bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanosilver-Enabled Food Storage Container Tradeoffs: Environmental Impacts Versus Food Savings Benefit, Informed by Literature
Authors: Westerband Edward I , Hicks Andrea L
Published: August 2018

Globally, thousands of tons of food are lost each year due to spoilage and degraded quality. This loss is a current critical issue that must be addressed to ensure adequate food supply for the growing world population; the use of technology and regulatory practices are avenues to a solution. One considered approach is the reduction of the microorganism population on the surface of food products to delay spoilage through the use of antimicrobials. One current method is the use of the antimicrobial properties of nanoscale silver (nAg) particles to prolong the freshness of stored food by reducing the bacteria present. Nanoscale silver-enabled food storage containers present a potential solution to the food loss problem; nevertheless, their environmental and human health effects have been questioned by the scientific community. Literature is used to generate data for the life cycle impact assessment of these types of products and their corresponding environmental effects. The benefits of nAg-enabled food storage containers are considered with respect to their potential to extend the shelf life of stored food and prevent food spoilage. The results illustrate that the environmental effects of nano-enabling food storage containers with silver is small (when the initial silver concentration is relatively low, less than 1% by mass) compared with the overall environmental effects of food storage containers and also relatively small compared with the environmental effects of producing the stored food. This finding suggests that the added environmental burden of nano-enabling food storage containers may be small when compared with the environmental burden of food losses. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:769–776. © 2018 SETAC

Key Points

Nanosilver-enabled food storage containers can decrease food losses because of their antimicrobial nature. The environmental effects of these containers are greater than their conventional counterparts because of the environmental effects of mining, refining, and synthesizing nanoscale silver. The relative environmental benefit cost of the nanosilver-enabled food storage products is a function of the increased lifespan of the food stored in the containers and the environmental effects of producing the stored food.
Metal‐organic Frameworks Incorporating Multiple Metal Elements
Authors: Castillo‐Blas Celia , Gándara Felipe
Published: August 2018

The obtaining of materials incorporating multiple metal elements is of interest because the combination of various metal cations results in the achievement of new and enhanced properties. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a suitable platform to combine multiple metal elements due to their modular nature and highly controllable structure. The incorporation of various metal elements into MOFs might be accomplished by following different synthetic approaches, which in turn determine the way in which the various metal elements are arranged in the framework. In this contribution, we will overview the formation of multi‐metal MOFs by the introduction of new metal sites in the organic linkers, or in the inorganic secondary building units through cation exchange process, or one‐pot synthesis.
Reducing Project Cost Growth Through Early Implementation of Interface Management
Authors: Nilsen Magnus André , Falk Kristin , Haugen Tom Arnfinn
Published: August 2018

This paper presents and analyzes quantitative data on Interface Management in the oil and gas domain from a subsea contractor point of view. To develop subsea oil and gas fields four to seventeen contractors collaborate via Interface Management to ensure that the technical parts fit prior to implementation and integration. This research has both analyzed quantitative data from seven large projects, and investigated the topic in depth using interviews. The results prove that late involvement of contractors contribute to project cost growth during project execution. The detailed analysis of a reference project showed that almost one third of the contractor's contractual changes were due to supply gaps toward other contractors. Early implementation of Interface Management could help mitigating this, and ensure project execution within predicted cost and schedule parameters.
Reading Further Between The Lines – Recent Developments in the UK MOD Acquisition Requirements & Acceptance Tube Map
Authors: Gibson Ian , Blake Ian , Williams Samantha , Price Andrew
Published: August 2018

How do you visualise a very large complicated problem? With a very large complicated diagram obviously! But what if the diagram used a familiar notation that needed little or no explanation? What if the subject matter could be carved up into distinct interwoven threads that would be easily recognised by the reader? Welcome to the MOD Acquisition Requirements & Acceptance Tube Map. The authors have been engaged in a task to rewrite the UK Ministry Of Defence (MOD) Acquisition System Guidance intranet site for Requirements, Test, Evaluation and Acceptance. Whilst the task has resulted in a major overhaul of the guidance, it has been underpinned by a novel depiction of parallel threads of Requirements; Test, Evaluation & Acceptance; Portfolio, Programme and Project Management (P3M); and Solution Development ‐ running through the parallel interrelated lifecycles of Programme Management (based on the Generic Capability Model) and Project Management (based upon the CADMID lifecycle – Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In‐Service, Disposal). This has taken the form of an underground “tube map” with lines representing stakeholder communities, minor stations representing technical activities, callout boxes for work products, and interchange stations representing review points.
Property Model Methodology: A Landing Gear Operational Use Case
Authors: Micouin Patrice , Fabre Louis , Becquet Roland , Paper Pascal , Razafimahefa Thomas , Guérin François
Published: August 2018

