bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wire‐Like Tip‐To‐Tip Linked Assemblies of CdSe‐CdS Quantum Rods Promoted on Supramolecular Nanofibers of Hybrid Organo‐ and Hydrogels
Authors: Chakrabarty Arkajyoti , Maity Mitasree , Raffy Guillaume , Marre Samuel , Aymonier Cyril , Maitra Uday , Del Guerzo André
Published: August 2019

A variety of core‐shell CdSe‐CdS nanorods or quantum rods (QRs), both sphere (CdSe) in rod (CdS) and rod (CdSe) in rod (CdS) have been synthesized in a seeded‐growth approach using a very efficient and highly thermally stable steroidal cadmium precursor replacing the more common CdO: cadmium deoxycholate. The core‐shell QRs display high photoluminescence quantum yields (40–75%) and high molar absorption co‐efficient (ϵ=106 M−1 cm−1). Sphere‐in‐rods QRs can be co‐assembled with the organogelator diethylaminolithocholyl iodide in 1,2‐dichlorobenzene and with the hydrogelator calcium cholate in water to form hybrid gels. These organic‐inorganic hybrid soft materials are translucent and brightly red‐luminescent. The nanofibers composing the gel network act as a scaffold to support the dispersed QRs and impede their self‐aggregation. Furthermore, formation of original wire‐like assemblies of the nanorods is promoted in these gels, in particular in the hydrogel. This orientation occurs by a QR tip‐to‐tip interaction and is proposed to be driven by the amphiphilic behaviour of the QRs: laterally capped by negatively charged TGA (thioglycolic acid) ligands and un‐capped on the tips due to TGA unbinding. The combination of nanofiber‐forming hydrogelators and elongated quantum rods is promising in the perspective to form hybrid nanostructures with anisotropic optic or electronic properties.
ABC algorithm‐based trustworthy energy‐efficient MIMO routing protocol
Authors: D Sathian.
Published: August 2019

This paper introduces artificial bee algorithm (ABC)‐based energy‐efficient protocol with security for the enhancement of lifetime of wireless sensor network. A trustworthy energy‐efficient routing MIMO (TEEM) technique is used by implementing MIMO technique in TEER protocol to isolate malicious nodes and to reduce the fading effects and interference in the network. The performance of ABC‐based trustworthy energy‐efficient MIMO routing (ABC‐TEEM) protocol is analysed. Alive node performance, residual energy, throughput analysis, and pocket loss rate of ABC‐TEEM protocol for WSN are computed and compared with the performance of existing TEEM protocol for various diversity orders.
Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Micronutrients in Different Vegetable Oils
Authors: Liu Ruijie , Lu Mengyao , Zhang Tao , Zhang Zhiyan , Jin Qingzhe , Chang Ming , Wang Xingguo
Published: August 2019

Micronutrients (tocols, sterols, and total phenolic) and antioxidant activities of 15 varieties of common vegetable oil samples obtained from different countries are investigated. All methanol extracts are assayed for total antioxidant ability and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and CAA assay. CAA has been widely used in the evaluation of food antioxidants recently. It quantifies antioxidant capacity utilizing a HepG2 cell model, which is more biologically representative. Linseed and sesame oils show much higher CAA values than the others tested; however, levels of walnut, sunflower, and coconut oils are extremely low, which are hard to be quantified. A significant correlation between the ORAC and CAA values and total phenolic content (p < 0.05) is observed. High‐phenolic olive oil has the highest level of phenolics and the highest ORAC, while linseed oil has the highest CAA value. Based on this, choosing proper edible oil consumption may reduce oxidative damage of human body and promote the precision processing of edible oil such as retaining beneficial ingredients moderately.

Practical Application: This study demonstrates the evaluation of the universality of vegetable oils by the cellular antioxidant model and provides a data reference for the selection of edible oils with excellent antioxidant properties.
Metal‐Free Deoxygenation of α‐Hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds and Beyond
Authors: Pichon Maëva M. , Hazelard Damien , Compain Philippe
Published: August 2019

Efficient deoxygenation methods are needed now more than ever in the chemist's toolbox to convert biomass‐derived molecules such as carbohydrates into useful chemicals. Late‐stage deoxygenation of drug candidates constitutes also an interesting option to fine tune their drug‐like properties. Metal‐based processes, as exemplified by the Barton–McCombie reaction, have long dominated the field. The development of metal‐free alcohol deoxygenation reactions represents however a challenge that has to be tackled to circumvent drawbacks associated with metal‐based reagents including cost and toxicity. Deoxygenation of alcohols may be assisted by the presence in α‐position of an electron‐withdrawing group. This review provides an overview of metal‐free methods that have been developed in the past decades for the direct, one‐step deoxygenation of α‐hydroxyl carbonyl compounds.
A Ni–Ir Dual Photocatalytic Liebeskind Coupling of Sulfonium Salts for the Synthesis of 2‐Benzylpyrrolidines
Authors: Varga Bálint , Gonda Zsombor , Tóth Balázs L. , Kotschy András , Novák Zoltán
Published: August 2019

A new method has been developed for the synthesis of 2‐benzylpyrrolidines utilizing cross‐coupling and photoredox catalysis. Using a well‐established dual Ni–Ir system, we were able to successfully couple benzylsulfonium salts with proline utilizing radical forming through CO2 extrusion. This enabled the simple one‐step synthesis of 2‐benzylpyrrolidines from stable, inexpensive starting materials.
Oxidative Olefination of Benzylamine with an Active Methylene Compound Mediated by Hypervalent Iodine (III)
Authors: Rupanawar Bapurao D. , Veetil Sruthi M. , Suryavanshi Gurunath
Published: August 2019

Hypervalent iodine‐mediated oxidative olefination of amines with an active methylene compound provides a rapid gateway towards the formation of electrophilic alkenes under mild reaction conditions in good to excellent yields. This is an efficient protocol for the preparation of substituted electrophilic alkenes.
Site‐Selective C(sp3)–H Functionalization of Fluorinated Alkanes Driven by Polar Effects Using a Tungstate Photocatalyst
Authors: Fukuyama Takahide , Nishikawa Tomohiro , Ryu Ilhyong
Published: August 2019

The TBADT‐catalyzed C(sp3)–H functionalization of perfluorophenyl‐ and perfluoroalkyl‐substituted alkanes was studied to determine how the fluorous substituents affect site‐selectivity. Alkylation of alkyl‐substituted perfluorobenzene avoids α‐C–H bonds, unlike their alkylbenzene counterparts, allowing site‐selective functionalization of C–H bonds remote to the aromatic ring. Alkylation of alkanes having a perfluoroalkyl group also avoided α‐C–H bonds. Radical polar effects in the SH2 transition states could explain this avoidance of α‐C–H functionalization.
Efficient Continuous Production of the Biofuel Additive 5‐(t‐Butoxymethyl) Furfural from 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Pardo Cuervo Oscar H. , Simeonov Svilen P. , Peixoto Andreia F. , Popova Margarita D. , Lazarova Hristina I. , Romanelli Gustavo P. , Martínez José J. , Freire Cristina , Afonso Carlos A. M.
Published: August 2019

The catalytic etherification of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with t‐butanol to a biofuel additive 5‐(t‐butoxymethyl) furfural (t‐BMF) is studied by screening 27 heterogeneous protic and/or Lewis acids. Preyssler heteropolyacid H14[NaP5W30O110] and Montmorillonite‐based CLOI_CSP catalysts are identified as the most efficient ones, allowing the etherification to reach the t‐BMF/HMF equilibrium faster (≈1:1), thus promoting minimum side reactions. Further optimization of the batch experimental conditions, namely catalyst loading, temperature, HMF concentration, time, t‐BMF stability, and additives, allows the t‐BMF/HMF equilibrium to be reached in less than 3 h with outstanding selectivity >95%. Under optimized conditions, CLOI_CSP is reused for four cycles without significant loss of efficiency. In addition, it exhibits high efficiency under flow conditions, allowing continuous production of t‐BMF up to 0.7 g t‐BMF g−1 catalyst min−1 at high concentrations of HMF.
Potential of plant‐based photosensitizers in dye‐sensitized solar cell applications
Authors: Mary Rosana Nalzala Thomas , Joshua Amarnath Duvvuru , Senthil Kumar Ponnusamy , Vincent Joseph Kaniyambatti Lourdusamy
Published: August 2019

In this work, the performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been investigated using the extracts from Murraya koenigii, Plectranthus amboinicus, and Coriandrum sativum. The DSSCs were assembled with the extracts, titanium dioxide as the working electrode, iodide/tri‐iodide (I3−/I−) as redox couple, and platinum as the counter electrode and their photovoltaic performances were compared. The crude chlorophyll photosensitizer extracted from Plectranthus amboinicus exhibited an open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 637 mV, a short‐circuit current density of 0.99 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.63, and an energy conversion efficiency of 0.46%. The present results were much higher than the previously reported results by our group.
Smart‐city medium access for smart mobility applications in Internet of Things
Authors: Al‐Turjman Fadi
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we target the wireless medium access problem under rapid mobility conditions in smart cities. We take advantage of cloud computing and put forward an agile vehicular cloud and mobile Internet of Things communication framework. The framework is employing the standardized Long Term Evolution (LTE) while improving the quality of service (QoS) in modern mobile applications. It minimizes the communication delay and error rates in smart real‐time transportation applications while maintaining the highest network throughput via enhanced medium access protocol. The objective of this study is to improve the connection between the vehicles and the roadside units, which are equipped with real‐time devices. The proposed approach integrates Markovian process with IEEE 802.16 to analyze various QoS metrics, namely throughput, error rate, and the average packet delay.
Process optimization and kinetics of deep fat frying conditions of sausage processed from goat meat using response surface methodology
Authors: Sobowale Sunday Samuel , Olayanju Tajudeen Adeniyi , Mulaba‐Bafubiandi Antoine Floribert
Published: August 2019

This study investigated the effects and optimization of cooking time (30, 45, 60 min), frying temperature (150, 170, 190°C) and time (3, 6, 9 min) on the quality (moisture content, moisture loss, fat and protein content, color), textural, and sensory characteristics of deep fat fried goat meat sausage by response surface methodology (RSM) using a three‐level Box–Behnken design. The kinetic of moisture loss and fat absorption were also determined using first‐order equation. The goat meat was precooked and fried using a 2.5‐L electric deep fryer with a temperature control of ± 10°C. The results showed that all the quality, textural, and sensory characteristics of goat meat sausage investigated were significantly influenced (p < .05) by the frying conditions. The effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 1.22 × 10–8 to 2.84 × 10–8 m2/s and 2.43 × 10–9 to 1.22 × 10‐8m2/s for the moisture loss and fat absorption, respectively. Activation energies estimated were 71.04 to 77.76 KJ/mol and 65.82 to 67.2 KJ/mol, respectively. The frying kinetics obeyed the first‐order rate constant, and the temperature dependency of moisture loss was higher compared to fat absorption of the fried goat meat sausage in all the samples. The optimal conditions for the deep fat frying of goat meat sausage were achieved using cooking time of 45 min fat frying temperature of 150°C and time of 9 min with (R2 > 0.9) and were the most preferred sausage sample and accepted by the sensory panelists. This study has shown that the optimal frying conditions observed could be a viable alternative for the commercialization of quality goat meat sausages and other fried meat products in the food industry.
A study of the potential of using the Earth to air heat exchanger for cooling and heating of residential buildings in Iraq
Authors: Hasan Mushtaq I. , Noori Sajad W.
Published: August 2019

The Earth to air heat exchanger (EAHE) is an effective passive cooling and heating system for buildings. This paper studied numerically the potential for reduction in energy consumption for cooling and heating loads for a residence equipped with an EAHE system in the climate of Nasiriya city, which is located in southern Iraq and at 31.7°N and 45.8°E, latitude and longitude, respectively. Also, this paper presents a study about the thermal performance of three types of EAHE systems, system 1, consisting of one layer of EAHE and buried at an available area of house garden with 3‐m depth, system 2, at the same site of system 1, but with two layers of EAHE at two depths, 3 and 4 m, and finally, system 3, buried along the area of the house at a depth of 3 m. First, the built numerical model was validated against experimental results, and the results of the comparison showed good agreement. The electricity consumption for cooling and heating of the house is calculated with and without the EAHE system. The results showed that with using EAHE, there is a considerable saving in energy and saving in the cost of electricity consumption, which reached 376 329 IQD ($301.11) over 1 year for system 2.
Leveraging Adolescents’ Agency, Engagement, and Comprehension‐Focused Reading
Authors: Frankel Katherine K. , Ward Alessandra E. , Fields Susan S.
Published: August 2019

The authors featured in this department column share instructional practices that support transformative literacy teaching and disrupt “struggling reader” and “struggling writer” labels.
Practitioner Researcher and Agency
Authors: Marsh Josephine Peyton , Gonzalez Deborah
Published: August 2019

This forum highlights research that literacy teachers, students, and others can explore, use, or adapt as they provide literacy instruction and develop related programs and research agendas.
Constructing cocyclic Hadamard matrices of order 4p
Authors: Barrera Acevedo Santiago , Ó Catháin Padraig , Dietrich Heiko
Published: August 2019

Cocyclic Hadamard matrices (CHMs) were introduced by de Launey and Horadam as a class of Hadamard matrices (HMs) with interesting algebraic properties. Ó Catháin and Röder described a classification algorithm for CHMs of order based on relative difference sets in groups of order ; this led to the classification of all CHMs of order at most 36. On the basis of work of de Launey and Flannery, we describe a classification algorithm for CHMs of order with a prime; we prove refined structure results and provide a classification for . Our analysis shows that every CHM of order with is equivalent to a HM with one of five distinct block structures, including Williamson‐type and (transposed) Ito matrices. If , then every CHM of order is equivalent to a Williamson‐type or (transposed) Ito matrix.
7th Euro Evo Devo meeting: Report on the “Evolution of regeneration in Metazoa” symposium
Authors: Gazave Eve , Röttinger Eric
Published: August 2019

Regeneration, the ability to restore lost parts of the body, is a widespread phenomenon in animals. While this ability is somehow limited in classical developmental model organisms, a variety of animals are able to regenerate complex structures such as limbs or important parts of their body, upon injury. Despite the recent emergence of regenerative studies using a large variety of metazoans, we still lack a general view of the evolution of animal regeneration. In the context of the 7th EvoDevo meeting that took place in June 2018 in Galway, Ireland, the “Evolution of regeneration in Metazoa” symposium gathered scientists studying the regenerative potential of evolutionarily distant animal species.
Global implementation of PrEP for HIV prevention: setting expectations for impact
Authors: Pyra Maria N , Haberer Jessica E , Hasen Nina , Reed Jason , Mugo Nelly R , Baeten Jared M
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Questions remain whether HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can be translated into a successful public health intervention, leading to a decrease in population‐level HIV incidence. We use examples from HIV treatment and contraceptives to discuss expectations for PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence and their combined impact on the epidemic.

Discussion

Targets for PrEP uptake must be based on the local HIV epidemic and will depend on appropriate estimates of the key populations at risk for HIV. However, there is evidence that targets, once established, can successfully be met and that uptake may increase with awareness. Messaging around adherence should include that daily adherence is the goal (except for those MSM for whom event‐driven dosing is a good fit), but perfect adherence should not be a barrier. Ideally, clients persist on PrEP for as long as they are at risk for HIV. While PrEP will be most effective when coverage is focused on high‐risk populations, normalizing rather than stigmatizing PrEP will be highly beneficial.

Conclusions

While many challenges to PrEP implementation exist, we focused on the three key steps of uptake, adherence and persistence as measurable processes that can lead to improved coverage and decreased HIV incidence.
Water in protein hydration and ligand recognition
Authors: Maurer Manuela , Oostenbrink Chris
Published: August 2019

This review describes selected basics of water in biomolecular recognition. We focus on a qualitative understanding of the most important physical aspects, how these change in magnitude between bulk water and protein environment, and how the roles that water plays for proteins arise from them. These roles include mechanical support, thermal coupling, dielectric screening, mass and charge transport, and the competition with a ligand for the occupation of a binding site. The presence or absence of water has ramifications that range from the thermodynamic binding signature of a single ligand up to cellular survival. The large inhomogeneity in water density, polarity and mobility around a solute is hard to assess in experiment. This is a source of many difficulties in the solvation of protein models and computational studies that attempt to elucidate or predict ligand recognition. The influence of water in a protein binding site on the experimental enthalpic and entropic signature of ligand binding is still a point of much debate. The strong water‐water interaction in enthalpic terms is counteracted by a water molecule's high mobility in entropic terms. The complete arrest of a water molecule's mobility sets a limit on the entropic contribution of a water displacement process, while the solvent environment sets limits on ligand reactivity.
Ethanol Lock Therapy Markedly Reduces Catheter‐Related Blood Stream Infections in Adults Requiring Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Retrospective Study From a Tertiary Medical Center
Authors: Gundogan Kursat , Dave Nisha J. , Griffith Daniel P. , Zhao Vivian M. , McNally Therese A. , Easley Kirk A. , Haack Carla I. , Galloway John R. , Ziegler Thomas R.
Published: August 2019

Background

The use of central venous catheter (CVC) access for home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is associated with catheter‐related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). There are limited data on the use of ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to prevent CRBSI in adult HPN patients. Our aim was to determine whether the routine institution of ELT decreased the incidence of CRBSI compared with historic controls at Emory University Hospital (EUH) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Methods

EUH medical records of adult HPN patients discharged with a tunneled, silicone CVC on ELT were retrospectively studied during a pre‐hoc determined 14‐month observation period (n = 87; 13,386 catheter days) and compared with clinically similar HPN patients from the same institution before institution of the ELT protocol for all appropriate patients. The ELT protocol involved instilling 2 mL of 70% ethanol into each catheter lumen daily after the HPN cycle, following initial flushing with normal saline.

Results

Only 5 of 87 patients (5.7%) who received ELT were diagnosed with a CRBSI (0.45/1000 catheter days) during observation. We compared these data with our previously published clinically matched patient population from EUH (n = 22) receiving HPN via a silicone CVC without ELT. Of these historical controls, 45.5% were diagnosed with 1 or more CRBSIs (8.7/1000 catheter days) during observation (P < .001 vs the current ELT cohort).

Conclusions

In this retrospective study with historical controls from the same academic center, institution of ELT in adults requiring HPN via a silicone CVC was associated with a marked (19‐fold) reduction in CRBSI.
Underwater polarization‐based single pixel imaging
Authors: Wu Houde , Zhao Ming , Li Fengqiang , Tian Zhiming , Zhao Meijing
Published: August 2019

This paper extends single pixel imaging (SPI) to underwater scenario. Backscattering, which is a limiting factor for underwater imaging, is analyzed for the SPI, and the forward model of SPI under backscattering is formulated. Inspired by the polarization‐based descattering technique, we propose the two cross‐polarization SPI detection scheme to eliminate the backscattering light. The descattered image is reconstructed from the cross‐polarization data. Experimentally, we construct the underwater polarization‐based single‐pixel imaging system. And we test our scheme under different turbidity water. It is shown in experiments that our method can provide a clear image at turbid water of 32FTU, where the classical SPI has been severely contaminated by the backscattering, even under the best the polarization state.
The Spectrum of Movement Disorders in 18‐p Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Vela‐Desojo Lydia , Rojo‐Sebastian Ana , Baron‐Rubio Manuel , Badenes Dolors
Published: August 2019

View Supplementary Video 1

View Supplementary Video 2
SOD3 overexpression alleviates cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Sun Shuaiqi , Gao Ning , Hu Xiqi , Luo Han , Peng Jun , Xia Ying
Published: August 2019

Background

Ischemic stroke is a deadly disease that poses a serious threat to human life. Superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3, ECSOD) is the main antioxidant enzyme that removes superoxide anions from cells. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SOD3 overexpression on cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rats.

Methods

GV230‐EGFP‐ECSOD, the recombinant SOD3‐overexpressed vector, was constructed by genetic engineering technology, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were infected with lentiviral packaging. In animal experiment, cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury model rats were successfully established. ECSOD‐MSCs are the MSCs that successfully transfected with SOD3 overexpression vector. The animals were injected with ECSOD‐MSCs (ECSOD‐MSC group), normal MSCs (MSCs group), PBS (PBS group), and not do any processing (Model group) via the tail vein. Then MRI was used to detect the infarct volume of rats, modified Neurological Severity Scores (mNSS), and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of neurological function and apoptosis‐related genes in rats.

Results

Western blot analysis revealed that the SOD3 was highly expressed in MSCs. Animal experiments showed that the transplantation of ECSOD‐MSCs significantly reduced the infarct volume of ischemic stroke rats (p < 0.05), significantly improved neurological function in rats (p < 0.05), and found proapoptotic gene, Bax, expression was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), the expression of anti‐apoptotic gene, Bcl‐2, was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The highly expressed SOD3 has no correction with brain infarct volume, and the highly expressed SOD3 has a positive correlation with cell apoptosis. It is speculated that overexpression of SOD3 affects the expression of Bax and Bcl‐2, and improves apoptosis to alleviate ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that MSCs transfected with SOD3 can effectively alleviate cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rats.
Pectoralis major turnover flap based on thoracoacromial vessels for sternal dehiscence
Authors: Goishi Keiichi , Harada Hiroshi , Keyama Tsuyoshi , Tsuda Tatsuya , Hashimoto Ichiro
Published: August 2019

Background

Reconstruction of long and deep sternal defects has been challenging. The pectoralis major can be used in the conventional turnover method that requires the internal thoracic vessel. We developed a new turnover pectoralis major flap based on thoracoacromial vessels. The purpose of this report is to present results from 14 patients.

Methods

Fourteen patients with a mean age of 73.6 years (range, 53–83 years) who had sternal defects underwent reconstruction via this procedure. The defects were caused by mediastinitis and sternal osteomyelitis in six and eight patients, respectively. The internal thoracic artery (ITA) was harvested in two patients. The mean defect size was 2.4 × 15.5 cm (ranging 1–4.3 × 13–18 cm). After elevation of the lateral border of the muscle and ligation of the third to fifth perforators from ITA, the lateral side was turned over and the medial lower portion of the flap was additionally transplanted to the defect.

Results

The mean flap size was 10.7 × 18 cm (ranging 9–13 × 15–21 cm). For 11 patients, defects healed without any complications. Discharge after flap reconstruction was observed in three patients, two of whom were managed using conservative treatments. Only one patient who needed additional debridement required transplantation of the contralateral pectoral major flap.

Conclusions

This muscle flap is nourished primarily by the thoracoacromial vessel. The long length and large volume of the muscle flap could be successfully turned over with this procedure even in patients that had their internal thoracic artery sacrificed.
Sense, sense‐ability, and all that Mokken jazz
Authors: Boegle Aimee K. , Narayanaswami Pushpa
Published: August 2019

See article on pages 520–527 in this issue.
High maternal selenium levels are associated with increased risk of congenital heart defects in the offspring
Authors: Guo Yixiong , Yu Ping , Zhu Jun , Yang Shuihua , Yu Jing , Deng Ying , Li Nana , Liu Zhen
Published: August 2019

Objective

To examine whether maternal hair or cord blood selenium levels are associated with infant congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Method

A hospital‐based case‐control study was performed with samples collected from 2010 to 2014. Selenium levels in maternal hair and fetal cord serum were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Data from medical records of infants with CHDs were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the independent association between maternal selenium exposure and fetal CHD.

Results

In total, 888 pregnant women were included in this study. Median (interquartile range) selenium levels in of maternal hair was similar in the control and CHD group. A significant association was detected between increased maternal hair selenium concentration and CHDs in offspring (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.57, 95 %CI, 1.90‐6.70). The association was present in all CHD groups, including septal defects, conotruncal defects, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Conclusion

High maternal selenium level is significantly associated with the occurrence of fetal CHD.
Interfacing neural constructs with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology: ‘Why' and ‘how'
Authors: Perkins Emily R. , Latzman Robert D. , Patrick Christopher J.
Published: August 2019

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) represents a crucial step forward in the empirical refinement of psychiatric nosology. Although grounded in factor analyses of clinical symptoms and affiliated traits, HiTOP encourages research using measures of other types, including neural‐system variables, to clarify coherent processes contributing to the hierarchical structure of psychopathology. However, systematic strategies for interfacing HiTOP dimensions with neural‐system variables have not been put forth. We discuss reasons for considering neurobiological systems in relation to HiTOP (i.e. ‘why') and propose alternative strategies that might be used to develop an interface between HiTOP and neurobiology (i.e. ‘how'). In particular, we highlight potential advantages and limitations of establishing this interface through reference to (i) HiTOP dimensions themselves, or conventional personality trait models linked to HiTOP; (ii) alternative trait constructs designed to link conventional personality models and neurobiological measures; and (iii) mechanistic models of neurobiological processes relevant to HiTOP constructs, derived from computational modelling. We discuss the importance of establishing an interface between HiTOP and neurobiology to develop a more comprehensive, mechanistic understanding of psychopathology and to guide the refinement of the HiTOP model. Such efforts have the potential to guide the development and provision of effective, individualized psychological treatment.
Evaluation of a cuticle protein gene as a potential RNAi target in aphids
Authors: Shang Feng , Ding Bi‐Yue , Ye Chao , Yang Li , Chang Teng‐Yu , Xie Jiaqin , Tang Liang‐De , Niu Jinzhi , Wang Jin‐Jun
Published: August 2019

BACKGROUND

RNA interference (RNAi) has potential as a pest insect control technique. One possible RNAi target is the cuticle protein, which is important in insect molting and development. As an example, here we evaluate the possibility of designing double‐stranded RNA (RNA) that is effective for silencing the cuticle protein 19 gene (CP19) in aphids but is harmless to non‐target predator insects.

RESULTS

The sequences of CP19s were similar (86.6–94.4%) among the tested aphid species (Aphis citricidus, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and Myzus persicae) but different in the predator Propylaea japonica. Ingestion of species‐specific dsRNAs of CP19 by the three aphids produced 39.3–64.2% gene silencing and 45.8–55.8% mortality. Ingestion of non‐species‐specific dsRNA (dsAcCP19) by Ac. pisum and M. persicae gave gene silencing levels ranging from 40.4% to 50.3% and 43.3–50.8% mortality. The dsApCP19 did not affect PjCP19 expression or developmental duration in P. japonica.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that CP19 is a promising RNAi target for aphid control via one dsRNA design. The targeting of genes that are conserved in insect pests but not present in beneficial insects is a useful RNAi‐based pest control strategy. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
(Re)fashioning Philippine street foods and vending
Authors: Milgram B. Lynne
Published: August 2019

A hallmark of many Global South city streets is ambulant vendors' daily trade in prepared and fresh foods. Yet governments often restrict such informal and sometimes illegal enterprises, privileging instead privatized and sanitized streetscapes—policies that disrupt urbanites' livelihoods and their consumption options. Engaging these issues, this article analyzes how street food vendors in Baguio, northern Philippines, mitigate the constraints of government street vending bans to establish viable and alternative food provisioning enterprises. I explore how vendors' location‐responsive political, social, and economic practices interweave with new street market design and consumption patterns to yield a distinctive taste of place while underpinning livelihood sustainability. Exercising “street politics,” some banned vendors joined the established Harrison Road Night Market, while others collectively established distinctive storefront eateries. That city officials enabled the legitimacy of formerly illegal and informal street vendors by incorporating their enterprises into these registered commercial venues evidences officials' complicity in formalizing informality when this policy is to their advantage. I suggest that through their politics‐on‐the‐edge, Baguio's relocated street food vendors emerge as effective visible actors in public arenas that have largely excluded their voices in where, and the conditions within which, they work.
Permutation and Bayesian tests for testing random effects in linear mixed‐effects models
Authors: Rao Kaidi , Drikvandi Reza , Saville Benjamin
Published: August 2019

In many applications of linear mixed‐effects models to longitudinal and multilevel data especially from medical studies, it is of interest to test for the need of random effects in the model. It is known that classical tests such as the likelihood ratio, Wald, and score tests are not suitable for testing random effects because they suffer from testing on the boundary of the parameter space. Instead, permutation and bootstrap tests as well as Bayesian tests, which do not rely on the asymptotic distributions, avoid issues with the boundary of the parameter space. In this paper, we first develop a permutation test based on the likelihood ratio test statistic, which can be easily used for testing multiple random effects and any subset of them in linear mixed‐effects models. The proposed permutation test would be an extension to two existing permutation tests. We then aim to compare permutation tests and Bayesian tests for random effects to find out which test is more powerful under which situation. Nothing is known about this in the literature, although this is an important practical problem due to the usefulness of both methods in tackling the challenges with testing random effects. For this, we consider a Bayesian test developed using Bayes factors, where we also propose a new alternative computation for this Bayesian test to avoid some computational issue it encounters in testing multiple random effects. Extensive simulations and a real data analysis are used for evaluation of the proposed permutation test and its comparison with the Bayesian test. We find that both tests perform well, albeit the permutation test with the likelihood ratio statistic tends to provide a relatively higher power when testing multiple random effects.
Anionic Se‐Substitution toward High‐Performance CuS1−xSex Nanosheet Cathode for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries
Authors: Wang Zhitao , Zhu Youqi , Qiao Chen , Yang Shuo , Jia Jian , Rafai Souleymen , Ma Xilan , Wu Shide , Ji Fengqiu , Cao Chuanbao
Published: August 2019

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (rMBs) are promising as the most ideal further energy storage systems but lack competent cathode materials due to sluggish redox reaction kinetics. Herein, developed is an anionic Se‐substitution strategy to improve the rate capability and the cycling stability of 2D CuS1−xSex nanosheet cathodes through an efficient microwave‐induced heating method. The optimized CuS1−xSex (X = 0.2) nanosheet cathode can exhibit high reversible capacity of 268.5 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1 and good cycling stability (140.4 mAh g−1 at 300 mA g−1 upon 100 cycles). Moreover, the CuS1−xSex (X = 0.2) nanosheet cathode can deliver remarkable rate capability with a reversible capacity of 119.2 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1, much higher than the 21.7 mAh g−1 of pristine CuS nanosheets. The superior electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the enhanced reaction kinetics, enriched cation storage active sites, and shortened ion diffusion pathway of the CuS1−xSex nanosheet. Therefore, tuning anionic chemical composition demonstrates an effective strategy to develop novel cathode materials for rMBs.
Tools of the Ethylene Trade: A Chemical Kit to Influence Ethylene Responses in Plants and Its Use in Agriculture
Authors: Depaepe Thomas , Van Der Straeten Dominique
Published: August 2019

The simplest unsaturated hydrocarbon, ethylene or ethene, is one of the most widely produced organic chemicals worldwide. It serves as a building block for various materials and chemicals, including plastics, ethanol, detergents, and many more. Strikingly, it also acts as a signaling molecule in virtually all physiological processes and during all developmental stages in plant life. Plant biologists consider ethylene to have a tripartite role in plant development; this gaseous molecule can serve as a plant growth regulator, an aging hormone, and as a stress controller, aiding in defense against both biotic and abiotic stressors. Therefore, the regulation of the ethylene status is indispensable in both agricultural and horticultural practices. Since its discovery as a phytohormone, many chemicals have been developed that are able to affect ethylene responses in plants. Here, an extensive overview of the current toolbox of ethylene regulators, their discovery, function, and applications in both the agri‐ and horticultural field is presented. Furthermore, possibilities and considerations related to novel small molecules, such as those emerging from the chemical genetics field, are discussed.
Transforming Growth Factor β-Activated Kinase 1 Regulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation Through Stabilization of Yap1/Taz Proteins
Authors: Onodera Yuta , Teramura Takeshi , Takehara Toshiyuki , Fukuda Kanji
Published: August 2019

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are multipotent stem cells capable of differentiation into a variety of cell types, proliferation, and production of clinically useful secretory factors. These advantages make BMMSCs highly useful for cell transplantation therapy. However, the molecular network underlying BMMSC proliferation remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that TGFβ-activated kinase 1 (Tak1) is a critical molecule that regulates the activation of cell cycling and that Tak1 inhibition leads to quiescence in BMMSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, Tak1 was phosphorylated by growth factor stimulations, allowing it to bind and stabilize Yap1/Taz, which could then be localized to the nucleus. We also demonstrated that the quiescence induction by inhibiting Tak1 increased oxidized stress tolerance and improved BMMSC engraftment in intramuscular and intrabone marrow cell transplantation models. This study reveals a novel pathway controlling BMMSC proliferation and suggests a useful method to improve the therapeutic effect of BMMSC transplantation. Stem Cells  2019;37:1595–1605
Virus‐like particles for vaccination against cancer
Authors: Mohsen Mona O. , Speiser Daniel E. , Knuth Alexander , Bachmann Martin F.
Published: August 2019

Active immunotherapy of cancer aims to treat the disease by inducing effective cellular and humoral immune responses. Virus‐like particle‐based vaccines have evolved dramatically over the last few decades, greatly reducing morbidity and mortality of several infectious diseases and expectedly preventing cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus. In contrast to these broad successes of disease prevention, therapeutic cancer vaccines remain to demonstrate clinical benefit. Yet, several preclinical and clinical trials have revealed promising results and are paving the way for medical breakthroughs. This study reviews and discusses the recent preclinical development and clinical trials in this field.

This article is categorized under:

Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus‐Based Structures

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Choices: Future Trade-Offs and Plausible Pathways
Authors: Lázár Attila N. , Hanson Susan E. , Nicholls Robert J. , Allan Andrew , Hutton Craig W. , Salehin Mashfiqus , Kebede Abiy S.
Published: August 2019

Policy development and management of deltas in the Anthropocene involves the consideration of trade-offs and the balancing of positive and negative consequences for delta functions and the societies that rely on them. This assessment outlines policy-driven and spatial trade-offs that dominate the landscape of choice. It highlights examples of such trade-offs using plausible delta futures and the governance choices associated with them. The analysis is based on modelling broad-scale processes and individual adaptive actions. It highlights how policy choices to maximise economic growth can, for example, have unforeseen consequences such as diminished well-being for some populations. Hence the chapter concludes that trade-offs are a crucial governance challenge for future sustainability of deltas.
The Volta Delta, Ghana: Challenges in an African Setting
Authors: Codjoe Samuel Nii Ardey , Appeaning Addo Kwasi , Addoquaye Tagoe Cynthia , Nyarko Benjamin Kofi , Martey Francisca , Nelson Winfred A. , Jayson-Quashigah Philip-Neri , Atiglo D. Yaw , Adjei Prince Osei-Wusu , Anderson Kirk , Mensah Adelina , Ofori-Danson Patrick K. , Amisigo Barnabas Akurigo , Ayamga Jennifer , Ekow Asmah Emmanuel , Asenso Joseph Kwadwo , Owusu Gertrude , Quaye Ruth Maku , Abu Mumuni
Published: August 2019

The Volta Delta has fragile biophysical features affected by damming the Volta River and sand mining among other anthropogenic activities. The disrupted ecosystem adversely impacts livelihoods although efforts have been employed to reduce these impacts including both infrastructure and policies. This chapter describes the biophysical and socio-ecological evolution of the delta using data and information from sources including surveys, censuses and stakeholder engagements. It focuses on the interactions between biophysical processes and human activities. It further describes adaptation practices, migration and resettlement in response to these changes. Finally, the chapter explains governance and response to environmental challenges. Though no explicit delta policy exists, national policies and international treaties are gradually replacing customary laws and taboos to help manage and protect environmental resources in the delta.
Fluvial Sediment Supply and Relative Sea-Level Rise
Authors: Darby Stephen E. , Appeaning Addo Kwasi , Hazra Sugata , Rahman Md. Munsur , Nicholls Robert J.
Published: August 2019

The world’s deltas are facing a sustainability crisis, with many at high risk of being ‘drowned’ as a result of relative sea-level rise. The only factor that can potentially offset relative sea-level rise is the deposition of fluvial sediment on the surface of deltas. As a result, an understanding of trends in fluvial sediment supply to deltas is critical for understanding the potential of different deltas to adapt to the threat of drowning. Here trends of sediment supply to three of the world’s deltas (the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi and Volta) are considered and the prospects for the future of these and other deltas discussed, focusing on how human activity can be modified to promote a more sustainable future for at-risk deltas.
Hotspots of Present and Future Risk Within Deltas: Hazards, Exposure and Vulnerability
Authors: Hill Chris , Dunn Frances , Haque Anisul , Amoako-Johnson Fiifi , Nicholls Robert J. , Raju Pokkuluri Venkat , Appeaning Addo Kwasi
Published: August 2019

Through the Anthropocene, growing populations and economic assets have intensified risk. Within deltas, the concurrence of high human populations and economic assets with climatic events, physical and biophysical processes, and natural hazards generate ‘hotspots’ of societal risk. Identification of these hotspots requires combining hazards, exposure, and vulnerability data and information on a spatial basis. However, changing human activities over both time and space affect the nature and location of these hotspots. Analysis of the distribution and change in risk components identifies vulnerable areas and communities and where changes in hotspots may occur in the future. This can inform other analysis, such as the design of surveys and data collection, as well as identify policy needs and indicate where adaptation actions are likely to be required.
Hagedorn-like transition at high supersymmetry breaking scale
Authors: Partouche Hervé , de Vaulchier Balthazar
Published: August 2019

Abstract

We consider phase transitions occurring in four-dimensional heterotic orbifold models, when the scale of spontaneous breaking of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 supersymmetry is of the order of the string scale. The super-Higgs mechanism is implemented by imposing distinct boundary conditions for bosons and fermions along an internal circle of radius R. Depending on the orbifold action, the usual scalars becoming tachyonic when R falls below the Hagedorn radius may or may not be projected out of the spectrum. In all cases, infinitely many other scalars, which are pure Kaluza-Klein or pure winding states along other internal directions, become tachyonic in subregions in moduli space. We derive the off-shell tree level effective potential that takes into account these potentially tachyonic modes. We show that when a combination of the usual tachyons survives the orbifold action, it is the only degree of freedom that actually condenses.
Hyperbolic geometry and closed bosonic string field theory. Part I. The string vertices via hyperbolic Riemann surfaces
Authors: Moosavian Seyed Faroogh , Pius Roji
Published: August 2019

Abstract

The main geometric ingredient of the closed string field theory are the string vertices, the collections of string diagrams describing the elementary closed string interactions, satisfying the quantum Batalian-Vilkovisky master equation. They can be characterized using the Riemann surfaces endowed with the metric solving the generalized minimal area problem. However, an adequately developed theory of such Riemann surfaces is not available yet, and consequently description of the string vertices via Riemann surfaces with the minimal area metric fails to provide practical tools for performing calculations. We describe an alternate construction of the string vertices satisfying the Batalian-Vilkovisky master equation using Riemann surfaces endowed with the metric having constant curvature −1 all over the surface. We argue that this construction provides an approximately gauge invariant closed string field theory.
Expected utility theory with probability grids and preference formation
Authors: Kaneko Mamoru
Published: August 2019

We reformulate expected utility theory, from the viewpoint of bounded rationality, by introducing probability grids and a cognitive bound; we restrict permissible probabilities only to decimal ($$\ell $$ℓ-ary in general) fractions of finite depths up to a given cognitive bound. We distinguish between measurements of utilities from pure alternatives and their extensions to lotteries involving more risks. Our theory is constructive from the viewpoint of the decision maker. When a cognitive bound is small, the preference relation involves many incomparabilities, but these diminish as the cognitive bound is relaxed. Similarly, the EU hypothesis would hold more for a larger bound. The main part of the paper is a study of preferences including incomparabilities in cases with finite cognitive bounds; we give representation theorems in terms of a 2-dimensional vector-valued utility functions. We also exemplify the theory with one experimental result reported by Kahneman and Tversky.
Bounding Analyses of Age-Period-Cohort Effects
Authors: Fosse Ethan , Winship Christopher
Published: August 2019

For more than a century, researchers from a wide range of disciplines have sought to estimate the unique contributions of age, period, and cohort (APC) effects on a variety of outcomes. A key obstacle to these efforts is the linear dependence among the three time scales. Various methods have been proposed to address this issue, but they have suffered from either ad hoc assumptions or extreme sensitivity to small differences in model specification. After briefly reviewing past work, we outline a new approach for identifying temporal effects in population-level data. Fundamental to our framework is the recognition that it is only the slopes of an APC model that are unidentified, not the nonlinearities or particular combinations of the linear effects. One can thus use constraints implied by the data along with explicit theoretical claims to bound one or more of the APC effects. Bounds on these parameters may be nearly as informative as point estimates, even with relatively weak assumptions. To demonstrate the usefulness of our approach, we examine temporal effects in prostate cancer incidence and homicide rates. We conclude with a discussion of guidelines for further research on APC effects.