bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visually stressful striped patterns alter human visual cortical functional connectivity
Authors: Huang Jie , Zhu David C.
Published: July 2017

Visually stressful striped patterns with a spatial frequency (SF) of around 3 cycles per degree (cpd) can induce perceptual illusions/distortions and visual discomfort in most people, headaches in patients with migraine, and seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. Patterns with SF ∼0.3 cpd have no such effects and are not uncomfortable to look at (non‐stressful). The effects of the striped patterns on visual cortical activation have been investigated, but their effects on the visual cortical network remain to be studied. A prolonged visual stimulation with stressful patterns may alter the functional connections within the visual system, and their relationship with other networks. Using resting‐state fMRI, this study revealed that the functional connections within the visual system were significantly enhanced by visually stressful stimulation. The functional connectivity between V1 and other brain regions was also significantly modified. Non‐stressful stimulation produced no such significant effects. More importantly, the effects outlasted the stimulation, and this applied both to those effects within and those beyond the visual cortex, suggesting that repeated prolonged visual stimulation with stressful patterns may alter functional connections of the brain and this might be utilized as a visual neuromodulation approach for treatments of visually triggered headaches in migraine patients and visually induced seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5474–5484, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional integrity in children with anoxic brain injury from drowning
Authors: Ishaque Mariam , Manning Janessa H. , Woolsey Mary D. , Franklin Crystal G. , Tullis Elizabeth W. , Beckmann Christian F. , Fox Peter T.
Published: July 2017

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental injury and death in young children. Anoxic brain injury (ABI) is a common consequence of drowning and can cause severe neurological morbidity in survivors. Assessment of functional status and prognostication in drowning victims can be extremely challenging, both acutely and chronically. Structural neuroimaging modalities (CT and MRI) have been of limited clinical value. Here, we tested the utility of resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) for assessing brain functional integrity in this population. Eleven children with chronic, spastic quadriplegia due to drowning‐induced ABI were investigated. All were comatose immediately after the injury and gradually regained consciousness, but with varying ability to communicate their cognitive state. Eleven neurotypical children matched for age and gender formed the control group. Resting‐state fMRI and co‐registered T1‐weighted anatomical MRI were acquired at night during drug‐aided sleep. Network integrity was quantified by independent components analysis (ICA), at both group‐ and per‐subject levels. Functional‐status assessments based on in‐home observations were provided by families and caregivers. Motor ICNs were grossly compromised in ABI patients both group‐wise and individually, concordant with their prominent motor deficits. Striking preservations of perceptual and cognitive ICNs were observed, and the degree of network preservation correlated (ρ = 0.74) with the per‐subject functional status assessments. Collectively, our findings indicate that rs‐fMRI has promise for assessing brain functional integrity in ABI and, potentially, in other disorders. Furthermore, our observations suggest that the severe motor deficits observed in this population can mask relatively intact perceptual and cognitive capabilities. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4813–4831, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrophysiological correlates of the drift diffusion model in visual word recognition
Authors: Mueller Christina J. , White Corey N. , Kuchinke Lars
Published: July 2017

This study was designed to explore the electrophysiological correlates of the diffusion models drift rate parameter in cognitive decision making. Eighty‐two participants completed a lexical decision task while their stimulus‐dependent event‐related potentials (ERP) and theta frequency band power were measured. A mass univariate approach was applied to examine the timeline at which correlations were evident. Individual differences in drift rate parameter and condition‐wise within‐subject differences in drift rates for word emotionality and item repetition were found to be related to amplitude differences in the late positive complex (LPC). No relations to theta frequency band power changes were obtained. The drift rate parameter captures information accumulation of noisy evidence, while LPC amplitudes are discussed to reflect the strength of a memory trace. While these results point to a common underlying cognitive mechanism to explain drift rates and LPC modulation, they also provide a new angle on the timeline of visual word processing following word identification. Further confirmations of the results are needed to approve the LPC as neurophysiological marker of information accumulation.Hum Brain Mapp 38:5616–5627, 2017. ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Great expectations: An analysis of researchers' and policy makers' perceptions of the potential value of the Australian indigenous burden of disease study for policy
Authors: Katz Aaron , Gajjar Deepa , Zwi Anthony B. , Hill Peter S.
Published: July 2017

The “Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples” was commissioned by the Australian government as part of the Australian Burden of Disease study. This paper explores the extent to which key actors in the research and policy communities expected the Indigenous Burden of Disease study's findings to inform, influence, or drive federal decisions concerning Indigenous health in Australia.

