bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sources of inherent infiltration variability in postwildfire soils
Authors: Moody John A. , Martin Richard G. , Ebel Brian A.
Published: July 2019

An automated disc infiltrometer was developed to improve the measurements of soil hydraulic properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity) of soils affected by wildfire. Guidelines are given for interpreting curves showing cumulative infiltration as a function of time measured by the autodisc. The autodisc was used to measure the variability of these soil hydraulic properties in three different sample sets: (a) a reference soil consisting of a nonrepellent, uniform, fine sand; (b) soils with the same soil textural classification derived from the same bedrock geology but having different initial burn severities; and (c) soils from different bedrock geology but having the same burn severity. The autodisc infiltrometer had greater sampling rates and volume resolution when compared with the visual minidisc infiltrometer from previous studies. There was no statistical difference in the mean values measured using the autodisc and visual minidisc, but the variability of the autodisc measurements was significantly less than the visual minidisc for a given set of samples. The greatest variability of soil hydraulic properties in reference samples with uniform particle size was attributed to different pore geometries (coefficient of variation [COV] = 0.28–0.34). Unburned field samples (same soil type) with heterogeneous particle sizes had greater variability (COV = 0.57–0.78) than the reference samples. However, this basic variability decreased or remained constant in these field samples as burn severity increased. Additional sources of variability (COV = 0.53–1.99) were attributed to multiple layers resulting from ash or sediment deposition. Results indicate that resolving differences in soil hydraulic properties from different sites requires more than the common 10 random samples because of the multiple sources of variability.
Effects of common genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer risk on survival outcomes after diagnosis: A large population‐based cohort study
Authors: He Yazhou , Theodoratou Evropi , Li Xue , Din Farhat V.N. , Vaughan‐Shaw Peter , Svinti Victoria , Farrington Susan M. , Campbell Harry , Dunlop Malcolm G. , Timofeeva Maria
Published: July 2019

Genome‐wide association studies have thus far identified 130 genetic variants linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk (r2 < 0.2). Given their implication in disease causation, and thus plausible biologically effects on cancer‐relevant biological pathways, we investigated whether these variants are associated with CRC prognosis and also whether they might provide predictive value for survival outcome. We conducted the analysis in a well‐characterized population‐based study of 5,675 patients after CRC diagnosis in Scotland. None of the genetic risk variants were associated with either overall survival (OS) or CRC‐specific survival. Next, we combined the variants in a polygenic risk score, but again we observed no association between survival outcome and overall genetic susceptibility to CRC risk—as defined by common genetic variants (OS: hazard ratio = 1.00, 95% confidence interval = 0.96–1.05). Furthermore, we found no incremental increase in the discriminative performance when adding these genetic variants to the baseline CRC‐survival predictive model of age, sex and stage at diagnosis. Given that our study is well‐powered (>0.88) to detect effects on survival for 74% of the variants, we conclude that effects of common variants associated with CRC risk which have been identified to date are unlikely to have clinically relevant effect on survival outcomes for patients diagnosed with CRC.
Small molecular modulators of JMJD1C preferentially inhibit growth of leukemia cells
Authors: Xu Xin , Wang Lin , Hu Linda , Dirks Wilhelm G. , Zhao Yao , Wei Zhishuai , Chen Dexiang , Li Zhaoliang , Wang Zhanju , Han Yangyang , Wei Liuya , Drexler Hans G. , Hu Zhenbo
Published: July 2019

Histone demethylases are promising therapeutic targets as they play fundamental roles for survival of Mixed lineage leukemia rearranged acute leukemia (MLLr AL). Here we focused on the catalytic Jumonji domain of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) demethylase JMJD1C to screen for potential small molecular modulators from 149,519 natural products and 33,765 Chinese medicine components via virtual screening. JMJD1C Jumonji domain inhibitor 4 (JDI‐4) and JDI‐12 that share a common structural backbone were detected within the top 15 compounds. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that JDI‐4 and JDI‐12 bind to JMJD1C and its family homolog KDM3B with modest affinity. In vitro demethylation assays showed that JDI‐4 can reverse the H3K9 demethylation conferred by KDM3B. In vivo demethylation assays indicated that JDI‐4 and JDI‐12 could induce the global increase of H3K9 methylation. Cell proliferation and colony formation assays documented that JDI‐4 and JDI‐12 kill MLLr AL and other malignant hematopoietic cells, but not leukemia cells resistant to JMJD1C depletion or cord blood cells. Furthermore, JDI‐16, among multiple compounds structurally akin to JDI‐4/JDI‐12, exhibits superior killing activities against malignant hematopoietic cells compared to JDI‐4/JDI‐12. Mechanistically, JDI‐16 not only induces apoptosis but also differentiation of MLLr AL cells. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR showed that JDI‐16 induced gene expression associated with cell metabolism; targeted metabolomics revealed that JDI‐16 downregulates lactic acids, NADP+ and other metabolites. Moreover, JDI‐16 collaborates with all‐trans retinoic acid to repress MLLr AML cells. In summary, we identified bona fide JMJD1C inhibitors that induce preferential death of MLLr AL cells.
Combination of en bloc transurethral resection with laparoscopic partial cystectomy for paraganglioma of the bladder
Authors: Urabe Fumihiko , Miki Jun , Kimura Takahiro , Hisakane Akira , Iwatani Kosuke , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Yanagisawa Takafumi , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Kishimoto Koichi , Egawa Shin
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Paraganglioma of the bladder is an extremely rare tumor, and special attention should be paid to elevation of blood pressure during tumor resection.

Case presentation

A 64‐year‐old woman presented with elevation of blood pressure during thoracic surgery. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bladder tumor, and noradrenalin levels were elevated in plasma and urine. The tumor was surgically removed by en bloc transurethral resection with laparoscopic partial cystectomy of bladder tumor. The margin of the tumor was easily identified, and perioperative blood pressure was stable. There was no evidence of residual tumor, local recurrence, or distant metastasis during 2‐year follow‐up.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, we report the first case of paraganglioma of the bladder resected by a minimally invasive and safe procedure: combination of en bloc transurethral resection and laparoscopic partial cystectomy.
Identification of differentially expressed genes and functional annotations associated with metastases of the uveal melanoma
Authors: Xu Yue , Han Wei , Xu Wen‐Hao , Wang Yun , Yang Xiao‐Long , Nie Hui‐Ling , Yao Jin , Shen Guo‐Liang , Zhang Xiao‐Feng
Published: July 2019

Uveal melanoma (UVM) is an adult intraocular malignancy which is the most frequent and has a high tendency for metastasis. This study aims to develop significant differential gene subnetwork between primary and metastatic UVM to identify potential prognostic biomarkers. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among three chip datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus and identified according to standardization annotation information. Genetic enrichment analyses were utilized to describe biologic functions. The protein‐protein interaction network of DEGs was developed and the module analysis was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape. Kaplan‐Meier method of the integrated expression score was applied to analyze survival outcomes. Functional annotation was assessed to perform GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. In addition, ClueGO and gene set enrichment analysis were analyzed to detect underlying significant genes and involved signaling pathways. A total of 103 DEGs with function enrichment were recognized and might be considered as candidate prognostic biomarkers between primary and metastatic UVM. Furthermore, Kaplan‐Meier method suggested that SCD5, SPTBN1, FABP5, SQLE, PTPLA (HACD1), and CDC25B were independent prognostic factors in UVM. Functional annotations indicated that the most involved significant pathways including interferon‐gamma response, IL‐6 JAK STAT3 signaling, TNFA signaling via NFKB and inflammatory response. Significant DEGs between primary and metastatic UVM tissue were identified and might have involved in the metastasis of UVM. SCD5, SPTBN1, FABP5, SQLE, PTPLA (HACD1), and CDC25B transcription levels were of high prognostic value, which might assist us to understand the underlying carcinogenesis or advancement of UVM better.
Functional mimetic peptide discovery isolated by phage display interacts selectively to fibronectin domain and inhibits gelatinase
Authors: Shoari Alireza , Rasaee Mohammad J. , Kanavi Mozhgan R. , Daraei Bahram
Published: July 2019

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in a multiple number of autoimmunity diseases progression and metastasis of solid tumor. Gelatinases including MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 are extremely overexpressed in multiple pathological processes. MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 breakdown the extracellular matrix component gelatin very efficaciously. Therefore, designing and expansion of MMPs inhibitors can be an engrossing plan for therapeutic intermediacy. Anyway, a wide range of MMPs inhibitors face failure in several clinical trials. Due to sequence and structural conservation across the various MMPs, achieving specific and selective inhibitors is very demanding. In the current study, a phage‐displayed peptide library was screened using active human recombinant MMP‐9 protein and evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Here, we isolate novel peptide sequence from phage display peptide libraries that can be a specific gelatinase inhibitor. Interestingly, in silico molecular docking showed strong interactions between the peptide three‐dimensional models and some important residues of the MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 proteins at the fibronectin domain. A consensus peptide sequence was then synthesized (named as RSH‐12) to evaluate its inhibitory potency by in vitro assays. Zymography assay was employed to evaluate the effect of RSH‐12 on gelatinolysis activity of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 secretion from the HT1080 cells using different concentrations of RSH‐12 and inhibiting MMP‐9‐ and MMP‐2‐driven gelatin proteolysis, measured by fluorescein isothiocyanate‐gelatin degradation assay and HT1080 cell invasion assay on Matrigel (gelatinous protein mixture). The negative control peptide (CP) with the irrelevant sequence and no MMP inhibition properties and the positive control compound (GM6001) as a potent inhibitor of MMPs were used to assess the selectivity and specificity of gelatinases inhibition by RSH‐12. Therefore, RSH‐12 decreased the gelatin degradation by specifically preventing gelatin binding to MMP‐9 and MMP‐2. Selective gelatinase inhibitors may prove the usefulness of the new peptide discovered in tumor targeting and anticancer and anti‐inflammation therapies.
Theoretical investigation of the molecular structure, vibrational spectra, and molecular docking of tramadol using density functional theory
Authors: Umar Yunusa , Abdalla Sahar , Haque SK Manirul , Moran Guillermo Salgado , Ishaq Abdurrahman , Villada Wilson Cardona , Leone Jorge Dagnino , Bunster Marta
Published: July 2019

The optimized molecular structures, harmonic vibrational wavenumbers, and the corresponding vibrational assignments of (1S,2S)‐tramadol and (1R,2R)‐tramadol are computationally examined using the B3LYP density functional theory method together with the standard 6–311++G(d,p) and def2‐TVZP basis sets. The optimized structures show that phenolic rings of both 1R,2R and 1S,2S tramadol adopt planar geometry, which are slightly distorted due to the substitution at the meta‐position; and the six‐membered cyclohexane adopts a slightly distorted chair conformation. The 1S,2S enantiomer is energetically more favorable than 1R,2R with the energy differences of 1.32 and 1.03 kcal/mol obtained at B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/Def2‐TVZP levels, respectively. The analysis of the binding pocket in the silico molecular docking with the m‐opioid receptor shows that it originated two clusters with the 1S,2S enantiomer and one cluster with the 1R,2R enantiomer of tramadol. The results point to a more stable complex of the m‐opioid receptor with the 1R,2R enantiomer of tramadol.
Effect of direct ultrasound synthesis via a sesquihydrate route on bismuth‐promoted vanadyl pyrophosphate catalysts
Authors: Goo Kang‐Zhi , Yap Yeow‐Hong , Lin Kuen‐Song , Leong Loong‐Kong
Published: July 2019

A series of 1, 3, and 5% Bi‐doped vanadium phosphate catalyst catalysts were prepared via sesquihydrate route using direct ultrasound method and were denoted as VPSB1, VPSB3, and VPSB5, respectively. These catalysts were synthesized solely using a direct ultrasound technique and calcined in a n‐butane/air mixture. This study showed that catalyst synthesis time can be drastically reduced to only 2 hr compared to conventional 32–48 hr. All Bi‐doped catalysts exhibited a well‐crystallized (VO)2P2O7 phase. In addition, two V5+ phases, that is, β‐VOPO4 and αII‐VOPO4, were observed leading to an increase in the average oxidation state of vanadium. All catalysts showed V2p3/2 at approx. 517 eV, giving the vanadium oxidation state at approx. 4.3–4.6. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed the secondary structure consisting of thin and small plate‐like crystal clusters due to the cavitation effect of ultrasound waves. VPSB5 showed the highest amount of oxygen species removed associated with the V5+ and V4+ species in temperature‐programmed reduction in H2 analyses. TheX‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurement showed the occurrence of vanadium oxide reductions in hydrogen gas flow, indicating the presence of V4+ and V5+ species. Higher average valence states of V5+, indicating more V5+ phases, were present. The addition of bismuth has increased the activity and selectivity to maleic anhydride.
Brivanib, a multitargeted small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppresses laser‐induced CNV in a mouse model of neovascular AMD
Authors: Li Lele , Zhu Manhui , Wu Wenli , Qin Bai , Gu Jiayi , Tu Yuanyuan , Chen Jianing , Liu Dong , Shi Yunwei , Liu Xiaojuan , Sang Aimin , Ding Dongmei
Published: July 2019

In age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a major pathologic feature of neovascular AMD (nAMD), affects 10% of patients, potentially causing serious complications, including vision loss. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) contribute to the pathogenesis of CNV. Brivanib is an oral selective dual receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor of FGFRs and VEGFRs, especially VEGFR2 and FGFR1. In this study, brivanib inhibited zebrafish embryonic angiogenesis without impairing neurodevelopment. In a mouse CNV model, brivanib intravitreal injection blocked phosphorylation of FGFR1 and VEGFR2 and reduced CNV leakage, area, and formation without causing intraocular toxicity. Moreover, brivanib oral gavage reduced CNV leakage and area. Accordingly, brivanib remained at high concentrations (above 14,000 ng/ml) in retinal/choroidal/scleral tissues following intravitreal injection. Similarly, brivanib remained at high concentrations (over 10,000 ng/ml) in retinal/choroidal/scleral tissues following oral gavage. Finally, in vitro cell experiments demonstrated that brivanib inhibited the proliferation, migration and tube formation of microvascular endothelial cells. In conclusion, our study suggested that brivanib treatment could be a novel therapeutic strategy for nAMD.
Black Adult Patients With Acute Liver Failure Are Sicker and More Likely to Undergo Liver Transplantation Than White Patients
Authors: Nephew Lauren , Zia Zahra , Ghabril Marwan , Orman Eric , Lammert Craig , Chalasani Naga
Published: July 2019

Racial and ethnic differences in the presentation and outcomes of patients wait‐listed with acute liver failure (ALF) have not been explored. Adult patients with ALF wait‐listed for liver transplantation (LT) from 2002 to 2016 were investigated using the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Clinical characteristics and causative etiologies were compared between white, black, Hispanic, and Asian patients with ALF who were wait‐listed as status 1. A competing risk analysis was used to explore differences in LT and wait‐list removal rates. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were used to explore differences in 1‐year posttransplant survival. There were 8208 patients wait‐listed with a primary diagnosis of ALF; 4501 were wait‐listed as status 1 (55.3% of whites, 64.4% of blacks, 51.6% of Hispanics, 40.7% of Asians; P < 0.001). Black patients had higher bilirubin and Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease at wait‐listing than other groups. White patients were the most likely to have acetaminophen toxicity as a causative etiology, whereas black patients were the most likely to have autoimmune liver disease. Black patients were significantly more likely to undergo LT than white patients (hazard ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.08‐1.30). There was no difference in wait‐list removal because of death or clinical deterioration among racial/ethnic groups. The 1‐year posttransplant survival was lowest in black patients (79.6%) versus white (82.8%), Hispanic (83.9%), and Asian (89.3%) patients (P = 0.02). In conclusion, etiologies of ALF vary by race and ethnicity. Black patients with ALF were more likely to be wait‐listed as status 1 and undergo LT than white patients, but they were sicker at presentation. The 1‐year posttransplant survival rate was lowest among black patients.
Diet Consisting of Balanced Yogurt, Fruit, and Vegetables Modifies the Gut Microbiota and Protects Mice against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Kong Chao‐Yue , Li Zhan‐Ming , Han Bing , Zhang Zheng‐Yan , Chen Hui‐Ling , Zhang Shi‐Long , Xu Jia‐Qi , Mao Yu‐Qin , Zhao Yan‐Ping , Wang Li‐Shun
Published: July 2019

Background

Calorie restriction (CR) is a therapeutically effective method for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the compliance of the CR method is relatively poor. New CR methods are needed.

Methods and Results

Each week, mice are given a 5‐day high‐fat diet (HFD) ad libitum plus 2 days of an intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) diet (50% calorie restriction) consisting of yogurt, fruit, and vegetables, for 16 weeks. The effect of the ICR diet model on the fatty liver of mice is examined. Compared with continuous HFD‐fed mice, the mice feeding HFD+ICR have lower body weight and hepatic steatosis, reduced serum lipid and transaminase levels, increased fatty acid oxidation gene of Cpt1a, and decreased hepatic lipid synthesis gene of Pparγ and Srebf‐1c, as well as improved insulin resistance and lower level of inflammation. Moreover, ICR reverses the dysbacteriosis in HFD group, including the lower Shannon diversity indexes and lower abundance of Lactobacillus.

Conclusion

An ICR diet consisting of yogurt, fruit, and vegetables attenuates the development of HFD‐induced hepatic steatosis in mice. Furthermore, HFD+ICR diet is associated with a different fecal microbiota that tends to be more similar to normal diet controls.
Quad frequency stacked patch planar antenna array for radar and navigational applications
Authors: Sai Vinay Kumar Polepalli , Giri Prasad Mahendra N.
Published: July 2019

This paper presented a quad frequency passive array stacked patch antenna, which work on the L and S band frequencies of 1.1.76 GHz, 1.575 GHz, 1.60 GHz, and 2.492 GHz. The array contained 24 rectangular stacked patch antenna elements and this 3 × 8 array is fed by independent coaxial method. This design reduced the effects of the complex feeding network on antenna performance and the distance between each antenna element is only half of free space wavelength, so the size of whole array was reduced significantly. Proposed antenna is designed and fabricated using FR4 epoxy substrate and the performance of the antenna is analyzed using ANSYS HFSS software. This antenna can also be combined into a bigger array with more elements, then make the miniaturization of the array with multifunctional operation more obvious.
Characterizing a short T2* signal component in the liver using ultrashort TE chemical shift‐encoded MRI at 1.5T and 3.0T
Authors: Zhu Ante , Hernando Diego , Johnson Kevin M. , Reeder Scott B.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Recent studies have suggested the presence of short‐T2* signals in the liver, which may confound chemical shift‐encoded (CSE) fat quantification when using short echo times (TEs). The purpose of this study was to characterize the liver signal at short echo times and to determine its impact on liver fat quantification.

Methods

An ultrashort echo time (UTE) chemical shift‐encoded MRI (CSE‐MRI) technique and a multicomponent reconstruction were developed to characterize short‐T2* liver signals. Subsequently, liver fat fraction was quantified using a short‐TE (first TE = 0.7 ms) and UTE CSE‐MRI acquisitions and compared with a standard CSE‐MRI (first TE = 1.2 ms).

Results

Short‐T2* signals were consistently observed in the liver of all healthy volunteers imaged at both 1.5T and 3.0T. At 3.0T, short‐T2* signal fractions of 9.6 ± 1.5%, 7.0 ± 1.7%, and 7.4 ± 1.7% with T2* of 0.23 ± 0.05 ms, 0.20 ± 0.05 ms, and 0.10 ± 0.02 ms were measured in healthy volunteers, patients with liver cirrhotic disease, and patients with hepatic steatosis (but no cirrhosis), respectively. For proton density fat fraction (PDFF) estimation, 1.7% (P < .01) and 3.4% (P < .01) biases were observed in subjects imaged using short‐TE CSE‐MRI and using UTE CSE‐MRI at 1.5T, respectively. The biases were reduced to 0.4% and −0.7%, respectively, by excluding short echoes less than 1 ms. A 3.2% bias (P < .01) was observed in subjects imaged using UTE CSE‐MRI at 3.0T, which was reduced to 0.1% by excluding short echoes <1 ms.

Conclusions

A liver short‐T2* signal component was consistently observed and was shown to confound liver fat quantification when short echo times were used with CSE‐MRI.
A gradient recovery–based adaptive finite element method for convection‐diffusion‐reaction equations on surfaces
Authors: Xiao Xufeng , Feng Xinlong , Li Zhilin
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we present an adaptive mesh refinement method for solving convection‐diffusion‐reaction equations on surfaces, which is a fundamental subproblem in many models for simulating the transport of substances on biological films and solid surfaces. The method considered is a combination of well‐known techniques: the surface finite element method, streamline diffusion stabilization, and the gradient recovery–based Zienkiewicz‐Zhu error estimator. The streamline diffusion method overcomes the instability issue of the finite element method for the dominance of the convection. The gradient recovery–based adaptive mesh refinement strategy enables the method to provide high‐resolution numerical solutions by relatively fewer degrees of freedom. Moreover, the implementation detail of a surface mesh refinement technique is presented. Various numerical examples, including the convection‐dominated diffusion problems with large variations of solutions, nearly singular solutions, discontinuous sources, and internal layers on surfaces, are presented to demonstrate the efficacy and accuracy of the proposed method.
Heterolepic β‐Ketoiminate Zinc Phenoxide Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for the Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactide
Authors: Ghosh Swarup , Schäfer Pascal M. , Dittrich Dennis , Scheiper Christoph , Steiniger Phillip , Fink Gerhard , Ksiazkiewicz Agnieszka N. , Tjaberings Alexander , Wölper Christoph , Gröschel André H. , Pich Andrij , Herres‐Pawlis Sonja , Schulz Stephan
Published: July 2019

Zinc phenoxide complexes L1ZnOAr 1–4 (L1=Me2NC2H4NC(Me)CHC(Me)O) and L2ZnOAr 5–8 (L2=Me2NC3H6NC(Me)CHC(Me)O) with donor‐functionalized β‐ketoiminate ligands (L1/2) and OAr substituents (Ar=Ph 1, 5; 2,6‐Me2‐C6H3 2, 6; 3,5‐Me2‐C6H3 3, 7; 4‐Bu‐C6H4 4, 8) with tuneable electronic and steric properties were synthesized and characterized. 1–8 adopt binuclear structures in the solid state except for 5, while they are monomeric in CDCl3 solution. 1–8 are active catalysts for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide (LA) in CH2Cl2 at ambient temperature and the catalytic activity is controlled by the electronic and steric properties of the OAr substituent, yielding polymers with high average molecular weight (Mn) and moderately controlled molecular weight distribution (MWDs). 1 and 5 showed a living polymerization character and kinetic studies on the ROP of L–LA with 1 and 5 proved first order dependencies on the monomer concentration. Homonuclear decoupled 1H‐NMR analyses of polylactic acid (PLA) formed with rac‐LA proved isotactic enrichment of the PLA microstructure.
The death of scientific knowledge in [South] Africa: An Afrocentric response to M. P. Sebola
Authors: Shai Kgothatso B.
Published: July 2019

On the basis of the Afrocentric perspective, this article uses South Africa as a test case to critique Mokoko Piet Sebola's piece titled “Peer review, scholarship and editors of scientific publications: the death of scientific knowledge in Africa,” which appeared in Koers ‐ Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, Volume 83 (1): 1–13. I argue that Sebola's piece provides a partial guide to understanding the state of the knowledge industry in Africa, particularly in South Africa. Safe to say that Sebola's work deepens scholarly and public discourse on the politics of scholarship in Africa and the world at large. However, I do not intend to blatantly praise Sebola's contribution to this academic area, which remains under researched due to the reasons that are beyond the scope of this article. In particular, the current article aspires to identify scholarly weaknesses in Sebola's work with a view to correcting them by offering an alternative view. This correction deserves the attention of all scholars and practitioners especially because it is interdisciplinary in nature, and it is poised to undo the misinformation disseminated in Sebola's piece. Such misinformation has a potential to overshadow the few truths advanced in his article. Methodologically, this article is based on document review, conversations, and interdisciplinary discourse analysis in its broadest form.
Bt resistance alleles in field populations of pink bollworm from China: Similarities with the United States and decreased frequency from 2012 to 2015
Authors: Wang Jintao , Xu Dong , Wang Ling , Cong Shengbo , Wan Peng , Lei Chaoliang , Fabrick Jeffrey A , Li Xianchun , Tabashnik Bruce E , Wu Kongming
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND

Although most monitoring of pest resistance to widely cultivated transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) relies on bioassays, DNA screening for alleles associated with resistance has some advantages, particularly for rare, recessively inherited resistance. In China's Yangtze River Valley, where farmers first planted transgenic cotton producing Bt toxin Cry1Ac in 2000, bioassays have been used to monitor the recessive resistance of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). Previous bioassay results show a small but significant increase in resistance to Cry1Ac during 2008–2010, followed by a significant decrease in resistance during 2011–2015 associated with extensive planting of second‐generation hybrid cotton seeds that boosted the percentage of non‐Bt cotton. Here we screened DNA from 19 748 pink bollworm collected during 2012–2015 from the Yangtze River Valley for seven alleles associated with resistance to Cry1Ac. These alleles were previously identified from lab‐selected strains; three from the U.S. and four from China.

RESULTS

The most common resistance allele was first identified from the U.S. and accounted for over 71% of all resistance alleles detected. Resistance was rare, with the total frequency of the seven resistance alleles showing a significant, 2.3‐fold decrease from 0.0105 (95% CI: 0.0084–0.0132) in 2012 to 0.0046 (0.0031–0.0067) in 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

The DNA screening data confirm results from bioassays showing pink bollworm resistance to Cry1Ac remained rare in the Yangtze River Valley from 2012–2015. The prevalence in China of the resistance allele identified from the U.S. implies a shared genetic basis of resistance that could facilitate molecular monitoring of resistance. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis of CdO Nanoflowers by Sol‐Gel Method on Different Substrates with Photodetection Application
Authors: Rajput Jeevitesh K. , Pathak Trilok K. , Swart Hendrik C. , Purohit Lakshami Pradad
Published: July 2019

To understand the effect of the substrate nature on the cadmium oxide (CdO) thin film, the properties such as structural, surface morphological, elemental, optical, and electrical are studied to optimize it for photodetection applications. The structural results indicate that the cubic crystal structure of the CdO formed on all substrates consists of crystallites with a 28–45 nm average size. The morphological micrographs show a dependency on the substrate type with a flower‐like shape of the CdO particles that are grown on all the substrates except for the indium tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass. The energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy spectra and mapping images confirm the uniform distribution of the cadmium and oxygen. The CdO thin film on the fused silica glass (FSG) shows a high transmittance with a 2.05 eV bandgap. I–V characteristics present a good electrical conductivity of CdO thin film on the soda lime glass (SLG) substrate. The photodetecting characteristic of the SLG thin films as a visible light sensor is studied and is found to have a good stability with 225 and 475 s response and recovery times, respectively.
A comparison of subgroup identification methods in clinical drug development: Simulation study and regulatory considerations
Authors: Huber Cynthia , Benda Norbert , Friede Tim
Published: July 2019

With advancement of technologies such as genomic sequencing, predictive biomarkers have become a useful tool for the development of personalized medicine. Predictive biomarkers can be used to select subsets of patients, which are most likely to benefit from a treatment. A number of approaches for subgroup identification were proposed over the last years. Although overviews of subgroup identification methods are available, systematic comparisons of their performance in simulation studies are rare. Interaction trees (IT), model‐based recursive partitioning, subgroup identification based on differential effect, simultaneous threshold interaction modeling algorithm (STIMA), and adaptive refinement by directed peeling were proposed for subgroup identification. We compared these methods in a simulation study using a structured approach. In order to identify a target population for subsequent trials, a selection of the identified subgroups is needed. Therefore, we propose a subgroup criterion leading to a target subgroup consisting of the identified subgroups with an estimated treatment difference no less than a pre‐specified threshold. In our simulation study, we evaluated these methods by considering measures for binary classification, like sensitivity and specificity. In settings with large effects or huge sample sizes, most methods perform well. For more realistic settings in drug development involving data from a single trial only, however, none of the methods seems suitable for selecting a target population. Using the subgroup criterion as alternative to the proposed pruning procedures, STIMA and IT can improve their performance in some settings. The methods and the subgroup criterion are illustrated by an application in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Robust event‐triggered model predictive control for cyber‐physical systems under denial‐of‐service attacks
Authors: Sun Yuan‐Cheng , Yang Guang‐Hong
Published: July 2019

This paper investigates the resilient control problem for constrained continuous‐time cyber‐physical systems subject to bounded disturbances and denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks. A sampled‐data robust model predictive control law with a packet‐based transmission scheduling is taken advantage to compensate for the loss of the control data during the intermittent DoS intervals, and an event‐triggered control strategy is designed to save communication and computation resources. The robust constraint satisfaction and the stability of the closed‐loop system under DoS attacks are proved. In contrast to the existing studies that guarantee the system under DoS attacks is input‐to‐state stable, the predicted input error caused by the system constraints can be dealt with by the input‐to‐state practical stability framework. Finally, a simulation example is performed to verify the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed strategy.
The Integrated Calibration Index (ICI) and related metrics for quantifying the calibration of logistic regression models
Authors: Austin Peter C. , Steyerberg Ewout W.
Published: July 2019

Assessing the calibration of methods for estimating the probability of the occurrence of a binary outcome is an important aspect of validating the performance of risk‐prediction algorithms. Calibration commonly refers to the agreement between predicted and observed probabilities of the outcome. Graphical methods are an attractive approach to assess calibration, in which observed and predicted probabilities are compared using loess‐based smoothing functions. We describe the Integrated Calibration Index (ICI) that is motivated by Harrell's Emax index, which is the maximum absolute difference between a smooth calibration curve and the diagonal line of perfect calibration. The ICI can be interpreted as weighted difference between observed and predicted probabilities, in which observations are weighted by the empirical density function of the predicted probabilities. As such, the ICI is a measure of calibration that explicitly incorporates the distribution of predicted probabilities. We also discuss two related measures of calibration, E50 and E90, which represent the median and 90th percentile of the absolute difference between observed and predicted probabilities. We illustrate the utility of the ICI, E50, and E90 by using them to compare the calibration of logistic regression with that of random forests and boosted regression trees for predicting mortality in patients hospitalized with a heart attack. The use of these numeric metrics permitted for a greater differentiation in calibration than was permissible by visual inspection of graphical calibration curves.
Synthesis of Quinoline Motif and Their Virtual HIV Protease Inhibition Analysis, Anti‐Proliferative Probing on HCT116 Cell Line
Authors: Gopi P. , Lokesh R. , Sarveswari S.
Published: July 2019

Two diverged series of water‐soluble non‐peptidic quinoline analogues were designed and synthesized by sequential attachment of piperazine and various amino acids to quinoline scaffold at first and second position using peptide coupling procedures. All synthesized compounds were subjected to the in‐silico screening against HIV protease‐1 and the cytotoxicity property of all synthesized compounds was examined on HCT116 cells. The compound, which has threonine and piperazine in sequence at quinoline second position found to have significant HIV protease inhibition property and demonstrated cytotoxicity IC50 value at 22.7±0.59 nM.
K2S2O8‐Mediated Efficient Oxidative Deoximation of Flavonoid Oximes under Mild Reaction Conditions
Authors: Waheed Mohd , Ahmed Naseem , Alsharif Meshari A , Alahmdi Mohammed Issa , Mukhtar Sayeed
Published: July 2019

Developed a novel K2S2O8‐mediated methodology for the oxidative deoximation of flavanone and chalcone oximes to synthesize the corresponding flavanones and chalconesin good to excellent yields (92‐70%). Our methodology is successfully applied for the deoximation of flavanone oximes, chalcone oximes, ketoximes and aldoximes. This methodology is equally useful for the hindered and functionalized aldoximes and ketoximes. Mild reaction condition, shorter reaction time, high yields, easy work‐up and purification of the products are the key advantages of the methodology.
Friend or Foe? Evidence Indicates Endogenous Exosomes Can Deliver Functional gRNA and Cas9 Protein
Authors: Chen Ran , Huang Hongxin , Liu Hui , Xi Jingyuan , Ning Jing , Zeng Wanjia , Shen Congle , Zhang Ting , Yu Guangxin , Xu Qiang , Chen Xiangmei , Wang Jie , Lu Fengmin
Published: July 2019

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/associated nuclease (Cas) system is an efficient gene editing tool. In this study, it is found that both single guide RNA (gRNA) and Cas9 protein could be exported from the CRISPR/Cas9‐expressing cells by endogenous exosomes independently. Further experiments demonstrate that these naturally produced endogenous exosomes could be used as a vehicle to deliver the functional Cas9 and hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐specific gRNA to cut HBV DNA transfected in HuH7 cells or human papilloma virus (HPV)‐specific gRNA to cut the integrated HPV DNA in HeLa cells, respectively. In conclusion, this study indicates the potential of endogenous exosomes as a safe and effective delivery vehicle of the functional gRNA and Cas9 protein. Meanwhile, the endogenous exosomes‐mediated delivery of gene editing activity to adjacent and distant cells or tissues may further complicate the off‐target and safety concerns about the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
Characterization Transformation of Inclusions Using Rare Earth Ce Treatment on Al‐Killed Titanium Alloyed Interstitial Free Steel
Authors: Gao Shuai , Wang Min , Guo Jian-long , Wang Hao , Zhi Jian-guo , Bao Yan-ping
Published: July 2019

By using the thermodynamic calculation of evolution of inclusions that contain rare earths, industrial‐scale modification experiments are conducted. Energy spectroscopy analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, original morphology analysis, and Factsage 7.2 software are used to analyze the evolution mechanisms of inclusions in Al‐killed titanium‐alloyed interstitial free steel. The results reveal that different substances are formed in the following order: Ce2O3(s) > Ce2O2S(s) > CeAlO3(s) > CeO2 (s), with the wt[%Ce] reaching a range of 0–0.01 according to thermodynamic calculation. After Ce treatment, irregular Al2O3 inclusions with a size of 10–15 μm are wrapped by rare earth and then gradually modified into spheroidal CeAlO3, Ce2O3, and Ce2O2S inclusions with a size of ≈5 μm and distributed into interstitial free slabs. A geometric model is developed for the formation of oxide inclusions to illustrate the process of modification. The disregistries between the two‐dimensional lattice parameters of the nucleating phase (Ce2O3 and Ce2O2S) and the substrate (δ‐Fe) at the interfaces are 6.21% and 5.77%, respectively, as measured by modified calculations performed during the heterogeneous nucleation phase.
Climate-Smart Champagne
Authors: Reay Dave
Published: July 2019

There are three billion bottles of fizz drunk each year, and 80 per cent of these come from Europe. Champagne has a carbon footprint of around 2 kilograms of emissions per bottle. The UK alone wastes 40,000 tonnes of wine each year, equivalent to almost 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from drink that ends up down the drain. The Champagne region has already seen a more than 1-degree-Celsius rise in average temperatures and may see over 5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century. Wine growers can adapt to a changing climate through irrigation, pruning techniques and the use of alternative grape varieties, but many, including Champagne, rely on specific vines and conditions. In the longer term, some growers will have to either move their vineyards to cooler locations or give up on the wines they have produced for generations. Either way, the places our sparkling wine is produced and what it is called are set to change radically in the coming decades.
On generalized quasi-topological cubic-quartic gravity: thermodynamics and holography
Authors: Mir Mozhgan , Mann Robert B.
Published: July 2019

Abstract

We investigate the thermodynamic behaviour of asymptotically anti de Sitter black holes in generalized quasi-topological gravity containing terms both cubic and quartic in the curvature. We investigate the general conditions required for physical phase transitions and critical behaviour in any dimension and then consider in detail specific properties in spacetime dimensions 4, 5, and 6. We find for spherical black holes that there are respectively at most two and three physical critical points in five and six dimensions. For hyperbolic black holes we find the occurrence of Van der Waals phase transitions in four dimensions and reverse Van der Waals phase transitions in dimensions greater than 4 if both cubic and quartic curvature terms are present. We also observe the occurrence of phase transitions in for fixed chemical potential. We consider some applications of our work in the dual CFT, investigating how the ratio of viscosity to entropy is modified by inclusion of these higher curvature terms. We conclude that the presence of the quartic curvature term results in a violation of the KSS bound in five dimensions, but not in other dimensions.
Schur correlation functions on S3 × S1
Authors: Pan Yiwen , Peelaers Wolfger
Published: July 2019

Abstract

The Schur limit of the superconformal index of four-dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2 superconformal field theories has been shown to equal the supercharacter of the vacuum module of their associated chiral algebra. Applying localization techniques to the theory suitably put on S
3 × S
1, we obtain a direct derivation of this fact. We also show that the localization computation can be extended to calculate correlation functions of a subset of local operators, namely of the so-called Schur operators. Such correlators correspond to insertions of chiral algebra fields in the trace-formula computing the supercharacter. As a by-product of our analysis, we show that the standard lore in the localization literature stating that only off-shell supersymmetrically closed observables are amenable to localization, is incomplete, and we demonstrate how insertions of fermionic operators can be incorporated in the computation.
Charged-lepton-flavor violation in |ΔS| = 1 hyperon decays
Authors: He Xiao-Gang , Tandean Jusak , Valencia German
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Studies of lepton-flavor violation in strangeness-changing (|ΔS| = 1) transitions have a long tradition in the kaon sector where they provide some of the strongest limits on physics beyond the standard model. Recent hints of violation of lepton-flavor universality in B-meson decays have revived interest in lepton-flavor violation as the two phenomena appear simultaneously in many extensions of the standard model. At the same time, the LHCb experiment has produced new results for the hyperon process Σ+ → pμ
+
μ
− and may be in a position to study other rare hyperon decay modes. With this in mind, we investigate |ΔS| = 1 hyperon decays into different-flavor lepton pairs e
±
μ
∓ in a model-independent manner and contrast the coverage of parameter space that can be achieved with what is known from kaon modes. We include a comparison with selected two-body leptonic decays of charged mesons, with K → πν

$$ \overline{v} $$

v
¯

modes, with μ → e conversion, and with lepton-flavor violating decays of other neutral mesons, all of which constrain the same parameter space in a complementary way.
Corporate Tax Avoidance and Neutralization Techniques: A Case Study on the Panama Papers
Authors: Evertsson Nubia
Published: July 2019

This study examines the accounts provided by the CEOs of the corporations involved in the so-called Panama Papers scandal in order to advance the criminological understandings of how corporations challenge the law and how they routinize crime. To address these questions, I rely on media reports produced by investigative journalists and published in Latin American newspapers, where nearly half of the world’s stories surrounding this scandal were published. The results show that most corporations involved in tax avoidance situations deny any criminal involvement and/or injury to society. The results also suggest that CEOs challenge the law by adopting legal pragmatism, using innovative corporate tax practices, and creating (secret) business structures in selected locations (tax paradises). Corporate tax avoiders routinize their crime by responding to international legislation that promotes economic incentives to international investors. As a whole, they ignore any social responsibility in the countries from which their capital originates, as wealth accumulation, at a minimum cost, is their main interest.
Assessing mathematical thinking as part of curriculum reform in the Netherlands
Authors: Drijvers Paul , Kodde-Buitenhuis Hanneke , Doorman Michiel
Published: July 2019

Assessment is a crucial factor in the implementation of curriculum reform. Little is known, however, on how curriculum changes can be reflected adequately in assessment, particularly if the reform concerns process skills. This issue was investigated for the case of assessing mathematical thinking in a mathematics curriculum reform for 15–18-year-old students in the Netherlands. From 2011 until 2017, these reform curricula were field tested in pilot schools, while other schools used the regular curricula. The research question is how this reform was reflected in national examination papers and in student performance on corresponding assignments. To address this question, we developed a theory-based model for mathematical thinking, analyzed pilot and regular examination papers, and carried out a quantitative and qualitative analysis of students’ work on assignments that invite mathematical thinking. The results were that the pilot examination papers did address mathematical thinking to a greater degree than the regular papers, but that there was a decrease over time. Pilot school students outperformed their peers in regular schools on assignments that invite mathematical thinking by 4–5% on average and showed more diversity in problem-solving strategies. To explain the decreasing presence of mathematical thinking in examination papers, we conjecture that conservative forces within the assessment construction process may push back change.