bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toepassing van de pre-pack in Curaçao: wat zijn de spelregels?
Authors: Bottse R.M.
Published: July 2018

Toepassing van de pre-pack in Curaçao: wat zijn de spelregels?

In deze bijdrage staat de pre-packprocedure centraal die is voorafgegaan aan de doorstart van de naamloze vennootschap Curaçaose Dok Maatschappij N.V. Pre-packrichtlijnen scheppen duidelijkheid omtrent het wanneer, waarom en hoe rondom de toepassing van pre-packs. In de richtlijnen zal voor de beoogd curator een stevige rol moeten zijn weggelegd in het voorkomen van diverse aansprakelijkheidsrisico’s. De auteur moedigt het gerecht daarom aan serieus werk te maken van het ontwerpen van pre-packrichtlijnen. Het verdient aanbeveling om daarbij door middel van een consultatieronde de mening van curatoren en andere insolventierechtbeoefenaren te peilen.
Wetgeving met een haakje … haken en ogen aan het wetgevingsproces. Over kwaliteit en kwantiteit
Authors: Klik P.
Published: July 2018

Wetgeving met een haakje… haken en ogen aan het wetgevingsproces. Over kwaliteit en kwantiteit

In deze bijdrage staat de auteur stil bij de capaciteitsproblemen bij het produceren van wetgeving te Curaçao. Daarbij zal de auteur tevens ingaan op de vraag in hoeverre Nederlandse wetgeving integraal dient te worden overgenomen op Curaçao.
Wijziging van de Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen: extra informatie voor de Staten van Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten
Authors: Modderman C.B.
Published: July 2018

Wijziging van de Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen: extra informatie voor de Staten van Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten

Onlangs is in artikel 2 Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen komen te staan dat bij de overlegging van een verdrag ter goedkeuring moet worden vermeld of volgens de regering in dat verdrag een ieder verbindende bepalingen staan en, zo ja, welke bepalingen dat zijn. In deze bijdrage zal, na een korte uiteenzetting van belangrijke elementen in de regeling van verdragsgoedkeuring, deze wijziging aan bod komen en zal worden ingegaan op het belang ervan voor de Staten van Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten.
Comparison of Selective Local and Global Muscle Thicknesses in Females with and without Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Aboufazeli Mahnaz , Akbari Mohammad , Jamshidi Ali Ashraf , Jafarpisheh Mohammad Saleh
Published: July 2018

Background. Chronic low back pain (LBP) leads to long-term physical and psychological problems and may result in acute deterioration of the pain. It is hypothesized that size changes in selected limb and pelvis muscles during contracting movements are different between healthy individuals and LBP patients.
Materials and methods. A case-control study including two groups of 30 female participants with and without LBP symptoms was designed. Participants were 20-45 years old (36.7±6.7, healthy subjects; 34.6±6.2 LBP subjects). Ultrasonography was used to estimate the thicknesses of the quadratus lumborum (QL), gluteus medius (GMed), transversus abdominis (TrA) and lumbar multifidus (MF). Thickness changes of the muscles in a submaximal contracting position compared to the rest position were measured. Statistical analysis included an independent t-test to determine the significance of differences, and the Kolmogrov-Smirnov two-sample test to evaluate the normality and reliability.
Results. All muscles increased their thickness during contractions. The average increase in LBP subjects was lower than in the healthy subjects. The smaller increase in the muscle thickness of GMed in the LBP group may suggest a weakness because of imbalance in the GMed muscle of LBP patients.
Conclusions. 1. Ultrasonography of local and global muscles is an appropriate device for clinical diagnosis of LBP. 2. Strengthening TrA, MF, and GMed muscles for pain prevention is effective in the prevention and treatment of LBP.
KPS Bipolar Radial Head Arthroplasty – Polyethylene Head Replacement with a Metal-covered Head. Case Study
Authors: Malesa Kamila , Urban Mariusz , Michalik Dariusz , Pomianowski Stanisław
Published: July 2018

Radial head replacement should be indicated in all cases of radial head fractures when open reduction and internal fixation is anticipated to be difficult or impossible. Although excellent therapeutic results have been ob­tained, this procedure, like any other surgical procedures, may be associated with severe complications, includ­ing contractures, ossification or aseptic synovitis. In these cases, removal of the prosthetic radial head has al­ways been a safe and popular solution producing a satisfactory clinical outcome. However, we present the case of a patient in whom the prosthesis was left in place, but the polyethylene head was replaced with a metal-covered head. The decision to perform this procedure was taken intraoperatively.
Democracia por sorteo en las nuevas formaciones políticas: Un debate con rastros de la teoría política clásica y contemporánea
Authors: Feenstra Ramón A.
Published: July 2018

La profundización democrática tanto de los procesos políticos como de las estructuras básicas del sistema es una de las cuestiones claves de la teoría política contemporánea. La opción de escoger representantes o cargos políticos a través del sorteo (no solo vía elección) es uno de los temas del momento. Una posibilidad que se debate también en la formación de algunos nuevos partidos políticos como Podemos. Este artículo reflexiona sobre los posibles elementos transformadores que acompaña a la elección por sorteo dentro de las estructuras de los partidos políticos. Para ello, se examina brevemente el debate planteado en el proceso de institucionalización de Podemos, para luego tratar de trascender el análisis descriptivo y profundizar en la relación existente entre algunos planteamientos de la teoría de la democracia y los debates actuales sobre el sorteo.
Evolution of Self-Repair Behaviour in Narration Among Adult Learners of French as a Second Language
Authors: Simard Daphnée , French Leif , Zuniga Michael
Published: July 2018

Self-repairs, or revisions of speech that speakers themselves initiate and complete (Salonen & Laakso, 2009), have long been associated with second language (L2) development (e.g., Kormos, 2000a). To our knowledge, however, no research has looked at the evolution of self-repair correctness patterns, that is, the correctness of elements targeted for repair and the correctness of the repair outcomes. Consequently, the present study sought to investigate changes in the self-repair behaviour of English-speaking L2 learners of French over the course of a 5-week period and to verify whether any changes occurred over time. Speech samples of the L2 were collected from 50 adult participants through an elicited narration task at the beginning (Time 1) and the end (Time 2) of a 5-week immersion program. Overall, the results showed that there were qualitative and quantitative changes in self-repairs types, and that correctness of the element being repaired increased significantly over time.
Cultivating a Dialogue: Rewilding, Heritage Landscapes, and Belonging
Authors: Tokarski Mateusz , Gammon Andrea R.
Published: July 2018

Rewilding in Europe currently presents a threat to long established forms of agriculture like upland sheep farming. Some rewilders, recognizing the heritage value of these farming practices, have proposed policy solutions to satisfy both the needs of farmers and the plans of rewilders. Such approaches, though striving for peaceful resolution of landscape conflicts, nevertheless overlook one crucial possibility: that both farmers and rewilders have something to learn from each other. By exploring philosophical ideas on dialogue, we propose that by engaging in real dialogue with traditional farming practices, conservation approaches like rewilding can learn a lot about some of the most fundamental concerns motivating conservation. This however demands laying oneself open to possible criticism and being open to the possibility of transformation.
More-than-humanizing the Anthropocene
Authors: Affifi Ramsey
Published: July 2018

The concept ‘human’ has to be more-than-humanized, a project Abram initiated but left incomplete in his study of language. Doing so is a powerful antidote to some of the more anthropocentric consequences of Anthropocenic thinking. Crucial to this project is uncovering the ways in which human agency is permeated by and circulates within vast causal relationships. Shifting from ecologically destructive patterns suggests completing this phenomenological project by uncovering the sense that the ‘human’ is in no simple sense, ‘steering this vessel.’ Not even the pervasive and perpetual arrogance about our own powers is incontrovertibly ‘our own.’ Humility and awe before these wild and undomesticatable processes cycling through us and carrying us in their currents can correct hubristic assumptions about our power for good or evil, and thereby also perhaps these destructive patterns.
Open data from the Brazilian government: Understanding the perspectives of data suppliers and developers of applications to the citizens
Authors: Araújo Narallynne , Figueira Filho Fernando , Melo Leandro
Published: July 2018

Open Government Data (OGD) is seen as a way to promote transparency, as well as to provide information to the population by opening data related to various government sectors and processes. By using applications developed with this type of data, citizens gain knowledge about a certain public sphere; governments, in turn, are able to promote transparency and improvements through the interaction with citizens who use such applications. To create these applications, developers need to extract, process and analyze OGD available by data suppliers. This research was conducted in two phases: the first sought to investigate the perspective of developers who use Brazilian OGD; in the second phase, we investigated the perspectives of data suppliers. Through semi-structured interviews with twenty-four developers and data suppliers, this work reports what motivates them to work with OGD, as well as the barriers they face in this process. Our findings indicate that both participants seek to promote transparency for the population, but they run up against poor data quality, cultural barriers, among other issues. We present and qualitatively characterize these issues, providing recommendations for the improvement of the Brazilian OGD ecosystem.
High-resolution digital terrain modelling of a rugged alpine terrain by fusing data from terrestrial laser scanning and UAV photogrammetry
Authors: Gallay Michal , Kaňuk Ján , Šašak Ján , Šupinský Jozef , Hofierka Jaroslav , Minár Jozef
Published: July 2018

The alpine landscape is rugged, dominated by glacial morphogenesis, comprising specific landforms of different sizes and shapes with a marked vertical relief and hierarchical-ordering of the forms. Digital geomorphometric analyses of such a land surface in a high level of detail can exploit mainly data acquired by airborne laser scanning or photogrammetry. However, the level of detail captured is limited to several meters or decimetres in these datasets for the relatively high above ground flying heights. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and close range photogrammetry generate 3-D point clouds of ultra-high spatial resolution but their application is limited by extreme environmental conditions. TLS data often contain data shadows in alpine landscape resulting in inhomogeneous spatial distribution of the acquired 3-D point cloud. Such data properties cause creation of overly smoothed surfaces or artefacts in digital elevation models (DEMs) interpolated into a grid (raster). The sub-horizontal field of view in TLS can be compensated by sub-vertical field of view of digital cameras installed on unpiloted aerial platforms (UAVs). Such a photogrammetric 3-D reconstruction of terrain with UAVs is based on structure-from-motion (SfM) image matching techniques. The measurement precision and accuracy of UAV-SfM is lower than with TLS but the UAV-SfM data can be used in filling the TLS data voids. In this paper, we present the results of combined use of TLS and UAV-SfM for high-resolution modelling of a glacial cirque in the Tatry Mountains, the Carpathians, Europe. The achieved accuracy (1 standard deviation) of mutual co-registration of 18 TLS positions was 4.2 mm. The accuracy of georeferencing the final TLS data in the national cartographic system was 33.2 mm based on 15 ground control points. The UAV-SfM dataset was spatially co-registered on the TLS dataset with the accuracy of 137 mm and point filling the TLS voids were used to generate the final DEM of 0.5m cell size from the combined point clouds.
The personal data is political
Authors: Greshake Tzovaras Bastian , Tzovara Athina
Published: July 2018

The success of personalized medicine does not only rely on methodological advances but also on the availability of data to learn from. While the generation and sharing of large data sets is becoming increasingly easier, there is a remarkable lack of diversity within shared datasets, rendering any novel scientific findings directly applicable only to a small portion of the human population. Here, we are investigating two fields that have been majorly impacted by data sharing initiatives, neuroscience and genetics. Exploring the limitations that are a result of a lack of participant diversity, we propose that data sharing in itself is not enough to enable a global personalized medicine.
Differentiating life and death: An inflammatory affair
Authors: Lane Dustin
Published: July 2018

Programmed cell death signaling networks are frequently activated to coordinate the process of cell differentiation, and a variety of apoptotic events can mediate the process. This can include the ligation of death receptors, the activation of downstream caspases, and the induction of chromatin fragmentation, and all of these events can occur without downstream induction of death. Importantly, regulators of programmed cell death also have established roles in mediating differentiation. This review will provide an overview of apoptosis and its regulation by Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAPs) and Bcl-2 family members. It will then outline the cross-talk between NF-ĸB and apoptotic signaling in the regulation of apoptosis before discussing the function of these regulators in the control of cell differentiation. It will end on a discussion of how a DNA damage-directed, cell cycle-dependent differentiation program may be controlled across multiple passages through cell cycle, and will assert that the failure to properly differentiate is the underlying cause of cancer.
Elaborating more accurate high-resolution DEMs using SfM workflow
Authors: Gomez-Gutierrez Alvaro , Biggs Trent , Gudino-Elizondo Napoleon , Errea Abad Paz , Alonso-González Esteban , Nadal-Romero Estela , de Sanjosé Blasco José Juan
Published: July 2018

Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is one of the most common approaches used to elaborate high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) nowadays. Factors that influence the final error associated to the derived DEM are: camera-to-ground distance, camera-sensor system parameters, image network geometry, matching performance, terrain type, lighting conditions and referencing methods. Here, a strategy focused on minimizing the occlusion produced by topography and determine optimal camera locations for image acquisition is presented. This methodology is based on using a viewshed analysis implemented in a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify the best images for the SfM workflow of a specific survey-site. The suitability of the workflow presented against conventional acquisition strategies was tested using three different datasets (one terrestrial and two aerial) and analyzing differences between SfM-derived DEM produced using: 1) a dataset acquired following conventional overlap requirements (i.e. one image every 5-10º around the target for terrestrial close-range oblique SfM and 70-60% frontal and side overlap for aerial surveys), 2) a dataset overloaded with images (i.e. one image every 3-4º around the target and >95-95% frontal and side overlap for aerial surveys), and 3) images selected using the viewshed analysis. The resulting DEMs were tested against Terrestrial Laser Scanner-derived (TLS) DEMs. SfM results showed denser point clouds for the datasets elaborated using the viewshed analysis. Differences were particularly important for the terrestrial case indicating a stronger line-of-sight effect on the ground. Point cloud density absolute differences and no-data zones in the datasets produced using the conventional strategies resulted in larger Mean Absolute Errors (MAE) in the DEMs. DEMs produced using the viewshed criteria showed lower MAEs than the conventional dataset and similar to the dataset overloaded of images. Additionally, the processing time of the datasets that used viewshed criteria was much shorter than the datasets overloaded of images.
Content-specific activity in frontoparietal and default-mode networks during prior-guided visual perception
Authors: González-García Carlos , Flounders Matthew W , Chang Raymond , Baria Alexis T , He Biyu J
Published: July 2018

How prior knowledge shapes perceptual processing across the human brain, particularly in the frontoparietal (FPN) and default-mode (DMN) networks, remains unknown. Using ultra-high-field (7T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we elucidated the effects that the acquisition of prior knowledge has on perceptual processing across the brain. We observed that prior knowledge significantly impacted neural representations in the FPN and DMN, rendering responses to individual visual images more distinct from each other, and more similar to the image-specific prior. In addition, neural representations were structured in a hierarchy that remained stable across perceptual conditions, with early visual areas and DMN anchored at the two extremes. Two large-scale cortical gradients occur along this hierarchy: first, dimensionality of the neural representational space increased along the hierarchy; second, prior’s impact on neural representations was greater in higher-order areas. These results reveal extensive and graded influences of prior knowledge on perceptual processing across the brain.
Hair follicle dermal condensation forms via Fgf20 primed cell cycle exit, cell motility, and aggregation
Authors: Biggs Leah C , Mäkelä Otto JM , Myllymäki Satu-Marja , Das Roy Rishi , Närhi Katja , Pispa Johanna , Mustonen Tuija , Mikkola Marja L
Published: July 2018

Mesenchymal condensation is a critical step in organogenesis, yet the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The hair follicle dermal condensate is the precursor to the permanent mesenchymal unit of the hair follicle, the dermal papilla, which regulates hair cycling throughout life and bears hair inductive potential. Dermal condensate morphogenesis depends on epithelial Fibroblast Growth Factor 20 (Fgf20). Here, we combine mouse models with 3D and 4D microscopy to demonstrate that dermal condensates form de novo and via directional migration. We identify cell cycle exit and cell shape changes as early hallmarks of dermal condensate morphogenesis and find that Fgf20 primes these cellular behaviors and enhances cell motility and condensation. RNAseq profiling of immediate Fgf20 targets revealed induction of a subset of dermal condensate marker genes. Collectively, these data indicate that dermal condensation occurs via directed cell movement and that Fgf20 orchestrates the early cellular and molecular events.
Ankle perturbation generates bilateral alteration of knee muscle onset times after unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Pincheira Patricio A. , Silvestre Rony , Armijo-Olivo Susan , Guzman-Venegas Rodrigo
Published: July 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to compare muscle activation onset times of knee muscles between the involved and uninvolved knee of patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and the uninjured knees of healthy subjects after a controlled perturbation at the ankle level.

Methods

Fifty male amateur soccer players, 25 with unilateral ACLR using semitendinosus-gracilis graft (age = 28.36 ± 7.87 years; time after surgery = 9 ± 3 months) and 25 uninjured control subjects (age = 24.16 ± 2.67 years) participated in the study. Two destabilizing platforms (one for each limb) generated a controlled perturbation at the ankle of each participant (30°of inversion, 10°plantarflexion simultaneously) in a weight bearing condition. The muscle activation onset times of semitendinosus (ST) and vastus medialis (VM) was detected through an electromyographic (EMG) analysis to assess the neuromuscular function of knee muscles.

Results

Subjects with ACLR had significant delays in EMG onset in the involved (VM = 99.9 ± 30 ms; ST = 101.7 ± 28 ms) and uninvolved knee (VM = 100.4 ± 26 ms; ST = 104.7 ± 28 ms) when compared with the healthy subjects (VM = 69.1 ± 9 ms; ST = 74.6 ± 9 ms). However, no difference was found between involved and uninvolved knee of the ACLR group.

Discussion

The results show a bilateral alteration of knee muscles in EMG onset after a unilateral ACLR, responses that can be elicited with an ankle perturbation. This suggests an alteration in the central processing of proprioceptive information and/or central nervous system re-organization that may affect neuromuscular control of knee muscles in the involved and uninvolved lower limbs.
A comparative analysis of the complete chloroplast genome sequences of four peanut botanical varieties
Authors: Wang Juan , Li Chunjuan , Yan Caixia , Zhao Xiaobo , Shan Shihua
Published: July 2018

Background

Arachis hypogaeaL. is an economically important oilseed crop worldwide comprising six botanical varieties. In this work, we characterized the chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of the four widely distributed peanut varieties.

Methods

The cp genome data of these four botanical varieties (var.hypogaea, var.hirsuta, var.fastigiata, and var.vulgaris) were obtained by next-generation sequencing. These high-throughput sequencing reads were then assembled, annotated, and comparatively analyzed.

Results

The total cp genome lengths of the studiedA. hypogaeavarieties were 156,354 bp (var.hypogaea), 156,878 bp (var.hirsuta), 156,718 bp (var.fastigiata), and 156,399 bp (var.vulgaris). Comparative analysis of theses cp genome sequences revealed that their gene content, gene order, and GC content were highly conserved, with only a total of 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 26 insertions/deletions identified. Most of the variations were restricted to non-coding sequences, especially, thetrnI-GAU intron region was detected to be highly variable and will be useful for future evolutionary studies.

Discussion

The four cp genome sequences acquired here will provide valuable genetic resources for distinguishingA. hypogaeabotanical varieties and determining their evolutionary relationship.
Venomix: a simple bioinformatic pipeline for identifying and characterizing toxin gene candidates from transcriptomic data
Authors: Macrander Jason , Panda Jyothirmayi , Janies Daniel , Daly Marymegan , Reitzel Adam M.
Published: July 2018

The advent of next-generation sequencing has resulted in transcriptome-based approaches to investigate functionally significant biological components in a variety of non-model organism. This has resulted in the area of “venomics”: a rapidly growing field using combined transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to characterize toxin diversity in a variety of venomous taxa. Ultimately, the transcriptomic portion of these analyses follows very similar pathways after transcriptome assembly often including candidate toxin identification using BLAST, expression level screening, protein sequence alignment, gene tree reconstruction, and characterization of potential toxin function. Here we describe the Python package Venomix, which streamlines these processes using common bioinformatic tools along with ToxProt, a publicly available annotated database comprised of characterized venom proteins. In this study, we use the Venomix pipeline to characterize candidate venom diversity in four phylogenetically distinct organisms, a cone snail (Conidae; Conus sponsalis), a snake (Viperidae; Echis coloratus), an ant (Formicidae; Tetramorium bicarinatum), and a scorpion (Scorpionidae; Urodacus yaschenkoi). Data on these organisms were sampled from public databases, with each original analysis using different approaches for transcriptome assembly, toxin identification, or gene expression quantification. Venomix recovered numerically more candidate toxin transcripts for three of the four transcriptomes than the original analyses and identified new toxin candidates. In summary, we show that the Venomix package is a useful tool to identify and characterize the diversity of toxin-like transcripts derived from transcriptomic datasets. Venomix is available at: https://bitbucket.org/JasonMacrander/Venomix/.
Detection and benchmarking of somatic mutations in cancer genomes using RNA-seq data
Authors: Coudray Alexandre , Battenhouse Anna M. , Bucher Philipp , Iyer Vishwanath R.
Published: July 2018

To detect functional somatic mutations in tumor samples, whole-exome sequencing (WES) is often used for its reliability and relative low cost. RNA-seq, while generally used to measure gene expression, can potentially also be used for identification of somatic mutations. However there has been little systematic evaluation of the utility of RNA-seq for identifying somatic mutations. Here, we develop and evaluate a pipeline for processing RNA-seq data from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors in order to identify somatic mutations. The pipeline entails the use of the STAR aligner 2-pass procedure jointly with MuTect2 from genome analysis toolkit (GATK) to detect somatic variants. Variants identified from RNA-seq data were evaluated by comparison against the COSMIC and dbSNP databases, and also compared to somatic variants identified by exome sequencing. We also estimated the putative functional impact of coding variants in the most frequently mutated genes in GBM. Interestingly, variants identified by RNA-seq alone showed better representation of GBM-related mutations cataloged by COSMIC. RNA-seq-only data substantially outperformed the ability of WES to reveal potentially new somatic mutations in known GBM-related pathways, and allowed us to build a high-quality set of somatic mutations common to exome and RNA-seq calls. Using RNA-seq data in parallel with WES data to detect somatic mutations in cancer genomes can thus broaden the scope of discoveries and lend additional support to somatic variants identified by exome sequencing alone.
Wide‐Range Tuning and Enhancement of Organic Long‐Persistent Luminescence Using Emitter Dopants
Authors: Jinnai Kazuya , Kabe Ryota , Adachi Chihaya
Published: July 2018

Most long‐persistent luminescent (LPL) materials, which slowly release energy absorbed from ambient light, are based on inorganic compounds. Organic long‐persistent luminescent (OLPL) systems have advantages over inorganic LPL materials in terms of solubility, transparency, and flexibility. Here, the characteristics of OLPL emission are improved by doping emitter molecules into an OLPL matrix. Greenish‐blue to red and even warm white emission are achieved by energy transfer from exciplex in the OLPL matrix to the emitter dopants. The dopants also improve brightness and emission duration through efficient radiative decay and the trapping of electrons, respectively. This technique will enable the development of a wide range of organic glow‐in‐the‐dark paints.
Flexible Timbo‐Like Triboelectric Nanogenerator as Self‐Powered Force and Bend Sensor for Wireless and Distributed Landslide Monitoring
Authors: Lin Zhiwei , He Qiang , Xiao Yang , Zhu Tao , Yang Jun , Sun Chenchen , Zhou Zhihao , Zhang Heng , Shen Ziying , Yang Jin , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: July 2018

As worldwide landslides frequently result in enormous casualties and huge economic losses, new landslide monitoring technologies are urgently required to develop for preventing and mitigating landslide hazard. In this paper, a self‐powered, flexible, timbo‐like triboelectric force and bend sensor (TTEFBS) is proposed and implemented, with the aim of effectively monitoring landslides. The fabricated TTEFBS, based on a single‐electrode working mode, consists of a timbo‐like inner polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) core coated with a carbon electrode and an outer silicon rubber tube. Owing to the novel structure and sensing mechanism, the TTEFBS achieves high sensitivities (5.20 V N−1 under pressing and 1.61 V rad−1 under bending), fast response/relaxation time (<6 ms), and long‐term stability/reliability (more than 40 000 cycles). Furthermore, a wireless and distributed monitoring system using an array of TTEFBSs is developed for systematically detecting rockfalls, deep‐seated landslides, and superficial landslides. Additionally, a zigzag‐structured triboelectric nanogenerator (Z‐TENG), characterized by an open‐circuit voltage of ≈2058 V and a short‐circuit current of ≈154 µA, is successfully fabricated for scavenging energy from moving cars to provide power in wild environments, thereby forming a self‐powered monitoring system. This work may further inspire rapid progress of TENG in applications of wireless, distributed sensing, and environmental/infrastructure monitoring.
Bis‐Tridentate Iridium(III) Phosphors with Very High Photostability and Fabrication of Blue‐Emitting OLEDs
Authors: Kuo Hsin‐Hung , Zhu Ze‐lin , Lee Chun‐Sing , Chen Yi‐Kuang , Liu Shih‐Hung , Chou Pi‐Tai , Jen Alex K.‐Y. , Chi Yun
Published: July 2018

Sky‐blue and blue‐emitting, carbazolyl functionalized, bis‐tridentate Ir(III) phosphors Cz‐1–Cz‐3 with bright emission and short radiative lifetime are successfully synthesized in a one‐pot manner. They exhibit very high photostability against UV–vis irradiation in degassed toluene, versus both green and true‐blue‐emitting reference compounds, i.e., fac‐[Ir(ppy)3] and mer‐[Ir(pmp)3]. Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on Cz‐2 exhibit maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.6%, EQE of 15.1% at 100 cd m−2, and with CIEx,y coordinates of (0.17, 0.25). This study provides a conceptual solution to the exceedingly stable and efficient blue phosphor. It is promising that long lifespan blue OLED based on these emitters can be attained with further engineering of devices suitable for commercial application.
Atom‐Economical and Stereoselective Difunctionalization of Electron‐Withdrawing Alkynes with N‐Trifluoromethylthiophthalimide
Authors: Li Juncheng , Yang Zhiping , Guo Rui , Jin Ming Yu , Wang Jun (Joelle)
Published: July 2018

An N‐methylmorpholine‐catalyzed aminotrifluoromethylthiolation of electron‐withdrawing alkynes leads to α,β‐unsaturated esters bearing a nitrogen and SCF3 groups. Here, N‐trifluoromethylthiophthalimide serves as both the nitrogen and the SCF3 source. This difunctionalization reaction features mild reaction conditions, high atom economy, good yield (up to 93%) and excellent stereoselectivity (Z/E up to 28 : 1). This study provides a versatile approach for the synthesis of −SCF3‐containing molecules (i. e. α‐SCF3‐β‐amino acids).
A survey on infection control in emergency departments in Japan
Authors: Kudo Daisuke , Sasaki Junichi , Ikeda Hiroto , Shiino Yasukazu , Shime Nobuaki , Mochizuki Toru , Morita Masanori , Soeda Hiroshi , Ohge Hiroki , Lee Jong Ja , Fujita Masahisa , Miyairi Isao , Kato Yasuyuki , Watanabe Manabu , Yokota Hiroyuki ,   Committee for Infection Control for the Emergency Department, the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, and the joint working group
Published: July 2018

Aim

Infection control in the emergency department is important for hospital risk management; however, few clinical guidelines have been established. This study aimed to determine whether hospitals in Japan have infection control manuals, and investigate the contents of manuals, consulting systems, and isolation facilities for emergency departments.

Methods

A total of 517 hospitals certified as educational institutions for board‐certified acute care physicians in Japan were requested between March and May 2015 to provide a written evaluation of the infection control in the emergency department.

Results

A total of 51 of 303 (16.8%) hospitals had no manuals regarding infection control in the emergency department. Among 250 hospitals having emergency department manuals, 115 (46.0%) did not include contents regarding disinfection and sterilization for imaging examination rooms, and only 44 (17.6%) had criteria for contacting the emergency medical service when patients are suspected of, or diagnosed with, communicable diseases. Of the 303 hospitals, 277 (91.4%) prepared specific manuals for the 2009 pandemic influenza. Of the 303 hospitals, 80 (26.4%) did not prepare manuals for the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa in 2014. Furthermore, 92 (30.4%) of the 303 hospitals did not have any negative‐pressure isolation rooms.

Conclusions

Practices and guidelines necessary for infection control in the emergency department were not sufficiently covered in the hospitals studied. Education, information sharing, and a checklist for preparing manuals are needed to establish better infection control systems in emergency departments.
Fabrication of Oligomeric Avidin Scaffolds for Valency‐Controlled Surface Display of Functional Ligands
Authors: Yoon Hye Ryeon , Choi Hyeongjoo , Choi Yoon‐Aa , Kim Jung A. , Jung Juyeon , Kim Ho Min , Jung Yongwon
Published: July 2018

Multivalent surface display of biomolecules is crucial to study and utilize multivalent biological interactions. However, precise valency control of surface‐displayed ligands remains extremely difficult. Now a series of new oligomeric avidin proteins were fabricated that allow facile control of surface multivalency of biotinylated ligands. Naturally dimeric rhizavidin (RA) was engineered to form a mixture of oligomeric avidin assemblies, and discrete RA oligomers from the dimer to octamer of RA, were homogeneously prepared. These oligomeric avidins are in polygonal forms with expected numbers of stable biotin binding sites. Upon immobilization on low‐density biotin‐coated gold surfaces, RA dimer, trimer, and tetramer scaffolds provided accurate mean residual valencies of 2, 3, and 4, respectively, for biotinylated proteins. Valency‐controlled display of antibody binding protein G on these RA surfaces showed clear valency‐dependent enhancement of antibody capturing stability.
Coupling of Methanol and Carbon Monoxide over H‐ZSM‐5 to Form Aromatics
Authors: Chen Zhiyang , Ni Youming , Zhi Yuchun , Wen Fuli , Zhou Ziqiao , Wei Yingxu , Zhu Wenliang , Liu Zhongmin
Published: July 2018

The conversion of methanol into aromatics over unmodified H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite is generally not high because the hydrogen transfer reaction results in alkane formation. Now circa 80 % aromatics selectivity for the coupling reaction of methanol and carbon monoxide over H‐ZSM‐5 is reported. Carbonyl compounds and methyl‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐ones (MCPOs), which were detected in the products and catalysts, respectively, are considered as intermediates. The latter species can be synthesized from the former species and olefins. 13C isotope tracing and 13C liquid‐state NMR results confirmed that the carbon atoms of CO molecules were incorporated into MCPOs and aromatic rings. A new aromatization mechanism that involves the formation of the above intermediates and co‐occurs with a dramatically decreased hydrogen transfer reaction is proposed. A portion of the carbons in CO molecules are incorporated into aromatic, which is of great significance for industrial applications.
Synthesis and characterization of a novel polyurethane curing agent modified by a diazafluorene derivative
Authors: Zhou Shaoling , Liang Yu , Chen Kaifeng , Qi Haixia , Zhang Shuai , Chen Zhijie , Wu Xinhua , Shao Yanqun
Published: July 2018

In this study, we synthesized a novel polyurethane (PU) curing agent (CA) modified by the diazafluorene derivative, 9,9′‐di(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐9‐1H‐4,5‐diazafluorene, at different hydroxyl ratios. The results of1H‐NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved the structure of the fluorine derivative and the modification of CAs. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the glass‐transition temperature of the PU increased with the addition of the diazafluorene derivative, and the PU cured in the novel CA had more stable and better damping properties under moderate‐temperature conditions (30–80 °C) than the PU cured in the N75 CA. Tan δ was maintained in a relatively lower range shift in the moderate‐temperature range. The average adhesion values of the PU coating cured in the novel CA increased. The scanning electron microscopy morphologies of the PU film and the average adhesion of the coatings showed that the PU cured in the novel CA had good mechanical properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46591.
Highly transparent thermoresponsive surfaces based on tea‐stain‐inspired chemistry
Authors: Dong Fuxin , Li Yue , Yuan Xiaohua , Wang Ping , Yang Junjie , Miao Lei
Published: July 2018

A highly transparent thermoresponsive surface that could switch its wettability at different temperatures was constructed via tea‐stain‐inspired chemistry. The pristine tannic acid was modified by alkyl bromide with a substitution degree of 1.7 alkyl bromide units per tannic acid molecule. A coating of the alkyl bromine modified tannic acid with a thickness of 22 ± 3 nm was deposited onto the surface of glass via auto‐oxidation. A poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) brush was grafted from the alkyl bromide initiator via surface initiation atom transfer radical polymerization with a polymer grafting density of 8.6 × 10−3 mg/cm2. Due to the low thickness of the tannic acid and PNIPAAm coating, the transparency of this thermoresponsive surface remained constant at 94.3% even when the temperature was changed from 20 to 40 °C, but the water contact angle of this surface increased rapidly when the temperature was elevated from 25 to 35 °C. Due to the inevitable hydrolysis and deprotonation, this tea‐stain‐inspired chemistry‐based coating was stable in aqueous solution with a pH of 7 or isopropanol for soaking times of up to 24 h. The coating reported here may have various potential applications such as surfaces for cell culture media, food storage, or self‐cleaning materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46694.
Sequential Maximum Correntropy Kalman Filtering
Authors: Kulikova Maria V.
Published: July 2018

This paper explores a linear state estimation problem in non‐Gaussian setting and suggests a computationally simple estimator based on the maximum correntropy criterion Kalman filter (MCC‐KF). The first MCC‐KF method was developed in Joseph stabilized form. It requires two n × n and one m × m matrix inversions, where n is a dimension of unknown dynamic state to be estimated, and m is a dimension of available measurement vector. Therefore, the estimator becomes impractical when the system dimensions increase. Our previous work has suggested an improved MCC‐KF estimator (IMCC‐KF) and its factored‐from (square‐root) implementations that enhance the MCC‐KF estimation quality and numerical robustness against roundoff errors. However, the proposed IMCC‐KF and its square‐root implementations still require the m × m matrix inversion in each iteration step of the filter. For numerical stability and computational complexity reasons it is preferable to avoid the matrix inversion operation. In this paper, we suggest a new IMCC‐KF algorithm that is more accurate and computationally cheaper than the original MCC‐KF and previously suggested IMCC‐KF. Furthermore, compared with stable square‐root algorithms, the new method is also accurate, but less computationally expensive. The results of numerical experiments substantiate the mentioned properties of the new estimator on numerical examples.
RBFNN‐Based Identification and Compensation Mechanism for Disturbance‐Like Parametric Friction with Application to Tractor‐Trailer Vehicles
Authors: Yue Ming , Hou Xiaoqiang , Gao Junjie , Yang Lu
Published: July 2018

This paper develops an effective identification and compensation mechanism for the disturbance‐like parametric friction of a typical underactuated tractor‐trailer vehicle system. To begin with, a parametric friction model is proposed to describe various friction effects associated with the system velocity, and then a disturbance‐like parametric friction concept is introduced by considering the motion characteristics of tractor‐trailer vehicle. Next, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is employed to identify the friction due to its high convergence rate, superior approximation precision and local‐minima avoidance ability. Afterwards, a sliding mode control (SMC) is utilized to compensate the identified friction due to its numerous merits, such as strong robustness and fast convergence. On the basis of the effective combination of identification and compensation mechanism, a favorable transient performance can be achieved during the desired velocity tracking process. Lastly, the simulation results confirm that the RBFNN‐based disturbance‐like parametric friction identification and compensation mechanism can effectively improve the trajectory tracking performance of tractor‐trailer vehicle.
When should meta‐analysis avoid making hidden normality assumptions?
Authors: Jackson Dan , White Ian R.
Published: July 2018

Meta‐analysis is a widely used statistical technique. The simplicity of the calculations required when performing conventional meta‐analyses belies the parametric nature of the assumptions that justify them. In particular, the normal distribution is extensively, and often implicitly, assumed. Here, we review how the normal distribution is used in meta‐analysis. We discuss when the normal distribution is likely to be adequate and also when it should be avoided. We discuss alternative and more advanced methods that make less use of the normal distribution. We conclude that statistical methods that make fewer normality assumptions should be considered more often in practice. In general, statisticians and applied analysts should understand the assumptions made by their statistical analyses. They should also be able to defend these assumptions. Our hope is that this article will foster a greater appreciation of the extent to which assumptions involving the normal distribution are made in statistical methods for meta‐analysis. We also hope that this article will stimulate further discussion and methodological work.
Alka(e)ne synthesis in Cupriavidus necator boosted by the expression of endogenous and heterologous ferredoxin–ferredoxin reductase systems
Authors: Crépin Lucie , Barthe Manon , Leray Florence , Guillouet Stéphane E.
Published: July 2018

To boost aldehyde deformylating oxygenase (ADO) activity in a Cupriavidus necator strain expressing a synthetic alkane pathway, the expression of two ferredoxin–ferredoxin reductase systems was tested. The genes of a native fd/FNR‐like system were identified in C. necator and expressed in a previously engineered alka(e)ne producing strain. The improved production of alka(e)nes in this Re2061‐pMAB1 strain confirmed the activity of the native Fd/FNR system in C. necator. Concomitantly, the expression of the heterologous system from Synechococcus elongatus was investigated identically, leading to a second strain, Re2061‐pMAB2. In the bioreactor, the aldehyde production was strongly reduced compared with the original alka(e)ne producer, leading to alka(e)nes production up to 0.37 and 1.48 g/L (22 and 82 mg/gCDW), respectively. The alka(e)ne production yield of Re2061‐pMAB2 accounted for 15% of the theoretical yield. We report here the highest level and yield of alka(e)nes production by an engineered bacterium to date.
Contribution of cellulose synthesis, formation of fibrils and their entanglement to the self‐flocculation of Zymomonas mobilis
Authors: Xia Juan , Liu Chen‐Guang , Zhao Xin‐Qing , Xiao Yi , Xia Xiao‐Xia , Bai Feng‐Wu
Published: July 2018

Due to the unique Entner‐Doudoroff pathway, Zymomonas mobilis has been acknowledged as a potential host to be engineered for biorefinery to produce biofuels and biobased chemicals. The self‐flocculation of
Z. mobilis can make the bacterial cells self‐immobilized within bioreactors for high density to improve product productivities, and in the meantime enhance their tolerance to stresses, particularly product inhibition and the toxicity of byproducts released during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. In this work, we explored mechanism underlying such a phenotype with the self‐flocculating strain ZM401 developed from the regular non‐flocculating strain ZM4. Cellulase de‐flocculation and the restoration of the self‐flocculating phenotype for the de‐flocculated bacterial cells subjected to culture confirmed the essential role of cellulose biosynthesis in the self‐flocculation of ZM401. Furthermore, the deactivation of both Type I and Type IV restriction‐modification systems was performed for ZM4 and ZM401 to improve their transformation efficiencies. Comparative genome analysis detected the deletion of a thymine from ZMO1082 in ZM401, leading to a frame‐shift mutation for the putative gene to be integrated into the neighboring downstream gene ZMO1083 encoding the catalytic subunit A of cellulose synthase, and consequently created a new gene to encode a larger transmembrane protein BcsA_401 for more efficient synthesis of cellulose as well as the development of cellulose fibrils and their entanglement for the self‐flocculation of the mutant. These speculations were confirmed by the morphological observation of the bacterial cells under scanning electron microscopy, the impact of the gene deletion on the self‐flocculation of ZM401, and the restoration of the self‐flocculating phenotype of ZM401
ΔbcsA by the gene complementation. The progress will lay a foundation not only for fundamental research in deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying the self‐flocculation of
Z. mobilis and stress tolerance associated with the morphological change but also for technological innovations in engineering non‐flocculating
Z. mobilis and other bacterial species with the self‐flocculating phenotype.
Isolation of cancer‐associated fibroblasts and its promotion to the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Sha Meng , Jeong Seogsong , Qiu Bi‐jun , Tong Ying , Xia Lei , Xu Ning , Zhang Jian‐jun , Xia Qiang
Published: July 2018

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a highly fatal tumor characterized by an abundant stromal environment. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts play key roles in tumor growth and invasiveness and have been regarded as a potential therapeutic target. This study was designed to isolate human primary cancer‐associated fibroblasts of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma to study tumor‐stroma interactions and to analyze the clinical relevance of alpha‐smooth muscle actin ‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The isolated cancer‐associated fibroblasts were positive for alpha‐smooth actin, fibroblast‐specific protein‐1, fibroblast activation protein, and PDGFR‐β. In addition, cancer‐associated fibroblasts were found to increase proliferation, migration, and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and promote tumor growth of mice in vivo. Moreover, alpha‐smooth muscle actin‐positive expression of cancer‐associated fibroblasts predicted unfavorable prognosis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and showed correlation with presence of lymph node metastasis. This study may provide a useful tool to investigate further effect of cancer‐associated fibroblasts on the molecular mechanism of cholangiocarcinoma cells as well as contribution of cancer‐associated fibroblasts in lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis.