bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversification, capital structure, and performance: A simultaneous equation approach
Authors: Jouida Sameh , Hellara Slaheddine
Published: August 2017

This paper examines the relationships between diversification, capital structure, and performance jointly on the financial sector. Our dataset covers 412 French financial institutions over the period ranging from 2002 to 2012. Furthermore, we use a three‐stage least squares to check reverse causality. Our three‐stage least squares results show positive significant simultaneous interdependencies between performance and leverage. Performance reduction and debt levels increase are associated with activity diversification. Performance and leverage reduction is due to geographic diversification. Our estimation confirms reverse association between the interaction of diversification, leverage, and performance. Moreover, the findings are robust after taking into account alternative measures of diversification.
Positive solutions for a p−q‐Laplacian system with critical nonlinearities
Authors: Yin Honghui , Han Yefei
Published: August 2017

In this paper, our main purpose is to establish the existence results of positive solutions for a p−q‐Laplacian system involving concave‐convex nonlinearities:

where Ω is a bounded domain in RN, λ,θ>0 and 1<r<q<p<N. We assume 1<α,β and
is the critical Sobolev exponent and △s·=div(|∇·|s−2∇·) is the s‐Laplacian operator. The main results are obtained by variational methods.
Regular attractor for damped KdV‐Burgers equations on R
Authors: Guo Yantao , Wang Ming
Published: August 2017

We study the well‐posedness and dynamic behavior for the KdV‐Burgers equation with a force
on R. We establish Lp−Lq estimates of the evolution
, as an application we obtain the local well‐posedness. Then the global well‐posedness follows from a uniform estimate for solutions as tgoes to infinity. Next, we prove the asymptotical regularity of solutions in space
and
by the smoothing effect of
. The regularity and the asymptotical compactness in L2 yields the asymptotical compactness in
by an interpolation arguement. Finally, we conclude the existence of an
globalattractor.
Ser71 of αS1‐Casein is Phosphorylated in Breast Milk—Evidence from Targeted Mass Analysis
Authors: König Simone , Altendorfer Irina , Saenger Thorsten , Bleck Ellen , Vordenbäumen Stefan , Schneider Matthias , Jose Joachim
Published: August 2017

Scope

The casein phosphoproteins in mother's milk supply calcium and phosphate ions and make them biologically available to the newborn. Human αS1‐casein is of particular interest being also an autoantigen and proinflammatory cytokine. Phosphorylation of αS1‐casein by casein kinase 2 completely abolishes binding to toll‐like receptor 4 and proinflammatory effects. It is, however, not known, which amino acids are affected. Therefore, breast milk samples were analyzed in an effort to detect the phosphorylation sites of αS1‐casein.

Methods and results

Breast milk samples were tryptically digested. Target tandem MS analysis confirmed the known phosphorylation sites S33 and S41; evidence for pS89 was found in some samples. Experimental support for the presence of pS31 and pS34 was weak. Phosphorylation of a new site in αS1‐casein, S71, was reproducibly measured in all samples, albeit at much lower intensity than pS33 and pS41.

Conclusion

Phospho‐occupancy rates varied greatly and could not be confidently correlated to other parameters within the cohort of 20 donors. The new phosphosite S71 is located in the neighborhood of the serine‐rich region and may contribute to the cluster of high charge density at normal milk pH, likely exerting an influence on protein tertiary structure and thus function.
Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis for the selection of a cell‐killing model under high‐dose‐rate irradiation
Authors: Matsuya Yusuke , Kimura Takaaki , Date Hiroyuki
Published: August 2017

Purpose

High‐dose‐rate irradiation with 6 MV linac x rays is a wide‐spread means to treat cancer tissue in radiotherapy. The treatment planning relies on a mathematical description of surviving fraction (SF), such as the linear‐quadratic model (LQM) formula. However, even in the case of high‐dose‐rate treatment, the repair kinetics of DNA damage during dose‐delivery time plays a function in predicting the dose‐SF relation. This may call the SF model selection into question when considering the dose‐delivery time or dose‐rate effects (DREs) in radiotherapy and in vitro cell experiments. In this study, we demonstrate the importance of dose‐delivery time at high‐dose‐rate irradiations used in radiotherapy by means of Bayesian estimation.

Methods

To evaluate the model selection for SF, three types of models, the LQM and two microdosimetric‐kinetic models with and without DREs (MKMDR and MKM) were applied to describe in vitroSF data (our work and references). The parameters in each model were evaluated by a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation.

Results

The MCMC analysis shows that the cell survival curve by the MKMDR fits the experimental data the best in terms of the deviance information criterion (DIC). In the fractionated regimen with 30 fractions to a total dose of 60 Gy, the final cell survival estimated by the MKMDR was higher than that by the LQM. This suggests that additional fractions are required for attaining the total dose equivalent to yield the same effect as the conventional regimen using the LQM in fractionated radiotherapy.

