bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Civic Engagement Index (CEI) - the case of liberal arts universities from Romania
Authors: Hadad Shahrazad , Cantaragiu Ramona
Published: June 2018

We have arrived to a moment in history when the society we are living in is confronted with different sets of problems: hunger, crime, economic crises, natural disasters or cataclysms, and various human rights violations. At the moment the most appropriate way to solve these problems still lies with the organisms of the nation state. As such, the lack of civic sense and the increasing political apathy will only allow these problems to grow out of proportions. We are of the opinion that most of them can be counteracted if we try to educate the civic sense in people. By civic sense or engagement we understand a type of orientation towards being involved in social groups according to democratic principles. It is said the post-socialist countries are particularly threatened by the lack of civic engagement on behalf of their citizens that have reached the point where they take democracy for granted. This is why we explore the role played by universities in developing and shaping this civic attitude amongst young people. In order to do so, we resorted to questionnaires applied in liberal arts universities in Romania. These universities have a special relation to democratic principles, national pride and the perpetuation of the nation state as an ideal for its citizens and because of this we believe they represent a proper starting point for the current investigation. The areas that are targeted through the questionnaire are the following: the academic environment, the methods through which civic values are instilled in the hearts and minds of the students, and the institutional and personal factors that determine faculty to introduce civic values in their academic environments. Using the results we create the Civic Engagement Index (CEI) that can be used as a valuable benchmarking mechanism for those universities that are trying to enhance their civic engagement activities. Finally, we test the hypothesis that certain universities fail to create civic-oriented graduates and we propose ways in which the organizational culture could be transformed into a more supportive one: civic participation guides, civic responsibility classes, and service learning classes for faculty members to increase their openness towards the promotion of civic values.
Investigation of Integrated Marketing Communications to the Buyer in the Retail Trade Network
Authors: Lialiuk Alla , Koniukh Ivanna
Published: June 2018

Overview scientific approaches to the specific functioning of integrated marketing communications at point of sale; described five major influence over buyers in the retail trade network; results of research and analyzes the effectiveness of the impact of integrated marketing communications in the retail trade network shoes «Chobitok».
Особливості структури туристичного ринку та взаємозв’язку між його суб’єктами
Authors: Zaychuk Kateryna
Published: June 2018

У статті обґрунтовано поняття «туристичний ринок»; розглянуто структуру туристичного ринку; визначено суб’єктів туристичної діяльності; досліджено відносини між суб’єктами на туристичному ринку; окреслено перспективи подальшого розвитку туристичного ринку.
Ethical Decision Making of Future Mexican Managers
Authors: Leach-López Maria A. , Stammerjohan Claire A. , Stammerjohan William W. , Leach Megan M.
Published: June 2018

A study to measure ethical decision making of Mexican business students compared to their US counterparts. Results suggest that Mexican students’ ethical decision-making frameworks differ from those documented by Keller et al. (2007) in their study of US students. Mexican students were not found to be highly religious, but subscribed more to utilitarian, deontological and hermeneutical frameworks for their ethical values. It is suggested that multinational firms doing business in Mexico might want to schedule ethics training of managers and to have a set of standards that employees can follow.
A Critical Review of Translation: A Look Forward
Authors: Abdi Saroukhil Morteza , Ghalkhani Omid , Hashemi Ali
Published: June 2018

Human beings live in a social world and interaction is at the heart of human society with language being the tool for this interaction and communication. In a world marked by globalization and global communication, there is a deeply-felt need for mutual understanding among people of diverse cultures and languages. In the absence of a common universal language for all, this very need is met by translation. Translation plays a fundamental role in exchanging views and information between languages. Thus, translation coexists with communication and language, and various societies need translation for communication purposes. This article aims at providing a concise background of the translation studies, theories and areas, as well as a discussion on the current issues and future perspectives. Meanwhile, the necessity of teaching translation and integrating it into school program is discussed. It is hoped that the article will familiarize the reader with a comprehensive view of translation and current issues of interest in translation.
Unconventional RNA‐binding proteins: an uncharted zone in RNA biology
Authors: Albihlal Waleed S. , Gerber André P.
Published: June 2018

The RNA‐binding proteins play essential roles in the post‐transcriptional regulation of gene expression. While hundreds of RNA‐binding proteins can be predicted computationally, the recent introduction of proteome‐wide approaches has dramatically expanded the repertoire of proteins interacting with RNA. Besides canonical RNA‐binding proteins that contain characteristic RNA‐binding domains, many proteins that lack such domains but have other well‐characterized cellular functions were identified; including metabolic enzymes, heat shock proteins, kinases, as well as transcription factors and chromatin‐associated proteins. In the context of these recently published RNA–protein interactome datasets obtained from yeast, nematodes, flies, plants and mammalian cells, we discuss examples for seemingly evolutionary conserved ‘unconventional’ RNA‐binding proteins that act in central carbon metabolism, stress response or regulation of transcription.
TBAI or KI‐Promoted Oxidative Coupling of Enamines and N‐Tosylhydrazine: An Unconventional Method toward 1,5‐ and 1,4,5‐Substituted 1,2,3‐Triazoles
Authors: Huang Wei , Zhu Chuanle , Li Minke , Yu Yue , Wu Wanqing , Tu Zhengchao , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: June 2018

