bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced production of carotenoids and lipids by Rhodococcus opacus PD630
Authors: Suwaleerat Tharatron , Thanapimmetha Anusith , Srisaiyoot Maythee , Chisti Yusuf , Srinophakun Penjit 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDLow‐value waste organics can be upgraded to higher‐value products using microorganisms. The bacterium Rhodococcus opacus PD630 was used to produce colorants (carotenoids) and lipids (potential fuel oils) from glycerol.RESULTSSubmerged culture of R. opacus PD630 produced carotenoids and lipids on glycerol as the primary carbon source, although supplementation with glucose was necessary. A 1:1 mixture (50 g L‐1 each) of glucose and glycerol in a batch culture afforded a final biomass concentration of nearly 9.0 g L‐1, a carotenoids concentration of 0.75 mg L‐1 and a lipids concentration of nearly 2.2 g L‐1. Compared with using only glycerol (100 g L‐1) in the medium, the final biomass concentration was nearly 4‐fold greater, the carotenoids concentration was 7.5‐fold greater and the lipids concentration was 8.6‐fold greater when a 1:1 mixture of glucose and glycerol was used. A combination of glucose (70 g L‐1), glycerol (30 g L‐1) and ammonium acetate (4.32 g L‐1) further increased the final biomass concentration to nearly 10.2 g L‐1. With this formulation, the carotenoids concentration rose to 0.99 mg L‐1 and lipids concentration rose to nearly 2.4 g L‐1 in batch culture. A repeated fed‐batch operation with an optimal feeding regimen raised the final biomass concentration to 12.1 g L‐1. The final concentration of carotenoids was 0.7 mg L‐1 and the final lipids concentration was nearly 4.9 g L‐1.CONCLUSIONGlycerol can partly displace the more expensive glucose in production of carotenoids and lipids from R. opacus PD630. Biomass with ∼40% lipids (dry basis) can be produced. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Immune variation during pregnancy suggests immune component‐specific costs of reproduction in a viviparous snake with disparate life‐history strategies
Authors: Palacios Maria G. , Bronikowski Anne M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractGrowing evidence suggests the existence of trade‐offs between immune function and reproduction in diverse taxa. Among vertebrates, however, there is still a taxonomic bias toward studies in endotherms, particularly birds. We tested the hypothesis that reproduction entails immune‐related costs in the viviparous garter snake, Thamnophis elegans, from populations that exhibit two life‐history strategies, termed ecotypes, with contrasting paces of life. Between the two ecotypes, we predicted lower immune function in gravid than non‐gravid females of both strategies, but with relatively larger immunity costs in the ecotype that generally invests more in current reproduction. Across individuals, we predicted greater immune costs for females investing more in the present specific reproductive event (i.e., higher fecundity) irrespective of their ecotype. We assessed leukocyte profiles and measured bactericidal capacity of plasma (innate immunity) and T‐ and B‐lymphocyte proliferation (adaptive immunity) in gravid and non‐gravid females in their natural habitats. We also collected data on reproductive output from these same gravid females brought into captivity. Gravid females of both ecotypes showed lower T‐lymphocyte proliferation responses to concanavalin A than non‐gravid females, but no differential costs were observed between ecotypes. The remaining immune variables did not vary between gravid and non‐gravid females. Among gravid females within each ecotype, those with larger reproductive output showed lower total leukocyte counts, suggesting a fecundity‐dependent trade‐off. Our study contributes to the comparative ecoimmunology of vertebrates by highlighting the immune component‐specificity of trade‐offs between reproduction and immune function and showing that costs can be fecundity‐dependent in some, but not all cases.
Blame game in private investigation reports: The case of Deloitte examination at Telenor VimpelCom
Authors: Gottschalk Petter 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBusiness and public organisations hire fraud examiners to conduct private investigations when there is suspicion of misconduct or financial crime. Fraud examiners carry out their investigation based on a mandate. Often, individuals in the organisation are suspects. The blame game hypothesis is concerned with factors that cause blame attribution to some individuals but not to others. In this case study, only executives were blamed who had not disclosed corruption information to a major shareholder and to the chief executive officer.
To distinguish flexible and rigid lumbar curve from MRI texture analysis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A feasibility study
Authors: Chevrefils Claudia , Périé Delphine , Parent Stefan , Cheriet Farida 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundImaging in side bending, supine, traction, fulcrum, and push prone are examples of methods used to evaluate the curve reduction of scoliotic spine. However, being able to determine spine curve flexibility from MRI would eliminate the need of additional X‐ray radiation related to radiograph acquisition in side‐bending.Purpose/HypothesisTo find specific texture features of lumbar postural muscles on MRI that can distinguish flexible from rigid lumbar scoliotic curves. We hypothesized that the changes occurring in postural muscles with scoliosis can be seen with MRI.Study TypeRetrospective study case control.PopulationWith Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, 15 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and scheduled for surgery were involved.Field Strength/SequenceT1‐weighted MR images were performed on a 1.5T system using a spin echo sequence in the axial direction.AssessmentThe spinal erector, quadratus lumborum and psoas major muscles were analyzed using textural features.Statistical TestsPrincipal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) were used to classify the lumbar postural muscles and calculate performance metrics. The lumbar flexibility index, measured from suspension tests, was used as ground truth measurement.ResultsThe five discriminant features (out of 34 tested features) obtained from PCA were able to keep over 90% of the variability of the dataset. The right and left spinal erector and the left psoas major had the highest performance metrics to classify the spinal curve flexibility, with an accuracy over 0.80, a sensitivity over 0.82, a specificity over 0.68, and a Matthews correlation coefficient over 0.57.Data ConclusionThis study analyzed MRI using texture information of muscle to distinguish flexible from rigid scoliotic curves. Some postural muscle such as the spinal erector and the psoas major are more likely to reflect the curve flexibility of a scoliotic participant.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.
Spatio‐temporal variability of daily precipitation concentration in Spain based on a high‐resolution gridded data set
Authors: Serrano‐Notivoli R. , Martín‐Vide J. , Saz M. A. , Longares L. A. , Beguería S. , Sarricolea P. , Meseguer‐Ruiz O. , de Luis M. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTAn analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of daily precipitation concentration (CI) in Spain was made based on a high‐resolution (5 × 5 km) daily gridded precipitation data set for the 1950–2012 period. For each grid point in the Iberian Peninsula (IP) and Balearic and Canary Islands, the average annual CI was computed, as well as its coefficient of variation and the 5th and 95th percentiles. Annual values were also computed, and the time series of the index were used to assess temporal trends over the whole period. The spatial distribution of the CI showed a strong relationship with the orographic barriers near the coastlines. The Canary Islands showed the highest values of CI, along with the eastern Mediterranean facade of the IP. The highest inter‐annual variations of the CI occurred in the southern IP and in the southern Canary Islands. The trends of CI were, overall, positive and significant, which indicates an increase of daily precipitation concentration over the study period and an increasing environmental risks scenario where erosivity, torrentiality, and floods may become more frequent.
Cartilage quantitative T2 relaxation time 2–4 years following isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Wang Xinyang , Wrigley Tim V. , Bennell Kim L. , Wang Yuanyuan , Fortin Karine , Cicuttini Flavia M. , Lloyd David G. , Bryant Adam L. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTCartilage T2 relaxation time in isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) without concomitant meniscal pathology and their changes over time remain unclear. The purpose of this exploratory study was to: (i) compare cartilage T2 relaxation time (T2 values) in people with isolated ACLR at 2–3 years post‐surgery (baseline) and matched healthy controls and; (ii) evaluate the subsequent 2‐year change in T2 values in people with ACLR. Twenty‐eight participants with isolated ACLR and nine healthy volunteers underwent knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline; 16 ACLR participants were re‐imaged 2 years later. Cartilage T2 values in full thickness, superficial layers, and deep layers were quantified in the tibia, femur, trochlear, and patella. Between‐group comparisons at baseline were performed using analysis of covariance adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. Changes over time in the ACLR group were evaluated using paired sample t‐tests. ACLR participants showed significantly higher (p = 0.03) T2 values in the deep layer of medial femoral condyle at baseline compared to controls (mean difference 4.4 ms [13%], 95%CI 0.4, 8.3 ms). Over 2 years, ACLR participants showed a significant reduction (p = 0.04) in T2 value in the deep layer of lateral tibia (mean change 1.4 ms [−7%], 95%CI 0.04, 2.8 ms). The decrease in T2 values suggests improvement in cartilage composition in the lateral tibia (deep layer) of ACLR participants. Further research with larger ACLR cohorts divided according to meniscal status and matched healthy cohorts are needed to further understand cartilage changes post‐ACLR. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2022–2029, 2018.
Molecular sensitivity of metal nanoparticles decorated graphene‐family nanomaterials as surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms
Authors: Gupta S. , Banaszak A. , Smith T. , Dimakis N. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractGraphene‐mediated surface enhanced Raman scattering is a recent phenomenon that produces clean and reproducible signals from chemical analytes. In this work, we report on the development of graphene‐family nanomaterials (graphene oxide; GO, reduced GO; rGO, and multilayer graphene; MLG) decorated with physisorbed silver (AgNP) and gold (AuNP) nanoparticles and as layered architectures for detection of methylene blue and rhodamine 6G dyes in view of optical and biological significance. The experimental results illustrate four orders of magnitude graphene‐mediated surface enhanced Raman scattering enhancement in the order rGO/AgNP > GO/AgNP > MLG/AgNP for physisorbed and cascade amplified signal on multilayer architectures, larger than those only on graphene and metal nanoparticles, which is achieved at optimal size of Ag (30 nm) and Au (40 nm) on rGO. Moreover, highly‐sensitive graphene‐decorated nanoparticle are capable of molecular detection over a broad concentration range 10 pM–100 μM. The findings are discussed in terms of (a) strong graphene‐metal nanoparticle coupling leading to local interfacial hybridization and polarization, (b) molecular structural symmetry of analytes in relation to nanoparticle‐graphene functionalities, and (c) effective charge transfer and exchange or sharing of charges between analyte and nanoparticles decorated graphene. Optimized metal nanoparticle‐graphene geometries and electronic properties are determined from density functional theory calculations. They identify preferred metal nanoparticle adsorption sites and long‐range electrostatic interactions and determine relative resonant charge transfer population (alternatively, chemical enhancement mechanism) values derived from the Mulliken population thus gaining insights into effective enhancement factors. These findings will help to design advanced SERS platforms for ultrasensitive detection of chemicals and biological molecules useful in bio‐nanotechnology.
Separation of enantiomers of new psychoactive substances by high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Kadkhodaei Kian , Forcher Lisa , Schmid Martin G. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNew psychoactive substances are defined as compounds with consciousness‐changing effects and have been developed simultaneously with classical drugs. They arise through structural modifications of illegal substances and are mainly produced to circumvent laws. Availability is simple, since new psychoactive substances can be purchased from the Internet. Among them many chemical drug compound classes are chiral and thus the two resulting enantiomers can differ in their effects. The aim of this study is to develop a suitable chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography separation method for a broad spectrum of new psychoactive substances using cellulose tris(3,5‐dichlorophenylcarbamate) as a chiral selector. Experiments were performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography in normal‐phase mode under isocratic conditions using ultraviolet detection. Direct separation was carried out on a high‐performance liquid chromatography column (Lux® i‐Cellulose‐5, 3.5 μm, Phenomenex®), available since 2016. Excellent separation results were obtained for cathinones. After further optimization, even 47 instead of 39 out of 52 cathinones showed baseline separation. For amphetamine derivatives, satisfactory results were not achieved. Further, new psychoactive substances from other compound classes such as benzofuranes, thiophenes, phenidines, phenidates, morpholines, and ketamines were partially resolved, depending on the polarity and degree of substitution. All analytes, which were mainly purchased from the Internet, were proven to be traded as racemates.
