bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suspended Morphology in Serbian: Clitics vs. Affixes
Authors: Despić Miloje
Published: February 2017

This article offers a case study of what appears to be an instance of “suspended affixation” in Serbian. The phenomenon in question is particularly interesting and potentially theoretically significant since it occurs in a language in which suspended affixation is generally impossible. The account I am led to suggests, however, that what is being “suspended” is not an affix but a second position clitic disguised as an affix. This is not a surprising outcome, since Serbian second position clitics, unlike ordinary affixes, can be elided quite easily. The phenomena examined in this paper provide further support to certain aspects of the theoretical model developed in Embick (2007; 2010) and offer new insights into the interaction between linearization, ellipsis and Local Dislocation. In particular, I show that the forms which allow ‘suspended affixation’ are formed in a special way, namely, via Local Dislocation, which affixes a second position enclitic to its host at PF under linear adjacency. Forms which are created by regular head movement, on the other hand disallow suspended affixation, on the assumption that elements that form complex heads (i.e., Subwords) cannot be elided.This article is part of Special Collection: Suspended Affixation
Employees Perception of Training and Its Relationship with Organizational Commitment among the Employees Working at Saudi Industrial Development Fund
Authors: Alamri Mohammed S. , Al-Duhaim Thamir I.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this study is to examine employees perception of training provided by Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) and its relationship with organizational commitment. To achieve this aim, the study utilized a questionnaire consists of two validated, well established, international instruments: the first one is the perceived availability of training developed by Newman et al., (2011) and includes 22-item inventory that measures an individual on the training, the second instrument called commitment scale developed by Allen and Meyer, (1996) and includes 18-item inventory to identify a person’s commitment. This questionnaire has been distributed to a simple random sample consist of (200) employees of Saudi Industrial Development Fund. A total of (175) complete questionnaires has been received back at a response rate of (87%). After analyzing data and testing hypotheses, the main results of this study are:• There is a positive relationship between five training-related variables and affective commitment.• There is a positive relationship between two training-related variables (the perceived availability of training and perceived supervisor support for training) and two commitment-related variables (continuance and normative commitment).• There is a negative relationship between perceived co-worker support for training and two commitment-related variables (continuance and normative commitment).• There is no relationship between two training-related variables (the perceived benefits of training and motivation to learn) and two commitment-related variables (continuance and normative commitment).
Calming the Monkey Mind
Authors: Eliuk Kendra , Chorney David
Published: February 2017

Many of today’s students are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety in school.  The need for competitive grades, the desire to be seen as perfect in a digital society, and parental pressures are only some of the reasons that students are experiencing more stress.  This increased stress has lead to an overworked mind for many youth, dubbed a ‘monkey mind’ in which they cannot calm or control their thoughts.  This article examines possible causes of a ‘monkey mind’ and explores the beginning of how students may learn to calm and control their ‘monkey mind’ through mindfulness training.  Several examples of mindfulness training in different classroom scenarios are introduced, and the relationships between our connections to everything around us are explored.  The article serves to provide a starting point for educators who may feel at a loss for how to help their students manage their stress and anxiety levels.
The art of knowing: Designing a nursing professional development program based on American nurses’ experiences of providing care to Arab Muslims
Authors: Marrone Stephen R.
Published: February 2017

Objective and methods: The purpose of this project was to gain insight into American nurses’ experiences of providing care to Arab Muslims in order to design a nursing professional development program that supports the provision of culturally congruent care to Arab Muslims. Empirical, personal, ethical, and aesthetic ways of knowing were used to generate a comprehensive view of how American nurses describe their experiences of providing care to Arab Muslims.Results: Prevailing themes included culture care knowledge, modesty, gender-specific considerations, privacy and dignity, cleanliness, worship rites, and the concept of In Shallah. Not having enough time was a significant factor influencing nurses’ intentions to provide culturally congruent care. Nurses also shared that it was less important to meet the culture care needs of acutely or critically ill patients.Conclusions: The themes underscored the value of including empirical, personal, ethical, and aesthetic knowledge in the design of a nursing professional development programs in the United States and globally.
A moralidade em uma cidade tropical: Belém no século XIX em Viagem do naturalista inglês Henry Walter Bates
Authors: Silva Marcelo Werner da
Published: February 2017

Análise do livro de viagem do naturalista Henry Walter Bates, que esteve na Amazônia no período de 1848 a 1859 estudando e coletando amostras de animais e plantas da região. Destacamos suas observações sobre a cidade de Belém do Pará, ponto de chegada e sua base operacional durante mais de três anos. Tais observações configuram um painel sobre a cidade, com citações a respeito dos mais diversos aspectos de sua vida social, política e econômica. De sua análise, destacamos as representações portadoras de conteúdos ideológicos, como sua leitura sobre a moralidade em uma cidade nos trópicos, em que se percebe a carga ideológica e de pré-conceitos inerente a descrições de realidades estranhas às referências culturais do observador. Por outro lado, pode-se constatar como a cidade, com seu cotidiano e suas práticas, foi vista por alguém desacostumado a seu cotidiano.
Livro: RAVENA, Nírvia. Os caminhos da regulação da Água no Brasil: Demiurgia Institucional ou Criação Burocrática?. 1. ed. Curitiba: Appris, 2012. v. 1. 350p.
Authors: Yoshino Gabriel Hiromite , Silva Lidiane De Souza
Published: February 2017

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A New Link in a Chain of Genres?
Authors: Swales John M. , Jakobsen Henriette , Kejser Christina , Koch Lena , Lynch Joan , Mølbæk Lone
Published: February 2017

Institutional genres often form dynamic systems or chains. In this paper we report on a possible expansion of the genre system that undergirds the appointment process of assistant professors in the U.S. This expansion consists of a “response letter” to a letter of recommendation. We first analyse a small corpus of these response letters by looking at the openings and closings and the bodies of the letters. The larger aim of this analysis is to explore the possible rationales that might underlie the composition, stylistic character and content of these texts.
Communicating Culture Through Text and Image - The Case of Danish and French Company Brochures
Authors: Johansen Winni
Published: February 2017

No abstract.
A Boas-type theorem for $\alpha$-monotone functions
Authors: Dyachenko M. , Mukanov A. , Nursultanov E.
Published: February 2017

We define the class of $\alpha$-monotone functions using fractional integrals.  For such functions we prove a Boas-type result on the summability of the Fourier coefficients.
A Dual Functional Scaffold Tethered with EGFR Antibody Promotes Neural Stem Cell Retention and Neuronal Differentiation for Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Authors: Xu Bai , Zhao Yannan , Xiao Zhifeng , Wang Bin , Liang Hui , Li Xing , Fang Yongxiang , Han Sufang , Li Xiaoran , Fan Caixia , Dai Jianwu
Published: February 2017

Neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation is a promising strategy to restore neuronal relays and neurological function of injured spinal cord because of the differentiation potential into functional neurons, but the transplanted NSCs often largely diffuse from the transplanted site and mainly differentiate into glial cells rather than neurons due to the adverse microenviornment after spinal cord injury (SCI). This paper fabricates a dual functional collagen scaffold tethered with a collagen‐binding epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody to simultaneously promote NSCs retention and neuronal differentiation by specifically binding to EGFR molecule expressed on NSCs and attenuating EGFR signaling, which is responsible for the inhibition of differentiation of NSCs toward neurons. Compared to unmodified control scaffold, the dual functional scaffold promotes the adhesion and neuronal differentiation of NSCs in vitro. Moreover, the implantation of the dual functional scaffold with exogenous NSCs in rat SCI model can capture and retain NSCs at the injury sites, and promote the neuronal differentiation of the retained NSCs into functional neurons, and finally dedicate to improving motor function of SCI rats, which provides a potential strategy for synchronously promoting stem cell retention and differentiation with biomaterials for SCI repair.
Selectively Inducing Cancer Cell Death by Intracellular Enzyme‐Instructed Self‐Assembly (EISA) of Dipeptide Derivatives
Authors: Li Jie , Shi Junfeng , Medina Jamie E. , Zhou Jie , Du Xuewen , Wang Huaimin , Yang Cuihong , Liu Jianfeng , Yang Zhimou , Dinulescu Daniela M. , Xu Bing
Published: February 2017

Tight ligand‐receptor binding, paradoxically, is a major root of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. To address this problem, instead of using conventional inhibitors or ligands, this paper focuses on the development of a novel process—enzyme‐instructed self‐assembly (EISA)—to kill cancer cells selectively. Here it is demonstrated that EISA as an intracellular process to generate nanofibrils of short peptides for selectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, including drug resistant ones. As the process that turns the non‐self‐assembling precursors into the self‐assembling peptides upon the catalysis of carboxylesterases (CES), EISA occurs intracellularly to selectively inhibit a range of cancer cells that exhibit relatively high CES activities. More importantly, EISA inhibits drug resistant cancer cells (e.g., triple negative breast cancer cells (HCC1937) and platinum‐resistant ovarian cells (SKOV3, A2780cis)). With the IC50 values of 28–80 and 25–44 µg mL−1 of l‐ and d‐dipeptide precursors against cancer cells, respectively, EISA is innocuous to normal cells. Moreover, using coculture of cancer and normal cells, the selectivity of EISA is validated against cancer cells. Besides revealing that intracellular EISA cause apoptosis or necroptosis to kill the cancer cells, this work illustrates a new approach to amplify the enzymatic difference between cancer and normal cells and to expand the pool of drug candidates for potentially overcoming drug resistance in cancer therapy.
Rational Design of Cancer Nanomedicine: Nanoproperty Integration and Synchronization
Authors: Sun Qihang , Zhou Zhuxian , Qiu Nasha , Shen Youqing
Published: February 2017

Current cancer nanomedicines can only mitigate adverse effects but fail to enhance therapeutic efficacies of anticancer drugs. Rational design of next‐generation cancer nanomedicines should aim to enhance their therapeutic efficacies. Taking this into account, this review first analyzes the typical cancer‐drug‐delivery process of an intravenously administered nanomedicine and concludes that the delivery involves a five‐step CAPIR cascade and that high efficiency at every step is critical to guarantee high overall therapeutic efficiency. Further analysis shows that the nanoproperties needed in each step for a nanomedicine to maximize its efficiency are different and even opposing in different steps, particularly what the authors call the PEG, surface‐charge, size and stability dilemmas. To resolve those dilemmas in order to integrate all needed nanoproperties into one nanomedicine, stability, surface and size nanoproperty transitions (3S transitions for short) are proposed and the reported strategies to realize these transitions are comprehensively summarized. Examples of nanomedicines capable of the 3S transitions are discussed, as are future research directions to design high‐performance cancer nanomedicines and their clinical translations.
Probing Local Potentials inside Metallic Nanopores with SERS and Bipolar Electrochemistry
Authors: Li Yi , Chen Chang , Willems Kherim , Kerman Sarp , Lagae Liesbet , Groeseneken Guido , Stakenborg Tim , Van Dorpe Pol
Published: February 2017

