bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural transformation and its implications for the Chinese economy
Authors: Han Gaofeng
Published: March 2019

This study examines China's structural transformation under the assumption that its employment structure converges to that in major developed economies in one and a half decades. The required annual output differentials between tradable and nontradable sectors, productivity increment in the nontradable sector, and government expenditure increment are estimated with the goal of employment stability conditional on population ageing. It appears that labour transfer from the tradable sector to the nontradable sector would be accompanied by relatively large aggregate output changes due to population ageing and efficiency changes in the tradable sector. Consumer price and real exchange rates are less affected during structural transformation. Although fiscal deficit would increase, government expenditure as a tool to stabilize employment is welfare improving as long as job switching is not cost prohibitive.
Regulation by Blockchain: the Emerging Battle for Supremacy between the Code of Law and Code as Law
Authors: Yeung Karen
Published: March 2019

This paper critically examines the intersection and interactions between conventional law produced and enforced by national legal systems (ie the ‘code of law’) and the internal rules of blockchain systems, which take the form of executable software code and cryptographic algorithms operating across a distributed computing network (‘code as law’).  In so doing, it seeks to identify whether, and to what extent, ‘regulation by blockchain’ will successfully avoid governance by conventional law.   It identifies three different ways in which the code of law is likely to interact with code as law, based primarily on the intended motives and purposes of those engaged in activities in developing, maintaining or undertaking transactions upon the network.  It argues that these different classes of case are likely to generate different kinds of dynamic interaction between the blockchain code and conventional legal systems, and critically examines the normative foundations of these emerging and anticipated interactions.
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: One Step (Support) LTD v Morris‐Garner and Another
Authors: Bartscherer Caspar
Published: March 2019

One Step is an important decision that deals with the circumstances in which a claimant may recover damages in contract on the so‐called Wrotham Park basis, valued as the amount that would hypothetically have been negotiated between willing parties to release the defendant from his obligation. This note argues that, although the Supreme Court was right not to award damages on this basis in this case, the test laid down by their Lordships for when such damages are available is unclear and will be difficult to apply.
The Role of Tax and Subsidy Policy in Driving Australian House Prices
Authors: Carrington Sarah J. , Li Bob , Larkin Matthew P.
Published: March 2019

This paper investigates the impact of tax variables and subsidy policy on real house prices, controlling for fundamental variables. The results show that the equilibrium price of housing is negatively associated with income tax rates, but positively associated with real construction costs, real land prices and the investor share in the market. House price fluctuations around their long‐run equilibrium are positively related to construction costs, land prices, and income, but negatively with income taxes. Negative gearing provisions have ambiguous effects, while stamp duty rates lack significance for house price movements on average.
Late Triassic Biotite Monzogranite from the Western Litang Area, Yidun Terrane, SW China: Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications
Authors: ZHU Yu , LAI Shaocong , QIN Jiangfeng , ZHANG Zezhong , ZHANG Fangyi
Published: March 2019

The Late Triassic igneous rocks in the Yidun terrane can provide vital insights into the evolution of Plaeo‐Tethys in western China. We present new zircon U–Pb, whole‐rock geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic data for the Litang biotite monzogranites, Yidun terrane. The biotite monzogranites have a zircon U‐Pb age of 206.1±1.0 Ma (MSWD=1.9, n=30), which indicates Late Triassic magmatism. The biotite monzogranites display I‐type affinity, high Na2O (3.38–3.60wt%) contents, medium SiO2(67.12–69.13wt%), and low P2O5 contents (0.10–0.12wt%). They are enriched in Rb, Th, and Ba and depleted in Nb and Ta, with negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu∗=0.74–0.81). They have evolved Sr‐Nd‐Pb‐Hf isotopic composition, i.e., (87Sr/86Sr)i=0.714225 to 0.714763, negative εNd(t) values of –2.0 to –2.6 with two‐stage Nd model ages ranging from 1.01 to 1.05 Ga, negative εHf(t) values of –3.4 to –4.1 with two‐stage Hf model ages of 1.85 to 1.88 Ga, suggesting a matured crustal sources. Their low Al2O3/TiO2 ratios and medium Cao/Na2O ratios, medium Mg# and SiO2 contents, low [molar Al2O3/(MgO+FeOT)] values, and high [molar Cao/(MgO+FeOT)] values indicate that the Litang biotite monzogranite was formed by partial melting of metabasaltic rocks. Based on the previous studies, we propose that the Litang biotite monzogranite derived from the westward subduction and closure of the Ganzi–Litang ocean during the Late Triassic. The mantle wedge‐derived mafic melts provided sufficient heat for partial melting of ancient metabasalt protolith within the middle‐lower crust.
Systemic sclerosis and the risk of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events for inpatient non‐cardiac surgery
Authors: Luo Yiming , Jiang Changchuan , Krittanawong Chayakrit , Arevalo Molina Ana Belen , Murray Shane , Huang Feng , Zhang Jianglin , Salgado Maria , Xu Jiehui
Published: March 2019

Aim

We investigated the association between systemic sclerosis (SSc) and perioperative cardiovascular risk for inpatient non‐cardiac surgical procedures.

Methods

We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the year 2014 to identify patients undergoing inpatient non‐cardiac surgery. SSc and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined by International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision diagnosis codes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. We adjusted for demographic information, socioeconomic status, cardiac comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and procedural category. Two models were used with different categorization strategies for surgical procedures.

Results

A total of 8 156 379 hospitalizations for non‐cardiac surgeries were included, 4385 of which had a diagnosis of SSc. Patients with SSc were older, more likely to be female and Caucasian and with higher cardiac and systemic comorbidity burden. In univariate analysis, SSc was associated with higher risk of perioperative MACE (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; P < 0.001) and all‐cause death (P = 3.07; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis yielded conflicting results regarding the association between SSc and perioperative MACE (Model 1: OR = 1.42; P = 0.146; Model 2: OR = 1.59; P = 0.048). Subsequent analysis showed that only perioperative myocardial infarction (Model 1 OR = 1.85; P = 0.048; Model 2 OR = 1.94; P = 0.031) was independently associated with SSc.

Conclusion

We did not find consistent association between SSc and perioperative MACE in non‐cardiac surgical procedures. SSc may be associated with perioperative myocardial infarction.
FossilSim: An r package for simulating fossil occurrence data under mechanistic models of preservation and recovery
Authors: Barido‐Sottani Joëlle , Pett Walker , O’Reilly Joseph E. , Warnock Rachel C. M.
Published: March 2019

Key features of the fossil record that present challenges for integrating palaeontological and phylogenetic datasets include (i) non‐uniform fossil recovery, (ii) stratigraphic age uncertainty and (iii) inconsistencies in the definition of species origination and taxonomy.

We present an r package FossilSim that can be used to simulate and visualise fossil data for phylogenetic analysis under a range of flexible models. The package includes interval‐, environment‐ and lineage‐dependent models of fossil recovery that can be combined with models of stratigraphic age uncertainty and species evolution.

The package input and output can be used in combination with the wide range of existing phylogenetic and palaeontological r packages. We also provide functions for converting between FossilSim and paleotree objects.

Simulated datasets provide enormous potential to assess the performance of phylogenetic methods and to explore the impact of using fossil occurrence databases on parameter estimation in macroevolution.
Smart, Smarter, Smartest: Competition and Linked Identities in a Danish School
Authors: Lundqvist Ulla
Published: March 2019

Detailed, longitudinal ethnographic approaches that explore how school success and failure evolve as interdependent sociohistorical positions are important for understanding how such processes affect unintended educational inequity in schooling. This study describes how one student comes to inhabit the identity of a disruptive student relative to a classmate who gradually comes to be viewed as the smarter student.

Dette studie dokumenterer, hvordan en elev går fra at blive opfattet som en 'dygtig' elev til at blive opfattet som en 'forstyrrende' elev i løbet af folkeskolens mellemtrin. Det sker som en konsekvens af, at en anden elev over tid overtager rollen som klassens 'dygtigste' elev. Sådanne relationer mellem elevers sociale rolledannelser udvikler sig i socio‐historisk kontekst. Studiet viser, hvordan longitudinal sproglig etnografi hjælper os med at forstå og forklare, hvordan relationelle rolledannelsesprocesser kan skabe utilsigtet ulighed i skolen.
A stereological study on calculation of volume values regarding lumbosacral segments of quails
Authors: Cakmak Gamze , Karadag Huseyin
Published: March 2019

In the study, total segment, grey matter and white matter volume values of lumbosacral segment of spinal cord in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were stereologically examined. Regardless of sex, six adult quails were used as material. After the materials were perfused, they were dissected and their spinal cords were uncovered. Tissue samples were taken from each lumbosacral segment of spinal cord. After the tissue fixation process, 6–7 sections having a 5‐µm thickness were separated in every 50th section as from the first section, where the tissue was seen, among tissue samples of each segment. These segments were stained with haematoxylin–eosin staining. They were photographed via a microscope. By using the Cavalieri's principle, the volume values of both the total segment, grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in each lumbosacral segment were separately calculated. All these calculations were performed by using SHTEREOM 1.5 program. As a result, total volume, grey matter and white matter volume values of lumbosacral segments and white matter/total volume, grey matter/total volume, and grey matter/white matter volume fractions were obtained.
Corporate innovation in China and its implications
Authors: Yang Jingjing
Published: March 2019

China's current economic transition policies focus on shifting from export‐driven manufacturing towards high‐end, high‐tech research and development (R&D), and domestic consumption. Since the early 2000s the government has issued a series of policies and guidelines to encourage innovation. Both in‐house R&D investment and the number of patent grants/applications have seen considerable growth in recent years. More specifically, industry‐funded R&D was responsible for more than three quarters of total in‐house R&D investment. Despite the rapid growth in R&D expenditure and the number of patents, China's corporate innovation still faces many obstacles and challenges. To further stimulate corporate innovation, the government may need to create an environment of fair competition for domestic enterprises, encourage the growth of institutional investors and their active participation in corporate governance, and improve the efficiency of financial systems. The experience of China in promoting innovation provides policy approaches and implications from which other emerging economies can learn.
Direct detection and characterization of Clostridium difficile from a novel collection device to improve laboratory workflow
Authors: Barbanti Fabrizio , Spigaglia Patrizia
Published: March 2019

Emergence of Clostridium difficile strains with increased virulence emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and surveillance of C. difficile infection (CDI). In this study, the new FecalSwab™ collection and transport system was evaluated to improve C. difficile diagnosis. The FecalSwab™ was used for direct C. difficile molecular detection, C. difficile culture/toxigenic culture (TC) and bacterial genomic DNA (bgDNA) extraction. Our results demonstrated that the FecalSwab™ medium could be successfully used as template for Xpert C. difficile binary toxin (BT), regardless of the bacterial load of samples, and for C. difficile culture also after a long storage (30 days) of FecalSwab™ tubes at 4 °C. Furthermore, good‐quality bgDNA was extracted from the FecalSwab™ medium for the majority (75%) of the samples analyzed. Typing was performed to fully characterize C. difficile strains isolated during this study and 17 different PCR‐ribotypes (RTs) were identified. The results obtained indicate that the FecalSwab™ can be successfully used not only in daily diagnostic routine of C. difficile but also in surveillance and retrospective studies.
Fruitful student interactions and perceived learning improvement in DSLab: A dynamic assessment tool for distributed programming
Authors: Marquès Puig Joan Manuel , Daradoumis Thanasis , Calvet Liñan Laura , Arguedas Marta
Published: March 2019

This work presents an automated assessment tool for online distributed programming, called DSLab. It is a web‐based environment that provides a transparent deployment and execution of assignments in remote computers, a transparent initialization and the possibility to add new logs by the students. DSLab has been evaluated in a real distributed learning environment by analysing students' own perceptions on their learning improvement and exploring whether students' interactions with the tool yielded a fruitful learning experience. Current research provides no evidence that the effects of such a tool have been investigated in the field of online distributed programming. Two types of analysis were performed: a quantitative analysis of data coming from students answering a questionnaire and an analysis of the log files of students' interactions with the tool. Our results showed that students perceived substantial learning improvement from the use of the automated assessment tool. Moreover, students produced fruitful interaction with the tool as soon as they achieved high familiarization and constant activity with it, which ultimately helped them improve their academic performance. Finally, the limitations of the current study and directions for future research are presented.
Development and validation of a novel prognostic score to predict survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: the metastatic colorectal cancer score (mCCS)
Authors: Marschner N. , Frank M. , Vach W. , Ladda E. , Karcher A. , Winter S. , Jänicke M. , Trarbach T.
Published: March 2019

Aim

Published prognostic scores for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are based on data from highly selected patient subgroups with specified first‐line treatments and may not be applicable to routine practice. We have therefore developed and validated the metastatic colorectal cancer score (mCCS) to predict overall survival (OS) for patients with mCRC.

Method

A total of 1704 patients from the prospective, multicentre cohort study Tumour Registry Colorectal Cancer were separated into learning (n = 796) and validation (n = 908) samples. Using a multivariate Cox regression model, the six‐factor mCCS was established.

Results

The six independent prognostic factors for survival are as follows: two or more metastatic sites at the start of first‐line treatment, tumour grading ≥ G3 at primary diagnosis, residual tumour classification ≥ R1/unknown, lymph node ratio (of primary tumour) ≥ 0.4, tumour stage ≥ III/unknown at primary diagnosis and KRAS status mutated/unknown. The mCCS clearly separated the learning sample into three risk groups: zero to two factors (low risk), three factors (intermediate risk) and four to six factors (high risk). The prognostic performance of the mCCS was confirmed in the validation sample and additionally stratified a large sample of patients with known (K)RAS mutation status.

Conclusion

The novel prognostic score, mCCS, clearly defines three prognostic groups for OS at start of first‐line therapy. For oncologists, the mCCS represents a simple and easy‐to‐apply tool for routine clinical use, as it is based on objective tumour characteristics and can assist with treatment decision‐making and communication of the prognosis to patients.
Covenant, blood, and violence: America at war with itself and others
Authors: Peters Ted
Published: March 2019

Religious nationalism is dangerous, because it tends toward violence. In the case of America, religious nationalism is preceded by, and dependent upon, a covenant with God that renders judgment against the nation when it fails to embody divine justice. The second use of the law in Lutheran theology, combined with René Girard's scapegoat theory, provides the prophetic public theologian with a searchlight to make visible the nation's justification of violence. The haunting question becomes this: should the prophetic public theologian expose the lie on which American religious nationalism is built and risk sundering human community?
Glimmers of the infinite: The tragedy of moral injury
Authors: Hansen Christopher
Published: March 2019

Moral injury is a complex wound of the soul affecting many veterans returning from combat. One dimension of moral injury is the shattering of faith, in which service members invest their all into a cause in hope for ultimate fulfillment, only to be morally disappointed by the gruesome reality of warfare. This article will explore the transcendent values that attract service members to military service, and the shattering of faith that can happen during combat, and then suggest an approach for church members to support veterans as they journey on the path to regaining their faith and healing their soul.
The long‐run effect of government ideology on economic freedom
Authors: Murphy Ryan H.
Published: March 2019

According to popular attitudes in Western democracies, the choice between right‐wing and left‐wing parties is a choice between socialism and unbridled free markets. In contrast, the cold and staid research of academia has frequently concluded that particular political parties do not really matter, as whichever party is elected will be closely tethered to the will of the median voter. This article considers the effects of the ideology of parties in power over the long run (1928–95) on economic freedom in subsequent periods. Right‐wing governments are found to have modest, positive effects on economic freedom, but the effects are not particularly robust. The findings here are consistent with others elsewhere, which conclude that there is minor, uneven evidence of an effect. Nonetheless, historically small effects may not be indicative of the future, should these effects be poorly indicative of today's tumultuous political landscape.
Prospects for an ordoliberal reform of the European Union
Authors: Wandel Jürgen
Published: March 2019

This article discusses the prospects for an ordoliberal reform of the European Union in order to tackle its multiple crises. It shows what an ordoliberal European Union would have to look like and examines the constraints its implementation faces. Three reasons are identified that make an ordoliberal reform of the EU at present unlikely. First, in the EU's most powerful member state, Germany, where ordoliberalism has its origins, economic policy adheres increasingly less to this strain of economic thinking. Second, given the primacy of European integration in domestic politics, Germany values European unity higher than economic principles. Third, once Brexit is complete Germany will lack influential allies for an ordoliberal reshaping of the EU.
Cardiac sarcoidosis mimicking left ventricular noncompaction: An approach to acquired apical hypertrabeculation
Authors: Nagai Tomoo , Horinouchi Hitomi , Kitayama Azusa , Ikari Yuji
Published: March 2019

A 65‐year‐old asymptomatic woman, who had been pathologically diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis, was admitted for further evaluation of possible cardiac involvement. Her echocardiography demonstrated the development of apical hypertrabeculation that was not observed 5 years previously. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement in the same region. Gallium single photon‐missioned computed tomography/computed tomography revealed high uptake. Therefore, the diagnosis of active cardiac sarcoidosis was established, and subsequent treatment with corticosteroid was initiated. No study regarding acquired left ventricular hypertrabeculation associated with cardiac sarcoidosis has been reported. The integrated multi‐imaging modality approach helped in earlier recognition of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Significant mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing TAVR: Mechanisms and imaging variables associated with improvement
Authors: Chiche Olivier , Rodés‐Cabau Josep , Campelo‐Parada Francisco , Freitas‐Ferraz Afonso B. , Regueiro Ander , Chamandi Chekrallah , Rodriguez‐Gabella Tania , Côté Mélanie , DeLarochellière Robert , Paradis Jean‐Michel , Dumont Eric , Doyle Daniel , Mohammadi Siamak , Bergeron Sébastien , Pibarot Philippe , Beaudoin Jonathan
Published: March 2019

Background

Significant mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with poorer outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Factors associated with MR improvement have not been studied thoroughly.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated with TAVR with more than mild MR at baseline. MR evolution was assessed at 1–3 and 6–12 months after intervention. MR severity and mechanisms were assessed by echocardiography. Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) was quantified using preoperative cardiac CT.

Results

From 674 consecutive TAVR recipients, 78 with more than mild MR had a 6–12 months follow‐up. Following TAVR, MR improved in 34 patients (43%), remained stable in 38 (49%) and worsened in 6 (8%). Patients with MR improvement had greater tenting area (141 ± 56 vs. 99 ± 40 mm2, P < 0.01), tenting height (7.2 ± 1.9 vs. 5.6 ± 1.9 mm, P < 0.01) and lower ejection fraction (43 ± 16 vs. 52 ± 14%, P = 0.01). MAC was frequent (87.7% of patients) and a trend in greater MAC was observed in patients without MR improvement (3560 ± 5587 vs. 2053 ± 2800, P = 0.16). In multivariable analysis, tenting area (OR per 10 mm2 increase: 1.012, 95% CI, 1.001–1.024 P = 0.039) and annulus calcifications associated with leaflet restriction (OR = 0.108, 95% CI, 0.012–0.956, P = 0.045) were independently associated with MR outcome after TAVR.

Conclusion

Larger mitral valve tenting area was associated with more improvement of MR after TAVR whereas extensive MAC associated with leaflet restriction was associated with less improvement. This may help in the clinical decision‐making process of TAVR candidates with concomitant MR.
VOTING EXPRESSIVELY
Authors: Borah Abhinash
Published: March 2019

We address a common criticism directed toward models of expressive voting that they are ad hoc in nature. To that end, we propose a foundation for expressive behavior that is based on a novel theory of social preferences under risk. Under our proposal, expressive considerations in behavior arise from the particular way in which risky social prospects are assessed by decision‐makers who want to interpret their choices as moral. To illustrate the scope of our framework, we use it to address some key questions in the literature on expressive voting: why, for expressive considerations, might voters vote against their self‐interest in large elections and why might such elections exhibit a moral bias. Specifically, we consider an electoral set‐up with two alternatives and explain why, when the size of the electorate is large, voters may want to vote for the alternative they deem morally superior even if this alternative happens to be strictly less preferred, in an all‐inclusive sense, than the other. (JEL D01, D03, D81, D72, A13)
Is a standardised approach to colopexy justified?
Authors: Mudge M. C. , Gardner A. K.
Published: March 2019

Equine colopexy techniques vary according to surgeon preference and there is no clear evidence of the superiority of any one technique. Complications secondary to colopexy are varied, but dehiscence of the colopexy site is rare, with less than 1% of horses reported to have a repeat large colon volvulus after dehiscence of the colopexy. Considerations of how and when to perform a surgical fixation of the colon to the body wall include position of the colon, length of the colopexy, and suture material and pattern. Little evidence exists regarding best practice outside of experimental studies and retrospective studies of Thoroughbred broodmares. Therefore, more work must be done to standardise a colopexy technique to apply to a broad spectrum of horses suffering from large colon volvulus and displacement.
The ‘front stage’ of substance auditing: A study of how substance auditing is presented in performance audit reports
Authors: Svärdsten Fredrik
Published: March 2019

Performance audit is a practice with a potentially high degree of democratic and political relevance. Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) have the authority to determine whether the undertakings in central government ‘are working’; therefore, SAIs tend to be regarded as important guardians of transparency and ‘good’ public sector performance. For this purpose, audits of ‘substance’ are regarded as crucial by both the research community and the INTOSAI. Still, the literature on performance audit concludes that substance audits are rare, although they do exist. One explanation for this is that substance auditing can be a risky endeavour for the auditors, since the lack of generic accounting standards for ‘good’ public sector performance makes the performance audit reports vulnerable to criticism. The aim of this paper is to contribute to our understanding of substance auditing by detailing the ways in which such audits are presented in performance audit reports. Thus, the paper focuses its analysis on the ‘front stage’ of substance auditing and finds that the auditors rarely choose to stand on the front stage alone. Instead, they regularly support their authority by relying on other authorities, and when such authorities are lacking, the auditors are reluctant to present judgements in terms of ‘good’ (or poor) performance. In such cases, this paper suggests that the democratic relevance of the audits can be questioned.
Effect of submicron admixtures on mechanical and self‐healing properties of cement‐based composites
Authors: Kanellopoulou Irene , Karaxi Evangelia K. , Karatza Anna , Kartsonakis Ioannis A. , Charitidis Costas A.
Published: March 2019

This study presents the development of novel submicron super absorbent polymers (SAPs) used as admixtures in cement‐based matrices with significant advantages over conventional products. The produced SAPs were characterized in respect of their morphology and composition, while their water absorption capacity was determined in different electrolyte solutions. The hybrid core‐shell spherical structure of the fabricated materials offered significant compatibility enhancement with cement while the workability of the mixture was maintained. The assessment of the cement‐based composites including SAPs revealed that their flexural strength increased by 78%. Self‐healing/sealing behavior was assessed by monitoring the crack sealing via SEM, elemental analysis of the healing products, and determination of the water absorbance coefficient for different times of treatment. The cement/SAPs composites with a concentration of SAPs 2% by weight of cement exhibited self‐healing/sealing responsive capability when an artificial crack was induced. According to the SEM characterization, the crack demonstrated complete healing for the better part of its length after 28 days of treatment.
Progressive tax policy and informal labor in developing economies
Authors: Castañeda Néstor , Doyle David
Published: March 2019

Governments in many industrializing democracies face difficult policy trade‐offs. Liberalization and informality have placed electoral pressure on them to expand noncontributory social spending. However, governments in developing democracies face constraints when attempting to finance this expansion. In some countries, the informal labor market is very large, thereby undermining the revenue that can be collected through income tax. We argue that this has given rise to a paradoxical situation. Left governments in developing democracies with large informal labor markets have a strong electoral incentive to expand welfare regimes to previously excluded outsiders, but to fiscally underwrite this expansion, they have increasingly been forced to fund their redistributive strategies via a regressive policy instrument, indirect consumption taxation. We examine this argument for a sample of 17 Latin American countries between the years 1990 and 2016. Our results suggest that labor informality forces left governments to turn to indirect taxation.
Adaptive regulation of detoxification enzymes in Helicoverpa armigera to different host plants
Authors: Jin M. , Liao C. , Fu X. , Holdbrook R. , Wu K. , Xiao Y.
Published: March 2019

Cotton plants produce gossypol as a major secondary metabolite to resist insect herbivores and pathogens. Helicoverpa armigera may employ multigene families of detoxification enzymes to deal with this metabolite. So far, the strength of the transcriptional response to gossypol detoxification in the cotton bollworms remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the genomewide transcriptional changes that occur in cotton bollworm larvae after one generation feeding on various host plants (cotton, corn, soybean and chili) or an artificial diet. Six genes potentially involved in detoxification of xenobiotics were highly upregulated in bollworms fed on cotton, and the expression of five of these differed significantly in insects that fed on gossypol diet compared with the artificial diet. When these six genes were downregulated using RNA interference, downregulation only of CYP4L11, CYP6AB9 and CCE001b led to reduced growth of bollworm larvae feeding on gossypol diets. These data suggest that the three genes are involved in response of H. armigera to gossypol of cotton. Our results proved that H. armigera may have a broad mechanism for gossypol detoxification.
Oxygen vacancies and pseudo Jahn‐Teller destabilization in cesium‐doped hexagonal tungsten bronzes
Authors: Okada Mika , Ono Katsushi , Yoshio Satoshi , Fukuyama Hideaki , Adachi Kenji
Published: March 2019

Structural and compositional changes of Cs‐doped hexagonal tungsten bronzes (HTB) with respect to variations in oxygen deficiency and alkali content have been investigated in detail through x‐ray diffraction Rietveld analysis, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Cs‐HTB crystallized in a reductive atmosphere is evidenced to generally contain plenty of oxygen defects, and a general formula, CsxWO3−y (0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.32, 0 < y ≤ 0.46), is proposed. Lattice parameters of Cs‐HTB are observed to vary according to the relation, c (Å) = −3.436a (Å) + 33.062. The coordinated modification of W–O octahedral dimensions suggests the origin of the structural change with increasing x and y to be a destabilization of the pseudo Jahn‐Teller distortion due to donated electrons. The dimensional change of lattice due to electrons emitted from oxygen defects is appraised only 1/18 as that due to electrons from doped alkali ions, suggesting that most electrons from oxygen defects should be localized in Cs‐HTB.
Examining pre‐service teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge as evolving knowledge domains: A longitudinal approach
Authors: Valtonen Teemu , Sointu Erkko , Kukkonen Jari , Mäkitalo Kati , Hoang Nhi , Häkkinen Päivi , Järvelä Sanna , Näykki Piia , Virtanen Anne , Pöntinen Susanna , Kostiainen Emma , Tondeur Jo
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study is to outline the development and changes in pre‐service teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) assessments during the first 3 years in teacher education. Specifically, research was conducted at three measurement points over a 3‐year teacher education period. The target group consisted of pre‐service teachers (N = 148) from three Finnish universities. Results indicate a growth in confidence related to all TPACK areas during the research period. The strongest gains were in pedagogical content knowledge. In addition, the gains were larger in other areas related to pedagogical knowledge than areas related to technology or content knowledge. In areas without pedagogical knowledge, the changes were more moderate. In the discussion section, recommendations are provided on the potential of longitudinal use of the TPACK model to study and improve the development of pre‐service teachers' TPACK.
How to implant a phrenic nerve stimulator for treatment of central sleep apnea?
Authors: Augostini Ralph S. , Afzal Muhammad R. , Costanzo Maria Rosa , Westlund Randy , Stellbrink Christoph , Gutleben Klaus , Gupta Sanjaya , Saleem Moeen , Smith Timothy W. , Peterson Michael , Drucker Michael , Merliss Andrew , Hayes John , Butter Christen , Hutchinson Matthew , Jagielski Dariusz
Published: March 2019

Background

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a breathing disorder caused by the intermittent absence of central respiratory drive. Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation is a new therapeutic option, recently approved by the FDA , for the treatment of CSA.

Objective

To describe the technique used to implant the transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation system (the remedē System, Respicardia, Inc).

Methods

The remedē System is placed in the pectoral region, typically on the right side. A single stimulation lead is placed in either the left pericardiophrenic vein (PPV) or the right brachiocephalic vein (RBC). A sensing lead is placed into the azygous vein to detect respiration.

Results

In the remedē System Pivotal trial, 147 of 151 (97%) patients were successfully implanted with the system. Sixty‐two percent of stimulation leads were placed in the PPV and 35% in the RBC. Mean procedure time was 2.7 ± 0.8 hours and 94% of patients were free from implant‐related serious adverse events through 6 months.

Conclusion

In patients with CSA, transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation is an effective and safe therapy with an implant procedure similar to that of cardiac implantable electronic devices.
miR‐148a inhibits early relapsed colorectal cancers and the secretion of VEGF by indirectly targeting HIF‐1α under non‐hypoxia/hypoxia conditions
Authors: Tsai Hsiang‐Lin , Miao Zhi‐Feng , Chen Yi‐Ting , Huang Ching‐Wen , Yeh Yung‐Sung , Yang I‐Ping , Wang Jaw‐Yuan
Published: March 2019

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is correlated with angiogenesis and early relapse of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study investigated the role of miR‐148a in the regulation of VEGF/angiogenesis and early relapse of CRC. We established a stable clone with miR‐148a expression in HCT116 and HT29 cell lines and created a hypoxic condition by using CoCl2 to determine the underlying mechanism of miR‐148a. The effects of miR‐148a on the phosphoryl‐ERK (pERK)/hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α)/VEGF pathway were evaluated through Western blotting and the inhibitory effect of miR‐148a on angiogenesis was demonstrated through a tube formation assay. Sixty‐three CRC tissues (28 early relapse and 35 non‐early relapse) were analysed to assess the relationship between miR‐148a and HIF‐1α/VEGF. The protein expression of pERK/HIF‐1α/VEGF in HCT116 and HT29 cells was significantly decreased by miR‐148a (all P < 0.05). The protein expression of VEGF/HIF‐1α was strongly inversely associated with the expression of miR‐148a in the 63 CRC tissue samples (all P < 0.05). Tube formation assay demonstrated that miR‐148a significantly obliterated angiogenesis. miR‐148a suppresses VEGF through down‐regulation of the pERK/HIF‐1α/VEGF pathway and might lead to the inhibition of angiogenesis; miR‐148a down‐regulation increased the early relapse rate of CRC. This demonstrates that miR‐148a is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target.
The challenges of including historical events using Bayesian methods to improve flood flow estimates in the United Kingdom: A practitioner's point of view
Authors: Lumbroso Darren M. , Wyncoll David P. , Liu Ye , Davison Mark
Published: March 2019

Estimates of design flood flows; are important for the design of a wide variety of civil engineering structures. In the United Kingdom, the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) methodologies are used by practitioners to estimate flood flows. Until recently it was challenging for practitioners to include additional non‐continuous flood information, such as historical flood descriptions from historical archives, in their analyses, to reduce the uncertainty within the FEH approaches. This paper shows how Bayesian statistical methods can be applied to historical data which have degrees of uncertainty associated with then to improve design flood flows. The paper uses the River Avon at Evesham in the United Kingdom as a case study to illustrate the advantages of the method. The inclusion of historical information at this site improves the estimates of the one in 100 year flood flow compared to the values generated by the FEH pooling group method. The paper makes recommendations as to how practitioners could be encouraged to use historical flood water levels in their analysis of floods more regularly.
Topical application and oral supplementation of peptides in the improvement of skin viscoelasticity and density
Authors: Maia Campos Patricia M. B. G. , Melo Maisa Oliveira , Siqueira César Francine Celise
Published: March 2019

Background

The combination of oral supplementation and topical formulations to the improvement of skin conditions has been proposed as an innovative approach to obtain effective treatments. However, studies comparing the effectiveness of each type of treatments are still in lack. This way, the objective of this work was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a dermocosmetic formulation with di‐ and tripeptides, as well the effects of an oral supplementation based on hydrolyzed collagen through biophysical and skin imaging techniques.

Methods

Sixty healthy female subjects, aged between 40 and 50 years, were enrolled, being separated in 3 groups: topical formulation, oral supplementation, and oral placebo. The stratum corneum water content, skin viscoelasticity, dermis echogenicity, and skin pores parameters were evaluated.

Results

The group with the topical formulation showed a significant increase in the stratum corneum water content and skin elasticity after 28‐day period and also acted in the dermis echogenicity after 90 days with the formulation with peptides. The oral supplementation acted on skin elasticity and presented a more pronounced effect on dermis echogenicity, reducing skin pores after 90‐day period.

Conclusion

The obtained results with oral supplementation and topical application of hydrolyzed proteins were considered complementary in the improvement of general skin conditions, acting in different mechanisms.
Synthesis, cytotoxicity and liver targeting of 3-O-β-D-Galactosylated Resveratrol
Authors: Qian Jiajia , Zha Liqiong , Wang Beilei , Zhang Caiyun , Hong Lufeng , Chen Weidong
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Resveratrol (Res), a naturally occurring polyphenol, has shown pharmacological activities in treatment of liver diseases. However, the application of Res was limited by its poor bioavailability and liver targeting. Herein, 3-O-β-D-Galactosylated Resveratrol (Gal-Res) was synthesized by structural modification of Res to enhance bioavailability and liver targeting.

Methods

The Gal-Res was characterized by IR, 1H-NMR spectra and MS. The in vitro antitumour experiments, in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies were evaluated.

Results

Gal-Res was successfully synthesized in our study. Compared to Res, Gal-Res resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. After intravenous injection of normal SD rats, Gal-Res significantly improved the bioavailability of Res and the Cmax and AUC0–t of Gal-Res were 3.186 and 3.929 time than that of Res. In addition, in the study of liver targeting, the relative uptake rate (Re) of Gal-Res in the liver (2.006) is the largest. The drug targeting efficiency (Te; 38.924%) of Gal-Res was greater than that of Res. These showed that Gal-Res could significantly improve the distribution ability of Res in liver.

Conclusions

On the whole, Gal-Res increased cellular uptake to HepG2 cells, bioavailability and liver targeting, providing its future clinical application in the treatment of liver diseases.
On Bilingual Aptitude for Learning New Languages: The Roles of Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Individual Differences
Authors: Cox Jessica G. , Lynch Julianna M. , Mendes Najee , Zhai ChengCheng
Published: March 2019

An enduring question is whether language learning aptitude is a stable trait or is one influenced by experience, such as living with two languages. We investigated aptitude in bilinguals and treated their bilingual experience as an aggregate of variables, focusing on how individual differences in (a) language experience variables of proficiency, exposure, and age of onset and (b) nonverbal IQ explain variability in aptitude. Results from 80 Spanish–English bilinguals in the United States revealed positive relationships between balanced proficiency in Spanish and English, nonverbal IQ, and aptitude for grammatical inferencing. Similar relationships, plus a positive role for more exposure to bilinguals’ more dominant language, emerged for aptitude in building sound–symbol associations. No aptitude component related to age of onset and age at testing, nor did any language experience variable or IQ relate to aptitude for sound recognition. We discuss results vis‐à‐vis language and cognition in minority language bilinguals.
An efficient approach to quantile capital allocation and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Asimit Vali , Peng Liang , Wang Ruodu , Yu Alex
Published: March 2019

In various fields of applications such as capital allocation, sensitivity analysis, and systemic risk evaluation, one often needs to compute or estimate the expectation of a random variable, given that another random variable is equal to its quantile at some prespecified probability level. A primary example of such an application is the Euler capital allocation formula for the quantile (often called the value‐at‐risk), which is of crucial importance in financial risk management. It is well known that classic nonparametric estimation for the above quantile allocation problem has a slower rate of convergence than the standard rate. In this paper, we propose an alternative approach to the quantile allocation problem via adjusting the probability level in connection with an expected shortfall. The asymptotic distribution of the proposed nonparametric estimator of the new capital allocation is derived for dependent data under the setup of a mixing sequence. In order to assess the performance of the proposed nonparametric estimator, AR‐GARCH models are proposed to fit each risk variable, and further, a bootstrap method based on residuals is employed to quantify the estimation uncertainty. A simulation study is conducted to examine the finite sample performance of the proposed inference. Finally, the proposed methodology of quantile capital allocation is illustrated for a financial data set.
Analysis of the morphological structures of comet 1P/Halley in the perihelion passages in 1910 and 1986
Authors: Voelzke M. R.
Published: March 2019

This work is based on a systematic analysis of images of comet 1P/Halley collected during its penultimate and ultimate approaches, i.e., in 1910 and 1986. This research has identified, characterized, classified, and compared tail structures of comet 1P/Halley, namely disconnection events (DEs), wavy structures, and solitons. The images of the comet during its 1910 passage, as illustrated in the Atlas of Comet Halley 1910 II (Donn et al. 1986), were compared with those of its approach in 1986 as illustrated in The International Halley Watch Atlas of Large‐Scale Phenomena (Brandt et al. 1992). Two onsets of DEs were discovered after the perihelion passage in 1910 with an average value of the corrected cometocentric velocity (Vc) of 57 ± 15 km s−1. Ten onsets of DEs were discovered after the perihelion passage in 1986 with an average Vc equal to 130 ± 37 km s−1. The mean value of the corrected wavelength λc of wavy structures in 1910 is equal to 1.7 ± 0.1 × 106 km, as compared to 2.2 ± 0.2 × 106 km in 1986. The mean value of the amplitude A of the wave in 1910 is equal to 1.4 ± 0.1 × 105 km and 2.8 ± 0.5 × 105 km in 1986. The goals of this research were to report the results obtained from the analysis of the P/Halley's images from 1910 and 1986, to provide empirical data for comparison, and to form the input for future physical/theoretical work.
Localized atrophy of the pontine base as a sequela of prolonged ischemia: Report of an autopsy case
Authors: Shintaku Masayuki , Kaneda Daita
Published: March 2019

An 80‐year‐old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension died of a progressive neurological disorder characterized by truncal ataxia, extraocular movement disturbance, and muscular rigidity. Neuroradiological examination showed progressive atrophy restricted to the pontine base. Autopsy revealed localized atrophy of the pontine base, in which both neurons and nerve fibers were lost, especially in the central region. Medium‐sized and small arteries in the parenchyma of the pontine base showed marked fibro‐hyalinous thickening of the walls with luminal stenosis, but no distinct tissue defect as seen in lacunar infarct was observed. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltration was mostly absent, and reactive astrocytic proliferation was weak. The pontine tegmentum, midbrain, and medulla oblongata were well preserved. Localized atrophy of the pontine base is a rare pathological condition, and its pathogenesis in the present case can be best explained by a prolonged ischemic state (hypoperfusion) due to marked sclerotic changes of perforating arteries. It is unique that the lesions were restricted to the pontine base and the formation of lacunas was not observed. Localized metabolic derangement resembling that seen in central pontine myelinolysis might have also contributed to the pathogenesis of this peculiar localized atrophy.