bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum calretinin as an independent predictor for platinum resistance and prognosis in ovarian cancer
Authors: Link Theresa , Passek Simon , Wimberger Pauline , Frank Kerstin , Vassileva Yana Damyanova , Kramer Michael , Kuhlmann Jan Dominik
Published: September 2019

Calretinin (CRT) is a calcium‐binding protein that controls intracellular calcium signaling. Besides its prominent expression in neurons, serum CRT (sCRT) has recently been suggested as blood‐based biomarker for prediagnostic mesothelioma detection. CRT is expressed in ovarian cancer tissues in up to 40% of cases; however, its clinical relevance as blood‐based biomarker for ovarian cancer is unknown. sCRT was determined by calretinin enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay (Calretinin‐ELISA, DLD Diagnostika GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) in a total of 515 serum samples from 116 healthy controls and 134 ovarian cancer patients (thereof 86% with Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique [FIGO] III/IV), including samples at primary diagnosis and at four longitudinal follow‐up time points in the course of treatment and at recurrence. sCRT level was significantly increased in ovarian cancer patients compared to healthy controls (estimated difference = 0.3 ng/ml, p < 0.001), was mostly independent from CA125 (r ≤ 0.388) and enabled accurate discrimination between cases and controls (area under the curve = 0.85). Higher sCRT level at primary diagnosis predicted suboptimal debulking (p < 0.001) and was associated with advanced FIGO‐stage (p < 0.001) and increased amount of ascites (p < 0.001). sCRT levels at primary diagnosis and its dynamics in the course of chemotherapy were independent predictors for poor progression‐free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.99, confidence interval [CI] = [1.13–3.52], p = 0.0181) and overall survival (HR = 15.4, CI = [1.92–124], p = 0.0099). Furthermore, sCRT at primary diagnosis or a relative sCRT increase in the time interval between surgery and the onset of chemotherapy were both independent predictors of platinum resistance (OR = 4.99, CI = [3.50–16,001], p = 0.0016; OR = 2.41, CI = [1.37–6,026], p = 0.0271, respectively). This is the first study that suggests sCRT as liquid biopsy marker for independent prediction of platinum resistance and prognosis.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Alkyl Allyl Ethers via Palladium‐Catalyzed Redox‐Relay Heck Alkenylation of O‐Alkyl Enol Ethers
Authors: Prater Matthew B. , Sigman Matthew S.
Published: September 2019

Herein we report a transformation that generates an array of enantiomerically enriched, alkyl allyl ethers. Cyclic, acyclic, and heteroatom‐bearing alkenyl triflates undergo an enantioselective, palladium‐catalyzed C−C bond formation with diverse acyclic O‐alkyl enol ethers in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.
Attachment hierarchies in Bangladeshi women in couple‐initiated and arranged marriages
Authors: Flicker Sharon M. , Sancier‐Barbosa Flavia , Afroz Farhana , Saif Sumaiya N. , Mohsin Faeqa
Published: September 2019

Attachment theory posits that in adulthood, romantic partners typically fill the role of primary attachment figure, yet few studies have examined whether these findings hold in cultures that practice arranged marriage or that emphasise collectivistic values and filial piety. In the current study, we compared attachment hierarchies in 116 Bangladeshi women engaged to be married or in the first 3 years of couple‐initiated (also known as love) marriages and arranged marriages. Women in couple‐initiated marriages reported greater use of their partners for the attachment functions of safe haven and secure base than women in arranged marriages. However, women in both groups were more likely to identify one of their parents than their partner as their primary attachment figure. Although replication is necessary, these findings suggest that partners may not be universally prioritised above parents in the attachment hierarchy and that attachment theory's assumptions of individuation from parents in adulthood may not apply cross‐culturally. Findings are discussed in terms of cultural differences from samples previously represented in attachment research, such as kinship structures, the meaning of marriage and filial piety.
Association of prenatal attachment and early childhood emotional, behavioral, and developmental characteristics: A longitudinal study
Authors: Arguz Cildir Deniz , Ozbek Aylin , Topuzoglu Ahmet , Orcin Esmahan , Janbakhishov Ceren Evcen
Published: September 2019

