bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corrosion‐Free EMF Measurements of Zinc‐Based Intermetallic Compounds at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Kriegel René , Armbrüster Marc
Published: March 2020

Material development requires in many cases information about the necessary stability of the materials against oxidation, which is encoded in the chemical activity of the constituting elements. Determination of the chemical activity is tedious, especially for metallic materials at or close to ambient temperature. To determine the chemical activity of Zn at ambient temperature, electromotive force (EMF) measurements on the intermetallic compounds ZnPd, ZnPt and Cu5Zn8 within their respective homogeneity range were conducted. The single‐phase nature of the samples was confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction, light microscopy as well as SEM/EDX analysis. To exclude oxidation, and therefore faulty determination of the electrochemical potentials, a method was developed to conduct the electrochemical measurements under non‐corrosive conditions in inert atmosphere. Corrosion by the electrolyte was avoided using anhydrous dimethylformamide as aprotic solvent. From the EMF the respective intrinsic activities of zinc in the corresponding intermetallic compounds was determined. Measurements on Cu5Zn8 and comparison to available data in literature verified the developed method allowing to retrieve thermodynamic data of ZnPd and ZnPt for the first time at ambient temperature. The herein developed and easy‐to‐use methodology is applicable to a wide range of metallic material by choosing appropriate compositions of the electrolyte and has the potential to boost material development.
Supramolecular Modulation of Antibacterial Activity of Ambroxol by Cucurbit[7]uril
Authors: Li Shengke , Kuok Kit Ieng , Ji Xia , Xu Anni , Yin Hang , Zheng Jun , Tan Huaping , Wang Ruibing
Published: March 2020

Supramolecular encapsulation by cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) was recently demonstrated to provide a simple and efficient method for antibacterial activity regulation of antibiotics. In this work, CB[7] was shown to form binary host‐guest complex with ambroxol hydrochloride (ABX), a clinical mucokinetic and expectorant drug, which was reported to exhibit certain antibacterial activity. 1H NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry experiment results suggested that the 4‐hydroxyl cyclohexylamine group of ABX was included inside the CB[7] cavity, with a binding constant Ka of (6.69±0.11)×105 M−1 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, thermodynamically driven by both enthalpy change (ΔH=−12.2 kJ/mol) and entropy change (TΔS=21.1 kJ/mol). More importantly, ABX's inhibitory activity (MIC50) against bacillary strains towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli strains was decreased from (5.11±0.31)×10−6 M−1 and (2.63±0.34)×10−5 M−1 to zero upon encapsulation by CB[7], and was subsequently recovered to almost its original activity when a competitive guest, amantadine hydrochloride, for disassembling CB[7]‐ABX complex, was added, suggesting that the antibacterial activity of ABX could be readily “turned off/on” upon its complexation and decomplexation with CB[7].
Political risk, internal versus global value chain knowledge, and subsidiary operational integration
Authors: Lee Jeoung Yul , Jiménez Alfredo , Yang Young Soo , Song Yunah
Published: March 2020

Research summary

This study combines transaction cost economics and network learning literature to examine the moderating effect of knowledge from internal versus external local supplier on subsidiary‐level intrafirm trade within multinational enterprises' (MNEs) global value chain networks. We conceptualize knowledge in a multidimensional way, disentangling it into institutional knowledge in high‐risk countries and internationalization knowledge in all countries. Empirical results from 5,660 observations of 487 Korean MNEs (1995–2013) show that MNEs' institutional knowledge with external local suppliers in high‐risk countries has a stronger negative effect on the relationship between political risk and subsidiaries' intrafirm trade integration than with internal suppliers. Internationalization knowledge from external local suppliers in all countries also has a stronger negative effect on the relationship between political risk and subsidiaries' intrafirm trade integration than with internal suppliers.

Managerial summary

A host country's political risk is a critical consideration for multinational enterprises (MNEs) when entering institutionally hazardous countries. This study shows how MNEs' strategies for operational integration of subsidiaries within global value chain (GVC) networks respond to challenges of political risk in host countries. We studied 5,660 observations of 487 Korean MNEs (1995–2013) and found that MNE capabilities to manage under institutionally hazardous conditions can be developed through various types of knowledge from internal versus external local suppliers, and, consequently, operational integration in the MNE GVC in high‐risk countries is less needed. MNEs need to acquire and expand new business opportunities in host countries by accepting heterogeneity through varying institutional and internationalization knowledge and active partnership development based on their GVC networks.
International Train the Trainer antibiotic stewardship program for pharmacists: Implementation, sustainability, and outcomes
Authors: Goff Debra A. , Bauer Karri A. , Brink Adrian , Kolman Sonya , Mendelson Marc , Messina Angeliki P. , Schellack Natalie , van den Bergh Dena
Published: March 2020

Introduction

The high burden of infectious diseases in South Africa and the misuse and overuse of antibiotics are driving antibiotic resistance to the extent that bacterial infections are commonly difficult to treat, and in some cases, are untreatable. Implementing antibiotic stewardship (AS) is challenging due to a lack of physicians and pharmacists trained for treating infectious diseases.

Objectives

To describe the implementation, outcomes, and sustainability of a collaborative Train the Trainer (TTT) AS pharmacist mentoring program between a US hospital and hospitals in South Africa.

Methods

The partnership formed in 2012 around the five pillars of global engagement: shared leadership, mutually beneficial partnership, local needs‐based care, host‐driven education, and sustainability. The TTT program included bilateral site visits, development of pharmacists' AS skills, research, and paying‐it‐forward.

Results

Ten pharmacist mentees from private (n = 6) and public hospitals (n = 4) completed the TTT program between 2013 and 2019. Subsequently, mentees were able to transfer their AS skills to train an additional 120 pharmacists with no prior AS experience. These pharmacists made over 40 000 AS interventions in 60 hospitals across seven provinces. Mentees coauthored 12 AS publications, 1 book chapter, 4 invited commentaries in South African, US, and international journals, and presented 28 AS abstracts at national and international conferences. For nine of the mentees, this was their first AS research experience and publication. One mentee introduced an AS module to the pharmacotherapy course and 160 students completed the module. The first clinical pharmacy AS rotation was established. Mentees participated in national AS committees and engaged in AS public awareness work by delivering radio and TV interviews.

Conclusions

Shared leadership between the US and South African mentors led to developing a TTT program that met their local needs. The TTT program achieved its goal of helping to develop South African pharmacists capable of implementing sustainable AS interventions that improve patient care.
Association of SOX11 Polymorphisms in distal 3′UTR with Susceptibility for Schizophrenia
Authors: Sun Cheng‐Peng , Sun Dong , Luan Zhi‐Lin , Dai Xin , Bie Xu , Ming Wen‐Hua , Sun Xiao‐Wan , Huo Xiao-Xiao , Lu Tian‐Lan , Zhang Dai
Published: March 2020

Background

Diverse and circumstantial evidence suggests that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Genes contributing to neurodevelopment may be potential candidates for schizophrenia. The human SOX11 gene is a member of the developmentally essential SOX (Sry‐related HMG box) transcription factor gene family and mapped to chromosome 2p, a potential candidate region for schizophrenia.

Methods

Our previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS) implicated an involvement of SOX11 with schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population. To further investigate the association between SOX11 polymorphisms and schizophrenia, we performed an independent replication case‐control association study in a sample including 768 cases and 1348 controls.

Results

After Bonferroni correction, four SNPs in SOX11 distal 3′UTR significantly associated with schizophrenia in the allele frequencies: rs16864067 (allelic P = .0022), rs12478711 (allelic P = .0009), rs2564045 (allelic P = .0027), and rs2252087 (allelic P = .0025). The haplotype analysis of the selected SNPs showed different haplotype frequencies for two blocks (rs4371338‐rs7596062‐rs16864067‐rs12478711 and rs2564045‐rs2252087‐rs2564055‐rs1366733) between cases and controls. Further luciferase assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed the schizophrenia‐associated SOX11 SNPs may influence SOX11 gene expression, and the risk and non‐risk alleles may have different affinity to certain transcription factors and can recruit divergent factors.

Conclusions

Our results suggest SOX11 as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, and SOX11 polymorphisms and haplotypes in the distal 3′UTR of the gene might modulate transcriptional activity by serving as cis‐regulatory elements and recruiting transcriptional activators or repressors. Also, these SNPs may potentiate as diagnostic markers for the disease.
Principal Component Analysis of Simultaneous PET‐MRI Reveals Patterns of Bone–Cartilage Interactions in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Tibrewala Radhika , Pedoia Valentina , Bucknor Matthew , Majumdar Sharmila
Published: March 2020

Background

Bone–cartilage interactions have been implicated in causing osteoarthritis (OA).

Purpose

To use [18F]‐NaF PET‐MRI to 1) develop automatic image processing code in MatLab to create a model of bone–cartilage interactions and 2) find associations of bone–cartilage interactions with known manifestations of OA.

Study Type

Prospective study aimed to evaluate a data analysis method.

Population

Twenty‐nine patients with knee pain or joint stiffness.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T MRI (GE), 3D CUBE FSE, 3D combined T1ρ/T2 MAPSS, [18F]‐sodium fluoride, SIGNA TOF (OSEM).

Assessment

Correlation between MRI (cartilage) and PET (bone) quantitative parameters, bone–cartilage interactions model described by modes of variation as derived by principal component analysis (PCA), WORMS scoring on cartilage lesions, bone marrow abnormalities, subchondral cysts.

Statistical Tests

Linear regression, Pearson correlation.

Results

Mode 1 was a positive predictor of the bone abnormality score (P = 0.0003, P = 0.001, P = 0.0007) and the cartilage lesion score (P = 0.03, P = 0.01, P = 0.02) in the femur, tibia, and patella, respectively. For the cartilage lesion scores, mode 5 was the most important positive predictor in the femur (P = 3.9E‐06), and mode 2 were predictors, significant negative predictor in the tibia (P = 0.007). In the patella, mode 1 was a significant positive predictor of the bone abnormality score (P = 0.0007).

Data Conclusion

By successfully building an automatic code to create a bone–cartilage interface, we were able to observe dynamic relationships between biochemical changes in the cartilage accompanied with bone remodeling, extended to the whole knee joint instead of simple colocalized observations, shedding light on the interactions that occur between bone and cartilage in OA.

Evidence Level: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1462–1474.
The impact of trust in leadership on organizational transformation
Authors: Islam M. Nazmul , Furuoka Fumitaka , Idris Aida
Published: March 2020

During periods of transformation or in other uncertain and volatile business environments, high levels of work engagement—the extent to which employees identify with their role in an organization—enable leaders to implement change more effectively. A study conducted in Bangladesh's banking sector explores the influence of transformational leadership on work engagement and examines the mediating effect of trust in that relationship. Taking place in a context of significant organizational change, the study shows that a transformational leadership approach enhances work engagement. It also shows that the influence that a transformational leader has on the level of work engagement is subject to the degree of trust that employees have in their leader. The findings highlight the need to foster bonds between leaders and their followers and to pay close attention to the most critical antecedents of trust in leadership.
Breeding, genetics, and genomics for tolerance against terminal heat in lentil: Current status and future directions
Authors: Kumar Jitendra , Sen Gupta Debjyoti , Djalovic Ivica
Published: March 2020

Heat stress at terminal stage in lentil is one of the major factors causing drastic yield loss. Development of heat tolerant cultivars is one of the ways to tackle this problem. However, heat stress tolerance is a complex trait in nature and many morphological, physiological, biochemical, and metabolic changes are responsible for heat stress tolerance in lentil. Therefore, in the past years, efforts have been made to know genetics and genomics of heat stress tolerance in lentil. In this review, we discussed current progress on breeding, genetics, and genomics including quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, transcriptomics, proteomics, and network of metabolic pathways for heat tolerance and future directions for developing heat tolerant cultivars in lentil.
Simultaneous Stereocomplexation of Polylactides during Polymerization of d‐LA in the Presence of a PLLA Template
Authors: Brzeziński Marek , Michalski Adam , Kost Bartłomiej , Socka Marta , Florczak Marcin , Łapienis Grzegorz , Biela Tadeusz
Published: March 2020

Matrix polymerization is frequently used to obtain different materials with control over the microstructure and molecular weight of the final products; however, it is never employed to obtain stereoregular polylactide. Therefore, here, l‐lactide polymerization is initiated with butanol or methoxy poly(ethylene glycol). Subsequently, the hydroxyl end groups of the obtained poly(l‐lactides) (PLLAs) are blocked with acetic anhydride to avoid stereoblock formation during matrix polymerization in the presence of PLLA as a template. The polymerization is carried out in tetrahydrofuran at 80 °C under vacuum. During the course of the process, the simultaneous stereocomplexation of a PLLA matrix with growing poly(d‐lactide) chains is observed, leading to the formation of petal‐in‐petal microparticles. This approach can provide a tool for designing stereocomplexed particles with different morphologies and allows for fine‐tuning of their properties.
On the Thermoresponsivity and Scalability of N,N‐Dimethylacrylamide Modified NIPAM Microgels
Authors: Zehm Daniel , Lieske Antje , Stoll Andrea
Published: March 2020

Various thermoresponsive copolymer microgels based on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) are prepared using either precipitation polymerization (PP) or inverse emulsion polymerization (IEP). The comparison of the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) for PNIPAMn‐co‐PDMAAmm copolymer microgels prepared by PP or IEP reveals significant differences. Empirically, PP leads to lower VPTTs than IEP for identical monomer composition, whereby the observed difference in the VPTT becomes greater the higher the DMAAm content of the monomer mixture is. Presumably this is because IEP confers a higher homogeneity of the crosslinking and polymer segmental density within the microgel particles, resulting in a linear correlation of the VPTT as a function of DMAAm. Further, the scalability of an IEP process for the synthesis of NIPAM0.86‐co‐PDMAAm0.14 containing 14% DMAAm is studied, since these microgels exhibit a VPTT in the targeted range of 37.5–38.5 °C. The study reveals that the temperature increase due to insufficient dissipation of the heat of polymerization in a batch IEP process on a larger scale affects the VPTT, leading to microgels with a VPTT of about 35.5 °C. By contrast, when conducted as semibatch IEP process with more efficient heat removal, particles with a VPTT of 38.4 °C are obtained also on larger scale.
Open‐Label Phase 1 Futility Studies of Salsalate and Young Plasma in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: VandeVrede Lawren , Dale Marian L. , Fields Scott , Frank Megan , Hare Emma , Heuer Hilary W. , Keith Kellie , Koestler Mary , Ljubenkov Peter A. , McDermott Dana , Ohanesian Noelle , Richards Jennifer , Rojas Julio C. , Thijssen Elisabeth H. , Walsh Christine , Wang Ping , Wolf Amy , Quinn Joseph F. , Tsai Richard , Boxer Adam L.
Published: March 2020

Background

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease without approved therapies, and therapeutics are often tried off‐label in the hope of slowing disease progression. Results from these experiences are seldom shared, which limits evidence‐based knowledge to guide future treatment decisions.

Objectives

To describe an open‐label experience, including safety/tolerability, and longitudinal changes in biomarkers of disease progression in PSP‐Richardson's syndrome (PSP‐RS) patients treated with either salsalate or young plasma and compare to natural history data from previous multicenter studies.

Methods

For 6 months, 10 PSP‐RS patients received daily salsalate 2,250 mg, and 5 patients received monthly infusions of four units of young plasma. Every 3 months, clinical severity was assessed with the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS), and MRI was obtained for volumetric measurement of midbrain. A range of exploratory biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid levels of neurofilament light chain, were collected at baseline and 6 months. Interventional data were compared to historical PSP‐RS patients from the davunetide clinical trial and the 4‐Repeat Tauopathy Neuroimaging Initiative.

Results

Salsalate and young plasma were safe and well tolerated. PSPRS change from baseline (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) was similar in salsalate (+5.6 ± 9.6), young plasma (+5.0 ± 7.1), and historical controls (+5.6 ± 7.1), and change in midbrain volume (cm3 ± SD) did not differ between salsalate (–0.07 ± 0.03), young plasma (–0.06 ± 0.03), and historical controls (–0.06 ± 0.04). No differences were observed between groups on any exploratory endpoint.

Conclusions

Neither salsalate nor young plasma had a detectable effect on disease progression in PSP‐RS. Focused open‐label clinical trials incorporating historical clinical, neuropsychological, fluid, and imaging biomarkers provide useful preliminary data about the promise of novel PSP‐directed therapies.
Mild solutions of evolution quantum stochastic differential equations with nonlocal conditions
Authors: Bishop Sheila A. , Okeke Godwin A. , Eke Kanayo
Published: March 2020

We study existence of a unique mild solution of evolution quantum stochastic differential equations with nonlocal conditions under the strong topology. Using the method of successive approximations, we do not need to transform the nonlocal problem to a fixed point form. The evolution operator A generates a family of semigroup that are continuous. Nonlocal conditions allow additional measurements of certain phenomena that cannot be captured by the traditional initial conditions. We show that under some given conditions, the mild solution is unique and also stable. The method applied here is much easier when compared with previous methods used in literature.
Ig‐Nobelpreis 2019: Tote Kakerlaken sind die besseren Magnete
Authors: Tomann Rebecca
Published: March 2020

Sie forschen an Kinderspeichel, verseuchten Geldscheinen, Pizza und magnetisierten Kakerlaken – die Ig‐Nobelpreisträger des Jahres 2019. Der etwas andere Nobelpreis feiert das Ungewöhnliche und ehrt das Fantasievolle.
Trendbericht April: Gasalarm
Authors: Zbikowski Frauke
Published: March 2020

Im letzten Jahr roch es an vielen Orten streng. Über die Ursachen herrscht Klarheit, und auch darüber, was daran giftig oder sonstwie schädlich ist – jedenfalls wenn man die einschlägigen Publikationen studiert.
Bilanz 2019: Bayer
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: March 2020

Beim Leverkusener Konzern Bayer entwickelte sich im Jahr 2019 das Pharmageschäft besser als die Agrarsparte. Mit weniger Beschäftigten als im Jahr 2018 investierte das Unternehmen mehr in die Forschung.
Regionales Fonds‐Stipendiatentreffen in Karlsruhe
Authors: Klopper Willem M.
Published: March 2020

Anfang Dezember 2019 trafen sich die regionalen Stipendiaten des Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (FCI) am Campus West des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT). Organisiert hatten das Treffen Willem M. Klopper, Professor für Theoretische Chemie am KIT, und sein Arbeitskreis. Zehn Nachwuchswissenschaftler, die durch ein Kekulé‐ oder Liebig‐Stipendium des FCI gefördert werden, nutzten die Gelegenheit, sich auszutauschen und ihre Arbeitsgebiete in Vorträgen vorzustellen.
Bilanz 2019: Abbvie
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: March 2020

Die meisten Umsätze lieferte dem Unternehmen Abbvie im Jahr 2019 ein einziges Medikament. Der Pharmahersteller mit Hauptsitz in Chicago forscht und entwickelt in Ludwigshafen.
Kalk im Kaffee
Authors: Arnold Claudia
Published: March 2020

Ein Wasserfilter im Gerät schützt nicht vor regelmäßigem Entkalken.
Political instability and political terror: Global evidence on persistence
Authors: Asongu Simplice A. , Uduji Joseph I. , Okolo‐Obasi Elda N.
Published: March 2020

We test the hypotheses that fundamental characteristics in regional proximity, landlockedness, religious‐domination, legal origin, and income levels affect cross‐country differences in the persistence in political terror and political instability in 163 countries for the period 2010–2015. The empirical evidence is based on generalised method of moments. The hypotheses are that the following are associated with comparatively higher levels of persistence in political terror and political instability: regions with predominantly low income countries (Hypothesis 1); landlockedness (Hypothesis 2); Christian‐orientation (Hypothesis 3); French civil law (Hypothesis 4); and Low income (Hypothesis 5). The tested hypotheses are largely invalid. Only Hypotheses 5 and 2 are robustly investigated in the light of concerns about instrument proliferation. Hypothesis 2 is valid for political terror but not for political instability while Hypothesis 5 is neither valid for political instability nor for political terror.
Cognitive and clinical predictors of community functioning across the psychoses
Authors: Lewandowski Kathryn E. , Cohen Talia R. , Ongur Dost
Published: March 2020

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related psychotic illnesses are common, serious mental disorders that are often associated with functional impairments and poor quality of life, even after clinical recovery. Cognitive dysfunction is a strong predictor of functional impairment; however, findings regarding relative impairments in functioning and cognition across diagnoses have been mixed, as have reports of the contribution of clinical symptoms and other illness features to functioning across diagnostic boundaries. We assessed 211 patients with psychotic disorders and 87 healthy controls using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, clinical measures of state mood and psychotic symptoms, and an interview measure of community functioning. Diagnostic groups were compared on MATRICS composite and domain scores, and clinical and functional measures. We then examined cognitive, clinical, and demographic predictors of community functioning using stepwise hierarchical linear regression. All three patient groups exhibited deficits in most cognitive domains relative to controls, and significantly poorer community functioning. While scores on most cognitive domains did not differ by diagnosis, when groups did differ patients with schizophrenia performed worse than patients with bipolar disorder. Cognition was correlated with functioning across the sample. The final regression model included negative symptoms, mania, social cognition, and processing speed, and explained 47% of the variance in community functioning scores across patient groups. Residual negative symptoms, residual mania, and social cognition significantly and independently predicted community functioning. These findings indicate that, while all cognitive domains are associated with community outcomes, when considered together and with clinical symptoms, negative symptoms, mania, and social cognition are the strongest predictors across diagnoses. Development of interventions targeting negative symptoms and social cognition may be effective in improving community functioning for patients across diagnoses.
Evaluation of flocculation characteristics and biodegradation studies of reduced gum rosin and psyllium‐based hydrogel
Authors: Wadhera Priti , Jindal Rajeev , Dogra Rakesh
Published: March 2020

Present study explored the swelling behavior, biodegradability and flocculation efficiency of hydrogel polymer based on renewable backbones‐psyllium and gum rosin. Swelling studies revealed that the polymer sample exhibit pH and temperature‐dependent swelling behavior. The polymer sample was assessed for its flocculation efficiency by optimizing the process parameters such as polymer dose, pH, and temperature. The polymer sample illustrated the maximum flocculation efficiency of 96% in 500 mg/L kaolin suspension under optimized experimental conditions. Investigation of biodegradation behavior was carried out using the soil burial and composting method. The percentage degradation of the polymer sample was observed to be 86.8% and 90.4% in 63 days using soil burial and composting method, respectively. The progress of biodegradation was analyzed through Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Thus, the polymer sample was found to be cost effective, eco‐friendly, biodegradable material that has significant flocculation characteristics, and hence can be utilized for treatment of kaolinated wastewater.
Kellerin alleviates cognitive impairment in mice after ischemic stroke by multiple mechanisms
Authors: Zhang Wenqiang , Mi Yan , Jiao Kun , Xu Jikai , Guo Tingting , Zhou Di , Zhang Xueni , Ni Hui , Sun Yu , Wei Kun , Li Ning , Hou Yue
Published: March 2020

Ischemic stroke is a global disease with high disability and mortality rates. Cognitive impairment is one of the major clinical features of ischemic stroke, and microglia‐mediated inflammation has been shown to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Kellerin, extracted from Ferula sinkiangensis, was previously shown to inhibit microglial activation and exert a strong anti‐neuroinflammatory effect. However, there is no report of the potential therapeutic effect of kellerin on ischemic stroke by targeting microglial cells. In this study, we wanted to examine the effects of kellerin on ischemic stroke in the bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) model and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated microglia model. We found that kellerin alleviated cognitive impairment, decreased neuronal loss, suppressed microglial activation, and transformed microglia from the pro‐inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype in BCCAO mice. Moreover, in in vitro studies, we found that kellerin regulated microglial polarization and inhibited the NLRP3 and MAPK signaling pathways after LPS treatment. These findings provide a new understanding of the function of kellerin in ischemic stroke, and suggest that kellerin could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
Ways With Worlds: Bringing Improvisational Theater Into Play With Reading
Authors: Tanner Samuel Jaye , Leander Kevin M. , Carter‐Stone Laura
Published: March 2020

The authors investigated improvisational theater and the possibilities that it presents for reconsidering reading pedagogy, with a focus on discussions of reading. The authors conducted empirical, qualitative studies of improvisational practice and instruction and analyzed improv through the construct of worlding. In this article, the authors explore different dimensions of worlding, a concept that generally describes how ensembles make present and create unique events in time. Next, the authors offer a vision of reading discussions that emerges from rethinking and refeeling such discussions through forms of worlding found in improvisation. The authors conclude by offering five improv‐inspired teaching practices for discussions of reading: (1) teaching as invoking the text, (2) teaching as exchanging offers, (3) teaching as attuning, (4) teaching as following lines of flight, and (5) teaching as activating embodied energy.
Do differences among accelerators explain differences in the performance of member ventures? Evidence from 117 accelerators in 22 countries
Authors: Chan Chien Sheng Richard , Patel Pankaj C. , Phan Phillip H.
Published: March 2020

Research Summary

Whether differences among accelerators explain differences in the performance of member ventures is an important and underexplored question. Conversely, are the effects of accelerators so isomorphic, because they copy each other, that ventures from different accelerators report little performance differences? We use variance decomposition analysis to test whether variations in characteristics of accelerators explain performance differences in the ventures that belong to them. Using a sample of 1,442 ventures from 117 accelerator programs across 22 countries, we find that 11.13–14.18% variance of venture performance can be attributed to accelerator membership. Accelerator membership also accounted for 3.00, 5.15, and 16.65% in the variance for employee growth, employee costs, and revenue change, respectively. Our findings suggest that between accelerator differences can make a significant economic difference to venture performance.

Managerial summary

For accelerator managers and policymakers assessing if differences between accelerators explain the differences in outcomes of member ventures is important. This article advances our understanding of differences among accelerators driving differences in performance among their ventures. Using a sample of 1,442 ventures from 117 accelerator programs across 22 countries, about 11% variance of venture performance can be attributed to accelerator membership. Overall, differences among accelerators seem to explain meaningful differences in performance among member ventures.
Recyclization‐Isomerization in the Reduction of 1‐(2‐Nitro(het)aryl)benzimidazoles
Authors: Begunov Roman S. , Fakhrutdinov Artyom N. , Sokolov Aleksandr A.
Published: March 2020

The regularities of reductive recyclization‐isomerization of 1‐(2‐nitro(het)aryl)‐substituted benzimidazoles discovered by the authors have been studied. The structure of the intermediate has been identified and the isomerization process has been found to be reversible. The shift of equilibrium between the resulting isomers is affected by the reaction temperature and time, the amount of hydrogen chloride in the reaction mixture and the substrate structure. According to the suggested reaction mechanism, the amino group formed upon reduction reacts with the electron‐deficient α‐carbon atom in an imidazole by an AdN reaction. Based on these studies, a method for the functionalization of benzimidazoles has been developed. This young methodology has been used to synthesize hitherto unknown benzimidazole derivatives that are difficult to obtain by other methods.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Quinoline‐Based Novel Aurones
Authors: Kumar Gourav , Lathwal Ekta , Saroha Bhavna , Kumar Sanjeev , Kumar Suresh , Chauhan Nar Singh , Kumar Tarun
Published: March 2020

A new series of quinoline based aurones 7(a–n) has been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal and antiquorum sensing activities. These novel aurones have been prepared directly from 2‐chloro‐1‐(2,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)ethan‐1‐one in one pot, by reacting it with differently substituted 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐carbaldehydes using activated barium hydroxide under solvent free grinding conditions. Structures of these novel aurones are in agreement with their IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR and HRMS data. Some of these compounds have attributed a significant antiquorum sensing activity.
Timing information at HL-LHC: complete determination of masses of dark matter and long lived particle
Authors: Flowers Zachary , Kang Dong Woo , Meier Quinn , Park Seong Chan , Rogan Christopher
Published: March 2020

Abstract

A long-standing kinematic challenge in data analysis at hadron colliders is the determination of the masses of invisible particles. This issue is particularly relevant in searches for evidence of dark matter production, which remains one of the prominent targets of future collider experiments. In this paper, we show that the additional information from the precision timing measurements, provided by planned detector upgrades during the high- luminosity run of the LHC (HL-LHC), allows for previously unrealizable measurements of invisible particle kinematics. As a concrete example, we focus on the signal of pair produced long-lived particles (LLP1,2), each decaying with a displaced vertex to visible (V1,2) and invisible (I1,2) final state particles, pp → LLP1 + LLP2→ (V1 + I1) + (V2 + I2). We explicitly show that the complete kinematics of the invisible particles in such events can be determined with the addition of timing information, and evaluate the precision with which the masses of new long-lived and invisible particles can be determined.
Unruh effect universality: emergent conical geometry from density operator
Authors: Prokhorov Georgy Y. , Teryaev Oleg V. , Zakharov Valentin I.
Published: March 2020

Abstract

The Unruh effect has been investigated from the point of view of the quantum statistical Zubarev density operator in space with the Minkowski metric. Quantum corrections of the fourth order in acceleration to the energy-momentum tensor of real and complex scalar fields, and Dirac field are calculated. Both massless and massive fields are considered. The method for regularization of discovered infrared divergences for scalar fields is proposed. The calculated corrections make it possible to substantiate the Unruh effect from the point of view of the statistical approach, and to explicitly show its universality for various quantum field theories of massless and massive fields. The obtained results exactly coincide with the ones obtained earlier by calculation of the vacuum aver- age of energy-momentum tensor in a space with a conical singularity. Thus, the duality of two methods for describing an accelerated medium is substantiated. One may also speak about the emergence of geometry with conical singularity from thermodynamics. In particular, the polynomiality of the energy-momentum tensor and the absence of higher-order corrections in acceleration can be explicitly demonstrated.
Technological quality requirements for stereotactic radiotherapy
Authors: Schmitt Daniela , Blanck Oliver , Gauer Tobias , Fix Michael K. , Brunner Thomas B. , Fleckenstein Jens , Loutfi-Krauss Britta , Manser Peter , Werner Rene , Wilhelm Maria-Lisa , Baus Wolfgang W. , Moustakis Christos
Published: March 2020

This review details and discusses the technological quality requirements to ensure the desired quality for stereotactic radiotherapy using photon external beam radiotherapy as defined by the DEGRO Working Group Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy and the DGMP Working Group for Physics and Technology in Stereotactic Radiotherapy. The covered aspects of this review are 1) imaging for target volume definition, 2) patient positioning and target volume localization, 3) motion management, 4) collimation of the irradiation and beam directions, 5) dose calculation, 6) treatment unit accuracy, and 7) dedicated quality assurance measures. For each part, an expert review for current state-of-the-art techniques and their particular technological quality requirement to reach the necessary accuracy for stereotactic radiotherapy divided into intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery in one single fraction (SRS), intracranial fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), and extracranial stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is presented. All recommendations and suggestions for all mentioned aspects of stereotactic radiotherapy are formulated and related uncertainties and potential sources of error discussed. Additionally, further research and development needs in terms of insufficient data and unsolved problems for stereotactic radiotherapy are identified, which will serve as a basis for the future assignments of the DGMP Working Group for Physics and Technology in Stereotactic Radiotherapy. The review was group peer-reviewed, and consensus was obtained through multiple working group meetings.
Extracellular ionic fluxes suggest the basis for cellular life at the 1/f ridge of extended criticality
Authors: Pietruszka Mariusz , Olszewska Monika
Published: March 2020

The criticality hypothesis states that a system may be poised in a critical state at the boundary between different types of dynamics. Previous studies have suggested that criticality has been evolutionarily selected, and examples have been found in cortical cell cultures and in the human nervous system. However, no one has yet reported a single- or multi-cell ensemble that was investigated ex vivo and found to be in the critical state. Here, the precise 1/f noise was found for pollen tube cells of optimum growth and for the physiological (“healthy”) state of blood cells. We show that the multi-scale processes that arise from the so-called critical phenomena can be a fundamental property of a living cell. Our results reveal that cell life is conducted at the border between order and disorder, and that the dynamics themselves drive a system towards a critical state. Moreover, a temperature-driven re-entrant state transition, manifest in the form of a Lorentz resonance, was found in the fluctuation amplitude of the extracellular ionic fluxes for the ensemble of elongating pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum L. or Hyacintus orientalis L. Since this system is fine-tuned for rapid expansion to reach the ovule at a critical temperature which results in fertilisation, the core nature of criticality (long-range coherence) offers an explanation for its potential in cell growth. We suggest that the autonomous organisation of expansive growth is accomplished by self-organised criticality, which is an orchestrated instability that occurs in an evolving cell.

Graphic abstract
Optimal Pebbling Number of the Square Grid
Authors: Győri Ervin , Katona Gyula Y. , Papp László F.
Published: March 2020

A pebbling move on a graph removes two pebbles from a vertex and adds one pebble to an adjacent vertex. A vertex is reachable from a pebble distribution if it is possible to move a pebble to that vertex using pebbling moves. The optimal pebbling number $$\pi _{{{\,\mathrm{opt}\,}}}$$πopt is the smallest number m needed to guarantee a pebble distribution of m pebbles from which any vertex is reachable. The optimal pebbling number of the square grid graph $$P_n\square P_m$$Pn□Pm was investigated in several papers (Bunde et al. in J Graph Theory 57(3):215–238, 2008; Xue and Yerger in Graphs Combin 32(3):1229–1247, 2016; Győri et al. in Period Polytech Electr Eng Comput Sci 61(2):217–223 2017). In this paper, we present a new method using some recent ideas to give a lower bound on $$\pi _{{{\,\mathrm{opt}\,}}}$$πopt. We apply this technique to prove that $$\pi _{{{\,\mathrm{opt}\,}}}(P_n\square P_m)\ge \frac{2}{13}nm$$πopt(Pn□Pm)≥213nm. Our method also gives a new proof for $$\pi _{{{\,\mathrm{opt}\,}}}(P_n)=\pi _{{{\,\mathrm{opt}\,}}}(C_n)=\left\lceil \frac{2n}{3}\right\rceil$$πopt(Pn)=πopt(Cn)=2n3.
Medical practice and placebo response: an inseparable bond?
Authors: Jilch Sandra , Sel Ruken , Shariat Shahrokh F.
Published: March 2020

The history of medicine and the history of placebo are closely intertwined. To understand placebo and its effects this article gives a brief overview about its history, the possible mechanisms of action and its counterpart, nocebo.

The Catholic Church used placebo around the sixteenth century for the separation from real and incorrect exorcisms, but it needed Henry Beecher during World War II to quantify the placebo effect as control arm in well-designed studies.

Until today the different mechanisms of action of placebo remain poorly researched. Understanding them would allow its effect to be modulated to better serve in research and clinical settings. Expectation, psychosocial context and conditioning play a significant role in the effect size and amplitude.

The counterpart, nocebo, is even less investigated, even it is commonly observed as adverse effects during medical treatments.

Conclusion: Placebo and nocebo are both underestimated and underresearched in their value. Through further investigation doctors could strengthen the placebo response and prevent adverse effects to help their patients at low cost. These techniques would benefit the patient-doctor relationship, which is the alter of a trust-based successful therapy.
Study of correlation between the steels susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen thermal desorption spectroscopy using artificial neural network
Authors: Malitckii Evgenii , Fangnon Eric , Vilaça Pedro
Published: March 2020

Steels are the most used structural material in the world, and hydrogen content and localization within the microstructure play an important role in its properties, namely inducing some level of embrittlement. The characterization of the steels susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a complex task requiring always a broad and multidisciplinary approach. The target of the present work is to introduce the artificial neural network (ANN) computing system to predict the hydrogen-induced mechanical properties degradation using the hydrogen thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) data of the studied steel. Hydrogen sensitivity parameter (HSP) calculated from the reduction of elongation to fracture caused by hydrogen was linked to the corresponding hydrogen thermal desorption spectra measured for austenitic, ferritic, and ferritic-martensitic steel grades. Correlation between the TDS input data and HSP output data was studied using two ANN models. A correlation of 98% was obtained between the experimentally measured HSP values and HSP values predicted using the developed densely connected layers ANN model. The performance of the developed ANN models is good even for never-before-seen steels. The ANN-coupled system based on the TDS is a powerful tool in steels characterization especially in the analysis of the steels susceptibility to HE.
Fusion rates support wired allograft combined with instrumented craniocervical fixation in the paediatric population
Authors: Groen Justus L. , Peul Wilco C. , Pondaag Willem
Published: March 2020

Background

Occipitocervical and atlantoaxial instability in the pediatric population is a rare and challenging condition to treat. Variable surgical techniques have been employed to achieve fusion. The study aimed to assess bony fusion with rigid craniocervical fixation using an allograft bone block to serve as scaffold for bony fusion.

Methods

This is a single center case series from a tertiary referral neurosurgical center. The series includes 12 consecutive pediatric patients with rigid craniocervical fusion between 2006 and 2014. The primary outcome was bony fusion as assessed by computed tomography and flexion-extension radiographs. The authors did not receive external funding for this study.

Results

Twelve patients (age 1–15 years) were operated with a median imaging follow-up time of 22 months (range 6–69 m). A modified Gallie fusion technique with a tightly wired allograft bone block was used in 10 of 13 procedures. One patient underwent re-fixation due to screw breakage. Eleven out of 13 procedures resulted in a stable construct with bony fusion. All 10 patients operated with the modified Gallie fusion technique with sublaminar wiring of allograft bone block had bony fusion. No post-operative complications of the posterior fixation procedure were noted.

Conclusions

The modified Gallie fusion technique with allograft bone block without post-operative immobilization achieved excellent fusion. We conclude there is no need to use autograft or BMPs in craniocervical fusion in the pediatric population, which avoids related donor-site morbidity.

Level of evidence

Level IV—case series; therapeutic.
Fiscal adjustments at the local level: evidence from Colombia
Authors: Jaimes Richard
Published: March 2020

Recent research suggests that intergovernmental grants, own-source revenues, and changes in government investment play a crucial role in helping local governments in advanced economies to adjust their fiscal positions in response to budget shocks. Little is known, however, about the dynamic of local fiscal adjustments in emerging economies, and there are reasons to expect distinct fiscal stabilization patterns, for instance, due to lower fiscal capacity. A panel dataset of more than 900 municipalities in Colombia shows that in line with some of the results for developed countries: (1) intergovernmental grants react significantly to increases in government spending; (2) the response of own-source revenues to innovations in government spending in large cities is higher than in the small ones; (3) government investment is highly volatile and responds to innovations in all other budgetary components; and (4) there is no empirical evidence of a reduction in fiscal effort following increases in intergovernmental grants.
A longitudinal study of virtual design studio (VDS) use in STEM distance design education
Authors: Jones Derek , Lotz Nicole , Holden Georgy
Published: March 2020

The use of virtual design studios (VDS) in practice-based STEM education is increasing but requires further research to inform understanding of student learning and success. This paper presents a longitudinal, large-scale study (3 years, 3000 students) of student behaviour in an online design studio used as part of a distance learning Design and Innovation qualification, within the School of Engineering and Innovation at The Open University (UK). The sample size and time period of the study is unprecedented and provides unique insights into student behaviours. Moderate correlations between overall VDS use and student success were identified in early stages of study but were weaker in later stages. Detailed results identify specific behaviour correlations, such as ‘listening-in’ (viewing other students’ work) and student success, as well as behaviour shifts from ‘passive’ to ‘active’ engagement. Strong intrinsic motivations for engagement were observed throughout and selected social learning mechanisms are presented to explain the empirical results, specifically: social comparison, presence, and communities of practice. The contribution of this paper is the framing of these mechanisms as steps in the longitudinal development of design students in a distance setting, providing an informed basis for the understanding, design, and application of virtual design studios.