bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relating rational and experiential thinking styles with trait emotional intelligence in broader personality space
Authors: Jokić Biljana , Purić Danka
Published: February 2019

The usual distinction between rational and intuitive thinking styles is still a subject of scientific debate, as there is no consensus about their nature, mutual relations and relations to other personality constructs. Cognitive-experiential self-theory (CEST) proposes rational and experiential thinking styles as original personality constructs not fully explainable by five-factor personality models. Following CEST, we aimed to examine: 1. The uniqueness of rational and experiential dimensions by relating them to other personality constructs: trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and HEXACO; 2. Thinking style profiles defined through combined rational and experiential dimensions, and the possible role of TEI in understanding them. A total of 270 undergraduate students (82% females) completed the TEIQue-SF, REI-40, and HEXACO-PI-R. Our results showed that constructs from all three paradigms were low to moderately correlated to each other. TEI had incremental validity in explaining both rational and experiential dimensions, but large amounts of their variances remained unexplained by both TEI and HEXACO. We revealed four thinking style profiles defined through combined rational and experiential dimensions. TEI was the highest when both dimensions were high and the lowest when both were low, which could be related to processes of understanding and managing emotional functioning – proposed as an essential part of TEI, while within CEST they are seen as the way in which rationality influences experientiality. This finding might be of specific significance for understanding irrationality as not exclusively related to high intuition, but to low rationality as well.
Traumatic rift: How conspiracy beliefs undermine cohesion after societal trauma?
Authors: Bilewicz Michal , Witkowska Marta , Pantazi Myrto , Gkinopoulos Theofilos , Klein Olivier
Published: February 2019

Collective traumas may often lead to deep societal divides and internal conflicts. In this article, we propose that conspiracy theories emerging in response to victimizing events may play a key role in the breakdown of social cohesion. We performed a nationally representative survey in Poland (N = 965) two years after the Smoleńsk airplane crash in which the Polish president was killed, together with 95 political officials and high-ranking military officers. The survey found that people endorsing conspiratorial accounts of the Smoleńsk catastrophe preferred to distance themselves from conspiracy non-believers, while skeptics preferred greater distance to conspiracy believers. We also examined the role of people’s belief in the uniqueness of in-group historical suffering as an important antecedent of both conspiracy thinking and hostility towards outgroups (conspiracy believers and non-believers).
Les stratégies de défense collective des droits au Québec : discours et pratiques
Authors: Sauvé Méric , Provencher Ysabel
Published: February 2019

Cet article vise à mettre en lumière les résultats d’une étude sur les stratégies des organismes communautaires de défense collective de droits au Québec. D’abord, le cadre d’analyse en trois stratégies, soit émancipatoire, coopération-persuasion et confrontation sera présenté. L’importance des pratiques et les discours des organismes sur chacune des stratégies seront présentés pour avoir une vision actuelle des activités des organismes communautaires en défense collective de droits. Enfin, des liens seront faits entre les caractéristiques des organismes et leur choix de stratégie afin de déterminer si certaines caractéristiques influencent le recours à une stratégie plutôt qu’à une autre.
Développement d’un programme innovant pour mieux soutenir les familles vivant avec un enfant présentant une déficience intellectuelle ou un trouble du spectre de l’autisme : s’inspirer des expériences des milieux communautaires
Authors: Milot Élise , Grandisson Marie , Allaire Anne-Sophie , Bédard Charlène , Caouette Martin , Chrétien-Vincent Myriam , Marcotte Justine , Moisan Sébastien , Tétreault Sylvie
Published: February 2019

Au Québec, les besoins de répit et de soutien des familles ayant un enfant présentant une déficience intellectuelle (DI) ou un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA) sont nombreux et persistent. C’est ce qui a motivé un collectif de recherche composé d’acteurs de la ville de Québec à développer OASIS+, une offre de services de soutien à domicile et dans la communauté misant sur l’engagement et la formation d’étudiants universitaires issus des programmes d’ergothérapie et de travail social. Afin de guider le développement d’OASIS+, des entretiens ont été menés avec des représentants d’organismes communautaires de la province de Québec qui ont contribué à élaborer de tels services de soutien. Ils ont permis d’identifier des facilitateurs pour l’implantation d’une offre de services aux familles qui soit pérenne. Cet article présente les résultats de l’analyse de contenu thématique de ces entretiens. Miser sur l’engagement d’étudiants formés semble une avenue pertinente pour favoriser le mieux-être des familles.
The correspondence of Just Qvigstad, 1.0 and 2.0 – the ongoing story of a digital edition
Authors: Eide Øyvind , Aspaas Per Pippin , Conzett Philipp
Published: February 2019

Presentation given at UiT Digital Humanities Conference 2017
Welcome speech
Authors: Federhofer Marie-Theres
Published: February 2019

Welcome speech given at UiT Digital Humanities Conference 2017
Doing Humanities in a Digital Age: The Humlab Case
Authors: Gelfgren Stefan
Published: February 2019

