bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The NPS Phenomenon and the Deep Web: Internet Snapshots of the Darknet and Potentials of Data Mining
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , AbdulMajeed Ban A.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: The illegal electronic trade of NPS substances on the deep web and the darknet have never been thoroughly mapped. This study will propose and illustrate a blueprint for mapping of the darknet e-marketplace, including activities originating from the Middle East.MATERIALS & METHODS: Multiple Internet snapshots were taken for the darkest e-marketplace, e-markets, Grams search engine, and e-vendors. In relation to the most popular and high-risk NPS substances, the most dominant e-market will be identified. Special correlation will be carried out with the; population count of shipping countries of NPS, the incidence of rape and sexual assaults, and religious affiliation.RESULTS: The most popular high-risk NPS were identified; cannabis and cannabimimetic, MDMA, crack, Meth, and LSD. These were geo-mapped primarily into; Netherlands, US, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, France, and Spain. AlphaBay e-market was found to be a proper representative for the darknet e-marketplace; the main advertised NPS were categorised into cannabis and cannabinoids (1), stimulants (2), empathogens (3), psychedelics (4), benzodiazepines (5), opioids (6), and prescription-related substances (7). The contributing Middle Eastern and Arabic countries included; UAE, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, and Cyprus.CONCLUSION: The e-commerce activities on the darknet have been ever evolving. Future attempts to study this e-marketplace should be innovative and rely on statistical inference. A blueprint is required for geo-mapping of the shipping countries, including those from the region of the Middle East. Principles of social sciences, including the analysis of the individual basis of power, should be considered.
Évaluation des apprentissages en classe et évaluation à grande échelle : quels sont les effets des épreuves externes sur les pratiques évaluatives des enseignants ?
Authors: Yerly Gonzague
Published: September 2017

Dans la plupart des systèmes éducatifs, les enseignants font face aujourd’hui à l’expansion des évaluations à grande échelle. Néanmoins, les effets de ces dispositifs sur les pratiques enseignantes sont encore peu connus. L’objectif de cet article est de proposer une analyse spécifique des effets des épreuves externes sur les pratiques d’évaluation des apprentissages. L’analyse qualitative compréhensive porte sur l’expérience de 16 enseignants du primaire confrontés aux épreuves externes du canton de Fribourg en Suisse (entretiens semi-dirigés). Les résultats montrent que ceux-ci se servent des contenus et de la forme des épreuves externes pour ajuster certaines démarches du processus d’évaluation sommative. Par contre, ils ne mobilisent que très peu les résultats, et les ajustements observés sont parfois réalisés de manière plutôt instrumentale afin d’optimiser la réussite des élèves aux épreuves. Dans le contexte étudié, ces effets plutôt modérés s’expliquent par différentes postures des enseignants quant à l’évaluation externe et/ou par leurs perceptions de certaines caractéristiques des dispositifs locaux.
The Partner in Prosecuting Crime: The Role of International Organization in Setting Up Corruption Eradication Commission in Indonesia
Authors: Juwono Vishnu
Published: September 2017

Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) bisa dikatakan sebagai institusi paling efektif dalam sejarah pemberantasan korupsi di Indonesia. Terutama mengacu kepada berbagai inisiatif, tim kerja serta institusi di masa Orde Lama, Orde Baru dan awal masa Reformasi yang pada akhirnya mengalami kegagalan. Artikel ini mencoba menjelaskan mengenai seberapa besar peranan dari lembaga donor internasional dalam proses pengesahan Undang-Undang nomor 30 tahun 2002 mengenai Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi dan dalam membantu pembangunan institusi dari KPK. Metode penulisan artikel ini adalah secara kualitatif dengan mewawancarai antara lain pimpinan KPK tahun 2003-2007 dan Menteri Perekonomian pada masa Presiden Megawati Sukarnoputri. Selain itu artikel ini juga menggunakan sumber primer seperti laporan tahunan KPK, pidato laporan dari pimpinan fraksi DPR di Komisi II dan berbagai laporan atau dokumen yang diterbitkan oleh lembaga donor internasional.
Analisis Balance of Interest pada Aliansi Tiongkok dan Rusia dalam Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Periode 2001-2007
Authors: Candanila Candini
Published: September 2017

Interaksi Cina dan Rusia di kawasan Asia Tengah, khususnya dalam kerangka kerjasama Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), merupakan fenomena yang menarik untuk dikaji mengingat kedua negara tersebut tergolong sebagai great power, memiliki kepentingan yang hampir serupa di bidang energi dalam kawasan tersebut, namun memiliki political goals yang cukup berbeda. Tulisan ini mencoba mengkaji secara mendalam tentang bagaimana kesetimbangan kepentingan (balance of interest) dari Cina dan Rusia di bidang energi beserta besarnya kapabilitas nasional dari kedua negara tersebut menjadi faktor penentu dalam pembentukan SCO bersama Kazakstan, Kirgistan, Tajikistan, dan Uzbekistan. Tulisan ini juga menunjukkan bagaimana political goals yang berbeda dapat dikesampingkan oleh negara-negara demi tercapainya kepentingan nasional mereka.
Efektivitas Penggunaan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) dalam Strategi Kontra-Terorisme Amerika Serikat di Pakistan (2004-2012)
Authors: Irfan Egalita
Published: September 2017

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an armed unmanned plane, which is also one of the most advanced technologies developed by the United States. UAV is more superior compared with other kinds of weapon. Currently, it is used in many parts of the world as a part of the United States' counter-terrorism measure. However, the use of UAV in Pakistan since 2004 to 2012 does not successfully reduce the number of terrorist attack that happens on that country. This research aims to figure out the reasons behind this failure through the use of congruence in retrospective. The results show that the failure of UAV relies upon 3 factors: (1) US did not really understand the characteristic of targeted terrorist organizations, (2) there is a mistake in the decision making based on the intelligence cycle, and (3) the nonexistent of local society's support.
The Evolving Security Policy of Japan and The Adherence to Antimilitarism Culture
Authors: Anindya Chaula Rininta
Published: September 2017

Jepang telah menafsirkan ulang Pasal 9 dalam konstitusinya sebagai landasan fundamental budaya antimilitaris mereka dan menunjukkan kesediaan untuk memainkan peran lebih aktif dalam keamanan internasional. Artikel ini berusaha untuk menelaah perubahan kebijakan keamanan Jepang dan potensi pergeseran budaya strategis antimilitaris. Didasari oleh dalil rasional bahwa meskipun terjadi perubahan terus-menerus, Jepang belum pernah mengubah budaya strategisnya karena keberlangsungan perdebatan dalam politik domestik yang sangat penting dalam membentuk persepsi dan keamanan. Praktek keamanan yang berubah hanyalah respons alami terhadap dinamika lingkungan keamanan Internasional saat ini. Oleh karena itu, dalam jangka waktu ini tetap tidak mungkin, pemerintahan Shinzo Abe mencapai tujuannya untuk melakukan reformasi konstitusi dalam hal kebijakan keamanan.
MELK is not necessary for the proliferation of basal-like breast cancer cells
Authors: Huang Hai-Tsang , Seo Hyuk-Soo , Zhang Tinghu , Wang Yubao , Jiang Baishan , Li Qing , Buckley Dennis L , Nabet Behnam , Roberts Justin M , Paulk Joshiawa , Dastjerdi Shiva , Winter Georg E , McLauchlan Hilary , Moran Jennifer , Bradner James E , Eck Michael J , Dhe-Paganon Sirano , Zhao Jean J , Gray Nathanael S
Published: September 2017

Thorough preclinical target validation is essential for the success of drug discovery efforts. In this study, we combined chemical and genetic perturbants, including the development of a novel selective maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) inhibitor HTH-01-091, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated MELK knockout, a novel chemical-induced protein degradation strategy, RNA interference and CRISPR interference to validate MELK as a therapeutic target in basal-like breast cancers (BBC). In common culture conditions, we found that small molecule inhibition, genetic deletion, or acute depletion of MELK did not significantly affect cellular growth. This discrepancy to previous findings illuminated selectivity issues of the widely used MELK inhibitor OTSSP167, and potential off-target effects of MELK-targeting short hairpins. The different genetic and chemical tools developed here allow for the identification and validation of any causal roles MELK may play in cancer biology, which will be required to guide future MELK drug discovery efforts. Furthermore, our study provides a general framework for preclinical target validation.
Sec17 (α-SNAP) and an SM-tethering complex regulate the outcome of SNARE zippering in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Schwartz Matthew L , Nickerson Daniel P , Lobingier Braden T , Plemel Rachael L , Duan Mengtong , Angers Cortney G , Zick Michael , Merz Alexey J
Published: September 2017

Zippering of SNARE complexes spanning docked membranes is essential for most intracellular fusion events. Here, we explore how SNARE regulators operate on discrete zippering states. The formation of a metastable trans-complex, catalyzed by HOPS and its SM subunit Vps33, is followed by subsequent zippering transitions that increase the probability of fusion. Operating independently of Sec18 (NSF) catalysis, Sec17 (α-SNAP) either inhibits or stimulates SNARE-mediated fusion. If HOPS or Vps33 are absent, Sec17 inhibits fusion at an early stage. Thus, Vps33/HOPS promotes productive SNARE assembly in the presence of otherwise inhibitory Sec17. Once SNAREs are partially zipped, Sec17 promotes fusion in either the presence or absence of HOPS, but with faster kinetics when HOPS is absent, suggesting that ejection of the SM is a rate-limiting step.
The C. elegans neural editome reveals an ADAR target mRNA required for proper chemotaxis
Authors: Deffit Sarah N , Yee Brian A , Manning Aidan C , Rajendren Suba , Vadlamani Pranathi , Wheeler Emily C , Domissy Alain , Washburn Michael C , Yeo Gene W , Hundley Heather A
Published: September 2017

ADAR proteins alter gene expression both by catalyzing adenosine (A) to inosine (I) RNA editing and binding to regulatory elements in target RNAs. Loss of ADARs affects neuronal function in all animals studied to date. Caenorhabditis elegans lacking ADARs exhibit reduced chemotaxis, but the targets responsible for this phenotype remain unknown. To identify critical neural ADAR targets in C. elegans, we performed an unbiased assessment of the effects of ADR-2, the only A-to-I editing enzyme in C. elegans, on the neural transcriptome. Development and implementation of publicly available software, SAILOR, identified 7361 A-to-I editing events across the neural transcriptome. Intersecting the neural editome with adr-2 associated gene expression changes, revealed an edited mRNA, clec-41, whose neural expression is dependent on deamination. Restoring clec-41 expression in adr-2 deficient neural cells rescued the chemotaxis defect, providing the first evidence that neuronal phenotypes of ADAR mutants can be caused by altered gene expression.
Flipping the switch
Authors: Pierrat Xavier , Persat Alexandre
Published: September 2017

A structural switch controls the architecture of Vibrio cholerae biofilms by mediating the interactions between two matrix components.
CA1 pyramidal cells have diverse biophysical properties, affected by development, experience, and aging
Authors: McKiernan Erin C. , Marrone Diano F.
Published: September 2017

Neuron types (e.g., pyramidal cells) within one area of the brain are often considered homogeneous, despite variability in their biophysical properties. Here we review literature demonstrating variability in the electrical activity of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells (PCs), including responses to somatic current injection, synaptic stimulation, and spontaneous network-related activity. In addition, we describe how responses of CA1 PCs vary with development, experience, and aging, and some of the underlying ionic currents responsible. Finally, we suggest directions that may be the most impactful in expanding this knowledge, including the use of text and data mining to systematically study cellular heterogeneity in more depth; dynamical systems theory to understand and potentially classify neuron firing patterns; and mathematical modeling to study the interaction between cellular properties and network output. Our goals are to provide a synthesis of the literature for experimentalists studying CA1 PCs, to give theorists an idea of the rich diversity of behaviors models may need to reproduce to accurately represent these cells, and to provide suggestions for future research.
Tectonic and Climatic Controls on Asymmetric Half‐Graben Sedimentation: Inferences From 3‐D Numerical Modeling
Authors: Balázs Attila , Granjeon Didier , Matenco Liviu , Sztanó Orsolya , Cloetingh Sierd
Published: September 2017

The tectono‐sedimentary evolution of asymmetric extensional systems driven by the activity of major normal faults or detachments associated with footwall exhumation is often characterized by a sequence of slower, faster, and ultimately again slower subsidence rates in the center of hanging wall half‐grabens during their synkinematic and postkinematic evolution. We have studied this specific evolution by the means of 3‐D stratigraphic numerical modeling that accounts for the variability of the sediment and water flux combined with climatic and sea level variations, and sediment compaction. The model setup is constrained by observations from the Pannonian back‐arc basin of central Europe. Our modeling predicts the formation of low‐order tectonic and higher‐order sea level and climate‐driven transgressive‐regressive sedimentary cycles. Furthermore, we model and analyze the autocyclic nature of the depositional systems. Retrograding‐prograding cycles are visible on the proximal flank of the half‐grabens by their different spatial and temporal expressions, while depocenters record large water depth variations linked to the specific and episodic activity of normal faults and their migration with time. The application to a system of multiple half‐grabens in the Pannonian Basin, which are activated in different locations, at different times and with different kinematics, demonstrates a complex interplay between direct sediment sourcing and the sediments' ability to bypass trapping subbasins and paleo‐reliefs created by eroded footwalls.
Plasmodesmal Structure and Development
Authors: Roberts Alison G.
Published: September 2017

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Structure of Plasmodesmata

Additional Components of Plasmodesmata

Developmental Changes to Plasmodesmata

Acknowledgements
Transgene Silencing
Authors: Depicker Ann , Sanders Matthew , Meyer Peter
Published: September 2017

The sections in this article are

Introduction: Variation of Transgene Expression

Molecular Mechanisms of Transgene Silencing

Systemic Silencing

Silencing Signals

Position Effects

Environmental Effects

Strategies for the Prevention of Transgene Silencing

Conclusions

Acknowledgements
RNAInterference: Double‐StrandedRNAsand the Processing Machinery
Authors: Kooter Jan M.
Published: September 2017

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Mechanism ofRNAInterference

Sources ofdsRNA

The Protein Machinery ofRNAi

Acknowledgements
When Alleles Meet: Paramutation
Authors: Louwers Marieke , Haring Max , Stam Maike
Published: September 2017

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Paramutation across Kingdoms

Paramutation Models

Common Features of Paramutation Phenomena

Trans‐Acting Mutations Affecting Paramutation

The Possible Roles and Implications of Paramutation

Concluding Remarks and Future Directions

Acknowledgments
Nucleolar Dominance andrRNAGene Dosage Control: A Paradigm for Transcriptional Regulation via an Epigenetic On/Off Switch
Authors: Neves Nuno , Viegas Wanda , Pikaard Craig S.
Published: September 2017

The sections in this article are

Introduction

RibosomalRNAGene Dosage Control

Nucleolar Dominance

DNAMethylation andrRNAGene Regulation

Histone Modifications andrRNAGene Regulation

Concerted Changes inDNAand Histone Methylation Comprise an On/Off Switch

Future Studies: Identifying Genes Required for the Epigenetic On/Off Switch

Acknowledgments
High School Equivalency Assessment and Recognition in the United States: An Eyewitness Account
Authors: McLendon Lennox
Published: September 2017

This chapter on high school equivalency describes recent events involved in updating the adult education high school equivalency assessment services and the entrance of additional assessments into the field.
Immigrants to the United States and Adult Education Services
Authors: Larrotta Clarena
Published: September 2017

This chapter describes documented and undocumented immigrant populations in the United States. It discusses salient factors influencing their status as immigrants as well as adult education services available to them through publicly funded programs, social units, and community centers, especially churches and libraries.
Conclusion
Authors: Prins Esther
Published: September 2017

This chapter identifies directions for future ABE research and suggests how researchers and practitioners can enrich the field's knowledge base.
Decoration of Nanofibrous Paper Chemiresistors with Dendronized Nanoparticles toward Structurally Tunable Negative‐Going Response Characteristics to Human Breathing and Sweating
Authors: Yan Shan , Liu Xin , Skeete Zakiya , He Ning , Xie Zhi‐Hui , Zhao Wei , Lombardi Jack P. , Liu Kai , Kang Ning , Luo Jin , Hsiao Benjamin S. , Poliks Mark , Gitsov Ivan , Zhong Chuan‐Jian
Published: September 2017

The development of wearable breath or sweat sensor arrays for human performance monitoring is increasingly important for providing personalized health information under various environmental conditions. A major challenge is the lack of sensing elements responsive uniquely to moisture‐dominated breathing and sweating processes, which is critical for differentiating other chemical or biological species from the moisture‐dominated environment. Here a novel class of nanofibrous paper chemiresistors decorated with dendronized nanoparticles that exhibit structurally tunable and negative‐going responses to human breathing and sweating is reported. The nanocomposite device features flexible membrane‐type scaffold derived from multilayered nanofibrous paper as a biocompatible matrix and dendronized gold nanoparticles with tunable sizes and shapes to enable structural diversity and molecular sensitivity. Key elements of novelty include the immobilization of poly(ether‐ester) dendrons with oligoethylene glycol spacers on gold nanoparticles and the combination of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions between partially interpenetrating dendrons, leading to tunable and unique response characteristics to breathing and sweating processes. The results demonstrate the first example of nanofibrous paper chemiresistors decorated with dendronized nanoparticles as a promising new strategy toward constructing sensing interfaces for wearable breath and sweat sensors.
Resemblance in physical activity levels: The Portuguese sibling study on growth, fitness, lifestyle, and health
Authors: Pereira S. , Katzmarzyk P. T. , Gomes T. N. , Souza M. , Chaves R. N. , Santos F. K. , Santos D. , Bustamante A. , Barreira T. V. , Hedeker D. , Maia J. A.
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To investigate the relationships of biological, behavioral, familial, and environmental characteristics with siblings´ physical activity (PA) levels as well as the intrapair resemblance in PA.

Methods

The sample comprises 834 (390 females) biological siblings [brother‐brother (BB), sister‐sister (SS), brother‐sister (BS)] aged 9 to 20 years. Total PA index (TPAI) was estimated by questionnaire. Information on potential behavioral, familial, and environmental correlates was obtained by self‐report; body mass index (BMI), biological maturation, and physical fitness were measured. Multilevel models were used to analyze siblings´ clustered data, and sibling resemblance was estimated with the intraclass correlation (ρ).

Results

On average, younger sibs, those more physically fit, and those with more parental support had greater TPAI. Further, BB pairs had higher TPAI levels than SS or BS pairs, but also had greater within‐pair variance. When adjusted for all covariates, SS pairs demonstrated greater resemblance in TPAI (ρ = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.38–0.68) than BS (ρ = 0.26, 95%CI = 0.14–0.43) or BB pairs (ρ = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.06–0.44).

Conclusions

Age, physical fitness, and parental support were the best predictors of TPAI levels. A moderate level of resemblance in TPAI was observed in SS pairs, while lower resemblance was found for BS and BB pairs. These findings may be due to differences in the roles of shared genetic factors, familial, and environmental characteristics across different sibling types.
Stereospecific Reactions of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Thioketones: Access to Highly Substituted Tetrahydrothiophenes
Authors: Augustin André U. , Sensse Maximilian , Jones Peter G. , Werz Daniel B.
Published: September 2017

Lewis‐acid‐catalyzed reactions of 2‐substituted cyclopropane 1,1‐dicarboxylates with thioketones are described. Highly substituted tetrahydrothiophenes with two adjacent quaternary carbon atoms were obtained in a stereospecific manner under mild conditions and in high yield when using AlCl3 as Lewis acid. Moreover, an intramolecular approach was successfully implemented to gain access to sulfur‐bridged [n.2.1] bicyclic ring systems. Conversion of selenoketones, the heavier analogues, under similar conditions resulted in the formation of various tetrahydroselenophenes.
Metadata records machine translation combining multi‐engine outputs with limited parallel data
Authors: Reyes Ayala Brenda , Knudson Ryan , Chen Jiangping , Cao Gaohui , Wang Xinyue
Published: September 2017

One way to facilitate Multilingual Information Access (MLIA) for digital libraries is to generate multilingual metadata records by applying Machine Translation (MT) techniques. Current online MT services are available and affordable, but are not always effective for creating multilingual metadata records. In this study, we implemented 3 different MT strategies and evaluated their performance when translating English metadata records to Chinese and Spanish. These strategies included combining MT results from 3 online MT systems (Google, Bing, and Yahoo!) with and without additional linguistic resources, such as manually‐generated parallel corpora, and metadata records in the two target languages obtained from international partners. The open‐source statistical MT platform Moses was applied to design and implement the three translation strategies. Human evaluation of the MT results using adequacy and fluency demonstrated that two of the strategies produced higher quality translations than individual online MT systems for both languages. Especially, adding small, manually‐generated parallel corpora of metadata records significantly improved translation performance. Our study suggested an effective and efficient MT approach for providing multilingual services for digital collections.
A novel approach to explore patent development paths for subfield technologies
Authors: Gwak Jae Ha , Sohn So Young
Published: September 2017

Many algorithms for searching the main paths according to a subfield technology have been suggested using patent citation networks. However, the process by which the specific field is divided into subfields is problematic, in the sense that citation information among individual patents in different subfields is lost. If convergence technologies are common among different subfields, this problem can result in an inappropriate main path being found. To resolve this problem, we propose a new algorithm capable of extracting the main paths for each subfield of a technology by using the International Patent Classification (IPC) codes of patents. The proposed algorithm is applied to the waste management field to allow core technologies in the subfields of waste disposal, waste treatment, and the reuse of waste materials to be found. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed by considering the standard of the component ratio along a specific path to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed algorithm in the waste management field.
New Results on Stabilization of Fractional‐Order Nonlinear Systems via an LMI Approach
Authors: Thuan Mai Viet , Huong Dinh Cong
Published: September 2017

This paper considers the systematic design of robust stabilizing state feedback controllers for fractional‐order nonlinear systems. By using the Lyapunov direct method and a recent result on the Caputo fractional derivative of a quadratic function, stabilizability conditions expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities are derived. The controllers can then be derived by using existing computationally effective convex algorithms. Two numerical examples with simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our results.
Multiple organic cation transporters contribute to the renal transport of sulpiride
Authors: Li Liping , Weng Yayun , Wang Wei , Bai Mengru , Lei Hongmei , Zhou Hui , Jiang Huidi
Published: September 2017

Sulpiride, a selective dopamine D2 receptor blocker, is used widely for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression and gastric/duodenal ulcers. Because the great majority of sulpiride is positively charged at physiological pH 7.4, and ~70% of the dose recovered in urine is in the unchanged form after human intravenous administration of sulpiride, it is believed that transporters play an important role in the renal excretion of sulpiride. The aim of the present study was to explore which transporters contribute to the renal disposition of sulpiride. The results demonstrated that sulpiride was a substrate of human carnitine/organic cation transporter 1 (hOCTN1) and 2 (hOCTN2), human organic cation transporter 2 (hOCT2), human multidrug and toxin efflux extrusion protein 1 (hMATE1) and 2‐K (hMATE2‐K). Sulpiride accumulation from the basolateral (BL) to the apical (AP) side in MDCK‐hOCT2/pcDNA3.1 cell monolayers was much greater than that in MDCK‐hOCT2/hMATE1 cells, and cimetidine dramatically reduced the intracellular accumulation of sulpiride from BL to AP. In addition, the accumulation of sulpiride in mouse primary renal tubular cells (mPRTCs) was markedly reduced by inhibitors of Oct2 and Octns. The results implied that OCTN1, OCTN2, OCT2, MATE1 and MATE2‐K probably contributed to the renal transfer of sulpiride, in which OCT2 mediated the uptake of sulpiride from the bloodstream to the proximal tubular cells, while MATEs contributed to the sulpiride efflux from the proximal tubular cells to the renal lumen, and OCTNs participated in both renal secretion and reabsorption.
How should we evaluate research on counselling and the treatment of depression? A case study on how the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's draft 2018 guideline for depression considered what counts as best evidence
Authors: Barkham Michael , Moller Naomi P. , Pybis Joanne
Published: September 2017

Background

Health guidelines are developed to improve patient care by ensuring the most recent and ‘best available evidence’ is used to guide treatment recommendations. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE's ) guideline development methodology acknowledges that evidence needed to answer one question (treatment efficacy) may be different from evidence needed to answer another (cost‐effectiveness, treatment acceptability to patients). This review uses counselling in the treatment of depression as a case study, and interrogates the constructs of ‘best’ evidence and ‘best’ guideline methodologies.

Method

The review comprises six sections: (i) implications of diverse definitions of counselling in research; (ii) research findings from meta‐analyses and randomised controlled trials (RCTs); (iii) limitations to trials‐based evidence; (iv) findings from large routine outcome datasets; (v) the inclusion of qualitative research that emphasises service‐user voices; and (vi) conclusions and recommendations.

Results

Research from meta‐analyses and RCTs contained in the draft 2018 NICE Guideline is limited but positive in relation to the effectiveness of counselling in the treatment for depression. The weight of evidence suggests little, if any, advantage to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) over counselling once risk of bias and researcher allegiance are taken into account. A growing body of evidence from large NHS data sets also evidences that, for depression, counselling is as effective as CBT and cost‐effective when delivered in NHS settings.

Conclusion

Specifications in NICE's updated guideline procedures allow for data other than RCTs and meta‐analyses to be included. Accordingly, there is a need to include large standardised collected data sets from routine practice as well as the voice of patients via high‐quality qualitative research.
The Nature of Hydrated Protons on Platinum Surfaces
Authors: Kim Youngsoon , Noh Chanwoo , Jung YounJoon , Kang Heon
Published: September 2017

The nature of hydrated protons formed at water/metal interfaces is one of the most intriguing research questions in the field of interfacial chemistry. We prepared coadsorption layers of hydrogen and water on a Pt(111) surface in ultrahigh vacuum and studied the ionization of adsorbed hydrogen atoms to H+ ions by employing a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Spectroscopic evidence obtained by mass spectrometry and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy as well as corresponding density functional theory calculations consistently show that adsorbed hydrogen atoms ionize into multiply hydrated proton species (H5O2+, H7O3+, and H9O4+) on the surface, rather than H3O+. Then, upon addition of a water overlayer, the metal‐bound hydrated protons spontaneously evolve into three‐dimensional fully hydrated proton structures through proton transfer along the water overlayer. The stability of hydrated protons on the Pt surface and their bulk dissolution behavior suggest the possibility that surface hydrated protons are a key intermediate in electrochemical interconversion between adsorbed H atoms and H+(aq) in water electrolysis and hydrogen evolution reactions.
A One‐Step Germole to Silole Transformation and a Stable Isomer of a Disilabenzene
Authors: Reinhold Crispin R. W. , Dong Zhaowen , Winkler Jan M. , Steinert Henning , Schmidtmann Marc , Müller Thomas
Published: September 2017

An unusual germole‐to‐silole transformation is described. As key intermediates hetero‐fulvenes are formed which rearrange to more stable bicyclic carbene analogues. The so‐formed germylenes undergo a reductive elimination yielding elemental germanium and siloles. In contrast, the analogous silylenes are stable at ambient conditions and were identified by MS spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy supported by the results of quantum mechanical calculations. These bicyclic silylenes are stable derivatives of the global minimum of the C4Si2H6potential energy surface.
Theoretical Evidence behind Bifunctional Catalytic Activity in Pristine and Functionalized Al2C Monolayers
Authors: Almeida Roseley , Banerjee Amitava , Chakraborty Sudip , Almeida Jailton , Ahuja Rajeev
Published: September 2017

First principles electronic structure calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) framework are performed to investigate hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on two‐dimensional Al2C monolayers. In addition to the pristine Al2C monolayer, monolayers doped with Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Boron (B), and Sulphur (S) are also investigated. After determining the individual adsorption energy of hydrogen and oxygen on the different functionalized Al2C monolayers, the adsorption free energies are predicted for each of the functionalized monolayers in order to assess their suitability for HER or OER. The density of states and optical absorption spectra calculations along with the work function of the functionalized Al2C monolayers enable us to gain a profound understanding of the electronic structure for the individual system and their relation to the water splitting mechanism.
A Strategy for the Simultaneous Synthesis of Methallyl Alcohol and Diethyl Acetal with Sn‐β
Authors: Hu Wenda , Wan Yan , Zhu Lili , Cheng Xiaojie , Wan Shaolong , Lin Jingdong , Wang Yong
Published: September 2017

A new strategy was developed to simultaneously produce two important chemicals, namely, methallyl alcohol (Mol) and diethyl acetal (Dal) from methacrolein in ethanol solvent at low temperature with the use of Beta zeolites modified by tin (Sn‐β catalysts). All the Sn‐β catalysts were prepared by the solid‐state ion‐exchange method, wherein the calcination step was conducted under different gas atmospheres. The catalyst precalcined in Ar (Sn‐β‐Ar) had a reduced number of extra‐framework Sn species and enabled more Sn species to be exchanged into the framework as isolated tetrahedral SnIV, enhancing the catalytic activity of the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reaction. The sodium‐exchanged Sn‐β‐Ar, with a reduced number of weak Brønsted acid sites, led to an even better selectivity for Mol, owing to the restriction of the side reactions such as acetalization, addition, and etherification. Under optimized catalyst and reaction conditions, the yield of Mol and Dal reached approximately 90 % and 96 %, respectively. The possible reaction pathways, along with a complex network of side products, was proposed after a detailed investigation through the use of different substrates as reactants. The fine‐tuning of Sn‐β catalysts through different treatments discussed in this work is of great significance toward the understanding and manipulation of complex reactions between α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and primary alcohols.
Optimal scheduling of coordinated multipoint transmissions in cellular networks
Authors: Saleh Ali Mohammad , Parveen Nadira , Uddin Md. Forkan
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we study the optimal scheduling problem in coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission–based cellular networks. We consider joint transmission and coordinated scheduling together in CoMP transmission–based cellular networks and develop an optimization framework to compute the optimal max‐min throughput and the optimal scheduling of the transmissions to the users. The optimization problem is found to be a complex linear program with number of variables in
for a cellular network of N users and K cells. We solve the optimization problem for several network instances using an optimization tool. The numerical results show that the optimal CoMP transmission provides a significant throughput gain over a traditional transmission. We find that in optimal scheduling the fraction time of coordinated scheduling is higher than that of joint transmission. To solve the optimization problem without any optimization tool, we propose a heuristic algorithm. The performance of the heuristic algorithm is evaluated and found to be provided throughput around 97% of the optimal throughput. Further, we extend the optimization framework to study joint scheduling and power allocation (JSPA) problem in CoMP transmission–based cellular networks. We numerically solve the JSPA problem for the network instances and demonstrate that the optimal power allocation at the base stations is not binary for a significant fraction of time of scheduling. However, the gain in max‐min throughput by the optimal JSPA technique over the optimal scheduling technique is not significant.
Pharyngoesophageal diverticula simulating thyroid nodules: An unusual occurrence with unique features
Authors: Nauschuetz Karen K. , Ogden Lorna L. , Starling Cherry E. , Saleh Mohammad J. , Golding Allan C. , Traweek S. Thomas
Published: September 2017

Pharyngoesophageal diverticula (PED) of the Zenker's and Killian‐Jamieson types arise in close proximity to the thyroid gland, and may rarely be confused with a thyroid nodule on ultrasonography. In this brief report, we detail the cytologic, clinical, and radiologic findings of three PED that were thought to be thyroid nodules, and were subjected to fine‐needle aspiration (FNA). The patients were females with an age range of 51‐64 years. All three patients had multiple thyroid nodules, and two patients reported symptoms attributable to the diverticulum. Nodule sizes ranged from 1.0 to 2.7 cm, and either the right or left thyroid lobe could be involved. Microcalcifications were present by ultrasonography in all three cases. FNA of these thyroid nodule mimics showed squamous cells with granular or amorphous debris, bacterial and/or fungal colonies, inflammation, and food particles. These cytologic features, particularly the presence of vegetable or meat fragments, are characteristic, and have also been reported in the few previous reports of PED. The presence of a diverticulum was confirmed with imaging studies in all our patients. Although a rare occurrence, the inadvertent FNA of a PED masquerading as a thyroid nodule is important to recognize, as a recommendation for appropriate radiologic studies could potentially avoid inappropriate therapy for thyroid disease.
Responses of two marine top predators to an offshore wind farm
Authors: Vallejo Gillian C. , Grellier Kate , Nelson Emily J. , McGregor Ross M. , Canning Sarah J. , Caryl Fiona M. , McLean Nancy
Published: September 2017

Quantifying the likely effects of offshore wind farms on wildlife is fundamental before permission for development can be granted by any Determining Authority. The effects on marine top predators from displacement from important habitat are key concerns during offshore wind farm construction and operation. In this respect, we present evidence for no significant displacement from aUKoffshore wind farm for two broadly distributed species of conservation concern: common guillemot (Uria aalge) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Data were collected during boat‐based line transect surveys across a 360 km2study area that included the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm. Surveys were conducted over 10 years across the preconstruction, construction, and operational phases of the development. Changes in guillemot and harbor porpoise abundance and distribution in response to offshore wind farm construction and operation were estimated using generalized mixed models to test for evidence of displacement. Both common guillemot and harbor porpoise were present across the Robin Rigg study area throughout all three development phases. There was a significant reduction in relative harbor porpoise abundance both within and surrounding the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm during construction, but no significant difference was detected between the preconstruction and operational phases. Relative common guillemot abundance remained similar within the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm across all development phases. Offshore wind farms have the potential to negatively affect wildlife, but further evidence regarding the magnitude of effect is needed. The empirical data presented here for two marine top predators provide a valuable addition to the evidence base, allowing future decision making to be improved by reducing the uncertainty of displacement effects and increasing the accuracy of impact assessments.
Stable isotopes can be used to infer the overwintering locations of prebreeding marine birds in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Steenweg Rolanda J. , Crossin Glenn T. , Kyser T. Kurt , Merkel Flemming R. , Gilchrist H. Grant , Hennin Holly L. , Robertson Gregory J. , Provencher Jennifer F. , Mills Flemming Joanna , Love Oliver P.
Published: September 2017

Although assessments of winter carryover effects on fitness‐related breeding parameters are vital for determining the links between environmental variation and fitness, direct methods of determining overwintering distributions (e.g., electronic tracking) can be expensive, limiting the number of individuals studied. Alternatively, stable isotope analysis in specific tissues can be used as an indirect means of determining individual overwintering areas of residency. Although increasingly used to infer the overwintering distributions of terrestrial birds, stable isotopes have been used less often to infer overwintering areas of marine birds. Using Arctic‐breeding common eiders, we test the effectiveness of an integrated stable isotope approach (13‐carbon, 15‐nitrogen, and 2‐hydrogen) to infer overwintering locations. Knowing the overwinter destinations of eiders from tracking studies at our study colony at East Bay Island, Nunavut, we sampled claw and blood tissues at two known overwintering locations, Nuuk, Greenland, and Newfoundland, Canada. These two locations yielded distinct tissue‐specific isotopic profiles. We then compared the isotope profiles of tissues collected from eiders upon their arrival at our breeding colony, and used a k‐means cluster analysis approach to match arriving eiders to an overwintering group. Samples from the claws of eiders were most effective for determining overwinter origin, due to this tissue's slow growth rate relative to the 40‐day turnover rate of blood. Despite taking an integrative approach using multiple isotopes, k‐means cluster analysis was most effective when using 13‐carbon alone to assign eiders to an overwintering group. Our research demonstrates that it is possible to use stable isotope analysis to assign an overwintering location to a marine bird. There are few examples of the effective use of this technique on a marine bird at this scale; we provide a framework for applying this technique to detect changes in the migration phenology of birds' responses to rapid changes in the Arctic.
Tree diversity drives diversity of arthropod herbivores, but successional stage mediates detritivores
Authors: O'Brien Michael J. , Brezzi Matteo , Schuldt Andreas , Zhang Jia‐Yong , Ma Keping , Schmid Bernhard , Niklaus Pascal A.
Published: September 2017

The high tree diversity of subtropical forests is linked to the biodiversity of other trophic levels. Disentangling the effects of tree species richness and composition, forest age, and stand structure on higher trophic levels in a forest landscape is important for understanding the factors that promote biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Using a plot network spanning gradients of tree diversity and secondary succession in subtropical forest, we tested the effects of tree community characteristics (species richness and composition) and forest succession (stand age) on arthropod community characteristics (morphotype diversity, abundance and composition) of four arthropod functional groups. We posit that these gradients differentially affect the arthropod functional groups, which mediates the diversity, composition, and abundance of arthropods in subtropical forests. We found that herbivore richness was positively related to tree species richness. Furthermore, the composition of herbivore communities was associated with tree species composition. In contrast, detritivore richness and composition was associated with stand age instead of tree diversity. Predator and pollinator richness and abundance were not strongly related to either gradient, although positive trends with tree species richness were found for predators. The weaker effect of tree diversity on predators suggests a cascading diversity effect from trees to herbivores to predators. Our results suggest that arthropod diversity in a subtropical forest reflects the net outcome of complex interactions among variables associated with tree diversity and stand age. Despite this complexity, there are clear linkages between the overall richness and composition of tree and arthropod communities, in particular herbivores, demonstrating that these trophic levels directly impact each other.
Divergent scaling of respiration rates to nitrogen and phosphorus across four woody seedlings between different growing seasons
Authors: Fan Ruirui , Sun Jun , Yang Fuchun , Li Man , Zheng Yuan , Zhong Quanlin , Cheng Dongliang
Published: September 2017

Empirical studies indicate that the exponents governing the scaling of plant respiration rates (R) with respect to biomass (M) numerically vary between three‐fourth for adult plants and 1.0 for seedlings and saplings and are affected by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content. However, whether the scaling of R with respect to M (or N and P) varies among different phylogenetic groups (e.g., gymnosperms vs. angiosperms) or during the growing and dormant seasons remains unclear. We measured the whole‐plant R and M, and N and P content of the seedlings of four woody species during the growing season (early October) and the dormant season (January). The data show that (i) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P differed significantly among the four species, but (ii), not between the growing and dormant seasons for each of the four species, although (iii) the normalization constants governing the scaling relationships were numerically greater for the growing season compared to the dormant season. In addition, (iv) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P were numerically larger for the two angiosperm species compared to those of the two gymnosperm species, (v) the interspecific scaling exponents for the four species were greater during the growing season than in the dormant season, and (vi), interspecifically, P scaled nearly isometric with N content. Those findings indicate that the metabolic scaling relationships among R, M, N, and P manifest seasonal variation and differ between angiosperm and gymnosperm species, that is, there is no single, canonical scaling exponent for the seedlings of woody species.
Phytophagous insect oviposition shifts in response to probability of flower abortion owing to the presence of basal fruits
Authors: Jadeja Shivani , Tenhumberg Brigitte
Published: September 2017

Phytophagous insects use a wide range of indicators or associated cues to avoid laying eggs in sites where offspring survival is low. For insects that lay eggs in flowers, these unsuitable sites may be created by the host plant's resource allocation to flowers. In the sequentially flowering host plant, Yucca glauca, late‐opening distal flowers are more likely to be aborted in the presence of already‐initiated basal fruits because they are strong resource sinks. If flowers are aborted, all eggs of the phytophagous insect, Tegeticula yuccasella, within the flower die. We used the phytophagous insect T. yuccasella that lays eggs in and pollinates host plant Y. glauca flowers to test the hypothesis that phytophagous insect females are less likely to invest eggs in host plant flowers if basal fruits are present because they are more likely to be aborted. We also investigated potential predictors of arrival of T. yuccasella at inflorescences at the onset of flowering. These factors may influence a phytophagous insect's decisions to select oviposition sites. We carried out a behavioral experiment using wild‐caught T. yuccasella females on manipulated inflorescences with distal flowers with basal fruits and without fruits. As potential predictors of T. yuccasella arriving at inflorescences, we used floral display size and day of onset of flowering. In support of our hypothesis, our experimental results showed that T. yuccasella was significantly less likely to oviposit in distal flowers on inflorescences with basal fruits. We also found that T. yuccasella arrival was higher at inflorescences with larger floral display size and earlier in the flowering season. These findings uncover a novel indicator of unsuitable oviposition sites—the presence of basal fruits, that phytophagous insects use to make oviposition decisions. Further, our study contributes to the growing body of evidence that shows that females prefer sites that increase the probability of survival of their offspring.