bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of 340 mT static magnetic field on germination potential and mid‐infrared spectrum of wheat
Authors: Ćirković Saša , Bačić Jasmina , Paunović Novica , Popović Tamara B. , Trbovich Alexander M. , Romčević Nebojša , Ristić‐Djurović Jasna L.
Published: July 2017

In a number of studies, a static magnetic field was observed to positively influence the growing process of various plants; however, the effect has not yet been related to possible structural changes. We investigate if the static magnetic field that improves germination of wheat also alters wheat's near‐infrared spectrum. Two groups of seeds were exposed to 340 mT for 16 h cumulatively. The first group was exposed 8 days for 2 h per day, while the second group was exposed 4 h per day for 4 consecutive days. One half of each of the exposed seed groups as well as of the unexposed control groups was sown, and the other half was used for mid‐infrared spectra measurements. The sown seeds were monitored for 3 weeks after sowing. Germination of the groups exposed to the magnetic field was faster compared to corresponding non‐exposed groups that were grown under the same conditions. The magnetic field exposure caused the enhancement of one OH peak at 3,369 cm−1 and two CO peaks at 1,662 cm−1 and 1,740 cm−1 in the mid‐infrared spectrum. The effect was more pronounced for the 4 day, 4 h/day exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:533–540, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vitamin D supplementation differentially affects seasonal multiple sclerosis disease activity
Authors: Miclea Andrei , Miclea Marius , Pistor Maximilian , Hoepner Andreas , Chan Andrew , Hoepner Robert
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Low ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation causes hypovitaminosis D, which is a known risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated with MS disease activity. Our objective is to test whether vitamin D supplementation is most effective in lowering disease activity during the period of the year with low UVB radiation and consequently low serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentration.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of medical records from our outpatient department identified 40 MS patients with available data of at least 6 months before and during oral vitamin D supplementation. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentration was analyzed using immunoassay. UVB radiation data were provided by the local government. Annualized and quarterly relapse rates before and during vitamin D supplementation served as outcome parameters.

Results

During vitamin D supplementation (18,950 international units/week (mean, SD 3,397)), serum 25(OH)D3 concentration increased by 51 nmol/L and the UVB‐related seasonal variability in 25(OH)D3 levels ceased (rho = −0.13, p > .05). Furthermore, the annualized relapse rate decreased by approximately 50%. This was almost solely driven by the prominent reduction in the quarterly relapse rate in late winter/early spring, when 25(OH)D3 levels of nonsupplemented patients were the lowest.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the modulation of seasonal MS disease activity through vitamin D supplementation. Given the prominent reduction in the quarterly relapse rate in late winter/early spring, our data indicate a beneficial effect of supplementing MS patients with vitamin D, especially during this period of the year.
Longitudinal study of neuropathy, microangiopathy, and autophagy in sural nerve: Implications for diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Mohseni Simin , Badii Medeea , Kylhammar Axel , Thomsen Niels O. B. , Eriksson Karl‐Fredrik , Malik Rayaz A. , Rosén Ingmar , Dahlin Lars B.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The progression and pathophysiology of neuropathy in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is poorly understood, especially in relation to autophagy. This study was designed to assess whether the presence of autophagy‐related structures was associated with sural nerve fiber pathology, and to investigate if endoneurial capillary pathology could predict the development of T2DM and neuropathy.

Patients and Methods

Sural nerve physiology and ultrastructural morphology were studied at baseline and 11 years later in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT, and T2DM.

Results

Subjects with T2DM had significantly lower sural nerve amplitude compared to subjects with NGT and IGT at baseline. Myelinated and unmyelinated fiber, endoneurial capillary morphology, and the presence and distribution of autophagy structures were comparable between groups at baseline, except for a smaller myelinated axon diameter in subjects with T2DM and IGT compared to NGT. The baseline values of the subjects with NGT and IGT who converted to T2DM 11 years later demonstrated healthy smaller endoneurial capillary and higher g‐ratio versus subjects who remained NGT. At follow‐up, T2DM showed a reduction in nerve conduction, amplitude, myelinated fiber density, unmyelinated axon diameter, and autophagy structures in myelinated axons. Endothelial cell area and total diffusion barrier was increased versus baseline.

Conclusions

We conclude that small healthy endoneurial capillary may presage the development of T2DM and neuropathy. Autophagy occurs in human sural nerves and can be affected by T2DM. Further studies are warranted to understand the role of autophagy in diabetic neuropathy.
Characterization of Sugar and Polyphenolic Diversity in Floral Nectar of Different ‘Oblačinska’ Sour Cherry Clones
Authors: Guffa Basem , Nedić Nebojša M. , Dabić Zagorac Dragana Č. , Tosti Tomislav B. , Gašić Uroš M. , Natić Maja M. , Fotirić Akšić Milica M.
Published: July 2017

‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry, an autochthonous cultivar, is the most planted cultivar in Serbian orchards. Since fruit trees in temperate zone reward insects by producing nectar which ‘quality’ affects the efficiency of insect pollination, the aim of this study was analyzing of sugars and polyphenolics in floral nectar of 16 ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry clones with different yielding potential. The contents of sugars and sugar alcohols were analyzed by ion chromatography, while polyphenolic profile was established using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. Fourteen sugars and six sugar alcohols were detected in nectar samples and the most abundant were fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Eleven polyphenols were quantified using available standards, while another 17 were identified according to their exact masses and characteristic fragmentations. Among quantified polyphenols, rutin, naringenin, and chrysin were the most abundant in nectar. Principal component analysis showed that some polyphenol components (naringin, naringenin, and rutin) together with sugars had high impact of spatial distribution of nectar samples on score plot.
Facile Synthesis of a Novel Hierarchical ZSM‐5 Zeolite: A Stable Acid Catalyst for Dehydrating Glycerol to Acrolein
Authors: Beerthuis Rolf , Huang Liang , Shiju N. Raveendran , Rothenberg Gadi , Shen Wei , Xu Hualong
Published: July 2017

Catalytic biomass conversion is often hindered by coking. Carbon compounds cover active surface and plug pores, causing catalyst deactivation. Material design at the nanoscale allows tailoring of the catalytic activity and stability. Here, we report a simple synthesis of nanosized ZSM‐5 materials by using a silicalite‐1 seeding suspension. ZSM‐5 crystals were grown from a deionized silica source in the presence of ammonia. By using silicalite‐1 seeds, crystalline ZSM‐5 is synthesized without any structure‐directing agent. This method allows parallel preparation of a range of ZSM‐5 samples, eliminating time‐consuming ion‐exchange steps. Mesoporosity is introduced by formation of intercrystallite voids, owing to nanocrystal agglomeration. The effects of crystal sizes and morphologies are then evaluated in the catalytic dehydration of glycerol to acrolein, with results compared against commercial ZSM‐5. The most active nanosized ZSM‐5 catalysts were five times more stable compared with commercial ZSM‐5, giving quantitative conversion and twice the acrolein yield compared with the commercial catalyst. The influence of the catalyst structure on the chemical diffusion and the resistance to coking are discussed.
Intramolecular Hydroamination by a Primary Amine of an Unactivated Alkene on Gold Nanoclusters: A DFT Study
Authors: Bobuatong Karan , Sakurai Hidehiro , Ehara Masahiro
Published: July 2017

Density functional theory calculations have been used to investigate the mechanism of intramolecular hydroamination of unactivated alkenes by using primary amines on gold nanoclusters (NCs) under aerobic conditions. By examining the activation modes in the cyclization process, the olefin activation mechanism was calculated to be the most energetically feasible of the three possible pathways. The amine activation pathway suffered from a high activation barrier, which means that this pathway is unlikely to take place on gold NCs. The catalytic cycle comprises five elementary steps: (1) adsorption of O2 on Au NCs results in superoxo‐like species and provides Lewis acidic sites that allow the nucleophilic substrate, 2,2‐diphenyl‐4‐penten‐1‐amine, to be adsorbed effectively; (2) intramolecular cyclization (C−N bond formation) takes place on the Au NCs through anti‐addition of the amino group; (3) hydroperoxy moiety formation by hydrogen transfer from the cyclic intermediate to superoxo‐like species; (4) the formation of hydrogen peroxide and (5) product involves hydrogen transfer from a hydrated formic acid. Natural bond orbital analysis of the transition states that arise during C−N bond formation reveals that anti‐addition of the substrate is preferred over the syn‐addition mechanism. A possible side reaction, the formation of 2‐methylene‐4,4‐diphenylpyrrolidine through β‐hydrogen elimination, is also discussed.
Amphiphilic Mesoporous Poly(Ionic Liquid) Immobilized Heteropolyanions Towards the Efficient Heterogeneous Epoxidation of Alkenes with Stoichiometric Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Shi Yuming , Guo Zengjing , Wang Qian , Zhang Lingyu , Li Jing , Zhou Yu , Wang Jun
Published: July 2017

New mesoporous poly(ionic liquid)s (MPILs) that feature a pure polycationic framework and tunable hydrophobicity were synthesized through the free‐radical polymerization of alkyl‐functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) and bisvinylimidazolium salt. Phosphotungstic (PW) anions were immobilized firmly on these MPILs with a high dispersion and density. The obtained catalyst was effective in the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene with stoichiometric hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to give a high yield (>98 %) and a remarkable H2O2 efficiency (>98 %). The maximum turnover number and turnover frequency was 2375 and 685 h−1, respectively. The catalyst can be recovered easily by filtration and reused with stable activity. Other alkenes can be converted with high yields. The extraordinary performance was attributed to the pure ionic porous framework with an enhanced hydrophobicity that not only provides strong cation–anion interactions towards the stable immobilized PW anions with a high dispersion but also enables the strong affinity of the catalyst with both the substrate and oxidant.
Copper‐Assisted Amination of Boronic Acids for Synthesis of Bulky Diarylamines: Experimental and DFT Study
Authors: Levitskiy Oleg A. , Grishin Yuri K. , Sentyurin Vyacheslav V. , Magdesieva Tatiana V.
Published: July 2017

