bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and potential antitumor effect of a heteropolysaccharide produced by the red alga Porphyridium sordidum
Authors: Nikolova Biliana , Semkova Severina , Tsoneva Iana , Antov Georgi , Ivanova Juliana , Vasileva Ivanina , Kardaleva Proletina , Stoineva Ivanka , Christova Nelly , Nacheva Lilyana , Kabaivanova Lyudmila
Published: July 2019

Taking into account the rising trend of the incidence of cancers of various organs, effective therapies are urgently needed to control human malignancies. However, almost all chemotherapy drugs currently on the market cause serious side effects. Fortunately, several studies have shown that some non‐toxic biological macromolecules, including algal polysaccharides, possess anti‐cancer activities or can increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy drugs. Polysaccharides are characteristic secondary metabolites of many algae. The efficacy of polysaccharides on the normal and cancer cells is not well investigated, but our investigations proved a cell specific effect of a newly isolated extracellular polysaccharide from the red microalga Porphyridium sordidum. The investigated substance was composed of xylose:glucose and galactose:manose:rhamnose in a molar ratio of 1:0.52:0.44:0.31. Reversible electroporation has been exploited to increase the transport through the plasma membrane into the tested breast cancer tumor cells MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB231. Application of 75 µg/mL polysaccharide in combination with 200 V/cm electroporation induced 40% decrease in viability of MDA‐MB231 cells and changes in cell morphology while control cells (MCF10A) remained with normal morphology and kept vitality.
Alexithymia and binge eating in obese outpatients who are starting a weight‐loss program: A structural equation analysis
Authors: Conti Chiara , Di Francesco Giulia , Lanzara Roberta , Severo Melania , Fumagalli Luna , Guagnano Maria Teresa , Porcelli Piero
Published: July 2019

Objective

To investigate whether obese patients with binge eating (BE) have higher alexithymic features; to explore the different relationships between psychological features (alexithymia, depression, and anxiety) and BE.

Method

Three hundred sixty one obese BE‐patients were evaluated for alexithymia, psychological distress, and BE. Alexithymia was measured with the 20‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20); BE was assessed with the BE Scale (BES), and depression and anxiety symptoms were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

Patients with BE reported significantly higher TAS‐20 total scores than those without BE (p < .001). The SEM analysis showed that the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) and difficulty in describing feelings (DDF) components of alexithymia affected BE along different pathways. DIF was found as a major factor influencing altered eating both directly (p = .20*) and above all through the mediation of psychological distress (p = .19***), whereas DDF affected BE only through psychological distress at a lesser extent (p = .09**).

Discussion

Alexithymic difficulties in affective awareness may play an important role in the onset and maintenance of BE, especially when patients experienced anxiety and depression symptoms. Clinicians involved in the management of obesity should address the combination of alexithymic traits and emotional distress by planning effective client‐focused interventions.
Is fire “for the birds”? How two rare species influence fire management across the US
Authors: Stephens Scott L , Kobziar Leda N , Collins Brandon M , Davis Raymond , Fulé Peter Z , Gaines William , Ganey Joseph , Guldin James M , Hessburg Paul F , Hiers Kevin , Hoagland Serra , Keane John J , Masters Ronald E , McKellar Ann E , Montague Warren , North Malcolm , Spies Thomas A
Published: July 2019

The US Endangered Species Act has enabled species conservation but has differentially impacted fire management and rare bird conservation in the southern and western US. In the South, prescribed fire and restoration‐based forest thinning are commonly used to conserve the endangered red‐cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis; RCW), whereas in the West, land managers continue to suppress fire across the diverse habitats of the northern, Californian, and Mexican spotted owls (Strix occidentalis subspecies; SO). Although the habitat needs of the RCW and SO are not identical, substantial portions of both species’ ranges have historically been exposed to relatively frequent, low‐ to moderate‐intensity fires. Active management with fire and thinning has benefited the RCW but proves challenging in the western US. We suggest the western US could benefit from the adoption of a similar innovative approach through policy, public–private partnerships, and complementarity of endangered species management with multiple objectives. These changes would likely balance long‐term goals of SO conservation and enhance forest resilience.
Developments measurements of TEM sounding in China
Authors: Xue Guoqiang , Zhang Linbo , Zhou Nannan , Chen Weiying
Published: July 2019

China is facing many challenges in the area of high‐precision exploration for deep mineral resources, and also in environmental and engineering fields. It has become an urgent task to realize geophysical explorations with high precision and high efficiency in complex environments. It has been found that the traditional transient electromagnetic method (TEM) had a series of problems related to theory, method, and instrument, as well as data interpretation. Based on the reviews of present TEM achievements, three new improved measurements are introduced. The central‐loop system was improved by a large fixed‐loop system; the long‐offset system was changed to the short‐offset one; the resistivity profile was transformed into a virtual wave‐field profile. Finally, this paper points out that the future research direction of the TEM method is in terms of equipment, data processing, and big data information.
Petrology and geochronology of a suite of pelitic granulites from parts of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex, eastern India: Evidence for Stenian‐Tonian reworking of a late Paleoproterozoic crust
Authors: Dey Anindita , Karmakar Shreya , Ibanez‐Mejia Mauricio , Mukherjee Subham , Sanyal Sanjoy , Sengupta Pulak
Published: July 2019