Presentation given at UiT Digital Humanities Conference 2017
A data science challenge for converting airborne remote sensing data into ecological information
Authors: Marconi Sergio , Graves Sarah J. , Gong Dihong , Nia Morteza Shahriari , Le Bras Marion , Dorr Bonnie J. , Fontana Peter , Gearhart Justin , Greenberg Craig , Harris Dave J. , Kumar Sugumar Arvind , Nishant Agarwal , Prarabdh Joshi , Rege Sundeep U. , Bohlman Stephanie Ann , White Ethan P. , Wang Daisy Zhe
Published: February 2019

Ecology has reached the point where data science competitions, in which multiple groups solve the same problem using the same data by different methods, will be productive for advancing quantitative methods for tasks such as species identification from remote sensing images. We ran a competition to help improve three tasks that are central to converting images into information on individual trees: (1) crown segmentation, for identifying the location and size of individual trees; (2) alignment, to match ground truthed trees with remote sensing; and (3) species classification of individual trees. Six teams (composed of 16 individual participants) submitted predictions for one or more tasks. The crown segmentation task proved to be the most challenging, with the highest-performing algorithm yielding only 34% overlap between remotely sensed crowns and the ground truthed trees. However, most algorithms performed better on large trees. For the alignment task, an algorithm based on minimizing the difference, in terms of both position and tree size, between ground truthed and remotely sensed crowns yielded a perfect alignment. In hindsight, this task was over simplified by only including targeted trees instead of all possible remotely sensed crowns. Several algorithms performed well for species classification, with the highest-performing algorithm correctly classifying 92% of individuals and performing well on both common and rare species. Comparisons of results across algorithms provided a number of insights for improving the overall accuracy in extracting ecological information from remote sensing. Our experience suggests that this kind of competition can benefit methods development in ecology and biology more broadly.
Winter temperature predicts prolonged diapause in pine processionary moth species across their geographic range
Authors: Salman Md H.R. , Bonsignore Carmelo P. , El Alaoui El Fels Ahmed , Giomi Folco , Hodar José A. , Laparie Mathieu , Marini Lorenzo , Merel Cécile , Zalucki Myron P. , Zamoum Mohamed , Battisti Andrea
Published: February 2019

Prolonged diapause occurs in a number of insects and is interpreted as a way to evade adverse conditions. The winter pine processionary moths (Thaumetopoea pityocampaandTh. wilkinsoni) are important pests of pines and cedars in the Mediterranean region. They are typically univoltine, with larvae feeding across the winter, pupating in spring in the soil and emerging as adults in summer. Pupae may, however, enter a prolonged diapause with adults emerging one or more years later. We tested the effect of variation in winter temperature on the incidence of prolonged diapause, using a total of 64 individual datasets related to insect cohorts over the period 1964–2015 for 36 sites in seven countries, covering most of the geographic range of both species. We found high variation in prolonged diapause incidence over their ranges. At both lower and upper ends of the thermal range in winter, prolonged diapause tended to be higher than at intermediate temperatures. Prolonged diapause may represent a risk-spreading strategy to mitigate climate uncertainty, although it may increase individual mortality because of a longer exposure to mortality factors such as predation, parasitism, diseases or energy depletion. Climate change, and in particular the increase of winter temperature, may reduce the incidence of prolonged diapause in colder regions whereas it may increase it in warmer ones, with consequences for population dynamics.
Broiler Performance and Meat Quality in Response to Different Kinds and Levels of Bio-Organic Supplements
Authors: Jaya Alex
Published: February 2019

The study determined the production performance and meat quality of broilers using different kinds and levels of bio-organic supplements. Four hundred fifty broiler chicks were randomly distributed to fifteen dietary treatments. Five birds in each treatment were used for meat quality evaluation following a 3 x 5 factorial in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). No significant differences were observed in the production performance of broilers supplemented with different kinds of bio-organic fertilizers except average daily gain and final live weight. Broilers supplemented with higher levels of bio-organic supplements including antibiotic significantly affected the production performance except for average daily water intake and dressing percentage. Feed cost per kilogram of broiler produced, feed cost per average daily gain and return above feed, chicks and supplement costs were not significantly affected by the different kinds of bio-organic supplements but significantly affected by the different levels of bio-organic supplements. Meat quality was significantly affected by the different kinds of bioorganic supplements except for taste and overall acceptability but was not significantly affected by increasing the levels of bio-organic supplements including those broilers supplemented with antibiotics in the drinking water. Better production performance was observed on broilers supplemented with different kinds and levels of bio-organic supplements in the drinking water but did not affect the meat quality.
Burden of Cancer in Plateau State, Central Nigeria: A 27-Year Report from a Tertiary Hospital-Based Cancer Registry
Authors: Mandong Barnabas Mafala , Manasseh Agabus Nanfwang , Ayuba Dauda Madachi , Olugbenga Silas A. , Emmanuel Innocent , Kwaghe Barka Vandi , Mandong Jagshak Barnabas
Published: February 2019

Cancer has become an emerging disease in the developing world owing to the control of infectious agents and increase longevity. The global anatomical distribution of cancer differs from developed to developing (or resource limited) countries. This article provides information on hospital based cancer registry in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), for the past 27 years.

