bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid fabrication of detachable three‐dimensional tissues by layering of cell sheets with heating centrifuge
Authors: Haraguchi Yuji , Kagawa Yuki , Hasegawa Akiyuki , Kubo Hirotsugu , Shimizu Tatsuya
Published: January 2018

Confluent cultured cells on a temperature‐responsive culture dish can be harvested as an intact cell sheet by decreasing temperature below 32°C. A three‐dimensional (3‐D) tissue can be fabricated by the layering of cell sheets. A resulting 3‐D multilayered cell sheet‐tissue on a temperature‐responsive culture dish can be also harvested without any damage by only temperature decreasing. For shortening the fabrication time of the 3‐D multilayered constructs, we attempted to layer cell sheets on a temperature‐responsive culture dish with centrifugation. However, when a cell sheet was attached to the culture surface with a conventional centrifuge at 22‐23°C, the cell sheet hardly adhere to the surface due to its noncell adhesiveness. Therefore, in this study, we have developed a heating centrifuge. In centrifugation (55g) at 36‐37°C, the cell sheet adhered tightly within 5 min to the dish without significant cell damage. Additionally, centrifugation accelerated the cell sheet‐layering process. The heating centrifugation shortened the fabrication time by one‐fifth compared to a multilayer tissue fabrication without centrifugation. Furthermore, the multilayered constructs were finally detached from the dishes by decreasing temperature. This rapid tissue‐fabrication method will be used as a valuable tool in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative therapy. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:692–701, 2018
Association between gluten protein composition and breadmaking quality characteristics in historical and modern spring wheat
Authors: Malalgoda Maneka , Ohm Jae‐Bom , Meinhardt Steven , Simsek Senay
Published: January 2018

Background and objectives

Thirty hard red spring wheat cultivars released between 1910 and 2013 were studied to determine the changes in quality characteristics that occurred over time, and to determine their association with protein composition.

Findings

Significant positive correlations (p ≤ .01) were found between release year and dough quality characteristics, such as farinograph peak time and stability. In size‐exclusion HPLC analysis of proteins, significant positive correlations (p ≤ .01) were observed between release year, glutenin polymeric proteins, and the ω‐gliadin fraction, which also showed significant positive correlations (p ≤ .01) with dough properties. In reverse‐phase HPLC analysis of gliadins, five ω‐gliadin peaks showed significant correlations (p ≤ .05) with year and farinograph characteristics. Mass spectrometry was performed to identify the proteins in these peaks.

Conclusions

Overall, the results indicated that breeding efforts improved dough properties, which could be associated with quantitative variations in glutenin polymeric proteins, and certain subfractions of ω‐gliadins.

Significance and novelty

Glutenin polymeric proteins, together with specific ω‐gliadin proteins, may play an important role in baking quality of spring wheat.
Pd‐Tipped Au Nanorods for Plasmon‐Enhanced Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Photoelectric and Photothermal Effects
Authors: Wei Yan , Zhao Zhenlu , Yang Ping
Published: January 2018

Plasmonic bimetallic structures have been wildly used in photocatalysis, owing to their tunable optical properties and desirable catalytic activities. However, it is still a challenge to realize the enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using these structures with electric, photo‐, and thermal effects. Herein, we report that Pd‐tipped Au nanorods (NRs) were prepared for electrochemical water splitting in the visible and near‐infrared region. The NRs exhibited a lower onset overpotential (40 mV) and high exchange current density (1.585 mA/cm2), which was largely ascribed to the increased carrier density in Pd induced by photo‐excited Au NRs, and further enhancement of Pd catalytic activity resulted from the photothermal effect of Au NRs. As the hot electron transport channel was hindered by excess Pd nanoparticles, it was found that the HER performance of tipped NRs was much higher than that of fully covered ones. This study extends enhanced electrocatalytic HER activity with plasmonic bimetallic structures by taking full advantage of the synergy between photoelectric and photothermal effects.
Rewiring Chemical Networks Based on Dynamic Dithioacetal and Disulfide Bonds
Authors: Orrillo A. Gastón , La‐Venia Agustina , Escalante Andrea M. , Furlan Ricardo L. E.
Published: January 2018

The control of the connectivity between nodes of synthetic networks is still largely unexplored. To address this point we take advantage of a simple dynamic chemical system with two exchange levels that are mutually connected and can be activated simultaneously or sequentially. Dithioacetals and disulfides can be exchanged simultaneously under UV light in the presence of a sensitizer. Crossover reactions between both exchange processes produce a fully connected chemical network. On the other hand, the use of acid, base or UV light connects different nodes allowing network rewiring.
Lasers for Flow Cytometry: Current and Future Trends
Authors: Shapiro Howard M. , Telford William G.
Published: January 2018

