bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La dimensión ambiental de las imágenes. La imagen-ambiente y sus principales conceptos
Authors: Otxoteko Mikel
Published: July 2020

A partir de los años sesenta surgen nuevas maneras de mostrar y percibir las imágenes, en nuevos contextos o ambientes, generalmente de carácter lúdico y nocturno. Se producen una serie de transformaciones ambientales en torno a la imagen que hacen que su producción y visionado público se vuelvan procesos difícilmente predecibles e interactivos. Se ha llamado imagen-ambiente a una lógica de la imagen que encuentra sus orígenes en eventos iniciáticos como los Exploding plastic inevitable producidos por Warhol y que hoy en día, en parte gracias al impulso de las tecnologías digitales, se popularizan y encuentran nuevos desarrollos en las sesiones de DJ-Vjing. Dada su importancia social y su radical especificidad, proponemos una serie de conceptos que ayudarán a comprender qué territorio ocupa este tipo de imágenes y, sobre todo, qué relación establece con su audiencia. Algunos de los principales conceptos son: afecto ambiental, estímulos en reciprocidad y entrecuerpo. Partiendo del planteamiento deleuziano en la imagen-movimiento y la imagen-tiempo, así como tomando la teoría de los afectos de Spinoza, damos un paso hacia delante para continuar desarrollando el universo conceptual de esta particular lógica de la imagen: la imagen-ambiente.
On the prospects of transitioning from the corruption “track” of historical path of the Russian society
Authors: Bakharev Dmitry Vadimovich
Published: July 2020

The subject of this research is the historical prerequisites of formation of the modern Russian model of state administration with its enormous corruption component. Analysis is conducted on the sociopolitical processes that took place in Russia, since the origin of conception of its statehood (formation of the Grand Duchy of Vladimir) until the events of past decade. A wide variety of literature of the Russian and foreign authors dedicated to the historical and institutional aspects of formation of national and foreign statehood became the source base for this research. An attempt is made to determine the fundamental factors of the emergence and wide spread of various manifestations of corruption at all stages of existence of the Russian state. A conclusion is made that drastic reconstruction of the historically established in Russia model of relationship between the government and society, and thus, decline in the scale of corruption, are possible only under the condition of formation of a large social coalition that supports: 1) the expansion of pluralistic basis in creation and development of the mode of operation of political institutions; 2) further public control over their activity. The reference point of such processes can become only a historical situation, which marks an informed need of broad social circles to be able to fully exercise political rights, and simultaneous response to such request from the acting political elite.
Anticorruption
Authors: Rotberg Robert I.
Published: July 2020

Winning the anticorruption battle: a guide for citizens and politicians.

The phenomenon of corruption has existed since antiquity; from ancient Mesopotamia to our modern-day high-level ethical morass, people have sought a leg up, a shortcut, or an end run to power and influence. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Robert Rotberg, a recognized authority on governance and international relations, offers a definitive guide to corruption and anticorruption, charting the evolution of corruption and offering recommendations on how to reduce its power and spread. The most important component of anticorruption efforts, he argues, is leadership that is committed to changing dominant political cultures.

Rotberg explains that corruption is the conversion of a public good into personal gain—either by the exchange of cash for influence or by the granting of special favors even without explicit payments. He describes successful anticorruption efforts in countries ranging from Denmark and Sweden to Canada and Costa Rica, and discusses the roles of judicial systems, investigative journalism, multinational corporations, and technological advances. He shows how the United States has become more corrupt than before, and contrasts recent US and Canadian experiences.

Without sufficient political will to eliminate corruption, it persists. Rotberg outlines thirteen practical steps for battling corruption, including removing holdover officials tainted by corruption and the public declaration of financial assets by elected officials and appointees.
Phylogenetic variation in cortical layer II immature neuron reservoir of mammals
Authors: La Rosa Chiara , Cavallo Francesca , Pecora Alessandra , Chincarini Matteo , Ala Ugo , Faulkes Chris G , Nacher Juan , Cozzi Bruno , Sherwood Chet C , Amrein Irmgard , Bonfanti Luca
Published: July 2020

The adult mammalian brain is mainly composed of mature neurons. A limited amount of stem cell-driven neurogenesis persists in postnatal life and is reduced in large-brained species. Another source of immature neurons in adult brains is cortical layer II. These cortical immature neurons (cINs) retain developmentally undifferentiated states in adulthood, though they are generated before birth. Here, the occurrence, distribution and cellular features of cINs were systematically studied in 12 diverse mammalian species spanning from small-lissencephalic to large-gyrencephalic brains. In spite of well-preserved morphological and molecular features, the distribution of cINs was highly heterogeneous, particularly in neocortex. While virtually absent in rodents, they are present in the entire neocortex of many other species and their linear density in cortical layer II generally increased with brain size. These findings suggest an evolutionary developmental mechanism for plasticity that varies among mammalian species, granting a reservoir of young cells for the cerebral cortex.
The regulatory genome constrains protein sequence evolution: implications for the search for disease-associated genes
Authors: Evans Patrick , Cox Nancy J. , Gamazon Eric R.
Published: July 2020