A novel method for the synthesis of 1,5‐ and 1,4,5‐substituted 1,2,3‐triazoles has been reported. This approach is promoted by iodine‐TBHP oxidation system using enamines and N‐tosylhydrazine as materials, which avoid the dependence of traditional methods on azides and transition metals. Through this approach, various 1,5‐ and 1,4,5‐substituted 1,2,3‐triazoles were delivered in moderate to high yields. The mechanistic study indicated that an amino exchange would be involved in the reaction process. Moreover, the product methyl 1‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐4‐methyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐5‐carboxylate is a useful precursor to anti‐influenza A agent, and further application research was conducted.

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Facile Fabrication of Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Anchored on Carbon Nanotubes as High‐Performance Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Fang Hua , Zou Wei , Yan Ji , Xing Yalan , Zhang Shichao
Published: June 2018

Fe2O3 nanoparticles (<10 nm) anchored on carbon nanotubes (denoted as Fe2O3‐NPs@CNT) are synthesized by a facile electrophoretic deposition strategy. In the composite, CNTs are utilized to construct a conductive matrix for uniformly dispersing Fe2O3‐NPs, building up a hierarchically porous architecture. The Fe2O3‐NPs anchored on CNTs can function as active sites for electrochemical reactions and facilitate fast electrochemical reaction kinetics, endowing the composite with improved electrochemical reversibility and desirable lithium storage capacity. The CNT framework can tightly hold Fe2O3‐NPs and thus provides fast electron transport to Fe2O3‐NPs, favouring high power performance in lithium‐ion batteries. The hierarchically porous structure can buffer the volume expansion/contraction caused by lithium insertion/extraction reactions. As expected, the composite delivers an ultrahigh reversible lithium storage capacity of 1231 mA h g−1 after 750 cycles at a high current rate of 1 A g−1. After tolerating the repeated volume fluctuation in the long cycle test, the composite still maintains its nanoporous architecture.
Management of Complete Talocrural Luxations by Selective Talocrural Arthrodesis using Hybrid Transarticular External Skeletal Fixation in Dogs
Authors: Önyay Taylan , İnal Kamil , Özbakır Deniz , Özak Ahmet , Yardımcı Cenk
Published: June 2018

Objective This article presents a novel surgical technique in the management of open complete talocrural luxations and evaluates the results, and clinical benefits with its routine clinical utilization.

Study Design Retrospective study.

Animals Seventeen medium- or large-breed client-owned dogs of different breed, age and sex with complete talocrural luxations and radiographic follow-up of at least 24 weeks duration.

Method Selective talocrural arthrodesis was performed by using a hybrid transarticular external skeletal fixator frame. Clinical and radiographical evaluation was performed regarding the lesion, concomitant injury, duration of the surgery, time to first use of the limb, fixator removal time, complications and clinical outcomes.

Results Dogs started to use the injured limb between postoperative days 1 to 11. Pin or wire tract related complications were observed in all dogs. Time to fixator removal ranged from 57 to 90 days with a median of 73 days. All of the operated joints with an exception of one dog resulted in talocrural fusion. Mid-term clinical outcomes score was regarded as excellent in 13/17 dogs, good in 3/17 dogs and poor in 1/17 dogs subject to authors' evaluation.

Conclusion A transarticular hybrid external fixator may allow early use of postoperative limb with an excellent patient compliance and is well tolerated as well. The technique showed a promising opportunity of providing favourable limb use.
N,N’‐Bis(2‐mercaptoethyl)isophthalamide Binds Electrophilic Paracetamol Metabolites and Prevents Paracetamol‐Induced Liver Toxicity
Authors: Nilsson Johan L. Å. , Blomgren Anders , Nilsson Ulf J. , Högestätt Edward D. , Grundemar Lars
Published: June 2018

Paracetamol overdosing may cause liver injury including fulminant liver failure due to generation of the toxic metabolites, N‐acetyl‐p‐benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) and p‐benzoquinone (p‐BQ). Herein, the chelating agent, N,N’‐Bis(2‐mercaptoethyl)isophthalamide (NBMI), was examined for its potential ability to entrap NAPQI and p‐BQ and to prevent paracetamol‐induced liver injury. Both NBMI and the conventional paracetamol antidote N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) were investigated with regard to their abilities to scavenge the NAPQI and p‐BQ in a Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1‐dependent screening assay. Stoichiometric evaluations indicated that NBMI was able to entrap these metabolites more efficiently than NAC. Furthermore, oral administration of either NBMI (680 mg/kg) or NAC (680 mg/kg) prevented the development of the characteristic liver necrosis and elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase in a mouse model for paracetamol‐induced liver injury. In summary, these results show that NBMI is able to entrap the toxic metabolites NAPQI and p‐BQ and to prevent paracetamol‐induced liver injury in mice.
Utilization and efficacy of elbasvir/grazoprevir for treating hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation
Authors: Miuma Satoshi , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Soyama Akihiko , Hidaka Masaaki , Takatsuki Mitsuhisa , Shibata Hidetaka , Taura Naota , Eguchi Susumu , Nakao Kazuhiko
Published: June 2018

Aim

Recently, elbasvir/grazoprevir combination therapy (EBR/GZR) was reported to have excellent antiviral effects for chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, it has not been recommended for patients with post‐liver transplant (LT) HCV re‐infections because of a lack of evidence for effectiveness and drug–drug interactions.

