bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proportion of cancers attributable to major lifestyle and environmental risk factors in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Authors: Kulhánová Ivana , Znaor Ariana , Shield Kevin D , Arnold Melina , Vignat Jérôme , Charafeddine Maya , Fadhil Ibtihal , Fouad Heba , Al‐Omari Amal , Al‐Zahrani Ali Saeed , El‐Basmy Amani , Shamseddine Ali , Bray Freddie , Soerjomataram Isabelle
Published: March 2019

Cancer is a major contributing cause of morbidity and mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The aim of the current study was to estimate the cancer burden attributable to major lifestyle and environmental risk factors. We used age‐, sex‐ and site‐specific incidence estimates for 2012 from IARC's GLOBOCAN, and assessed the following risk factors: smoking, alcohol, high body mass index, insufficient physical activity, diet, suboptimal breastfeeding, infections and air pollution. The prevalence of exposure to these risk factors came from different sources including peer‐reviewed international literature, the World Health Organization, noncommunicable disease Risk Factor Collaboration, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Sex‐specific population‐attributable fraction was estimated in the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region based on the prevalence of the selected risk factors and the relative risks obtained from meta‐analyses. We estimated that approximately 33% (or 165,000 cases) of all new cancer cases in adults aged 30 years and older in 2012 were attributable to all selected risk factors combined. Infections and smoking accounted for more than half of the total attributable cases among men, while insufficient physical activity and exposure to infections accounted for more than two‐thirds of the total attributable cases among women. A reduction in exposure to major lifestyle and environmental risk factors could prevent a substantial number of cancer cases in the Eastern Mediterranean. Population‐based programs preventing infections and smoking (particularly among men) and promoting physical activity (particularly among women) in the population are needed to effectively decrease the regional cancer burden.
The Estimation of M&A Synergies: A New Approach
Authors: Pereiro Luis E.
Published: March 2019

Merger and acquisition synergies are not a black box: they can be deconstructed, triangulated, and simulated to assess the odds that an acquirer is about to overpay for a target. We discuss three classic techniques of synergy estimation and introduce a novel one: incremental economic value added—the only method that can accurately gauge by how much a specific bidder can improve the performance of a prospective target. We illustrate how to combine the four techniques via simulation by examining AmerisourceBergen's bid in 2014 to acquire Profarma, a Brazilian drug wholesaler. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genotypic and environmental effects on the agronomic, health‐related compounds and antioxidant properties of chilli peppers for diverse market destinations
Authors: Tripodi Pasquale , Ficcadenti Nadia , Rotino Giuseppe Leonardo , Festa Giovanna , Bertone Aldo , Pepe Andrea , Caramanico Rosita , Migliori Carmela Anna , Spadafora Danilo , Schiavi Massimo , Cardi Teodoro , Lo Scalzo Roberto
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

The consumers' perception of the importance of healthy food has promoted the interest towards fruit, vegetables and spices rich in antioxidants. Moreover, changing in eating habits has encouraged the diffusion of ready‐to‐eat commodities with specific merceological standards. In the present study, 12 hot pepper varieties devoted to powder production, canned processing, blister packaging have been evaluated for morpho‐agronomic traits and bioactive compounds in replicated trials in three locations and two growing seasons.

RESULTS

For all traits, the genotypic component (G) and the genotype × location interaction (G×L) were significant (P < 0.05). Morphological fruit traits evidenced a strong effect of the genotype (> 95%) while yield and biochemical traits showed a variable response to environmental effects. Capsaicin and the yellow fraction of carotenoids were the only nutraceutical compounds showing a relatively high G effect, contrariwise, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and tocopherols were more influenced by location (L) and year of cultivation (Y). Results showed how breeding for quality traits in chilli is still challenging. Multivariate analysis allowed to identify pairs of traits distinguishing the different market typologies: powder types exhibited a lower productivity and higher pungency while those for blister packaging had a remarkable antioxidant capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive approach was used to study the plasticity of agronomic and nutritional traits in chilli pepper. The set of cultivars analysed produced fruits with considerable levels of several health‐related metabolites, including capsaicin, carotenoids and antioxidant phytochemicals. This information is useful for precision breeding of novel varieties. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Completion lymphadenectomy for a positive sentinel node biopsy in melanoma patients is not associated with a survival benefit
Authors: Klemen Nicholas D. , Han Gang , Leong Stanley P. , Kashani‐Sabet Mohammed , Vetto John , White Richard , Schneebaum Schlomo , Pockaj Barbara , Mozzillo Nicola , Charney Kim , Hoekstra Harald , Sondak Vernon K. , Messina Jane L. , Zager Jonathan S. , Han Dale
Published: March 2019

Background

Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) disease in melanoma patients is debated. We evaluated the impact of CLND on survival and assessed for predictors of nonsentinel node metastasis (positive CLND).

Methods

Positive SLN melanoma patients were retrospectively identified in the Sentinel Lymph Node Working Group database. Clinicopathological factors were correlated with CLND status, overall survival (OS), and melanoma‐specific survival (MSS).

