bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interobserver variation in the diagnosis of fibroepithelial lesions of the breast: a multicentre audit by digital pathology
Authors: Dessauvagie Benjamin F , Lee Andrew H S , Meehan Katie , Nijhawan Anju , Tan Puay Hoon , Thomas Jeremy , Tie Bibiana , Treanor Darren , Umar Seemeen , Hanby Andrew M , Millican-Slater Rebecca
Published: February 2018

Aim

Fibroepithelial lesions (FELs) of the breast span a morphological continuum including lesions where distinction between cellular fibroadenoma (FA) and benign phyllodes tumour (PT) is difficult. The distinction is clinically important with FAs managed conservatively while equivocal lesions and PTs are managed with surgery. We sought to audit core biopsy diagnoses of equivocal FELs by digital pathology and to investigate whether digital point counting is useful in clarifying FEL diagnoses.

Method

Scanned slide images from cores and subsequent excisions of 69 equivocal FELs were examined in a multicentre audit by eight pathologists to determine the agreement and accuracy of core needle biopsy (CNB) diagnoses and by digital point counting of stromal cellularity and expansion to determine if classification could be improved.

Results

Interobserver variation was high on CNB with a unanimous diagnosis from all pathologists in only eight cases of FA, diagnoses of both FA and PT on the same CNB in 15 and a ‘weak’ mean kappa agreement between pathologists (k=0.36). ‘Moderate’ agreement was observed on CNBs among breast specialists (k=0.44) and on excision samples (k=0.49). Up to 23% of lesions confidently diagnosed as FA on CNB were PT on excision and up to 30% of lesions confidently diagnosed as PT on CNB were FA on excision. Digital point counting did not aid in the classification of FELs.

Conclusion

Accurate and reproducible diagnosis of equivocal FELs is difficult, particularly on CNB, resulting in poor interobserver agreement and suboptimal accuracy. Given the diagnostic difficulty, and surgical implications, equivocal FELs should be reported in consultation with experienced breast pathologists as a small number of benign FAs can be selected out from equivocal lesions.
Case of venom ophthalmia following contact with Naja pallida: the red spitting cobra
Authors: Handford Charles
Published: February 2018

Venom ophthalmia is a condition that can be eyesight threatening. This article describes a case of venom ophthalmia due to the Naja pallida (red spitting cobra) and is aimed to educate readers regarding the management of an uncommon, yet important, pathology that deployed military personnel may encounter. Simple first steps can reduce the impact of the injury with copious irrigation of the eye being the key management step. Each step of the management, including what not to do, is discussed in order to educate and act as a guide to all deployed healthcare professionals.
A multi-decade joinpoint analysis of firearm injury severity
Authors: Kalesan Bindu , Zuo Yi , Xuan Ziming , Siegel Michael B , Fagan Jeffrey , Branas Charles , Galea Sandro
Published: February 2018

Background

Non-fatal firearm injuries constitute approximately 70% of all firearm trauma injuries in the United States. Patterns of severity of these injuries are poorly understood. We analyzed the overall, age-, sex- and intent-specific temporal trends in the injury severity of firearm hospitalizations from 1993 to 2014.

Methods

We assessed temporal trends in the severity of patients hospitalized for firearm using Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data over a 22 year period. Firearm hospitalization was identified using assault (E965x), unintentional (E922x), intentional self-harm (E955x), legal (E970) and undetermined (E985x) International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD9) codes. Injury severity was measured using the computed New Injury Severity Score (NISS). We used survey weighted means, SD and annual percent change (APC), and joinpoint regression to analyze temporal trends.

Results

A weighted total of 648 662 inpatient admissions for firearm injury were analyzed. Firearm injury severity demonstrated a significant annual increase of 1.4% (95% CI=1.3 to 1.6), and was driven by annual increases among young adults (APC=1.4%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.5), older adults (APC=1.5%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.6), female (APC=1.5%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.6) and male (APC=1.4%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.6) hospitalizations. The annual increase among assault/legal injuries was 1.4% (95% CI=1.3 to 1.5), similar to unintentional (APC=1.4%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.6), intentional self-harm (APC=1.5%, 95% CI=1.4 to 1.6) and undetermined (APC=1.4%, 95% CI=1.3 to 1.6).

Conclusions

The severity of hospitalized firearm injuries increased significantly from 1993 to 2014. This annual increase reflects a move towards hospitalization of more serious injuries, and outpatient management of less serious injuries across the board, suggesting a mounting burden on the US healthcare system.

