bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SMC1A is associated with radioresistance in prostate cancer and acts by regulating epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and cancer stem‐like properties
Authors: Yadav Sushma , Kowolik Claudia M. , Lin Min , Zuro Darren , Hui Susanta K. , Riggs Arthur D. , Horne David A.
Published: September 2018

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and a pressing health challenge in men worldwide. Radiation therapy (RT) is widely considered a standard therapy for advanced as well as localized prostate cancer. Although this primary therapy is associated with high cancer control rates, up to one‐third of patients undergoing radiation therapy becomes radio‐resistant and/or has tumor‐relapse/recurrence. Therefore, focus on new molecular targets and pathways is essential to develop novel radio‐sensitizing agents for the effective and safe treatment of prostate cancer. Here, we describe functional studies that were performed to investigate the role of structural maintenance of chromosome‐1 (SMC1A) in radioresistance of metastatic prostate cancer cells. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to suppress SMC1A in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer cells, DU145 and PC3. Clonogenic survival assays, Western blot, RT‐PCR, and γ‐H2AX staining were used to assess the effect of SMC1A knockdown on radiation sensitivity of these prostate cancer cells. We demonstrate that SMC1A is overexpressed in human prostate tumors compared to the normal adjacent tissue. SMC1A knockdown limits the clonogenic potential, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem‐like cell (CSC) properties of DU145 and PC3 cells and enhanced efficacy of RT in these cells. Targeted inhibition of SMC1A not only plays a critical role in overcoming radio‐resistance in prostate cancer cells, but also suppresses self‐renewal and the tumor‐propagating potential of x‐irradiated cancer cells. We propose that SMC1A could be a potential molecular target for the development of novel radio‐sensitizing therapeutic agents for management of radio‐resistant metastatic prostate cancer.
Sustainability and fairness still missing in the Greek social insurance system
Authors: Christodoulakis Nicos
Published: September 2018

Despite deep cuts in pensions recently implemented in Greece, the social insurance system is still characterized by a multitude of problems—financial, social, and organizational. These make it counterproductive in improving intragenerational inequality and intergenerational fairness, while its bureaucratic complexity makes the planning and implementation of reforms a difficult task. The aim of the paper is, first, to describe the long‐term adverse dynamics and, second, to suggest a road map of changes that ensure a fairer treatment among the various categories of pensioners as well as between them and current generation employees.
Use of existing electronic health care databases to evaluate medication safety in pregnancy: Triptan exposure in pregnancy as a case study
Authors: Yusuf Akeem , Chia Victoria , Xue Fei , Mikol Daniel D. , Bollinger Lisa , Cangialose Charles
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The recent expansion of electronic health and medical record systems may present an opportunity to generate robust post‐approval safety data and obviate the limitations of prospective pregnancy exposure registries. We examined and compared, over the same time frame, the outcomes of triptan exposure in pregnancy using (1) a retrospective claims database and (2) a previously completed pregnancy registry.

Methods

Using the Marketscan database, the risk of major birth defects was ascertained in live‐born infants whose birth mothers were exposed to sumatriptan, naratriptan, or sumatriptan/naproxen during pregnancy. The frequencies of outcomes observed were compared with the findings of the 16‐year sumatriptan, naratripan, and sumatriptan/naproxen prospective pregnancy registry.

Results

About 5120 pregnancies were identified in the retrospective claims cohort in contrast to 617 included in the prospective registry during the same time frame. The proportion of major birth defects among first‐semester sumatriptan exposures was 4.0%, which is exactly the same as the proportion of major birth defects reported for first‐semester sumatriptan exposures in the registry. There were very few non‐livebirth outcomes in both the claims analyses and registry.

Conclusions

These results confirm broad agreement between the database analysis and the registry regarding the safety of triptans during pregnancy. Of note, the number of triptan‐exposed pregnancies identified in this large US database was about 7‐fold that included in the prospective registry over the same time frame. The findings of this study support an approach of using existing health care database (s) in the post‐approval assessment of medication exposure in pregnancy.
Emerging structural biology of lipid G protein‐coupled receptors
Authors: Audet Martin , Stevens Raymond C.
Published: September 2018

The first crystal structure of a G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) was that of the bovine rhodopsin, solved in 2000, and is a light receptor within retina rode cells that enables vision by transducing a conformational signal from the light‐induced isomerization of retinal covalently bound to the receptor. More than 7 years after this initial discovery and following more than 20 years of technological developments in GPCR expression, stabilization, and crystallography, the high‐resolution structure of the adrenaline binding β2‐adrenergic receptor, a ligand diffusible receptor, was discovered. Since then, high‐resolution structures of more than 53 unique GPCRs have been determined leading to a significant improvement in our understanding of the basic mechanisms of ligand‐binding and ligand‐mediated receptor activation that revolutionized the field of structural molecular pharmacology of GPCRs. Recently, several structures of eight unique lipid‐binding receptors, one of the most difficult GPCR families to study, have been reported. This review presents the outstanding structural and pharmacological features that have emerged from these new lipid receptor structures. The impact of these findings goes beyond mechanistic insights, providing evidence of the fundamental role of GPCRs in the physiological integration of the lipid signaling system, and highlighting the importance of sustained research into the structural biology of GPCRs for the development of new therapeutics targeting lipid receptors.
On the damage done to the structure of the Thermoplasma acidophilum proteasome by electron radiation
Authors: Wang Jimin , Liu Zheng , Crabtree Robert H. , Frank Joachim , Moore Peter B.
Published: September 2018

It has long been known that proteins are damaged when they are exposed to the electron beam in an electron microscope. Here we show that exposure to electrons under cryo‐EM conditions leads to a small change in the quaternary structure of the Thermoplasma acidophilum proteasome, and that backbones atoms belonging to the α‐helices in this molecule appear to be particular prone to chemical damage. A chemical mechanism is proposed for this damage. Both this local chemical effect and the more global quaternary structure effect appear to heterogenize samples leading to a radiation dose‐dependent degradation of the resolution of the EM maps obtained from this molecule.
Methods for the assessment of selection bias in drug safety during pregnancy studies using electronic medical data
Authors: Schnitzer Mireille E. , Blais Lucie
Published: September 2018

Electronic health data are routinely used for population drug studies. Due to the ethical dilemma in carrying out experimental drug studies on pregnant women, the effects of medication usage during pregnancy on fetal and maternal outcomes are largely evaluated using this data collection medium. One major limitation in this type of study is the delayed inclusion of pregnancies in the cohort. For example, in the province of Quebec, Canada, a major pregnancy cohort only captured pregnancies after 20 weeks gestation. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate three methods that can be used to assess the extent of selection bias due to the delayed inclusion of pregnancies. We use causal directed acyclic graphs to explain the source of this selection bias. In an example involving a cohort of pregnant asthmatic women reconstructed from the linkage of administrative health databases from the province of Quebec, we use numerical derivations, a simulation study and a sensitivity analysis to investigate the potential for bias and loss of power due to the delayed inclusion. We find that this selection bias can be partially mitigated by controlling for variables related to (spontaneous or therapeutic) abortion and the outcome of interest. The three proposed methods allow for the pre and post hoc ascertainment of the bias. While delayed pregnancy inclusion selection bias (which includes “live birth bias”) can produce substantial bias in pregnancy drug studies, all three methods are effective at producing estimates of the size of the bias.
Cool storage of Queensland fruit fly eggs for increased flexibility in rearing programs
Authors: Benelli Maurizio , Ponton Fleur , Taylor Phillip W
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

The Queensland fruit fly (Q‐fly) is Australia's most economically damaging insect pest of fruit crops. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) used to suppress outbreaks relies on supply of high‐quality flies and this can be assisted by the ability to manipulate production schedules. Cool storage at temperatures that are sufficient to slow development without causing significant somatic damage can provide a valuable means of manipulating production schedules. In this study, we investigate the effect of four storage temperatures (10, 13, 16 and 19 °C) and three exposure times (3, 6 or 9 days) on Q‐fly eggs.

RESULTS

Egg storage proved effective in prolonging the developmental time of Q‐flies. Storage at 10 °C was unsuitable, resulting in a low hatching rate for all exposure times. Hatching rate was also significantly reduced when eggs were exposed to 13 °C for 6 or 9 days, followed by a significant reduction in the number of pupae recovered. Storage at 16 °C yielded promising results, prolonging the preimaginal development of Q‐flies up to 6.5 days without significantly affecting egg hatching or subsequent development.

CONCLUSION

Cool storage of eggs shows promise as a tool for prolonging the development of Q‐flies to manipulate schedules in mass rearing programs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Vibrational mating disruption of Empoasca vitis by natural or artificial disturbance noises
Authors: Nieri Rachele , Mazzoni Valerio
Published: September 2018

Background

The green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis, is a polyphagous pest of grapevine and tea plants. To date population density is controlled primarily by insecticides and there is a demand for more sustainable controls. To develop a vibrational mating disruption method, the natural occurrence of a ‘disruptive signal’ was investigated. Further, the efficacy of natural and artificial ‘disruptive signals’ was determined.

Results

With behavioral trials we described male rivalry and recorded a species‐specific disruptive signal (DP). The DP, a single pulse overlapping the competitor male call, interfered with the rival's ability to locate the female. Laboratory playback disruption trials revealed that the pair formation process was prevented by artificial disturbance noises that included the following features: E. vitis DP, Scaphoideus titanus disturbance noise, and a pure tone (250 Hz). Among these, the pure tone was most efficient at preventing mating.

