bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in local‐regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A National Cancer Database analysis
Authors: Tam Moses , Lee Anna , Wu S. Peter , Gerber Naamit K. , Li Zujun , Givi Babak , Hu Kenneth , Schreiber David
Published: August 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To assess patterns of care and outcomes with the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by definitive radiation in local‐regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Study Design

Retrospective database analysis.

Methods

We queried the National Cancer Database for patients with T3–4N2 or T1–4N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan‐Meier method, propensity‐score matching, and a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for demographic and disease‐specific prognostic factors.

Results

From 2004 to 2014, a total of 1,731 patients were identified, including 504 patients (27%) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used more frequently in years 2008 to 2010 (34%) and 2011 to 2014 (30%) compared with 2004 to 2007 (22%) (χ2 P = .001). At a median follow‐up of 36.6 months, patients had 3‐year OS of 66% in the neoadjuvant group compared with 70% in those who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (log rank P = .29). On subgroup analysis by histology, T stage, and N stage, there remained no differences in OS between the two groups. On multivariable analysis, there was no significant survival difference associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89‐1.25, P = .54). In a propensity score–matched population of 1,008 patients (504 with neoadjuvant therapy and 504 without), there was no significant survival difference associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (H: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.93‐1.38, P = .22).

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used in over 25% of patients, and its use is increasing. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with any differences in survival compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 128:2770–2777, 2018
Macroporous Conductive Hydrogels with Fatigue Resistance as Strain Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring
Authors: Gu Zhandong , Xu Yichao , Chen Lie , Fang Ruochen , Rong Qinfeng , Jin Xu , Jiang Lei , Liu Mingjie
Published: August 2018

Conductive hydrogels have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in a variety of fields. However, conductive hydrogels prepared by conventional strategies usually suffer from poor mechanical properties and low fatigue resistance. In this study, a synergistic strategy to fabricate macroporous conductive hydrogels (PC‐hydrogels) by introducing macroporous structure to the hydrogels is reported. The polypyrrole can distribute uniformly in the hydrogel network, thus endowing the hydrogels with good electrical conductivity and outstanding fatigue resistance. Moreover, the combination of stiff polypyrrole and soft hydrogel network can enhance the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. As a result, the PC‐hydrogels show negligible performance degradation after being compressed for more than 1200 cycles. Furthermore, the PC‐hydrogels‐based sensors can detect a variety of human motions with different intensities and ranges. The outstanding mechanical reliability and electrical conductivity make these PC‐hydrogels suitable for application in areas of strain sensors and wearable devices.
Existence and regularity of positive solutions of a degenerate elliptic problem
Authors: Guo ZongMing , Guan XiaoHong , Wan FangShu
Published: August 2018

Existence and regularity of positive solutions of a degenerate elliptic Dirichlet problem of the form in Ω, on , where Ω is a bounded smooth domain in , , are obtained via new embeddings of some weighted Sobolev spaces with singular weights and . It is seen that and admit many singular points in Ω. The main embedding results in this paper provide some generalizations of the well‐known Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg inequality.
Marigold Flower‐Like Assemblies of Phosphorescent Iridium–Silver Coordination Polymers
Authors: Rota Martir Diego , Rajamalli Pachaiyappan , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Zysman‐Colman Eli
Published: August 2018

Racemic and enantiopure phosphorescent iridium(III)–silver(I) coordination polymers are reported. The polymers rac‐, Λ‐, and Δ‐IrAg were formed, respectively, by the assembly of the chiral iridium metalloligands rac‐, Λ‐, and Δ‐[Ir(mesppy)2(qpy)]PF6 (rac‐, Λ‐ and Δ‐Ir) where mesppy is 2‐phenyl‐4‐mesitylpyridinato and qpy is 4,4′:2′,2′′:4′′,4′′′‐quaterpyridine, and Ag+ ions through Npy–Ag linear coordination. The polymers have been characterized in MeNO2 solution by 1H and 1H DOSY NMR and CD spectroscopies and in the solid‐state by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystal structures of the racemic polymer rac‐IrAg has been obtained by X‐ray diffraction. The polymers rac‐, Λ‐, and Δ‐IrAg exhibited orange/red emission in solution, in films and as crystals, with intensities comparable to those of the corresponding iridium metalloligands rac‐, Λ‐, and Δ‐Ir. The morphology of the enantiopure polymers in the solid‐state resembles marigold flower‐like nano‐porous assemblies while the racemic polymer possesses an irregular morphology formation.
Ceramide synthase 6 predicts the prognosis of human gastric cancer: It functions as an oncoprotein by dysregulating the SOCS2/JAK2/STAT3 pathway
Authors: Uen Yih‐Huei , Fang Chia‐Lang , Lin Chih‐Chan , Hseu You‐Cheng , Hung Shih‐Ting , Sun Ding‐Ping , Lin Kai‐Yuan
Published: August 2018

Although gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers, knowledge of its development, and carcinogenesis is limited. The present study explored the involvement of ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) in GC carcinogenesis and prognosis. RT‐PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of CERS6. Transfection and small hairpin RNA technology were used to investigate the effect of CERS6 manipulation on cell proliferation and spread as well as the underlying mechanism. Moreover, xenograft proliferation was employed to explore the influence of CERS6 on tumor growth in animals. It was found that overexpression of CERS6 was significantly correlated with several clinicopathologic parameters and poor disease‐free survival. The overexpression and silencing of CERS6 in GC cells facilitated and suppressed cell proliferation and spread as well as xenograft proliferation, respectively. Mechanistic studies further revealed that CERS6 influenced cell proliferation and spread by regulating cell cycle control and metastasis‐related protein through the SOCS2/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Collectively, this study suggests that CERS6 overexpression could be a useful biomarker for predicting the outcomes of GC patients and that CERS6 targeting represents a potential modality for treating GC.
What influences placebo and nocebo responses in Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Witek Natalie , Stebbins Glenn T. , Goetz Christopher G.
Published: August 2018

Placebo treatment is associated with clinical improvements in many medical conditions, but is particularly important in Parkinson's disease because improvements are common, marked, and associated with objective neurochemical and neurophysiologic changes. This review will focus on the effect of the placebo in patients with PD and will discuss the pathophysiology, observed characteristics of motor and nonmotor placebo responses, and the patient and study characteristics that modify the placebo response. Similar to the placebo response, nocebo and lessebo effects alter clinical trial outcomes and impact conclusions. Whereas placebo‐associated improvements are positively viewed by patients in clinical practice, they complicate clinical trials. The authors suggest strategies to reduce placebo effects during randomized placebo‐controlled trials evaluating new therapies. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Neurorehabilitation therapy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: A 24‐week, rater‐blinded, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Rodríguez‐Díaz Julio Cesar , Velázquez‐Pérez Luis , Rodríguez Labrada Roberto , Aguilera Rodríguez Raúl , Laffita Pérez Dalina , Canales Ochoa Nalia , Medrano Montero Jacqueline , Estupiñán Rodríguez Annelié , Osorio Borjas Marcos , Góngora Marrero Mariela , Reynaldo Cejas Lorenzo , González Zaldivar Yanetza , Almaguer Gotay Dennis
Published: August 2018

Background: Neurorehabilitation has become in a widely used approach in spinocerebellar ataxias, but there are scarce powerful clinical studies supporting this notion.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 24‐week neurorehabilitative treatment in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 patients.

Methods: A total of 38 spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 patients were enrolled in a rater‐blinded, 1:1 randomized, controlled trial using neurorehabilitation for 24 weeks. The treated group received 6 hours of neurorehabilitation therapy, emphasizing on balance, coordination, and muscle strengthening on weekdays, whereas the control group did not receive this intervention. Primary outcome measure was the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score, whereas secondary outcome measures included the count of Inventory of Non‐Ataxia Symptoms and saccadic eye movement variables.

Results: The rehabilitated group had high levels of adherence and retention to the therapy and showed a significant decrease of Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score at 24 weeks when compared with the controls, mainly for the gait, stance, sitting, finger chase, and heel‐shin test items. Changes in Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia scores were inversely correlated with the mutation size in the rehabilitated group. The nonataxia symptom count and saccadic measures were unchanged during the study.

Conclusions: A comprehensive 24‐week rehabilitation program significantly improves the motor cerebellar symptoms of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 patients as assessed by the ataxia rating score likely as result of the partial preservation of motor learning and neural plasticity mechanisms. These findings provide evidence in support of this therapeutic approach as palliative treatment in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 suggesting its use in combination with other symptomatic or neuroprotective drugs and in prodromal stages. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
State‐dependent switching control of delayed switched systems with stable and unstable modes
Authors: Yang Dan , Li Xiaodi , Shen Jianhua , Zhou Zhaojie
Published: August 2018

In this paper, the problem of switching stabilization for a class of delayed switched systems is studied by using state‐dependent switching control. Some sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of delayed switched systems are derived, which are based on the Lyapunov functional method. The derived stability conditions can be applied for delayed switched systems with partial or all unstable modes. Moreover, a typical time delay called leakage delay existing in the negative feedback term of a system are also considered. Two numerical examples, that is, a switched system with two unstable modes and a switched system with delayed feedback control, are given to show the effectiveness of the main results.
Technical Note: Real‐time image‐guided adaptive radiotherapy of a rigid target for a prototype fixed beam radiotherapy system
Authors: Liu P. Z. Y. , Nguyen D. T. , Feain I. , O'Brien R. , Keall P. J. , Booth J. T.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Fixed beam radiotherapy systems utilize couch movement and rotation instead of gantry rotation in order to simplify linear accelerator design. We investigate the ability to deliver fixed beam treatments with the same level of clinical accuracy as conventional (rotating beam) treatments using real‐time image guidance to maintain this accuracy in the presence of rigid target motion.

Methods

A prototype fixed beam radiotherapy system was built using a standard linac with the beam fixed in the vertical position and a computer controlled rotation stage that rotated a rigid phantom about the superior–inferior axis. Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM) and real‐time beam adaptation with MLC tracking was applied to a five‐field IMRT treatment plan with motion introduced to the phantom. The same IMRT treatment was also delivered with real‐time adaptation using the conventional rotating beam geometry. Film dosimetry was used to measure the dose delivered with a fixed beam compared to a rotating beam, as well as to compare treatments delivered with and without real‐time adaptation.

Results

The dose distributions were found to be equivalent between the fixed beam and rotating beam geometry for real‐time adaptive radiotherapy using KIM and MLC tracking beam adaptation. Gamma analysis on the films showed agreement >98% using a 2%/2 mm criteria with adaptation for static shifts and periodic motion.

Conclusions

Fixed beam treatments with real‐time beam adaptation are dosimetrically equivalent to conventional treatments with a rotating beam, even in the presence of rigid target motion. This suggests that, for a rigid target, the high clinical accuracy of real‐time adaptive radiotherapy can be achieved with simpler beam geometry.
The utility of quantitativeCTradiomics features for improved prediction of radiation pneumonitis
Authors: Krafft Shane P. , Rao Arvind , Stingo Francesco , Briere Tina Marie , Court Laurence E. , Liao Zhongxing , Martel Mary K.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore gains in predictive model performance for radiation pneumonitis (RP) using pretreatmentCTradiomics features extracted from the normal lung volume.

Methods

A total of 192 patients treated for nonsmall cell lung cancer with definitive radiotherapy were considered in the current study. In addition to clinical and dosimetric data,CTradiomics features were extracted from the total lung volume defined using the treatment planning scan. A total of 6851 features (15 clinical, 298 total lung and heart dosimetric, and 6538 image features) were gathered and considered candidate predictors for modeling ofRPgrade ≥3. Models were built with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and applied to the set of candidate predictors with 50 iterations of tenfold nested cross‐validation.

Results

In the current cohort, 30 of 192 patients (15.6%) presented withRPgrade ≥3. Average cross‐validatedAUC(CV‐AUC) using only the clinical and dosimetric parameters was 0.51.CV‐AUCwas 0.68 when total lungCTradiomics features were added. Analysis with the entire set of available predictors revealed seven different image features selected in at least 40% of the model fits.

Conclusions

We have successfully incorporatedCTradiomics features into a framework for building predictiveRPmodels viaLASSOlogistic regression. Addition of normal lung image features produced superior model performance relative to traditional dosimetric and clinical predictors ofRP, suggesting that pretreatmentCTradiomics features should be considered in the context ofRPprediction.
The adolescent onset anorexia nervosa study (ANABEL): Design and baseline results
Authors: Graell Montserrat , de Andrés Patricia , Sepúlveda Ana Rosa , Moreno Alba , Villaseñor Ángel , Faya Mar , Martínez‐Cantarero Carmen , Gómez‐Martínez Sonia , Marcos Ascensión , Morandé Gonzalo , Nova Esther
Published: August 2018

The anorexia nervosa adolescent longitudinal biomarker assessment study (ANABEL) is a 2‐year longitudinal study.

Objective

Evaluate several clinical, biochemical, immunological, psychological, and family variables and their interactions in adolescent onset eating disorders (EDs) patients and their 2‐year clinical and biological outcome. This article illustrates the framework and the methodology behind the research questions, as well as describing general features of the sample.

Methods

A longitudinal study of 114 adolescents with EDs seeking treatment was performed. Only adolescents were selected during 4 years (2009–2013). The variables were collected at different times: baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of the start of treatment. Diagnoses were completed through the semi‐structured Kiddie‐Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia interview.

Results

At baseline, the mean age was 15.11 (SD = 1.36). The mean ED duration was 10 months (SD = 5.75). The mean body mass index was 16.1 (SD = 1.8). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnosis at baseline for restrictive anorexia nervosa was 69.6%, 17.4% for purgative anorexia nervosa, and 24.3% for other specified feeding disorder. At 12 months, 19.4% were in partial remission, whereas at 24 months, 13.8% had fully recovered and 29.2% had partially recovered.

Conclusions

There was an acceptable physical and psychopathological improvement during the first year of treatment, with recovery being more evident during the first 6 months.
A fractional motion diffusion model for a twice‐refocused spin‐echo pulse sequence
Authors: Karaman M. Muge , Zhou Xiaohong Joe
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop an analytical expression for a fractional motion (FM) diffusion model to characterize diffusion‐induced signal attenuation in a twice‐refocused spin‐echo (TRSE) sequence that is resilient to eddy currents, and to demonstrate its applicability to human brain imaging in vivo. Based on the FM theory, which provides a unified statistical description for Langevin motions, the diffusion‐weighted (DW) MR signal was measured with a TRSE sequence that balances the concomitant gradients. The analytical expression was fitted to a set of DW images acquired with 14 b‐values (0–4000 s/mm2) from a total of 10 healthy human subjects at 3 T, yielding three FM parameter maps based on anomalous diffusion coefficient Dφ, ψ, diffusion increment variance φ, and diffusion correlation ψ, respectively. These parameters were used to characterize different brain regions in gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid. The analytical expression for the TRSE‐based FM model accurately described diffusion signal attenuation in healthy brain tissues at high b‐values. TRSE's robustness against eddy currents was illustrated by comparing results from an expression for a conventional Stejskal‐Tanner sequence. The TRSE‐based FM model also produced consistent GM‐WM contrast (p < 0.01) across all brain regions studied, whereas the consistency was not observed with the Stejskal‐Tanner‐based FM model. This new analytical expression is expected to enable further investigations to probe tissue structures by exploiting anomalous diffusion properties without being hindered by eddy‐current perturbations at high b‐values.
On the singular Neumann problem in linear elasticity
Authors: Kuchta Miroslav , Mardal Kent‐Andre , Mortensen Mikael
Published: August 2018

The Neumann problem of linear elasticity is singular with a kernel formed by the rigid motions of the body. There are several tricks that are commonly used to obtain a nonsingular linear system. However, they often cause reduced accuracy or lead to poor convergence of the iterative solvers. In this paper, different well‐posed formulations of the problem are studied through discretization by the finite element method, and preconditioning strategies based on operator preconditioning are discussed. For each formulation, we derive preconditioners that are independent of the discretization parameter. Preconditioners that are robust with respect to the first Lamé constant are constructed for the pure displacement formulations, whereas a preconditioner that is robust in both Lamé constants is constructed for the mixed formulation. It is shown that, for convergence in the first Sobolev norm, it is crucial to respect the orthogonality constraint derived from the continuous problem. On the basis of this observation, a modification to the conjugate gradient method is proposed, which achieves optimal error convergence of the computed solution.
Robustness and load disturbance conditions for state based iterative learning control
Authors: Alsubaie Muhammad A. , Rogers Eric
Published: August 2018

Robust conditions and load disturbance limitations are developed for the design of iterative learning control laws for linear dynamics for two commonly used schemes. Many industrial applications encounter periodic disturbances acting on the input of a system operating under repetitive control, which can be represented by a time delay model whose output is applied to the system input in the mathematical representation of the controlled dynamics. The design isolates the disturbance system and defines the overall transfer function around the delay model. Then, the small gain theorem can be used to develop conditions for disturbance accommodation and error convergence of the repetitive control scheme. A simulation case study to support the new results is given, where the model used has been developed by frequency response tests on a gantry robot and is a necessary step before experimental verification.
Salience, Food Security, and SNAP Receipt
Authors: Gregory Christian A. , Smith Travis A.
Published: August 2018

Household food insecurity status in the United States is ascertained by a battery of close‐ended questions. We posit that the monthly nature of benefit receipt from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) creates experiences of food hardship, which become salient in the context of SNAP receipt, and in turn exert influence on the response to food security questions. We test this hypothesis by examining answers to a 30‐day food security module in relation to when SNAP benefits are received. We find that for SNAP households near the end of or at the beginning of the benefit month, the probability of being classified as food insecure increases by 11 percentage points, over a baseline of 42 percent. We also find that the probability of responding affirmatively to any of the first five items in the module increases during this time. We discuss the importance of these findings for the estimation of food security and its implication on program evaluation.
Antimicrobial activity of a porphyrin binding peptide
Authors: Shirley David J. , Chrom Christina L. , Richards Elizabeth A. , Carone Benjamin R. , Caputo Gregory A.
Published: August 2018

Amphiphilic alpha‐helices are common motifs used in numerous biological systems including membrane channels/pores and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and binding proteins, and a variety of synthetic biomaterials. Previously, an amphiphilic peptide with lysine‐containing motifs was shown to reversibly bind the anionic porphyrin meso‐Tetra(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin () and promote the formation of excitonically coupled conductive J‐aggregates. The work presented here focuses on the use of this amphiphilic peptide and derivatives as a potential antimicrobial agent. AMPs are naturally occurring components of the innate immune system, which selectively target and kill bacteria. Sequence derivatives were synthesized in which the position of the Trp, used as a fluorescence reporter, was changed. Additional variants were synthesized where the hydrophobic amino acids were replaced with Ala to reduce net hydrophobicity or where the cationic Lys residues were replaced with diaminopropionic acid (Dap). All peptide sequences retained the ability to bind and promote the formation of J‐aggregates. The peptides all exhibited a preference for binding anionic lipid vesicles compared to zwitterionic bilayers. The Trp position did not impact antimicrobial activity, but the substituted peptides exhibited markedly lower efficacy. The Dap‐containing peptide was only active against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, while the Ala‐substituted peptide was inactive at the concentrations tested. This trend was also evident in bacterial membrane permeabilization. The results indicate that the amphiphilic porphyrin binding peptides can also be used as antimicrobial peptides. The cationic nature is a driver in binding to lipid bilayers, but the overall hydrophobicity is important for antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption.
Phospho‐Proteomic Analysis of Cardiac Dyssynchrony and Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Stachowski Marisa J. , Holewinski Ronald J. , Grote Eric , Venkatraman Vidya , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Kirk Jonathan A.
Published: August 2018

Cardiac dyssynchrony arises from conduction abnormalities during heart failure and worsens morbidity and mortality. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) re‐coordinates contraction using bi‐ventricular pacing, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. The aim is to determine how dyssynchronous heart failure (HFdys) alters the phospho‐proteome and how CRT interacts with this unique phospho‐proteome by analyzing Ser/Thr and Tyr phosphorylation. Phospho‐enriched myocardium from dog models of Control, HFdys, and CRT is analyzed via MS. There were 209 regulated phospho‐sites among 1761 identified sites. Compared to Con and CRT, HFdys is hyper‐phosphorylated and tyrosine phosphorylation is more likely to be involved in signaling that increased with HFdys and was exacerbated by CRT. For each regulated site, the most‐likely targeting‐kinase is predicted, and CK2 is highly specific for sites that are “fixed” by CRT, suggesting activation of CK2 signaling occurs in HFdys that is reversed by CRT, which is supported by western blot analysis. These data elucidate signaling networks and kinases that may be involved and deserve further study. Importantly, a possible role for CK2 modulation in CRT has been identified. This may be harnessed in the future therapeutically to compliment CRT, improving its clinical effects.
Respiratory health service utilization of children with neuromuscular disease
Authors: Rose Louise , McKim Douglas , Leasa David , Nonoyama Mika , Tandon Anu , Bai Yu Qing , Goldstein Roger , Amin Reshma , Katz Sherri , Gershon Andrea
Published: August 2018

Objectives

To quantify health service utilization including assessment, monitoring, and treatment of respiratory complications of children with neuromuscular disease (NMD), identifying practice variation and adherence to guideline recommendations at a population level.

Methods

North American population‐based cohort study (2003‐2015) of children with NMD using hospital diagnostic and physician billing codes within health administrative databases.

Results

We identified 18 163 children with NMD. Mean (SD) age was 7.8 (5.6) years with 40% ≤5; 45% were female. Most common diagnoses were cerebral palsy (50%) and spina bifida (16%); 8% had muscular dystrophy. From fiscal years 2003‐2014, 15 600 (86%) children went to an emergency department on average 3.5 times every 3 years; 6575 (36%) for respiratory reasons. 8788 (48%) were admitted to hospital with 2190 (12%) for respiratory reasons and 2451 (13%) required intensive care. Respiratory specialist outpatient visits occurred for 2226 (12%) children on average 6.5 visits every 3 years; 723 (4%) had in‐hospital respiratory specialist consultation. Pulmonary function testing was conducted in 3194 (18%) children on average 2.4 times every 3 years; sleep studies in 1389 (8%).

Conclusion

In this population‐based study of children with NMD, healthcare utilization for respiratory complications was considerable. Frequency of respiratory specialist consultation, monitoring of respiratory function and sleep disordered breathing was variable but on average reflected professional society recommendations. Children with NMD are frequent ED users suggesting a need to improve community and social supports. We did not detect reduced access to respiratory monitoring or specialist consultation in adolescents transitioning to adult services.
Prediction of the presence of a seventh ankyrin repeat in IκBε from homology modeling combined with hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS)
Authors: Ramsey Kristen M. , Narang Dominic , Komives Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2018

The ankyrin repeat (AR) structure is a common protein–protein interaction motif and ankyrin repeat proteins comprise a vast family across a large array of different taxa. Natural AR proteins adopt a conserved fold comprised of several repeats with the N‐ and C‐terminal repeats generally being of more divergent sequences. Obtaining experimental crystal structures for natural ankyrin repeat domains (ARD) can be difficult and often requires complexation with a binding partner. Homology modeling is an attractive method for creating a model of AR proteins due to the highly conserved fold; however, modeling the divergent N‐ and C‐terminal “capping” repeats remains a challenge. We show here that amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS), which reports on the presence of secondary structural elements and “foldedness,” can aid in the refinement and selection of AR protein homology models when multiple templates are identified with variations between them localizing to these terminal repeats. We report a homology model for the AR protein IκBε from three different templates and use HDX‐MS to establish the presence of a seventh AR at the C‐terminus identified by only one of the three templates used for modeling.
The effects of medicinal plants on muscarinic receptors in various types of smooth muscle
Authors: Gholamnezhad Zahra , Ghorani Vahideh , Saadat Saeideh , Shakeri Farzaneh , Boskabady Mohammad Hossein
Published: August 2018

Pharmacological agents that can affect muscarinic receptors are commonly used to treat or manage various diseases. Medicinal plants have been used from ancient time to treat cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital disorders, which may related to their muscarinic receptors effects. Several pharmacological studies revealed the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of some herbal plants on muscarinic receptors.

Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar as online database were searched from the beginning of 1983 to March 2018 using following keywords: muscarinic receptor, medicinal plant, herbal medicine, and smooth muscle, animal, human, in vivo, and in vitro. The original studies in English language were included.

Based on the results of the reviewed articles, more than 70 medicinal plants extracts or constituents affected muscarinic receptors (stimulatory or inhibitory) of smooth muscles in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital systems. Among them, there are some tropical plant and herbs that have been traditionally used as food additive. The therapeutic properties of these plants may be regarded in treatment of cardiovascular (hypertension and tachycardia); gastrointestinal (diarrhea, colitis, and constipation); and urological (overactive bladder, abortion, and preterm labor) diseases. However, more clinical trials are needed to use some of these medicinal plants in clinical target therapy.
The influence of polyatomic primary ion chemistry on matrix effects in secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Alnajeebi Afnan M. , Vickerman John C. , Lockyer Nicholas P.
Published: August 2018

Rationale

The application of mass spectrometry imaging techniques to determine two‐ (2D) and three‐ (3D) dimensional chemical distribution ideally provides uniform, high sensitivity to multiple components and reliable quantification. These criteria are typically not met due to variations in sensitivity due to the chemistry of the analyte and surrounding surface chemistry. Here we explore the influence of projectile beam chemistry and sample chemistry in time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). To the authors' knowledge this is the first time the combined effects of projectile chemistry and sample environment on the quantitative determination of mixed samples have been systematically studied.

Methods

Secondary ion yields of lipid and amino acid mixtures were measured under 20 keV C60, Arn, and (H2O)n cluster ion bombardment (n = 2000 or 4000) using TOF‐SIMS. Ion suppression/enhancement effects were studied in dry sample films and in trehalose and water ice matrices.

Results

The extent of the matrix effects and the secondary ion yield were found to depend on the chemistry of the primary ion beam and (for C60, Arn) on the nature of the sample matrix. Under (H2O)n bombardment the sample matrix had negligible effect on the analysis.

Conclusions

Compared with C60 and Arn, water‐containing cluster projectiles enhanced the sensitivity of TOF‐SIMS determination of the chosen analytes and reduced the effect of signal suppression/enhancement in multicomponent samples and in different sample matrices. One possible explanation for this is that the (H2O)4000 projectile initiates on impact a nanoscale matrix environment that is very similar to that in frozen‐hydrated samples in terms of the resulting ionisation effects. The competition between analytes for protons and the effect of the sample matrix are reduced with water‐containing cluster projectiles. These chemically reactive projectile beams have improved characteristics for quantitative chemical imaging by TOF‐SIMS compared with their non‐reactive counterparts.
Double resonance ejection using novel radiofrequency phase tracking circuitry in a miniaturized planar linear ion trap mass spectrometer
Authors: Decker Trevor K. , Zheng Yajun , McClellan Joshua S. , Ruben Aaron J. , Lammert Stephen A. , Austin Daniel E. , Hawkins Aaron R.
Published: August 2018

Rationale

Ion trap mass spectrometers are attractive due to their inherent sensitivity and specificity. Miniaturization increases trap portability for in situ mass analysis by relaxing vacuum and voltage requirements but decreases the trapping volume. To overcome signal/resolution loss from miniaturization, double resonance ejection using phase tracking circuitry was investigated.

Methods

Phase tracking circuitry was developed to induce double resonance ejection in a planar linear ion trap using the β 2/3 hexapole resonance line.

Results

Double resonance was observed using phase tracking circuitry. Resolution of 0.5 m/z units and improved signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) compared with AC resonant ejection were achieved.

Conclusions

The phase tracking circuitry proved effective despite deviations from a true phase locked condition. Double resonance ejection is a means to increase signal intensity in a miniaturized planar ion trap.
Adaptive neural tracking control for nonstrict‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown backlash‐like hysteresis and unknown control directions
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Yin Xinghui , Wu Qinghui , Meng Fanqi
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a neural network–based adaptive tracking control problem is investigated for a class of nonstrict‐feedback nonlinear systems in the presence of unknown backlash‐like hysteresis nonlinearity, unmodeled dynamics, and unknown control directions. A state feedback controller is developed for the considered system by applying the adaptive backstepping technique and neural networks. The design difficulties exhibited in this paper due to unmodeled dynamics, unknown control directions, and nonstrict‐feedback form are handled by resorting to a dynamic signal, a Nussbaum function, and the variable separation approach, respectively. It is shown that the designed adaptive controller can guarantee that all the signals remain bounded and that the desired signal can be tracked with a small domain of the origin. A numerical example and an example of a real plant for a one‐link manipulator are provided to show the feasibility of the newly designed controller scheme.
Response of a barrier estuary to climate change and river regulation using attractor analysis: Snowy River estuary, Australia
Authors: McLean Errol J. , Hinwood Jon B. , Williams Simon A.
Published: August 2018

The evolution of the entrance channel of the Snowy River estuary in response to river regulation and climate change is predicted. The predictions are made in terms of the physical attractors that define possible long‐term states of the estuary entrance condition. The classification of these attractors shows the dependence of the entrance stability on the catchment inflows and the present entrance depth. The Snowy River estuary in south‐eastern Australia is a barrier estuary with an unstable entrance that tends to closure. The classification from the attractor map shows that the estuary entrance has changed from predominantly stable to a predominantly unstable state attributable to diversion of water from the upper catchment. The introduction of a series of environmental flow regimes, commencing in 2002, has returned 8% rising to 21% of the mean annual natural flow, but this study shows that the releases provide limited improvement in entrance stability. Additionally, the predicted effects of climate change for this region include increased mean sea level (MSL), decreased annual rainfall, and increased incidence of storms. These changes will decrease stability, primarily through the rise in MSL. The rise in sea level will increase the plan area of the tidal basin, increasing the tidal prism, and hence drawing in more marine sand. The application to the Snowy River estuary provides a proof of concept of the attractor classification to support estuary management.
A geomorphic perspective on the rights of the river in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Brierley Gary , Tadaki Marc , Hikuroa Dan , Blue Brendon , Šunde Charlotte , Tunnicliffe Jon , Salmond Anne
Published: August 2018

The granting of rights to the Whanganui River in 2017 emerged as an outcome of Tribunal hearings relating to breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, signed between Māori chiefs and the British Crown in 1840. As this expression of a river as having legal personhood with rights reflects a distinctively Māori perspective upon river systems, it offers the prospect for a new era of sociocultural approaches to river management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using the Whanganui River as a case study, this paper explores prospective geomorphic meanings of river rights. The paper asks, “What role can geomorphology play in identifying, articulating and protecting the rights of a river?” Ancestral Māori relations to the river based upon mutual codependence (reciprocity) are juxtaposed against geomorphic understandings of a river's agency as expressed through self‐adjustment, diversity of form, evolution, and catchment‐scale connectivities. Relations between river science and indigenous concepts of rivers, framed under the auspices of river rights, present opportunities for different approaches to river management.
Partitioning of macroinvertebrate communities in a large New Zealand river highlights the role of multiple shore‐zone habitat types
Authors: Shell Toni M. , Collier Kevin J.
Published: August 2018

Bank stabilization is increasing along large rivers as urban areas expand, and the need to protect infrastructure increases in the face of changing climate and flow patterns, but the cumulative effects of different stabilization approaches on reach‐scale biodiversity are not well understood. We investigated physical habitat characteristics and macroinvertebrate community composition and diversity for four shore‐zone habitat types across nested spatial scales over two sampling occasions. Distinct physical conditions were evident for riprap, beach and willow (mixed trees dominated by Salix spp.) habitats, reflecting variations in the combinations of shade, water velocity and substrate size/type, but there was wide variation in habitat conditions for mixed willow‐riprap sites. Additive biodiversity partitioning decomposed reach (γ) diversity into within (α) and among (β1) sample, among habitat (β2), and among site (β3) components, and highlighted significant effects of all spatial scales on macroinvertebrate diversity. Low autumn water levels led to truncated species accumulation curves at beach sites where macrophyte beds that supported macroinvertebrates became stranded, or elevated species accumulation curves for exposed willow‐riprap sites where the river benthos was sampled during hydrological disconnection of bank habitats. Spring and autumn differences in macroinvertebrate community composition were stronger than differences between habitat types. Our findings (a) highlight the interacting effect of river level with shore‐zone habitat function, and (b) underscore the importance of maintaining a diversity of bank habitat types at multiple sites along river shore‐zones to maximize macroinvertebrate diversity.
The Role of Microwave Irradiation Temperature on Nitrogen Doping in Metal‐Free Graphene Catalysts for an Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction in an Alkaline Condition
Authors: Sudhakar S. , Jaiswal Krishna Kumar , Ramaswamy Arun Prasath
Published: August 2018

We reported the synthesis and characterization of metal‐free nitrogen‐doped graphene catalysts, and demonstrated their efficiency towards ORR in alkaline medium. The influence of varied microwave irradiation temperature on nitrogen doping efficiency in the graphene oxide (GO) catalyst has been investigated. Nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) catalysts with varied nitrogen content were synthesized under microwave irradiation temperature at 120–200 oC. The catalyst synthesized at 180 oC (NrGO‐180) has the highest nitrogen content of 9.8 at% with a maximum proportion of pyridinic‐N moiety in the graphene structure. The XPS analysis demonstrates the presence of different nitrogen‐containing moieties such as pyridinic, pyrrolic and graphitic nitrogen, and their respective composition changes significantly with microwave‐irradiation temperature. The linear sweep voltammograms studies demonstrated that NrGO‐180 with a maximum amount of pyridinic‐N has displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards ORR with an Eonset potential ∼0.89 V (vs RHE) and half‐wave potential E1/2 = 0.72, which is at par with the studied commercial Pt/C (Eonset=0.93 V, E1/2=0.82) and demonstrated 4‐electron pathway. The catalyst NrGO‐180 with enhanced electrochemical activity has been subjected to durability test of 5,000 potential cycles via LSV. The durability test confirms the superiority of NrGO‐180 over commercial Pt/C catalyst under similar condition.
Li2TiO3/Graphene and Li2TiO3/CNT Composites as Anodes for High Power Li–Ion Batteries
Authors: Lakshmi‐Narayana Ambadi , Dhananjaya Merum , Guru‐Prakash Nunna , Hussain Obili M. , Mauger Alain , Julien Christian M.
Published: August 2018

Three‐dimensional composites Li2TiO3/graphene (LTO/Gr) and Li2TiO3/carbon nanotube (LTO/CNTs) were synthesized by solid‐state reaction for application as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. These composites are structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, while electrochemically tests are performed by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. The synergetic effect of graphene and CNTs with LTO facilitate the network conduction leading to faster electron and Li+ ion transfer and improve cycling stability and rate capability of the anode. The LTO/Gr and LTO/CNTs composites exhibited an initial discharge capacity as high as 154 and 149 mAh g−1 at 1C rate, respectively and retained excellent cycling stability of 98% and 96% after 30 charge–discharge cycles.
DNA/Protein Binding, Molecular Docking and Cytotoxicity Studies of Piperazinyl‐Moiety‐Based Copper(II) Complexes
Authors: Mistri Soumen , Patra Apu , Santra Manas Kumar , Paul Debasish , Zangrando Ennio , Puschmann Horst , Manna Subal Chandra
Published: August 2018

Copper(II) complexes {[Cu(HL)(ClO4)(H2O)](ClO4)⋅3H2O} (1), {[Cu(HL)(m‐phth)]⋅5H2O} (2) and {[Cu(HL)(NCS)]2(ClO4)2⋅2H2O} (3) (HL=2‐{[2‐(1‐piperazinyl)ethylimino]methyl}phenol; m‐phth=1,3‐benzenedicarboxylate] have been synthesized and characterized by structural determination and spectroscopic studies. The mononuclear square pyramidal complex 1 resulted from the reaction of HL with copper perchlorate hexahydrate. Then mononuclear square planar complex 2 and dinuclear thiocyanato bridged complex 3 were obtained by reacting 1 with disodium 1,3‐benzenedicarboxylate (Na2(m‐phth)) and potassium thiocyanate, respectively. The interactions of 1–3 with CT‐DNA / serum albumins were investigated by UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The intrinsic binding constants of 1, 2 and 3 with CT‐DNA were calculated as 1.44 (±0.13) × 105, 4.86 (±0.11) × 105 and 4.51 (±0.16) × 105 L mol−1, respectively. Study of the interactions of 1–3 with human serum albumin (HSA) / bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed that all the complexes could quench intrinsic fluorescence of HSA and BSA through a static quenching process. Molecular docking technique was utilised to confirm the mode of interaction of complexes with CT‐DNA / serum albumin. Anticancer activities of the complexes have been tested using human breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MBA‐MB‐231. Among the complexes studied 3 shows the higher cytotoxic activity and growth inhibition of cancer cells via induction of apoptotic cell death.
An Unexpected Synthesis of 2,3,4‐Trisubstituted Quinolines from Imino‐Isatin and Acetylenic Esters Catalyzed by Pyridine as an Organocatalyst
Authors: Afkham Amir Arian , Mokhtari Javad , Haghighi Ali Javaheri , Yavari Issa
Published: August 2018

In this paper we report an unexpected synthesis of the 2,3,4‐trisubstituted quinoline systems. The reaction between imino‐isatin (synthesized from the reaction of isatin and ammonia (2 M in MeOH)) and dialkylacetylenedicarboxylates proceeds in MeOH at room temperature in the presence of pyridine as an organocatalyst. The structures of all new compounds were corroborated spectroscopically (1H‐ and 13C‐NMR, and elemental analysis). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed.
How to benefit from weekend physical activities: Moderating roles of psychological recovery experiences and sleep
Authors: Cho Seonghee , Park YoungAh
Published: August 2018

This study examines the short‐term recovery benefits of weekend physical activity on reduced negative affective state (NA) on Monday morning, using a weekly diary method from 70 employees across four weekends (repeated pre‐ and post‐weekend measures). The first hypothesis tests the within‐person relationship between weekend physical activity and post‐weekend NA. The results of multilevel path analysis show that the main effect of weekend physical activity on reduced Monday NA is not significant. In addition, the study tests weekend recovery experiences (i.e., psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery, and control) and sleep hours as possible moderators. The findings support the moderating effects of psychological detachment and sleep hours. Specifically, weekend physical activity is related to lower Monday NA only if workers achieve high psychological detachment from work during the weekend. If not, their weekend physical activity is associated with higher NA. Also, the benefit of weekend physical activity occurs only when workers sleep longer on the weekend nights. The findings suggest that physical activity has important boundary conditions—psychological detachment and sleep duration—that influence its recovery effects on NA. The complex relationship between exercise and recovery is discussed, along with the implications of the findings for future research.