bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protection of rice against Nilaparvata lugens by direct toxicity of sodium selenate
Authors: Scheys Freja , De Schutter Kristof , Subramanyam Kondeti , Van Damme Els J. M. , Smagghe Guy
Published: November 2019

Nilaparvata lugens is one of the most notorious pest insects of cultured rice, and outbreaks of N. lugens cause high economic losses each year. While pest control by chemical pesticides is still the standard procedure for treating N. lugens infections, excessive use of these insecticides has led to the emergence of resistant strains and high pesticide residues in plants for human consumption and the environment. Therefore, novel and environment‐friendly pest control strategies are needed. In previous studies, selenium was shown to protect selenium‐accumulating plants from biotic stress. However, studies on nonaccumulator (crop) plants are lacking. In this study, rice plants (Oryza sativa, Nipponbare) were treated with sodium selenate by seed priming and foliar spray and then infested with N. lugens. Brown planthoppers feeding on these plants showed increased mortality compared to those feeding on control plants. Treatment of the plants with sodium selenate did not affect the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the plant stress hormones jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, suggesting that the observed insect mortality cannot be attributed to the activation of these hormonal plant defenses. Feeding assays using an artificial diet supplemented with sodium selenate revealed direct toxicity toward N. lugens. With a low concentration of 6.5 ± 1.5 µM sodium selenate, half of the insects were killed after 3 days. In summary, sodium selenate treatment of plants can be used as a potential alternative pest management strategy to protect rice against N. lugens infestation through direct toxicity.
Predictive value of serum creatinine/cystatin C in neurocritically ill patients
Authors: Wang Shengnan , Xie Ling , Xu Jiawei , Hu Yanhong , Wu Yongming , Lin Zhenzhou , Pan Suyue
Published: November 2019

Objective

To explore the predictive value of serum creatinine (Cr) to cystatin C (CysC) ratio in neurocritically ill patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospectively observational study of adult patients admitted to a neurocritical care unit (NCU) between Jan 2013 and Jan 2017. Patients were excluded if <18 years old, required neurocritical care <72 hr, did operation during hospitalization, had premorbid disability or acute kidney injury (AKI) at admission. The Cr/CysC ratio was obtained at NCU admission. Primary end points were short‐term (30‐day) mortality and long‐term (6‐month) poor outcome, with the latter defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 4–6.

Results

Of 538 eligible patients, the etiology included acute ischemic stroke (N = 193, 35.9%), intracranial hemorrhage (N = 116, 21.6%), encephalitis and/or meningitis (N = 85, 15.8%), and others (N = 144, 26.7%). Serum Cr/CysC ratio was significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = .161, p < .001), the length of NCU stay (r = −.161, p < .001), duration of mechanical ventilation (r = −.138, p = .001), and risk of tracheotomy (r = −.095, p = .028). During follow‐up, 88 (16.4%), patients died within 30 days and 307 (57.1%) patients achieved good outcome at 6 months. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we identified serum Cr/CysC ratio as an independent predictor of long‐term functional outcome (OR: 0.989, 95% CI: 0.980–0.998, p = .015) but not 30‐day mortality (p = .513).

Conclusions

Serum Cr/CysC ratio at admission could be used as a predictor of long‐term poor prognosis in neurocritically ill patients.
Youth vaping: Emerging evidence of added risk
Authors: Paccione‐Dyszlewski Margaret R.
Published: November 2019

Upwards of 3.6 million middle and high school students currently use e‐cigarettes or vape devices, according to the latest National Youth Tobacco Study. Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by the heated nicotine liquid of an electronic cigarette, vape pen, or personal vaporizer. Although vaping companies deny they are marketing to young people, critics note such features in advertising as flavored options, youthful images, colors, animation, young actors, and suggestions that vaping makes you happier and improves social status.
Vom “Verkäufer” zum Lösungsanbieter
Authors:   CITplus
Published: November 2019

Als einer der weltweiten Marktführer in Analysentechnik und Fluidcontrol feiert Bühler Technologies in diesem Jahr ihr 50‐jähriges Jubiläum.
Überblick in Echtzeit
Authors: Dubovy Martin
Published: November 2019

Egal, ob eine prozesstechnische Anlage neu gebaut, überholt oder erweitert wird, ehe sie in Betrieb geht, müssen umfangreiche Tests ihre Zuverlässigkeit sicherstellen. Mit Loop‐Checks prüfen Anlagenerrichter oder Anlagenbetreiber, ob alle PLT‐Stellen rich
Exploring the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the in vitro Anticancer Effects of Multitarget‐Directed Hydrazone Ruthenium(II)–Arene Complexes
Authors: Cuccioloni Massimiliano , Bonfili Laura , Cecarini Valentina , Nabissi Massimo , Pettinari Riccardo , Marchetti Fabio , Petrelli Riccardo , Cappellacci Loredana , Angeletti Mauro , Eleuteri Anna Maria
Published: November 2019

