bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purified vitexin compound 1, a new neolignan isolated compound, promotes PUMA‐dependent apoptosis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Jingfei , Zhong Juchang , Liu Yeying , Huang Yuan , Luo Fei , Zhou Yingjun , Pan Xi , Cao Shousong , Zhang Lingling , Zhang Yingjie , Wang Jiangang
Published: November 2018

Purified vitexin compound 1 (VB1, a neolignan isolated and extracted from the seed of Chinese herb Vitex negundo) is an effective antitumor agent and exhibits promising clinical activity against various cancers including colorectal cancer. However, it remains unknown about the precise underlying mechanism associated with the antitumor effect of VB1 and how it triggers apoptosis in cancer cells. Here, we demonstrated that VB1 promoted apoptosis via p53‐dependent induction of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and further to induce Bax (Bcl‐2‐associated X protein) activation and mitochondrial dysfunction in colon cancer HCT‐116 and LoVo cells. Deficiency in p53, PUMA, or Bax abrogated VB1‐induced apoptosis and promoted cell survival in HCT‐116 cells. Furthermore, the combination of VB1 with chemotherapeutic drugs 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) or NVP‐BZE235 resulted in a synergistic antitumor effect via PUMA induction in HCT‐116 cells. VB1 significantly suppressed the cell proliferation of wild‐type (WT) HCT‐116 and LoVo cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The results indicate that p53/PUMA/Bax axis plays a critical role in VB1‐induced apoptosis and VB1 may have valuable clinical applications in cancer therapy as a novel anticancer agent used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs.
CYP2C19 pharmacogenetics versus standard of care dosing for selecting antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary artery disease: A meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Kheiri Babikir , Osman Mohammed , Abdalla Ahmed , Haykal Tarek , Pandrangi Pranay V. , Chahine Adam , Ahmed Sahar , Osman Khansa , Bachuwa Ghassan , Hassan Mustafa , Bhatt Deepak L.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of personalized genotype‐guided selection of antiplatelet therapy versus standard of care in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background

Clopidogrel is the most frequently used P2Y12 receptor antagonist in patients with coronary artery disease. However, genetic variations of clopidogrel are associated with inter‐individual response variability which could limit its efficacy.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating genotype‐guided therapy versus standard of care in patients undergoing stent implantation. Aggregated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated using a random‐effects model.

Results

We included 6 RCTs with a total of 2,371 patients. When compared with standard of care, the use of genotype‐guided therapy did not significantly reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.35–1.27; P = 0.22). However, MACE was significantly reduced in the subset of trials which enrolled only acute coronary syndromes (ACS) (P < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant reduction in myocardial infarction in the genotype‐guided group (RR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28–0.70; P < 0.01; I2 = 0%). Other clinical outcomes were not significantly different: cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.27–1.74; P = 0.42), stroke (RR 0.62; 95% CI: 0.23–1.65; P = 0.34), stent thrombosis (RR 0.37; 95% CI: 0.13–1.06; P = 0.06), and bleeding (RR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.43–1.06; P = 0.09).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing stent implantation, MACE with genotype‐guided therapy was not significantly reduced; however, there was a signal towards reduction of MACE in ACS patients, as well as a lower rate of MI, though this will require further confirmation in adequately powered trials.
Key Strategies to Advance the Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Performance of α‐Fe2O3 Photoanode
Authors: Sharma Pankaj , Jang Ji‐Wook , Lee Jae Sung
Published: November 2018

The last few decades’ extensive research on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has projected it as a promising approach to meet the steadily growing demand for cleaner and renewable energy in a sustainable and economically viable fashion. Among many potential photocatalysts, hematite (α‐Fe2O3) emerges as a highly promising photoanode material with favorable characteristics including visible light absorption (a suitable band gap energy), earth abundance, chemical stability, and low cost. A pronounced disadvantage of α‐Fe2O3 is its low photovoltage together with an extremely short hole diffusion length and a low electrical conductivity, which limit its PEC water oxidation performance. To make α‐Fe2O3 as a viable photocatalyst for PEC water splitting, one needs to rectify these unfavorable characteristics of α‐Fe2O3 by elaborated multiple modifications. In this review article, we introduce various modification strategies of hematite with emphasis on surface modifications to achieve low onset potential as well as high photocurrent approaching the theoretical value for solar water splitting.
Oxidative Cleavage of the Acyl‐Carbon Bond in Phenylacetone with Electrogenerated Superoxide Anions
Authors: Zhang Yan , Sugai Tomoya , Yamamoto Takashi , Yamamoto Naoshi , Kutsumura Noriki , Einaga Yasuaki , Nishiyama Shigeru , Saitoh Tsuyoshi , Nagase Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

An oxidative cleavage reaction of the acyl−carbon bond in phenylacetone derivatives under cathodic reduction is reported. This particular transformation is driven by the cathodic reduction of dissolved molecular oxygen to superoxide anions. Various cathode materials were examined, and we discovered that boron‐doped diamond (BDD) enables highly efficient molecular conversion, owing to BDD's outstanding electrochemical property for utilizing the small amounts of molecular oxygen effectively. The scope of the reaction is broad and can be applied to a variety of substrates, ranging from ketones to esters and amides. As an electric current is directly employed to generate the superoxide anion, the reaction is metal‐ and catalyst‐free. Electro‐organic synthesis using the carbon‐based BDD electrode thus provides access to sustainable molecular transformations.
In‐situ Tailoring Cobalt Nickel Molybdenum Oxide Components for Overall Water‐Splitting at High Current Densities
Authors: Ren Bowen , Li Dongqi , Jin Qiuyan , Cui Hao , Wang Chengxin
Published: November 2018

Developing non‐precious bifunctional electrocatalysts to drive the over water splitting that can operate well at high current densities (1,000 mA/cm2) is an urgent requirement for viable electrolysis of water. Transition metal oxides (TMO) have been intensely investigated as one of the most efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts. Unfortunately, their sluggish reaction kinetics towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) bring about poor overall performance. In this study, we perform a simple method to obtain the bifunctional TMO‐based electrocatalyst by in‐situ tailoring the components of cobalt nickel molybdenum oxide on nickel foam. By optimizing the annealing temperature and reaction atmosphere, we integrate HER‐active (CoMoNi) and OER‐active (CoMoOx) components together as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting. Impressively, the as‐synthesized electrocatalyst shows the high electrocatalytic activity for both OER and HER, and exhibit a low cell voltage of 1.59 V at 10 mA cm−2 when applied as both the cathode and anode in alkaline solutions. Impressively, the bifunctional electrocatalysts work well at large current densities, even in the order of 1,000 mA cm−2 (only need the cell voltage of ∼2.03 V), and remain its activity more than 20 h. Such an outstanding performance should be mainly attributed to integrated high electronic conductivity, 3D self‐supported structure, and good compatibility between HER‐active and OER‐active components. This study shows a positive model for the design of more promising and practical catalysts for full water splitting.
Bioprocess Technology – Developments, Processes, Apparatuses at ACHEMA 2018
Authors: Grau Konrad
Published: November 2018

Die Bioverfahrenstechnik umfasst alle Stufen von der physikalisch‐chemischen Rohstoffaufbereitung über die stoffliche Umsetzung durch biotechnologische und chemische Verfahren bis zur Produktaufarbeitung. Dabei sollen aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen biobasierte Chemikalien und Biokatalysatoren hergestellt werden. Die auf der diesjährigen ACHEMA präsentierten Neuerungen von Überwachungs‐ und Steuerungseinheiten bis hin zu kompletten Bioreaktorsystemen werden zusammengefasst. Trends wie zunehmende Digitalisierung und Ersetzung wiederverwendbarer Fermentationssysteme durch Single‐Use‐Systeme sind erkennbar.
ACHEMA 2018: Membranes and Membrane Separation
Authors: Herdegen Volker , Werner Arite , Milew Kerstin , Haseneder Roland , Aubel Tim
Published: November 2018

Auf der ACHEMA 2018 war erneut eine Vielzahl an Firmen vertreten, die in der Membranentwicklung, ‐herstellung und/oder im Membrananlagenbau tätig sind. In den Bereichen Applikation, Membraneigenschaften und Kombination von verschiedenen Trennverfahren findet eine stetige Entwicklung statt. Es wird ein Überblick über aktuelle Trends und (Neu‐)Entwicklungen gegeben, die u. a. von neuen Polymermembranen zur Gastrennung über neue geometrische Strukturen zur Vergrößerung der Oberfläche keramischer Membranen bis zur Oberflächenmodifikation bspw. mittels Hydrophobierung der Membranen reichen.
A longitudinal analysis of the influence of career motivations on entrepreneurial intention and action
Authors: Delanoë‐Gueguen Servane , Liñán Francisco
Published: November 2018

The impact of career motivations on entrepreneurial intention and action remains in need of being investigated conjointly. Using a large sample and follow‐up data collected five years later, we investigate their influence on the entrepreneurial involvement of young adults, from the expression of an intention to entrepreneurial action. We show that only the search for job security seems to have a persistent effect throughout the process. In addition, autonomy is associated with the formation of intention, while wanting to manage full processes is related to actual start‐up participation. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications. © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discovery of CDK8/CycC Ligands with a New Virtual Screening Tool
Authors: Chen Wei , Ren Xiaodong , Chang Chia‐en A.
Published: November 2018

Selective inhibition of cyclin‐dependent kinase 8 and cyclin C (CDK8/CycC) has been suggested as a promising strategy for decreasing mitogenic signals in cancer cells with reduced toxicity toward normal cells. We developed a novel virtual screening protocol for drug development and applied it to the discovery of new CDK8/CycC type II ligands, which is likely to achieve long residence time and specificity. We first analyzed the binding thermodynamics of 11 published pyrazolourea ligands using molecular dynamics simulations and a free‐energy calculation method, VM2, and extracted the key binding information to assist virtual screening. The urea moiety was found to be the critical structural contributor of the reference ligands. Starting with the urea moiety, we conducted substructure‐based searches with our newly developed superposition and single‐point energy evaluation method, followed by free‐energy calculations, and singled out three purchasable compounds for bioassay testing. The ranking from the experimental results is completely consistent with the predicted rankings. A potent drug‐like compound was found to have a Kd value of 42.5 nm, which is similar to those of the most potent reference ligands; this provided a good starting point for further improvement. This study shows that our novel virtual screening protocol is an accurate and efficient tool for drug development.
Adaptive TB‐LMI: An efficient memory controller and scheduler design
Authors: El-Moursy A.A. , Elhelw A.S.
Published: November 2018

In the modern multi‐core systems, concurrently executing applications share common resource such as main memory. Memory scheduling algorithms are developed to resolve memory contention among competing applications so that throughput is high and fairness of the overall multi‐core system is guaranteed. In this paper, we present Adaptive Time‐based Least Memory Intensive (Adaptive TB‐LMI) scheduling, a new memory scheduling algorithm that addresses both fairness and system performance. Adaptive TB‐LMI is based on TB‐LMI which prioritizes applications according to their memory contention every pre‐defined CPU cycle. Adaptive TB‐LMI dynamically prioritizes applications according to their memory contention. Considering the previous algorithms with the best performance, for 16‐core system, TB‐LMI improves system throughput on average by 2.25X and 36% comparing to FCFS and TCM respectively. Adaptive TB‐LMI is 6% better than the TB‐LMI with static threshold. In terms of fairness and slowdown metrics, TB‐LMI show improvements of 30% and 3X, respectively, compared to FCFS and, 18% and 8%, respectively, compared to TCM. Adaptive TB‐LMI and TB‐LMI are 15% more efficient in energy‐delay product, although they are within 5% in terms of area overhead. Moreover, TCM has an area overhead of about 45% more than Adaptive TB‐LMI. In terms of Energy‐Delay Product, Adaptive TB‐LMI is 10% and 24% better than TB‐LMI and TCM, respectively. This is due to the dynamic capabilities of the adaptive algorithm to change the rate of the SQ, hence reducing the energy consumption.
In situ Second‐Harmonic Generation Circular Dichroism with Submonolayer Sensitivity
Authors: von Weber Alexander , Jakob Matthias , Kratzer Eva , Kartouzian Aras , Heiz Ueli
Published: November 2018

In this work, we present an experimental setup for the in situ and ex situ study of the optical activity of samples, which can be prepared under ultra‐high vacuum (UHV) conditions by second‐harmonic generation circular dichroism (SHG‐CD) over a broad spectral range. The use of a racemic mixture as a qualified reference for the anisotropy factor is described and, as an example, the chiroptical properties of 1.5 μm thick (multilayers) as well as sub‐monolayer thin films of the R‐ and S‐enantiomer of 1,1′‐Bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL) evaporated onto BK7 substrates were investigated.
INQ‐15 cut‐off scores for suicidal ideation screening of women with chronic, invisible illnesses
Authors: Brookings Jeffrey B. , Pederson Cathy L.
Published: November 2018

In the interpersonal theory of suicide, perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) are proximal triggers of suicidal ideation. Using the 15‐item version of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ‐15), suicidal ideation in psychiatric inpatients was predicted by the PB and TB scales, and cut‐off scores were recommended. In this study, women (N = 942) who reported one or more chronic, invisible illnesses completed an online survey including the INQ‐15 and the Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire‐Revised (SBQ‐R). PB and TB correlated significantly with SBQ‐R total scores (r = 0.575 and 0.437, respectively; p < 0.01). In a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, scores of 17 for PB and 37 for TB maximized the correct classification of high‐risk and low‐risk participants, with slightly higher classification accuracy for PB than TB (AUCs = 0.781 and 0.701, respectively). These results support the INQ‐15 scales in screening for suicidal ideation among chronically ill women.
Molecular and chemical characterization of mutant and nonmutant genotypes of saffron grown in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sharaf‐Eldin Mahmoud A. , Alam Pravej , Elkholy Shereen F.
Published: November 2018

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important spice and medicinal plant that is cultivated in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Its morphological and biochemical parameters, such as the changes in the floral parts (six tepals, three stamens, three stigmata), biomass, and chlorophyll content, are primarily affected by environmental conditions. A polymerase chain reaction–rapid amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR‐RAPD) approach was used to analyze the extent of the polymorphisms between C. sativus genotypes grown in the Saudi climate. In this research study, the DNA fingerprints of the stigmata of C. sativus genotypes [K1 & K2 = C. sativus var. cashmerianus, C1 = C. sativus (nonmutant), T1 = mutant (T0‐2B), T2 = mutant (T1‐2B), T3 = mutant (T4‐2A)] were determined according to the floral parts, and a total of 10 decamer primers were used for PCR‐RAPD analysis. Only three pairs of arbitrary primers showed polymorphisms (33.3%–88.2%) in the total genomic DNA extracted from these genotypes. Jaccard's similarity index (JSI) ranged from 0.88 to 1.0. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) similarity and dendrogram matrix showed that two genotypes (T1‐2B and T4‐2A) were closely related to each other and to the strain CM‐cashmerianus, while the T0 of C. sativus genotype showed divergence.
Conceptualizing leakage and storage contributions from long open interval wells in regional deep basin flow models
Authors: Mannix Devin H. , Abrams Daniel B. , Hadley Daniel R. , Roadcap George S.
Published: November 2018

Deep basin aquifers are increasingly used in water‐stressed areas, though their potential for sustainable development is inhibited by overlying aquitards and limited recharge rates. Long open interval wells (LOIWs)—wells uncased through multiple hydrostratigraphic units—are present in many confined aquifer systems and can be an important mechanism for deep basin aquifers to receive flow across aquitards. LOIWs are a major control on flow in the deep Cambrian–Ordovician sandstone aquifers of the upper Midwest, USA, providing a source of artificial leakage from shallow bedrock aquifers and equilibrating head within the sandstone aquifers despite differential pumpage. Conceptualizing and quantifying this anthropogenic flow has long been a challenge for groundwater flow modellers, particularly on a regional scale. Synoptic measurements of active production wells and well completion data for northeast Illinois form the basis for a transient, head‐specified MODFLOW model that determines mass balance contributions to the region and estimates LOIW leakage to the aquifers. Using this insight, transient LOIW leakage was simulated using transiently changing KV zones in a traditional, Q‐specified MODFLOW‐USG model, a novel approach that allows the KV in a cell containing a LOIW to change transiently by use of the time‐variant materials (TVM) package. With this modification, we achieved a consistent calibration through time, averaging 19.9 m root mean squared error. This model indicates that artificial leakage via LOIWs contributed a minimum of 10–13% of total flow to the sandstone aquifers through the entire history of pumping, up to 50% of flow around 1930. Removal from storage exceeds 40% of flow during peak withdrawals, much of this flow sourced from units other than the primary sandstone aquifers via LOIWs. As such, understanding the timing and magnitude of LOIW leakage is essential for predicting future water availability in deep basin aquifers.
Automated methods to test connectedness and quantify indirectness of evidence in network meta‐analysis
Authors: Thom Howard , White Ian R. , Welton Nicky J. , Lu Guobing
Published: November 2018

Network meta‐analysis compares multiple treatments from studies that form a connected network of evidence. However, for complex networks, it is not easy to see if the network is connected. We use simple techniques from graph theory to test the connectedness of evidence networks in network meta‐analysis. The method is to build the adjacency matrix for a network, with rows and columns corresponding to the treatments in the network and entries being one or zero depending on whether the treatments have been compared or not, and with zeros along the diagonal. Manipulation of this matrix gives the indirect connection matrix. The entries of this matrix determine whether two treatments can be compared, directly or indirectly. We also describe the distance matrix, which gives the minimum number of steps in the network required to compare a pair of treatments. This is a useful assessment of an indirect comparison as each additional step requires further assumptions of homogeneity in, for example, design and target populations of included trials. If there are no loops in the network, the distance is a measure of the degree of assumptions needed; it is approximately this with loops. We illustrate our methods using several constructed examples and giving R code for computation. We have also implemented the techniques in the Stata package “network.” The methods provide a fast way to ensure comparisons are only made between connected treatments and to assess the degree of indirectness of a comparison.
Silver Nanoparticles Decorated Polyethylmethacrylate/Graphene Oxide Composite: As Packaging Material
Authors: Mohanty Fanismita , Swain Sarat K.
Published: November 2018

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decorated polyethylmethacrylate (PEMA)/Graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites were prepared through in situ polymerization ethylmethacrylate (EMA) in presence of GO and AgNPs. PEMA/GO/Ag nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and UV‐visible spectroscopy. The thermal stability of PEMA was considerably enhanced due to incorporation of GO and AgNPs and around 32% residue was obtained for PEMA/GO/Ag. This was due to the compatibility of the AgNPs with PEMA and surface functional group of GO. The oxygen barrier property of the PEMA/GO was become double due to incorporation of AgNPs, which was due to the uniform dispersion of AgNPs. The prepared PEMA/GO/Ag composites had shown high resistance to acid and alkali. The antimicrobial properties of composites were measured by Kirby‐Bauer method and the positive antimicrobial properties along with other enhanced properties enable the material suitable for antimicrobial packaging. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1199–E1207, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Poly L, DL‐lactic acid, and composite poly l, DL‐lactic acid/β‐tricalcium phosphate‐based bioabsorbable interference screw
Authors: Santos Alex E. , Braccialli Alex L. , Vilela Julio , Foschini Cesar R. , Sanchez Luiz E. A.
Published: November 2018

There has been a growing interest in the use of bioabsorbable polymers in interference screws for knee ligament reconstruction surgeries. This interest is driven by virtue of the relevant properties exhibited by these polymers. Among such essential properties include excellent biocompatibility and bioabsorption, good integration between graft/bone, in addition to the ease they offer when it comes to surgical revision. This article seeks to report the results obtained from the study aimed at the development of a bioabsorbable interference screw produced by the injection molding process with two distinct polymeric materials: PLDL poly(L,DL‐Lactic acid) and a composite PLDL + 30 wt% TCP (β‐tricalcium phosphate). Finite element analysis (FEA) was used for the development of the screw design. The mechanical strength of the screws was evaluated, where the maximum torque to break was found to surpass the insertion torque by 136% in PLDL material and by 190% in PLDL+TCP. The mean values of pullout force obtained for PLDL and PLDL+TCP were 1635 N and 809 N, respectively. An in vitro degradation test performed over a period of 180 days helped to assess the mechanical behavior during degradation and facilitated the comparison of the screws based on specific application requirements. The composite material (PLDL+TCP) exhibited a faster degradation process, with 88% loss of mechanical resistance following 180 days of degradation compared with 55% observed in the PLDL material. The results show that the addition of bioactive ceramic TCP contributed toward raising the initial mechanical resistance and acceleration during the process of degradation. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2197–2207, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Carbon Black‐Filled Nitrile Rubber Composite as a Flexible Electrode for Electrochemical Synthesis of Supercapacitive Polyaniline
Authors: Shankar Uday , Bhandari Subhendu , Khastgir Dipak
Published: November 2018

This work reports the development of carbon black‐filled flexible conductive composite as an effective electrode material to substitute of graphite for electrochemical synthesis of supercapacitive polyaniline (PAni). Elastomeric composites of acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (NBR) as a matrix with different types of carbon black fillers viz., N660, N330 and XC72 (VULCAN® XC‐72) were prepared through melt mixing method. Among these composites, NBR‐XC72 exhibited the highest bulk electrical conductivity and charge carrier concentration coupled with good mechanical properties. Generally, high level of conductivity is required for a material to be used as an electrode in electrochemical synthesis. The NBR‐XC72 composite with 90 phr black loading can be used as an effective material for electrode electrochemical synthesis of PAni from aniline. Two different PAni samples were prepared using both graphite electrode (PAni‐G) as well as flexible composite electrode (PAni‐R). The specific capacitance of PAni‐G was found to be around 380 Fg−1 in comparison to 213 Fg−1 for PAni‐R at the discharge rate of 1 Ag−1. The retention of specific capacitance of PAni‐R was found to be 90% notably better than that of Pani‐G (81%) after 1,000 cycles of charge–discharge (CD) process. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1537–E1547, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Facilitators and barriers to using neurological outcome measures in developed and developing countries
Authors: Demers Marika , Blanchette Andréanne K. , Mullick Aditi A. , Shah Akash , Woo Kathleen , Solomon John , Levin Mindy F.
Published: November 2018

Objective

To identify and compare factors influencing the use of standardized outcome measures by neurological physical therapists working in representative developed (Canada) and developing (India) countries.

Methods

A self‐administered web‐based questionnaire on facilitators and barriers to using neurological outcome measures was sent by email to neurological physical therapists in Canada and India. Frequencies of responses to each question were computed. Differences between countries were assessed using two‐proportion z test.

Results

Of 317 respondents, the use of standardized outcome measures was higher for Indian (96.7%) compared with Canadian physical therapists (89.2%). Among the most highly reported facilitators, three were common for both countries (known validity and reliability, outcome measures learned in professional training, and recommended in clinical practice guidelines). Three highly reported barriers were also common for India and Canada (lack of time, relying on judgement for clinical decisions, and unavailability of the assessment tools). Nevertheless, there were differences in the percentages of barriers and facilitators between countries.

Conclusion

Understanding the factors influencing the uptake of outcome measures among neurological physical therapists working in a developed (Canada) and a developing country (India) can help identify whether strategies should or should not be modified to facilitate knowledge translation in different geographical, professional, or social contexts.
Berberine alleviates oxidized low‐density lipoprotein‐induced macrophage activation by downregulating galectin‐3 via the NF‐κB and AMPK signaling pathways
Authors: Pei ChongZhe , Zhang Yi , Wang Ping , Zhang BeiJian , Fang Lu , Liu Bo , Meng Shu
Published: November 2018

Macrophage activation plays a central role in neoatherosclerosis and in‐stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Galectin‐3, mainly expressed on macrophages, is an important regulator of inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of berberine (BBR) on oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL)‐induced macrophage activation and galectin‐3 expression and their underlying mechanisms. THP‐1‐derived macrophages were pretreated with BBR prior to stimulation with ox‐LDL. Galectin‐3 expression was measured by real‐time PCR, Western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Macrophage activation was assessed by lipid accumulation, expression of inflammatory cytokines, and CD11b and CD86. Plasma galectin‐3 levels were measured in patients undergoing PCI at baseline and after BBR treatment for 3 months. BBR suppressed ox‐LDL‐induced upregulation of galectin‐3 and macrophage activation. Overexpression of galectin‐3 intervened the inhibitory effect of BBR on macrophage activation. BBR activated phospho‐AMPK and inhibited phospho‐NF‐κB p65 nuclear translocation. AMPK inhibition and NF‐κB activation abolished the inhibitory effects of BBR on galectin‐3 expression and macrophage activation. Combination of BBR and rosuvastatin exerted greater effects than BBR or rosuvastatin alone. However, BBR treatment did not further reduce plasma galectin‐3 after PCI in patients receiving standard therapy. In conclusion, BBR alleviates ox‐LDL‐induced macrophage activation by downregulating galectin‐3 via the NF‐κB and AMPK signaling pathways.
The Johansson‐Molloy theorem for DP‐coloring
Authors: Bernshteyn Anton
Published: November 2018

The aim of this note is twofold. On the one hand, we present a streamlined version of Molloy's new proof of the bound for triangle‐free graphs G, avoiding the technicalities of the entropy compression method and only using the usual “lopsided” Lovász Local Lemma (albeit in a somewhat unusual setting). On the other hand, we extend Molloy's result to DP‐coloring (also known as correspondence coloring), a generalization of list coloring introduced recently by Dvořák and Postle.
A virtualized test automation framework: A DellEMC case study of test automation practice
Authors: O'Shea Donna , Ortin Francisco , Geary Kevin
Published: November 2018

As software development life‐cycles continue to shorten, the need for reliable, maintainable and scalable test automation solutions becomes more and more important. This importance arises as software, test and automation activities occur earlier in the development life cycle with the aim of providing accelerated feedback on the code and software produced. In this environment, infrastructure and development environments are made available earlier to test teams, the demand of which can create environment bottlenecks as software and automation teams also require the same resources at the same time. To help maximize the use of the underlying resources virtualization and cloud based solutions have been proposed. However, at present there is no guidance on how to design and implement a test automation solution that leverages an underlying virtualized infrastructure. In this paper a virtualized test automation framework designed and implemented by DellEMC Software Quality team in Cork, Ireland is presented along with a macro benchmark analysis of its performance over different virtualization environments.
Detecting a boosted diboson resonance
Authors: Agashe Kaustubh , Collins Jack H. , Du Peizhi , Hong Sungwoo , Kim Doojin , Mishra Rashmish K.
Published: November 2018

Abstract

New light scalar particles in the mass range of hundreds of GeV, decaying into a pair of W/Z bosons can appear in several extensions of the SM. The focus of collider studies for such a scalar is often on its direct production, where the scalar is typically only mildly boosted. The observed W/Z are therefore well-separated, allowing analyses for the scalar resonance in a standard fashion as a low-mass diboson resonance. In this work we instead focus on the scenario where the direct production of the scalar is suppressed, and it is rather produced via the decay of a significantly heavier (a few TeV mass) new particle, in conjunction with SM particles. Such a process results in the scalar being highly boosted, rendering the W/Z’s from its decay merged. The final state in such a decay is a “fat” jet, which can be either four pronged (for fully hadronic W/Z decays), or may be like a W/Z jet, but with leptons buried inside (if one of the W/Z decays leptonically). In addition, this fat jet has a jet mass that can be quite different from that of the W/Z/Higgs/top quark-induced jet, and may be missed by existing searches. In this work, we develop dedicated algorithms for tagging such multi-layered “boosted dibosons” at the LHC. As a concrete application, we discuss an extension of the standard warped extra dimensional framework where such a light scalar can arise. We demonstrate that the use of these algorithms gives sensitivity in mass ranges that are otherwise poorly constrained.
SO(32) heterotic standard model vacua in general Calabi-Yau compactifications
Authors: Otsuka Hajime , Takemoto Kenta
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We study a direct flux breaking scenario in SO(32) heterotic string theory on general Calabi-Yau threefolds. The direct flux breaking, corresponding to hypercharge flux breaking in the F-theory context, allows us to derive the Standard Model in general Calabi-Yau compactifications. We present a general formula leading to the three generations of quarks and leptons and no chiral exotics in a background-independent way. As a concrete example, we show the three-generation model on a complete intersection Calabi-Yau threefold.
Development of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a high-level recombinant protein expression system
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Xin , Qiu Jin , Wang Kaikai , Meng Kun , Luo Huiying , Su Xiaoyun , Ma Rui , Huang Huoqing , Yao Bin
Published: November 2018

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens K11 is a hyperproducer of extracellular neutral protease, which can produce recombinant homologous protein steadily and is amenable to scale up to high-cell density fermentation. The present study aims to genetically modify strain K11 as a highly efficient secretory expression system for high-level production of heterologous proteins. Using B. amyloliquefaciens K11 and alkaline protease gene BcaprE as the expression host and model gene, the gene expression levels mediated by combinations of promoters PamyQ, PaprE and Pnpr and signal peptides SPamyQ, SPaprE and SPnpr were assessed on shake flask level. The PamyQ-SPaprE was found to be the best secretory expression cassette, giving the highest enzyme activities of extracellular BcaprE (13,800 ± 308 U/mL). Using the same expression system, the maltogenic α-amylase Gs-MAase and neutral protease BaNPR were successfully produced with the enzyme activities of 19. ± 0.2 U/mL and 17,495 ± 417 U/mL, respectively. After knocking out the endogenous neutral protease-encoding gene Banpr, the enzyme activities of BcaprE and Gs-MAase were further improved by 25.4% and 19.4%, respectively. Moreover, the enzyme activities of BcaprE were further improved to 30,200 ± 312 U/mL in a 15 L fermenter following optimization of the fermentation conditions. In the present study, the genetically engineered B. amyloliquefaciens strain 7-6 containing PamyQ-SPaprE as the secretory expression cassette was developed. This efficient expression system shows general applicability and represents an excellent industrial strain for the production of heterologous proteins.
Perceptions of middle school youth about school bullying
Authors: Ybarra Michele L. , Espelage Dorothy L. , Valido Alberto , Hong Jun Sung , Prescott Tonya L.
Published: November 2018

Introduction

Bullying prevention remains a major focus for schools yet prevention programs have yielded limited efficacy. This suggests that efforts to make the programs more salient for youth may result in greater reductions in bullying behavior.

Methods

To inform the development of a text messaging‐based bullying prevention program for middle school youth, we conducted two online, asynchronous focus groups with 37 youth in grades 6–8. Youth were recruited across the United States using an online panel. Topics and questions were posted twice‐daily across three days; youth responded when convenient.

Results

Findings suggested: (a) When asked, many youth provided definitions of bullying that were simliar to the CDC's definition (e.g., differential power). At times, these did not align with their school's definition, however. (b) Youth said those who were ‘different’, quiet, or unpopular were more likely to be targeted by bullies; (c) Central tenants of bullying prevention programs (e.g., help‐seeking, bystander interventions) did not always resonate with youth (e.g., becuase they could be hurt by the bully) although youth did share a range of strategies to manage anger; and (d) Many youth reported that bullying prevention efforts at their school were limited to posters and assemblies.

Conclusions

Asking students about their perspectives of the main tenants of bully prevention programs provides opportunities to craft prevention program content that better speaks to the experiences and concerns that youth have when trying to navigate these difficult situations. Focus groups are also useful in identifying the ways in which youth talk about bullying and other types of peer aggression to guide the ‘voice’ of the program.
Two new Paleozoic Asteroidea (Echinodermata) and their taxonomic and evolutionary significance
Authors: Blake Daniel B. , Koniecki Joseph
Published: November 2018

Sertulaster keslinginew genus new species (Palaeasteridae) andDelicaster hotchkissinew species (Permasteridae) are asteroid echinoderms described, respectively, from the Ordovician and Carboniferous of eastern North America. The new genus and species help to document diversity within taxa of lower rank.S. keslingiis similar to the Early OrdovicianEriasterBlake and Guensburg, 2005 but exhibits less differentiation of the skeletal elements from beyond the ambulacral column, that of the so-called extraxial skeleton, whereas the comparatively robust construction ofDelicaster hotchkissiclearly departs from that of the type species,D. enigmaticus(Kesling, 1967). Small sample sizes and incomplete exposure of available specimens illustrate ambiguities typically encountered in the study of fossil asteroids.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/fb44075c-396b-4f95-b997-29cdf3c4f3c1
Easy access: new dynamics in long-distance African intimacies
Authors: Hannaford Dinah
Published: November 2018

This article examines how African transnational relationships in the twenty-first century differ from their manifestation in previous periods of mobility and long-distance intimacy. I argue that the possibilities for and expectations of immediate communication and co-presence facilitated by the current technological landscape distinguish this era from earlier ones and fundamentally alter the ways in which African migrants connect to those at home. Although time–space compression allows for the potential of new practices of virtual intimacy, it also creates an imperative of availability for migrants that is reinforced not only on micro- and meso-levels by families and communities but also on macro-levels by neoliberal state policies that target migrants as agents of development and providers of social services.
Letting the mask slip: the shameless fame of Sierra Leone's Gongoli
Authors: Anderson Samuel Mark
Published: November 2018

Grotesque and vulgar, the masked character Gongoli upends the codes of Mende decorum in his madcap pursuit of laughs. His impropriety goes so far as to allow his mask to fall, comically revealing the identity of his dancer and subverting the anonymity so elemental to his fellow spirits’ vaunted status. Yet despite such transgressions, he stands among the most beloved figures of Sierra Leone's rich performance traditions. Gongoli's popularity hinges on his irreverence towards the fundamental laws of masked dance, laws that also regulate the balance between individual agency and communal responsibility, between internal desire and external restraint. The only quality necessary to play Gongoli is shamelessness (ngufe baa), and the greatest performers are acrobats braving risks that are not physical, but social. This article follows Siloh, an itinerant performer whose celebrity inheres in his uncanny similarity to the Gongoli he often plays. The composite figure Siloh Gongoli exemplifies a comic aesthetic relished throughout Sierra Leone in storytelling, ritual, festivals, videos and radio shows. Although mobilized for different ends, each of these conventions undermines principles of self-effacement, gerontocratic privilege and esoteric power by shamelessly playing with and within the existential tensions between interior and exterior selves.
Seeing the unseeing audience: women and West African power association masquerades
Authors: Gagliardi Susan Elizabeth
Published: November 2018

For more than a century, observers have noted that the West African power associations known as Komo and Kono prohibit women from seeing their performances and assemblages. Reportedly fearful of seeing something they are not permitted to see, women and children run for shelter and shut the doors. Yet, in western Burkina Faso today, certain Komo and Kono chapters authorize some women to view their arts, and women who are not authorized still interact with performers during events, consult with the organizations’ leaders at other times or assist power association leaders in other ways. A focus on the unseeing but ever-present audiences of Komo and Kono reconfigures our understanding of audiences. Scholars of theatre audiences in different times and places have sometimes used ‘spectators’ as a synonym for ‘audience’, implying a group of people who are physically present for an event and can see it. Unseeing audiences are physically present at a live performance and interact with performers even though they are prohibited from actually seeing the event other people can see. Shifting our focus to women as members of unseeing audiences also reveals women's varied contributions to organizations and arts that have long been framed as institutions that operate squarely within men's domains.
Ambiguous agency: Dan/Mau stilt mask spirit performance as ontology in Côte d'Ivoire and the US
Authors: Reed Daniel B.
Published: November 2018

In this article, I describe the belief system at the centre of Mau and Dan mask spirit performances and some implications of these beliefs in practice, and I suggest an ontological framework for interpreting the ambiguous agency embodied in such performances. I ground my discussion of this ontological framework by juxtaposing ethnographic material about non-commercial, community-based mask spirit belief and practice with details of the career of an international ‘star’ mask spirit performer, Vado Diomande. I propose that the ambiguous agency at the heart of these performances is best understood using a performance framework that locates being in process. My interlocutors’ discourse about and practices of these performances suggest that, rather than looking for ontologyinperformance, we understand ontologyasperformance – or perhaps better yet, performance as ontology. Such a framework illuminates both the challenges and the strategic advantages that ontological ambiguity presents to mask spirit performers in immigrant settings in the US. This framework also provides a philosophical grounding for theories positing African art as process, and sheds light on the ways in which mask spirit performers manoeuvre in the interstices of display and disguise, addressing both belief and market demand.
Agency in artistry: comments on ‘Art and the individual in African masquerades’
Authors: McNaughton Patrick
Published: November 2018

Understanding masquerade performance is a difficult challenge because so many dimensions of expressive culture come together. There are questions of performer ambiguity and secret expertise, the confounding relationships between secular and spiritual, the many aspects of secrecy, and the involvement of higher powers. There is also the basic question of what a performance is supposed to accomplish, and the most fundamental issue of individual identity and agency.
Effect of long-term low-dose folic acid supplementation on degree of total homocysteine-lowering: major effect modifiers
Authors: Wang Binyan , Wu Hongxu , Li Youbao , Ban Qianyun , Huang Xiao , Chen Lulu , Li Jianping , Zhang Yan , Cui Yimin , He Mingli , Tang Genfu , Yin Delu , Li Junnong , Huo Yong , Qin Xianhui , Xu Xiping
Published: November 2018

We sought to examine the potential modifiers in the association between long-term low-dose folic acid supplementation and the reduction of serum total homocysteine (tHcy) among hypertensive patients, using data from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). This analysis included 16 867 participants who had complete data on tHcy measurements at both the baseline and exit visit. After a median treatment period of 4·5 years, folic acid treatment significantly reduced the tHcy levels by 1·6 μmol/l (95 % CI 1·4, 1·8). More importantly, after adjustment for baseline tHcy and other important covariates, a greater degree of tHcy reduction was observed in certain subgroups: males, the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677TT genotype, higher baseline tHcy levels (≥12·5 (median) v. <12·5 μmol/l), lower folate levels (<8·0 (median) v. ≥8·0 ng/ml), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min per 1·73 m2 (v. 60–<90 and ≥90 ml/min per 1·73 m2), ever smokers and concomitant use of diuretics (P for all interactions <0·05). The degree of tHcy reduction associated with long-term folic acid supplementation can be significantly affected by sex, MTHFR C677T genotypes, baseline folate, tHcy, eGFR levels and smoking status.
Lysozyme-rich milk mitigates effects of malnutrition in a pig model of malnutrition and infection
Authors: Garas Lydia C. , Hamilton M. Kristina , Dawson Matthew W. , Wang Jane-Ling , Murray James D. , Raybould Helen E. , Maga Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2018

Malnutrition remains a leading contributor to the morbidity and mortality of children under the age of 5 years and can weaken the immune system and increase the severity of concurrent infections. Livestock milk with the protective properties of human milk is a potential therapeutic to modulate intestinal microbiota and improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop an infection model of childhood malnutrition in the pig to investigate the clinical, intestinal and microbiota changes associated with malnutrition and enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) infection and to test the ability of goat milk and milk from genetically engineered goats expressing the antimicrobial human lysozyme (hLZ) milk to mitigate these effects. Pigs were weaned onto a protein–energy-restricted diet and after 3 weeks were supplemented daily with goat, hLZ or no milk for a further 2 weeks and then challenged with ETEC. The restricted diet enriched faecal microbiota in Proteobacteria as seen in stunted children. Before infection, hLZ milk supplementation improved barrier function and villous height to a greater extent than goat milk. Both goat and hLZ milk enriched for taxa (Ruminococcaceae) associated with weight gain. Post-ETEC infection, pigs supplemented with hLZ milk weighed more, had improvedZ-scores, longer villi and showed more stable bacterial populations during ETEC challenge than both the goat and no milk groups. This model of childhood disease was developed to test the confounding effects of malnutrition and infection and demonstrated the potential use of hLZ goat milk to mitigate the impacts of malnutrition and infection.