The north‐eastern part of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC) in the East Indian shield contains enclaves of migmatitic pelitic granulites (PG) within felsic orthogneiss (FOG). Field observations, petrology and geochronology (LA–MC–ICP–MS U–Pb dating of zircon and EPMA Th–U–total‐Pb dating of monazite) of the PG suggest two distinct metamorphic events. The earliest event M1, which is characterized by high‐temperature (>850°C) granulite facies metamorphism, occurred in the timespan of ~1680–1580 Ma. Extensive dehydration melting of biotite + sillimanite + quartz‐rich protoliths led to stabilization of the restitic assemblage (garnet + alkali‐feldspar + quartz + sillimanite + ferrian‐ilmenite) together with large volumes of felsic melts (leucosomes). Collisional tectonics followed by delamination and asthenospheric upwelling could have triggered the M1 event. Subsequently, at ~1470–1400 Ma, the igneous protolith of the host FOG intruded and hydrated the PG. Thereafter, a second metamorphic event, M2, accompanied by compressional structures, affected both the rock types. A clockwise P–T path that culminated at ≥10 kbar ~760–850°C and is followed by a steeply decompressive retrograde path characterizes this event. The P–T path and the inferred geothermal gradient (<27°C/km) are compatible with a continent–continent collisional setting. Geochronological findings suggest a protracted orogeny for the M2 event with its major pulse during ~970–950 Ma. When combined with the published information, this study supports the view that a large (if not the entire) portion of the Indian shield and the granulite terranes of east Antarctica share similar tectonothermal events that led to the formation of two supercontinents, Columbia and Rodinia.
Integrated geological and geophysical investigations for the discovery of deeply buried gold–polymetallic deposits in China
Authors: Xue Guoqiang , Zhang Linbo , Hou Dongyang , Liu Hongtao , Ding Yunhe , Wang Chunyong , Luo Xiaonan
Published: July 2019

Xiaoshan gold–polymetallic concentrated area is located in Henan Province, central China. The area is principally underlain by typical metamorphic core complexes (MCCs), along with essential components of the basins and ranges of western Henan. Mineralization occurs in the regions where the geochemical anomalies of Au and related elements are widely distributed and consist predominantly of mineralized altered rocks and auriferous quartz veins, both of which are hosted within shear zones or fractures of varying sizes and orientations. Several small‐ to medium‐sized gold–polymetallic ore deposits, along with numerous clustered occurrences, have been found in the area in recent years. However, despite the fact that the Xiaoshan District has traditionally been deemed as an excellent geological endowment area with enormous potential for large‐sized deposits, no significant discoveries have been made to date. It is suggested that the main reason responsible for the present exploration situation could be the scarcity of applications of deep‐penetration geophysical prospecting in the area. It is anticipated that integrating geological and geophysical data would be crucial to enhance the successful mineral explorations. In this contribution, a conceptual geological model for the study area was initially reviewed so that the corresponding electromagnetic responses could then be modelled, which would simulate a geophysical type of survey, with appropriate uncertainties added into the analyses. Then, based on such an integrated approach, the required precision of detecting deep‐buried deposits could then be evaluated. In addition, by employing supplementary geophysical data acquired over known deposits, it is possible to gain more instructive insights into the practical geological model. The viabilities of this approach were demonstrated through a case study in which a hidden gold deposit in the studied area was successfully detected. Geophysical surveys were carried out by employing a grounded‐wire short‐offset TEM (SOTEM) technique and revealed two new anomalies (one of which was subsequently tested by drilling). The drilling then confirmed that this anomaly was caused by an ore body 30 m in thickness occurring at about 550 m below surface.
TREM2 is required for microglial instruction of astrocytic synaptic engulfment in neurodevelopment
Authors: Jay Taylor R. , von Saucken Victoria E. , Muñoz Braulio , Codocedo Juan F. , Atwood Brady K. , Lamb Bruce T. , Landreth Gary E.
Published: July 2019

Variants in the microglial receptor TREM2 confer risk for multiple neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains unknown how this receptor functions on microglia to modulate these diverse neuropathologies. To understand the role of TREM2 on microglia more generally, we investigated changes in microglial function inTrem2−/−mice. We found that loss of TREM2 impairs normal neurodevelopment, resulting in reduced synapse number across the cortex and hippocampus in 1‐month‐old mice. This reduction in synapse number was not due directly to alterations in interactions between microglia and synapses. Rather, TREM2 was required for microglia to limit synaptic engulfment by astrocytes during development. While these changes were largely normalized later in adulthood, high fat diet administration was sufficient to reinitiate TREM2‐dependent modulation of synapse loss. Together, this identifies a novel role for microglia in instructing synaptic pruning by astrocytes to broadly regulate appropriate synaptic refinement, and suggests novel candidate mechanisms for how TREM2 and microglia could influence synaptic loss in brain injury and disease.
Higher GABA concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex of Type 2 diabetes patients is associated with episodic memory dysfunction
Authors: Thielen Jan‐Willem , Gancheva Sofiya , Hong Donghyun , Rohani Rankouhi Seyedmorteza , Chen Bixia , Apostolopoulou Maria , Anadol‐Schmitz Evrim , Roden Michael , Norris David G. , Tendolkar Indira
Published: July 2019

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an accelerated episodic memory decline, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. Hallmarks of T2D comprise impairment of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Insulin signaling modulates cerebral neurotransmitter activity, including the excitatory glutamate and inhibitory gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems. Here we tested the hypothesis that the glutamate and GABA systems are altered in T2D patients and this relates to memory decline and insulin resistance. Using 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), we examined glutamate and GABA concentrations in episodic memory relevant brain regions (medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus) of T2D patients and matched controls. Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamps and memory performance was assessed using a face‐profession associations test. T2D patients exhibited peripheral insulin resistance and had a decreased memory for face‐profession associations as well as elevated GABA concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex but not precuneus. In addition, medial prefrontal cortex GABA concentration was negatively associated with memory performance suggesting that abnormal GABA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex are linked to the episodic memory decline that occurs in T2D patients.
Price effects of a hospital merger: Heterogeneity across health insurers, hospital products, and hospital locations
Authors: Roos Anne‐Fleur , Croes Ramsis R. , Shestalova Victoria , Varkevisser Marco , Schut Frederik T.
Published: July 2019

In most studies on hospital merger effects, the unit of observation is the merged hospital, whereas the observed price is the weighted average across hospital products and across payers. However, little is known about whether price effects vary between hospital locations, products, and payers. We expand existing bargaining models to allow for heterogeneous price effects and use a difference‐in‐differences model in which price changes at the merging hospitals are compared with price changes at comparison hospitals. We find evidence of heterogeneous price effects across health insurers, hospital products and hospital locations. These findings have implications for ex ante merger scrutiny.
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults
Authors: Meyerhoefer Chad D. , Zuvekas Samuel H. , Farkhad Bita Fayaz , Moeller John F. , Manski Richard J.
Published: July 2019

Many older Americans have poor access to dental care, resulting in a high prevalence of oral health problems. Because traditional Medicare does not include dental care benefits, only older Americans who are employed, have post‐retirement dental benefits or spousal coverage, or enroll in certain Medicare Advantage plans are able to obtain dental care coverage. We seek to determine the extent to which poor access to dental insurance and high out‐of‐pocket costs affect dental service use by the elderly. Using the 2007–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and supplemental data on dental care prices, we estimate a demand system for preventive dental services and basic and major restorative services. Selection into dental and medical insurance is addressed using a correlated random effects panel data specification. Consistent with prior studies of the nonelderly population, dental service use was not sensitive to out‐of‐pocket prices. However, private dental insurance increased preventive service use by 25%, and dental coverage through Medicaid increased basic and major service use by 23% and 36%, respectively. The use of services was more responsive to dental insurance for women than men. These estimates suggest that a Medicare dental benefit could significantly increase dental service use by older Americans.
Dimethyl fumarate abrogates dust mite‐induced allergic asthma by altering dendritic cell function
Authors: Jaiswal Anil K. , Sandey Maninder , Suryawanshi Amol , Cattley Russell C. , Mishra Amarjit
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Allergic asthma is the most common inflammatory disease of upper airways. Airway dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen presenting cells that regulate T helper 2 (Th2)‐dependent allergic inflammation. Recent studies have shown critical role of airway DCs in the induction of Th2‐mediated allergic inflammation and are attractive therapeutic targets in asthma. However, molecular signaling mechanism that regulate DCs function to Th2 immune responses are poorly understood. Here we aim to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an FDA approved small molecule drug, in the house dust mite (HDM)‐induced experimental model of allergic asthma.

Methods

DMF was administered intranasally in the challenge period of HDM‐induced murine model of experimental asthma. Airway inflammation, airway hyperreactivity, Th2/Th1 cytokine were assessed. The effect of DMF on DC function was further evaluated by adoptive transfer of HDM‐pulsed DMF treated DCs to wild‐type naïve mice.

