bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of biomass retention in an EGSB reactor used to treat 1‐methoxy‐2‐propanol
Authors: Lafita Carlos , San‐Valero Pau , Marzal Paula , Penya‐roja Josep M , Gabaldón Carmen 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDAn expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor is commonly used in anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater. To develop applications to remove solvents, the granular sludge retention within the reactor must be improved.RESULTSThis work evaluated the addition of chitosan as a strategy to enhance granulation in an EGSB reactor used to treat a wastewater containing 1‐methoxy‐2‐propanol and ethanol. Two reactors, one with chitosan supplementation and the other without chitosan (control), were operated in parallel. Greater particle size was obtained in the reactor with chitosan. The retention of solids within the reactor was clearly improved. Moreover, the settling properties were clearly enhanced in the first stages (days 0–44) in terms of settling velocity and sludge volume index. The time required to obtain 80% removal of 1‐methoxy‐2‐propanol was shortened from 38 days to 22 days when chitosan was supplemented.CONCLUSIONSThe addition of chitosan is a promising alternative to enhance granulation in EGSB reactors that are used to treat glycol ethers. A single addition rapidly improves the settling properties of the granular sludge; this method could be used as an operational strategy when partial degranulation occurs. This work provides useful guidelines on the enhancement of biomass retention while operating an EGSB. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Recent changes in heat waves and cold waves detected based on excess heat factor and excess cold factor in Romania
Authors: Piticar Adrian , Croitoru Adina‐Eliza , Ciupertea Flavius‐Antoniu , Harpa Gabriela‐Victoria 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we investigated changes in heat and cold waves in Romania over the period 1961–2015 by employing a new and superior approach. It consists in using excess heat factor to identify heat waves and excess cold factor to identify cold waves. Five indices were calculated and then analysed for both heat waves and cold waves resulting in a set of ten indices. Indices for heat waves were analysed for the extended summer season (May–September), whereas those for cold waves were assessed for the extended winter (November–March). The intensity threshold was set to be equal or above the 90th percentile for heat waves, and equal or below the 10th percentile for cold waves, while the duration threshold for both heat and cold waves was of at least three consecutive days. For a better comparison with other studies conducted worldwide, and to get more information from the data sets, the percentile thresholds for heat and cold waves identification were calculated based on three reference periods: 1961–1990, 1971–2000, and 1981–2010. Trends were calculated using ordinary least square method, whereas statistical significance was assessed by the t‐test. The main results indicated that changes are more substantial in the case of indices calculated based on excess heat factor compared to those based on excess cold factor, suggesting that the warming process is more reflected in heat waves rather than in cold waves. Thus, heat waves became more frequent, longer, and more intense, while cold waves became less frequent, but more intense. When the reference period for percentile threshold calculation was changed from the earliest to the most recent ones, the frequency of increasing and significant increasing trends decreased for some of the heat wave indices, while for the cold wave indices the significant downward trends increased.
Contributions of terrestrial organic carbon to northern lake sediments
Authors: Gudasz Cristian , Ruppenthal Marc , Kalbitz Karsten , Cerli Chiara , Fiedler Sabine , Oelmann Yvonne , Andersson August , Karlsson Jan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSediments of northern lakes sequester large amounts of organic carbon (OC), but direct evidence of the relative importance of their sources is lacking. We used stable isotope ratios of nonexchangeable hydrogen (δ2Hn) in topsoil, algae, and surface sediments in order to measure the relative contribution of terrestrial OC in surface sediments of 14 mountainous arctic and lowland boreal lakes in Sweden. The terrestrial contribution to the sediment OC pool was on average 66% (range 46–80) and similar between arctic and boreal lakes. Proxies for the supply of terrestrial and algal OC explained trends in the relative contribution of terrestrial OC across lakes. However, the data suggest divergent predominant sources for terrestrial OC of sediments in Swedish lakes, with dissolved matter dominating in lowland boreal lakes and particulate OC in mountainous arctic lakes.
Apigenin Ameliorates the Obesity‐Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy by Attenuating Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Muscle of Obese Mice
Authors: Choi Won Hee , Son Hyo Jeong , Jang Young Jin , Ahn Jiyun , Jung Chang Hwa , Ha Tae Youl 
Published: October 2017

ScopeIt was investigated whether apigenin (AP) protected against skeletal muscle atrophy induced by obesity.Methods and resultsMice were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 9 weeks to induce obesity, and then were assigned to two groups; the HFD group received a high‐fat diet, and the HFD+AP group received a 0.1% AP‐containing HFD. After additional feeding of the experimental diet for 8 weeks, mice in the HFD group were highly obese compared with the mice in the standard diet fed mice group. The mice in the AP‐treated group showed less fat pad accumulation and less inflammatory cytokines without body weight reduction. The weight of skeletal muscle in the AP group tended to increase as compared with that of the HFD group. Furthermore, AP reduced the expression of atrophic genes, including MuRF1 and Atrogin‐1, but increased the exercise capacity. The mitochondrial function and mitochondrial biogenesis were enhanced by AP. In cultured C2C12 cells, AP also suppressed palmitic acid‐induced muscle atrophy and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, AP activated AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the C2C12 and the muscle of HFD‐induced obese mice.ConclusionThe results suggested that AP ameliorated the obesity‐induced skeletal muscle atrophy by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction.
Isotropic 3D cardiac cine MRI allows efficient sparse segmentation strategies based on 3D surface reconstruction
Authors: Odille Freddy , Bustin Aurélien , Liu Shufang , Chen Bailiang , Vuissoz Pierre‐André , Felblinger Jacques , Bonnemains Laurent 
Published: October 2017

PurposeSegmentation of cardiac cine MRI data is routinely used for the volumetric analysis of cardiac function. Conventionally, 2D contours are drawn on short‐axis (SAX) image stacks with relatively thick slices (typically 8 mm). Here, an acquisition/reconstruction strategy is used for obtaining isotropic 3D cine datasets; reformatted slices are then used to optimize the manual segmentation workflow.MethodsIsotropic 3D cine datasets were obtained from multiple 2D cine stacks (acquired during free‐breathing in SAX and long‐axis (LAX) orientations) using nonrigid motion correction (cine‐GRICS method) and super‐resolution. Several manual segmentation strategies were then compared, including conventional SAX segmentation, LAX segmentation in three views only, and combinations of SAX and LAX slices. An implicit B‐spline surface reconstruction algorithm is proposed to reconstruct the left ventricular cavity surface from the sparse set of 2D contours.ResultsAll tested sparse segmentation strategies were in good agreement, with Dice scores above 0.9 despite using fewer slices (3–6 sparse slices instead of 8–10 contiguous SAX slices). When compared to independent phase‐contrast flow measurements, stroke volumes computed from four or six sparse slices had slightly higher precision than conventional SAX segmentation (error standard deviation of 5.4 mL against 6.1 mL) at the cost of slightly lower accuracy (bias of −1.2 mL against 0.2 mL). Functional parameters also showed a trend to improved precision, including end‐diastolic volumes, end‐systolic volumes, and ejection fractions).ConclusionThe postprocessing workflow of 3D isotropic cardiac imaging strategies can be optimized using sparse segmentation and 3D surface reconstruction. Magn Reson Med 79:2665–2675, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Optimal codesign of controller and linear plants with input saturation: The sensitivity Lyapunov approach
Authors: Moradi M. , Naraghi M. , Kamali Eigoli A. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryIntegrating the plant and controller designs reduces the unnecessary interactions, which increases the overall control cost. This is the main concern of the plant‐controller codesign (PCCD) theory that is extensively covered in the literature for linear plants. However, in the presence of input saturation, linear methods are not valid anymore. Indeed, for attaining the optimal controller with input saturation, the Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation should be satisfied. In this paper, an iterative technique is proposed for solving the linear PCCD problem with input saturation. In order to achieve the optimal design, the plant is updated using the necessary condition for optimality expressed by sensitivity equations appended to the Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation. Results indicate that the PCCD improves the control effort and reduces the overall performance index significantly.
Patterns of opioid initiation at first visits for pain in United States primary care settings
Authors: Mundkur Mallika L. , Rough Kathryn , Huybrechts Krista F. , Levin Raisa , Gagne Joshua J. , Desai Rishi J. , Patorno Elisabetta , Choudhry Niteesh K. , Bateman Brian T. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPurposeThe primary objective of this study was to characterize variation in patterns of opioid prescribing within primary care settings at first visits for pain, and to describe variation by condition, geography, and patient characteristics.Methods2014 healthcare utilization data from Optum's Clinformatics™ DataMart were used to evaluate individuals 18 years or older with an initial presentation to primary care for 1 of 10 common pain conditions. The main outcomes assessed were (1) the proportion of first visits for pain associated with an opioid prescription fill and (2) the proportion of opioid prescriptions with >7 days' supply.ResultsWe identified 205 560 individuals who met inclusion criteria; 9.1% of all visits were associated with an opioid fill, ranging from 4.1% (headache) to 28.2% (dental pain). Approximately half (46%) of all opioid prescriptions supplied more than 7 days, and 10% of prescriptions supplied ≥30 days. We observed a 4‐fold variation in rates of opioid initiation by state, with highest rates of prescribing in Alabama (16.6%) and lowest rates in New York (3.7%).ConclusionsIn 2014, nearly half of all patients filling opioid prescriptions received more than 7 days' of opioids in an initial prescription. Policies limiting initial supplies have the potential to substantially impact opioid prescribing in the primary care setting.
PSCA promotes prostate cancer proliferation and cell‐cycle progression by up‐regulating c‐Myc
Authors: Li Ermao , Liu Luhao , Li Futian , Luo Lianmin , Zhao Shankun , Wang Jiamin , Kang Ran , Luo Jintai , Zhao Zhigang 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundThe Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored protein. Increasing evidence has indicated PSCA plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer (PCa) are still not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of PSCA on cell cycle of PCa cells and its mechanism research.MethodsImmunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western blotting were used to quantify PSCA expression pattern in PCa tissues and cell lines. The association of PSCA expression with the biochemical recurrence (BCR)‐free survival and overall survival (OS) of PCa patients were analyzed using Kaplan‐Meier method. The roles of PSCA in PCa were confirmed based on both in vitro and in vivo systems.ResultsImmunohistochemistry results showed that PSCA was upregulated in PCa tissue. PSCA overexpression were significantly associated with high Gleason score (GS) (P = 0.028), positive BCR (P = 0.002), and poor OS (P = 0.032) and high c‐Myc expression (P = 0.019). PSCA promoted PCa cell cycle progression and tumor growth via increased c‐Myc expression. Additional, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways was involved in PSCA‐mediated c‐Myc expression and cell proliferation.ConclusionsPSCA is a novel cell cycle regulator with a key role in mediating c‐Myc‐induced proliferation. PSCA may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for patients with PCa.
Circulating and intraprostatic sex steroid hormonal profiles in relation to male pattern baldness and chest hair density among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancers
Authors: Zhou Cindy Ke , Stanczyk Frank Z. , Hafi Muhannad , Veneroso Carmela C. , Lynch Barlow , Falk Roni T. , Niwa Shelley , Emanuel Eric , Gao Yu‐Tang , Hemstreet George P. , Zolfghari Ladan , Carroll Peter R. , Manyak Michael J. , Sesterhenn Isabell A. , Levine Paul H. , Hsing Ann W. , Cook Michael B. 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundProspective cohort studies of circulating sex steroid hormones and prostate cancer risk have not provided a consistent association, despite evidence from animal and clinical studies. However, studies using male pattern baldness as a proxy of early‐life or cumulative androgen exposure have reported significant associations with aggressive and fatal prostate cancer risk. Given that androgens underlie the development of patterned hair loss and chest hair, we assessed whether these two dermatological characteristics were associated with circulating and intraprostatic concentrations of sex steroid hormones among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer.MethodsWe included 248 prostate cancer patients from the NCI Prostate Tissue Study, who answered surveys and provided a pre‐treatment blood sample as well as fresh frozen adjacent normal prostate tissue. Male pattern baldness and chest hair density were assessed by trained nurses before surgery. General linear models estimated geometric means and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) of each hormone variable by dermatological phenotype with adjustment for potential confounding variables. Subgroup analyses were performed by Gleason score (<7 vs ≥7) and race (European American vs. African American).ResultsWe found strong positive associations of balding status with serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol, and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), and a weak association with elevated intraprostatic testosterone. Conversely, neither circulating nor intraprostatic sex hormones were statistically significantly associated with chest hair density. Age‐adjusted correlation between binary balding status and three‐level chest hair density was weak (r = 0.05). There was little evidence to suggest that Gleason score or race modified these associations.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that balding status assessed at a mean age of 60 years may serve as a clinical marker for circulating sex hormone concentrations. The weak‐to‐null associations between balding status and intraprostatic sex hormones reaffirm differences in organ‐specific sex hormone metabolism, implying that other sex steroid hormone‐related factors (eg, androgen receptor) play important roles in organ‐specific androgenic actions, and that other overlapping pathways may be involved in associations between the two complex conditions.
RNA interference of two glutathione S‐transferase genes, Diaphorina citriDcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1, increases the susceptibility of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to the pesticides fenpropathrin and thiamethoxam
Authors: Yu Xiudao , Killiny Nabil 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is an important agricultural pest of citrus globally. Foliar application of chemical insecticides is the most widely used option for reducing D. citri populations. Knockdown of glutathione S‐transferase (GST) in several insect species leads to increased susceptibility to insecticides; however, information about the detoxifying role of GST genes in D. citri is unavailable.RESULTSVia a sequence homology search, we isolated and characterized three DcGST genes (DcGSTd1, DcGSTe1 and DcGSTe2) from D. citri. Phylogenetic analysis grouped DcGSTd1 into the delta class of GST genes, whereas DcGSTe1 and DcGSTe2 were clustered in the epsilon clade. Gene expression analysis revealed that chlorpyrifos treatment increased the mRNA levels of DcGSTe1 and fenpropathrin enhanced the expression level of DcGSTd1, while DcGSTe2 was significantly up‐regulated after exposure to thiamethoxam at a dose of 30% lethal concentration (LC30). RNA interference (RNAi) of DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 followed by an insecticide bioassay increased the mortalities of thiamethoxam‐treated psyllids by 23.0% and fenpropathrin‐treated psyllids by 15.0%. In contrast, knockdown of DcGSTe1 did not significantly increase the susceptibility of D. citri to any of these three insecticides. Further, feeding with double‐stranded RNA (dsDcGSTe2‐d1) interfusion co‐silenced DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 expression in D. citri, and led to an increase of susceptibility to both fenpropathrin and thiamethoxam.CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 play unique roles in detoxification of the pesticides thiamethoxam and fenpropathrin. In addition, co‐silencing by creating a well‐designed dsRNA interfusion against multiple genes was a good RNAi strategy in D. citri. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Growth rate and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope trophic discrimination factors of lion and leopard whiskers
Authors: Mutirwara Ruwimbo , Radloff Frans G.T. , Codron Daryl 
Published: October 2017

RationaleStable isotope analysis (SIA) of whiskers has been used to identify temporal feeding habits, intra‐population diet variation, as well as individual dietary specialisation of marine and terrestrial carnivores. However, the potential of the method to disclose such dietary information for large wild felids is hampered by lack of information on species‐specific whisker growth rates, whisker growth patterns and whisker‐diet trophic discrimination factors (TDFs).MethodsWhisker growth rates and growth patterns were measured for four lions (Panthera leo) and one leopard (Panthera pardus) held at the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa. Actively growing whiskers of the felids were 'marked' four times over 185 days using 13C‐depleted, C3‐based giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) meat. The periods with low δ13C values, identified following serial sectioning of the regrown whiskers at 1 mm intervals and isotopic analysis, were then correlated to specific giraffe meat feeding bouts and hence growth periods. δ13C and δ15N whisker‐diet TDFs were estimated for five lions whose diet remained consistent over multiple years.ResultsThe whisker growth rates of three lionesses and the leopard were similar (mean = 0.65 mm day−1), despite species, sex and age differences. There was a decrease in whisker growth rate over time, suggesting a non‐linear whisker growth pattern. However, linear and non‐linear growth simulations showed slight differences between the two growth patterns for the proximal ~50 mm of whiskers. δ13C and δ15N lion whisker‐diet TDFs were also similar amongst individuals (mean = 2.7 ± 0.12 ‰ for δ13C values and 2.5 ± 0.08 ‰ for δ15N values), irrespective of age and sex.ConclusionsThe whisker growth rate and δ13C and δ15N lion whisker‐diet TDFs obtained in this study can be applied in future studies to assign dietary information contained in analysed felid whiskers to the correct time period and improve deductions of prey species consumed by wild felids.
Case of heterotopic cervical pregnancy and total placenta accreta after artificial cycle frozen‐thawed embryo transfer
Authors: Saito Kazuki , Fukami Maki , Miyado Mami , Ono Ichiro , Sumori Keijiro 
Published: October 2017

AbstractCaseA 39‐year‐old woman presented with a genital hemorrhage at 5 weeks of gestation after an artificial cycle double frozen‐thawed embryo transfer. She was diagnosed with a cervical heterotopic pregnancy. Although hormone supplementation was discontinued to terminate the pregnancy at 5 weeks of gestation, the intrauterine and cervical gestational sacs continued to develop.OutcomeThe cervical gestational sac was surgically removed and the intrauterine pregnancy continued uneventfully, except for vasa previa. At 36 weeks of gestation, the patient underwent a cesarean section and gave birth to a healthy female infant. At the delivery, massive bleeding occurred and a hysterectomy was performed due to total placenta accreta.ConclusionThis case provides a novel example of a near‐term delivery after a cervical heterotopic pregnancy and emphasizes the need for intensive care, even after the successful management of a cervical pregnancy. Most importantly, the present case implies a possible link between hormonal withdrawal and abnormal placentation.
Event‐triggered predictive control for networked control systems with network‐induced delays and packet dropouts
Authors: Yang Hongjiu , Guo Xiaodong , Dai Li , Xia Yuanqing 
Published: October 2017

SummaryThis paper presents an event‐triggered predictive control approach to stabilize a networked control system subject to network‐induced delays and packet dropouts, for which the states are not measurable. An observer‐based event generator is first designed according to the deviation between the state estimation at the current time and the one at the last trigger time. A predictive control scheme with a selector is then proposed to compensate the effect of network‐induced delays and packet dropouts. Sufficient conditions for stabilization of the networked control system are derived by solving linear matrix inequalities and the corresponding gains of the controller and the observer are obtained. It is shown that the event‐triggered implementation is able to realize reduction in communication and save bandwidth resources of feedback channel networks. A simulation example of an inverted pendulum model illustrates the efficacy of the proposed scheme.
Guest Editors’ Introduction:Gender, Business Ethics, and Corporate Social Responsibility: Assessing and Refocusing a Conversation
Authors: Grosser Kate , Moon Jeremy , Nelson Julie A. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACT:This article reviews a conversation between business ethicists and feminist scholars begun in the early 1990s and traces the development of that conversation in relation to feminist theory. A bibliographic analysis of the business ethics (BE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) literatures over a twenty-five-year period elucidates the degree to which gender has been a salient concern, the methodologies adopted, and the ways in which gender has been analyzed (by geography, issue type, and theoretical perspective). Identifying significant limitations to the incorporation of feminist theory in these literatures, we discuss how feminist scholarship relating to behavior (through psychology and related fields), organizations (through feminist organization studies), and economics (through feminist economics) could be integrated. We suggest that a better integration of feminist theory would strengthen BE/CSR research, and point to new research directions and agendas arising from our approach.