Results

There were 953 positive SLN patients of whom 831 (87%) had CLND. Positive CLND was seen in 141 (17%) cases and was associated with worse OS and MSS (both P < 0.001). CLND was not performed (No‐CLND) in 122 of 953 positive SLN cases (13%), of whom 100 had follow‐up and 18 (18%) developed a nodal recurrence (NR). No significant differences in OS and MSS were seen comparing CLND with No‐CLND (P = 0.084, P = 0.161, respectively) and comparing positive CLND with No‐CLND NR patients (P = 0.565, P = 0.998, respectively). Gender, primary site, ulceration, and number of positive SLNs were correlated with nonsentinel node metastasis.

Conclusions

Performance of CLND provides prognostic information but is not associated with a survival benefit. Clinical variables can predict a positive CLND in patients who may be at high risk of recurrence.
Vascular Remodeling of Visceral Arteries Following Interruption of the Splenic Artery During Liver Transplantation
Authors: Patrono Damiano , Franchi Eloisa , Guarasci Fabio , Bartoli Germana , Nada Elisabetta , Rigo Federica , Ottobrelli Antonio , Fonio Paolo , Salizzoni Mauro , Romagnoli Renato
Published: March 2019

Splenic artery (SA) ligation can be performed during liver transplantation (LT) to avoid portal hyperperfusion, which is involved in the pathogenesis of both small‐for‐size and SA syndrome. The SA can also be used as an inflow for arterial reconstruction. Exceptionally, SA interruption or agenesis has been associated with positive remodeling of collateral arteries supplying the spleen via the left gastric artery (LGA), short gastric vessels, and the gastroepiploic arcade (GEA), with subsequent severe upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. To determine incidence, magnitude, predictors, and clinical implications of vascular remodeling after SA interruption during LT, we identified 465 patients transplanted in the period 2007‐2017 who had the SA ligated or interrupted at LT. Among them, 88 had a computed tomography angiography suitable for evaluation of vascular remodeling after LT. The presence of prominent gastric arterial collaterals and the increase in LGA and GEA diameter were evaluated on 2‐dimensional axial images and multiplanar reconstructions. Of the 88 patients, 28 (31.8%), 32 (36.4%), and 22 (25.0%) developed gastric collateralization graded as mild, moderate, or severe. Of the patients for whom comparison with pre‐LT imaging was possible (n = 54), 51 (94.4%) presented a median 37% and 55% increase in LGA and GEA diameter, respectively. Severe gastric collateralization was associated with lower body mass index (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71‐0.98; P = 0.03), whereas a GEA caliper measurement increase was positively correlated with Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score (r
2 = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.65‐4.15; P = 0.008). Out of 465 patients, 2 (0.43%) had severe episodes of arterial upper GI bleeding, possibly exacerbated by vascular remodeling. In conclusion, vascular remodeling after SA interruption during LT is frequent and can aggravate GI bleeding during follow‐up.
Underestimation of Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis in the National Transplant Database
Authors: Lee Brian P. , Im Gene Y. , Rice John P. , Weinberg Ethan , Hsu Christine , Fix Oren K. , Therapondos George , Han Hyosun , Victor David W. , Eswaran Sheila , Maddur Haripriya , Terrault Norah A.
Published: March 2019

Alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) can be coded in United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) as either alcoholic cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis (AH), without having specific criteria to assign either diagnosis. In this multicenter American Consortium of Early Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis (ACCELERATE‐AH) study, we sought to assess the concordance of the clinician diagnosis of AH at liver transplantation (LT) listing versus UNOS data entry of AH as listing diagnosis. In a prior study, consecutive early LT recipients transplanted for AH between 2012 and 2017 were identified by chart review at 10 ACCELERATE‐AH sites. In this current study, these same LT recipients were identified in the UNOS database. The primary UNOS diagnostic code was evaluated for concordance with the chart‐review assignment of AH. In cases where the primary listing diagnosis in UNOS was not AH, we determined the reason for alternate classification. Among 124 ACCELERATE‐AH LT recipients with a chart‐review diagnosis of AH, only 43/124 (35%) had AH as listing diagnosis in UNOS; 80 (64%) were listed as alcoholic cirrhosis, and 1 (1%) as fulminant hepatic necrosis. Of the 81 patients missing AH as a UNOS listing diagnosis code, the reasons for alternate classification were 44 (54%) due to a lack of awareness of a separate diagnosis code for AH; 13 (16%) due to concomitant clinical diagnosis of AH and alcoholic cirrhosis in the chart; 12 (15%) due to clinical uncertainty regarding the diagnosis of AH versus acute decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis; and 12 (15%) due to a data entry error. In conclusion, in a large cohort of LT recipients with AH, only 35% were documented as such in UNOS. Increased education and awareness for those performing UNOS data entry, the establishment of specific criteria to define AH in the UNOS database, and the ability to document dates of alcohol use would allow future research on ALD to be more informative.
The Range and Reproducibility of the Liver Frailty Index
Authors: Wang Connie W. , Lebsack Adrienne , Chau Stephanie , Lai Jennifer C.
Published: March 2019

