bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using the SuccessNavigator® Assessment to Assess Change Over Time: A Longitudinal Measurement Invariance Study
Authors: Rikoon Samuel H. , Midkiff Brooke
Published: July 2018

The assumption of longitudinal measurement invariance underlies the interpretation of changes in assessment scale score levels over time. This study was conducted to examine the longitudinal measurement invariance of the SuccessNavigator® assessment (SN) in a sample of 407 first‐year undergraduate students. SN is a psychosocial skills assessment targeting 4 broad domains (academic skills, commitment, self‐management, and social support). Each domain comprises 2 or 3 subskills (10 subskills total). Of the 10 subskills, 8 were found to demonstrate a sufficient level of both metric and scalar longitudinal measurement invariance, supporting their application in longitudinal studies. Implications of these findings are discussed, as are important avenues for future research to examine both the methodological and practical consequences of noninvariance in the 2 cases where it was observed.
An enthalpy‐preserving shock‐capturing term for residual distribution schemes
Authors: Garicano‐Mena J. , Degrez G.
Published: July 2018

In this contribution, we investigate strategies to perform shock‐capturing computation of steady hypersonic flow fields by means of residual distribution schemes. The ultimate objective is the computation of flow solutions for which the correct upstream enthalpy value is recovered in the postshock region. To this end, the parallelism existing between the classical Bx scheme and the stabilized finite element techniques is exploited. The simple Lax‐Friedrichs dissipation term is leveraged to build two new residual distribution schemes. Upon testing on both inviscid and viscous steady problems, solutions obtained with one of the two schemes are shown to recover the correct upstream total enthalpy level in the postshock region. This last scheme provides also improved wall pressure and skin friction predictions; heat transfer predictions are, unfortunately, similar to those offered by the Bx scheme. A conjecture for explaining this behavior is exposed.
Insights into groundwater salinization from hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence in an arid inland basin
Authors: Liu Yalei , Jin Menggui , Wang Jianjun
Published: July 2018

In the Manas River basin (MRB), groundwater salinization has become a major concern, impeding groundwater use considerably. Isotopic and hydrogeochemical characteristics of 73 groundwater and 11 surface water samples from the basin were analysed to determine the salinization process and potential sources of salinity. Groundwater salinity ranged from 0.2 to 11.91 g/L, and high salinities were generally located in the discharge area, arable land irrigated by groundwater, and depression cone area. The quantitative contributions of the evaporation effect were calculated, and the various groundwater contributions of transpiration, mineral dissolution, and agricultural irrigation were identified using hydrogeochemical diagrams and δD and δ18O compositions of the groundwater and surface water samples. The average evaporation contribution ratios to salinity were 5.87% and 32.7% in groundwater and surface water, respectively. From the piedmont plain to the desert plain, the average groundwater loss by evaporation increased from 7% to 29%. However, the increases in salinity by evaporation were small according to the deuterium excess signals. Mineral dissolution, transpiration, and agricultural irrigation activities were the major causes of groundwater salinization. Isotopic information revealed that river leakage quickly infiltrated into aquifers in the piedmont area with weak evaporation effects. The recharge water interacted with the sediments and dissolved minerals and subsequently increased the salinity along the flow path. In the irrigation land, shallow groundwater salinity and Cl− concentrations increased but not δ18O, suggesting that both the leaching of soil salts due to irrigation and transpiration effect dominated in controlling the hydrogeochemistry. Depleted δ18O and high Cl− concentrations in the middle and deep groundwater revealed the combined effects of mixing with paleo‐water and mineral dissolution with a long residence time. These results could contribute to the management of groundwater sources and future utilization programs in the MRB and similar areas.
Does size matter in predicting SMEs failure?
Authors: Gupta Jairaj , Barzotto Mariachiara , Khorasgani Amir
Published: July 2018

This study acknowledges the diversity between micro, small, and medium‐sized firms while predicting bankruptcy and financial distress of the United States small and medium‐sized enterprises. Empirical findings suggest that survival (failure) probability increases (decreases) with increasing firm size and firms in different size categories have varying determinants of bankruptcy, whereas factors affecting their financial distress are mostly invariant. Magnitude of significant covariates changes across the size categories of both bankrupt and financially distressed firms. Further, operating cash flow information does not add any marginal increment in prediction performance of multivariate hazard models above baseline models developed using information from income statements and balance sheets. This result holds for failure likelihood of small and medium‐sized enterprises and their respective size categories.
High‐risk HPV‐RNA screening of physician‐ and self‐collected specimens for detection of cervical lesions among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Senkomago Virginia , Ting Jie , Kwatampora Jessie , Gukare Hannah , Mugo Nelly , Kimani Joshua , Smith Jennifer S.
Published: July 2018

Objective

To compare accuracy of detecting high‐grade cervical lesions (squamous intraepithelial lesions or greater, HSIL+) by high‐risk HPV messenger RNA (hrHPV‐RNA) testing between physician‐ and self‐collected specimens, and by conventional cytology.

Methods

The present prospective longitudinal study included data collected among female sex workers (FSWs) in Nairobi, Kenya, between December 2, 2009, and February 15, 2013. Participants self‐collected cervico‐vaginal specimens for hrHPV‐RNA testing, and a physician collected cervical specimens for hrHPV‐RNA testing and conventional cytology. hrHPV‐RNA testing was conducted every 3 months, and conventional cytology every 6 months.

Results

Overall, 350 FSWs aged 18–50 years participated. hrHPV‐RNA prevalence decreased slightly from 29.9% (103/344) at baseline to 24.3% (53/218) at 24 months for physician‐collected, and 28.5% (98/344) to 24.3% (53/218) for self‐collected specimens. Agreement between the sampling methods appeared to increase over time (baseline κ 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–0.65; 24 months κ 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.91). Among 21 patients with HSIL+ over 24 months, 18 (86%) and 17 (81%) had hrHPV‐RNA‐positive results at baseline in physician‐ and self‐collected specimens, respectively; and 20 (95%) had baseline hrHPV‐RNA‐positive results or cytology anomalies.

Conclusion

Overall agreement between physician‐ and self‐collected hrHPV‐RNA results was moderate and appeared to increase over time. Baseline physician‐ and self‐collected hrHPV‐RNA tests were similarly strong indicators of cumulative HSIL+ over 24 months.
Neurodevelopmental toxicity in the mouse neocortex following prenatal exposure to acetamiprid
Authors: Kagawa Nao , Nagao Tetsuji
Published: July 2018

Acetamiprid (ACE) belongs to a widely used class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. ACE binds selectively to insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and was previously considered relatively safe in mammalian species; however, recent studies have demonstrated ACE‐mediated toxicity related to vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation. The potential for neurotoxicity following exposure to ACE in utero is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of repeated prenatal ACE exposure (5 mg/kg, oral doses administered to pregnant dams) on neurogenesis, neuronal distribution and microglial activation in the dorsal telencephalon on embryonic day (E)14 and in the neocortex on postnatal day 14. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses on E14 revealed hypoplasia of the cortical plate and decreased neurogenesis in mice exposed to ACE from E6 to E13, whereas newborn ACE‐exposed mice showed an abnormal neuronal distribution in the neocortex. Additionally, ACE‐exposed mice showed increased numbers of Iba1‐immunoreactive and amoeboid‐type microglia as well as an increased M1/M2 microglial ratio. These findings suggest that prenatal ACE exposure induces neurodevelopmental toxicity and increases microglial activation in the developing brain.
Specific alteration of gene expression profile in rats by treatment with thyroid toxicants that inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis
Authors: Ohara Ayako , Yamada Fumihiro , Fukuda Takako , Suzuki Noriyuki , Sumida Kayo
Published: July 2018

Transcriptomics technologies have been used for risk assessment of chemicals, mainly to predict the modes of action (MOAs) of chemicals or identify biomarkers. Transcriptomics data may also be helpful to understand MOAs of chemicals at the molecular level in more detail. As an example of the known MOAs, there are two MOAs of thyroid toxicity: inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis (“direct” effect) and hypermetabolism of thyroid hormone by enzyme induction in liver (“indirect” effect). In the present study, global profiles of gene expression were analyzed in rats treated with chemicals acting directly on the thyroid (thyroid peroxidase inhibitors such as propylthiouracil and methimazole) and chemicals acting indirectly on the thyroid (hepatic enzyme inducers such as phenobarbital and pregnenolone‐16α‐carbonitrile) using microarrays. Using a subtraction method between these two types of chemicals, we identified characteristic gene expression changes on the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway by direct‐acting chemicals. Based on the functions of these genes, alterations of their expression seem to indicate the results of thyroid peroxidase inhibition, and might be helpful in more accurate evaluation of MOAs for thyroid toxicity.
Circulating fibrinogen to pre‐albumin ratio is a promising biomarker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Authors: Sun Fan , Tan Yu‐Ao , Gao Qiu‐Fang , Li Shu‐Qi , Zhang Jing , Chen Qing‐Gen , Jiang Yu‐Huan , Zhang Lei , Ying Hou‐Qun , Wang Xiao‐Zhong
Published: July 2018

Background

Inflammation and nutrition are closely associated with initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the FAR (FAR = 100*Fibrinogen/Albumin) and FPR (FPR = Fibrinogen/pre‐Albumin) in CRC.

Methods

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), FPR, and FAR were calculated in 455 newly diagnosed CRC patients, 455 healthy individuals, and 455 benign controls with colorectal polyp. The diagnostic value of biomarker for CRC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Logistic regression analysis was adopted to assess the risk factors for telling CRC apart from benign disease. Moreover, the combined biomarkers were used for discriminating between CRC and benign disease.

Results

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, FAR, and FPR were significantly higher in CRC patients compared with the benign or healthy controls (P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic efficacy of FAR and FPR were better than NLR for CRC. Besides, FPR, NLR, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA199) were markedly associated with differentiation of benign disease and CRC in the logistic regression analysis. And the combination of FPR, CEA, and CA199 had the maximum area under the ROC curve (AUC) in separating CRC from benign disease (AUC = 0.845, Sensitivity = 67.9%, Specificity = 85.3%, Positive Predictive Value = 83.5%, Negative Predictive Value = 70.9%).

Conclusions

Fibrinogen/pre‐Albumin could be a useful CRC diagnostic biomarker, and the combination of FPR, CEA, and CA199 could significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy in discriminating CRC from the benign colorectal disease.
Enhanced carbon and nitrogen removal performance of simultaneous anammox and denitrification (SAD) with mannitol addition treating saline wastewater
Authors: Yang Zhenlin , Zhu Weiqiang , Yu Deshuang , Bo Yuntai , Li Jin
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous anammox and denitrification (SAD) can remove carbon and nitrogen. However, its performance is suppressed under saline surroundings. In this work, mannitol was used to enhance a SAD process treating saline wastewater.

RESULTS

The optimum carbon and nitrogen removal was achieved at 0.2 mmol L−1 mannitol, during which ammonium removal efficiency (ARE), nitrite removal efficiency (NRE) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency were 96.95%, 93.70% and 90.05%, respectively. The maximum ammonium removal rate (ARR), nitrite removal rate (NRR) and the specific anammox activity (SAA) were increased by 25.49%, 55.84% and 33.83% with optimum addition (0.2 mmol L−1 mannitol) respectively. The diameter of sludge was enlarged with the addition of mannitol (≤0.2 mmol L−1). The Tseng‐Wayman model was more suitable to simulate the whole SAD process. The modified logistic model, the modified Boltzman model and the modified Gompertz model were all appropriate to describe nitrogen removal in a typical cycle with the addition of mannitol.

CONCLUSION

Mannitol was effective in enhancing a SAD process treating saline wastewater, and maximum nitrogen removal was achieved at mannitol = 0.2 mmol L−1. The Tseng‐Wayman model satisfactorily predicted the whole SAD process treating saline wastewater with mannitol addition. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Using safe, affordable and accessible non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs to reduce the number of HIV target cells in the blood and at the female genital tract
Authors: Lajoie Julie , Birse Kenzie , Mwangi Lucy , Chen Yufei , Cheruiyot Juliana , Akolo Maureen , Mungai John , Boily‐Larouche Genevieve , Romas Laura , Mutch Sarah , Kimani Makobu , Oyugi Julius , Ho Emmanuel A , Burgener Adam , Kimani Joshua , Fowke Keith R
Published: July 2018

Introduction

At its basic level, HIV infection requires a replication‐competent virus and a susceptible target cell. Elevated levels of vaginal inflammation has been associated with the increased risk of HIV infection as it brings highly activated HIV target cells (CCR5+CD4+ T cells; CCR5+CD4+CD161+ Th17 T cells) to the female genital tract (FGT) where they interact with HIV. Decreased HIV risk has been associated with a phenotype of decreased immune activation, called immune quiescence, described among Kenyan female sex workers who were intensely exposed to HIV yet remain uninfected. Current prevention approaches focus on limiting viral access. We took the novel HIV prevention approach of trying to limit the number of HIV target cells in the genital tract by reducing inflammation using safe, affordable and globally accessible anti‐inflammatory drugs.

Methods

We hypothesized that the daily administration of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA 81 mg) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ 200 mg) would reduce inflammation thereby decreasing HIV target cells at the FGT. Low‐risk HIV seronegative women from Nairobi, Kenya were randomized for six weeks therapy of ASA (n = 37) or HCQ (n = 39) and tested to determine the impact on their systemic and mucosal immune environment.

Results

The results showed that HCQ use was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of systemic T cells that were CCR5+CD4+ (p = 0.01) and Th17 (p = 0.01). In the ASA arm, there was a 35% and 28% decrease in the proportion of genital T cells that were CD4+CCR5+ (p = 0.017) and Th17 (p = 0.04) respectively. Proteomic analyses of the cervical lavage showed ASA use was associated with significantly reduced amount of proteins involved in the inflammatory response and cell recruitment at the mucosa, although none of the individual proteins passed multiple comparison correction. These changes were more apparent in women with Lactobacillus dominant microbiomes.

Conclusion

Together, these data indicate that taking low‐dose ASA daily was associated with significant reduction in HIV target cells at the FGT. This study provides proof‐of‐concept for a novel HIV‐prevention approach that reducing inflammation using safe, affordable and globally accessible non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory agents is associated with significant reduction in the proportion of HIV‐target cells at the FGT.
Factors controlling evaporation and the CO2 flux over an open water lake in southwest of China on multiple temporal scales
Authors: Du Qun , Liu Hui Zhi , Liu Yang , Wang Lei , Xu Lu Jun , Sun Ji Hua , Xu An Lun
Published: July 2018

Interactions between lakes and the atmosphere are poorly understood, especially for lakes in highland areas. A better understanding of the physical processes controlling turbulent exchange dynamics over lakes is crucial to improve the numerical modelling of the lake–climate interaction. Four years of continuous measurements of energy and CO2 fluxes are conducted over a shallow highland lake (Lake Erhai) in China using eddy covariance (EC) technique from 2012 to 2015. It is found that the latent heat flux (LE) and sensible heat flux (H) has distinct diurnal and seasonal variations. The diurnal H and LE ranges from −31 to 21 W/m2 and from 31 to 171 W/m2, respectively. The heat is stored in the lake from January to June and released from July to the end of the year. The annual total evaporation of Lake Erhai varies from 1120.8 to 1228.5 mm/a, which is always higher than the annual total precipitation. On diurnal scale, the CO2 uptake is observed during most of the midday period. On an annual scale, the Lake Erhai behaves as a net CO2 source, with an annual CO2 budget ranging from 117.5 to 161.7 g C m−2 a−1. The temperature difference (ΔT) between the water surface (T
s) and the air temperature (T
a), and the product of ΔT and wind speed (U) are the major drivers of H from half‐hourly to monthly scale. The main factors controlling LE are U and the product of U and the vapour pressure difference (VPD) on half‐hourly and daily scales, the total cloud cover, and net radiation (R
n) on the monthly scale. Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and U has a close relationship with half‐hourly and daily CO2 fluxes, respectively, while annual precipitation and T
s has a larger effect on annual CO2 fluxes.
Attachment and colonization of Salmonella on ‘Rayada’, ‘Golden Delicious’, and ‘Red Delicious’ apples
Authors: González‐López Carmen , Martínez‐Peniche Ramón A , Iturriaga Montserrat H , Arvizu‐Medrano Sofía M
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Fruits and vegetables have been associated with outbreaks of disease in different countries. The apple (Malus domestica Borkh) and its products have been reported as vehicles for illness outbreaks. To create strategies to prevent pathogen survival it is necessary to understand how pathogens persist on fruit. This paper assessed the ability of Salmonella to attach to, and to colonize, the surface of three apple cultivars: ‘Rayada’, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Red Delicious’.

RESULTS

Salmonella was able to colonize and generate biofilms on the surface of apples with a soil suspension as the only source of nutrients. Significant differences in Salmonella attachment were seen among the three cultivars of apple studied. Using SEM, attached cells and the formation of exopolysaccharides and biofilms on the three apple cultivars were demonstrated. In all cultivars, the development of Salmonella was only seen in apples stored at 15 and 22 °C, with average increases in the population of 1.4 and 2.3 Log CFU/apple, respectively. At 5 °C, Salmonella growth was inhibited.

CONCLUSION

Salmonella can colonize apple surfaces under environmental conditions (relative humidity, temperature and nutrients) occurring in primary apple production. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Visualization and application of amino acid retention coefficients obtained from modeling of peptide retention
Authors: Mohammed Yassene , Palmblad Magnus
Published: July 2018

We introduce a method for data inspection in liquid separations of peptides using amino acid retention coefficients and their relative change across experiments. Our method allows for the direct comparison between actual experimental conditions, regardless of sample content and without the use of internal standards. The modeling uses linear regression of peptide retention time as a function of amino acid composition. We demonstrate the pH dependency of the model in a control experiment where the pH of the mobile phase was changed in controlled way. We introduce a score to identify the false discovery rate on peptide spectrum match level that corresponds to the set of most robust models, i.e. to maximize the shared agreement between experiments. We demonstrate the method utility in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography using 24 datasets with minimal peptide overlap. We apply our method on datasets obtained from a public repository representing various separation designs, including one‐dimensional reversed‐phase liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry, and two‐dimensional online strong cation exchange coupled to reversed‐phase liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry, and highlight new insights. Our method provides a simple yet powerful way to inspect data quality, in particular for multidimensional separations, improving comparability of data at no additional experimental cost.
Rapid determination of hexavalent chromium in textiles by a novel ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate derivatization combined with UHPLC–MS/MS
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Xian Yanping , Li Hui , Huang Bo‐xi , Liang Ming , Chen Jiefeng
Published: July 2018

Hexavalent chromium is mainly determined by traditional spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, and ion chromatography methods. In the present work, a reliable ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was firstly developed for the determination of hexavalent chromium in textiles. The sample was extracted by acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer solution and followed by derivatization with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. The resulting derivative product was extracted by ethyl acetate, separated on a C18 column, and detected through electrospray ionization source in the positive mode with multiple reaction monitoring conditions. The derivatization reaction conditions were investigated and optimized. The developed method was validated in terms of the sensitivity, linearity range, matrix effects, recovery, accuracy, intra‐ and interday precision. Results showed that the calibration curves of pure solvent and matrix were linear over the selected concentration ranges of 0.1–20.0 μg/L. The achieved instrument and method limit of quantification were 0.1 and 40.0 μg/kg, respectively. Recoveries were calculated at three spiked concentrations and the values were between 92.2 and 103% with relative standard deviation values of 2.7–4.9% for intra‐day precision and 6.1% for inter‐day precision. Successful analysis of hexavalent chromium in practical textiles indicated that there was hexavalent chromium contamination in textiles.
A pH‐Responsive Biodegradable High‐Strength Hydrogel as Potential Gastric Resident Filler
Authors: Wu Tengling , Xu Ziyang , Zhang Yinyu , Wang Hongbo , Cui Chunyan , Chang Binge , Feng Xuequan , Liu Wenguang
Published: July 2018

In this study, a pH‐responsive biodegradable high‐strength hydrogel [poly(2‐vinyl‐4,6‐diamino‐1,3,5‐triazine) (PVDT)‐methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)] is synthesized by copolymerization of hydrogen bonding monomer 2‐vinyl‐4,6‐diamino‐1,3,5‐triazine (VDT) and GelMA. The PVDT‐GelMA hydrogel exhibits up to 1.87 MPa tensile stress, 420% breaking strain, 7.24 MPa Young's modulus, and 13.9 MPa compressive strength at 80% strain at pH 7.4, and declines sharply in mechanical performance at pH 1.2 due to the breakup of hydrogen bonding. The strength that the PVDT‐GelMA hydrogel maintains in an acid medium is still superior to that of gastric pressure. This hydrogel can be completely degraded in simulated gastric fluid owing to the synergistic effect of acid swelling and enzymolysis. In a rabbit model experiment, the PVDT‐GelMA hydrogel can reside in the stomach for about 48 h, and no in vivo toxicity is detected in its metabolites, showing an appealing potential as a gastric filler or depot for bariatric interventions and drug delivery.
Development of a common platform for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of X‐linked diseases
Authors: Jang Se Song , Lim Byung Chan , Yoo Seong‐Keun , Shin Jong‐Yeon , Seo Jeong‐Sun , Hwang Doyeong , Yoo Ki‐Young , Chae Jong Hee , Kim Jong‐Il
Published: July 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop a common targeted massively parallel sequencing platform for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of multiple X‐linked diseases.

Method

The custom capture probe was designed to target 33 genes and recombination hotspots. We tested the carrier mother and male proband pair of 6 families. Plasma DNA of the pregnant carrier mother was collected at different gestational weeks and sequenced. The fetal genotype of each family was determined by estimating the imbalance between the 2 maternal haplotypes constructed using a common custom‐designed platform.

Results

The targeted sequencing of the maternal, proband, and fetal genomic DNAs and maternal plasma DNAs resulted in uniform coverage across the target region. Three to 5 recombination points were observed in each sample. However, these recombination points did not affect the haplotype dosage analysis for fetal genotype prediction. Consequently, all fetal genotypes in the 6 families obtained from haplotype dosage analysis of maternal plasma sequencing data were predicted correctly.

Conclusions

Since a single platform that covers multiple diseases may prevent the need for disease‐specific probes for the NIPD of individual disorders, this approach may provide a practical advantage for clinically implementing the NIPD of X‐linked diseases.
Oregon's Familias en Acción replicates benefits for underserved cancer co‐survivors through Un Abrazo Para la Familia
Authors: Marshall Catherine A. , Curran Melissa A. , Brownmiller Gail , Solarte Ambar , Armin Julie , Hamann Heidi A. , Crist Janice D. , Niemelä Mika , Badger Terry A. , Weihs Karen L.
Published: July 2018

Objective

Our goal in this study was to determine if we could replicate initial findings when providing the intervention, Un Abrazo Para La Familia (“Abrazo”). Abrazo is a community‐focused psychoeducational preventive intervention addressing the cancer information and coping needs of low‐income, underserved family members of cancer survivors, developed and first implemented in Tucson, Arizona.

Methods

We used a preintervention and postintervention evaluation design to assess the effectiveness of replicating the Abrazo intervention with underserved Hispanic/Latino family members facing cancer as co‐survivors. We describe lessons learned in an expansion of Abrazo from one region of the United States to another.

Results

Portland promotoras demonstrated that when the Abrazo intervention is provided via a culturally congruent, accessible format, the significant gains in cancer knowledge and self‐efficacy reported by underserved co‐survivors can be replicated. This is important because Oregon represents a US region different from Abrazo's origins in the Southwest.

Conclusion

Our replication study provides a useful roadmap for others focusing on the psychosocial needs of Hispanic/Latino cosurviving family members of cancer. A manualized 12‐hour training program based on the initial discovery and efficacy work was developed to train promotoras as a part of this study. The manual provides a clear protocol for others to replicate our intervention and evaluation procedures. Abrazo may be particularly important for family‐centered care if the family does not have the cancer knowledge or self‐confidence needed to fully participate.
Spinning Mellin Bootstrap: Conformal Partial Waves, Crossing Kernels and Applications
Authors: Sleight Charlotte , Taronna Massimo
Published: July 2018

We study conformal partial waves (CPWs) in Mellin space with totally symmetric external operators of arbitrary integer spin. The exchanged spin is arbitrary, and includes mixed symmetry and (partially)‐conserved representations. In a basis of CPWs recently introduced in arXiv:1702.08619, we find a remarkable factorisation of the external spin dependence in their Mellin representation. This property allows a relatively straightforward study of inversion formulae to extract OPE data from the Mellin representation of spinning 4pt correlators and in particular, to extract closed‐form expressions for crossing kernels of spinning CPWs in terms of the hypergeometric function 4F3. We consider numerous examples involving both arbitrary internal and external spins, and for both leading and sub‐leading twist operators. As an application, working in general d we extract new results for anomalous dimensions of double‐trace operators induced by double‐trace deformations constructed from single‐trace operators of generic twist and integer spin. In particular, we extract the anomalous dimensions of double‐trace operators with a single‐trace operator of integer spin J.
Comments on Rigid and Local Supercurrents in Minimal Supergravity
Authors: Ferrara Sergio , Samsonyan Marine , Tournoy Magnus , Van Proeyen Antoine
Published: July 2018

We discuss local supercurrents as sources of the super‐Einstein equations in the superconformal approach in the old and new minimal (auxiliary fields) formulation. Modifications of the Ward identity giving the covariant divergence of the Einstein multiplet are considered in presence of a Fayet–Iliopoulos term. Curvature multiplets can be used as alternative to the gravitino variation in the search for rigid supersymmetric curved backgrounds.
Grower adoption of insecticide resistance management practices increase with extension‐based program
Authors: Leach Ashley B , Hoepting Christine A , Nault Brian A
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Insecticide resistance management (IRM) practices that improve the sustainability of agricultural production systems are developed, but few studies address the challenges with their implementation and success rates of adoption. This study examined the effectiveness of a voluntary, extension‐based program to increase grower adoption of IRM practices for onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) in onion. The program sought to increase the use of two important IRM practices: rotating classes of insecticides during the growing season and applying insecticides following an action threshold.

RESULTS

Onion growers (n = 17) increased their adoption of both IRM practices over the 3‐year study. Growers increased use of insecticide class rotation from 76% to 100% and use of the action threshold for determining whether to apply insecticides from 57% to 82%. Growers who always used action thresholds successfully controlled onion thrips infestations, applied significantly fewer insecticide applications (one to four fewer applications) and spent $148/ha less on insecticides compared with growers who rarely used the action threshold. Growers who regularly used action thresholds and rotated insecticide classes did so because they were primarily concerned about insecticide resistance development in thrips populations.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the IRM education program was successful, as adoption rates of both practices increased within 3 years. Growers were surprisingly most receptive to adopting these practices to mitigate insecticide resistance as opposed to saving money. Developing extension‐based programs that involve regular and interactive meetings with growers may significantly increase the adoption of IRM and related integrated pest management tactics. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Paeoniflorin protects against liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice via inhibiting HMGB1‐TLR4 signaling pathway
Authors: Xie Tianjun , Li Ke , Gong Xia , Jiang Rong , Huang Wenya , Chen Xiahong , Tie Hongtao , Zhou Qin , Wu Shengwang , Wan Jingyuan , Wang Bin
Published: July 2018

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality after liver resection, transplantation, and hemorrhagic shock. Paeoniflorin (PF), the main substance of glucosides in Radix Paeoniae Alba, has been widely used to treat various hepatic inflammatory diseases including I/R injury. However, the underlying mechanisms of PF on hepatic I/R injury remain further investigated. In this study, the liver I/R model was performed by clamping the portal vein and hepatic artery with an atraumatic clamp for 90 min followed by 6 hr reperfusion. PF (100 mg/kg) was given three times a day by gavage before I/R. The blood and hepatic samples were collected to evaluate liver injury and molecular indexes. The results showed that PF pretreatment significantly inhibited I/R‐induced serum ALT and AST activities (40.3% and 53.8% those of I/R group, respectively), hepatic pathological damages and hepatic apoptosis (P < 0.01), and infiltration of neutrophils into liver. In addition, PF suppressed the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.01), decreased the expression of high mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1), and down‐regulated toll‐like receptors 4 (TLR4) and phosphorylated ERK1/2, JNK1/2, p38, and NF‐κB signal molecules expression in the I/R‐operated mice. These findings indicated that PF played a protective role in liver I/R injury, and this protection was associated with inhibition of I/R‐activated HMGB1‐TLR4 signaling pathway to attenuate hepatic inflammation responses.
Pd2+‐Loaded Magnetic Nanoassembly Formed by Magnetite Nanoparticles Crosslinked with Poly(acrylic acid) via Amide Bonds for Catalyzing Mizoroki‐Heck Coupling Reaction
Authors: Rathod Prakash B. , AjishKumar K. S. , Chappa Sankararao , Debnath Anil K. , Pandey Ashok K. , Athawale Anjali A.
Published: July 2018

The nano‐gel like aggregates consisting of Fe3O4@PAA−Pd(II) has been formed by interparticle crosslinking via amide bonds. The chemical and physical structures and superparamagnetic properties of thus formed Fe3O4@PAA−Pd(II) have been characterized. The catalytic activity of the Fe3O4@PAA−Pd(II) in 22 different examples of Mizoroki‐Heck coupling reactions has been found to be excellent under solvent free condition in the presence of base at 100 0C. The turn over number and turn over frequency of Fe3O4@PAA−Pd(II) are found to be 304787 and 67730 h−1, respectively, with no significant deterioration of catalytic activity after five successive cycles of the catalyst. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to understand the mechanism and changes in the catalyst during reaction. However, the reaction of chlorobenzene, bromobenzene and substituted iodo compounds such as p‐iodophenol, p‐iodobenzoic acid with acrylates/acrylamides are not successful in the presence of Fe3O4@PAA−Pd(II) suggesting that the reaction with acidic substrates and substrates, prone to deprotonation, are not suitable for the above transformation with the optimized reaction conditions used for aryl iodide.
Metal Halide Perovskites: Synthesis, Ion Migration, and Application in Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Liu Xuhai , Yu Dejian , Song Xiufeng , Zeng Haibo
Published: July 2018

The past several years have witnessed tremendous developments of metal halide perovskite (MHP)‐based optoelectronics. Particularly, the intensive research of MHP‐based light‐emitting diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells could probably reform the optoelectronic semiconductor industry. In comparison, in spite of the large intrinsic charge carrier mobility of MHPs, the development of MHP‐based field‐effect transistors (MHP‐FETs) is relatively slow, which is essentially due to the gate‐field screening effect induced by the ion migration and accumulation in MHP‐FETs. This work mainly aims to summarize the recent important work on MHP‐FETs and propose solutions in terms of the development bottleneck of perovskite‐based transistors, in an attempt to boost the research of MHP transistors further. First, the advantages and potential applications of MHP‐FETs are briefly introduced, which is followed by a detailed description of the MHP crystalline structure and various material fabrication techniques. Afterward, MHP‐FETs are discussed, including transistors based on hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites, all‐inorganic perovskites, and lead‐free perovskites.
Flexible Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Mixed‐Matrix Membranes: A New Platform for H2S Sensors
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhang Qi , Yue Dan , Zhang Jun , Wang Jintong , Li Bin , Yang Yu , Cui Yuanjing , Qian Guodong
Published: July 2018

Metal–organic framework (MOF)–polymer mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) have shown great potential and superior performance in gas separations. However, their sensing application has not been fully established yet. Herein, a rare example of using flexible MOF‐based MMMs as a fluorescent turn‐on sensor for the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is reported. These MOF‐based MMMs are readily prepared by mixing a highly stable aluminum‐based nano‐MOF (Al‐MIL‐53‐NO2) into poly(vinylidene fluoride) with high loadings up to 70%. Unlike the intrinsic fragility and poor processability of pure‐MOF membranes, these MMMs exhibit desirable flexibility and processability that are more suitable for practical sensing applications. The uniform distribution of Al‐MIL‐53‐NO2 particles combined with the permanent pores of MOFs enable these MMMs to show good water permeation flux and consequently have a full contact between the analyte and MOFs. The developed MMM sensor (70% MOF loading) thus shows a highly remarkable detection selectivity and sensitivity for H2S with an exceptionally low detection limit around 92.31 × 10−9m, three orders of magnitude lower than the reported powder‐form MOFs. This work demonstrates that it is feasible to develop flexible luminescent MOF‐based MMMs as a novel platform for chemical sensing applications.
Mutation operators for feature‐oriented software product lines
Authors: Krüger Jacob , Al‐Hajjaji Mustafa , Leich Thomas , Saake Gunter
Published: July 2018

Mutation testing is an approach to assess the quality of test cases. Mutants are modified versions of a system that ideally compose faulty behaviour. Test cases for a system are effective if they kill these mutants. For software product lines, several works have addressed mutation testing to inject variability faults, which may only exist in some variants. These works focus on variability models or specific implementation techniques. In contrast, feature‐oriented programming has been rarely investigated, wherefore, we (1) derive corresponding mutation operators, (2) investigate the feasibility of our proposed and conventional operators on 4 software product lines, and (3) discuss open challenges in mutation testing of software product lines. The results show that our proposed operators are suitable to cause variability faults and extend the capabilities of conventional operators. Nonetheless, mutation testing of software product lines is comparably expensive, due to a high number of variants and mutants—resulting in equivalence and redundancy.
Understanding snow hydrological processes through the lens of stable water isotopes
Authors: Beria Harsh , Larsen Joshua R. , Ceperley Natalie Claire , Michelon Anthony , Vennemann Torsten , Schaefli Bettina
Published: July 2018

Snowfall may have different stable isotopic compositions compared with rainfall, allowing its contribution to potentially be tracked through the hydrological cycle. This review summarizes the state of knowledge of how different hydrometeorological processes affect the isotopic composition of snow in its different forms (snowfall, snowpack, and snowmelt), and, through selected examples, discusses how stable water isotopes can provide a better understanding of snow hydrological processes. A detailed account is given of how the variability in isotopic composition of snow changes from precipitation to final melting. The effect of different snow ablation processes (sublimation, melting, and redistribution by wind or avalanches) on the isotope ratios of the underlying snowpack are also examined. Insights into the role of canopy in snow interception processes, and how the isotopic composition in canopy underlying snowpacks can elucidate the exchanges therein are discussed, as well as case studies demonstrating the usefulness of stable water isotopes to estimate seasonality in the groundwater recharge. Rain‐on‐snow floods illustrate how isotopes can be useful to estimate the role of preferential flow during heavy spring rains. All these examples point to the complexity of snow hydrologic processes and demonstrate that an isotopic approach is useful to quantify snow contributions throughout the water cycle, especially in high‐elevation and high‐latitude catchments, where such processes are most pronounced. This synthesis concludes by tracing a snow particle along its entire hydrologic life cycle, highlights the major practical challenges remaining in snow hydrology and discusses future research directions.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Methods
Knowledge discovery for enabling smart Internet of Things: A survey
Authors: Misra Sudip , Mukherjee Anandarup , Roy Arijit
Published: July 2018

The use of knowledge discovery on the Internet of Things (IoT) and its allied domains is undeniably one of the most indispensable ones, which results in optimized placement architectures, efficient routing protocols, device energy savings, and enhanced security measures for the implementation. The absence of knowledge discovery in IoT results in just an implementation of large‐scale sensor networks, which generates a huge amount of data, and which needs, an often under‐optimized, processing for actionable outputs. In this survey, we explore various domains of IoT for which knowledge discovery is inseparable from the application, and show how it benefits the overall implementation of the IoT architecture.

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Knowledge Representation

Technologies > Machine Learning

Application Areas > Internet and Web‐Based Applications

Algorithmic Development > Spatial and Temporal Data Mining
Beyond a = c : gravitational couplings to matter and the stress tensor OPE
Authors: Meltzer David , Perlmutter Eric
Published: July 2018

Abstract

We derive constraints on the operator product expansion of two stress tensors in conformal field theories (CFTs), both generic and holographic. We point out that in large N CFTs with a large gap to single-trace higher spin operators, the stress tensor sector is not only universal, but isolated: that is,

$$ \left\langle TT\mathcal{O}\right\rangle =0 $$

T
T
O

=
0

, where

$$ \mathcal{O}\ne T $$

O
≠
T

is a single-trace primary. We show that this follows from a suppression of

$$ \left\langle TT\mathcal{O}\right\rangle $$

T
T
O

by powers of the higher spin gap, Δgap, dual to the bulk mass scale of higher spin particles, and explain why

$$ \left\langle TT\mathcal{O}\right\rangle $$

T
T
O

is a more sensitive probe of Δgap than a − c in 4d CFTs. This result implies that, on the level of cubic couplings, the existence of a consistent truncation to Einstein gravity is a direct consequence of the absence of higher spins. By proving similar behavior for other couplings

$$ \left\langle T{\mathcal{O}}_1{\mathcal{O}}_2\right\rangle $$

T

O
1

O
2

where

$$ {\mathcal{O}}_i $$

O
i

have spin s

i
≤ 2, we are led to propose that 1/Δgap is the CFT “dual” of an AdS derivative in a classical action. These results are derived by imposing unitarity on mixed systems of spinning four-point functions in the Regge limit. Using the same method, but without imposing a large gap, we derive new inequalities on these three-point couplings that are valid in any CFT. These are generalizations of the Hofman-Maldacena conformal collider bounds. By combining the collider bound on TT couplings to spin-2 operators with analyticity properties of CFT data, we argue that all three tensor structures of 〈TTT〉 in the free-field basis are nonzero in interacting CFTs.
Moduli identification methods in Type II compactifications
Authors: Gray James , Parsian Hadi
Published: July 2018

Abstract

Recent work on four dimensional effective descriptions of the heterotic string has identified the moduli of such systems as being given by kernels of maps between ordinary Dolbeault cohomology groups. The maps involved are defined by the supergravity data of the background solutions. Such structure is seen both in the case of Calabi-Yau compactifications with non-trivial constraints on moduli arising from the gauge bundle and in the case of some non-Kähler compactifications of the theory. This description of the moduli has allowed the explicit computation of the moduli stabilization effects of a wide range of non-trivial gauge bundles on Calabi-Yau three-folds. In this paper we examine to what extent the ideas and techniques used in this work can be extended to the case of flux compactifications of Type IIB string theory. Certain simplifications arise in the Type IIB case in comparison to the heterotic situation. However, complications also arise due to the richer supergravity data of the theory inducing a more involved map structure. We illustrate our discussion with several concrete examples of compactification of Type IIB string theory on conformal CICY three-folds with flux.
Differential decay rates of CP-even and CP-odd Higgs bosons to top and bottom quarks at NNLO QCD
Authors: Bernreuther Werner , Chen Long , Si Zong-Guo
Published: July 2018

Abstract

We consider the decay of a neutral Higgs boson of arbitrary CP nature to a massive quark antiquark pair at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD. Our analysis is made at the differential level using the antenna subtraction framework. We apply our general set-up to the decays of a CP-even and CP-odd heavy Higgs boson to a top-quark top-antiquark pair and to the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson to a massive bottom-quark bottom-antiquark pair. In the latter case we calculate, in particular, the two-jet, three-jet, and four-jet decay rates and, for two-jet events, the energy distribution of the leading jet.
Fitting flavour symmetries: the case of two-zero neutrino mass textures
Authors: Alcaide Julien , Salvado Jordi , Santamaria Arcadi
Published: July 2018

Abstract

We present a numeric method for the analysis of the fermion mass matrices predicted in flavour models. The method does not require any previous algebraic work, it offers a χ2 comparison test and an easy estimate of confidence intervals. It can also be used to study the stability of the results when the predictions are disturbed by small perturbations. We have applied the method to the case of two-zero neutrino mass textures using the latest available fits on neutrino oscillations, derived the available parameter space for each texture and compared them. Textures A
1 and A
2 seem favoured because they give a small χ2, allow for large regions in parameter space and give neutrino masses compatible with Cosmology limits. The other “allowed” textures remain allowed although with a very constrained parameter space, which, in some cases, could be in conflict with Cosmology. We have also revisited the “forbidden” textures and studied the stability of the results when the texture zeroes are not exact. Most of the forbidden textures remain forbidden, but textures F
1 and F
3 are particularly sensitive to small perturbations and could become allowed.