bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enkele opmerkingen over de invoering van de Curaçaose Landsverordening inzake concurrentie en de instelling van een Curaçaose mededingingsautoriteit
Authors: Bakker P.S.
Published: December 2017

Enkele opmerkingen over de invoering van de Curaçaose Landsverordening inzake concurrentie en de instelling van een Curaçaose mededingingsautoriteit

In deze bijdrage staat het Curaçaose mededingingsrecht centraal. Er zal worden stilgestaan bij (i) de achtergronden voor invoering van de Landsverordening Concurrentie op Curaçao en de vraag in hoeverre kleinere jurisdicties als die van Curaçao (überhaupt) regels nodig hebben die de economische mededinging reguleren en aan banden leggen, (ii) de belangrijkste verschillen en overeenkomsten tussen de Landsverordening Concurrentie en de Nederlandse Mededingingswet en (iii) de vraag hoe de publiek- en privaatrechtelijke handhaving van de nieuwe landsverordening eruit zal (kunnen gaan) zien.
Biscuit and Peter and George—Oh My! Tales of a Children’s Book Doll Collector
Authors: Bange Stephanie
Published: December 2017

My name is Stephanie, and I am a collector. What are my favorite things to collect? That’s easy—dolls! I bought my first Barbie when I was six years old. I was given a doll from Morocco at age seven. To this day, I continue to collect both Barbies and international dolls, but my third collection now numbers eight hundred dolls. During my first year as an elementary school librarian in 1979, I began to collect dolls based on characters from children’s books.I wanted to add some zip and zing to class visits at my school library. The previous school librarian had plugged boys and girls into listening stations with worksheets each time they came to the library. I felt my students were missing out by not hearing fantastic tales from exotic places and visiting magical worlds of wonder.Bottom line, I wanted them to experience the joy found within the covers of books. That’s when the first dolls from children’s books—Corduroy, Curious George, the Cat in the Hat, and Winnie-the-Pooh—found their way into my shopping basket and my storytelling repertoire.
Book Bonanza! Celebrating Ten Years of the Bookapalooza Program
Authors: Demyanovich Corinne , Jones Courtney
Published: December 2017

Got books? The winners of the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Bookapalooza Program do. But where do all those books come from? Each year, ALSC receives thousands of books, videos, audiobooks, and recordings for the various children’s book and media awards. The Chicago office fills up with books—and they all need good homes.In 2007, ALSC Executive Director Aimee Strittmatter created the Bookapalooza Program to donate each year’s award submission materials to three libraries in need across the United States.A decade later, we celebrate ten years of donating thousands of book and media materials to deserving libraries.
Ações e indicadores para a gestão sustentável de pessoas
Authors: Macini Nayele , Bansi Ana Claudia , Caldana Adriana Cristina Ferreira
Published: December 2017

The Sustainable Human Resources Management (Sustainable HRM) adds organizational sustainability to people management subsystems. All areas of an organization depend largely on the action of the people. Therefore, if the organization's purpose is to be sustainable, it must provide the alignment between the guidelines of sustainability and their people management initiatives. The challenge of the Sustainable HRM is therefore to manage the organizations in relation to their human and social, natural and economic resources, involving organizational sustainability to their areas. Balance investments to meet the three aspects of sustainability tripod are part of the changes suggested by the Sustainable HRM. Although interest in Sustainable HRM is recurrent, more research is needed to develop a practical, clear and objective guide to be followed by organizations. Through the Soft System Methodology, a systemic methodology, a conceptual model and a framework of actions and indicators for Sustainable HRM were developed in this study, in order to provide support both strategic and operational to organizations. As a result, the HRM subsystems were adapted to encompass sustainable actions according to the sustainability pillars (environmental, social and economic), generating a framework of actions and indicators that companies can use to carry out the Sustainable HRM.
Relationship between Different Types of Educational, Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence and Second Grade High School Female Students’ Religious Orientation, in Sari, Iran
Authors: Doustdar Toosi Seyyed Ali , Olia Emadian Seyedeh , Soleymani Marjan , Mohammadi Leila , Sadat Doustdar Maryam
Published: December 2017

In the current research, we investigated how significantly the second grade high school female students’ educational, emotional, and spiritual intelligence were associated with their religious orientation. This research is descriptive (non- experimental) with a correlation design. The research population includes all of the second grade high school girl students, during the 2015-16 educational year in Sari, a city in the north of Iran.  In this research, 260 samples were selected randomly. Research results showed that educational, emotional, and spiritual intelligence (independent variables) had positive and significant relationship with internal and external religious orientation (dependent variable). As the levels of educational, emotional, and spiritual intelligence increased, so did the level of religious orientation. Also the results of multiple regression analysis showed that educational, emotional, spiritual intelligence were anticipants of religious orientation and its dimensions (internal and external religious orientation).
Citizenship Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History and Current Instructional Approaches
Authors: Abdullah Alharbi Badr
Published: December 2017