The molecular targets and the modes of action behind the cytotoxicity of two structurally established N,O‐ or N,N‐hydrazone ruthenium(II)–arene complexes were explored in human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF‐7) and paralleled in non‐cancerous and cisplatin‐resistant counterparts (MCF‐10A and MCF‐7CR respectively). Both complexes, [Ru(hmb)(L1)Cl] (1, L1=4‐((2‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)(phenyl)methyl)‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐olate) and [Ru(cym)(L2)Cl] (2, L2=1‐((3‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4(5H)‐ylidene)(phenyl)methyl)‐2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)hydrazin‐1‐ide), reversibly interact with moderate‐to‐high affinity with a number of molecular targets in cell‐free assays, namely serum albumin, DNA, the 20S proteasome and hydroxymethylglutaryl‐CoA reductase. Most interestingly, only 2 readily crosses the cell membrane and preserves its binding/modulatory ability toward the targets of interest upon rapid cellular internalization. The resulting action at multiple levels of the cancer cascade is likely the cause for the selective sensitization of tumour cells to p27‐mediated apoptotic death, and for the ability of 2 to overcome the drug resistance problem.
Geographic disparities in residential proximity to colorectal and cervical cancer care providers
Authors: Hung Peiyin , Deng Songyuan , Zahnd Whitney E. , Adams Swann A. , Olatosi Bankole , Crouch Elizabeth L. , Eberth Jan M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Persistent rural‐urban disparities for colorectal and cervical cancers raise concerns regarding access to treatment providers. To the authors knowledge, little is known regarding rural‐urban differences in residential proximity to cancer specialists.

Methods

Using the 2018 Physician Compare data concerning physician practice locations and the 2012 to 2016 American Community Survey, the current study estimated the driving distance from each residential zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) centroid to the nearest cancer provider of the following medical specialties involved in treating patients with colorectal and cervical cancer: medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, general surgery, gynecological oncology, and colorectal surgery. Using population‐weighted multivariable logistic regression, the authors analyzed the associations between ZCTA‐level characteristics and driving distances >60 miles to each type of specialist. ZCTA‐level residential rurality was defined using rural‐urban commuting area codes.

Results

Nearly 1 in 5 rural Americans lives >60 miles from a medical oncologist. Rural‐urban differences in travel distances to the nearest cancer care provider(s) increased substantially for cancer surgeons; greater than one‐half of rural residents were required to travel 60 miles to reach a gynecological oncologist, compared with 8 miles for their urban counterparts. Individuals residing within ZCTAs with a higher poverty rate, those of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity, and/or were located in the South and West regions were more likely than their counterparts to be >60 miles away from any of the aforementioned providers.

Conclusions

The substantial travel distances required for rural, low‐income residents to reach a cancer specialist should prompt a policy action to increase access to specialized cancer care for millions of rural residents.
Direct Determination of Enthalpies of Sorption Using Pressure‐Gradient Differential Scanning Calorimetry: CO2 Sorption by Cu‐HKUST
Authors: Feldmann Wesley K. , White Kerry‐Anne , Bezuidenhout Charl X. , Smith Vincent J. , Esterhuysen Catharine , Barbour Leonard J.
Published: November 2019

Enthalpy of sorption (ΔH) is an important parameter for the design of separation processes using adsorptive materials. A pressure‐ramped calorimetric method is described and tested for the direct determination of ΔH values. Combining a heatflow thermogram with a single sorption isotherm enables the determination of ΔH as a function of loading. The method is validated by studying CO2 sorption by the well‐studied metal–organic framework Cu‐HKUST over a temperature range of 288–318 K. The measured ΔH values compare well with previously reported data determined by using isosteric and calorimetric methods. The pressure‐gradient differential scanning calorimetry (PGDSC) method produces reliable high‐resolution results by direct measurement of the enthalpy changes during the sorption processes. Additionally, PGDSC is less labor‐intensive and time‐consuming than the isosteric method and offers detailed insight into how ΔH changes over a given loading range.
3D Scan matching for mobile robot localization over rough terrain
Authors: Nakagomi Hiroyuki , Fuse Yoshihiro , Hosaka Hidehiko , Miyamoto Hironaga , Nakamura Takashi , Yoneyama Akira , Yokotsuka Masashi , Kamimura Akiya , Watanabe Hiromi , Tanzawa Tsutomu , Kotani Shinji
Published: November 2019

In order to enable an autonomous mobile robot to travel over rough terrain, it necessitates the capability to detect self‐position accurately even when the odometry errors are increased in traveling. The conventional method can keep high speed and precise localization using iterative closest point algorithms or feature matching techniques. However, effects of steep changes of a mobile robot position are not considered when it travels over rough terrain. In this article, we propose the method for efficient real‐time 6D pose tracking using a rotating 2D laser scanner in traveling over rough terrain. For adaptation to steep changes of the position, weighted point clouds are generated based on the angular and the linear velocity measured by sensors mounted on the robot. And the position and posture of the robot are sequentially optimized by the scan matching in increments of 10 scans. In indoor experiments, we evaluated accuracy of our method when the robot passes on rugged floor. As a result, our method was performed with less than 0.078 m RMS positional error in real time.
Pre‐hospital management protocols and perceived difficulty in diagnosing acute heart failure
Authors: Harjola Pia , Miró Òscar , Martín‐Sánchez Francisco J. , Escalada Xavier , Freund Yonathan , Penaloza Andrea , Christ Michael , Cone David C. , Laribi Said , Kuisma Markku , Tarvasmäki Tuukka , Harjola Veli‐Pekka ,   EMS‐AHF Study Group
Published: November 2019

Aim

To illustrate the pre‐hospital management arsenals and protocols in different EMS units, and to estimate the perceived difficulty of diagnosing suspected acute heart failure (AHF) compared with other common pre‐hospital conditions.

Methods and results

A multinational survey included 104 emergency medical service (EMS) regions from 18 countries. Diagnostic and therapeutic arsenals related to AHF management were reported for each type of EMS unit. The prevalence and contents of management protocols for common medical conditions treated pre‐hospitally was collected. The perceived difficulty of diagnosing AHF and other medical conditions by emergency medical dispatchers and EMS personnel was interrogated.

Ultrasound devices and point‐of‐care testing were available in advanced life support and helicopter EMS units in fewer than 25% of EMS regions. AHF protocols were present in 80.8% of regions. Protocols for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, chest pain, and dyspnoea were present in 95.2, 80.8, and 76.0% of EMS regions, respectively. Protocolized diagnostic actions for AHF management included 12‐lead electrocardiogram (92.1% of regions), ultrasound examination (16.0%), and point‐of‐care testings for troponin and BNP (6.0 and 3.5%). Therapeutic actions included supplementary oxygen (93.2%), non‐invasive ventilation (80.7%), intravenous furosemide, opiates, nitroglycerine (69.0, 68.6, and 57.0%), and intubation 71.5%. Diagnosing suspected AHF was considered easy to moderate by EMS personnel and moderate to difficult by emergency medical dispatchers (without significant differences between de novo and decompensated heart failure). In both settings, diagnosis of suspected AHF was considered easier than pulmonary embolism and more difficult than ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, asthma, and stroke.

Conclusions

The prevalence of AHF protocols is rather high but the contents seem to vary. Difficulty of diagnosing suspected AHF seems to be moderate compared with other pre‐hospital conditions.
Selective Hydrogenation of Fatty Nitriles to Primary Fatty Amines: Catalyst Evaluation and Optimization Starting from Octanenitrile
Authors: Hinzmann Alessa , Gröger Harald
Published: November 2019

In this contribution, an evaluation of the potential of various homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for a selective hydrogenation of fatty nitriles toward primary amines is reported exemplified for the conversion of octanenitrile into octane‐1‐amine as a model reaction. When using heterogeneous catalysts such as the ruthenium catalyst Ru/C, the palladium catalyst Pd/C, and the platinum catalyst Pt/Al2O3, low selectivities in the hydrogenation are observed, thus leading to a large portion of secondary and tertiary amine side‐products. For example, when using Ru/C as a heterogeneous catalyst, high conversions of up to 99% are obtained but the selectivity remains low with a percentage of the primary amine being at 60% at the highest. The study further reveals a high potential of homogeneous ruthenium and manganese catalysts. When also taking into account economical considerations with respect to the metal price, in particular, manganese catalysts turn out to be attractive for the desired transformation and their application in the model reaction leads to the desired primary amine product with excellent conversion, selectivity, and high yield.

Practical Applications: This work describes an optimized hydrogenation process for transforming fatty nitriles to their corresponding primary amines. In general, fatty amines belong to the most applied fatty acid‐derived compounds in the chemical industry with an annual product volume exceeding 800 000 tons per year in 2011 and are widely required in the chemical industry since such compounds are either directly used in home products such as fabric softeners, dishwashing liquids, car wash detergents, or carpet cleaners or in a broad range of industrial products, for example, lubricating additives, flotation agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, fungicides, and bactericides, showing additional major applications, e.g., in the detergents industry. Among them primary amines play an important industrial role. However, a major concern of current processes is the lack of selectivity and the formation of secondary and tertiary amines as side‐products. By modifying a recently developed catalytic system based on manganese as economically attractive and environmentally benign metal component an efficient and selective access to fatty amines when starting from the corresponding nitriles is achieved. For example, hydrogenation of octanenitrile leads to a synthesis of octane‐1‐amine with >99% conversion and excellent selectivity with formation of secondary and tertiary amine side‐products being suppressed to an amount of <1%.
Formation of Phospholipid Association Colloids in Rapeseed Oil and Their Effect on Lipid Autoxidation in the Presence of Sinapic and Ferulic Acid
Authors: Rokosik Ewa , Siger Aleksander , Rudzińska Magdalena , Siejak Przemysław , Dwiecki Krzysztof
Published: November 2019

This study describes the formation of 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DOPC) association colloids (reverse micelles) in rapeseed oil and interactions of sinapic and ferulic acids with these structures. Furthermore, the process of oil autoxidation in the presence of DOPC is characterized and the antioxidant efficiency of phenolic acids in the oil containing reverse micelles is determined. Formation of DOPC reverse micelles above the phospholipid critical micelle concentration (51.13 µmol kg–1) is observed. The fluorescence probe emission parameters confirm the interactions of sinapic and ferulic acids with reverse micelles and changes of their structure (reduced rigidity) as a result of phenolic acid incorporation. In the analyzed rapeseed oil, an evident prooxidative effect of DOPC reverse micelles is found, as their presence accelerates decomposition of hydroperoxides to hexanal. The antioxidant effect of sinapic acid is strongly influenced by the presence of DOPC reverse micelles. Ferulic acid shows a concentration‐dependent antioxidant effect in relation to the formation of hexanal.

