bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voluntad de saber en el tiempo de la posverdad
Authors: Espinosa Zárate Zaida
Published: November 2018

Introducción: la creciente popularización del término “posverdad” y la consolidación, más allá de los márgenes políticos, de la corriente de pensamiento que la toma por base, plantea unos desafíos educativos peculiares a nuestra época. Metodología: una revisión bibliográfica ha servido para delimitar los rasgos específicos del movimiento estudiado que afectan al campo educativo, para plantear desde ellos unas posibilidades de acción pedagógica que estén a la altura del tiempo que le toca al hombre vivir, al haber tenido en cuenta la especificidad de esta corriente imperante de pensamiento. Resultados: tras estudiar los caracteres generales del tipo de pensamiento al que se alude al hablar de la posverdad (un movimiento de relativización que concierne no sólo a nuestro conocimiento de lo real, sino a lo real mismo, entre otros), se enfoca este fenómeno en clave pedagógica, atendiendo a un aspecto que concierne enteramente al campo educativo: una cierta neutralidad o indiferencia, que puede caracterizarse como insensibilidad frente a la verdad, que el sujeto manifiesta, y que se puede interpretar como falta de voluntad, un decaimiento, fragilidad o debilidad de la voluntad de saber que afecta al Occidente actual. Conclusiones: una vez alcanzado este diagnóstico, se percibe la necesidad de un cultivo deliberado y explícito del deseo de la verdad, que va más allá de la pura reacción afectiva o de la sola curiosidad, a través de una educación crítica de la voluntad. Esta ha de llevarse a cabo en dos sentidos, que corresponden a dos sentidos complementarios del querer que son distinguidos y que responden a diferentes dimensiones humanas: querer como carencia y querer como abundancia. Se pone de manifiesto cómo ambos tipos de querer son objeto de aprendizaje y, por tanto, deben serlo de enseñanza, y se ofrecen, finalmente, unas directrices para ello.
Desarrollando la Inteligencia Emocional en Educación Superior: evaluación de la efectividad de un programa en tres países.
Authors: Gilar-Corbi Raquel , Pozo-Rico Teresa , Castejón-Costa Juan Luis
Published: November 2018

Introducción: Este trabajo presenta los resultados obtenidos en el contexto de un proyecto, el Programa de Capacitación Avanzada en Competencia Emocional (ATPEC), para la mejora de las habilidades emocionales en estudiantes de Educación Superior. Desde la introducción del proceso de Bolonia, el objetivo de una educación completa no es sólo enseñar habilidades técnicas, sino también otras competencias, como el trabajo en equipo, habilidades de comunicación eficaces, gestión de proyectos y tiempo y la capacidad de coordinar nuestras emociones en pos de eso fin. La Inteligencia Emocional (IE) ha sido vinculada con frecuencia a mejoras en el desempeño profesional. De hecho, las competencias genéricas relacionadas con la IE han sido incluidas en los currículos universitarios. Metodología: En el presente trabajo se diseñó e implementó un Curso de Capacitación Avanzada de 30 horas sobre Inteligencia Emocional. La muestra estuvo formada por 651 estudiantes de Educación Superior, de 3 países, España (n=193), Moldavia (n=302) y Argentina (n=156). Resultados: Los resultados muestran una mejora significativa en todas las habilidades emocionales evaluadas, demostrando así la eficacia del programa de intervención propuesto independientemente de la cultura/país en el que se desarrolle y de la carrera que cursen los estudiantes. Conclusiones: De esta manera, la posibilidad de trabajar en grupos para resolver casos aplicados, la capacidad de aprender de forma autónoma o el uso de la plataforma e-learning, convierten este programa en algo novedoso y eficaz para la mejora de la competencia emocional. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados para la incorporación de programas de mejora de la IE en la Educación Superior.
Avances y limitaciones en la evaluación del aprendizaje a partir del proceso de convergencia. Visión docente y discente en los Grados de Educación Infantil y Primaria
Authors: Bilbao Martínez Ainhoa , Villa Sánchez Aurelio
Published: November 2018

Estudios recientes revelan avances puntuales en algunas disfuncionalidades clásicas de la evaluación del aprendizaje universitario. Su desarrollo se vincula a la construcción de un nuevo paradigma evaluativo, ligado al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior y caracterizado en cinco retos de mejora: Continuidad sensible de la evaluación, Orientación estratégica al aprendizaje, Tareas e instrumentos para el desarrollo y acreditación de competencias, Explicitación e interiorización de criterios y condiciones evaluativas y Participación discente. Este trabajo contrasta la visión de los mismos en una muestra de estudiantes y profesorado de los Grados de Educación Infantil y Primaria. La indagación se ha realizado por medio de un cuestionario, basado en rúbricas que detallan distintos grados de aceptación y cumplimiento en cada uno de los retos. Los resultados revelan que los cinco se juzgan relevantes, sin que se produzcan discrepancias en la aceptación declarada por docentes y discentes. Las diferencias detectadas dentro del intervalo de confianza tienen un efecto de tamaño pequeño y hacen referencia al grado de cumplimiento percibido en tres retos en particular. Al tratar la Explicitación de la evaluación y su Continuidad sensible, el alumnado describe un cumplimiento significativamente inferior, asociado a una menor explotación de la funcionalidad pedagógica de la evaluación. Los estudiantes reconocen que la evaluación no sólo se realiza al final, aunque tampoco creen que se desarrolle de manera sensible e integrada como afirma el profesorado. Asimismo, admiten disponer de información sobre las condiciones evaluativas, pero niegan la realización de tareas que contribuyan a su clarificación. Al valorar la Participación discente en la evaluación, ambos sectores de la muestra reconocen una consecución insuficiente, aunque los promedios de respuesta del alumnado son significativamente menores. Estos resultados sugieren que a pesar de los avances advertidos en la forma, en el fondo la evaluación sigue representando una herramienta principalmente acreditativa.
Educación Superior en Contextos de Cuasi Mercados
Authors: Wee Camilo , Monarca Héctor
Published: November 2018

La Universidad debe ser comprendida en el marco de los procesos socio-históricos que le dieron origen y las condiciones actuales que la exponen a demandas, presiones y tensiones diversas. Desde esta perspectiva, el presente trabajo pretende poner en debate la relación entre la Educación superior y el mercado, haciendo hincapié en la influencia que esta relación tiene en la configuración y resignificación de las funciones que la Universidad asume:  docencia, investigación y extensión. De esta manera, se pretende analizar los efectos que las diversas posturas tienen en relación con estas funciones; las cuales se mueven entre tendencias democratizadoras de los espacios públicos y el acceso al conocimiento y otras que promueven la mercantilización de la educación superior. A partir de este análisis se hace alusión a diferentes modelos, los cuales reflejan diversas formas de apropiación y concreción de las funciones de la Universidad en un contexto de cuasi mercado, que ejerce presiones específicas en la configuración de las mismas. En definitiva, se concluye que la Universidad ha tomado un Modelo esencialmente funcional, que la vincula de manera preferente al mundo laboral y el mercado de una forma lineal, mercantilista y acrítica; alejándola cada vez más de sus funciones clásicas que la relacionan a la transmisión crítica del conocimiento científico y la formación cultural y humana superior.
¿Qué necesita el alumnado de la tutoría universitaria? Validación de un instrumento de medida a través de un análisis multivariante
Authors: Martínez Clares Pilar , Pérez Cusó Francisco Javier , González Morga Natalia
Published: November 2018

El reconocimiento de la tutoría en las universidades se ha incrementado en los últimos años. Su finalidad es generar una formación paralela al avance social y económico, además de conformar un sistema común europeo más competitivo y de mayor calidad. La orientación y la tutoría se convierten en procesos imprescindibles y relevantes de personalización de la enseñanza, que requieren para su puesta en práctica conocer en profundidad cuál es la importancia que el alumnado concede a abordar diferentes contenidos. Este estudio se propone progresar en el conocimiento de la tutoría y de sus necesidades a través del diseño y validación de un cuestionario ad hoc, aplicado a 572 estudiantes de segundo, tercer y cuarto curso de Grados de Ciencias de la Educación. El Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio muestra la validez del modelo estructural de cinco dimensiones en torno a las que deben girar los contenidos tutoriales (adaptación al contexto, identidad personal, integración, enseñanza-aprendizaje y desarrollo profesional), siendo el desarrollo y la inserción profesional, la dimensión en la que el alumnado afirma sentir una mayor necesidad de acompañamiento y apoyo mientras que las relacionadas con la adaptación al contexto universitario y el desarrollo de la identidad personal, son las menos reclamadas. Los análisis realizados muestran diferencias según el curso y la titulación de los participantes y señalan la importancia de profundizar en el desarrollo de un modelo integral y comprensivo de tutoría universitaria, adecuando las intervenciones a las necesidades reales del propio alumnado.
Long-term live imaging of the Drosophila adult midgut reveals real-time dynamics of division, differentiation and loss
Authors: Martin Judy Lisette , Sanders Erin Nicole , Moreno-Roman Paola , Jaramillo Koyama Leslie Ann , Balachandra Shruthi , Du XinXin , O'Brien Lucy Erin
Published: November 2018

Organ renewal is governed by the dynamics of cell division, differentiation and loss. To study these dynamics in real time, we present a platform for extended live imaging of the adult Drosophila midgut, a premier genetic model for stem-cell-based organs. A window cut into a living animal allows the midgut to be imaged while intact and physiologically functioning. This approach prolongs imaging sessions to 12–16 hr and yields movies that document cell and tissue dynamics at vivid spatiotemporal resolution. By applying a pipeline for movie processing and analysis, we uncover new and intriguing cell behaviors: that mitotic stem cells dynamically re-orient, that daughter cells use slow kinetics of Notch activation to reach a fate-specifying threshold, and that enterocytes extrude via ratcheted constriction of a junctional ring. By enabling real-time study of midgut phenomena that were previously inaccessible, our platform opens a new realm for dynamic understanding of adult organ renewal.
Sharing a laugh at others: Humorous convergence in French conversation
Authors: Priego-Valverde Béatrice
Published: November 2018

The aim of this article is to clarify the fuzzy notion of “successful humour”. It focuses on humorous sequences in French face-to-face interactions which are both successful and have a same type of target: a collective “Other” (foreign culture, a French or foreign institution, a French or foreign socio-professional group). It will be shown that laughing about/at others (with all the aggressiveness this could imply) is not inconsistent with the necessary collaborative aspect of the conversation.On the contrary, the necessary collaboration between the participants will be highlighted through analysing humour in two different but complementary ways. Firstly, analysing humour through one specific target (the collective “Other”) will show that the participants rely on shared knowledge to display fictitious identities allowing them to construct humour. Secondly, a structural analysis of successful humorous sequences will deepen the notion of successful humour, highlighting two different structures: a two-part structure and a three-part structure. While the terms “successful humour” will be restricted to the former, the notion of “humorous convergence” will be proposed to refer to the latter.This study is based on 51 successful humorous sequences extracted from three face-to-face interactions audio- and video-recorded in an anechoic room at Aix-Marseille University, France
Honey bee viruses in Serbian colonies of different strength
Authors: Cirkovic Dragan , Stevanovic Jevrosima , Glavinic Uros , Aleksic Nevenka , Djuric Spomenka , Aleksic Jelena , Stanimirovic Zoran
Published: November 2018

Protection of honey bees is of great economic importance because of their role in pollination. Crucial steps towards this goal are epidemiological surveys of pathogens connected with honey bee losses. In this study deformed wing virus (DWV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and sacbrood virus (SBV) were investigated in colonies of different strength located in five regions of Serbia. The relationship between colony strength and virus occurrence/infection intensity were assessed as well as the genetic relationship between virus sequences from Serbia and worldwide. Real-time RT-PCR analyses detected at least one virus in 87.33% of colonies. Single infection was found in 28.67% colonies (21.33%, 4.00%, 2.67% and 0.67% in cases of DWV, ABPV, SBV and CBPV, respectively). In the majority of colonies (58.66%) more than one virus was found. The most prevalent was DWV (74%), followed by ABPV, SBV and CBPV (49.30%, 24.00% and 6.70%, respectively). Except for DWV, the prevalence of the remaining three viruses significantly varied between the regions. No significant differences were found between colony strength and either (i) the prevalence of DWV, ABPV, SBV, CBPV and their combinations, or (ii) DWV infection levels. The sequences of honey bee viruses obtained from bees in Serbia were 93–99% identical with those deposited in GenBank.
Jogos digitais: um breve panorama deste segmento na Bahia e possibilidades de políticas
Authors: Lima Carmen Lucia Castro , Gama Alves Lynn Rosalina
Published: November 2018

Os jogos digitais no Brasil estiveram em um não lugar no que se refere a cultura até início do século XX, quando ações desenvolvidas em 2003 pelo Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil, que iniciou a abertura para que os estes artefatos tecnológicos fossem incluídos entre os produtos da economia criativa, assim compreendendo-os como uma linguagem também cultural, o presente artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar um panorama da produção de jogos digitais na Bahia, a luz da economia criativa, e as possibilidades de política pública. Para tanto, serão apresentados os principais marcos da evolução deste segmento, desenhando o cenário atual do ecossistema de Games na Bahia. Os resultados desta análise ratificam as necessidades de outros segmentos artísticos e culturais que exigem maior investimento em formação tanto técnica como de gestão dos agentes que atuam na área e a sensibilização dos atores públicos e empresariais privados sobre a importância econômica e social dessa atividade, com intuito de consolidar o segmento no estado da Bahia.
Suppression of superoxide production by a spin‐spin coupling between semiquinone and the Rieske cluster in cytochrome bc1
Authors: Bujnowicz Łukasz , Borek Arkadiusz , Kuleta Patryk , Sarewicz Marcin , Osyczka Artur
Published: November 2018

Catalytic reactions of quinol oxidoreductases may lead to the generation of superoxide due to electron leaks from unstable semiquinone intermediates (SQ). For cytochrome bc1, the mechanism of suppression of superoxide generation remains unknown. We analyzed conditions of formation of a spin‐spin–coupled state between SQ and the Rieske cluster (SQ‐FeS) associated with catalysis of the quinol oxidation site of cytochrome bc1. We reveal that mutants that preclude direct interaction between SQ and the Rieske cluster do not form SQ‐FeS and release enhanced superoxide. In the enzymes generating SQ‐FeS, little or no superoxide is detected. We propose that SQ‐FeS suppresses superoxide generation, becoming an element modulating superoxide release under physiologically relevant conditions slowing electron flow through the enzyme.
Bacterial CYP154C8 catalyzes carbon‐carbon bond cleavage in steroids
Authors: Dangi Bikash , Oh Tae‐Jin
Published: November 2018

Here, we report the first bacterial cytochrome P450, CYP154C8, that catalyzes the C–C bond cleavage reaction of steroids. A major change in product distribution is observed with CYP154C8, when the reactions are supported by NADPH and spinach redox partners ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase, compared with previously reported reactions supported by NADH and redox partners containing putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase. The NMR‐based structural elucidation of reaction products reveals 21‐hydroxyprednisone as the major product for prednisone, while the other product is identified as 1‐dehydroadrenosterone obtained due to C–C bond cleavage. A similar pattern of product formation is observed with cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone. The reaction catalyzed by CYP154C8 in the presence of oxygen surrogates also prominently shows the formation of C–C bond cleavage products.
A complete workflow for utilizing Monte Carlo toolkits in clinical cases for a double‐scattering proton therapy system
Authors: Muller Leland , Prusator Michael , Ahmad Salahuddin , Chen Yong
Published: November 2018

The methods described in this paper allow end users to utilize Monte Carlo (MC) toolkits for patient‐specific dose simulation and perform analysis and plan comparisons for double‐scattering proton therapy systems. The authors aim to fill two aspects of this process previously not explicitly published. The first one addresses the modeling of field‐specific components in simulation space. Patient‐specific compensator and aperture models are exported from treatment planning system and converted to STL format using a combination of software tools including Matlab and Autodesk's Netfabb. They are then loaded into the MC geometry for simulation purpose. The second details a method for easily visualizing and comparing simulated doses with the dose calculated from the treatment planning system. This system is established by utilizing the open source software 3D Slicer. The methodology was demonstrated with a two‐field proton treatment plan on the IROC lung phantom. Profiles and two‐dimensional (2D) dose planes through the target isocenter were analyzed using our in‐house software tools. This present workflow and set of codes can be easily adapted by other groups for their clinical practice.
Van der Waals Heterostructure Devices with Dynamically Controlled Conduction Polarity and Multifunctionality
Authors: Yin Lei , Wang Feng , Cheng Ruiqing , Wang Zhenxing , Chu Junwei , Wen Yao , He Jun
Published: November 2018

Controlling the conduction behavior of 2D materials is an important prerequisite to achieve their electronic and optoelectronic applications. However, most of the reported approaches are aware of the shortcomings of inflexibility and complexity, which limits the possibility of multifunctional integration. Here, taking advantage of van der Waals heterostructure engineering, a simple method to achieve a dynamically controlled binary channel in a semivertical MoTe2/MoS2 field effect transistor is proposed. It is enabled by the high switchability between tunneling and thermal transports through simply changing the sign of voltage bias. In addition, the proposed system allows for multifunctional integration of transistor with on/off ratio >107 and diode with rectification ratio >106. Moreover, the devices show screen capability to negative photoresponse effect that is widely observed in ambipolar materials, hence improving the photodetection reliability and sensitivity. This study broadens the functionalities of van der Waals heterostructures and opens up more possibilities to realize multifunctional devices.
Impact of Morphology on Printed Contact Performance in Carbon Nanotube Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Cardenas Jorge A. , Upshaw Sophia , Williams Nicholas X. , Catenacci Matthew J. , Wiley Benjamin J. , Franklin Aaron D.
Published: November 2018

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are the most widely used conductive material throughout the printed electronics space due to their high conductivity and low cost. However, when interfacing with other prominent printed materials, such as semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in thin‐film transistors (TFTs), silver is suboptimal when compared to more expensive or less conductive materials. Consequently, there would be significant value to improving the interface of printed silver to CNT films. In this work, the impact of nanostructure morphology on the electrical properties of printed silver and nanotube junctions in CNT‐TFTs is investigated. Three distinct silver morphologies (NPs, nanoflakes – NFs, and nanowires – NWs) are explored with top‐ and bottom‐contact configurations for each. The NF morphology in a top‐contact configuration is found to yield the best electrical interface to CNTs, resulting in an average contact resistance of 1.2 MΩ ⋅ µm. Beyond electrical performance, several trade‐offs in morphology selection are revealed, including print resolution and process temperature. While NF inks produce the best interfaces, NP inks produce the smallest features, and NW inks are compatible with low processing temperatures (<80 °C). These results outline the trade‐offs between silver contact morphologies in CNT‐TFTs and show that contact morphology selection can be tailored for specific applications.
2D and 3D Metal–Organic Framework at the Oil/Water Interface: A Case Study of Copper Benzenedicarboxylate
Authors: Song Ping , Natale Giovanniantonio , Wang Jingyi , Bond Toby , Hejazi Hossein , Siegler Hector de la Hoz , Gates Ian , Lu Qingye
Published: November 2018

Metal–organic framework nanosheets (MOF NSs) have drawn a lot of attention lately; however, the interfacial behavior of these 2D MOFs has rarely been investigated. Here, the partition and distribution of 2D NS and 3D nanoparticle (NP) of copper benzenedicarboxylate (CuBDC) at the oil/water interface are imaged by cryo‐scanning electron microscopy. A layer of ≈20 nm NS‐CuBDC is detected with a lateral orientation along the interface, which is attributed to the existence of relatively hydrophobic planes and hydrophilic edges in NS‐CuBDC. The highly hydrophilic CuBDC localizes along the interface within the water phase. The self‐assembly of NS‐CuBDC is found to be a facile method to construct small cubical NPs. The exchange of water into CuBDC leads to super hydrophilic wettability. Ascribed to their amphiphilic properties, NP‐CuBDC acts as sole stabilizer to form stable oil‐in‐water emulsions. Synchrotron‐based computed tomography is used to characterize the 3D distribution of CuBDC in emulsions at room temperature. This work provides great insights in the fundamental study of MOFs at the oil/water interface and may lead to further development of ultrathin 2D MOF membranes.
Solid‐State Lithium/Selenium–Sulfur Chemistry Enabled via a Robust Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase
Authors: Xu Gui‐Liang , Sun Hui , Luo Chao , Estevez Luis , Zhuang Minghao , Gao Han , Amine Rachid , Wang Hao , Zhang Xiaoyi , Sun Cheng‐Jun , Liu Yuzi , Ren Yang , Heald Steve M. , Wang Chunsheng , Chen Zonghai , Amine Khalil
Published: November 2018

Lithium/selenium‐sulfur batteries have recently received considerable attention due to their relatively high specific capacities and high electronic conductivity. Different from the traditional encapsulation strategy for suppressing the shuttle effect, an alternative approach to directly bypass polysulfide/polyselenide formation via rational solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) design is demonstrated. It is found that the robust SEI layer that in situ forms during charge/discharge via interplay between rational cathode design and optimal electrolytes could enable solid‐state (de)lithiation chemistry for selenium‐sulfur cathodes. Hence, Se‐doped S22.2Se/Ketjenblack cathodes can attain a high reversible capacity with minimal shuttle effects during long‐term and high rate cycling. Moreover, the underlying solid‐state (de)lithiation mechanism, as evidenced by in situ 7Li NMR and in operando synchrotron X‐ray probes, further extends the optimal sulfur confinement pore size to large mesopores and even macropores that have been long considered as inferior sulfur or selenium host materials, which play a crucial role in developing high volumetric energy density batteries. It is expected that the findings in this study will ignite more efforts to tailor the compositional/structure characteristics of the SEI layers and the related ionic transport across the interface by electrode structure, electrolyte solvent, and electrolyte additive screening.
Systemic inflammation and modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment in older persons: Findings from a British birth cohort
Authors: Tsui Alex , Richards Marcus , Davis Daniel
Published: November 2018

Serum pro‐inflammatory markers may contribute to dementia pathophysiology and cognitive impairment. In a population‐representative birth cohort, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and white cell count (WCC) were measured at age 60‐64 years and cognition was assessed using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE‐III) at age 69 years. Higher baseline CRP and IL‐6 were associated with lower ACE‐III scores, but associations were attenuated on adjustment for educational attainment, sex, and other modifiable life course factors. No associations were found for CRP, IL‐6, and WCC with visual search speed or verbal memory. In conclusion, the relationship between increased baseline systemic inflammation and poorer cognition in later life may be explained by, or share pathways with, education and other modifiable life course factors.
Visible‐Light‐Driven Photochemical Activation of sp3 C−H Bond for Hemiaminal Formation
Authors: Li Lina , Zhang Guigang , Savateev Aleksandr , Kurpil Bogdan , Antonietti Markus , Zhao Yubao
Published: November 2018

Photochemical synthesis of organic chemicals has attracted a massive revitalized research interest. Herein, a metal‐free photochemical system with carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) is developed for the synthesis of hemiaminal compounds. In this reaction system, the sp3 C−H bond of the N‐alkyl group in the amide is photochemically activated, producing an ionic iminium species. The hemiaminal compounds are produced by nucleophilic attack of the iminium ion by alcohol in the presence of base. This photochemical conversion system shows high yield and broad substrate scope.
Age‐related changes in urinary protein excretion in relation to indices of renal function in Wistar rats
Authors: Olukiran Olaoluwa Sesan , Akomolafe Rufus Ojo , Ilesanmi Olutosin Samuel , Imafidon Christian Eseigbe , Alabi Quadri Kunle
Published: November 2018

Background

The study determined the fractions of proteins in the urine and plasma of rats at different ages, measured the plasma and urine concentrations of markers of renal function, with a view to determining the influence of proteinuria on renal function.

Methods

Eighty Wistar rats were used for this study. Groups 1 and 2 each consisted of eight 1‐month‐old male and female rats; 3 and 4 had eight 3‐month‐old male and female rats; 5 and 6 had eight 6‐month‐old male and female rats; 7 and 8 had eight 9‐month old male and female rats; and 9 and 10 had eight 12‐month‐old male and female rats.

Results

A fraction of the molecular weight of protein in the urine of rats aged 1, 9 and 12 months was higher than that of 3 and 6 months. The total protein concentration in the urine of male and female rats aged 9 and 12 months was significantly higher than that of rats aged 1 and 3 months. The urine creatinine concentrations of male and female rats aged 9 months were significantly higher when compared with that of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the 3‐month‐old rats seem less affected by proteinuria, because they had the least urine protein, and consistent and reduced plasma and urine concentrations of markers of renal function. The results of this study may provide a foundation for future mechanistic inquiries as to why this age group was the least affected by proteinuria.
Biomimetic Bottlebrush Polymer Coatings for Fabrication of Ultralow Fouling Surfaces
Authors: Xia Yinqiang , Adibnia Vahid , Huang Renliang , Murschel Frederic , Faivre Jimmy , Xie Guojun , Olszewski Mateusz , De Crescenzo Gregory , Qi Wei , He Zhimin , Su Rongxin , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof , Banquy Xavier
Published: November 2018

Demand for long‐lasting antifouling surfaces has steered the development of accessible, novel, biocompatible and environmentally friendly materials. Inspired by lubricin (LUB), a component of mammalian synovial fluid with excellent antifouling properties, three block polymers offering stability, efficacy, and ease of use were designed. The bottlebrush‐structured polymers adsorbed strongly on silica surfaces in less than 10 minutes by a simple drop casting or online exposure method and were extremely stable in high‐salinity solutions and across a wide pH range. Antifouling properties against proteins and bacteria were evaluated with different techniques and ultralow fouling properties demonstrated. With serum albumin and lysozyme adsorption <0.2 ng cm−2, the polymers were 50 and 25 times more effective than LUB and known ultralow fouling coatings. The antifouling properties were also tested under MPa compression pressures by direct force measurements using surface forces apparatus. The findings suggest that these polymers are among the most robust and efficient antifouling agents currently known.
Bioinspirierte radikalische Stetter‐Reaktion: radikalische Umpolung, ermöglicht durch Ionenpaar‐Photokatalyse
Authors: Morack Tobias , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Gilmour Ryan
Published: November 2018

Eine bioinspirierte, intermolekulare radikalische Stetter‐Reaktion von α‐Keto‐Säuren und Aldehyden wird beschrieben, die auf dem Konzept einer formalen “radikalischen Umpolung” basiert. Räumliche Nähe von α‐Ketocarbonsäuren, als latente Acyl‐Radikale, zum in situ generierten Iminium‐Ion wird durch elektrostatische Erkennung gewährleistet. Die gebildeten photoaktiven Kontaktionenpaare erweisen sich als Elektronen‐Donor‐Akzeptor‐Komplexe, die leicht einen Ein‐Elektronen‐Transfer eingehen, gefolgt von einer raschen Decarboxylierung und abschließenden Radikal‐Radikal‐Rekombination. Mithilfe dieser Strategie wird konkurrierende Decarbonylierung der Acyl‐Radikale unterdrückt. Die Strategievalidierung durch DFT‐Rechnungen zeigt eine hohe Übereinstimmung mit den erhaltenen experimentellen Daten. Die Vereinigung von organo‐ und photokatalytischer Aktivierung erweitert somit den mechanistischen und präparativen Rahmen der klassischen Stetter‐Reaktion und ermöglicht schlussendlich die Verwendung von α,β‐ungesättigten Aldehyden als Akzeptoren.
Experimentally Calibrated Analysis of the Electronic Structure of CuO+: Implications for Reactivity
Authors: Srnec Martin , Navrátil Rafael , Andris Erik , Jašík Juraj , Roithová Jana
Published: November 2018

The CuO+ core is a central motif of reactive intermediates in copper‐catalysed oxidations occurring in nature. The high reactivity of CuO+ stems from a weak bonding between the atoms, which cannot be described by a simple classical model. To obtain the correct picture, we have investigated the acetonitrile‐ligated CuO+ ion using neon‐tagging photodissociation spectroscopy at 5 K. The spectra feature complex vibronic absorption progressions in NIR and visible regions. Employing Franck–Condon analyses, we derived low‐lying triplet potential energy surfaces that were further correlated with multireference calculations. This provided insight into the ground and low‐lying excited electronic states of the CuO+ unit and elucidated how these states are perturbed by the change in ligation. Thus, we show that the bare CuO+ ion has prevailingly a copper(I)‐biradical oxygen character. Increasing the number of ligands coordinated to copper changes the CuO+ character towards the copper(II)‐oxyl radical structure.
Bioinspired Radical Stetter Reaction: Radical Umpolung Enabled by Ion‐Pair Photocatalysis
Authors: Morack Tobias , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Gilmour Ryan
Published: November 2018

A bioinspired, intermolecular radical Stetter reaction of α‐keto acids and aldehydes is disclosed that is contingent on a formal “radical umpolung” concept. Enabled by secondary amine activation, electrostatic recognition ensures that the α‐ketocarboxylic acids, which function as latent acyl radicals, are proximal to the in situ generated iminium salts. This photoactive contact ion pair is an electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex, and undergoes facile single electron transfer (SET) and rapid decarboxylation prior to radical–radical recombination. Importantly, decarbonylation is mitigated by this strategy. The initial computational validation on which the process is predicated matches closely with experiment. Synergising organo‐ and photocatalysis activation principles finally expands the mechanistic and synthetic scope of the classic Stetter reaction to include α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes as acceptors.
A Branched Diterpene Cascade: The Mechanism of Spinodiene Synthase from Saccharopolyspora spinosa
Authors: Rinkel Jan , Lauterbach Lukas , Dickschat Jeroen S.
Published: November 2018

A diterpene synthase from Saccharopolyspora spinosa was found to convert geranylgeranyl diphosphate into the new natural products spinodiene A and B, accompanied by 2,7,18‐dolabellatriene. The structures and the formation mechanism of the enzyme products were investigated by extensive isotopic labelling experiments, which revealed an unusual branched isomerisation mechanism towards the neutral intermediate 2,7,18‐dolabellatriene. A Diels–Alder reaction was used to convert the main diterpene product with its rare conjugated diene moiety into formal sesterterpene alcohols.
Proteomics as a tool for tapping potential of entomopathogens as microbial insecticides
Authors: Harith Fadzilah Nazmi , Abdul‐Ghani Idris , Hassan Maizom
Published: November 2018

Biopesticides are collective pest control harnessing the knowledge of the target pest and its natural enemies that minimize the risks of synthetic pesticides. A subset of biopesticides; bioinsecticides, are specifically used in controlling insect pests. Entomopathogens (EPMs) are micro‐organisms sought after as subject for bioinsecticide development. However, lack of understanding of EPM mechanism of toxicity and pathogenicity slowed the progress of bioinsecticide development. Proteomics is a useful tool in elucidating the interaction of entomopathogenic fungi, entomopathogenic bacteria, and entomopathogenic virus with their target host. Collectively, proteomics shed light onto insect host response to EPM infection, mechanism of action of EPM’s toxic proteins and secondary metabolites besides characterizing secreted and membrane‐bound proteins of EPM that more precisely describe relevant proteins for host recognition and mediating pathogenesis. However, proteomics requires optimized protein extraction methods to maximize the number of proteins for analysis and availability of organism's genome for a more precise protein identification.
Creativity: Past, present, and future
Authors: Mehta Ravi , Dahl Darren W.
Published: November 2018

Our understanding of creativity has come a long way from when it was considered to be a mystical power. Indeed, creativity has grown into a defined cognitive process that can be influenced by a diverse range of internal and external factors. This article begins with a brief discussion of the history of creativity as a psychological construct and then outlines more recent work in the area, particularly focusing on how our understanding of creativity has been expanded in the last decade. In doing so, we explicate four defining factors that have been shown to play a critical role in shaping consumer creativity: cognitive ability, motivation, social‐personality, and environment. The article concludes with a discussion of three topics that we believe hold promise for future research efforts in the area.
Patterns and predictors of end‐of‐life care in older patients with pancreatic cancer
Authors: Nipp Ryan D. , Tramontano Angela C. , Kong Chung Yin , Hur Chin
Published: November 2018

Background

Little is known about end‐of‐life care among patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare linked database to analyze patterns of hospice use and end‐of‐life treatment in patients with PDAC.

Methods

We included patients diagnosed with PDAC between 2000‐2011 and who had died by December 31, 2012. We assessed patterns of hospice use, chemotherapy receipt, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions at end‐of‐life. We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate predictors of end‐of‐life care.

Results

In our cohort of 16 309 patients, 70.5% enrolled in hospice, of which 29.1% enrolled in the last 7 days of life. Use of hospice increased over time, from 61.6% in 2000 to 77.5% in 2012 (P‐value for trend <0.0001). Among the entire cohort, 6.4% received chemotherapy within the last 14 days of life and 13.1% were admitted to the ICU within the last 30 days of life. Late ICU admissions increased over time, while chemotherapy receipt at the end‐of‐life decreased. Patients who were older, female, with higher SES, or from the South or Midwest were more likely to enroll in hospice. Those who were younger or male were more likely to receive chemotherapy or have an ICU admission at the end‐of‐life.

Conclusion

Although hospice enrollment has increased among patients with PDAC, late enrollment still occurs in a substantial proportion of patients. While chemotherapy at the end‐of‐life has decreased slightly, ICU admissions at the end‐of‐life have continued to increase. Further research is needed to determine effective ways of enhancing end‐of‐life care for patients with PDAC.
Pharmacogenetic testing: Is a lab test able to replace clinical acumen and thoughtful medication management?
Authors: Algon Sibel
Published: November 2018

In short, most often the answer to the question posed in this article's headline is “Not yet.” Pharmacogenetics is a field of research looking for predictable correlations between genetic variations (polymorphisms) and clinical responses to medications. At present, there are over 20 such tests available at high cost. None are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most lack double‐blind randomly controlled trials.
You think you're confused? Even clinicians say drug names are misleading
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2018

Clinicians are used to the names of psychotropic medications — so used to them that they may forget how odd they sound to patients and parents. In an article in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, top researchers in the field write that the medication names are actually unclear and misleading, and propose a new nomenclature.
Ni/LnOx Catalysts (Ln=La, Ce or Pr) for CO2 Methanation
Authors: Alcalde‐Santiago Virginia , Davó‐Quiñonero Arantxa , Lozano‐Castelló Dolores , Quindimil Adrián , De‐La‐Torre Unai , Pereda‐Ayo Beñat , González‐Marcos José A. , González‐Velasco Juan R. , Bueno‐López Agustín
Published: November 2018

The effect of the LnOx support has been studied for Ni‐based CO2 methanation catalysts. 10 wt.% nickel catalysts with LaOx, CeO2 and PrOx supports have been prepared, characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, XRF, TG‐MS (N2‐TPD and H2‐TPR) and XPS, and have been tested for CO2 methanation. The catalytic activity follows the trend Ni/CeO2>Ni/PrOx≫Ni/LaOx, all catalysts being very selective towards CH4 formation. The activity depends both on the nature of the catalytic active sites and on the stability of the surface CO2 and H2O species. Ni/CeO2 is the most active catalyst because (i) the Ni2+‐ceria interaction leads to the formation of the highest population of active sites for CO2 dissociation, (ii) the reduced Ni0 sites where H2 dissociation takes place are the most electronegative and active, and (iii) the stability of surface CO2 and H2O species is lowest. Ni/LaOx achieves lower activity because of the strong chemisorption of H2O and CO2, which poison the catalyst surface, and because this support is not able to promote the formation of highly active sites for CO2 and H2 dissociation. The behavior of Ni/PrOx is intermediate, being slightly lower to that of Ni/CeO2 because the formation of active sites is not so efficient and because the stability of chemisorbed CO2 is slightly higher.
Fluidization Behavior of Cohesive Ca(OH)2 Powders Mixed with Hydrophobic Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Amjadi Omid , Tahmasebpoor Maryam , Aghdasinia Hassan
Published: November 2018

Dry mixing with hydrophobic silica nanopowders was used to improve the fluidization quality of Ca(OH)2 particles which belong to the Geldart C group and, thus, normally cannot be fluidized. Three parameters, i.e., sieved size of Ca(OH)2 particles and sieved size and weight percentage of SiO2 nanoparticles were selected for experiments. A direct proportionality was found between the coverage quality of materials over each other and the fluidization behavior of their corresponding adsorbents. Optimum SiO2 size and concentration values were determined for the improvement of Ca(OH)2 fluidizability. The sieved size of Ca(OH)2 powder had no consequential effect on the coverage quality. The Richarson‐Zaki equation and fractal analysis combined with a modified Richardson‐Zaki approach were proposed for prediction of the fluidization quality and agglomerate size.
Mercury(II) Binding to Metallothionein in Mytilus edulis revealed by High Energy‐Resolution XANES Spectroscopy
Authors: Manceau Alain , Bustamante Paco , Haouz Ahmed , Bourdineaud Jean Paul , Gonzalez‐Rey Maria , Lemouchi Cyprien , Gautier‐Luneau Isabelle , Geertsen Valérie , Barruet Elodie , Rovezzi Mauro , Glatzel Pieter , Pin Serge
Published: November 2018

Of all divalent metals, mercury (HgII) has the highest affinity for metallothioneins. HgII is considered to be enclosed in the α and β domains as tetrahedral α‐type Hg4Cys11‐12 and β‐type Hg3Cys9 clusters similar to CdII and ZnII. However, neither the four‐fold coordination of Hg nor the existence of Hg–Hg atomic pairs have ever been demonstrated, and the HgII partitioning among the two protein domains is unknown. Using high energy‐resolution XANES spectroscopy, MP2 geometry optimization, and biochemical analysis, evidence for the coexistence of two‐coordinate Hg‐thiolate complex and four‐coordinate Hg‐thiolate cluster with a metacinnabar‐type (β‐HgS) structure in the α domain of separate metallothionein molecules from blue mussel under in vivo exposure is provided. The findings suggest that the CXXC claw setting of thiolate donors, which only exists in the α domain, acts as a nucleation center for the polynuclear complex and that the five CXC motifs from this domain serve as the cluster‐forming motifs. Oligomerization is driven by metallophilic Hg⋅⋅⋅Hg interactions. Our results provide clues as to why Hg has higher affinity for the α than the β domain. More generally, this work provides a foundation for understanding how metallothioneins mediate mercury detoxification in the cell under in vivo conditions.
Lewis Acid‐Mediated One‐Electron Reduction of Nitrous Oxide
Authors: Liu Yizhu , Solari Euro , Scopelliti Rosario , Fadaei Tirani Farzaneh , Severin Kay
Published: November 2018

The one‐electron reduction of nitrous oxide (N2O) was achieved using strong Lewis acids E(C6F5)3 (E=B or Al) in combination with metallocenes. In the case of B(C6F5)3, electron transfer to N2O required a powerful reducing agent such as Cp*2Co (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). In the presence of Al(C6F5)3, on the other hand, the reactions could be performed with weaker reducing agents such as Cp*2Fe or Cp2Fe (Cp=cyclopentadienyl). The Lewis acid‐mediated electron transfer from the metallocene to N2O resulted in cleavage of the N−O bond, generating N2 and the oxyl radical anion [OE(C6F5)3]⋅−. The latter is highly reactive and engages in C−H activation reactions. It was possible to trap the radical by addition of the Gomberg dimer, which acts as a source of the trityl radical.
Cyclische (Alkyl)(Amino) Carbene
Authors: Paul Ursula S. D. , Krahfuß Mirjam J. , Radius Udo
Published: November 2018

Mit den cyclischen (Alkyl)(amino)carbenen wurde die sehr wichtige Ligandenklasse der Carbene um einen neuen, vielseitig einsetzbaren Vertreter erweitert. Dank ihrer sterischen und elektronischen Eigenschaften eignen sich cAACs unter anderem als Liganden in der Übergangsmetallchemie z. B. zur Darstellung von Katalysatoren und zur Stabilisierung von Metallatomen in ungewöhnlichen Oxidationsstufen. In der Hauptgruppenchemie finden sie als reaktive Organokatalysatoren Anwendung zur Aktivierung kleiner Moleküle und enthalpisch starker Bindungen. In diesem Artikel werden einige Beispiele der aktuellen Forschung sowohl aus der Hauptgruppen‐ als auch aus der Übergangsmetallchemie diskutiert und im Zuge dessen einige grundlegende Konzepte der organischen und anorganischen Chemie vermittelt.
Free Radical Pathway Cleavage of C—O Bonds for the Synthesis of Alkylboron Compounds
Authors: Lu Xi , Zhang Zhen‐Qi , Yu Lu , Zhang Ben , Wang Bing , Gong Tian‐Jun , Tian Chang‐Lin , Xiao Bin , Fu Yao
Published: November 2018

Summary of main observation and conclusion

We report a silver‐catalyzed borylation of alkyl tosylates, which provides a new method for the synthesis of alkylboron compounds with good functional group compatibility and excellent chemoselectivity. The present work added highly polarized alkyl tosylate C—O bonds to the fairly limited number of C—O bonds able to participate in free radical cleavage pathways. The mechanistic studies suggested that in situ‐generated silver(0) catalytic species were the active catalytic species and played a key role in the radical pathway cleavage of C—O bonds.
Does race predict the development of metastases in men who receive androgen‐deprivation therapy for a biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy?
Authors: Vidal Adriana C. , Howard Lauren E. , De Hoedt Amanda , Kane Christopher J. , Terris Martha K. , Aronson William J. , Cooperberg Matthew R. , Amling Christopher L. , Lechpammer Stanislav , Flanders Scott C. , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: November 2018

Background

In this study among men who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP), African American men (AAM) were 28% more likely to develop recurrent disease compared with Caucasian men (CM). However, among those who had nonmetastatic, castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), race did not predict metastases or overall survival. Whether race predicts metastases among men who receive androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) after a biochemical recurrence (BCR) (ie, before CRPC but after BCR) is untested.

Methods

The authors identified 595 AAM and CM who received ADT for a BCR that developed after RP between 1988 and 2015 in the Shared Equal‐Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database. Univariable and multivariable Cox models were used to test the association between race and the time from ADT to metastases. Secondary outcomes included the time to CRPC, all‐cause mortality, and prostate cancer‐specific mortality.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 66 months after ADT, 62 of 354 CM (18%) and 38 of 241 AAM (16%) developed metastases. AAM were younger at the time they received ADT (63 vs 67 years; P < .001), had received ADT in a more recent year (2008 vs 2006; P < .001), had higher prostate‐specific antigen levels at RP (11.1 vs 9.2 ng/mL; P < .001), lower pathologic Gleason scores (P = .004), and less extracapsular extension (38% vs 48%; P = .022). On multivariable analysis, there was no association between race and metastases (hazard radio, 1.20; P = .45) or any of the other secondary outcomes (all P > .5).

Conclusions

Among veterans who received ADT post‐BCR after RP, race was not a predictor of metastases or other adverse outcomes. The current findings suggest that research efforts to understand racial differences in prostate cancer biology should focus on early stages of the disease (ie, closer to the time of diagnosis).