This was a descriptive retrospective study of consecutive cases of cancer analyzed at the Histopathology Department of JUTH, Jos, between January 1987 and December 2014. All records of cancer diagnosis were extracted from the departmental cancer registry which was established by the Teaching Hospital in 1987. Cases with confirmed histological diagnosis of cancers were included while those with inadequate biodata (age and sex), and anatomical site were excluded.

A total of 6,915 cancer cases were recorded for the period of 1987-2014 comprising of 2891 males and 4024 females; giving an annual prevalence of 256 cases per annum. Top 10 cancers accounted for 74% of all cancers, while top 5 cases accounted for 55.8% of cancers. The most frequent cancers were those of the breast, cervical, prostate, lymphoma and liver cancers.

The study showed that the most frequent cancers in JUTH are those of the breast, cervix, prostate, liver and lymphomas in decreasing order respectively. Screening should be encouraged in patients at risk to aid prevention and early detection. Allocation of resources to this end should be emphasized.
Variability in Morpho-biochemical Traits Associated with Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) Resistance in Pigeonpea Pods
Authors: Cheboi J. J. , Kimurto P. K. , Kinyua M. G.
Published: February 2019

Pigeonpea contributes to food and nutrition security among poor households in urban and rural areas. Globally it is characterized by stagnant and unstable yield due to its susceptibility to various stresses including the pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) which causes substantial damage to the crop and may result in absolute economic yield loss. The existing cultivated pigeonpea are susceptible to pod borer with only a few genotypes reported to be tolerant based on pod and seed damage. Limited information is available on morphological and biochemical traits associated with pod borer resistance among the existing genotypes. This study was therefore carried out to identify diversified sources of resistance against pod borer damage. The study was set up to assess traits that may contribute to pod borer resistance among 12 selected elite pigeonpea genotypes in three replicates and means were separated based on LSD test using Genstat software. The field study was carried out in Kerio Valley during the long rains of April-September of 2017. The genotypes varied significantly for all the parameters measured at P≤0.05 with a mean of 608.33 g/100 g (crude protein), 175.61 mg/100 g (total phenol), 19.85 mg/100 g (total flavonoid), 0.448 mm (trichome length), 210.6 / 4 mm2(trichome density) and 0.353 mm(depth of locules). Significant negative correlation was also observed between total phenol, total flavonoid, depth of locules, trichome length and trichome density with pod damage. However, a positive correlation was recorded between crude proteins with pod damage.  These results reveal that, host plant resistance is an association of several morphological and biochemical traits. Therefore, these genotypes with elevated levels can be selected and utilized in breeding towards improving resistance to pod borer in pigeonpea.
In vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activities of Zea mays’ Stigma and Carica papaya Seeds Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts
Authors: Salou M. , Siliadin A. B. W. , Dossim S. , Djeri B. , Anani K. , Sadji A. , Ameyapoh Y.
Published: February 2019

Corn and especially maize stigma are traditionally used to facilitate urinary and digestive elimination functions that favour certain diseases such as urinary tract infections. Similarly, papaya seeds possess potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which improve digestive health. The above activities of these parts of plants aforesaid might be associated with antibacterial activities. We aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of these two food crops. Each plant materials collected were air dried in shade, dried, and ground into fine powder, which were soaked in solvents (water: 30% - ethanol 70%) and shacked for 48 h. After filtering, every mixture was concentrated by using rotavapor and the extracts were prepared 100 mg/ml in sterile distilled water for antibacterial test. The antibacterial activities and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test of the extracts were assessed by microdilution method associated with spreading in agar medium. Both extracts showed bacteriostatic activity. The MIC values ranged from 25 to 50 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the two extracts were at least 50mg/ml on each of three bacterial species studied.
Comparison Between Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis or With Normal Liver Function
Authors: Akita Masayuki , Ajiki Tetsuo , Ueno Kimihiko , Tsugawa Daisuke , Shinozaki Kenta , Toyama Hirochika , Kido Masahiro , Fukumoto Takumi
Published: February 2019

Objective and Background:

The safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with Child–Pugh A and B cirrhosis is well-established, but perioperative complications are frequently observed in patients with cirrhosis. Technical challenges of this operation in cirrhotic patients remain in need of resolution.

Methods:

Twenty-one patients preoperatively diagnosed as having cirrhosis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy mainly using the French approach and were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinicopathologic characteristics were compared with 74 continuous patients with gallstone but no cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the American approach.

Results:

Most cirrhotic patients (19/21, 90.5%) had a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis B/C, alcoholic hepatitis, or primary biliary cholangitis. On imaging, the Chilaiditi sign and gallbladder bed pocket score, previously proposed to be informative in these patients, were significantly higher in the cirrhosis group than in the no cirrhosis group. Although the Child–Pugh score was higher in patients with cirrhosis, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was similar for the 2 groups. There were no differences in the operation time or the amount of intraoperative blood transfused. Postoperative hospital stay and postoperative morbidity rates were significantly greater in the cirrhosis group, although severe complications with a Clavien–Dindo score ≥ IIIa occurred in only 1 patient in each group.