Results

DMF treatment significantly reduced HDM‐induced airway inflammation, mucous cell metaplasia, and airway hyperactivity to inhaled methacholine. Mechanistically, DMF interferes with the migration of lung DCs to draining mediastinal lymph nodes, thereby attenuates the induction of allergic sensitization and Th2 immune response. Notably, adoptive transfer of DMF treated DCs to naïve mice with HDM challenge similarly reduces the features of allergic asthma.

Conclusion

This identifies a novel function of DMF on DC‐mediated adaptive immune responses in the setting of HDM‐induced airway inflammation. Taken together, our results offer a mechanistic rationale for DMF use to target DCs in local lung environment as antiasthmatic therapy.
Analysis of methylation‐driven genes for predicting the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Pan Yihua , Song Yidan , Cheng Lanxin , Xu Hongdan , Liu Jun
Published: July 2019

To help provide evidence for prognosis prediction and personalized targeted therapy for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we investigated prognosis‐specific methylation‐driven genes in HNSCC. Survival time data, RNA sequencing data, and methylation data for HNSCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The MethylMix R package based on the β mixture model was utilized to screen genes with different methylation statuses in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and a total of 182 HNSCC‐related methylation‐driven genes were then identified. A survival prediction scoring model based on multivariate Cox analysis was developed to screen the genes related to the prognosis of HNSCC, and a linear risk model of the methylation status of six genes (INA, LINC01354, TSPYL4, MAGEB2, EPHX3, and ZNF134) was constructed. The prognostic values of the six genes were further independently explored by survival analysis combined with methylation and gene expression analyses. The 5‐year survival rate in the high‐risk group of patients in the test set was 30.4% (95% CI: 22.7%‐40.8%) and that in the low‐risk group of patients was 65.5% (95% CI: 56.1%‐76.5%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the model was 0.723, which further verified the specificity and sensitivity of the model. In addition, subsequent combined survival analysis revealed that all six genes could be used as independent prognostic markers and thus might be potential drug targets. The innovative method provides new insight into the molecular mechanism and prognosis of HNSCC.
Effect of oleic acid on induction of steatosis and cytotoxicity in BRL 3A cells
Authors: Zhang Huiyan , Wang Jicang , Yang Ling , Yang Wenling , Luo Tongwang , Yuan Yan , Gu Jianhong , Zou Hui , Bian Jianchun , Liu Zongping , Liu Xuezhong
Published: July 2019

Recent studies have shown that monounsaturated oleic acid induces steatosis in cultured hepatocyte steatosis in the form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease models in vitro. However, the underlying mechanism of steatosis development is not completely understood. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanism of steatosis and the role of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/toll‐like receptor 4‐related protein (TLR4) expression in this study. Rat hepatocyte cells were subjected to oleic acid in different concentrations (1.2‐2.4 mM) for 24 hours. The cell morphological injury index and the changes in the MAPK/TLR4 signaling pathway‐related proteins were evaluated. We found that the microstructure of the cells in the oleic acid treatment group was damaged, and higher phosphorylation levels of the MAPK pathway‐related proteins were detected than those in the control group. In addition, the protein expression of TLR4, sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1, and fatty acid synthase were increased in the oleic acid treatment group. Our findings demonstrate that oleic acid causes toxic damage to rat hepatocyte cells, and the MAPK/TLR4 signaling pathway plays a significant role in lipid storage.
Medial epithelial seam cell migration during palatal fusion
Authors: Logan Shaun M. , Benson M. Douglas
Published: July 2019

The mammalian secondary palate forms from two shelves of mesenchyme sheathed in a single‐layered epithelium. These shelves meet during embryogenesis to form the midline epithelial seam (MES). Failure of MES degradation prevents mesenchymal confluence and results in a cleft palate. Previous studies indicated that MES cells undergo features of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and may become migratory as part of the fusion mechanism. To detect MES cell movement over the course of fusion, we imaged the midline of fusing embryonic ephrin‐B2/GFP mouse palates in real time using two‐photon microscopy. These mice express an ephrin‐B2‐driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) that labels the palatal epithelium nuclei and persists in those cells through the time window necessary for fusion. We observed collective migration of MES cells toward the oral surface of the palatal shelf over 48 hr of imaging, and we confirmed histologically that the imaged palates had fused by the end of the imaged period. We previously reported that ephrin reverse signaling in the MES is required for palatal fusion. We therefore added recombinant EphA4/Fc protein to block this signaling in imaged palates. The blockage inhibited fusion, as expected, but did not change the observed migration of GFP‐labeled cells. Thus, we uncoupled migration and fusion. Our data reveal that palatal MES cells undergo a collective, unidirectional movement during palatal fusion and that ephrin reverse signaling, though required for fusion, controls aspects of the fusion mechanism independent of migration.
Dopamine β hydroxylase (DBH) polymorphisms do not contribute towards the clinical course of Wilson's disease in Indian patients
Authors: Roy Shubhrajit , Ghosh Sampurna , Bhattacharya Sreyashi , Saha Arpan , Das Shyamal Kumar , Gangopadhyay Prasanta Kumar , Bavdekar Ashish , Ray Kunal , Sengupta Mainak , Ray Jharna
Published: July 2019

