bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gold Catalysts for the Selective Oxidation of Biomass‐Derived Products
Authors: Cattaneo Stefano , Stucchi Marta , Villa Alberto , Prati Laura
Published: October 2018

Biomass constitutes a renewable source for new chemical platforms. Among other processes the catalytic ones represent a green alternative when active and selective catalysts can be developed. In this paper, applications of gold and gold‐based catalysts have been reviewed in the field of the selective oxidations. Indeed, from the discovery of the peculiarity of gold as catalytic material, the liquid phase oxidations have been differently viewed. Three important biomass‐derived molecules, namely glucose, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and glycerol have been considered as precursors for products of industrial interest where gold catalysts have played an important role. This review starts from the research on monometallic gold catalysts which have been explored initially and then look at gold as modifier of other metal catalyst. This latter field is still in evolution and probably needs to be look at in the future.
Li1.1V0.9O2/C Microspheres with Isomeric Core‐Shell structure and their Improved Lithium Storage Performance for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Feng Nanxiang , Xiang Kaixiong , Xiao Li , Chen Wenhao , Zhu Yirong , Chen Han
Published: October 2018

Li1.1V0.9O2/C microspheres with isomeric core‐shell structure were synthesized by a rapid cooling and subsequent evaporative assembly approach. The prepared Li1.1V0.9O2/C microspheres were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including elemental mapping analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The core‐shell Li1.1V0.9O2/C microspheres display identical composition but distinct texture of cores and shells, which herein is described as isomeric structure. Amorphous carbon nanodots are uniformly dispersed in the crystalline Li1.1V0.9O2 matrix in the core. In the shell however, Li1.1V0.9O2 nanoparticles are embedded in an amorphous carbon network. The Li1.1V0.9O2/C microspheres are tested as active material for anodes in lithium‐ion batteries, and exhibit an excellent reversible capacity of 295 mAh g−1, high capacity retention of 98 % after 100 cycles at 0.2 C and 95 % after 500 cycles at 2 C rate, and deliver wonderful rate capability of 250 mAh g−1 at 5 C. Thus, the Li1.1V0.9O2/C microspheres with isomeric core‐shell structure are promising candidates as anode material for commercial lithium‐ion batteries.
One‐Pot Solvothermal Synthesis of Molybdenum‐Tungsten Chalcogenide/Carbon Composite Electrodes for Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Huo Jinghao , Zhuo Ran , Xue Yujia , Guo Shouwu
Published: October 2018

Two‐dimensional (2D) transition‐metal chalcogenides exhibit excellent electrochemical properties in the energy storage field. We prepared molybdenum−tungsten chalcogenide/carbon (MWCC) hybrid nanosheets on nickel foams by using an one‐pot solvothermal synthesis. The unique 2D structure of the MWCC electrode is beneficial to ion and electron transportation. Furthermore, the MWCC electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance in terms of the electrical double‐layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance (1325.2 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1). Experimental tests showed that the structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of the MWCC electrode are favorable for high‐performance asymmetric supercapacitors with an active carbon (AC) negative electrode. The MWCC//AC device not only has a high specific capacitance (114.7 F g−1 at 1 A g−1), but also exhibit a high energy density of 40.8 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 799.1 W kg−1. Meanwhile, the MWCC//AC device maintains a capacitance retention of 89 % after 5000 cycles at 5 A g−1.
Panelists bias matrix estimation in a red wine trained panel: A potential tool for data pre‐treatment and feedback calibration
Authors: Diako Charles , Cooper Kevin D. , Ross Carolyn F.
Published: October 2018

In this study, panelists' bias in a trained wine sensory panel was abstracted as a linear operator to provide feedback to the panelists, to adjust (“filter”) evaluations and to predict attribute ratings of unknown samples. The bias matrix is a square matrix of attributes showing individual panelists intensity agreement with the entire panel average. Using this matrix to filter the original intensity ratings reduced the dispersion of ratings around the mean without significantly affecting the mean value. Predictively filtered means were closer to bias‐adjusted means than the un‐adjusted means.
A Porous Cobalt Tetraphosphonate Metal–Organic Framework: Accurate Structure and Guest Molecule Location Determined by Continuous‐Rotation Electron Diffraction
Authors: Wang Bin , Rhauderwiek Timo , Inge A. Ken , Xu Hongyi , Yang Taimin , Huang Zhehao , Stock Norbert , Zou Xiaodong
Published: October 2018

Single‐crystal electron diffraction has shown to be powerful for structure determination of nano‐ and submicron‐sized crystals that are too small to be studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. However, it has been very challenging to obtain high quality electron diffraction data from beam sensitive crystals such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). It is even more difficult to locate guest species in the pores of MOF crystals. Here, we present synthesis of a novel porous cobalt MOF with 1D channels, [Co2(Ni‐H4TPPP)]⋅2 DABCO⋅6 H2O, (denoted Co‐CAU‐36; DABCO=1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), and its structure determination using continuous rotation electron diffraction (cRED) data. By combining a fast hybrid electron detector with low sample temperature (96 K), high resolution (0.83–1.00 Å) cRED data could be obtained from eight Co‐CAU‐36 crystals. Independent structure determinations were conducted using each of the eight cRED datasets. We show that all atoms in the MOF framework could be located. More importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that organic molecules in the pores, which were previously difficult to find, could be located using the cRED data. A comparison of eight independent structure determinations using different datasets shows that structural models differ only on average by 0.03(2) Å for the framework atoms and 0.10(6) and 0.16(12) Å for DABCO and water molecules, respectively.
Ligand Radicals as Modular Organic Electron Spin Qubits
Authors: McGuire Jake , Miras Haralampos N. , Donahue James P. , Richards Emma , Sproules Stephen
Published: October 2018

The intrinsic redox activity of the dithiolene ligand is presented here as the novel spin host in the design of a prototype molecular electron spin qubit, where the traditional roles of the metal and ligand components in coordination complexes are inverted. A series of paramagnetic bis(dithiolene) complexes with group 10 metals—nickel, palladium, platinum—provides a backdrop to investigate the spin dynamics of the organic ligand radical using pulsed EPR spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the phase memory time (TM) is shown to be dependent on the identity of the diamagnetic metal ion, with the short times recorded for platinum a consequence of a diminishing spin‐lattice (T1) relaxation time driven by spin‐orbit coupling. The utility of the radical ligand spin center is confirmed when it delivers one of the longest phase memory times ever recorded for a molecular two‐qubit prototype.
Does a Conjugation Site Affect Transport of Vitamin B12–Peptide Nucleic Acid Conjugates into Bacterial Cells?
Authors: Wierzba Aleksandra J. , Maximova Ksenia , Wincenciuk Aleksandra , Równicki Marcin , Wojciechowska Monika , Nexø Ebba , Trylska Joanna , Gryko Dorota
Published: October 2018

Gram‐negative bacteria develop specific systems for the uptake of scarce nutrients, including vitamin B12. These uptake pathways may be utilized for the delivery of biologically relevant molecules into cells. Indeed, it was recently reported that vitamin B12 transported an antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) into Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium cells. The present studies indicate that the conjugation site of PNA to vitamin B12 has an impact on PNA transport into bacterial cells. Toward this end, a specifically designed PNA oligomer has been tethered at various positions of vitamin B12 (central Co, R5′‐OH, c and e amide chains, meso position, and at the hydroxy group of cobinamide) by using known or newly developed methodologies and tested for the uptake of the synthesized conjugates by E. coli. Compounds in which the PNA oligonucleotide was anchored at the R5′‐OH position were transported more efficiently than that of other compounds tethered at the peripheral positions around the corrin ring. Of importance is the fact that, contrary to mammalian organisms, E. coli also takes up cobinamide, which is an incomplete corrinoid. This selectivity opens up ways to fight bacterial infections.
Integration of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Precursor into a Covalent Triazine Framework for Organocatalysis
Authors: Troschke Erik , Nguyen Khoa Dang , Paasch Silvia , Schmidt Johannes , Nickerl Georg , Senkovska Irena , Brunner Eike , Kaskel Stefan
Published: October 2018

The successful incorporation of a thermally fragile imidazolium moiety into a covalent triazine framework resulted in a heterogeneous organocatalyst active in carbene‐catalyzed umpolung reaction. The structural integrity of the imidazolium moiety was confirmed by combining solid‐state NMR and XPS experiments.
A Supramolecular Palladium Catalyst Displaying Substrate Selectivity by Remote Control
Authors: Zardi Paolo , Roisnel Thierry , Gramage‐Doria Rafael
Published: October 2018

Inspired by enzymes such as cytochrome P‐450, the study of the reactivity of metalloporphyrins continues to attract major interest in the field of homogeneous catalysis. However, little is known about benefitting from the substrate‐recognition properties of porphyrins containing additional, catalytically relevant active sites. Herein, such an approach is introduced by using supramolecular ligands derived from metalloporphyrins customized with rigid, palladium‐coordinating nitrile groups. According to different studies (NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, XRD, control experiments), the supramolecular ligands are able to accommodate pyridine derivatives as substrates inside the porphyrin pocket while the reactivity occurs at the peripheral side. By simply tuning a remote metal center, different binding events result in different catalyst reactivity, and this enzyme‐like feature leads to high degrees of substrate selectivity in representative palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reactions.
Catalyst‐Free Oxytrifluoromethylation of Alkenes through Paired Electrolysis in Organic‐Aqueous Media
Authors: Jud Wolfgang , Kappe C. Oliver , Cantillo David
Published: October 2018