Level of evidence

Level IV.
Theoretical study on electronic and absorption characters of p-type D-A-π-A triaryamine sensitizer
Authors: Yan Wen , Sun Zhi-Dan , Ju Xue-Hai
Published: February 2018

The structural and electronic properties of well-known 4,4′-(4-(5-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)thiophen-2-yl)phenylazanediyl)dibenzoic acid (O2) and its hypothetical dyes O3–O7 were investigated by computational techniques. The absorption properties were probed. By replacing the 2-methylidenepropanedinitrile acceptor with 1,3-diethyl-5-methylene-2-thioxo-dihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, the molecular orbital energy levels were well tuned. The modified dyes meet the basic requirements of both –ΔGinj and –ΔGreg being over 0.2 eV for an efficient hole injection and dye regeneration, respectively. All the designed p-type dyes O3–O7 have smaller energy gap and significant red shift in absorption spectra than that of the reference O2. Finally, our results suggested that O3–O7 have larger light-harvesting efficiencies (LHE) in the visible spectral regions of 400 nm to 700 nm than O2. Among all the dyes, O5 is expected to have an excellent performance as a p-type sensitized dye in solar cells due to its great LHE and sufficient hole injection efficiency.
Using the localized pair model to describe the nature of the hydrogen bond
Authors: Proud Adam J. , Sheppard Brendan J.H. , Pearson Jason K.
Published: February 2018

Herein, we present a novel study of hydrogen bonding using the localized pair model. Using localized molecular orbitals, we examine how the two localized electron pairs involved in hydrogen bonding change upon the formation of the interaction, as well as while the distance between the two species within the complex change. This is achieved through the use of extracule densities, which describe the probability associated with the centre of mass of an electron pair. Quantitative assessments are performed by analyzing the extracule density demonstrating that this method is on par with other density-based tools for the analysis of hydrogen bonds and their strengths.
Chicoric Acid Improves Heart and Blood Responses to Hypobaric Hypoxia in Tibetan Yaks
Authors: Wu Hua , Luo Dan , Li Changxing , Zhang Hui , Shunxian A , Zhang Yuanxin , Sun Chao
Published: February 2018

Yak is a wild bovine species living on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau that demonstrates good adaptability to the hypoxic environment. Chicoric acid, a natural phenolic compound, is known as having anti-oxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, its effect on hypoxia adaptability of yak is still unclear. In this study 40 yaks were selected that were of similar age, parity and weight, and divided into the control group and experimental groups 1, 2, 3, randomly. Results showed that chicoric acid significantly improved RBC, HGB, and WBC. There are significantly beneficial effects to increasing total protein contents ([Formula: see text]): all treatments increased HDL-C contents, and supplementations 100[Formula: see text]mg/h significantly decreased the content of TG on the 60th day ([Formula: see text]). Contents of the serum related enzymes like ALP, GOP and GPT showed varying degrees of change, but no significant differences and the indexes of anti-oxidant capacity (T-AOC and GSH-Px) were significantly improved ([Formula: see text]), but MDA was decreased ([Formula: see text]) under the action of the chicoric acid. Hypoxia-inducible factor in serum such as HIF-2[Formula: see text], EPO, ROS, Fe[Formula: see text] and Tf are all significantly decreased ([Formula: see text]). The myocardial mitochondrial parameters mtDNA, UCP2, PGC1-[Formula: see text], NRF1 and mitochondrial complexes were altered remarkably. Some indicators of glucose metabolism presented variation trends. Taken together, chicoric acid has shown a positive effect on the adaptive ability of yak in high altitude, hypoxic environment in plateau areas. Our findings reported a new potential means to enhance immunity and inflammatory response and improve the anti-oxidant capacity.
Elementary equivalence in Artin groups of finite type
Authors: Kabiraj Arpan , Prathamesh T. V. H. , Vyas Rishi
Published: February 2018

Irreducible Artin groups of finite type can be parametrized via their associated Coxeter diagrams into six sporadic examples and four infinite families, each of which is further parametrized by the natural numbers. Within each of these four infinite families, we investigate the relationship between elementary equivalence and isomorphism. For three out of the four families, we show that two groups in the same family are equivalent if and only if they are isomorphic; a positive, but weaker, result is also attained for the fourth family. In particular, we show that two braid groups are elementarily equivalent if and only if they are isomorphic. The [Formula: see text] fragment suffices to distinguish the elementary theories of the groups in question.

As a consequence of our work, we prove that there are infinitely many elementary equivalence classes of irreducible Artin groups of finite type. We also show that mapping class groups of closed surfaces — a geometric analogue of braid groups — are elementarily equivalent if and only if they are isomorphic.
Personalized Advertising Using Hotlink Assignment
Authors: Makris Christos , Siaterlis Konstantinos , Vikatos Pantelis
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we introduce a novel methodology for personalized advertising using hotlink assignment. We provide an automated procedure that places advertising content improving the success of the campaign. Our goal is website reconstruction to enhance browsing experience and to lead customers to certain advertising content through hotlinks. The proposed methodology reduces the number of steps that users need to reach their interest through hotlinks. Also, our algorithm places advertising content in the generated browsing paths taking into account user’ preferences using information from social media and complexity in terms of load and object requests of webpages. Our experiments show a reduction in the steps in about 11% to reach the webpage target/Ads and an improvement on time and memory loss in about 17:5% and 20% respectively during the browsing. Furthermore, the results of users’ relevance feedback show that the majority of the users are satisfied with the provided information using our methodology.
Machine Learning for Neurodegenerative Disorder Diagnosis — Survey of Practices and Launch of Benchmark Dataset
Authors: Tagaris Athanasios , Kollias Dimitrios , Stafylopatis Andreas , Tagaris Georgios , Kollias Stefanos
Published: February 2018

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, constitute a major factor in long-term disability and are becoming more and more a serious concern in developed countries. As there are, at present, no effective therapies, early diagnosis along with avoidance of misdiagnosis seem to be critical in ensuring a good quality of life for patients. In this sense, the adoption of computer-aided-diagnosis tools can offer significant assistance to clinicians. In the present paper, we provide in the first place a comprehensive recording of medical examinations relevant to those disorders. Then, a review is conducted concerning the use of Machine Learning techniques in supporting diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, with reference to at times used medical datasets. Special attention has been given to the field of Deep Learning. In addition to that, we communicate the launch of a newly created dataset for Parkinson’s disease, containing epidemiological, clinical and imaging data, which will be publicly available to researchers for benchmarking purposes. To assess the potential of the new dataset, an experimental study in Parkinson’s diagnosis is carried out, based on state-of-the-art Deep Neural Network architectures and yielding very promising accuracy results.
COMPARISON OF METAL OXIDE-CARBON COMPOSITES DERIVED FROM NATURAL ALGINATE GELS
Authors: TANG XIAO-FENG , YANG ZHEN-GUO , LIANG JIA-HUI
Published: February 2018

Metal oxide-carbon composites (MOCCs) derived from sodium alginate gels were prepared through a facile and green ionic gelation method. Various polyvalent cations (Mn[Formula: see text], Fe[Formula: see text], and Zn[Formula: see text] were used to crosslink sodium alginate to produce gels, following which the gels were carbonized under nitrogen flow to yield MOCCs. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectra can character the as-prepared materials’ structural and morphological characters and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical behavior of the as-prepared materials was studied by applying to cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 6[Formula: see text]M KOH electrolyte. The highest specific capacitance (161[Formula: see text]F g[Formula: see text] at 0.5[Formula: see text]A g[Formula: see text] was obtained for the Fe oxide-doped carbon material (MOCC-Fe), which displayed a good life cycle with only a 10% capacitance decline after 2000 cycles.
Simple objects in equivariantized module categories
Authors: Pinter Sara , Rodrigues Virgínia
Published: February 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite group acting on a fusion category [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be a subgroup of [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a semisimple indecomposable module category over [Formula: see text]. Considering [Formula: see text] a simple object in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] the stabilizer (or inertia) subgroup of [Formula: see text], we establish a bijective correspondence between isomorphism classes of simple objects in equivariantizations [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where such simple objects contain [Formula: see text] as a direct summand. Also, as an application to projective representations of [Formula: see text], we relate isomorphism classes of simple objects in [Formula: see text] with irreducible projective representations of [Formula: see text].
A theoretical study of UV-Vis spectrum and antioxidant activity of chryso-obtusin
Authors: Geng Song , Sang Xiaoli , Liu Xiaoqiang , Ren Yi , Xue Ying
Published: February 2018

The conformation, electron structure, and antioxidant mechanism of chryso-obtusin, extracted from Leguminosae of traditional Chinese herb, have been studied in CH3OH by the density functional theory B3LYP/PCM/6-311[Formula: see text]G(2df,p)//B3LYP/PCM/6-31G([Formula: see text]) method. Three mechanisms of antioxidant actions are examined, which contain hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single-electron transfer-proton transfer (SET-PT), and sequential proton loss transfer (SPLET), by using the computed corresponding indicators (BDE, IP, and PDE). Still, the spin density is employed to measure the delocalization of the antioxidant and its radical form. The finding suggests that hydrogen bond interaction is the main cause for the antioxidant activity of this antioxidant.
Icariin promotes osteoblastic differentiation in OVX mice via MAPK signaling pathway revealed by profiling
Authors: Bian Qin , Liu Shufen , Zhao Yongjian , Huang Jianhua , Shen Ziyin
Published: February 2018

Objective: Icariin (ICA), an extract from epimedium, has been reported to be effective in promoting bone formation. The objective of the study is to search for the molecular targets of ICA in bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) from the mice with ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis.

Methods: Six-month-old Imprinting Control Region (ICR) mice that underwent OVX were treated with ICA. After three months, bone mass was evaluated by microcomputed tomography, morphometry and immunohistological detection. bMSCs were isolated from the femur and tibia to observe the self-renewal and differentiation capacities using colony-forming unit fibroblastic (CFU-F), colony-forming unit adipocyte (CFU-Adipo) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. In addition, microarray of bMSCs ex vivo was measured two weeks after ICA treatment and analyzed by heatmap and pathway analysis. The signaling pathway was further explored by western blot assay and inhibitors of p38 and ERK: SB203508 and PD98059.

Results: [Formula: see text]CT displayed a decrease in bone mass for three months after OVX. ICA treatment increased the trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), osteoblast number while decreased osteoclast number, elevating osteocalcin (OC) protein levels in vivo and facilitating the self-renewal and osteoblastic differentiation of bMSCs ex vivo. Microarray data indicated ICA rescued several gene expressions that were dysregulated by OVX. Pathway analysis revealed that the core genes acted by ICA were highly involved in MAPK signaling pathway. Further study demonstrated ICA suppressed ERK while stimulated p38 phosphorylation to promote osteoblastic differentiation in vitro.

