bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and application of chlorpyrifos molecularly imprinted solid‐phase microextraction probes for the residual determination of organophosphorous pesticides in fresh and dry foods
Authors: Ma Jin‐Kui , Huang Xiao‐Chen , Wei Shou‐Lian
Published: June 2018

A solid‐phase microextraction probe was prepared on the surface of a stainless‐steel wire through molecular sol–gel imprinting technology using chlorpyrifos as a template molecule, tetraethoxysilane as a sol–gel precursor, and acrylamide and β‐cyclodextrin as functional monomers. The polymer was characterized by infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the selectivity and the parameters including the type and volume of the extraction solvents, ionic strength, pH, temperature, extraction time, stirring speed, and desorption time affecting extraction performance were evaluated. Under the optimum solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography conditions, the linear ranges were 0.25–25.0 μg/L for chlorpyrifos, quinalphos, triazophos, pirimiphos‐methyl, and chlorpyrifos‐methyl with the correlation coefficient above 0.99. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were in the range of 0.02–0.07 μg/L and the RSDs were <7.3%. The developed method was successfully used to determine the multi‐residues of chlorpyrifos, quinalphos, triazophos, pirimiphos‐methyl, and chlorpyrifos‐methyl in green peppers and cinnamon with satisfactory recoveries.
Out of the Mouths of Babes: Links Between Linguistic Structure of Loss Narratives and Psychosocial Functioning in Parentally Bereaved Children
Authors: Kaplow Julie B. , Wardecker Britney M. , Layne Christopher M. , Kross Ethan , Burnside Amanda , Edelstein Robin S. , Prossin Alan R.
Published: June 2018

This study examined links between the language bereaved children use to describe the death of their caregiver and children's psychological/behavioral functioning and coping strategies. Participants included 44 children (54.5% male) aged 7 to 12 (M = 9.05) years who were bereaved by the death of a caregiver. Children were assessed via self‐ and caregiver‐report measures and an in‐person interview regarding the loss of their caregiver. Children's loss narratives gathered through in‐person interviews were transcribed and subjected to textual analysis. Linguistic categories included pronouns and verb tense. Drawing from linguistic and self‐distancing theories, we hypothesized that children's use of language reflecting self‐distancing (third‐person pronouns and past tense) or social connectedness (first‐person plural pronouns) would be negatively associated with psychological/behavioral distress and avoidant coping. Similarly, we expected that children's use of self‐focused language (first‐person singular pronouns and present tense) would be positively associated with psychological/behavioral distress and avoidant coping. As hypothesized, preliminary findings suggest that children who employed more self‐distancing language and used more social connectedness words reported less avoidant coping, rs = .40–.42. Also as hypothesized, children who employed more self‐focused language had higher levels of self‐reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, r = .54, and avoidant coping, r = .54, and higher parent‐reported psychological/behavioral distress, r = .43. Implications for theory‐building, risk screening, and directions for future research with bereaved youth are discussed.
Ecology of neonate eastern box turtles with prescribed fire implications
Authors: Laarman Patrick B. , Keenlance Paul W. , Altobelli Joseph T. , Schumacher Chris M. , Huber Phillip , Jacquot Joseph J. , Moore Jennifer A.
Published: June 2018

Little is known about the movements and behavior of neonate eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). We investigated spatial ecology of neonate eastern box turtles at 4 upland openings in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan, USA, 2012–2016. We protected nests and used radio‐telemetry to document dispersal from nests, land cover types used for overwintering, and residency time of neonates in natal openings. We used binomial logistic regression to model probabilities of overwintering in natal openings versus adjacent forest and edge. We protected 64 nests, radio‐fitted 64 neonates over 4 cohort years, tracked 46 neonates from nest emergence to their overwintering sites, and tracked 28 neonates for portions of their second activity season. Dispersal (straight‐line distance from nest to overwintering site) was limited in the first activity season (n = 46 neonates,  = 19.9 ± 2.4 m [SE], range = 1.9–83.2 m) and 24 overwintered in natal openings, 4 overwintered in the forest edge, and 18 overwintered in forest. Our best logistic model included the predictor variables distance from nest to nearest forest edge and day of nest emergence. Probability of overwintering within a natal opening was greater for neonates from nests located farther from the forest edge and for neonates emerging from nests later in the year. By 1 June of their second activity season, all tracked turtles were still present in, or within 50 m, of their natal opening, but all neonates had dispersed into surrounding forest or wetlands by 1 July. Managers should be aware that neonates reside in or very near their natal openings for several months after nest emergence. When burning or otherwise intensively managing open canopy box turtle nesting areas, relaxing the interval (yr) between treatments and excluding forest edge and adjacent forest should allow neonates time to disperse, decreasing risk of mortality. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Kinetics of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione with β‐pinene and 2‐carene: Temperature, high pressure, and solvent effects
Authors: Kiselev Vladimir D. , Kornilov Dmitry A. , Anikin Oleg V. , Shulyatiev Alexey A. , Kolesnikova Anastasia O. , Konovalov Alexander I.
Published: June 2018