It is essential to understand the local potential distribution of solid‐state nanopores in nanofluidic systems. However, applying gate voltage or adding external electrical probes tends to disturb the electric field and/or flow patterns. To solve this problem, an approach is described to monitor the local potential using electrochemical surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC‐SERS) in two types of nanocavity pores: doubled‐sided gold nanopores (MM nanopores) and single‐sided gold nanopores with a dielectric passivation layer on the backside (MD nanopores). Numerical simulations predict an electrical polarization reversal in the two nanopore geometries. Consequently, the redox SERS changes of Nile Blue A on the two gold nanopores are found to be reversed, which is consistent with the variation of polarizations. The driving voltage of metallic nanopore devices is about an order of magnitude lower than that of microfluidic bipolar devices. Our method will not only prove valuable for the design of metallic nanopores, but also will find applications in the measurement of contactless metallized nanofluidic devices.
Iridium‐Catalyzed Reductive Strecker Reaction for Late‐Stage Amide and Lactam Cyanation
Authors: Fuentes de Arriba Ángel L. , Lenci Elena , Sonawane Mahendra , Formery Odilon , Dixon Darren J.
Published: February 2017

A new iridium‐catalyzed reductive Strecker reaction for the direct and efficient formation of α‐amino nitrile products from a broad range of (hetero)aromatic and aliphatic tertiary amides, and N‐alkyl lactams is reported. The protocol exploits the mild and highly chemoselective reduction of the amide and lactam functionalities using IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2 (Vaska's complex) in the presence of tetramethyldisiloxane, as a reductant, to directly generate hemiaminal species able to undergo substitution by cyanide upon treatment with TMSCN (TMS=trimethylsilyl). The protocol is simple to perform, broad in scope, efficient (up to 99 % yield), and has been successfully applied to the late‐stage functionalization of amide‐ and lactam‐containing drugs, and naturally occurring alkaloids, as well as for the selective cyanation of the carbonyl carbon atom linked to the N atom of proline residues within di‐ and tripeptides.
Selective and sensitive determination of silver ions at trace levels based on ultrasonic‐assisted dispersive solid‐phase extraction using ion‐imprinted polymer nanoparticles
Authors: Behbahani Mohammad , Omidi Fariborz , Kakavandi Masoud Ghanbari , Hesam Ghasem
Published: February 2017

We describe ultrasonic‐assisted dispersive solid‐phase extraction based on ion‐imprinted polymer (UA‐DSPE‐IIP) nanoparticles for the selective extraction of silver ions. Ultrasound is a good and robust method to facilitate the extraction of target ions in the sorption step and elution of the target ions in the desorption step. The IIP nanoparticles used in the UA‐DSPE‐IIP were prepared by precipitation polymerization. To prepare the IIP nanoparticles, 2‐vinylpyridine, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile, 2‐picolinic acid, silver and chloroform–methanol (50:50) solution were used as functional monomer, cross‐linker, initiator, silver‐binding ligand, template ion and porogen, respectively. The IIP nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A Box–Behnken design was used for optimization of sorption and desorption steps in UA‐DSPE‐IIP. In the sorption step: pH of solution, IIP amount (mg), sonication time for sorption (min); in the desorption step: concentration of eluent (mol l−1), volume of eluent (ml), sonication time (min) for desorption were investigated and optimized by Box–Behnken design. The optimum conditions for the method were: pH of solution, 7; sonication time for sorption, 7 min; IIP amount, 17 mg; type and concentration of eluent, HCl 1.5 mol l−1; volume of eluent, 2 ml; sonication time for desorption, 140 s. Under the optimized conditions the limit of detection and relative standard deviation for the detection of silver ions using UA‐DSPE‐IIP were found to be 0.09 μg l−1 and <3%, respectively.
Efficient Blue Electroluminescence from a Single‐layer Organic Device Composed Solely of Hydrocarbons
Authors: Izumi Tomoo , Tian Yi , Ikemoto Koki , Yoshii Asami , Koretsune Takashi , Arita Ryotaro , Kita Hiroshi , Taka Hideo , Sato Sota , Isobe Hiroyuki
Published: February 2017

An interesting physical phenomenon, electroluminescence, that was originally observed with a hydrocarbon molecule has recently been developed into highly efficient organic light‐emitting devices. These modern devices have evolved through the development of multi‐element molecular materials for specific roles, and hydrocarbon devices have been left unexplored. In this study, we report an efficient organic light‐emitting device composed solely of hydrocarbon materials. The electroluminescence was achieved in the blue region by efficient fluorescence and charge recombination within a simple single‐layer architecture of macrocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This study may stimulate further studies on hydrocarbons to uncover their full potential as electronic materials.
Probing the mechanism of interaction of metoprolol succinate with human serum albumin by spectroscopic and molecular docking analysis
Authors: Pawar Suma K. , Jaldappagari Seetharamappa
Published: February 2017

In the present work, the mechanism of the interaction between a β1 receptor blocker, metoprolol succinate (MS) and human serum albumin (HSA) under physiological conditions was investigated by spectroscopic techniques, namely fluorescence, Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy (FT‐IR), fluorescence lifetime decay and circular dichroism (CD) as well as molecular docking and cyclic voltammetric methods. The fluorescence and lifetime decay results indicated that MS quenched the intrinsic intensity of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. The Stern–Volmer quenching constants and binding constants for the MS–HSA system at 293, 298 and 303 K were obtained from the Stern–Volmer plot. Thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of MS with HSA were evaluated; negative values of entropy change (ΔG°) indicated the spontaneity of the MS and HSA interaction. Thermodynamic parameters such as negative ΔH° and positive ΔS° values revealed that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces played a major role in MS–HSA interaction and stabilized the complex. The binding site for MS in HSA was identified by competitive site probe experiments and molecular docking studies. These results indicated that MS was bound to HSA at Sudlow's site I. The efficiency of energy transfer and the distance between the donor (HSA) and acceptor (MS) was calculated based on the theory of Fosters' resonance energy transfer (FRET). Three‐dimensional fluorescence spectra and CD results revealed that the binding of MS to HSA resulted in an obvious change in the conformation of HSA. Cyclic voltammograms of the MS–HSA system also confirmed the interaction between MS and HSA. Furthermore, the effects of metal ions on the binding of MS to HSA were also studied.
Screening alpha‐glucosidase and alpha‐amylase inhibitors from natural compounds by molecular docking in silico
Authors: Jhong Chien‐Hung , Riyaphan Jirawat , Lin Shih‐Hung , Chia Yi‐Chen , Weng Ching‐Feng
Published: February 2017

The alpha‐glucosidase inhibitor is a common oral anti‐diabetic drug used for controlling carbohydrates normally converted into simple sugars and absorbed by the intestines. However, some adverse clinical effects have been observed. The present study seeks an alternative drug that can regulate the hyperglycemia by down‐regulating alpha‐glucosidase and alpha‐amylase activity by molecular docking approach to screen the hyperglycemia antagonist against alpha‐glucosidase and alpha‐amylase activities from the 47 natural compounds. The docking data showed that Curcumin, 16‐hydroxy‐cleroda‐3,13‐dine‐16,15‐olide (16‐H), Docosanol, Tetracosanol, Antroquinonol, Berberine, Catechin, Quercetin, Actinodaphnine, and Rutin from 47 natural compounds had binding ability towards alpha‐amylase and alpha‐glucosidase as well. Curcumin had a better biding ability of alpha‐amylase than the other natural compounds. Analyzed alpha‐glucosidase activity reveals natural compound inhibitors (below 0.5 mM) are Curcumin, Actinodaphnine, 16‐H, Quercetin, Berberine, and Catechin when compared to the commercial drug Acarbose (3 mM). A natural compound with alpha‐amylase inhibitors (below 0.5 mM) includes Curcumin, Berberine, Docosanol, 16‐H, Actinodaphnine/Tetracosanol, Catechin, and Quercetin when compared to Acarbose (1 mM). When taken together, the implication is that molecular docking is a fast and effective way to screen alpha‐glucosidase and alpha‐amylase inhibitors as lead compounds of natural sources isolated from medicinal plants. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(4):242–251, 2015
Beneficial effects of omega‐3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 supplementation on brain docosahexaenoic acid, brain derived neurotrophic factor, and cognitive performance in the second‐generation Wistar rats
Authors: Rathod Richa S. , Khaire Amrita A. , Kale Anvita A. , Joshi Sadhana R.
Published: February 2017

In vegetarian population, vitamin B12 deficiency coexists with suboptimal levels of omega‐3 fatty acids. Studies indicate a need for supplementation/fortification of vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of brain disorders. We have described the effects of vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation on brain development in F1 generation animals. The current study investigates the effects of vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acids supplementation on brain function and cognition. Pregnant Wistar rats were assigned the following groups: control, vitamin B12 deficient (BD), vitamin B12 deficient + omega‐3 fatty acid (BDO), vitamin B12 supplemented (BS), vitamin B12 supplemented + omega‐3 fatty acid (BSO). The same diets were continued for two generations. BDO group showed higher (P < 0.05) levels of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in the cortex and hippocampus as compared with the BD group. The cognitive performance was also normalized in this group. BS showed comparable levels of DHA, BDNF (protein and mRNA), and CREB mRNA (cAMP response element‐binding protein) to that of control group while Tropomyosin receptor kinase mRNA levels were higher. The combined vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation further enhanced the levels of DHA (P < 0.05) and BDNF (P < 0.05) in the hippocampus and CREB mRNA (P < 0.01) in the cortex as compared with BS group. The cognitive performance of these animals was higher (P < 0.05) as compared with BS group. Our data indicates the beneficial effects of vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation across two generations on brain development and function. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(4):261–272, 2015.
Ascorbic acid efflux from human brain microvascular pericytes: Role of re‐uptake
Authors: May James M. , Qu Zhi‐Chao
Published: February 2017

Microvascular pericytes take up ascorbic acid on the ascorbate transporter SVCT2. Intracellular ascorbate then protects the cells against apoptosis induced by culture at diabetic glucose concentrations. To investigate whether pericytes might also provide ascorbate to the underlying endothelial cells, we studied ascorbate efflux from human pericytes. When loaded with ascorbate to intracellular concentrations of 0.8–1.0 mM, almost two‐thirds of intracellular ascorbate effluxed from the cells over 2 H. This efflux was opposed by ascorbate re‐uptake from the medium, since preventing re‐uptake by destroying extracellular ascorbate with ascorbate oxidase increased ascorbate loss even further. Ascorbate re‐uptake occurred on the SVCT2, since its blockade by replacing medium sodium with choline, by the SVCT2 inhibitor sulfinpyrazone, or by extracellular ascorbate accelerated ascorbate loss from the cells. This was supported by finding that net efflux of radiolabeled ascorbate was increased by unlabeled extracellular ascorbate with a half‐maximal effect in the range of the high affinity Km of the SVCT2. Intracellular ascorbate did not inhibit its efflux. To assess the mechanism of ascorbate efflux, known inhibitors of volume‐regulated anion channels (VRACs) were tested. These potently inhibited ascorbate transport into cells on the SVCT2, but not its efflux. An exception was the anion transport inhibitor DIDS, which, despite inhibition of ascorbate uptake, also inhibited net efflux at 25–50 µM. These results suggest that ascorbate efflux from vascular pericytes occurs on a DIDS‐inhibitable transporter or channel different from VRACs. Further, ascorbate efflux is opposed by re‐uptake of ascorbate on the SVCT2, providing a potential regulatory mechanism. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(5):330–338, 2015
Endogenously elevated n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate acute ethanol‐induced liver steatosis
Authors: Huang Wei , Wang Bin , Li Xiangyong , Kang Jing X.
Published: February 2017

Effective means for the prevention of alcohol‐induced liver disease, a global health problem, have yet to be developed. We evaluated whether the high endogenous levels of omega‐3 polyunsaturated acids (n‐3 PUFA) in fat‐1 transgenic mice could protect them against acute ethanol‐induced liver steatosis. We induced alcoholic liver steatosis in 9‐week‐old male heterozygous fat‐1 mice and their wild‐type (WT) male littermates through three oral gavages of 60% ethanol at 4.7 g/kg body weight. Hepatic lipid accumulation was significantly increased in both alcohol treatment groups, but by much less in the fat‐1 group compared with the WT group. Fat‐1 mice exhibited significantly lower levels of total hepatic/plasma TG and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity. Accordingly, hepatic expression of lipogenesis‐related genes (e.g., SREBP‐1c, FAS, and SCD‐1) and plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL‐6, TNF‐α, and MCP‐1) were reduced in the fat‐1 mice. Furthermore, decreased hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and increased hepatic levels of PPAR‐α and HO‐1 were observed in the fat‐1 mice, compared to the WT mice. These findings show that elevated tissue n‐3 PUFA protect against acute ethanol‐induced liver steatosis in fat‐1 mice, possibly through the down‐regulation of hepatic lipogenesis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(6):453–462, 2015
The evolving (re)categorisations of refugees throughout the “refugee/migrant crisis”
Authors: Goodman Simon , Sirriyeh Ala , McMahon Simon
Published: February 2017

The UK media's reporting of events in 2015 contained constantly evolving categorisations of people attempting to reach Europe and the UK, each with different implications for their treatment. A discourse analysis of UK media outputs charts the development of the terminology used to present the crisis and those people involved. First, “Mediterranean migrant crisis” was used to present those involved as “migrants” to be prevented from reaching Europe. Next, it became a “Calais migrant crisis” in which migrants were constructed as a threat to UK security and then the “European migrant crisis” an ongoing threat to Europe. Photographs of a drowned child led to a shift to a “refugee crisis” in which refugees were presented in a humane and sympathetic way. When terrorist attacks were linked with the crisis, refugees reverted to migrants. Findings are discussed regarding the impact of categorisation on debates about the inclusion and exclusion of refugees.
Cover Picture: Structure Engineered g‐C3N4 Nano‐Sheets by Switching the Pyrolysis Gas Atmosphere for Enhanced Photo‐Catalytic Degradation (Chin. J. Chem. 2/2017)
Authors: Chai Yuanyuan , Liu Qianqian , Zhang Lu , Ren Jia , Dai Wei‐Lin
Published: February 2017

The cover picture shows a new one step approach to synthesize g‐C3N4 nano‐sheets by direct thermal pyrolysis process of urea in NH3 atmosphere. For the first time, the influence of the preparation gas atmosphere on the composition, crystalline and polymerization degree, and the photocatalytic activity of the g‐C3N4 synthesized from thermal condensation of urea was investigated. Furthermore, we studied in depth the structure‐performance relationship in the system, and it was found that the synergistic effect of the larger surface area, the adjusted band energy structure and the well crystallization may be conductive to the higher separation of the electron‐ hole pair, thus leading to the wonderful performance for the g‐C3N4‐NH3. Notably, the method has the merits of low cost, scalable production and environmental friendliness. More details are discussed in the article by Dai et al. on page 173–182.

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A Binary Mixture of Ionic Liquids as a New Approach for an Experimental Diffusion Correction in the Study of Activated Processes
Authors: Berghold Martin , Bächle Josua , Landgraf Stephan , Grampp Günter
Published: February 2017

A binary system of two ionic liquids, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium and trioctylmethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][NTf2] and [OMA][NTf2], respectively), with varying molar fractions, is introduced. It allows the dynamic viscosity to remain constant over a range of almost 60 K; this means that any activated process can be studied independent of the temperature dependence of viscosity itself. This principle is proven upon reinvestigation of electron self‐exchange kinetics of tetrathiafulvalene by continuous‐wave ESR line‐broadening experiments. From these results, it is also confirmed that this process is totally diffusion controlled.
Influence of Catalyst Acid/Base Properties in Acrolein Production by Oxidative Coupling of Ethanol and Methanol
Authors: Lilić Aleksandra , Bennici Simona , Devaux Jean‐François , Dubois Jean‐Luc , Auroux Aline
Published: February 2017

Oxidative coupling of methanol and ethanol represents a new route to produce acrolein. In this work, the overall reaction was decoupled in two steps, the oxidation and the aldolization, by using two consecutive reactors to investigate the role of the acid/base properties of silica‐supported oxide catalysts. The oxidation of a mixture of methanol and ethanol to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde was performed over a FeMoOx catalyst, and then the product mixture was transferred without intermediate separation to a second reactor, in which the aldol condensation and dehydration to acrolein were performed over the supported oxides. The impact of the acid/base properties on the selectivity towards acrolein was investigated under oxidizing conditions for the first time. The acid/base properties of the catalysts were investigated by NH3‐, SO2‐, and methanol‐adsorption microcalorimetry. A MgO/SiO2 catalyst was the most active in acrolein production owing to an appropriate ratio of basic to acidic sites.
Toward deterministic and semiautomated SPADE analysis
Authors: Qiu Peng
Published: February 2017

SPADE stands for spanning‐tree progression analysis for density‐normalized events. It combines downsampling, clustering and a minimum‐spanning tree to provide an intuitive visualization of high‐dimensional single‐cell data, which assists with the interpretation of the cellular heterogeneity underlying the data. SPADE has been widely used for analysis of high‐content flow cytometry data and CyTOF data. The downsampling and clustering components of SPADE are both stochastic, which lead to stochasticity in the tree visualization it generates. Running SPADE twice on the same data may generate two different tree structures. Although they typically lead to the same biological interpretation of subpopulations present in the data, robustness of the algorithm can be improved. Another avenue of improvement is the interpretation of the SPADE tree, which involves visual inspection of multiple colored versions of the tree based on expression of measured markers. This is essentially manual gating on the SPADE tree and can benefit from automated algorithms. This article presents improvements of SPADE in both aspects above, leading to a deterministic SPADE algorithm and a software implementation for semiautomated interpretation. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue with plasma cell differentiation: Periodic acid‐schiff reaction‐positive Dutcher body is a diagnostic clue to distinguish it from plasmacytoma
Authors: Nasu Atsuko , Igawa Takuro , Sato Hiaki , Yanai Hiroyuki , Yoshino Tadashi , Sato Yasuharu
Published: February 2017

We herein report a case of primary parotid extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) with Dutcher bodies. An 82‐year‐old man presented with a 4 cm × 2.5 cm mass in the left parotid region. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed localized abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the left parotid gland and lymph nodes of the left cervical region. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of the left parotid gland showed lymphoplasmacytoid cells with periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS)‐positive Dutcher bodies. A subsequent excisional biopsy showed sheets of small‐ to medium‐sized neoplastic B cells with abundant IgM in the cytoplasm as detected by immunohistochemistry. A diagnosis of stage II MALT lymphoma was made, but the patient did not receive therapeutic intervention. As previously reported, Dutcher bodies are mainly observed in B‐cell neoplasms with IgM production. Because these characteristic intranuclear inclusions can be easily observed by PAS staining, the presence of PAS reaction‐positive Dutcher bodies in FNA cytology can serve as a clue to differentially diagnose MALT lymphoma from plasmacytoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:547–551. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Temperature rise may explain grass depletion in the Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Kidron Giora J. , Gutschick Vincent P.
Published: February 2017

A consistent encroachment of shrubs into the northern Chihuahuan Desert (NM, USA) has been well documented since the mid‐1800s. This phenomenon is mainly attributed to overgrazing followed by nutrient depletion, which impedes successful grass establishment. Significantly, higher grass cover that were measured by us during 1998 and 2005 in plots at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, SEV (60.5–62%), than in plots at the Jornada Experimental Range, JER (4.7–4.9%), lead us to hypothesize that climatological factors that may affect soil moisture may account for the differences in grass cover in both sites. We carried out a 10‐year analysis (1994–2004) of rain, temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and potential evaporation at the 2 sites. Total summer rainstorm duration in JER was shorter (43 hr in comparison to 46 hr in SEV), and the temperature in JER was higher (by ~3 °C), relative humidity lower (by 3–6%) and vapor pressure deficit higher (by 0.5–0.6 kPa) in comparison to SEV. In addition, during the summer growing period, hourly wind speed was by 18.0% higher and monthly pan A evaporation was by 9.1% higher in JER, pointing out that time duration during which the soil remains wet during the summer is apparently much shorter in JER. Our results indicate that surface wetness in JER following rainstorms is apparently below the necessary threshold needed for successful grass establishment in JER. This in turn has broad consequences on the ecosystem hydrology, structure, and function.
Comparative effectiveness of transitional care services in patients discharged from the hospital with heart failure: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Van Spall Harriette G.C. , Rahman Tahseen , Mytton Oliver , Ramasundarahettige Chinthanie , Ibrahim Quazi , Kabali Conrad , Coppens Michiel , Brian Haynes R. , Connolly Stuart
Published: February 2017

Aims

To compare the effectiveness of transitional care services in decreasing all‐cause death and all‐cause readmissions following hospitalization for heart failure (HF).

Methods and results

We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Clinical Trials Register for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2000–2015 that tested the efficacy of transitional care services in patients hospitalized for HF, provided ≥1 month of follow‐up, and reported all‐cause mortality or all‐cause readmissions. Our network meta‐analysis included 53 RCTs (12 356 patients). Among services that significantly decreased all‐cause mortality compared with usual care, nurse home visits were most effective [ranking P‐score 0.6794; relative risk (RR) 0.78, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.62–0.98], followed by disease management clinics (DMCs) (ranking P‐score 0.6368; RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67–0.97). Among services that significantly decreased all‐cause readmission, nurse home visits were most effective [ranking P‐score 0.8365; incident rate ratio (IRR) 0.65, 95% CI 0.49–0.86], followed by nurse case management (NCM) (ranking P‐score 0.6168; IRR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63–0.95), and DMCs (ranking P‐score 0.5691; IRR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.97). There was no significant difference in the comparative effectiveness of services that improved each outcome. Nurse home visits had the greatest pooled cost‐savings (3810 USD, 95% CI 3682–3937), followed by NCM (3435 USD, 95% CI 3224–3645), and DMCs (245 USD, 95% CI −70 to 559). Telephone, telemonitoring, pharmacist, and education interventions did not significantly improve clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Nurse home visits and DMCs decrease all‐cause mortality after hospitalization for HF. Along with NCM, they also reduce all‐cause readmissions, with no significant difference in comparative effectiveness. These services reduce healthcare system costs to varying degrees.
Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of a Mononuclear Chiral (Acetato)bis(aminoalkoxido)manganese(III) Complex
Authors: Kornowicz Arkadiusz , Terlecki Michał , Prochowicz Daniel , Pichon Céline , Justyniak Iwona , Bury Wojciech , Wróbel Zbigniew , Sutter Jean‐Pascal , Lewiński Janusz
Published: February 2017

A new synthetic procedure was developed to obtain a novel mononuclear chiral square‐pyramidal (acetato)bis(aminoalkoxido)MnIII complex from a heterometallic ZnII/MnII system with a crucial role for O2 in the process. The resulting compound was characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically, and its magnetic properties were determined. The MnIII ion exhibits magnetic anisotropy with a zero‐field splitting D parameter equal to –2.95 cm–1.
Sediment transport in high‐speed flows over a fixed bed: 1. Particle dynamics
Authors: Auel Christian , Albayrak Ismail , Sumi Tetsuya , Boes Robert M.
Published: February 2017

Particle dynamics are investigated experimentally in supercritical high‐speed open channel flow over a fixed planar bed of low relative roughness height simulating flows in high‐gradient non‐alluvial mountain streams and hydraulic structures. Non‐dimensional equations were developed for transport mode, particle velocity, hop length and hop height accounting for a wide range of literature data encompassing sub‐ and supercritical flow conditions as well as planar and alluvial bed configurations. Particles were dominantly transported in saltation and particle trajectories on planar beds were rather flat and long compared with alluvial bed data due to (1) increased lift forces by spinning motion, (2) strongly downward directed secondary currents, and (3) a planar flume bed where variation in particle reflection and damping effects were minor. The analysis of particle saltation trajectories revealed that the rising and falling limbs were almost symmetrical contradicting alluvial bed data. Furthermore, no or negligible effect of particle size and shape on particle dynamics were found. Implications of experimental findings for mechanistic saltation‐abrasion models are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sediment transport in high‐speed flows over a fixed bed: 2. Particle impacts and abrasion prediction
Authors: Auel Christian , Albayrak Ismail , Sumi Tetsuya , Boes Robert M.
Published: February 2017

Single bed load particle impacts were experimentally investigated in supercritical open channel flow over a fixed planar bed of low relative roughness height simulating high‐gradient non‐alluvial mountain streams as well as hydraulic structures. Particle impact characteristics (impact velocity, impact angle, Stokes number, restitution and dynamic friction coefficients) were determined for a wide range of hydraulic parameters and particle properties. Particle impact velocity scaled with the particle velocity, and the vertical particle impact velocity increased with excess transport stage. Particle impact and rebound angles were low and decreased with transport stage. Analysis of the particle impacts with the bed revealed almost no viscous damping effects with high normal restitution coefficients exceeding unity. The normal and resultant Stokes numbers were high and above critical thresholds for viscous damping. These results are attributed to the coherent turbulent structures near the wall region, i.e. bursting motion with ejection and sweep events responsible for turbulence generation and particle transport. The tangential restitution coefficients were slightly below unity and the dynamic friction coefficients were lower than for alluvial bed data, revealing that only a small amount of horizontal energy was transferred to the bed. The abrasion prediction model formed by Sklar and Dietrich in 2004 was revised based on the new equations on vertical impact velocity and hop length covering various bed configurations. The abrasion coefficient kv was found to be vary around kv ~ 105 for hard materials (tensile strength ft > 1 MPa), one order of magnitude lower than the value assumed so far for Sklar and Dietrich's model. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reflections on bird and mammal risk assessment for plant protection products in the European Union: Past, present, and future
Authors: Brooks Amy C. , Fryer Mike , Lawrence Alan , Pascual Juan , Sharp Rachel
Published: February 2017

The use of plant protection products on agricultural crops can result in exposure of birds and mammals to toxic chemicals. In the European Union, the risks from such exposures are assessed under the current (2009) guidance document from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), designed to increase the realism of the theoretical risk assessments in comparison to its predecessor (SANCO/4145/2000). Since its adoption over 7 yr ago, many plant protection products have been evaluated successfully using the 2009 EFSA guidance document. However, there are still significant areas of improvement recommended for future revisions of this guidance. The present Focus article discusses experiences to date with the current scheme, including levels of conservatism in input parameters and interpretation by regulatory authorities together with proposals for how the guidance document could be improved when it is revised in the not too distant future. Several areas for which further guidance is recommended have been identified, such as the derivation of ecologically relevant bird and mammal reproductive endpoints and the use of modeling approaches to contextualize risk assessments. Areas where existing databases could be improved were also highlighted, including the collation of relevant focal species across Europe and expansion of the residue database for food items. To produce a realistic and useable guidance document in the future, it is strongly recommended that there is open and constructive communication between industry, regulatory authorities, and the EFSA. Such collaboration would also encourage harmonization between member states, thus reducing workloads for both industry and regulatory authorities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:565–575. © 2017 SETAC
Promotion of invasion by mutant RAS is dependent on activation of the WASF3 metastasis promoter gene
Authors: Teng Yong , Ngoka Lambert , Cowell John K
Published: February 2017

Metastasis represents an end stage in the evolution of cancer progression and has been related to specific genetic pathways. Overexpression of mutant RAS in particular appears to promote invasion and metastasis, although exactly how this occurs has not been well characterized. It was previously showed that activation of the WASF3 protein regulates actin cytoskeleton dynamics that promote invasion. In this report, how WASF3 overexpression interacts with mutant RAS to increase invasion and metastasis was investigated. The ability of RAS to promote invasion and metastasis was shown to be dependent on WASF3 activation in a PI3K and AKT dependent manner. Proteomics analysis demonstrates the presence of AKT in the WASF3 immunocomplex which is enhanced by overexpression of mutant RAS. During these processes activation of ERK1/2 is not affected by loss of WASF3 expression. Analysis of the relative involvement of p85 and p110 in the WASF3 complex demonstrates that mutant RAS promotes dissociation of p85 promoting activation of p110. These studies provide a deeper understanding of the critical role for WASF3 in facilitating increased invasion potential in cancer cells expressing mutant RAS and supports the idea that targeting WASF3 in metastatic cells overexpressing RAS may be used to suppress invasion and metastasis.
ETV transcriptional upregulation is more reliable than RNA sequencing algorithms and FISH in diagnosing round cell sarcomas with CIC gene rearrangements
Authors: Kao Yu‐Chien , Sung Yun‐Shao , Chen Chun‐Liang , Zhang Lei , Dickson Brendan C , Swanson David , Vaiyapuri Sumathi , Latif Farida , Alholle Abdullah , Huang Shih‐Chiang , Hornick Jason L. , Antonescu Cristina R
Published: February 2017

CIC rearrangements have been reported in two‐thirds of EWSR1‐negative small blue round cell tumors (SBRCTs). However, a number of SBRCTs remain unclassified despite exhaustive analysis. Fourteen SBRCTs lacking driver genetic events by RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis were collected. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed using samples from our RNAseq database, including 13 SBRCTs with non‐CIC genetic abnormalities and 2 CIC‐rearranged angiosarcomas among others. Remarkably, all 14 study cases showed high mRNA levels of ETV1/4/5, and by unsupervised clustering most grouped into a distinct cluster, separate from other tumors. Based on these results indicating a close relationship with CIC‐rearranged tumors, we manually inspected CIC reads in RNAseq data. FISH for CIC and DUX4 abnormalities and immunohistochemical stains for ETV4 were also performed. In the control group, only 2 CIC‐rearranged angiosarcomas had high ETV1/4/5 expression. Upon manual inspection of CIC traces, 7 of 14 cases showed CIC‐DUX4 fusion reads, 2 cases had DUX4‐CIC reads, while the remaining 5 were negative. FISH showed CIC break‐apart in 7 cases, including 5 cases lacking CIC‐DUX4 or DUX4‐CIC fusion reads on RNAseq manual inspection. However, no CIC abnormalities were detected by FISH in 6 cases with CIC‐DUX4 or DUX4‐CIC reads. ETV4 immunoreactivity was positive in 7 of 11 cases. Our results highlight the underperformance of FISH and RNAseq methods in diagnosing SBRCTs with CIC gene abnormalities. The downstream ETV1/4/5 transcriptional up‐regulation appears highly sensitive and specific and can be used as a reliable molecular signature and diagnostic method for CIC fusion positive SBRCTs.