A mild, catalyst‐free electrochemical oxytrifluoromethylation of alkenes has been developed. The procedure is based on the paired electrolysis of sodium triflinate and water in an undivided cell. Anodic oxidation of the triflinate anion generates trifluoromethyl radicals that react with the alkene. Water plays a dual role as oxidant for the cathode and nucleophile. The method has been utilized to prepare a diverse set of 1‐hydroxy‐2‐trifluoromethyl compounds in moderate to excellent yields (27–94 %). Alcohols have also been tested as nucleophiles for this versatile method with moderate yields. Facile recycling of the electrolyte has been demonstrated, and application of electricity avoids the use of stoichiometric amounts of oxidizers in a safe and environmentally benign reaction.
Neue Ansätze zur Differenzierung im Schülerlabor
Authors: Affeldt Fiona , Siol Antje , Markic Silvija , Eilks Ingo
Published: October 2018

Die Herausforderung, auf eine zunehmend heterogene Schülerschaft zu reagieren, ist nicht nur eine Aufgabe von Schule. Da naturwissenschaftliche Bildung verstärkt auch in der Kooperation von Schulen und außerschulischen Bildungsträgern stattfinden sollte, stellen sich Fragen etwa an Schülerlabore, ob und wie diese der zunehmenden Heterogenität ihrer Besucherinnen und Besucher begegnen. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert Ansätze zur Differenzierung im Schülerlabor für besonders heterogene Lerngruppen. Es werden ein Modell und verschiedene Maßnahmen zur Differenzierung im Schülerlabor vorgestellt. Ergebnisse aus der Evaluation deuten an, dass das Differenzierungsmodell für das Schülerlabor gut einsetzbar ist und die verwendeten Methoden, u.a. durch Comics unterstütze Versuchsanleitungen und abgestufte Lernhilfen, auf große Zustimmung bei den Lernenden stoßen
Effects of a 2‐Year Application of Different Residual Biomasses on Soil Properties and Potato Yield
Authors: Abdeldaym Emad Abdelhameed , Traversa Andreina , Cocozza Claudio , Brunetti Gennaro
Published: October 2018

The increasing food demand encourages the overuse of agricultural lands and natural resources that often is not economic, social, and environmentally sustainable. This overuse can lead to the soil sickness, which causes the decline of the soil fertility through the development of soil‐borne diseases, the depletion of nutrients, and the loss of soil organic matter. Addition of residual biomasses is a good agricultural practice for improving soil properties and enhancing crop production, in the framework of a sustainable development. The study is performed in a 2 years field experiment using olive pomace residues (OPR), composts from municipal solid wastes (CMW), spent mushroom compost (SMC), and livestock manures based compost (BRX) for the fertilization of the potato crop. The aim of the study is to test the impact of different biomasses available in Apulia region, Italy, on soil fertility and potato growth. The application of BRX shows the highest potato yield in both seasons while OPR, CMW, and SMC significantly increases soil total nitrogen and organic carbon compared to BRX and un‐amended plots (CON). All treatments, except SMC, reduce the soil exchangeable K content, therefore, the application of BRX, OPR, and CMW should include the use of K based fertilizer to balance the high crop demand of K. Finally, SMC appears the best compromise for managing soil fertility and obtaining high potato yield.
What do transplant physicians think about palliative care? A national survey study
Authors: El‐Jawahri Areej , LeBlanc Thomas W. , Burns Linda J. , Denzen Ellen , Meyer Christa , Mau Lih‐Wen , Roeland Eric J. , Wood William A. , Petersdorf Effie
Published: October 2018

Background

Despite its established benefits, palliative care (PC) is rarely utilized for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. We sought to examine transplant physicians’ perceptions of PC.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of transplant physicians recruited from the American‐Society‐for‐Blood‐and‐Marrow‐Transplantation. Using a 28‐item questionnaire adapted from prior studies, we examined physicians’ access to PC services, and perceptions of PC. We computed a composite score of physicians’ attitudes about PC (mean = 16.9, SD = 3.37) and explored predictors of attitudes using a linear mixed model.

Results

277/1005 (28%) of eligible physicians completed the questionnaire. The majority (76%) stated that they trust PC clinicians to care for their patients, but 40% felt that PC clinicians do not have enough understanding to counsel HSCT patients about their treatments. Most endorsed that when patients hear the term PC, they feel scared (82%) and anxious (76%). Nearly half (46%) reported that the service name ‘palliative care’ is a barrier to utilization. Female sex (β = 0.85, P = .024), having <10 years of clinical practice (β = 1.39, P = .004), and perceived quality of PC services (β = 0.60, P < .001) were all associated with a more positive attitude towards PC. Physicians with a higher sense of ownership over their patients’ PC issues (β = ‐0.36, P < .001) were more likely to have a negative attitude towards PC.

Conclusions

The majority of transplant physicians trust PC, but have substantial concerns about PC clinicians’ knowledge about HSCT and patients’ perception of the term ‘palliative care’. Interventions are needed to promote collaboration, improve perceptions, and enhance integration of PC for HSCT recipients.
A prospective comparison of cancer clinical trial availability and enrollment among adolescents/young adults treated at an adult cancer hospital or affiliated children’s hospital
Authors: Thomas Stefanie M. , Malvar Jemily , Tran Hanh Henry , Shows Jared T. , Freyer David R.
Published: October 2018

Background

Low cancer clinical trial (CCT) enrollment may contribute to survival disparities affecting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (ages 15‐39 years). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether differences in CCT availability related to treatment site could explain the low CCT enrollment.

