bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicity of nickel to tropical freshwater and sediment biota: A critical literature review and gap analysis
Authors: Binet Monique T. , Adams Merrin S. , Gissi Francesca , Golding Lisa A. , Schlekat Christian E. , Garman Emily R. , Merrington Graham , Stauber Jennifer L.
Published: October 2017

More than two-thirds of the world's nickel (Ni) lateritic deposits are in tropical regions, and just less than half are within South East Asia and Melanesia (SEAM). With increasing Ni mining and processing in SEAM, environmental risk assessment tools are required to ensure sustainable development. Currently, there are no tropical-specific water or sediment quality guideline values for Ni, and the appropriateness of applying guideline values derived for temperate systems (e.g., Europe) to tropical ecosystems is unknown. Databases of Ni toxicity and toxicity tests for tropical freshwater and sediment species were compiled. Nickel toxicity data were ranked, using a quality assessment, identifying data to potentially use to derive tropical-specific Ni guideline values. There were no data for Ni toxicity in tropical freshwater sediments. For tropical freshwaters, of 163 Ni toxicity values for 40 different species, high-quality chronic data, based on measured Ni concentrations, were found for just 4 species (1 microalga, 2 macrophytes, and 1 cnidarian), all of which were relevant to SEAM. These data were insufficient to calculate tropical-specific guideline values for long-term aquatic ecosystem protection in tropical regions. For derivation of high-reliability tropical- or SEAM-specific water and sediment quality guideline values, additional research effort is required. Using gap analysis, we recommend how research gaps could be filled. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:293–317. © 2017 SETAC

Abstract
A review of measured bioaccumulation data on terrestrial plants for organic chemicals: Metrics, variability, and the need for standardized measurement protocols
Authors: Doucette William J. , Shunthirasingham Chubashini , Dettenmaier Erik M. , Zaleski Rosemary T. , Fantke Peter , Arnot Jon A.
Published: October 2017

Quantifying the transfer of organic chemicals from the environment into terrestrial plants is essential for assessing human and ecological risks, using plants as environmental contamination biomonitors, and predicting phytoremediation effectiveness. Experimental data describing chemical uptake by plants are often expressed as ratios of chemical concentrations in the plant compartments of interest (e.g., leaves, shoots, roots, xylem sap) to those in the exposure medium (e.g., soil, soil porewater, hydroponic solution, air). These ratios are generally referred to as “bioconcentration factors” but have also been named for the specific plant compartment sampled, such as “root concentration factors,” “leaf concentration factors,” or “transpiration stream (xylem sap) concentrations factors.” We reviewed over 350 articles to develop a database with 7049 entries of measured bioaccumulation data for 310 organic chemicals and 112 terrestrial plant species. Various experimental approaches have been used; therefore, interstudy comparisons and data-quality evaluations are difficult. Key exposure and plant growth conditions were often missing, and units were often unclear or not reported. The lack of comparable high-confidence data also limits model evaluation and development. Standard test protocols or, at a minimum, standard reporting guidelines for the measurement of plant uptake data are recommended to generate comparable, high-quality data that will improve mechanistic understanding of organic chemical uptake by plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:21–33. © 2017 SETAC
The Consistency of TOEIC® Speaking Scores Across Ratings and Tasks
Authors: Schmidgall Jonathan E.
Published: October 2017

This report briefly reviews the design and scoring procedure for the TOEIC® Speaking test and summarizes existing evidence about the consistency of TOEIC Speaking test scores. It then describes several analyses conducted using generalizability theory to provide additional information about the consistency of scores across different aspects of the scoring procedure. The results of these analyses provide more robust information about consistency of TOEIC Speaking scores with respect to important facets of the assessment procedure, such as tasks and ratings. Specifically, the results provide evidence to support claims about the consistency of ratings across different levels of the scoring procedure: tasks, claims, and scale scores.
Role of aramchol in steatohepatitis and fibrosis in mice
Authors: Iruarrizaga‐Lejarreta Marta , Varela‐Rey Marta , Fernández‐Ramos David , Martínez‐Arranz Ibon , Delgado Teresa C , Simon Jorge , Gutiérrez‐de Juan Virginia , delaCruz‐Villar Laura , Azkargorta Mikel , Lavin José L. , Mayo Rebeca , Van Liempd Sebastiaan M. , Aurrekoetxea Igor , Buqué Xabier , Delle Cave Donatella , Peña Arantza , Rodríguez‐Cuesta Juan , Aransay Ana M. , Elortza Felix , Falcón‐Pérez Juan M. , Aspichueta Patricia , Hayardeny Liat , Noureddin Mazen , Sanyal Arun J. , Alonso Cristina , Anguita Juan , Martínez‐Chantar María Luz , Lu Shelly C. , Mato José M.
Published: October 2017

