bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New kinetic and mechanistic findings in the oxidation of hydroxylamine by Cerium(IV) in perchloric acid media
Authors: Xu Liyao , Tian Hongwu , Yao Haiping , Shi Tiesheng
Published: September 2018

The oxidation of hydroxylamine (HONH2) by Ce(IV) in perchloric acid media took place fast and was followed by a stopped‐flow spectrometer. A rate law of −d[Ce(IV)]tot/dt = k′[HONH2]tot[Ce(IV)]tot was proved, where k′ stands for the observed second‐order rate constant and [Ce(IV)]tot and [HONH2]tot represent the total concentrations of Ce(IV) and HONH2, respectively. The dependencies of k′ on [H+] and on ionic strength were investigated. Rapid scan spectra recorded for a typical reaction course and a stoichiometric measurement unraveled several additional characters for the redox reaction. Based on experimental results, a reaction mechanism is proposed, which involves Ce4+, Ce(OH)3+, and Ce(OH)22+ attacking on HONH3+ in parallel. Moreover, these parallel attacking reactions are the rate‐determining steps, generating free radicals •ONH2, which are rapidly oxidized to nitrate by Ce(IV). Rate constants of these rate‐determining steps have been evaluated; a reactivity trend of Ce4+ > Ce(OH)3+ > Ce(OH)22+ is disclosed, but the reactivity differences among them are very small. The rate‐determining steps are rationalized in terms of an outer‐sphere electron transfer, and possible transition states are proposed in the cases of Ce(OH)3+ and Ce(OH)22+ to account for the small reactivity differences. The obtained kinetic and mechanistic results in the present work are compared with those acquired previously for the same reaction but in sulfuric acid and nitric media. It is concluded that the reaction media can play a dominant role in determining the reaction kinetics, mechanisms, and the product(s) in the oxidation of hydroxylamine by Ce(IV).
A restarted Krylov method with inexact inversions
Authors: Dax Achiya
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we present a new type of restarted Krylov method for calculating the smallest eigenvalues of a symmetric positive definite matrix G. The new framework avoids the Lanczos tridiagonalization process and the use of polynomial filtering. This simplifies the restarting mechanism and allows the introduction of several modifications. Convergence is assured by a monotonicity property that pushes the eigenvalues toward their limits. Another innovation is the use of inexact inversions of G to generate the Krylov matrices. In this approach, the inverse of G is approximated by using an iterative method to solve the related linear system. Numerical experiments illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Hippocampal subregion abnormalities in schizophrenia: A systematic review of structural and physiological imaging studies
Authors: Nakahara Soichiro , Matsumoto Mitsuyuki , van Erp Theo G. M.
Published: September 2018

Aim

The hippocampus is considered a key region in schizophrenia pathophysiology, but the nature of hippocampal subregion abnormalities and how they contribute to disease expression remain to be fully determined. This study reviews findings from schizophrenia hippocampal subregion volumetric and physiological imaging studies published within the last decade.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched for publications on hippocampal subregion volume and physiology abnormalities in schizophrenia and their findings were reviewed.

Results

The main replicated findings include smaller CA1 volumes and CA1 hyperactivation in schizophrenia, which may be predictive of conversion in individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis, smaller CA1 and CA4/DG volumes in first‐episode schizophrenia, and more widespread smaller hippocampal subregion volumes with longer duration of illness. Several studies have reported relationships between hippocampal subregion volumes and declarative memory or symptom severity.

Conclusions

Together these studies provide support for hippocampal formation circuitry models of schizophrenia. These initial findings must be taken with caution as the scientific community is actively working on hippocampal subregion method improvement and validation. Further improvements in our understanding of the nature of hippocampal formation subregion involvement in schizophrenia will require the collection of structural and physiological imaging data at submillimeter voxel resolution, standardization and agreement of atlases, adequate control for possible confounding factors, and multi‐method validation of findings. Despite the need for cautionary interpretation of the initial findings, we believe that improved localization of hippocampal subregion abnormalities in schizophrenia holds promise for the identification of disease contributing mechanisms.
Phosphosilicate–polyamidoamine hyperbranched polymer–Er3+ nanocomposite toward planar optical waveguide applications
Authors: Amin Amal , Ahmed Eman H. , Wickleder Claudia , Adlung Matthias , Hashem Ahmed I. , Ayoub Magdy M. H. , Battisha Inas K.
Published: September 2018

Phosphosilicate (SiPh)/hyperbranched polyamidoamine (HYP)/Erbium (Er+3) hybrid nanocomposite (SiPh‐HYP‐Er+3) was prepared as novel optical planar waveguide material in two different forms, monolith and thin film. HYB was synthesized by one‐pot polymerization reaction via couple monomer methodology. Afterward, SiPh‐HYP‐Er+3 nanocomposite was prepared by doping the HYB and Er+3 nitrate into phosphosilicate matrix by using sol–gel technique. The prepared (SiPh‐HYP‐Er+3) nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Adjustable refractive indices (RIs) have been calculated for SiPh‐HYP‐Er+3 nanocomposites. The Vis–NIR photoluminescence emission spectra for monolith and thin film of SiPhEr+3 and SiPh‐HYP‐Er+3 nanocomposites under excitation of Ar‐Laser with 514 nm wavelength were dominated by an emission band centered at around 1.54 µm region. That band was assigned to 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition and the 4f‐transition state of Er+3 ions which was influenced by the presence of the hyperbranched polymeric material leading to coordination and Er+3 ions complex formation with the hyperbranched polymers. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2029–2038, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Two‐dimensional NMR analysis of Angiopteris evecta rhizome and improved extraction method for angiopteroside
Authors: Kamitakahara Hiroshi , Okayama Tomoki , Praptiwi  , Agusta Andria , Tobimatsu Yuki , Takano Toshiyuki
Published: September 2018

Introduction

The rhizome of Angiopteris evecta is of academic interest in Kalimantan, Indonesia, from an ethnobotanical perspective. Angiopteroside is a substance of pharmaceutical importance that is found in the rhizome of A. evecta.

Objective

The aims of this research are to improve the extraction method for angiopteroside from the rhizome, compared to that in a previous report, and to determine the yield of angiopteroside from the rhizome of A. evecta, as well as to obtain precise data for extractives from the rhizome of A. evecta by using two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS).

Methodology

We investigated the chemical constituents of the whole rhizome by means of two‐dimensional NMR (heteronuclear single quantum coherence or HSQC) spectroscopy, neutral sugar analysis using the alditol acetate method, and lignin analysis using alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation and Klason lignin methods. LC–MS revealed the purity of the angiopteroside. Antimicrobial assays were also performed for the purified angiopteroside by using a broth microdilution method.

Results

Angiopteroside was isolated by Soxhlet extraction with aqueous acetone followed by preparative thin‐layer chromatography (eluent: 20% methanol/dichloromethane). LC–MS revealed that angiopteroside can be found in the rhizome of A. evecta in 9.9% yield, which is an extremely high yield for a plant extractive.

Conclusion

HSQC analysis is a powerful tool for surveying compounds in plant materials, such as the whole rhizome of A. evecta. Soxhlet extraction with aqueous acetone is an effective method for extracting glycosides from plant materials.
Interventions for prostate cancer survivorship: A systematic review of reviews
Authors: Crawford‐Williams Fiona , March Sonja , Goodwin Belinda C. , Ralph Nicholas , Galvão Daniel A. , Newton Robert U. , Chambers Suzanne K. , Dunn Jeff
Published: September 2018

Objective

To systematically review the evidence for interventions addressing key domains of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care Guidelines: health promotion, surveillance, physical side effects, psychosocial management, and care coordination.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of interventions targeting ACS/ASCO guideline domains. All titles and abstracts were independently assessed for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. Relevant data were extracted, and assessment of methodological quality was performed.

Results

Forty‐four systematic reviews of interventions targeting ACS prostate cancer guideline domains were included for review. Exercise and psychosocial interventions were effective for improving men's survivorship outcomes in the domains of health promotion, physical side effects, and psychosocial management. Across the domains, evidence quality varied and there was a limited diversity of participants. No reviews of interventions addressing surveillance and cancer care coordination were identified.

Conclusions

There are substantive knowledge gaps in prostate cancer survivorship research that are a barrier to real improvements in men's outcomes across the breadth of the survivorship experience. A targeted research and implementation agenda in prostate cancer survivorship is urgently needed if we are to meet the current and future burden of this disease on individuals, families, and communities.
Preparation of Nano‐DAAF Explosive with Improved Initiation Sensitivity
Authors: Wang Jun , Qu Yanyang , Wang Yao , Zhang Long , Qiao Zhiqiang
Published: September 2018

3,3′‐diamino‐4,4′‐zoxyfurazan (DAAF) shows fascinating properties and can be practically applied in explosives and solid rocket propellants. Nano‐sized DAAF explosive particles were prepared by a low‐temperature and rapid crystallization process to improve energetic performance. The diameter and morphology of DAAF nanoparticles were characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Nano‐DAAF shows irregular spherical nano‐particles with the diameter ranging from 50 to 100 nm. The size and morphology of nano‐DAAF particles can be tuned by temperature difference and DAAF concentration of crystallization process. The thermal properties were also investigated by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For nano‐sized DAAF shows significantly decreased exothermal peak (259.3 °C) and enhanced energy release rate. Deflagration and short impulse shock waves experiments illustrated that nano‐DAAF explosive shows significantly improved initiation sensitivity compared to micro‐particles.
Applying Mechanically Activated Al/PTFE in CMDB Propellant
Authors: Sun Shixiong , Zhao Benbo , Zhang Guangpu , Luo Yunjun
Published: September 2018

A novel reactive powder (aluminum/polytetrafluoroethylene, Al/PTFE 75/25 mass %) containing two kinds of PTFE (pre‐sintering PTFE and fresh PTFE, P‐PTFE and F‐PTFE) was prepared by a two‐step mechanical activation (MA) method. By introducing it into composite modified double base (CMDB) propellant, an attempt to improve the propellant performance of this mechanically activated Al/PTFE was made. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization indicated that F‐PTFE in activated powders deformed to abundant fibers under uniform shear forces. These fibers significantly enhanced propellant tensile properties and show improved safety performance. Compared to blank CMDB propellant (without PTFE), the elongation at maximum strength for propellant with activated Al/PTFE inclusions was increased to 3.7 times at −40 °C and to 3.9 times at −70 °C, the friction sensitivity and impact sensitivity were reduced by 88.9 % and 20.4 %, respectively. P‐PTFE in activated powders promoted the Al reaction activity, thereby reducing the propellant combustion agglomeration. The average diameter (D50) of coarse products for propellant with activated Al/PTFE 75/25 mass‐% was reduced by 82 % compared to that of blank CMDB propellant with spherical aluminum. This novel activated Al/PTFE shows increased propellant mechanical performance, decreased sensitivity and improved combustion efficiency of Al, which might expand the application field of CMDB propellants.
Laboratory and field investigation on the orientation of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to more suitable host plants driven by volatiles and component analysis of volatiles
Authors: Cao Yu , Li Can , Yang Hong , Li Jun , Li Shuai , Wang Yawei , Gao Yulin
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Differences in population densities of Frankliniella occidentalis among different plant species suggest a preference for particular hosts. Host plant volatiles are often involved in insect fitness. However, few studies have explored the interaction between flower volatiles and fitness. The host fitness of F. occidentalis for different flowers was assessed through field investigation, and the olfactory preference of thrips for flower volatiles was tested in the laboratory.

RESULTS

In the field study, 18 flower host plants were classified at four fitness levels by F. occidentalis. Olfactory tests showed that female F. occidentalis had significantly different preferences for different plant odours among the volatiles of the four tested flowers (each representing the four fitness levels), whereas male F. occidentalis did not. The relative response of F. occidentalis females to flower volatiles (Rosa rugosa > Dianthus caryophyllus > Gerbera jamesonii > Pelargonium hortorum) was consistent with the field performance of F. occidentalis. In total, 23, 29, 16 and 26 components were identified in the volatile profiles of R. rugosa, D. caryophyllus, G. jamesonii and P. hortorum, respectively. 3,5‐Dimethoxytoluene (24.94%), nonanal (30.42%), (E)‐3‐penten‐2‐one (52.31%) and zingiberene (29.88%) were the single most abundant components of the volatiles of R. rugosa, D. caryophyllus, G. jamesonii and P. hortorum, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Volatiles are important in attracting F. occidentalis to suitable hosts, and differences in the types and concentrations of volatile components among flowers may directly influence the olfactory responses and field performance of thrips. Potential attractants could be developed for integrated pest management programmes against this pest. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Model‐Informed Precision Dosing at the Bedside: Scientific Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Keizer Ron J. , ter Heine Rob , Frymoyer Adam , Lesko Lawrence J. , Mangat Ranvir , Goswami Srijib
Published: September 2018

The development of model‐informed precision dosing (MIPD) tools, especially in the form of native or web‐based applications to be used at the bedside, has garnered marked attention in recent years. Their potential clinical benefit can be large, but it should be ensured that such tools make optimal use of available clinical data and have adequate predictive ability. Unique scientific challenges specific to MIPD remain, which may require adaptation of commonly used diagnostics in pharmacometrics.
Semipolar GaN(10–11) Epitaxial Layer Prepared on Nano‐Patterned SiC/Si(100) Template
Authors: Bessolov Vasily , Zubkova Anna , Konenkova Elena , Konenkov Steven , Kukushkin Sergey , Orlova Tatiana , Rodin Sergey , Rubets Vladimir , Kibalov Dmitry , Smirnov Valery
Published: September 2018

A new approach is proposed to the synthesis of a semipolar GaN on a Si(100) substrate at the surface of which the V‐shaped nanostructures with the characteristic size of elements as low as 100 nm are formed. It has been demonstrated that application of buffer layers of 3C‐SiC and AlN enables formation of the GaN(10–11) layer characterized by the full width at half maximum value as low as ωθ ≈45 arcmin for the X‐ray diffraction rocking curve. The model based on anisotropic nucleation of AlN on the V‐shaped nanostructure is proposed to explain the growth of the GaN layer in a single semipolar direction.
Information theoretic approach provides a reliable description for kinetic component of correlation energy density functional
Authors: Alipour Mojtaba , Badooei Zeinab
Published: September 2018

In recent years, much efforts have been invested to apply information theory for different physical and chemical problems. In this regard, one can make use of one or many of the information theoretic quantities together within an approach so‐called information functional theory to describe the energetic components and electronic properties of various systems. In the present contribution, several information theoretic quantities such as Fisher information, Shannon entropy, Onicescu information energy, and Ghosh–Berkowitz–Parr entropy based on the two representations of electron density and shape function are utilized for the prediction of kinetic component of the correlation energy density functional as an important quantity in density functional theory. Taking the atoms and isoelectronic series as benchmark sets we find that with more or less different accountabilities of the considered quantities they can be introduced as reliable measures for the kinetic energy functional. Concerning different natures of the information theoretic quantities with variety of scaling properties and physiochemical propensities, it is shown that instead of describing all data using one of such quantities individually, considering all of them concurrently provides a better view on the prediction of the kinetic component of correlation energy density functional. Hopefully, the information theoretic approach can provide an alternative pathway toward the theoretical prediction and rationalization of important quantities in density functional calculations from the perspective of information theory.
Context and Implications Document for: A systematic review of the literature on the causes of early school leaving in Africa and Asia
Authors: Momo Michelle S. M. , Cabus Sofie J. , De Witte Kristof , Groot Wim
Published: September 2018

This guide accompanies the following article: Momo, M. S. M., Cabus, S. J., De Witte, K. & Groot, W. (2018) A systematic review of the literature on the causes of early school leaving in Africa and Asia. Review of Education, https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3134
Safety and Efficacy of Adult Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Heart Failure (SafeCell Heart): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lalu Manoj M. , Mazzarello Sasha , Zlepnig Jennifer , Dong Yuan Yi (Ryan) , Montroy Joshua , McIntyre Lauralyn , Devereaux P.J. , Stewart Duncan J. , David Mazer C. , Barron Carly C. , McIsaac Daniel I. , Fergusson Dean A.
Published: September 2018

Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be beneficial in treating both acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic heart failure (IHF). However, the safety profile and efficacy of MSC therapy is not well-known. We conducted a systematic review of clinical trials that evaluated the safety or efficacy of MSCs for AMI or IHF. Embase, PubMed/Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to September 27, 2017. Studies that examined the use of MSCs administered to adults with AMI or IHF were eligible. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess bias of included studies. The primary outcome was safety assessed by adverse events and the secondary outcome was efficacy which was assessed by mortality and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A total of 668 citations were reviewed and 23 studies met eligibility criteria. Of these, 11 studies evaluated AMI and 12 studies evaluated IHF. There was no association between MSCs and acute adverse events. There was a significant improvement in overall LVEF in patients who received MSCs (SMD 0.73, 95% CI 0.24–1.21). No significant difference in mortality was noted (Peto OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.38–1.22). Results from our systematic review suggest that MSC therapy for ischemic heart disease appears to be safe. There is a need for a well-designed adequately powered randomized control trial (with rigorous adverse event reporting and evaluations of cardiac function) to further establish a clear risk-benefit profile of MSCs.
Multiple mediation analysis with survival outcomes: With an application to explore racial disparity in breast cancer survival
Authors: Yu Qingzhao , Wu Xiaocheng , Li Bin , Scribner Richard A.
Published: September 2018

Mediation analysis allows the examination of effects of a third variable in the pathway between an exposure and an outcome. The general multiple mediation analysis method, proposed by Yu et al, improves traditional methods (eg, estimation of natural and controlled direct effects) to enable consideration of multiple mediators/confounders simultaneously and the use of linear and nonlinear predictive models for estimating mediation/confounding effects. In this paper, we extend the method for time‐to‐event outcomes and apply the method to explore the racial disparity in breast cancer survivals. Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women of all races. Despite improvement of survival rates of breast cancer in the US, a significant difference between white and black women remains. Previous studies have found that more advanced and aggressive tumors and less than optimal treatment may explain the lower survival rates for black women as compared to white women. Due to limitations of current analytic methods and the lack of comprehensive data sets, researchers have not been able to differentiate the relative effect each factor contributes to the overall racial disparity. We use the CDC‐funded Patterns of Care study to examine the determinants of racial disparities in breast cancer survival using a novel multiple mediation analysis. Using the proposed method, we applied the Cox hazard model and multiple additive regression trees as predictive models and found that all racial disparity in survival among Louisiana breast cancer patients were explained by factors included in the study.
Efficient Capture and Reversible Storage of Radioactive Iodine by Porous Graphene with High Uptake
Authors: Sun Hanxue , Mu Peng , Xie Huimin , Zhu Zhaoqi , Liang Weidong , Zhou Zhifang , Li An
Published: September 2018

The demand for the safe and efficient capture and storage of radioactive iodine is growing worldwide especially after the Fukushima accident. Herein, porous graphene materials, which were prepared by reduction of graphene oxide followed by chemical activation, are proposed for removal and storage of iodine. The effect of activation on the structure and porosity of the porous graphene was characterized. Owing to its high accessible space for iodine uptake, an iodine vapor adsorption capacity of 4110 mg g−1 was achieved, which is the highest value for solid carbon‐based adsorbents up to now. Quite different from that of adsorption of iodine vapor, the adsorption of iodine from solvent solution is less affected by the porosity of porous graphene. The adsorption kinetic data can be well represented by the pseudo‐second‐order model and the equilibrium data can be defined well to the Langmuir isotherm. These findings may offer not only a simple and efficient new approach for trapping harmful and radioactive iodine species by carbon materials, but also provide fundamental insight into the structure‐activity relationship of graphene materials for iodine adsorption.
New Properties of Two‐Dimensional Materials: Highly Effective Thermal Catalytic Degradation Activity
Authors: Zhao Gang , Deng Xiaolong , Liu Xiaojing , Shi Chaoqun , Liu Xinke , Tan Xinyi , Zhang Shouwei , Xu Xijin
Published: September 2018

2D hexagonal boron nitride, graphene, molybdenum disulphide and tungsten disulfide nanosheets were successfully prepared at mild temperature using a facile “recrystallization of NaCl” exfoliation method. The proposed method was simple, inexpensive and practical. The thicknesses of the h‐BN, graphene, MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets were approximately 1.5, 1.1, 1.2 and 1 nm, respectively. It was very interesting that the 2D nanosheets exhibited excellent thermal catalytic degradation performance during preparation of carbon quantum dots by using ethylene glycol. What's more, nitrobenzene (NB) was also degraded and the best degradation rate of NB was 71% at 6 h in the thermal catalytic system. This interesting discovery will lead to new research directions for two‐dimensional materials.
A Novel Turn‐on Fluorescent Probe Based on Coumarin Schiff's base for Multichannel Monitoring of Al3+, Hg2+ and ClO− in Different Solutions and its Applications
Authors: Yan Liqiang , Li Xueming , Li Jianping
Published: September 2018

A multichannel fluorescence probe 8‐((((7‐(diethylamino)‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)methylene)hydrazono)methyl)‐7‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (probe 1) with “turn on” characteristics for selective and sensitive response toward Al3+, Hg2+ and ClO− was developed by mild condensation reaction of coumarin and ethanediamine. The probe could recognize Al3+, Hg2+ and ClO− with obvious change of fluorescence intensity in different mixture solution, and showed different maximum emission wavelengths in the presence of Al3+, Hg2+ and ClO− at 459 nm, 485 nm and 504 nm, respectively. More importantly, this probe has successfully been used in the monitoring of Al3+, Hg2+ and ClO− in tap water samples, and was resoundingly carried out imaging ClO− in living cells.
Radiolytic Synthesis of Cyanogen Chloride, Cyanamide and Simple Sugar Precursors
Authors: Yi Ruiqin , Hongo Yayoi , Yoda Isao , Adam Zachary R. , Fahrenbach Albert C.
Published: September 2018

Chemical evolution, from simple molecules to complex systems, is fundamental to modern origins of life research, and complex reaction networks are often supposed to have operated on the early Earth. Herein, a variety of compounds useful particularly for RNA synthesis − namely, cyanogen chloride, cyanamide, and nitrile precursors to simple sugars − are produced in short order by a chemical reaction network starting from hydrogen cyanide and driven by gamma radiolysis. The radiolytic yield of cyanamide was found to be proportional to the concentration of chloride, an often overlooked spectator anion. Aqueous irradiation of hydrogen cyanide in the presence of sodium chloride also affords cyanogen chloride, a possible intermediate in the radiolytic synthesis of cyanamide. Meanwhile, the synthesis of simple sugar precursors is proposed to proceed through a Kiliani‐Fischer homologation mechanism made possible by the reducing power of the solvated electron and hydrogen atom. Such a reaction network has the potential to serve as a model for better understanding and engineering chemical evolution of complex mixtures in the laboratory that could have happened on the early Earth.
Bridging Chiral de‐tert‐Butylcalix[4]arenes: Diastereomeric Crystallization‐Based Optical Resolution and Determination of Absolute Configuration
Authors: Liu Wen‐Shan , He Di , Ma Hao , Weng Xiu‐Fang , Ren Shan‐Shan , Liu Xiong , Tang Sheng‐An , Ma Shi‐Kun , Liu Jun‐Min , Li Shao‐Yong
Published: September 2018

A pair of diastereomers 2 a and 2 b were synthesized from the conjugation of bridging chiral de‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene racemate 1 and (1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonyl chloride. The diastereomeric separation by crystallization was explored in different solvents, temperature and time. The optimal crystallization procedures can afford them in a desirable yield, de and purity. A pair of enantiomers 1 a and 1 b were subsequently obtained after their hydrolysis. Moreover, their absolute configurations were determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The crystallization results can match the large‐scale preparation of optically pure de‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene in laboratory and industry.
Shedding New Light on Nanostructured Catalysts with Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy
Authors: Mitchell Sharon , Gerchow Lars , Warringham Robbie , Crivelli Paolo , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier
Published: September 2018

Interest in new tools for the analysis of catalytic materials is growing due to the potential to enhance their functionality through the optimal nanostructuring, for example, of pore networks and surface properties. This prompts the need for improved descriptors to discriminate increasingly complex architectures. As a nondestructive, dynamic, and potentially, temporally, and spatially resolved tool, positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) can provide valuable complementary insights to already established (e.g., adsorption, spectroscopy, diffraction, and microscopy) methods. This is possible due to the specific sensitivity of positrons to the electronic environment, which determines their annihilation characteristics. However, despite growing enthusiasm, PAS is not widely known in the catalysis community. This review aims to highlight the many unique features, principles, and potential pitfalls of the technique, expanding on the outdated reviews on the topic, which are now over a decade old. After briefly introducing the principles, progress in the application of PAS to investigate various features of relevant catalytic materials is summarized. This includes the crystalline structure, presence of defects, pore connectivity and evolution, chemical properties, and adsorption phenomena. An improved understanding of the response will contribute not only to guiding the design of nanostructured materials but also to positioning PAS as a mainstream method for catalyst characterization.
Simple determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in complicated matrices by filter‐based emulsification microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Mahmoudi Alami Farshad , Mousavi Hassan Zavvar , Khaligh Aisan
Published: September 2018

In this work, a filter‐based emulsification microextraction method is combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for a fast, simple, and efficient determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in the human plasma and pharmaceutical wastewater samples. In this method, in order to enhance the extraction speed without the use of a disperser solvent, the extraction solvent is dispersed as fine droplets in the sample solution, and a filtration step completes the extraction process by separation of the extraction phase from the sample solution. This method is centrifuge‐free, provides a good sample clean‐up, and is totally accomplished in about 60 s. In order to achieve the optimal experimental conditions, the effective parameters involved including the type and volume of the extraction solvent, pH of the sample solution, and ionic strength are thoroughly examined. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the calibration curves were obtained in the range of 3–2000 ng mL−1. The relative standard deviations for the method were in the range of 7.1–9.2% and the limits of detection ranged between 1.0 and 1.5 ng mL−1.
Assessment of three SPE cleanup sorbents efficiencies for determining neonicotinoid insecticides and selected metabolites in honey bees and bee pollen
Authors: Gooley Zuyi C. , Gooley Aaron C.
Published: September 2018

Three sample cleanup methods (silica SPE, NH2‐silica SPE, and Z‐Sep SPE) based on solid‐phase extraction were investigated for determination of neonicotinoid insecticides and selected metabolites in honey bee and pollen samples by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were extracted by acidified hexane and ethyl acetate and then cleaned up with a solid‐phase extraction cartridge packed with silica gel, which showed a better cleanup efficiency compared to the aminopropyl silica solid‐phase extraction and zirconium‐based sorbents method. Matrix effects of the three cleanup methods were evaluated and compared. Silica gel showed the highest analyte recoveries and method detection limit for this method were 2.0 to 9.1 μg/kg for honey bees and 2.4 to 4.7 μg/kg for pollen. Recovery studies were performed at three spiking levels (10, 60, and 120 μg/kg) and ranged from 78 to 140% with relative standard deviations between 3 to 18% in honey bees and 83 to 124% with relative standard deviations between 3 to 17% in pollen. The silica gel solid‐phase extraction cleanup method was then applied using honey bee and pollen samples that were collected from different apiaries.
A vertex operator algebra construction of the colour-kinematics dual numerator
Authors: Fu Chih-Hao , Vanhove Pierre , Wang Yihong
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We derive a vertex operator based expression for the kinematic numerators of Yang-Mills amplitudes by applying the momentum kernel formalism to open string amplitudes. The expression involves an α

′
-weighted commutator induced by the monodromy relations between the colour ordered Yang-Mills amplitudes, which mirrors the α

′
deformed colour structure observed in open string and semi-abelian Z-theory. The kinematic algebra given by this construction contains the Lie algebra of diffeomorphism as an obvious sub-algebra.
Experience-based knowledge increases confidence in discriminating our memories
Authors: Cichoń Ewelina , Gawęda Łukasz , Moritz Steffen , Szczepanowski Remigiusz
Published: September 2018

The present study investigated the accuracy of metacognitive judgments in source monitoring with self-report scales engaging either information- or experienced-based knowledge. We expected that the source monitoring abilities may be affected by the origins of meta-knowledge that underlie post-decision wagering (PDW) based on economic categorizations (experience-based scale) and confidence ratings (CR) using a conventional taxonomy of confidence (information-based scale). To examine this hypothesis, healthy participants (N = 50) performed an action memory task, in which simple actions were presented in order to be performed or imagined. In the second phase of the task, participants were required to assess source monitoring by distinguishing whether the presented action was performed or imagined. Then, the participants randomly assigned into the PDW or CR group rated their confidence in responses related to source monitoring performance. It was found that source monitoring ability is resistant to manipulation of the type of knowledge used in the scales. However, measures of metacognition indicated that accuracy of the experienced-based judgments of PDW was higher as compared to the CR scale while source monitoring. These findings suggest the origin of knowledge whose justification rests more on empirical observations generates more accurate knowledge than self-evident direct intuition with respect to discriminations of one’s own memories.
Risky financial choices in a gain and loss decision frame – the role of chronic and situationally induced time perspectives
Authors: Sekścińska Katarzyna , Rudzinska-Wojciechowska Joanna , Maison Dominika
Published: September 2018

The aim of the research was to explore the relationship between people’s Time Perspectives (TPs) (chronic and induced) and their propensity to take financial risks in gambling tasks with a gain and loss decision frame. The results of the study 1 (N1 = 1093) revealed that a higher chronic Present Hedonistic TP is related to a preference for unsure options in loss and gain frames, while a higher chronic Past Negative TP is related to a preference for sure options in a gain frame of financial choice, but for unsure options in a loss frame. Moreover, higher chronic Future TP is related to unsure option preference in a loss decision frame. The results of the study 2 (N2 = 563) showed that the induced Past Negative TP (in a gain frame) and Present Hedonistic TP (in both decision frames) lead to similar patterns of results to those observed for the chronic TPs.
Behavioral Health of Gulf Coast Residents 6 Years After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: The Role of Trauma History
Authors: Ayer Lynsay , Engel Charles , Parker Andrew , Seelam Rachana , Ramchand Rajeev
Published: September 2018

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between oil spill exposure, trauma history, and behavioral health 6 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS). We hypothesized that prior trauma would exacerbate the relationship between oil spill exposure and behavioral health problems.

Methods

The sample included 2,520 randomly selected adults in coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico. Participants reported their level of oil spill exposure, trauma history, depression, anxiety/worry, illness anxiety, and alcohol use.

Results

Individuals with more traumatic experiences had a significantly higher risk for all measured behavioral health problems after controlling for demographic factors and DHOS exposure. Those with higher levels of DHOS exposure were not at greater risk for behavioral health problems after controlling for prior trauma, with the exception of illness anxiety. There was no evidence that trauma history moderated the association between DHOS exposure and behavioral health.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that trauma exposure may be a better indicator of long-term behavioral health risk than DHOS exposure among disaster-prone Gulf Coast residents. DHOS exposure may be a risk factor for illness anxiety but not more general behavioral health concerns. Trauma history did not appear to exacerbate risk for behavioral health problems among Gulf residents exposed to the DHOS. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:497-503)
A new riparian species of Ramalina (Ramalinaceae) from Brazil, with a key to neotropical saxicolous species
Authors: GUMBOSKI Emerson Luiz , ELIASARO Sionara , SCUR Mayara Camila , LORENZ-LEMKE Aline Pedroso , BORGES DA SILVEIRA Rosa Mara
Published: September 2018

The new species Ramalina fleigiae from Brazil is described growing on rocks in riverbeds in high altitude grasslands of southern Brazil. It grows in areas with constant water flow, sometimes almost immersed, and always in exposed habitats. Through an integrative approach, the detailed description of R. fleigiae includes morphological, anatomical, ecological, chemical and molecular data. Ribosomal DNA-based phylogenies suggest that R. fleigiae is more closely related to a species that shares its habitat preference (R. laevigata) than to the morphologically and chemically similar R. exiguella and R. gracilis. Ramalina fleigiae and R. laevigata can be distinguished by thallus morphology (irregularly flat branches in R. fleigiae vs. flat to canaliculate in R. laevigata) and pattern of chondroid tissue, as genetic distances between them are compatible with the interspecific range. It is possible that many species of Ramalina still remain hidden within the morphological or chemical variation of currently accepted species. Combining ecological, anatomical and molecular data will improve our future understanding of this genus.
Précis of Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking
Authors: Heyes Cecilia
Published: September 2018

Cognitive gadgets are distinctively human cognitive mechanisms – such as imitation, mind reading, and language – that have been shaped by cultural rather than genetic evolution. New gadgets emerge, not by genetic mutation, but by innovations in cognitive development; they are specialised cognitive mechanisms built by general cognitive mechanisms using information from the sociocultural environment. Innovations are passed on to subsequent generations, not by DNA replication, but through social learning: People with new cognitive mechanisms pass them on to others through social interaction. Some of the new mechanisms, like literacy, have spread through human populations, while others have died out, because the holders had more students, not just more babies. The cognitive gadgets hypothesis is developed through four case studies, drawing on evidence from comparative and developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. The framework employed – cultural evolutionary psychology, a descendant of evolutionary psychology and cultural evolutionary theory – addresses parallel issues across the cognitive and behavioural sciences. In common with evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) and the extended evolutionary synthesis, cultural evolutionary psychology underlines the importance of developmental processes and environmental factors in the emergence of human cognition. In common with computational approaches (deep learning, predictive coding, hierarchical reinforcement learning, causal modelling), it emphasises the power of general-purpose mechanisms of learning. Cultural evolutionary psychology, however, also challenges use of the behavioural gambit in economics and behavioural ecology, and rejects the view that human minds are composed of “innate modules” or “cognitive instincts.”
Choosing lobbying sides: the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union
Authors: Atikcan Ece Özlem , Chalmers Adam William
Published: September 2018

Despite the impressive amount of empirical research on lobbying, a fundamental question remains overlooked. How do interest groups choose to lobby different sides of an issue? We argue that how groups choose sides is a function of firm-level economic activity. By studying a highly salient regulatory issue, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and using a novel data set of lobbying activities, we reveal that a group’s main economic sector matters most. Firms operating in finance and retail face unique costs and are incentivised to lobby against the GDPR. However, these groups are outgunned by a large, heterogeneous group of firms with superior lobbying firepower on the other side of the issue.
Validation of the Brief Edinburgh Depression Scale (BEDS) in a Mexican population with advanced cancer in a palliative care service
Authors: Rodríguez-Mayoral Oscar , Rodríguez-Ortíz Bárbara , Ascencio-Huertas Leticia , Peña-Nieves Adriana , Verástegui Emma , Allende-Pérez Silvia , Lloyd-Williams Mari
Published: September 2018

Objective

Depression in palliative advanced cancer patients is common, but often goes unrecognized. One of the first steps toward improving detection is the development of tools that are valid in the specific language and setting in which they are to be used. The Brief Edinburgh Depression Scale (BEDS) is a sensitive case-finding tool for depression in advanced cancer patients that was developed in the United Kingdom. There are no validated instruments to identify depression in Mexican palliative patients. Our aim was to validate the Spanish-language version of the BEDS in Mexican population with advanced cancer.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study with outpatients from the palliative care unit at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. The Mexican BEDS was validated against a semistructured psychiatric clinical interview according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, classification criteria for major depressive disorder. The interviewer was blind to the BEDS score at the time of the assessment.

Result

Seventy subjects completed the scale and interview. Women represented 71.4% of the sample and median age of subjects was 56.5 years (range, 20–85 years). The prevalence of major depressive disorder according to the psychiatric interview was 20%. The most valid cutoff for defining a case of depression was a score ≥5 of 18 on the Mexican BEDS, which gave a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 62.5%. The scale's Cronbach's alpha was 0.71.

Significance of results

Major depressive disorder is frequent in Mexican palliative patients. The Spanish-language Mexican version of the BEDS is the first valid case-finding tool in advanced cancer patients in this setting.
STRATEGIC CALCULATIONS IN WOODROW WILSON'S NEUTRALITY POLICY, 1914–1917
Authors: Kennedy Ross A.
Published: September 2018

This article analyzes Woodrow Wilson's view of the First World War's implications for U.S. national security and the way in which he related the balance of power between the belligerents at different points in time to his diplomatic objectives. It approaches this topic, which is a subject of much debate among historians, by comparing Wilson's view of the war from late 1914 to early 1915 with that of his secretary of state, William Jennings Bryan, and by examining how those perceptions shaped the response of the two leaders to the sinking of theLusitania. Bryan and Wilson both wanted the United States to stay out of the war, both wanted the United States to mediate an end to it, and both of them saw mediation as a doorway to reforming international politics. Unlike Bryan, however, Wilson saw Germany as a potential threat to the United States and paid close attention to the balance of power between the Allies and Central Powers; he specifically believed that the Allies were likely to win the war. These views led Wilson to reject Bryan's advice to de-escalate theLusitaniacrisis and to adopt a much more confrontational policy toward Germany, one of the most consequential decisions Wilson made in the neutrality period.
CULTURAL ELITE OR POLITICAL VANGUARD? AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS JOIN THE EUROPEAN WAR, 1914–1917
Authors: Jansen Axel
Published: September 2018

This essay investigates the motives by American volunteers during the neutrality period between 1914 and 1917 who decided to go to the war zone in Europe. Thousands of American men and women supported the Allies as nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, soldiers, or fighter pilots. Even though they had chosen to support one side in the war, however, even avid and well-connected supporters of the Allies rarely called for U.S. intervention. The absence of a political perspective was tied to peculiar personal motives. Calling for intervention in the war would have turned the fight into a national cause and public duty, reducing the value of a personal decision to go to war. When the United States entered the war in 1917, some volunteers joined the American war effort to support their flag, whereas others abandoned a war they no longer considered interesting. These responses were part of a significant shift in the role of American government.
Personality Across the Lifespan
Authors: Brandt Naemi D. , Becker Michael , Tetzner Julia , Brunner Martin , Kuhl Poldi , Maaz Kai
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Personality is a relevant predictor for important life outcomes across the entire lifespan. Although previous studies have suggested the comparability of the measurement of the Big Five personality traits across adulthood, the generalizability to childhood is largely unknown. The present study investigated the structure of the Big Five personality traits assessed with the Big Five Inventory-SOEP Version (BFI-S; SOEP = Socio-Economic Panel) across a broad age range spanning 11–84 years. We used two samples of N = 1,090 children (52% female, Mage = 11.87) and N = 18,789 adults (53% female, Mage = 51.09), estimating a multigroup CFA analysis across four age groups (late childhood: 11–14 years; early adulthood: 17–30 years; middle adulthood: 31–60 years; late adulthood: 61–84 years). Our results indicated the comparability of the personality trait metric in terms of general factor structure, loading patterns, and the majority of intercepts across all age groups. Therefore, the findings suggest both a reliable assessment of the Big Five personality traits with the BFI-S even in late childhood and a vastly comparable metric across age groups.