Methods

This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted at an academic children’s hospital and its affiliated but geographically separated adult cancer hospital within a National Cancer Institute‐designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. For consecutive, newly diagnosed AYA patients, it was determined whether an appropriate CCT existed nationally, was available at the treatment site, and was used for enrollment. Proportions of AYAs in these categories were compared between sites using the chi‐square test.

Results

One hundred fifty‐two consecutive AYA patients were included from the children’s hospital (n = 68; ages 15‐20 years) and the adult cancer hospital (n = 84; ages 18‐39 years). Although there was no difference in CCT existence for individual AYA patients by site (children’s hospital [36 of 68 patients; 52.9%] vs adult cancer hospital [45 of 84 patients; 53.6%]; P = .938), CCT availability was significantly lower at the adult cancer hospital (14 of 84 patients [16.7%] vs 30 of 68 [44.1%] at the children’s hospital; P < .001). The proportion of AYAs enrolled was low at both sites (8 of 68 patients [11.8%] vs 6 of 84 patients [7.1%], respectively; P = .327). Fewer existing CCTs were available at the adult cancer hospital (4 of 27 patients [14.8%] vs 8 of 14 patients [57.1%], respectively), and those were directed toward solid tumors and new agents.

Conclusions

Efforts to improve low CCT enrollment among AYAs should be differentiated by treatment site. In the adult setting, these efforts should be aimed at improving CCT availability by overcoming site‐level barriers to opening existing CCTs.
Knowledge regarding and patterns of genetic testing in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer participating in the iCanDecide trial
Authors: Gornick Michele C. , Kurian Allison W. , An Lawrence C. , Fagerlin Angela , Jagsi Reshma , Katz Steven J. , Hawley Sarah T.
Published: October 2018

Background

The current study reports rates of knowledge regarding the probability of a BRCA1 and/or S pathogenic variant and genetic testing in patients with breast cancer, collected as part of a randomized controlled trial of a tailored, comprehensive, and interactive decision tool (iCanDecide).

Methods

A total of 537 patients newly diagnosed with early‐stage breast cancer were enrolled at the time of their first visit in 22 surgical practices, and were surveyed 5 weeks (496 patients; Response Rate [RR], 92%) after enrollment after treatment decision making. Primary outcomes included knowledge regarding the probability of carrying a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant and genetic testing after diagnosis.

Results

Overall knowledge regarding the probability of having a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant was low (29.8%). Significantly more patients in the intervention group compared with the control group had knowledge regarding the probability of a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant (35.8% vs 24.4%; P <.006). In multivariable logistic regression, the intervention arm remained significantly associated with knowledge regarding the probability of having a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.18‐2.70).

Conclusions

The results of the current study suggest that although knowledge concerning the probability of having a BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant remains low in this patient population, the interactive decision tool improved rates compared with a static Web site. As interest in genetic testing continues to rise, so will the need to integrate tools into the treatment decision process to improve informed decision making.
Comparing outcomes of concurrent chemotherapy regimens in patients 65 years old or older with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Amini Arya , Eguchi Megan , Jones Bernard L. , Stokes William A. , Gupta Abhinav , McDermott Jessica D. , Massarelli Erminia , Bradley Cathy J. , Karam Sana D.
Published: October 2018

Background

The comparative efficacy of cisplatin (CDDP), carboplatin, and cetuximab (CTX) delivered concurrently with radiation for locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma continues to be evaluated.

Methods

The linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database was used to identify and compare patient and disease profiles, mortality, toxicity, and overall cost for patients with oropharynx cancer undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiation with CDDP, carboplatin, or CTX between 2006 and 2011. The human papillomavirus status was unknown. The primary outcome was 2‐year overall survival (OS).

Results

Four hundred nine patients receiving concurrent CDDP (n = 167), carboplatin (n = 69), or CTX (n = 173) were included. Those who were older, those who were nonwhite, and those with a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 2 were less likely to receive CDDP. Two‐year OS was inferior with CTX (hazard ratio [HR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08‐2.60; P = .020) and no different with carboplatin (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.73‐2.35; P = .362) in a Cox proportional hazards model (reference CDDP). There was no statistically significant difference between carboplatin and CTX (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.77‐2.14; P = .891). Rates of antiemetic use and hospital visits for nausea/emesis/diarrhea or dehydration were statistically higher with CDDP. Pneumonia rates were higher with carboplatin. In the multivariate model, the corrected mean per‐patient spending was significantly higher for CTX and carboplatin than CDDP ($61,133 and $65,721 vs $48,709).