This qualitative research undertook interviews with 13 key informants with significant involvement in the Indigenous Burden of Disease study: six researchers, five policy makers, and two knowledge brokers. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed, and the findings were triangulated with a review of the literature. Policy makers and researchers anticipated that the Indigenous Burden of Disease study would improve the available information for policy deliberations about Indigenous health. Beyond that, their expectations about its policy influence differed substantially, with researchers more confident of the study's capacity to guide health priorities, and policy makers situating findings in the context of other critical inputs. Expectations of policy influence are shaped by the disciplinary perspectives of actors, and their relationship to policy outcomes and cannot be examined without also considering the policy, political, and financing context of the study being analyzed.
Temporally stable patterns but seasonal dependent controls of soil water content: Evidence from wavelet analyses
Authors: Hu Wei , Si Bing Cheng , Biswas Asim , Chau Henry Wai
Published: July 2017

Scale‐ and location‐dependent relationships between soil water content (SWC) and individual environmental factors have been widely explored. SWC is controlled by multiple factors concurrently; however, the multivariate relationship is rarely explored at different scales and locations. Multivariate controls of SWC at different scales and locations in two seasons within a hummocky landscape of North America were identified using bivariate wavelet coherency and multiple wavelet coherence. Results showed that depth to CaCO3 layer, which was correlated with elevation over all locations at scales of 36–144 m and cos(aspect), provided the best individual factor for explaining SWC variations in spring (May 2) and summer (August 23), respectively. Although spatial patterns of SWC were temporally stable, different topographic indices affected spatial distribution of SWC in different seasons (elevation in spring and aspect in summer) due to different dominating hydrological processes. These varying hydrological processes also resulted in the distinct role of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in different seasons: a positive correlation in spring and a negative correlation in summer. Multiple wavelet coherence identified a combination of depth to CaCO3 layer and SOC in spring and a combination of cos(aspect) and SOC in summer that controlled SWC at different scales and locations, respectively. This indicated a combined effect of soil and topographic properties on SWC distribution and a clear need for these two factors in developing scale‐dependent prediction of SWC in the hummocky landscape of North America.
Thermo‐physical properties of synthetic mucus for the study of airway clearance
Authors: Lafforgue O. , Bouguerra N. , Poncet S. , Seyssiecq I. , Favier J. , Elkoun S.
Published: July 2017

In this article, dynamic viscosity, surface tension, density, heat capacity and thermal conductivity, of a bronchial mucus simulant proposed by Zahm et al., Eur Respir J 1991; 4: 311–315 were experiementally determined. This simulant is mainly composed of a galactomannan gum and a scleroglucan. It was shown that thermophysical properties of synthetic mucus are dependant of scleroglucan concentrations. More importantly and for some scleroglucan concentrations, the syntetic mucus, exhibits, somehow, comparable thermophysical properties to real bronchial mucus. An insight on the microstructure of this simulant is proposed and the different properties enounced previously have been measured for various scleroglucan concentrations and over a certain range of operating temperatures. This synthetic mucus is found to mimic well the rheological behavior and the surface tension of real mucus for different pathologies. Density and thermal properties have been measured for the first time. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3025–3033, 2017.
New insights into the catalytic mechanism of human glycine N‐acyltransferase
Authors: van der Sluis Rencia , Ungerer Vida , Nortje Carla , A. van Dijk Alberdina , Erasmus Elardus
Published: July 2017

Even though the glycine conjugation pathway was one of the first metabolic pathways to be discovered, this pathway remains very poorly characterized. The bi‐substrate kinetic parameters of a recombinant human glycine N‐acyltransferase (GLYAT, E.C. 2.3.1.13) were determined using the traditional colorimetric method and a newly developed HPLC–ESI‐MS/MS method. Previous studies analyzing the kinetic parameters of GLYAT, indicated a random Bi–Bi and/or ping‐pong mechanism. In this study, the hippuric acid concentrations produced by the GLYAT enzyme reaction were analyzed using the allosteric sigmoidal enzyme kinetic module. Analyses of the initial rate (v) against substrate concentration plots, produced a sigmoidal curve (substrate activation) when the benzoyl‐CoA concentrations was kept constant, whereas the plot with glycine concentrations kept constant, passed through a maximum (substrate inhibition). Thus, human GLYAT exhibits mechanistic kinetic cooperativity as described by the Ferdinand enzyme mechanism rather than the previously assumed Michaelis–Menten reaction mechanism.
Relevance of cystatin‐C, N‐acetylglucosaminidase, and Interleukin‐18 with the diagnosis of acute kidney injury induced by cadmium in rats
Authors: Mohamed Ali Ola Sayed , Elshaer Shereen Saeid , Anwar Hend Mohamed , Zohni Mamdouh Salah EL‐din
Published: July 2017

The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently established on modifications in serum creatinine (SCr). The discriminative and prognostic aptitudes of serum cystatin‐C as well as N‐acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) were inspected for the estimation of AKI.

In this study twelve rats were alienated into two groups: control group received saline, second group received cadmium chloride at a dose (2.4 mg Cd/kg/day, i.p) for 30 days. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), SCr, and IL‐18 serum level were measured in addition to serum and tissue content of cystatin‐C and NAG.

AKI model showed significant increase in BUN, creatinine, and IL‐18. RT‐PCR showed upregulation of cystatin‐C gene besides significant increase of its level in serum. Additionally, tissue content of NAG was significantly increased.

