bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CO2capture enhancement for InOF-1: confinement of 2-propanol
Authors: Sánchez-Bautista Jonathan E. , Landeros-Rivera Bruno , Jurado-Vázquez Tamara , Martínez Ana , González-Zamora Eduardo , Balmaseda Jorge , Vargas Rubicelia , Ibarra Ilich A.
Published: March 2019

The confinement of small amounts of i-PrOH demonstrated and enhanced CO2capture for InOF-1 as a result of the bottleneck effect and the formation of essential hydrogen bonds.
Conjugated, rigidified bibenzimidazole ancillary ligands for enhanced photoluminescence quantum yields of orange/red-emitting iridium(iii) complexes
Authors: Henwood Adam F. , Antón-García Daniel , Morin Mégane , Rota Martir Diego , Cordes David B. , Casey Colin , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Lebl Tomas , Bühl Michael , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: March 2019

A family of six orange/red-emitting cationic iridium complexes were synthesized and their optoelectronic properties comprehensively characterized.
Slow magnetization dynamics in a six-coordinate Fe(ii)–radical complex
Authors: Michalowicz Carolyn A. , Mills Michelle B. , Song Ellen , Soldatov Dmitriy V. , Boyle Paul D. , Rouzières Mathieu , Clérac Rodolphe , Preuss Kathryn E.
Published: March 2019

A mononuclear 6-coordinatehs-Fe(ii)–radical complex exhibits single-molecule magnet behaviour.
Convenient construction of dibenzo[b,d]furanes and 2,6-diaryl-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyridines via domino reaction of pyridinium ylides with 2-aryl-3-nitrochromenes
Authors: Sun Jing , Jiang Wang , Yan Chao-Guo
Published: March 2019

The DBU promoted domino annulation reaction of 2-aryl-3-nitrochromenes with two molecular 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1-phenacylpyridinium bromides in DMF resulted in unprecedented 1-benzoyl-2,4-diaryldibenzo[b,d]furane derivatives in good yields.
Highly efficient hydrogen sensors based on Pd nanoparticles supported on boron nitride coated ZnO nanowires
Authors: Weber Matthieu , Kim Jin-Young , Lee Jae-Hyoung , Kim Jae-Hun , Iatsunskyi Igor , Coy Emerson , Miele Philippe , Bechelany Mikhael , Kim Sang Sub
Published: March 2019

High selectivity and sensitivity were measured using a novel type of sensor device, based on ZnO nanowires (NWs) coated with a thin layer of boron nitride (BN) decorated with palladium nanoparticles (NPs).
Dual phosphorescence from the organic and inorganic moieties of 1D hybrid perovskites of the Pbn′Br4n′+2 series (n′ = 2, 3, 4, 5)
Authors: Ben Haj Salah Maroua , Mercier Nicolas , Allain Magali , Zouari Nabil , Botta Chiara
Published: March 2019

1D hybrid perovskites show RTP from the organic and LT phosphorescence from the inorganic layer by complex energy transfer processes.
New insights into niclosamide action: autophagy activation in colorectal cancer
Authors: Newton Phillip T.
Published: March 2019

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world, with more than half a million new cases annually. Amongst the most promising new therapies, niclosamide—an FDA-approved drug for treating tapeworm infections—is being assessed in a stage II clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Despite this advanced stage of research, the underlying mechanisms behind its actions remain uncertain. Niclosamide reduces the growth of colorectal cancer cells by targeting several intracellular signalling pathways, including the β-catenin-dependent WNT signalling pathway. In a recent paper published in the Biochemical Journal [Biochem. J. (2019) 476, 535–546], Wang and colleagues revealed that niclosamide down-regulates β-catenin-dependent WNT signalling in colorectal cancer cells by degrading components of the pathway via autophagy. Autophagy is a catabolic process in which cellular macromolecules and organelles are recycled to their monomer units. This finding provides a further understanding of the actions of niclosamide upon colorectal cancer cells and may yield improved future treatment models for colorectal cancer patients.
Performance comparison and optimisation of dual mover linear permanent magnet flux switching machine
Authors: Ullah Noman , Khan Faisal , Basit Abdul , Ullah Wasiq , Shahzad Mohsin , Ahmad Tanvir , Khalid Usman
Published: March 2019

Short moving primary and rigid low‐cost secondary are important requirements of linear machines designed for long stroke applications. In the race, linear permanent magnet flux switching machine (LPMFSM) is a competitive candidate by confining excitation sources to short mover, thus making stator robust and low cost (made of only iron). However, single‐sided LPMFSM exhibit a demerit of high normal (attraction) force due to its topology. In order to rectify the problem and enhance thrust force profile, two novel double‐sided LPMFSMs are proposed with dual stator and dual mover topologies. After stator pole study, both topologies with same design dimensions are analysed and compared by 2‐D finite element method here. Detailed analysis revealed that 12/14 DMLPMFSM exhibit low numerical values of thrust force ripples and detent force while maintaining average thrust force value. Hence, 12/14 DMLPMFSM is selected and optimised by structure‐based deterministic optimisation (SBDO) approach to further enhance thrust force profile. Finally, comparison of initial and optimised design of 12/14 DMLPMFSM is presented to validate optimisation procedure.
Effect of inertia heterogeneity on frequency dynamics of low‐inertia power systems
Authors: Adrees Atia , Milanović J.V. , Mancarella Pierluigi
Published: March 2019

Based on fundamental dynamic simulation principles and illustrative case studies, this study aims to identify key changes in the dynamic behaviour of the system due to the high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) affecting frequency dynamics and provide guidelines for performing frequency stability analysis in low‐inertia power systems with a large penetration of RES. First, a critical comparison of the frequency responses obtained using a system equivalent model and a detailed dynamic model following an active power disturbance are presented. It is then demonstrated, using detailed dynamic models of two multi‐area systems, such that when the proportion of RES prevails over the share of synchronous generator (SG), the dynamic coupling among areas (even separated by short‐medium length lines) reduces and the inertia of the system should be considered as heterogeneous instead of a global parameter. Following this, the study discusses how frequency dynamics may be strongly and complexly affected by the physical characteristics of converter‐connected generation leading to increased frequency and voltage interactions when the proportion of converter connected RES becomes greater than SG. The resulting changes in the system's dynamic behaviour due to frequency and voltage interactions can increase the actual active power imbalance size following a credible contingency so that careful considerations to protect the system against an excessively high rate of change of frequency should be made. In order to evaluate the extent of this change in system dynamic behaviour, an appropriate dynamic model of the network should be used with adequate multi‐area representation of RES and loads.
Analytical compensation of harmonics caused by 60° flat‐top modulation
Authors: Futo Andras , Varjasi Istvan , Vajk Istvan , Jardan Rafael K.
Published: March 2019

The 60° Flat‐Top PWM modulation method (also called DPWM1, two‐phase, or 60° bus‐clamp) is widely used by the industry to reduce switching losses in three‐phase inverters by connecting one of the three‐phase legs to the positive or the negative DC rail continuously for 60°of the fundamental period. It is widely known that – compared to the most used SVM modulation – the Flat‐Top modulation increases switching frequency current components. The actual amount is highly dependent on the modulation index. It is a lesser known fact that – at each switch‐over happening at every 60°, because of the change of the phase in the switching frequency current component – low‐order harmonics are produced as well. The effect of these can become especially significant, if one of the produced frequencies falls near to the resonant frequency of the LC or LCL filter. A modification of the original Flat‐Top method has been developed, that corrects the duty ratios around the edges of the zero‐sequence voltage signal. This way the filtered output voltage remains sinusoidal, while keeping the efficiency advantage of the Flat‐Top. Experimental results on two different inverters show that the novel method significantly decreases the current THD.
Health condition assessment of wind turbine generators based on supervisory control and data acquisition data
Authors: Li Junqing , Li Qiujia , Zhu Jianguo
Published: March 2019

As the running time of a wind turbine generator unit (WTGU) increases, the ageing and wear of its components will be aggravated gradually, which leads to deterioration of its operation condition. In order to ensure the safe and stable operation of WTGU and prolong its service life, it is of great significance to know the health condition of the WTGU and reasonably arrange maintenance. Based on the structure of the WTGU and the operation principle of the wind turbine generator (WTG), the condition assessment indexes of WTG were built, and the factors influencing the assessment index were determined. The relationship function between the assessment indexes and their influencing factors was established by using the least square support vector machine, which was used to determine the dynamic limitation of condition assessment index of WTG. The dynamic weight of each assessment index was used to characterise the influence of deterioration degree of different components on WTG conditions. Then the health conditions of WTG were evaluated using a similar cloud and fuzzy comprehensive assessment method separately. Finally, the proposed methods were verified by two examples including a direct‐drive permanent magnet wind generator and a doubly‐fed wind generator.
Identification of a time‐varying intracellular signalling model through data clustering and parameter selection: application to NF‐ B signalling pathway induced by LPS in the presence of BFA
Authors: Lee Dongheon , Jayaraman Arul , Sang‐Il Kwon Joseph
Published: March 2019

Developing a model for a signalling pathway requires several iterations of experimentation and model refinement to obtain an accurate model. However, the implementation of such an approach to model a signalling pathway induced by a poorly‐known stimulus can become labour intensive because only limited information on the pathway is available beforehand to formulate an initial model. Therefore, a large number of iterations are required since the initial model is likely to be erroneous. In this work, a numerical scheme is proposed to construct a time‐varying model for a signalling pathway induced by a poorly‐known stimulus when its nominal model is available in the literature. Here, the nominal model refers to one that describes the signalling dynamics under a well‐characterised stimulus. First, global sensitivity analysis is implemented on the nominal model to identify the most important parameters, which are assumed to be piecewise constants. Second, measurement data are clustered to determine temporal subdomains where the parameters take different values. Finally, a least‐squares problem is solved to estimate the parameter values in each temporal subdomain. The effectiveness of this approach is illustrated by developing a time‐varying model for NF‐ B signalling dynamics induced by lipopolysaccharide in the presence of brefeldin A.
Synthesis of Pt–Sn nanoalloy catalysts with enhanced performance in the dehydrogenation of propane
Authors: Ma Zhanhua , Jiang Aijing , Li Shuai , Li Jun , Sun Lanyi , An Changhua
Published: March 2019

Platinum–tin (Pt–Sn) nanoalloy catalyst supported on Al2O3 was prepared by carbonylation–impregnation method. The catalyst was characterised by means of nitrogen adsorption–desorption, X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope, showing the existence of Pt and Sn as Pt3 Sn alloy. The analysis of particle size distribution revealed that Pt–Sn nanoparticles have high dispersion and narrow particle size distribution with an average diameter of 1.7 ± 0.4 nm. Its catalytic performance toward propane dehydrogenation was also investigated. The propane dehydrogenation reaction showed that the as‐prepared Pt–Sn/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited good dehydrogenation performance with the conversion of 27.1% and propylene selectivity of 93.3% after reacting 12 h owing to the close interaction between Pt and Sn components. Coke deposition of the used catalyst was characterised by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis method, revealing most of the carbon was on the surface of the support, which meant that more active sites to be accessible to maintain catalytic stability.
Integrated vendor–buyer strategies for imperfect production systems with maintenance and warranty policy
Authors: Khanna Aditi , Gautam Prerna , Sarkar Biswajit , Jaggi Chandra K.
Published: March 2019

Collaboration has evolved as a key component of many modern supply chains, supporting the competitive advantages of companies in a range of operations from manufacturing to sales. With this viewpoint, the present paper develops an integrated inventory model in which manufacturing is carried out at the vendor’s end so as to fulfill demand at the buyer’s doorway. As the production process is presumed to be imperfect it shifts from an “in-control” state to “out-of-control” state at any random time and yields non-conforming items. The vendor uses regular preventive maintenance actions for the efficient operation of the production system and offers free minimal repair warranty on the products sold to the buyer. Along with preventive maintenance actions the vendor also uses the rework process and restoration process as effective steps towards minimizing the imperfections of the production system. The proposed model solves the non-linear cost minimization problem through a generalized reduced gradient method by using Lingo 15.0. The aim is to jointly optimize the order size, backorder size and the number of shipments in order to minimize the integrated cost of the vendor and the buyer. Numerical analysis and sensitivity analysis is performed on key parameters that render some important supervisory insights.
„Geht denn das noch zu verarbeiten?“ Familienorientierte
Psychotherapie mit Angehörigen von Sterbenskranken und
Trauernden
Authors: Haagen Miriam
Published: March 2019

Der bevorstehende Tod eines nahen Angehörigen oder ein bereits eingetretener
Verlust eines Familienmitglieds durch Tod ist häufig Anlass für Erstgespräche in
der Psychotherapie. In manchen Fällen liegen die Verluste schon Jahre zurück, in
anderen nur Tage oder Wochen. Ein Überblick über die Möglichkeiten, Betroffene
familienorientiert in Palliativ- und Trauersituationen zu begleiten.
Selbstwert und Ressourcen am Lebensende
Authors: Welsch Katja , Gottschling Sven
Published: March 2019

Das Lebensende stellt viele Menschen vor besondere Herausforderungen, unabhängig
davon, ob das Sterben einer Erkrankung oder dem „normalen“ Altersprozess
geschuldet ist. Physische und psychische Verluste führen häufig zu einer
Beeinträchtigung des Selbstwerts. Ziel einer Begleitung am Lebensende ist daher
oft die Stärkung des Selbstwertgefühls und die Öffnung des Blickes für neue bzw.
reaktivierbare Ressourcen.
Ist Sterben krankheitswertig? Zur Rolle von Psychotherapie
am Lebensende
Authors: Broda Michael , Wilms Bettina
Published: March 2019

Psychotherapie hat das Ziel, Menschen in eine bessere Befindlichkeit, stabilere
Gesundheit oder unbelastetere psychische Situation zu begleiten. Dabei sind
Themen wie Sterben und Tod meist nicht vorgesehen. Der Unterschied zur
traditionellen Psychotherapie ist dabei, dass keine Pathologie oder Störung
behandelt wird, sondern sich Betroffene und TherapeutInnen einem Prozess stellen
müssen, der zu dem Unbegreiflichsten gehört, dem wir im Leben begegnen.
Der Tod und die Psychotherapie Schwierigkeiten und Chancen
eines nahen Verhältnisses
Authors: Vogel Ralf T.
Published: March 2019

Seit Beginn der Psychotherapie als eigenständiger Disziplin besteht eine enge
Verknüpfung mit dem Todesthema. Diese zeigt sich zum einen in der oft
diskutierten Sichtweise auf psychopathologische Symptome als Folge
dysfunktionaler Umgangsweisen mit Endlichkeit, Sterblichkeit und Tod. Zum andern
ergeben sich bei aufmerksamer Beachtung der Anspielungen auf mit Tod und Sterben
assoziierte Themen Chancen zu Bewusstwerdung und Aufarbeitung bedeutsamer
Themen.
Begleitung auf dem letzten Weg – Informationen aus dem
Internet
Authors: Tränkner Johanna
Published: March 2019

Beim Thema „Auseinandersetzung mit dem Lebensende“ ist nicht eindeutig geregelt,
in welcher Form Hilfesuchende von unserem Gesundheitssystem unterstützt werden
können. Nicht selten begleiten Menschen in der Konfrontation mit dem Thema Tod
und Endlichkeit psychische Belastungen. Im Folgenden sollen einige qualifizierte
Internetquellen genannt werden, die sich diesen Themen aus Sicht von Betroffenen
und Experten widmen.
Fallbericht Ängste und Zwänge – „Ich habe ständig Angst,
etwas falsch zu machen“
Authors: Huber Christina , Köllner Volker , Michels Torsten , Freymann Gabriele
Published: March 2019

Eine 38-jährige Patientin leidet bereits seit 20 Jahren an großer Unruhe,
Schlafproblemen, Ängsten und Zwangshandlungen. Da die Symptomatik
kontinuierlich stärker wird, sucht sie auf Initiative ihres Hausarztes nun
zum ersten Mal in ihrem Leben eine psychotherapeutische Behandlung
auf.
Elektronische Patientenakte: Kommt endlich Bewegung ins Spiel?
Authors: Ekkernkamp Axel
Published: March 2019

Kommt jetzt durch politischen Druck neuer Schwung in die Einführung einer flächendeckenden elektronischen Patientenakte? Noch immer ist sie kein wesentlicher Bestandteil des Datenmanagements im deutschen Gesundheitswesen. Das betrifft sowohl die arztgeführte Krankenakte in Kliniken als auch – und besonders – die Gesundheitsakte, bei der die Versicherten die Datenhoheit über Vorerkrankungen, Arztbriefe oder Diagnostikdaten haben. Dabei könnte die ePA für hohe Effizienz bei allen Leistungserbringern sorgen, zudem Bürokratie und Papierflut deutlich eindämmen. Und: Mit der ePA steigt die Behandlungsqualität messbar, die Patientensicherheit wird erheblich erhöht.
Gematik-Struktur: Digitaler „Übergriff“
Authors: Kohrs Jens
Published: March 2019

Ein weiterer Änderungsantrag zum TSVG birgt brisanten Zündstoff: Jens Spahn will bei der Gematik das Ruder übernehmen. Um die Digitalisierung zu beschleunigen, soll der Staat künftig 51 Prozent der Anteile halten. Das treibt viele Akteure der Selbstverwaltung auf die Barrikaden.
Elektronische Akten: Nutzung ohne Gewähr?
Authors: Doelfs Guntram
Published: March 2019

An der sicheren Nutzung elektronischer Patientendaten wird sich entscheiden, wie schnell die Digitalisierung in deutschen Kliniken vorankommt. Nachdem IT-Experten auf dem „35C3“ Chaos Communication Congress enorme Sicherheitspannen offenlegten, ist die Branche verschnupft – und der Patient noch mehr verunsichert.
An Efficient and Reusable Multifunctional Composite Magnetic Nanocatalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation
Authors: Hu Yu , Yao Nan , Tan Jin , Liu Yang
Published: March 2019

A range of multifunctional magnetic metal–organic framework nanomaterials consisting of various mass ratios of the metal–organic framework MIL-53(Fe) and magnetic SiO2@NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were designed, prepared, characterized, and evaluated as heterogeneous catalysts for the Knoevenagel condensation. The as-fabricated nanomaterials, especially the nanocatalyst MIL-53(Fe)@SiO2@NiFe2O4(1.0), showed good catalytic performance in the Knoevenagel condensation at room temperature as a result of synergistic interaction between the Lewis acid iron sites of MIL-53(Fe) and the active sites of the magnetic SiO2@NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. In addition, the heterogeneous catalyst was readily recovered and a recycling test showed that it could be reused for five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity, making it economical and environmentally friendly.
Efficiency enhancement of polyfluorene: Polystyrene blend light-emitting diodes by simultaneous trap dilution and β-phase formation
Authors: Khodabakhshi Elham , Blom Paul W. M. , Michels Jasper J.
Published: March 2019

By diluting poly(dioctylfluorene) (PFO) with low molecular weight polystyrene (PS), electron trapping and trap-assisted recombination can be strongly suppressed. For polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) consisting of a PFO:PS (1:3) blend, a doubling of the efficiency is expected owing to trap dilution. Experimentally, we observe a much larger efficiency increase of nearly an order of magnitude. The electroluminescence and photoluminescence spectra of the PFO:PS blend show a sharpening of the vibrational peaks with regard to pristine PFO with the emission maximum at 436 nm. This spectral feature is characteristic of the formation of the β-phase in PFO upon PS addition. From the analysis of the absorption spectra, the fraction of the β-phase induced by blending typically amounts to 13%. The strong PLED efficiency enhancement therefore arises from the combined effect of β-phase formation (∼4 times) and trap dilution (∼2 times).
Salt-induced swelling transitions of a lamellar amphiphile—Polyelectrolyte complex
Authors: Thomas Meera , Swamynathan K. , Raghunathan V. A.
Published: March 2019

We report salt-induced swelling transitions of a lamellar complex of the anionic polyelectrolyte, poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) (PAANa), and the cationic amphiphile, didodecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). Increasing the concentration of NaCl in the solution is found to lead to a collapsed → swollen → collapsed transition of the complex. The swelling transition is driven by an abrupt increase in PAANa adsorption on DDAC bilayers above a threshold salt concentration. The lamellar periodicity of the swollen phase is not determined by the thickness of the adsorption layer, and additional mechanisms have to be invoked to understand the extent of its swelling. The swelling transition is not observed for the highest molecular weight of PAANa used, but a gradual transformation between the two collapsed structures is seen on increasing the salt concentration. The polyelectrolyte chains desorb from the bilayers at a very high salt concentration, in a process similar to the well-known destabilization of complexes of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. However, unlike the PAANa chains, the polymer-free bilayers do not disperse uniformly in the solution. Instead, they form a collapsed lamellar stack containing very little water due to the van der Waals attraction between them. The occurrence of an abrupt swelling transition at intermediate salt concentrations in this system contrasts sharply with the gradual swelling reported in other complexes with increasing salt concentration. Furthermore, this behavior does not seem to have been anticipated by theories of complexation of oppositely charged macroions. More experiments are required for a clear understanding of the interactions stabilizing the different phases observed in this system.
Positron diffusion enhances the accumulation effect in small particles embedded in a low-density matrix
Authors: Dryzek Jerzy
Published: March 2019

This report considers the mathematical model of positron’s behavior in a system consisting of small particles embedded in a matrix. It takes into account their initial distribution after the slowing down process, random walk, and finally annihilation. The theoretical results are compared with the results obtained from an experiment in which positron lifetime measurements were carried out for samples consisting of nickel particles of various diameters embedded in an epoxy resin. The model well describes the measurements extracted from the probability of positron annihilation in particles, as a function of their volume fraction. Based on these results, it was possible to determine the parameter characterizing the accumulation effect in this system and to estimate the positron diffusion length in the matrix. The model can be useful in studying, using positron annihilation techniques, polymer composites with particles and nanoparticles, as well as shedding light on the behavior of swift positrons in composites.
Shark Attacks
Authors: Chapman Blake
Published: March 2019

Humans spend more time in or on the water than ever before. We love the beach. But for many people, getting in the water provokes a moment’s hesitation. Shark attacks are big news events and although the risk of shark attack on humans is incredibly low, the fact remains that human lives are lost to sharks every year.
Shark Attacks explores the tension between risk to humans and the need to conserve sharks and protect the important ecological roles they play in our marine environments. Marine biologist Blake Chapman presents scientific information about shark biology, movement patterns and feeding behaviour. She discusses the role of fear in the way we think about sharks and the influence of the media on public perceptions. Moving first-hand accounts describe the deep and polarising psychological impacts of shark attacks from a range of perspectives.
This book is an education in thinking through these emotive events and will help readers to navigate the controversial issues around mitigating shark attacks while conserving the sharks themselves.
Revisiting daily age determination in juvenile anchoveta Engraulis ringens
Authors: Plaza Guido , Campana Steven E. , Cerna Francisco , Takasuka Akinori , Rodríguez-Valentino Camilo , Contreras Jorge E. , Moyano Guillermo , Hernández Alejandra , Gómez Mackarena
Published: March 2019

Recent studies using otolith microstructure analysis have suggested that the duration of the juvenile stage in anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) is shorter than previously suspected, which suggests that the ages being entered into the traditional age-based stock assessment are incorrect. However, the interpretation of young pelagic fish otoliths remains problematic. To clarify the age interpretation of larval and juvenile E. ringens, newly hatched larvae were reared in a quasi-natural environment for periods of up to 103 days. The sagittal otoliths were subsequently examined and measured by international otolith experts in a double-blind workshop study. The young anchovy could be aged both accurately and precisely using otolith microstructure, after measures were taken to correct for unresolvable increments formed immediately after hatch. The presence of a fast-growth transition zone characterised by either considerable splitting or subdaily increments or both was confirmed. This study confirms the hypothesis of rapid growth and young age through the juvenile stage for anchoveta, suggesting that a critical appraisal of the annual age determinations used as the basis for anchoveta stock assessment is warranted. The otolith interpretation principles outlined in this study may apply broadly across many small pelagic fish species.
SARM1 deficiency up-regulates XAF1, promotes neuronal apoptosis, and accelerates prion disease
Authors: Zhu Caihong , Li Bei , Frontzek Karl , Liu Yingjun , Aguzzi Adriano
Published: March 2019

SARM1 (sterile α and HEAT/armadillo motif–containing protein) is a member of the MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88) family, which mediates innate immune responses. Because inactivation of SARM1 prevents various forms of axonal degeneration, we tested whether it might protect against prion-induced neurotoxicity. Instead, we found that SARM1 deficiency exacerbates the progression of prion pathogenesis. This deleterious effect was not due to SARM1-dependent modulation of prion-induced neuroinflammation, since microglial activation, astrogliosis, and brain cytokine profiles were not altered by SARM1 deficiency. Whole-transcriptome analyses indicated that SARM1 deficiency led to strong, selective overexpression of the pro-apoptotic gene XAF1 (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis-associated factor 1). Consequently, the activity of pro-apoptotic caspases and neuronal death were enhanced in prion-infected SARM1−/− mice. These results point to an unexpected function of SARM1 as a regulator of prion-induced neurodegeneration and suggest that XAF1 might constitute a therapeutic target in prion disease.
Average behavior of minimal free resolutions of monomial ideals
Authors: De Loera Jesús , Hoşten Serkan , Krone Robert , Silverstein Lily
Published: March 2019

We show that, under a natural probability distribution, random monomial ideals will almost always have minimal free resolutions of maximal length; that is, the projective dimension will almost always be

n
n

, where

n
n

is the number of variables in the polynomial ring. As a consequence we prove that Cohen–Macaulayness is a rare property. We characterize when a random monomial ideal is generic/strongly generic, and when it is Scarf—i.e., when the algebraic Scarf complex of

M
⊂
S
=
k
[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

M\subset S=k[x_1,\ldots ,x_n]

gives a minimal free resolution of

S

/

M

S/M

. It turns out, outside of a very specific ratio of model parameters, random monomial ideals are Scarf only when they are generic. We end with a discussion of the average magnitude of Betti numbers.
Nestin in immature embryonic neurons affects axon growth cone morphology and Semaphorin3a sensitivity
Authors: Bott C. J. , Johnson C. G. , Yap C. C. , Dwyer N. D. , Litwa K. A. , Winckler B.
Published: March 2019

Correct wiring in the neocortex requires that responses to an individual guidance cue vary among neurons in the same location, and within the same neuron over time. Nestin is an atypical intermediate filament expressed strongly in neural progenitors and is thus used widely as a progenitor marker. Here we show a subpopulation of embryonic cortical neurons that transiently express nestin in their axons. Nestin expression is thus not restricted to neural progenitors, but persists for 2–3 d at lower levels in newborn neurons. We found that nestin-expressing neurons have smaller growth cones, suggesting that nestin affects cytoskeletal dynamics. Nestin, unlike other intermediate filament subtypes, regulates cdk5 kinase by binding the cdk5 activator p35. Cdk5 activity is induced by the repulsive guidance cue Semaphorin3a (Sema3a), leading to axonal growth cone collapse in vitro. Therefore, we tested whether nestin-expressing neurons showed altered responses to Sema3a. We find that nestin-expressing newborn neurons are more sensitive to Sema3a in a roscovitine-sensitive manner, whereas nestin knockdown results in lowered sensitivity to Sema3a. We propose that nestin functions in immature neurons to modulate cdk5 downstream of the Sema3a response. Thus, the transient expression of nestin could allow temporal and/or spatial modulation of a neuron’s response to Sema3a, particularly during early axon guidance.
Retromer facilitates the localization of Bcl-xL to the mitochondrial outer membrane
Authors: Farmer Trey , O’Neill Katelyn L. , Naslavsky Naava , Luo Xu , Caplan Steve
Published: March 2019

The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Bcl-xL plays a critical role in cell survival by protecting the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). The mechanism through which Bcl-xL is recruited to the MOM has not been fully discerned. The retromer is a conserved endosomal scaffold complex involved in membrane trafficking. Here we identify VPS35 and VPS26, two core components of the retromer, as novel regulators of Bcl-xL. We observed interactions and colocalization between Bcl-xL, VPS35, VPS26, and MICAL-L1, a protein involved in recycling endosome biogenesis that also interacts with the retromer. We also found that upon VPS35 depletion, levels of nonmitochondrial Bcl-xL were increased. In addition, retromer-depleted cells displayed more rapid Bax activation and apoptosis. These results suggest that the retromer regulates apoptosis by facilitating Bcl-xL’s transport to the MOM. Importantly, our studies suggest a previously uncharacterized relationship between the machineries of cell death/survival and endosomal trafficking.
Evaluation of a Multiplex Fully Automated Treponemal and Nontreponemal (Rapid Plasma Reagin) Assay
Authors: Arbefeville Sophie , Lynch Maureen , Ferrieri Patricia
Published: March 2019

Objectives

In June 2017, Bio-Rad Laboratories received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR (rapid plasma reagin) assay. It is the first fully automated treponemal/nontreponemal multiplex flow immunoassay, simultaneously detecting Treponema pallidum and reagin antibodies and an RPR titer. We compared the performance of the BioPlex Syphilis Total & RPR assay with the LIAISON Treponema Assay and the manual BD Macro-Vue RPR 18-mm Circle Test.

Methods

In total, 314 serum specimens were tested for treponemal immunoglobulin G/immunoglobulin M and RPR with the LIAISON Treponema Assay, the BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR assay, and the manual BD Macro-Vue RPR card test. All discordant results were further tested with the T pallidum particle agglutination assay from Fujirebio Diagnostics.

Results

The overall percent agreement for the BioPlex assay for treponemal antibodies with the LIAISON Treponema Assay was 96.1%. Sensitivity and specificity for the BioPlex RPR assay were 90.5% and 97.2%, respectively (the manual RPR assay was considered the gold standard).

Conclusions

The BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR assay performance was comparable to the LIAISON Treponema Assay and the manual RPR test. Compared with the manual RPR, the automation of RPR testing offered labor savings, objective result reporting, and improved workflow.
Decoy Receptor 3 Expression Is Associated With Wild-Type EGFR Status, Poor Differentiation of Tumor, and Unfavorable Patient Outcome
Authors: Chang Wei-Chin , Yeh Yi-Chen , Ho Hsiang-Ling , Hsieh Shie-Liang , Chou Teh-Ying
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The role of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in lung cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma, has not been well studied. In this study, we aim to investigate the expression profile and the clinicopathologic implications of DcR3 expression in lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine DcR3 expression in 461 lung adenocarcinomas. The differences in DcR3 expression among the various histopathologic patterns were analyzed. The relationship between DcR3 expression and clinicopathologic parameters, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, was also investigated.

Results

DcR3 expression was more frequently expressed in solid, micropapillary, and acinar patterns (P < .0001) and in tumors with wild-type EGFR status (P = .018). In addition, DcR3 expression portends a less favorable disease-free survival in stage I patients (P = .012).

Conclusions

The expression of DcR3 might be involved in the differentiation and progression of lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, DcR3 may be applied clinically for prediction of tumor progression in stage I lung adenocarcinoma.
How Different Personalities Benefit From Gamification
Authors: Ghaban Wad , Hendley Robert
Published: March 2019

Several studies indicate the benefit of mapping gamification elements to personality. However, this mapping requires a strong understanding of the relationship between gamification elements and personality. The existing research that has tried to address this relationship is based on a self-report questionnaire that is obtained from only those learners who complete the entire study. Unfortunately, a bias may result from first forcing learners to complete an entire study and then ignoring learners who drop out in the middle of a study. To overcome this bias, we use a more objective approach to understand the relationship between personality and gamification. In our study, we use the dropout rate as a proxy for learner motivation. We hypothesize that learners who are more motivated by gamification elements will use the gamified website longer. Furthermore, because we use a different method than previous studies used, we analyse our data differently. Our solution is to use survival analysis to analyse our data, which confirms the benefit of using gamification to enhance learner motivation. Our results point to the relationship between the response of different personalities and gamification elements. In further studies, we recommend to use this same approach but with more gamification elements.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Gamification plays an important role in enhancing learners’ motivation and engagement. Different personalities respond differently to gamification elements. The dropout rate can be used to measure learners’ motivation. Enhancing the motivation of learners does not necessarily improve their learning.
Suitability of Wild Host Plants and Firewood as Hosts of Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in Mozambique
Authors: Muatinte Bernardo L , Van den Berg Johnnie
Published: March 2019

Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) populations are maintained in wild host plants such as trees that act as pest reservoirs from where beetle infestation of maize granaries take place. In this study, we assessed the suitability of plant species sold and transported as firewood as well as other plant species in Mozambique as hosts for P. truncatus. Prostephanus truncatus was only recorded from three tree species, which are sold as firewood, i.e., Brachystegia spiciformis, Strychnos spinosa, and Colophospermum mopane. The pest survived and bred in 13 tree and 7 grass species. Dry wood of several tree species and the grasses Acroceras macrum and Hyparrhenia hirta were suitable hosts for pest development. Sale and transport of certain firewood species may be an important driver of the spread of this pest. The importance of dry maize stalks and several grass species in sustaining pest populations is described for the first time. Several grass species are used as thatch or fencing material and, together with maize crop residues close to small-scale granaries, may provide significant sources of beetle infestation.
Host Plant Recognition and Performance of Klambothrips myopori (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) Across Myoporum Cultivars in Southern California
Authors: Shogren Christopher J , Paine Timothy D
Published: March 2019

Myoporum spp. (Lamiales: Scrophulariaceae) native to Australia and New Zealand have been introduced into North America and have been widely planted as shrubs and ground covers in the California urban landscape. The invasive thrips, Klambothrips myopori Mound and Morris, invaded California in 2005 and feed exclusively on Myoporum. However, some commercial cultivars have suffered extensive damage, whereas others have not. In field studies and laboratory feeding tests of six different potential host species or cultivars, Myoporum laetum and Myoporum ‘Pacificum’ were identified as most suitable host plants of K. myopori. In laboratory trials, K. myopori failed to complete development on M. ‘Clean n Green’ and M. ‘Putah Creek’. Of the six varieties of Myoporum tested, K. myopori damage was only observed on M. laetum and M. ‘Pacificum’. Although K. myopori can successfully colonize and reproduce on several varieties of Myoporum, they demonstrated a preference for M. laetum and M. ‘Pacificum’ in laboratory and field trials.
Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Adult Glioblastomas in Southern Brazil
Authors: Trevisan Patricia , Graziadio Carla , Rodrigues Dayane Bohn Koshiyama , Rosa Rafael Fabiano Machado , Soares Fabiano Pasqualotto , Provenzi Valentina Oliveira , de Oliveira Ceres Andréia Vieira , Paskulin Giorgio Adriano , Varella-Garcia Marileila , Zen Paulo Ricardo Gazzola
Published: March 2019

We investigated 113 adult Brazilian patients with glioblastoma (GBM) for comparison with patients from distinct geographical areas and evaluation of suitability for novel targeted therapies. Patients were assessed for clinical features and tumor genomic characteristics such as ROS1 and NTRK1 rearrangements, KIT, PDGFRA, and KDR amplification, and RB1 deletion using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization. The majority of patients were male (53%), over 40 years (94%), with tumor located in single site (64%), in the right cerebral hemisphere (60%), and underwent partial resection (71%); 14% presented complications after surgery. The main clinical sign at diagnosis was focal abnormality (57%); frontal (31%); and temporal (20%) regions were most commonly affected. Median hospitalization time was 20 days, median survival was 175 days. One tumor was positive for rearrangement in NTRK1 and another in ROS1 (0.9% each). PDGFRA was amplified in 20% of cases, often co-amplified with KDR (>90%) and KIT (>60%). RB1 was deleted in 16% of patients. There was no association between these molecular abnormalities and patient survival. However, older age, complications after surgery, and right-sided tumors were independent variables associated with patient survival. This study contributes information on the molecular profile of glioblastomas in Latin America possibly supporting new target therapies.
Cost-Efficiency of Breast Cancer Care in the US Military Health System: An Economic Evaluation in Direct and Purchased Care
Authors: Eaglehouse Yvonne L , Georg Matthew W , Richard Patrick , Shriver Craig D , Zhu Kangmin
Published: March 2019

Introduction

With the rising costs of cancer care, it is critical to evaluate the overall cost-efficiency of care in real-world settings. In the United States, breast cancer accounts for the largest portion of cancer care spending due to high incidence and prevalence. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between breast cancer costs in the first 6 months after diagnosis and clinical outcomes by care source (direct or purchased) in the universal-access US Military Health System (MHS).

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository administrative records. The institutional review boards of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Defense Health Agency reviewed and approved the data linkage. We used the linked data to identify women aged 40–64 who were diagnosed with pathologically-confirmed breast cancer between 2003 and 2007 with at least 1 year of follow-up through December 31, 2008. We identified cancer treatment from administrative data using relevant medical procedure and billing codes and extracted costs paid by the MHS for each claim. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazards ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for recurrence or all-cause death as a function of breast cancer cost in tertiles.

Results

The median cost per patient (n = 2,490) for cancer care was $16,741 (interquartile range $9,268, $28,742) in the first 6 months after diagnosis. In direct care, women in the highest cost tertile had a lower risk for clinical outcomes compared to women in the lowest cost tertile (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35, 0.96). When outcomes were evaluated separately, there was a statistically significant inverse association between higher cost and risk of death (p-trend = 0.025) for women receiving direct care. These associations were not observed among women using purchased care or both care sources.

Conclusions

In the MHS, higher breast cancer costs in the first 6 months after diagnosis were associated with lower risk for clinical outcomes in direct care, but not in purchased care. Organizational, institutional, and provider-level factors may contribute to the observed differences by care source. Replication of our findings in breast and other tumor sites may have implications for informing cancer care financing and value-based reimbursement policy.
Development and evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction for fast diagnosis of sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix globosa
Authors: Zhang Mingrui , Li Fuqiu , Gong Jie , Yang Xin , Zhang Jianzhong , Zhao Fei
Published: March 2019

Sporothrix globosa is an important clinical pathogen in the Sporothrix complex, which is causing sporotrichosis. S. globosa is distributed worldwide, especially in Asia. The transmission medium of S. globosa is mainly contaminated soil or decaying vegetation, and the infection usually caused by transcutaneous trauma, through which the fungal conidia or yeast cells enter the host. Although the clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis caused by S. globosa is always benign, there have been several outbreaks worldwide. In this study, we established a novel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence for the identification of S. globosa. The assay was further evaluated by clinical specimens obtained from patients of sporotrichosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the real-time PCR method was both 100%. The detection limit was 10 fg. The positive detection rate for 30 clinical specimens, which were confirmed infected by S. globosa, was 100%. The real-time PCR method established in this paper is a rapid, sensitive and specific method for the identification of S. globosa. It can detect S. globosa in clinical specimen from patients with sporotrichosis, which is helpful for fast clinical diagnosis.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPE 3 NEOVASCULARIZATION LESIONS
Authors: Kim Jae Hui , Chang Young Suk , Kim Jong Woo , Kim Chul Gu , Lee Dong Won
Published: March 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the incidence of multifocal lesions and the distribution of lesion location in Type 3 neovascularization.

Methods:

This retrospective, observational study included 148 eyes of 148 patients diagnosed with Type 3 neovascularization. The number of Type 3 neovascularization lesions was counted, and the incidence of multiple lesions in an eye was estimated. In addition, the distance from the fovea to the lesion and the geographic location of the lesion were estimated. Pseudodrusen incidence was compared between eyes with and without multifocal lesions.

Results:

In total, 169 Type 3 neovascularization lesions were noted. A single lesion was noted in 130 eyes (87.8%), whereas 2 or 3 multifocal lesions were noted in the remaining 18 eyes (12.2%). The mean distance from the fovea to the lesion was 898.8 ± 324.9 µm. The distribution of lesion locations exhibited a fovea-sparing pattern. No lesions were located within 200 µm of the fovea, 20 lesions (11.8%) were located >200 and ≤500 µm away from the fovea, 89 lesions (52.7%) were located >500 and ≤1,000 µm away from the fovea, and 60 lesions (35.5%) were located >1,000 µm away from the fovea. Pseudodrusen incidence was significantly higher in eyes with multifocal lesions (P = 0.024).

Conclusion:

Two or more multifocal lesions were noted in 12.2% of eyes with Type 3 neovascularization, and pseudodrusen incidence was higher in eyes with multifocal lesions. In addition, lesion distribution exhibited a fovea-sparing pattern. These characteristics may be associated with the distinct pathophysiology of Type 3 neovascularization.
What is new in electronic-cigarettes research?
Authors: Jenssen Brian P. , Wilson Karen M.
Published: March 2019

Purpose of review

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other vaping devices have seen extraordinary growth in use in the past 10 years, and companies are accelerating their development of new products and marketing efforts. In turn, researchers have increased their efforts to determine how e-cigarettes affect health, how marketing these products impacts adolescents and how the use of e-cigarettes may affect adolescents’ use of other tobacco products. Products like Juul were not on the market 2 years ago; thus, frequent updates on the topic are essential.

Recent findings

Studies have begun to demonstrate that users of the newer pod systems are exposed to high levels of nicotine, as well as other chemicals. These products are highly marketed, with a strong emphasis on how adolescents can use them surreptitiously. This is concerning to researchers, and other studies have continued to demonstrate that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to go on to use combusted tobacco. Further research has also failed to demonstrate that e-cigarettes are useful for people wishing to quit smoking combusted tobacco.

E-cigarettes and vaping systems are not safe products and should not be used by adolescents.