Conclusion

Results support development of a vibrational mating disruption method as a control strategy for E. vitis. To simultaneously disrupt the mating of E. vitis and S. titanus, the possibility of applying the S. titanus disturbance noise combined with the pure tone is discussed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Structure and Luminescence Properties of Nanonodiamonds Produced from Adamantane
Authors: Kudryavtsev Oleg S. , Ekimov Evgeny A. , Romshin Alexey M. , Pasternak Dmitrii G. , Vlasov Igor I.
Published: September 2018

Nano‐ and micro‐diamonds synthesized from organic compounds at high pressure are a new class of diamond materials, whose physical and chemical properties are not yet studied. In this paper, the structural and luminescence features of such diamonds on an example of a sample synthesized from adamantane at a pressure of 8–9 GPa and a temperature of 1700 K is investigated. In Raman spectra of the sample, lines corresponding to vibrational energies of CHx bonds are found, that reveals a termination of carbon bonds on a diamond surface by hydrogen atoms and explains hydrophobic properties of this material. It is shown, that the hydrophobic properties of nanodiamonds can be replaced by hydrophilic ones by heating them in air up to 700 °C. In photoluminescence spectra of the as‐grown sample, a number of narrow lines are detected in the range of 490–650 nm. Their intensity is insignificant in comparison with the Raman line of diamond and fluctuates in time independently for each of the lines. It is assumed that these lines are associated with a small amount of oxidized graphene clusters on a surface of the diamond nanoparticles.
Local Photovoltaic Properties of Graphene–Silicon Heterojunctions
Authors: Rahova Jaroslava , Sampathkumar Krishna , Vetushka Aliaksei , Ledinsky Martin , Hajkova Zdenka , Fejfar Antonin , Frank Otakar
Published: September 2018

Interfacing of materials with different dimensionalities becomes increasingly relevant for many applications which can utilize the exceptional properties of low‐dimensional materials on one hand, and build‐up on the existing production know‐how for bulk (3D) materials on the other. Numerous appealing possibilities are offered by such combinations. In this work, the authors focus on 2D–3D heterostructures composed of mechanically exfoliated single‐ and few‐layer layer graphene (Gr) coupled to freshly etched n‐doped silicon. Two ways of characterizing the photovoltaic (PV) properties of such junctions by Conductive Atomic Force Miscroscopy (C‐AFM) under illumination are shown: 1) by measuring the I–V curves directly at selected points, while the flakes are scanned in intermittent mode and 2) by scanning the samples in contact mode at different bias voltages, followed by reconstruction of I–V curves using mean photocurrent quantified in selected areas. The direct I–V curves measurement has been employed to discriminate the effect of increased p‐doping of the graphene layer, and the contact mode has been utilized to evaluate the separation between the graphene flake and the substrate. Additionally, pros and cons of the two routes are briefly discussed and outlook for further advanced nanoscale characterization of such junctions is proposed.
Ab‐Initio Investigation of the Electronic Structure, Optical Properties, and Lattice Dynamics of β‐Ag2Te
Authors: Jahangirli Zakir , Alekperov Oktay , Eyyubov Qurban
Published: September 2018

Electronic, optical, and lattice vibrational properties of β‐Ag2Te are investigated, experimentally using spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy, and theoretically using the density‐functional perturbation theory (DFPT) for the first time. First‐principles calculations of the electron spectra and dielectric functions are performed with the modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential, which solves the band‐gap problem found with generalized gradient approximations (GGA). The calculated phonon spectra of β‐Ag2Te reveal that low‐frequency optic modes overlap with acoustic modes and should scatter strongly with acoustic modes during heat transport. The possible Ag disorder and strong scattering of acoustic phonons by optic modes lead to an extremely low lattice thermal conductivity of β‐Ag2Te observed in the experiment. The phonon structure was also investigated experimentally using Raman spectroscopy. Three Raman‐active modes were observed and identified at 92, 120.6, and 140.5 cm−1. Symmetry assignments of all the vibrational modes were derived from considerations of point group symmetry.
New sampling strategies to reduce the effect of autocorrelation on the synthetic T2 chart to monitor bivariate process
Authors: Dargopatil Pramod , Ghute Vikas
Published: September 2018

In this paper, synthetic T2 chart is developed to monitor bivariate process with correlated variables and autocorrelated observations. The proposed chart is a combination of the Hotelling's T2 chart and the conforming run length chart. The operation and design of the chart are described when observations are autocorrelated and cross correlated. The first‐order vector autoregressive process VAR (1) is used to model the bivariate data from an autocorrelated process of interest. Using an average run length as performance measure criterion in the VAR (1) model, it is observed that autocorrelation seriously impact the performance of the synthetic T2 chart. To reduce the effect of autocorrelation on the performance of the synthetic T2 chart, the skip and mixed sampling strategies are implemented to form rational subgroups in the construction of synthetic T2 chart. The average run length performance of the synthetic T2 chart implementing these strategies is compared with that of the standard strategy of formation of rational subgroups. It is observed that implementing skip and mixed sampling strategies within rational subgroup improves the performance of the synthetic T2 chart.
An Aminosalicylic Acid‐Modified Cellulose Composite Used for Mercury (II) Removal from Single and Quarternary Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Li Ming , Li Bo , Pan Yuanfeng , Zhou Li , Xiao Huining
Published: September 2018

A high efficient adsorbent based on cellulose with good reusability towards mercury (II) ions was successfully prepared via grafting copolymerization and coupling technology. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to reveal adsorption behavior of the as‐prepared adsorbents. Effects of the initial concentration, pH of the solution, time of contact, temperature and coexisting ions of the system were investigated, respectively. Polymerization reaction via glycidyl methacrylate was carried out to greatly enhance the following graft efficiency with the polydentate ligand which could catch the heavy metal ions. The results indicated the adsorption capacity was as high as 657.9 mg/g for Hg (II). Meanwhile, Langmuir isotherm model was proved to be appropriate in describing the experimental data, and the adsorption process was found to fit well with the pseudo‐second‐order model. In addition, the adsorbent could be regenerated with high recovery efficiency after adsorption; and the equilibrium adsorption capacity for Hg (II) was maintained at 204.5 mg/g after 10 adsorption‐desorption cycles, which is of great importance for practical application.
4‐[(1, 3‐Dioxoisoindolin‐2‐yl)methyl]benzenesulfonamide: Full Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization and Molecular Docking with Carbonic Anhydrase II
Authors: Gökce Halil , Öztürk Nuri , Sert Yusuf , El‐Azab Adel S. , A. AlSaif Nawaf , Abdel‐Aziz Alaa A.‐M.
Published: September 2018

The structural, spectral, electronic, thermodynamic and nonlinear optical features of 4‐[(1, 3‐dioxoisoindolin‐2‐yl)methyl]benzenesulfonamide were investigated using experimental and theoretical methods. Experimental characterization was carried out via FT‐IR, Raman, carbon‐13 and proton NMR chemical shifts and UV‐Vis. spectroscopic techniques. The molecular electronic structure computations were done with DFT/B3LYP method using the 6–311++G(2d,2p) basis set. VEDA4 software was used to analyze in PED (potential energy distribution) to vibrational profile of computed harmonic frequencies. Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to determine interactions in crystal packing of the compound. Additionally, the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs), lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs), nonlinear optical (NLO) analysis, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP and ESP) surfaces and thermochemical properties were studied with theoretical computational method. The localization contributions on the defined molecular groups of molecular orbitals in the electronic transitions were investigated. Enzyme‐ligand interactions of 4‐[(1, 3‐dioxoisoindolin‐2‐yl)methyl]benzenesulfonamide with carbonic anhydrase II were investigated by molecular docking analysis. The experimental and calculated structural and spectroscopic data were compared with each other. The correlation between computed results and experimental records is in a good harmony.
The best of both worlds: Can founder‐CEOs overcome the rich versus king dilemma after IPO?
Authors: Fattoum‐Guedri Asma , Delmar Frédéric , Wright Mike
Published: September 2018

Research Summary: To prevent loss of control post‐IPO, founder‐CEOs can implement control‐enhancing mechanisms disconnecting ownership from voting rights. However, this decision places them in a rich versus king dilemma. If they choose to implement such mechanisms and secure the king position, they risk losing money at IPO. If they choose not to implement control‐enhancing mechanisms and adopt the rich position they risk losing control over the firm. We investigate theoretically and empirically the outcomes of this dilemma in a multi‐period setting (at IPO and post‐IPO). We found that the majority of founder‐CEOs who choose the king option recover initial wealth loss, and hence, they can reconcile the rich and king paths in the long‐run post‐IPO.

Managerial Summary: Founder‐CEOs often use control‐enhancing mechanisms (CEMs), such dual class shares, pyramid control structures, and pact agreements, to maintain control over their IPO firms. In this study, we investigate the effects of these CEMs on firm value at IPO and post‐IPO using a unique hand‐collected dataset comprising all founder‐CEO led firms that went public on French regulated markets between January 1992 and December 2010. We found that most founder‐CEOs who use multiple CEMs leave considerable amounts of money on the table at IPO date but they are able to recover their initial loss 5 years post‐IPO. This result suggests that an IPO may constitute a valuable financing alternative even for founder‐CEOs who value control.
Size, Shape, and Protein Corona Determine Cellular Uptake and Removal Mechanisms of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Ding Lin , Yao Chenjie , Yin Xiaofeng , Li Chenchen , Huang Yanan , Wu Min , Wang Bin , Guo Xiaoya , Wang Yanli , Wu Minghong
Published: September 2018

Size, shape, and protein corona play a key role in cellular uptake and removal mechanisms of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The 15 nm nanoparticles (NP1), the 45 nm nanoparticles (NP2), and the rod‐shaped nanoparticles (NR) enter into cells via a receptor‐mediated endocytosis (RME) pathway. The star‐shaped nanoparticles (NS) adopt not only clathrin‐mediated, but also caveolin‐mediated endocytosis pathways. However, the 80 nm nanoparitcles (NP3) mainly enter into the cells by macropinocytosis pathway due to the big size. Furthermore, the results indicate that the presence of protein corona can change the uptake mechanisms of Au NPs. The endocytosis pathway of NP1, NP2, and NS changes from RME to macropinocytosis pathway and NR changes from RME to clathrin and caveolin‐independent pathway under the non‐fetal bovine serun (FBS)‐coated condition. Both FBS‐coated and non‐FBS‐coated of five types of Au NPs are released out through the lysosomal exocytosis pathway. The size, shape, and protein corona have an effect on the exocytosis ratio and amount, but do not change the exocytosis mechanism. The systematic study of the endocytosis and exocytosis mechanism of Au NPs with different sizes and shapes will benefit the toxicology evaluation and nanomedicine application of Au NPs.
Electrochemical Deposition Tailors the Catalytic Performance of MnO2‐Based Micromotors
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , Ge Hongbin , Gu Zhongwei , Lu Xiaolong , Li Jinxing , Wang Joseph
Published: September 2018

Artificial micro/nanomotors that could perform diverse tasks autonomously at the micro/nanoscale have been emerging as promising tools in many practical applications. Electrochemical synthesis is one of the dominating methods to fabricate these micro/nanodevices with diverse geometries and material components. By changing the conditions of electrochemical deposition, the surface morphology, crystal structure, and hence the resultant performance of deposited material could be tailored. In the current work, a feasible fabrication strategy is presented in terms of three unique electrodeposition types (i.e., potentiodynamic, potentiostatic (PS), and galvanostatic) to synthesize different MnO2‐based micromotors. Distinct propulsion behavior as well as the catalytic degradation of azo‐dye organic waste (with methylene blue as the representative), between three kinds of MnO2‐based micromotors is clearly displayed, owing to the distinctive chemical composition and morphology designs. The activated R‐MnO2‐based micromotors in PS mode exhibit fast motion speed (up to 12 body length per second), leading to the highest degradation efficiency. Such propulsion performance is comparable with the microrockets made by noble metals such as Pt and Ag. The new protocol will have a profound impact on the design of synthetic micro/nanomotors and hold a considerable promise for their diverse applications.
Can the Target Set for Reducing Childhood Overweight and Obesity Be Met? A System Dynamics Modelling Study in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Roberts Nick , Li Vincy , Atkinson Jo‐An , Heffernan Mark , McDonnell Geoff , Prodan Ante , Freebairn Louise , Lloyd Bev , Nieuwenhuizen Suzanne , Mitchell Jo , Lung Thomas , Wiggers John
Published: September 2018

The persistent prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity raises significant concerns about the impact on health, society and the economy. Responding to a target announced in September 2015 by the New South Wales (Australia) Premier to reduce childhood overweight and obesity by five percentage points by 2025, a system dynamics model was developed to support Government and stakeholders responsible for meeting the target. A participatory model building process, drawing cross‐sectorial expertise, was undertaken to estimate the individual and combined impact of interventions on meeting the target. The model demonstrated that it is theoretically possible to meet the target by implementing a comprehensive combination of policies and programmes. When limited to existing and enhanced population health interventions, the modelled result did not reach the target. The project provides an example of how participatory simulation modelling can combine a broad range of interventions together into likely scenarios and usefully inform government decision‐making. © 2018 The authors. Systems Research and Behavioral Science published by International Federation for Systems Research and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Interaction of Injector Design, Bubble Size, Flow Structure, and Turbulence in Ladle Metallurgy
Authors: Owusu Kwaku B. , Haas Tim , Gajjar Prince , Eickhoff Moritz , Kowitwarangkul Pruet , Pfeifer Herbert
Published: September 2018

In ladle metallurgy, the flow of purge gas through injectors promotes an effective mixing of the melt concerning composition and energy. In this work, different types of gas injectors, positioned eccentrically at 66% of the ladle radius are investigated in terms of the bubble size distribution, the resultant flow field velocity, and turbulent kinetic energy. The experiments are carried out in a 1:3 scale water model of a 185 t ladle using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and image processing. It is shown that a porous plug provides more intensive bulk convection and a higher degree of turbulence than the other tested injectors. The differences are explained by the generation of smaller bubbles, which transfer more momentum into the liquid. The differences between the injectors are small, though. Thus, it is concluded that in comparison with other process parameters, the type of injector plays a minor role in the efficiency of ladle metallurgy.
New Sweetpotato Lines have High Amylose and Resistant Starch Contents
Authors: Katayama Kenji , Nishinaka Mio , Nakamura Yoshiyuki , Kuranouchi Toshikazu , Ohara‐Takada Akiko , Fujita Kiyotaka , Kitahara Kanefumi
Published: September 2018

The sweetpotato is an important starch crop and a health‐promoting food, owing to its richness in functional components. New sweetpotato lines (HA lines) with high amylose and high resistant starch (RS) contents are developed by cross‐breeding, and the authors evaluate the root and starch properties and the influence of heat‐treatment on the RS contents of these HA lines. The HA lines are found to have comparable root weights; much lower starch contents; more than 28% higher (45–59%) amylose contents; much lower viscosities, gelatinization temperatures, and gelatinization enthalpy changes; a higher proportion of both amylose and short chains (DP 6–11) fractions in the unit chain distribution of the debranched starches; and higher RS contents in gelatinized starches, raw, and heat‐treated roots than those of the ordinary varieties. These results present useful information for food industries and breeders of sweetpotato.
Imaging phosphodiesterase‐10a availability in cocaine use disorder with [11C]IMA107 and PET
Authors: Tollefson Savannah , Gertler Joshua , Himes Michael L. , Paris Jennifer , Kendro Steve , Lopresti Brian , Scott Mason N. , Narendran Rajesh
Published: September 2018

Phosphodiesterase‐10a (PDE10a) is located exclusively in medium spiny neurons (MSN). Rodent studies show an increase in striatal MSN spine density following exposure to cocaine. These increases in MSN spine density are suggested to underlie neurobiological changes which contribute to cocaine self‐administration. No postmortem or imaging studies have confirmed this finding in humans. Here, we hypothesized an increase in the MSN marker PDE10a in subjects with cocaine use disorder (“cocaine users”) compared to controls. PDE10a availability was measured with [11C]IMA107 and positron emission tomography in 15 cocaine users and 15 controls matched for age, gender, and nicotine status. Cocaine users with no comorbid psychiatric, medical, or drug abuse disorders were scanned following two weeks of outpatient‐monitored abstinence. [11C]IMA107 binding potential relative to nondisplaceable uptake (BPND) in the regions of interest was derived with the simplified reference tissue method. No significant effect of diagnosis on BPND was demonstrated using linear mixed modeling with [11C]IMA107 BPND as the dependent variable and regions of interest as a repeated measure. There were no significant relationships between BPND and clinical rating scales. To the extent that PDE10a is a valid proxy for MSN spine density, these results do not support its increase in recently abstinent cocaine users.
Integrated Bio/Nano/CMOS interfaces for electrochemical molecular sensing
Authors: Carrara Sandro
Published: September 2018

Integrated bio/nano/Complementary Metal‐Oxide‐Semiconductor (CMOS) interfaces for electrochemical molecular sensing are becoming more and more common in the literature, especially for developing new electronic biochips for smart and intelligent Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) applications in remote monitoring of human body metabolism. The need for a bio interface is to specifically recognize the sensing of target molecules. The need for a nano interface is to address issues related to device sensitivity with respect to the envisaged medical application. Finally, the need for a CMOS interface comes from the modern approach to wearable and personal electronics, now also thought as an entry gate for monitoring people in their daily lives (e.g., sportsmen during competitions or trainings, chronic patients at home, etc.). Therefore, this paper reviews some of the most advanced approaches and methods published in the literature over the last decade related to the co‐design of integrated bio/nano/CMOS interfaces for electrochemical sensing of molecules related to human metabolism. Several approaches for realizing nanostructures directly on top of CMOS dies are introduced as well, and the related applications in biosensing are described. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Teachers’ and Students’ Second Language Motivational Self System in English‐Medium Instruction: A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Doiz Aintzane , Lasagabaster David
Published: September 2018

In this article the researchers analyze university students and teachers working in English‐medium instruction (EMI) settings in terms of the second language (L2) motivational self system (L2MSS) (Dörnyei, , ) from a qualitative perspective through the use of focus groups. This qualitative approach yields personal and group information about the participants’ perceptions and opinions on L2MSS in EMI in a Spanish university setting. The researchers approach participants’ L2 motivation and selves in terms of valued personal and professional identities, which are defined, among other things, by proficiency in English. Similarly, the researchers discuss the interaction between the L2MSS and the constructs of identity, investment, imagined community, vulnerability, and immunity in the EMI context. The results indicate that the ideal self (i.e., the speaker's vision of him‐ or herself as a competent user of the L2) clearly prevails over the ought‐to self (i.e., other people's vision for the individual) in the case of the teachers, whereas both components are more balanced in the case of students. It should be noted that the EMI experience also interacts with both students’ and teachers’ L2 motivation.
New Contexts, New Challenges for TESOL: Understanding Disciplinary Reasoning in Oral Interactions in English‐Medium Instruction
Authors: Dafouz Emma , Hüttner Julia , Smit Ute
Published: September 2018

English as a foreign language is no longer the sole object of specialized language classes, but increasingly a medium of university‐level instruction in a range of content areas. This leads to a complex interaction between new academic content and the means of expressing this expertise through appropriate disciplinary language uses. Conceptually, this study focuses on oral disciplinary–reasoning episodes, in which knowledge structures are explicitly developed. These episodes exemplify diverse ways whereby disciplinary meaning making is co‐constructed in English‐medium instruction (EMI), with one specific type being language‐related episodes which clarify specific items of terminology. Drawing on INTE‐R‐LICA, an international and interdisciplinary project, the database under investigation covers 671 minutes (67,605 words) of classroom discourse from a Spanish business administration degree programme. Findings suggest a structural diversity within these episodes, which are jointly constructed, and involve a rich variety of discursive strategies to effectuate meaning making. Our results indicate that an understanding of the crucial role of language in this disciplinary meaning‐making process is essential for the TESOL profession to remain relevant in the current English language teaching educational landscape. In addition to providing expert input into the potential of a language‐sensitive EMI pedagogy, TESOL teacher education will need to foster both language and content teachers’ awareness of the disciplinary nature of classroom discourse and its role in developing subject expertise among their students.
Identification of hepatotoxicity and renal dysfunction of pyrene in adult male rats
Authors: Zhu Jiayin , Zhao Li‐Yang , Wang Xiao‐Xiao , Shi Zhe , Zhang Yang , Wu Gang , Zhang Shu‐Yun
Published: September 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants primarily formed from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials, and have adverse effects on human health. In this study, we investigated whether pyrene, a PAH consisting of 4 fused benzene rings, has adverse effects on rat. Adult male Sprague‐Dawly rats were treated daily by oral gavage with vehicle (corn oil) or pyrene at doses of 375, 750, 1500, or 2200 mg/kg/day for 4 days. The results showed that pyrene caused hepatotoxicity in rats. When compared with the control group, relative liver weights, plasma alanine aminotransferase, and direct bilirubin levels significantly increased after pyrene exposure. Hepatocyte swelling and degeneration and decreased hepatic total glutathione (GSH) levels were also found in pyrene‐exposed rats. We further observed that mRNA levels of several hepatic metabolizing enzymes regulated by constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) such as CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 significantly increased in pyrene‐exposed rats. These results suggest that decreased GSH levels, elevated hepatic metabolizing enzyme gene expression, and CAR activation are important contributors for pyrene‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Additionally, we found pyrene significantly induced plasma inflammatory indices including white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. We also observed that pyrene exposure increased relative weight of kidneys and disrupted kidney function with elevated urea and creatinine levels in rats.
Create an efficient schedule to graduate students more quickly
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: September 2018

ORLANDO — Does your institution's course schedule create barriers for students that could cause them to get off track fulfilling their requirements and even have to delay completing their degrees? If courses are scheduled at times students can't take them — or there just aren't enough seats available — it's time to consider how you can align course scheduling with your institution's and students' completion goals.
Consider a makeover of directory information definitions, processes
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: September 2018

ORLANDO — When did you last evaluate the data your institution classifies as directory information? Does the information you give out make sense? And is your process for answering requests for directory information efficient?
Clearinghouse Report reveals student mobility patterns
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: September 2018

Of the 2.8 million students who first enrolled in higher education in fall 2011, 38 percent transferred during the next six years, before receiving a bachelor's degree. That's according to “Transfer and Mobility: A National View of Student Movement in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2011 Cohort,” a Signature Report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Testing infrared camera surveys and distance analyses to estimate feral horse abundance in a known population
Authors: Schoenecker Kathryn A. , Doherty Paul F. , Hourt Jacob S. , Romero John P.
Published: September 2018

We tested the use of high‐resolution infrared (IR) camera technology and distance sampling analyses to estimate abundance of feral horses (Equus caballus) during 2015–2016 in the McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area, Wyoming, USA. Infrared technology is becoming more common in ungulate population monitoring. The quality of IR cameras now allows ungulate species to be differentiated. Imperfect detection is a common problem in aerial surveys, so we tested the use of distance sampling analyses to account for imperfect detection probability. We conducted 2 aerial surveys in a sagebrush ecosystem with a demographically closed horse population. True abundance was known to within ±4 animals as a result of intensive, ground‐based monitoring of each animal, all of which are uniquely identifiable. After truncation of our data, the most supported detection function was a uniform function with a detection probability equal to 1.0 out to 255 m. Our analyses yielded results that were within 10% of true abundance, but the coefficient of variation (CV) was large (36–58%) assuming a small sampling fraction. However, our truncated surveys covered approximately 95% of the herd management area. By including a finite population correction factor in our calculations of variance estimates, CVs (8–13%) were dramatically reduced. We found the combination of IR surveys and distance sampling analysis to be a useful method to estimate feral horse abundance in sagebrush vegetation type, which had limited cover to obscure horses. Repeated testing in sagebrush ecosystems as well as further testing in other habitat types and under differing conditions will inform how general our approach can be. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Mechanics of fiber composites: Forms of loss of stability and fracture of test specimens resulting from three‐point bending tests
Authors: Paimushin V. N. , Kholmogorov S. A. , Makarov M. V. , Tarlakovskii D. V. , Lukaszewicz A.
Published: September 2018

On the basis of the linearized equations consistent theory of curvilinear bars the buckling problem of rectilinear short and long laminated fiber reinforced specimens under the three‐point bending conditions has formulated. Based on the method of finite sums in the embodiment of integrating matrices numerical method for solving the above problem has developed. It was shown that the failure of the composite specimens under the three‐point bending conditions is due to the implementation of non‐classical shear buckling mode.
Kapitel II Die „Erste Ansicht Des Idealismus“ Und Die Voraussetzungen Der Royce’Schen Erkenntnistheorie
Authors: Husserl Edmund , Bell Winthrop
Published: September 2018

In der Einleitung zu seiner Schrift The Spirit of Modern Philosophy unterscheidet Royce zwischen einem erkenntnistheoretischen und einem metaphysischen Idealismus.
Dissipative hydrodynamics in superspace
Authors: Jensen Kristan , Pinzani-Fokeeva Natalia , Yarom Amos
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We construct a Schwinger-Keldysh effective field theory for relativistic hydrodynamics for charged matter in a thermal background using a superspace formalism. Superspace allows us to efficiently impose the symmetries of the problem and to obtain a simple expression for the effective action. We show that the theory we obtain is compatible with the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition, which in turn implies that Green’s functions obey the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Our approach complements and extends existing formulations found in the literature.
Tangle blocks in the theory of link invariants
Authors: Mironov A. , Morozov A. , Morozov An.
Published: September 2018

Abstract

The central discovery of 2dconformal theory was holomorphic factorization, which expressed correlation functions through bilinear combinations of conformal blocks, which are easily cut and joined without a need to sum over the entire huge Hilbert space of states. Somewhat similar, when a link diagram is glued from tangles, the link polynomial is a multilinear combination oftangle blockssummed over just a few representations of intermediate states. This turns to be a powerful approach because the same tangles appear as constituents of very different knots so that they can be extracted from simpler cases and used in more complicated ones. So far this method has been technically developed only in the case of arborescent knots, but, in fact, it is much more general. We begin a systematic study of tangle blocks by detailed consideration of some archetypical examples, which actually lead to non-trivial results, far beyond the reach of other techniques. At the next level, the tangle calculus is about gluing of tangles, and functorial mappings from Hom(tangles). Its main advantage is an explicit realization of multiplicative composition structure, which is partly obscured in traditional knot theory.
Non-simply-laced symmetry algebras in F-theory on singular spaces
Authors: Grassi Antonella , Halverson James , Long Cody , Shaneson Julius L. , Tian Jiahua
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We demonstrate how non-simply-laced gauge and flavor symmetries arise in F-theory on spaces with non-isolated singularities. The breaking from a simply-laced symmetry to one that is non-simply-laced is induced by Calabi-Yau complex structure deformation. In all examples the deformation maintains non-isolated singularities but is accompanied by a splitting of an I
1 seven-brane that opens new loops in the geometry near a non-abelian seven-brane. The splitting also arises in the moduli space of a probe D3-brane, which upon traversing the new loop experiences a monodromy that acts on 3-7 string junctions on the singular space. The monodromy reduces the symmetry algebra, which is the flavor symmetry of the D3-brane and the gauge symmetry of the seven-brane, to one that is non-simply-laced. A collision of the D3-brane with the seven-brane gives rise to a 4d

$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$

N
=
1

SCFT with a non-simply-laced flavor symmetry.
A Meta‐analysis of Prophylaxis of Surgical Site Infections with Topical Application of Povidone Iodine Before Primary Closure
Authors: López‐Cano Manuel , Kraft Miquel , Curell Anna , Puig‐Asensio Mireia , Balibrea José , Armengol‐Carrasco Manuel , García‐Alamino Josep M.
Published: September 2018

Background

Povidone iodine (PVI) is a widely used antiseptic solution among surgeons. A meta‐analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to establish whether application of PVI before wound closure could reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates.

Methods

Systematic review of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases from inception to September 2017, with no language restrictions. Only RCTs were retrieved. The primary outcome was the SSI rate. Meta‐analysis was complemented with trial sequential analysis (TSA).

Results

A total of 7601 patients collected from 16 RCTs were analyzed. A reduction in overall SSI rate was found (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48–0.85, P = 0.002, I2 = 65%), which was attributed to patients undergoing elective operations (n = 2358) and mixed elective/urgent operations (n = 2019). When RCTs of uncertain quality (n = 9) were excluded, the use of PVI before wound closure (n = 4322 patients) was not associated with a significant reduction of SSI (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.55–1.20, P = 0.29, I2 = 51%) and was only significant in clean wounds (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09–0.70, P = 0.008, I2 = 0%). For the primary outcome, the TSA calculation using a relative risk reduction of 19% and an 11% proportion of control event rate (CER) with 51% of I2, the accrued information size (n = 4322) was 32.8% of the estimated optimal information size (n = 13,148).

Conclusions

There is no conclusive evidence for a strong recommendation of topical PVI before wound closure to prevent SSI.