bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manker’s list. Museum collections in the era of deaccessioning and disposal
Authors: Olsen Bjørnar
Published: August 2018

During the last decades debates and concerns over deaccessioning and disposal have affected museums worldwide. At the root of the debate lies the ever more pressing problem with overstocked collection; the consequence of decades and even centuries of allegedly far too liberal and eclectic collecting and acquisition practices. This paper presents some alternative views and argues in favor of such liberal collecting. Taking as its starting point a list of desired museum objects compiled by Swedish curator Ernst Manker, it emphasizes the immense value and unruly power of large and heterogeneous museum collections. By constantly being added to, these assemblages have developed into new and unforeseen becomings that may radically affect and disrupt existing knowledge. The paper also addresses museums as caretakers, offering spaces where things, including those once soiled and broken, can be treated with care and dignity.
Religionskritikk i klasserommet. Fag, kritikk og ontologi i norsk skule
Authors: Brekke Øystein
Published: August 2018

Artikkelen utforskar spørsmålet om religionskritikk i norsk skule med særleg blikk på religions- og livssynsundervisninga i grunnskule (KRLE) og på vidaregåande trinn (RE). Eg tar utgangspunkt i to bidrag av nyare dato til tematikken, frå filosofen Gunnar Skirbekk og religionsvitaren Bengt-Ove Andreassen. Ut frå ei drøfting av religionskritikkens form og funksjon i klasserommet ønskjer eg å retta merksemd mot det didak-tisk sett viktige spørsmålet om skulefagets praktiske ontologi. Med dette meiner eg spørsmålet om kva som grunnleggjande sett får sleppa til som relevante perspektiv og gyldige rammer for skulen sitt KRLE/RE-fag. Det er her viktig at skulefaget ivaretar eit ope arbeids- og samtalerom, som i sin tur inneber eit fagleg perspektiv- og metodemangfald i det didaktiske arbeidet, også i måten ein arbeider med religionskritikk på.Nøkkelord: religionskritikk, fagontologi, religionsdidaktikk, perspektivmangfald, KRLE/REMy text explores the topic of the critique of religion in the Norwegian school system, paying particular attention to the school subject of religion, philosophy and ethics (in Norway: KRLE and RE). I take my departure from two different positions in the field – one a historian of religion, the other a philosopher – in order to focus on the didactically important question of domain ontology. By this I mean the question of what, in terms of basic parameters drawn up for the school subject, is permitted as relevant perspectives and frames of reference for the exploration of religion and world-views in the classroom. My own argument supports sustaining a range of perspectives in our educational praxis, in order to accomodate a complex understanding as well as opening towards a more facetted critique of the phenomena in question.Keywords: the critique of religion, domain ontology, didactics of religion, plurality of perspectives, RE
Kritisere for å forstå? Om hermeneutikk og negativ læring i religionsundervisning
Authors: Fuglseth Kåre
Published: August 2018

Religionskritikk får stadig større plass i vårt fleirreligiøse samfunn og utfordrar religionsundervisning i skule og kyrkje. Artikkelen drøftar kva plass kritikk kan ha i religionsundervisning ved å sjå på sentrale teoretiske sider ved tilhøvet mellom kritikk og forståing som eit didaktisk grunnproblem. Drøftinga går føre seg på bakgrunn av teoritradisjonar i hermeneutikk, kritisk sosiologi og i danningsdidaktikk. Nokre klassiske, didaktiske problemstillingar og løysingar møter teoriar om kritikk generelt og religionskritikk spesielt. Hermeneutisk teori i Gadamers tradisjon får ein nøkkelfunksjon i teoretiseringar av undervisning og læring. Kritikk kjem i mange former, men har to hovudformer, som skiljande (vid tyding) og dømmande (trong tyding). Den særlege læringsverdien av kritiske spørsmål i trong tyding er knytt til rolla åt «negativ» erfaring, for læring er alltid omlæring. Religionskritikk må ein til sist sjå i lys av måla for undervisninga og ut frå danningsmål som både er absolutte og relative eller lukka og opne. Artikkelen konkluderer med at nokre former for kritikk ikkje er eigna i ein slik fleirkulturell didaktikk.Nøkkelord: didaktikk, hermeneutikk, forståing, kritikk, religionskritikk, danning. Abstract:Criticism of religions occupy more and more space in our multireligious society and challenges religious education. The article discusses the place of criticism in religious education by looking at core aspects of the relationship between critical theory and theories of meaning and understanding in an educational context. The theoretical questions involved are derived from hermeneutics in the tradition of Continental philosophy, critical sociology, and the German Bildung-theory. Some classical educational problems and solutions in that regard face theories of criticism generally and criticism of religions specifically. The main thesis defended is that criticism is founded upon understanding, in accordance with the hermeneutic approach by Gadamer, as a general principle for both teaching and learning. Criticism takes several shapes, but has two main forms: a wide (descriptive) and a narrow (judging) sense. The particular role of criticism in the narrow sense for learning is its role as a «negative» experience, since learning is always re-learning. The role of criticism of religions will finally be discussed in light of the overall objective for the school subject, formative objectives that may be seen as both absolute and relative at the same time. The article concludes that some forms of criticism are doubtful in principle in a plural educational system.Keywords: Educational theory, hermeneutics, understanding, critical theory, criticism of religions, Bildung.
Kritisk undervisning i KRLE
Authors: Hammer Aina , Schanke Åge
Published: August 2018

I skolens overordnede styringsdokumenter er kritisk tenkning fremhevet som en sentral ferdighet, og i KRLE-fagets formålsbeskrivelse er det understreket at undervisningen skal være kritisk. I formålet for faget utdypes det ikke ytterligere hva som legges i kritisk undervisning. Denne artikkelen viser hvordan et utvalg lærere forstår kritisk undervisning i KRLE, og setter søkelys på hvordan lærerne begrunner sine forståelser. Det viser seg at lærernes tilnærming til kritisk undervisning kan sees i sammenheng med deres generelle kritikkforståelse, religionsforståelse og hvordan de forstår danningsoppdraget i faget. Nøkkelord: KRLE, kritisk undervisning, kritikk, religionskritikk, danning AbstractIn the school's overall management documents, critical thinking is emphasized as a central skill, and in the KRLE subject's purpose description it is emphasized that teaching must be critical. For the subject’s purpose, it is not further elaborated on what is included in critical teaching. This article shows how a variety of teachers understand critical teaching in KRLE, and focuses on how teachers justify their understanding. It turns out that the teachers' approach to critical teaching can be seen in the context of their general understanding of criticism, understanding of religion and how they understand the formation assignment in the subject.Keywords: Religious education, critical teaching, criticism, criticism of religion, formation
The Peptidisc, a simple method for stabilizing membrane proteins in detergent-free solution
Authors: Carlson Michael Luke , Young John William , Zhao Zhiyu , Fabre Lucien , Jun Daniel , Li Jianing , Li Jun , Dhupar Harveer Singh , Wason Irvin , Mills Allan T , Beatty J Thomas , Klassen John S , Rouiller Isabelle , Duong Franck
Published: August 2018

Membrane proteins are difficult to work with due to their insolubility in aqueous solution and quite often their poor stability in detergent micelles. Here, we present the peptidisc for their facile capture into water-soluble particles. Unlike the nanodisc, which requires scaffold proteins of different lengths and precise amounts of matching lipids, reconstitution of detergent solubilized proteins in peptidisc only requires a short amphipathic bi-helical peptide (NSPr) and no extra lipids. Multiple copies of the peptide wrap around to shield the membrane-exposed part of the target protein. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this ‘one size fits all’ method using five different membrane protein assemblies (MalFGK2, FhuA, SecYEG, OmpF, BRC) during ‘on-column’, ‘in-gel’, and ‘on-bead’ reconstitution embedded within the membrane protein purification protocol. The peptidisc method is rapid and cost-effective, and it may emerge as a universal tool for high-throughput stabilization of membrane proteins to advance modern biological studies.
Acute control of the sleep switch in Drosophila reveals a role for gap junctions in regulating behavioral responsiveness
Authors: Troup Michael , Yap Melvyn HW , Rohrscheib Chelsie , Grabowska Martyna J , Ertekin Deniz , Randeniya Roshini , Kottler Benjamin , Larkin Aoife , Munro Kelly , Shaw Paul J , van Swinderen Bruno
Published: August 2018

Sleep is a dynamic process in most animals, involving distinct stages that probably perform multiple functions for the brain. Before sleep functions can be initiated, it is likely that behavioral responsiveness to the outside world needs to be reduced, even while the animal is still awake. Recent work in Drosophila has uncovered a sleep switch in the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) of the fly’s central brain, but it is not known whether these sleep-promoting neurons also govern the acute need to ignore salient stimuli in the environment during sleep transitions. We found that optogenetic activation of the sleep switch suppressed behavioral responsiveness to mechanical stimuli, even in awake flies, indicating a broader role for these neurons in regulating arousal. The dFB-mediated suppression mechanism and its associated neural correlates requires innexin6 expression, suggesting that the acute need to reduce sensory perception when flies fall asleep is mediated in part by electrical synapses.
A Novel Circular Slotted Microstrip-Fed Patch Antenna with three Triangle Shape Defected Ground Structure for Multiband Applications
Authors: Jaiswal A. , Sarin R. K. , Raj B. , Sukhija S.
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a novel circular slotted rectangular patch antenna with three triangle shape Defected Ground Structure (DGS) has been proposed. Radiating patch is made by cutting circular slots of radius 3 mm from the three sides and center of the conventional rectangular patch structure and three triangle shape defects are presented on the ground layer. The size of the proposed antenna is 38 X 25 mm2. Optimization is performed and simulation results have been obtained using Empire XCcel 5.51 software. Thus, a miniaturized antenna is designed which has three impedance bandwidths of 0.957 GHz,  0.779 GHz, 0.665 GHz with resonant frequencies at 3.33 GHz, 6.97 GHz and 8.59 GHz and the corresponding return loss at the three resonant frequencies are -40 dB, -43 dB and -38.71 dB respectively. A prototype is also fabricated and tested. Fine agreement between the measured and simulated results has been obtained. It has been observed that introducing three triangle shape defects on the ground plane results in increased bandwidth, less return loss, good radiation pattern and better impedance matching over the required operating bands which can be used for wireless applications and future 5G applications.
Spatial and temporal shifts in the diet of the barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus within a subtropical estuary
Authors: Freeman Christopher J. , Janiak Dean S. , Mossop Malcolm , Osman Richard , Paul Valerie J.
Published: August 2018

The success of many sessile invertebrates in marine benthic communities is linked to their ability to efficiently remove suspended organic matter from the surrounding water column. To investigate the diet of the barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus, a dominant suspension feeder within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) of central Florida, we compared the stable isotopes ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of barnacle tissue to those of particulate organic matter (POM). Collections were carried out quarterly for a year from 29 permanent sites and at sites impacted by an Aureoumbra lagunensis bloom. δ13C and δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus varied across sites, but δ15N was more stable over time. There was a range of δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus tissue from 6.0‰ to 10.5‰ across sites. Because land-based sources such as sewage are generally enriched in 15N, this suggests a continuum of anthropogenic influence across sites in the IRL. Over 70% of the variation in δ15N values of Amphibalanus eburneus across sites was driven by the δ15N values of POM, supporting a generalist feeding strategy on available sources of suspended organic matter. The dominance of this generalist consumer in the IRL may be linked to its ability to consume spatially and temporally variable food resources derived from natural and anthropogenic sources, as well as Aureoumbra lagunensis cells. Generalist consumers such as Amphibalanus eburneus serve an important ecological role in this ecosystem and act as a sentinel species and recorder of local, site-specific isotopic baselines.
Superconducting Qubits
Authors: Il'ichev Evgeni , Oelsner Gregor
Published: August 2018

Superconducting qubits were initially developed with the goal of realizing a superposition of macroscopically distinct quantum states by exploiting superconducting circuits. This basic idea resulted from the quantum mechanical description of the Josephson junction, the key element for producing superconducting qubits. Because the phase across a Josephson junction and its charge are canonical conjugates, there are two alternative realizations of superconducting qubits. The first one is based on the charge degree of freedom, termed charge qubit. The second utilizes the phase (or flux) degree of freedom and correspondingly are called phase (flux) qubits. Nowadays, the most robust superconducting qubit is the transmon. In practical applications, quantum state initialization and manipulations are heavily restricted by the quantum coherence of the qubit itself and of the qubit‐based systems. The main source of decoherence is interactions with the environment. Their relatively large values result from the macroscopic size of the quantum bits. Still, their circuit architecture enables the implementation of different types of coupling schemes between superconducting qubits and qubit‐resonator systems. The handling of superconducting quantum structures requires special experimental methods, including qubit fabrication, cooling to milliKelvin temperatures, experimental characterization, and readout. Concerning applications, superconducting qubits are promising candidates for both quantum simulators and universal quantum computing. This article covers a description of basic types of superconducting qubits and gives a general description of their use that includes dissipation and decoherence, coupling schemes, experimental realization, and basic measurement techniques. Finally, their use as building blocks for the realization of quantum computation is discussed.
Photoinduced Orientation‐Dependent Interlayer Carrier Transportation in Cross‐Stacked Black Phosphorus van der Waals Junctions
Authors: Xin Wei , Jiang Hao‐Bo , Li Xiao‐Kuan , Zhou Xiang‐Feng , Lu Jin‐Long , Yang Jian‐Jun , Guo ChunLei , Liu Zhi‐Bo , Tian Jian‐Guo
Published: August 2018

A combination of different 2D layered materials by van der Waals (vdW) stacking or lateral splicing provides the basic building blocks for dynamic behavior researches of interlayer carriers. Anisotropic materials, recently, have further attracted attentions in this field because of their supply of freedoms for regulating the performance of electro‐optical devices, whereas detailed characteristics and mechanisms of interlayer carrier transportation in these materials need remain to be revealed. Here, by using the photoassisted field effect and scanning photocurrent imaging measurements, it is demonstrated that the photoinduced interlayer carrier transportation in cross‐stacked black phosphorus (BP) vdW junctions is strongly dependent on the crystal orientation and stacking morphology. Type‐I and II band alignments are respectively predicted in the BP junctions with parallel and vertical crystal orientation stacking. The interlayer carrier transportation with both vertical and lateral modes is observed within only one sample. Combined first principle calculation with band theory analyses, the small band offset for holes and tunneling effect play key roles during the interlayer transportation. These results highlight the importance of crystal orientation of materials in vdW junctions and provide insights, both experimentally and theoretically, into engineering and design of orientation‐based nanodevices.
Optical Performance Study of Gyroid‐Structured TiO2 Photonic Crystals Replicated from Natural Templates Using a Sol‐Gel Method
Authors: Wu Liping , Wang Wanlin , Zhang Wang , Su Huilan , Gu Jiajun , Liu Qinglei , Zhang Di , Pantelić Dejan , Jelenković Branislav
Published: August 2018

Photonic crystals with novel nanostructures have attracted huge attention due to their potential applications in manipulation of light propagation and next‐generation energy and information technologies. In this work, TiO2 photonic crystals with 3D bicontinuous gyroid structure in visible light wavelength range are successfully fabricated by templating from natural templates using a sol‐gel method. This is the first time to report controlling the volume fraction (VF) through regulating the rinsing time of templates in the sol‐gel precursor. Gyroid‐structured TiO2 photonic crystals (GTPCs) with different VFs, 3.2, 8.0, and 13.5% are obtained. Combined with finite‐difference time‐domain simulations, the photonic bandgap properties of the GTPCs are systematically studied. Based on this work, one step is moved further toward the exploitation of the optical performance of the GTPCs in visible light wavelength range beyond the previous simulation works.
Vibrational Coupling between Organic and Inorganic Sublattices of Hybrid Perovskites
Authors: Grechko Maksim , Bretschneider Simon A. , Vietze Laura , Kim Heejae , Bonn Mischa
Published: August 2018

The interplay of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom in semiconductor hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites determines many of their fundamental photophysical properties. For instance, charge carriers are dressed with phonons, that is, form polarons, and combination modes composed of strongly mixed localized vibrations and delocalized phonons can provide pathways for electronic energy relaxation and dissipation. Mixing of the different types of nuclear motion in vibrational combination modes requires their strong coupling. The direct measurement of coupling between the high‐frequency N−H stretch modes of the organic methylammonium and formamidinium ions and low‐frequency Pb−I phonon modes of the inorganic sub‐lattice in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites is presented. The results reveal direct and substantial coupling between the non‐covalently interacting organic and inorganic sub‐lattices.
Low‐Temperature Thermal Rate Constants for the Water Formation Reaction H2+OH from Rigorous Quantum Dynamics Calculations
Authors: Welsch Ralph
Published: August 2018

Thermal rate constants for the prototypical water‐forming reaction H2+OH→H+H2O were obtained for temperatures between 150 K and 600 K by rigorous quantum dynamics calculations including all degrees of freedom. Results are reported for a recent, highly accurate neural network potential (NN1) and compared to results obtained on a previous, semi‐empirical potential (SE). The rate constants computed on both potentials significantly differ in their temperature dependence, and differences of over one order of magnitude in the rates were found. The rate constants computed for the NN1 potential compare very well to experimental work. Furthermore, the influence of overall rotation is discussed for the title reaction. While previous close‐coupling simulations were limited to thermal rate constants above room temperature, we report rate constants for temperatures as low as 250 K. The high‐level results reported here provide an accurate benchmark for the development of approximate methods for the calculation of thermal as well as microcanonical rate constants.
Rationally Designed Fluorescence .OH Probe with High Sensitivity and Selectivity for Monitoring the Generation of .OH in Iron Autoxidation without Addition of H2O2
Authors: Li Hongyu , Li Xiaohua , Shi Wen , Xu Yanhui , Ma Huimin
Published: August 2018

The first sensitive fluorescence .OH probe (1) that is capable of monitoring the generation of trace .OH in iron autoxidation is presented. The probe 1 was designed by utilizing both the unique aromatic hydroxylation and the electrophilicity of .OH, and prepared by incorporating a strong electron‐donating methoxy group into a cyanine fluorochrome to enhance the trapping ability for .OH. Reaction of 1 with .OH leads to a larger π‐conjugation formation and near‐infrared fluorescence off–on response. The capability of probe 1 has been demonstrated by imaging .OH generated in living cells under iron autoxidation as well as various stimuli, which reveals that the basal level of .OH in RAW 264.7 cells is lower than that in HeLa cells. The superior analytical performance of probe 1 makes it useful for detecting trace .OH in some critical physiological and pathological processes associated with iron autoxidation.
Compatibilizing and reinforcing an immiscible blend based on poly(lactic acid) with delaminated graphite: From raw graphite to enhanced polymer mechanical properties
Authors: Komrapit Nopparat , Punyodom Winita , Worajittiphon Patnarin
Published: August 2018

The centrifugation–filtration method is widely applied to the delamination of layered fillers for polymer reinforcement. However, it is a time‐consuming, multistep procedure and offers low product yield. In this study, a simple mechanical grinding process was used as a delamination method for raw graphite. For the first time, without centrifugation and the removal of the graphite precipitate, the incorporation of the entire ground graphite obtained from the grinding process into a poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) immiscible blend was capable of improving the polymer mechanical properties. The composites obtained displayed an enhancement of either the ductility or strength, depending on the loaded ground graphite content. The blend films uniquely exhibited an enhanced elongation at break because of the PLA–PBAT compatibilizing role of the delaminated graphite at a low loading (0.1 phr). With the higher content of ground graphite (0.5–3 phr), the Young's modulus of the blend increased to achieve the value predicted by the Halpin–Tsai equation. Mechanical grinding required only a small amount of delamination medium without the aid of surfactants and harsh preparation conditions and, thus, was promisingly simple, cost effective, general, high yield, and practically scalable. The use of a low filler content rendered it potentially extendable to the delamination of other layered fillers available in limited amounts for high‐mechanical‐performance polymer composites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46821.
Recent Advances in Radical‐Enabled Bicyclization and Annulation/1,n‐Bifunctionalization Reactions
Authors: Huang Min‐Hua , Hao Wen‐Juan , Jiang Bo
Published: August 2018

Over the past few years, the development of new radical reactions has gained considerable momentum. Most such radical transformations heavily depend on the in situ generation of reactive radical species, initiated by oxidants, metal salts, visible‐light photocatalysis, or electrocatalysis. In this context, numerous radical‐enabled bicyclization and annulation/1,n‐bifunctionalization reactions have been developed, thereby providing efficient synthetic strategies for the assembly of functionalized cyclic rings that contain both heterocyclic and isocyclic skeletons. In this Focus Review, we highlight recent progress in this rapidly growing area by presenting a series of catalytic oxidative reactions, along with their reaction mechanisms and applications.
The Next Generation of Anticancer Metallopharmaceuticals: Cancer Stem Cell‐Active Inorganics
Authors: Laws Kristine , Suntharalingam Kogularamanan
Published: August 2018

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are heavily linked to fatal incidences of cancer relapse and metastasis. Conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are largely futile against CSCs. Therefore, highly original approaches are needed to overcome CSCs and to provide durable, long‐term clinical outcomes. Many academia‐ and pharmaceutical‐led studies aimed at developing chemical or biological anti‐CSC agents are ongoing; however, the application of inorganic compounds is rare. In this minireview, we discuss how the chemical diversity and versatility offered by metals has been harnessed to develop an unprecedented, emerging class of metallopharmaceuticals: CSC‐active inorganics. A detailed account of their mechanism(s) of action is provided, and possible future directions for exploration are also put forward.
RhIII‐Catalyzed Functionalization of closo‐Dodecaborates by Selective B−H Activation: Bypassing Competitive C−H Activation
Authors: Zhang Yuanbin , Wang Tao , Wang Lingyao , Sun Yuji , Lin Furong , Liu Jiyong , Duttwyler Simon
Published: August 2018

The closo‐dodecaborate dianion is a fundamental icosahedral boron cage with 12 identical B−H vertices. The chemistry and applications of boron clusters have inspired researchers ever since their discovery several decades ago, and the selective modification of the cage positions has remained a major synthetic challenge. A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed B−H functionalization–cyclization cascade of closo‐dodecaborate amides is reported. The transformations occur chemoselectively at B−H positions in the presence of C−H bonds prone to competitive cyclometalation. Previously inaccessible cage derivatives with B−C(sp2) and B−C(sp3) bonds as well as a fused diboraoxazole ring are obtained in a one‐pot process. The reactions proceed under mild conditions and exhibit complete cage regioselectivity with broad functional group tolerance. These cluster derivatives enable a largely extended investigation of the application of anionic boron clusters in research areas such as photoluminescent materials and medicinal chemistry.
In Silico Prediction of Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability of Compounds by Machine Learning and Resampling Methods
Authors: Wang Zhuang , Yang Hongbin , Wu Zengrui , Wang Tianduanyi , Li Weihua , Tang Yun , Liu Guixia
Published: August 2018

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) as a part of absorption protects the central nervous system by separating the brain tissue from the bloodstream. In recent years, BBB permeability has become a critical issue in chemical ADMET prediction, but almost all models were built using imbalanced data sets, which caused a high false‐positive rate. Therefore, we tried to solve the problem of biased data sets and built a reliable classification model with 2358 compounds. Machine learning and resampling methods were used simultaneously for the refinement of models with both 2 D molecular descriptors and molecular fingerprints to represent the chemicals. Through a series of evaluation, we realized that resampling methods such as Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and SMOTE+edited nearest neighbor could effectively solve the problem of imbalanced data sets and that MACCS fingerprint combined with support vector machine performed the best. After the final construction of a consensus model, the overall accuracy rate was increased to 0.966 for the final external data set. Also, the accuracy rate of the model for the test set was 0.919, with an excellent balanced capacity of 0.925 (sensitivity) to predict BBB‐positive compounds and of 0.899 (specificity) to predict BBB‐negative compounds. Compared with other BBB classification models, our models reduced the rate of false positives and were more robust in prediction of BBB‐positive as well as BBB‐negative compounds, which would be quite helpful in early drug discovery.
Origin of Nb2O5 Lewis Acid Catalysis for Activation of Carboxylic Acids in the Presence of a Hard Base
Authors: Hirunsit Pussana , Toyao Takashi , Siddiki S. M. A. Hakim , Shimizu Kenichi , Ehara Masahiro
Published: August 2018

The Nb2O5 surface catalyzes the amidation of carboxylic acids with amines through Nb5+ Lewis acid activation of the C=O group. In this work, DFT calculations were applied to theoretically investigate the C=O bond activation of a model carboxylic acid (acetic acid) on θ‐Al2O3(110), anatase TiO2(101), and T‐Nb2O5(100) surfaces. The adsorption sites, adsorption energies, reaction energy barriers, electronic properties, and vibrational frequency of acetic acid were examined in detail. It was found that the bond activation of the carbonyl group is most efficient on Nb2O5, although the adsorption energy is larger on Al2O3 and TiO2. The most efficient C=O bond activation on Nb2O5 results in the lowest energy barrier of C−N bond formation during amidation. The Nb2O5 surface also shows larger tolerance to methylamine and water molecules than Al2O3 and TiO2 surfaces. These crucial factors contribute to the highest amidation catalytic reactivity on Nb2O5. Furthermore, the position of the mean density of states of the d‐conduction band of the active metal site relative to the Fermi energy level correlates well with the efficiency in the C=O bond activation and, consequently, the catalytic activity for amidation. These results suggest that, unlike a classical understanding of strong acid sites of metal oxide surfaces, interaction of a carbonyl HOMO with an unoccupied metal d‐orbital, or, in other words, covalent‐like interaction between a carbonyl group and metal adsorption site, is relevant to the present system.
flowIO: Flow cytometry standard conformance testing, editing, and export tool
Authors: Koblížek Miroslav , Lebedeva Anastasia , Fišer Karel
Published: August 2018

The Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) format is a widely accepted norm for storing Flow Cytometry (FCM) data. Its goal as a standard is to allow FCM data sharing and re‐analysis. Over more than three decades of its existence FCS has evolved into a well‐defined, flexible file format reflecting technical changes in the FCM field. Its flexibility as well as rising numbers of instrument vendors leads to suboptimal implementations of FCS in some cases. Such situations compromise the primary goal of the standard and hinder the ability to reproduce FCM analyses. It is further underlined by rapid rise of advanced FCM analyses, often carried out outside traditional software tools and heavily relying on standard data storage and presentation. We have developed flowIO, an R package which tests FCS file conformance with the standard as defined by International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) normative. Along with the package we provide a web based application (also at http://bioinformin.cesnet.cz/flowIO/) allowing user friendly access to the conformance testing as well as FCS file editing and export for further analysis.
The health care reform in Portugal: Outcomes from both the New Public Management and the economic crisis
Authors: Nunes Alexandre Morais , Ferreira Diogo Cunha
Published: August 2018

The Portuguese health system concentrates most of its activity in a National Health Service, created in 1979 to promote universal and general access. The National Health Service should ensure equity, efficiency, and quality of all health care delivered services. This study assesses the impact of health care policies between 2002 and 2017, focusing on 3 timeframes: the adoption and adaptation of New Public Management principles to the health care sector (2002 to 2010), the economic and financial crisis period (2011‐2015), and the postcrisis recovery period (2016‐2017). The current study evaluates the main policy measures in the health sector, presenting their impacts in terms of access, efficiency, accountability, and costs over those 3 economic periods. It was verified that not all the measures implemented by the successive governments obtained the desired outcomes, generating even costs increase, apart from the austerity period in which health expenditure showed a significant reduction because of the financial constraints.
Circulating plasma phospholipid fatty acids and risk of pancreatic cancer in a large European cohort
Authors: Matejcic M. , Lesueur F. , Biessy C. , Renault A.L. , Mebirouk N. , Yammine S. , Keski‐Rahkonen P. , Li K. , Hémon B. , Weiderpass E. , Rebours V. , Boutron‐Ruault M.C. , Carbonnel F. , Kaaks R. , Katzke V. , Kuhn T. , Boeing H. , Trichopoulou A. , Palli D. , Agnoli C. , Panico S. , Tumino R. , Sacerdote C. , Quirós J.R. , Duell E.J. , Porta M. , Sánchez M.J. , Chirlaque M.D. , Barricarte A. , Amiano P. , Ye W. , Peeters P.H. , Khaw K.T. , Perez‐Cornago A. , Key T.J. , Bueno‐de‐Mesquita H.B. , Riboli E. , Vineis P. , Romieu I. , Gunter M.J. , Chajès V.
Published: August 2018

There are both limited and conflicting data on the role of dietary fat and specific fatty acids in the development of pancreatic cancer. In this study, we investigated the association between plasma phospholipid fatty acids and pancreatic cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. The fatty acid composition was measured by gas chromatography in plasma samples collected at recruitment from375 incident pancreatic cancer cases and375 matched controls. Associations of specific fatty acids with pancreatic cancer risk were evaluated using multivariable conditional logistic regression models with adjustment for established pancreatic cancer risk factors. Statistically significant inverse associations were found between pancreatic cancer incidence and levels of heptadecanoic acid (ORT3‐T1[odds ratio for highest versus lowest tertile] =0.63; 95%CI[confidence interval] = 0.41–0.98;ptrend= 0.036), n‐3 polyunsaturated α‐linolenic acid (ORT3‐T1= 0.60; 95%CI = 0.39–0.92;ptrend= 0.02) and docosapentaenoic acid (ORT3‐T1= 0.52; 95%CI = 0.32–0.85;ptrend= 0.008). Industrial trans‐fatty acids were positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk among men (ORT3‐T1= 3.00; 95%CI = 1.13–7.99;ptrend= 0.029), while conjugated linoleic acids were inversely related to pancreatic cancer among women only (ORT3‐T1= 0.37; 95%CI = 0.17–0.81;ptrend= 0.008). Among current smokers, the long‐chain n‐6/n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio was positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk (ORT3‐T1= 3.40; 95%CI = 1.39–8.34;ptrend= 0.007). Results were robust to a range of sensitivity analyses. Our findings suggest that higher circulating levels of saturated fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be related to lower risk of pancreatic cancer. The influence of some fatty acids on the development of pancreatic cancer may be sex‐specific and modulated by smoking.
Aging‐related anorexia and its association with disability and frailty
Authors: Tsutsumimoto Kota , Doi Takehiko , Makizako Hyuma , Hotta Ryo , Nakakubo Sho , Makino Keitaro , Suzuki Takao , Shimada Hiroyuki
Published: August 2018

Background

Anorexia of ageing may be a precursor to various geriatric syndromes. We elucidated whether anorexia of ageing had a significant impact on incident disability and investigated whether anorexia of ageing had a direct association with future disability or an indirect association with disability via frailty.