Conclusions

Damage repair during dose‐delivery time plays a key role in precisely estimating cell survival even at a high dose rate in radiotherapy. Consequently, it was suggested that the cell‐killing model without repair factor during a short dose‐delivery time may overestimate actual cell killing in fractionated radiotherapy.
Ventilator‐induced diaphragmatic dysfunction in MDX mice
Authors: Liang Feng , Li Tong , Azuelos Ilan , Giordano Christian , Liang Han , Hussain Sabah N. , Matecki Stefan , Petrof Basil J.
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) frequently undergo mechanical ventilation (MV) for treatment of hypoventilation, but the susceptibility of the dystrophic diaphragm to ventilator‐induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD) has not been examined.

Methods

Dystrophic mice (mdx—genetic homolog of DMD) were assigned to non‐ventilated control (CTL) and MV (for 6 hours) groups. Biochemical markers of oxidative/cellular stress, metabolism, and proteolysis were compared along with ex‐vivo diaphragmatic force production.

Results

MV significantly depressed maximal diaphragmatic force production compared with baseline values. In addition, MV triggered oxidative stress responses, STAT3 phosphorylation, and an upregulation of cellular pathways associated with muscle proteolysis and/or wasting (autophagy, E3 ubiquitin ligases, and myostatin).

Discussion

Short‐term MV induces rapid diaphragmatic force loss and biochemical changes consistent with VIDD in mdx mice. This may have implications for the optimal use of intermittent MV in DMD patients. Muscle Nerve 57: 442–448, 2018
Forecasting by TSK general type‐2 fuzzy logic systems optimized with genetic algorithms
Authors: Chen Yang , Wang Dazhi , Ning Wu
Published: August 2017

Researching the theory and applications of general type‐2 fuzzy logic systems (GT2 FLSs) has become a hot orientation in recent years. The permanent‐magnetic drive (PMD) affected by uncertainties is an emerging technology. This paper designs a type of Takagi‐Sugeno‐Kang GT2 FLSs to investigate PMD temperature forecasting problems. Genetic algorithms are used to optimize the parameters of Takagi‐Sugeno‐Kang GT2 FLSs, according to the asymptotic way. The primary membership functions (MFs) of the antecedent and input measurements of the proposed systems are chosen as the Gaussian‐type MFs with uncertain standard deviations, and the consequent parameters are selected as crisp numbers, whereas the secondary MFs (vertical slices) are selected as a triangle type. Noisy data of PMD temperature are used for training and testing the proposed T2 FLS forecasting methods. Numerical simulation studies and convergence analysis illustrate that the proposed GT2 FLSs outperform their type‐1 and interval type‐2 FLSs.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced poly (ether‐ketone) nanocomposites: Assessment of rheological, mechanical, and electromagnetic shielding properties
Authors: Chauhan Sampat Singh , Verma Meenakshi , Verma Pawan , Singh Vishwa Pratap , Choudhary Veena
Published: August 2017

This study investigates the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) content on rheological, mechanical, and EMI shielding properties in Ka band (26.5‐40 GHz) of poly (ether‐ketone) [PEK] prepared by melt compounding using twin screw extruder. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG‐SEM) studies were adopted to identify dispersion of nanotubes in PEK matrix. TEM and SEM images showed uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in PEK/MWCNT composites even at loading of 5 wt%. The rheological studies showed that the material experiences viscous (fluid) to elastic (solid) transition at 1 wt% loading beyond which nanotubes form continuous network throughout the matrix which in turn promotes reinforcement. Additionally, Van‐Gurp Palmen plot (phase angle vs complex modulus) and values of damping factor further confirm that the material undergoes viscous to elastic transition at 1 wt% loading. This reinforcement effect of nanotubes is reflected in enhanced mechanical properties (flexural strength and flexural modulus). Flexural strength and flexural modulus of PEK showed an increment of 17% upon incorporation of 5 wt% of MWCNTs. Total shielding effectiveness (SET) of −38 dB with very high shielding effectiveness due to absorption (SEA ~ −34 dB) was observed at 5 wt% loading of MWCNTs in PEK matrix in the frequency range of 26.5‐40 GHz (Ka band).
A study of oriented conductive composites with segregated network structure obtained via solid‐state processing of UHMWPE reactor powder and carbon nanofillers
Authors: Lebedev Oleg V. , Ozerin Alexander N. , Kechek'yan Alexander S. , Shevchenko Vitaly G. , Kurkin Tikhon S. , Golubev Evgeny K. , Karpushkin Evgeny A. , Sergeyev Vladimir G.
Published: August 2017