Conclusion: ICA promotes osteoblastic differentiation of bMSCs in OVX mice. MAPK signaling pathway might be involved in the process.
Views from the Top
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: February 2018

Leadership is hard. None of us comes to work to do a bad job, and there are always ways we can be better. So, when you have a leader who isn’t meeting your expectations, maybe try reframing the situation and looking at things a little differently from the top down.
Titus: Introducing Containers to the Netflix Cloud
Authors: Leung Andrew , Spyker Andrew , Bozarth Tim
Published: February 2018

We believe our approach has enabled Netflix to quickly adopt and benefit from containers. Though the details may be Netflix-specific, the approach of providing low-friction container adoption by integrating with existing infrastructure and working with the right early adopters can be a successful strategy for any organization looking to adopt containers.
Omission of Quality Software Development Practices
Authors: Ghanbari Hadi , Vartiainen Tero , Siponen Mikko
Published: February 2018

Software deficiencies are minimized by utilizing recommended software development and quality assurance practices. However, these recommended practices (i.e., quality practices) become ineffective if software professionals purposefully ignore them. Conducting a systematic literature review (n = 4,838), we discovered that only a small number of previous studies, within software engineering and information systems literature, have investigated the omission of quality practices. These studies explain the omission of quality practices mainly as a result of organizational decisions and trade-offs made under resource constraints or market pressure. However, our study indicates that different aspects of this phenomenon deserve further research. In particular, future research must investigate the conditions triggering the omission of quality practices and the processes through which this phenomenon occurs. Especially, since software development is a human-centric phenomenon, the psychological and behavioral aspects of this process deserve in-depth empirical investigation. In addition, futures research must clarify the social, organizational, and economical consequences of ignoring quality practices. Gaining in-depth theoretically sound and empirically grounded understandings about different aspects of this phenomenon enables research and practice to suggest interventions to overcome this issue.
Energy Analysis of a Complementary Heating System Combining Solar Energy and Coal for a Rural Residential Building in Northwest China
Authors: Zhen Xiaofei , Li Jinping , Abdalla Osman Yassir Idris , Feng Rong , Zhang Xuemin , Kang Jian
Published: February 2018

In order to utilize solar energy to meet the heating demands of a rural residential building during the winter in the northwestern region of China, a hybrid heating system combining solar energy and coal was built. Multiple experiments to monitor its performance were conducted during the winter in 2014 and 2015. In this paper, we analyze the efficiency of the energy utilization of the system and describe a prototype model to determine the thermal efficiency of the coal stove in use. Multiple linear regression was adopted to present the dual function of multiple factors on the daily heat-collecting capacity of the solar water heater; the heat-loss coefficient of the storage tank was detected as well. The prototype model shows that the average thermal efficiency of the stove is 38%, which means that the energy input for the building is divided between the coal and solar energy, 39.5% and 60.5% energy, respectively. Additionally, the allocation of the radiation of solar energy projecting into the collecting area of the solar water heater was obtained which showed 49% loss with optics and 23% with the dissipation of heat, with only 28% being utilized effectively.
RNA-seq Reveals the Overexpression of IGSF9 in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Shi Zonggao , Li Chunyan , Tarwater Laura , Li Jun , Li Yang , Kaliney William , Chandrashekar Darshan S. , Stack M. Sharon
Published: February 2018

We performed RNA-seq on an Illumina platform for 7 patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma for which both tumor tissue and adjacent noncancer tissue were available. A total of 66 genes were differentially expressed with significance level at adjusted p value < 0.01. Using the gene functional classification tool in the NIH DAVID bioinformatics resource, 5 genes were found to be the only enriched group out of that list of genes. The gene IGSF9 was chosen for further characterization with immunohistochemical staining of a larger cohort of human endometrioid carcinoma tissues. The expression level of IGSF9 in cancer cells was significantly higher than that in control glandular cells in paired tissue samples from the same patients (p=0.008) or in overall comparison between cancer and the control (p=0.003). IGSF9 expression is higher in patients with myometrium invasion relative to those without invasion (p=0.015). Reanalysis of RNA-seq dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas shows higher expression of IGSF9 in endometrial cancer versus normal control and expression was associated with poor prognosis. These results suggest IGSF9 as a new biomarker in endometrial cancer and warrant further studies on its function, mechanism of action, and potential clinical utility.
Hsp90 Inhibition Reduces TLR5 Surface Expression and NF-κB Activation in Human Myeloid Leukemia THP-1 Cells
Authors: Na Bon Hyang , Hoang Thi Xoan , Kim Jae Young
Published: February 2018

Tumors highly express active heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), which is involved in tumor survival and progression. Enhanced Toll-like receptor (TLR) 5 expression and signaling were reported to be associated with acute myeloid leukemia. In the present study, we investigated the possible modulatory effects of Hsp90 inhibitors on TLR5 expression and signaling in the human myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1. Cells were pretreated with various concentrations of the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) or the Hsp70 inhibitor VER155008, followed by stimulation with bacterial flagellin. Flagellin-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was significantly reduced by treatment with GA or VER155008. To elucidate the underlying mechanism of this effect, mRNA and cell surface expression of TLR5 was examined. TLR5 mRNA expression was enhanced by both GA and VER155008, whereas cell surface expression of TLR5 was reduced by three different Hsp90 inhibitors, including GA, 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, and radicicol, and an Hsp70 inhibitor. The inhibitory effect of Hsp90 inhibitors was much higher than that of Hsp70 inhibitor. Our results suggest that Hsp90 inhibitors suppress TLR5 surface expression and activation of NF-κB in THP-1 cells in response to TLR5 ligand, and these inhibitory effects may be associated with the possible mechanisms by which Hsp90 inhibitors suppress myeloid leukemia.
Questions Frequently Asked of Healthcare Professionals: A 2-Year Data Survey Conducted at a Medical Center
Authors: Hou Chi-Lien , Lu Ying-Hao , Chien Shun-Ching , Chen Hsu-Hui , Chen Chung-Yu
Published: February 2018

In this descriptive, retrospective study, we analyzed the types of questions posed by healthcare professionals to drug counselors at a medical center and the types of provision of pharmaceutical advice solicited to improve pharmaceutical care quality and establish clear directions for clinical pharmacist training. We collected 8,558 questions posed by healthcare professionals (physicians, 38%; pharmacists, 39%; nurses, 23%) from the electronic drug information record system from May 2013 to April 2015 in one medical center. Overall, 52% and 45% of calls came from outpatient and inpatient departments, respectively. Telephone was the main route of provision of pharmaceutical advice (total, 6,035 questions; 72%), and hospital/electronic formulary was the main reference type (43%). The top 10 topics were dosage, alternatives, drug name, usage, adverse drug reactions, medication suggestion, drug compatibility, national health insurance criteria, mechanism, and indications. Pharmacological classification inquiries most frequently addressed antimicrobial agents (20%), and vancomycin was the top single drug. Finally, 67% of calls were completed in 5 minutes. Our results suggest that the systematic organization of issues into a searchable database would reduce inquiry durations and improve work efficiency. Furthermore, the availability of various search tools and methods would quickly provide healthcare professionals with provision of drug information needed to improve patient medication safety.
Immature Dendritic Cell Therapy Confers Durable Immune Modulation in an Antigen-Dependent and Antigen-Independent Manner in Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Lo Jeannette , Xia Chang-Qing , Peng Ruihua , Clare-Salzler Michael J.
Published: February 2018

Dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy has been effective for prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in NOD mice but fails to protect if initiated after active autoimmunity. As autoreactivity expands inter- and intramolecularly during disease progression, we investigated whether DCs unpulsed or pulsed withβcell antigenic dominant determinants (DD), subdominant determinants (SD), and ignored determinants (ID) could prevent T1D in mice with advanced insulitis. We found that diabetes was significantly delayed by DC therapy. Of interest, DCs pulsed with SD or ID appeared to provide better protection. T lymphocytes from DC-treated mice acquired spontaneous proliferating capability duringin vitroculture, which could be largely eliminated by IL-2 neutralizing antibodies. This trend maintained even 29 weeks after discontinuing DC therapy and appeared antigen-independent. Furthermore, CD4+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) from DC-treated mice proliferated more activelyin vitrocompared to the controls, and Tregs from DC-treated mice showed significantly enhanced immunosuppressive activities in contrast to those from the controls. Our study demonstrates that DC therapy leads to long-lasting immunomodulatory effects in an antigen-dependent and antigen-independent manner and provides evidence for peptide-based intervention during a clinically relevant window to guide DC-based immunotherapy for autoimmune diabetes.
How to Apply Feedback to Improve Subjective Wellbeing of Government Servants Engaged in Environmental Protection in China?
Authors: Gong Zhenxing , Wang Xinmeng , Zhang Na , Li Miaomiao
Published: February 2018

Background. In order to improve subjective wellbeing of government servants engaged in environmental protection who work in high power distance in China, it is important to understand the impact mechanism of feedback. This study aims to analyze how feedback environment influences subjective wellbeing through basic psychological needs satisfaction and analyzing the moderating role of power distance. Method. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study of 492 government servants engaged in environment protection in Shandong, China. Government servants who agreed to participate answered self-report questionnaires concerning demographic conditions, supervisor feedback environment, basic psychological need satisfaction, and power distance as well as subjective wellbeing. Results. Employees in higher levels of supervisor feedback environment were more likely to experience subjective wellbeing. Full mediating effects were found for basic psychological needs satisfaction. Specifically, supervisor feedback environment firstly led to increased basic psychological needs satisfaction, which in turn resulted in increased subjective wellbeing. Additional analysis showed that the mediating effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction was stronger for employees who work in high power distance than in low power distance. Conclusion. The results from the study indicate that supervisor feedback environment plays a vital role in improving subjective wellbeing of government servants engaged in environmental protection through basic psychological needs satisfaction, especially in high power distance.
Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Porcine Ovaries at Proestrus and Estrus Stages Using RNA-Seq Technique
Authors: Yang Songbai , Zhou Xiaolong , Pei Yue , Wang Han , He Ke , Zhao Ayong
Published: February 2018

Estrus is an important factor for the fecundity of sows, and it is involved in ovulation and hormone secretion in ovaries. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of porcine estrus, the expression patterns of ovarian mRNA at proestrus and estrus stages were analyzed using RNA sequencing technology. A total of 2,167 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (P≤0.05, log2  Ratio≥1), of which 784 were upregulated and 1,383 were downregulated in the estrus compared with the proestrus group. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment indicated that these DEGs were mainly involved in the cellular process, single-organism process, cell and cell part, and binding and metabolic process. In addition, a pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in 33 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, including cell adhesion molecules, ECM-receptor interaction, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed the differential expression of 10 selected DEGs. Many of the novel candidate genes identified in this study will be valuable for understanding the molecular mechanisms of the sow estrous cycle.
A DNA-Interacting Payload Designed to Eliminate Cross-Linking Improves the Therapeutic Index of Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
Authors: Miller Michael L. , Shizuka Manami , Wilhelm Alan , Salomon Paulin , Reid Emily E. , Lanieri Leanne , Sikka Surina , Maloney Erin K. , Harvey Lauren , Qiu Qifeng , Archer Katie E. , Bai Chen , Vitharana Dilrukshi , Harris Luke , Singh Rajeeva , Ponte Jose F. , Yoder Nicholas C. , Kovtun Yelena , Lai Katharine C. , Ab Olga , Pinkas Jan , Keating Thomas A. , Chari Ravi V.J.
Published: February 2018

Tumor-selective delivery of cytotoxic agents in the form of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) is now a clinically validated approach for cancer treatment. In an attempt to improve the clinical success rate of ADCs, emphasis has been recently placed on the use of DNA–cross-linking pyrrolobenzodiazepine compounds as the payload. Despite promising early clinical results with this class of ADCs, doses achievable have been low due to systemic toxicity. Here, we describe the development of a new class of potent DNA-interacting agents wherein changing the mechanism of action from a cross-linker to a DNA alkylator improves the tolerability of the ADC. ADCs containing the DNA alkylator displayed similar in vitro potency, but improved bystander killing and in vivo efficacy, compared with those of the cross-linker. Thus, the improved in vivo tolerability and antitumor activity achieved in rodent models with ADCs of the novel DNA alkylator could provide an efficacious, yet safer option for cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(3); 650–60. ©2018 AACR.
Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Nicotine Sensitization in Rats Neonatally Treated with Quinpirole: Analyses of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Implications towards Schizophrenia
Authors: Brown Russell W. , Schlitt Marjorie A. , Owens Alex S. , DePreter Caitlynn C. , Cummins Elizabeth D. , Kirby Seth L. , Gill W. Drew , Burgess Katherine C.
Published: February 2018

The current study analyzed the effects of environmental enrichment versus isolation housing on the behavioral sensitization to nicotine in the neonatal quinpirole (NQ; dopamine D2-like agonist) model of dopamine D2 receptor supersensitivity, a rodent model of schizophrenia. NQ treatment in rats increases dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity throughout the animal’s lifetime, consistent with schizophrenia. Animals were administered NQ (1 mg/kg) or saline (NS) from postnatal day (P)1 to P21, weaned, and immediately placed into enriched housing or isolated in wire cages throughout the experiment. Rats were behaviorally sensitized to nicotine (0.5 mg/kg base) or saline every consecutive day from P38 to P45, and brain tissue was harvested at P46. Results revealed that neither housing condition reduced nicotine sensitization in NQ rats, whereas enrichment reduced sensitization to nicotine in NS-treated animals. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) was analyzed for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a neurotrophin important in dopamine plasticity. Results were complex, and revealed that NAcc GDNF was increased in animals given nicotine, regardless of housing condition. Further, enrichment increased GDNF in NQ rats regardless of adolescent drug treatment and in NS-treated rats given nicotine, but did not increase GDNF in NS-treated controls compared to the isolated housing condition. This study demonstrates that environmental experience has a prominent impact on the behavioral and the neural plasticity NAcc response to nicotine in adolescence.
Optical Coherence Tomography Examination of the Anterior Segment in a Case of Corneal Perforation and Lens Trauma by Chestnut Burr
Authors: Ono Takashi , Mori Yosai , Nejima Ryohei , Iwasaki Takuya , Amano Shiro , Miyata Kazunori
Published: February 2018

Chestnut burrs, the thorny encapsulation of chestnut fruit, can sometimes cause corneal injuries and ulceration, with poor prognoses. We report a case of corneal perforation and damaged anterior lens capsule due to a chestnut burr, using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). A 67-year-old woman with a chestnut burr injury in her right eye was referred to our hospital. Her right best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.8. Slit-lamp examination and AS-OCT showed perforation involving the endothelial layer at the center of the cornea. The iris and anterior lens capsule were damaged. Cell infiltration was observed around the wound. Bacterial examination showed gram-positive cocci but no fungi. The patient was diagnosed with a corneal perforation and bacterial keratitis. Levofloxacin 1.5% and cefmenoxime treatments were initiated and a soft contact lens was placed to seal the wound. On day 3, there was no improvement in the corneal cell infiltration, but AS-OCT suggested that the inner wound had closed. A culture test revealed the presence of Propionibacterium acnes, which was sensitive to both levofloxacin and cefmenoxime. Therefore, we continued the same antibiotic treatment. On day 26, the opacification and cell infiltration at the center of the cornea had improved. AS-OCT showed healing of the corneal wound with reduction in the central corneal thickness. Her BCVA improved to 1.0. AS-OCT was a valuable tool to noninvasively observe wound shape and detect the presence of any intracorneal foreign bodies.
Trajectories of Long‐Term Normal Fasting Plasma Glucose and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yuan Zhongshang , Yang Yang , Wang Chunxia , Liu Jing , Sun Xiubin , Liu Yi , Li Shengxu , Xue Fuzhong
Published: February 2018

Background

Fasting plasma glucose (
FPG
) levels can vary over time and its longitudinal changing patterns may predict cardiometabolic risk. We aim to identify different trajectories of
FPG
in those who remained normoglycemic and investigate the association between trajectory groups and coronary heart disease risk in a large prospective cohort study.

Methods and Results

A total of 20 514 subjects between ages 20 and 80 years were included at baseline. All participants had maintained normal
FPG
throughout an average follow‐up period of 5.8 years. We identified 3 distinct trajectories using a group‐based trajectory model, labeled by initial value and changing pattern: low‐increasing (n=12 694), high‐increasing‐decreasing (n=5330), and high‐decreasing‐increasing (n=2490). The coronary heart disease incidence density among these 3 groups (3.00, 4.05, and 3.26 per 1000 person‐years, respectively) was significantly different (
P
=0.038). The high‐increasing‐decreasing group was characterized by a starting
FPG
of 4.80 mmol/L, and increased up to 5.42 mmol/L at age 55, then decreased thereafter. Treating the low‐increasing group as the reference, the age‐ and sex‐adjusted hazard ratio was 1.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.23–2.02) for the high‐increasing‐decreasing group by Cox proportional hazard regression. After adjustment for other potential confounding factors, the hazard ratio is 1.40 (95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.81). The association persisted after adjustment for baseline
FPG
, mean, or SD of
FPG
.

Conclusions

Distinct trajectories of long‐term normal
FPG
are associated with the development of coronary heart disease, which is independent of other metabolic factors including
FPG
levels. These findings have implications for intervention and prevention of coronary heart disease among individuals who are normoglycemic.
National Practice Patterns of Obtaining Informed Consent for Stroke Thrombolysis
Authors: Mendelson Scott J. , Courtney D. Mark , Gordon Elisa J. , Thomas Leena F. , Holl Jane L. , Prabhakaran Shyam
Published: February 2018

Background and Purpose—

No standard approach to obtaining informed consent for stroke thrombolysis with tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) currently exists. We aimed to assess current nationwide practice patterns of obtaining informed consent for tPA.

Methods—

An online survey was developed and distributed by e-mail to clinicians involved in acute stroke care. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent factors contributing to always obtaining informed consent for tPA.

Results—

Among 268 respondents, 36.7% reported always obtaining informed consent and 51.8% reported the informed consent process caused treatment delays. Being an emergency medicine physician (odds ratio, 5.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.9–11.5) and practicing at a nonacademic medical center (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–4.3) were independently associated with always requiring informed consent. The most commonly cited cause of delay was waiting for a patient’s family to reach consensus about treatment.

Conclusions—

Most clinicians always or often require informed consent for stroke thrombolysis. Future research should focus on standardizing content and delivery of tPA information to reduce delays.
Die arithmetische Feinstruktur im Traktat De oratione des Evagrios Pontikos
Authors: Joest Christoph
Published: February 2018

In the introduction to his tractate De oratione Evagrios Pontikos speaks of figures that are “triangles”, “squares”, and even “spheres”. These remarks are less cryptic if one regards the numerical systems used in late antiquity. However, they may hint at a hidden structure within De oratione. Selecting all chapters whose numbers are “triangles”, or “squares” respectively, etc., we find chains of sayings which follow certain themes woven into the “fabric” of the tractate. This discovery reveals again Evagrios as the master of literary composition.
Second-step typification of the name Arabis pedemontana Boiss. (Brassicaceae)
Authors: BARTOLUCCI FABRIZIO , CONTI FABIO , SELVAGGI ALBERTO
Published: February 2018

The present contribution is part of an ongoing work promoted by the Italian Botanical Society aimed at recognizing and typifying all the taxa described from Italy and their loci classici, in order to increase their systematic knowledge and promote further studies (Domina et al. 2012, Passalacqua et al. 2014, Peruzzi et al. 2015, Brundu et al. 2017). One of these taxa is Arabis pedemontana Boissier (1843: 69), an Italian endemic (Bartolucci et al. 2018), currently accepted as Arabidopsis pedemontana (Boiss.) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz (1997: 326).
A faunistic review of the Iranian species of Sphingonotus (Orthoptera, Oedipodinae) with an online key to species
Authors: DEY LARA-SOPHIE , SABOORI ALIREZA , HODJAT SEYED HOSSEIN , TORK MAHDI , PAHLOW FELIX , HUSEMANN MARTIN
Published: February 2018

Sphingonotus is a species-rich genus of band-winged grasshoppers (Oedipodinae), comprising more than 170 species, with its diversity hotspots in the Mediterranean, and in Central and Eastern Asia. Iran represents one of the countries with the highest species diversity for the genus with a total of 31 recorded species. However, no study so far has provided a faunistic overview and no identification keys are available. Here, we present an annotated list of all Sphingonotus species found in Iran derived from records from field observations, museum collections and literature data. Based on morphological and distribution data we synonymize Sphingonotus intutus Saussure, 1888 syn. nov. under Sphingonotus nebulosus persa Saussure, 1884 and Sphingonotus obscuratus transcaspicus Uvarov, 1925 syn. nov. under Sphingonotus obscuratus brunneri Saussure, 1884. We present images of representative specimens (mostly types) of all species, as well as distribution maps and ecological data. Finally, we provide an online key to all known species of Sphingonotus from Iran, which will continuously be updated.
Eodromyia pumilio gen. et sp. nov., a new empidoid fly from the Earliest Eocene amber of France (Diptera: Hybotidae: Tachydromiinae)
Authors: MYSKOWIAK J. , GARROUSTE R. , NEL A.
Published: February 2018

Eodromyia pumilio gen. et sp. nov., is described as the oldest record of the hybotid tribe Drapetini, from the Lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). It differs from described extant genera in the tribe, among other characters, by the complete absence of crossvein bm-cu.
Nomenclatural and distributional notes on Neotropical Cerambycidae (Coleoptera)
Authors: MONNÉ MIGUEL A. , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: February 2018

The following synonymies are proposed: Chydarteres formosus Galileo & Martins, 2010 as a junior synonym of Andraegoidus fabricii (Dupont, 1838); Nyssosternus Gilmour, 1963 as a junior synonym of Stenolis Bates, 1864; Periestola Breuning, 1943 as a junior synonym of Cobelura Erichson, 1847; Cobelura inornata Monné & Monné, 2017 as a junior synonym of Cobelura strandi (Breuning, 1943), new combination; Cobelura curiosa (Monné & Martins, 1976), new combination, removed from synonymy of Cobelura strandi. Trachyderes (T.) latecinctus Martins, 1975, new status. New state records: Parasphallenum fulguratum (Chabrillac, 1857), newly recorded from Brazil, Amazonas; Melathemma polita Bates, 1870, newly recorded from Brazil, Acre; Trachyderes (T.) latecinctus Martins, 1975, newly recorded from Brazil, Roraima. New country records: Paracleodoxus cineraceus Monné & Monné, 2010, newly recorded from Colombia; Oreodera tuberculata Thomson, 1865, newly recorded from Brazil, Pará; Rhaphiptera avicenniae Dalens & Tavakilian, 2007, newly recorded from Brazil, Pará; Rhaphipteroides apicalis Tavakilian, Dalens & Touroult, 2007, newly recorded from Brazil, Amazonas. The correct type locality of Oncideres ochreostillata Dillon & Dillon, 1952 is given.
Sum-Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy Investigations of Phosphonic Acids on Anodic Aluminum Oxide Films
Authors: Reitböck Cornelia , Głowacki Eric , Stifter David
Published: February 2018

Self-assembled monolayers of alkyl phosphonic acids on anodic aluminum oxide (AlOx) surfaces are important as dielectric layers in thin film electronic devices. Assessing the properties and quality of these monolayers on amorphous AlOx is limited to a few surface-sensitive methods. In this work, we study using nonlinear optical measurements the molecular ordering in n-alkyl phosphonic acids with various alkyl chain lengths (6 to 18 carbons) deposited on AlOx and show the influence of temperature on stability and conformational order. The results demonstrate that the octadecylphosphonic acid has fewest defects in the chain orientation. A detailed comparison of the longest and the shortest alkyl chain revealed different behavior in conformational ordering upon annealing.
Assessing the Impact of Targeting CEACAM1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tam Kenric , Schoppy David W. , Shin June Ho , Tay Joshua K. , Moreno‐Nieves Uriel , Mundy David C. , Sunwoo John B.
Published: February 2018

Objective

In conjunction with advances made in cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, immunotherapy has emerged as a fourth modality of treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Understanding the mechanisms by which HNSCC evades immune‐mediated control will aid in the development of new therapies to augment an antitumor immune response. Carcinoembryonic antigen–related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is a cell surface receptor that is expressed on malignant cells and lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) cells. We sought to determine whether tumor‐derived CEACAM1 inhibits NK cell cytotoxicity and whether blockade of CEACAM1 restores antitumor immunity.

Study Design

In vitro HNSCC cell line study.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Subject and Methods

We utilized a real‐time cell analyzer to assess NK cell cytotoxicity against an oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line after modulating CEACAM1 expression by cytokines and shRNA knockdown of CEACAM1 expression.

Results

NK cells and HNSCC cells both demonstrated cytokine‐inducible expression of CEACAM1. Coincubation of NK cells and HNSCC cells resulted in the upregulation of CEACAM1 on the tumor cells. When compared with CEACAM1‐ cells, CEACAM1+ tumor cells exhibited increased cell growth and increased size and number of organoids in 3‐dimensional culture. Notably, CEACAM1+ HNSCC cells were more resistant to NK cell–mediated killing, but the inhibited expression of CEACAM1 by an shRNA construct restored NK cell cytotoxicity.

Conclusion

Together, these data indicate that CEACAM1 acts as an inducible checkpoint molecule, and they support the idea that targeting CEACAM1 could serve as a novel immunotherapy approach in HNSCC.