bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF HYGIENE AND CLEANING PRODUCTS PACKAGING WASTE
Authors: Pejcic Dusanka , Vranjanac Zarko
Published: January 2019

Hygiene and cleaning products are used for personal hygiene, household, workspace, and public area cleaning. However, since hygiene and cleaning products may contain substances with
specific toxicological and eco-toxicological properties, they can
negatively affect human and environmental health. Direct human
health impact of hygiene and cleaning products is the result of their manipulation during their manufacture and their use for washing, cleaning, and other forms of hygiene maintenance. Indirect human health impact of these products is manifested through environmental pollution, e.g. through drinking water extracted from eutrophic areas. Negative environmental impact of these products and their packaging is manifested through anthropogenic eutrophication, increased water and energy consumption, ambient degradation, and generation of large amounts of packaging waste. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to highlight the negative environmental impact, which depends on the type, composition, and quantity of hygiene and cleaning products and their packaging waste. The paper presents results obtained within the research project Environmental Impact of Hygiene and Cleaning
Products and Their Packaging, conducted at the recycling centre of the
Public Utility Company “Mediana” in Niš, Serbia in 2014 and 2015.

Key words: hygiene and cleaning products, environment, environmental impact, hygiene and cleaning products waste.
EVALUATION OF PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS – AN
OVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGIES
Authors: Avramovic Danijela
Published: January 2019

Literature contains numerous methods for assessing the effectiveness of protected area management, which are classified in seven categories. The methods differ primarily in the manner of data
collection and the manner of implementing protection. This paper
analyzes three methods (Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool,
Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management,
and Protected Areas Benefit Assessment Tool), which we consider to practically applicable in the evaluation and assessment of protected area management in Serbia.
Key words: evaluation, effectiveness, protected natural area, methods,
management.
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF NOISE AS A STRESSOR
Authors: Veljkovic Milan , Zivkovic Snezana , Milenovic Miodrag
Published: January 2019

The paper deals with the issues related to noise as an
environmental stressor by considering its influences on the human
psychophysiological functioning, the psychos
ocial impacts and the
psychological symptoms. In the first part of the paper, some basic
concepts and definitions of stress and impact of stressors are given,
while in the second part of the paper the basic mechanisms of
psychophysiological response to stress and the studies dealing with
noise as one of the most common environmental stressors are
presented. The paper shows that the noise seriously affects the nervous
system, both central and vegetative, which further influences the heart,
blood vessels, blood pressure, digestive tract and many other organs and tissues, where many changes and functional disturbances including harassment, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and cognitive performance deficit are caused. Noise exposure is associated with psychological symptoms, but not with the clinically defined psychiatric disorder.
Key words: stress, noise, environmental stressor, reactions
.
Outcomes of hospitalizations with atrial fibrillation-flutter on a weekday versus weekend: an analysis from a 2014 nationwide inpatient sample
Authors: Voruganti Dinesh C. , Subash Shantha Ghanshyam Palamaner , Deshmukh Abhishek , Giudici Michael C.
Published: January 2019

Background

Patients with atrial fibrillation-flutter (AF) admitted on the weekends were initially reported to have poor outcomes. The primary purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the outcomes for weekend versus weekday AF hospitalization using the 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Methods

Included hospitalizations were aged above 18 years. The hospitalizations with AF were identified using the international classification of diseases 9 (ICD-9) codes (427.31, 427.32). In-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), other co-morbidities, cardioversion procedures, and time to cardioversion were recorded. All analysis was performed using SAS 9.4 statistical software (Cary, North Carolina).

Results

A total of 453,505 hospitalizations with atrial fibrillation and flutter as primary discharge diagnosis were identified. Among the total hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of AF, 20.3% were admitted on the weekend. Among the weekend hospitalizations, 0.19% died in hospital compared to 0.74% among those admitted during the week. After adjusting for patient characteristics, hospital characteristics and disease severity, the adjusted odds for in-hospital mortality were not significantly different for weekend vs. weekday hospitalizations (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.77–1.11]; p = 0.33). The weekend admissions were associated with significantly lower odds of cardioversion procedures (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.69–0.76], P < 0.0001), lower cost of hospitalization (USD 8265.8 on weekends vs. USD 8966.5 on the weekdays, P < 0.001), slightly lower rate of anticoagulation (17.09% on the weekends vs. 18.73% on the weekdays. P < 0.0001), and slightly increased time to cardioversion (1.94 days on the weekend vs. 1.73 days on weekdays, P < 0.0005). The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was statistically not different in both groups: (3.49 days ± 3.70 (SD) in the weekend group vs. 3.47 days ± 3.50 (SD) in the weekday group, P = 0.42)

Discussion

The weekend AF hospitalizations did not have a clinically significant difference in mortality and LOS compared to those admitted on a weekday. However, the use of cardioversion procedures and cost of hospitalization was significantly lower on the weekends.
Extremely low levels of chloroplast genome sequence variability in Astelia pumila (Asteliaceae, Asparagales)
Authors: Pfanzelt Simon , Albach Dirk C. , von Hagen K. Bernhard
Published: January 2019

Astelia pumila (G.Forst.) Gaudich. (Asteliaceae, Asparagales) is a major element of West Patagonian cushion peat bog vegetation. With the aim to identify appropriate chloroplast markers for the use in a phylogeographic study, the complete chloroplast genomes of five A. pumila accessions from almost the entire geographical range of the species were assembled and screened for variable positions. The chloroplast genome sequence was obtained via a mapping approach, using Eustrephus latifolius (Asparagaceae) as a reference. The chloroplast genome of A. pumila varies in length from 158,215 bp to 158,221 bp, containing a large single copy region of 85,981–85,983 bp, a small single copy region of 18,182–18,186 bp and two inverted repeats of 27,026 bp. Genome annotation predicted a total of 113 genes, including 30 tRNA and four rRNA genes. Sequence comparisons revealed a very low degree of intraspecific genetic variability, as only 37 variable sites (18 indels, 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms, one 3-bp mutation)—most of them autapomorphies—were found among the five assembled chloroplast genomes. A Maximum Likelihood analysis, based on whole chloroplast genome sequences of several Asparagales accessions representing six of the currently recognized 14 families (sensu APG IV), confirmed the phylogenetic position of A. pumila. The chloroplast genome of A. pumila is the first to be reported for a member of the astelioid clade (14 genera with c. 215 species), a basally branching group within Asparagales.
Effects of nickel and cobalt on methane production and methanogen abundance and diversity in paddy soil
Authors: Wang Tianwei , Li Zhaoxia , Chen Xueping , Long Xi-En
Published: January 2019

Background

Paddies are an important anthropogenic source of methane emissions to the atmosphere, and they are impacted by heavy metal pollution. Nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) pollution might either enhance or mitigate CH4emission from paddy soils due to the total amounts of metals, bioavailability and functional microbial activity and composition.

Methods

An incubation experiment was conducted, and different Ni and Co concentrations were added to test the effects of trace metals on methane production in paddy soil. The archaea community structure and the abundance of methanogen functional groups in the paddy soil with added Ni and Co were detected using high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR based on the 16S rRNA and mcrA (methyl coenzyme M reductase) genes, respectively.

Results

The highest methane production rate was 561 mg CH4kg−1dry soil d−1with the addition of 50 mg kg−1Ni and 684 mg CH4kg−1dry soil d−1with the addition of 25 mg kg−1Co. Accordingly, themcrA gene was most abundant in the 50 mg kg−1Ni addition (3.1 × 106 ± 0.5 × 106copies g−1dry soil). The lowestmcrA gene abundance was detected in the 500 mg kg−1Co addition (9.2× 105 ±  0.4 × 105copies g−1dry soil). The dominant methanogens were Methanobacterium, Methanosarcina, Methanocella, Methanomassiliicoccus, Bathyarchaeota, and Rice Cluster I (RC-I), and the relative abundances of these groups were higher than 1% in the Ni and Co treatments. Additionally, the archaeal compositions differed significantly in the soils with various Ni and Co additions. The most abundant Methanococcus spp. represented 51.3% of the composition in the 50 mg kg−1Ni addition, which was significantly higher than that of the control (12.9% to 17.5%).

Discussion

Our results indicated that the contamination of soil by Ni and Co significantly affected total methanogens abundance and specific methanogen functional groups. Ni and Co additions to paddy soil promoted methanogenic activity at low concentrations, while they had inhibitory effects at high concentrations. Because paddy soils largely contribute to methane emissions and are increasingly exposed to heavy metal pollution, our results show that future assessments of greenhouse gas flux from paddy soils should take into account the effects of pollution by Ni and Co.
Evaluation of AAV-DJ vector for retinal gene therapy
Authors: Katada Yusaku , Kobayashi Kenta , Tsubota Kazuo , Kurihara Toshihide
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The most common virus vector used in gene therapy research for ophthalmologic diseases is the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, which has been used successfully in a number of preclinical and clinical studies. It is important to evaluate novel AAV vectors in animal models for application of clinical gene therapy. The AAV-DJ (type 2/type 8/type 9 chimera) was engineered from shuffling eight different wild-type native viruses. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of gene transfer by AAV-DJ injections into the retina.

Methods

One microliter of AAV-2-CAGGS-EGFP or AAV-DJ-CAGGS-EGFP vector at a titer of 1.4 × 10e12 vg/ml was injected intravitreally or subretinally in each eye of C57BL/6 mice. We evaluated the transduction characteristics of AAV-2 and -DJ vectors using fluorescence microscopy and electroretinography.

Results

The results confirmed that AAV-DJ could deeply transfer gene to photoreceptor layer with intravitreal injection and has an efficient gene transfer to various cell types especially the Mueller cells in the retina. Retinal function was not affected by AAV-DJ infection or ectopic EGFP expression.

Conclusions

The AAV-DJ vector efficiently induces the reporter gene in both the inner and outer murine retina without functional toxicity. These data indicated that the AAV-DJ vector is a useful tool for the gene therapy research targeting retinal disorders.
Environmental Factors Associated with the Presence of Vibrionaceae in Tropical Cage-Cultured Marine Fishes
Authors: Mohamad Nurliyana , Mustafa Muskhazli , Amal Mohammad Noor Azmai , Saad Mohd Zamri , Md Yasin Ina Salwany , Al-saari Nurhidayu
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the environmental factors associated with the presence of Vibrionaceae in economically important cage-cultured tropical marine fishes: the Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer, snapper Lutjanus sp., and hybrid grouper Epinephelus sp. Fish sampling was conducted at monthly intervals between December 2016 and August 2017. The body weight and length of individual fish were measured, and the skin, eye, liver, and kidney were sampled for bacterial isolation and identification. Water physicochemical parameters during the sampling activities were determined, and the enumeration of total Vibrionaceae count was also conducted from water and sediment samples. Nine species of Vibrio were identified, including V. alginolyticus, V. diabolicus, V. harveyi, V. campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus, V. rotiferianus, V. furnissii, V. fluvialis, and V. vulnificus. Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae was also identified. A total of 73% of the isolated Vibrio belonged to the Harveyi clade, followed by the Vulnificus clade (5.5%) and Cholera clade (0.6%). Highest occurrence of Vibrio spp. and P. damselae subsp. damselae was found in hybrid grouper (72%), followed by Asian Seabass (48%) and snapper (36%). The associations of Vibrio spp. and P. damselae subsp. damselae with the host fish were not species specific. However, fish mortality and fish size showed strong associations with the presence of some Vibrio spp. On average, 60% of the infected cultured fish exhibited at least one clinical sign. Nevertheless, inconsistent associations were observed between the pathogens and water quality. The yearlong occurrence and abundance of Vibrionaceae in the environmental components indicate that they might serve as reservoirs of these pathogens.
Proposed changes to the ACR phantom filling procedure for more accurate and consistent activity concentrations
Authors: Beattie Bradley J.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

The phantom filling procedures currently specified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for its PET accreditation program unnecessarily limit how tight the tolerances can be made on the accuracy requirements for the concentrations measured in the resultant images.

Methods

New procedures are proposed to improve the accuracy and consistency of the concentrations within the phantom at the time of imaging. These improvements are gained by exchanging the difficult process of accurately measuring a dose with the more easily achieved accurate measurements of time and liquid volume to control final radioactivity concentrations. A comparison of the results when following the two filling procedures is made.

Results

The variability in metrics specified by the ACR was approximately halved by following the new procedures.

Conclusion

These improvements allow tighter thresholds to be applied when evaluating image quality and quantitative accuracy of the PET images. These changes also render this phantom data more suitable for inter‐PET‐scanner harmonization and improve its utility for comparing image reconstruction methods.
Chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell therapy in B cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas
Authors: Levin Adam , Shah Nirav N.
Published: January 2019

Chimeric antigen receptor modified T (CAR‐T) cell therapy against the CD19 antigen has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for patients with relapsed, refractory B cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Currently, there are two FDA approved products (axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel) for B cell NHL, with several other constructs under clinical investigation. This review will focus on the clinical outcomes, toxicity profile, and differences among candidate CD19 CAR‐T cell products for major subtypes of B cell NHL including diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. Lastly, we will describe novel CAR‐T constructs currently under exploration in B cell NHL.
Oral manifestations in patients and dogs with mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII
Authors: Kantaputra Piranit N. , Smith Lachlan J. , Casal Margret L. , Kuptanon Chulaluck , Chang Yu‐Cheng , Nampoothiri Sheela , Paiyarom Apichai , Veerasakulwong Thanat , Trachoo Objoon , Ketudat Cairns James R. , Chinadet Wannapa , Tanpaiboon Pranoot
Published: January 2019

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPS7, also called β‐glucuronidase deficiency or Sly syndrome; MIM 253220) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease, caused by mutations in the GUSB gene. β‐glucuronidase (GUSB) is a lysosomal hydrolase involved in the stepwise degradation of glucuronic acid‐containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Patients affected with MPS VII are not able to completely degrade glucuronic acid‐containing GAGs, including chondroitin 4‐sulfate, chondroitin 6‐sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and heparan sulfate. The accumulation of these GAGs in lysosomes of various tissues leads to cellular and organ dysfunctions. Characteristic features of MPS VII include short stature, macrocephaly, hirsutism, coarse facies, hearing loss, cloudy cornea, short neck, valvular cardiac defects, hepatosplenomegaly, and dysostosis multiplex. Oral manifestations in patients affected with MPS VII have never been reported. Oral manifestations observed in three patients consist of wide root canal spaces, taurodontism, hyperplastic dental follicles, malposition of unerupted permanent molars, and failure of tooth eruption with malformed roots. The unusual skeletal features of the patients include maxillary hypoplasia, hypoplastic midface, long mandibular length, mandibular prognathism, hypoplastic and aplastic mandibular condyles, absence of the dens of the second cervical vertebra, and erosion of the cortex of the lower border of mandibles. Dogs affected with MPS VII had anterior and posterior open bite, maxillary hypoplasia, premolar crowding, and mandibular prognathism. Unlike patients with MPS VII, the dogs had unremarkable mandibular condyles. This is the first report of oral manifestations in patients affected with MPS VII.
The organisational impact of undertaking a professional doctorate: Forming critical leaders
Authors: Lundgren‐Resenterra Mariangela , Kahn Peter E.
Published: January 2019

Research on the impact of professional doctorates on students and their organisations has reported contested outcomes. We undertook a study to develop a causal explanation of how organisational change may, or may not, result from participation in a Doctor of Education programme (EdD). Drawing on critical realist perspectives, the research found that all the doctoral students shared professional concerns with their work colleagues. In some cases, however, this sharing fostered social relations that supported both collective meta‐reflexivity and a performative collective reflexivity, and that resulted in organisational change. Variation in the students’ impact on their organisations was further connected to their organisational roles, and to the extent to which their agency aligned with organisational agendas or other external regulatory and normative systems. Strictly limited, or no, organisational change was, however, evident where collective reflexivity was seen to be restricted or to involve contestation. The article concludes that there is significant value to gain by conceiving learning on a professional doctorate not simply in terms of personal growth, but also in terms of mastering a discourse that crosses both research and professional practice and developing the capacity to draw others into that discourse in an organisationally relevant and yet critical fashion.
Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on the gut microbiome and colorectal adenoma development
Authors: Pearson Talima , Caporaso J. Gregory , Yellowhair Monica , Bokulich Nicholas A. , Padi Megha , Roe Denise J. , Wertheim Betsy C. , Linhart Mark , Martinez Jessica A. , Bilagody Cherae , Hornstra Heidie , Alberts David S. , Lance Peter , Thompson Patricia A.
Published: January 2019

It has been previously reported that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a therapeutic bile acid, reduced risk for advanced colorectal adenoma in men but not women. Interactions between the gut microbiome and fecal bile acid composition as a factor in colorectal cancer neoplasia have been postulated but evidence is limited to small cohorts and animal studies. Using banked stool samples collected as part of a phase III randomized clinical trial of UDCA for the prevention of colorectal adenomatous polyps, we compared change in the microbiome composition after a 3‐year intervention in a subset of participants randomized to oral UDCA at 8‐10 mg/kg of body weight per day (n = 198) or placebo (n = 203). Study participants randomized to UDCA experienced compositional changes in their microbiome that were statistically more similar to other individuals in the UDCA arm than to those in the placebo arm. This reflected a UDCA‐associated shift in microbial community composition (P < 0.001), independent of sex, with no evidence of a UDCA effect on microbial richness (P > 0.05). These UDCA‐associated shifts in microbial community distance metrics from baseline to end‐of‐study were not associated with risk of any or advanced adenoma (all P > 0.05) in men or women. Separate analyses of microbial networks revealed an overrepresentation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the post‐UDCA arm and an inverse relationship between F prausnitzii and Ruminococcus gnavus. In men who received UDCA, the overrepresentation of F prausnitzii and underrepresentation of R gnavus were more prominent in those with no adenoma recurrence at follow‐up compared to men with recurrence. This relationship was not observed in women. Daily UDCA use modestly influences the relative abundance of microbial species in stool and affects the microbial network composition with suggestive evidence for sex‐specific effects of UDCA on stool microbial community composition as a modifier of colorectal adenoma risk.
Visualizing Post‐Translational Modifications in Protein Interaction Networks Using PTMOracle
Authors: Tay Aidan P. , Liang Angelita , Wilkins Marc R. , Pang Chi Nam Ignatius
Published: January 2019

Post‐translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins act as key regulators of protein activity, including the regulation of protein‐protein interactions (PPIs). However, exploring functional links between PTMs and PPIs can be difficult. PTMOracle is a Cytoscape app that facilitates the co‐visualization and co‐analysis of PTMs in the context of PPI networks. PTMOracle also allows extensive data to be integrated and co‐analyzed, allowing the role of domains, motifs, and disordered regions to be considered. Here, we describe several PTMOracle protocols investigating complex PTM‐associated relationships and their role in PPIs. This is assisted by OraclePainter for coloring proteins by the modifications present and visualizing these in the context of networks, by OracleTools for cross‐matching PTMs with sequence feature for all nodes in the network, and by OracleResults for exploring specific proteins and visualizing their PTMs in the context of protein sequences. This unit aims to demonstrate how PTMOracle can be used to systematically explore network visualizations and generate testable hypotheses regarding the functional role of PTMs in PPIs, and how the results can be analyzed to better understand the regulatory role of PTMs in PPIs. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Heparanase‐1 activity and the early postnatal prostate development
Authors: Barbosa Guilherme Oliveira , Bruni‐Cardoso Alexandre , da Silva Pinhal Maria Aparecida , Augusto Taize Machado , Carvalho Hernandes F.
Published: January 2019

Ventral prostate (VP) morphogenesis starts during embryonic development and continues for the first three postnatal weeks. Heparan sulfate (HS) affects paracrine signaling. Heparanase‐1 (HPSE) is the only enzyme capable of cleaving HS. HPSE releases the HS bioactive fragment and mobilizes growth factors. Little is known, however, about HS turnover and HPSE function during VP morphogenesis. In this study, we measured HSPG expression and analyzed the expression and distribution of HPSE in the rat VP. HPSE was predominantly expressed by the VP epithelium. The VP was treated with heparin in ex vivo cultures to interfere with HS and resulted in delayed epithelial growth. Hpse knockdown using siRNA delayed epithelial growth in the first postnatal week ex vivo, which was similar to treating with the lower concentration of heparin. Hpse silencing was related to changes in HS chain length (as determined by size‐exclusion chromatography, up‐regulation of Mmp9, and down‐regulation of Mmp2 expression). It also down‐modulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting a reduction in signaling, likely due to decreased HS cleavage and growth factor bioavailability. Our results showed that HPSE played a role in early epithelial growth during the first week of VP postnatal development. Developmental Dynamics 248:211‐220, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of equivalent circuit model for electric double‐layer capacitors reflecting pore structure of activated carbon
Authors: Kono Akihiko , Tanaka Kota , Urushibata Hiroaki , Fujita Yoji , Koyama Masato
Published: January 2019

In this study, an equivalent circuit model of electric double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs) reflecting a branched‐pore structure for activated carbon was developed. Geometrical parameters such as pore diameter, pore depth, and branch number of the macropore, mesopore, and micropore were estimated from the analysis of the electrochemical impedance for EDLCs, combining theoretical equations and an equivalent circuit model. The developed equivalent circuit model was applied to charge/discharge simulations of EDLCs. The experimental and simulated cell voltages during pulsed‐current charge were found to be in excellent agreement. Distributions of currents and voltages in the macropore, mesopore, and micropore during pulsed‐current charges were discussed using equivalent circuit simulations. Electric‐double layers were charged in order of the macropore, the mesopore, and the micropore. It was suggested that charge delays of the mesopore and the micropore originated from both solution resistances in pores and the branch structure of the pore for activated carbon.
Polyphenol Compounds Attenuate High‐Dose PUFA‐Induced Oxidative Damage in Adipocytes
Authors: Deng Kaiping , Ren Caifang , Zhang Guomin , Zhang Yanli , You Peihua , Wang Feng , Fan Yixuan
Published: January 2019

Although polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are beneficial fatty acids, their excessive deposition can easily lead to lipid‐induced oxidation damage. It has recently been shown that diets rich in particular polyphenols may improve the oxidative status of tissues with high PUFA content. However, the underlying mechanism for this remains elusive. Therefore, a model is created of high‐dose PUFA injury in adipocytes, which investigates the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) on the alleviation of oxidative damage induced by high doses of PUFAs. It is observed that high‐dose linolenic acids (ALA) enhance lipid oxidation, inflammation, and autophagy in adipocytes. However, RA and CA attenuate the high‐dose ALA‐enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and microtubule‐associated protein 1, light chain 3, beta (MAP1LC3B). In addition, they reduce the intracellular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) that are elevated by high doses of ALA, and modulate the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase antioxidant (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) enzymes. The protective effects of RA and CA on adipocyte oxidative stress are in part associated with their capacity to improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes and exert free radical‐scavenging activity. Collectively, these results suggest that RA and CA may have potential benefits in protecting adipose cells from high‐dose PUFA‐induced oxidative damage.

Practical Applications: It is known that a diet rich in PUFAs has beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. However, an accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids in tissues is more susceptible to lipid oxidation. In this study, it is found that polyphenols have the potential to protect adipose cells from high‐dose PUFAs‐induced damage. It has also been suggested that the consumption of a diet enriched in polyphenols could be beneficial for the prevention of lipid peroxidation and maintaining the balance between oxidative and anti‐oxidative processes.

Polyphenols suppress the formation of lipid peroxy radical species. The process of lipid peroxidation consists of initiation, propagation, and termination. In the termination reaction, polyphenols may donate a hydrogen atom to the lipid radical, resulting in the termination of lipid peroxy radical species formation. In addition, polyphenols may improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby suppressing the formation of lipid peroxy radical species.
Semi‐Siccative Oils and Bioactive Fractions Isolated from Reunion Island Fruit Co‐Product: Two Case Studies
Authors: Delvar Alice , de Caro Pascale , Caro Yanis , Shum Cheong Sing Alain , Thomas Rudy , Raynaud Christine
Published: January 2019

This paper focused on the use of agro‐industrial wastes of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) generated by the agricultural industry on Reunion Island, according to two routes: extraction of semi‐siccative oils from the seeds and extraction of bioactive compounds from residual pulp and peels. Oil content, fatty acid, carotenoids, tocopherol, and sterol concentrations are determined in the seed oils obtained by four different extraction processes using Soxhlet extraction, extraction by hexane and ethanol, mechanical pressing and supercritical‐carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) extraction. The oil extraction yields ranged from 15 to 30% w/w for strawberry guava and passion fruit, respectively. Both oils are classified as semi‐siccative and had a similar total unsaturated fatty acid content (88%) with a prevalence of linoleic acid (70–78%). High contents in phytosterols and in α‐tocopherol are particularly detected in strawberry guava oil. The antioxidant activities of the bioactive compounds extracted by water and ethanol from pulp and peels are characterized by α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. After purification on polymeric resin, significant antioxidant activities are recorded (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) from 11 to 50 g L−1) and are related to polyphenol contents (20.7 to 42.5 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry extract).

Practical Applications: There is a great interest on the use of tropical fruit wastes because of their large availabilities. Strawberry guava and passion fruit are often used in the food industry, for juice and jam production. The seeds, pulp, and peel residues are in fact a by‐product of their industrial processing, which should be valuably processed instead of just throwing away. We can state that the extracted seed (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids) of strawberry guava and passion fruit can be used in the industrial production of emulsions, paints, and varnishes. Within the positive aspects of the study, one can also distinguish the use of these tropical fruit by‐products as beneficial sources of many valuable bioactive compounds, for example, carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and especially polyphenols, for functional formulations. Moreover, it may be the experimental basis for further development and use in food industry

Green extraction processes are applied to two tropical fruit coproducts. Seed oils obtained are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (88%). Strawberry guava oil has high contents in α‐tocopherol and in sterols. Functional organic molecules are also isolated from residual peels and pulps. Results shows that strawberry guava extracts have antioxidant activities similar to Trolox.
Carbon–Silica Composite as an Effective Support for Iron Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Catalysts
Authors: Chernavskii Petr A. , Kazantsev Ruslan V. , Pankina Galina V. , Maslakov Konstantin I. , Lunin Boris S. , Eliseev Oleg L.
Published: January 2019

Carbon–silica composite is prepared by the impregnation of silica with aqueous glucose solution followed by drying and calcination in an inert atmosphere. This material is proposed as a support for the potassium‐promoted iron catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The catalysts are prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The reducibility of CQ‐supported iron is increased and Hägg carbide is formed in the course of activation in CO/H2 flow at 400 °C for 2 h. Subsequent exposure in FTS conditions results in the significant increase of iron carbide particles, from 3–4 to 20–30 nm, while no such increase is detected for the pure silica as support. The carbon–silica composite support provides a beneficial effect on the catalytic activity of iron in CO hydrogenation as well as the suppression of methane formation and increasing Anderson–Schulz–Flory distribution (ASF) chain growth parameter. The catalysts are characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and in situ magnetic measurements in the course of temperature‐programmed reduction by H2 and synthesis gas.
NOx and CO Abatement by applying catalysts with an active coating made of transition non‐precious (CuO–Cr2O3, TiO2) and precious (Pt) metals
Authors: Baltrėnas Pranas , Urbanas Davyd
Published: January 2019

In this study, the investigation of simultaneous removal of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from gas emissions produced as a result of propane–butane gas combustion was performed. For this purpose, the special experimental prototype with catalysts of the honeycomb structure with an active layer synthesized by applying a plasma spray coating technique was used. During the present investigation, such active materials as precious metals (Pt) and also economically feasible materials such as copper–chromium oxide (CuO–Cr2O3) and titanium oxide (TiO2) were tested and compared. The mechanism of NOx and CO catalytic removal was described taking into account the NO and NO2 conversion. It was established that the initial CO concentration produced as a result of fuel combustion has a negligible impact on its removal efficiency while the initial CO/NOx ratio has a direct influence on the dependence of NOx removal efficiency on operating temperature. With increasing the CO/NOx ratio not only the NOx reduction efficiency can be increased but also the onset temperature of the catalytic conversion process can be lowered. The obtained results indicated that the efficiency of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides conversion with the use of tested transition metal oxides can achieve 95% and 80%, respectively. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13145, 2019
Light hydrocarbon and noble gas migration as an analogue for potential CO2 leakage: numerical simulations and field data from three hydrocarbon systems
Authors: Anderson Jacob , Romanak Katherine , Alfi Masoud , Hovorka Susan
Published: January 2019

Sites where anthropogenic CO2 captured from industrial sources is stored in deep geological formations for climate change mitigation are required to show secure retention of the injected CO2. Monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) plans are needed to indicate that no CO2 release has occurred. We explored the degree to which direct comparison between a surface anomaly and reservoir geochemistry using various geochemical parameters can be used for attribution. We used data collected on light hydrocarbons and noble gases throughout the sedimentary column at three CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) sites to understand the processes that may cause fluid evolution. Light hydrocarbon and noble gases were sampled from reservoirs, gas‐bearing intervals above reservoirs, and groundwater. Vertical profiles indicated that lighter components are relatively enriched during migration (i.e. chromatographic separation). Static and numerical models were designed to simulate episodic gas migration and geochemical alteration of these geochemical parameters from solubility and sorption. The effects of hydrocarbon solubility were minimal (Bernard ratio changes within 5.2%) although field data were within the range of expected alterations from sorption. Forward models of CO2 migration and noble gas interactions showed that CO2 stripping causes an enrichment of crustal noble gases. In areas where natural fluxes of CO2 from depth are non‐existent, the occurrence of crustal noble gas signature may distinguish fugitive CO2 from the reservoir from natural near‐surface sources, and could be considered to explain apparent fluid anomalies. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical pathway for abbreviated postoperative hospital stay in free tissue transfer to the head and neck: Impact in resource utilization and surgical outcomes
Authors: Moreno Mauricio A. , Bonilla‐Velez Juliana
Published: January 2019

Background

Assess the impact of a clinical pathway and progressive care unit (CPW/PCU) for patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction with regard to patient outcomes and resource utilization.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of 270 patients at an academic tertiary‐care center (2009‐2014). Outcomes were compared among a control, CPW/PCU transition, and CPW/PCU groups.

Results

Compared to control, the CPW/PCU group had significantly reduced medical complications (21.1%‐4.1%), intensive care unit length of stay (LOS, 5.02‐0.2 days), hospital LOS (10.5‐6.2 days), standardized total charges ($88 270‐$58 661), and hospital costs ($41 365‐$22 680). There were no observed differences in flap viability, surgical complications, reoperations, or readmissions. The CPW/PCU group achieved 100% home discharge.

Conclusions

Our proposed CPW significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced resource utilization while maintaining flap outcomes. We propose a dynamic model for resource allocation that is easily reproducible in both academic and nonacademic settings.
Significant racial differences in the incidence and behavior of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Mehta Vikas , Ow Thomas J. , Kim Seokhwa , Tharakan Theresa , Schiff Bradley , Smith Richard V. , In Haejin
Published: January 2019

Background

Increased detection of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has led to overtreatment of the largely indolent follicular variant (fvPTC). To guide management of non‐aggressive lesions, we investigated whether race predicts PTC variant and tumor behavior.

Methods

Analysis of 258 973 patients from the National Cancer Database diagnosed with PTC in 2004‐2014. Clinical and tumor information was compared by race. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict fvPTC, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), and lymph node metastasis (LNM) of fvPTC.

Results

Blacks had the highest fvPTC rate (40% vs white 30%, Hispanic 26%, Asian 25%, P < .001). Blacks had higher odds of fvPTC (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.28‐1.37) and lower odds of ETE than whites (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82‐0.99) (P < .001). Hispanics and Asians had lower odds of fvPTC (aOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.86‐0.92 and aOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.79‐0.84) and higher odds of LNM and ETE than whites (P < .001).

Conclusions

Racial disparities in fvPTC incidence and behavior should be considered to optimize diagnosis and treatment planning.
The Role of Innate Immune Cells in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Cai Jingjing , Zhang Xiao‐Jing , Li Hongliang
Published: January 2019

Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction are hallmarks of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is one of the fastest‐growing liver diseases worldwide. Emerging evidence indicates that innate immune mechanisms are pivotal drivers of inflammation and other pathological manifestations observed in NASH, such as hepatosteatosis, insulin resistance (IR), and fibrosis. This robust innate immune reaction is intrinsic to the liver, which is an important immunological organ that contains a coordinated network of innate immune cells, including Kupffer cells (KCs), dendritic cells (DCs), and lymphocytes. Hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are not formally innate immune cells, but they take on immune cell function when stressed. These cells can sense excess metabolites and bacterial products and translate those signals into immune responses and pathological hepatic changes during the development of NASH. In this review, we take a historical perspective in describing decades of research that aimed to identify the key molecular and cellular players in the innate immune system in the setting of NASH. Furthermore, we summarize the innate immune cells that are involved in the progression of NASH and illustrate how they sense disturbances in circulating metabolic factors by innate immune receptors and subsequently initiate the intercellular signaling cascades that lead to persistent inflammation and progression of hepatic complications.
Wavelet–copula‐based mutual information for rainfall forecasting applications
Authors: Abdourahamane Zakari Seybou , Acar Reşat , Serkan Şenocak
Published: January 2019

Under a climate change, the physical factors that influence the rainfall regime are diverse and difficult to predict. The selection of skilful inputs for rainfall forecasting models is, therefore, more challenging. This paper combines wavelet transform and Frank copula function in a mutual information‐based input variable selection (IVS) for non‐linear rainfall forecasting models. The marginal probability density functions (PDFs) of a set of potential rainfall predictors and the rainfall series (predictand) were computed using a wavelet density estimator. The Frank copula function was applied to compute the joint PDF of the predictors and the predictand from their marginal PDFs. The relationship between the rainfall series and the potential predictors was assessed based on the mutual information computed from their marginal and joint PDFs. Finally, the minimum redundancy maximum relevance was used as an IVS stopping criterion to determine the number of skilful input variables. The proposed approach was applied to four stations of the Nigerien Sahel with rainfall series spanning the period 1950–2016 by considering 24 climate indices as potential predictors. Adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system, artificial neural networks, and random forest‐based forecast models were used to assess the skill of the proposed IVS method. The three forecasting models yielded satisfactory results, exhibiting a coefficient of determination between 0.52 and 0.69 and a mean absolute percentage error varying from 13.6% to 21%. The adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system performed better than the other models at all the stations. A comparison made with KDE‐based mutual information showed the advantage of the proposed wavelet–copula approach.
NUF2 is a valuable prognostic biomarker to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection
Authors: Wang Yu , Tan Peng Yang , Handoko Yohana Ayupriyanti , Sekar Karthik , Shi Ming , Xie Chan , Jiang Xiao‐Dan , Dong Qing‐Zhe , Goh Brian Kim Poh , Ooi London Lucien , Gao Zhiliang , Hui Kam Man
Published: January 2019

Early tumor recurrence after curative surgical resection poses a great challenge to the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted whole genome expression microarrays on 64 primary HCC tumors with clinically defined recurrence status and cross‐referenced with RNA‐seq data from 18 HCC tumors in the Cancer Genome Atlas project. We identified a 77‐gene signature, which is significantly associated with early recurrent (ER) HCC tumors. This ER‐associated signature shows significant enrichment in genes involved in cell cycle pathway. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the prognostic biomarker potential of these 77 genes and Pearson correlation analysis to identify 11 close clusters. The one gene with the best area under the ROC curve in each of the 11 clusters was selected for validation using reverse‐transcription quantitative PCR in an independent cohort of 24 HCC tumors. NUF2 was identified to be the minimal biomarker sufficient to discriminate ER tumors from LR tumors. NUF2 in combination with liver cirrhosis could significantly improve the detection of ER tumors with an AUROC of 0.82 and 0.85 in the test and validation cohort, respectively. In conclusion, NUF2 in combination with liver cirrhosis is a promising prognostic biomarker for early HCC recurrence.
Non‐invasive monitoring of subclinical and clinical actinic keratosis of face and scalp under topical treatment with ingenol mebutate gel 150 mcg/g by means of reflectance confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography: New perspectives and comparison of diagnostic techniques
Authors: Ruini Cristel , Hartmann Daniela , Bastian Mike , Ruzicka Thomas , French Lars E. , Berking Carola , von Braunmühl Tanja
Published: January 2019

Actinic keratosis (AK) corresponds to the earliest stage of in situ squamous cell carcinoma and arises on chronically sun‐exposed skin. Around the clinically evident AKs, the apparently healthy epidermis may contain different grades of atypia that can be detected by noninvasive imaging techniques such as reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Subclinical actinic keratosis (sAK) has captured increasing interest as a potential target of field therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the changes in the field cancerization undergoing treatment with topical ingenol mebutate by combining RCM and OCT. Twenty patients with field cancerization of the face and scalp were treated with ingenol mebutate gel (150 mcg/g) for three consecutive days on an area of 25 cm2 containing at least two AKs, two sAKs and two apparently healthy sites. About 120 lesions were evaluated through clinical investigation and clinical, dermoscopical, RCM and OCT images at day 0, 4, 14 and 56 based on the diagnostic criteria for AKs. Main pathological features improved in both AKs and sAKs, in particular the epidermal thickness measured by OCT and the epidermal atypia graded by RCM. Local skin reactions (LSR) arose predominantly in the lesional area compared with healthy skin. A complete clearance was detected in 58% for AKs, and in 55% and 72% for sAKs measured by RCM and OCT, respectively. Both OCT and RCM allow the morphological representation of field cancerization including subclinical lesions and provide complementary information. Ingenol mebutate is effective not only in clinically evident but also in sAKs. The differences in LSR highlight the potential selectivity of the treatment.
Development of a stent capable of the controlled release of basic fibroblast growth factor and argatroban to treat cerebral aneurysms: In vitro experiment and evaluation in a rabbit aneurysm model
Authors: Arai Daisuke , Ishii Akira , Ikeda Hiroyuki , Abekura Yu , Nishi Hidehisa , Miyamoto Susumu , Tabata Yasuhiko
Published: January 2019

An ideal stent to treat cerebral aneurysms should have an antithrombotic effect on the inner stent blood‐facing side and a tissue organization effect on the outer aneurysmal side of the stent. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a drug containing stent in the in vivo treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Argatroban, an antithrombotic drug, is encapsulated in biodegradable poly (d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres for the controlled release with an in vitro study conducted to evaluate the drug release and anticoagulation behavior of released drug. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an organization drug, is released from gelatin hydrogels. The stents are coated with gelatin hydrogels incorporating bFGF and PLGA microspheres containing argatroban, and applied to the carotid artery aneurysm of an elastase‐induced rabbit model. Most of the aneurysm cavity is occupied by loose connective tissues in the group treated with drug‐coated stents, whereas extensive massive hematomas are observed in the group treated with drug‐free stents. The occurrence rate of in‐stent thrombus is small in the drug‐coated stents. The stent incorporating bFGF and PLGA microspheres containing argatroban is an effective device for cerebral aneurysm treatment. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 2185–2194, 2019.