bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of 1‐methyl imidazole‐based ionic liquid‐stabilized silica‐coated Fe3O4 as a novel modified magnetic nanocatalyst for the synthesis of pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidines
Authors: Sajjadifar Sami , Zolfigol Mohammad Ali , Tami Farzaneh
Published: September 2018

1‐Methyl imidazole‐based ionic liquid‐stabilized silica‐coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles [Fe3O4@SiO2@(CH2)3‐1‐methyl imidazole]HSO4 as a solid acid magnetic nanocatalyst was explored in the synthesis of pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidine derivatives. Pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized by a highly efficient three‐component reaction of various benzaldehydes, malononitrile, and barbituric acid. The catalyst was characterized by using various analysis techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry‐thermogravimetry analysis (DSC‐TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).
Structural organization of the olfactory organ in an amphihaline migratory fish Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha
Authors: Malick Chandan , Chatterjee Subhendu Kumar , Bhattacharya Samir , Suresh Vettath Raghavan , Kundu Rakesh , Saikia Surjya Kumar
Published: September 2018

The histological as well as ultramicroscopic structures of olfactory system of an amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha, were studied. The sexually matured riverine fish were collected from a common breeding habitat—the Hooghly, a tributary of river Ganga, West Bengal, India. This study revealed that the riverine hilsa has larger olfactory bulb compared to marine hilsa with the olfactory lobes well exposed through nostrils. The olfactory lamellae (OL) are 40–45 in number and posses three distinct layers of sensory cells across each lamellae, namely, outer receptor cells (RC), middle sensory cells, and inner basal cells (BC). Besides the above arrangement, the sensory part of olfactory epithelium (OE) also bears rich microvillous cells exposed to the surface of the OE. The sensory and non‐sensory surfaces on OL are distinguishable, with clear dendritic cells on sensory epithelium and solitary chemosensory cells on non sensory OE. Abundance of both types of cells in the OE is an indication of its chemoattraction ability towards molecules of amino acid origin. The feature of having abundant, dense, and large dendritic knobs on the surface of OE describes resemblance to the typical morphology of the chemosensory septal organs neuron. The expression of four G protein subunits, like Gαs/olf, Gαq, Gαo, and Gαi‐3 in OE indicate that its olfaction is a functional attributes of two olfactory systems, namely main olfactory system and Vomaronasal Olfactory System. Expression of ACIII and PLCβ2 in OE further confirms two signaling pathways involved in odorant reception in hilsa.

Research Highlights

The olfactory bulb in the amphihaline migratory fish hilsa is big in size, with 40–45 lamellae. Its sensory areas showed multilayered cellular features with prominent sensory as well as microvillous cells, whereas non‐sensory area possesses solitary chemosensory cells. The expression of four G protein subunits, Gαs/olf, Gαq, Gαo, and Gαi‐3 in olfactory epithelium indicates that its olfaction is a functional attributes of two olfactory systems, namely main olfactory system and vomaronasal olfactory system.
Facilitating disclosure in intelligence interviews: The joint influence of helpfulness priming and interpersonal approach
Authors: Neequaye David Amon , Ask Karl , Granhag Pär Anders , Vrij Aldert
Published: September 2018

This study examined the joint influence of helpfulness priming and a helpfulness‐focused interpersonal approach on information disclosure in an intelligence interview. We based the research on the theoretical proposition that consistency between an interviewee's primed dispositions and an interviewer's interpersonal approach would facilitate disclosure. Participants (N = 116) took on the role of an informant with information about an upcoming terror attack. Afterwards, an interviewer solicited information about the attack using an interpersonal approach that exhibited either high (helpfulness‐focused) or low (control) fit with helpfulness concerns. Prior to the interview, in a seemingly unrelated experiment, we primed participants' helpfulness motivation and assessed their cognitive accessibility to helpfulness‐related constructs. We observed that helpfulness priming increased information disclosure when the helpfulness‐focused interpersonal approach was used but not when the control protocol was used. This research suggests that implementation of an interpersonal approach that complements an interviewee's primed dispositions may function symbiotically with the previous priming to facilitate information disclosure.
A Bio‐Based Allylphenol (Eugenol)‐Functionalized Fluorinated Maleimide with Low Dielectric Constant and Low Water Uptake
Authors: Fang Linxuan , Zhou Junfeng , Wang Jiajia , Sun Jing , Fang Qiang
Published: September 2018

A bio‐based allylphenol (eugenol)‐functionalized fluoro‐containing maleimide derived from easily available cyanuric chloride is synthesized, and it is thermally transformed to a cross‐linked polymer. It is found that the polymer displays a 5% weight loss temperature of up to 413 °C, a glass transition temperature (T
g) of up to 274 °C, and a thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of 66.21 ppm °C−1 varying from 50 to 300 °C. The polymer is also found to exhibit lower water uptake (1.06%) than commercial 4,4′‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMI) resins (3%) and allyl‐modified bismaleimides (4.5%). This polymer is also found to indicate good dielectric properties with a dielectric constant (D
k) of below 2.9 and a dissipation factor (D
f) of less than 7 × 10−3 for frequencies varying from 40 Hz to 25 MHz. It is reported that, compared to the commercial BMI with CTE of 77.85 ppm °C−1 and D
k of 3.50, this eugenol‐functionalized fluoro‐containing maleimide possesses good properties, suggesting that this new maleimide has potential application in the microelectronic industry.
Strong in combination: Polyphasic approach enhances arguments for cold‐assigned cyanobacterial endemism
Authors: Jung Patrick , Briegel‐Williams Laura , Schermer Michael , Büdel Burkhard
Published: September 2018