Our findings may provide that grouping of several biomarkers for diagnosis of AKI is a more valuable diagnostic tool than single‐marker measurement.
Daily Mindful Responding Mediates the Effect of Meditation Practice on Stress and Mood: The Role of Practice Duration and Adherence
Authors: Lacaille Julien , Sadikaj Gentiana , Nishioka Midori , Carrière Kimberly , Flanders Joseph , Knäuper Bärbel
Published: July 2017

Objective

Although meditation practice is an important component of many mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs), empirical findings of its effects on psychological functioning are mixed and the mechanisms for the effects remain unclear. Responding with mindfulness (i.e., returning one's attention back to a nonjudgmental, present‐oriented awareness) is a fundamental skill practiced in meditations. With repeated meditation practice, this skill is thought to become internalized and be applied to one's daily life. We thus hypothesized that the extent to which individuals responded to daily events with mindfulness would mediate the effects of meditation practice (instance, duration, and adherence to instructions) on psychological well‐being.

Method

Using a daily diary methodology, we tracked the meditation practice, use of mindful responding during the day, and psychological outcomes (perceived stress, negative and positive affect) of 117 mindfulness‐based stress reduction program participants.

Results

We found that on days when participants meditated, they responded with greater mindfulness to daily events, which accounted for the beneficial effects of meditating on psychological outcomes. Furthermore, findings suggest that on meditation days, longer and more closely adhered meditation practices were independently associated with increases in mindful responding, which in turn were associated with better psychological outcomes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that regular, longer, and more closely adhered meditation practice is an important component of MBIs, in part because it leads to responding more mindfully in daily life, which promotes well‐being.
Choosing among multiple alternatives: Relative and overall reinforcer rates
Authors: Beeby Emma , Alsop Brent
Published: July 2017

Choice behavior among two alternatives has been widely researched, but fewer studies have examined the effect of multiple (more than two) alternatives on choice. Two experiments investigated whether changing the overall reinforcer rate affected preference among three and four concurrently scheduled alternatives. Experiment 1 trained six pigeons on concurrent schedules with three alternatives available simultaneously. These alternatives arranged reinforcers in a ratio of 9:3:1 with the configuration counterbalanced across pigeons. The overall rate of reinforcement was varied across conditions. Preference between the pair of keys arranging the 9:3 reinforcer ratio was less extreme than the pair arranging the 3:1 reinforcer ratio regardless of overall reinforcer rate. This difference was attributable to the richer alternative receiving fewer responses per reinforcer than the other alternatives. Experiment 2 trained pigeons on concurrent schedules with four alternatives available simultaneously. These alternatives arranged reinforcers in a ratio of 8:4:2:1, and the overall reinforcer rate was varied. Next, two of the alternatives were put into extinction and the random interval duration was changed from 60 s to 5 s. The ratio of absolute response rates was independent of interval length across all conditions. In both experiments, an analysis of sequences of visits following each reinforcer showed that the pigeons typically made their first response to the richer alternative irrespective of which alternative was just reinforced. Performance on these three‐ and four‐alternative concurrent schedules is not easily extrapolated from corresponding research using two‐alternative concurrent schedules.
Water stress and ripeness effects on the volatile composition of Cabernet Sauvignon wines
Authors: Talaverano Inmaculada , Ubeda Cristina , Cáceres‐Mella Alejandro , Valdés María Esperanza , Pastenes Claudio , Peña‐Neira Álvaro
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Controlled water deficits affect grape berry physiology and the resulting wines, with volatile composition being the one of the affected parameters. However, there is a potential disconnect between aromatic maturity and sugar accumulation. Accordingly, the effects of three different water status levels over two growing seasons (2014 and 2015) and two different harvest dates on the aroma compounds from Cabernet Sauvignon wines were studied. Volatile compounds were determined using headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatoghraphy/mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Around 45 volatile compounds were determined in the wines and, among these, esters were affected the most, presenting lower concentrations when the most restrictive water treatment was applied in both years. By contrast, volatile acids presented the highest concentrations when the lowest level of irrigation was applied. On the other hand, a delay in harvesting produced an increase in the total amount of volatile compounds in samples from the most restrictive water treatment. These results are coincident with a principal component analysis that indicated a great separation between years, deficit irrigation treatments and harvest dates.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that a low water supply had a negative effect on the aromatic potential of wines at a similar ripening stage. However, this effect could be countered by harvesting at a later date. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
The potential of computer vision, optical backscattering parameters and artificial neural network modelling in monitoring the shrinkage of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) during drying
Authors: Onwude Daniel I , Hashim Norhashila , Abdan Khalina , Janius Rimfiel , Chen Guangnan
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Drying is a method used to preserve agricultural crops. During the drying of products with high moisture content, structural changes in shape, volume, area, density and porosity occur. These changes could affect the final quality of dried product and also the effective design of drying equipment. Therefore, this study investigated a novel approach in monitoring and predicting the shrinkage of sweet potato during drying. Drying experiments were conducted at temperatures of 50–70 °C and samples thicknesses of 2–6 mm. The volume and surface area obtained from camera vision, and the perimeter and illuminated area from backscattered optical images were analysed and used to evaluate the shrinkage of sweet potato during drying.