Practical Applications: Understanding the influence of sinapic and ferulic acids on the structure of association colloids and rapeseed oil autoxidation in the presence of reverse micelles should facilitate extension of shelf life and reduce oil quality deterioration during storage. This knowledge may also be used to optimize industrial oil refining to provide the desired amount of amphiphilic minor components and native antioxidants. Thus, developed refining using mild conditions or even minimizing the degree of refining is attractive in view of greater retention of health‐promoting compounds in vegetable oil, reduction of processing costs, and increased sustainability of the oil‐refining process.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Ureas Using Chromium Hexacarbonyl as a Convenient and Safe Alternative Carbonyl Source
Authors: Mozaffari Mozhdeh , Nowrouzi Najmeh
Published: November 2019

Pd‐catalyzed synthesis of urea derivatives from aryl iodides and different aliphatic and aromatic amines using sodium azide and chromium hexacarbonyl is described. In this process, carbonylation of aryl iodides, Curtius rearrangement of aroyl azides, and nucleophilic addition of amines sequentially occur to afford the products in good to excellent yields. This protocol is operationally simple and displays a broad substrates scope.
Selective Cyanoalkylation and [2+2+2] Annulation of 1,6‐Enynes with Azobis(alkylcarbonitriles) under Mild Conditions
Authors: Kang Qing‐Qing , Liu Yi , Huang Xun‐Jie , Li Qiang , Wei Wen‐Ting
Published: November 2019

In this paper, selective cyanoalkylation and [2+2+2] annulation of 1,6‐enynes with azobis(alkylcarbonitriles) under mild conditions is presented. When the reaction was run in EtOAc without any catalysts or additives, a highly regioselective cyanoalkylation of 1,6‐enynes was achieved. On the other hand, when a mixture of H2O and EtOAc was used as the green reaction medium in the presence of a cheap copper catalyst and an additive, a [2+2+2] annulation of 1,6‐enynes with azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and H2O occurred to form four new chemical bonds in one step.
Development and performance study of a novel physicochemical composite inhibitor for the prevention of coal gangue spontaneous combustion
Authors: Huang Zhian , Le Tian , Zhang Yinghua , Gao Yukun , Li Jinyang , Li Ziyou , Ma Zhenzhen
Published: November 2019

To overcome the short inhibition life of currently available inhibitors, a high polymer nanocomposite inhibitor was developed. The spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal gangue from the Yangquan mining area were studied through proximate analysis, scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis. As a result, the coal gangue was found to be prone to spontaneous combustion. Temperature‐programmed oxidation experiments showed that the average inhibition rates of Ca (OH)2 or polyacrylamide (PAM) were 30.99% and 30.95%, respectively. During testing, when the temperature of the coal gangue exceeded 160°C, the CO production and oxygen consumption rate of the sample with PAM increased dramatically, proving that the PAM inhibition effect was short‐lived with elevating temperature, whereas the inhibition rate of polyacrylamide/montmorillonite (PAM/MMT) was significantly increased to 47.70%. In addition, the CO production and oxygen consumption rates were significantly reduced in the late oxidation period, proving that the addition of MMT was able to effectively improve the high‐temperature resistance of the PAM. Different concentrations of PAM/MMT were compounded with Ca (OH)2, further improving the inhibition effect of the treatment. The inhibition effect of the PAM/MMT 3%‐Ca (OH)2 20% composite inhibitor was the best in the study, with an inhibition rate of 83.15%.
Institutional support, hazards, and internationalization of emerging market firms
Authors: Nuruzzaman N. , Singh Deeksha , Gaur Ajai S.
Published: November 2019

Research Summary

We utilize the institution‐based view to study the effect of home institutions on the internationalization of emerging economy firms. We argue that institutional support and institutional hazards co‐exist and can influence firm internationalization simultaneously. However, institutional support has a stronger effect on internationalization than institutional hazards. Further, we argue that when the institutional environment is supportive of the internationalization effort, state ownership provides proximity to institutional resources and thus amplifies the relationship between institutional support and firm internationalization. However, when the institutional environment is perilous to business activities, state ownership increases dependency on the institutional environment and constrains the escape from the domestic market. Results based on the World Bank Enterprises Survey of 9,337 manufacturing firms from 81 emerging economies largely support our arguments.

Managerial Summary

Home country institutions have different components, some of which can support while others can hinder the internationalization of emerging economy firms. Our study helps managers to identify different types of home‐based institutional supports that can help international expansion and home‐based institutional hazards that firms can avoid by diversifying their sales geographically. The findings suggest that leveraging institutional support at home country has a stronger effect on internationalization than escaping institutional hazards because institutional supports can complement other home‐based advantages that emerging economy firms have. Furthermore, state ownership can increase a firm's proximity to institutional resources, providing firms greater access to institutional support for international expansion.
Applying an improved failure mode effect analysis method to evaluate the safety of a three‐in‐one machine tool
Authors: Zhao Xiao‐Song , Chen Te‐Hung , Zhang Kun , Wang Mao‐Jiun J.
Published: November 2019

Straighteners are commonly used in the field of plate straightening. With the shortage of industrial land, an increasing number of straightener manufacturers integrate uncoilers, straighteners, and feeders, which represent a three‐in‐one machine tool. The tool's functions are complex; many factors affect its reliability and performance, including the problems of equipment itself and human errors. To improve the reliability of this machine, it is necessary to identify the main failure modes and causes. The risk assessment of using the conventional failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) presents several issues. Thus, multiple methods have been proposed to improve the robustness and applicability of the FMEA. Herein, an improved FMEA, which combines fuzzy set and entropy evaluations is utilized to assess the three‐in‐one machine tool. In the method, the fuzzy set method is used to quantify the evaluation index. The information entropy and expert evaluation method are used to determine the weight between the indexes. From this study, human operation errors accounted for over 55% of the risks of machine malfunctions. By evaluating failure modes, a few countermeasures to reduce human operation errors can be proposed. By improving the human machine interface design and ergonomic job design and providing adequate training, human errors can be reduced and the reliability of three‐in‐one machine tools can be improved.
Differentiating smokers and nonsmokers based on Raman spectroscopy of oral fluid and advanced statistics for forensic applications
Authors: Al‐Hetlani Entesar , Halámková Lenka , Amin Mohamed O. , Lednev Igor K.
Published: November 2019

Raman spectroscopy has proven to be a valuable tool for analyzing various types of forensic evidence such as traces of body fluids. In this work, Raman spectroscopy was employed as a nondestructive technique for the analysis of dry traces of oral fluid to differentiate between smoker and nonsmoker donors with the aid of advanced statistical tools. A total of 32 oral fluid samples were collected from donors of differing gender, age and race and were subjected to Raman spectroscopic analysis. A genetic algorithm was used to determine eight spectral regions that contribute the most to the differentiation of smokers and nonsmokers. Thereafter, a classification model was developed based on the artificial neural network that showed 100% accuracy after external validation. The developed approach demonstrates great potential for the differentiation of smokers and nonsmokers based on the analysis of dry traces of oral fluid.
Large monochromatic components in multicolored bipartite graphs
Authors: DeBiasio Louis , Krueger Robert A. , Sárközy Gábor N.
Published: November 2019

It is well known that in every ‐coloring of the edges of the complete bipartite graph there is a monochromatic connected component with at least vertices. In this paper we study an extension of this problem by replacing complete bipartite graphs by bipartite graphs of large minimum degree. We conjecture that in every ‐coloring of the edges of an ‐bipartite graph with , and , there exists a monochromatic component on at least vertices (as in the complete bipartite graph). If true, the minimum degree condition is sharp (in that both inequalities cannot be made weak when and are divisible by ). We prove the conjecture for r = 2 and we prove a weaker bound for all r ≥ 3. As a corollary, we obtain a result about the existence of monochromatic components with at least n/(r − 1) vertices in r‐colored graphs with large minimum degree.
Ore and Chvátal‐type degree conditions for bootstrap percolation from small sets
Authors: Dairyko Michael , Ferrara Michael , Lidický Bernard , Martin Ryan R. , Pfender Florian , Uzzell Andrew J.
Published: November 2019

Bootstrap percolation is a deterministic cellular automaton in which vertices of a graph begin in one of two states, “dormant” or “active.” Given a fixed positive integer , a dormant vertex becomes active if at any stage it has at least active neighbors, and it remains active for the duration of the process. Given an initial set of active vertices , we say that G ‐percolates (from ) if every vertex in becomes active after some number of steps. Let denote the minimum size of a set such that G ‐percolates from . Bootstrap percolation has been studied in a number of settings and has applications to both statistical physics and discrete epidemiology. Here, we are concerned with degree‐based density conditions that ensure . In particular, we give an Ore‐type degree sum result that states that if a graph satisfies , then either or is in one of a small number of classes of exceptional graphs. (Here, is the minimum sum of degrees of two nonadjacent vertices in .) We also give a Chvátal‐type degree condition: If is a graph with degree sequence such that or for all , then or falls into one of several specific exceptional classes of graphs. Both of these results are inspired by, and extend, an Ore‐type result in a paper by Freund et al.
An evolutionary insight into emerging Ebolavirus strains isolated in Africa
Authors: Pereira‐Gomez Marianoel , Lopez‐Tort Fernando , Fajardo Alvaro , Cristina Juan
Published: November 2019

