bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in Beverage Consumption Among Children and Adults, 2003‐2014
Authors: Bleich Sara N. , Vercammen Kelsey A. , Koma Jonathan Wyatt , Li Zhonghe
Published: November 2017

Objective

This study aimed to provide the most recent national estimates for beverage consumption among children and adults in the United States.

Methods

Dietary data were collected from 18,600 children aged 2 to 19 years and from 27,652 adults aged ≥ 20 years in the 2003 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Total beverage and sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption was measured by 24‐hour dietary recall.

Results

From 2003 to 2014, per capita consumption of all beverages declined significantly among children (473.8‐312.6 calories; P < 0.001) and adults (425.0‐341.1 calories; P < 0.001). In the 2013‐2014 survey, 60.7% of children and 50.0% of adults drank SSBs on a given day, which is significantly lower than 2003‐2004, when 79.7% of children and 61.5% of adults reported drinking SSBs. From 2003 to 2014, per capita consumption of SSBs declined from 224.6 calories to 132.5 calories (P < 0.001) for children and from 190.4 calories to 137.6 calories (P < 0.001) for adults. The absolute levels for the percentage of SSB drinkers and per capita consumption of SSBs were highest among black, Mexican American, and non‐Mexican Hispanic children, adolescents, and young adults for all years of the study.

Conclusions

Overall, beverage and SSB consumption declined for children and adults from 2003 to 2014. The levels of consumption are highest among black, Mexican American, and non‐Mexican Hispanic participants.
Elevated mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A potential biomarker for predicting inferior survival
Authors: Jain Ayushi , Bakhshi Sameer , Thakkar Himani , Gerards Mike , Singh Archna
Published: November 2017

Background

Studies on mitochondrial DNA copy number reveal an increase or decrease in copy number that appears to be cancer specific, but data on acute lymphoblastic leukemia have been inconsistent regarding the significance of changes in mitochondrial DNA copies. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze mitochondrial DNA copy number and mitochondrial DNA integrity.

Procedure

Copy number and mitochondrial deletion ratios were estimated in the bone marrow of 51 patients and peripheral blood of 30 healthy controls using quantitative real‐time PCR. The copy number values were correlated with prognostic markers in patients.

Results

Significantly increased mitochondrial DNA copy number (P‐value < 0.0001) and increased mitochondrial deletion ratios (P‐value = 0.0018) were observed in patients compared with controls. The copy numbers were significantly decreased in patients after chemotherapy (P‐value = 0.0232). Patients with higher copy numbers exhibited significantly inferior survival than patients with lower copy numbers (for event‐free survival, P‐value = 0.04 and overall survival, P‐value = 0.1175).

Conclusions

Significant decreases in mitochondrial DNA copy number with therapy indicates that copy number could be evaluated as a potential marker for therapeutic efficacy and a higher mitochondrial DNA copy number could be a poor prognostic marker.
Acute chest syndrome among children hospitalized with vaso‐occlusive crisis: A nationwide study in the United States
Authors: Takahashi Takuto , Okubo Yusuke , Handa Atsuhiko
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a common complication among pediatric inpatients with sickle cell disease and vaso‐occlusive crisis (VOC). However, little is known about the factors associated with ACS complication. The present study assessed the epidemiological features of children hospitalized with VOC and ascertained factors associated with ACS complication.

Methods

Hospital discharge records of patients with VOC aged <20 years were obtained for the years 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 from the Kids’ Inpatient Database. Data were weighted to estimate the annual hospitalization rates with respect to gender and race/ethnicity in the United States. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to ascertain factors associated with ACS complication after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics.

Results

The total annual hospitalizations for VOC increased from 22,511 in 2003 to 24,292 in 2012. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that children aged 5–9 years had 2.59 times higher odds of ACS than children aged 15–19 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.32–2.88). Comorbidity of asthma (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.31–1.54) and obstructive sleep apnea (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.31–2.20) were associated with ACS development. ACS was also associated with male gender and the summer and fall seasons.

Conclusion

We reported nationwide estimates of the annual hospitalization rate for childhood VOC in the United States and demonstrated the major risk factors associated with ACS complication. Vigilance is needed for ACS complications in high‐risk VOC admissions.
Fast pyrolysis bio‐oil as precursor of thermosetting epoxy resins
Authors: Sibaja Bernal , Adhikari Sushil , Celikbag Yusuf , Via Brian , Auad Maria L.
Published: November 2017

Fast pyrolysis bio‐oil was employed as a source of phenolic compounds in the production of a bio‐based polymeric network. The bio‐oil was reacted with epichlorohydrin in alkaline medium using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a phase transfer catalyst. The amount of free phenolic hydroxyl groups before and after modification was quantified through 31P‐NMR spectroscopy; and the epoxy content of the bio‐oil upon the chemical functionalization was measured by means of a titration using HBr in acetic acid solution. Grafting of epoxy functions onto the monomer`s structure was studied by FTIR. Likewise, α‐resorcylic acid was also modified with reactive epoxy moieties, and used as low molecular weight comonomer. The epoxidized derivatives of the bio‐oil were cured in epoxy polymers with 4‐dimethylaminopyridine. Thermo‐mechanical characterization showed that the obtained materials behave as thermoset amorphous polymers, exhibiting modulus values ranging from approximately 1.5–3.4 GPa at room temperature and glass transition temperatures above 100°C. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1296–1307, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Malignancy in Renal Transplant Recipients Exposed to Cyclophosphamide Prior to Transplantation for the Treatment of Native Glomerular Disease
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R. , Descourouez Jillian L. , Singh Tripti , Astor Brad C. , Panzer Sarah E.
Published: November 2017

Study Objective

To evaluate the risk of posttransplantation malignancy in renal transplant recipients exposed to pretransplantation cyclophosphamide for the treatment of glomerular nephropathy (GN).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary academic medical center.

