bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation and evaluation of Parkinson disease management in an outpatient clinical pharmacist–run neurology telephone clinic
Authors: Stefan Teodora Cristina , Elharar Nicole , Garcia Guadalupe
Published: May 2018

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease that often requires complex pharmacologic treatment regimens. Prior to this clinic, there was no involvement of a clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) in the outpatient neurology clinic at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This was a prospective, quality-improvement project to develop a clinical pharmacist–run neurology telephone clinic and evaluate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions in an effort to improve the quality of care for patients with PD. Additionally, the CPS conducted medication education groups to 24 patients with PD and their caregivers, if applicable, at this medical center with the purpose of promoting patient knowledge and medication awareness. Medication management was performed via telephone rather than face to face. Only patients with a concomitant mental health diagnosis for which they were receiving at least one psychotropic medication were included for individual visits due to the established scope of practice of the CPS being limited to mental health and primary care medications. Data collection included patient and clinic demographics as well as pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions made for patients enrolled from January 6, 2017, through March 31, 2017. A total of 49 pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions were made for 10 patients. We successfully implemented and evaluated a clinical pharmacist–run neurology telephone clinic for patients with PD. Expansion of this clinic to patients with various neurological disorders may improve access to care using an innovative method of medication management expertise by a CPS.
Molecular networks in plant–pathogen holobiont
Authors: Nobori Tatsuya , Mine Akira , Tsuda Kenichi
Published: May 2018

Plant immune receptors enable detection of a multitude of microbes including pathogens. The recognition of microbes activates various plant signaling pathways, such as those mediated by phytohormones. Over the course of coevolution with microbes, plants have expanded their repertoire of immune receptors and signaling components, resulting in highly interconnected plant immune networks. These immune networks enable plants to appropriately respond to different types of microbes and to coordinate immune responses with developmental programs and environmental stress responses. However, the interconnectivity in plant immune networks is exploited by microbial pathogens to promote pathogen fitness in plants. Analogous to plant immune networks, virulence‐related pathways in bacterial pathogens are also interconnected. Accumulating evidence implies that some plant‐derived compounds target bacterial virulence networks. Thus, the plant immune and bacterial virulence networks intimately interact with each other. Here, we highlight recent insights into the structures of the plant immune and bacterial virulence networks and the interactions between them. We propose that small molecules derived from plants and/or bacterial pathogens connect the two molecular networks, forming supernetworks in the plant–bacterial pathogen holobiont.
Distribution and Prevalence of Myxobolus cerebralis in Postfire Areas of Plumas National Forest: Utility of Environmental DNA Sampling
Authors: Richey Christine A. , Kenelty Kirsten V. , Van Stone Hopkins Kristina , Stevens Brittany N. , Martínez-López Beatriz , Barnum Samantha M. , Hallett Sascha L. , Atkinson Stephen D. , Bartholomew Jerri L. , Soto Esteban
Published: May 2018

Myxobolus cerebralis is a myxozoan parasite and the etiological agent of whirling disease in salmonids. The parasite's life cycle involves waterborne spores and requires both a salmonid fish and the benthic freshwater oligochaete worm Tubifex tubifex (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae). Wildfires can lead to the erosion of fine sediments into stream channels and have been implicated as promoting environmental conditions that are suitable for the survival and success of T. tubifex, whose presence in turn can affect the prevalence of M. cerebralis. Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to be a powerful tool for evaluating the presence of microorganisms, for which direct observation is impossible. We investigated the presence of M. cerebraliseDNA in river water and river sediment samples collected from areas affected by recent fire activity in Plumas National Forest, California. We compared eDNA loads in the environment to M. cerebralis infection in T. tubifex and sentinel-exposed Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and the presence of T. tubifex lineages in the same environment. For the latter, we developed a multiplex quantitative PCR assay for detection of T. tubifex lineages I, III, and V. Lineage IIIT. tubifex and M. cerebralis (eDNA as well as DNA extracted from fish and worm tissues) were detected only in samples obtained from areas affected by the Moonlight wildfire. The association between M. cerebralis infection in sentinel-exposed fish and eDNA detection in environmental samples only approached significance at a P-value of 0.056. However, given the difference in relative effort between the two sampling methods (host versus nonhost environment), our data suggest that eDNA sampling of water and substrate is a promising approach for surveillance of myxozoan fish parasites.
Histopathological Alterations in the Gonad of Megapitaria squalida (Mollusca: Bivalvia) Inhabiting a Heavy Metals Polluted Environment
Authors: Yee-Duarte Josué Alonso , Ceballos-Vázquez Bertha Patricia , Arellano-Martínez Marcial , Camacho-Mondragón Marian Alejandra , Uría-Galicia Esther
Published: May 2018