Relevant for engineering a wide range of technological systems, Property Model Methodology (PMM) is applied in this paper to the development process of a helicopter function in the frame of the ARP4754A/ED79A. After a short presentation of the method, the case study is presented: “to retract and to extend airborne the landing gear system”. Then, each stage of the PMM development process is illustrated by examples from the case study: (1) Modeling the top level requirements specification, (2) Validating the requirements specification by proof and simulation, (3) Modeling the architectural design, Refining the top level requirements into requirements specified to the different subsystems contributing to the function and Modeling the terminal subsystems detailed designs (4) Validating the requirements specified to the contributing subsystems by proof or simulation, (5) Verifying the design models by simulation and finally (6–8) Verifying physical implementations by test on the basis of all validation and verification scenarios accumulated throughout the development. At end, lessons learnt and industrial perspectives are summarized highlighting how PMM is a methodology adapted to the challenges facing to systems engineering by the globalization of development processes and showing how PMM can provide a powerful conceptual framework to support digital continuity within globalized Design Organizations. Modeling, simulation, proof and test generation activities are supported by the MATLAB and Simulink products.
Model‐based Assessment of the Submarine Support System
Authors: Elsawah Sondoss , Ryan Michael J , Gordon Lindsay , Harris Rod
Published: August 2018

Submarine support systems are large‐scale, geographically‐distributed, and complex. In this paper, we describe the development and use of a modular system dynamics modelling approach for analyzing the dynamic behavior of submarine support systems, exploring decision options, and assessing their long‐term effects on the system's performance. We present a proof‐of‐concept model to demonstrate the utility and flexibility of the methodological approach we have undertaken. The proof‐of‐concept is developed using a class of the Australian submarine support system. It is constructed and validated based on expert knowledge and historical data about the fleet performance. The paper gives an overview of the modelling approach, model design, selected sample investigations, and a discussion of the benefits of such a strategic analysis tool.
Breaking Casandra's Curse: Understanding Unsafe Mental Models to Build a Safe Systems Engineering Culture
Authors: Kemp Duncan , O'Neil Meaghan
Published: August 2018

Modern safety management practice is a robust and generally effective discipline. Most modern accidents in complex systems are due to poor safety culture undermining a robust safety management approach.

This paper examines the challenge of improving safety culture in the design, development and operation of complex systems. Based upon the authors’ experience in defence, aerospace, transportation, information services and healthcare, this paper describes 18 mental models that can undermine the organisations safety management system.

The paper describes 5 underpinning factors that lead to these incorrect mental models. It also describes an approach to persuading key decision makers to adopt a safer approach.
Mitigating Integration Risks in Complex Systems
Authors: Austin Marc F. , Doolittle Erin , Polacek George A. , Ahalt Virginia , Homberger Cheyne , York Donald M.
Published: August 2018

In the Age of Globalization, integration is one of the primary areas of risk for today's complex system development programs. Integration failures continue to be one of the main reasons for unsuccessful system deployments. The Integration Readiness Level (IRL) is a new system metric developed to measure the integration maturity between two system components. IRLs, in conjunction with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), form the basis for determining the readiness of a system for deployment. The IRL represents the systematic analysis of the interactions between system components and provides a consistent comparison of the maturity between integration points. IRLs provide a means to reduce the risk involved in maturing and integrating system components in complex environments. We first present a methodology for determining the integration readiness of a system and its components and then describe the construction of a Bayesian network model for assessing IRLs. The IRL Bayesian network model provides a mathematical method to consistently combine and validate the judgment of experts assessing integration and increase the confidence in the determination of the integration readiness of a system and its components.
Barrier Analysis of an Aviation Safety Assessment Model
Authors: Noh Seungwon , Shortle John
Published: August 2018

In a highly reliable system, barriers can be used to reduce the risk of high consequence events. This paper identifies and evaluates barriers within a large safety model of the National Airspace System. The model contains thousands of nodes, so a heuristic procedure is proposed to automatically identify candidate barriers in the model. A case study of a single accident scenario is presented to show how the heuristic works and then subsequently how component elements of each barrier function are identified. An overall analysis is presented showing the distribution of barriers throughout the model and their overall effectiveness. No obvious trend is identified relating the number of barriers to the rarity of a given accident scenario.
Engineering Cyber‐Physical Swarms with Collaborative Modelling
Authors: Pierce Ken , Gamble Carl , Fitzgerald John , Zervakis Georgios
Published: August 2018

A major challenge in the engineering of cyber‐physical systems (CPSs), such as swarms of autonomous UAVs, is the need for engineers from multiple disciplines to collaborate as early as possible in the design phase. Model‐based design is a well‐established systems engineering technique, but separate disciplines often have separate formalisms, tools and even vocabularies. An emerging approach is to combine individual models from these domains into holistic system models called collaborative models (or co‐models), which can be analysed through, for example, co‐simulation. This paper reports on the application of the INTO‐CPS tool chain, which supports such a collaborative modelling approach, to the design of a swarm of UAVs. Three engineers were involved in the modelling process, and were able to produce component models in familiar tools which were then integrated and analysed as a holistic system model using INTO‐CPS.
Extending Formal Modeling for Resilient Systems Design
Authors: Madni Azad M. , Sievers Michael , Ordoukhanian Edwin , Madni Ayesha , Pouya Parisa
Published: August 2018

Resilience is a much‐needed characteristic in systems that are expected to operate in uncertain environments for extended periods with a high likelihood of disruptive events. Resilience approaches today employ ad hoc methods and piece‐meal solutions that are difficult to verify and test, and do not scale. Furthermore, it is difficult to assess the long‐term impact of such ad hoc “resilience solutions.” This paper presents a flexible contract‐based approach that employs a combination of formal methods for verification and testing and flexible assertions and probabilistic modeling to handle uncertainty during mission execution. A flexible contract (FC) is a hybrid modeling construct that facilitates system verification and testing while offering the requisite flexibility to cope with non‐determinism. This paper illustrates the use of FCs for multi‐UAV swarm control in, partially observable, dynamic environments. However, the approach is sufficiently general for use in other domains such as self‐driving vehicle and adaptive power/energy grids.
Development Concepts of Smart Service System‐based Smart Factory (4SF)
Authors: Lee Heeje , Lee Joongyoon
Published: August 2018

The concept of Smart Factory, a new paradigm in manufacturing industry, has emerged and is expanding exponentially. This shift is apparent in new IT such as Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Cloud Computing. Varieties of Smart Factory architecture applying these technologies are already widespread. However, most of the widespread architecture only define manufacturing levels from Level 0 (Physical Processing) to Level 4 (Business Logistics Systems) and specify services that are provided between them. These technical specifications do not guide the development processes and do not provide the architecture to implement Smart Factory infrastructure within existing factory. In this paper, we propose Smart Service System‐based Smart Factory (4SF) architecture that can be utilized without major changes to existing systems by using “add‐on” concepts of Smart Factory. Furthermore, we applied Systems Engineering process to enable system design based on requirements in manufacturing industry using an operational, system and technology model. Finally, these concepts were applied to a steel plate plant to show practical potential of Smart Service System‐based Smart Factory.
A Conceptual Model of Systems Engineering
Authors: Natarajan Swaminathan , Kumar Anand , Chaudhuri Subhrojyoti Roy , Nori Kesav , Kasturi Viswanath , Choppella Venkatesh
Published: August 2018

Systems engineering is widely perceived as an empirical discipline, with a need for theoretical foundations that can facilitate reasoning about practice. This is an attempt to help build such foundations by systems‐theoretic inquiry into the nature of the relationship between knowledge and engineering. We conceptualize this relationship in terms of four worlds: the real world, the world of systems models, a world of aspect knowledge, and a world of wholes knowledge: knowledge that indicates how aspects come together and also how wholes relate to each other. This leads us to a generative understanding of systems engineering: synthesizing aspects to develop blocks; and generating the network of blocks that form a system, through recursive performance of three activities: decomposition, dependency closure and refinement. The problem of systems engineering practice involves augmenting this core with the concerns of problem formulation, design of the supporting ecosystem, and the need for closing gaps between the model world and real world. We derive some initial confidence in the validity and value of this strawman model by examining its ability to explain some aspects of current systems engineering practice, and the insights it provides into how we can integrate system modeling across knowledge domains.
Modeling Inference Enterprises Using Multiple Interoperating Models
Authors: Laskey Kathryn Blackmond , Zaidi Abbas , Buede Dennis , Imran Muhammad , Huang Edward , Brown David , Yousefi Bahram , Matsumoto Shou
Published: August 2018

A methodology is described for modeling enterprises that use data, tools, people and processes to make mission‐focused inferences. Examples include cyber‐operations centers detecting cyber intrusions, airport security systems detecting attempts to carry prohibited items onto airplanes, or mortgage underwriting offices predicting loan defaults. An inference enterprise gathers and analyzes data, generates alerts when a concerning event or behavior is identified, and follows up with more thorough investigation of alert cases. The purpose of modeling is to understand and evaluate enterprise performance to help identify ways to improve performance. This typically involves constructing a modeling workflow comprising components that may not have been designed to interoperate. It may involve combining multiple models based on different modeling formalisms. This paper presents a multi‐modeling approach to inference enterprise modeling (MIEM). MIEM combines multiple models to generate multiple predictions of inference enterprise performance. These predictions are combined into an overall estimate of performance with error bounds. The MIEM methodology is illustrated on a problem of detecting insider threats in information systems.
Model‐based System Engineering for the Assessment of Tactical Performance in the Complex, High Tempo Game of Soccer
Authors: Sherry Lance , Sherry Aiden
Published: August 2018

Soccer is an example of an enterprise in which adversarial groups of autonomous agents interact to create competitive advantage in time and space. The interaction is characterized by complex collaborations between the autonomous agents in space and time, coupled with the high tempo occurrence of random events. In this way the events in a game can exceed the cognitive ability of humans to process and analyze team tactical performance to make actionable training and game time adjustments that affect the outcome of the game.

