bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participação cidadã local: reflexões a partir da literatura espanhola sobre o tema
Authors: Palassi Marcia Prezotti , Silva Alfredo Rodrigues Leite da , Silveira Rogerio Zanon da
Published: March 2018

This theoretical essay is oriented by the following question: How can the Spanish experience obtained from theoretical contributions on the topic of citizen participation contribute to the understanding of the articulation of the popular role in the conduct of public and local social policies? The goal is to identify and discuss contributions of the Spanish experience to the development of local citizen participation theme. The results show a profusion of ideas that inhabit different visions of what comes to be participating as a citizen in a given locality. These ideas allow you to associate local citizen participation: change of social reality; integration of participation in management; local cultural-historical values and minority expressions; horizontal relations and reliable; on completion of the representative system; waking the ideas of domination and exclusion that can permeate it; his practice of individual and collective form; precedence types of management and personal modes of management; and planning, organization and budget definition for it to work.
Business models on startups: a multicase study
Authors: Piñeiro Fabio Da Silva , Oliveira Janaina Mendes de , Cruz Anderson Cougo da , Patias Tiago Zardin
Published: March 2018

The Business Model Canvas has become a business model heavily used in the initial design of startups that visualize a tool as a troubleshooter. With this, the issues that accompany the implementation process and the execution of the studied model, which strategically direct such startups. The purpose of this study was to verify how companies used and in what form the business model. Three startups were located in the city of Pelotas (RS, Brazil), selected because they exhibit different specificities. It was found that two of the three companies studied used the model in a structured way. However, a startup that achieved a progressive and non-disruptive development was just a startup that did not use Business Model Canvas. This response was published online with reference to initial references that are not contemplated. Finally, it can be considered that the success of the initialization is not directly available with the tool of the tool.The Business Model Canvas has become a business model heavily used in the initial design of startups that visualize a tool as a troubleshooter. With this, the issues that accompany the implementation process and the execution of the studied model, which strategically direct such startups. The purpose of this study was to verify how companies used and in what form the business model. Three startups were located in the city of Pelotas (RS, Brazil), selected because they exhibit different specificities. It was found that two of the three companies studied used the model in a structured way. However, a startup that achieved a progressive and non-disruptive development was just a startup that did not use Business Model Canvas. This response was published online with reference to initial references that are not contemplated. Finally, it can be considered that the success of the initialization is not directly available with the tool of the tool.
James George Frazer: viktoriansk helt, 20.årh.s skurk, nutidig mediator
Authors: Lundager Jensen Hans J.
Published: March 2018

DANSK RESUME: Efter en kort præsentation af Frazers liv, karriere og indhol-det i hans hovedværk, The Golden Bough, diskuteres dels Frazers treleddede evo-lutionsskema (magi-religion-videnskab), dels anvendeligheden af værkets akkumu-lerede mytologisk-folkloristiske materiale. Frazers komparative tilgang kontraste-res med Claude Lévi-Strauss’ i dennes Mythologiques, hvori der kan antages at spores en frazersk inspiration. Frazers evolutionsskema kontrasteres med Robert Bellahs skemas to første faser, tribal og arkaisk religion.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Following a brief presentation of Frazer's life and career and the content of his main work, The Golden Bough, the article discusses Frazer’s evolutionary schema (magic-religion-science) and the usefulness of the accumulat-ed mythological folkloristic material of the work. Frazer's comparative approach is contrasted with Claude Lévi-Strauss' comparative work Mythologiques and a pos-sible frazerian inspiration. Finally, the article compares Frazer's evolutionary scheme with Robert Bellah's two first stages of religious evolution, tribal and ar-chaic religion.
MLSTar: automatic multilocus and core genome sequence typing in R
Authors: Ferrés Ignacio , Iraola Gregorio
Published: March 2018

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a standard tool in population genetics and bacterial epidemiology that assesses the genetic variation present in a reduced number of housekeeping genes (typically seven) along the genome. This methodology assigns arbitrary integer identifiers to genetic variations at these loci allowing to efficiently compare bacterial isolates using allele-based methods. Now, the increasing availability of whole-genome sequences for hundreds to thousands of strains from the same bacterial species has motivated to upgrade the resolution of traditional MLST schemes using larger gene sets or even the core genome (cgMLST). The PubMLST database is the most comprehensive resource of described MLST and cgMLST schemes available for a wide variety of species. Here we present MLSTar as the first R package that allows to i) connect with the PubMLST database to select a target scheme, ii) screen a desired set of genomes to assign alleles and sequence types and iii) interact with other widely used R packages to analyze and produce graphical representations of the data. We applied MLSTar to analyze a set of 400 Campylobacter coli genomes, showing great accuracy and comparable performance with previously published command-line tools. MLSTar can be freely downloaded from http://github.com/iferres/MLSTar.
Dramatic decline and limited recovery of a green crab (Carcinus maenas) population in the Minas Basin, Canada after the summer of 2013
Authors: Quinn Brady K.
Published: March 2018

This paper reports the results of a ten-year monitoring program of an Atlantic Canadian population of green crabs, Carcinus maenas, in the Minas Basin of the Bay of Fundy. Intertidal densities, sex and reproductive ratios, juvenile recruitment, subtidal catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), and sizes of crabs in this population were recorded from 2008 to 2017. In 2013 intertidal densities, mean crab sizes, subtidal CPUE, and proportions of crabs mature and reproducing all dramatically decreased to all-time lows, and large crabs virtually disappeared from the population. From 2014 to 2017 the population partially recovered but remained in an altered state. Potential causes of interannual changes to this population were investigated by correlating intertidal densities to 67 seasonal environmental variables. Crab densities in a given year were best explained by potential settlement, mean and variability of autumn, spring, and summer wind speeds, winter and spring temperature, and spring precipitation. However, potential roles of other factors (e.g., summer temperatures, North Atlantic Oscillation index) could not be ruled out. Changes in abundances of other species in the region, particularly predators and prey of green crabs, have also been observed and present possible alternative causative agents that should be investigated. Populations of other marine species in the Gulf of Maine-Bay of Fundy region within which the Minas Basin is situated have also been reported to have undergone dramatic changes in and after 2013, suggesting the occurrence of some oceanographic event or regime shift in the region. Declines to the monitored crab population in this study may have resulted from this same 2013 event. These observations have implications for recruitment to marine populations in this region.
Large mammal burrows in late Miocene calcic paleosols from central Argentina: palaeoenvironment, taphonomy and producers
Authors: Cardonatto María Cristina , Melchor Ricardo Néstor
Published: March 2018

Large cylindrical structures with a dominantly laminated fill occurring in the loess-paleosol sequence of the late Miocene Cerro Azul Formation (central Argentina) are interpreted as mammal burrows. A total of 115 burrow fills from three localities were measured. The fills typically are shallowly dipping, subcylindrical, unbranched structures with a rounded end and lacking enlargements. The horizontal diameter of the burrows range between 0.15 and 1.50 m, with most of the burrows in the interval of 0.39 to 0.98 m. Geometric morphometric analysis of transverse cross-sections support the distinction of subcircular and elliptical (horizontally flattened) fills. Burrows fills are typically laminated in the lower part and massive in the upper part. The laminated intervals reflect pulses of aqueous currents entering the abandoned burrow during moderate rains, whereas massive intervals reflect en masse input of sediment-water mixtures during heavy rains that produced sheet floods. About 1% of the burrow fills contained fragmentary, disarticulated and weathered mammal bones that were introduced in the open burrow by currents along with other sedimentary particles. Analysis of the tetrapod burrow fossil record suggests that Miocene burrows, including those studied herein; reflect a remarkable increase in the average size of the fossorial fauna. We conclude that large late Miocene mammals dug burrows essentially as a shelter against environmental extremes and also to escape predation. Several mammal groups acquired fossorial habits in response to cold and seasonally dry climatic conditions that prevailed during the late Miocene in southern South America. The ample range of horizontal diameters of the studied burrow fills can be attributed to a variety of producers, including dasypodids, the notoungulate Paedotherium minor, Glyptodontidae and Proscelidodon sp. The simple architecture of the burrows suggests that the producers essentially foraged aboveground.
Digital scientific notations as a human-computer interface in computer-aided research
Authors: Hinsen Konrad
Published: March 2018

Most of today’s scientific research relies on computers and software not only for administrational tasks, but also for processing scientific information. Examples of such computer-aided research are the analysis of experimental data or the simulation of phenomena based on theoretical models. With the rapid increase of computational power, scientific software has integrated more and more complex scientific knowledge in a black-box fashion. As a consequence, its users do not know, and do not even have a chance of finding out, which assumptions and approximations their computations are based on. The black-box nature of scientific software has thereby become a major cause of mistakes. The present work starts with an analysis of this situation from the point of view of human-computer interaction in scientific research. It identifies the key role of digital scientific notations at the human-computer interface, reviews the most popular ones in use today, and describes a proof-of-concept implementation of Leibniz, a language explicitly designed as a digital scientific notation for models formulated as mathematical equations.
Coccolith arrangement follows Eulerianmathematics in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi
Authors: Xu Kai , Hutchins David , Gao Kunshan
Published: March 2018

Background. The globally abundant coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi, plays an importantecological role in oceanic carbon biogeochemistry by forming a cellularcovering of plate-like CaCO 3 crystals (coccoliths) and fixing CO 2 .It is unknown how the cells arrange different-size of coccoliths to maintainfull coverage, as the cell surface area of the cell changes during daily cycle.

Methods. We used Euler’s polyhedron formula and CaGe simulationsoftware, validated with the geometries of coccoliths, to analze and simulatethe coccolith topology of the coccosphere and to explore the arrangementmechanisms.

Results. There were only small variations in the geometries ofcoccoliths, even when the cells were cultured under variable light conditions.Because of geometric limits, small coccoliths tended to interlock with fewerand larger coccoliths, and vice versa. Consequently, to sustain a full coverageon the surface of cell, each coccolith was arranged to interlock with four tosix others, which in turn led to each coccosphere contains at least 6coccoliths.

Conclusions. The number of coccoliths per coccosphere must keep pacewith changes on the cell surface area as a result of photosynthesis,respiration and cell division. This study is an example of natural selectionfollowing Euler’s polyhedral formula, in response to the challenge ofmaintaining a CaCO 3 covering on coccolithophore cells as cell sizechanges.
Examining the Value of Monte Carlo Simulation for Project Time Management
Authors: Avlijas Goran
Published: March 2018

Research Question: This paper investigates whether the Monte Carlo simulation can be widely used as a practicable method for the analysis of the risks that impact project duration. Motivation: The main goal was to explore the use of the Monte Carlo simulation for project time management, and shed some light on the key benefits and drawbacks of this method. The paper reviewed the existing literature considering traditional use of the Monte Carlo for quantitative project risk analysis (such as Kwak & Ingall, 2007; Hulett, 2017) and elaborated the issue by suggesting potential improvements in terms of method modification for schedule management, such as event chain methodology proposed by Agarwal & Virine (2017). Another goal was to examine the capability of user-friendly software to provide project managers with some of these benefits. Idea: The core idea of this paper was to evaluate the value of the Monte Carlo method for project time and schedule management, by matching traditional foundations with modern techniques. Data: The paper used the secondary data extracted from relevant literature and project examples. A literature review reveals how the application of the Monte Carlo simulation evolved as a project management tool, along with specific benefits and concerns for its application. Tools: A detailed application of the Monte Carlo in predicting project duration is provided, and the applicability and viability of the method are proven through a case demonstration. Following the presentation of a practical example and discussion of the main features, some limitations and potential improvements to the Monte Carlo method are suggested. Findings: Even with the existence of certain limitations, the Monte Carlo simulation remains the primary method for quantitative analysis of project risks. Despite the Monte Carlo having been found to be applicable, adaptable and predictive of total project duration, it is found to be insufficiently used by practitioners. Contribution: The paper urges the need for research on successful diffusion of the Monte Carlo simulation and helps practitioners to understand the adaptability of the Monte Carlo simulation as a tool for risk quantification and its use for effective duration planning of their projects.
The Influence of Expenditures in Football Industry Results: Case Study of the Brazilian Football League
Authors: Lima Eric Matheus Rocha , De Oliveira Vivian , Pavlović Vladan , Fischer Carlos Norberto , Machado Afonso Antonio , Tertuliano Ivan Wallan
Published: March 2018

Reserarch question: the paper investigates the influence of football clubs investments on their performancen the first division of the Brazilian league. Motivation: Considering football as the most important sport in Brazil, representing a cultural symbol of the country, understanding it better becomes necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the financial amounts involved in the management actions to try to understand the influence of the investments that the clubs make about the marketing and championships improvement and, thus, to be able to delineate the relation between investment and success in Football. Idea: In this perspective, the central hypothesis of this study is that the clubs that present the highest expenditures on soccer will also present the best classifications, since these expenses are related to better training conditions and salaries, which may contribute to the recruitment of the best athletes. Data: The study was conducted with data collected over the internet, using data provided by clubs. Only the clubs belonging to the first division were used, being a total of 19 clubs, divided into 3 groups, according to the investment value in Football. Tools: This study presents descriptive and inferential analyzes, since the qualitative-quantitative approach was assumed as a way of understanding the data. Assuming the number of clubs participating in the study, we chose non-parametric inferential analyzes in the intra- and inter-group evaluations, using the alpha value of 0.05 as criterion. Findings: The results showed that clubs in groups G1 and G2 had similar expenditures dynamics, while G3 group clubs had a slight swing. In addition, clubs in groups G1 and G2 had the largest amount of expenditures, while G3 clubs had the lowest expenditure during the period analyzed. These results demonstrated that the clubs of the G1 and G2 groups achieved the best positions in the championships, corroborating the research hypothesis. Contribution: One can conclude that the investment of the clubs directly influences the classification in the championships, being necessary great investment to conquer the championship. However, this study has some limitations, such as sample size (19 teams only). Therefore, we emphasize the need for new studies.
Patterns of Vertical Velocity Induced by Eddy Distortion in an Ocean Model
Authors: Pilo Gabriela S. , Oke Peter R. , Coleman Richard , Rykova Tatiana , Ridgway Ken
Published: March 2018

Vertical motions within eddies play an important role in the exchange of properties and energy between the upper ocean and the ocean interior. Here we analyze alternating upward and downward cells in anticyclonic eddies in the East Australian Current region using a global eddy‐resolving model. The cells explain over 50% of the variance of vertical velocity within these eddies. We show that the upward and downward cells relate to eddy distortion, defined as the change in eddy shape over time. In anticyclonic eddies in the Southern Hemisphere, an inward distortion is associated with upward motion and an outward distortion is associated with downward motion. We discuss two mechanisms that link eddy distortion to vertical velocity. One mechanism relates to changes in stratification and relative vorticity in the eddy interior. The other mechanism relates to divergence of the horizontal flow in different quadrants of the eddy. We show that mesoscale changes in sea level anomaly can be used to infer the vertical motion within eddies.
How Eddies Gain, Retain, and Release Water: A Case Study of a Hokkaido Anticyclone
Authors: Prants S. V. , Budyansky M. V. , Uleysky M. Yu.
Published: March 2018

A Lagrangian methodology is elaborated to identify the origin of water masses in the Kuroshio‐Oyashio frontal zone where waters of the Kuroshio Extension and Oyashio Current and of the Japan and Okhotsk Seas converge. It allows one to track the evolution of mesoscale eddies during the satellite‐altimetry era and to document how they gain, retain, and release water masses of different origin. The methodology is applied to study warm‐core mesoscale anticyclones propagating along the Japan and Kuril Trenches near the eastern coast of Hokkaido Island that have been observed from 1 January 1993 to 10 December 2016 in an altimetry‐based velocity field. The Hokkaido eddy, sampled by profiling floats and a few cruises in 2003 and 2004, is analyzed in detail in order to compare Lagrangian simulation results to observations.
Wavelet Scale Analysis of Mesoscale Convective Systems for Detecting Deep Convection From Infrared Imagery
Authors: Klein Cornelia , Belušić Danijel , Taylor Christopher M.
Published: March 2018

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are frequently associated with rainfall extremes and are expected to further intensify under global warming. However, despite the significant impact of such extreme events, the dominant processes favoring their occurrence are still under debate. Meteosat geostationary satellites provide unique long‐term subhourly records of cloud top temperatures, allowing to track changes in MCS structures that could be linked to rainfall intensification. Focusing on West Africa, we show that Meteosat cloud top temperatures are a useful proxy for rainfall intensities, as derived from snapshots from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 2A25 product: MCSs larger than 15,000 km2 at a temperature threshold of −40°C are found to produce 91% of all extreme rainfall occurrences in the study region, with 80% of the storms producing extreme rain when their minimum temperature drops below −80°C. Furthermore, we present a new method based on 2‐D continuous wavelet transform to explore the relationship between cloud top temperature and rainfall intensity for subcloud features at different length scales. The method shows great potential for separating convective and stratiform cloud parts when combining information on temperature and scale, improving the common approach of using a temperature threshold only. We find that below −80°C, every fifth pixel is associated with deep convection. This frequency is doubled when looking at subcloud features smaller than 35 km. Scale analysis of subcloud features can thus help to better exploit cloud top temperature data sets, which provide much more spatiotemporal detail of MCS characteristics than available rainfall data sets alone.
Added Value of Assimilating Himawari‐8 AHI Water Vapor Radiances on Analyses and Forecasts for “7.19” Severe Storm Over North China
Authors: Wang Yuanbing , Liu Zhiquan , Yang Sen , Min Jinzhong , Chen Liqiang , Chen Yaodeng , Zhang Tao
Published: March 2018

Himawari‐8 is the first launched and operational new‐generation geostationary meteorological satellite. The Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) on board Himawari‐8 provides continuous high‐resolution observations of severe weather phenomena in space and time. In this study, the capability to assimilate AHI radiances has been developed within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model's data assimilation system. As the first attempt to assimilate AHI using WRF data assimilation at convective scales, the added value of hourly AHI clear‐sky radiances from three water vapor channels on convection‐permitting (3 km) analyses and forecasts of the “7.19” severe rainstorm that occurred over north China during 18–21 July 2016 was investigated. Analyses were produced hourly, and 24 h forecasts were produced every 6 h. The results showed that improved wind and humidity fields were obtained in analyses and forecasts verified against conventional observations after assimilating AHI water vapor radiances when compared to the control experiment which assimilated only conventional observations. It was also found that the assimilation of AHI water vapor radiances had a clearly positive impact on the rainfall forecast for the first 6 h lead time, especially for heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm when verified against the observed rainfall. Furthermore, the horizontal and vertical distribution of features in the moisture fields were improved after assimilating AHI water vapor radiances, eventually contributing to a better forecast of the severe rainstorm.
Head and voice tremor improving with immunotherapy in an anti‐NF155 positive CIDP patient
Authors: Painous Cèlia , López‐Pérez Mª Ángeles , Illa Isabel , Querol Luis
Published: March 2018

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with NF155 antibodies (anti‐NF155+) constitutes a specific chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy subset with a high incidence of limb's tremor and poor response to conventional therapies. We report a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy anti‐NF155+ with a severe tremor involving limbs, head and voice that responded very well to rituximab. This response correlated with a sharp decrease in the anti‐NF155 titers. This case is the first report associating head and voice tremor to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, reinforces the hypothesis of the cerebellar origin of this tremor and provides indirect evidence that the antibodies may be the cause of the tremor in these patients.
Chronic Active Arthritis Driven by Macrophages Without Involvement of T Cells
Authors: Hagert Cecilia , Sareila Outi , Kelkka Tiina , Nandakumar Kutty Selva , Collin Mattias , Xu Bingze , Guérard Simon , Bäcklund Johan , Jalkanen Sirpa , Holmdahl Rikard
Published: March 2018

Objective

To develop a new chronic rheumatoid arthritis model that is driven by the innate immune system.

Methods

Injection of a cocktail of 4 monoclonal antibodies against type II collagen, followed on days 5 and 60 by intraperitoneal injections of mannan (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae), was used to induce development of chronic arthritis in B10.Q mice. The role of the innate immune system as compared to the adaptive immune system in this arthritis model was investigated using genetically modified mouse strains.

Results

A new model of chronic relapsing arthritis was characterized in B10.Q mice, in which a persistently active, chronic disease was found. This relapsing disease was driven by macrophages lacking the ability to mount a reactive oxygen species response against pathogens, and was associated with the classical/alternative pathway, but not the lectin pathway, of complement activation. The disease was independent of Fcγ receptor type III, and also independent of the activity of adaptive immune cells (B and T cells), indicating that the innate immune system, involving complement activation, could be the sole driver of chronicity.

Conclusion

Chronic active arthritis can be driven innately by macrophages without the involvement of T and B cells in the adaptive immune system.
Synthesis of a Bis‐Urea Dimer and Its Effects on the Physical Properties of an Amphiphilic Tris‐Urea Supramolecular Hydrogel
Authors: Sawada Hiroki , Yamanaka Masamichi
Published: March 2018

The successful development of stiff supramolecular gels is an important goal toward their practical application. One approach to stiffen supramolecular gels is to introduce covalent cross‐links. The bis‐urea dimer 2, having a structure similar to that of the low‐molecular‐weight gelator 1, was synthesized. Supramolecular hydrogels were formed from mixtures of 1 and 2 in appropriate ratios, with 2 acting as a covalent cross‐linker to connect the fibrous aggregates formed by the self‐assembly of 1. The introduction of these covalent cross‐links greatly influenced the dynamic viscoelasticity of the supramolecular hydrogels. In the supramolecular hydrogel of 1 mixed with 5 % 2, the storage modulus was 1.35 times higher than that of the supramolecular hydrogel of 1 alone, and the crossover strain was extended from 5 % to over 20 %. The supramolecular hydrogel of 1 and 2 was free‐standing and supported 13 times its own weight.
Nomograms forecasting long‐term overall and cancer‐specific survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Fengze , Zhang Hui , Wen Jiao , Zhou Jun , Liu Yuan , Cheng Bingkun , Chen Xun , Wei Jianhua
Published: March 2018

Our aim was to establish a “nomogram” model to forecast the overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. The clinicopathological data for the 10,533 OSCC patients were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. We used a credible random split‐sample method to divide 10,533 patients into two cohorts: 7046 patients in the modeling cohort and 3487 patients in the external validation cohort (split‐ratio = 2:1). The median follow‐up period was 32 months (1–119 months). We developed nomograms to predict 5‐ and 8‐year OS and CSS of OSCC patients with a Cox proportional hazards model. The precision of the nomograms was assessed by the concordance index (C‐index) and calibration curves through internal and external validation. The C‐indexes of internal validation regarding 5‐ and 8‐year OS and CSS were 0.762 and 0.783, respectively. In addition, the external validation's C‐indexes were 0.772 and 0.800. Based on a large‐sample analysis targeting the SEER database, we established two nomograms to predict long‐term OS and CSS for OSCC patients successfully, which can assist surgeons in developing a more effective therapeutic regimen and conducting personalized prognostic evaluations.
Incidence and predictors of target lesion failure in a multiethnic Asian population receiving the SYNERGY coronary stent: A prospective all‐comers registry
Authors: Ananthakrishna Rajiv , Kristanto William , Liu Li , Chan Siew‐Pang , Loh Poay Huan , Tay Edgar L. , Chan Koo Hui , Chan Mark Y. , Lee Chi‐Hang , Low Adrian F. , Tan Huay Cheem , Loh Joshua P.
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the target lesion failure (TLF) rate of the SYNERGY stent in all‐comers, multiethnic Asian population.

Background

Currently, most drug eluting stents deliver anti‐proliferative drugs from a durable polymer which is associated with a risk of late stent thrombosis. The novel everolimus‐eluting, platinum chromium SYNERGY stent is coated with a bioabsorbable abluminal polymer that resolves within 4 months.

Methods

This was a prospective, single center registry of consecutive patients treated with the SYNERGY stent between December 2012 and April 2015. The primary outcome was the incidence of TLF, defined as the combination of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1 year.

Results

A total of 807 patients received the SYNERGY stent during the study period. One‐year clinical outcome data was available for 765 patients (94.8%) and were considered for statistical analysis. The mean age was 60.7 ± 10.8 years, and 83.4% were males. Patients with acute myocardial infarction consisted of 50.3% (ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction: 23.0%, Non‐ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction: 27.3%) of the study population. The treated lesions were complex (ACC/AHA type B2/C: 72.7%). The primary end point of TLF at 1 year was 5.8%. Rates of cardiac mortality, target vessel myocardial infarction, and TLR were 4.2, 1.0, and 1.3%, respectively, at 1 year. Predictors of the incidence and time to early TLF were female gender, Malay ethnicity, diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction at presentation, a prior history of coronary artery bypass surgery and the presence of lesion calcification. The incidence of definite stent thrombosis was 0.4% at 1 year.

Conclusions

In this registry, the use of the SYNERGY stent was associated with low rates of TLF at 1 year.
Modification of Salt‐Templated Carbon Surface Chemistry for Efficient Oxidation of Glucose with Supported Gold Catalysts
Authors: Lama Sandy M. G. , Schmidt Johannes , Malik Ankita , Walczak Ralf , Silva Daniel Varon , Völkel Antje , Oschatz Martin
Published: March 2018

Gold nanoparticles dispersed on high‐surface‐area carbon materials were investigated as heterogeneous catalysts for the selective oxidation of d‐glucose to d‐gluconic acid in aqueous solution with molecular oxygen. Salt‐templated porous carbon supports were obtained from different precursors with and without nitrogen and treated under air or hydrogen atmosphere to functionalize the surface with nitrogen, oxygen, or hydrogen. The influence of the surface atomic structure of the carbonaceous supports with similar pore structure on the size and catalytic properties of the metallic nanoparticles was studied at gold nanoparticle loadings of 0.4–0.7 wt %. The functionalisation significantly influences the surface polarity of the support materials and the strength of the interaction with the gold nanoparticles. The surface polarity influences the structure and properties of the catalysts because both the gold deposition and the glucose oxidation reaction take place in the aqueous phase. Rather hydrophilic supports are obtained by doping with oxygen and nitrogen and lead to large gold nanoparticles with low catalytic activity. In contrast, the rather hydrophobic as‐made and hydrogen‐treated supports provide higher catalytic activity (metal time yield up to 1.5 molGlucose molAu−1 s−1) resulting from their smaller gold particles of 3–5 nm in diameter.
Structure, Impact, and Deficiencies of Beginning Counselor Educators' Doctoral Teaching Preparation
Authors: Waalkes Phillip L. , Benshoff James M. , Stickl Jaimie , Swindle Paula J. , Umstead Lindsey K.
Published: March 2018

The authors utilized the consensual qualitative research method (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, ) to explore beginning counselor educators' (N = 9) experiences of doctoral teaching preparation, including helpful and missing components. Emerging themes included a lack of intentionality in teaching‐related program design and a need for stronger preparation in pedagogy and content delivery methods.
Fixed‐Bed and Batch Adsorption of Pharmaceuticals from Aqueous Solutions on Ionic Liquid‐Modified Montmorillonite
Authors: Lawal Isiaka A. , Moodley Brenda
Published: March 2018

Batch and column adsorption of four pharmaceuticals, namely, tetracycline (TC), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), nalidixic acid (NAD), and chloramphenicol (CHL) on ionic liquid modified montmorillonite (Mt‐IL) was evaluated. The effects of variation in pH and contact time were analyzed and the data were fitted to kinetics and isotherm models. The equilibrium experimental data were best explained by the Freundlich model. A pseudo second‐order kinetic model described all pharmaceuticals adsorbed on Mt‐IL. In column studies, the exchange zone depth, adsorption capacity, the required time for the pharmaceuticals to move through the height of the adsorbent in the column, and adsorption rates were investigated by the Yoon‐Nelson and the Thomas and Adams‐Bohart models.
Niobium Oxyhydroxide‐Polyoxometalate Composite as an Efficient Proton‐Conducting Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Wang Yi‐Di , Wang Jia‐Xuan , Wei Mei‐Jie , Liu Bai‐Ling , Zang Hong‐Ying , Tan Hua‐Qiao , Wang Yong‐Hui , Li Yang‐Guang
Published: March 2018

It is still challenging to develop new and low‐cost proton‐conductive solid electrolytes using a simple synthetic procedure. Herein, a new proton‐conducting material was synthesized for the first time through a sol‐gel method by merging niobium oxyhydroxide with polyoxometalate (POM). NbO2(OH)‐PW12 exhibited higher proton conductivity than that of niobium oxyhydroxide with varying humidity. Additionally, the molar ratio of Nb:{PW12} played a vital role in the proton conductivity and, when the molar ratio of Nb:{PW12} was 67 : 1, the material showed the maximum proton conductivity with a value of 7.25 mS cm−1 at 77 °C under 97 % RH, which was 10000 times higher than that of niobium oxyhydroxide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first niobium‐oxyhydroxide‐based intrinsic proton conductor with such high proton conductivity below 100 °C. The kinetics study suggested that the proton conduction mechanism of NbO2(OH)‐PW12 might follow the Grotthuss mechanism.
Importance of baseline heart rate as a predictor of cardiac functional recovery in newly diagnosed heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Valika Ali , Paprockas Kim , Villines Dana , Costanzo Maria Rosa
Published: March 2018

Background

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has shown to predict outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Left ventricular recovery (LVR) has shown to improve prognosis.

Hypothesis.

Guideline‐directed medical therapy will predict LVR in patients with HF and reduced LVEF.

Methods

We studied 244 patients with newly diagnosed HF and an LVEF ≤35%. LVR was defined as an increase in LVEF ≥40%. Patients who experienced LVR were compared with those who had persistent left ventricular dysfunction.

Results

Population characteristics included ischemic etiology, 38.1%; baseline LVEF, 23% ±6%; and mean baseline heart rate (HR), 75 ±13 bpm. Guideline‐directed medical therapy was achieved as follows: angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, 74.3%; β‐blockers (BB), 95.4%; target dosing of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, 33.7%; target dosing of BB, 40.2%. LVR occurred in 154/244 patients (63.1%). By multivariable analysis, baseline HR ≤70 bpm was the only independent predictor of LVR (odds ratio: 3.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–7.5, P = 0.003). Target dosing of BB therapy was predictive of LVR only in the univariate analysis (odds ratio: 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–3.4, P = 0.03). Furthermore, the composite endpoint of HF hospitalization or mortality occurred less frequently in those who did vs those who did not achieve target BB doses (5.4% vs 16.7%, respectively; P = 0.023).

Conclusions

The novel findings of our analysis reveal that the only predictor of LVR in this study was a low baseline HR. Early modulation of HR in newly diagnosed HF patients may increase the rates of LVR.
Transthyretin Mimetics as Anti‐β‐Amyloid Agents: A Comparison of Peptide and Protein Approaches
Authors: Pate Kayla M. , Kim Brandon J. , Shusta Eric V. , Murphy Regina M.
Published: March 2018

β‐Amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is causally linked to neuronal pathology in Alzheimer's disease; therefore, several small molecules, antibodies, and peptides have been tested as anti‐Aβ agents. We developed two compounds based on the Aβ‐binding domain of transthyretin (TTR): a cyclic peptide cG8 and an engineered protein mTTR, and compared them for therapeutically relevant properties. Both mTTR and cG8 inhibit fibrillogenesis of Aβ, with mTTR inhibiting at a lower concentration than cG8. Both inhibit aggregation of amylin but not of α‐synuclein. They both bind more Aβ aggregates than monomer, and neither disaggregates preformed fibrils. cG8 retained more of its activity in the presence of biological materials and was more resistant to proteolysis than mTTR. We examined the effect of mTTR or cG8 on Aβ binding to human neurons. When mTTR was co‐incubated with Aβ under oligomer‐forming conditions, Aβ morphology was drastically changed and Aβ‐cell deposition significantly decreased. In contrast, cG8 did not affect morphology but decreased the amount of Aβ deposited. These results provide guidance for further evolution of TTR‐mimetic anti‐amyloid agents.
Fuel Cell Measurements with Cathode Catalysts of Sputtered Pt3Y Thin Films
Authors: Lindahl Niklas , Eriksson Björn , Grönbeck Henrik , Lindström Rakel Wreland , Lindbergh Göran , Lagergren Carina , Wickman Björn
Published: March 2018

Fuel cells are foreseen to have an important role in sustainable energy systems, provided that catalysts with higher activity and stability are developed. In this study, highly active sputtered thin films of platinum alloyed with yttrium (Pt3Y) are deposited on commercial gas diffusion layers and their performance in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is measured. After acid pretreatment, the alloy is found to have up to 2.5 times higher specific activity than pure platinum. The performance of Pt3Y is much higher than that of pure Pt, even if all of the alloying element was leached out from parts of the thin metal film on the porous support. This indicates that an even higher performance is expected if the structure of the Pt3Y catalyst or the support could be further improved. The results show that platinum alloyed with rare earth metals can be used as highly active cathode catalyst materials, and significantly reduce the amount of platinum needed, in real fuel cells.
Selective Aerobic Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Diformylfuran or 2‐Formyl‐5‐furancarboxylic Acid in Water by using MgO⋅CeO2 Mixed Oxides as Catalysts
Authors: Ventura Maria , Lobefaro Francesco , de Giglio Elvira , Distaso Monica , Nocito Francesco , Dibenedetto Angela
Published: March 2018

Mixed oxides based on MgO⋅CeO2 were used as efficient catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) to afford, with very high selectivity, either 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF, 99 %) or 2‐formyl‐5‐furancarboxylic acid (FFCA, 90 %), depending on the reaction conditions. 5‐Hydroxymethyl‐2‐furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA, 57–90 %) was formed only at low concentration of 5‐HMF (<0.03 m) or in presence of external bases. The conversion of 5‐HMF ranged from a few percent to 99 %, according to the reaction conditions. The oxidation was performed in water, with O2 as oxidant, without any additives. The surface characterization of the catalysts gave important information about their acid–base properties, which drive the selectivity of the reaction towards DFF. FFCA was formed from DFF at longer reaction times. Catalysts were studied by XPS and XRD before and after catalytic runs to identify the reason why they undergo reversible deactivation. XRD showed that MgO is hydrated to Mg(OH)2, which, even if not leached out, changes the basic properties of the catalyst that becomes less active after some time. Calcination of the recovered catalyst allows recovery of its initial activity. The catalyst is thus recoverable (>99 %) and reusable. The use of mixed oxides allows tuning of the basicity of the catalysts, avoiding the need for external bases for efficient and selective conversion of 5‐HMF and waste formation, resulting in an environmentally friendly, sustainable process.
J. Heyrovský's Oscillographic Polarography. Roots of Present Chronopotentiometric Analysis of Biomacromolecules
Authors: Paleček Emil , Heyrovský Michael , Dorčák Vlastimil
Published: March 2018

In 1941 J. Heyrovský invented Oscillographic Polarography (OP) with controlled alternating current (a.c.). The method was developed during the World War and the first commercially available instruments for OP were produced in Czechoslovakia at the beginning of the 1950’s. Such instruments offered derivative and cyclic OP curves allowing simple analysis of various compounds and stimulated the publication of hundreds of papers. Thanks to OP, electrochemical analysis of DNA started already in 1958. According to the present nomenclature, OP can be denominated as a.c. chronopotentiometry. Surprisingly, authors who later described derivative and cyclic chronopotentiometry did not consider J. Heyrovský’s OP methodology in their work. Present electrochemical studies of biomacromolecules take advantage of modern instruments for constant current chronopotentiometric stripping, allowing DNA and protein structure‐sensitive analysis. Recent progress in these studies is reviewed.
Study of the enantiomeric separation of the anticholinergic drugs on two immobilized polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases by HPLC and the possible chiral recognition mechanisms
Authors: Li Meng , Zhao Yu , Zhou Li , Yu Jia , Wang Jian , Guo Xingjie
Published: March 2018

In this work, the enantiomeric separation of ten anticholinergic drugs was first examined on two derivative polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSPs), i.e., Chiralpak ID and Chiralpak IA in the normal phase mode. Except for scopolamine hydrobromide, the remaining nine analytes could be completely separated with good resolutions using both columns under the optimized mobile phase conditions. And the enantiomeric discrimination ability of the studied CSPs towards nine analytes was in the order of Chiralpak ID > Chiralpak IA. The influences of organic modifier types, alcohol content, and base/acid additives on the enantiomeric separation were evaluated and optimized. According to the experimental results, the effect of the structures of analytes on enantiomeric separation was discussed. Additionally, the chiral recognition mechanisms were proposed based on the thermodynamic analysis of the experimental data.
A concept analysis of deprescribing medications in older people
Authors: Page Amy , Clifford Rhonda , Potter Kathleen , Etherton‐Beer Christopher
Published: March 2018

Aim

Deprescribing is an increasingly common term in the literature, although no specific accepted definition exists. We aimed to clarify the concept of deprescribing as used in research and clinical practice.

Methods

Deprescribing was examined using the eight‐step Walker and Avant method of concept analysis that consisted of: (i) concept selection; (ii) determining the purpose of the analysis; (iii) identifying uses of the concept; (iv) determining the critical attributes; (v) identifying the model case; (vi) identifying borderline and contrary cases; (vii) identifying antecedents and consequences; and (viii) defining empirical referents. A literature search was conducted on the word de?prescri*.

Results

We identified seven critical attributes: withdrawing medications, de‐escalation, intended outcomes, structured and iterative process, intervention, risk to benefit, and patient‐centred care. Deprescribing antecedents were identified as changing health, changing goals for health care, and polypharmacy. Deprescribing consequences identified were compliance, health outcomes, mortality and cost, and possibility for adverse drug withdrawal events to occur. We used the model case, borderline and contrary cases and empirical referents to illustrate the concept of deprescribing.

Conclusions

Deprescribing is a term used with varying degrees of precision, and there is no accepted definition. In this paper, we have analysed the concept of deprescribing and identified it as a patient‐centred process of medication withdrawal intended to achieve improved health outcomes through discontinuation of one or more medications that are either potentially harmful or no longer required.
Informing deprescribing decisions in older people: does the Product Information contain advice on medication use for older people and medication withdrawal?
Authors: Page Amy , Clifford Rhonda , Potter Kathleen , Etherton‐Beer Christopher
Published: March 2018

Background

Product Information (PI) details the indications for prescribing, dosage and administration, and recognised side effects and contraindications. No formal requirement exists for PI to include information on medication use in older people and what to expect while withdrawing medication (deprescribing). Deprescribing has a focus on older people, so we designed this study to evaluate how frequently the PI includes information on medication withdrawal and medication use in older people.

Methods

We identified PIs currently available from the Therapeutic Goods Administration website for medications commonly used by older people. Data were abstracted using data extraction tables for eight categories of information, including statements of possible withdrawal effects, specified advice on discontinuation strategies and specified advice for older people.

Results

We retrieved the PI for 99 different medications. Statements of possible withdrawal effects were provided in half of the PIs (n = 57). Of these, three PIs specified scenarios that constituted clinical criteria for withdrawal of the medication from long‐term use. The majority of PIs (n = 73) did not provide specified advice on discontinuation strategies. Of these medications, 23 PIs provided specific recommendations and three PIs made a general recommendation to gradually withdraw medication.

Discussion

Almost all the PIs reviewed included information about medication use in older people, but only half included information about medication withdrawal. The inclusion of information about discontinuation effects and strategies may improve PIs.