Reinforced electrically conductive polymer composites based on ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene reactor powder and filled with various amounts of carbon black, graphite nanopowder, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes were studied. The composites were obtained via compaction of a mechanical mixture of the filler and the polymer reactor powders. This was followed by uniaxial deformation of the material under homogeneous shear conditions. The resulting composites possessed high tensile strength (up to 200 MPa) and electrical conductivity (up to 10 S/cm). Effects of the filler type and content on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the conductive composites were investigated. Changes in the electrical conductivity of the oriented composite materials during reversible “elongation–compression” cycles along the orientation axis direction were observed. The structure of the reinforced electrically conductive polymer composites was characterized using X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E146–E155, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Quantitative Analysis of Ingenol in Euphorbia species via Validated Isotope Dilution Ultra‐high Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Béres Tibor , Dragull Klaus , Pospíšil Jiří , Tarkowská Danuše , Dančák Martin , Bíba Ondřej , Tarkowski Petr , Doležal Karel , Strnad Miroslav
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Various species of the Euphorbia genus contain diterpene ingenol and ingenol mebutate (ingenol‐3‐angelate), a substance found in the sap of the plant Euphorbia peplus and an inducer of cell death. A gel formulation of the drug has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis.

Objective

To develop a rapid and reliable method for quantification of ingenol in various plant extracts.

Methodology

Methanolic extracts of 38 species of the Euphorbia genus were analysed via ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) after methanolysis and solid‐phase extraction (SPE) purification. The 18O–labelled ingenol analogue was prepared and used as an internal standard for ingenol content determination and method validation.

Results

The highest ingenol concentration (547 mg/kg of dry weight) was found in the lower leafless stems of E. myrsinites. The screening confirms a substantial amount of ingenol in species studied previously and furthermore, reveals some new promising candidates.

Conclusion

The newly established UHPLC–MS/MS method shows to be an appropriate tool for screening of the Euphorbia genus for ingenol content and allows selection of species suitable for raw material production and/or in vitro culture initiation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying a borderline personality disorder prodrome: Implications for community screening
Authors: Stepp Stephanie D. , Lazarus Sophie A.
Published: August 2017

Elucidating early signs and symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) has important implications for screening and identifying youth appropriate for early intervention. The purpose of this study was to identify dimensions of child temperament and psychopathology symptom severity that predict conversion to a positive screen for BPD over a 14‐year follow‐up period in a large, urban community sample of girls (n = 2 450). Parent and teacher reports of child temperament and psychopathology symptom severity assessed when girls were ages 5–8 years were examined as predictors of new‐onset BPD cases when girls were ages 14–22 years. In the final model, parent and teacher ratings of emotionality remained significant predictors of new‐onset BPD. Additionally, parent ratings of hyperactivity/impulsivity and depression severity, as well as teacher ratings of inattention severity, were also predictive. Results also revealed that elevations in these dimensions pose a notable increase in risk for conversion to BPD over the follow‐up period. Supplementary analyses revealed that with the exception of parent‐reported depression severity, these same predictors were associated with increases in BPD symptom severity over the follow‐up period. These findings suggest BPD onset in adolescence and early adulthood can be detected from parent and teacher reports of temperament and symptom severity dimensions assessed in childhood. The identification of this prodrome holds promise for advancing early detection of children at risk prior to the development of the full‐blown disorder. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RAFT polymerization and thio‐bromo substitution: An efficient way towards well‐defined glycopolymers
Authors: Pröhl Michael , Englert Christoph , Gottschaldt Michael , Brendel Johannes C. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: August 2017

Despite an increasing effort to design well‐defined glycopolymers, the convenient synthesis of polymers with higher DPs (>100) and without tedious protection and deprotection steps remains a challenge. Combining the reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the efficient substitution of primary bromo groups by thiols, we were able to synthesize a set of well‐defined glycopolymers with DPs of up to 115. With the polymerization of the highly reactive monomer (2‐bromoethyl)‐acrylate polymers with low dispersities were obtained that could efficiently be functionalized with various sugar thiol(ate)s. In particular, derivatives of d‐glucose, d‐galactose, and d‐mannose gave excellent degrees of functionalization close to quantitative conversion using only a slight excess of the thiol. This atom efficient synthesis can even be applied for copolymers with acid or base labile components due to the use of unprotected sugar moieties and, hence, the lack of further deprotection steps. Binding studies with the lectin concanavalin A and the subsequent competition studies with α‐d‐methyl‐mannopyranose (αMeMan) proved the effective binding of these derivatives and revealed a DP‐ and carbohydrate‐dependent clustering and dissolution. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3617–3626
Pediatric lung transplantation and end of life care in cystic fibrosis: Barriers and successful strategies
Authors: Dellon Elisabeth , Goldfarb Samuel B. , Hayes Don , Sawicki Gregory S. , Wolfe Joanne , Boyer Debra
Published: August 2017