Background

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare copper metabolism disorder with hepatic and neurological symptoms. Dopamine β hydroxylase (DBH) encodes a copper‐dependent mono‐oxygenase that converts dopamine to norepinephrine, thereby regulating the endogenous dopamine content in the neurons. Polymorphisms of DBH have been reported to be associated with several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder, which have overlapping neurological symptoms with WD. The present study aimed to assess the role of DBH polymorphisms on the clinical course of WD.

Methods

In total, 141 WD patients from India were included in the present study. Three polymorphisms of DBH (rs1611115 in the promoter, rs1108580 in exon 2 and rs129882 in 3'‐UTR) were screened for their association with the clinical attributes (hepatic and neurological features) and age of onset of WD using a polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphsm method and sequencing approach. The distribution of genotype or allele frequencies was tested using 2 × 2 contingency chi‐squared and logistic regression analysis (additive, dominant and recessive model).

Results

The genotypic and allelic frequencies of these single nucleotide polymophisms did not vary significantly along with the clinical symptoms (hepatic and neurological) or the age of onset of WD. No significant association was observed when we analyzed our samples with respect to harboring different kinds of ATP7B mutations (nonsense/in‐del and missense).

Conclusions

The data obtained in the present study suggest that the selected DBH variants are unlikely to have any significant contribution towards modifying the clinical symptoms of Indian WD patients.
Green Approach for the Synthesis of a New Class of Diamidomethane‐linked Benzazolyl Pyrazoles and Evaluation as Antifungals
Authors: Sowdari Jyothi , Gudi Yamini , Donthamsetty Sowmya V. , Venkatapuram Padmavathi , Adivireddy Padmaja
Published: July 2019

A new class of diamidomethane‐linked benzoxazolyl pyrazoles, benzothiazolyl pyrazoles, and benzimidazolyl pyrazoles were synthesized from the synthetic intermediates N‐benzazolylcarbamoylmethylcinnamides adopting environmentally benign methods. In fact, nitrile imine was generated from araldehyde phenylhydrazone in the presence of iodosobenzene and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide followed by oxidation with iodine in dimethylsulfoxide. The structures of compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectra. The title compounds were also evaluated for their antifungal activity. Amongst all the tested compounds benzimidazolyl pyrazolyl carboxamides (13a and 13b) were found to be potential antifungal agents.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cell depletion modifies FoxP3+ T cell homeostasis and the clinical course of bacterial pneumonia in mice
Authors: Lippitsch Anne , Baal Nelli , Chukovetskyi Yuri , Cunningham Sarah , Michel Gabriela , Dietert Kristina , Gurtner Corinne , Gruber Achim D , Bein Gregor , Hackstein Holger
Published: July 2019

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are critical to antiviral defense because of their high production of type I IFNs; less is known regarding their functions in bacterial infection. Moreover, pDC are involved in immunomodulation. A stable pool of regulatory T cells (Treg) is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis. However, interactions between pDC and Treg regarding the regulation of Treg homeostasis are understudied. By using BDCA2-DTR mice as a systemic pDC depletion model, we identified increased steady-state numbers of FoxP3+ T cells with an effector Treg-like phenotype in lungs, liver, and spleen tissues. During sublethal, pulmonary Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, pDC deficiency also elevated respiratory FoxP3+ T cell numbers. Additionally, the improvement in acute pneumonia survival until day 5 post infection was accompanied by impaired proinflammatory cytokine production. In contrast, pDC-depleted mice exhibited a delayed clinical recovery during the post-acute phase. Therefore, we assume that pDC act as immunomodulators supporting the rapid onset of immune response in a proinflammatory manner and regulate inflammation or tissue regeneration in the post-acute phase. In summary, pDC assist in FoxP3+ T cell homeostasis and the regulation of Klebsiella-pneumonia progression.
Social innovation matters: The adoption of participatory guarantee systems within Italian alternative agri‐food networks
Authors: Sacchi Giovanna
Published: July 2019

Participatory guarantee systems are locally based practices for assuring organic product authenticity that are proving to be a valuable tool for farmers' empowerment and social innovation. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in locally based certification and distribution strategies of organic products. Participatory guarantee systems (PGS) simplify bureaucratic procedures for small organic producers, who are often overwhelmed by the extensive documentation required by third‐party certification. PGS development has facilitated several social processes, thus enabling social inclusion, farmers' empowerment, and mutual support.
A study on sustainable growth rate for firm survival
Authors: Mamilla Rajesh
Published: July 2019

