bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postpartum screening for diabetes in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus: a re‐audit
Authors: Uzoh Oby T , Wilson Debbie , Sagi Satyanarayana V , Samyraju Manjula , Oyibo Samson O
Published: October 2019

The majority of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have transient hyperglycaemia during pregnancy, but up to 50% develop diabetes within five years postpartum. Early diagnosis and timely intervention reduce long‐term morbidity and mortality. Women who have had GDM should have screening for diabetes mellitus according to NICE guidelines. Our previous audits in 2015 and 2016 revealed that only 44% and 33% of women had postpartum screening, respectively. We therefore, changed to glycated haemoglobin testing at 13–24 weeks postpartum, providing a request form and telephone‐reminder calls to patients. After this intervention, we aimed to re‐audit postpartum screening for diabetes in these women.

We undertook a retrospective audit looking at postpartum screening for diabetes in 147 women diagnosed with GDM who delivered during the year August 2017 to July 2018.

The results showed that 106 patients (72.1%) had postpartum screening for diabetes (one‐fifth of these were done too early and two tests were done after six months postpartum). Therefore, 83 patients did their screening test at the appropriate time, of which eight results (9.6%) indicated high‐risk for diabetes (pre‐diabetes) and two results (2.4%) indicated diabetes.

This audit demonstrates that while there is still room for improvement there was a markedly increased take up of postpartum screening for diabetes in women who have had GDM. This was due to a change in practice, which we hope will provide a stimulus for change in other centres and, most importantly, aid in the prevention and incidence reporting of diabetes after GDM. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2019; 36(5): 162–164
Pregnancy in women with diabetes or with gestational diabetes: a primary care perspective
Authors: King Paru
Published: October 2019

Diabetes and pregnancy is regarded as a secondary care responsibility but, with 5% of pregnancies complicated by pre‐existing or gestational diabetes, an individual practice is likely to see some of these women every year. This article considers the issues surrounding the preconception, antenatal and postnatal care of women with diabetes and gestational diabetes, and considers their management from a primary care perspective. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2019; 36(5): 171–176
Probing the Damping Property of Three‐Dimensional Graphene Aerogels in Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber/Polyurethane Blend
Authors: Yan Han , Li Hao , Li Wen , Fan Xiaoqiang , Zhang Lin , Zhu Minhao
Published: October 2019

Three‐dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel (GA) with a spatial porous structure and network skeleton was facilely prepared via one‐step self‐assembly hydrothermal reduction. Such network structure is regarded as a critical advantage in resolving the dispersion of graphene in polymer matrix, thereby enhancing the damping property. Here, as‐prepared GA was added to the carboxylated butadiene nitrile rubber/polyurethane blend (XNBR/PU) by melting/mechanical complex method. Their dynamic mechanical properties were investigated in detail, and the relationship between thermal aging and dynamic mechanical properties had also been studied. Finding that the storage modulus and loss modulus of XNBR/PU were continually improved with the increase in addition amount of high‐performance GA, reaching 3,219 and 316 MPa with the content of 3 wt% GA, respectively. Loss factor (tanδ) of XNBR/PU with GA shows two sets of maximum values (0.22 and 0.61) at around −25 and 0.6°C, respectively. Results illustrate that GA can greatly improve the damping performance, damping temperature range, mechanical properties, and thermal aging resistance of XNBR/PU blend, mainly depending on the performance characteristics of GA and interface interaction between GA and XNBR/PU. Verifying that GA with 3D network structure holds a great prospect for damping materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:61–70, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Theoretical exploration about the ESIPT mechanism and hydrogen bonding interaction for 2‐(3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole‐6‐carboxylicacid
Authors: Wang Lifei , Wang Yan , Zhang Qin , Zhao Juan
Published: October 2019

Excited state hydrogen bonding interactions and the excited state dynamical behaviors are of paramount importance in the photochemical and photophysical fields. In the present work, based on density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we theoretically explore the excited state hydrogen bonds and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism for the novel 2‐(3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole‐6‐carboxylicacid (DHPB) system. Firstly, comparing the non‐hydrogen bond DHPB‐O form with DHPB, we confirm the formation of hydrogen bond in DHPB molecule in the S0 state. Upon the investigations about the stable excited state structure (ie, geometrical parameter, infrared vibrational spectra, and simulated bond energy), we verify that intramolecular hydrogen bond OH···N should be strengthened in the first excited state. The simulated hydrogen bonding energy via constructing potential energy curves further confirms the strengthening phenomenon of OH···N for DHPB system. In view of photoexcitation, the charge redistribution around hydrogen bonding moieties reveals that the increased electronic densities facilitate attracting hydrogen proton. On the basis of B3LYP, Cam‐B3LYP, and PBE0 functionals, we further construct the potential energy surfaces along with ESIPT reaction path, which demonstrates that the ESIPT process is ultrafast because of the low potential barrier. It explains the reason about why the normal fluorescence cannot be observed in previous experimental phenomenon. This work fills vacancy of ESIPT mechanism for DHPB system and presents the unambiguous dynamical behavior legitimately.
Functionalization of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene using hypervalent iodine compounds with tetrazole ligands
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Sayala Kapil Dev , Cao Yakun , Tsarevsky Nicolay V.
Published: October 2019

