bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A millimeter‐wave scalable small signal model of RF CMOS transistor against number of fingers
Authors: Bashir Muhammad Adil , Wu Yunqiu , Liu Jun , Zhao Chenxi , Tang Hongyan , Kang Kai
Published: May 2019

A scalable small signal model for RF CMOS transistor is presented in this paper. The model consists of interconnects, substrate network, and intrinsic parameters. The proposed scaling rules characterize the transistors with different numbers of fingers. Based on this, the bias dependency, linear, and nonlinear behavior of all parasitic components are evaluated. A set of scalable RF CMOS models are validated by fabricating in the 90‐nm CMOS process, with gate width of 650 × 8 nm, 650 × 16 nm, 650 × 32 nm, and 650 × 64 nm, respectively. Further, the validity of the proposed model is carried out by comparing the calculated and measured results under different bias conditions up to 66 GHz. The root mean square errors calculated between measured and calculated results are within 0.0110 for S11, 0.0036 for S12, 0.0388 for S21, and 0.0106 for S22, respectively. A fairly good agreement predicts that the model is simple, scalable, and conducive for millimeter‐wave circuits.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for management of the N0 neck in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Loree John T. , Popat Saurin R. , Burke Mark S. , Frustino Jennifer , Grewal Jeewanjot S. , Loree Thom R.
Published: May 2019

Background and Objectives

The management of the clinically N0 (cN0) neck is controversial for early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC). This paper represents a single institution series analyzing the efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) for early stage oral cavity cancers.

Methods

From 2005 to 2017, 108 patients with cN0 OSCC were treated with primary resection and SNB. Patients with positive biopsy results proceeded to neck dissection with or without adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Mean follow‐up for the entire cohort was 50.8 months (range: 8‐147 months). Clinically, 56 patients were T1N0, 49 patients were T2N0, and three patients were T3N0 or greater.

Results

Disease‐specific survival was 93% within the entire cohort. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified in 95.4% of patients. Twenty one patients had a positive biopsy. There were seven false‐negative biopsies. The overall rate of nodal disease was 26%. Accuracy of node biopsy was 93%, with sensitivity of 75%, and negative predictive value of 91%. Recurrence rate was 19% (20/108), with an overall survival of 60% in this subgroup.

Conclusion

SNB is a safe, effective, and well tolerated method for staging cN0 OSCC.
Exploring the implications of wearable virtual reality technology for museum visitors' experience: A cluster analysis
Authors: Errichiello Luisa , Micera Roberto , Atzeni Marcello , Del Chiappa Giacomo
Published: May 2019

Despite the spreading of virtual reality (VR) in tourism, little is known about the characteristics of different segments of tourists experiencing cultural tourism attractions through VR applications. This paper proposes to profile museum visitors based on their perceptions and attitudes towards VR applications and investigates whether they are significantly different in terms of socio‐demographic characteristics and emotional responses towards the VR‐mediated experience. With the use of exploratory factor‐cluster analysis of 287 visitors of a cultural attraction, three clusters were identified with significant differences in terms of attitudes and perceptions towards the VR‐mediated experience and emotional feelings. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Apoptotic protease activating factor‐1 negatively regulates Wnt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Han Rui , Chen Xin‐Yi
Published: May 2019

The current study aims to evaluate the mechanism of apoptotic protease activating factor‐1 (Apaf‐1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by verifying the regulation of the wnt/beta‐catenin signaling pathway via Apal‐1. Our data showed that transfection with Ad‐Apaf‐1 could inhibit the activity of a lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) luciferase plasmid activated by β‐catenin. Overexpressing Apaf‐1 could suppress the β‐catenin‐induced LEF luciferase activity in a dose‐dependent manner. Western blot assays demonstrated that the overexpression of Apaf1 significantly suppressed the expression of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling‐related proteins. Further study demonstrated that Apaf‐1 suppressed HepG2 cell migration, invasion, and viability. Knocking down the expression of Apaf‐1 activated the wnt/β‐catenin pathway in HepG2 cells. In contrast, silencing β‐catenin decreased the activation of wnt/β‐catenin, even in the presence of si‐Apaf‐1. Cell cycle distribution analysis demonstrated a decrease in the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase in the Apaf‐1 silencing group. In contrast, knocking down the expression of β‐catenin increased the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase, even in the presence of si‐Apaf‐1. In summary, the Apaf‐1‐mediated suppression of HepG2 cell malignancy is achieved by inhibiting the wnt/β‐catenin pathway.
Preparation of All Polyester‐Based Semi‐IPN Elastomers Containing Self‐Associative or Non‐Associative Guest Chains via Post‐Blending Cross‐Linking
Authors: Hayashi Mikihiro , Sugimoto Kanta , Takasu Akinori
Published: May 2019

Mechanical properties of semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) elastomers consisting of chemical networks and self‐associative/non‐associative guest chains are demonstrated. Amorphous lowTgpolyesters with thiol side groups (PE‐SH) are first synthesized by melt polycondensation. PE‐SH are then converted to polyesters containing COOH side groups (PE‐COOH) and amide side groups (PE‐amide) through Michael addition reaction of thiol groups with acrylic acid and acrylamide, respectively. Homogeneous semi‐IPN elastomers are obtained by thermal cross‐linking for bulk mixtures of PE‐COOH and PE‐amide in the presence of diepoxy cross‐linkers, where COOH and epoxy groups are reacted to form chemical cross‐links while the amide units form self‐complementary hydrogen bonds. Another sample containing non‐associative chains is also prepared by using polyester withN,N‐dimethylamide units, instead of PE‐amide. Dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that guest chain incorporation systematically brings plateau modulus reduction and a unique relaxation with higher tan δ value depending on the fraction and nature of guest chains. Tensile properties are also affected by the fraction and nature of guest chains; the incorporation of hydrogen bonded chains are beneficial to enhance breaking elongation and toughness without the sacrifice of maximum stress. The knowledge found in this work will be thus beneficial for creating tough soft materials with damping applications.
Burden of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis on quality of life
Authors: Yarlas Aaron , Gertz Morie A. , Dasgupta Noel R. , Obici Laura , Pollock Michael , Ackermann Elizabeth J. , Lovley Andrew , Kessler Asia Sikora , Patel Pankaj A. , White Michelle K. , Guthrie Spencer D.
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive, degenerative disease, with peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and other clinical manifestations. In this study we examine the impact of hATTR amyloidosis on quality of life (QOL).

Methods

Neuropathy‐specific QOL, measured with the Norfolk QOL‐Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire, was compared between patients with hATTR amyloidosis and patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas generic QOL, measured with the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF‐36v2), was compared between patients with hATTR amyloidosis, the general population, and patients with chronic diseases.

Results

Neuropathy‐specific QOL for patients with hATTR amyloidosis was nearly equivalent to that of patients with type 2 diabetes with diabetic neuropathy accompanied by a history of ulceration, gangrene, or amputation. Generic QOL was worse than that seen in the general population, with physical functioning worse than that for patients with multiple sclerosis and congestive heart failure.

Discussion

Patients with hATTR amyloidosis show significant burden on QOL, particularly in physical functioning. Muscle Nerve 60: 169–175, 2019
4‐Aminopyridine attenuates muscle atrophy after sciatic nerve crush injury in mice
Authors: Yue Li , Talukder M. A. , Gurjar Anagha , Lee Jung Il , Noble Mark , Dirksen Robert T. , Chakkalakal Joe , Elfar John C.
Published: May 2019

Introduction

We recently demonstrated the beneficial effects of 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP), a potassium channel blocker, in enhancing remyelination and recovery of nerve conduction velocity and motor function after sciatic nerve crush injury in mice. Although muscle atrophy occurs very rapidly after nerve injury, the effect of 4‐AP on muscle atrophy and intrinsic muscle contractile function is largely unknown.

Methods

Mice were assigned to sciatic nerve crush injury and no‐injury groups and were followed for 3, 7, and 14 days with/without 4‐AP or saline treatment. Morphological, functional, and transcriptional properties of skeletal muscle were assessed.

Results

In addition to improving in vivo function, 4‐AP significantly reduced muscle atrophy with increased muscle fiber diameter and contractile force. Reduced muscle atrophy was associated with attenuated expression of atrophy‐related genes and increased expression of proliferating stem cells.

Discussion

These findings provide new insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of 4‐AP against nerve injury‐induced muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Muscle Nerve 60: 192–201, 2019
Exploring the utility of the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model in evaluating nursing contributions in primary health care: A scoping review
Authors: Lukewich Julia A. , Tranmer Joan E. , Kirkland Megan C. , Walsh Anna J.
Published: May 2019

Aims

To inform a discussion for the applicability of using the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model (NREM) in the primary health care setting through a synthesis of the literature that has used the model in all health care sectors.

Design

Scoping Review.

Methods

Articles were considered for inclusion if they discussed any aspect of the NREM in health care research that presented information related to any nursing regulatory designation, such as nurse practitioner (NP), registered nurse (RN), licensed/registered practical nurse (LPN/RPN) and considered both quantitative and qualitative study designs, including expert opinions and reports.

Results

A total of 22 articles that cited and/or used the NREM were identified in this review. Only two studies were focused in the primary health care setting. There is precedence for the use of the NREM to guide research in primary health care. The NREM should be modified to incorporate the unique characteristics of the primary health care setting.
The Potential Role of Protein Leverage in the US Obesity Epidemic
Authors: Hall Kevin D.
Published: May 2019

The protein leverage model of obesity posits that decreasing the protein fraction of the diet leads to compensatory increases in total energy intake in an attempt to maintain a target amount of absolute protein consumed. The resulting increased energy intake thereby causes weight gain. According to food balance sheets published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, while the absolute protein content of the US food supply has increased since the early 1970s, the fraction of available calories from protein has decreased by ~1% because of greater increases in available carbohydrate and fat. Counterintuitively, even such a small decrease in the protein fraction of the food supply has the potential to result in relatively large increases in energy intake according to the protein leverage model. Therefore, while the protein leverage effect is unlikely to fully explain the obesity epidemic, its potential contribution should not be ignored.
Reflections on theories of market efficiency
Authors: Chhatwani Malvika Nandlal
Published: May 2019

Market efficiency is determined by how efficiently markets capture the information. Efficient markets can capture and incorporate all the available information into stock prices within no time. It means market prices traded are the actual prices of shares. There have been many theories trying to debate about how to determine market efficiency. If markets are efficient, there is no scope for investors to earn abnormal returns on the investments. In that case, investments in markets would not provide any additional returns. There have been many debates and theories on the topic of market efficiency. Postmodern portfolio theory (PMPT) came into existence after almost 40 years of the modern theory of portfolio given by Henry Markowitz. Both the theories give a risk–return framework for decision making and there are many conflicting aspects of market efficiency. I try to address this issue in this paper that raises concerns for the investor as to which markets are called efficient and what contributes to market efficiency, as denoted in modern portfolio theory (MPT) and post modern portfolio theory (PMPT).
From latency to overt bone metastasis in breast cancer: potential for treatment and prevention
Authors: Salvador Fernando , Llorente Alicia , Gomis Roger R
Published: May 2019

Bone metastasis is present in a high percentage of breast cancer (BCa) patients with distant disease, especially in those with the estrogen receptor‐positive (ER+) subtype. Most cells that escape primary tumors are unable to establish metastatic lesions, which suggests that target organ microenvironments are hostile for tumor cells. This implies that BCa cells must achieve a process of speciation to adapt to the new conditions imposed in the new organ. Bone has unique characteristics that can be exploited by cancer cells: it undergoes constant remodeling and comprises diverse environments (including osteogenic, perivascular, and hematopoietic stem cell niches). This allows colonizing cells to take advantage of numerous adhesion molecules, matrix proteins, and soluble factors that facilitate homing, survival, and, eventually, metastatic outgrowth. However, in most cases, metastatic lesions enter into a latency state that can last months, years, or even decades, before forming a clinically detectable macrometastasis. This dormant state challenges the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy. Detecting which tumors are more prone to metastasize to bone and developing new specific therapies that target bone metastasis represent urgent clinical needs. Here, we review the biological mechanisms of BCa bone metastasis and provide the latest options of treatments and predictive markers that are currently in clinical use or are being tested in clinical assays. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Fabrication and investigation of phosphoric acid doped imidazolium siloxane crosslinked poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) for high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes
Authors: Ren Xiaorui , Li Huanhuan , Yang Jingshuai , Hao Zhe
Published: May 2019

A series of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes were fabricated based on imidazolium poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) using methylimidazole (MeIm) and triethoxysilylpropyldihydroimidazole (SiIm) as quaternization reagents via the SN2 nucleophilic substitution. Meanwhile SiIm was also employed as a crosslinking agent and the crosslinked Si–O–Si network was constructed through a hydrolysis procedure of SiIm in an acid medium. Compared with the PPO‐100%MeIm membrane without the crosslinking structure, the imidazolium siloxane crosslinked PPO‐x%SiIm‐y%MeIm membranes exhibited increased acid doping contents, enhanced dimensional stabilities, improved mechanical properties and higher conductivities. The PPO‐30%SiIm‐70%MeIm/(198 wt% phosphoric acid) membrane displayed a conductivity of 0.08 S cm−1 at 180 °C without humidifying and a tensile strength of 6.4 MPa at room temperature. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
PASS: A Proteomics Alternative Splicing Screening Pipeline
Authors: Wu Peng , Pu Lingling , Deng Bingnan , Li Yingying , Chen Zhaoli , Liu Weili
Published: May 2019

Alternative splicing (AS) has been well‐investigated at the trancriptome level by the application of RNA‐seq technology. There is an ongoing debate on the biological importance of AS to proteome complexity. A toolkit for accurately identifying AS from proteome data is urgently needed. Here, a software called PASS is developed to comprehensively detect AS events for the proteomics mass spectrometry (MS) data. Moreover, PASS is well compatible with MS identification by the proteogenomics approach, which provides novel AS candidates for proteome identification. The workflow of PASS mainly contains five core steps: transcripts reconstruction from RNA‐Seq data, novel protein sequence generation, MS data searching, proSAM file formatting, and AS detection. Access to the program from either step is supported. PASS is successfully applied to proteome data of mouse hepatocytes and 407 AS events are first identified with proteomics MS evidences. PASS is expected to be widely used to identify AS events on proteome data and provide a deeper understanding of the proteome isoforms. The PASS software is freely available at https://github.com/wupengomics/PASS.
Identification of Serum Biomarkers for Ischemic Penumbra by iTRAQ‐Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis
Authors: Pang Xiao‐Min , Zhou Xia , Su Sheng‐You , Chen Chun‐Yong , Wei Zhi‐Xiao , Tao Yi‐Feng , Liu Jing‐Li
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Ischemic penumbra is the main therapeutic target for acute ischemic stroke. The aim in this study is to investigate the potential serum biomarkers of penumbra that could fulfill a complementary role in the acute stroke clinical decision‐making process.

Experimental Design

An established focal cerebral ischemia model is applied in rats. Using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation combined with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry, the global expression profiles of proteins in ischemic penumbra tissue and serum from rats subjected to different ischemic times are identified and quantified. Candidate biomarkers are screened out with bioinformatics analysis and further validated by western blotting.

Results

Herein, a total of 4568 proteins in the penumbra and 1915 proteins in the serum are identified. Two proteins related to the penumbra, RHOA, and CDC42, are screened out through an integrative analysis. The expression levels of RHOA and CDC42 in the penumbra and serum gradually increase synchronously with the prolonged ischemia time.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The study provides the results of a proteomic analysis to identify serum biomarkers of the penumbra. Upregulation of RHOA and CDC42 may be useful for the early assessment of ischemic penumbra and could serve as potential serum biomarkers.
Milling of Energetic Crystals with the LabRAM
Authors: Kotter Lance N. , Groven Lori J.
Published: May 2019

Processing energetic materials with the LabRAM acoustic mixer has been widely published; however, using it as a vibratory mill has only recently been explored. The size reduction of energetic crystals remains a tremendous processing challenge as it is often time and energy intensive. The LabRAM has the potential to reduce the time and energy required for milling through the use of low frequency waves. In this study, three distinct materials were selected to determine the effects of milling with the LabRAM. Ammonium perchlorate (AP), sodium periodate (NaIO4), and nitroguanidine (NQ) were chosen as their starting crystal morphologies are spherical, irregular, and needle‐like, respectively. The three materials were analyzed by laser particle analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the average particle size and any morphology changes that may occur while milling. The average particle size, D50, of the starting materials, AP, NaIO4, and NQ were 253 μm, 415 μm, and 60 μm, respectively. The D50 after only 15 minutes of continuous milling for AP, NaIO4, and NQ was 7.01 μm, 2.92 μm, and 22.90 μm, respectively. This study focuses on the feasibility of safely dry milling micron‐size energetic crystals on the LabRAM acoustic mixer, while optimizing milling parameters for effective size reduction.
Polycomb repressive 2 complex—Molecular mechanisms of function
Authors: Kouznetsova Valentina L. , Tchekanov Alex , Li Xiaoming , Yan Xiaowen , Tsigelny Igor F.
Published: May 2019

Numerous molecular processes conduct epigenetic regulation of protein transcription to maintain cell specification. In this review, we discuss molecular mechanisms of the Polycomb group of proteins and its enzymatic role in epigenetics. More specifically, we focus on the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and the effects of its repressive marker. We have compiled information regarding the biological structure and how that impacts the stability of the complex. In addition, we examined functions of the individual core proteins of PRC2 in relation to the accessory proteins that interact with the complex. Lastly, we discuss the implications of unregulated and downregulated PRC2 activity in Alzheimer's disease and cancer and possible methods of treatment related to PRC2 regulation.
Inverted Ternary Organic Photovoltaics with Alloyed Acceptor Exhibiting 12.29% Efficiency
Authors: Yu Bo-han , Wang Jian , Ma Xiao-ling , Zeng Si-mei , Hu Si-yu , Zhang Fu-jun
Published: May 2019

A series of inverted organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are fabricated with PBDB‐T as donor and nonfullerene materials (ITCC and IT‐M) as acceptors, respectively. Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of IT‐M‐ and ITCC‐based OPVs are 11.20% and 8.70%, respectively. A 12.29% PCE is achieved from the optimized ternary OPVs with active layers containing 20 wt% ITCC in acceptors, resulting from the simultaneous improvement of the fill factor (FF) of 74.31%, short‐circuit current density (JSC) of 17.41 mA cm−2, as well as open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.952 V. Over 9% PCE improvement is obtained by using the ternary strategy, which is attributed to the complementary absorption spectra, excellent compatibility, as well as well‐matched energy levels of used materials. This work indicates the ternary strategy as an efficient method to achieve efficient OPVs while keeping the simplicity of the fabrication process.
Zika virus: Molecular responses and tissue tropism in the mammalian host
Authors: Shaily Sangya , Upadhya Archana
Published: May 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have raised alarm because of reports of congenital Zika virus syndrome in infants. The virus is also known to cause the debilitating Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. As a result, extensive research has been carried out on the virus over the past few years. To study the molecular responses of viral infectivity in mammals, in vitro two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional cellular models have been employed. The in vivo models of mouse, pig, chicken, and nonhuman primates are primarily used to investigate the teratogenicity of the virus, to study effects of the virus on specific tissues, and to study the systemic effects of a proposed antiviral agent. The virus exhibits wide tissue tropism in the mammalian host. The major host tissues of viral persistence and propagation are neural tissue, ocular tissue, testicular tissue and placental tissue. An understanding of the function of viral components, viral replication cycle, and the molecular responses elicited in the host tissues is imperative for designing antiviral treatment strategies and for development of vaccines. This review provides an update on ZIKV research models and mammalian host responses with respect to ZIKV tissue infection.
A Facile Synthesis of Molybdenum‐Promoted Reduced Graphene Oxide as Catalyst towards Epoxidation of Cyclohexene
Authors: Rana Surjyakanta , Varadwaj G. Bishwa Bidita , Jonnalagadda Sreekantha B.
Published: May 2019

A facile method by incipient wetness impregnation for synthesis of materials with different ratios of molybdenum (5/100), (10/100) and (15/100) promoted on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is reported. Catalytic activity of the prepared materials towards liquid phase epoxidation of cyclohexene was investigated. The catalyst materials were fully characterized by varied techniques including XRD, FT‐IR, Raman spectra, and SEM analysis. The (10/100) metal to substrate ratio catalyst (Mo‐RGO‐2) showed excellent efficiency with 100% conversion of cyclohexene with 93% selectivity towards cyclohexene oxide. The catalyst exhibited good stability during recycling tests.
One pot multicomponent synthesis of Novel Bis‐N‐(1,2,3‐ triazolylacetyl) as Potent Antioxidant and Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Parvizi Jafar. , Mahmoodi Nosrat O. , Pirbasti Fateme. Ghanbari , Rassa Mehdi.
Published: May 2019

A new series of bis‐triazoles has been synthesized through cycloaddition of prepared bis‐azides and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of CuCl2 under solvent‐free condition. Antioxidant activity of products at the concentration of 2000‐62.5 μg/mL using ABTS method was studied and products showed good antioxidant activity. Moreover, IC50 values of products were ranged from 2.00 to 0.06 mM and products 5f‐g and 5i possessed high antioxidant activity and lower IC50 values than ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Also, products 5g and 5e showed the lowest and highest antioxidant activities, respectively. Moreover, in vitro minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of bis‐triazoles were screened against Gram‐positive bacteria strains including Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus Gram‐negative bacteria strains including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Most of the products showed a lower MIC than penicillin against tested bacterial strains and also most of the products were active against negative bacterial strains.
Improving Carbon Nanotube‐Silicon Solar Cells by Solution Processable Metal Chlorides
Authors: Wu Huaisheng , Zhao Xuewei , Sun Yuping , Yang Liusi , Zou Mingchu , Zhang Hui , Wu Yizeng , Dai Linxiu , Shang Yuanyuan , Cao Anyuan
Published: May 2019

Carbon nanotube‐silicon (CNT‐Si) solar cells have the potential of being an alternative to the expensive crystal Si solar cells; however, there are critical limitations, such as the relatively low efficiency, instability, and lack of systematic improvement techniques. Herein, by investigating 17 solution processable, nonprecious metal chlorides, it is shown that appropriate chlorides can significantly improve the behavior of CNT‐Si solar cells individually or as mixtures. The results reveal a close relationship between the standard electrode potential of redox couples and the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of solar cells, in which high VOC values are usually generated from chlorides with larger potentials. Detailed studies on SnCl2 and a mixture of FeCl3/ZrCl4 reveal mechanisms including doping of CNTs (increase in work function) and acting as antireflection layers, resulting in a substantial increase of both VOC and short‐circuit current density (JSC). As a result, stable power conversion efficiencies of 14.8% and 16.2% in CNT‐Si solar cells are achieved by simply spin‐coating SnCl2 or ZrCl4/FeCl3, respectively. The family of metal chlorides provide many opportunities for overcoming limitations and developing high‐performance CNT‐Si solar cells toward practical applications.
Daisaikoto for shoulder stiffness and related changes in stool condition: Retrospective study
Authors: Ohsawa Minoru , Takayama Shin , Kikuchi Akiko , Arita Ryutaro , Saito Natsumi , Ikeno Yuka , Nishikawa Hitoshi , Sasaki Hiroyo , Kojima Michiyo , Shimizu Masayuki , Numata Takehiro , Ishizawa Kota , Ishii Tadashi
Published: May 2019

Aim

Daisaikoto has been used for the treatment of shoulder stiffness and abdominal distention with constipation, which makes stool changes associated with the prescription a concern. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to investigate the effect of daisaikoto on shoulder stiffness and the relation between its effects on stiffness relief and stool condition.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of middle‐aged women who were treated with daisaikoto for menopause‐like symptoms and shoulder stiffness from December 2014 through November 2015 at Red Cross Maebashi Hospital. Two or 4 weeks after the prescription of daisaikoto, symptoms were evaluated and categorized as improved, no change, or worse. Stool condition was also evaluated and categorized as constipation, normal, or diarrhea. Change in symptoms from before to after treatment was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The relationship between symptom changes and stool condition was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

Results

Of 24 patients who received daisaikoto, shoulder stiffness was relieved in 79% (P < 0.05). Diarrhea was reported in 8% of patients, all of whom were classified in the non‐improvement group, which included depressed patients. Improvement of shoulder stiffness and stool condition had a correlation coefficient of 0.542. Daisaikoto did not worsen stool condition in the patients in whom it was effective.

Conclusion

Daisaikoto effectively relieves shoulder stiffness in middle‐aged women, and did not worsen stool condition in those with improvement in shoulder stiffness. Daisaikoto without Rhubarb or other formulas may be an alternative treatment choice for diarrhea patients with shoulder stiffness.
The top 5 sections of the FERPA regulations: §99.3 definitions, part 4 — What directory information is not
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: May 2019

The definition of education record is pretty simple and very broad: (1) personally identifiable to a student, (2) maintained by an institution receiving federal funding administered by the Department of Education. The word “maintained” has created some confusion. It essentially means that the record is on file at a college or in the possession of a school official at the college. And, of course, it goes without saying that an education record does not lose its protected Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act privileges if the record is removed in some manner from the college, or copied, by an unauthorized third party.
Communicate the value of study abroad programs for community college students
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: May 2019

LOS ANGELES — The benefits of higher education extend beyond what is learned in the classroom. The opportunity to study abroad during their time in college can be a memorable experience for students, one that broadens their horizons. Community colleges might not be the institutions that come to most people's minds when thinking about rich study abroad experiences, but, in fact, community colleges often offer students many options for an international experience.
Natural quark mixing and inverse seesaw in a left-right model with an axion
Authors: Dias Alex G. , Leite Julio
Published: May 2019

Abstract

We consider a minimal left-right model with a Peccei-Quinn symmetry, where generalised charge conjugation plays the role of the left-right symmetry. We show how the spontaneous breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry by a scalar singlet can provide us with solutions not only to the strong CP and dark matter problems but can also help to generate naturally suppressed off-diagonal CKM elements and small neutrino masses via the inverse seesaw mechanism. For this, we make use of an economical scalar sector composed of a bi-doublet, two doublets and a singlet only. As a result of the new gauge bosons and neutrinos, the neutrinoless double beta decay, as well as lepton flavour violating processes, receives new contributions which can, in principle, become relevant due to the low-scale nature of the inverse seesaw mechanism. The model can easily accommodate all the current data on fermion masses and mixing even if the left-right scale is only high enough to evade the current experimental constraints.
Generic matter representations in 6D supergravity theories
Authors: Taylor Washington , Turner Andrew P.
Published: May 2019

Abstract

In six-dimensional supergravity, there is a natural sense in which matter lying in certain representations of the gauge group is “generic,” in that other “exotic” matter representations require more fine tuning. From considerations of the dimensionality of the moduli space and anomaly cancellation conditions, we find that the generic sets of matter representations are well-defined for 6D supergravity theories with gauge groups containing arbitrary numbers of nonabelian factors and U(1) factors. These generic matter representations also match with those that arise in the most generic F-theory constructions, both in 6D and in 4D, with non-generic matter representations requiring more exotic singularity types. The analysis of generic versus exotic matter illuminates long-standing puzzles regarding F-theory models with multiple U(1) factors and provides a useful framework for analyzing the 6D “swampland” of apparently consistent low-energy theories that cannot be realized through known string constructions. We note also that the matter content of the standard model is generic by the criteria used here only if the global structure is SU(3)c× SU(2)L× U(1)Y/ℤ6.
Which is Better for Patients with Breast Cancer: Totally Implanted Vascular Access Devices (TIVAD) or Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)?
Authors: Tang Tian‐tian , Liu Lei , Li Chun‐xiao , Li Yun‐tao , Zhou Tao , Li Hai‐ping , Wang Jianxin
Published: May 2019

Background

Our aim was to compare the applications of totally implanted vascular access devices (TIVAD) and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in breast cancer patients.

Methods

We analyzed 4080 cases of TIVAD and 1433 cases of PICC at the Breast Center of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. The success rate, operation time, and procedures of catheterization, as well as the catheterization‐related complications, catheter indwelling‐related complications, and the utilization conditions were compared between these two methods.

Results

Our results showed that the success rate of catheterization was relatively higher in PICC group (99.5%) than the TIVAD group (99.0%)(χ2 = 3.521, P = 0.038), and the operation time and the rate of catheterization‐related complications were lower in PICC (18.65 ± 4.7603 min, 0.91%) compared to TIVAD (29.55 ± 4.0843 min, 1.59%)(t = 38.000, P < 0.01, χ2 = 3.578, P = 0.035). However, the rate of catheter indwelling‐related complications was lower in TIVAD group (2.47%) than the PICC group (3.62%)(χ2 = 5.227, P = 0.016), and the catheter care was also better in TIVAD.

Conclusions

Based on these analyses, we recommended TIVAD for the patients who need long‐term and high‐dose chemotherapy and PICC for the patients who need short chemotherapy cycle and live close to the hospital.
The effect of surfactant concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH on surfactant adsorption for chemical enhanced oil recovery: a review
Authors: Belhaj Ahmed Fatih , Elraies Khaled Abdalla , Mahmood Syed Mohammad , Zulkifli Nazliah Nazma , Akbari Saeed , Hussien Osman SalahEldin
Published: May 2019

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes have a great potential to maximize oil recovery factor of the existing reservoirs, where a significant volume of the unrecovered oil after conventional methods is targeted. Application of chemical EOR techniques includes the process of injecting different types of chemicals into a reservoir to improve the overall sweep efficiency. Surfactant flooding is one of the chemical EOR used to reduce the oil–water interfacial tension and to mobilize residual oil toward producing wells. Throughout the process of surfactant flooding, selecting a suitable surfactant for the reservoir conditions is quite challenging. Surfactants tend to be the major factor associated with the cost of an EOR process, and losing surfactants leads to substantial economic losses. This process could encounter a significant loss of surfactant due to adsorption into the porous media. Surfactant concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH were found to be as the main factors that influence the surfactant adsorption on reservoir rocks. Most of the research has been conducted in low-temperature and low-salinity conditions. Only limited studies were conducted in high-temperature and high-salinity (HT/HS) conditions due to the challenging for implementation of surfactant flooding in these conditions. This paper, therefore, focuses on the reviews of the studies conducted on surfactant adsorption for different surfactant types on different reservoir rocks under different reservoir conditions, and the influence of surfactant concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH on surfactant adsorption.
Shared Lifetimes, Multigenerational Exposure, and Educational Mobility
Authors: Song Xi , Mare Robert D.
Published: May 2019

In this article, we report analyses of the effects of fertility and mortality trends on the mutual exposure of grandparents and grandchildren and their consequences for multigenerational processes of social mobility in the United States from 1900 to 2010. Using historical vital statistics and stable population models, we report systematic analyses of grandparent-grandchild exposures from both prospective (grandparent) and retrospective (grandchild) perspectives. We also estimate exposure levels and trends specific to education levels of grandparents and grandchildren and decompose the overall trend into the effect of changing mortality, fertility level, and fertility timing. We show that changes in mutual exposure of grandparent and grandchild generations may have contributed to an increasing association between grandparents’ and grandchildren’s educational attainments.
Prompt Electrodeposition of Ni Nanodots on Ni Foam to Construct a High-Performance Water-Splitting Electrode: Efficient, Scalable, and Recyclable
Authors: Yu Hongtao , Quan Ting , Mei Shilin , Kochovski Zdravko , Huang Wei , Meng Hong , Lu Yan
Published: May 2019

In past decades, Ni-based catalytic materials and electrodes have been intensively explored as low-cost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for water splitting. With increasing demands for Ni worldwide, simplifying the fabrication process, increasing Ni recycling, and reducing waste are tangible sustainability goals. Here, binder-free, heteroatom-free, and recyclable Ni-based bifunctional catalytic electrodes were fabricated via a one-step quick electrodeposition method. Typically, active Ni nanodot (NiND) clusters are electrodeposited on Ni foam (NF) in Ni(NO3)2 acetonitrile solution. After drying in air, NiO/NiND composites are obtained, leading to a binder-free and heteroatom-free NiO/NiNDs@NF catalytic electrode. The electrode shows high efficiency and long-term stability for catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions at low overpotentials (10ηHER = 119 mV and 50ηOER = 360 mV) and can promote water catalysis at 1.70 V@10 mA cm−2. More importantly, the recovery of raw materials (NF and Ni(NO3)2) is quite easy because of the solubility of NiO/NiNDs composites in acid solution for recycling the electrodes. Additionally, a large-sized (S ~ 70 cm2) NiO/NiNDs@NF catalytic electrode with high durability has also been constructed. This method provides a simple and fast technology to construct high-performance, low-cost, and environmentally friendly Ni-based bifunctional electrocatalytic electrodes for water splitting.
Many Faces of Thoracic Histoplasmosis—Pictorial Essay
Authors: Semionov Alexandre , Rossi Anthony , Perillo Michele , Sayegh Karl , Pressacco Josephine , Kosiuk John
Published: May 2019

Histoplasmosis is primarily a pulmonary fungal infection with a vast array of radiological manifestations, which can mimic a number of thoracic diseases. This article reviews various presentations of histoplasmosis on chest imaging.
Automated detection of basal icequakes and discrimination from surface crevassing
Authors: Hudson Thomas S. , Smith Jonathan , Brisbourne Alex M. , White Robert S.
Published: May 2019

Icequakes at or near the bed of a glacier have the potential to allow us to investigate the interaction of ice with the underlying till or bedrock. Understanding this interaction is important for studying basal sliding of glaciers and ice streams, a critical process in ice dynamics models used to constrain future sea-level rise projections. However, seismic observations on glaciers can be dominated by seismic energy from surface crevassing. We present a method of automatically detecting basal icequakes and discriminating them from surface crevassing, comparing this method to a commonly used spectrum-based method of detecting icequakes. We use data from Skeidararjökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull Ice Cap, South-East Iceland, to demonstrate that our method outperforms the commonly used spectrum-based method. Our method detects a higher number of basal icequakes, has a lower rate of incorrectly identifying crevassing as basal icequakes and detects an additional, spatially independent basal icequake cluster. We also show independently that the icequakes do not originate from near the glacier surface. We conclude that the method described here is more effective than currently implemented methods for detecting and discriminating basal icequakes from surface crevassing.
Using technology to scale-up training and supervision of community health workers in the psychosocial management of perinatal depression: a non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rahman Atif , Akhtar Parveen , Hamdani Syed Usman , Atif Najia , Nazir Huma , Uddin Iftikhar , Nisar Anum , Huma Zille , Maselko Joanna , Sikander Siham , Zafar Shamsa
Published: May 2019

Background.

The Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) is an evidence-based psychological intervention endorsed by the World Health Organization, tailored for non-specialist health workers in low- and middle-income countries. However, training and supervision of large numbers of health workers is a major challenge for the scale-up of THP. We developed a ‘Technology-Assisted Cascaded Training and Supervision system’ (TACTS) for THP consisting of a training application and cascaded supervision delivered from a distance.

Methods.

A single-blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial was conducted in District Swat, a post-conflict area of North Pakistan. Eighty community health workers (called Lady Health Workers or LHWs) were randomly assigned to either TACTS or conventional face-to-face training and supervision by a specialist. Competence of LHWs in delivering THP post-training was assessed by independent observers rating a therapeutic session using a standardized measure, the ‘Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors’ (ENACT), immediately post-training and after 3 months. ENACT uses a Likert scale to score an observed interaction on 18 dimensions, with a total score of 54, and a higher score indicating greater competence.

Results.

Results indicated no significant differences between health workers trained using TACTS and supervised from distancev.those trained and supervised by a specialist face-to-face (mean ENACT score M  =  24.97,s.d.  =  5.95v.M =  27.27,s.d.  =  5.60,p  =  0.079, 95% CI 4.87–0.27) and at 3 months follow-up assessment (M  =  44.48,s.d.  =  3.97v.M =  43.63,s.d.  =  6.34,p  =  0.53, CI −1.88 to 3.59).

Conclusions.

TACTS can provide a promising tool for training and supervision of front-line workers in areas where there is a shortage of specialist trainers and supervisors.
Darwin’s politics of selection
Authors: Sanchez Luis Manuel
Published: May 2019

The uses of natural selection argument in politics have been constant since Charles Darwin’s times. They have also been varied. The readings of Darwin’s theory range from the most radically individualist views, as in orthodox socio-Darwinism, to the most communitarian, as in Peter Kropotkin’s and other socialist perspectives. This essay argues that such diverse, contradictory, and sometimes even outrageous political derivations from Darwin’s theory may be partially explained by some incompleteness and ambivalences underlying Darwin’s concepts. “Natural selection,” “struggle for existence,” and “survival of the fittest” are open concepts and may suggest some hierarchical and segregationist interpretations. Circumstantially, Darwin accepted social “checks,” such as discouraging marriage of “lower” individuals to prevent them from reproducing, in a vein of Malthusian politics. This makes Darwin’s theory of selection by struggle collide with his theory of social instincts, by which he explains the origins of morality. It also favors reading Darwin’sOn the Origin of SpeciesorThe Descent of Manfrom opposite, mostly ideological perspectives. Darwin’s position is ambivalent, although hardly unreasonable. The recognition he makes of social instincts, as well as the use of the concept of artificial selection, entails accepting the role of human consciousness, by which social evolution cannot be reduced to natural evolution, as socio-Darwinians did next and as some neo-Darwinists seem to repeat. On these grounds, this essay argues the inadequacy of the conventional model of natural selection for understanding politics. If we want to describe politics in Darwin’s language,artificialrather thannatural selectionwould be the concept that performs better for explaining the courses of politics in real society.
Enigmata Figurarum: Biblical Exegesis and Liturgical Exposition in Durand'sRationale
Authors: Thibodeau Timothy M.
Published: May 2019

William Durand's (ca. 1230–1296)Rationale divinorum officiorum(ca. 1292/1296) is unquestionably the longest and most thorough commentary on the liturgy produced by a medieval liturgiologist. From the time of its appearance at the end of the thirteenth century to the Catholic Restorationist liturgical revival in mid-nineteenth-century France, it was hailed by admirers as the quintessential expression of the medieval church's understanding of the divine offices. The bishop of Mende'sRationaletreats, among other things, the various parts of the church building, the ministers of the church, liturgical vestments, and the Mass and the canonical hours. It thus stands as the epitome of a four-hundred year tradition of allegorical liturgical exposition which was inaugurated in the West with the extended liturgical commentaries of the Carolingian bishop, Amalarius of Metz (died 852/853).
Ethnic Violence in Africa: Destructive Legacies of Pre-Colonial States
Authors: Paine Jack
Published: May 2019

What explains differential rates of ethnic violence in postcolonial Africa? I argue that ethnic groups organized as a precolonial state (PCS) exacerbated interethnic tensions in their postcolonial country. Insecure leaders in these countries traded off between inclusive coalitions that risked insider coups and excluding other ethnic groups at the possible expense of outsider rebellions. My main hypotheses posit that PCS groups should associate with coups because their historically rooted advantages often enabled accessing power at the center, whereas other ethnic groups in their countries—given strategic incentives for ethnopolitical exclusion—should fight civil wars more frequently than ethnic groups in countries without a PCS group. Analyzing originally compiled data on precolonial African states provides statistical evidence for these implications about civil wars and coups between independence and 2013 across various model specifications. Strikingly, through 1989, thirty of thirty-two ethnic group-level major civil war onsets occurred in countries with a PCS group.