bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DBT desulfurization by decorating Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 using magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles in a bioreactor
Authors: Karimi Elham , Jeffryes Clayton , Yazdian Fatemeh , Akhavan Sepahi Abbas , Hatamian Ash , Rasekh Behnam , Rashedi Hamid , Omidi Meisam , Ebrahim‐Habibi Mohammad‐Bagher , Ashrafi Seyed Jamal
Published: November 2016

Today, crude oil is an important source of energy and environmental contamination due to the continued use of petroleum products is a matter or urgent concern. In this work, two technological platforms, namely, the use of a robust desulfurizing bacteria and the use of nanotechnology to decorate the surface of the bacteria with nanoparticles (NP), were combined to enhance biodesulfurization (BDS). BDS is an ecologically friendly method for desulfurizing petroleum products while avoiding damage to the hydrocarbons due to the high temperatures normally associated with physical desulfurization methods. First, a bacterium known to be a good organism for desulfurization (Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8) was employed in cell culture to remove a recalcitrant sulfur molecule from a common sulfur‐containing compound found in crude petroleum products (dibenzothiophene). 2‐Hydroxybiphenyl (2‐HBP) produced as a consequence of the BDS of dibenzothiophene was determined using Gibbs’ assay. The synthesized NP were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy images showed the size of the NP is 7–8 nm. The decorated cells had a long lag phase, but the growth continued until 148 h (at OD600 = 3.408) while the noncoated bacteria grow until 96 h before entering the stationary phase at OD600 = 2.547. Gibbs’ assay results showed that production of 2‐HBP by decorated cells was 0.210 mM at t = 148 h, while 2‐HBP production by nondecorated cells was 0.182 mM at t = 96 h. Finally, the experiments were repeated in a fermenter.
The micro‐Ames test: A direct comparison of the performance and sensitivities of the standard and 24‐well plate versions of the bacterial mutation test
Authors: Proudlock Raymond , Evans Kristie
Published: November 2016

“Ames” bacterial mutation tests are widely performed for evaluation and registration of new materials including industrial chemicals, agrochemicals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical impurities and other materials. Tests are used to predict their potential long‐term adverse health effects (including carcinogenicity). Given their importance, pre‐screening ‘miniaturized’ versions have been developed which allow higher throughput and use less test material, including the widely‐employed 24‐well micro‐Ames (µAmes) test which uses 20 times less material. However, little quantitative information has been published on the methodology or sensitivity of this system. We describe methods and results used in direct comparisons of the sensitivity of micro and standard systems using the same cultures, formulations, etc. Initial testing utilized the plate incorporation method and, later, the pre‐incubation method. In a subsequent phase of testing, a four‐way direct comparison was made between the pre‐incubation and plate incorporation methods in both systems using some direct‐acting mutagens. Tests used only those strain/S9/chemical combinations where a response was expected. Historical control results accumulated during testing are also presented. Spontaneous and induced revertant colony counts for the µAmes system were consistently proportionate and approximately 1/20th those for the standard Ames test. Sensitivities of the two systems were found to be nearly identical in almost all cases for a wide variety of weak and strong inorganic and organic mutagens. Standardized procedures and increased reliability of the estimate of the background revertant frequency in the µAmes system means that the two systems give equivalent results and are expected to be highly predictive of one another. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:687–705, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Nature of Adsorbed Carbon Dioxide on Immobilized Amines during Carbon Dioxide Capture from Air and Simulated Flue Gas
Authors: Zhai Yuxin , Chuang Steven S. C.
Published: November 2016

The structure and nature of adsorbed species on solid amine sorbent under various CO2 concentrations from ambient air (0.04 vol %) to an CO2/air stream (15 vol %) have been studied by using in situ IR spectroscopy. The in situ IR study (i) provided evidence to support the zwitterion pathway for CO2 adsorption/desorption and (ii) allowed the determination of the nature of the adsorbed species. The IR‐observable zwitterion was deprotonated to ammonium carbamate and carbamic acid reversibly. CO2 adsorbs on the primary amine site as a strongly adsorbed species in the form of ammonium carbamate and on the secondary amine site as a weakly adsorbed species in the form of carbamic acid. Another form of weakly adsorbed species could be ammonium carbamate on the secondary amine. An increase of the concentration of CO2 in the stream increased the CO2 capture capacity, the fraction of strongly adsorbed CO2, and the binding energy of adsorbed species. A concentration of 400 ppm CO2 in air competes over 0.5 % of water vapor for adsorption on Class I amine sorbents.
PLC performance evaluation with channel gain and additive noise over nonuniform background noise phase
Authors: Mathur Aashish , Bhatnagar Manav R. , Panigrahi Bijaya K.
Published: November 2016