Cyanobacteria of biological soil crusts (BSCs) represent an important part of circumpolar and Alpine ecosystems, serve as indicators for ecological condition and climate change, and function as ecosystem engineers by soil stabilization or carbon and nitrogen input. The characterization of cyanobacteria from both polar regions remains extremely important to understand geographic distribution patterns and community compositions. This study is the first of its kind revealing the efficiency of combining denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), light microscopy and culture‐based 16S rRNA gene sequencing, applied to polar and Alpine cyanobacteria dominated BSCs. This study aimed to show the living proportion of cyanobacteria as an extension to previously published meta‐transcriptome data of the same study sites. Molecular fingerprints showed a distinct clustering of cyanobacterial communities with a close relationship between Arctic and Alpine populations, which differed from those found in Antarctica. Species richness and diversity supported these results, which were also confirmed by microscopic investigations of living cyanobacteria from the BSCs. Isolate‐based sequencing corroborated these trends as cold biome clades were assigned, which included a potentially new Arctic clade of Oculatella. Thus, our results contribute to the debate regarding biogeography of cyanobacteria of cold biomes.
The dependence of minimum‐time routes over the North Atlantic on cruise altitude
Authors: Mangini Fabio , Irvine Emma A. , Shine Keith P. , Stringer Marc A.
Published: September 2018

North Atlantic air traffic is broadly organized into a track system: daily sets of tracks are defined by air traffic control, which are vertically stacked, such that the same set of tracks is used for all flight levels (FLs), regardless of any vertical variations in wind. The present paper uses minimum‐time routes, previously shown to be a good proxy for the location of the North Atlantic track system, to understand whether vertical variations in wind speed and direction significantly affect minimum‐time routes optimized at different altitudes. It does so to examine whether (all other factors assumed equal) there is potential for improvements in fuel efficiency. The optimum cruise altitude over the North Atlantic is determined, focusing on the New York–London route. It is found that eastbound routes, which take advantage of the jet stream, are on average faster at 250 hPa (FL340) than at 300 hPa (FL300) or 200 hPa (FL390) by approximately 2 min (compared with the annual mean route time of about 330 min, assuming a true air speed of 250 m/s). For westbound routes, the route time increases with height: aircraft flying at 300 hPa are on average 3 min faster than at higher levels (the annual mean optimum time being about 400 min). These estimates are compared with the time penalty that arises from flying a route optimized at 250 hPa at the other two altitudes. The time penalty is generally less than 1 min compared with the minimum‐time routes calculated at those altitudes.
A simple absorbing layer for EM‐radiation from a beam‐plasma interaction system
Authors: Berendeev Evgeny , Dudnikova Galina , Efimova Anna , Vshivkov Vitaly
Published: September 2018

In this paper, a problem of taking into account the electromagnetic radiation power in a numerical simulation of electron beam‐plasma interaction is considered. The numerical model is based on the particle‐in‐cell (PIC) method and the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) scheme for solving Maxwell equations. As a boundary condition, it is proposed to use a simple layer of absorption, that is, artificial attenuation of an electromagnetic wave by multiplying the electromagnetic field in the boundary domain by a coefficient k  <  1 depending on the distance to the boundary. The numerical experiments performed show that using such a layer for absorbing the electromagnetic radiation and for taking into account its power is efficient.
Integral equation of Toeplitz plus Hankel's type and parabolic equation related to the Kontorovich‐Lebedev‐Fourier generalized convolutions
Authors: Tuan Trinh , Van Hoang Pham , Hong Nguyen Thanh
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we consider a class of integral equations with two Toeplitz plus Hankel's type kernels, and a class of parabolic equations. Using the Kontorovich‐Lebedev transform method, we obtain the closed form of solutions related to the Kontorovich‐Lebedev‐Fourier generalized convolutions. Furthermore, the estimate of solution in Lp with weight is established.
Separating fetal and maternal placenta circulations using multiparametric MRI
Authors: Melbourne Andrew , Aughwane Rosalind , Sokolska Magdalena , Owen David , Kendall Giles , Flouri Dimitra , Bainbridge Alan , Atkinson David , Deprest Jan , Vercauteren Tom , David Anna , Ourselin Sebastien
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The placenta is a vital organ for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between fetus and mother. The placenta may suffer from several pathologies, which affect this fetal‐maternal exchange, thus the flow properties of the placenta are of interest in determining the course of pregnancy. In this work, we propose a new multiparametric model for placental tissue signal in MRI.

