bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ownership Structure of the Organisation as a Determinant of Human Resource Management in the Context of Transition Countries
Authors: Zolak Poljašević Branka , Ilić Gordana , Milunović Darko
Published: December 2018

Transition period of the post-socialist countries and opening of their markets have led to the positive shift in understanding the role of employees in organizations and the importance of proper management of this specific resource. An important factor in spreading modern principles of human resource management in transition countries is the arrival of foreign companies on their market. In that context, this paper focuses on the relationship between the ownership structure of the organisation and the level of development of the core activities of human resource management. The subject of the empirical research was companies which operate on the territory of the Republic of Srpska, and employ more than 200 employees. Empirical data were collected by using questionnaire, and some of them were generated from the official websites of the observed companies. Testing of hypothesis was performed with the Analysis of Variance. The research results show that in the foreign-ownedcompanies there is a statistically significant difference in the level of development ofhuman resources management, compared to the state-owned and national privatecompanies. On the other hand, among foreign-owned companies, which differ in thecountry of origin of the majority owner and the number of years in business in thedomestic (BiH/RS) market, there is no statistically significant difference in the levelof development of basic activities of human resource management.
Будућност евра и изазови за земље Западног Балкана
Authors: Дамњановић Јелена , Јовановић Мирослав
Published: December 2018

Увођење евра је слављено 1999. као један од најзначајнијих догађаја у 20. веку у историји Европе. Очекивања о бољитку била су огромна. Међутим, све је почело да се креће низбрдо у Европској унији (ЕУ) од увођења евра, прво спорије, а за тим све брже до те границе да је не само евро, већ и цела ЕУ пред распадом. Једино је Немачка имала и има користи од евра, док су остале земље ЕУ остале по страни користи које је собом донео евро. Грчка је доживела економски крах из којег неће моћи да се извуче бар за једну генерацију. Немачка је нагомилала велике вишкове у извозу, али они су такви да многи неће бити плаћени. Да ли би Немачкој било боље без таквих ненаплати-вих вишкова? Да ли је економски брак унутар еврозоне постао суморан илинеодржив? ЕУ би требало да напусти евро да спасе пројекат европске ин-теграције. Ако државе Западног Балкана наставе свој пут ка ЕУ и за топлате огроман и неповратан цех што је поготово битно за Србију, шта ћедобити за узврат? Добиће нестабилну и нефункционалну ЕУ, у којој је соли-дарност, једна од најзначајнијих вредности ЕУ, на ниским гранама. Добићеи ЕУ чија је будућност под великим знаком питања.
Регионализација Србије и ЕУ фондови
Authors: Рикаловић Гојко , Молнар Дејан , Микић Христина
Published: December 2018

Предмет рада је критичко сагледавање актуелне регионализације и институционалног оквира за вођење политике регионалног развоја у Србији у контексту придруживања Европској унији. Најпре је представљена актуелна регионализација у Србији према стандардима статистичке номенклатуре територијалних јединица за статистику (НУТС) и по методологији ЕУРОСТАТ-а. Потом се анализира институционални механизам ЕУ за вођење кохезионе политике у текућем буџетском периоду (2014-2020), као и расположивост и намена средстава из ЕУ фондова за потребе ублажавања регионалних неједнакости у земљама чланицама. У раду се истиче да је са становишта развојних потреба региона НУТС 2 нивоа у Србији можда било боље да се за територијалне јединице НУТС 3 нивоа дефинишу већа подручја (административне области) уместо актуелног решења (окрузи/области). Износе се и аргументи да у Србији тренутно не постоји одговарајућа пажња креатора економске и свеукупне политике по питању проблема регионалног развоја земље. Коришћење средстава из фондова Европске уније управо претпоставља са правилима ЕУ усклађен институционални оквир,као и одговарајуће административне капацитете за управљање помену-тим средствима. У том смислу, маргинализација ове области у јавним по-литикама у Србији свакако не доприноси значајнијем коришћењу средставаиз ЕУ фондова. У последњем делу рада су дате препоруке за вођење регионал-не политике у Србији у наредном периоду.
Fearing the Other: The Danger of a “Yellow” Invasion Between 19th and 20th century in Europe
Authors: Capristo Cinzia Vincenza
Published: December 2018

This article starts from the European misgivings, founded or not, about a foreign invasion. It underlines how this fear has always been present in the old continent and how it can be observed from a different point of view. In fact this short essay deals with the fear of “yellow people” in Europe between 1800 and 1900 and with the role played in influencing Europeans’ imaginary and fears by missionaries and war correspondents in the Far East. History that should be magistra vitae ends up being a lesson we never learn. The main events analyzed in this paper are the Boxer rebellion and the Russian-Japanese war.
Polygraph Tests - Benefits and Challenges
Authors: Babu Rajan Panthayil
Published: December 2018

This research describes the working, benefits and challengers of polygraph tests. Polygraph tests are lie-detecting devices that help ascertain individuals’ honesty based on physiological indicators. The heart rate/blood pressure, respiration, and skin responses are the three indicators measured in the test to assess honest/deceitful behavior. The underlying assumption behind the working of polygraph tests is that the autonomic responses of dishonest individuals are distinctively different from those of honest people because the liars will be more nervous than truth tellers. Control Question Test (CQT), Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT) or Concealed Information Test (CIT) and Neuroscience-Based Advanced Polygraph Tests are the important types of polygraph tests used today. Polygraph tests are used to detect truthfulness of individuals in such important fields as crime investigation departments, national security agencies, and business and industry. However, accuracy of polygraph tests and ethical issues associated with the tests are highly debated.
Gradient Elution Chromatography
Authors: Dolan John W. , Snyder Lloyd R.
Published: December 2018

Elution chromatography can be carried out in either isocratic or gradient modes. In isocratic elution, the mobile‐phase composition is held constant during separation of the sample, e.g. 60% v/v acetonitrile–water. In gradient elution, the mobile‐phase composition will be varied during sample separation, e.g. changing from 0% to 100% v/v acetonitrile–water. Gradient elution requires special chromatographic equipment, as well as somewhat greater care on the part of the operator, but it has important advantages for many separations. Thus, in isocratic elution, sample peaks tend to ‘bunch up’ at the beginning of the chromatogram (often with decreased resolution) and to broaden at the end of the chromatogram (with reduced detection sensitivity). Gradient elution, on the other hand, provides a more even spacing of peaks, similar widths throughout the chromatogram, and often a shorter run time. For these and other reasons, gradient elution is preferred for the separation of many samples.
Size‐Exclusion Chromatography Coupled with Infrared Spectroscopy, Applications of
Authors: Rickard Mark A.
Published: December 2018

The combination of size‐ and composition‐based separations with infrared (IR) spectroscopic detectors is a powerful technique that provides detailed information about the molecular structure of a polymer that is not accessible with standard detectors. Two approaches for coupling size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and liquid chromatography (LC) to IR detectors are flow cells and solvent elimination interfaces. Flow cells are straightforward to interface with separations, but they are limited by interference from the solvent. Solvent elimination interfaces are more complex than flow cells, but they remove the problem of solvent interference and, therefore, provide more structural information and higher sensitivity. In addition, they are readily compatible with gradient separations. Selected applications of flow cells and solvent elimination interfaces for polymer characterization are described.
Quantitative Glycomics by Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mechref Yehia , Peng Wenjing , Banazadeh Alireza , Huang Yifan , Zhou Shiyue , Hu Yunli , Hussein Ahmed , Tang Haixu
Published: December 2018

Glycosylation of proteins and lipids has been recently shown to play important biological roles, including cell signaling, adhesion motility, immune response, and pathogen interaction. Functions of many proteins are modulated through glycosylation. To better understand the biological attributes of glycans, reliable quantitative glycomics is needed. Several methods prompting effective monitoring of glycans in biological systems have been developed. The aim of this article is to highlight recent advancements in quantitative glycomics and the necessary bioinformatics tools.
Microrheology of Biological Specimens
Authors: Rizzi Leandro G. , Tassieri Manlio
Published: December 2018

A great number of important biological phenomena that occur in living organisms demand energy transduction processes that critically depend on the viscoelastic properties of their constituent building blocks, such as cytoplasm, microtubules, and motor proteins.

Accordingly, several techniques have been developed to characterize biological systems with complex mechanical properties at micron‐ and nano‐length scales; these are now part of an established field of study known as Microrheology.

In this article, we provide an overview of the theoretical principles underpinning the most popular experimental techniques used in such fields, including video particle tracking, dynamic light scattering, diffusing wave spectroscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers, and atomic force microscopy.

We report examples of both active and passive microrheology techniques and discuss their applications in the study of biological specimens, where the use of small volumes in controlled environments and the intrinsic heterogeneities of the samples can be critical conditions to both perform and interpret the experiments.
High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Food
Authors: García‐Reyes Juan F. , Gilbert‐López Bienvenida , Moreno‐González David , Beneito‐Cambra Miriam , Molina‐Díaz Antonio
Published: December 2018

This article addresses the use of high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in the field of pesticide testing in food. The societal interest and concerns on the presence of pesticide residues in food has triggered the interest toward the development of more comprehensive methods that enable a faster and more effective control of the chemicals. For this purpose, the introduction of HRMS in this field, first with the development of time‐of‐flight (TOF) instrumentation with enhanced quantitative capabilities along with the introduction of Orbitrap technology has opened new possibilities in the last decade, and nowadays constitute an attractive and versatile alternative to current targeted pesticide residue methods relying on liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) and gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS/MS) with triple quadrupole analyzer (QQQ).
Space‐Resolved Raman Spectroscopy Applications: From Single Cells to Tissues
Authors: Sil Sanchita , Gautam Rekha , Umapathy Siva
Published: December 2018

Raman spectroscopy provides information about the structure, functional groups, and chemical environment of the molecules present in a sample. In recent years, Raman spectroscopic techniques have been extensively used to understand fundamental biology and responses of living systems under diverse physiological and pathological conditions due to its potential to provide multicomponent (chemical) analysis without labeling. Further, Raman spectroscopy provides an upper hand in the study of biofluids in situ owing to low absorption coefficient of water in visible and near‐infrared region in contrast to mid‐infrared region. The incorporation of multivariate data analysis methods provides profound visualization of the complex multicomponent data and thus aid in effective interpretation of Raman spectra. This article reviews recent progress and advents of Raman spectroscopy‐based techniques used for biomedical diagnostics and provides an overview of applications, including biofluids, cells, tissues, and microorganism detection and classification. The spectral information gathered from ex vivo analyses on cells, tissues, and biofluids is important for the interpretation of data acquired in real matrix where it is influenced by unwanted background signals. In the first part of the review, examples on bacterial cells and tissues have been shown to highlight the potential of Raman microspectroscopy to identify and distinguish different bacteria and diseased versus normal tissues. Increased sensitivity of Raman signals have been obtained for the detection of biochemicals such as proteins using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been depicted. The second half of the article describes the potential of Raman spectroscopy as an in vivo diagnostic tool based on hand‐held fiber probes, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) and universal multiple angle Raman spectroscopy (UMARS) along with consideration of clinical translation. In this section, historical development of fiber‐optic Raman probes for biological samples have been described. We have taken specific examples from latest literatures in the field of depth profiling studies to obtain subsurface information toward biomedical diagnostics. Finally, few examples using UMARS towards deep Raman spectroscopy exceeding few tens of millimeters for 3D Raman imaging have been presented.
The Recent Development and Application of Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry in Atmospheric Chemistry
Authors: Zhao Ran
Published: December 2018

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) is a soft ionization mass spectrometric technique. Instead of electron impaction, analytes are ionized by a reagent ion via ion–molecule reactions, such as proton transfer, charge transfer, and ion–analyte cluster formation. The product ions tend to retain the mass of the analytes, making CIMS an ideal technique to provide molecular‐level chemical information. This feature of CIMS brings significant advantages to the research field of atmospheric chemistry. This article highlights the development and application of CIMS in atmospheric chemistry over the past decade, with a focus on instrumental development and underlying ion–molecule reactions of commonly employed reagent ions.
Strategies for the Analysis of Plant Lipids
Authors: Guschina Irina A. , Harwood John L.
Published: December 2018

Lipids are vital constituents of cells – as membrane components, energy stores, signaling molecules, and surface compounds. In this article, we describe major lipids, how they can be extracted, and precautions in their handling. Specific methods for lipid analysis including radioisotope work, thin‐layer and gas–liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy are then described and discussed.
Parents' perceptions of functional abilities in people with Down syndrome
Authors: de Graaf Gert , Levine Susan P. , Goldstein Richard , Skotko Brian G.
Published: December 2018

A realistic assessment of the range of functional abilities found in people with Down syndrome (DS) may assist in counseling expectant parents. This study asked parents from the United States and the Netherlands to assess 11 functional skills of their sons and daughters with DS: walking, eating, speaking, grooming/personal hygiene, reading, writing, preparing meals, working at a job, going on dates, traveling independently, and living independently. We analyzed responses from 2,658 parents who have sons/daughters with DS of all ages. The majority of people with DS in the United States could walk by 25 months of age, speak reasonably well by 12 years, maintain their own personal hygiene by 13 years, and work independently by 20 years. By 31 years of age, 49% were reading reasonably well, and 46% were writing reasonably well. Approximately 30% could travel independently, and 34% were living independently. The results from parents in the Netherlands were similar for most measures. This normative data on function may contribute to anticipatory guidance and decision‐making. Furthermore, as parents and clinicians seek to assess the relative strengths and weakness of people with DS, resources and supports can be marshaled for those not meeting milestones at expected times.
Variation in dental morphology and inference of continental ancestry in admixed Latin Americans
Authors: Delgado Miguel , Ramírez Luis Miguel , Adhikari Kaustubh , Fuentes‐Guajardo Macarena , Zanolli Clément , Gonzalez‐José Rolando , Canizales Samuel , Bortolini Maria‐Catira , Poletti Giovanni , Gallo Carla , Rothhammer Francisco , Bedoya Gabriel , Ruiz‐Linares Andres
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To investigate the variation in dental nonmetric traits and to evaluate the utility of this variation for inferring genetic ancestry proportions in a sample of admixed Latin Americans.

Materials and Methods

We characterized a sample from Colombia (N = 477) for 34 dental traits and obtained estimates of individual Native American, European, and African ancestry using genome‐wide SNP data. We tested for correlation between dental traits, genetic ancestry, age, and sex. We carried out a biodistance analysis between the Colombian sample and reference continental population samples using the mean measure of divergence statistic calculated from dental trait frequencies. We evaluated the inference of genetic ancestry from dental traits using a regression approach (with 10‐fold cross‐validation) as well as by testing the correlation between estimates of ancestry obtained from genetic and dental data.

Results

Latin Americans show intermediate dental trait frequencies when compared to Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans. Significant correlations were observed for several dental traits, genetic ancestry, age, and sex. The biodistance analysis displayed a closer relationship of Colombians to Europeans than to Native Americans and Africans. Mean ancestry estimates obtained from the dental data are similar to the genetic estimates (Native American: 32% vs. 28%, European: 59% vs. 63%, and African: 9% vs. 9%, respectively). However, dental features provided low predictive power for genetic ancestry of individuals in both approaches tested (R2 < 5% for all genetic ancestries across methods).

Discussion

The frequency of dental traits in Latin Americans reflects their admixed Native American, European and African ancestry and can provide reasonable average estimates of genetic ancestry. However, the accuracy of individual genetic ancestry estimates is relatively low, probably influenced by the continental differentiation of dental traits, their genetic architecture, and the distribution of genetic ancestry in the individuals examined.
Sulfonated poly(phenylene ether ether sulfone) membrane tailored with layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and phosphotungstic acid for DMFC applications
Authors: Neelakandan Sivasubramaniyan , Muthumeenal Arunachalam , Rana Dipak , Kaleekkal Noel Jacob , Nagendran Alagumalai
Published: December 2018

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) were used as cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte layers, respectively, in an alternating fashion to enhance the methanol barrier property and oxidative stability of sulfonated poly (phenylene ether ether sulfone) (SPEES) proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The multilayer PEMs were characterized by AFM, FTIR, and AC impedance spectroscopy. Methanol permeability of the multilayered membranes was found to be much lower than the bare SPEES membrane. The multilayered membranes displayed significantly improved oxidative stability and dimensional stability compared to pristine SPEES membrane. Conversely, the water uptake (%) and proton conductivity (S cm−1) of the prepared membranes decrease to some extent with increasing the PDDA/PTA bilayers in comparison to the pristine SPEES membrane. The maximum relative selectivity (2.23 × 104 S cm−3 s) and retained weight (88.9%) were observed for SPEES‐[PDDA/PTA]5 multilayered membrane. The obtained results exposed the possibility of SPEES‐[PDDA/PTA]5 multilayered membrane to serve as high‐performance PEMs in direct methanol fuel cells. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47344.
Thermokinetics study of degradation process of soybean‐based polyurethane foams
Authors: Zhou Xinxing
Published: December 2018

Polyurethane (PU) production with the use of soybean oil was greatly appreciated by researchers due to their low cost, easy availability, and nontoxic nature. The thermokinetics and degradation process of soybean oil‐based PU (SPU) were measured by differential scanning calorimetry–thermogravimetry–Fourier transform infrared spectrum. Influence of various factors such as the NCO/OH molar ratio (1.5–2.0) and different heating rates on the thermodynamic properties and thermal stability during the degradation process were studied in detail. Moreover, the thermokinetics mechanism included activation energy, reaction rate, and kinetic parameters of the degradation process were evaluated using “AKTS‐Thermokinetics” software. The reaction rate ranged from 0.0005 to 0.0025 at the first stage (60–150 °C), then changed to values between 0.00025 and 0.0015 at the second stage (250–350 °C) and between 0.00025 and 0.0020 at the third stage (400–550 °C). It was observed that the degradation progress included with three‐ or four‐step degradation profiles. As the soybean oil content or NCO/OH molar ratio increase, the thermal stability of SPU increased. In addition, the activation energy and reaction rate increased with the increased soybean oil contents. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 47357.
Impact of shape (nanofiller vs. nanorod) of TiO2 nanoparticle on free‐standing solid polymeric separator for energy storage/conversion devices
Authors: Arya Anil , Saykar Nilesh G. , Sharma A. L.
Published: December 2018

We report the investigation on examining the impact of nanofiller (NF)‐ versus nanorod (NR)‐shaped titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticle on the structural, electrochemical, transport, thermal, and dielectric properties of the solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). Thin SPE films comprising of poly(ethylene oxide), sodium hexafluorophosphate, and dispersed with TiO2 NF, TiO2 NR (synthesized by hydrothermal route) has been prepared via solution cast technique. The shape of nanoparticle influences the morphological and structural properties as observed in field emission scanning electron microscope and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The highest ionic conductivity was exhibited by the NR dispersed system and is higher than NF dispersed system for all recorded concentration consistently. It is attributed to the formation of the long‐range conductive path with NR when compared with NF. In addition, the electrochemical stability window is much higher (~5 V) than the NF‐doped system. Furthermore, the dielectric properties of SPE were investigated and fitted in the complete frequency window (1 Hz–1 MHz; T = 40–100 °C @ 10 °C). It is observed that the NR dispersed system shows higher dielectric strength and low relaxation time with respect to NF dispersed system. The results suggest that the NR dispersed SPE possess enhanced properties and is more appropriate for an application in high energy density solid‐state Na ion batteries. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47361.
Synthesis of antibacterial N‐halamine acryl acid copolymers and their application onto cotton
Authors: Zhang Shumin , Demir Buket , Ren Xuehong , Worley S. D. , Broughton R. M. , Huang Tung‐Shi
Published: December 2018

A series of N‐halamine copolymers are synthesized by reacting hydantoinylacrylamide (HA) with acrylic acid (AA) in several mole ratios. The synthesized copolymers are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and1H NMR and coated onto cotton fabrics. The coated cotton fabrics are rendered antibacterial by chlorinating with dilute household bleach solution. The ultraviolet (UVA) light stabilities of the resulting copolymers on the coated cotton fabrics are investigated; the results show that UVA exposure has minimal effect on the structure of the copolymers but can cause partial loss of the chlorine loading on the coated cotton fabrics. The coated cotton fabrics exhibit excellent antibacterial efficacies achieving inactivations of about six logs ofStaphylococcusaureusandEscherichiacoliO157:H7 within 1 min of contact time. The cotton fabrics coated with the copolymers would best be employed in disposable fabric applications because of lack of washing fastness due to the weak bonding interaction between the AA unit and cellulose. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 47426.
Pyrene‐based hypercrosslinked microporous resins for effective CO2 capture
Authors: Li Pei‐Xian , Chen Linjiang , Bertuzzo Marcus , Ren Shi‐Bin , Zhou Li‐Yong , Lin Yong‐Qiang , Jia Wen‐Ping , Chen Xiao‐Ying , Han De‐Man
Published: December 2018

Two hydrophobic pyrene‐based hypercrosslinked microporous resins (ZLYs) with intrinsic hydroxyl groups on the pore‐walls have been prepared by condensation of 1,3,6,8‐tetrakis(p‐formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPPy) with phloroglucinol (L1) or 1,5‐dihydroxynaphthalene (L2). The resulting porous networks exhibited high thermal stabilities and moderate Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area with 647 and 243 m2 g−1 respectively. The experiments showed that the weak interactions between CO2 and the intrinsic hydroxyl groups on the pore‐wall of the resins could enhance CO2 uptake and CO2/CH4 selectivity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47448.
Desiccant films made of low‐density polyethylene with dispersed calcium oxide: Water vapor absorption, permeation and mechanical properties
Authors: Sängerlaub Sven , Kucukpinar Esra , Kiese Sandra , Bauer Klaus Dieter , Müller Kajetan
Published: December 2018

Polymers with dispersed desiccants are relevant for various packaging applications to protect packaged goods from water vapor. The intention of this study was to analyze and to describe a relevant system. Therefore, films with calcium oxide (CaO) were investigated, because such materials are hardly described in scientific literature. Monolayer films with 0.14 to 0.51 g dispersed CaO per 1 g film (PE‐LD) were prepared and they absorbed up to 0.2 g water vapor per 1 g of film. The water vapor absorption was described by effective diffusion coefficients. By the use of effective diffusion coefficients and the absorption capacity, the absorption behavior of layers with various thicknesses can be estimated. The steady state (effective) water vapor permeation coefficients of the films with dispersed CaO were a factor of 2 to 24 (8.4 to 101.5 mg cm [cm2 s Pa]–1 × 1012, at 23 °C) higher than for pure PE‐LD films (4.26 mg cm [cm2 s Pa]−1 × 1012, 23 °C). The tensile stress changed only slightly (pure PE‐LD: 9.5 N mm−2; PE‐LD with 0.14 g dispersed CaO per 1 g film: 8.1 N mm−2; PE‐LD with 0.51 g dispersed CaO per 1 g film: 10.5 N mm−2), while the tensile strain at break was reduced with higher CaO concentration from 318% (pure PE‐LD) to 10% (PE‐LD with 0.51 g dispersed CaO per 1 g film). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47460.
Systematic review of the quantity and quality of randomized clinical trials in pancreatic surgery
Authors: Hüttner F J , Capdeville L , Pianka F , Ulrich A , Hackert T , Büchler M W , Probst P , Diener M K
Published: December 2018

Background

RCTs are considered the reference standard in clinical research. However, surgical RCTs pose specific challenges and therefore numbers have been lower than those for randomized trials of medical interventions. In addition, surgical trials have often been associated with poor methodological quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of quantity and quality of RCTs in pancreatic surgery and to identify evidence gaps.

Methods

PubMed, CENTRAL and Web of Science were searched systematically. Predefined data were extracted and organized in a database. Quantity and quality were compared for three intervals of the study period comprising more than three decades. Evidence maps were constructed to identify gaps in evidence.

Results

The search yielded 8210 results, of which 246 trials containing data on 26 154 patients were finally included. The number of RCTs per year increased continuously from a mean of 2·8, to 5·7 and up to 13·1 per year over the three intervals of the study. Most trials were conducted in Europe (46·3 per cent), followed by Asia (35·0 per cent) and North America (14·2 per cent). Overall, the quality of RCTs was moderate; however, with the exception of blinding, all domains of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool improved significantly in the later part of the study. Evidence maps showed lack of evidence from RCTs for operations other than pancreatoduodenectomy and for specific diseases such as neuroendocrine neoplasms or intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Conclusion

The quantity and quality of RCTs in pancreatic surgery have increased. Evidence mapping showed gaps for specific procedures and diseases, indicating priorities for future research.
The future of surgery
Authors: Alderson D
Published: December 2018

By someone who should know
It's all about communication
Authors: Earnshaw J J
Published: December 2018

Maximizing potential
Eye‐tracking research in eating disorders: A systematic review
Authors: Kerr‐Gaffney Jess , Harrison Amy , Tchanturia Kate
Published: December 2018

Objective

Those with eating disorders (EDs) show attentional biases to disorder‐relevant stimuli, such as food and body shape information. However, attentional bias research in EDs largely relies on reaction time based measures, which are limited in their ability to assess different components and the time course of attention. Eye‐tracking paradigms have therefore been utilized to provide greater ecological validity, and directly capture the detailed sequence of processes in perception and attention. While numerous studies have examined eye movements in the mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders, there has been a lack of studies in EDs. The purpose of this qualitative review is to provide a summary of eye‐tracking studies in clinical ED populations.

Method

The review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies examining gaze parameters in ED compared to healthy controls (HCs). Thirty‐one studies met inclusion criteria.

Results

Across ED diagnoses, there was evidence of attentional biases towards food and body stimuli. In addition, differential patterns of attention to social information, and differences in smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements were found in anorexia nervosa (AN).

Discussion

Findings are discussed in relation to research in other psychiatric disorders, and recommendations for future studies using eye‐tracking in EDs are given. The findings add to the wider literature on attentional biases in EDs, and provide potential avenues for treatment.

IJED‐18‐0331.R1.

Investigación de seguimiento ocular en trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: una revisión sistemática.
Prevalence of adult epilepsy in a general Japanese population: The Hisayama study
Authors: Tanaka Akihiro , Hata Jun , Akamatsu Naoki , Mukai Naoko , Hirakawa Yoichiro , Yoshida Daigo , Kishimoto Hiro , Ohara Tomoyuki , Mizuno Toshiki , Tsuji Sadatoshi , Kitazono Takanari , Ninomiya Toshiharu
Published: December 2018

The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence and causes of adult epilepsy in a general Japanese population. We examined a total of 3333 Japanese residents in the town of Hisayama aged ≥40 years in 2012‐2013. The examination was performed mainly at the municipal center for health promotion, but some subjects were examined in their homes, hospitals, or nursing homes. Twenty‐three subjects had a diagnosis of epilepsy. The prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of epilepsy per 1000 was 6.9 (4.1‐9.7) in total, 4.9 (1.3‐8.5) in men, and 8.4 (4.3‐12.5) in women (P = 0.23 between sexes). The prevalence of epilepsy was significantly higher in the elderly (aged ≥65 years; 10.3 per 1000 [95% CI 5.4‐15.1]) than in the middle‐aged (aged 40‐64 years; 3.6 per 1000 [95% CI 0.7‐6.4]; P = 0.02). The major cause of epilepsy was cerebrovascular diseases (n = 11; 48% of the epilepsy patients). More than half of the epilepsy patients experienced the first episode of seizure in older age (≥65 years; n = 13; 57%). The findings of this study suggest the clinical importance of the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases to reduce the burden of epilepsy in the future.
Dibromometallyl‐iron complexes generated by the recombination of an alumanyl‐iron complex with EBr3 (E = Al, Ga)
Authors: Yanagisawa Tatsuya , Mizuhata Yoshiyuki , Tokitoh Norihiro
Published: December 2018

The first dibromoalumanyl‐iron complex [Br2Al–FeCp(CO)2] was synthesized by the reaction of monobromoalumanyl‐iron complex bearing a bulky substituent on aluminum atom with AlBr3, whose structure was determined by the X‐ray crystallographic analysis and the NMR measurement. The reactions monobromoalumanyl‐iron complex with GaBr3 show that these reactions would proceed by the mutual recombination of substituents.
Failure patterns of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy by intensity modulated radiotherapy technique using focal volume and dosimetric method
Authors: Tandon Sarthak , Gairola Munish , Ahlawat Parveen , Karimi Ahmad Masroor , Tiwari Sandeep , Muttagi Vinayakumar , Sachdeva Nishtha , Sharief Muhammed Ismail , Dobriyal Kiran
Published: December 2018

Background

Labeling locoregional failures in head and neck cancer (HNC) as “local” and “regional” becomes incomplete when treating with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Target delineation and delivery errors, dose in‐homogeneity complicate the assessment of failures. A combination of focal point and dosimetric method might attempt at simplifying failure analysis.

Methods

One hundred eleven patients with locally advanced HNC treated with chemoradiation using IMRT were enrolled. Patients with documented failure had their recurrence volume assessed using focal point and dosimetric method.

Results

With a median follow‐up of 20 (range 0‐39) months and median locoregional control (LRC) of 30 (range 24.8‐34.5) months, the patients had a 3‐year overall survival and LRC of 70.6% and 48.9%, respectively. Of 39 failures, there were 69.2%, 7.6%, 5.1%, 12.8%, and 5.1% type A, B, C, D, and E, respectively using the focal point and dosimetric method.

Conclusion

With the current classification, majority of the recurrences were high dose failures suggesting inherent radioresistance. While minority of failures were potentially preventable and needed modifying existing IMRT workflow.
Carotid body tumor with hidden internal carotid artery aneurysm
Authors: Rohlfing Matthew L. , Yang Betty , Jalisi Scharukh
Published: December 2018

Background

The most common head and neck paraganglioma is the carotid body paraganglioma. Treatment of carotid body tumors is primarily surgical, and uncontrolled growth leads to cranial nerve deficits and more morbid resection.

Methods

A 60‐year‐old man was referred for evaluation of carotid body tumor, and workup revealed an internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm within the known mass.

Results

Interventional Radiology performed angiogram and stenting across aneurysm with interval dramatic reduction in size of mass, and surgery was avoided altogether.

Conclusions

Surgical resection is indicated for carotid body paragangliomas when the patient can tolerate the surgery and when the tumor was not very advanced. This patient had a small tumor that initially appeared easily resectable. Failure to detect the ICA aneurysm before resection may have resulted in devastating vascular injury and possible stroke or death. Identification of underlying vascular pathology is essential for safe treatment and should be prioritized, especially considering this case.
Retracted: Epigallocatechin gallate ameliorates morphological changes of pancreatic islets in diabetic mice and downregulates blood sugar level by inhibiting the accumulation of AGE‐RAGE
Authors: Feng Zhongtao , Hou Xiumei , Zhu Chuanan , Zhu Jiabin , Jiang Chunxiao
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to elucidate the key mechanisms and effects of the functional component of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on a diabetic mouse model. The detected relationship between compounds and genes recorded in the STITCH database highlighted an interaction network between the direct target genes of EGCG and the known diabetes‐related genes, which was made apparent through the analysis of gene‐gene interactions and signaling pathways, revealing that a key AGE‐RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes was enriched in the network. By means of systematic supplementary analyses on diabetic mice, provided evidence suggested that EGCG could significantly enhance the morphology of pancreatic tissues in diabetic mice and downregulate the blood glucose level in a clear dose effect manner, and increased insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS1 and IRS2) expression in the liver. Through the detection of protein expression, EGCG was observed to possess the ability to downregulate the accumulation of AGE‐RAGE in pancreatic tissues as well as in the transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), which represents a potentially significant method by which EGCG influences diabetes. The results of this study provided evidence indicating that EGCG can effectively improve the morphology of pancreatic tissues, but notably reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice, which may be related to its inhibition of AGE‐RAGE signaling pathway and activation of transcription factor NF‐κB pathway.
A 4‐gene prognostic signature predicting survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Peng‐Fei , Li Qing‐He , Zeng Li‐Rong , Yang Xue‐Ying , Peng Pai‐Lan , He Jian‐Hua , Fan Bin
Published: December 2018

Objective

To develop an independent prognostic signature for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

HCC gene expression profile the cancer genome atlas‐liver hepatocellular carcinoma and GSE14520 were used as discovery and test set, respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between HCC tissues and adjacent normal liver tissues. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify DEGs correlated with survival of HCC patients. A 4‐gene‐based signature was constructed based on a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox penalized regression model. The predictive value of the signature was analyzed and validated.

Results

Two hundred sixty‐three DEGs were identified between HCC and adjacent liver tissues. After univariate survival analysis, 90 DEGs were found to be significantly correlated with the overall survival (OS) of HCC patients, of which 4 genes (KPNA2, CDC20, SPP1, and TOP2A) with non‐zero coefficient were used to construct a prognostic signature. The 4‐gene signature was significantly associated with the age (P = 0.046), grade (
P = 0.022), and T stage (
P = 0.023) of HCC patients in the discovery set and it also significantly associated with TNM stage (
P = 0.033), and serum alpha‐fetoprotein lever (
P = 0.034). Patients in the 4‐gene low‐risk group were associated with better OS and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) than those in the high‐risk group in the discovery and test set. Meanwhile, the 4‐gene signature is an independent prognostic factor regarding OS and RFS in the discovery and test set.

Conclusion

We developed a 4‐gene‐based signature, which could be a candidate prognostic factor for patients with HCC.
Inhibition of microRNA‐132 attenuates inflammatory response and detrusor fibrosis in rats with interstitial cystitis via the JAK‐STAT signaling pathway
Authors: Song Ya‐Jun , Cao Jun‐Ying , Jin Zhuang , Hu Wen‐Gang , Wu Rong‐Hua , Tian Lu‐Hai , Yang Bo , Wang Jin , Xiao Ya , Huang Chi‐Bing
Published: December 2018

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a heterogeneous syndrome with unknown etiology, and microRNAs (miRs) were found to be involved in IC. In our study, we aim to explore the role of miR‐132 in the inflammatory response and detrusor fibrosis in IC through the Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK‐STAT) signaling pathway in rat models. A rat model of IC was established and treated with the miR‐132 mimic, miR‐132 inhibitor, and/or JAK‐STAT signaling pathway inhibitor AG490. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was applied to measure the expression of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1). The urodynamic test was performed to assess urodynamic parameters, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis for the expression of miR‐132, STAT4, suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), JAK2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α. IC rats treated with miR‐132 inhibitor and AG490 had decreased collagen fiber, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mast cells, lower expression of IL‐6, IL‐10, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, ICAM‐1, collagens I and III, and alleviated urodynamic parameters and decreased expression of STAT4, VEGF, JAK2, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and increased expression of SOCS3. Taken together, our data indicate that downregulation of miR‐132 alleviates inflammatory response and detrusor fibrosis in IC via the inhibition of the JAK‐STAT signaling pathway.
Upregulation of stanniocalcin‐1 inhibits the development of osteoarthritis by inhibiting survival and inflammation of fibroblast‐like synovial cells
Authors: Wu Ying , Li Zhengcai , Jia Wenji , Li Mai , Tang Mei
Published: December 2018

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and disabling disorder, characterized by synovial inflammation and joint effusion. This study aimed to explore the role of stanniocalcin‐1 (STC1) in the development of OA by regulating the survival and inflammation of fibroblast‐like synovial (FLS) cells.

Methods

Microarray analyses were adopted to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to OA, and regulatory microRNA (miR) was also identified. Synovial tissue samples from patients with OA and healthy individuals were obtained to determine the expression levels of miR‐454, STC1, IL‐6, IL‐8, and MMP3/13. The targeted relationship between miR‐454 and STC1 was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. With the treatment of miR‐454 mimic and STC1 overexpression vector, the effect of miR‐454 and STC1 on FLS cell viability and apoptosis as well as production of inflammatory cytokines were tested.

Results

STC1 with aberrant low expression was screened from GSE1919 profile in OA. STC1 was found to be downregulated in OA‐FLS tissues and cells. STC1 overexpression inhibited OA‐FLS cell viability but induced apoptosis of OA‐FLS cells. Moreover, STC1 overexpression decreased levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, and MMP3/13, suggesting that STC1 overexpression suppressed inflammatory reactions. In addition, miR‐454 blocked the inhibitory effects of STC1 overexpression on OA‐FLS cell viability and inflammatory reaction and exerted a promotion effect of STC1 overexpression on apoptosis of OA‐FLS cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results revealed that upregulation of STC1 could repress proliferation of OA‐FLS cells and inflammatory reaction, and enhance apoptosis of OA‐FLS cells, which was negatively regulated by miR‐454.
miR‐93‐5p may be an important oncogene in prostate cancer by bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yang Yuemei , Jia Binghan , Zhao Xiaoling , Wang Yao , Ye Weiliang
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Prostate adenocarcinoma is one of the most prevalent causes of cancer‐related deaths in males worldwide. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Hence, it is important to identify specific and effective therapeutic targets, to be able to determine appropriate therapy and management. So, this study aimed to predict that miR‐93‐5p is an important oncogene in prostate cancer by bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

In this study, initially we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differently expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, performed Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis, then investigated the relationship between DEGs and DEMs, and finally through consulting the literature and retrieving the database, we found that miR‐93‐5p may play a major role in prostate cancer, so we predicted the expression and survival of miR‐93‐5p and its isomers by bioinformatics analysis, meanwhile, evaluated the function of miR‐93‐5p in vitro.

Results

In total, 104 DEMs were differently expressed between prostate cancer and normal samples, including 56 downregulated ones and 48 upregulated ones; miR‐93‐5p (upregulated) was identified as a good biomarker. And 1904 DEGs were retrieved, including 794 downregulated ones and 1110 upregulated ones. We also obtained 1254 DEGs of the DEMs. In GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, the significantly enriched pathways involved pathway in focal adhesion, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton. By the KEGG pathway, we got 16 target genes and 92 pathways of the miR‐93‐5p in prostate cancer. We also found that the miR‐93‐5p and its isomers can express in prostate cancer, and which with a high expression had a poor overall survival and a significant difference recurrence rate within 5 years. Further in vitro verification results demonstrated that the low expression of miR‐93‐5p can inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion, change cell cycle, and promote early apoptosis of PC‐3 cells.

Conclusion

The miR‐93‐5p and its target genes were used to define important molecular targets that could serve as a prognostic and predictive marker in the treatment of prostate cancer. Further research on the function of the miR‐93‐5p and its target genes in the KEGG pathway could provide references for the treatment of prostate cancer.
ACCDB: A collection of chemistry databases for broad computational purposes
Authors: Morgante Pierpaolo , Peverati Roberto
Published: December 2018

The importance of databases of reliable and accurate data in chemistry has substantially increased in the past two decades. Their main usage is to parametrize electronic structure theory methods, and to assess their capabilities and accuracy for a broad set of chemical problems. The collection we present here—ACCDB—includes data from 16 different research groups, for a total of 44,931 unique reference data points, all at a level of theory significantly higher than density functional theory, and covering most of the periodic table. It is composed of five databases taken from literature (GMTKN, MGCDB84, Minnesota2015, DP284, and W4‐17), two newly developed reaction energy databases (W4‐17‐RE and MN‐RE), and a new collection of databases containing transition metals. A set of expandable software tools for its manipulation is also presented here for the first time, as well as a case study where ACCDB is used for benchmarking commercial CPUs for chemistry calculations. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.