Relationship Between Cavum Septi Pellucidi Measurements and Fetal Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome or Dextro‐Transposition of the Great Arteries
Authors: Saadeh Michael , Zhao Yili , Galadima Hadiza , Chaoui Rabih , Sinkovskaya Elena , Abuhamad Alfred 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the size and position of the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or dextro‐transposition of the great arteries (d‐TGA) with healthy fetuses.MethodsThe CSP length, CSP width, and frontal lobe length were measured in 185 healthy fetuses (404 scans), 11 fetuses with HLHS (16 scans), and 11 fetuses with d‐TGA (12 scans) between January 2005 and April 2016. Each measurement was compared between healthy fetuses and those with HLHS or d‐TGA, controlling for the biparietal diameter.ResultsPositive correlations were noted between biparietal diameter and CSP length, CSP width, and frontal lobe length (adjusted R2 = 0.811, 0.821, and 0.878, respectively). An increased CSP length was found in both fetuses with HLHS and those with d‐TGA (P < .0001). The CSP width was only increased in fetuses with d‐TGA (P = .0466). No difference in the frontal lobe length was noted.ConclusionsIn fetuses with HLHS, the CSP is increased in length. In fetuses with d‐TGA, the CSP is increased in both length and width.
“Y Sign” at the Level of the 3‐Vessel and Trachea View: An Effective Fetal Marker of Aortic Dextroposition Anomalies in the First Trimester
Authors: Pasternok Marcin , Nocun Agnieszka , Knafel Anna , Grzesiak Mariusz , Orzechowski Maciej , Konarska Katarzyna , Ludwin Artur , Ludwin Inga , Zymroz Piotr , Parzynska Anna , Wiechec Marcin 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesThe “Y sign” at the level of the 3‐vessel and trachea view corresponds to thinning of main pulmonary artery and arterial duct and a dilated transverse aortic arch. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Y sign for the diagnosis of aortic dextroposition anomalies at the time of the first‐trimester scan and to assess the screening performance of only the Y sign, only abnormal left axis deviation (axis sign), and their combination for the diagnosis of aortic dextroposition anomalies.MethodsA prospective evaluation of 6025 pregnant women undergoing first‐trimester ultrasonography was conducted. The cardiac axis was measured in all examined patients and considered abnormal (positive axis sign) at greater than 57 °. The frequency of the Y sign and the axis sign was assessed for this population, and their screening performance for the diagnosis of aortic dextroposition anomalies was calculated.ResultsA total of 5775 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Aortic dextroposition anomalies were diagnosed in 17 cases (tetralogy of Fallot in 8 and Fallot‐like double‐outlet right ventricle in 9). The Y sign was found in 18 of 5775 (0.3%) fetuses examined, of which 7 of 18 were confirmed with tetralogy of Fallot, 9 of 18 with a Fallot‐like double‐outlet right ventricle, and 2 of 18 with pulmonary stenosis. A positive axis sign of greater than 57 ° was found in 20 fetuses, including 4 with normal heart anatomy. The sensitivity values of the Y sign, the axis sign, and their combination were 94%, 76%, and 94%, respectively.ConclusionsVisualization of the Y sign should increase the suspicion of aortic dextroposition anomalies in the late first trimester. The screening performance of the Y sign alone and in combination with an abnormal cardiac axis was high and may aid in the early diagnosis of aortic dextroposition anomalies in the fetus.
TSR2 Induces laryngeal cancer cell apoptosis through inhibiting NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: He Hong‐Jiang , Bing Han , Liu Guijun 
Published: December 2017

Objectives/HypothesisHuman laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a malignancy that was discovered originally in the epithelial tissue of laryngeal mucosa. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of TSR2 in the LSCC cell apoptosis.Study DesignThe expression of TSR2 was first analyzed in LSCC tissues. Then functional effects of TSR2 on Hep‐2 and AMC‐HN‐8 cell lines were performed by overexpression pcDNA3.1‐TSR2.MethodsWe investigated the expression level of TSR2 in LSCC tissues and cells by performing quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The pcDNA3.1‐TSR2 was constructed to explore the effect of overexpressing TSR2 in Hep‐2 cells and AMC‐HN‐8 cells. We further investigated the effect of overexpressing TSR2 on cell apoptosis‐related protein and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) p65 nuclear translocation through Western blot and terminal dUTP nick end‐labeling assays.ResultsWe found that TSR2 was downregulated in LSSC tissues and cells compared with the controls, and the overexpression of TSR2 in Hep‐2 and AMC‐HN‐8 cells could promote cell apoptosis and related apoptosis proteins. The Western blot/qRT‐PCR data further indicated that overexpression of TSR2 in Hep‐2 and AMC‐HN‐8 cells could lead to a block of NF‐κB signaling pathway via decreasing nuclear NF‐κB p65 and increasing cytoplasm NF‐κB p65. Moreover, overexpression of TSR2 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα and IKKα/β.ConclusionsThe results indicated that TSR2‐induced apoptosis was mediated by inhibiting the NF‐κB signaling pathway, which may provide an effective target in gene therapy for LSCC.Level of EvidenceNA. Laryngoscope, 128:E130–E134, 2018
Aggregating the symptoms of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome
Authors: Naert Laura , Van de Berg Raymond , Van de Heyning Paul , Bisdorff Alexandre , Sharon Jeffrey D. , Ward Bryan K. , Van Rompaey Vincent 
Published: December 2017

Objectives/HypothesisTo aggregate symptoms reported by patients with superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) and to develop an evidence‐based symptom set by performing a systematic review of the literature.Study DesignDatabase search and critical assessment of research studies.MethodsMedline and PubMed databases were searched for articles that reported the preoperative symptoms of adult and pediatric patients with unilateral and bilateral SCDS. Articles were excluded if they reported on associated diseases or did not report symptoms.ResultsOf the 397 articles retrieved, 66 were retained for quantitative analysis. Among 431 patients with SCDS, 91 symptom terms were reported. After combining synonymous terms, 22 symptoms were derived by consensus. Of the raw total number of reported symptoms, 92.5% can be attributed to five common symptoms: spontaneous dizziness (51%), autophony (42.5%), pressure‐induced vertigo (37.4%), hearing loss (39.9%), and sound‐induced vertigo (42.7%).ConclusionsThis systematic review of symptoms reported by patients with SCDS identified a 22‐item common symptom set. These items can be used to create an evidence‐based patient‐reported outcome measure to evaluate health‐related quality of life in SCDS.Laryngoscope, 1932–1938, 2018
Down syndrome and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea surgery: A national cohort
Authors: Ong Adrian A. , Atwood Carlyn M. , Nguyen Shaun A. , Teufel Ronald J. , Lal Chitra , LaRosa Angela C. , White David R. 
Published: December 2017

Objectives/HypothesisTo analyze the trend of sleep surgeries in pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to compare this to nonsyndromic (NS) children with OSA.Study DesignRetrospective cohort database analysis.MethodsAnalysis of the 1997 to 2012 editions of the Kid's Inpatient Database was conducted. Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, all patients with OSA were identified, and subsequently, subgroups of NS children and children with DS were identified. Trends of the number and types of sleep surgeries were analyzed.ResultsA total of 48,301 and 2,991 sleep surgeries were identified in the NS and DS groups, respectively, during the study period. Tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy was the most common procedure in both groups, but the proportion of tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy decreased over time (P < .01). The proportion of palatal surgery and tracheostomy also decreased significantly, whereas there was an increase in the proportion of lingual tonsillectomies, tongue‐base reduction procedures, and supraglottoplasties performed in both groups over time. The relative rates of change in these procedures were higher in the DS population.ConclusionsTonsillectomy with adenoidectomy remains the most commonly performed procedure, although there was a significant increase in other sleep surgeries performed (lingual tonsillectomy, tongue‐base reduction, and supraglottoplasty) between the two study periods, especially in children with DS.Level of Evidence2c. Laryngoscope, 1963–1969, 2018