bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasmon‐Assisted Photothermal Catalysis of Low‐Pressure CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol over Pd/ZnO Catalyst
Authors: Wu Dengdeng , Deng Kaixi , Hu Bing , Lu Qingye , Liu Guoliang , Hong Xinlin
Published: January 2019

In this work, we report a novel strategy to promote the industrial methanol production from CO2 hydrogenation at low pressure (12 bar) over a Pd/ZnO catalyst via introducing light irradiation into a modified continuous‐flow fixed‐bed reactor. The methanol yield was significantly enhanced by a photothermal synergistic effect and visible light was confirmed as the major contributor (>90 %) due to the localized surface plasmon resonance of Pd.
Recent Progress in Protecting Lithium Anodes for Li‐O2 Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xin , Xie Zhaojun , Zhou Zhen
Published: January 2019

Li−O2 batteries with extremely high theoretical energy density have garnered great attention over the last decade. To realize practical applications, numerous efforts have been made to solve the critical problems. Li anodes, as one of the most important part of Li−O2 batteries, play a vital role in improving the cycle life of batteries. The unresolved issues related to lithium dendrites and contaminant (O2 and H2O) crossover from cathodes to anodes dramatically influence the battery performance. In this review, we analyze the challenging issues of Li anodes in Li−O2 batteries and summarize the strategies to achieve high performance of Li−O2 batteries and the recent progress in this field. The prospective development of highly stable Li anodes is also discussed.
Structured Porous Millireactors for Liquid‐Liquid Chemical Reactions
Authors: Potdar Aditi , Thomassen Leen C. J. , Kuhn Simon
Published: January 2019

Milli‐scale reactors with an integrated microstructure offer a promising scale‐up approach for conventional microreactors. This study applies 3D‐printed structured porous millireactors to industrially relevant liquid‐liquid reactions. The underlying transport mechanisms are identified by quantifying interfacial heat and mass transfer. The structured reactors perform limited in Taylor flow compared to a packed‐bed reactor due to limited interfacial mass transfer. However, in stratified flow, their productivity increases significantly at a fraction of the pressure drop of a packed bed.
Factors influencing prostate cancer treatment decisions for African American and white men
Authors: Gordon Brittaney‐Belle E. , Basak Ramsankar , Carpenter William R. , Usinger Deborah , Godley Paul A. , Chen Ronald C.
Published: January 2019

Background

Prostate cancer racial disparities in mortality outcomes are the largest in all of oncology, and less aggressive treatment received by African American (AA) patients versus white patients is likely a contributing factor. However, the reasons underlying the differences in treatment are unclear.

Methods

This study examined a prospective, population‐based cohort of 1170 men with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic prostate cancer enrolled from 2011 to 2013 before treatment throughout North Carolina. By phone survey, each participant was asked to rate the aggressiveness of his cancer, and his response was compared to the actual diagnosis based on a medical record review. Participants were also asked to rate the importance of 10 factors for their treatment decision‐making process.

Results

Among AA and white patients with low‐risk cancer (according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines), 78% to 80% perceived their cancers to be “not very aggressive.” However, among high‐risk patients, 54% of AA patients considered their cancers to be “not very aggressive,” whereas 24% of white patients did (P < .001). Although both AA and white patients indicated that a cure was a very important decision‐making factor, AAs were significantly more likely to consider cost, treatment time, and recovery time as very important. In a multivariable analysis, perceived cancer aggressiveness and cure as the most important factor were significantly associated with receiving any aggressive treatment and were associated with surgery (vs radiation). After adjustments for these factors and sociodemographic factors, race was not significantly associated with the treatment received.

Conclusions

Racial differences in perceived cancer aggressiveness and factors important in treatment decision making provide novel insights into reasons for the known racial disparities in prostate cancer as well as potential targets for interventions to reduce these disparities.
Carbon Nano‐Onions: A Review of Recent Progress in Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Plonska‐Brzezinska Marta E.
Published: January 2019

This article presents a short review of the knowledge concerning multi‐layered fullerenes, also known as onion‐like carbons or carbon nano‐onions. In this article, the most important literature in this area is reviewed in a condensed way that presents these nanostructures, their unusual physical and chemical properties and their potential uses. This article focuses mainly on biomedical applications and areas where the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of these materials are applied. Currently, this field of research seems promising, and interest in this area is growing.
Extracellular‐Vesicle Isolation from Different Biological Fluids by Size‐Exclusion Chromatography
Authors: Monguió‐Tortajada Marta , Morón‐Font Miriam , Gámez‐Valero Ana , Carreras‐Planella Laura , Borràs Francesc E. , Franquesa Marcella
Published: January 2019

This unit describes how to isolate extracellular vesicles (EVs) from different biological fluids using size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) and how to prepare your starting sample and the EV product for downstream applications. EVs are membrane nanovesicles with specific content that reflects the phenotype and functions of the cell of origin, including protected proteins, lipids, metabolites, and nucleic acids. EVs are thus an excellent resource for noninvasive biomarker discovery in a number of pathological situations and are a promising nanotherapeutic tool to overcome the disadvantages associated with cellular therapy. However, there are still no standardized methods to isolate pure EV preparations, as many approaches do not guarantee proper EV purification, free of contaminating non‐EV molecules. Currently, SEC is one of the most promising approaches to purify EVs from any biological fluid, as it avoids co‐isolation of contaminants and is user friendly and scalable. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comparison of Different Strategies to Measure Medication Adherence via Claims Data in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Ihle Peter , Krueger Katrin , Schubert Ingrid , Griese‐Mammen Nina , Parrau Natalie , Laufs Ulrich , Schulz Martin
Published: January 2019

Medication adherence correlates with morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), but is difficult to assess. We conducted a retrospective methodological cohort study in 3,808 CHF patients, calculating adherence as proportion of days covered (PDC) utilizing claims data from 2010 to 2015. We aimed to compare different parameters’ influence on the PDC of elderly CHF patients exemplifying a complex chronic disease. Investigated parameters were the assumed prescribed daily dose (PDD), stockpiling, and periods of hospital stay. Thereby, we investigated a new approach using the PDD assigned to different percentiles. The different dose assumptions had the biggest influence on the PDC, with variations from 41.9% to 83.7%. Stockpiling and hospital stays increased the values slightly. These results queries that a reliable PDC can be calculated with an assumed PDD. Hence, results based on an assumed PDD have to be interpreted carefully and should be presented with sensitivity analyses to show the PDC's possible range.
Two‐Dimensional Halide Perovskites in Solar Cells: 2D or not 2D?
Authors: Ortiz‐Cervantes Carmen , Carmona‐Monroy Paulina , Solis‐Ibarra Diego
Published: January 2019

Two‐dimensional (2D) halide perovskites have recently emerged as a more stable and more versatile family of materials than three‐dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cell absorbers. Although solar cells made with 2D perovskites have yet to improve their power conversion efficiencies to compete with 3D perovskite solar cells, their immense diversity offers great opportunities and avenues for research that will likely close the gap between these two. Further, 2D perovskites can have various roles within a solar cell, either as the primary light absorber, as a capping layer, passivating layer, or within a mixed 2D/3D perovskite solar cell absorber. In this Minireview, we will review the history of 2D perovskites in solar cells, the relevant properties of such materials, the different roles that they can play in a solar cell, as well as current trends and challenges.
Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using an Eight‐Color Tube with Dried Antibody Reagents
Authors: Bouriche Lakhdar , Bernot Denis , Nivaggioni Vanessa , Arnoux Isabelle , Loosveld Marie
Published: January 2019

Background

Flow cytometry is a powerful tool for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) of B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP‐ALL) patients. However, the staining process and the choice of antibodies rely on laboratory expertise and may be source of variability or technical errors. Recently, Beckman Coulter commercialized a ready to use tube with dried format reagents for BCP‐ALL MRD detection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of this tube and to compare it to a conventional (liquid format reagents) method.

Methods

Thirty‐one samples from B ALL patients were analyzed: 19 bone marrow (BM) aspirations, 10 peripheral blood (PB) samples and 2 cerebrospinal fluids at different stages of the follow‐up. In addition, we tested 5 bone marrow samples mixed into non‐pathological (control) bone marrow. The dried format tube included seven antibodies: CD45Kro, CD58FITC, CD34ECD, CD10PC5.5, CD19PC7, CD38AA700, CD20AA750, with possibility of additional antibodies for blast markers identified at diagnosis. For comparison, a liquid format tube was prepared, and considered as the reference.

Results

This tube was validated for daily routine laboratory, with satisfying qualitative (MRD + or MRD−) and quantitative (MRD percentages) correlation with the reference tube.

Conclusion

With this single dried format tube, we showed interesting results for BCP‐ALL MRD detection in the aim of standardization and reliable interlaboratory results. It allows accurate MRD detection including low levels (10–4), and offers possibility to increase performance (supplementary antibody) within a preestablished effective antibody panel for BCP‐ALL MRD. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Standards with cybersecurity controls for smart grid—A systematic analysis
Authors: Leszczyna Rafał
Published: January 2019

In recent years, numerous standards related to the cybersecurity of smart grids have been published, which led to the challenge for operators in obtaining indications that match their specific objectives and contexts. Although several studies approached this problem by providing more or less comprehensive surveys and overviews of smart grid cybersecurity standards, none of them was dedicated to the actual and important subject of cybersecurity controls. This paper aims at filling this gap. A systematic literature analysis was conducted which resulted in the identification of 19 broadly recognised standards that specify cybersecurity controls applicable to the smart grid infrastructure. The publications are described in respect to the controls they define and referred to evaluation criteria. In result, this paper constitutes a guideline on standardised cybersecurity controls for smart grids, where (criteria‐based) indications help to select standards for a particular smart grid area or specific goals. The method of the research as well as the standards' selection and evaluation criteria are presented.
Mechanisms underlying isoliquiritigenin‐induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via ROS‐mediated MAPK/STAT3/NF‐κB pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Jia‐Ru , Luo Ying‐Hua , Piao Xian‐Ji , Zhang Yi , Feng Yu‐Chao , Li Jin‐Qian , Xu Wan‐Ting , Zhang Yu , Zhang Tong , Wang Shi‐Nong , Xue Hui , Wang Wen‐Zhong , Cao Long‐Kui , Jin Cheng‐Hao
Published: January 2019

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural flavonoid isolated from plant licorice, has various pharmacological properties, including anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, and antiviral effects. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways of ISL in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ISL on the apoptosis of human HCC cells with a focus on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Our results showed that ISL exhibited cytotoxic effects on two human liver cancer cells in a dose‐dependent manner. ISL significantly induced mitochondrial‐related apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, which was accompanied by ROS accumulation in HepG2 cells. However, pretreatment with an ROS scavenger, N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC), inhibited ISL‐induced apoptosis. In addition, ISL increased the phosphorylation levels of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), p38 kinase and inhibitor of NF‐κB (IκB), and decreased the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB), these effects were blocked by NAC and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that ISL induced HepG2 cell apoptosis via ROS‐mediated MAPK, STAT3, and NF‐κB signaling pathways. Therefore, ISL may be a potential treatment for human HCC, as well as other cancer types.
Partitioning global change: Assessing the relative importance of changes in climate and land cover for changes in avian distribution
Authors: Clement Matthew J. , Nichols James D. , Collazo Jaime A. , Terando Adam J. , Hines James E. , Williams Steven G.
Published: January 2019

Understanding the relative impact of climate change and land cover change on changes in avian distribution has implications for the future course of avian distributions and appropriate management strategies. Due to the dynamic nature of climate change, our goal was to investigate the processes that shape species distributions, rather than the current distributional patterns. To this end, we analyzed changes in the distribution of Eastern Wood Pewees (Contopus virens) and Red‐eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) from 1997 to 2012 using Breeding Bird Survey data and dynamic correlated‐detection occupancy models. We estimated the local colonization and extinction rates of these species in relation to changes in climate (hours of extreme temperature) and changes in land cover (amount of nesting habitat). We fit six nested models to partition the deviance explained by spatial and temporal components of land cover and climate. We isolated the temporal components of environmental variables because this is the essence of global change. For both species, model fit was significantly improved when we modeled vital rates as a function of spatial variation in climate and land cover. Model fit improved only marginally when we added temporal variation in climate and land cover to the model. Temporal variation in climate explained more deviance than temporal variation in land cover, although both combined only explained 20% (Eastern Wood Pewee) and 6% (Red‐eyed Vireo) of temporal variation in vital rates. Our results showing a significant correlation between initial occupancy and environmental covariates are consistent with biological expectation and previous studies. The weak correlation between vital rates and temporal changes in covariates indicated that we have yet to identify the most relevant components of global change influencing the distributions of these species and, more importantly, that spatially significant covariates are not necessarily driving temporal shifts in avian distributions.
Seasonal patterns in species diversity across biomes
Authors: Mellard Jarad P. , Audoye Pauline , Loreau Michel
Published: January 2019

A conspicuous season–diversity relationship (SDR) can be seen in seasonal environments, often with a defined peak in active species diversity in the growing season. We ask is this a general pattern and are other patterns possible? In addition, we ask what is the ultimate cause of this pattern and can we understand it using existing ecological theory? To accomplish this task, we assembled a global database on changes in species diversity through time in seasonal environments for different taxa and habitats and also conducted a modeling study in an attempt to replicate observed patterns. Our global database includes terrestrial and aquatic habitats, temperate, tropical, and polar environments, and taxa from disparate groups including vertebrates, insects, and plankton. We constructed nine alternative models that vary in assumptions on type of seasonal forcing, responses to that forcing, species niches, and types of species interactions. We found that most guilds of species exhibit a repeatable SDR across years. For north temperate ecosystems, active species diversity generally peaks mid‐year. The peak for a guild is generally more pronounced in terrestrial habitats than aquatic habitats and more pronounced in temperate and polar regions than the tropics. We now have evidence that at least several different habitat and taxa types are likely to have multiple peaks in diversity in a year, for example, guilds of both aquatic microbes and desert vertebrates can show a bimodal or multimodal SDR. We compared all nine candidate models in their ability to explain the patterns and match their assumptions to the data. Some performed considerably better than others in being able to match the different patterns. We conclude that a model that includes both temperature niches and environmental feedbacks is necessary to explain the different SDRs. We use such a model to make predictions about how the SDR could be impacted by climate change. More effort should be put into documenting and understanding baseline seasonal patterns in diversity in order to predict future responses to global change.
Successional dynamics of nitrogen fixation and forest growth in regenerating Costa Rican rainforests
Authors: Taylor Benton N. , Chazdon Robin L. , Menge Duncan N. L.
Published: January 2019

Regenerating tropical forests have an immense capacity to capture carbon and harbor biodiversity. The recuperation of the nitrogen cycle following disturbance can fuel biomass regeneration, but few studies have evaluated the successional dynamics of nitrogen and nitrogen inputs in tropical forests. We assessed symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and tree growth in a well‐studied series of five tropical forest plots ranging from 19 yr in age to old‐growth forests. Wet‐season soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations were high in all plots, peaking in the 29‐yr‐old plot. Inputs from symbiotic nitrogen fixation declined through succession, while asymbiotic nitrogen fixation peaked in the 37‐yr‐old plot. Consequently, the dominant nitrogen fixation input switched from symbiotic fixation in the younger plots to asymbiotic fixation in the older plots. Tree growth was highest in the youngest plots and declined through succession. Interestingly, symbiotic nitrogen fixation was negatively correlated with the basal area of nitrogen‐fixing trees across our study plots, highlighting the danger in using nitrogen‐fixing trees as a proxy for rates of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our results demonstrate that the nitrogen cycle has largely recuperated by 19 yr following disturbance, allowing for rapid biomass regeneration at our site. This work provides important insight into the sources and dynamics of nitrogen that support growth and carbon capture in regenerating Neotropical forests.
Structural Impact of Chelation on Phytate, a Highly Phosphorylated Biomolecule
Authors: Reinmuth Molly , Pramanik Subhamay , Douglas Justin T. , Day Victor W. , Bowman‐James Kristin
Published: January 2019

An important biomolecule found in plant seeds and tissues, and in eukaryotic cells is myo‐inositol‐1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexakisphosphate (phytate, IP6). Phytate has many roles, including phosphate, myo‐inositol, and mineral storage and retrieval in plants, and a number of metabolic roles, not all of which are known. Despite the importance of phytate in biology, structural information is limited. Aside from this report of the potassium phytate structure, K3[H9IP6]·2H2O, only the structures of the sodium and zinc salts have appeared. The potassium structure reveals the importance of metal ion chelation in stabilizing the conformation, and the two previously reported structures support this finding. Potassium ion and hydrogen bond bridges link the interwoven phytate networks throughout the lattice. 1H NMR (800 MHz) titrations show the conformation crossover from the 1a5e to the 5a1e conformation between pH 9 and 10, and detailed 1H deconvolution studies at low pH reveal the underlying pattern assignments for individual protons.
Aza‐Henry Reaction with Nitrones, an Under‐Explored Transformation
Authors: Messire Gatien , Massicot Fabien , Vallée Alexis , Vasse Jean‐Luc , Behr Jean‐Bernard
Published: January 2019

Nitromethylation of nitrones occurred efficiently in CH3NO2 in the presence of tetramethylammonium fluoride or triazabicyclodecene as promoters. The obtained adducts might be conveniently transformed into vicinal diamines. The process was extended to nitroethane and nitropropane affording mixtures of syn and anti stereoisomers with low diastereoselectivity.
Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Porous Carbon as an Efficient Electrode for Supercapacitor
Authors: Zhu Maiyong , Chen Qi , Kan Jiarui , Tang Jingjing , Wei Wenjing , Lin Jinkun , Li Songjun
Published: January 2019

Herein, a sequential pyrolysis and oxidation strategy is developed to prepare Co3O4 nanoparticles embedded in N‐doped porous carbon (Co3O4@N‐pC) using a bimetal zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8) as precursors, which is first obtained via a simple wet‐chemical process. The electrochemical performances of Co3O4@N‐pC, ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 precursors, and Co@N‐Pc intermediates (the direct pyrolysis products from ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8) are studied as supercapacitor electrodes in comparison. The results reveal that the specific capacitance of the optimized Co3O4@N‐pC electrode can reach up to 422.8 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 with a good rate capability (256 F g−1 at 5 A g−1) and excellent long‐term cycling stability (87.9% retention after 5000 cycles). Such performance is superior over ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 precursors (232 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, 168.9 F g−1 at 5 A g−1, and 82.7% retained after 5000 cycles) and Co@N‐pC intermediates (218.4 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, 171 F g−1 at 5 A g−1, and 76.3% retained after 5000 cycles). The findings in this work are expected to provide a new avenue to explore other metal oxide/carbon materials for various applications.
Carbon footprint associated with a mono‐Si cell photovoltaic ceramic roof tile system
Authors: Carvalho Monica , Menezes Valeska L. , Gomes Kelly C. , Pinheiro Raoni
Published: January 2019

Photovoltaic roof tiles are aesthetic ceramic roof tiles with integrated photovoltaic solar panels, which could present economic, energy‐related or environmental characteristics that hinder their implementation. The objective of this study is to calculate the carbon footprint associated with a residential electricity supply system based on photovoltaic roof tiles, and compare with a photovoltaic panel‐based system. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to quantify the carbon footprint using the SimaPro 8.4.0.0 software, Ecoinvent database, and IPCC 2013 GWP 100y environmental impact assessment method. Considering the design of a 0.52 kWp system, 1160 kg of CO2‐eq was emitted when photovoltaic mono‐Si roof tiles were installed, compared to 950 kg CO2‐eq for a traditional photovoltaic panel system. A sensitivity analysis verified that utilization of poly‐Si yielded a carbon footprint of 822 kg CO2‐eq but its inherent lower space‐efficiency was an issue, as a larger surface is required (which is not possible with roof tiles, rendering this option not viable). Despite the slightly unfavorable results presented herein, other strategies could be adopted to further reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building, as the use of photovoltaic roof tiles is better accepted from an architectural perspective as it harmonizes with the surroundings. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13120, 2019
Identifying mechanisms of shore platform erosion using Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) photogrammetry
Authors: Swirad Zuzanna M. , Rosser Nick J. , Brain Matthew J.
Published: January 2019

Shore platforms control wave energy transformation which, in turn, controls energy delivery to the cliff toe and nearshore sediment transport. Insight into shore platform erosion rates has conventionally been constrained at millimetre‐scales using micro‐erosion metres, and at metre‐scales using cartographic data. On apparently slowly eroding coasts, such approaches are fundamentally reliant upon long‐term observation to capture emergent erosion patterns. Where in practise timescales are short, and where change is either below the resolution or saturates the mode of measurement, the collection of data that enables the identification of the actual mechanisms of erosion is hindered.

We developed a method to monitor shore platform erosion at millimetre resolution within metre‐scale monitoring plots using Structure‐from‐Motion photogrammetry. We conducted monthly surveys at 15 0.25 m2 sites distributed across the Hartle Loup platform in North Yorkshire, UK, over one year. We derived topographic data at 0.001 m resolution, retaining a vertical precision of change detection of 0.001 m. We captured a mean erosion rate of 0.528 mm yr‐1, but this varied considerably both across the platform and through the year. We characterized the volume and shape of eroded material. The detachment volume–frequency and shape distributions suggest that erosion happens primarily via removal of shale platelets. We identify that the at‐a‐point erosion rate can be predicted by the distance from the cliff and the tidal level, whereby erosion rates are higher closer to the cliff and at locations of higher tidal duration. The size of individual detachments is controlled by local micro‐topography and rock structure, whereby larger detachments are observed on more rough sections of the platform. Faster erosion rates and larger detachments occur in summer months, rather than in more energetic winter conditions. These results have the potential to form the basis of improved models of how platforms erode over both short‐ and long‐timescales. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LCD: Light‐weight control model for data plane in software‐defined wireless sensor networks
Authors: Huang Meigen , Yu Bin
Published: January 2019

With the introduction of software‐defined networking (SDN) into wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to simplify network management and increase agility, software‐defined WSNs (SDWSNs) came into being. Since SDN adopts an idea of centralized control, reliable control is a necessary guarantee of its performance. However, in SDWSN, the unreliable wireless links pose a significant challenge to the reliable control of data plane. In view of this, this paper adopts the idea of separating the forwarding process of control flow and data flow and presents a light‐weight control model for data plane in SDWSN. Based on the network global view, the model constructs an independent control forwarding layer to route control flow. The light‐weight feature of this model lies in that there is no need to deploy additional control networks. Finally, we design a fast update algorithm for the control failure that may occur by searching for the replacement of neighboring control nodes and achieve efficient maintenance of the control forwarding layer. The simulation results show that the proposed model has shorter request‐response time than the original SDN‐WISE, and the impact on data plane forwarding performance is also within the acceptable range.
Juices processing characteristics of Chinese bayberry from different cultivars
Authors: Tian Jinhu , Cao Yanping , Chen Shiguo , Fang Zhongxiang , Chen Jianchu , Liu Donghong , Ye Xingqian
Published: January 2019

Fourteen cultivars of bayberry fruits were collected and used to investigate the juice processing characteristics. Results showed that bayberry juices produced from different cultivars were different in juice yield, sugar–acid ratio, phenolic compounds, and sensory quality. The highest juice yield of 84% was obtained from Zaose cultivar, and the highest total phenolic contents were observed in Lizhi juice (2243 mg/L), while Baiyangmei and Shuijing juices showed the lowest phenolic contents. Correlation analysis indicated that the sugar–acid ratio and total sugar were positively correlated with sensory preference, while titratable acidity showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05). Combined with the processing characteristics and sensory preference, Wandao and Biqi were the optimal cultivars for juice processing. The research on the processing characteristics and sensory evaluation of 14 bayberry cultivars could have provided useful information on selecting suitable bayberry cultivars for juice processing.
Purification of total flavonoids from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae through cyclodextrin‐assisted extraction and resin adsorption
Authors: Zhang Li , Zheng Dan , Zhang Qing‐Feng
Published: January 2019

Flavonoids are the main bioactive components responded for the health promoting effects of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG), an herbal material used in many functional food of China. An eco‐friendly method with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)‐assisted extraction and resin adsorption/desorption was developed for total flavonoids purification from RSG. Because of complexes formation between flavonoids and β‐CD, aqueous solution was used for extraction instead of ethanol. The CD‐assisted extraction was optimized through defining optimal CD species, concentration, extraction temperature, and time. The adsorption property of eight macroporous resins on astilbin was compared by adsorption kinetics and capacity. All resins could reach the adsorption equilibrium within 2 hr. Further analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich models, H103 resin with the best adsorption capacity was selected. The desorption property of different ethanol–water solution was compared. Results showed that by using 75% ethanol, astilbin could be well desorbed from the resin with the recovery of 96.3%. Because of complexes formation, the presence of β‐CD would slightly decrease the adsorption rate and capacity of H103 with concentration dependent. In dynamic adsorption, decreasing the flow rate could minish the effects of β‐CD. The developed method was successfully used for total flavonoids purified from RSG. The yield of purified product was 8.78%, with astilbin and total flavonoids content of 363.8 and 505.7 mg/g, respectively. The purity was 1.74 times increased with the recovery of 94.38% compared with the extract obtained directly through 50% ethanol extraction.
The politics of zoom: Problems with downscaling climate visualizations
Authors: Schneider Birgit , Walsh Lynda
Published: January 2019

Following the mandate in the Paris Agreement for signatories to provide “climate services” to their constituents, “downscaled” climate visualizations are proliferating. But the process of downscaling climate visualizations does not neutralize the political problems with their synoptic global sources—namely, their failure to empower communities to take action and their replication of neoliberal paradigms of globalization. In this study we examine these problems as they apply to interactive climate‐visualization platforms, which allow their users to localize global climate information to support local political action. By scrutinizing the political implications of the “zoom” tool from the perspective of media studies and rhetoric, we add to perspectives of cultural cartography on the issue of scaling from our fields. Namely, we break down the cinematic trope of “zooming” to reveal how it imports the political problems of synopticism to the level of individual communities. As a potential antidote to the politics of zoom, we recommend a downscaling strategy of connectivity, which associates rather than reduces situated views of climate to global ones.
Near‐infrared spectroscopy reveals neural perception of vocal emotions in human neonates
Authors: Zhang Dandan , Chen Yu , Hou Xinlin , Wu Yan Jing
Published: January 2019

Processing affective prosody, that is the emotional tone of a speaker, is fundamental to human communication and adaptive behaviors. Previous studies have mainly focused on adults and infants; thus the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of affective prosody in newborns remain unclear. Here, we used near‐infrared spectroscopy to examine the ability of 0‐to‐4‐day‐old neonates to discriminate emotions conveyed by speech prosody in their maternal language and a foreign language. Happy, fearful, and angry prosodies enhanced neural activation in the right superior temporal gyrus relative to neutral prosody in the maternal but not the foreign language. Happy prosody elicited greater activation than negative prosody in the left superior frontal gyrus and the left angular gyrus, regions that have not been associated with affective prosody processing in infants or adults. These findings suggest that sensitivity to affective prosody is formed through prenatal exposure to vocal stimuli of the maternal language. Furthermore, the sensitive neural correlates appeared more distributed in neonates than infants, indicating a high‐level of neural specialization between the neonatal stage and early infancy. Finally, neonates showed preferential neural responses to positive over negative prosody, which is contrary to the “negativity bias” phenomenon established in adult and infant studies.
Private but not social information validity modulates social conformity bias
Authors: Li Li , Li King King , Li Jian
Published: January 2019

It is well established that human behaviors are susceptible to others' opinions. However, optimal decision theory mandates choices be made upon the estimated validities of different information sources and little is known about whether and how people could wean themselves off social conformity bias, especially when the social signals are uninformative. Here, we asked subjects to participate in a probabilistic urn guessing task based on their private information as well as observed choices from their partners. Specifically, we manipulated the information validity of these two sources such that only the private evidence was informative. Across trials, social conformity declined, manifested by the increased influence of the private evidence but steady effect of social information. Correspondingly, we found dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) was involved in detecting the conflict of private and social information and conforming to social signal whereas striatum was responsible for selectively updating the influence of private (but not social) evidence contingent on its inferred validity. Furthermore, functional coupling between striatum and dmPFC predicted the resistance toward the influence of social information. Together, these results may provide a mechanistic account of how the conformity bias toward uninformative social information can be remedied.
The impact of integration on outpatient chemotherapy use and spending in Medicare
Authors: Jung Jeah , Feldman Roger , Kalidindi Yamini
Published: January 2019

Hospital–physician integration has substantially grown in the United States for the past decade, particularly in certain medical specialties, such as oncology. Yet evidence is scarce on the relation between integration and outpatient specialty care use and spending. We analyzed the impact of oncologist integration on outpatient provider‐administered chemotherapy use and spending in Medicare, where prices do not depend on providers' integration status or negotiating power. We addressed oncologists' selective integration and patients' nonrandom choice of oncologists using an instrumental variables method. We found that integrated oncologists reduced the quantity of outpatient chemotherapy drugs but used more expensive treatments. This led to an increase in chemotherapy‐drug spending after integration. These findings suggest that changes in treatment patterns—treatment mix and quantity—may be an important mechanism by which integration increases spending. We also found that integration increased spending on chemotherapy administration (the act of injection). This is because integration shifted billing of chemotherapy to hospital outpatient departments, where Medicare payments for chemotherapy administration are higher than those in physician offices. As integration increases, efforts should continue to assess how integration influences patient care and explore policy options to ensure desirable outcomes from integration.
Keratin 23 Is a Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor Alpha–Dependent, MYC‐Amplified Oncogene That Promotes Hepatocyte Proliferation
Authors: Kim Donghwan , Brocker Chad N. , Takahashi Shogo , Yagai Tomoki , Kim Taehyeong , Xie Guomin , Wang Hua , Qu Aijuan , Gonzalez Frank J.
Published: January 2019

Chronic activation of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor alpha (PPARA) promotes MYC‐linked hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mice. Recent studies have shown that MYC can function as an amplifier of transcription where MYC does not act as an “on‐off” switch for gene expression but rather accelerates transcription rates at active promoters by stimulating transcript elongation. Considering the possibility that MYC may amplify the expression of PPARA target genes to potentiate cell proliferation and liver cancer, gene expression was analyzed from livers of wild‐type and liver‐specific Myc knockout (Myc
ΔHep) mice treated with the PPARA agonist pirinixic acid. A subset of PPARA target genes was amplified in the presence of MYC, including keratin 23 (Krt23). The induction of Krt23 was significantly attenuated in Myc
ΔHep mice and completely abolished in Ppara‐null mice. Reporter gene assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed direct binding of both PPARA and MYC to sites within the Krt23 promoter. Forced expression of KRT23 in primary hepatocytes induced cell cycle–related genes. These data indicate that PPARA activation elevates MYC expression, which in turn potentiates the expression of select PPARA target genes involved in cell proliferation. Finally, KRT23 protein is highly elevated in human HCCs. Conclusion: These results revealed that MYC‐mediated transcriptional potentiation of select PPARA target genes, such as Krt23, may remove rate‐limiting constraints on hepatocyte growth and proliferation leading to liver cancer.
Inspirational leadership, positive mood, and team innovation: A moderated mediation investigation into the pivotal role of professional salience
Authors: Mitchell Rebecca , Boyle Brendan
Published: January 2019

Multidisciplinary teams are increasingly advocated for in healthcare policy consequent to their capacity to develop innovative solutions to seemingly intractable service and care challenges. Recent arguments that inspirational leadership styles may foster innovation in multidisciplinary teams point to their potential value in this effort. However, inconsistency in the capacity of such leaders to engender innovation highlights the need to understand the mechanisms and boundary conditions that determine when such leadership generates positive effects. We argue that follower positive mood acts to mediate the path between inspirational leadership and innovation and may account for its variable effects. By increasing positive team mood, inspirational leaders can potentially bring about more flexible thinking and enhance innovation but can also increase reliance on less effortful information processing, undermining innovative potential. In an effort to address the dilemma posed by these contrasting effects, we propose that professional salience acts as an important boundary condition of this relationship such that only when profession is salient do inspirational leaders enhance multidisciplinary team innovation through positive mood. An analysis of survey data from 60 UK‐based multidisciplinary healthcare teams, investigating the inspirational leadership of practice‐based innovation, supports our moderated mediation model. Finally, the implications for HRM are considered, specifically for leader development and work team design.
Effective efficiency and power density analysis for WiDE as a fuel in diesel engine performance
Authors: Rai Ranjeet Kumar , Sahoo Rashmi Rekha
Published: January 2019

A comparative theoretical performance analysis for diesel, 5% water in diesel emulsion (WiDE), and 10% WiDE as fuels in a single‐cylinder diesel engine is presented here. Variations in engine performance parameters such as effective power density (EPD), effective power (EP), and effective efficiency (EE), along with compression ratio and equivalence ratio, have been analyzed on the basis of isobaric heat addition and isochoric heat rejection assumptions. Also, friction loss, exhaust loss, and total loss occurring in engines with the above‐mentioned fuels have been discussed. Theoretical analysis revealed that in a diesel engine with compression ratio 18, the EP and power density increased by 28.6% and 30.45%, respectively, for diesel fuel compared with 10% WiDE fuel. The optimum cycle temperature ratio, EP, and power density were obtained with an equivalence ratio of 1.2 and the optimum EE with an equivalence ratio of 0.89 for diesel, 5% WiDE, and 10% WiDE fuels. However, the maximum exhaust loss and the minimum incomplete combustion losses were obtained with an equivalence ratio of 1.2 and 0.8, respectively. At an equivalence ratio of 1.2, diesel fuel had a higher exhaust loss of 9.25% and 27.21% and heat loss of 5.39% and 11.8%, respectively, compared with 5% WiDE and 10% WiDE fuels. Thus, the fuel consumption rate with diesel as fuel was higher, followed by 5% WiDE and 10% WiDE fuels for diesel engine performance.
Human papillomavirus and p16 immunostaining, prevalence and prognosis of squamous carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck region
Authors: Ren Jianjun , Yang Wen , Su Jie , Ren Xue , Fazelzad Rouhi , Albert Tiong , Habbous Steven , Goldstein David P , de Almeida John R. , Hansen Aaron , Jang Raymond , Bratman Scott V. , Hope Andrew , Chen Ruiqi , Wang Jing , Xu Yang , Cheng Danni , Zhao Yu , Xu Wei , Liu Geoffrey
Published: January 2019

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck (SCCUPHN), and prognosis by HPV status of SCCUPHN patients has been difficult to estimate because of the rarity of this subtype. In MEDLINE, Epub Ahead of Print, In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Web of Science searches, observational studies and clinical trials that reported survival rates of patients with SCCUPHN by HPV status were identified. Meta‐analysis estimated the prevalence and prognosis (overall survival, OS; progression‐free survival, PFS) of SCCUPHN by HPV status, and compared them to studies of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) from the same institutions and across continents. In 17 SCCUPHN studies (n = 1,149) and 17 institution‐matched OPSCC studies (n = 6,522), the pooled HPV prevalence of SCCUPHN was 49%, which was only 10% (95%CI: 1–19%) lower than OPSCC prevalence in the underlying population. Estimated 5‐year OS for HPV‐negative SCCUPHN was 44% (95%CI: 36–51%) vs. HPV‐positive SCCUPHN of 91% (95%CI: 86–96%); hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 3.25 (95%CI: 2.45–4.31) and PFS was 4.49 (95%CI: 2.88–7.02). HRs by HPV status for OPSCC were similar to that in SCCUPHN. While North American SCCUPHNs had higher HPV prevalence than European SCCUPHNs (OR = 2.68 (95%CI: 1.3–5.6)), HR of OS for HPV‐negative vs. HPV‐positive patients were similar in both continents (HRs of 3.78–4.09). Prevalence of HPV among SCCUPHN patients were lower than in OPSCC. The survival benefit conferred by being HPV‐positive was similar in SCCUPHN as in OPSCCs, independent of continent.
X chromosome‐linked long noncoding RNA lnc‐XLEC1 regulates c‐Myc‐dependent cell growth by collaborating with MBP‐1 in endometrial cancer
Authors: Li Fang , Li Hua , Zhang Liyuan , Li Wei , Deng Jieqiong , An Mingxing , Wu Siqi , Lu Xiaoxiao , Ma Rui , Wang Yirong , Guo Binbin , Lu Jiachun , Zhou Yifeng
Published: January 2019

LncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) are noncoding transcripts that are more than 200 nt long and have been described as the largest subclass in the noncoding transcriptome in humans. Although studies of lncRNAs in cancer have been continuing for a long time, no much has been known about X chromosome‐linked lncRNAs. Here, by using RNA‐seq we report the identification of a new X chromosome‐linked lncRNA (lnc‐XLEC1) that is aberrantly downregulated during the development of endometrial carcinoma (EC). The overexpression of lnc‐XLEC1 reduces the migration and proliferation of EC cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that lnc‐XLEC1 overexpression resulted in a substantial accumulation of EC cells in the G1 phase. In addition, lnc‐XLEC1 had inhibitive effects that may result from its collaboration with MBP‐1 during the suppression of the c‐Myc expression and the negative regulating of the Cdk/Rb/E2F pathway. The anti‐tumor effects of lnc‐XLEC1 on EC progression suggest that lnc‐XLEC1 has some potential value in anti‐carcinoma therapies and deserves further investigation. Our study reported for the first time that the lnc‐XLEC1 might be related to the incidence and prognosis of EC. Moreover, we discovered that this process might be related to somatic X dosage compensation and skewed X chromosome inactivation (SXCI).
Predictive factors of recurrence in patients with early‐stage epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Ditto Antonino , Leone Roberti Maggiore Umberto , Bogani Giorgio , Martinelli Fabio , Chiappa Valentina , Evangelista Maria Teresa , Liberale Viola , Ferrero Simone , Raspagliesi Francesco
Published: January 2019

Objective

To identify predictive factors of recurrence and survival in patients with early‐stage epithelial ovarian cancer (eEOC).

Methods

We retrospectively searched the medical records of all women undergoing optimal surgical staging for eEOC (stage I–II) at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy, between January 1, 1974, and December 31, 2014.

Results

During the study period, 429 patients underwent primary surgery followed by either adjuvant chemotherapy or observation alone for apparent eEOC. In multivariable analysis, International Federation for Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage greater than 1 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.49, 95% CI 1.24–4.99) was the only prognostic factor for lower disease‐free survival. Multivariate analysis showed that age at diagnosis (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.14–2.47) and stage (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.01–6.39) were independent predictive factors for poorer overall survival (OS).

Conclusions

FIGO stage is the most important prognostic factor for recurrence and survival in patients with eEOC. Furthermore, age at diagnosis was identified as a factor that negatively influenced OS. Our data for oncologic outcomes are similar to those reported in previous studies.