Methods

We report the usage of EBR/GZR in five post‐LT HCV re‐infected patients with the kinetics of renal function and tacrolimus trough levels during and after therapy. Furthermore, to evaluate the antiviral effects, we examined the HCV kinetics during and after therapy and compared this with other interferon‐free therapy in post‐LT patients (n = 19).

Results

All patients treated with EBR/GZR therapy obtained rapid virologic response and sustained at 12 weeks post‐treatment. There was no evidence of worsening estimated glomerular filtration rates. Three patients were given tacrolimus as immunosuppressive therapy and its trough levels were controllable with dosage adjustments. One patient developed grade 1 diarrhea 3 days after therapy induction. To evaluate the antiviral effects of EBR/GZR therapy for these patients, we compared them to the effects of daclatasvir/asunaprevir combination therapy (n = 8) and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir combination therapy (n = 11). The EBR/GZR combination was not inferior to other therapies in its early phase and late‐phase antiviral effects.

Conclusions

Although further studies with a larger number of patients are required, we suggest that EBR/GZR therapy is an alternative therapy for patients with post‐LT genotype 1 HCV re‐infection.
Hubris, humility and humanity: expanding evidence approaches for improving and sustaining community health programmes
Authors: George Asha S , LeFevre Amnesty E , Schleiff Meike , Mancuso Arielle , Sacks Emma , Sarriot Eric
Published: June 2018

Community-based approaches are a critical foundation for many health outcomes, including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH). Evidence is a vital part of strengthening that foundation, but largely focuses on the technical content of what must be done, rather than on how disparate community actors continuously interpret, implement and adapt interventions in dynamic and varied community health systems. We argue that efforts to strengthen evidence for community programmes must guard against the hubris of relying on a single approach or hierarchy of evidence for the range of research questions that arise when sustaining community programmes at scale. Moving forward we need a broader evidence agenda that better addresses the implementation realities influencing the scale and sustainability of community programmes and the partnerships underpinning them if future gains in community RMNCH are to be realised. This will require humility in understanding communities as social systems, the complexity of the interventions they engage with and the heterogeneity of evidence needs that address the implementation challenges faced. It also entails building common ground across epistemological word views to strengthen the robustness of implementation research by improving the use of conceptual frameworks, addressing uncertainty and fostering collaboration. Given the complexity of scaling up and sustaining community RMNCH, ensuring that evidence translates into action will require the ongoing brokering of relationships to support the human creativity, scepticism and scaffolding that together build layers of evidence, critical thinking and collaborative learning to effect change.
Klimaschutz „Made in China“
Authors: Lerch Achim , Rudolph Sven , Dellatte Joseph
Published: June 2018

Um die in Paris vereinbarten globalen Klimaschutzziele zu erreichen, müssen vor allem die größten Emittenten von Treibhausgasen einen relevanten Beitrag leisten. Dass China mit der landesweitenEinführung eines CO2-Emissionshandels einen großen Schritt in diese Richtung geht, ist ein Hoffnungsschimmer am sonst eher düsteren klimapolitischen Himmel.
Use of fluoroquinolones in practice of veterinary medicine of Ukraine
Authors: Slobodyuk N.
Published: June 2018

Antibacterial agents are one of the most important groups of medical preparations  in the treatment of bacterial infection of different localization in humane and in veterinary medicine. The consequence of their rational use (the establishment of sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora, compliance with the course of treatment, etc.) have a high therapeutic effect and the minimum development of resistant strains of microorganisms. The widely used  group of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine are second-generation fluorohinolone antibiotics that have good pharmacokinetic properties, a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity, and relatively low toxicity, although they have their own warnings and restrictions on the use of small animals during the formation of bone tissue. To achieve high therapeutic efficacy and minimizing of side effects, it is described the compatibility of some fluoroquinolones with other pharmacological groups. They found their application in the treatment of both productive animals, poultry, fur animals and petty domestic (dogs and cats) with a bacterial infection of the urinary tract, digestive and respiratory systems, infected wounds, etc. The article describes the detailed mechanism of action of the antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone group, which provides an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the manifestation of the bactericidal effect, as well as their classification by generation or generation. Particular attention deserves attention to the time of carrenia of fluoroquinolones in the context of their application to productive animals, because high quality livestock products minimize the development of resistant strains in humans and provide them with health. There is also a list of all registered medicinal products registered in Ukraine containing: ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, marbofloxacin, denofloxacin, which carries important informative information for practicing doctors, pharmacists, etc.
Innovation and entrepreneurship for competitiveness in the EU: an empirical analysis
Authors: Herman Emilia
Published: June 2018

