bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of ash‐free coal for chemical looping combustion ‐ part I: Thermogravimetric single cycle study and the reaction mechanism
Authors: Shabani Azar , Rahman Moshfiqur , Pudasainee Deepak , Samanta Arunkumar , Sarkar Partha , Gupta Rajender
Published: October 2016

In this study, performance of ash‐free coal (AFC) was evaluated for chemical looping combustion (CLC) using CuO as an oxygen carrier during reduction and oxidation processes in a thermogravimetric (TG) analyzer. TG experiments with CuO/AFC mixture with different ratios (10:1–50:1) at various temperatures ranging from 450 to 900 °C were performed and the results were analyzed in greater detail for the best suitable ratio (R30). The CLC reaction mechanism includes release of volatile matter until 450 °C and auto‐ decomposition of CuO at 790 °C. CuO reduction induced by volatile matter from AFC occurred at temperatures below 450 °C. Char combustion induced by oxygen release from CuO occurred at about 800 °C as auto‐decomposition of CuO occurs at 790 °C. A slight loss in mass, observed between 450 °C and 790 °C, is attributed to solid‐solid interaction of char and CuO powder.

Advanced analytical techniques such as XRD, SEM, and ultimate analyses were employed to characterize the oxygen carrier and to understand the possible interaction of the oxygen carrier with volatile matter and char. Overall, AFC as the solid fuel showed a promising oxidation/reduction performance and has great potential to be used in the CLC process.
Chronic myeloid leukemia among patients with a history of prior malignancies: A tale of dual survivorship
Authors: Koller Paul B. , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Nogueras‐Gonzalez Graciela M. , Jabbour Elias , Verstovsek Srdan , Borthakur Gautam , Estrov Zeev , Wierda William G. , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Ravandi Farhad , O'Brien Susan M. , Cortes Jorge E.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND

Some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have a history of previous malignancies. To the authors' knowledge, outcomes for CML diagnosed in these patients have not been well described. The current study was conducted to determine the outcome of patients with CML and a history of prior malignancies.

METHODS

The current study included patients who were enrolled in clinical trials of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as initial therapy for CML in chronic phase from July 2000 to January 2014.

RESULTS

Of the 630 patients with CML who were treated with frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitors, 626 had a known prior malignancy status. Of these, 45 patients (7%) had a prior malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer whereas 17 patients (3%) had a history of nonmelanoma skin cancers alone. Characteristics of CML were similar between the patients with no prior malignancy, those with a prior malignancy, and those with nonmelanoma skin cancer. Patients with a prior malignancy were found to have an older median age compared with the other 2 groups. The most common prior malignancies were nonmelanoma skin cancer in 20 patients, breast cancer in 11 patients, melanoma in 7 patients, prostate cancer in 6 patients, and colorectal cancer in 5 patients. With regard to CML, the event‐free survival, transformation‐free survival, and failure‐free survival rates were found to be similar between the groups. There was a statistically significantly decreased survival in the group with a prior malignancy versus the group with no prior malignancy versus the group with nonmelanoma skin cancer. In a multivariate analysis, advanced age and an elevated creatinine level were found to be associated with worse survival after a diagnosis of CML.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CML with a history of prior malignancies appear to have the same excellent outcome as patients with no prior malignancies. In the few instances in which concomitant therapy for other malignancies was required during therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, this was able to be accomplished without significant toxicity. Cancer 2017;123:609–616. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Suspension Electrodes Combining Slurries and Upflow Fluidized Beds
Authors: Cohen Hagai , Eli Shaked Ein , Jõgi Morten , Suss Matthew E.
Published: October 2016

Carbon‐based suspension electrodes are currently intensively investigated for emerging electrochemical systems, such as flow batteries, flow capacitors, and capacitive deionization cells. The main limitation of such electrodes is their low electric conductivity, which is typically orders of magnitude lower than that of traditional static carbon electrodes. Two main categories of suspension electrodes exist: 1) slurry electrodes where particles are not significantly affected by gravity, and 2) fluidized bed electrodes where particles are affected by gravity. We introduce a novel category that we term “combined” suspension electrodes, which combine dilute slurries and dense fluidized beds. We present experimental measurements of the electrochemical impedance and electric conductivity of two combined electrodes. For one set of materials, the measured electric conductivity of the combined electrode is at least an order of magnitude above the fluidized bed and slurry components alone, demonstrating that a synergetic effect can be achieved when adding dilute slurry to dense fluidized bed. For a second set of materials, results show that the combined electrode conductivity is lower than the slurry component alone, a counter‐intuitive result, demonstrating that increasing electrode carbon loading does not always enhance the electric conductivity.
Bifunctional Ionic Liquids Derived from Biorenewable Sources as Sustainable Catalysts for Fixation of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Saptal Vitthal B. , Bhanage Bhalchandra M.
Published: October 2016

