bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liquidity Issues in the Banking Sector from an Accounting Perspective
Authors: Vinciguerra Rosa , Cipullo Nadia
Published: April 2018

The recent financial crisis highlighted the inability of financial markets of being always able to cope with the liquidity needs of banks. This gave rise to a great attention to the issues related to the liquidity in the banking sector.Stakeholders interested in assessing the liquidity profile of a financial institution can rely on data provided through its financial statements. This demonstrates the strong influence that the accounting discipline can have on it. Accounting standards can play an important role in depicting the liquidity profile (and the associated risk) of an entity, as they contribute to produce information useful to predict timing, uncertainties and amounts of its future cash flows.The objective of this theoretical study has been to investigate the contents of the IASB Conceptual Framework and of some of its standards, i.e. IAS 7, IFRS 7, IFRS 9. In particular, the aim of the analysis has been to verify if the financial information requested by the regulation is adequately useful and relevant in order to assess the liquidity profile of a financial institution. In our opinion, the IASB discipline still presents some deficiencies on this aspect, in particular for entities operating in the banking sector.
Voorlopige vrijheidsbeperking vooropgesteld
Authors: Meijer S.
Published: April 2018

Voorlopige vrijheidsbeperking vooropgesteld

De regeling van de voorlopige hechtenis verandert mogelijk ingrijpend, blijkens het conceptwetsvoorstel tot vaststelling van Boek 2 van het nieuwe Wetboek van Strafvordering. De rechter krijgt ingevolge dit voorstel de mogelijkheid om in plaats van de voorlopige hechtenis de voorlopige vrijheidsbeperking te bevelen en de schorsing van de voorlopige hechtenis komt te vervallen. De ultimum remedium-gedachte rechtvaardigt dat gekozen wordt voor een systeem waarin de voorlopige vrijheidsbeperking voorop staat. Dat stelsel geniet ook op Europees niveau de voorkeur. De keuze voor dit systeem is evenwel niet geheel zonder risico’s en het vooropstellen van de voorlopige vrijheidsbeperking zal de praktijk ook voor nieuwe uitdagingen stellen. In deze bijdrage worden deze risico’s besproken en wordt een aantal aanbevelingen gedaan tot aanpassing van het voorliggende conceptwetsvoorstel.
Lethal Fire
Authors: Payne Richard ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: April 2018

An important element in the ritual corpus of Shingon Buddhism, a tantric tradition in Japan, is the homa (goma, 護摩). This is a votive ritual in which offerings are made into a fire, and has roots that trace to the Vedic ritual tradition. One of the five ritual functions that the homa can fulfill is destruction, abhicāra. A destructive ritual with Yamāntaka as the chief deity is one such ritual in the contemporary Shingon ritual corpus. Consideration of this ritual provides entrée into the history of destructive practices, including violent subjugation, that date from very early in the Buddhist tradition. Exploration of this theme is offered as a balancing corrective to the modern representation of Buddhism as an exception to the violent character of other religions. However, despite the history of destructive ritual practices, the contemporary homa examined in the latter part of the essay shows very few of the characteristics found historically. This indicates an ambiguity in the tradition between a historical understanding of such rituals as literally destructive of one’s enemies, and the contemporary understanding that the enemies to be destroyed are simply personifications of one’s own obscurations.
Desigualdades socioespaciais e escolhas escolares
Authors: Paula Gustavo Bruno de , Nogueira Maria Alice De Lima Gomes
Published: April 2018

Este artigo apresenta resultados de uma pesquisa cuja temática se inscreve na interseção das problemáticas clássicas da sociologia da educação e da sociologia urbana. Objetivando compreender se e de que maneira as desigualdades socioespaciais impactam as desigualdades escolares, analisamos o modo como determinadas características sociais e urbanas de um território estruturam as estratégias e as escolhas escolares das famílias ali residentes. Para tanto, examinamos duas sub-regiões da região do Barreiro, situada em Belo Horizonte, as quais apresentam contrastes socioeconômicos e urbanos. Partindo da noção de “geografia de oportunidades”, comparamos as estratégias e escolhas escolares efetuadas pelas famílias que vivem nessas duas áreas, procurando identificar de que maneira as características sociais do entorno constrangem ou favorecem suas preferências escolares. Os resultados indicaram um efeito da distribuição desigual das oportunidades escolares sobre as escolhas parentais, derivado das características quantitativas e qualitativas da oferta escolar local.
Pedagogia universitária em construção: desafios e aproximações teóricas
Authors: Silva Rogério Abranches , Cária Neide Pena
Published: April 2018

Este texto é uma revisão de literatura sobre a temática pedagogia universitária. Tem-se como objetivo contribuir com as discussões em torno das questões que envolvem o ensino superior no que se referem ao ensino, à aprendizagem e à docência. Foi tomado como recorte temporal a década de 1990, caracterizada pela expansão e diversificação da oferta de ensino superior. Os aspectos teórico-conceituais tiveram como amparo os seguintes autores: Cunha (2004, 2006, 2016), Pimenta e Anastasiou (2005), Masetto (2006), Pimenta e Almeida (2011). Considerando que a universidade é uma instituição educativa, enraizada nos contextos sociais, econômicos e culturais e que tem como finalidade o permanente exercício da produção de conhecimento e da formação de profissionais, esta pesquisa se insere na perspectiva da formação profissional.Palavras-chave: pedagogia universitária; docência; ensinagem; formação profissional.
Effects of acute sleep deprivation and caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance
Authors: Moore Joss , McDonald Ciaran , McIntyre Alan , Carmody Kevin , Donne Bernard
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Athletes involved in team sports may be subject to varying degrees of sleep deprivation either before or after training and competition. Despite the belief among athletes and coaches of the importance of adequate sleep for ensuing performance, the effect of sleep loss on team-sport anaerobic performance remains unclear. There is conflicting evidence in the scientific literature as to the impact of acute sleep deprivation and caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance indices. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 24 hours of acute sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance and the effect of caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance in the sleep deprived state.

Methods: 11 club level games players (n=11, 25±4 yr, 178±7.5 cm, 80.2±10.4 kg, 15.1±5.6% body fat) participated in a repeated measures double-blinded placebo control trial. Following familiarisation, each participant returned for testing on three separate occasions. One of the testing sessions took place following a night of normal sleep and the other two sessions took place following 24 hours of sleep deprivation with supplementation of either placebo or 6 mg.kg- 1 of caffeine. During each testing session participants performed the vertical jump height, 20-m straight sprint, Illinois speed agility test and 5-m shuttle run.

Results: No significant differences were detected comparing non sleep deprived and sleep deprived interventions in any of the assessed outcome measures. There were also no significant differences observed in any of the outcome measures when comparing caffeine and placebo data in the sleep deprived state.

Conclusion: In this cohort of athletes, a 24-h period of acute sleep deprivation did not have any significant impact on anaerobic performance. Caffeine also did not have any effect of on anaerobic performance in the sleep-deprived state.
Ambulatory positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Di-Tullio Fernando , Ernst Glenda , Robaina Gabriela , Blanco Magali , Salvado Alejandro , Meraldi Ana , Bosio Martin , Borsini Eduardo
Published: April 2018

Objective: To establish the prevalence of positional (PP) OSA patients using self-administered home-based respiratory polygraphy (RP).

Materials and Methods: 52 month retrospective study based on RP records.

Results: 200 PR records: 70.5% men 29.5% women. 76% were diagnosed with OSA and 54.6% with PP OSA. There were no significant differences in Epworth Sleepiness Scale, apnea hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index. PP OSA patients were younger, had a lower BMI (30.3±0.9 vs. 35.3±1.2) (p<0.0001), and the time they spent with oxygen saturation <90% (T<90) was lower (8.8 vs. 28.7±6.7, p=0.0038). The PP OSA group spent 43% of total recording time in the supine position.

Conclusions: The prevalence of PP OSA patients studied with RP is similar to the one described by sleep laboratories. They have lower BMI, present mostly mild OSA with less desaturation, and are less likely to receive CPAP therapy.
The Clinical Value of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diabetic Foot Infection
Authors: Eren Mehmet Ali , Karakaş Ekrem , Torun Ayşe Nur , Sabuncu Tevfik
Published: April 2018

Background:

Osteomyelitis is a common complication in the diabetic foot that can conclude with amputation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

Methods:

Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a DFU were enrolled. Both DWIs and conventional MRIs were obtained. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements were made by transferring the images to a workstation. The measurements were made both from bone with osteomyelitis, or nearest to the injured area if osteomyelitis is not available, and from the adjacent soft tissue.

Results:

The patients comprised nine women (30%) and 21 men (70%) with a mean age of 58.7 years (range, 41–78 years). The levels of ADC were significantly low (P = .022) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rates were significantly high (P = .014) in patients with osteomyelitis (n = 9) compared with patients without osteomyelitis (n = 21). The mean ± SD bone ADC value (0.75 ± 0.16 × 10–3 mm2/sec) was significantly lower than the adjacent soft-tissue ADC value (0.90 ± 0.15 × 10–3 mm2/sec) in patients with osteomyelitis (P = .04).

Conclusions:

It is suggested that DWI contributes to conventional MRI with short imaging time and no requirement for contrast agent. Therefore, DWI may be an alternative diagnostic method for the evaluation of DFU and the detection of osteomyelitis.
Siiri and the “Bag Lady”: Analysing the Material Entanglements of Special Needs
Authors: Hohti Riikka
Published: April 2018

In this article I discuss educational practices and policies relating to special needs, and I also address the assumptions about teacher professionalism in doing so. At the same time I consider the ontological premise of materiality and relationality as something that urges and opens up new possibilities for how qualitative analysis is done. I experiment with feminist posthumanist storytelling to analyse a particularly complex and affective piece of memory data. The empirical materials consist of “memory data” involving a 10-year-old girl, Siiri, myself, then her teacher, and the writing of a teacher’s statement about the student’s behaviour needed to make a special needs decision. The “bag lady” storytelling strategy by Donna Haraway foregrounds material detail and allows various close readings of the complexities of the special needs politics in schools. I propose this approach as a way of enacting critical analysis in an affirmative manner, that is, in a way that resists divisions and binaries and enhances nonreductive movement within the material entanglements of education.
Responding with care: A careful critical approach within educational health promotion
Authors: Gunnarsson Karin
Published: April 2018

By engaging with a manual based program called DISA this paper explores how care is enacted in educational health promotion and moreover elaborates on how to engage methodologically with a careful critique. Together with sociomaterialist scholars I propose a theoretical and methodological notion of care that includes the vital doings of materialities, discourses and affectivity. Working with this notion of care makes it possible to engage with exclusions and power while at the same time open up for the erratic and unpredictable. To do this I put to work the concepts translation and touch. With these concepts it becomes possible to acknowledge the transformations taking place within the practice and avoid becoming stuck in stabilization and negativity. Not to ignore the orderings of the practice but to work actively through negativity into a generative potential. This shows that how to respond with care cannot be determined by ready-made instructions. It involves creating an imaginative and fluid practice since care always becomes a moving and temporary matter.
Enacting affirmative critique: exploring the conjunctions and overlaps among Actor-network theory and Feminist New Materialist methodologies
Authors: Moberg Emilie
Published: April 2018

This paper elaborates on alternative versions of critique as produced in an ethnographic field work on the everyday life of a curriculum text in a Stockholm preschool. Assisted by Actor-network theory and Feminist New Materialist methodologies, the paper evolves around three empirical moments where the researcher is depicted as needing to rely on the relational efforts of children, Minecraft figures, concepts, teachers and conversations over coffee. In the paper, Actor network theory and Feminist New Materialist methodologies help to enact alternative versions of critique where dependency and vulnerability is taken as resource. Moreover, a focus on relations and overlaps among entities creates knowledge where for example children and texts are allowed to be strong and vulnerable at the same time.
Affirmative critique and strange race-things: Experimenting with art-ing as analysis
Authors: Andersen Camilla Eline
Published: April 2018

The focus of this article is affirmative critique, its ontological grounding, and a record of an attempt to perform an affirmative critical analysis with documented strange race-things. It is inspired by the debate on limitations of Enlightened critical practice, and writings on a proposed alternative; affirmative critique (Braidotti, 2011, 2013). Grounded in an ontology of difference, affirmative critique suggests to affirm and create other ways of speaking and living to ‘push power a little’ (Bunz, Kaiser, & Thiele, 2017a, p. 16). Further, it is argued that this might be a more transformative mode than the traditional Enlightened critique informing decades of multitudes of politics, perspectives and practices offered to work against how race is stubbornly becoming in unjust ways. The affirmative critical analysis performed is an experimentation with a print of a photographic image; an art-ing with data.
An online catalog of muscle variants: Student perceptions of a new opportunity for self-directed learning
Authors: Bale Logan S. , Herrin Sean O. , Brandt Natasha M. , Enos Naomi M.
Published: April 2018

Objective:

Muscle variants are common findings in dissection laboratories. These anomalous structures can be relevant in the diagnosis and management of certain conditions and therefore could be incorporated into anatomy curricula at chiropractic colleges. We aimed to create an online resource of muscle variants to facilitate student self-directed learning within this area of study.

Methods:

At the time of their discovery during routine educational dissection, muscle variants included in the catalog were documented and subsequent case reports written. All content created for this resource, including photographs and videos, was hosted on the institution's learning management system. Students enrolled in our doctor of chiropractic program were invited to view the catalog and encouraged to leave feedback by completing an online survey.

Results:

Student responses to Likert-style survey questions generally indicated high levels of satisfaction regarding the utility and features of the catalog. Open-ended and Likert-style survey questions were used to help guide the future directions of this developing resource. Concurrent anatomy students were not more likely to contribute to the catalog compared to students who had previously completed the university's anatomy course series (p = .75, 2-tailed Fisher exact test).

Conclusion:

An online supplement to graduate-level gross anatomy courses can aid in the instruction of muscle variants by providing an opportunity for student self-directed learning. This resource will be updated continually and will be expanded on to include neurovascular and visceral variants. Student participation will be sought in developing future content to be included in this catalog.
IL‐17A promotes the invasion–metastasis cascade via the AKT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xu Qing‐guo , Yu Jian , Guo Xing‐gang , Hou Guo‐jun , Yuan Sheng‐xian , Yang Yuan , Yang Yun , Liu Hui , Pan Ze‐ya , Yang Fu , Gu Fang‐ming , Zhou Wei‐ping
Published: April 2018

We previously demonstrated that interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A) is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its role in the invasion–metastasis cascade of HCC and the efficacy of IL‐17A‐targeting therapeutics in HCC remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that IL‐17A promoted intrahepatic and pulmonary metastasesis of HCC cells in an orthotopic implant model. Moreover, our results showed that IL‐17A induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promoted HCC cell colonization in vitro and in vivo, and the role of IL‐17A in invasion–metastasis was dependent on activation of the AKT pathway. Remarkably, combined therapy using both secukinumab and sorafenib has better inhibition on tumour growth and metastasis compared to sorafenib monotherapy. Additionally, the combination of intratumoral IL‐17A+ cells and E‐cadherin predicted the outcome of patients with HCC at an early stage after hepatectomy based on tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, our studies reveal that IL‐17A induces early EMT and promotes late colonization of HCC metastasis by activating AKT signalling. Secukinumab is a promising candidate for clinical development in combination with sorafenib for the management of HCC.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – Method for the determination of semi‐volatile PAHs in workplace air using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [Air Monitoring Methods, 2018]
Authors: Assenmacher‐Maiworm H. , Hahn J.‐U. , Heinrich B. , Schuh C. , Hebisch R. , Brock T.H. , Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: April 2018

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of six semi‐volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the EPA list (US Environmental Protection Agency) such as benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3‐cd]pyrene and also benzo[e]pyren in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a PTFE filter, which is inserted in a GSP sampling system. The collected PAH components are extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/methanol and analysed by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The quantitative determination of the PAHs is based on calibration functions obtained by means of multiple‐point calibrations. The limit of quantification for an individual PAH is in the range from 0.0012 to 0.0043 µg/m3.

Joint Publication of the Analytical Subcommittee of the Chemistry Board of Experts of the Expert Committee Raw Materials and Chemical Industry of the German Social Accident Insurance and the working group “Air Analyses” of the Permanent Senate Commission of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area.
Di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalat (DEHP) [BAT Value Documentation in German language, 2018]
Authors: Rettenmeier A.W. , Drexler H. , Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: April 2018

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has evaluated di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate [CAS No. 118‐81‐7] in 2017 and has derived a biological guidance value at the workplace (BLW) for the combined urinary concentration of the four major DEHP metabolites mono(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2‐ethyl‐5‐hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5‐OH‐MEHP), mono(2‐ethyl‐5‐oxohexyl) phthalate (5‐oxo‐MEHP) and mono(2‐ethyl‐5‐carboxypentyl) phthalate (5‐cx‐MEPP). Available publications are described in detail.

Human studies are not available for deriving a quantitative relationship between the internal dose and the critical toxic effects of DEHP (tumor promotion in the liver, respiratory effects, reproductive and developmental toxicity). Therefore, the evaluation of the BLW was based on the relationship between DEHP uptake by inhalation at the MAK value and the urinary excretion rates of MEHP, 5‐OH‐MEHP, 5‐oxo‐MEHP and 5‐cx‐MEPP, using a conversion factor that defines this relationship. In accordance with this conversion factor external exposure to DEHP at the MAK value corresponds to a combined urinary concentration of the four metabolites of approx. 4 mg/g creatinine at steady state. As the conversion factor has been derived from oral DEHP uptake and metabolite excretion data of only one male volunteer, the concentration of 4 mg/g creatinine is considered a BLW. Sampling time for long‐term exposure is at the end of the shift after several previous shifts.
n‐Butylbenzol [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2018]
Authors: Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: April 2018

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has evaluated n‐butylbenzene [104‐51‐8], considering all toxicological endpoints. Available publications are described in detail. In an oral two‐generation study in rats, increased kidney weights and centrilobular hypertrophy in the liver is observed with n‐butylbenzene. The corresponding NOAEL of 100 mg/kg body weight and day is scaled to a maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value) of 10 ml/m3. Studies on the possible irritation of the airways after repeated inhalation exposure are lacking, however, the acute RD50value of 710 ml/m3in mice is indicative of an irritation threshold of about 20 ml/m3in humans. Therefore, the systemic effect is critical and Peak Limitation Category II is designated. As the half‐life of n‐butylbenzene is not known, the default excursion factor of 2 for systemically acting substances is established.

There are no developmental toxicity studies. Therefore, n‐butylbenzene is assigned to Pregnancy Risk Group D. There are no data on genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and sensitization. According to skin absorption models, percutaneous absorption can contribute significantly to systemic toxicity and n‐butylbenzene is designated with an “H” notation.
Naled [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2018]
Authors: Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: April 2018

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has re‐evaluated the maximum concentration at the work place (MAK value) and the Pregnancy Risk Group of naled [
300‐76‐5
].

Naled is a cholinesterase inhibitor. In an 13‐week study in rats at 1 mg/m³ there was a 18 % inhibition of the cholinesterase activity in erythrocytes. The calculated lower 95 % confidence limit of the benchmark dose (BMDL) for a 30 % inhibition, which is regarded as not adverse, was 2 mg/m³. A MAK value of 1 mg/m³ was established for the inhalable fraction. It is now lowered to 0.5 mg/m³ taking into account the increased respiratory volume at the workplace (see List of MAK and BAT values, chapters I b and I c). Since a systemic effect is the critical effect, Peak limitation Category II is retained and the default excursion factor of 2 confirmed.

For rats, the NOAEL for developmental toxicity was 8 mg/kg body weight and day. Naled was assigned to Pregnancy Risk Group C because the difference between the MAK value and the NOAEL scaled to a concentration in the workplace air was sufficient. There are no new data on developmental toxicity. This classification is retained since now the difference to the MAK value is twice as high.
1,2,4‐Triethylbenzol [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2018]
Authors: Hartwig A. ,   MAK Commission
Published: April 2018

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has evaluated 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene [
877‐44‐1
], considering all toxicological endpoints. Available publications are described in detail. In subchronic oral studies 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene causes axonopathy of peripheral nerves in rats and mice. A NOAEL was not obtained. The structurally related 1,2‐diethylbenzene leads to the same neurotoxic effects which are determined by oxidation of the 1,2‐diethyl groups to a gamma‐diketone. The formation of a gamma‐diketone is possible and indirectly shown with 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene and the mechanism of neurotoxicity is assumed to be the same for both compounds. Due to the limited data with 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene, the better investigated 1,2‐diethylbenzene, which is about 5 times as toxic, is used as a read‐across. As a maximum concentration at the work place (MAK value) of 1 ml/m
3
has been set for 1,2‐diethylbenzene, a MAK value of 5 ml/m
3
for 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene is established.

Since a systemic effect is critical, Peak Limitation Category II is designated. Peripheral neurotoxicity is a cumulative effect and an excursion factor of 8 would be adequate. However, the NOEAC for airway and eye irritation is not known and therefore an excursion factor of 2 is set. Thus, the allowable peak exposures are lower than those of other alkyl benzenes.

There are no developmental toxicity studies. Therefore, 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene is assigned to Pregnancy Risk Group D. There are no data on genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and sensitization. According to skin absorption models, percutaneous absorption can contribute significantly to systemic toxicity and 1,2,4‐triethylbenzene is designated with an “H” notation.
Evaluation of the Topographical Influence on the Cellular Behavior of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Kukumberg Marek , Yao Yuan , Goh Seok Hong , Neo Dawn J. H. , Yao Jia Yi , Yim Evelyn K. F.
Published: April 2018

Adhesion and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells are important parameters in the endothelialization of biomedical devices for vascular applications. Endothelialization is a complex process affected by endothelial cells and their interaction with the extracellular microenvironment. Although numerous approaches are taken to study the influence of the external environment, a systematic investigation of the impact of an engineered microenvironment on endothelial cell processes is needed. This study aims to investigate the influence of topography, initial cell seeding density, and collagen coating on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Utilizing the MultiARChitecture (MARC) chamber, the effects of various topographies on HUVECs are identified, and those with more prominent effects were further evaluated individually using the MARC plate. Endothelial cell marker expression and monocyte adhesion assay are examined on the HUVEC monolayer. HUVECs on 1.8 μm convex and concave microlens topographies demonstrate the lowest cell adhesion and proliferation, regardless of initial cell seeding density and collagen I coating, and the HUVEC monolayer on the microlens shows the lowest monocyte adhesion. This property of lens topographies would potentially be a useful parameter in designing vascular biomedical devices. The MARC chamber and MARC plate show a great potential for faster and easy pattern identification for various cellular processes.
Modular 1,1′‐Ferrocenediyl‐cored P‐Stereogenic Diphosphines: ′′JDayPhos′′ Series and its Use in Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation
Authors: Poklukar Gašper , Stephan Michel , Mohar Barbara
Published: April 2018

A novel ferrocene‐based P‐stereogenic diphospine ligand series dubbed JDayPhos was developed, which rhodium(I) complexes of some of its members exhibited excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee) and high activity in asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐unsubstituted or ‐substituted itaconates and α‐methylene‐γ‐oxo‐carboxylates.

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Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclocarbonylation of Isoquinolones with CO via C−H/N−H Bond Cleavage: Easy Access to Isoindolo[2,1‐b]isoquinoline‐5,7‐dione Derivatives
Authors: Guo Shenghai , Wang Fang , Sun Lincong , Zhang Xinying , Fan Xuesen
Published: April 2018

An efficient and practical synthesis of isoindolo[2,1‐b]isoquinoline‐5,7‐diones through Pd‐catalyzed C−H activation/carbonylative annulation of isoquinolones with CO (1 atm) is presented. Deuterium‐labeling experiments revealed that the aryl C(sp2)−H bond activation might be the rate‐determining step. More interestingly, the title compounds could also be prepared directly from the cascade reaction of N‐methoxy benzamides and internal alkynes, as the precursors of isoquinolones, under an atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide through a Rh/Pd relay catalysis in a user‐friendly manner.

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Biotinylated Bilirubin Nanoparticles as a Tumor Microenvironment‐Responsive Drug Delivery System for Targeted Cancer Therapy
Authors: Lee Yonghyun , Lee Soyoung , Jon Sangyong
Published: April 2018

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and cancer cell metastasis. Accordingly, a drug‐delivery system (DDS) that is capable of targeting tumor and releasing drugs in response to TME‐associated stimuli should lead to potent antitumor efficacy. Here, a cancer targeting, reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐responsive drug delivery vehicle as an example of a TME‐targeting DDS is reported. Tumor targeting is achieved using biotin as a ligand for “biotin transporter”–overexpressing malignant tumors, and bilirubin‐based nanoparticles (BRNPs) are used as a drug‐delivery carrier that enables ROS‐responsive drug release. Doxorubicin‐loaded, biotinylated BRNPs (Dox@bt‐BRNPs) with size of ≈100 nm are prepared by a one‐step self‐assembly process. Dox@bt‐BRNPs exhibit accelerated Dox‐release behavior in response to ROS and show specific binding as well as anticancer activity against biotin transporter–overexpressing HeLa cells in vitro. bt‐BRNPs labeled with cypate, near‐infrared dye, show much greater accumulation at tumor sites in HeLa tumor‐bearing mice than BRNPs lacking the biotin ligand. Finally, intravenous injection of Dox@bt‐BRNPs into HeLa tumor‐bearing mice results in greater antitumor efficacy compared with free Dox, bt‐BRNPs only, and Dox@BRNPs without causing any appreciable body weight loss. Collectively, these findings suggest that bt‐BRNPs hold potential as a new TME‐responsive DDS for effectively treating various tumors.
B, N Codoped and Defect‐Rich Nanocarbon Material as a Metal‐Free Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions
Authors: Sun Tao , Wang Jun , Qiu Chuntian , Ling Xiang , Tian Bingbing , Chen Wei , Su Chenliang
Published: April 2018

The development of highly active, inexpensive, and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts to replace noble metal Pt and RuO2 catalysts remains a considerable challenge for highly demanded reversible fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Here, a simple approach for the facile construction of a defective nanocarbon material is reported with B and N dopants (B,N‐carbon) as a superior bifunctional metal‐free catalyst for both ORR and OER. The catalyst is prepared by pyrolyzing the composites of ethyl cellulose and high‐boiling point 4‐(1‐naphthyl)benzeneboronic acid in NH3 atmosphere with an inexpensive Zn‐based template. The obtained porous B,N‐carbon with rich carbon defects exhibits excellent ORR and OER performances, including high activity and stability. In alkaline medium, B,N‐carbon material shows high ORR activity with an onset potential (Eonset) reaching 0.98 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), very close to that of Pt/C, a high electron transfer number and excellent stability. This catalyst also presents the admirable ORR activity in acidic medium with a high Eonset of 0.81 V versus RHE and a four‐electron process. The OER activity of B,N‐carbon is superior to that of the precious metal RuO2 and Pt/C catalysts. A Zn–air battery using B,N‐carbon as the air cathode exhibits a low voltage gap between charge and discharge and long‐term stability. The excellent electrocatalytic performance of this porous nanocarbon material is attributed to the combined positive effects of the abundant carbon defects and the heteroatom codopants.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Based on Epoxidized Soybean Oil: Correlation Between Curing Conditions and Rheological Properties
Authors: Ciannamea Emiliano M. , Ruseckaite Roxana A.
Published: April 2018

Renewable resources, including vegetable oils, can be used as feedstock for the manufacture of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) that can compete with those derived from petrochemical sources, but with the environmental benefit of being sustainable. Completely bio‐based PSA with tunable viscoelastic properties were synthesized from mixtures of epoxidized soybean oil and sebacic acid by a solvent‐free one‐step reaction, in the absence of catalyst. Curing conditions and pot‐life were determined for formulations with stoichiometric acid/epoxy ratio. Curing time ranged from the gel point (tgel) to tgel + 30 min at the selected temperature (170 °C) to study the correlation between the reaction, rheological behavior, and potential adhesive performance. These renewable PSA can be tailored by controlling the curing parameters according to the desired application, since the rheological profile and gel content were greatly dependent on the curing conditions. In particular, the obtained adhesives cured at 170 °C between 65 and 75 min showed the best balance between tack and cohesion.
Hansen Solubility Parameters as a Tool in the Quest for New Edible Oleogels
Authors: Rogers Michael A.
Published: April 2018

By identifying the Hansen space of nonfood‐grade gelators, which are capable of gelling oil, insights into the molecular characteristics required for gelation of edible oil become apparent. In examining the 34 reported oleogelators, molecules that gel oil tend to have a dispersive Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) between 16.0 < δd > 17.5 MPa1/2, a polar HSP between 7.0 < δp > 11.0 MPa1/2, and a hydrogen‐bonding HSP between 7.0 < δh > 9.0 MPa1/2. Although this does not define the complete Hansen space of these gelators, it provides insight into what types of molecules may be capable of forming oleogels in vegetable oils to allow new discovery without relying solely on serendipity.
Dose‐dependent pharmacokinetics and tentative identification of urine metabolites from an isosteviol derivative with anti‐hepatitis B activity in rats
Authors: Kachingwe Baxter Hepburn , Wang Li‐Hsuan , Uang Yow‐Shieng , Huang Tsurng‐Juhn , Lin Shwu‐Jiuan
Published: April 2018

Compound 1 (ent‐16‐oxobeyeran‐19‐N‐methylureido) is a semisynthetic isosteviol derivative that shows anti‐hepatitis B virus activity in Huh7 cells by affecting viral DNA transcription and the Toll‐like receptor 2/nuclear factor‐κB signaling pathway. Thus, the pharmacokinetics and metabolite identification were studied as part of the discovery and development process of compound 1. The pharmacokinetics was evaluated after administration to rats at an intravenous dose of 2 mg/kg, and oral doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations were determined using LC–MS/MS. Moreover, urine samples from rats dosed at 10 mg/kg were scanned for metabolites using UPLC‐QTOF‐MS/MS. Results for the intravenously administered dose of 2 mg/kg showed that the area under the concentration–time curve was 65,223.31 ± 4269.80 ng min/mL, and the systemic clearance was 0.031 ± 0.0021 L/min. Oral pharmacokinetic parameters were dose‐dependent, showing nonproportional increases in the oral AUCs with respective values of 4371.62 ± 3084.81, 22,472.75 ± 9103.33 and 135,141.83 ± 38,934.03 ng min/mL for 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg. The bioavailability was low at 1.5% for 2 mg/kg dose, and at 1.1% for both 5 and 10 mg/kg doses. Metabolites excreted in the urine indicate possible N‐oxidation and glucuronide conjugation.
Variations in Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Activity in Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. Collected from Different Regions in Iran
Authors: Ghaffari Zahra , Rahimmalek Mehdi , Sabzalian Mohammad R.
Published: April 2018

Essential oil (EO) composition, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were investigated in 17 P. abrotanoides populations collected from different geographical regions in Iran. The highest (3.61%) and lowest (1.25%) essential oil yields were measured in populations from Semnan Province (PSESM2) and PISKS from Isfahan Province, respectively. GC/MS analysis identified camphor (4.05 – 35.94%), 1,8‐cineole (7.15 – 24.34%), borneol (0 – 21.75%), and α‐pinene (2.05 – 10.33%) as the main constituents of Perovskia essential oil. Cluster analysis classified the studied populations into four different groups: (I) high camphene, (II) high camphor/1,8‐cineole, (III) high borneol/δ‐3‐carene, and (IV) high α‐cadinol/trans‐caryophyllene. The highest flavonoid and phenolic contents were detected in PISAK from Isfahan Province (4.09 ± 0.05 mgQE/gDW, 58.51 ± 1.63 mgGAE/gDW) and PKRGS from Khorasan Province (3.80 ± 0.002 mgQE/gDW, 66.86 ± 0.002 mgGAE/gDW). DPPH and reducing power activity model systems identified PMASA and PKRKL as the populations with the highest antioxidant activity. Finally, the data obtained represented valuable information for introducing elite populations with EO components favorable to pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Chemische Reaktionstechnik in Zeiten der Energiewende
Authors: Sauer Jörg , Klemm Elias
Published: April 2018

No abstract.
Electrochemical Intramolecular C—H/O—H Cross‐Coupling of 2‐Arylbenzoic Acids
Authors: Shao Ailong , Li Na , Gao Yong , Zhan Jirui , Chiang Chien‐Wei , Lei Aiwen
Published: April 2018

A synthetic protocol to lactones by electro‐oxidative induced C—H activation of 2‐arylbenzoic acids has been developed. By using Na2SO4 aqueous solution as a cheap and green supporting electrolyte, different 2‐arylbenzoic acids could provide the corresponding lactones in 30%—90% yields. This reaction could be conducted on a gram scale with a good efficiency as well as a high utility for natural product synthesis.
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles‐Reinforced Hydrogel Scaffold together with Pinacidil Loading to Improve Stem Cell Adhesion
Authors: Wang Ning , Ma Ming , Luo Yu , Liu Tianzhi , Zhou Peng , Qi Shengcai , Xu Yuanzhi , Chen Hangrong
Published: April 2018

Although hydrogels can be applied in mimicking the native extracellular matrix environment, they generally suffer from weak mechanical properties, as well as the lack of a sustained supply of nutrients or simulants to maintain cell functions, which severely limits their further practical applications. Aiming to address the aforementioned issues, a novel reinforced nanocomposite hydrogel (NC gel) is developed, which is composed of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and carboxyl‐modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs‐COOH) together with pinacidil loading. The mechanical properties and pore size of the NC gel can be tunable with the addition of different amounts of MSNs‐COOH. In addition, mesoporous channels of MSNs‐COOH endow the prepared NC gel with good performance in piancidil loading and long‐term sustained release, which greatly promotes the viability and adhesion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and achieves the long‐term cell adhesion, spreading and viability of encapsulated BMSC cells in 7 days. This NC gel platform shows great promise for tissue engineering applications, including functional integration and efficient differentiation of stem cells upon transplantation.
Polymer‐Stabilized Percolation Membranes Based on Nanosized Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for H2/CO2 Separation
Authors: Sánchez‐Laínez Javier , Friebe Sebastian , Zornoza Beatriz , Mundstock Alexander , Strauß Ina , Téllez Carlos , Caro Jürgen , Coronas Joaquín
Published: April 2018

This work shows the preparation of self‐supported composite membranes prepared with the nano‐sized zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs): ZIF‐8, ZIF‐7(III) and ZIF‐7/8 core‐shells. The membranes consist of compressed pellets of ZIF nanoparticles (up to 74 wt% loading) stabilized with gas‐impermeable epoxy resin, providing a gas transport‐selective percolation network named polymer‐stabilized percolation membrane (PSPM). The different PSPMs have been characterized by SEM, TGA, XRD, FTIR and Raman. FIB/SEM has provided a 3D reconstruction of the composite thanks to the slice and view technique, allowing a perfect visualization of the inside of the network. The N2 adsorption properties have also been studied and compared with those of ZIFs in powder state. The gas separation performance of these membranes has been tested for the H2/CO2 mixture. The PSPMs were tested with feed pressures up to 5 bar, obtaining H2 permeabilities of hundreds of Barrer and a maximum H2/CO2 selectivity of 12.3.
Resilient parallel computing on volunteer PC grids
Authors: Subhlok Jaspal , Nguyen Hien , Gabriel Edgar , Rahman Mohammad Tanvir
Published: April 2018

Volunteer PC hosts represent massive computation capacity at a low cost but are challenging to employ for general parallel computing. This paper presents the design, execution model, implementation, and evaluation of the Volpex framework for robust execution of parallel codes on volunteer PC grids characterized by system and network heterogeneity, varying availability, and frequent failures. The communication model is based on one‐sided Put/Get calls to an abstract global shared space enhanced to support multiple autonomous instances of the same process at different stages of execution. Our approach customizes and combines the use of replication, checkpointing, and host selection. This presents formidable challenges that are addressed in this work; efficient checkpointing of distributed replicated processes, dynamic management of redundancy, quick restart in a distributed environment, and application specific host selection. The integrated runtime system is shown to effectively execute moderate size, coarse‐grain, communicating codes on a worldwide distributed volunteer environment, a new milestone in volunteer computing. Extensive evaluation is conducted with example scientific codes on a pool of around 600 volunteer hosts. The results demonstrate the trade‐offs in deploying checkpointing, redundancy, and host selection, and how these methods combine to provide application performance that is close to the ideal failure free performance.
Putting the C into CBT: Cognitive challenging with adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and anxiety disorders
Authors: Roberts Lynette , Kwan Sophia
Published: April 2018

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more vulnerable to mental health difficulties than the general population, yet there are limited evidence‐based treatments available for this group. There has been a growing interest in adapting cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for this population; however, a framework describing how to modify cognitive challenging for a group characterized by cognitive impairment is lacking. The aim of this paper is threefold: (a) to describe how to implement cognitive challenging for adults with ID; (b) to report results from a pilot evaluation of a manualized, modified CBT‐ID programme for anxiety; and (c) to compare participants with mild versus moderate ID on post‐treatment cognitive challenging competencies. Results showed that the broad CBT‐ID programme significantly reduced anxiety in adults with ID as measured by self, informant, and clinician ratings. In addition, adults with mild but not moderate ID demonstrated competence across a range of specific cognitive challenging skills following treatment. These findings contribute to the growing evidence base for the use of CBT with people with ID. In addition, the framework described offers practitioners specific therapeutic methods to effectively challenge maladaptive thoughts that maintain anxiety in this population.
Age and area predict patterns of species richness in pumice rafts contingent on oceanic climatic zone encountered
Authors: Velasquez Eleanor , Bryan Scott E. , Ekins Merrick , Cook Alex G. , Hurrey Lucy , Firn Jennifer
Published: April 2018

The theory of island biogeography predicts that area and age explain species richness patterns (or alpha diversity) in insular habitats. Using a unique natural phenomenon, pumice rafting, we measured the influence of area, age, and oceanic climate on patterns of species richness. Pumice rafts are formed simultaneously when submarine volcanoes erupt, the pumice clasts breakup irregularly, forming irregularly shaped pumice stones which while floating through the ocean are colonized by marine biota. We analyze two eruption events and more than 5,000 pumice clasts collected from 29 sites and three climatic zones. Overall, the older and larger pumice clasts held more species. Pumice clasts arriving in tropical and subtropical climates showed this same trend, where in temperate locations species richness (alpha diversity) increased with area but decreased with age. Beta diversity analysis of the communities forming on pumice clasts that arrived in different climatic zones showed that tropical and subtropical clasts transported similar communities, while species composition on temperate clasts differed significantly from both tropical and subtropical arrivals. Using these thousands of insular habitats, we find strong evidence that area and age but also climatic conditions predict the fundamental dynamics of species richness colonizing pumice clasts.
Daphnia diversity on the Tibetan Plateau measured by DNA taxonomy
Authors: Xu Lei , Lin Qiuqi , Xu Shaolin , Gu Yangliang , Hou Juzhi , Liu Yongqin , Dumont Henri J. , Han Bo‐Ping
Published: April 2018

Daphnia on the Tibetan Plateau has been little studied, and information on species diversity and biogeography is lacking. Here, we conducted a 4‐year survey using the barcoding fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene to determine the distribution and diversity of Daphnia species found across the Plateau. Our results show that species richness is higher than previously thought, with total described and provisional species number doubling from 5 to 10. Six of the taxonomic units recovered by DNA taxonomy agreed well with morphology, but DNA barcoding distinguished three clades each for the D. longispina (D. galeata, D. dentifera, and D. longispina) and D. pulex (D. pulex, D. cf. tenebrosa, and D. pulicaria) complexes. The sequence divergence between congeneric species varied within a large range, from 9.25% to 30.71%. The endemic D. tibetana was the most common and widespread species, occurring in 12 hyposaline to mesosaline lakes. The lineage of D. longispina is the first confirmed occurrence in west Tibet.