The data on temperature, solvent, and high hydrostatic pressure influence on the rate of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione (1) with 2‐carene (2), and β‐pinene (4) have been obtained. Ene reactions 1+2 and 1+4 have high heat effects: ∆Hr‐n (1+2) −158.4, ∆Hr‐n(1+4) −159.2 kJ mol−1, 25°C, 1,2‐dichloroethane. The comparison of the activation volume (∆V≠(1+2) −29.9 cm3 mol−1, toluene; ∆V≠(1+4) −36.0 cm3 mol−1, ethyl acetate) and reaction volume values (∆Vr‐n(1+2) −24.0 cm3 mol−1, toluene; ∆Vr‐n(1+4) −30.4 cm3 mol−1, ethyl acetate) reveals more compact cyclic transition states in comparison with the acyclic reaction products 3 and 5. In the series of nine solvents, the reaction rate of 1+2 increases 260‐fold and 1+4 increases 200‐fold, respectively, but not due to the solvent polarity.
The life cycle process of knowledge sharing in free software communities: Sharing profiles and motivations
Authors: Balle Andrea Raymundo , Oliveira Mírian
Published: June 2018

Knowledge is an obtainable, renewable, dynamic, context‐dependent resource that can be shared, and the knowledge sharing cycle has 2 processes: knowledge donation, when a person voluntarily offers his/her intellectual capital to others, and knowledge collection, when a person consults other people's intellectual capital. Knowledge can be shared among individuals, groups, and organizations. A free software community is a type of community of practice arranged around a specific free software, where the knowledge shared is complex and the knowledge sharing processes have scarcely been studied. This investigation aims to identify the profiles of knowledge sharing processes in free software communities and examine how 6 motivations for sharing knowledge in free software communities are associated with each of the clusters. To accomplish this objective, a survey method was adopted, with 260 respondents belonging to free software communities. Cluster analysis was used to interpret the data. Four clusters were identified: Sporadic Sharer; Collector; Donator; and Constant Sharer. With the exception of the Sporadic Sharer, all the clusters presented high values of both collection and donation, including the Donators and Collectors. These results confirm the view of free software communities as communities of practice and highlight the importance of knowledge sharing in free software development cycle. The results reveal the importance of the Constant Sharer profile, which has the highest rates of donation and collection and is also the profile in which all the motivations appear with the highest values, indicating its key role in the functioning of free software communities.
Titanium Oxide Sol–Gel Induced Wrinkling of Electrospun Nanofibers
Authors: Park Yaewon , Ford Ericka
Published: June 2018

TiO2sol–gel reaction induces nanowrinkling along the surface of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers. Nanowrinkling along nanofibers is influenced by electrospinning voltage, degree of nanofiber crosslinking, and the repetitive immersion of nanofibers in TiO2precursors. Crosslinked nanofibers are dipped in alternating solutions of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and water for up to five cycles. Interestingly, nanowrinkles only form along nanofibers that are spun at 45 kV and treated with three or more cycles of sol–gel precursor. Spectroscopy reveals that more PVA hydroxyl groups populate the nanofiber surface when electrospinning occurs at 45 kV than at 15 kV. In turn, surface PVA hydroxyl groups appear to nucleate TiO2growth. Scanning probe phase micrographs confirm modulus differences between the attached TiO2particles and PVA's surface. Those moduli differences result in wrinkling, as TTIP‐treated nanofibers undergo repetitive cycles of water swelling and isopropanol deswelling.
Metal‐Coupled Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer in Layer‐by‐Layer Assemblies for Dual Modality Fluorescence Enhancement
Authors: Kim Ki‐Se , Yoo Seong Il , Sohn Byeong‐Hyeok
Published: June 2018

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has attracted a great deal of attention in chemical and biological analysis because fluorescence intensity of given fluorophores (acceptor) can be amplified by placing energy‐harvesting molecules (donor) in their vicinity. However, FRET‐based fluorescence has a certain limitation in terms of signal amplification because it inherently relies on the intrinsic properties of donors and acceptors as well as the donor‐to‐acceptor distance. To overcome this limitation, metal nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced to a FRET system to engineer the dipole–dipole interaction in FRET using the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of metal NPs. A 63.1‐fold fluorescence enhancement is observed using an LSPR‐coupled FRET process based on layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assemblies composed of a pair of donor–acceptor fluorescent dyes and metal NPs. It is discovered that by a) optimizing LSPR‐coupled excitation enhancement in donors as well as emission enhancement in acceptors and b) opening FRET channels between LSPR‐coupled donors and acceptors, dual enhancement mechanisms based on FRET and LSPR can be coupled to induce strong fluorescence. Interestingly, it is noticed that the fluorescence enhancement is achieved with reduced FRET efficiency, which is explained by competitive near‐field interactions in the LSPR‐coupled FRET system.
Enhancement of methanogenesis by electric syntrophy with biogenic iron‐sulfide minerals
Authors: Kato Souichiro , Igarashi Kensuke
Published: June 2018