Owing to its huge potential to provide easy access to high‐speed video and data, power line communication (PLC) has recently grabbed the attention of the researchers. The PLC is an emerging field of communication for the home area network of smart grid. Because power lines were not initially designed for communication purposes, they offer a difficult communication environment in the form of impulsive noise and multiplicative noise, in addition to the background noise. This elucidates the need for evaluating the performance of PLC systems by taking into account all these factors. The performance of a PLC system under the influence of Rayleigh distributed channel gain, background noise (with nonuniform phase), and impulsive noise is comprehensively studied in this paper. We evaluate closed‐form expressions of the average bit error rate and outage probability for different cases depending on the presence or absence of impulsive noise and channel gain. We provide a further insight into the system by obtaining the diversity of the PLC system. Simulation results closely match with our analysis, thereby establishing the validity of the derived expressions.
Host‐guest complexes of estragole with β‐cyclodextrin: an experimental and theoretical investigation
Authors: Yang Zujin , Huang Liyun , Yao Xingdong , Ji Hongbing
Published: November 2016

Estragole (ES) has multiple biological activities and is widely used in food preservation. However, the applications of ES are limited because of its low water solubility and high volatility nature. In this paper, the β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) inclusion complex of ES was prepared by a co‐precipitation method with the aim of enhancing its thermal stability and realize its controlled release. Solubility experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of β‐CD on ES aqueous solubility. Release experiments of ES from its inclusion complexes were carried out at different temperatures with a relative humidity (RH) and Avrami's equation was used to analyse the release data. The antimicrobial activity of the free and included ES was also examined. The results indicated that the host–guest interactions played a crucial role in enhancing the properties of ES. The inclusion complex was investigated using physico‐chemical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), 1H and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The inclusion processes between β‐CD and ES were simulated using the semi‐empirical PM3 and ONIOM [B3LYP/6‐31g(d):PM3] methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MLPG_R method for modelling 2D flows of two immiscible fluids
Authors: Zhou Yan , Ma Q. W. , Yan S.
Published: November 2016

This is a first attempt to develop the Meshless Local Petrov–Galerkin method with Rankine source solution (MLPG_R method) to simulate multiphase flows. In this paper, we do not only further develop the MLPG_R method to model two‐phase flows but also propose two new techniques to tackle the associated challenges. The first technique is to form an equation for pressure on the explicitly identified interface between different phases by considering the continuity of the pressure and the discontinuity of the pressure gradient (i.e. the ratio of pressure gradient to fluid density), the latter reflecting the fact that the normal velocity is continuous across the interface. The second technique is about solving the algebraic equation for pressure, which gives reasonable solution not only for the cases with low density ratio but also for the cases with very high density ratio, such as more than 1000. The numerical tests show that the results of the newly developed two‐phase MLPG_R method agree well with analytical solutions and experimental data in the cases studied. The numerical results also demonstrate that the newly developed method has a second‐order convergent rate in the cases for sloshing motion with small amplitudes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Evidence on the Ability of Asset Prices and Real Economic Activity Forecast Errors to Predict Inflation Forecast Errors
Authors: Apergis Nicholas
Published: November 2016

This paper investigates the impact of both asset and macroeconomic forecast errors on inflation forecast errors in the USA by making use of a two‐regime model. The findings document a significant contribution of both types of forecast errors to the explanation of inflation forecast errors, with the pass‐through being stronger when these errors move within the high‐volatility regime. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Facile Diethylene Glycol Reduction Method for the Synthesis of Ultrafine Pd/C Electrocatalyst with High Electrocatalytic Activity for Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Zhai Y. N. , He S. , Xiao X. , Wu Z. Q. , Li S. N. , Lee J. M.
Published: November 2016

The high‐quality carbon supported Pd nanoparticles (Pd/C) composites have wide applications in catalysis. In this work, we demonstrate an efficient diethylene glycol (DEG) reduction method for the synthesis of a Pd/C catalyst with high dispersion and small particle size. During the synthesis, no surfactants and halogen ions are introduced in the reaction system, and DEG efficiently acts as solvent and reducing agent, which results in a “clean” Pd surface. Meanwhile, compared to the classic ethylene glycol (EG) reduction method, the present DEG reduction method can produce the high‐quality Pd/C composites. As a result, the as‐prepared Pd/C electrocatalyst exhibits a large electrochemical active surface area and good electrocatalytic performance for the methanol oxidation reaction in an alkaline media, due to the high dispersion and small particle size. This result indicates the as‐prepared Pd/C electrocatalyst has potential applications in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.
Simulation of laser welding using advanced particle methods
Authors: Hu Haoyue , Fetzer Florian , Berger Peter , Eberhard Peter
Published: November 2016

The process of laser welding is modelled using the meshless Lagrangian Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. Significant physical effects during the welding process like heat conduction, surface tension, and the occuring phase transitions melting, solidification, and evaporation are considered in the model. By coupling an SPH code with a ray tracer that tracks the propagation of independent light rays in the capillary and calculates the locally absorbed intensity by means of geometrical optics, the laser‐material interaction is represented in detail, even for complex capillary geometries. Therefore, both heat conduction and deep penetration laser welding can be simulated using this co‐simulation approach. The model is able to predict the temperature distribution during the welding process and the dimensions of the resulting weld seam. Furthermore, the vaporisation threshold and deep penetration threshold can be estimated. The numerical results are validated by comparing the obtained threshold values with experimental data and an analytical approximation during seam welding of aluminum. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Bayesian vector autoregressive model for multi‐subject effective connectivity inference using multi‐modal neuroimaging data
Authors: Chiang Sharon , Guindani Michele , Yeh Hsiang J. , Haneef Zulfi , Stern John M. , Vannucci Marina
Published: November 2016