This review article attempts to review current studies related to Citizenship Education (CE) in order to shed light on the provisions of citizenship education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The review examines the significance of   CE in the KSA. It also explores the history of CE in the KSA followed by its national identity, as this too, affects the nature of the CE offered in the country. Then the article identifies and explores the implementation of CE in the KSA. In addition, the article discusses the approaches of introducing Citizenship Education in the KSA, its content and implementation. It can be argued that Islam has played a crucial role in shaping Saudi citizens’ private and national identities and their national values. The study also found that CE in Saudi Arabia faces multiple challenges. It emphasizes citizens’ responsibilities, duties, identity formation, and obedience towards the system and how one can achieve them. It also appears that promoting freedom, equality, fairness, freedom of expression and participation in the decision making process is poorly addressed. Moreover, lack of teaching aids and lack of specialist teachers and training are some major challenges to implement CE in the KSA. The article ends by drawing some conclusions.
Integrated Functional Adult Literacy: Existing Practices and Challenges in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Awgichew Sisay , Seyoum Yilfashewa
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the existing practices and challenges of Integrated Functional Adult Literacy Program in eastern Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the researchers used mixed research design. Questionnaires, interview and focus group discussions were used as viable instrument for data collection. The questionnaires were filed by 302 adult learners and 153 facilitators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that since the introduction of adult education programs with an integrated manner, harmful traditional practices are reduced, community participation in environmental conservation are growing; societal life skills and usage of new agricultural technologies are improved. However, dysfunctional management structure, poor institutionalization, integration and coordination among the sectors, lack of financial package, trained personnel and low and inconsistent salary were the major bottlenecks in the implementation of the program. Therefore, collaborative efforts among government, NGOs and the community need to put in place to alleviate both human and non-human related problems for the effective realization of the program with pioneering structure, financing,organization and management to achieve transformational and sustainable development goals.
Technological Preferences, Levels of Utilization and Attitude of Students Towards Mobile Learning Technologies in Chartered Universities, Kenya
Authors: Gitumu Mugo David , Njagi Kageni , Chemwei Bernard
Published: December 2017

The affordances of mobile technologies are being felt in many sectors of world’s economy including university education. By solving the limitations of fixed instructional technologies, mobile technologies have received ready acceptance in the education place. The purpose of the study was to investigate the student technological preferences, their levels of utilization as well as attitudes toward mobile technologies. The target population was 30,752 third year undergraduate students in Kenyan Universities. The participants (n = 375) were selected by systematic random sampling. They provided data using self-fill questionnaires. Results indicated that the smartphone was the most popular mobile device; Tecno was the most preferred handset brand; and Android was the most popular operating system. Safaricom was the dominant service provider amongst the student population. Regarding the levels of utilization of mobile technologies by students, it was concluded that though students use their mobile devices sufficiently, the use of the devices for accessing teaching and learning content was considerably low. On the attitude of students towards mobile technologies, it was observed that a sizeable number of students preferred to use the technologies over other existing instructional technologies. The findings of this study will be useful to instructional technologists, education policy makers, mobile handset manufacturers, mobile service providers and university managers as they partner to roll out digital learning infrastructure for Kenyan tertiary education.
Profile of Eyelid Tumours: Histopathological Examination and Relative Frequency At A Tertiary Centre In North-West Rajasthan
Authors: Jangir Mahendra Kumar , Kochar Anju , Khan Nabab Ali , Jaju Meenu
Published: December 2017

Purpose:-

To analyze the demography and relative frequency and to compare the clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis of eyelid tumours at a tertiary care centre in North-West Rajasthan.

Methods:-

Retrospective data of patients with eyelid tumours from June 2012 to June 2014 and prospective data of patients from July 2014 to December 2016 were analyzed. Data were collected and stratified based on age, gender, type and subtype, location of tumour and histopathological diagnosis.

Results:-

A total of 125 patients were evaluated, of which, 54.4% (68) were male and 45.6% (57) were female. The mean age of the patients was 37.28+21.75 years. Out of the total cases, 108 (86.4%) cases were benign and 17 (13.60%) were malignant eyelid tumours. The most common benign tumour included epidermal cyst (21.3%), demoid cyst (13.89%), intradermal naevus (12.03%) and haemangioma (12.03%). The most frequent malignant tumours included sebaceous gland carcinoma (47%), basal cell carcinoma (29%) and squamous cell carcinoma (24%).

Conclusion:-

Epidermal cyst was the most common benign tumour followed by demoid cyst, intradermal naevus and haemangioma and sebaceous gland carcinoma was the most common malignant tumour, followed by basal and squamous cell carcinoma.
Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (APMPPE): A Case Report
Authors: Chandrakar Neha , Bajaj Piyush , Sharma Rahul , Kumar Vivek
Published: December 2017

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) affects young to middle-aged adults of both genders equally and ocular manifestations are often preceded by flu-like illness. Symptoms of the disease include acute vision loss, associated with central and paracentral scotoma. Impairment of vision is usually bilateral, but may be asymmetric. We report a case of a 46 year old male patient who presented to us with blurring of vision in the left eye since one week. Fundus examination of both eyes showed sub-retinal yellowish-white placoid lesions, predominantly at the posterior pole. Optical Coherence Tomography of the left eye macula revealed macular oedema. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) of both eyes showed early hypofluorescence and late hyperfluorescence.
An Unusual Case Of Spectacle Related Ocular Injury: Importance Of Protective Sports Eyewear
Authors: Gupta Aruna K.R. , Poriya Pradip , Kanani Dipti
Published: December 2017

Ocular injuries are widely reported with spectacle related eye trauma, particularly due to sports. The trauma is usually sufficient to break the lenses in the spectacles and the resultant globe laceration is cause of morbidity. 31 year-old male patient presented with history of trauma while playing with football over left eye. Detailed examination showed corneal laceration with spectacle screw impacted and the arm of the spectacle frame hanging outside. Anterior segment examination showed flat anterior chamber with hyphema and vitreous prolapse. Plain radiographs of orbit showed metal intra ocular foreign body. Patient underwent corneal tear repair with removal of the spectacle arm along with screws. Football is the one of the common cause of ocular injury, but the wearing of protective headgear is still not prevalent. Ophthalmologists have a role in creating awareness as the population at risk is young, by actively encouraging the usage of protective eyewear.
Pupylation of PafA or Pup inhibits components of the Pup‐Proteasome System
Authors: Thomas Adam A. , Truscott Kaye N. , Dougan David A.
Published: December 2017

The pupylation of cellular proteins plays a crucial role in the degradation cascade via the Pup‐Proteasome system (PPS). It is essential for the survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis under nutrient starvation and, as such, the activity of many components of the pathway is tightly regulated. Here, we show that Pup, like ubiquitin, can form polyPup chains primarily through K61 and that this form of Pup inhibits the ATPase‐mediated turnover of pupylated substrates by the 20S proteasome. Similarly, the autopupylation of PafA (the sole Pup ligase found in mycobacteria) inhibits its own enzyme activity; hence, pupylation of PafA may act as a negative feedback mechanism to prevent substrate pupylation under specific cellular conditions.
Rainfall Intensity and Frequency Explain Production Basis Risk in Cumulative Rain Index Insurance
Authors: Muneepeerakul Chitsomanus P. , Muneepeerakul Rachata , Huffaker Ray G.
Published: December 2017

With minimal moral hazard and adverse selection, weather index insurance promises financial resilience to farmers struck by harsh weather conditions through swift compensation at affordable premium. Despite these advantages, the very nature of indexing gives rise to production basis risk as the selected weather indexes do not sufficiently correspond to actual damages. To address this problem, we develop a stochastic yield model, built upon a stochastic soil moisture model driven by marked Poisson rainfall. Our analysis shows that even under similar temperature and rainfall amount yields can differ significantly; this was empirically supported by a 2‐year field experiment in which rain‐fed maize was grown under very similar total rainfall. Here, the year with more intense, less‐frequent rainfall produces a better yield—a rare counter evidence to most climate change projections. Through a stochastic yield model, we demonstrate the crucial roles of rainfall intensity and frequency in determining the yield. Importantly, the model allows us to compute rainfall pattern‐related basis risk inherent in cumulative rain index insurance. The model results and a case study herein clearly show that total rainfall is a poor indicator of yield, imposing unnecessary production basis risk on farmers and false‐positive payouts on insurers. Incorporating rainfall intensity and frequency in the design of rain index insurance can offer farmers better protection, while maintaining the attractive features of the weather index insurance and thus fulfilling its promise of financial resilience.
A Physically Based Analytical Model to Describe Effective Excess Charge for Streaming Potential Generation in Water Saturated Porous Media
Authors: Guarracino L. , Jougnot D.
Published: December 2017

Among the different contributions generating self‐potential, the streaming potential is of particular interest in hydrogeology for its sensitivity to water flow. Estimating water flux in porous media using streaming potential data relies on our capacity to understand, model, and upscale the electrokinetic coupling at the mineral‐solution interface. Different approaches have been proposed to predict streaming potential generation in porous media. One of these approaches is the flux averaging which is based on determining the excess charge which is effectively dragged in the medium by water flow. In this study, we develop a physically based analytical model to predict the effective excess charge in saturated porous media using a flux‐averaging approach in a bundle of capillary tubes with a fractal pore size distribution. The proposed model allows the determination of the effective excess charge as a function of pore water ionic concentration and hydrogeological parameters like porosity, permeability, and tortuosity. The new model has been successfully tested against different set of experimental data from the literature. One of the main findings of this study is the mechanistic explanation to the empirical dependence between the effective excess charge and the permeability that has been found by several researchers. The proposed model also highlights the link to other lithological properties, and it is able to reproduce the evolution of effective excess charge with electrolyte concentrations.
Rapid, Operationally Simple, and Metal‐free NBS Mediated One‐pot Synthesis of 1,2‐Naphthoquinone from 2‐Naphthol
Authors: Sim Jaeuk , Jo Hyeju , Viji Mayavan , Choi Minho , Jung Jin‐Ah , Lee Heesoon , Jung Jae‐Kyung
Published: December 2017

A metal‐free, one‐pot synthesis of 1,2‐naphthoquinone was accomplished from 2‐naphthol by utilizing economically cheap NBS under open air conditions. Initial formation of 1,1‐dibromonaphthalen‐2‐one and subsequent transformation afforded the 1,2‐naphthoquinone. This oxidation was completed within 30 min and had broad substrate scope. Moreover, this system tolerated heterocyclic systems and was also applicable to 1,3‐dicarbonyl systems. This practical approach with short reaction times, a simple workup, and insensitivity to moisture could override the usage of expensive and hazardous oxidizing and metal reagents.

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The role of patent citations as a footprint of technology
Authors: Perez‐Molina Eduardo
Published: December 2017

The fact that patents are documents highly constrained by law and structured by international treaties make them a unique body of publications for tracing the history and evolution of technology. The distinctiveness of prior art patent citations compared to bibliographic references in the nonpatent literature is discussed. Starting from these observations and using the patent classification scheme as a framework of reference, we have identified a data structure, the “technology footprint,” derived from the patents cited as prior art for a selected set of patents. This data structure will provide us with dynamic information about the technological components of the selected set of patents, which represents a technology, company, or inventor. Two case studies are presented in order to illustrate the visualization of the technology footprint: one concerning an inventor—Mr. Engelbart, the inventor of the “computer mouse”—and another concerning the early years of a technology—computerized tomography.
A critical evaluation of expert survey‐based journal rankings: The role of personal research interests
Authors: Serenko Alexander , Bontis Nick
Published: December 2017

By using the data from two recent survey‐based rankings of knowledge management / intellectual capital and eHealth journals, this study tests the impact of personal research interests of journal raters on their ranking scores. The rationale is that raters assign higher scores to journals that cater to their area of expertise because they are more familiar with them. The results indicate the existence of raters’ bias toward the journals focusing on their preferred areas of interest, but this bias does not uniformly apply across all research topics. In some subdomains, such as intellectual capital, this bias may be very strong, whereas in others, such as soft‐side knowledge management research, it may be nonexistent. Although management eHealth researchers rate management‐focused journals higher than their clinical‐centered counterparts, this bias does not exist among scholars favoring clinical topics. While this limitation is not fatal, the results from expert‐survey journal ranking studies should be interpreted with caution.
Dissociation between executed and imagined bimanual movements in autism spectrum conditions
Authors: Piedimonte Alessandro , Conson Massimiliano , Frolli Alessandro , Bari Stefania , Della Gatta Francesco , Rabuffetti Marco , Keller Roberto , Berti Anna , Garbarini Francesca
Published: December 2017

Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are characterized by social‐communicative deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Altered motor coordination is also observed and a dysfunction of motor imagery has been recently reported on implicit tasks. However, no information on explicit motor imagery abilities is available in ASC. Here, we employed a spatial bimanual task to concurrently assess motor coordination and explicit motor imagery in autism. A secondary objective of the study was to evaluate these abilities across two populations of ASC, namely adolescents and adults with ASC. To this aim, we took advantage of the circles‐lines task in which where participants were asked to continuously draw: right hand lines (unimanual condition); right hand lines and left hand circles (bimanual condition); right hand lines while imagining to draw left hand circles (imagery condition). For each participant, an Ovalization Index (OI) was calculated as a deviation of the right hand drawing trajectory from an absolute vertical axis. Results showed a significant and similar coupling effect in the bimanual condition (i.e., a significant increase of the OI values with respect to the unimanual condition) in both controls and ASC participants. On the contrary, in the imagery condition, a significant coupling effect was found only in controls. Furthermore, adult controls showed a significantly higher imagery coupling effect in comparison to all the other groups. These results demonstrate that atypical motor imagery processes in ASC are not limited to implicit tasks and suggest that development of neural structures involved in motor imagery are immature in ASC. Autism Res 2018, 11: 376–384. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are characterized by social‐communicative and motor coordination difficulties but in many cases also by an impaired capability to imagine movements. In this study we found that while two handed coordination in ASC can be developed as well as in typically developed persons, the development of motor imagery could still be immature in ASC, leading to difficulties in imagining, understanding as well as programming and coordinating complex movements.
Investigating the strategies for microbial production of trehalose from lignocellulosic sugars
Authors: Wu Yifei , Wang Jian , Shen Xiaolin , Wang Jia , Chen Zhenya , Sun Xinxiao , Yuan Qipeng , Yan Yajun
Published: December 2017

Trehalose, a multi‐functional and value‐added disaccharide, can be efficiently biosynthesized from glucose by using a synergetic carbon utilization mechanism (SynCar) which coupled phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) generation from the second carbon source with PEP‐dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) to promote non‐catabolic use of glucose. Considering glucose and xylose present in large amounts in lignocellulosic sugars, we explored new strategies for conversion of both sugars into trehalose. Herein, we first attempted trehalose production from xylose directly, based on which, synergetic utilization of glucose, and xylose prompted by SynCar was implemented in engineered Escherichia coli. As the results, the final titer of trehalose reached 5.55 g/L in shake flask experiments. The conversion ratio or utilization efficiency of glucose or xylose to trehalose was around fourfold higher than that of the original strain (YW‐3). This work not only demonstrated the possibility of directly converting xylose (C5 sugar) into trehalose (C12 disaccharide), but also suggested a promising strategy for trehalose production from lignocellulosic sugars for the first time.
Constructing a cellulosic yeast host with an efficient cellulase cocktail
Authors: Chang Jui‐Jen , Lin Yu‐Ju , Lay Chyi‐How , Thia Caroline , Wu Yueh‐Chin , Hou Yu‐Han , Huang Chieh‐Chen , Li Wen‐Hsiung
Published: December 2017

Cellulose is a renewable feedstock for green industry. It is therefore important to develop a technique to construct a host with a high cellulolytic efficiency to digest cellulose. In this study, we developed a convenient host‐engineering technique to adjust the expression levels of heterologous genes in the host by promoter rearrangement and gene copy number adjustment. Using genes from different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families including GH2, GH3, GH5, GH6, GH7, and GH12 from Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma reesei, and Neocallimastix patriciarum, we constructed a cellulolytic Kluyveromyces marxianus with eight cellulase gene‐cassettes that produced a cellulase cocktail with a high cellulolytic efficiency, leading to a significant reduction in enzyme cost in a rice straw saccharification process. Our technique can be used to design a host that can efficiently convert biomass feedstock to biofuel.
Production of itaconic acid from acetate by engineering acid‐tolerant Escherichia coli W
Authors: Noh Myung Hyun , Lim Hyun Gyu , Woo Sung Hwa , Song Jinyi , Jung Gyoo Yeol
Published: December 2017

Utilization of abundant and cheap carbon sources can effectively reduce the production cost and enhance the economic feasibility. Acetate is a promising carbon source to achieve cost‐effective microbial processes. In this study, we engineered an Escherichia coli strain to produce itaconic acid from acetate. As acetate is known to inhibit cell growth, we initially screened for a strain with a high tolerance to 10 g/L of acetate in the medium, and the W strain was selected as the host. Subsequently, the WC strain was obtained by overexpression of cad (encoding cis‐aconitate decarboxylase) using a synthetic promoter and 5′ UTR. However, the WC strain produced only 0.13 g/L itaconic acid because of low acetate uptake. To improve the production, the acetate assimilating pathway and glyoxylate shunt pathway were amplified by overexpression of pathway genes as well as its deregulation. The resulting strain, WCIAG4 produced 3.57 g/L itaconic acid (16.1% of theoretical maximum yield) after 88 hr of fermentation with rapid acetate assimilation. These efforts support that acetate can be a potential feedstock for biochemical production with engineered E. coli.
Protein Folding in the Presence of Water‐Soluble Cyclic Diselenides with Novel Oxidoreductase and Isomerase Activities
Authors: Arai Kenta , Ueno Haruhito , Asano Yuki , Chakrabarty Gaurango , Shimodaira Shingo , Mugesh Govindasamy , Iwaoka Michio
Published: December 2017

The protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family, found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the eukaryotic cell, catalyzes the formation and cleavage of disulfide bonds and thereby helps in protein folding. A decrease in PDI activity under ER stress conditions leads to protein misfolding, which is responsible for the progression of various human diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. Here we report that water‐soluble cyclic diselenides mimic the multifunctional activity of the PDI family by facilitating oxidative folding, disulfide formation/reduction, and repair of the scrambled disulfide bonds in misfolded proteins.
Cubic Cu2O/Cu2S Particles with a Unique Truncated Edge Structure Anchoring on Reduced Graphene Oxide as An Enhanced Anode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Ke , Huang Ying , Zhu Yade , Yu Meng , Wang Mingyue
Published: December 2017

Cubic Cu2O/Cu2S particles with a novel truncated edge structure anchoring on reduced graphene oxide (Cu2O/Cu2S‐rGO composites) were synthesized by using a facile growth process. Compared to simple Cu2O cubes and bare Cu2O/Cu2S particles, the Cu2O/Cu2S‐rGO composite shows a competitive capacity and stable cyclic stability as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). At a low current density of 60 mA g−1, the Cu2O/Cu2S‐rGO composite delivers an initial discharge capacity of 878.6 mAh g−1, stable cycling stability of 417.35 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, retaining 73.5 % of its initial charge capacity, demonstrating a significantly improved cycling reversibility and structural stability. The enhanced electrochemical performance for Cu2O/CuxS‐rGO composites might be ascribed to the rGO coating and the “breathable” structure formed by Cu2O and Cu2S. The outer coated rGO nanosheets could maintain the structural integrity and electrical conductivity, and the main active component (Cu2O and Cu2S) is present in the form of small clusters, providing “breathable” aggregates capable of effective sequential shrinkage and expansion.
Clinical and Regulatory Aspects of Companion Diagnostic Development in Oncology
Authors: Jørgensen Jan Trøst , Hersom Maria
Published: December 2017

Nearly 20 years have passed since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first companion diagnostic and today this type of assay governs the use of 21 different anticancer drugs. The regulators deem these assays essential for the safe and effective use of a corresponding therapeutic product. The companion diagnostic assays are important both during the drug development process as well as essential treatment decision tools after the approval of the drugs.
Impact of male alternative reproductive tactics on female costs of sexual conflict under variation in operational sex ratio and population density
Authors: Jeffery Erica , Córdoba‐Aguilar Alex , Roitberg Bernard
Published: December 2017

Sexual conflict over mating rate is both pervasive and evolutionarily costly. For females, the lifetime reproductive fitness costs that arise through interactions with potential mates will be influenced by the frequency of such interactions, and the fitness cost of each interaction. Both of these factors are likely to be influenced by variation in operational sex ratio (OSR) and population density. Variation in OSR‐ and density‐dependent male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) may be particularly important if the fitness costs that females experience vary with the reproductive tactics that males express. Using a simple model, we consider several examples of OSR‐ and/or density‐dependent variation in male ARTs and the frequency of male–female interactions, and find that variation in the expression of male ARTs has the potential to augment or diminish the costs of frequent male interactions for females. Accurately documenting variation in the expression of male ARTs and associated female fitness costs will benefit future work in this area.
How much of the invader's genetic variability can slip between our fingers? A case study of secondary dispersal of Poa annua on King George Island (Antarctica)
Authors: Wódkiewicz Maciej , Chwedorzewska Katarzyna J. , Bednarek Piotr T. , Znój Anna , Androsiuk Piotr , Galera Halina
Published: December 2017

We studied an invasion of Poa annua on King George Island (Maritime Antarctic). The remoteness of this location, its geographic isolation, and its limited human traffic provided an opportunity to trace the history of an invasion of the species. Poa annua was recorded for the first time at H. Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station in the austral summer of 1985/6. In 2008/9, the species was observed in a new locality at the Ecology Glacier Forefield (1.5 km from “Arctowski”). We used AFLP to analyze the genetic differences among three populations of P. annua: the two mentioned above (Station and Forefield) and the putative origin of the introduction, Warsaw (Poland). There was 38% genetic variance among the populations. Pairwise ФPT was 0.498 between the Forefield and Warsaw populations and 0.283 between Warsaw and Station. There were 15 unique bands in the Warsaw population (frequency from 6% to 100%) and one in the Station/Forefield populations (which appears in all analyzed individuals from both populations). The Δ(K) parameter indicated two groups of samples: Warsaw/Station and Forefield. As indicated by Fu's Fs statistics and an analysis of mismatch distribution, the Forefield population underwent a bottleneck and/or founder effect. The Forefield population was likely introduced by secondary dispersal from the Station population.
Promiscuous lipase catalyzed a new P–C bond formation: Green and efficient protocol for one‐pot synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates
Authors: Guezane‐Lakoud Samia , Toffano Martial , Aribi‐Zouioueche Louisa
Published: December 2017

α‐Aminophosphonates are valuable substructures with important biological and pharmacological properties. Lipase catalytic promiscuity is a new method in the organic synthesis for the preparation of α‐aminophosphonates via multicomponent reaction in one pot. This efficient, simple, and eco‐friendly method proceeds in the presence of immobilized Candida Antarctica lipase as catalyst under solvent‐free conditions at room temperature. The new α‐aminophosphonates are synthesized in high yields (up to 96%). Moreover, enzymatic‐catalyzed P–C bond formation through a Kabachnik‐Fields reaction was achieved for the first time.
Sedimentation patterns in the Selenga River delta under changing hydroclimatic conditions
Authors: Pietroń Jan , Nittrouer Jeffrey A. , Chalov Sergey R. , Dong Tian Y. , Kasimov Nikolay , Shinkareva Galina , Jarsjö Jerker
Published: December 2017

The Selenga River delta (Russia) is a large (>600 km2) fluvially dominated fresh water system that transfers water and sediment from an undammed drainage basin into Lake Baikal, a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site. Through sedimentation processes, the delta and its wetlands provide important environmental services, such as storage of sediment‐bound pollutants (e.g., metals), thereby reducing their input to Lake Baikal. However, in the Selenga River delta and many other deltas of the world, there is a lack of knowledge regarding impacts of potential shifts in the flow regime (e.g., due to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts) on sedimentation processes, including sediment exchanges between deltaic channels and adjacent wetlands. This study uses field measurements of water velocities and sediment characteristics in the Selenga River delta, investigating conditions of moderate discharge, which have become more frequent over the past decades (at the expense of peak flows, Q > 1,350 m3 s−1). The aims are to determine if the river system under moderate flow conditions is capable of supporting sediment export from the main distributary channels of the delta to the adjacent wetlands. The results show that most of the deposited sediment outside of the deltaic channels is characterized by a large proportion of silt and clay material (i.e., <63 μm). For example, floodplain lakes function as sinks of very fine sediment (e.g., 97% of sediment by weight < 63 μm). Additionally, bed material sediment is found to be transported outside of the channel margins during conditions of moderate and high water discharge conditions (Q ≥ 1,000 m3 s−1). Submerged banks and marshlands located in the backwater zone of the delta accumulate sediment during such discharges, supporting wetland development. Thus, these regions likely sequester various metals bound to Selenga River sediment.
Polymethoxyflavones prevent benzo[a]pyrene/dextran sodium sulfate‐induced colorectal carcinogenesis through modulating xenobiotic metabolism and ameliorate autophagic defect in ICR mice
Authors: Wu Jia‐Ching , Tsai Mei‐Ling , Lai Ching‐Shu , Lo Chih‐Yu , Ho Chi‐Tang , Wang Ying‐Jan , Pan Min‐Hsiung
Published: December 2017

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental carcinogenic pollutants and they have become an important issue in food contamination. Dietary intake of PAHs has been recognized as a major route of human exposure. However, the mechanisms behind dietary PAH‐induced colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Several studies have shown that polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are effective in preventing carcinogen‐induced CRC or colitis. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of PMFs on benzo[a]pyrene/dextran sulfate sodium (BaP/DSS)‐induced colorectal tumorigenesis in ICR mice. We found that PMFs significantly prevented BaP/DSS‐induced colorectal tumor formation. BaP mutagenic metabolite and DNA adducts were found to be reduced in colonic tissue in the PMFs‐treated groups through the modulation of BaP metabolism. At the molecular level, the results of RNA‐sequencing indicated that PMFs ameliorated BaP/DSS‐induced abnormal molecular mechanism change including activated inflammation, downregulated anti‐oxidation targets, and induced metastasis genes. The autophagic defect caused by BaP/DSS‐induced tumorigenesis was improved by pretreatment with PMFs. We found BaP/DSS‐induced CRC may be a Wnt/β‐catenin independent process. Additionally, consumption of PMFs extracts also altered the composition of gut microbiota and made it similar to that in the control group by increasing butyrate‐producing probiotics and decreasing CRC‐related bacteria. BaP in combination with DSS significantly induced colorectal tumorigenesis through induced DNA adduct formation, abnormal gene expression, and imbalanced gut microbiota composition. PMFs were a powerful preventive agent that suppressed BaP/DSS‐induced CRC via modulating multiple pathways as well as ameliorating autophagic defect. These results demonstrated for the first time the chemopreventive efficacy and comprehensive mechanisms of dietary PMFs for preventing BaP/DSS‐induced colorectal carcinogenesis.
Inhibition of MK2 suppresses IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α‐dependent colorectal cancer growth
Authors: Ray Anita L. , Berggren Kiersten L. , Restrepo Cruz Sebastian , Gan Gregory N. , Beswick Ellen J.
Published: December 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression is associated with chronic inflammation. We have identified the MAPK‐activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway as a primary mediator of inflammation in CRC. MK2 signaling promotes production of proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α. These cytokines have been implicated in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. For the first time, we investigate whether MK2 inhibition can improve outcome in two mouse models of CRC. In our azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) model of colitis‐associated CRC, MK2 inhibitor treatment eliminated murine tumor development. Using the implanted, syngeneic murine CRC cell line CT26, we observe significant tumor volume reduction following MK2 inhibition. Tumor cells treated with MK2 inhibitors produced 80% less IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α and demonstrated decreased invasion. Replenishment of downstream proinflammatory MK2‐mediated cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α) to tumors led to restoration of tumor proliferation and rapid tumor regrowth. These results demonstrate the importance of MK2 in driving proinflammatory cytokine production, its relevance to in vivo tumor proliferation and invasion. Inhibition of MK2 may represent an attractive therapeutic target to suppress tumor growth and progression in patients.
Statistical analysis for masked system life data from Marshall‐Olkin Weibull distribution under progressive hybrid censoring
Authors: Cai Jing , Shi Yimin , Liu Bin
Published: December 2017

This paper considers the statistical analysis of masked data in a series system, where the components are assumed to have Marshall‐Olkin Weibull distribution. Based on type‐I progressive hybrid censored and masked data, we derive the maximum likelihood estimates, approximate confidence intervals, and bootstrap confidence intervals of unknown parameters. As the maximum likelihood estimate does not exist for small sample size, Gibbs sampling is used to obtain the Bayesian estimates and Monte Carlo method is employed to construct the credible intervals based on Jefferys prior with partial information. Numerical simulations are performed to compare the performances of the proposed methods and one data set is analyzed.
Refining a Claims‐based Algorithm to Estimate Biologic Medication Effectiveness and Cost per Effectively Treated Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Popp Ryan A. , Rascati Karen , Davis Matthew , Patel Ujas
Published: December 2017

Background

Claims data generally lack information on clinical outcomes. However, a validated claims‐based algorithm for estimating the effectiveness of biologic agents in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was recently developed and applied to various databases.

Objectives

The objectives of the study were to implement a claims‐based algorithm in a large nationwide database to estimate medication effectiveness and cost for patients with RA using biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and to assess the effect of eliminating one criterion from the algorithm on results.

Methods

The DMARD groups included patients initiated on etanercept, adalimumab, abatacept, or infliximab. Patients were categorized as effectively treated if they met these six criteria: a medication possession ratio of 80% or greater; no escalation in biologic dose; no switch in biologics; no new nonbiologic DMARD; no new or increased oral glucocorticoid treatment; and no more than one glucocorticoid injection. In a follow‐up analysis, the dose‐escalation criterion was removed because an increase in dose for infliximab may be appropriate. Average costs for RA‐related medications were calculated for each DMARD patient group and divided by the number of patients who met all six effectiveness criteria.

Results

A total of 1196 individuals were included in the analysis. Using the algorithm, the index biologic was categorized as effective for 25.4% of patients overall: 30.3% (102/337) of etanercept, 27.6% (104/377) of adalimumab, 32.7% (37/113) of abatacept, and 16.5% (61/369) of infliximab patients. Total costs for RA medication costs per effectively treated patient ranged from more than $80,000 for infliximab to ~$43,000–$46,000 for the other three groups. Removing the no dose‐escalation criterion drastically reduced the cost per effectively treated patient in the infliximab group (to ~$42,000).

Conclusions

Using the original six‐criteria claims‐based algorithm in a large claims database, infliximab was the least‐effective biologic agent and had the highest medication cost per effectively treated patient. However, when a follow‐up analysis removed the dose‐escalation exclusion criterion, the four groups had similar effectiveness and medication costs per effectively treated patient with RA.
A Day in the Life of MRI: The Variety and Appropriateness of Exams Being Performed in Canada
Authors: Vanderby Sonia , Badea Andreea , Peña Sánchez Juan Nicolás , Kalra Neil , Babyn Paul
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the volumes and types of magnetic resonance imaging exams being performed across Canada, common indications for the exams, and exam appropriateness using multiple evaluation tools.

Methods

Thirteen academic medical institutions across Canada participated. Data were obtained relating to a single common day, October 1, 2014. Patient demographics, type by anatomic region and indication for imaging were analysed. Each exam was assessed for appropriateness via the Canadian Association of Radiologists Referral Guidelines and the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. The Alberta and Saskatchewan spine screening forms and the Alberta knee screening form were also used where applicable. The proportion of exams that were unscorable, appropriate, and inappropriate was determined. Exam-level results were compared between the 2 main evaluation tools.

Results

Data were obtained for 1087 relevant exams. There were 591 women and 460 men. 36 requisitions did not indicate the patient's sex. Brain exams were the most common, comprising 32.5% of the sample. Cancer was the most common indication. Overall, 87.0%–87.4% of the MR exams performed were appropriate; 6.6%–12.6% were inappropriate, based on the 2 main evaluation tools. Results differed by anatomic region; spine exams had the highest proportion, with nearly one-third of exams deemed inappropriate.

Conclusion

Variations by anatomic region indicate that focused exam request evaluation or screening methods could substantially reduce inappropriate imaging.
Comparison of General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation during Computed Tomography–Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Hae Jin , Park Byung Kwan , Chung In Sun
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is so painful that this treatment requires pain control such as conscious sedation or general anesthesia. It is still unclear which type of anesthesia is better for treatment outcomes of renal cell carcinoma. This study aimed to compare general anesthesia and conscious sedation in treating patients with renal cell carcinoma with radiofrequency ablation.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2015, 51 patients with biopsy-proven renal cell carcinomas (<4 cm) were treated with computed tomography–guided radiofrequency ablation. General anesthesia was performed in 41 and conscious sedation was performed in 10 patients. Tumour size, local tumour progression, metastasis, major complication, effective dose, glomerular filtration rate difference, and recurrence-free survival rate were compared between these groups.

Results

The mean tumour size was 2.1 cm in both groups ( P = .673). Local tumour progression occurred in 0% (0 of 41) of the general anesthesia group, but in 40% (4 of 10) of the conscious sedation group ( P = .001). Metastases in these groups occurred in 2.4% (1 of 41) of the general anesthesia group and 20% (2 of 10) of the conscious sedation group ( P = .094). No major complications developed in either group after the first radiofrequency ablation session. The mean effective doses in these groups were 21.7 mSv and 21.2 mSv, respectively ( P = .868). The mean glomerular filtration rate differences in the general anesthesia and conscious sedation groups were −13.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 and −19.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively ( P = .575). Three-year recurrence-free survival rates in these groups were 97.6% and 60.0%, respectively ( P = .001).

Conclusions

General anesthesia may provide better intermediate outcomes than conscious sedation in treating small renal cell carcinomas with radiofrequency ablation.