This paper describes the application of model‐based system engineering to assess tactical performance in the game of soccer. The game is modeled as a probabilistic sequence of random events that occur. The model is the basis for a probabilistic simulation of the game of soccer that can be used to assess the impact of a given team tactic on goals scored in a game. The model, the simulation, and an application of the model are described. The implications of the simulation on coaching and player development and limitations of the model are discussed.
A biopsy‐needle compatible varifocal multiphoton rigid probe for depth‐resolved optical biopsy
Authors: Li Ang , Hall Gunnsteinn , Chen Defu , Liang Wenxuan , Ning Bo , Guan Honghua , Li Xingde
Published: August 2018

In this work, we report a biopsy‐needle compatible rigid probe, capable of performing three‐dimensional (3D) two‐photon optical biopsy. The probe has a small outer diameter of 1.75 mm and fits inside a gauge‐14 biopsy needle to reach internal organs. A carefully designed focus scanning mechanism has been implemented in the rigid probe, which, along with a rapid two‐dimensional MEMS scanner, enables 3D imaging. Fast image acquisition up to 10 frames per second is possible, dramatically reducing motion artifacts during in vivo imaging. Equipped with a high‐numerical aperture micro‐objective, the miniature rigid probe offers a high two‐photon resolution (0.833 × 6.11 μm, lateral × axial), a lateral field of view of 120 μm, and an axial focus tuning range of 200 μm. In addition to imaging of mouse internal organs and subcutaneous tumor in vivo, first‐of‐its‐kind depth‐resolved two‐photon optical biopsy of an internal organ has been successfully demonstrated on mouse kidney in vivo and in situ.
Three‐component Strategy for Synthesis of Dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine and Spirooxindole Derivatives
Authors: Sun Ting , Li Hongdie , Wu Zhaoqi , Li Chunmei , Ren Xiaorong , Zhang Furen
Published: August 2018

A series of heterocyclic compound derivatives, including 2,8‐diamino‐5‐aryl‐5,10‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d:6,5‐d′]dipyrimidine‐4,6(3H,7H)‐diones and 2,2′‐diamino‐3H‐spiro [pyrimido[4,5‐b]quinoline‐5,5′‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine]‐4,4′,6′(3′H,7′H,10H)‐triones, were synthesized via one‐pot method using Y (OTf)3 as catalyst. The reaction was performed in aqueous media using readily available and inexpensive 2,6‐diaminopyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one and aromatic aldehyde as substrates. The present methodology shows attractive characters, such as using water as green reaction media, high catalytic efficiency of catalyst, concise one‐pot method, easy work‐up/purification, and excellent yields.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity (MCF‐7) of Some Acetanilide‐based Heterocycles
Authors: Abdel‐Latif Ehab , Keshk Eman M. , Khalil Abdel‐Galil M. , Saeed Ali , Metwally Heba M.
Published: August 2018

A series of some novel 4‐(N‐substituted amino)‐acetanilide scaffolds was synthesized through the nucleophilic substitution reactions of the highly versatile N‐(4‐acetamidophenyl)‐2‐chloroacetamide (3) with various types of nucleophilic reagents such as benzothiazole‐2‐thiol, ethyl 2‐mercaptoacetate, 4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐mercapto‐nicotinonitrile, various thiocarbamoyl derivatives, ammonium thiocyanate, 3‐cyano‐4,6‐dimethyl‐5‐arylazopyridin‐2‐ones, and malononitrile. The synthesized 4‐(N‐substituted amino) acetanilide scaffolds were characterized by spectral analyses and assayed in vitro for breast anticancer activity. 2‐(4‐Acetamidophenylaminocarbonyl)‐3‐amino‐thiophenes 11, 13a, and 13b showed the highest cytotoxic activity.
Intramolecular Ring Transformation of Bis‐oxadiazoles to Bis‐thiadiazoles and Investigation of Their Anticancer Activities
Authors: Gomha Sobhi M. , Muhammad Zeinab A. , El‐Reedy Ahmed A. M.
Published: August 2018

A new series of 2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐N′3,N′5‐bis(3‐phenyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2(3H)‐ylidene)‐1,4‐dihydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarbohydrazides were synthesized from reaction of 5,5′‐(2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,4‐dihydropyridine‐3,5‐diyl)bis(1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2‐thiol) or diethyl 2,2′‐(2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,4‐dihydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonyl)bis(hydrazine‐1‐carbodithioate) with various hydrazonoyl chlorides. The structures of new compounds were established on the basis of their elemental analysis and IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectral data. The anticancer activities of the synthesized compounds were screened for their activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines, and the results showed that compounds 6l, 6k, and 6e were the most active (IC50 = 7.68 ± 9.8, 8.72 ± 9.7, and 9.78 ± 9.1 μM, respectively), compared with Cisplatin reference drug (IC50 value of 1.40 ± 1.1 μM).
Production of IL-35 by Bregs is mediated through binding of BATF-IRF-4-IRF-8 complex to il12a and ebi3 promoter elements
Authors: Yu Cheng-Rong , Choi Jin Kyeong , Uche Anita N , Egwuagu Charles E
Published: August 2018

IL-10 and IL-35 suppress excessive immune responses and therapeutic strategies are being developed to increase their levels in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we sought to identify major cell types that produce both cytokines in-vivo and to characterize mechanisms that regulate their production. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is a CNS autoimmune disease that serves as model of human uveitis. We induced EAU in C57BL/6J mice and investigated whether T cells, B lymphocytes, or myeloid cells are the major producers of IL-10 or IL-35 in blood, lymph nodes (LNs), spleen, and at the site of ocular inflammation, the neuroretina. Analysis of these tissues identified B cells as the major producers of IL-10 and IL-35 in-vivo. Compared to regulatory T cells (Tregs), IL-10- or IL-35-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) are substantially expanded in blood, LNs, spleen, and retina of mice with EAU. We performed EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays on activated B cells stimulated with IL-35 or TLR agonists. We found that BATF, IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-4, and IRF-8 transcription factors were recruited and bound to AP1-IRF-composite elements (AICEs) of il12a, ebi3, and/or il10 loci, suggesting their involvement in regulating IL-10 and IL-35 transcriptional programs of B cells. Showing that B cells are major source of IL-10 and IL-35 in-vivo and identifying transcription factors that contribute to IL-10 and IL-35 expression in the activated B-cell, suggest that the BATF/IRF-4/IRF-8 axis can be exploited therapeutically to regulate physiological levels of IL-10/IL-35-Bregs and that adoptive transfer of autologous Bregs might be an effective therapy for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

Regulatory B cells are major producers of IL-35 during experimental autoimmune uveitis and BATF-IRF-4-IRF-8 transcription factor complex regulates IL-35 transcriptional program in B cells.
Synthesis of deuterium‐labeled crizotinib, a potent and selective dual inhibitor of mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor (c‐MET) kinase and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)
Authors: Ao Wangwei , Li Yuan , Zhang Yinsheng
Published: August 2018

To more accurately and rapidly achieve quantitative detection of clinical crizotinib samples, stable isotope labeled crizotinib was required as an internal standard. We have developed a method to prepare racemic [D9] crizotinib using a base‐catalyzed H/D exchange of both nitroso compound 2 and the acetophenone compound 6 with D2O and NaBD4 reduction of 7 as the key steps to introduce the 9 deuterium atoms. Starting with 4‐hydroxypiperidine, 14‐step synthesis furnished the desired racemic [D9] crizotinib 18. The deuterium‐labeled compound 18 with the chemical purity of 99.62% was applicable for use as internal standards in the drug clinical study.
Growth and cranial development in the Andean frogs of the genus Telmatobius (Anura: Telmatobiidae): Exploring the relation of heterochrony and skeletal diversity
Authors: Barrionuevo J. Sebastián
Published: August 2018

Andean frogs of the genus Telmatobius occur at high elevations, they have an aquatic mode of life and large tadpoles. There are more than 60 species that closely resemble one another and have low values of genetic divergence. However, the skeleton, particularly the cranium, is interspecifically variable with respect to the different levels of development of some elements. Heterochrony is considered to have played a prominent role in generating phenotypic variation, especially among closely related species. Herein, the developmental origins of the adult cranial configuration of two species of Telmatobius are explored. The interactions among larval and postmetamorphic growth, sexual maturation, and ossification sequence in T. oxycephalus and T. rubigo are studied. Although there are no substantial changes in the sequences of ossification of the cranium, it is likely that differential timing of larval periods is related to adult cranial characters. The prolonged larval development of T. rubigo may result in peramorphic configurations of bones that ossify during pre‐metamorphosis. This long developmental time would also explain why the gonads of T. rubigo are highly differentiated by the end of metamorphosis. In this species, sexual maturation may be attained precociously in relation to metamorphosis, thereby reducing postmetamorphic developmental time of late‐onset bones, which have paedomorphic configurations (e.g., vomer, neopalatine, and columella). An inverse pattern characterizes T. oxycephalus, suggesting that the duration of larval life is related to skeletal configuration in Telmatobius.
Change of lecithotrophic to matrotrophic nutrition during gestation in the viviparous teleost Xenotoca eiseni (Goodeidae)
Authors: Uribe Mari Carmen , Grier Harry J. , Avila‐Zúñiga Susana Areli , García‐Alarcón Adriana
Published: August 2018

Teleosts possess unique features of the female reproductive system compared with the rest of vertebrates, features that define the characteristics of their viviparity. Viviparity involves new maternal–embryonic relationships detailing the most diverse structures during gestation that include embryonic nutrition. In order to analyze the morphological features of the complex nutrition in viviparous teleosts during intraovarian gestation, this study utilizes the goodeid Xenotoca eiseni as a model. Ovarian gestation in X. eiseni, as in all goodeids, is intraluminal; the early embryo moves from the follicle to the ovarian lumen where gestation continues. The scarce yolk in the oocytes implies that the initial lecithotrophy is replaced by matrotrophy, with nutrients provided via maternal tissues. The nutrients are absorbed by the embryo mainly by trophotaenia, extensions of the embryonic intestine into the ovarian lumen. This histological study analyses the structures involved in these two types of nutrition and when they occur during gestation in X. eiseni. The morphology displayed in this study demonstrated the extended simultaneity of lecithotrophy and matrotrophy during gestation with the progressive reduction of lecithotrophy and increase of matrotrophy. Similarly, it describes the development of complex embryonic structures for metabolic exchange with the maternal tissues associated with matrotrophy; specifically the branchial placenta and mainly the trophotaenia.
Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of EV71 and CVA16 infection to aid the diagnosis and treatment of hand, foot, and mouth disease
Authors: Wang Bin , Li Jingliang , Wang Yang , Du Na , Sun Luyao , Xiao Huimin , Zhao Ying , Bao Wanguo , Zhang Wenyan
Published: August 2018

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) have been recognized over the past several years as a highly infectious disease in children. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) are the two major causative agents. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal time and method of HFMD detection, explore the seroconversion of IgM and IgG antibodies, and examine the response of neutralizing antibody (NtAb) to EV71 or CVA16. Between January 2016 and December 2017, a total of 460 patients, diagnosed with HFMD based on clinical symptoms and hospitalized in the First Hospital of Jilin University, were recruited for the study. At approximately 72 hours post illness onset, we observed that the positive rate of both IgM and real‐time polymerase chain reaction detection of EV71 or CVA16 was the highest, this could be considered as the optimal detection time for clinical diagnosis. During the initial 0 ‐96 hours, the relative highest IgM and the relative lowest IgG antibody levels were observed. The NtAb titers to EV71 and CVA16 also gradually increased with time, showing a positive correlation with age, and being the predominant factor during the hospitalized days. Thus, our study provides important information for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HFMD.
Seroprevalence of West Nile and dengue virus in the human population of the Bolivian Chaco
Authors: Bartoloni Alessandro , Remoli Maria Elena , Farchi Francesca , Zammarchi Lorenzo , Fortuna Claudia , Benedetti Eleonora , Ciufolini Maria Grazia , Macchioni Fabio , Rojas Patricia , Lara Yunni , Padilla Claudia , Roselli Mimmo , Mantengoli Elisabetta , Mantella Antonia , Tolari Francesco , Paredes Grover Alberto , Monasterio Joaquín , Valdarchi Catia , Venturi Giulietta , Rezza Giovanni
Published: August 2018

To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) in the human population of the Bolivian Chaco, we tested 256 inhabitants of two rural communities. The seroprevalence, confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test, was 7.8% and 2.7% for DENV and WNV, respectively.
Aberrant DNA methylation profile of hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Jin Jinglan , Xu Hongqin , Wu Ruihong , Niu Junqi , Li Shibo
Published: August 2018

We aimed to study the aberrant DNA methylation profile associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and, to identify key genes and pathways associated with the HBV infection stage. A total of 54 antiviral treatment‐naïve HBV‐infected patients and six healthy controls were included. Genome‐wide methylated DNA immunoprecipitation analysis was performed, as previously described, after which the chip data were preprocessed. Subsequently, Cytoscape software was used for the construction of a protein‐protein interaction network, and a database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery software was used to conduct functional enrichment analysis. A total of 711 794 CpGs were obtained after data quality control, among which 152 780, 113 814, 90 747, and 175 868 CpGs showed differential methylation in acute hepatitis B (AHB) vs control, total‐C vs control, CH1 vs CA1, and AHB vs total‐C, respectively. Furthermore, RIPK3, PRDM10, JUN, and SNAI1 were at the center of the four associated networks, respectively. Differential methylated genes differentially methylated in these four comparisons were significantly enriched with olfactory transduction; positive regulation of transport; negative regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation (eg, JUN), phosphorylation, phosphorus metabolic process, and phosphate metabolic process; and programmed cell death, respectively. RIPK3, PRDM10, JUN, and SNAI1 as well as olfactory transduction, positive regulation of transport, negative regulation of phosphorylation, and programmed cell death are important for the transformation associated with HBV infection stage. Moreover, JUN may be involved in HBV infection, mainly via the negative regulation of amino acid phosphorylation.
Comments on “temperature‐extreme precipitation scaling: A two‐way causality?”
Authors: Bao Jiawei , Sherwood Steven C. , Alexander Lisa V. , Evans Jason P.
Published: August 2018

Recently, Barbero et al. (2018) examined temperature‐extreme precipitation scaling and argue that the local cooling effect leading to negative apparent scaling in Darwin found by Bao et al. (2017a) was simply a statistical artefact. Barbero et al. (2018) also propose that dew point temperature drives extreme precipitation, and should be used as a scaling variable. Here we address some of their criticisms and further clarify some conclusions. We maintain that scaling analyses via “binning methods” cannot be reliably applied to climate changes due to fundamental problems of misinterpreted causality, and that using dew point temperature does not solve these problems.
The climatology of shamals in the Arabian Sea—Part 1: Surface winds
Authors: Aboobacker V. M. , Shanas P. R.
Published: August 2018

This study describes the climatology of shamal winds in the Arabian Sea using recent 30 years (1987–2016) of ERA‐Interim winds. The shamal events were distinguished based on the typical directions, duration and intensity of the winds. Three potential zones of shamal winds were identified in the northwestern Arabian Sea, which are the areas where the predominant shamal swells have been generated. The number of events, duration and intensity of shamal winds were estimated for various months and years. The climatology and trends of shamal winds were derived and the spatial extent of the winds was assessed. The results show that the number of events and the duration of shamals decrease in the northwestern Arabian Sea. Contrasting trends have been observed in the shamal intensities—significant positive trends in the Gulf of Oman and significant negative trends along the east coast of Oman. The trends of the total winds are in contrast with those of the shamals winds.
Synthesis of an Alkyl Polyoxyethylene Ether Sulfonate Surfactant and Its Application in Surfactant Flooding
Authors: Pu Wan‐Fen , Du Dai‐Jun , Tang Yan‐Li , Wang Song
Published: August 2018