Recent studies have shown that interspecies electron transfer between chemoheterotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea can be mediated by electric currents flowing through conductive iron oxides, a process termed electric syntrophy. In this study, we conducted enrichment experiments with methanogenic microbial communities from rice paddy soil in the presence of ferrihydrite and/or sulfate to determine whether electric syntrophy could be enabled by biogenic iron sulfides. Although supplementation with either ferrihydrite or sulfate alone suppressed methanogenesis, supplementation with both ferrihydrite and sulfate enhanced methanogenesis. In the presence of sulfate, ferrihydrite was transformed into black precipitates consisting mainly of poorly crystalline iron sulfides. Microbial community analysis revealed that a methanogenic archaeon and iron‐ and sulfate‐reducing bacteria (Methanosarcina, Geobacter, and Desulfotomaculum, respectively) predominated in the enrichment culture supplemented with both ferrihydrite and sulfate. Addition of an inhibitor specific for methanogenic archaea decreased the abundance of Geobacter, but not Desulfotomaculum, indicating that Geobacter acquired energy via syntrophic interaction with methanogenic archaea. Although electron acceptor compounds such as sulfate and iron oxides have been thought to suppress methanogenesis, this study revealed that coexistence of sulfate and iron oxide can promote methanogenesis by biomineralization of (semi)conductive iron sulfides that enable methanogenesis via electric syntrophy.
Undercompressive shock waves in Hall‐magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Shukla Triveni P. , Sharma V. D.
Published: June 2018

We study the propagation of nonlinear waves in a Hall‐magnetohydrodynamic model. An asymptotic method is used to derive the Gardner‐Burgers equation for fast magnetosonic waves; here, the flux function is nonconvex with both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities, and the evolution equation involves both second‐ and third‐order derivatives representing diffusion and dispersion terms, respectively. Effects of Hall parameter are discussed on the evolution of waves and their interaction by solving a pair of Riemann problems both analytically and numerically. It is shown that the Hall parameter is responsible for shock splitting—a phenomenon that is completely absent in ideal magnetohydrodynamic; indeed, the Hall parameter plays a significant role in deciding about the structure of the solution that involves undercompressive shocks and their interaction with refracted waves and the Lax shocks. It is found that increasing Hall parameter means increasing dispersion that triggers the physical mechanism causing speed and strength of an undercompressive shock to increase and the wave‐fan width to decrease; numerical solutions substantiate these features predicted by the analytical solution.
Continuous and discrete dynamical systems for the declines of honeybee colonies
Authors: Lerata Mataeli B. , Lubuma Jean M‐S. , Yusuf Abdullahi A.
Published: June 2018

This work deals with two mathematical models on the declines of honeybee colonies. Starting from the model proposed eight years ago by Khoury, Meyerscough, and Barron, (KMB model), we kept the eclosion function and changed the recruitment function to design a new model for social parasitism in honeybees. The KMB model is characterized by the fact that there exists a critical value of the foragers' death rate above which there is colony collapse disorder in the sense that the “trivial” equilibrium point is globally asymptotically stable. We design a nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) scheme that preserves this property. It is established that in the social parasitic (SP) model, the colony decays exponentially to zero irrespective of the value of foragers' death rate. An NSFD scheme is constructed for the SP model. The faster decline in the SP setting is demonstrated theoretically for the NSFD scheme. Numerical simulations are provided to confirm that the colony declines faster in the SP setting than in the KMB model.
A note on the existence and uniqueness solutions of the modified error function
Authors: Bougoffa Lazhar
Published: June 2018

This paper shows that the following nonlinear boundary value problem:

urn:x-wiley:mma:media:mma5095:mma5095-math-0001
where δ≥ − 1 and y is defined as a modified error function, can be reduced to the boundary value problems for the generalized Emden‐Fowler equation and Abel differential equation of the second kind in the canonical form, which do not usually have closed‐form solutions. The existence and uniqueness of the solution are established by considering another contraction mapping. Highly accurate approximate solutions of this problem are also provided.
Flow of a Reiner‐Rivlin fluid between two infinite coaxial rotating disks
Authors: Das Abhijit , Sahoo Bikash
Published: June 2018

Present study deals with the steady flow and heat transfer of a non‐Newtonian Reiner‐Rivlin fluid between two coaxially rotating infinite disks. Using similarity transformations, the governing equations are reduced to a set of nonlinear, highly coupled ordinary differential equations and by means of an effective analytical method called homotopy analysis method; analytical solutions are constructed in series form. Different cases, such as, when one disk is at rest and the other is rotating with constant angular velocity, two disks rotating with different angular velocities in same as well as opposite sense, two disks rotating with same angular velocities in opposite sense, are discussed. The effects of non‐Newtonian parameter, Reynolds number, are also discussed, and results are presented graphically.
Sharp global well‐posedness for the fractional BBM equation
Authors: Wang Ming , Zhang Zaiyun
Published: June 2018

