bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed ventricular pacing failure and correlations between pacing thresholds, left ventricular ejection fraction, and QTc values in a male with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Authors: Brunetti Natale D. , D'Arienzo Girolamo , Sai Rafel , Pellegrino Pier L. , Ziccardi Luigi , Santoro Francesco , Di Biase Matteo
Published: September 2018

Background

Transient pacing failure caused by transient increased pacing threshold has been reported in patients with transient left ventricular apical dysfunction (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy [TC]). Normal pacing thresholds usually recover after normalization of systolic dysfunction.

Hypothesis

Pacing failure correlates with clinics of TC.

Methods

We report the case of a 76‐year‐old man with a dual chamber pacemaker, admitted for acute chest pain and dyspnea and final diagnosis of TC. One month after index admission, the patient came back complaining again of chest pain. Unexpectedly, admission electrocardiogram showed ventricular pacing failure and an increased pacing threshold. In the following weeks, pacing threshold gradually recovered with left ventricular ejection fraction and QTc values.

Results

Ventricular pacing threshold correlated directly to QTc values and inversely to left ventricular ejection fraction over time (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This is one of the first cases of delayed transient ventricular pacing failure in a male patient with transient left ventricular apical ballooning, in the presence of spared right ventricular function. Given the possibility of acute transient anomalies in myocardial impedance and pacing failure even in the subacute phase of TC several weeks after clinical onset of transient systolic dysfunction, pacing threshold should be carefully monitored in subjects with TC, both during the acute phase of the disease and in first months of follow‐up after discharge. Ventricular pacing threshold correlated directly to QTc values and inversely to left ventricular ejection fraction over time.
Auranofin and its Analogues Show Potent Antimicrobial Activity against Multidrug‐Resistant Pathogens: Structure–Activity Relationships
Authors: Marzo Tiziano , Cirri Damiano , Pollini Simona , Prato Marco , Fallani Stefania , Cassetta Maria Iris , Novelli Andrea , Rossolini Gian Maria , Messori Luigi
Published: September 2018

Due to the so‐called “antibiotic resistance crisis” new antibacterial agents are urgently sought to treat multidrug‐resistant pathogens. A group of gold‐ or silver‐based complexes, of general formula [M(PEt3)X] (with M=Au or Ag, and X=Cl, Br or I), alongside with three complexes bearing a positive or negative charge—[Au(PEt3)2]Cl, K[Au(CN)2] and [Ag(PEt3)2]NO3—were prepared and comparatively tested with auranofin on a representative panel of pathogens including Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative and Candida strains. Interestingly, all the gold and silver complexes tested were active on Gram‐positive strains, with the gold complexes having greater efficacy. The effects of the gold compounds were potentiated to a larger extent than silver compounds when tested in combination with a permeabilizing agent. A number of relevant structure–activity relationships emerged from the comparative analysis of the observed antibacterial profiles, shedding new light on the underlying molecular mechanisms of the action of these compounds.
Coupled agent‐based and hyperelastic modelling of the left ventricle post‐myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhuan Xin , Luo Xiaoyu , Gao Hao , Ogden Ray W.
Published: September 2018

Understanding the healing and remodelling processes induced by myocardial infarction (MI) of the heart is important, and the mechanical properties of the myocardium post‐MI can be indicative for effective treatments aimed at avoiding eventual heart failure. MI remodelling is a multiscale feedback process between the mechanical loading and cellular adaptation. In this paper, we use an agent‐based model to describe collagen remodelling by fibroblasts regulated by chemical and mechanical cues after acute MI, and upscale into a finite element 3D left ventricular model. We model the dispersed collagen fibre structure using the angular integration method and have incorporated a collagen fibre tension‐compression switch in the left ventricle (LV) model. This enables us to study the scar healing (collagen deposition, degradation, and reorientation) of a rat heart post‐MI. Our results, in terms of collagen accumulation and alignment, compare well with published experimental data. In addition, we show that different shapes of the MI region can affect the collagen remodelling, and in particular, the mechanical cue plays an important role in the healing process.
Progressive breast fibrosis caused by extreme radiosensitivity: Oncocytogenetic diagnosis and treatment by reconstructive flap surgery
Authors: Mészáros Norbert , Farkas Gyöngyi , Székely Gábor , Kocsis Zsuzsa S. , Kelemen Péter B. , Fodor János , Polgár Csaba , Jurányi Zsolt
Published: September 2018

Background

Fibrosis, a proliferative response of fibrocytes after tissue injury, is a common sequela of external radiotherapy and can vary greatly among patients even in the absence of DNA repair syndromes, due to their different intrinsic radiosensitivity. Fibrosis is also a serious cosmetic problem for patients, and in some cases it can also imply pain.

Case

Here, we report a case of a severe fibrosis 2 years after breast conserving surgery and postoperative 3D conformal breast irradiation. Furthermore, our patient had the suspicion of tumour recurrence. Our examinations were aimed at diagnosing recurrence or the lack of recurrence and investigating whether the symptoms occurred due to overdosing or extreme intrinsic radiosensitivity. Therefore, examining the patients' radiosensitivity, a cytogenetic test was performed, which revealed the patient's increased susceptibility to ionizing radiation, and therefore we rejected the prospect of overdosage. As a solution for the fibrosis, mastectomy was effectuated, and a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was used for reconstruction.

Conclusions

We suggest a multi‐disciplinary approach to manage fibrosis and propose cytogenetic markers to be used as predictors to identify patients who most likely benefit from a certain therapeutic regimen in terms of reduction of therapy‐related side effects.
Research of animals image semantic segmentation based on deep learning
Authors: Liu Shouqiang , Li Miao , Li Min , Xu Qingzhen
Published: September 2018

It is imperative for us to develop the technology of image semantic segmentation with the increasing demand in the image processing. Nowadays, the development of deep learning is of great significance to the improvement of image segmentation. Furthermore, the paper discussed the relationship between image semantic segmentation and animal image research based on the actual situation, and found that animal image processing technology plays a more important role in the field of protecting precious animals. The end‐to‐end network training of this paper is consisted of Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) for the front end and Conditional Random Fields as Recurrent Neural Networks (CRF‐RNN) for the back end via comparing a variety of research methods. The experiments achieved desired outcome for the semantic segmentation of animal images by utilizing Caffe deep learning framework and explained the implementation details from the aspects of training and testing.
Roofline analysis with Cray performance analysis tools (CrayPat) and roofline‐based performance projections for a future architecture
Authors: Kwack JaeHyuk , Arnold Galen , Mendes Celso , Bauer Gregory H.
Published: September 2018

The roofline analysis model is a visually intuitive performance model used to understand hardware performance limitations as well as potential benefits of optimizations for science and engineering applications. Intel Advisor has provided a useful roofline analysis feature since its version 2017 update 2, but it is not widely compatible with other compilers and chip‐architectures. As an alternative, we have employed Cray Performance Analysis Tools (CrayPat) that are more flexible for multiple compilers and architectures. First, we present our procedure for measuring a reliable computational intensity for roofline analysis. We performed several numerical studies for validation via manually derived reference data as well as data from Intel Advisor. Second, we provide roofline analysis results on Blue Waters for several HPC benchmarks and sparse linear algebra libraries. In addition, we present an example of roofline‐based performance projection for a future system.
Eigensolver performance comparison on Cray XC systems
Authors: Cook Brandon , Kurth Thorsten , Deslippe Jack , Carrier Pierre , Hill Nick , Wichmann Nathan
Published: September 2018

Hermitian (symmetric) eigenvalue solvers are the core constituents of electronic structure, quantum‐chemistry, and other HPC applications such as Quantum ESPRESSO, VASP, CP2K, and NWChem to name a few. Our understanding of the performance of symmetric eigenvalue algorithms on various hardware is clearly important to the quantum chemistry or condensed matter physics community but in fact goes beyond that community. For instance, big data analytics is increasingly utilizing eigenvalues solvers, in the study of randomized singular value decomposition (SVD) or principal component analysis (PCA). Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) is another field where fast and efficient eigenvalue solvers are required. Most eigenvalue solver packages feature numerous different parameters which can be tuned for performance, eg, the number of nodes, number of total ranks, the decomposition of the matrix, etc. In this paper, we investigate the performance of different packages as well as the influence of these knobs on the solver performance.
An opportunistic resource management model to overcome resource‐constraint in the Internet of Things
Authors: Safa Nader Sohrabi , Maple Carsten , Haghparast Mahboobeh , Watson Tim , Dianati Mehrdad
Published: September 2018

Experts believe that the Internet of Things (IoT) is a new revolution in technology and has brought many advantages for our society. However, there are serious challenges in terms of information security and privacy protection. Smart objects usually do not have malware detection due to resource limitations and their intrusion detection work on a particular network. Low computation power, low bandwidth, low battery, storage, and memory contribute to a resource‐constrained effect on information security and privacy protection in the domain of IoT. The capacity of fog and cloud computing such as efficient computing, data access, network and storage, supporting mobility, location awareness, heterogeneity, scalability, and low latency in secure communication positively influence information security and privacy protection in IoT. This study illustrates the positive effect of fog and cloud computing on the security of IoT systems and presents a decision‐making model based on the object's characteristics such as computational power, storage, memory, energy consumption, bandwidth, packet delivery, hop‐count, etc. This helps an IoT system choose the best nodes for creating the fog that we need in the IoT system. Our experiment shows that the proposed approach has less computational, communicational cost, and more productivity in compare with the situation that we choose the smart objects randomly to create a fog.
Quantification of Muscle Contraction In Vitro and In Vivo Using MUSCLEMOTION Software: From Stem Cell‐Derived Cardiomyocytes to Zebrafish and Human Hearts
Authors: van Meer Berend J. , Sala Luca , Tertoolen Leon G. J. , Smith Godfrey L. , Burton Francis L. , Mummery Christine L.
Published: September 2018

Quantification of contraction is essential to the study of cardiac diseases, injury, and responses to drugs. While there are many techniques to assess contractility, most rely on costly, dedicated hardware and advanced informatics, and can only be used in specific experimental models. We have developed an automated open‐source software tool (MUSCLEMOTION) for use with standard imaging equipment, to assess contractility in vitro and in vivo and quantify responses to drugs and diseases. We describe high‐speed and disturbance‐free acquisition of images from either electrically paced or non‐paced human pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes, isolated adult cardiomyocytes, zebrafish hearts, and human echocardiograms. Recordings are then used as input for automated batch analysis by the MUSCLEMOTION software tool configured with specific settings and parameters tailored to the recording technique. Details on accuracy, interpretation, and troubleshooting are discussed. Acquisition duration depends on the experimental setup and aim, but quantification of drug or disease responses in an in vitro muscle model can typically be completed within a few hours. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
What happens when the therapist leaves? The impact of therapy transfer on the therapeutic alliance and symptoms
Authors: Zimmermann Dirk , Lutz Wolfgang , Reiser Michelle , Boyle Kaitlyn , Schwartz Brian , Schilling Viola N.L.S. , Deisenhofer Anne‐Katharina , Rubel Julian A.
Published: September 2018

Background

The therapeutic alliance is an important factor in psychotherapy, affecting both therapy processes and outcome. Therapy transfers may impair the quality of the therapeutic alliance and increase symptom severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of patient transfers in cognitive behavioural therapy on alliance and symptoms in the sessions after the transfer.

Method

Patient‐ and therapist‐rated therapeutic alliance and patient‐reported symptom severity were measured session‐to‐session. Differences in the levels of alliance and symptom severity before (i.e., with the original therapist) and after (i.e., with the new therapist) the transfer session were analysed. The development of alliance and symptom severity was explored using multilevel growth models.

Results

A significant drop in the alliance was found after the transfer, whereas no differences were found with regard to symptom severity. After an average of 2.93 sessions, the therapeutic alliance as rated by patients reached pretransfer levels, whereas it took an average of 5.05 sessions for therapist‐rated alliance levels to be at a similar level as before the transfer. Inter‐individual differences were found with regard to the development of the therapeutic alliance over time.

Conclusions

Therapy transfers have no long lasting negative effects on either symptom impairment or the therapeutic alliance.
Motivating corporate social responsibility practices under customer pressure among small‐ and medium‐sized suppliers in China: The role of dynamic capabilities
Authors: Choi Seok‐Beom , Feng Yunting , Liu Junjun , Zhu Qinghua
Published: September 2018

Small‐ and medium‐sized suppliers (SMSs) have experienced customer pressure to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. However, capabilities are needed for SMSs to respond to such pressure. To explore how SMSs can be effectively motivated to make CSR efforts under customer pressure, based on the theory of dynamic capabilities (DCs), this paper identifies five factors of DCs—knowledge accessing (DC1), codevelopment (DC2), supply chain partner development (DC3), supply chain rebuilding (DC4), and flexibility (DC5). Moreover, this paper develops a conceptual model assuming that the five DCs moderate the relationship between customer pressure and CSR practices among SMSs. Using questionnaires collected from 333 Chinese SMSs in manufacturing industries, hierarchical statistical results demonstrate the moderating effect for three of four identified CSR practices. An interaction analysis further reveals that a certain level of DCs is necessary. The results provide managerial implications for large customers and SMSs to improve CSR‐related DCs among SMSs.
Firms with benefits: A systematic review of responsible entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility literature
Authors: Tiba Sarah , van Rijnsoever Frank J. , Hekkert Marko P.
Published: September 2018

The scholarly literature has so far paid limited attention to responsibility by commercial entrepreneurs. This paper compares responsible entrepreneurship (RE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) scholarship in order to identify future fields of research. For this purpose, we assess the strengths and weaknesses of extant RE scholarship through the lens of CSR. We have reviewed 11,260 papers via latent Dirichlet allocation for our work. We find that existing RE literature places disproportionate emphasis on how firms can benefit society instead of on how contributions to sustainable development can benefit a firm. Furthermore, the RE literature pays limited attention to employee well‐being, customer preference, and civil society as a stakeholder. Also, environmental issues and their balancing with financial and social issues remain relatively under‐researched. Overall, we hope that scholarly works inspired by this study may ultimately help to ensure responsible behaviour of start‐ups.
Do green motives influence green product innovation? The mediating role of green value co‐creation
Authors: Chang Ching‐Hsun
Published: September 2018

This empirical study tests hypotheses using a questionnaire survey to explore the positive effect of green motives on green product innovation performance through the mediator of a novel construct, green value co‐creation, in Taiwanese manufacturing companies. In this study, three green motives are examined: instrumental, relational, and moral motives. Green value co‐creation is divided into two parts: green co‐production and green value‐in‐use. This research reveals that moral motives are a much stronger driver than instrumental and relational motives. This study also determines that instrumental and moral motives have positive effects on green product innovation performance. However, no positive associations are observed among relational motives green co‐production, green value‐in‐use, and green product innovation performance. This study suggests that Taiwanese manufacturing companies should invest more resources to enhance moral motives, because they are positively associated with green value co‐creation and green product innovation performance.
The role of innovation for performance improvement through corporate social responsibility practices among small and medium‐sized suppliers in China
Authors: Zhu Qinghua , Zou Fei , Zhang Pan
Published: September 2018

Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in emergent countries have been motivated to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, whereas innovation is needed or even necessary to gain performance. This paper develops a conceptual model to explore if three types of innovation (technology, management, and marketing) have moderation and mediation effects on relationships between CSR practices and performance. Using 494 samples collected from Chinese SMEs, hierarchical regression analysis results show that technology innovation can improve environmental performance together with employee efforts, and it can also improve social image together with environmental practices and community involvement. Management innovation is necessary to improve stakeholders' satisfaction, and it can also help bring environmental performance through employees' efforts and improve social image through organizational governance. Marketing innovation is necessary to gain economic performance. Meanwhile, marketing innovation can improve stakeholders' satisfaction together with organizational governance, and it can help to improve environmental performance through community involvement.
Detection of Autoreactive Type II NKT Cells: A Pilot Study of Comparison Between Healthy Individuals and Patients with Vasculitis
Authors: Nishioka Yusuke , Sonoda Takaomi , Shida Haruki , Kusunoki Yoshihiro , Hattanda Fumihiko , Tanimura Shun , Uozumi Ryo , Yamada Mai , Nishibata Yuka , Masuda Sakiko , Nakazawa Daigo , Tomaru Utano , Atsumi Tatsuya , Ishizu Akihiro
Published: September 2018

NKT cells are defined as T cells that recognize hydrophobic antigens presented by class I MHC‐like molecules, including CD1d. Among CD1d‐restricted NKT cells, type I and type II subsets have been noted. CD1d‐restricted type I NKT cells are regarded as pro‐inflammatory cells in general. On the contrary, accumulated evidence has demonstrated an anti‐inflammatory property of CD1d‐restricted type II NKT cells. In our earlier study using a rat model with vasculitis, we demonstrated the pro‐inflammatory function of CD1d‐restricted type II NKT cells and identified that one such cell recognized P518–532 of rat sterol carrier protein 2 (rSCP2518–532), which appeared on vascular endothelial cells presented by CD1d. Based on this evidence, we attempted to detect human CD1d‐restricted type II NKT cells in peripheral blood using hSCP2518–532, the human counterpart of rSCP2518–532, together with a CD1d tetramer in flow cytometry. First, we determined the binding of hSCP2518–532 to CD1d. Next, we detected CD3‐positive hSCP2518–532‐loaded CD1d (hSCP2518–532/CD1d) tetramer‐binding cells in peripheral blood of healthy donors. The abundance of TGF‐β‐producing cells rather than TNF‐α‐producing cells in CD3‐positive hSCP2518–532/CD1d tetramer‐binding cells suggests the anti‐inflammatory property of SCP2‐loaded CD1d (SCP2/CD1d) tetramer‐binding type II NKT cells in healthy individuals. Furthermore, we compared cytokine profile between healthy individuals and patients with vasculitis in a pilot study. Interestingly, the percentage of TGF‐β‐producing cells in SCP2/CD1d tetramer‐binding type II NKT cells in vasculitic patients was significantly lower than that in healthy controls despite the greater number of these cells. Although further studies to clarify the mechanism and significance of this phenomenon are needed, SCP2/CD1d tetramer‐binding type II NKT cells in peripheral blood should be examined in more detail to understand the pathophysiology of vasculitides in humans. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
The value of ankle‐branchial index screening for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Xu Lei , He Rui , Hua Xiaohan , Zhao Jun , Zhao Jungong , Zeng Hui , Li Lianxi , Liu Fang , Jia Weiping
Published: September 2018

Objective

To investigate the relationship between ankle‐branchial index (ABI) and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods

A total of 634 inpatients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this cross‐sectional study. All patients were measured with ABI and computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan for coronary artery disease (CAD). According to ABI values, patients were divided into three groups: low‐ABI group (ABI < 0.9, n = 259), normal‐ABI group (ABI = 0.9‐1.3, n = 272), and high‐ABI group (ABI > 1.3, n = 103). According to the manifestation of coronary CTA, the patients were divided into CAD group (n = 348) and non‐CAD group (n = 286). Their clinical data and biochemical parameters were compared and analysed.

Results

The prevalence of CAD in low‐ABI group (90%) was significantly higher than that of normal‐ABI group (33%) and high‐ABI group (25%) (both P < 0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that age, sex, duration, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), serum creatinine, and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were positively correlated with CAD, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), glomerular filtration rate, and ABI were negatively correlated with CAD. Logistic regression analysis further revealed that age, sex, duration, TC, HDL‐C, LDL‐C, HbA1c, and ABI were independent risk factors of CAD. After all potential confounders is adjusted, the risk of CAD in low‐ABI group still increased over four times than the normal‐ABI group (odds ratio [OR], 5.32; 95% CI, 1.973‐16.5; P < 0.001). In female patients, this risk increased more than nine times (OR, 10.63; 95% CI, 3.416‐17.8; P < 0.001). Receiver‐operating characteristic analysis indicated that ABI < 1.045 predicted the occurrence of CAD (sensitivity, 79.7%; specificity, 71.5%; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

ABI is an independent risk factor for CAD and may be a potential simple screening instrument for CAD in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients, especially in elder women.
Ionized magnesium and calcium concentration and their ratio in equine plasma samples as determined by a regulatory laboratory compared to a clinical reference laboratory
Authors: Schumacher Stephen A. , Yardley Jonathon , Bertone Alicia L.
Published: September 2018

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) was administered to calm competition horses. We evaluated the impact of regulatory requirements for the handling of blood samples on plasma ionized magnesium (iMg), ionized calcium (iCa), the iMg to iCa ratio, and pH. We hypothesized that iCa, iMg. and iMg/iCa would be similar among storage and collection methods. Four blood samples were collected from each of 50 horses on the same day: Group 1 – collection in a heparinized syringe and processed within hours in a clinical laboratory; Group 2 – collection into a plasma separator tube (PST) centrifuged just prior to analysis, and plasma processed as in (1); Group 3 – collection into a PST, refrigerated, shipped via overnight carrier to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equine Drug Testing and Research laboratory, centrifuged just prior to analysis, and plasma processed; and Group 4 – as in Group 3, but stored frozen at −80°C for 90 days, thawed, and plasma processed as in Group 3. Results for iMg/iCa are unit‐less, adjusted iMg for potential influence of plasma protein and iCa, and highly correlated with iMg pH (r = −.933;P < 0.01). Samples processed immediately in a clinical reference laboratory had the greatest iMg/iCa. Both iMg/iCa and pH predictably decreased after freezing (P < 0.001). These data suggest that the iMg/iCa mirrors alterations in iMg regardless of storage and collection methods. This understanding can facilitate the development of a regulatory threshold for the control of the nefarious use of magnesium sulfate in competing horses, and an understanding of potential changes to iMg/iCa with storage of B samples.
Carbohydrate supply drives colony size, aggression, and impacts of an invasive ant
Authors: Wittman Sarah E. , O'Dowd Dennis J. , Green Peter T.
Published: September 2018

Worldwide, the most ecologically damaging invasive ants are associated with introduced honeydew‐producing insects, yet the mechanisms by which this mutualism may support invasive ant populations and drive impacts remain unclear. On Christmas Island, the invasive yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes;YCA), found in association with introduced honeydew‐producing scale insects, can reach extraordinary densities, triggering an ecological meltdown. In this study, we utilized stable isotope analysis to determine resource use ofYCAs in naturally occurring low‐ and high‐density populations, and we conducted laboratory experiments mimicking availability of honeydew to measure effects of carbohydrate subsidies on colony growth and worker behavior. High‐densityYCApopulations in nature incorporated a larger proportion of plant‐based resources in their diet than low‐density populations, and laboratory colonies with access to greater sugar resources had larger colony sizes, higher reproduction rates and worker survival, and higher per capita activity levels and showed higher aggression and potency toward opponents. These results support the positive feedback mechanism between honeydew‐producing insects andYCAs that underlies the ecological meltdown on Christmas Island, and add to the growing body of literature illustrating the importance of mutualistic interactions in the success of invasive species.
Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N2‐fixing tree increases soil N2O emissions
Authors: Hall Sharon J. , Huber David P. , Hughes R. Flint
Published: September 2018

Invasions of introduced species have homogenized ecological communities worldwide, leading to losses of native species and the services they provide. Some of these invaders substantially alter nutrient cycling, which changes conditions for all other organisms, but less is known about the potential influence of these species on nitrogen (N) trace gas emissions that affect atmospheric processes. We used a natural experiment to explore whether the establishment of an introduced nitrogen (N) fixing tree (Falcataria moluccana) and recent invasion of an amphibian predator, the Caribbean tree frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), into native Hawaiian rainforests have affected soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO), two atmospherically important trace gases produced by soil microorganisms. Soil N2O andNOemissions and rates of soil N cycling were significantly higher inF. moluccana‐dominated stands compared to nativeMetrosideros polymorpha(Ohi'a) stands. Additionally, invasion ofE. coquifrogs moderately increased soil N2O emissions, primarily in non‐nativeF. moluccanaforests where soil N availability was already elevated. N2O emissions were positively and significantly related to net potential N mineralization, and total N2O+NOfluxes increased with soil nitrate (NO3−) concentration and rates of nitrification. Previous work in these Hawaiian rainforest sites has shown thatF. moluccanasubstantially increases N availability by increasing ecosystem N supply compared to uninvaded stands, andE. coquiaccelerates N availability and litter decomposition, although moderately, due to enhanced fluxes of nutrient‐rich waste products. Here, we show that acceleration of nutrient cycling by introduced species can also alter biosphere–atmosphere exchange of N‐oxides.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis leads to dysfunction and loss of MAIT cells
Authors: von Seth Erik , Zimmer Christine L. , Reuterwall‐Hansson Marcus , Barakat Ammar , Arnelo Urban , Bergquist Annika , Ivarsson Martin A. , Björkström Niklas K.
Published: September 2018

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a severe chronic liver disease of the small and large bile ducts. The pathogenesis is unknown but a strong immune cell component has been suggested. Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are abundant in human liver and localize around bile ducts. Yet, the role of MAIT cells in PSC remains unclear. Here, we performed a detailed characterization of MAIT cells in circulation and assessed their presence in bile ducts of PSC patients as well as non‐PSC controls. We observed a dramatic reduction in MAIT cell levels in PSC patients. High‐dimensional phenotypical analysis using stochastic neighbor embedding revealed the MAIT cells to be activated, a phenotype shared by the investigated disease control groups. In line with the noted phenotypic alterations, MAIT cell function was reduced in response to Escherichia coli and to cytokine stimulation in PSC patients as compared to healthy controls. Using a novel sampling approach of human bile ducts, we found MAIT cells to be specifically enriched within bile ducts. Finally, distinct from the dramatic decline observed in circulation, PSC‐patients had retained levels of MAIT cells within bile ducts. Altogether, our results provide a detailed insight into how the human MAIT cell compartment is affected in PSC.
Unexpected Brønsted Acid‐Catalyzed Domino Reaction of 3‐Hydroxyisoindolin‐1‐ones and N‐tert‐Butyl Hydrazones for the Synthesis of 3‐(Hydrazono)isoindolin‐1‐ones
Authors: Chen Hui‐Xuan , Li Yongsu , He Xuefeng , Zhang Yaqi , He Wenhuan , Liang Hao , Zhang Yuyang , Jiang Xiaoding , Chen Xiangmeng , Cao Rihui , Liu Gao‐Feng , Qiu Liqin
Published: September 2018

A Brønsted acid‐catalyzed aza‐Mannich reaction between 3‐hydroxyisoindolin‐1‐ones and N‐tert‐butyl hydrazones was developed. Under the catalysis of the racemic phosphoric acid or trifluoroacetic acid and mild reaction conditions, this domino reaction allows for efficient synthesis of 3‐(hydrazono)isoindolin‐1‐one derivatives in excellent yields with high chemoselectivities. The E‐configuration of the hydrazone products was determined by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction of 5w.
Comparison Study of Paraquat Herbicide Adsorption by Xerogels: Application of Experimental Design
Authors: Shamsodin Mozhgan , Fazli Mostafa , Nasiri Masoud
Published: September 2018

This study dealt with the Paraquat dichloride herbicide (PQT) adsorption on xerogels. The xerogels were synthesized with tetra methoxy orthosilicate (TMOS) and tetra ethoxy orthosilicate (TEOS) as a precursor. Whereas xerogels have free silanol groups on their surface and PQT has a positive charge as an ion, xerogels have shown a high affinity for the PQT adsorption in aqueous solution. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform‐IR, and BET analysis were characterized xerogels. The effect of four process factors such as PQT dosage, pH, a dose of adsorbent, and time was evaluated by the Box‐Behnken design. Between four parameters, pH was more effective. The second order equation (quadratic model) was also used for the analysis of the experimental data. Additionally, the optimum points for parameters were determined by desirability function in the Experimental Design. Removal Percentages of PQT at the optimum process parameters were found to be 98.05 and 92.83%, for TMOS and TEOS xerogels, respectively. In addition, the isotherm study showed that the Freundlich isotherm indicated better harmonic between experimental and theoretical results. Finally, in the kinetic study, Pseudo‐second order model had a better correlation than Pseudo‐first order model. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: S128–S138, 2019
Utilization of waste cotton linter for preparation of activated carbon to be used as catalyst support in aqueous‐phase reforming process
Authors: Kaya Ozsel Burcak , Nis Berna , Meryemoglu Bahar , Hasanoglu Arif , Irmak Sibel
Published: September 2018

Waste cotton linter was evaluated for production of activated carbons (ACs) that can be used as catalyst support in aqueous‐phase reforming (APR) process. Activated carbons were prepared by two different precarbonization methods (thermal and hydrothermal) and two types of chemical activating agents (H3PO4 and KOH). The catalysts prepared by deposition of platinum particles on these carbon materials were evaluated for conversion of glycerol to hydrogen gas by APR. Thermal precarbonization treated LTA and LTB samples had a higher surface area (416.7 and 775.2 m2/g) than hydrothermal precarbonized LHA and LHB samples (395.8 and 627.5 m2/g) regardless type of the activating agent. In general, KOH was more effective activating agent than H3PO4 in creating porosity in the carbon structures derived from cotton linter. The Pt/LHB catalyst (hydrothermal precarbonization‐KOH activation) showed promising catalytic performance with hydrogen selectivity of 76.0% and 99.0% glycerol conversion at same APR conditions. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 445–450, 2019
Feasibility Study of a Grid‐Tied Photovoltaic System for Household in Pakistan: Considering an Unreliable Electric Grid
Authors: Rehman Saif Ur , Rehman Shafiqur , Shoaib Muhammad , Siddiqui Imran Ahmad
Published: September 2018

Increasing power demands and equally growing environmental problems have lead the people to think, develop, and implement new and clean sources of energy to address both the issues. This article presents an optimal system configuration for reliable power generation for unreliable grid‐tied photovoltaic power system for a household in Larkana, Pakistan. The study utilizes HOMER Pro© simulation software along with the required inputs to achieve the set objective. The impact of scheduled and unscheduled power outages, ambient temperature, and PV module tilt angle is considered on the economics of the proposed system. The residential, deferrable, and peak loads are taken as 13.2 kWh/day, 0.52 kWh/day, and 0.6 kW, respectively. Results indicate that the COE of standalone unreliable grid power system with battery storage is 48% more costly compared to unreliable grid/PV system. The proposed system is found to be economically and environmentally more feasible compared to stand alone unreliable grid with battery storage system. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13031, 2019
Mapping river bathymetries: Evaluating topobathymetric LiDAR survey
Authors: Tonina Daniele , McKean James A. , Benjankar Rohan M. , Wright C. Wayne , Goode Jaime R. , Chen Qiuwen , Reeder William J. , Carmichael Richard A. , Edmondson Michael R.
Published: September 2018

Advances in topobathymetric LiDARs could enable rapid surveys at sub‐meter resolution over entire stream networks. This is the first step to improving our knowledge of riverine systems, both their morphology and role in ecosystems. The Experimental Advanced Airborne Research LiDAR B (EAARL‐B) system is one such topobathymetric sensor, capable of mapping both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Whereas the original EAARL was developed to survey littoral areas, the new version, EAARL‐B, was also designed for riverine systems but has yet to be tested. Thus, we evaluated the ability of EAARL‐B to map bathymetry and floodplain topography at sub‐meter resolution in a mid‐size gravel‐bed river. We coupled the EAARL‐B survey with highly accurate field surveys (0.03 m vertical accuracy and approximately 0.6 by 0.6 m resolution) of three morphologically distinct reaches, approximately 200 m long 15 m wide, of the Lemhi River (Idaho, USA). Both point‐to‐point and raster‐to‐raster comparisons between ground and EAARL‐B surveyed elevations show that differences (ground minus EAARL‐B surveyed elevations) over the entire submerged topography are small (root mean square error, RMSE, and median absolute error, M, of 0.11 m), and large differences (RMSE, between 0.15 and 0.38 m and similar M) are mainly present in areas with abrupt elevation changes and covered by dense overhanging vegetation. RMSEs are as low as 0.03 m over paved smooth surfaces, 0.07 m in submerged, gradually varying topography, and as large as 0.24 m along banks with and without dense, tall vegetation. EAARL‐B performance is chiefly limited by point density in areas with strong elevation gradients and by LiDAR footprint size (0.2 m) in areas with topographic features of similar size as the LiDAR footprint. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Max‐min energy‐efficient subchannel assignment and power allocation in interference‐limited OFDMA heterogeneous networks with QoS guarantee
Authors: Mohammadian Zahra , Dehghani Mohammad Javad , Eslami Mohsen , Dodangeh Mahdi
Published: September 2018

This paper investigates fairness among all small‐cell users (SCUs) in terms of energy efficiency for the uplink transmission of interference‐limited orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access–based heterogeneous networks. Each SCU is treated by a minimum data rate. In addition, a maximum tolerable interference for the macro base station has been considered. The resulting resource allocation problem is formulated as a nonconvex mixed‐integer nonlinear problem. In order to solve the mixed‐integer nonlinear problem, the subchannel assignment and the power allocation are applied separately; an efficient subchannel assignment algorithm has been proposed where the co‐tier and cross‐tier interference in the most general form has been taken into account. Then, to solve the power allocation subproblem, an iterative algorithm has been proposed by applying generalized fractional programming and sequential convex programming when a specified subchannel assignment is in hand. Performance of the proposed model has been evaluated, and simulation results indicate a fair resource allocation with a very high energy efficiency among SCUs comparing the state‐of‐the‐art solutions.
Determinants of prescribing potentially inappropriate medications in a nationwide cohort of community dwellers with dementia receiving a comprehensive geriatric assessment
Authors: Bala Sharmin S. , Jamieson Hamish A. , Nishtala Prasad S.
Published: September 2018

Objective

To identify the prevalence and predictors of prescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in a nationwide cohort of community dwellers with dementia requiring complex care needs.

Methods

A cross‐matched data of the International Resident Assessment Instrument‐Home Care (9.1) (interRAI‐HC) and prescribing data obtained from the Pharmaceutical Claims Data Mart (Pharms) extract files for older adults (≥65 y) requiring complex care needs were utilized for this study. The 2015 Beers criteria were applied to identify the prevalence of PIMs in older adults with dementia. Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of PIMs were analysed using a logistic regression model.

Results

The study population consisted of 16 568 individuals who had their first interRAI assessment from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. The estimated prevalence of dementia was 13.2% (2190/16 568). 66.9% (1465/2190) of the older adults diagnosed with dementia were prescribed PIMs, of which anticholinergic medications constituted 59.6% (873/1465). Males and individuals who were prescribed a greater number of medications were more likely to be prescribed PIMs. Individuals over 85 years of age, Māori ethnic group of individuals, older adults who were being supervised with respect to their activities of daily living, and individuals who reported good or excellent self‐reported health had a lesser likelihood of being prescribed PIMs.

Conclusion

We found that PIMs are prescribed frequently in older adults with dementia. Comprehensive geriatric assessments can serve as a potential tool to decrease the occurrence of PIMs in vulnerable groups with poor functional and cognitive status.
Associations of white matter hyperintensities with poststroke depression: A 1‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Bae Kyung‐Yeol , Kang Hee‐Ju , Kim Ju‐Wan , Kim Sung‐Wan , Kim Joon‐Tae , Park Man‐Seok , Cho Ki‐Hyun , Kim Jae‐Min
Published: September 2018

Background

Depression is common in stroke survivors and may lead to a poor prognosis and more severe functional impairment. Although subcortical white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with late‐life depression, few studies have examined the association between depression and WMHs after a stroke. We investigated the associations of periventricular (PVWMH) and deep (DWMH) WMHs with poststroke depression (PSD) at two time points after stroke.

Methods

A total of 408 patients were evaluated 2 weeks after stroke (baseline), and of those, 284 (70%) were followed up 1 year later. Magnetic resonance images were obtained in all subjects at baseline. PVWMHs and DWMHs were rated using the four‐point modified Fazekas scale and categorized as mild (grades 0 and 1) or severe (grades 2 and 3). Depression was diagnosed according to DSM‐IV criteria, and subjects were divided into without PSD, any PSD, and major PSD groups at baseline, and follow‐up examinations were conducted according to the severity of depression. Associations of PSD with PVWMHs and DWMHs were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses after adjusting for various demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

The adjusted analyses revealed that severe PVWMHs were significantly associated with any PSD at baseline and severe DWMHs were significantly associated with major PSD at follow‐up.

Conclusion

The association between WMH and PSD varies according to type of WMH, and time after stroke, such that early depressive symptoms are associated with PVWMHs, and delayed severe depression is associated with DWMHs.
Functional connectivity with cortical depth assessed by resting state fMRI of subregions of S1 in squirrel monkeys
Authors: Mishra Arabinda , Majumdar Shantanu , Wang Feng , Wilson George H. , Gore John C. , Chen Li Min
Published: September 2018

Whereas resting state blood oxygenation‐level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI has been widely used to assess functional connectivity between cortical regions, the laminar specificity of such measures is poorly understood. This study aims to determine: (a) whether the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between two functionally related cortical regions varies with cortical depth, (b) the relationship between layer‐resolved tactile stimulus‐evoked activation pattern and interlayer rsFC pattern between two functionally distinct but related somatosensory areas 3b and 1, and (c) the effects of spatial resolution on rsFC measures. We examined the interlayer rsFC between areas 3b and 1 of squirrel monkeys under anesthesia using tactile stimulus‐driven and resting state BOLD acquisitions at submillimeter resolution. Consistent with previous observations in the areas 3b and 1, we detected robust stimulus‐evoked BOLD activations with foci were confined mainly to the upper layers (centered at 21% of the cortical depth). By carefully placing seeds in upper, middle, and lower layers of areas 3b and 1, we observed strong rsFC between upper and middle layers of these two areas. The layer‐resolved activation patterns in areas 3b and 1 agree with their interlayer rsFC patterns, and are consistent with the known anatomical connections between layers. In summary, using BOLD rsFC pattern, we identified an interlayer interareal microcircuit that shows strong intrinsic functional connections between upper and middle layer areas 3b and 1. RsFC can be used as a robust invasive tool to probe interlayer corticocortical microcircuits.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced hippocampal volume and disrupted structural connectivity in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Al‐Amin Mamun , Bradford DanaKai , Sullivan Robert K. P. , Kurniawan Nyoman D. , Moon Yeonsil , Han Seol‐Heui , Zalesky Andrew , Burne Thomas H. J.
Published: September 2018

Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate adverse neurocognitive outcomes in the progression of diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other dementias. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is prodromal for these neurocognitive disorders and neuroimaging studies suggest that, in the elderly, this cognitive impairment is associated with a reduction in hippocampal volume and white matter structural integrity. To test whether vitamin D is associated with neuroanatomical correlates of MCI, we analyzed an existing structural and diffusion MRI dataset of elderly patients with MCI. Based on serum 25‐OHD levels, patients were categorized into serum 25‐OHD deficient (<12 ng/mL, n = 27) or not‐deficient (>12 ng/mL, n = 29). Freesurfer 6.0 was used to parcellate the whole brain into 164 structures and segment the hippocampal subfields. Whole‐brain structural connectomes were generated using probabilistic tractography with MRtrix. The network‐based statistic (NBS) was used to identify subnetworks of connections that significantly differed between the groups. We found a significant reduction in total hippocampal volume in the serum 25‐OHD deficient group especially in the CA1, molecular layer, dentate gyrus, and fimbria. We observed a connection deficit in 13 regions with the right hippocampus at the center of the disrupted network. Our results demonstrate that low vitamin D is associated with reduced volumes of hippocampal subfields and connection deficits in elderly people with MCI, which may exacerbate neurocognitive outcomes. Longitudinal studies are now required to determine if vitamin D can serve as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and if intervention can prevent the progression from MCI to major cognitive disorders.