Lasers are the principal light sources for flow cytometers. Virtually all cytometers are equipped with at least one (and often many more) lasers. This unit covers the various types of lasers available and the qualities that make them suitable or unsuitable for use in flow cytometers. Also included is a discussion of future directions, particularly in the area of tunable laser development. Practical tips are provided for building multilaser cytometer systems. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Basics of Digital Microscopy
Authors: Wallace Callen T. , Jessup Morgan , Bernas Tytus , Peña Karina A. , Calderon Michael J. , Loughran Patricia A.
Published: January 2018

Modern digital microscopy combines the equipment of classical light microscopy with a computerized imaging system. The technique comprises image formation by optics, image registration by a camera, and saving of image data in a computer file. This chapter describes limitations that are particular to each of these processes, including optical resolution, efficiency of image registration, characteristics of image file formats, and data management. Further suggestions are given which serve, in turn, to help construct a set of guidelines aimed at optimization of digital microscopic imaging. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Deep Eutectic Solvent Aqueous Solutions as Efficient Media for the Solubilization of Hardwood Xylans
Authors: Morais Eduarda S. , Mendonça Patrícia V. , Coelho Jorge F. J. , Freire Mara G. , Freire Carmen S. R. , Coutinho João A. P. , Silvestre Armando J. D.
Published: January 2018

This work contributes to the development of integrated lignocellulosic‐based biorefineries by the pioneering exploitation of hardwood xylans by solubilization and extraction in deep eutectic solvents (DES). DES formed by choline chloride and urea or acetic acid were initially evaluated as solvents for commercial xylan as a model compound. The effects of temperature, molar ratio, and concentration of the DES aqueous solutions were evaluated and optimized by using a response surface methodology. The results obtained demonstrated the potential of these solvents, with 328.23 g L−1 of xylan solubilization using 66.7 wt % DES in water at 80 °C. Furthermore, xylans could be recovered by precipitation from the DES aqueous media in yields above 90 %. The detailed characterization of the xylans recovered after solubilization in aqueous DES demonstrated that 4‐O‐methyl groups were eliminated from the 4‐O‐methylglucuronic acids moieties and uronic acids (15 %) were cleaved from the xylan backbone during this process. The similar Mw values of both pristine and recovered xylans confirmed the success of the reported procedure. DES recovery in four additional extraction cycles was also demonstrated. Finally, the successful extraction of xylans from Eucalyptus globulus wood by using aqueous solutions of DES was demonstrated.
Spark‐generated microbubble cell sorter for microfluidic flow cytometry
Authors: Zhao Jingjing , You Zheng
Published: January 2018

High‐speed and accurate cell sorting is of great significance for cell analysis regarding both bioresearch and clinical application. Different from the jet‐in‐air sorting of commercial flow cytometers, sorting in fully enclosed and disposal microfluidic chips can avoid aerosols and crosscontamination, thus contributing to the improvement of biosafety and test accuracy. However, current microfluidic sorters usually require complicated structures, or otherwise cannot attain high throughput. In this article, a sorting mechanism for microfluidics is proposed for the first time based on the jet flow induced by the spark‐generated cavitation microbubble that can be easily realized by a pair of electrodes. The sorter was integrated into a microfluidic chip based on three‐dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing and a binary optical element (BOE) for laser illumination. Besides, several aspects of the sorting mechanism were studied to optimize the device. It achieved a switching time of 250 μs at the sample flow velocity of 5 m/s and performed the continuous operation at 200 Hz. Both the stability of fluorescence signals and the viability of cells were basically maintained. To conclude, this work explores a new on‐chip sorting mechanism which possesses the merits of simple structure, easy control, and fast switching. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Maternal prenatal stress and infant DNA methylation: A systematic review
Authors: Sosnowski David W. , Booth Carolyn , York Timothy P. , Amstadter Ananda B. , Kliewer Wendy
Published: January 2018

Maternal prenatal stress has been linked to a variety of infant postnatal outcomes, partially through alterations in fetal HPA axis functioning; yet the underlying pathobiology remains elusive. Current literature posits DNA methylation as a candidate mechanism through which maternal prenatal stress can influence fetal HPA axis functioning. The goal of this systematic review was to summarize the literature examining the associations among maternal prenatal stress, DNA methylation of commonly studied HPA axis candidate genes, and infant HPA axis functioning. Results from the review provided evidence for a link between various maternal prenatal stressors, NR3C1 methylation, and infant stress reactivity, but findings among other genes were limited, with mixed results. An original study quality review tool revealed that a majority of studies in the review are adequate, and emphasizes the need for future research to consider study quality when interpreting research findings.
Land surveys show regional variability of historical fire regimes and dry forest structure of the western United States
Authors: Baker William L. , Williams Mark A.
Published: January 2018