RESULTS

The relationship between dimensionless moisture content and shrinkage of sweet potato in terms of volume, surface area, perimeter and illuminated area was found to be linearly correlated. The results also demonstrated that the shrinkage of sweet potato based on computer vision and backscattered optical parameters is affected by the product thickness, drying temperature and drying time. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network with input layer containing three cells, two hidden layers (18 neurons), and five cells for output layer, was used to develop a model that can monitor, control and predict the shrinkage parameters and moisture content of sweet potato slices under different drying conditions. The developed ANN model satisfactorily predicted the shrinkage and dimensionless moisture content of sweet potato with correlation coefficient greater than 0.95.

CONCLUSION

Combined computer vision, laser light backscattering imaging and artificial neural network can be used as a non‐destructive, rapid and easily adaptable technique for in‐line monitoring, predicting and controlling the shrinkage and moisture changes of food and agricultural crops during drying. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Simultaneous determination of simazine, cyanazine, and atrazine in honey samples by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Tian Hongzhe , Bai Xuesong , Xu Jing
Published: July 2017

A rapid and simple sample preparation method was developed for simultaneous determination of three triazine herbicides in honey samples. The selected herbicides were extracted from honey samples by ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, separated on a C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm id, 5 μm) using acetonitrile and H2O as the mobile phase with gradient elution, and then detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The parameters, such as the type and volume of the extraction and disperser solvent, ion strength, pH, extraction time, and centrifuge time were optimized in order to provide the excellent extraction performance. Good linearity was showed for all the target herbicides over the tested concentration range with correlation coefficient higher than 0.994. Three spiked levels (0.005, 0.05, 0.10 mg/kg) were applied for determination of the recoveries of the targets in honey samples in the range of 80–103% with relative standard deviations not larger than 10.6%. The limits of quantification for the analytes ranged between 1.5 and 4.0 μg/kg. The developed method was applied for determination of the target compounds residues in real samples.
Toward more accurate temperature reconstructions based on oxygen isotopes of subfossil chironomid head‐capsules in Australia
Authors: Chang Jie C. , Shulmeister James , Gröcke Darren R. , Woodward Craig A.
Published: July 2017

This study investigates the potential of applying stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) from head capsules (HCs) of subfossil chironomids (subfamily Tanypodinae) to reconstruct past temperature changes from south‐eastern Australia. The study reports δ18O results from Tanypodinae HCs in nine lakes. The relationship between δ18O values of Tanypodinae HCs in lakes and summer (February) air temperature is robust (r = 0.84) supporting its potential to be applied as a temperature proxy in the Australian region. The comparison of these results with the δ18O values measured on Chironomus spp. HCs from the same lakes reveals differences between the two groups. δ18O values of Tanypodinae HCs have a stronger correlation with the δ18O of lake water, δ18O of precipitation and air temperature as compared with Chironomus δ18O values. This suggests that Tanypodinae HCs are superior targets to Chironomus spp. for temperature reconstructions. Our data indicate that the δ18O of Tanypodinae HCs could perform as well as the assemblage based chironomid transfer function from the Australian mainland. We recommend analysis of HCs from additional lakes to develop a more robust calibration curve relating Tanypodinae HC δ18O to temperature.
Recovery of periodicities hidden in heavy‐tailed noise
Authors: Karabash Illya M. , Prestin Jürgen
Published: July 2017

We address a parametric joint detection‐estimation problem for discrete signals of the form , , with an additive noise represented by independent centered complex random variables . The distributions of are assumed to be unknown, but satisfying various sets of conditions. We prove that in the case of a heavy‐tailed noise it is possible to construct asymptotically strongly consistent estimators for the unknown parameters of the signal, i.e., frequencies , their number N, and complex coefficients . For example, one of considered classes of noise is the following: are independent identically distributed random variables with and . The construction of estimators is based on detection of singularities of anti‐derivatives for Z‐transforms and on a two‐level selection procedure for special discretized versions of superlevel sets. The consistency proof relies on the convergence theory for random Fourier series.
Rotational symmetry of self‐expanders to the inverse mean curvature flow with cylindrical ends
Authors: Drugan Gregory , Fong Frederick Tsz‐Ho , Lee Hojoo
Published: July 2017

We show that any complete, immersed self‐expander to the inverse mean curvature flow, which has one end asymptotic to a cylinder, or has two ends asymptotic to two coaxial cylinders, must be rotationally symmetric.
Anti‐MUC1 aptamer: A potential opportunity for cancer treatment
Authors: Nabavinia Maryam Sadat , Gholoobi Aida , Charbgoo Fahimeh , Nabavinia Mahboobeh , Ramezani Mohammad , Abnous Khalil
Published: July 2017