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that sets the stage for further liver damage. The mechanism for the progression of NASH involves multiple parallel hits, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and others. Manipulation of any of these pathways may be an approach to prevent NASH development and progression. Arachidyl‐amido cholanoic acid (Aramchol) is presently in a phase IIb NASH study. The aim of the present study was to investigate Aramchol's mechanism of action and its effect on fibrosis using the methionine‐ and choline‐deficient (MCD) diet model of NASH. We collected liver and serum from mice fed an MCD diet containing 0.1% methionine (0.1MCD) for 4 weeks; these mice developed steatohepatitis and fibrosis. We also collected liver and serum from mice receiving a control diet, and metabolomes and proteomes were determined for both groups. The 0.1MCD‐fed mice were given Aramchol (5 mg/kg/day for the last 2 weeks), and liver samples were analyzed histologically. Aramchol administration reduced features of steatohepatitis and fibrosis in 0.1MCD‐fed mice. Aramchol down‐regulated stearoyl‐coenyzme A desaturase 1, a key enzyme involved in triglyceride biosynthesis and the loss of which enhances fatty acid β‐oxidation. Aramchol increased the flux through the transsulfuration pathway, leading to a rise in glutathione (GSH) and the GSH/oxidized GSH ratio, the main cellular antioxidant that maintains intracellular redox status. Comparison of the serum metabolomic pattern between 0.1MCD‐fed mice and patients with NAFLD showed a substantial overlap. Conclusion: Aramchol treatment improved steatohepatitis and fibrosis by 1) decreasing stearoyl‐coenyzme A desaturase 1 and 2) increasing the flux through the transsulfuration pathway maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. We also demonstrated that the 0.1MCD model resembles the metabolic phenotype observed in about 50% of patients with NAFLD, which supports the potential use of Aramchol in NASH treatment. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:911–927)
Translational opportunities for broad‐spectrum natural phytochemicals and targeted agent combinations in breast cancer
Authors: Dalasanur Nagaprashantha Lokesh , Adhikari Ramesh , Singhal Jyotsana , Chikara Shireen , Awasthi Sanjay , Horne David , Singhal Sharad S.
Published: October 2017

Breast cancer (BC) prevention and therapy in the context of life‐style risk factors and biological drivers is a major focus of developmental therapeutics in oncology. Obesity, alcohol, chronic estrogen signaling and smoking have distinct BC precipitating and facilitating effects that may act alone or in combination. A spectrum of signaling events including enhanced oxidative stress and changes in estrogen‐receptor (ER)‐dependent and ‐independent signaling drive the progression of BC. Breast tumors modulate ERα/ERβ ratio, upregulate proliferative pathways driven by ERα and HER2 with a parallel loss and/or downregulation of tumor suppressors such as TP53 and PTEN which together impact the efficacy of therapeutic strategies and frequently lead to emergence of drug resistance. Natural phytochemicals modulate oxidative stress, leptin, integrin, HER2, MAPK, ERK, Wnt/β‐catenin and NFκB signaling along with regulating ERα and ERβ, thereby presenting unique opportunities for both primary and combinatorial interventions in BC. In this regard, this article focuses on critical analyses of the evidence from multiple studies on the efficacy of natural phytochemicals in BC. In addition, areas in which the combinations of such effective natural phytochemicals with approved and/or developing anticancer agents can be translationally beneficial are discussed to derive evidence‐based inference for addressing challenges in BC control and therapy.
Global epidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 in men who have sex with men: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Zhenqiu , Fang Qiwen , Zuo Jialu , Chen Yue , Minhas Veenu , Wood Charles , Zhang Tiejun
Published: October 2017

Men who have sex with men (MSM) were highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), while the epidemiologic features of HHV8 among MSM remain obscure. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the burden of HHV8 in MSM. Electronic databases were searched for publications on HHV8 epidemiologic characteristics among MSM. Random‐effect meta‐analysis was applied to combine the HHV8 seroprevalence in MSM and odds ratios (ORs) for associated risk factors. Meta‐regression and stratified analyses were performed to detect the potential sources of heterogeneity. The pooled HHV8 seroprevalence in MSM was 33.0% (95%CI 29.2%‐37.1%). Significant factors associated with HHV8 included HIV (OR 3.70, 95%CI 2.93‐4.67), STDs (OR 2.32, 95%CI 1.82‐2.97), and high risk sexual behaviors (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.17‐1.92). Race (OR 1.44, 95%CI 0.94‐2.12) and multiple sexual partners (OR 1.61, 95%CI 0.95‐2.72) were also associated with HHV8 (P < 0.10). We found no significant association between IDU and HHV8 (OR 1.44, 95%CI 0.06‐32.47). HHV8 is highly prevalent among MSM and the high risk behaviors may facilitate the transmission of this virus. This situation could be of significant public health importance, especially in the context of HIV coinfection.
Etiology of community‐acquired pneumonia in 1500 hospitalized children
Authors: Oumei Hao , Xuefeng Wang , Jianping Liu , kunling Shen , Rong Ma , Zhenze Cui , Li Deng , Huimin Yan , Lining Wang , Zhaolan Liu , Xinmin Li , Hua Xu , Zhiyan Jiang , Yanning Li , Yan Huang , Baoqing Zhang , Xiaochun Feng , Chunhui He , Yonghong Jiang , Xue Zhao , Wei Wei , Zi Wang
Published: October 2017

