bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Issues and Future Perspective on Zinc Metal Anode for Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc‐ion Batteries
Authors: Li Canpeng , Xie Xuesong , Liang Shuquan , Zhou Jiang
Published: January 2020

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) featuring the merits of low cost, eco‐friendliness, and enhanced safety have attracted extensive interests and considered as the most promising energy storage system. However, much efforts are devoted to the exploration of cathode materials and their storage mechanisms in this system, and inadequate attentions are received in regard to anode side especially in neutral or mild acidic electrolyte. Therefore, in this review, the fundamental understanding of existing issues including dendrite formation, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution are mainly revealed, as well as their interaction in neutral or mild acidic medium. In addition, the currently existing solution strategies on the anode are summarized and the mechanisms that contained are simultaneously investigated. Finally, perspectives on future anode modification and innovation direction are provided for the further development and research of Zn‐based ZIBs.
Effect of Clarification System on the Conservation of Virgin Olive Oil during Its Storage
Authors: Gila Abraham , Sánchez‐Ortíz Araceli , Beltrán Gabriel , Bejaoui Mohamed Aymen , Aguilera María Paz , Jiménez Antonio
Published: January 2020

The results obtained in this work explain how clarification systems can affect the conservation of virgin olive oils (VOOs) during the storage step. The evolution of the quality and sensory properties during the storage of VOOs clarified by different systems, vertical centrifugal separator (VCS) with minimal water addition and conical bottom settling tank (CBST), is studied at industrial scale for two different crop years. In general, VCS oils show a slight higher moisture and solid impurities content at the end of the storage step due to a higher emulsion grade (because of the emulsion generated) caused by the rotating movement of this clarification system. For the studied clarification systems, no remarkable differences are observed between the oils during their storage for quality indexes. However, these systems show differences regarding oil sensory properties. The VOOs clarified by VCS are characterized by a higher presence of phenol components, higher positive sensory attributes intensity, and higher lipoxygenase (LOX) aldehydes content during their storage. VOOs from CBST show lower phenol content, a higher “non‐LOX” volatiles content, and the presence of sensory defects during storage.

Practical Applications: The results obtained in this work are very important in order to provide specific recommendations and scientific support based on objective data to improve VOO quality. As described in this study, the VCS with a minimal water addition can be a better option to produce VOO of improved quality. This clarification system is an efficient and quick operation that reduces the contact between oil and the remaining water and impurities during the storage step. The minimal water addition used in this clarification system allows obtaining VOOs with higher phenol content and positive sensory notes. This leads to prolong VOO shelf‐life and conservation during the storage stage, due to preservation of the quality indexes and minor components with antioxidant activity. Besides, this clarification system reduces the water consumption during oil clarification and generates a lower wastewater volume regarding conventional vertical centrifugation, and therefore can be considered more environmentally friendly.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Decarbonylative Phosphorylation of Benzoic Acids with P(O)–H Compounds
Authors: Zhang Ji‐Shu , Chen Tieqiao , Han Li‐Biao
Published: January 2020

A direct decarbonylative phosphorylation of benzoic acids catalyzed by palladium was disclosed. Under the reaction conditions, a wide range of benzoic acids coupled readily with all the three kinds of P(O)–H compounds, i.e. secondary phosphine oxides, H‐phosphinates and H‐phosphonates, producing the corresponding organophosphorus compounds in good to high yields. This reaction could be conducted at a gram scale and applied in the late‐stage phosphorylative modification of carboxylic acids drug molecules. These results well demonstrated the potential synthetic value of this new reaction in organic synthesis.
A social psychological perspective on World War II collaboration in the 21st century: A Belgian case
Authors: Bouchat Pierre , Luminet Olivier , Rosoux Valérie , Aerts Koen , Cordonnier Aline , Résibois Maxime , Rimé Bernard
Published: January 2020

The present study addresses antecedents and consequences of attitudes towards collaboration in the context of World War II (WWII) in Belgium. A survey conducted on 922 Belgian French‐ and Dutch‐speaking participants shows that, on overall, Dutch‐speakers perceive collaboration as more moral and support amnesty of the former collaborators at a higher level than their Francophone counterparts. In addition, we show that these attitudes are predicted by the generational belonging, linguistic and national identification of the participants. Finally, we find that attitudes towards WWII collaboration are linked to specific political prospects for the future of the country only among Dutch‐speakers. These findings suggest that, 75 years after its end, the issue of collaboration during WWII still divides the Belgian society. Furthermore, they underline the added value of a multilevel approach in the understanding of social psychological phenomena.
The dixie cup problem and FKG inequality
Authors: Flatto Leopold
Published: January 2020

Let be the number of purchases required to obtain copies of given items, each purchase choosing at random one of the items. is the expected value of the random variable . The problem of obtaining a formula for is known as the dixie cup problem. The problem is easy for , but difficult for m > 1. Newman and Shepp solve the problem for all m, n. From the formula, they obtain the asymptotics of for each fixed and tending to infinity. Later, Erdös and Rényi obtain the limit law for , for each fixed and tending to infinity. From the limit law, they also derive and improve on the result of Newman and Shepp. The derivation is however incomplete, as they do not address the problem of estimating the tails of the distribution of . In this paper, we provide the estimates. The estimates depend on notions concerning conditional probabilities. In particular, we use the FKG inequality, a correlation inequality which is a fundamental tool in statistical mechanics and probabilistic combinatorics.
Misclassification of primary liver cancer in the Life Span Study of atomic bomb survivors
Authors: French Benjamin , Sadakane Atsuko , Cologne John , Mabuchi Kiyohiko , Ozasa Kotaro , Preston Dale L.
Published: January 2020

Primary liver cancer is difficult to diagnose accurately at death, due to metastases from nearby organs and to concomitant diseases, such as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Trends in diagnostic accuracy could affect radiation risk estimates for incident liver cancer by altering background rates or by impacting risk modification by sex and age. We quantified the potential impact of death‐certificate inaccuracies on radiation risk estimates for liver cancer in the Life Span Study of atomic bomb survivors. True‐positive and false‐negative rates were obtained from a previous study that compared death‐certificate causes of death with those based on pathological review, from 1958 to 1987. We assumed various scenarios for misclassification rates after 1987. We obtained estimated true positives and estimated false negatives by stratified sampling from binomial distributions with probabilities given by the true‐positive and false‐negative rates, respectively. Poisson regression methods were applied to highly stratified person‐year tables of corrected case counts and accrued person years. During the study period (1958–2009), there were 1,885 cases of liver cancer, which included 383 death‐certificate‐only (DCO) cases; 1,283 cases with chronic liver disease as the underlying cause of death; and 150 DCO cases of pancreatic cancer among 105,444 study participants. Across the range of scenarios considered, radiation risk estimates based on corrected case counts were attenuated, on average, by 13–30%. Our results indicated that radiation risk estimates for liver cancer were potentially sensitive to death‐certificate inaccuracies. Additional data are needed to inform misclassification rates in recent years.
Stress and subjective life expectancy: Cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations in early adolescence
Authors: McKay Michael T. , Andretta James R. , Padgett Noah R. , C. Cole Jon
Published: January 2020

Using data from a longitudinal study, the present study employed a latent class mover‐stayer analytical strategy to examine both the cross‐sectional and longitudinal (+33 months) relationship between membership of stress classes, and subjective life expectancy. Participants were from 21 High schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Data were collected in the first year of High school (mean age = 12.5 years), and at +33 months (fourth year, or school year 11). Sample 1 consisted of 1171 adolescents (40.82% females, 2.56% unreported) in Northern Ireland. Sample 2 consisted of 1059 adolescents (52.79% females, 1.32% unreported) in Scotland. Adolescents with the lowest levels of stress projected the highest subjective life expectancy scores. Longitudinal analyses were jumbled and not in keeping with cross‐sectional results. More research may be needed on the trajectory of subjective life expectancy over time before it can be depended upon as a reliable outcome variable in adolescent development.
Mechanistic insight into the effect of BT‐benzo‐29 on the Z‐ring in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Kunal Kishore , Tiwari Rishu , Dhaked Hemendra P. S. , Surolia Avadhesha , Panda Dulal
Published: January 2020

The assembly and disassembly of FtsZ play an essential role in bacterial cell division. Using single‐cell imaging, we report that short exposure to BT‐benzo‐29 inhibits Z‐ring formation in live Bacillus subtilis cells. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching of the Z‐ring in live bacteria demonstrated that BT‐benzo‐29 strongly suppressed the assembly dynamics of FtsZ in the Z‐ring. Furthermore, B. subtilis cells expressing V275A‐FtsZ resisted the antibacterial activity of BT‐benzo‐29 providing evidence that BT‐benzo‐29 inhibits bacterial proliferation by targeting FtsZ. In addition, a brief (8 min) exposure of BT‐benzo‐29 destroyed the Z‐ring without perturbing the localization of a late cell division protein, DivIVA, the nucleoid segregation, and membrane permeability. BT‐benzo‐29, when used in combination with vancomycin and polymyxin B (PMB), produced a much stronger inhibitory effect on Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli cells, respectively. The combination index of BT‐benzo‐29 with vancomycin and PMB was determined to be <1, suggesting that BT‐benzo‐29 exhibits synergistic inhibitory effects on bacterial proliferation when used along with these antibiotics.
Long noncoding RNA expression profiles during the NEL‐like 1 protein–induced osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Xia Kai , Cen Xiao , Yu Liyuan , Huang Xinqi , Sun Wentian , Zhao Zhihe , Liu Jun
Published: January 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important modulators of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in cellular differentiation. However, the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in NEL‐like 1 (NELL‐1)‐induced osteogenic differentiation of human adipose–derived stem cells remain elusive. Expression profiles of lncRNAs and messenger RNAs during NELL‐1‐induced osteogenesis were obtained using high‐throughput sequencing. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and gene coexpression networks were performed. We identified 323 statistically differentially expressed lncRNAs during osteogenesis and NELL‐1‐induced osteogenesis, and three lncRNAs (ENST00000602964, ENST00000326734, and TCONS_00006792) were identified as core regulators. Hedgehog pathway markers, including IHH and GLI1, were downregulated, while the antagonists of this pathway (GLI3 and HHIP) were upregulated during NELL‐1‐induced osteogenesis. In this process, the antagonist of Wnt, SFRP1, was downregulated. According to the analysis, we speculated that lncRNAs played important roles in NELL‐1‐induced osteogenesis via the crosstalk between Hedgehog and Wnt pathways.
Frizzled‐4 is required for normal bone acquisition despite compensation by Frizzled‐8
Authors: Kushwaha Priyanka , Kim Soohyun , Foxa Gabrielle E. , Michalski Megan N. , Williams Bart O. , Tomlinson Ryan E. , Riddle Ryan C.
Published: January 2020

The activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway is critical for skeletal development but surprisingly little is known about the requirements for the specific frizzled (Fzd) receptors that recognize Wnt ligands. To define the contributions of individual Fzd proteins to osteoblast function, we profiled the expression of all 10 mammalian receptors during calvarial osteoblast differentiation. Expression of Fzd4 was highly upregulated during in vitro differentiation and therefore targeted for further study. Mice lacking Fzd4 in mature osteoblasts had normal cortical bone structure but reduced cortical tissue mineral density and also exhibited an impairment in the femoral trabecular bone acquisition that was secondary to a defect in the mineralization process. Consistent with this observation, matrix mineralization, markers of osteoblastic differentiation, and the ability of Wnt3a to stimulate the accumulation of β‐catenin were reduced in cultures of calvarial osteoblasts deficient for Fzd4. Interestingly, Fzd4‐deficient osteoblasts exhibited an increase in the expression of Fzd8 both in vitro and in vivo, which suggests that the two receptors may exhibit overlapping functions. Indeed, ablating a single Fzd8 allele in osteoblast‐specific Fzd4 mutants produced a more severe effect on bone acquisition. Taken together, our data indicate that Fzd4 is required for normal bone development and mineralization despite compensation from Fzd8.
microRNA‐184 is induced by store‐operated calcium entry and regulates early keratinocyte differentiation
Authors: Richardson Adam , Powell Andrew K. , Sexton Darren W. , Parsons Jason L. , Reynolds Nick J. , Ross Kehinde
Published: January 2020

Extracellular calcium (Ca2+) and store‐operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) govern homoeostasis in the mammalian epidermis. Multiple microRNAs (miRNA) also regulate epidermal differentiation, and raised external Ca2+ modulates the expression of several such miRNAs in keratinocytes. However, little is known about the regulation of miR‐184 in keratinocytes or the roles of miR‐184 in keratinocyte differentiation. Here we report that exogenous Ca2+ stimulates miR‐184 expression in primary epidermal keratinocytes and that this occurs in a SOCE‐dependent manner. Levels of miR‐184 were raised by about 30‐fold after exposure to 1.5 mM Ca2+ for 5 days. In contrast, neither phorbol ester nor 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 had any effect on miR‐184 levels. Pharmacologic and genetic inhibitors of SOCE abrogated Ca2+‐dependent miR‐184 induction by 70% or more. Ectopic miR‐184 inhibited keratinocyte proliferation and led to a fourfold increase in the expression of involucrin, a marker of early keratinocyte differentiation. Exogenous miR‐184 also triggered a threefold rise in levels of cyclin E and doubled the levels of γH2AX, a marker of DNA double‐strand breaks. The p21 cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, which supports keratinocyte growth arrest, was also induced by miR‐184. Together our findings point to an SOCE:miR‐184 pathway that targets a cyclin E/DNA damage regulatory node to facilitate keratinocyte differentiation.
Constructing 1D/2D BiOI/ZnWO4p‐n heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic removal of NO
Authors: Gong Siwen , Zhu Gangqiang , Bello Isaac Asusheyi , Rao Fei , Li Shiping , Gao Jianzhi , Zubairu Siyaka Mj , Peng Jianhong , Hojamberdiev Mirabbos
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Photocatalysis technology based on green renewable solar energy has broad prospects in environmental protection and new energy utilization. The energy of the light can be utilized to convert the pollutants in the environment into non‐toxic substances even available products. Due to its low cost and environmental protection, photocatalysis technology has been further developed in the fields of water splitting, sewage treatment and nitrogen oxides (NO
x) removal.

RESULTS

In this study, zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) nanorods loaded on bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanosheets with exposed {001} facet forming a 1D/2D BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized and their photocatalytic activities for nitric oxide (NO) removal were investigated. The 20% BOI/ZWO composite exhibited the most excellent photocatalytic NO removal performance, which were 32.32% and 48.24% under visible light and simulated sunlight irradiation, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A novel 1D/2D BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction was successfully synthesized by a two‐step procedure. Compared to the pure ZnWO4 and BiOI, the 20% BOI/ZWO composite has a significant increase in photocatalytic activity which is attributed to the enhanced visible light absorption and the improved separation of charge carriers. Trapping experiments and electron spin resonance results indicate that the hole (h
+), super oxygen radical (·O2−) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) play minor roles, while the electron (e
−) has a major contribution to the NO removal process. Therefore, the BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction is a promising material for NO removal. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
CAUTIONING AGAINST THE CO‐OPTATION OF INTERSECTIONALITY IN GENDER MAINSTREAMING
Authors: Hunting Gemma , Hankivsky Olena
Published: January 2020

Gender mainstreaming (GM) is an international strategy to advance gender equality. Recently, there has been a shift within GM—recognition that gender interacts with other forms of inequity. There is thus growing attention to intersectionality and how it can complement GM. Although advancing understandings of gender is critical, there is a need for caution. Using examples of international organizations, we argue that intersectionality cannot be an ‘add‐on’ to such efforts, as it does not prioritize gender over other factors. We show how an intersectionality approach necessitates attention to multiple factors to address the complexities of inequity. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Right and left ventricular interactions, strain, and remodeling in repaired pulmonary stenosis patients with preserved right ventricular ejection fraction: A cardiac magnetic resonance study
Authors: Wang Shi‐yu , OuYang Rong‐zhen , Hu Li‐wei , Xie Wei‐hui , Peng Ya‐feng , Wang Lei , Gao Fa‐bao , Zhong Yu‐min
Published: January 2020

Background

Right ventricular dilation and dysfunction is a common long‐term complication in patients with repaired pulmonary stenosis (rPS). Additionally, abnormal right and left ventricular interactions have been reported in right‐sided heart defect after intervention, including in pulmonary stenosis.

Purpose

To analyze ventricular strain, remodeling, and left and right ventricular interactions in rPS patients with preserved right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) compared with healthy children using cardiac magnetic resonance.

Study Type

A cross‐sectional study.

Population

In all, 34 rPS patients and 10 healthy children volunteers (controls).

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T/2D balanced steady‐state free precession (2D b‐SSFP) cine, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and 2D phase contrast (2D‐PC).

Assessment

Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) fractions of the main pulmonary artery, biventricular volumes, masses, function, and cardiac strain.

Statistical Tests

Mann–Whitney U‐test, t‐test, Pearson correlation coefficients, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and intraclass correlation coefficients analysis were performed.

Results

For group analysis, the right ventricular (RV) global circumferential strain and radial strain were significantly increased in patients when compared with controls (−13.57 ± 2.69 vs. −5.91 ± 3.16, P < 0.001; 25.31 ± 8.12 vs. 9.87 ± 5.32, P < 0.001, respectively). The fraction of PR displayed moderate correlation with right ventricular end‐diastolic volume index (RVEDVi) (r = 0.452, P = 0.022). RVEDVi and mass index were larger in patients vs. control (104.92 ± 27.46 vs. 85.15 ± 11.98, P = 0.016; 18.28 ± 4.95g/m2 vs. 11.67 ± 2.14 g/m2, P < 0.001, respectively). Patients presented with preserved left ventricular ejection function, but was lower than healthy controls (60.89% ± 4.89% vs. 65.95% ± 4.56%, P = 0.006). Regional circumferential strain of segment 3 of left ventricle (LV) were significantly decreased in patients (−7.79 ± 6.52 vs. −13.56 ± 3.22, P = 0.003).

Data Conclusion

Compensated increased RV strain, myocardial remodeling of RV, and adverse right and left ventricular interactions occur in rPS patients with preserved RVEF. The decreased interventricular septum strain may lead to impaired LV function due to RV dilation as a result of PR.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy Stage: 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:129–138.
Paradoxical Elevation of Both Serum B12 and Methylmalonic Acid Levels in Assessing B12 Status in Children With Short‐Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Davis Esther T. , Strogach Irina , Carobene Macy , Shaul Eliana , Thompson John
Published: January 2020

Background

Measurement of vitamin B12 (B12) levels is routinely used to monitor B12 sufficiency. However, its accuracy may not be reliable in patients with short‐bowel syndrome (SBS). The presence of elevated methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels can also be used as a marker for B12 deficiency. Therefore, our aim was to analyze serum B12 and MMA levels simultaneously in a cohort of children with SBS to evaluate the accuracy of these markers in the assessment of B12 status.

Methods

Children ages 1–18 with intestinal failure were eligible for enrollment. MMA and B12 levels were checked simultaneously in all patients, with 93 sets of labs obtained over 2 years. Fifty percent of the patients were receiving parenteral nutrition. B12 injections were administered to 14 patients who had simultaneously elevated MMA and B12, and a repeat MMA level was measured 4–6 weeks after injection. Data were collected retrospectively.

Results

Forty‐eight percent of the lab pairs showed evidence of both elevated MMA and high or normal B12, which contradicted the expected inverse relationship of these markers. There was a statistically significant decrease in mean MMA values after treatment with B12 injections (412.7 vs 1037.5, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Paradoxical elevation of MMA with normal or elevated serum B12 is common in children with SBS. Caution should be used when interpreting serum B12 and MMA values in this setting. This may be related to effects of small‐bowel bacterial overgrowth, a condition commonly seen in these patients.
Identifying Predictors of Response to Vitamin E for the Treatment of Pediatric Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Yodoshi Toshifumi , Orkin Sarah , Arce‐Clachar Ana Catalina , Bramlage Kristin , Su Weizhe , Fei Lin , Xanthakos Stavra A. , Mouzaki Marialena
Published: January 2020

Background

A subset of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) respond to treatment with vitamin E. The characteristics of responders are not known. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcomes of vitamin E use in clinical practice and to determine factors associated with response to treatment.