Hypervalent iodine(III) compounds with tetrazole ligands C6H5I(N4CR)2 (R  CH3, C6H5, 4‐CH3C6H4) reacted, in the presence of elemental iodine, with the double bonds in cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene (polyIP) to afford iodo‐tetrazolylated polymers. The alkyl‐iodide groups in the products of the polyIP functionalization were utilized as macro chain‐transfer agents for the iodine‐transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate, which yielded brush polymers with well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains. In addition, the iodo‐tetrazolylated polymers were reacted with NaN3 in DMF at room temperature, and it was noticed that, in addition to nucleophilic substitution, elimination reactions took place. However, the presence of azide groups was taken advantage of and successful click chemistry‐type of grafting‐onto reactions were carried out with alkyne‐capped poly(ethylene oxide) in the presence of CuBr and N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine. The thermal decomposition of both the iodo‐tetrazolylated and the azido‐tetrazolylated polymers was exothermic, especially for the latter materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020, 58, 172–180
Strategic science planning for responsible stewardship and plant protection at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Authors: Federman Sarah , Zankowski Paul
Published: October 2019

Societal Impact Statement

Agriculture is comprised of managed ecosystems, which can include forests, rangelands and crops; these managed ecosystems are vital resources, providing a host of economic and societal benefits. However, these systems face a multitude of challenges: from climate change and limited natural resources; to exotic pests and pathogens; to growing global populations and food demands. Responding to these global challenges requires interdisciplinary innovation and strategic planning to maintain production and sustainability while responsibly feeding the future. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Research, Education, and Economics, and Forest Service agencies plan to meet these challenges via research programs and initiatives.
Effect of pycnogenol supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Pourmasoumi Makan , Hadi Amir , Mohammadi Hamed , Rouhani Mohammad Hossein
Published: October 2019

Several studies investigated the impact of pycnogenol on blood pressure. Nevertheless, the results are inconclusive. The aim of the present systematic review and meta‐analysis was to clarify the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on blood pressure. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched until March 2018 to find clinical trials, which examined the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. A subgroup analysis was applied to find out potential sources of interstudy heterogeneity. A total of 12 clinical trials (922 participants) were included in the meta‐analysis. Pooled analysis suggested that pycnogenol supplementation can reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) of (‐3.22 mmHg; 95% CI [‐5.52, ‐0.92]) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; ‐1.91 mmHg; 95% CI [‐3.64, ‐0.18]). Effect of pycnogenol on SBP was more pronounce in subgroup in which pycnogenol was administered along with other treatments. A significant effect of pycnogenol on DBP in studies with >12‐week duration, whereas this favorable effect was not observed in subgroup with ≤12‐week supplementation. The present systematic review and meta‐analysis suggest that pycnogenol had a favorable effect on SBP and DBP. Further, high quality randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm this result.
Adaptive prescribed performance tracking control for strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with zero dynamics
Authors: Liu Cungen , Wang Huanqing , Liu Xiaoping , Zhou Yucheng , Lu Shouyin
Published: October 2019

This paper focuses on the adaptive tracking control problem for strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with zero dynamics via prescribed performance. Based on polynomial fitting, an adjustable performance function is firstly proposed, whose parameters can be adjusted in real time according to the tracking error. Furthermore, an adaptive prescribed performance tracking controller is constructed via the backstepping method, which guarantees that all the states in the closed‐loop system are bounded. Meanwhile, the output tracking error falls within an adjustable performance boundary and asymptotically converges to zero. Simulation comparison demonstrates the advantages of the developed controller as follows: (1) the parameters of the adjustable performance function are adjusted online according to the tracking errors for a faster convergent performance boundary; (2) the steady‐state performance of the system is further optimized simultaneously.
Stromal cells from perinatal and adult sources modulate the inflammatory immune response in vitro by decreasing Th1 cell proliferation and cytokine secretion
Authors: Khoury Oula , Atala Anthony , Murphy Sean V.
Published: October 2019

Many immune-mediated conditions are associated with a dysregulated imbalance toward a Th1 response leading to disease onset, severity, and damage. Many of the therapies such as immunomodulators or anti-TNF-α antibodies often fall short in preventing disease progression and ameliorating disease conditions. Thus, new therapies that can target inflammatory environments would have a major impact in preventing the progression of inflammatory diseases. We investigated the role of human stromal cells derived from the amniotic fluid (AFSCs), the placenta (PLSCs), and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) in modulating the inflammatory response of in vitro-stimulated circulating blood-derived immune cells. Immune cells were isolated from the blood of healthy individuals and stimulated in vitro with antigens to activate inflammatory responses to stimuli. AFSC, BM-MSCs, and PLSCs were cocultured with stimulated leukocytes, neutrophils, or lymphocytes. Inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil migration, enzymatic degranulation, T cell proliferation, and subsets were evaluated. Coculture of all three stromal cell types decreased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and enzymes such as IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, neutrophil elastase, and the transcription factor NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated leukocytes. With isolated phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cells coculture leads to a decrease in lymphocyte proliferation. This effect correlated with decreased numbers of Th1 lymphocytes and decreased secreted levels of IFN-γ.

Significance statement This study highlights the immunosuppressive properties of perinatal cells on Th1 cells and their associated cytokines thus providing further understanding of the role of perinatal cells as a potential therapy to target Th1 mediated diseases.
Personalized treatment selection using data from crossover designs with carry‐over effects
Authors: Siriwardhana Chathura , Kulasekera K. B. , Datta Somnath
Published: October 2019

In this work, we propose a semiparametric method for estimating the optimal treatment for a given patient based on individual covariate information for that patient when data from a crossover design are available. Here, we assume there are carry‐over effects for patients switching from one treatment to another. For the K treatment (K ≥ 2) scenario, we show that nonparametric estimation of carry‐over effects can have the undesirable property that comparison of treatment means can only be done using independent outcome measurements from different groups of patients rather than using available joint measurements for each patient. To overcome this barrier, we compare probabilities of outcome variable of each treatment dominating outcome variables for all other treatments conditional on patient‐specific scores constructed from patient covariates. We suggest single‐index models as appropriate models connecting outcome variables to covariates and our empirical investigations show that frequencies of correct treatment assignments are highly accurate. The proposed method is also rather robust against departures from a single‐index model structure. We also conduct a real data analysis to show the applicability of the proposed procedure.
Nanofibrous Composites Reinforced by MoS2 Nanosheets as a Conductive Scaffold for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Authors: Nazari Hojjatollah , Heirani‐Tabasi Asieh , Alavijeh Mohammadhossein Shahsavari , Jeshvaghani Zahra Shojaei , Esmaeili Elaheh , Hosseinzadeh Simzar , Mohabatpour Fatemeh , Taheri Behnaz , Tafti Seyed Hossein Ahmadi , Soleimani Masoud
Published: October 2019

Mimicking the structure of extracellular matrix and electrical conductivity of myocardium are required to regenerate the functional cardiac tissue. In this study, Molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, nanosheets were synthesized and incorporated into nylon6 electrospun nanofibers in order to enhance the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the scaffolds. Then, the mouse embryonic cardiac cells, mECCs, were seeded on the scaffolds for in vitro studies. The MoS2 nanosheets were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Nylon/MoS2 nanofibers were characterized by SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), water contact angle measurement, electrical conductivity, and tensile test. Furthermore, cytocompatibility of scaffolds was confirmed by 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, MTT, assay. SEM images showed more elongated morphology for mECCs attached to the nylon/MoS2 scaffold. Also, the Real‐Time PCR and immunostaining studies indicated the maturation and upregulation of cardiac functional genes including GATA‐4, c‐TnT, Nkx 2.5 and α‐MHC in the nylon/MoS2 scaffold in comparison to the bare nylon. Therefore, MoS2 reinforced nylon nanofibrous scaffolds can be considered as a suitable candidate in cardiac tissue engineering.
Tailored Synthesis of Pt‐Nanoparticle‐Modified Mesoporous TiO2 Popcorn‐Like Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Applications
Authors: Yang Qian , Guo Enyan , Sun Ke , Zhang Xuetao , Liu Hao , Lu Qifang
Published: October 2019

Designing green and efficient photocatalysts for pollutant degradation is of great significance, where the photogenerated charge separation plays an important role in improving the photocatalytic efficiency. A three‐dimensional popcorn‐like TiO2 mesoporous sphere with tunable Pt contents has been successfully synthesized by a combination of hydrothermal process and chemical reduction. The resultant Pt/TiO2 mesoporous spheres exhibit a suppressed charge recombination due to the synergic effect of TiO2 and Pt. To be specific, the Pt nanoparticle on the TiO2 facilitates the collection and transfer of the photogenerated electrons originated from the mesoporous TiO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculated results further confirm the faster carries separation in Pt/TiO2. Meanwhile, the specific three‐dimensional structure endows Pt/TiO2 spheres with enhanced light scattering ability, a high surface area, and porous structure. As a consequence, the novel Pt/TiO2 mesoporous spheres present multiple fold enhancement on the RhB photodegradation efficiency compared with that of neat TiO2, in which 1.0% Pt/TiO2 presents the highest photocatalytic activity. This work proposes a new perspective of green and efficient photocatalysts.
Synthetic Utilization of α,β‐Chalcone Dibromide In Heterocyclic Chemistry and Stereoselective Debromination
Authors: Kamal Raj , Kumar Ravinder , Kumar Vipan , Bhardwaj Vikas
Published: October 2019

This review article epitomize the different synthetic approaches to synthesize α,β‐chalcone dibromide and their application in developing chemically and biologically relevant heterocyclic compounds. The transformation of α,β‐chalcone dibromide into aziridines, pyrazolines, pyrazoles, isoxazoles, pyridine, pyrimidine, flavanoids, diazepines and other heterocyclic compounds has been described briefly in different categories to highlight the importance of these α,β‐chalcone dibromide as key intermediate in organic chemistry. Stereoselective debromination of α,β‐chalcone dibromides with various metal‐containing reducing agents, metal‐metal salt system, ionic liquid, solvents and photoredox catalyst to their corresponding chalcones is also described.
Iron(II) Clathrochelate with Terminal Triple C≡C Bond and Its Carboranoclathrochelate Derivative with a Flexible Linker between the Polyhedral Cages: Synthesis and X‐Ray Structure
Authors: Zelinskii Genrikh E. , Belov Alexander S. , Vologzhanina Anna V. , Limarev Ilya P. , Pavlov Alexander A. , Olshevskaya Valentina A. , Makarenkov Anton V. , Dorovatovskii Pavel V. , Lebed Ekaterina G. , Voloshin Yan Z.
Published: October 2019

Monopropargylamine iron(II) tris‐dioximate was easily prepared in a high yield using nucleophilic substitution of its monochloroclathrochelate precursor with propargylamine as a primary aliphatic amine N‐nucleophile in acetonitrile as a solvent. This complex with terminal C≡C group underwent a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition “click”‐reaction with ortho‐carborane‐1‐methylazide, thus giving a hybrid iron(II) carboranoclathrochelate with ortho‐carborane‐(12)‐[1,2,3]‐triazolmethylamine fragment in its ribbed substituent, the molecule of which contains two (i. e. clathrochelate and carborane) terminal cages. These complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI‐TOF mass, IR, UV‐Vis, 1H, 1H{11B}, 11B, 11B{1H}, 19F{1H} and 13C{1H} NMR spectra, and by single crystal X‐ray diffraction as well.
MnCl2‐Mediated Carbonylative Sonogashira Coupling of Aryl Iodides and Aromatic Terminal Alkynes by Using CO
Authors: Lakshmi Parvathi K. , Markandeya Sarma V. , Sridhar Chidara , Babu K Raghu
Published: October 2019

A new, simple, and efficient synthetic protocol has been developed for Carbonylative Sonogashira Coupling (CSC) with aryl iodides, aromatic terminal alkynes, and CO (2 atm) by using manganese chloride (MnCl2) as a catalyst. This method has shown a good‐to‐excellent yield of the desired products. Additionally, it was found to have ensured the synthesis of 2‐substituted flavones.
Modulation of the Endocannabinoid System via Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) by Novel Urea and Carbamate Derivatives
Authors: Cramer Sarah , Johnson Jacklyn , Ngo Thanh , El‐Alfy Abir T. , Stec Jozef
Published: October 2019

Recent discoveries in the physiology and pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) ushered in new therapeutic potential for the treatment of pain, inflammatory, sleep, eating, and various CNS disorders. To date, diverse synthetic molecules have been reported to target the cannabinoid (CB) receptors. While very potent, the exogenous agonists of CB receptors are often accompanied by adverse effects such as impaired memory, cognition, and most notably addiction. On the contrary, the known endogenous agonists such as anandamide (AEA) and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) are susceptible to enzyme‐mediated hydrolysis thus are not feasible as therapeutic agents. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is the principal enzyme responsible for degradation of anandamide and related regulatory lipophilic molecules such as oleamide. Inhibition of FAAH potentiates the action of the endogenous CB agonists, thus provides an indirect approach to modulate the endocannabinoid system. This approach also eliminates the unwanted adverse effects observed with the use of direct synthetic CB agonists. An efficient one‐pot, two‐step synthetic protocol was used to prepare a focused library of lipophilic compounds with potential inhibitory activity of FAAH. Those molecules were screened in vitro and their activity was reported as percent (%) of enzyme's inhibition. Overall, several analogs showed 40% or greater inhibition of FAAH at 100 μM compound's concentration, and many of them also retained high activity at 50 μM compound's concentration. Those results imply that diacyl ureas, acyl ureas and acyl carbamates can serve as the starting point for medicinal chemistry structure optimization in search of novel inhibitors of FAAH.
Trifluoroacetylation of 2‐Methyl‐ and 2‐Ethylchromones: A Convenient Access to 2‐Trifluoroacetonyl Chromones
Authors: Mrug Galyna P. , Biletska Iryna M. , Bondarenko Svitlana P. , Sviripa Vitaliy M. , Frasinyuk Mykhaylo S.
Published: October 2019

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 2‐(3,3,3‐trifluoroacetonyl) chromones and isoflavones has been developed. This method involves an initial in situ generation of the vinyl ethers from 2‐methyl‐ or 2‐ethylchromones/isoflavones and their subsequent acylation with trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of CF3COOK. This pathway provides convenient access to novel fluorinated analogs of naturally occurring chromones.
Freelance language teachers: Negotiating authenticity and legitimacy at the periphery
Authors: Patterson Allie Spencer
Published: October 2019

This multiple case study explores the means through which freelance teachers establish their legitimacy in their classrooms outside of formal institutions. The data in this study were examined through the lens of Bourdieu’s (1986) social theory of capital and Van Leeuwen’s (2007) theory of authority. The perceived legitimacy of four core participants was examined using interviews, observations, and collection of artifacts. Native speaker (NS) and nonnative speaker (NNS) differences were found to be an important factor, and legitimacy was found to be highly context dependent, with some teachers constructing their legitimacy in contexts where being an NNS is advantageous. Some freelance teachers’ legitimacy is constructed around experience gained outside of the English language teaching (ELT) industry and through offering access to authentic second language contexts to their students. A minority of freelance teachers have identified pedagogical gaps in the ELT industry and have flourished in their own special market niches. The emic approach employed in this study shows that teacher legitimacy is more nuanced and context‐dependent than the simple NS/NNS dichotomy.
The path towards groundwater management in the borderlands of Mexico and Texas
Authors: Sanchez Rosario , Eckstein Gabriel
Published: October 2019

Binational efforts to understand, assess, and manage shared groundwater resources on the Mexico‐Texas border are limited and politically sensitive. On the Mexico side, long‐standing centralized groundwater governance structures have created institutional barriers at the local level to the expansion of knowledge and cooperation over these transboundary resources. On the Texas side, property rights related to groundwater resources limit the scope of options available for cooperative management of cross‐border aquifers. In order to develop more effective cross‐border relations and enhance knowledge, cooperative management, and sustainability of the region's shared aquifers, stakeholders in the border between Mexico and Texas should pursue local and regional arrangements that focus primarily on water quality and environmental issues. Additionally, in order for the results of local efforts to be permanent and sustainable, they must consider the more formal, long‐term cooperative models that tend to have stronger systemic impacts and funding commitments. In addition, stakeholders and officials must make a better effort to educate the public on the science and facts in order to avoid past experiences where fear and political lobbying scuttled viable and promising cooperative efforts.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Human Water > Water Governance
Gender differences across multiple types of prosocial behavior in adolescence: A meta‐analysis of the prosocial tendency measure‐revised (PTM‐R)
Authors: Xiao Sonya Xinyue , Hashi Emi C. , Korous Kevin M. , Eisenberg Nancy
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Literature on adolescent prosocial behavior (PB) has grown tremendously since the development of The Prosocial Tendency Measure‐Revised (PTM‐R), which includes subscales assessing different types of PB. However, findings of gender differences are inconsistent across studies. Thus, we computed meta‐analyses to examine gender differences in adolescents’ PB. Further, we examined the moderating roles of type of PB, and various sample (i.e., mean age, gender composition, ethnic composition) and study (i.e., reporter type, measurement form, reliability) characteristics in gender differences in PB.

Methods

Using online databases (e.g., ProQuest), journal article references, and conference programs, we identified a total of 46 records from 32 studies (215 effect sizes,N = 12,024) across the globe that had measured adolescents’ (age 10–18; 51% male) PB using the PTM‐R or the PTM.

Results

Gender differences in the PB were small to medium in magnitude (ds ranged from 0 to 0.35) for absolute gender differences (i.e., overall magnitude of gender differences regardless of which gender was higher). There were larger gender differences for gender‐typed prosocial behaviors (e.g., altruistic,d = 0.35) than gender‐neutral behaviors (e.g., anonymous,d= 0.03). The type of PB (i.e., altruistic, compliant, public, emotional, dire, anonymous) and region (i.e., European, U.S., traditional cultures, Asian) and were significant moderators.

Conclusions

Although males and females generally are more similar than different in their prosociality, it is important to consider the type of PB when examining gender differences.
Cross‐talk between Myc and p53 in B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Yu Li , Yu Tian‐Tian , Young Ken H.
Published: October 2019

Myc and p53 proteins are closely associated with many physiological cellular functions, including immune response and lymphocyte survival, and are expressed in the lymphoid organs, which are sites for the development and activation of B‐cell malignancies. Genetic alterations and other mechanisms resulting in constitutive activation, rearrangement, or mutation of MYC and TP53 contribute to the development of lymphomas, progression and therapy resistance by gene dysregulation, activation of downstream anti‐apoptotic pathways, and unfavorable microenvironment interactions. The cross‐talk between the Myc and p53 proteins contributes to the inferior prognosis in many types of B‐cell lymphomas. In this review, we present the physiological roles of Myc and p53 proteins, and recent advances in understanding the pathological roles of Myc, p53, and their cross‐talk in lymphoid neoplasms. In addition, we highlight clinical trials of novel agents that directly or indirectly inhibit Myc and/or p53 protein functions and their signaling pathways. Although, to date, these trials have failed to overcome drug resistance, the new results have highlighted the clinical efficiency of targeting diverse mechanisms of action with the goal of optimizing novel therapeutic opportunities to eradicate lymphoma cells.
Targeting the ensemble of heterogeneous tau oligomers in cells: A novel small molecule screening platform for tauopathies
Authors: Lo Chih Hung , Lim Colin Kin‐Wye , Ding Zhipeng , Wickramasinghe Sanjula P. , Braun Anthony R. , Ashe Karen H. , Rhoades Elizabeth , Thomas David D. , Sachs Jonathan N.
Published: October 2019

Objective

Understanding the heterogeneous pathology in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies is one of the most urgent and fundamental challenges facing the discovery of novel disease‐modifying therapies. Through monitoring ensembles of toxic and nontoxic tau oligomers spontaneously formed in cells, our biosensor technology can identify tool compounds that modulate tau oligomer structure and toxicity, providing much needed insight into the nature and properties of toxic tau oligomers.

Background

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by pathologic aggregation of the microtubule binding protein tau. Recent studies suggest that tau oligomers are the primary toxic species in tauopathies.

New/Updated Hypothesis

We hypothesize that tau biosensors capable of monitoring tau oligomer conformation are able to identify tool compounds that modulate the structure and conformation of these tau assemblies, providing key insight into the unique structural fingerprints of toxic tau oligomers. These fingerprints will provide gravely needed biomarker profiles to improve staging of early tauopathy pathology and generate lead compounds for potential new therapeutics. Our time‐resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer biosensors provide us an exquisitely sensitive technique to monitor minute structural changes in monomer and oligomer conformation. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we identified a novel tool compound, MK‐886, which directly binds tau, perturbs the conformation of toxic tau oligomers, and rescues tau‐induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we show that MK‐886 alters the conformation of tau monomer at the proline‐rich and microtubule binding regions, stabilizing an on‐pathway oligomer.

Major Challenges for the Hypothesis

Our approach monitors changes in the ensemble of assemblies that are spontaneously formed in cells but does not specifically isolate or enrich unique toxic tau species. However, time‐resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer does not provide high‐resolution, atomic scale information, requiring additional experimental techniques to resolve the structural features stabilized by different tool compounds.

Linkage to Other Major Theories

Our biosensor technology is broadly applicable to other areas of tauopathy therapeutic development. These biosensors can be readily modified for different isoforms of tau, specific post‐translational modifications, and familial Alzheimer's disease–associated mutations. We are eager to explore tau interactions with chaperone proteins, monitor cross‐reactivity with other intrinsically disordered proteins, and target seeded oligomer pathology.
Unilateral Macular Choroidal Neovascularization; a Rare Manifestation in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Pour Elias Khalili , Bazvand Fatemeh , Mehrabi Bahar Mohammad Reza , Abadi Mahmood Davood , Faghihi Hooshang
Published: October 2019

Purpose:

To report a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treatment with imatinib mesylate in the remission phase who developed unilateral macular choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods:

A 45-year-old male marketer with a 5-year history of CML treated with imatinib mesylate presented with 2 months history of progressive vision loss and metamorphopsia in the right eye.

Results:

Fundus examination of the right eye revealed grey-white elevated retinal lesion with indistinct borders in the macula and retinal telangiectasia in the temporal macula. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) confirmed the presence of CNV in the right eye. After treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), macular CNV regressed significantly.

Conclusion:

Macular CNV must be kept in mind as a rare ophthalmic manifestation of patients with CML under treatment with imatinib even in the remission phase.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Kim Sae Woong , Zhu Guan Qun , Bae Woong Jin
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Aging men with diabetes mellitus are more easily suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED), which was poor to respond to drugs. Mesenchymal stem cell treatment (MSCT) offers us an alternative approach that might reverse diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED).

Aim

The aim of this study was to review the current studies investigating mesenchymal stem cell approach in diabetic rat models of ED for future research.

Methods

A medical literature search was performed in PubMed by using the keywords including erectile dysfunction, mesenchymal stem cells, diabetes mellitus, and rat model.

Main Outcome Measure

Representative studies on DMED rats treated by MSCT were reviewed.

Results

Streptozocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus rats were used in most studies because of cost and convenience. With the development of stem cell treatment for DMED research, many kinds of stem cells were used in animal experiment, such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, muscle-derived stem cells, urine-derived stem cells, neural crest stem cells, and endothelial progenitor cells. Although diverse stem cells were applied for DMED treatment, the mechanism behind these approaches was identical, including improving vascular injury, recovering smooth muscle, restoring neuronal cells, inhibiting the generation of inflammatory cytokines, homing mesenchymal stem cells, and decreasing apoptosis in corpus cavernosum. Meanwhile, combination therapies, including MSCT with drug, herb, and low-energy extracorporeal shockwave treatment showed satisfactory results for ED.

Conclusion

It has been proved that MSCT is an effective and safe treatment for the DMED rats. What’s more, MSCT might be a potential and promising approach for patients with DMED as a minimally invasive treatment. Combination of MSCT with various methods was proved to be a more efficient treatment and dependable option to make up for deficiencies of MSCT.
The Young Spinoza on Scepticism, Truth, and Method
Authors: Viljanen Valtteri
Published: October 2019

This paper offers a new interpretation of the young Spinoza’s method of distinguishing the true ideas from the false, which shows that his answer to the sceptic is not a failure. This method combines analysis and synthesis as follows: if we can say of the object of an idea (a) which simple things underlie it, (b) how it can be constructed out of simple elements, and (c) what properties it has after it has been produced, doubt concerning the object simply makes no sense. The paper also suggests a way in which this methodology connects to the ontology of theEthics.
Buried in the archives: cemeteries and mausolea in Tripolitania
Authors: Ray Nick , Nikolaus Julia
Published: October 2019

Much extant research on monumental burial structures considers mausolea in isolation from one another, both spatially and temporally, separating them from the more extensive cemeteries that either pre-existed or were built up around them. This paper presents the preliminary results of an ongoing archive-based project studying Tripolitanian Roman-period funerary landscapes, specifically investigating the relations between mausolea and their adjacent cemeteries. These relations start to help us understand the patterns in the burial traditions of the region and demonstrate the importance of the ongoing interaction between the living and the monuments of the dead. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the importance of archival research, especially in areas that are inaccessible due to conflict.
The Society for Libyan Studies archive: history, organisation, recent and future developments
Authors: Leitch Victoria , Mattingly David J. , Mugnai Niccolò
Published: October 2019

This paper presents an update on the development of the Society for Libyan Studies archive. We begin with a brief reminder about the history of the archive and its current location, moving on to explain the challenging cataloguing process and future plans for digitisation, of both the catalogue and the physical contents of the archive. We also look at the potential of the archive for researchers and outline a few projects that recently benefited from its reorganisation.
Libyan landscapes in history and prehistory
Authors: Barker Graeme
Published: October 2019

As a contribution to the Society for Libyan Studies’ 50th anniversary, the paper discusses three projects in which the author has been involved, with a focus on their different contributions to our understanding of Libya's landscape prehistory and history. The deep stratigraphy of the Haua Fteah cave in three projects are described in chronological order, but they contribute in reverse order to our understanding of how Libyans have changed and been changed by their landscapes. The deep stratigraphy of the Haua Fteah cave in Cyrenaica represents an intermittent history of landscape use, and the way people dealt with climate change impacts, from some 150,000 years ago to the Graeco-Roman period. The faunal assemblage from Sidi Khrebish, Benghazi, provides insights into how Graeco-Roman city-dwellers interacted with the people of the countryside. The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey changes the perspective, showing how tribal people in the pre-desert were drawn into the ambit of the coastal cities and the economy of imperial Rome, before returning to semi-mobile pastoral/arable lifeways not so dissimilar to the lives of many Libyans before the oil revolution. The principal linking finding is that there are no simple stories from the past in terms of people's relations to their landscape: the mix of structure and agency embodied in the archaeological record can be a record of failures, misguided decisions, bad luck etc. as much as of successful responses and adaptations to opportunities and challenges.
Chair's note: moving forwards amidst the British International Research Institutes (BIRI) of the British Academy
Authors: Atkinson David
Published: October 2019

This third Chair's note on the society's activities outlines the wider context of The Society for Libyan Studies within the British Academy's British International Research Institutes (BIRI), and recent developments within this collaboration. The BIRI comprises seven units that are part-funded by the British Academy and that are spread across Southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This note outlines the BIRI briefly, and also describes the recent developments that have seen the BIRI begin to explore how they might coordinate their work and their futures more coherently. The BIRI context is key to SLS's future and this note therefore outlines these recent developments.
Supporting cultural tourism in Libya – a brief history
Authors: Kenrick Philip
Published: October 2019

Tourists come to Libya for two reasons: to admire the antiquities and/or to experience the natural wonders of the desert. The flow of tourists in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries has been very variable, depending on political circumstances. As a result, the availability of authoritative guidebooks to the antiquities has also been variable. During the years immediately prior to the 2011 revolution, the Society for Libyan Studies has promoted the publication of new Libya Archaeological Guides, both in English for foreign visitors and (progressively) in Arabic for the benefit of the Libyan population.
Desert exploration in North Africa: some generalisations
Authors: Goudie Andrew
Published: October 2019

This paper considers some of the general issues relating to the history of exploration in the Libyan (Western) Desert. These issues are: why there have been remarkably few books on desert exploration; the despised role of the motor car which was so important in the exploration of the Libyan Desert; the longevity of some explorers, the prominent role of women in Islamic travels; the great deal of time – sometimes years – that some of the explorers spent in the field; the role of indigenous people; the parts played by professionals, and amateurs; the undertaking of scientific work of high quality, not least in the field of geomorphology; and the international nature of exploration.
A Lost World: Evgeniy Voyskunskiy’sMaiden Dreams, the Karabakh Crisis, and the End of Old Baku
Authors: Mamedov Mikail
Published: October 2019

This article examines the first novel about the Karabakh crisis and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population in the city of Baku.Maiden Dreams(Devich’i Sny), published in 1995, was written by Evgeniy Voyskunskiy, an author born in Baku and generally known for science fiction novels. The novel explores the tragic fate of the city, and it includes stories of persecution and pogroms against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan in the late 1980s and early 1990s in light of the Karabakh conflict.Maiden Dreamsis the story of Baku from the beginning of the 20th century to the turbulent period late in the century when violence and ethnic cleansing had transformed the cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic capital into a homogeneous city with no space for “others.” This article examines the novel from both literary and historical perspectives.
Thoughts on the Structure of the European Aurignacian, with Particular Focus on Hohle Fels IV
Authors: Dinnis Rob , Bessudnov Alexander , Chiotti Laurent , Flas Damien , Michel Alexandre
Published: October 2019

Western Europe is often used as the basis from which to understand the Aurignacian of other regions. For some there is good inter-regional chronocultural agreement, whereas others see significant difference. One region frequently argued to differ is the Swabian Jura (southern Germany). In a recent contribution to this issue Bataille and Conard (2018) describe the Aurignacian assemblage from Layer IV of Hohle Fels. They convincingly outline important similarities with the Western European Late Aurignacian. However, they also argue that it is older than, and different from, the most comparable Western European assemblages, and therefore that it contradicts an Aurignacian chronocultural framework built on Western European evidence. Here we assess this claim, focusing on the sites used by Bataille and Conard in their comparison. Radiocarbon dates for Hohle Fels IV of 33–30,000 uncalbpare no older than dates for Western European Late Aurignacian assemblages. Most of the features of Hohle Fels IV argued to demonstrate its dissimilarity are, in fact, evident in the Western European Late Aurignacian. One potential difference is the reported absence from Hohle Fels IV of microblades with inverse/alternate retouch. However, due to the near absence of laterally retouched microblades and uncertainty over whether the fine fraction has been searched we doubt the significance of this observation. Other recent publications have similarly suggested that the Western European chronocultural model is incompatible with other regions. In light of this we consider Eastern Europe. Despite some difference, reliable data point to the pene-contemporaneity of characteristic bladelet/microblade technologies between the two regions, a pattern that stratigraphies from sites across Europe are also consistent with. The biggest complicating factor is radiocarbon dating, which has created a culturally complex picture that is inconsistent with all chronostratigraphic data. We therefore offer some thoughts as to the use of radiocarbon dates for this period. Despite ongoing problems dates are still frequently presented with an unwarranted confidence in their accuracy. Their presentation should instead explicitly acknowledge the method’s fallibility and its inferiority to more reliable evidence such as chronostratigraphic patterning and tephra. When radiocarbon dates contradict a consistent chronostratigraphic picture the burden of proof falls to those arguing the dates’ veracity. In these cases, the reasons for the discrepancy between the radiocarbon and chronostratigraphic records require exploration.
A late Holocene record of human impacts on tropical environments from non-pollen palynomorphs, Albertine Rift, western Uganda
Authors: Kiage Lawrence M. , Howey Meghan , Hartter Joel , Palace Michael
Published: October 2019

Non-pollen palynomorphs and elemental geochemistry data from Lake Kifuruka in western Uganda provide evidence of environmental change in the tropical African region since the beginning of the Holocene. The multi-proxy record presented here shows that dry conditions dominated the end of the Pleistocene evidenced by calcium enriched sediments and suppressed fungal taxa activity. Moist conditions dominated the early Holocene and persisted until just after 1960 cal yr BP. Elevated frequencies of individual fungal spore taxa associated with herbivory and soil erosion, includingSordaria-type,Sporormiella-type,Chaetomium-type, andGlomus-type, about 4300 cal yr BP suggests a significant environmental change that could be linked to human activities. A convergence of multiple proxy data, including microscopic charcoal, elemental geochemistry, and fungal spores, strongly support the occurrence of anthropogenic forest disturbance in the Albertine Rift about 4300 cal yr BP.
‘A new and hopeful type of social organism’: Julian Huxley, J.G. Crowther and Lancelot Hogben on Roosevelt's New Deal
Authors: HILL-ANDREWS OLIVER
Published: October 2019

The admiration of the Soviet Union amongst Britain's interwar scientific left is well known. This article reveals a parallel story. Focusing on the biologists Julian Huxley and Lancelot Hogben and the scientific journalist J.G. Crowther, I show that a number of scientific thinkers began to look west, to the US. In the mid- to late 1930s and into the 1940s, Huxley, Crowther and Hogben all visited the US and commented favourably on Roosevelt's New Deal, in particular its experimental approach to politics (in the form of planning). Huxley was first to appreciate the significance of the experiment; he looked to the Tennessee Valley Authority as a model of democratic planning by persuasion that could also be applied in Britain. Crowther, meanwhile, examined the US through the lens of history of science. InFamous American Men of Science(1937) and in lectures at Harvard University, he aimed to shed light on the flaws in the Constitution which were frustrating the New Deal. Finally, Hogben's interest in the US was related to his long-standing opposition to dialectical materialism, and when he finally saw the US at first hand, he regarded it as a model for how to bring about a planned socialist society through peaceful persuasion.