On July 19, 2019, the World Health Organization declared the current Ebolavirus (EBOV) outbreak in Congo Democratic Republic (COD) a public health emergency of international concern. To address the potential threat of EBOV evolution outpacing antibody treatment and vaccine efforts, a detailed evolutionary analysis of EBOV strains circulating in different African countries was performed. Genome composition of EBOV strains was studied using multivariate statistical analysis. To investigate the patterns of evolution of EBOV strains, a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach was used. Two different genetic lineages, with a distinct genome composition gave rise to the recent EBOV outbreaks in central and western Africa. Strains isolated in COD in 2018 fall into two different genetic clusters, according to their geographical location of isolation. Different amino acid substitutions among strains from these two clusters have been found, particularly in NP, GP, and L proteins. Significant differences in codon and amino acid usage among clusters were found. Strains isolated in COD in 2018 belong to two distinct genetic clusters, with distinct codon and amino acid usage. Geographical diversity plays an important role in shaping the molecular evolution of EBOV populations.
Recent changes in the drought of China from 1960 to 2014
Authors: Wu Zhitao , Yu Lu , Du Ziqiang , Zhang Hong , Fan Xiaohui , Lei Tianjie
Published: November 2019

In recent years, extreme droughts have been frequent and widespread, and understanding the spatiotemporal variations in drought events in China plays an important role in drought risk management. In this study, using monthly meteorological data at 618 stations, we computed the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index with potential evapotranspiration based on the Penman–Monteith equation (SPEI_PM) for drought assessment. Furthermore, we analysed the trend, affected area, frequency and duration of drought in China over the period of 1960–2014 by the piecewise linear regression method (LRM) and Mann–Kendall (MK) method. The results showed that (a) the slight wetting trend reflected during 1960–2014 by the SPEI_PM (0.03/10a (p > .05). This trend was allocated to most parts of northern and southeastern China and was prone to arrive in winter. In contrast, the most significant drying trend was in the Loess Plateau and Yunnan–Kweichow Plateau. (b) The turning point (TP) year of drought trend was 1993. The SPEI_PM was increased in most parts of northern China before 1993 according to the LRM and MK method. However, it decreased after 1993, especially in the south and northwest of China; (c) Over the past 55 years, the areas affected by drought decreased at a rate of −1.23%/10a (p < .05). In detail, these areas decreased at a rate of −3.41%/10a before 1993 (p < .05) and increased at a rate of 2.71%/10a after 1993 (p > .05). (d) The drought frequency in most parts of China was between 15 and 20 during 1960–2014. Furthermore, compared with that in 1960–1977, the drought frequency was decreased in 1978–1995 and then increased in 1996–2014. These findings suggested that the long‐term trend in drought events during 1960–2014 was not significant in China. However, the severity, affected area and frequency of droughts increase after 1993. These results allowed us to understand the changes in the drought across China over the last 55 years, which is important for guiding relevant agricultural activities.
Blue or green? turquoise–planerite species from Carico Lake Valley in Nevada, the United States: Evidence from Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Dumańska‐Słowik Magdalena , Wesełucha‐Birczyńska Aleksandra , Natkaniec‐Nowak Lucyna , Gaweł Adam , Włodek Adam , Kulmaczewska Katarzyna
Published: November 2019

Blue and green turquoise–planerite species from Carico Lake Valley in Nevada have the formulae □0.69(Na0.01K0.01Cu0.20Ca0.06Mg0.02Ba0.01 Zn0.01)(Al5.97V0.04 Fe0.03)[PO4]4 (OH)8·4H2O and □0.66(K0.01Cu0.24Ca0.05Mg0.02Ba0.01Zn0.01)(Al5.87Fe0.13)[PO4]4(OH)8·4H2O, respectively. The content of Al3+ and Fe3+ at the B‐site together with slight differences in Cu amount at the A‐site is the main factors that differentiate these two species. Green planerite shows higher crystallinity and contains less water in its structure. The blue species is more porous with a lower degree of structural order and higher water enrichment. The Cu/Fe ratio together with local symmetry around chromophore ions in the structure seem to be responsible for the specific colouration of both phosphates. The species are inhomogeneous and contain a wealth of mineral (goethite, barite, quartz, kaolinite, chloritoid, destinezite, and some vanadate) and organic inclusions (bituminous matter and aliphatic hydrocarbons). Raman microspectroscopy with the application of different exciting radiation, that is, laser lines of 514.5 nm (green) and 442 nm (blue) for blue and green turquoise–planerite species revealed further differences between these two coloured species: (a) various positions of the most intensive band attributed to ν3 (PO4)3‐, (b) shift of ν3 four component bands, (c) various intensity ratios and integral intensity ratios of ν3 component bands, and (d) some diagnostic bands coming from Fe‐O (green species) and Cu‐O vibrations (blue species) obtained with principal component analysis (PCA).
Repeatability of radiomics and machine learning for DWI: Short‐term repeatability study of 112 patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Merisaari Harri , Taimen Pekka , Shiradkar Rakesh , Ettala Otto , Pesola Marko , Saunavaara Jani , Boström Peter J. , Madabhushi Anant , Aronen Hannu J. , Jambor Ivan
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To evaluate repeatability of prostate DWI‐derived radiomics and machine learning methods for prostate cancer (PCa) characterization.

Methods

A total of 112 patients with diagnosed PCa underwent 2 prostate MRI examinations (Scan1 and Scan2) performed on the same day. DWI was performed using 12 b‐values (0–2000 s/mm2), post‐processed using kurtosis function, and PCa areas were annotated using whole mount prostatectomy sections. A total of 1694 radiomic features including Sobel, Kirch, Gradient, Zernike Moments, Gabor, Haralick, CoLIAGe, Haar wavelet coefficients, 3D analogue to Laws features, 2D contours, and corner detectors were calculated. Radiomics and 4 feature pruning methods (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve, maximum relevance minimum redundancy, Spearman’s ρ, Wilcoxon rank‐sum) were evaluated in terms of Scan1‐Scan2 repeatability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)(3,1). Classification performance for clinically significant and insignificant PCa with Gleason grade groups 1 versus >1 was evaluated by area under the receiver operator characteristic curve in unseen random 30% data split.

Results

The ICC(3,1) values for conventional radiomics and feature pruning methods were in the range of 0.28–0.90. The machine learning classifications varied between Scan1 and Scan2 with % of same class labels between Scan1 and Scan2 in the range of 61–81%. Surface‐to‐volume ratio and corner detector‐based features were among the most represented features with high repeatability, ICC(3,1) >0.75, consistently high ranking using all 4 feature pruning methods, and classification performance with area under the receiver operator characteristic curve >0.70.

Conclusion

Surface‐to‐volume ratio and corner detectors for prostate DWI led to good classification of unseen data and performed similarly in Scan1 and Scan2 in contrast to multiple conventional radiomic features.
Professor Geoffrey Petts (1953–2018): An outstanding interdisciplinary river scientist
Authors: Gurnell Angela , Foster Ian , Gregory Ken , Wood Paul
Published: November 2019

This paper provides an introduction and an editorial to this special issue of River Research and Applications by documenting the contributions made by Professor Geoffrey Petts to our interdisciplinary understanding of the functioning of rivers and their floodplains and their sustainable management. We outline Geoff's career, which framed not only his research but its communication through his inspirational teaching but also included very high level and innovative contributions to the management and development of several UK universities. We then explain how and why Geoff was an outstanding interdisciplinary river scientist and how he communicated his science through both integrative books and book chapters and also research papers that developed eight complementary research themes. Lastly, we introduce the papers in this special issue and show how they provide inputs to Geoff's areas of research interest.
Human capital, parent size, and the destination industry of spinouts
Authors: Sakakibara Mariko , Balasubramanian Natarajan
Published: November 2019

Research Summary

We study how spinout founders' human capital and parent size relate to founders' propensity to stay in the same industry as their parents or to go outside the industry. Individuals with high human capital face a higher performance penalty if they form spinouts outside the parent industry, but they also face greater deterrence from large parents if they stay in that industry. Using matched employer–employee data on spinout founders and their coworkers, we find that individuals with higher human capital are less likely to form spinouts in distant industries than in the parent's industry. Further, we find that as parent size increases, such individuals are less likely to form spinouts in the parent's industry and more likely to form spinouts in distant industries.

Managerial Summary

We examine how the ability of potential entrepreneurs affects whether they found a startup in the same industry as their employers (“parents”) or in a different industry, and how that choice relates to the size of the parents. We find that founders with high ability are more likely to form a startup in the parents' industry. However, as the parent size increases, they are more likely to form a startup in a different industry. These findings suggest that while high‐ability founders want to benefit from their industry expertise by forming a startup in the parents' industry, some of them are dissuaded from doing so either because large parents try to retain high‐ability founders or because such founders want to avoid potential competition with large parents.
Resource congestion in alliance networks: How a firm's partners’ partners influence the benefits of collaboration
Authors: Aggarwal Vikas A.
Published: November 2019

Research summary

The network resources a firm can access through its strategic alliances are critical precursors to innovation: They provide the information and know‐how needed to generate new knowledge. Yet prior literature has not directly considered the congestion of network resources stemming from constraints on their capacity to be applied without loss of value across multiple settings. I examine the degree to which this form of resource congestion influences the innovation benefits a focal firm realizes from its alliance portfolio. In a panel dataset of biopharmaceutical firms, I find that the knowledge‐based resources of a focal firm's alliance partners can be congested due to multiple claims on these resources from the firm's partners’ partners. This insight bridges the network and resource‐based perspectives on alliances and innovation.

Managerial summary

Strategic alliances are an essential tool for managers in knowledge‐intensive settings: They allow firms to access diverse information and know‐how which can be of critical importance as inputs to the innovation process. What managers may overlook, however, is that the knowledge‐based resources of their alliance partners can be congested due to competing claims on these resources from the other alliances in which their partners are engaged. In such cases, firms may end up competing for resources such as partner time and attention with their partners’ other partners. Consequently, when engaging in alliances, managers should be attentive not only to the knowledge resources an alliance partner may hold but also to whether these partner knowledge resources may ultimately be congested due to their partners’ other relationships.
The effect of plan ratios on wind interference of two tall buildings
Authors: Behera Siddharth , Ghosh Debdutta , Mittal Achal K. , Tamura Yukio , Kim Wonsul
Published: November 2019

Tall buildings are vulnerable to lateral loading. The facades of these buildings are susceptible to wind loads. It is very difficult to assess the wind condition around the tall building in the presence of other surrounding buildings due to the wind interference effect. An experiment is carried out in the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel at Tokyo Polytechnic University, Japan, to study the wind interference effect on tall buildings with varying plan ratios. The maximum and minimum local peak pressure coefficient contours on front face of the principal building are plotted. The interference effect is quantified in terms of interference zone charts. It is observed that interference zones extend over a larger area as the building plan ratios increases. The minimum interference factor depends on the plan ratios of the interfering building especially along the oblique direction. The results of this study may be useful for the preliminary design of cladding of tall buildings with interfering buildings.
Research streams on digital transformation from a holistic business perspective: a systematic literature review and citation network analysis
Authors: Hausberg J. Piet , Liere-Netheler Kirsten , Packmohr Sven , Pakura Stefanie , Vogelsang Kristin
Published: November 2019

Digital transformation (DT) has become a buzzword, triggering different disciplines in research and influencing practice, which leads to independent research streams. Scholars investigate the antecedents, contingencies, and consequences of these disruptive technologies by examining the use of single technologies or of digitization, in general. Approaches are often very specialized and restricted to their domains. Thus, the immense breadth of technologies and their possible applications conditions a fragmentation of research, impeding a holistic view. With this systematic literature review, we aim to fill this gap in providing an overview of the different disciplines of DT research from a holistic business perspective. We identified the major research streams and clustered them with co-citation network analysis in nine main areas. Our research shows the main fields of interest in digital transformation research, overlaps of the research areas and fields that are still underrepresented. Within the business research areas, we identified three dominant areas in literature: finance, marketing, and innovation management. However, research streams also arise in terms of single branches like manufacturing or tourism. This study highlights these diverse research streams with the aim of deepening the understanding of digital transformation in research. Yet, research on DT still lacks in the areas of accounting, human resource management, and sustainability. The findings were distilled into a framework of the nine main areas for assisting the implications on potential research gaps on DT from a business perspective.
Private external funding of universities: Blind alley or new opening?
Authors: Badelt Christoph
Published: November 2019

Of late, the problems of private external, or third-party funding of universities have been the subject of much debate, even at universities of economics and business. Given the constraints on government funding, politicians are looking increasingly to this source, with university leaders (rectors, deans, department heads) frequently being set targets for increasing income from it. Yet it is important to distinguish between different types of external funds. Moreover, their advantages and potential drawbacks must be weighed up. This paper seeks to do that, against the background of the author’s more than 13 years as Rector of Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). Much of the paper thus draws rather less on theory than on that practical experience.
The relationship of narcissism with tendency to react with anger and hostility: The roles of neuroticism and emotion regulation ability
Authors: Czarna Anna Z. , Zajenkowski Marcin , Maciantowicz Oliwia , Szymaniak Kinga
Published: November 2019

The present study examined the relationship of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism with dispositional anger and hostility. We investigated the roles of neuroticism, emotional intelligence, and gender in this relationship, using a sample of 405 participants. The results indicated that vulnerable narcissism was associated with a higher tendency toward anger and hostility, and that neuroticism accounted for a large part of this association. Poor emotion managing, known as strategic emotion regulation ability, also played a role in hostility related to vulnerable narcissism, especially among men. When emotional stability was controlled for, grandiose narcissism showed links to anger and hostility. We concluded that high neuroticism and poor emotion regulation abilities among vulnerable narcissists contribute to increased anger/hostility, whereas emotional stability likely protects grandiose narcissists against these internal aspects of aggression. The significant relationships between both forms of narcissism with aggression, remaining after neuroticism and emotion regulation were accounted for, suggest that there is another underlying source of this link. Finally, we found that controlling for interindividual differences in neuroticism significantly increased the relationship between vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, suggesting the existence of the common core of narcissism.
International Trade Implications of Highly Pathogenic Poultry Disease Events
Authors: Thompson Jada M. , Pendell Dustin L. , Hagerman Amy D. , Johnson Kamina K.
Published: November 2019

Animal disease events can lead to international trade restrictions which can vary in duration, products included, and geographical extent. Accounting for multilateral resistance between trading partners, a general gravity model of trade is estimated with a Hausman-Taylor and a Hausman-Taylor seemingly unrelated estimator to evaluate the trade quantity impact by commodity resulting from highly pathogenic poultry disease events in 24 exporting markets. Commodity specific results show that quantity traded and products demanded during a disease event differ by commodities. Understanding these impacts can better prepare exporters for potential changes in trade quantity given a disease event.