bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiviral activity of porcine interferon omega 7 against foot‐and‐mouth disease virus in vitro
Authors: Li Shi‐Fang , Zhao Fu‐Rong , Gong Mei‐Jiao , Shao Jun‐Jun , Xie Yin‐Li , Chang Hui‐Yun , Zhang Yong‐Guang
Published: July 2018

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is a disease of worldwide economic importance, and vaccines play an important role in preventing FMDV outbreaks. However, new control strategies are still needed since FMDV outbreaks still occur in some disease‐free countries. Currently, interferon (IFN)‐based strategies have been demonstrated to be an efficient biotherapeutic option against FMDV; however, interferon omega (IFN‐ω) has not yet been assessed in this capacity. Thus, this study evaluated the antiviral activity of porcine IFN omega 7 (PoIFN‐ω7) against FMDV. After the PoIFN‐ω7 was expressed and purified, cell proliferation assays and quantitative real‐time reverse transciption‐polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the effective anti‐cytopathic concentration of PoIFN‐ω7 and its effectiveness pre‐ and post‐infection with FMDV in swine kidney cells (IBRS‐2). Results showed the rHis‐PoIFN‐ω7 fusion protein was considerably expressed using Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) strain, and the recombinant protein exhibited significant in vitro protection against FMDV, including two strains belonging to type O and A FMDV, respectively. In addition, PoIFN‐ω7 upregulated the transcription of Mx1, ISG15, OAS1, and PKR genes. These findings indicated that IFN‐ω has the potential for serving as a useful therapeutic agent to prevent FMDV or other viral outbreaks in pigs.
Purification of lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus using Octyl Sepharose column chromatography and its characterization
Authors: Mehta Akshita , Grover Chetna , Gupta Reena
Published: July 2018

Lipases are ubiquitous biological macromolecules which have many industrial and environmental applications. The purpose of this study was to purify lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus by using Octyl Sepharose column chromatography. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography which resulted in sevenfold purification. The molecular weight of protein using Native‐PAGE was found to be 70 kDa. The apparent molecular weight by SDS–PAGE was found to be 35 kDa which indicated that the enzyme was homodimer. The optimum temperature and pH for activity of the enzyme was found to be 40 °C and 9.0, respectively. The kinetic parameters Vmax and Km of the purified lipase were 10.42 µmol min−1 mg−1 and 9.89 mM, respectively. Detergents Tween‐20 and Triton X‐100 inhibited enzyme activity. However, there was minimal loss of enzyme activity with SDS and Tween‐80. All metal ions inhibited the enzyme activity. Among solvents, maximum loss (65%) in the enzyme activity was in hexane.
Comparative study of periodontal differentiation propensity of induced pluripotent stem cells from different tissue origins
Authors: Li Jingwen , Yin Xiaohui , Luan Qingxian
Published: July 2018

Background

Despite being almost identical to embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been shown to possess a residual somatic memory that favors their differentiation propensity into donor tissue. To further confirm this assumption, we compare for the first time the periodontal differentiation tendency of human gingival fibroblast‐derived iPSCs (G‐iPSCs) and human neonatal skin fibroblast‐derived iPSCs (S‐iPSCs) to assess whether G‐iPSCs could be more efficiently induced toward periodontal cells.

Methods

We induced G‐ and S‐iPSCs under the treatment of growth/differentiation factor‐5 and connective tissue growth factor, respectively, for 14 days. Immunofluorescence staining and real‐time polymerase chain reaction were used to compare their expression levels of related markers. Furthermore, a hydrogel carrier was developed to seed these periodontal progenitors for subcutaneous implantation in non‐obese diabetic‐severe combined immunodeficiency disease mice. Their differentiated periodontal phenotype maintenance was further assayed by HE observation, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence co‐localization with pre‐labeled PKH67.

Results

As expected, both iPSCs were inclined to differentiate back into their original lineage by expressing higher markers at both gene and protein levels in vitro. HE observation of G‐iPSCs‐seeded hydrogel constructs present more mineralized structure formation than S‐iPSCs‐seeded ones. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence analysis also showed stronger positive staining for periodontal related markers in G‐iPSCs‐seeded hydrogel constructs.

Conclusions

Our results preliminarily confirmed that both G‐ and S‐iPSCs were inclined to differentiate back into their original tissue in vitro. Animal study further confirmed the phenotype maintenance of periodontal differentiated G‐iPSCs, which highlighted their significant implications for therapeutic use in periodontal regeneration.
Electrochemically controlled fiber‐in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction method for the determination of trace amounts of antipsychotic drugs in biological samples
Authors: Shamsayei Maryam , Yamini Yadollah , Asiabi Hamid
Published: July 2018

In this study, a novel ‘fiber‐in‐tube’ configuration was applied to electrochemically controlled fiber‐in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction of antipsychotic drugs (perphenazine and chlorpromazine) from biological samples. To prepare an electrochemically controlled fiber‐in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction column, first eight stainless‐steel wires were placed into the stainless‐steel column. Then, a nanostructured Cu‐Cr‐Al ternary layered double hydroxide/polythiophene coating was prepared on the inner surface of the stainless‐steel tube and on the surfaces of the stainless‐steel wires by a facile in situ electrodeposition method. The nanostructured coating exhibited enhanced long lifetime, good mechanical stability, high porosity, and large specific surface area compared with polythiophene and Cu‐Cr‐Al layered double hydroxide coatings. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection were in the range of 0.07–0.8 μg/L. This method showed good linearity for perphenazine and chlorpromazine in the ranges of 0.3–300 and 0.2–300 μg/L, respectively, with coefficients of determination more than 0.9982. The inter‐ and intra‐assay precisions (RSD%, n = 3) were in the ranges of 3.0–5.1 and 2.5–4.5% at three concentration levels of 5, 25 and 50 μg/L, respectively. Finally, the method was applied for the analysis of the drugs in human urine and plasma samples.
Preparative separation of flavone dimers from Dysosma versipellis by counter‐current chromatography: Trifluoroacetic acid as a solvent system modifier
Authors: Yang Zhi , Guo Peipei , Han Rui , Gao Jin‐Ming
Published: July 2018

The separation of natural products is grueling and time‐consuming work with repeated isolations needed to obtain purified compounds. However, using counter‐current chromatography, a unique liquid–liquid partition chromatography, constituents can usually be purified efficiently. During the separation of flavone dimers from Dysosma versipellis (Hance) by counter‐current chromatography, the separation resolution and sample loading was impeded by the emulsification of the sample. By screening, trifluoroacetic acid was selected as the solvent modifier to eliminate the emulsification. Then, a quaternary solvent system of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (4:6:5:5 v/v/v/v) with trifluoroacetic acid at a low concentration of 0.5% v/v was used to purify the components from D. versipellis. Compared to that without trifluoroacetic acid, the separation resolution as well as the sample loading both increased greatly. In addition, flavone dimers in low concentrations could be enriched and purified at high sample loading. As a result, five podophyllotoxins and 11 flavonoids were purified and characterized by interpretation of spectroscopic data, in which two of eight flavone dimers were new and a known flavone dimer was first separated from this species.
Spleen Stiffness Measurement Using 2‐Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography: The Predictors of Measurability and the Normal Spleen Stiffness Value
Authors: Cho Young Seo , Lim Sanghyeok , Kim Yongsoo , Sohn Joo Hyun , Jeong Jae Yoon
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To investigate the success rate of spleen stiffness measurement and factors that affect measurement success and to determine the spleen stiffness value of normal individuals by 2‐dimensional shear wave elastography.

Methods

The spleen and liver stiffnesses of 313 consecutive patients were measured with SWE. The body mass index, abdominal wall thickness, spleen size, and liver stiffness of the patients were evaluated to identify factors associated with successful measurement of spleen stiffness. Patients were grouped by body mass index, spleen size, and liver stiffness, and the success rates and mean spleen stiffness values of the groups were compared. Independent predictors for successful spleen stiffness measurement and their cutoff values were evaluated. The mean spleen stiffness values of patients considered to have normal spleen stiffness were investigated.

Results

The overall success rate of spleen stiffness measurement was 52.9%. It was significantly higher in nonobese than in obese patients and in patients with splenomegaly and liver cirrhosis. The spleen stiffness value was higher in the splenomegaly group than the nonsplenomegaly group (P < .001) and increased as liver stiffness increased (P < .001). There was no significant difference in spleen stiffness values between the obese and nonobese groups. Abdominal wall thickness and splenic longitudinal diameter were identified as independent predictors of successful spleen stiffness measurement, and their cutoff values were 17.2 mm or less and greater than 9.4 cm, respectively. The mean spleen stiffness value ± SD of the normal patient group was 20.5 ± 5.4 kPa.

Conclusions

The success rate of spleen stiffness measurement is lower than that of liver stiffness measurement. Spleen stiffness measurement is affected by abdominal wall thickness and spleen size.
Editorial challenges in a small scientific community: Study of Croatian editors
Authors: Vrana Radovan
Published: July 2018

This article presents results from a study of 74 Social Science Croatian journal editors that asked about challenges encountered during their work, with a special focus on peer review processes. The study used an online questionnaire with 19 questions. The findings confirmed many logistics challenges and peer review‐related problems associated mostly with substandard work of the reviewers; author misconduct, especially plagiarism; and multiple submission of articles. The findings show similar problems to other regions of the world, and some problems discovered in this study demonstrate unique problems encountered within a small research community. The discovered problems call for changes and new editorial procedures.
On elimination of quantifiers in some non‐classical mathematical theories
Authors: Badia Guillermo , Tedder Andrew
Published: July 2018

Elimination of quantifiers is shown to fail dramatically for a group of well‐known mathematical theories (classically enjoying the property) against a wide range of relevant logical backgrounds. Furthermore, it is suggested that only by moving to more extensional underlying logics can we get the property back.
On differential Galois groups of strongly normal extensions
Authors: Brouette Quentin , Point Françoise
Published: July 2018

We revisit Kolchin's results on definability of differential Galois groups of strongly normal extensions, in the case where the field of constants is not necessarily algebraically closed. In certain classes of differential topological fields, which encompasses ordered or p‐valued differential fields, we find a partial Galois correspondence and we show one cannot expect more in general. In the class of ordered differential fields, using elimination of imaginaries in , we establish a relative Galois correspondence for relatively definable subgroups of the group of differential order automorphisms.
Comparison of different regimes of future legal relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union after Brexit
Authors: Moric Vilela Mariano Henrique
Published: July 2018

The following article comes from a Research Internship at the University of West Bohemia in Plzen promoted by the UNIGOU Program, from the INCBAC Institute. After a long research, the text intends to analyze the possible future relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) after Brexit, comparing the different options and attempting to better understand the possible outcomes from it. The text is divided in eight parts: a brief introduction; an explanation about the EU and Brexit; the five different options or models (namely, Norwegian, Swiss, Turkish, Canadian and WTO); and the conclusion of the entire work. Each of the Options explains briefly the current relation between those countries and the EU and try to assume how would it work with the United Kingdom.
Understanding the effects of perceived ethics failure, compassionate leadership, and communication strategy on anti‐government sentiment
Authors: Kim Soojin , Tam Lisa , Bach Seung
Published: July 2018

This study conceptualizes anti‐government sentiment and tests the relationships between anti‐government sentiment and three antecedents (i.e., ethics failure, compassionate leadership, and communication strategy). An online survey (n = 1,112) was conducted in South Korea. Exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the measures proposed for anti‐government sentiment. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results show that publics' perceptions of the government's ethics failure, lack of compassionate leadership, and use of a buffering strategy for communication are positively related to their anti‐government sentiment toward the incumbent government.
Clinical management of Australian adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias: A national population‐based study
Authors: White V. M. , Skaczkowski G. , Pinkerton R. , Coory M. , Osborn M. , Bibby H. , Nicholls W. , Orme L. M. , Conyers R. , Phillips M. B. , Harrup R. , Walker R. , Thompson K. , Anazodo A.
Published: July 2018

Background

While several studies have examined the treatment of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), studies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are rare. Using national data for Australia, we describe (i) the number and type of treatment centers caring for AYAs, (ii) induction/first‐line treatments, and (iii) survival outcomes.

Procedure

National population‐based study assessing treatment of 15‐ to 24‐year‐olds diagnosed with ALL or AML between 2007 and 2012. Treatment details were abstracted from hospital medical records. Treatment centers were classified as pediatric or adult (adult AYA‐focused or other adult; and by AYA volume [high/low]). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses examined associations between treatment and overall, event‐free, and relapse‐free survival outcomes.

Results

Forty‐seven hospitals delivered induction therapy to 351 patients (181 ALL and 170 AML), with 74 (21%) treated at pediatric centers; 70% of hospitals treated less than two AYA leukemia patients per year. Regardless of treatment center, 82% of ALL patients were on pediatric protocols. For AML, pediatric protocols were not used in adult centers, with adult centers using a non‐COG 7+3‐type induction protocol (51%, where COG is Cooperative Oncology Group) or an ICE‐type protocol (39%, where ICE is idarubicin, cytarabine, etoposide). Exploratory analyses suggested that for both ALL and AML, AYAs selected for adult protocols have worse overall, event‐free, and relapse‐free survival outcomes.

Conclusions

Pediatric protocols were commonly used for ALL patients regardless of where they are treated, indicating rapid assimilation of recent evidence by Australian hematologists. For AML, pediatric protocols were only used at pediatric centers. Further investigation is warranted to determine the optimal treatment approach for AYA AML patients.
Ovarian Sertoli–Leydig tumor after bone marrow transplant for sickle cell disease
Authors: Phillips Lia Neu , Krishnamurti Lakshmanan , Rytting Heather , Olson Thomas A.
Published: July 2018

As bone marrow transplant for sickle cell disease becomes increasingly common, long‐term outcomes including secondary malignancies are beginning to be described. Here, we report a case of ovarian Sertoli–Leydig tumor that occurred after allogeneic bone marrow transplant for sickle cell disease.
[60]Fullerene‐quinoxaline, benzothiadiazole and benzoselenadiazole based dyads for thermally stable polymer solar cells: anchoring of substituent on fullerene with a poly(3‐hexylthiophene) polymer chain
Authors: Elavarasan Kumaravel , Saravanan Chinnusamy , Panneer Selvam Nagarajan , Hsieh Yen‐Ju , Chang Yi‐Min , Wang Leeyih
Published: July 2018

[6,6]‐Phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM and PC71BM) is an archetypal electron acceptor in organic photovoltaic devices. However, it nucleates and grows to form aggregates or crystallites on a length scale of tens of nanometres to micrometres under thermal aging, which often results in a significant decrease in device efficiency and stability. To overcome this thermally induced performance degradation, many methods have been reported to date such as the introduction of hydrogen, halogen bonding, thermally or photochemically crosslinkable groups onto the fullerene, and the suppression of nucleation and growth of fullerene crystallites under thermal aging has been successfully demonstrated. Even though those methods are highly useful for the suppression of aggregation, we successfully demonstrated another one simple method for the same: Introduction of bulkier groups onto the fullerene, which can act as anchoring group to suppress the aggregation. In an extension of our previous work, quinoxaline (TQT), benzothiadiazole (TBTT) and benzoselenadiazole (TBST) based bulkier groups are linked to the fullerene, denoted as TQT‐C60, TBTT‐C60 and TBST‐C60, respectively, through the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of corresponding azomethine ylides with fullerene. Single junction bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells were fabricated with the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:dyad/Ca/Al. The morphological stability of the active layer was monitored by transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Independent of heteroatoms, all the dyads show excellent morphological stability under thermal aging compared to the archetypal acceptor PCBM due to the anchoring of substituent groups. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Catalytic effect of poly(silicon‐containing arylacetylene) with terminal acetylene on the curing reaction and properties of a bisphenol A type cyanate ester
Authors: Cai Mingcheng , Yuan Qiaolong , Huang Farong
Published: July 2018

Bisphenol A dicyanate ester (BADCy) was blended with an acetylene‐terminated poly(silicon‐containing arylacetylene) (PSA‐E) with acidic terminal acetylene groups to prepare a modified cyanate ester (BADCy/PSA‐E) via solution and evaporation. The curing reaction of the BADCy/PSA‐E was studied by DSC and in situ infrared monitoring. The curing initial temperature and peak temperature of the blended resin decreased by up to 95 and 57 °C, respectively. The PSA‐E could catalyze the curing reaction of BADCy. The thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties of the cured blended resins were further evaluated. The temperature at 5% mass loss of the cured blended BADCy with 20% mass fraction of PSA‐E increased from 361 to 426 °C, although the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured blended resin remained at 270 °C. The cured BADCy/PSA‐E blended resin exhibited a good thermal stability. The dielectric loss factor and mechanical properties of the cured BADCy decreased upon addition of the PSA‐E resin. However, the flexural strength and impact strength of the cured blended BADCy/PSA‐E resin exhibited values of 95 MPa and 21 kJ m−2, respectively. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
External locus‐of‐hope, well‐being, and coping of students: A cross‐cultural examination within Asia
Authors: Bernardo Allan B. I. , Yeung Susanna S. , Resurreccion Katrina Fernando , Resurreccion Ron R. , Khan Aqeel
Published: July 2018

Intervention programs to strengthen hope in students have been developed and implemented in schools. The programs are based on Snyder's theory that defines hope as thoughts regarding personal capacities and pathways for goal attainment. Hope theory was recently extended to include external loci‐of‐hope, which derive from conjoint models of agency emphasized in collectivist societies. But evidence on external loci‐of‐hope's positive influence on students’ well‐being is limited. Two studies (involving student samples from four universities in Asian cities) explored how external loci‐of‐hope relate to students’ life satisfaction, personal well‐being (self‐esteem, self‐mastery), relational well‐being (relational self‐esteem, communal mastery), and coping styles for school‐related stress. Results show that external loci‐of‐hope dimensions predict students’ life satisfaction and relational aspects of well‐being, but also predict maladaptive coping. The results are discussed in relation to how the work of psychologists in schools benefit from approaches that contextualize theoretical precepts in cultural meanings and experiences in different parts of the world.
The impact of personal characteristics on scores on the Self‐Determination Inventory: Student report in adolescents with and without disabilities
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Shaw Leslie A. , Raley Sheida K. , Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: July 2018

The Self‐Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR) is a newly developed measure of self‐determination. The purpose of this study was to explore of personal factors, namely age and gender on scores on the SDI:SR. Separate multigroup confirmatory analyses were conducted for age cohorts (13‐ to 15‐, 16‐ to 18‐, and 19‐ to 22‐year‐olds) and for females and males to establish measurement invariance and explore latent differences. Findings suggest the same set of items can be used in all groups. No latent differences were found for females and males, but expected age‐related differences (e.g., younger participants showed lower levels of self‐determination) were established. Finally, the degree to which age and gender influenced scores for 12 groups created by crossing disability status and race/ethnicity was examined. Findings suggest that females with no disability or learning disabilities generally score lower in overall self‐determination than males and general positive impact of age on scores across disability by race/ethnicity groups. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The Disordered Landscape of the 20S Proteasome Substrates Reveals Tight Association with Phase Separated Granules
Authors: Myers Nadav , Olender Tsviya , Savidor Alon , Levin Yishai , Reuven Nina , Shaul Yosef
Published: July 2018

Proteasomal degradation is the main route of regulated proteostasis. The 20S proteasome is the core particle (CP) responsible for the catalytic activity of all proteasome complexes. Structural constraints mean that only unfolded, extended polypeptide chains may enter the catalytic core of the 20S proteasome. It has been previously shown that the 20S CP is active in degradation of certain intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) lacking structural constrains. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the 20S CP substrates in vitro is conducted. It is revealed that the 20S CP substrates are highly disordered. However, not all the IDPs are 20S CP substrates. The group of the IDPs that are 20S CP substrates, termed 20S‐IDPome are characterized by having significantly more protein binding partners, more posttranslational modification sites, and are highly enriched for RNA binding proteins. The vast majority of them are involved in splicing, mRNA processing, and translation. Remarkably, it is found that low complexity proteins with prion‐like domain (PrLD), which interact with GR or PR di‐peptide repeats, are the most preferential 20S CP substrates. The finding suggests roles of the 20S CP in gene transcription and formation of phase‐separated granules.
Effect of ammonia‐derived species on visible‐light photocatalytic activity of Au supported on amorphous TiO2 activated by plasma
Authors: Sun Zhi‐Guang , Li Xiao‐Song , Liu Jing‐Lin , Zhu Bin , Li Xingguo , Zhu Ai‐Min
Published: July 2018

Amorphous TiO2 supported Au photocatalyst (Au/AmT) is prepared via modified impregnation method with ammonia washing, followed by cold plasma treatment to activate the photocatalysts. Residual ammonia ([NH3]s) is formed due to the hydrogen bond between surface OH groups on AmT and ammonia. The [NH3]s suppressed the reduction of Auδ+ and occupied active sites, leading to a poor activity of as‐prepared Au/AmT. The performance of cold plasmas in activation strongly depends on discharge gases. N2 and O2 plasmas not only cannot reduce Auδ+ into Au0 but also convert [NH3]s into poisoning species [NOy]s during activation. H2 plasma with a strong reducibility can simultaneously reduce Auδ+ and remove [NH3]s, thus enabling Au/AmT to achieve the highest visible‐light photocatalytic activity in CO oxidation.
Mechanism of Laser Initiated Carbon Nanotube Ignition
Authors: Trewartha Steven , Appleby Rodney , Gascooke Jason R. , Shapter Joseph G.
Published: July 2018

This work investigated carbon nanotube reactions when subjected to a laser irradiation. It was found that the laser produced a fast explosion‐like result. The addition of ferrocene to the carbon nanotube powder was found to increase the decomposition temperature and reaction of photo‐initiated nanotubes. Incomplete combustion was found as a result of particle scattering and limited thermal transfer in loose samples however in confined samples a burning front can develop resulting in more complete combustion.
Direct Ink Writing of DNTF Based Composite with High Performance
Authors: Xu Chuanhao , An Chongwei , He Yining , Zhang Yuruo , Li Qianbing , Wang Jingyu
Published: July 2018

Direct ink writing (DIW) of energetic materials has been an area of interest for micro size charge. In this work, 3, 4‐dinitrofurazanofuroxan (DNTF) based composite was prepared with nitrocotton (NC) and Viton as binders by DIW. Scanning Electro Microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction were employed to characterize the composite samples. The impact sensitivity and thermal decomposition of the composites were also tested and analyzed. In addition, the critical size of detonation and detonation velocity were measured. The results show that DNTF based composite has a high density with whose value is 1.785 g cm−3, reaching 93.16 % of theoretical maximum density (TMD). The particles in composites are spheroidal with size ranging from 1 to 2 μm. Compared with raw DNTF, the obtained composite has a lower impact sensitivity and higher thermal stability. Moreover, the composites exhibit excellent detonation properties, whose critical size of detonation is around 0.01 mm and the mean detonation velocity is 8580 m s−1 at the charging width of 1 mm. Furthermore, part performances of this composite are contrasted with previous reported CL‐20 based composite and show better characters.
Parity Anomaly and Duality Web
Authors: Ma Chen‐Te
Published: July 2018

We review the parity anomaly and a duality web in 2+1 dimensions. An odd dimensional non‐interacting Dirac fermion theory is not parity invariant at quantum level. We demonstrate the parity anomaly in a three dimensional non‐interacting Dirac fermion theory and a one dimensional non‐interacting Dirac fermion theory. These theories can generate non‐gauge invariant Abelian Chern‐Simons terms at a finite temperature through an effective action. The parity anomaly also leads us to study the duality web in 2+1 dimensions, in which the 2+1 dimensional duality web begins from the conjecture of a duality between a three dimensional Dirac fermion theory and a three dimensional interacting scalar field theory at the Wilson‐Fisher fixed point. We first review the duality web for the flat background, then we discuss its extension to the spinc manifold to avoid inconsistency from the spin structure. This also leads a global effect. We discuss that the composite fermions approach of the quantum Hall system also suffers from the same issue of the global description. Finally, we use perspective of the electric‐magnetic duality of the Abelian gauge theory in 3+1 dimensions to study the 2+1 dimensional duality web.
A novel bacterial l‐arginine sensor controlling c‐di‐GMP levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Paiardini A , Mantoni F , Giardina G , Paone A , Janson G , Leoni L , Rampioni G , Cutruzzolà F , Rinaldo S
Published: July 2018

Nutrients such as amino acids play key roles in shaping the metabolism of microorganisms in natural environments and in host–pathogen interactions. Beyond taking part to cellular metabolism and to protein synthesis, amino acids are also signaling molecules able to influence group behavior in microorganisms, such as biofilm formation. This lifestyle switch involves complex metabolic reprogramming controlled by local variation of the second messenger 3′, 5′‐cyclic diguanylic acid (c‐di‐GMP). The intracellular levels of this dinucleotide are finely tuned by the opposite activity of dedicated diguanylate cyclases (GGDEF signature) and phosphodiesterases (EAL and HD‐GYP signatures), which are usually allosterically controlled by a plethora of environmental and metabolic clues. Among the genes putatively involved in controlling c‐di‐GMP levels in P. aeruginosa, we found that the multidomain transmembrane protein PA0575, bearing the tandem signature GGDEF‐EAL, is an l‐arginine sensor able to hydrolyse c‐di‐GMP. Here, we investigate the basis of arginine recognition by integrating bioinformatics, molecular biophysics and microbiology. Although the role of nutrients such as l‐arginine in controlling the cellular fate in P. aeruginosa (including biofilm, pathogenicity and virulence) is already well established, we identified the first l‐arginine sensor able to link environment sensing, c‐di‐GMP signaling and biofilm formation in this bacterium.
Estimating the contribution of folding stability to nonspecific epistasis in protein evolution
Authors: Dasmeh Pouria , Serohijos Adrian W. R.
Published: July 2018

The extent of nonadditive interaction among mutations or epistasis reflects the ruggedness of the fitness landscape, the mapping of genotype to reproductive fitness. In protein evolution, there is strong support for the importance and prevalence of epistasis but the quantitative and relative contribution of various factors to epistasis are poorly known. Here, we determine the contribution of selection for folding stability to epistasis in protein evolution. By combining theoretical estimates of the rates of molecular evolution and the nonlinear mapping between protein folding thermodynamics and fitness, we show that the simple selection for folding stability imposes at least ~30% to ~40% epistasis in long‐term protein evolution. Estimating the contribution of governing factors in molecular evolution such as protein folding stability to epistasis will provide a better understanding of epistasis that could improve methods in molecular evolution.
Application of nSMOL coupled with LC‐MS bioanalysis for monitoring the Fc‐fusion biopharmaceuticals Etanercept and Abatacept in human serum
Authors: Iwamoto Noriko , Yokoyama Kotoko , Takanashi Megumi , Yonezawa Atsushi , Matsubara Kazuo , Shimada Takashi
Published: July 2018

The principle of nano‐surface and molecular‐orientation limited (nSMOL) proteolysis has a unique characteristic Fab‐selective proteolysis for antibody bioanalysis that is independent of a variety of monoclonal antibodies by the binding antibody Fc via Protein A/G in a pore with 100 nm diameter and modified trypsin immobilization on the surface of nanoparticles with 200 nm diameter. Since minimizing peptide complexity and protease contamination while maintaining antibody sequence specificity enables a rapid and broad development of optimized methods for liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) bioanalysis, the application of regulatory LC‐MS for monitoring antibody biopharmaceuticals is expected. nSMOL is theoretically anticipated to be applicable for representative Fc‐fusion biopharmaceuticals, because Protein A/G‐binding site Fc exists on the C‐terminus, and its functional domain is available to orient and interact with the reaction solution. In this report, we describe the validated LC‐MS bioanalysis for monitoring Ethanercept and Abatacept using nSMOL technology. The quantitation range of Ethanercept in human serum was from 0.195 to 100 μg/mL using the signature peptide VFCTK (aa.43‐47), and that of Abatacept was from 0.391 to 100 μg/mL using the signature peptide MHVAQPAVVLASSR (aa.1‐14). Both proteins fulfilled the guideline criteria for low‐molecular‐weight drug compounds. The results indicate that the clinical and therapeutic monitoring for antibody and Fc‐fusion biopharmaceuticals are adequately applicable using nSMOL proteolysis coupled with LC‐MS bioanalysis.
Interface Magnetism in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/PrBa2Cu3O7 Epitaxial Heterostructures
Authors: Cuellar Fabian A. , Hernandez‐Martin David , Tornos Javier , Gallego Fernando , Orfila Gloria , Rivera‐Calzada Alberto , Sefrioui Zouhair , Leon Carlos , Santamaria Jacobo
Published: July 2018

All oxide magnetic tunnel junctions based on epitaxial La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO)(8 nm)/PrBa2Cu3O7 (PBCO) (3–8 nm)/LCMO(25–50 nm) heterostructures grown on (100) SrTiO3 are examined. Manganite electrodes show large (bulk‐like) magnetic moments and exhibit different magnetic anisotropies with different easy axes directions. A form of low dimensional magnetism is induced at the interfaces by the superexchange interaction across the reconstructed bonds. It acts as an exchange spring, driving ferromagnetic coupling between the electrodes. Resistance versus magnetic field loops demonstrate that the interfacial coupling strength depends on electric field through its effect on electronic reconstruction and orbital hierarchy at the interface. The electrically controlled magnetic coupling between the magnetic moments of the electrodes signals a new path toward low dissipation spintronics.
Anticancer potential of quercetin: A comprehensive review
Authors: Rauf Abdur , Imran Muhammad , Khan Imtiaz Ali , ur‐Rehman Mujeeb‐ , Gilani Syed Amir , Mehmood Zaffar , Mubarak Mohammad S.
Published: July 2018

Diet plays a key role to maintaining healthy life. Many natural products present in our diet, such as flavonoids, can prevent the progression of cancer. Quercetin, a distinctive bioactive flavonoid, is a dietary component that has attracted the attention of dietitians and medicinal chemists due to its numerous health‐promoting effects. It is an outstanding antioxidant that has a well‐documented role in reducing different human cancers. Quercetin exhibits direct proapoptotic effects on tumor cells and thus can inhibit the progress of numerous human cancers. The anticancer effect of quercetin has been documented in numerous in vitro and in vivo studies that involved several cell lines and animal models. On the other hand, the high toxic effect of quercetin against cancer cells is accompanied with little or no side effects or harm to normal cells. Accordingly, this review presents an overview of recent developments on the use of quercetin against different types of cancer along with mechanisms of action. In addition, the present review summarizes the literature pertaining to quercetin as an anticancer agent and provides an assessment of the potential utilization of this natural compound as a complimentary or alternative medicine for preventing and treating cancer.
Ethnobotany of the genus Taraxacum—Phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Sharifi‐Rad Mehdi , Roberts Thomas H. , Matthews Karl R. , Bezerra Camila F. , Morais‐Braga Maria Flaviana B. , Coutinho Henrique D.M. , Sharopov Farukh , Salehi Bahare , Yousaf Zubaida , Sharifi‐Rad Majid , del Mar Contreras María , Varoni Elena Maria , Verma Deepa R. , Iriti Marcello , Sharifi‐Rad Javad
Published: July 2018

Plants belonging to the genus Taraxacum have been used in traditional healthcare to treat infectious diseases including food‐borne infections. This review aims to summarize the available information on Taraxacum spp., focusing on plant cultivation, ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive phytochemicals, and antimicrobial properties. Phytochemicals present in Taraxacum spp. include sesquiterpene lactones, such as taraxacin, mongolicumin B, and taraxinic acid derivatives; triterpenoids, such as taraxasterol, taraxerol, and officinatrione; and phenolic derivatives, such as hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic, chicoric, and caffeoyltartaric acids), coumarins (aesculin and cichoriin), lignans (mongolicumin A), and taraxacosides. Aqueous and organic extracts of different plant parts exhibit promising in vitro antimicrobial activity relevant for controlling fungi and Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Therefore, this genus represents a potential source of bioactive phytochemicals with broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, so far, preclinical evidence for these activities has not been fully substantiated by clinical studies. Indeed, clinical evidence for the activity of Taraxacum bioactive compounds is still scant, at least for infectious diseases, and there is limited information on oral bioavailability, pharmacological activities, and safety of Taraxacum products in humans, though their traditional uses would suggest that these plants are safe.
On optimal replacement of systems with failure rates described by a random jump process
Authors: Cha Ji Hwan , Finkelstein Maxim , Levitin Gregory
Published: July 2018

Preventive maintenance (age replacement) of items operating in a random environment modeled by a Poisson shock process, resulting in random jump process in the system failure rate, is considered. The corresponding univariate and bivariate models are described. In the univariate model, an item is replaced either on failure or on the predetermined replacement time, whichever comes first. In the bivariate model, the preventive maintenance is performed also on the occurrence of the mth shock. Each shock in our stochastic model has a triple effect. On one hand, it acts directly on the failure rate of an item, increasing it by a random amount or resulting in a failure. On the other hand, each shock causes additional ‘damage’, which can be attributed, eg, to a short drop in the output of an item. The corresponding optimization problem is formulated and illustrated by detailed numerical examples.
A hybrid hierarchical Bayesian model for spatiotemporal surveillance data
Authors: Zou Jian , Zhang Zhongqiang , Yan Hong
Published: July 2018

Due to the low signal‐to‐noise ratio and high‐dimensional structure, spatiotemporal data analysis is challenging. In outbreak detection, the assumptions for control charts, including independence, normality, and stationarity, are often violated in syndromic surveillance data. We develop a novel hybrid hierarchical Bayesian model through the combination of the Dirichlet process and particle filters to resolve these issues. We use a modified adjacency matrix as the observation matrix in the Markovian state‐space model. This methodology achieves dimension reduction and computational efficiency and enjoys a superior detection performance with the ability to incorporate online updating for data streaming applications. Our data set is derived from the Indiana Public Health Emergency Surveillance System. It consists of surveillance data on emergency room visits for influenza‐like and respiratory illness from 2008 to 2010. We are able to detect the 2009 H1N1 outbreak as well as the seasonal influenza outbreaks. Numerical results show that our Dirichlet process/particle filter models improve the outbreak detection performance in both simulation and real data analysis.
A Review on the Synergistic Features of Hexagonal Boron Nitride (White Graphene) as Adsorbent‐Photo Active Nanomaterial
Authors: Mishra Nirmalendu S. , Saravanan Pichiah
Published: July 2018

Hexagonal boron nitride, known as white graphene has attracted the water industry as a replacement to both classical bulk and nano‐adsorbent. Its structural resemblance to graphene, resistance to corrosion, chemical oxidation, high thermal stability has attracted the focus of the researchers. On top of that its intrinsic material properties such as porosity, surface functional groups, band gap, etc. can be engineered to complement the real‐time applications. All the aforementioned strengthened their potential candidature as alternative nano‐adsorbent as well as energy material. The distinct characteristics like high selectivity, affinity, and the polar nature are auxiliary benefits for the adsorptive process. Further, the higher thermal stability of the material paves facile and ease regeneration. However, the wider band position limits its attributes as energy materials and was resolved by simple doping with suitable impurities. The authors drafted review, learning the vacuum that consolidates the mechanistic features like the development of nanoarchitecture, porosity, and bandgap engineering of the said material. Hence, the present review unambiguously discusses the role of various governing parameters for the development of novel porous Hexagonal boron nitride, along with characteristics of typical energy materials.
Activist‐impelled divestitures and shareholder value
Authors: Chen Siwen , Feldman Emilie R.
Published: July 2018

Research Summary: This study analyzes how the divestitures that are impelled by activist investors in their campaigns against public corporations affect shareholder value. Using hand‐collected data on the activist campaigns that were launched against and the divestitures that were undertaken by Fortune 500 companies between 2007 and 2015, we find that activist‐impelled divestitures are more positively associated with immediate and longer‐term measures of shareholder value than comparable manager‐led divestitures. These performance differences persist for nearly two years after the completion of these deals. Our results empirically test the idea that firms with agency problems unlock shareholder value when they divest, and support the notion that activist investors fulfill an important external governance function. Our work also opens new research opportunities and offers practical implications as well.

Managerial Summary: This study investigates how divestitures that are undertaken at the behest of activist investors affect shareholder value. We find that divestitures that were undertaken under pressure from activist investors are associated with more positive shareholder returns than comparable divestitures that were undertaken voluntarily by managers. These performance differences persist for nearly two years after the completion of these deals, alleviating concerns about the purported short‐termism of activist investors. Our findings suggest that activist investors may fulfill an important governance function by inducing managers to undertake strategies that they might not otherwise pursue, thereby unlocking shareholder value.
Colloidal Assembly Approaches to Micro/Nanostructures of Complex Morphologies
Authors: Xu Wenjing , Li Zhiwei , Yin Yadong
Published: July 2018

The ability to programmatically assemble colloidal micro/nanostructures into highly ordered superstructures is of great importance in both fundamental studies and practical applications. In addition to the sophisticated manipulation of the short‐range and long‐range interactions imposed on the colloidal building blocks, the intrinsic shape elements including face, edge, corner, concave, convex, and curvature also play very important roles in solving the “jigsaw puzzle” of the superstructures. Here, the recent progress in the development of colloidal assembly strategies for the formation of complex superstructures is reviewed, with a primary focus on the unique effects of the morphology of the building blocks to the assembly processes and the final structures. Overall, this Review aims to shed light on the fundamental understanding of the colloidal behaviors of complex micro/nanostructures and promote the continued development of effective strategies for the creation of functional materials with complex compositions and morphologies.
Dibenzothiophene‐S,S‐Dioxide‐Based Conjugated Polymers: Highly Efficient Photocatalyts for Hydrogen Production from Water under Visible Light
Authors: Dai Chunhui , Xu Shidang , Liu Wei , Gong Xuezhong , Panahandeh‐Fard Majid , Liu Zitong , Zhang Deqing , Xue Can , Loh Kian Ping , Liu Bin
Published: July 2018

Three dibenzothiophene‐S,S‐dioxide‐based alternating copolymers were synthesized by facile Suzuki polymerization for visible light–responsive hydrogen production from water (> 420 nm). Without addition of any cocatalyst, FluPh2‐SO showed a photocatalytic efficiency of 3.48 mmol h−1 g−1, while a larger hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 4.74 mmol h−1 g−1 was achieved for Py‐SO, which was ascribed to the improved coplanarity of the polymer that facilitated both intermolecular packing and charge transport. To minimize the possible steric hindrance of FluPh2‐SO by replacing 9,9′‐diphenylfluorene with fluorene, Flu‐SO exhibited a more red‐shifted absorption than FluPh2‐SO and yielded the highest HER of 5.04 mmol h−1 g−1. This work highlights the potential of dibenzothiophene‐S,S‐dioxide as a versatile building block and the rational design strategy for achieving high photocatalytic efficiency.
Achieving High Open‐Circuit Voltage for p‐i‐n Perovskite Solar Cells Via Anode Contact Engineering
Authors: Li Guijun , Deng Sunbin , Zhang Meng , Chen Rongsheng , Xu Ping , Wong Man , Kwok Hoi‐Sing
Published: July 2018

With photocurrents in perovskite solar cells close to their practical limit, it is imperative to improve their open‐circuit voltage to go beyond a loss‐in‐potential less than 100 mV. However, state‐of‐the‐art p‐i‐n perovskite solar cells are reported with a Voc of around 1.1–1.5 V, limiting their efficiency improvement. Herein, the authors demonstrate that the Voc of p‐i‐n perovskite solar cells can be successfully improved via anode contact engineering. First of all, by introducing a partially oxidized nickel layer, the authors are able to remove the potential barrier for hole transport and enhance the crystallinity of the hole transporting layer, both of which are believed to contribute to the Voc and FF improvement. Furthermore, by separating the inorganic NiMgOx hole transporting layer from the perovskite absorbing layer with a poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP) insulating layer, the interfacial recombination could be effectively suppressed, the Voc climbs to an impressive value of 1.15 V along with a power conversion efficiency of 19.3%. Finally, a substrate‐type perovskite solar cell is fabricated with an extremely high Voc of 1.18 V, representing a very low voltage deficit in the p‐i‐n perovskite solar cells. Our works provide an avenue for further reducing the loss‐in‐potential of perovskite solar cells.