bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retracted: MicroRNA‐300 promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition via the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway by targeting CUL4B in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Jia‐Qiang , Chen Shi , Gu Jiang‐Ning , Zhu Yi , Zhan Qian , Cheng Dong‐Feng , Chen Hao , Deng Xia‐Xing , Shen Bai‐Yong , Peng Cheng‐Hong
Published: July 2017

The study aims to verify the hypothesis that up‐regulation of microRNA‐300 (miR‐300) targeting CUL4B promotes apoptosis and suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected from 110 pancreatic cancer patients. Expression of miR‐300, CUL4B, Wnt, β‐catenin, E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, Snail, GSK‐3β, and CyclinD1 were detected using qRT‐PCR and Western blot. CFPAC‐1, Capan‐1, and PANC‐1 were classified into blank, negative control (NC), miR‐300 mimics, miR‐300 inhibitors, siRNA‐CUL4B, and miR‐300 inhibitors + siRNA‐CUL4B groups. The proliferation, migration, invasion abilities, the cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis rates were measured in CCK‐8 and Transwell assays. Pancreatic cancer tissues showed increased CUL4B expression but decreased miR‐300 expression. When miR‐300 was lowly expressed, CUL4B was upregulated which in‐turn activated the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway to protect the β‐catenin expression and thus induce EMT. When miR‐300 was highly expressed, CUL4B was downregulated which in‐turn inhibited the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway to prevent EMT. Weakened cell migration and invasion abilities and enhanced apoptosis were observed in the CUL4B group. The miR‐300 inhibitors group exhibited an evident increase in growth rate accompanied the largest tumor volume. Smaller tumor volume and slower growth rate were observed in the miR‐300 mimics and siRNA‐CUL4B group. Our study concludes that lowly expressed miR‐300 may contribute to highly expressed CUL4B activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway and further stimulating EMT, thus promoting proliferation and migration but suppressing apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells.
Second hydrogen atom abstraction by molecular ions
Authors: Tsizin Svetlana , Seemann Boaz , Alon Tal , Amirav Aviv
Published: July 2017

We report the observation of a new physical phenomenon of the addition of 2 hydrogen atoms to molecular ions thus forming [M + 2H]+ ions. We demonstrate such second hydrogen atom abstraction onto the molecular ions of pentaerythritol and trinitrotoluene (TNT). We used both gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) with supersonic molecular beam (SMB) with methanol added into its make‐up gas and electron ionization (EI) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) with SMB with methanol as the LC solvent. We found that the formation of methanol clusters resulted upon EI in the formation of dominant protonated pentaerythritol ion at m/z = 137 plus about 70% relative abundance of pentaerythritol molecular ion with 2 additional hydrogen atoms at m/z = 138 which is well above the 5.7% natural C13 isotope abundance of protonated pentaerythritol. Similarly, we found an abundant protonated TNT ion at m/z = 228 and a similar abundance of TNT molecular ion with 2 additional hydrogen atoms at m/z = 229. Upon the use of deuterated methanol (CD3OD) as the solvent, we observed an abundant m/z = 231 (M + 2D)+ of TNT with 2 deuterium atoms. We found such abundant second hydrogen atom abstraction with butylglycolate and at low abundances in dioctylphthalate, Vitamin K3, phenazine, and RDX. At this time, we are unable to report the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of this phenomenon in standard electrospray LC‐MS.

This observation could have important implications on the provision of elemental formula from mass spectra that are involved with protonated molecules. Accordingly, while accurate mass measurements can serve for the generation of elemental formula, their further support and improvement via isotope abundance analysis are questionable. Consequently, if a given compound can be analyzed by both GC‐MS and LC‐MS, its GC‐MS analysis can be superior for the provision of accurate elemental formulae if its EI mass spectrum exhibits abundant molecular ions such as with GC‐MS with SMB (also known as cold EI).
Rapid solid‐phase extraction coupled with GC–MS method for the determination of venlafaxine in rat plasma: Application to the drug–drug pharmacokinetic interaction study of venlafaxine combined with fluoxetine
Authors: Song Lin , Zheng Zhen , Liang Chen , Chen Xiujuan , Zhang Runsheng , Hong Zhanying , Chai Yifeng
Published: July 2017

A rapid and sensitive gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method for the determination of venlafaxine in rat plasma has been developed and applied to a drug–drug interaction study of fluoxetine on pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine in rats. Rat plasma was spiked with 2% aqueous ammonia before subjected to preactivated C18 solid‐phase extraction columns and eluted with methanol. No endogenous interferences were observed under optimal condition. The calibration curve was linear (R2 = 0.9994) in the range of 10–1000 ng/mL. The quantification limit of venlafaxine in rat plasma was 10 ng/mL. The accuracy was in the range of 85–110%, and the extraction recovery was no less than 50%. Both the intra‐ and interday precision were 5.0–10.7%. The concentration–time curve showed that plasma concentrations of the coadministration group (group B) were higher than that of single dose group (group A). Both values of Cmax (0.069 mg/L) and AUC0→∞ (0.291 mg h/L) in group B were statistically greater than that of Cmax (0.046 mg/L) and AUC0→∞ (0.181 mg·h/L) in group A (P < 0.05). The results indicated that a significant effect of fluoxetine was shown on the pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine, suggesting that drug–drug interactions are of concern for the treatment of depression with the combined use of venlafaxine and fluoxetine.
Comparative analysis of 15 chemical constituents in Scutellaria baicalensis stem‐leaf from different regions in China by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Yan Baofei , Xu Weijie , Su Shulan , Zhu Shaoqing , Zhu Zhenhua , Zeng Huiting , Zhao Ming , Qian Dawei , Duan Jin‐ao
Published: July 2017

Scutellaria baicalensis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine containing multiple components, which has been extensively used in clinics to treat epidemic febrile disease and hyperactivity cough. To get a deeper understanding about Scutellaria baicalensis stem‐leaf resources, we analyzed 15 chemical constituents in 35 batches of Scutellaria baicalensis stem‐leaf from eight regions in China. A rapid, simple, and sensitive method using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole electrospray tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for the first time to simultaneously determine 15 chemical constituents (including phenolic acids and flavonoids) in Scutellaria baicalensis stem‐leaf. Sufficient separation of 15 target constituents was achieved on a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) column within 14 min under the optimized chromatographic conditions. The established method was validated and showed good linearity, precision, repeatability, stability, and recovery and was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of the 15 chemical constituents in these samples. Hierarchical clustering analysis and principal components analysis were performed to estimate and classify these samples based on the contents of the 15 chemical constituents. This study provided theoretical basis and scientific evidence for the development and utilization of Scutellaria baicalensis stem‐leaf resources.
Giant Three‐Photon Absorption in Monolayer MoS2 and Its Application in Near‐Infrared Photodetection
Authors: Zhou Feng , Ji Wei
Published: July 2017

For decades, there has been extensive research on exploring fundamental physical mechanisms for strong and fast optical nonlinearities. One of the important nonlinear‐optical mechanisms is multiphoton absorption which has a wide range of photonic applications. Herein, a theoretical model is proposed for three‐photon absorption (3PA) in monolayer MoS2. The model shows that the 3PA coefficients are on the order of 0.1 cm3/GW2. As compared to bulk semiconductors, these coefficients are enhanced by several orders of magnitude due to excitonic effects. Such exciton‐enhanced 3PA is validated by light‐intensity‐dependent photocurrent measurements on a monolayer MoS2 photodetector with femtosecond laser pulses. These results lay both theoretical and experimental foundation for developing sensitive near‐infrared MoS2‐based three‐photon detectors.
Influence of test parameters of potentiodynamic current density measurements on the determination of the pitting corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels
Authors: Lorsbach B. , Schmitz E.
Published: July 2017

It is possible to determine the pitting corrosion resistance of a stainless steel in a given solution of a chemical process by electrochemical techniques. However, it is known that the result is influenced by the test parameters. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the main test parameters, scan rate, imax; agitation/flow rate, and surface pretreatment on the electrochemical response of 316Ti/1.4571 stainless steel in an acidic (250 ppm Cl−, pH: 4, T: 30 °C) and an alkaline (4% Cl−, pH: 9, T: 80 °C) solution. The results were compared with classical immersion test results. The main result was that the agitation/flow rate had the greatest impact, with stagnant conditions giving very conservative results, followed by imax, which had an influence on the repassivation potential.
The viable but nonculturable state induction and genomic analyses of Lactobacillus casei BM‐LC14617, a beer‐spoilage bacterium
Authors: Liu Junyan , Li Lin , Peters Brian M. , Li Bing , Chen Lequn , Deng Yang , Xu Zhenbo , Shirtliff Mark E.
Published: July 2017

This study aimed to investigate the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state and genomic features of a beer‐spoilage strain, Lactobacillus caseiBM‐LC14617. Induction on the VBNC state of L. casei strain BM‐LC14617 was conducted by both low‐temperature storage and continuous passage in beer, and formation of VBNC state was detected after 196 ± 3.3 days and 32 ± 1.6 subcultures, respectively. Resuscitation of VBNC cells was successfully induced by addition of catalase, and culturable, VBNC, and resuscitated cells shared similar beer‐spoilage capability. Whole genome sequencing was performed, and out of a total of 3,964 predicted genes, several potential VBNC and beer‐spoilage‐associated genes were identified. L. casei is capable of entering into and resuscitating from the VBNC state and possesses beer‐spoilage capability. The genomic characterization yield insightful elucidation of VBNC state for L. casei. This study represents the first evidence on VBNC state induction of L. casei and beer‐spoilage capability of VBNC and resuscitated cells. Also, this is the first genomic characterization of L. casei as a beer‐spoilage bacterium. The current study may aid in further study on L. casei and other beer‐spoilage bacteria, and guide the prevention and control of beer spoilage.
A pricing‐error rule on share distribution in equity joint ventures: The Bayesian approach
Authors: Chen Shih‐Fen S. , Pun Hubert , Wang Liang (Lucas)
Published: July 2017

Equity joint ventures (EJVs) are a popular governance mode of inter‐firm cooperation that has attracted substantial research attention. The literature, however, still lacks a precise rule for the parents to follow in splitting the equity shares of an EJV, although share distribution is critical to almost all aspects of the co‐ownership relationship. In this study, we fill this literature gap by taking the Bayesian approach to draw a pricing‐error rule on share distribution in EJVs. More specifically, we contend that equity participation by two firms in an EJV allows profit sharing to correct for the errors that they might commit in pricing their inputs to the EJV. For profit sharing to fully nullify such pricing errors, the shares of an EJV must be split between the parent firms in a percentage combination that matches the relative sizes of their pricing errors. Because pricing errors are observable only afterward, share distribution in EJVs resembles a Bayesian process, in which the partners keep updating their estimates on pricing errors to adjust share distribution to a percentage combination that could best nullify their pricing errors. Thus, the eventual outcome of share adjustment is EJV buyout, in that the partner whose pricing errors remain substantial buys out the shares of the other whose pricing errors have become tolerable.
Living with systemic lupus erythematosus: A patient engagement perspective
Authors: Mazzoni Davide , Cornet Alain , van Leeuw Bernadette , Myllys Kirsi , Cicognani Elvira
Published: July 2017

Patient engagement is recognized as a crucial component of high‐quality healthcare services. Among rheumatic diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) appears particularly challenging for the engagement of patients in their own care. According to the patient health engagement (PHE) model, patient engagement is a dynamic phenomenon that proceeds through four experiential positions (blackout, arousal, adhesion and eudaimonic project). The aim of the present study was to describe the engagement process from the point of view and the experiences of SLE patients. Ten in‐depth interviews and four focus groups were conducted with an international sample of SLE patients from different European countries. Transcripts were analysed through thematic content analysis. Findings showed that a fully engaged patient results from reframing emotional, cognitive and behavioural dimensions. The advances along the process depends on how the patient succeeds in each position. In conclusion, PHE represents an appropriate model by which to understand the engagement process of SLE patients. In order to meet patients’ needs, healthcare providers and patient support groups should consider the specific position of SLE patients, providing adequate and tailored support.
Thermal conductivity of epoxy resin composites filled with combustion‐synthesized AlN powder
Authors: Chung Shyan‐Lung , Lin Jeng‐Shung
Published: July 2017

The thermal conductivity of epoxy resin composites filled with combustion‐synthesized aluminum nitride (AlN) particles was investigated. The mixing of the composite constituents was carried out by either a dry method (involving no use of solvent) for low filler contents or a solvent method (using acetone as solvent) for higher filler contents. It was found that surface treatment of the AlN particles using a silane, 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), increases the thermal conductivity of the resultant composites by a less amount compared to most of the values reported in other studies. This was explained by that the combustion‐synthesized AlN particles contain less OH or active sites on the surface, thus adsorbing less amounts of APTES. However, the thermal conductivity of the composites filled with the combustion‐synthesized AlN was found to be within the range of the values reported in other studies where commercially available AlN was used. Effects of several factors on the thermal conductivity of the epoxy resin composites were investigated including filler content (10‐60 vol%), particle size (2.5‐22.4 μm), oxygen content (0.22‐2.20 wt%) and with or without surface treatment. Within the ranges of the factors investigated in this study, it was found that the filler content has the greatest effect on the thermal conductivity of the composites. The effects of the other three factors on the thermal conductivity of the composites increase roughly with increasing filler content. Among the three factors, the effect of particle size on the thermal conductivity was found to be greater than that of the other two. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2125–E2133, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Expanded carrier screening for monogenic disorders: where are we now?
Authors: Chokoshvili Davit , Vears Danya , Borry Pascal
Published: July 2017

Background

Expanded carrier screening (ECS), which can identify carriers of a large number of recessive disorders in the general population, has grown in popularity and is now widely accessible to prospective parents. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of currently available ECS tests.

Methods

To identify relevant ECS providers, we employed a multi‐step approach, which included online searching, review of the recent literature, and consultations with researchers familiar with the current landscape of ECS.

Results

As of January 2017, there were 16 providers of ECS tests: 13 commercial companies, 2 medical hospitals, and 1 academic diagnostic laboratory. We observed drastic differences in the characteristics of ECS tests, with the number of conditions ranging from 41 to 1792. Only three conditions (cystic fibrosis, maple syrup urine disease 1b, and Niemann–Pick disease) were screened for by all providers. Where the same disease gene was included by multiple providers, substantial differences existed in the mutations screened and/or variant interpretation/reporting strategies.

Conclusion

Given the importance of carrier screening results in reproductive decision‐making, the observed heterogeneity across ECS panels is concerning. Efforts should be made to ensure that clear and concrete criteria are in place to guide the development of ECS panels. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Superhydrophobic polymer multilayers for the filtration‐ and absorption‐based separation of oil/water mixtures
Authors: Kratochvil Michael J. , Manna Uttam , Lynn David M.
Published: July 2017

We report layer‐by‐layer approaches to the design of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic substrates for the filtration‐ or absorption‐based separation of bulk oil from oil/water mixtures. Fabrication of covalently cross‐linked, nanoporous polymer multilayers on mesh substrates yielded superhydrophobic and superoleophilic porous media that allow oil to pass, but completely prevent the passage of bulk water. This approach can be used to promote the filtration of oil/water mixtures, and these film‐coated substrates can be bent and physically manipulated without affecting oil‐ and water‐wetting properties. Fabrication on three‐dimensional macroporous polymer pads yielded flexible objects that float on water and absorb oil at contaminated air/water interfaces. This approach permits oil to be recovered by squeezing or rinsing with solvent and the reuse of these materials without decreases in performance. These pads can also absorb oil from simulated seawater, brine, and other media representative of marine or industrial contexts where oil contamination can occur. Our results address issues associated with the design of polymer‐based coatings for the separation, removal, and collection of oil from oil‐contaminated water. With further development, this approach could provide low‐energy alternatives to conventional remediation methods or yield new strategies that can be implemented in ways that are impractical using current technologies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3127–3136
Peptide‐poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) conjugates: Synthesis and aqueous/nonaqueous self‐aggregation into nanostructures of dendritic and spherical morphologies
Authors: Saha Anupam , Jana Somdeb , Bose Avijit , Mandal Tarun K.
Published: July 2017

Peptide–polymer conjugate consisting of a sequence‐defined tripeptide and poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) is synthesized by a simple “grafting from” atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) approach. The ATRP of PDMAEMA using peptide‐macroinitiator and CuBr/1,1,4,7,10,10‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine system in anisole follows pseudo first order kinetics up to a conversion of about 25% within a time span of 125 min. The attachment of peptide moiety at the end of PDMAEMA chain is confirmed from MALDI‐TOF‐MS and circular dichroism analyses. The self‐assembly of as‐synthesized peptide‐PDMAEMA conjugate in organic solvents leads to the formation of spherical nanoparticles as observed through FESEM. Peptide‐PDMAEMA conjugate become soluble in water due to the protonation of the pendent —N(CH3)2 moiety of DMAEMA group of the conjugate. Owing to the amphiphilic nature of the protonated conjugate (peptide‐PDMAEMAH), it also undergoes self‐aggregation in water into nanostructures of various morphologies such as dendrite, small sphere and large sphere at pHs of 2, 8, and 10, respectively. Peptide‐PDMAEMA‐IBu conjugate obtained by the post‐modification of —N(CH3)2 moiety of DMAEMA group of the conjugate with n‐butylbromide also undergoes self‐aggregation into dendritic nanostructures in water. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3286–3297
Survey of the genomic landscape surrounding the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene in glyphosate‐resistant Amaranthus palmeri from geographically distant populations in the USA
Authors: Molin William T , Wright Alice A , VanGessel Mark J , McCloskey William B , Jugulam Mithila , Hoagland Robert E
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate resistance in Amaranthus palmeri, one of the most prevalent herbicide‐resistant weeds in the USA, is attributable to amplification and increased expression of the gene encoding the target site of glyphosate, 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (EPSPS). The EPSPS gene and the surrounding 287 kilobases (kb) of amplified sequence are unique to glyphosate‐resistant plants and termed the EPSPS cassette. It has only been sequenced in one A. palmeri population from Mississippi. This research compares EPSPS cassettes in seven resistant and five sensitive populations from geographically distant locations within the USA, including Mississippi, Arizona, Kansas, Maryland, Delaware and Georgia.

RESULTS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from 40 primer pairs specific to the cassette were similar in size and sequence in resistant populations. Several primer pairs failed to generate PCR products in sensitive populations. Regions of the cassette sequenced in the resistant populations were found to be nearly identical to those from Mississippi. Gene expression analysis showed that both EPSPS and another gene in the cassette, a reverse transcriptase, were elevated in all resistant populations tested relative to the sensitive populations.

CONCLUSION

EPSPS cassettes from distant resistant populations were nearly homologous. Considering the complexity of the cassette, and the degree of similarity among some cassette sequences, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that glyphosate resistance probably evolved once and then rapidly spread across the USA. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Enhanced resistivity impact on the magnetoelectric properties of diphase multiferroic BaTiO3–BaFe12−xMnxO19 composite ceramics
Authors: Gao Zi‐Yan , Pu Yong‐Ping , Wei Jing , Dong Zi‐Jing , Cui Yong‐fei
Published: July 2017

The multiferroic magnetoelectric composites have attracted great interest due to some new expected physics and wide practical applications. However, the low resistivity restricts their further applications. In this work, multiferroic 0.8BaTiO3–0.2BaFe12–xMnxO19 composite ceramics were prepared by microwave‐hydrothermal and microwave‐sintering methods. It was found that the dielectric constant of the composites increased with increasing x, while the resistivity increased gradually. Accordingly, the dielectric loss dropped as expected and the P–E loops showed slimmer shapes after introducing of Mn ions. In addition, the magnetic hysteresis loops of the composite ceramics prepared showed an excellent ferromagnetic behavior. In summary, smaller leakage current and slim P–E loops were obtained through Mn ion doping in BaFe12O19 and forming BaTiO3–BaFe12−xMnxO19 composite ceramics while maintaining their good ferromagnetic property successfully.
New structural motif of 18 valence electron molecules with a planar tetracoordinate heavier group 14 center: Unique stabilization effect of a π‐type skeleton
Authors: Yu Shuang , Ding Yi‐Hong
Published: July 2017

Proposing new valence electron counting rules and new structural motifs are both very important in chemistry. In this work, we unexpectedly found that by introducing a π‐type skeleton YCCY (Y = Al/Ga/In/Tl), a total of sixteen novel planar tetracoordinate heavier group 14 species, that is, ptM (M = Si/Ge/Sn/Pb) in neutral, can be designed as global minima. The underlying bonding situation contrasts sharply both with the well‐known 18ve‐ptC and the limited 18ve‐ptM, for which there is little multiple bonding character within the skeleton. The fact that each YCCY (Y = Al/Ga/In/Tl) can stabilize all heavier group 14 atoms in a planar tetracoordinate fashion strongly demonstrates the universality of such a π‐type skeleton. The present work firmly demonstrates that introducing the π‐type ligand skeleton can effectively enrich the planar tetracoordinate chemistry with the heavier group atoms.
A novel machine learning‐based algorithm to detect damage in high‐rise building structures
Authors: Rafiei Mohammad Hossein , Adeli Hojjat
Published: July 2017

A novel model is presented for global health monitoring of large structures such as high‐rise building structures through adroit integration of 2 signal processing techniques, synchrosqueezed wavelet transform and fast Fourier transform, an unsupervised machine learning technique, the restricted Boltzmann machine, and a recently developed supervised classification algorithm called neural dynamics classification (NDC) algorithm. The model extracts hidden features in the frequency domain of the denoised measured response signals recorded by sensors on different elevations or floors of a structure. The extracted features are used as an input of the NDC to detect and classify the global health of the structure into categories such as healthy, light damage, moderate damage, severe damage, and near collapse. The proposed model is validated using the data obtained from a 3D 1:20 scaled 38‐story reinforced concrete building structure. The results are compared with 3 other supervised classification algorithms: k‐nearest neighbor (KNN), probabilistic neural networks (PNN), and enhanced PNN (EPNN). NDC, EPNN, PNN, and KNN yield maximum average accuracies of 96%, 94%, 92%, and 82%, respectively.
High‐Spatial Resolution Mass Spectrometry Imaging: Toward Single Cell Metabolomics in Plant Tissues
Authors: Hansen Rebecca L. , Lee Young Jin
Published: July 2017

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool that has advanced our understanding of complex biological processes by enabling unprecedented details of metabolic biology to be uncovered. Through the use of high‐spatial resolution MSI, metabolite localizations can be obtained with high precision. Here we describe our recent progress to enhance the spatial resolution of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MSI from ∼50 μm with the commercial configuration to ∼5 μm. Additionally, we describe our efforts to develop a ‘multiplex MSI’ data acquisition method to allow more chemical information to be obtained on a single tissue in a single instrument run, and the development of new matrices to improve the ionization efficiency for a variety of small molecule metabolites. In combination, these contributions, along with the efforts of others, will bring MSI experiments closer to achieving metabolomic scale.
Ion Segregation and Electrostatic Imbalance in Metal Hydrides
Authors: Voss Mario , Kohlmann Holger
Published: July 2017

Crystal chemical indices of ion segregation and electrostatic imbalance after Beck help to rationalize inorganic crystal structures and sometimes even to predict them. Metal hydrides, from hydrido‐aluminates and ‐gallates, to complex transition metal hydrides, ternary ionic magnesium hydrides and mixed anionic hydrides, were investigated using these tools. Beck's ion segregation and electrostatic imbalance indices are found to work well in explaining crystal structures of most metal hydrides, although the electronegativity differences between cations and hydride anions are often much smaller in ionic metal hydrides, as compared to metal fluorides and oxides. This includes complex transition metal hydrides, despite the fact that formal oxidation states do not describe the actual charges properly. Rare cases of violations can be explained by the chemical bonding situation, e.g. the presence of weak metal–metal bonds in Li3RhH4.
Numerical solution for a general class of nonlocal nonlinear wave equations arising in elasticity
Authors: Muslu Gulcin M. , Borluk Handan
Published: July 2017

A class of nonlocal nonlinear wave equation arises from the modeling of a one dimensional motion in a nonlinearly, nonlocally elastic medium. The equation involves a kernel function with nonnegative Fourier transform. We discretize the equation by using Fourier spectral method in space and we prove the convergence of the semidiscrete scheme. We then use a fully‐discrete scheme, that couples Fourier pseudo‐spectral method in space and 4th order Runge‐Kutta in time, to observe the effect of the kernel function on solutions. To generate solitary wave solutions numerically, we use the Petviashvili's iteration method.
Substantive Black Political Representation: Evidence from Matching Estimates in the United States House of Representatives
Authors: Kopkin Nolan
Published: July 2017

I seek to determine whether race is a factor in how black representatives vote in the United States House of Representatives; if so, this suggests electing more black representatives may improve the economic and political position of blacks if policy positions taken by black representatives on bills that fail to pass would provide tangible positive impacts to members of the black community if passed. Confounding the impact of legislator race, districts represented by blacks on average are quite different than those represented by whites. While past research on this topic uses linear regression techniques with undesirable properties, I improve on past research using matching techniques with more desirable properties. Utilizing a combination of Mahalanobis and propensity score matching, within-caliper matching, and exact matching using data from the 100th–113th Congress, I show black representatives are more likely to vote in agreement with the majority of the Congressional Black Caucus on all votes and on Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Americans for Democratic Action, and Congressional Quarterly key votes, indicating a substantive racial impact on roll-call voting.
“High modernism” and its limits – Assessing state incapacity in Putin’s Russia, 2000–2008
Authors: Hashim S. Mohsin
Published: July 2017

This paper uses an analytical framework developed from James C. Scott’s concept of state-sponsored “high modernism” to understand the scope and limits of Putin’s attempt to reconfigure state-society relations under the guise of “managed democracy.” It argues that Kremlin, under Putin’s first two presidential terms (2000–2008), attempted to treat society as a reified object separate from the state and as an object of management. The paper analyzes the Russian state’s weak regulatory capacity that coexists with its relatively strong coercive and extractive capacities. It is argued that, in spite of accessing vast resources from the energy sector, the state under Putin’s presidency was unable to successfully carry out civil service reform or implement critical reforms in the pension and housing sectors. The analytical framework used offers insights into the limits of authoritarian state-crafting and modernization in contemporary Russia.
Scorpion Stings in Jordan: An Update
Authors: Amr Zuhair S. , Al Zou’bi Renad , Abdo Nour , Bani Hani Rihan
Published: July 2017

Objective

Scorpionism is an endemic public health problem in Jordan encountered by health providers in all parts of the country. This study updates epidemiological data on scorpion sting encounters in Jordan.

Methods

Data on scorpion sting encounters were obtained from government and military hospitals around the country, and the National Drug and Poison Information Center (NDPIC). P values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using SPSS Professional Statistics Package version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) program.

Results

Epidemiological data on 1205 scorpion sting cases reported between 2006 and 2012 are reported. Male to female ratio was 1.18:1, aged 23.3±16 (mean±SD) and 26.4±16.9 years for males and females, respectively. Age groups between 1 to 20 years old constituted 44.6% of the total sting encounters, while adults aged >30 years constituted 30%. Scorpion sting encounters peaked in July (22.5%) and August (23%), with the lowest numbers of recorded cases in February and January (1.6 and 1.9%, respectively). Scorpion stings occurred mostly outdoors (66%). Medical complications associated with scorpion sting cases included fever, difficulty in breathing, drowsiness and dizziness, and numbness, while severe complications include respiratory failure and tachycardia. Hospitalization required 1 to 3 days among admitted patients with no fatalities.

Conclusions

Scorpion stings remain a medical problem in Jordan that requires more attention by health providers. Reporting of scorpion sting cases should be enforced from all healthcare centers throughout the country to better understand the epidemiology and health implications of human encounters.
Role of local allergic inflammation and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins in Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Cheng K-J , Xu Y-Y , Zhou M-L , Zhou S-H , Wang S-Q
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To investigate the role of local allergic inflammation and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Methods:

This study included 36 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and 18 controls. Total immunoglobulin E, eosinophil cationic protein, staphylococcal enterotoxin types A and B specific immunoglobulin E, staphylococcal enterotoxin types A and B, and myeloperoxidase levels were determined.

Results:

Four patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps had a local allergy. All chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients tested negative for staphylococcal enterotoxin types A and B specific immunoglobulin E. The chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps group had significantly elevated staphylococcal enterotoxin types A and B levels in the supernatant. Fourteen patients belonged to the eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps group and the others were characterised as having non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Conclusion:

Local allergy may play a role in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, independent of staphylococcal enterotoxin superantigens. Staphylococcal enterotoxins may be important in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps; however, their roles as superantigens were not confirmed in this study. In Chinese subjects, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps usually manifests as a neutrophilic inflammation.
Co-Phenylcaine Spray: can we improve the taste? A randomised, double-blind, crossover study
Authors: Bailey S , Panizza B , Cabot P , Wallwork B
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Co-Phenylcaine Forte is a nasal spray routinely prescribed by otolaryngologists in Australia. The taste of Co-Phenylcaine Forte is typically described as unpleasant. This study sought to improve the overall patient experience associated with Co-Phenylcaine Forte by generating a Co-Phenylcaine Forte formulation, referred to as Co-Phenylcaine Zest, which contains an added vanilla flavour and masking agent.

Methods:

Participants were randomised to receive two actuations of Co-Phenylcaine Forte in each nostril followed by two actuations of Co-Phenylcaine Zest, or vice versa. There was a 6–36-hour washout period between each treatment. After the administration of each spray, participants completed a questionnaire to rate various sensory attributes of each formulation on seven-point ordinal scales. Patients reported their overall formulation preference after receiving both treatments.

Results:

A total of 86 participants completed the trial. Seventy-four per cent of patients preferred Co-Phenylcaine Zest, 21 per cent preferred Co-Phenylcaine Forte and 5 per cent had no preference (p < 0.001). The satisfaction score associated with Co-Phenylcaine Zest was 1.22 points greater than with Co-Phenylcaine Forte (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

A novel formulation of Co-Phenylcaine Forte was created by adding a flavour and a masking agent; this formulation was preferred by most patients.
Variable expression of molecular markers in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Authors: Mishra A , Pandey A , Mishra S C
Published: July 2017

Background:

Molecular categorisation may explain the wide variation in the clinical characteristics of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

Methods:

Variations in molecular markers in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in an Indian population were investigated and compared with global reports.

Results:

Variable molecular marker expression was demonstrated at the regional and global levels. A wide variation in molecular characteristics is evident. Molecular data have been reported for only 11 countries, indicating a clear geographical bias. Only 58 markers have been studied, and most are yet to be validated.

Conclusion:

Research into the molecular epidemiology of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is still in its infancy. Although the molecular variation is not well understood, data obtained so far have prompted important research questions. Hence, multicentre collaborative molecular studies are needed to establish the aetiopathogenesis and establish molecular surrogates for clinical characteristics.
The myth of the complete sentence – a response to Traugott
Authors: BERGS ALEXANDER
Published: July 2017

This brief response to Elizabeth Closs Traugott's contribution ‘“Insubordination” in the light of the Uniformitarian Principle’ could begin with John Lennon: ‘Imagine there is no. . . sentence.’
Experimenting on the past: a case study on changing analysability in Englishly-adverbs
Authors: DE SMET HENDRIK , VAN DE VELDE FREEK
Published: July 2017

While it is undoubtedly true that historical data do not lend themselves well to the reproduction of experimental findings, the availability of increasingly extensive data sets has brought some experimenting within practical reach. This means that certain predictions based on a combination of synchronic observations and uniformitarian thinking are now testable. Synchronic evidence shows a negative correlation between analysability in morphologically complex words and various measures of frequency. It is therefore expected that when the frequency of morphologically complex items changes, their analysability will change along with this. If analysability decreases, this should in turn be reflected in decreasing sensitivity to priming by items with analogous composition. The latter prediction is in principle testable on diachronic data, offering a way of verifying the diachronic effect of frequency change on analysability. In this spirit, the present article examines the relation between changing frequency and priming sensitivity, as a proxy to analysability. This is done for a sample of 250 Englishly-adverbs, such asroughly,blindly,publicly, etc. over the period 1950–2005, using data from theHansard Corpus. Some of the expected relations between frequency and analysability can be shown to hold, albeit with great variation across lexical items. At the same time, much of the variation in our measure of analysability cannot be accounted for by frequency or frequency change alone.
A response to Cole
Authors: VAN KEMENADE ANS
Published: July 2017

Marcelle Cole presents an interesting study of pronominal reference in Old English, nicely supplementing work available in the literature which shows, in brief, that in contexts with more than one possible referent, clause-initial nominative personal pronouns dominantly continue the topic (subject) of the previous clause, whereas clause-initial se-demonstratives dominantly switch the topic to a new referent of the previous clause. Cole adds to this with a study of the overall use of clause-initial pronouns in five Old English texts, which shows more variation than expected on the basis of this literature. Her conclusion is that se-forms by and large pick up discourse-new referents from the previous context. She further claims that her findings highlight how issues pertaining to style, such as the author–writer relationship, text type, subject matter and the conventionalism propagated by text tradition, influence anaphoric strategies in Old English. In this response article. I wish to counterbalance Cole's argument on two points, and make some suggestions for further research, based on recent psycholinguistic work.
Connecting the past and the present – a response to Pentrel
Authors: PETRÉ PETER
Published: July 2017

In her article ‘Connecting the past and the present’, Meike Pentrel examines the order of main clause and adverbial clause introduced by before or after in Samuel Pepys's diary from the point of view of the cognitive literature on processing constraints. The thread that is shared by all contributions of this special issue is that of the hypothesis of uniformitarianism, which states that cognitive processes have remained constant in the documented history of humanity. Pentrel aims at corroborating this hypothesis by testing if the processing constraints found at work in this seventeenth-century ego-document examined by her are similar to those that have been observed in contemporary language.
Honored Citizens and the Creation of a Middle Class in Imperial Russia
Authors: Smith Alison K.
Published: July 2017

In 1832, an imperial manifesto established a new social estate (soslovie) of “honored citizens.” The new status was granted to successful merchants, professionals, and artists, and gave them permanent (and sometimes inherited) privilege. Honored citizens have been largely forgotten or discounted, both by literary authors of the nineteenth century and by historians. They were, however, a conscious effort on the part of the imperial state to create a middle class in the context of an estate-based social structure, an effort that followed several decades of previous experimentation and discussion. Thousands of subjects of the Russian Empire took on the new status, to the point that by 1897 honored citizens outnumbered merchants. They understood themselves as having an honorable place in the social structure, and were understood as a sign of the status of Russian towns. Honored citizen status gave a certain amount of stability to the new middle class, although not every honored citizen prospered. As a social estate, honored citizens were unique, for they were not unified in opportunity, and because they did not have a collective association—they were individuals in the law. They were, as a result, present and important but paradoxical: while defined by estate law, they were closer to individual subjects or even citizens than almost anyone else in imperial society. In addition, their lack of a collective voice muted their radical potential, masking them from contemporary and historical view.
“Vladimir Lenin in Smolnyi” by Isaak I. Brodskii: The History of a Twin
Authors: Keller Andrei
Published: July 2017

The article presents a biographical reconstruction of the life of the painter Isaak Izrailevich Brodskii (1884–1939) through the lens of his painting “Vladimir Lenin in Smolnyi” (1930). Brodskii (and his work) are shown against the background of the terror of the 1930s, an ideological rupture in his artistic vision and his attainment of personal success. The diaries of Pavel N. Filonov help us to see Brodskii from an unusual angle. The impulse to write articles was an exhibition of “old art” (“Ars Nobilis”), which was held in the exhibition halls of Volkswagen in Berlin from October 18–27, 2002. Two portraits of Lenin by Brodksii were displayed there: “Vladimir Lenin in Smolnyi” and “Lenin reading Pravda” (1930) from the private collection of Otto von Mitzlaff.
The Oil Deal: Nariman Narimanov and the Sovietization of Azerbaijan
Authors: Brinegar Sara
Published: July 2017

This essay, with a focus on Baku, Azerbaijan, demonstrates that the need to secure and hold energy resources—and the infrastructures that support them—was critical to the formation of the Soviet Union. The Azerbaijani statesman Nariman Narimanov played a pivotal role in the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan by attempting to use Baku's oil to secure prerogatives for the Azerbaijan SSR. In part, Narimanov gained his position by striking a deal with Vladimir Lenin in 1920, an arrangement that I am calling the oil deal. This deal lay the foundations of Soviet power in the south Caucasus. Lenin charged Narimanov with facilitating connections between the industrial stronghold of Baku and the rural countryside of Azerbaijan and Narimanov agreed to do what he could to help supply Soviet Russia with oil. Lenin put Narimanov in charge of the Soviet government of Azerbaijan, with the understanding that he would be granted significant leeway in cultural policies. Understanding the role of the south Caucasus in Soviet history, then, is also understanding how the extraction and use of oil and other natural resources were entangled with more familiar questions of nationalities policy and identity politics.
Wedded to Welfare? Working Mothers and the Welfare State in Communist Poland
Authors: Perkowski Piotr
Published: July 2017

Using Poland as example, the article explores the operation of east European communist welfare states, with particular attention paid to benefits offered to working mothers. By exploring a number of diverse sources, I analyze the evolution and the meaning of institutional care and maternity leave in the life of professionally-active women. Studying a variety of factors that shaped the welfare policies of the time, including post-war industrialization, consumption, the demographic panic, and the struggling economy of the twilight years of communism, I attach particular importance to the early 1970s, when Poland saw a particular shift in gender-equality discourse. Welfare benefits played a key role in communists states, serving as a guarantee of equal opportunities or, in the case of mothers, as a tool for potentially facilitating employment. In time, however, they became chiefly tools designed to control the population and female fertility.
Challenges and Opportunities for Coastal Altimetry
Authors: Vignudelli Stefano , Benveniste Jérôme , Cipollini Paolo
Published: July 2017

10th Coastal Altimetry Workshop; Florence, Italy, 21–24 February 2017