bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the impact of occupational health and safety vulnerability on injury claim reporting in three Canadian provinces
Authors: Nadalin Victoria , Smith Peter M.
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The workers' compensation system covers wages and health care costs associated with work‐related injuries or illnesses. We explore if dimensions of occupational health and safety vulnerability are associated with differences in reporting work‐related injuries to workers' compensation boards (WCBs).

Methods

We examined data from adults reporting physical workplace injuries requiring time off or health care. We explored relationships between exposure to nine hazards, risk from inadequate policies and procedures, inadequate occupational health and safety (OHS) awareness, inadequate empowerment, and reporting to provincial WCBs. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to assess risk from dimensions of workplace vulnerability for not reporting an injury to WCBs.

Results

Of 326 participants, 64% did not report injuries to WCBs. Reporting was higher among those with hazardous workplace exposures compared to those without (40% vs 22%, P = .01), lower among those with inadequate policy and procedures and inadequate awareness protections. Inadequate OHS awareness protection was related to not reporting to WCBs in logistic regression models. Women, those working part‐time, workers in education, health, and public administration, and non‐unionized workers were less likely to report injuries (nonsignificant), while workers with postgraduate educations were significantly less likely to report an injury compared to referent (OR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.57‐9.62).

Conclusion

A general lack of knowledge about OHS rights and responsibilities was associated with low levels of reporting. This suggests there is a knowledge deficit among some workers, possibly amenable to joint efforts to increase rights and responsibilities related to OHS with the dissemination of information about rights to workers' compensation.
Multimodal pair‐bond maintenance: A review of signaling across modalities in pair‐bonded nonhuman primates
Authors: Singletary Britt , Tecot Stacey
Published: February 2020

Only a handful of primate species exhibit the social relationship of pair‐bonding. Efficient communication is critical for behavioral coordination within pair‐bonds to maintain proximity and respond appropriately to extra‐pair individuals, and possibly coordinate infant care. The use of complex signaling across modalities may help individuals improve communicative outcomes. We review many ways that pair‐bonded species use signals to communicate and maintain bonds, though little previous research has taken a truly multimodal approach within a single species. We make a call for further investigation into pair‐bonded communication using a multimodal approach to better understand how these species use all their senses to build, maintain, and advertise their bonds.
Z‐Schema‐Photokatalysesysteme für die Kohlendioxidreduktion: Wo stehen wir heute?
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Mohamed Abdul Rahman , Ong Wee‐Jun
Published: February 2020

Die Umwandlung von CO2in Kraftstoffe mit Sonnenlicht ist ein vielversprechender Ansatz, Erderwärmungs‐ und Energievorratsprobleme zugleich zu lösen. Wesentlich ist hier die Gestaltung effizienter Photokatalysatoren mit hervorragenden speziellen Eigenschaften wie verlässlicher Lichtabsorptionsfähigkeit, hohem Redoxpotential, hoher Ladungstrennung und ausgezeichneten Standzeiten. Bisher erfüllt kein Einkomponenten‐Photokatalysator alle diese Kriterien gleichzeitig. Eine Zielrichtung, diese Schwierigkeiten zu überwinden, ist die Entwicklung künstlicher Z‐Schema‐Photokatalysatoren, deren Funktionsweise von der natürlichen Photosynthese inspiriert ist. Zunächst stellen wir in diesem Aufsatz die Grundlagen der photokatalytischen CO2‐Reduktion und der Z‐Schema‐Systeme vor. Danach schildern wir den neusten Stand der Z‐Schema‐photokatalytischen CO2‐Reduktion, wobei die Hauptfaktoren, die sich auf die Photoaktivität auswirken, im Vordergrund stehen. Zudem werden weitere Modifizierungen besprochen, die für eine effiziente Photokatalyse als wichtig gelten.
Direct Access to Isotopically Labeled Aliphatic Ketones Mediated by Nickel(I) Activation
Authors: Donslund Aske S. , Pedersen Simon S. , Gaardbo Cecilie , Neumann Karoline T. , Kingston Lee , Elmore Charles S. , Skrydstrup Troels
Published: February 2020

An extensive range of functionalized aliphatic ketones with good functional‐group tolerance has been prepared by a NiI‐promoted coupling of either primary or secondary alkyl iodides with NN2 pincer NiII‐acyl complexes. The latter were easily accessed from the corresponding NiII‐alkyl complexes with stoichiometric CO. This Ni‐mediated carbonylative coupling is adaptable to late‐stage carbon isotope labeling, as illustrated by the preparation of isotopically labelled pharmaceuticals. Preliminary investigations suggest the intermediacy of carbon‐centered radicals.
Deactivation of Cu‐Exchanged Automotive‐Emission NH3‐SCR Catalysts Elucidated with Nanoscale Resolution Using Scanning Transmission X‐ray Microscopy
Authors: Ye Xinwei , Schmidt Joel E. , Wang Ru‐Pan , van Ravenhorst Ilse K. , Oord Ramon , Chen Tiehong , de Groot Frank , Meirer Florian , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: February 2020