Conclusions

Patients who received CDDP had improved OS. CDDP was also associated with slightly lower overall costs and higher antiemetic usage and hospital visit rates, although a strong selection bias was observed because those receiving CTX and carboplatin were older and had higher comorbidity scores.
Perspectives and perceptions of urgent and alert values in surgical pathology and cytopathology: A survey of clinical practitioners and pathologists
Authors: Cretara Anthony D. , Otis Christopher N.
Published: October 2018

In previous editorials, Chapman and Otis in 2011 and Layfield in 2014 have summarized much of the work responsible for establishing the concept of critical diagnoses in surgical pathology and cytopathology. Both editorials end with a list of 8 key policy points needed for an effective strategy of handling and communicating critical diagnoses. We have developed and distributed a Web‐based survey to elicit clinicians’ attitudes regarding many of those key policy points, such as how, when, and to whom critical diagnoses should be reported; we have allowed some level of collaboration with the clinical staff when developing our communication policies as the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology (ADASP) consensus statement recommends. We have identified important areas of disagreement between pathologists and clinicians regarding what entities should be considered critical and who should be responsible for correlating histologic findings with the larger clinical context. Identifying these discordant points of view and fostering interdepartmental agreement on the best practices in the communication of critical diagnoses is an important patient care and safety issue. Chapman and Otis have also suggested the importance of increased access to accurate patient information and the clinical history, including the level of clinical suspicion of malignancy, and of forming a periodic review and quality assurance process. Here we explore methods of increasing the ability of pathologists and cytopathologists to identify unexpected diagnoses, including optimization of their workstations for better access to the electronic medical record, and we examine the progress of quality assurance methods in surgical pathology and cytopathology since the ADASP consensus statement in 2012.
Sex‐biased hippocampal pathology in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: A multi‐omic analysis
Authors: Bundy Joseph L. , Vied Cynthia , Badger Crystal , Nowakowski Richard S.
Published: October 2018

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. Like many neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease has a sex‐biased epidemiological profile, affecting approximately twice as many women as men. The cause of this sex difference has yet to be elucidated. To identify molecular correlates of this sex bias, we investigated molecular pathology in females and males using the 5XFamilial Alzheimer's disease mutations (5XFAD) genetic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. We profiled the transcriptome and proteome of the mouse hippocampus during early stages of disease development (1, 2, and 4 months of age). Our analysis reveals 42 genes that are differentially expressed between disease and wild‐type animals at 2 months of age, prior to observable plaque deposition. In 4‐month‐old animals, we detect 1,316 differentially expressed transcripts between transgenic and control 5XFAD mice, many of which are associated with immune function. Additionally, we find that some of these transcriptional perturbations are correlated with altered protein levels in 4‐month‐old transgenic animals. Importantly, our data indicate that female 5XFAD mouse exhibit more profound pathology than their male counterparts as measured by differences in gene expression. We also find that the 5XFAD transgenes are more highly expressed in female 5XFAD mice than their male counterparts, which could partially account for the sex‐biased molecular pathology observed in this dataset.
Seasonal changes in neuronal turnover in a forebrain nucleus in adult songbirds
Authors: Larson Tracy A. , Thatra Nivretta M. , Hou Darren , Hu Rachael A. , Brenowitz Eliot A.
Published: October 2018

Neuronal death and replacement, or neuronal turnover, in the adult brain are one of many fundamental processes of neural plasticity. The adult avian song control circuit provides an excellent model for exploring mature neuronal death and replacement by new neurons. In the song control nucleus, HVC of adult male Gambel's white‐crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelli) nearly 68,000 neurons are added each breeding season and die during the subsequent nonbreeding season. To accommodate large seasonal differences in HVC neuron number, the balance between neuronal addition and death in HVC must differ between seasons. To determine whether maintenance of new HVC neurons changes within and between breeding and nonbreeding conditions, we pulse‐labeled two different cohorts of new HVC neurons under both conditions and quantified their maintenance. We show that the maintenance of new HVC neurons, as well as new nonneuronal cells, was higher at the onset of breeding conditions than at the onset of nonbreeding conditions. Once a steady‐state HVC volume and neuronal number were attained in either breeding or nonbreeding conditions, neuronal and nonneuronal maintenance were similarly low. We found that new neuronal number correlated with a new nonneuronal number within each cohort of new neurons. Together, these data suggest that sex steroids promote the survival of an initial population of new neurons and nonneuronal cells entering HVC. However, once HVC is fully grown or regressed, neuronal and nonneuronal cell turnover is regulated by a common mechanism likely independent of direct sex steroid signaling.
Endotoxin‐Free Preparation of Graphene Oxide and Graphene‐Based Materials for Biological Applications
Authors: Parviz Dorsa , Strano Michael
Published: October 2018

Due to their two‐dimensional structure and unique properties, graphene and its derivatives have been extensively studied for their potential applications in various fields ranging from electronics to composites. Particularly, their high surface area, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, dispersability in aqueous phase, and possibility of surface modification make them promising candidates for biomedical applications including biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, cell imaging, and therapeutics. The functioning of graphene nanosheets in these applications is dependent on their structure and properties, which are mainly determined by their preparation and processing methods. Exfoliation techniques are the most common methods for preparation of graphene nanosheets for biomedical applications due to their high yield and scalability. Further modification of these methods is necessary to produce biocompatible and toxin‐free graphene that can be safely incorporated into biological media. Here, we describe protocols for chemical and mechanical exfoliation of graphite to produce endotoxin‐free and highly stable graphene oxide and graphene dispersions. Additional protocols are provided for proper pre‐ and post‐processing of nanosheets and endotoxin measurement techniques. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Sensitive High‐Throughput Screening Method for Identifying Small Molecule Stimulators of the Core Particle of the Proteasome
Authors: Coleman Rachel A. , Trader Darci J.
Published: October 2018

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology is a useful tool to monitor protein interactions as well as protease activity. We have recently reported a biochemical assay utilizing a FRET reporter peptide to monitor the activity of the 20S catalytic particle (20S CP) of the proteasome. This assay is designed specifically to have increased sensitivity to identify stimulators of the 20S CP, which may hold therapeutic potential to treat protein‐accumulation diseases. The protocol described here details the necessary steps in synthesizing the FRET reporter peptide and performing the FRET assay with the 20S CP. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Long short‐term memory networks for CSI300 volatility prediction with Baidu search volume
Authors: Zhou Yu‐Long , Han Ren‐Jie , Xu Qian , Jiang Qi‐Jie , Zhang Wei‐Ke
Published: October 2018

Intense volatility in financial markets affects humans worldwide. Therefore, relatively accurate prediction of volatility is critical. We suggest that massive data sources resulting from human interaction with the Internet may offer a new perspective on the behavior of market participants in periods of large market movements. First, we select 28 key words, which are related to finance as indicators of the public mood and macroeconomic factors. Then, those 28 words of the daily search volume based on Baidu index are collected manually, from June 1, 2006 to October 29, 2017. We apply a Long Short‐Term Memory neural network to forecast CSI300 volatility using those search volume data. Compared to the benchmark GARCH model, our forecast is more accurate, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the LSTM neural network in volatility forecasting.
Accurate measurement of structural vibration based on digital image processing technology
Authors: Xu Feihong
Published: October 2018

With the development of modern highway construction, the bridge project presents a trend of over sizing, softening of the structure, and the stability of the high and steep slopes of the highway, which seriously threatens traffic safety and passenger. The economic benefits of transportation come into play. It is accurate measurement of structural vibration based on digital image processing technology of road engineering structures. The machine vision‐based dynamic displacement monitoring technology has gained rapid development in recent years due to its advantages such as non‐contact, real‐time, long‐distance, and portability. This paper proposes a multi‐target displacement monitoring method based on machine vision technology. The template‐matching algorithm and multi‐objective displacement calculation method based on digital image processing technology have described in detail. Using industrial digital cameras and high‐power zoom lenses, a single‐point multi‐objective displacement monitoring system has developed by matlab. The results show that the single‐point and multi‐target displacement monitoring method based on machine vision technology is practical and feasible, and it is suitable for synchronous multi‐point vibration or rotational displacement monitoring of large‐scale structures.
Informatization design of raw material purchase and payment for feed processing enterprises under ERP system environment
Authors: Huang Yan , Huang Yadong
Published: October 2018

ERP is one of the important means of modern enterprise management. Its basic idea is to regard the business process as the supply and demand chain based on the enterprise value chain and to divide the enterprise interior into several subsystems of cooperative operation. Feed enterprises are faced with the situation of fierce competition, rising raw materials, weak management, and low profit. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the management competitiveness and management efficiency. The ERP system, which integrates purchasing, sales, finance, and other business management, has become the best tool for the management of feed enterprises. This paper studies the status of purchasing management system in modern ERP system and the mode of information exchange in the system. The purchasing process and the purchasing cycle of the order production enterprises are discussed in details. The design scheme, architecture, and function model of the sales management system under the ERP environment are studied with a development example. In the application example, this paper gives the concrete solution of implementing the sales management system under the ERP environment and some details of its implementation. The system has better information interactivity and expansibility. Finally, experiments verify the effectiveness of the ERP system designed in this paper.
A general‐purpose distributed computing Java middleware
Authors: Almeida André Luís Barroso , Cimino Leonardo de Souza , de Resende José Estevão Eugênio , Silva Lucas Henrique Moreira , Rocha Samuel Queiroz Souza , Gregorio Guilherme Aparecido , Paiva Gustavo Silva , Delabrida Saul , Santos Haroldo Gambini , de Carvalho Marco Antonio Moreira , Aquino Andre Luiz Lins , Lima Joubert de Castro
Published: October 2018

The middleware solutions for General‐Purpose Distributed Computing (GPDC) have distinct requirements, such as task scheduling, processing/storage fault tolerance, code portability for parallel or distributed environments, simple deployment (including over grid or multi‐cluster environments), collaborative development, low code refactoring, native support for distributed data structures, asynchronous task execution, and support for distributed global variables. These solutions do not integrate these requirements into a single deployment with a unique API exposing most of these requirements to users. The consequence is the utilization of several solutions with their particularities, thus requiring different user skills. Besides that, the users have to solve the integration and all heterogeneity issues. To reduce this integration gap, in this paper, we present Java Cá&Lá (JCL), a distributed‐shared‐memory and task‐oriented lightweight middleware for the Java community that separates business logic from distribution issues during the development process and incorporates several requirements that were presented separately in the GPDC middleware literature over the last few decades. JCL allows building distributed or parallel applications with only a few portable API calls, thus reducing the integration problems. Finally, it also runs on different platforms, including small single‐board computers. This work compares and contrasts JCL with other Java middleware systems and reports experimental evaluations of JCL applications in several distinct scenarios.
Cost‐effective deadline‐aware stochastic scheduling strategy for workflow applications on virtual machines in cloud computing
Authors: Haidri R.A. , Katti C.P. , Saxena P.C.
Published: October 2018

This paper addresses the problems in scheduling the workflow tasks on cloud computing systems such as minimizing the total price for execution (TPE) and total execution time (TET) of the workflow while meeting the deadline constraints in a stochastic environment. Scheduling such precedence‐constrained stochastic tasks on the cloud with virtual machines of different computing capabilities is a difficult problem. However, instead of TPE and TET, the virtual machine's acquisition delay is one of the primary cloud's characteristics. The current paper first formulates the problem as a stochastic scheduling model on cloud. Then, a stochastic cost‐effective deadline‐aware (S‐CEDA) resource scheduler is developed. S‐CEDA incorporates the expected value and variance of the task's processing time and inter‐task communication time into the workflow scheduling. The experimental results show that S‐CEDA outperforms the existing state‐of‐the‐art algorithms such as stochastic heterogeneous earliest finish time (SHEFT) and cost‐effective deadline‐aware (CEDA) scheduling algorithms in terms of the TPE and TET of the workflow.
Reconstructing 3D virtual environments within a collaborative e‐infrastructure
Authors: Coro Gianpaolo , Palma Marco , Ellenbroek Anton , Panichi Giancarlo , Nair Thiviya , Pagano Pasquale
Published: October 2018

Sets of two‐dimensional images are insufficient to capture the development in time and space of three‐dimensional structures. The 2D “flattening” of photographs results in a significant loss of features especially if the photos were taken by one person. Automatically collecting and aligning photos in order to render 3D structures from 2D images without specialised equipment is currently a complex process that requires specialist knowledge with often limited results. In this paper, an Open Science oriented workflow is proposed where an on‐line file system is used to share photos of an object or an environment and to produce a virtual reality scene as a navigable 3D reconstruction that can be shared with other people. Our workflow is based on a distributed e‐Infrastructure and overcomes common limitations of other approaches by having all the used technology integrated on the same platform and by not requiring specialist knowledge. A performance evaluation of the 3D reconstruction process embedded in the workflow is reported against a commercial software and an open‐source software in terms of computational efficiency and reconstruction accuracy, and three marine science use cases are reported to show potential applications of the workflow.
CdSe/CdS Dot‐in‐Rods Nanocrystals Fast Blinking Dynamics.
Authors: Manceau M. , Vezzoli S. , Glorieux Q. , Giacobino E. , Carbone L. , De Vittorio M. , Hermier J.‐P. , Bramati A.
Published: October 2018

Analyzing the autocorrelation function of the fluorescence intensity, we demonstrate that these nanoemitters are characterized by a short value of the mean duration of bright periods (ten to a few hundreds of microseconds). The comparison of the results obtained for samples with different geometries shows that not only the shell thickness is crucial but also the shape of the dot‐in‐rods. Increasing the shell aspect ratio results in shorter bright periods suggesting that surface traps impact the stability of the fluorescence intensity.
Intersession improvement and outcome in psychotherapy
Authors: Koffmann Andrew
Published: October 2018

Objective

Psychotherapy patients who experience large, stable symptomatic improvement between sessions are more likely than those without such sudden gains to benefit from treatment. However, there is limited empirical basis for the definition of sudden gains, and it is unclear how they may affect symptomatic change at other points in treatment.

Method

In a psychotherapy training clinic, 149 adults completed a distress measure at each session. For each criterion in the definition of sudden gains, we evaluated the prediction of outcome, possible moderating variables, local score instability, and multisession change before and after score shifts.

Results

Large intersession improvement did not lead to increased rate of change later in treatment, but it did predict outcome, regardless of whether nearby session scores were stable. Early improvement during the first five treatment sessions was an independent predictor of outcome. Large intersession improvement generally occurred in the context of local score instability.

Conclusion

Sudden gains appear to predict outcome because of improvement inherent in the gains themselves. Early overall improvement predicts outcome almost as effectively as do sudden gains. There may be advantages to redefining sudden gains as large intersession improvement, regardless of local score stability.
Simultaneous Determination of Uranium and Depleted Uranium Isotopic Ratio Using Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Velez‐Quinones Maria A. , Xu Hanna , Vo Nhu , Gaitens Joanna M. , McDiarmid Melissa A. , Lewin‐Smith Michael R. , Strathmann Frederick G.
Published: October 2018

We have developed and validated a method for the simultaneous quantitative measurement of total uranium (TU) and uranium 235U/238U isotopic ratio (UIR) in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) using a Thermo Scientific iCAP‐Q instrument. The performance characteristics of the assay were determined to be in compliance with clinical laboratory standards. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 1.0 to 500.0 ng/liter TU. The method was precise and accurate with limits of detection of 2.5 ng/liter for TU and 9.8 ng/liter for UIR. The accuracy was >93% and the coefficient of variation (% CV) was <5.0% for both TU and UIR. All results were within established guidelines and agreed‐upon criteria, and the results fell within the certified range for the reference controls. The method has thus been shown to be effective as a simple, precise, and sensitive analytical technique for testing urine samples. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Acceleration of Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) by Surface Coating with Anionic Surfactants
Authors: Furukawa Makoto , Kawakami Norifumi , Oda Kohei , Miyamoto Kenji
Published: October 2018

Enzymatic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is promising because this process is safer than conventional industrial approaches. Recently, a cationic PET hydrolase (PETase) was identified from Ideonella sakaiensis. Pre‐incubation of a low‐crystallinity PET film with anionic surfactants prior to initiating the reaction was found to improve PETase activity 120‐fold. After 36 h at 30 °C, the film thickness decreased by 22 %. The binding of surfactants to the film makes the surface anionic, thereby attracting the cationic PETase. Mutagenesis of PETase showed that the surface cationic region formed by R53, R90, and K95, which are located on the same side as the substrate binding pocket, was crucial for efficient acceleration of activity by the anionic surfactant. Thus, surfactant bound on PET aligns the orientation of the active site to the surface, resulting in efficient hydrolysis. We believe that this approach using PETase could be further improved by designing surfactant molecules for the more efficient enzymatic PET degradation.
Neuropathy and inflammation in diabetic bone marrow
Authors: Zhou Jiyin , Zhang Zuo , Qian Guisheng
Published: October 2018

Diabetes impairs the bone marrow (BM) architecture and function as well as the mobilization of immature cells into the bloodstream and number of potential regenerative cells. Circadian regulation of bone immature cell migration is regulated by β‐adrenergic receptors, which are expressed on haematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and osteoblasts in the BM. Diabetes is associated with a substantially lower number of sympathetic nerve terminal endings in the BM; thus, diabetic neuropathy plays a critical role in BM dysfunction. Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells, BM mononuclear cells, haematopoietic stem cells, and stromal cells ameliorates the dysfunction of diabetic neuropathy, which occurs, in part, through secreted neurotrophic factors, growth factors, adipokines, and polarizing macrophage M2 cells and inhibiting inflammation. Inflammation may be a therapeutic target for BM stem cells to improve diabetic neuropathy. Given that angiogenic and neurotrophic effects are two major barriers to effective diabetic neuropathy therapy, targeting BM stem cells may provide a novel approach to develop these types of treatments.
Size does matter: Parallel evolution of adaptive thermal tolerance and body size facilitates adaptation to climate change in domestic cattle
Authors: Elayadeth‐Meethal Muhammed , Thazhathu Veettil Aravindakshan , Maloney Shane K. , Hawkins Nichola , Misselbrook Tom H. , Sejian Veerasamy , Rivero M. Jordana , Lee Michael R. F.
Published: October 2018

The adaptive potential of livestock under a warming climate is increasingly relevant in relation to the growing pressure of global food security. Studies on heat tolerance demonstrate the interplay of adaptation and acclimatization in functional traits, for example, a reduction in body size and enhanced tolerance in response to a warming climate. However, current lack of understanding of functional traits and phylogenetic history among phenotypically distinct populations constrains predictions of climate change impact. Here, we demonstrate evidence of parallel evolution in adaptive tolerance to heat stress in dwarf cattle breeds (DCB, Bos taurus indicus) and compare their thermoregulatory responses with those in standard size cattle breeds (SCB, crossbred, Bos taurus indicus × Bos taurus taurus). We measured vital physiological, hematological, biochemical, and gene expression changes in DCB and SCB and compared the molecular phylogeny using mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) analysis. Our results show that SCB can acclimatize in the short term to higher temperatures but reach their tolerance limit under prevailing tropical conditions, while DCB is adapted to the warmer climate. Increased hemoglobin concentration, reduced cellular size, and smaller body size enhance thermal tolerance. Mitogenome analysis revealed that different lineages of DCB have evolved reduced size independently, as a parallel adaptation to heat stress. The results illustrate mechanistic ways of dwarfing, body size‐dependent tolerance, and differential fitness in a large mammal species under harsh field conditions, providing a background for comparing similar populations during global climate change. These demonstrate the value of studies combining functional, physiological, and evolutionary approaches to delineate adaptive potential and plasticity in domestic species. We thus highlight the value of locally adapted breeds as a reservoir of genetic variation contributing to the global domestic genetic resource pool that will become increasingly important for livestock production systems under a warming climate.