Methods

This study employed an observational, longitudinal, cohort design in a community setting. Participants were 4393 older adults (75.9 ± 4.3 years). Anorexia of ageing was assessed by a simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire. Frailty was operationalized as slowness, weakness, exhaustion, low physical activity, and weight loss. Participants who had none of these characteristics were considered robust, those with one or two characteristics were considered pre‐frail, and those with three or more characteristics were considered frail. We examined sociodemographic variables (age, sex, and education), medical history (medication and chronic disease history), lifestyle factors (smoking and drinking habits and living arrangement), body mass index, blood nutrition data, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and cognitive functioning.

Results

The prevalence of anorexia of ageing was 10.7% (n = 468). The proportion of physical frailty, pre‐frailty, and robustness were 8.4, 52.0, and 39.6%, respectively, in the without anorexia of ageing group, and 20.3, 57.7, and 22.0%, respectively, in the anorexia of ageing group (P < 0.001). During a 2‐year follow‐up, the prevalence proportion of disability was 5.6% in the without anorexia of ageing group and 10.7% in the anorexia of ageing group (P < 0.001). Adjusted for covariates (except for frailty status), the participants with anorexia of ageing had an independently associated higher risk of incident disability compared with those without anorexia of ageing (hazard ratio: 1.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.95, P = 0.03). However, adjusted for covariates (including frailty status), anorexia of ageing was not significantly associated with incident disability (P = 0.09). Structural equation models revealed that anorexia of ageing had no direct effect on disability; however, anorexia of ageing was associated with frailty.

Conclusions

Older adults with anorexia of ageing had a higher proportion of frailty and a higher prevalence proportion of disability compared with those without anorexia of ageing. Although anorexia of ageing may not have a direct effect on incident disability, the structural equation model suggests an indirect relationship between anorexia of ageing and incident disability via frailty status.
Preparation of a radiolabeled GnRH‐I analogue derivative with 111In as a new anti‐proliferative agent
Authors: Zoghi Masoumeh , Nosrati Sima Attar , Rogni Faramarz , Rajabifar Saaed
Published: August 2018

The new GnRH‐Ιanalogue developed in this paper was based on the D‐Trp6‐GnRH‐Ι‐scaffold, and its potency was increased by the replacement Gly‐NH2 by NH‐NH2 binding to the Gly at position 10. Triptorelin‐Hydrazide analogue was synthesized using solid phase. For 111In labeling, synthesized peptide was followed by conjugation with DOTA using pSCN‐Bn‐DOTA. The conjugated Triptorelin‐Hydrazide was labeled with 500‐550 MBq of 111In‐chloride (in 0.2 M HCl). At optimized conditions after labeling, radio‐chromatography showed radiochemical purity of approximately equal to 98% (RTLC) and greater than 95% (HPLC). The serum stability of the tracer was determined up to 24 hr. Binding affinities of Triptorelin‐Hydrazide analogue were determined in a binding assay for both human and rat GnRH receptors. For in vivo studies, 111In‐peptide was injected intravenously via the tail vein into rats and significant ovaries uptake consist with reported GnRH receptor mappings. In vitro radioligand binding assays performed with GnRHR‐expressing human cell lines using 125I‐Triptorelin as the standard radioligand. The quantities of internalization efficiency and receptor affinity of the new radioligand were IC50 = 0.20 ± 0.04 nM vs 0.13 ± 0.08 nM for Triptorelin and internalization: 3.5 ± 0.9% at 1 hr and 12.8 ± 1.8% at 4 hr of the internal reference.
Polarity of the Fano Resonance in the Near‐Field Magnetic‐Dipole Response of a Dielectric Particle Near a Conductive Surface
Authors: Khromova Irina , Sayanskiy Andrey , Uryutin Andrey , Evlyukhin Andrey B.
Published: August 2018

Fano resonances are observed in the near‐field electric‐field spectra of dielectric particles sustaining magnetic dipole resonances and located in the vicinity of a conductive surface (reflector). The polarity of these Fano resonances is defined by the relative positions of the resonant particle, the observation points, and the reflector. This paper studies two cases corresponding to common near‐field measurement techniques, where the electric field is detected by aperture‐based probes and scattering probes. In the first case, as the particle moves away from the reflector, the polarity of the observed Fano resonance reverses every quarter‐of‐a‐wavelength of the particle's magnetic resonance. In the second case, in addition to the periodic change of polarity, a phase shift of π is detected between the fields detected at the opposite sides of the resonant particle. This work proves, theoretically, that the observed Fano resonance polarities arise due to the interference between the external electric‐field standing wave and the resonant fields generated by the particle's magnetic dipole moment. The findings are supported by a recent terahertz experiment and the gigahertz experiment presented in this paper.
Neurological lower urinary tract dysfunction essential terminology
Authors: Gajewski Jerzy B. , Drake Marcus J.
Published: August 2018

Aims

To introduce basic concepts and definitions in the International Continence Society (ICS) Standardisation of Terminology in adult Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD).

Methods

Fundamental terminology in the ICS Standardisation of Terminology of Adult NLUTD was identified and summarized.

Results

NLUTD is often associated with impairment of cognitive, motor, sensory, and/or autonomic functions. Lesions are categorized into suprapontine, pontine/suprasacral spinal, sacral spinal, cauda equina/peripheral nerve, or mixed lesions. People affected with neurological disease are also at risk of the conditions seen in the general population, such as benign prostate enlargement. Symptoms of NLUTD include alterations in bladder or urethral sensation and incontinence. Loss of urine can result from incontinence, involuntary passing of urine and factors that impair toilet use, incorporating problems such as impaired cognition urinary incontinence, impaired mobility urinary incontinence, and voiding dysregulation. Signs may be discerned by physical examination and recording of a frequency volume chart or bladder diary. Urodynamic observations during filling cystometry may include altered sensations, neurogenic detrusor overactivity, and reduced bladder compliance. During pressure flow studies, there may be detrusor underactivity or bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). BOO may be caused by various forms poorly co‐ordinated muscle activity in the bladder outlet. Symptoms, signs, and urodynamic observations may be useful in diagnosing the presence and specific location of neurological impairment.

Conclusion

The review provides a succinct summary of symptoms, signs, and urodynamic observations as set out in the ICS Standard on Adult NLUTD.
The fundamentals of chronic pelvic pain assessment, based on international continence society recommendations
Authors: Rana Neha , Drake Marcus J. , Rinko Rebecca , Dawson Melissa , Whitmore Kristene E.
Published: August 2018

Aims

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is defined as a noncyclical pain that has duration of at least 6 months and can lead to decreased quality of life and physical performance. The pain can be attributed to problems in the pelvic organs and/or problems in related systems, and possible psycho‐social attributes may contribute to the manifestation. Due to the complex nature, CPP syndromes are multifactorial and the terminology needs to reflect the setting.

Methods

The current review is a synthesis of key aspects of the recent International Continence Society Standardization for Terminology in CPP Syndromes.

Results

Nine domains can be used for a detailed description of CPP. They include four domains specific to the pelvic organs (lower urinary tract, female genital, male genital, gastrointestinal), two related to other sources of pain which may be perceived in the pelvis (musculoskeletal, neurological) and three which may influence the response to the pain or its impact on the individual (psychological, sexual, and comorbidities). For an individual patient with CPP, each domain should be reviewed in terms of symptoms and signs, noting that positive findings could reflect either a primary cause or a secondary consequence. The findings will guide further evaluations and subsequent treatment.

Conclusion

We present a synthesis of the standard for terminology in CPP syndromes in women and men, which serves as a systematic framework to consider possible sources of pain (pelvic organs or other sources) and the individual responses and impact.
Current natural therapies in the treatment against glioblastoma
Authors: Erices José Ignacio , Torres Ángelo , Niechi Ignacio , Bernales Isabel , Quezada Claudia
Published: August 2018

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor, which causes the highest number of deaths worldwide. It is a highly vascularized tumor, infiltrative, and its tumorigenic capacity is exacerbated. All these hallmarks are therapeutic targets in GBM treatment, including surgical removal followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Current therapies have not been sufficient for the effective patient's management, so the classic therapies have had to expand and incorporate new alternative treatments, including natural compounds. This review summarizes natural products and their physiological effects in in vitro and in vivo models of GBM, specifically by modulating signaling pathways involved in angiogenesis, cell migration/invasion, cell viability, apoptosis, and chemoresistance. The most important aspects of natural products and their derivatives were described in relation to its antitumoral effects. As a final result, it can be obtained that within the compounds with more evidence that supports or suggests its clinical use are the cannabinoids, terpenes, and curcumin, because many have been shown to have a significant effect in decreasing the progress of GBM through known mechanisms, such as chemo‐sensitization or decrease migration and cell invasion. Natural compounds emerge as promising therapies to attack the progress of GBM.
Deformation of Earth Materials: Six Easy Pieces
Authors: EVANS BRIAN , DRESEN GEORG
Published: August 2018

Detailed knowledge of rheology is critical to understanding tectonic processes. Laboratory experiments to determine the strength of rocks have provided quantitative bounds on the strength of the crust and mantle. This knowledge has allowed computation of large scale deformation in the asthenosphere, given guidance in interpreting field structures, and improved our knowledge of the earthquake process. Progress has been particularly rapid in some areas: the effect of point defect chemistry on high temperature strength; the effect of water on rock strength, recrystallization and grain boundary processes; deformation processes in two‐phase materials; the application of linear elastic fracture mechanics; and the physics of rock friction and instability. Further progress requires increased knowledge of the effect of fluids and fluid flow on strength; of the ways in which chemical reactions and deformation interact, and of the physics and kinetics of deformation mechanisms