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a protein usually found on the apical surface of most normal secretory epithelial cells. However, in most adenocarcinomas, MUC1 is overexpressed, so that it not only appears over the entire cell surface, but is also shed as MUC1 fragments into the blood stream. These phenomena pinpoint MUC1 as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; consequently, interest has increased in MUC1 as a molecular target for overcoming cancer therapy challenges. MUC1 currently ranks second among 75 antigen candidates for cancer vaccines, and different antibodies or aptamers against MUC1 protein are proving useful for tracing cancer cells in the emerging field of targeted delivery. The unique properties of MUC1 aptamers as novel targeting agents, and the revolutionary role that MUC1 now plays in cancer therapy, are the focus of this review. Recent advancements in MUC1‐targeted cancer therapy are also assessed.
Extracorporeal shock wave treatment can selectively destroy end plates in neuromuscular junctions
Authors: Kenmoku Tomonori , Nemoto Noriko , Iwakura Nahoko , Ochiai Nobuyasu , Uchida Kentaro , Saisu Takashi , Ohtori Seiji , Nakagawa Koichi , Sasho Takahisa , Takaso Masashi
Published: July 2017

Introduction

This study assesses the effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave (rESW) exposure on neuromuscular transmission and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology.

Methods

We applied 2,000 rESWs at 0.18 mJ/mm2 and a frequency of 15 Hz to the right calf of male rats, measured the compound muscle action potential (CMAP), and examined NMJ morphology using electron microscopy. Left calf muscles were used as controls.

Results

rESW exposure significantly reduced CMAP amplitude without delayed latency in exposed muscles compared with controls. All rESW‐exposed muscles exhibited NMJs with irregular end plates. Mean interjunctional fold interval was significantly increased compared with controls. However, axon terminals and muscle fibers surrounding NMJs with irregular end plates were unchanged.

Discussion

This localized destruction of end plates may be caused by differences in acoustic impedance induced by the density of acetylcholine receptors. These results provide a possible mechanism for the effectiveness of rESW treatment for spasticity and dystonia. Muscle Nerve 57: 466–472, 2018
Validity of the Remote Food Photography Method Against Doubly Labeled Water Among Minority Preschoolers
Authors: Nicklas Theresa , Saab Rabab , Islam Noemi G. , Wong William , Butte Nancy , Schulin Rebecca , Liu Yan , Apolzan John W. , Myers Candice A. , Martin Corby K.
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the validity of energy intake (EI) estimations made using the remote food photography method (RFPM) compared to the doubly labeled water (DLW) method in minority preschool children in a free‐living environment.

Methods

Seven days of food intake and spot urine samples excluding first void collections for DLW analysis were obtained on thirty‐nine 3‐ to 5‐year‐old Hispanic and African American children. Using an iPhone, caregivers captured before and after pictures of each child's intake, pictures were wirelessly transmitted to trained raters who estimated portion size using existing visual estimation procedures, and energy and macronutrients were calculated. Paired t tests, mean differences, and Bland‐Altman limits of agreement were performed.

Results

The mean EI was 1,191 ± 256 kcal/d using the RFPM and 1,412 ± 220 kcal/d using the DLW method, resulting in a mean underestimate of 222 kcal/d (−15.6%; P < 0.0001) that was consistent regardless of intake. The RFPM underestimated EI by −28.5% in 34 children and overestimated EI by 15.6% in 5 children.

Conclusions

The RFPM underestimated total EI when compared to the DLW method among preschoolers. Further refinement of the RFPM is needed for assessing the EI of young children.
Prescription drug use during pregnancy in France: a study from the national health insurance permanent sample
Authors: Demailly Romain , Escolano Sylvie , Quantin Catherine , Tubert‐Bitter Pascale , Ahmed Ismaïl
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To provide an up‐to‐date account of drug prescription during pregnancy in France from 2011 to 2014 using the permanent sample of the French national computerized healthcare database and with a focus on recommended supplementations, fetotoxic drugs and teratogenic drugs.

Methods

All pregnancies identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes list in the hospitalization database, lasting more than 9 weeks of amenorrhea and whose delivery occurred between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2014, were included. Drugs delivered between the trimester before and until the end of the pregnancy were included. Drug exposure prevalence was calculated for each year and according to pregnancy trimesters.

Results

The study included 28,491 pregnancies with a median number of 9 [5–13] (median [IQ range]) drugs delivered. The most prescribed drug class was antianemia (in 72.5% of exposed). The prescription rate of recommended vitamins (B9 and D) increased over the study period (+10%). Influenza vaccination also increased but remained at a low rate (1%). Exposure to fetotoxic drugs decreased as pregnancy advanced. Exposure to the main teratogenic antiepileptics was stable over the study period. Low‐income pregnant women had a higher average drug consumption except for recommended vitamins.