An understanding of how historical fire and structure in dry forests (ponderosa pine, dry mixed conifer) varied across the western United States remains incomplete. Yet, fire strongly affects ecosystem services, and forest restoration programs are underway. We used General Land Office survey reconstructions from the late 1800s across 11 landscapes covering ~1.9 million ha in four states to analyze spatial variation in fire regimes and forest structure. We first synthesized the state of validation of our methods using 20 modern validations, 53 historical cross‐validations, and corroborating evidence. These show our method creates accurate reconstructions with low errors. One independent modern test reported high error, but did not replicate our method and made many calculation errors. Using reconstructed parameters of historical fire regimes and forest structure from our validated methods, forests were found to be non‐uniform across the 11 landscapes, but grouped together in three geographical areas. Each had a mixture of fire severities, but dominated by low‐severity fire and low median tree density in Arizona, mixed‐severity fire and intermediate to high median tree density in Oregon‐California, and high‐severity fire and intermediate median tree density in Colorado. Programs to restore fire and forest structure could benefit from regional frameworks, rather than one size fits all.
Age, state, environment, and season dependence of senescence in body mass
Authors: Kroeger Svenja B. , Blumstein Daniel T. , Armitage Kenneth B. , Reid Jane M. , Martin Julien G. A.
Published: January 2018

Senescence is a highly variable process that comprises both age‐dependent and state‐dependent components and can be greatly affected by environmental conditions. However, few studies have quantified the magnitude of age‐dependent and state‐dependent senescence in key life‐history traits across individuals inhabiting different spatially structured and seasonal environments. We used longitudinal data from wild female yellow‐bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), living in two adjacent environments that differ in elevation and associated phenology, to quantify how age and individual state, measured as “time to death,” affect body mass senescence in different environments. Further, we quantified how patterns of senescence differed between two biologically distinct seasons, spring, and late summer. Body mass senescence had an age‐dependent component, expressed as a decrease in mass in old age. Overall, estimated age‐dependent senescence was greater in females living in the more favorable lower elevation environment, than in the harsher higher elevation environment, and greater in late summer than in spring. Body mass senescence also had a state‐dependent component, captured by effects of time to death, but only in the more favorable lower elevation environment. In spring, body mass gradually decreased from 2 years before death, whereas in late summer, state‐dependent effects were expressed as a terminal decrease in body mass in the last year of life. Contrary to expectations, we found that senescence was more likely to be observed under more favorable environmental conditions, rather than under harsher conditions. By further demonstrating that senescence patterns differ among seasons, our results imply that within‐year temporal environmental variation must be considered alongside spatial environmental variation in order to characterize and understand the pattern and magnitude of senescence in wild populations.
Interactions between species attributes explain population dynamics in stream fishes under changing climate
Authors: Chevalier Mathieu , Comte Lise , Laffaille Pascal , Grenouillet Gaël
Published: January 2018

Species responses to climate change have been shown to vary in both direction and magnitude. Understanding these idiosyncratic responses is crucial if we are to predict extinction risk and set up efficient conservation strategies. The variations observed across species have been related to several species attributes including intrinsic traits such as physiological tolerances or life‐history strategies but also to niche characteristics (e.g., niche breadth [NB], niche position [NP]). However, although previous studies have successfully linked species attributes to population dynamics or range shifts, few have considered synergistic effects to explain responses to climate variations. Here, we assessed whether five species attributes (fecundity, thermal safety margin, trophic position [TP], NB, and NP) explained interspecific differences in four parameters influencing population dynamics of 35 stream fish species at the French scale. We used Bayesian N‐mixture models to estimate posterior distributions of the growth rate, the strength of density dependence, and the influence of both mean temperature and temperature variability on populations for each species. We then used phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) models to investigate the influence of species attributes and their interactions on interspecific differences in each of the four parameter driving population dynamics. The percentage of variance explained by the PGLS models was relatively high (around 40% on average), indicating that species attributes are good predictors of species population dynamics. Furthermore, we showed that the influence of these single attributes was mediated by other attributes, especially NP and TP. Importantly, we found that models including interaction terms had greater support over simple additive models in explaining interspecific differences in population dynamics. Taken together, these results point to the importance of considering the interplay between species attributes in unraveling the mechanisms involved in population dynamics and understanding the vulnerability of species to global change.
Simulating the dependence of aspen (Populus tremuloides) on redistributed snow in a semi‐arid watershed
Authors: Soderquist B. S. , Kavanagh K. L. , Link T. E. , Seyfried M. S. , Winstral A. H.
Published: January 2018

In semi‐arid mountainous regions across the western United States, the distribution of upland aspen (Populus tremuloides) is often related to heterogeneous soil moisture subsidies resulting from redistributed snow. As temperatures increase, interactions between decreasing snowpack and future trends in the net primary productivity (NPP) of aspen forests remain uncertain. This study characterizes the importance of heterogeneously distributed snow water to aspen communities in the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory located in southwestern Idaho, USA. Net primary productivity of three aspen stands was simulated at sites spanning elevational and precipitation gradients using the biogeochemical process model Biome‐BGC and precipitation data adjusted to account for drifting snow. Compared to a spatially homogeneous precipitation distribution, Biome‐BGC simulations accounting for redistributed precipitation were in better agreement with previous simulations of snow accumulation and soil moisture field measurements. During drought years, simulations below the largest drifts that included wind‐redistributed snow resulted in NPP values nearly 77% higher than simulations assuming uniform precipitation. However, during wet years (and at sites with higher total precipitation), increased effective precipitation resulting from drifting snow did not have a significant role in aspen productivity. In these cases, soil moisture was found to be non‐limiting even in the absence of redistributed snow. Increased water availability from snow drifts often exceeded the storage capacity of the soil and contributed little to plant available water used later in the growing season.
Spatiotemporal variation in drivers of parasitoid metacommunity structure in continuous forest landscapes
Authors: Marrec Ronan , Pontbriand‐Paré Olivier , Legault Simon , James Patrick M. A.
Published: January 2018

Although landscape spatial structure is known to influence spatial patterns of biodiversity, its effect on insect communities at higher trophic levels such as parasitoids remains poorly understood. This is particularly true in continuously distributed forests in which it can be difficult to identify clear boundaries among habitat patches. Using the metacommunity framework, we evaluate the relative importance of forest landscape structure, non‐environmental spatial structure, and host outbreak status to spatial and within‐season temporal variation in parasitoid communities. We used variation partitioning and metacommunity structure analyses to identify (1) the drivers of the metacommunity structure of parasitoids associated with the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), and (2) how their relative influence varies through a season. We used a multi‐scale perspective to summarize landscape heterogeneity in regions of increasing size around the community sampling locations. Spruce budworm larvae and pupae were sampled during three periods during the summer 2014 in 18 locations within continuous forest landscapes in Quebec, Canada. Thirty‐two parasitoid wasp and fly species were recorded, 16 of which were found at more than one location. We found that the mechanisms shaping metacommunity structure changed over the course of a single season and that community structure varied among sites. At early and late periods in the season, we found that non‐environmental structure, forest structure, and likely inter‐specific competition were the main mechanisms influencing spatial variation in community structure. These results suggest a competition–dispersal trade‐off. In contrast, at the middle period of the season, environmental filtering by forest structure and stochastic events were found to influence community structure. This period corresponds to the transition between early and late parasitoid communities. Our findings on the role of environmental filtering and forest structure support the idea that forest manipulations have the potential to influence parasitoid populations and hence spruce budworm outbreak dynamics as hypothesized by the “enemies hypothesis.” Moreover, our study highlights the value of considering a multi‐scale approach and temporal variability of species interactions when characterizing the multiple processes shaping spatial metacommunity structure, particularly in continuous environments.
Ruthenium(II)‐(p‐cymene)‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes for the N‐Alkylation of Amine Using the Green Hydrogen Borrowing Methodology
Authors: Kaloğlu Murat , Gürbüz Nevin , Sémeril David , Özdemir İsmail
Published: January 2018

Six ruthenium(II) complexes with the general molecular formula [RuCl2(NHC)(η6‐p‐cymene)] (NHC = N‐heterocyclic carbene) were synthesized by the transmetalation method from [RuCl2(η6‐p‐cymene)]2 and silver(I)‐NHC complexes. All complexes were fully characterized by analytical and spectral methods (FT‐IR, elemental analysis and 1H and 13C NMR). The solid‐state structure of one of the ruthenium complexes [dichloro‐{1‐[2‐(2‐ethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]‐3‐(3,5‐dimethylbenzyl)benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene}(p‐cymene) ruthenium(II)] has been established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study, which revealed that the ruthenium atom adopt a classical piano‐stool coordination geometry. Under the optimised conditions, these ruthenium complexes were found to be efficient catalysts for N‐alkylation of aniline with arylmethyl alcohols using the hydrogen borrowing strategy, which is a cost‐effective and environmentally attractive reaction for the preparation of N‐alkylated amines.
Synthesis of 1,2,3‐Fused Indole Polyheterocycles by Copper‐Catalyzed Cascade Reaction
Authors: Kavala Veerababurao , Yang Zonghan , Konala Ashok , Yang Tang‐Hao , Kuo Chun‐Wei , Ruan Jian‐Yao , Yao Ching‐Fa
Published: January 2018

A one‐pot reaction has been devloped for the preparation of 1,2,3‐fused indole polyheterocycles by starting from 2‐iodobenzamide and 2‐iodobenzyl cyanide in the presence of a copper catalyst. The cascade process involves the efficient formation of one C–C and three C–N bonds. A broad substrate scope, good yields, and short reactions times are key features of this strategy.
1,8‐Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Cyclization of Propargylic Alcohols with Elemental Sulfur
Authors: Hu Yuya , Yin Zhiping , Werner Thomas , Spannenberg Anke , Wu Xiao‐Feng
Published: January 2018

A carbonylation procedure involving the cyclization of propargylic alcohols with elemental sulfur was developed. With 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene as the catalyst, elemental sulfur and carbon monoxide are activated and incorporated into propargylic alcohols. Good to excellent yields of the desired sulfur‐containing heterocycles were obtained at room temperature.
A window on The International Environmetrics Society: The first 25 international conferences
Authors: Esterby S. R.
Published: January 2018

The 25th international conference of The International Environmetrics Society (TIES) was held in 2015. The conferences have been an integral part of the development of TIES and of the society's official journal, Environmetrics, since the concurrent inception of the society and journal at the first conference in 1989. The conferences are documented in chronological order, with more description of the early conferences because many features were set at these conferences. Some common features are included for all conferences, and only new or particularly relevant components are mentioned for later conferences. This development is then drawn on to discuss the character, contributors, and evolution of the conferences in the context of TIES as a society with the aim of fostering the development and use of quantitative methods in solving environmental problems through collaboration among individuals in different disciplines and types of organizations.
Carbon‐based adsorbents for post‐combustion capture: a review
Authors: Zhao Hongyu , Luo Xiaona , Zhang Haijiao , Sun Nannan , Wei Wei , Sun Yuhan
Published: January 2018

Carbon dioxide capture is regarded as an effective method of greenhouse gas reduction. Post‐combustion capture from power plants will play a key role in CO2 abatement due to their important contribution to total CO2 emissions. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art amine scrubbing technology, adsorption‐based post‐combustion capture (PCC) possesses excellent potential for lowering energy demand, and thus the total cost. Due to their relatively weak interaction with CO2, carbons showed lower adsorption capacity during PCC as compared with some benchmark materials (e.g. amine‐based adsorbents); however, their high cyclic stability and fast adsorption/desorption kinetics suggest that carbons have the important potential to achieve an optimized or balanced performance, and thus provide a low‐cost PCC process. In this review, we present preparation options and consider the structure‐performance relationship in CO2 capture with carbons, and summarize recent progress on using carbons for CO2 capture with special focus on PCC. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incidence and cost analysis of hospital admission and 30‐day readmission among patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Chirapongsathorn Sakkarin , Krittanawong Chayakrit , Enders Felicity T. , Pendegraft Richard , Mara Kristin C. , Borah Bijan J. , Visscher Sue L. , Loftus Conor G. , Shah Vijay H. , Talwalkar Jayant A. , Kamath Patrick S.
Published: January 2018

We examined risks for first hospitalization and the rate, risk factors, costs, and 1‐year outcome of 30‐day readmission among patients admitted for complications of cirrhosis. Data were retrospectively analyzed for adult patients with cirrhosis residing in Minnesota, Iowa, or Wisconsin and admitted from 2010 through 2013 at both campuses of the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN. Readmission was captured at the two hospitals as well as at community hospitals in the tristate area within the Mayo Clinic Health System. The incidence of hospitalization for complications of cirrhosis was 100/100,000 population, with increasing age and male sex being the strongest risks for hospitalization. For the 2,048 hospitalized study patients, the overall 30‐day readmission rate was 32%; 498 (24.3%) patients were readmitted to Mayo Clinic hospitals and 157 (7.7%) to community hospitals, mainly for complications of portal hypertension (52%) and infections (30%). Readmission could not be predicted accurately. There were 146 deaths during readmission and an additional 105 deaths up to 1 year of follow‐up (50.4% total mortality). Annual postindex hospitalization costs for those with a 30‐day readmission were substantially higher ($73,252) than those readmitted beyond 30 days ($62,053) or those not readmitted ($5,719). At 1‐year follow‐up, only 20.4% of patients readmitted within 30 days were at home. In conclusion, patients with cirrhosis have high rates of hospitalization, especially among men over 65 years, and of unscheduled 30‐day readmission. Readmission cannot be accurately predicted. Postindex hospitalization costs are high; nationally, the annual costs are estimated to be more than $4.45 billion. Only 20% of patients readmitted within 30 days are home at 1 year. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:188–198)
Empowering 5G network softwarization through information centric networking
Authors: Amadeo Marica , Campolo Claudia , Molinaro Antonella
Published: January 2018

Fifth‐generation (5G) systems are designed as flexible and programmable multiservice networking and computing infrastructures, with improved throughput, latency, and reliability performance. In this paper, we discuss our view about the role of Information‐Centric Networking (ICN) in 5G systems and present some architectural perspectives for the ICN‐5G deployment. The proposed architecture relies on a hybrid approach, which makes the best of the centralized software‐defined networking and the distributed ICN delivery mechanism to effectively suit the mobility of users, contents, and virtualized network/service functions. Its viability is showcased in a representative use case against a legacy non‐ICN approach.
Replacing LIBOR: Is BTFR the Right Choice?
Authors: Tokic Damir
Published: January 2018

The Alternative Reference Rate Committee (ARRC) has recently recommended replacing the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) with the newly created Broad Treasury Financing Rate (BTFR). This article discusses the drawbacks of LIBOR, and whether BTFR is the right choice for the new interest rate benchmark. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Implications of Clawback Adoption in Executive Compensation Contracts: A Survey of Recent Research
Authors: Prescott Gregory L. , Vann Carol E.
Published: January 2018

While clawback provisions have been used in legal cases for decades, only after the passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd‐Frank Act of 2010 has the idea of clawback provisions in executive compensation contracts begun to talk hold in the U.S. Although the Securities and Exchange Commission has yet to implement final rules regarding clawback provisions for public companies, in recent years academic researchers have begun to investigate how the voluntary adoption of clawback provisions might impact financial reporting quality, compensation paid to covered executives, firm value, and a host of other firm‐level factors. The purpose of this article is to review select relevant clawback research published in premiere accounting and finance academic journals in recent years to better gauge the implications of clawback adoption and to attempt to discern any corporate governance effects of clawback adoption.
Managers' and Auditors' Responsibilities for Evaluating Going Concern
Authors: Clikeman Paul M.
Published: January 2018

During and shortly after the global financial crisis, critics complained that too many auditors failed to flag their clients' financial vulnerabilities. Since then, both the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) have issued new standards increasing managers' and auditors' responsibilities for evaluating an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014‐15 defines substantial doubt, requires managers to evaluate every reporting period whether there are adverse conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and specifies information to be disclosed in the financial statements when such adverse conditions or events exist. Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 132 requires auditors to assess the appropriateness of the entity's use of the going concern basis of accounting, assess whether substantial doubt exists about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and evaluate whether the financial statement disclosures regarding going concern are adequate. Both standards bring American accounting and auditing practices into closer conformity with international standards. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption via inhibiting RANKL signaling
Authors: Song Dezhi , Cao Zhen , Huang Song , Tickner Jennifer , Li Nan , Qiu Heng , Chen Xi , Wang Chao , Chen Kai , Sun Youqiang , Dong Shiwu , Xu Jiake
Published: January 2018

Osteoclasts are highly differentiated multinucleated giant cells that play fundamental roles in bone resorption and in the pathogenesis of osteolytic conditions, such as osteoporosis and cancer‐induced bone loss. Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (ABP) is a hydrophilic compound with anti‐oxidation and anti‐aging characteristics. The impact of ABP on RANKL‐induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption has not been assessed, hence, in this study we investigated the effect of ABP on osteoclast formation and resorption in murine bone marrow derived osteoclasts. We found that ABP was able to suppress RANKL‐induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity at concentrations above 6.5 µM, while demonstrating no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 10 µM. The actions of ABP were mediated through inhibition of RANKL‐induced c‐Fos and NFATc1 gene and protein expression. Furthermore, we found that ABP suppressed NFATc1 transcriptional activity, and the phosphorylation of MAPK pathways induced by RANKL. Collectively, ABP attenuates RANKL‐mediated osteoclast activity and signaling, and might serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for preventing bone loss related diseases.
The prognostic value of PI3K mutational status in breast cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Sobhani Navid , Roviello Giandomenico , Corona Silvia P. , Scaltriti Maurizio , Ianza Anna , Bortul Marina , Zanconati Fabrizio , Generali Daniele
Published: January 2018

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cause of cancer‐related deaths in women worldwide. The availability of reliable biomarkers of response/resistance to cancer treatments would benefit patients and clinicians allowing for a better selection of BC patients most likely to respond to a specific treatment. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) enzymes are involved in numerous cellular‐ functions and processes. The gene encoding for PI3K catalytic subunit p110α is mutated in 20‐40% of BC. We performed a meta‐analysis of the current literature on randomized clinical trials, investigating the role of PIK3CA mutational status as prognostic factor, and predictor of response to anti‐cancer treatments. Overall 1929 cases were included. The pooled analysis confirmed that the presence of a PIK3CA mutation represents an independent negative prognostic factor (HR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.15‐2.43; P = 0.007) in BC, as previously reported. As PI3K signaling is also a result of other pathways’ hyperactivation, further investigation of potential biomarkers able to predict likelihood of response to anti‐PI3K/mTOR, anti‐HER2, and other TKRs is warranted in future randomized clinical trials.
Effect of substrate stiffness on hepatocyte migration and cellular Young's modulus
Authors: Xia Tingting , Zhao Runze , Liu Wanqian , Huang Qiping , Chen Peixing , Waju Yasinta N. , Al‐ani Mohanad K. , Lv Yonggang , Yang Li
Published: January 2018

Hepatic fibrosis progress accompanied by an unbalanced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and deposition leads to an increased tissue stiffness. Hepatocytes interplay with all intrahepatic cell populations inside the liver. However, how hepatocytes migration and cellular Young's modulus influenced by the substrate stiffness are not well understood. Here, we established a stiffness‐controllable in vitro cell culture model by using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel that mimicked the same physical stiffness as a fibrotic liver. Three levels of stiffness were used in our experiment that corresponded to the stiffness levels found in normal liver tissue (4.5 kPa), the early (19 kPa) and late stages (37 kPa) of fibrotic liver tissues. Cytoskeleton of hepatocyte was influenced by substrate stiffness. Soft substrate promoted the cellular migration and directionality. The cellular Young's modulus firstly increased and then decreased with increasing substrate stiffness. Integrin‐β1 and β‐catenin expression on cytomembrane were up‐regulated and down‐regulated with the increase of substrate stiffness, respectively. Our data not only suggested that hepatocytes were sensitive to substrate stiffness, but also suggested that there may be a potential relationship among substrate stiffness, cellular Young's modulus and the dynamic balance of integrin‐β1 and β‐catenin pathways. These results may provide us a new insight in mechanism investigation of mechano‐dependent diseases, especially like fibrosis related diseases.
Glycation of ovalbumin after high‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment: effects on conformation, immunoglobulin (Ig)G/IgE binding ability and antioxidant activity
Authors: Yang Wenhua , Tu Zongcai , Wang Hui , Zhang Lu , Song Qidong
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Ovalbumin (OVA), a protein with excellent nutritional and processing properties, is the major allergen of hen egg white. High‐intensity ultrasound treatment increases the immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgE binding abilities by unfolding the conformational structure of OVA. This may allow a modification of the IgG and IgE binding of OVA by combining high‐intensity ultrasound with other methods, such as glycation, thus representing a promising method for the improvement of protein properties.

RESULTS

Glycation with mannose (M) after ultrasound pretreatment at 0–600 W significantly reduced the IgG and IgE binding abilities and dramatically enhanced the antioxidant activity of OVA‐M conjugates, with the lowest values of IgG and IgE binding and highest values of antioxidant capacity observed at 600 W. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of OVA‐M conjugates with ultrasound pretreatment increased more than non‐pretreatment sample, implying that ultrasound pretreatment promoted glycation. The α‐helix content and ultraviolet absorption of OVA were observably increased, whereas β‐sheet content, intrinsic fluorescence and surface hydrophobicity were notably decreased, indicating that the tertiary and secondary structures of OVA were markedly changed.

CONCLUSION

High‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment can be conducive to reducing the binding abilities of IgG and IgE and enhancing the antioxidant activity of OVA‐M conjugates. Therefore, glycation combined with high‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment might be a promising method for producing hypo‐allergenic and high‐antioxidant OVA products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Accessibility at JSTOR: From box‐checking to a more inclusive and sustainable future
Authors: Trimble Lauren
Published: January 2018

Key points

Testing for accessibility after extensive changes to a website and addressing them as technical debt is unsustainable in the long term.

To stay modern and efficient, providers of digital content to academic institutions should build accessibility into development.

For JSTOR, working with participating institutions to understand their concerns was essential to reaching WCAG 2.0 AA conformance.

With Artstor recently joining ITHAKA, we face the challenge of making a visual archive accessible.
Kudingcha and Fuzhuan Brick Tea Prevent Obesity and Modulate Gut Microbiota in High‐Fat Diet Fed Mice
Authors: Chen Guijie , Xie Minhao , Dai Zhuqing , Wan Peng , Ye Hong , Zeng Xiaoxiong , Sun Yi
Published: January 2018

Scope

Kudingcha (KDC) from Ilex kudingcha and Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) are popular beverages in China, and their preventive and therapeutic roles in metabolic disorders have been reported. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota modulatory effects of KDC and FBT and prevention of obesity is still not clearly understood.

Methods and results

KDC and FBT are tested individually for their capacities to prevent obesity and modulate the gut microbiota in high‐fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL/6J mice. The results show that both KDC and FBT supplementation could modulate oxidative injury, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and reduce HFD induced obesity significantly. Both KDC and FBT could enhance the diversity of gut microbiota. KDC could reduce the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae, while FBT could reduce the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and enhance the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that KDC and FBT could attenuate features of the metabolic syndrome in HFD‐fed mice, which might be due to the modulation of gut microbiota by KDC and FBT.
Allyl Isothiocyanate Ameliorates Obesity by Inhibiting Galectin‐12
Authors: Lo Chia‐Wen , Chen Chih‐Sheng , Chen Ying‐Chi , Hsu Yu‐An , Huang Chi‐Chun , Chang Ching‐Yao , Lin Chao‐Jen , Lin Cheng‐Wen , Lin Hui‐Ju , Liu Fu‐Tong , Wan Lei
Published: January 2018

Scope

The aim of this study is to investigate the signaling pathways by which allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) reduces adipocyte differentiation and the efficacy of AITC in suppressing galectin‐12 levels as a therapeutic for high fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity.

Methods and results

AITC presents anti‐adipogenic effects on 3T3‐L1 cells by decreasing lipid droplet accumulation in a dose‐dependent manner. AITC suppresses 3T3‐L1 differentiation into adipocytes by decreasing galectin‐12 expression and by downregulating key adipogenic transcription factors. AITC influences the expression of 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes by modulating adipokine expression (leptin and resistin) and by regulating the protein kinase B (PKB/Akt)/cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) pathway. In HFD‐fed mice, oral administration of AITC reduces the body weight, accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, and white adipocyte size.

Conclusion

In summary, the results indicate that AITC inhibits adipocyte differentiation by suppressing galectin‐12 levels in 3T3L1 cells and has antiobesity effects in HFD‐fed mice.
Anterior cruciate ligament tear induces a sustained loss of muscle fiber force production
Authors: Gumucio Jonathan P. , Sugg Kristoffer B. , Enselman Elizabeth R Sibilsky , Konja Alexis C. , Eckhardt Logan R. , Bedi Asheesh , Mendias Christopher L.
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears have persistent quadriceps strength deficits that are thought to be due to altered neurophysiological function. Our goal was to determine the changes in muscle fiber contractility independent of the ability of motor neurons to activate fibers. Methods: We obtained quadriceps biopsies of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, and additional biopsies 1, 2, and 6 months after surgery. Muscles fiber contractility was assessed in vitro, along with whole muscle strength testing. Results: Compared with controls, patients had a 30% reduction in normalized muscle fiber force at the time of surgery. One month later, the force deficit was 41%, and at 6 months the deficit was 23%. Whole muscle strength testing demonstrated similar trends. Discussion: While neurophysiological dysfunction contributes to whole muscle weakness, there is also a reduction in the force generating capacity of individual muscle cells independent of alpha motor neuron activation. Muscle Nerve 58: 145–148, 2018
Efficient solution of parameter‐dependent quasiseparable systems and computation of meromorphic matrix functions
Authors: Boito P. , Eidelman Y. , Gemignani L.
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we focus on the solution of shifted quasiseparable systems and of more general parameter‐dependent matrix equations with quasiseparable representations. We propose an efficient algorithm exploiting the invariance of the quasiseparable structure under diagonal shifting and inversion. This algorithm is applied to compute various functions of matrices. Numerical experiments show that this approach is fast and numerically robust.
Encapsulation of Cadmium Selenide Nanocrystals in Biocompatible Nanotubes: DFT Calculations, X‐ray Diffraction Investigations, and Confocal Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Calatayud David G. , Ge Haobo , Kuganathan Navaratnarajah , Mirabello Vincenzo , Jacobs Robert M. J. , Rees Nicholas H. , Stoppiello Craig T. , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Tyrrell Rex M. , Como Enrico Da , Pascu Sofia I.
Published: January 2018

The encapsulation of CdSe nanocrystals within single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) cavities of varying dimensions at elevated temperatures under strictly air‐tight conditions is described for the first time. The structures of CdSe nanocrystals under confinement inside SWNTs was established in a comprehensive study, combining both experimental and DFT theoretical investigations. The calculated binding energies show that all considered polymorphs [(3:3), (4:4), and (4:2)] may be obtained experimentally. The most thermodynamically stable structure (3:3) is directly compared to the experimentally observed CdSe structures inside carbon nanotubes. The gas‐phase DFT‐calculated energy difference between “free” 3:3 and 4:2 structures (whereby 3:3 models a novel tubular structure in which both Cd and Se form three coordination, as observed experimentally for HgTe inside SWNT, and 4:2 is a motif derived from the hexagonal CuI bulk structure in which both Cd and Se form 4 or 2 coordination) is surprisingly small, only 0.06 eV per formula unit. X‐ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analyses led to the full characterization of the SWNTs filled with the CdSe nanocrystals, shedding light on the composition, structure, and electronic interactions of the new nanohybrid materials on an atomic level. A new emerging hybrid nanomaterial, simultaneously filled and beta‐d‐glucan coated, was obtained by using pristine nanotubes and bulk CdSe powder as starting materials. This displayed fluorescence in water dispersions and unexpected biocompatibility was found to be mediated by beta‐d‐glucan (a biopolymer extracted from barley) with respect to that of the individual inorganic material components. For the first time, such supramolecular nanostructures are investigated by life‐science techniques applied to functional nanomaterial characterization, opening the door for future nano‐biotechnological applications.
TiO2/Halloysite hybrid filler reinforced epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Vijayan P Poornima , Tanvir Aisha , Mrlik Miroslav , Urbanek Michal , Al‐Maadeed Mariam
Published: January 2018

TiO2 nanoparticles and Halloysite nanotubes were used together to modify epoxy matrix. They were introduced into the matrix using two different approaches: (a) both TiO2 nanoparticles and Halloysite nanotubes were incorporated into epoxy in their original form; (b) TiO2/Halloysite hybrid prepared by hydrothermal reaction, was incorporated into epoxy. Morphological studies of the nanocomposites were carried out using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Tensile and nanoindetation studies were carried out to evaluate the mechanical performance of the nanocomposites. Finally, the dynamic mechanical analysis and thermal degradation properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated. It was found that, the nano‐structures of HNT surrounded with TiO2 nanotubes in TiO2/Halloysite hybrid filler eliminated the unfavorable agglomeration of TiO2 nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix and thereby avoiding the deterioration of mechanical properties. However, the hybrid nanostructure in the ternary nanocomposites did not have an evident effect on the glass transition temperature and thermal stability of epoxy matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2426–E2435, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers