bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What causes cooling water temperature gradients in a forested stream reach?
Authors: Garner G. , Malcolm I. A. , Sadler J. P. , Hannah D. M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Previous studies have suggested that shading by riparian vegetation may reduce maximum water temperatures and provide refugia for temperature-sensitive aquatic organisms. Longitudinal cooling gradients have been observed during the daytime for stream reaches shaded by coniferous trees downstream of clear cuts or deciduous woodland downstream of open moorland. However, little is known about the energy exchange processes that drive such gradients, especially in semi-natural woodland contexts without confounding cool groundwater inflows. To address this gap, this study quantified and modelled variability in stream temperature and heat fluxes along an upland reach of the Girnock Burn (a tributary of the Aberdeenshire Dee, Scotland) where riparian land use transitions from open moorland to semi-natural, predominantly deciduous woodland. Observations were made along a 1050 m reach using a spatially distributed network of 10 water temperature data loggers, 3 automatic weather stations and 211 hemispherical photographs that were used to estimate incoming solar radiation. These data parameterised a high-resolution energy flux model incorporating flow routing, which predicted spatio-temporal variability in stream temperature. Variability in stream temperature was controlled largely by energy fluxes at the water-column–atmosphere interface. Net energy gains occurred along the reach, predominantly during daylight hours, and heat exchange across the bed–water-column interface accounted for <1% of the net energy budget. For periods when daytime net radiation gains were high (under clear skies), differences between water temperature observations increased in the streamwise direction; a maximum instantaneous difference of 2.5 °C was observed between the upstream reach boundary and 1050 m downstream. Furthermore, daily maximum water temperature at 1050 m downstream was ≤1 °C cooler than at the upstream reach boundary and lagged by >1 h. Temperature gradients were not generated by cooling of stream water but rather by a combination of reduced rates of heating in the woodland reach and advection of cooler (overnight and early morning) water from the upstream moorland catchment. Longitudinal thermal gradients were indistinct at night and on days when net radiation gains were low (under overcast skies), thus when changes in net energy gains or losses did not vary significantly in space and time, and heat advected into the reach was reasonably consistent. The findings of the study and the modelling approach employed are useful tools for assessing optimal planting strategies for mitigating against ecologically damaging stream temperature maxima.
Chemical and physical transformations of mercury in the ocean: a review
Authors: Batrakova N. , Travnikov O. , Rozovskaya O.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Mercury is well known as a dangerous neurotoxin enriched in the environment by human activities. It disperses over the globe, cycling between different environmental media. The ocean plays an important role in the global mercury cycle, acting both as a dispersion medium and as an exposure pathway. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the major physical and chemical transformations of mercury in the ocean. This review describes the mechanisms and provides a compilation of available rate constants for the major processes in seawater, including oxidation and reduction reactions under light and dark conditions, biotic and abiotic methylation/demethylation, and adsorption by particles. These data could be useful for the development of transport models describing processes undergone by mercury in the ocean.
Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation
Authors: Vanlauwe B. , Descheemaeker K. , Giller K. E. , Huising J. , Merckx R. , Nziguheba G. , Wendt J. , Zingore S.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Intensification of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to address rural poverty and natural resource degradation. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a means to enhance crop productivity while maximizing the agronomic efficiency (AE) of applied inputs, and can thus contribute to sustainable intensification. ISFM consists of a set of best practices, preferably used in combination, including the use of appropriate germplasm, the appropriate use of fertilizer and of organic resources, and good agronomic practices. The large variability in soil fertility conditions within smallholder farms is also recognised within ISFM, including soils with constraints beyond those addressed by fertilizer and organic inputs. The variable biophysical environments that characterize smallholder farming systems have profound effects on crop productivity and AE and targeted application of limited agro-inputs and management practices is necessary to enhance AE. Further, management decisions depend on the farmer's resource endowments and production objectives. In this paper we discuss the "local adaptation" component of ISFM and how this can be conceptualized within an ISFM framework, backstopped by analysis of AE at plot and farm level. At plot level, a set of four constraints to maximum AE is discussed in relation to "local adaptation": soil acidity, secondary nutrient and micro-nutrient (SMN) deficiencies, physical constraints, and drought stress. In each of these cases, examples are presented whereby amendments and/or practices addressing these have a significantly positive impact on fertilizer AE, including mechanistic principles underlying these effects. While the impact of such amendments and/or practices is easily understood for some practices (e.g., the application of SMNs where these are limiting), for others, more complex interactions with fertilizer AE can be identified (e.g., water harvesting under varying rainfall conditions). At farm scale, adjusting fertilizer applications within-farm soil fertility gradients has the potential to increase AE compared with blanket recommendations, in particular where fertility gradients are strong. In the final section, "local adaption" is discussed in relation to scale issues and decision support tools are evaluated as a means to create a better understanding of complexity at farm level and to communicate best scenarios for allocating agro-inputs and management practices within heterogeneous farming environments.
Source identification of N2O produced during simulated wastewater treatment under different oxygen conditions using stable isotopic analysis
Authors: Azzaya T , Toyoda Sakae , Yoshida Naohiro , Shiomi Hiroshi , Kouno Rina
Published: December 2014

Nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas which is important in climate change, is predicted to be the most dominant ozone depleting substance. It is mainly produced by oxidation of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) or reduction of nitrite (NO2-) during microbiological processes such as nitrification and denitrification. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is one of the anthropogenic N2O sources because inorganic and organic nitrogen compounds are converted to nitrate (NO3-, in the case of standard system) or N2 (in the case of advanced system) by bacterial nitrification and denitrification in WWTP. We investigated the N2O production mechanisms during batch experiments that simulate wastewater treatment with activated sludge under various dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations by stable isotope analysis. About 125mL of water was sampled from 30L incubation chamber for several times during the incubation, and concentration and isotopomer ratios of N2O and N-containing species were measured using gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). Ammonium (NH4+) consumption was accompanied by increment of nitrite (NO2-), and at the same time dissolved N2O concentration gradually increased to 4850 and 5650 nmol kg-1, respectively, during the four-hour incubation when DO concentrations were 0.2 and 0.5 mg L-1. Observed low SP values (0.2-8.9‰ at DO-0.2 mg L-1, -5.3-6.3‰ at DO-0.5 mg L-1, -1.0-8.3‰ at DO-0.8 mg L-1) in N2O and relationship of nitrogen isotope ratios between N2O and its potential substrates (NH4+, NO3-) suggested that N2O produced under the aerobic condition derived mainly from NO2- reduction by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (nitrifier–denitrification).DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.313Mongolian Journal of Chemistry  15 (41), 2014, p4-10
Separation and purification of curcumin preparation of morphology controlled micro particles
Authors: Tsedendorj Ts , Hai-long Hong , Li-min Han , Lkhagvajav N , Darkhijav B
Published: December 2014

Curcumin was extracted from turmeric plants which is the most commonly used natural pigments, and possess a variety of pharmacological functions except for using pigment. The morphology and particle size of curcumin are main factors affecting the application. Therefore, the morphology and particle size distribution of curcumin were effectively controlled by advanced technology, which is significant for expanding the application and added value of curcumin. The curcumin crystal was obtained from curcumin pigments by using column chromatography and recrystallization techniques. The composition and structure of curcumin were characterized by elementary analysis, UV-Vis, IR and NMR. Micronization of curcumin was carried out the Solution Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical Fluids (SEDS) technology. In the process, supercritical carbon dioxide was used as anti-solvent and acetone/dichloromethane (1:4, v:v) was used as solvent. The curcumin crystals with PSs of about 378 μm were successfully micronized by the SEDS process to micro particles with PSs of about 2.6-10 μm. The acicular, leaves, dendritic and tubular micro particles were obtained through controlling parameters such as pressure, temperature, solution concentration and solution flow rate.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.314 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry  15 (41), 2014, p11-14
Study of the adsorption of reactive blue 50 on zero valent iron
Authors: Sarangerel D , Altangerel A , Munkhzaya B , Sukhbaatar B
Published: December 2014

In this study, removal efficiency of the Reactive blue 50 and adsorption mechanism on the zero valent iron were investigated. Reactive blue 50 which is used to wool and cashmere dyeing were selected due its non-biodegradable and metabolic stability. Zero valent iron particle has been synthesized by chemical method. A systematic characterization of zero valent iron was performed using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and infrared spectrometer analysis. The optimal condition of adsorption was determined as initial reactive dye 50 concentration of 150 mg·L-1, zero valent iron mass of 0.2 g and solution pH of 6.0 at room temperature. At optimal condition, organic dye removal in a real wastewater sample from Tsombon Knit LLC was 99.5%.Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p21-26
Electrochemical investigation of mineral electrodes in phosphate-buffered alkaline solution
Authors: Erdenechimeg D , Maralmaa B , Kashevskii AV
Published: December 2014

Cyclic voltammetric methods have been applied to study the electrochemical behavior of the sulfide minerals in phosphate-buffered alkaline solution. The redox process of electrodes of sulfide ores was investigated using silicone-impregnated graphite electrode. The cathodic and anodic reaction products in alkaline solution were determined within the potential range of -2V to +2V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The several successive measurement cycles’ voltammograms leads to the appearance of a new anodic peak at E = 450mV, which is absent in the first cycle and curves, as well as other features that appear in cycling, can probably be explained by secondary electrochemical transformations of the products formed by the oxidation of the original pyrite at the interface between the electrode material.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.318 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p33-35
Phytochemical analysis of Cynara scolymus L. cultivated in Mongolia
Authors: Tsevegsuren N , Davaakhuu G , Udval Ts
Published: December 2014

Cynara scolymus L. (Artichoke) is a traditionally consumed vegetable in many countries. In Mongolia, this plant has been successfully cultivated during the last years. The present study is an attempt to investigate the phytochemical composition of C.scolymus L. The result reveals the presence of bioactive constituents comprising flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, saponins and total proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamin C in plant parts. The presence of these phytochemicals can be correlated with the medicinal potential of this plant.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.320Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p40-42
Antioxidative activity of Silibum marianum cultivated in Mongolia
Authors: Ganbaatar J , Tamir O , Lkhagvamaa E , Tsiiregzen A , Oyuntsetseg J , Bayarjargal M
Published: December 2014

Silibum marianum (Milk thistle) contains high amount of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of  phenolic compounds included in Milk thistle. The  antioxidant properties of the leaves and seeds of milk thistle were examined by determining its ability to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The results obtained from DPPH assay confirm that Milk thistle extracts have high antioxidative activity.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.323 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p53-55
The main chemical properties of hot and cold mineral waters in Bayankhongor, Mongolia
Authors: Oyuntsetseg D , Uugangerel E , Minjigmaa A , Ueda A
Published: December 2014

In the current study, hot and cold mineral springs and sub mineral waters in the Bayankhongor province were examined for their chemical characteristics and identified cold mineral waters classification according to mineral water classification of Mongolia. The hot spring waters belong to Na+-HCO3- and Na+-SO42- types. The cold mineral spring of Lkham belongs to Ca2+-HCO3- type. All sub mineral waters are generally located in the two areas (northern part or mountain forest area and the southern part or Gobi desert area). TDS concentrations of cold springs of the southern part in the study area were higher than northern part’s cold springs. The total dissolved silica content of cold spring was ranged from 4.5mg/L to 26 mg/L which did not correspond to requirements of mineral water standard of Mongolia. Thus, these cold springs are belonging to sub mineral water classification. The sub mineral waters were characterized into four types such as a Ca2+-SO42-, Na+-SO42-, Na+-HCO3 and Ca2+ - HCO3 by their chemical composition in the study area. The values for the quartz, chalcedony geothermometer and the Na/K geothermometer were quite different. The silica-enthalpy mixing model predicts a subsurface reservoir temperature between 124 and 197°C and most of the hot waters have been  probably mixed with cold water. The result shows that an averaged value of calculated temperature ranges from 77°C to 119°C which indicates that studied area has low temperature geothermal resources. DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.324 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p56-62
Thermal processing of Khoot coal and characterization of obtained solid and liquid products
Authors: Batbileg S , Purevsuren B , Davaajav Ya , Namkhainorov J
Published: December 2014

On 21st January 2015, the abstract of this paper was replaced with the correct abstract.The coal of Khoot deposit have been investigated and determined the technical characteristics, elemental and petrographical maceral compositions. On the basis of proximate, ultimate, petrographic and IR analysis results have been confirmed that the Khoot coal is a sub-bituminous coal. The hard residue after pyrolysis have been activated by heated water steam and determined the iodine and methylene blue adsorption of initial coal and activated carbon samples from pyrolysis hard residue. The porosity structure of initial coal, activated carbon of pyrolysis hard residue and hard residue after thermolysis (thermal dissolution) have been determined by SEM analysis. The liquid tar product of thermolysis of Khoot coal was investigated by FTIR, 13C and 1H NMR spectrometric analysis. The results of thermolysis of Khoot coal in tetralin with constant mass ratio between coal and tetralin (1:1.8) at 450°C show that 60.8% of liquid product can be obtained after thermolysis of the coal organic mass.DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.326 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p66-72
Magmatic plumbing at Lucky Strike volcano based on olivine‐hosted melt inclusion compositions
Authors: Wanless V. D. , Shaw A. M. , Behn M. D. , Soule S. A. , Escartín J. , Hamelin C.
Published: December 2014