Conclusion

Pregnant French women are among the largest consumers of prescription medications worldwide. Overall, the dispensation trends observed in this study are in line with the recommendations of the French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. Nevertheless, while being low, exposure to fetotoxic drugs, teratogenic drugs or those under safety alerts still occurred. Supplementations and vaccines in low‐income pregnant women should also be increased.
Phytohormone inhibitor treatments phenocopy brassinosteroid–gibberellin dwarf mutant interactions in maize
Authors: Best Norman B. , Johal Guri , Dilkes Brian P.
Published: July 2017

Phytohormone biosynthesis produces metabolites with profound effects on plant growth and development. Modulation of hormone levels during developmental events, in response to the environment, by genetic polymorphism, or by chemical application, can reveal the plant processes most responsive to a phytohormone. Applications of chemical inhibitors and subsequent measurements of specific phytohormones can determine whether, and which, phytohormone is affected by a molecule. In many cases, the sensitivity of biochemical testing has determined multiple pathways affected by a single inhibitor. Genetic studies are not subject to this problem, and a wealth of data about the morphological impacts of hormone biosynthetic inhibition have accumulated through the study of enzyme mutants. In this work, we sought to assess the specificity of three triazole inhibitors of cytochrome P450s by determining their abilities to recapitulate the phenotypes of single and double mutants affected in the production of brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. The GA biosynthetic inhibitors uniconazole (UCZ) and paclobutrazol (PAC) were applied to the BR biosynthetic mutant nana plant2 (na2), and all double‐mutant phenotypes were recovered in the UCZ treatment. PAC was unable to suppress the retention of pistils in the tassels of na2 mutant plants. The BR biosynthetic inhibitor propiconazole (PCZ) suppressed tiller outgrowth in the GA biosynthetic mutant dwarf5 (d5). All treatments were additive with genetic mutants for effects on plant height. Due to additional measurements performed here but not in previous studies of the double mutants, we detected new interactions between GA and BR biosynthesis affecting the days to tassel emergence and tassel branching. These experiments, a refinement of our previous model, and a discussion of the extension of this type of work are presented.
Patients with established cancer cachexia lack the motivation and self‐efficacy to undertake regular structured exercise
Authors: Wasley David , Gale Nichola , Roberts Sioned , Backx Karianne , Nelson Annmarie , van Deursen Robert , Byrne Anthony
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Patients with advanced cancer frequently suffer a decline in activities associated with involuntary loss of weight and muscle mass (cachexia). This can profoundly affect function and quality of life. Although exercise participation can maintain physical and psychological function in patients with cancer, uptake is low in cachectic patients who are underrepresented in exercise studies. To understand how such patients' experiences are associated with exercise participation, we investigated exercise history, self‐confidence, and exercise motivations in patients with established cancer cachexia, and relationships between relevant variables.

Methods

Lung and gastrointestinal cancer outpatients with established cancer cachexia (n = 196) completed a questionnaire exploring exercise history and key constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour relating to perceived control, psychological adjustment, and motivational attitudes.

Results

Patients reported low physical activity levels, and few undertook regular structured exercise. Exercise self‐efficacy was very low with concerns it could worsen symptoms and cause harm. Patients showed poor perceived control and a strong need for approval but received little advice from health care professionals. Preferences were for low intensity activities, on their own, in the home setting. Regression analysis revealed no significant factors related to the independent variables.

Conclusions

Frequently employed higher intensity, group exercise models do not address the motivational and behavioural concerns of cachectic cancer patients in this study. Developing exercise interventions which match perceived abilities and skills is required to address challenges of self‐efficacy and perceived control identified. Greater engagement of health professionals with this group is required to explore potential benefits of exercise.
A Groundbreaking Stepwise Protocol to Prepare HMX from DPT: New Mechanism Hypothesis and Corresponding Process Study
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zou Po , Luo Jun
Published: July 2017

1,3,5,7‐Tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazacyclooctane(HMX) is one of the most powerful and widely used explosives. 3,7‐Dinitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazabicyclo[3.3.1] (DPT) is an important precursor in the production of HMX. A new reaction mechanism including nitrolysis, nitrosolysis and nitrolysis processes in fuming HNO3 was put forward. The stable key intermediate 1‐nitroso‐3,5,7‐trinitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazacyclooctane (MNX) was isolated and characterized. Based on the new mechanism, a stepwise method to prepare HMX from DPT was developed. The influence factors on the yields of MNX such as reaction temperature, loading amounts of HNO3, NaNO2 and NH4NO3 were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, MNX was obtained with a satisfactory yield of 84.0 %. MNX could be efficiently and smoothly nitrolyzed in fuming nitric acid and afforded pure β‐HMX with excellent yield up to 92.8 %. The overall yield of the stepwise procedure was as high as 78.0 %, much higher than traditional one‐pot nitrolysis protocols.
Deprescribing: tackling increasing polypharmacy
Authors: Krska Janet , Howard Rachel , Barnett Nina
Published: July 2017