Childhood community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common illness; however, comprehensive studies of hospitalizations for CAP among children in China based on prospective and multicenter data collection are limited. The aim of this investigation was to determine the respiratory pathogens responsible for CAP in hospitalized children. From January to December 2015, oropharyngeal swabs and blood serum were collected from hospitalized children with CAP symptoms ranging in age from 6 months to 14 years at 10 hospitals across China. We used immunofluorescence to detect antibodies for eight respiratory viruses and passive agglutination to detect specific IgM against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae). Of 1500 children presenting with CAP, 691 (46.1%) tested positive for at least one pathogen (virus or M. pneumoniae). M. pneumoniae (32.4%) was detected most frequently, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (11.5%), adenovirus (5.0%), influenza A virus (4.1 %), influenza B virus (3.4%), parainfluenza virus types 2 and 3 type (3.1 %), parainfluenza virus type 1 (2.9%), and human metapneumovirus (0.3%). Co‐infections were identified in 128 (18.5%) of the 691 cases. These data provide a better understanding of viral etiology and M. pneumoniae in CAP in children between 6 months and 14 years in China. More study of the etiologic investigations that would further aid the management of pneumonia is required. With effective immunization for RSV, ADV, and M. pneumoniae infections, more than one‐half of the pneumonia cases in this study could have been prevented.
Subjective complaints after acquired brain injury: presentation of the Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ)
Authors: Vallat‐Azouvi Claire , Paillat Cyrille , Bercovici Stéphanie , Morin Bénédicte , Paquereau Julie , Charanton James , Ghout Idir , Azouvi Philippe
Published: October 2017

The objective of the present study was to present a new complaint questionnaire designed to assess a wide range of difficulties commonly reported by patients with acquired brain injury. Patients (n =  619) had been referred to a community re‐entry service at a chronic stage after brain injury, mainly traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ) includes 25 questions in the following domains: cognition, behavior, fatigue and sleep, mood, and somatic problems. A self and a proxy questionnaire were given. An additional question was given to the relative, about the patient's awareness of his difficulties. The questionnaires had a good internal coherence, as measured with Cronbach's alpha. The most frequent complaints were, in decreasing order, mental slowness, memory troubles, fatigue, concentration difficulties, anxiety, and dual tasking problems. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded six underlying factors explaining 50.5% of total variance: somatic concerns, cognition, and lack of drive, lack of control, psycholinguistic disorders, mood, and mental fatigue/slowness. About 52% of patients reported fewer complaints than their proxy, suggesting lack of awareness. The total complaint scores were not significantly correlated with any injury severity measure, but were significantly correlated with disability and poorer quality of life (Note: only factor 2 [cognition/lack of drive] was significantly related to disability.) The BICoQ is a simple scale that can be used in addition to traditional clinical and cognitive assessment measures, and to assess awareness of everyday life problems.
Early administration of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate extends the therapeutic time window of tissue plasminogen activator in a male rat model of embolic stroke
Authors: Wang Zhongxing , Shan Weiran , Cao Jiangbei , Wintermark Max , Huang Wenqi , Zuo Zhiyi
Published: October 2017

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is used in fewer than 4% of patients after ischemic stroke because of its narrow therapeutic time window. We tested whether pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a drug with multiple mechanisms to provide neuroprotection, can be used to extend the therapeutic time window of tPA. Three‐month‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to embolic stroke in the area supplied by the right middle cerebral artery. tPA at 10 mg/kg was given intravenously 4 h after the onset of stroke. PDTC at 50 mg/kg was given via gastric gavage at 30 min or 4 h after the onset of stroke. Two days after the stroke, neurological outcome was evaluated and the right frontal cortex area 1 (Fr1), an ischemic penumbral region, was harvested for analysis. PDTC given at 30 min after the stroke reduced infarct volumes and improved neurological functions no matter whether the rats received tPA. PDTC also reduced tPA‐increased hemorrhagic volumes. Consistent with these results, PDTC in the presence or absence of tPA treatment attenuated the increase of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and matrix metalloprotease 2 activity in the right Fr1. However, PDTC given at 4 h after the onset of stroke did not improve the neurological outcome of rats treated with or without tPA. Our results suggest that PDTC given at an early time point but not in a delayed phase provides neuroprotection against embolic stroke and may be used to extend the therapeutic time window of tPA.
Southwest Pacific atmospheric weather regimes: linkages to ENSO and extra‐tropical teleconnections
Authors: Lorrey Andrew M. , Fauchereau Nicolas C.
Published: October 2017

We objectively identified an optimal number of atmospheric weather regimes, also called synoptic types, within the southwest (SW) Pacific tropical–subtropical domain and examined their potential drivers. Six atmospheric weather regimes in this region are characterized by spatially heterogeneous geopotential height, sea surface temperature, and regional precipitation patterns. The identified weather regimes are phase‐locked to the seasonal cycle with a moderate degree of coherency, and some are capable of persisting for weeks or more in extreme cases. Correlations between the SW Pacific weather regimes and global precipitation reanalysis fields indicate a strong connection between regional weather patterns and South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ) mean position changes and relative intensity of convective loci within the SPCZ. Climate field correlations to SW Pacific weather regimes also show distinct geopotential height and SST signatures across Southern Hemisphere middle and high latitudes and the Indian Ocean basin. Strong statistical significance for portions of those spatial patterns lends support to the assertion of extra‐basin teleconnections for SW Pacific weather regimes. There are strong precipitation impacts from SW Pacific weather regime frequency changes and regime persistence on extreme rainfall deficits and/or surpluses for small islands during austral summer. Diagnostic analysis of the spatial correlation fields and each weather regime indicates these weather patterns are connected to eastern equatorial Pacific‐styles of El Niño and La Niña and Modoki La Niña. Another regime type appears to be connected to an enhancement of the Hadley–Ferrell circulation, while two other types are influenced by phenomena that arise outside the Pacific basin (Madden–Julian oscillation, Southern Annular Mode, and Pacific South American mode). SW Pacific weather regime investigations in the context of modern climate, palaeoclimatology, and future climate change scenarios can help to surmount spatial‐scale mismatches that exist between global models and small Pacific islands, while helping to improve general understanding of island‐scale impacts from atmospheric circulation.
Functional properties of chondrocytes and articular cartilage using optical imaging to scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Xia Yang , Darling Eric M. , Herzog Walter
Published: October 2017

Mature chondrocytes in adult articular cartilage vary in number, size, and shape, depending on their depth in the tissue, location in the joint, and source species. Chondrocytes are the primary structural, functional, and metabolic unit in articular cartilage, the loss of which will induce fatigue to the extracellular matrix (ECM), eventually leading to failure of the cartilage and impairment of the joint as a whole. This brief review focuses on the functional and biomechanical studies of chondrocytes and articular cartilage, using microscopic imaging from optical microscopies to scanning probe microscopy. Three topics are covered in this review, including the functional studies of chondrons by optical imaging (unpolarized and polarized light and infrared light, two‐photon excitation microscopy), the probing of chondrocytes and cartilage directly using microscale measurement techniques, and different imaging approaches that can measure chondrocyte mechanics and chondrocyte biological signaling under in situ and in vivo environments. Technical advancement in chondrocyte research during recent years has enabled new ways to study the biomechanical and functional properties of these cells and cartilage. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:620–631, 2018.
Biomechanical investigation of two long bone growth modulation techniques by finite element simulations
Authors: Schneider Manuel , Buschbaum Jan , Joeris Alexander , Röhrle Oliver , Dwyer Jonathan , Hunter James B. , Reynolds Richard A.K. , Slongo Theodor F. , Gueorguiev Boyko , Varga Peter
Published: October 2017

Implants used to correct pathological varus–valgus deformities (VVD) and leg length discrepancies (LLD) may not be optimized for the specific treatment, as suggested by their off‐label use. Detailed analysis of this issue has been limited by the poorly understood mechanical behavior of the growing physis and ignorance of the loads acting on the implants. The aim of this study was to predict and compare the loading conditions of a growth modulation implant in VVD and LLD treatments. Idealized finite element (FE) models of the juvenile distal femur treated with the Eight‐Plate implant were developed for VVD and LLD. Bone growth was simulated using thermal strains. The axial force in the plate was compared between the two treatments. Case‐specific plate forces were predicted by virtually reproducing the screw deformation visible on radiographs of LLD (N = 4) and VVD (N = 4) clinical cases. The simple FE models reproduced the clinical implant deformations well. The resulting forces ranged from 129 to 580 N for the VVD patients. For LLD, this range was from 295 to 1002 N per plate, that is, 590–2004 N for the entire physis. The higher forces in LLD could be explained by restricted screw divergence in the double‐sided implant application. For the first time, the loading conditions of a growth modulation implant were investigated and compared between two treatments by FE analyses, and the range of case‐specific loads was predicted. These simulation tools may be utilized for guiding appropriate usage and for efficient development of implants. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1398–1405, 2018.
A New Approach Toward Metal‐Free Self‐Healing Ionomers Based on Phosphate and Methacrylate Containing Copolymers
Authors: Dahlke Jan , Bose Ranjita K. , Zechel Stefan , Garcia Santiago J. , van der Zwaag Sybrand , Hager Martin D. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: October 2017

In order to accelerate the progress of the development of new self‐healing ionomers, a new pathway toward fully organic ionomers containing methacrylic acid and phosphate‐based functional groups, respectively, as well as butyl methacrylate as comonomer is presented in the current study. The well‐defined copolymer structures are synthesized using the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and further characterized by NMR, size exclusion chromatography as well as titration. Two different metal‐free ionomers as well as one reference K+ based ionomer are created and tested. The results of the detailed investigation by NMR, thermal analysis, and rheology are correlated with the scratch‐healing performance in order to identify trends and dependencies leading to preconditions for further improvements.
Robust intensity‐modulated proton therapy to reduce high linear energy transfer in organs at risk
Authors: An Yu , Shan Jie , Patel Samir H. , Wong William , Schild Steven E. , Ding Xiaoning , Bues Martin , Liu Wei
Published: October 2017

Purpose

We propose a robust treatment planning model that simultaneously considers proton range and patient setup uncertainties and reduces high linear energy transfer (LET) exposure in organs at risk (OARs) to minimize the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) dose in OARs for intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Our method could potentially reduce the unwanted damage to OARs.

Methods

We retrospectively generated plans for 10 patients including two prostate, four head and neck, and four lung cancer patients. The “worst‐case robust optimization” model was applied. One additional term as a “biological surrogate (BS)” of OARs due to the high LET‐related biological effects was added in the objective function. The biological surrogate was defined as the sum of the physical dose and extra biological effects caused by the dose‐averaged LET. We generated nine uncertainty scenarios that considered proton range and patient setup uncertainty. Corresponding to each uncertainty scenario, LET was obtained by a fast LET calculation method developed in‐house and based on Monte Carlo simulations. In each optimization iteration, the model used the worst‐case BS among all scenarios and then penalized overly high BS to organs. The model was solved by an efficient algorithm (limited‐memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno) in a parallel computing environment. Our new model was benchmarked with the conventional robust planning model without considering BS. Dose–volume histograms (DVHs) of the dose assuming a fixed RBE of 1.1 and BS for tumor and organs under nominal and uncertainty scenarios were compared to assess the plan quality between the two methods.

Results

For the 10 cases, our model outperformed the conventional robust model in avoidance of high LET in OARs. At the same time, our method could achieve dose distributions and plan robustness of tumors assuming a fixed RBE of 1.1 almost the same as those of the conventional robust model.

Conclusions

Explicitly considering LET in IMPT robust treatment planning can reduce the high LET to OARs and minimize the possible toxicity of high RBE dose to OARs without sacrificing plan quality. We believe this will allow one to design and deliver safer proton therapy.
Automated detection of foveal center in SD‐OCT images using the saliency of retinal thickness maps
Authors: Niu Sijie , Chen Qiang , de Sisternes Luis , Leng Theodore , Rubin Daniel L.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

To develop an automated method based on saliency map of the retinal thickness map to determine foveal center in spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) images.

Methods

This paper proposes an automatic method for the detection of the foveal center in SD‐OCT images. Initially, a retinal thickness map is generated by considering the axial distance between the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and the Bruch's membrane (BM). Both the ILM and BM boundaries are automatically segmented by a known retinal segmentation technique. The macular foveal region is identified as a salient feature in the retinal thickness map, and segmented by the saliency detection method based on a human vision attention model. Finally, the foveal center is identified by searching for the lowest point from the determined macular fovea region.

Results

Experimental results in 39 scans from 35 healthy eyes and 58 scans from 29 eyes diagnosed with several stages of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), from mild or intermediate stages to severe dry or wet stages, demonstrated that the proposed method achieves good performance. The mean radial distance error of the automatically detected foveal center locations when compared to consensus manual determination established by repeated sessions from two expert readers was 52 ± 56 μm for the normal eyes and 73 ± 63 μm for AMD eyes.

Conclusions

The proposed algorithm was more effective for detecting the foveal center automatically in SD‐OCT images than the state‐of‐art methods.
Evaluating the 8‐item overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB‐v8) using item response theory
Authors: Peterson Alexander C. , Sehgal Anika , Crump R. Trafford , Baverstock Richard , Sutherland Jason M. , Carlson Kevin
Published: October 2017

Aims

The OAB‐v8 is a patient‐reported outcome questionnaire used to screen for overactive bladder and measure symptom bother. This study uses modern validation methods to assess the item and test characteristics of the OAB‐v8, and determine whether it should be scored differently for men and women.

Methods

A secondary analysis of data from patients with lower urinary tract symptoms prospectively recruited from a urology clinic in Calgary, Canada. Item‐response theory (IRT) was used to evaluate the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of the OAB‐v8, and differential functioning analysis (DIF) was used to determine whether the OAB‐v8 should be scored differently for men and women.

Results

A total of 1128 patients were included for analysis, of which 28% were female. Mean OAB‐v8 scores indicated meaningful levels of symptom bother, and women scored 2 points higher, on average, than men (P = 0.005). Reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.901) for a wide range of patients (between −2 and 2.5 standard deviations of the mean). Samejima's graded response model best fit the data, and the scale demonstrated essential unidimensionality. Items #5 and #6 were excessively correlated. There was no evidence of differential functioning.

Conclusions

OAB‐v8 demonstrated high reliability and would be appropriate for a wide range of patients. Items #5 and #6 may need to be re‐worded. The OAB‐v8 should not be scored differently for men and women, although women do appear to experience higher average levels of symptom bother from OAB than men.
A Comparison of Insulin Doses for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia in Patients with Renal Insufficiency
Authors: LaRue Heather A. , Peksa Gary Daniel , Shah Shital C.
Published: October 2017

Study Objective

To compare the safety and efficacy of 5 units versus 10 units of insulin for the treatment of hyperkalemia in patients with renal insufficiency.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Large academic medical center emergency department.

Patients

Between March 1, 2008, and February 29, 2016, 675 patients met the inclusion criteria of age 18 years and older, serum potassium greater than 5 mEq/L, renal insufficiency, 5 units or 10 units of intravenous regular insulin administered in the emergency department, and blood glucose documented within 5 hours after insulin administration. Of these patients, 133 (19.7%) received 5 units of insulin and 542 (80.3%) received 10 units of insulin.

Measurements and Results

The primary outcome was incidence of hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 70 mg/dl). Secondary outcomes were incidence of severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 40 mg/dl) and change in serum potassium after insulin therapy. Hypoglycemia occurred in 26 of 133 patients receiving 5 units of insulin (19.5%) and in 155 of 542 patients receiving 10 units (28.6%) (difference = −9.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −16.8% to −1.3%). Severe hypoglycemia occurred in 4 of 133 patients (3.0%) and 37 of 542 patients (6.8%) receiving insulin 5 units and 10 units, respectively (difference = −3.8%, 95% CI −7.4% to 0%). Change in serum potassium was similar between groups (−1.0 ± 0.8 vs −1.0 ± 0.7 mEq/L, difference = 0, 95% CI −0.1 to 0.1).

Conclusion

In patients with renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia, 5 units of insulin reduced serum potassium to the same extent as 10 units of insulin but with a lower rate of hypoglycemia. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Midostaurin: A New Oral Agent Targeting FMS‐Like Tyrosine Kinase 3‐Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Stansfield Lindsay C. , Pollyea Daniel A.
Published: October 2017

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a clonal hematologic malignancy that results in bone marrow failure, is the most common acute leukemia in adults (median age of diagnosis 67 yrs), and treatment options, especially in the elderly population, are limited. Induction chemotherapy with 7 + 3, the combination of continuous‐infusion cytarabine and intermittent dosing of an anthracycline administered over 7 and 3 days, respectively, has remained the standard of care since its introduction in 1973 in the United States. Midostaurin is a first‐generation FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor (TKI) that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2017 for the treatment of FLT3‐mutant AML. We performed a search of the PubMed database (January 1990–January 2017) to review pertinent clinical trials of midostaurin. Phase I, II, and III trials reported in English evaluating the safety and efficacy of midostaurin in patients with AML or myelodysplastic syndrome were included. The ClinicalTrials.gov database was also searched for ongoing trials. In the only phase III trial that has been conducted to date, midostaurin demonstrated significant improvement compared with placebo in overall and event‐free survival in patients aged 18–59 years with newly diagnosed FLT3‐mutant AML treated with standard induction chemotherapy. The median overall survival for patients randomized to the midostaurin group was 74.7 months versus 25.6 months in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.96, p=0.009). Median event‐free survival was 8.2 months with midostaurin compared with 3.0 months with placebo (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.93, p=0.002). In addition to being evaluated in combination with conventional chemotherapy, midostaurin has been studied as monotherapy, in combination with the hypomethylating agents azacitidine and decitabine, and as single‐agent maintenance. Studies evaluating midostaurin in the maintenance setting after allogeneic stem cell transplantation are underway. Midostaurin is the first oral multitargeted TKI to improve overall survival in patients with FLT3‐mutant AML and represents an important addition to the limited armamentarium against AML.
What makes it difficult to refine protein models further via molecular dynamics simulations?
Authors: Heo Lim , Feig Michael
Published: October 2017

Protein structure refinement remains a challenging yet important problem as it has the potential to bring already accurate template‐based models to near‐native resolution. Refinement based on molecular dynamics simulations has been a highly promising approach and the performance of MD‐based refinement in the Feig group during CASP12 is described here. During CASP12, sampling was extended well into the microsecond scale, an improved force field was applied, and new protocol variations were tested. Progress over previous rounds of CASP was found to be limited which is analyzed in terms of the quality of the initial models and dependency on the amount of sampling and refinement protocol variations. As current MD‐based refinement protocols appear to be reaching a plateau, detailed analysis is presented to provide new insight into the major challenges towards more extensive structure refinement, focusing in particular on sampling with and without restraints.
Methods for estimation of model accuracy in CASP12
Authors: Elofsson Arne , Joo Keehyoung , Keasar Chen , Lee Jooyoung , Maghrabi Ali H. A. , Manavalan Balachandran , McGuffin Liam J. , Ménendez Hurtado David , Mirabello Claudio , Pilstål Robert , Sidi Tomer , Uziela Karolis , Wallner Björn
Published: October 2017

Methods to reliably estimate the quality of 3D models of proteins are essential drivers for the wide adoption and serious acceptance of protein structure predictions by life scientists. In this article, the most successful groups in CASP12 describe their latest methods for estimates of model accuracy (EMA). We show that pure single model accuracy estimation methods have shown clear progress since CASP11; the 3 top methods (MESHI, ProQ3, SVMQA) all perform better than the top method of CASP11 (ProQ2). Although the pure single model accuracy estimation methods outperform quasi‐single (ModFOLD6 variations) and consensus methods (Pcons, ModFOLDclust2, Pcomb‐domain, and Wallner) in model selection, they are still not as good as those methods in absolute model quality estimation and predictions of local quality. Finally, we show that when using contact‐based model quality measures (CAD, lDDT) the single model quality methods perform relatively better.
Biological and functional relevance of CASP predictions
Authors: Liu Tianyun , Ish‐Shalom Shirbi , Torng Wen , Lafita Aleix , Bock Christian , Mort Matthew , Cooper David N , Bliven Spencer , Capitani Guido , Mooney Sean D. , Altman Russ B.
Published: October 2017

Our goal is to answer the question: compared with experimental structures, how useful are predicted models for functional annotation? We assessed the functional utility of predicted models by comparing the performances of a suite of methods for functional characterization on the predictions and the experimental structures. We identified 28 sites in 25 protein targets to perform functional assessment. These 28 sites included nine sites with known ligand binding (holo‐sites), nine sites that are expected or suggested by experimental authors for small molecule binding (apo‐sites), and Ten sites containing important motifs, loops, or key residues with important disease‐associated mutations. We evaluated the utility of the predictions by comparing their microenvironments to the experimental structures. Overall structural quality correlates with functional utility. However, the best‐ranked predictions (global) may not have the best functional quality (local). Our assessment provides an ability to discriminate between predictions with high structural quality. When assessing ligand‐binding sites, most prediction methods have higher performance on apo‐sites than holo‐sites. Some servers show consistently high performance for certain types of functional sites. Finally, many functional sites are associated with protein‐protein interaction. We also analyzed biologically relevant features from the protein assemblies of two targets where the active site spanned the protein‐protein interface. For the assembly targets, we find that the features in the models are mainly determined by the choice of template.
Room Temperature Processed ZnO Thin Film Transistors Grown by Magnetron Sputtering Using Zirconium Oxide Gate Dielectric
Authors: A. V. Ali Muhammed , Kekuda Dhananjaya
Published: October 2017

A room temperature‐processed ZnO thin film transistors (TFT) with zirconium oxide (ZrO2) are demonstrated as a gate dielectric, fabricated by dc magnetron sputtering. The oxygen flow rate dependence of ZrO2 thin films on the optical, structural, and electrical properties is investigated. Nanocrystalline ZrO2 films with a grain size of 6.2–16.8 nm are obtained at room temperature and grain size is found to be a function of oxygen flow rate during deposition. The electrical characterization of the gate dielectric is carried out using the device structure Al‐ZrO2‐Al. The leakage properties and dielectric constants are computed for the gate dielectric grown at different oxygen flow rates. Further, bottom gate staggered ZnO thin film transistors are fabricated with the configuration glass/Al/ZrO2/ZnO/Al and the devices exhibit a field effect mobility of ≈43 cm2 V−1 s−1, a low operating voltage of 1.5 V and on/off ratio of 103. This work could lead to the possibility of low operating voltage TFTs for the next generation display technologies.
Tailoring the Optical Parameters of Optical Fiber Interferometer With Dedicated Boron‐Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Thin Film
Authors: Majchrowicz Daria , Kosowska Monika , Struk Przemysław , Jędrzejewska‐Szczerska Małgorzata
Published: October 2017

An optical fiber interferometer using nanocrystalline boron‐doped diamond film is investigated. The diamond films are deposited on glass plates using a Microwave Plasma‐Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (µPE CVD) system. The growth time is 3 h, with boron doping level of 10 000 ppm producing films (B‐NCD‐10) of thickness ≈200 nm. The presence of boron atoms in the diamond film is evident in Raman spectrum as peaks at 1212 and 1306 cm−1. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show homogenous and continuous surface morphology, thus enabling the use of the diamond film as a reflective layer in fiber optic devices. The optical fiber interferometric sensor in Fabry‐Pérot configuration with a diamond reflective layer as a mirror was designed and built. Measurements are performed using two superluminescent diodes with central wavelengths of 1290 and 1550 nm. The detection of the measured signal is achieved using an optical spectrum analyzer. All devices are connected with commercially available, single‐mode telecommunications fibers and coupler. Using B‐NCD‐10 films in fiber optic interferometer a very high value of the measured signal contrast is obtained, equal to 0.99. The use of B‐NCD‐10 film as a reflective surface allows the Fabry‐Pérot cavity length to be reduced while achieving very good signal visibility. Consequently, the volume of the sample in the cavity can be reduced, compared with that of the traditional mirrors.
Poly‐Trimethoxyphenylsilane as Carrier Film for Residual‐Free CVD Graphene Transfer
Authors: Kim Bum Jun , Shrivastava Nilesh K. , Nasir Tuqeer , Choi Kyoung Soon , Lee Jouhahn , Kim Hak Chul , Kim Kwan Woo , Devika Mudusu , Lee Sang Hoon , Jeong Byung Joo , Yu Hak Ki , Choi Jae‐Young
Published: October 2017

We synthesized poly‐trimethoxyphenylsilane (PTMS) and applied it as the carrier film to CVD graphene transfer process for the first time. Since the PTMS particles are not fully crosslinked due to the presence of bulky groups, they do not have crystallinity in the long‐range order on the graphene surface and are easily removed by solvent such as toluene. Raman, AFM, and X‐ray photoemission (especially, Si 2p signal) analysis confirmed that the surface of the transferred graphene was clean without PTMS impurities.
Magnetization Reversal in Fe/BaTiO3(110) Heterostructured Multiferroics
Authors: Gorige Venkataiah , Swain Anupama , Komatsu Katsuyoshi , Itoh Mitsuru , Taniyama Tomoyasu
Published: October 2017

Magnetization reversal has been demonstrated in an Fe layer grown on BaTiO3(110) single crystal substrate by utilizing the interface magnetic anisotropy induced by lattice strain and a small magnetic field bias. The polar plots of normalized remanent magnetization show isotropic nature at room temperature (293 K), while those at 230 and 175 K exhibit twofold symmetry with the easy axis oriented along [‐111]pc of BaTiO3. Cooling and heating cycles in the range of 150–325 K in an applied magnetic field of −35 Oe along [‐111]pc enable to achieve the deterministic 180° magnetization reversal, where distinct magnetic anisotropies of Fe associated with different structural phases of BaTiO3 will be the driving force that induces the magnetization reversal. Electric field dependence of the magnetic coercivity shows hysteric behavior, which we attribute to the combined interfacial effect of magnetization rotation in Fe and ferroelectric polarization switching in BaTiO3.
DFT study of the acid‐catalyzed esterification reaction mechanism of methanol with carboxylic acid and its halide derivatives
Authors: Lawal Monsurat M. , Govender Thavendran , Maguire Glenn E. M. , Kruger Hendrik G. , Honarparvar Bahareh
Published: October 2017

Extensive experimental studies have been dedicated to the esterification mechanisms from carboxylic acids and acid halides. However, attention on the theoretical aspect of the mechanism has been scarcely addressed. Herein, the acid‐catalyzed esterification mechanism of methanol with acetic acid and its halide derivatives is described using density functional theoretical method and solvation model based on density. The mechanistic investigation involved formation of cyclic prereaction and 6‐membered ring transition structures, which favors the esterification process and product formation. A good comparison with experimental data from literature for the esterification reaction of acetic acid with methanol was achieved through this in silico approach. Density Functional Theory‐based quantum descriptors were applied to provide a better understanding on the reactivity, selectivity, and stability of this reaction. This theoretical results provide a crucial guide to study classical acid‐catalyzed reaction mechanisms and applying a reasonable theoretical model to study similar organic reactions. In addition, it can be applied to larger systems such as enzymatic mechanism.
Formation control for a class of nonlinear multiagent systems using model‐free adaptive iterative learning
Authors: Bu Xuhui , Cui Lizhi , Hou Zhongsheng , Qian Wei
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the problem of formation control is considered for a class of unknown nonaffine nonlinear multiagent systems under a repeatable operation environment. To achieve the formation objective, the unknown nonlinear agent's dynamic is first transformed into a compact form dynamic linearization model along the iteration axis. Then, a distributed model‐free adaptive iterative learning control scheme is designed to ensure that all agents can keep their desired deviations from the reference trajectory over the whole time interval. The main results are given for the multiagent systems with fixed communication topologies and the extension to the switching topologies case is also discussed. The feature of this design is that formation control can be solved only depending on the input/output data of each agent. An example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Improving likelihood‐based inference in control rate regression
Authors: Guolo Annamaria
Published: October 2017

Control rate regression is a diffuse approach to account for heterogeneity among studies in meta‐analysis by including information about the outcome risk of patients in the control condition. Correcting for the presence of measurement error affecting risk information in the treated and in the control group has been recognized as a necessary step to derive reliable inferential conclusions. Within this framework, the paper considers the problem of small sample size as an additional source of misleading inference about the slope of the control rate regression. Likelihood procedures relying on first‐order approximations are shown to be substantially inaccurate, especially when dealing with increasing heterogeneity and correlated measurement errors. We suggest to address the problem by relying on higher‐order asymptotics. In particular, we derive Skovgaard's statistic as an instrument to improve the accuracy of the approximation of the signed profile log‐likelihood ratio statistic to the standard normal distribution. The proposal is shown to provide much more accurate results than standard likelihood solutions, with no appreciable computational effort. The advantages of Skovgaard's statistic in control rate regression are shown in a series of simulation experiments and illustrated in a real data example.Rcode for applying first‐ and second‐order statistic for inference on the slope on the control rate regression is provided.
Recent Progress in Micro‐Supercapacitors with In‐Plane Interdigital Electrode Architecture
Authors: Liu Nishuang , Gao Yihua
Published: October 2017

Due to the boom of miniaturized electronic devices in the last decade, there are great demands for ultrathin and flexible on‐chip rechargeable energy storage microdevices. Supercapacitor, as one of the most hopeful appearing energy storage devices, can provide a wonderful alternative to batteries or electrolytic capacitors, owing to its fast charge and discharge rates, high power density, and long cycling stability. Especially for the recently developed micro‐supercapacitors, the unique in‐plane interdigital electrode architecture can fully meet the integration requirements of rapidly developed miniaturized electronic devices, and improve the power density of the unit via shortening the ionic diffusion distance between the interdigital electrodes. This concept introduces the recent advances on the design, fabrication, and application of planar micro‐supercapacitors for on‐chip energy storage from an overall perspective. Moreover, challenges and future development trends are discussed.