bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiments reveal limited top‐down control of key herbivores in southern California kelp forests
Authors: Dunn Robert P. , Hovel Kevin A.
Published: January 2019

Predator responses to gradients in prey density have important implications for population regulation and are a potential structuring force for subtidal marine communities, particularly on rocky reefs where herbivorous sea urchins can drive community state shifts. On rocky reefs in southern California where predatory sea otters have been extirpated, top‐down control of sea urchins by alternative predators has been hypothesized but rarely tested experimentally. In laboratory feeding assays, predatory spiny lobsters (Panulirus interruptus) demonstrated a saturating functional response to urchin prey, whereby urchin proportional mortality was inversely density‐dependent. In field experiments on rocky reefs near San Diego, California, predators (primarily the labrid fish California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher) inflicted highly variable mortality on purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) prey across all density levels. However, at low to moderate densities commonly observed within kelp forests, purple urchin mortality increased to a peak at a density of ~11 urchins/m2. Above that level, at densities typical of urchin barrens, purple urchin mortality was density‐independent. When larger red urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) were offered to predators simultaneously with purple urchins, mortality was density‐independent. Underwater videography revealed a positive relationship between purple urchin density and both the number and richness of fish predators, but these correlations were not observed when red urchins were present. Our results demonstrate highly variable mortality rates across prey densities in this system and suggest that top‐down control of urchins can occur only under limited circumstances. Our findings provide insight into the dynamics of alternate community states observed on rocky reefs.
Aortic pulse wave velocity in children with Cushing syndrome: A window into a marker of early cardiovascular disease
Authors: Blain Hailey , Sinaii Ninet , Zeltser Deena , Lyssikatos Charalampos , Belyavskaya Elena , Keil Margaret , Bluemke David A. , Stratakis Constantine , Bandettini Wiphada Patricia , Lodish Maya
Published: January 2019

Objective

To investigate early signs of cardiovascular arterial remodelling in paediatric patients with Cushing syndrome (CS) in comparison with normative values from healthy children.

Study Design

The metrics used to assess cardiac health were from thoracic aorta and carotid MRI. Scans were performed on 18 children with CS (mean: 12.5 ± 3.1 years, range: 6.0‐16.8 years, 10 female). Pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic distensibility (AD) and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT), well‐validated measurements of cardiac compromise, were measured from the images and compared to normative age‐matched values where available.

Results

Patients with CS had significantly higher PWV compared to age‐adjusted normal median control values (4.0 ± 0.7 m/s vs. 3.4 ± 0.2 m/s, respectively, P = 0.0115). PWV was positively correlated with midnight plasma cortisol (r = 0.56, P = 0.02). Internal and common cIMT were negatively correlated with ascending AD (r = −0.75, P = 0.0022, r = −0.69, P = 0.0068, respectively).

Conclusion

Pulse wave velocity data indicate that paediatric patients with CS have early evidence of cardiovascular remodelling. The results suggest the opportunity for monitoring as these changes begin in childhood.
Biotransformation of the Fluorinated Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Pharmaceutical Flurbiprofen in Activated Sludge Results in Accumulation of a Recalcitrant Fluorinated Aromatic Metabolite
Authors: Yanaç Kadir , Murdoch Robert W.
Published: January 2019

Flurbiprofen is a fluorinated, nonsteroidal, anti‐inflammatory pharmaceutical with potential application in a wide range of maladies. Currently, there is no information regarding its environmental fate. To address this, flurbiprofen is spiked at 500 and 50 ppm into activated sewage sludge taken from the municipal treatment plant of Ankara, Turkey. Flurbiprofen is partially degraded after 80 days, with removal proportion varying from 33% to 48%. Isolation of organisms able to use flurbiprofen as a sole carbon and energy source is unsuccessful. A transient, acid‐labile yellow coloration appears in supernatants after addition of flurbiprofen. During disappearance, a novel potential metabolite is detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses, a chemical that does not appear in killed controls or in nonflurbiprofen‐amended controls. Mass spectra of the novel chemical obtained at low and high collision energies are consistent with 4‐(1‐carboxyethyl)‐2‐fluorobenzoic acid, suggesting the application of a canonical metabolic paradigm for halogenated biphenyl metabolism by bacteria in which the nonhalogenated ring is metabolized by dioxygenation and metacleavage, leaving the halogenated aromatic ring behind. This metabolite shows no signs of disappearance after the 80‐day monitoring period, implying that the environmental release of flurbiprofen might be of concern.
JAK–STAT signalling controls cancer stem cell properties including chemotherapy resistance in myxoid liposarcoma
Authors: Dolatabadi Soheila , Jonasson Emma , Lindén Malin , Fereydouni Bentolhoda , Bäcksten Karin , Nilsson Malin , Martner Anna , Forootan Amin , Fagman Henrik , Landberg Göran , Åman Pierre , Ståhlberg Anders
Published: January 2019

Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) shows extensive intratumoural heterogeneity with distinct subpopulations of tumour cells. Despite improved survival of MLS patients, existing therapies have shortcomings as they fail to target all tumour cells. The nature of chemotherapy‐resistant cells in MLS remains unknown. Here, we show that MLS cell lines contained subpopulations of cells that can form spheres, efflux Hoechst dye and resist doxorubicin, all properties attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs). By single‐cell gene expression, western blot, phospho‐kinase array, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and microarray analysis we showed that a subset of MLS cells expressed JAK–STAT genes with active signalling. JAK1/2 inhibition via ruxolitinib decreased, while stimulation with LIF increased, phosphorylation of STAT3 and the number of cells with CSC properties indicating that JAK–STAT signalling controlled the number of cells with CSC features. We also show that phosphorylated STAT3 interacted with the SWI/SNF complex. We conclude that MLS contains JAK–STAT‐regulated subpopulations of cells with CSC features. Combined doxorubicin and ruxolitinib treatment targeted both proliferating cells as well as cells with CSC features, providing new means to circumvent chemotherapy resistance in treatment of MLS patients.
Factors Affecting the Study of Chemistry in Different Countries Around the World: Findings from an International Survey
Authors: Blonder Ron , Mamlok‐Naaman Rachel
Published: January 2019

Improving teaching and student learning in chemistry classrooms is an important goal that is constantly researched. Several comparative studies of science teaching have been carried out on different parameters, e. g. misconceptions which science teachers and students may have regarding the scientific concepts they learn and teach. Here we describe science teaching in general, and chemistry teaching in particular, in 12 countries including Israel. Different parameters are compared, including the hours that are devoted to science, the subjects included, the pedagogy, and teachers′ salaries. The survey covers all school levels: elementary school, secondary school and high school. At the high‐school level, the comparison focused on chemistry studies. In this study the variances variables, such as the hours that are allocated for science teaching, did not show an appreciable effect on students′ achievements. It was also found that, in countries where chemistry studies at the high‐school level are not mandatory, innovative pedagogies are more likely to replace the traditional chemistry teaching methods where chemistry is taught according to the structure of the subject based on basic concepts that underlie the curriculum. The study provided an additional support to the importance of the professional development of science and chemistry teachers and suggest that the autonomy that is given to them could influence the quality of science teaching and students′ achievements.
Fusobacterium necrophorum septic pelvic thrombophlebitis after intrauterine device insertion
Authors: Yamamoto Shinya , Okamoto Koh , Okugawa Shu , Moriya Kyoji
Published: January 2019

A patient had septic pelvic thrombophlebitis complicated by multiple septic emboli after intrauterine device insertion. Fusobacterium necrophorum, a well‐known cause of Lemierre's syndrome, was identified.
Heterogeneity in risk aversion and risk sharing regressions
Authors: Asdrubali Pierfederico , Tedeschi Simone , Ventura Luigi
Published: January 2019

Heterogeneity in risk attitudes, if not properly accounted for, may induce a bias on the income coefficient of standard consumption insurance regressions. We show that, extending the theoretical analysis and empirical findings in Schulhofer‐Wohl (Journal of Political Economy, 2011, 119, 925–958), the sign of the bias is ambiguous, and depends on cycle‐related variables and on the covariances of both aggregate and idiosyncratic risk with individual risk aversion.
Aptamer‐integrated α‐Gal liposomes as bispecific agents to trigger immune response for killing tumor cells
Authors: Hong Shanni , Ding Pi , Luo Yu , Gao Tian , Zhang Ye , Pei Renjun
Published: January 2019

A novel bispecific α‐Gal liposome was constructed by self‐assembling AS1411 aptamers into the α‐Gal containing liposomes. The α‐Gal liposomes were prepared using cell membranes of red blood cells from rabbit, which are composed of cholesterol, phospholipids, and α‐Gal glycolipids. AS1411 is a DNA aptamer with high specificity and affinity for nucleolin and could integrate into liposomes by the modification of cholesterol. The bispecific α‐Gal liposomes surface‐functionalized by α‐Gal and AS1411 aptamer could recognize anti‐Gal antibodies and nucleolin overexpressed by tumor cells simultaneously, followed by activating the immune system to attack the tumor cells, resulting in the lysis of the tumor cells by antibody dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity. Under simulated tumor environment, the lysis rate of MCF‐7 cells treated by the AS1411 modified α‐Gal liposomes drastically increased compared to the liposomes without AS1411 aptamer. This study suggests that the AS1411 modified α‐Gal liposomes can recognize nucleolin‐overexpressing tumor cells selectively, subsequently improve the effect of the immunotherapy with high specificity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1176–1183, 2019.
High prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease among healthy male blood donors of urban India
Authors: Duseja Ajay , Najmy Shaneez , Sachdev Suchet , Pal Arnab , Sharma Rati Ram , Marwah Neelam , Chawla Yogesh
Published: January 2019

Background

There is limited data on the community prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study evaluated the prevalence of NAFLD in a large number of healthy male blood donors of urban north India.

Methodology

In a prospective study performed over 18 months, voluntary blood donors fulfilling the requisite blood donation criteria and consenting to participate in the study were evaluated. The study received the approval of the institute's ethics committee. Diagnosis of NAFLD was made by excluding significant alcohol intake, ultrasound showing hepatic steatosis, and exclusion of transfusion associated infections. Subjects were also evaluated for various metabolic risk factors and the presence of metabolic syndrome.

Results

Of 1388 subjects who consented for participation, 386 did not come for evaluation. Three females, nine (0.9%) HBsAg‐positive, and four (0.4%) anti‐HCV positive subjects were excluded. Of the 986 males evaluated with hepatobiliary ultrasound, 543(55.1%) had fatty liver on ultrasonography [15 (1.5%) alcoholic fatty liver and 528 (53.5%) NAFLD]. Among those with NAFLD, 469 (88.8%), 54 (10.2%), and 5 (0.9%) had mild, moderate, and severe hepatic steatosis, respectively. Subjects with NAFLD, when compared to those without NAFLD, had significantly higher age, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglycerides, low‐density lipoprotein, and fasting plasma glucose. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated age, BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and number of metabolic syndrome criteria as independent predictors of NAFLD.

Conclusions

Urban Indian healthy male blood donors have a high prevalence of NAFLD.
Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Combined With Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced Perfusion MRI of Early Cervical Carcinoma: Correlations Between Multimodal Parameters and HIF‐1α Expression
Authors: Li Xiangsheng , Wu Shandong , Li Dechang , Yu Tao , Zhu Hongxian , Song Yunlong , Meng Limin , Fan Hongxia , Xie Lizhi
Published: January 2019

Background

The identification of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF‐1α) expression is helpful for the quantitative assessment of tumor hypoxia. The application of multimodal imaging techniques may play a part in the assessment of HIF‐1α expression of cervical carcinoma.

Purpose

To investigate the correlations between multiple imaging parameters and HIF‐1α expression of early cervical carcinoma and to determine whether tumor hypoxia can be predicted using multisequence imaging parameters.

Study Type

Prospective observational.

Population

One hundred patients with early cervical carcinoma.

Field Strength/Sequences

3.0 T MRI including intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) perfusion MRI sequences.

Assessment

DCE‐MRI and IVIM DWI were performed for all patients. The imaging parameters included volume transfer constant (Ktrans), rate constant (Kep), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve), D, D*, and f.

Statistical Tests

The comparisons of imaging parameters between two independent groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U‐test. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between multiple imaging parameters and HIF‐1α expression. The diagnostic ability of DCE‐MRI, IVIM DWI, and the combination of two techniques for discriminating high‐expression and low‐expression groups were analyzed.

Results

The high‐expression group had a lower Ktrans or Kep value than the low‐expression group (P = 0.03; 0.02), while the high‐expression group had a higher Ve value than the low‐expression group (P = 0.03). The high‐expression group had a higher D or f value than the low‐expression group (P = 0.02; 0.02). Ktrans, Kep, D, Ve, and f values were independently correlated with HIF‐1α expression. The sensitivity or accuracy of a combined method was higher than that of DCE‐MRI or IVIM DWI individually (P = 0.03, 0.02; 0.04, 0.03).

Data Conclusion

The combination of DCE‐MRI and IVIM DWI can improve the diagnostic ability of discriminating different HIF‐1α expression levels for early cervical tumors.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy Stage: 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:918–929.
Diagnostic performance of MR for hepatocellular carcinoma based on LI‐RADS v2018, compared with v2017
Authors: Ren A‐Hong , Zhao Peng‐Fei , Yang Da‐Wei , Du Jing‐Bo , Wang Zhen‐Chang , Yang Zheng‐Han
Published: January 2019

Background

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) is widely adopted for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It's updated to version 2018 recently, with some major changes compared with v2017. However, the diagnostic performance of LI‐RADS v2018 and its difference with v2017 are yet to be validated.

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic performances of LI‐RADS on MR for diagnosing HCC between v2017 and v2018.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

In all, 181 patients with 217 hepatic observations (146 HCCs, 16 non‐HCC malignancies and 55 benign lesions) with liver MRI and pathological or follow‐up imaging diagnoses.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5 T or 3 T MRI. Dual‐echo T1WI, T2WI, diffusion‐weighted imaging, and a liver acquisition with volume acceleration.

Assessment

Images were independently interpreted by three radiologists, and then in consensus for observations with different LR categories, according to LI‐RADS v2017 and v2018, separately.

Statistical Tests

Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (+LR), and Youden index.

Results

When adopting LR‐5 as a predictor of HCC, the sensitivity (80.8% vs. 71.2%), NPV (69.6% vs. 60.7%), and accuracy (83.9% vs. 77.9%) were all increased for LI‐RADS v2018 compared with v2017, with a greater Youden index (0.709 vs. 0.627). However, the diagnostic performances of MRI for diagnosing HCC were not changed while adopting LR‐4/5 as a predictor. The threshold growths of 76% (19/25) observations in v2017 were revised to subthreshold growth in v2018, and 16 LR‐4 observations in v2017 were changed to LR‐5 based on v2018.

Data Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of LI‐RADS v2018 for diagnosing HCC is superior to v2017, with a greater sensitivity, NPV, and accuracy. The revisions in v2018 mainly affect the categorization when adopting LR‐5 as a predictor of HCC.

Level of Evidence: 4

Technical Efficacy Stage: 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:746–755.
Multisite reliability and repeatability of an advanced brain MRI protocol
Authors: Schwartz Daniel L. , Tagge Ian , Powers Katherine , Ahn Sinyeob , Bakshi Rohit , Calabresi Peter A. , Todd Constable R. , Grinstead John , Henry Roland G. , Nair Govind , Papinutto Nico , Pelletier Daniel , Shinohara Russell , Oh Jiwon , Reich Daniel S. , Sicotte Nancy L. , Rooney William D. ,   on behalf of the NAIMS Cooperative
Published: January 2019

Background

MRI is the imaging modality of choice for diagnosis and intervention assessment in neurological disease. Its full potential has not been realized due in part to challenges in harmonizing advanced techniques across multiple sites.

Purpose

To develop a method for the assessment of reliability and repeatability of advanced multisite‐multisession neuroimaging studies and specifically to assess the reliability of an advanced MRI protocol, including multiband fMRI and diffusion tensor MRI, in a multisite setting.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

Twice repeated measurement of a single subject with stable relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) at seven institutions.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3 T MRI protocol included higher spatial resolution anatomical scans, a variable flip‐angle longitudinal relaxation rate constant (R1 ≡ 1/T1) measurement, quantitative magnetization transfer imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and a resting‐state fMRI (rsFMRI) series.

Assessment

Multiple methods of assessing intrasite repeatability and intersite reliability were evaluated for imaging metrics derived from each sequence.

Statistical Tests

Student's t‐test, Pearson's r, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (2,1) were employed to assess repeatability and reliability. Two new statistical metrics are introduced that frame reliability and repeatability in the respective units of the measurements themselves.

Results

Intrasite repeatability was excellent for quantitative R1, magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) based metrics (r > 0.95). rsFMRI metrics were less repeatable (r = 0.8). Intersite reliability was excellent for R1, MTR, and DWI (ICC >0.9), and moderate for rsFMRI metrics (ICC∼0.4).

Data Conclusion

From most reliable to least, using a new reliability metric introduced here, MTR > R1 > DWI > rsFMRI; for repeatability, MTR > DWI > R1 > rsFMRI. A graphical method for at‐a‐glance assessment of reliability and repeatability, effect sizes, and outlier identification in multisite‐multisession neuroimaging studies is introduced.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:878–888.
Forefoot and hindfoot kinematics in subjects with medial tibial stress syndrome during walking and running
Authors: Okunuki Takumi , Koshino Yuta , Yamanaka Masanori , Tsutsumi Kaori , Igarashi Masato , Samukawa Mina , Saitoh Hiroshi , Tohyama Harukazu
Published: January 2019

Excessive foot pronation during static standing, walking and running has been reported as a contributing factor for the development of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). The motion of foot pronation consists of hindfoot and forefoot motion. However, no previous studies have investigated forefoot and hindfoot kinematics during walking and running in subjects with MTSS. The current study sought to compare hindfoot and forefoot kinematics between subjects with and without MTSS while walking and running. Eleven subjects with MTSS and 11 healthy controls (each group containing 10 males and one female) participated in the current study. Segment angles of the hindfoot and forefoot during walking and running barefoot on a treadmill were recorded using three‐dimensional kinematic analysis. An independent t‐test was used to compare kinematic data between groups. Subjects with MTSS exhibited significantly greater hindfoot eversion and abduction (p < 0.05) during walking and running than subjects without MTSS, significantly greater forefoot eversion and abduction (p < 0.05) during walking, and significantly greater forefoot abduction during running (p < 0.05). Hindfoot and forefoot kinematics during walking and running were significantly different between subjects with and without MTSS. For prevention and rehabilitation of MTSS, it may be important to focus on not only hindfoot but also forefoot kinematics during both running and walking. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
Cover Image, Volume 99, Issue 3
Authors: Xu Chenchen , Qu Yanghua , Hopkins David L , Liu Ce , Wang Bo , Gao Yuefeng , Luo Hailing
Published: January 2019

The cover image is based on the Research Article Dietary lycopene powder improves meat oxidative stability in Hu lambs by Chenchen Xu et al., DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9282.

image
Financial toxicity in cancer care: Prevalence, causes, consequences, and reduction strategies
Authors: Lentz Robert , Benson Al B. , Kircher Sheetal
Published: January 2019

Financial toxicity is the adverse impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient’s financial well‐being resulting from direct or indirect costs. Potential consequences of financial toxicity include material loss, psychological distress, and/or maladaptive coping strategies. This review will summarize the prevalence, causes, and consequences of financial toxicity, with an emphasis on strategies to anticipate and reduce its burden. Improvement will require multilevel, coordinated efforts between stakeholders including patients, providers, health systems, payers, manufacturers, and policymakers.
On local existence and blowup of solutions for a time‐space fractional diffusion equation with exponential nonlinearity
Authors: Bekkai Achouak , Rebiai Belgacem , Kirane Mokhtar
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we are concerned with local existence and blowup of a unique solution to a time‐space fractional evolution equation with a time nonlocal nonlinearity of exponential growth. At first, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the local solution by the Banach contraction mapping principle. Then, the blowup result of the solution in finite time is established by the test function method with a judicious choice of the test function.
Design and analysis of a compact dual‐band bandpass filter using V‐ and W‐shaped microstrip open lines
Authors: Lahmissi A. , Challal M.
Published: January 2019

In this article, a compact dual band bandpass filter using V‐ and W‐shaped microstrip open lines is developed and analyzed. An equivalent lumped elements circuit, derived from the designed structure is presented and its elements are calculated based on its transfer function. The obtained equivalent circuit is interpreted with the geometric tuning results in particular the transmission zero relocations. The measurement results of the fabricated prototype agree with the simulations and confirm the design theory. The design can suit WLAN application.
Modelling and forecasting Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores to achieve remission using time series analysis
Authors: Sabharwal Alka , Grover Gurprit , Kaushik Sakshi , Unni K. E. Sadanandan
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental condition. The objective of this study is to apply time series modelling to Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores of outpatients with schizophrenia, observed at regular intervals of time, and hence forecast the number of visits required to reach remission.

Methods

A retrospective data of outpatients diagnosed with chronic paranoid‐type schizophrenia were extracted from the records of outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in New Delhi, India. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and ARIMAX models (ARIMA with explanatory variable as Clinical Global Impression Severity scale) are fitted to the data. The best fit models are employed to forecast the number of visits required to reach remission for the outpatients who did not achieve remission by the end of study. Prediction accuracy of the two models is compared using mean absolute percentage error and mean absolute deviation.

Results

The ARIMA (1, 2, 1) and ARIMAX (1, 2, 1) models are identified to be suitable models after a series of statistical tests.

Conclusions

ARIMA and ARIMAX models are suitable to predict number of visits required to reach remission. Further, ARIMAX model performed better than ARIMA model.
Developing women laborers' understanding about their public role through civic education training: Study on cigarette industry in Malang, Indonesia
Authors: Prianto Budhy
Published: January 2019

Based on our previous findings, it is known that women laborers have weak position both individual and industrial relations. The weakness is caused by the lack of both knowledge and understanding of their rights and also obligations as laborers, gender, society member, and citizen. This study aims to increase civic knowledge (cognitive) and understanding (effective) of women laborer, especially those related to political knowledge. This study uses qualitative experimental approach. Data were obtained through interviews with women laborers after the implementation of civic education training. The results show that after training, there is a slight increase in knowledge and understanding of the politics in women laborers. It is also found qualitatively that the improvement of knowledge and understanding is influenced by the quality of education of women laborers and patriarchal cultures adopted in the family of women laborers. In conclusion, the training increases women laborers' knowledge slightly about their public role.
Poly(ether ether ketone)‐bischromenes: Synthesis, characterization, and influence on thermal, mechanical, and thermo mechanical properties of epoxy resin
Authors: Karthikeyan Leena , Mathew Dona , Robert Temina Mary
Published: January 2019

Poly(ether ether ketone) s with terminal propargyl groups (PEEK‐PR) were synthesized from hydroxyl terminated PEEK (PEEKTOH) and characterized. The heat‐triggered polymerization of PEEK‐PR to poly bischromenes having PEEK backbone was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetric studies. PEEK‐PR was blended with a bisphenol based epoxy resin‐diamino diphenylsulphone system in different proportions and cured to form PEEK‐bischromene‐interpenetrated‐epoxy‐amine networks. Tensile strength and elongation of the cured blends increased up to 10‐phr loading of PEEK‐PR and then declined. Tensile moduli of all formulations were comparable. Fracture toughness increased by a maximum of 33%, and the fractured surface morphology showed a ductile fracture. The blends exhibited slightly lower glass transition temperature to that of the neat epoxy‐amine system. A reference sample of epoxy‐amine was processed with the optimum loading of the precursor polymer, PEEKTOH, and compared its properties with the PEEK‐PR incorporated epoxy systems. In this way, it is found that the incorporation of addition curable propargylated PEEK increases the strength characteristics with adequate thermal stability and fracture toughness for high‐performance structural applications.
Fabrication of lightweight and flexible cellulose acetate composite nanofibers for high‐performance ultra violet protective materials
Authors: Nasouri Komeil
Published: January 2019

Novel lightweight and flexible cellulose acetate (CA)/zinc oxide (ZnO)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning technique with aim to study the potential of such CA/ZnO/MWCNTs composite nanofibers as effective ultra violet (UV) protecting textile materials. The influence of ZnO and MWCNTs content and thickness of nanofibers mats on the ultra violet (UV) protection of electrospun CA/ZnO/MWCNTs composite nanofibers have been evaluated with response surface methodology (RSM) and quadratic regression model. The highest to lowest effects of selected parameters on UV protection values are ordered as follows: Thickness > > ZnO content > MWCNTs content. The optimized quadratic model predicted the highest UV protection value (UPF = 180.8) at conditions of 4.9 wt% ZnO content, 1.1 wt% MWCNTs loading, and 79.5 μm of the sample thickness. The obtained UV protection and photo‐degradation results established that the optimized quadratic model displayed appropriate performance for evaluating the involved input parameters and calculation of UV protection. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3325–3332, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Current status of pharmacovigilance regulatory structures, processes, and outcomes in the Asia‐Pacific region: Survey results from 15 countries
Authors: Shin Ju‐Young , Shin Eungyeong , Jeong Han Eol , Kim Ju Hwan , Lee Eui‐Kyung
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Regulatory discrepancies may exist in pharmacovigilance (PV) structure, process, and outcome status worldwide. Our study's objective was to survey the current status of PV in each regulatory body in the Asia‐Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

Methods

A modified questionnaire was sent to the PV team heads of 21 PV agencies based in the APEC countries, between June 28 and September 12, 2017, to gather information on the structure, process, and outcome of PV status in these countries.

Results

Of the 21 APEC countries, 15 responded. We found harmonized laws and regulations for general PV and risk management systems. However, variations were found in PV structure: for example, 11 out of 15 countries had national regulatory representatives responsible for PV in pharmaceutical companies, while four did not. For PV process, discrepancies were also found in the source type of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports and reporting of medication errors and therapeutic ineffectiveness in cumulative ADR reports. With respect to PV outcomes, among countries that performed active surveillance, the United States of America was more active, with hundreds of projects including additional pharmacoepidemiological studies etc. Among the nine countries that responded, Japan had the greatest number of product label changes followed by Taiwan, Malaysia, and Korea.

Conclusion

We have identified substantial variations in the structures, processes, and outcomes of PV status among the countries of the APEC region. Therefore, efforts to reduce variations in the PV administration and regulation are warranted for harmonization of PV within the APEC region.
How pharmacoepidemiology networks can manage distributed analyses to improve replicability and transparency and minimize bias
Authors: Platt Robert W. , Platt Richard , Brown Jeffrey S. , Henry David A. , Klungel Olaf H. , Suissa Samy
Published: January 2019

Several pharmacoepidemiology networks have been developed over the past decade that use a distributed approach, implementing the same analysis at multiple data sites, to preserve privacy and minimize data sharing. Distributed networks are efficient, by interrogating data on very large populations. The structure of these networks can also be leveraged to improve replicability, increase transparency, and reduce bias. We describe some features of distributed networks using, as examples, the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies, the Sentinel System in the USA, and the European Research Network of Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology. Common protocols, analysis plans, and data models, with policies on amendments and protocol violations, are key features. These tools ensure that studies can be audited and repeated as necessary. Blinding and strict conflict of interest policies reduce the potential for bias in analyses and interpretation. These developments should improve the timeliness and accuracy of information used to support both clinical and regulatory decisions.
Spanish Cross‐cultural Adaptation of the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool
Authors: Gor‐García‐Fogeda María Dolores , Cano‐de‐la‐Cuerda Roberto , Daly Janis J. , Molina‐Rueda Francisco
Published: January 2019

Background

The Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.) has been shown to be a comprehensive and objectively scored tool to assess gait in people with neurologic disease. However, there is only an English version of the scale, the language in which it was developed.

Objective

To carry out a cross‐cultural adaptation of the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.) scale for its use in the Spanish‐speaking population, and to study the content validity of the Spanish version.

Design

A cross‐cultural adaptation and validation study of the G.A.I.T.

Setting

University Laboratory (Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain).

Participants

Not applicable.

Methods or Interventions

Cross‐cultural adaptation of a scale.

Main Outcome Measurements

The Spanish version of the G.A.I.T. was obtained using the double‐translation and back‐translation method, and a subsequent Expert Committee revision. The Expert Committee studied the content validity of the Spanish G.A.I.T. using the content validity index (CVI).

Results

The final version of the G.A.I.T. in Spanish was obtained after the cross‐cultural process. The CVI was found to be excellent for the overall G.A.I.T. (0.94), and excellent for 87% of its 31 items (≥0.78). CVI was good for 10% of the items (arm swing and toes, CVI ≥0.72). Although 3% of items (shoulder and elbow position) showed CVI = 0.28, these items were retained for completeness.

Conclusions

The Spanish version of the G.A.I.T. was developed through a cross‐cultural adaptation process from its original version in English, and according to an Expert Committee it has an excellent overall content validity.
Supercurrent and Multiple Andreev Reflections in InSb Nanosheet SNS Junctions
Authors: Zhi Jinhua , Kang Ning , Li Sen , Fan Dingxun , Su Feifan , Pan Dong , Zhao Shiping , Zhao Jianhua , Xu Hongqi
Published: January 2019

In this study, the realization of mesoscopic Josephson junctions based on free‐standing InSb nanosheet grown by molecular‐beam epitaxy is reported. Below the critical temperature of superconducting aluminium electrodes (≈1.1 K), the high transparency of the contacts gives rise to proximity‐induced superconductivity. A dissipationless supercurrent which can be modulated by a gate voltage acting on the electron density in the nanosheet flows through the superconducting weak links. At finite bias voltage, subharmonic energy‐gap structures (SGS) originating from multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) are observed, indicating a highly transparent InSb nanosheet–superconductor interface. At last, a superconducting hybrid device with niobium electrodes is shown, suitable for further higher temperature and magnetic field transport measurements.
Driving under the influence of drugs
Authors: Marillier Maude , Verstraete Alain G.
Published: January 2019

Driving is a very complex task, requiring the cooperation of several different cognitive and psychomotor functions at once. Approximately 2% of the drivers drive under the influence of drugs, sometimes more (20%) and more at specific times (weekend nights). Population surveys show that self‐reported driving after using psychoactive drugs (mostly cannabis) varies between 3.8 and 29.9%. In injured and fatally injured drivers, about 20–40% test positive for drugs. The risk of a crash is almost doubled after cannabis use, increased about seven times after amphetamine use. For the other drugs, the risk falls between these extremes. Amphetamines are estimated to cause half of the fatalities due to driving under the infuence of drugs (DUID). Medicinal drugs, taken according to prescription, only increase crash risk by 20–40%. In France 4% and 3% of the accidents could be prevented if no one drove after taking cannabis and impairing therapeutic drugs, respectively. Three types of DUID legislation exist: “impairment” legislation, “per se” legislation and the “two‐tier” approach that combines both. In impairment legislation, the prosecution must demonstrate that the driver was impaired or “under the influence.” A “per se” law prohibits driving if drugs are present in blood, serum, plasma, or oral fluid (OF) above a certain threshold concentration. OF is commonly used for roadside drug screening of drivers, and increasingly for confirmation as well. Recently developed methods for confirmation analysis, either on blood or on OF, use liquid chromatography (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC–MS[MS]) to test for dozens of drugs on a small sample volume.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology > Drug‐Impaired Driving

Toxicology > Drug Analysis
Safety, domination, and differential support
Authors: Neil Charles
Published: January 2019

In a recent paper “Safety, Sensitivity, and Differential Support” (Synthese, December 2017), Jose Zalabardo argues that (contra Sosa in Philos Perspect 33(13):141–153, 1999) sensitivity can be differentially supported as the correct requirement for propositional knowledge. Zalabardo argues that safety fails to dominate sensitivity; specifically: some cases of knowledge failure can only be explained by sensitivity. In this paper, I resist Zalabardo’s conclusion that domination failure confers differential support for sensitivity. Specifically, I argue that counterexamples to sensitivity undermine differential support for sensitivity. Using Zalabardo’s modal framework, I consider a less demanding modal condition, what I call weak sensitivity, and I explain how weak sensitivity avoids an influential counterexample to sensitivity. However, I argue that we can subvert that counterexample only by abandoning Zalabardo’s case for domination failure. So either way, we cannot differentially support sensitivity.
Changes in Household Composition and Children’s Educational Attainment
Authors: Perkins Kristin L.
Published: January 2019

Changes in parental romantic relationships are an important component of family instability, but children are exposed to many other changes in the composition of their households that bear on child well-being. Prior research that focused on parental transitions has thus overlooked a substantial source of instability in children’s lives. I argue that the instability in children’s residential arrangements is characterized by household instability rather than family instability. To evaluate this thesis, I use the 1968–2015 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and time-varying methods for causal inference to test the independent effects of different types of changes in household composition on educational attainment. Experiencing changes involving nonparent, nonsibling household members has a significant negative effect on educational attainment that is similar in magnitude to that for children who experience changes involving residential parents. Measures of parental changes miss the nearly 20 % of children who experience changes involving household members other than parents or siblings. By showing that changes in nonparental household members are both common and consequential experiences for children, I demonstrate the value of conceptualizing the changes to which children are exposed as a product of household instability, rather than simply family instability.
THE COST OF FORWARD CONTRACTING IN THE CIF NOLA EXPORT BID MARKET
Authors: MCKENZIE ANDREW M. , ISBELL BRADLEY J. , BRORSEN B. WADE
Published: January 2019

The CIF NOLA “river market” represents an important but opaque forward market that serves Gulf exporters and elevators. CIF NOLA bids function similarly to traditional forward contracts; however, like a futures market, firms can offset their forward contractual obligations by offsetting positions in a liquid off-exchange paper market. Analysis shows grain sellers pay a risk premium for fall harvest delivery contracts. However, outside of fall harvest, contract liquidity, coupled with a good institutional balance of long and short market participants, mostly removes the pricing bias commonly found in farmer forward contracting in corn and soybeans.
Cacao liquor procyanidins prevent postprandial hyperglycaemia by increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 activity and AMP-activated protein kinase in mice
Authors: Yamashita Yoko , Okabe Masaaki , Natsume Midori , Ashida Hitoshi
Published: January 2019

Procyanidins have been reported to possess potential for the prevention of hyperglycaemia. However, there are very few data for procyanidins about the difference the degree of polymerisation (DP) has on anti-hyperglycaemic effects. Moreover, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which procyanidins suppress hyperglycaemia are not yet fully understood. In the present study, we prepared procyanidin fractions with different DP, namely low-DP (DP≤3) and high-DP (DP≥4) fractions, from a cacao liquor procyanidin-rich extract (CLPr). These fractions were administered orally to Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice and their anti-hyperglycaemic effects were examined. We found that CLPr and its fractions prevent postprandial hyperglycaemia accompanied by an increase in the plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) level with or without glucose load. In the absence of glucose load, both fractions increased the plasma insulin level and activated its downstream signalling pathway in skeletal muscle, resulting in promotion of the translocation of GLUT4. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was also involved in the promotion of GLUT4 translocation. High- and low-DP fractions showed a similar activation of insulin and AMPK pathways. In conclusion, cacao liquor procyanidins prevent hyperglycaemia by promoting GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle, and both the GLP-1-activated insulin pathway and the AMPK pathway are involved in the underlying molecular mechanism.
On random quadratic forms: supports of potential local maxima
Authors: Pittel Boris
Published: January 2019

The selection model in population genetics is a dynamic system on the set of the probability distributions 𝒑=(p1,…,pn) of the allelesA1…,An, withpi(t+1) proportional topi(t) multiplied by ∑jfi,jpj(t), andfi,j=fj,iinterpreted as a fitness of the gene pair (Ai,Aj). It is known that 𝒑̂ is a locally stable equilibrium if and only if 𝒑̂ is a strict local maximum of the quadratic form 𝒑T𝒇𝒑. Usually, there are multiple local maxima and lim𝒑(t) depends on 𝒑(0). To address the question of atypicalbehavior of {𝒑(t)}, John Kingman considered the case when thefi,jare independent and [0,1]-uniform. He proved that with high probability (w.h.p.) no local maximum may have more than 2.49n1∕2positive components, and reduced 2.49 to 2.14 for a nonbiological case of exponentials on [0,∞). We show that the constant 2.14 serves a broad class of smooth densities on [0,1] with the increasing hazard rate. As for a lower bound, we prove that w.h.p. for allk≤2n1∕3, there are manyk-element subsets of [n] that pass a partial test to be a support of a local maximum. Still, it may well be that w.h.p. the actual supports are much smaller. In that direction, we prove that w.h.p. a support of a local maximum, which does not contain a support of a local equilibrium, is very unlikely to have size exceeding ⅔log2nand, for the uniform fitnesses, there are super-polynomially many potential supports free of local equilibriums of size close to ½log2n.
An n-dimensional Klein bottle
Authors: Davis Donald M.
Published: January 2019

An n-dimensional analogue of the Klein bottle arose in our study of topological complexity of planar polygon spaces. We determine its integral cohomology algebra and stable homotopy type, and give an explicit immersion and embedding in Euclidean space.
The political life of the dead Lumumba: Cold War histories and the Congolese student left
Authors: Monaville Pedro
Published: January 2019

This article examines Patrice Lumumba's afterlife among Congolese students in the 1960s. Mobilizing oral histories, it also interrogates the stakes of remembering Lumumba at different moments in Congo's postcolonial history. It shows how Lumumba's assassination became a collective and personal landmark in the biographies of a generation of student activists and clearly helped facilitate a turn towards the left in 1961 and in the years that followed. Overlooked by Cold War histories, this political process was nonetheless also a by-product of the internationalization of the Congo crisis and proved central to the historical imagination of a generation of educated Congolese. The dead Lumumba pushed young educated Congolese to revisit the meaning of decolonization. The article argues that the students’ extroverted political imagination was an important explanation for Lumumba's posthumous popularity in Congolese universities. Through their affiliation with the figure of Lumumba, young Congolese could expect to receive support and attention from real and imagined allies around the world. The international communion around Lumumba's name was sometimes the result of productive misunderstandings; nonetheless, his legacy played a crucial role in transnational mediation throughout the 1960s and made possible the circulation of new political repertoires among Congolese students.
Nationalists with no nation: oral history, ZANU(PF) and the meanings of Rhodesian student activism in Zimbabwe
Authors: Hodgkinson Dan
Published: January 2019

In Zimbabwe after 2000, ZANU(PF) leaders’ past experiences of student activism in Rhodesia were celebrated by the state-owned media as personifications of anti-colonial, nationalist leadership in the struggle to liberate the country. This article examines the history behind this narrative by exploring the entangled realities of student activism in Rhodesia throughout the 1960s and 1970s and its role as a mechanism of elite formation in ZANU(PF). Building on the historiography of African student movements, I show how the persistence of nationalist anti-colonial organizing and liberal traditions on campus made student activism in Rhodesia distinct from that in South Africa and independent African countries to its north. The article then examines how and why three former activists, who took up elite political careers in the party that they subsequently left, contested the ruling party's anti-colonial, ‘patriotic’ rendering of these experiences. These three men's stories invoked imagined and older forms of nationalism or institutional ethic that had been abandoned by the party as it turned to more authoritarian rule. Stories of Rhodesian student activism thus provided space for justifying alternative political possibilities of nationalism, which implicitly critiqued the ruling party's ‘patriotic’ narrative, as well as for nostalgic anecdotes of life on campus, their journeys into adulthood, and the excitement of being part of a dynamic, transformational political project.