bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relating diffusion tensor imaging measurements to microstructural quantities in the cerebral cortex in multiple sclerosis
Authors: McKavanagh Rebecca , Torso Mario , Jenkinson Mark , Kolasinski James , Stagg Charlotte J. , Esiri Margaret M. , McNab Jennifer A. , Johansen‐Berg Heidi , Miller Karla L. , Chance Steven A.
Published: July 2019

To investigate whether the observed anisotropic diffusion in cerebral cortex may reflect its columnar cytoarchitecture and myeloarchitecture, as a potential biomarker for disease‐related changes, we compared postmortem diffusion magnetic resonance imaging scans of nine multiple sclerosis brains with histology measures from the same regions. Histology measurements assessed the cortical minicolumnar structure based on cell bodies and associated axon bundles in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Area 9), Heschl's gyrus (Area 41), and primary visual cortex (V1). Diffusivity measures included mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy of the cortex, and three specific measures that may relate to the radial minicolumn structure: the angle of the principal diffusion direction in the cortex, the component that was perpendicular to the radial direction, and the component that was parallel to the radial direction. The cellular minicolumn microcircuit features were correlated with diffusion angle in Areas 9 and 41, and the axon bundle features were correlated with angle in Area 9 and to the parallel component in V1 cortex. This may reflect the effect of minicolumn microcircuit organisation on diffusion in the cortex, due to the number of coherently arranged membranes and myelinated structures. Several of the cortical diffusion measures showed group differences between MS brains and control brains. Differences between brain regions were also found in histology and diffusivity measurements consistent with established regional variation in cytoarchitecture and myeloarchitecture. Therefore, these novel measures may provide a surrogate of cortical organisation as a potential biomarker, which is particularly relevant for detecting regional changes in neurological disorders.
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging quantifies corticospinal tract microstructural organization in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Nemanich Samuel T. , Mueller Bryon A. , Gillick Bernadette T.
Published: July 2019

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) due to early brain injury exhibit disrupted connectivity of corticospinal tracts (CSTs), which can be quantified using diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is commonly used to quantify white matter organization, however, this model lacks the biological specificity to accurately describe underlying microstructural properties. Newer approaches, such as neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), may provide more biologically accurate information regarding CST microstructure. In this study, we directly compared metrics of CST microstructure using NODDI and DTI models to characterize the microstructural organization of corticospinal pathways. Twenty participants with UCP participating in a neuromodulation/rehabilitation intervention underwent imaging including multi‐shell DWI; 10 participants' datasets were adequately completed for neuroimaging analysis. Task fMRI‐guided probabilistic tractography from motor cortex to brainstem was performed at baseline and follow‐up to reconstruct the CSTs. Diffusion metrics were compared between hemispheres at baseline, and between baseline and follow‐up to test for intervention effects. Correlation analyses were used to compare baseline metrics to changes in hand function following the intervention. DTI results showed that mean fractional anisotropy in lesioned and nonlesioned CSTs did not significantly differ, but mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were greater in the lesioned CST. For NODDI, intracellular volume fraction (ICVF) and orientation dispersion index (ODI) were lower in the lesioned CST. Unimanual function was strongly correlated with ICVF, but not FA. NODDI may reveal distinct properties of CST microstructure that are linked to motor function, indicating their potential in characterizing brain structure and development.
4‐1BB Delineates Distinct Activation Status of Exhausted Tumor‐Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Hyung‐Don , Park Seongyeol , Jeong Seongju , Lee Yong Joon , Lee Hoyoung , Kim Chang Gon , Kim Kyung Hwan , Hong Seung‐Mo , Lee Jung‐Yun , Kim Sunghoon , Kim Hong Kwan , Min Byung Soh , Chang Jong Hee , Ju Young Seok , Shin Eui‐Cheol , Song Gi‐Won , Hwang Shin , Park Su‐Hyung
Published: July 2019

Background and Aims

Targeting costimulatory receptors with agonistic antibodies is a promising cancer immunotherapy option. We aimed to investigate costimulatory receptor expression, particularly 4‐1BB (CD137 or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9), on tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells (CD8+ tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes [TILs]) and its association with distinct T‐cell activation features among exhausted CD8+ TILs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Approach and Results

Tumor tissues, adjacent nontumor tissues, and peripheral blood were collected from HCC patients undergoing surgical resection (n = 79). Lymphocytes were isolated and used for multicolor flow cytometry, RNA‐sequencing, and in vitro functional restoration assays. Among the examined costimulatory receptors, 4‐1BB was most prominently expressed on CD8+ TILs. 4‐1BB expression was almost exclusively detected on CD8+ T cells in the tumor—especially on programmed death 1 (PD‐1)high cells and not PD‐1int and PD‐1neg cells. Compared to PD‐1int and 4‐1BBnegPD‐1high CD8+ TILs, 4‐1BBposPD‐1high CD8+ TILs exhibited higher levels of tumor reactivity and T‐cell activation markers and significant enrichment for T‐cell activation gene signatures. Per‐patient analysis revealed positive correlations between percentages of 4‐1BBpos cells among CD8+ TILs and levels of parameters of tumor reactivity and T‐cell activation. Among highly exhausted PD‐1high CD8+ TILs, 4‐1BBpos cells harbored higher proportions of cells with proliferative and reinvigoration potential. Our 4‐1BB–related gene signature predicted survival outcomes of HCC patients in the The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. 4‐1BB agonistic antibodies enhanced the function of CD8+ TILs and further enhanced the anti‐PD‐1–mediated reinvigoration of CD8+ TILs, especially in cases showing high levels of T‐cell activation.

Conclusion

4‐1BB expression on CD8+ TILs represents a distinct activation state among highly exhausted CD8+ T cells in HCC. 4‐1BB costimulation with agonistic antibodies may be a promising strategy for treating HCCs exhibiting prominent T‐cell activation.
Methyl‐Sensing Nuclear Receptor Liver Receptor Homolog‐1 Regulates Mitochondrial Function in Mouse Hepatocytes
Authors: Choi Sungwoo , Dong Bingning , Lin Chih‐Chun Janet , Heo Mi Jeong , Kim Kang Ho , Sun Zhen , Wagner Martin , Putluri Nagireddy , Suh Jae Myoung , Wang Meng C. , Moore David D.
Published: July 2019

Background and Aims

Liver receptor homolog‐1 (LRH‐1; NR5A2) is a nuclear receptor that regulates metabolic homeostasis in the liver. Previous studies identified phosphatidylcholines as potential endogenous agonist ligands for LRH‐1. In the liver, distinct subsets of phosphatidylcholine species are generated by two different pathways: choline addition to phosphatidic acid through the Kennedy pathway and trimethylation of phosphatidylethanolamine through phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyl transferase (PEMT).

Approach and Results

Here, we report that a PEMT–LRH‐1 pathway specifically couples methyl metabolism and mitochondrial activities in hepatocytes. We show that the loss of Lrh‐1 reduces mitochondrial number, basal respiration, beta‐oxidation, and adenosine triphosphate production in hepatocytes and decreases expression of mitochondrial biogenesis and beta‐oxidation genes. In contrast, activation of LRH‐1 by its phosphatidylcholine agonists exerts opposite effects. While disruption of the Kennedy pathway does not affect the LRH‐1‐mediated regulation of mitochondrial activities, genetic or pharmaceutical inhibition of the PEMT pathway recapitulates the effects of Lrh‐1 knockdown on mitochondria. Furthermore, we show that S‐adenosyl methionine, a cofactor required for PEMT, is sufficient to induce Lrh‐1 transactivation and consequently mitochondrial biogenesis.

Conclusions

A PEMT–LRH‐1 axis regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and beta‐oxidation in hepatocytes.
Impact of Implementing a “FIB‐4 First” Strategy on a Pathway for Patients With NAFLD Referred From Primary Care
Authors: Davyduke Tracy , Tandon Puneeta , Al‐Karaghouli Mustafa , Abraldes Juan G. , Ma Mang M.
Published: July 2019

Detection of advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is essential for stratifying patients according to the risk of liver‐related morbidity. Noninvasive methods such as vibration‐controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and Fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4) have been recommended to identify patients for further assessment. The aim of this study was to assess the potential impact of implementing a “FIB‐4 First” strategy to triage patients entering a NAFLD assessment pathway. The pathway for patients with suspected NAFLD was piloted at a tertiary liver center. Referral criteria were 16‐65 years old, elevated alanine aminotransferase and/or steatosis on imaging, and absence of a previous liver diagnosis. A registered nurse risk‐stratified all patients based on VCTE and FIB‐4 was calculated. Potential alternative diagnoses were excluded with bloodwork. A total of 565 patients underwent risk stratification with VCTE with a 97% success rate. Ten percent had VCTE of at least 8 kPa; 560 patients had FIB‐4 available for analysis and 87% had values less than 1.3. Of those with a FIB‐4 of at least 1.3, 69% had a VCTE less than 8 kPa. Further modeling showed that the presence of diabetes, age, and body mass index had only a moderate impact on the association between FIB‐4 and elastography values if using a FIB‐4 threshold of 1.3. Conclusion: A FIB‐4 threshold of 1.3 was acceptable for excluding the presence of advanced fibrosis (assessed by VCTE). A staged risk‐stratification model using FIB‐4 and VCTE could save up to 87% of further assessments. This model could improve accessibility by moving the initial fibrosis evaluation to the medical home and helping to prioritize patients for further specialized care.
Promoting environmental sustainability, equity and health in Victorian Primary Care Partnerships
Authors: Kay Valerie Anne , Livingstone Charles Henry
Published: July 2019

Issue addressed

Globally and locally, environmental degradation (including climate change) and inequity pose major risks to health. While health promoters recognise the importance of both issues, they may be seen as separate agendas. This study investigated health promotion addressing both issues together.

Methods

The study was an investigation of health promotion practice addressing environmental sustainability and equity, conducted in 2013, as part of a community‐based participatory action research project with three Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) in Victoria, Australia, during 2009‐2016.

Results

Thirty‐two local health promotion projects addressing both environmental sustainability and equity were identified. Analysis showed clusters of environmental, equity and health themes, particularly around: (a) caring for local environment, food, access to nature and Indigenous participation; (b) sustainability of housing, thermal comfort and reducing energy costs; and (c) sustainable and active transport. The study also found a marked decline in the number of PCPs in Victoria identifying environmental sustainability as a priority in 2013, compared to 2009. Analysis of helpful factors and challenges to practice identified by research participants, suggests interrelated political, organisational and discursive factors contributed to this decline.

Conclusions

The study suggests local health promotion can contribute to the development of societies that are more ecologically sustainable and more equitable. However, the challenges suggest broader advocacy is required to support local action.

So what?

Environmental degradation and inequity are major threats to human and ecosystem health. This study shows local health promotion can address both issues concurrently, and provides important information about challenges to this work.
Synthesis, structure, and antioxidative properties of a copper(II) complex with 1,2‐bis(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)ethane ligand
Authors: Tang Xia , Qu Yao , Wang Cong , Wu Yancong , Zhao Kun , Wu Huilu
Published: July 2019

1,2‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)ethane (bbe) and its copper(II) complex, {[Cu(bbe)Br2]2}·2DMF (1), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ultraviolet–visible, and infrared spectra. The single crystal structure analysis of 1 shows two crystallographically independent but chemically identical [Cu(bbe)Br2] molecules. The coordination geometry of the copper atoms may best be described as a distorted tetrahedron (τ4 = 0.740 for Cu1 and 0.696 for Cu2). The cyclic voltammogram of complex 1 represents quasi‐reversible Cu2+/Cu+ pairs. in vitro antioxidant tests showed that complex 1 has significant antioxidant activity against superoxide and hydroxy radicals. Photoluminescence investigations showed that the fluorescence intensity of complex 1 is significantly weaker than that of the ligand. This may be due to the paramagnetic effect of divalent copper to cause quenching of fluorescence.
Climatology and trends of the Indian Ocean surface waves based on 39‐year long ERA5 reanalysis data
Authors: Muhammed Naseef T. , Sanil Kumar V.
Published: July 2019

In this study, the wind and the surface waves in the Indian Ocean (IO) during 1979–2017 are studied based on the ECMWF ERA5 Reanalysis data. Long‐term statistical analysis of extreme waves is carried out based on Generalized Extreme Value distribution using annual maxima and the spatial distribution of return levels for 50 and 100 years are studied. In general, the ERA5 significant wave height (Hs) and maximum wave height (Hmax) show a good agreement with measured buoy data in the coastal (bias ~0.29 m) and deep waters (bias ~0.18 m). During the tropical cyclone, underestimation of Hs and Hmax in the ERA5 data compared to buoy data is 2.7 and 1.4%, but in general the bias is large (~0.69 m). Swell domination is observed in larger regions of the IO, whereas wind‐seas are comparable to swells in the Southern Ocean. The meridional wind speed largely influences the spatial pattern of Hs in the North IO. The stronger winds over the Southern Ocean play a major role in generating higher waves at higher latitudes. Maximum value of the 100‐year return level for Hs in IO is 17.8 m, whereas highest value of the Hs is 16.7 m and Hmax is 32.0 m. Severe wave events are common at 50°–60°S and only during 25% of the time in a year, Hmax is less than 5 m in this region. Ratio of the Hmax to Hs varies from 1.46 to 2.3 with a mean value of 1.87. The 100‐year return value of Hs changed by −4 to 5 m, when the length of the dataset is decreased from 39 years (1979–2017) to recent 20 years. On an average, from 1979 to 2017, the annual average Hmax increased by 0.73 cm/year. In major areas of the IO, a clear decrease of the Hs is observed during 1991–2017, whereas during 1979–2017, an increase in Hs is found.
A climatological study of the strongest local winds of Japan “Inami‐kaze”
Authors: Koyanagi Takuma , Kusaka Hiroyuki
Published: July 2019

This study examines the meteorological and climatological features of the Inami‐kaze in the Tonami Plain, the strongest local winds in Japan. The plain faces the Sea of Japan on the north side, while the remaining three sides are surrounded by high mountain ranges. An interview survey to local residents and the distribution of windbreak trees both indicate that the Inami‐kaze is localized to a surprisingly small region near the Inami town (about 6 km parallel to the mountain ridge and 3 km perpendicular to it), at the base of a very small saddle‐like topography in the mountain ridge. Wind statistics with a dense observation network during 2006–2014 (28 Inami‐kaze events) supports the above finding. Indeed, the wind speed is mostly (95%) below 11 m/s at the Tonami town, just 5 km away from the Inami town, while the Inami‐kaze (≥15 m/s) blows at the Inami town. Such a spatial pattern should be formed as a result of downslope windstorm with hydraulic jumps, which is indicated from the internal Froude number change across the mountain (0.9 at the upstream, 1.4 at the mountain top, and 0.3 at downstream). The required synoptic atmospheric condition for the Inami‐kaze is the pressure pattern “extratropical cyclone in the Sea of Japan.” The sufficient condition is the SSW–SSE wind (≥25 m/s) or south wind (around 20 m/s) at the 800‐pressure level over the mountain chain, indicating the allowed directional window is very narrow. On the other hand, the Inami‐kaze has an aspect of foehn. While the Inami‐kaze occur, the potential temperature at the Inami town tends to be higher by 4.7 K on average than in the windward plain on the Pacific Ocean side.
Evaluation of healing at molar extraction sites with and without ridge preservation: A three‐arm histologic analysis
Authors: Duong Mylinh , Mealey Brian L. , Walker Christopher , Al‐Harthi Shaimaa , Prihoda Thomas J. , Huynh‐Ba Guy
Published: July 2019

Background

Little evidence is available regarding the benefit of ridge preservation (RP) at molar sites. The primary objective of this three‐arm cohort study was to histologically compare the healing outcome between natural healing after molar tooth extraction and two different techniques of RP using freeze‐dried bone allograft (FDBA) and a nonresorbable dense polytetrafluoroethylene (dPTFE) membrane, or an absorbable collagen sponge as a barrier.

Methods

Seventy‐nine patients requiring extraction and delayed implant placement were placed into three groups: extraction alone (control); ridge preserved using FDBA; and either dPTFE (Test1) or collagen sponge (Test2). Bone cores were harvested from implant osteotomies at ≈3 months after extraction for histomorphometric analysis to determine the percentage of vital bone, residual graft, and connective or other tissue. Ridge dimension changes were also evaluated radiographically (cone‐beam computed tomography).

Results

The percentage of vital bone was significantly greater in control group compared with Test1 but was not statistically different among other groups. Test2 showed significantly less connective or other tissue than control and Test1. The percentage of residual graft was significantly lower in Test1 compared with Test2. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of vital bone or residual graft and the following parameters: healing time, patient age, gender, buccal plate thickness, or radiographic changes in ridge dimensions.

Conclusion

RP at molar sites using FDBA and an absorbable collagen sponge may be a sufficient and economic way to preserve the ridge dimension without interfering with the amount of new bone formation.
Model for large strain consolidation with non‐Darcian flow described by a flow exponent and threshold gradient
Authors: Zhao Xu‐Dong , Gong Wen‐Hui
Published: July 2019

Many pieces of evidence have confirmed that the seepage in fine‐grained soils can deviate from traditional Darcy's law that contributes to the consolidation theory. In this paper, a numerical model, referred to as consolidation with non‐Darcian flow 2 (CNDF2), is developed for the 1D large strain consolidation of a saturated porous medium with the non‐Darcian flow. The algorithm accounts for vertical strain, general constitutive relationships, the relative velocity of the fluid and solid phases, variable compressibility and permeability relation during consolidation, time‐dependent loading, and unload/reload effects. Compared with the CS2 model proposed in previous studies, some parts of the CNDF2 model are modified in order to adapt to the non‐Darcian flow, especially the equivalent series hydraulic conductivity and fluid flow. The verification examples of the CNDF2 model demonstrate excellent accuracy for both small strain and large strain consolidation. According to the applicable conditions of non‐Darcian flow law, the CNDF2 model is most suitable for the fine‐grained soil. The development of CNDF2 is first presented, followed by examples to analyze the influences of the non‐Darcian flow on the consolidation behavior.
The paradox of growth and giving: Critical case sampling to illuminate the catalytic potential of an underresearched phenomenon
Authors: Castillo Elizabeth A. , Jones Jennifer A.
Published: July 2019

The paradox of growth and giving is that, for a philanthropic gift to be of maximum use, both the donor and the nonprofit client must grow. The client's growth is frequently measured through program outcomes. The donor's growth is rarely addressed, but it can be measured by the cognitive complexity with which the donor approaches the problem. This qualitative study used constructive developmental theory and critical case sampling to identify and describe the three possible patterns in cognitive complexity: meaning making more complex in work than in philanthropy, equal in both domains, or more complex in philanthropy than in work. For each participant, we identified a developmental growth edge that, if pursued, would improve their philanthropic impact. Findings suggest that donors' cognitive complexity structures how they approach philanthropy and can be variable (context dependent). Participants were not aware of the extent to which philanthropy could also be a growth opportunity for themselves. This lack of awareness impedes their own growth potential and, thus, the potential of their philanthropic gifts. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for philanthropy.
User Data as Public Resource: Implications for Social Media Regulation
Authors: Napoli Philip M.
Published: July 2019

Revelations about the misuse and insecurity of user data gathered by social media platforms have renewed discussions about how best to characterize property rights in user data. At the same time, revelations about the use of social media platforms to disseminate disinformation and hate speech have prompted debates over the need for government regulation to assure that these platforms serve the public interest. These debates often hinge on whether any of the established rationales for media regulation apply to social media. This article argues that the public resource rationale that has been utilized in traditional media regulation in the United States applies to social media. The public resource rationale contends that, when a media outlet utilizes a public resource—such as the broadcast spectrum, or public rights of way—the outlet must abide by certain public interest obligations that may infringe upon its First Amendment rights. This article argues that aggregate user data can be conceptualized as a public resource that triggers the application of a public interest regulatory framework to social media sites and other digital platforms that derive their revenue from the gathering, sharing, and monetization of massive aggregations of user data.
Synthesis, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition and Computational Analysis of Diversely Substituted N‐Propargylated‐1,3,5‐triazines
Authors: Chioua Mourad , González‐Camuñas Arturo , Catarozzo María T. , Alcaro Stefano , Ortuso Francesco , Yáñez Matilde , Marco‐Contelles José
Published: July 2019

In this work six diversely substituted N‐propargylated‐1,3,5‐triazines have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Very surprisingly, only 4,6‐dichloro‐N‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐amine (1) showed modest, but selective MAO−B inhibition (IC50=14.2 ± 0.7 μM), whose binding affinity has been investigated by computational analysis
From Coordination Complexes to Potential Heterogeneous Catalysts via Solid‐State Thermal Decomposition: Precursor, Atmosphere and Temperature as Tuning Variables
Authors: Pérez José , Serrano José L. , Sánchez Gregorio , Lozano Pedro , da Silva Ivan , Alcolea Alberto
Published: July 2019

Solid state transformations of PdCl2, [PdCl2(PPh3)2], [Pd(PPh3)4], RuCl3⋅H2O, [RuCl2(p‐cymene)]2 and [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in three different atmospheres (N2, air and O2) have been studied by heating to 1000 °C/1400 °C these palladium/ruthenium compounds. The products obtained this way have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction and its specific formulation has shown a strong dependence on the precursor complex, the atmosphere used and the temperature. Thus it is possible to obtain different materials xPd(1‐x)PdO and xRu(1‐x)RuO2 with a variable x value ranging between 0 and 1 from complexes without PPh3 ligand. The decomposition pattern displayed by complexes containing PPh3 is clearly different, as metal phosphate is generated during the process.
Alternate Energy Sources for Sustainable Organic Synthesis
Authors: Mandal Bablee
Published: July 2019

Organic Chemistry plays an important role in energy, information, materials, population, health, environment and implementation of defence plan. Organic chemists therefore, have the greatest responsibility to devise methods of carrying out organic syntheses, which will reduce or even eliminate the by‐products and solve the problem of environmental pollution from the source. One of the methods to achieve this is using non‐conventional energy sources, such as microwave, ultrasound, and photochemical chemistry, in conjugation with non‐toxic solvents, which dramatically reduces energy waste and reaction time. Experiments synergising these alternate energy sources like microwave sonication, photosonication or microwave photochemistry, have gained high popularity as cost‐ effective green strategies. Pooling the advantages of alternate energy sources with biocatalysis is another novel avenue of sustainable synthesis. Organic electrosynthesis has also emerged as an environmentally benign technique for the construction of C‐C and C‐hetero bonds. Highlights of significant developments in these areas define the scope of the present discussion.
A New and Eco‐Friendly Method for Reduction of Ketones in Water
Authors: Türkmen Gülşah , Kavukcu Serdar Batıkan
Published: July 2019

This paper reports a new, practical, and environmentally friendly catalytic system for reduction of the ketones to the related alcohols with efficient reaction performance in water. Catalysts were generated in situ from rhodium, ruthenium and iridium transition metal compounds with commercially available piperidines [Piperidine (L1), 2‐hydroxymethylpiperidine (L2), 3‐hydroxymethylpiperidine (L3), 4‐hydroxymethylpiperidine (L4), 4‐hydroxypiperidine (L5)] as bifunctional ligands. Catalyst generated from RuCl2(PPh3)3 and 4‐hydroxymethyl piperidine have shown the best activity in aqueous media which gave a 100% product yield. RuCl2(PPh3)3, has showed a better efficiency than [RuCl2(p‐cymene)]2, IrCl(PPh3)3, or RhCl(PPh3)3 in HCOOH–HCOONa buffer solution. This study was also investigated the relationship between the structure of hydroxymethyl piperidine ligands and the catalytic activity.
Chronoamperometric Detection of Amoxicillin at Graphite Electrode using Chelate Effect of Copper(II) Ions : Application in Human Blood and Pharmaceutical Tablets
Authors: Hrioua Asmaa , Farahi Abdelfattah , Lahrich Sara , Bakasse Mina , Saqrane Sana , El Mhammedi Moulay Abderrahim
Published: July 2019

A novel electrochemical method is suggested for indirect chronoamperometric determination of amoxicillin (AMX) in the presence of copper ions Cu (II) at carbon paste electrode (CPE). The method is based on the interaction between the β‐lactam antibiotic and copper ions. This interaction was firstly studied by square wave voltammetry (SWV), where the peak corresponding to the oxidation of AMX at 0.7 V decreases significantly in the presence of copper ions. The reaction product is characterized by UV‐visible spectrophotometry and Infrared spectroscopy (IR). Moreover, when AMX was added to supporting electrolyte containing copper ions, the chronoamperometric current of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox system was increased. Hence, this increase in the current was used for indirect determination of amoxicillin. By selecting an appropriate concentration of copper (II), the calibration curve for AMX was established in the concentration range of 1.95×10−7 to 1.46×10−5 mol L−1. The detection limit was found to be 8.84× 10−8 mol L−1. The influence of different organic compounds on the AMX determination and the effect of coexisting of other metal ions in the electrolytic solution were studied. The applicability of the proposed method was tested in human blood and pharmaceutical tablets.
One‐pot Synthesis of 1‐((methylthio)methyl)‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole from O‐phenylenediamine and Aldehyde by Elemental Sulfur
Authors: Zhan Zhenzhen , Luo Nan , Ma Haojie , He Jianping , Lu Guoqiang , Cui Xinfeng , Huang Guosheng
Published: July 2019

A straightforward one‐step method for the 1‐((methylthio)methyl)‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole from o‐phenylenediamine and aldehyde has been developed employing DMSO as a solvent and as a reagent. In addition, the desired product can be collected with excellent yields under the suitable conditions.
On comparing manual and automatic generated textual descriptions of business process models
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Zaheer Sheeza , Adeel Nawab Rao Muhammad , Aslam Faisal
Published: July 2019

Several organizations maintain textual process descriptions alongside graphical process descriptions to make them usable for all stakeholders. Maintaining textual process descriptions in the presence of continuously changing processes is a labor‐intensive task. Therefore, the automatic generation of textual descriptions is desirable. However, the trade‐offs between the manual and automatic generation of descriptions are yet to be investigated. To that end, this paper aims to answer two vital questions. How similar are the descriptions generated by the two approaches? What is the impact of using the two types of descriptions on process matching? To answer these specific questions, we have generated textual descriptions of 552 process models using the two approaches. To answer the first question, we have applied six text‐matching techniques and established that the descriptions overlap significantly; however, the formulation of sentences is substantially different. For answering the second question, we have used 11 text‐matching techniques to evaluate the impact of both descriptions on process matching. Results show (a) the choice of matching technique, and the type of description, have an impact on the matching performance and (b) vector space model (VSM) is the most appropriate matching technique whereas 5 gram is the worst performing technique.
Cumulative Effects of Avian Predation on Upper Columbia River Steelhead
Authors: Evans Allen F. , Payton Quinn , Cramer Bradley M. , Collis Ken , Hostetter Nathan J. , Roby Daniel D. , Dotson Curtis
Published: July 2019

To investigate the cumulative effects of colonial waterbird predation on fish mortality and to determine what proportion of all sources of fish mortality (1 − survival) was due to bird predation, we conducted a mark–recapture–recovery study with upper Columbia River steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss that were PIT‐tagged and released (N = 78,409) at Rock Island Dam on the Columbia River, USA. We used a state–space Bayesian model that incorporated live detections and dead recoveries of tagged fish to jointly estimate predation and survival probabilities during smolt out‐migration to the Pacific Ocean over an 11‐year study period. Estimated cumulative (all colonies combined) avian predation probabilities ranged from 0.31 (95% credible interval [CRI] = 0.27–0.38) to 0.53 (95% CRI = 0.42–0.64) annually, indicating that avian predation was a substantial source of mortality. Of the predator species evaluated, predation by Caspian terns Hydroprogne caspia was often the highest, with predation probabilities ranging from 0.11 (95% CRI = 0.09–0.14) to 0.38 (95% CRI = 0.29–0.47). Probabilities of predation by double‐crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus and mixed colonies of California gulls Larus californicus and ring‐billed gulls L. delawarensis were generally lower than the probabilities for terns but were also substantial, with upwards of 0.04 (95% CRI = 0.03–0.07; cormorants) and 0.31 (95% CRI = 0.25–0.39; gulls) of steelhead consumed. Comparisons of total smolt mortality with mortality due to avian predation indicated that avian predation accounted for 42% (95% CRI = 30–56%) to 70% (95% CRI = 53–87%) of total mortality, suggesting that more steelhead were consumed by avian predators than died from all other mortality sources combined. Results indicate that avian predation, although not the original cause of steelhead declines in the basin, is now a factor limiting the survival of upper Columbia River steelhead. Using the analytical framework developed in this study, future studies can consider the cumulative impact of multiple mortality sources across large spatial and temporal scales to more fully understand the extent to which they limit fish survival.
A Missing Structural Link in the Werner Series of Cobalt(III) Complexes: The Crystal Structure of Δ‐(–)589‐Tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) Iodide Monohydrate
Authors: Grant Gregory J. , Noll Bruce C. , Lee John P.
Published: July 2019

Alfred Werner's historic resolution of Δ/Λ‐[Co(en)3]3+ (where en = ethylenediamine) provided conclusive evidence for octahedral geometry coordination compounds and the first example of chirality in an inorganic molecule. Herein, we report the historically significant structure and absolute configuration of Δ‐(–)589‐tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) iodide monohydrate, Δ‐[Co(en)3]I3 (1), the missing crystallographic piece in the series of [Co(en)3]3+ complexes. Complex 1 crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a = 8.4016(10), b = 11.2573(13), c = 18.825(2) Å, V = 1780.4(4) Å3, and Z = 4. The absolute configuration of the complex cation [Co(en)3]3+ is Δ and the en ligands adopt a λλδ configuration.
Millicharged particles in liquid argon neutrino experiments
Authors: Harnik Roni , Liu Zhen , Palamara Ornella
Published: July 2019

Abstract

We investigate the potential of Liquid Argon (LAr) neutrino detectors to search for millicharged particles, a well-motivated extension of the standard model. Detectors located downstream of an intense proton beam that is striking a target may be exposed to a large flux of millicharged particles. Millicharged particles interact primarily through low momentum exchange producing electron recoil events near detector threshold. Recently, sub-MeV detection capabilities were demonstrated by the Fermilab ArgoNeuT detector, a small LAr detector which was exposed to the NuMI neutrino beam. Despite high background rates and its small size, we show that ArgoNeuT is capable of probing unexplored parameter space with its existing dataset. In particular, we show that the excellent spatial resolution in LAr detectors allows rejecting backgrounds by requiring two soft hits that are aligned with the upstream target. We further discuss the prospects of these types of searches in future larger LAr neutrino detectors such as the DUNE near detector.
AdS3 holography at dimension two
Authors: Giusto Stefano , Rawash Sami , Turton David
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Holography can provide a microscopic interpretation of a gravitational solution as corresponding to a particular CFT state: the asymptotic expansion in gravity encodes the expectation values of operators in the dual CFT state. Such a correspondence is particularly valuable in black hole physics. We study supersymmetric D1-D5-P black holes, for which recently constructed microstate solutions known as “superstrata” provide strong motivation to derive the explicit D1-D5 holographic dictionary for CFT operators of total dimension two. In this work we derive the explicit map between one-point functions of scalar chiral primaries of dimension (1, 1) and the asymptotic expansions of families of asymptotically AdS3 ×S
3 × ℳ supergravity solutions, with ℳ either T4 or K3. We include all possible mixings between single-trace and multi-trace operators. We perform several tests of the holographic map, including new precision holographic tests of superstrata, that provide strong supporting evidence for the proposed dual CFT states.
Harmonised projections of future forest resources in Europe
Authors: Vauhkonen Jari , Berger Ambros , Gschwantner Thomas , Schadauer Klemens , Lejeune Philippe , Perin Jérôme , Pitchugin Mikhail , Adolt Radim , Zeman Miroslav , Johannsen Vivian Kvist , Kepfer-Rojas Sebastian , Sims Allan , Bastick Claire , Morneau François , Colin Antoine , Bender Susann , Kovácsevics Pál , Solti György , Kolozs László , Nagy Dóra , Nagy Kinga , Twomey Mark , Redmond John , Gasparini Patrizia , Notarangelo Monica , Rizzo Maria , Makovskis Kristaps , Lazdins Andis , Lupikis Ainars , Kulbokas Gintaras , Antón-Fernández Clara , Rego Francisco Castro , Nunes Leónia , Marin Gheorghe , Calota Catalin , Pantić Damjan , Borota Dragan , Roessiger Joerg , Bosela Michal , Šebeň Vladimír , Skudnik Mitja , Adame Patricia , Alberdi Iciar , Cañellas Isabel , Lind Torgny , Trubins Renats , Thürig Esther , Stadelmann Golo , Ditchburn Ben , Ross David , Gilbert Justin , Halsall Lesley , Lier Markus , Packalen Tuula
Published: July 2019

• Key message A dataset of forest resource projections in 23 European countries to 2040 has been prepared for forest-related policy analysis and decision-making. Due to applying harmonised definitions, while maintaining country-specific forestry practices, the projections should be usable from national to international levels. The dataset can be accessed at
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4t880qh
. The associated metadata are available at
https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/8f93e0d6-b524-43bd-bdb8-621ad5ae6fa9
.
The Effect of Produce Purchasing Behavior on Adult Obesity and Body Weight: Evidence from Household-Level Scanner Data
Authors: Volpe Richard , Cai Xiaowei , Schroeter Christiane , Mancino Lisa
Published: July 2019

We use household scanner data, paired with rich demographics and merged with self-reported measures of obesity and body mass index (BMI), to investigate the potential effects of fruit and vegetable purchasing behavior on adult obesity and body weight. We find that increasing household fruit and vegetable expenditure shares by one percentage point decreases the multiyear incidence of adult obesity by approximately 9 percent and average adult BMI by 1.4 percent, controlling for a host of potential confounding factors and measures of lifestyle choices. The results are robust to specification choice, although estimated impacts differ by gender. Our findings help quantify the potential impacts of government efforts aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake.
Application of an antibiotic spectrum index in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Lahart Alexandra C. , McPherson Christopher C. , Gerber Jeffrey S. , Warner Barbara B. , Lee Brian R. , Newland Jason G.
Published: July 2019

Antimicrobial stewardship programs typically use days of therapy to assess antimicrobial use. However, this metric does not account for the antimicrobial spectrum of activity. We applied an antibiotic spectrum index to a population of very-low-birth-weight infants to assess its utility to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Surface and basal boundary conditions at the Southern McMurdo and Ross Ice Shelves, Antarctica
Authors: GRIMA C. , KOCH I. , GREENBAUM J. S. , SODERLUND K. M. , BLANKENSHIP D. D. , YOUNG D. A. , SCHROEDER D. M. , FITZSIMONS S.
Published: July 2019

We derive the surface and basal radar reflectance and backscatter coefficients of the southern McMurdo Ice Shelf (SMIS) and part of the nearby Ross Ice Shelf (RIS), Antarctica, from radar statistical reconnaissance using a 60-MHZ airborne survey. The surface coefficients are further inverted in terms of snow density and roughness, providing a spatial distribution of the processes contributing to the surface boundary conditions. We disentangle the basal coefficients from surface transmission losses, and we provide the basal coherent content, an indicator of the boundary geometric disorder that is also self-corrected from englacial attenuation. The basal radar properties exhibit sharp gradients along specific iso-depths, suggesting an abrupt modification of the ice composition and geometric structure. We interpret this behavior as locations where the pressure-melting point is reached, outlining fields of freezing and melting ice. Basal steps are observed at both SMIS and RIS, suggesting a common geometric expression of widespread basal processes. This technique offers a simultaneous view of both the surface and basal boundary conditions to help investigate the ice-shelf stability, while its application to airborne data significantly improves coverage of the difficult-to-observe ice–ocean boundary. It also provides constraints on thermohaline circulation in ice shelves cavities, which are analogs for ice-covered ocean worlds.
Electoral competition after party splits
Authors: Ibenskas Raimondas
Published: July 2019

While party splits are a relatively frequent phenomenon in many new and established democracies, the systematic empirical research on electoral competition after schisms is limited. The analysis of more than 200 splits across 25 European countries in the post-war period addresses this gap in the research. The study shows that the vote shares of rump and splinter parties in the first election after fission are related to their membership strength and the share of splinter legislators. This relationship is present in both Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe. Additionally, economic growth affects the support of rump parties that hold government office while party system fragmentation and party funding regulations correlate with the electoral performance of splinter parties.
Morphosyntactic and morphophonological variation in Breton: a cross-generational perspective
Authors: Kennard Holly
Published: July 2019

Like France’s other regional languages, Breton has seen a steep decline, followed by a period of revitalization in recent decades. Today there are two largely separate communities of speakers: older, traditional speakers who grew up speaking Breton at home, and younger speakers, generally from French-speaking homes, most of whom have learnt Breton through immersion schooling. It is claimed that this ‘Neo-Breton’ differs from the language of older speakers, lexically, phonologically and grammatically. This article examines morphosyntactic (impersonal) and morphophonological (mutation) data to explore exactly how Neo-Breton differs from that of traditional speakers, and how the variability in the data might be explained. The data show that contrary to what might be expected, new speakers do not differ greatly from older, traditional speakers in these areas. Influence from French is more subtle than might be supposed. Children and teenagers who attend Breton-medium schooling seem to show an extended period of acquisition, but the data from adult new speakers suggests that with enough Breton input, these young speakers can reach full proficiency. However, as the number of older speakers decreases, Breton seems likely to see more widespread language change.
Living in a Biopolitical World
Authors: Aslami Zarena
Published: July 2019

Practiced by both state and nonstate agents, biopower operates by recognizing certain bodies as life-worthy and cultivating them so that they thrive under capitalism, while consigning other bodies to death, deprivation, or extractable labor in the service of the life-worthy. French philosopher Michel Foucault famously coined the term in his historical analyses of modern Western power. He argued that biopower emerged in the eighteenth century in western Europe in conjunction with imperial wars of conquest. It joined forces with sovereignty, which relies on laws and the legitimate monopoly of physical force, and discipline, a newer mode of power, which shifted the traditional target of sovereign rule from a territory and its borders to a population conceived of as abstract individuals. Three recent books take us to the nineteenth century in England and the United States, a period when biopower expanded its reach, positing and exploiting biological divisions within and between national populations: Nathan K. Hensley's Forms of Empire: The Poetics of Victorian Sovereignty, Nasser Mufti's Civilizing War: Imperial Politics and the Poetics of National Rupture, and Kyla Schuller's The Biopolitics of Feeling: Race, Sex, and Science in the Nineteenth Century.
Critical Vagrancy: On Reading with Elaine Freedgood
Authors: Wilson Rachael Guynn
Published: July 2019

Once asked his opinion on the appropriateness of irony to poetry, the poet Charles Olson reportedly answered, “I don't get the ‘iron’ in it.” There are few who have the ability to be as (delightfully) literal-minded as Olson in this quip, and then there's Elaine Freedgood: so literalist that she probably would get the iron in irony. Surely, if iron were to be found in figurative language, Freedgood would be the first to uncover it, track it to its sources, and tell us about its extraction, manufacture, and circuits of global exchange. Similarly, if we were to ask Freedgood to interpret Olson's meaning, she might first investigate the history of iron and steel production in the United States—discovering how the industry grew, peaked, and then sharply contracted during Olson's lifetime, with centers of production shifting from the Rust Belt to locations in Japan, the Soviet Union, and, later, China. She might also relate that steel was once the largest industry in Olson's hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, and the American Steel & Wire Company its largest employer, until the company withered and finally shuttered in 1977, just a few years after Olson's death. Through such a literalist lens, we would surely begin to see how, having lived his entire life in a world of steel, Olson could neither fail to notice the iron in irony nor allow it to stand as an abstraction. Becoming alert to these extended contexts, we might begin to hear, underlying the deadpan, the way Olson recalls his audience to working-class realities while commenting on the manner in which figurative and poetic language can alternately mask or reveal—make palpable or render abstract—the material foundations of our lives, caught up as they are in structures and movements of global capital.
Old Norse Influence on the Language ofBeowulf: A Reassessment
Authors: Neidorf Leonard , Pascual Rafael J.
Published: July 2019

This article undertakes the first systematic examination of Frank’s (1979, 1981, 1987, 1990, 2007b, 2008) claim that Old Norse influence is discernible in the language ofBeowulf. It tests this hypothesis first by scrutinizing each of the alleged Nordicisms inBeowulf, then by discussing various theoretical considerations bearing on its plausibility. We demonstrate that the syntactic, morphological, lexical, and semantic peculiarities that Frank would explain as manifestations of Old Norse influence are more economically and holistically explained as consequences of archaic composition. We then demonstrate that advances in the study of Anglo-Scandinavian language contact provide strong reasons to doubt that Old Norse could have influencedBeowulfin the manner that Frank has proposed. We conclude thatBeowulfis entirely devoid of Old Norse influence and that it was probably composed ca. 700, long before the onset of the Viking Age.