Methods

We describe a method that separates fetal and maternal flow characteristics of the placenta using a 3‐compartment model comprising fast and slowly circulating fluid pools, and a tissue pool is fitted to overlapping multiecho T2 relaxometry and diffusion MRI with low b‐values. We implemented the combined model and acquisition on a standard 1.5 Tesla clinical system with acquisition taking less than 20 minutes.

Results

We apply this combined acquisition in 6 control singleton placentas. Mean myometrial T2 relaxation time was 123.63 (±6.71) ms. Mean T2 relaxation time of maternal blood was 202.17 (±92.98) ms. In the placenta, mean T2 relaxation time of the fetal blood component was 144.89 (±54.42) ms. Mean ratio of maternal to fetal blood volume was 1.16 (±0.6), and mean fetal blood saturation was 72.93 (±20.11)% across all 6 cases.

Conclusion

The novel acquisition in this work allows the measurement of histologically relevant physical parameters, such as the relative proportions of vascular spaces. In the placenta, this may help us to better understand the physiological properties of the tissue in disease.
External Validation of Equations that Use Demographic and Anthropometric Measurements to Predict Percent Body Fat
Authors: Reynolds K. R. , Stevens J. , Cai J. , Lewis C. E. , Choh A. C. , Czerwinski S. A.
Published: September 2018

Objective

Numerous equation to predict percent body fat using demographics and anthropometrics have been published but external validation of these equations is limited. The objective of this study was to validate published equations that use anthropometrics for prediction of percent body fat using external data.

Methods

Data were from the Visceral Fat, Metabolic Rate, and Coronary Heart Disease Risk I (VIM I) Study and the Fels Longitudinal Study (Fels). VIM I was conducted in a subset of subjects from the CARDIA study and included black and white adults 28–40 years (n = 392). Fels consisted of white participants 8–88 years (n = 1,044). Percent body fat assessed by dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in these two studies was compared to results calculated using 13 equations from Stevens et al. and nine other published equations.

Results

In general, the Stevens equations performed better than equations from other studies. For example, equation “I“ in women in VIM I, Fels adults, and Fels youth, R2 estimates were 0.765, 0.757 and 0.789, respectively. In men the estimates were 0.702 in VIM I, 0.822 in Fels adults and 0.905 in Fels youth. None of the results from the nine published equations showed R2 this high in corresponding groups.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that several of the Stevens equations have external validity superior to that of nine other published equations among varying age groups, genders and races.
Synthesis and characterization of isoprene polymers with polar groups via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization
Authors: Contreras‐López David , Fuentes‐Ramírez Rosalba , Albores‐Velasco Martha , de los Santos‐Villarreal Gladys , Saldívar‐Guerra Enrique
Published: September 2018

Homo and copolymerization of isoprene (IP) with small amounts (1% wt) of glycidyl methacrylate) were conducted using the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer process (RAFT) at 125 °C in a solution polymerization process using toluene as solvent. Suitable reaction conditions to avoid Diels–Alder dimerization of IP and crosslinking were determined; and 4‐cyano‐4‐[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl] pentanoic acid was found to be the best transfer agent among those tested. Theoretical calculations were used to understand why some RAFT agents work better than others in these polymerizations. Molecular weights Mn higher than 100,000 Da were reached by successive chain extension experiments, confirming the livingness of the intermediate polymers. All the successful polymerizations yielded average molar masses (Mn) of about 75% compared to the theoretical Mn (Mn,theo) depending on the agent used for control. The dispersity (Ð) ranged from 1.20 to 1.70 being a function of the control agent. The polymers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 2463–2474
Predictive factors of treatment adherence in cancer outpatients
Authors: Lima Manuela Polidoro , Machado Wagner de Lara , Irigaray Tatiana Quarti
Published: September 2018

Objective

Identify which variables are predictors of treatment adherence in cancer patients.

Methods

Two hundred twenty cancer outpatients were evaluated by the following instruments: questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical data, NEO‐FFI Personality Inventory Revised (NEO‐FFI‐R), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), patient's knowledge about cancer disease questionnaire, and Adherence Determinants Questionnaire (ADQ). A logistic regression analysis was applied to verify the predictive power of the variables, and network analyses were conducted through the qgraph package.

Results

The sample was composed of 138 (62.7%) women and 82 (37.3%) men. The mean age of participants was 54.66 (SD = 13.30), and the education level mean was 8.32 (DP = 3.76) years of study. Powerful others locus of control (LOC) and the personality factors conscientiousness and agreeableness are presented as predictors of high treatment adherence. The variable family cancer history, on the other hand, was a predictor of lower adherence levels.

Conclusions

The powerful others LOC may be connected with more trust and dependence in the health team, leading to better adherence. Specific characteristics of personality factors can help individuals to cooperate with their caregivers and to follow medical orders. The evaluated factors are interrelated and should be taken into account by health professionals when developing interventions to modify health‐related behaviors and treatment adherence.
“Creating a family after battling cancer is exhausting and maddening”: Exploring real‐world experiences of young adult cancer survivors seeking financial assistance for family building after treatment
Authors: Benedict Catherine , McLeggon Jody‐Ann , Thom Bridgette , Kelvin Joanne F. , Landwehr Michelle , Watson Samantha , Ford Jennifer S.
Published: September 2018

Objective

Young adult (YA) cancer survivors who received gonadotoxic therapy are at risk for impaired fertility and/or childbearing difficulties. This study explored the experiences and financial concerns of survivors pursuing family building through assisted reproductive technology (ART) and adoption.

Methods

Retrospective study of data collected from grant applications for financial assistance with family building. Grounded theory methodology using an inductive data‐driven approach guided qualitative data analysis.

Results

Participants (N = 46) averaged 32 years old (SD = 3.4) were primarily female (81%) and married/partnered (83%). Four main themes were identified representing the (1) emotional experiences and (2) financial barriers to family building after cancer, (3) perceived impact on partners, and (4) disrupted life trajectory. Negative emotions were pervasive but were balanced with hope and optimism that parenthood would be achieved. Still, the combination of high ART/adoption costs, the financial impact of cancer, and limited sources for support caused extreme financial stress. Further, in the face of these high costs, many survivors reported worry and guilt about burdening partners, particularly as couples failed to meet personal and societal expectations for parenthood timelines.

Conclusion

After cancer, YAs face numerous psychosocial and financial difficulties in their pursuits of family building when ART/adoption is needed to achieve parenthood. Survivors interested in future children may benefit from follow‐up fertility counseling post‐treatment including discussion of ART options, surrogacy, and adoption, as appropriate, and potential barriers. Planning for the financial cost and burden in particular may help to avoid or mitigate financial stress later on.
Photo‐Thermo‐Refractive Glasses Doped with Silver Molecular Clusters as Luminescence Downshifting Material for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Sgibnev Yevgeniy , Cattaruzza Elti , Dubrovin Victor , Vasilyev Vladimir , Nikonorov Nikolay
Published: September 2018

Silver nanostructures, including molecular clusters and plasmonic nanoparticles, attract much attention due to their unique optical properties and potential applications in various fields. Glasses doped with silver molecular clusters are known to possess bright luminescence under UV excitation, which opens up prospects of using the glasses as solar spectral converters to overcome poor spectral response for most of photovoltaic cells in the short‐wavelength region. In this study, silver molecular clusters are formed in photo‐thermo‐refractive glass matrix both by UV irradiation and by Na+↔Ag+ion exchange and optically characterized. Photo‐thermo‐refractive glasses doped with silver molecular clusters, independently on silver introduction method, are shown to demonstrate broad absorption in the UV, intense white emission under excitation at 360 nm, and high photoluminescence quantum yield that meet requirements for luminescence downshifting materials. Despite this, only photo‐thermo‐refractive glass with silver molecular clusters uniformly distributed in the glass volume enhances the output power of a silicon photovoltaic cell, thus showing the potential for future application of photo‐thermo‐refractive glasses in photovoltaics, particularly in case of further experiments.
Modulation of autophagy in the protective effect of resveratrol on PM2.5‐induced pulmonary oxidative injury in mice
Authors: Li Yuan , Fu Suming , Li Enlai , Sun Xianchao , Xu Haie , Meng Yu , Wang Xiaoqian , Chen Yue , Xie Chunfeng , Geng Shanshan , Wu Jieshu , Zhong Caiyun , Xu Ping
Published: September 2018

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is capable of inducing pulmonary oxidative injury. Autophagy maintains basal cellular homeostasis and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, is an effective antioxidant agent against particulate matter (PM)‐induced injuries. The current study was designed to investigate whether resveratrol can regulate autophagy in the process of PM2.5‐mediated pulmonary oxidative injury. In the mice model of PM2.5 exposure, we found that PM2.5 increased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) while decreased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 in the lungs. The levels of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine and inflammatory cytokines were increased following PM2.5 exposure. Histological analysis of the lungs revealed inflammatory change in PM2.5 group. Meanwhile, PM2.5 triggered autophagy, as evidenced by the elevated expression of microtubule‐associated proteins light chain 3II, Beclin1 and p62. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that autophagosomes accumulated in the lungs after PM2.5 exposure. Furthermore, resveratrol intervention suppressed autophagy and attenuated the oxidative injury resulting from PM2.5 exposure. Our findings provided a valuable insight into the underlying mechanism for the protective effects of resveratrol against PM2.5‐induced lung injury, which involves suppression of the autophagic process.
Robotic single‐site myomectomy: A single‐center experience of 101 consecutive cases
Authors: Kim Miseon , Kim Mi Kyoung , Kim Mi‐La , Jung Yong Wook , Yun Bo Seong , Seong Seok Ju
Published: September 2018

Background

To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of robotic single‐site myomectomy (RSSM) for uterine myoma.

Methods

Medical records of 101 consecutive women who underwent RSSM were retrospectively reviewed, and patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were evaluated. The surgical outcomes were compared by the phase in learning curve (early phase of <10 cases vs late phase of ≥10 cases) and time flow.

Results

A total of 47 (46.5%) women had multiple myomas, and a median two (1‐12) myomas were retrieved. The largest myoma was averagely measured as 6.2 ± 1.7 cm, and the mean weight of the total retrieved myomas was 114.0 ± 84.4 g. No patients received a transfusion or had operation‐related complications. Cases in the late phase showed shorter port placement time and docking time than those in the early phase.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that robotic single‐site surgery is a feasible therapeutic option for uterine myoma.
Nonsmooth feedback stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems with unknown control direction and time delay
Authors: Rattanamongkhonkun K. , Pongvuthithum R. , Lin Wei
Published: September 2018

The problem of global stabilization by nonsmooth state feedback is investigated for a family of time‐delay nonlinear systems with unknown control direction. Using the idea of the Nussbaum function from universal control, we present a delay‐free, nonsmooth dynamic state feedback strategy to achieve asymptotic state regulation with boundedness of the closed‐loop system. The proposed control scheme allows one to design a set of Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals and nonsmooth dynamic compensators simultaneously, by the technique of adding a power integrator. It is shown that while the effects of unknown control direction can be mitigated by the Nussbaum‐type gains, the strong nonlinearity with time delay can be effectively dealt with by nonsmooth state feedback controllers whose gains are updated dynamically.
Secretome of Undifferentiated Neural Progenitor Cells Induces Histological and Motor Improvements in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Mendes-Pinheiro Bárbara , Teixeira Fábio G. , Anjo Sandra I. , Manadas Bruno , Behie Leo A. , Salgado António J.
Published: September 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder that results from the death of dopamine (DA) neurons. Over recent years, differentiated or undifferentiated neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation has been widely used as a means of cell replacement therapy. However, compelling evidence has brought attention to the array of bioactive molecules produced by stem cells, defined as secretome. As described in the literature, other cell populations have a high-neurotrophic activity, but little is known about NSCs. Moreover, the exploration of the stem cell secretome is only in its initial stages, particularly as applied to neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we have characterized the secretome of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) through proteomic analysis and investigated its effects in a 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of PD in comparison with undifferentiated hNPCs transplantation. Results revealed that the injection of hNPCs secretome potentiated the histological recovery of DA neurons when compared to the untreated group 6-OHDA and those transplanted with cells (hNPCs), thereby supporting the functional motor amelioration of 6-OHDA PD animals. Additionally, hNPCs secretome proteomic characterization has revealed that these cells have the capacity to secrete a wide range of important molecules with neuroregulatory actions, which are most likely support the effects observed. Overall, we have concluded that the use of hNPCs secretome partially modulate DA neurons cell survival and ameliorate PD animals’ motor deficits, disclosing improved results when compared to cell transplantation approaches, indicating that the secretome itself could represent a route for new therapeutic options for PD regenerative medicine.
Anchimerically Assisted Cleavage of Aryl Methyl Ethers by Aluminum Chloride‐Sodium Iodide in Acetonitrile
Authors: Sang Dayong , Tu Xiaodong , Tian Juan , He Zhoujun , Yao Ming
Published: September 2018

A practical method is developed for the cleavage of catechol monomethyl ethers and o‐carbonylphenyl methyl ethers using aluminum chloride and sodium iodide in acetonitrile. Acid scavengers such as 1,3‐diisopropylcarbodiimide and CaO are used to prevent acid‐labile functional groups from side‐reactions. This method is efficient for the deprotection of various o‐hydroxyphenyl methyl ethers such as acetovanillone, eugenol, guaiacol, vanillin, isovanillin and ortho‐vanillin. The AlCl3‐NaI system is less efficient than AlI3 for the cleavage of other typical aryl alkyl ethers without a neighboring hydroxyl or carbonyl group, or for the removal of bulkier alkyl groups from catechol monoalkyl ethers. This procedure represents a convenient approach for the preparation of catechols.
Increased non‐family ownership in family‐owned firms: How does it affect CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity?
Authors: Li Shuping
Published: September 2018

Research Summary: This article investigates the impact of the increase in non‐family ownership in family‐owned firms on CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity. Longitudinal analyses based on 717 family‐owned Taiwanese public firms from 1997 to 2011 demonstrate a positive relationship between CEO turnover and poor firm financial performance (or CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity). This positive relationship is stronger when non‐family ownership is higher in the firms. Further, the positive effect of non‐family ownership on CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity is stronger when the lack of governance transparency or a higher deviation between control rights and cash flow rights enables entrenchment of families. The study contributes to the family business literature while also exploring the implications of corporate governance, particularly on CEO turnover.