Patients

Six hundred adult renal transplant recipients were transplanted between 1993 and 2014; 54 patients were exposed to pretransplantation cyclophosphamide for treatment of GN (GN‐CYC group), and 546 patients with polycystic kidney disease were not exposed to pretransplantation cyclophosphamide (PKD group).

Measurement and Main Results

Data were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records. The primary outcome was occurrence of posttransplantation malignancy. During a median follow‐up of 5.5 years, 130 patients developed malignancy (incidence rate 3.5 events per 100 person‐yrs). Exposure to cyclophosphamide before transplantation was significantly associated with malignancy after transplantation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–4.22, p=0.02), specifically skin cancer (aHR 2.24, 95% CI 1.09–4.60, p=0.03). Malignancy risk in the GN‐CYC group was higher in the setting of lymphocyte‐depleting induction (alemtuzumab; aHR 4.53, 95% CI 0.99–20.72, p=0.05) compared with basiliximab induction. Incidences of death‐censored graft loss and mortality were similar between the GN‐CYC and PKD groups.

Conclusion

In our observational study, renal transplant recipients exposed to pretransplantation cyclophosphamide appeared to have a higher risk of developing a malignancy compared with unexposed renal transplant recipients. Further investigation into the impact of pretransplantation immunosuppression on malignancy, particularly the compounded effect with lymphocyte‐depleting induction, is warranted.
Substituent effects in the Nicholas epimerization of glycosides
Authors: Tsou Pei‐Kang , Lee Yen‐Chun , Lankau Timm , Isobe Minoru , Yu Chin‐Hui
Published: November 2017

The Nicholas reaction is a proven and versatile tool in glycoside chemistry. Its application is less clear‐cut, if the intermediate Nicholas cation has two reactive sides that enable different reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to rationalize the observed difference in product yields for the Nicholas epimerization and substitution obtained from experiments with very similar glycosides. Substituents, which can increase the rigidity of the backbone, should be avoided in epimerization reactions as they can slow down reorientation of the intramolecular ion pair so that the substitution reaction dominates.
A roadmap for poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone self‐assembly in water: Prediction, synthesis, and characterization
Authors: Ianiro Alessandro , Patterson Joseph , González García Álvaro , van Rijt Mark M. J. , Hendrix Marco M. R. M , Sommerdijk Nico A. J. M. , Voets Ilja K. , Esteves A. Catarina C. , Tuinier Remco
Published: November 2017

Numerical self‐consistent field (SCF) lattice computations allow a priori determination of the equilibrium morphology and size of supramolecular structures originating from the self‐assembly of neutral block copolymers in selective solvents. The self‐assembly behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PEO‐PCL) block copolymers in water was studied as a function of the block composition, resulting in equilibrium structure and size diagrams. Guided by the theoretical SCF predictions, PEO‐PCL block copolymers of various compositions have been synthesized and assembled in water. The size and morphology of the resulting structures have been characterized by small‐angle X‐ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and multiangle dynamic light scattering. The experimental results are consistent with the SCF computations. These findings show that SCF is applicable to build up roadmaps for amphiphilic polymers in solution, where control over size and shape are required, which is relevant, for instance, when designing spherical micelles for drug delivery systems © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 330–339
Electron energy probability function modulation with external electron beam in capacitive coupled radio frequency discharges
Authors: Zhang Ya , Huang Jia‐long , Yi Lin , Wang Hong‐yu , Jiang Wei
Published: November 2017

We investigate the effect of external electron beam injection on plasma kinetics of a radio‐frequency (rf) capacitive argon discharge at a pressure of 100 mTorr. The rf voltage is applied to the one electrode. Monoenergetic electron beam is injected from the other electrode, with a laboratory accessible injection current and energy. The electron beam injected electrode is grounded. A direct‐implicit particle‐in‐cell/Monte‐Carlo method is used to self‐consistently simulate the plasma density, electron temperature, plasma potential, electron energy probability function (EEPF), and the electron and ion fluxes. The presence of the electron beam increases the plasma density, while decreases the electron temperature and the plasma potential. The plasma density can increase by a factor of 5, at the same time the electron temperature can decrease from 3 to 0.5 eV. The reason is that, with the electron injection, there are more low‐energy electrons occupation in the EEPF. The EEPF is sensitive to the beam modulation: even a small beam current of 0.01A can modify the EEPF significantly. This may have crucial importance for plasma processing of polymers and graphene, where low energy treatment is desired. In addition, electron and ion fluxes to the ground electrode, are also significantly modified with increasing flux and decreasing bombardment energy.
Altered mitochondrial genome content signals worse pathology and prognosis in prostate cancer
Authors: Kalsbeek Anton M. F. , Chan Eva K. F. , Grogan Judith , Petersen Desiree C. , Jaratlerdsiri Weerachai , Gupta Ruta , Lyons Ruth J. , Haynes Anne‐Maree , Horvath Lisa G. , Kench James G. , Stricker Phillip D. , Hayes Vanessa M.
Published: November 2017

Background

Mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) content is depleted in many cancers. In prostate cancer, there is intra‐glandular as well as inter‐patient mtDNA copy number variation. In this study, we determine if mtDNA content can be used as a predictor for prostate cancer staging and outcomes.