In this article a multi‐subject vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling approach was proposed for inference on effective connectivity based on resting‐state functional MRI data. Their framework uses a Bayesian variable selection approach to allow for simultaneous inference on effective connectivity at both the subject‐ and group‐level. Furthermore, it accounts for multi‐modal data by integrating structural imaging information into the prior model, encouraging effective connectivity between structurally connected regions. They demonstrated through simulation studies that their approach resulted in improved inference on effective connectivity at both the subject‐ and group‐level, compared with currently used methods. It was concluded by illustrating the method on temporal lobe epilepsy data, where resting‐state functional MRI and structural MRI were used. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1311–1332, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neonatal neural networks predict children behavioral profiles later in life
Authors: Wee Chong‐Yaw , Tuan Ta Anh , Broekman Birit F. P. , Ong Min Yee , Chong Yap‐Seng , Kwek Kenneth , Shek Lynette Pei‐Chi , Saw Seang‐Mei , Gluckman Peter D. , Fortier Marielle V. , Meaney Michael J. , Qiu Anqi
Published: November 2016

This study aimed to examine heterogeneity of neonatal brain network and its prediction to child behaviors at 24 and 48 months of age. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography was employed to construct brain anatomical network for 120 neonates. Clustering coefficients of individual structures were computed and used to classify neonates with similar brain anatomical networks into one group. Internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems were assessed using maternal reports of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at 24 and 48 months of age. The profile of CBCL externalizing and internalizing behaviors was then examined in the groups identified based on the neonatal brain network. Finally, support vector machine and canonical correlation analysis were used to identify brain structures whose clustering coefficients together significantly contribute the variation of the behaviors at 24 and 48 months of age. Four meaningful groups were revealed based on the brain anatomical networks at birth. Moreover, the clustering coefficients of the brain regions that most contributed to this grouping of neonates were significantly associated with childhood internalizing and externalizing behaviors assessed at 24 and 48 months of age. Specially, the clustering coefficient of the right amygdala was associated with both internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 24 months of age, while the clustering coefficients of the right inferior frontal cortex and insula were associated with externalizing behaviors at 48 months of age. Our findings suggested that neural organization established during fetal development could to some extent predict individual differences in behavioral‐emotional problems in early childhood. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1362–1373, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk for alcoholic liver cirrhosis after an initial hospital contact with alcohol problems: A nationwide prospective cohort study
Authors: Askgaard Gro , Leon David A. , Kjær Mette S. , Deleuran Thomas , Gerds Thomas A. , Tolstrup Janne S.
Published: November 2016

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is usually preceded by many years of heavy drinking, in which cessation in drinking could prevent the disease. Alcohol problems are not consistently managed in hospital patients. We followed all Danish patients with an initial hospital contact with alcohol problems (intoxication, harmful use, or dependence) during 1998‐2002 for alcoholic liver cirrhosis development (n = 36,044). In this registry‐based cohort, we identified predictors of the absolute risk for alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated as the incidence rate of alcoholic liver cirrhosis in these patients relative to the general population. Age and alcohol diagnosis were significant predictors of alcoholic liver cirrhosis risk in men and women, whereas civil status, education, and type of hospital care were not. In men, the 15‐year absolute risk was 0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4, 0.8) for 20‐29 years, 5.5% (95% CI, 4.9, 6.2) for 30‐39 years, 9.8% (95% CI, 9.0, 11) for 40‐49 years, 8.9% (95% CI, 8.1, 9.8) for 50‐59 years, 6.2% (95% CI, 5.1, 7.2) for 60‐69 years, and 2.5% (95% CI, 1.7, 3.3) for 70‐84 years. According to alcohol diagnosis in men, the 15‐year absolute risk was 2.6% (95% CI, 2.3, 2.9) for intoxication, 7.7% (95% CI, 6.4, 7.9) for harmful use, and 8.8% (95% CI, 8.2, 9.4) for dependence. The IRR for alcoholic liver cirrhosis in the cohort relative to the general population was 11 (95% CI, 10, 12) in men and 18 (95% CI, 15, 21) in women. Conclusion: Hospital patients with alcohol problems had a much greater risk for alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the general population. The risk was particularly increased for patients 40‐59 years and for patients diagnosed with harmful use or dependence. (Hepatology 2017;65:929‐937).
Racial/ethnic differences in kindergartners' reading and math skills: Parents' knowledge of children's development and home‐based activities as mediators
Authors: Sonnenschein Susan , Sun Shuyan
Published: November 2016

Despite the growing body of research on parents' beliefs and practices, relatively little is known about the relations between parents' knowledge of children's development, home‐based activities, and children's early reading and math skills. This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study‐Birth Cohort to examine the differences in Asian, Black, Latino, and White children's early reading and math skills at kindergarten entry and whether parents' knowledge of children's development and home‐based activities mediate the relation. Parents' knowledge of children's development was assessed when children were 9 months. Home‐based activities, including home literacy and enrichment, were assessed when children were preschool age. Asian and White children started kindergarten with significantly higher reading and math scores than Black or Latino children. There also were significant differences across groups in the frequency of engagement in home literacy and enrichment activities. Associations between race/ethnicity and reading/math scores were mediated by parents' knowledge of children's development and home literacy activities. Discussion addresses the importance of parents' knowledge of educationally relevant activities and how to engage in such activities to foster children's reading and math skills and to close racial/ethnic gaps.

Highlights

This paper examined racial/ethnic difference in children's reading and math skills in kindergarten and explores whether parents' knowledge of children's development and home‐based activities mediate the relation between race/ethnicity and children's reading and math skills.

By using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort, this study found that there were systematic racial/ethnic differences in parents' knowledge of children's development, home‐based activities, and children's reading and math skills at the start of kindergarten.

Parents' knowledge of children's development and home‐based activities were found to mediate the association between race/ethnicity and children's reading and math skills for all groups.
The influence of particles on bioavailability and toxicity of pesticides in surface water
Authors: Knauer Katja , Homazava Nadzeya , Junghans Marion , Werner Inge
Published: November 2016

Environmental risk assessment is an essential part of the approval process for pesticides. Exposure concentrations are compared with ecotoxicological data obtained from standardized laboratory studies and, if available, from field studies to determine the risk of a substance or formulation for aquatic communities. Predicted concentrations in surface waters are derived using, for example, the European FOrum for the Co-ordination of pesticide fate models and their USe (FOCUS) or the German Exposit models, which distinguish between exposure to dissolved and particle-associated pesticide concentrations, because the dissolved concentration is thought to be the best predictor of bioavailability and toxicity. Water and particle-associated concentrations are estimated based on the organic carbon-water partitioning coefficient (KOC). This review summarizes published information on the influence of natural suspended solids on bioavailability and toxicity of pesticides to aquatic organisms (algae, invertebrates and fish), and the value of log KOC and log KOW (octanol-water coefficient) as sole predictors of the bioavailable fraction is discussed. The information showed that: 1) the quality and origin of suspended solids played an important role in influencing pesticide bioavailability and toxicity; 2) a decrease in toxicity due to the presence of suspended solids was shown only for pyrethroid insecticides with log KOW greater than 5, but the extent of this reduction depended on particle concentration and size, and potentially also on the ecotoxicological endpoint; 3) for pesticides with a log KOW less than 3 (e.g., triazines, carbamates, and organophosphates), the impact of particles on bioavailability and toxicity is small and species dependent; and 4) pesticide bioavailability is greatly influenced by the test species and their physiology (e.g., feeding behavior or digestion). We conclude that exposure of aquatic organisms to pesticides and environmental risk of many pesticides might be underestimated in prospective risk assessment, when predicted environmental concentration is estimated based on the KOC of a compound. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:585–600. © 2016 SETAC

Key Points

The quality and origin of the suspended solids (SS) and natural organic matter (NOM) played an important role in their effects on pesticide bioavailability and toxicity to aquatic organisms. A decrease in toxicity due to the presence of SS or NOM was most profound only for the well-studied group of highly hydrophobic pyrethroid insecticides, but the reduction varied strongly depending on the ecotoxicological endpoint. For pesticides with low and moderate hydrophobicity, studies did not reveal a consistent effect of SS or NOM on toxicity: in some cases toxicity was reduced, and in others it was even enhanced. The exposure of aquatic organisms in the environment might be underestimated when calculated dissolved concentrations based on the KOC are used in risk assessment.
D‐dimers in malignant melanoma: Association with prognosis and dynamic variation in disease progress
Authors: Desch Anna , Gebhardt Christoffer , Utikal Jochen , Schneider Stefan W.
Published: November 2016

