bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental study on the vertical temperature distribution of window ejected fire from an enclosure with adjacent side walls
Authors: Xu Tong , He Qing , Tang Fei , Lei Peng , Pang Huanping
Published: December 2019

This paper measured and analyzed the vertical temperature profile of window ejected fire from a cubic enclosure with the effect of adjacent parallel sidewalls. A cubic enclosure size is 0.4 m (height) × 0.4 m (width) × 0.4 m (length). And two side walls were fixed on the both side of the compartment openings, its distance can be changed. K‐Type thermocouples (T1‐T4) were installed in the inside compartment (inner and outer corner), the vertical position along the façade wall and the center of side wall, respectively. It is found that the side wall distance was independent of the temperature distribution inside the enclosure when the opening size changed from 0.2 m to infinity, and the vertical temperature profile along the side wall significantly increased with the decrease of the separation distances of two sidewalls. A dimensionless correlation was proposed to describe the vertical temperature along the facade wall for various side wall separation dimensions. The new findings and the proposed dimensionless correlation provide basic knowledge for describing vertical temperature along the facade wall.
Factors associated with the timing of abortions
Authors: Gonzalez Fidel , Quast Troy , Venanzi Alex
Published: December 2019

The timing of an abortion (often measured as gestational age) can have important effects on the woman's physical health and on the cost of the procedure. To the authors' knowledge, there has been only one national analysis of the factors associated with the gestational age at abortion, but it employed data from over 20 years ago. The state‐specific studies that have explored abortion timing have typically examined the effects of a specific change in abortion regulations. In this study, we employ annual, state‐level data covering the 1991–2014 period that measure the frequency of abortions by gestational age. We regress these measures of abortion utilization on policy, economic, demographic, and health care infrastructure characteristics. The estimates indicate that the introduction of state restrictions on Medicaid funding of abortions is associated with a 13% increase in the rate of abortions after the first trimester. We do not find a statistically significant association between parental involvement laws and the rate or percentage of post‐first‐trimester abortions.
Hippocampal state transitions at the boundaries between trial epochs
Authors: Bulkin David A. , Sinclair David G. , Law L. Matthew , Smith David M.
Published: December 2019

The hippocampus encodes distinct contexts with unique patterns of activity. Representational shifts with changes in context, referred to as remapping, have been extensively studied. However, less is known about transitions between representations. In this study, we leverage a large dataset of neuronal recordings taken while rats performed an olfactory memory task with a predictable temporal structure involving trials and intertrial intervals (ITIs), separated by salient boundaries at the trial start and trial end. We found that trial epochs were associated with stable hippocampal representations despite moment‐to‐moment variability in stimuli and behavior. Representations of trial and ITI epochs were far more distinct than spatial factors would predict and the transitions between the two were abrupt. The boundary was associated with a large spike in multiunit activity, with many individual cells specifically active at the start or end of each trial. Both epochs and boundaries were encoded by hippocampal populations, and these representations carried information on orthogonal axes readily identified using principal component analysis. We suggest that the hippocampus orthogonalizes representations of the trial and ITI epochs and the activity spike at trial boundaries might serve to drive hippocampal activity from one stable state to the other.
How does the availability and use of flexible leave influence the employer–employee relationship?
Authors: White Leroy , Lockett Andy , Currie Graeme
Published: December 2019

In this article, we develop, and empirically test, a moderated mediation model of the effects of flexible leave on employees' organizational attachment. Drawing on a social exchange framework and signaling theory, we explore how the material and non‐material nature of exchange between the employer and employee shapes their relationship. First, we show that the relationship between the availability of flexible leave and organizational attachment is shaped by two competing mediators, perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived flexibility stigma. Second, we delineate between availability and use of the policy, to show how the effect of POS is enhanced and perceived flexibility stigma reduced, with use. Our findings demonstrate that the relationship between the availability of flexible leave and organizational attachment is complex, but is enhanced through use of flexible leave. We contribute toward HRM scholarship about the relationship between employees' experience of HR practices and their corresponding impact on employees' subsequent behavior.
Support for discriminatory behaviours against immigrants in Italy: Perceived threat and positive beliefs mediate the effect of contact with immigrants
Authors: Salvati Marco , Carone Nicola , De Cristofaro Valeria , Giacomantonio Mauro , Baiocco Roberto
Published: December 2019

The present study aimed at investigating whether the effects of intergroup contact on support for discriminatory behaviours against immigrants was mediated by perceived threat from immigrants and positive beliefs toward immigrants. Using data from the Italian national survey on “Discrimination by Gender, Sexual Orientation and Ethnic Origin,” which followed a multi‐stage stratified cluster sampling procedure, a representative sample of 5509 Italian residents (53.4% women), aged 18 to 74 years, participated. Findings showed that contact with immigrants was negatively related to perceived threat, and positively related to positive beliefs toward immigrants. Mediational analysis conducted by structural equation modelling, indicated that support for discriminatory behaviours was positively associated with perceived threat, and negatively associated with positive beliefs toward immigrants. Both variables together mediated the relationship between contact with immigrants and support for discriminatory behaviours against immigrants; individually, indirect relationships were also significant. To promote interaction between natives and immigrants by reducing the perceived threat and strengthening positive beliefs toward immigrants might lessen support for discriminatory behaviours against immigrants.
Possible abscopal effect in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Ishiyama Yudai , Takagi Toshio , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Iizuka Junpei , Kakuta Yoichi , Okumi Masayoshi , Ishida Hideki , Tanabe Kazunari
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Regression of non‐irradiated metastatic lesions after radiation therapy is known as the abscopal effect. We report a case of urothelial carcinoma in which the abscopal effect was possibly observed after immune checkpoint inhibitor administration.

Case presentation

A 68‐year‐old woman diagnosed with left renal pelvic cancer underwent total nephroureterectomy and regional lymph node dissection. Eight months later, imaging studies detected local recurrence and paraaortic lymph node metastasis. The tumor progressed despite cisplatin + gemcitabine, pembrolizumab, and gemcitabine + docetaxel therapy. Radiation therapy was administered to a painful back lesion, which resulted in dramatic symptom relief. Computed tomography 2 months after radiation therapy indicated reduced size of the irradiated lesion and some non‐irradiated lymph nodes.

Conclusion

Combined radiation therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors can provide additional benefits for certain cancers, possibly due to negative immunomodulatory response blockade. Thus, this combined therapy may be a new metastatic urothelial carcinoma treatment strategy.
Chlorine‐modified SnO2 electron transport layer for high‐efficiency perovskite solar cells
Authors: Ren Xiaodong , Liu Yucheng , Lee Dong Geon , Kim Won Bin , Han Gill Sang , Jung Hyun Suk , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: December 2019

A high‐quality electron transport layer (ETL) is a critical component for the realization of high‐efficiency perovskite solar cells. We developed a controllable direct‐contact reaction process to prepare a chlorinated SnO2 (SnO2‐Cl) ETL. It is unique in that (a) 1′2‐dichlorobenzene is used to provide more reactive Cl radicals for more in‐depth passivation; (b) it does not introduce any impurities other than chlorine. It is found that the chlorine modification significantly improves the electron extraction. Consequently, its associated solar cell efficiency is increased from 17.01% to 17.81% comparing to the pristine SnO2 ETL without the modification. The hysteresis index is significantly reduced to 0.017 for the SnO2‐Cl ETL.

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On detecting and mitigating phishing attacks through featureless machine learning techniques
Authors: Martins de Souza Cristian H. , Lemos Marcilio O. O. , Dantas Silva Felipe S. , Souza Alves Robinson L.
Published: December 2019

The expansion of the Internet has grown the possibilities for fraudulent actions. Among these possibilities, we highlight the phishing activity, created with the objective of capturing user's credentials through a false page similar to the original one. This work proposes PhishKiller, a tool capable of detecting and mitigating phishing attacks by means a proxy approach employed to intercept user‐accessed addresses, and featureless machine learning techniques to classify URLs. The proof‐of‐concept evaluation results revealed that PhishKiller has a more cost‐effective compared to state of the art, with an accuracy of 98.30% and taking only 81.68 ms to predict and block malicious websites.
Some Mathematical Reasoning on the Artificial Force Induced Reaction Method
Authors: Quapp Wolfgang , Bofill Josep Maria
Published: December 2019

There are works of the Maeda–Morokuma group, which propose the artificial force induced reaction (AFIR) method (Maeda et al., J. Comput. Chem. 2014, 35, 166 and 2018, 39, 233). We study this important method from a theoretical point of view. The understanding of the proposers does not use the barrier breakdown point of the AFIR parameter, which usually is half of the reaction path between the minimum and the transition state which is searched for. Based on a comparison with the theory of Newton trajectories, we could better understand the method. It allows us to follow along some reaction pathways from minimum to saddle point, or vice versa. We discuss some well‐known two‐dimensional test surfaces where we calculate full AFIR pathways. If one has special AFIR curves at hand, one can also study the behavior of the ansatz. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Computational Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of two novel insertion abnormal transcripts in two Chinese families affected with Dystrophinopathy
Authors: Xu Ying , Song Tingting , Li Yu , Guo Fenfen , Jin Xin , Cheng Lu , Zheng Jiao , Li Chunyan , Zhang Yingqi , Chen Biliang , Zhang Jianfang
Published: December 2019

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X‐linked recessive inheritance muscle dystrophy disease, associated with pathogenic variants in the DMD gene. MLPA, DHPLC and DMD sequence studies fail to found the causative alteration in two cases. This study intends to evaluate the disease‐causing mutations and explains the correlation genotype‐phenotype.

Methods

The mRNA analysis and Long‐range PCR with sequencing were used for molecular diagnosis.

Results

In case one, an insertion of 78 nucleotides between exons 40 and 41 (r.5739_5740insMN602429:r415_492) was identified in case one. The insertion sequences were highly homologous to the intron 40 (NG_012232.1:g.1001760_g.1001837). Long‐range PCR with sequencing analysis showed that a novel deep intronic DMD mutation (NG_012232.1:g.1001838A>G) was identified, generating a premature stop codon and terminating protein translation. The likely pathogenic mutation was detected in fetal sample. In case two, an insertion of 74 nucleotides which located inside the consensus sequence AG/GT was detected between exons 2 and 3 (r.93_94insMN584887:r61_134), which resulted in a premature stop codon. The insertion sequences were traceable in the intron 2 of DMD gene (NG_012232.1:g.415926_g.415999). We did not perform prenatal DMD gene diagnosis for case two due to lack of sufficient genetic information.

Conclusion

These findings clarify importance of proceeding to the mRNA analysis when no causative mutations were found neither by MLPA/DHPLC nor gene sequencing so as to reach the molecular confirmation of DMD and carry out an accurate genetic assessment/ carrier status testing.
Noninvasive stereotactic radioablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: First‐in‐man experience
Authors: Qian Pierre C. , Azpiri Jose R. , Assad Jose , Gonzales Aceves Eric Noel , Cardona Ibarra Carlos Erick , de la Pena Cuauhtemoc , Hinojosa Miguel , Wong Doug , Fogarty Thomas , Maguire Patrick , Jack Alice , Gardner Edward A. , Zei Paul C.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Catheter ablation is an effective therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, risks remain, and improved efficacy is desired. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a well‐established therapy used to noninvasively treat malignancies and functional disorders with precision. We evaluated the feasibility of stereotactic radioablation for treating paroxysmal AF.

Methods

Two patients with drug‐refractory paroxysmal AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation with SBRT. After placement of a percutaneous active fixation temporary pacing lead tracking fiducial, computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed to define left atrial anatomy. A tailored planning treatment volume was created to deliver contiguous linear ablations to isolate the pulmonary veins and posterior wall. Patients were treated on an outpatient basis in the radioablation suite. Clinical follow‐up was performed through at least 24 months after therapy.

Results

Both patients successfully underwent SBRT planning and treatment without significant early or long‐term side effects up to 48 months of follow‐up. One patient had AF recurrence after 6 months free of arrhythmia, while the second patient remains free of AF after 24 months with fibrosis detected on MRI scan consistent with the ablation lesion set. An incidentally noted small pericardial effusion occurred in one patient.

Conclusion

Stereotactic radioablation may be feasible for the treatment of drug‐refractory AF. Further evaluation is warranted.
Characterizing and avoiding physical inconsistency generated by the application of univariate quantile mapping on daily minimum and maximum temperatures over Hudson Bay
Authors: Agbazo Médard Noukpo , Grenier Patrick
Published: December 2019

Quantile mapping (QM) is a technique often used for statistical post‐processing (SPP) of climate model simulations, in order to adjust their biases relative to a selected reference product and/or to downscale their resolution. However, when QM is applied in univariate mode, there is a risk of generating other problems, like intervariable physical inconsistency (PI). Here, such a risk is investigated with daily temperature minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax), for which the relationship Tmin > Tmax would be inconsistent with the definition of the variables. QM is applied to an ensemble of 78 daily CMIP5 simulations over Hudson Bay for the application period 1979–2100, with Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) selected as the reference product during the calibration period 1979–2010. This study's specific objectives are as follows: to investigate the conditions under which PI situations are generated; to test whether PI may be prevented simply by tuning some of the QM technique's numerical choices; and to compare the suitability of alternative approaches that hinder PI by design. Primary results suggest that PI situations appear preferentially for small values of the initial (simulated) diurnal temperature range (DTR), but the differential between the respective biases of Tmin and Tmax also plays an important role; one cannot completely prevent the generation of PI simply by adjusting QM parameters and options, but forcing preservation of the simulated long‐term trends generates fewer PI situations; for avoiding PI between Tmin and Tmax, the present study supports a previous recommendation to directly post‐process Tmax and DTR before deducing Tmin.
Three‐stage kinetics of laser‐induced LiFePO4 decomposition
Authors: Ryabin Alexander A. , Slautin Boris N. , Pelegov Dmitry V.
Published: December 2019

This paper reports about new insight into a problem of a laser–matter interaction during Raman probing of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), discusses phase transformation kinetics in powder samples, and provides some methodological recommendations. LiFePO4 is the second most popular positive electrode material in the global lithium battery industry, but the use of Raman spectroscopy for its structural characterization is hampered by the laser‐induced degradation. The statistical/big‐data approach to Raman spectra measurements is utilized to revise the problem and suggest a simple model of laser‐induced phase transformations in powder LiFePO4. The results are proposed to be used for better understanding of the physics and chemistry of other processes taking place in electrochemical cells, namely, lithiation/delithiation and thermal stability/safety studies. Simple recommendations for nondestructive LiFePO4 characterization by Raman spectroscopy are formulated.
A vertical structure photodetector based on all‐inorganic perovskite quantum dots
Authors: Yan Shikai , Li Qing , Zhang Xu , Tang Sheng , Lei Wei , Chen Jing
Published: December 2019

In this work, the vertical structure photodetector based on CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) with a structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/zinc oxide (ZnO)/CsPbBr3 QDs/Au is reported. In this device, CsPbBr3 QDs film works as the light‐harvesting layer, and ZnO QDs film acts as the electron transport channel, which can extract the electron efficiently and improve the quality of CsPbBr3 QDs film. As a result, the on/off ratio, detectivity and rise time (decay time) of CsPbBr3/ZnO hybrid photodetector are measured to be 2.4 × 106, 2.25 × 1011, and 62 milliseconds (82 ms) under 0‐V bias. This work inspires the development of vertical structure photodetectors based on the all‐inorganic perovskite QDs.
Development of direct microwave desorption/gas chromatography mass spectrometry system for rapid analysis of volatile components in medicinal plants
Authors: Abolghasemi Mir Mahdi , Piryaei Marziye
Published: December 2019

A new direct microwave desorption–gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry method was developed for the analysis of the essential oils of medicinal plants. A homemade direct microwave desorption system was fabricated and used for the desorption of volatile components of medicinal herbs. The desorbed volatiles are transferred directly into the gas chromatography injector for analysis in a one‐step process. Approximately 0.3 g of the herb was needed for the desorption of samples in 60 s. In this study, more than 53 volatile compounds were identified and quantified for Echinophora platyloba DC as model herb sample. The results were found to be in good agreement with the conventional hydrodistillation extraction data. The described results show that direct microwave desorption is fast, simple, and easy to automate and requires only a small amount of sample. The results indicate that essential oil components valuable for varietal identification and characteristic of each variety analyzed when direct microwave desorption–gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry was used for analysis.
Seasonal Use of a Nonnatal Marine Basin by Juvenile Hatchery Chinook Salmon
Authors: Hayes Michael C , Hodgson Sayre , Ellings Christopher S. , Duval Walker D. , Rubin Stephen P.
Published: December 2019

Information on the movement patterns of fishes is essential for managers that are making critical resource decisions. We examined the frequency of a keystone species, Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha that migrated from different marine basins to the Nisqually River estuary, which lies within the southernmost marine basin (hereafter, “South basin”) in Puget Sound (Washington, USA). Hatchery-reared juvenile fish were sampled by using beach seine, lampara seine, and fyke nets to determine seasonal trends in frequency, habitat use, and the influence of different capture methods. The captured fish originated from three marine basins, nine Puget Sound rivers, and fourteen hatcheries. The data revealed a consistent pattern showing that most of the tagged fish (72%) were from the nearby Nisqually River (in the South basin), but fish from more northerly marine basins (hereafter, “Outbasin”) were also common. Although the majority of the tagged fish (99%) that were captured during April and May were originally released into rivers adjacent to the South basin, 90% of the fish that were captured in August and September had originated from rivers adjacent to Outbasin locations (up to 130 km distant). A comparison of sampling methods showed that the beach seine produced 27% Outbasin fish compared with 53% that were obtained with the lampara seine. The analysis of habitat use suggested that during June and July, more Outbasin fish (>40%) were captured in delta flats and nearshore habitats than in estuarine emergent marsh habitat (26%). Release location (river basin), but not distance, appeared to be an important factor that influenced the percentage of Outbasin fish that were captured in the South basin. However, it appeared that the fish that were released at light weights and early dates were more likely to be captured. Information on the movement of juvenile salmon to a nonnatal marine basin may help to increase our understanding of features of life history and survival, and it has application elsewhere, as many marine species are artificially propagated, released in large numbers, and have the potential to use nonnatal habitats.
Cardiac substructure segmentation with deep learning for improved cardiac sparing
Authors: Morris Eric D. , Ghanem Ahmed I. , Dong Ming , Pantelic Milan V. , Walker Eleanor M. , Glide‐Hurst Carri K.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Radiation dose to cardiac substructures is related to radiation‐induced heart disease. However, substructures are not considered in radiation therapy planning (RTP) due to poor visualization on CT. Therefore, we developed a novel deep learning (DL) pipeline leveraging MRI’s soft tissue contrast coupled with CT for state‐of‐the‐art cardiac substructure segmentation requiring a single, non‐contrast CT input.

Materials/methods

Thirty‐two left‐sided whole‐breast cancer patients underwent cardiac T2 MRI and CT‐simulation. A rigid cardiac‐confined MR/CT registration enabled ground truth delineations of 12 substructures (chambers, great vessels (GVs), coronary arteries (CAs), etc.). Paired MRI/CT data (25 patients) were placed into separate image channels to train a three‐dimensional (3D) neural network using the entire 3D image. Deep supervision and a Dice‐weighted multi‐class loss function were applied. Results were assessed pre/post augmentation and post‐processing (3D conditional random field (CRF)). Results for 11 test CTs (seven unique patients) were compared to ground truth and a multi‐atlas method (MA) via Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean distance to agreement (MDA), and Wilcoxon signed‐ranks tests. Three physicians evaluated clinical acceptance via consensus scoring (5‐point scale).

Results

The model stabilized in ~19 h (200 epochs, training error <0.001). Augmentation and CRF increased DSC 5.0 ± 7.9% and 1.2 ± 2.5%, across substructures, respectively. DL provided accurate segmentations for chambers (DSC = 0.88 ± 0.03), GVs (DSC = 0.85 ± 0.03), and pulmonary veins (DSC = 0.77 ± 0.04). Combined DSC for CAs was 0.50 ± 0.14. MDA across substructures was <2.0 mm (GV MDA = 1.24 ± 0.31 mm). No substructures had statistical volume differences (P > 0.05) to ground truth. In four cases, DL yielded left main CA contours, whereas MA segmentation failed, and provided improved consensus scores in 44/60 comparisons to MA. DL provided clinically acceptable segmentations for all graded patients for 3/4 chambers. DL contour generation took ~14 s per patient.

Conclusions

These promising results suggest DL poses major efficiency and accuracy gains for cardiac substructure segmentation offering high potential for rapid implementation into RTP for improved cardiac sparing.
Thiol‐water proton exchange of glutathione, cysteine, and N‐acetylcysteine: Implications for CEST MRI
Authors: Chen Johnny , Yadav Nirbhay N. , Stait‐Gardner Timothy , Gupta Abhishek , Price William S. , Zheng Gang
Published: December 2019

Amide‐, amine‐, and hydroxyl‐water proton exchange can generate MRI contrast through chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). In this study, we show that thiol‐water proton exchange can also generate quantifiable CEST effects under near‐physiological conditions (pH = 7.2 and 37°C) through the characterization of the pH dependence of thiol proton exchange in phosphate‐buffered solutions of glutathione, cysteine, and N‐acetylcysteine. The spontaneous, base‐catalyzed, and buffer‐catalyzed exchange contributions to the thiol exchange were analyzed. The thiol‐water proton exchange of glutathione and cysteine was found to be too fast to generate a CEST effect around neutral pH due to significant base catalysis. The thiol‐water proton exchange of N‐acetylcysteine was found to be much slower, yet still in the fast‐exchange regime with significant base and buffer catalysis, resulting in a 9.5% attenuation of the water signal at pH 7.2 in a slice‐selective CEST NMR experiment. Furthermore, the N‐acetylcysteine thiol CEST was also detectable in human serum albumin and agarose phantoms.
Hyperpolarized product selective saturating‐excitations for determination of changes in metabolic reaction rates in real‐time
Authors: Harris Talia , Uppala Sivaranjan , Lev‐Cohain Naama , Adler‐Levy Yael , Shaul David , Nardi‐Schreiber Atara , Sapir Gal , Azar Assad , Gamliel Ayelet , Sosna Jacob , Gomori J. Moshe , Katz‐Brull Rachel
Published: December 2019

Investigation of hyperpolarized substrate metabolism has been showing utility in real‐time determination of in‐cell and in vivo enzymatic activities. Intracellular reaction rates may vary during the course of a measurement, even on the very short time scales of visibility on hyperpolarized MR, due to many factors such as the availability of the substrate and co‐factors in the intracellular space. Despite this potential variation, the kinetic analysis of hyperpolarized signals typically assumes that the same rate constant (and in many cases, the same rate) applies throughout the course of the reaction as observed via the build‐up and decay of the hyperpolarized signals. We demonstrate here an acquisition approach that can null the need for such an assumption and enable the detection of instantaneous changes in the rate of the reaction during an ex vivo hyperpolarized investigation, (i.e. in the course of the decay of one hyperpolarized substrate dose administered to a viable tissue sample ex vivo). This approach utilizes hyperpolarized product selective saturating‐excitation pulses. Similar pulses have been previously utilized in vivo for spectroscopic imaging. However, we show here favorable consequences to kinetic rate determinations in the preparations used. We implement this acquisition strategy for studies on perfused tissue slices and develop a theory that explains why this particular approach enables the determination of changes in enzymatic rates that are monitored via the chemical conversions of hyperpolarized substrates. Real‐time changes in intracellular reaction rates are demonstrated in perfused brain, liver, and xenograft breast cancer tissue slices and provide another potential differentiation parameter for tissue characterization.
Microglia attenuate the kainic acid‐induced death of hippocampal neurons in slice cultures
Authors: Araki Tasuku , Ikegaya Yuji , Koyama Ryuta
Published: December 2019

Background

Status epilepticus‐induced hippocampal neuronal death, astrogliosis, and the activation of microglia are common pathological changes in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) with resistance to antiepileptic drugs. Neuronal death in mTLE gradually progresses and is involved in the aggravation of epilepsy and the impairment of hippocampus‐dependent memory. Thus, clarifying the cellular mechanisms by which neurons are protected in mTLE will significantly contribute to the treatment of epilepsy. Here, mainly using hippocampal slice cultures with or without the pharmacological depletion of microglia, we directly examined whether microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain that can act either neurotoxically or in a neuroprotective manner, accelerate or attenuate kainic acid (KA)‐induced neuronal death in vitro.

Methods

Hippocampal slice cultures were treated with KA to induce neuronal death in vitro. Clodronate‐containing liposomes or PLX3397 was used to deplete microglia in hippocampal slice cultures, and the effect on KA‐induced neuronal death was immunohistochemically assessed.

Results

The loss of microglia significantly promoted a decrease in neuronal density in KA‐treated hippocampal slice cultures.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that microglia are neuroprotective against KA‐induced neuronal death in slice cultures.
Efficacy of “optimal hydration” during labor: HYDRATA study protocol for a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Hernández López Ana Belén , Muriel Miguel Cristina , Fernández‐Cañadas Morillo Aurora , López Lapeyrere Carolina , Pérez Medina Tirso , Salcedo Mariña Ángel , Fornet Ruiz Inocencia , Rubio González Esther , Solís Muñoz Montserrat
Published: December 2019

There is a lack of consensus in the international scientific community with respect to the most suitable hydration strategies when attending nulliparous women during low‐risk births. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial to compare two hydration strategies and their influence on maternal and neonatal morbidity. The study population consists of nulliparous women admitted to the obstetrics department of a University Hospital. The women are being randomized into two groups: the “optimal hydration” group, which will be guaranteed 300 ml/hr liquids (crystalloids and bottled mineral water) with a minimum diuresis of 35 ml/hr; and the “variability in hydration” group, which will receive intravenous (alternating normal saline, Ringer's lactate solution, glucose, or Voluven®) and clear (bottled mineral water or isotonic drinks [Aquarius®]) liquids, without any established perfusion rate, and without established minimum diuresis. Outcomes for mothers include duration of labor, cesarean section, fever, and dehydration. Outcomes for newborns are respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, jaundice, weight loss over 48 hr, and breastfeeding difficulties. Analysis will be per‐protocol. Administering optimal hydration may improve health and safety for mothers and their newborn and reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity. The study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov. The project received funding by the Ministry of Health of Spain and is approved by the Research Ethics Committee.
Enhancement in thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of novel PVA nanocomposite embedded with SrO nanofillers and the analysis of its thermal degradation behavior by nonisothermal approach
Authors: Jayaraj Selvi , Vellaichamy Parthasarathy , Sehar Mahalakshmi , Ramasamy Anbarasan , Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar , Daramola Michael O.
Published: December 2019

Effect of SrO nanofillers on the physical and chemical properties of newly prepared PVA nanocomposites was investigated in‐depth in this article. The structure of SrO nanopowder and PVA nanocomposites were analyzed using FTIR for surface chemistry and XRD for crystallographic nature. The extent of dispersion and particle size of SrO nanopowders were obtained from TEM micrographs. The average particle size of the SrO nanopowder was 57 nm. The uniformly dispersed SrO nanofillers in the host PVA matrix were observed from the TEM micrographs. The prepared PVA nanocomposites displayed a high absorption in the UV region. The thermal stability of PVA nanocomposites was enhanced after the addition of SrO nanofillers. The nonisothermal degradation study was carried out using different kinetic models for the prepared PVA nanocomposites. The Young's modulus (Y) and tensile strength of the PVA nanocomposites were higher than that of the pristine PVA. The DC conductivity of PVA was also increased when the PVA was embedded with the SrO nanoparticles.

Highlights

The novel PVA nanocomposites embedded with SrO nanofillers were prepared by the solution casting method.

The band gap of PVA was decreased gradually while increasing the concentration of SrO nanofillers.

The thermal degradation of polymer composites was studied under nonisothermal heating using several kinetic models.

The thermal stability of PVA was enhanced after the addition of SrO nanofillers.

The electrical and mechanical Properties of PVA nanocomposites were also improved.
Role of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) in the disposition of cytarabine in mice
Authors: Anderson Jason T. , Hu Shuiying , Fu Qiang , Baker Sharyn D. , Sparreboom Alex
Published: December 2019

Cytarabine (Ara‐C) is a nucleoside analog used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite the many years of clinical use, the identity of the transporter(s) involved in the disposition of Ara‐C remains poorly studied. Previous work demonstrated that concurrent administration of Ara‐C with nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (NBMPR) causes an increase in Ara‐C plasma levels, suggesting involvement of one or more nucleoside transporters. Here, we confirmed the presence of an NMBPR‐mediated interaction with Ara‐C resulting in a 2.5‐fold increased exposure. The interaction was unrelated to altered blood cell distribution, and subsequent studies indicated that the disposition of Ara‐C was unaffected in mice with a deficiency of postulated candidate transporters, including ENT1, OCTN1, OATP1B2, and MATE1. These studies indicate the involvement of an unknown NBMPR‐sensitive Ara‐C transporter that impacts the pharmacokinetic properties of this clinically important agent.
Climate change and the genetics of insecticide resistance
Authors: Pu Jian , Wang Zinan , Chung Henry
Published: December 2019

Changes in global temperature and humidity as a result of climate change are producing rapid evolutionary changes in many animal species, including agricultural pests and disease vectors, leading to changes in allele frequencies of genes involved in thermotolerance and desiccation resistance. As some of these genes have pleiotropic effects on insecticide resistance, climate change is likely to affect insecticide resistance in the field. In this review, we discuss how the interactions between adaptation to climate change and resistance to insecticides can affect insecticide resistance in the field using examples in phytophagous and hematophagous pest insects, focusing on the effects of increased temperature and increased aridity. We then use detailed genetic and mechanistic studies in the model insect, Drosophila melanogaster, to explain the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. We suggest that tradeoffs or facilitation between adaptation to climate change and resistance to insecticides can alter insecticide resistance allele frequencies in the field. The dynamics of these interactions will need to be considered when managing agricultural pests and disease vectors in a changing climate. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Efficacy and safety of Sophora alopecuroides var. alopecuroides seed extract for opioid detoxification: A randomized, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Kianbakht Saeed , Hajiaghaee Reza , Akhondzadeh Shahin
Published: December 2019

The seeds of Sophora alopecuroides L. var. alopecuroides (S. alopecuroides) have alleviated morphine withdrawal in mice. Therefore, in this study, the alkaloid composition of S. alopecuroides extract was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Moreover, 50 abstinent opium addicts consumed three 400 mg extract capsules once daily and 50 other patients took placebo for 8 days. At the baseline and days 3 and 8, the clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) was used to assess withdrawal symptoms. At the baseline and Day 8, the patients' blood levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transferase; serum glutamate pyruvate transferase; alkaline phosphatase; total, direct, and indirect bilirubins; creatinine and blood urea nitrogen; complete blood count; and prothrombine time were measured. The groups' parameter values were also compared. Sophocarpine, matrine, and sophoramine were the major alkaloids constituting, respectively, 32.85, 26.55, and 6.91% of the extract. The extract decreased the COWS score at Days 3 and 8 significantly compared with the placebo (p < .001). The extract did not significantly affect the blood parameters' values compared with the placebo (p > .05). There was no adverse drug effect. In conclusion, the extract reduces the acute opioid withdrawal symptoms and seems to have good safety and tolerability.
Human herpesvirus 8‐related primary effusion lymphoma in four HIV‐uninfected patients without organ transplantation
Authors: Kuo Hung‐I , Yu Yu‐Ting , Chang Kung‐Chao , Su Po‐Lan , Li Sin‐Syue , Huang Tang‐Hsiu
Published: December 2019

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare subtype of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. PEL is closely related in pathogenesis to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) and typically occurs in patients with significant immunodeficiency. Cases of PEL in patients without either HIV infection or transplantation have been reported from HHV‐8‐endemic areas, but very rarely from the Asia‐Pacific region. In this case series, we describe the clinical and immunohistochemical presentations of four patients in southern Taiwan who were diagnosed with HHV‐8‐related PEL. All four patients were HIV‐negative and had not received organ transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first authentic report of HIV‐unrelated PEL from the ethnically Chinese population. Considering the non‐specific clinical manifestations, the pivotal roles of specific assays for correct diagnosis, and the dismal prognosis of PEL, it is important for clinicians to include PEL as one of the differential diagnosis when approaching HIV‐uninfected patients with unexplained exudative body cavity effusion.
Transboundary sharing of river water: Informating the policies
Authors: Acharya Vijeth , Halanaik Bhavana , Ramaprasad Arkalgud , Swamy T.R. Kumara , Singai Chetan B. , Syn Thant
Published: December 2019

This paper presents an ontological framework that concisely captures the combinatorial complexity of river water sharing and visualizes the problem in its entirety. The framework's dimensions, the dimensions' taxonomies, and the resultant pathways are a complete, closed representation of the river water sharing problem. The framework is transdisciplinary; it is grounded in the research, the legal, and the practice literature on river water sharing. The authors illustrate the method and the application of the framework with the case study of Cauvery River water dispute between the Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The approach can help develop innovative pathways to resolve such problems.
Synthesis via A3 Coupling Reaction of Anthracene‐Propargylamine as a New Scaffold for the Interaction with DNA
Authors: Ongaro Alberto , Ribaudo Giovanni , Zagotto Giuseppe , Memo Maurizio , Gianoncelli Alessandra
Published: December 2019

A series of new anthracene‐propargylamine derivatives were obtained through an efficient synthesis based on the A3 coupling reaction. This set of planar molecules were designed to bind double stranded and G‐quadruplex DNA arrangements. Their interaction pattern of the small molecules with DNA was predicted by molecular docking and their theoretical pharmacokinetic properties were calculated, giving encouraging results in terms of drug‐likeness. The general preference for double stranded DNA suggested by docking experiments was supported by a set of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) experiments.
Triple‐Shell Hollow CuNiFe2O4 Spheres as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Selective Oxidation of Alcohols
Authors: Khalifeh Reza , Rajabzadeh Maryam , Ebadi Amin
Published: December 2019

The present work demonstrates the oxidation of numerous alcohols in the presence of H2O2 using triple‐shelled CuNiFe2O4 hollow structure as a heterogeneous catalyst. The hollow spheres were characterized by SEM, EDS, TEM and XRD. Different reaction factors such as the effect of amount catalyst, various solvents and amount oxidant were checked and discussed. Moreover, catalyst also exhibits outstanding catalytic performance for the diverse alcohols. Results showed that the triple‐shelled CuNiFe2O4 hollow structure can be recycled for up to six cycles without substantial loss in catalytic activity.
Enhancing Photothermal Effect and Stability of Plasmonic Pd/Ag‐Nanosheet by Nanoassembly for Efficient Light‐Driven Catalytic Organic Hydrogenation
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Chuanping , Xu Chen , Wang Ping , Wang Minmin , Jin Yongdong
Published: December 2019

Due to the ability to harness surface plasmons to promote solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion, plasmonic nanoparticles with finely‐controlled structure and optical properties hold great promise for light‐activated catalysis. Herein, we prepared a strong plasmonic nanostructure, by assembling Pd/Ag nanosheets (NSs) with varied Pd/Ag ratio onto the surface of polystyrene (PS) microsphere to form a spherical nanoassembly (NAs). The as‐prepared Pd/Ag‐PS NAs showed better photothermal performance than the precursor Pd/Ag NSs of the same concentration. More importantly, the as‐prepared Pd/Ag‐PS NAs can be used to boost light‐driven organic hydrogenation reactions, in which Pd nanocomponent acts as hydrogenation reaction active sites and Pd/Ag‐NSs can convert light efficiently into heat. Under room temperature conditions, the light‐driven catalytic hydrogenation efficiency under 50 mW/cm2 full‐spectrum irradiation proved to be comparable to that of thermally (70 °C) driven reactions. Moreover, the as‐prepared Pd/Ag‐PS NAs has better photostability than Pd/Ag NSs. The results proved that the photothermal effect rather than the transfer of hot electrons is responsible for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogenation performance. The strong plasmon coupling between closely‐packed Pd/Ag NSs enhances the electromagnetic field intensity and scattering intensity and increase Vis‐NIR light trapping and high density hot spots generation, which lead to an overall better photocatalytic efficiency.
Thickness‐Dependent In‐Plane Polarization and Structural Phase Transition in van der Waals Ferroelectric CuInP2S6
Authors: Deng Jianming , Liu Yanyu , Li Mingqiang , Xu Sheng , Lun Yingzhuo , Lv Peng , Xia Tianlong , Gao Peng , Wang Xueyun , Hong Jiawang
Published: December 2019

van der Waals (vdW) layered materials have rather weaker interlayer bonding than the intralayer bonding, therefore the exfoliation along the stacking direction enables the achievement of monolayer or few layers vdW materials with emerging novel physical properties and functionalities. The ferroelectricity in vdW materials recently attracts renewed interest for the potential use in high‐density storage devices. With the thickness becoming thinner, the competition between the surface energy, depolarization field, and interfacial chemical bonds may give rise to the modification of ferroelectricity and crystalline structure, which has limited investigations. In this work, combining the piezoresponse force microscope scanning, contact resonance imaging, the existence of the intrinsic in‐plane polarization in vdW ferroelectrics CuInP2S6 single crystals is reported, whereas below a critical thickness between 90 and 100 nm, the in‐plane polarization disappears. The Young's modulus also shows an abrupt stiffness at the critical thickness. Based on the density functional theory calculations, these behaviors are ascribed to a structural phase transition from monoclinic to trigonal structure, which is further verified by transmission electron microscope technique. These findings demonstrate the foundational importance of structural phase transition for enhancing the rich functionality and broad utility of vdW ferroelectrics.
Self‐Lubricating Physical Vapor Deposition Coatings for Dry Cold Massive Forming
Authors: Bobzin Kirsten , Brögelmann Tobias , Kruppe Nathan C. , Bergs Thomas , Trauth Daniel , Hild Rafael , Mannens Robby , Hoffmann Dennis C.
Published: December 2019

Cold massive forming, particularly forward extrusion of steel, is characterized by high material utilization, product quality, and resource efficiency. Currently, enormous quantities of mostly ecologically harmful lubricants are required, leading to the demand for lubricant‐free cold forming. Furthermore, cost savings are achievable due to shorter lead times. However, the requirements for the tools cannot be met without the application of wear‐resistant and friction‐reducing hard coatings. The self‐lubricating hard coatings (Cr,Al)N + Mo:S and (Cr,Al)N + W:S with attuned material design deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) offer high potential for the realization of dry cold forming of steel. The process chain for the comprehensive characterization of the developed coating systems comprises analyses of coating and compound properties as well as two different model tests to determine the tribological behavior. One of the used tribometers represents an open tribological system, which is particularly suitable for simulating the loads occurring during cold massive forming of steel. The analyses reveal that with Mo and S modified coatings exhibit higher potential for ecologically sustainable cold forming due to their better mechanical properties and compound properties between the coatings and the cold work steel substrate compared with W and S modified coatings.
A video‐based gait disturbance assessment tool for diagnosing idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Liao Ruochen , Makihara Yasushi , Muramatsu Daigo , Mitsugami Ikuhisa , Yagi Yasushi , Yoshiyama Kenji , Kazui Hiroaki , Takeda Masatoshi
Published: December 2019

Gait is an important factor in the diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. However, except for walking speed tests, existing diagnosis methods only assess gait qualitatively. This study proposes a quantitative and multifaceted method to assess gait disturbance via video‐based analysis. We captured videos of patients walking from the front to assess four gait disturbance qualities: lateral sway, petit‐pas gait, wide‐base gait, and duck‐footed walking. These features were selected from the Gait Status Scale‐Revised, an existing scale of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus gait disturbance. We confirmed that our assessments of all selected items, except for lateral sway, were consistent with physician assessment. We also used the P‐value of the gait disturbance scores before and after lumbar puncture to assess the outcome of the cerebrospinal fluid tap test, and confirmed that tap‐positive and tap‐negative patients were successfully separated by a threshold of P = 0.01. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.