Understanding where a company is in its life cycle is important. The sustainable growth rate (SGR) is an indicator of what stage a company is in, in its life cycle. The position often determines corporate finance objectives such as what sources of financing to use, dividend pay‐out policies, or overall competitive strategy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the actual growth rate as well as SGR and investigate the overall effect of selected independent variables on SGR.
Construct Validity of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) Scale in a Sample of Child Protection Workers
Authors: Geoffrion Steve , Lamothe Josianne , Morizot Julien , Giguère Charles‐Édouard
Published: July 2019

The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale is one of the most widely used measures of compassion satisfaction and fatigue despite there being little publicly available evidence to support its validity. This study, conducted among a sample of 310 child protection workers, assessed the construct validity of this measure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor modeling. The CFA failed to confirm the adequacy of the three‐factor structure proposed by Stamm (2010). In response, a bifactor model postulating a factor structure with a general factor in addition to independent factors (compassion satisfaction, job burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) was proposed, highlighting the unidimensionality of the ProQOL while allowing for each subscale to be used separately. Moreover, this bifactor model of the ProQOL was moderately correlated with the Posttraumatic Disorder Checklist, r = −.427, p < .001, and strongly correlated with scales of well‐being at work, r = .694, p < .001, and psychological distress at work, r = −.666, p < .001, thus supporting the ProQOL's convergent validity. No associations were found between the ProQOL and the Life Event Checklist, which supports the ProQOL's discriminant validity. Overall, the results indicated that compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue represent higher and lower levels of the same construct rather than two different constructs. Researchers and clinicians could therefore compute a single score to rate professionals’ individual levels of professional quality of life.
Upregulation of MGP by HOXC8 promotes the proliferation, migration, and EMT processes of triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Gong Chen , Zou Jin , Zhang Mingsheng , Zhang Jie , Xu Shanshan , Zhu Siqi , Yang Mengqi , Li Dongjia , Wang Yun , Shi Jialu , Li Yong
Published: July 2019

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype which accounts for 15%‐20% of all breast cancer cases. The management of TNBC has remained a challenge due to its lack of targeted therapy. Previously, we reported that homeobox C8 (HOXC8) was involved in metastasis and migration of breast cancer cells. By chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays, we found that HOXC8 functioned as a transcription factor to activate the transcription of matrix Gla protein (MGP) gene, leading to an increase in the proliferation, anchorage‐independent growth, and migration of TNBC cells. We further demonstrated that MGP expression promoted the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of TNBC cells, but not the other subtypes of breast cancer, suggesting that MGP induced EMT to promote proliferation and migration of TNBC cells. Moreover, we found that MGP was upregulated in clinical breast specimens compared to normal breast tissues and high MGP expression was statistically associated with poor, relapse‐free survival for TNBC patients, indicating that MGP is probably a novel biomarker or therapeutic target for TNBC patients. Together, our results showed that the HOXC8‐MGP axis played an important role in the tumorigenesis of TNBC and might be a promising therapeutic target for TNBC treatment.
Prioritizing investments in new vaccines against epidemic infectious diseases: A multi‐criteria decision analysis
Authors: Gouglas Dimitrios , Marsh Kevin
Published: July 2019

Background

In 2016, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) launched a call for proposals (CfP) for vaccine development against Lassa, MERS, and Nipah. CEPI is faced with complex decisions that involve confronting trade‐offs between multiple objectives, diverse stakeholder perspectives, and uncertainty in vaccine performance.

Objective

This study reports on a multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and its testing on CEPI decisions.

Methods

Consultations with CEPI's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and document reviews helped identify and structure the criteria against which to evaluate proposals. Forty four subject‐matter experts assessed performance of 18 proposals on multiple criteria. SAC preferences were elicited via a survey employing an adapted swing‐weighting technique and were incorporated into measures of value and cost‐to‐value. A Monte Carlo simulation estimated overall value and ranking probabilities by value and by cost‐to‐value for each proposal.

Results

Reviewer assessments and SAC preferences varied significantly. Despite this uncertainty, 14 preferred proposals emerged from the analysis and SAC recommendations on the basis of value and cost‐to‐value. In some cases, SAC recommendations deviated from the analysis because of: less emphasis on cost‐to‐value if budgets seemed underestimated by applicants, more emphasis on the likelihood of generating vaccines for target pathogens versus platform potential against unknown pathogens, and emphasis on funding a diversity of platforms per pathogen.

Conclusions

Despite vaccine performance uncertainty and stakeholder preference heterogeneity, MCDA distinguished between options in a way that broadly corresponded to decisions. Divergence between the MCDA and the SAC point to potential updates needed to the model such as platform diversity trade‐offs.
Does confidence enhance performance? Causal evidence from the field
Authors: Ahammer Alexander , Lackner Mario , Voigt Jasmin
Published: July 2019

We analyze the effect of self‐confidence on performance using data from top‐level professional biathlon competitions. We exploit this dual nature of the sport by using snow conditions affecting performance on the skiing track as exogenous variation in confidence on the shooting range. Using round‐level data on 254 competitions between 2009 and 2013, we show that the less confident athletes are, the worse their performance is on the shooting range. Effects for women are estimated to be generally smaller and less robust. We show that our results are not driven by fatigue or exhaustion specific to the competitive setting we analyze.
A compact duplex filtering antenna using a T‐shape probe‐fed patch and hairpin resonators
Authors: Yuan Jia‐Cheng , Xie Ze‐Ming
Published: July 2019

A compact duplex filtering antenna using a T‐shape probe‐fed patch and hairpin resonators is proposed. First, the T‐shape probe‐fed patch is designed as a dual‐band radiation element by connecting a microstrip line to the patch. Then the dual‐band radiation element is coupled to two bandpass filters based on half‐wavelength hairpin resonators directly to construct the duplex filtering antenna. The two modes of the dual‐band radiation element function as last stage resonators, improving the selectivity of both the transmitting band and the receiving band, increasing the bandwidths, and enhancing the isolation. A prototype antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured results agree well with the simulated results.
Association of diabetic retinopathy stage with the severity of female urinary incontinence
Authors: Cankurtaran Veysel , Ozates Serdar , Ozler Serkan , Dirican Emre
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To assess the relation between diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity and urinary incontinence (UI) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials and methods

This prospective and observational study included 153 subjects. Patients were divided into three subgroups, according to severity of DR, as: No‐DR, nonproliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR); 40 age‐matched healthy subjects formed the control group. Turkish version of the Urogenital Stress Inventory 6 (UDI‐6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ‐7) were used to assess the UI symptoms and their effect on quality of life. The UDI‐6 and IIQ‐7 scores were the primary outcomes of the study.

Results

No significant difference was observed between groups regarding age, maternal parity, body mass index, type of delivery, menopausal status, and smoking. The mean UDI‐6 urgency UI questions score was significantly higher in the PDR group and significantly higher in the NPDR group than in the control group. The mean UDI‐6 stress UI questions score was similar between groups. The mean UDI‐6 voiding difficulty questions score was significantly higher in the PDR group and no significant difference was observed between other groups. The mean IIQ‐7 score was significantly lower in the PDR group. A moderate and positive correlation was found between glycated hemoglobin level and the UDI‐6 urgency UI and voiding difficulty questions and total scores. A weak and positive correlation was found between the duration of DM and the all UDI‐6 scores.

Conclusion

The present study showed that UI symptoms and their effect on QOL were more severe in patients with PDR.
The method of fundamental solutions for the Oseen steady‐state viscous flow past obstacles of known or unknown shapes
Authors: Karageorghis Andreas , Lesnic Daniel
Published: July 2019

In this paper, the steady‐state Oseen viscous flow equations past a known or unknown obstacle are solved numerically using the method of fundamental solutions (MFS), which is free of meshes, singularities, and numerical integrations. The direct problem is linear and well‐posed, whereas the inverse problem is nonlinear and ill‐posed. For the direct problem, the MFS computations of the fluid flow characteristics (velocity, pressure, drag, and lift coefficients) are in very good agreement with the previously published results obtained using other methods for the Oseen flow past circular and elliptic cylinders, as well as past two circular cylinders. In the inverse obstacle problem the boundary data and the internal measurement of the fluid velocity are minimized using the MATLAB© optimization toolbox lsqnonlin routine. Regularization was found necessary in the case the measured data are contaminated with noise. Numerical results show accurate and stable reconstructions of various star‐shaped obstacles of circular, bean, or peanut cross‐section.
The Significance of Overvaluation of Shape or Weight in Binge‐Eating Disorder: Results from a National Sample of U.S. Adults
Authors: Coffino Jaime A. , Udo Tomoko , Grilo Carlos M.
Published: July 2019

Objective

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of overvaluation of shape or weight in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults with binge‐eating disorder (BED) and to compare functioning correlates using a group of adults with bulimia nervosa (BN).

Methods

Participants included 207 respondents from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) diagnoses of BED (n = 163) or BN (n = 44). Sociodemographic characteristics and functioning were compared in BED with overvaluation (BED+OV), BED without overvaluation (BED), and BN.

Results

Approximately 50% of BED respondents reported overvaluation. Mean age was lower in BN than BED. Mean BMI was lower in BED+OV than BED and higher than BN. A greater proportion of BED+OV reported functional impairment than BED. BN was more likely to report “serious problems doing daily tasks” than BED and less likely to report “impairment in normal activities” than BED+OV. BN reported significantly lower mental functioning than BED.

Conclusions

Findings based on this nationally representative sample are that overvaluation was associated with greater functional impairment within BED, and BED+OV reported greater impairment than BN in interference with normal activities but less impairment related to mental health. The increased impairment associated with BED+OV provides support for overvaluation as a diagnostic specifier for BED.
Electron Transfer and Electron Excitation Processes in 2,5‐Diaminoterephthalate Derivatives with Broad Scope for Functionalization
Authors: Markovic Aleksandra , Buschbeck Leon , Klüner Thorsten , Christoffers Jens , Wittstock Gunther
Published: July 2019

Derivatives of 2,5‐diaminoterephthalate (DAT) are efficient fluorescence dyes that are also redox‐active, thus allowing for the electrochemical manipulation of spectral properties. The electrochemical behaviour of seven DAT derivatives was studied by cyclic voltammetry in dichloromethane. In the absence of a proton donor, DATs should be oxidized in two one‐electron steps. The first step is usually quasi‐reversible while the second step is either quasi‐reversible or irreversible. Some electrochemical properties such as the formal potentials and the ratio between the anodic and the cathodic current were determined from the cyclic voltammograms. Correlation between the formal potential of first oxidation and the absorption or the fluorescence emission wavelengths are established for this specific type of dyes. These correlations were confirmed with density functional theory calculations.
Special Collection: Computational Chemistry
Authors: Solà Miquel , De Proft Frank , Bickelhaupt F. Matthias
Published: July 2019

Chemists know well the value of an experimental or a theoretical result, but what is the value of a computational result? Simulation is neither theory nor experience, nor a mere calculation tool, but a genuine way of approaching reality that is transforming the scientific method. In some cases, it offers explanations to observations or experiments that seem incomprehensible because they are too complex. In this case, the computation serves as a relief. An experiment that converges with a certain computation has more scientific value than an experiment that does not converge with anything at all. In other cases, contribution of computational chemistry is essential because there is no experimental manner to determine what happens during a chemical process; for instance, in the path from reactants to products in (fast) reactions. Now, computational chemistry provides additional information that is not possible to obtain from experiments, so it is a valuable complement to them. Indeed, fruitful synergy between computation and experiment has led to the approach of theory‐driven experimentation. Finally, computational chemistry helps to legitimize models or theories that have little opportunity to be contrasted with reality. In this situation, computational chemistry is not experience, but it does substitute it in relation to theory. In the present special collection, we have examples of the different ways computational chemistry helps chemists to interpret the electronic and molecular structure of molecules and their reactivity.
Metal‐organic framework MIL‐53 (Fe)@C/graphite carbon nitride hybrids with enhanced thermal stability, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression for unsaturated polyester resin
Authors: Chen Zhongwei , Chen Tingting , Yu Yuan , Zhang Qingwu , Chen Zhiquan , Jiang Juncheng
Published: July 2019

Metal‐organic framework MIL‐53 (Fe)@C/graphite carbon nitride hybrid (MFeCN), a novel flame retardant, was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction and subsequently added into unsaturated polyester resin (UPR). The structure, morphology, and thermal stability of MFeCN were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The thermal stability and flammability of the UPR composites were characterized by TG and cone calorimeter tests (CCT). The results of CCT demonstrated that the peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), peak smoke production rate (pSPR), and total smoke production (TSP) of UPR/MFeCN‐4 were reduced by 39.8%, 10.2%, 33.3%, and 14.5%, respectively, comparing with UPR. The results of TG and CCT indicated that MFeCN could improve the thermal stability, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression properties of the UPR composites. The residues after CCT were then characterized by laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), XPS, and SEM. Finally, based on the above experimental results and analysis, the flame retardancy mechanism of MFeCN was proposed.
Controlling properties of acrylate/epoxy interpenetrating polymer networks by premature termination of radical polymerization of acrylate
Authors: Li Wenlong , Delpouve Nicolas , Araujo Steven , Batteux Florian , Bobo Emilie , Saiter Jean‐Marc , Tan Li , Negahban Mehrdad
Published: July 2019

An approach is presented to control properties of sequentially synthesized acrylate/epoxy interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and is used to print uniform and graded properties. These IPNs are constructed by partial formation of the acrylate network, removal of the excess components, expansion with the epoxy system, and curing. The partial crosslinking of the initial network is controlled by photo polymerization and used to manipulate the final properties. The process is used to print homogeneous and graded IPNs with properties in the range of 10 to 1000 MPa. The curing of acrylate, the control mechanism, is studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) during curing on a temperature and environment controlled attenuated total reflection system. Fast scanning calorimetry is used to study network formation, nanoindentation is used to characterize local change of modulus, and uniaxial tensile testing is used to characterize stress response of the printed systems. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1729–1738 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers