bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valoración del alumnado sobre el uso de clickers y vídeo tutoriales en la educación superior
Authors: López-Rodríguez Maria Isabel , Barac Maja
Published: June 2019

La puesta en marcha de los grados y postgrados en las universidades españolas ha venido acompañada de una revisión de las metodologías docentes utilizadas y la incorporación en muchos casos de Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC). Tecnologías como las Herramientas de Respuesta de Audiencia (HRA), los Clickers, y los vídeos (mUVies) se utilizaron en una asignatura cuantitativa de un grado ofertado por la Universitat de València (UV), en un intento de paliar la baja carga lectiva de la misma y dotar al alumnado de material de apoyo dentro y fuera del aula. El trabajo que se presenta examina la percepción que el alumnado tuvo del uso de dichas TIC en su proceso de aprendizaje y también el volumen de trabajo que supuso su puesta en marcha. Utilizando análisis descriptivos e inferenciales sobre las opiniones obtenidas en las encuestas acerca de las TIC y los resultados de la evaluación continua y el examen final, concluimos que el alumnado valoró muy positivamente el uso de ambas TIC con una calificación media superior a 8 (sobre 10), valorando mejor los mUVies que los Clickers. En cuanto al volumen de trabajo que la implantación de las TIC supuso, esta se estima en unas 7.5 horas para el alumnado y de unas 132.5 horas para el profesorado.
Educación patrimonial y fotografía estereoscópica: intervención didáctica
Authors: Ferrer-Peris Jordi , Colomer-Rubio Juan Carlos
Published: June 2019

La inserción de la tecnología digital para el trabajo del patrimonio material e inmaterial puede convertirse en una herramienta creativa que refuerce el papel del maestro/a como agente educador del patrimonio local (en la línea de lo sugerido en el Plan Nacional de Educación y Patrimonio (PNEyP)). Además, este tipo de recursos permiten el desarrollo de herramientas que mejoran la interpretación de los entornos patrimoniales y los acercan al alumnado. En esta propuesta de innovación se expone una intervención didáctica original realizada con discentes de sexto de Educación Primaria en el entorno del Castell de Marinyén (Benifairó de la Valldigna, Valencia) por medio de la utilización de la fotografía estereoscópica o esférica y la hipótesis de reconstrucción. Una propuesta que aúna investigación sobre el entorno inmediato, la utilización de las tecnologías digitales y el uso de la imagen como documento de investigación. Ello ha permitido plantear una vía de introducción de los medios tecnológicos en educación patrimonial por medio de unos recursos actualizados, sencillos y accesibles que permiten la realización de investigaciones concretas y el trabajo de contenidos de diferentes áreas de conocimiento (Ciencias Sociales, Ciencias Naturales…). En conclusión, se vienen a suplir los defectos que la educación patrimonial ha tenido en su inserción en el sistema educativo, ampliando su tratamiento en el aula, así como su disposición dentro del currículo escolar.
Orgull de Baix, un documental web interactivo
Authors: Carreras Anna , Julià Daniel , Fernández Isabel
Published: June 2019

"Orgull de Baix" es un documental web que propone un viaje virtual por la comarca del Baix Llobregat para descubrir el valor agrícola y medioambiental de este territorio, su rol fundamental para el futuro y la sostenibilidad del área metropolitana de Barcelona. Se trata de un espacio interactivo que proporciona al usuario una experiencia de viaje virtual sobre la comarca a través de un mapa web navegable en 3D.
Introducción a la Programación Creativa a través de un collage
Authors: Roda Jordi
Published: June 2019

Esta experiencia relata el proceso de elaboración de una de las prácticas de la asignatura de Programación Creativa por parte de un alumno. Está orientado a los lectores que tengan curiosidad por saber sobre qué trata la asignatura y las posibilidades que ofrece esta disciplina.
Towards a quantitative model of epidemics during conflicts
Authors: Banerjee Soumya
Published: June 2019

Epidemics may both contribute to and arise as a result of conflict. The effects of conflict on infectious diseases are complex and there have been confounding observations of both increase and decrease in disease outbreaks during and after conflicts. However there is no unified mathematical model that explains all these counter-intuitive observations. There is an urgent need for a quantitative framework for modelling conflicts and epidemics. We introduce a set of mathematical models to understand the role of conflicts in epidemics. Our mathematical framework has the potential to explain the counterintuitive observations and the complex role of human conflicts in epidemics. Our work suggests that aid and peacekeeping organizations should take an integrated approach that combines public health measures, socio-economic development, and peacekeeping in the conflict zone. Our approach exemplifies the role of non-linear thinking in complex systems like human societies. We view our work as a step towards a quantitative model of disease spread in conflicts.
Preparation, thermal stability and electrical transport properties of vaesite, NiS2
Authors: Ferreira Helena M , Lopes Elsa B , Malta José F , Ferreira Luís M , Casimiro Maria H , Santos Luís , Pereira Manuel FC , Pereira Gonçalves Antonio
Published: June 2019

Vaesite, a nickel chalcogenide with NiS2 formula, has been synthetized and studied by theoretical and experimental methods. NiS2 was prepared by solid-state reaction under vacuum and densified by hot-pressing, at different consolidation conditions. Dense single-phase pellets (relative densities >94%) were obtained, without significant lattice distortions for different hot-pressing conditions. The thermal stability of NiS2 was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Both as-synthetized and hot-pressed NiS2 have a single phase nature, although some hot-pressed samples had traces of the sulfur deficient phase, Ni1-xS (<1%vol), due to the strong desulfurization at T > 340ºC. The electronic band structure and density of states were calculated by Density Functional Theory (DFT), indicating a metallic behavior. However, the electronic transport measurements showed p-type semiconductivity for bulk NiS2, verifying its characteristic behavior has a Mott insulator. The consolidation conditions strongly influence the electronic properties, with the best room-temperature Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and power factor being 182µVK-1, 2257μΩm and 14.1µWK-2m-1, respectively, pointing this compound as a good starting point for a new family of thermoelectric materials.
Optical microscopic study of surface morphology and filtering efficiency of face masks
Authors: Neupane Bhanu Bhakta , Mainali Sangita , Sharma Amita , Giri Basant
Published: June 2019

Background

Low-cost face masks made from different cloth materials are very common in developing countries. The cloth masks (CM) are usually double layered with stretchable ear loops. It is common practice to use such masks for months after multiple washing and drying cycles. If a CM is used for long time, the ear loops become stretched. The loop needs to be knotted to make the mask loop fit better on the face. It is not clear how washing and drying and stretching practices change the quality of a CM. The particulate matter (PM) filtering efficiency of a mask depends on multiple parameters, such as pore size, shape, clearance, and pore number density. It is important to understand the effect of these parameters on the filtering efficiency.

Methods

We characterized the surface of twenty different types of CMs using optical image analysis method. The filtering efficiency of selected cloth face masks was measured using the particle counting method. We also studied the effects of washing and drying and stretching on the quality of a mask.

Results

The pore size of masks ranged from 80 to 500 μm, which was much bigger than particular matter having diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and 10 μm or less (PM10) size. The PM10filtering efficiency of four of the selected masks ranged from 63% to 84%. The poor filtering efficiency may have arisen from larger and open pores present in the masks. Interestingly, we found that efficiency dropped by 20% after the 4th washing and drying cycle. We observed a change in pore size and shape and a decrease in microfibers within the pores after washing. Stretching of CM surface also altered the pore size and potentially decreased the filtering efficiency. As compared to CMs, the less frequently used surgical/paper masks had complicated networks of fibers and much smaller pores in multiple layers in comparison to CMs, and therefore had better filtering efficiency. This study showed that the filtering efficiency of cloth face masks were relatively lower, and washing and drying practices deteriorated the efficiency. We believe that the findings of this study will be very helpful for increasing public awareness and help governmental agencies to make proper guidelines and policies for use of face mask.
Validation of endogenous reference genes in rat cerebral cortex for RT-qPCR analyses in developmental toxicity studies
Authors: Ramhøj Louise , Axelstad Marta , Svingen Terje
Published: June 2019

Relative gene expression data obtained from quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) experiments are dependent on appropriate normalization to represent true values. It is common to use constitutively expressed endogenous reference genes (RGs) for normalization, but for this strategy to be valid the RGs must be stably expressed across all the tested samples. Here, we have tested 10 common RGs for their expression stability in cerebral cortex from young rats after in utero exposure to thyroid hormone (TH) disrupting compounds. We found that all 10 RGs were stable according to the three algorithms geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. The downstream target gene Pvalb was significantly downregulated in brains from young rats after in utero exposure to propylthiouracil (PTU), a medicinal drug inhibiting TH synthesis. Similar results were obtained regardless of which of the 10 RGs was used for normalization. Another potential gene affected by developmental TH disruption, Dio2, was either not affected, or significantly upregulated about 1.4-fold, depending on which RG was used for normalization. This highlights the importance of carefully selecting correct RGs for normalization and to take into account the sensitivity of the RT-qPCR method when reporting on changes to gene expression that are less than 1.5-fold. For future studies examining relative gene expression in rat cerebral cortex under toxicological conditions, we recommend using a combination of either Rps18/Rpl13a or Rps18/Ubc for normalization, but also continuously monitor any potential regulation of the RGs themselves following alterations to study protocols.
Determination of the evolutionary pressure onCamellia oleiferaon Hainan Island using the complete chloroplast genome sequence
Authors: Zhang Wan , Zhao Yunlin , Yang Guiyan , Peng Jiao , Chen Shuwen , Xu Zhenggang
Published: June 2019

Camellia oleiferais one of the four largest woody edible oil plants in the world with high ecological and medicinal values. Due to frequent interspecific hybridization, it was difficult to study its genetics and evolutionary history. This study usedC. oleiferathat was collected on Hainan Island to conduct our research. The unique island environment makes the quality of tea oil higher than that of other species grown in the mainland. Moreover, a long-term geographic isolation might affect gene structure. In order to better understand the molecular biology of this species, protect excellent germplasm resources, and promote the population genetics and phylogenetic studies ofCamelliaplants, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to obtain the chloroplast genome sequence of HainanC. oleifera. The results showed that the whole chloroplast genome ofC. oleiferain Hainan was 156,995 bp in length, with a typical quadripartite structure of a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,648 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,297 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,025 bp. The whole genome encoded a total of 141 genes (115 different genes), including 88 protein-coding genes, 45 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Among these genes, nine genes contained one intron, two genes contained two introns, and four overlapping genes were also detected. The total GC content of HainanC. oleifera’s chloroplast genome was 37.29%. The chloroplast genome structure characteristics of HainanC. oleiferawere compared with mainlandC. oleiferaand those of the other eight closely related Theaceae species; it was found that the contractions and expansions of the IR/LSC and IR/SSC regions affected the length of chloroplast genome. The chloroplast genome sequences of these Theaceae species were highly similar. A comparative analysis indicated that the Theaceae species were conserved in structure and evolution. A total of 51 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were detected in the chloroplast genome of HainanC. oleifera, and allCamelliaplants did not have pentanucleotide repeats, which could be used as a good marker in phylogenetic studies. We also detected seven long repeats, the base composition of all repeats was biased toward A/T, which was consistent with the codon bias. It was found that HainanC. oleiferahad a similar evolutionary relationship withC. crapnelliana, through the use of codons and phylogenetic analysis. This study can provide an effective genomic resource for the evolutionary history of Theaceae family.
En busca del consenso: agendas política, mediática y pública en Santiago de Cuba
Authors:   Universidad de Oriente (Cuba), Muñiz Viviana
Published: June 2019

Esta investigación explica la relación entre las agendas política, mediática y pública sobre temas experienciales en Santiago de Cuba durante el primer trimestre de los años 2014 y 2015. Para esto, se utilizan métodos teóricos, como el análisis-síntesis y el inductivo-deductivo, y técnicas como el análisis de contenido cuantitativo, las entrevistas y los grupos de discusión. Los resultados muestran una relación de transferencia temática entre las agendas política y mediática, y baja entre esta última y la agenda pública. Este complejo fenómeno se produce a partir de influencias relacionadas con la construcción de la agenda mediática y de la pública.
Discursos mediáticos sobre la educación: el caso de las pruebas estandarizadas en Chile
Authors:   Universidad de Chile, Cabalin Cristian , Montero Loreto ,   Universidad de California (United States), Cárdenas Camila ,   Universidad Austral de Chile
Published: June 2019

En este artículo discutimos la relación entre medios y educación a partir de la cobertura en la prensa chilena de la prueba estandarizada SIMCE. Empleando los métodos del análisis crítico del discurso y framing, concluimos que los periódicos analizados tienden a la naturalización de las deficiencias de este instrumento de evaluación y a la desactivación de los argumentos que critican su permanencia. Por ello, el procesamiento de los conflictos en torno a esta medición queda supeditado a la normalización que estos discursos periodísticos proporcionan al campo educacional. Así, se refuerza la creciente influencia de los medios de comunicación en la formulación de las políticas educacionales, en un proceso conocido como mediatización de la educación.
La publicidad gubernamental en Argentina entre 2000-2017: crecimiento exponencial, usufructo electoral y crisis de los medios
Authors:   Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (Argentina), Crettaz José
Published: June 2019

Entre 2000 y 2017, los fondos públicos del gobierno argentino destinados a publicidad se multiplicaron casi ocho veces, de 23 a 182 millones de dólares anuales, pese a la retracción de la economía nacional. Los recursos –2594 millones de dólares en todo el período– tuvieron picos de crecimiento en años de elecciones. Esto parece confirmar el usufructo electoral de la publicidad gubernamental, como advirtieron la academia y la sociedad civil. A partir de datos de fuentes oficiales, se determinó el volumen total de fondos públicos destinados a ese fin y exploró su impacto social y político.
Graphical User Authentication System Resistant to Shoulder Surfing Attack
Authors: Osunade Oluwaseyifunmitan , Oloyede Iyanuoluwa A. , Azeez Titilayo O.
Published: June 2019

User authentication is one of the most significant issues in the field of Information Security. The most common and convenient authentication method used is the alphanumeric password  which has significant drawbacks. To overcome the vulnerabilities of traditional methods, graphical password schemes have been developed as possible alternative solutions to text-based scheme. A potential drawback of graphical password schemes is that they are more vulnerable to shoulder surfing than conventional alphanumeric text passwords due to their visual interface. To overcome the shortcoming of existing graphical password schemes this project focuses on developing a graphical authentication system that is resistant to shoulder surfing attack.
Working memory of highly self‐critical men is impaired by failure
Authors: Lueke Niloufar , Rubinow David
Published: June 2019

Previous studies have shown self‐criticism to be negatively associated with goal progress. In order to investigate factors that may influence this association, the present study examined the interactive impact of performance (failure vs. success) and self‐criticism on working memory (WM). Goal‐directed behavior in the achievement domain was operationalized as comparative performance on two strongly correlated WM span tasks. The effect of negative or positive performance feedback was assessed by presenting a success or a failure experience between the two WM span tasks in order to examine the influence of failure and success on the second WM span task compared with the first/baseline. A male‐only sample was used as a follow‐up to a previous study that has utilized a female‐only sample. Findings revealed self‐criticism to serve as an individual difference factor that influences men's WM functioning in the context of failure. This interactive effect may contribute to diminished goal progress in men.
Rational Design of Capacitive Pressure Sensors Based on Pyramidal Microstructures for Specialized Monitoring of Biosignals
Authors: Ruth Sara Rachel Arussy , Beker Levent , Tran Helen , Feig Vivian Rachel , Matsuhisa Naoji , Bao Zhenan
Published: June 2019

There is an increasing demand for specialized pressure sensors in various applications. Previously, capacitive pressure sensors have been shown to have wide versatility in use, with a high degree of potential tuning possible through manipulating the geometry or material selection of the dielectric layer. However, in order to make sensors that are tunable and predictable, the design and fabrication method first needs to be developed. Presented here is an improved fabrication method to achieve tunable, consistent, and reproducible pressure sensors by using a pyramid microstructured dielectric layer along with a lamination layer. The as‐produced sensor performance is able to match predicted trends. Further, a simple model based on this system is developed and its efficacy is experimentally confirmed. Then, the model to predict a wide range of material and microstructure geometric properties prior to device fabrication is used to provide trends on sensor performance. Finally, it is demonstrated that the new method can be used to targetedly design a pressure sensor for a specific application—in vitro pulse sensing.
A Li2S‐TiS2‐Electrolyte Composite for Stable Li2S‐Based Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Chung Sheng‐Heng , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: June 2019

Li2S is a fully lithiated sulfur‐based cathode with a high theoretical capacity of 1166 mAh g−1 that can be coupled with lithium‐free anodes to develop high‐energy‐density lithium–sulfur batteries. Although various approaches have been pursued to obtain a high‐performance Li2S cathode, there are still formidable challenges with it (e.g., low conductivity, high overpotential, and irreversible polysulfide diffusion) and associated fabrication processes (e.g., insufficient Li2S, excess electrolyte, and low reversible capacity), which have prevented the realization of high electrochemical utilization and stability. Here, a new cathode design composed of a homogeneous Li2S‐TiS2‐electrolyte composite that is prepared by a simple two‐step dry/wet‐mixing process is demonstrated, allowing the liquid electrolyte to wet the powder mixture consisting of insulating Li2S and conductive TiS2. The close‐contact, three‐phase boundary of this system improves the Li2S‐activation efficiency and provides fast redox‐reaction kinetics, enabling the Li2S‐TiS2‐electrolyte cathode to attain stable cyclability at C/7 to C/3 rates, superior long‐term cyclability over 500 cycles, and promising high‐rate performance up to 1C rate. More importantly, this improved performance results from a cell design attaining a high Li2S loading of 6 mg cm−2, a high Li2S content of 75 wt%, and a low electrolyte/Li2S ratio of 6.
Facile synthesis of sterically demanding SHOP‐type nickel catalysts for ethylene polymerization
Authors: Peng Dan , Pang Wenmin , Xu Guoyong , Tan Chen , Wang Fuzhou
Published: June 2019

The P,O‐chelated shell higher olefin process (SHOP) type nickel complexes are practical homogeneous catalysts for the industrial preparation of linear low‐carbon α‐olefins from ethylene. We describes that a facile synthetic route enables the modulation of steric hindrance and electronic nature of SHOP‐type nickel complexes. A series of sterically bulky SHOP‐type nickel complexes with variable electronic nature, {[4‐R‐C6H4C(O) = C‐PArPh]NiPh (PPh3); Ar = 2‐[2′,6′‐(OMe)2C6H3]C6H4; R = H (Ni1); R = OMe (Ni2); R = CF3 (Ni3)}, were prepared and used as single component catalysts toward ethylene polymerization without using any phosphine scavenger. These nickel catalysts exhibit high thermal stability during ethylene polymerization and result in highly crystalline linear α‐olefinic solid polymer. The catalytic performance of the SHOP‐type nickel complexes was significantly improved by introducing a bulky ortho‐biphenyl group on the phosphorous atom or an electron‐withdrawing trifluoromethyl on the backbone of the ligand, indicating steric and electronic effects play critical roles in SHOP‐type nickel complexes catalyzed ethylene polymerization.
Development of Pelvic Incidence and Lumbar Lordosis in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Bailey Jeannie F. , Shefi Sara , Soudack Michalle , Kramer Patricia A. , Been Ella
Published: June 2019

Pelvic incidence (PI) is a measure of the sagittal orientation of the sacrum relative to the acetabula and is not dependent on posture. In asymptomatic adults, PI correlates with lumbar lordosis. Lumbar lordosis is shown to increase with age following the onset of unassisted bipedal locomotion in children, but to what extent PI changes in relation to lumbar lordosis during skeletal maturation is unclear. The purpose of this study is to understand how PI, lumbar lordosis, and age are related in children and adolescents. PI, supine lumbar lordosis (SLL), and individual wedging angles of the lumbar vertebral bodies were measured on mid‐sagittal reformatted images from 144 abdominal computed tomographic scans of individuals aged 2–20 years old, divided into three separate age categories representing pre‐growth spurt (ages 2–9), growth spurt (10–15), and post‐growth spurt (16–20). Our results showed that, while SLL significantly increased with age during development, PI did not. Despite the fact that PI hardly changed with age, the difference between PI and SLL decreased nonlinearly with age. SLL did not correlate with PI in the youngest age category, but positively correlated with PI in the middle and oldest age categories. The relationship between lumbar lordosis and PI, which is correlated in adults, was significant in our older age categories and not in our youngest age category. Our results indicate that PI in children and adolescents may have some predictive value for adult lumbar lordosis. Anat Rec, 302:2132–2139, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy
A New Frontier for Palaeobiology: Earth's Vast Deep Biosphere
Authors: McMahon Sean , Ivarsson Magnus
Published: June 2019

Diverse micro‐organisms populate a global deep biosphere hosted by rocks and sediments beneath land and sea, containing more biomass than any other biome except forests. This paper reviews an emerging palaeobiological archive of these dark habitats: microfossils preserved in ancient pores and fractures in the crust. This archive, seemingly dominated by mineralized filaments (although rods and coccoids are also reported), is presently far too sparsely sampled and poorly understood to reveal trends in the abundance, distribution, or diversity of deep life through time. New research is called for to establish the nature and extent of the fossil record of Earth's deep biosphere by combining systematic exploration, rigorous microanalysis, and experimental studies of both microbial preservation and the formation of abiotic pseudofossils within the crust. It is concluded that the fossil record of Earth's largest microbial habitat may still have much to tell us about the history of life, the evolution of biogeochemical cycles, and the search for life on Mars.
Kinetics of anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification in the membrane biofilm reactor
Authors: Tang Youneng , Zhang Zhiming , Rittmann Bruce E. , Lee Hyung‐Sool
Published: June 2019

Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to denitrification (AOM‐D) in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), a platform used for efficiently coupling gas delivery and biofilm development, has attracted attention in recent years due to the low cost and high availability of methane. However, experimental studies have shown that the nitrate‐removal flux in the CH4‐based MBfR (<1.0 g N/m2‐day) is about one order of magnitude smaller than that in the H2‐based MBfR (1.1–6.7 g N/m2‐day). A one‐dimensional multispecies biofilm model predicts that the nitrate‐removal flux in the CH4‐based MBfR is limited to <1.7 g N/m2‐day, consistent with the experimental studies reported in the literature. The model also determines the two major limiting factors for the nitrate‐removal flux: The methane half‐maximum‐rate concentration (K2) and the specific maximum methane utilization rate of the AOM‐D syntrophic consortium (kmax2), with kmax2 being more important. Model simulations show that increasing kmax2 to >3 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/g cell‐day (from its current 1.8 g COD/g cell‐day) and developing a new membrane with doubled methane‐delivery capacity (Dm) could bring the nitrate‐removal flux to ≥4.0 g N/m2‐day, which is close to the nitrate‐removal flux for the H2‐based MBfR. Further increase of the maximum nitrate‐removal flux can be achieved when Dm and kmax2 increase together.
New Hints on the Maya Blue Formation Process by PCA‐Assisted In Situ XRPD/PDF and Optical Spectroscopy
Authors: Caliandro Rocco , Toson Valentina , Palin Luca , Conterosito Eleonora , Aceto Maurizio , Gianotti Valentina , Boccaleri Enrico , Dooryhee Eric , Milanesio Marco
Published: June 2019

The exact recipe to prepare the ancient Maya Blue (MB), an incredibly resistant and brilliant pigment prepared from indigo (dye) and Palygorskite (clay), is lost to the ages. To unravel the key features of the MB formation process, several inorganic‐dye couples were heated to 200 °C and cooled to RT, to investigate their reactivity and the diffusion and degree of sequestration of the dye into the inorganic host. In situ XRPD/PDF and fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) data, along with TGA, provided a comprehensive overview on MB formation mechanism. XRPD/PDF gave information on long/short range behaviors of water desorption/adsorption and indigo sequestration, while TGA and in situ FORS gave information on mass and optical changes within temperature. Ex situ dye removal was used to understand the sample stability after the thermal treatment. A statistical approach based on principal component analysis was exploited to efficiently and jointly analyze the ≈3000 collected patterns. MB formation starts below 110 °C with disordered distribution of indigo within the channels, reaching maximum reaction speed and higher ordering at 150 °C. Above 175 °C, color changes and a stronger sequestration of indigo into framework channels are observed, whereas the affinity for water is dramatically reduced. The origin of different colors, hues, and stability in historical MB samples can then be explained in terms of different thermal histories of the starting mechanical indigo/palygorskite mixtures.
Self‐Healable Polyelectrolytes with Mechanical Enhancement for Flexible and Durable Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Bo , Li Jinhui , Liu Feng , Wang Tao , Wang Ying , Xuan Rui , Zhang Guoping , Sun Rong , Wong Ching‐Ping
Published: June 2019

The practical application of advanced personalized electronics is inseparable from flexible, durable, and even self‐healable energy storage devices. However, the mechanical and self‐healing performance of supercapacitors is still limited at present. Herein, highly transparent, stretchable, and self‐healable poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPSA)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/LiCl polyelectrolytes were facilely prepared by one‐step radical polymerization. The cooperation of PAMPSA and PVA significantly increased the mechanical and self‐healing capacity of the polyelectrolyte, which exhibited superior stretchability of 938 %, stress of 112.68 kPa, good electrical performance (ionic conductivity up to 20.6 mS cm−1), and high healing efficiency of 92.68 % after 24 h. After assembly with polypyrrole‐coated single‐walled carbon nanotubes, the resulting as‐prepared supercapacitor had excellent electrochemical properties with high areal capacitance of 297 mF cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2 and good rate capability (218 mF cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2). Besides, after cutting in two the supercapacitor recovered 99.2 % of its original specific capacitance after healing for 24 h at room temperature. The results also showed negligible change in the interior contact resistance of the supercapacitor after ten cutting/healing cycles. The present work provides a possible solution for the development of smart and durable energy storage devices with low cost for next‐generation intelligent electronics.
Lattice Shrinkage by Incorporation of Recombinant Starmaker‐Like Protein within Bioinspired Calcium Carbonate Crystals
Authors: Różycka Mirosława , Coronado Ismael , Brach Katarzyna , Olesiak‐Bańska Joanna , Samoć Marek , Zarębski Mirosław , Dobrucki Jerzy , Ptak Maciej , Weber Eva , Polishchuk Iryna , Pokroy Boaz , Stolarski Jarosław , Ożyhar Andrzej
Published: June 2019

The biological mediation of mineral formation (biomineralization) is realized through diverse organic macromolecules that guide this process in a spatial and temporal manner. Although the role of these molecules in biomineralization is being gradually revealed, the molecular basis of their regulatory function is still poorly understood. In this study, the incorporation and distribution of the model intrinsically disordered starmaker‐like (Stm‐l) protein, which is active in fish otoliths biomineralization, within calcium carbonate crystals, is revealed. Stm‐l promotes crystal nucleation and anisotropic tailoring of crystal morphology. Intracrystalline incorporation of Stm‐l protein unexpectedly results in shrinkage (and not expansion, as commonly described in biomineral and bioinspired crystals) of the crystal lattice volume, which is described herein, for the first time, for bioinspired mineralization. A ring pattern was observed in crystals grown for 48 h; this was composed of a protein‐enriched region flanked by protein‐depleted regions. It can be explained as a result of the Ostwald‐like ripening process and intrinsic properties of Stm‐l, and bears some analogy to the daily growth layers of the otolith.
Theoretical Investigation of the Photoexcited NO2+H2O reaction at the Air–Water Interface and Its Atmospheric Implications
Authors: Martins‐Costa Marilia T. C. , Anglada Josep M. , Francisco Joseph S. , Ruiz‐López Manuel F.
Published: June 2019

The atmospheric role of photochemical processes involving NO2 beyond its dissociation limit (398 nm) is controversial. Recent experiments have confirmed that excited NO2* beyond 420 nm reacts with water according to NO2*+H2O→HONO+OH. However, the estimated kinetic constant for this process in the gas phase is quite small (k≈10−15–3.4×10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) suggesting minor atmospheric implications of the formed radicals. In this work, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of NO2 adsorbed at the air–water interface reveal that the OH production rate increases by about 2 orders of magnitude with respect to gas phase, attaining ozone reference values for NO2 concentrations corresponding to slightly polluted rural areas. This finding substantiates the argument that chemistry on clouds can be an additional source of OH radicals in the troposphere and suggests directions for future laboratory experimental studies.
Production of 2,3‐butanediol from diverse saccharides via fermentation
Authors: Fernández‐Gutierrez David , Veillette Marc , Ramirez Antonio Avalos , Giroir‐Fendler Anne , Faucheux Nathalie , Heitz Michèle
Published: June 2019

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential use of whey to produce 2,3‐BD via the fermentation of lactose and its monosaccharides, glucose and galactose, in a synthetic culture medium (medium 9, M9) using a modified strain of Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 (E. coli JFR12) at a 0.1 L/L (10 vol%) inoculum ratio, 37 °C, atmospheric pressure, an initial pH 7.4, and 100 rpm for 72 h varying the saccharide concentration from 12.5, 25, and 50 g/L. The 2,3‐BD yield was ∼80 % of the theoretical yield using 25 g/L of glucose and lactose, corresponding to 0.38 g/g saccharides at a fermentation time of 48 h (glucose) and 72 h (lactose). However, the 2,3‐BD yield was halved (0.19 g/g galactose), fermenting 25 g/L of galactose at 48 h. Taking into account these results, two important conclusions were determined: i) E. coli JFR12 could transform galactose into 2,3‐BD although its yield was half of the yield observed with glucose at 48 h; and ii) E. coli JFR12 was as efficient as other natural 2,3‐BD producers such as Klebsiella species fermenting lactose. However, the E. coli strain has the advantage of being an innocuous strain. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other study presenting the production of 2,3‐BD from galactose and lactose with a genetically modified E. coli strain.
Optimal estimation in functional linear regression for sparse noise‐contaminated data
Authors: Mostafaiy Behdad , Faridrohani Mohammad Reza , Chenouri Shojaeddin
Published: June 2019

Abstract

In this article, we propose a novel approach to fit a functional linear regression in which both the response and the predictor are functions. We consider the case where the response and the predictor processes are both sparsely sampled at random time points and are contaminated with random errors. In addition, the random times are allowed to be different for the measurements of the predictor and the response functions. The aforementioned situation often occurs in longitudinal data settings. To estimate the covariance and the cross‐covariance functions, we use a regularization method over a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. The estimate of the cross‐covariance function is used to obtain estimates of the regression coefficient function and of the functional singular components. We derive the convergence rates of the proposed cross‐covariance, the regression coefficient, and the singular component function estimators. Furthermore, we show that, under some regularity conditions, the estimator of the coefficient function has a minimax optimal rate. We conduct a simulation study and demonstrate merits of the proposed method by comparing it to some other existing methods in the literature. We illustrate the method by an example of an application to a real‐world air quality dataset.The Canadian Journal of Statistics47: 524–559; 2019 © 2019 Statistical Society of Canada
A Commercially Available and User‐Friendly Catalyst for Hydroamination Reactions under Technical Conditions
Authors: Zelenay Benjamin , Munton Peter , Tian Xiaojie , Díez‐González Silvia
Published: June 2019

The activity of a simple, commercially available copper salt, [Cu(NCMe)4](BF4) in intramolecular hydroamination reactions of alkynes and allenes is presented. Reactions were successfully carried out in technical acetonitrile in the presence of air. While attempts of alkene hydroamination failed, this catalyst was also found active in intermolecular aza‐Michael reactions.
Second primary tumors in patients with a head and neck paraganglioma
Authors: Contrera Kevin J. , Yong Valeda , Reddy Chandana A. , Berber Eren , Lorenz Robert R.
Published: June 2019

Background

There are conflicting recommendations and possibly overuse of imaging for surveillance of second primary tumors for patients with a history of head and neck paraganglioma.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 234 adults with head and neck paragangliomas (1990‐2010) followed for a mean of 7.5 ± 8.4 years.

Results

The rate of second paraganglioma was 1.7% after 5 years and 5.1% after 10 years, yielding an incidence of 6.65 per 1000 person‐years. Only 1.3% of patients (2.59 per 1000 person‐years) ever had a second paraganglioma in the chest, abdomen, or pelvis. Patients with a hereditary paraganglioma (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52‐15.43) or carotid body tumor (HR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.15‐10.99) were at greater risk.

Conclusions

The incidence rate of a second primary paragangliomas is low but increases with hereditary disease. These results question the utility of repeated imaging outside of the neck to screen for second paragangliomas.
Olfactomedin 4 downregulation is associated with tumor initiation, growth and progression in human prostate cancer
Authors: Li Hongzhen , Kim Christine , Liu Wenli , Zhu Jianqiong , Chin Kay , Rodriguez‐Canales Jaime , Rodgers Griffin P.
Published: June 2019

The olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) gene has been analyzed as a tumor‐suppressor gene and a putative biomarker in many cancers. In our study, we analyzed the relationship of OLFM4 expression with clinicopathological features and with CpG site methylation in the OLFM4 gene promoter region in human primary prostate adenocarcinoma. OLFM4 protein expression was significantly reduced in prostate cancer tissue compared to adjacent normal tissue and was further significantly reduced in more advanced cancers. Bioinformatic studies with clinical datasets revealed that primary prostate adenocarcinoma patients with reduced OLFM4 mRNA expression exhibited higher Gleason scores and higher preoperative serum prostate‐specific antigen levels, as well as lower recurrence‐free survival. Three of the eight CpG sites in the OLFM4 gene promoter region were hypermethylated in cancerous prostate cells compared to adjacent normal cells, and reduced methylation of eight CpG sites was associated with increased OLFM4 mRNA expression in RWPE1 and PC‐3 cells. Furthermore, knockdown of OLFM4 gene expression was associated with enhanced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐marker expression in RWPE immortalized normal prostate cells. In contrast, restoration of OLFM4 expression in PC‐3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells lacking OLFM4 significantly inhibited both EMT‐marker expression and tumor cell growth in in vitro and in vivo models, indicating that OLFM4 may play a tumor‐suppressor role in inhibiting the EMT program, as well as tumor initiation and growth, in prostate cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that OLFM4 plays an important tumor‐suppressor role in prostate cancer progression and might be useful as a novel candidate biomarker for prostate cancer.
Association between lifestyle and hematological parameters: A study of Chinese male steelworkers
Authors: Yen Jean Mei‐Chu , Hsu Chia‐Chang , Hung Wei‐Chin , Lu Yung‐Chuan , Wang Chao‐Ping , Tsai I‐Ting , Lu I‐Cheng , Hung Yi‐Hsin , Chung Fu‐Mei , Lee Yau‐Jiunn , Yu Teng‐Hung
Published: June 2019

Background

Increasing evidence suggests an association between lifestyle and white blood cell (WBC) count; however, no study has examined the effects of lifestyle associations on hematological parameters. The aim of this study was to examine the association between lifestyle factors and hematological parameters in a large population‐based sample of Chinese male steelworkers.

Methods

This study included 3189 male workers at a steel plant who responded to a cross‐sectional questionnaire on basic attributes, lifestyle, and sleep. All workers in the plant underwent periodic health checkups. Hematological parameters were also examined at the checkup.

Results

Stepwise linear regression analyses showed that smoking, poor sleep, shift work, and obesity were all significant factors associated with WBC count. Obesity was independently associated with RBC count. Furthermore, smoking and obesity were associated with hemoglobin, and smoking, poor sleep, and obesity were independently associated with hematocrit. Moreover, smoking was the main factor associated with MCV and MCH. When the subjects were divided into quartiles according to WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and increased WBC count were associated with smoking, poor sleep, shift work, and obesity. Increased hemoglobin was associated with smoking and obesity. Furthermore, an increased RBC count was associated with obesity, and increased hematocrit was associated with smoking, poor sleep, and obesity. Similarly, increased MCV and MCH were also associated with smoking.

Conclusion

This study indicates that lifestyle factors may exert an important effect on hematological parameters (eg, WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and MCH).
Psychometric properties and utility of the Responses to Positive Affect questionnaire (RPA) in a sample of people with bipolar disorder
Authors: Kraiss Jannis T. , ten Klooster Peter M. , Chrispijn Melissa , Stevens Anja W.M.M. , Kupka Ralph W. , Bohlmeijer Ernst T.
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Responses to Positive Affect (RPA) questionnaire in a sample of persons with bipolar disorder (BD).

Method

Cross‐sectional survey study with 107 persons with BD. The original 3‐factor model of the RPA was compared with a 2‐factor model. Construct validity was determined with measures of well‐being, personal recovery, social role participation, and psychopathology and incremental validity was evaluated.

Results

The fit of the 3‐factor model was acceptable for most fit indices. Subscores of the RPA revealed a significant relationship with aspects of well‐being, personal recovery, and psychopathology. Dampening and self‐focused positive rumination explained additional variance in personal recovery above and beyond well‐being.

Conclusions

The RPA is an internally consistent and valid tool to assess positive emotion regulation processes in persons with BD. Specifically, the processes of dampening and emotion‐focused positive rumination seem to play an important role in BD.
The Working Alliance Inventory for guided Internet interventions (WAI‐I)
Authors: Gómez Penedo Juan Martín , Berger Thomas , grosse Holtforth Martin , Krieger Tobias , Schröder Johanna , Hohagen Fritz , Meyer Björn , Moritz Steffen , Klein Jan Philipp
Published: June 2019

Objective

This study analyses the psychometric properties of the Working Alliance Inventory adapted for guided Internet interventions (WAI‐I).

Methods

We drew on the data set from a multicenter trial that examined a guided Internet intervention (deprexis) for patients with mild to moderate depression. Two hundred twenty‐three patients completed the WAI‐I and the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (ZUF‐8) at posttreatment, and the Attitudes toward Psychological Online‐Interventions Questionnaire (APOI) at baseline. We ran confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) testing two‐ and three‐factor solutions and calculated Cronbach's α, item‐total correlations, and correlations of the WAI‐I with APOI and ZUF‐8.

Results

The results suggested a two‐factor solution, with a very good model fit and evidence of factor independency, adequate internal consistency, and external validity for the complete scale and the sub‐scales.

Conclusions

The WAI‐I showed as a reliable and valid instrument to capture alliance in guided Internet interventions, which might facilitate process‐outcome research and treatment development efforts.
Individual heat map assessments demonstrate vestronidase alfa treatment response in a highly heterogeneous mucopolysaccharidosis VII study population
Authors: Haller Christine , Song Wenjie , Cimms Tricia , Chen Chao‐Yin , Whitley Chester B. , Wang Raymond Y. , Bauer Mislen , Harmatz Paul
Published: June 2019

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) VII is an ultra‐rare, progressively debilitating, life‐threatening lysosomal disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme, β‐glucuronidase. Vestronidase alfa is an approved enzyme replacement therapy for MPS VII. UX003‐CL301 was a phase 3, randomized, placebo‐controlled, blind‐start study examining the efficacy and safety of vestronidase alfa 4 mg/kg intravenously administered every 2 weeks to 12 patients with MPS VII. Due to the rarity of disease, broad eligibility criteria resulted in a highly heterogeneous population with variable symptoms. For an integrated view of the diverse data, the changes from baseline (or randomization for the placebo period) in clinical endpoints were grouped into three functional domains (mobility, fatigue, and fine motor + self‐care) and analyzed post‐hoc as subject‐level heat maps. Mobility assessments included the 6‐minute walk test, 3‐minute stair climb test, Bruininks‐Oseretsky test (BOT‐2) gross motor function subtests, and patient‐reported outcome assessments (PROs) related to movement, pain, and ambulation. Fatigue assessments included the Pediatric Quality of Life Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and other fatigue‐related PROs. Fine motor + self‐care assessments included BOT‐2 fine motor function subtests and PROs for eating, dressing, hygiene, and caregiver assistance. Most subjects showed improvement in at least one domain. Two subjects improved in two or more domains and two subjects did not show clear improvement in any domain. Both severely and mildly affected subjects improved with vestronidase alfa in clinical assessments, PRO results, or both. Heat map analysis demonstrates how subjects responded to treatment across multiple domains, providing a useful visual tool for studying rare diseases with variable symptoms.
Virtual reconstruction of cranial endocasts of traversodontid cynodonts (Eucynodontia: Gomphodontia) from the upper Triassic of Southern Brazil
Authors: Pavanatto Ane E. B. , Kerber Leonardo , Dias‐da‐Silva Sérgio
Published: June 2019

The brain endocasts of the late Triassic (Carnian) traversodontids (Eucynodontia: Gomphodontia) Siriusgnathus niemeyerorum and Exaeretodon riograndensis from southern Brazil are described based on virtual models generated using computed tomography scan data. Their skull anatomy resembles that of other non‐mammaliaform cynodonts, showing an endocranial cavity that is not fully ossified. A “V‐shaped” orbitosphenoid, neither fully developed nor ossified is present in E. riograndensis. The nasal cavity is confluent with the encephalic cavity. Thus, the anterior limit of the olfactory bulbs is not definite. The brain endocast is elongated, being narrow anteriorly and wide posteriorly, with the maximum width at the parafloccular cast. The olfactory bulbs do not present a clear division between their counterparts, due to the absence of a longitudinal sulcus. A longitudinal sulcus in the forebrain delimiting the cerebral hemispheres, the pineal tube, and the parietal foramen are absent in both taxa. The large and well‐developed unossified zone is partially separated from the remaining endocast by a notch formed by the supraoccipital. The encephalization quotients, as well as the endocranial volume/body mass relationships of S. niemeyerorum and E. riograndensis are within the range expected for non‐mammaliaform Therapsida.