The nexus of innovation, entrepreneurship and competiveness represents a real challenge for the European economy, and not only, taking into account the important role of these determinants of inclusive and sustainable development in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The aim of this article is to explore the relation between innovation, entrepreneurship and national competitiveness, at the EU level, in order to highlight how innovation and entrepreneurship can influence the level of competitiveness and inclusive development in these countries. The results of the comparative analysis based on means-testing using independent samples t-test, at EU level, show that there are significant differences between low-medium innovation performance countries group and high and very high innovation countries performance group in terms of competitiveness, innovative entrepreneurship, productive entrepreneurship and economic and inclusive development, fact which emphasizes the need to take specific actions to improve EU innovation performance, especially in the EU countries included in the low-medium innovation performance countries group for improving national competitiveness and implicitly increasing the level of development. The correlation and regression analysis results suggest that the high level of national competitiveness in some EU countries can be mainly explained by high level of innovation performance, high level of innovative and productive entrepreneurship. The findings of the study can be useful for policymakers to formulate policies for improving national competitiveness within an inclusive development.
Using non-parametric technical data envelopment analysis - DEA, for measuring productive technical efficiency
Authors: Lita Iulian , Stamule Tănase
Published: June 2018

The following study is, in addition to a reassessment of literature and an analysis based on non-parametrical techniques based on linear programming. The analysis based on the Data Envelopment Analisys (DEA) technique will be used to see whether the model that we have used has a significant importance, if there are any substantial differences between the efficiency scores obtained or estimated through various methods. The theoretical part, based on the DEA technique will be analysed under the influence of both the works of Farell(1957), and also Charnes, Cooper, Rhodes(1978), Banker, Charnes, Cooper(1984) and other newer models. The dissolution of efficiency scores obtained through the CRS-DEA model has been studied for a long time into two different components: One is linked with the scale inefficiency and the other one represents the pure technical inefficiency. This dissolution can be done by using the CRS model with technology when not all the companies are operating at the optimum level, i.e. through the simultaneous application on the same set of data of the CRS and VRS models. In this study, the main non-parametrical Data Envelopment Analysis method is presented (Wu, Fan, Zhou, Zhou, 2012; Halkos, Tzeremes, 2009) and its application on a group of 42 companies (The headquarters of a top commercial bank in Romania - S.C. BRD GROUPE SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE ), based on the information gained in the years 2016-2017. This paper is original because it combines the already developed method with new techniques, in order to link together economic factors and operational research and leaves more room for future researches with the purpose of further assessing and changing the performance of every decisional unit under the influence of the environmental factors.
Методологічні основи формування соціоекономіко-екологічних обмежень власності на природні рекреаційно-туристичні ресурси
Authors: Martienko Antonina
Published: June 2018

У статті визначено сутність соціоекономіко-екологічних обмежень форм та прав власності на природні рекреаційно-туристичні ресурси. Визначено передумови їх формування й основі напрями впровадження. Доведено, що обмеження повинні ґрунтуватися на інтересах загальнонародного привласнення природних ресурсів і залежно від специфічних особливостей природного рекреаційно-туристичного ресурсу та напрямів його використання формуються обмеження у формах і правах власності на нього.
Social-economic Responsibility Companies by use of Natural Resources
Authors: Strishenez Olena , Myhalchuk Maria
Published: June 2018

The article examines the formal definition of the social and economic responsibility, which implies the duty of management to make decisions and take actions that improve the use of natural resources and the interests of both society and the organization. All companies are accountable to the state for compliance with current legislation regarding industrial activity. This primarily concerns ensuring that quality parameters of products with existing standards and certificates, pricing policy – the rules of competition titles and others.
The Relationship Between EFL Learners’ Satisfaction Within the Classroom Environment and Their Speaking Skills
Authors: Qutob Maysa M.
Published: June 2018

This study investigates EFL students’ satisfaction with their acquired speaking skills based on the materials used as part of the classroom environment, and the teacher as a facilitator of the classroom environment. A questionnaire was adapted from Asakereh and Maliheh’s (2015) study, and completed by 60 students in the tenth grade at a private school in Jeddah. The study’s findings reveal that students are highly satisfied with their acquired speaking skills, materials, and language teacher. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between students acquired speaking skills with materials and with the language teacher.
The Acquisition of the English Plural Morphemes by Arabic-Speaking EFL Learners
Authors: M. Altarawneh Safaa , H. Hajjo Maram
Published: June 2018

This research paper analyzes the extent to which Arabic-speaking EFL learners are aware of the English plural morphemes and whether they are able to recognize them in context. The study also investigates whether the participants’ English proficiency level may play a role in their ability to recognize these morphemes. For the purpose of the study, we designed a Grammaticality Judgment Task (GJT), which was by sixty students from Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, The United Arab Emirates (UAE), to elicit data. The sentences used in the test were adapted and modified from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) in order to suit the students’ English proficiency level. The results revealed that there is a little awareness of the English plural morphemes among Arabic-speaking EFL learners. In addition, the participants’ English proficiency level had a little effect on the participants’ use of English plural morphemes. Finally, the paper concluded with some pedagogical implications and recommendations for further research.
Patient‐Reported Disease Activity and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Harris Nathaniel , Eudy Amanda , Clowse Megan
Published: June 2018

Objective

While increased rheumatic disease activity during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, this disease activity is typically assessed by physicians. Little is known, however, about the association between patient‐reported measures of disease activity and pregnancy outcomes. The aim of our study was to evaluate this association.

Methods

Univariate and multivariable regression models were used to assess the relationship between patient‐ and physician‐reported measures of disease activity and adverse pregnancy outcomes in 225 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patients were enrolled from 2008–2016 in a prospective registry at a single academic center.

Results

In women with RA, patient‐reported disease activity was associated with preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] 5.9 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5, 23.9]) and gestational age in weeks (β = –1.5 [95% CI –2.6, –0.4]). The physician assessment of disease activity also predicted preterm (OR 2.1 [95% CI 1.2, 3.5]), small for gestational age births (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.03, 3.1]), and gestational age in weeks (β = –0.6 [95% CI –0.9, –0.02]). Alternatively, in women with SLE, patient‐reported disease activity measures, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire, pain, or global health measures, were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, physician measures of SLE disease activity are associated with preterm birth (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.3, 6.3]), cesarean delivery (OR 2.3 [95% CI 1.0, 5.3]), and preeclampsia (OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.3, 6.3]). The results did not appear to be driven by lupus nephritis or antiphospholipid syndrome.

Conclusion

For women with RA, patient‐reported measures of disease activity were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and thus may be useful adjuncts to physician‐reported measures in identifying pregnancies at greater risk. In contrast, in SLE, while physician measures of disease activity helped predict several adverse pregnancy outcomes, no patient‐reported measures were associated with adverse outcomes.
A Formal [5+1] Annulation Reaction of Sulfur Ylides and 2‐(1H‐indol‐2‐yl)phenols: Access to Indole‐Fused 4H‐benzo[e][1,3]oxazines
Authors: Jia Penghao , Huang You
Published: June 2018

The first sulfur ylides involved formal [5+1]‐annulation reaction was developed between prop‐2‐ynylsulfonium salts and 2‐(1H‐indol‐2‐yl)phenols. Prop‐2‐ynylsulfonium salt participates in the reaction with its β‐carbon atom and acts as a novel C1 synthon. Various indole‐fused 4H‐benzo[e][1,3]oxazines bearing a thioether moiety were constructed in good to high yields under mild conditions.

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A Facile Method for Preparation of Polymer Particles Having a “Cylindrical” Shape
Authors: Li Wei , Suzuki Toyoko , Minami Hideto
Published: June 2018

A facile and novel approach to prepare monodisperse polystyrene (PS) particles having a “cylindrical” shape was discovered. Spherical PS particles prepared by dispersion polymerization were stirred in a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) aqueous solution for several hours using a magnetic stirrer at room temperature. In the presence of PVP, the spherical PS particles deformed into cylindrical shapes following stirring; however, the particles did not deform in the absence of PVP. The deformation rate of the particles was affected by the molecular weight of the dissolved PVP. This stirring method is not only highly efficient and high yielding, but also applicable to other materials such as polymethyl methacrylate. Moreover, the cylindrical particles were successfully applied as particulate surfactants in a Pickering emulsion system, which exhibited excellent stability in comparison to a system using spherical particles as a surfactant. In the first case, the emulsion was left standing for more than 4 months.
Highly Selective Electrochemical Reduction of Dinitrogen to Ammonia at Ambient Temperature and Pressure over Iron Oxide Catalysts
Authors: Cui Xiaoyang , Tang Cheng , Liu Xiao‐Meng , Wang Chen , Ma Wenjun , Zhang Qiang
Published: June 2018