“Deprescribing – is less more?” was the theme of this year's annual scientific meeting organised by the Prescribing and Research in Medicines Management (PRIMM) group, held in London in January. The meeting covered a range of topics relating to deprescribing, including a seven‐step deprescribing model, identifying patients with polypharmacy problems, and providing individualised prescribing.
On comparing 2 correlated C indices with censored survival data
Authors: Han Xiaoxia , Zhang Yilong , Shao Yongzhao
Published: July 2017

As new biomarkers and risk prediction procedures are in rapid development, it is of great interest to develop valid methods for comparing predictive power of 2 biomarkers or risk score systems. Harrell C statistic has been routinely used as a global adequacy assessment of a risk score system, and the difference of 2 Harrell C statistics as a test statistic has been suggested in recent literature for comparison of predictive power of 2 biomarkers for censored outcome. In this study, we showed that such a test can have severely inflated type I errors as the difference between the 2 Harrell C statistics does not converge to zero under the null hypothesis of equal predictive power measured by concordance probabilities, as illustrated by 2 counterexamples and corresponding numerical simulations. We further investigate a necessary and sufficient condition under which the difference of 2 Harrell C statistics converges to zero under the null hypothesis.
Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexane Using Graphene Oxide‐Supported Ceria Nanocomposites with Exposed Active {1 0 0} Facets
Authors: Arumugam Selvamani , Mohan Babu Cadiam , Vasudevan Srinivasan Vinju , Vanaraj Ramkumar , Rukmanikrishnan Balasubramanian , Periyasamy Thirukumaran , Asrafali Shakila Parveen
Published: July 2017

The present study is focused on the synthesis and characterization of ceria loaded graphene oxide (GO) and investigates their catalytic activity on vapor phase selective oxidation of cyclohexane. In this regards, we have synthesized various loading of CeO2 on GO with two different morphology includes nanocrystals and flower‐like, which designated as CeO2(x)/GO (where x= 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 wt.%). The physico‐chemical properties of the materials were extensively studied with help of XRD, N2 adsorption desorption (BET), DRUV‐Vis, HRSEM, HRTEM, H2‐TPR and XPS techniques. The crystalline nature of materials were analyzed by XRD, pure ceria shows high crystalline size about 15. 3 nm compared to others. Surface area of synthesized materials has been obtained with help of N2 adsorption desorption analysis, pure ceria and graphene oxide shows surface area about 93 and 574 m2/g, respectively. XPS and DRUV‐Vis spectra were confirms the presence of enormous Ce3+ ions in the lattice. The presence of nanocrystals and flower‐like morphology of CeO2(x)/GO were confirmed by HRSEM images. HRTEM images were clearly illustrated that the presence of dominant active {1 0 0} facets in flower‐like CeO2/GO than that of nanocrystalline morphology. The catalytic activity of materials has been evaluated on selective oxidation of cyclohexane using air as a green oxidant. The key reaction parameters were varied to study the stability, activity and selectivity of the catalysts. The activity of the catalysts is correlated with their physico‐chemical properties, and these results concluded that suitable amount of ceria and it's flower‐like morphology on GO is essential for selective oxidation of cyclohexane at low temperature (180 °C) compared to nanocrystalline morphology. Hence, flower‐like CeO2(0.4)/GO is a most suitable catalyst for high conversion (90%) of cyclohexane into cyclohexanone with 74% selectivity due to occurrence of enormous {1 0 0} facet and Ce3+.
All‐Metal Aromatic Sandwich Binuclear Complexes: Electronic Structures, Aromaticity and Interactions with Hydrogen via Multicenter Bonds
Authors: Zhu Haiyan , Cao Tingting , Zhang Qiyan , Liang Ximin , Suo Bingbing , Zou Wenli , Han Huixian , Huang Yixuan , Li Jianfu
Published: July 2017

According to the first‐principle calculations, the aromatic Al42− unit can sandwich the two transition metal (TM) atoms forming a stable all‐metal binuclear compound [Al4TM2Al4]q‐ (q=‐2,0,2; TM=Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, La, Hf, Ta). The stability analysis shows that these all‐metal binuclear compounds Al4TM2Al4 exist as stable complexes forming aluminum rings which can maintain their two‐fold aromaticity of the molecule, which is either the
or the
aromaticity. Moreover the interaction between Al4Sc2Al4 and hydrogen atom has been also studied using density functional theory (DFT). It has been found that one Al4Sc2Al4 molecule can adsorb 12 hydrogen atoms, whose hydrogen storage mass density is 3.77 wt%. Furthermore, the average binding energy which is in the range between 0.2‐0.7 eV/H2, can be either adsorbed or desorbed reversibly under near standard conditions. We have also found that a multicenter bond is formed between the H atoms and the Al or Sc atoms during the process of hydrogen adsorption, which is characterized by specific vibration frequency. Therefore, in order to store hydrogen reversibly and effectively, we can select the specific mode in the infrared band which is able to induce the hydrogen desorption from that which is adsorbed by Al8Sc2.
The Ways of Factors Influencing High‐Solid Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Sugarcane Bagasse Treated by Liquid Hot Water
Authors: Wang Wen , Wang Qiong , Tan Xuesong , Qi Wei , Yu Qiang , Zhuang Xinshu , Yuan Zhenhong
Published: July 2017

