bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variable domain N‐linked glycosylation and negative surface charge are key features of monoclonal ACPA: Implications for B‐cell selection
Authors: Lloyd Katy A. , Steen Johanna , Amara Khaled , Titcombe Philip J. , Israelsson Lena , Lundström Susanna L. , Zhou Diana , Zubarev Roman A. , Reed Evan , Piccoli Luca , Gabay Cem , Lanzavecchia Antonio , Baeten Dominique , Lundberg Karin , Mueller Daniel L. , Klareskog Lars , Malmström Vivianne , Grönwall Caroline
Published: March 2018

Autoreactive B cells have a central role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and recent findings have proposed that anti‐citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA) may be directly pathogenic. Herein, we demonstrate the frequency of variable‐region glycosylation in single‐cell cloned mAbs. A total of 14 ACPA mAbs were evaluated for predicted N‐linked glycosylation motifs in silico, and compared to 452 highly‐mutated mAbs from RA patients and controls. Variable region N‐linked motifs (N‐X‐S/T) were strikingly prevalent within ACPA (100%) compared to somatically hypermutated (SHM) RA bone marrow plasma cells (21%), and synovial plasma cells from seropositive (39%) and seronegative RA (7%). When normalized for SHM, ACPA still had significantly higher frequency of N‐linked motifs compared to all studied mAbs including highly mutated HIV broadly‐neutralizing and malaria‐associated mAbs. The Fab glycans of ACPA‐mAbs were highly sialylated, contributed to altered charge, but did not influence antigen binding. The analysis revealed evidence of unusual B‐cell selection pressure and SHM‐mediated decrease in surface charge and isoelectric point in ACPA. It is still unknown how these distinct features of anti‐citrulline immunity may have an impact on pathogenesis. However, it is evident that they offer selective advantages for ACPA+ B cells, possibly through non‐antigen driven mechanisms.
Phenanthroline‐Fused Pyrazinacenes: One‐Pot Synthesis, Tautomerization and a RuII(2,2′‐bpy)2 Derivative
Authors: Švec Pavel , Webre Whitney A. , Richards Gary J. , Labuta Jan , Wakayama Yutaka , Miklík David , Karr Paul A. , Mori Toshiyuki , Ariga Katsuhiko , D'Souza Francis , Hill Jonathan P.
Published: March 2018

We report the one‐pot synthesis of a phenanthroline‐fused pyrazinacene derivative (6,13‐dihydrodipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]‐5,6,7,8,11,12,13,14‐octaazapentacene‐9,10‐dicarbonitrile) and its behaviour under alkylating conditions used to improve solubility. Tautomerization of the starting pyrazinacene due to the presence of a reduced pyrazine ring contained within an octaazatetracene chromophore led to mixtures of isomers, and factors affecting the relative yields of these isomers were considered. Isomer population can be described by a two‐step reaction model where initial N‐alkylation affects the reactivity of the remaining nitrogen atoms available for subsequent alkylation. A discrete soluble non‐isomerizable phenanthroline‐fused pyrazinacene was also prepared and the activity of its Ru(bpy)2 complex as a photosensitizer for dye‐sensitized solar cell application was investigated. The compounds reported illustrate the unusual reactivity of reduced pyrazinacenes and also their potential as photosensitizers.
Milk Fat Globule in Ruminant: Major and Minor Compounds, Nutritional Regulation and Differences Among Species
Authors: Bernard Laurence , Bonnet Muriel , Delavaud Carole , Delosière Mylène , Ferlay Anne , Fougère Hélène , Graulet Benoît
Published: March 2018

Recent knowledge is presented on the composition of ruminant milk fat fractions and the nutritional strategies known to alter their amount. The development of lipidomic and proteomic analyses has allowed for the characterization of minor components, such as proteins, liposoluble vitamins, and phospholipids of the milk fat globule (MFG), in addition to the triacylglycerols (TAG), which are the major constituents of the MFG core. Few differences in these components among ruminant species exist, and they have been outlined mainly on the fatty acids (FA) profile of the TAG, whereas comparative data are still lacking on vitamins and proteins. The effects of dietary treatments enriched in n‐3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) on the composition of the milk fat fraction are explored. In particular, pasture and plant oilseeds increase milk n‐3 PUFA and cis‐9,trans‐11 CLA and decrease saturated FA, whereas data with new feed resources, such as algae, are still rare. The peculiarities of the response of the milk fat to diets that induce a milk fat depression in cows but in lesser extent in small ruminants are described. The potential effects of polar lipids, proteins, and liposoluble vitamins of the MFG on human health are reviewed, highlighting the nutraceutical properties of milk.

Practical Applications: This review provides an overview of the different components of the milk fat fraction in ruminant species and on nutritional strategies to alter their amounts to improve the nutritional quality of milk. Furthermore, this review presents recent data on species peculiarities of the milk fat fraction composition and of its response to nutritional factors, which offers a promising model to identify news levers of regulation of this fraction and foster the identification of new feeding strategies to better control milk fat composition and feed efficiency.

This review synthesizes data on the composition of the milk fat fraction in ruminant species, reports advances in nutritional strategies to alter their amounts and species‐specific responses to nutrition, as well as the potential effects on human health of the major and minor components of this fraction.
Efficient Synthesis of Biomass‐Derived N‐Substituted 2‐Hydroxymethyl‐5‐Methyl‐Pyrroles in Two Steps from 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Wozniak Bartosz , Li Yuehui , Hinze Sandra , Tin Sergey , de Vries Johannes G.
Published: March 2018

An efficient two‐step synthesis for the conversion of biomass‐derived 5‐hydroxymethyl‐furfural (HMF) to a variety of N‐substituted 2‐hydroxymethyl‐5‐methylpyrroles was developed. In the first step, 1‐hydroxyhexane‐2,5‐dione (HHD) was obtained by hydrogenation of HMF and thereafter used in a Paal–Knorr reaction with a range of amines in the absence of catalyst at room temperature. The reaction could potentially be used as a click reaction.
Comparison between centrifugal partition chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography as first dimensions in off‐line two‐dimensional separation: Application to the isolation of multi‐targeted compounds from Edelweiss plant
Authors: Marlot Léa , Batteau Magali , Faure Karine
Published: March 2018

Preparative two‐dimensional chromatography is gaining interest in the elucidation of complex samples as it allows the recovery of a large number of molecules without the risks inherent to tedious multi‐step sample preparation. While the second dimension is often selected to be liquid chromatography, it may be of interest to compare the specificities of two different techniques, namely liquid chromatography and centrifugal partition chromatography, to be used as first dimension. A fair comparison between off‐line CPCxLC and prepLCxLC in selective comprehensive mode for preparative purposes is carried out in this study, illustrated by the isolation of five compounds from high‐value Edelweiss plant. The method development of each configuration is achieved on laboratory scale instruments. The quality of separation is compared using 2D‐contour plots. The prepLCxLC exhibits a large separation space that leads to an overall large peak capacity, which is of great interest for complex samples. But its limited loading capacity involves a large number of 2D runs increasing the running costs for preparative purposes. On the other hand, CPCxLC provides a low peak capacity due to the poor efficiency provided by CPC. However, this liquid‐liquid technique can be finely tuned to generate a high selectivity, decreasing the number of runs necessary to produce a limited number of target solutes.
Three in one: β‐cyclodextrin, nanohydroxyapatite, and a nitrogen‐rich polymer integrated into a new flame retardant for poly (lactic acid)
Authors: Vahabi Henri , Shabanian Meisam , Aryanasab Fezzeh , Laoutid Fouad , Benali Samira , Saeb Mohammad Reza , Seidi Farzad , Kandola Baljinder K.
Published: March 2018

A new halogen‐free flame retardant was developed by integrating β‐cyclodextrin, triazin ring, and nanohydroxyapatite (BSDH) into a hybrid system. A β‐cyclodextrin was grafted to a commercially available SABO®STAB UV94 via an aromatic deanhydrate. The BSDH was prepared in situ in the presence of β‐cyclodextrin‐grafted nitrogen‐rich precursor. The resulting hybrid was applied as a flame retardant for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and compared for performance with ammonium polyphosphate (APP). PLA composites containing BSDH and APP, individually or simultaneously, were examined for thermal degradation and flammability by TGA, cone calorimeter, and pyrolysis‐combustion flow calorimetry. TGA results confirmed enhancement of thermal stability of PLA with assistance of BSDH compared to APP. The gases evolved during thermal degradation were assessed by a thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier infrared spectroscopy device. APP revealed catalytic effect to initiate PLA degradation, while BSDH continued to release some gases at elevated temperatures. The flame retardancy of PLA/APP/BSDH blend containing only 10 wt.% of additives was significantly improved. In cone calorimetric tests, a significant fall in peak of heat release rate was observed for this sample, 49% more than that of neat PLA, which was indicative of more gas and condensed phase reflected in more char residue. The corresponding PLA/APP sample, however, showed 17% improvement, as compared to neat PLA. Also, total heat release rate of PLA/APP/BSDH was 45 MJ.m−2, whereas those of PLA and PLA/APP were 89 and 65 MJ.m−2, respectively. BSDH and APP showed a synergistic effect on improving the flame retardancy of PLA composites.
Central clearing and CDS market quality
Authors: Pereira da Silva Paulo , Vieira Carlos , Vieira Isabel
Published: March 2018

This paper contributes to the literature on the impact of central clearing on financial market quality. Focusing on the CDS market, a difference‐in‐differences analysis is performed to identify effects of voluntary central clearing of contracts on ICECC and ICECE. Patterns of market quality proxies are compared before and after central clearing initiation. We conclude that central clearing improves liquidity, price informativeness and precision, and also the integration of the CDS and stock markets. Results are inconclusive for the impact on CDS price volatility.
Geochemistry and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Nandurbar‐Dhule mafic dyke swarm: Dyke‐sill‐flow correlations and stratigraphic development across the Deccan flood basalt province
Authors: Sheth Hetu , Vanderkluysen Loÿc , Demonterova Elena I. , Ivanov Alexei V. , Savatenkov Valery M.
Published: March 2018

The ENE‐WSW‐trending Nandurbar‐Dhule swarm is the best developed tholeiitic dyke swarm in the Deccan Traps. We obtained 40Ar/39Ar ages of 67.06 ± 0.60, 67.49 ± 0.89, and 63.43 ± 0.48 Ma (2σ internal errors) on three of its largest dykes (36–79 km long), indicating that swarm emplacement spanned ≥2.5 million years under regional crustal extension. Our Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopic data, combined with previously available geochemical data, identify multiple magma injections in some dykes and also identify probable feeder dykes of some lavas in the lower Western Ghats sequence and in Saurashtra, each ~200 km away. Several dykes are compositionally distinct from hitherto analysed lavas; >50% of the analysed Nandurbar‐Dhule dykes are isotopically like the Mahabaleshwar and Panhala formations of the upper Western Ghats sequence, covering a very narrow isotopic range, but have the distinctive chemical signatures of the high‐TiO2 Kolhapur Unit of the southernmost Western Ghats. These dykes thus possess a unique combination of isotopic and chemical characteristics not hitherto known in Deccan tholeiites, cross‐combining features of different eruptive units in the Wai Subgroup of the Western Ghats. This new, “Nandurbar‐type” chemical‐isotopic flavour is however frequently observed in dykes, sills, and lavas in the Pachmarhi, Shahdol, and Mandla areas 450–600 km to the east, and in Deccan‐age dykes cutting through the Early Cretaceous Rajmahal Traps of eastern India. Varied geochemical evidence indicates that the northern and northeastern Deccan lava stratigraphy (such as the Pavagadh section and the Pachmarhi‐Shahdol‐Jabalpur‐Mandla areas) is largely independent of the Western Ghats lava stratigraphy.
Host and viral factors associated with serum hepatitis B virus RNA levels among patients in need for treatment
Authors: van Campenhout Margo J.H. , van Bömmel Florian , Pfefferkorn Maria , Fischer Janett , Deichsel Danilo , Boonstra André , van Vuuren Anneke J. , Berg Thomas , Hansen Bettina E. , Janssen Harry L.A.
Published: March 2018

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA in serum is a novel biomarker for intrahepatic HBV replication and treatment response. For its proper use, it is essential to identify factors influencing serum HBV RNA level. Using a rapid amplification of complimentary DNA (cDNA) ends (RACE) PCR technique (lower limit of detection [LLD], 800 copies/mL [c/mL]), serum HBV RNA levels were measured in samples of 488 untreated individuals with chronic HBV infection who were eligible to treatment according to currently used recommendations. We explored the association of serum levels of HBV RNA with patient‐ and virus‐associated factors. HBV genotype distribution was 21/10/20/46/3% for A/B/C/D/other. Mean HBV RNA serum level was 5.9 (1.6) log10 c/mL (hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]‐positive chronic hepatitis B [CHB], 6.5 [1.2] log c/mL; HBeAg‐negative CHB, 4.1 [1.2] log c/mL; P < 0.001). By multivariable linear regression, factors associated with lower HBV RNA level were HBeAg negativity (β = –0.69; P < 0.001), HBV genotypes A (β = –0.13; P = 0.002), B (β = –0.07; P = 0.049), and C (β = –0.61; P < 0.001) in comparison to D, and presence of HBV basal core promoter mutation either alone (β = –0.14; P = 0.001) or in combination with precore mutation (β = –0.22; P < 0.001). Higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was associated with higher HBV RNA (β = 0.23; P < 0.001). HBV RNA correlated strongly with HBV DNA (HBeAg‐pos, r = 0.72; P < 0.001; HBeAg‐neg, r = 0.78; P < 0.001) and moderately with quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg; HBeAg‐pos, r = 0.54; P < 0.001; HBeAg‐neg, r = 0.19; P = 0.04) and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBeAg; r = 0.41; P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this multiethnic cohort of 488 untreated individuals with CHB, factors associated with serum HBV RNA level were HBeAg status, serum ALT, HBV genotype, and presence of basal core promotor mutations. For the future use of serum HBV RNA as a clinical marker, it seems mandatory to take these factors into consideration. (Hepatology 2018).
A combined algorithm for automated drainage network extraction from digital elevation models
Authors: Yan Yanzi , Tang Jing , Pilesjö Petter
Published: March 2018

Drainage networks are the basis for segmentation of watersheds, an essential component in hydrological modelling, biogeochemical applications, and resource management plans. With the rapidly increasing availability of topographic information as digital elevation models (DEMs), there have been many studies on DEM‐based drainage network extraction algorithms. Most of traditional drainage network extraction methods require preprocessing of the DEM in order to remove “spurious” sink, which can cause unrealistic results due to removal of real sinks as well. The least cost path (LCP) algorithm can deal with flow routing over sinks without altering data. However, the existing LCP implementations can only simulate either single flow direction or multiple flow direction over terrain surfaces. Nevertheless, terrain surfaces in the real world are usually very complicated including both convergent and divergent flow patterns. The triangular form‐based multiple flow (TFM) algorithm, one of the traditional drainage network extraction methods, can estimate both single flow and multiple flow patterns. Thus, in this paper, it is proposed to combine the advantages of the LCP algorithm and the TFM algorithm in order to improve the accuracy of drainage network extraction from the DEM. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by implementing a data‐independent assessment method based on four mathematical surfaces and validated against “true” stream networks from aerial photograph, respectively. The results show that when compared with other commonly used algorithms, the new algorithm provides better flow estimation and is able to estimate both convergent and divergent flow patterns well regarding the mathematical surfaces and the real‐world DEM.
Exogenous recombinant human thioredoxin‐1 prevents acetaminophen‐induced liver injury by scavenging oxidative stressors, restoring the thioredoxin‐1 system and inhibiting receptor interacting protein‐3 overexpression
Authors: Lee Byung‐Woo , Jeon Byung‐Suk , Yoon Byung‐Il
Published: March 2018

Thioredoxin‐1 (Trx‐1) is a potent therapeutic agent against a variety of diseases because of its actions as an antioxidant and regulator of apoptosis. N‐acetyl‐p‐aminophenol (APAP), commonly known as acetaminophen, generates excessive oxidative stress and triggers hepatocyte cell death, exemplified by regulated necrosis. In the present study, we investigated whether APAP‐induced liver injury in a mouse model is associated with “necroptosis,” and if pretreatment with recombinant Trx‐1 prevents the hepatic injury caused by APAP overdose. We also explored the mechanism underlying the preventive action of Trx‐1 against APAP‐induced hepatic injury. In a prevention study, C3H/he mice received different doses (0, 10, 50 or 100 mg kg–1 body weight) of recombinant human Trx‐1 intraperitoneally, followed by a single oral dose of 300 mg kg–1 of APAP. In this experimental paradigm, liver injury and lethality were markedly decreased in rhTrx‐1–pretreated mice. In survival experiments, mice received rhTrx‐1 followed by oral administration of a lethal dose of APAP. APAP overdose caused a series of liver toxicity‐associated events, beginning with overexpression of c‐fos, excessive production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and leading to decreased endogenous Trx‐1 expression and activation of JNK signaling pathways. Pretreatment with rhTrx‐1 inhibited all of these toxicological manifestations of APAP. In addition, rhTrx‐1 significantly reduced the expression of RIP‐3, a critical necrosome component. Taken together, our findings indicate that rhTrx‐1 prevents APAP‐induced liver injury through multiple action mechanisms, including scavenging reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, restoring endogenous Trx‐1 levels and inhibiting RIP‐3 overexpression.
Comparison of the effect of gel used in two different serum separator tubes for thyroid function tests
Authors: Ercan Müjgan , Fırat Oğuz Esra , Akbulut Emiş Deniz , Yilmaz Mustafa , Turhan Turan
Published: March 2018

Background

Selection and verification of blood collection tubes is an important preanalytical issue in clinical laboratories. Today, gel tubes are commonly used with many advantages, although they are known to cause interference in immunoassay methods. In this study, we aimed to compare SSTs of two different suppliers (Ayset clot activator & Gel and Becton Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer SST II advance) with reference tubes and evaluate the effect of storage time in terms of commonly used endocrine tests such as thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3).

Methods

Fifty‐five volunteers were included in the study. Samples were taken into three different tubes and analyzed for serum TSH, fT4, and fT3 on Architect ci8200 Immunoassay System. Clinical decision levels were estimated using total allowable error (TEa).

Results

No difference was found between tubes in terms of TSH, fT3, and fT4 levels. From a statistical standpoint, TSH and fT4 levels were no longer stable during 24, 48, and 72 hours storage time periods. However, their variations were not clinically significant.

Conclusion

Ayset clot activator & Gel tubes and BD Vacutainer SST II advance tubes have comparable results with glass tube in terms of TSH, fT3, and fT4 levels on Architect ci8200 Immunoassay Systems. From a clinical standpoint, serum TSH, fT4, and fT3 concentrations may be considered as stable when storing these tubes over 72 hours.
New flow cytometry-based method for the assessment of the antibacterial effect of immune cells and subcellular particles
Authors: Lőrincz Ákos M , Szeifert Viktória , Bartos Balázs , Ligeti Erzsébet
Published: March 2018

Techniques currently used for assessment of bacterial count or growth are time-consuming, offer low throughput, or they are complicated or expensive. The aim of the present work was to elaborate a new method that is able to detect the antibacterial effect of cells, subcellular particles, and soluble compounds in a fast, cost, and labor effective way. Our proposed technique is based on flow cytometry (FC) optimized for detection of small particles and on fluorescently labeled bacteria. It allows direct determination of the bacterial count in 3 hours. The effect of various human phagocytes and extracellular vesicles on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is investigated in parallel with the new, FC-based method, with colony counting and with our previous, OD-based method. Comparing the killing effect of wild type and NADPH oxidase-deficient murine neutrophils presents an example of detection of a clinically important deficiency. Strong correlation was obtained between the results of the different techniques, but the reproducibility of the FC-based test was superior to the OD-based test. The major advantages of the new technique are: rapidity, low cost, high throughput, and simplicity.
Statistical prediction of non‐Gaussian climate extremes in urban areas based on the first‐order difference method
Authors: Qian Cheng , Zhou Wen , Yang Xiu‐Qun , Chan Johnny C. L.
Published: March 2018

Prediction of climate extremes is challenging, especially for non‐Gaussian extremes in urban areas where the majority of people live, since the Gaussian assumption used in linear regression is violated and the urbanization effect needs to be considered. In this study, the first‐order difference method is introduced to take these difficulties into account. Statistical prediction of the non‐Gaussian annual occurrence of hot days in downtown Hong Kong, which is highly urbanized, is used to illustrate this method. With the help of the first‐order difference of the annual occurrences, which follows a Gaussian distribution, the difference series is used as the predictant to find predictors and to construct a prediction model by using traditional linear regression. The difference is first predicted and is then added to the observed value at the preceding time to obtain the predicted annual occurrence. The historical urbanization effect is thus obtained directly from the observations at the preceding time. The prediction results are found desirable. The broad application potential and conditions in which this method should be used are also discussed.
Impact of regional climate model projected changes on rice yield over southern India
Authors: Samiappan Senthilnathan , Hariharasubramanian Annamalai , Venkataraman Prasanna , Jan Hafner , Narasimhan Balaji
Published: March 2018

This study addresses the impact of projected changes to northeast monsoon on rice yield during rabi season (September–December) in Tamil Nadu by using a three‐step approach. First, coarse‐resolution global climate models that realistically capture the mean monsoon characteristics were selected. Second, lateral and boundary conditions taken from selected global models’ projections are employed to run a high‐resolution regional climate model. Third, climate variables from regional model being fed into panel data regression model. For different scenarios and for mid and end of century projections, in conjunction with projected rainfall, a comprehensive assessment is carried out to underscore the sensitivities of maximum and minimum temperatures under different stages of rice production, viz. vegetative, reproductive and maturity phases, and to the concept of growing degree days (GDD, cumulative heat effect). Irrespective of scenarios, in response to an increase in projected monsoon rainfall and surface temperature conditions, the regression model estimates an increase of rice yield of about 10–12% by mid‐century and 5–33% by the end of the century. In the regression model, the baseline coefficients were estimated from observed rainfall and temperature available from India Meteorological Department (IMD). The projected changes in rice yield, however, remain unchanged for baseline coefficients estimated from regional climate model outputs (forced by reanalysis products) rainfall and temperature. The robust results obtained here provide confidence to the findings.
Cetirizine – how much is too much?
Authors: Garg Alka , Cranwell Annabelle , Chan Damien
Published: March 2018

Background

Cetirizine hydrochloride is a commonly used over‐the‐counter antihistamine that may be prescribed in larger doses than are commonly used for allergic rhinitis for the management of chronic urticaria.

Aim

To describe a case report of a paediatric patient who was treated with long‐term and high‐dose cetirizine.

Clinical details

The patient developed a dystonic reaction probably as a result of the antihistamine overuse. The child involved in this case was taking the maximum daily dose regularly for several years.

Outcomes

The parent was advised to cease treatment with (high dose and prolonged use) cetirizine and substitute a lower intermittent dose of an alternative antihistamine.

Conclusion

Although cetirizine is widely considered a ‘safe’ medication, prescribers and pharmacists should be mindful that it has the potential to cause unacceptable side effects.
Advanced automotive display measurements: Selected challenges and solutions
Authors: Blankenbach Karlheinz
Published: March 2018

Today's trend in automotive displays is toward more, larger, better, and flexible panels. The requirements for cars differ largely from consumer displays: Automotive displays have unique requirements in terms of optical performance, longevity in harsh environment, and production of 100,000s per year per model. Consumer electronics displays, however, set the pace and premium automotive panels have to follow in short time because of customer expectations despite long development cycles. Advanced procedures and measurements have to be applied like lifetime and ambient light. In order to reduce the effort in specifying and evaluating car displays in terms of optical performance, the German Flat Panel Forum has set common requirements for automotive validation. As standard measurement procedures are often less suitable for automotive evaluation, dedicated methods were developed like Black Mura, gamma and visual assessment of anti‐glare surfaces. Standardization reduces the effort along the automotive display value chain. People in future autonomous cars will spend more time watching displays than today, which must then be of highest optical performance. Design visions trend to present information – and not displays – to driver and passengers, which includes seamless displays and smart surfaces. A simple integration of flat displays into dashboards is no longer state‐of‐the‐art.
Are prophylactic antibiotics necessary prior to transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with native biliary anatomy?
Authors: Watchmaker Jennifer M. , Lipnik Andrew J. , Fritsche Micah R. , Baker Jennifer C. , Mouli Samdeep K. , Geevarghese Sunil , Banovac Filip , Omary Reed A. , Brown Daniel B.
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives

Prophylactic antibiotics are frequently administered for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In patients without previous biliary instrumentation, infection risk from TACE is low. We hypothesized that there is a negligible rate of infection in these patients without prophylactic antibiotics.

Methods

We reviewed consecutive patients undergoing TACE between 7/1/2013‐6/15/2016. All patients had an intact Sphincter of Oddi, received no peri‐procedural antibiotics, and had 30+ days follow‐up. Level of arterial selection was recorded. Baseline Child‐Pugh (CP) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) scores were recorded. The primary outcome measure was the absence of clinical or imaging findings of hepatic abscess within 30 days.

Results

A total of 171 patients underwent 235 TACE procedures. CP scores were A (n = 109), B (n = 47), and C (n = 15). BCLC scores were 0 (n = 1), A (n = 108), B (n = 47), and C (n = 15). TACE was performed segmentally (n = 208) or lobar (n = 27). Three patients died of non‐infectious causes before 30 days. No hepatic abscesses developed in evaluable patients: 0/232 infusions.

Conclusions

In patients with HCC and an intact Sphincter of Oddi, TACE was performed safely without prophylactic antibiotics. The majority of the patients were BCLC and CP A/B. Additional study of BCLC and CP C patients is warranted.
Does the number of sentinel lymph nodes removed affect the false negative rate for head and neck melanoma?
Authors: Puza Charles J. , Josyula Srirama , Terando Alicia M. , Howard John H. , Agnese Doreen M. , Mosca Paul J. , Lee Walter T. , Beasley Georgia M.
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives

Head and neck (HN) cutaneous melanoma is associated with worse disease‐free survival compared to non‐HN cutaneous melanoma, possibly due to inadequate staging. We aim to determine if a higher yield of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) affected rates of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) positivity.

Methods

Two Cancer Registries were used to identify patients who underwent SLNB for HN melanoma. A false negative (FN) was defined by nodal recurrence after negative SLNB.

Results

Out of 333 patients who underwent SLNB, 20% (n = 69) had a positive SLN with a FN rate of 6.3%. Those with three or more SLNs had a higher rate of SLN positivity (23.8% [17.5‐29.9% CI] vs 16.4% [10.7‐23.6% CI]), a lower FN rate (16.7% [10.2‐21.2% CI] vs 35.3% [27.1‐42.9% CI]), and higher sensitivity (83.3% [82.59‐84.09% CI] vs 65.7% [64.87‐66.53% CI]) compared to those with one or two SLNs. Of patients in Group 1 (one or two SLNs) with a positive SLN who underwent completion lymph node dissection (20/23), 47% (33‐61% CI) had one or more positive non‐sentinel nodes compared to 29% (16‐51%) of patients in Group 2 (three or more SLNs) (42/46).

Conclusion

In HN melanoma cases in which multiple nodes are identified, removal of all SLNs will more adequately stage patients.
Ultra‐fast liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the rapid phenolic profiling of red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves
Authors: Li Chunting , Seeram Navindra P.
Published: March 2018

The red maple (Acer rubrum) species is economically important to North America because of its sap, which is used to produce maple syrup. In addition, various other red maple plant parts, including leaves, were used as a traditional medicine by the Native Americans. Currently, red maple leaves are being used for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications but there are no published analytical methods for comprehensive phytochemical characterization of this material. Herein, a rapid and sensitive method using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry was developed to characterize the phenolics in a methanol extract of red maple leaves and a proprietary phenolic‐enriched red maple leaves extract (Maplifa™). Time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry experiments led to the identification of 106 phenolic compounds in red maples leaves with the vast majority of these compounds also detected in Maplifa™. The compounds included 68 gallotannins, 25 flavonoids, gallic acid, quinic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and nine other gallic acid derivatives among which 11 are potentially new and 75 are being reported from red maple for the first time. The developed method to characterize red maple leaves phenolics is rapid and highly sensitive and could aid in future standardization and quality control of this botanical ingredient.
Meta‐Analysis of the Association Between Autobiographical Memory Specificity and Exposure to Trauma
Authors: Barry Tom J. , Lenaert Bert , Hermans Dirk , Raes Filip , Griffith James W.
Published: March 2018

Cognitive models of emotional disorders suggest that reduced autobiographical memory specificity that results from exposure to traumatic events may play an important role in the aetiology and maintenance of these disorders. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive meta‐analysis of the association between trauma exposure and memory specificity, and the role of posttraumatic stress symptoms on this association. We searched PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases and extracted data from studies regarding the mean number or proportion of specific memories that participants with and without trauma exposure recalled on the Autobiographical Memory Test. We also extracted data on differences between groups in terms of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms, along with data on trauma timing and participants’ ages at the time of assessment. The effect size of memory specificity between participants with and without exposure to trauma was large, d = 0.77, and differed significantly from zero, p < .001. In metaregression, trauma timing was a significant predictor of the heterogeneity in trauma‐exposure specificity effect sizes, but posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were not. Compromised memory specificity represents an important cognitive consequence of trauma exposure that might have an important influence on risk for, and maintenance of, subsequent emotional pathologies.
Effects of European common reed on Blanding's turtle spatial ecology
Authors: Markle Chantel E. , Chow‐Fraser Patricia
Published: March 2018

European common reed (Phragmites australis; common reed) is an aggressive invader of North American wetlands that forms homogenous patches and replaces native flora. Dense patches of common reed generally provide poor habitat for many species, although specific effects on at‐risk turtles are largely unknown. We created 3 predictive scenarios to relate the amount of common reed in the landscape to amount of effective habitat for Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) and investigated the spatial ecology of 46 adult Blanding's turtles using Euclidean distance analysis within 2 wetland complexes in southern Ontario, Canada. At the home‐range scale, we identified a positive association between turtle home ranges and common reed. At the individual scale, turtle radio‐locations were significantly farther from common reed patches than from random points, consistent with the hypothesis that they avoided common reed patches locally. When we analyzed habitat selection by sex, results were similar to population‐level results except for nesting females. During nesting migrations, females did not avoid common reed patches at the individual scale but instead interacted with common reed, potentially placing themselves at risk of being stranded within dense patches. Our results are consistent with our dynamic home range plus saturation hypothesis that invasion of common reed reduces the amount of effective habitat for at‐risk turtles in wetlands because Blanding's turtles significantly avoided common reed patches at individual scales. Management of common reed is an important step to restore habitat for Blanding's turtles and future research is needed to determine best restoration practices. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Alterations in gut microbial function following liver transplant
Authors: Bajaj Jasmohan S. , Kakiyama Genta , Cox I. Jane , Nittono Hiroshi , Takei Hajime , White Melanie , Fagan Andrew , Gavis Edith A. , Heuman Douglas M. , Gilles Ho Chong , Hylemon Phillip , Taylor‐Robinson Simon D. , Legido‐Quigley Cristina , Kim Min , Xu Jin , Williams Roger , Sikaroodi Masoumeh , Pandak William M. , Gillevet Patrick M.
Published: March 2018

Liver transplantation (LT) improves daily function and ameliorates gut microbial composition. However, the effect of LT on microbial functionality, which can be related to overall patient benefit, is unclear and could affect the post‐LT course. The aims were to determine the effect of LT on gut microbial functionality focusing on endotoxemia, bile acid (BA), ammonia metabolism, and lipidomics. We enrolled outpatient patients with cirrhosis on the LT list and followed them until 6 months after LT. Microbiota composition (Shannon diversity and individual taxa) and function analysis (serum endotoxin, urinary metabolomics and serum lipidomics, and stool BA profile) and cognitive tests were performed at both visits. We enrolled 40 patients (age, 56 ± 7 years; mean Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score, 22.6). They received LT 6 ± 3 months after enrollment and were re‐evaluated 7 ± 3 months after LT with a stable course. A significant improvement in cognition with increase in microbial diversity, increase in autochthonous and decrease in potentially pathogenic taxa, and reduced endotoxemia were seen after LT compared with baseline. Stool BAs increased significantly after LT, and there was evidence of greater bacterial action (higher secondary, oxo and iso‐BAs) after LT although the levels of conjugated BAs remained similar. There was a reduced serum ammonia and corresponding rise in urinary phenylacetylglutamine after LT. There was an increase in urinary trimethylamine‐N‐oxide, which was correlated with specific changes in serum lipids related to cell membrane products. The ultimate post‐LT lipidomic profile appeared beneficial compared with the profile before LT. In conclusion, LT improves gut microbiota diversity and dysbiosis, which is accompanied by favorable changes in gut microbial functionality corresponding to BAs, ammonia, endotoxemia, lipidomic, and metabolomic profiles. Liver Transplantation 24 752–761 2018 AASLD.
Discovery of an Exceptionally Strong Luminescence of Polyethyleneimine‐Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Unal Ozlem , Khodadust Rouhollah , Durmusoglu Emek G. , Erdem Emre , Yagci Mustafa Baris , Ow‐Yang ClevaW. , Yurtsever Ersin , Yagci Acar Havva
Published: March 2018

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is rarely recognized as a luminescent polymer but is frequently used for the production of cationic nanoparticles and tagged with an organic fluorophore to be tracked optically. Herein, a strongly luminescent, branched PEI‐superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (bPEI‐SPION) without a traditional fluorophore is reported. A tremendous enhancement (1200 times) in the weak blue luminescence of bPEI is achieved only if it is adsorbed on a SPION during the synthesis of nanoparticles, which is improved further upon protonation, irreversibly. This is quite unexpected since SPIONs are strong absorbers in the visible region. All reaction parameters, different synthetic methods, as well as protonation are studied as independent factors to understand the origin of such enhancement. Detailed spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory calculations indicate that partial amine oxidation and Fe3+ reduction takes place during the synthesis, which significantly contributes to the luminescence enhancement. In addition, PEI‐SPION exhibits excitation wavelength dependent emission and maintains its magnetic properties.
How the sound frequency of background music influences consumers’ perceptions and decision making
Authors: Sunaga Tsutomu
Published: March 2018

This study examined how music frequency affected consumers’ perception and decision making. The results of three experimental studies show that music frequency affects perceived distance between the sound source and the perceiver. Consequently, the representation of marketing message that matched (vs. mismatched) the background music's frequency enhanced consumers’ evaluative judgments. Specifically, Study 1A demonstrates that low‐frequency (vs. high‐frequency) music increased perceived distance. Studies 2, 3A, and 3B indicate that low‐frequency (high‐frequency) music matched products with abstract (concrete) representations and marketing messages signifying far (near) psychological distance. The congruency between psychological distance induced by music frequency and mental representations of products and message orientation offers a novel perspective on the notion of congruency. Moreover, Study 2 provides evidence that supports the congruency–fluency–evaluation chain (i.e., the mediating role of fluency), and Studies 3A and 3B show that the congruency has downstream effects. This study provides a theoretical contribution to the literature on the effects of music in marketing contexts by presenting convergent evidence that individuals exposed to low‐frequency (high‐frequency) music are inclined to construe a marketing message at a high (low) level.
Carbohydrate‐based vaccines for oncotherapy
Authors: Wei Meng‐Man , Wang Yong‐Shi , Ye Xin‐Shan
Published: March 2018

Cancer is still one of the most serious threats to human worldwide. Aberrant patterns of glycosylation on the surface of cancer cells, which are correlated with various cancer development stages, can differentiate the abnormal tissues from the healthy ones. Therefore, tumor‐associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) represent the desired targets for cancer immunotherapy. However, these carbohydrate antigens may not able to evoke powerful immune response to combat with cancer for their poor immunogenicity and immunotolerance. Different approaches have been developed to address these problems. In this review, we want to summarize the latest advances in TACAs based anticancer vaccines.
Flaxseed Oil Attenuates Intestinal Damage and Inflammation by Regulating Necroptosis and TLR4/NOD Signaling Pathways Following Lipopolysaccharide Challenge in a Piglet Model
Authors: Zhu Huiling , Wang Haibo , Wang Shuhui , Tu Zhixiao , Zhang Lin , Wang Xiuying , Hou Yongqing , Wang Chunwei , Chen Jie , Liu Yulan
Published: March 2018

Scope

Flaxseed oil is a rich source of α‐linolenic acid (ALA), which is the precursor of the long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This study investigates the protective effect of flaxseed oil against intestinal injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Materials and results

Twenty‐four weaned pigs were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with dietary treatment (5% corn oil vs 5% flaxseed oil) and LPS challenge (saline vs LPS). On day 21 of the experiment, pigs were administrated with LPS or saline. At 2 h and 4 h post‐administration, blood samples were collected. After the blood harvest at 4 h, all piglets were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. Flaxseed oil supplementation led to the enrichment of ALA, EPA, and total n‐3 PUFAs in intestine. Flaxseed oil improved intestinal morphology, jejunal lactase activity, and claudin‐1 protein expression. Flaxseed oil downregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal necroptotic signals. Flaxseed oil also downregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal toll‐like receptors 4 (TLR4) and its downstream signals myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor kappa B (NF−κB), and nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain proteins 1, 2 (NOD1, NOD2) and its adapter molecule, receptor‐interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2).

Conclusion

These results suggest that dietary addition of flaxseed oil enhances intestinal integrity and barrier function, which is involved in modulating necroptosis and TLR4/NOD signaling pathways.
A deep 3D residual CNN for false‐positive reduction in pulmonary nodule detection
Authors: Jin Hongsheng , Li Zongyao , Tong Ruofeng , Lin Lanfen
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The automatic detection of pulmonary nodules using CT scans improves the efficiency of lung cancer diagnosis, and false‐positive reduction plays a significant role in the detection. In this paper, we focus on the false‐positive reduction task and propose an effective method for this task.

Methods

We construct a deep 3D residual CNN (convolution neural network) to reduce false‐positive nodules from candidate nodules. The proposed network is much deeper than the traditional 3D CNNs used in medical image processing. Specifically, in the network, we design a spatial pooling and cropping (SPC) layer to extract multilevel contextual information of CT data. Moreover, we employ an online hard sample selection strategy in the training process to make the network better fit hard samples (e.g., nodules with irregular shapes).

Results

Our method is evaluated on 888 CT scans from the dataset of the LUNA16 Challenge. The free‐response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) curve shows that the proposed method achieves a high detection performance.

Conclusions

Our experiments confirm that our method is robust and that the SPC layer helps increase the prediction accuracy. Additionally, the proposed method can easily be extended to other 3D object detection tasks in medical image processing.
Mean residual life of coherent systems consisting of multiple types of dependent components
Authors: Eryilmaz Serkan , Coolen Frank P.A. , Coolen‐Maturi Tahani
Published: March 2018

Mean residual life is a useful dynamic characteristic to study reliability of a system. It has been widely considered in the literature not only for single unit systems but also for coherent systems. This article is concerned with the study of mean residual life for a coherent system that consists of multiple types of dependent components. In particular, the survival signature based generalized mixture representation is obtained for the survival function of a coherent system and it is used to evaluate the mean residual life function. Furthermore, two mean residual life functions under different conditional events on components’ lifetimes are also defined and studied.
Early manifestation of depressive‐like behavior in transgenic mice that express dementia with Lewy body‐linked mutant β‐synuclein
Authors: Fujita Masayo , Hagino Yoko , Takamatsu Yukio , Shimizu Yuka , Takamatsu Yoshiki , Ikeda Kazutaka , Hashimoto Makoto
Published: March 2018

Aim

We previously generated transgenic (Tg) mice that expressed P123H β‐synuclein (βS), a dementia with Lewy body‐linked mutant βS. Notably, these mice recapitulated neurodegenerative features of Lewy body disease, reflected by motor dysfunction, greater protein aggregation, and memory impairment. Since recent studies suggested that non‐motor symptoms, such as depression, might be manifested in the prodromal stage of Lewy body disease, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the early expression of behavior in P123H βS Tg mice.

Methods

Nest building, locomotor activity, and depressive‐like behavior were assessed using 6‐ to 10‐month‐old male and female P123H βS Tg and wildtype mice.

Key Results

P123H βS Tg mice exhibited hyperlocomotor activity in a novel environment, a decrease in mobility time in the tail suspension test, and impairments in nest building.

Conclusions

Importantly, these non‐motor behaviors were manifested before the onset of motor dysfunction, suggesting that P123H βS Tg mice could be a valid model for investigating the early phase of Lewy body disease.