The development of explanatory models of protein sequence evolution has broad implications for our understanding of cellular biology, population history, and disease etiology. Here we analyze the GTEx transcriptome resource to quantify the effect of the transcriptome on protein sequence evolution in a multi-tissue framework. We find substantial variation among the central nervous system tissues in the effect of expression variance on evolutionary rate, with highly variable genes in the cortex showing significantly greater purifying selection than highly variable genes in subcortical regions (Mann–Whitney Up = 1.4 × 10−4). The remaining tissues cluster in observed expression correlation with evolutionary rate, enabling evolutionary analysis of genes in diverse physiological systems, including digestive, reproductive, and immune systems. Importantly, the tissue in which a gene attains its maximum expression variance significantly varies (p = 5.55 × 10−284) with evolutionary rate, suggesting a tissue-anchored model of protein sequence evolution. Using a large-scale reference resource, we show that the tissue-anchored model provides a transcriptome-based approach to predicting the primary affected tissue of developmental disorders. Using gradient boosted regression trees to model evolutionary rate under a range of model parameters, selected features explain up to 62% of the variation in evolutionary rate and provide additional support for the tissue model. Finally, we investigate several methodological implications, including the importance of evolutionary-rate-aware gene expression imputation models using genetic data for improved search for disease-associated genes in transcriptome-wide association studies. Collectively, this study presents a comprehensive transcriptome-based analysis of a range of factors that may constrain molecular evolution and proposes a novel framework for the study of gene function and disease mechanism.
Evaluation of External Abdominal Wall Hernia Surgery in a Secondary Level Facility in Kumasi, Ghana
Authors: Mensah Samuel , Maison Patrick Opoku Manu , Kyei Ishmael , Adjei George Adjei , Morna Martin T. , Debrah Samuel , Rahman Ganiyu A.
Published: July 2020

Aims: We aimed at auditing hernia surgeries performed at a secondary care center and determine the outcome of surgery based on the grade of operating surgeon.

Study Design: A single center retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery of Ashanti regional Hospital between October 2015 to September 2018.

Methodology: We included 259 patients, age ranging between 1 and 84 years, who underwent external hernia surgeries. Information retrieved included patient demographics, type of hernia, duration of hernia, whether hernia was emergency or elective, method of repair, whether surgery was performed by a surgeon or non-surgeon and early post-operative complications. Data was analyzed using PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc SPSS. Bivariate analysis was done to ascertain relationship between complications and operating doctor.

Results: A total of 259 hernia surgeries were performed over the study period. There were 186 (71.8 %) males and 73 (28.2 %) females, age range of 1 to 84 years. There were 66 (25.5%) children and 193(74.5%) adults. Children in their first decade were the majority (22.4%) age group followed by adults in their 5th decade (17%).  Inguinal hernia was the most common (75.7%) type of hernia, 49 (18.9%) children and 147(56.6%) adults. There were 32 (12.4%) emergencies. Small bowel (20) was the most common content found in the hernia sac with 6 of them being gangrenous. Hematoma was the most common early complication. The majority (63.7%) of the cases were performed by the general surgeon and (20.1%) by house officers (interns) under supervision. Complications like haematoma, surgical site infection and acute urinary retention were more likely to occur in the non-surgeon operators. There was no statistically significant relation between the grade of operating surgeon and Haematoma (p = 0.28) and surgical site infection (p= 0.76).

Conclusion: Hernias are common in children in the first decade and in adults in the 5th decade. With a well-structured training programme non-surgeon physicians can be trained to perform hernia surgeries with relatively low complication.
Para morrer basta estar vivo: um olhar sobre a morte violenta na coluna “Zona Franca” do jornal Diário dos Campos (Ponta Grossa, Paraná: 1976 – 1978)
Authors: Petruski Maura Regina , Costa Alvaro Daniel da
Published: July 2020

A morte é uma das etapas da existência humana que tem sua explicação sustentada em diferentes pontos de vista que a princípio seguem linhas paralelas de compreensão, modificando-se no interior de culturas, crenças e sociedades. Nesse trabalho, tomamos a morte violenta como objeto de análise, buscando compreender como foi representada nas notícias publicadas no jornal Diário dos Campos da cidade de Ponta Grossa/PR, no espaço da coluna “Zona Franca”, entre março de 1976 e março de 1978. A forma como as narrativas foram construídas nesse período, nos levaram a associá-las à perspectiva do jornalismo sensacionalista, compreendida aqui pelo tom de brincadeira das matérias, que se distanciavam do aspecto trágico que o relato revelava e expunham em vários momentos imagens das mutilações dos cadáveres.
"Cuidar mais da saúde dos vivos do que do descanso dos mortos": a Santa Casa da Misericórdia no trato da morte em Vitória-Espírito Santo, na segunda metade do século XIX
Authors: Perini Júlia Freire , Rodrigues da Cunha Marcelo Durão
Published: July 2020