Conclusions:

The safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients was confirmed. Because the gallbladder is completely covered in patients with cirrhosis, the French style approach, which enables surgeons to more easily access the gallbladder pocket, is assumed to be one of the operative options.
Policy changes for preventing and recognizing overwork-related cardiovascular diseases in Taiwan: An overview
Authors: Chang Heng-Hao , Lin Ro-Ting
Published: February 2019

Objective

Overwork-related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has a large impact on workers’ rights and labor standards across East Asian countries. This article describes the background and impact of policies regarding overwork-related CVD in the past decades in Taiwan.

Methods

We reviewed government policies, guidelines, literature, and news addressing the problems and impact of policy changes to prevent and recognize overwork-related CVD since the 1990s, and collected data on overwork-related CVD cases in Taiwan from 2006 to 2017.

Results

In 2017, overwork-related CVD accounted for 13% of all cases of occupational diseases, but 79% of all deaths due to occupational diseases. Guidelines for recognizing overwork-related CVD cases were established in 1991; however, under-recognition exists in Taiwan due to poor exposure data on working hours and psychological factors and because most medical expenses are covered by the national health insurance system. Amendments on the guidelines, and stricter policies on overwork prevention were enforced following calls from labor unions, nongovernmental organizations, and legislators, but health disparities were introduced when certain industries were exempted from restrictions.

Conclusions

Long working hours and other work characteristics increase the risk of overwork-related CVD. By reviewing the changes in policy for preventing overwork and recognizing overwork-related disease, we identified the need for clearly defined guidance on evaluating overwork-related CVD, with specific criteria for working hours and other risk factors regarding work characteristics. National policies that lead to better working conditions and prevent overwork-related diseases must be developed.
Wearable and Implantable Devices for Cardiovascular Healthcare: from Monitoring to Therapy Based on Flexible and Stretchable Electronics
Authors: Hong Yongseok Joseph , Jeong Hyoyoung , Cho Kyoung Won , Lu Nanshu , Kim Dae‐Hyeong
Published: February 2019

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and has dramatically increased in recent years. Continuous cardiac monitoring is particularly important for early diagnosis and prevention, and flexible and stretchable electronic devices have emerged as effective tools for this purpose. Their thin, soft, and deformable features allow intimate and long‐term integration with biotissues, which enables continuous, high‐fidelity, and sometimes large‐area cardiac monitoring on the skin and/or heart surface. In addition to monitoring, intimate contact is also crucial for high‐precision therapies. Combined with tissue engineering, soft bioelectronics have also demonstrated the capability to repair damaged cardiac tissues. This review highlights the recent advances in wearable and implantable devices based on flexible and stretchable electronics for cardiovascular monitoring and therapy. First, wearable/implantable soft bioelectronics for cardiovascular monitoring (e.g., the electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation level) are reviewed. Then, advances in cardiovascular therapy based on soft bioelectronics (e.g., mesh pacing, ablation, robotic sleeves, and electronic stents) are discussed. Finally, device‐assisted tissue engineering therapy (e.g., functional electronic scaffolds and in vitro cardiac platforms) is discussed.
Ångstrom‐Scale Silver Particles as a Promising Agent for Low‐Toxicity Broad‐Spectrum Potent Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Wang Zhen‐Xing , Chen Chun‐Yuan , Wang Yang , Li Fu‐Xing‐Zi , Huang Jie , Luo Zhong‐Wei , Rao Shan‐Shan , Tan Yi‐Juan , Liu Yi‐Wei , Yin Hao , Wang Yi‐Yi , He Ze‐Hui , Xia Kun , Wu Ben , Hu Xiong‐Ke , Luo Ming‐Jie , Liu Hao‐Ming , Chen Tuan‐Hui , Hong Chun‐Gu , Cao Jia , Liu Zheng‐Zhao , Long Ze , Gan Ping‐Ping , Situ Wei‐Yi , Fan Rong , Yuan Ling‐Qing , Xie Hui
Published: February 2019

Cancer incidence is rising, and the efficacy of current available anticancer agents is limited by severe dose‐limiting toxicities and drug resistance problems. Nanoparticles are heralded as the next frontier in cancer treatment. Here, a pure physical method is used to efficiently fabricate very small silver particles even approaching the Ångstrom (Ång) dimension. Fructose is used as a dispersant and stabilizer to coat the Ång‐scale silver particles (AgÅPs). Functional and mechanistic studies demonstrate that fructose‐coated AgÅPs (F‐AgÅPs) can enter and accumulate in multiple cultured cancer cell lines to induce apoptotic death, whereas most normal cells are resistant to the efficacious dose of F‐AgÅPs; in vivo, intravenous administration of F‐AgÅPs potently inhibits the growth of pancreatic and lung cancer xenografts in nude mice, without inducing notable toxic effects on the healthy tissues. The results suggest the promising potential of F‐AgÅPs as a potent, safe, and broad‐spectrum agent for the cancer treatment.
Empowering Metal Phosphides Anode with Catalytic Attribute toward Superior Cyclability for Lithium‐Ion Storage
Authors: Yuan Huadong , Wu Min , Zheng Jianhui , Chen Zhi‐Gang , Zhang Wenkui , Luo Jianmin , Jin Chengbin , Sheng Ouwei , Liang Chu , Gan Yongping , Xia Yang , Zhang Jun , Huang Hui , Liu Yujing , Nai Jianwei , Tao Xinyong
Published: February 2019

Due to high capacity, moderate redox voltage, and relatively low polarization, metal phosphides (MPs) attract much attention as viable anode materials for lithium‐ion storage. However, severe capacity decay induced by the poor reversibility of discharge product (Li3P) in these anodes suppresses their practical applications. Herein, it is first revealed that N‐doped carbon can effectively catalyze the oxidation of Li3P by density functional theory calculations and activation experiments. By anchoring Ni2P nanoparticles on N‐doped carbon sheets (Ni2P@N‐C) via a facile method, an MP‐based anode rendered with a catalytic attribute is successfully fabricated for improving the reversibility of Li3P during lithium‐ion storage. Benefiting from this design, not only can high capacity and rate performance be reached, but also an extraordinary cyclability and capacity retention be realized, which is the best among all other phosphides reported so far. By employing such a Ni2P@N‐C composite and a commercialized active carbon as the anode and cathode, respectively, hybrid lithium‐ion capacitors can be fabricated with an ultrahigh energy density of 80 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 12.5 kW kg−1. This strategy of designing electrodes may be generalized to other energy storage systems whose cycling performance needs to be improved.
High‐Performance Pressure Sensors Based on 3D Microstructure Fabricated by a Facile Transfer Technology
Authors: Han Songjia , Liu Chunrui , Huang Zhaobin , Zheng Jiwen , Xu Huihua , Chu Sheng , Wu Jin , Liu Chuan
Published: February 2019

In this paper, a high‐performance pressure sensor that imitates the sensing functions of human skin is proposed. A rough poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) film transferred from abrasive paper acts as the sensing layer, while silver nanowires deposited on the bottom Ecoflex film with a 3D microstructure serve as the electrodes. Because of the bionic hierarchical structure, the resulting sensor exhibits a high pressure sensitivity of 6.13 kPa−1, low limit of detection (20 Pa), low operating voltage (0.1 V), and broad sensing range (up to 90 kPa). Furthermore, as the sensor is ultrathin, ultraflexible, and stretchable, it can easily conform to the uneven surface of human skin to allow monitoring of physical signals from the human body or detect the tactile stimulation of objects. In addition, a sensor array consisting of 4 × 4 pixels is assembled to realize the precise mapping of spatial pressure distribution. By virtue of its superior performance and low‐cost fabrication, the proposed pressure sensor may potentially be applied to next‐generation wearable devices such as e‐skin, soft robotics, and human–machine interaction systems.
Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Regioselective C3‐Alkylation of 2‐Arylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with Aryl Diazoesters
Authors: Kim Hyunseok , Byeon Minhyeon , Jeong Eunchong , Baek Yonghyeon , Jeong Seung Jin , Um Kyusik , Han Sang Hoon , Han Gi Uk , Ko Gi Hoon , Maeng Chanyoung , Son Jeong‐Yu , Kim Dongwook , Kim Sung Hong , Lee Kooyeon , Lee Phil Ho
Published: February 2019

A regioselective C3‐alkylation based on the reaction of 2‐arylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with a wide range of aryl α‐diazoesters in the presence of a Rh(II) catalyst in dichloroethane at room temperature was developed. This method could be applied in the synthesis of benzoimidazoquinolizinone and cycloheptaimidazopyridinone, which are novel heterocyclic scaffolds.

magnified image
Fullerene as a Photoelectron Transfer Promoter Enabling Stable TiO2‐Protected Sb2Se3 Photocathodes for Photo‐Electrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Tan Jeiwan , Yang Wooseok , Oh Yunjung , Lee Hyungsoo , Park Jaemin , Boppella Ramireddy , Kim Joosun , Moon Jooho
Published: February 2019

Understanding the degradation mechanisms of photoelectrodes and improving their stability are essential for fully realizing solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion via photo‐electrochemical (PEC) devices. Although amorphous TiO2 layers have been widely employed as a protective layer on top of p‐type semiconductors to implement durable photocathodes, gradual photocurrent degradation is still unavoidable. This study elucidates the photocurrent degradation mechanisms of TiO2‐protected Sb2Se3 photocathodes and proposes a novel interface‐modification methodology in which fullerene (C60) is introduced as a photoelectron transfer promoter for significantly enhancing long‐term stability. It is demonstrated that the accumulation of photogenerated electrons at the surface of the TiO2 layer induces the reductive dissolution of TiO2, accompanied by photocurrent degradation. In addition, the insertion of the C60 photoelectron transfer promoter at the Pt/TiO2 interface facilitates the rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons out of the TiO2 layer, thereby yielding enhanced stability. The Pt/C60/TiO2/Sb2Se3 device exhibits a high photocurrent density of 17 mA cm−2 and outstanding stability over 10 h of operation, representing the best PEC performance and long‐term stability compared with previously reported Sb2Se3‐based photocathodes. This research not only provides in‐depth understanding of the degradation mechanisms of TiO2‐protected photocathodes, but also suggests a new direction to achieve durable photocathodes for photo‐electrochemical water splitting.
Physician‐manned prehospital emergency care in tertiary emergency centers in Japan
Authors: Ohbe Hiroyuki , Isogai Shunsuke , Nakajima Mikio , Jo Taisuke , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: February 2019

Aim

Use of a physician‐manned prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) has recently become widespread in Japan. Understanding the epidemiology of critically ill patients is essential for planning national and regional physician‐manned prehospital EMS systems. However, current knowledge on patients receiving physician‐manned prehospital EMS is sparse. The present study aimed to determine the clinical features of critically ill patients with and without physician‐manned prehospital EMS, using a national inpatient database in Japan.

