bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonographic Criteria to Define the Lower Limits of Neck Node Levels 2 and 3
Authors: Kim Jeong Kyu , Lee Dong Won , Ahn Dongbin
Published: December 2018

Objective

To find ultrasonographic landmarks to define the lower limits of neck node levels 2 and 3.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively between February 2014 and January 2015. In total, 103 patients were recruited (50 men and 53 women), and the mean age was 50.9 years (range: 18–89). At the lower level of the hyoid, we classified ultrasonographic findings as hyoid type (HT)1 when the internal and external carotid arteries were visualized separately, HT2 when the internal and external carotid arteries joined together, and HT3 when the common carotid artery was visualized. At the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, we classified ultrasonographic findings as cricoid type (CT)1 when the omohyoid reached the medial half of the common carotid artery, CT2 when the omohyoid reached the lateral half of the common carotid artery, CT3 when the omohyoid reached the medial half of the internal jugular vein, and CT4 when the omohyoid reached the lateral half of the internal jugular vein.

Results

At the lower border of the hyoid, HT1 was most commonly observed in 59.2%, whereas HT2 and HT3 were observed in 31.3% and 9.7%, respectively. At the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, CT3 was most commonly observed in 52.9%, whereas CT2, CT4, and CT1 were observed in 20.4%, 14.1%, and 12.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

HT1 and CT3 can be suggested ultrasonographic landmarks for the lower limits of levels 2 and 3, respectively.

Level of Evidence

2. Laryngoscope, 129:2487–2490, 2019
Frequency and Outcomes of Abnormal Imaging in Patients With Cirrhosis Enrolled in a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Program
Authors: Konerman Monica A. , Verma Aashesh , Zhao Betty , Singal Amit G. , Lok Anna S. , Parikh Neehar D.
Published: December 2018

There are limited data on the downstream effects of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, including the frequency of false‐positive results. We aimed to quantify the incidence of indeterminate nodules (INs) and the follow‐up testing needed to resolve these findings among patients enrolled in a structured HCC surveillance program. We retrospectively analyzed adult patients with cirrhosis enrolled in a structured HCC surveillance program in a large tertiary care center. Outcomes included surveillance benefits, defined as early HCC detection, and harm, defined as INs prompting additional diagnostic evaluation. Among 999 patients followed for a median of 2.2 years, HCC surveillance imaging was consistently completed every 6, 9, and 12 months in 46%, 51%, and 68% of patients, respectively. Of 256 (25.6%) patients with abnormal imaging, 69 (27.0%) were diagnosed with HCC and 187 (73.0%) with INs. Most HCC (n = 54, 78.3%) were found within Milan criteria. Among those with an IN, 78.1% returned to ultrasound surveillance after a median of 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1‐3) negative computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and 21.9% continued CT/MRI imaging (median, 1; IQR, 1‐2). Eleven patients underwent diagnostic liver biopsy. Hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia, and larger nodule size were independently associated with HCC diagnosis. In conclusion, 1 in 4 patients enrolled in an HCC surveillance program had abnormal surveillance imaging, but three‐fourths of the lesions were INs, resulting in downstream harm. Improved risk‐stratification tools are needed to identify nodules that are benign to reduce follow‐up diagnostic evaluation.
New research examines use, misuse of benzodiazepines
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2018

Although previous studies have found that the use of benzodiazepine, medication used to treat anxiety and insomnia is high, particularly among older adults, researchers found in a current study that the rates are even higher than previously reported. Misuse, they said, is highest among the youngest adults.
Study finds food insecurities linked to binge‐eating disorders
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2018

Food insecurity, considered the difficulty of affording enough food to support regular, balanced meals, is associated with an increased likelihood of binge‐eating disorder and obesity, according to new research published in the November issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Fibronectin modulates the endocannabinoid system through the cAMP/PKA pathway during human sperm capacitation
Authors: Martínez‐León Eduardo , Osycka‐Salut Claudia , Signorelli Janetti , Kong Milene , Morales Patricio , Pérez‐Martínez Silvina , Díaz Emilce Silvina
Published: December 2018

Fibronectin (Fn) enhances human sperm capacitation via the cAMP/PKA pathway, and the endocannabinoid system participates in this process. Moreover, Fn has been linked to endocannabinoid system components in different cellular models, even though no evidence of such interactions in human sperm is available. Normal semen samples were evaluated over a 4‐year period. Our findings suggest that (a) the capacitating effects of Fn were reversed by preincubating the sperm with a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) or transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) antagonist (
p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively); (b) cooperation between CB1 and TRPV1 may exist (
p < 0.01); (c) the activity of specific fatty acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH) decreased after 1 min (
p < 0.01) and increased after 60 min (
p < 0.01) of capacitation in the presence of Fn; (d) the effects of Fn on FAAH activity were prevented by preincubating spermatozoa with a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor (
p < 0.01); (e) Fn modulated both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration and PKA activity (
p < 0.05) during early capacitation; and (f) FAAH was a PKA substrate modulated by phosphorylation. These findings indicate that Fn stimulates human sperm capacitation via the cAMP/PKA pathway through modulation of the endocannabinoid system. Understanding the functional competence of human spermatozoa is essential for facilitating clinical advances in infertility treatment and for developing novel contraceptive strategies.
Frequency difference mapping applied to the corpus callosum at 7T
Authors: Tendler Benjamin C. , Bowtell Richard
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Frequency difference mapping (FDM) is a phase processing technique which characterizes the nonlinear temporal evolution of the phase of gradient echo (GE) signals. Here, a novel FDM‐processing algorithm is introduced, which is shown to reveal information about white matter microstructure. Unlike some other phase‐processing techniques, the FDM algorithm presented here does not require the use of phase unwrapping or sophisticated image processing. It uses a series of scaled complex divisions to unwrap phase and remove background fields.

Methods

Ten healthy subjects underwent a series of single‐slice, sagittal multi‐echo GE scans at 7T with the slice positioned at the midline. Phase data were processed with the novel FDM algorithm, and the temporal evolution of the magnitude signal and frequency difference was examined in 5 regions of the corpus callosum (CC; genu, anterior body, middle body, posterior body, and splenium).

Results

Consistent frequency difference contrast relative to surrounding tissue was observed in all subjects in the CC and in other white matter regions where the nerve fibers run perpendicular to , such as the superior cerebellar peduncle. Examination of the frequency difference curves shows distinct variations over the CC, with the genu and splenium displaying larger frequency differences than the other regions (in addition to a faster decay of signal magnitude).

Conclusion

The novel FDM algorithm presented here yields images sensitive to tissue microstructure and microstructural differences over the CC in a simple manner, without the requirement for phase unwrapping or sophisticated image processing.
The utility of a point‐of‐care sural nerve conduction device for detection of diabetic polyneuropathy: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Kural Mustafa A. , Andersen Signe T. , Andersen Niels T. , Andersen Henning , Charles Morten , Finnerup Nanna B. , Jensen Troels S. , Tankisi Hatice
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Rapid and accessible methods for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) have been developed, but not validated, in large cohorts of people with diabetes. Methods: The performance of a point‐of‐care device (POCD) was studied in 168 patients with type 2 diabetes, estimating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) compared with conventional sural nerve conduction studies (NCS). Results: A POCD amplitude limit of 6 µV increased the sensitivity (96%) and NPV (98%), but decreased the specificity (71%) and PPV (54%) compared with the 4‐µV limit, which had values of 78%, 92%, 89%, and 71%, respectively. POCD on both legs showed better performance than on 1 leg. POCD amplitudes and conduction velocities correlated significantly with conventional sural NCS, but POCD values were underestimated compared with NCS. Discussion: The POCD may be used as a suitable screening tool for detection of DPN. Patients with abnormal and borderline results should undergo conventional NCS. Muscle Nerve 59:187–193, 2019
Algorithmic results for potential‐based flows: Easy and hard cases
Authors: Gross Martin , Pfetsch Marc E. , Schewe Lars , Schmidt Martin , Skutella Martin
Published: December 2018

Potential‐based flows are an extension of classical network flows in which the flow on an arc is determined by the difference of the potentials of its incident nodes. Such flows are unique and arise, for example, in energy networks. Two important algorithmic problems are to determine whether there exists a feasible flow and to maximize the flow between two designated nodes. We show that these problems can be solved for the single source and sink case by reducing the network to a single arc. However, if we additionally consider switches that allow to force the flow to 0 and decouple the potentials, these problems are NP‐hard. Nevertheless, for particular series‐parallel networks, one can use algorithms for the subset sum problem. Moreover, applying network presolving based on generalized series‐parallel structures allows to significantly reduce the size of realistic energy networks.
Construction and calibration of a field TDR monitoring station
Authors: Curioni G. , Chapman D.N. , Metje N. , Foo K.Y. , Cross J.D.
Published: December 2018

Time‐Domain Reflectometry (TDR) has been used extensively in the past thirty years in order to measure soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity (), both in the laboratory and in the field. TDR can be effectively used in combination with geophysical techniques such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in order to provide information on relative dielectric permittivity and . As part of the Mapping the Underworld project, a TDR monitoring station was constructed with the aim of monitoring the geophysical parameters of the soil in a field case study. A rigorous methodology, utilizing the latest knowledge for calibration and analysis was followed and is thoroughly elucidated in this paper. The reasons behind the choice of the equipment setup are described, with the intention of providing a reference for similar TDR field installations. The precision and accuracy of TDR and the validation of the calibration procedures were assessed with laboratory and field tests. The standard deviation of several TDR measurements in the laboratory was on average smaller than 2% for both apparent permittivity and . The accuracy, expressed as the mean difference to reference values, was on average smaller than 2% and 3% of apparent permittivity and respectively, although higher errors, up to ≈ 5% and ≈ 7.5% respectively, were measured in media with very low apparent permittivity (i.e., air) and at values smaller than 0.0010 S/m. These results demonstrate that with the chosen methodology and setup, TDR can provide reliable data and can be used for long‐term geophysical monitoring. The data provided by TDR monitoring stations could contribute to a data base of geophysical properties for soils. This information may eventually be used to assist the fine tuning of shallow geophysical techniques such as GPR.
Recent advances in understanding the roles of matrix metalloproteinases in tumour invasion and metastasis
Authors: Conlon Guy A , Murray Graeme I
Published: December 2018

This review aims to provide an overview of recent developments regarding the roles of MMPs in tumour invasion and metastasis. Much of the mortality burden belonging to cancer relates to its ability to invade adjacent tissue and form metastases at distant sites. This would not be possible without remodelling of the ECM, a process which is enabled by the functions of MMPs. Recent studies provide a better understanding of the importance of the biophysical nature of the ECM, how this influences cancer cell motility, and how MMPs act to modify matrix stiffness. The regulation of MMPs and the role of immune cell generated MMPs has also become better understood. All of this provides a framework for the therapeutic targeting of MMPs and recent advances in the development of selective MMPs inhibitors are also reviewed. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal stability and mechanical properties of ethylenediamine‐modified GO/co‐polyamide nanocomposites
Authors: Men Tingting , Wei Honglin , Wang Huixin , He Haifeng , Liu Xin
Published: December 2018

We describe ethylenediamine‐modified graphene oxide (GO)/co‐polyamide (GO‐EDA/CO‐PA) nanocomposites prepared via solution blending with EDA‐modified GO (GO‐NH2/EDA). GO was prepared via the improved Hummers method, and EDA was used to modify the GO to add amine groups to graphene. X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscope analysis showed that the thickness of GO‐NH2/EDA was 1.2 nm. Amino functional groups were introduced onto the GO sheets. Due to the steric hindrance effect of the amino on modified graphene as well as the strong, specific interactions between aminos and carboxyls on CO‐PA, the GO‐NH2/EDA filler was homogeneously dispersed in the matrix, and the interface reaction was effectively improved. The GO‐NH2/EDA could change the crystal structure of pure nylon and the glass transition temperature (Tg). The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites increased dramatically when the GO‐NH2/EDA content is 0.6 wt%. The tensile strength and yield strength of the nanocomposites increased by 50.3 and 134.8%, respectively. The effects of interfacial interaction, increased crystallization, and prevention of agglomeration of GO‐NH2/EDA improved the thermal properties of the GO‐EDA/CO‐PA nanocomposites. This is because the 50% thermal degradation temperature (T‐50%) and the thermal degradation temperature (Td,max) of the nanocomposites increased by 16 and 15°C when the GO‐NH2/EDA content is 0.8 wt%. The nano‐filler improves the thermal diffusivity of the nylon matrix at low temperature. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3315–3324, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Mechanical and thermo‐mechanical characterization of glass ionomer‐filled dental composite
Authors: Verma Rahul , Azam Mohammad Sikandar , Kumar Shiv Ranjan , Patnaik Amar
Published: December 2018

In this study, the effect of adding glass ionomer (GI) Restorative Cement (0−30 wt%) on the mechanical and thermo‐mechanical characterization of dental composite has been discussed. The characterization of dental composites was done by performing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hardness test, compression test, flexural strength test, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The finding of experiments indicated that the addition of 10 wt% of GI increased the water hardness, flexural strength and compressive strength by 88.48, 15.95, and 17.74%, respectively. DMA results revealed that the storage modulus was initially increased by 88% when GI was increased up to 20 wt%, however, further increase of GI up to 30 wt% resulted in decrease in the storage modulus by 16.4%. Also, loss modulus was increased by 41.6% when GI was increased by 10 wt%, however, it was further decreased by 2.94% and by 35.29% on addition of GI filler content up to 20 and 30 wt%, respectively. Incorporation of GI up to 10 wt% decreased the damping factor by 36.36% but further addition of GI up to 20 and 30 wt% increased the damping factor of dental composite by 14.2 and 50%. TGA indicated that thermal degradation temperature was increased with the addition of GI filler. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3361–3367, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Toward Area‐Smart Data Science: Critical Questions for Working With Big Data From China
Authors: Stockmann Daniela
Published: December 2018

While the Internet was created without much governmental oversight, states have gradually drawn territorial borders via Internet governance. China stands out as a promoter of such a territorial‐based approach. China's separate Web infrastructure shapes data when information technologies capture traces of human behavior. As a result, area expertise can contribute to the substantive, methodological, and ethical debates surrounding big data. This article discusses how a number of critical questions that have been raised about big data more generally apply to the Chinese context: How does big data change our understanding of China? What are the limitations of big data from China? What is the context in which big data is generated in China? Who has access to big data and who knows the tools? How can big data from China be used in an ethical way? These questions are intended to spark conversations about best practices for collaboration between data scientists and China experts.
Polymer brushes grafted from graphene via bioinspired polydopamine chemistry and activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Wang Shuangshuang , Meng Han , Li Yuchao , Sun Da , Zhan Yanhu , Ge Xiangcai , Chen Lin
Published: December 2018

Polymer brushes decorated reduced GO (rGO) with advanced applications have been prepared by bioinspired polydopamine (PDA) chemistry integrated with activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET‐ATRP) technique. First, rGO/PDA was obtained by the process for graphene oxide (GO) coated with a homogeneous bio‐adhesive PDA layer. Then the initiator 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) was immobilized on the surface of PDA functionalized rGO. Finally, rGO/PDA‐Br was polymerized with N, N‐diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to obtain rGO/PDA‐g‐polymer brushes by ARGET‐ATRP process. The prepared rGO/PDA‐g‐PGMA brush would be subjected to further functionalization with ethylenediamine (EDA), which would impart the obtained products (rGO/PDA‐g‐PGMA‐NH2) with good adsorption ability toward cationic dyes. The chemical structures and morphologies of the functionalized GO products have been characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The distinctive pH‐responsive character of rGO/PDA‐g‐PDEAEMA and adsorption ability of rGO/PDA‐g‐PGMA‐NH2 for cationic dyes have been explored by UV–vis spectrophotometer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 689–698
Block copolymer‐directed synthesis of porous anatase for lithium‐ion battery electrodes
Authors: McRae Olivia F. , Xia Qingbo , Tjaberings Stefanie , Gröschel André H. , Ling Chris D. , Müllner Markus
Published: December 2018

A templating method is developed to produce porous nanocrystalline anatase materials for negative electrodes in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Amphiphilic diblock copolymers are used to generate template films with phase‐separated internal structure. Subsequent swelling with acidified titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide (TALH) solution yielded structured hybrid films. Upon heating, the formation of TiO2 nanocrystals is induced, resulting in a three‐dimensional mesoporous structure directed by the bulk morphology of the polymer template. In comparison to commercial nanosized anatase, the structured anatase shows significant performance improvements in lithium‐ion coin cell batteries in terms of capacity, stability, and rate capability. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1890–1896
An adaptive background error inflation method for assimilating all‐sky radiances
Authors: Minamide Masashi , Zhang Fuqing
Published: December 2018

An adaptive background error inflation (ABEI) method is proposed for assimilating all‐sky satellite brightness temperatures with an ensemble Kalman filter. This empirical cloud‐scene‐dependent covariance inflation method is designed to mitigate the model's difficulties in initiating convection in the observed cloudy regions where the background prior estimated from the ensemble mean incorrectly simulates clear‐sky conditions. This new approach calculates a spatially varying, flow‐dependent, multiplicative ensemble covariance inflation factor based on error statistics produced by a well‐constructed, off‐line observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) that assimilates similar all‐sky radiance observations but were generated by the model, in which case the truth is known for all the state variables and the assimilated radiances. The adaptive inflation factor is a linear function of a cloud parameter which is only applied to the observed cloudy regions where there are less or no cloud in the prior ensemble mean estimates. The performance of ABEI is evaluated through assimilating synthetic and real‐data all‐sky radiance experiments from the Advanced Baseline Imager on board GOES‐16 for Hurricanes Karl of 2010 and Harvey of 2017. Assimilation experiments with ABEI allow adaptive inflation of the ensemble covariance in the model‐simulated clear‐sky regions when there are observed clouds while avoiding unnecessarily large ensemble spread in other cloud scenarios. This new approach alleviates the difficulty in estimating the appropriate inflation factors in the model state space using the innovation statistics in the observation space (radiance) with a highly nonlinear observation operator. It serves as an alternative to existing methods using spatially varying adaptive inflations; their relative performance and potential combinations are to be further assessed in the future.
An endemic flora of dispersed spores from the Middle Devonian of Iberia
Authors: Askew Alexander J. , Wellman Charles H.
Published: December 2018

Diverse assemblages of dispersed spores have been recovered from Middle Devonian rocks in northern Spain, revealing a significant endemism in the flora. Middle Devonian Iberia was part of a relatively isolated island complex (Armorican Terrane Assemblage), separated by considerable tracts of ocean from Laurussia to the north‐west and Gondwana to the south‐east. The Middle Devonian deposits of the Cantabrian Zone of northern Spain are entirely marine and comprise a thick clastic unit sandwiched between extensive carbonate units. The clastic unit, the laterally equivalent Naranco, Huergas and Gustalapiedra formations of Asturias, León and Palencia provinces, represents a nearshore‐offshore transect across a marine shelf. This unit is also believed to encompass the Kačák Event, an important global extinction event. The recovered palynomorphs include marine (phytoplankton, chitinozoans, scolecodonts) and terrestrial (spores) assemblages. These are abundant and well preserved, although of variable thermal maturity. Here, we describe the dispersed spores and consider their significance as regards biostratigraphy, palaeophytogeography and Kačák Event interpretation. The dispersed spores represent a single assemblage assignable to the lemurata–langii Assemblage Zone (lemurata Subzone) indicating a probable early (but not earliest) Givetian age. Signs of endemism include various taxa known only from this region, some taxa appearing to have discordant ranges compared with elsewhere, and the absence from Iberia of certain prominent taxa characteristic of coeval assemblages elsewhere, such as those with grapnel‐tipped processes. The abrupt interruption of carbonate deposition, with a change to rapid deposition of thick clastic deposits, provides support for a monsoonal cause of the Kačák Event.
Reduced expression of synapsin II in a chronic phencyclidine preclinical rat model of schizophrenia
Authors: Thomson Sharon , Dyck Bailey , Daya Ritesh , Ho Joella , Bernardo Ashley , Tian Yuxin , Mishra Ram K.
Published: December 2018

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction. Phencyclidine (PCP)—a N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist—induces symptoms indistinguishable from those of schizophrenia. A reduction of the phosphoprotein synapsin II has also been implicated in schizophrenia and has a well‐known role in the maintenance of the presynaptic reserve pool and vesicle mobilization. This study assessed the behavioral and biochemical outcomes of chronic NMDA receptor antagonism in rodents and its implications for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Sprague Dawley rats received saline or chronic PCP (5 mg/kg/day) for 14 days via surgically implanted Alzet® osmotic mini‐pumps. Following the treatment period, rats were tested with a series of behavioral paradigms, including locomotor activity, social interaction, and sensorimotor gating. Following behavioral assessment, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of all rats was isolated for synapsin II protein analysis. Chronic PCP treatment yielded a hyper‐locomotive state (p = 0.0256), reduced social interaction (p = 0.0005), and reduced pre‐pulse inhibition (p < 0.0001) in comparison to saline‐treated controls. Synapsin IIa (p < 0.0001) and IIb (p < 0.0071) levels in the mPFC of chronically treated PCP rats were reduced in comparison to the saline group. Study results confirm that rats subject to chronic PCP treatment display behavioral phenotypes similar to established preclinical animal models of schizophrenia. Reduction of synapsin II expression in this context implicates the role of this protein in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and sheds light on the longer‐term consequences of NMDA receptor antagonism facilitated by chronic PCP treatment.
Teacher–student negotiations during context‐based chemistry reform: A case study
Authors: Overman Michelle , Vermunt Jan D. , Meijer Paulien C. , Brekelmans Mieke
Published: December 2018

Teachers participating in curricular reforms, especially reforms based on constructivism, are expected to bring about change in their teaching approach. This is often a difficult, complex and intensive process, and demands a radical reculturing of the classroom. This is also the case for social constructivist reforms in chemistry education, which are based on a context‐based approach. Educational change is a social and interactional process, and during this change teachers will engage in negotiations with their students about the reform. These teacher–student negotiations have a profound impact on the succeeding of the reform. This study explores the teacher–student interactions during the reform that shape and alter the context‐based chemistry approach. We focused on two teachers, of whom it was found in an earlier study that one of them succeeded in implementing the reform, while the other one struggled. By following them for one school year, in which in‐depth qualitative data was collected through various instruments, we developed insights about the teacher–student negotiations that influenced the educational reform. Three themes emerged from the data: “agency of learning,” “vulnerability,” and “care.” The differences that were found between the teachers regarding these themes help explain why and how the reform can become a success and why the reform often fails to change classroom practice.
Gobbling activity of eastern wild turkeys relative to male movements and female nesting phenology in South Carolina
Authors: Chamberlain Michael J. , Wightman Patrick H. , Cohen Bradley S. , Collier Bret A.
Published: December 2018

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) use a polygynous mating system, and males must balance fitness benefits of courtship displays against costs of their reproductive strategies. Wild turkeys are the only gamebird species in the contiguous United States hunted primarily during their reproductive period. Managers attempt to implement seasons that allow for hunter satisfaction while limiting effects to reproduction and ensuring sustainable populations. To minimize illegal harvest, managers often attempt to set spring hunting seasons when gobbling activity is high and females are actively incubating nests. Gobbling activity varies significantly both temporally and spatially, and relationships between gobbling activity and reproductive phenology are unclear. We used autonomous recording units and Global Positioning System transmitters to monitor gobbling activity by male eastern wild turkeys (M. g. silvestris) and evaluate fine‐scale movements of male wild turkeys and nesting chronology of females on the Webb Wildlife Management Area Complex in South Carolina, USA, during 2015–2016. Based on 19,126 gobbles and movement ecology data from 99 wild turkeys (70 F, 29 M), we found no discernable pattern to support the hypothesis that gobbling activity increases with onset of incubation by females. We also observed no definable relationship between daily movements of males and gobbling activity, likely driven by the considerable daily variability in gobbling activity. We noted apparent lags in gobbling activity relative to nest initiation (onset of laying), and offer that understanding mechanisms underlying these apparent lags may be important to improving our understanding of reproductive ecology in wild turkeys. Research evaluating confounding influences of hunting activity and male mortality during the breeding season on gobbling activity and wild turkey population dynamics is warranted. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Optimum design of hydraulic water retaining structures incorporating uncertainty in estimating heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity utilizing stochastic ensemble surrogate models within a multi-objective multi-realisation optimisation model
Authors: Al-Juboori Muqdad , Datta Bithin
Published: December 2018

In order to find optimum and reliable designs for hydraulic water retaining structures (HWRSs), a reliability based optimum design (RBOD) model was used to quantify uncertainty in estimates of seepage characteristics due to uncertainty in heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity (HHC). This included incorporating reliability measures into minimum-cost HWRS designs and utilising a multi-realisation optimisation technique based on various stochastic ensemble surrogate models. To improve the efficiency of the RBOD model and the direct search optimisation solver, a multi-objective multi-realisation optimisation (MOMRO) model was employed. Some of the stochastic optimisation constraints could be formulated as a second objective function to be minimised in the MOMRO model. This can significantly improve the search efficiency of the multi-objective non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) that was used, and help determine more feasible candidate solutions in the search space. Gaussian process regression was used to develop the surrogate models, which were trained on numerous datasets created from numerical seepage simulations. The effect of uncertainty was also considered for other HWRS safety factors and conditions, such as overturning, flotation, sliding and eccentric loading. The results demonstrate that uncertainty in HHC estimates significantly impacts optimum HWRS design. Therefore, deterministic optimum solutions that are created based on expected values of hydraulic conductivity are not adequate for reliable HWRS design. The developed MOMRO model, which was based on an ensemble approach, addresses some of the uncertainty in HHC values that affects HWRS design. Also, the MOMRO technique improves the efficiency of the optimisation search process and facilitates a direct search process to provide many optimum alternatives.

Highlights The uncertainty in HHC affects the optimum HWRS design. MOMR is used to quantify the reliability based on stochastic ensemble surrogate models. The MOMR technique improves the direct search optimization process based NSGA-II. Exit gradient is influenced by the uncertainty of HHC and affects the HWRS optimum designs.
Exacerbation causes among inflammatory bowel disease patients in Guilan Province north of Iran
Authors: Hosseini Raheleh Sadat , Mansour-Ghanaei Fariborz , Shafaghi Afshin , Hojati Amineh , Joukar Farahnaz , Roushan Zahra Atrkar , Hosseini Fakhri Alsadat , Mavaddati Sara
Published: December 2018

Objective Numerous factors may contribute as triggers to the exacerbation of the condition of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods The medical files of 109 patients with the positive history of inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation between March 2016 and March 2017 were assessed retrospectively. Data were obtained using the inflammatory bowel disease data bank software. The parameters were obtained from the inflammatory bowel disease data bank software. The mentioned parameters were assessed in terms of type and severity of disease using chi-square test in SPSS software. Moreover, binary logistic regression test was used to assess the associations between season of disease onset and inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results Overall, (88.1%) of cases with inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation, had ulcerative colitis. The mean age of patients was 38.14 ± 14.66 years. The disease duration in all patients (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) was 35.43 and 38.85 months, respectively. About 50% of patients with infection were strongyloides stercoralis positive. The occurrence of mild inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation was significantly higher in spring in comparison to other seasons (OR = 3.58; 95% CI 0.1–1.04). Most patients with ulcerative colitis were prescribed salicylates alone (53.12%). Most patients with Crohn's disease with mild and severe activity were non-smokers (p = 0.058). This difference was marginally significant.

Conclusion It is suggested that in future studies, the evidences of distribution of SS infections among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and the history of exacerbation along with other environmental factors such as enhancing nutritional quality and surface water be taken into consideration.
The mystery of the disappearing magnesium
Authors: Nickels Liz
Published: December 2018

A US-based 3D printing company is working with researchers to develop ‘disappearing’ magnesium parts – 3D printed medical implants that are designed to slowly dissolve in the body. Liz Nickels spoke to Optomec to solve the mystery.
DISEMBODIMENT: REPRODUCTION, TRANSCRIPTION, AND TRACE
Authors: Einbond Aaron
Published: December 2018

This article poses the question, what is so great about the body? Recent scholarship has emphasized the concept of an embodied cognition and reminded us of the significance of embodiment in musical performance. Yet, vital as these observations may be, they offer only a limited view of what ‘touch’ can mean. Following the semiotic notion of the index as a sign with a real connection to its object, writers and artists such as Friedrich Kittler, Ai Weiwei, Kenneth Goldsmith and Nicolas Donin have reflected on how the reproductions of the gramophone needle, the calligrapher's brush, the blogger's keyboard, and the programmer's code can trace meaningful points of contact. Examples from my own practice illustrate some of the many possible ways that digital traces can be touching.
ZUHANDEN
Authors: Molitor Claudia
Published: December 2018

As a pianist I spent many hours practising the connection between my touching and my listening, adjusting the pressure and weight of touching the keyboard to elicit just the right sonic texture in a note. As a composer I have spent years exploring the connection between my embodied act of notating and its potential sonic reality. Both these endeavours are acts of honing cross-modal activity. As I continue to qualify my experiences of sound and working with sound through language in instances like this – writing about my practice – I find myself constructing an increasingly complex and expanding web of linguistic gymnastics, in an attempt to explain, explore and grasp the slippery subject of listening.
Liza Lim: Atlas of the Sky – Melbourne Recital Hall
Authors: Maurer Simone
Published: December 2018

Speak Percussion, soprano Jessica Aszodi, and a crowd of 25, gave an intense performance, and world premiere, of Liza Lim's hour-long Atlas of the Sky. Lim's work was inspired by three poems: ‘The Stars’ by Eliot Weinberger, and ‘Whetting’ and ‘The Answer’ by contemporary Chinese poet Bei Dao. Imagery on stage was derived from the poetry, and the work touched on themes of community, ritual, and crowds.
Global Varieties of Capitalism
Authors: Feldmann Magnus
Published: December 2018

This article analyzes the prospects for globalizing the varieties of capitalism (voc) debate. It identifies and compares firm-centered, governance-centered, and state-centered approaches to extending the debate on capitalist diversity, and discusses the distinctive contributions of each approach as well as the trade-offs between them. The author draws on three agenda-setting volumes that engage with thevocframework and study capitalist diversity in three regions not usually covered by this literature: Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, and East Central Europe. As these regions play an increasingly important role in the world economy, this article examines what the books imply about the current state of knowledge about globalvoc. The author argues that the extension of thevocdebate to these parts of the world is important for advancing the understanding of economic institutions; the approach can reinvigorate research on capitalist diversity and the institutional foundations of economic development in the current era of globalization.
Smart Navigation of Humanoid Robots Using DAYKUN-BIP Virtual Target Displacement and Petri-Net Strategy
Authors: Parhi Dayal R. , Kumar Priyadarshi Biplab
Published: December 2018

With an ability to mimic the human behaviour and replace human efforts in proper platforms, humanoid robots have always acquired a special place among robotics practitioners. Being a complex method of analysis, navigation and path planning, humanoid robots still possess an interesting yet challenging area of investigation. In the current work, a novel navigational strategy has been proposed for smooth and hassle-free movement of single as well as multi-humanoid robots in complex environments. Here, the navigational plan is based on a virtual target displacement strategy which is activated when the robot is unable to find a safe path along the actual target line. After detection of a potential obstacle by the sensors of the robot, a number of virtual targets are generated around the actual target. Then, the most feasible path and point to move are calculated by assigning suitable weightage through several selected parameters to each target line and visualizing the safest path. The proposed approach is implemented on a V-REP simulation platform, and the simulation results are also validated against an experimental set-up prepared under test conditions. The validation of simulation results against experimental counterparts has revealed satisfactory agreement between them. To avoid possibility of any inter-collision during navigation of multi-humanoids under a common platform, a Petri-Net strategy has been integrated along with the proposed control strategy. Finally, the developed approach is also assessed against another existing navigational controller, and a significant performance improvement has been observed.
miR-23a promotes invasion of glioblastoma via HOXD10-regulated glial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Yachi Kazuhiro , Tsuda Masumi , Kohsaka Shinji , Wang Lei , Oda Yoshitaka , Tanikawa Satoshi , Ohba Yusuke , Tanaka Shinya
Published: December 2018

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and invasive brain tumor and has a poor prognosis; elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to select molecular targeted therapies. Here, we investigated the effect of microRNAs on the marked invasiveness of glioblastoma. U373 glioblastoma cells were infected with 140 different microRNAs from an OncomiR library, and the effects of the invasion-related microRNAs and targeted molecules were investigated after repeated Matrigel invasion assays. Screening of the OncomiR library identified miR-23a as a key regulator of glioblastoma invasion. In six glioblastoma cell lines, a positive correlation was detected between the expression levels of miR-23a and invasiveness. A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that homeobox D10 (HOXD10) was a miR-23a-target molecule, which was verified by high scores from both the PicTar and miRanda algorithms. Forced expression of miR-23a induced expression of invasion-related molecules, including uPAR, RhoA, and RhoC, and altered expression of glial-mesenchymal transition markers such as Snail, Slug, MMP2, MMP9, MMP14, and E-cadherin; however, these changes in expression levels were reversed by HOXD10 overexpression. Thus, miR-23a significantly promoted invasion of glioblastoma cells with polarized formation of focal adhesions, while exogenous HOXD10 overexpression reversed these phenomena. Here, we identify miR-23a-regulated HOXD10 as a pivotal regulator of invasion in glioblastoma, providing a novel mechanism for the aggressive invasiveness of this tumor and providing insight into potential therapeutic targets.
Sensitive and selective colorimetric nitrite ion assay using silver nanoparticles easily synthesized and stabilized by AHNDMS and functionalized with PABA
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammed Hassan , Xue Zhonghua , Abdu Hassan Idris , Shinger Mahgoub Ibrahim , Idris Ahmed Mahmoud , Edris Murtada Mohamed , Shan Duoliang , Lu Xiaoquan
Published: December 2018

Nitrite ions (NO2−), as one of the important inorganic anions, exhibit considerable effects towards the environment and human health.
Applications of nanoparticles in biomedical imaging
Authors: Han Xiangjun , Xu Ke , Taratula Olena , Farsad Khashayar
Published: December 2018

An urgent need for early detection and diagnosis of diseases continuously pushes the advancements of imaging modalities and contrast agents. Nanoparticles as imaging contrast agents demonstrate more advantages and have promise to greatly benefit clinical practice.
Broad spectral response of an individual tellurium nanobelt grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Kang Songdan , Dai Tian , Ma Xingyuan , Dang Shuai , Li Hongwei , Hu Ping , Yu Fengmei , Zhou Xiang , Wu Shuxiang , Li Shuwei
Published: December 2018

A photodetector with high performance based on an individual Te nanobelt provides a promising approach for further optoelectronic nanodevices.
Identification of the common biosynthetic gene cluster for both antimicrobial streptoaminals and antifungal 5-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines
Authors: Ozaki Taro , Sugiyama Ryosuke , Shimomura Morito , Nishimura Shinichi , Asamizu Shumpei , Katsuyama Yohei , Kakeya Hideaki , Onaka Hiroyasu
Published: December 2018

The new subfamily of type II PKS gene cluster is responsible for biosynthesis of structurally distinct streptoaminals (STAMs) and 5-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines (5aTHQs).
Metal-free oxysulfonylation and aminosulfonylation of alkenyl oximes: synthesis of sulfonylated isoxazolines and cyclic nitrones
Authors: Xu Zhong-Qi , Zheng Lin-Chuang , Li Lin , Duan Lili , Li Yue-Ming
Published: December 2018

Sulfonylated isoxazolines and cyclic nitrones were obtained in moderate to excellent yieldsviaiodine-catalyzed oxysulfonylation and aminosulfonylation of alkenyl oximes.
Multi-functional fluorinated ionic liquid infused slippery surfaces with dual-responsive wettability switching and self-repairing
Authors: Rao Qingqing , Li Ao , Zhang Jiawen , Jiang Jingxian , Zhang Qinghua , Zhan Xiaoli , Chen Fengqiu
Published: December 2018

A new type of fluorinated ionic liquid infused self-repairing slippery surface with double responses and controllable wettability.
Pyrene-functionalized polymeric carbon nitride with promoted aqueous–organic biphasic photocatalytic CO2 reduction
Authors: Gong Xuezhong , Yu Sijia , Guan Meili , Zhu Xianglin , Xue Can
Published: December 2018

Covalently grafting pyrene groups on polymeric carbon nitride enables photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous solution with simultaneous alkene oxidation in organic phase.
CuxS nanoparticle@carbon nanorod composites prepared from metal–organic frameworks as efficient electrode catalysts for quantum dot sensitized solar cells
Authors: Wang Yuan , Yao Mingshui , Zhao Lianjing , Wang Wei , Xue Weinan , Li Yan
Published: December 2018

Carbon nanorods encased with abundant Cu nanoparticles were synthesized for the first time by direct pyrolysis of HKUST-1 and utilized as an electrode catalyst for the fabrication of high efficiency quantum dot sensitized solar cells.
Towards improved efficiency of polymer solar cells via chlorination of a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene based polymer donor
Authors: Dong Yingying , Yang Hang , Wu Yue , Zou Yan , Yuan Jianyu , Cui Chaohua , Li Yongfang
Published: December 2018

A chlorine substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene based conjugated polymer, PBT-Cl, is designed and synthesized as a donor material for high-performance polymer solar cells.
Development of a near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for glutathione using an intramolecular charge transfer signaling mechanism and its bioimaging application in living cells
Authors: Zhou Yong , Zhang Li , Zhang Xuan , Zhu Zhi-Jia
Published: December 2018

A novel NIR ratiometric fluorescent probe HBT-GSH was developed for the selective detection of GSH over Cys and Hcy in aqueous solution. The signaling mechanism of the GSH-induced removal of an acetyl group and the switching on of ICT fluorescence was proposed.
Orientation dependent physical transport behavior and the micro-mechanical response of ZnO nanocomposites induced by SWCNTs and graphene: importance of intrinsic anisotropy and interfaces
Authors: Liang Xin , Yang Yuqing , Dai Feihu , Wang Changan
Published: December 2018

The orientation-dependent physical transport properties of ZnO nanocomposites induced by intrinsic anisotropy of SWCNT/graphene and ZnO/carbon interfaces.
Grain configuration effect on the phase transition, piezoelectric strain and temperature stability of KNN-based ceramics
Authors: Cen Zhenyong , Yu Yan , Zhao Peiyao , Chen Lingling , Zhu Chaoqiong , Li Longtu , Wang Xiaohui
Published: December 2018

Lead-free 0.985(0.96KNNT–0.04BNKZ)–0.015CZ ceramics were sintered at 1150–1190 °C.