bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inferring ecological explanations for biogeographic boundaries of parapatric Asian mountain frogs
Authors: Hu Junhua , Jiang Jianping
Published: February 2018

Background

Identifying and understanding the mechanisms that shape barriers to dispersal and resulting biogeographic boundaries has been a longstanding, yet challenging, goal in ecology, evolution and biogeography. Characterized by stable, adjacent ranges, without any intervening physical barriers, and limited, if any, range overlap in a narrow contact zone, parapatric species are an interesting system for studying biogeographic boundaries. The geographic ranges of two parapatric frog species,Feirana quadranusandF. taihangnica, meet in a contact zone within the Qinling Mountains, an important watershed for East Asia. To identify possible ecological determinants of the parapatric range boundaries for two closely related frog species, we quantified the extent of their niche differentiation in both geographical and environmental space combining ecological niche models with an ordination technique. We tested two alternative null hypotheses (sharp environmental gradients versus a ribbon of unsuitable habitat dividing two highly suitable regions) for biogeographic boundaries, against the null expectation that environmental variation across a given boundary is no greater than expected by chance.

Results

We found that the niches of these two parapatric species are more similar than expected by chance, but not equivalent. No sharp environmental gradient was found, while a ribbon of unsuitable habitat did act as a barrier forF. quadranus, but not forF. taihangnica.

Conclusions

Integrating our findings with historical biogeographic information, our results suggest that at a contact zone, environmental tolerance restrictedF. quadranusfrom dispersing further north, while interspecific competition most likely prevented the southward expansion ofF. taihangnica. This study highlights the importance of both climate and competition in exploring ecological explanations for parapatric range boundaries between ecologically similar frog species, in particular under the effects of changing climate.
Prevalence and molecular characterization of oqxAB in clinical Escherichia coli isolates from companion animals and humans in Henan Province, China
Authors: Liu Baoguang , Wu Hua , Zhai Yajun , He Zhipei , Sun Huarun , Cai Tian , He Dandan , Liu Jianhua , Wang Shanmei , Pan Yushan , Yuan Li , Hu Gongzheng
Published: February 2018

Background

The plasmid-encoded multidrug efflux pump oqxAB confers bacterial resistance primarily to olaquindox, quinolones, and chloramphenicol. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of oqxAB among Escherichia coli isolates from dogs, cats, and humans in Henan, China and the susceptibilities of E. coli isolates to common antibiotics.

Methods

From 2012 to 2014, a total of 600 samples which included 400 rectal samples and 200 clinical human specimens were tested for the presence of E. coli. All isolates were screened for oqxAB genes by PCR and sequencing. The MICs of 11 antimicrobial agents were determined by the broth microdilution method. A total of 30 representative oqxAB-positive isolates were subjected to ERIC-PCR and MLST. Additionally, conjugation experiments and southern hybridizations were performed.

Results

Of 270 isolates, 58.5% (62/106) of the isolates from dogs, 56.25% (36/64) of the isolates from cats, and 42.0% (42/100) of the isolates from humans were positive for the oqxAB. Olaquindox resistance was found for 85.7%-100% of oqxAB-positive isolates. Of oqxAB-positive isolates from dogs, cats, and humans, ciprofloxacin resistance was inspected for 85.8%, 59.1%, and 93.8%, respectively. Several oqxAB-positive isolates were demonstrated by ERIC-PCR and MLST, and have high similarity. Phylogenetic analysis showed that oqxAB-positive isolates could be divided into 7 major clusters. OqxAB-positive conjugants were obtained, southern hybridization verified that the oqxAB gene complex was primarily located on plasmids.

Conclusion

In conclusion, oqxAB-positive isolates were widespread in animals and humans in Henan, China. Carriage of oqxAB on plasmids of E. coli isolates may facilitate the emergence of multidrug resistant and its transmission via horizontal transfer, and might pose a potential threat to public health.
Renal protective effect of a hydration supplemented with magnesium in patients receiving cisplatin for head and neck cancer
Authors: Kimura Takahiro , Ozawa Taijiro , Hanai Nobuhiro , Hirakawa Hitoshi , Suzuki Hidenori , Hosoi Hiroshi , Hasegawa Yasuhisa
Published: February 2018

Background

Our study analyzes the effect of magnesium supplementation on nephrotoxicity in patients receiving cisplatin for head and neck cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with head and neck cancer who received two doses of cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2) 3 weeks apart from August 2008 to October 2012. The regimen prior to 2011 (crystalloid-only) involved the administration of 1000 mL of lactated Ringer's solution on the day prior to cisplatin infusion and 2000 mL of continuous infusion of saline on the day of cisplatin infusion. The regimen after 2011 (magnesium-supplemented) did not involve hydration on the day before cisplatin administration but used 1000 mL of 0.9% saline with magnesium sulfate (20 mEq) administered for 3 hours before cisplatin infusion.