Here we present volatile, major, and trace element concentrations of 64 olivine‐hosted melt inclusions from the Lucky Strike segment on the mid‐Atlantic ridge. Lucky Strike is one of two locations where a crustal melt lens has been seismically imaged on a slow‐spreading ridge. Vapor‐saturation pressures, calculated from CO2 and H2O contents of Lucky Strike melt inclusions, range from approximately 300–3000 bars, corresponding to depths of 0.5–9.9 km below the seafloor. Approximately 50% of the melt inclusions record crystallization depths of 3–4 km, corresponding to the seismically imaged melt lens depth, while an additional ∼35% crystallize at depths > 4 km. This indicates that while crystallization is focused within the melt lens, significant crystallization also occurs in the lower crust and/or upper mantle. The melt inclusions span a range of major and trace element concentrations from normal to enriched basalts. Trace element ratios at all depths are heterogeneous, suggesting that melts are not efficiently homogenized in the mantle or crust, despite the presence of a melt lens. This is consistent with the transient nature of magma chambers proposed for slower‐spreading ridges. To investigate the petrogenesis of the melt inclusion compositions, we compare the measured trace element compositions to theoretical melting calculations that consider variations in the melting geometry and heterogeneities in the mantle source. The full range of compositions can be produced by slight variations in the proportion of an Azores plume and depleted upper mantle components and changes in the total extent of melting.
Intraannual variability of tides in the thermosphere from model simulations and in situ satellite observations
Authors: Häusler K. , Hagan M. E. , Forbes J. M. , Zhang X. , Doornbos E. , Bruinsma S. , Lu G.
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we provide insights into limitations imposed by current satellite‐based strategies to delineate tidal variability in the thermosphere, as well as the ability of a state‐of‐the‐art model to replicate thermospheric tidal determinations. Toward this end, we conducted a year‐long thermosphere‐ionosphere‐mesosphere‐electrodynamics general circulation model (TIME‐GCM) simulation for 2009, which is characterized by low solar and geomagnetic activity. In order to account for tropospheric waves and tides propagating upward into the ∼30–400 km model domain, we used 3‐hourly MERRA (Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application) reanalysis data. We focus on exospheric tidal temperatures, which are also compared with 72 day mean determinations from combined Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations to assess the model's capability to capture the observed tidal signatures and to quantify the uncertainties associated with the satellite exospheric temperature determination technique. We found strong day‐to‐day tidal variability in TIME‐GCM that is smoothed out when averaged over as few as ten days. TIME‐GCM notably overestimates the 72 day mean eastward propagating tides observed by CHAMP/GRACE, while capturing many of the salient features of other tidal components. However, the CHAMP/GRACE tidal determination technique only provides a gross climatological representation, underestimates the majority of the tidal components in the climatological spectrum, and moreover fails to characterize the extreme variability that drives the dynamics and electrodynamics of the ionosphere‐thermosphere system. A multisatellite mission that samples at least six local times simultaneously is needed to provide this quantification.
The interaction of propagating opening mode fractures with preexisting discontinuities in shale
Authors: Lee Hunjoo P. , Olson Jon E. , Holder Jon , Gale Julia F. W. , Myers Rodrick D.
Published: December 2014

Field observations show that hydraulic fracture growth in naturally fractured formations like shale is complex. Preexisting discontinuities in shale, including natural fractures and bedding, act as planes of weakness that divert fracture propagation. To investigate the influence of weak planes on hydraulic fracture propagation, we performed Semicircular Bend tests on Marcellus Shale core samples containing calcite‐filled natural fractures (veins). The approach angle of the induced fracture to the veins and the thickness of the veins have a strong influence on propagation. As the approach angle becomes more oblique to the induced fracture plane, and as the vein gets thicker, the induced fracture is more likely to divert into the vein. Microstructural analysis of tested samples shows that the induced fracture propagates in the middle of the vein but not at the interface between the vein and the rock matrix. Cleavage planes and fluid inclusion trails in the vein cements exert some control on the fracture path. Combining the experimental results with theoretical fracture mechanics arguments, the fracture toughness of the calcite veins was estimated to range from 0.24 MPa m1/2 to 0.83 MPa m1/2, depending on the value used for the Young's modulus of the calcite vein material. Measured fracture toughness of unfractured Marcellus Shale was 0.47 MPa m1/2.
Investing in Agriculture as an Asset Class
Authors: Chen Songjiao , Wilson William W. , Larsen Ryan , Dahl Bruce
Published: December 2014

There has been massive investment in agricultural assets including farmland, handling and trading, technology, fertilizer, and others. A number of studies have analyzed investing in farmland, but there has been limited focus on investing in non‐farmland agricultural assets. This article analyzes the role of farmland and other agricultural investments in class‐specific portfolios. We use a Mean‐Value at Risk (M‐VaR) model with restrictions to find, compare, and contrast the optimal portfolio composition among U.S. farmland, agricultural equities and grain futures. Copulas are used to account for non‐normal distributions and asymmetric dependence relationships. The results illustrate that farmland is attractive as an investment. However, as risk tolerance is increased, a shift to other agricultural assets would bring greater returns.
PARALYTIC PEPTIDE: AN INSECT CYTOKINE THAT MEDIATES INNATE IMMUNITY
Authors: Ishii Kenichi , Hamamoto Hiroshi , Sekimizu Kazuhisa
Published: December 2014

Host animals combat invading pathogens by activating various immune responses. Modulation of the immune pathways by cytokines is critical for efficient pathogen elimination. Insects and mammals possess common innate immune systems, and individual immune pathways have been intensively studied over the last two decades. Relatively less attention, however, has been focused on the functions of cytokines in insect innate immunity. Here, we summarize our recent findings from studies of the insect cytokine, paralytic peptide, in the silkworm Bombyx mori. The content of this report was presented at the First Asian Invertebrate Immunity Symposium. Acute activation of paralytic peptide occurs via proteolysis after stimulation with the cell wall components of pathogens, leading to the induction of a wide range of cellular and humoral immune responses. The pathogenic bacterium Serratia marcescens suppresses paralytic peptide‐dependent immune activation, which impairs host resistance. Studies of insect cytokines will broaden our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the interaction between host innate immunity and pathogenic agents.
Detection of ALK rearrangements in malignant pleural effusion cell blocks from patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: A comparison of Ventana immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Wang Weiya , Tang Yuan , Li Jinnan , Jiang Lili , Jiang Yong , Su Xueying
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

