bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium: A novel and efficient inducer of differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells into neuron‐like cells
Authors: Goudarzi Farjam , Tayebinia Heidar , Karimi Jamshid , Habibitabar Elahe , Khodadadi Iraj
Published: June 2018

This study comparatively investigated the effectiveness of calcium and other well‐known inducers such as isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and insulin in differentiating human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) into neuronal‐like cells. ADSCs were immunophenotyped and differentiated into neuron‐like cells with different combinations of calcium, IBMX, and insulin. Calcium mobilization across the membrane was determined. Differentiated cells were characterized by cell cycle profiling, staining of Nissl bodies, detecting the gene expression level of markers such as neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), doublecortin, synapsin I, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and myelin basic protein (MBP) by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and protein level by the immunofluorescence technique. Treatment with Ca + IBMX + Ins induced neuronal appearance and projection of neurite‐like processes in the cells, accompanied with inhibition of proliferation and halt in the cell cycle. A significantly higher expression of MBP, GFAP, NeuN, NSE, synapsin 1, doublecortin, and MAP2 was detected in differentiated cells, confirming the advantages of Ca + IBMX + Ins to the other combinations of inducers. Here, we showed an efficient protocol for neuronal differentiation of ADSCs, and calcium fostered differentiation by augmenting the number of neuron‐like cells and instantaneous increase in the expression of neuronal markers.
Raman spectroscopic investigation of the human liver stem cell line HepaRG
Authors: Ryabchykov Oleg , Bräutigam Katharina , Galler Kerstin , Neugebauer Ute , Mosig Alexander , Bocklitz Thomas , Popp Jürgen
Published: June 2018

In this work, Raman spectroscopic cell imaging approaches and a discrimination between HepG2, nondifferentiated hepatic stem cell line HepaRG, and differentiated hepatocyte‐like HepaRG cells are presented. Raman spectroscopic imaging was used to visualize the cell nuclei by means of false color imaging using a marker band, and a cell segmentation was performed by means of clustering. Furthermore, a 3‐class‐classification model based on the mean Raman spectra of individual cells was established for a classification between different cell types. A high average sensitivity of 96% was achieved by the applied classification model. Based on the results of clustering and classification, the main spectral contributions to different cell types and cell segments were analyzed in detail. Thereby, HepG2, nondifferentiated hepatic stem cell line HepaRG, and differentiated hepatocyte‐like HepaRG cells were Raman spectroscopically characterized and proven to be significantly different.
An adaptive denoising method for Raman spectroscopy based on lifting wavelet transform
Authors: Chen Hao , Xu Weiliang , Broderick Neil , Han Jianda
Published: June 2018

Noise, especially high‐level noise, is a severe problem in Raman spectral analysis. It smears informative Raman peaks, distorts spectral features, and therefore affects final analytical results, particularly in multivariate analysis, which is frequently used in Raman spectroscopy. This becomes even worse when it comes to optical Raman probe‐based biological applications due to limited acquisition time, laser power, and collection efficiency. Noise suppression is usually the first step in the preprocessing procedure of Raman spectral analysis. It is crucial to reduce noise effectively before performing further analysis. Discrete wavelet transform is a useful tool for noise reduction. However, it only provides limited and fixed filter banks, which may not be optimal for the data under investigation. In this paper, a novel adaptive denoising method based on lifting wavelet transform is presented for improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio for a Raman probe‐based system. It enables users to develop an infinite number of lifting schemes from a base wavelet, and with the help of genetic algorithm, the optimal one can be easily found. This method is examined by a set of simulated Raman spectra with various noise level and a set of experimental Raman spectra. Performance comparison with other commonly used denoising methods is made. The results indicate that the proposed method is able to remove noise effectively while retaining informative Raman peaks satisfactorily.
Production and Quantitative Analysis of Trehalose Lipid Biosurfactants Using High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Patil Harshada I. , Pratap Amit P.
Published: June 2018

Trehalose lipids (THL) are glycolipid biosurfactants having a wide range of biomedical and environmental applications. Low yield, high purification cost, and the absence of a valid analytical method hinders their application. Hence, in the present study a simple, rapid, and reliable isocratic high‐performance liquid chromatography (LC) method was developed for the identification and quantification of trehalose lipid biosurfactants from Rhodococcus erythropolis. THL having a minimum surface tension of 24 mN m−1 and a critical micellar concentration of 25 mg L−1 were produced using hexadecane as a substrate. A standard was developed from the crude THL mixture using thin‐layer chromatography and column chromatography and its structure was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and 1H NMR. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantitation was developed using a C18 column with water/acetonitrile (80:20) as the mobile phase at a 1 mL min−1 flow rate and UV detection at 208 nm. This method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. This method was found to be linear over the range 10‐50 μg m L−1 (r2 =0.99801), precise, accurate, and robust. This method can detect minimum 3.2 μg mL−1 and quantify minimum 9.2 μg mL−1 of THL. Standards were developed from R. erythropolis, broth and purified standard trehalose 6,6′‐dimycolate from Mycobacterium bovis, having the same retention time of 2.0 min. The yield was calculated from the calibration curve and was found to be 25 g L−1.
When conservation becomes dangerous: Human‐Crocodile conflict in Timor‐Leste
Authors: Brackhane Sebastian , Webb Grahame , Xavier Flaminio M.E. , Gusmao Marcal , Pechacek Peter
Published: June 2018

In northern Australia and nearby Timor‐Leste, saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) populations were seriously depleted historically but recovered rapidly after protection: 1969–1974 in northern Australia, and 2000–2005 in Timor‐Leste. In both places, recovery caused increased rates of human‐crocodile conflict (HCC). Within northern Australia, the crocodile recovery and HCC have been documented over time. In contrast, this has not been the situation in Timor‐Leste, where we investigated HCC based on 130 attack records (1996–2014; 52% fatal). In 1996–2006, 0.55 attacks/year were reported in Timor‐Leste. By 2007–2014, 9 years later, a 23‐fold increase had occurred (13 attacks/year). Traditional subsistence fishing (82.5% of all attack records) is the highest risk activity, followed by bathing (7.5%) and water collecting (4.2%). Although the human population was correlated with crocodile attacks in Timor‐Leste, it likely does not explain the dramatic increase in crocodile attacks. Alternatively, crocodile numbers may have increased, either in the remnant resident crocodile population, or via migrants from elsewhere. Permanent crocodile habitat is limited, and limited breeding does not explain the high number of large crocodiles, and consequent increase in attacks in such a short time. A plausible explanation, consistent with traditional knowledge in Timor‐Leste, is that the influx of large crocodiles attacking people are migrants from Australia. We examined this possibility from available sources. Within Australia crocodiles have recovered since protection and they regularly invade adjacent habitats, such as Darwin harbor, where they are removed to prevent attacks on people. Saltwater crocodiles have been sighted at oil rigs, in the open ocean, moving between northern Australia and the south coast of Timor‐Leste. The likelihood of crocodiles migrating from Australia to Timor‐Leste raises obvious conservation, moral, and ethical dilemmas when conserving a large dangerous predator in one country to increase abundance results in dispersal to another country, where the predator attacks and kills people. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Management by objective enhances innovation behavior: An exploratory study in global management consulting
Authors: Bruccoleri Manfredi , Riccobono Francesca
Published: June 2018

The goal of this study is to explain the complex effect of management by objective practices on employees' innovative behavior. Instead of considering individual goal orientation and/or formal creativeness‐related goal assignment (as in the recent literature), the focus of this paper is on exploring whether the official adoption of management by objective practices may foster employee innovative behavior. Basing on the results of 2 exploratory interviews with 2 senior managers of 2 global consulting companies, we build our conceptual model. We use a goal‐based view to this purpose. Then, we test the model by using data collected by surveying 80 consultants employed in 17 different management consulting companies. We find that a conscious motivational path links goal‐setting strategy to employee innovative behavior through smart goals, whereas an unconscious motivational path links leader–follower relationship quality to employee innovative behavior through an appropriate performance appraisal strategy.
Dual Electrospun Supramolecular Polymer Systems for Selective Cell Migration
Authors: Thakkar Shraddha H. , Di Luca Andrea , Zaccaria Sabrina , Baaijens Frank P. T. , Bouten Carlijn V. C. , Dankers Patricia Y. W.
Published: June 2018

Dual electrospinning can be used to make multifunctional scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications. Here, two supramolecular polymers with different material properties are electrospun simultaneously to create a multifibrous mesh. Bisurea (BU)‐based polycaprolactone, an elastomer providing strength to the mesh, and ureido‐pyrimidinone (UPy) modified poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a hydrogelator, introducing the capacity to deliver compounds upon swelling. The dual spun scaffolds are modularly tuned by mixing UPyPEG hydrogelators with different polymer lengths, to control swelling of the hydrogel fiber, while maintaining the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Stromal cell derived factor 1 alpha (SDF1α) peptides are embedded in the UPyPEG fibers. The swelling and erosion of UPyPEG increase void spaces and released the SDF1α peptide. The functionalized scaffolds demonstrate preferential lymphocyte recruitment proposed to be created by a gradient formed by the released SDF1α peptide. This delivery approach offers the potential to develop multifibrous scaffolds with various functions.
A new accelerated corrosion test for marine paint systems used for ship's topsides and superstructures
Authors: LeBozec Nathalie , Thierry Dominique , Pelissier Krystel
Published: June 2018

Several studies sponsored by the French Naval Authorities have been conducted during the last 10 years aiming to develop more reliable testing conditions than the conventional neutral salt spray test that should not be used for prediction of material performance. A satisfying correlation to atmospheric field exposure on a ship in service was observed using a 6 months cyclic test from the automotive industry (e.g., Volvo STD23‐0014) with a deviation inferior to 25% and an acceleration factor of 4. The possibility to shorten the test duration with a target of 3 months without losing correlation to field exposures is investigated in the present study. A design of experiment is used to study key parameters such as NaCl concentration, the mode of salt application and its frequency as well as the temperature. Ten different marine paint systems used for shipbuilding have been selected. The results indicate an enhancement of the aggressiveness of the test when doubling the salt concentration from 1 to 2 wt%, increasing the number of salt spray per week (from 2 to 3), and the temperature from 35 to 45 °C. The data are compared to marine field exposures in tropical and temperate climates. The most reliable testing conditions to field exposure in marine sites of severity from low C5M to CX on steel include cyclic corrosion tests using 2 wt% of NaCl.
A Review on Layered Mineral Nanosheets Intercalated with Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Polymers and Their Applications
Authors: Sangian Danial , Naficy Sina , Dehghani Fariba , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: June 2018

Materials with layered structures at the nanoscale have lately drawn significant attention from engineers and scientists in the fields of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, due to the unique characteristics that originate from their hierarchical structure. The nanosized free space between each two adjacent layers, so‐called the interlayer space, is an attractive place that can be manipulated by incorporating different molecular species to generate novel physical and mechanical behaviors. This review highlights the latest studies and new important developments on possible methods of intercalating popular species such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers into the interlayer spaces of layered materials. It also provides a description of intercalation processes as well as final applications for better understanding, as it is believed to be an effective factor in utilizing these materials in research and industry. Finally, this review gives perspectives on the future applicants of inorganic layered materials filled with polymers with different hydrophilicity properties.
First online real‐time evaluation of motion‐induced 4D dose errors during radiotherapy delivery
Authors: Ravkilde Thomas , Skouboe Simon , Hansen Rune , Worm Esben , Poulsen Per R.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

In radiotherapy, dose deficits caused by tumor motion often far outweigh the discrepancies typically allowed in plan‐specific quality assurance (QA). Yet, tumor motion is not usually included in present QA. We here present a novel method for online treatment verification by real‐time motion‐including four‐dimensional (4D) dose reconstruction and dose evaluation and demonstrate its use during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) delivery with and without MLC tracking.

Methods

Five volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were delivered with and without MLC tracking to a motion stage carrying a Delta4 dosimeter. The VMAT plans have previously been used for (nontracking) liver SBRT with intratreatment tumor motion recorded by kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (KIM). The motion stage reproduced the KIM‐measured tumor motions in three dimensions (3D) while optical monitoring guided the MLC tracking. Linac parameters and the target position were streamed to an in‐house developed software program (DoseTracker) that performed real‐time 4D dose reconstructions and 3%/3 mm γ‐evaluations of the reconstructed cumulative dose using a concurrently reconstructed planned dose without target motion as reference. Offline, the real‐time reconstructed doses and γ‐evaluations were validated against 4D dosimeter measurements performed during the experiments.

Results

In total, 181,120 dose reconstructions and 5,237 γ‐evaluations were performed online and in real time with median computation times of 30 ms and 1.2 s, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) difference between reconstructed and measured doses was −1.2% (4.9%) for transient doses and −1.5% (3.9%) for cumulative doses. The root‐mean‐square deviation between reconstructed and measured motion‐induced γ‐fail rates was 2.0%‐point. The mean (standard deviation) sensitivity and specificity of DoseTracker to predict γ‐fail rates above a given threshold was 96.8% (3.5%) and 99.2% (0.4%), respectively, for clinically relevant thresholds between 1% and 30% γ‐fail rate.

Conclusions

Real‐time delivery‐specific QA during radiotherapy of moving targets was demonstrated for the first time. It allows supervision of treatment accuracy and action on treatment discrepancy within 2 s with high sensitivity and specificity.
Cancer in the crosshairs: targeting cancer metabolism with hyperpolarized carbon‐13 MRI technology
Authors: von Morze Cornelius , Merritt Matthew E.
Published: June 2018

Magnetic resonance (MR)‐based hyperpolarized (HP) 13C metabolic imaging is under active pursuit as a new clinical diagnostic method for cancer detection, grading, and monitoring of therapeutic response. Following the tremendous success of metabolic imaging by positron emission tomography, which already plays major roles in clinical oncology, the added value of HP 13C MRI is emerging. Aberrant glycolysis and central carbon metabolism is a hallmark of many forms of cancer. The chemical transformations associated with these pathways produce metabolites ranging in general from three to six carbons, and are dependent on the redox state and energy charge of the tissue. The significant changes in chemistry associated with flux through these pathways imply that HP imaging can take advantage of the underlying chemical shift information encoded into an MR experiment to produce images of the injected substrate as well as its metabolites. However, imaging of HP metabolites poses unique constraints on pulse sequence design related to detection of X‐nuclei, decay of the HP magnetization due to T1, and the consumption of HP signal by the inspection pulses. Advancements in the field continue to depend critically on customization of MRI systems and pulse sequences for optimized detection of HP 13C signals, focused largely on extracting the maximum amount of information during the short lifetime of the HP magnetization. From a clinical perspective, the success of HP 13C MRI of cancer will largely depend upon the utility of HP pyruvate for the detection of lactate pools associated with the Warburg effect, though several other agents are also under investigation, with novel agents continually being formulated. In this review, the salient aspects of HP 13C imaging will be highlighted, with an emphasis on both technological challenges and the biochemical aspects of HP experimental design.
Dietary Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols (FODMAPs) and Gastrointestinal Disease
Authors: Vakil Nimish
Published: June 2018

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Dietary modification of FODMAPs has been shown to have significant effects on the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract and improves symptoms of abdominal pain, distention, and bloating in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Structured withdrawal and reintroduction of FODMAPs supervised by a dietitian is the optimal practice for dietary FODMAP modification in irritable bowel syndrome. FODMAPs are present in enteral feeding formulas and may have a role in diarrhea and bloating in tube‐fed patients. Emerging areas of research include the effects of dietary modification of FODMAPs on the microbiome, micronutrient absorption, and caloric intake. FODMAP dietary modification is an emerging area in other gastrointestinal disorders and is of relevance to all practicing dietitians.
Association Between Standardized Phase Angle, Nutrition Status, and Clinical Outcomes in Surgical Cancer Patients
Authors: Pena Natália F. , Mauricio Sílvia F. , Rodrigues Ana M.S. , Carmo Ariene S. , Coury Nayara C. , Correia Maria I.T.D. , Generoso Simone V.
Published: June 2018

Background

Different nutrition assessment tools in surgical cancer patients are used in clinical practice, which results in different prevalence rates of malnutrition. This may impact the interpretation of the association between nutrition status and clinical outcomes. Reduced standardized phase angle (SPA) values are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cancer. Thus, it is important to assess the association of SPA with nutrition status and relate it to postoperative clinical outcomes.

Methods

This prospective observational study included 121 surgical cancer patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, subjective global assessment (SGA), anthropometric measurements, and assessment of muscle strength were used to provide nutrition diagnosis 1 day before surgery. The patients were followed for infectious and noninfectious postoperative complications from the first day after the operation until discharge or death.

Results

The prevalence of malnutrition was higher according to SGA (63.6%). Patients with an SPA < −1.65 had a greater chance of being diagnosed as malnourished according to the SGA (3.66 [1.35–9.90]), midarm circumference (OR 4.24; CI95%; 1.72–10.43), midarm muscle area (OR 4.38; CI95%; 1.68–11.42), and low handgrip strength (3.84 [1.31–11.25]). Patients with an SPA < −1.65 presented with more infectious complications (OR 4.19; CI95%; 1.52–11.53), but there was no association between SPA and other outcomes or death. SPA was the only significant predictor of infectious complications (AUC, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.51–0.71).

Conclusion

SPA was associated with different nutrition status parameters, and it was able to predict postoperative infectious complications.
An implicit discontinuous Galerkin finite element framework for modeling fracture failure of ductile materials undergoing finite plastic deformation
Authors: Liu Ruijie , Liu Zhijun
Published: June 2018

It is a challenge to achieve a complete simulation of fracture failure in ductile materials undergoing large plastic deformation within implicit finite element frameworks due to instability issues. Currently, traditional nodal force or crack surface traction release methods target the direct release of tractions on cracked surfaces within the current time/load step. An abrupt change from a system without cracks to another system with cracks may contribute to the instability issues. Specifically, because of broken meshes, discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods have an advantage over traditional continuous elements in naturally accommodating crack openings along DG interfaces across elements. To improve the convergence in nonlinear iterations during crack openings, we propose a relaxation scheme for DG formulations to gradually recover the traction‐free condition on cracked surfaces. Furthermore, this DG‐based relaxation scheme for crack openings in finite plastic media has been consistently formulated within the incomplete interior penalty DG framework. Finally, we have demonstrated a good performance of the proposed implicit DG formulation along with the DG relaxation scheme by successfully solving a nuclear fuel rod structural failure problem with multiple hydride crack openings and the Sandia Fracture Challenge benchmark.
Cleaving paraoxon with hydroxylamine: Ammonium oxide isomer favors a Frontside attack mechanism
Authors: Lima Marcelo F. , da Cruz Priscilla Amanda Urbano , Fernandes Maria Eduarda Camilo , Polaquini Carlos , Miguel Elizabeth L. M. , Pliego Josefredo R. , Scorsin Leandro , Oliveira Bruno Surdi , Nome Faruk
Published: June 2018

A detailed molecular understanding of the mechanisms of the dephosphorylation of phosphate triesters due to nucleophilic attack can be very useful for the design of nucleophiles that are more efficient. In this work, we report a combined experimental and theoretical study of the reaction of hydroxylamine with paraoxon. The profile of the reaction rate according to pH was determined, and it was found that protonated hydroxylamine was unreactive, while the neutral form reacted via the zwitterion tautomer, with an overall free energy barrier of 23.0 kcal mol‐1. The anionic form was the most reactive, with a free energy barrier of 18.1 kcal mol‐1. Computational calculations revealed 2 mechanisms for the nucleophilic attack of the zwitterion form: the usual backside attack and a new frontside attack mechanism. The former proceeded according to a 2‐step associative mechanism, while the latter was a concerted single‐step mechanism involving attack of the hydroxylamine oxygen on the phosphorus center and interaction of the NH3+ group with the oxygen of the P═O group. The calculations indicated that the free energy barrier for the frontside attack was more favorable than the backside attack by 3 kcal mol‐1, supporting the notion that the observed reaction occurs by frontside attack. The reaction with the anionic hydroxylamine form occurred according to a single‐step concerted ANDN mechanism.
Understanding the Implications of a Punitive Approach to Homelessness: A Local Case Study
Authors: Wilking Jennifer , Roll Susan , Philhour David , Hansen Peter , Nevarez Holly
Published: June 2018

Cities large and small are increasingly using public safety policies to address local concerns about homelessness. In 2013, Chico, California, followed suit by passing several ordinances, most notably, a “sit‐lie” ordinance that prohibits individuals from sitting or lying in commercial districts and other public spaces. Broadly, this article explores the implications of this punitive approach to homelessness. Specifically, relying primarily upon arrest data extending over six and a half years, we explore how enforcement of the sit‐lie ordinance affected arrest rates of homeless individuals, as well as the geographic location of those arrests. Our expectations are supported—arrests of homeless individuals increased significantly in the “post sit‐lie” period, and the location of arrests clearly shifted away from the downtown area. Finally, given economic motivations of the ordinances, we estimate the costs to city law enforcement of policing the homeless population and find that costs are nearly twice as large as police department estimates.
Quantification and Scientism in Political Science: Domination of Discourse by Experts Presenting Mathematical Models of Reality
Authors: Kingsley David
Published: June 2018

Mathematization has become increasingly dominant in the social sciences. Political science research reflects this trend. Unfortunately, complex mathematical models do not reflect reality and have little relevance to public political discourse. Indeed, much of the quantification in political science research is fraught with fallacies, not the least of which are reification and scientism. Even simple statistical models such as crosstabs and simple tests such as Pearson's‐chi square are fallacious but not well understood by the less mathematically oriented social scientist. In addition to discussing the main problems of quantification, the author illustrates an egregious misuse of statistics by prominent social scientists relying on quantitative studies pertaining to criminal behavior.
Is Political Science Relevant? The Decline of Critical Scholarly Engagement in the Neoliberal Era
Authors: DiMaggio Anthony
Published: June 2018

This essay relies on a participant‐observation method, among other approaches, to analyze structural and professional changes in Political Science over the last few decades. I document the rise of neoliberalism in Political Science via 6 major changes to the discipline, including: the rise of scholarly “objectivity” as a means of deterring critical analysis, the decline of public intellectualism and publicly accessible studies, the marginalization of practically relevant research, the decline of methodological pluralism and the rise of methodological fetishism, the aversion to political philosophy and political theory, and the devaluation of teaching in favor of research. Proposals are provided for potential reforms to the discipline, for those interested in revitalizing the field and making it more practically relevant to politics and to the general public.
Advancing Toward Science: Retreating From Responsibility?
Authors: Skidmore Max J.
Published: June 2018

Political scientists currently devote considerable effort to forecasting, but when it comes to policy, they rarely deal with content as opposed to efficacy, efficiency, or cost‐effectiveness. Similarly, they hardly ever consider “speaking truth to power” to be their obligation. This article suggests that policy and ethics would benefit if political scientists, like economists, would utilize their skills to do so. Caution, though, is necessary.
Child Support and Income Inequality
Authors: Ha Yoonsook , Cancian Maria , Meyer Daniel R.
Published: June 2018

Child support contributes to many custodial‐mother families’ income, yet there are persistent concerns that many noncustodial fathers have low‐wage, unstable jobs that limit their ability to pay child support. Thus, child support may exacerbate inequality—that is, it may transfer resources from a low‐income noncustodial father to a custodial‐mother family that is already better off. These arguments, however, are generally made without reference to couple‐level data. This study uses multiple sources of Wisconsin administrative data to construct measures of income, including earnings, public transfers, and tax liabilities and benefits, on matched pairs of custodial and noncustodial parents and provides evidence on the role of child support in equalizing income between them. Findings show that for divorced couples, fathers are substantially better off than custodial mothers in pre‐tax/transfer income. Taxes and transfers reduce fathers’ relative advantages, and child support equalizes incomes between fathers and mothers. For never‐married couples, fathers have a slight advantage in pre‐tax/transfer income. Fathers’ relative advantage disappears after taxes and transfers; mothers are likely to be better off when measured by post–child support income, even after adjusting for the costs of children. These findings provide contexts relevant to implementation of the new federal child support regulations, finalized in 2016.
Can inflammatory markers in induced sputum be used to detect phenotypes and endotypes of pediatric severe therapy‐resistant asthma?
Authors: Eller Miriam C. N. , Vergani Karina P. , Saraiva‐Romanholo Beatriz M. , Antonangelo Leila , Leone Claudio , Rodrigues Joaquim C.
Published: June 2018

Background

The phenotypes and endotypes of severe therapy‐resistant asthma (STRA) have not been fully elucidated in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate inflammatory markers in the induced sputum of children with STRA and to compare them with those present in a group of children who achieved control.

Methods

A prospective cohort of children (6‐18 years of age) diagnosed with severe asthma (GINA criteria) who had undergone treatment for at least 6 months was comprehensively followed for 3 months. Inhalation technique, adherence to treatment, ACT score, and main comorbidities were assessed. Induced sputum samples were collected for cytology analysis and quantitative assessment of cytokines; the participants also underwent spirometry, plethysmography, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement.

Results

Forty patients were included (average age 12.8 years; 62.5% male); of these, 13 (32.5%) were classified as STRA at the end of follow‐up. There were no significant differences between the STRA and control groups in demographic data, functional test results, or FeNO levels. The eosinophilic inflammatory pattern predominated in both groups; however, the STRA group showed a proportionally higher percentage of sputum neutrophils (P < 0.05). The median sputum levels of the cytokines IL‐10, GM‐CSF, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α were significantly higher in the STRA group (P < 0.05). GM‐CSF and TNF‐α levels showed inverse correlations with ACT scores.

Conclusion

The presence of neutrophils, the cytokines IL‐10, and IFN‐γ and, more particularly, TNF‐α, and GM‐CSF in the sputum may play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of STRA in children and adolescents. Specific antagonists for these cytokines may represent a future therapeutic strategy.
Influences of disulfide connectivity on structure and antimicrobial activity of tachyplesin I
Authors: Shi Juan , So Lok‐Yan , Chen Fangling , Liang Jiazhen , Chow Ho‐Yin , Wong Kwok‐Yin , Wan Shengbiao , Jiang Tao , Yu Rilei
Published: June 2018

Tachyplesin I is a potent antimicrobial peptide with broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It has 2 disulfide bonds and can form 3 disulfide bond isomers. In this study, the structure and antimicrobial activity of 3 tachyplesin I isomers (tachyplesin I, 3C12C, 3C7C) were investigated using molecular dynamic simulations, circular dichroism structural study, as well as antimicrobial activity and hemolysis assay. Our results suggest that in comparison to the native peptide, the 2 isomers (3C12C, 3C7C) have substantial structural and activity variations. The native peptide is in the ribbon conformation, while 3C12C and 3C7C possess remarkably different secondary structures, which are referred as “globular” and “beads” isomers, respectively. The substantially decreased hemolysis effects for these 2 isomers is accompanied by significantly decreased anti‐gram‐positive bacterial activity.
Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of the PbZrO3‐PbTiO3‐Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ternary Solid Solution System Around the Morphotropic Phase Boundary
Authors: Liu Zenghui , Gao Pan , Wu Hua , Ren Wei , Ye Zuo‐Guang
Published: June 2018

PbZrO3‐PbTiO3‐Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 ternary solid solution system with various compositions is synthesized in the form of ceramics by solid‐state reaction method. Their crystal structure and electric properties are investigated by X‐ray diffraction, dielectric spectroscopy, ferroelectric and piezoelectric measurements. Studies are mainly focused on two series of compounds 0.95[(1−x)PbZrO3‐xPbTiO3]‐0.05Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 and 0.90[(1−x)PbZrO3‐xPbTiO3]‐0.10Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3, which have their compositions across the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). It is found that the addition of Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 broadens the MPB region of the well‐known lead zirconate titanate (PZT) binary system and leads to a gradually curved MPB line in the pseudobinary phase diagram and a gradually decreased Curie temperature in these two systems. Enhanced remnant polarization, coercive field, and electromechanical properties are found in the ternary solid solution system compared with pure PZT ceramics.
Dirac Nodes and Magnetic Order in M2X2 Transition‐Metal Chalcogenides
Authors: La Martina Thomas , Zhu Jian‐Xin , Balatsky Alexander V. , Haraldsen Jason T.
Published: June 2018

In this study, we perform a computational analysis of the M2X2 transition‐metal chalcogenides (TMCs). Using density functional theory with a spin‐polarized generalized gradient approximation, we examine the magnetic and electronic properties for the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states with M = Cr, Mn, and Fe and X = S and Se. After optimizing the geometric structure for stability, we examine the spin‐polarized electronic structure, density of states, and Mulliken population. It is discovered that these materials are quasi‐two‐dimensional honeycomb lattices with metallic antiferromagnetic ground states. The structures consist of a distorted tetrahedral crystal‐field symmetry that has a distinct magnetic moment. An analysis of the electronic structure shows the presence of nodal points that resemble Dirac nodes for all cases, which leads to the possibility of the realization of magnetic Dirac materials.
Turning strategic network resources into performance: The mediating role of network identity of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Partanen Jukka , Kauppila Olli‐Pekka , Sepulveda Fabian , Gabrielsson Mika
Published: June 2018

Research Summary: This article examines the relationship between strategic network resources; the network identity (i.e., the self‐perceived attractiveness as a partner based on the firm's existing and prior relationships); and firm performance among established small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). We test our hypotheses within the sample of 199 internationalized SMEs in Finland. We contribute to the discussion on the performance effects of network resources among small firms by demonstrating that: (a) networks can become a source of strategic resources for SMEs, which enhance firm performance; and (b) such concrete strategic resource exchange builds evidence‐based identity, which helps entice and convince customers and other partners to invest in the collaboration so that strategic resources can be transferred to sustain firm performance beyond the early stages.

Managerial Summary: The purpose of this article is to investigate how an SME's strategic collaboration and its attractiveness as a partner enhance firm performance. The key message for practitioners is twofold. First, the conventional view suggests that strategic resources should be kept in‐house and that too much dependency on partners may lead to a vulnerable power position. Yet, we demonstrate that SMEs can also enhance their performance by acquiring strategic resources from their partners. Second, while weak affiliations with prestigious partners may help build credibility in the early stages of firm development, it is the strategic collaboration and concrete resource exchange that seem to attract other customers and business partners to commit to, and invest in, the collaboration which, in turn, enhances performance beyond the early stages.
A unified genetic association test robust to latent population structure for a count phenotype
Authors: Song Minsun
Published: June 2018

Confounding caused by latent population structure in genome‐wide association studies has been a big concern despite the success of genome‐wide association studies at identifying genetic variants associated with complex diseases. In particular, because of the growing interest in association mapping using count phenotype data, it would be interesting to develop a testing framework for genetic associations that is immune to population structure when phenotype data consist of count measurements. Here, I propose a solution for testing associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and a count phenotype in the presence of an arbitrary population structure. I consider a classical range of models for count phenotype data. Under these models, a unified test for genetic associations that protects against confounding was derived. An algorithm was developed to efficiently estimate the parameters that are required to fit the proposed model. I illustrate the proposed approach using simulation studies and an empirical study. Both simulated and real‐data examples suggest that the proposed method successfully corrects population structure.
Flexible and Free‐standing PtNLs‐MoS2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Paper: A High‐Performance Rolled Paper Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Topçu Ezgi , Kıranşan Kader Dağcı
Published: June 2018

A flexible Platinum Nanoleaves (PtNLs) deposited molybdenum disulfide/reduced graphene oxide composite paper was successfully prepared for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Synthesis of composite paper was achieved through vacuum filtration of homogeneous dispersions, consisting of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and graphene oxide (GO). After chemical reduction of MoS2/GO paper with HI, it transformed to MoS2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) paper and used as the working electrode in a three‐electrode cell to deposit PtNLs by electroreduction method. The as‐prepared PtNLs‐MoS2/rGO paper was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. When PtNLs‐MoS2/rGO paper rolled up, it can be used directly as a catalyst with the enhanced surface area in a small space and exhibit high‐performance HER activity with a small onset overpotential of 62 mV and a low Tafel slope of 60 mV/dec as well as excellent electrocatalytic stability. The present work provides a potential way to design catalyst for HER through controlling the shape.
Iodotriflamdation vs. Electrophilic Aromatic Iodination in the Reaction of N‐Phenyltriflamide with Alkenes
Authors: Astakhova Vera V. , Moskalik Mikhail Yu. , Ganin Anton S. , Sterkhova Irina V. , Shainyan Bagrat A.
Published: June 2018

Reaction of N‐phenyltriflamide with styrene, p‐chlorostyrene, vinylcyclohexane and α‐methylstyrene in oxidative system (t‐BuOCl + NaI) gives three types of products: (i) of aromatic iodination of the reagent – N‐(4‐iodophenyl)triflamide and N‐(2,4‐diiodophenyl)triflamide; (ii) of oxidative addition of the iodinated reagent to the substrate with different regioselectivity – N‐[2‐iodo‐1‐(aryl)ethyl]‐N‐(4‐iodophenyl)triflamides or N‐(2‐cyclohexyl‐2‐iodoethyl)‐N‐(4‐iodophenyl)triflamide; (iii) of chloro(oxy)iodination of the substrate – 2‐iodo‐1‐phenylethanol, 1‐chloro‐4‐(1‐chloro‐2‐iodoethyl)benzene, 1‐cyclohexyl‐2‐iodoethanol and 1‐iodo‐2‐phenylpropan‐2‐ol. Different regioselectivity of iodosulfonamidation for different alkenes and the competition between electrophilic aromatic iodination and iodotriflamidation are explained and the mechanism is proposed based on the results of quantum chemical calculations and the NBO analysis.
Concrete screws in contact with reinforcement
Authors: Zeman Oliver , Maierhofer Florian , Schwenn Michael , Bergmeister Konrad
Published: June 2018

Concrete screws have become increasingly significant in recent years as a result of their availability on the market and their easy application. Still, the influence of reinforcement on deterioration and load‐bearing behavior of concrete screws is an open question. Different tests series with concrete screws in concrete C20/25 were performed to evaluate the influence of the reinforcement on damage grade and bearing capacity. These tests were carried out in full contact with reinforcement, nearby reinforcement, non‐influenced by reinforcement and as setting tests with following pull‐out tests. These tests in uncracked concrete show that a damage is only influenced by the pull‐out load on the screw threads and not by the reinforcement itself. Due to the fact that the load transfer zone of concrete screws is similar to the embedment depth, it was investigated, if the position of the reinforcement bar influences the load‐bearing capacity of concrete screws. Tests were performed to show if the testing procedure in the test with reinforcement contact according to the corresponding European Assessment Document is the most unfavorable situation. Testing has shown that the vertical position of the reinforcement does not have an impact on the maximal load capacity in concrete, but the horizontal distance does.
Re: Perinatal outcome and placental apoptosis in patients with late‐onset pre‐eclampsia and abnormal uterine artery Doppler at diagnosis. M. Rodríguez, C. Couve‐Pérez, S. San Martín, F. Martínez, C. Lozano and A. Sepúlveda‐Martínez. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol; 2018: 51: 775–782.
Authors: Leslie K.
Published: June 2018

Linked Comment: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol; 2018: 51: 775–782
Liberated $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 supergravity
Authors: Farakos Fotis , Kehagias Alex , Riotto Antonio
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We discuss a new interaction for chiral models in four-dimensional$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 1 supergavity. It contains a new arbitrary function in addition to the Kähler potential and superpotential. Its features include linearly realized off-shell supersymmetry, Kähler-Weyl invariance and broken supersymmetry. The corresponding scalar potential is augmented by the arbitrary function which allows freedom in constructing low-energy phenomenological models and inflationary models rooted in supergravity.
Correlation functions in the D1-D5 orbifold CFT
Authors: i Tormo Joan Garcia , Taylor Marika
Published: June 2018

Abstract

The D1-D5 system has an orbifold point in its moduli space, at which it may be described by an

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (4,4) supersymmetric sigma model with target space M

N

/S(N) where M is

$$ {\mathbb{T}}^4 $$

T
4

or K3. In this paper we consider correlation functions involving chiral operators constructed from twist fields: we find explicit expressions for processes involving a twist n operator joining n twist operators of arbitrary twist. These expressions are universal, in that they are independent of the choice of M , and the final results can be expressed in a compact form. We explain how these results are relevant to the black hole microstate programme: one point functions of chiral operators can be used to reconstruct AdS3 near horizon regions of D1-D5 microstates and to match microstates constructed in supergravity with the CFT.
Mass-improvement of the vector current in three-flavor QCD
Authors: Fritzsch P.
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We determine two improvement coefficients which are relevant to cancel mass-dependent cutoff effects in correlation functions with operator insertions of the non-singlet local QCD vector current. This determination is based on degenerate three-flavor QCD simulations of non-perturbatively O(a) improved Wilson fermions with tree-level improved gauge action. Employing a very robust strategy that has been pioneered in the quenched approximation leads to an accurate estimate of a counterterm cancelling dynamical quark cutoff effects linear in the trace of the quark mass matrix. To our knowledge this is the first time that such an effect has been determined systematically with large significance.
Two-loop renormalization of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts in $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ supersymmetric gauge theories regularized by higher derivatives
Authors: Kazantsev A. E. , Kuzmichev M. D. , Meshcheriakov N. P. , Novgorodtsev S. V. , Shirokov I. E. , Skoptsov M. B. , Stepanyantz K. V.
Published: June 2018

Abstract

For the general renormalizable

$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$

N
=
1

supersymmetric gauge theory we investigate renormalization of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts using the higher covariant derivative regularization. First, we find the two-loop anomalous dimension defined in terms of the bare coupling constant in the general ξ-gauge. It is demonstrated that for doing this calculation one should take into account that the quantum gauge superfield is renormalized in a nonlinear way. Next, we obtain the two-loop anomalous dimension of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts defined in terms of the renormalized coupling constant and examine its dependence on the subtraction scheme.
Camel Bites: A Case Study with a Summary of Current Epidemiology, Injury Patterns, and Treatment Modalities
Authors: Calleo Vincent J. , Curtin Patrick O. , Biondich Amy S.
Published: June 2018

Animal bites are a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, the majority of animal bites come from domestic pets, including dogs, cats, and rodents. Camel bites, on the other hand, are exceedingly rare in the United States and are poorly described in the western medical literature. Special considerations must be made when camel bite injuries occur, as they may be therapeutically challenging. Although some clinical features of camel bites resemble those of the more common animal bite injuries, the camel’s unique dentition and bite force must be taken into account when managing these wounds.
Robust, gas-lubricated mechanical seal for processing natural gas
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: June 2018

Mechanical sealing technology developed by EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG is playing a vital role at a natural gas processing plant in Queensland, Australia, as this brief article reveals.
Collaboration improves reliability of high-voltage ESPs
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: June 2018

As reported in the April 2018 issue of Sealing Technology (page 2), Greene, Tweed & Co, a global manufacturer of high-performance seals and engineered components, has been working with AccessESP Llc to improve the reliability of high-voltage electrical submersible pumps (ESPs). Here, we take a closer look at this collaboration and the materials technology that was used.