To gain insight into the underlying mechanisms of catalyst durability for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with an ammonia reductant, we employed scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy (STXM) to study Cu‐exchanged zeolites with the CHA and MFI framework structures before and after simulated 135 000‐mile aging. X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) measurements were performed at the Al K‐ and Cu L‐edges. The local environment of framework Al, the oxidation state of Cu, and geometric changes were analyzed, showing a multi‐factor‐induced catalytic deactivation. In Cu‐exchanged MFI, a transformation of CuII to CuI and CuxOy was observed. We also found a spatial correlation between extra‐framework Al and deactivated Cu species near the surface of the zeolite as well as a weak positive correlation between the amount of CuI and tri‐coordinated Al. By inspecting both Al and Cu in fresh and aged Cu‐exchanged zeolites, we conclude that the importance of the preservation of isolated CuII sites trumps that of Brønsted acid sites for NH3‐SCR activity.
Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Access to Spirocycles through C−H Activation and Axial‐to‐Central Chirality Transfer
Authors: Kong Lingheng , Han Xi , Liu Song , Zou Yun , Lan Yu , Li Xingwei
Published: February 2020

Axial‐to‐central chirality transfer is an important strategy to construct chiral centers, where the axially chiral reagents are mostly limited to atropomerically stable ones. Reported herein is a RhIII‐catalyzed enantioselective spiroannulative synthesis of nitrones. The coupling proceeds via C−H arylation to give an atropomerically metastable biaryl, followed by intramolecular dearomative trapping under oxidative conditions with high degree of chirality transfer.
Synthesis of Axially Chiral Styrenes through Pd‐Catalyzed Asymmetric C−H Olefination Enabled by an Amino Amide Transient Directing Group
Authors: Song Hong , Li Ya , Yao Qi‐Jun , Jin Liang , Liu Lei , Liu Yan‐Hua , Shi Bing‐Feng
Published: February 2020

The atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral styrenes remains a formidable challenge due to their relatively lower rotational barriers compared to the biaryl atropoisomers. Herein, we describe the construction of axially chiral styrenes through PdII‐catalyzed atroposelective C−H olefination, using a bulky amino amide as a transient chiral auxiliary. Various axially chiral styrenes were produced with good yields and high enantioselectivity (up to 95 % yield and 99 %ee). Carboxylic acid derivatives of the resulting axially chiral styrenes showed superior enantiocontrol over the biaryl counterparts in CoIII‐catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)−H amidation of thioamide. Mechanistic studies suggest that C−H cleavage is the enantioselectivity‐determining step.
Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antitumor Activity of HalogenatedSalen Copper (II) Complexes derived from Camphoric Acid
Authors: Pires Ana Salomé , Batista João , Murtinho Dina , Nogueira Célia , Karamysheva Anna , Luísa Ramos M. , Milne Bruce F. , Tavares Nuno Tiago , Gonçalves José , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Abrantes Ana Margarida , Soares Rui , Gonçalves Teresa , Botelho Maria Filomena , Silva Serra M. Elisa
Published: February 2020

Platinum metal complexes are the most common chemotherapeutics currently used in cancer treatment. However, the frequent adverse effects, as well as acquired resistance by tumor cells, urge the development of effective alternatives. In the recent past, copper complexes with Schiff base ligands have emerged as good alternatives, showing interesting results. Accordingly, and in continuation of previous studies in this area, three new camphoric acid‐derived halogenated salen ligands and their corresponding Cu (II) complexes were synthesized and their antitumor activity was evaluated in order to determine the influence of the type and number of halogens present (Br, Cl). Thein vitrocytotoxic activity was screened against colorectal WiDr and LS1034 and against breast MCF‐7 and HCC1806 cancer cell lines. The results proved the halogenated complexes to be very efficient, the tetrachlorinated Cu (II) complex being the most promising, presenting IC50of 0.63–1.09 μM for the cell lines studied. The complex also shows selectivity to colorectal cancer cells compared to non‐tumor colon cells. It is worth highlighting that the tetrachlorinated Cu (II) complex, our most efficient complex, shows a significantly more powerful antitumor effect than the reference drugs currently used in conventional chemotherapy.

The halogenated salen and corresponding complexes were also screened for their antimicrobial activity against four bacterial species‐Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis,Escherichia coliandPseudomonas aeruginosa‐and four fungal species‐Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Aspergillus fumigatusandAlternaria alternata. The compounds were found to exhibit moderate to strong antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains studied.

NMR studies and theoretical calculations provided some insight into the structure of the ligands and copper complexes.

Considering the results presented herein, our work validates the potential use of copper‐based chemotherapeutics as alternatives for cancer treatment.
Fabrication of polyamide thin film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane incorporated with a novel graphite‐based carbon material for desalination
Authors: Zhang Han , Wang Yanyi , Wei Yulin , Gao Congjie , Zhu Guiru
Published: February 2020

The properties of polyamide (PA) thin film composite (TFC) membranes are affected by many variables, especially the additives in the process of interfacial polymerization that play an important role in the properties of membranes. In this study, a new type graphite carbon was added into organic phase containing trimesoyl chloride for interfacial polymerization with aqueous phase containing m‐phenylenediamine to prepare modified polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes for reverse osmosis (RO) adhibition. Polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes were used as the carrier of the interfacial polymerization. The concentration of graphite carbon was selected from 0.002 to 0.01 wt%. The polyamide nanocomposite membrane prepared with the concentration of 0.004 wt% graphite carbon showed the best RO desalination performance, which the water flux of this TFN membrane is over 2.3 times as much as pristine TFC membrane, and the salt rejection is over 99%. This article provides a well‐performing polyamide thin film nanocomposite membrane modified by a new‐type carbon nanoparticles consequently.
Managing Legionella pneumophila in Water Systems
Authors: LeChevallier Mark W.
Published: February 2020

Key Takeaways

Utilities might be in compliance with water treatment regulations, but is this enough to safeguard against pathogens such as Legionella?

Keeping Legionella in check in a distribution system involves a systematic program of disinfection, hydraulic management, nutrient limitation, and temperature control.

If a utility decides to monitor for Legionella, several options are available. Certain questions should be considered, and a plan should be in place in case Legionella is detected.
Bellevue Smart: Development and Integration of a Smart City
Authors: Picardal Chelo , Pugliese Brian , Rhee Sokwoo , Nguyen Cuong , Kadiyala Raja , Thompson Ken
Published: February 2020

Key Takeaways

In Washington, the City of Bellevue wanted to break away from the inefficiency of siloed operations and create a unified, data‐based, smart‐city strategy across all city departments.

The Bellevue Smart Team tested a water module in its new City Portal, starting with a dashboard that would organize and optimize data for a better customer, utility, and city experience.

The platform used to set up the City Portal allows for flexibility in adding modules and adopting new technologies.
Landscape Transformation Reduces Water Demand
Authors: Chesnutt Thomas , Erbeznik Maureen
Published: February 2020

Key Takeaways

The Alliance for Water Efficiency conducted a study of water utilities’ outdoor water conservation programs and factors in bringing about water‐wise changes.

Landscape transformation consists of a focus on sustainable landscapes and a shift in the market mindset.

Water utilities play an influential role in motivating and helping consumers to create water‐saving landscapes.

The water industry can be a catalyst and an advocate for landscape transformation.
Materials Informatics Screening of Li‐Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials with Enhanced Characteristics Using Synthesis Data
Authors: Kireeva Natalia , Pervov Vladislav S.
Published: February 2020

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are the objects of active research and attract interest as important elements of near‐term energy storage technologies. The ever‐growing requirements for cathode materials of next‐generation LIBs impel the need to screen the materials with high energy and power densities, cycling stability, rate capability, safety and compatibility with other battery elements. This study is focused on Li‐rich layered oxide cathode materials as the materials candidates that are characterized by high energy density and large capacity and are therefore attractive as the potential solution for next‐generation LIBs whereas moderate structural stability hinders their commercialization. Machine learning‐assisted analysis of the collected experimental data has been performed for assessing the contribution of lattice doping, composition of compounds, the method and details of synthesis in the electrochemical characteristics. The possibility to relate parameters with the formation of a certain structure type (composite or solid solution), conceivable phase transformations and space charge layer formation are discussed. From this analysis, the features most probably amenable for electrochemical characteristics enhancement are distinguished and the focus area for further research is defined.
Neural substrates of mnemonic discrimination: A whole‐brain fMRI investigation
Authors: Klippenstein Jenna L. , Stark Shauna M. , Stark Craig E. L. , Bennett Ilana J.
Published: February 2020

Introduction

A fundamental component of episodic memory is the ability to differentiate new and highly similar events from previously encountered events. Numerous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have identified hippocampal involvement in this type of mnemonic discrimination (MD), but few studies have assessed MD‐related activity in regions beyond the hippocampus. Therefore, the current fMRI study examined whole‐brain activity in healthy young adults during successful discrimination of the test phase of the Mnemonic Similarity Task.

Method

In the study phase, participants made “indoor”/“outdoor” judgments to a series of objects. In the test phase, they made “old”/“new” judgments to a series of probe objects that were either repetitions from the memory set (targets), similar to objects in the memory set (lures), or novel. We assessed hippocampal and whole‐brain activity consistent with MD using a step function to identify where activity to targets differed from activity to lures with varying degrees of similarity to targets (high, low), responding to them as if they were novel.

Results

Results revealed that the hippocampus and occipital cortex exhibited differential activity to repeated stimuli relative to even highly similar stimuli, but only hippocampal activity predicted discrimination performance.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with the notion that successful MD is supported by the hippocampus, with auxiliary processes supported by cortex (e.g., perceptual discrimination).
Transfer of Nitrogen Fixation (nif) Genes to Non‐diazotrophic Hosts
Authors: Li Qin , Chen Sanfeng
Published: February 2020

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth. To enhance crop productivity, chemical nitrogen fertilizer is commonly applied in agriculture. Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3, is an important source of nitrogen input in agriculture and represents a promising substitute for chemical nitrogen fertilizers. However, nitrogen fixation is only sporadically distributed within bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs). Thus, many biologists hope to reconstitute a nitrogenase biosynthetic pathway in a eukaryotic host, with the final aim of developing N2‐fixing cereal crops. With the advent of synthetic biology and a deep understanding of the fundamental genetic determinants necessary to sustain nitrogen fixation in bacteria, much progress has been made toward this goal. Transfer of native and refactored nif (nitrogen fixation) genes to non‐diazotrophs has been attempted in model bacteria, yeast, and plants. Specifically, nif genes from Klebsiella oxytoca, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Paenibacillus polymyxa have been successfully transferred and expressed in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and even in the tobacco plant. These advances have laid the groundwork to enable cereal crops to “fix” nitrogen themselves to sustain their growth and yield.
Real‐world reasons and outcomes for 1‐month versus longer dual antiplatelet therapy strategies with a polymer‐free BIOLIMUS A9‐coated stent
Authors: Gallone Guglielmo , D'Ascenzo Fabrizio , Boccuzzi Giacomo , Cortese Bernardo , Di Biasi Maurizio , Omedè Pierluigi , Capodanno Davide , Cerrato Enrico , Vicinelli Paolo , Infantino Vincenzo , Poli Arnaldo , Ugo Fabrizio , Conrotto Federico , Grigis Giulietta , Varbella Ferdinando , Latini Roberto A. , D'Urbano Maurizio , Montabone Andrea , Senatore Gaetano , Ferrara Erika , D'Amico Maurizio , De Ferrari Gaetano M. , Ielasi Alfonso
Published: February 2020

Background

A large trial established the favorable profile of a new polymer‐free biolimus A9‐eluting stent (PF‐BES) with a 1‐month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in high bleeding risk (HBR) patients. This is the first study comparing outcomes for a 1‐month versus longer DAPT strategies following PF‐BES‐percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

All patients undergoing PF‐BES‐PCI (January 2016 to July 2018) were included in the multicenter CHANCE registry. Patients were stratified according to DAPT strategy at discharge (planned 1‐month vs. planned >1‐month). Primary outcomes were the 390‐day estimates of a patient‐oriented and of a device‐oriented composite endpoints (POCE: death, myocardial infarction [MI] or target vessel revascularization; DOCE: cardiac death, target vessel‐MI or ischemia‐driven target lesion revascularization). Landmark analyses from 1‐month post‐PCI were carried.

Results

Following PF‐BES‐PCI, 328(40.3%) and 485(59.6%) patients were discharged with 1‐month and longer DAPT (12 months [6–12]), respectively. Patients with a previous or index MI were less likely to be discharged on 1‐month DAPT. Patients prescribed with 1‐month DAPT were more likely to be at HBR than those with longer DAPT (90.2% vs. 69.9%, p = .001). No between‐groups differences in the primary outcomes (planned 1‐month vs. planned >1‐month DAPT: POCE 11.9% vs. 13.2%, p = .747; DOCE: 4.8% vs. 8.1%, p = .500) were observed, also after adjusting for confoundings (POCE: adjusted‐hazard ratio [adj‐HR] 1.26, 95%CI 0.74–2.13; DOCE: adj‐HR 1.00, 95%CI 0.49–1.99). Landmark analyses showed similar results.

Conclusions

In a large all‐comers registry of PF‐BES PCI, no interaction of planned DAPT strategy (1‐month vs. >1‐month) with outcomes was found. This observation warrants investigation in adequately powered randomized studies (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03622203).
Electronic Structure Engineering of Carbon Nitride Materials by Using Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Karjule Neeta , Barrio Jesús , Tzadikov Jonathan , Shalom Menny
Published: February 2020

The design of charge separation sites under illumination in semiconductors is a standing challenge for their utilization as photo(electro)catalysts. Here, the synthesis of modified carbon nitride materials (CNs) with donor–acceptor (D–A) domains, with altering electronic structure, is reported. To do so, new monomers based on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)‐substituted 1,3,5‐triazine were designed, which were then embedded within cyanuric acid–melamine supramolecular assemblies to form CN precursors. The conjugation degree of PAHs was systematically changed, from single benzene ring up to pyrene unit, elucidating the role of the conjugation degree on the morphology, structure and electronic properties as well as photo(electro)catalytic activity. The careful design of the D–A sites results in excellent photocatalytic activity as well as long‐term stability for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Moreover, PAH–CNs films exhibit enhanced charge separation, optical absorption, electrochemical surface area and electronic conductivity, leading to an outstanding photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity compared to pristine CN.
Incidence and disease burden of prostate cancer from 1990 to 2017: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Authors: Zhai Zhen , Zheng Yi , Li Na , Deng Yujiao , Zhou Linghui , Tian Tian , Yang Si , Hao Qian , Song Dingli , Wu Ying , Zhang Dai , Wang Ziming , Dai Zhijun
Published: February 2020

Background

The patterns of the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer (PC) have been changing over the years. In addition, the unclear etiology of PC necessitates further studies into the geographic distribution and age composition of patients with PC. This study was aimed at examining the patterns of the epidemiology of PC to help policymakers to allocate the limited resources of the health care system accordingly.

Methods

Annual case data and age‐standardized rates (ASRs) were obtained for the incidence, mortality, and disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs) of PC according to age from 1990 to 2017 and for 21 regions, including 195 countries and territories. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of ASRs were calculated to evaluate the incidence and mortality trends of PC.

Results

Worldwide, the age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of PC increased from 30.5 cases per 100,000 population in 1990 to 37.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2017 with an EAPC of 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49‐0.7), whereas the mortality decreased with an EAPC of −0.73 (95% CI, −0.80 to −0.67). The ASIR was positively associated with the sociodemographic index (SDI) in most regions, and the increase in the ASIR was steeper with a higher SDI. The proportion of patients younger than 65 years increased from 23.6% in 1990 to 27.3% in 2017.

Conclusions

The incidence of PC has been increasing globally, whereas its mortality and DALYs have been decreasing. These trends are particularly significant in developed regions and vary across geographic regions. Adjustments to the medical strategy by governments and medical institutions are required.
Collaborative dialogue between Buddhism and science: A contribution to expanding a science of consciousness
Authors: Presti David E.
Published: February 2020

Investigation of consciousness (experience, mind, awareness, subjectivity) has become an accepted endeavor in contemporary neuroscience. However, current work is largely limited to study of neural correlates of consciousness. While this is interesting and important, it may not be sufficient to carry us to a place of truly new insight regarding consciousness. I argue that one element of expanding a science of consciousness is appreciation of the interdependent co‐creation or enfolding of mind and world. Addressing this interdependence is an aspect of the collaborative engagement of the traditions of Buddhism and science—a project that is exploring how complementary worldviews and analytic procedures might further the development of an expanded science of mind. In this essay, written for a collection honoring the life and work of Jack Pettigrew, I describe his connection to this project.
MaTRU‐KE revisited: CCA2‐secure key establishment protocol based on MaTRU
Authors: Akleylek Sedat , Çevi̇k Nurşah
Published: February 2020

Quantum attack–resistant cryptosystems are required for secure communication since there is a big demand to have quantum computers. Lattice‐based cryptography is one of the quantum‐secure families due to its key/ciphertext sizes and performance. NTRU‐based cryptosystems, a member of lattice‐based cryptosystems, have received much more attention. MaTRU, a noncommutative version of NTRU with some matrix properties, is used to obtain a key exchange protocol in 2018. In this paper, we focus on MaTRU‐based key exchange protocols having CCA2 properties. We propose CCA2‐secure versions of MaTRU‐KE and then provide a security analysis of CCA2‐secure key establishment protocols. We also provide a comparison with the previous ones.
Traffic grooming and clique partitioning‐based spectrum assignment in elastic optical networks
Authors: Datta Choudhury Panchali , Agarwal Neha , De Tanmay
Published: February 2020

We adopt a fragmentation reducing policy for spectrum assignment and incorporate it with multicast traffic grooming in EON. To reduce fragmentation, the spectrum is partitioned based on the clique partitioning approach and spectral slots are assigned to traffic demands depending on which partition they belong. Simulation results predict that the proposed approach has better spectrum slot utilization compared to the state‐of‐the‐art non‐partitioning approach and the proposed approach reduces fragmentation, and also has less blocking ratio compared to the state‐of‐the‐art partitioning approach.
Modifications of the rain forest frugivore community are associated with reduced seed removal at the community level
Authors: Boissier Olivier , Feer François , Henry Pierre‐Yves , Forget Pierre‐Michel
Published: February 2020

Tropical rain forests worldwide are under increasing pressure from human activities, which are altering key ecosystem processes such as plant–animal interactions. However, while the direct impact of anthropogenic disturbance on animal communities has been well studied, the consequences of such defaunation for mutualistic interactions such as seed dispersal remains chiefly understood at the plant species level. We asked whether communities of endozoochorous tree species had altered seed removal in forests affected by hunting and logging and if this could be related to modifications of the frugivore community. At two contrasting forest sites in French Guiana, Nouragues (protected) and Montagne de Kaw (hunted and partly logged), we focused on four families of animal‐dispersed trees (Sapotaceae, Myristicaceae, Burseraceae, and Fabaceae), which represent 88% of all endozoochorous trees that were fruiting at the time and location of the study. We assessed the abundance of the seed dispersers and predators of these four focal families by conducting diurnal distance sampling along line transects. Densities of several key seed dispersers such as large‐bodied primates were greatly reduced at Montagne de Kaw, where the specialist frugivoreAteles paniscusis probably extinct. In parallel, we estimated seed removal rates from fruit and seed counts conducted in 1‐m2quadrats placed on the ground beneath fruiting trees. Seed removal rates dropped from 77% at Nouragues to 47 % at Montagne de Kaw, confirming that the loss of frugivores associated with human disturbance impacts seed removal at the community level. In contrast to Sapotaceae, whose seeds are dispersed by mammals only, weaker declines in seed removal for Burseraceae and Myristicaceae suggest that some compensation may occur for these bird‐ and mammal‐dispersed families, possibly because of the high abundance of Toucans at the disturbed site. The defaunation process currently occurring across many tropical forests could dramatically reduce the diversity of entire communities of animal‐dispersed trees through seed removal limitation.
Changes in levels of enzymes and osmotic adjustment compounds in key species and their relevance to vegetation succession in abandoned croplands of a semiarid sandy region
Authors: Yang Liu , Lai Liming , Zhou Jihua , Li Qiaoyan , Yi Sangui , Sun Qinglin , Zheng Yuanrun
Published: February 2020

Reclamation of cropland from grassland is regarded as a main reason for grassland degradation; understanding succession from abandoned cropland to grassland is thus crucial for vegetation restoration in arid and semiarid areas. Soil becomes dry when cropland is reverted to grassland, and enzyme and osmotic adjustment compounds may help plants to adapt to a drying environment. Croplands that were abandoned in various years on the Ordos Plateau in China, were selected for the analysis of the dynamics of enzymes and osmotic adjustment compounds in plant species during vegetation succession. With increasing number of years since abandonment, levels of superoxide dismutase increased in Stipa bungeana, first decreased and then increased in Lespedeza davurica and Artemisia frigida, and fluctuated in Heteropappus altaicus. Levels of peroxidase and catalase in the four species fluctuated; levels of proline, soluble sugar, and soluble protein either decreased or first increased and then generally decreased. According to a drought resistance index, the drought resistance of the four species was ranked in descending order as follows: S. bungeana > A. frigida > H. altaicus > L. davurica. The drought resistance ability of the different species was closely linked with vegetation succession from communities dominated by annual and biennial species (with main accompanying species of L. davurica and H. altaicus) to communities dominated by perennial species (S. bungeana and A. frigida) when soil became dry owing to increasing evapotranspiration after cropland abandonment. The restoration of S. bungeana steppe after cropland abandonment on the Ordos Plateau is recommended both as high‐quality forage and for environmental sustainability.
Estimation of multiphase currents using DC bus current and switching state
Authors: Kawai Yuu , Okuda Tatsuya
Published: February 2020

The voltage of solar cell strings can be controlled in residential photovoltaic systems using a multiphase convertor. However, multiphase convertors require a few current sensors. The authors examined how to reduce the current sensor for each phase of a multiphase convertor. This paper presents the analysis of a multiphase convertor based on DC bus current, phase currents, and switching state, and it proposes an estimation method for multiphase currents. The estimation method can be implemented with constant sampling frequency. Experimental results demonstrate the validity of the estimation method of multiphase currents for current‐controlled three‐phase convertor.
An unstructured finite element model for incompressible two‐phase flow based on a monolithic conservative level set method
Authors: Quezada de Luna Manuel , Haydel Collins J. , Kees Christopher E.
Published: February 2020

We present a robust numerical method for solving incompressible, immiscible two‐phase flows. The method extends both a monolithic phase conservative level set method with embedded redistancing and a semi‐implicit high‐order projection scheme for variable‐density flows. The level set method can be initialized conveniently via a simple phase indicator field instead of a signed distance function (SDF). To process the indicator field into a SDF, we propose a new partial differential equation‐based redistancing method. We also improve the monolithic level set scheme to provide more accuracy and robustness in full two‐phase flow simulations. Specifically, we perform an extra step to ensure convergence to the signed distance level set function and simplify other aspects of the original scheme. Lastly, we introduce consistent artificial viscosity to stabilize the momentum equations in the context of the projection scheme. This stabilization is algebraic, has no tunable parameters and is suitable for unstructured meshes and arbitrary refinement levels. The overall methodology includes few numerical tuning parameters; however, for the wide range of problems that we solve, we identify only one parameter that strongly affects performance of the computational model and provide a value that provides accurate results across all the benchmarks presented. This methodology results in a robust, accurate, and efficient two‐phase flow model, which is mass‐ and volume‐conserving on unstructured meshes and has low user input requirements, making it attractive for real‐world applications.
Cerebrovascular inflammation promotes the formation of brain metastases
Authors: Sikpa Dina , Whittingstall Lisa , Fouquet Jérémie P. , Radulska Adrianna , Tremblay Luc , Lebel Réjean , Paquette Benoit , Lepage Martin
Published: February 2020

Brain metastases are the most prevalent intracranial malignancy. Patient outcome is poor and treatment options are limited. Hence, new avenues must be explored to identify potential therapeutic targets. Inflammation is a known critical component of cancer progression. Intratumoral inflammation drives progression and leads to the release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Inflammation at distant sites promotes adhesion of CTCs to the activated endothelium and then initiates the formation of metastases. These interactions mostly involve cell adhesion molecules expressed by activated endothelial cells. For example, the vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) is known to promote transendothelial migration of cancer cells in different organs. However, it is unclear whether a similar mechanism occurs within the specialized environment of the brain. Our objective was therefore to use molecular imaging to assess the potential role of VCAM‐1 in promoting the entry of CTCs into the brain. First, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analyses revealed that cerebrovascular inflammation induced by intracranial injection of lipopolysaccharide significantly increased the expression of VCAM‐1 in the Balb/c mouse brain. Next, intracardiac injection of 4T1 mammary carcinoma cancer cells in animals with cerebrovascular inflammation yielded a higher brain metastasis burden than in the control animals. Finally, blocking VCAM‐1 prior to 4T1 cells injection prevented this increased metastatic burden. Here, we demonstrated that by contributing to CTCs adhesion to the activated cerebrovascular endothelium, VCAM‐1 improves the capacity of CTCs to form metastatic foci in the brain.
H‐NS, IHF, and DnaA lead to changes in nucleoid organizations, replication initiation, and cell division
Authors: Huang Tingting , Yuan Hong , Fan Lifei , Morigen Morigen
Published: February 2020

Histone‐like nucleoid‐structuring protein (H‐NS) and integration host factor (IHF) are major nucleoid‐associated proteins, and DnaA, a replication initiator, may also be related with nucleoid compaction. It has been shown that protein‐dependent DNA compaction is related with many aspects of bacterial physiology, including transcription, DNA replication, and site‐speciﬁc recombination. However, the mechanism of bacterial physiology resulting from nucleoid compaction remains unknown. Here, we show that H‐NS is important for correct nucleoid compaction in a medium‐independent manner. H‐NS‐mediated nucleoid compaction is not required for correct cell division, but the latter is dependent on H‐NS in rich medium. Further, it is found that the IHFα‐mediated nucleoid compaction is needed for correct cell division, and the effect is dependent on medium. Also, we show that the effects of H‐NS and IHF on nucleoid compaction are cumulative. Interestingly, DnaA also plays an important role in nucleoid compaction, and the effect of DnaA on nucleoid compaction appears to be related to cell division in a medium‐dependent manner. The results presented here suggest that scrambled initiation of replication, improper cell division, and slow growth is likely associated with disturbances in nucleoid organization directly or indirectly.
Kidney Graft Outcomes in High Immunological Risk Simultaneous Liver‐Kidney Transplants
Authors: Piñeiro Gastón J. , Rovira Jordi , Montagud‐Marrahí Enrique , Torregrosa Jose V. , Ríos José , Cucchiari David , Ugalde‐Altamirano Jessica , Ventura‐Aguiar Pedro , Gelpi Rosana , Palou Eduard , Colmenero Jordi , Navasa Miquel , Diekmann Fritz , Esforzado Nuria
Published: February 2020

Recipients of simultaneous liver‐kidney transplantations (SLKTs) have a lower risk of rejection compared with recipients of kidney transplants alone. However, there is disagreement about the impact of pretransplant anti–human leukocyte antigen sensitization on patient and kidney graft survival in the long term. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the recipient immunological risk and comorbidities in renal graft outcomes on SLKT. We reviewed the SLKTs performed in our center from May 1993 until September 2017. Patient and graft survival were analyzed according to the immunological risk, comorbidities, liver and kidney rejection episodes, immunosuppression, and infections. A total of 20 recipients of SLKT were considered in the high immunological risk (HIR) group, and 68 recipients were included in the low immunological risk (LIR) control group. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection, second renal transplant, and time on dialysis prior to transplantation were significantly higher in the HIR group. The incidence of acute kidney rejection was higher in the HIR group (P<0.01). However, death‐censored kidney graft survival as well as the estimated glomerular filtration rate at follow‐up were not different between the 2 groups. Comorbidities, but not the immunological risk, impact negatively on patient survival. Despite the higher incidence of rejection in the HIR SLKT group, longterm renal function and graft survival were similar to the LIR group.
Efficiency of football teams from an organisation management perspective
Authors: Espitia‐Escuer Manuel , Garcia‐Cebrian Lucia Isabel
Published: February 2020

The aim of this paper is to assess the efficiency of football. Our contributions to the literature are the use of the resource‐based theory and the strategy‐structure‐performance perspective as the study's framework, efficiency has been considered as the result of the qualities of the productive resources in football teams and efficiency is calculated in every area in the field of play. The results show that the entire team's efficiency is positively related to sporting success and the efficiency of attacking and ball recovery areas is directly related to the sport result and the efficiency of the team as a whole.
Sonographic measurements of normal C5‐C8 nerve roots in children
Authors: Wang Wenying , Wang Qiao
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The aim of this study was to use ultrasound to measure the cervical nerve roots in normal children to determine normal reference values.

Methods

A total of 441 children of different ages at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were examined by ultrasound. The diameter, circumference, and cross‐sectional area of the nerve roots were measured.

Results

Ultrasonographic measurements were consistent with the ranking C5 < C6 < C7. The C8 nerve root was thicker than C7 in 60% of the participants. The nerve root measurements increased with increasing age, height, weight, and body surface area.

Discussion

Normal reference ranges of the cervical nerve roots in children of different ages were established, and can serve as the basis for measurement in future studies.
An embedded boundary approach for resolving the contribution of cable subsystems to fully coupled fluid‐structure interaction
Authors: Huang Daniel Z. , Avery Philip , Farhat Charbel
Published: February 2020

Cable subsystems characterized by long, slender, and flexible structural elements are featured in numerous engineering systems. In each of them, interaction between an individual cable and the surrounding fluid is inevitable. Such a fluid‐structure interaction has received little attention in the literature, possibly due to the inherent complexity associated with fluid and structural semidiscretizations of disparate spatial dimensions. This article proposes an embedded boundary approach for filling this gap, where the dynamics of the cable are captured by a standard finite element representation of its centerline, while its geometry is represented by a discrete surface ∑h that is embedded in the fluid mesh. The proposed approach is built on master‐slave kinematics between and ∑h, a simple algorithm for computing the motion/deformation of ∑h based on the dynamic state of , and an energy‐conserving method for transferring to the loads computed on ∑h. Its effectiveness is demonstrated for two highly nonlinear applications featuring large deformations and/or motions of a cable subsystem and turbulent flows: an aerial refueling model problem, and a challenging supersonic parachute inflation problem. The proposed approach is verified using numerical data and validated using real flight
data.
Assessing the potential for soybean yield improvement through plant architectural modification
Authors: Stichter Erin Christine
Published: February 2020

Soybean yield potential can be increased by increasing the number of pods per plant, which can be achieved by increasing the number of nodes per plant while decreasing internode length to prevent lodging due to excessive height. In an effort to discover the genetic variability for this trait, a genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed on 451 diverse lines from the USDA core collection for height, internode length, and the number of nodes. The QTL signifying Dt1 was found correlating to height and quantity of nodes, but no significant QTL for internode spacing were uncovered. From our evaluation, this suggests that genomic selection for variation plant height is feasible; however, no specific genetic trait was detected to select for internode spacing.
Effect of colony‐stimulating factor‐1 receptor overexpression on the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice and its mechanism of action
Authors: Chen Zenan , Hao Yanrong
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is sensitive to radiotherapy, local recurrence and distant metastasis still occur in a proportion of patients due to radioresistance. Our previous research confirmed that colony‐stimulating factor‐1 receptor (CSF‐1R) promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 6‐10B cells through the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway in vitro. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of colony‐stimulating factor‐1 receptor (CSF‐1R) on proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy in the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma 6‐10B cell line in vivo, and the possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods

A virus carrying the CSF‐1R gene was transfected into 6‐10B cells by lentiviral transfection. A nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft model in nude mice was established. Ultimately, the protein expression of proliferation‐, apoptosis‐, autophagy‐, and signaling‐related proteins, such as cyclin D1, B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2), Bcl‐2‐associated X protein, beclin 1, microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha, sequestosome 1, mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase, PI3K, and protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), in tumor tissues were detected by western blot analysis.

Results

High levels of CSF‐1R were expressed in the stably transfected 6‐10B cells, while CSF‐1R promoted the growth of 6‐10B cells in vivo. Cyclin D1, Bcl‐2, microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha, and beclin 1 were upregulated, while Bcl‐2‐associated X protein and sequestosome 1 were downregulated. Furthermore, the expression of PI3K, phospho‐Akt, Akt, and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase were upregulated.

Conclusions

CSF‐1R overexpression promotes proliferation, reduces apoptosis, and induces autophagy in 6‐10B cells in vivo, and the corresponding mechanism might be executed through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
On‐line monitoring of extreme values of geometric profiles in finite horizon processes
Authors: Celano Giovanni , Castagliola Philippe
Published: February 2020

We investigate the challenges to be faced by quality practitioners to implement a control chart for individuals aimed at monitoring the stability of maximum/minimum realizations of profile quality features. We consider the situation where only a limited amount of inspections can be scheduled, which is typical of the most recent manufacturing applications for the production of small lots of customized products or processes characterized by frequent changeovers. A quantitative study on simulated profiles described by functional data modelled as random Gaussian fields is provided. Finally, we discuss how the proposed control chart can be implemented in a canning process.
Subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis after chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer
Authors: Watanabe Hirofumi , Shirai Toshihiro , Saigusa Mika , Asada Kazuhiro , Arai Kazumori
Published: February 2020

Subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (SIPA), a rapidly progressive fungal infection of less than three months arising from pre‐existing lung lesions, generally afflicts moderately immunocompromised patients. We herein report the case of a 69‐year‐old man who developed SIPA following chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer and treated with antifungal therapy. He presented with fever, and computed tomography revealed a cavity with surrounding consolidation. The cavity itself had been considered as the primary tumour treated by chemoradiotherapy. Bronchoalveolar lavage by bronchoscopy performed at admission identified Aspergillus fumigatus; no other pathogens or malignant cells were observed. Owing to the worsening of symptoms and inflammation despite micafungin administration, the treatment was changed to liposomal amphotericin B with voriconazole, which led to clinical improvement. In addition to cancer recurrence and bacterial infection, fungal infection should also be considered in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer with deteriorating imaging findings and symptoms. In intractable cases, multiple antifungal drugs are effective.
Indwelling pleural catheter tract metastasis from renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Low See‐Wei , Sakata Kenneth K.
Published: February 2020

This case highlights the importance of recognizing any new soft tissue abnormalities in cancer patients with an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) or who has had an IPC. This report also describes the first case of catheter tract metastasis (CTM) due to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the second case of CTM post‐IPC removal.