteristic structural subversion of bone and bone marrow, the disease results in deformity, hypomineralization, and fracture of the affected bones, with severe morbidity arising in childhood or adolescence. Lack of inheritance of the disease in humans is thought to reflect embryonic lethality of germline-transmitted activating Gsα mutations, which would only survive through somatic mosaicism. We have generated multiple lines of mice that express GsαR201C constitutively and develop an inherited, histopathologically exact replica of human FD. Robust transgene expression in neonatal and embryonic tissues and embryonic stem (ES) cells were associated with normal development of skeletal tissues and differentiation of skeletal cells. As in humans, FD lesions in mice developed only in the postnatal life; a defined spatial and temporal pattern characterized the onset and progression of lesions across the skeleton. In individual bones, lesions developed through a sequence of three distinct histopathological stages: a primary modeling phase defined by endosteal/medullary excess bone formation and normal resorption; a secondary phase, with excess, inappropriate remodeling; and a tertiary fibrous dysplastic phase, which reproduced a full-blown replica of the human bone pathology in mice of age ≥1 year. Gsα mutations are sufficient to cause FD, and are per se compatible with germline transmission and normal embryonic development in mice. Our novel murine lines constitute the first model of FD. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Hybrid Learning: An Integrative Approach to Engineering Education
Authors: Jamison Andrew , Kolmos Anette , Holgaard Jette Egelund
Published: April 2014

Background

This article explores the contradiction that has developed between market‐driven and academic strategies of response to the challenges facing engineering and engineering education. In these contending response strategies there are deep‐seated, underlying historical tensions at work.

Purpose

This article aims to create a theoretical and conceptual framework, which allows engineering educators to reflect on their perceptions and practices in regard to institutional change and reform.

Design

A historical review traces the history of the tensions between different traditions of engineering education from their medieval roots through the institutionalization of engineering education in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and discusses the different conceptions of engineering and engineering knowledge on which they are based. We then relate the historical review to educational conceptualizations of the university as well as curriculum models.

Results

On the basis of a synthesis of the historical and educational perspectives, we present an analytical distinction between three modes of engineering education. We propose a transformation to an integrative mode that is less prominent historically, but growing in importance. By introducing the term hybrid learning, we furthermore outline important aspects to be considered in the process of transforming engineering education.

Conclusions

We conclude by inviting engineering educators, students, administrators, and policy makers to consult our theoretical and conceptual framework and consider a transformation to an integrative mode. This integrative mode is designed to foster hybrid learning, a contextual, transformative, collaborative, and situated learning approach that holds potential in facing the increasing complexity of engineering.
Three‐Component One‐Pot Synthesis of Indolo[3,4‐a]acridine Derivatives with High Regioselectivity under Catalyst‐Free Conditions
Authors: Zhang Mei‐Mei , Wang Wei , Wang Xiang‐Shan
Published: April 2014

Three‐component reaction of aldehyde, 9‐ethyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐amine, and 5,5‐dimethyl cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione under catalyst‐free conditions in EtOH, regioselectivity gave corresponding indolo[3,4‐a]acridine rather than indolo[2,3‐b]acridine derivatives in high yields, which is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis.
A Facile Diversity‐Oriented Multicomponent One‐Pot Synthesis of 3‐Amino‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[c]thiophen‐4(5H)‐one Derivatives from α‐Oxo‐N,S‐ketene Acetal
Authors: Yerande Swapnil G. , More Sunil D. , Bhandari Mayur , Newase Kiran M. , Khoury Kareem , Wang Kan , Dömling Alexander
Published: April 2014

A convenient one‐pot multicomponent method for the preparation of 3‐amino‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[c]thiophen‐4(5H)‐one derivative has been developed. Reaction of 1,3‐cyclohexanedione and phenyl isothiocynate gave α‐oxo‐N,S‐ketene acetal that were reacted in situ with 2‐chloromethylquniazoline‐4‐one derivatives, in the presence of sodium hydride to afford the target compound in reasonable overall yields.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies of New Rigid Linker‐Based Bispyrazolines
Authors: Yusuf Mohamad , Samdhian Varsha , Jain Payal
Published: April 2014

The bispyrazolines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e were synthesized from the cyclization reaction of bischalcones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e with phenyl hydrazine by refluxing under alcoholic medium in the presence of glacial acetic acid. The bischalcones were obtained from the Claisen–Schmidt reaction of acetophenone with dibenzaldehydes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e and later were obtained in good yield from the O‐alkylation of 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde with suitable alkylating agents. The structures of the prepared compounds were determined from the rigorous analysis of their spectral data (UV–vis, IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS). The elemental analysis also confirmed the purity of these compounds. All the bischalcones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e and bispyrazolines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e were screened for their antimicrobial activity using the serial dilution method. Seven bacterial and five fungal species were used as the antimicrobial test strains, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 3384), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424), Escherichia coli (MTCC 443), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 443), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Pseudomonas fluorescens (MTCC 103), and Staphylococcus pyrogens (MTCC 442), and Aspergillus janus (MTCC 2751), Penicillium glabrum (MTCC 4951), Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 2480), Aspergillus sclerotiorum (MTCC 1008), and Aspergillus niger (MTCC 281), respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC in µg/mL) were determined by using different dilutions.
Fully automatic exposed and in‐syringe dynamic single‐drop microextraction with online agitation for the determination of polycyclic musks in surface waters of the Pearl River Estuary and South China Sea
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Yuan Ke , Liu Hongtao , Lin Li , Luan Tiangang
Published: April 2014

An automatic exposed and in‐syringe dynamic single‐drop microextraction method (SDME) for the determination of five polycyclic musks in natural waters was developed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Online agitation was first introduced to the automatic SDME with a magnetic mixer fixed to the bottom of the sample tray of the autosampler. A high enrichment factor (110 ∼182) for the target analytes could be achieved after several parameters that affected the microextraction were optimized. The recoveries were between 84.9 and 119.5%, while the limit of detection ranged from 3.4 to 11 ng/L with relative standard deviation < 11.1% for the polycyclic musks. This new SDME mode is fully automatic with great convenience, high enrichment and good reproducibility, and no human intervention. The proposed method was, therefore, successfully applied to determine the polycyclic musks in 31 surface sea waters that were collected from the Pearl River Estuary and the South China Sea. Most polycyclic musks could be detected with the total concentrations ranging from 58.9 to 528.5 ng/L. By using spatial interpolation method of ordinary kriging, the most contaminated area was found near the cities of Dongguan and Guangzhou with local discharge via the major rivers.
Platysma synkinesis in facial palsy and botulinum toxin type A
Authors: Dall'Angelo Anna , Mandrini Silvia , Sala Vittorio , Pavese Chiara , Carlisi Ettore , Comelli Mario , Toffola Elena D.
Published: April 2014

Objectives/Hypothesis

Facial synkinesis is a well‐known disabling occurrence following severe facial palsy. Platysma muscle, innervated by the facial nerve, can be involved in synkinesis as well, but thus far has been little investigated. The aim of our study is to evaluate the presence of platysma synkinesis and its clinical evolution after onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT‐A) (Botox®; Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, CA) injections.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Methods

Sixty‐nine patients were treated for synkinesis following facial palsy. Of those, 45 were affected by platysma synkinesis and thus were injected in the platysma muscle. The total number of sessions was 124. The Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) and a specific platysmal evaluation for the presence and severity of synkinesis and local symptoms were performed before and after BoNT‐A treatments.

Results

Platysma synkinesis was present in 65.2% of the sample and was associated with subjective complaints in 85.5% of the cases. The facial expressions more related to platysma synkinesis were snarl, followed by open‐mouth smile and lip pucker. After each BoNT‐A treatment, there was an improvement in facial symmetry at rest and during voluntary movements, a global reduction of synkinesis, and a specific reduction of synkinesis and symptoms related to the platysma. No adverse reaction to BoNT‐A occurred.

Conclusion

Platysma involvement represents a recurring and symptomatic problem in patients affected by synkinetic recovery following facial palsy. After BoNT‐A injections, there is a reduction in platysma synkinesis and related symptoms.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 124:2513–2517, 2014
Holonomy group scheme of an integral curve
Authors: Bhosle Usha N. , Parameswaran A. J.
Published: April 2014

Let Y be a projective variety over a field k (of arbitrary characteristic). Assume that the normalization X of Y is such that is normal, being the algebraic closure of k. We define a notion of strong semistability for vector bundles on Y. We show that a vector bundle on Y is strongly semistable if and only if its pull back to X is strongly semistable and hence it is a tensor category. In case , we show that strongly semistable vector bundles on Y form a neutral Tannakian category. We define the holonomy group scheme of Y to be the Tannakian group scheme for this category. For a strongly semistable principal G‐bundle , we construct a holonomy group scheme. We show that if Y is an integral complex nodal curve, then the holonomy group of a strongly semistable vector bundle on Y is the Zariski closure of the (topological) fundamental group of Y.
Kolmogorov equations for randomly perturbed generalized Newtonian fluids
Authors: Sauer Martin
Published: April 2014

We consider incompressible generalized Newtonian fluids in two space dimensions perturbed by an additive Gaussian noise. The velocity field of such a fluid obeys a stochastic partial differential equation with fully nonlinear drift due to the dependence of viscosity on the shear rate. In particular, we assume that the extra stress tensor is of power law type, i.e. a polynomial of degree , , i.e. the shear thinning case. We prove that the associated Kolmogorov operator K admits at least one infinitesimally invariant measure μ satisfying certain exponential moment estimates. Moreover, K is L2‐unique w.r.t. μ provided , where is the second root of , approximately .
Attenuation of allograft rejection by intragraft inhibition of class II transcativator in high responder rat liver transplantation
Authors: Liu Gang , He Xianghui , Lu Ning , Qiu Yujie , Wang Hao
Published: April 2014

Major histocompatibility complex‐II (MHC‐II) plays an important role in graft rejection and class II transactivator (CIITA) is the key regulator for MHC‐II expression. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of intragraft inhibition of CIITA in attenuating liver transplant rejection. Three plasmids containing small hairpin RNA (shRNA) against rat CIITA (pCIITA‐shRNA) and one control plasmid of pHK‐shRNA were constructed. In vitro dendritic cell (DC) transfection and liver transfection via portal vein in donor rats (n = 8) by shRNA plasmids were performed to confirm the inhibitory effect of pCIITA‐shRNA on CIITA expression. It showed that expressions of CIITA and MHC‐II were significantly inhibited by pCIITA‐shRNA in both DC in vitro and liver of donor rats in vivo (p < 0.05 vs. control pHK‐shRNA treatment). pCIITA1‐shRNA was proved to be the best inhibitor among three pCIITA‐shRNAs and then used in high‐responder rat liver transplantation model (DA donors‐to‐Lewis recipients). Transplant groups (n = 16/group) include untreated recipients transplanted with donor liver graft pretreated with either saline, or pHK‐shRNA, or pCIITA1‐shRNA. Cyclosporine‐treated (10 mg/kg, im, day 0–7) recipients transplanted with unmodified liver grafts were used as no rejection control. The results showed that the recipient rats survived significantly longer in pCIITA1‐shRNA‐treated group with markedly attenuated liver graft rejection (p < 0.05 vs. saline and pHK‐shRNA‐treated groups). Furthermore, significantly decreased intragraft expressions of CIITA, MHC‐II, IL‐2, and IFN‐γ were found in pCIITA1‐shRNA‐treated group (p < 0.05 vs. saline and pHK‐shRNA‐treated groups). This study suggests that intragraft inhibition of CIITA could be a novel strategy for attenuating graft rejection in liver transplantation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:52–59, 2015.
Incorporating reference in parallel imaging and compressed sensing
Authors: Peng Xi , Ying Leslie , Liu Qiegen , Zhu Yanjie , Liu Yuanyuan , Qu Xiaobo , Liu Xin , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong
Published: April 2014

Purpose

To develop a new compressed sensing parallel imaging technique called READ‐PICS that can effectively incorporate prior information from a reference scan for MR image reconstruction from highly undersampled multichannel measurements.

Methods

READ‐PICS incorporates information from a high‐spatial‐resolution reference prior using the generalized series model, to achieve increased image sparsity and mitigated noise amplification simultaneously. To further improve the ill‐conditioning of the parallel imaging system, an annular area in the central residual k‐space is used for calibration. Additionally, the mixed L1‐L2 norm of the coefficients from the prior component and residual component is used to enforce joint sparsity.

Results

The evaluations on parametric imaging and multiscan experiment demonstrate superior performance of READ‐PICS in terms of detail preservation and noise suppression compared to state‐of‐the‐art technique, L1‐Iterative self‐consistent parallel imaging reconstruction, and prescan required method, correlation imaging.

Conclusions

The proposed method can significantly increase signal sparsity and improve the ill‐conditioning of the parallel imaging system using reference adaptive regularization. This technique can be easily adapted to other imaging applications where multiple images need to be acquired sequentially and a reference prior is also available. Magn Reson Med 73:1490–1504, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A bond failure criterion for DEM simulations of cemented geomaterials considering variable bond thickness
Authors: Jiang Mingjing , Liu Fang , Zhou Yaping
Published: April 2014

A series of micromechanical tests were conducted to investigate the bond failure criterion of bonded granules considering the effect of bond thickness, with the aim of enhancing the bond contact model used in the distinct element simulations of cemented geomaterials. The granules were idealized in a two‐dimensional context as one pair of aluminum rods bonded by resin epoxy or cement. The mechanical responses of nearly 500 rod pairs were tested under different loading paths to attain the yield loads of bonded granules at variable bond thickness. This study leads to a generic bond failure criterion incorporating the effect of the bond thickness. The results show that the bond compressive resistance largely decreases with increasing bond thickness owing to the presence of the confinement at the bond‐particle interface. The strength envelopes obtained from the combined shear compression tests and combined torsion compression tests have identical functional form, and they decrease in size with increasing bond thickness but remain unchanged in shape. Given the same cementation material, the generic bond strength envelope in a three‐dimensional contact force space under different loading paths remains the same in shape but shrinks with the increase of bond thickness. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel nanocomposite based on reactive organoclay and photosensitive aliphatic–aromatic polyamide: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Shabanian Meisam , Faghihi Khalil , Raeisi Ahmad , Hajibeygi Mohsen
Published: April 2014

Novel polyamide/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared through solution intercalation technique. Reactive organoclay was prepared using Cloisite‐Na+ and protonated form of 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane via ion‐exchange reaction. New photosensitive aliphatic‐aromatic polyamide containing dibenzal acetone moiety was successfully synthesized through direct polycondensation. Flammability and thermal properties of the polyamide and corresponding nanocomposites were studied. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated improved thermal stability of the nanocomposites compared to the neat polyamide. According to the microscale combustion calorimeter results, the peak heat release rate value has been decreased from 113 to 72 W/g by introducing 2 wt% of the organoclay in the polyamide matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1502–1509, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital femoral deficiency and fibular hemimelia
Authors: Radler Christof , Myers Abigail K. , Hunter Renee J. , Arrabal Pedro P. , Herzenberg John E.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Routine ultrasonography can detect congenital femoral deficiency (CFD) and fibular hemimelia (FH), but prenatal detection rate and its relation to deformity severity have never been reported. Whether mothers prefer prenatal diagnosis is also unknown. We aimed to determine whether mothers prefer prenatal diagnosis, to report detection rates for CFD and/or FH, and to correlate detection rates to severity of limb shortening.

Methods

Surveys were mailed to 171 mothers who gave birth to children with CFD/FH between 2000 and 2008. Bilateral femoral and tibial lengths were measured on postnatal radiographs. We calculated corresponding femoral/tibial lengths at gestational weeks 20 and 30.

Results

Sixty‐five surveys were returned, and 56 radiographs were reviewed. Most mothers (63%) preferred prenatal diagnosis as it enables prenatal counseling. Congenital limb shortening was detected in 24 cases (37%) and was not detected in 41 cases (63%). Detection rate was 52% (12 of 23) in CFD cases, 23% (three of 13) in FH cases, and 30% (six of 20) in combined cases. CFD cases with severe shortening had a higher detection rate.

Conclusions

Ultrasonographers should measure both femoral and tibial lengths. Unilateral shortening should result in pediatric orthopedic consultation to estimate limb‐length discrepancy at maturity and discuss treatment. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.