Surfactant flooding as a potential enhanced oil‐recovery technology in a high‐temperature and high‐salinity oil reservoir after water flooding has attracted extensive attention. In this study, the synthesis of an alkyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfonate surfactant (C12EO7S) with dodecyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether and sodium 2‐chloroethanesulfonate monohydrate, and its adaptability in surfactant flooding were investigated. The fundamental parameters of C12EO7S were obtained via surface tension measurement. And the ability to reduce oil–water interfacial tension (IFT), wettability alteration, emulsification, and adsorption was determined. The results illustrated that IFT could be reduced to 10−3 mN m−1 at high temperature and high salinity without additional additives, and C12EO7S exhibited benign wettability alternate ability, and emulsifying ability. Furthermore, the oil‐displacement experiments showed that C12EO7S solution could remarkably enhance oil recovery by 16.19% without adding any additives.
Numerical inversion of Laplace transform based on Bernstein operational matrix
Authors: Rani Dimple , Mishra Vinod , Cattani Carlo
Published: August 2018

This paper provides a technique to investigate the inverse Laplace transform by using orthonormal Bernstein operational matrix of integration. The proposed method is based on replacing the unknown function through a truncated series of Bernstein basis polynomials and the coefficients of the expansion are obtained using the operational matrix of integration. This is an alternative procedure to find the inversion of Laplace transform with few terms of Bernstein polynomials. Numerical tests on various functions have been performed to check the applicability and efficiency of the technique. The root mean square error between exact and numerical results is computed, which shows that the method produces the satisfactory results. A rough upper bound for errors is also estimated.
Retrospective evaluation of a decision‐support algorithm (MIPOGG) for genetic referrals for children with neuroblastic tumors
Authors: Goudie Catherine , Cullinan Noelle , Villani Anita , Mathews Natalie , van Engelen Kalene , Malkin David , Irwin Meredith S. , Foulkes William D.
Published: August 2018

Background

Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor. Germline pathogenic variants inALKandPHOX2B, as well as other cancer predisposition genes, are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of neuroblastic tumors. A challenge for clinicians is the identification of children with neuroblastoma who require genetics evaluation for underlying cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS).

Procedure

We developed a decisional algorithm (MIPOGG) to identify which patients with neuroblastic tumors have an increased likelihood of an underlying CPS. This algorithm, comprising 11 Yes/No questions, evaluates features in the tumor, personal and family history that are suggestive of an underlying CPS. We assessed the algorithm's performance in a retrospective cohort.

Results

Two hundred and nine of 278 consecutive patients with neuroblastic tumors at The Hospital for Sick Children (2007–2016) had sufficient clinical data for retrospective application of the decisional algorithm. Fifty‐one of 209 patients had been referred to genetics for CPS evaluation; 6/51 had a genetic or clinical confirmation of a CPS. The algorithm correctly identified all six children (Beckwith–Wiedemann (n = 2), Fanconi anemia,RB1,PHOX2B, chromosome duplication involvingALK) as requiring a genetic evaluation by using clinical features present at diagnosis. The level of agreement between the algorithm and physicians was 83.9%, with 15 more patients identified by the algorithm than by physicians as requiring a genetics referral.

Conclusions

This decisional algorithm appropriately detected all patients who, following genetic evaluation, were confirmed to have a CPS and may improve the detection of CPS in patients with neuroblastic tumors compared with current practice.
Development of PLA‐PHB‐based biodegradable active packaging and its application to salmon
Authors: Ma Yichao , Li Li , Wang Yifen
Published: August 2018

In this study, poly (lactic acid)‐poly (hydroxybutyrate) (PLA‐PHB) based films containing bioactive elements were developed and characterized. Seven formulations containing different contents of plasticizers (mono‐caprylin glycerate (GMC) or glycerol monolaurate (GML)) were initially developed. After basic mechanical property tests, the PLA‐PHB‐based films with 0.5% GMC or GML were selected as 2 formulations for further study. In the subsequent experiments, 5% cinnamaldehyde was added into each of the 2 formulations selected and EVOH copolymer (widely used nonbiodegradable packaging as control here) respectively. More mechanical and active properties were investigated. The results showed that PLA‐PHB‐based films possessed some better mechanical properties than those of EVOH‐based film, and better active properties when applied to high lipid food simulant. In a preservative test, changes in total bacterial counts, thiobarbituric acid, and total volatile basic nitrogen were carried out on salmon dices packed with films and stored at 4 ± 1°C. It was only 4.65 CFU/g on day 17 for the salmon packed with PLA‐PHB‐based film with GML as plasticizer; meanwhile, the total bacterial counts of salmon dices sealed in other 2 films reached 6.65 and 6.35 CFU/g respectively on day 15. This study showed that it could be feasible to use biodegradable active packing as an alternative to replace nonbiodegradable packaging for chilled salmon.
Refractory Character of 4,6‐Dialkyldibenzothiophenes: Structural and Electronic Instabilities Reign Deep Hydrodesulfurization
Authors: Valencia Diego , García‐Cruz Isidoro , Uc Víctor Hugo , Ramírez‐Verduzco Luis Felipe , Aburto Jorge
Published: August 2018

We studied the most commonly S‐containing compounds present in crude oils, the so‐called 4,6‐dialkyldibenzothiophenes. The alkyl derivatives in this study were methyl, ethyl and isopropyl. Computationally rotating the alkyl substituents, we found differences in their stability. The most stable compound (isopropyl) was transformed into the most instable by changes in its structure. Aromaticity revealed the changes taking place upon structural modifications. The most refractory compound (isopropyl derivative) reduced much more its aromatic character than the methyl derivative. The interaction of these molecules with MoS2 confirmed their instable character upon adsorption. The stability of the refractory molecules and their destabilization prior to be transformed shed light into the key step that reign deep HDS.
Paradoxes and Restricted Quantification
Authors: Tucker Dustin ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2018

Andrew Bacon, John Hawthorne, and Gabriel Uzquiano (Bacon, Hawthorne, and Uzquiano 2016) have recently argued that free logics—logics that reject or restrict Universal Instantiation—are ultimately not promising approaches to resolving a family of intensional paradoxes due to Arthur Prior (Prior 1961). These logics encompass ramified and contextualist approaches to paradoxes, and broadly speaking, there are two kinds of criticism they face. First, they fail to address every version of the Priorean paradoxes. Second, the theoretical considerations behind the logics make absolutely general statements about all propositions, properties of propositions, etc., but because this sort of intensional quantification is always restricted in the logics, they cannot even express those considerations. I present a novel sort of free logic, which rejects the standard Universal Instantiation but validates a restricted form of the rule, and which addresses both kinds of criticism by allowing some propositions to be unrestricted in their quantification.
FERPA's legitimate educational interest: Some examples
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: August 2018

It is sometimes unproductive to spend too much time on one Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act subject. However, in the case of disclosing education records under the school official/legitimate educational interest exception to written consent, the decision to disclose is strictly subjective. It is based on knowing who your school officials are (listed in your annual FERPA notification) and what constitutes a legitimate educational interest. The former is straightforward; the latter is nebulous.
Position yourself as a change agent to lead people, technological innovation
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: August 2018

For Daniel P. O'Driscoll, the path to the Registrar's Office started with volunteering to fold transcripts as a bored financial aid staff assistant with not enough work to stay busy. When a position opened up in the Registrar's Office, the registrar asked him to take the job, and O'Driscoll quickly realized the registrar profession allowed him to achieve the career objective he had set of helping students and to use his love of data analysis to reach that objective.
Coordination‐directed and Hydrogen‐bonded Assembly of Supramolecular Architectures Constructed from Diverse Coordination of Linear, Triangular, Tetragonal Pyramid, Trigonal Bipyramid, and Octahedral Mononuclear Units
Authors: Zheng Lingling , Zhou Aiju , Liao Chunxian , Huang Xiandan , Chen Peiling , Hu Sheng
Published: August 2018

Reaction of a imidazole phenol ligand 4‐(imidazlo‐1‐yl)phenol (L) with 3d metal salts afforded four complexes, namely, [Ni(L)6]·(NO3)2 (1), [Cu(L)4(H2O)]·(NO3)2·(H2O)5 (2), [Zn(L)4(H2O)]·(NO3)2·(H2O) (3), and [Ag2(L)4]·SO4 (4). All complexes are composed of monomeric units with diverse coordination arrangements and corresponding anions. All the hydroxyl groups of monomeric cations are used as hydrogen‐bond donors to form O–H···O hydrogen bonds. However, the coordination habit of different metal ions produces various supramolecular structures. The NiII atom shows octahedral arrangement in 1, featuring a 3D twofold inclined interpenetrated network through O–H···O hydrogen bond and π–π stacking interaction. The CuII atom of 2 displays square pyramidal environment. The O–H···O hydrogen bond from the [Cu(L)4(H2O)]2+ cation and lattice water molecule as well as π–π stacking produce one‐dimensional open channels. NO3– ions and lattice water molecules are located in the channels. 3 is a 3D supramolecular network, in which ZnII has a trigonal bipyramid arrangement. Two different rings intertwined with each other are observed. The AgI in 4 has linear and triangular coordination arrangements. The mononuclear units are assembled into a 1D chain by hydrogen bonding interaction from coordination units and SO42– anions.
Random supermatrices with an external source
Authors: Brézin E. , Hikami S.
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In the past we have considered Gaussian random matrix ensembles in the presence of an external matrix source. The reason was that it allowed, through an appropriate tuning of the eigenvalues of the source, to obtain results on non-trivial dual models, such as Kontsevich’s Airy matrix models and generalizations. The techniques relied on explicit computations of the k-point functions for arbitrary N (the size of the matrices) and on an N-k duality. Numerous results on the intersection numbers of the moduli space of curves were obtained by this technique. In order to generalize these results to include surfaces with boundaries, we have extended these techniques to supermatrices. Again we have obtained quite remarkable explicit expressions for the k-point functions, as well as a duality. Although supermatrix models a priori lead to the same matrix models of 2d-gravity, the external source extensions considered in this article lead to new geometric results.