Surgical resections or tumor biopsies are often not available for patients with late‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cytological specimens, such as malignant pleural effusion (MPE) cell blocks, are critical for molecular testing. Currently, diagnostic methods to identify anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements include fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In the current study, the authors compared Ventana ALK IHC assays and ALK FISH to detect ALK rearrangements in MPE cell blocks from patients with advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

The ALK IHC assay and ALK FISH were performed on 63 MPE cell blocks. RT‐PCR analysis was performed as additional validation in cases in which a discrepancy was observed between the IHC assay and FISH results.

RESULTS

The Ventana ALK IHC assay was found to be informative for all 63 samples, and 8 cases were positive. Fifty‐eight cases were interpretable for FISH detection, and 6 were positive. The concordance between IHC and FISH was 100% among the 58 cases. Of the 5 uninterpretable ALK FISH cases, 2 cases and 3 cases, respectively, were ALK IHC positive and negative. One of the 2 ALK IHC‐positive cases also demonstrated a positive result in the RT‐PCR assay and the patient benefited from crizotinib treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

MPE cell blocks can be used successfully for the detection of ALK rearrangement when tumor tissue is not available. The Ventana ALK IHC assay is an effective screening method for ALK rearrangement in MPE cell blocks from patients with advanced NSCLC, demonstrating high agreement with FISH results. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015;123:117–122. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Simulation of one‐dimensional blood flow in networks of human vessels using a novel TVD scheme
Authors: Huang P. G. , Muller L. O.
Published: December 2014

An extension of a total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme to solve one‐dimensional (1D) blood flow for human circulation is proposed. This method is simple as it involves only a few modifications to existing shock‐capturing TVD schemes. We have applied the method to a wide range of test cases including a complete simulation of the human vascular network. Excellent solutions have been demonstrated for problems involving varying and discontinuous mechanical properties of blood vessels. For 1D network simulations, the method has been shown to agree well with the reported computational results. Finally, the method has been demonstrated to compare favorably with in vivo experiments set up to study the impact of circle of Willis anomalies on flow patterns in the cerebral arterial system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TIP30 inhibits oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation via cytoplasmic sequestration of Olig1
Authors: Yang Wenjing , Xiao Lin , Li Cui , Liu Xiuyun , Liu Mingdong , Shao Qi , Wang Dan , Huang Aijun , He Cheng
Published: December 2014

Differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is a prerequisite for both developmental myelination and adult remyelination in the central nervous system. The molecular mechanisms underlying OPC differentiation remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the thirty‐kDa HIV‐1 Tat interacting protein (TIP30) is a negative regulator in oligodendrocyte development. The TIP30−/− mice displayed an increased myelin protein level at postnatal day 14 and 21. By using a primary OPC culture system, we demonstrated that overexpression of TIP30 dramatically inhibited the stage progression of differentiating OPCs, while knockdown of TIP30 enhanced the differentiation of oligodendroglial cells remarkably. Moreover, overexpression of TIP30 was found to sequester the transcription factor Olig1 in the cytoplasm and weaken its nuclear translocation due to the interaction between TIP30 and Olig1, whereas knockdown of TIP30 led to more Olig1 localized in the nucleus in the initiation stage during OPC differentiation. In the cuprizone‐induced demyelination model, there was a dramatic increase in NG2‐expressing cells with nuclear location of Olig1 in the corpus callosum during remyelination. In contrast, within chronic demyelinated lesions in multiple sclerosis, TIP30 was abnormally expressed in NG2‐expressing cells, and few nuclear Olig1 was observed in these cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that TIP30 plays a negative regulatory role in oligodendroglial differentiation. GLIA 2015;63:684–698
Were There “Additional Foreseeable Risks” in the SUPPORT Study? Lessons Not Learned from the ARDSnet Clinical Trials
Authors: Silverman Henry J. , Dreyfuss Didier
Published: December 2014

SUPPORT, a study involving approximately 1,300 premature infants who were randomly assigned to treatment protocols that differed in whether they offered higher or lower levels of oxygen saturation, was purportedly an example of comparative effectiveness research performed in the intensive care unit. However, SUPPORT became highly controversial. One source of controversy involved the proper determination of “reasonably foreseeable risks.” Commentators debated whether randomization to contrasting restrictive strategies that are within existing standard‐of‐care treatments imposed additional “reasonably foreseeable risks” greater than what study participants would have received outside of the research. A second controversial issue had to do with disclosures in informed consent documents. This article explores these issues.

We argue that randomization to contrasting restrictive interventions lying at the outer ends of “standard‐of‐care” practices differs in important ways from unrestricted “standard‐of‐care” practices available outside of a proposed study; that research involving such randomization might pose additional “reasonably foreseeable risks” from what occurs in “standard‐of‐care” practices; and that for trials whose study designs are similar to the SUPPORT study, respect for persons requires the disclosure of information about the nature of the experimental procedures and their risks.
SUPPORT and the Ethics of Study Implementation: Lessons for Comparative Effectiveness Research from the Trial of Oxygen Therapy for Premature Babies
Authors: Lantos John D. , Feudtner Chris
Published: December 2014

The Surfactant, Positive Pressure, and Oxygenation Randomized Trial (SUPPORT) has been the focal point of many different criticisms regarding the ethics of the study ever since publication of the trial's findings in 2010 and 2012. In this article, we focus on a concern that the technical design and implementation details of the study were ethically flawed. While the federal Office Human Research Protections focused on the consent form, rather than on the study design and implementation, OHRP's critiques of the consent form reveal views about the study design and implementation that we believe are fundamentally flawed. These criticisms about the design and implementation of SUPPORT, if generalized, become relevant concerns about these aspects of many comparative effectiveness research studies.

Our analytical approach will be to use SUPPORT as a prime example of comparative effectiveness research and show why it challenges some prevailing assumptions about the riskiness of research. We will address five aspects of the study design and implementation: 1) randomization, 2) treatment by protocol, 3) choice of endpoints, 4) lack of a “standard care” control group, and 5) the use of altered oximeters. Examining these aspects will allow us to answer two specific central questions. The first is a methodological question with ethical implications: was the study designed in such a way as to answer the primary study question? The second question is whether the study design added or decreased risk to the babies enrolled in the study compared to babies who were not in the study.
Pain anticipation: An activation likelihood estimation meta‐analysis of brain imaging studies
Authors: Palermo Sara , Benedetti Fabrizio , Costa Tommaso , Amanzio Martina
Published: December 2014

The anticipation of pain has been investigated in a variety of brain imaging studies. Importantly, today there is no clear overall picture of the areas that are involved in different studies and the exact role of these regions in pain expectation remains especially unexploited. To address this issue, we used activation likelihood estimation meta‐analysis to analyze pain anticipation in several neuroimaging studies. A total of 19 functional magnetic resonance imaging were included in the analysis to search for the cortical areas involved in pain anticipation in human experimental models. During anticipation, activated foci were found in the dorsolateral prefrontal, midcingulate and anterior insula cortices, medial and inferior frontal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, middle and superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and caudate. Deactivated foci were found in the anterior cingulate, superior frontal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and in the claustrum. The results of the meta‐analytic connectivity analysis provide an overall view of the brain responses triggered by the anticipation of a noxious stimulus. Such a highly distributed perceptual set of self‐regulation may prime brain regions to process information where emotion, action and perception as well as their related subcategories play a central role. Not only do these findings provide important information on the neural events when anticipating pain, but also they may give a perspective into nocebo responses, whereby negative expectations may lead to pain worsening. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1648–1661, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of hepatitis C viral infection with incidence and progression of chronic kidney disease in a large cohort of US veterans
Authors: Molnar Miklos Z. , Alhourani Hazem M. , Wall Barry M. , Lu Jun L. , Streja Elani , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar , Kovesdy Csaba P.
Published: December 2014

An estimated 4 million Americans have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The risks of incident and progressive chronic kidney disease and of mortality in patients with normal kidney function infected with HCV are unclear. In a nationally representative cohort of 100,518 HCV+ and 920,531 HCV– US veterans with normal baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we examined the association of HCV infection with (1) all‐cause mortality, (2) incidence of decreased kidney function (defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 25% decrease in eGFR), (3) end‐stage renal disease, and (4) rate of kidney function decline. Associations were examined in naive and adjusted Cox models (for time‐to‐event analyses) and logistic regression models (for slopes), with sequential adjustments for important confounders. Propensity‐matched cohort analysis was used in sensitivity analyses. The patients' age was 54.5 ± 13.1 (mean ± standard deviation) years, 22% were black, 92% were male, and the baseline eGFR was 88 ± 16 mL/min/1.73 m2. In multivariable adjusted models HCV infection was associated with a 2.2‐fold higher mortality (fully adjusted hazard ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13‐2.21), a 15% higher incidence of decreased kidney function (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% CI 1.12‐1.17), a 22% higher risk of steeper slopes of eGFR (adjusted odds ratio = 1.22, 95% CI 1.19‐1.26), and a 98% higher hazard of end‐stage renal disease (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.98, 95% CI 1.81‐2.16). Quantitatively similar results were found in propensity‐matched cohort analyses. Conclusions: Infection with HCV is associated with higher mortality risk, incidence of decreased kidney function, and progressive loss of kidney function; randomized controlled trials are warranted to determine whether treatment of HCV infection can prevent the development and progression of chronic kidney disease and improve patient outcomes. (Hepatology 2015;61:1495–1502)
Magnetic resonance imaging and liver histology as biomarkers of hepatic steatosis in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Schwimmer Jeffrey B. , Middleton Michael S. , Behling Cynthia , Newton Kimberly P. , Awai Hannah I. , Paiz Melissa N. , Lam Jessica , Hooker Jonathan C. , Hamilton Gavin , Fontanesi John , Sirlin Claude B.
Published: December 2014

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children. In order to advance the field of NAFLD, noninvasive imaging methods for measuring liver fat are needed. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown great promise for the quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis but has not been validated in children. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the correlation and diagnostic accuracy of MRI‐estimated liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF), a biomarker for hepatic steatosis, compared to histologic steatosis grade in children. The study included 174 children with a mean age of 14.0 years. Liver PDFF estimated by MRI was significantly (P < 0.01) correlated (0.725) with steatosis grade. The correlation of MRI‐estimated liver PDFF and steatosis grade was influenced by both sex and fibrosis stage. The correlation was significantly (P < 0.01) stronger in girls (0.86) than in boys (0.70). The correlation was significantly (P < 0.01) weaker in children with stage 2‐4 fibrosis (0.61) than children with no fibrosis (0.76) or stage 1 fibrosis (0.78). The diagnostic accuracy of commonly used threshold values to distinguish between no steatosis and mild steatosis ranged from 0.69 to 0.82. The overall accuracy of predicting the histologic steatosis grade from MRI‐estimated liver PDFF was 56%. No single threshold had sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be considered diagnostic for an individual child. Conclusions: Advanced magnitude‐based MRI can be used to estimate liver PDFF in children, and those PDFF values correlate well with steatosis grade by liver histology. Thus, magnitude‐based MRI has the potential for clinical utility in the evaluation of NAFLD, but at this time no single threshold value has sufficient accuracy to be considered diagnostic for an individual child. (Hepatology 2015;61:1887–1895)
Multicenter analysis of soluble Axl reveals diagnostic value for very early stage hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Reichl Patrick , Fang Meng , Starlinger Patrick , Staufer Katharina , Nenutil Rudolf , Muller Petr , Greplova Kristina , Valik Dalibor , Dooley Steven , Brostjan Christine , Gruenberger Thomas , Shen Jiayun , Man Kwan , Trauner Michael , Yu Jun , Gao Chun Fang , Mikulits Wolfgang
Published: December 2014

If diagnosed at early stages, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can receive curative therapies, whereas therapeutic options at later stages are very limited. Here, we addressed the potential of soluble Axl (sAxl) as a biomarker of early HCC by analyzing levels of sAxl in 311 HCC and 237 control serum samples from centers in Europe and China. Serum concentrations of sAxl were significantly increased in HCC (18.575 ng/mL) as compared to healthy (13.388 ng/mL) or cirrhotic (12.169 ng/mL) controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of sAxl in very early stage HCC patients (BCLC 0) showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.848, with a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 69.2%. α‐Fetoprotein (AFP)‐negative HCC patients displayed an AUC of 0.803, with sensitivity and specificity of 73% and 70.8%. Combination of sAxl and AFP improved diagnostic accuracy to 0.936 in very early HCC patients and to 0.937 in all HCC. Differential diagnosis of very early HCC versus liver cirrhosis showed a combined performance for sAxl and AFP of 0.901 with a sensitivity of 88.5% and a specificity of 76.7%. Furthermore, sAxl levels failed to be elevated in primary ovarian, colorectal and breast carcinomas as well as in secondary hepatic malignancies derived from colon. In summary, sAxl outperforms AFP in detecting very early HCC as compared to healthy or cirrhotic controls and shows high diagnostic accuracy for AFP‐negative patients. sAxl is specific for HCC and suggested as a biomarker for routine clinical use.
Identification of genomic signatures in circulating tumor cells from breast cancer
Authors: Kanwar Nisha , Hu Pingzhao , Bedard Philippe , Clemons Mark , McCready David , Done Susan J.
Published: December 2014

Levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood have prognostic value in early and metastatic breast cancer. CTCs also show varying degrees of concordance with molecular markers of primary tumors they originate from. It is expected that individual cells reflect the heterogeneity and evolution of tumor cells as they acquire new functions and differential responses to chemotherapy. However, a degree of commonality is also plausible, highlighting alterations that allow tumor cells to perform CTC‐defining activities such as invasion and intravasation. Using a matched tumor‐normal approach, we performed high‐resolution copy number profiling of CTCs from breast cancer to identify occult changes occurring during progression to metastasis. We identified a signature of recurrent gain in CTCs, consisting of 90 minimal common regions (MCRs) of copy number gain. These were predominantly found across chromosome 19 and were identified at low frequencies (3–4%) in 787 primary breast carcinomas examined. CTC genomic signatures clustered into two groups independent of subtype: a dormancy‐related signature with 16 MCRs (AKT2, PTEN, CADM2); and a tumor‐aggressiveness related signature with 358 MCRs (ANGPTL4, BSG, MIR‐373). There were two MCRs in common between the groups on 19q13 and 21q21, containing genes involved in resistance to anoikis, TGFβ‐signaling and metastasis (TFF3, LTBP4, NUMBL). Furthermore, a region harboring the ERBB2 gene was gained in a majority of patients. Regions 20q13 and 15q24 were associated with distant metastasis. The distinctiveness of CTC signatures highlights cell populations with different functional or metastatic potential. Such novel targets could help to specifically identify and block dissemination.
Inside the Creative Sifter: Recognizing Metacognition in Creativity Development
Authors: Puryear Jeb S.
Published: December 2014

The parallels between cognitive development and creativity are neglected in the literature. Piaget's information transformations are personalized, meaning individual constructions can involve creativity. Vygotsky's work considers the implications and interactions of social influences, conventions, and personal implications for creative development. The Cognitive‐Creative Sifting Model is proposed to focus attention on these and other connections between cognitive development and creativity. Other common methods of assessing creativity are compared to the proposed model. It is argued that the model provides a foundation to evaluate individual creative potentials more holistically. Specifically, the conceptual elements of metacognition are described and their role in the development of creativity is suggested. It is argued that future researchers should pay particular attention to the interaction effects metacognition has with traditional measures of creativity focused on ideation and product evaluation.
Nursing Shortages in the OR: Solutions for New Models of Education
Authors: Ball Kay , Doyle Donna , Oocumma Nichole I.
Published: December 2014

The professional literature predicts worldwide perioperative nursing shortages. Compounding this is the absence of perioperative curricula in most nursing programs, which reduces new graduate interest in and awareness of employment opportunities in the OR environment. Educators at a university and a large hospital system formed an innovative partnership to create a pilot undergraduate nursing course to better prepare nurses for the surgical setting. The course was offered in a condensed‐semester format and included online activities, simulation experiences, classroom discussions, and clinical experiences in a small group setting. Two of the four nursing students in the course were hired directly into the perioperative setting after graduation, decreasing hospital costs related to recruitment and orientation. The success of the course led to its integration into the undergraduate curriculum, thus providing a valuable elective option for junior and senior nursing students, as well as achieving a new model for perioperative nursing education.
Symptomatic Spinal Epidural Hematoma After Lumbar Spine Surgery: The Importance of Diagnostic Skills
Authors: Daniels Alan H. , Schiebert Steven S. , Palumbo Mark A.
Published: December 2014

Symptomatic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare but serious complication that may occur after lumbar spine surgery. Prompt recognition of this complication depends on the diagnostic skills of perioperative nursing personnel, particularly postanesthesia care unit nurses. Analysis of a composite of patients undergoing spinal surgery suggests that neurological and functional outcomes of patients with symptomatic lumbar SEH often depend on the time interval between symptom onset and surgical evacuation of the hematoma. Clinicians should consider a diagnosis of symptomatic SEH if there is a change in the patient's neurological status during the first several hours after lumbar spine surgery. Suspicion of postoperative symptomatic SEH should prompt clinicians to notify the responsible surgeon without delay.
Back to Basics: Implementing Evidence‐Based Practice
Authors: Spruce Lisa
Published: December 2014

As health care transitions from volume‐based care to value‐based care, it is imperative that perioperative nurses implement evidence‐based practices that support effective care. Implementing evidence‐based practice is a challenge but improves patient outcomes, standardizes care, and decreases patient care costs. Understanding how care interventions work and how to implement them is important to compete in today's health care market. This “Back to Basics” article discusses how to identify, review, and appraise research; make recommendations to implement new practices; evaluate the outcomes of the implementations; and make necessary changes to facilitate evidence‐based practice.
Guideline Implementation: Preoperative Patient Skin Antisepsis
Authors: Cowperthwaite Liz , Holm Rebecca L.
Published: December 2014

Performing preoperative skin antisepsis to remove soil and microorganisms at the surgical site may help prevent patients from developing a surgical site infection. The updated AORN “Guideline for preoperative skin antisepsis” addresses the topics of preoperative patient bathing and hair removal, selection and application of skin antiseptics, and safe handling, storage, and disposal of skin antiseptics. This article focuses on key points of the guideline to help perioperative personnel develop protocols for patient skin antisepsis. The key points include the need for the patient to take a preoperative bath or shower and the need for perioperative personnel to manage hair at the surgical site, select a safe and effective antiseptic for the individual patient, perform a safe preoperative surgical site prep, and appropriately store skin antiseptics. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures.