bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transition‐Metal‐Free Deconstructive Lactamization of Piperidines
Authors: Romero‐Ibañez Julio , Cruz‐Gregorio Silvano , Sandoval‐Lira Jacinto , Hernández‐Pérez Julio M. , Quintero Leticia , Sartillo‐Piscil Fernando
Published: April 2019

One of the major challenges in organic synthesis is the activation or deconstructive functionalization of unreactive C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds, which requires using transition or precious metal catalysts. We present here an alternative: the deconstructive lactamization of piperidines without using transition metal catalysts. To this end, we use 3‐alkoxyamino‐2‐piperidones, which were prepared from piperidines through a dual C(sp3)–H oxidation, as transitory intermediates. Experimental and theoretical studies confirm that this unprecedented lactamization occurs in a tandem manner involving an oxidative deamination of 3‐alkoxyamino‐2‐piperidones to 3‐keto‐2‐piperidones, followed by a regioselective Baeyer–Villiger oxidation to give N‐carboxyanhydride intermediates, which finally undergo a spontaneous and concerted decarboxylative intramolecular translactamization.
Investigation of the molecular reactivity of bioactive oxiranylmethyloxy anthraquinones
Authors: Ribaudo Giovanni , Ongaro Alberto , Zorzan Maira , Pezzani Raffaele , Redaelli Marco , Zagotto Giuseppe , Memo Maurizio , Gianoncelli Alessandra
Published: April 2019

The design of a multitarget and multifunctional small molecule containing two functional groups reacting through different mechanisms represents an attractive goal for the medicinal chemist. The preparation of two bifunctional oxiranylmethyloxy anthraquinones, previously investigated as anticancer agents, is described here. These compounds combine a planar, DNA‐intercalating and pro‐oxidant anthraquinone scaffold and the alkylating epoxide functions which can covalently react with the nucleic acid. Their multilevel molecular reactivity was studied through a combination of analytical techniques: The DNA‐binding properties were investigated using a mass spectrometry‐based binding assay and by nuclear magnetic resonance, highlighting the formation of a covalent adduct with a nucleobase. Moreover, the contribution of the pro‐oxidant redox cycling was evaluated.
Bau einer Bahnbrücke aus bewehrtem UHFB
Authors: Brühwiler Eugen , Friedl Herbert , Rupp Christoph , Escher Hanspeter
Published: April 2019

Am 11. November 2017 wurde die weltweit erste Bahnbrücke aus bewehrtem UHFB auf einer Hauptlinie in Betrieb genommen. Das Bauvorhaben der Schweizerischen Bundesbahnen (SBB) wurde im Rahmen des Ersatzneubaus einer doppelspurigen Bahnbrücke kurzer Spannweite bei Sempach im Kanton Luzern, Schweiz, realisiert. UHFB ist ein neuartiger faserverstärkter, zementgebundener Verbundbaustoff, der durch seine hohe Festigkeit und Dichtigkeit ideale Voraussetzungen für den Einsatz bei Infrastrukturbauwerken mit sich bringt. Neben geringeren Lebenszykluskosten können durch eine modulare Bauweise mit hohem Vorfabrikationsgrad kürzere Bauzeiten realisiert werden, womit geringere Betriebseinschränkungen verursacht werden. An der UHFB‐Brückenplatte einer Spannweite von 6,0 m wurde ein Monitoringsystem installiert, um das Tragverhalten bei Zugüberfahrten zu erfassen. Erste Ergebnisse der Messungen bestätigen die erwarteten Werte, die deutlich unter den berechneten Kenngrößen liegen. Dieser Aufsatz beschreibt den Entwurf, die Bemessung, die Ausführung und das Monitoring dieser neuartigen Brückenkonstruktion.
RNA Dynamics by NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Marušič Maja , Schlagnitweit Judith , Petzold Katja
Published: April 2019

An ever‐increasing number of functional RNAs require a mechanistic understanding. RNA function relies on changes in its structure, so‐called dynamics. To reveal dynamic processes and higher energy structures, new NMR methods have been developed to elucidate these dynamics in RNA with atomic resolution. In this Review, we provide an introduction to dynamics novices and an overview of methods that access most dynamic timescales, from picoseconds to hours. Examples are provided as well as insight into theory, data acquisition and analysis for these different methods. Using this broad spectrum of methodology, unprecedented detail and invisible structures have been obtained and are reviewed here. RNA, though often more complicated and therefore neglected, also provides a great system to study structural changes, as these RNA structural changes are more easily defined—Lego like—than in proteins, hence the numerous revelations of RNA excited states.
Probing the Substrate Promiscuity of Isopentenyl Phosphate Kinase as a Platform for Hemiterpene Analogue Production
Authors: Lund Sean , Courtney Taylor , Williams Gavin J.
Published: April 2019

Isoprenoids are a large class of natural products with wide‐ranging applications. Synthetic biology approaches to the manufacture of isoprenoids and their new‐to‐nature derivatives are limited due to the provision in nature of just two hemiterpene building blocks for isoprenoid biosynthesis. To address this limitation, artificial chemo‐enzymatic pathways such as the alcohol‐dependent hemiterpene (ADH) pathway serve to leverage consecutive kinases to convert exogenous alcohols into pyrophosphates that could be coupled to downstream isoprenoid biosynthesis. To be successful, each kinase in this pathway should be permissive of a broad range of substrates. For the first time, we have probed the promiscuity of the second enzyme in the ADH pathway—isopentenyl phosphate kinase from Thermoplasma acidophilum—towards a broad range of acceptor monophosphates. Subsequently, we evaluate the suitability of this enzyme to provide unnatural pyrophosphates and provide a critical first step in characterizing the rate‐limiting steps in the artificial ADH pathway.
Advanced Electro‐Oxidation with Boron‐Doped Diamond for Acetaminophen Removal from Real Wastewater in a Microfluidic Reactor: Kinetics and Mass‐Transfer Studies
Authors: Mousset Emmanuel , Puce Marta , Pons Marie‐Noëlle
Published: April 2019

The removal of hazardous organic micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) has become a common concern for public decision‐makers and stakeholders. An advanced electro‐oxidation with boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode material is proposed to remove acetaminophen as a representative micropollutant in synthetic solution. A customized microfluidic reactor was run in batch mode, and the main operating parameters (i. e. current density, interelectrode distance and solution conductivity) were optimized by minimizing the energy requirement. An optimal current density of 4 mA cm−2 and an optimal interelectrode distance of 500 μm were newly obtained and explained. Mass transport limitation was observed at lower gaps, with a 3.4‐fold decrease in the mass transfer coefficient from 500 μm to 50 μm intervals. In addition, the kinetics of degradation decreased dramatically after a certain electrolysis time. This was attributed to the increase in gas bubble production with treatment time. An increase in the solution conductivity from 0.23 to 2.0 mS cm−1 increased the degradation rate efficiency twofold and decreased the specific energy from 0.88 to 0.17 kWh g−1 at 85 % acetaminophen decay yield. The influence of a real matrix from low‐conductivity reclaimed WWTP (0.86 mS cm−1) highlighted slightly lower kinetics of degradation, but similar energy efficiency until 60 % of pollutant degradation and higher energy efficiency than in conventional macro‐reactors.
Look Better: Single Atoms in Chemistry and Single Atoms in Physics
Authors: Pagliaro Mario
Published: April 2019

Fostering fruitful collaboration between chemistry and physics scholars, the analysis of the differences in the practical approach to single atoms in chemistry and in physics affords a number of conceptual outcomes pointing to a more balanced and useful relationship between chemistry and physics.
SGLT2 inhibition to address the unmet needs in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Barutta Federica , Bernardi Sara , Gargiulo Giuseppe , Durazzo Marilena , Gruden Gabriella
Published: April 2019

Current treatment of diabetic nephropathy is effective; however, substantial gaps in care still remain and new therapies are urgently needed to reduce the global burden of the complication. Desirable properties of an “ideal” new drug should include primary prevention of microalbuminuria, additive/synergistic anti‐proteinuric effect in combination therapy with renin angiotensin system blockers, reduction of chronic kidney disease progression to lower the risk of end‐stage renal disease, and cardiovascular protection. Growing evidence suggests that sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may fulfil many of these criteria and represent novel tools to cover the unmet needs in diabetic nephropathy care. However, the underlying mechanisms of SGLT2i renal benefits are still poorly understood and promising results from cardiovascular outcome trials with SGLT2i need confirmation in dedicated renal outcome trials.
A four‐component classification of uncertainties in biological invasions: implications for management
Authors: Latombe G. , Canavan S. , Hirsch H. , Hui C. , Kumschick S. , Nsikani M. M. , Potgieter L. J. , Robinson T. B. , Saul W.‐C. , Turner S. C. , Wilson J. R. U. , Yannelli F. A. , Richardson D. M.
Published: April 2019

Although uncertainty is an integral part of any science, it raises doubts in public perception about scientific evidence, is exploited by denialists, and therefore potentially hinders the implementation of management actions. As a relatively young field of study, invasion science contains many uncertainties. This may explain why, despite international policies aimed at mitigating biological invasions, the implementation of national‐ and regional‐scale measures to prevent or control alien species has done little to slow the increase in extent of invasions and the magnitude of impacts. Uncertainty is therefore a critical aspect of invasion science that should be addressed to enable the field to progress further. To improve how uncertainties in invasion science are captured and characterized, we propose a framework, which is also applicable to other applied research fields such as climate and conservation science, divided into four components: the need (1) to clearlycircumscribethe phenomenon, (2) to measure and provide evidence for the phenomenon (i.e.,confirmation), (3) to understand the mechanisms thatcausethe phenomenon, and (4) to understand the mechanisms through which the phenomenon results inconsequences. We link these issues to three major types of uncertainty: linguistic, psychological, and epistemic. The application of this framework shows that the four components tend to be characterized by different types of uncertainty in invasion science. We explain how these uncertainties can be detrimental to the implementation of management measures and propose ways to reduce them. Since biological invasions are increasingly tightly embedded in complex socio‐ecological systems, many problems associated with these uncertainties have convoluted solutions. They demand the consensus of many stakeholders to define and frame the dimensions of the phenomenon, and to decide on appropriate actions. While many of the uncertainties cannot be eliminated completely, we believe that using this framework to explicitly identify and communicate them will help to improve collaboration between researchers and managers, increase scientific, political, and public support for invasion research, and provide a stronger foundation for sustainable management strategies.
Migration triggers in a large herbivore: Galápagos giant tortoises navigating resource gradients on volcanoes
Authors: Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Yackulic Charles B. , Gibbs James P. , Frair Jacqueline L. , Cabrera Freddy , Blake Stephen
Published: April 2019

To understand how migratory behavior evolved and to predict how migratory species will respond to global environmental change it is important to quantify the fitness consequences of intra‐ and inter‐individual variation in migratory behavior. Intra‐individual variation includes behavioral responses to changing environmental conditions and hence behavioral plasticity in the context of novel or variable conditions. Inter‐individual variation determines the degree of variation on which selection can act and the rate of evolutionary responses to changes in average and extreme environmental conditions. Here we focus on variation in the partial migratory behavior of giant Galápagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) and its energetic consequences. We evaluate the extent and mechanisms by which tortoises adjust migration timing in response to varying annual environmental conditions, and integrate movement data within a bioenergetic model of tortoise migration to quantify the fitness consequences of migration timing. We find strong inter‐individual variation in the timing of migration, which was not affected by environmental conditions prevailing at the time of migration but rather by average expectations estimated from multi‐annual averaged conditions. This variation is associated with an average annual loss in efficiency of ~15% relative to optimal timing based on year‐specific conditions. These results point towards a limited ability of tortoises to adjust the timing of their migrations based on prevailing (and, by extension, future) conditions, suggesting that the adaptability of tortoise migratory behavior to changing conditions is predicated more by past “normal” conditions than responses to prevailing, changing conditions. Our work offers insights into the level of environmental‐tuning in migratory behavior and a general framework for future research across taxa.
Federal Right to Try: Where Is It Going?
Authors: Folkers Kelly , Chapman Carolyn , Redman Barbara
Published: April 2019

Policy‐makers, bioethicists, and patient advocates have been engaged in a fierce battle about the merits and potential harms of a federal right‐to‐try law. This debate about access to investigational medical products has raised profound questions about the limits of patient autonomy, appropriate government regulation, medical paternalism, and political rhetoric. For example, do patients have a right to access investigational therapies, as the right‐to‐try movement asserts? What is government’s proper role in regulating and facilitating access to drugs that are still in development? In this review, we analyze the history of the right‐to‐try movement, review the arguments put forth by supporters and opponents of the legislation, and consider the movement’s consequences. Two possible scenarios may emerge. One is that the right‐to‐try pathway may fail to meaningfully increase patient access to investigational products. Alternatively, certain companies may attempt to rely on the federal right‐to‐try legislation to sell investigational products, taking advantage of the provision that allows for direct costs, as there is currently no clear mechanism for enforcement or monitoring of cost calculations.
Activated cytotoxic T cells within zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions
Authors: Boussoffara Thouraya , Boubaker Mohamed Samir , Ben Ahmed Melika , Mokni Mourad , Feriani Salma , Ben Salah Afif , Louzir Hechmi
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), due to infection by Leishmania (L). major, is characterized by polymorphic clinical manifestations which could be attributed to the host's immune response. In this study we investigated the involvement of cytotoxic cells on the outcome of the disease.

Methods

Expression of granzyme B (GrB), granulysine (Grly), and interferon (IFN)‐γ was evaluated within ZCL lesion specimens using the technique of real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti‐CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, GrB, and IFN‐γ antibodies to identify the phenotype of GrB and IFN‐γ‐producing cells.

Results

GrB and Grly mRNA was detected within 75% and 80% of ZCL lesions, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between levels of GrB and Grly. Interestingly, expression of these molecules correlates negatively with the lesion's age. The highest levels were measured in early lesions (E‐ZCL) (lesion age ≤1 month) comparing to late lesions (L‐ZCL) (lesion age >1 month). Otherwise, IFN‐γ mRNA was detected only within 56% and a positive correlation was found between levels of this cytokine and those of GrB. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that GrB is produced essentially by CD8+T cells whereas IFN‐γ is produced by both CD4+ and CD8+T cells.

Conclusion

Together our results demonstrate the presence of cytotoxic cells producing GrB and Grly within leishmaniasis cutaneous lesions.
Resilience in the midst of chaos: Socioecological model applied to women with depressive symptoms and socioeconomic disadvantage
Authors: Poleshuck Ellen , Perez‐Diaz Wanda , Wittink Marsha , ReQua Michelle , Harrington Amy , Katz Jennifer , Juskiewicz Iwona , Stone Jennifer Thompson , Bell Elaine , Cerulli Catherine
Published: April 2019

Socioeconomic disadvantage is extremely common among women with depressive symptoms presenting for women's health care. While social stressors related to socioeconomic disadvantage can contribute to depression, health care tends to focus on patients’ symptoms in isolation of context. Health care providers may be more effective by addressing issues related to socioeconomic disadvantage. It is imperative to identify common challenges related to socioeconomic disadvantage, as well as sources of resilience. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 20 women's health patients experiencing depressive symptoms and socioeconomic disadvantage about their views of their mental health, the impact of social stressors, and their resources and skills. A Consensual Qualitative Research approach was used to identify domains consisting of challenges and resiliencies. We applied the socioecological model when coding the data and identified cross‐cutting themes of chaos and distress, as well as resilience. These findings suggest the importance of incorporating context in the health care of women with depression and socioeconomic disadvantage.
The role of academic mentors for Latino/a adolescents exposed to community violence
Authors: Fike Kayla J. , Ceballo Rosario , Kennedy Traci M.
Published: April 2019

Aims

We examined the protective role of academic mentors for Latino/a youth exposed to community violence. We tested whether the mentor facilitation of positive growth and mentor school involvement moderated the relations between exposure to violence and Latino/a youth's educational values, school effort, and academic efficacy.

Methods

We used hierarchical linear regressions to examine these relations among 210 Latino/a high school students.

Results

Witnessing violence and personal victimization was negatively related to all three educational outcomes. Mentor school involvement was positively related to all three educational outcomes, whereas mentor facilitation of growth was positively related to educational values only. A significant interaction between witnessing violence and mentor school involvement indicated that the negative relation between witnessing violence and educational values weakened at high levels of mentor school involvement.

Conclusion

We discuss the benefits of academic mentoring and exploring effective mentoring characteristics with Latino/a youth exposed to violence.
Prognostic utility and clinical significance of lysyl oxidase‐like 2 protein expression in digestive system cancers
Authors: Zhang Yi , Liu Wanwei , Xu Jiwei
Published: April 2019

Lysyl oxidase‐like 2 (LOXL2) participates in the occurrence and development of digestive system cancers (DSCs). The aim of this study was to determine whether LOXL2 protein could serve as a prognostic biomarker in patients with DSCs. Relevant studies published before October 1, 2018 were identified from a comprehensive literature review in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. This meta‐analysis was conducted via STATA/SE 14.1 software. Finally, a total of 12 publications and 6 different kinds of DSCs were identified. Meta‐analysis indicated that increased expression of LOXL2 protein was significantly correlated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratios [HR]: 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32–1.72) and worse progression‐free survival/disease‐free survival (HR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.48–2.83) in cases with DSCs. In addition, clinicopathological parameters, including tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and clinical stage were significantly related to LOXL2 protein expression in DSCs. High LOXL2 protein expression is significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes in DSCs and its expression level may represent a candidate prognostic biomarker in these cancers.
A novel microRNA signature predicts vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Han Bing , Zheng Yujia , Wang Le , Wang Haixu , Du Jiaxin , Ye Fanglei , Sun Tongwen , Zhang Lianfeng
Published: April 2019

Vascular invasion (VI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important clinical parameter to predict survival. In this study, we collected microRNA (miRNA) expression data from HCC patients using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and identified a novel miRNA signature associated with VI. First, we categorized HCC patients into groups with or without VI (VI+ and VI−). We identified three miRNAs (miRNA‐210, miRNA‐10b, and miRNA‐9‐1) that were associated with VI according to a Kaplan–Meier analysis. This three‐miRNA signature exhibited good predictive ability for VI in patients with HCC according to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis at 1, 3, and 5 years. Patients with HCC with a high risk score exhibited a trend toward worse outcomes as determined by multivariable Cox regression and stratified analyses. This three‐miRNA signature provides an accurate prediction of VI and can be used as an independent prognostic indicator for predicting VI in HCC patients.
Arsenic‐tolerant microbial consortia from sediments of Copahue geothermal system with potential applications in bioremediation
Authors: Lima María Alejandra , Urbieta María Sofía , Donati Edgardo
Published: April 2019

Although arsenic (As) is recognized as a toxic element for living species, some microorganisms have the ability to tolerate and transform it; recent studies have proposed to take advantage of such capacity to develop sustainable bioremediation strategies. In this study, we evaluated the adaptation to increasing concentrations of As(III) and As(V) of three metabolically different microbial cultures (heterotrophic, autotrophic–acidophilic, and anaerobic) obtained from a sample with low‐soluble As content from the Copahue geothermal system. At the end of the adaptation process, the heterotrophic culture was able to grow at 20 mM and 450 mM of As(III) and As(V), respectively; the autotrophic–acidophilic culture showed tolerance to 15 mM of As(III) and 150 mM of As(V), whereas the anaerobic culture only developed in As(V) at concentrations up to 50 mM. The most tolerant consortia were characterized by their growth performance, complexity, and the presence of genes related to As metabolism and resistance. Regarding the consortia complexity, the predominant genera identified were: Paenibacillus in both heterotrophic consortia, Acidithiobacillus in the autotrophic–acidophilic consortium tolerant to As(III), Acidiphilium in the autotrophic–acidophilic consortium tolerant to As(V), and Thiomonas and Clostridium in the anaerobic consortium. This study is the first report of As tolerance microorganisms obtained from Copahue and reasserts the versatility and flexibility of the community of this natural extreme environment; also, it opens the door to the study of possible uses of these consortia in the design of biotechnological processes where the As concentration may fluctuate.
Understanding the corrosion behaviour of the magnesium alloys EV31A, WE43B, and ZE41A
Authors: Soltan Akif , Dargusch Matthew S. , Shi Zhiming , Gerrard Darren , Atrens Andrej
Published: April 2019

The corrosion rates of the Mg alloys immersed in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution saturated with Mg(OH)2 were in the following increasing order: WE43B (0.23 mm/y) < EV31A (0.88 mm/y) < pure‐Mg (1.6 mm/y) < ZE41A (8.5 mm/y). The average corrosion rate for WE43B was somewhat lower than the intrinsic corrosion rate of Mg as shown by high‐purity Mg, attributed to (a) no corrosion acceleration by the small second phase particles, and (b) a more protective surface film. The high corrosion rates of ZE41A were attributed to the presence of a coarse semicontinuous T‐phase, which served as strong cathodic sites.
Power behind the throne: A clinical trial simulation study evaluating the impact of controllable design factors on the power of antidepressant trials
Authors: Chevance Astrid , Naudet Florian , Gaillard Raphaël , Ravaud Philippe , Porcher Raphaël
Published: April 2019

Objective

To evaluate the impact of controllable design factors on the power of antidepressants trials.

Methods

Using clinical trial simulation (CTS), we analyzed the combined impact on the power of trials of controllable design factors (sample size, outcome metrics, and disease severity at inclusion) and uncontrollable parameters (heterogeneity of diseases labeled “depression” in the source population and selective effects of drugs on items of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS], the most used outcome measurement tool). We elaborated 3,840 scenarios calibrated with real data, particularly the publication bias‐corrected effect size.

Results

For an effect size of 0.26, simulations revealed that in trials with ≤650 participants, power was less than 80%. Among the tested outcome metrics, the “remission” outcome provided more robustness for sample heterogeneity, whereas the continuous outcome “HDRS changes” provided more robustness when investigating drugs with a selective effect on the HDRS items. For the “remission” outcome, the power of trials increased with increasing HDRS threshold at inclusion but decreased with the outcomes “response” and “HDRS changes. Drugs with a selective effect on the HDRS items could not reach the same power as for the reference drug.

Conclusion

Our study allows for drawing recommendations to avoid underpowered trials of antidepressants.
The influence of delay elimination communication on the prevalence of primary nocturnal enuresis—a survey from Mainland China
Authors: Wang Xi Zheng , Wen Yi Bo , Shang Xiao Ping , Wang Yi He , Li Yan Wei , Li Tian Fang , Li Shou Lin , Yang Jing , Liu Yan Jin , Lou Xiao Ping , Zhou Wei , Li Xing , Zhang Jian Jiang , Song Cui Ping , Jorgensen Cecilie Siggaard , Rittig Soren , Bauer Stuart , Mosiello Giovanni , Wang Qing Wei , Wen Jian Guo
Published: April 2019

Aims

A pilot survey shows that primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) prevalence has increased significantly during the past decade in Mainland China. Whether it is related to the delay of elimination communication (EC) is unclear. This study retrospectively investigated the influence of delayed EC on the PNE prevalence in children and adolescents in mainland China.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study of PNE prevalence was performed by distributing 19 500 anonymous self‐administered questionnaires to parents in five provinces of mainland China from July 2017 to October 2017. The questionnaires included sociodemographic data, family caregivers’ information, and details about the disposable diapers (DD) usage, EC commencement date, psychological disorders, lower urinary tract symptoms, and family history of PNE in children and adolescents. The 2017 PNE prevalence was compared with that of 2006 in Mainland China.

Results

The total response rate was 97.04% (18 631 of 19 500) and 92.39% (18 016 of 19 500) qualified for statistical analysis. The PNE prevalence in 2017 has increased significantly compared to that of 2006 (7.30% vs 4.07%, P < 0.001). The PNE prevalence in children with EC starting before 6 months of age was significantly lower than those who start after 12 months of age. The longer DD were used and the later the beginning of EC, the higher the PNE prevalence was found.

Conclusions

The PNE prevalence in Mainland China has increased significantly during the past 10 years. A longer use of DD and later onset of EC may be risk factors for PNE.
Carbon dioxide diffusion coefficient in noninvasive high‐frequency oscillatory ventilation
Authors: Schäfer Christoph , Schumann Stefan , Fuchs Hans , Klotz Daniel
Published: April 2019

Objectives

The carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusion coefficient (DCO
2) reflects CO
2 removal during high‐frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). We hypothesized that despite leak flow during noninvasive HFOV (nHFOV) DCO
2 continues to indicate ventilation efficacy.

Methods

A neonatal airway model including CO2 production and an adjustable oropharyngeal leak was connected to a ventilator via bi‐nasal prongs. Pressures and gas flows were measured at prongs, trachea, and leak. Oscillatory tidal volumes below (V
T trachea) and above the leak (V
T prong) were calculated from tracheal and leak flows. DCO
2 was calculated using V
T trachea (DCO
2 trachea) and V
T prong (DCO
2 prong) and compared with CO
2 partial pressure (pCO
2). Effects of leak flow (0, 5, or 10 L/min) on DCO
2 were assessed at fixed pressure amplitudes or predefined oscillatory volumes under steady‐state pCO
2 conditions in the modeled lung.

Results

DCO2 trachea correlated strongly with pCO
2, independent of the leak flow level (P < 0.0001). DCO
2 prong correlated with pCO
2 without and with moderate leak (P < 0.0001) but not with maximum leak (P = 0.1432). V
T trachea correlated with the quotient of tracheal pressure amplitude and frequency irrespective of the leak (P < 0.0001). Based on the pressure amplitude at prong level (A
prong) V
T trachea continued to follow a linear model of which the slopes decreased with increasing leak flow. V
T prong correlated with the quotient of A
prong and frequency, irrespective of the leak (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

DCO2 obtained at the airway opening at prong level reflects ventilation efficacy during nHFOV even in the presence of moderate oropharyngeal leak.
Quantile regression and empirical likelihood for the analysis of longitudinal data with monotone missing responses due to dropout, with applications to quality of life measurements from clinical trials
Authors: Lv Yang , Qin Guoyou , Zhu Zhongyi , Tu Dongsheng
Published: April 2019

The analysis of quality of life (QoL) data can be challenging due to the skewness of responses and the presence of missing data. In this paper, we propose a new weighted quantile regression method for estimating the conditional quantiles of QoL data with responses missing at random. The proposed method makes use of the correlation information within the same subject from an auxiliary mean regression model to enhance the estimation efficiency and takes into account of missing data mechanism. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimator have been studied and simulations are also conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimator. The proposed method has also been applied to the analysis of the QoL data from a clinical trial on early breast cancer, which motivated this study.
Transfer Methods of Graphene from Metal Substrates: A Review
Authors: Ma Lai‐Peng , Ren Wencai , Cheng Hui‐Ming
Published: April 2019

Graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on metal substrates has attracted tremendous attention due to its high growth‐quality, scalability, and high structural tunability, which holds great promise in a wide range of applications. In most cases, CVD graphene on metals must be transferred to target substrates and the intact/clean and efficient transfer of large‐area graphene remains challenging, thus greatly hindering the practical applications of CVD‐grown graphene in high‐performance devices. Here, the representative methods of transferring CVD graphene are discussed from the perspective of their impacts on the structural integrity and contamination of graphene as well as their scalability. Particularly, the principles, advantages, and limitations are highlighted in various methods.
Transformation of Polyoxometalate into 3D Porous Li‐Containing Oxide: A Case Study of γ‐LiV2O5 for High‐Performance Cathodes of Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Bayaguud Aruuhan , Zhang Zhibo , Geng Maoning , Fu Yanpeng , Yu Yan , Zhu Changbao
Published: April 2019

The development of cathode materials with high Li storage capacity and fast Li‐ion diffusion kinetics is considered to be a promising way to extend the energy and power densities of Li‐ion batteries (LIBs). As potential high‐capacity cathode materials for LIBs, polyoxometalates (POMs) suffer greatly from inherent drawbacks. Therefore, another possibility for the application of POMs in LIBs is shown, which is to transform POMs into relevant 3D porous Li‐containing oxides. Here, a unique 3D porous γ‐LiV2O5 film is successfully prepared by combining the electrostatic spray deposition technique and the POM as a precursor. Outstanding high capacity with stable cycling performance and excellent rate capability is realized based on 3D porous nanostructure and thin‐film morphology, which effectively facilitate the transport of both lithium ion and electron. Moreover, this work demonstrates the feasibility of achieving high‐performance metal oxide cathode by the transformation of POMs and also shows the superiority of γ‐phase over α‐phase as a starting cathode material in LIBs as well.
LiDAR‐based characterization of mid‐altitude wind conditions for airborne wind energy systems
Authors: Sommerfeld Markus , Crawford Curran , Monahan Adam , Bastigkeit Ilona
Published: April 2019

Engineers and researchers working on the development of airborne wind energy systems (AWES) still rely on oversimplified wind speed approximations and coarsely sampled reanalysis data because of a lack of high‐resolution wind data at altitudes above 200 m. Ten‐minute average wind speed LiDAR measurements up to an altitude of 1100 m and data from nearby weather stations were investigated with regard to wind energy generation and impact on LiDAR measurements. Data were gathered by a long‐range pulsed Doppler LiDAR device installed on flat terrain. Because of the low overall carrier‐to‐noise ratio, a custom‐filtering technique was applied. Our analyses show that diurnal variation and atmospheric stability significantly affect wind conditions aloft which cause a wide range of wind speeds and a multimodal probability distribution that cannot be represented by a simple Weibull distribution fit. A better representation of the actual wind conditions can be achieved by fitting Weibull distributions separately to stable and unstable conditions. Splitting and clustering the data by simulated surface heat flux reveals substate stratification responsible for the multimodality. We classify different wind conditions based on these substates, which result in different wind energy potential. We assess optimal traction power and optimal operating altitudes statistically as well as for specific days based on a simplified AWES model. Using measured wind speed standard deviation, we estimate average turbulence intensity and show its variation with altitude and time. Selected short‐term data sets illustrate temporal changes in wind conditions and atmospheric stratification with a high temporal and vertical resolution.
Characterization of an Early Bronze Age pottery group from the upper Tigris valley (Turkey) by means of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques
Authors: Bayazit Murat , Kozbe Gülriz
Published: April 2019

In this archaeometric research potsherds from Kavuşan Höyük (a mound located in the upper Tigris valley) representing the Metallic Ware, a diagnostic ceramic group mostly found in north Mesopotamia was characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in order to differ the imitated ones, if exist, to reveal the production technologies and compare the results with the previous archaeometric works concerning Metallic Ware. For this purpose, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy, polarized energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, and micro‐Raman spectroscopy were used. Two groups were specified as the calcareous “imitations” and the dominant noncalcareous ware as the real ones. The results suggested that the noncalcareous ware of Kavuşan was presumably not produced with the possible clay deposits mentioned in previous studies, which focused on the provenance investigation of a wide range of Metallic Ware samples from the upper Tigris valley. It was also concluded from the results that the calcareous imitations would presumably belong to a local (in the name of Kavuşan) or regional (the upper Tigris) production due to the geological and chemical affinities.
Supersymmetry breaking warped throats and the weak gravity conjecture
Authors: Buratti Ginevra , García-Valdecasas Eduardo , Uranga Angel M.
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We generalize the swampland criterion forbidding stable non-supersymmetric AdS vacua and propose a new swampland conjecture forbidding stable non-supersymmetric “locally AdS” warped throats. The conjecture is motivated by the properties of systems of fractional D3-branes at singularities, and can be used to rule out large classes of warped throats with supersymmetry breaking ingredients, and their possible application to de Sitter uplift. In particular, this allows to reinterpret the runaway instabilities of the gravity dual of fractional branes in the dP1 theory, and to rule out warped throats with Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking D-brane sectors at their bottom. We also discuss the instabilities of warped throats with supersymmetry broken by the introduction of anti-orientifold planes. These examples lead to novel decay mechanisms in explicit non-supersymmetric examples of locally AdS warped throats, and also of pure AdS backgrounds.
Cosmic censorship violation in black hole collisions in higher dimensions
Authors: Andrade Tomás , Emparan Roberto , Licht David , Luna Raimon
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We argue that cosmic censorship is violated in the collision of two black holes in high spacetime dimension D when the initial total angular momentum is sufficiently large. The two black holes merge and form an unstable bar-like horizon, which grows a neck in its middle that pinches down with diverging curvature. When D is large, the emission of gravitational radiation is strongly suppressed and cannot spin down the system to a stable rotating black hole before the neck grows. The phenomenon is demonstrated using simple numerical simulations of the effective theory in the 1/D expansion. We propose that, even though cosmic censorship is violated, the loss of predictability is small independently of D.
Vulnerability, Resilience and ‘Systemic Interest’: a Connectivity Approach
Authors: Cardinale Ivano
Published: April 2019

This paper analyzes the socio-economic dimension of vulnerability and resilience from the viewpoint of connectivity. While no consensus has yet emerged on the definitions of vulnerability and resilience or on their relationship, it has been recognized that both have an important normative dimension, in that whether a system is considered vulnerable or resilient depends on the interests of the stakeholders involved. The paper proposes a dimension of resilience and vulnerability that is likely to be shared across a significant spectrum of stakeholders. To do so, the paper analyses connectivity within social-ecological systems from a “Structural Political Economy” viewpoint. A key concept in this regard is “systemic interest”, which is defined as the interest of stakeholders in keeping viable the system of connections within which they act. Systemic interest has desirable properties to conceptualize the normative dimension of vulnerability and resilience and leads to problematize their link with connectivity. In fact, it raises the question of what features of connectivity can be expected to lead to systemic interest, and how this impinges on vulnerability and resilience in different contexts. On the one hand, one might expect that a more interconnected system is more vulnerable to shocks, which propagate more easily throughout the system. On the other hand, such system might have a stronger systemic interest, so that a shock would trigger stakeholders’ reaction to counteract its effects and avoid systemic consequences. The paper points to the institutional conditions that might make either outcome more likely in any given context.
Just Another Level? Comparing Quantitative Patterns of Global Expansion of School and Higher Education Attainment
Authors: Barakat Bilal , Shields Robin
Published: April 2019

The expansion of higher education enrollment and attainment is a key uncertainty in the education profile of future populations. Many studies have examined cross-national determinants of higher education expansion as well the understanding of expansion through the relationship between higher education and the labor market. Early work established a typology for levels of enrollment, but recent empirical studies on the global growth of higher education attainment are scarce, and available projections resort to imposing ad hoc limits on future expansion. This study addresses this gap by comparing the trajectories of higher education expansion with those experienced at other levels on their course to universal or near-universal access. We demonstrate that a population-level model of expansion toward universal access fits higher education as well as lower levels of education (i.e., primary and secondary education). In other words, that there is no prima facie evidence of a ceiling in higher education enrollment that would indicate saturation significantly below 100 % participation. Claims that are premised on such a ceiling should therefore consider empirical evidence for this assumption in their analysis. These findings contribute to discussions on higher education expansion as well as studies of higher education and the labor market.
Pressure-driven gas flow in viscously deformable porous media: application to lava domes
Authors: Hyman David M. , Bursik M. I. , Pitman E. B.
Published: April 2019

The behaviour of low-viscosity, pressure-driven compressible pore fluid flows in viscously deformable porous media is studied here with specific application to gas flow in lava domes. The combined flow of gas and lava is shown to be governed by a two-equation set of nonlinear mixed hyperbolic–parabolic type partial differential equations describing the evolution of gas pore pressure and lava porosity. Steady state solution of this system is achieved when the gas pore pressure is magmastatic and the porosity profile accommodates the magmastatic pressure condition by increased compaction of the medium with depth. A one-dimensional (vertical) numerical linear stability analysis (LSA) is presented here. As a consequence of the pore-fluid compressibility and the presence of gravitation compaction, the gradients present in the steady-state solution cause variable coefficients in the linearized equations which generate instability in the LSA despite the diffusion-like and dissipative terms in the original system. The onset of this instability is shown to be strongly controlled by the thickness of the flow and the maximum porosity, itself a function of the mass flow rate of gas. Numerical solutions of the fully nonlinear system are also presented and exhibit nonlinear wave propagation features such as shock formation. As applied to gas flow within lava domes, the details of this dynamics help explain observations of cyclic lava dome extrusion and explosion episodes. Because the instability is stronger in thicker flows, the continued extrusion and thickening of a lava dome constitutes an increasing likelihood of instability onset, pressure wave growth and ultimately explosion.
Buried Treasure: Excavating Foreign Law from Civil Pleadings Filed in U.S. Federal Courts
Authors: Turner Loren
Published: April 2019

Early last summer, I received a phone call from a law student in the litigation department of a large firm. He was working with a team on a case involving Czech law and, as part of a due diligence review, he was seeking an English translation of a piece of Czech legislation before the firm outsourced the bulk of the foreign legal research to Czech attorney-experts. Although it was easy to find the Czech legislation in Czech from a Czech government website, we could not find an English translation – official or otherwise – from any of our free or subscription-based databases. In the end, we relied on the flawed magic of Google Chrome's translate feature to “translate” the Czech legislation from the Czech government website into English. Despite my protestations and disclaimers, the student was thrilled with our results and insisted he had satisfied his due diligence duties. I hung up the phone and thought to myself: certainly, other American litigants have taken cases involving Czech law. What happens to the foreign law and legal analysis they obtain from their Czech attorney-experts? Assuming they submit some of it to our U.S. courts in the course of litigation, why can't we easily retrieve it?
Traditional Cultural Expressions and International Intellectual Property Law
Authors: Martinet Lily
Published: April 2019

This presentation draws on my doctoral research, which was conducted on traditional cultural expressions in international law. This subject still fills me with passion even after having spent many years studying it. To sum up my Ph.D. thesis in a sentence, I studied how international law embraces traditional dances, songs, handicrafts, designs, and rituals. Very diverse fields of laws were relevant for this research, but in the framework of this presentation, the focus was kept on intellectual property. The goal of this presentation was to provide answers to two essential questions. The first question relates to the definition of traditional cultural expressions (I), the second one concerned the reasons underpinning the introduction of this concept in international law (II).