The influence ways of structural feature, hydrolytic viscosity and monosaccharides′ concentrations on the enzymatic hydrolysis of high‐solid liquid hot water (LHW)‐treated lignocellulose were evaluated. The SEM observation showed that the residual lignin in the LHW‐treated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) played an important role in gluing fasciculate structures, and XRD detection indicated the decrease of crystalline index (CrI) of LHW‐treated SCB after lignin removal. The enzymatic hydrolysis of LHW‐treated SCB with and without lignin removal showed that the residual lignin might block the access of cellobiohydrolase to the crystalline cellulose. The fractal kinetic model indicated that the benefit of the low viscosity for high‐solid enzymatic hydrolysis of LHW‐treated SCB would appear with the time going. As the enzymatic hydrolysis proceeding, the accumulation of glucose imposed more and more intense inhibition on the cellulolytic hydrolysis, while the xylose showed a little inhibition. The changes of UV spectra indicated that the glucose accumulation hardly affected the side chains containing tyrosine (Try) and/or tryptophan (Trp) which should be not in the catalytic active center of cellulase.
The case for cutting back on red meat
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: July 2017

Eating prime steak may be the ‘macho male’ thing to do, but choosing a vegetarian option might be better for your health and for the planet.
Testicular cancer: an overview of contemporary practice
Authors: Voss James , Dudderidge Tim
Published: July 2017

Testicular cancer is a common cancer in younger men. It can be successfully treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but early diagnosis is key. In this article, the authors describe the diagnosis, pathology and management of the disease.
Management of adrenal incidentalomas
Authors: Murtagh Kevin , Muhammad Nana , Miller Marek
Published: July 2017

The return of a scan result with reference to an incidental finding of an adrenal mass is a common scenario.1 The scan was performed for another indication and the clinician is now faced with an unexpected problem. Here, we present some background to the problem, an overview of adrenal disease, and a suggested approach to the ‘adrenal incidentaloma’
Inducible somatic embryogenesis in Theobroma cacao achieved using the DEX-activatable transcription factor-glucocorticoid receptor fusion
Authors: Shires Morgan E. , Florez Sergio L. , Lai Tina S. , Curtis Wayne R.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To carry out mass propagation of superior plants to improve agricultural and silvicultural production though advancements in plant cell totipotency, or the ability of differentiated somatic plant cells to regenerate an entire plant.

Results

The first demonstration of a titratable control over somatic embryo formation in a commercially relevant plant, Theobroma cacao (Chocolate tree), was achieved using a dexamethasone activatable chimeric transcription factor. This four-fold enhancement in embryo production rate utilized a glucocorticoid receptor fused to an embryogenic transcription factor LEAFY COTYLEDON 2. Where previous T. cacao somatic embryogenesis has been restricted to dissected flower parts, this construct confers an unprecedented embryogenic potential to leaves.

Conclusions

Activatable chimeric transcription factors provide a means for elucidating the regulatory cascade associated with plant somatic embryogenesis towards improving its use for somatic regeneration of transgenics and plant propagation.
Ultrafine-Grained Plates of Al-Mg-Si Alloy Obtained by Incremental Equal Channel Angular Pressing: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Lipinska Marta , Chrominski Witold , Olejnik Lech , Golinski Jacek , Rosochowski Andrzej , Lewandowska Malgorzata
Published: July 2017

In this study, an Al-Mg-Si alloy was processed using via incremental equal channel angular pressing (I-ECAP) in order to obtain homogenous, ultrafine-grained plates with low anisotropy of the mechanical properties. This was the first attempt to process an Al-Mg-Si alloy using this technique. Samples in the form of 3 mm-thick square plates were subjected to I-ECAP with the 90 deg rotation around the axis normal to the surface of the plate between passes. Samples were investigated first in their initial state, then after a single pass of I-ECAP, and finally after four such passes. Analyses of the microstructure and mechanical properties demonstrated that the I-ECAP method can be successfully applied in Al-Mg-Si alloys. The average grain size decreased from 15 to 19 µm in the initial state to below 1 µm after four I-ECAP passes. The fraction of high-angle grain boundaries in the sample subjected to four I-ECAP passes lay within 53 to 57 pct depending on the examined plane. The mechanism of grain refinement in Al-Mg-Si alloy was found to be distinctly different from that in pure aluminum with the grain rotation being more prominent than the grain subdivision, which was attributed to lower stacking fault energy and the reduced mobility of dislocations in the alloy. The ultimate tensile strength increased more than twice, whereas the yield strength was more than threefold. Additionally, the plates processed by I-ECAP exhibited low anisotropy of mechanical properties (in plane and across the thickness) in comparison to other SPD processing methods, which makes them attractive for further processing and applications.