Comparative investigation of copper‐assisted oxidative and reductive amination showed that the latter was preferable for the synthesis of bulky diarylamines. DFT estimation of the mechanism of copper(I)‐assisted reductive amination of boronic acids with aryl nitroso compounds was performed and possible active species were identified. DFT estimation of the steric penalty revealed that the barrier for the transmetalation step for the hindered nitroso compound was almost the same as that for the unsubstituted one, whereas a bulky group in the boronic acid increased the activation energy. A DFT study of the influence of the electronic properties of the substituents in both reactants on the activation energy revealed that the optimal combination for the synthesis of unsymmetrical diarylamines to provide better yields was an electron‐rich aryl boronic acid and an electron‐deficient nitroso compound. By using these helpful guidelines, a series of new bulky diarylamines were obtained and fully characterized.
Facilitating Active Species Generation by Amorphous NiFe‐Bi Layer Formation on NiFe‐LDH Nanoarray for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution at Alkaline pH
Authors: Zhang Ling , Zhang Rong , Ge Ruixiang , Ren Xiang , Hao Shuai , Xie Fengyu , Qu Fengli , Liu Zhiang , Du Gu , Asiri Abdullah M. , Zheng Baozhan , Sun Xuping
Published: July 2017

Searching for a simple and fast strategy to effectively enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of non‐noble‐metal electrocatalysts in alkaline media remains a significant challenge. Herein, the OER activity of NiFe‐LDH nanoarray on carbon cloth (NiFe‐LDH/CC) in alkaline media is shown to be greatly boosted by an amorphous NiFe‐Borate (NiFe‐Bi) layer formation on NiFe‐layered double hydroxide (NiFe‐LDH) surface. Such a NiFe‐LDH@NiFe‐Bi/CC catalyst electrode only needs an overpotential of 294 mV to drive 50 mA cm−2 in 1.0 m KOH; 116 mV less than that needed by NiFe‐LDH/CC. Notably, this electrode also demonstrates strong long‐term electrochemical durability. The superior activity is ascribed to the pre‐formed amorphous NiFe‐Bi layer effectively promoting active species generation on the NiFe‐LDH surface. This work opens up exciting new avenues for developing high‐performance water‐oxidation catalyst materials for application.
Experimental Study of Entrainment by Free‐Falling Bulk Material Depending on Particle‐Size Distribution
Authors: Freiberger Tobias , Janoske Uwe
Published: July 2017

Bei Verpackungsprozessen von Nahrungsmittel‐ und Medikamentepulvern ist die sichere und reine Verpackung des Endprodukts während der Herstellung von großer Wichtigkeit. Um längere Haltbarkeit der Produkte zu garantieren finden viele dieser Prozesse unter Zuhilfenahme von Inertgasen statt. Zur Untersuchung der Schleppwirkung von freifallendem Schüttgut auf verschiedene Gasspezies wurde ein Versuchsaufbau entwickelt, mit dem unterschiedliche Partikelgrößenverteilungen und Fallhöhen untersucht werden können. Die erreichten Ergebnisse werden zur Validierung numerischer Simulationen unterschiedlicher Ansätze genutzt.
Biological stoichiometry and bioenergetics of Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02 proliferation using different substrates in cyanidation wastewater
Authors: Akinpelu Enoch Akinbiyi , Ntwampe Seteno Karabo Obed , Chen Bing‐Hung
Published: July 2017

Cyanidation wastewater contains heavy metals, including high concentrations of ammonia and free cyanide (CN‐). Aerobic growth of Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02 in synthetic gold mine wastewater under different substrates was examined using biological stoichiometry and thermodynamic models in batch systems. The molecular weight of the dry biomass obtained was 23.03 g/C‐mol, 33.14 g C‐mol−1, and 27.06 g/C‐mol in glucose with ammonia (GA), Beta vulgaris with ammonia (BA), and B. vulgaris with cyanide (BCN) cultures, respectively. The microbial growth model showed the highest biomass yield of 0.69 g dry cell/g substrate in BA cultures. The heat of reaction () and Gibbs energy dissipation per mole of biomass formed () were −652.55/−432.11 kJ/C‐mol, −132.59/−471.19 kJ/C‐mol, and −370.34/−225.35 kJ/C‐mol‐ for GA, BA, and BCN cultures, respectively. The total Gibbs energy dissipated increased steadily over time and the metabolic rate of the F. oxysporum used was minimally adversely affected by the cyanidation wastewater as shown by the degree of reduction including the respiratory quotient quantified. The F. oxysporum proliferation was determined to be enthalpically driven in the cultures studied. This study revealed that the use of B. vulgaris agro‐waste for the bioremediation of cyanidation wastewater is feasible and could engender sustainability of gold mining wastewater treatment processes.
MCM‐41 Immobilized Acidic Functional Ionic Liquid and Chromium(III) Complexes Catalyzed Conversion of Hexose into 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Yuan Wenwen , Huang Yi , Wu Chunyan , Liu Xiang , Xia Yongmei , Wang Haijun
Published: July 2017

The development of novel methods to obtain biofuels and chemicals from biomass has been an immediate issue in both academic and industrial communities. In this work, a series of novel catalysts were prepared and characterized by FT‐IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM, ICP‐AES, NH3‐TPD and BET, which were applied for the conversion of hexose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The Cr(Salten)‐MCM‐41‐[(CH2)3SO3HVIm]HSO4 catalyst was the most active catalyst, and a glucose conversion of 99.8% with 50.2% HMF yield was obtained at 140 °C for 4 h in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, solvents and catalyst dosages were investigated in detail. MCM‐41 immobilized acidic functional ionic liquid and chromium(III) Schiff base complexes as heterogeneous catalysts can be easily recovered by simple filter treatment, exhibiting excellent stability and activity towards hexose conversion. Thus the heterogeneous catalysts were environment‐friendly for transforming biomass carbohydrates into fine chemicals.
Fluorescent Linear Supramolecular Polymer Based on Host‐Guest Interactions
Authors: Xiong Chenxiao , Sun Ruyi
Published: July 2017

Construction of supramolecular polymers, in which functional monomer components are held together by noncovalent interactions, is considered as a promising design principle for functional materials. Linear fluorescent supramolecular polymer assembled on account of electrostatic attractions based host‐guest interaction is synthesized and illustrated here. 1H NMR was involved to ensure the structure of guest and polymer, UV–vis and fluorescent spectra were recorded to be a readout signal to investigate the assemble process of polymer. TEM and AFM measurements were carried out to confirm the homogeneous nanometer‐sized molecular assembly. It shows the way to be used as remote readout fluorescent functional material in the future.
Raising Standards for the Evaluation of Future Psoriasis Therapeutics: A Critical Checklist
Authors: Yiu Zenas Z.N. , Warren Richard B.
Published: July 2017

The quality of life for a patient has been transformed in the last 15 years due to innovations that have resulted in better treatments for severe psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease. Now, novel therapies for psoriasis need to reach a high standard in order to offer patients with psoriasis a genuine alternative. Here we outline a suggested critical checklist that will help industry sponsors, researchers, and clinicians evaluate novel therapeutics for psoriasis.
Florally rich habitats reduce insect pollination and the reproductive success of isolated plants
Authors: Evans Tracie M. , Cavers Stephen , Ennos Richard , Vanbergen Adam J. , Heard Matthew S.
Published: July 2017

Landscape heterogeneity in floral communities has the potential to modify pollinator behavior. Pollinator foraging varies with the diversity, abundance, and spatial configuration of floral resources. However, the implications of this variation for pollen transfer and ultimately the reproductive success of insect pollinated plants remains unclear, especially for species which are rare or isolated in the landscape. We used a landscape‐scale experiment, coupled with microsatellite genotyping, to explore how the floral richness of habitats affected pollinator behavior and pollination effectiveness. Small arrays of the partially self‐compatible plant Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica) were introduced across a landscape gradient to simulate rare, spatially isolated populations. The effects on pollinator activity, outcrossing, and plant reproduction were measured. In florally rich habitats, we found reduced pollen movement between plants, leading to fewer long‐distance pollination events, lower plant outcrossing, and a higher incidence of pollen limitation. This pattern indicates a potential reduction in per capita pollinator visitation, as suggested by the lower activity densities and richness of pollinators observed within florally rich habitats. In addition, seed production reduced by a factor of 1.8 in plants within florally rich habitats and progeny germination reduced by a factor of 1.2. We show this to be a consequence of self‐fertilization within the partially self‐compatible plant, E. californica. These findings indicate that locally rare plants are at a competitive disadvantage within florally rich habitats because neighboring plant species disrupt conspecific mating by co‐opting pollinators. Ultimately, this Allee effect may play an important role in determining the long‐term persistence of rarer plants in the landscape, both in terms of seed production and viability. Community context therefore requires consideration when designing and implementing conservation management for plants which are comparatively rare in the landscape.
Fast Computation of Linear Systems Based on Parallelized Preconditioned MRTR Method Supported by Block‐Multicolor Ordering in Electromagnetic Field Analysis Using Edge‐Based Finite Element Method
Authors: TSUBURAYA TOMONORI , OKAMOTO YOSHIFUMI , SATO SHUJI
Published: July 2017

To realize fast electromagnetic field analysis, the parallelization technique has been often introduced into the preconditioned Krylov subspace method. When the multicolor ordering is applied to parallelization of forward and backward substitution, the elapsed time of matrix calculation might increase owning to the increment of bandwidth. Therefore, the block‐multicolor ordering based on the level structure arising in reverse Cuthill–McKee ordering has been developed. The validity of developed method was demonstrated on the parallelized incomplete‐Cholesky‐preconditioned conjugate gradient method. In this paper, the parallelization performance of preconditioned minimized residual method based on the three‐term recurrence formula of the CG‐type (MRTR) method supported by developed ordering is investigated. Furthermore, the affinity of developed ordering or cache‐cache elements technique for parallelized forward and backward substitution in Eisenstat's technique is particularly examined.
Impacts of late‐Holocene climate variability and watershed‐lake interactions on diatom communities in Lac Brûlé, Québec
Authors: Neil Karen , Gajewski Konrad
Published: July 2017

A high‐resolution diatom analysis of a varved sediment sequence from Lac Brûlé, southwestern Québec, was used to study temporal patterns of environmental change in the late Holocene. Key periods of interest in the record included the Medieval Warm Period (~800–1300 CE), the Little Ice Age (~1450–1850 CE), and post‐European settlement (~1850–present). Subfossil diatom assemblages were compared to previously published pollen, cladocera, and sediment records from Lac Brûlé, revealing complex dynamics between terrestrial vegetation succession, nutrient fluxes, and trophic interactions. Generalized additive models showed a response to long‐term climate variability in the diatom record, although it was not the most influential driver of community changes at Lac Brûlé. Catchment‐mediated processes instead played the largest role in governing the structure of diatom assemblages in the lake. For example, nutrient loading following a local fire in the watershed at 1345 CE led to an abrupt and significant increase in Fragilaria spp. Human activity associated with deforestation and the Wallingford‐Back Mine (1924–1972 CE) also had strong impacts on the landscape, which triggered further responses in the aquatic communities of Lac Brûlé.
Infrared neural stimulation induces intracellular Ca2+ release mediated by phospholipase C
Authors: Moreau David , Lefort Claire , Pas Jolien , Bardet Sylvia M. , Leveque Philippe , O'Connor Rodney P.
Published: July 2017

The influence of infrared laser pulses on intracellular Ca2+ signaling was investigated in neural cell lines with fluorescent live cell imaging. The probe Fluo‐4 was used to measure Ca2+ in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurons and nonelectrically excitable U87 human glioblastoma cells exposed to 50 to 500 ms infrared pulses at 1470 nm. Fluorescence recordings of Fluo‐4 demonstrated that infrared stimulation induced an instantaneous intracellular Ca2+ transient with similar dose‐response characteristics in hippocampal neurons and glioblastoma cells (half‐maximal effective energy density EC50 of around 58 J.cm−2). For both type of cells, the source of the infrared‐induced Ca2+ transients was found to originate from intracellular stores and to be mediated by phospholipase C and IP3‐induced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum. The activation of phosphoinositide signaling by IR light is a new mechanism of interaction relevant to infrared neural stimulation that will also be widely applicable to nonexcitable cell types. The prospect of infrared optostimulation of the PLC/IP3 cell signaling cascade has many potential applications including the development of optoceutical therapeutics.
OCT layered tomography of the cornea provides new insights on remodeling after photorefractive keratectomy
Authors: Chandapura Rachana S. , Shetty Rohit , Shroff Rushad , Shilpy Neha , Francis Mathew , Sinha Roy Abhijit
Published: July 2017

OCT (optical coherence tomography) of corneal layers was generated to analyze the remodeling of the epithelium and stroma after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Myopic PRK was performed in 15 patients. One eye underwent manual scraping of epithelium while the other was treated with Epi clear. Epi clear allowed a gentler removal of the epithelium compared to manual scraping. Scheimpflug (Pentacam, OCULUS Optikgerate Gmbh, Wetzlar, Germany) and OCT (RTVue, Optovue Inc., Fremont, California, USA) scans of the cornea were performed before and after PRK (3 months). The OCT scanner and Pentacam acquired 8 and 25 radial 2‐D scans of the cornea, respectively. The results showed similar topographic changes on the anterior corneal surface between Scheimpflug and OCT imaging. The curvature of the underlying anterior surface of the stroma after PRK was similar to the anterior corneal surface (air‐epithelium interface), when measured with OCT. Aberrometric changes were mostly similar between Scheimpflug and OCT. However, Scheimpflug imaging reported greater changes in spherical aberration and corneal higher order aberrations than OCT after PRK. This is the first study to quantify the curvatures of the stromal layers with OCT after PRK. New insights were gained, which could be useful for refinement of surgical ablation algorithms, refractive procedures and detection of ectasia.
High‐intensity‐focused ultrasound and phase‐sensitive optical coherence tomography for high resolution surface acoustic wave elastography
Authors: Zhou Kanheng , Le Nhan , Huang Zhihong , Li Chunhui
Published: July 2017

Elastography has the ability of quantitatively evaluating the mechanical properties of soft tissue; thus it is helpful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of many diseases, for example, skin diseases. Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) have been proven to be a non‐invasive, non‐destructive method for accurate characterization of tissue elastic properties. Current SAW elastography using high‐energy laser pulse or mechanical shaker still have some problems. In order to improve SAW elastography in medical application, a new technique was proposed in this paper, which combines high‐intensity‐focused ultrasound as a SAWs impulse inducer and phase‐sensitive optical coherence tomography as a SAWs detector. A 2% agar‐agar phantom and ex‐vivo porcine skin were tested. The data were processed by a new algorithm based on the Fourier analysis. The results show that the proposed method has the capability of quantifying the elastic properties of soft tissue‐mimicking materials. The lateral resolution of the elastogram has been significantly improved and the different layers in heterogeneous material could also been distinguished. Our improved technique of SAW elastography has a large potential to be widely applied in clinical use for skin disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Optical assessment of mammographic breast density by a 12‐wavelength vs a continuous‐spectrum optical spectroscopy device
Authors: Walter E. J. , Lilge Lothar
Published: July 2017

A 12‐laser‐wavelength, fixed source‐detector position, cup‐based optical breast spectroscopy (OBS) device was developed for use in large‐scale, multicenter trials as a mammographic breast density (MBD) quantification and breast cancer (BC) risk prescreening tool. In this study, the device was evaluated in comparison with a spectrometer‐based device used in previous studies. The devices were compared on their ability to predict mammographic percent density (MPD) and to identify women with high MBD from optical spectra. OBS measurements were made on 60 women, (age 29‐73), using both devices. Recent mammograms were collected for all women and MPD quantified from the mammograms. Principal components (PCs) analysis was performed on both sets of OBS spectra, and multivariate logistic regression analysis of the resulting PC scores was used to identify women with high MBD. Both devices are able to identify high MBD with very high sensitivity and specificity. Partial least‐squares regression of the spectra was used to predict MPD. Both devices show a strong correlation between OBS‐predicted MPD and MPD read from mammograms, however, the correlation is stronger for the continuous‐spectrum device (r = 0.74, P = .001) than for the 12‐wavelength device (r = 0.62, P = .004). Improvements to the cup‐based device to reduce detector saturation should improve the prediction of MPD from the spectra.
Assessment of trans‐scleral iontophoresis delivery of lutein to the human retina
Authors: Lombardo Marco , Villari Valentina , Micali Norberto , Roy Pierre , Sousa Sara H. , Lombardo Giuseppe
Published: July 2017

The efficacy of novel scleral iontophoresis device for in situ delivery of lutein to the human retina was assessed by Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) technique. Eight human donor eye globes were used for experiments, 6 of which underwent trans‐scleral iontophoresis delivery of lutein and the other 2 were used as controls. The scleral iontophoresis applicator was filled with liposome‐enriched 0.1% lutein solution and the generator's current was set at 2.5 mA and delivered for 4 min. A custom RRS setup was used for detecting lutein in the inner sclera, choroid, retinal periphery and macula of treated samples and controls. Forty minutes after iontophoresis, the inner sclera, choroid and retinal periphery were greatly enriched with lutein (P < .05); no lutein was found in the same ocular regions of non‐treated samples. In the same period, the average concentration of lutein in the macula (4.8 ± 1.7 ng/mm2) of treated samples was 1.3 times greater than controls (3.7 ± 1.0 ng/mm2; P = .4). Scleral iontophoresis was shown to be effective in delivering lutein to the human retina. Future studies will aim at assessing if this therapeutic strategy is valuable to enrich the macular pigment in human subjects.
Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus among females in the suburb of Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Chengzhong , Zhang Chao , Huang Jie , Wu Zhouwei , Mei Xingyu , Shi Weimin
Published: July 2017

To describe the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and its genotype distribution among females in the suburb of Shanghai. A total of 33 562 participants were enrolled in this study from January to December 2016. HPV GenoArray test kit was used to perform HPV genotyping and was also used in DNA amplification and HybriBio's proprietary flow‐through hybridization technique. The overall prevalence of HPV was 18.98% and the top ten genotypes of HPV infection were HPV 16 (3.36%), HPV 58 (2.65%), HPV 52 (2.48%), HPV 51 (1.58%), HPV 54 (1.40%), HPV 68 (1.32%), HPV 18 (1.23%), HPV 6 (1.15%), HPV 56 (1.10%), and HPV 33 (1.07%). Single infection (4749, 14.15%) was the most common types among all the infected cases. Significant differences were found among age groups and month groups in terms of simple and multiple infection (P < 0.05), pure HR, LR and mixed HPV infection (P < 0.05). The prevalence of HR and LR HPV infection among females in the suburb of Shanghai is high, prevalence of single and multiple infection, pure HR, LR and mixed infection is correlated with the age and month.
The effects of sEH inhibitor on depression‐like behavior and neurogenesis in male mice
Authors: Wu Qiong , Cai Hongyang , Song Jingfang , Chang Quanzhong
Published: July 2017

Currently antidepressants take several weeks to be effective, which is one of the main reasons why patients with depression quit therapy. In the present study, we examine the acute and subacute effects of soluble epoxide hydolase (sEH) inhibitor (sEHI), a compound shown to have antidepressant effects, on mice. We found that acute administration of sEHI TPPU decreases immobility time in the forced swimming test and reduces latency to feed in the novelty suppressed‐feeding test in adult male mice. Intraperitoneal administration of TPPU for seven days also increased interaction time of socially defeated mice in the social defeat test. Hippocampal BDNF expression and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus increased six and 24 hours after TPPU treatment, respectively. Improvement in antidepressant behavior and cell proliferation were inhibited by BDNF‐trkB antagonist K252a, which suggests that anti‐depressant effects of sEHI may be involved in BDNF signaling. Taken together, our findings suggest that sEHI may provide a rapid antidepressant effect through alterations to BDNF‐trkB signaling in the hippocampus and may provide an alternative to current slow‐acting antidepressants. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcomes of head and neck cancer surgery in the geriatric population based on case volume at academic centers
Authors: Jalisi Scharukh , Rubin Samuel J. , Wu Kevin Y. , Kirke Diana N.
Published: July 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Evaluate the impact of case volume and other variables on cost and mortality after head and neck oncologic surgery in the geriatric population.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The Vizient database was accessed for data on geriatric patients (age ≥65 years) who underwent surgery for head and neck cancers (excluding thyroid and skin cancer) at full member academic medical centers between 2009 and 2012. Multivariate, linear regression analyses, χ2 tests, and analysis of variance were applied to evaluate significant associations between hospital case volume and independent variables including cost, cost index, mortality, mortality index, length of stay, length of stay index, and readmission rates.

Results

A total of 4,544 patients were included. Total length of stay was 6.72 days in high‐volume hospitals, compared to 8.12 days and 7.91 days in moderate‐ and low‐volume hospitals, respectively (P = .0144). Frequency of intensive care unit stays was 36.5% in high‐volume hospitals, compared to 42.19% and 40.29% in moderate‐ and low‐volume hospitals, respectively (P = .0048). Mortality (0.78%) and average cost per case ($21,834) was lower, but nonsignificant in high‐volume hospitals. Using multiple regression analysis, major severity of disease was positively associated with complication rate (P < .0001) and length of stay (P = .0481).

Conclusions

After controlling for other factors, high‐volume academic medical centers have a lower intensive care unit stay, but no difference in mortality or average cost per case when compared to low‐volume hospitals.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 127:2539–2544, 2017
Outcomes of laryngohyoid suspension techniques in an ovine model of profound oropharyngeal dysphagia
Authors: Johnson Christopher M. , Venkatesan Naren N. , Siddiqui M. Tausif , Cates Daniel J. , Kuhn Maggie A. , Postma Gregory M. , Belafsky Peter C.
Published: July 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate the efficacy of various techniques of laryngohyoid suspension in the elimination of aspiration utilizing a cadaveric ovine model of profound oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Study Design

Animal study.

Methods

The head and neck of a Dorper cross ewe was placed in the lateral fluoroscopic view. Five conditions were tested: baseline, thyroid cartilage to hyoid approximation (THA), thyroid cartilage to hyoid to mandible (laryngohyoid) suspension (LHS), LHS with cricopharyngeus muscle myotomy (LHS‐CPM), and cricopharyngeus muscle myotomy (CPM) alone. Five 20‐mL trials of barium sulfate were delivered into the oropharynx under fluoroscopy for each condition. Outcome measures included the penetration aspiration scale (PAS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Swallow Safety Scale (NIH‐SSS).

Results

Median baseline PAS and NIH‐SSS scores were 8 and 6, respectively, indicating severe impairment. THA scores were not improved from baseline. LHS alone reduced the PAS to 1 (P = .025) and NIH‐SSS to 2 (P = .025) from baseline. LHS‐CPM reduced the PAS to 1 (P = .025) and NIH‐SSS to 0 (P = .025) from baseline. CPM alone did not improve scores. LHS‐CPM displayed improved NIH‐SSS over LHS alone (P = .003).

Conclusions

This cadaveric model represents end‐stage profound oropharyngeal dysphagia such as what could result from severe neurological insult. CPM alone failed to improve fluoroscopic outcomes in this model. Thyrohyoid approximation also failed to improve outcomes. LHS significantly improved both PAS and NIH‐SSS. The addition of CPM to LHS resulted in improvement over suspension alone.

Level of Evidence

NA. Laryngoscope, 127:E422–E427, 2017
Outcomes of medialization laryngoplasty with and without arytenoid adduction
Authors: Chang Joseph , Schneider Sarah L. , Curtis James , Langenstein Jonelyn , Courey Mark S. , Yung Katherine C.
Published: July 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate the effect of medialization laryngoplasty (ML) performed alone compared to ML with arytenoid adduction (AA) on glottic gap and voice quality in unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) patients.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

UVFP patients treated with ML alone and ML with AA at the University of California San Francisco Voice and Swallowing Center were identified. Demographic information and history of laryngeal procedures were collected. Preoperative and postoperative examinations were digitally analyzed using ImageJ for normalized anterior and posterior glottic gap and voice samples graded with CAPE‐V scores.

Results

Forty‐seven patients underwent ML and 27 patients underwent ML with AA. Normalized anterior gap (AG) improved in both ML (preop: 4.4 pixel units (u), postop: 0.8 u; P < 0.001) and ML with AA groups (preop: 3.3 u, postop 0.6 u; P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in normalized AG values between treatment groups. Postoperative normalized posterior gap (PG) improved in the ML with AA group only (preop: 1.8 u, postop: 0.5 u; P = 0.01). Overall severity, roughness, and strain voice parameters had acceptable reliability for analysis. Overall severity improved in ML (preop: 54, postop: 27; P < 0.001) and ML with AA (preop: 44, postop: 24; P = 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference in any voice parameter between treatment groups.

Conclusion

UVFP patients undergoing ML may benefit from addition of AA when a large posterior glottic gap is present. In this study, ML with AA but not ML alone resulted in statistically significant improvement in PG.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2591–2595, 2017
Inorganic carbon and oxygen dynamics in a marsh‐dominated estuary
Authors: Wang Shiyu Rachel , Di Iorio Daniela , Cai Wei‐Jun , Hopkinson Charles S.
Published: July 2017

We conducted a free‐water mass balance‐based study to address the rate of metabolism and net carbon exchange for the tidal wetland and estuarine portion of the coastal ocean and the uncertainties associated with this approach were assessed. We measured open water diurnal O2 and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) dynamics seasonally in a salt marsh‐estuary in Georgia, U.S.A. with a focus on the marsh‐estuary linkage associated with tidal flooding. We observed that the overall estuarine system was a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere and coastal ocean and a net sink for oceanic and atmospheric O2. Rates of metabolism were extremely high, with respiration (43 mol m−2 yr−1) greatly exceeding gross primary production (28 mol m−2 yr−1), such that the overall system was net heterotrophic. Metabolism measured with DIC were higher than with O2, which we attribute to high rates of anaerobic respiration and reduced sulfur storage in salt marsh sediments, and we assume substantial levels of anoxygenic photosynthesis. We found gas exchange from a flooded marsh is substantial, accounting for about 28% of total O2 and CO2 air–water exchange. A significant percentage of the overall estuarine aquatic metabolism is attributable to metabolism of marsh organisms during inundation. Our study suggests not rely on oceanographic stoichiometry to convert from O2 to C based measurements when constructing C balances for the coastal ocean. We also suggest eddy covariance measurements of salt marsh net ecosystem exchange underestimate net ecosystem production as they do not account for lateral DIC exchange associated with marsh tidal inundation.
Building the learning health system: Describing an organizational infrastructure to support continuous learning
Authors: Kraft Sally , Caplan William , Trowbridge Elizabeth , Davis Sarah , Berkson Stephanie , Kamnetz Sandra , Pandhi Nancy
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Academic health centers are reorganizing in response to dramatic changes in the health‐care environment. To improve value, they and other health systems must become a learning health system, specifically one that has the capacity to understand performance across the continuum of care and use that information to achieve continuous improvements in efficiency and effectiveness. While learning health system concepts have been well described, the practical steps to create such a system are not well defined. Establishing the necessary infrastructure is particularly challenging at academic health centers due to their tripartite missions and complex organizational structures.

Methods

Using an evidence‐based framework, this article describes a series of organizational‐level interventions implemented at an academic health center to create the structures and processes to support the functions of a learning health system.

Results

Following implementation of changes from 2008 to 2013, system‐level performance improved in multiple domains: patient satisfaction, population health screenings, improvement education, and patient engagement.

Conclusions

This experience can be applied to health systems that wrestle with making system‐level change when existing cultures, structures, and processes vary. Using an evidence ‐based framework is useful when developing the structures and processes that support the functions of a learning health system.
High temperature corrosion in molten solar salt: The role of chloride impurities
Authors: Dorcheh A. S. , Durham R. N. , Galetz M. C.
Published: July 2017

The role of chloride impurities in molten NaNO3‐KNO3 (solar salt) mixture on corrosion behavior of low‐chromium ferritic‐martensitic X20CrMoV11‐1 steel (X20) and stainless steel 316 (SS316) was studied at 600 °C. Gravimetric and metallographic methods were employed to characterize the kinetics of oxidation and the resulting corrosion products. Steel X20 showed non‐protective character in both low‐ (up to 0.02 wt% Cl−) and high‐ (up to 0.25 wt% Cl−) chloride salts by forming a thick and non‐compact oxide scale. A significant increase in weight gain was observed when X20 steel was immersed in the high‐chloride‐containing salt. Furthermore, the scale underwent severe deformation. SS316 showed superior corrosion resistance in both low‐ and high‐chloride salts. Oxide scales formed on both steels included two zones: an outer Na‐rich oxide and an inner mixed oxide based on Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 structures. The morphology and composition of these zones were significantly different on X20 and SS316 steels. A passive Cr‐rich oxide layer at the metal/oxide interface was characterized as a protective layer. In the case of stainless steel 316 this layer showed even higher continuity when tested in the high‐chloride salt resulting in better protection during the isothermal test.
Relationship between meteorological variables/dust and the number of meningitis cases in Burkina Faso
Authors: Nakazawa Tetsuo , Matsueda Mio
Published: July 2017

Using four meteorological variables (northeasterly surface wind (WS), relative humidity (RH), rainfall (Rain) and temperature (T2m)) and one of four dust products (dust surface mass concentration or aerosol optical depth, D1–D4) over Burkina Faso, a differential equation for meningitis incidence (N) was applied to the multivariate log‐linear regression analysis to get each contribution from the variables (WS, RH, Rain, T2m and one of four dust products) to N. The climatological data show that dust and temperature are synchronized with meningitis incidence, but the meningitis incidence reaches a peak several months after the northeasterly wind becomes maximum and the relative humidity becomes minimum during the no‐rain period. That is, meningitis incidence increases when the northeasterly wind prevails under dry and no‐rain conditions and decreases when the southwesterly wind prevails under wet and rain conditions, and it has a peak under dusty and hot conditions. After performing all possible combinations of the regression analysis (but choosing only one dust dataset for each combination) using models with one to five parameters, the time derivative of the weekly meningitis incidence from 2006 to 2014 was estimated and compared with that observed. The more parameters that are included, the higher the correlation co‐efficients between the estimated and observed tendency. However, the northeasterly wind has a major contribution to the rate of change of the number of cases. The highest correlation co‐efficient was for the models with all four meteorological variables plus the dust surface mass concentration data. Even in one‐ or two‐parameter models, a maximum correlation co‐efficient of 0.666 is obtained for the WS model, and the WS + RH model gives a maximum of 0.754, which indicates some forecast skill using surface wind and relative humidity data. Although the modelled derivative underestimated the outbreaks in 2006 and 2007, it correctly simulated the timing of the zero crossing of the weekly rate of change of N. Thus, this approach may be useful to identify the timing of the peak season of meningitis in Burkina Faso.
Nonlinear Volterra‐type diffusion equations and theory of quantum fields
Authors: Asimomytis Christos L. , Koumantos Panagiotis N. , Pavlakos Panaiotis K.
Published: July 2017

We study nonlinear Volterra‐type evolution integral equations of the form:
in a C∗‐algebra
or in a Hilbert algebra of Dixmier‐Segal type, acting on a Hilbert space tensor product
, where
denotes a Hilbert space and
is the Boson‐Einstein (Fermion‐Dirac) Fock space, over a complex Hilbert space
. Under suitable Carathéodory‐type conditions on the corresponding Nemytskii operator Φ of f and assuming that k is a quantum dynamical‐type semigroup, we obtain exactly one classical global solution in the space
of bounded continuous (operator‐valued) quantum stochastic processes. Moreover, we prove the existence of exactly one positive (respectively completely positive) classical global solution in
(respectively in
, applying a positivity (respectively completely positivity preserving) quantum stochastic integration process and assuming that k is a quantum dynamical semigroup acting on
, where Φ defines a positive (respectively completely positive) quantum stochastic process.