Malignant cells elicit a chronic hemostatic activation in disease progress. This procoagulant activity does not only bear a risk for thromboembolism but also facilitates tumor growth and dissemination. An elevated plasma D‐dimer level indicates an activated coagulation and fibrinolysis. In this study, the association of D‐dimer levels with clinicopathological parameters and patients outcome in melanoma was investigated analyzing in total 533 melanoma patients retrospectively. Using the cut‐off point of 0.6 mg/L D‐dimer 145 of the total 533 patients (27.2%) were identified with elevated plasma D‐dimer levels. This increased D‐dimer level positively correlated with tumor thickness (p = 0.0003), lymph node invasion (p = 0.0004) and metastatic state (p <0.0001). To assess the association of D‐dimer levels with progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), long‐rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model was performed. Univariate analyses revealed that elevated D‐dimer levels were significantly associated with decreased PFS (HR:2.89, 95% CI (2.07‐7.56), p < 0.0001) and OS (HR:2.22, 95% CI (1.06‐4.57), p = 0.035). Moreover, multivariate analyses identified elevated D‐dimer levels being associated with poor disease outcome (PFS:HR:2.47, 95% CI (1.23‐4.98), p = 0.012; OS:HR:2.01, 95% CI (0.09‐4.45), p = 0.087). Additionally, D‐dimer levels were significantly increased in terminal stage patients when comparing plasma levels 0‐8 versus 24‐48 weeks before death (p = 0.0003). In summary, this study presents multiple evidence that elevated D‐dimer levels in melanoma patients associate with poor prognosis and therefore plasma levels of D‐dimers could reveal a more aggressive phenotype of melanoma and may guide the management of anti‐melanoma treatment including the concept of an anti‐coagulatory therapy in tumor patients.
Nanomedicine in management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Mohamed Nourhan K. , Hamad Mostafa A. , Hafez Mohamed Z.E. , Wooley Karen L. , Elsabahy Mahmoud
Published: November 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. It is characterized by unique features that can be utilized for selective and targeted therapy, which aids in preserving healthy tissues from deteriorating effects of traditional chemotherapeutics. In this minireview, a brief overview of recent drug delivery attempts for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma with the aid of nanomedical structures is presented. The beneficial impact of nanomaterials in terms of prolonged retention in blood and target sites, controlled biodistribution and improved stability of the encapsulated payloads, will be described, together with the possibility of incorporating more than one cargo into the same nanostructure. Incorporation of stimuli‐responsive components, decoration with targeting moieties and the use of molecularly targeted drugs for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are also highlighted.
Impact of sustained viral response postcurative therapy of hepatitis C‐related hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Manthravadi Sashidhar , Paleti Swathi , Pandya Prashant
Published: November 2016

Antiviral therapy with interferon based therapies (IBT) has shown potential in improving survival in patients who have undergone resection or locoregional therapy for hepatitis C‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV‐HCC). However, this benefit has not been definitively ascribed to sustained viral response (SVR). Since IBT has been replaced with new directly acting agents (DAA), which are more efficacious in the treatment of HCV, we sought to better determine the prognostic impact of SVR in HCV‐HCC. A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception through October 2015 was performed to identify studies that described the impact of presence of SVR in patients who underwent curative treatment of HCV‐HCC. Summary hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated for recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) utilizing a random‐effects model. After reviewing 858 abstracts, ten studies which included a total of 1,794 patients were selected and data was extracted. Of these ten studies, the impact of SVR on RFS and OS was reported in eight and seven studies respectively. In a meta‐analysis which included 1,519 patients, SVR was associated with improved OS (HR 0.18; 95% CI 0.11–0.29, I2 = 2%). We also found that SVR was associated with better RFS in a meta‐analysis (1,241 patients; HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.40–0.63, I2 = 0). In conclusion, SVR is associated with improved OS and RFS in patients with HCV who have undergone resection or locoregional therapy for HCC. Newer DAA therapies which offer increased tolerability and viral eradication should be considered as adjunctive therapy.
Harms of cervical cancer screening in the United States and the Netherlands
Authors: Habbema Dik , Weinmann Sheila , Arbyn Marc , Kamineni Aruna , Williams Andrew E. , M.C.M. de Kok Inge , van Kemenade Folkert , Field Terry S. , van Rosmalen Joost , Brown Martin L.
Published: November 2016

We studied harms related to cervical cancer screening and management of screen‐positive women in the United States (US) and the Netherlands. We utilized data from four US integrated health care systems (SEARCH), the US National Health Interview Survey, New Mexico state, the Netherlands national histopathology registry, and included studies on adverse health effects of cervical screening. We compared the number of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear tests, abnormal test results, punch biopsies, treatments, health problems (anxiety, pain, bleeding and discharge) and preterm births associated with excisional treatments. Results were age‐standardized to the 2007 US population. Based on SEARCH, an estimated 36 million Pap tests were performed in 2007 for 91 million US women aged 21–65 years, leading to 2.3 million abnormal Pap tests, 1.5 million punch biopsies, 0.3 million treatments for precancerous lesions, 5 thousand preterm births and over 8 million health problems. Under the Netherlands screening practice, fewer Pap tests (58%), abnormal test results (64%), punch biopsies (75%), treatment procedures (40%), preterm births (60%) and health problems (63%) would have occurred. The SEARCH data did not differ much from other US data for 2007 or from more recent data up to 2013. Thus compared to the less intensive screening practice in the Netherlands, US practice of cervical cancer screening may have resulted in two‐ to threefold higher harms, while the effects on cervical cancer incidence and mortality are similar. The results are also of high relevance in making recommendations for HPV screening. Systematic collection of harms data is needed for monitoring and for better incorporation of harms in making screening recommendations.
Risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma penetrates across immigrant generations: A migrant cohort study of 2.3 million Jewish Israeli adolescents
Authors: Rottenberg Yakir , Levine Hagai , Keinan‐Boker Lital , Derazne Estela , Leiba Adi , Kark Jeremy D.
Published: November 2016

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) incidence varies widely across geographic regions and ethnic groups. We conducted a large‐scale migrant cohort study to assess origin and migrant generation as predictors of NPC, controlling for possible confounders. Data on 2.3 million Jewish Israeli adolescents, who underwent a compulsory general health examination at ages 16–19 between the years 1967 and 2011 were linked to the Israel National Cancer Registry to obtain incident NPC up to 2012. Cox proportional hazards were used to model time to event. During 46.5 million person‐years of follow‐up, 276 incident cases were identified. Origin was a strong independent predictor of NPC with high rates for first generation North African born (adjusted HR 5.52; 95% CI 2.43–12.52; p < 0.000044) and Asian born (adjusted HR 3.79; 95% CI 1.43–10.00; p = 0.007) compared to European‐born, adjusted for sex, year of birth, residential socio‐economic position, years of education, rural residence, body mass index and height. The magnitude of the associations was similar in the Israeli‐born of North African and Asian origin, with these second and third generation immigrants showing elevated HRs (adjusted HR 6.09; 95% CI 2.81–13.20; p = 4.72.10−6 and 3.86; 95% CI 1.77–8.41; p = 0.00067, respectively). These findings suggest a strong genetic predisposition and/or efficient cultural transmission of environmental exposures in the etiology of NPC.
Effects of Aliovalent Anion Substitution on the Electronic Structures and Properties of ZnO and CdS
Authors: Shenoy Sandhya , Waghmare Umesh V. , Lingampalli S. R. , Roy Anand , Rao C. N. R.
Published: November 2016

Aliovalent anion substitution in ZnO, CdS, and related materials brings about drastic changes in their electronic structure and properties, making them colored, with a narrow band gap. Progressive substitution of N and F in ZnO leads to the formation of Zn2NF, with complete replacement of O with N and F. The band gaps of Zn2NF and O‐doped Zn2NF are smaller than the band gap in ZnO, because N 2p states create a new sub‐band above the valence band. Band‐edge energies of these compounds are thermodynamically favorable for water splitting. First‐principles calculations of P‐ and Cl‐substituted CdS and ZnS show the presence of a band just above the valence band, due to the p orbitals of the trivalent dopant, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the band gap of these materials. Such substitution of anions can be quite effective in engineering the valence band, and hence, in tuning the related properties of materials. Complete substitution of S with P and Cl in CdS should result Cd2PCl, but the resulting material is Cd2PCl1.5 or Cd4P2Cl3. Cd4P2Cl3 shows a band gap of 2.36 eV and a photoluminescence band at 580 nm. First‐principles calculations show it to be an effective photocatalyst for water splitting; it is shown experimentally to exhibit photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in the presence and absence of a sacrificial agent. Moreover, resilience to photocorrosion is a unique property of Cd4P2Cl3.
Modelling and trading the London, New York and Frankfurt stock exchanges with a new gene expression programming trader tool
Authors: Karathanasopoulos Andreas
Published: November 2016

The scope of this manuscript is to present a new short‐term financial forecasting and trading tool: the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) Trader Tool. It is based on the gene expression programming algorithm. This algorithm is based on a genetic programming approach, and provides supreme statistical and trading performance when used for modelling and trading financial time series. The GEP Trader Tool is offered through a user‐friendly standalone Java interface. This paper applies the GEP Trader Tool to the task of forecasting and trading the future contracts of FTSE100, DAX30 and S&P500 daily closing prices from 2000 to 2015. It is the first time that gene expression programming has been used in such massive datasets. The model's performance is benchmarked against linear and nonlinear models such as random walk model, a moving‐average convergence divergence model, an autoregressive moving average model, a genetic programming algorithm, a multilayer perceptron neural network, a recurrent neural network a higher order neural network. To gauge the accuracy of all models, both statistical and trading performances are measured. Experimental results indicate that the proposed approach outperforms all the others in the in‐sample and out‐of‐sample periods by producing superior empirical results. Furthermore, the trading performances are improved further when trading strategies are imposed on each of the models.
Reducing overselective stimulus control with differential observing responses
Authors: Farber Rachel S. , Dickson Chata A. , Dube William V.
Published: November 2016

Overselective stimulus control refers to discriminative control in which the number of controlling stimuli is too limited for effective behavior. Experiment 1 included 22 special‐education students who exhibited overselective stimulus control on a two‐sample delayed matching task. An intervention added a compound identity matching opportunity within the sample observation period of the matching trials. The compound matching functioned as a differential observing response (DOR) in that high accuracy verified observation and discrimination of both sample stimuli. Nineteen participants learned to perform the DOR and two‐sample delayed matching accuracy increased substantially for 16 of them. When the DOR was completely withdrawn after 10 sessions, accuracy declined. In Experiment 2, a more gradual withdrawal of DOR requirements showed that highly accurate performance could be maintained with the DOR on only a proportion of trials for most participants. The results show that DOR training may lead to a general improvement in observing behavior.
Osteogenic potential of stem cells‐seeded bioactive nanocomposite scaffolds: A comparative study between human mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone, umbilical cord Wharton's jelly, and adipose tissue
Authors: Kargozar Saeid , Mozafari Masoud , Hashemian Seyed Jafar , Brouki Milan Peiman , Hamzehlou Sepideh , Soleimani Mansooreh , Joghataei Mohammad Taghi , Gholipourmalekabadi Mazaher , Korourian Alireza , Mousavizadeh Kazem , Seifalian Alexander M.
Published: November 2016