The Liver Frailty Index (LFI), composed of 3 performance‐based tests (grip strength, chair stands, and balance), is a tool specifically developed in patients with cirrhosis to objectively measure physical function, a critical determinant of health outcomes. We aimed to (1) determine the range of LFI scores in adults with chronic liver disease but without cirrhosis, (2) determine the range of LFI scores in adults without known liver disease, and (3) evaluate reproducibility of the LFI in adults with cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) assessed interrater reliability of the LFI. Included were 91 adults with chronic liver disease, 109 adults without known liver disease, and 166 adults with cirrhosis with median Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease–sodium of 16. Median (interquartile range) LFI was 3.6 (3.1‐4.1) in adults with cirrhosis, 3.1 (2.5‐3.7) in adults with chronic liver disease but not cirrhosis, and 2.7 (2.2‐3.2) in adults without liver disease (P < 0.001). Using established LFI cutoffs for robust, prefrail, and frail categories, adults with cirrhosis or chronic liver disease were less likely to be robust (29% versus 53% versus 77%) and more likely to be prefrail (57% versus 42% versus 22%) or frail (14% versus 5% versus 1%) when compared with adults without liver disease (P < 0.001). The LFI had excellent reliability with ICC of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.91‐0.95). In conclusion, the LFI has external validity in noncirrhotic populations and is highly reproducible among different raters. This objective assessment tool can be implemented in outpatient clinical practice or research to operationalize the concept of physical frailty.
HIRING DECISIONS THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE GRANDEST STRATEGIES
Authors: Schulze Horst
Published: March 2019

According to Schulze, cofounder of the award‐winning hotel company Ritz‐Carlton, hiring mistakes are common and costly, no matter what field you are in. He writes here about three insights; which in his own words are: haste can be a great saboteur;make careful, information‐based selections;and assess what managers can do to cultivate success. He also posits an additional insight: “Don'thireatall. Instead, select—and then inspire.” Schulze discusses his own career in the hotel world, which began as a teenager, when he encountered “a wise maître d' who treated me and the rest of his young staff as human beings, not just function fillers.” Schulze says he “will never forget him also taking time to inspire us with the mystique of the hospitality industry.”
The synthetic retinoid ST1926 attenuates prostate cancer growth and potentially targets prostate cancer stem‐like cells
Authors: Bahmad Hisham F. , Samman Houda , Monzer Alissar , Hadadeh Ola , Cheaito Katia , Abdel‐Samad Rana , Hayar Berthe , Pisano Claudio , Msheik Hiba , Liu Yen‐Nien , Darwiche Nadine , Abou‐Kheir Wassim
Published: March 2019

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that regulate crucial biological processes such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. The use of natural retinoids in cancer therapy is limited due to their toxicity and the acquired resistance by cancer cells. Therefore, synthetic retinoids were developed, such as the atypical adamantyl retinoid ST1926 that provides enhanced bioavailability and reduced toxicity. We have assessed the in vitro and in vivo antitumor properties and mechanism of action of ST1926 in targeting cancer stem‐like cells population of human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, DU145 and PC3, and mouse PCa cell lines, PLum‐AD and PLum‐AI. We demonstrated that ST1926 substantially reduced proliferation of PCa cells and induced cell cycle arrest, p53‐independent apoptosis, and early DNA damage. It also decreased migration and invasion of PCa cells and significantly reduced prostate spheres formation ability in vitro denoting sufficient eradication of the self‐renewal ability of the highly androgen‐resistant cancer stem cells. Importantly, ST1926 potently inhibited PCa tumor growth and progression in vivo. Our results highlight the potential of ST1926 in PCa therapy and warrant its clinical development.
Research on infrared image segmentation and fusion of substation based on modified unit‐linking‐pulse coupled neural networks and affine speeded up robust feature
Authors: Peng Daogang , Wang Lanqing , Chen Yuewei , Xia Fei , Qian Yuliang
Published: March 2019

Aiming at the problem of fault point temperature reading and positioning, target device segmentation, and fault point matching fusion in infrared warning system of substation inspection robot, MUL‐PCNN and ASURF are applied to realizing accurate fusion between the fault area in infrared image and visual image. The experimental results show that this method has certain value in the aspect of infrared image segmentation and fusion of substation.
Morpholino‐induced exon skipping stimulates cell‐mediated and humoral responses to dystrophin in mdx mice
Authors: Vila Maria C , Novak James S , Benny Klimek Margaret , Li Ning , Morales Melissa , Fritz Alexander G , Edwards Katie , Boehler Jessica F , Hogarth Marshall W , Kinder Travis B , Zhang Aiping , Mazala Davi , Fiorillo Alyson A , Douglas Bonnie , Chen Yi‐Wen , van den Anker John , Lu Qi L , Hathout Yetrib , Hoffman Eric P , Partridge Terence A , Nagaraju Kanneboyina
Published: March 2019

Exon skipping is a promising genetic therapeutic strategy for restoring dystrophin expression in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The potential for newly synthesized dystrophin to trigger an immune response in DMD patients, however, is not well established. We have evaluated the effect of chronic phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) treatment on skeletal muscle pathology and asked whether sustained dystrophin expression elicits a dystrophin‐specific autoimmune response. Here, two independent cohorts of dystrophic mdx mice were treated chronically with either 800 mg/kg/month PMO for 6 months (n = 8) or 100 mg/kg/week PMO for 12 weeks (n = 11). We found that significant muscle inflammation persisted after exon skipping in skeletal muscle. Evaluation of humoral responses showed serum‐circulating antibodies directed against de novo dystrophin in a subset of mice, as assessed both by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining; however, no dystrophin‐specific antibodies were observed in the control saline‐treated mdx cohorts (n = 8) or in aged (12‐month‐old) mdx mice with expanded ‘revertant’ dystrophin‐expressing fibers. Reactive antibodies recognized both full‐length and truncated exon‐skipped dystrophin isoforms in mouse skeletal muscle. We found more antigen‐specific T‐cell cytokine responses (e.g. IFN‐g, IL‐2) in dystrophin antibody‐positive mice than in dystrophin antibody‐negative mice. We also found expression of major histocompatibility complex class I on some of the dystrophin‐expressing fibers along with CD8+ and perforin‐positive T cells in the vicinity, suggesting an activation of cell‐mediated damage had occurred in the muscle. Evaluation of complement membrane attack complex (MAC) deposition on the muscle fibers further revealed lower MAC deposition on muscle fibers of dystrophin antibody‐negative mice than on those of dystrophin antibody‐positive mice. Our results indicate that de novo dystrophin expression after exon skipping can trigger both cell‐mediated and humoral immune responses in mdx mice. Our data highlights the need to further investigate the autoimmune response and its long‐term consequences after exon‐skipping therapy. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TET1 reprograms the epithelial ovarian cancer epigenome and reveals casein kinase 2α as a therapeutic target
Authors: Chen Lin‐Yu , Huang Rui‐Lan , Chan Michael WY , Yan Pearlly S , Huang Tien‐Shuo , Wu Ren‐Chin , Suryo Rahmanto Yohan , Su Po‐Hsuan , Weng Yu‐Chun , Chou Jian‐Liang , Chao Tai‐Kuang , Wang Yu‐Chi , Shih Ie‐Ming , Lai Hung‐Cheng
Published: March 2019

Ten‐eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase‐1, TET1, takes part in active DNA demethylation. However, our understanding of DNA demethylation in cancer biology and its clinical significance remain limited. This study showed that TET1 expression correlated with poor survival in advanced‐stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and with cell migration, anchorage‐independent growth, cancer stemness, and tumorigenicity. In particular, TET1 was highly expressed in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), a currently accepted type II EOC precursor, and inversely correlated with TP53 mutations. Moreover, TET1 could demethylate the epigenome and activate multiple oncogenic pathways, including an immunomodulation network having casein kinase II subunit alpha (CK2α) as a hub. Patients with TET1highCK2αhigh EOCs had the worst outcomes, and TET1‐expressing EOCs were more sensitive to a CK2 inhibitor, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings uncover the oncogenic and poor prognostic roles of TET1 in EOC and suggest an unexplored role of epigenetic reprogramming in early ovarian carcinogenesis. Moreover, the immunomodulator CK2α represents a promising new therapeutic target, warranting clinical trials of the tolerable CK2 inhibitor, CX4945, for precision medicine against EOC. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mis‐splicing in breast cancer: identification of pathogenic BRCA2 variants by systematic minigene assays
Authors: Fraile‐Bethencourt Eugenia , Valenzuela‐Palomo Alberto , Díez‐Gómez Beatriz , Goina Elisa , Acedo Alberto , Buratti Emanuele , Velasco Eladio A
Published: March 2019

Splicing disruption is a common mechanism of gene inactivation associated with germline variants of susceptibility genes. To study the role of BRCA2 mis‐splicing in hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC), we performed a comprehensive analysis of variants from BRCA2 exons 2–9, as well as the initial characterization of the regulatory mechanisms of such exons. A pSAD‐based minigene with exons 2–9 was constructed and validated in MCF‐7 cells, producing the expected transcript (1016‐nt/V1‐BRCA2_exons_2–9‐V2). DNA variants from mutational databases were analyzed by NNSplice and Human Splicing Finder softwares. To refine ESE‐variant prediction, we mapped the regulatory regions through a functional strategy whereby 26 exonic microdeletions were introduced into the minigene and tested in MCF‐7 cells. Thus, we identified nine spliceogenic ESE‐rich intervals where ESE‐variants may be located. Combining bioinformatics and microdeletion assays, 83 variants were selected and genetically engineered in the minigene. Fifty‐three changes impaired splicing: 28 variants disrupted the canonical sites, four created new ones, 10 abrogated enhancers, eight created silencers and three caused a double‐effect. Notably, nine spliceogenic‐ESE variants were located within ESE‐containing intervals. Capillary electrophoresis and sequencing revealed more than 23 aberrant transcripts, where exon skipping was the most common event. Interestingly, variant c.67G>A triggered the usage of a noncanonical GC‐donor 4‐nt upstream. Thirty‐six variants that induced severe anomalies (>60% aberrant transcripts) were analyzed according to the ACMG guidelines. Thus, 28 variants were classified as pathogenic, five as likely pathogenic and three as variants of uncertain significance. Interestingly, 13 VUS were reclassified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. In conclusion, a large fraction of BRCA2 variants (∼64%) provoked splicing anomalies lending further support to the high prevalence of this disease‐mechanism. The low accuracy of ESE‐prediction algorithms may be circumvented by functional ESE‐mapping that represents an optimal strategy to identify spliceogenic ESE‐variants. Finally, systematic functional assays by minigenes depict a valuable tool for the initial characterization of splicing anomalies and the clinical interpretation of variants. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of a web‐based reproductive health training program: ENRICH (Educating Nurses about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare)
Authors: Quinn Gwendolyn P. , Bowman Curci Meghan , Reich Richard R. , Gwede Clement K. , Meade Cathy D. ,   The ENRICH/ECHO Working Group, Vadaparampil Susan T.
Published: March 2019

Objective

Educating Nurses about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare (ENRICH) is a web‐based training program to assist oncology nurses with timely communication and relevant information regarding reproductive health issues (eg, risk of infertility, fertility preservation, and sexual health) to adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients and survivors. This manuscript describes impact on knowledge, perceived communication skills, and practice behaviors.

Methods

The eight‐module course incorporated didactic content and an interactive applied learning component on the following reproductive health topics: overview, men, women, family building options, pediatrics, sexual health, communication, and practical applications. A 14‐question pretest and posttest was administered to assess changes in knowledge. Additionally, participants received a follow‐up survey addressing communication skills and practice behaviors.

Results

Over a 3‐year period, 233 nurses completed the training. The mean pretest to posttest total score increased significantly (P < .001). Nurses rated their communication skills regarding risk of infertility with males as 7.5 and females as 7.4, based on a 10‐point scale. Half of participants noted that they often or always discuss risk of infertility and fertility preservation options. Two‐thirds indicated they refer patients to reproductive specialists, and majority (72%) indicated they document those referrals.

Conclusions

ENRICH is a successful intervention for oncology nurses caring for AYA patients and survivors by increasing knowledge, communication skills, and frequency of discussion of reproductive health.
Does inclusion of residue‐residue contact information boost protein threading?
Authors: Bhattacharya Sutanu , Bhattacharya Debswapna
Published: March 2019

Template‐based modeling is considered as one of the most successful approaches for protein structure prediction. However, reliably and accurately selecting optimal template proteins from a library of known protein structures having similar folds as the target protein and making correct alignments between the target sequence and the template structures, a template‐based modeling technique known as threading, remains challenging, particularly for non‐ or distantly‐homologous protein targets. With the recent advancement in protein residue‐residue contact map prediction powered by sequence co‐evolution and machine learning, here we systematically analyze the effect of inclusion of residue‐residue contact information in improving the accuracy and reliability of protein threading. We develop a new threading algorithm by incorporating various sequential and structural features, and subsequently integrate residue‐residue contact information as an additional scoring term for threading template selection. We show that the inclusion of contact information attains statistically significantly better threading performance compared to a baseline threading algorithm that does not utilize contact information when everything else remains the same. Experimental results demonstrate that our contact based threading approach outperforms popular threading method MUSTER, contact‐assisted ab initio folding method CONFOLD2, and recent state‐of‐the‐art contact‐assisted protein threading methods EigenTHREADER and map_align on several benchmarks. Our study illustrates that the inclusion of contact maps is a promising avenue in protein threading to ultimately help to improve the accuracy of protein structure prediction.
Challenges in the NEGF Simulation of Quantum‐Well Photovoltaics Posed by Non‐Locality and Localization
Authors: Aeberhard Urs
Published: March 2019

In this paper, the implications of non‐locality and localization for the implementation and performance of quantum‐opto‐electronic device simulators based on the non‐equilibrium Green's function formalism are considered. It is shown that in the case of electron–photon interaction enabling interband transitions, restriction of the non‐locality range (the spatial distance over which the coupling acts) not only leads to an underestimation of the coupling strength as for intraband electron‐phonon scattering, but also to an inaccurate spectral shape of the response functions and to the violation of selection rules applying to the scattering rates. On the other hand, localization of electronic states (the restriction of finite probability density to a small spatial region) induced by discontinuities and fluctuations in the band profile has a detrimental impact on the speed of convergence of the self‐consistent evaluation of Green's functions and scattering self‐energies, as illustrated by the example of photocarrier extraction from different quantum well configurations.
Electrical Characterization of InN Nanowire/Si Heterojunctions
Authors: Weiszer Saskia , Jörg Peter , Kolhep Maximilian , Stutzmann Martin
Published: March 2019

This report deals with the electrical properties of a heterojunction between self‐assembled InN nanowires (NWs) grown by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy and Si (111) with different doping types and concentrations. Multiple NWs are contacted in a vertical sandwich structure and current–voltage (IU) measurements show a rectifying behavior which strongly depends on the doping level of the Si substrate. Comparable results are obtained for single NWs contacted with a conductive atomic force microscope tip. The transport processes can be described by thermionic emission theory of a Schottky diode. However, field emission and recombination can not be neglected, especially for high doping concentrations of the Si substrate. The temperature dependence of the barrier height and the ideality factor have been determined by measuring IU‐curves from 200 K up to 300 K. Furthermore, electrical changes based on aging and on different environmental conditions, like contact with water, are discussed. The underlying band diagram of the InN/Si heterojunction has been simulated with the software package Nextnano++ and is in agreement with the experimental data. The simulations consider both polarities of the InN NWs and both doping types of the Si substrates.
The process of nurse adaptation to robotic surgery: A qualitative study
Authors: Uslu Yasemin , Altınbaş Yasemin , Özercan Tuğba , van Giersbergen Meryem Yavuz
Published: March 2019

Background

This study aimed to reveal the experiences of nurses in robotic surgery and their adaptation to this method.

Methods

This research was planned within the framework of qualitative research methods. The study population consisted of robotic surgery nurses in Turkey. Focus group interviews were conducted after the flow process was developed, and the interviews were supported using a semistructured interview form. Two focus interviews were conducted with 15 participants.

Results

As a result of the content analysis, 11 themes were created in four categories. The categories of the study were designed as follows: (1) Training in Robotic Surgery Nursing, (2) Adaptation to Technology in Robotic Surgery Nursing, (3) Changing Roles and Adaptation Process in Robotic Surgery Nursing, and (4) Future of Robotic Surgery.

Conclusions

The lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of robotic surgery nurses and the lack of arrangements for working conditions are thought to cause professional dissatisfaction and disengagement from work.
Capping Ligand Influence on the Structural, Optical and Luminescence Properties of CdTe Nanoparticles Prepared by a Simple Wet Chemical Process
Authors: Kiprotich Sharon , Dejene Francis B. , Onani Martin O.
Published: March 2019

The nature of the capping ligands used and the strength of their interactions with the surface atoms of the nanoparticles (NPs) impact greatly on the material properties and the stability of the resulting NPs. The structural analysis revealed that all the as‐prepared CdTe NPs samples had a zinc blende crystal structure of different phases. The glutathione and L‐cysteine capped CdTe NPs had the same zinc blende phase (JCPDS no. 75–2086) while thioglycolic acid capped and co‐capped CdTe NPs possessed another zinc blende phase (JCPDS no. 75–2083). The calculated crystallite sizes were in the range 2–26 nm for all the samples. The optical spectroscopy studies showed various properties when different capping ligands were used. The band gap energies for all the as‐prepared CdTe NPs confirmed the results obtained from the X‐ray diffraction. The band gap energies were in the range of 2.39–3.34 eV for all the as‐prepared CdTe NPs.
Stability of Immobilization of Bipyridine‐proline on Zn‐Modified Bimodal Mesoporous Silicas and Recyclable Catalytic Performance in Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
Authors: Zhang Yajing , Sun Jihong , Bai Shiyang , Zhao Hongwu , Wu Xia , Panezai Hamida
Published: March 2019

The organic‐inorganic mesoporous materials (ZZnBMMs) were successfully synthesized by Zn‐grafting into the surface of bimodal mesoporous silicas (BMMs) via covalent bond, and then immobilization of (2 S,2’S)‐N,N’‐([2,2’‐bipyridine]‐3,3’‐diyl)bis(pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxamide) (Z) onto the Zn‐modified BMMs through coordination method. The influences of washed parameters such as various solvents (petroleum ether, CH2Cl2, CH3OH, or DMSO) and pretreated temperature on the structural stability of obtained ZZnBMMs were investigated thoroughly, which were extensively characterized by means of XRD patterns, UV‐vis and FT‐IR spectra, N2 sorption isotherms, SEM images, and SAXS patterns. The results showed that petroleum ether could be acted as optimum solvent for washing ZZnBMMs when pre‐treated temperature was around 20 °C. The SAXS patterns evidently demonstrated that ZZnBMMs before and after washing presented the fractal features, suggesting their surface roughness and structural irregularities, in which, the mass fractal (Dm) values were gradually decreased along with not only the increased polarity of used solvents (petroleum ether, CH2Cl2, CH3OH, and DMSO), but also enhanced washing temperature of from 20–60 °C and prolonged time of from 4–168 hrs. Furthermore, the ZZnBMMs as a heterogeneous catalyst for asymmetric aldol reaction exhibited the recycled (at least 6 times) catalytic performances with high efficiency (around 92.1% yield) and good selectivity (up to 68% ee).
Cascade Reactions Utilizing the Nucleophilic Properties of 1,1‐Enediamines for the Regioselective Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐2‐aminopyridines
Authors: Kong Ling‐Bin , Yan Sheng‐Jiao , Yao Yuan , Xiao Qiang , Lin Jun
Published: March 2019

The novel 4‐aryl‐2‐aminopyridine compounds 3 have been synthesised via the regioselective cascade reaction of 1,1‐enediamines (EDAMs) 1 with (E)‐ethyl 2‐oxo‐4‐phenylbut‐3‐enoates 2 in EtOH promoted by piperidine. The reactions have the advantages of using an environmen tally friendly solvent and inexpensive starting compounds to produce good to moderate yield. This method provides a concise procedure for the highly regioselective synthesis of 4‐aryl‐2‐aminopyridine compounds.
Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho‐Alkenylation of Anilides with Maleimides
Authors: Tamizmani Masilamani , Gouranga Naskar , Jeganmohan Masilamani
Published: March 2019

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed ortho‐alkenylation of substituted anilides with maleimides providing 3‐arylated maleimides in good to excellent yields is described. In the reaction, a minor amount of Michael‐type addition product, 3‐arylated succinimides, was also observed. Later, 3‐arylated succinimides was converted into 3‐arylated maleimides in the presence of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate and K2CO3. Generally, a Michael‐type 3‐arylated succinimides was observed in the reaction of maleimides with substituted aromatics via C‐H bond activation. In the present reaction, unusually, a Heck‐type alkenylated product was observed in the major amount. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed and supported by the deuterium labelling studies and computational experiments. The mechanistic investigation and DFT calculations revealed that the time interval for the regeneration of Rh(I) to Rh(III) could be the factor for the observation of a minor ortho alkylated aromatics which was formed via a redox neutral Rh(III) version.
The influence of mindfulness and social support on stress reactivity during pregnancy
Authors: Sanchez Hernandez Hugo , Urizar Guido G. , Yim Ilona S.
Published: March 2019

Exaggerated stress reactivity can lead to negative health outcomes, which can be especially harmful during important periods of development such as pregnancy. Therefore, studies are needed to examine potential protective factors associated with lower perceived stress reactivity and lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) during pregnancy. The current cross‐sectional study examined whether low‐income women (n = 152) with higher mindfulness (attentiveness and awareness of the present moment) and more perceived social support had lower levels of perceived stress reactivity and a lower CAR during pregnancy. Women completed self‐report measures of mindfulness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), social support (Medical Outcomes Study‐Social Support Scale), and perceived stress reactivity (Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale) during their first trimester of pregnancy and collected saliva using the passive drool procedure at home (at awakening and at 30 min after awakening). Results showed that women with greater mindfulness and greater perceived social support had significantly lower perceived stress reactivity, but not a lower CAR. These results provide preliminary support for mindfulness and social support as potential protective factors of perceived stress reactivity and have implications for experimental studies aimed at improving pregnant women's mindfulness and social support for reducing their stress reactivity and potentially improving health outcomes.
Insights into the Crystallinity of Layer‐Structured Transition Metal Dichalcogenides on Potassium Ion Battery Performance: A Case Study of Molybdenum Disulfide
Authors: Dong Yulian , Xu Yang , Li Wei , Fu Qun , Wu Minghong , Manske Eberhard , Kröger Jörg , Lei Yong
Published: March 2019

Layer‐structured transition metal dichalcogenides (LS‐TMDs) are being heavily studied in K‐ion batteries (KIBs) owing to their structural uniqueness and interesting electrochemical mechanisms. Synthetic methods are designed primarily focusing on high capacities. The achieved performance is often the collective results of several contributing factors. It is important to decouple the factors and understand their functions individually. This work presents a study focusing on an individual factor, crystallinity, by taking MoS2 as a demonstrator. The performance of low and high‐crystallized MoS2 is compared to show the function of crystallinity is dependent on the electrochemical mechanism. Lower crystallinity can alleviate diffusional limitation in 0.5–3.0 V, where intercalation reaction takes charge in storing K‐ions. Higher crystallinity can ensure the structural stability of the MoS2 layers and promote surface charge storage in 0.01–3.0 V, where conversion reaction mainly contributes. The low‐crystallized MoS2 exhibits an intercalation capacity (118 mAh g−1), good cyclability (85% over 100 cycles), and great rate capability (41 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), and the high‐crystallized MoS2 delivers a high capacity of 330 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retains 161 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1, being one of the best among the reported LS‐TMDs in KIBs.
Developing civic competence through action civics: A longitudinal look at the data
Authors: LeCompte Karon , Blevins Brooke , Riggers-Piehl Tiffani
Published: March 2019

This paper describes student outcomes from participating in a week-long out-of-school action civics program designed to increase students’ civic and political competence and engagement. Using analysis from four years of survey data, this paper presents findings related to changes in students’ civic competence as a result of participating in the program, including findings related to both first time and repeat campers. Data revealed that participants experienced gains in half of the civic competence construct variables, with first-time campers experiencing significant gains in five of the civic competence construct variables. Data analysis suggests that iEngage, an action civics summer experience, was effective in increasing elements of students’ civic competence, including their ability to get people to care about a problem, organize and run a meeting, write an opinion letter or contact a media outlet to express their views, and contact an elected official or community leader to address an issue.
Modeling traveler experience for designing urban mobility systems
Authors: Al Maghraoui Ouail , Vallet Flore , Puchinger Jakob , Yannou Bernard
Published: March 2019

Travelers interact with a large number and variety of products and services during their journeys. The quality of a travel experience depends on a whole urban mobility system considered in space and time. This paper outlines the relevant concepts to be considered in designing urban mobility. The goal is to provide a language and insights for the early stages of a design process. A literature review sheds light on the complexity of urban mobility from technical, sociotechnical, and user experience perspectives. Observations of experiences in urban areas provide data for describing and understanding travel experience patterns and issues. The paper proposes a conceptual model to describe and analyze different facets of traveler experience and categorizes problems that travelers face when they interact with an urban mobility system. A case study is reported illustrating the use of the conceptual model in identifying travel problems for a demand-responsive transport service.
Living Islam in Colonial Bujumbura – The Historical Translocality of Muslim Life between East and Central Africa
Authors: Castryck Geert
Published: March 2019

This article applies a translocal approach in order to make sense of the internal dynamics in the Muslim community of colonial Bujumbura. The establishment of the community and its religious evolutions – from a practical living of Islam to Qadiriyya Sufism to Islamic Reform – are interpreted in regard to, on the one hand, religious tendencies in East African Islam and, on the other hand, processes of integration, marginalization, and exclusion in an urban, colonial and Burundian context. An answer to the social needs and challenges on the local level was found in religious intensification and a widening of the geographical scope, drawing on age-old connections across East and Central Africa.
Active and passive in-plane wall fluctuations in turbulent channel flows
Authors: Józsa T. I. , Balaras E. , Kashtalyan M. , Borthwick A. G. L. , Viola I. M.
Published: March 2019

Compliant walls offer the tantalising possibility of passive flow control. This paper examines the mechanics of compliant surfaces driven by wall shear stresses, with solely in-plane velocity response. We present direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows at low ($Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}\approx 180$) and intermediate ($Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}\approx 1000$) Reynolds numbers. In-plane spanwise and streamwise active controls proposed by Choiet al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 262, 1994, pp. 75–110) are revisited in order to characterise beneficial wall fluctuations. An analytical framework is then used to map the parameter space of the proposed compliant surfaces. The direct numerical simulations show that large-scale passive streamwise wall fluctuations can reduce friction drag by at least$3.7\pm 1\,\%$, whereas even small-scale passive spanwise wall motions lead to considerable drag penalty. It is found that a well-designed compliant wall can theoretically exploit the drag-reduction mechanism of an active control; this may help advance the development of practical active and passive control strategies for turbulent friction drag reduction.
GAUSSIAN CURVATURE AND UNICITY PROBLEM OF GAUSS MAPS OF VARIOUS CLASSES OF SURFACES
Authors: HA PHAM HOANG
Published: March 2019

In this article, we establish a new estimate for the Gaussian curvature of open Riemann surfaces in Euclidean three-space with a specified conformal metric regarding the uniqueness of the holomorphic maps of these surfaces. As its applications, we give new proofs on the unicity problems for the Gauss maps of various classes of surfaces, in particular, minimal surfaces in Euclidean three-space, constant mean curvature one surfaces in the hyperbolic three-space, maximal surfaces in the Lorentz–Minkowski three-space, improper affine spheres in the affine three-space and flat surfaces in the hyperbolic three-space.
A Palaeoarchean–Mesoarchean micro-continent entrained in the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt at the southeastern North China Craton: evidence from the zircon record in the Bengbu area
Authors: Liu Chaohui , Zhao Guochun , Liu Fulai , Cai Jia
Published: March 2019

The Bengbu area in the southeastern North China Craton (NCC) consists predominantly of Archean–Palaeoproterozoic (gneissic) granitoids with minor supracrustal rocks (the Fengyang and Wuhe groups). This study presents new zircon laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data and trace-element contents for these granitoids, which improve understanding the Archean–Palaeoproterozoic crustal evolution of the NCC. Magmatic zircon U–Pb data reveal that zircons in the (gneissic) granitoids were generated by multi-stage events at 2.93, 2.73, 2.53–2.52 and 2.18–2.13 Ga. Metamorphic zircon U–Pb data obtained from these rocks show two distinct metamorphic ages of 2.49–2.52 and 1.84 Ga, suggesting that the Bengbu area experienced a regional metamorphic event at the end of the Neoarchean Era and encountered reworking by a tectonothermal event associated with the formation of the Palaeoproterozoic Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt. Trace-element compositions of magmatic zircons reveal the highest Ti concentrations (8.08±3.38 ppm) and growth temperatures (718±44 °C) for the zircons aged 2.13–2.17 Ga and an increase in zircon U/Yb ratios from 2.93 Ga (0.34±0.12) through 2.73 Ga (0.96±0.42) to 2.53 Ga (1.05±0.46), but an evident decrease at 2.17–2.13 Ga (0.61±0.40 ppm). Similar Palaeoarchean xenocrystic and detrital zircons with negativeɛHf(t) values, late Mesoarchean magmatic zircons with juvenile Hf isotopic features, early Neoarchean magmatic zircons with model ages of 2.9–3.0 Ga, and two regional metamorphic events at 2.52–2.48 and 1.88–1.80 Ga in the Bengbu and Jiaobei areas indicate a Palaeoarchean–Mesoarchean micro-continent entrained in the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt at the southeastern NCC.
FRANÇOIS-PAUL DE LISOLA AND ENGLISH OPPOSITION TO LOUIS XIV
Authors: GOLDIE MARK , LEVILLAIN CHARLES-ÉDOUARD
Published: March 2019

Between the Restoration in 1660 and the Revolution in 1688 the English public abandoned its century-long animus against Spain and began to identify France as its chief enemy. Historians often hold that the most significant intervention in shifting the balance of public opinion was the Dutch-inspired pamphlet,England's appeal from the private cabal at Whitehall(1673), written by the Huguenot Pierre du Moulin. It is argued here that an immensely influential earlier intervention was made by François-Paul de Lisola, in hisBuckler of state and justice(1667), which, at a critical juncture, presented a rhetorically powerful body of arguments about the nature of the European state system. A Catholic in the service of the Habsburg emperor, who spent nearly two years in England in 1666–8, Lisola was an accomplished and versatile diplomat and publicist. This article interweaves diplomatic history with the history of geopolitical argument, tracing paths which led to Europe's Grand Alliance against Louis XIV.