Pediatric lung transplantation has advanced over the years, providing a potential life‐prolonging therapy to patients with cystic fibrosis. Despite this, many challenges in lung transplantation remain and result in worse outcomes than other solid organ transplants. As CF lung disease progresses, children and their caregivers are often simultaneously preparing for lung transplantation and end of life. In this article, we will discuss the current barriers to success in pediatric CF lung transplantation as well as approaches to end of life care in this population.
Risk factors for metastatic prostate cancer: A sentinel event case series
Authors: Paller Channing J. , Cole Alexander P. , Partin Alan W. , Carducci Michael A. , Kanarek Norma F.
Published: August 2017

Background

Root cause analysis is a technique used to assess systems factors related to “sentinel events”—serious adverse events within healthcare systems. This technique is commonly used to identify factors, which allowed these adverse events to occur, to target areas for improvement and to improve health care delivery systems. We sought to apply this technique to men presenting with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

We performed an in‐depth case series analysis of 15 patients, who presented with metastatic disease at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center using root cause analysis to refine a list of health system factors that lead to late stage presentation in the current era.

Results

Key factors in late diagnosis of PCa included lack of insurance, lack of routine PSA testing, comorbidities, reticence of patients to follow up actionable PSA, and aggressive disease. Three patients had aggressive disease that would not have been discovered at an early stage in the disease process, despite routine screening. However, analysis of the remaining 12 patients illuminated health system factors led to missing important diagnostic information, which might have led to diagnosis of PCa at a curable stage.

Conclusions

The cases help highlight the need for systems based approaches to early diagnosis of PCa. A heterogeneous group of barriers to early diagnosis were identified in our series of patients including economic, health systems, and cultural factors. These findings underscore the need for individualized approaches to preventing delayed diagnosis of PCa. While limited by our single‐institution scope, this approach provides a model for research and quality improvement initiatives to identify modifiable systems factors impeding appropriate diagnoses of PCa.
The role of field dust in pesticide drift when pesticide‐treated maize seeds are planted with vacuum‐type planters
Authors: Schaafsma Arthur W , Limay‐Rios Victor , Forero Luis G
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND

Neonicotinoid‐contaminated dust escaping pneumatic seeders causes exposure to non‐target organisms such as pollinators. Two sources of dust have been reported: abrasion by talc which is added as seed lubricant during planting, and seed‐to‐seed abrasion occurring during seed handling, distribution and planting. We report a third important source that warrants remediation. Here, soil dust stirred up by planters was found to enter the vacuum air intake near seed metering devices.

RESULTS

The mean quantity of dust collected from the exhaust of a commercial pneumatic planter over a number of field sites and situations was 46 g ha−1, ranging from 5.8 to 184.2 g ha−1. While the clothianidin concentration in exhaust dust declined with increasing quantity of dust, total clothianidin recovered increased linearly within the study parameters. Up to 2.4 g ha−1 of clothianidin was recovered from planter exhaust, representing approximately 12.6% of the active ingredient applied to seed. A similar pattern occurred in the laboratory on a single standing planter unit using diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust.

CONCLUSION

Field dust in pneumatic metering systems contributes significantly to clothianidin contamination in planter exhaust by seed abrasion. Adding diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust to the Heubach seed dust protocol accounted for field dust abrasion and distinguished anti‐abrasive properties of seed treatments. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Characterising heave, pitch, and roll motion of road vehicles with principal component and frequency analysis
Authors: Long Michael Thomas , Rouillard Vincent , Lamb Matthew James , Sek Michael Andrej
Published: August 2017

For the great majority of transport vehicles, the magnitude of the heave vibration is generally more severe than pitch and roll. Consequently, the measurement, analysis, and simulation of the vehicle vibrations have been focused on vertical vibration. Despite this, it is now being increasingly recognised that the combination of heave, pitch, and roll vibratory motion can induce more severe damage to shipments than vertical vibration alone. Although the pitch and roll motion of road vehicles can now be readily measured, there is little information on how to analyse the data to produce meaningful statistical relationships between the three variables. This paper builds upon previous work that showed that there is some correlation between pitch, roll, and heave motion and that these relationships are dependent on vehicle geometry, including payload mass, centre of mass, vehicle roll centre, and moments of inertia as well as vehicle speed and the road surface. In this paper, data from a range of quasi‐controlled experiments, which involved driving vehicles at constant‐speed on selected roads, were analysed using principal component analysis as well as frequency domain analysis to reveal the relationship between heave, pitch, and roll motion. This was undertaken for a variety of vehicle speeds and routes in order to establish if they influence pitch and roll response. Results are presented in the form of distribution functions, statistical coefficients, and frequency response functions, all of which are useful for helping to define parameters for the simulation of complete, three‐axis vibrations using multi‐axis vibration test systems.
On the difference between atom‐bond connectivity index and Randić index of binary and chemical trees
Authors: Ali Akbar , Du Zhibin
Published: August 2017

This article is devoted to establishing some extremal results with respect to the difference of two well‐known bond incident degree indices [atom‐bond connectivity (ABC) index and Randić (R) index] for the chemical graphs representing alkanes. More precisely, the first three extremal trees with respect to ABC – R are characterized among all n‐vertex binary trees (the trees with maximum degree at most 3). The n‐vertex chemical trees (the trees with maximum degree at most 4) having the first three maximum ABC – R values are also determined.
Stepped wedge designs: insights from a design of experiments perspective
Authors: Matthews J. N. S. , Forbes A. B.
Published: August 2017

Stepped wedge designs (SWDs) have received considerable attention recently, as they are potentially a useful way to assess new treatments in areas such as health services implementation. Because allocation is usually by cluster, SWDs are often viewed as a form of cluster‐randomized trial. However, since the treatment within a cluster changes during the course of the study, they can also be viewed as a form of crossover design. This article explores SWDs from the perspective of crossover trials and designed experiments more generally. We show that the treatment effect estimator in a linear mixed effects model can be decomposed into a weighted mean of the estimators obtained from (1) regarding an SWD as a conventional row‐column design and (2) a so‐called vertical analysis, which is a row‐column design with row effects omitted. This provides a precise representation of “horizontal” and “vertical” comparisons, respectively, which to date have appeared without formal description in the literature. This decomposition displays a sometimes surprising way the analysis corrects for the partial confounding between time and treatment effects. The approach also permits the quantification of the loss of efficiency caused by mis‐specifying the correlation parameter in the mixed‐effects model. Optimal extensions of the vertical analysis are obtained, and these are shown to be highly inefficient for values of the within‐cluster dependence that are likely to be encountered in practice. Some recently described extensions to the classic SWD incorporating multiple treatments are also compared using the experimental design framework.
Quantile causal mediation analysis allowing longitudinal data
Authors: Bind M.‐A. , VanderWeele T. J. , Schwartz J. D. , Coull B. A.
Published: August 2017

Mediation analysis has mostly been conducted with mean regression models. With this approach modeling means, formulae for direct and indirect effects are based on changes in means, which may not capture effects that occur in units at the tails of mediator and outcome distributions. Individuals with extreme values of medical endpoints are often more susceptible to disease and can be missed if one investigates mean changes only. We derive the controlled direct and indirect effects of an exposure along percentiles of the mediator and outcome using quantile regression models and a causal framework. The quantile regression models can accommodate an exposure‐mediator interaction and random intercepts to allow for longitudinal mediator and outcome. Because DNA methylation acts as a complex “switch” to control gene expression and fibrinogen is a cardiovascular factor, individuals with extreme levels of these markers may be more susceptible to air pollution. We therefore apply this methodology to environmental data to estimate the effect of air pollution, as measured by particle number, on fibrinogen levels through a change in interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) methylation. We estimate the controlled direct effect of air pollution on the qth percentile of fibrinogen and its indirect effect through a change in the pth percentile of IFN‐γ methylation. We found evidence of a direct effect of particle number on the upper tail of the fibrinogen distribution. We observed a suggestive indirect effect of particle number on the upper tail of the fibrinogen distribution through a change in the lower percentiles of the IFN‐γ methylation distribution.
STEIN: A simple toxicity and efficacy interval design for seamless phase I/II clinical trials
Authors: Lin Ruitao , Yin Guosheng
Published: August 2017

Seamless phase I/II dose‐finding trials are attracting increasing attention nowadays in early‐phase drug development for oncology. Most existing phase I/II dose‐finding methods use sophisticated yet untestable models to quantify dose‐toxicity and dose‐efficacy relationships, which always renders them difficult to implement in practice. To simplify the practical implementation, we extend the Bayesian optimal interval design from maximum tolerated dose finding to optimal biological dose finding in phase I/II trials. In particular, optimized intervals for toxicity and efficacy are respectively derived by minimizing probabilities of incorrect classifications. If the pair of observed toxicity and efficacy probabilities at the current dose is located inside the promising region, we retain the current dose; if the observed probabilities are outside of the promising region, we propose an allocation rule by maximizing the posterior probability that the response rate of the next dose falls inside a prespecified efficacy probability interval while still controlling the level of toxicity. The proposed interval design is model‐free, thus is suitable for various dose‐response relationships. We conduct extensive simulation studies to demonstrate the small‐ and large‐sample performance of the proposed method under various scenarios. Compared to existing phase I/II dose‐finding designs, not only is our interval design easy to implement in practice, but it also possesses desirable and robust operating characteristics.
Comparing sampling methods for pharmacokinetic studies using model averaged derived parameters
Authors: Barnett Helen Yvette , Geys Helena , Jacobs Tom , Jaki Thomas
Published: August 2017

Pharmacokinetic studies aim to study how a compound is absorbed, distributed, metabolised, and excreted. The concentration of the compound in the blood or plasma is measured at different time points after administration and pharmacokinetic parameters such as the area under the curve (AUC) or maximum concentration (Cmax) are derived from the resulting concentration time profile. In this paper, we want to compare different methods for collecting concentration measurements (traditional sampling versus microsampling) on the basis of these derived parameters. We adjust and evaluate an existing method for testing superiority of multiple derived parameters that accounts for model uncertainty. We subsequently extend the approach to allow testing for equivalence. We motivate the methods through an illustrative example and evaluate the performance using simulations. The extensions show promising results for application to the desired setting.
Significantly Increased Solubility of Carbon Nanotubes in Superacid by Oxidation and Their Assembly into High‐Performance Fibers
Authors: Lee Jaegeun , Lee Dong‐Myeong , Kim Young‐Kwan , Jeong Hyeon Su , Kim Seung Min
Published: August 2017

This study demonstrates that small amount of oxygen incorporated into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during the purification process greatly increases their solubility in chlorosulfonic acid (CSA). Using as‐purchased and unpurified CNT powders, the optimal purification process is established to significantly increase the solubility of CNTs in CSA, and spin CNT fibers with high mechanical strength (0.84 N tex−1) and electrical conductivity (1.4 MS m−1) from the CNT liquid crystal dope with high concentration of CNTs in CSA. The knowledge obtained here may guide development of a way to dissolve extremely long CNTs at high concentration and thereby to enable production of CNT fibers with ultimate properties.
Hollow Pd/MOF Nanosphere with Double Shells as Multifunctional Catalyst for Hydrogenation Reaction
Authors: Wan Mingming , Zhang Xinlu , Li Meiyan , Chen Bo , Yin Jie , Jin Haichao , Lin Lin , Chen Chao , Zhang Ning
Published: August 2017

A new type of hollow nanostructure featured double metal‐organic frameworks shells with metal nanoparticles (MNPs) is designed and fabricated by the methods of ship in a bottle and bottle around the ship. The nanostructure material, hereinafter denoted as Void@HKUST‐1/Pd@ZIF‐8, is confirmed by the analyses of photograph, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma, and N2 sorption. It possesses various multifunctionally structural characteristics such as hollow cavity which can improve mass transfer, the adjacent of the inner HKUST‐1 shell to the void which enables the matrix of the shell to host and well disperse MNPs, and an outer ZIF‐8 shell which acts as protective layer against the leaching of MNPs and a sieve to guarantee molecular‐size selectivity. This makes the material eligible candidates for the heterogeneous catalyst. As a proof of concept, the liquid‐phase hydrogenation of olefins with different molecular sizes as a model reaction is employed. It demonstrates the efficient catalytic activity and size‐selectivity of Void@HKUST‐1/Pd@ZIF‐8.
Distance‐weighted discrimination of face images for gender classification
Authors: Benito Mónica , García‐Portugués Eduardo , Marron J. S. , Peña Daniel
Published: August 2017

We illustrate the advantages of distance‐weighted discrimination for classification and feature extraction in a high‐dimension low sample size (HDLSS) situation. The HDLSS context is a gender classification problem of face images in which the dimension of the data is several orders of magnitude larger than the sample size. We compare distance‐weighted discrimination with Fisher's linear discriminant, support vector machines and principal component analysis by exploring their classification interpretation through insightful visuanimations and by examining the classifiers' discriminant errors. This analysis enables us to make new contributions to the understanding of the drivers of human discrimination between men and women. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The modified Matérn process
Authors: Laga Ian , Kleiber William
Published: August 2017

The behaviour of a stationary random field can be specified through either its covariance or spectrum. In spatial statistics, the Matérn covariance or spectral density is one of the most popular choices due to separation of scale and smoothness effects. We propose a generalization of the Matérn spectral density, generating random processes we term as modified Matérn processes. Our proposal allows for two additional parameters that can loosely be interpreted as arising from a continuous moving average process. The Matérn is a special case under certain parameter restrictions. We illustrate the flexibility of the modified Matérn in an application on an ocean model simulation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frequentist and Bayesian inference for Gaussian–log‐Gaussian wavelet trees and statistical signal processing applications
Authors: Jacobsen Robert Dahl , Møller Jesper
Published: August 2017

We introduce new estimation methods for a subclass of the Gaussian scale mixture models for wavelet trees by Wainwright, Simoncelli and Willsky that rely on modern results for composite likelihoods and approximate Bayesian inference. Our methodology is illustrated for denoising and edge detection problems in two‐dimensional images. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Moving Our Can(n)ons: Toward an Appreciation of Multimodal Texts in the Classroom
Authors: Jiménez Laura M. , Roberts Kathryn L. , Brugar Kristy A. , Meyer Carla K. , Waito Kim
Published: August 2017

The growing popularity of graphic novels for younger readers is hard to miss. This article provides specific ways to think about, recognize, and teach with multimodal texts that leverage student interest. In this English language arts unit, we taught a sixth‐grade class how to read and comprehend the complex design elements common to the graphic novel form. The class used both student‐selected graphic novels made available to them by the researchers and a whole‐class graphic novel, One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale. Teaching students how to effectively comprehend graphic novels is much like teaching anything: By identifying the content and strategies that need to be taught, we then identified the corresponding teaching strategies needed. This article reports on the content and strategies, specific ways to help students come to a greater understanding of the text in hand, and graphic novels as a literary form.
A survey of Web crawlers for information retrieval
Authors: Kumar Manish , Bhatia Rajesh , Rattan Dhavleesh
Published: August 2017

Performance of any search engine relies heavily on its Web crawler. Web crawlers are the programs that get webpages from the Web by following hyperlinks. These webpages are indexed by a search engine and can be retrieved by a user query. In the area of Web crawling, we still lack an exhaustive study that covers all crawling techniques. This study follows the guidelines of systematic literature review and applies it to the field of Web crawling. We used the standard procedure of carrying out a systematic literature review on 248 studies from a total of 1488 articles published in 12 leading journals and other premier conferences and workshops. Existing literature about the Web crawler is classified into different key subareas. Each subarea is further divided according to the techniques being used. We analyzed the distribution of various articles using multiple criteria and depicted conclusions. Various studies that use open source Web crawlers are also reported. We have highlighted future areas of research. We call for an increased awareness in various fields of the Web crawler and identify how techniques from other domains can be used for crawling the Web. Limitations and recommendations for future are also discussed. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1218. doi: 10.1002/widm.1218

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Web Mining

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Information Repositories

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Motivation and Emergence of Data Mining
The hybrid genomes of Saccharomyces pastorianus: A current perspective
Authors: Monerawela Chandre , Bond Ursula
Published: August 2017

Saccharomyces pastorianus is a recently evolved interspecies hybrid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus used in the production of lager‐type beers and has a long‐standing history with the brewing industry. At least two distinct types of lager yeasts (Groups I and II) have been identified based on chromosome content and structure. One important feature of the genomes of lager yeasts is the presence of a set of hybrid chromosomes that emerged as a result of homeologous recombination events between the parental chromosomes. The unique genetic composition of the hybrid genomes of S. pastorianus affords interesting opportunities for evolution, adaptation and survival of the hybrids. The co‐expression of S. eubayanus, S. cerevisiae and hybrid gene alleles, together with gene dosage effects resulting from the presence of multiple copies of individual genes, creates a complex algorithm for gene expression, cellular biochemistry and physiology. The recent availability of genome sequences for three Group I and ten Group II lager yeast strains provides an opportunity to decipher this complex algorithm and understand how it impacts on the final fermentation product: flavoursome beer. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online Module for Carrier Screening in Ashkenazi Jewish Individuals Compared with In‐Person Genetics Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fan Chia Wei , Castonguay Lysanne , Rummell Sonja , Lévesque Sébastien , Mitchell John J. , Sillon Guillaume
Published: August 2017

To increase accessibility to genetics services for low‐urgency patients seeking Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) carrier screening, we designed an interactive computer (IC) module that provides pre‐test genetics education and allows genetics professionals to order the test without meeting the patients beforehand. We compared this module with in‐person genetic counseling (GC) using a randomized trial. AJ individuals were randomized to undergo genetics education via the IC module (n = 26) or GC (n = 28). We compared post‐interventional genetics knowledge, perceived genetic risk, and anxiety between the two groups, after accounting for pre‐interventional scores, using ANCOVA. Wilcoxon Rank‐Sum test was used to compare post‐interventional satisfaction. Post‐interventional genetics knowledge, risk perception, or anxiety were not significantly different between the two groups after accounting for baseline scores (p = 0.50–0.54), although the data are inconclusive regarding the module's non‐inferiority at a 5% margin. Post‐intervention satisfaction scores were generally higher in the GC group than the IC module group. Our IC module has the potential to improve access to clinical genetics services for patients and staff, but it is not suitable for all AJ patients and cannot completely replace the benefits of in‐person consultations.
The Nucleation and Growth of Succinic Acid in the Presence of Surfactants
Authors: Yu Qiushuo , Li Xiaorui , Qiao Xiaoyan , Qi Min
Published: August 2017