Bone regeneration is considered as an unmet clinical need, the aim of this study is to investigate the osteogenic potential of three different mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrow (BM‐MSCs), umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (UC‐MSCs), and adipose (AD‐MSCs) seeded on a recently developed nanocomposite scaffold (bioactive glass/gelatin) implanted in rat animal models with critical size calvarial defects. In this study, after isolation, culture, and characterization, the MSCs were expanded and seeded on the scaffolds for in vitro and in vivo studies. The adhesion, proliferation, and viability of the cells on the scaffolds evaluated in vitro, showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible for further examinations. In order to evaluate the scaffolds in vivo, rat animal models with critical size calvarial defects were randomly categorized in four groups and treated with the scaffolds. The animals were sacrificed at the time points of 4 and 12 weeks of post‐implantation, bone healing process were investigated. The histological and immunohistological observations showed (p < 0.01) higher osteogenesis capacity in the group treated with BM‐MSCs/scaffolds compared to the other groups. However, the formation of new angiogenesis was evidently higher in the defects filled with UC‐MSCs/scaffolds. This preliminary study provides promising data for further clinical trials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 61–72, 2018.
Association of Muscle Weakness With Post-Fracture Mortality in Older Men and Women: A 25-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Pham Hanh M , Nguyen Sing C , Ho-Le Thao P , Center Jacqueline R , Eisman John A , Nguyen Tuan V
Published: November 2016

Osteoporotic fracture increases the risk of premature mortality. Muscle weakness is associated with both increased fracture risk and low bone mineral density (BMD). However, the role of muscle strength in post-fracture mortality is not well understood. This study examines the change of muscle strength measured at quadriceps (QS) before and after fracture and defines the relationship between muscle strength and post-fracture mortality. The study involved 889 women and 295 men (who were participating in the Dubbo Osteoporosis Study) who had at least one low-trauma fracture (ascertained from X-ray reports) after the age of 50 years. Median follow-up time was 11 years (range 1 to 24). To determine the change in muscle strength before and after a fracture, we selected a subset of 344 women and 99 men who had had at least two muscle strength measurements before the fracture event and a subset of 407 women and 105 men who had had at least two measurements after the fracture. During the follow-up period, 366 (41.2%) women and 150 (50.9%) men died. The annual rate of decrease in height-adjusted muscle strength before fracture was 0.27 kg/m (1.85%) in women and 0.40 kg/m (1.79%) in men. Strength loss after fracture was not significantly different from that before fracture. In women, after adjusting for baseline age and BMD, each SD (5 kg/m) lower height-adjusted pre- and post-fracture quadriceps strength was associated with a 27% (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 1.50) and 18% (HR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.01, 1.38) increase in post-fracture mortality risk, respectively. Similarly, in men, each SD (5 kg/m) lower height-adjusted pre- and post-fracture QS was associated with increased mortality before fracture (HR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.09, 1.63) and after fracture (HR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.16, 1.78). Muscle weakness accounted for 15% (95% CI 0.05, 0.24) of premature deaths after fracture in women and 23% (95% CI 0.11, 0.35) in men. These results indicate that in the older individuals, lower muscle strength is an independent risk factor for post-fracture mortality. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Sclerostin Antibody Administration Converts Bone Lining Cells Into Active Osteoblasts
Authors: Kim Sang Wan , Lu Yanhui , Williams Elizabeth A , Lai Forest , Lee Ji Yeon , Enishi Tetsuya , Balani Deepak H , Ominsky Michael S , Ke Hua Zhu , Kronenberg Henry M , Wein Marc N
Published: November 2016

Sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) increases osteoblast activity, in part through increasing modeling-based bone formation on previously quiescent surfaces. Histomorphometric studies have suggested that this might occur through conversion of bone lining cells into active osteoblasts. However, direct data demonstrating Scl-Ab-induced conversion of lining cells into active osteoblasts are lacking. Here, we used in vivo lineage tracing to determine if Scl-Ab promotes the conversion of lining cells into osteoblasts on periosteal and endocortical bone surfaces in mice. Two independent, tamoxifen-inducible lineage-tracing strategies were used to label mature osteoblasts and their progeny using the DMP1 and osteocalcin promoters. After a prolonged “chase” period, the majority of labeled cells on bone surfaces assumed a thin, quiescent morphology. Then, mice were treated with either vehicle or Scl-Ab (25 mg/kg) twice over the course of the subsequent week. After euthanization, marked cells were enumerated, their thickness quantified, and proliferation and apoptosis examined. Scl-Ab led to a significant increase in the average thickness of labeled cells on periosteal and endocortical bone surfaces, consistent with osteoblast activation. Scl-Ab did not induce proliferation of labeled cells, and Scl-Ab did not regulate apoptosis of labeled cells. Therefore, direct reactivation of quiescent bone lining cells contributes to the acute increase in osteoblast numbers after Scl-Ab treatment in mice. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Abstract