Methods

A pediatric cohort with NASH treated with vitamin E for 6–24 months was studied retrospectively. Vitamin E response was defined as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization or >50% ALT reduction from baseline. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of response to vitamin E. Available paired liver biopsy data were analyzed to determine histologic response.

Results

Of the 151 children prescribed vitamin E, 73 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Of those, 28 (38%) were vitamin E responders. Higher baseline serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, steatosis grade, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS) were associated with response to vitamin E (ALP: odds ratio [OR], 14.1; 95% CI, 1.7–118.6; steatosis: OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2–5.0; NAS: OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.4). In a multivariate logistic regression model, ALP and steatosis grade rendered an area under the curve of 0.75 (P < .001) for the prediction of response to treatment. Ballooning, NAS, and portal inflammation improved significantly with vitamin E in the subcohort (n = 15) with paired liver biopsies.

Conclusions

Vitamin E treatment was associated with significant ALT response in 38% of children. Baseline serum ALP levels and steatosis grade were associated with response to treatment.
Validity of a self‐reported questionnaire for periodontitis in a Spanish population
Authors: Saka‐Herrán Constanza , Jané‐Salas Enric , González‐Navarro Beatriz , Estrugo‐Devesa Albert , López‐López José
Published: January 2020

Background

Clinical examination is the gold‐standard approach for surveillance of periodontitis; however, it requires large resources. Several self‐reported measures have been developed and tested in diverse scenarios with results suggesting that it may be a useful tool for screening periodontal disease in different populations; yet they have not being tested in Spanish population. We aimed to assess the validity of a self‐reported questionnaire for periodontitis in a Spanish population from Barcelona during 2018.

Methods

One hundred and twelve participants were enrolled in the study and, in one appointment; a dentist performed the self‐reported questionnaire and a full‐mouth periodontal examination. Periodontitis was defined as at least mild periodontitis according to three criterion of classification. Receiver‐operating characteristics curve analyses were used to test the discriminatory capability, sensitivity and specificity of the self‐reported questionnaire and logistic regression models were adjusted to estimate the minimal‐set of questions associated with periodontitis.

Results

The self‐reported questionnaire had a useful discriminative capability for detecting individuals with periodontitis (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.85 95% CI 0.78‐0.92) and its moderate/severe form (AUC = 0.86 95% CI 0.79‐0.04) with sensitivity and specificity of 77% and 74% and 73% and 87%, respectively; representing moderate validity. The combination of four‐specific questions had high accuracy (AUC = 0.88 95% CI 0.81‐0.94) and validity (sensitivity = 92.2%) and was strongly associated with moderate/severe periodontitis after adjusting by socio‐demographic factors.

Conclusions

The use of several self‐reported questions proved to have a good performance for screening periodontitis in the population under study; specifically, those related with tooth mobility and gum migration. Large community‐based studies are needed to test its validity and predictive capability.
Discovery of pressure‐induced monoclinic to monoclinic phase transition above 60 GPa in single crystal NaAlSi2O6 jadeite
Authors: Fei Ge , Song Jingyan , Chen Xin , Liu Xiaobing
Published: January 2020

As one typical aluminum‐ and sodium‐bearing silicate mineral in the crust, the high‐pressure behaviors of NaAlSi2O6 jadeite are always of interest for investigation. However, the phase transition of jadeite at lower mantle remains elusive; thus, further static compression experiments and systematic theoretical calculations are highly needed. Here, we report a new monoclinic to monoclinic phase transition of jadeite with a volume collapse of 3.17% at around 68 GPa by in situ Raman experiments and first‐principles calculations at high pressures. Such transition leads to the increase of coordination numbers of Si from four‐ to five‐fold coordination, because of Bader charge transfer between Si─O and Al─O bonds. The physical mechanism behind this transition provides important value to understand the minerals in the lower mantle.
Drop coating deposition Raman scattering of selected small molecules of biological importance
Authors: Kočišová Eva , Sayedová Shirin , Procházka Marek
Published: January 2020

Drop coating deposition Raman scattering spectroscopy was used to study selected small biologically important molecules. This technique combines the advantages of low concentrations and small volumes of the initial aqueous solution. Detection limits were found to be 10−6, 10−7, and 10−8 M deposition concentration for riboflavin, acetylsalicylic acid, and methylene blue, respectively. These detection limits are comparable or even better than those of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy using commercial Ag substrate.
Cleansers' mildness: Stratum corneum lipid organization and water uptake after a single wash
Authors: Perticaroli Stefania , Meyers Jessa L. , Wireko Fred C. , Akintelure Olubolaji , Webber John T. , Cambron R. Thomas , Vierling Scott , Sealschott Steve R. , Wei Karl S. , Smith Edward , Ray Paula J.
Published: January 2020

The modern marketplace for personal cleansing demands effective but also gentle products. The acute effects of skin exposure to personal cleansers are a key driver in product mildness. Yet many current clinical methods of assessing this mildness rely upon exaggerated test conditions that do not match the brief contact time with the skin in typical use. Here, we present an approach to quantitatively measure changes in composition, water uptake, and spacing of lipid lamellar structures in human stratum corneum after a single ~2‐minute wash protocol. The approach is based upon in vivo confocal Raman spectroscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) of ex vivo stratum corneum. Raman data, collected using cleansers with varying degrees of harshness, reveal changes in water uptake as a function of skin depth and detect depth of damage upon cleansing, a conduit to barrier integrity. By treating isolated human stratum corneum with cleansers for similarly short exposures, SAXS reveals structural perturbations associated with interactions of surfactants and skin lipid lamellar structure, also a measure of barrier strength. Disruption of the characteristic periodicity phases of the lipid lamellae or formation of new phases with intermediate periodicity due to surfactant intercalation are observed for different formulations. This approach provides molecular scale characterization of skin–product interactions and resulting skin barrier effects in more realistic consumer treatment conditions. It also provides feedback about cleansers' mildness in a rapid fashion and at lower cost, widening a bottleneck of identification and assessment of new ingredients in the early stages of formula design.
Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and β‐cyclodextrin for magnetic solid‐phase extraction of carbaryl and carbofuran
Authors: Ma Qiong , Liu Xiaolan , Zhang Yingying , Chen Ling , Dang Xueping , Ai Youhong , Chen Huaixia
Published: January 2020

In this study, porous sandwich structure Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and β‐cyclodextrin were prepared by surface polymerization and were used as the magnetic solid phase extraction adsorbent for the extraction and determination of carbaryl and carbofuran. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and β‐cyclodextrin were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, and scanning electron microscopy. After optimizing the extraction conditions, a method that combined magnetic solid phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography was developed for the determination of carbaryl and carbofuran in apple. The method exhibited a good linearity in the range of 2–400 μg/kg for carbaryl and carbofuran (R2 = 0.9995), respectively. The limits of detection were 0.5 μg/kg of carbaryl and 0.7 μg/kg for carbofuran in apple, respectively. Extraction recoveries ranged from 94.2 to 103.1% with the preconcentration factor of 300 and the relative standard deviations were less than 5.9%. These results indicated that the method combined magnetic solid phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography and was promising for the determination of carbaryl and carbofuran at trace amounts.
Isothermal tensile deformation behaviors and fracture mechanism of Ti‐26Al‐20Nb‐0,5Mo alloy at different phase regions
Authors: Zhang G. , Jiang H. , Tian S. , Guo W. , Zhang Y. , Wang J.
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the microstructure evolution, the deformation behavior and the fracture mechanism of the Ti‐26Al‐20Nb‐0.5Mo alloy have been systematically investigated during tensile test. Results show that increase in tensile temperature leads to decrease in strength and increase in ductility. Under the deformation temperature of room temperature and 600 °C, there were no change in the microstructure of the samples, and the movement of dislocations plays a very important role. With increase of deformation temperature, the spheroidization degrees of the lamellar orthorhombic phase increases and the volume fraction of that decreases. Particularly the deformation temperature rising to 950 °C, the morphology of some equiaxed α2 phases had been flattened into an ellipsoidal shape and the lamellar orthorhombic phase had been spheroidized completely during the deformation process. The deformation mechanism was mainly based on merged of grains and grown at this moment. Moreover, the fracture changes from brittle fracture to ductile fracture with increase of deformation temperature. At the tensile temperatures of 750 °C and 950 °C, the dimples around the holes are very different, and the fractographs are wave feature and fish scale features, respectively. The reason for this feature is mainly related to the spheroidization degree of the lamellar during the tensile deformation process.
Polymeric amine membrane materials for carbon dioxide (CO2)/methane (CH4) separation
Authors: Nasir R. , Abdulrahman A.
Published: January 2020

Carbon dioxide separation from methane using membrane technology is getting attraction, and polymeric membranes are the most prominent polymer membrane materials. However, the existing polymeric membranes performance is inadequate due to trade‐off limitation open new windows to explore. Therefore, in this study, amine polymeric membrane (APM) has been fabricated by the addition of different concentration (5 wt.% and 15 wt.%) of diethanolamine (DEA). The developed amine polymeric membranes have been characterized in term of morphology and thermal analysis using field emission scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analyzer, respectively. The permeance and selectivity have been determined by using pure carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Also, the effect of amine concentration on permeance and selectivity has been studied. The results confirmed the symmetric and homogenous structure and thermal stability of membranes up to 490 °C. The maximum percent increase by the 15 wt.% addition of diethanolamine is 102.08 % at 10 bar pressure.
Advice‐seeking and advice‐utilization for hiring decisions: An investigation of a partially outsourced recruitment process for rank‐and‐file managers
Authors: Fabel Oliver , Hopp Christian , Speil Alexander
Published: January 2020