A series of highly efficient, bifunctional ionic liquids containing a quaternary alkyl ammonium cation and an amine anion were prepared from choline and amino acids, respectively. Nine ILs were synthesized, characterized, and applied as organocatalysts for the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide to form cyclic carbonates and quinazoline‐2,4(1 H,3 H)‐diones. A binary mixture of an IL and a co‐catalysts generates deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and accelerates the rate of the cycloaddition reaction at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (70 °C). The presence of the hydroxyl functional group of choline and the free amine group of the amino acids in the ILs has a synergistic effect on the activation of the epoxide and carbon dioxide towards the cycloaddition reactions. These ILs are biodegradable and are synthesized from easily available biorenewable sources. Additionally, this catalytic method demonstrates ultimate environmental benignity because of the mild metal‐ and solvent‐free conditions as well as the recyclability of the catalyst and co‐catalyst.
Concomitant differentiation of a population of mouse embryonic stem cells into neuron‐like cells and schwann cell–like cells in a slow‐flow microfluidic device
Authors: Ramamurthy Poornapriya , White Joshua B. , Yull Park Joong , Hume Richard I. , Ebisu Fumi , Mendez Flor , Takayama Shuichi , Barald Kate F.
Published: October 2016

Background: To send meaningful information to the brain, an inner ear cochlear implant (CI) must become closely coupled to as large and healthy a population of remaining spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) as possible. Inner ear gangliogenesis depends on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a directionally attractant neurotrophic cytokine made by both Schwann and supporting cells (Bank et al., 2012). MIF‐induced mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC)‐derived “neurons” could potentially substitute for lost or damaged SGN. mESC‐derived “Schwann cells” produce MIF, as do all Schwann cells (Huang et al., a; Roth et al., 2007; Roth et al., 2008) and could attract SGN to a “cell‐coated” implant. Results: Neuron‐ and Schwann cell–like cells were produced from a common population of mESCs in an ultra‐slow‐flow microfluidic device. As the populations interacted, “neurons” grew over the “Schwann cell” lawn, and early events in myelination were documented. Blocking MIF on the Schwann cell side greatly reduced directional neurite outgrowth. MIF‐expressing “Schwann cells” were used to coat a CI: Mouse SGN and MIF‐induced “neurons” grew directionally to the CI and to a wild‐type but not MIF‐knockout organ of Corti explant. Conclusions: Two novel stem cell–based approaches for treating the problem of sensorineural hearing loss are described. Developmental Dynamics 246:7–27, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Actual Congestion and Effect of Charger Addition in the Quick Charger Station: Case Study Based on the Records of Expressway
Authors: ODA TAKUYA , AZIZ MUHAMMAD , MITANI TAKASHI , WATANABE YOKO , KASHIWAGI TAKAO
Published: October 2016

There were 18 electric vehicles, in average, per quick charger (QC), in Japan as of 2012, and this value may increase by a factor of several dozen by 2020. It is, therefore, necessary to model and analyze QC service, identify the causes of wait time, and provide countermeasures to avoid significant QC congestion and to encourage the spread of QC stations. This research analyzed usage data of a QC installed at an existing service area on expressway, and showed the characteristics of QC demand as distribution functions. QC service was modeled as a queuing problem, and simulations were carried out using derived distribution functions. The results showed that the QC station needs additional charger in the case of daily charging times over 10 times.
Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure β‐Hydroxy Ketones via β‐Keto Weinreb Amides by a Condensation/Asymmetric‐Hydrogenation/Acylation Sequence
Authors: Diehl Julian , Brückner Reinhard
Published: October 2016

An established route to enantiomerically pure β‐hydroxy ketones proceeds through the asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐keto esters, an ester/amide exchange, and the use of the resulting β‐hydroxy amide for the acylation of an organometallic compound. We shortened this route by showing that β‐keto Weinreb amides are hydrogenated with up to 99 % ee in the presence of [Me2NH2]+{[RuCl(S)‐BINAP]2(µ‐Cl)3}– (0.5 mol‐%) at room temp./5 bar. These Weinreb amides were prepared by seemingly obvious yet unprecedented condensations of lithiated N‐methoxy‐N‐methylacetamide with carboxylic chlorides (51–87 % yield). The resulting β‐hydroxy Weinreb amides were used for the acylation of organolithium and Grignard reagents. They thus gave enantiomerically pure β‐hydroxy ketones (28 examples). A selection of these compounds gave anti‐1,3‐diols after another C=O bond hydrogenation, or syn‐1,3‐diols by a Narasaka–Prasad reduction.
Accounting for directionality as a function of structural typology in performance‐based earthquake engineering design
Authors: Nievas Cecilia I. , Sullivan Timothy J.
Published: October 2016

For the seismic design of a structure, horizontal ground shaking is usually considered in two perpendicular directions, even though real horizontal ground motions are complex two‐dimensional phenomena that impose different demands at different orientations. While the issue of ground motion dependence on the orientation of the recording devices has been the focus of many significant developments during the last decade, the effects of directionality on the characteristics of the structure have received less attention. This work presents a proposal to calculate the probability of exceedance of elastic spectral displacements accounting for structural typology and illustrates its relevance by means of its application to two case‐study buildings. In order to ease its implementation in seismic design codes, a simplification is developed by means of a detailed statistical analysis of the results obtained using four sets of real hazard curves. The framework presented herein is considered to represent an important contribution to the field of performance‐based earthquake engineering, permitting improved treatment of directionality effects within seismic risk design and assessment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bioaccumulation of methylmercury in a marine copepod
Authors: Lee Cheng-Shiuan , Fisher Nicholas S.
Published: October 2016

Methylmercury (MeHg) is known to biomagnify in marine food chains, resulting in higher concentrations in upper trophic level animals than their prey. To better understand how marine copepods, an important intermediate between phytoplankton and forage fish at the bottom of the food chain, assimilate and release MeHg, the authors performed a series of laboratory experiments using the gamma-emitting radiotracer 203Hg2+ and Me203Hg with the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa. Assimilation efficiencies of Hg2+ and MeHg ranged from 25% to 31% and 58% to 79%, respectively, depending on algal diets. Assimilation efficiencies were positively related to the fraction of Hg in the cytoplasm of the algal cells that comprised their diet. Efflux rates of Hg2+ (0.29/d) and MeHg (0.21/d) following aqueous uptake were similar, but efflux rates following dietary uptake were significantly lower for MeHg (0.11–0.22/d) than Hg2+ (0.47–0.66/d). The calculated trophic transfer factors in copepods were >1 for MeHg and consistently low (≤0.2) for Hg2+. The authors used the parameters measured to quantitatively model the relative importance of MeHg sources (water or diet) for copepods and to predict the overall MeHg concentrations in copepods in different marine environments. In general, MeHg uptake from the diet accounted for most of the body burden in copepods (>50%). For an algal diet with a MeHg dry weight bioconcentration factor ≥106, >90% of a copepod's MeHg body burden can be shown to derive from the diet. The model-predicted MeHg concentrations in the copepods were comparable to independent measurements for copepods in coastal and open-ocean regions, implying that the measured parameters and model are applicable to natural waters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1287–1293. © 2016 SETAC
Effects of xanthan and sugar on the release of aroma compounds in model solution
Authors: Yang Zi‐Yu , Fan Yan‐Ge , Xu Min , Ren Jing‐Nan , Liu Yan‐Long , Zhang Lu‐Lu , Li Jia‐Jia , Zhang Yan , Dong Man , Fan Gang
Published: October 2016

The effects of the interaction of xanthan and sugar on the release of aroma compounds (α‐pinene, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, perillaldehyde, hexenal, and d‐limonene) were investigated in model solutions (xanthan, sugar and xanthan‐sugar solutions). The released aroma compounds were analysed by solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer (SPME/GC‐MS). The results showed that the six aroma compounds decreased differently in the 0.4 g·L‐1 xanthan solution. A slightly stronger release of these aroma compounds in glucose solution was observed than that in sucrose solution. The release of these aroma compounds increased in the xanthan solution after the addition of the sucrose. This indicated that the release of these aroma compounds was inhibited in the xanthan solution. But the addition of sucrose in the xanthan solution could promote the release of the aroma compounds. Additionally, the rheology results showed that the xanthan solution exhibited a gradual shear thinning and the C* of xanthan was 2 g·L‐1. However, the concentrations of the xanthan solution which could inhibit the release of the six aroma compounds were not fully consistent with C*. And this indicated that viscosity was not the main factor influencing the release of aroma compounds in the xanthan solution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Explaining the accreditation process from the institutional isomorphism perspective: a case study of Jordanian primary healthcare centers
Authors: Alyahya Mohammad , Hijazi Heba , Harvey Heather
Published: October 2016

Background

While the main focus of accreditation initiatives has been on hospitals, the implementation of these programs is a relatively new notion among other types of healthcare facilities. Correspondingly, this study aims to understand how accreditation is perceived among primary public healthcare centers using an isomorphic institutional theory.

Design/Methodology

Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 56 healthcare professionals and administrative staff from seven non‐profit healthcare centers in Jordan using an explanatory case‐study approach.

Results

The informants' narratives revealed that all three components of institutional theory: coercive, mimetic, and normative pressure, were drivers for institutional change in seeking accreditation. There was an overlapping and blending between the three various types of pressure. While participants perceived that healthcare centers faced formal and informal pressures to achieve accreditation, health centers were reluctant about the time, amount of effort, and their ability to achieve the accreditation. Ambiguity and fear of failure forced them to model successful ones. Moreover, the findings revealed that normative values of health professionals enhanced institutional isomorphism and influenced the accreditation process.

Conclusion

Identifying these isomorphic changes may help key stakeholders to develop plans, policies, and procedures that could improve the quality of healthcare and enhance accreditation as an organizational strategic plan. Moreover, the study provided explanations of why and how organizations move to adopt new interventions and grow over time. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large scale climate and rainfall seasonality in a Mediterranean Area: Insights from a non‐homogeneous Markov model applied to the Agro‐Pontino plain
Authors: Cioffi Francesco , Conticello Federico , Lall Upmanu , Marotta Lucia , Telesca Vito
Published: October 2016

In the context of climate change and variability, there is considerable interest in how large scale climate indicators influence regional precipitation occurrence and its seasonality. Seasonal and longer climate projections from coupled ocean–atmosphere models need to be downscaled to regional levels for hydrologic applications, and the identification of appropriate state variables from such models that can best inform this process is also of direct interest. Here, a Non‐Homogeneous Hidden Markov Model (NHMM) for downscaling daily rainfall is developed for the Agro‐Pontino Plain, a coastal reclamation region very vulnerable to changes of hydrological cycle. The NHMM, through a set of atmospheric predictors, provides the link between large scale meteorological features and local rainfall patterns. Atmospheric data from the NCEP/NCAR archive and 56‐years record (1951–2004) of daily rainfall measurements from 7 stations in Agro‐Pontino Plain are analyzed. A number of validation tests are carried out, in order to: 1) identify the best set of atmospheric predictors to model local rainfall; 2) evaluate the model performance to capture realistically relevant rainfall attributes as the inter‐annual and seasonal variability, as well as average and extreme rainfall patterns.

Validation tests show that the best set of atmospheric predictors are the following: mean sea level pressure, temperature at 1000 hPa, meridional and zonal wind at 850 hPa and precipitable water, from 20°N to 80°N of latitude and from 80°W to 60°E of longitude. Furthermore, the validation tests show that the rainfall attributes are simulated realistically and accurately. The capability of the NHMM to be used as a forecasting tool to quantify changes of rainfall patterns forced by alteration of atmospheric circulation under climate change and variability scenarios is discussed.
Oxidative damage of the male reproductive system induced by paraquat
Authors: Chen Qing , Zhang Xin , Zhao Jin‐Yan , Lu Xiao‐Ning , Zheng Peng‐Sheng , Xue Xiang
Published: October 2016

The effects of paraquat (PQ) on the male reproductive system are unclear. In this study, male rats were divided into four groups (0, 0.5, 2, and 8 mg/kg) and treated with PQ by oral gavage for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, a significant decline in sperm count, motility, and viability and an increase in teratospermia were observed in the PQ‐treated group (P < 0.05). Further investigation found that PQ resulted in enhanced lipid peroxidation and more apoptosis in the testis tissues, and apoptosis was likely to be associated with activation of the mitochondrial pathway. In summary, our study demonstrated oxidative damage due to PQ on the male reproductive system.
Uptake Pathways of Guandinylated Disulfide Containing Polymers as Nonviral Gene Carrier Delivering DNA to Cells
Authors: Zhang Jinmin , Yu Jiankun , Jiang Jingzheng , Chen Xiao , Sun Yanping , Yang Zhen , Yang Tianzhi , Cai Cuifang , Zhao Xiaoyun , Ding Pingtian
Published: October 2016

Polymers of guanidinylated disulfide containing poly(amido amine)s (Gua‐SS‐PAAs), have shown high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Previously, we synthesized two Gua‐SS‐PAA polymers, using guanidino containing monomers (i.e., arginine and agmatine, denoted as ARG and AGM, respectively) and N,N’‐cystaminebisacrylamide (CBA). In this study, these two polymers, AGM‐CBA and ARG‐CBA were complexed with plasmid DNA, and their uptake pathway was investigated. Complexes distribution in MCF‐7 cells, and changes on cell endosomes/lysosomes and membrane after the cells were exposed to complexes were tested. In addition, how the transfection efficiency changed with the cell cycle status as well as endocytosis inhibitors were studied. The polymers of AGM‐CBA and ARG‐CBA can avoid endosomal/lysosomal trap, therefore, greatly delivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) to the cell nucleoli. It is the guanidine groups in the polymers that enhanced complexes’ permeation through cell membrane with slight membrane damage, and targeting to the nucleoli. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 903–913, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Disaster Mental Health and Positive Psychology–Considering the Context of Natural and Technological Disasters: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Schulenberg Stefan E.
Published: October 2016

This article serves as an introduction to the Journal of Clinical Psychology’s special issue on disaster mental health and positive psychology. The special issue comprises two sections. The first section presents a series of data‐driven articles and research‐informed reviews examining meaning and resilience in the context of natural and technological disasters. The second section presents key topics in the area of disaster mental health, with particular relevance for positive psychology and related frameworks. The special issue is intended to bridge the gap between these two areas of applied science, with the audience being experienced clinicians or clinicians in training.
Bayesian change point analysis for extreme daily precipitation
Authors: Chen Si , Li Yaxing , Kim Jinheum , Kim Seong W.
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACT

Change point (CP) analysis of extreme precipitation plays a key role to incorporate non‐stationarity in flood predictions under climate change. This article provides a Bayesian method to detect theCPfrequently appearing in extreme precipitation data. Unlike most published work based on a normal distribution, we allow for the model to follow a generalized Pareto distribution to fit extreme precipitation over a high threshold with aCP, which can effectively utilize tail behaviour of the distribution. The BayesianCPdetection is investigated on four models: a no change model, a shape change model, a scale change model, and both a shape and scale change model. Model selection is performed using the Bayes factor and model posterior probability; the posterior means of the unknownCPand the model parameters before and after theCPcan be obtained based on the selectedCPmodel. Simulation studies and a real data example are provided to demonstrate the proposed methodologies. Finally, model uncertainty issues in the frequency analysis are extensively discussed. It is found that considering the abrupt and sustainedCPin extreme precipitation is important when performing hydraulic or hydrologic design.
Post‐traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle: A distinct clinical entity requiring new research approaches
Authors: Delco Michelle L. , Kennedy John G. , Bonassar Lawrence J. , Fortier Lisa A.
Published: October 2016

The diagnosis of ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing as a result of advancements in non‐invasive imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, improved arthroscopic surgical technology and heightened awareness among clinicians. Unlike OA of the knee, primary or age‐related ankle OA is rare, with the majority of ankle OA classified as post‐traumatic (PTOA). Ankle trauma, more specifically ankle sprain, is the single most common athletic injury, and no effective therapies are available to prevent or slow progression of PTOA. Despite the high incidence of ankle trauma and OA, ankle‐related OA research is sparse, with the majority of clinical and basic studies pertaining to the knee joint. Fundamental differences exist between joints including their structure and molecular composition, response to trauma, susceptibility to OA, clinical manifestations of disease, and response to treatment. Considerable evidence suggests that research findings from knee should not be extrapolated to the ankle, however few ankle‐specific preclinical models of PTOA are currently available. The objective of this article is to review the current state of ankle OA investigation, highlighting important differences between the ankle and knee that may limit the extent to which research findings from knee models are applicable to the ankle joint. Considerations for the development of new ankle‐specific, clinically relevant animal models are discussed. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:440–453, 2017.
Quality and clarity in systematic review abstracts: an empirical study
Authors: Tsou Amy Y. , Treadwell Jonathan R.
Published: October 2016

Background

Systematic review (SR) abstracts are important for disseminating evidence syntheses to inform medical decision making. We assess reporting quality in SR abstracts using PRISMA for Abstracts (PRISMA‐A), Cochrane Handbook, and Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality guidance.

Methods

We evaluated a random sample of 200 SR abstracts (from 2014) comparing interventions in the general medical literature. We assessed adherence to PRISMA‐A criteria, problematic wording in conclusions, and whether “positive” studies described clinical significance.

Results

On average, abstracts reported 60% of PRISMA‐A checklist items (mean 8.9 ± 1.7, range 4 to 12). Eighty percent of meta‐analyses reported quantitative measures with a confidence interval. Only 49% described effects in terms meaningful to patients and clinicians (e.g., absolute measures), and only 43% mentioned strengths/limitations of the evidence base. Average abstract word count was 274 (SD 89). Word count explained only 13% of score variability. PRISMA‐A scores did not differ between Cochrane and non‐Cochrane abstracts (mean difference 0.08, 95% confidence interval −1.16 to 1.00).

Of 275 primary outcomes, 48% were statistically significant, 32% were not statistically significant, and 19% did not report significance or results. Only one abstract described clinical significance for positive findings. For “negative” outcomes, we identified problematic simple restatements (20%), vague “no evidence of effect” wording (9%), and wishful wording (8%).

Conclusions

Improved SR abstract reporting is needed, particularly reporting of quantitative measures (for meta‐analysis), easily interpretable units, strengths/limitations of evidence, clinical significance, and clarifying whether negative results reflect true equivalence between treatments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serum vitamin D and recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Rhim Gu Il
Published: October 2016

Objectives

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations on patients diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) on BPPV recurrence.

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

A retrospective review of 232 patients diagnosed with BPPV visiting the clinic between June 2014 and June 2015 was performed. All patients underwent a complete otolaryngological, audiologic, and neurologic evaluation. The appropriate particle‐repositioning maneuver was performed depending on the type of BPPV. The patients were divided into the recurrence group and the nonrecurrence group. Age, gender, follow‐up period, type of BPPV, and vitamin D concentrations in the two groups were compared and analyzed through binary logistic regression analyses.

Results

The average follow‐up period after treatment was 10.2 months. Forty‐one (17.7%) of 232 patients suffered a recurrence during the follow‐up period. The mean vitamin D concentration of 191 patients who did not suffer any recurrence was 16.63 ng/mL, whereas that of 41 patients who suffered a recurrence was 13.64 ng/mL. This difference in vitamin D concentrations was statistically significant (P < 0.019). The patients' age, gender, follow‐up period, and type of BPPV had no statistically significant impact.

Conclusion

Vitamin D is assumed to affect BPPV as a recurrence factor independent of age, gender, follow‐up period, and type of BPPV.

Level of Evidence

4.
Comparative metatranscriptomics reveals decline of a neustonic planktonic population
Authors: Mojib N. , Thimma M. , Kumaran M. , Sougrat R. , Irigoien X.
Published: October 2016

The neuston layer in tropical seas provides a good model to study the effects of increased levels of different stressors (e.g., temperature, ultraviolet radiation and Trichodesmium blooms). Here, we use a comparative in situ metatranscriptomics approach to reveal the functional genomic composition of metabolically active neustonic mesozooplankton community in response to the summer conditions in the Red Sea. The neustonic population exhibited changes in composition and abundance with a significant decline in copepods and appendicularia in July, when Trichodesmium cells were more abundant along with high temperatures and UV‐B radiation. Nearly 23,000 genes were differentially expressed at the community level when the metatranscriptomes of the neustonic zooplankton were compared in April, July, and October. On a wider Phylum level, the genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, carbon, nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids were significantly overrepresented in both arthropods and chordates in April and October. On organism level for copepods, expression of genes responsive to oxidative stress, defense against bacteria, immune response, and virus reproduction were increased along with the observed increased appearance of copepod carcasses in the samples collected during July. The differences in expression correspond either to secondary effects of the Trichodesmium bloom or more likely to the increased UV‐B radiation in July. Given the dearth of information on the zooplankton gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, our study provides the first transcriptome landscape of the mesozooplankton community during a period of increased mortality of the copepod and appendicularia population.
Crosslinked Platform Coatings Incorporating Bioactive Signals for the Control of Biointerfacial Interactions
Authors: Ozcelik Berkay , Chen Renxun , Glattauer Veronica , Kumar Naresh , Willcox MarkD.P. , Thissen Helmut
Published: October 2016

Control over biointerfacial interactions on material surfaces is of significant interest in many biomedical applications and extends from the modulation of protein adsorption and cellular responses to the inhibition of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Effective control over biointerfaces is best achieved by reducing nonspecific interactions on the surface while also displaying specific bioactive signals. A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based multifunctional coating has been developed that provides effective reduction of protein fouling while enabling covalent immobilization of peptides in a one or two‐step manner. The highly protein resistant properties of the coating, synthesized via the crosslinking of PEG diepoxide and diaminopropane, are confirmed via europium‐labeled fibronectin adsorption and cell attachment assays. The ability to covalently incorporate bioactive signals is demonstrated using the cyclic peptides cRGDfK and cRADfK. L929 cells show enhanced attachment on the biologically active cRGDfK containing surfaces, while the surface remains nonadhesive when the nonbiologically active cRADfK peptide is immobilized. The crosslinked PEG‐based coating also demonstrates excellent resistance toward Staphylococcus aureus attachment in a 48 h biofilm assay, achieving a >96% reduction compared to the control surface. Additionally, incorporation of the antimicrobial peptide melimine during coating formation further significantly decreases biofilm formation (>99%).

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Bacterial community assembly in activated sludge: mapping beta diversity across environmental variables
Authors: Isazadeh Siavash , Jauffur Shameem , Frigon Dominic
Published: October 2016

Effect of ecological variables on community assembly of heterotrophic bacteria at eight full‐scale and two pilot‐scale activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (AS‐WWTPs) were explored by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. In total, 39 samples covering a range of abiotic factors spread over space and time were analyzed. A core bacterial community of 24 families detected in at least six of the eight AS‐WWTPs was defined. In addition to the core families, plant‐specific families (observed at <50% AS‐WWTPs) were found to be also important in the community structure. Observed beta diversity was partitioned with respect to ecological variables. Specifically, the following variables were considered: influent wastewater characteristics, season (winter vs. summer), process operations (conventional, oxidation ditch, and sequence batch reactor), reactor sizes (pilot‐scale vs. full‐scale reactors), chemical stresses defined by ozonation of return activated sludge, interannual variation, and geographical locations. Among the assessed variables, influent wastewater characteristics and geographical locations contributed more in explaining the differences between AS‐WWTP bacterial communities with a maximum of approximately 26% of the observed variations. Partitioning of beta diversity is necessary to interpret the inherent variability in microbial community assembly and identify the driving forces at play in engineered microbial ecosystem.
Pure shift 1H NMR: what is next?
Authors: Castañar Laura
Published: October 2016

Currently, pure shift nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an area of high interest. The aim of this contribution is to describe briefly how this technique has evolved, where it is now and what could be the next challenges in the amazing adventure of the development and application of pure shift NMR experiments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accelerated mapping of magnetic susceptibility using 3D planes‐on‐a‐paddlewheel (POP) EPI at ultra‐high field strength
Authors: Stäb Daniel , Bollmann Steffen , Langkammer Christian , Bredies Kristian , Barth Markus
Published: October 2016

With the advent of ultra‐high field MRI scanners in clinical research, susceptibility based MRI has recently gained increasing interest because of its potential to assess subtle tissue changes underlying neurological pathologies/disorders. Conventional, but rather slow, three‐dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient‐echo (GRE) sequences are typically employed to assess the susceptibility of tissue. 3D echo‐planar imaging (EPI) represents a fast alternative but generally comes with echo‐time restrictions, geometrical distortions and signal dropouts that can become severe at ultra‐high fields.

In this work we assess quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) at 7 T using non‐Cartesian 3D EPI with a planes‐on‐a‐paddlewheel (POP) trajectory, which is created by rotating a standard EPI readout train around its own phase encoding axis.

We show that the threefold accelerated non‐Cartesian 3D POP EPI sequence enables very fast, whole brain susceptibility mapping at an isotropic resolution of 1 mm and that the high image quality has sufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio in the phase data for reliable QSM processing. The susceptibility maps obtained were comparable with regard to QSM values and geometric distortions to those calculated from a conventional 4 min 3D GRE scan using the same QSM processing pipeline. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emerging new tools to study and treat muscle pathologies: genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and disease
Authors: Crist Colin
Published: October 2016

Skeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue in our body, is responsible for generating the force required for movement, and is also an important thermogenic organ. Skeletal muscle is an enigmatic tissue because while on the one hand, skeletal muscle regeneration after injury is arguably one of the best‐studied stem cell‐dependent regenerative processes, on the other hand, skeletal muscle is still subject to many degenerative disorders with few therapeutic options in the clinic. It is important to develop new regenerative medicine‐based therapies for skeletal muscle. Future therapeutic strategies should take advantage of rapidly developing technologies enabling the differentiation of skeletal muscle from human pluripotent stem cells, along with precise genome editing, which will go hand in hand with a steady and focused approach to understanding underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and disease. In this review, I focus on highlighting the recent advances that particularly have relied on developmental and molecular biology approaches to understanding muscle development and stem cell function. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 on Learning and Memory in a Reward‐directed Instrumental Conditioning Task in Chronic Restraint Stressed Rats
Authors: Kezhu Wang , Pan Xu , Cong Lu , Liming Dong , Beiyue Zhang , Jingwei Lu , Yanyan Yang , Xinmin Liu
Published: October 2016

Ginsenoside Rg1 is one of the major active ingredients of Panax ginseng and has showed notable improving learning and memory effects in several behavioral tasks, such as water maze, shuttle‐box, and step‐through, based on avoidance. However, there was no report about the role of Rg1 on the performance of reward‐directed instrumental conditioning, which could reflect the adaptive capacity to ever‐changing environments. Thus, in this study, the reward devaluation test and conditional visual discrimination task were conducted to study the ameliorating effects of Rg1 on cognitive deficits, especially the loss of adaptation capacity in chronic restraint stress (CRS) rat model. Our results showed that rat subjected to CRS became insensitive to the changes in outcome value, and it significantly harmed the rat's performance in conditional visual discrimination task. Moreover, the levels of BDNF, TrkB, and Erk phosphorylation were decreased in the prefrontal cortex of CRS rats. However, these changes were effectively reversed by Rg1 (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.). Therefore, it demonstrated that Rg1 has a good ability to improve learning and memory and also ameliorate impaired adaptive capacity induced by CRS. This amelioration effect of Rg1 might be mediated partially by BDNF/TrkB/Erk pathway in prefrontal cortex. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A probabilistic description of entrainment instability for cloud‐topped boundary‐layer models
Authors: Yin Jun , Albertson John D. , Porporato Amilcare
Published: October 2016

Cloud‐top radiative and evaporative cooling effects on entrainment fluxes are essential to turbulence generation and growth of cloud‐topped boundary layers. While the cloud radiative cooling effects are currently not well understood, their interaction with the cloud‐top evaporation further complicates efforts to parametrize the phenomena due to the random behaviour of the turbulent mixing at the cloud‐top interface. Here we focus on the cloud‐top mixing and treat the typical turbulent mixing eddy in a statistical manner to relate the mean evaporative cooling rate to the distribution of effective mixing fraction (defined as the fraction of air coming from the free atmosphere that enhances the entrainment flux). Existing observations suggest that this effective mixing fraction can be parsimoniously parametrized with beta distributions, the shape parameters of which control the locations of stability lines in the Cloud‐Top Entrainment Instability (CTEI) diagrams used to discriminate between stable and unstable clouds. The probabilistic description of the cloud‐top mixing process allows us to coherently reinterpret various forms of CTEI criteria and generalize them to form new cloud‐top entrainment schemes. We expect that such schemes will help improve cloud dynamic models by embedding realistic distributions of the effective mixing fraction.
Trend Analysis of Maximum Hydrologic Drought Variables Using Mann–Kendall and Şen's Innovative Trend Method
Authors: Tosunoglu F. , Kisi O.
Published: October 2016

Droughts as destructive climatic extreme events affect natural environment of an area. Identifying droughts has a vital importance in the planning and management of water resource systems of a river basin. This study investigates the trends of maximum hydrologic drought variables, annual maximum duration (AMD), and annual maximum severity (AMS), by using Mann–Kendall, modified Mann–Kendall, and recently developed Şen's innovative trend analysis (ITA) methods. These methods are applied to the AMD and AMS of nine different stations located in Coruh River Basin, Turkey, in which numerous highly critical power plants have recently been constructed, under construction, or planned. Basic Mann–Kendall test indicated no trend in the investigated stations while the modified Mann–Kendall gave significantly decreasing trend for AMS series of station 2304 and for AMD series of station 2321 at 10% significance level. Modified Mann–Kendall and ITA approaches indicate that the AMS of station 2304 show significantly decreasing trend. According to the ITA method, the peak AMS values of the stations 2315 and 2322 have also significantly decreasing trend after 1986. Both modified MK and ITA methods provide increasing trends in drought severities of the stations 2316 and 2323. It should be noted that some droughts or water stress may be occurred in these stations in the future. Modified Mann–Kendall test provides no significant trend for the seven stations while ITA results indicated some positive or negative trends at these stations. The primary points of interest of Şen's ITA method are that it is not subject to any assumption such as serial relationship, non‐normality, sample size, and trends of low, medium, and high data can be seen by this method easily. The study indicates that the ITA method could be simply and successfully used by hydrologist or water resources decision makers or in identifying droughts to prepare efficient management plans. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CCA2 secure public‐key encryption scheme tolerating continual leakage attacks
Authors: Zhou YanWei , Yang Bo , Zhang Wenzheng , Mu Yi
Published: October 2016

For a public‐key encryption scheme to be applied in practical applications, it should withstand various leakage attacks (e.g., side‐channel attacks and cold‐boot attacks). To this end, we present a way of construct the more practical CCA2 secure public‐key encryption scheme tolerating leakage attacks, and the scheme's security is based on the hardness of classical decisional Diffie–Hellman assumption and the target collision resistant of one‐way hash function. Additionally, our proposal enjoys better performance, for example, all of elements of ciphertext will be random from the adversary's view, and any probabilistic polynomial‐time adversary cannot obtain leakage on the secret key from the ciphertext, and so on. In the bounded‐leakage setting, for any leakage parameter λ⩽logq − ω(logk)(q is the prime order of the underlying group, and k denotes the security parameter.), our proposal is secure against leakage‐resilient chosen‐ciphertext attacks, where λ is independent of the plaintext space, and has the constant size. However, in the real world, an adversary can continuously learn information on the secret key through a variety of leakage attacks and can trivially break the security of public‐key encryption scheme under the continual leakage attacks. Thus, we will improve our method to resist the continual leakage attacks. Similarly, for any round leakage parameter λC⩽logq − ω(logk), we can prove the security of the improvement scheme based on the hardness of decisional Diffie–Hellman assuming and the target collision resistant of one‐way hash function. With this important performance, our proposal may have some significant value in the practical applications, such as our proposal can provide the leakage‐resilient security for outsourcing data in the cloud computing environment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CSP adoption: current status and future prospects
Authors: Ying Ming , Li Shu Qin
Published: October 2016

Content security policy (CSP) is a security mechanism that can be used to mitigate cross‐site scripting (also known as XSS) and other related attacks. Although CSP is a promising mechanism to prevent XSS attack, it is not widely used. In this paper, we built a Java‐based web crawler to examine the current state of hypertext transfer protocol security headers and the adoption rate of CSP. The results show that usage for hypertext transfer protocol security headers is increasing. As for CSP, seven websites use CSP among the top 100 popular sites (8%) both in January and June 2015; 716 (0.066%) and 1241 (0.133%) websites enable CSP in January and June 2015, respectively (73% increase). A detailed analysis of the CSP settings that websites used is also performed. This analysis shows that many websites with CSP do not have the correct policies to prevent XSS. Finally, challenges for adopting CSP and methods to increase the adoption rate are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associations among stress, gender, sources of social support, and health in emerging adults
Authors: Lee Chih‐Yuan Steven , Dik Bryan J.
Published: October 2016

This study aimed to examine how sources of social support intersect with stress and health by testing two theoretical models. Three relationship‐specific sources of social support (family, friends, and romantic partners) and two health indicators (self‐rated physical health and depressive symptoms) were investigated. The sample consisted of 636 emerging adults attending college (age range: 18–25). Results suggest that only support from family was a stress‐buffer, in that it buffered the adverse association between stress and depressive symptoms. Holding stress constant, only support from family was related to self‐rated physical health and only support from friends or romantic partners was associated with depressive symptoms. There were no gender differences in the mean levels of self‐rated physical health and depressive symptoms. However, gender moderations were found, in that the positive relationship between friends support and physical health was observed only in women, that the association between friends support and depressive symptoms was greater in men than in women, and that family support buffered the negative relationship between stress and physical health only in men. Findings of this study suggest that the associations among stress, social support, and health vary by the sources of support, the health outcome, and gender.