bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species identification of Late Pleistocene bat bones using collagen fingerprinting
Authors: Buckley Michael , Herman Jeremy
Published: August 2019

Bats form the second most diverse mammalian order (Chiroptera), after rodents, and vary widely in their physiology and ecology. Those species that live in temperate climates are generally insectivorous and nocturnal or crepuscular, sheltering in tree hollows, caves, or buildings during the day. They are potentially valuable ecological indicators, due to their dependence on suitable roosting sites and arthropod food, both of which are commonly affected by human activities. Identification of bats from ancient assemblages that are found in caves could therefore provide useful data for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and show the effect of habitat loss. Here, we apply the recently developed approach of collagen fingerprinting by soft ionisation mass spectrometry to the identification of ancient bat remains in an archaeological assemblage from Pin Hole Cave (Derbyshire, England). Our results show that a simple set of markers can distinguish all seven genera of bats known to be present in either modern or ancient Britain (Myotis, Nyctalus, Pipistrellus, Barbastella, Plecotus, Eptesicus, and Rhinolophus). Further analysis indicates that species‐level determination is possible in some of these taxa, but it would more readily be achieved using the more advanced methods of collagen sequence analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Within our assemblage yielding ~6,800 ancient bone collagen fingerprints, we identified only ~1% that derived from chiropterans, and these were predominantly derived from Myotis (two apparent Brandt's bat fingerprints but the majority indistinguishable between the whiskered, Daubenton's and Natterer's bats), Barbastella (the western barbastelle being the only member of this genus known within Europe), and Rhinolophus (identified as the lesser horsehoe bat R. hipposideros rather than the rare greater horseshoe bat R. ferrumequinum). We infer that the site was likely used by roosting bats throughout the year, and the accumulation of these remains was probably not the result of predator activity. More importantly, the peptide biomarkers provided here could proove valuable in the more systematic analysis of microfaunal remains across many European archaeological and palaeontological sites, preferably those that are collected with well curated stratigraphical information and chronological frameworks.
Gas chromatographic analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids: A review of literature published during the past decade
Authors: Nahar Lutfun , Guo Mingquan , Sarker Satyajit D.
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Cannabinoids are organic compounds, natural or synthetic, that bind to the cannabinoid receptors and have similar pharmacological properties as produced by the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Gas chromatography (GC), e.g. gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), is a popular analytical tool that has been used extensively to analyse cannabinoids in various matrices.

Objective

To review published literature on the use of various GC‐based analytical methods for the analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids published during the past decade.

Methodology

A comprehensive literature search was performed utilising several databases, like Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Google Scholar, and other relevant published materials including published books. The keywords used, in various combinations, with cannabinoids being present in all combinations, in the search were cannabinoids, Cannabis sativa, marijuana, analysis, GC, quantitative, qualitative and quality control.

Results

During the past decade, several GC‐based methods for the analysis of cannabinoids have been reported. While simple one‐dimensional (1D) GC–MS and GC‐FID (flame ionisation detector) methods were found to be quite common in cannabinoids analysis, two‐dimensional (2D) GC–MS as well as GC–MS/MS also were popular because of their ability to provide more useful data for identification and quantification of cannabinoids in various matrices. Some degree of automation in sample preparation, and applications of mathematical and computational models for optimisation of different protocols were observed, and pre‐analyses included various derivatisation techniques, and environmentally friendly extraction protocols.

Conclusions

GC‐based analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids, especially using GC–MS, has dominated the cannabinoids analysis in the last decade; new derivatisation methods, new ionisation methods, and mathematical models for method optimisation have been introduced.
New insights into diosgenin biosynthesis pathway and its regulation in Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammad , Mashayekh Tooba , Rashidi‐Monfared Sajad , Ebrahimi Amin , Abedini Davar
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Throughout history, thousands of medicinal and aromatic plants have been widely utilised by people worldwide. Owing to them possessing of valuable compounds with little side effects in comparison with chemical drugs, herbs have been of interest to humans for a number of purposes. Diosgenin, driven from fenugreek, Trigonella foenum‐graecum L., has extensively drawn scientist's attention owing to having curable properties and being a precursor of steroid hormones synthesis. Nonetheless, complete knowledge about the biosynthesis pathway of this metabolite is still elusive.

Objective

In the present research, we isolated the full‐length CDS of 14 genes involving in diosgenin formation and measured their expression rate in various genotypes, which had illustrated different amount of diosgenin.

Methodology

The genes were successfully isolated, and functional motifs were also assessed using in silico approaches.

Results

Moreover, combining transcript and metabolite analysis revealed that there are many genes playing the role in diosgenin formation, some of which are highly influential. Among them, ∆24‐reductase, which converts cycloartenol to cycloartanol, is the first‐committed and rate‐limiting enzyme in this pathway. Additionally, no transcripts indicating to the presence or expression of lanosterol synthase were detected, contradicting the previous hypothesis about the biosynthetic pathway of diosgenin in fenugreek.

Conclusion

Considering all these, therefore, we propose the most possible pathway of diosgenin. This knowledge will then pave the way toward cloning the genes as well as engineering the diosgenin biosynthesis pathway.
Modified laser‐fired contact process for efficient PERC solar cells
Authors: Choi Jae Myeong , Jung Beomsic , Park Jong‐Keuk , Kim Won Mok , Lee Doh‐Kwon , Jeong Jeung‐hyun , Lee Taek Sung , Choi Jea‐Young , Ju Byeong‐Kwon , Kim Inho
Published: August 2019

A laser‐fired contact (LFC) process is one of the techniques for making local electrical contacts at the rear side of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells. In the LFC process, opening of the passivated dielectric layers and alloying of Si and Al need to be made in a single step laser process. For this reason, the LFC process is accompanied by the loss of Al and the laser damage to the Si wafer. In this study, we present a novel multistep LFC process combining the conventional LFC and laser‐induced forward transfer (LIFT) processes. The modified LFC scheme we proposed consists of three steps: (a) opening of the passivation layers and partial alloying of Al‐Si, (b) additional deposition of Al on the local contact holes, and (c) post laser firing of the transferred Al. Applying the modified LFC process to the PERC cells of 1.0 cm2 of area, we demonstrate the effective recombination velocity of the laser‐processed wafers can be remarkably reduced while maintaining the low contact resistance. The best of the PERC solar cell fabricated by the modified LFC process exhibited an efficiency of 19.5% while the conventional LFC‐PERC cell showed 18.6%. The efficiency gains of the modified LFC‐PERC cells was largely contributed by the enhanced open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF).
The effects of explicit timing on middle‐school students’ writing production across 5‐ and 15‐min sessions
Authors: Ignacio Peter L. , McCurdy Merilee , White Jada , Auge Madeline B. , Skinner Christopher H. , Schwartz‐Micheaux Janet
Published: August 2019

Enhancing rates of accurate, active, academic responding can enhance learning. Both temporal manipulations (i.e., reducing time to work on assignments) and providing multiple distributed temporal cues (MDTC), sometimes referred to as explicit timing, have been shown to enhance rates of accurate mathematics responding. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of session length (i.e., 5 vs. 15 min to write) and temporal cues (i.e., a single initial temporal cue vs. MDTC) on seventh‐ and eighth‐grade students writing assignment rates and writing accuracy. Results showed that the 5 min writing sessions did result in significantly greater rates of accurate responding than the 15 min sessions; however, explicit timing did not significantly alter writing rates or accuracy. These findings suggest that educators can enhance rates of accurate writing by reducing writing session lengths. Discussion focuses on applied implications of providing briefer writing sessions and future research investigating the interaction between multiple temporal cues and assignments.
Substitutional effect of different bridging groups on optical and charge transfer properties of small bipolar molecules for OLEDs
Authors: Waqas Ahmad , Bibi Shamsa , Rehman Shafiq‐ur , Afzal Sufian , Yaseen Muhammad , Shoaib Muhammad , Saeed Ushna , Da Ming Wang
Published: August 2019

In this work, a series of eight different bipolar molecules were designed and calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent functional theory (TD‐DFT) for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as efficient luminescent and charge transfer materials. The eight donor‐π‐donor type small molecules (D1‐D8) were composed of triphenylamine (TPA) donor (D) unit connected to 1,8‐naphthalimides (NI) acceptor (A) unit though different π‐conjugated or R‐groups (as π‐spacer). The effect of substitutions made in π‐spacer was investigated on optical, electronic, and stability properties. This calculation analysis showed that different substitutions in π‐spacer resulted smaller Eg (range from 1.63 to 2.00 eV), broader absorption with the lowest excitation energy covering both visible and near infrared regions of solar spectrum, especially D3, D4, D5, and D6 molecules. The analyses of local densities of states, frontier molecular orbitals, and natural population analysis of orbitals revealed that studied molecules exhibited π‐π* electronic transitions of absorption in singlet excited states, but D5 and D6 also show intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) characteristics. The study of chemical indices, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces, and charge transfer properties turned out that D4, D5, and D6 are expected to show good potential for luminescent and hole transport materials in the favor of OLEDs.
Atom transfer coupling reactions performed with benign reducing agents and radical traps
Authors: Xia Katherine , Rubaie Alia J. , Johnson Brendan P. , Parker Samantha A. , Tillman Eric S.
Published: August 2019

Monobrominated polystyrene (PSBr) was prepared by ATRP, and the resulting chain ends were activated in the presence of radical traps to induce chain end‐coupling. In atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) with radical trap assistance, to achieve significant coupling requires excess metal catalyst, ligand, and a reducing agent that is often additional metal. In this work, activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) and radical trap assistance are used in the ATRC sequence to successfully lead to chain‐end coupling without the need for the oxidatively unstable copper (I) and with environmentally friendlier agents in place of copper metal. High extents of coupling (Xc) were achieved using ascorbic acid (AA) as the reducing agent and copper(II) bromide as the oxidized version of the catalyst, and when combined with AGET ATRP to prepare the PSBr precursor, only a fraction of the total metal was required compared to traditional atom transfer reactions, while still retaining similar Xc values. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2113–2120
Allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells: Novel therapeutic option for mutated FLNA‐associated respiratory failure in the pediatric setting
Authors: Pelizzo Gloria , Avanzini Maria A. , Lenta Elisa , Mantelli Melissa , Croce Stefania , Catenacci Laura , Acquafredda Gloria , Ferraro Aurelio L. , Giambanco Caterina , D'Amelio Lucia , Giordano Salvatore , Re Giuseppe , Zennaro Floriana , Calcaterra Valeria
Published: August 2019

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)‐mediated therapeutic effects have been observed in the treatment of lung diseases. For the first time, this treatment was used as rescue therapy in a pediatric patient with a life‐threatening respiratory syndrome associated with the filamin A (FLNA) gene mutation.

Methods

A child with a new pathogenic variant of the FLNA gene c.7391_7403del (p.Val2464AlafsTer5), at the age of 18 months, due to serious and irreversible chronic respiratory failure, was treated with repeated intravenous infusions of allogeneic bone marrow (BM)‐MSCs. The child's respiratory condition was monitored. Immunologic studies before each MSC treatment were performed.

Results

No acute adverse events related to the MSC infusions were observed. After the second infusion, the child's respiratory condition progressively improved, with reduced necessity for mechanical ventilation support. A thorax computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral recovery of the basal parenchyma, anatomical‐functional alignment and aerial penetration improvement. After the first MSC administration, an increase in Th17 and FoxP3+ T percentages in the peripheral blood was observed. After the second MSC infusion, a significant rise in the Treg/Th17 ratio was noted, as well as an increased percentage of CD20+/CD19+ B lymphocytes and augmented PHA‐induced proliferation.

Discussion

MSC infusions are a promising therapeutic modality for patients in respiratory failure, as observed in this pediatric patient with an FLNA mutation. MSCs may have an immunomodulatory effect and thus mitigate lung injury; although in this case, MSC antimicrobial effects may have synergistically impacted the clinical improvements. Further investigations are planned to establish the safety and efficacy of this treatment option for interstitial lung diseases in children.
Diagnosis and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Hughes Elizabeth , Twomey Patrick J , Williams Simon , McCormack Terry
Published: August 2019

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common monogenic lipid metabolism disorder, affecting up to 1 in 250 people in the UK. Patients with FH have high levels of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and are at very high risk of premature cardiovascular disease. This article focuses on the clinical aspects of FH to help primary care professionals diagnose and manage this treatable condition.
Panax notoginseng saponins suppress lipopolysaccharide‐induced barrier disruption and monocyte adhesion on bEnd.3 cells via the opposite modulation of Nrf2 antioxidant and NF‐κB inflammatory pathways
Authors: Hu Shaonan , Liu Tingting , Wu Yali , Yang Wanqing , Hu Shaobo , Sun Zongxi , Li Pengyue , Du Shouying
Published: August 2019

Dysfunction of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is a prerequisite for the pathogenesis of many cerebral diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are well‐known factors accounting for BBB injury. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), a clinical commonly used drug against cerebrovascular disease, possess efficient antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity. In the present study, the protective effects of PNS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐insulted cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were assessed and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results showed that PNS mitigated the decrease of Trans‐Endothelial Electrical Resistance, increase of paracellular permeability, and loss of tight junction proteins in bEnd.3 BBB model. Meanwhile, PNS suppressed the THP‐1 monocytes adhesion on bEnd.3 monolayer. Moreover, PNS prevented the pro‐inflammatory cytokines secretion and reactive oxygen species generation in bEnd.3 cells stimulated with LPS. Mechanism investigations suggested that PNS promoted the Akt phosphorylation, activated Nrf2 antioxidant signaling, and inhibited the NF‐κB activation. All the effects of PNS could be abolished by PI3K inhibition at different levels. Taken together, these observations suggest that PNS may act as an extrinsic regulator that activates Nrf2 antioxidant defense system depending on PI3K/Akt and inhibits NF‐κB inflammatory signaling to attenuate LPS‐induced BBB disruption and monocytes adhesion on cerebral endothelial cells in vitro.
Apigenin from Croton betulaster Müll restores the immune profile of microglia against glioma cells
Authors: Coelho Paulo L.C. , Amparo Jéssika A.O. , da Silva Alessandra B. , da Silva Karina C. , Braga‐de‐Souza Suzana , Barbosa Pedro Rocha , Lopes Giselle P. de F. , Costa Silvia L.
Published: August 2019

The flavonoid apigenin, extracted from the Brazilian plant Croton betulaster Müll. has demonstrated the ability to inhibit proliferation, induce differentiation, and modify the inflammatory profile of glioma cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of apigenin on chemotaxis and regulation of inflammatory cytokines of microglia cells and these impacts on glioma cell growth. In cultures of isolated rat microglia, it was observed that apigenin induced changes in Iba1‐positive cells to an ameboid phenotype, associated to an increase in the expression of the activated M1 profile marker OX‐42 and iNOS and a reduction in the expression of the M2 profile marker CD206. Besides, apigenin modulated the tumor necrosis factor and IL‐10 release by microglia. Treatment of C6 glioma cells with conditioned medium of microglia treated with apigenin‐induced reduction of tumor migration and viability, associated with significant reduction in IL‐6 levels. On the other hand, treatment of C6 cells with apigenin‐induced microglia chemotaxis to glioma in vitro. Moreover, apigenin treatment of microglia/C6 co‐cultures induced preferentially reduction in the viability of C6 cells and increased microglia‐activated phenotype, associated with a change in the balance of TNF/IL‐10 levels. Together, these results demonstrated that the flavonoid apigenin restores the immune profile of microglia against glioma cells.
Joint attack detection and secure state estimation of cyber‐physical systems
Authors: Forti Nicola , Battistelli Giorgio , Chisci Luigi , Sinopoli Bruno
Published: August 2019

This paper deals with secure state estimation of cyber‐physical systems subject to switching (on/off) attack signals and injection of fake packets (via either packet substitution or insertion of extra packets). The random set paradigm is adopted in order to model, via random finite sets (RFSs), the switching nature of both system attacks and the injection of fake measurements. The problem of detecting an attack on the system and jointly estimating its state, possibly in the presence of fake measurements, is then formulated and solved in the Bayesian framework for systems with and without direct feedthrough of the attack input to the output. This leads to the analytical derivation of a hybrid Bernoulli filter (HBF) that updates in real time the joint posterior density of a Bernoulli attack RFS and of the state vector. A closed‐form Gaussian mixture implementation of the proposed HBF is fully derived in the case of invertible direct feedthrough. Finally, the effectiveness of the developed tools for joint attack detection and secure state estimation is tested on two case studies concerning a benchmark system for unknown input estimation and a standard IEEE power network application.
The objective function controversy for group testing: Much ado about nothing?
Authors: Hitt Brianna D. , Bilder Christopher R. , Tebbs Joshua M. , McMahan Christopher S.
Published: August 2019

Group testing is an indispensable tool for laboratories when testing high volumes of clinical specimens for infectious diseases. An important decision that needs to be made prior to implementation is determining what group sizes to use. In best practice, an objective function is chosen and then minimized to determine an optimal set of these group sizes, known as the optimal testing configuration (OTC). There are a few options for objective functions, and they differ based on how the expected number of tests, assay characteristics, and testing constraints are taken into account. These varied options have led to a recent controversy in the literature regarding which of two different objective functions is better. In our paper, we examine these objective functions over a number of realistic situations for infectious disease testing. We show that this controversy may be much ado about nothing because the OTCs and corresponding results (eg, number of tests and accuracy) are largely the same for standard testing algorithms in a wide variety of situations.
1‐(Hydroxymethyl)‐1H‐benzotriazole: An Efficient Ligand for Copper‐Catalyzed Ullmann‐Type Coupling Reaction Leading to Expeditious Synthesis of Diverse Benzoxazoles and Benzothiazoles
Authors: Singh Mala , Bose Priyanka , Singh Anoop S. , Tiwari Vinod K.
Published: August 2019

Cu‐catalyzed Ullmann coupling was performed for the facile synthesis of diverse benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles in the presence of 1‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1H‐benzotriazole as ligand and K2CO3 as base in anhydrous DMF at 120 0C.
Lipase‐Catalyzed tert‐Butoxycarbonylation of Alcohols Using Boc2O
Authors: Kishi Naoki , Kojima Hideo
Published: August 2019

Lipase‐catalyzed tert‐butoxycarbonylation of alcohols using di‐tert‐butyl dicarbonate (Boc2O) was developed. Aspergillus niger lipase, Burkholderia cepacia lipase, Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase, Candida rugosa lipase, and Candida antarctica lipase B were examined. The reaction of benzyl alcohol with Boc2O proceeded smoothly in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase in hexane to produce benzyl tert‐butyl carbonate in a good yield. Similarly, the tert‐butoxycarbonylation reactions of 4‐methylbenzyl alcohol, 4‐methoxybenzyl alcohol, 4‐chlorobenzyl alcohol, 4‐bromobenzyl alcohol, 4‐nitrobenzyl alcohol, 2‐phenylethanol, 3‐phenyl‐1‐propanol, cinnamyl alcohol, and 2‐naphthalene methanol using Boc2O in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase in hexane resulted in very good to‐excellent yields of the corresponding tert‐butoxycarbonylated alcohols.
Copper Tannic Acid Coordination Nanosheet: A Potent Nanozyme for Scavenging ROS from Cigarette Smoke
Authors: Lin Shichao , Cheng Yuan , Zhang He , Wang Xiaoyu , Zhang Yuye , Zhang Yuanjian , Miao Leiying , Zhao Xiaozhi , Wei Hui
Published: August 2019

The global tobacco epidemic is still a devastating threat to public health. Toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cigarette smoke cannot be efficiently eliminated by currently available cigarette filters. The resultant oxidative stress causes severe lung injury and further diseases. To tackle this challenge, herein, a novel copper tannic acid coordination (CuTA) nanozyme is reported as a highly active and thermostable ROS scavenger. The CuTA nanozyme exhibits intrinsic superoxide dismutase‐like activity, catalase‐like activity, and hydroxyl radical elimination capacity. These synergistic antioxidant abilities make the CuTA nanozyme a promising candidate for the improvement of commercial cigarette filters. Mouse model results show that commercial cigarettes loaded with CuTA nanozyme efficiently scavenge ROS in the cigarette smoke, reduce oxidative stress–induced lung inflammation, and minimize the resultant acute lung injury. The developed CuTA nanozyme offers an efficient ROS scavenger with multiple antioxidant ability and opens up new opportunities for the modification of cigarette filters to reduce the toxic effects of cigarette smoke.
Artificial Engineered Natural Killer Cells Combined with Antiheat Endurance as a Powerful Strategy for Enhancing Photothermal‐Immunotherapy Efficiency of Solid Tumors
Authors: Zhang Da , Zheng Youshi , Lin Ziguo , Lan Shanyou , Zhang Xiaolong , Zheng Aixian , Li Juan , Liu Gang , Yang Huanghao , Liu Xiaolong , Liu Jingfeng
Published: August 2019

Although photothermal therapy (PTT) is preclinically applied in solid tumor treatment, incomplete tumor removal of PTT and heat endurance of tumor cells induces significant tumor relapse after treatment, therefore lowering the therapeutic efficiency of PTT. Herein, a programmable therapeutic strategy that integrates photothermal therapeutic agents (PTAs), DNAzymes, and artificial engineered natural killer (A‐NK) cells for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is designed. The novel PTAs, termed as Mn‐CONASHs, with 2D structure are synthesized by the coordination of tetrahydroxyanthraquinone and Mn2+ ions. By further adsorbing polyetherimide/DNAzymes on the surface, the DNAzymes@Mn‐CONASHs exhibit excellent light‐to‐heat conversion ability, tumor microenvironment enhanced T1‐MRI guiding ability, and antiheat endurance ability. Furthermore, the artificial engineered NK cells with HCC specific targeting TLS11a‐aptamer decoration are constructed for specifically eliminating any possible residual tumor cells after PTT, to systematically enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PTT and avoid tumor relapse. Taken together, the potential of A‐NK cells combined with antiheat endurance as a powerful strategy for immuno‐enhancing photothermal therapy efficiency of solid tumors is highlighted, and the current strategy might provide promising prospects for cancer therapy.
A Sequential Target‐Responsive Nanocarrier with Enhanced Tumor Penetration and Neighboring Effect In Vivo
Authors: Cui Tingting , Yan Zhengqing , Qin Hongshuang , Sun Yuhuan , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang
Published: August 2019

Nanodrug‐based cancer therapy is impeded by poor penetration into deep tumor tissues mainly due to the overexpression of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). Although modification of nanoparticles (NPs) with hyaluronidase (HAase) is a potent strategy, it remains challenging to get a uniform distribution of drug at the tumor site because of the internalization of NPs by the cells in the tumor and HA regeneration. Herein, an intelligent nanocarrier, which can release HAase in response to the acidic tumor microenvironment (pH 6.5) and perform a strong neighboring effect with size reduction to overcome the above two problems and accomplish drug deep tumor penetration in vivo, is reported. In this design, HAase is encapsulated on the surfaces of doxorubicin (DOX) preloaded ZnO‐DOX NPs using a charge convertible polymer PEG‐PAH‐DMMA (ZDHD). The polymer can release HAase to degrade HA in the tumor ECM (pH 6.5). ZnO‐DOX NPs can release DOX in lysosomes (pH 4.5) to induce cell apoptosis, and exert a neighboring effect with size reduction to infect neighboring cells. The hierarchical targeted release of HAase and drugs is demonstrated to enhance tumor penetration and decrease side effects in vivo. This work shows promise for further application of ZDHD NPs in cancer therapy.
Using blog‐like documents to investigate software practice: Benefits, challenges, and research directions
Authors: Rainer Austen , Williams Ashley
Published: August 2019

Background An emerging body of research is using grey literature to investigate software practice. One frequently occurring type of grey literature is the blog post. Whilst there are prospective benefits to using grey literature and blog posts to investigate software practice, there are also concerns about the quality of such material.

Objectives To identify and describe the benefits and challenges to using blog‐like content to investigate software practice, and to scope directions for further research.

Methods We conduct a review of previous research, mainly within software engineering, to identify benefits, challenges, and directions and use that review to complement our experiences of using blog posts in research.

Results and Conclusion We identify and organise benefits and challenges of using blog‐like documents in software engineering research. We develop a definition of the type of blog‐like document that should be of (more) value to software engineering researchers. We identify and scope several directions in which to progress research into and with blog‐like documents. We discuss similarities and differences in secondary and primary studies that use blog‐like documents and similarities and differences between the use of blog‐like documents and the use of already established research methods, eg, interview and survey.
Distractors: Do we need a policy safeguarding sonographers' working conditions during obstetric ultrasound examinations?
Authors: Woodrow Nicole , Najafzadeh Afrooz , Thoirs Kerry
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Distraction during obstetric scanning is a concern to sonographers, impacting on the safety of ultrasound for the pregnant patient, observers, and themselves. Our objective was to survey obstetric ultrasound practitioners to determine the formulation of policy in this area to mitigate the potential negative impacts of distractors.

Methods

An online survey was disseminated through professional bodies to study the views of Australian and New Zealand obstetric sonographers/sonologists on policy to combat distractors.

Results

Seventy‐eight percent of the surveyed sonographers (n = 393) responded to the closed‐ended questions on policy, with ~1/3 offering qualitative data/comments on workplace policy. Current policy direction was aimed at: the number of observers, the presence of children, separation of the medical and social bonding components of the scan, use of electronic devices, and the concept of “sonographer discretion.” Predominantly, (~66% of responses) policy was not adhered to due to multiple factors including fear of patient complaints if the policy was enforced.

Conclusion

The tension in obstetric sonography between medical diagnostics and social bonding is of concern to sonographers in our study. The way forward may involve a combination of patient education and a policy backed up by a professional authority, which is implemented and enforced by an employer.
Models of evaluation under ceteris imparibus: System dynamics and the example of emergency care
Authors: McAvoy Susan , Staib Andrew , Birch Stephen
Published: August 2019

Traditional and current approaches to modelling the impacts of health care interventions have focused on detail complexity and been ceteris paribus dependent and thereby ignored the wider system impacts. In this study, we have demonstrated that system dynamics (SD) offers theoretical and practical advantages over conventional methodologies and the qualitative assessment tools that have informed the business of emergency care. We translate the key findings of qualitative research, existing literature reviews and studies of the use of simulation and economic evaluation models into a value proposition for using SD tools. We conclude that there is growing evidence of a strong value proposition for the use of SD tools to investigate interventions targeting improved emergency care access. SD models can incorporate dynamic and organizational complexity and fill a gap beyond the microscope of the conventional methodologies informing health care. This potential to strengthen health care systems warrants further investigation.
A simple method for N‐M interaction diagrams of circular reinforced concrete cross sections
Authors: Di Laora Raffaele , Galasso Carmine , Mylonakis George , Cosenza Edoardo
Published: August 2019

A novel analytical method is derived for the ultimate capacity interaction diagram (i.e., axial compression, N ‐ bending moment resistance, M) of reinforced concrete (RC) columns with circular cross section. To this aim, the longitudinal rebar arrangement is replaced with a thin steel ring equivalent to the total steel area; moreover, according to modern design approaches, simplified stress–strain relationships for concrete and reinforcing steel are used. Illustrative applications demonstrate that the ultimate capacity computed by the proposed analytical approach agrees well with the results obtained by rigorous methods based on consolidated numerical algorithms. The new solution allows for a rapid, accurate assessment of circular cross section capacity by means of hand calculations; this is especially useful at the conceptual design stage of various structural and geotechnical systems. The method can be easily extended to more general configurations, such as multiple steel rings and composite concrete‐steel sections.
Effective turbulence and its implications in wind turbine fatigue assessment
Authors: Slot René M.M. , Sørensen John D. , Svenningsen Lasse , Moser Wolfgang , Thøgersen Morten L.
Published: August 2019

The effective turbulence approximation is widely used in the wind energy industry for site‐specific fatigue assessment of wind turbines with reference to loads. It significantly reduces the amount of aero‐elastic simulations required to document structural integrity by integrating out the directional variation of turbulence. Deriving the effective turbulence involves assumptions related to load effect histories, structural dynamics, and material fatigue strength. These assumptions may lead to low accuracy of fatigue load assessments by the effective turbulence compared with full directional simulations. This paper quantifies the implications of the effective turbulence for a multimegawatt wind turbine during normal operation. Analyses based on wind measurements from almost one hundred international sites document that the effective turbulence provides accurate results compared with full sector‐wise simulations, but only when linear SN‐curves are assumed. For a more advanced steel tower design approach using a bilinear SN‐curve, a reduction of the cross‐sectional design parameters by almost 10% is achieved. Additional 10% reduction can be obtained if fatigue damage is estimated utilizing the wind direction information. By applying a probabilistic approach, it is shown that this reduction in the design parameter of the steel tower does not compromise the structural integrity when the current IEC 61400‐1 standard is followed. The results presented may improve decision making in site‐specific fatigue assessments of wind turbines and prevent overconservative design, which results from the use of the effective turbulence, and thereby reduce the cost of wind energy.
Sentiment analysis for mining texts and social networks data: Methods and tools
Authors: Zucco Chiara , Calabrese Barbara , Agapito Giuseppe , Guzzi Pietro H. , Cannataro Mario
Published: August 2019

Social networks (SNs) represent an established environment in which users share daily emotions and opinions. Therefore, they have become an essential source of big data related to sentiment/opinion sphere. Sentiment analysis (SA) aims to extract sentiments, emotions or opinions from texts, made available by different data sources like SNs. This review presents a depth study relative to the methods and the main tools for SA. The analysis was performed by defining four criteria and several variables to compare 24 tools with objective criteria. Specifically, the tools have been analyzed and tested to verify their usability, flexibility of use, and other specifications related to the type of analysis performed. The majority of tools can detect positive, negative, and neutral polarity, while few tools only detect positive and negative polarity. Moreover, seven tools were able to recognize emotions, and only one provides a visual map for geo‐referenced data. Except for one, remaining 23 tools offer service through the web interface. Finally, only nine tools provide both application program interfaces and a client for common programming languages to allow potential developer end‐users to integrate a specific SA tool into their application. Differently, from other recent surveys, the paper presents and discusses both methods and tools for analyzing texts and SN data sources to extract sentiment. Moreover, it contains a comprehensive comparison with other recent surveys. The comparative analysis of the tools completed according to objective criteria allows to highlight some limits on main tools that need to be faced with enhancing the end‐user experience.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Big Data Mining

Application Areas > Data Mining Software Tools
EuPtSn2 – A Stannide with Sn2 Dumbbells in a Three‐dimensional [PtSn2]2– Polyanion
Authors: Klenner Steffen , Stegemann Frank , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: August 2019

EuPtSn2 was obtained by melting of the elements in a sealed tantalum ampoule followed by an annealing sequence for crystal growth. The EuPtSn2 sample was studied through its Guinier powder pattern and the structure was refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: CeRhSn2 type, Cmcm, a = 472.05(3), b = 1724.19(12), c = 957.36(7) pm, wR2 = 0.0388, 879 F2 values and 30 variables. The platinum and tin atoms build up a three‐dimensional [PtSn2]2– polyanionic network which consists of distorted PtSn5 square pyramids (265–278 pm Pt–Sn) and Sn2 dumbbells with 281 and 299 pm Sn–Sn distances. The structural relationship with DyRhGe2 and Ce3Pt4Ge6 is discussed. EuPtSn2 shows Curie–Weiss behavior with an experimental magnetic moment of 7.78(1) μB / Eu, indicating stable divalent europium. This is corroborated by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. Antiferromagnetic ordering is detected below 3.4 K. Specific heat measurements confirm the magnetic ordering and indicate a second phase transition through a clear λ‐type signal at 7.3 K which might be associated with a structural distortion.
String theory on the Schrödinger pp-wave background
Authors: Georgiou George , Sfetsos Konstantinos , Zoakos Dimitrios
Published: August 2019

Abstract

We study string theory on the pp-wave geometry obtained by taking the Penrose limit around a certain null geodesic of the non-supersymmetric Schrödinger background. We solve for the spectrum of bosonic excitations and find compelling agreement with the dispersion relation of the giant magnons in the Schrödinger background obtained previously in [47]. Inspired by the pp-wave spectrum we conjecture an exact in the t’Hooft coupling dispersion relation for the magnons in the original Schrödinger background. We show that the pp-wave background admits exactly 16 Killing spinors. We use the explicit form of the latter in order to derive the supersymmetry algebra of the background which explicitly depends on the deformation parameter. Its bosonic subalgebra is of the Newton-Hooke type.
Cubic interaction vertices for N=1 arbitrary spin massless supermultiplets in flat space
Authors: Metsaev R. R.
Published: August 2019

Abstract

In the framework of light-cone gauge formulation, massless arbitrary spin N=1 supermultiplets in four-dimensional flat space are considered. We study both the integer spin and half-integer spin supermultiplets. For such supermultiplets, formulation in terms of unconstrained light-cone gauge superfields defined in momentum superspace is used. Superfield representation for all cubic interaction vertices of the supermultiplets is obtained. Representation of the cubic vertices in terms of component fields is derived. Realization of relativistic symmetries of N=1 Poincaré superalgebra on space of interacting superfields is also found.
Abelian dualities of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (0, 4) boundary conditions
Authors: Okazaki Tadashi
Published: August 2019

Abstract

We propose dual pairs of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0, 4) half-BPS boundary conditions for 3d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 Abelian gauge theories related to mirror symmetry and S-duality by showing the matching of boundary ’t Hooft anomalies and supersymmetric indices. We find simple

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0, 4) mirror symmetry between 2d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0, 4) Abelian gauge theories and free Fermi multiplets that generalizes

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0, 2) Abelian duality. We also propose a prescription for computing half-index of enriched Neumann boundary condition including 2d boundary bosonic matters by gauging the 2d boundary flavor symmetry of Dirichlet boundary condition. By coupling

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0,4) half-BPS boundary configurations of 3d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 gauge theories to quarter-BPS corner configurations of 4d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 Super Yang-Mills theories, we further obtain a new type of 4d-3d-2d duality that may involve 3d non-Abelian gauge symmetry.
Wright–Fisher–type equations for opinion formation, large time behavior and weighted logarithmic-Sobolev inequalities
Authors: Furioli Giulia , Pulvirenti Ada , Terraneo Elide , Toscani Giuseppe
Published: August 2019

We study the rate of convergence to equilibrium of the solution of a Fokker–Planck type equation introduced in [19] to describe opinion formation in a multi-agent system. The main feature of this Fokker–Planck equation is the presence of a variable diffusion coefficient and boundaries, which introduce new challenging mathematical problems in the study of its long-time behavior.
Best constant in Poincaré inequalities with traces: A free discontinuity approach
Authors: Bucur Dorin , Giacomini Alessandro , Trebeschi Paola
Published: August 2019

For

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{N}

open bounded and with a Lipschitz boundary, and

1 \leq p < + \infty

, we consider the Poincaré inequality with trace term

C_{p}(\Omega )\|u\|_{L^{p}(\Omega )} \leq \|\mathrm{∇}u\|_{L^{p}(\Omega ;\mathbb{R}^{N})} + \|u\|_{L^{p}(\partial \Omega )}

on the Sobolev space

W^{1,p}(\Omega )

. We show that among all domains

Ω

with prescribed volume, the constant is minimal on balls. The proof is based on the analysis of a free discontinuity problem.
Dermatological Progression of a Probable Box Jellyfish Sting
Authors: Auerbach Paul S. , Gupta Deepak , Van Hoesen Karen , Zavala Adriana
Published: August 2019

This case report describes the typical features of the dermatological progression of a patient stung by a (probable) box jellyfish. The purpose is to guide clinicians and patients to an understanding of what to expect after such a sting using the clinical narrative and unique sequential photographs of the injury. With knowledgeable consultation from experienced physicians and meticulous care, this envenomation healed without the need for skin grafting.
Muddling-Through and Deep Learning for Managing Large-Scale Uncertain Risks
Authors: Cox Tony
Published: August 2019

Managing large-scale, geographically distributed, and long-term risks arising from diverse underlying causes – ranging from poverty to underinvestment in protecting against natural hazards or failures of sociotechnical, economic, and financial systems – poses formidable challenges for any theory of effective social decision-making. Participants may have different and rapidly evolving local information and goals, perceive different opportunities and urgencies for actions, and be differently aware of how their actions affect each other through side effects and externalities. Six decades ago, political economist Charles Lindblom viewed “rational-comprehensive decision-making” as utterly impracticable for such realistically complex situations. Instead, he advocated incremental learning and improvement, or “muddling through,” as both a positive and a normative theory of bureaucratic decision-making when costs and benefits are highly uncertain. But sparse, delayed, uncertain, and incomplete feedback undermines the effectiveness of collective learning while muddling through, even if all participant incentives are aligned; it is no panacea. We consider how recent insights from machine learning – especially, deep multiagent reinforcement learning – formalize aspects of muddling through and suggest principles for improving human organizational decision-making. Deep learning principles adapted for human use can not only help participants in different levels of government or control hierarchies manage some large-scale distributed risks, but also show how rational-comprehensive decision analysis and incremental learning and improvement can be reconciled and synthesized.
Guideline implementation is effective at reducing proton pump inhibitor use in hematology-oncology units: A multidisciplinary intervention for reducing Clostridioides difficile risk
Authors: Ziegler Matthew J. , Freyer Craig , Landsburg Daniel , Pegues David , Bilker Warren , Hirsh Rebecca , Kucharczuk Colleen , Gilmar Cheryl , Gorman Theresa , Palmer Melissa , Harker Christina , Lightheart Erin , Han Jennifer H.
Published: August 2019

We implemented a guideline for appropriate acid suppressant use in hematology-oncology patients. This intervention resulted in a sustained reduction in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use without an increase in rates of gastrointestinal bleeding. Practice guidelines are effective in reducing PPI use, which is associated with risk of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Guo Zhongshu's Archaeology of Writing
Authors: Hay Jonathan
Published: August 2019

“Bird-tracks” and “tadpoles” are both names for ancient script. As customs changed, the script came to be used less and less, until any basis for knowledgeable discussion was lost and it was known only from hearsay. The Grand Preceptor said: “When the[forms of the]rites are lost, search for them in the countryside.” Might not ancient script be even better than the countryside?

The names of dozens of artists from the tenth century have come down to us, for the most part with very little information about their lives and scarcely more about their art. Fortunately, the life and professional career of Guo Zhongshu 郭忠恕 (928–977) can be reconstructed in enough detail to give a sense of the personality of the artist and the world that he experienced. Indeed, we are doubly fortunate because Guo, it turns out, had no ordinary life. Known to art historians today primarily as one of the great painters of architectural subjects in Chinese history, Guo entered adult life in a different guise, as a brilliant young paleographer and calligrapher. This aspect of his career, no less important than his painting, is the subject of the present study. Although specialists have recognized his scholarly and calligraphic achievements, we still lack a contextualized account that incorporates what can be known of his biography and social circumstances. More important for the theme of this special issue, the material dimension of Guo's paleographic and calligraphic activities also remains to be explored. Any discussion can only be very partial, however, since no manuscripts or autograph calligraphies survive, only stone steles; fortunately, Guo's engagement with stele production is in itself of the highest historical interest. The chronologically organized text that follows tells a biographical story, with as much detail as the available sources allow, which eventually opens out onto the material world of steles, before returning to biography to recount the last chapter of Guo Zongshu's life. Rather than offering a conclusion, I end with a reflection on the materialities of transmission of paleographic and calligraphic knowledge. For the purposes of this article I have not thought it necessary to choose between the very different lenses of biography and material culture, since my goal is not to prove a thesis but to reconstruct an unfamiliar world. As I hope to show, the understanding of one person's life can enrich the understanding of artifacts associated directly and indirectly with the person, and vice versa.