The catalytic conversion of dinitrogen (N2) into ammonia under ambient conditions represents one of the Holy Grails in sustainable chemistry. As a potential alternative to the Haber–Bosch process, the electrochemical reduction of N2 to NH3 is attractive owing to its renewability and flexibility, as well as its sustainability for producing and storing value‐added chemicals from the abundant feedstock of water and nitrogen on earth. However, owing to the kinetically complex and energetically challenging N2 reduction reaction (NRR) process, NRR electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity and high selectivity are rare. In this contribution, as a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that both the NH3 yield and faradaic efficiency (FE) under ambient conditions can be improved by modification of the hematite nanostructure surface. Introducing more oxygen vacancies to the hematite surface renders an improved performance in NRR, which leads to an average NH3 production rate of 0.46 μg h−1 cm−2 and an NH3 FE of 6.04 % at −0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 0.10 m KOH electrolyte. The durability of the electrochemical system was also investigated. A surprisingly high average NH3 production rate of 1.45 μg h−1 cm−2 and a NH3 FE of 8.28 % were achieved after the first 1 h chronoamperometry test. This is among the highest FEs reported so far for non‐precious‐metal catalysts that use a polymer‐electrolyte‐membrane cell and is much higher than the FE of precious‐metal catalysts (e.g., Ru/C) under comparable reaction conditions. However, the NH3 yield and the FE dropped to 0.29 μg h−1 cm−2 and 2.74 %, respectively, after 16 h of chronoamperometry tests, which indicates poor durability of the system. Our results demonstrate the important role that the surface states of transition‐metal oxides have in promoting electrocatalytic NRR under ambient conditions. This work may spur interest towards the rational design of electrocatalysts as well as electrochemical systems for NRR, with emphasis on the issue of stability.
Quantitative ultrastructural analysis of fibers expressing parvalbumin, calretinin, calbindin D‐28k, stage specific embryonic antigen‐4, and phosphorylated neurofilament 200 in the peripheral sensory root of the rat trigeminal ganglion
Authors: Bae Jin Young , Mun Cheol Ju , Kim Yun Sook , Ahn Dong Kuk , Bae Yong Chul
Published: June 2018

Parvalbumin (PV), calretinin (CR), calbindin D‐28k (CB), stage specific embryonic antigen‐4 (SSEA4), and phosphorylated neurofilament 200 (pNF200) have been commonly used as markers for primary afferent neurons with large myelinated (A) fibers but detailed information on the expression of these markers in specific primary afferent fiber types is still lacking. We here examined the fibers that express PV, CR, CB, SSEA4, and pNF200 in the trigeminal ganglion and its peripheral sensory root by light‐ and electron‐microscopic immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis. We found that all CR‐immunopositive (+), CB+, and SSEA4+ fibers and virtually all (98.8%) PV+ fibers were myelinated, most CR+ fibers were large myelinated, whereas most CB+ and SSEA4+ fibers were small myelinated. One half of the PV+ fibers were small myelinated and the other half were large myelinated. Of all pNF200+ fibers, about a third each were small myelinated, large myelinated, and unmyelinated. These findings suggest that PV, CR, CB, and SSEA4 can be used as specific markers for primary afferent neurons with myelinated fibers, but that pNF200 is not suitable as a specific marker for primary afferent neurons with myelinated fibers, and also raise the possibility that PV, CR, CB, and SSEA4 may be expressed in both mechanoreceptive and nociceptive neurons.
Effects of nerve bundle geometry on neurotrauma evaluation
Authors: Cinelli Ilaria , Destrade Michel , McHugh Peter , Duffy Maeve
Published: June 2018

Objective

We confirm that alteration of a neuron structure can induce abnormalities in signal propagation for nervous systems, as observed in brain damage. Here, we investigate the effects of geometrical changes and damage of a neuron structure in 2 scaled nerve bundle models, made of myelinated nerve fibers or unmyelinated nerve fibers.

Methods

We propose a 3D finite element model of nerve bundles, combining a real‐time full electromechanical coupling, a modulated threshold for spiking activation, and independent alteration of the electrical properties for each fiber. With the inclusion of plasticity, we then simulate mechanical compression and tension to induce damage at the membrane of a nerve bundle made of 4 fibers. We examine the resulting changes in strain and neural activity by considering in turn the cases of intact and traumatized nerve membranes.

Results

Our results show lower strain and lower electrophysiological impairments in unmyelinated fibers than in myelinated fibers, higher deformation levels in larger bundles, and higher electrophysiological impairments in smaller bundles.

Conclusion

We conclude that the insulation sheath of myelin constricts the membrane deformation and scatters plastic strains within the bundle, that larger bundles deform more than small bundles, and that small fibers tolerate a higher level of elongation before mechanical failure.
The Genetic Architecture of Diet‐Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice
Authors: Hui Simon T. , Kurt Zeyneb , Tuominen Iina , Norheim Frode , C.Davis Richard , Pan Calvin , Dirks Darwin L. , Magyar Clara E. , French Samuel W. , Chella Krishnan Karthickeyan , Sabir Simon , Campos‐Pérez Francisco , Méndez‐Sánchez Nahum , Macías‐Kauffer Luis , León‐Mimila Paola , Canizales‐Quinteros Samuel , Yang Xia , Beaven Simon W. , Huertas‐Vazquez Adriana , Lusis Aldons J.
Published: June 2018

We report the genetic analysis of a “humanized” hyperlipidemic mouse model for progressive nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. Mice carrying transgenes for human apolipoprotein E*3‐Leiden and cholesteryl ester transfer protein and fed a “Western” diet were studied on the genetic backgrounds of over 100 inbred mouse strains. The mice developed hepatic inflammation and fibrosis that was highly dependent on genetic background, with vast differences in the degree of fibrosis. Histological analysis showed features characteristic of human NASH, including macrovesicular steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, inflammatory foci, and pericellular collagen deposition. Time course experiments indicated that while hepatic triglyceride levels increased steadily on the diet, hepatic fibrosis occurred at about 12 weeks. We found that the genetic variation predisposing to NASH and fibrosis differs markedly from that predisposing to simple steatosis, consistent with a multistep model in which distinct genetic factors are involved. Moreover, genome‐wide association identified distinct genetic loci contributing to steatosis and NASH. Finally, we used hepatic expression data from the mouse panel and from 68 bariatric surgery patients with normal liver, steatosis, or NASH to identify enriched biological pathways. Conclusion: The pathways showed substantial overlap between our mouse model and the human disease.
Amphiphilic Y shaped miktoarm star copolymer for anticancer hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs codelivery: Synthesis, characterization, in vitro, and in vivo biocompatibility study
Authors: Aghajanzadeh Mozhgan , Zamani Mostafa , Rashidzadeh Hamid , Rostamizadeh Kobra , Sharafi Ali , Danafar Hossein
Published: June 2018

In this project, a core‐shell polymersome based on miktoarm star‐copolymer:methoxy poly‐ethylene glycol‐lysine‐(poly‐caprolactone)2 was synthesized by a new method as controlled targeted drug delivery systems for codelivery of the chemotherapeutic methotrexate (MTX) and curcumin (CUR). Some properties of these nanocarriers (NCs), such as surface morphology, structure, surface charge, stability, and biocompatibility, were evaluated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic scanning colorimetry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, critical aggregation concentration, hemolysis test, MTT assay, and lethal dose 50 (LD50). The AFM results showed that the uniform spherical morphology of NCs have an average size of about ∼60 nm. The drug loading of NCs was about 14.13 and 10.93% for CUR and MTX, respectively. The NCs revealed pH‐sensitivity in drug release. The release of drugs from miktoarm‐based NCs in neutral pH was lower than in acidic medium because of faster degradation of polymersome in acidic environment. MTT assay results showed that the drug‐loaded NCs did not show significant toxicity due to which cell viability maintain over 82% at 300 μg/mL concentration. Also, synthesized miktoarm showed hemolysis lower than 3%. This result was repeated in LD50, and all mice which treat with 5000 mg/kg were still alive after 24 h. These result confirmed safety of miktoarm star copolymer. Eventually, the goal of this study is the application of water‐soluble star copolymers miktoarm with pH dependent release properties for designing a new drug delivery carrier and using CUR for enhancing anticancer properties of MTX. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2817–2826, 2018.
Metabolite assignment of ultrafiltered synovial fluid extracted from knee joints of reactive arthritis patients using high resolution NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Dubey Durgesh , Chaurasia Smriti , Guleria Anupam , Kumar Sandeep , Modi Dinesh Raj , Misra Ramnath , Kumar Dinesh
Published: June 2018

Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers available that can aid early differential diagnosis of reactive arthritis (ReA) from other inflammatory joint diseases. Metabolic profiling of synovial fluid (SF)—obtained from joints affected in ReA—holds great promise in this regard and will further aid monitoring treatment and improving our understanding about disease mechanism. As a first step in this direction, we report here the metabolite specific assignment of 1H and 13C resonances detected in the NMR spectra of SF samples extracted from human patients with established ReA. The metabolite characterization has been carried out on both normal and ultrafiltered (deproteinized) SF samples of eight ReA patients (n = 8) using high‐resolution (800 MHz) 1H and 1H─13C NMR spectroscopy methods such as one‐dimensional 1H CPMG and two‐dimensional J‐resolved1H NMR and homonuclear 1H─1H TOCSY and heteronuclear1H─13C HSQC correlation spectra. Compared with normal SF samples, several distinctive 1H NMR signals were identified and assigned to metabolites in the 1H NMR spectra of ultrafiltered SF samples. Overall, we assigned 53 metabolites in normal filtered SF and 64 metabolites in filtered pooled SF sample compared with nonfiltered SF samples for which only 48 metabolites (including lipid/membrane metabolites as well) have been identified. The established NMR characterization of SF metabolites will serve to guide future metabolomics studies aiming to identify/evaluate the SF‐based metabolic biomarkers of diagnostic/prognostic potential or seeking biochemical insights into disease mechanisms in a clinical perspective.
A Green Process for Starch Oleate Synthesis by Cryptococcus sp. MTCC 5455 Lipase and Its Potential as an Emulsifying Agent
Authors: Mayilvahanan Aarthy , Ramchary Aparna , Niraikulam Ayyadurai , Marichetti Kuppuswami Gowthaman , Numbi Ramudu Kamini
Published: June 2018

Starch oleate is synthesized in an aqueous medium using lipase from the yeast Cryptococcus sp. MTCC 5455. The optimum conditions of esterification are found at 24 h and 30 °C with an oleic acid/starch molar ratio of 1:2 using 500 U of lipase and the degree of substitution was 0.26. Spectral techniques confirm the presence of oleate group in the modified potato starch. Scanning electron microscopic and X‐ray diffraction studies also reveal the morphological and crystallographic properties of starch which are disrupted during the esterification process. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates the decrease in thermal stability of starch oleate due to the transformed structure of starch from semi crystalline to an amorphous form. The synthesized starch oleate could impart 85% stability to emulsions and has potential as an emulsifier in food sector owing to its eco‐friendly preparation.
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Group 10 Metal Complexes Bearing an Amidodiphosphine Pincer Ligand
Authors: Hartmann Deborah , Wadepohl Hubert , Gade Lutz H.
Published: June 2018

Deprotonation of 3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,8‐bis((diisopropyl‐phosphanyl)‐methyl)‐9H‐carbazole [(CbzdiphosiPr)H] (1) with LiHMDS and reaction with (cod)PtCl2 yielded the corresponding platinum chloride complex (CbzdiphosiPr)PtCl (2), which was converted quantitatively into the bromide 3 and iodide 4 analogues by treatment with TMS‐Hal (Hal = Br, I). Moreover, it was possible to prepare a PtIV species by oxidative addition of CsBr3 to compound 3. Furthermore, the hydride complexes of all group 10 metals were obtained by treatment of compound 1 with the M(0) precursors Ni(cod)2, Pd(PtBu3)2, and Pt(PtBu3)2.
The non-integrability of strings in massive type IIA and their holographic duals
Authors: Núñez Carlos , Penín José Manuel , Roychowdhury Dibakar , van Gorsel Jeroen
Published: June 2018

Abstract

In this work we study various aspects of six-dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (1, 0) SCFTs. We consider the construction of their string duals in Massive IIA and discuss some observables in given examples. We study the dynamics of string solitons wrapping and rotating on the Massive IIA background and show that the associated Hamiltonian system is both non-integrable and chaotic, implying the non-integrability of the dual CFT. Our procedure is analytic, using well developed mathematical techniques, and numerical, by the explicit calculation of power spectra, Lyapunov coefficients and Poincaré sections.
Design of a compact microstrip power‐divider diplexer with simple layout
Authors: Zhang Gang , Qian Zhenyao , Yang Jiquan
Published: June 2018

A new design of microstrip power‐divider (PD) diplexer with simple layout is presented. The proposed design is directly formed up by two independently designed dual‐mode filtering PDs without any additional matching network at the common port, thus bringing significant design flexibility and size reduction to the design process. For validation, a prototype PD diplexer working at 2.45 and 2.98 GHz is finally implemented and measured. Measured results agree well with the simulated ones. Results indicate that the PD diplexer exhibits sharp passband selectivity, good port‐to‐port isolation and high channel isolation, which is very attractive for applying to the multi‐standard wireless communication systems.
Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy: Changing the Treatment Sequence to Allow Immediate Free Autologous Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Neoh Derek , Hughes Kimberley
Published: June 2018

Background Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is traditionally treated with a multimodal approach of chemotherapy, surgery, and postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). The advantages of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) are well described and include improved aesthetic outcomes, fewer surgical procedures, shorter treatment period, and a higher quality of life. However, this sequence makes immediate free autologous reconstruction more challenging as PMRT can have deleterious and unpredictable effects on the flap. We have reversed this treatment sequence with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by mastectomy and immediate free autologous reconstruction. To our knowledge, this is the first series to assess the outcomes of neoadjuvant radiotherapy on immediate free microvascular breast reconstruction.

Methods A review of patients with LABC who underwent immediate free autologous breast reconstruction post neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy between 2013 and 2017 was conducted. All reconstructions were performed by a single reconstructive team. The primary end points were flap failure and surgical complications. Secondary end points were pathological response rate and disease recurrence.

Results A total of 40 women with an average age of 48.1 (36–61) and average body mass index of 25.6 (18–37) were included. The most common choice of flap was immediate deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP, 31), followed by transverse or diagonal upper gracilis (5), muscle-sparing transversus abdominis (3), and stacked DIEP (1). Our major complication rate was 12.5% and minor complication 15%. There were no cases of local recurrence and only three cases (7.5%) of distant disease progression.

Conclusion From our experience, this treatment sequence allows patients to have an immediate gold standard reconstruction without an increase in surgical morbidity. It affords the benefits of IBR without concern in delaying adjuvant therapy and appears to be safe from an oncological perspective.
PASTA for proteins
Authors: Collins Kodi , Warnow Tandy
Published: June 2018

PASTA is a multiple sequence method that uses divide-and-conquer plus iteration to enable base alignment methods to scale with high accuracy to large sequence datasets. By default, PASTA included MAFFT L-INS-i; our new extension of PASTA enables the use of MAFFT G-INS-i, MAFFT Homologs, CONTRAlign and ProbCons. We analyzed the performance of each base method and PASTA using these base methods on 224 datasets from BAliBASE 4 with at least 50 sequences. We show that PASTA enables the most accurate base methods to scale to larger datasets at reduced computational effort, and generally improves alignment and tree accuracy on the largest BAliBASE datasets.

Availability and implementation

PASTA is available at https://github.com/kodicollins/pasta and has also been integrated into the original PASTA repository at https://github.com/smirarab/pasta.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.