Methods

Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, we identified all hospitalized patients transported to tertiary emergency centers by physician‐manned EMS or EMS without a physician from April 2014 to March 2015. We collected data on patient characteristics, in‐hospital mortality, admission diagnoses, advanced life support interventions, and incidence of critical illnesses.

Results

We identified 497,911 hospitalized patients transported to tertiary emergency centers by EMS. Of these, 15,507 (3%) patients were hospitalized by physician‐manned EMS. The majority of admission diagnoses in the physician‐manned EMS group were classified “diseases of the circulatory system” (45%) and “injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes” (34%). The rates of in‐hospital mortality, advanced life support interventions, and critical illnesses in the physician‐manned EMS group were 22%, 51%, and 53%, respectively. The median incidences of hospitalized patients by physician‐manned EMS, advanced life support interventions, and critical illnesses were 12, 137, and 205 per 100,000 persons per year in facilities with physician‐manned EMS, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that physician‐manned EMS is dispatched to a relatively small proportion of critically ill patients in Japan.
Fractional Quantum Conductance Plateaus in Mosaic‐Like Conductors and Their Similarities to the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect
Authors: Kisslinger Ferdinand , Rienmüller Dennis , Ott Christian , Kampert Erik , Weber Heiko B.
Published: February 2019

A simple route to generate magnetotransport data is reported that results in fractional quantum Hall plateaus in the conductance without invoking strongly correlated physics. Ingredients to the generating model are conducting tiles with integer quantum Hall effect and metallic linkers, further Kirchhoff rules. When connecting few identical tiles in a mosaic, fractional steps occur in the conductance values. Richer spectra representing several fractions occur when the tiles are parametrically varied. Parts of the simulation data are supported with purposefully designed graphene mosaics in high magnetic fields. The findings emphasize that the occurrence of fractional conductance values, in particular in two‐terminal measurements, does not necessarily indicate interaction‐driven physics. The importance of an independent determination of charge densities is underscored and similarities with and differences to the fractional quantum Hall effect are critically discussed.
Synthesis and Characterization of Three Multi‐Shell Metalloid Gold Clusters Au32(R3P)12Cl8
Authors: Kenzler Sebastian , Fetzer Florian , Schrenk Claudio , Pollard Nia , Frojd Andrew R. , Clayborne Andre Z. , Schnepf Andreas
Published: February 2019

Three multi‐shell metalloid gold clusters of the composition Au32(R3P)12Cl8 (R=Et, nPr, nBu) were synthesized in a straightforward fashion by reducing R3PAuCl with NaBH4 in ethanol. The Au32 core comprises two shells, with the inner one constituting a tilted icosahedron and the outer one showing a distorted dodecahedral arrangement. The outer shell is completed by eight chloride atoms and twelve R3P groups. The inner icosahedron shows bond lengths typical for elemental gold while the distances of the gold atoms in the dodecahedral arrangement are in the region of aurophilic interactions. Quantum‐chemical calculations illustrate that the Jahn–Teller effect observed within the cluster core can be attributed to the electronic shell filling. The easily reproducible synthesis, good solubility, and high yields of these clusters render them perfect starting points for further research.
Rhodium‐Catalyzed Annelation of Benzoic Acids with α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with Cleavage of C−H, CO−OH, and C−C Bonds
Authors: Zhang Guodong , Hu Zhiyong , Belitz Florian , Ou Yang , Pirkl Nico , Gooßen Lukas J.
Published: February 2019

In the presence of a [Cp*RhCl2]2 catalyst, the Lewis acid In(OTf)3, and the mild base Na2CO3, aromatic carboxylates and α,β‐unsaturated ketones undergo a unique hydroarylation/Claisen/retro‐Claisen process to give the corresponding indanones. In this carboxylate‐directed ortho‐C−H annelation, the C−COR bond of the ketone and the CO−OH group of the aromatic carboxylate are cleaved, and the hydroxy group is transferred from the aromatic to the aliphatic acyl residue. This reactivity is synthetically useful, particularly when starting from cyclic ketones, which are converted into indanones bearing aliphatic carboxylate side chains, thus greatly increasing the molecular complexity of aromatic carboxylates in a single step.
Reactive Amphiphilic Conjugated Polymers for Inhibiting Amyloid β Assembly
Authors: Sun Han , Liu Jing , Li Shengliang , Zhou Lingyun , Wang Jianwu , Liu Libing , Lv Fengting , Gu Qi , Hu Baoyang , Ma Yuguo , Wang Shu
Published: February 2019

Protein misfolding and aberrant aggregations are associated with multiple prevalent and intractable diseases. Inhibition of amyloid assembly is a promising strategy for the treatment of amyloidosis. Reported here is the design and synthesis of a reactive conjugated polymer, a poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) derivative, functionalized with p‐nitrophenyl esters (PPV‐NP) and it inhibits the assembly of amyloid proteins, degrades preformed fibrils, and reduces the cytotoxicity of amyloid aggregations in living cells. PPV‐NP is attached to the proteins through hydrophobic interactions and irreversible covalent linkage. PPV‐NP also exhibited the capacity to eliminate Aβ plaques in brain slices in ex vivo assays. This work represents an innovative attempt to inhibit protein pathogenic aggregates, and may offer insights into the development of therapeutic strategies for amyloidosis.
PaperPoles: Facilitating adaptive visual exploration of scientific publications by citation links
Authors: He Jiangen , Ping Qing , Lou Wen , Chen Chaomei
Published: February 2019

Finding relevant publications is a common task. Typically, a researcher browses through a list of publications and traces additional relevant publications. When relevant publications are identified, the list may be expanded by the citation links of the relevant publications. The information needs of researchers may change as they go through such iterative processes. The exploration process quickly becomes cumbersome as the list expands. Most existing academic search systems tend to be limited in terms of the extent to which searchers can adapt their search as they proceed. In this article, we introduce an adaptive visual exploration system named PaperPoles to support exploration of scientific publications in a context‐aware environment. Searchers can express their information needs by intuitively formulating positive and negative queries. The search results are grouped and displayed in a cluster view, which shows aspects and relevance patterns of the results to support navigation and exploration. We conducted an experiment to compare PaperPoles with a list‐based interface in performing two academic search tasks with different complexity. The results show that PaperPoles can improve the accuracy of searching for the simple and complex tasks. It can also reduce the completion time of searching and improve exploration effectiveness in the complex task. PaperPoles demonstrates a potentially effective workflow for adaptive visual search of complex information.
Design of a low‐cost culture medium based in whey permeate for biomass production of enological Lactobacillus plantarum strains
Authors: Cerdeira Victoria , Bravo‐Ferrada Bárbara M. , Semorile Liliana , Tymczyszyn Elizabeth
Published: February 2019

The production of malolactic starter cultures requires the obtention of suitably large biomass at low‐cost. In this work it was possible to obtain a good amount of biomass, at laboratory scale, of two enological strains of Lb. plantarum, by formulating a culture medium based on whey permeate (WP), a by‐product of the cheese industry usually disposed as waste, when this was supplemented with yeast extract (Y), salts (S) and Tween 80 (T) (WPYST). Bacteria grown in WPYST medium exhibited good tolerance to stress conditions of synthetic wine (pH 3.5, ethanol 13% vol/vol). However, when WPYST was added with 8% vol/vol ethanol, cultures inoculated in synthetic wine, showed a lower viability and capacity to consume L‐malic acid than when they were cultured in WPYST without ethanol. Subsequently, strains grown in WPYST were inoculated in sterile wine samples (final stage of alcoholic fermentation) of the red varietals Merlot and Pinot noir, and incubated at laboratory scale. Cultures from WPYST, inoculated in Pinot noir wine, showed a better performance than bacteria grown in MRS broth, and exhibited a consumption of L‐malic acid higher than 90%. However, cultures from WPYST or from MRS broth, inoculated in sterile Merlot wine, showed a lower survival. This study allowed the formulation of a low‐cost culture medium, based on a by‐product of the food industry, which showed to be adequate for the growth of two enological strains of Lb. plantarum, suggesting their potentiality for application in the elaboration of malolactic starter cultures.
Melatonin supports alendronate in preserving bone matrix and prevents gastric inflammation in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Gürler Esra Bihter , Çilingir‐Kaya Özlem Tuğçe , Peker Eyüboglu Irem , Ercan Feriha , Akkiprik Mustafa , Reiter Russell J. , Yegen Berrak Ç.
Published: February 2019

The anti‐catabolic bisphosphonate alendronate is considered as the first‐line medical treatment in post‐menopausal osteoporosis; but several side effects, including gastric mucosal injury, are associated with its use. The aim was to elucidate whether combined treatment with melatonin plus alendronate would be more advantageous in the maintenance of bone and the prevention of gastric side effects. Under anaesthesia, female Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), while control group had sham surgery. Four weeks after the surgery, OVX rats were treated with saline, melatonin (25 μg/mL/d), alendronate (70 μg/kg/wk), melatonin + alendronate, melatonin + melatonin receptor antagonist (luzindole, 10 μg/kg/d) or alendronate + melatonin + luzindole for 8 weeks. Rats were euthanized at the end of 12th week. Runx2 expression, apoptotic cells, and trabecular thickness were evaluated in tibiae, while gastric tissues were analysed for oxidative injury parameters. In all OVX groups, Runx2 expression was depressed. Saline‐treated OVX group presented an extreme decrease in calcified area in opposition to melatonin‐ or alendronate‐treated groups, while the bones in alendronate + melatonin‐treated group were similar to those of the sham‐operated group. Concomitant with the improvements examined histologically in bone tissues, quantitative TUNEL (+) cells were similarly lower in alendronate‐ or melatonin‐treated groups. Oxidative gastric damage was increased in saline‐ or alendronate‐treated groups, which were depressed in the presence of melatonin. Although melatonin and alendronate exerted similar supportive effects on the maintenance of bone mass, melatonin may have a more advantageous impact by protecting against OVX‐induced gastric injury, which was aggravated by alendronate use.

Highlights

Our results demonstrate that alendronate and melatonin had similar supportive effects on the maintenance of bone mass, while melatonin prevented the gastric side effects of alendronate, making this combination an advisable therapeutic approach in the treatment of menopausal osteoporosis.
Locating and accessing large datasets using Flower Index Approach
Authors: Kvet Michal , Krsak Emil , Matiasko Karol
Published: February 2019

Information system core part is just the data stored in the database. Over the decades, the number and structure of the data have been changed. Nowadays, data must reflect not only current valid data but also historical and future images as well. Each data tuple is therefore delimited by the validity timeframe forming a temporal paradigm. Several temporal models have been developed with an emphasis on the data structure, the frequency of changes, and synchronization processes. Although the system stores time delimited data during the object lifecycle, it is not efficient, even useful to store data in the main system indefinitely. Reliability is another significant aspect of the processing covered by the purging processes. Query processing is based on the accessing data in the memory buffer cache of the database instance preceded by the loading process from the physical database. This paper proposes a Flower Index Approach as the main contribution. It removes the impact of the High Water Mark, removes useless block loading with no relevant data, and provides effective data access stream using a specific index. Full Table Scan is then not used and data are accessed directly using index ROWID locators.
Distribution of clomipramine, citalopram, midazolam, and metabolites in skeletal tissue after chronic dosing in rats
Authors: Vandenbosch Michiel , Somers Tomas , Cuypers Eva
Published: February 2019

In recent years, the use of skeletal tissue as an alternative matrix in forensic toxicology has received new interest. In cases where extreme decomposition has taken place, analysis of skeletal tissue is often the only option left. In this article, a fully validated method is presented and the distribution of clomipramine, citalopram, midazolam, and metabolites after chronically administration is examined within skeletal tissue. Rats were chronically dosed with respectively clomipramine, citalopram, or midazolam. Extracts were quantitatively analyzed using liquid chromatography−electrospray ionization−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−ESI−MS/MS). Clomipramine, citalopram, and metabolites, respectively desmethylclomipramine and desmethylcitalopram are shown to be detectable in all bone types sampled. Midazolam and its metabolite α‐OH‐midazolam could not be detected. The absence of midazolam in extracts gives an indication that drugs with pKa values under physiological pH are badly or not incorporated in bone tissue. Bone and post‐mortem blood concentrations were compared. A range of different bone types was compared and showed that the concentration is strongly dependent on the bone type. In concordance with previous publications, the humerus shows the highest drug levels. Skeletal tissue concentrations found ranged from 1.1 to 587.8 ng/g. Comparison of the same bone type between the different rats showed high variances. However, the drugs−metabolite ratio proved to have lower variances (<20%). Moreover, the drugs−metabolite ratio in the sampled bones is in close concordance to the ratios seen in blood within a rat. From this, we can assume that the drugs−metabolite ratio in skeletal tissue may prove to be more useful than absolute found concentration.
Fish conservation in the land of steppe and sky: Evolutionarily significant units of threatened salmonid species in Mongolia mirror major river basins
Authors: Kaus Andrew , Michalski Stefan , Hänfling Bernd , Karthe Daniel , Borchardt Dietrich , Durka Walter
Published: February 2019

Mongolia's salmonids are suffering extensive population declines; thus, more comprehensive fisheries management and conservation strategies are required. To assist with their development, a better understanding of the genetic structure and diversity of these threatened species would allow a more targeted approach for preserving genetic variation and ultimately improve long‐term species recoveries. It is hypothesized that the unfragmented river basins that have persisted across Mongolia provide unobstructed connectivity for resident salmonid species. Thus, genetic structure is expected to be primarily segregated between major river basins. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the population structure for three salmonid genera (Hucho, Brachymystax and Thymallus) using different genetic markers to identify evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) and priority rivers to focus conservation efforts. Fish were assigned to separate ESUs when the combined evidence of mitochondrial and nuclear data indicated genetic isolation. Hucho taimen exhibited a dichotomous population structure forming two ESUs, with five priority rivers. Within the Brachymystax genus, there were three B. lenokESUs and one B. tumensisESU, along with six priority rivers. While B. tumensiswas confirmed to display divergent mtDNA haplotypes, haplotype sharing between these two congeneric species was also identified. For T. baicalensis,only a single ESU was assigned, with five priority rivers identified plus Lake Hovsgol. Additionally, we confirmed that T. nigrescens from Lake Hovsgol is a synonym of T. baicalensis. Across all species, the most prominent pattern was strong differentiation among major river basins with low differentiation and weak patterns of isolation by distance within river basins, which corroborated our hypothesis of high within‐basin connectivity across Mongolia. This new genetic information provides authorities the opportunity to distribute resources for management between ESUs while assigning additional protection for the more genetically valuable salmonid rivers so that the greatest adaptive potential within each species can be preserved.