Sclerostin antibody rapidly increases osteoblast numbers, but the underlying cellular mechanisms responsible remain unknown. Kim et al. used two lineage tracing models to demonstrate the sclerostin antibody directly converts quiescent bone lining cells into active osteoblasts.
Regulation of Hedgehog Signaling in Chicken Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiation Into Male Germ Cells (Gallus)
Authors: Chen Hao , Zuo Qisheng , Wang Yinjie , Ahmed Mahmoud F. , Jin Kai , Song Jiuzhou , Zhang Yani , Li Bichun
Published: November 2016

The study aims to analyze the key signaling pathways in regulating the process of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiation into spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Based on RNA Sequencing result, we further explored the specific regulating mechanisms of Hedgehog (HH) signaling in this process. HH signaling was found to be a crucial signaling pathway participating in the differentiation process of ESCs to SSCs. In Retinoic acid (RA) induced in vitro differentiation assay, the expression of two germ cell marker genes, integrin α6, and integrin β1, was observed to significantly increase, while it decreased dramatically when IHH was knocked down. Fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis showed that the proportion of integrin α6+ and integrin β1+ cells in the RA group was significantly higher than that in the RA + siRNA‐ Indian Hedgehog (IHH) group. In in vivo situations, siRNA‐IHH could stably express in fertilized chicken embryos and significantly down‐regulate the IHH expression. With real‐time quantitative PCR and western blot, we identified that integrin α6 and integrin β1 expression was significantly suppressed along with IHH inhibition in vivo. We concluded that Hedgehog signaling pathway positively regulates the differentiation of ESCs to male germ cells through signal transduction by IHH. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1379–1386, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
7‐Dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC), But Not Cholesterol, Causes Suppression of Canonical TGF‐β Signaling and Is Likely Involved in the Development of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
Authors: Huang Shuan Shian , Liu I‐Hua , Chen Chun‐Lin , Chang Jia‐Ming , Johnson Frank E. , Huang Jung San
Published: November 2016

For several decades, cholesterol has been thought to cause ASCVD. Limiting dietary cholesterol intake has been recommended to reduce the risk of the disease. However, several recent epidemiological studies do not support a relationship between dietary cholesterol and/or blood cholesterol and ASCVD. Consequently, the role of cholesterol in atherogenesis is now uncertain. Much evidence indicates that TGF‐β, an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, protects against ASCVD and that suppression of canonical TGF‐β signaling (Smad2‐dependent) is involved in atherogenesis. We had hypothesized that cholesterol causes ASCVD by suppressing canonical TGF‐β signaling in vascular endothelium. To test this hypothesis, we determine the effects of cholesterol, 7‐dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC; the biosynthetic precursor of cholesterol), and other sterols on canonical TGF‐β signaling. We use Mv1Lu cells (a model cell system for studying TGF‐β activity) stably expressing the Smad2‐dependent luciferase reporter gene. We demonstrate that 7‐DHC (but not cholesterol or other sterols) effectively suppresses the TGF‐β‐stimulated luciferase activity. We also demonstrate that 7‐DHC suppresses TGF‐β‐stimulated luciferase activity by promoting lipid raft/caveolae formation and subsequently recruiting cell‐surface TGF‐β receptors from non‐lipid raft microdomains to lipid rafts/caveolae where TGF‐β receptors become inactive in transducing canonical signaling and undergo rapid degradation upon TGF‐β binding. We determine this by cell‐surface 125I‐TGF‐β‐cross‐linking and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. We further demonstrate that methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD), a sterol‐chelating agent, reverses 7‐DHC‐induced suppression of TGF‐β‐stimulated luciferase activity by extrusion of 7‐DHC from resident lipid rafts/caveolae. These results suggest that 7‐DHC, but not cholesterol, promotes lipid raft/caveolae formation, leading to suppression of canonical TGF‐β signaling and atherogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1387–1400, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct determination of discrete harmonic bath parameters from molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Walters Peter L. , Allen Thomas C. , Makri Nancy
Published: November 2016

We present a direct procedure for determining the parameters of a discrete harmonic bath modeling the influence of a complex condensed phase environment on the system of interest. The procedure employs an efficient discretization of the spectral density into modes that correspond to equal fractions of the reorganization energy. The new procedure uses directly the classical correlation function (available from molecular dynamics calculations) as input, avoiding numerical computation of the spectral density by means of a discrete Fourier transform. Convergence is obtained using a shorter time length of the correlation function, leading to significant computational savings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.