We study a large‐scale, partially outsourced recruitment process. A specialized consultancy assesses applicants' soft‐skills on behalf of a client firm, who retains agency over the hiring decision. We conceptualize this collaboration as an advice‐seeking, advice‐utilization process and analyze the effectiveness of hiring recommendations provided in influencing the client's hiring decisions. Two external HR specialists not only differ in their soft skill ratings, but also differ in their aggregation of these ratings into their hiring recommendations. The consultants' recommendations are particularly helpful in separating very suitable from clearly unsuitable candidates but are less effective in the mid‐tier of the skill distribution.
Status quo bias and attitude towards risk: An experimental investigation
Authors: Bekir Insaf , Doss Faten
Published: January 2020

Using a laboratory experiment, we investigate whether a link can be established between status quo bias—which is the tendency to maintain a previously chosen alternative—and risk preference. Our findings show that the attitude towards risk and individual criteria are strongly correlated with the status quo bias, which directly and indirectly affects the individual decision‐making process. The results obtained in this paper provide some insights into consumer behavior, firms' strategy, and policy effectiveness.
Slowed Luminance Reaction Times in Cervical Dystonia: Disordered Superior Colliculus Processing
Authors: Williams Laura , Butler John S. , Thirkettle Martin , Stafford Tom , Quinlivan Brendan , McGovern Eavan , O'Riordan Sean , Redgrave Peter , Reilly Richard , Hutchinson Michael
Published: January 2020

Background

Abnormal temporal discrimination in cervical dystonia is hypothesized to be attributable to disrupted processing in the superior colliculus. The fast, luminance‐based, retinotectal pathway, projects to the superior colliculus; chromatic stimuli responses, by the retino‐geniculo‐calcarine pathway, are up to 30 ms longer.

Objectives

We sought to interrogate visual processing and reaction times in patients with cervical dystonia compared with healthy controls. We hypothesized that cervical dystonia patients would have impaired reaction times to luminance based stimuli accessing the retino‐tectal pathway in comparison to healthy control participants.

Methods

In 20 cervical dystonia and 20 age‐matched control participants, we compared reaction times to two flashing visual stimuli: (1) a chromatic annulus and (2) a luminant, noncolored annulus. Participants pressed a joystick control when they perceived the annulus flashing.

Results

Reaction times in control participants were 20 ms significantly faster in the luminant condition than the chromatic (P = 0.017). Patients with cervical dystonia had no reaction time advantage in response to the luminant stimulus.

Conclusion

Cervical dystonia patients (compared to control participants) demonstrated no reduction in their reaction time to luminant stimuli, processed through the retinotectal pathway. This finding is consistent with superior colliculus dysfunction in cervical dystonia. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
The Effect of Resampling on Data‐imbalanced Conditions for Prediction towards Nuclear Receptor Profiling Using Deep Learning
Authors: Lee Yong Oh , Kim Young Jun
Published: January 2020

In toxicity evaluation based on the nuclear receptor signalling pathway, in silico prediction tools are used for the detection of the early stages of long‐term toxicities, the prioritization of newly synthesized chemicals and the acquisition of the selectivity and sensitivity. Computational prediction model is one of the promising tools for the toxicity screening of the chemical‐protein interaction as deep learning has been improved the prediction accuracies. However, the challenge is that data‐imbalanced conditions, where the volume of toxic chemical compound dataset is much smaller than the nontoxic dataset, result in low prediction accuracy of the toxic dataset providing valid information to toxicity hazard. In this paper, we have examined the effect of data imbalance in the toxicity assessment data of AR (LBD), ER (LBD), AhR, and PPAR as nuclear receptors, and identified the severe imbalance between the prediction of the toxic and nontoxic datasets. As the acquisition of the balanced selectivity and sensitivity is required for the assessment of toxicity hazards, data resampling methods have been investigated in order to improve the bias problem in binary classification for toxicity hazard profiling of nuclear receptor. The experimental results achieved a sensitivity of 0.714 and a specificity of 0.787, with an overall accuracy of 0.829 and a ROC‐AUC of 0.822 by the simple resampling methods.
Survey of Australasian Renal and Rheumatology Specialists investigating topical NSAID use and adverse renal outcomes
Authors: Terrill Matthew , Soden Muriel , Srivastava Vikas
Published: January 2020

Introduction

A survey investigated physician reported use, prescribing practices and adverse renal events of topical NSAIDs.

Method

This survey was sent to members of the Australian Rheumatology Association and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology.

Results

Sixty physicians responded, 55% (n = 33) were nephrologists; 45% (n = 27) rheumatologists.

Nearly all (n = 56, 93.3%) had managed at least one patient using topical NSAIDs, including those with an eGFR <45 mL/min (n = 55, 91.7%). Concern was expressed that patients may use topical NSAIDs without the physician's knowledge. The majority (n = 40, 66.6%) have prescribed (or recommended) a topical NSAID, slightly less in patients with a reduced eGFR <45 mL/min (n = 36, 60.0%). Participants would advise topical NSAIDs for osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal pain, though be mindful to monitor the renal function and blood pressure. There was a variance in comments in advising use in CKD (eGFR <45 mL/min) from avoidance in those with an eGFR <30 mL/min to minimal concern. Most respondents (n = 55, 91.7%) had not encountered an acute kidney injury (AKI) suspected from topical NSAID use. Of the five that did, three were thought to be an adverse renovascular event and two were uncertain. All patients had an eGFR <45 mL/min, all had recovery f their renal function with NSAID cessation.

Discussion

Patients commonly use topical NSAIDs, often without the physician's knowledge. Most respondents would recommend their use in osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal pain, though with caution in CKD. While an AKI is uncommon due to topical NSAIDs, it may occur, especially in those with CKD.
Fostering patient uptake of recommended health services and self‐management strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: A Delphi study of clinician attributes
Authors: O'Leary Shaun , Gale Janette , Volker Glen , Kuipers Pim , Dalton Megan , McPhail Steven
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Successful management of musculoskeletal conditions depends on active patient engagement and uptake of recommended health services and self‐management strategies. Clinicians have a strong influence on patient uptake behaviours. Both clinicians and educators need to recognise the clinician's influence on patient uptake as a specific clinical skillset to be professionally developed. To inform professional development strategies this study explored priority clinician attributes that underpin the clinical skillset of fostering patient uptake.

Methods

A three‐round Delphi process engaged relevant stakeholders including a professional panel (clinicians, health managers, education providers) and a patient panel. Panel members deliberated and reached consensus regarding key attributes required by allied health clinicians who manage patients with musculoskeletal disorders to optimize patient uptake behaviours. In the final round, panel members rated the importance of each attribute on a numerical rating scale.

Results

Overall 12 attributes were finalised. Both the professional and the patient panel provided a high rating of importance for all finalised attributes with ‘patient centred communication’ rated the highest importance (median scores 9.5–10/10) and ‘contemporary electronics and media’ rated the lowest (median scores 6–7/10).

Conclusions

There appears to be agreement on a basic inventory of clinician attributes which positively influence patient uptake when managing musculoskeletal conditions. Professional development and training programs for clinicians managing musculoskeletal conditions may need to consider discipline relevant aspects of these attributes to advance the development of clinicians in this aspect of professional practice to attain better patient outcomes.
Effects of Temperature on Hatching Rate and Early Development of Alligator Gar and Spotted Gar in a Laboratory Setting
Authors: Long James M. , Snow Richard A. , Porta Michael J.
Published: January 2020

Water temperature influences both morphological and physiological development in fishes. However, the effects of water temperature on the early development of Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula and Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus are not well understood. Both gar species were collected from natural environments and spawned in a hatchery setting. After spawning, fertilized embryos were collected and transferred to the Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory, where the embryos (50–72 embryos/treatment) were placed into one of five water temperature treatments (15.5, 20.0, 23.8, 27.5, and 32.2°C) and observed over time to estimate the time to hatch and the time to reach the free-swimming stage. Both species showed an inverse relationship between temperature and the timing of hatch and advancement to free-swimming fingerlings for all treatments. In addition, Alligator Gar embryos did not develop at the coldest water temperature tested, and Alligator Gar juveniles held at the warmest temperature tested were observed with developmental abnormalities, potentially affecting their survival. The same temperature extremes had no comparable negative effect on Spotted Gar. The results of this study are useful for understanding early life history dynamics of these two species in their natural environments and can also be used by hatchery managers who are seeking to optimize their production protocols.
The mass burials from the western necropolis of the Greek colony of Himera (Sicily) related to the battles of 480 and 409 BCE
Authors: Viva Serena , Lonoce Norma , Vincenti Giorgia , Cameriere Roberto , Valentino Matteo , Vassallo Stefano , Fabbri Pier Francesco
Published: January 2020

Throughout the ancient Greek, world mass burials are rare. Of the 10,000 excavated burials in the western necropolis of the Greek colony of Himera (649–409), only 16 contained more than one individual; seven of these can in all possibility be traced back to the two battles fought by Himera against the Carthaginians in 480 and 409 BCE. Written sources (Diod. 11.20ff.) state that the Himerans, accompanied by numerous Greek allies, defeated the Carthaginian forces in the first conflict whereas the loss of Greek allied support in the second battle resulted in the city's defeat and subsequent destruction.

The anthropological and taphonomical studies of the human remains aim at testing the archaeological hypothesis that individuals interred in the seven mass graves can be related to the two battles.

Skeleton density (skeletons per square metre), position, orientation, and conservation levels of the individuals in the mass burials were analysed and compared with a larger sample of 1,000 single burials from the same necropolis along with mass graves in other forensic and archaeological contexts. Sex, age at death, presence of skeletal stress indicators, and perimortal traumas were recorded using standard anthropological methods. In the case of poorly preserved remains, sex was estimated using site‐specific discriminant functions.

Although representing catastrophic samples, the results from the seven mass burials all lead to the assumption that the graves can be associated with the interment of warriors fallen in battle. Moreover, burial differences have permitted to distinguish the mass burials dating to 480 BCE from those attributed to 409 BCE.