The Cauchy problem of the fractional Benjamin‐Bona‐Mahony equation with exponent α ∈ (1,2] on the real line is studied. First, some bilinear estimates for the fractional Benjamin‐Bona‐Mahony are proved, and the estimates are shown to be sharp by providing counter‐examples. Second, the local well‐posedness in Hs with
is proved by the contraction principle. Finally, the local solution is extended to a global one by the I‐method. The well‐posedness result turns out to be sharp and fills the gap between the results in Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst, 23 (2009) 1253‐1275 and that in Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst., 30 (2011) 253‐259.
Changes in the expression of prostaglandin family members in bovine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle and pregnancy
Authors: Berisha Bajram , Schams Dieter , Rodler Daniela , Sinowatz Fred , Pfaffl Michael W.
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to characterize certain prostaglandin family members in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. The CL tissue was assigned to the stages 1–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–12, 13–16 and >18 days (after regression) of the estrous cycle and 1–2, 3–4, 6–7, and >8 months of pregnancy. In these samples, we investigated prostaglandin F2alpha (PTGF), prostaglandin E2 (PTGE), their receptors (PTGFR, PTGER2, and PTGER4), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2), PTGF synthase (PTGFS), and PTGE synthase (PTGES). The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, hormones by enzyme immunoassay, and localization by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of COX‐2, PTGFS, and PTGES in CL during the early‐luteal phase was high followed by a continuous and significant downregulation afterward, as well as during all phases of pregnancy. The concentration of PTGF in CL tissue was high during the early‐luteal phase, decreased significantly in the mid‐luteal phase, and increased again afterward. In contrast, the concentration of PTGE increased significantly during the late‐luteal phase followed by a decrease during regression. The PTGE level increased again during late pregnancy. Immunohistochemically, the large granulose–luteal cells show strong staining for COX‐2 and PTGES during the early‐luteal stage followed by lower activity afterward. During pregnancy, most of the luteal cells were only weakly positive or negative. In conclusion, our results indicate that the examined prostaglandin family members are involved in the local mechanisms that regulate luteal function, specifically during CL formation, function, and regression and during pregnancy in the cow.
Slack and innovation: The role of human resources in nonprofits
Authors: Meyer Michael , Leitner Johannes
Published: June 2018

Resources are often seen as a key factor in innovation. For business organizations, it has been shown that there is a relation between the lack or abundance of resources and the innovativeness of organizations. It is specifically abundance that fosters innovations, not shortage. We investigated this relationship for nonprofits based on a cross‐sectional survey of 250 Austrian nonprofit organizations (NPOs). According to levels of disposability, we differentiate between available slack, recoverable slack, and potential slack. Turning to the type of resources, we distinguish financial slack from different types of HR slack: levels of motivation and qualification and levels of compensation, addressing the level of employees' wages. Our results indicate that in NPOs human resources slack rather than financial slack has a positive impact on innovativeness.
EnLIGHTenment of tumor vessel normalization and immunotherapy in glioblastoma
Authors: Treps Lucas
Published: June 2018

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly vascularized and aggressive brain tumor. Despite aggressive standard care, GBM remains predominantly fatal; hence, new innovative therapies are required. Recent research published in the Journal of Pathology has identified the CGKRK peptide as a promising tool with which to specifically target the tumor vasculature from high‐grade glioma. This tumor vessel‐homing peptide was fused to the tumor necrosis factor superfamily member LIGHT/TNFSF14, and injected intravenously into murine orthotopic GBM models. After treatment, the tumor vasculature appeared to be less abnormal, with normalized features such as increased endothelial barrier integrity, pericyte contractility, and tumor perfusion. Moreover, CGKRK–LIGHT induced the appearance of high endothelial venules (HEVs), which are specialized structures that play a role in lymphocyte trafficking and have been shown to increase T‐cell infiltration in solid tumors. Combining CGKRK–LIGHT with anti‐angiogenic and immune checkpoint blockade treatments boosted HEV induction and cytotoxic T‐cell infiltration, leading to a reduction in tumor burden. In this Commentary, I highlight the therapeutic opportunities provided by and the current limitations of LIGHT‐vascular targeting peptide as a new approach to target GBM and enhance tumor vessel delivery and immunotherapy efficacy. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activation of MET signaling by HDAC6 offers a rationale for a novel ricolinostat and crizotinib combinatorial therapeutic strategy in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Liu Zebing , Cai Ying , Yang Yu , Li Anqi , Bi Rui , Wang Lisha , Shen Xiaohan , Wang Weige , Jia Yijun , Yu Baohua , Cao Bing , Cui Wenli , Wei Ping , Zhou Xiaoyan
Published: June 2018

Some histone deacetylases (HDACs) promote tumor cell growth and pan‐ or selective HDAC inhibitors are active in some cancers; however, the pivotal HDAC enzyme and its functions in human diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remain largely unknown. Using NanoString nCounter assays, we profiled HDAC mRNA expression and identified HDAC6 as an upregulated HDAC family member in DLBCL tissue samples. We then found that HDAC6 plays an oncogenic role in DLBCL, as evidenced by its promotion of cell proliferation in vitro and tumor xenograft growth in vivo. Mechanistically, the interaction between HDAC6 and HR23B downregulated HR23B expression, thereby reducing the levels of casitas B‐lineage lymphoma (c‐Cbl), an E3 ubiquitin ligase for hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET), which resulted in the inhibition of MET ubiquitination‐dependent degradation. In addition, enhanced HDAC6 expression and decreased HR23B expression were correlated with poor overall survival rates among patients with DLBCL. Taken together, these results establish an HDAC6–HR23B–MET axis and indicate that HDAC6 is a potent promoter of lymphomagenesis in DLBCL. Thus, a therapeutic strategy based on HDAC6 inhibitors in combination with MET inhibitors is promising. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An integrative transcriptome analysis reveals a functional role for thyroid transcription factor‐1 in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Horie Masafumi , Miyashita Naoya , Mattsson Johanna Sofia Margareta , Mikami Yu , Sandelin Martin , Brunnström Hans , Micke Patrick , Nagase Takahide , Saito Akira
Published: June 2018

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neuroendocrine tumour that exhibits rapid growth and metastatic spread. Although SCLC represents a prototypically undifferentiated cancer type, thyroid transcription factor‐1 (TTF‐1, gene symbol NKX2‐1), a master regulator for pulmonary epithelial cell differentiation and lung morphogenesis, is strongly upregulated in this aggressive cancer type. The aim of this study was to evaluate a functional role for TTF‐1 in SCLC. We demonstrated that achaete‐scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1), an essential transcription factor for neuroendocrine differentiation, positively regulated TTF‐1 in SCLC cell lines. Subsequently, we described genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) that were possibly controlled by TTF‐1 and identified nuclear factor IB (NFIB), a recently characterised driver of SCLC progression, as a transcriptional target of TTF‐1. Our findings shine light on a regulatory axis in SCLC consisting of ASCL1/TTF‐1/NFIB that potentially contributes to the tumourigenesis of SCLC. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outcome of children and adolescents with Down syndrome treated on Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Consortium protocols 00–001 and 05‐001
Authors: Athale Uma H. , Puligandla Maneka , Stevenson Kristen E. , Asselin Barbara , Clavell Luis A. , Cole Peter D. , Kelly Kara M. , Laverdiere Caroline , Leclerc Jean‐Marie , Michon Bruno , Schorin Marshall A. , Sulis Maria Luisa , Welch Jennifer J. G. , Harris Marian H. , Neuberg Donna S. , Sallan Stephen E. , Silverman Lewis B.
Published: June 2018

Background

Children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are reported to have increased relapse rates and therapy‐related mortality (TRM). Treatment regimens for DS‐ALL patients often include therapy modifications. Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL Consortium protocols have used same risk‐stratified treatment for patients with and without DS.

Procedures

We compared clinical and outcome data of DS (n = 38) and non‐DS (n = 1,248) patients enrolled on two consecutive DFCI ALL trials 00–001 (2000–2004) and 05‐001 (2005–2011) with similar risk adapted therapy regardless of DS status.

Results

There was no difference in demographic or presenting clinical features between two groups except absence of T‐cell phenotype and lower frequency of hyperdiploidy in DS‐ALL group. All DS‐ALL patients achieved complete remission; four relapsed and one subsequently died. There was no TRM in DS‐ALL patients. DS‐ALL patients had significantly higher rates of mucositis (52% vs. 12%, p < 0.001), non‐CNS thrombosis (18% vs. 8%; p = 0.036), and seizure (16% vs. 5%, p = 0.010). Compared to non‐DS‐ALL patients, DS‐ALL patients had a higher incidence of infections during all therapy phases. The 5‐year event‐free and overall survival rates of DS‐ALL patients were similar to non‐DS‐ALL patients (91% [95% confidence interval (CI), 81–100] vs. 84% [95% CI, 82–86]; 97% [95% CI, 92–100] vs. 91% [95% CI, 90–93]).

Conclusion

The low rates of relapse and TRM indicate that uniform risk‐stratified therapy for DS‐ALL and non‐DS‐ALL patients on DFCI ALL Consortium protocols was safe and effective, although the increased rate of toxicity in the DS‐ALL patients highlights the importance of supportive care during therapy.
Biology of human primitive erythroblasts for application in noninvasive prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Huang Zhou‐Wei , Fong Chui‐Yee , Gauthaman Kalamegam , Sukumar Ponnusamy , Mahyuddin Aniza P. , Barrett Angela N. , Bongso Ariff , Choolani Mahesh
Published: June 2018

Objective

Human primitive erythroblasts produced during early embryogenesis have been found in maternal circulation at early gestation and are considered good target cells for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. We aimed to gain a better understanding of the biology of primitive erythroblasts and maximize their potential utility for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis.

Methods

Cells were obtained from first trimester human placental tissues. Biological properties including surface antigen composition, differentiation, proliferation, enucleation, and degeneration were studied as gestation progressed. A microdroplet culture system was developed to observe the behavior of these cells in vitro.

Results

Histology showed that primitive erythroblasts undergo maturation from polychromatic to orthochromatic erythroblasts and can differentiate spontaneously in vitro. Cell surface markers and nuclear gene expression suggest that the cells do not possess stemness properties, despite being primitive in nature. They have limited proliferative activity and highly deacetylated chromatin, but a microdroplet culture system can prolong their viability under normoxic conditions. No apoptosis was seen by 11 weeks' gestation, and there was no enucleation in vitro.

Conclusion

These properties confirm that viable cells with intact nuclei can be obtained at very early gestation for genetic analysis.
Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes by a donor–acceptor type conjugated polymer: poly(thiophene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole) and its photocatalytic mechanism
Authors: Yang Xiao , Duan Lian , Ran Xiaoqi
Published: June 2018

A donor–acceptor conjugated‐type polymer, poly(thiophene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole) (PThOD), was synthesized by one‐step polycondensation in polyphosphoric acid. PThOD was confirmed and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction and UV‐visible spectra. The UV‐visible spectra showed that PThOD could absorb not only in the whole ultraviolet range from 200 to 400 nm but also in the visible light range up to 500 nm. Considering the conjugated structure of PThOD, studies were carried out of its performance for the photocatalytic degradation of various dyes, such as methyl orange, methylene blue, rhodamine B and reactive brilliant blue (RBB), under medium‐pressure Hg light source irradiation. The results showed that PThOD was an effective photocatalyst, which could degrade the four types of dye solution. Besides, visible light was also used to investigate the degradation of RBB, and the results showed that RBB could be degraded as well, though the efficiency was not as high as using the Hg lamp. The superoxide anion radical (O2•−), which is one of the reactive oxide species, was detected using the nitrotetrazolium blue chloride method and considered to play a key role in photodegradation of dyes. Moreover, various scavengers were also used to further prove the function of −. Furthermore, it was found that degradation rate could be changed by adding H+, which might be attributed to a change of adsorption capacity of PThOD. Finally, the reusability of PThOD as photocatalyst was investigated. The results indicated that the reusability efficiency of PThOD was excellent even after ten continuous rounds of use. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Analytical optimization of intermediate band systems: Achieving the best of two worlds
Authors: Suchet Daniel , Delamarre Amaury , Cavassilas Nicolas , Jehl Zacharie , Okada Yoshitaka , Sugiyama Masakazu , Guillemoles Jean‐Francois
Published: June 2018

Lagrange multipliers provide a powerful framework to devise the optimization of systems under constraints. It can be especially useful in the context of photovoltaics, where electrical or structural continuity relations impose connections between quantities, such as current matching between the different subcells of tandem devices. In this work, we apply this method to Intermediate band solar cell, an advanced concept for solar energy conversion in which 2 low‐energy photons can promote an electron to the conduction band through a so‐called intermediate band. We demonstrate that an intermediate band solar cell under solar spectrum cannot meet voltage preservation and current matching at the same time. By contrast, we show that the implementation of an energy shift (electronic ratchet) in any of the bands lifts one of the constraints set on the system and allows those 2 criteria to be filled simultaneously. Additional insights are provided by the numerical study of the short‐circuit current and fill factor of the systems at stake, which show that a system with ratchet benefits from the same current increase as a standard intermediate band solar cell (same short‐circuit current), while maintaining I‐V properties of a single junction (same open‐voltage circuit, same fill factor).
Surface modification of the laser sintering standard powder polyamide 12 by plasma treatments
Authors: Almansoori Alaa , Masters Robert , Abrams Kerry , Schäfer Jan , Gerling Torsten , Majewski Candice , Rodenburg Cornelia
Published: June 2018

Polyamide 12 (PA12) powder was exposed for up to 3 h to low pressure air plasma treatment (LP‐PT) and several minutes by two different atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) i.e., kINPen (K‐APPJ) and Hairline (H‐APPJ). The chemical and physical changes resulting from LP‐PT were observed by a combination of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Hot Stage Microscopy (HSM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which demonstrated significant changes between the plasma treated and untreated PA12 powders. PA12 exposed to LP‐PT showed an increase in wettability, was relatively porous, and possessed a higher density, which resulted from the surface functionalization and materials removal during the plasma exposure. However, it showed poor melt behavior under heating conditions typical for Laser Sintering. In contrast, brief PJ treatments demonstrated similar changes in porosity, but crucially, retained the favorable melt characteristics of PA12 powder.
High‐Strength Sub‐Micrometer Spherical Particles Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Melting in Liquid
Authors: Kondo Mitsuhiko , Shishido Nobuyuki , Kamiya Shoji , Kubo Atsushi , Umeno Yoshitaka , Ishikawa Yoshie , Koshizaki Naoto
Published: June 2018

Sub‐micrometer spherical particles that are obtained by pulsed laser melting in liquid (PLML) are usually observed to be single crystalline, and it is suggested that they are mechanically very strong. In this study, fracture tests of various sub‐micrometer spherical particles are performed by compressive force application. The results indicate that B4C and TiO2 sub‐micrometer spherical particles exhibit brittle fracture behavior under tensile fracture mode at the center of the particles. The fracture strength of the sub‐micrometer spherical particles is larger than that of the bulk material reported in the literature by about one order of magnitude. TiO2 sub‐micrometer spherical particles obtained by PLML are stronger than the commercially available TiOx sub‐micrometer spherical particles with a porous structure. In addition, due to the single crystallinity of particles, smaller particles have larger fracture strength, becoming up to 10–40% of ideal tensile fracture strength calculated based on density functional theory. Thus, these results demonstrate that sub‐micrometer spherical particles obtained using PLML exhibit fairly strong and unique mechanical properties, and therefore they are very promising for various mechanical applications at the sub‐micrometer size scale.
Hypersonic‐Induced 3D Hydrodynamic Tweezers for Versatile Manipulations of Micro/Nanoscale Objects
Authors: Cui Weiwei , He Meihang , Yang Yang , Zhang Hongxiang , Pang Wei , Duan Xuexin
Published: June 2018

Developing microrobots for precisely manipulating micro/nanoscale objects has triggered tremendous research interest for various applications in biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Here, a novel hypersonic‐induced hydrodynamic tweezers (HSHTs), which use gigahertz nano‐electromechanical resonator to create localized 3D vortex streaming array for the capture and manipulation of micro‐ and nanoparticles in three orientations: transportation in a plane and self‐rotation in place, are presented. 3D vortex streaming can effectively pick up particles from the flow, whereas the high‐speed rotating vortices are used to drive self‐rotation simultaneously. By tuning flow rate, the captured particles can be delivered, queued, and selectively sorted through the 3D HSHTs. Through numerical simulations and theoretical analysis, the generation of the 3D vortex and the mechanism of the particles manipulation by ultrahigh frequency acoustic wave are demonstrated. Benefitting from the advantages of the acoustic and hydrodynamic method, the developed HSHTs work in a precise, noninvasive, label‐free, and contact‐free manner, enabling wide applications in micro/nanoscale manipulations and biomedical research.
Unusually Large Lattice Mismatch‐Induced Optical Behaviors of Au@Cu–Cu2O Core–Shell Nanocrystals with Noncentrally Located Cores
Authors: Hsia Chi‐Fu , Chang Chia‐Hao , Huang Michael H.
Published: June 2018

To extend the optical property characterization of metal–Cu2O polyhedra, 50 nm Au@Cu cubic cores are used to fabricate Au@Cu–Cu2O core–shell cubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra with tunable sizes. Despite the unusually large lattice mismatch of 15.1% between Cu and Cu2O, fine adjustment in the volumes of reagents introduced allows the formation of these heterostructures. To relieve the lattice strain, the metal cores are essentially never found to locate at the particle center, and slight lattice spacing shifts are recorded. Although efforts are made to reduce the heterostructure sizes, the Cu2O shells are generally too thick to reveal surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band from the metal cores. Only the Au@Cu–Cu2O cubes with many cores located near the particle corners show observable SPR band red‐shift, but UV–vis spectra of all particle shapes are still dominated by Cu2O absorption and light scattering bands. Au@Cu–Cu2O cubes consistently show the most red‐shifted absorption bands than those of octahedra resulting from the optical facet effects.
The binding properties of cycloxaprid on insect native nAChRs partially explain the low cross‐resistance with imidacloprid in Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Zhang Yixi , Xu Xiaoyong , Bao Haibo , Shao Xusheng , Li Zhong , Liu Zewen
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, are selective agonists of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) used to control Nilaparvata lugens, a major rice insect pest. High imidacloprid resistance has been reported in N. lugens both in the laboratory and in the field. Cycloxaprid (CYC), an oxa‐bridged cis‐nitromethylene neonicotinoid, showed high insecticidal activity against N. lugens and low cross‐resistance in imidacloprid‐resistant strains and field populations.

RESULTS

Binding studies demonstrated that imidacloprid has two binding sites with different affinities (Kd = 3.18 ± 0.43 pm and 1.78 ± 0.19 nm) in N. lugens nAChRs. CYC was poor at displacing [3H]imidacloprid at its high‐affinity binding site (Ki = 159.38 ± 20.43 nm), but quite efficient at the low‐affinity binding site (Ki = 1.27 ± 0.35 nm). These data showed that CYC had overlapping binding sites with imidacloprid only at its low‐affinity binding site. Therefore, the low displacement ability of CYC against imidacloprid binding at its high‐affinity site could partially explain the low cross‐resistance of CYC in imidacloprid‐resistant populations.

CONCLUSION

The high insecticidal activity, low cross‐resistance and different binding properties on insect nAChRs of CYC show that it is a potential insecticide for the control of N. lugens and related insect pests, especially ones with high resistance to neonicotinoids. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Silicon on Dust Substrate: The Effect of Powder Size on Ribbon Production
Authors: Serra Filipe C. , Silva José A. , Serra João M. , Vallêra António M.
Published: June 2018

The silicon on dust substrate process is a two‐step technique to produce multicrystalline silicon (mc‐Si) ribbons directly from gaseous feedstock. Silicon pre‐ribbons of very small grain size (ranging from nano to microcrystalline), with a porous structure and dimensions up to 25 × 100 mm2, are obtained using an inline optical chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system operating at atmospheric pressure and at low temperatures (<600 °C). Using silane as the gaseous precursor, nano or microcrystalline silicon layers can be grown, on top of silicon powder substrates, moving at constant speed, and crossing three hot deposition regions several times. The growth rates (GR) vary from 13.4 to 73.2 μm min−1, depending on the grain size of silicon powder. The last step is a floating zone (FZ) recrystallization technique, where the silicon pre‐ribbons obtained in the CVD step, become solid mc‐Si ribbons. The success of recrystallization depends on the grain size of silicon powder used as substrate on the CVD step, with lower grain sizes powders delivering better results. For the lower size powder substrates, multi‐crystalline areas of 5–20 mm2 were obtained, with an average crystal size in the (0.1; 1) mm range.
Silicide Thermoelectrics: Materials for Energy Harvesting
Authors: Burkov Alexander T.
Published: June 2018

The silicide family of thermoelectrics includes more than 15 compounds, among them are semimetals and semiconductors with band gaps ranging from 0.1 to 2.3 eV. The silicides have obvious attractive features as the materials for thermoelectric energy converters. Many of the constituting elements are abundant, have low price, the compounds have good high temperature stability. Another feature of silicides, much less recognized by thermoelectric community, is their compatibility with silicon‐based microelectronic technology. It opens a door for development of integrated thermoelectric power sources (energy harvesters) for electronic circuitry of wireless sensors and actuators. Considerable efforts have been undertaken, especially in the past 10 years, in order to develop efficient silicide‐based thermoelectric materials. Currently the most efficient silicide thermoelectrics are based on Mg2(Si‐Sn) alloys, MnSi1.75 and ReSi1.75. This article is a review of the current status of the research on the silicide‐based thermoelectric materials. Most of the non‐transition metal silicides were intentionally excluded from this review. On the other hand more attention is paid to the silicide materials, which have been not in the research focus; to compounds with topologically non‐trivial electronic structure, such as CoSi and SrSi2.
Phytoestrogens: The current state of research emphasizing breast pathophysiology
Authors: Anandhi Senthilkumar Harini , Fata Jimmie E. , Kennelly Edward J.
Published: June 2018

Phytoestrogens, a class of plant‐derived compounds that are structural mimics of estrogen, can bind to estrogen receptors, acting as either agonists or antagonists. They have been implicated in estrogen‐mediated physiology, which makes them interesting targets of study, especially for biomedical applications in woman's health. The 1998 Women's Health Initiative sparked considerable interest in natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy, thereby triggering many additional studies on phytoestrogens. In this review, key advancements in dietary phytoestrogens are addressed, emphasizing their relation to breast pathophysiology. Recent developments such as clinical trials, precise bioassays for screening and selection of potential phytoestrogens, drug delivery systems to enhance bioavailability of therapeutically favorable phytoestrogens, regulatory guidelines on phytoestrogen‐based supplements, and avenues that need further improvement are also discussed.
The association between green tea consumption and breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Najaf Najafi Mona , Salehi Maryam , Ghazanfarpour Masumeh , Hoseini Zeinab Sadat , Khadem‐Rezaiyan Majid
Published: June 2018

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to critically evaluate the relation between green tea (GT) consumption and the risk of breast cancer. Popular electronic databases were systematically searched for papers in English language. All case‐control and cohort studies in addition to randomized clinical trials were included if they assessed the chemopreventive effects of GT on breast cancer. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa and Jadad scale. This systematic review comprised 14 studies: 9 case‐control studies, 4 cohort studies, and 1 clinical trial. Odds ratio (OR) in case‐control studies suggested that women in the group receiving the highest level of GT had 19% reduction in breast cancer risk compared with those who received the lowest level of GT (summary OR = 0.81, p = .031; 95% CI [0.66, 0.981]; heterogeneity, I2 = 71.53, p < .001, random effect model; 9 studies). OR in cohort studies also showed no significant difference (OR = 0.99, p = .94; 95% CI [0.81, 1.138]; heterogeneity, I2 = 19.06, p = .29; fixed‐effect model; 4 studies). According to the only clinical trial, treatment with GT could not alter the mammographic density compared with placebo (26% vs. 25%). It cannot be concluded that GT consumption may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Due to high heterogeneity, a pooled analysis of case‐control and cohort studies was not performed.
Reactive oxygen species‐mediated phosphorylation of p38 signaling is critically involved in apoptotic effect of Tanshinone I in colon cancer cells
Authors: Kim Dong Hee , Shin Eun Ah , Kim Bonglee , Shim Bum Sang , Kim Sung‐Hoon
Published: June 2018

Though Tanshinone I (Tan I), a phenolic compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza, is known to have anticancer activity in several cancers, its anticancer mechanisms are not fully understood in colon cancer cells. Thus, in the present study, the underlying molecular mechanism of Tan I was explored in HCT116 and HT29 colorectal cancer cells (CRCs). Here, Tan I suppressed viability in HCT116 and HT29 cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Also, Tan I increased the number of terminal deoxynucleotide transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)‐positive cells and sub‐G1 population in HCT116 and HT29 cells. Consistently, Tan I cleaved poly (adenosine diphosphate‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase‐8, caspase‐3, attenuated the expression of Bid and activated tBid as a caspase‐8 substrate and activated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in HCT116and HT29 cells. Of note, Tan I generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and conversely an ROS scavenger, N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, reversed ROS production, PARP cleavage, caspase‐3 activation, and p38 MAPK phosphorylation induced by Tan I in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 reduced cytotoxicity, increase of TUNEL‐positive cells, cleavages of PARP and caspase‐3 induced by Tan I in HCT116 cells. Overall, our findings for the first time suggest that ROS‐dependent activation of p38 MAPK and caspase‐3 is critically involved in Tan I induced apoptosis in CRCs as a potent anticancer agent.
Fault trees analysis using expert opinion based on fuzzy‐bathtub failure rates
Authors: Nadjafi Mohammad , Farsi MohammadAli , Zio Enrico , Mousavi Arash K.
Published: June 2018

The main objective of fault tree analysis method is to estimate the “Top Event occurrence probability”. This requires determination of failure time distribution functions also known as “Bathtub Curves” for each of the system elements/events. This paper introduces a novel method to determine the failure time distribution functions using possibility theory. For this purpose, fuzzy‐bathtub distributions using expert opinions are generated for basic events and fuzzy formulas are derived for static and dynamic gates fault tree constructions. This process completed by proposed fuzzy Monte Carlo simulation throughout the preferred operational time and uses the actual time‐to‐failure data. Accordingly, the Top Event failure curve and the reliability profile of the system are depicted based on the defuzzificated basic‐events' bathtub‐failure‐rates. The results show that the proposed method not only is feasible and powerful but can also be accurate more than the other probabilistic and possibilistic techniques because of the component failure rates follow the real failure distributions.