Results

Sixty-five patients were treated with the crystalloid-only regimen and 56 patients with the magnesium-supplemented regimen. The mean creatinine clearance in the magnesium-supplemented group decreased by 4.9 mL/kg/min, whereas that in the crystalloid-only group decreased by 15.0 mL/kg/min after two courses. In multivariate analysis, only magnesium-supplemented hydration was an independent predictive factor for preventing cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (odds ratio = 0.157, 95% confidence interval 0.030–0.670, P = 0.0124).

Conclusion

We demonstrated that an intravenous hydration regimen supplemented with magnesium prevented cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with head and neck cancer.
Robust cancellation of minimum shift keying-encoded radio interference in data from the transient electromagnetic method
Authors: Rasmussen Søren , Nyboe Nicklas Skovgaard , Mai Sune , Larsen Jakob Juul
Published: February 2018

Interference from radio signals in the very low frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) band constitutes a significant part of the noise in data, measured using the transient electromagnetic method (TEM). Most radio signals in this frequency band convey streams of binary data, encoded using minimum shift keying or variants thereof. We have developed a framework for cancellation of these signals by modeling and subtracting the interfering signals from the recorded data. The framework uses several techniques to ensure robust and accurate modeling of the radio signals in a typical airborne TEM environment. These include combination of signals from multiple receiver coils, tracking of time-varying parameters for each receiver coil, use of a priori knowledge pertaining to the TEM primary field, and use of a high-performance decoding algorithm. Examples using recorded noise data from the field combined with synthetic TEM signals indicate a significant reduction in noise power. This results in a reduction of the standard deviation of approximately 1.5–4 times in the early to intermediate-time response, after common processing steps have been applied. In the late-time part of the response, little to no improvement is seen. Although the attainable improvement in signal quality is highly case dependent, we expect that significant noise reduction can be achieved in most cases. Despite not being tested, our framework should be directly applicable in the low frequency (LF, 30–300 kHz) band, which has relevance for wide-band systems.
Mental health law in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Carlisle Jessica
Published: February 2018

During the past 30 years the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed an extensive hospital-based mental health system culminating in the passing of a mental health law in 2014. This legislation embodies many of the international standards promoted by the World Health Organization. However, the mechanisms for protecting the human rights of psychiatric patients are neither sufficiently independent nor adequately robust.
Procedures for Obtaining Characteristic Polynomials of the Kinetic Graphs of Reversible Reaction Networks
Authors: Mondal Sukanya , Mandal Bholanath
Published: February 2018

First order or pseudo-first order reactions involving reversible linear chain and cyclic reaction networks are considered here for obtaining the respective characteristic polynomials (CPs) in analytical forms as well as the recursion relations among the CP coefficients. The zeros of the CP concerned are the decay constants that are useful in expressing the concentrations of the chemical species involved in the chemical reaction network at any instant of time. Illustrations are given for obtaining the CP coefficients of a few such graphs and some consequences thereof are presented. Facile computer programming can be made with these recursion relations for generating such polynomials.
Poly(diphenanthrenequinone-substituted norbornene) for Long Life and Efficient Lithium Battery Cathodes
Authors: Kawai Takuma , Nakao Satoshi , Nishide Hiroyuki , Oyaizu Kenichi
Published: February 2018

Redox-active polymers with large charge-storage density are candidates for electrode-active materials in next-generation energy storage devices, due to their swift charge-discharge capabilities and their inherent characteristics of redox reactions that occur without significant structural changes, leading to their highly energy-efficient and durable performance. Here we report poly(diphenanthrenequinone-substituted norbornene) (PQN) as a novel class of organic electrode-active material. A Li coin cell composed of the PQN/carbon composite electrode as the cathode exhibited 2.8 V (V vs. Li/Li+) and great cycle performance maintaining a capacity higher than 100 mAh/g for more than 100 cycles at 60 C (i.e. in 1 min charging and discharging). Among many types of o-quinone-containing polymers for Li-ion batteries reported so far, the present research provides the first example of introducing phenanthrenequinone as the pendant group per repeating unit of polymers, which proved to be especially advantageous in terms of robustness and cyclability by virtue of the fused-ring structure to protect the reactive positions of the o-benzoquinone. We also report that the functional group tolerance against many types of redox-active groups, which we have established for the initiator and the propagating end of norbornene derivatives, apply for the phenanthrenequinone-substituted monomer, giving rise to a reversible redox activity.
Temporally Controlled Supramolecular Polymerization
Authors: Dhiman Shikha , George Subi J
Published: February 2018

The urge towards a precise control over structure and function of supramolecular polymers has recently aroused interest in temporally controlled supramolecular polymerization. The field is divided into two; living and transient supramolecular polymerization. The former deals with structural control such as length and dispersity, analogous to living polymerization in conventional polymers. The latter requires a temporally controlled switching of a structural/functional state in a supramolecular polymer. Such a control has been inspired by nature that has a precise control over spatial and temporal regimes. In this account, we describe the necessity and challenges in achieving temporal control over supramolecular polymerization. We have reviewed important reports that have attempted to obtain living and transient supramolecular polymerization. Although there has been significant advancement, the field is still in infancy due to lack of generalized schemes and designs, and we have thus discussed our perspective towards the future directions to obtain general design and next level complex supramolecular materials with spatio-temporal control.
Moral Suasion and Economic Incentives: Field Experimental Evidence from Energy Demand
Authors: Ito Koichiro , Ida Takanori , Tanaka Makoto
Published: February 2018

Firms and governments often use moral suasion and economic incentives to influence intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for economic activities. To investigate persistence of such interventions, we randomly assign households to moral suasion and dynamic pricing that stimulate energy conservation during peak-demand hours. We find significant habituation and dishabituation for moral suasion—the treatment effect diminishes after repeated interventions but can be restored to the original level by a sufficient time interval between interventions. Economic incentives induce larger treatment effects, little habituation, and significant habit formation. Our results suggest moral suasion and economic incentives produce substantially different short-run and long-run policy impacts. (JEL C93, D83, L94, L98, Q41, Q48)
Under the Radar: The Effects of Monitoring Firms on Tax Compliance
Authors: Almunia Miguel , Lopez-Rodriguez David
Published: February 2018

This paper analyzes the effects of size-dependent tax enforcement on firms’ tax compliance. We exploit quasi-experimental variation generated by a Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) in Spain, which monitors firms with more than €6 million in reported revenue. Firms strategically bunch below the eligibility threshold in order to avoid stricter tax enforcement. The response is stronger in sectors where transactions leave more paper trail, suggesting that monitoring effort and the traceability of information reported by firms are complements. We estimate that there would be substantial welfare gains from extending stricter tax monitoring to smaller businesses. (JEL H25, H26, H32, L25)
The Evolution of Physician Practice Styles: Evidence from Cardiologist Migration
Authors: Molitor David
Published: February 2018

Physician treatment choices for observably similar patients vary dramatically across regions. This paper exploits cardiologist migration to disentangle the role of physician-specific factors such as preferences and learned behavior versus environment-level factors such as hospital capacity and productivity spillovers on physician behavior. Physicians starting in the same region and subsequently moving to dissimilar regions practice similarly before the move. After the move, physician behavior in the first year changes by 0.6–0.8 percentage points for each percentage point change in practice environment, with no further changes over time. This suggests environment factors explain between 60–80 percent of regional disparities in physician behavior. (JEL H75, I11, I12, I18)
Spatial band-pass filtering aids decoding musical genres from auditory cortex 7T fMRI
Authors: Sengupta Ayan , Pollmann Stefan , Hanke Michael
Published: February 2018

Spatial filtering strategies, combined with multivariate decoding analysis of BOLD images, have been used to investigate the nature of the neural signal underlying the discriminability of brain activity patterns evoked by sensory stimulation -- primarily in the visual cortex. Reported evidence indicates that such signals are spatially broadband in nature, and are not primarily comprised of fine-grained activation patterns. However, it is unclear whether this is a general property of the BOLD signal, or whether it is specific to the details of employed analyses and stimuli. Here we performed an analysis of publicly available, high-resolution 7T fMRI on the response BOLD response to musical genres in primary auditory cortex that matches a previously conducted study on decoding visual orientation from V1.  The results show that the pattern of decoding accuracies with respect to different types and levels of spatial filtering is comparable to that obtained from V1, despite considerable differences in the respective cortical circuitry.
ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ВНЕДРЕНИЯ ВЕЛНЕСС-УСЛУГ В СРЕДСТВАХ РАЗМЕЩЕНИЯ НА ПРИМЕРЕ ГОСТИНИЦ ВЛАДИВОСТОКА
Authors: Ovcharenko Natalya Petrovna , Chistyak Viktoriya Vladimirovna
Published: February 2018

Велнесс-туризм выступает в качестве растущего сегмента на мировом рынке туризма, а туризм невозможен без гостиничных предприятий. Популярность отеля, его посещаемость и прибыль смогут заметно возрасти с введением в нем велнесс-услуг. В статье авторами исследуются перспективы внедрения велнесс-услуг в средствах размещения. Исследование проводится на примере гостиниц Владивостока. Авторы отмечают разнообразие велнесс-услуг и их растущую популярность среди потребителей туристических услуг, и, следовательно, целесообразность их внедрения в средствах размещения.Цель – исследование перспектив внедрения велнесс-услуг в средствах размещения, призванное оценить востребованность данных услуг на рынке гостиничных предприятий Владивостока, а также выявить различные формы предоставления велнесс-услуг.Методы или методология проведения работы: метод сравнения, метод анкетирования, статистический метод, анализ литературы по исследуемой проблеме.Результаты: сделаны выводы о развитии рынка велнесс-услуг в средствах размещения Владивостока. Выявлены предпочтения жителей Приморского края в отношении различных типов велнесс-услуг. Предложены рекомендации по продвижению велнесс-услуг в средствах размещения.Область применения результатов: результаты исследования могут быть полезны работникам индустрии гостеприимства, туристским агентствам и туристским операторам, представителям бизнеса в сфере велнесса, а также всем, интересующимся концепцией велнесса.
ТУРИЗМ КАК ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИЙ МЕЖГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ДИАЛОГ
Authors: Matveevskaya Anna Sergeevna
Published: February 2018

Международный туризм в XXI веке выступает значимым фактором развития мировой политики. Динамика роста туристских потоков и расширяющаяся география путешествий дают основание определять туризм как часть общего процесса интернационализации социально-экономических отношений. Во многих государствах индустрия туризма развивается довольно стабильно и эффективно. Политика стран должна быть ориентирована на извлечение максимальной выгоды из международного туристского сотрудничества. Значимость международного туризма в политическом дискурсе подчеркивается созданием международно-правовых актов, регулирующих сферу туризма, а также различного уровня туристских организаций. Международный туризм применительно к мировой политике имеет особое преимущество в урегулировании разногласий между государствами. Отмечается роль туристской сферы в формировании имиджа и престижа страны. Участие России в международных туристских проектах служит источником культурного, социального и экономического развития. Межгосударственные маршруты способствуют развитию культурного туризма, вписывающегося в политику устойчивого развития стран и регионов. Согласие иностранных партнеров на рассмотрение перспективных проектов по включению российских туристских дестинаций в культурные маршруты – положительная тенденция.Цель – определение политической роли туризма в межгосударственных отношениях.Метод или методология проведения работы: в статье использовались теоретический анализ, а также дескриптивный метод.Результаты: международный туризм становится инструментом преодоления негативного образа страны и оказывает влияние на имидж государства на международной арене.Область применения результатов: результаты исследования могут служить основой для дальнейшего развития и усовершенствования межгосударственных связей по средствам туризма.
Editorial—Introducing A New Section—Marketing Science: Frontiers
Authors: Sudhir K.
Published: February 2018

Marketing Science has introduced a new section “Marketing Science: Frontiers,” focused on publishing timely research with high potential for impact. The section is positioned as “different, but equal” relative to regular Marketing Science with the same high quality standards, but differentiated contribution criteria and a shorter Science–like format to highlight the core contribution and maximize readability and impact. The section will encourage competition among authors for publishing timely and contemporaneously relevant research—undervalued attributes in traditional contribution evaluation—on topics with high impact potential. In exchange, it will accept papers that make major contributions on one “primary” dimension (methodological, modeling or substantive), with more relaxed thresholds on the non-primary dimensions compared to traditional top journals, and offer faster reviews and time to print. Authors benefit from the promise of first-mover impact rewards, while the field benefits from faster entry and larger volume of novel, timely and relevant ideas. The section will have a distinct editorial structure and a one round conditional accept/out review process. The editorial elaborates on the purpose of the section, its editorial structure and publication process.
Supermodularity in Unweighted Graph Optimization II: Matroidal Term Rank Augmentation
Authors: Bérczi Kristóf , Frank András
Published: February 2018

Ryser’s max term rank formula with graph theoretic terminology is equivalent to a characterization of degree sequences of simple bipartite graphs with a specific matching number. In a previous paper by the authors, a generalization was developed for the case when the degrees are constrained by upper and lower bounds. Here, two other extensions of Ryser’s theorem are discussed. The first one is a matroidal model, while the second one settles the augmentation version. In fact, the two directions shall be integrated into one single framework.
FORMACIÓN PARA LA FUNCIÓN DIRECTIVA EN LA ESCUELA: EL CASO DE TARRAGONA (CATALUÑA)
Authors: Iranzo-García Pilar , Camarero-Figuerola Marta , Tierno-García Juana-María , Barrios-Arós Charo
Published: February 2018

INTRODUCCIÓN. La profesionalización de los directores escolares y su formación ocupan las agendas internacionales porque estos influyen críticamente en el éxito educativo, desde el liderazgo pedagógico y distribuido. En este contexto, nos planteamos ¿cómo se está organizando la formación (inicial y permanente) de los directores escolares? y ¿qué necesidades de capacitación destacan ellos mismos? Para responder a estas cuestiones, revisamos el estado del arte y el recorrido legislativo español-catalán para contrastarlo con la valoración realizada por los directores de educación primaria sobre la formación para la función directiva recibida y sus necesidades de capacitación. MÉTODO. En el marco de una investigación más amplia sobre la dirección escolar en educación primaria, se ha utilizado un cuestionario ad hoc aplicado a una muestra representativa de directores de las escuelas de Tarragona. El análisis realizado combina estadística descriptiva con pruebas de chi-cuadrado. RESULTADOS. Los avances legales estarían impulsando la progresiva profesionalización de los directores y modelos de formación alineados con el liderazgo pedagógico. En cuanto a necesidades de formación, en opinión de los directores noveles, la gestión del centro, la legislación y la gestión del personal son, junto a las metodologías instruccionales, preeminentes. Sin embargo, en estadios de desarrollo profesional más avanzados las necesidades formativas de los directores se diversifican y se orientarían más hacia el liderazgo distribuido. DISCUSIÓN. La formación debería atender tanto las necesidades administrativas y de gestión como las inherentes a cada etapa profesional y a los diversos modelos de liderazgo a través de metodologías de formación colaborativas basadas en intercambio de experiencias, mentorazgo y coaching.
New Jersey and the Great War: Part II
Authors: Connors Richard J.
Published: February 2018

As April 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I, this edition of NJS has several related offerings. These include this special feature, an adapted version of the second half of Dr. Richard J. Connors’ new book, New Jersey and the Great War (Dorrance, 2017). The first half was published in our Summer 2017 issue. Those who want to see the unedited text (to include appendices, endnotes, illustrations, and tables) can always purchase the book online! We are most grateful to Dr. Connors for allowing us to share his insightful and comprehensive work in this way, and hope you will help us ensure the widest possible dissemination by sharing the very timely piece with your colleagues, students, family, and friends.
Knowing Newark: Selected Star-Ledger Columns by Charles F. Cummings
Authors: Becker Ronald L.
Published: February 2018

Becker reviewing editor Timothy J. Crist's Knowing Newark: Selected Star-Ledger Columns by Charles F. Cummings
Envisioning New Jersey: An Illustrated History of the Garden State
Authors: O’Brassill-Kulfan Kristin
Published: February 2018

Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan reviewing Maxine Lurie and Richard Veit's Envisioning New Jersey: An Illustrated History of the Garden State
Use of circulating tumor cells in prospective clinical trials for NSCLC patients – standardization of the pre-analytical conditions
Authors: Ilie Marius , Hofman Véronique , Leroy Sylvie , Cohen Charlotte , Heeke Simon , Cattet Florian , Bence Coraline , Lalvée Salomé , Mouroux Jérôme , Marquette Charles-Hugo , Hofman Paul
Published: February 2018

Background:

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) hold potential for noninvasive diagnosis, prognosis and prediction testing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Minimizing degradation or loss of CTCs is pivotal for detection and profiling of the low abundance and fragile CTCs, particularly in clinical trials. We prospectively investigated (NCT02372448) whether a new blood collection device performed better compared to commonly used K3EDTA tubes, when subjected to long-term sample storage.

Methods:

Blood samples were drawn into K3EDTA and blood collection tubes (BCT) (Streck), and filtered by the Isolation by SizE of Tumor/Trophoblastic Cells (ISET® system), for CTC detection in two study populations of NSCLC patients; the training set of 14 patients with stage II/IV NSCLC, and the validation set of 36 patients with stage IV NSCLC). MET expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry (ICC) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement by break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on ISET-enriched CTCs.

Results:

Blood processed after 24 h and 48 h in BCT tubes showed stable CTCs counts and integrity, whereas CTCs in K3EDTA tubes showed an altered morphology in all patients. CTCs recovered in BCT or K3EDTA tubes at 24 and 48 h were evaluable by ICC for MET expression and by FISH for ALK rearrangement.

Conclusions:

The BCT tubes gave a high yield and preserved the integrity of CTCs after 24 and 48 h of storage at room temperature, which facilitate their molecular characterization in NSCLC patients entering clinical trials.
Current state and recommendations for harmonization of serum/plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone mass spectrometry methods
Authors: Greaves Ronda F. , Ho Chung Shun , Loh Tze Ping , Chai Jia Hui , Jolly Lisa , Graham Peter , Hartmann Michaela F. , de Rijke Yolanda B. , Wudy Stefan A.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) methods show considerable variation in results in external quality assurance (EQA) programs. An understanding of the current status of MS-based serum/plasma 17OHP quantification is important to facilitate harmonization.

Methods:

A 50-item e-survey related to (1) laboratory characteristics, (2) pre-analytical considerations and (3) analysis of 17OHP was developed and circulated to clinical MS laboratories via professional associations in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.

Results:

Forty-four laboratories from 17 countries completed the survey. Sample preparation varied between laboratories with protein precipitation and liquid-liquid extraction being the most common processes. Analyte separation was most commonly achieved by liquid chromatography (LC) using a C18 column and mobile phases of water, methanol and formic acid. The ions selected for quantification were 331>97 m/z or 331>109 m/z. Alternative transition ions were used as qualifiers. Twenty-seven of 44 respondents reported preparing their calibrators in-house and variations in material purity and matrix were evident. Nine of 44 laboratories did not participate in an EQA program, and half did not know if their method separated out isobars. The reference intervals, and also their partitioning, reported by the laboratories were highly discrepant, in some cases, by multiple folds.

Conclusions:

Although MS-based methods are similar in many facets, they are highly disparate. Five recommendations have been developed as an outcome of this survey to support the continued improvement of analysis of serum/plasma 17OHP by MS.
Research progress in quinazoline derivatives as multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Jin Hao , Dan Hu-Guang , Rao Guo-Wu
Published: February 2018

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), are involved in multiple human tumors. Therefore, RTKs are attractive targets for various antitumor strategies. Two classes of tyrosine kinase antagonists were applied in the clinic for monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A well-studied class of small-molecule inhibitors is represented by 4-anilinoquinazolines, exemplified by gefitinib and erlotinib as mono-targeted EGFR inhibitors, which were approved for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Mono-target drugs may result in drug resistance and the innovation of multi-target drugs has grown up to be an active field. Recent advances in research on antitumor bioactivity of 4-anilino(or phenoxy)quinazoline derivatives with multiple targets are reviewed in this paper. At the same time, synthetic methods of quinazolines were introduced from the point of building the ring skeleton and based on the types of reaction.
Salvaging the European Union: The Inclusive Multi-Track Supranational Option
Authors: Rosefielde Steven
Published: February 2018

The EU has many supranational accomplishments to its credit. Frictions nonetheless exist within the EU because some members want to rollback parts of the consensus (“less Europe”) and others want to expand them (“more Europe”). The conflict cannot be amicably resolved as EU leaders are trying to do in a one-track supranational regime because both factions disagree about whether confederation or federation is best. A solution in a one-track system requires one side to capitulate to the other. This is why the EU is at an impasse. However, the conflict is easily resolved by switching from a one-track to a multi-track supranational system that allows advocates of “more Europe” and “less Europe” to do as they like in some areas, while acting collectively wherever consensus permits. The EU already accepts the multi-track principle with regard to the euro and non-euro zones, and could restore harmony to the European project by applying the principle more broadly.
Management Information Systems
Authors: Furduescu Bogdan-Alexandru
Published: February 2018

Technology is the science that studies processes, methods and operations run or applied onto raw materials, matters or data, in order to obtain a certain product. Information is the material signal able to launch a material reaction of a dynamic auto-tuning system for which the system is conditioned and finalized. Information Technology is the technology needed for handling (procuring, processing, storing converting and transmitting) information, in particular, with the use of computers [Longley, D. & Shain, M. (1985), p. 164]. The importance of IT in the economic growth and development is widely known, taking into account the impact that technology can have on the success and survival, or the failure of the economic activity of enterprises/organizations, IT offering various management information systems (MIS), executive and feedback segments, which all have important and beneficial implications in management and control.
Deutschlands 20. Jahrhundert im Wandel zeithistorischer Narrative
Authors: Doering-Manteuffel Anselm
Published: February 2018

Der Aufsatz beschreibt Entwicklungslinien der deutschen Zeitgeschichte und arbeitet den Zusammenhang von historischem Prozess und historischer Erklärung heraus. Der erste Teil gilt dem Problem, dass die Bundesrepublik seit ihrer Gründung den Anspruch erhob, in der Kontinuität des Deutschen Reichs von 1871 zu stehen. Damit sollte jeder Versuch der DDR unterbunden werden, sich als eigenständiger sozialistischer Staat in Deutschland darzustellen. Dies erlaubte es den Historikern in den 1950er Jahren, das Geschichtsbild der deutschen Nationalgeschichte fortzuschreiben. Es zeichnete eine positive Entwicklung von Bismarck bis in die Weimarer Republik und grenzte das Dritte Reich als „Missgeschick“ aus der nationalen Kontinuität aus. Der zweite Teil gilt den Auswirkungen der Entspannungspolitik auf die Argumentation der Zeithistoriker. Bundesrepublik und DDR verstanden sich seit 1969/70 als selbständige Staaten. Die Vorstellung des einheitlichen Nationalstaats trat hinter die Idee von nationaler Identität zurück. Die Rivalität zwischen der DDR und der Bundesrepublik um 1980 über den Ort Preußens in der deutschen Geschichte deckte auf, dass es zwei gegeneinander gerichtete Identitäten nicht geben konnte, und der Historikerstreit zeigte 1986, dass die Identität aller Deutschen mit dem Holocaust verknüpft war und blieb. Der dritte Teil gilt der Globalisierung und beschreibt den Neoliberalismus und die Digitalisierung als deren ökonomische und technische Bestandteile. Sie bewirkten einen tiefgreifenden Wandel, in dessen Verlauf auch der nationale Staat und die parlamentarische Demokratie an Bedeutung verloren. Die transnationalen Auswirkungen des Wandels lassen sich erst dann angemessen verstehen, wenn neben Politik und Wirtschaft auch der Einfluss von Religion und die Bedeutung des öffentlichen Rechts auf die Gesellschaften der Gegenwart beachtet werden.
Balanced-norm error estimates for sparse grid finite element methods applied to singularly perturbed reaction–diffusion problems
Authors: Russell Stephen , Stynes Martin
Published: February 2018

We consider a singularly perturbed linear reaction–diffusion problem posed on the unit square in two dimensions. Standard finite element analyses use an energy norm, but for problems of this type, this norm is too weak to capture adequately the behaviour of the boundary layers that appear in the solution. To address this deficiency, a stronger so-called ‘balanced’ norm has been considered recently by several researchers. In this paper we shall use two-scale and multiscale sparse grid finite element methods on a Shishkin mesh to solve the reaction–diffusion problem, and prove convergence of their computed solutions in the balanced norm.
Ultra-broadband photodetectors based on epitaxial graphene quantum dots
Authors: El Fatimy Abdel , Nath Anindya , Kong Byoung Don , Boyd Anthony K. , Myers-Ward Rachael L. , Daniels Kevin M. , Jadidi M. Mehdi , Murphy Thomas E. , Gaskill D. Kurt , Barbara Paola
Published: February 2018

Graphene is an ideal material for hot-electron bolometers due to its low heat capacity and weak electron-phonon coupling. Nanostructuring graphene with quantum-dot constrictions yields detectors of electromagnetic radiation with extraordinarily high intrinsic responsivity, higher than 1×109 V W−1 at 3 K. The sensing mechanism is bolometric in nature: the quantum confinement gap causes a strong dependence of the electrical resistance on the electron temperature. Here, we show that this quantum confinement gap does not impose a limitation on the photon energy for light detection and these quantum-dot bolometers work in a very broad spectral range, from terahertz through telecom to ultraviolet radiation, with responsivity independent of wavelength. We also measure the power dependence of the response. Although the responsivity decreases with increasing power, it stays higher than 1×108 V W−1 in a wide range of absorbed power, from 1 pW to 0.4 nW.
A novel hybrid genetic algorithm for optimal design of IPM machines for electric vehicle
Authors: Wang Aimeng , Guo Jiayu
Published: February 2018

A novel hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) is proposed to optimize the rotor structure of an IPM machine which is used in EV application. The finite element (FE) simulation results of the HGA design is compared with the genetic algorithm (GA) design and those before optimized. It is shown that the performance of the IPMSM is effectively improved by employing the GA and HGA, especially by HGA. Moreover, higher flux-weakening capability and less magnet usage are also obtained. Therefore, the validity of HGA method in IPMSM optimization design is verified.
Lamination effects on a 3D model of the magnetic core of power transformers
Authors: Poveda-Lerma Antonio , Serrano-Callergues Guillermo , Riera-Guasp Martin , Pineda-Sanchez Manuel , Puche-Panadero Ruben , Perez-Cruz Juan
Published: February 2018

In this paper the lamination effect on the model of a power transformer’s core with stacked E-I structure is analyzed. The distribution of the magnetic flux in the laminations depends on the stacking method. In this work it is shown, using a 3D FEM model and an experimental prototype, that the non-uniform distribution of the flux in a laminated E-I core with alternate-lap joint stack increases substantially the average value of the magnetic flux density in the core, compared with a butt joint stack. Both the simulated model and the experimental tests show that the presence of constructive air-gaps in the E-I junctions gives rise to a zig-zag flux in the depth direction. This inter-lamination flux reduces the magnetic flux density in the I-pieces and increases substantially the magnetic flux density in the E-pieces, with highly saturated points that traditional 2D analysis cannot reproduce. The relation between the number of laminations included in the model, and the computational resourses needed to build it, is also evaluated in this work.
“We’re not in a club now”: a neo-Brown and Levinson approach to analyzing courtroom data
Authors: Grainger Karen
Published: February 2018

Discursive approaches to analyzing politeness often eschew Brown and Levinson’s theory of
politeness as being too dependent on speech act theory and Gricean pragmatics. However, in this
analysis of a courtroom interaction I will show how some of the concepts from Brown and Levinson’s
theory, such as face-threatening behaviour and positive and negative politeness, can provide us
with a vocabulary with which to talk about dynamic situated interaction. These are combined with
reference to the norms of behaviour in the context of situation, as well as an appreciation of how
meaning is defined as negotiated by participants as they interact. In the interaction under question
here I show how the meaning of these utterances can be observed in the data themselves by looking
at the sequence and take-up of turns at talk and by commenting on the relationship between the
form of the utterances and the context in which they are uttered. In this way, some of the most useful
concepts from Brown and Levinson are applied to the data from a constructivist perspective.
Production, quality control, biodistribution and imaging studies of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in breast adenocarcinoma model
Authors: Sharifi Mehdi , Jalilian Amir Reza , Yousefnia Hassan , Alirezapour Behrouz , Bahrami-Samani Ali , Zolghadri Samaneh
Published: February 2018

177Lu-PSMA-617 therapeutic agent was prepared successfully under optimized condition of pH=4.5, molar ratio of metal to ligand 1:10, temperature of 95°C and 40 min reaction time. 177LuCl3 was obtained with specific activity of 70–80 GBq/mg by the thermal neutron irradiation (5×1013 n cm−2 s−1) of the enriched Lu2O3 (52% 176Lu) samples. The radionuclidic purity of 177LuCl3 (>99%) was checked by a HPGe detector. The radiochemical purities of 177LuCl3 solution and 177Lu-PSMA-617 compound (>98%) were checked by ITLC and HPLC techniques and stability studies were assayed in the presence of human serum. Biodistribution and imaging assessments in the breast adenocarcinoma-bearing mice showed a major accumulation of activity in the tumor and kidneys tissues, as the expression site of PSMA molecule and the main route of excretion, respectively.
The effects of reflexology on joint pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joints
Authors: Kielar Karolina , Drzał-Grabiec Justyna , Truszczyńska Aleksandra , Twarowska Natalia
Published: February 2018

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders and affects a significant percentage of the elderly. Reflexology is a therapeutic method of applying appropriate compression technique to pressure points located, for instance, on feet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of foot reflexology treatment on pain and vitality level in persons with osteoarthritis. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a group 20 individuals (16 women and 4 men) aged 41-76, who suffered from osteoarthritis. Two questionnaires (surveys), i.e. the NRS scale and the WOMAC questionnaire, were the research tools applied in the study. The study was conducted prior to the therapy and after a series of 8 sessions. Results: After the treatment, the researchers observed an improvement in average results obtained in the WOMAC questionnaire. Moreover, the respondents reported a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in functionality. The applied treatment effectively reduced the intake of pain medications by the surveyed individuals (p = 0.006). The respondents also reported improvement in the quality of sleep. Conclusions: According to the individuals surveyed, reflexology is an effective analgesic method, as a notable reduction in pain severity was observed. Reflexology increases the activity of patients and reduces the intake of pain medications.
Innate Immune Mechanisms in Myocardial Infarction - An Update
Authors: Mares Razvan Gheorghita , Marinkovic Goran , Cotoi Ovidiu Simion , Schiopu Alexandru
Published: February 2018

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Currently there are no available treatments specifically targeting the post-ischemic myocardial processes that lead to heart failure and recurrent coronary events. The innate immune system plays a central role in the two consecutive phases that follow an acute ischemic event: the inflammatory phase and the reparatory phase. The inflamatory phase involves a massive infiltration of neutrophils and inflammatory Ly6Chi monocytes into the injured myocardium. The reparatory phase is orchestrated by reparatory Ly6Clo macrophages that clear necrotic and apoptotic cells through efferocytosis, secrete anti-inflammatory mediators and stimulate fibrosis and repair. Important recent studies provided proof that Ly6Chi monocytes that enter the myocardium in the inflammatory phase upregulate the orphan nuclear receptor Nr4a1 and switch phenotype to Ly6CloNr4a1hi reparatory macrophages. Additionally, neutrophils have been shown to promote cardiac recovery by upregulating expression of the efferocytosis receptor MerTK on reparatory macrophages. A finely tuned balance between the inflammatory and the reparatory phases is thus essential for limiting myocardial damage and promoting efficient recovery. Treatment strategies targeting only the inflammatory phase have so far failed to improve prognosis in AMI patients. A detailed understanding of the interplay between the two phases of the innate immune response is paramount for designing efficient therapies able to improve post- AMI prognosis. In the current review, we summarize the state-of-the-art of the field and discuss previous therapeutic attempts and currently ongoing clinical trials targeting innate immune mechanisms in AMI patients.
It began with gymnastics
Authors: Vukašinović Vladan , Šiljak Violeta , Kocić Sonja , Vajić Saša
Published: February 2018

The goal of this research was to provide insight into and systematisation of data relevant for the emergence and development of gymnastics in the Principality, and later Kingdom of Serbia, based on a review of monographic and serially published sources. The basic hypothesis was founded on the expectation that a direct link would be established between gymnastics, as the pivot of the programme, as well as its forms of physical exercise, and the emergence and development of organised physical exercising system in the civilian gymnastic and Sokol associations. In this research the historical method was applied. The results presented in this paper showed that gymnastics was the first and the chief component of the military and school physical exercising programs, as well as the significant role of gymnastics in the development of civilian gymnastic, Army and Sokol associations, and in the popularisation and development of modern sports at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in Serbia. The development of gymnastics was accompanied by the provision of suitable exercising conditions, the organisation of professional courses for the gymnastics teachers and the publishing of appropriate literature.
The Cuneiform Documents from the Iraqi Excavation at Drehem
Authors: Al-Mutawalli Nawala , Sallaberger Walther , Shalkham Ali Ubeid
Published: February 2018

Drehem, ancient Puzriš-Dagān, is well known as the place of origin of more than 15,000 cuneiform tablets from the Ur III period that were sold on the antiquities markets from 1909 onwards. The State Board of Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq undertook the first controlled excavations at the site in 2007 under the direction of Ali Ubeid Shalkham. The cuneiform texts and fragments found there not only add to the well-known royal archives dealing with cattle, treasure or shoes, but they include many records on crafts and agriculture. With this evidence, the subsistence economy behind this important administrative center and royal palace of the Third Dynasty of Ur becomes more evident.

We thank the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, the Iraq Museum Baghdad and Mr Ali Ubeid Shalkham for the permission to publish the tablets from the excavation season of 2007. The stays of Nawala Al-Mutawalli at LMU Munich in 2015 and 2016 in order to prepare this article were generously funded by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung. We are grateful to Margarete van Ess for the invitation to a first meeting in 2013 at the DAI Orientabteilung, Berlin. Thanks are owed to Manuel Molina for his careful reading of this article and his helpful remarks and Frans van Koppen for his editorial care. Walther Sallaberger’s work also contributes to his “Sumerisches Glossar” project. – All photos and plans of the excavation were made by Ali Ubeid Shalkham, the tablets in the Iraq Museum were photographed by Nawala Al-Mutawalli Mahmood. The abbreviations follow the Reallexikon für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie. The online digital resources CDLI (cdli.ucla.edu) and especially BDTNS (bdtns.filol.csic.es) have proven once more to be indispensable for our studies of lexicography and prosopography.