bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Productivity and water demand of maize estimated by the modified satellite Priestley-Taylor algorithm
Authors: Filgueiras Roberto , Mantovani Everardo Chartuni , Althoff Daniel , Dias Santos Henrique Brant , Cunha Fernando França da , Venancio Luan Peroni
Published: October 2019

The water demand of crops, as well as the relation of this variable to productivity and other important factors related to the sustainable management of agriculture, makes it relevant to estimate parameters that help in the most assertive and efficient decision-making in the agricultural environment. In this context, the work aims to estimate the actual evapotranspiration (ETa), biomass (Bio), water productivity (WP) and crop productivity (P), using the Landsat-8 satellite, through the Modified Satellite Priestley-Taylor Algorithm (MS-PT). For this, ETa was estimated for maize culture irrigated by central pivots, using the MS-PT with six images of Landsat-8, which were free of clouds. The ETa estimate was accurate in the first 60 days after emergence (DAE) of the crop. Subsequently, the variables Bio, P, and WP were estimated using the ETa and the assumptions of the Monteith (1972) model. Therefore, we sequentially calculated the dry biomass, crop productivity and water productivity. ETa presented a high correlation with Bio from the second image (06/10/2015), due to the canopy closure of the crop and, consequently, the predominance of transpiration in the evapotranspiration phenomenon. The water productivity was constant throughout the maximum vegetative stage until the reproductive phase R4 of the crop, verifying in this interval the best efficiency in the conversion of water in biomass. From the obtained results, it is verified that the set of algorithms used in the estimation of the parameters demonstrated the potential to increase the capacity to handle agriculture in a more efficient, assertive and sustainable way.
Needle hygiene reduces the occurrence of post-vaccine abscesses in cattle
Authors: Silva Danilo Conrado , Goulart Camila França de Paula Orlando , Queiroz Paulo José Bastos , Silva Wanessa Patrícia Rodrigues da , Neves Lucianne Cardoso , Arnhold Emanuel , Borges Naida Cristina , Silva Luiz Antônio Franco da
Published: October 2019

Although vaccination is indispensable for animal production, the use of unhygienic needles can lead to post-vaccine abscesses and consequently loss of meat products and higher production costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of needle hygiene in the prevention of post-vaccine abscesses in cattle, estimate economic losses caused by post-vaccine abscesses, and verify whether cattle farmers sanitize the needles used in vaccination. Four groups containing 120 cattle were vaccinated against the foot-and-mouth disease. The GI, GII, and GIII groups were vaccinated using needles sanitized by different methods, while the GIV group served as control. Six months after vaccination, ultrasound exams were performed and abscesses were quantified. Subsequently, cattle were slaughtered, carcass losses due to the presence of abscesses were quantified, and economic losses were calculated. In slaughterhouses, 100 cattle farmers were interviewed on the adoption of needle hygiene for vaccines and the number of cattle they slaughtered. The numbers of abscesses diagnosed per group were as follows: GI (n = 3, 2.5%), GII (n = 5, 4.2%), GIII (n = 4, 3.3%), and GIV (n = 11, 9.2%). The occurrence of abscesses in GI, GII, and GIII did not differ statistically from each other but was statistically lower than that observed in GIV. The economic losses due to the presence of abscesses in the carcasses varied from R$ 0.12 to R$ 0.31 per animal of the herd whose needles were sanitized or not, respectively. Only 13% of the interviewed cattle farmers carried out some method of needle hygiene for vaccination. 78.8% of the slaughtered cattle were vaccinated with needles without any sanitization method. Thus, needle hygiene for cattle vaccination decreases the occurrence of post-vaccine abscesses. This practice minimizes losses by R$ 0.19 per animal due the damages caused by the removal of abscesses during the slaughter of animals. Most cattle farmers do not adopt needle hygiene for cattle vaccination.
Uso do flucozanol associado à excisão cirúrgica no tratamento da pitiose cutânea equina
Authors: Carvalho Armando de Mattos , Munhoz Thayanne Caroline Pereira , Toma Hugo Shisei , Santos Jéssica Pamela Velasco dos , Oliveira Luiz Gustavo Schneider de , Boabaid Fabiana Marques , Xavier Andressa Batista da Silveira , Kommers Glaucia Denise
Published: October 2019

Cutaneous pythiosis is an important disease affecting horses raised in regions with a hot climate and water stagnation, occurring throughout all regions of Brazil. The disease progresses rapidly, and treatment for chronic lesions is challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluconazole after surgical excision and electrocauterization of cutaneous lesions in horses naturally infected with Pythium insidiosum. We treated 10 horses with cutaneous pythiosis, whose diagnoses were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. After surgical debridement of lesion, animals received fluconazole orally for 21 days, in combination with topical treatment for the wounds. After 7 days of therapy, there was decreased serosanguineous secretion and no kunkers in the wounds in all horses. All lesions healed completely after therapy, and there were no recurrences 10 months after discharge. When associated with surgical excision, oral fluconazole therapy was an effective treatment in clinical cases of equine cutaneous pythiosis.
Cost-volume-profit ratio of concentrate supplements in finishing diets for beef cattle
Authors: Alonso Marcell Patachi , Beloni Tatiane , Moraes Eduardo Henrique Bevitori Kling de
Published: October 2019

The supplementation of the animals’ diet can increase the production costs of beef cattle, directly affecting the results of the production system. Using the cost-volume-profit ratio, this study aimed to determine the best level of replacement of corn by pearl millet in the concentrate supplementation of beef cattle finished in a crop-livestock integration system. Based on a previous study, we investigated the production performance of 64 uncastrated steers of an average age of 20 months and an initial average body weight of 388 ± 26 kg based on cost for the consumption of four different supplements distinguished by the amounts of pearl millet grain replacing corn grain (0%, 33%, 66% and 100%). The unit contribution margin, accounting and financial break-even points, margin of safety, and shutdown point were used as the components of the cost-volume-profit ratio in a criterion for determining the optimal supplementation strategy. The results showed that intermediate replacement levels (33% and 66%) can provide a greater return for the amortization of fixed expenses and profit generation and that cheaper supplements may not generate financial returns to the system. Therefore, a systemic cost-volume-profit analysis is useful in experimental evaluations. The concentrate feed supplement with 33% of corn replaced by pearl millet provides the greatest profitability to the production system.
Effect of dietary supplementation with l-carnitine, chromium, and selenium on the performance of finishing pigs
Authors: Silva Caio Abércio da , Lorenzetti Arlan Marcos , Conte Silvonei , Dias Cleandro Pazinato , Callegari Marco Aurélio , Souza Kelly Lais de , Pierozan Carlos Rodolfo , Foppa Luciana
Published: October 2019

This study aimed to assess the combined effect of L-carnitine, chromium propionate, and organic selenium in the diet of pigs at the finishing stage in commercial farms on performance parameters. The sample included 5,456 female and castrated male DB pigs with mean age of 159 days and mean initial weight of 103.33 ± 4.11 kg. The pigs were split into two treatments in a completely randomized design: the control group, free of growth-promoting dietary additives, and the test group, supplemented with Profitilina® (50 mg L-carnitine, 0.2 mg chromium propionate, and 0.3 mg organic selenium kg-1 of feed) for 30 days prior to slaughter. The outcomes assessed were daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion (FC), and final body weight (FBW). An improved performance according to all parameters (P < 0.001) was seen for the test group (2.58 versus 2.64 g day-1 for DFI; 0.76 versus 0.87g day-1 for DWG; 3.42 versus 3.06 for FC; and 125.7 versus 127.7 kg for FBW). Providing a combined dietary supplementation with L-carnitine, chromium propionate, and organic selenium to finishing pigs was effective at improving weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and final weight.
Maintenance of strains of Campylobacter jejuni in laboratories after use of cryoprotectors and pre-treatment of stress
Authors: Melo Roberta Torres de , Carreon Mariela Moura , Monteiro Guilherme Paz , Mendonça Eliane Pereira , Peres Phelipe Augusto Borba Martins , Braz Raquelline Figueiredo , Santos Fernanda Aparecida Longato dos , Rossi Daise Aparecida
Published: October 2019

This study evaluated the feasibility and the production of transcripts of sodB, p19, ciaB and dnaJ genes in strains of Campylobacter jejuni ATCC 33291, NCTC 11351, and 2383 IAL stored in whole UHT milk and or neopepton + 12% glycerol, submitted or not to pre-treatments at 4°C or 10°C for 30 minutes. The analyzes were performed immediately after freezing in liquid nitrogen (day 0) and after maintenance for 30, 60, and 90 days at -20ºC. The viability was evaluated by the traditional culture method and the production of transcripts by the RT-PCR technique. The quantification was only possible on the first day of analysis (day 0) and presented a mean of 3.0 x 107 CFU, and in the other periods of storage the strains presented confluent growth, not allowing their enumeration. The results indicated that whole UHT milk was more adequate for cryopreservation than the use of neopepton + 12% glycerol. The use of pre-treatments combined with the use of UHT milk as a cryoprotective medium stabilized the cells in order to transcribe the ciaB, dnaJ, sodBand p19 genes in the strains maintained under -20 ° for 30 to 60 days, indicating that they are more suitable methods for the maintenance of strains in the laboratory.
Firm Survival: An Empirical Study Concerning Insurance Agencies
Authors: Lippi Andrea , Barbieri Laura , Bosoni Ernestina , Maria Fellegara Anna
Published: October 2019

This paper analyzes the relevance of firm size, region, sales network, organizational structure, and auditing on the survival likelihood of a specific firm typology, the insurance agency. By applying  a configurational comparative method, namely fuzzy-set qualitative analysis (fsQCA), to a unique dataset of 52 insurance agents, representing 52 active Italian insurance agencies, this study demonstrates that, when combined with other variables, organizational structure provides sufficient conditions for insurance agency survival. The different relevance of some specific management areas according to the insurance agency location is highlighted.
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining: A History of Barriers to Intellectual Capital Measurement
Authors: Montemari Marco , Serena Chiucchi Maria , Gatti Marco
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the Intellectual Capital Accounting (ICA) literature by investigating the barriers to IC measurement and how they can (re)shape IC measurement projects. The paper presents an interventionist case study of a company which has been measuring its IC for several years. It focuses on some emblematic situations in which barriers arose during the design and implementation of IC indicators followed by a (re)moulding of the IC measurement project within the organization. The case analysis revealed two barriers: the heavy workload that the design and calculation process of IC indicators entails and the perceived limited reliability of those indicators. These barriers did not lead to a complete failure of the project, but acted as a “filter”, resulting in the discontinued use of those indicators that were not perceived as useful or reliable and in the adoption of those that the managers actually considered useful. While this hindered a complete implementation of the ICMS, it promoted a selection of IC indicators and a legitimation of those that subsequently became part of the management control system. While previous studies explore how barriers can hamper the design as well as the implementation of an ICMS, this paper sheds light on what happens to IC measurement projects when the magnitude of barriers is not so significant as to lead to the complete failure of the project. This offers a new and different view of the barriers related to the adoption of ICMSs. Rather than considering them as factors which can interrupt IC measurement, they could be seen as factors which can challenge the implementation of the ICMS, strengthening those IC indicators that are perceived as reliable and useful and eliminating or disregarding those that did not meet expectations.
Poverty among Women in Nigeria–Psychological and Economic Perspective: A Study Based On South West, Nigeria
Authors: Ifeanyi Onwuka , Anthony Nwadiubu , Prisca Isiwu
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study is to provide an evidenced-based psychological and economic perspective on the rising level of poverty among women in Nigeria. The rationale for the study is anchored on the latest reports by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund that Nigeria is now home to the largest number of poorest people in the world. Women constitute over 60% of the poorest people in Nigeria and going by the IMF statistics that Nigeria has over 87 million people in extreme poverty translates to approximately 52 million women on the clutches of extreme poverty. Although there have been efforts by successive governments in Nigeria to improve the livelihood of women in Nigeria and lift them out from poverty, the facts on the ground are not encouraging as a large number of women continues to wallow in extreme poverty. With the benefits of inter-disciplinary research that intersects at the boundaries of finance and psychology, this study investigated possible psychological factors such as job involvement, self-efficacy and goal orientation that could be implicated in this scenario. The study used survey design in two states in South Western Nigeria namely: Lagos and Ogun. 600 women (400 in Lagos and 200 in Ogun) were sampled. The sampling was cross-sectional and respondents were selected through a multi-stage purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was scaled and a step-wise multiple regression was used for testing the hypothesis. Results of the analysis showed that all the explanatory variables namely: self-efficacy, goal orientation and job involvement were significant predictors of women pre-disposition to engaging in productive activities. The result showed that women who are cognitively goal oriented strives to develop skills and are more disposed to take up productive investments (job oriented). Based on these findings, the study recommended, amongst others, that efforts should be made to re-tool the approach to women development in Nigeria through skill acquisition and value reorientation.
“It Could Be Worse … It Could Be Raining”: The Language of Meteorology in Shelley’s Frankenstein and Its Intersemiotic Translations
Authors: Canepari Michela
Published: October 2019

The language relating to climatic conditions certainly plays a major role in the novel Frankenstein, published by Mary Shelley in 1818. The aim of this article is therefore to analyze the use the author makes of this language, which often acquires symbolic overtones that work in synergy with the development of the plot and the characters’ psychology, and study the way this same language is adapted and exploited in some of the films that translate the novel intersemiotically. To this end, this paper will focus on the cinematographic adaptations of Shelley’s work dating from 1931, 1994 and 2015, although sporadic references to other products will be made too. During the analysis, some of the notions of intersemiotic translation will be applied to the selected corpus, in order to demonstrate how the practice of various forms of translation, including inter- and intra-semiotic translation, heavily contributes to the creation of the canon we live by.
A Comparative Study of Political Discourse Features in English and Arabic
Authors: Alduhaim Asmaa
Published: October 2019

This article is devoted to examine political discourse, in particular features of political speeches in English and Arabic Language. Political speeches are often shaped in a specific cultural and social context, using various linguistic features to persuade the public of the speaker’s goals. The study has two aims: firstly, it intends to highlight the prominent features of political discourse in English and Arabic. For example, the use of metaphor and metonymy, pronouns, intertextuality, repetition, style and code-switching. In addition, the study examines the way these features were employed by the speakers. Secondly, the comparison across English and Arabic language establishes similarities and differences between the features of political discourse in English and Arabic, and understands to what extent are the features of political discourse universal and shared between languages, and to further examine in which ways they differ. Three main features were identified as shared between the two languages: pronouns, repetition, and intertextuality. Even though there were shared features, it emerges from the study that these features, as well as others, are employed differently based on the language convention and the culture it exists in.
Text Review System: Um sistema colaborativo para revisão de texto
Authors: S. Ribeiro Arley , S. Silva Ismael , R. S. Coutinho Flávio , A. R. Barbosa Glivia
Published: October 2019

Este trabalho apresenta um software colaborativo que auxilia na revisão de textos acadêmicos em português. Por meio dessa ferramenta é possível criar regras que serão aplicadas para revisão automática dos textos. As regras podem ser criadas e utilizadas por múltiplos usuários (i.e., de forma colaborativa) e a revisão do texto pode ser realizada de forma compartilhada. Em termos de contribuições, o sistema proposto pode auxiliar no processo de escrita de textos acadêmicos de forma a reduzir o tempo e o esforço despendidos nesse processo.
Experimental Analysis of the Scalability of Ethereum Blockchain in a Private Network
Authors: Ochôa Iago  S , Piemontez Rafael , Martins Lucas , Leithardt Valderi  Reis Quietinho , Zeferino Cesar  Albenes
Published: October 2019

Blockchain technology has aroused the interest of researchers as it ensures security and privacy in decentralized applications. One of the platforms currently used for the development of new blockchain-based solutions is the Ethereum network. This article presents an experimental analysis of the scalability of this network to identify its cost and performance for several contracts in a simulated private Ethereum network. The results obtained demonstrate that storage operations for large amounts of data can prevent the use of blockchain due to the high cost of gas charged for this type of operation. The experiments also pointed out that processing operations which do not store information have a small cost of gas.
Population genetics and historical demographic inferences of the blue crabCallinectes sapidusin the US based on microsatellites
Authors: Macedo Danielle , Caballero Isabel , Mateos Mariana , Leblois Raphael , McCay Shelby , Hurtado Luis A.
Published: October 2019

The native range of the blue crabCallinectes sapidusspans Nova Scotia to northern Argentina. In the US, it constitutes a keystone species in estuarine habitats of the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico (GOM), serving as both predator and prey to other species, and also has historically represented a multi-billion dollar fishery. Knowledge relevant to effective management and monitoring of this ecologically and economically important species, such as levels of population genetic differentiation and genetic diversity, is necessary. Although several population genetics studies have attempted to address these questions in one or more parts of its distribution, conflicting results and potential problems with the markers used, as well as other issues, have obscured our understanding on them. In this study, we examined large-scale genetic connectivity of the blue crab in the US, using 16 microsatellites, and genotyped individuals from Chesapeake Bay, in the US Atlantic, and from nine localities along the US GOM coast. Consistent with the high long-distance dispersal potential of this species, very low levels of genetic differentiation were detected for the blue crab among the ten US localities examined, suggesting it constitutes a large panmictic population within this region. Estimations of genetic diversity for the blue crab appear to be high in the US, and provide a baseline for monitoring temporal changes in this species. Demographic analyses indicate a recent range expansion of the US population, probably during the Holocene. In addition, capitalizing on published microsatellite data from southern Brazil, our analyses detected high genetic differentiation between localities in the US and Brazil. These results point to the need for examination of genetic diversity and differentiation along the area spanning the US to southern Brazil.
Bioinformatic and biochemical analysis of the key binding sites of the pheromone binding protein ofCyrtotrachelus buquetiGuerin-Meneville (Coleoptera: Curculionidea)
Authors: Yang Hua , Liu Yan-Lin , Tao Yuan-Yuan , Yang Wei , Yang Chun-Ping , Zhang Jing , Qian Li-Zhi , Liu Hao , Wang Zhi-Yong
Published: October 2019

The bamboo snout beetleCyrtotrachelus buquetiis a widely distributed wood-boring pest found in China, and its larvae cause significant economic losses because this beetle targets a wide range of host plants. A potential pest management measure of this beetle involves regulating olfactory chemoreceptors. In the process of olfactory recognition, pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) play an important role. Homology modeling and molecular docking were conducted in this study for the interaction between CbuqPBP1 and dibutyl phthalate to better understand the relationship between PBP structures and their ligands. Site-directed mutagenesis and binding experiments were combined to identify the binding sites of CbuqPBP1 and to explore its ligand-binding mechanism. The 3D structural model of CbuqPBP1 has six a-helices. Five of these a-helices adopt an antiparallel arrangement to form an internal ligand-binding pocket. When docking dibutyl phthalate within the active site of CbuqPBP1, a CH-πinteraction between the benzene ring of dibutyl phthalate and Phe69 was observed, and a weak hydrogen bond formed between the ester carbonyl oxygen and His53. Thus, Phe69 and His53 are predicted to be important residues of CbuqPBP1 involved in ligand recognition. Site-directed mutagenesis and fluorescence assays with a His53Ala CbuqPBP1 mutant showed no affinity toward ligands. Mutation of Phe69 only affected binding of CbuqPBP1 to cedar camphor. Thus, His53 (Between α2 and α3) of CbuqPBP1 appears to be a key binding site residue, and Phe69 (Located at α3) is a very important binding site for particular ligand interactions.
Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Surgical Wards of
the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Ramdass MJ , Balliram S , Cadan A , Bhaggan N , Mohammed B , Singh R , Maharaj J , Boodram A
Published: October 2019

Objective: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with soft tissue infections in surgical patients. In severe cases, it may result in pneumonia, septicaemia and osteomyelitis. Limited data are available with regard to its prevalence and associations in the Caribbean. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MRSA in patients hospitalized in the surgical wards of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (POSGH), Trinidad and Tobago, and determine associated risk factors. Methods: Over the period of April 1 to August 1, 2013, all patients from the surgical wards of the POSGH who had had wound swabs taken were identified. Demographic data included duration of hospital stay, surgical and medical history, antibiotic use and type of wound swab.
Microbiological reports were then retrieved and analyses done. Results: A total of 153 patients had wound swabs taken. There were 38 patients (24%) infected with Staphylococcus aureus, with 15 (39.5%) growing MRSA. Increased susceptibility to MRSA
was associated with age, gender, ethnicity, duration of hospital stay, co-morbidities, previous antibiotic use, previous surgery and the type of wound (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of MRSA in the surgical wards of the POSGH was 39.5% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Risk factors included the age range of 60–69 years, patients with co-morbidities, hospital stays of longer than one week, previous surgery and prior use of antibiotics. We recommend more awareness of this problem in the practice of Caribbean medicine to improve infection rates.
Development of Banana Edible Film and Assessment of Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Tak Jyoti Kumari , Jain Shashi
Published: October 2019

Aim of Study: In today’s generation there is a need of biodegradable packaging material to overcome the diseases due to synthetic food packaging. Edible packaging is produced from renewable natural sources and can increase the shelf life of food product. In particular banana peel is abundantly present in nature, loaded with ample nutrients, renewable and low cost. Hence the research aimed to develop edible film from banana peel.

Study Design: Experimental design

Place and duration of study: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community and Applied Sciences, MPUAT, Udaipur, from January 2017 to August 2019.

Methodology: For film production acetic acid and glycerol was added in solution to provide the better gelatinization, transparency and flexibility of film. The developed film was assessed for its physicochemical properties such as thickness, density, transparency, tensile strength, elongation at break, water solubility, surface reflection spectra and appearance. Moreover sensory evaluation of films was also conducted to know the acceptability of film using nine point hedonic scale.

Results: After the various trials edible film was successfully developed from banana peels and developed banana film was found to have desirable properties as a packaging material. Results of sensory evaluation showed that film was neither liked nor disliked by panel members.      

Conclusion: A non harmful and environment friendly edible film can be developed from the banana peel which will be beneficial for industrial use as a food packaging material. Moreover further researches are needed to bring this film from laboratory to consumer market.
THE AQUATIC-POLYCARBONATE SKYLIGHT FOR SURABAYA INDONESIA
Authors: Mintorogo Danny Santoso
Published: October 2019

This paper will indicate of how appropriate use of aquatic skylight module installed on buildings in the tropical zone compared to the ones in the subtropical climate. In order for energy saving strategies, the aquatic-polycarbonate skylight system is used in the tropical climate. In the tropical hot humid climate, Indonesia has received huge amount of global direct and diffuse radiations on horizontal roofs throughout the year, approximately 525 watts per square meter of solar radiation will impact on flat roofs or skylights on a clear sunny day in Surabaya city. Ironically, most of the commercial and institution buildings are equipped with Western skylight styles in Surabaya without any modifications. The aquatic-polycarbonate skylight is the system that will control daylight, scatter direct solar heat radiation, cool the indoor polycarbonate surface temperature, and collect solar hot water at the same time. The concept of using the water as shading device has three goals: first of all, the flushing water in the polycarbonate holes tries to scatter horizontal or tiled skylight direct sun-ray radiation, and minimize the direct sun heat temperature on the polycarbonate with flushing water continuously. Secondly, the sparkle flushing water in series of square holes of polycarbonate will bounce and disperse the direct sunlight into the space below enhancing daylight patterns. Finally, while bouncing, sparkling and scattering direct sunlight, those series of flushing water holes would also collect the solar heat radiation as solar hot water. Each system could works nicely to absorb, to scatter, to minimize, and to obtain the solar heat radiation for solar hot water in buildings. This strategy aims to provide a clean environment living zones with applying passive heating and cooling systems.
Iron‐Nanoparticle Driven Tribochemistry Leading to Superlubric Sliding Interfaces
Authors: Berman Diana , Mutyala Kalyan C. , Srinivasan Srilok , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K. R. S. , Erdemir Ali , Shevchenko Elena V. , Sumant Anirudha V.
Published: October 2019

Any moving mechanical system consisting of sliding/rolling or rotating interfaces experiences friction and wear. High contact pressure and shear during relative movement of the sliding interfaces in the presence of lubricants often lead to interesting tribochemical activity at nanoscale, which then greatly influences the tribological performance of the mechanical systems at macroscale. Understanding these tribochemical interactions and to be able to manipulate them will be a key in designing smart solid lubricants that can self‐generate at the sliding interfaces and thus help in drastically improving the overall efficiency of these moving mechanical systems. In this study, it is demonstrated that solid lubricant consisting graphene mixed with iron nanoparticles (NPs) under high contact pressures at the sliding interface undergo tribochemical reaction leading to the formation of onion‐like‐carbon nanostructures (OLCs). Combining with atomistic molecular dynamic simulations, the tribochemical mechanism of formation of OLC with pure iron NPs and how that depends sensitively on the core–shell chemistry of the nanoparticle is elucidated. Interestingly, the formed OLCs lead to the near‐zero friction (superlubricity) during sliding in dry conditions, thus demonstrating great potential to be used as a solid lubricant for various tribological applications.
Skin‐Integrated Graphene‐Embedded Lead Zirconate Titanate Rubber for Energy Harvesting and Mechanical Sensing
Authors: Liu Yiming , Zhao Ling , Wang Lingyun , Zheng Huanxi , Li Dengfeng , Avila Raudel , Lai King W. C. , Wang Zuankai , Xie Zhaoqian , Zi Yunlong , Yu Xinge
Published: October 2019

Thin, soft, skin‐like electronics capable of transforming body mechanical motions to electrical signals have broad potential applications in biosensing and energy harvesting. Forming piezoelectric materials into flexible and stretchable formats and integrating with soft substrate would be a considerable strategy for this aspect. Here, a skin‐integrated rubbery electronic device that associates with a simple low‐cost fabrication method for a ternary piezoelectric rubber composite of graphene, lead zirconate tinanate (PZT), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is introduced. Comparing to the binary composite that blend with PZT and PDMS, the graphene‐embedded ternary composite exhibits a significant enhancement of self‐powered behavior, with a maximum power density of 972.43 µW cm−3 under human walking. Combined experimental and theoretical studies of the graphene‐embedded PZT rubber allow the skin‐integrated electronic device to exhibit excellent mechanical tolerance to bending, stretching, and twisting for thousands of cycles. Customized device geometries guided by optimized mechanical design enable a more comprehensive integration of the rubbery electronics with the human body. For instance, annulus‐shape devices can perfectly mount on the joints and ensure great power output and stability under continuous and large deformations. This work demonstrates the potential of large‐area, skin‐integrated, self‐powered electronics for energy harvesting as well as human health related mechanical sensing.
PTEN Hamartoma tumor syndrome in childhood: A review of the clinical literature
Authors: Macken William L. , Tischkowitz Marc , Lachlan Katherine L.
Published: October 2019

PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is a highly variable autosomal dominant condition associated with intellectual disability, overgrowth, and tumor predisposition phenotypes, which often overlap. PHTS incorporates a number of historical clinical presentations including Bannayan‐Riley‐Ruvalcaba syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and a macrocephaly‐autism/developmental delay syndrome. Many reviews in the literature focus on PHTS as an adult hamartoma and malignancy predisposition condition. Here, we review the current literature with a focus on pediatric presentations. The review starts with a summary of the main conditions encompassed within PHTS. We then discuss PHTS diagnostic criteria, and clinical features. We briefly address rarer PTEN associations, and the possible role of mTOR inhibitors in treatment. We acknowledge the limited understanding of the natural history of childhood‐onset PHTS as a cancer predisposition syndrome and present a summary of important management considerations.
Moving forward with the primate microbiome: Introduction to a special issue of the American Journal of Primatology
Authors: Amato Katherine R. , Stumpf Rebecca M.
Published: October 2019

Primate microbiome research is a quickly growing field with exciting potential for informing our understanding of primate biology, ecology, and evolution as well as host‐microbe interactions more broadly. This introductory essay to a special section of the American Journal of Primatology provides a cross‐sectional snapshot of current activity in these areas by briefly summarizing the diversity of contributed papers and their relationships to key themes in host‐associated microbiome research. It then uses this survey as a foundation for consolidating a set of key research questions to broadly guide future research. It also argues for the importance of methods standardization to facilitate comparative analyses and the identification of generalizable patterns and relationships. While primatology will benefit greatly from the integration of microbial datasets, it is uniquely positioned to address important questions regarding microbiology and macro‐ecology and evolution more generally. We are eager to see where the primate microbiome leads us.
Effect of maternal corticosteroid provision on middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity readings in the potentially anaemic fetus prior to planned intrauterine transfusion
Authors: Urutherakumar Varshinee , Henry Amanda , Welsh Alec
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity (MCA‐PSV) is the main tool for determining need for and timing of intrauterine transfusions (IUT) for severe fetal anaemia. It has been suggested that steroids temporarily decrease MCA‐PSV, potentially increasing false‐negative MCA‐PSV findings in anaemic fetuses. We therefore aimed to assess whether maternal corticosteroid administration prior to IUT is associated with clinically significant temporary decreases in MCA‐PSV.

Methods

Retrospective review 2005–2016 of steroid provision prior to IUT, with correlation of MCA‐PSV pre‐ and post‐steroid administration and haemoglobin at IUT.

Results

In 23 identified cases, there was no significant difference between average MoM pre‐ and post‐steroid (1.71 ± 0.41 vs. 1.66 ± 0.38, −2.9% mean, P = 0.4). There was also no significant difference between pre‐ and post‐steroid MoM taken within 3 days of each other (n = 19, P = 0.21). However, post‐steroid MCA‐PSV decreased by >15% in 6/23 cases (A‐B zone in two cases, B‐C zone in one case).

Conclusions

This study found no sizeable, generalised effect of corticosteroid administration on MCA‐PSV readings in the potentially anaemic fetus. A minority showed substantial shifts where reliance on post‐steroid MCA‐PSV could have unfavourably altered clinical management. Ultimately, further large‐scale research is required before we can discount the potential impact of steroids on MCA‐PSV values.
Zur Rolle der Iodid‐Methylammonium‐Interaktion in der Ferroelektrizität in CH3NH3PbI3
Authors: Breternitz J. , Lehmann F. , Barnett S. A. , Nowell H. , Schorr S.
Published: October 2019

Ihre außergewöhnlich hohen Konversionseffizienzen von über 20 % und die einfache Zellherstellung machen Hybridperowskite zu heißen Kandidaten für alternative Solarzellenmaterialien. CH3NH3PbI3 als Archetyp dieser Materialklasse besitzt außergewöhnliche Eigenschaften wie eine sehr effiziente Umwandlung von Solarenergie, wobei besonders Ferroelektrizität als mögliche Erklärung in den Fokus gerückt ist. Diese erfordert allerdings eine nicht‐zentrosymmetrische Kristallstruktur als notwendige Voraussetzung. Wir stellen hier eine Erklärung des Symmetriebruchs in diesem Material auf kristallographischem, d. h. fernordnungs‐basiertem, Wege vor. Während das Molekülkation CH3NH3+ intrinsisch polar ist, ist es extrem fehlgeordnet und kann deshalb nicht die einzige Erklärung darstellen. Es verzerrt allerdings das umgebende Kristallgitter und ruft dadurch eine Verschiebung der Iod‐Atome von den zentrosymmetrischen Positionen hervor.
Nondegradative additive manufacturing of medical grade copolyesters of high molecular weight and with varied elastic response
Authors: Ahlinder Astrid , Fuoco Tiziana , Morales‐López Álvaro , Yassin Mohammed A. , Mustafa Kamal , Finne‐Wistrand Anna
Published: October 2019

Although additive manufacturing through melt extrusion has become increasingly popular as a route to design scaffolds with complex geometries the technique if often limited by the reduction in molecular weight and the viscoelastic response when degradable aliphatic polyesters of high molecular weight are used. Here we use a melt extruder and fused filament fabrication printer to produce a reliable nondegradative route for scaffold fabrication of medical grade copolymers of L‐lactide, poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐L‐lactide), and poly(L‐lactide‐co‐trimethylene carbonate). We show that degradation is avoided using filament extrusion and fused filament fabrication if the process parameters are deliberately chosen based upon the rheological behavior, mechanical properties, and polymer composition. Structural, mechanical, and thermal properties were assessed throughout the process to obtain comprehension of the relationship between the rheological properties and the behavior of the medical grade copolymers in the extruder and printer. Scaffolds with a controlled architecture were achieved using high‐molecular‐weight polyesters exhibiting a large range in the elastic response causing negligible degradation of the polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48550.
A Bayesian basket trial design that borrows information across strata based on the similarity between the posterior distributions of the response probability
Authors: Fujikawa Kei , Teramukai Satoshi , Yokota Isao , Daimon Takashi
Published: October 2019

Basket trials simultaneously evaluate the effect of one or more drugs on a defined biomarker, genetic alteration, or molecular target in a variety of disease subtypes, often called strata. A conventional approach for analyzing such trials is an independent analysis of each of the strata. This analysis is inefficient as it lacks the power to detect the effect of drugs in each stratum. To address these issues, various designs for basket trials have been proposed, centering on designs using Bayesian hierarchical models. In this article, we propose a novel Bayesian basket trial design that incorporates predictive sample size determination, early termination for inefficacy and efficacy, and the borrowing of information across strata. The borrowing of information is based on the similarity between the posterior distributions of the response probability. In general, Bayesian hierarchical models have many distributional assumptions along with multiple parameters. By contrast, our method has prior distributions for response probability and two parameters for similarity of distributions. The proposed design is easier to implement and less computationally demanding than other Bayesian basket designs. Through a simulation with various scenarios, our proposed design is compared with other designs including one that does not borrow information and one that uses a Bayesian hierarchical model.
Drying Techniques Affecting Structure‐Reactivity of Pt/Cr‐Ta : SrTiO3 Catalysts in Visible Light‐Irradiated Water Splitting Reaction
Authors: Donphai Waleeporn , Jangyubol Kunthida , Worathitanon Chayet , Niamnuy Chalida , Chanlek Narong , Klysubun Wantana , Chareonpanich Metta
Published: October 2019

In this study, the effect of drying techniques on properties of Pt/Cr−Ta : SrTiO3 catalysts in photocatalytic water splitting reaction were investigated. Drying techniques directly affected platinum particle size, which influenced the Pt phases and optical properties, all of which impact the activity of photocatalysts. The performances of Pt/Cr−Ta : SrTiO3 catalysts were in the following order: microwave>infrared>sonication>rotary evaporation>hot‐air oven. Among these techniques, microwave drying was the most efficient, providing high surface area, small platinum particle size and high percentage of platinum (II) oxide, which in turn led to the outstanding apparent quantum yield of H2 per energy consumption (22.4 %/KWh), which was 5.7, 5.7, 44.8 and 9.3 times higher than that of infrared, sonication, rotary evaporation and hot‐air oven, respectively. This result indicated that microwave technique provided efficient rapid and uniform heating rate with low energy consumption, leading to lowering the operating time period and cost.
Polymeric Photoacids Based on Naphthols—Design Criteria, Photostability, and Light‐Mediated Release
Authors: Wendler Felix , Sittig Maria , Tom Jessica C. , Dietzek Benjamin , Schacher Felix H.
Published: October 2019

The implementation of photoswitches within polymers offers an exciting toolbox in the design of light‐responsive materials as irradiation can be controlled both spatially and temporally. Herein, we introduce a range of water‐soluble copolymers featuring naphthol‐based chromophores as photoacids in the side chain. With that, the resulting materials experience a drastic increase in acidity upon stimulation with UV light and we systematically studied how structure and distance of the photoacid from the copolymer backbone determines polymerizability, photo‐response, and photostability. Briefly, we used RAFT (reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization to prepare copolymers consisting of nona(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO9MA) as water‐soluble comonomer in combination with six different 1‐naphthol‐based (“N”) monomers. Thereby, we distinguish between methacrylates (NMA, NOeMA), methacrylamides (NMAm, NOeMAm), vinyl naphthol (VN), and post‐polymerization modification based on [(1‐hydroxynaphthalen‐2‐amido)ethyl]amine (NOeMAm, NAmeMAm). These P(MEO9MAx‐co‐“N”y) copolymers typically feature a 4:1 MEO9MA to “N” ratio and molar masses in the range of 10 kg mol−1. After synthesis and characterization by using NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), we investigated how potential photo‐cleavage or photo‐degradation during irradiation depends on the type and distance of the linker to the copolymeric backbone and whether reversible excited state proton transfer (ESPT) occurs under these conditions. In our opinion, such materials will be strong assets as light‐mediated proton sources in nanostructured environments, for example, for the site‐specific creation of proton gradients. We therefore exemplarily incorporated NMA into an amphiphilic block copolymer and could demonstrate the light‐mediated release of Nile red from micelles formed in water as selective solvent.
5,7,12,14‐Tetrafunctionalized 6,13‐Diazapentacenes
Authors: Xie Gaozhan , Hauschild Miriam , Hoffmann Hendrik , Ahrens Lukas , Rominger Frank , Borkowski Michal , Marszalek Tomasz , Freudenberg Jan , Kivala Milan , Bunz Uwe H. F.
Published: October 2019

The synthesis, property evaluation, and single crystal X‐ray structures of four 5,7,12,14‐tetrafunctionalized diazapentacenes are presented. The synthesis of these compounds either starts from tetrabromo‐N,N‐dihydrodiazapentacene or from a diazapentacene tetraketone. Pd‐catalyzed coupling or addition of a lithium acetylide gave the precursors that furnish, after further redox reactions, the diazapentacenes as stable crystalline materials. The performance of the tetraphenyl‐substituted compound as n‐channel semiconductor was evaluated in organic field effect transistors.
Preparation of 4′‐Spirocyclobutyl Nucleoside Analogues as Novel and Versatile Adenosine Scaffolds
Authors: Verhoeven Jonas , De Vleeschouwer Freija , Kong Hanchu , Van Hecke Kristof , Pande Vineet , Sun Weimei , Vos Ann , Wu Tongfei , Meerpoel Lieven , Thuring Jan Willem , Verniest Guido
Published: October 2019

Despite the large variety of modified nucleosides that have been reported, the preparation of constrained 4′‐spirocyclic adenosine analogues has received very little attention. We discovered that the [2+2]‐cycloaddition of dichloroketene on readily available 4′‐exo‐methylene furanose sugars efficiently results in the diastereoselective formation of novel 4′‐spirocyclobutanones. The reaction mechanism was investigated via density functional theory (DFT) and found to proceed either via a non‐synchronous or stepwise reaction sequence, controlled by the stereochemistry at the 3′‐position of the sugar substrate. The obtained dichlorocyclobutanones were converted into nucleoside analogues, providing access to a novel class of chiral 4′‐spirocyclobutyl adenosine mimetics in eight steps from commercially available sugars. Assessment of the biological activity of designed 4′‐spirocyclic adenosine analogues identified potent inhibitors for protein methyltransferase target PRMT5.
Integrin α11β1 is expressed in breast cancer stroma and associates with aggressive tumor phenotypes
Authors: Smeland Hilde Ytre‐Hauge , Askeland Cecilie , Wik Elisabeth , Knutsvik Gøril , Molven Anders , Edelmann Reidunn J , Reed Rolf K , Warren David J , Gullberg Donald , Stuhr Linda , Akslen Lars A
Published: October 2019

Cancer‐associated fibroblasts are essential modifiers of the tumor microenvironment. The collagen‐binding integrin α11β1 has been proposed to be upregulated in a pro‐tumorigenic subtype of cancer‐associated fibroblasts. Here, we analyzed the expression and clinical relevance of integrin α11β1 in a large breast cancer series using a novel antibody against the human integrin α11 chain. Several novel monoclonal antibodies against the integrin α11 subunit were tested for use on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues, and Ab 210F4B6A4 was eventually selected to investigate the immunohistochemical expression in 392 breast cancers using whole sections. mRNA data from METABRIC and co‐expression patterns of integrin α11 in relation to αSMA and cytokeratin‐14 were also investigated. Integrin α11 was expressed to varying degrees in spindle‐shaped cells in the stroma of 99% of invasive breast carcinomas. Integrin α11 co‐localized with αSMA in stromal cells, and with αSMA and cytokeratin‐14 in breast myoepithelium. High stromal integrin α11 expression (66% of cases) was associated with aggressive breast cancer features such as high histologic grade, increased tumor cell proliferation, ER negativity, HER2 positivity, and triple‐negative phenotype, but was not associated with breast cancer specific survival at protein or mRNA levels. In conclusion, high stromal integrin α11 expression was associated with aggressive breast cancer phenotypes.