This study examines the associations between prenatal attachment and child development, socioemotional behavioral problems, and competence at early childhood. It also inquires whether maternal depression and anxiety at the prenatal period and at early childhood are associated with child outcomes. The study consisted of 83 mothers and their children. Data regarding the prenatal attachment, depression, and anxiety were collected during Weeks 28 to 40 of gestation. When the children were 21 to 31 months old, the Brief Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) and the Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (ADSI) were applied to children along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) administered to mothers. Results showed that prenatal attachment scores significantly correlated with BITSEA‐Competency subscale scores and ADSI total scores at early childhood, r(83) = 0.246, P = .025, and r(82) = 0.316, P = .004, respectively. Prenatal attachment levels were found to be the predictors of both behavioral and emotional competence and development at early childhood, b = 0.081, t(83) = 2.273, P = .014, and b = 0.281, t(83) = 3.225, P = .002, respectively. In addition, prenatal attachment was shown to be even a stronger predictor of development than was worsening maternal depression at early childhood, b = −0.319, t(83) = 2.140, P = .035. Our results indicate that fostering prenatal attachment may be beneficial for better infant outcomes at early childhood.
The My Emotions Questionnaire: A self‐report of mothers’ emotional responses to infant crying
Authors: Leerkes Esther M. , Qu Jin
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this article was to examine the psychometrics of the My Emotions Questionnaire, a self‐report designed to assess mothers’ emotional reactions when their infants cry. Participants were 240 first‐time mothers. When infants were 6 months and 1 year old, mothers completed the new questionnaire and measures assessing beliefs and behavioral responses to infant crying, and interview‐based measures of mothers’ emotional reactions and causal attributions about crying were administered. Maternal sensitivity and negative behaviors were observed when infants were 6 months and 1 and 2 years old. Mothers reported on their discipline practices when children were 2 years old. Five emotion factors emerged based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 6‐month data: Amusement, Anxiety, Frustration, Sympathy, and Protective. The five‐factor structure was supported via a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the 1‐year data. All scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency reliability and significant stability from 6 months to 1 year. Amusement, Frustration, and Protectiveness demonstrated the best convergent validity with cry cognitions and predictive validity to parenting measures, followed by Anxiety, although effects tended to be small to moderate. Evidence for the validity of Sympathy was less compelling. The potential utility of the questionnaire for basic and applied research is discussed.
Smart supercapacitors from materials to devices
Authors: Wang Rui , Yao Minjie , Niu Zhiqiang
Published: September 2019

The recent development in smart electronic devices has increased the demand for supercapacitors to integrate with other different functions. Recently, many research efforts have been made to fabricate smart components of supercapacitors and to construct them into novel device configurations. In this mini review, we summarize recent progress in smart supercapacitors with the functions of self‐healing, shape memory, electrochromism, and photodetection, including the design of electrode materials, the optimization of the configuration, and working mechanism. Furthermore, the perspective and challenges for the development of smart supercapacitors are also discussed deeply.

image
Proximal and distal determinants of community resilience under threats of terror
Authors: Eshel Yohanan , Kimhi Shaul , Marciano Hadas
Published: September 2019

Community resilience (CR) is a positive trajectory of adaptation of a commune after a disturbance, stress, or adversity. Previous studies have successfully predicted CR in times of stress by distal factors, such as demographic characteristics of the community members and by their psychological attributes. We submit that since all these variables are distal predictors, which are not directly related to the actual stressful condition, CR would be predicted more readily by proximal factors, which portray people's responses to the investigated adversity (i.e., trust in the community emergency team). A sample of 1,515 adults, living in terror‐stricken border communities in northern Israel has been examined. Their perceived CR has been predicted concurrently by distal and by proximal factors. Results have supported the research hypotheses, indicating the importance of proximal variables in determining and promoting CR.
What If Evaluation Takes Place Seated Around the Table Whilst Enjoying a Drink? A Social Practice View of Evaluation of Development Education
Authors: Zozimo Joana
Published: September 2019

This article critically explores the evaluation practice of practitioners working in an English development education organization on the basis of an in‐depth longitudinal case study. Ethnographically collected data include observations, documentary analysis and 26 semi‐structured interviews with funders, practitioners and coordinators that capture what they do on a daily basis and how they attribute meaning and value to their practice of evaluation. Social practice theory locates evaluation as an everyday routinized practice. A typology of practitioners' engagement in evaluation practice reveals the importance of the reflective and socio‐relational features in evaluation in order to transform its practice into an enjoyable experience. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural characterization of the ligstroside aglycone isoforms in virgin olive oils by liquid chromatography–high‐resolution Fourier‐transform mass spectrometry and H/Dexchange
Authors: Abbattista Ramona , Losito Ilario , De Ceglie Cristina , Basile Graziana , Calvano Cosima D. , Palmisano Francesco , Cataldi Tommaso R.I.
Published: September 2019

A systematic structural characterization of the isomeric forms related to ligstroside aglycone (LA), one of the most relevant secoiridoids contained in virgin olive oils, was performed using reverse phase liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization Fourier‐transform single and tandem mass spectrometry, operated in negative ion mode (RPLC‐ESI(−)‐FTMS and FTMS/MS). The high mass resolution and accuracy provided by the adopted orbital trap mass analyzer enabled the recognition of more than 10 different isomeric forms of LA in virgin olive oil extracts. They were related to four different types of molecular structure, two of which including a dihydropyranic ring bearing one or two aldehydic groups, whereas the others corresponded to dialdehydic open‐structure forms, differing just for the position of a C═C bond. The contemporary presence of enolic or dienolic tautomers associated to most of these compounds, stable at room temperature (23°C), was also assessed through RPLC‐ESI‐FTMS analyses operated under H/D exchange conditions, ie, by using D2O instead of H2O as co‐solvent of acetonitrile in the RPLC mobile phase. As discussed in the paper, the results obtained for LA indicated a remarkable structural similarity with oleuropein aglycone (OA), the most abundant secoiridoid of olive oil, whose isoforms had been previously characterized using the same analytical approach.
Ridge Resonance in Silicon Photonics Harnessing Bound States in the Continuum
Authors: Nguyen Thach Giang , Ren Guanghui , Schoenhardt Steffen , Knoerzer Markus , Boes Andreas , Mitchell Arnan
Published: September 2019

The theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration of a waveguide resonator are presented based on bound states in the continuum in an integrated photonic chip platform. The continuum has the form of a collimated beam of light which is confined vertically in a transverse electric (TE) mode of a silicon slab. The bound state is a discrete transverse‐magnetic (TM)‐like mode of a ridge on the silicon slab. The coupling between the slab and ridge modes results in a single sharp resonance at the wavelength where they phase match. This phenomenon is experimentally demonstrated on a silicon photonic chip using foundry‐compatible parameters and it is interfaced on‐chip to standard single‐mode silicon nanowire waveguides. The fabricated chip exhibits a single sharp resonance near 1550 nm with a line width of a few nanometers, an extinction ratio of 25 dB, and a thermal stability of 19.5 pm °C−1. It is believed that the demonstration of a resonance operating near a bound state in the continuum realized using guided wave components will form the basis of a new approach to on‐chip wavelength filtering and sensing applications.
Cavoportal Hemitransposition in Liver Transplantation: Toward a More Safe and Efficient Technique
Authors: Lerut Jan P. , Lai Quirino , de Ville de Goyet Jean
Published: September 2019

Extended splanchnic venous thrombosis represents a challenge for the liver transplantation (LT) surgeon. In the absence of large venous tributaries, the cavoportal hemitransposition (CPHTr) and the combined liver‐intestinal or multivisceral transplantation are the only technical solutions. Because of the reported high morbidity and mortality rates due to infrequent use and a lack of standardization, the former technique has been almost abandoned by the transplant community. A newly designed technique of CPHTr is presented that is based on the combination of an inferior vena cava (IVC)–sparing hepatectomy and large laterolateral cavocaval and end‐to‐side cavoportal anastomoses separated only by a double vascular stapler line. This technique allows the splanchnic blood to be completely diverted toward the allograft and to eliminate low‐flow IVC areas, which possibly lead to complications. The modified CPHTr technique proposed here offers a valuable alternative to much more complex and invasive intestinal transplantation procedures.
Synthesis of Polyurethane Foam Considering Mixture Blowing Agents for Application to Cryogenic Environments
Authors: Son Young‐Moo , Kim Jeong‐Dae , Choi Sung‐Woong , Kim Jeong‐Hyeon , Her Nam Yong , Lee Jae‐Myung
Published: September 2019

Polyurethane foams, which are among the most widely used insulating materials, are generally fabricated by the chemical reaction between isocyanate and polyol‐containing chemical additives and blowing agents. Recently, many kinds of blowing agents have been used for the fabrication process of polyurethane foam, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). However, issues have continuously arisen regarding the destruction of the ozone layer due to these compounds. In the present study, polyurethane foams are manufactured using a mixture of water blowing agents and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC‐365mfc). These samples are subjected to mechanical tests to investigate the effects of the blowing agents on the mechanical properties of the polyurethane foam within a temperature range of 25 to −163 °C. In addition, thermal and microstructural investigations are conducted depending on the content of the HFC‐365mfc. From the scanning electron microscopy observations, the sizes of the structure cells and the windows are found to decrease with the increase in HFC‐365mfc content. In addition, from the Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy observations, the chemical bonds that affect mechanical performance are found to be more distributed with the increase in HFC‐365mfc content.
Local residents’ perception about tourism and foreign residents: A Spanish case study
Authors: González Reyes , Gascó Jose , Llopis Juan
Published: September 2019

It is important to learn about local residents’ perceptions in relation to tourism and the presence of tourists who eventually become foreign residents, since tourism development is bound to have consequences of an economic, sociocultural, and environmental nature. This paper has collected quantitative as well as qualitative information to analyze those effects in the case of a tourism destination located on Costa Blanca (Spain). The impact of tourism development is additionally associated with local residents’ satisfaction with their municipality. According to the conclusion reached, a connection exists between that satisfaction amongst local residents and the availability of new business opportunities, the development, and maintenance of good relationships between local residents, foreign residents and tourists, and the international atmosphere that arises as a result.
Responsive Ionogel Surface with Renewable Antibiofouling Properties
Authors: Ye Lijun , Chen Fei , Liu Jie , Gao Aiting , Kircher Gunnar , Liu Wendong , Kappl Michael , Wegner Seraphine , Butt Hans‐Jürgen , Steffen Werner
Published: September 2019

The synthesis of ionogels with a responsive, self‐replenishing surface for combating biofouling is described. Ionogels are prepared by infiltrating poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) with binary mixtures of ionic liquids (IL): 1‐octadecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide ([C18C1im][NTf2], melting point Tm = 55 °C) and 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide ([C6C1im][NTf2], Tm = −9 °C). The IL mixtures release spontaneously from the gel matrix and eventually crystallize on the surface. This leads to self‐replenishment of the surface of ionogels even after mechanical damage. The incorporation of [C6C1im][NTf2] provides the antimicrobial efficacy of ionogels while the crystals of [C18C1im][NTf2] serve as a skeleton maintaining [C6C1im][NTf2] on the surface. By heating, the ionogel surface transforms from solid to liquid‐infused state—the removal of biofilms/bacteria developed under a long time of colonization is facilitated. The antimicrobial efficacy is maintained even after several cycles of biofilm formation and detachment. This work provides an opportunity to apply ionogels as functional coatings with renewable antibiofouling properties.
The transmutation operator method for efficient solution of the inverse Sturm‐Liouville problem on a half‐line
Authors: Delgado Briceyda B. , Khmelnytskaya Kira V. , Kravchenko Vladislav V.
Published: September 2019

The inverse Sturm‐Liouville problem on a half‐line is considered. With the aid of a Fourier‐Legendre series representation of the transmutation integral kernel and the Gel'fand‐Levitan equation, the numerical solution of the problem is reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations. The potential q is recovered from the first coefficient of the Fourier‐Legendre series. The resulting numerical method is direct and simple. The results of the numerical experiments are presented.
Inverse problems for a time fractional diffusion equation in the Schwartz‐type distributions
Authors: Lopushanska Halyna , Lopushansky Andriy
Published: September 2019

We find the conditions for the unique solvability of the inverse problem of the solution's initial data determination for a time fractional diffusion equation with a Schwartz‐type distribution in the right‐hand side and the inverse problem of identifying the equation's source under given Schwartz‐type distribution in the initial condition. We use a time‐integral overdetermination condition.
A novel stacked patch antenna with dual band and diverse pattern characteristics
Authors: Yu Junnan , Sun Yufa , Fang Hongyu , Li Fan
Published: September 2019

A dual‐band patch antenna with diverse radiation patterns is presented in this paper. Circular patch and turnstile‐shaped patch are placed up and down to obtain dual band characteristic. Two surface current loops on the circular patch and turnstile‐shaped patch work like equivalent magnetic dipole. Four rectangle slots and four PIN diodes are loaded on the circular patch to readjust the surface current. Due to the changed current path, an equivalent electric dipole is introduced and two dipoles with phase difference of 180° are combined with each other to achieve directional radiation pattern. By switching the states of the diode to control the connection states of the rectangle slot on the circular patch, then a dual‐band antenna with diverse patterns is designed. The measured results show that the overlapping bandwidths of lower band f1 is 2.9% (2.42‐2.49 GHz) and over 2.9 dBi gain, the overlapping bandwidths of upper band f2 is 2.0% (4.87‐4.97 GHz) and over 4.8 dBi gain. The measured patterns of f1 show that the proposed antenna can not only omnidirectional radiation but also directional radiation with a scan angle of 90°. Meanwhile, the measured patterns of f2 remain omnidirectional radiation.
MRIgRT dynamic lung motion thorax anthropomorphic QA phantom: Design, development, reproducibility, and feasibility study
Authors: Steinmann A. , Alvarez P. , Lee H. , Court L. , Stafford R. , Sawakuchi G. , Wen Z. , Fuller C. , Followill D.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To design, manufacture, and evaluate a dynamic magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography (MRI/CT)‐compatible anthropomorphic thorax phantom used to credential MR image‐guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) systems participating in NCI‐sponsored clinical trials.

Method

The dynamic anthropomorphic thorax phantom was constructed from a water‐fillable acrylic shell that contained several internal structures representing radiation‐sensitive organs within the thoracic region. A custom MR/CT visible cylindrical insert was designed to simulate the left lung with a centrally located tumor target. The surrounding lung tissue was constructed from a heterogeneous in‐house mixture using petroleum jelly and miniature (2–4 mm diameter) styrofoam balls and the tumor structure was manufactured from liquid PVC plastic. An MR conditional pneumatic system was developed to allow the MRIgRT insert to move in similar inhale/exhale motions. TLDs and radiochromic EBT3 film were inserted into the phantom to measure absolute point doses and dose distributions, respectively. The dynamic MRIgRT thorax phantom was evaluated through a reproducibility study and a feasibility study. Comprehensive end‐to‐end examinations were done where the phantom was imaged on a CT, an IMRT treatment plan was created and an MR image was captured to verify treatment setup. Then, the phantom was treated on an MRIgRT system. The reproducibility study evaluated how well the phantom could be reproduced in an MRIgRT system by irradiating three times on an Elekta’s 1.5 T Unity system. The phantom was shipped to three independent institutions and was irradiated on either an MRIdian cobalt‐60 (60Co) or an MRIdian linear accelerator system. Treatment evaluations used TLDs and radiochromic film to compare the planned treatment reported on the treatment planning software against the measured dose on the dosimeters.

Results

The phantom on the Unity system had reproducible TLD doses measurements (SD < 1.5%). The measured TLD to calculated dose ratios from the reproducibility and feasibility studies ranged from 0.93 to 1.01 and 0.96 to 1.03, respectively. Using a 7%/5 mm gamma analysis criteria, the reproducibility and feasibility studies resulted in an average passing rate of 93.3% and 96.8%, respectively. No difference was noted in the results between the MRIdian 60Co and MRIdian 6 MV linac delivery to the phantom and all treatment evaluations were within IROC‐Houston’s acceptable criterion.

Conclusions

A dosimetrically tissue equivalent, CT/MR visible, motion‐enabled anthropomorphic MRIgRT thorax phantom was constructed to simulate a lung cancer patient and was evaluated as an appropriate NIH credentialing tool used for MRIgRT systems.
Motivators and barriers to sustainable food consumption: Qualitative inquiry about organic food consumers in a developing nation
Authors: Yadav Rambalak , Singh Pankaj Kumar , Srivastava Ankur , Ahmad Anees
Published: September 2019

The present research attempts to qualitatively explore the motivators and barriers of organic food consumption in the Indian context. The data were collected using semistructured in‐depth interviews and analyzed using grounded theory. The theoretical sampling technique was used to interview 34 consumers who have purchased organic food in the past. The findings reported health consciousness, environmental consciousness, social identity, consumer ethnocentrism, and concern for farmers as the factors that motivate organic food purchase among consumers. The factors such as high prices of organic food, unavailability, trust issues, and limited marketing communications from the firms were identified as major barriers to organic food purchase and consumption. The study is one of the initial attempts to qualitatively explore the consumers' motivation for organic food consumption in the Indian context. The findings will help policymakers to devise suitable strategies so that they can effectively target the organic food choices by understanding the motivators/barriers, and promote the sustainable lifestyle in the society, as food consumption plays a crucial role in achieving environmental sustainability.
Weight gain prevention content delivered to mothers: Lessons from an intervention embedded in a community organization
Authors: Tabak Rachel G. , Morshed Alexandra B. , Schwarz Cynthia D. , Haire‐Joshu Debra
Published: September 2019

Background

Transparent reporting of the intervention content study participants receive is particularly important for dissemination and implementation of evidence‐based interventions to address obesity. This study explores intervention delivery and perceptions of content when an intervention is embedded within an organization's usual practice and associations with weight outcomes.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis from the Healthy Eating and Active Living Taught at Home (HEALTH) randomized trial. HEALTH is a weight gain prevention intervention embedded within a national home visiting programme (Parents as Teachers, PAT). To be consistent with PAT practice, HEALTH has a suggested but also flexible home visit structure. Therefore, the number and frequency of home visits are determined by the family's needs and preferences based on the parent educator's professional judgement. The proportion of participants who received each curriculum core lesson was explored among the 105 families randomized to the HEALTH intervention group, as were mean parent educator perception ratings of the visits (5‐point Likert‐type scale). A chi‐square test was used to examine the association between utilization (ie, low: 1‐6, middle: 7‐12, or high: 13‐18 visits) category and weight maintenance.

Results

Mothers received on average 13.3 (standard deviation 6.2) core visits. Mean parent educator perception of the mothers' response (out of 5) ranged from 3.99 to 4.27; educators' perception of their own experience with the lesson ranged from 4.13 to 4.34. Among mothers who maintained their weight, 13% were low, 22% were middle, and 65% were high utilizers, while among mothers who gained weight, 3%, 31%, and 67% were low, middle, and high utilizers, respectively; this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

This study identified wide variation in the visits families received from the curriculum but minimal variation in visit perceptions. Future studies could explore whether there are optimal patterns for visit content, associated with successful outcomes.
The use of image fusion in prenatal medicine
Authors: Millischer Anne‐Elodie , Brasseur‐Daudruy Marie , Mahallati Houman , Salomon Laurent J.
Published: September 2019

Fusion imaging (FI), the simultaneous display of the same anatomical region using two imaging modalities, has been used in other areas of medicine for both diagnosis and guiding interventions. Examples include positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (PET‐CT) imaging in oncology and ultrasound‐magnetic resonance imaging (US‐MRI) fusion in biopsies of the prostate gland. The underlying principle is to take advantage of the complementary information in each modality to improve accuracy, be it diagnostic accuracy or targeting accuracy in biopsies. For example, PET‐CT overlays the metabolic activity of lesions on the superb spatial and anatomical detail of CT.

While the historical mainstay of fetal imaging has been ultrasound, advances in ultrafast MR imaging together with advances in fetal MRI over the past two decades, have resulted in the opportunity to explore fusion imaging in fetal medicine. We present an overview of the principles of US‐MRI fusion imaging in prenatal medicine, report our local experience, and review the literature in this emerging area. We share our perspective on how FI can improve diagnostic confidence, be used as an educational tool, and potentially enhance guidance in certain fetal procedures.
L‐TRUST: Long‐term risk of cancer in patients under statins therapy. A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Craveiro Nuno Sales , Silva Lopes Bruno , Tomás Lara , Fraga Almeida Sofia , Palma Helena , Afreixo Vera , Costa Matos Luís
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Statins are widely prescribed drugs with established efficacy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Although they are mostly well tolerated, several authors have been emphasizing that the statins' safety profile is not totally clarified especially when considering risk of cancer in patients with long‐term exposure to statins. This meta‐analysis was aimed at evaluating the risk of cancer in patients with prolonged exposure to statins.

Methods

Medline, Cochrane library, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched in order to identify studies with a minimum average follow‐up of 10 years of exposure to statins and a cancer‐related outcome reported. Relative risk (RR) of the primary outcomes and the combined effect was presented using a random‐effects model. In the selected randomized control trials (RCT), statin exposure was compared with placebo, and in the selected observational studies, it was compared with no exposure to statins.

Results

We retrieved 1627 studies, of which 15 full‐papers were included for final review, five RCT, two cohort studies (CSs), and eight case‐control studies (CCs), representing a total of 358 544 patients. Five RCT, two cohort studies (CSs), and eight case‐control studies (CCs). No significant differences were found regarding risk of cancer occurrence (RR = 1.08, 0.96‐1.21) or cancer mortality (RR = 0.91, 0.80‐1.04) due to long‐term statin exposure. Regarding all‐cause mortality, a protective effect was found (RR = 0.93, 0.90‐0.97).

Conclusions

According to available and published evidence, statins are not associated with an increased risk of cancer after prolonged exposure. These findings strengthen the role of statins in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.
Effect of Decomposition of CuO Film on Ignition of Organic Explosives by a Laser Pulse
Authors: Khaneft Alexander , Mitrofanov Anatoly , Zverev Anton
Published: September 2019

This work presents experimental results of the PETN ignition in a three‐layer system: glass – copper oxide (
) – explosive materials (EM) and results of numerical simulations of the ignition of PETN, RDX, HMX, and TATB with a
film heated by a YLS‐150 fiber laser with a pulse duration of
. In the numerical simulations, the endothermic reaction of decomposition of the
film and decomposition reaction of EM were taken into account. It has been established that the endothermic effect of the
decomposition reaction increases the dynamic ignition delay time of EM. The expression for an estimation of width of a reaction layer in EM at heating by a constant heat stream is obtained. Calculations have shown that the dynamic threshold of ignition of organic explosives by laser pulse in a three‐layer system (glass –
– EM) has a minimum for the thickness of the copper oxide film of
. The density of the critical ignition energy of an explosive laser pulse increases in the sequence of PETN, RDX, HMX, and TATB. The calculated dependence of the PETN dynamic ignition delay time on the thickness of the
film is consistent with the experimental data.
Tunable Flat Band in Large‐Scale Kagome Lattice of Single Layer (BETS)2GaCl4
Authors: Hassanien Abdou
Published: September 2019

Kagome lattice is expected to be a perfect platform for hosting exotic emergent phenomena such as negative magnetism and unconventional superconductivity. However, the preparation of such a lattice on a scale of 100 nm or more, with a perfect crystalline order, especially in organic systems, is challenging. Herein, a facile method is presented to fabricate a large scale of epitaxial single‐layer organic Kagome lattice based on (BETS)2GaCl4 on Ag(111) (where BETS is bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene). The lattice accommodates guest molecules with size up to 1 nm, thus making it possible to host a variety of single molecular magnets. This possibility is demonstrated by the in situ selective encapsulation of GaCl4 radicals in the pores. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy reveal that both the radical states and the trimer units exhibit sharp and spatially localized peaks at 1.08 and 1.42 eV, respectively. The persistence of these sharp features together with spatial localization, regardless of biasing conditions, suggests an evidence of a frustrated flat band with a possible tuning to incorporate topological order.
Significant Effects of the D− Band on the Hall Coefficient and the Hall Mobility of n‐InP
Authors: Kajikawa Yasutomo
Published: September 2019

The Hall‐effect measurement data on n‐InP samples reported in the literature are analyzed on the basis of an impurity‐Hubbard‐band model to show the significant effects of the top Hubbard band (D− band) on the Hall coefficient and the Hall mobility. The activation energy E2 of hopping drift mobility in the top Hubbard band is deduced and is shown to obey the relation of , where dND is the average net donor separation and dNDcr is its critical value at which the metal–insulator transition occurs.
Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts suppress LPS‐induced pro‐inflammatory responses through NF‐кB, MAPK, and PI3K‐Akt signaling pathways in alveolar epithelial type II cells
Authors: Feng Tian , Zhou Liying , Gai Shouchang , Zhai Yumeng , Gou Nan , Wang Xingchen , Zhang Xinyu , Cui Minxuan , Wang Libin , Wang Siwang
Published: September 2019

Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd (ACW) and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) are one of the most famous couplet Chinese medicines, widely used for treating infantile cough, phlegm, and fever caused by pulmonary infection. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of their anti‐inflammatory activity has not been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of this couplet Chinese medicines (ACW‐SBG) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammatory responses in acute lung injury (ALI) model of rats and the potential molecular mechanisms responsible for anti‐inflammatory activities in alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC‐II). Standardization of the 70% ethanol extract of ACW and SBG was performed by using a validated reversed‐phase high‐pressure liquid chromatography method. Rats were pretreated with ACW‐SBG for 7 days prior to LPS challenge. We assessed the effects of ACW‐SBG on the LPS‐induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1β) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The wet‐to‐dry weight ratio was calculated, and hematoxylin and eosin staining of lung tissue was performed. Cell viability of AEC‐II was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was carried out to quantify the relative gene expression of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in AEC‐II. The western blotting analysis was executed to elucidate the expression of mediators linked to nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB), mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase‐protein kinase B (PI3K‐Akt) signaling pathways. ACW‐SBG significantly decreased lung wet‐to‐dry weight ratio, ameliorated LPS‐induced lung histopathological changes, and reduced the release of inflammatory mediators such as TNF‐α and IL‐1β in BALF. In AEC‐II, we found that the expression of TNF‐α mRNA was also inhibited by ACW‐SBG. ACW‐SBG blocked NF‐κB activation by preventing the phosphorylation of NF‐κB (p65) as well as the phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitor of kappa B kinase. ACW‐SBG extracts also inhibited the phosphorylation of respective MAPKs (c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, and p38) as well as Akt. The present study demonstrated that ACW‐SBG played a potent anti‐inflammatory role in LPS‐induced ALI in rats. The potential molecular mechanism was involved in attenuating the NF‐κB, MAPKs, and PI3K‐Akt signaling pathways in LPS‐induced AEC‐II.
Political ideology of the board and CEO dismissal following financial misconduct
Authors: Park U. David , Boeker Warren , Gomulya David
Published: September 2019

Research Summary

Why do some boards refuse to take serious action against CEOs who have committed financial misconduct? Past work has directed attention to the antecedents of misconduct while largely overlooking this question. The relatively few studies that examined it have typically revolved around agency arguments. This study instead examines how the beliefs and values held by board members can influence their actions following financial misconduct. Focusing on political ideology, we argue that politically conservative boards are more likely to respond by dismissing the CEO than are liberal boards as the result of ideo‐attribution and threat management tendencies. Using data from S&P 1500 firms that were involved with financial misconduct, we find support for our arguments while addressing sample‐induced endogeneity and alternative explanations with additional analyses.

Managerial Summary

Despite criticism from stakeholders, the public, media, and policy makers, many firms do not take serious action against CEOs who have committed financial misconduct. Past studies have suggested that this is due to board structures (e.g., lack of board independence) or situations surrounding misconduct (e.g., severity of misconduct). We propose that political ideology, a set of beliefs and values, held by board members, influences whether firms dismiss their CEOs following financial misconduct. Examining S&P 1500 firms that were involved in financial misconduct, we find that politically conservative boards tend to dismiss their CEOs more often than do liberal boards, offering practical implications for how the ideology of board members can influence critical actions that they take.

A video abstract is available at https://youtu.be/P7ew1aJjsdY.
Anisotropy Control–Induced Unique Anisotropic Thermoelectric Performance in the n‐Type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 Thin Films
Authors: Tan Ming , Liu Wei‐Di , Shi Xiao‐Lei , Gao Han , Li Hui , Li Cong , Liu Xiao‐Biao , Deng Yuan , Chen Zhi‐Gang
Published: September 2019

Anisotropic Bi2Te3‐based thermoelectric materials have drawn extensive interest in the past decades. Here, n‐type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 films with superhigh figure of merit are developed through anisotropy control via tuning an external electric field and deposition anisotropy. It is found that the angle of interplanar grain boundaries between (0 1 5) and (0 1 11) planes can be tuned by the applied external electric field, which leads to the strengthened anisotropy of electron mobility and simultaneously maintains low lattice thermal conductivity. Dominated by the unique change in the anisotropy of both lattice thermal conductivity and electron mobility, a record‐high zT value of ≈1.6 at room temperature can be achieved in the as‐deposited n‐type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 film under 20 V external electric field. This work indicates that the electric field–induced deposition anisotropy control can be used to develop high‐performance Bi2Te3‐based thermoelectric films.
Dynamic modeling of an early warning system for natural disasters
Authors: da Silva Glayse Ferreira Perroni , Pegetti Ana Lúcia , Piacesi Maria Teresa , Belderrain Mischel Carmen Neyra , Bergiante Níssia Carvalho Rosa
Published: September 2019

Natural disasters have many consequences in terms of human lives, material, economic, and/or environmental damages. Among preventive and mitigation measures, it is recognized that early warning systems (EWS) are an effective and essential tool to minimize damages caused by natural disasters. Using the experience of CEMADEN (National Early Warning and Monitoring Centre of Natural Disasters) in Brazil, this paper aims to investigate, through a systems approach, what factors may interfere with the effectiveness of EWSs. A case study was developed based on interviews with experts from CEMADEN. Those interviews generated cognitive maps that translated the perceptions of the experts and were used to structure the problem and to support the construction of a systemic model. The model allowed the analysis of the EWS, identifying behaviors, as reinforcement and balancing loops, not always intuitive, to support better management and planning decisions to improve the system effectiveness.
Development of Chemical Probes for Functional Analysis of Anticancer Saponin OSW‐1
Authors: Komatsu Rina , Sakurai Kaori
Published: September 2019

Chemical probe‐based approaches have proven powerful in recent years in the target identification studies of natural products. OSW‐1 is a saponin class of natural products with highly potent and selective cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines. Understanding its mechanism of action is important for the development of anticancer drugs with potentially novel target pathways. This account reviews recent progress in the development of OSW‐1 derived probes for exploring the mechanism of its action. The key to the probe development is a judicious choice of functionalization sites and a selective functionalization strategy. The types of probes include fluorescent probes for cellular imaging analysis and affinity probes for target identification analysis.
Overexpression of diacylglycerol acetyltransferase from Euonymus europaeus in Yarrowia lipolytica leads to the production of single‐cell oil enriched with 3‐acetyl‐1,2‐diacylglycerols
Authors: Gajdoš Peter , Hambalko Jaroslav , Nicaud Jean‐Marc , Čertík Milan
Published: September 2019

The 3‐acetyl‐1,2‐diacylglycerols (acTAGs) are the molecules that are structurally similar to triacylglycerols (TAGs). They are naturally produced by plants of the family Celastraceae and animals such as Cervus nippon and Eurosta solidaginis. The presence of acetate in the sn–3 position of the glycerol backbone confers advantages to these compounds, for example, lower viscosity and calorific value compared to classical TAGs. In this work, the gene EeDAcT, which encodes diacylglycerol acetyltransferase in a species of bush (Euonymus europaeus), was overexpressed in strains Po1d (capable of accumulating storage lipids) and JMY1877 (incapable of accumulating storage lipids) of Yarrowia lipolytica, to test the activity of the gene EeDAcT and the production of acTAGs in oleaginous and nonoleaginous genetic backgrounds. It was observed that both the strains containing the gene EeDAcT (YL33 and YL35 for Po1d and JMY1877 strains, respectively) produced acTAGs. The strain YL33 accumulated up to 20% intracellular lipids, 20% of which was acTAGs, and 40% was TAGs. On the other hand, the strain YL35, which showed interrupted TAGs accumulation, produced up to 10% acTAGs as the only storage lipid. Unfortunately, the quantity of acTAGs produced in YL35 was insignificant, as the overall lipid accumulated in the strain was not more than 4% of the biomass. The fatty acid profile of acTAGs produced by the YL33 strain was remarkably similar to TAGs, and both of these structures were rich in oleic (45%) and palmitic (25%) acids.
Kinetic mixing effect in noncommutative B − L gauge theory
Authors: Van Loi Duong , Van Dong Phung , Thuy Le Xuan
Published: September 2019

Abstract

It is well established that the SU(P)L gauge symmetry for P ≥ 3 can address the question of fermion generation number due to the anomaly cancellation, but it neither commutes nor closes algebraically with electric and baryon-minus-lepton charges. Hence, two U(1) factors that determine such charges are required, yielding a complete gauge symmetry, SU(P)L ⊗ U(1)X ⊗ U(1)N, apart from the color group. The resulting theory manifestly provides neutrino mass, dark matter, inflation, and baryon asymmetry of the universe. Furthermore, this gauge structure may present kinetic mixing effects associated to the U(1) gauge fields, which affect the electroweak precision test such as the ρ parameter and Z couplings as well as the new physics processes. We will construct the model, examine the interplay between the kinetic mixing and those due to the symmetry breaking, and obtain the physical results in detail.
Free field realizations from the Higgs branch
Authors: Beem Christopher , Meneghelli Carlo , Rastelli Leonardo
Published: September 2019

Abstract

We present free field realizations for the associated vertex operator algebras of a number of four-dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2 superconformal field theories. Our constructions utilize an exceptionally small set of chiral bosons whose number matches the complex dimensionality of the Higgs branch of the superconformal field theory. In the case of theories whose Higgs branches support additional degrees of freedom (free vector multiplets or decoupled interacting SCFTs), the corresponding “free field realizations” include additional ingredients: symplectic fermions in the case of vector multiplets and a C
2 co-finite VOA in the case of a residual interacting SCFT. The resulting picture is that the associated VOA can be constructed from the Higgs branch effective theory via free field realization. Our constructions also provide a natural realization of the R-filtration of the associated VOA.
Topological open/closed string dualities: matrix models and wave functions
Authors: Ashok Sujay K. , Troost Jan
Published: September 2019

Abstract

We sharpen the duality between open and closed topological string partition functions for topological gravity coupled to matter. The closed string partition function is a generalized Kontsevich matrix model in the large dimension limit. We integrate out off-diagonal degrees of freedom associated to one source eigenvalue, and find an open/closed topological string partition function, thus proving open/closed duality. We match the resulting open partition function to the generating function of intersection numbers on moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces with boundaries and boundary insertions. Moreover, we connect our work to the literature on a wave function of the KP integrable hierarchy and clarify the role of the extended Virasoro generators that include all time variables as well as the coupling to the open string observable.
Index-like theorems from line defect vevs
Authors: Brennan T. Daniel , Moore Gregory W.
Published: September 2019

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the relation between complexified Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates and spectral network coordinates on Seiberg-Witten moduli space. The main technique is the comparison of exact expressions for the expectation value of ’t Hooft defects in certain 4D SU(2)$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 2 gauge theories. We derive an index-like theorem for a class of Dirac operators on singular monopole moduli spaces. Our expression determines the indices of Dirac operators on singular monopole moduli spaces in terms of characteristic numbers for vector bundles over certain Kronheimer-Nakajima quiver varieties.