bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A community‐engaged approach to investigate cardiovascular‐associated inflammation among American Indian women: A research protocol
Authors: Brooks Jada L. , Berry Diane C. , Currin Emily G. , Ledford Alasia , Knafl George J. , Fredrickson Barbara L. , Beeber Linda S. ,   HAPPI Community Partnership Committee, Peden David B. , Corbie‐Smith Giselle M.
Published: March 2019

American Indian women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than White or African American women. Inflammatory processes may underlie CVD disparities by gender and race and may be critical to understanding population‐specific drivers and potential buffers. Exposure to environmental air pollutants, especially particulate matter (PM), is known to be an important catalyst in CVD‐associated inflammation. Positive psychological states, associated with low levels of inflammatory gene expression, could serve to moderate the inflammatory response to environmental air pollutants and ultimately lead to better cardiovascular health outcomes. The aim of the ongoing community‐engaged and NIH‐funded study described in this study protocol is to address the racial and gender gaps in CVD mortality by investigating the contextually relevant and culturally important determinants of health among American Indian women. In this paper we describe the procedures used to examine the relationship between environmental air pollutant exposures (PM10‐2.5 and PM
2.5), psychological factors (e.g., depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, eudemonic well‐being, and positive emotions), and cardiovascular‐associated inflammation (hs‐CRP, IL‐6, Amyloid A, CBCs with differentials) in a sample of 150 women 18–50 years of age from the Lumbee Tribe in southeastern North Carolina. We describe lessons learned and strategies used in developing a community‐engaged approach to enhance recruitment of American Indian women in biomedical research. The empirical data and community infrastructure resulting from this study will be foundational in designing and testing future interventions to reduce CVD‐associated morbidity and mortality in American Indian women.
Six Weeks of Morning Fasting Causes Little Adaptation of Metabolic or Appetite Responses to Feeding in Adults with Obesity
Authors: Chowdhury Enhad A. , Richardson Judith D. , Gonzalez Javier T. , Tsintzas Kostas , Thompson Dylan , Betts James A.
Published: March 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sustained morning fasting or breakfast consumption on metabolism, energy intake, and appetite in healthy adults with obesity.

Methods

An independent‐measures randomized controlled trial with baseline and follow‐up laboratory assessment days separated by a 6‐week intervention of either morning fasting (0 kcal until 12:00pm) or daily breakfast (> 700 kcal by 11:00am) was performed. Measures included metabolic outcomes (glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids), hormones regulating appetite (total/acylated ghrelin, peptide YY, leptin), and energy expenditure (diet‐induced thermogenesis) parameters throughout a laboratory test day andad libitumintake following a fixed breakfast.

Results

Allocation to fasting versus breakfast resulted in minimal adaptation as reflected by the metabolic outcomes or the majority of appetite regulatory outcomes for either area under curve or time‐course‐based measures (P > 0.05).Ad libitumlunch intake was not different (P = 0.13), nor was diet‐induced thermogenesis or a composite appetite score (bothP > 0.10). However, there was a reduced total area under the curve for peptide YY (P = 0.05) and increased postprandial hunger ratings (P = 0.05) in the breakfast group.

Conclusions

There was little evidence of metabolic adaptation to acute feeding or negative consequences from sustained morning fasting. This indicates that previously observed differences between breakfast consumers and skippers may be acute effects of feeding or may have resulted from other lifestyle factors.
A semidefinite programming approach for polynomial switched optimal control problems
Authors: Davoudi Ramtin , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad
Published: March 2019

This paper considers solving optimal control of switched systems with polynomial data globally, where the number of switches and the switching signal are not preassigned. The problem is transformed into an embedded polynomial form in which a continuous variable controls the switching policy. Then, using occupation measures, the embedded optimal control problem is formulated as an infinite‐dimensional linear programming (LP) over the space of measures. A polynomial sum‐of‐squares strengthening corresponding to conic dual of the measure LP problem provides an approximating optimal feedback control for both classical control and the switching signal. Furthermore, the optimal switching signal is calculated without mode projection. Finally, three simulation experiments are included to confirm the theoretical results in the paper.
Anionic living polymerization of alkyl methacrylate at ambient temperature and its mechanism research
Authors: Li Zheng , Chen Jianding , Zou Guijin , Zhang Tongyuan , Wei Dafu , Xu Xiang , Guan Yong , Zheng Anna
Published: March 2019

In order to break through the bottleneck of anionic polymerization, polar monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and hexyl methacrylate are subjected to anionic polymerization at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using potassium tert‐butoxide (t‐BuOK) as the initiator. The polymerization of alkyl methacrylates is studied by multidetector gel permeation chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy, and dynamic laser light scattering. It is found that t‐BuOK can initiate the living anionic polymerization of polar alkyl methacrylate, and the polymerization conversion almost reaches up to 100%. t‐BuOK exists into two kinds of agglomerates, whose hydrodynamic volumes are 10 and 80 nm, respectively. t‐BuOK in THF is similar to emulsion and has a critical active species concentration of about 0.0265 mol L−1 and does not depend on how much t‐BuOK is added. After the initiation of the polymerization, the large agglomerates of a loose and less regular structure that have occupied the main part of t‐BuOK are greatly reduced, but they do not continue to decrease until they disappear according to the equilibrium theory. Similarly, the active chain after initiation also will not aggregate again. Furthermore, t‐BuOK also has an active species with smaller average vibration size between cation and anion pairs, which can only initiate the polymerization of MMA with rather slow rate but cannot initiate other alkyl methacrylates. At last, because t‐BuOK can make the dormant species caused by side reactions to be revived, the anionic polymerization of MMA could obtain a high yield. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1130–1139
Surface‐initiated single‐electron transfer reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylamide on silicon substrate at ambient temperature
Authors: Yücel Filiz Maden , Yildirim Ertan , Caykara Tuncer
Published: March 2019

2‐Hydroxyethyl acrylamide was successfully polymerized via single‐electron transfer initiation on the silicon surface and propagation through the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (SET‐RAFT) polymerization at ambient temperature for different polymerization times. This work is the first time application of the surface‐initiated SET‐RAFT mechanism to afford the preparation of well‐defined poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylamide) [poly(HEAAm)] brushes at ambient temperature. The polymerization was well controlled and produced poly(HEAAm) brushes on the silicon surface with a well‐defined target molecular weight. The controlled nature of the polymerization was further demonstrated in the presence of sulfur atoms at the chain ends in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. The grafting density (σ, chains nm−2) and the average distance between grafting points (D, nm) were found to be 0.42 chains nm−2 and 1.74 nm, respectively, indicating moderate grafting density. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1140–1146
Directed motion of a polyelectrolyte micelle along tethered chains of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte brush
Authors: Miliou Kalliopi , Gergidis Leonidas N. , Vlahos Costas
Published: March 2019

The complexation of different single polyelectrolyte (PE) micelles formed by linear diblock copolymers with oppositely charged brushes with varying grafting densities and charge content was studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations using the primitive model. We found that all micelles perform a directed motion along the vertical z axis on the grafted surface where they trapped while on the other axes the motion is restricted in a circle in which the diameter decreases with the increase of the hydrophilic length of the linear diblock copolymer. The motion of micelles is characterized as super diffusion inside brushes with low densities and low charge content. At high grafting densities and charge content the diffusion becomes Fickian or slightly subdiffusive. The number of the absorbed brush chains on the micelle corona increases almost monotonically with the increase of brush grafting density or with the decrease of charge content. The distance from the surface in which the micelle is trapped can be controlled by the charge density along the grafted PE chain. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 621–631
Differences in fungicide resistance profiles and multiple resistance to a quinone‐outside inhibitor (QoI), two succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI), and a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) for two Stagonosporopsis species causing gummy stem blight of cucurbits
Authors: Li Hao‐Xi , Nuckols Thomas A , Harris Devon , Stevenson Katherine L , Brewer Marin T
Published: March 2019

Background

Gummy stem blight (GSB) is a devastating disease of cucurbits that has been effectively managed with fungicide applications. However, the Stagonosporopsis spp. that cause GSB have rapidly evolved resistance to multiple classes of fungicides. To better understand the evolution and persistence of fungicide resistance in field populations, resistance profiles of unique and clonal genotypes of 113 Stagonosporopsis citrulli and 19 S. caricae isolates to four different fungicides were determined based on in vitro mycelial growth assays and molecular markers based on genes encoding fungicide targets.

Results

All 19 S. caricae isolates screened were resistant to tebuconazole and azoxystrobin, and sensitive to boscalid and fluopyram. All 113 S. citrulli isolates were sensitive to tebuconazole and sensitive to fluopyram, with one exception that was fluopyram‐resistant. All isolates of S. citrulli except two were resistant to azoxystrobin. Phenotypic differences in response to boscalid were detected among S. citrulli isolates, but the phenotypes were not associated with multilocus genotypes (MLG) determined by 16 microsatellite loci. Additionally, isolates sharing the same MLG varied by SdhB genotype. A unique mutation of I229V in SdhB, a target of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides, was detected for the fluopyram‐resistant isolate of S. citrulli.

Conclusion

Both the lack of association of fungicide resistance profiles with genetic similarity of isolates based on microsatellite loci and the finding that widely distributed MLG varied in fungicide resistance profiles suggest that independent evolutionary events for resistance to boscalid have likely occurred. Frequent genetic recombination within populations may be responsible for resistance to multiple fungicides. This study provides useful information for effectively managing both species of GSB fungi present in the southeastern USA and understanding the evolution of fungicide resistance within populations of plant‐pathogenic fungi. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Just a spoonful of sugar: Short glycans affect protein properties and functions
Authors: Bello Claudia , Rovero Paolo , Papini Anna Maria
Published: March 2019

Glycosylation has a strong impact on the chemical and physical properties of proteins and on their activity. The heterogeneous nature of this modification complicates the elucidation of the role of each glycan, thus slowing down the progress in glycobiology. Nevertheless, the great advances recently made in protein engineering and in the chemical synthesis, and semisynthesis of glycoproteins are giving impulse to the field, fostering important discoveries. In this review, we report on the findings of the last two decades on the importance that the attachment site, linkage, and composition of short glycans have in affecting protein properties and functions.
Substrate‐Controlled Aza‐Ene/Prins Cyclization for the Synthesis of Dihydroquinoline and Oxocene Derivatives
Authors: Chandrashekhar Rapelli , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Reddy Basi V. Subba
Published: March 2019

A substituent controlled aza‐ene/Prins cyclization strategy has been developed for the one‐pot synthesis of dihydroquinoline tethered tetrahydropyran derivatives from ortho‐aminoaryl alkenols and aromatic aldehydes using 30 mol% TMSOTf at 60 °C. The reaction proceeds through a sequential aza‐ene and Prins cyclization. In the case of nitro and cyano substituted aromatic aldehydes, eight‐membered oxocene derivatives were obtained under similar conditions. This is the first report on the introduction of tetrahydropyran ring at 4th position of dihydroquinoline from ortho‐aminoaryl alkenol and aromatic aldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. A catalytic amount of TMSOTf facilitates aza‐ene and Prins cyclizations sequentially in a single‐step.
Toward Precision Measurement and Manipulation of Single‐Molecule Reactions by a Confined Space
Authors: Qiu Kaipei , Fato Tano Patrice , Yuan Bo , Long Yi‐Tao
Published: March 2019

All chemical reactions can be divided into a series of single molecule reactions (SMRs), the elementary steps that involve only isomerization of, dissociation from, and addition to an individual molecule. Analyzing SMRs is of paramount importance to identify the intrinsic molecular mechanism of a complex chemical reaction, which is otherwise implausible to reveal in an ensemble fashion, owing to the significant static and dynamic heterogeneity of real‐world chemical systems. The single‐molecule measurement and manipulation methods developed recently are playing an increasingly irreplaceable role to detect and recognize short‐lived intermediates, visualize their transient existence, and determinate the kinetics and dynamics of single bond breaking and formation. Notably, none of the above SMRs characterizations can be realized without the aid of a confined space. Therefore, this Review aims to highlight the recent progress in the development of confined space enabled single‐molecule sensing, imaging, and tuning methods to study chemical reactions. Future prospects of SMRs research are also included, including a push toward the physical limit on transduction of information to signals and vice versa, transmission and recording of signals, computational modeling and simulation, and rational design of a confined space for precise SMRs.
Cell Membrane Camouflaged Hydrophobic Drug Nanoflake Sandwiched with Photosensitizer for Orchestration of Chemo‐Photothermal Combination Therapy
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Zhang Xiao , Lu Guihong , Li Feng , Bao Weier , Song Cui , Wei Wei , Ma Guanghui
Published: March 2019

Many candidate anticancer drugs have suffered from their intrinsic hydrophobicity, which poses several obstacles for clinical application. To overcome this challenge and further improve the performance, herein a nanocrystal‐based biomimetic formulation with a sandwich structure is developed. As the core, flake shaped nanocrystals (NCs) with high loading of the hydrophobic drug hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) are synthesized via a mild nanoprecipitation process by exploring the template effect of serum albumin. Meanwhile, the camouflaged cancer cell membrane (CM) composed of plentiful membrane proteins endows the NCs with homotypic targeting capacity at tumor sites. In addition, the photosensitizer indocyanine green sandwiched between NCs and CM not only converts near infrared light to heat for photothermal treatment but also improves the dissolution of HCPT NCs for chemotherapy. These features corporately achieve the orchestration of chemo‐photothermal combination therapy and completely inhibit tumor growth with few adverse effects, showing promise as a new modality for the utilization of hydrophobic drugs to treat cancer.
A Double‐Buffering Strategy to Boost the Lithium Storage of Botryoid MnOx/C Anodes
Authors: Yang Cheng , Yao Yu , Lian Yuebin , Chen Yujie , Shah Rahim , Zhao Xiaohui , Chen Muzi , Peng Yang , Deng Zhao
Published: March 2019

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are regarded as promising candidates for anodes of lithium ion batteries, but their applications have been severely hindered by poor material conductivity and lithiated volume expansion. As a potential solution, herein is presented a facile approach, by electrospinning a manganese‐based metal organic framework (Mn‐MOF), to fabricate yolk–shell MnOx nanostructures within carbon nanofibers in a botryoid morphology. While the yolk–shell structure accomodates the lithiated volume expansion of MnOx, the fiber confinement ensures the structural integrity during charge/discharge, achieving a so‐called double‐buffering for cyclic volume fluctuation. The formation mechanism of the yolk–shell structure is well elucidated through comprehensive instrumental characterizations and cogitative control experiments, following a combined Oswald ripening and Kirkendall process. Outstanding electrochemical performances are demonstrated with prolonged stability over 1000 cycles, boosted by the double‐buffering design, as well as the “breathing” effect of lithiation/delithiation witnessed by ex situ imaging. Both the fabrication methodology and electrochemical understandings gained here for nanostructured MnOx can also be extended to other TMOs toward their ultimate implementation in high‐performance lithium ion batteries (LIBs).
Influence of Austenite Conditioning on the Mechanical Properties of a Microalloyed Bainitic Steel
Authors: Menzel Max , Bleck Wolfgang , Höhne Anastasia , Gevelmann Gerhard , Tomitz Andreas , Gibson James , Korte‐Kerzel Sandra
Published: March 2019

The effects of different hot strip rolling process parameters on the phase transformation and the final properties of a microalloyed bainitic steel are investigated. Thermomechanical tests are conducted to analyze the influence on strength and toughness. Transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and electron probe microanalysis are used to investigate the microstructural features and their impact on the mechanical properties. In particular, it is found that a thermomechanical treatment of the microalloyed steel leads to an increase in strength, strain hardening, and toughness. This is related to the microstructure influenced by the transformation, the carbon partitioning, and partly to strain‐induced precipitations. The pronounced strain hardening is achieved by finely dispersed martensite/austenite islands. In contrast, coarse martensite/austenite constituents reduce the toughness. Further, strain induced titanium precipitations contribute to the high yield strength.
Weakly coupled de Sitter vacua with fluxes and the swampland
Authors: Junghans Daniel
Published: March 2019

Abstract

It was recently argued that the swampland distance conjecture rules out dS vacua at parametrically large field distances. We point out that this conclusion can in principle be avoided in the presence of large fluxes that are not bounded by a tadpole cancellation condition. We then study this possibility in the concrete setting of classical type IIA flux compactifications with (anti-)O6-planes, (anti-)D6-branes and/or KK monopoles and show that, nonetheless, parametrically controlled dS vacua are strongly constrained. In particular, we find that such dS vacua are ruled out at parametrically large volume and/or parametrically small string coupling. We also find obstructions in the general case where the parametrically large field is an arbitrary field combination.
One-loop amplitudes for $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 homogeneous supergravities
Authors: Ben-Shahar Maor , Chiodaroli Marco
Published: March 2019

Abstract

We compute one-loop matter amplitudes in homogeneous Maxwell-Einstein supergravities with$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 2 supersymmetry using the double-copy construction. We start from amplitudes of$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 2 super-Yang-Mills theory with matter that obey manifestly the duality between color and kinematics. Taking advantage of the fact that amplitudes with external hypermultiplets have kinematical numerators which do not present any explicit dependence on the loop momentum, we find a relation between the one-loop divergence of the supergravity amplitudes and the beta function of the non-supersymmetric gauge theory entering the construction. Two distinct linearized counterterms are generated at one loop. The divergence corresponding to the first is nonzero for all homogeneous supergravities, while the divergence associated to the second vanishes only in the case of the four Magical supergravities.
A holographic derivation of the weak gravity conjecture
Authors: Montero M.
Published: March 2019

Abstract

The Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) demands the existence of superextremal particles in any consistent quantum theory of gravity. The standard lore is that these particles are introduced to ensure that extremal black holes are either unstable or marginally stable, but it is not clear what is wrong if this doesn’t happen. This note shows that, for a generic Einstein quantum theory of gravity in AdS, exactly stability of extremal black branes is in tension with rigorously proven quantum information theorems about entanglement entropy. Avoiding the contradiction leads to a nonperturbative version of the WGC, which reduces to the usual statement at weak coupling. The argument is general, and it does not rely on either supersymmetry or a particular UV completion, assuming only the validity of Einsteinian gravity, effective field theory, and holography. The pathology is related to the development of an infinite throat in the near-horizon region of the extremal solutions, which suggests a connection to the ER=EPR proposal.
Strong Cosmic Censorship in higher-dimensional Reissner-Nordström-de Sitter spacetime
Authors: Liu Hang , Tang Ziyu , Destounis Kyriakos , Wang Bin , Papantonopoulos Eleftherios , Zhang Hongbao
Published: March 2019

Abstract

: It was recently shown that Strong Cosmic Censorship might be violated for near-extremally-charged black holes in 4-dimensional de Sitter space under scalar perturbations. Here, we extend the study of neutral massless scalar perturbations in higher dimensions and discuss the dimensional influence on the validity of Strong Cosmic Censorship hypothesis. By giving an elaborate description of neutral massless scalar perturbations of Reissner-Nordström-de Sitter black holes in d = 4, 5 and 6 dimensions we conclude that Strong Cosmic Censorship is violated near extremality.
Large field ranges from aligned and misaligned winding
Authors: Hebecker Arthur , Junghans Daniel , Schachner Andreas
Published: March 2019

Abstract

We search for effective axions with super-Planckian decay constants in type IIB string models. We argue that such axions can be realised as long winding trajectories in complex-structure moduli space by an appropriate flux choice. Our main findings are: the simplest models with aligned winding in a 2-axion field space fail due to a general no-go theorem. However, equally simple models with misaligned winding, where the effective axion is not close to any of the fundamental axions, appear to work to the best of our present understanding. These models have large decay constants but no large monotonic regions in the potential, making them unsuitable for large-field inflation. We also show that our no-go theorem can be avoided by aligning three or more axions. We argue that, contrary to misaligned models, such models can have both large decay constants and large monotonic regions in the potential. Our results may be used to argue against the refined Swampland Distance Conjecture and strong forms of the axionic Weak Gravity Conjecture. It becomes apparent, however, that realising inflation is by far harder than just producing a light field with large periodicity.
Towards sustainable bioplastic production using the photoautotrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1
Authors: Ranaivoarisoa Tahina Onina , Singh Rajesh , Rengasamy Karthikeyan , Guzman Michael S , Bose Arpita
Published: March 2019

Bacterial synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) is a potential approach for producing biodegradable plastics. This study assessed the ability of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 to produce PHBs under various conditions. We focused on photoautotrophy using a poised electrode (photoelectroautotrophy) or ferrous iron (photoferroautotrophy) as electron donors. Growth conditions were tested with either ammonium chloride or dinitrogen gas as the nitrogen source. Although TIE-1’s capacity to produce PHBs varied fairly under different conditions, photoelectroautotrophy and photoferroautotrophy showed the highest PHB electron yield and the highest specific PHB productivity, respectively. Gene expression analysis showed that there was no differential expression in PHB biosynthesis genes. This suggests that the variations in PHB accumulation might be post-transcriptionally regulated. This is the first study to systematically quantify the amount of PHB produced by a microbe via photoelectroautotrophy and photoferroautotrophy. This work could lead to sustainable bioproduction using abundant resources such as light, electricity, iron, and carbon dioxide.
Relationship of Specific Sexual Activities to Orgasmic Latency, Pleasure, and Difficulty During Partnered Sex
Authors: Rowland David L. , Kolba Tiffany N.
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Specific sexual activities during partnered sex are likely to affect orgasmic parameters, such as latency, pleasure, and difficulty, but such relationships have not been examined in detail.

Aim

To ascertain whether specific kinds of sexual activities account for variation in orgasmic latency, pleasure, and difficulty during partnered sex.

Method

Participants were 2,068 women drawn from community-based samples in the United States and Hungary who completed an investigator-derived questionnaire regarding their sexual history and response, including items related to frequency of masturbation and partnered sex, sexual desire, sexual arousal, orgasmic response, orgasmic latency, distress, partner distress, and sexual satisfaction.

Main Outcome Measures

Self-reported orgasmic latency, pleasure, and difficulty during partnered sex were assessed.

Results

Orgasmic pleasure and orgasmic difficulty were related to the types of sexual activities incorporated into partnered sex. Nevertheless, relationship satisfaction played as large a role in both orgasmic parameters. Orgasmic latency, on the other hand, was less affected by the type of sexual activity during partnered sex, but it was also affected by relationship satisfaction and orgasmic difficulty.

Clinical Implication

Addressing relationship satisfaction and expanding the behavioral repertoire of activities during partnered sex may increase sexual satisfaction and mitigate orgasmic difficulty.

Strength & Limitations

The study, well powered and drawing from a multinational population, is 1 of the few to analyze specific types of sexual activity and stimulation during partnered sex. Major limitations were the younger age and self-selection of the sample.

Conclusion

Type and conventionality of sexual activities during partnered sex affect orgasmic pleasure and difficulty.
Factors influencing the choice of practice location among Canadian otolaryngologists
Authors: Cottrell J , You P , Fung K
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Little is known about what shapes the choice of employment location in a competitive surgical specialty like otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. This study aimed to identify factors important in determining practice location among Canadian otolaryngologists

Methods

An online survey was distributed nationally to active members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The survey collected data on general demographics, current practice description, training location, factors deemed important in practice location decisions, and job satisfaction.

Results

A total of 122 survey responses were collected, with a similar proportion of participants in academic versus community practice. The majority of respondents (73 per cent) practised in the same province as their residency training. Participants identified job vacancy, colleague interaction, spouse opinion and hospital services as important in the decision of practice location.

Conclusion

Key determinants of practice location among Canadian otolaryngologists include job vacancies, spouse opinion, and colleague interactions. Overall, Canadian otolaryngologists report high satisfaction with current employment.
SIGN-BASED UNIT ROOT TESTS FOR EXPLOSIVE FINANCIAL BUBBLES IN THE PRESENCE OF DETERMINISTICALLY TIME-VARYING VOLATILITY
Authors: Harvey David I. , Leybourne Stephen J. , Zu Yang
Published: March 2019

This article considers the problem of testing for an explosive bubble in financial data in the presence of time-varying volatility. We propose a sign-based variant of the Phillips, Shi, and Yu (2015, International Economic Review 56, 1043–1077) test. Unlike the original test, the sign-based test does not require bootstrap-type methods to control size in the presence of time-varying volatility. Under a locally explosive alternative, the sign-based test delivers higher power than the original test for many time-varying volatility and bubble specifications. However, since the original test can still outperform the sign-based one for some specifications, we also propose a union of rejections procedure that combines the original and sign-based tests, employing a wild bootstrap to control size. This is shown to capture most of the power available from the better performing of the two tests. We also show how a sign-based statistic can be used to date the bubble start and end points. An empirical illustration using Bitcoin price data is provided.
Developmental programming of shyness: A longitudinal, prospective study across four decades
Authors: Poole Kristie L. , Saigal Saroj , Van Lieshout Ryan J. , Schmidt Louis A.
Published: March 2019

Although shyness is a ubiquitous phenomenon with early developmental origins, little research has examined the influence of prenatal exposures on the developmental trajectory of shyness. Here, we examined trajectories of shyness from childhood to adulthood in three groups (N= 254), with varying degrees of prenatal adversity as indicated by the number of stressful exposures: extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors prenatally exposed to exogenous corticosteroids (ELBW+S,n= 56); ELBW survivors not prenatally exposed to exogenous corticosteroids (ELBW+NS,n= 56); and normal birth weight (NBW,n= 142) controls. Multilevel modeling revealed that the ELBW+S individuals exhibited the highest levels of childhood shyness, which remained stable into adulthood. The ELBW+NS and NBW controls had comparably low levels of childhood shyness; however, the ELBW+NS individuals experienced patterns of increasing shyness, while NBW controls displayed decreases in shyness into adulthood. We speculate that individuals exposed to multiple prenatal stressors (i.e., ELBW+S) may be developmentally programmed to be more sensitive to detecting social threat, with one manifestation being early developing, stable shyness, while increasing shyness among ELBW+NS individuals may reflect a later developing shyness influenced by postnatal context. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the developmental origins and developmental course of human shyness from childhood through adulthood.
The old regime of hygiene: Life in the nineteenth-century French countryside
Authors: Zdatny Steve
Published: March 2019

This article provides an object lesson in the history of thelongue durée, reflected in the comprehensive filthiness of rural life in the nineteenth century. Political upheaval had not changed the material conditions of peasant existence or sensibilities relating to hygiene. Economic revolution had as yet made no practical difference to the dirtiness of daily life. Peasants under the Second Empire lived much as they had under the Old Regime – in dark, damp houses with no conveniences, cheek by jowl with the livestock. Their largely unwashed bodies were wrapped in largely unchanged clothes. Babies were delivered with germ-covered hands, drank spoilt milk from dirty bottles, and spent their young days swaddled like mummies and marinating like teriyaki. The Third Republic set out to ‘civilize’ the rural masses, but this snapshot of material life in the nineteenth-century French countryside illustrates just how much work lay in front of it.
Scientific Misconduct in Psychology
Authors: Stricker Johannes , Günther Armin
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Spectacular cases of scientific misconduct have contributed to concerns about the validity of published results in psychology. In our systematic review, we identified 16 studies reporting prevalence estimates of scientific misconduct and questionable research practices (QRPs) in psychological research. Estimates from these studies varied due to differences in methods and scope. Unlike other disciplines, there was no reliable lower bound prevalence estimate of scientific misconduct based on identified cases available for psychology. Thus, we conducted an additional empirical investigation on the basis of retractions in the database PsycINFO. Our analyses showed that 0.82 per 10,000 journal articles in psychology were retracted due to scientific misconduct. Between the late 1990s and 2012, there was a steep increase. Articles retracted due to scientific misconduct were identified in 20 out of 22 PsycINFO subfields. These results show that measures aiming to reduce scientific misconduct should be promoted equally across all psychological subfields.
NOAA Budget Proposal Hits Rough Waters in Congress
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2019

The budget proposed by the Trump administration would cut NOAA’s budget by 18%. It would target climate and ocean research programs and also slash education initiatives, grants, and other agency programs.
First Observations of Gigantic Jets From Geostationary Orbit
Authors: Boggs Levi D. , Liu Ningyu , Peterson Michael , Lazarus Steven , Splitt Michael , Lucena Frankie , Nag Amitabh , Rassoul Hamid K.
Published: March 2019

Here we report the first observations of gigantic jets (GJs) by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on board the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite‐R series. Fourteen GJs produced by Tropical Storm Harvey on 19 August 2017 were observed by both GLM and a ground‐based low‐light‐level camera system. The majority of the GJs produced distinguishable signatures in the GLM data, which include long continuous emissions, large peak flash optical energies, and small lateral propagation distances in comparison with other flashes observed by GLM. For two GJs with the best ground‐based images, each have a single pixel that contains the largest optical energy throughout the duration of the GJ and also coincides with the azimuth of the GJ from the video images. The optical energy of the pixel increases as the GJ propagates upward, reaches its peak when the GJ connects to the ionosphere, and then fades away.
Obscure soil microbes and where to find them
Authors: Delgado-Baquerizo Manuel
Published: March 2019

Many soil bacteria and fungi remain unclassified at the highest taxonomic ranks (e.g. phyla level), which hampers our ability to assess the ecology and functional capabilities of these soil organisms in terrestrial ecosystems globally. The first logical step toward the classification of these unknown soil taxa is to identify potential locations on Earth where these unclassified bacteria and fungi are feasibly most prevalent. To do this, here I used data from a global soil survey across 235 locations, including amplicon sequencing information for fungal and bacterial communities, and generated global atlases highlighting those soils where the percentages of taxa of bacteria and fungi with an unknown phyla are expected to be more prevalent. Results indicate that soil samples with the largest percentage of fungal taxa with an unknown phyla can be found in dry forests and grasslands, while those with the largest percentage of bacterial taxa with an unknown phyla are found in boreal and tropical forests. This information can be used by taxonomists and microbiologists to target these potentially new soil taxa.
Inferring HIV-1 transmission networks and sources of epidemic spread in Africa with deep-sequence phylogenetic analysis
Authors: Ratmann Oliver , Grabowski M. Kate , Hall Matthew , Golubchik Tanya , Wymant Chris , Abeler-Dörner Lucie , Bonsall David , Hoppe Anne , Brown Andrew Leigh , de Oliveira Tulio , Gall Astrid , Kellam Paul , Pillay Deenan , Kagaayi Joseph , Kigozi Godfrey , Quinn Thomas C. , Wawer Maria J. , Laeyendecker Oliver , Serwadda David , Gray Ronald H. , Fraser Christophe ,   PANGEA Consortium and Rakai Health Sciences Program, Ayles Helen , Bowden Rory , Calvez Vincent , Cohen Myron , Dennis Ann , Essex Max , Fidler Sarah , Frampton Daniel , Hayes Richard , Herbeck Joshua T. , Kaleebu Pontiano , Kityo Cissy , Lingappa Jairam , Novitsky Vladimir , Paton Nick , Rambaut Andrew , Seeley Janet , Ssemwanga Deogratius , Tanser Frank , Nakigozi Gertrude , Ssekubugu Robert , Nalugoda Fred , Lutalo Tom , Galiwango Ronald , Makumbi Fred , Sewankambo Nelson K. , R. Tobian Aaron A. , Reynolds Steven J. , Chang Larry W. , Nabukalu Dorean , Ndyanabo Anthony , Ssekasanvu Joseph , Nakawooya Hadijja , Nakukumba Jessica , Kigozi Grace N. , Nantume Betty S. , Resty Nampijja , Kambasu Jedidah , Nalugemwa Margaret , Nakabuye Regina , Ssebanobe Lawrence , Nankinga Justine , Kayiira Adrian , Nanfuka Gorreth , Ahimbisibwe Ruth , Tomusange Stephen , Galiwango Ronald M. , Kalibbali Sarah , Nakalanzi Margaret , Otobi Joseph Ouma , Ankunda Denis , Ssembatya Joseph Lister , Ssemanda John Baptist , Kairania Robert , Kato Emmanuel , Kisakye Alice , Batte James , Ludigo James , Nampijja Abisagi , Watya Steven , Nehemia Kighoma , Anyokot Margaret , Mwinike Joshua , Kibumba George , Ssebowa Paschal , Mondo George , Wasswa Francis , Nantongo Agnes , Kakembo Rebecca , Galiwango Josephine , Ssemango Geoffrey , Redd Andrew D. , Santelli John , Kennedy Caitlin E. , Wagman Jennifer
Published: March 2019

To prevent new infections with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in sub-Saharan Africa, UNAIDS recommends targeting interventions to populations that are at high risk of acquiring and passing on the virus. Yet it is often unclear who and where these ‘source’ populations are. Here we demonstrate how viral deep-sequencing can be used to reconstruct HIV-1 transmission networks and to infer the direction of transmission in these networks. We are able to deep-sequence virus from a large population-based sample of infected individuals in Rakai District, Uganda, reconstruct partial transmission networks, and infer the direction of transmission within them at an estimated error rate of 16.3% [8.8–28.3%]. With this error rate, deep-sequence phylogenetics cannot be used against individuals in legal contexts, but is sufficiently low for population-level inferences into the sources of epidemic spread. The technique presents new opportunities for characterizing source populations and for targeting of HIV-1 prevention interventions in Africa.
A natural WNT signaling variant potently synergizes with Cdkn2ab loss in skin carcinogenesis
Authors: Krimpenfort Paul , Snoek Margriet , Lambooij Jan-Paul , Song Ji-Ying , van der Weide Robin , Bhaskaran Rajith , Teunissen Hans , Adams David J. , de Wit Elzo , Berns Anton
Published: March 2019

Cdkn2abknockout mice, generated from 129P2 ES cells develop skin carcinomas. Here we show that the incidence of these carcinomas drops gradually in the course of backcrossing to the FVB/N background. Microsatellite analyses indicate that this cancer phenotype is linked to a 20 Mb region of 129P2 chromosome 15 harboring theWnt7bgene, which is preferentially expressed from the 129P2 allele in skin carcinomas and derived cell lines. ChIPseq analysis shows enrichment of H3K27-Ac, a mark for active enhancers, in the 5’ region of theWnt7b129P2 gene. TheWnt7b129P2 allele appears sufficient to cause in vitro transformation ofCdkn2ab-deficient cell lines primarily through CDK6 activation. These results point to a critical role of theCdkn2ablocus in keeping the oncogenic potential of physiological levels of WNT signaling in check and illustrate that GWAS-based searches for cancer predisposing allelic variants can be enhanced by including defined somatically acquired lesions as an additional input.
Optimising surface d charge of AuPd nanoalloy catalysts for enhanced catalytic activity
Authors: Zhu Xiaojuan , Guo Qishui , Sun Yafei , Chen Shangjun , Wang Jian-Qiang , Wu Mengmeng , Fu Wenzhao , Tang Yanqiang , Duan Xuezhi , Chen De , Wan Ying
Published: March 2019

Understanding the catalytic mechanism of bimetallic nanocatalysts remains challenging. Here, we adopt an adsorbate mediated thermal reduction approach to yield monodispersed AuPd catalysts with continuous change of the Pd-Au coordination numbers embedded in a mesoporous carbonaceous matrix. The structure of nanoalloys is well-defined, allowing for a direct determination of the structure-property relationship. The results show that the Pd single atom and dimer are the active sites for the base-free oxidation of primary alcohols. Remarkably, the d-orbital charge on the surface of Pd serves as a descriptor to the adsorbate states and hence the catalytic performance. The maximum d-charge gain occurred in a composition with 33–50 at% Pd corresponds to up to 9 times enhancement in the reaction rate compared to the neat Pd. The findings not only open an avenue towards the rational design of catalysts but also enable the identification of key steps involved in the catalytic reactions.
The temporal dynamics and infectiousness of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum infections in relation to parasite density
Authors: Slater Hannah C. , Ross Amanda , Felger Ingrid , Hofmann Natalie E. , Robinson Leanne , Cook Jackie , Gonçalves Bronner P. , Björkman Anders , Ouedraogo Andre Lin , Morris Ulrika , Msellem Mwinyi , Koepfli Cristian , Mueller Ivo , Tadesse Fitsum , Gadisa Endalamaw , Das Smita , Domingo Gonzalo , Kapulu Melissa , Midega Janet , Owusu-Agyei Seth , Nabet Cécile , Piarroux Renaud , Doumbo Ogobara , Doumbo Safiatou Niare , Koram Kwadwo , Lucchi Naomi , Udhayakumar Venkatachalam , Mosha Jacklin , Tiono Alfred , Chandramohan Daniel , Gosling Roly , Mwingira Felista , Sauerwein Robert , Paul Richard , Riley Eleanor M , White Nicholas J , Nosten Francois , Imwong Mallika , Bousema Teun , Drakeley Chris , Okell Lucy C
Published: March 2019

Malaria infections occurring below the limit of detection of standard diagnostics are common in all endemic settings. However, key questions remain surrounding their contribution to sustaining transmission and whether they need to be detected and targeted to achieve malaria elimination. In this study we analyse a range of malaria datasets to quantify the density, detectability, course of infection and infectiousness of subpatent infections. Asymptomatically infected individuals have lower parasite densities on average in low transmission settings compared to individuals in higher transmission settings. In cohort studies, subpatent infections are found to be predictive of future periods of patent infection and in membrane feeding studies, individuals infected with subpatent asexual parasite densities are found to be approximately a third as infectious to mosquitoes as individuals with patent (asexual parasite) infection. These results indicate that subpatent infections contribute to the infectious reservoir, may be long lasting, and require more sensitive diagnostics to detect them in lower transmission settings.
Scalable synthesis of ant-nest-like bulk porous silicon for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes
Authors: An Weili , Gao Biao , Mei Shixiong , Xiang Ben , Fu Jijiang , Wang Lei , Zhang Qiaobao , Chu Paul K. , Huo Kaifu
Published: March 2019

Although silicon is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, scalable synthesis of silicon anodes with good cyclability and low electrode swelling remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a scalable top-down technique to produce ant-nest-like porous silicon from magnesium-silicon alloy. The ant-nest-like porous silicon comprising three-dimensional interconnected silicon nanoligaments and bicontinuous nanopores can prevent pulverization and accommodate volume expansion during cycling resulting in negligible particle-level outward expansion. The carbon-coated porous silicon anode delivers a high capacity of 1,271 mAh g−1 at 2,100 mA g−1 with 90% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles and has a low electrode swelling of 17.8% at a high areal capacity of 5.1 mAh cm−2. The full cell with the prelithiated silicon anode and Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 cathode boasts a high energy density of 502 Wh Kg−1 and 84% capacity retention after 400 cycles. This work provides insights into the rational design of alloy anodes for high-energy batteries.
The dawn of non-Hermitian optics
Authors: El-Ganainy Ramy , Khajavikhan Mercedeh , Christodoulides Demetrios N. , Ozdemir Sahin K.
Published: March 2019

Recent years have seen a tremendous progress in the theory and experimental implementations of non-Hermitian photonics, including all-lossy optical systems as well as parity-time symmetric systems consisting of both optical loss and gain. This progress has led to a host of new intriguing results in the physics of light–matter interactions with promising potential applications in optical sciences and engineering. In this comment, we present a brief perspective on the developments in this field and discuss possible future research directions that can benefit from the notion of non-Hermitian engineering.
Catalytic applications of β-cyclodextrin/palladium nanoparticle thin film obtained from oil/water interface in the reduction of toxic nitrophenol compounds and the degradation of azo dyes
Authors: Zare Asadabadi Azam , Hoseini S. Jafar , Bahrami Mehrangiz , Nabavizadeh S. Masoud
Published: March 2019

A supramolecular catalyst of Pd/β-cyclodextrin thin film is synthesized via a facile and one-pot procedure at an oil–water interface and applied for the reduction of toxic nitrophenol compounds and the degradation of harmful azo dyes.
Nanoislands as plasmonic materials
Authors: Chung Taerin , Lee Youngseop , Ahn Myeong-Su , Lee Wonkyoung , Bae Sang-In , Hwang Charles Soon Hong , Jeong Ki-Hun
Published: March 2019

Metal nanoislands as plasmonic materials on various substrates have been widely applied for various applications from biosensing to photonic applications.
Identification of specific pre-analytical quality control markers in plasma and serum samples
Authors: Ruiz-Godoy Luz , Enríquez-Cárcamo Virginia , Suárez-Roa Lourdes , Lopez-Castro María Lourdes , Santamaría Abel , Orozco-Morales Mario , Colín-González Ana Laura
Published: March 2019

This review discusses the challenge to identify blood quality control markers and describes several molecules that could be potential candidates.
Expanding the genetic code with a lysine derivative bearing an enzymatically removable phenylacetyl group
Authors: Reille-Seroussi Marie , Mayer Susanne V. , Dörner Wolfgang , Lang Kathrin , Mootz Henning D.
Published: March 2019

Site-specific incorporation of a lysine analog with an enzymatically removable side chain protection group was used to control protein activity.