bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear radiation and prevalence of structural birth defects among infants born to women from the Marshall Islands
Authors: Nembhard Wendy N. , McElfish Pearl A. , Ayers Britni , Collins R. Thomas , Shan Xiaoyi , Rabie Nader Z. , Zarate Yuri A. , Maity Suman , Cen Ruiqi , Robbins James A.
Published: July 2019

Background

With their unique history of exposure to extensive nuclear testing between 1946 and 1958, descendants of Marshall Island residents may have underappreciated genetic abnormalities, increasing their risk of birth defects.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of resident women with at least one singleton live birth between 1997 and 2013 in northwest Arkansas using state birth certificate data linked to data from the Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System, a statewide birth defects registry. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from modified Poisson regression analyses for non‐Hispanic (NH) whites, NH‐blacks, Hispanics and Marshallese, using NH‐whites as the reference group.

Results

Of the 91,662 singleton births during the study period, 2,488 were to Marshallese women. Due to the relatively small number of Marshallese births, we could not calculate prevalence estimates for some defects. Marshallese infants had higher rates of congenital cataracts (PR = 9.3; 95% CI: 3.1, 27.9). Although the number of defects was low, Marshallese infants also had higher rates of truncus arteriosus (PR = 44.0; 95% CI: 2.2, 896.1).

Conclusions

Marshallese infants may have increased risk of specific birth defects, but estimates are unstable because of small sample size so results are inconclusive. Larger population‐based studies would allow for further investigation of this potential risk among Marshallese infants.
Photoluminescence imaging of europium (III)‐doped γ‐Al2O3 nanofiber structures
Authors: Park So Jeong , Rhee Choong Kyun , Sohn Youngku
Published: July 2019

Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) has widely been used for catalysts, insulators, and composite materials for diverse applications. Herein, we demonstrated if γ‐Al2O3 was useful as a luminescence support material for europium (Eu) (III) activator ion. The hydrothermal method and post‐thermal treatment at 800°C were employed to synthesize Eu(III)‐doped γ‐Al2O3 nanofibre structures. Luminescence characteristics of Eu(III) ions in Al2O3 matrix were fully understood by taking 2D and 3D‐photoluminescence imaging profiles. Various sharp emissions between 580 to 720 nm were assigned to the 5D0→7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of Eu(III) activators. On the basis of X‐ray diffraction crystallography, Auger elemental mapping and the asymmetry ratio, Eu(III) ions were found to be well doped into the γ‐Al2O3 matrix at a low (1 mol%) doping level. A broad emission at 460 nm was substantially increased upon higher (2 mol%) Eu(III) doping due to defect creation. The first 3D photoluminescence imaging profiles highlight detailed understanding of emission characteristics of Eu(III) ions in Al oxide‐based phosphor materials and their potential applications.
Investigation of the interaction between serotonin‐related compounds and phenylboronate moieties in monolithic silica disk‐packed spin columns
Authors: Tsunoda Makoto , Zhuang Huiqi
Published: July 2019

Solid‐phase extraction technologies are widely used for sample pretreatment in bioanalysis. Monolithic silica disk‐packed spin columns modified with phenylboronate moieties have been developed for the selective extraction of cis‐diol compounds such as catecholamines. However, in our preliminary studies, serotonin was found to also be extracted in this treatment, along with catecholamines. In this study, the interaction between serotonin‐related compounds (serotonin, tryptophan, 5‐hydroxy‐tryptophan and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid) and phenylboronate moieties was investigated. We found that only serotonin was extracted with phenylboronate‐modified monolithic silica, whereas tryptophan, 5‐hydroxy‐tryptophan and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid were not. Hydrophobic interactions rather than ionic interactions were the primary factor for the adsorption of serotonin to phenylboronate. Finally, the selective pretreatment procedure for catecholamines was improved: thus, the method could be applied for the pretreatment of bio‐samples.
Chemical fingerprint analysis and metabolic profiling of 50% ethanol fraction of Lomatogonium rotatum by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Lanjun , Ouyang Hui , Wang Qi , Fan Donghui , Wang Yuwei , Yang Shinlin , Li Zhifeng , Pan Lingling , Feng Yulin
Published: July 2019

Lomatogonium rotatum (L.) Fries ex Nym (L. rotatum), a member of Gentianaceae, is an important mongolian medicine in China used to treat febrile diseases in liver and gallbladder. The aim of present study was to investigate the chemical constituents and metabolites of the 50% ethanol fraction of L. rotatum (50EtLR). Firstly, the extract of L. rotatum was partitioned by macroporous resin to obtain the target fraction (50EtLR), then several compounds were isolated from 50EtLR to obtained the standards for further analysis of chemical constituents of 50EtLR. Secondly, the chemical constituents of 50EtLR were characterized using the ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–Q‐TOF–MS/MS). Finally, prototype constituents and related metabolites were analyzed after orally administerng 50EtLR to rats. As a result, a new compound, 6‐O‐[β‐d‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl]‐1,4,8‐trimethoxyxanthone (6) along with seven known compounds (1–5, 7 and 8) were isolated from the 50EtLR, 92 components were either unambiguously or tentatively identified. Additionally, 34 prototype constituents and 112 metabolites in rat plasma along with 32 prototype constituents and 53 metabolites in rat liver were tentatively identified. Therefore, xanthones and flavonoids were the main chemical constituents of 50EtLR and sulfation and glucuronidation are the main enzyme‐induced metabolic pathways involved post‐administration.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical manifestations in cerebral angiostrongyliasis from Dali, China
Authors: Yang Bin , Yang Ling , Chen Yili , Lu Guangming
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical diagnosis and treatment data relating to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection to gain insight into the disease.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment data, imaging manifestations, and outcomes of 27 patients who were clinically diagnosed with angiostrongyliasis and who underwent contrast‐enhanced brain MRI.