Methods

Fresh prostate cancer biopsies from 115 patients were obtained at time of surgery. All cores underwent pathological review, followed by isolation of cancer and normal tissue. DNA was extracted and qPCR performed to quantify the total amount of mtDNA as a ratio to genomic DNA. Differences in mtDNA content were compared for prostate cancer pathology features and disease outcomes.

Results

We showed a significantly reduced mtDNA content in prostate cancer compared with normal adjacent prostate tissue (mean difference 1.73‐fold, P‐value <0.001). Prostate cancer with increased mtDNA content showed unfavorable pathologic characteristics including, higher disease stage (PT2 vs PT3 P‐value = 0.018), extracapsular extension (P‐value = 0.02) and a trend toward an increased Gleason score (P‐value = 0.064). No significant association was observed between changes in mtDNA content and biochemical recurrence (median follow up of 107 months).

Conclusions

Contrary to other cancer types, prostate cancer tissue shows no universally depleted mtDNA content. Rather, the change in mtDNA content is highly variable, mirroring known prostate cancer genome heterogeneity. Patients with high mtDNA content have an unfavorable pathology, while a high mtDNA content in normal adjacent prostate tissue is associated with worse prognosis.
High‐Performance E‐Mode AlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMT with Dual Gate Insulator Employing SiON and HfON
Authors: Hwang Il‐Hwan , Eom Su‐Keun , Choi Gwang‐Ho , Kang Myoung‐Jin , Lee Jae‐Gil , Cha Ho‐Young , Seo Kwang‐Seok
Published: November 2017

A high‐performance E‐mode AlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMTs is fabricated with atomic layer deposited 5 nm SiON/16 nm HfON and with atomic layer deposited 22 nm HfON gate insulator and their characteristics are compared. Plasma nitridation is employed in every atomic layer deposition cycle to deposit SiON and HfON dielectrics. SiON is used as an interfacial layer to ensure a high‐quality AlGaN/dielectric interface, and high‐k HfON is employed to realize a large transconductance, a high on‐state current, and a high on/off current ratio. The E‐mode AlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMT with 5 nm SiON/16 nm HfON exhibited more excellent DC and dynamic characteristics than that with 22 nm HfON. The fabricated MIS‐HEMT with dual gate insulator showed a high on/off ratio of ≈1.2 × 1011, a low off‐state drain leakage current less than 10−11 A mm−1, a threshold voltage of 1.1 V, a subthreshold slope of 77 mV dec−1, a specific on‐resistance of 1.34 mΩ cm2, and a breakdown voltage of 800 V.
Ion‐Beam Sculpting of Nanowires
Authors: Aramesh Morteza
Published: November 2017

Nanomaterials often undergo unusual mechanical deformations compared to their bulk counterparts when irradiated with ion‐beams. This study visualizes and investigates some of the unusual interactions that can occur in nanomaterials during irradiation with medium‐energy ion‐beams using a helium‐ion microscope (HIM). Ion‐beam sculpting of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) with sub‐10 nm features is demonstrated. Moreover, irradiation‐induced growth of NWs at room‐temperature is discovered. The new concept and possible mechanism of irradiation‐induced VLS (vapor–liquid–solid) growth of NWs is introduced. These results are the basis for further fundamental and technological developments toward manipulation and visualization of ion–matter interactions at the nanoscale.
Synthesis of Novel meso‐Indole‐ and meso‐Triazatruxene‐BODIPY Dyes
Authors: Sadak Ali Enis , Gören Ahmet C. , Bozdemir Özgür Altan , Saraçoğlu Nurullah
Published: November 2017

In this study, the effects of the heteroaromatic indole ring on the chemical and photophysical properties of BODIPY (4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene) dyes were investigated. Four BODIPY derivatives with indole rings at the meso‐ position were synthesized and three of them were converted into the corresponding styryl‐derivatives in reasonable yields. To obtain a more complex indole‐based trimeric BODIPY derivative in the form of a triazatruxene, several attempts were made by using indole trimerization chemistry and the photophysical studies on the resulting triazatruxene‐BODIPY dye revealed a solvent polarity dependent fluorescence behavior, which may be important in the prospective organic electronic applications.
Exploring Quantum Chemical Descriptors and Molecular Docking Approach for Designing Antagonist Search Model for the Glycine/NMDA Receptor Site
Authors: Ingle Snehal V. , Joshi Kaustubh A.
Published: November 2017

An antagonist selection model, using the combined approach of density functional theory and molecular docking calculations, has been designed for the Glycine site on the NMDA (N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate) receptor. The study confirms the presence of an aromatic ring, a mode of delocalization of electron density in the molecule as a requisite for the antagonist activity. The distinguishing nature of agonists vs antagonist molecule at the glycine site can be partly identified by exploring global reactivity descriptors like chemical potential or electrophilicity index. Molecular docking approach used to explore the nature of the active site cavity indicates the presence of an imperforated hydrophobic region in the active site as a requisite for a better binding profile of a potential antagonist molecule. The model developed based on these criteria introduces two new pharmacophoric moieties to be explored for their activity in the Glycine site on the NMDA receptor.
Detection of β‐Amyloid by Sialic Acid Coated Bovine Serum Albumin Magnetic Nanoparticles in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Nasr Seyedmehdi Hossaini , Kouyoumdjian Hovig , Mallett Christiane , Ramadan Sherif , Zhu David C. , Shapiro Erik M. , Huang Xuefei
Published: November 2017

The accumulation and formation of β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques in the brain are distinctive pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Designing nanoparticle (NP) contrast agents capable of binding with Aβ highly selectively can potentially facilitate early detection of AD. However, a significant obstacle is the blood brain barrier (BBB), which can preclude the entrance of NPs into the brain for Aβ binding. In this work, bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated NPs are decorated with sialic acid (NP‐BSAx‐Sia) to overcome the challenges in Aβ imaging in vivo. The NP‐BSAx‐Sia is biocompatible with high magnetic relaxivities, suggesting that they are suitable contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The NP‐BSAx‐Sia binds with Aβ in a sialic acid dependent manner with high selectivities toward Aβ deposited on brains and cross the BBB in an in vitro model. The abilities of these NPs to detect Aβ in vivo in human AD transgenic mice by MRI are evaluated without the need to coinject mannitol to increase BBB permeability. T2*‐weighted MRI shows that Aβ plaques in mouse brains can be detected as aided by NP‐BSAx‐Sia, which is confirmed by histological analysis. Thus, NP‐BSAx‐Sia is a promising new tool for noninvasive in vivo detection of Aβ plaques.
Freestanding NiFe Oxyfluoride Holey Film with Ultrahigh Volumetric Capacitance for Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Liang Kun , Marcus Kyle , Yang Zhenzhong , Zhou Le , Pan Hao , Bai Yuanli , Du Yingge , Engelhard Mark H. , Yang Yang
Published: November 2017

In this work, a freestanding NiFe oxyfluoride (NiFeOF) holey film is prepared by electrochemical deposition and anodic treatments. With the combination of good electrical conductivity and holey structure, the NiFeOF holey film offers superior electrochemical performance with maximum specific capacitance of 670 F cm−3 (134 mF cm−2), due to the following reasons: (i) The residual metal alloy framework can be used as the current collector to improve electrode conductivity. Moreover, the as‐prepared freestanding NiFeOF holey film can be used as a supercapacitor electrode without reliance on binders and other additives. The residual metal alloy framework and binder‐free electrode effectively reduce electrode resistance, thus improving electron transport. (ii) The highly interconnected holey structure and hierarchical pore distribution provide a high specific surface area to improve electron transport, enhancing rapid ion transport, and mitigating diffusion limitations throughout the holey film. (iii) The excellent mechanical characteristics facilitate flexibility and cyclability related performance. Additionally, the NiFeOF holey film presents exceptional electrochemical performance, showing that it is a promising alternative for small/microsize electronic devices.
Micrometer to 15 nm Printing of Metallic Inks with Fountain Pen Nanolithography
Authors: Yeshua Talia , Layani Michael , Dekhter Rimma , Huebner Uwe , Magdassi Shlomo , Lewis Aaron
Published: November 2017

The field of printed electronics is continually trying to reduce the dimensions of the electrical components. Here, a method of printing metallic lines with widths as small as 15 nm and up to a few micrometers using fountain pen nanolithography (FPN) is shown. The FPN technique is based on a bent nanopipette with atomic force feedback that acts similar to a nanopen. The geometry of the nanopen allows for rapid placement accuracy of the printing tip, on any desired location, with the highest of optical sub‐micrometer resolution. Using this nanopen, investigations of various inks are undertaken together with instrumental and script‐tool development that allows accurate printing of multiple layers. This has led to the printing of conductive lines using inks composed of silver nanoparticles and salt solutions of silver and copper. In addition, it is shown that the method can be applied to substrates of various materials with minimal effect on the dimension of the line. The line widths are varied by using nanopens with different orifices or by tailoring the wetting properties of the ink on the substrate. Metallic interconnections of conducting lines are reported.
Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly of Multilayer Thin Films for Organic Optoelectronic Devices
Authors: Hu Zhicheng , Huang Fei , Cao Yong
Published: November 2017

Organic optoelectronic devices based on conjugated polymers have attracted widespread attention and practical applications have been achieved. Various solution‐processing protocols for depositing conjugated polymeric thin films of organic optoelectronic devices have been developed. As a low‐cost solution‐processing technique, the layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly method can be used to fabricate multilayer thin films with a high‐quality surface and controlled thickness. Recent remarkable progress in LbL‐assembled multilayer films for the interface engineering of organic optoelectronic devices has demonstrated their great potential for practical applications in the near future. Here, the application of LbL assembly to the construction of multilayer films is discussed for use in polymer optoelectronic devices, especially polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) and polymer solar cells (PSCs). A brief introduction to LbL‐assembled multilayer films for the emissive/active layers in PLEDs/PSCs is provided and the limitations of LbL materials are discussed. The comprehensive application of LbL‐assembly techniques and LbL materials in the interface engineering of PLEDs and PSCs is also presented with a supplementary discussion of the working mechanism of LbL materials in PLEDs and PSCs. Finally, perspectives on the LbL‐assembly technique and challenges to its application in future organic optoelectronic devices are presented.
Transmembrane Signaling with Lipid‐Bilayer Assemblies as a Platform for Channel‐Based Biosensing
Authors: Sugawara Masao
Published: November 2017

Artificial and natural lipid membranes that elicit transmembrane signaling is are useful as a platform for channel‐based biosensing. In this account we summarize our research on the design of transmembrane signaling associated with lipid bilayer membranes containing nanopore‐forming compounds. Channel‐forming compounds, such as receptor ion‐channels, channel‐forming peptides and synthetic channels, are embedded in planar and spherical bilayer lipid membranes to develop highly sensitive and selective biosensing methods for a variety of analytes. The membrane‐bound receptor approach is useful for introducing receptor sites on both planar and spherical bilayer lipid membranes. Natural receptors in biomembranes are also used for designing of biosensing methods.
Cigarette smoke extract and isoprene resulted in the induction of apoptosis and autophagy in human placenta choriocarcinoma JEG‐3 cells
Authors: Lee Hae‐Miru , Choi Kyung‐Chul
Published: November 2017

In this study, the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on the induction of apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) of JEG‐3 human choriocarcinoma cells were examined to confirm the relationship between CS and placenta development. Upon TUNEL assay, CS extract (3R4F; 0.3 and 2.1 μM) increased JEG‐3 apoptosis. Western blot assay revealed that the protein expressions of p53, Bax, and CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) increased, while the levels of Bcl‐2 were reduced following CS extract treatment. Moreover, 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH‐DA) assay revealed increased ROS production. Upon 3‐(4‐5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2.5‐dyhphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, isoprene (IP), one of ingredients of CS, deceased JEG‐3 cell viability (10−11 to 10−6 M). After based on the MTT assay, two IP concentrations of 10−11 and 10−8 M were selected and the protein expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E1, p21, and p27 decreased in response to IP. Furthermore, IP showed the greatest increase in autophagy at 24 hours and further induction of cell death at 72 hours upon monodansylacadaverine and TUNEL assay. Western blot analysis confirmed the increase in autophagy markers, LC3β and p62, as well as the increase or decrease of apoptosis markers p53, Bax, CHOP, and Bcl‐2 in response to its treatments. In addition to confirming increases in ROS through DCFH‐DA, we also confirmed the expression of Nrf2, an antioxidant marker, and the expression of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (KEAP1), which specifically degrades Nrf2, by Western blot. Taken together, these results indicate that CS and IP may inhibit the development of placenta via activation of ROS by inducing apoptosis and autophagy by affecting the expression of KEAP1, which regulates Nrf2 expression.
A fast stochastic solution method for the Blade Element Momentum equations for long‐term load assessment
Authors: Fluck Manuel , Crawford Curran
Published: November 2017

Unsteady power output and long‐term loads (extreme and fatigue) drive wind turbine design. However, these loads are difficult to include in optimization loops and are typically only assessed in a post‐optimization load analysis or via reduced‐order methods. Both alternatives yield suboptimal results. The reason for this difficulty lays in the deterministic approaches to long‐term loads assessment. To model the statistics of lifetime loads they require the analysis of many unsteady load cases, generated from many different random seeds—a computationally expensive procedure. In this paper, we present an alternative: a stochastic solution for the unsteady aerodynamic loads based on a projection of the unsteady Blade Element Momentum (BEM) equations onto a stochastic space spanned by chaos exponentials. This approach is similar to the increasingly popular polynomial chaos expansion, but with 2 major differences. First, the BEM equations constitute a random process, varying in time, while previous polynomial chaos expansion methods were concerned with random parameters (ie, random but constant in time or initial values). Second, a new, more efficient basis (the exponential chaos) is used. This new stochastic method enables us to obtain unsteady long‐term loads much faster, enabling unsteady loads to become accessible inside wind turbine optimization loops. In this paper we derive the stochastic BEM solution and present the most relevant results showing the accuracy of the new method.
Quantitative aspects of the ruminating process in giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) fed with different diets
Authors: Schüßler Dominik , Greven Hartmut
Published: November 2017

Giraffes are ruminants feeding on fresh browse and twigs in the wild, but in zoos, their diet is mainly based on alfalfa hay, grains, and pellets occasionally supplemented by twigs and foliage. These diets, which differ in composition and digestibility, affect the behavior of the animals, tooth wear patterns, and chewing efficiency. We quantified several parameters of the rumination process in ten zoo housed giraffes of different sexes and ages fed either with alfalfa hay, fresh browse, or a combination of both. Chewing during rumination was highly ritualized and specimens showed an even distribution of chewing directions during this process, which prevents uneven tooth wear and use of chewing muscles. During rumination of alfalfa hay, chewing cycles of the giraffes took on average 49 s and included 54 jaw movements compared to 37 s and 42 jaw movements during rumination of browse, respectively. Single jaw movements (measured as basic chewing rates) were on average significantly slower during rumination of alfalfa hay (alfalfa: 1.10 chews per second, browse: 1.17 chews per second) and intercycle times between two chewing cycles took significantly longer (alfalfa: 7.77 s, browse: 7.46 s). Our results clearly indicate that several rumination parameters are influenced by the type of diet.
From Diophantus to supergravity and massless higher spin multiplets
Authors: Gates S. James , Koutrolikos Konstantinos
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We present a new method of deriving the off-shell spectrum of supergravity and massless 4D,

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 higher spin multiplets without the need of an action and based on a set of natural requirements: (a.) existence of an underlying superspace description, (b.) an economical description of free, massless, higher spins and (c.) equal numbers of bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom. We prove that for any theory that respects the above, the fermionic auxiliary components come in pairs and are gauge invariant and there are two types of bosonic auxiliary components. Type (1) are pairs of a (2, 0)-tensor with real or imaginary (1, 1)-tensor with non-trivial gauge transformations. Type (2) are singlets and gauge invariant. The outcome is a set of Diophantine equations, the solutions of which determine the off-shell spectrum of supergravity and massless higher spin multiplets. This approach provides (i ) a classification of the irreducible, supersymmetric, representations of arbitrary spin and (ii ) a very clean and intuitive explanation to why some of these theories have more than one formulations (e.g. the supergravity multiplet) and others do not.
Non-geometric vacua of the Spin(32)/ℤ2 heterotic string and little string theories
Authors: Font Anamaría , Mayrhofer Christoph
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We study a class of 6d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (1, 0) non-geometric vacua of the Spin(32)/ℤ
2 heterotic string which can be understood as fibrations of genus-two curves over a complex one-dimensional base. The 6d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (1, 0) theories living on the defects that arise when the genus-two fiber degenerates at a point of the base are analyzed by dualizing to F-theory on elliptic K3-fibered non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds. We consider all possible degenerations of genus-two curves and systematically attempt to resolve the singularities of the dual threefolds. As in the analogous non-geometric vacua of the E
8 × E
8 heterotic string, we find that many of the resulting dual threefolds contain singularities which do not admit a crepant resolution. When the singularities can be resolved crepantly, we determine the emerging effective theories which turn out to be little string theories at a generic point on their tensor branch. We also observe a form of duality in which theories living on distinct defects are the same.
Impact of “Tailored” Parathyroidectomy for Treatment of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
Authors: Horiuchi Kiyomi , Sakurai Momoko , Haniu Kento , Nagai Erin , Tokumitsu Hiroki , Yoshida Yusaku , Omi Yoko , Sakamoto Akiko , Okamoto Takahiro
Published: November 2017

Background

Whether total parathyroidectomy (TPTX) or subtotal parathyroidectomy (SPTX) should be performed for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is controversial. At our institution, the parathyroidectomy strategy is based on the number of enlarged intraoperative parathyroid glands. We retrospectively analyzed our parathyroidectomy procedures.

Methods

Data of PHPT treatment in patients with MEN1 who underwent parathyroidectomy from 1982 to 2012 at our department were retrospectively collected. The data were grouped according to the surgical procedure: TPTX, SPTX, and less than SPTX (LPTX). TPTX or SPTX was selected based on the preoperative examination findings and number of enlarged intraoperative parathyroid glands. The outcomes were the disease‐free survival (DFS) rate and postoperative calcium replacement rate based on Kaplan–Meier analysis for each type of surgical procedure.

Results

Forty‐five patients were analyzed. The overall 5‐ and 10‐year DFS was 91.7 and 55.8%, respectively. The 5‐ and 10‐year DFS in each subgroup was 100.0 and 85.7% in the TPTX group, 89.4 and 57.3% in the SPTX group, and 91.6 and 57.3% in the LPTX group, respectively. The postoperative calcium replacement rate at 1 and 12 months was 91.7 and 58.3% in the TPTX group, 21.1 and 7.0% in the SPTX group, and 30.0 and 0.0% in the LPTX group, respectively.

Conclusions

Although LPTX was not satisfactory as a standard procedure, both SPTX and TPTX are effective treatment methods for PHPT in patients with MEN1. The parathyroidectomy strategy should be based on intraoperative evaluation of the parathyroid glands.
Coagulopathy in Zellweger spectrum disorders: a role for vitamin K
Authors: Zeynelabidin Sara , Klouwer Femke C. C. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Suijker Monique H. , Engelen Marc , Poll‐The Bwee Tien , van Ommen C. Heleen
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Zellweger spectrum disorders (ZSDs) are caused by an impairment of peroxisome biogenesis, resulting in multiple metabolic abnormalities. This leads to a range of symptoms, including hepatic dysfunction and coagulopathy. This study evaluated the incidence and severity of coagulopathy and the effect of vitamin K supplementation orally and IV in ZSD.

Methods

Data were retrospectively retrieved from the medical records of 30 ZSD patients to study coagulopathy and the effect of vitamin K orally on proteins induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA‐II) levels. Five patients from the cohort with a prolonged prothrombin time, low factor VII, and elevated PIVKA‐II levels received 10 mg of vitamin K IV. Laboratory results, including thrombin generation, at baseline and 72 h after vitamin K administration were examined.

Results

In the retrospective cohort, four patients (13.3%) experienced intracranial bleedings and 14 (46.7%) reported minor bleeding. No thrombotic events occurred. PIVKA‐II levels decreased 38% after start of vitamin K therapy orally. In the five patients with a coagulopathy, despite treatment with oral administration of vitamin K, vitamin K IV caused an additional decrease (23%) of PIVKA‐II levels and increased thrombin generation.

Conclusion

Bleeding complications frequently occur in ZSD patients due to liver disease and vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K deficiency is partly corrected by vitamin K supplementation orally, and vitamin K administered IV additionally improves vitamin K status, as shown by further decrease of PIVKA‐II and improved thrombin generation.
Adding high-intensity interval training to conventional training modalities: optimizing health-related outcomes during chemotherapy for breast cancer: the OptiTrain randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mijwel Sara , Backman Malin , Bolam Kate A. , Jervaeus Anna , Sundberg Carl Johan , Margolin Sara , Browall Maria , Rundqvist Helene , Wengström Yvonne
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Exercise training is an effective and safe way to counteract cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). High-intensity interval training has proven beneficial for the health of clinical populations. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of resistance and high-intensity interval training (RT–HIIT), and moderate-intensity aerobic and high-intensity interval training (AT–HIIT) to usual care (UC) in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was CRF and the secondary endpoints were HRQoL and cancer treatment-related symptoms.

Methods

Two hundred and forty women planned to undergo chemotherapy were randomized to supervised RT–HIIT, AT–HIIT, or UC. Measurements were performed at baseline and at 16 weeks. Questionnaires included Piper Fatigue Scale, EORTC-QLQ-C30, and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale.

Results

The RT–HIIT group was superior to UC for CRF: total CRF (p = 0.02), behavior/daily life (p = 0.01), and sensory/physical (p = 0.03) CRF. Role functioning significantly improved while cognitive functioning was unchanged for RT–HIIT compared to declines shown in the UC group (p = 0.04). AT–HIIT significantly improved emotional functioning versus UC (p = 0.01) and was superior to UC for pain symptoms (p = 0.03). RT–HIIT reported a reduced symptom burden, while AT–HIIT remained stable compared to deteriorations shown by UC (p < 0.01). Only RT–HIIT was superior to UC for total symptoms (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

16 weeks of resistance and HIIT was effective in preventing increases in CRF and in reducing symptom burden for patients during chemotherapy for breast cancer. These findings add to a growing body of evidence supporting the inclusion of structured exercise prescriptions, including HIIT, as a vital component of cancer rehabilitation.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number: NCT02522260.
The effects of climate change on the distribution of European glass lizard Pseudopus apodus (PALLAS, 1775) in Eurasia
Authors: Nasrabadi Reza , Rastegar‐Pouyani Nasrullah , Pouyani Eskandar Rastegar , Kami Haji Gholi , Gharzi Ahmad , Hosseinian Yousefkhani Saeed
Published: November 2017

The distribution area of Pseudopus apodus includes the Balkan, Crimean peninsulas, and Ciscaucasia region in Europe, and Asia Minor and the Middle East. This area has experienced a significant habitat loss and fragmentation because of human population growth, increased farming, logging and climate change. To estimate how climate change will affect the presumed future distribution of the studied species, we constructed the possible current distribution of the species and its potential environmental risk for future dispersion. We used an ensemble prediction to forecast the location and distribution of suitable habitats for P. apodus in present and future (i.e. 2070) based on 19 environmental variables. The results were consistent among models and indicated that there are two most important variables that affect distribution pattern of the species: temperature seasonality and precipitation seasonality. All of the models used in this study showed a significant AUC and TSS value. Based upon FDA and ensemble maps it is proposed here that species range will be extended to the east, in particular in higher altitude regions like Afghanistan, but its western range in Jordan will be shrunk. Comparison of the current distribution and future prediction reveals that suitable habitats of Pseudopus apodus will be shifted to higher elevations by 2070 and during this period the species is predicted to migrate from lowlands to higher elevations. Change in latitudinal range is also probable to find new suitable areas under predicted future climate scenarios.
The value of public sector audit: Literature and history
Authors: Hay David , Cordery Carolyn
Published: November 2017

This paper explores the value of financial statement auditing in the public sector. The study applies theory about auditing from the private sector as well as the public sector to explore ways in which public sector auditing can be expected to be valuable. It shows that there are a number of complementary explanations that can be applied to examine the value of public audit, including agency, signaling, insurance, management control, governance and confirmation explanations. The evidence from research and history is generally consistent with the agency and management control explanations. There is some support for the signaling and insurance explanations, while research evidence suggests that governance has differing impact in the public sector compared to the private. The confirmation hypothesis is also potentially relevant. Reviewing the history of the development of public sector auditing functions shows that at least some developments were consistent with explanations such as agency theory and management control. Auditing in the public sector is an area where more research is valuable. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues for further investigation.
The genusLobariella(Ascomycota:Lobariaceae) in Hawaii: late colonization, high inferred endemism and three new species resulting from “micro-radiation”
Authors: LÜCKING Robert , MONCADA Bibiana , SMITH Clifford W.
Published: November 2017

We assessed the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Hawaiian species of the neotropical genusLobariella. A single species was previously reported from the archipelago, the widespread neotropicalL. crenulata. We targeted three loci of the mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal rDNA gene cistron (mtSSU, nuLSU, ITS) and also performed a molecular clock analysis. Our results show thatL. crenulatas. str. is seemingly present in the archipelago based on older herbarium collections. However, HawaiianLobariellaincludes three additional, presumably endemic, species unrelated toL. crenulataand new to science:L. flynnianaLücking, Moncada & C. W. Sm., with richly branched marginal phyllidia giving the thallus a fruticose appearance;L. robustaLücking, Moncada & C. W. Sm., with a rather thick thallus and abundant, large, laminal phyllidia; andL. sandwicensisLücking, Moncada & C. W. Sm., with a delicate thallus producing apothecia.Lobariella flynnianarepresents a novel morphotype within the genus, thus far known only from Hawaii. All three species are very closely related, forming a well-supported, monophyletic clade in spite of their morphological differences, suggesting local micro-radiation. Molecular clock analysis indicates that this clade colonized the islands between 1–8 mya and diverged between 0–2 mya. We interpret recent colonization as one of the main reasons why this clade has not diversified further.
New Arthoniales from Amapá (Amazonian North Brazil) show unexpected relationships
Authors: APTROOT André , CÁCERES Marcela Eugenia da Silva
Published: November 2017

Recent field trips to Amapá and the adjacent states of Amazonas and Pará uncovered unknown lichen species with unexpected relationships. The following new species of Arthoniales are described, mainly from Amapá in North Brazil: Neosergipea hyphosa, a corticolous species with an olive-green thallus, central part verrucose, marginal zone of 5–10 mm wide consisting of procumbent branching rhizohyphae, surrounded by a pinkish brown hyphal prothallus c. 3 mm wide into which the rhizohyphae protrude, globose ascomata, c. 0·1 mm diam., arranged in stromatoid groups of 5–15, with hyaline walls, without ascospores; Neosergipea septoconidiata, a corticolous species with a bluish grey thallus and bright orange, mostly conical pycnidia with fluffy hyphal surface, hyaline conidia, 3–6-septate, filiform, 12–23×1·5–2·0 μm, with rounded ends; Nyungwea pycnidiata, from a termite nest on a tree, with abundant pycnidia that are whitish, papillate, smooth, c. 0·1–0·2 mm diam., c. 0·2–0·4 mm high, at the base covered by thallus, and hyaline conidia that are simple, ellipsoid, 2·5–4·0×1·5–2·0 μm; and Opegrapha ramisorediata, a corticolous species with a thallus with initially rounded soralia that soon cover the complete thallus with a layer of fine yellowish green branched soredia, and containing gyrophoric acid. Apothecia are not known from any of these species but sequencing elucidated their generic affiliation. The genera Neosergipea and Nyungwea were previously monotypic and Nyungwea was known only from Africa. Nyungwea anguinella (Nyl.) Aptroot comb. nov. is a further new species in the latter genus, and through these two extra species we now know about the morphology of the pycnidia and apothecia of Nyungwea, which were unknown in the type species (a sterile crust).
The taxonomy of the lichenFuscidea cyathoides(Fuscideaceae, Umbilicariomycetidae, Ascomycota) in Europe
Authors: ZAHRADNÍKOVÁ Martina , TØNSBERG Tor , ANDERSEN Heidi Lie
Published: November 2017

Based on morphometric and molecular methods, the taxonomy of the infraspecific taxa ofFuscidea cyathoides(Ach.) V. Wirth & Vězda, var.corticola(Fr.) Kalb and var.sorediata(H. Magn.) Poelt, has been assessed. No formal taxonomic recognition should be attributed to the morphological and ecological variation. Accordingly, var.corticolaand var.sorediataare synonymized withF.cyathoidesvar.cyathoides. New synonyms at the specific level areFuscidea fagicola(Zschacke) Hafellner & Türk andF.stiriaca(A. Massal.) Hafellner.
Hunting Rare Fossils of the Ediacaran
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: November 2017

The search for fossil imprints and casts of squishy organisms takes time, perseverance, and sometimes a sprinkle of luck.
Diastereo- and enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles using both aldonitrones and ketonitrones
Authors: Xu Peng-Wei , Liu Jia-Kuan , Shen Lan , Cao Zhong-Yan , Zhao Xiao-Li , Yan Jun , Zhou Jian
Published: November 2017

Optically active spirocyclic compounds play an important role in drug discovery, and new synthetic strategies for the efficient generation of spiro stereocenters are in much demand. Here we report a catalytic enantioselective cycloaddition using spirocyclic donor–acceptor cyclopropanes as a promising approach for the generation of spiro stereocenters. A diastereo- and enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles with both aldonitrones and ketonitrones is developed. The key to reaction development is the activation of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles by a suitable electron-withdrawing N-protecting group. This activation approach offers the promise of a general solution to enable spirocyclopropyl oxindoles as synthons for catalytic enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles featuring a C3 spiro stereocenter, a prominent structural motif in drugs and pharmaceutically active compounds. This protocol also constitutes the catalytic enantioselective reaction using unactivated achiral ketonitrones to construct tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters.