bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Sulfonate Gemini Surfactants
Authors: Zhou Ming , Chen Yiping , Zou Jiaxi , Bu Juncheng
Published: June 2018

Sulfonated Gemini surfactants are a relatively new class of anion surfactants, composed of 2 or more sulfonated surfactant monomers connected by a spacer at or near the head groups through a covalent bond. In general, the sulfonated Gemini surfactants show better properties compared to conventional anionic surfactants including better surface activity, a lower critical micelle concentration, enhanced detergency, excellent compatibility with other surfactants, and better solubility in high ionic strength systems. This article reviews the synthesis of the sulfonated Gemini surfactants using different raw materials. Based on the existing information in the literature, new ideas are proposed for the synthesis and application of the sulfonated Gemini surfactants.
Enhancement of antroquinonol production during batch fermentation using pH control coupled with an oxygen vector
Authors: Xia Yongjun , Chen Yan , Liu Xiaofeng , Zhou Xuan , Wang Zhaochu , Wang Guangqiang , Xiong Zhiqiang , Ai Lianzhong
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Antroquinonol, a ubiquinone derivative that shows anticancer and anti‐inflammatory activities, is produced during solid‐state fermentation of Antrodia camphorata; however, it cannot be biosynthesized via conventional submerged fermentation.

RESULTS

A method for enhancing the biosynthesis of antroquinonol by controlling pH and adding an oxygen vector in a 7 L bioreactor was studied. In shake‐flask experiments, a maximum antroquinonol production of 31.39 ± 0.78 mg L−1 was obtained by fermentation with adding 0.2 g L−1 coenzyme Q0 (CoQ0), at the 96th hour. Following kinetic analysis of the fermentation process, pH control strategies were investigated. A maximum antroquinonol production of 86.47 ± 3.65 mg L−1 was achieved when the pH was maintained at 5.0, which exhibited an increase of 348.03% higher than the batch without pH regulation (19.30 ± 0.88 mg L−1). The conversion rate of CoQ0 improved from 1.51% to 20.20%. Further research revealed that the addition of n‐tetradecane could increase the production of antroquinonol to 115.62 ± 4.87 mg L−1 by increasing the dissolved oxygen in the fermentation broth.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that pH played an important role in antroquinonol synthesis in the presence of the effective precursor CoQ0. It was a very effective strategy to increase the yield of antroquinonol by controlling pH and adding oxygen vector. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetic monitoring suggests increasing structure following recolonization by fishers
Authors: Greenhorn Janet E. , Bowman Jeff , Wilson Paul J.
Published: June 2018

Population bottlenecks, fragmentation, and isolation can have lasting effects on population genetic structure by decreasing diversity and increasing differentiation among regions. Fishers (Pekania pennanti) were extirpated from many regions of Ontario, Canada, in the early twentieth century because of overharvest, habitat loss, and predator control, although the species has since recolonized much of its former range. Between 2001 and 2003, the recolonized population could be split into several genetically distinct clusters likely corresponding to historical trapping refuges. We reassessed the genetic diversity and population structure of fishers approximately 10 years after recolonization to determine whether homogenization had occurred among genetic clusters, and whether hypothesized northward migration had continued following recolonization of southeastern Ontario by fishers from the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA. We found no significant changes in the uppermost level of genetic structure but did find evidence of increased lower‐level structure and decreased migration throughout the province, contrary to our hypothesis. This may be indicative of a reduction in fisher density or could be due to the population reaching a migration‐drift equilibrium following a period of rapid expansion. Our results highlight the potential importance and utility of continued genetic monitoring following local extirpation and recolonization. Conservation managers can use periodically sampled population genetic information to adapt and update management strategies. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Sample size considerations for satellite telemetry and animal distributions
Authors: Roberts Anthony , Silverman Emily , Gifford Suzanne
Published: June 2018

Satellite telemetry is a powerful tool used to follow animals through their annual life cycle, informing the understanding of behavior and distribution of many species. Because boreal‐ and arctic‐nesting North American sea duck populations are challenging to survey, satellite telemetry is important for describing breeding distributions and identifying breeding population structure. Accurate knowledge of breeding distributions is needed for effective habitat and harvest management, but satellite telemetry is expensive so it is important to consider the effort necessary to accurately map breeding distributions. We construct 3 theoretical breeding distributions using existing telemetry data from 3 species of sea ducks, Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), and black scoter (M. americana), by fitting kernel densities to approximate breeding locations of individual birds. Then we determined the minimum sample size needed to approximate these theoretical breeding distributions by assessing the overlap between breeding densities simulated by sampling from the distributions and the theoretical breeding densities. Diminishing information gains with additional effort (i.e., <1–5% improvement in prediction) were reached with sample sizes ranging from 80 to 130. Sea duck mortality, transmitter failure, and exclusion of non‐breeding individuals resulted in an effective sample size smaller than the number of birds originally marked. For the cases we considered, obtaining breeding locations for 80–130 individuals would require marking 11–41% more birds than the sample size goal. Thus, although satellite telemetry provides valuable information on sea duck populations, our analysis suggests that accurately estimating the extent and relative use of breeding habitats requires substantial investment. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Canada goose gosling survival of the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population
Authors: Watts Katherine G. , Williams Christopher K. , Nichols Theodore C. , Castelli Paul M.
Published: June 2018

Gosling losses account for the majority of summer mortality for Canada geese (Branta canadensis), but survival at this stage can be difficult to estimate because of their small size, precocial behavior, and the land cover in which they live. Previous methods of measuring gosling survival often used individual markers, which can bias estimates when not accounting for total brood loss or emigration. We estimated gosling survival of Canada geese in the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) in New Jersey, USA, during 2009–2010 through use of marked parents and young to incorporate total and partial brood losses. The proportion of marked parents who lost their entire brood occurring during the first 3 weeks after hatch and prior to banding was 0.316. Gosling survival that accounted for partial brood loss was 0.461 ± 0.027 (SE), and was most influenced by nest density and the percent agriculture land use within 215 m of the nest site. The gosling survival estimate incorporating total and partial brood losses during this study was 0.315 ± 0.018. Acquiring current reproductive vital rates will assist in understanding the dynamics of recruitment as a function of population size. The above information, in combination with nest survival and annual survival estimates from band recovery and recapture analyses, has been used to inform a population model for Canada geese in the AFRP. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Collagen disruption as a marker for basal cell carcinoma in presurgical margin detection
Authors: Rohani Pooyan , Yaroslavsky Anna N. , Feng Xin , Jermain Peter , Shaath Tarek , Neel Victor A.
Published: June 2018

Introduction and Objective

Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancies in the United States. Surgery is the most common treatment for these tumors, but pre‐operative identification of surgical margins is challenging. The objective in this study was to determine whether optical polarization imaging (OPI) could be used prior to surgery to detect the extent of subclinical tumor spread by monitoring disruption in collagen.

Materials and Methods

OPI is a non‐invasive and rapid imaging modality that highlights the structure of dermal collagen. OPI was used preoperatively at wavelengths of 440 and 640 nm to perform imaging of NMSCs on six patients scheduled to undergo Mohs surgery for biopsy‐proven basal cell carcinoma. This pilot study did not alter the course of routine MMS for any of the patients. The surgeon was blinded from the preoperative imaging results and completed the entire procedure without relying on the new technology. The study was conducted in an outpatient surgical setting. Patients over 18 years of age with biopsy‐proven basal cell carcinoma participated.

Results and Conclusion

OPI accurately predicted the presence or absence of tumor at the surgical margin in six out of six cases, as confirmed on histology. OPI may allow efficient surgical planning by identifying tumor extension beyond visibly involved skin. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:902–907, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A finite element model (FEM) for predicting the corrosion of multi‐material coupling system on aircrafts
Authors: Chen Yueliang , Huang Hailiang , Zhang Yong , Bian Guixue , Wang Chenguang , Wang Andong
Published: June 2018

An approach based on a finite element model (FEM) is proposed to predict corrosion locations and regions of multi‐material coupling system on aircrafts in solution. In this work, the feasibility of the model is verified by the comparison of the galvanic current and mixed potential between test and simulation values in the multi‐electrode system. This model was applied to the analog connectors commonly used on aircraft. The surface potential distribution was measured by scanning micro‐reference electrode (SMRE) technique. It is found that the simulated potential is basically consistent with the measured potential trend, and the numerical difference is not significant. In terms of the corrosion morphology after 30 d soaking, it can be seen that the corrosion locations and regions are basically consistent with those obtained in the simulated potential distribution over −858 mV, while −858 mV is just the pitting potential of the aluminum alloy. The higher local current distribution in the corrosion concentration area is, the more serious corrosion is, which is in accordance with the experimental results.
Atmospheric corrosion patterns of electrogalvanized mild steel at east southern coastal areas of CPEC
Authors: Jamil Ishrat , Bano Humaira , Castano Juan G. , Mahmood Azhar , Zafar Faiza
Published: June 2018

The primary goal of the study was to establish corrosivity category in accordance with ISO 9223 norm of the two test stations located at National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) along the east southern coastal route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in Pakistan. Electrogalvanized mild steel test coupons were exposed for a period of 12 months from May 2014 to May 2015. Results indicated that for both NIO and KPT test stations the corrosivity category in term of corrosion rate (C5+) was not in agreement with the corrosivity category (C5) established by using the pollution category and time of wetness. Corrosion kinetic parameters n and correlation coefficient (R2) obtained for NIO were 1.58 and 0.98 and for KPT 1.43 and 0.95 respectively. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) showed the presence of simonkolleite at NIO while zincite and hydrozincite at KPT. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the typical corrosion products formed on both test stations were simonkolleite and hydrozincite. XRD showed the presence of zincite at both test stations and hydrozincite only at KPT.
Redox‐Responsive and Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Nanosheet Gels with High Young's Moduli
Authors: Zheng Yijun , Wang Dapeng , Cui Jiaxi , Mezger Markus , Auernhammer Günter K. , Koynov Kaloian , Butt Hans‐Jürgen , Ikeda Taichi
Published: June 2018

Supramolecular gels made from 2D building blocks are emerging as one of the novel multifunctional soft materials for various applications. This study reports on a class of supramolecular nanosheet gels formed through a reversible self‐assembly process involving both intramolecular folding and intermolecular self‐assembly of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(phenyl‐capped bithiophenes)]. Such hierarchical self‐assembled structure allows the gels to switch between sol and gel states under either redox or thermostimulus. Moreover, the gels illustrate high Young's moduli, compared to their controls that are made from the same oligo(ethylene glycol) and phenyl‐capped bithiophenes blocks but have highly covalent‐crosslinked structures. The example might open a window for emerging supramolecular 2D materials to develop mechanically robust and stimuli‐responsive soft materials without compromising their intrinsic functions.
Eggerthella timonensis sp. nov, a new species isolated from the stool sample of a pygmy female
Authors: Bilen Melhem , Fonkou Maxime Descartes Mbogning , Tomei Enora , Armstrong Nicholas , Bittar Fadi , Lagier Jean‐Christophe , Daoud Ziad , Fournier Pierre‐Edouard , Raoult Didier , Cadoret Frédéric
Published: June 2018

Eggerthella timonensis strain Marseille‐P3135 is a new bacterial species, isolated from the stool sample of a healthy 8‐year‐old pygmy female. This strain (LT598568) showed a 16S rRNA sequence similarity of 96.95% with its phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature Eggerthella lenta strain DSM 2243 (AF292375). This bacterium is a nonspore forming, Gram‐positive, nonmotile rod with catalase but no oxidase activity. Its genome is 3,916,897 bp long with 65.17 mol% of G + C content. Of the 3,371 predicted genes, 57 were RNAs and 3,314 were protein‐coding genes. Here, we report the main phenotypic, biochemical, and genotypic characteristics of E. timonensis strain Marseille‐P3135 (=CSUR P3135, =CCUG 70327); ti.mo.nen′sis, N.L. masc. adj., with timonensis referring to La Timone, which is the name of the hospital in Marseille (France) where this work was performed). Strain is a nonmotile Gram‐positive rod, unable to sporulate, oxidase negative, and catalase positive. It grows under anaerobic conditions between 25°C and 42°C but optimally at 37°C.
Genomic and phenotypic description of the newly isolated human species Collinsella bouchesdurhonensis sp. nov.
Authors: Bilen Melhem , Beye Mamadou , Mbogning Fonkou Maxime Descartes , Khelaifia Saber , Cadoret Frédéric , Armstrong Nicholas , Nguyen Thi Tien , Delerce Jérémy , Daoud Ziad , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre‐Edouard
Published: June 2018

Using culturomics, a recently developed strategy based on diversified culture conditions for the isolation of previously uncultured bacteria, we isolated strain Marseille‐P3296T from a fecal sample of a healthy pygmy female. A multiphasic approach, taxono‐genomics, was used to describe the major characteristics of this anaerobic and gram‐positive bacillus that is unable to sporulate and is not motile. The genome of this bacterium is 1,878,572 bp‐long with a 57.94 mol% G + C content. On the basis of these characteristics and after comparison with its closest phylogenetic neighbors, we are confident that strain Marseille‐P3296T (=CCUG 70328 =  CSUR P3296) is the type strain of a novel species for which we propose the name Collinsella bouchesdurhonensis sp. nov.
Machine Learning Classification Models to Improve the Docking‐based Screening: A Case of PI3K‐Tankyrase Inhibitors
Authors: Berishvili Vladimir P. , Voronkov Andrew E. , Radchenko Eugene V. , Palyulin Vladimir A.
Published: June 2018

One of the major challenges in the current drug discovery is the improvement of the docking‐based virtual screening performance. It is especially important in the rational design of compounds with desired polypharmacology or selectivity profiles. To address this problem, we present a methodology for the development of target‐specific scoring functions possessing high screening power. These scoring functions were built using the machine learning methods for the dual target inhibitors of PI3Kα and tankyrase, promising targets for colorectal cancer therapy. The Deep Neural Network models achieve the external test AUC ROC values of 0.96 and 0.93 for the random split and 0.90 and 0.84 for the time‐based split of the PI3Kα and tankyrase inhibitors, respectively. In addition, the impact of the training set size and the actives/decoys ratio on the model quality was assessed. The study demonstrates that the optimized scoring functions could significantly improve the docking screening power for each individual target. This is very useful in the design of multitarget or selective drugs wherein the screening filters are applied in sequence.
Spectral analysis of the Euler‐Bernoulli beam model with fully nonconservative feedback matrix
Authors: Shubov Marianna A. , Kindrat Laszlo P.
Published: June 2018

The Euler‐Bernoulli beam model with fully nonconservative boundary conditions of feedback control type is investigated. The output vector (the shear and the moment at the right end) is connected to the observation vector (the velocity and its spatial derivative on the right end) by a 2 × 2 matrix (the boundary control matrix), all entries of which are nonzero real numbers. For any combination of the boundary parameters, the dynamics generator,
, of the model is a non–self‐adjoint matrix differential operator in the state Hilbert space. A set of 4 self‐adjoint operators, defined by the same differential expression as
on different domains, is introduced. It is proven that each of these operators, as well as
, is a finite‐rank perturbation of the same self‐adjoint dynamics generator of a cantilever beam model. It is also shown that the non–self‐adjoint operator,
, shares a number of spectral properties specific to its self‐adjoint counterparts, such as (1) boundary inequalities for the eigenfunctions, (2) the geometric multiplicities of the eigenvalues, and (3) the existence of real eigenvalues. These results are important for our next paper on the spectral asymptotics and stability for the multiparameter beam model.
α‐Cedrene, a Newly Identified Ligand of MOR23, Increases Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength
Authors: Tong Tao , Kim Minji , Park Taesun
Published: June 2018

Scope

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common and debilitating condition that lacks an effective therapy. In this study, the effects of α‐cedrene are tested, a natural ligand of mouse olfactory receptor 23 (MOR23) whose ectopic function regulating myogenesis on skeletal muscle growth was reported recently.

Methods and results

α‐Cedrene not only stimulated hypertrophy but also attenuated free fatty acid‐induced atrophy of cultured skeletal myotubes, as evidenced by an increased myotube diameter, fusion index, and total cellular protein content. These hypertrophic and antiatrophic properties of α‐cedrene in cultured myotubes were confirmed in corresponding mouse models. The skeletal muscle mass, total muscle protein content, average cross‐sectional area of myofibers, and muscle strength were significantly greater in α‐cedrene‐treated mice compared with untreated animals during either a regular chow diet or high‐fat diet. Receptor knockdown experiments using RNA interference in cultured skeletal myotubes revealed that the hypertrophic and antiatrophic properties of α‐cedrene may be mediated by MOR23. Furthermore, α‐cedrene induced the expression of MOR23 and enhanced its downstream cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)–protein kinase A (PKA)–cyclic AMP‐responsive element‐binding protein (CREB) signaling in the skeletal muscle of mice fed chow or high‐fat diet.

Conclusions

α‐Cedrene is a promising agent that may be applied to enhance the mass and strength of skeletal muscle.
Synbiotic Effects of the Dietary Fiber Long‐Chain Inulin and Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus W37 Can be Caused by Direct, Synergistic Stimulation of Immune Toll‐Like Receptors and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Lépine Alexia , de Vos Paul
Published: June 2018

Scope

Synbiotic effects of dietary fibers and lactobacilli are usually explained by synergistic modulation of gut microbiota. New insight, however, has demonstrated that both dietary fibers and lactobacilli can directly stimulate immune cells and benefit consumer immunity. Here, the synergistic effects of immune active long‐chain inulin (lcITF) and Lactobacillus acidophilus W37 (LaW37) on dendritic cells (DCs) are investigated.

Methods and results

Effects of lcITF and LaW37 alone or combined were studied on Toll‐like receptor (TLRs) signaling and cytokine secretion by DCs in the presence and absence of media of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) exposed to the ingredients. Also, the effects of DC responses against Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) were investigated. Synergistic effects were observed on TLR2 and 3. Synergistic effects were not always pro‐inflammatory. LaW37 was strongly pro‐inflammatory, while cytokine responses were regulatory when combined with lcITF. Exposure of DCs to IECs medium changed the DCs’ response, which revealed synergistic enhancing effects of lcITF/LaW37 on production of IL‐6 and IL‐8. DCs’ response in the presence of STM and LaW37 were so strong that lcITF had no additional effect.

Conclusion

It is demonstrated that synbiotic effects of dietary fibers and bacteria are not limited to the effects on gut microbiota but can also occur by synergistically directly stimulating IECs and/or immune cells.
Adipose Tissue is a Potential Source of Hyperandrogenism in Obese Female Rats
Authors: Wagner Isabel Viola , Sahlin Lena , Savchuk Iuliia , Klöting Nora , Svechnikov Konstantin , Söder Olle
Published: June 2018

Objective

Obesity in females is often associated with metabolic complications and hyperandrogenism, but the sources of androgens are not completely understood. Therefore, this study investigated whether adipose tissue could be a source of androgens promoting hyperandrogenism development in obese female rats.

Methods

Gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone levels were determined in periovarian and inguinal adipose tissue and in the supernatant of cultured preadipocytes and adipocytes. The conversion of pregnenolone to androgens was analyzed by thin‐layer chromatography.

Results

Substantial amounts of testosterone in adipose tissue (25‐153 ng/g tissue) and in the supernatant of adipocytes (0.33‐0.69 ng/ten thousand cells]) were found. StAR and steroidogenic enzymes encoded by genes including Cyp11A1, Cyp17A1, Cyp19, Hsd3b2, Hsd17b3, and Srd5a2 were expressed in adipose tissue and cultured cells. Thin layer chromatography data revealed that preadipocytes and adipocytes were able to convert pregnenolone to testosterone. Higher levels for all steroidogenic enzymes were found in both depots of obese animals compared with lean animals, with significantly higher levels in inguinal tissue.

Conclusions

The whole steroidogenic machinery and capacity for testosterone biosynthesis were found in fat depots of female rats. These findings support the hypothesis that adipose tissue may contribute substantially to the hyperandrogenism in female obesity.
International measurement of food security: Enhancing alignment between evidence and assistance programs
Authors: Scicchitano John Salvatore
Published: June 2018

A definition of food security used in developing countries by United Nations Agencies, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other international development agencies establish four dimensions of food security: access, availability, utilization, and stability. This definition provides a framework for a multidimensional, rigorous measure of food security across developing countries and enables an analysis of the magnitude and severity of food insecurity across time and space. This framework also permits an analysis of the drivers of food insecurity that foster appropriate, cost‐effective food assistance programs. In the developed world, food security is often defined more narrowly, resulting in a less rigorous measurement of food security. Food security experts in developed countries can exploit the framework applied in the developing world to improve the measurement of food insecurity, as well as evidence‐based food assistance programs that are informed by its measurement.
Integrative Analysis of Proteome and Ubiquitylome Reveals Unique Features of Lysosomal and Endocytic Pathways in Gefitinib‐Resistant Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Wang , Wang Heyong , Yang Yan , Zhao Tian , Zhang Zhixiong , Tian Ye , Shi Zhaomie , Peng Xiaojun , Li Fei , Feng Yonghong , Zhang Lei , Jiang Gening , Zhang Fan
Published: June 2018

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients carrying EGFR activating mutations treated with gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, will develop drug resistance. Ubiquitylation is one of major posttranslational modifications of proteins affecting the stability or function of proteins. However, the role of protein ubiquitylation in gefitinib resistance is poorly understood. To systematically identify the global change in protein expression and ubiquitylation during gefitinib resistance, a quantitative global proteome and ubiquitylome study in a pair of gefitinib‐resistant and sensitive NSCLC cells is carried out. Altogether, changes in expression of 3773 proteins are quantified, and changes in ubiquitylation of 2893 lysine sites in 1415 proteins are measured in both cells. Interestingly, lysosomal and endocytic pathways, which are involved in autophagy regulation, are enriched with upregulated proteins or ubiquitylated proteins in gefitinib‐resistant cells. In addition, HMGA2 overexpression or ALOX5 knockdown suppresses gefitinib resistance in NSCLC cells by inhibiting autophagy. Overall, these results reveal the previously unknown global ubiquitylome and proteomic features associated with gefitinib resistance, uncover the opposing roles of HMGA2 or ALOX5 in regulating gefitinib resistance and autophagy, and will help to identify new therapeutic targets in overcoming gefitinib resistance.
Output feedback stabilization using super‐twisting control and high‐gain observer
Authors: Liu Haitao , Khalil Hassan K.
Published: June 2018

An output feedback controller is designed for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with relative degree higher than one. A super‐twisting sliding mode state feedback controller is designed and implemented using a high‐gain observer. It is proved that the controller achieves practical stabilization and the ultimate bound can be reduced by decreasing a design parameter. The performance of the controller is illustrated by simulation.
Discovering anomalous patterns in large digital pathology images
Authors: Somanchi Sriram , Neill Daniel B. , Parwani Anil V.
Published: June 2018

Advances in medical imaging technology have created opportunities for computer‐aided diagnostic tools to assist human practitioners in identifying relevant patterns in massive, multiscale digital pathology slides. This work presents Hierarchical Linear Time Subset Scanning, a novel statistical method for pattern detection. Hierarchical Linear Time Subset Scanning exploits the hierarchical structure inherent in data produced through virtual microscopy in order to accurately and quickly identify regions of interest for pathologists to review. We take a digital image at various resolution levels, identify the most anomalous regions at a coarse level, and continue to analyze the data at increasingly granular resolutions until we accurately identify its most anomalous subregions. We demonstrate the performance of our novel method in identifying cancerous locations on digital slides of prostate biopsy samples and show that our methods detect regions of cancer in minutes with high accuracy, both as measured by the ROC curve (measuring ability to distinguish between benign and cancerous slides) and by the spatial precision‐recall curve (measuring ability to pick out the malignant areas on a slide which contains cancer). Existing methods need small scale images (small areas of a slide preselected by the pathologist for analysis, eg, 32 × 32 pixels) and may not work effectively on large, raw digitized images of size 100K × 100K pixels. In this work, we provide a methodology to fill this significant gap by analyzing large digitized images and identifying regions of interest that may be indicative of cancer.
Oxidative Coupling of 2‐Methyl‐1‐naphthol: A Comparison between Bismuth‐Promoted Pt, Pd and Ag Catalysts
Authors: Maphoru Mabuatsela V. , Heveling Josef , Kesavan Pillai Sreejarani
Published: June 2018

Catalyst development for the oxidative coupling of naphthols is important for the synthesis of biomimetic compounds and pharmaceuticals. Carbon supported 5%M‐5%Bi catalysts (M=Pt, Pd, Ag) were prepared by electroless deposition. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by N2 physisorption, XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDX and TGA. Narrow particle size distributions of the noble metals were obtained, corresponding to an average particle size of 3.1–3.2 nm. Oxidative coupling of 2‐methyl‐1‐naphthol with H2O2 as the oxidant was the test reaction. The catalyst activities increase in the order Ag < Pd ≪ Pt. The outcome of the reaction depends on M, the solvent and the reaction temperature. Over Pt and Pd the binaphthol (3,3’‐dimethyl‐1,1’‐binaphthalenyl‐4,4’‐diol) can be obtained with yields of 89–94% in refluxing nitromethane. Under otherwise identical conditions, Ag gives the binaphthone (3,3’‐dimethyl‐1,1’‐binaphthalenylidene‐4,4’‐dione) with an isolated yield of 80%. The results show that apart from the solvent and the reaction temperature, also the choice of the catalytic metal can have an important influence on the outcome of the reaction.
Aerobic Copper‐Catalyzed Acetoxysulfenylation and Hydrosulfenylation of Alkenes with Thiols
Authors: Taniguchi Nobukazu
Published: June 2018

Copper‐catalyzed acetoxysulfenylation and hydrosulfenylation of alkenes using thiols were achieved. When a reaction was performed in acetic acid using CuI‐Phen⋅H2O catalyst, the corresponding acetoxysulfides were obtained in excellent yields. This procedure could suppress the progress of hydroxysulfenylation or hydrosulfenylation. On the other hand, a reaction employing CuI‐TMEDA catalyst could undergo hydrosulfenylation through a radical process.
Influence of Aquatic Macrophytes on Age‐0 Largemouth Bass Growth and Diets
Authors: Nohner Joel K. , Taylor William W. , Hayes Daniel B. , Roth Brian M.
Published: June 2018

Macrophyte removal by lakefront property owners occurs on glacial lakes throughout the range of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, yet little information exists on how it affects recruitment of these fish populations. We hypothesized that with greater prey availability in macrophytes, age‐0 Largemouth Bass consumption and growth would increase. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an in‐lake experiment with age‐0 Largemouth Bass in twelve 9.29‐m2 littoral mesocosms in glacial Chancellor Lake, Michigan, during summer and fall 2014. We removed macrophytes from mesocosm substrates to produce low‐coverage, high‐coverage, and vegetation edge treatments and determined treatment effects on consumption and growth at differing age‐0 Largemouth Bass stocking densities (0.86–2.15 fish/m2). When macrophytes were present, age‐0 Largemouth Bass stomachs contained fewer zooplankton, contained terrestrial invertebrates more often, and contained aquatic macroinvertebrates less often than when macrophytes were absent. Age‐0 Largemouth Bass consumed more fish prey in macrophyte edge and high macrophyte coverage enclosures stocked at moderate densities, resulting in total stomach content biomass increases that increased growth and, potentially, recruitment. Age‐0 Largemouth Bass from enclosures with macrophyte edge and high macrophyte coverage grew 9.7 ± 2.2% (mean ± SD) and 8.3 ± 1.9% longer, respectively, than their counterparts in low macrophyte coverage enclosures; fish in macrophyte edge or high macrophyte coverage treatments at moderate stocking density gained 109.3 ± 45.1% and 110.7 ± 45.0% more weight, respectively, than those in low‐coverage enclosures. These results demonstrate a causal linkage between macrophytes and age‐0 Largemouth Bass consumption and growth in lakes. We recommend that fisheries managers seeking to increase consumption and growth rates in age‐0 Largemouth Bass consider protecting and restoring macrophytes in littoral habitats up to 60% coverage to potentially decrease mortality and improve recruitment.
The Use of Historical Fiction in the Language Classroom: A Pedagogical Proposal for Teachers of English
Authors: Shin Jaran
Published: June 2018

In the context of globalization, teachers of English are no longer expected to cultivate learners’ functional and communicative abilities alone; instead, the profession also requires teachers to acknowledge that teaching English is a political act, to discuss how power relations are negotiated through language, and to enrich learners’ historical and political consciousness. This article proposes that teachers of English can use historical fiction as a way to help learners be more cognizant of historical and political realities that they are part of—in addition to becoming more familiar with the English language. This pedagogical suggestion begins with the rationale for using historical fiction in teaching English. This rationale lends itself to a series of classroom tasks, which are designed to contribute to learners’ awareness of how historical realities are shaped in/through language and how the construction of historical representation reinforces particular memories and discourses. This process will eventually help learners of English reflect on who they have been, understand who they are now, and envision who they want to be.
Accelerated testing of powerful electrovacuum devices
Authors: Lisenkov A. A. , Pryalukhin E. D. , Kostrin D. K.
Published: June 2018

In this paper the factors influencing the service life of powerful generating lamps are considered. Possibilities of accelerated testing of the devices with the purpose of saving time and resources are described. The methodology and design of the research stand for accelerated testing are presented. Results of a study of the processes of mutual diffusion of the materials of the grid mesh and antiemission coating are shown. Criteria to evaluate the lifetime of the powerful electrovacuum devices are given.
The Tone of Nursing Home Portrayal in 51 Newspapers in the United States
Authors: Miller Edward Alan , Ronneberg Corina R. , Livingstone Ian
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze and describe the tone of media coverage of the nursing home sector and its relationship to other dimensions of the coverage reported. Through a search of the LexisNexis database, 16,280 articles were identified from 51 U.S. newspapers from 1999 to 2008. Articles were analyzed for tone, themes, prominence, central actor, and issue jurisdiction. Multinomial logit was used to examine the correlates of tone. Most articles were negative (36.9 percent) or neutral (45.5 percent) in tone; very few were positive (12.6 percent) or mixed (5.0 percent). Differences in tone were noted with regard to article placement and content. Findings highlight the preponderance of negative coverage and suggest that its adverse influence on public attitudes toward nursing homes may be enhanced by its prominence and focus on state/local concerns and industry interests/behavior. Future research should examine the relationship between media coverage and government agendas and outcomes related to nursing homes.
Cover Image, Volume 10, Issue 4
Authors: Pellow Carly , Goertz David E. , Zheng Gang
Published: June 2018

The cover image, by Carly Pellow et al., is based on the Opinion Breaking free from vascular confi nement: status and prospects for submicron ultrasound contrast agents, DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1502.

image
Cover Image, Volume 9, Issue 4
Authors: Shirokikh Nikolay E. , Preiss Thomas
Published: June 2018

The cover image, by Nikolay E. Shirokikh and Thomas Preiss, is based on the Overview Translation initiation by capdependent ribosome recruitment: Recent insights and open questions, DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1473. Image Credit: Dr. Cheryl Li, The Babraham Institute.

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Analytic inclusion of the scale dependence of the anomalous dimension matrix in Standard Model Effective Theory
Authors: Buras Andrzej J. , Jung Martin
Published: June 2018

Abstract

The renormalization group equations (RGEs) in Standard Model effective theory are usually either solved analytically, neglecting the scale dependence of gauge and Yukawa couplings, or numerically without such approximations. We present analytic solutions of RGEs that take into account the dominant scale dependence of the anomalous-dimension matrix due to the running of the QCD coupling α

s
and of the top-Yukawa coupling. We consider first the case for which a given operator is generated directly through mixing with the parent operator whose Wilson coefficient is non-vanishing at the new physics scale. Subsequently we consider the case of two-step running, in which two operators do not mix directly, but only via a third mediator operator. We generalize these solutions to an arbitrary number of operators and show how even in this case analytic solutions can be obtained.
N = 4 super-Schwarzian theory on the coadjoint orbit and PSU(1,1|2)
Authors: Aoyama Shogo , Honda Yuco
Published: June 2018

Abstract

An N = 4 super-Schwarzian theory is formulated by the coadjoint orbit method. It is discovered that the action has symmetry under PSU(1,1|2).
A best-practice position statement on pregnancy after kidney transplantation: focusing on the unsolved questions. The Kidney and Pregnancy Study Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology
Authors: Cabiddu Gianfranca , Spotti Donatella , Gernone Giuseppe , Santoro Domenico , Moroni Gabriella , Gregorini Gina , Giacchino Franca , Attini Rossella , Limardo Monica , Gammaro Linda , Todros Tullia , Piccoli Giorgina Barbara ,   The Kidney and Pregnancy Study Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology
Published: June 2018

Kidney transplantation (KT) is often considered to be the method best able to restore fertility in a woman with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, pregnancies in KT are not devoid of risks (in particular prematurity, small for gestational age babies, and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy). An ideal profile of the potential KT mother includes “normal” or “good” kidney function (usually defined as glomerular filtration rate, GFR ≥ 60 ml/min), scant or no proteinuria (usually defined as below 500 mg/dl), normal or well controlled blood pressure (one drug only and no sign of end-organ damage), no recent acute rejection, good compliance and low-dose immunosuppression, without the use of potentially teratogen drugs (mycophenolic acid and m-Tor inhibitors) and an interval of at least 1–2 years after transplantation. In this setting, there is little if any risk of worsening of the kidney function. Less is known about how to manage “non-ideal” situations, such as a pregnancy a short time after KT, or one in the context of hypertension or a failing kidney. The aim of this position statement by the Kidney and Pregnancy Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology is to review the literature and discuss what is known about the clinical management of CKD after KT, with particular attention to women who start a pregnancy in non-ideal conditions. While the experience in such cases is limited, the risks of worsening the renal function are probably higher in cases with markedly reduced kidney function, and in the presence of proteinuria. Well-controlled hypertension alone seems less relevant for outcomes, even if its effect is probably multiplicative if combined with low GFR and proteinuria. As in other settings of kidney disease, superimposed preeclampsia (PE) is differently defined and this impairs calculating its real incidence. No specific difference between non-teratogen immunosuppressive drugs has been shown, but calcineurin inhibitors have been associated with foetal growth restriction and low birth weight. The clinical choices in cases at high risk for malformations or kidney function impairment (pregnancies under mycophenolic acid or with severe kidney-function impairment) require merging clinical and ethical approaches in which, beside the mother and child dyad, the grafted kidney is a crucial “third element”.
Current understanding of magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers and memory in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bayram Ece , Caldwell Jessica Z.K. , Banks Sarah J.
Published: June 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by a cascade of changes to brain integrity. Neuroimaging biomarkers are important in diagnosis and monitoring the effects of interventions. As memory impairments are among the first symptoms of AD, the relationship between imaging findings and memory deficits is important in biomarker research. The most established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding is hippocampal atrophy, which is related to memory decline and currently used as a diagnostic criterion for AD. While the medial temporal lobes are impacted early by the spread of neurofibrillary tangles, other networks and regional changes can be found quite early in the progression. Atrophy in several frontal and parietal regions, cortical thinning, and white matter alterations correlate with memory deficits in early AD. Changes in activation and connectivity have been detected by functional MRI (fMRI). Task‐based fMRI studies have revealed medial temporal lobe hypoactivation, parietal hyperactivation, and frontal hyperactivation in AD during memory tasks, and activation patterns of these regions are also altered in preclinical and prodromal AD. Resting state fMRI has revealed alterations in default mode network activity related to memory in early AD. These studies are limited in part due to the historic inclusion of patients who had suspected AD but likely did not have the disorder. Modern biomarkers allow for more diagnostic certainty, allowing better understanding of neuroimaging markers in true AD, even in the preclinical stage. Larger patient cohorts, comparison of candidate imaging biomarkers to more established biomarkers, and inclusion of more detailed neuropsychological batteries to assess multiple aspects of memory are needed to better understand the memory deficit in AD and help develop new biomarkers. This article reviews MRI findings related to episodic memory impairments in AD and introduces a new study with multimodal imaging and comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluation to overcome current limitations.
Non-commutative ergodic averages of balls and spheres over Euclidean spaces
Authors: HONG GUIXIANG
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we establish a non-commutative analogue of Calderón’s transference principle, which allows us to deduce the non-commutative maximal ergodic inequalities from the special case—operator-valued maximal inequalities. As applications, we deduce the non-commutative Stein–Calderón maximal ergodic inequality and the dimension-free estimates of the non-commutative Wiener maximal ergodic inequality over Euclidean spaces. We also show the corresponding individual ergodic theorems. To show Wiener’s pointwise ergodic theorem, following a somewhat standard way we construct a dense subset on which pointwise convergence holds. To show Jones’ pointwise ergodic theorem, we use again the transference principle together with the Littlewood–Paley method, which is different from Jones’ original variational method that is still unavailable in the non-commutative setting.
Beclouding Party Position as an Electoral Strategy: Voter Polarization, Issue Priority and Position Blurring
Authors: Han Kyung Joon
Published: June 2018

Why do political parties present vague positions? We suggest that voter polarization provides them incentives to present either clear or vague positions, and the choice between these two is determined by the priority of an issue for the parties. We find that facing voter polarization, Western European political parties present clearer positions on an issue when it is a prime issue for them, but blur their positions when it is a secondary issue. Then, position blurring gives different implications to party systems with different degrees of issue dimensionality (such as American vs Western European party systems). The results also imply that political parties will respond to ongoing voter polarization on economic and immigration issues differently in the clarity of their position.
SEVEN TEXTUAL NOTES ONSEVEN AGAINST THEBES
Authors: Liapis Vayos J.
Published: June 2018

The following notes concern textual problems in the prologue andparodosof Aeschylus’Seven against Thebes. The text and apparatus criticus are based on those of M.L. West,Aeschylus: Tragoediae(Stuttgart and Leipzig, 1990; corrected edition, 1998).
SIGNATURE-BASED INFORMATION MEASURES OF MULTI-STATE NETWORKS
Authors: Zarezadeh S. , Asadi M. , Eftekhar S.
Published: June 2018

The signature matrix of an n-component three-state network (system), which depends only on the network structure, is a useful tool for comparing the reliability and stochastic properties of networks. In this paper, we consider a three-state network with states up, partial performance, and down. We assume that the network remains in state up, for a random time T1 and then moves to state partial performance until it fails at time T>T1. The signature-based expressions for the conditional entropy of T given T1, the joint entropy, Kullback-Leibler (K-L) information, and mutual information of the lifetimes T and T1 are presented. It is shown that the K-L information, and mutual information between T1 and T depend only on the network structure (i.e., depend only to the signature matrix of the network). Some signature-based stochastic comparisons are also made to compare the K-L of the state lifetimes in two different three-state networks. Upper and lower bounds for the K-L divergence and mutual information between T1 and T are investigated. Finally the results are extended to n-component multi-state networks. Several examples are examined graphically and numerically.
Made in Empire: Finding the History of International Law in Imperial Locations
Authors: BENTON LAUREN
Published: June 2018

A wave of interdisciplinary scholarship in the last two decades has managed to place empires at the center of the history of international law. This article surveys key insights resulting from this move and assesses remaining challenges. In explaining how the study of law in particular imperial locations can illuminate global legal transformations, the article identifies cross-cutting themes of articles in this special volume.
Geography, Early Modern Colonialism and Central Europe’s Atlantic Trade
Authors: Weber Klaus
Published: June 2018

Only during the last decade or so has Germany been considered more systematically as a factor in European Expansion from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. The effects of the Price Revolution – a decline in wages and prices stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Central and Eastern Europe – favoured the growth of labour-intensive cottage industries, largely in the textile sector. Central Europe’s geographic features – reliable precipitation supports forestry and feeds rivers, providing hydro-energy for machines and transport lanes from hinterlands to maritime ports – favoured energy-intensive production of steel-, brass- and glass-ware, all destined for colonial markets and for the barter trade against slaves from the West African coast. Early on, these commodity flows and commercial networks had integrated German territories into the colonial empires of the Western sea powers, laying the groundwork for the colonial adventures of the Wilhelmine Empire.