Results

Patients with A. cantonensis infection had a history of eating raw mollusks in the endemic area, and they mainly presented with dizziness and headache of varying degrees and vomiting (n = 7). Laboratory examinations revealed increased peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophils, as well as increased CSF protein levels. Brain MRI findings mainly included eosinophilic meningitis, whereas linear or nodular enhancement of the pia mater was observed in enhanced T1‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images, accompanied by encephalitis or vasculitis. Meningitis manifested as multiple, thickened flow voids around the meninges, and contrast‐enhanced scans showed substantial enhancement in intracranial dilated and hyperplastic blood vessels.

Conclusion

The possibility of A. cantonensis infection should be considered in the effective use of albendazole or mebendazole as a treatment. Combining clinical history with laboratory examination is helpful in diagnosing A. cantonensis infection. A final definite diagnosis can be confirmed by detecting larvae in the CSF. The administration of corticosteroids during pathogen therapy can substantially reduce the therapeutic response.
Can green behaviors really be increased for all employees? Trade‐offs for “deep greens” in a goal‐oriented green human resource management intervention
Authors: Davis Matthew C. , Unsworth Kerrie L. , Russell Sally V. , Galvan Jennifer J.
Published: July 2019

This study explores the complex interaction between psychological and goal‐relevant boundary conditions that influence levels of individual engagement in a green human resource management (HRM) intervention designed to encourage employee green behavior (EGB).

Data were collected from 1,112 employees in an automobile manufacturing plant. Consistent with goal‐setting theory, the level of feedback received predicts EGB. However, a three‐way interaction demonstrates how employees with high levels of autonomous motivation do not gain the expected benefits of high feedback and high goal commitment in the enactment of EGB. Instead, only those with weak autonomous motivation are affected by these goal‐related constructs. Findings suggest that both goal‐setting and self‐determination theories are relevant to green HRM interventions. Managers should consider that interventions that are effective for employees who do not have strong autonomous motivation towards the environment may not be effective for those who do.
Stent crush: A novel endovascular approach for treatment of complex in‐stent femoropopliteal chronic total occlusion
Authors: Tabaza Luai , Janzer Sean , George Jon C.
Published: July 2019

Femoropopliteal in‐stent chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remain one of the most challenging subsets of peripheral arterial disease to treat percutaneously. Advances in available CTO crossing technology and operator experience have increased percutaneous intervention success rates. We report a case of critical limb ischemia in a patient with chronically occluded femoropopliteal nonoverlapping stents treated with a novel percutaneous approach of subintimal retrograde angioplasty using high compression resistant nitinol stents to crush the occluded previous stents to create a neo‐lumen.
Percutaneous closure of left ventricle pseudoaneurysm using 3D printed heart model for procedure planning: A novel approach
Authors: Mohamed Elsayed , Telila Tesfaye , Osaki Satoru , Jacobson Kurt
Published: July 2019

Left ventricle pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of myocardial infarction that carries a high risk of mortality. In this report, we present a case of successful percutaneous closure of left ventricle pseudoaneurysm using 3D printing for procedure guidance.
Preferential Microstructure Design of Two‐Dimensional Electrocatalysts for Boosted Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xie Junfeng , Zhang Xiaodong , Xie Yi
Published: July 2019

Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has received substantial concerns owing to its crucial role in improving the overall efficiency of water electrolysis to generate clean hydrogen energy. Focused on the optimization of the earth‐abundant OER catalysts, plenty of strategies have been developed aimed on enriching the exposed active sites and enhancing the overall charge transport behavior, thus improving the OER performance. In this Concept paper, the structural merits and limits of the two‐dimensional (2D) OER catalysts are discussed in detail. Based on the understandings of the structural influences on the OER catalysis, recent progresses on preferential microstructure design of the 2D OER catalysts are summarized, including designing highly porous single‐crystalline catalysts, amorphous/partially amorphous catalysts, defective catalysts and hierarchical catalysts. This work may provide a useful guidance for future designing of the advanced catalysts for OER.
Influence of the Hydrothermal Parameters on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Cu−Ce Oxide Nanostructures
Authors: Kappis Konstantinos , Papavasiliou Joan
Published: July 2019

A series of highly active and selective CuCeOx catalysts was prepared via appropriate tuning of the parameters (concentration, temperature) of a citrates‐hydrothermal method. The obtained catalysts were characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as (in‐situ) X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption‐desorption, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while preferential oxidation of CO (CO‐PROX) in H2‐rich stream was used as probe reaction. Suitable modification of the hydrothermal parameters resulted in catalysts with remarkable performance in CO‐PROX reaction, which was strongly dependent on the concentration of oxygen vacancies and reduced copper species.
Electronic Structure of N‐Bridged High‐Valent Diiron‐Oxo
Authors: Phung Quan Manh , Pierloot Kristine
Published: July 2019

Density functional theory (DFT) and an advanced ab initio technique based on density matrix renormalization group (DMRG‐CASPT2) were employed to investigate a reactive N‐bridged high‐valent diiron‐oxo species involved in H‐abstraction reactions. We studied in detail two important doublet states, the ground state with two iron(IV) centers and a mixed valence FeV‐FeIV excited state. We found that the latter state is low‐lying. Furthermore, its electronic structure and spin density imply that it has significantly higher H‐abstraction reactivity than the ground state. This low‐lying excited state might be the reason behind the high oxidation reactivity of this diiron‐oxo species towards methane.
Controlling Metal Ion Counter Diffusion in Confined Spaces for In Situ Growth of Mixed Metal MOF Membranes for Gas Separation
Authors: Sun Yuxiu , Huang Hongliang , Guo Xiangyu , Qiao Zhihua , Zhong Chongli
Published: July 2019

The development of facile, versatile strategies for the fabrication of mixed component metal‐organic framework (MOF) membranes is highly desired, but still very challenging due to the difficulty in controlling crystal growth rates of every single component in a specific confined space. It is difficult to adjust the formation of multicomponent MOF membrane in a controlled manner using conventional approaches such as secondary growth methods. Herein, we present a facile strategy that prepares the mixed metal zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) membranes in situ in a confined space with nanostructure arrays under hydrothermal conditions using the counter diffusion mechanism. The counter diffusion of different metal ions from both the homogeneous bulk solution and the solid metal oxide nanostructure grown on substrate leads to the specific effective reaction zone by encountering with linker molecules at the interface. Subsequently, nucleation and crystal growth generate the continuous mixed metal MOF membranes. With this approach, a variety of mixed metal ZIF membranes were synthesized on different kinds of substrates. The prepared membranes exhibited good sieving effect to H2 and heavier gas molecules during both single and mixed gas permeation tests. This work opens a fresh avenue for the synthesis of mixed component MOF membranes, and the counter diffusion effect can be intentionally adopted to the design and fabrication of selective mixed metal MOF membrane on various supports.
ECR: Eviction‐cost‐aware cache management policy for page‐level flash‐based SSDs
Authors: Chen Hao , Pan Yubiao , Li Cheng , Xu Yinlong
Published: July 2019

Cache management policy plays a key role in offering low latency access to flash‐based SSDs. Most existing solutions including LRU and its successors only focus on improving the cache hit ratio, but rarely consider to reduce the waiting time of the eviction operation in the page‐level mapping FTLs. As the workloads spreading across internal chips of modern flash‐based SSDs are often highly imbalanced when workloads are write‐intensive, the time cost of evicting a dirty page from cache varies in a wide range. In this paper, we propose a novel eviction‐cost‐aware cache management policy, called ECR, to minimize the eviction cost in write‐dominant applications. ECR gives a higher probability to evict a page, which causes the shortest waiting time in the corresponding chip queue. To achieve this, we introduce a monitor module to keep track of states of all chip queues, and a multi‐LRU list structure to accelerate the selection of a victim chip and a target page in cache to perform an eviction. Our experimental results show that ECR can significantly reduce the average response time by as much as 59.55% and 44.84% compared to LRU and GCaR‐CFLRU, respectively, where GCaR‐CFLRU is the combination of state‐of‐the‐art algorithm GCaR and CFLRU.
Structure and gradient‐based industrial interpolation using computational intelligence
Authors: Jeon Gwanggil
Published: July 2019

Industry and medical imaging are technologies and processes of managing subjective representations of the industry product, interior of a body for analyzing. The deinterlacing is the procedure of transforming interlaced signal into progressive one. In this paper, I propose a new single field deinterlacing method which has three sub‐methods: bilinear method, small filter‐based method, and large filter‐based method. Pixels in a given image are grouped into three regions by calculated local mean and variance values: stable region, neutral region, and complex region. To implement deinterlacing process, I use weight average filter by considering two factors (the likeness factor and the distance factor) and determine region characteristics. Simulation results inform that the presented method yields satisfactory results in objective metrics (PSNR, SSIM, implementation time) and subjective quality.
Estimation of a physical activity energy expenditure with a patch‐type sensor module using artificial neural network
Authors: Kang Kyeung Ho , Shin Si Ho , Jung Jaehyo , Kim Youn Tae
Published: July 2019

Chronic diseases such as coronary artery diseases and diabetes are caused by lack of physical activities and are leading causes of high death and morbidity rates. In particular, the imbalance of consumption energy and intake energy has increased adult diseases such as obesity with high mortality. Until recently, direct calorimetry by production calorie and indirect calorimetry by energy expenditure have been regarded as the best methods for estimating physical activity and energy expenditure. These calorimetry methods are associated with limited practicality such as data acquisition in a limited time, high cost, and wearing an inconvenient mask for oxygen uptake measurement. In this study, we propose the most accurate method using a wireless patch‐type sensor to predict the energy expenditure of physical activities. Through the optimization of the prediction of energy expenditure of physical activities using the neural network algorithm, we achieved RMSE of 0.1893 and R2 of 0.91 for the energy expenditures of aerobic and anaerobic exercises. These results indicate that the proposed system is useful and reliable for monitoring user's energy expenditure when using attached patch‐type sensors workouts.
Intermolecular London Dispersion Interactions of Azobenzene Switches for Tuning Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Kunz Anne , Heindl Andreas H. , Dreos Ambra , Wang Zhihang , Moth‐Poulsen Kasper , Becker Jonathan , Wegner Hermann A.
Published: July 2019

The performance of molecular solar thermal energy storage systems (MOST) depends amongst others on the amount of energy stored. Azobenzenes have been investigated as high‐potential materials for MOST applications. In the present study it could be shown that intermolecular attractive London dispersion interactions stabilize the (E)‐isomer in bisazobenzene that is linked by different alkyl bridges. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed, that this interaction leads to an increased storage energy per azo‐unit of more than 3 kcal/mol compared to the parent azobenzene. The origin of this effect has been supported by computation as well as X‐ray analysis. In the solid state structure attractive London dispersion interactions between the C−H of the alkyl bridge and the π‐system of the azobenzene could be clearly assigned. This concept will be highly useful in designing more effective MOST systems in the future.
Exploring the Photochemical Reactivity of Multifunctional Photocaged Dienes in Continuous Flow
Authors: Zaquen Neomy , Haven Joris J. , Rubens Maarten , Altintas Ozcan , Bohländer Peggy , Offenloch Janin T. , Barner‐Kowollik Christopher , Junkers Tanja
Published: July 2019

Flow reactors become more and more automated by enabling on‐line reaction monitoring and adjusting the process parameters. On‐line monitoring of chemical processes is a valuable tool to steer processes, leading to precise engineering of macromolecular materials. Detailed information about specific product patterns, end‐group functionality or material composition can be obtained by coupling a flow reactor to a mass spectrometer (e. g. ESI‐MS). In this work, we study the deprotection of maleimides and its subsequent photoenol functionalization to synthesize complex macromolecules using a photo flow reactor coupled to an ESI‐MS. Using a trapping agent (TA), furan is efficiently removed from the maleimide Diels−Alder adduct within just minutes at 175 °C and quantitatively converted into an unreactive species that does not interfere with further reactions of the maleimide. The photoenol reaction was likewise shown to be highly effective to proceed in microreactors, reaching quantitative conversion of trifunctional molecules in as little as 2 min.
Antibacterial efficacy of silver diamine fluoride as a root canal irrigant
Authors: Al‐Madi Ebtissam M. , Al‐Jamie Manar A. , Al‐Owaid Noura M. , Almohaimede Amal A. , Al‐Owid Albandary M.
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Conventional disinfectants and medicaments have not been able to achieve and maintain sterilization of root canals. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of 3.8% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in comparison with 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) against Enterococcus faecalis biofilm.

Materials and methods

Extracted human teeth were used to make 70 dentin discs that were then inoculated with E. faecalis to generate a 3‐week‐old biofilm model. The discs were subjected to treatment with 3.8% SDF, 2% CHX, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), or saline for 10 min. After exposure, the dentin discs were examined with a confocal laser scanning microscope to verify the percentage of live versus dead cells within the biofilm. Univariate one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey‐honestly significant difference post hoc analysis (p < .05) were performed to detect significant differences.

Results and conclusion

The NaOCl group showed the greatest percentage of dead cells (62.26%) among all groups (p < .05). The SDF group showed a significantly higher percentage of dead cells (57.39%) than the 2% CHX and saline groups (p < .05). SDF possessed higher antimicrobial activity than 2% CHX against E. faecalis biofilms.
Nanoliposomes Co‐Encapsulating Photoswitchable Probe and Photosensitizer for Super‐Resolution Optical Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Xu Hao , Chen Bingling , Gong Wanjun , Yang Zhigang , Qu Junle
Published: July 2019

Photosensitizers (PSs) are ideal cancer theranostic drugs that can be administered as both fluorescence imaging reagents and photodynamic therapy (PDT) drugs. To improve the tumoritropic behavior of PSs, nanoliposomes are presently being considered as optimal PSs carriers. Although nanoliposomal PSs have been utilized in clinical therapy, PSs localization and photosensitive processing in nanoliposomal PSs are rarely observed on nanoscale. Investigating changes in the fine structure of nanoliposomes under photosensitive processing will further our understanding of the photosensitive effect on nanoliposomal PSs. In this study, nanoliposomes co‐encapsulating the PSs benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid A (BPD) and the photoswitchable probe Cy5‐927 were prepared to realize PDT and nanoscale super‐resolution optical imaging. The fine structures of nanoliposomal BPD and Cy5‐927 (LBC) were visualized by a home‐built stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM). Our PDT results showed that the photorelease and PDT efficiency of BPD were not decreased by co‐encapsulating with Cy5‐927 in LBC. Taken together, LBC can be used as a new optical probe and PDT reagent for investigating changes in nanoliposomes fine structure and micro‐interaction in the cellular process of PDT. Therefore, our results deepened our understanding of liposome‐based PDT for optimizing cancer treatment. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Artifactual Kappa Light Chain Restriction of Marrow Hematogones: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall in Minimal Residual Disease Assessment of Plasma Cell Myeloma Patients on Daratumumab
Authors: Jiang Xiu yan , Luider Joanne , Shameli Afshin
Published: July 2019

Background

Daratumumab (DARA) is a humanized Immunoglobulin G(IgG)1‐kappa monoclonal antibody against CD38 antigen that is shown to improve outcomes in relapsed/refractory plasma cell myeloma (PCM) patients. Since CD38 is expressed by different hematopoietic elements, DARA has the potential to interfere with flow cytometric assessment of bone marrow specimens.

Methods

Flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow samples from 10 PCM on DARA and 5 control samples was performed using two different antibody panels.

Results

Bone marrow samples from PCM patients on DARA exhibited a population of CD19+ CD10+ B‐lymphoid cells with kappa light chain restriction. Further morphological and immunophenotypic studies suggested that this population represents marrow hematogones. Marrow hematogones from control samples showed normal immunophenotypic profiles.

Conclusion

DARA on the surface of hematogones interferes with flow cytometric clonality study leading to artifactual kappa light chain restriction, which can result in false interpretation of a concurrent clonal B‐cell proliferation. In the era of rapidly growing list of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, flow cytometry pathologists should be aware of potential interferences to avoid misdiagnosis. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Comprehensive Flow‐Cytometry‐Based Immunophenotyping Analysis for Accurate Diagnosis and Management of Extranodal NK/T Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type
Authors: Wang Jian‐Chao , Deng Xue‐Qin , Liu Wei‐Ping , Gao Li‐Min , Zhang Wen‐Yan , Yan Jia‐Qi , Ye Yun‐Xia , Liu Feng , Zhao Sha
Published: July 2019

Background

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL‐N) is an aggressive lymphoma typically diagnosed by examining small biopsy specimens. Flow cytometry is very valuable for the diagnosis and classification of several kinds of hematolymphoid neoplasms but has not been widely used for diagnosing ENKTL‐N.

Methods

We systematically investigated the flow cytometry characteristics of 26 solid tissue biopsy specimens of ENKTL‐N at initial diagnosis and compared the results with those from reactive NK‐cells in the nasal/nasopharyngeal region and peripheral blood.

Results

Our study revealed seven flow cytometry (FCM)‐based characteristics for distinguishing between the neoplastic cells and reactive NK‐cells, including (1) the proportion of NK‐cells among total lymphocytes >10%; (2) forward scatter >105; (3) mean fluorescence intensity of CD56 > 5,000; (4) aberrant antigen expression or loss; (5) skewed killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor repertoire; (6) homogenously positive for CD38; and (7) positive for CD30 or CD336. FCM‐based immunophenotyping is a potentially feasible and convenient approach for discriminating cellular lineages, evaluating the activation status of NK‐cells, and selecting potential therapy targets of ENKTL‐N.

Conclusions

Flow cytometry is very valuable for facilitating routine diagnosis, confirming clonality, predicting the cellular lineage, and guiding individual treatment for ENKTL‐N. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society
A traffic balance scheme of group emotion recognition by using the service function chain
Authors: Sun Ai , Huang Yueh‐Min
Published: July 2019

Most researches of emotion recognition focus on single person information. However, everyone's emotions will affect each other. For example, when the teacher is angry, the student's nervousness will increase. But the facial expression information of the light single is already quite large. It means that group emotion recognition will encounter a huge traffic bottleneck. Therefore, there is a vast amount of data collected by end‐devices that will be uploaded to the emotion cloud for big data analysis. Because different emotions may require different analytical methods, in the face of diverse big data, connecting different emotion clouds is a viable alternative method to extend the emotion cloud hardware. In this paper, we built a software defined networking (SDN) multi‐emotion cloud platform to connect different emotion clouds. Through the advantages of the splicing control plane and the data plane, the routing path can be changed using software. This means that the individual conditions of different students can be handled by a dedicated system via service function (SF). The load balancing effect between different emotion clouds is achieved by optimizing the SFC. In addition, we propose a SFC‐based dynamic load balancing mechanism which eliminates a large number of SFC creation processes. The simulation results show that the proposed mechanism can effectively allocate resources to different emotion clouds to achieve real‐time emotion recognition. This is the first strategy to use SFC to balance the emotion data that the teachers can change teaching policy in a timely manner in response to students' emotions.
Learning AP in wireless powered communication networks
Authors: Iqbal Arshad , Kim Yunmin , Lee Tae‐Jin
Published: July 2019

In a wireless powered communication network (WPCN), sensor nodes harvest energy to transmit information. By a harvest‐then‐transmit (HT) protocol, nodes can be classified into either energy receiving (ER) or data transmitting (DT) nodes depending on the current level of the harvested energy. Since nodes may join or leave a network any time and energy levels vary, the distribution of ER and DT nodes changes over time. As the number of contending DT nodes is highly dynamic, a quick learning mechanism is required for an access point (AP). We propose a learning AP that learns from experience and adapts the frame size according to the changes in the number of DT nodes. The proposed learning AP is also shown to learn well and react to the situation. We compare the performances of the proposed learning mechanism with a WPCN and conventional HT FSA schemes. The proposed RL scheme outperforms the comparative schemes in terms of success rate and delay.
Transparent carbon nanotubes promote the outgrowth of enthorino‐dentate projections in lesioned organ slice cultures
Authors: Pampaloni Niccolò P. , Rago Ilaria , Calaresu Ivo , Cozzarini Luca , Casalis Loredana , Goldoni Andrea , Ballerini Laura , Scaini Denis
Published: July 2019

The increasing engineering of carbon‐based nanomaterials as components of neuroregenerative interfaces is motivated by their dimensional compatibility with subcellular compartments of excitable cells, such as axons and synapses. In neuroscience applications, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been used to improve electronic device performance by exploiting their physical properties. Besides, when manufactured to interface neuronal networks formation in vitro, CNT carpets have shown their unique ability to potentiate synaptic networks formation and function. Due to the low optical transparency of CNTs films, further developments of these materials in neural prosthesis fabrication or in implementing interfacing devices to be paired with in vivo imaging or in vitro optogenetic approaches are currently limited. In the present work, we exploit a new method to fabricate CNTs by growing them on a fused silica surface, which results in a transparent CNT‐based substrate (tCNTs). We show that tCNTs favor dissociated primary neurons network formation and function, an effect comparable to the one observed for their dark counterparts. We further adopt tCNTs to support the growth of intact or lesioned entorhinal–hippocampal complex organotypic cultures (EHCs). Through immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological field potential recordings, we show here that tCNTs platforms are suitable substrates for the growth of EHCs and we unmask their ability to significantly increase the signal synchronization and fiber sprouting between the cortex and the hippocampus with respect to Controls. tCNTs transparency and ability to enhance recovery of lesioned brain cultures, make them optimal candidates to implement implantable devices in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Retinoic acid signaling in regulation of meiosis during embryonic development in mice
Authors: Yadu Nomesh , Kumar Pradeep G.
Published: July 2019

In the embryonic gonads of mice, the genetic and epigenetic regulatory programs for germ cell sex specification and meiosis induction or suppression are intertwined. The quest for garnering comprehensive understanding of these programs has led to the emergence of retinoic acid (RA) as an important extrinsic factor, which regulates initiation of meiosis in female fetal germ cells that have attained a permissive epigenetic ground state. In contrast, germ cells in fetal testis are protected from the exposure to RA due to the activity of CYP26B1, an RA metabolizing enzyme, which is highly expressed in fetal testis. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms operating in fetal gonads of mice, which enable regulation of meiosis via RA signaling.
Effect of breeding performance on the distribution and activity budgets of a predominantly resident population of black‐browed albatrosses
Authors: Ponchon Aurore , Cornulier Thomas , Hedd April , Granadeiro José Pedro , Catry Paulo
Published: July 2019

Pelagic seabirds breeding at high latitudes generally split their annual cycle between reproduction, migration, and wintering. During the breeding season, they are constrained in their foraging range due to reproduction while during winter months, and they often undertake long‐distance migrations. Black‐browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophris) nesting in the Falkland archipelago remain within 700 km from their breeding colonies all year‐round and can therefore be considered as resident. Accordingly, at‐sea activity patterns are expected to be adjusted to the absence of migration. Likewise, breeding performance is expected to affect foraging, flying, and floating activities, as failed individuals are relieved from reproduction earlier than successful ones. Using geolocators coupled with a saltwater immersion sensor, we detailed the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of at‐sea activity budgets of successful and failed breeding black‐browed albatrosses nesting in New Island, Falklands archipelago, over the breeding and subsequent nonbreeding season. The 90% monthly kernel distribution of failed and successful breeders suggested no spatial segregation. Both groups followed the same dynamics of foraging effort both during daylight and darkness all year, except during chick‐rearing, when successful breeders foraged more intensively. Failed and successful breeders started decreasing flying activities during daylight at the same time, 2–3 weeks after hatching period, but failed breeders reached their maximum floating activity during late chick‐rearing, 2 months before successful breeders. Moon cycle had a significant effect on activity budgets during darkness, with individuals generally more active during full moon. Our results highlight that successful breeders buffer potential reproductive costs during the nonbreeding season, and this provides a better understanding of how individuals adjust their spatial distribution and activity budgets according to their breeding performance in absence of migration.
A Facile Strategy to Improve the Electrochemical Performance of Porous Organic Polymer‐Based Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Yang Shuhao , Liu Qianhui , Lu Qiongqiong , Zhang En , Arrozi Ubed SF. , Li Hejun , Kaskel Stefan , Xu Fei , Wang Hongqiang
Published: July 2019

Porous organic polymers (POPs), with features of permanent nanopores and designable frameworks, show great promise as sulfur host materials to restrain the shuttling of polysulfides, one of the main obstacles in the development of lithium–sulfur batteries. However, the simple physical entrapment from weak intermolecular interactions via a typical melt‐diffusion method results in the diffusive loss of polysulfides that has thus far restricted their potential. Herein, a facile strategy for introducing chemical covalent interactions between POPs and sulfur via the regulation of sulfur infiltration temperature is reported. The results show that increasing the temperature to a suitable value, e.g., 400 °C, for a fluorinated triazine‐based framework (FCTF), enables chemical bonding between the sulfur and aromatic FCTF backbone. Benefitting from the synergetic chemical and physical confinement effect, the shuttling of polysulfides can be efficiently restrained. As a result, the sample features superior sulfur utilization, high‐rate performances, and good cycle stability, as compared with the sample with only physical confinement. The proposed strategy can also be extended to other POPs, such as the boroxine‐linked covalent organic framework, by judiciously tailoring the infiltration temperatures. The findings disclose the important role of infiltration temperatures in developing efficient cathode host materials for lithium–sulfur batteries.
Antimony–Graphite Composites for a High‐Performance Potassium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Liu Qian , Fan Ling , Chen Suhua , Su Sailan , Ma Ruifang , Han Xu , Lu Bingan
Published: July 2019

Antimony‐based electrodes have great application prospects for high‐power potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to their low platform and high capacity, while suffering from limited cycle stability and severe pulverization phenomenon. Herein, commercial graphite and antimony powder are utilized to prepare antimony–graphite composites via ball‐milling along with ultrasonic processing. As a result, the antimony‐cluster can embed into the graphite layer and form antimony interspersed graphite composites, which is beneficial to accommodate the volume expansion and degeneration phenomenon of antimony. Consequently, the antimony–graphite composite can deliver high‐reversible capacity (524 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1), superior capacity retention (96.8% after 100 cycles), and an excellent rate performance (340 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1). This work paves the way to design high‐performance alloy‐type anode materials for PIBs.
Fire resistance of cold‐formed steel framed shear walls under various fire scenarios
Authors: Andres Blanca , Hoehler Matthew S. , Bundy Matthew F.
Published: July 2019

This paper presents results of large‐scale experiments with varying levels of fire severity on lateral force‐resisting systems commonly used in cold‐formed steel framed buildings. Gypsum‐sheet steel composite panel sheathed walls, oriented strand board sheathed walls, and steel strap‐braced walls are examined. Postflashover fire conditions of two different intensities as well as 1 hour of fire exposure similar to that in a standard furnace qualification test are studied. Additionally, a full‐scale furnished kitchen fire experiment is conducted for comparison. The results highlight differences in the thermal response and subsequent performance of the walls as well as differing sensitives of the walls to pre‐damage, eg, that might occur during an earthquake. The results are part of a larger effort to provide fragilities for these wall systems in response to realistic fires for performance‐based design.
Neuronal input triggers Ca2+ influx through AMPA receptors and voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels in oligodendrocytes
Authors: Barron Tara , Kim Jun Hee
Published: July 2019

Communication between neurons and developing oligodendrocytes (OLs) leading to OL Ca2+ rise is critical for axon myelination and OL development. Here, we investigate signaling factors and sources of Ca2+ rise in OLs in the mouse brainstem. Glutamate puff or axon fiber stimulation induces a Ca2+ rise in pre‐myelinating OLs, which is primarily mediated by Ca2+‐permeable AMPA receptors. During glutamate application, inward currents via AMPA receptors and elevated extracellular K+ caused by increased neuronal activity collectively lead to OL depolarization, triggering Ca2+ influx via P/Q‐ and L‐type voltage‐gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels. Thus, glutamate is a key signaling factor in dynamic communication between neurons and OLs that triggers Ca2+ transients via AMPARs and Cav channels in developing OLs. The results provide a mechanism for OL Ca2+ dynamics in response to neuronal input, which has implications for OL development and myelination.
Anticholinergic/sedative drug burden predicts worse memory acquisition in older racially/ethnically diverse patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Margolis Seth A. , Zughaft Sears Malka , Daiello Lori A. , Solon Carly , Nakhutina Luba , Hoogendoorn Claire J. , Gonzalez Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2019

Objective

Anticholinergic/sedative drug use, measured by the Drug Burden Index (DBI), is linked to cognitive impairment in older adults. Yet, studies on the DBI's association with neuropsychological functioning are lacking, especially in underserved groups at increased risk of cognitive impairment. We examined cross‐sectional relationships between total DBI (DBIT) and an age‐adjusted analogue (Adj DBIT) with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in diverse adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Based on results of a prior study, we anticipated higher DBIs would be associated with worse memory at older ages.

Methods

One hundred five adults with T2DM (age = 57 ± 9 years, 65% female, 62% Black, 27% Hispanic/Latino, HbA1c = 7.8 ± 1.8) participated. Although memory outcomes were normally distributed, DBIT values were positively skewed. Spearman correlations assessed their bivariate relationships with RBANS. Adjusting for comorbidities, polypharmacy, HbA1c, and education, we tested the moderating effect of age on DBI‐RBANS associations at mean ±1 standard deviations of age.

Results

One third of the participants endorsed current sedative/anticholinergic use. Mean DBIT was 0.385, and mean Adj DBIT was 0.393 (ranges = 0.00‐4.22). Drug burden negatively correlated with RBANS Immediate Memory (DBIT rs = −0.237, P = .013; Adj DBIT rs = −0.239, P = .014) but no other indices. There was a significant DBI*Age interaction; the negative effect of drug burden on Immediate Memory was significant for ages greater than or equal to 55 years old.

Conclusions

Sedative/anticholinergic drug exposure was prevalent in these diverse T2DM patients. Adjusting for covariates, greater drug burden was associated with worse memory acquisition among older adults only. Prospective studies should examine these relationships over time and assess whether dementia biomarkers affect the interaction.
Neural traits characterize unconditional cooperators, conditional cooperators, and noncooperators in group‐based cooperation
Authors: Baumgartner Thomas , Dahinden Franziska M. , Gianotti Lorena R. R. , Knoch Daria
Published: July 2019

Contributing to and maintaining public goods are important for a functioning society. In reality, however, we see large variations in contribution behavior. While some individuals are not cooperative, others are highly so. Still others cooperate only to the extent they believe others will. Although these distinct behavioral types clearly have a divergent social impact, the sources of heterogeneity are poorly understood. We used source‐localized resting electroencephalography in combination with a model‐free clustering approach to participants' behavior in the Public Goods Game to explain heterogeneity. Findings revealed that compared to noncooperators, both conditional cooperators and unconditional cooperators are characterized by higher baseline activation in the right temporo‐parietal junction, an area involved in social cognition. Interestingly, conditional cooperators were further characterized by higher baseline activation in the left lateral prefrontal cortex, an area involved in behavioral control. Our findings suggest that conditional cooperators' better capacities for behavioral control enable them to control their propensity to cooperate and thus to minimize the risk of exploitation by noncooperators.
Could the extreme conformality achieved with proton therapy in paranasal sinuses cancers accidentally results in a high rate of leptomeningeal progression?
Authors: Orlandi Ester , Iacovelli Nicola A. , Cavallo Anna , Resteghini Carlo , Gandola Lorenza , Licitra Lisa , Bossi Paolo
Published: July 2019

See article on page 3736–3736, in this issue
In regards to Orlandi et al HED‐19‐0487
Authors: Dagan Roi , Bryant Curtis
Published: July 2019

See article on page 3733–3735, in this issue
Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Transition of Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease in Cirrhosis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Maiwall Rakhi , Pasupuleti Samba Siva Rao , Bihari Chhagan , Rastogi Archana , Singh Pawan Kumar , Naik Vini , Singh Akanksha , Jain Priyanka , Kumar Awinash , Mukund Amar , Mathur R.P. , Kumar Guresh , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: July 2019

Transition to chronic kidney disease (CKD) after an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) is known in patients without cirrhosis. We studied the incidence and risk factors for development of CKD in patients with cirrhosis. Competing risk analysis was performed to identify risk factors for CKD development. Of 818 patients with cirrhosis (age, 50.4 ± 11.8 years; 84% males; Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease [MELD], 19.9 ± 9.9), 36% had AKI at enrollment, 27% had previous AKI, and 61% developed new episodes of AKI during the follow‐up period. CKD developed in 269 (33%) patients. Serum cystatin C (CysC; subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 1.58; 1.07‐2.33), episodes of previous AKI (SHR, 1.26; 1.02‐1.56), and AKI stage at enrollment (no AKI [SHR, 1] vs. stage 1 [SHR, 3.28; 1.30‐8.25] vs. stage 2 [SHR, 4.33; 1.76‐10.66] vs. stage 3 [SHR, 4.5; 1.59‐12.73]) were identified as baseline risk factors for CKD development. On time‐varying competing risk analysis, MELD (SHR, 1.01; 1.00‐1.03), number of AKI episodes (SHR, 1.25; 1.15‐1.37), and CysC (SHR, 1.38; 1.01‐1.89) predicted CKD development. Development of CKD was associated with higher risk of death. Reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) not meeting CKD criteria was observed in 66% of patients with cirrhosis, more so in those with previous AKI episodes and a high CysC level and MELD score. Renal histology, available in 55 patients, showed tubulointerstitial injury in 86%, cholemic nephrosis in 29%, and glomerular changes in 38%. Conclusion: Almost two‐thirds of patients with cirrhosis develop episodes of AKI and reduction in GFR; one‐third progress to CKD, resulting in adverse outcomes. Higher MELD and CysC levels and number of AKI episodes predict development of CKD in patients with cirrhosis.