Impurities may have a marked effect on crystal nucleation and growth. To further understand the role of impurities, the crystallization (solubility, nucleation, growth) of succinic acid in water in the presence of surfactants such as polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) was investigated experimentally. The presence of CTAB, SDBS or Tween 80 had little influence on succinic acid solubility but did slow crystallization kinetics. The surfactant monomer in solution, not micelles, proved to play the primary role affecting nucleation. The nucleation inhibition by surfactant was analyzed on the base of a two‐step nucleation process: (1) the inhibition on the formation and growth of succinic acid nanodroplets and (2) the influence on succinic acid single nucleus (SASN) in secondary nucleation. SASN may play important role in secondary nucleation, although further work is necessary to conform this. The length of the surfactant hydrocarbon chain was found to affect crystal habit development.
Mitomycin C hypoxic pelvic perfusion for unresectable recurrent rectal cancer: pharmacokinetic comparison of surgical and percutaneous techniques
Authors: Guadagni Stefano , Fiorentini Giammaria , Clementi Marco , Palumbo Paola , Mambrini Andrea , Masedu Francesco
Published: August 2017

Patients with unresectable recurrent rectal cancer that progresses after standard and multi-modular treatments are candidates for hypoxic pelvic perfusion. Hypoxic pelvic perfusion can be performed using a surgical or percutaneous approach. The aim of this study was to examine whether the surgical and percutaneous approaches are comparable with respect to tumor drug exposure in the pelvis. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in 18 patients. Both the surgical and percutaneous procedures were performed using mitomycin C (MMC) at a dose of 25 mg/m2. The main parameter that was used to evaluate pelvic tumor drug exposure was the ratio of the areas under the MMC plasma concentration curves in the pelvis and the systemic compartment during the perfusion time (AUC0–20). The mean values ± SD for the ratios between the MMC AUC0–20 in the pelvic and systemic compartments were 14.38 ± 4.31 and 13.15 ± 4.26 for the surgical and percutaneous techniques, respectively (p = 0.53). This pharmacokinetic study demonstrated that the percutaneous approach for hypoxic pelvic perfusion did not statistically differ from the surgical approach. When perfusion must be repeated several times in the same patient, the percutaneous and surgical methods may be adopted interchangeably.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT01891552.
ePlant for quantitative and predictive plant science research in the big data era —Lay the foundation for the future model guided crop breeding, engineering and agronomy
Authors: Xiao Yi , Chang Tiangen , Song Qingfeng , Wang Shuyue , Tholen Danny , Wang Yu , Xin Changpeng , Zheng Guangyong , Zhao Honglong , Zhu Xin‐Guang
Published: August 2017

Background

The increase in global population, climate change and stagnancy in crop yield on unit land area basis in recent decades urgently call for a new approach to support contemporary crop improvements. ePlant is a mathematical model of plant growth and development with a high level of mechanistic details to meet this challenge.

Results

ePlant integrates modules developed for processes occurring at drastically different temporal (10–8–106 seconds) and spatial (10–10–10 meters) scales, incorporating diverse physical, biophysical and biochemical processes including gene regulation, metabolic reaction, substrate transport and diffusion, energy absorption, transfer and conversion, organ morphogenesis, plant environment interaction, etc. Individual modules are developed using a divide‐and‐conquer approach; modules at different temporal and spatial scales are integrated through transfer variables. We further propose a supervised learning procedure based on information geometry to combine model and data for both knowledge discovery and model extension or advances. We finally discuss the recent formation of a global consortium, which includes experts in plant biology, computer science, statistics, agronomy, phenomics, etc. aiming to expedite the development and application of ePlant or its equivalents by promoting a new model development paradigm where models are developed as a community effort instead of driven mainly by individual labs’ effort.

Conclusions

ePlant, as a major research tool to support quantitative and predictive plant science research, will play a crucial role in the future model guided crop engineering, breeding and agronomy.
Controversies in presacral tumors management
Authors: Issa Nidal , Fenig Yaniv , Aviran Nimrod , Khatib Muhammad , Yassin Mustafa
Published: August 2017

Presacral tumors are rare lesions of the retrorectal space that can present diagnostic and therapeutic difficulty because of their anatomic location and the different tissue types and etiology. Although the diagnosis and management of these tumors has evolved in recent years, several points still to be addressed in order to improve perioperative diagnosis and treatment. In the upcoming we will try to highlight some controversial points; the pre-operative biopsies, neoadjuvant therapy, the necessity of surgery and the role of minimally invasive surgeries of presacral tumors.
Retroperitoneal abscess after transanal minimally invasive surgery: case report and review of literature
Authors: Raney Aaron , Raman Shankar
Published: August 2017

Abscesses are a rare complication of transanal minimally invasive surgery and transanal endoscopic micro surgery. Reported cases have been in the rectal and pre-sacral areas and have been managed with either antibiotics alone or in conjunction with laparotomy and diverting colostomy. We report a case of a large retroperitoneal abscess following a Transanal minimally invasive surgery full thickness rectal polyp excision. The patient was successfully managed conservatively with antibiotics and a percutaneous drain. Retroperitoneal infection should be included in a differential diagnosis following a Transanal minimally invasive surgery procedure as the presentation can be insidious and timely intervention is needed to prevent further morbidity.