The gonadal health status of the chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida collected from the Santa Rosalía mining port and San Lucas beach (reference site), Gulf of California, Mexico, was assessed through histological analysis of the reproductive tissue, from which the histopathological alteration index (HAI) was determined. In addition, copper and iron accumulation in tissue was revealed using histochemical techniques. Our results showed a large presence of copper (30%) and iron (45%) only in the gonad tissue of clams from Santa Rosalía, in which histopathological alterations observed were inflammatory responses, degenerative–progressive processes, cell death, and response to infectious agents. The HAI was significantly higher in Santa Rosalía specimens (mean ± SE, 72.18 ± 6.12) than in San Lucas clams (4.60 ± 1.07). At San Lucas beach, a higher prevalence of histopathological alterations occurred in clams in the spent stage (43.2%) and in autumn (18.4%) and winter (17.8%) in concordance with the normal reproductive rest period, whereas at Santa Rosalía a higher prevalence occurred in clams at the ripe stage (76.9%) and in spring (83.7%). In conclusion, our results showed the deteriorated health condition of gonads in M. squalida from the Santa Rosalía mining port, which suggests there is a relationship with chronic exposure to local high levels of heavy metals. The high prevalence and intensity of histopathological alterations in the gonad suggest a strong adverse effect on gametogenesis, gamete quality, and, ultimately, in the reproductive potential of M. squalida at this site.
RhIII‐Catalyzed C−H Activation: Mizoroki–Heck‐Type Reaction of Maleimides
Authors: Bettadapur Kiran R. , Sherikar Mahadev Sharanappa , Lanke Veeranjaneyulu , Prabhu Kandikere Ramaiah
Published: May 2018

Maleimides are not known to undergo oxidative‐Heck reaction because they lack a syn‐periplanar β‐hydrogen atom. Herein, we report a C−H activation‐based Mizoroki–Heck‐type reaction of maleimides using ketone as the directing group. The reaction utilizes a RhIII‐catalyst along with Ag2CO3 as the oxidant to carry out a base‐mediated formal β‐hydride elimination.
Kontrolle der Selbstmetallierungsrate von Tetraphenylporphyrinen auf Cu(111) durch Funktionalisierung mit Cyangruppen
Authors: Lepper Michael , Köbl Julia , Zhang Liang , Meusel Manuel , Hölzel Helen , Lungerich Dominik , Jux Norbert , de Siervo Abner , Meyer Bernd , Steinrück Hans‐Peter , Marbach Hubertus
Published: May 2018

Die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit der Selbstmetallierung von Freie‐Base‐Tetraphenylporphyrinen (TPPs) auf Cu(111) nimmt mit zunehmender Zahl der Cyangruppen in para‐Position der Phenylringe (n=0, 1, 2, 4) systematisch ab. Die Ergebnisse basieren auf Messungen mit isothermer Rastertunnelmikroskopie. Bei Raumtemperatur adsorbieren alle untersuchten Freie‐Base‐TPP‐Derivate als individuelle Moleküle mit klar definierter Orientierung entlang den dichtest gepackten Cu‐Substratreihen. Durch Heizen auf 400 K bilden sich durch intermolekulare CN‐Cu‐CN‐Bindungen lineare Dimere und/oder Multimere. Parallel dazu kann die Selbstmetallierung der Freie‐Base‐Porphyrine nach einer Reaktion 1. Ordnung stattfinden. Für Tetracyan‐funktionalisierte Moleküle nimmt die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit um einen Faktor von >20 gegenüber der von nicht‐funktionalisierten Molekülen ab. Dies entspricht einer Zunahme der Aktivierungsenergie von 1.48 auf 1.59 eV. DFT‐Rechnungen geben einen tieferen Einblick in die Rolle der elektronenziehenden Cyangruppen.
A thermodynamic framework for modeling semiclathrate hydrate phase stability conditions in gas + tetra‐n‐butyl ammonium halide aqueous solution system
Authors: Parhizgar Hossein , Javanmardi Jafar , Mohammadi Amir H. , Moshfeghian Mahmood , Parvasi Payam
Published: May 2018

To estimate the dissociation conditions of semiclathrate hydrates in gas + tetra‐n‐butyl ammonium halide aqueous solution systems, we introduce an extended thermodynamic framework, which was originally proposed by Javanmardi and colleagues for modeling of gas hydrate dissociation conditions in aqueous solutions of electrolytes (12 [1998] 219–222, Energy and Fuels). For evaluating the hydrate dissociation conditions, we apply the van der Waals–Platteuw theory. In addition, we incorporate the Peng–Robinson equation of state and the activity coefficient model of Pitzer and Mayorga to respectively calculate gas/vapor fugacity and tetra‐n‐butyl ammonium halide activity coefficient. Using this model, we have estimated the semiclathrate hydrate dissociation conditions in the systems of CH4, N2, or CO2 + tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide + water; CO2 + tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride + water; and CH4 or CO2 + tetra‐n‐butylammonium chloride + water systems. The model results are found in satisfactory agreement with the selected experimental data collected from literature. Also, the average absolute temperature deviations for the studied systems are about 0.3 K.
Severity of congenital heart defects associated with assisted reproductive technologies: Case series and review of the literature
Authors: Patil Avinash S. , Nguyen Cynthia , Groff Katie , Wu Jonathan , Elliott John , Gunatilake Ravindu P.
Published: May 2018

Objective

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been associated with a higher incidence of congenital anomalies, including a specific increase in the rate of congenital heart defects (CHD). In this study, the rate of CHD in pregnancies resulting from ART at a single high‐risk pregnancy referral center are compared to the published literature.

Methods

Pregnancies were screened by fetal echocardiography for the indication of ART over a 2‐year period. CHD were classified as either mild or severe based on the need for postnatal surgical intervention. Results were compared to findings from a literature review of studies examining CHD in pregnancies resulting from ART since 1980.

Results

Over the course of two years, 363 fetuses in 264 pregnancies from our cohort were screened for CHD. The incidence of mild CHD in fetuses from ART pregnancies was 2.75% (10 out of 363 fetuses). None of the affected fetuses had severe CHD. Review of the literature yielded 20 studies since 1980 that examined CHD in pregnancies resulting from ART. Composite data from the studies was described based on characterization of severity of the CHD anomalies. The incidence of mild CHD in ART pregnancies was 2.2%, compared to 1% in non‐ART pregnancies (out of 332,157 infants). The incidence of severe CHD in ART pregnancies and naturally conceived pregnancies was 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively (out of 661,455 infants). The incidence of unspecified CHD in ART pregnancies was 1.8%, compared to 1% in naturally conceived pregnancies (out of 1,593,277 infants).

Conclusion

The greatest increase in risk appears to be for mild CHD (nonsurgical), which may inform counseling of patients prior to use of assisted reproductive technologies.
The Photophysics of Polythiophene Nanoparticles for Biological Applications
Authors: Bargigia Ilaria , Zucchetti Elena , Kandada Ajay Ram Srimath , Moreira Miguel , Bossio Caterina , Wong Walter P. D. , Miranda Paulo Barbeitas , Decuzzi Paolo , Soci Cesare , D'Andrea Cosimo , Lanzani Guglielmo
Published: May 2018

In this work the photophysics of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated in the context of their biological applications. The NPs, made as colloidal suspensions in aqueous buffers, present a distinct absorption band in the low‐energy region. On the basis of systematic analysis of absorption and transient absorption (TA) spectra taken under different pH conditions, this band is associated with charge‐transfer states generated by the polarization of loosely bound polymer chains and originating from complexes formed with electron‐withdrawing species. Importantly, the ground‐state depletion of these states upon photoexcitation is active even on microsecond timescales, thus suggesting that they act as precursor states for long‐living polarons; this could be beneficial for cellular stimulation. Preliminary transient absorption microscopy results for NPs internalized within the cells reveal the presence of long‐living species, further substantiating their relevance in biointerfaces.
Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Stability and Activity by Co and N (or O) Interaction in CoO on N‐Doped Carbon Prepared through Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Kim In Gyeom , Nah In Wook , Park Sehkyu
Published: May 2018

Although the development of a highly active and cost‐effective electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is necessary, it is a challenging issue for commercially viable energy conversion applications such as fuel cells or metal‐air batteries. In this study, we synthesize nitrogen‐doped, carbon‐supported CoO catalysts (denoted as CoO/NCs) with high stability and activity. The CoO/NC is prepared by one‐pot spray pyrolysis, which is simple and has an easily scalable synthetic route. In an effort to find a better catalyst composition for ORR activity, several catalysts are synthesized by controlling the concentrations of the solutions that contain carbon, urea as the nitrogen source, and a cobalt precursor. The catalysts are then characterized using various methods to comprehensively study their properties coupled with ORR kinetics and stability. The CoO/NC2 catalyst shows higher catalytic activity towards ORR than the other in‐house prepared catalysts. It is comparable to commercial Pt/C and has very high stability for 80 h in an alkaline medium. Systematic analyses clarify that the superior electrocatalytic performance of CoO/NC2 stems mainly from its enhanced electron density and pathway by heteroatom doping and its modified carbon nature during spray pyrolysis.
Progress in Lanthionine and Protected Lanthionine Synthesis
Authors: Denoël Thibaut , Lemaire Christian , Luxen André
Published: May 2018

Lanthionine (Lan), a non‐proteinogenic natural amino acid, is an essential component of peptidoglycan found in the cell wall of Fusobacterium species. Lan and β‐methyllanthionine are also key constituents in lantibiotics, a prevalent class of peptide antibiotics. The development of those new antibacterial drugs with enhanced properties is the focus of recent research. Since multiple isomers of Lan are possible, a regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis is challenging. This comprehensive review summarizes the known chemical syntheses of lanthionine from various precursors (e.g., β‐chloroalanine, cystine, dehydroalanine, β‐iodoalanine, aziridine, serine lactone, sulfamidate) since 1941. Methods for preparation of unprotected, protected, orthogonally protected, and mutually orthogonally protected lanthionine with relevant experimental details and perspectives on their usefulness are provided. The potential of these Lan derivatives is illustrated by one recent application.
Compartmentalization of Incompatible Polymers within Metal–Organic Frameworks towards Homogenization of Heterogeneous Hybrid Catalysts for Tandem Reactions
Authors: Zhao Jin‐Hao , Yang Yong , Che Jin‐Xin , Zuo Jun , Li Xiao‐Hua , Hu Yong‐Zhou , Dong Xiao‐Wu , Gao Liang , Liu Xin‐Yuan
Published: May 2018

New catalytic systems that contain incompatible catalytic sites were constructed by the in situ polymerization of acidic and basic polymers into metal–organic frameworks, which resulted in highly porous, recyclable, and durable catalytic composites with excellent compartmentalization, so that opposing agents were spatially isolated. These synthesized hybrid catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity for one‐pot “wolf and lamb” reactions (deacetalization/Knoevenagel or Henry), which was attributed to their unique characteristic of having a locally homogeneous, but globally heterogeneous, structure.
Multicomponent Self‐Assembly of Metallo‐Supramolecular Macrocycles and Cages through Dynamic Heteroleptic Terpyridine Complexation
Authors: Wang Shih‐Yu , Huang Jyun‐Yang , Liang Yen‐Peng , He Yun‐Jui , Chen Yu‐Sheng , Zhan Yi‐Yang , Hiraoka Shuichi , Liu Yi‐Hung , Peng Shie‐Ming , Chan Yi‐Tsu
Published: May 2018

Spontaneous formation of the heteroleptic cadmium(II) bis(terpyridine) complex under ambient conditions can be achieved by a combination of 6,6′′‐di(2,6‐dimethoxylphenyl)‐substituted and unsubstituted terpyridine‐based ligands. Building on this dynamic heteroleptic complexation, diverse metallo‐supramolecular macrocycles and cages were readily assembled in quantitative yields from the predesigned multicomponent systems. The complementary ligation reinforced self‐recognition to facilitate the shape‐dependent self‐sorting of a four‐component dynamic library into two well‐defined parallelograms. In addition, the subtle lability difference between homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes led to the site‐selective CdII–ZnII transmetalation in the Sierpiński triangle. Facile construction of a dodecanuclear tetrahedral metallocage was also realized by using two self‐recognizable tritopic building blocks. The photophysical study of the metallo‐supramolecules assembled from the d10 metal ions revealed intense ligand‐based photoluminescence in solution. The self‐assembly strategy described here provides an efficient methodology for building pre‐programmable, sophisticated supramolecular architectures furnished with photoactivity.
Catalytic Transformation of Cellulose and Its Derivatives into Functionalized Organic Acids
Authors: Li Shi , Deng Weiping , Wang Shanshan , Wang Pan , An Dongli , Li Yanyun , Zhang Qinghong , Wang Ye
Published: May 2018

Cellulose is a promising renewable and abundant resource for the production of high‐value chemicals, in particular, organic oxygenates, because of its high oxygen/carbon ratio. The sustainable production of hydroxycarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids, such as gluconic/glucaric acid, lactic acid, 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid, most of which are monomers of key polymers, have attracted much attention in recent years. The synthesis of these organic acids from cellulose generally involves several tandem reaction steps, and thus, multifunctional catalysts that can catalyze the selective activation of specific C−O or C−C bonds hold the key. This review highlights recent advances in the development of efficient catalytic systems and new strategies for the selective conversion of cellulose or its derived carbohydrates into functionalized organic acids. The reaction mechanism is discussed to offer deep insights into the regioselective cleavage of C−O or C−C bonds.
Estimating tree diversity in forest ecosystems by two‐phase inventories
Authors: Corona P. , Fattorini L. , Franceschi S. , Marcheselli M. , Pisani C. , Chiavetta U. , Puletti N.
Published: May 2018

Several studies reveal that there is a strong interconnection between climate change and biodiversity. Indeed, estimating plant biodiversity is an important issue under forest ecosystem monitoring, which allows the evaluation of carbon storage and sequestration capacity. To this end, a two‐phase strategy, suitably compatible with the most adopted sampling designs in large‐scale forest inventories, is proposed. In the first phase, tessellation stratified sampling is performed by partitioning the study area into a grid of quadrats and by randomly selecting a point in each quadrat. The first‐phase points are classified as forest or nonforest using remotely sensed imagery. In the second phase, a sample of points is selected from those classified as forest by means of simple random sampling without replacement. The second‐phase points constitute the centers of circular plots that are visited in the field to record plant species (usually trees) and their abundance. Estimators of abundance and diversity and estimators of their variances are presented. The proposed strategy is applied in a forest area from Central Italy, as a case study. With respect to the sampling effort, the resulting estimates of relative standard errors are satisfactory, especially those regarding the overall total and diversity index estimators. The proposed statistical approach represents a suitable reference for integrated forest inventory frameworks effectively supporting biodiversity monitoring and assessment.
Rapid preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers by custom‐made microwave heating for analysis of atrazine in water
Authors: Kueseng Pamornrat , Nisoa Mudtorlep , Sontimuang Chonlatid
Published: May 2018

The rapid preparation of an atrazine‐imprinted polymer in a cost‐effective custom‐made microwave reactor was demonstrated. The polymerization reaction was accelerated by microwave heating, and the preparation time was greatly shortened (to 1 h). The resulting polymer was successfully applied as solid‐phase extraction adsorbent for the selective extraction and preconcentration of atrazine in environmental water samples. The binding capacity of the polymer was 1.11 mg/g polymer. The polymer provided selectivity with higher recovery of atrazine than of other interfering related contaminants. The proposed method had good limits of detection and quantitation at 0.20 and 0.60 ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries were from 83 to 89% at two spiking levels, with relative standard deviations less than 5%. This method was successfully applied to determine the atrazine levels in environmental water samples.
Selection of rest structures and microsites by fishers in Oregon
Authors: Aubry Keith B. , Raley Catherine M. , Cunningham Patrick G.
Published: May 2018

Most previous studies of resting habitat for fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the Pacific coastal region of the western United States and Canada were focused on habitat conditions within rest sites (typically ≤0.5 ha), which include the rest structure (e.g., live tree, snag, log) at its center. Studies of selection for rest structures were sparse and compared characteristics of rest structures to those occurring within rest sites; none investigated selection by sampling resource availability throughout the study area. In addition, limited data were available on the use of rest microsites (e.g., mistletoe brooms, platform branches, cavities) by fishers, and no studies have quantified their availability. To better inform forest management activities designed to improve resting habitat for fishers, we documented use of rest structures and microsites throughout the year by 12 female and 7 male fishers on the west slope of the Cascade Range in southern Oregon, USA from 1995 to 2001, systematically sampled the availability of rest structures and microsites, and used logistic regression modeling to investigate selection of rest structures. Fishers primarily used live trees (65%), snags (14%), and logs (16%) for resting; in all 3 resulting models, the characteristic that best distinguished used from available rest structures was the presence of a suitable rest microsite: mistletoe broom or cavity in live trees, cavity in snags, and hollow end in logs. Only the snag and log models included covariates associated with tree size, likely reflecting the need for enclosed rest microsites (cavities, hollow ends) to be large enough to contain an adult fisher. We then used our availability data to model the ecological characteristics associated with mistletoe brooms in live trees, cavities in snags, and hollow ends in logs. Whether a tree was a hemlock (Tsuga spp.) had the greatest effect on the presence of suitable mistletoe broom microsites, but the most important characteristics of snags with cavities and logs with hollow ends were being in moderate stages of decay and relatively large in diameter at breast height (snags) or diameter 3 m from the large end (logs). Forest structures containing suitable rest microsites for fishers were uncommon in our study and may represent a limited resource. Accordingly, we recommend that management of resting habitat for fishers be focused on retaining relatively large structures that already contain suitable rest microsites, rather than simply retaining the largest available structures. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Evaluation of spatial distribution and regional zone delineation for micronutrients in a semiarid Deccan Plateau Region of India
Authors: Shukla Arvind Kumar , Sinha Nishant Kumar , Tiwari Pankaj Kumar , Prakash Chandra , Behera Sanjib Kumar , Surendra Babu P. , Patnaik M.C. , Somasundaram J. , Singh Pooja , Dwivedi Brahma Swaroop , Datta Siba Prasad , Meena Mahesh C. , Tripathi Rahul , Nayak Amaresh Kumar , Kumar Anil , Shukla Kriti , Siddiqui Sahab , Patra Ashok Kumar
Published: May 2018

Emerging micronutrient deficiencies in different soils of the world is a threat for sustainability of agriculture. As distribution of micronutrients in soil varies spatially, site‐specific management of micronutrients by delineating regional zones (RZs) is an effective strategy for precision agriculture. The current investigation was performed to delineate RZs in a Deccan Plateau Region (DPR) of India by considering spatial variability of some soil properties and available micronutrients for efficient management of micronutrients. Altogether, 4,939 representative soil samples (with geographical coordinates) from surface (0–0.15 m depth) layers were obtained from Telangana state lying in DPR of India. After processing, soil samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon and available zinc, copper, iron, and manganese. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, and soil organic carbon content had mean values of 7.48 ± 0.95, 0.42 ± 0.22 dS/m and 0.48 ± 0.17%, respectively. Whereas, the mean values of available zinc, iron, copper, and manganese concentrations were 0.83 ± 0.36, 8.79 ± 4.15, 0.99 ± 0.43, and 8.79 ± 4.06 mg/kg, respectively. Geostatistical analysis divulged different distribution pattern of soil properties and available micronutrients with strong to moderate spatial dependency. The four principal components (with >1 eigenvalue) responsible for 73% of total variance were considered for analysis. Six RZs from the study area were created through geostatistical, principal component, and clustering analysis. The measured soil properties and available micronutrients in the RZs varied significantly highlighting the usefulness of RZ delineation technique for precise micronutrients management in DPR of India.
Translating phototherapeutic indices from in vitro to in vivo photodynamic therapy with bacteriochlorins
Authors: Luz André F.S. , Pucelik Barbara , Pereira Mariette M. , Dąbrowski Janusz M. , Arnaut Luis G.
Published: May 2018

Objective

To compare hydrophilic and lipophilic bacteriochlorin photosensitizers in the photodynamic therapy of cancer, and relate their properties and in vitro phototoxicities to the efficacy of in vivo PDT treatments.

Materials and Methods

Photochemical characterization of a hydrophilic bacteriochlorin (F2BOH) photosensitizer, and its use in PDT was compared with the performance of a closely related but water‐insoluble bacteriochlorin (F2BMet or redaporfin). Biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, skin photosensitivity, PDT efficacy and immune responses of two bacteriochlorins were compared. PDT in vitro employed CT26 colon carcinoma cells. BALB/c mice bearing CT26 cells were treated according to a protocol where the illumination of the subcutaneous tumor is performed 15 minute after intravenous administration of the photosensitizer, while it is in the vascular compartment (vascular‐PDT).

Results

F2BOH has photochemical properties comparable to redaporfin and both are promising photosensitizers for PDT. Although, F2BOH is 10 times less phototoxic in vitro than redaporfin, the phototoxicity of F2BOH in vascular‐PDT is comparable to that of redaporfin. This is consistent with the fact that the vasculature is the main target of vascular‐PDT. F2BOH‐PDT led to long‐term cures and stimulation of the immune system.

Conclusion

F2BOH is soluble in aqueous media, photostable, has a convenient elimination half‐life of 44 hours and leads to very low skin photosensitivity one week after administration. F2BOH and redaporfin are both very phototoxic in vascular‐PDT, but this could not be anticipated from their widely different phototherapeutic indices in vitro. PDT with F2BOH enabled long‐term cures of BALB/c mice with subcutaneously implanted CT26 tumors, and the cured mice rejected tumor re‐inoculation one year after the treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:451–459, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sulforaphane Upregulates the Heat Shock Protein Co‐Chaperone CHIP and Clears Amyloid‐β and Tau in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Lee Siyoung , Choi Bo‐Ryoung , Kim Jisung , LaFerla Frank M. , Park Jung Han Yoon , Han Jung‐Soo , Lee Ki Won , Kim Jiyoung
Published: May 2018

Scope

Sulforaphane is an herbal isothiocyanate enriched in cruciferous vegetables. Here, the authors investigate whether sulforaphane modulates the production of amyloid‐β (Aβ) and tau, the two main pathological factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods and results

A triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3 × Tg‐AD) is used to study the effect of sulforaphane. Oral gavage of sulforaphane reduces protein levels of monomeric and polymeric forms of Aβ as well as tau and phosphorylated tau in 3 × Tg‐AD mice. However, sulforaphane treatment do not affect mRNA expression of amyloid precursor protein or tau. As previous studies show that Aβ and tau metabolism are influenced by a heat shock protein (HSP) co‐chaperone, C‐terminus of HSP70‐interacting protein (CHIP), the authors examine whether sulforaphane can modulate CHIP. The authors find that sulforaphane treatment increase levels of CHIP and HSP70. Furthermore, observations of CHIP‐deficient primary neurons derived from 3 × Tg‐AD mice suggest that sulforaphane treatment increase CHIP level and clear the accumulation of Aβ and tau. Finally, sulforaphane ameliorated memory deficits in 3 × Tg‐AD mice as reveal by novel object/location recognition tests and contextual fear conditioning tests.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that sulforaphane treatment upregulates CHIP and has the potential to decrease the accumulation of Aβ and tau in patients with AD.
Incongruence between women's survey‐ and interview‐determined decision control preferences: A mixed methods study of decision‐making in metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Ejem Deborah , Dionne‐Odom J. Nicholas , Turkman Yasemin , Knight Sara J. , Willis Dan , Kaufman Peter A. , Bakitas Marie
Published: May 2018

Objective

Women with metastatic breast cancer face numerous, complex treatment and advance care planning (ACP) decisions. Our aim was to develop a better understanding of women with metastatic breast cancer's decision‐making preferences overtime and relative to specific types of decisions.

Methods

Convergent, parallel mixed‐methods study. Participants completed the Control Preferences Scale (CPS) and a semi‐structured interview of decision‐making experiences at enrollment (T1; n = 22) and when facing a decision or 3 months later (T2; n = 19). We categorized women's decision‐making experience descriptions into one of the CPS decisional styles and compared them to their CPS response. We constructed an analytic grid that aligned the interview‐determined treatment and ACP decisional preferences with the CPS categories at T1 and T2 and calculated Cohen's kappa coefficient and congruence percentages.

Results

Participants (n = 22) were White (100%), averaged 62 years, married (54%), retired (45%), and had a bachelor's degree (45%). Congruence between CPS response and interview‐determined treatment preferences at T1 was 32% (kappa = 0.083) and 33% (kappa = 0.120) at T2. Congruence between CPS survey response and interview‐determined ACP preferences at T1 was 22.7% (kappa =0.092) at T1 and 11% (kappa = 0.011) at T2.

Conclusions

Although women selected a “shared” treatment decision‐making style using the CPS validated tool, when interviewed their descriptions generally reflected a passive process in which they followed the oncologists' treatment suggestions. Future research should explore whether the incongruence between stated and actual decision‐making style is a function of misinterpreting the CPS choices or a true inconsistency that could lead to adverse consequences such as decisional regret.
Effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions to reduce procedural anxiety in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nunns Michael , Mayhew Dominic , Ford Tamsin , Rogers Morwenna , Curle Christine , Logan Stuart , Moore Darren
Published: May 2018

Objective

Children and young people (CYP) with cancer undergo painful and distressing procedures. We aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions to reduce procedural anxiety in CYP.

Methods

Extensive literature searches sought randomised controlled trials that quantified the effect of any nonpharmacological intervention for procedural anxiety in CYP with cancer aged 0 to 25. Study selection involved independent title and abstract screening and full text screening by two reviewers. Anxiety, distress, fear, and pain outcomes were extracted from included studies. Where similar intervention, comparator, and outcomes presented, meta‐analysis was performed, producing pooled effect sizes (Cohen's d) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). All other data were narratively described. Quality and risk of bias appraisal was performed, based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

Screening of 11 727 records yielded 56 relevant full texts. There were 15 included studies, eight trialling hypnosis, and seven nonhypnosis interventions. There were large, statistically significant reductions in anxiety and pain for hypnosis, particularly compared with treatment as usual (anxiety: d = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.30‐3.30; P < .001; pain: d = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.41‐2.92; P < .001). Evidence from nonhypnosis interventions was equivocal, with some promising individual studies. There was high risk of bias across included studies limiting confidence in some positive effects.

Conclusions

Evidence suggests promise for hypnosis interventions to reduce procedural anxiety in CYP undergoing cancer treatment. These results largely emerge from one research group, therefore wider research is required. Promising evidence for individual nonhypnosis interventions must be evaluated through rigorously conducted randomised controlled trials.
Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Properties of Metal(II) Coordination Polymers based on Flexible Ligand 1,3‐Bis(4‐phenoxy)benzenedicarboxylic Acid and Bis(benzimidazole)
Authors: Hong Jianquan , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Long Ruixue , Zheng Changge
Published: May 2018

Three new coordination polymers, [Zn(PBDC)(bbbm)0.5]n (1), [Co(PBDC)(bbbm)]n (2), and [Cd(PBDC)(bbbm)]n (3) were prepared via hydrothermal reactions of different metal(II) nitrates with flexible 1,3‐bis(4‐phenoxy)benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2L) and 1,1‐(1,4‐butanediyl)bis(benzimidazole) ligand. All these complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X‐ray diffraction, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Structure analyses revealed that complex 1 has a 2D→2D twofold interpenetrating framework simplified by a 4‐connected sql net with point symbol (44.62), whereas complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and exhibit a 2D→2D twofold interpenetrating framework rationalized as a three‐connected hcb net with point symbol (63). Complexes 1–3 further expand to 3D supramolecular structures through non‐covalent C–H···O interactions. Additionally, the luminescent and magnetic properties of some of these complexes were studied. Complex 3 presents ideal photoluminescent behavior, whereas complex 2 shows antiferromagnetic coupling between the central CoII ions, suggesting its latent application in magnetic material.
Coulomb branch operators and mirror symmetry in three dimensions
Authors: Dedushenko Mykola , Fan Yale , Pufu Silviu S. , Yacoby Ran
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We develop new techniques for computing exact correlation functions of a class of local operators, including certain monopole operators, in three-dimensional$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$N=4abelian gauge theories that have superconformal infrared limits. These operators are position-dependent linear combinations of Coulomb branch operators. They form a one-dimensional topological sector that encodes a deformation quantization of the Coulomb branch chiral ring, and their correlation functions completely fix the (n≤ 3)-point functions of all half-BPS Coulomb branch operators. Using these results, we provide new derivations of the conformal dimension of half-BPS monopole operators as well as new and detailed tests of mirror symmetry. Our main approach involves supersymmetric localization on a hemisphereHS3with half-BPS boundary conditions, where operator insertions within the hemisphere are represented by certain shift operators acting on theHS3wavefunction. By gluing a pair of such wavefunctions, we obtain correlators onS3with an arbitrary number of operator insertions. Finally, we show that our results can be recovered by dimensionally reducing the Schur index of 4D$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$N=2theories decorated by BPS ’t Hooft-Wilson loops.
Precision calculations for h → WW/ZZ → 4 fermions in a singlet extension of the Standard Model with Prophecy4f
Authors: Altenkamp Lukas , Boggia Michele , Dittmaier Stefan
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We consider an extension of the Standard Model by a real singlet scalar field with a ℤ2-symmetric Lagrangian and spontaneous symmetry breaking with vacuum expectation value for the singlet. Considering the lighter of the two scalars of the theory to be the 125 GeV Higgs particle, we parametrize the scalar sector by the mass of the heavy Higgs boson, a mixing angle α, and a scalar Higgs self-coupling λ
12. Taking into account theoretical constraints from perturbativity and vacuum stability, we compute next-to-leading-order electroweak and QCD corrections to the decays h → WW/ZZ → 4 fermions of the light Higgs boson for some scenarios proposed in the literature. We formulate two renormalization schemes and investigate the conversion of the input parameters between the schemes, finding sizeable effects. Solving the renormalization-group equations for the

$$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

M
S

¯

parameters α and λ
12, we observe a significantly reduced scale and scheme dependence in the next-to-leading-order results. For some scenarios suggested in the literature, the total decay width for the process h → 4f is computed as a function of the mixing angle and compared to the width of a corresponding Standard Model Higgs boson, revealing deviations below 10%. Differential distributions do not show significant distortions by effects beyond the Standard Model. The calculations are implemented in the Monte Carlo generator Prophecy4f, which is ready for applications in data analyses in the framework of the singlet extension.
Soft photon and two hard jets forward production in proton-nucleus collisions
Authors: Altinoluk Tolga , Armesto Néstor , Kovner Alex , Lublinsky Michael , Petreska Elena
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We calculate the cross section for production of a soft photon and two hard jets in the forward rapidity region in proton-nucleus collisions at high energies. The calculation is performed within the hybrid formalism. The hardness of the final particles is defined with respect to the saturation scale of the nucleus. We consider both the correlation limit of small momentum imbalance and the dilute target limit where the momentum imbalance is of the order of the hardness of the jets. The results depend on the first two transversemomentum-dependent (TMD) gluon distributions of the nucleus.
VATS Partial Pleurectomy Versus VATS Pleural Abrasion: Significant Reduction in Pneumothorax Recurrence Rates After Pleurectomy
Authors: Ng Caecilia , Maier Herbert Thomas , Kocher Florian , Jud Silvia , Lucciarini Paolo , Öfner Dietmar , Schmid Thomas , Augustin Florian
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Surgical treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) usually consists of bullectomy and any form of pleurodesis to reduce risk of disease recurrence. Whether pleurectomy is superior to pleural abrasion is still a matter of debate with recurrence rates especially high when performed with a video‐assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) approach. Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the two methods in prevention of recurrence of pneumothorax in a minimally invasive setting.

Materials and methods

Between 01/2005 and 12/2015, 107 patients younger than 40 years with PSP underwent VATS bullectomy and either partial pleurectomy or pleural abrasion. Medical records of patients were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Pleural abrasion was performed in 34/107 patients, 73/107 patients underwent partial pleurectomy. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, body mass index or smoking history at time of surgery. There was no significant difference in major postoperative complications (p = 0.3022). Nine (8.4%) patients had a recurrence of pneumothorax during follow‐up. Incidence of recurrence in those undergoing pleural abrasion was significantly higher than those undergoing apical pleurectomy (8/34 vs. 1/73, p < 0.001). Surgical technique was the only factor associated with a recurrence of PSP after surgical intervention.

Discussion

In our analysis, a VATS partial pleurectomy proved to be effective for prevention of recurrent PSP. Recurrence rates were low despite a minimally invasive approach and significantly lower than in the pleural abrasion group. According to these findings, VATS pleurectomy might be considered as the primary choice for surgical pleurodesis in patients with PSP.
An Exploration of a Respondent Pre-Qualifying Framework to Increase Response Rates in Social Media Initiated Online Surveys
Authors: Basa-Martinez Diana Denise F. , Cabrera Janet Y. , Dionaldo LA G. , Orillo Jonathan Gavino R. , Ramos Paul John M. , Ocampo Lanndon A.
Published: May 2018

The use of web-based surveys is currently increasing due to its cost-effectiveness and agility as it provides access to market researchers to web-connected populations who are unlikely to answer through traditional survey methods. However, survey response rates in market research are in general decline and among survey platforms, web-based surveys have the highest rates of non-response. Thus, there is a need to address the declining response rates for web-based surveys particularly unit response rates – the likelihood the respondent would answer the survey. This paper proposes a respondent prequalifying framework that reduces unit non-response rates of web-based non-probabilistic surveys. A checklist of respondent characteristics influencing the likelihood of unit non-response was developed. The framework was then adopted for its applicability by replicating the recruitment phase of two case studies wherein the prequalifying checklist was applied with consideration to the respondent profile requirements of each study. While this paper does not intend to provide robust empirical evidence to the proposed framework, it demonstrates a promising framework that can be used to increase unit non-response rate by comprehensively integrating the pre-qualifying factors in the domain literature and carefully developing such framework to the most plausible direction a web-survey can be implemented. Findings suggest that (1) the proposed respondent prequalifying framework increases the unit response by prequalifying the sample in the recruitment stage, and (2) increasing the threshold value may increase unit response rates with careful consideration to some significant issues such as the weights assigned to the prequalifying factors, the quality of the background information of the respondents in relation to the prequalifying factors, and the sensitivity of the survey topic. The proposed framework is developed with strong theoretical grounding and detailed discussion for its practical use is also provided. The framework benefits market researchers by reducing unit non-response costs and increasing efficiency in social media-based market surveys.
Risk propagation through payment distortion in supply chains
Authors: Serrano Alejandro , Oliva Rogelio , Kraiselburd Santiago
Published: May 2018

The supply chain literature has devoted much attention to studying how the variability of orders propagates upstream. We explore how this insight extends to the variability of payments to suppliers and its impact on how risk is generated and propagates upstream. To do so, we model the financial features of a supply chain based on industry reports and empirical findings from the finance literature. Capturing policies and constraints of the agents in the supply chain in a formal model, we are able to generate and explain the behavior observed in real supply chains. We show that payment variability occurs and propagates, even if orders are constant, in a cash‐constrained supply chain. Furthermore, our model reveals that payment variability may even become amplified under severe cash restrictions. We identify the factors that drive the propagation of variability—the industry risk, the firm's operational leverage, the existence of a financial leverage target, and the cost of debt. The model also makes it possible to explore states of nature not often observed in practice, but that may have an effect in managers' behavior, for example, bankruptcies. We numerically illustrate the impact of these drivers on the risk of upper echelons (suppliers and suppliers' suppliers) as well as the interactions between order and payment variability. We close by summarizing our findings and discussing future research opportunities.
MINIMAL AXIOMATIC FRAMEWORKS FOR DEFINABLE HYPERREALS WITH TRANSFER
Authors: HERZBERG FREDERIK S. , KANOVEI VLADIMIR , KATZ MIKHAIL , LYUBETSKY VASSILY
Published: May 2018

We modify the definable ultrapower construction of Kanovei and Shelah (2004) to develop a ZF-definable extension of the continuum with transfer provable using countable choice only, with an additional mild hypothesis on well-ordering implying properness. Under the same assumptions, we also prove the existence of a definable, proper elementary extension of the standard superstructure over the reals.