bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leupaxin Promotes Bladder Cancer Proliferation, Metastasis, and Angiogenesis Through the PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Hou Teng , Zhou Lijie , Wang Longwang , Kazobinka Gallina , Chen Yumao , Zhang Xiaoping , Chen Zhaohui 
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Leupaxin (LPXN) is a member of the paxillin protein family. Several studies have reported that LPXN regulates cancer development; however, the role of LPXN in bladder cancer remains unknown. Methods: The expression of LPXN in bladder cancer cells and tissues was determined by real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The biological role of LPXN in bladder cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis was explored both in vitro and in vivo. Results: LPXN expression was elevated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues and normal urothelial cells. High LPXN expression was correlated with large tumor size, advanced tumor stage, and poor survival in bladder cancer patients. Overexpression of LPXN significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of bladder cancer cells, while suppressing LPXN had the opposite effects. The impact on tumor progression was abolished by inhibiting PI3K/ AKT signaling pathway. We further demonstrated that LPXN probably up-regulated S100P via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Conclusions: LPXN may facilitate bladder cancer progression by upregulating the expression of S100P via PI3K/AKT pathway. These results provide a novel insight into the role of LPXN in tumorigenesis and progression of bladder cancer and potential therapeutic target of bladder cancer.
LncRNA LINC00311 Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of Osteoclasts in Osteoporotic Rats Through the Notch Signaling Pathway by Targeting DLL3
Authors: Wang Yu , Luo Tian-Bao , Liu Long , Cui Zhi-Qiang
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Osteoporosis is a commonly occurring condition marked by a loss of bone density. Previous evidence has highlighted the roles played by microRNAs as potential treatment tools for the disease. At present, the influence of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on the progression of osteoporosis remains largely unclear. Thus, an investigation was conducted into the target relationship between LINC00311, which has been reported to be highly expressed in osteoporosis, and delta-like 3 (DLL3), which is involved in the Notch signaling pathway, in connection with a series of bioinformatic methods. An osteoporotic rat model was established by means of ovariectomy (OVX) to evaluate the influence exerted by DLL3-binding LINC00311 on osteoclasts through the Notch signaling pathway. Methods: Osteoclasts were extracted from osteoporotic rats and transfected with the LINC00311-vector, shRNA-LINC00311, Notch activator, or a combination of the Notch activator and LINC00311-vector. Western blotting and RT-qPCR techniques were applied to determine the expression levels of LINC00311, DLL3, Notch1, Notch2, Jagged1, Hes-1 and TRAP in tissues and cells, while cell activity was detected by MTT assay. The cell cycle as well as the rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The successfully established osteoporotic rats were designated into the OVX-siRNA, OVX-LINC00311 and OVX-control groups to observe the effects of LINC00311 on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Results: Cells transfected with the LINC00311-vector exhibited increased expression levels of Notch2 and TRPA as well as increased cell activity, while decreased expression levels of DLL3, Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes-1, along with a decreased cell apoptosis rate, were observed. The opposite tendencies of these parameters were observed in the cells treated with shRNA-LINC00311. A key observation was made when the Notch signaling pathway was activated, in that the cell activity was decreased while the rate of apoptosis increased. In comparison with the OVX-control group, the expression levels of LINC00311, Notch2 and TRAP as well as the positive expression rate of TRAP all exhibited reductions, while those of DLL3, Jagged1 and Notch1 were elevated in the OVX-siRNA group. Compared with those in the sham group, in the OVX-control and OVX-LINC00311 groups, LINC00311 and the expression levels of Notch2 and TRAP were increased; however, decreased levels of DLL3, Jagged1 and Notch1 were noted. Conclusions: Taken together, the key findings of the present study suggest that LINC00311 induces proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of osteoclasts via the regulation of the Notch signaling pathway by inhibiting DLL3 expression, ultimately demonstrating that LINC00311 and its target gene DLL3 may serve as independent factors in cases of osteoporosis.
Lefort para além de Merleau-Ponty
Authors: Moutinho Luiz Damon Santos
Published: July 2018

O artigo sustenta que uma alternativa fecunda de leitura da obra de Lefort é tomá-la a partir de uma oposição entre filosofia da história e filosofia política. Pois, aparentemente, a filosofia política madura de Lefort só se constitui a partir do momento em que ele se liberta da possibilidade da filosofia da história.
Sobre os limites da razão: um diálogo entre Lefort e Merleau-Ponty
Authors: Moura Alex De Campos
Published: July 2018

Neste artigo procuramos fazer um breve comentário a respeito da leitura proposta por Lefort sobre o pensamento de Merleau-Ponty, buscando circunscrever e problematizar a forma pela qual ele reconhece no filósofo a manutenção tácita de um primado da razão, resquício de uma figura clássica do intelectualismo. Propomos discutir alguns dos eixos dessa interpretação, especialmente aqueles relacionados à compreensão merleau-pontyana sobre o corpo.
Lefort e Maquiavel: Ontologia e História
Authors: Adverse Helton
Published: July 2018

O objetivo desse texto é identificar alguns dos aspectos mais salientes da interpretação de Maquiavel apresentada por Claude Lefort, sobretudo em Le travail de l’œuvre Machiavel, dando especial atenção ao tema do conflito entre os humores. A partir daí, o trabalho visa mostrar que a original leitura lefortiana implica algumas importantes diferenças no que concerne à concepção do político e da escrita política, às quais podem ser melhor apreendidas quando referidas às noções de ontologia e história.
Hepatocyte-Specific SR-BI Gene Transfer Corrects Cardiac Dysfunction in
Scarb1
-Deficient Mice and Improves Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Muthuramu Ilayaraja , Amin Ruhul , Aboumsallem Joseph Pierre , Mishra Mudit , Robinson Emma Louise , De Geest Bart
Published: July 2018

Objective—

We investigated the hypothesis that HDL (high-density lipoprotein) dysfunction in
Scarb1
−/−
mice negatively affects cardiac function both in the absence and in the presence of pressure overload. Second, we evaluated whether normalization of HDL metabolism in
Scarb1
−/−
mice by hepatocyte-specific SR-BI (scavenger receptor class B, type I) expression after E1E3E4-deleted adenoviral AdSR-BI (E1E3E4-deleted adenoviral vector expressing SR-BI protein in hepatocytes) transfer abrogates the effects of total body SR-BI deficiency on cardiac structure and function.

Approach and Results—

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham operation was performed at the age of 14 weeks, 2 weeks after saline injection or after gene transfer with AdSR-BI or with the control vector Adnull. Mortality rate in
Scarb1
−/−
TAC mice was significantly increased compared with wild-type TAC mice during 8 weeks of follow-up (hazard ratio, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.14–3.61). Hepatocyte-specific SR-BI gene transfer performed 2 weeks before induction of pressure overload by TAC potently reduced mortality in
Scarb1
−/−
mice (hazard ratio, 0.329; 95% CI, 0.180–0.600). Hepatocyte-specific SR-BI expression abrogated increased cardiac hypertrophy and lung congestion and counteracted increased myocardial apoptosis and interstitial and perivascular fibrosis in
Scarb1
−/−
TAC mice.
Scarb1
−/−
sham mice were, notwithstanding the absence of detectable structural heart disease, characterized by systolic and diastolic dysfunction and hypotension, which were completely counteracted by AdSR-BI transfer. Furthermore, AdSR-BI transfer abrogated increased end-diastolic pressure and diastolic dysfunction in
Scarb1
−/−
TAC mice. Increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant defense systems in
Scarb1
−/−
mice were rescued by AdSR-BI transfer.

Conclusions—

The detrimental effects of SR-BI deficiency on cardiac structure and function are nullified by hepatocyte-specific SR-BI transfer, which restores HDL metabolism.
MicroRNA-199a-3p and MicroRNA-199a-5p Take Part to a Redundant Network of Regulation of the NOS (NO Synthase)/NO Pathway in the Endothelium
Authors: Joris Virginie , Gomez Elvira Leon , Menchi Lisa , Lobysheva Irina , Di Mauro Vittoria , Esfahani Hrag , Condorelli Gianluigi , Balligand Jean-Luc , Catalucci Daniele , Dessy Chantal
Published: July 2018

Objective—

Members of the microRNA (miR)-199a family, namely miR-199a-5p and miR-199a-3p, have been recently identified as potential regulators of cardiac homeostasis. Also, upregulation of miR-199a expression in cardiomyocytes was reported to influence endothelial cells. Whether miR-199a is expressed by endothelial cells and, if so, whether it directly regulates endothelial function remains unknown. We investigate the implication of miR-199a products on endothelial function by focusing on the NOS (nitric oxide synthase)/NO pathway.

Approach and Results—

Bovine aortic endothelial cells were transfected with specific miRNA inhibitors (locked-nucleic acids), and potential molecular targets identified with prediction algorithms were evaluated by Western blot or immunofluorescence. Ex vivo experiments were performed with mice treated with antagomiRs targeting miR-199a-3p or -5p. Isolated vessels and blood were used for electron paramagnetic resonance or myograph experiments. eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) activity (through phosphorylations Ser1177/Thr495) is increased by miR-199a-3p/-5p inhibition through an upregulation of the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt (protein kinase B) and calcineurin pathways. SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and PRDX1 (peroxiredoxin 1) upregulation was also observed in locked-nucleic acid–treated cells. Moreover, miR-199a-5p controls angiogenesis and VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) production and upregulation of NO-dependent relaxation were observed in vessels from antagomiR-treated mice. This was correlated with increased circulated hemoglobin-NO levels and decreased superoxide production. Angiotensin infusion for 2 weeks also revealed an upregulation of miR-199a-3p/-5p in vascular tissues.

Conclusions—

Our study reveals that miR-199a-3p and miR-199a-5p participate in a redundant network of regulation of the NOS/NO pathway in the endothelium. We highlighted that inhibition of miR-199a-3p and -5p independently increases NO bioavailability by promoting eNOS activity and reducing its degradation, thereby supporting VEGF-induced endothelial tubulogenesis and modulating vessel contractile tone.
Extracellular Vesicles and the Application of System Biology and Computational Modeling in Cardiac Repair
Authors: Garikipati Venkata Naga Srikanth , Shoja-Taheri Farnaz , Davis Michael E. , Kishore Raj
Published: July 2018

Recent literature suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs), secreted from most cells and containing cell-specific cargo of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, are major driver of intracellular communication in normal physiology and pathological conditions. The recent evidence on stem/progenitor cell EVs as potential therapeutic modality mimicking their parental cell function is exciting because EVs could possibly be used as a surrogate for the stem cell–based therapy, and this regimen may overcome certain roadblocks identified with the use of stem/progenitor cell themselves. This review provides a comprehensive update on our understanding on the role of EVs in cardiac repair and emphasizes the applications of stem/progenitor cell–derived EVs as therapeutics and discusses the current challenges associated with the EV therapy.
Meta-Analysis of Cell Therapy Studies in Heart Failure and Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Gyöngyösi Mariann , Haller Paul M. , Blake Derek J. , Martin Rendon Enca
Published: July 2018

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and has reached epidemic proportions in most industrialized nations. Despite major improvements in the treatment and management of the disease, the prognosis for patients with HF remains poor with approximately only half of patients surviving for 5 years or longer after diagnosis. The poor prognosis of HF patients is in part because of irreparable damage to cardiac tissue and concomitant maladaptive changes associated with the disease. Cell-based therapies may have the potential to transform the treatment and prognosis of HF through regeneration or repair of damaged cardiac tissue. Accordingly, numerous phase I and II randomized clinical trials have tested the clinical benefits of cell transplant, mostly autologous bone marrow–derived mononuclear cells, in patients with HF, ischemic heart disease, and acute myocardial infarction. Although many of these trials were relatively small, meta-analyses of cell-based therapies have attempted to apply rigorous statistical methodology to assess the potential clinical benefits of the intervention. As a prelude to larger phase III trials, meta-analyses, therefore, remain the obvious means of evaluating the available clinical evidence. Here, we review the different meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials that evaluate the safety and potential beneficial effect of cell therapies in HF and acute myocardial infarction spanning nearly 2 decades since the first pioneering trials were conducted.
Can We Engineer a Human Cardiac Patch for Therapy?
Authors: Zhang Jianyi , Zhu Wuqiang , Radisic Milica , Vunjak-Novakovic Gordana
Published: July 2018

Some of the most significant leaps in the history of modern civilization—the development of article in China, the steam engine, which led to the European industrial revolution, and the era of computers—have occurred when science converged with engineering. Recently, the convergence of human pluripotent stem cell technology with biomaterials and bioengineering have launched a new medical innovation: functional human engineered tissue, which promises to revolutionize the treatment of failing organs including most critically, the heart. This compendium covers recent, state-of-the-art developments in the fields of cardiovascular tissue engineering, as well as the needs and challenges associated with the clinical use of these technologies. We have not attempted to provide an exhaustive review in stem cell biology and cardiac cell therapy; many other important and influential reports are certainly merit but already been discussed in several recent reviews. Our scope is limited to the engineered tissues that have been fabricated to repair or replace components of the heart (eg, valves, vessels, contractile tissue) that have been functionally compromised by diseases or developmental abnormalities. In particular, we have focused on using an engineered myocardial tissue to mitigate deficiencies in contractile function.
Malnutrition and Mortality in Frail and Non-Frail Older Adults Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Goldfarb Michael , Lauck Sandra , Webb John G. , Asgar Anita W. , Perrault Louis P. , Piazza Nicolo , Martucci Giuseppe , Lachapelle Kevin , Noiseux Nicolas , Kim Dae H. , Popma Jeffrey J. , Lefèvre Thierry , Labinaz Marino , Lamy Andre , Peterson Mark D. , Arora Rakesh C. , Morais José A. , Morin Jean-Francois , Rudski Lawrence G. , Afilalo Jonathan ,   On behalf of the FRAILTY-AVR Investigators
Published: July 2018

Background:

Older adults undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) are at risk for malnutrition. The association between preprocedural nutritional status and midterm mortality has yet to be determined.

Methods:

The FRAILTY-AVR (Frailty in Aortic Valve Replacement) prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between 2012 and 2017 in 14 centers in 3 countries. Patients ≥70 years of age who underwent transcatheter or surgical AVR were eligible. The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form was assessed by trained observers preprocedure, with scores ≤7 of 14 considered malnourished and 8 to 11 of 14 considered at risk for malnutrition. The Short Performance Physical Battery was simultaneously assessed to measure physical frailty, with scores ≤5 of 12 considered severely frail and 6 to 8 of 12 considered mildly frail. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was 30-day composite mortality or major morbidity. Multivariable regression models were used to adjust for potential confounders.

Results:

There were 1158 patients (727 transcatheter AVR and 431 surgical AVR), with 41.5% females, a mean age of 81.3 years, a mean body mass index of 27.5 kg/m
2
, and a mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons-Predicted Risk of Mortality of 5.1%. Overall, 8.7% of patients were classified as malnourished and 32.8% were at risk for malnutrition. Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form scores were modestly correlated with Short Performance Physical Battery scores (Spearman
R
=0.31,
P
<0.001). There were 126 deaths in the transcatheter AVR group (19.1 per 100 patient-years) and 30 deaths in the surgical AVR group (7.5 per 100 patient-years). Malnourished patients had a nearly 3-fold higher crude risk of 1-year mortality compared with those with normal nutritional status (28% versus 10%,
P
<0.001). After adjustment for frailty, Society of Thoracic Surgeons-Predicted Risk of Mortality, and procedure type, preprocedural nutritional status was a significant predictor of 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 1.08 per Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form point; 95% CI, 1.01–1.16) and of the 30-day composite safety end point (odds ratio, 1.06 per Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form point; 95% CI, 1.001–1.12).

Conclusions:

Preprocedural nutritional status is associated with mortality in older adults undergoing AVR. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether pre- and postprocedural nutritional interventions can improve clinical outcomes in these vulnerable patients.
To Treat or Not to Treat?
Authors: Levine Steven R. , Weingast Sarah Z. , Weedon Jeremy , Stefanov Dimitre G. , Katz Patricia , Hurley Dana , Kasner Scott E. , Khatri Pooja , Broderick Joseph P. , Grotta James C. , Feldmann Edward , Panagos Peter D. , Romano Jose G. , Bianchi Riccardo , Meyer Brett C. , Scott Phillip A. , Kim Doojin , Balucani Clotilde
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose—

The 2015 updated US Food and Drug Administration alteplase package insert altered several contraindications. We thus explored clinical factors influencing alteplase treatment decisions for patients with minor stroke.

Methods—

An expert panel selected 7 factors to build a series of survey vignettes: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), NIHSS area of primary deficit, baseline functional status, previous ischemic stroke, previous intracerebral hemorrhage, recent anticoagulation, and temporal pattern of symptoms in first hour of care. We used a fractional factorial design (150 vignettes) to provide unconfounded estimates of the effect of all 7 main factors, plus first-order interactions for NIHSS. Surveys were emailed to national organizations of neurologists, emergency physicians, and colleagues. Physicians were randomized to 1 of 10 sets of 15 vignettes, presented randomly. Physicians reported the subjective likelihood of giving alteplase on a 0 to 5 scale; scale categories were anchored to 6 probabilities from 0% to 100%. A conjoint statistical analysis was applied.

Results—

Responses from 194 US physicians yielded 156 with complete vignette data: 74% male, mean age 46, 80% neurologists. Treatment mean probabilities for individual vignettes ranged from 6% to 95%. Treatment probability increased from 24% for NIHSS score =1 to 41% for NIHSS score =5. The conjoint model accounted for 25% of total observed response variance. In contrast, a model accounting for all possible interactions accounted for 30% variance. Four of the 7 factors accounted jointly for 58% of total relative importance within the conjoint model: previous intracerebral hemorrhage (18%), recent anticoagulation (17%), NIHSS (13%), and previous ischemic stroke (10%).

Conclusions—

Four main variables jointly account for only a small fraction (<15%) of the total variance related to deciding to treat with intravenous alteplase, reflecting high variability and complexity. Future studies should consider other variables, including physician characteristics.
Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota in Autistic Patients by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
Authors: Li Na , Zhang Honglin , Zhang Renmin , Bai Zhiyu , Bai Zhimao , Song Yuan , Zhou Dongrui
Published: July 2018

To analyze the differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between the autistic and healthy children, we selected 45 autistic and 20 control children aged 2 to 9 years to collect their fecal samples. The total microbial genome DNA of each fecal sample was extracted,
and the V3 regions of microbial 16S rRNA genes were amplified. The intestinal microbial composition of both study groups was detected by PCR-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Quantity One and Biodap software were used to analyze the diversity and similarity of bacterial populations,
and SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. The denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis profiles documented significant differences in the composition of intestinal microflora between the autism and control groups. Analysis of the excised bands demonstrated the abundance of bacteria
species assigned to the genus Escherichia/Shigella in the gastrointestinal tract of the autism group but a low content in the control group. An opposite result was obtained for the Bacteroides genus. These data indicate that intestinal microbial composition may is correlated
with the occurrence of the autism.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance and Mechanism of Ag3PO4 Particles Synthesized via a Sonochemical Process
Authors: Zheng Chengxiang , Yang Hua , Yang Yang , Zhang Haimin
Published: July 2018

A facile sonochemical method was used to synthesize Ag3PO4 particles and the effect of pH value, reaction temperature and reaction time on the products was investigated. It is found that the samples prepared at neutral (pH = 7) and alkaline (pH = 11) environments
exhibit a similar particle morphology and size. The particles are shaped like spheres with a size distribution majorly focusing on a range of 200–450 nm, and the average particle size is about 300 nm. The sample prepared at acidic environment (pH = 3) is composed of polyhedral microparticles
with size of 5–8 μm. At relatively low temperatures of 20–50 °C, the spherical nanoparticles do not undergo obvious morphology/size changes; however, when the temperature is increased up to 80 °C, the nanoparticles are aggregated to form large-sized polyhedral
microparticles in the size range of 4–7 μm. Compared to the pH value and reaction temperature, the reaction time has a minor effect on the morphology of Ag3PO4 particles. RhB was chosen as the target pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of
the as-prepared Ag3PO4 samples under simulated-sunlight irradiation. It is shown that the samples consisting of spherical nanoparticles exhibit an extremely high photocatalytic activity, and the degradation percentage of RhB after reaction for 50 min reaches over 90%.
The samples of polyhedral microparticles have a relatively low photocatalytic activity, which is possibly due to their large particle size. Hydroxyl (.OH) radical was detected by spectrofluorimetry using terephthalic acid as a .OH scavenger and was not found to be produced
over the simulated-sunlight-irradiated Ag3PO4 catalyst. The effect of ethanol, benzoquinone and ammonium oxalate on dye degradation was also investigated. Based on experimental results, the direct oxidation by h+ is suggested to the dominant mechanism
toward the dye degradation.
Simplified Synthesis of 3D Flexible Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped NiCo2O4 Nanowires for High-Performance Supercapacitor
Authors: Pan Chao , Sun Hongyu , Gao Jingyi , Hu Yucai , Wang Jing
Published: July 2018

We introduced a simple method to construct novel three-dimensional (3D) flexible hierarchical nanocomposites by combining (1D) NiCo2O4 nanowires with 2D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. The hierarchical nanocomposite structure of rGO-wrapped NiCo2O4
(rGO-NiCo2O4) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that NiCo2O4 nanowires were successfully
wrapped in rGO and the morphology of the rGO-NiCo2O4 showed a three-dimensional porous structure with NiCo2O4 being homogeneously distributed in the rGO. Given their apparent advantages, these two different nanostructures were evaluated as electrodes
for high-performance supercapacitors. These electrodes exhibited a high capacitance of 1824.8 F·g–1 at a current density of 0.5 A·g–1, and an excellent cycling performance extending to 5000 cycles at a high current density of 4 A·g–1.
Our results clearly demonstrate that rGO sheets on NiCo2O4 nanowires can substantially improve the capacitive performance of materials and ultimately increase the cycling stability of supercapacitors. The hierarchical binary nanocomposites show excellent electrochemical
properties for energy storage applications, evidencing their potential application as supercapacitors.
Multicolor Luminescent Anti-Counterfeiting Barcode Based on Transparent Lanthanide-Doped NaYF4/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite with Tunable Full-Color Upconversion Emission
Authors: Wang Mengqing , Xu Yanling , Tan Haihu , Xu Lijian , Zhang Changfan , Xu Jianxiong
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we report the synthesis of transparent lanthanide-doped NaYF4 phosphors/poly(vinyl alcohol) (UCPs/PVA) nanocomposites with full-color upconversion emission for construction of multicolor luminescent anti-counterfeiting barcode. By deliberate design of water-dispersible
lanthanidedoped NaYF4 upconversion phosphors and precise control of the doped lanthanide ions (dopant pairs and molar ratio), three-primary RGB UCPs with fine red, green and blue upconversion emission were synthesized. The as-prepared three-primary RGB UCPs were incorporated into
poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix at a fixed concentration to balance the transparence and fluorescence intensity of the UCPs/PVA nanocomposite. The combination of emissions from different types of UCPs with selected ratios in PVA matrix was used to prepare UCPs/PVA nanocomposite with various
upconversion emissions. It was demonstrated that the separation distance between UCPs was large enough to suppress inter-particle energy transfer, and thus the emissions of each UCPs were well preserved. This facilitated the fabrication of UCPs/PVA nanocomposite with tunable full-color upconversion
emission based on the trichromatic additive color theory. The relevance of these multicolor UCPs/PVA nanocomposites to barcode materials and application in anti-counterfeiting field were also confirmed.
Growth of GaN by Vacuum Thermal Evaporation on Flexible Graphene/PET Substrates
Authors: Tong Xinru , Zhao Zhuo , Wu Junsheng , Zhou Yanwen , Kelly Peter , Gao Peng
Published: July 2018

The formation of GaN/graphene hybrid films through the vacuum thermal evaporation of GaN on a double layer flexible substrate consisting of a graphene layer on PET, has been studied. The thicknesses of the GaN layers and, therefore, the structure and properties of the hybrid films,
were critically influenced by the deposition time. The structure of the GaN layer on graphene was amorphous, according to small angle X-ray diffraction spectra. The existence of the GaN layer on top of the graphene and the absence of a N–C covalent bond at the interface of the GaN/graphene
hybrid film was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The free π-electrons of graphene took the conductive role in the hybrid films. A slight change in electrical properties was observed with increasing
thickness of the GaN layer, due to the shunt resistance between this layer and the graphene layer. The grain size of the GaN films increased and transmittance within the visible range decreased with increasing deposition time, i.e., increasing thickness. The method presented demonstrates the
feasibility of realizing transparent conductive GaN/graphene hybrid films on flexible PET, which are in high demand for fabricating optoelectronic and sensing devices.
Recommendations for In Situ and Remote Sensing Capabilities in Atmospheric Convection and Turbulence
Authors: Geerts Bart , Raymond David J. , Grubišić Vanda , Davis Christopher A. , Barth Mary C. , Detwiler Andrew , Klein Petra M. , Lee Wen-Chau , Markowski Paul M. , Mullendore Gretchen L. , Moore James A.
Published: July 2018

Recommendations are presented for in situ and remote sensing instruments and capabilities needed to advance the study of convection and turbulence in the atmosphere. These recommendations emerged from a community workshop held on 22–24 May 2017 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Four areas of research were distinguished at this workshop: i) boundary layer flows, including convective and stable boundary layers over heterogeneous land use and terrain conditions; ii) dynamics and thermodynamics of convection, including deep and shallow convection and continental and maritime convection; iii) turbulence above the boundary layer in clouds and in clear air, terrain driven and elsewhere; and iv) cloud microphysical and chemical processes in convection, including cloud electricity and lightning.

The recommendations presented herein address a series of facilities and capabilities, ranging from existing ones that continue to fulfill science needs and thus should be retained and/or incrementally improved, to urgently needed new facilities, to desired capabilities for which no adequate solutions are as yet on the horizon. A common thread among all recommendations is the need for more highly resolved sampling, both in space and in time. Significant progress is anticipated, especially through the improved availability of airborne and ground-based remote sensors to the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported community.
Rigor and Ethics in the World of Big-team Qualitative Data: Experiences From Research in International Development
Authors: Camfield Laura
Published: July 2018

In the large international projects where many qualitative researchers work, generating qualitative Big Data, data sharing represents the status quo. This is rarely acknowledged, even though the ethical implications are considerable and span both process and product. I argue that big-team qualitative researchers can strengthen claims to rigor in analysis (the product) by drawing on a growing body of knowledge about how to do credible secondary analysis. Since this necessitates a full account of how the research and the analysis are done (the process), I consider the structural disincentives for providing these. Debates around credibility and rigor are not new to qualitative research in international development, but they intensify when new actors such as program evaluators and quantitative researchers use qualitative methods on a large scale. In this context, I look at the utility of guidelines used by these actors to ensure the quality of qualitative research. I ask whether these offer pragmatic suggestions to improve its quality, recognizing the common and hierarchized separation between the generation and interpretation of data, or conversely, whether they set impossible standards and fail to recognize the differences between and respective strengths of qualitative and quantitative research.
Twos and Threes: Musical Chairs in Female Psychic and Social Life
Authors: Kulish Nancy , Holtzman Deanna
Published: July 2018

Jockeying for position in the context of a threesome is a major preoccupation in female social behavior, and in female inner experience, throughout the life cycle. This oscillating phenomenon can be thought of as “twos and threes.” While such configurations are often understood in terms of sibling rivalry or social influences, the focus here is on underlying female triangular dynamics. “Twos and threes” are differentiated from the more familiar rivalries among siblings and from the concept of sibling oedipal triangles. Clinical examples and a contemporary novel by Tana French are presented to demonstrate that concealed and overlooked female oedipal or persephonal conflicts may underlie these experiences and appear in the transference and countertransference.
Changes in Urinary Tract Infection Hospitalizations Post 2011 Revised American Academy Pediatrics Guidelines
Authors: Courchia Benjamin , Ramirez Diana , Rauch Daniel A.
Published: July 2018

Background. Multiple randomized trials over the past 2 decades have supported oral antimicrobial treatment for urinary tract infection (UTI), and the 2011 revised American Academy Pediatrics guidelines on the management of UTI provide further support for outpatient management. It is unknown whether practice patterns have changed as a result of these developments. Objective. To examine temporal trends in UTI hospitalizations between 1997 and 2012 as measured by the Kids’ Inpatient Database. Design and Methods. The Kid’s Inpatient Database was used to analyze trends in UTI hospitalizations between 1997 and 2012. This triennial database is publicly available through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Hospitalization volume for clinical classification software principal diagnosis category 159 Urinary tract infection was examined for trends across years by age. Changes in length of stay and charges corrected for inflation were also examined. Results. There were significantly fewer weighted UTI hospitalizations in 2012 compared with 1997 to 2009 (48 102 SE ± 1494 in 2009 vs 41 177 SE ± 1467 in 2012, P < .0001). The largest decrease was in 15- to 17-year-old (19.2%) and <1-year-old (18.6%) groups. The length of stay trended down consistently, but charges have increased despite correcting for consumer price index. Conclusions. Year 2012 represents the first significant decrease in national hospitalization rates for UTI since 1997, a trend that may be explained by the accumulating evidence supporting outpatient management in addition to recommendations from the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics UTI guidelines.
Co-production in primary schools: a systematic literature review
Authors: Honingh Marlies , Bondarouk Elena , Brandsen Taco
Published: July 2018

Co-production is the involvement of citizens in the design and delivery of services. In primary schools, this involves parents working with teachers to improve the educational development of their children. In this contribution, we present the results of a systematic literature review on co-production in primary schools to establish what research has been conducted and to what extent there is evidence on the effectiveness of co-production in this context. After three subsequent steps of literature selection, an initial database of 3121 articles was reduced to 122 articles which were then carefully analysed. Generally, co-production in education tends to be aimed at specific groups, which makes it hard to generalize, but some findings appear more generally applicable. Co-production does appear to improve students’ knowledge acquisition. Parent–teacher relationships can be difficult and ambiguous, but teacher training appears to be an effective tool for improving co-production.

Points for practitioners

Although co-production in schools is increasingly popular, it has been tested mostly for specific socioeconomic groups. Further testing is necessary to know whether it would work as a mainstream method. Co-production in school requires a tailor-made approach. The evidence suggests that it is only effective if it is adapted to the specific context. It is therefore misleading to speak of co-production in schools as a single phenomenon; there are many different types of co-production in schools. Investing in teacher training turns out to be helpful in overcoming initial resistance.
Think tanks in politically embedded knowledge regimes: does the “revolving door” matter in China?
Authors: Zhu Xufeng
Published: July 2018

This article conceptualizes a “politically embedded knowledge regime” in which political power is deeply embedded in administrative and personal networks between bureaucratic decision-makers and their professional consultants. To demonstrate the features of the politically embedded knowledge regime, I evaluate the effects of the revolving door on Chinese think tanks. I empirically find that the revolving door has a negligible contribution to the influence and revenue of think tanks in China. Moreover, the revolving door has significantly negatively effects on the personal social network building of think-tankers. Heterogeneous analysis and propensity score matching are conducted to present the robustness of regression results.

Points for practitioners

The “revolving door” has always been regarded as an essential factor for the prosperity of American think tanks. It has now become the prevailing recruitment strategy for global think tanks. In particular, the Chinese government and academia are embracing the revolving door mechanism for the development of Chinese think tanks. Nevertheless, no systematic empirical research has been conducted to evaluate the exact effects of the revolving door on Chinese think tanks. My empirical findings reveal that the developmental experiences of American think tanks may not be as effective when applied to other countries with different knowledge regimes.
Phenomenology of the stop: street-level bureaucracy and everyday citizenship of marginalized groups
Authors: Nisar Muhammad Azfar
Published: July 2018

Limited access to public space for marginalized groups remains an understudied theme in citizenship research in public administration. To address this important research gap, using ethnographic research methods, this article investigates the influence of street-level policing on the everyday citizenship of the Khawaja Sira – a marginalized genderqueer group in Pakistan. Everyday citizenship is conceptualized as the inalienable, equal right of every citizen to be present, visible, and mobile in the public space of a polity. The discussion highlights that through selective implementation of law, hyper-surveillance and moral policing, frontline workers can contribute to curtailing the citizenship of marginalized social groups. Theoretical and practical implications that underscore the intersections of mobility, everyday spaces and administrator–citizen interactions are also discussed.

Points for practitioners

• Through selective implementation of law, hyper-surveillance and moral policing, frontline workers can contribute to curtailing the citizenship of marginalized social groups. • Access to public space is often disproportionately denied to marginalized social groups like the members of the LGBT community. • The frontline workers of various departments should be educated about the unique identity and requirements of marginalized groups to improve street-level service delivery.
Black and Blue in North Texas: The Long Neglected History of Anti-Black Police Violence in North Texas, 1880-1930
Authors: Teague Hollie A.
Published: July 2018

Recent anti-Black police violence in North Texas has been treated as an anomaly. In fact, as this article demonstrates, a long history of police brutality and wanton dereliction of duty has defined the relationship between the criminal justice system and the Black community in the area. Focusing on the period from 1880 to 1930, this work attempts to shine a much-needed spotlight on a region that is often overlooked. Newspaper articles provide the primary source material for much of the investigation, supported by interviews and secondary sources. What materializes is a clear pattern of police violence and abandonment that includes lynchings, rapes, sexual misconduct with children, murder, arson, and large-scale expulsion. A recognition of human dignity demands the history of North Texas receives appropriate scholarly attention.
The pristine past, the plundered present: Nature as lost home in Tanure Ojaide’s poetry
Authors: Egya Sule Emmanuel
Published: July 2018

Tanure Ojaide is a major voice of post-war Nigerian poetry in English, distinguished by his recourse to the orature of his birthplace. Ojaide takes orature as a locus of an aesthetics that is cognizant of the arts and politics of rural people, especially in the face of a modernity-driven, viperous establishment. His poetry’s dependence on orality, I argue, implies its rootedness in nature. But far more crucial to this article is the contention that nature in Ojaide’s poetry is not merely evoked as an aesthetic strategy — an embellishment of what many have regarded as an overwhelming political theme in his poetry. Nature (the natural environment, biodiversity, flora and fauna) is also thematized as home — now a lost home in the face of modernity and petrodollar global capitalism. In the context of postcolonial ecocriticism, I attempt a reading of his poetry to point out that the nature (environment) of the Niger Delta region where the poet hails from is, just like the people inhabiting it, a victim of exploitation and oppression caused by large-scale oil exploration in the region; and it is no longer the pristine home it used to be.
Moderators of the Motivational Effects of Performance Management: A Comprehensive Exploration Based on Expectancy Theory
Authors: Lee Hyung-Woo
Published: July 2018

This study explores the moderating factors determining the motivational effect of performance-based human resource management. The analysis of the data from the 2010 Merit Principle Survey (MPS) reveals that the motivational effect of performance-based human resource management was weaker for those who have (a) a strong public service motivation, (b) a low self-efficacy, (c) enjoyed a high level of job autonomy, and (d) had enough resources necessary to get the job done. The directions of the first two moderating effects were consistent with common beliefs. However, those of job autonomy effect and of organizational resource effect were incompatible with the popular beliefs that autonomy and resources are necessary conditions for successful performance management. These unexpected results shed some lights on the political dynamics around performance management, indicating that those who have enjoyed a considerable discretion are more likely to perceive the practice of performance management as a threat to their autonomy and that those who have had sufficient organizational resources may fear for future change in resource allocation as a result of regular performance re-appraisal.
Balancing Between Hope and Realism
Authors: Heimdahl Karin
Published: July 2018

Pregnancy for women who use substances has sometimes been referred to as a “window of opportunity” for lifestyle change. In this article, the aim is to analyze professional accounts of the transition of substance-using pregnant women into parenthood. Focus groups were carried out with professionals working at specialized maternity care units in Sweden. The analysis is guided by the discursive psychological concept of “ideological dilemma” and focuses on contradictory elements of commonsense-making in the participants’ discussions. The results suggest that professionals articulate two, partly contradictory, ideals: on the one hand, “believing in the patient” and, on the other, “being realistic.” In their descriptions of their work with patients, professionals emphasize the significance of adjusting the self-image of the patients and increasing their awareness of their “abuse” problems in order to prevent future clashes between high expectations and reality. At the same time, they also underline that interacting with and treating those patients with the most serious problems as individuals with unforeseen strengths and resources is a matter of professional duty.
Napping and toddlers’ memory for fast-mapped words
Authors: Axelsson Emma L. , Swinton Jaclyn , Winiger Amanda I. , Horst Jessica S.
Published: July 2018

When toddlers hear a novel word, they quickly and independently link it with a novel object rather than known-name objects. However, they are less proficient in retaining multiple novel words. Sleep and even short naps can enhance declarative memory in adults and children and this study investigates the effect of napping on children’s memory for novel words. Forty two-and-a-half-year-old children were presented with referent selection trials for four novel nouns. Children’s retention of the words was tested immediately after referent selection, four hours later in the afternoon, and the following morning. Half of the toddlers napped prior to the afternoon retention test. Amongst the toddlers who napped, retention scores remained steady four hours after exposure and the following morning. In contrast, for the wake group, there was a steady decline in retention scores by the following morning and significantly lower retention scores compared to the nap group. Napping following exposure to novel word–object associations could help in maintaining memories and limiting decay. Nap duration was also associated with better retention scores, but there were no effects of sleep quality, habitual napping, or sleepiness. The findings have implications for the role of napping in children’s language acquisition.
Group Resilience: The Place and Meaning of Relational Pauses
Authors: Barton Michelle A. , Kahn William A.
Published: July 2018

Recent scholarship on resilience has shed light on the processes by which organizations absorb strain and maintain functioning in the face of adversity. These theories, however, often focus on the operational impacts of adversity without accounting for the strain it puts on organizational members and their abilities to work effectively together. We apply a relational lens to better understand how adversity, and the anxiety it triggers in people, affects processes of organizational resilience. This conceptual frame enables us to begin uncovering the relational micro-dynamics underlying the absorption of strain. Drawing on group relations theory, we describe two trajectories of intragroup behavior in which strain, in the form of adversity-triggered anxiety, is either acted out or defused. In the brittle trajectory, group members react to anxiety with defensive patterns that leave them vulnerable to effects of adversity. In the resilience trajectory, groups defuse and mitigate adversity-triggered anxiety through a reflective process we call “a relational pause,” ultimately leaving them strengthened and resilient. We elaborate the model by exploring the potential fragility of relational pauses and likely factors that influence groups’ ability and tendency to enact resilience.
Questioning and Organization Studies
Authors: Kelemen Mihaela , Rumens Nick , Vo Linh Chi
Published: July 2018

In organization studies, there is a cleavage in the literature that separates ‘questions’ and ‘questioning’ at a very fundamental philosophical level. On the one hand, the objective notion of ‘questions’ has already been well addressed. On the other hand, the process of ‘questioning’ remains under-researched. Although questioning the process of questioning is challenging, this is precisely where American pragmatism can be helpful. As we explore in this essay, the forward-looking quality of pragmatist inquiry is what motors the process of questioning. Our pragmatist-inflected argument is that questioning does not always have to serve critique and position building in the organization studies field. Rather, questioning out of curiosity can build new dialogue and open up new methodological avenues. This will help change the habitual ways in which we explore ideas, problems and situations in organization studies as well as lead to more democratic forms of organizing.