Managerial Summary: Corporate control in many economies, including emerging markets, has gradually transitioned from a family‐dominated structure to one with substantial non‐family ownership. How does the increase of non‐family ownership influence the monitoring effectiveness in family‐owned firms? To address this question, this study assesses the impact of non‐family ownership on CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity and its boundary conditions among 717 family‐owned firms in Taiwan from 1997 to 2011. The findings show that CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity increases with non‐family ownership, especially in firms with weak governance conditions. The study highlights the key role of non‐family owners for the best corporate governance design.
A Critical Review on Superoxide‐Based Sodium–Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Bi Xuanxuan , Wang Rongyue , Amine Khalil , Lu Jun
Published: September 2018

Sodium superoxide (NaO2) based sodium–oxygen batteries (Na‐O2) possess high theoretical energy density and high energy efficiency that can be an alternative energy storage device to lithium‐ion batteries. However, the state‐of‐the‐art sodium–oxygen batteries are still far from real application due to the limited understanding of the cell chemistry and reaction mechanism. This article reviews the recent advances on NaO2‐based Na‐O2 batteries, especially focusing on the reaction mechanism and the stability of NaO2. The parasitic reactions from the highly active NaO2 are discussed. It is hoped this provides insightful understanding on the mechanism and the role of the discharge product in Na‐O2 batteries.
Reliability of postfire surveys for eastern box turtles
Authors: Melvin Tracy A. , Roloff Gary J.
Published: September 2018

Land managers generally assume that postfire surveys conducted by fire personnel are effective at quantifying mortality or injury of box turtles (Terrapene spp.) because individuals should be readily observable in burned areas. Box turtle surveys conducted by humans in unburned habitats can be ineffective, yet little information exists on the efficacy of postfire surveys. We quantified detection probability of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) shortly after a prescribed fire in southwestern Michigan, USA, during May 2015. Immediately prior to a May (growing season) fire, we confirmed that 7 adult box turtles fitted with radiotransmitters occupied the proposed burn area. Two days after the burn we reconfirmed turtle locations and subsequently conducted 6 independent visual‐encounter surveys through 2 burned areas (0.75 and 1.0 ha) that contained telemetered turtles. For these 12 surveys, we found that average detection probability per survey was low (0.11, SE = 0.09) and highly variable among observers (range = 0.00–0.50). We found that individual turtles directly exposed to fire remained buried for up to 12 hr after the fire was extinguished and were thus unavailable for detection immediately after the burn. Further confounding postfire survey results, buried turtles rapidly moved to unburned areas after emerging from their subterranean refugia. Our results suggested that typical visual‐encounter surveys conducted for eastern box turtles after prescribed burning do not accurately reflect occupancy status or fire‐caused mortality. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Identifying guard hairs of Rocky Mountain carnivores
Authors: Normandeau Jacalyn , Macaulay Kara , Berg Jodi , Merrill Evelyn
Published: September 2018

Increasing use of hair to survey carnivore distribution and identify carnivore scavengers or predators at prey kill sites requires methods for cost‐efficient identification of predator hair. Although DNA analysis can be used to identify species‐specific hairs, reliability depends on quality of hair, collection method, and environmental conditions, with cost that can exceed CAD$35/hair. In contrast, features of guard hairs including hair length, banding, and macro‐ and microscopic characteristics of the hair cuticle and medulla offer an alternative approach when hair quality is poor or funding is limited. Past keys focused on hair identification of prey species (e.g., ungulates, rodents) in predator scat analysis or were general because they contained all mammals in a region, thus complicating the focus on dichotomous keys for large carnivores. We used Random Forest (RF) to identify features that best classified known‐origin guard hairs (n = 175) and used these characteristics to develop a dichotomous key for hair identification of the 7 major, large carnivore species common to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. We found relative medulla width and pattern, cuticle‐scale characteristics, and hair length provided the greatest probability of correctly distinguishing among hairs of different carnivore species. Correct classification of within sample hairs with RF based on Area Under the Curve (AUC) averaged 0.95 ± 0.10, with coyote (Canis latrans) hairs having the lowest classification accuracy. Blind trials classifying 21 hairs using the dichotomous key yielded correct classifications of 88% ± 7% to the family level and 60% ± 10% to the species level. Hair preparation and identification by a trained technician was estimated at 30 ± 15 min/hair and CAD$8/hair. Our carnivore hair key provides an alternative approach to DNA hair analysis when either funds are limited, or hair samples are not of sufficient quality to be successfully sequenced. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
A Propensity Score‐matched Comparison Study of Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer After Robotic Versus Open Total Thyroidectomy
Authors: Bae Dong Sik , Koo Do Hoon
Published: September 2018

Introduction

The aim of this study, from a surgical, oncological, and functional perspective, was to identify whether bilateral axillo‐breast approach robotic total thyroidectomy (RTT) for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has different surgical outcomes compared to open total thyroidectomy (OTT).

Methods

Initially, 796 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were primarily reviewed and 178 who were ineligible for analysis were excluded. Propensity score matching analysis adjusted for clinicopathological characteristics (sex, age, body mass index, extent of central node dissection, tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and thyroiditis) was conducted, with 246 patients in the OTT group matched with 123 patients in the RTT group.

Results

There were no significant differences in surgical outcomes in terms of surgical safety and oncological safety between the OTT and RTT groups, except in mean operation times (123.51 ± 32.63 vs. 198.39 ± 37.93 min, respectively; P < 0.001). However, the median parathyroid and laryngeal function recovery times were shorter in the RTT group than in the OTT group [88 ± 33.09 (95% CI: 23.148–152.852) vs. 100 ± 16.20 (95% CI: 68.242–131.768) days; P = 0.044 and 87 ± 32.40 (95% CI: 23.489–150.511) vs. 118 ± 49.50 (95% CI: 20.985–215.015) days; P = 0.002].

Conclusions

The recovery times of laryngeal and parathyroid function were significantly shorter in RTT patients than in OTT patients for DTC. To verify a definitive conclusion about the superiority of robotic total thyroidectomy in terms of parathyroid and laryngeal function recovery, further studies may be necessary.
Correction to: A Flexible and Efficient Output File Format for Grain-Scale Multiphysics Simulations
Authors: Diehl Martin , Eisenlohr Philip , Zhang Chen , Nastola Jennifer , Shanthraj Pratheek , Roters Franz
Published: September 2018

The correct copyright line for this article is “The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication”, rather than “The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2017” (as in the original HMTL version of the article).
Cutaneous light chain amyloidosis with multiple myeloma
Authors: Andrei Mirela , Wang Jen Chin
Published: September 2018

Objective/Background:

Cutaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis associated with overt multiple myeloma (MM) is rare and optimal treatment is not well defined. The recently developed highly efficacious MM therapy has brought on a new set of challenges to this field for consideration. The goal of this paper is to describe the characteristics of cutaneous manifestations of systemic AL amyloidosis associated with MM according to age, sex, race, Ig type, plasma cell percentage, and cytogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization studies along with their outcomes.

Methods:

An electronic search of the PubMed database was performed to obtain key literature in AL amyloidosis and MM, using the following search terms: multiple myeloma, immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis, and cutaneous amyloidosis. The search results were narrowed by selecting studies in English. Results were confined to the following articles types: case reports, case series, and systematic reviews.

Results:

We identified 32 cases from the PubMed database search and examined their potential relevance. We found the following: (a) higher prevalence in women (two-thirds) and white population; (b) IgG and IgA were equally distributed with lambda (λ) light chain occurring in 53–66% of cases; (c) majority of cases (56%) presented as hemorrhagic bullous lesions, followed by purpura/ecchymosis in 25% of cases; and (d) majority (64%) died within 6 months since diagnosis.

Conclusions:

We reviewed the constellation of the cutaneous manifestations of AL amyloidosis with concurrent MM. We found a female predominance, and more than half presented as hemorrhagic bullous lesions. There is a preponderance of λ light chains over kappa (κ) light chains, both as a free light chain (15% vs. 4%) and as an intact Ig (38% vs. 24%; absolute number of 14 vs. 7 patients, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with bullous skin lesions, λ light chain was present in eight cases and κ light chain in seven cases. All κ light chain subtypes presented with bullous lesions and no other cutaneous types of lesions. They carried very poor prognosis with majority of cases surviving only 6 months, much worse than overall patients with AL amyloidosis without myeloma or myeloma without amyloidosis.
What Went Well? Understanding the Culture of a Long-Term Israeli Environmental Education Primary School Program
Authors: Gal Adiv , Gan Dafna
Published: September 2018

Using the perspectives, behaviours, and environmental values, beliefs, and norms of a school's staff, we investigated the features of a long-term environmental education program. This case study answers the following questions: How has the Lesser Kestrel environmental education program survived for almost two decades and become institutionalised into the school culture? What are the features of the environmental education program at Falcon School that allowed it to endure despite clear obstacles? We inductively analysed documents, focus group transcriptions, and individual interviews. Our findings indicate the goals of the Lesser Kestrel environmental education program and principles of values-beliefs-norms theory were strongly aligned along five main features: leadership and vision, human and economic resources, nature connectedness and conservation, community engagement, and tradition (which united the first four features). We conclude that these features work collectively to integrate the surrounding community into Falcon School's culture and long-term environmental education program.
The Picturesque Prospect of Architecture: Thomas Sandby's Royal Academy Lectures
Authors: De Jong Sigrid
Published: September 2018

Thomas Sandby (1721/3–98), who served as the Royal Academy's first professor of architecture from 1768 to 1798, shaped his students’ architectural thought. His lectures represent some of the crucial developments in viewing architecture that occurred during the period. They are vibrant expressions of how a viewer's experience of buildings informs architectural teaching and design, and demonstrate the importance of architectural experience for eighteenth-century architectural thought. This article explores Sandby's thinking, first in his own observations of buildings in his diary of a tour through Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and then in his teachings, which functioned as a kind of manual for future architects. It examines the diary and the lectures for his ideas on the effects of architecture — a building's situation, exterior, interior and decorations — in relation to the picturesque, one of the dominant concepts in his texts and drawings. Sandby's architectural thought is shown to be a relatively early statement of the picturesque applied to architecture and its setting.
The Design of the Snowdon Aviary and the Nature of Collaboration
Authors: Yeomans David
Published: September 2018

Although architects collaborate with engineers in the design of buildings, the contribution of the latter is seldom known to historians. This paper examines the design of the Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo, which is typically attributed to Lord Snowdon and Cedric Price. However, the vast majority of surviving design sketches are in the hand of Frank Newby, the structural engineer. Apart from giving clues about the way in which the design developed, these sketches leave the strong impression that Newby was taking the lead in proposing specific forms that the structure might take, because he alone was aware of the structural possibilities. The sketches raise the question: how common was this dynamic? Examples of Newby's contribution to other projects are suggested.
Boundary layer of elastic turbulence
Authors: Belan S. , Chernykh A. , Lebedev V.
Published: September 2018

We investigate theoretically the near-wall region in elastic turbulence of a dilute polymer solution in the limit of large Weissenberg number. As has been established experimentally, elastic turbulence possesses a boundary layer where the fluid velocity field can be approximated by a steady shear flow with relatively small fluctuations on the top of it. Assuming that at the bottom of the boundary layer the dissolved polymers can be considered as passive objects, we examine analytically and numerically the statistics of the polymer conformation, which is highly non-uniform in the wall-normal direction. Next, imposing the condition that the passive regime terminates at the border of the boundary layer, we obtain an estimate for the ratio of the mean flow to the magnitude of the flow fluctuations. This ratio is determined by the polymer concentration, the radius of gyration of polymers and their length in the fully extended state. The results of our asymptotic analysis reproduce the qualitative features of elastic turbulence at finite Weissenberg numbers.
A cultural neuroscience perspective on North Korean strategic culture
Authors: Friend John M.
Published: September 2018

Given the complexity of the current nuclear age and the absence of work on deterrence under true multipolarity, interdisciplinary models can provide new perspectives on tailored deterrence. Drawing from recent findings in the life sciences, this article offers a cultural neuroscience approach to deterrence decision-making, with special attention given to the ways in which culture interacts with cognition and the security environment to shape behavioral outcomes during conflict. Since North Korea remains largely a “black box” in international relations, a cultural neuroscience perspective can provide valuable insight into the effects of cultural conditioning on perception and cognition within the context of nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. Through an analysis of the bureaucratic and military structures, leadership characteristics, and institutional landscapes shaping North Korean strategic culture, this article examines the influences of historical memory and cultural values, such as collectivism, honor, and face-saving, on political decision-making in Pyongyang.
Effects of chronic heat stress on lactational performance and the transcriptomic profile of blood cells in lactating dairy goats
Authors: Contreras-Jodar Alexandra , Salama Ahmed AK , Hamzaoui Soufiane , Vailati-Riboni Mario , Caja Gerardo , Loor Juan J
Published: September 2018

High temperature is a major stress that negatively affects welfare, health, and productivity of dairy animals. Heat-stressed animals are more prone to disease, suggesting that their immunity is hindered. Although productive and physiologic responses of dairy animals to heat stress are well known, there is still limited information on the response at the transcriptome level. Our objective was to evaluate the changes in performance and blood transcriptomics of dairy goats under heat stress. Eight multiparous Murciano-Granadina dairy goats in mid-lactation were assigned to 1 of 2 climatic treatments for 35 d. Treatments and temperature-humidity index (THI) were: (1) thermal neutral (TN:n= 4; 15–20 °C, 40–45%, THI = 59–65), and (2) heat stress (HS:n= 4; 12 h at 37 °C–40%, THI = 86; 12 h at 30 °C–40%, THI = 77). Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily. Additionally, milk composition was evaluated weekly. Blood samples were collected at d 35 and RNA was extracted for microarray analyses (Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine Genome Array). Differences in rectal temperature and respiratory rate between HS and TN goats were maximal during the first 3 d of the experiment, reduced thereafter, but remained significant throughout the 35-d experimental period. Heat stress reduced feed intake, milk yield, milk protein and milk fat contents by 29, 8, 12, and 13%, respectively. Microarray analysis of blood revealed that 55 genes were up-regulated, whereas 88 were down-regulated by HS. Bioinformatics analysis using the Dynamic Impact Approach revealed that 31 biological pathways were impacted by HS. Pathways associated with leukocyte transendothelial migration, cell adhesion, hematopoietic cell lineage, calcium signaling, and PPAR signaling were negatively impacted by HS, whereas nucleotide metabolism was activated. In conclusion, heat stress not only negatively affected milk production in dairy goats, but also resulted in alterations in the functionality of immune cells, which would make the immune system of heat-stressed goats less capable of fending-off diseases.
How not to be generous to fine-tuning sceptics
Authors: MANSON NEIL A.
Published: September 2018

The fine-tuning argument for the existence of God requires that the probability that the universe is life-permitting if God exists is not nearly as low as the probability that the universe is life-permitting if God does not exist. Recently, some proponents of the fine-tuning argument have reasoned as follows. ‘Stipulate that the probability that there exists a life-permitting universe if God exists is one in a billion. Only the most hardened sceptic would refuse odds like that, right? So one in a billion is more than just fair to those sceptical of the fine-tuning argument. It is generous. Even on that generous assumption, the fine-tuning argument is very strong.’ This article explains why the assumption is not, in fact, generous.