Este artigo tem o objetivo de verificar como se deu a atuação da Irmandade da Santa Casa da Misericórdia no processo de modificação do entendimento da morte e do morrer na cidade de Vitória-ES, durante a segunda metade do século XIX. Analisando jornais e relatórios de inspetores de higiene produzidos nesse período, sustentaremos a hipótese de que o malogro da Santa Casa da Misericórdia em modificar alguns hábitos funerários da população local – como o reposicionamento do cemitério público na cidade e a tentativa de monopolizar o aluguel de esquifes – representou não apenas a força política das antigas irmandades naquela cidade, como também a persistência de formas tradicionais de entendimento da morte e do morrer na capital do Espírito Santo, até os anos iniciais da Primeira República. Por fim, o artigo tem o objetivo de preencher uma importante lacuna nos estudos a respeito dessa temática na historiografia capixaba, considerando os contornos que o processo de modernização da morte possuiu, ao longo da história do Espírito Santo
O que o Moridero, de Mario Bellatin, pode nos dizer sobre a morte e suas facetas na modernidade?
Authors: Pinto Lilian Silva , Camargo Fábio Figueiredo
Published: July 2020

Mediante o conto Salón de Belleza, de Mario Bellatin, que trata da transformação de um centro cosmético em um espaço destinado ao amparo de moribundos acometidos por uma doença misteriosa, discute-se, neste artigo, a influência que alguns processos sociais tiveram na construção de uma percepção que os indivíduos passaram a carregar na modernidade sobre a morte e seus desdobramentos. Essa nova conjuntura social, política, econômica e cultural, marcada pelo surgimento dos Estados-Nações e pela chamada Medicina Social Clínica, que se consolidaram por volta do século XIX, contribuiu para a formação de um imaginário social que passou a compreender a morte e tudo que, supostamente, estivesse ligado a ela, como a feiura, a doença, a loucura e a estranheza, como algo desprezível e que, necessariamente, devesse ser afastado do alcance dos olhos da sociedade. Uma das razões que levaria a tal percepção surgir, estaria vinculada ao próprio projeto que a modernidade criou para si baseada numa sociedade da ordem e da pureza.
Multifunctional Artificial Artery from Direct 3D Printing with Built‐In Ferroelectricity and Tissue‐Matching Modulus for Real‐Time Sensing and Occlusion Monitoring
Authors: Li Jun , Long Yin , Yang Fan , Wei Hao , Zhang Ziyi , Wang Yizhan , Wang Jingyu , Li Cheng , Carlos Corey , Dong Yutao , Wu Yongjun , Cai Weibo , Wang Xudong
Published: July 2020

Treating vascular grafts failure requires complex surgery procedures and is associated with high risks. A real‐time monitoring vascular system enables quick and reliable identification of complications and initiates safer treatments early. Here, an electric fieldassisted 3D printing technology is developed to fabricate in situ‐poled ferroelectric artificial arteries that offer battery‐free real‐time blood pressure sensing and occlusion monitoring capability. The functional artery architecture is made possible by the development of a ferroelectric biocomposite which can be quickly polarized during printing and reshaped into devised objects. The synergistic effect from the potassium sodium niobite particles and the polyvinylidene fluoride polymer matrix yields a superb piezoelectric performance (bulk‐scale d33 > 12 pC N−1). The sinusoidal architecture brings the mechanical modulus close to the level of blood vessels. The desired piezoelectric and mechanical properties of the artificial artery provide an excellent sensitivity to pressure change (0.306 mV mmHg−1, R2 > 0.99) within the range of human blood pressure (11.25–225.00 mmHg). The high pressure sensitivity and the ability to detect subtle vessel motion pattern change enable early detection of partial occlusion (e.g., thrombosis), allowing for preventing grafts failure. This work demonstrates a promising strategy of incorporating multifunctionality to artificial biological systems for smart healthcare systems.
A Lactose‐Derived CRISPR/Cas9 Delivery System for Efficient Genome Editing In Vivo to Treat Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Qi Yu , Liu Yanli , Yu Bingran , Hu Yang , Zhang Nasha , Zheng Yan , Yang Ming , Xu Fu‐Jian
Published: July 2020

Gene editing is a crucial and effective strategy to treat genetic diseases. Safe and effective delivery vectors are specially required for efficient gene editing in vivo of CRISPR/Cas9 system. Interestingly, lactose, a natural saccharide, can specifically bind to asialoglycoprotein receptors, highly expressed on the surface of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Herein, a lactose‐derived branched cationic biopolymer (LBP) with plentiful reducible disulfide linkages and hydroxyl groups is proposed as a potential delivery vector of CRISPR/Cas9 system for efficient genome editing in vivo to treat orthotopic HCC. LBP is synthesized via a facile one‐pot ring‐opening reaction. LBP possesses excellent compacting ability, degradability, biocompatibility, gene transfection performances, and HCC‐targeting ability. LBP‐mediated delivery of classical pCas9‐survivin, which can target and knockout survivin oncogene, produces efficient gene editing performances, and superb anti‐cancer activities in orthotopic HCC mouse models. This study provides an attractive and safe strategy for the rational design of CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system.
Bilayer‐mediated assembly of cationic nanoparticles adsorbed to lipid bilayers: Insights from molecular simulations
Authors: Sheavly Jonathan K. , Van Lehn Reid C.
Published: July 2020

Understanding interactions between functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) and lipid bilayers is essential for biomedical applications. Experiments have shown that NPs that are stable in solution can assemble into clusters when adsorbed to a lipid bilayer, suggesting that bilayer‐mediated interactions facilitate assembly. In this work, we use coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations to study bilayer‐mediated interactions between NPs adsorbed to single‐ and multicomponent lipid bilayers. We perform unbiased simulations and umbrella sampling calculations using an implicit solvent force field to determine the thermodynamic contributions to assembly. We show that bilayer‐mediated interactions drive the assembly of NPs into linear aggregates on liquid‐disordered bilayers, which we attribute to a reduction in bilayer curvature. Similar bilayer‐mediated interactions induce the alignment of NP clusters with phase boundaries in phase‐separated bilayers. Together, these simulation results provide new physical insight into the balance of forces that dictate the assembly of charged NPs at multicomponent lipid bilayer interfaces.
Asymptotics for value at risk and conditional tail expectation of a portfolio loss
Authors: Su Xiaonan , Wang Xinzhi , Yang Yang
Published: July 2020

Consider a risk model in which X1,…, Xn are n potential losses from different risky assets at the terminal time, and are n discount factors over the period. In this paper, we establish some asymptotic formulas for the value at risk and conditional tail expectation of the total discounted loss of an investment portfolio. We also demonstrate our obtained results through Monte Carlo simulations with asymptotics.
Associations between theory of mind and conduct problems in autistic and nonautistic youth
Authors: Carter Leno Virginia , Chandler Susie , White Phillipa , Yorke Isabel , Charman Tony , Jones Catherine R. G. , Happé Francesca , Baird Gillian , Pickles Andrew , Simonoff Emily
Published: July 2020

Many autistic young people exhibit co‐occurring behavior difficulties, characterized by conduct problems and oppositional behavior. However, the causes of these co‐occurring difficulties are not well understood. Impairments in theory of mind (ToM) are often reported in autistic individuals and have been linked to conduct problems in nonautistic individuals. Whether an association between ToM ability and conduct problems exists in autistic populations, whether this association is similar between individuals who are autistic versus nonautistic, and whether these associations are specific to conduct problems (as opposed to other domains of psychopathology) remains unclear. ToM ability was assessed using the Frith–Happé Triangles task in a pooled sample of autistic (N = 128; mean age 14.78 years) and nonautistic youth (N = 50; mean age 15.48 years), along with parent‐rated psychiatric symptoms of conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and emotional problems. Analyses tested ToM ability between autistic versus nonautistic participants, and compared associations between ToM performance and conduct problems between the two groups. Where no significant group differences in associations were found, the pooled association between ToM and conduct problems was estimated in the combined sample. Results showed no evidence of moderation in associations by diagnostic status, and an association between poorer ToM ability and higher levels of conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and emotional problems across the total sample. However, these associations became nonsignificant when adjusting for verbal IQ. Results provide support for theoretical models of co‐occurring psychopathology in autistic populations, and suggest targets for intervention for conduct problems in autistic youth.

Lay Summary

Many young people with autism spectrum disorder show co‐occurring behavior problems, but the causes of these are not well understood. This paper found an association between difficulties recognizing what others think and intend (so‐called “theory of mind”) in a simple animated task, and emotional and behavioral problems in autistic and nonautistic young people. However, a substantial part of this association was explained by individual differences in verbal ability. These findings may have implications for intervention efforts to improve young people's mental health.
Heißbemessung unter Berücksichtigung der Feuerverzinkung: Brandschutz R30 im Cruise Center Baakenhöft
Authors: Pinger Thomas , Schienbein Frank , Sothmann Jörg
Published: July 2020

Aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse belegen, dass durch die Feuerverzinkung von Stahlkonstruktionen ein günstigeres Verhalten im Brandfall in Form einer verlangsamten Erwärmung der verzinkten Stahlkomponenten erzielt werden kann. Bei gleichzeitig notwendigem Korrosionsschutz und/oder mechanischer Belastbarkeit der Stahloberflächen können derart mit der Feuerverzinkung die verschiedenen Anforderungen in einem System vereinbart und wirtschaftlich ansprechende Lösungen ohne zusätzliche passive Brandschutzmaßnahmen realisiert werden. Am in der HafenCity Hamburg neu errichteten Cruise Center Baakenhöft wurden nun erstmals die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse umgesetzt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden für dieses konkrete Beispiel die zugrunde liegenden Überlegungen, die Vorgehensweise bei der Heißbemessung sowie die Ausführung vorgestellt.
Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for an ethanol production process based on genetically modified cyanobacteria: CO2 sourcing options
Authors: Arora Pratham , Chance Ronald R. , Fishbeck Teresa , Hendrix Howard , Realff Matthew J. , Thomas Valerie M. , Yuan Yanhui
Published: July 2020

Algal biofuel production requires CO2, electricity, and process heat. Previous studies assumed CO2 sourcing from nearby coal or natural gas power plants. This may not be viable at a large scale or for the long term. The diurnal algal growth cycle imposes additional system design challenges for CO2 delivery. For ethanol produced by cyanobacteria in photobioreactors, we design onsite systems that provide heat, power and CO2 (CHP‐CO2), fueled by natural gas or biomass. Meeting the CO2 requirement produces excess electricity, which can be sold back to the grid. The scale of the CHP‐CO2 can be reduced by night‐time capture and refrigerated storage of CO2. The lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 1 MJ ethanol are about −19 g CO2e for biomass CHP‐CO2, and +31–35 CO2e g for natural gas CHP‐CO2 options, compared with +19 g CO2e for the direct use of coal flue gas, and 91.3 g CO2e for 1 MJ of conventional gasoline. This work evaluates the energy and GHG implications of onsite CHP‐CO2 for algal ethanol production and other CO2 sourcing options. Combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, fueled by natural gas or biomass, could be co‐located with algal ethanol production, capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide to make biofuel, and thus providing an essentially stand‐alone biofuel operation, free from the constraints of co‐location with anthropogenic sources. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Mortality in patients undergoing revascularization with paclitaxel eluting devices for infrainguinal peripheral artery disease: Insights from a network meta‐analysis of randomized trials
Authors: Kuno Toshiki , Ueyama Hiroki , Mikami Takahisa , Takagi Hisato , Numasawa Yohei , Anzai Hitoshi , Bangalore Sripal
Published: July 2020

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate whether paclitaxel eluting devices increased the risk of death in patients undergoing revascularization for infrainguinal peripheral artery disease using network meta‐analyses.

Methods

PUBMED and EMBASE were searched through April 2020 for randomized trials in patients with infrainguinal peripheral artery disease who underwent revascularization with or without a paclitaxel eluting device (balloon/stent). Short‐term mortality defined as death at 6–12 months, and long‐term mortality defined as death at >12 months after revascularization.

Results

Our search identified 57 eligible randomized controlled studies enrolling a total of 9,362 patients comparing seven revascularization strategies (balloon angioplasty vs. bare metal stent vs. covered stent vs. paclitaxel eluting stent vs. other drug eluting stent vs. paclitaxel‐coated balloon vs. bypass surgery). Overall, paclitaxel eluting stent and paclitaxel‐coated balloons did not increase short‐term mortality (eg, vs. balloon angioplasty: paclitaxel‐coated balloon OR [95% CI] 1.21 [0.88–1.66], p = .24; paclitaxel eluting stent OR [95%CI] 1.01 [0.63–1.63], p = .97, respectively). In addition, paclitaxel eluting stent did not show significant increase in long‐term mortality (eg, vs. balloon angioplasty: OR [95%CI] 1.06 [0.70–1.59], p = .79). However, paclitaxel‐coated balloon showed significant increase in long‐term mortality compared to balloon angioplasty and bypass (vs. balloon angioplasty: OR [95% CI] 1.48 [1.06–2.07], p = .021; vs. bypass: OR [95%CI] 1.73 [1.05–2.84], p = .031, respectively).

Conclusions

In this meta‐analysis of randomized trials, there was no significant increase in mortality with paclitaxel eluting stent, but there was increased risk of long‐term mortality in paclitaxel‐coated balloon for the treatment of infrainguinal peripheral artery disease.
Interaction between Electrolytes and Sb2O3‐Based Electrodes in Sodium Batteries: Uncovering the Detrimental Effects of Diglyme
Authors: Pfeifer Kristina , Greenstein Miryam Fayena , Aurbach Doron , Luo Xianlin , Ehrenberg Helmut , Dsoke Sonia
Published: July 2020

Conversion materials are promising to improve the energy density of sodium‐ion‐batteries (NIB). Nevertheless, they suffer from the drawback of phase transitions and pronounced volume changes during cycling, which causes cell instability. When using these types of electrodes, all cell‐components have to be adjusted. In this study, a tremendous influence of the electrolyte solution on Sb2O3 conversion electrodes for NIBs is discussed. Solutions based on three solvents and solvent combinations established for NIBs, ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (EC/DMC), EC/DMC+5 % fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and diglyme, lead to a massively divergent electrochemical behavior of the same Sb2O3 electrode. Sb2O3 demonstrates the highest stability in solutions containing FEC, because this component forms a flexible, protecting surface film that prevent disintegration. One key finding of this work is that electrolyte solutions based on ether solvents like diglyme can remove Sb‐ions from Sb2O3 during cycling. Diglyme has the ability to coordinate and extract Sb3+ during the oxidation of Sb2O3. This leads to contaminations of all cell components and a strong capacity loss together with an irregular electrochemical signature. Due to its poor reactivity at low potentials, diglyme forms a thin or even no surface layer. Thereby, there are no protecting films on the Sb2O3 electrodes that can avoid Sb3+ ion dissolution. A critical examination of the electrolyte solutions components’ impact is essential to match them with conversion reaction anodes.
Chiral counter‐current chromatography: A survey of its instrument, mechanism, procedure, and applications
Authors: Duan Wen‐Da , Huang Xin‐Yi , Di Duo‐Long
Published: July 2020

The chiral separation by counter‐current chromatography has made great progress in the past three decades. It has become increasingly popular in the field of chiral separation, and many applications have been introduced during the last years. This review mainly focuses on the current topics, applications, and trends in chiral separation by counter‐current chromatography. It contains the development of modern counter‐current chromatography apparatus, theory of counter‐current chromatography, overview of applications of chiral counter‐current chromatography enantioseparation, its current situation, and challenges. At last, some conclusions and perspectives also have been discussed in this review.
4‐Fluorobenzylpiperazine‐Containing Derivatives as Efficient Inhibitors of Mushroom Tyrosinase
Authors: Vittorio Serena , Ielo Laura , Mirabile Salvatore , Gitto Rosaria , Fais Antonella , Floris Sonia , Rapisarda Antonio , Germanò Maria Paola , De Luca Laura
Published: July 2020

Tyrosinase is a type‐3 copper protein involved in the biosynthesis of melanin pigments; therefore, the inhibition of its enzymatic activity represents a promising strategy for the treatment of hyperpigmentation‐related disorders. To address this point, we previously designed a class of 4‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)piperazin‐1‐yl‐based compounds, which proved to be more active inhibitors against tyrosinase from mushroom Agaricus bisporus than the positive control kojic acid. Herein, we report the synthesis of further series of 4‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)piperazin‐1‐yl analogues bearing a (hetero)aromatic fragment as key feature to improve protein affinity. The newly synthesized compounds were assayed in vitro and proved to be potent inhibitors in the low‐micromolar range. The active 2‐thienyl and 2‐furyl derivatives were selected for further modification to allow their binding mode to be analyzed by docking studies and to give satisfactory safety profiles.
American oil palm from Brazil: Genetic diversity, population structure, and core collection
Authors: Pereira Valquíria Martins , Filho Jaire Alves Ferreira , Leão André Pereira , Vargas Luiz Henrique Galli , de Farias Marcelo Picanço , Rios Sara de Almeida , da Cunha Raimundo Nonato Vieira , Formighieri Eduardo Fernandes , Alves Alexandre Alonso , Souza Manoel Teixeira
Published: July 2020

The American oil palm [Elaeis oleifera (Knuth) Cortés] has pronounced importance in oil palm breeding programs. Here, a germplasm bank (GB) of E. oleifera plants collected in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil was submitted to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker identification, selection, and use, aiming to characterize genetic diversity and population structure and to design a core collection (CC). Five hundred and fifty‐three plants from 206 subsamples, collected at 19 localities spread throughout six geographic regions, were submitted to genotyping‐by‐sequencing analysis. A set of 1,827 high‐quality SNP markers was then selected and used to run the genetic diversity and population structure analysis. The genetic diversity found is of moderate degree, and probably only a small portion of the species diversity is represented in the collection. The possible reason for that is the collecting strategy used, which collected subsamples only around the most prominent watercourses in the region. The average degree of genetic differentiation among subsamples is very high, indicating the presence of high interpopulation differentiation. The collection showed a low level of endogamy. The low average gene flow found indicates that genetic isolation caused by drift is occurring, and there is a need to review the conservation strategy. A set of 245 SNPs distributed throughout all 16 chromosomes was used to design CC based on maximizing the strategy of diversity. The optimal adjustment of the validated parameters, maintained while taking fewest subsamples, led to the choice of a model containing 20% of the entire collection as the ideal to form the CC.
Willow Lignin Recovered from Hot‐Water Extraction for the Production of Hydrogels and Thermoplastic Blends
Authors: Nagardeolekar Aditi , Ovadias Mathew , Wang Kuo‐Ting , Bujanovic Biljana
Published: July 2020

A blend of commercial willow cultivars (Salix spp.) was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment: hot‐water extraction in a pilot plant 65‐ft3 digester. Lignin recovered from the autohydrolyzate (willow lignin, WL) was used to produce hydrogels and thermoplastic blends. Lignin‐kaolin‐acrylamide (WL 10.7 % w/w) and lignin‐poly(ethylene)glycol diglycidyl ether (WL 66.7 % w/w) hydrogels exhibited favorable adsorption and absorption properties, respectively. Dye adsorption kinetics, swelling capacities, fragrance emanation, and compression moduli were measured for the hydrogels, along with SEM characterization. Additionally, WL was esterified by acetylation (C2, WAc) and acylation with lauroyl chloride (C12, WFAE and WFAEH). The crude and esterified lignin samples were blended (1–12 % w/w) with polylactic acid (PLA) via lab‐scale melt extrusion to produce thermoplastic blends. The physicochemical properties of the blends were evaluated. They exhibited an increase in degradation temperature and UV absorbance with potential to hinder photodegradation of PLA and may be leveraged in packaging applications.
Conventional Electrolyte and Inactive Electrode Materials in Lithium‐Ion Batteries: Determining Cumulative Impact of Oxidative Decomposition at High Voltage
Authors: Streipert Benjamin , Stolz Lukas , Homann Gerrit , Janßen Pia , Cekic‐Laskovic Isidora , Winter Martin , Kasnatscheew Johannes
Published: July 2020

High‐voltage electrodes based on, for example, LiNi0.5Mn1.504 (LNMO) active material require oxidative stability of inactive materials up to 4.95 V vs. Li|Li+. Referring to literature, they are frequently supposed to be unstable, though conclusions are still controversial and clearly depend on the used investigation method. For example, the galvanostatic method, as a common method in battery research, points to the opposite, thus to a stability of the inactive materials, which can be derived from, for example, the high decomposition plateau at 5.56 V vs. Li|Li+ and stable performance of the LNMO charge/discharge cycling. This work aims to unravel this apparent contradiction of the galvanostatic method with the literature by a thorough investigation of possible trace oxidation reactions in cumulative manner, that is, over many charge/discharge cycles. Indeed, the cumulated irreversible specific capacity amounts to ≈10 mAh g−1 during the initial 50 charge/discharge cycles, which is determined by imitating extreme LNMO high‐voltage conditions using electrodes solely consisting of inactive materials. This can explain the ambiguities in stability interpretations of the galvanostatic method and the literature, as the respective irreversible specific capacity is obviously too low for distinct detection in conventional galvanostatic approaches and can be only detected at extreme high‐voltage conditions. In this regard, the technique of chronoamperometry is shown to be an effective and proper complementary tool for electrochemical stability research in a qualitative and quantitative manner.
Earn faculty buy‐in for budget cuts by moving from top‐down cutting to a partnership model
Authors: Chu Don
Published: July 2020

By the time you read this article, most provosts and deans will have received news from their president about how the 2020 pandemic will affect their budgets. Usually institutions can expect to return to some version of “normal,” but we don't yet know the lasting financial implications of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In times like these, “cash is king.” Institutions need to balance this year's books but also prudently save for the next crisis, whenever it will be.
Erythroblastic sarcoma presenting as a unilateral pleural effusion in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm—Case report with cytologic and histologic findings
Authors: Kebe Radulović Maja , Melkić Enver , Grčar Kuzmanov Biljana , Cimerman Damjana , Strojan Fležar Margareta
Published: July 2020

Erythroblastic sarcoma (ES) is an extremely rare extramedullary solid tumor of immature erythroid cells, with around a dozen human cases to our knowledge presented so far in the english literature, none of the cases presenting as pleural effusion. Here we describe a case of ES in a thoracic wall diagnosed by cytological examination of pleural effusion with histologic correlation in a 53‐year‐old patient with a 10‐month history of myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm with grade III reticulin myelofibrosis.
Divergent estimates of herd‐wide caribou calf survival: Ecological factors and methodological biases
Authors: Ellington E. Hance , Lewis Keith P. , Koen Erin L. , Vander Wal Eric
Published: July 2020

Population monitoring is a critical part of effective wildlife management, but methods are prone to biases that can hinder our ability to accurately track changes in populations through time. Calf survival plays an important role in ungulate population dynamics and can be monitored using telemetry and herd composition surveys. These methods, however, are susceptible to unrepresentative sampling and violations of the assumption of equal detectability, respectively. Here, we capitalized on 55 herd‐wide estimates of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) calf survival in Newfoundland, Canada, using telemetry (n = 1,175 calves) and 249 herd‐wide estimates of calf:cow ratios (C:C) using herd composition surveys to investigate these potential biases. These data included 17 herd‐wide estimates replicated from both methods concurrently (n = 448 calves and n = 17 surveys) which we used to understand which processes and sampling biases contributed to disagreement between estimates of herd‐wide calf survival. We used Cox proportional hazards models to determine whether estimates of calf mortality risk were biased by the date a calf was collared. We also used linear mixed‐effects models to determine whether estimates of C:C ratios were biased by survey date and herd size. We found that calves collared later in the calving season had a higher mortality risk and that C:C tended to be higher for surveys conducted later in the autumn. When we used these relationships to modify estimates of herd‐wide calf survival derived from telemetry and herd composition surveys concurrently, we found that formerly disparate estimates of woodland caribou calf survival now overlapped (within a 95% confidence interval) in a majority of cases. Our case study highlights the potential of under‐appreciated biases to impact our understanding of population dynamics and suggests ways that managers can limit the influence of these biases in the two widely applied methods for estimating herd‐wide survival.
Consumer–resource dynamics in Arctic ponds
Authors: DeSiervo Melissa H. , Ayres Matthew P. , Virginia Ross A. , Culler Lauren E.
Published: July 2020

Population dynamics are shaped by species interactions with resources, competitors, enemies, and environmental fluctuations that alter the strength of these interactions. We used a food web approach to investigate the population dynamics of an abundant Arctic mosquito species, Aedes nigripes (Diptera: Culicidae). Specifically, we evaluated the importance of bottom‐up variation in aquatic biofilms (food) and top‐down predation from diving beetles (Colymbetes dolabratus, Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) on mosquito population performance. In spring 2018, we tracked mosquito and predator populations across eight ponds in western Greenland, measured biofilm productivity with standardized samplers, and estimated grazing pressure by invertebrate consumers with an in situ exclosure experiment. We also assessed the quality of biofilms as nutrition for mosquito larvae and evaluated pond attributes that might influence biofilm productivity and food quality. Our results indicated that mosquito population dynamics were more related to resource quality and intraspecific competition than to the density of predaceous diving beetles. Ponds with better quality biofilm tended to have more hatching larvae and those populations experienced higher per capita mortality. This aggregation of larvae in what would otherwise be the best mosquito ponds was enough to produce relatively low fitness. Thus, the landscape would support more mosquitoes if they instead distributed themselves to match predictions of the ideal free distribution. Although mortality rates were highest in ponds with the highest initial densities, the increased mortality was not generally enough to compensate for initial abundance, and 78% of the variation in the density of mosquitoes emerging from ponds was explained by the initial number of larvae in a pond. Resource quality was a strong predictor of consumer abundance, yet there was no evidence that biofilm grazing pressure was greater in ponds where mosquito density was higher. Collectively, our results suggest that mosquito ponds in western Greenland are a mosaic of source and pseudo‐sink populations structured by oviposition tendencies, biofilm resource quality, and density‐dependent larval mortality.
Boundary layer flow and stability analysis of forced convection over a diverging channel with variable properties of fluids
Authors: Govindhasamy Iyyappan , Singh Abhishek K.
Published: July 2020

The objective of the current study is to investigate the forced convection laminar boundary layer flow over a flat plate in a diverging channel with variable viscosity. The physical governing equations are converted to nondimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) using similarity transformation. The coupled PDEs with boundary constrains are solved numerically using quasilinearization technique. Computational results are given in terms of flow parameter , suction or injection A, and viscous dissipation parameter Ec. Stability analysis was conducted and the solutions were found to be stable for real values of . We found that variable Prandtl number with quasilinearization technique method gives smoothness of solution compared to fixed Prandtl number. This is shown graphically for different fluids in Section 5. Also, the significant effect of the suction/injection parameter on velocity, temperature profiles, skin friction, and heat transfer is observed.
The immunologic changes during different phases of intestinal anastomotic healing
Authors: Zhang Feng , Qiao Song , Li Chunqiao , Wu Bo , Reischl Stefan , Neumann Philipp‐Alexander
Published: July 2020

Intestinal anatomosis is a complex and multicellular process that involving three overlapped phases: exudative phase, proliferative phase, and reparative phase. Undisturbed anastomotic healings are crucial for the recovery of patients after operations but unsuccessful healings are linked with a considerable mortality. This time, we concentrate on the immunologic changes during different phases of intestinal anastomotic healing and select several major immune cells and cytokines of each phase to get a better understanding of these immunologic changes in different phases, which will be significant for more precise therapy strategies in anastomoses.
Simulation‐based clinical learning for the third year medical student: Effectiveness of transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound for elucidation of OB/GYN scenarios
Authors: Cook James , Rao Victor V. , Bell Floyd , Durkin Martin , Cone Jordan , Lane‐Cordova Abbi , Castleberry Lauren
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) is gaining recognition as a teaching modality that acts as an integrative learning tool during medical student transition to clinical rotations. This study aimed to determine if the use of ultrasound simulation enhances understanding of Obstetrical and Gynecological (Ob/Gyn) anatomy and pathology in third‐year medical students (M3), and if M3 students found the simulator useful.

Methods

M3 students taking the OB/Gyn clerkship were invited to participate. Baseline knowledge of pelvic ultrasound anatomy and pathology was assessed with a multiple‐choice question test. Participants received a one‐hour OB/Gyn ultrasound simulation training session. A post‐test assessed knowledge after the intervention. Survey data was collected regarding learning styles and learner satisfaction.

Results

Following simulator‐based training, the median correct number of responses to the knowledge questions increased from 11 of 18 to 14 of 18 correct (P < .001). Statistically significant increases were also observed in comfort level with OB/GYN ultrasound (P < .001). All 68 students answered that the ultrasound simulator was helpful and enjoyed using the simulator.

Conclusions

This study suggests that ultrasound simulators are useful for improvement in knowledge, comfort level, and ability to identify pathology in Ob/Gyn scenarios in M3 students.
Mortality analysis of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in hepato‐biliary pancreatic surgery: Multicenter retrospective observational study
Authors: Ueno Masaki , Iida Hiroya , Kaibori Masaki , Komeda Koji , Takemura Shigekazu , Noda Takehiro , Ikoma Hisashi , Nomi Takeo , Hayami Shinya , Hirokawa Fumitoshi , Tanaka Shogo , Matsui Kousuke , Ishizaki Morihiko , Morimura Ryo , Hokuto Daisuke , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Tani Masaji , Yamaue Hiroki , Kubo Shoji
Published: July 2020

Background/Purpose

Aeromonas hydrophila can cause lethal infectious complications after surgery. There have been no large cohort studies of this specific to the hepato‐biliary‐pancreatic (HBP) field. We investigate the postoperative influence of A hydrophila infection after HBP surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent HBP surgery between 2008 and 2017 at eight university hospitals. Patients with A hydrophila isolation during perioperative management were extracted, and their postoperative courses were investigated.

Results

Bacterial culture examination of 10 074 patients was performed as perioperative management. Among them, 76 patients (0.75%) had A hydrophila isolation, most of whom underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 38) or hepatectomy with biliary reconstruction (n = 14). There were seven mortalities after these two procedures (13.5%), five within 3 days after the onset of infection. Bile (n = 48) and abdominal drainage fluid (n = 29) were major sites of A hydrophila isolation. Typical prophylactic antibiotics, cefazolin or flomoxef, were mostly resistant. There was no mortality among patients that received sensitive antibiotics prophylactically.

Conclusions

Isolation of A hydrophila was low in our cases of HBP surgery, but the condition of some patients deteriorated rapidly by this infection. Although there could be several bacterial infections during management of HBP surgery, A hydrophila should not be overlooked. Preparation of appropriate prophylactic antibiotics may prevent or reduce mortality.