bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Use of Ultrasound to Teach Reproductive System Physical Examination Skills and Pelvic Anatomy
Authors: Parikh Tejal , Czuzak Maria , Bui Naomi , Wildner Corinna , Koch Bryna , Leko Elizabeth , Rappaport William , Adhikari Srikar , Gordon Paul , Gura Mike , Ellis Susan
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To determine whether integration of ultrasound (US) into a reproductive system examination clinical skills lab can increase confidence in palpating key reproductive structures during testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations, reduce anxiety about conducting testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations, and improve performance on multiple‐choice questions based on structure identification using US images.

Methods

Second‐year medical students enrolled in the Life Cycle preclinical course participated in this cross‐sectional study. A single learning activity was developed to pair the teaching of the reproductive system physical examination with the use of US in the clinical skills lab. The evaluation of the teaching session consisted of a pre‐post analysis of student self‐reported knowledge, confidence, and anxiety.

Results

The response rate for the pre survey was 82% (n = 96), and the rate for the post survey was 79% (n = 93). Students' confidence in their ability to identify reproductive system structures on US images increased from pre to post survey. Their confidence in their ability to palpate the epididymis, uterus, and ovary during a physical examination improved, and their anxiety about conducting testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations decreased. Student satisfaction with the session was high. Students' performance on multiple‐choice questions based on structure identification using US images was at 96% or higher.

Conclusions

Our study findings support the integration of US into a reproductive system examination clinical skills lab. Medical students acquire competency and confidence in reproductive system physical examination skills with US integration.
Seasonal and diel signature of eastern hellbender environmental DNA
Authors: Takahashi Mizuki K. , Meyer Mark J. , Mcphee Carolyn , Gaston Jordan R. , Venesky Matthew D. , Case Brian F.
Published: September 2017

Examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a non‐invasive conservation tool that has been used for the detection of aquatic organisms. When coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), eDNA sampling may be used to infer seasonal or diel activities of target species. To survey the status of eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis), fully aquatic cryptic salamanders of conservation concern, through eDNA analyses, we collected water samples monthly from 13 sites across 8 tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA, from June through October 2014. We also examined the effects of the breeding season, diel activity, and stream environmental variables (e.g., temp, pH) on eDNA concentration estimates. We repeatedly detected hellbender eDNA from all 4 tributaries known to contain hellbenders, and from downstream sites of 2 of the 4 tributaries without known records of hellbenders. In the tributaries known to contain hellbenders, we observed notable increases in eDNA concentrations during the September breeding season, suggesting possible reproductive events. However, such seasonal eDNA signature was lacking from the eDNA positive sites of the tributaries without known records of hellbenders. There was no difference in eDNA estimates between diurnal and nocturnal samples, indicating that diel activity was inconsequential to eDNA estimates. Our statistical analyses of the eDNA positive sites revealed no effects of the stream variables on eDNA estimates. Yet, the presence of hellbenders was positively associated with stream temperature and negatively with pH. The positive association with temperature was likely to be an artifact of the sampling design, whereas the negative association with pH may indicate negative effects of farming and livestock on hellbenders. Our findings concur with recent studies on the importance of temporal sampling in interpreting eDNA signature in relation to life histories of target species. Further studies are needed to characterize the core habitats of newly found populations for future management of the declining hellbender populations. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Upslope inflow, hillslope gradient and rainfall intensity impacts on ephemeral gully erosion
Authors: Xu Ximeng , Zheng Fenli , Wilson Glenn V. , Wu Min
Published: September 2017

Ephemeral gullies (EGs) are major contributors to sediment loss and land degradation on cultivated lands. However, the topography and rainfall impacts on EG development processes are still unclear, especially on steep loessial hillslopes such as the Loess Plateau. A series of laboratory rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to investigate the impacts of topographic characteristics (3 typical slope gradients (S): 26.8%, 36.4%, and 46.6%; and 5 upslope drainage areas (A): 16, 32, 64, 96, and 128 m2) and rainfall intensities (3 representative erosive rainfall intensities 50, 75, and 100 mm hr−1) on EG erosion on a steep loessial hillslope. A large slope adjustable soil pan (8 m‐long, 2 m‐wide, and 0.6 m‐deep) and a side‐sprinkler rainfall simulation system were used in this study. The results showed that soil loss increased when rainfall intensity, slope, and upslope drainage area increased. Upslope topography and inflow had great impacts on downslope EG erosion, and the contribution percentages ranged from 52.2% to 74.1%, from 48.3% to 71.4%, and from 29.5% to 66.7% for the 50, 75, and 100 mm hr−1 rainfall treatments, respectively. Runoff velocities with upslope inflow were 22.7% to 79.4% larger than those without inflow, and the upslope inflow was more effective than rainfall intensity in increasing runoff velocities in EG channels, thus caused more soil erosion. Soil loss equation based on rainfall intensity and AS2 (product of the upslope drainage area and the square of the local slope gradient) was established and validated. The determination coefficient (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe simulation efficiency (ENS) were 0.80 and 0.87, which showed satisfactory accuracy. This equation can be used to predict the EG erosion in various topographic and rainfall conditions on steep loessial hillslopes.
Crossing the line: Tunas actively exploit submesoscale fronts to enhance foraging success
Authors: Snyder Stephanie , Franks Peter J. S. , Talley Lynne D. , Xu Yi , Kohin Suzanne
Published: September 2017

Fronts—i.e., the boundaries between water masses—are ubiquitous in the world oceans and have been shown to significantly influence pelagic ecosystems with enhanced local productivity and increased abundances of forage fish and top predators. Here we use data from archival tags to document how four juvenile albacore tunas foraged at and exploited a thermal front. Of the 3098 observed trips, the albacore mainly swam across the front between the warm side above the thermocline and the cold side below the thermocline with an average of 78 ± 20.4 cross‐frontal trips per fish per day. The warm frontal surface waters provided a thermal resource, allowing the tuna to maintain higher body temperatures and thus forage more efficiently in the food‐rich waters of the cold side of the front. Foraging success of the tunas decreased as the cross‐front thermal gradient weakened. This first look into small‐scale use of fronts by a top predator demonstrates that ephemeral, submesoscale oceanic features can play a significant role in pelagic ecology.
Evaluation of stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of forged 316 stainless steel in simulated primary water
Authors: Zhu Ruolin , Wang Jianqiu , Ming Hongliang , Zhang Zhiming , Han En‐Hou
Published: September 2017

The bolts for the reactor coolant pump are planned to be made of the forged 316 stainless steel. Prior to use, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of the material requires investigation in simulated primary water at 320 °C. The crack growth rates (CGRs) of two duplicate compact tension (CT) specimens are measured using direct current potential drop method. The effects of stress intensity factor (K, changes from 21 to 41 MPa√m), dissolved oxygen (DO, changes from <10 to 2000 ppb) and dissolved hydrogen (DH, 2800 ppb) on CGRs are comprehensively examined. The results indicate that CGR increases with increasing K. The forged 316 stainless steel is sensitive to SCC in oxygenated water. Changing oxygenated water to hydrogenated water leads to more than one order of magnitude decreases of CGR. The fracture surface, crack path, and the influence of the crack branching on CGR are discussed.
Predicting the risk of pitting corrosion initiation of stainless steels using a Markov chain model
Authors: Brenna Andrea , Bolzoni Fabio , Lazzari Luciano , Ormellese Marco
Published: September 2017

A probabilistic approach based on Markov chains for the assessment of pitting and crevice corrosion initiation is proposed. A Markov chain is a stochastic process that undergoes transitions from one state to another through a finite number of possible states, until a so‐called “absorbing state” from which the system has no tendency to evolve is attained. The proposed model calculates the probability to have pitting or to maintain a stable passive condition involving a large number of operating parameters related to both metal and environment: steel chemical composition (namely, the PREN index), chlorides content ([Cl−]), chloride critical threshold ([Cl−]cr), temperature, pH, fluid velocity, electrochemical steel potential, E, presence of crevices. Model and algorithms are mainly based on corrosion data collected from literature. Although the proposed model needs experimental confirmation, the simulations here presented seem acceptable, considering the engineering application of stainless steels.
Dissolution Capacity of Novel Cellulose Solvents Based on Triethyloctylammonium Chloride
Authors: Achtel Christian , Jedvert Kerstin , Kosan Birgit , Seoud Omar A. El , Heinze Thomas
Published: September 2017

Dissolution of cellulose from various sources (microcrystalline cellulose and different dissolving grade pulp fibers) is investigated in solvent systems based on triethyl(n‐octyl)ammonium chloride (N2228Cl). Clear cellulose solutions are obtained with N2228Cl in a variety of solvents, e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and acetone. It is possible to prepare clear cellulose solutions from pulp fibers with concentrations up to 15 wt%. However, it is found that the cellulose is degraded, especially when neat (i.e., molten) N2228Cl is used as a solvent. The present work includes comprehensive rheological characterization of the cellulose solutions, both with shear and extensional rheology. In most cases, the viscosity values are low (complex viscosities below 100 Pa s for 5–10 wt% dissolved cellulose), and the solutions show more Newtonian than viscoelastic behavior.
Design and Synthesis of Multigraft Copolymer Thermoplastic Elastomers: Superelastomers
Authors: Wang Huiqun , Lu Wei , Wang Weiyu , Shah Priyank N. , Misichronis Konstantinos , Kang Nam‐Goo , Mays Jimmy W.
Published: September 2017

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have been widely studied because of their recyclability, good processibility, low production cost, and unique performance. The building of graft‐type architectures can greatly improve mechanical properties of TPEs. This review focuses on the advances in different approaches to synthesize multigraft copolymer TPEs. Anionic polymerization techniques allow for the synthesis of well‐defined macromolecular structures and compositions, with great control over the molecular weight, polydispersity, branch spacing, number of branch points, and branch point functionality. Progress in emulsion polymerization offers potential approaches to commercialize these types of materials with low production cost via simple operations. Moreover, the use of multigraft architectures provides a solution to the limited elongational properties of all‐acrylic TPEs, which can greatly expand their potential application range. The combination of different polymerization techniques, the introduction of new chemical compositions, and the incorporation of sustainable sources are expected to be further investigated in this area in coming years.
Protection strategies for virtual network functions placement and service chains provisioning
Authors: Hmaity Ali , Savi Marco , Musumeci Francesco , Tornatore Massimo , Pattavina Achille
Published: September 2017

Telecom operators worldwide are witnessing squeezed profit margins mainly due to hyper‐competition. Hence, new business models/strategies are needed to help operators reduce Operational and Capital Expenditures. In this context, the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) paradigm, which consists of running Virtual Instances of Network Functions (NFs) in Commercial‐Off‐The‐Shelf (COTS) hardware, represents a solid alternative. Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) are then concatenated together in a sequential order to form service chains (SCs) that provide specific Internet services. In this article, we study different approaches to provision SCs with resiliency against single‐link and single‐node failures. We propose three Integer Linear Programming (ILP) models to jointly solve the problem of VNF placement and traffic routing, while guaranteeing resiliency against single‐link and/or single‐node failures. Specifically, we focus on the trade‐off between the conflicting objectives of meeting SCs latency requirements and consolidating as many as possible VNFs in NFV‐capable nodes. We show that providing resiliency against both single‐link and single‐node failures comes at twice the amount of resources in terms of NFV‐capable nodes, and that for latency‐critical services providing resiliency against single‐node failures comes at the same cost with respect to resiliency against single‐link and single‐node failures. Finally, we discuss important insights about the deployment of bandwidth‐intensive SCs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 70(4), 373–387 2017
Solving the burgers' and regularized long wave equations using the new perturbation iteration technique
Authors: Bildik Necdet , Deniz Sinan
Published: September 2017

In this study, an efficient framework is provided to handle nonlinear partial differential equations by implementing perturbation iteration method. This method is recovered and amended to solve the Burgers' and regularized long wave equations. Comparing our new solutions with the exact solutions reveals that this technique is extremely accurate and effective in solving nonlinear models. Convergence analysis and error estimate are also supplied using some critical theorems.
Microbiological profile and nutritional quality of a regular diet compared to a neutropenic diet in a pediatric oncology unit
Authors: Maia Juliana Elert , da Cruz Luciane Beitler , Gregianin Lauro José
Published: September 2017

It has been hypothesized that a neutropenic diet has lower microbe content. Here, the microbiological and nutritional contents of regular and neutropenic diets offered to pediatric patients were analyzed. Microbiological contamination was detected in five of 36 of the food samples analyzed, yet there was no statistical differences between the diets (P = 1.00) or in their odds ratio (0.62) (95% CI = 0.05–6.35; P = 0.63). The strict neutropenic diet did have less fiber (P = 0.05) and vitamin C (P = 0.01). Thus, the regular diet appears safe, and possibly provides greater benefits, for pediatric patients with neutropenia.
Synthesis of phenylenevinylene and naphthylenevinylene homopolymers and block copolymers by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization
Authors: Yu Chin‐Yang , Wen Shih‐Hao , Yu Sheng‐Hao , Wang Chao‐Chi
Published: September 2017

Homopolymers and copolymers containing phenylenevinylenes and naphthylenevinylenes can be synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of strained monomers such as tetraoctyloxy‐substituted cyclophanedienes and naphthalenophanedienes initiated by the third‐generation Grubbs’ initiator. The resulting homopolymers exhibited low polydispersities. The block copolymers can also be synthesized by the sequential ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of two individual monomers. The structures of homopolymers and block copolymers were fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The molecular weight distribution of the block copolymers is relatively broad compared to their parent homopolymers possibly due to chain transfer reaction. The molar ratio of the two blocks can be tailored by the ratio of the monomers employed. The block copolymers exhibited a more efficient energy transfer in the solid state between the different blocks than those carried out in solution. The optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were investigated and exhibited the potential uses in optoelectronics devices. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 67–74
Model‐Based Interspecies Scaling of Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Alskär Oskar , Karlsson Mats O. , Kjellsson Maria C.
Published: September 2017

Being able to scale preclinical pharmacodynamic response to clinical would be beneficial in drug development. In this work, the integrated glucose insulin (IGI) model, developed on clinical intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) data, describing dynamic glucose and insulin concentrations during glucose tolerance tests, was scaled to describe data from similar tests performed in healthy rats, mice, dogs, pigs, and humans. Several approaches to scaling the dynamic glucose and insulin were investigated. The theoretical allometric exponents of 0.75 and 1, for clearances and volumes, respectively, could describe the data well with some species‐specific adaptations: dogs and pigs showed slower first phase insulin secretion than expected from the scaling, pigs also showed more rapid insulin dependent glucose elimination, and rodents showed differences in glucose effectiveness. The resulting scaled IGI model was shown to accurately predict external preclinical IVGTT data and may be useful in facilitating translations of preclinical research into the clinic.
Probing Structural and Magnetic Instabilities and Hysteresis in Heuslers by Density Functional Theory Calculations
Authors: Entel Peter , Gruner Markus E. , Fähler Sebastian , Acet Mehmet , Çahır Asli , Arróyave Raymundo , Sahoo Sanjubala , Duong Thien C. , Talapatra Anjana , Sandratskii Leonid , Mankowsky Sergei , Gottschall Tino , Gutfleisch Oliver , Lázpita Patricia , Chernenko Volodymyr A. , Barandiaran Jose M. , Sokolovskiy Vladimir V. , Buchelnikov Vasiliy D.
Published: September 2017

Martensitic transformations of rapidly quenched and less rapidly cooled Heusler alloys of type Ni–Mn–X with X = Ga, In, and Sn are investigated by ab initio calculatioms. For the rapidly cooled alloys, we obtain the magnetocaloric properties near the magnetocaloric transition. For the less rapidly quenched alloys these magnetocaloric properties start to change considerably, each alloy transforms during temper‐annealing into a dual‐phase composite alloy. The two phases are identified to be cubic Ni–Mn–X and tetragonal NiMn.
Incidence of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Herbal Medicines from German Retail Markets: Risk Assessments and Implications to Consumers
Authors: Letsyo Emmanuel , Jerz Gerold , Winterhalter Peter , Lindigkeit Rainer , Beuerle Till
Published: September 2017

The occurrence of potentially toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in herbal medicines (HMs) is currently intensely being discussed in Europe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, particularly the 1,2‐unsaturated PAs, are undesired compounds in HMs due to their potential hepatotoxic and carcinogenic properties. In this study, 98 widely patronized HMs from six popular German retail supermarkets/drugstores, as well as from pharmacies, were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry for the presence of PAs. The results showed that about 63% of the HMs were PA positive, whereas the average PA concentration of the samples was 201 μg/kg, the highest concentration of PAs (3270 μg/kg) was attributed to a product that was purchased from the pharmacy and contained Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's Wort) as an active ingredient. In addition, H. perforatum‐containing products were frequently contaminated with PAs from Echium spp., while both Cynara cardunculus L. products and fixed‐combination products of Gentiana lutea L., Rumex acetosa L., Verbena officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., and Primula veris L. products were commonly contaminated with PAs of Senecio spp. The study showed that H. perforatum, C. cardunculus, Urtica dioica L., and fixed‐combination products were frequently contaminated with PA levels above the recommended values of both the German and European Medicines Agencies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory Effect of Thymoquinone on Testosterone‐Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats
Authors: Al‐Trad Bahaa , Al‐Zoubi Mazhar , Qar Janti , Al‐Batayneh Khalid , Hussien Emad , Muhaidat Riyadh , Aljabali Alaa , Alkhateeb Hakam , Al Omari Ghada
Published: September 2017

This study addresses the possible protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against the development of experimentally‐induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Wistar rats. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into three groups; the negative control group (n = 6) received vehicle, and two groups received subcutaneous testosterone injection (3 mg/kg). Animals receiving testosterone were randomized to untreated BPH group (n = 6) and BPH + TQ treated group (n = 6, 50 mg/kg orally for 14 days). Histological changes and the mRNA levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) were analyzed. Additionally, dihydrotestosterone and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) serum levels were determined. The presented research shows significant increases in prostate weight/body weight ratio, prostate epithelial thickness, serum IL‐6 and dihydrotestosterone levels, and the prostatic expressions of TGF‐β1 and VEGF‐A in the untreated BPH rats. Histological examination of the prostate tissues in the BPH rats showed an elevated level of proliferation in the stromal area and glandular epithelia with abundant intraluminal papillary folds. However, a reduction in prostate weight/body weight ratio, epithelial hyperplasia, serum IL‐6 levels, and the expressions of TGF‐β1 and VEGF‐A were observed in the BPH + TQ treated rats compared with the untreated BPH rats. The findings support TQ as a useful natural treatment for animal BPH model. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advances on Microsized On‐Chip Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Lixiang , Weng Qunhong , Lu Xueyi , Sun Xiaolei , Zhang Lin , Schmidt Oliver G.
Published: September 2017

Development of microsized on‐chip batteries plays an important role in the design of modern micro‐electromechanical systems, miniaturized biomedical sensors, and many other small‐scale electronic devices. This emerging field intimately correlates with the topics of rechargeable batteries, nanomaterials, on‐chip microfabrication, etc. In recent years, a number of novel designs are proposed to increase the energy and power densities per footprint area, as well as other electrochemical performances of microsized lithium‐ion batteries. These advances may guide the pathway for the future development of microbatteries.
A Delicately Designed Sulfide Graphdiyne Compatible Cathode for High‐Performance Lithium/Magnesium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Du Huiping , Zhang Zhonghua , He Jianjiang , Cui Zili , Chai Jingchao , Ma Jun , Yang Ze , Huang Changshui , Cui Guanglei
Published: September 2017

Novel sulfur cathodes hold the key to the development of metal–sulfur batteries, the promising candidate of next‐generation high‐energy‐storage systems. Herein, a fascinating sulfur cathode based on sulfide graphdiyne (SGDY) is designed with a unique structure, which is composed of a conducting carbon skeleton with high Li+ mobility and short sulfur energy‐storing unites. The SGDY cathode can essentially avoid polysulfide dissolution and be compatible with commercially available carbonate‐based electrolytes and Grignard reagent‐based electrolytes (all phenyl complex (APC) type electrolytes). Both the assembled Li–S and Mg–S batteries exhibit excellent electrochemical performances including large capacity, superior rate capability, high capacity retention, and high Coulombic efficiency. More importantly, this is the first implementation case of a reliable Mg–S system based on nucleophilic APC electrolytes.
Reversible Anion‐Driven Switching of an Organic 2D Crystal at a Solid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Cui Kang , Mali Kunal S. , Wu Dongqing , Feng Xinliang , Müllen Klaus , Walter Michael , De Feyter Steven , Mertens Stijn F. L.
Published: September 2017

Ionic self‐assembly of charged molecular building blocks relies on the interplay between long‐range electrostatic forces and short‐range, often cooperative, supramolecular interactions, yet has been seldom studied in two dimensions at the solid–liquid interface. Here, we demonstrate anion‐driven switching of two‐dimensional (2D) crystal structure at the Au(111)/octanoic acid interface. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), three organic salts with identical polyaromatic cation (PQPC6+) but different anions (perchlorate, anthraquinonedisulfonate, benzenesulfonate) are shown to form distinct, highly ordered self‐assembled structures. Reversible switching of the supramolecular arrangement is demonstrated by in situ exchange of the anion on the pre‐formed adlayer, by changing the concentration ratio between the incoming and outgoing anion. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that perchlorate is highly mobile in the adlayer, and corroborate why this anion is only resolved transiently in STM. Surprisingly, the templating effect of the anion persists even where it does not become part of the adlayer 2D fabric, which we ascribe to differences in stabilization of cation conformations by the anion. Our results provide important insight into the structuring of mixed anion–cation adlayers. This is essential in the design of tectons for ionic self‐assembled superstructures and biomimetic adaptive materials and valuable also to understand adsorbate–adsorbate interactions in heterogeneous catalysis.
Long-Term Fate of Human Fetal Liver Progenitor Cells Transplanted in Injured Mouse Livers
Authors: Irudayaswamy Antony , Muthiah Mark , Zhou Lei , Hung Hau , Jumat Nur Halisah Bte , Haque Jamil , Teoh Narcissus , Farrell Geoffrey , Riehle Kimberly J. , Lin Jaymie Siqi , Su Lin Lin , Chan Jerry Ky , Choolani Mahesh , Wong Peng Cheang , Wee Aileen , Lim Seng Gee , Campbell Jean , Fausto Nelson , Dan Yock Young
Published: September 2017

Liver progenitor cells have the potential to repair and regenerate a diseased liver. The success of any translational efforts, however, hinges on thorough understanding of the fate of these cells after transplant, especially in terms of long-term safety and efficacy. Here, we report transplantation of a liver progenitor population isolated from human fetal livers into immune-permissive mice with follow-up up to 36 weeks after transplant. We found that human progenitor cells engraft and differentiate into functional human hepatocytes in the mouse, producing albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and glycogen. They create tight junctions with mouse hepatocytes, with no evidence of cell fusion. Interestingly, they also differentiate into functional endothelial cell and bile duct cells. Transplantation of progenitor cells abrogated carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis in recipient mice, with downregulation of procollagen and anti-smooth muscle actin. Paradoxically, the degree of engraftment of human hepatocytes correlated negatively with the anti-fibrotic effect. Progenitor cell expansion was most prominent in cirrhotic animals, and correlated with transcript levels of pro-fibrotic genes. Animals that had resolution of fibrosis had quiescent native progenitor cells in their livers. No evidence of neoplasia was observed, even up to 9 months after transplantation. Human fetal liver progenitor cells successfully attenuate liver fibrosis in mice. They are activated in the setting of liver injury, but become quiescent when injury resolves, mimicking the behavior of de novo progenitor cells. Our data suggest that liver progenitor cells transplanted into injured livers maintain a functional role in the repair and regeneration of the liver.
Diffusion Entropy: A Potential Neuroimaging Biomarker of Bipolar Disorder in the Temporal Pole
Authors: Spuhler Karl , Bartlett Elizabeth , Ding Jie , DeLorenzo Christine , Parsey Ramin , Huang Chuan
Published: September 2017

Despite much research, bipolar depression remains poorly understood, with no clinically useful biomarkers for its diagnosis. The paralimbic system has become a target for biomarker research, with paralimbic structural connectivity commonly reported to distinguish bipolar patients from controls in tractography‐based diffusion MRI studies, despite inconsistent findings in voxel‐based studies. The purpose of this analysis was to validate existing findings with traditional diffusion MRI metrics and investigate the utility of a novel diffusion MRI metric, entropy of diffusion, in the search for bipolar depression biomarkers. We performed group‐level analysis on 9 un‐medicated (6 medication‐naïve; 3 medication‐free for at least 33 days) bipolar patients in a major depressive episode and 9 matched healthy controls to compare: (1) average mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) and; (2) MD and FA histogram entropy—a statistical measure of distribution homogeneity—in the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. We also conducted classification analyses with leave‐one‐out and separate testing dataset (N = 11) approaches. We did not observe statistically significant differences in average MD or FA between the groups in any region. However, in the temporal pole, we observed significantly lower MD entropy in bipolar patients; this finding suggests a regional difference in MD distributions in the absence of an average difference. This metric allowed us to accurately characterize bipolar patients from controls in leave‐one‐out (accuracy = 83%) and prediction (accuracy = 73%) analyses. This novel application of diffusion MRI yielded not only an interesting separation between bipolar patients and healthy controls, but also accurately classified bipolar patients from controls.
Green infrastructure and its catchment‐scale effects: an emerging science
Authors: Golden Heather E. , Hoghooghi Nahal
Published: September 2017

Urbanizing environments alter the hydrological cycle by redirecting stream networks for stormwater and wastewater transmission and increasing impermeable surfaces. These changes thereby accelerate the runoff of water and its constituents following precipitation events, alter evapotranspiration processes, and indirectly modify surface precipitation patterns. Green infrastructure, or low‐impact development (LID), can be used as a standalone practice or in concert with gray infrastructure (traditional stormwater management approaches) for cost‐efficient, decentralized stormwater management. The growth in LID over the past several decades has resulted in a concomitant increase in research evaluating LID efficiency and effectiveness, but mostly at localized scales. There is a clear research need to quantify how LID practices affect water quantity (i.e., runoff and discharge) and quality at the scale of catchments. In this overview, we present the state of the science of LID research at the local scale, considerations for scaling this research to catchments, recent advances and findings in scaling the effects of LID practices on water quality and quantity at catchment scales, and the use of models as novel tools for these scaling efforts. WIREs Water 2018, 5:e1254. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1254

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Water Quality
PySCF: the Python‐based simulations of chemistry framework
Authors: Sun Qiming , Berkelbach Timothy C. , Blunt Nick S. , Booth George H. , Guo Sheng , Li Zhendong , Liu Junzi , McClain James D. , Sayfutyarova Elvira R. , Sharma Sandeep , Wouters Sebastian , Chan Garnet Kin‐Lic
Published: September 2017

Python‐based simulations of chemistry framework (PySCF) is a general‐purpose electronic structure platform designed from the ground up to emphasize code simplicity, so as to facilitate new method development and enable flexible computational workflows. The package provides a wide range of tools to support simulations of finite‐size systems, extended systems with periodic boundary conditions, low‐dimensional periodic systems, and custom Hamiltonians, using mean‐field and post‐mean‐field methods with standard Gaussian basis functions. To ensure ease of extensibility, PySCF uses the Python language to implement almost all of its features, while computationally critical paths are implemented with heavily optimized C routines. Using this combined Python/C implementation, the package is as efficient as the best existing C or Fortran‐based quantum chemistry programs. In this paper, we document the capabilities and design philosophy of the current version of the PySCF package. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2018, 8:e1340. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1340

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods

Software > Quantum Chemistry
Rainfall changes in the savannah zone of northern Ghana 1961–2010
Authors: Owusu Kwadwo
Published: September 2017

Rainfall variability is described as an integral part of the climatology of West Africa, with high inter‐annual and multi‐decadal variability of alternate dry and wet periods between 20 and 30 years. Earlier studies identified a dry period throughout the 1970s and 1980s that decimated economic activities and rural livelihoods. Since the year 2000, there have been reports of a recovery with the potential to improve agriculture. This study, using annual rainfall data from four synoptic stations in the savannah zone of northern Ghana, confirms the observed recovery but demonstrates that it may not be enough to improve the region’s widespread rainfed agricultural production.
Hypothesis tests with precedence probabilities and precedence‐type tests
Authors: Dey Rajarshi
Published: September 2017

Precedence probabilities are important tools in a statistician's toolkit. Precedence probabilities can be defined as the probability of observing single samples fromKpopulations in a particular order. Noting that there areK ! possible orders ofKpopulations; theseK ! parameters are a useful way to measure the effectiveness of a classifier (AUC/VUS/HUM). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve/surface/manifold, which can be generated by any classifier leads to calculation of the area under curve (AUC)/volume under surface (VUS)/hyper‐volume under manifold (HUM) can be approximated by a single precedence probability and can be nonparametrically estimated via rank‐based U‐statistic. Precedence probabilities can also be used to test equality ofK > 2 distribution functions. Hypothesis tests related to both these problems mentioned above are discussed. On the other hand, when we are interested in testing if theKdistributions are stochastically ordered, we perform a precedence‐type test. Different nonparametric tests are also discussed in relation to precedence‐type tests.WIREs Comput Stat2018, 10:e1417. doi: 10.1002/wics.1417

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Nonparametric Methods
Smartphone technologies and Bayesian networks to assess shorebird habitat selection
Authors: Zeigler Sara L. , Thieler E. Robert , Gutierrez Benjamin T. , Plant Nathaniel G. , Hines Megan , Fraser James D. , Catlin Daniel H. , Karpanty Sarah M.
Published: September 2017

Understanding patterns of habitat selection across a species’ geographic distribution can be critical for adequately managing populations and planning for habitat loss and related threats. However, studies of habitat selection can be time consuming and expensive over broad spatial scales, and a lack of standardized monitoring targets or methods can impede the generalization of site‐based studies. Our objective was to collaborate with natural resource managers to define available nesting habitat for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) throughout their U.S. Atlantic coast distribution from Maine to North Carolina, with a goal of providing science that could inform habitat management in response to sea‐level rise. We characterized a data collection and analysis approach as being effective if it provided low‐cost collection of standardized habitat‐selection data across the species’ breeding range within 1–2 nesting seasons and accurate nesting location predictions. In the method developed, >30 managers and conservation practitioners from government agencies and private organizations used a smartphone application, “iPlover,” to collect data on landcover characteristics at piping plover nest locations and random points on 83 beaches and barrier islands in 2014 and 2015. We analyzed these data with a Bayesian network that predicted the probability a specific combination of landcover variables would be associated with a nesting site. Although we focused on a shorebird, our approach can be modified for other taxa. Results showed that the Bayesian network performed well in predicting habitat availability and confirmed predicted habitat preferences across the Atlantic coast breeding range of the piping plover. We used the Bayesian network to map areas with a high probability of containing nesting habitat on the Rockaway Peninsula in New York, USA, as an example application. Our approach facilitated the collation of evidence‐based information on habitat selection from many locations and sources, which can be used in management and decision‐making applications. © 2017 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
2‐Pyridylmetallocenes, Part VI. Double Cycloplatination of 1,1′‐Dipyridylferrocene. Synthesis and Molecular Structure of σ‐{Pt2Cl2(DMSO)2[Fe[η5‐(C5H3(2‐C5H4N)2]2]}
Authors: Branzan Ramona , Sünkel Karlheinz
Published: September 2017

The reaction of 1,1′‐dipyridylferrocene with [PtCl2(DMSO)2] yields the doubly cyclometalated complex σ‐{Pt2Cl2(DMSO)2[Fe[η5‐(C5H3(2‐C5H4N)2]2]} as a mixture of meso‐and d,l‐diastereomers. An X‐ray structure determination of the obtained triclinic crystals (space group P1) shows, however, only the chiral d,l form as a racemic mixture.
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Homo‐ and Heterometallic Li and Li/Ln Disiloxanediolate Complexes
Authors: Rausch Janek , Liebing Phil , Lorenz Volker , Hrib Cristian G. , Ali Asim , Groß Patrick , Hilfert Liane , Busse Sabine , Edelmann Frank T.
Published: September 2017

A series of new homo‐ and heterometallic lithium and lithium/lanthanide disiloxanediolate complexes were prepared and fully characterized. Three new adducts of dilithium tetraphenyldisiloxanediolate, [(Ph2SiOLi)2O] (2), with simple Lewis bases (Et2O, THF, DME) were prepared by treatment of Ph2Si(OH)OSiPh2(OH) (1) with 2 equiv. of n‐butyllithium in the respective donor solvent. This way the adducts [{Ph2SiOLi(Et2O)}2O]2 (3), [{Ph2SiOLi(THF)}2O]2 (4), and [{Ph4Si2O(OLi)2}2(DME)3]∞ (5a) were obtained in a straightforward manner and in nearly quantitative yields. Treatment of anhydrous lanthanide(III) chlorides LnCl3 (Ln = Tb, Lu) with 2 equiv. of 2 in THF afforded the new lanthanide(III) bis(disiloxanediolate) complexes [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(THF)2}2]TbCl (6) and [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(THF)2}2]LuCl (7) in high yields. Similar reactions of LnCl3 (Ln = Ce, Nd) with 3 equiv. of 2 provided the heterometallic Li/Ln tris(disiloxanediolate) complexes [{(Ph2SiO)2O}3{Li(DME)}2{Li(THF)}]Ce (8) and [{(Ph2SiO)2O}3{Li(DME)}{Li(Et2O)}{Li(THF)}]Nd (9). All title compounds were structurally characterized through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
Mining comorbidity patterns using retrospective analysis of big collection of outpatient records
Authors: Boytcheva Svetla , Angelova Galia , Angelov Zhivko , Tcharaktchiev Dimitar
Published: September 2017

Background

Studying comorbidities of disorders is important for detection and prevention. For discovering frequent patterns of diseases we can use retrospective analysis of population data, by filtering events with common properties and similar significance. Most frequent pattern mining methods do not consider contextual information about extracted patterns. Further data mining developments might enable more efficient applications in specific tasks like comorbidities identification.

Methods

We propose a cascade data mining approach for frequent pattern mining enriched with context information, including a new algorithm MIxCO for maximal frequent patterns mining. Text mining tools extract entities from free text and deliver additional context attributes beyond the structured information about the patients.

Results

The proposed approach was tested using pseudonymised reimbursement requests (outpatient records) submitted to the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund in 2010–2016 for more than 5 million citizens yearly. Experiments were run on 3 data collections. Some known comorbidities of Schizophrenia, Hyperprolactinemia and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 are confirmed; novel hypotheses about stable comorbidities are generated. The evaluation shows that MIxCO is efficient for big dense datasets.

Conclusion

Explicating maximal frequent itemsets enables to build hypotheses concerning the relationships between the exogeneous and endogeneous factors triggering the formation of these sets. MixCO will help to identify risk groups of patients with a predisposition to develop socially-significant disorders like diabetes. This will turn static archives like the Diabetes Register in Bulgaria to a powerful alerting and predictive framework.
La expansión internacional de la firma: experiencia de una pyme del sector tecnológico de Argentina
Authors: Moreno López Alejandra , Torres Juan Emilio
Published: September 2017

Tradicionalmente las teorías sobre la expansión internacional de la firma presuponían que empresas similares seguían patrones únicos de comportamiento. Sin embargo, la realidad las muestra como intérpretes de oportunidades de crecimiento organizacional, que llevan a cabo acciones heterogéneas al momento de internacionalizarse. El presente trabajo, a través de una investigación de estudio de caso único, pretende comprender la experiencia de los directivos de una pyme del sector tecnológico en Argentina, quienes tomaron la decisión de internacionalizarse sin ajustarse a ningún patrón. A fin de captar la singularidad que caracteriza esta pyme, mediante el análisis del discurso de los directivos se llega a conocer cómo construyen su mundo organizacional y qué llega a ser convincente, confiable y significativo para ellos.
Evaluation of the perception and application of social responsibility practices in micro, small and medium companies in Barranquilla. An analysis from the theory of Stakeholders
Authors: León Guillén , Benavides Gutiérrez Hamadys L. , Castán Farrero José María
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the degree of comprehension and enforcement of social responsibility (SR) practices in micro, small and medium companies in Barranquilla (Colombia), based on the Stakeholders theory. Using an exploratory factor analysis on 779 companies it was found that the variables with a stronger explanatory influence for socially responsible performance are employees, environment, and community. By contrast, corporate management, value chain, and government/public sector condition the development of SR actions. Particularly, there is a weak perception and lack of will among owners and company managers to undertake comprehensive programs of social responsibility, as well as the formalization of those actions with an impact on the SR.
Guide to enable health charities to increase recruitment to clinical trials on dementia
Authors: Chambers Larry W. , Harris Megan , Lusk Elizabeth , Benczkowski Debbie
Published: September 2017

Introduction

The Alzheimer Society embarked on a project to improve ways that the 60 provincial and local Societies in Canada can work with local researchers to support recruitment of volunteers to clinical trials and studies. A Guide to assist these offices was produced to design ethical recruitment of research volunteers within their client populations.

Methods

Consultations with individuals from provincial and local Societies, as well as researchers and leaders from health‐related organizations, were conducted to identify in what ways these organizations are involved in study volunteer recruitment, what is and is not working, and what would be helpful to support future efforts. The Guide prototype used scenarios to illustrate study volunteer recruitment practices as they have been or could be applied in Societies. An implementable version of the Guide was produced with input from multiple internal and external reviewers including subject‐matter experts and target users from Societies.

Results

Society staff reported that benefits of using the Guide were that it served as a catalyst for conversation and reflection and identified the need for a policy. Also, it enabled Society readiness to respond to requests by persons with dementia and their caregivers wishing to participate in research. A majority (94%) of participating Society staff across Canada agreed that they would increase their capacity to support research recruitment.

Discussion

Charitable organizations that raise funds for research have a role in promoting the recruitment of persons with dementia and their caregivers into clinical trials and studies. The Guide was produced to facilitate organizational change to both create a positive culture regarding research as well as practical solutions that can help organizations achieve this goal.
A case report of free forearm dermal flap reconstruction in a patient with tongue cancer and psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Kondo Yuudai , Izumi Aya , Yamamoto Koji , Kaneuji Takeshi , Suehiro Yuusaku , Yamashita Yoshihiro
Published: September 2017

Dermal flap reconstruction in the oral cavity in a patient complicated with psoriasis vulgaris has not been described yet. Here, we report the case of a 33‐year‐old man with untreated psoriasis vulgaris who was diagnosed with right tongue SCC (T4aN0M0). Surgery is our preferred approach in such cases, and flap reconstruction was deemed necessary after resection. Because of psoriasis vulgaris, the donor site exhibited erythema, rash, and scaling. Surgery comprising forearm dermal flap reconstruction following palliation of cutis symptoms was performed. Currently, 2 years after surgery, there have been no symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris in the oral cavity and no tumor recurrence.
Systematic Design of Analog CMOS Circuits
Authors: Jespers Paul G. A. , Murmann Boris
Published: September 2017

Discover a fresh approach to efficient and insight-driven analog integrated circuit design in nanoscale-CMOS with this hands-on guide. Expert authors present a sizing methodology that employs SPICE-generated lookup tables, enabling close agreement between hand analysis and simulation. This enables the exploration of analog circuit tradeoffs using the gm/ID ratio as a central variable in script-based design flows, and eliminates time-consuming iterations in a circuit simulator. Supported by downloadable MATLAB code, and including over forty detailed worked examples, this book will provide professional analog circuit designers, researchers, and graduate students with the theoretical know-how and practical tools needed to acquire a systematic and re-use oriented design style for analog integrated circuits in modern CMOS.