bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral mapping of glutamate using chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging in a rat model of stress‐induced sleep disturbance at 7.0T
Authors: Lee Dong‐Hoon , Woo Chul‐Woong , Kwon Jae‐Im , Chae Yeon Ji , Ham Su Jung , Suh Ji‐Yeon , Kim Sang‐Tae , Kim Jeong Kon , Kim Kyung Won , Woo Dong‐Cheol , Lee Do‐Wan
Published: April 2019

Background

Glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) imaging has been widely used in brain psychiatric disorders. Glutamate signal changes may help to evaluate the sleep‐related disorders, and could be useful in diagnosis.

Purpose

To evaluate signal changes in the hippocampus and cortex of a rat model of stress‐induced sleep disturbance using GluCEST.

Study Type

Prospective animal study.

Animal Model

Fourteen male Sprague–Dawley rats.

Field Strength/Sequence

7.0T small bore MRI / fat‐suppressed, turbo‐rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) for CEST, and spin‐echo, point‐resolved proton MR spectroscopy (1H MRS).

Assessment

Rats were divided into two groups: the stress‐induced sleep‐disturbance group (SSD, n = 7) and the control group (CTRL, n = 7), to evaluate and compare the cerebral glutamate signal changes. GluCEST data were quantified using a conventional magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry in the left‐ and right‐side hippocampus and cortex. The correlation between GluCEST signal and glutamate concentrations, derived from 1H MRS, was evaluated.

Statistical Analysis

Wilcoxon rank‐sum test between CEST signals and multiparametric MR signals, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test between CEST signals on the left and right hemispheres, and a correlation test between CEST signals and glutamate concentrations derived from 1H MRS.

Results

Measured GluCEST signals showed significant differences between the two groups (left hippocampus; 4.23 ± 0.27% / 5.27 ± 0.42% [SSD / CTRL, P = 0.002], right hippocampus; 4.50 ± 0.44% / 5.04 ± 0.34% [P = 0.035], left cortex; 2.81 ± 0.38% / 3.56 ± 0.41% [P = 0.004], and right cortex; 2.95 ± 0.47% / 3.82 ± 0.26% [P = 0.003]). GluCEST signals showed positive correlation with glutamate concentrations (R2 = 0.312; P = 0.038).

Data Conclusion

GluCEST allowed the visualization of cerebral glutamate changes in rats subjected to sleep disturbance, and may yield valuable insights for interpreting alterations in cerebral biochemical information.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1866–1872.
Inhibitory effects of homoharringtonine on foot and mouth disease virus in vitro
Authors: Gong Mei‐jiao , Li Shi‐fang , Xie Yin‐li , Zhao Fu‐rong , Shao Jun‐jun , Zhang Yong‐guang , Wang Wen‐hui , Chang Hui‐yun
Published: April 2019

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven‐hoof animals including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and lots of wild species. Effectively control measures are urged needed. Here, we showed that homoharringtonine treatment exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against two different strains of FMDVs (O/MYA98/BY/2010 and A/GD/MM/2013) in swine kidney (IBRS‐2) cells. Further experiments demonstrated that homoharringtonine did not affect virus attachment or entry. Using time‐of‐addition assays, we found that the antiviral activity of homoharringtonine occurred primarily during the early stage of infection. These results demonstrated that homoharringtonine might be an effective anti‐FMDV drug. Further studies are required to explore the antiviral activity of homoharringtonine against FMDV replication in vivo.
Antibiofilm effect of green engineered silver nanoparticles fabricated from Artemisia scoporia extract on the expression of icaA and icaR genes against multidrug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Moulavi Pooria , Noorbazargan Hassan , Dolatabadi Aghigh , Foroohimanjili Fatemeh , Tavakoli Zahra , Mirzazadeh Sana , Hashemi Mojgan  , Ashrafi Fatemeh
Published: April 2019

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are at the forefront of the swiftly developing scope of nanotechnology. In the current study, we investigated the green synthesis of AgNPs using Artemisia scoporia as a reducing and capping agent. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐Transform infrared spectroscopy, dispersive absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy of the nanoparticle synthesis was assessed by comparing the antibiofilm activity with commercial AgNPs. The effect of sub‐minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AgNPs on biofilm formation was determined by microtiter plate assay. The expression level of the icaA and icaR genes was assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay. The structural and functional aspects of AgNPs were confirmed. The expression levels of icaA and icaR in the isolates exposed to sub‐MIC of both commercial and biosynthetic AgNPs were lower and higher than in the control group, respectively. Our results also indicated that greater reduction and induction in icaA and icaR gene expression were noticed with the sub‐MIC doses of biosynthetic AgNP versus commercial AgNP, respectively. This study suggested the application of AgNPs as a significant therapeutic and clinical option in the future and usage for fabricating medical implants. Nevertheless, further investigation is required for examining the pharmaceutical and medicinal properties of AgNPs.
Insight Out: Making Creativity Visible
Authors: Vallée‐Tourangeau Frédéric , March Paul L.
Published: April 2019

Models of creative problem solving are predicated upon mental states to explain everything from the outcome of problem‐solving experiments to the emergence of artistic creativity. We present two converging perspectives that describe a profoundly different ontological description of creativity. Our analysis proceeds from a distinction between first‐order problem solving, where the agent interacts with a physical model of the problem and second‐order problem solving, where the agent must cogitate a solution to a problem that is presented as a verbal description of a state of the world but where the agent does not or cannot transform physical elements of a problem. We acknowledge the recent evidence that foregrounds the importance of working memory in problem solving, including insight problem solving. However, we stress that the impressive psychometric success is obtained with a methodology that only measures second‐order problem solving; we question whether first‐order problem solving is equally well predicted by measures of cognitive or dispositional capacities. We propose that if mental simulation is replaced by the opportunity to engage with a physical model of a problem then the environment can provide affordances that help the participant to solve problems. In the second part of the paper, we present the subjective experience of an artist as he monitors the microdecisions that occur during the morphogenesis of a large, clay, sculptural installation. The testimony is a vivid demonstration that creative action occurs, not in the brain, but in the movement between the hand and the clay. Insight becomes outsight.
A peptide derived from rice inhibits alveolar bone resorption via suppression of inflammatory cytokine production
Authors: Aoki‐Nonaka Yukari , Tabeta Koichi , Yokoji Mai , Matsugishi Aoi , Matsuda Yumi , Takahashi Naoki , Sulijaya Benso , Domon Hisanori , Terao Yutaka , Taniguchi Masayuki , Yamazaki Kazuhisa
Published: April 2019

Background

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that results in alveolar bone resorption due to inflammatory cytokine production induced by bacterial antigens such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Here, the preventive effect of the Amyl‐1‐18 peptide derived from rice in an experimental model of periodontitis and the effect on the anti‐inflammatory response were assessed.

Methods

Alveolar bone resorption, gene transcription of proinflammatory cytokines in the gingiva, and the endotoxin level in the oral cavity were evaluated after oral administration of the Amyl‐1‐18 peptide for 14 days using a ligature‐induced periodontitis model in mice. Additionally, murine macrophages were incubated with LPS of Escherichia coli or Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence of Amyl‐1‐18 to analyze the suppressive effects of Amyl‐1‐18 on the cell signaling pathways associated with proinflammatory cytokine production, including inflammasome activities.

Results

Oral administration of Amyl‐1‐18 suppressed alveolar bone resorption and gene transcription of interleukin (il)6 in the gingiva of the periodontitis model, and decreased endotoxin levels in the oral cavity, suggesting modulation of periodontal inflammation by inhibition of endotoxin activities in vivo. Also, Amyl‐1‐18 suppressed IL‐6 production induced by LPS and recombinant IL‐1β in macrophages in vitro but had no effect on inflammasome activity.

Conclusions

The Amyl‐1‐18 peptide from rice inhibited alveolar bone destruction in mouse periodontitis model via suppressing inflammatory cytokine production induced by LPS. It was suggested that Amyl‐1‐18 peptide has anti‐inflammatory property against LPS, not only by neutralization of LPS and subsequent inhibition of nuclear factor‐κB signaling but also by inhibition of the IL‐1R‐related signaling cascade.
Zinc fortification as a tool for improving sprout hygienic and nutritional quality: a factorial design approach
Authors: Jribi Sarra , Molnàr Helga , Antal Otilia Tamara , Adànyi Nóra , Kheriji Oussema , Naàr Zoltan , Debbabi Hajer
Published: April 2019

Background

Sprouting is known to improve cereal and pulse nutritional properties. However, several outbreaks of illness have been reported after raw sprout consumption. This research aimed to improve wheat sprout hygienic properties through the use of zinc diacetate. Sprouting conditions (sprouting temperature, soaking time and zinc diacetate solution concentration) were optimized to decrease total plate count, coliforms, and molds and yeasts using a factorial design approach and a desirability function.

Results

Based on the responses, the effects of variables were calculated and the interactions between them were determined. Optimal conditions were defined as follows: sprouting temperature 18 °C, soaking time 0.66 h and zinc diacetate concentration 400 mg L−1. These conditions led to the elimination of coliforms and a decrease in total flora count by 2 log. Interestingly, zinc sprouting increased the zinc content of sprouts and improved their nutritional properties.

Conclusion

Results showed that the use of zinc solution is a useful tool to improve sprout hygienic and nutritional properties. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Cradle‐to‐grave carbon footprint of dried organic pasta: assessment and potential mitigation measures
Authors: Cimini Alessio , Cibelli Matteo , Moresi Mauro
Published: April 2019

Background

In several Environmental Product Declarations, the business‐to‐business carbon footprint (CFCDC) of durum wheat semolina dried pasta ranged from 0.57 to 1.72 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) kg−1. In this work, the business‐to‐consumer carbon footprint (CFCG) of 1 kg of dry decorticated organic durum wheat semolina pasta, as packed in 0.5 kg polypropylene bags by a South Italian medium‐sized pasta factory in the years 2016 and 2017, was assessed in compliance with the Publicly Available Specification 2050 standard method.

Results

Whereas CFCDC was mostly conditioned by the greenhouse gases emitted throughout durum wheat cultivation (0.67 vs 1.12 kg CO2e kg−1), CFCG was mainly dependent on the use and post‐consume phases (0.68 vs 1.81 kg CO2e kg−1). CFCG was more or less affected by the pasta types and packing formats used, since it varied from +0.3 to +14.8% with respect to the minimum score estimated (1.74 kg CO2e kg−1), which corresponded to long goods packed in 3 kg bags for catering service. Once the main hotspots had been identified, CFCG was stepwise reduced by resorting to a series of mitigation actions.

Conclusion

Use of more eco‐sustainable cooking practices, organic durum wheat kernels resulting from less impacting cultivation techniques, and renewable resources to generate the thermal and electric energy needs reduced CFCG by about 58% with respect to the above reference case. Finally, by shifting from road to rail freight transport and shortening the supply logistics of dry pasta and grains, a further 5% reduction in CFCG was achieved. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Olfactory outcomes after endoscopic skull base surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yin Linda X. , Low Christopher M. , Puccinelli Cassandra L. , O'Brien Erin K. , Stokken Janalee K. , Van Abel Kathryn M. , Janus Jeffrey R. , Link Michael J. , Van Gompel Jamie J. , Choby Garret
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Determine the effect of endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) on long‐term olfactory outcomes after surgery.

Methods

An English‐language search was conducted using the Cochrane, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase databases from January 2000 to October 2017 for adult patients undergoing ESBS with subjective and objective olfaction outcomes. Two authors independently examined articles to identify those meeting inclusion criteria. Studies examining objective olfactory outcomes after ESBS were included in the meta‐analysis. A random‐effects meta‐analysis of patients undergoing sellar and parasellar ESBS was conducted to compare preoperative and postoperative olfactory outcomes using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) and Cross‐Cultural Smell Identification Test (CCSIT).

Results

Among 339 eligible articles, 29 articles met inclusion criteria. Twenty‐five of these focused on sellar and parasellar tumors. Individual articles not meeting criteria for meta‐analysis were qualitatively reported. Meta‐analysis showed there was no difference in preoperative and postoperative olfactory function after sellar and parasellar ESBS based on the UPSIT (five studies, mean difference [MD] = −1.03; 95% CI: −3.98, 1.93; P = .50) and the CCIST (three studies, MD = −0.77; 95% CI: −3.03, 1.49; P = .50). A pooled overall meta‐analysis revealed similar results (eight studies, effect size = −0.30; 95% CI: −0.79, 0.18; P = .22). However, heterogeneity for all meta‐analyses was high (I2 > 95%, P < .01), suggesting significant variation in the included studies.

Conclusions

Based on published objective olfaction outcomes after sellar and parasellar ESBS, there was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative olfaction. Further prospective studies using validated objective measures of olfaction are required to improve our understanding on this subject.

Level of Evidence

2a

Laryngoscope, 129:1998–2007, 2019
Identifying erosion hotspots in Lake Tana Basin from a multisite Soil and Water Assessment Tool validation: Opportunity for land managers
Authors: Lemma Hanibal , Frankl Amaury , van Griensven Ann , Poesen Jean , Adgo Enyew , Nyssen Jan
Published: April 2019

Extensive catchment degradation throughout the Ethiopian Highlands induced by long‐term intensified land use, erosion‐prone topography, and climate causes substantial soil erosion that limits agricultural productivity and results in lake sedimentation. However, before taking soil conservation measures, management of the soil loss problem essentially needs catchment‐level modelling to estimate the geographic distribution of erosion hotspots. With the increasing availability of sediment and spatial data and development of physically based models, this study aims multisite calibration of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to map erosion hotspot areas and to assess the effect of well‐known land management alternatives in sediment reduction in the Lake Tana Basin. The SWAT simulations indicated that the goodness of fit between predicted and observed data was satisfactory for all gauge stations except for one, and the model performance was within acceptable evaluation ratings. Simulated average sediment yield (SY) for the period 2001–2016 at subbasin level varies from negligible to about 169 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (basin average 32 Mg ha−1 yr−1). High potential SY (>50 Mg ha−1 yr−1) was simulated for 23% of the subbasins in Megech, upper Rib, upper Gumara, and Gilgel Abay catchments due to steep slope topography, aggressive rainfall, croplands dominance, and low rock fragment cover. The differences in level of erosion risk among subbasins help to prioritize and target specific areas of the basin that need urgent soil conservation activities. Scenario analysis also showed that implementing stone bunds, Acacia decurrens‐based crop rotation, reforestation, and grass contour strips reduces the existing SY by 51–61% at basin level. The potential sediment production could reach tolerable levels by implementing stone bunds, tree‐based crop rotation, reforestation in steep slope areas, and grass contour strips on gentle slopes. Overall, the multisite calibration of SWAT model using the measured run‐off and sediment data produces reasonable results that may support decision makers and planners to implement relevant land management measures and thereby reduce the alarming problems of soil loss in the basin and sedimentation of Lake Tana.
Approaches to quantifying carbon emissions from degradation in pan‐tropic forests—Implications for effective REDD monitoring
Authors: Lu Heli , Liu Guifang , Zhang Chuanrong , Okuda Toshinori
Published: April 2019

Special attention is needed to quantify emissions from human‐induced degradation in forest lands because these data are more uncertain and less comprehensive than deforestation data in target countries in the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) programme. This study illustrates a Residual Trends (RESTREND) technique with a new baseline that isolates the human influence from natural climatic fluctuations to estimate emissions from forest degradation in countries across the tropics. Based on the recommended Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodology and framework, we found a pattern of high carbon density of 183 t C/ha in degraded areas, which was on average 1.5 times that of deforestation areas. Further analysis revealed that the initial value of carbon stock in degraded areas was about 5.45 Pg C during 2002–2012. We found that 17% of countries displayed values more than 100% of those from deforestation under the low degradation emission scenario, whereas 23% of countries displayed values less than 10% under the high degradation emission scenario. Thus, at a national level, with such an approach REDD could be further optimized and REDD targets could be achieved in an effective way.
Identification of Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria and characterization of their bioactive potential
Authors: Horta André , Alves Celso , Pinteus Susete , Lopes Cláudia , Fino Nádia , Silva Joana , Ribeiro Joana , Rodrigues Daniel , Francisco João , Rodrigues Américo , Pedrosa Rui
Published: April 2019

Macroalgae‐associated bacteria have already proved to be an interesting source of compounds with therapeutic potential. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to characterize Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria community and evaluate their capacity to produce substances with antitumor and antimicrobial potential. Bacteria were selected according to their phenotype and isolated by the streak plate technique. The identification was carried out by the RNA ribosomal 16s gene amplification through PCR techniques. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against seven microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans) by following their growth through spectrophotometric readings. Antitumor activities were evaluated in vitro on human cell lines derived from hepatocellular (HepG‐2) and breast carcinoma (MCF‐7) using the MTT method. The present work identified a total of 21 bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio, Staphylococcus, Shewanella, Alteromonadaceae, Bacillus, Cobetia, and Photobacterium, with Vibrio being the most abundant (42.86%). The extract of Shewanella sp. ASP 26 bacterial strain induced the highest antimicrobial activity, namely against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with an IC50 of 151.1 and 346.8 μg/mL, respectively. These bacteria (Shewanella sp.) were also the ones with highest antitumor potential, demonstrating antiproliferative activity on HepG‐2 cells. Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria revealed to be a potential source of compounds with antitumor and antibacterial activity.
Target characteristics and correlation detection probability calculation method in photoelectric detection screen testing system
Authors: Li Hanshan , Zhang Xiaoqian
Published: April 2019

The changed environment factors will affect the capture rate of target and the detection performance in photoelectric detection screen testing system, to improve the detection performance of system, it is very necessary to establish the target optical characteristic model and correlation detection probability calculation model. Based on the detection principle of unit photoelectric detection screen and the spatial geometric relation of four photoelectric detection screens testing system, this article establishes a new target radiation characteristics calculation model by using target's radiation luminance and radiation energy, gives the output signal expression function, derived the detection probability function by signal to noise ratio (SNR) and false alarm probability. Through calculation analysis, the results show that the detection probability of four photoelectric detection screens testing system is related to the target optical characteristic, the output photoelectric current and SNR of photoelectric detection receiving sensor can describe target detection performance. According to the experiments testing, the proposed calculation model can effectively evaluate the performance of photoelectric detection screen testing system.
Nerve conduction normal values for electrodiagnosis in pediatric patients
Authors: Ryan Conor S. , Conlee Erin M. , Sharma Rishi , Sorenson Eric J. , Boon Andrea J. , Laughlin Ruple S.
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Existing normal value references for pediatric nerve conduction studies (NCS) are based on limited sample sizes with uncertain reliability, suggesting a need for better normative data.

Methods

Electronic medical records were reviewed for pediatric patients (0 to <18 years) with normal findings on electromyography and NCS during the period from January 1, 1997 through September 20, 2017. Electrodiagnostic and demographic data were collected. Gaussian and descriptive statistics were used to establish normal values by age group.

Results

In this study we analyzed 1,918 normal NCS on 1,849 unique pediatric patients. Patients were stratified by age: 0 to <1 month; 1 to <6 months; 6 to <12 months; 12 to <24 months; 2 to <3 years; 3 to <4 years; 4 to <5 years; 5 to <10 years; 10 to <15 years; and 15 to <18 years. Normal reference ranges for amplitude, conduction velocity, and distal latency were established for each age group for 4 motor and 4 sensory nerves.

Discussion

The large sample size of this study provides reliable reference values for interpreting pediatric NCS. Muscle Nerve 60: 155–160, 2019
Triggers of Lapse and Relapse of Diet and Exercise in Behavioral Weight Loss
Authors: Swencionis Charles , Smith‐Wexler Lucia , Lent Michelle R. , Cimino Christopher , Segal‐Isaacson C.J. , Ginsberg Mindy , Caban‐Pocai Arlene , Wassertheil‐Smoller Sylvia , Theodore John L. , Wylie‐Rosett Judith
Published: April 2019

Objective

This study aimed to (1) develop instruments to evaluate situations that lead to lapse and relapse in diet and exercise and (2) prospectively investigate when and which psychosocial situations predict failure to lose weight in a clinical trial of intentional weight loss.

Methods

Participants were 469 individuals with overweight or obesity participating in a behavioral weight loss program (age: mean = 53.6 years, SD = 11.4; BMI: mean = 35.7 kg/m2, SD = 6.5).

Results

The Cronbach alphas for the Diet Lapse and Relapse Triggers Scale and the Exercise Lapse and Relapse Triggers Scale were 0.93 and 0.91, respectively. Subscale alphas ranged from 0.60 to 0.96. Lapse and relapse were assessed at 3 and 9 months for associations with weight loss at 12 months. At 9 months, diet triggers were negative emotional states (beta = 0.11, P = 0.02) and urges (beta = 0.14, P = 0.01). Predicted social situations showed the opposite (beta = −0.09, P = 0.02). Exercise subscales were all nonsignificant.

Conclusions

Findings suggest the ongoing importance of addressing negative emotional states and the contributing influence of urges. The novel finding that participants whose difficulties arise in social situations may do better over time requires further study.
Livestock biodiversity as interface between people, landscapes and nature
Authors: Hall Stephen J. G.
Published: April 2019

Livestock breeds, and the genetic diversity they embody, are components of global biodiversity.

Intimately enfolded in human societies, they are also components of agroecosystems, providing food, non‐food products, and other services including labour and social security. Under traditional management in pastoral systems, they can assure conservation of landscapes and of floral and faunal biodiversity.

Conservation of these genetic resources has been supported scientifically by animal genetics. This paper argues that ecosystem services science could provide further support to, and will in turn benefit from involvement in, genetic conservation. The focus is on the cultural significance in its landscape contexts of livestock biodiversity, and it is recommended that linkages be strengthened among ecosystem sciences, cultural geography and animal sciences.

These linkages will help development of policies that enhance the delivery, and support the resilience, of the ecosystem services provided by livestock and the systems of which they are part. Policy interventions that promote the conservation and sustainable development of livestock biodiversity are likely to confer both ecological and cultural benefits, and strengthen linkages between people and nature.

In turn, while the science of ecosystem services should take more account of livestock biodiversity, animal sciences should engage more with its cultural dimensions.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Thermal conductivity of high density polyethylene: Cold plasma modified graphite composites
Authors: Ramos‐de Valle Luis F. , Neira‐Velázquez Maria G. , Borjas‐Ramos José J. , Moggio Ivana , Arias Eduardo , Gallardo‐Vega Carlos A. , Soriano‐Corral Florentino , Soria‐Arguello Gustavo , Ramírez‐Vargas Eduardo , Sánchez‐Valdés Saúl , Espinoza‐Martínez Adriana B. , Hernández‐Hernández Ernesto , Narro‐Céspedes Rosa I.
Published: April 2019

Natural graphite particles (NG) were surface modified via ethylene plasma treatment and characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Ethylene polymerized during plasma treatment forming both a thin layer on the graphite particles surface and polyethylene particles that penetrate into the graphite layers, favoring its delamination or exfoliation. This beneficial effect finally impacts in the thermal properties of the composites: in fact, thermal conductivity (k) determined via modulated differential thermal calorimetry is, in general, larger than that of the pure polyethylene because of the graphite contribution and, with a major increase for graphite composites obtained with the treated than untreated NG because of the better dispersion.
Synthesis of well‐defined hairy polymer microspheres by precipitation polymerization and surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Ullah Md. Wali , Haraguchi Naoki
Published: April 2019

A variety of polymer microspheres were successfully synthesized by the surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) of monomers by using monodisperse polymer microsphere having benzyl halide moiety as a multifunctional polymeric initiator. First, a series of monodisperse polymer microsphere having benzyl chloride with variable monomer ratio (P(St‐DVB‐VBC)) were synthesized by the precipitation polymerization of styrene (St), divinylbenzene (DVB), and 4‐vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC). Next, hairy polymer microspheres were synthesized by the surface‐initiated ATRP of various monomers with P(St‐DVB‐VBC) microsphere as a multifunctional polymeric initiator. The hair length determined by the SEC analysis of free polymer was increased with the increase of M/I. These hairy polymer microspheres were characterized by SEM, FT‐IR, and Cl content measurements. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1296–1304
NMR structure of a full‐length single‐pass membrane protein NRADD
Authors: Nadezhdin Kirill D. , Goncharuk Sergey A. , Arseniev Aleksander S. , Mineev Konstantin S.
Published: April 2019

Structural study of any single‐pass membrane protein is both an important and challenging task. In this report, we present the structure of a neurotrophin receptor‐alike death‐domain protein. The structure and dynamics of the protein was investigated by conventional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques in the solution of phospholipid bicelles. The receptor contains two folded regions—α‐helical transmembrane domain and globular C‐terminal death domain with more than 50% of the rest of backbone being disordered. This is the first structure of a full‐length single‐pass membrane receptor‐alike protein solved by the single method.
Spherical formation tracking control for second‐order agents with unknown general flowfields and strongly connected topologies
Authors: Chen Yang‐Yang , Ai Xiang , Zhang Ya
Published: April 2019

This article addresses the problem of directing a family of second‐order agents suffering external flowfields to achieve the lateral formation tracking motion on a target sphere. Distinguishing from the existing results based on bidirectional networks, this paper firstly attempts to deal with the fixed directed strongly connected multiagent systems and then the switch directed networks with the strong connectivity of each topology. Both the velocity field (eg, the constant‐velocity flowfield, the rotating flowfield, Eulerian specification flowfield, the parameterized flowfield) and the gravitational field are under consideration, where the flow specification is a spatiotemporal variable with an unknown parameter vector. Therefore, it is known as the general flowfield. To access to the fixed network, a new second‐order observer for the velocity field as well as an adaptive estimate for the gravitational field are constructed by using the tool of adaptive backstepping in the beginning. They, together with the distributed control laws in the spherical normal, lateral, and longitudinal directions, are proposed to accomplish spherical tracking, circular tracking, and lateral formation. For the purpose of avoiding the overparametrization of observer and reducing the complexity of design, a minimum‐order observer is proposed later. Finally, our proposed methods servicing to the fixed topologies are developed to the cases where the switching topologies are directed and each one is strongly connected. The stability of the fixed and directed strongly connected system is investigated based on the Barbalat's lemma, whereas the Lyapunov stability theory of nonsmooth systems is introduced to analyze the stability of the switching cases. Theoretical results are proven by the numerical examples.
Unfinished Business of International Law: The Questionable Legality of Autonomous Sanctions
Authors: Hovell Devika
Published: April 2019

Enforcement by way of unilateral economic sanctions has been described as “one of the least developed areas of international law.” The term “sanctions” is notoriously difficult to define and does not itself appear in the key international instruments. With economic sanctions regularly referred to as President Trump's “weapon of choice,” and with opposition to such measures growing, greater certainty is needed in this area of law if the legitimacy and effectiveness of sanctions are to be preserved. This essay distinguishes UN-authorized sanctions from three types of “autonomous” sanctions (collective corrective sanctions, unilateral corrective sanctions, and unilateral coercive sanctions) and argues that many uses of unilateral sanctions are either unregulated or based on questionable legality.
State Responsibility for “Targeted Sanctions”
Authors: Tzanakopoulos Antonios
Published: April 2019

The United States and other actors such as the European Union impose “targeted sanctions” against foreign officials for acts carried out in their official capacity, or against legal entities of targeted states. This mirrors the practice and experience of the United Nations. The Security Council's practice of imposing comprehensive sanctions in the early 1990s quickly evolved into a practice of “targeted” or “smart” sanctions, to both improve effectiveness and to alleviate the significant effects of sanctions on the population of targeted states. However, the legal regime for resorting to sanctions is different when it comes to states acting unilaterally than it is for collective action within the framework of the UN Charter. This essay first clarifies some terminological issues. It then delves into the legality of the practice of unilateral “targeted sanctions,” and concludes that the most legally difficult aspect of these measures is their purported extraterritoriality.
A machine learning perspective on responsible gambling
Authors: HASSANNIAKALAGER ARMAN , NEWALL PHILIP W.S.
Published: April 2019

Gamblers are frequently reminded to ‘gamble responsibly’. But these qualitative reminders come with no quantitative information for gamblers to judge relative product risk in skill-based gambling forms. By comparison, consumers purchasing alcohol are informed of product strength by alcohol by volume percentage (ABV%) or similar labels. This paper uses mixed logistic regression machine learning to uncover the potential variation in soccer betting outcomes. This paper uses data from four bet types and eight seasons of English Premier League soccer, ending in 2018. Outcomes across each bet type were compared using three betting strategies: the most-skilled prediction, a random strategy and the least-skilled prediction. There was a large spread in betting outcomes, with, for example, the per-bet average loss varying by a factor of 54 (from 1.1% to 58.9%). Gamblers’ losses were positively correlated with the observable betting odds across all bets, indicating that betting odds are one salient feature that could be used to inform gamblers about product risk. Such large differences in product risk are relevant to the promotion of responsible gambling.
Trauma-informed child welfare practice model in Methodist Welfare Services Covenant Family Service Centre (Singapore)
Authors: Ng-Tay Cindy Hui Mei , Teo Joyce , Ng Yi Ying
Published: April 2019

In view of the rise in child abuse in Singapore, our Family Service Centre developed a child welfare practice model to guide and anchor our practitioners in trauma-informed approaches. This practice model was developed over two years through literature reviews and qualitative interviews with practitioners. Three aspects of the practice model were found to be key in ensuring practitioners were trauma-informed in their practices, these being: the principles and values related to trauma-informed practice; reflection by practitioners on their attachment history and self; and the assessment of caregivers’ characteristics. Despite this practice model being largely beneficial for practitioners in our agency, implementation in the local context gives rise to certain challenges due to differences in beliefs about disciplining children.
A Preliminary Analysis of a Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation Program in Windsor, Ontario
Authors: Voth Jennifer , Petro Jason , Mallender Michael , Bridgen Sonja , Mannan Sara , Jackson Marla , Liem Nathania R.
Published: April 2019

Community stroke rehabilitation (CSR) is an effective program for survivors to recover at home supported by a multidisciplinary team. A home-based, specialized CSR program was delivered in Windsor, Ontario, to stroke patients who faced barriers to accessing outpatient services following inpatient rehabilitation. Preliminary results show program patients made significant functional improvements from baseline to program discharge. A subgroup analysis revealed that, after adjusting for age and resource intensity, moderate to severe stroke patients made greater functional gains compared to mild stroke patients. The individualized focus of CSR delivered in the home provides an effective model of rehabilitation for continued stroke care in the community.
White Matter Damage in the Semantic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia
Authors: Bouchard Louis-Olivier , Wilson Maximiliano A. , Laforce Robert , Duchesne Simon
Published: April 2019

Background: The semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) is a form of dementia, mainly featuring language impairment, for which the extent of white matter (WM) damage is less described than its associated grey matter (GM) atrophy. Our study aimed to characterise the extent of this damage using a sensitive and unbiased approach. Methods: We conducted a between-group study comparing 10 patients with a clinical diagnosis of svPPA, recruited between 2011 and 2014 at a tertiary reference centre, with 9 cognitively healthy, age-matched controls. From diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, we extracted fractional anisotropy (FA) values using a tract-based spatial statistics approach. We further obtained GM volumetric data using the Freesurfer automated segmentation tool. We compared both groups using non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, correcting for multiple comparisons. Results: Demographic data showed that patients and controls were comparable. As expected, clinical data showed lower results in svPPA than controls on cognitive screening tests. Tractography showed impaired diffusion in svPPA patients, with FA mostly decreased in the longitudinal, uncinate, cingulum and external capsule fasciculi. Volumetric data show significant atrophy in svPPA patients, mostly in the left entorhinal, amygdala, inferior temporal, middle temporal, superior temporal and temporal pole cortices, and bilateral fusiform gyri. Conclusions: This syndrome appears to be associated not only with GM but also significant WM degeneration. Thus, DTI could play a role in the differential diagnosis of atypical dementia by specifying WM damage specific to svPPA.
Risks when Reforming: Challenges and Sustainability of RIA Systems: Results of the First Systematic Study on RIA Reforms in Developing Countries
Authors: KAMKHAJI Jonathan C , LADEGAARD Peter , LUNDKVIST Petter
Published: April 2019

This article reports on and discusses the findings of the first systematic study on Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) reforms in developing and transition economies. The macro part of the study reveals that between 2001 and 2016 60 such reforms were launched in total, with 20 of them leading to functional RIA systems two years or more after they were initiated. Appropriate and complete reform design, analysed by measuring compliance with six internationally recognised “good practices”, is found to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for early success. To develop a better understanding of challenging factors for RIA reforms’ success the micro part of the investigation analyses four case studies (Botswana, Cambodia, Kenya and Uganda). Findings point to the importance of donor flexibility and patience and the need for building reform constituencies inside and outside government. The traditional orthodoxy of regulatory impact assessment reforms as an extension of red tape reduction is challenged. The article finally presents several possible policy implications of the findings.
Technological Innovation and Animal Law: Does Dignity Do the Trick?
Authors: LANSINK Anne
Published: April 2019

EU and UK animal protection laws are underpinned by arguments based on the perceived desirability of reducing animal suffering. Technological innovations, however, give rise to ethically problematic situations in which suffering is not present or where it is not necessarily the only issue. Moreover, these developments further expose non-suffering related problems that were already present in existing areas of animal use. The existing animal protection laws are not capable of adequately addressing these problems. The concept of dignity might be a promising alternative. It is capable of covering situations other than those in which welfare is an issue, and using it might make the law more internally consistent.
Policy Entrepreneurs and FDI Attraction: Canada’s Auto Industry
Authors: MORDUE GREIG
Published: April 2019

New perspective is provided on a critical period in the development of the Canadian automotive industry. In the 1980s, five foreign manufacturers built new vehicle assembly operations in Canada, effectively transforming that country’s automotive industry. Drawing from a combination of interviews with key actors and a review of archives, this case study makes several contributions. First, gaps are closed in the economic history of one of Canada’s most important industries. Second, the case demonstrates the capacity of using historical perspective to extend an existing theory to a new area of inquiry. In this case, Multiple Streams Theory is employed to explain the process of inward FDI attraction. This includes a description of the role of policy entrepreneurs and their capacity to create and exploit opportunities. Third, the case demonstrates the continuing relevance of integrating historical perspective to contemporary issues in business, management, and public policy.
The effectiveness of a novel colorant additive in the daily cleaning of patient rooms
Authors: Rathod Shardul N. , Beauvais Karen , Sullivan Linda K. , Sudikoff Stephanie N. , Peaper David R. , Martinello Richard A.
Published: April 2019

The quality of daily cleaning was assessed comparing a standard bleach product with the bleach product containing a novel colorant additive in an inpatient setting. Effectiveness was assessed using fluorescent markings and microbiological analysis of environmental and experimental specimens. Our findings showed no significant difference in cleaning between these groups.
Solarization to control downy brome (Bromus tectorum) for small-scale ecological restoration
Authors: Orr Matthew R. , Reuter Ron J. , Murphy Shanti J.
Published: April 2019

Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) is a common impediment to ecological restoration, because its seedbank remains viable after repeated treatment with herbicides. Soil solarization has been used in ecological restoration to control seedbanks of invasive plants. Here we test the efficacy of soil solarization to reduce B. tectorum cover and establish native plants at a site in B. tectorum’s core invasive range with a long history of disturbance and infestation. Solarization raised soil temperatures by as much as 13 C and reduced B. tectorum densities by approximately 20-fold. In 30 plots solarized for 0 to 101 d, B. tectorum emerged in inverse abundance to treatment duration. Broadleaf weeds were less abundant than B. tectorum before treatment, and diminished under solarization, but their response to solarization was weaker than B. tectorum’s, and they emerged in greater numbers than B. tectorum 2 to 3 yr after treatment. When seeded after solarization, a native perennial bunchgrass, squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey], did not differ in abundance between solarized and control plots. Solarization may facilitate B. tectorum control on a small scale without jeopardizing the establishment of native plants, but only if treatment durations are long and subsequent management of broadleaf weeds and remnant B. tectorum is planned.
Out-of-plane buckling in two-dimensional glass drawing
Authors: O’Kiely D. , Breward C. J. W. , Griffiths I. M. , Howell P. D. , Lange U.
Published: April 2019

We derive a mathematical model for the drawing of a two-dimensional thin sheet of viscous fluid in the direction of gravity. If the gravitational field is sufficiently strong, then a portion of the sheet experiences a compressive stress and is thus unstable to transverse buckling. We analyse the dependence of the instability and the subsequent evolution on the process parameters, and the mutual coupling between the weakly nonlinear buckling and the stress profile in the sheet. Over long time scales, the sheet centreline ultimately adopts a universal profile, with the bulk of the sheet under tension and a single large bulge caused by a small compressive region near the bottom, and we derive a canonical inner problem that describes this behaviour. The large-time analysis involves a logarithmic asymptotic expansion, and we devise a hybrid asymptotic–numerical scheme that effectively sums the logarithmic series.
Fractal features of turbulent/non-turbulent interface in a shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction flow
Authors: Zhuang Yi , Tan Huijun , Wang Weixing , Li Xin , Guo Yunjie
Published: April 2019

Fractal features of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) in shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction (SWBLI) flows are essential in understanding the physics of the SWBLI and the supersonic turbulent boundary layer, yet have received almost no attention previously. Accordingly, this study utilises a high spatiotemporal resolution visualisation technique, ice-cluster-based planar laser scattering (IC-PLS), to acquire the TNTI downstream of the reattachment in a SWBLI flow. Evolution of the fractal features of the TNTI in this SWBLI flow is analysed by comparing the parameters of the TNTI acquired in this study with those from a previous result (Zhuang et al.J. Fluid Mech., vol. 843, 2018a).
Marine Reservoir Effects in Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) from Southwestern Florida, USA
Authors: Hadden Carla S , Schwadron Margo
Published: April 2019

In southwestern Florida, USA, terraformed landscapes built almost entirely of oyster shells (Crassostrea virginica) reflect a unique pre-Columbian tradition of shell-built architecture. The ability to reliably date oyster shells is essential to identifying spatial, temporal, and functional relationships among shellworks sites, yet to date there has been no systematic attempt to quantify or correct for carbon reservoir effects in this region. Here we present 14 radiocarbon (14C) ages for 5 known-age, pre-bomb oyster shells collected between AD 1932–1948, as well as 6 14C ages for archaeological oyster/charcoal pairs from the Turner River Mound Complex, Everglades National Park. We report our current best estimate of ΔR = 92 ± 74 yr for Greater Southwest Florida, and ΔR = –15 ± 42 yr for the Turner River archaeological site. Future research should focus on paired archaeological specimens to obtain spatially and temporally relevant estimates of ΔR.