bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Total Body Protein and Cross‐Sectional Skeletal Muscle Area in Liver Cirrhosis Is Influenced by Overhydration
Authors: Wells Cameron I. , McCall John L. , Plank Lindsay D.
Published: July 2018

Sarcopenia as defined by reduced skeletal muscle area (SMA) on cross‐sectional abdominal imaging has been proposed as an objective measure of malnutrition, and it is associated with both wait‐list mortality and posttransplant complications in patients with cirrhosis. SMA, however, has never been validated against the gold standard measurement of total body protein (TBP) by in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA). Furthermore, overhydration is common in cirrhosis, and its effect on muscle area measurement remains unknown. We aimed to examine the relationship between SMA and TBP in patients with cirrhosis and to assess the impact of overhydration on this relationship. Patients with cirrhosis who had undergone IVNAA and cross‐sectional imaging within 30 days were retrospectively identified. Patients with significant clinical events between measurements were excluded. Psoas muscle area (PMA) and SMA at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae were determined. Total body water was estimated from a multicompartment model and expressed as a fraction of fat‐free mass (FFM), as determined by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, to provide an index of hydration status. In total, 107 patients underwent 109 cross‐sectional imaging studies (87 computed tomography; 22 magnetic resonance imaging) within 30 days of IVNAA. Median time between measurements was 1 day (IQR, –1 to 3 days). Between 43% and 69% of the cohort was identified as sarcopenic, depending on muscle area cutoff values used. TBP was strongly correlated with SMA (r = 0.78; P < 0.001) and weakly correlated with PMA (r = 0.49; P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed SMA was significantly and positively associated with FFM hydration (P < 0.001) independently of TBP. In conclusion, SMA is more closely related to TBP than is PMA, and it should be preferred as a measure of sarcopenia. Overhydration significantly affects the measurement of cross‐sectional muscle area.
Changes in Silk Feedstock Rheology during Cocoon Construction: The Role of Calcium and Potassium Ions
Authors: Laity Peter R. , Baldwin Elizabeth , Holland Chris
Published: July 2018

Variation in silk feedstocks is a barrier both to our understanding of natural spinning and biomimetic endeavors. To address this, compositional changes are investigated in feedstock specimens from the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori). It is found that the feedstock viscosity decreased systematically by over two orders of magnitude during cocoon construction. Potential factors such as protein concentration, molecular weight, pH, or the presence of trehalose are excluded, whereas a clear correlation appear between viscosity and the relative concentrations of Ca2+ and K+ ions. It is expected that Ca2+ ions would favor “salt bridges” between acidic (Asp and Glu) amino acids, leading to an increased viscosity, whereas K+ ions would compete for these sites, thereby reducing viscosity. Thus, these findings suggest a simple, systematic yet sophisticated control of feedstock viscosity in the silkworm, which in turn can be applied to future industrial silk production.
Tell me your story and I will tell you who you are: Persona perspective in sustainable consumption
Authors: Onel Naz , Mukherjee Avinandan , Kreidler Nicole Bieak , Díaz Estela M. , Furchheim Pia , Gupta Shipra , Keech Jessica , Murdock Mitchel R. , Wang Qin
Published: July 2018

Although research in marketing and consumer behavior has tried to portray sustainable consumers in many different ways, a clear, consistent, and granular identification of these consumers is still not available due to the complexity of sustainable consumption. This study adopts personas as a way to better explain and understand the holistic nature and complexity of sustainable consumer behavior in terms of its various stages (i.e. acquisition, usage, and postuse) within four key behavioral functions of mobility, housing, clothing, and food. Different sustainability related functions of personas are seen to be fundamental lifestyle components and could be fulfilled by a variety of sustainable actions. This exploratory study uses a qualitative methodology, involving data collection through multiple in‐depth interviews across several countries. The results reveal three different consumer archetypes with distinct sustainable consumption strategies: holistic sustainable consumers, transitional sustainable consumers, and restricted sustainable consumers. Managerial and theoretical implications provide practical recommendations for marketing managers and public policy planners, as well as directions for continued research in this area.
Self‐Healing Polycaprolactone Networks through Thermo‐Induced Reversible Disulfide Bond Formation
Authors: Zhang Liangdong , Qiu Teng , Zhu Zhiqiang , Guo Longhai , Li Xiaoyu
Published: July 2018

Polycaprolactone (PCL) networks with disulfide bonds are synthesized through a thiol‐ene “click” reaction. The PCL networks have various functional properties, including self‐healing, shape memory, reprocessability, and degradability. Pronouncedly, a healing efficiency of 92% on the yield strength of the PCL network is obtained after heating for 1 h at 60 °C. Meanwhile, the PCL networks show shape memory property with fixing ratio (R
f) and recovery ratio (R
r) at 98% and 95%, respectively. The PCL network still retains good mechanical properties after reprocessing cycles and can be fast‐decomposed through a thiol‐disulfide exchange reaction.
Quantitative evaluation of pulmonary gas‐exchange function using hyperpolarized 129Xe CEST MRS and MRI
Authors: Li Haidong , Zhang Zhiying , Zhao Xiuchao , Han Yeqing , Sun Xianping , Ye Chaohui , Zhou Xin
Published: July 2018

Hyperpolarized 129Xe gas MR has been a powerful tool for evaluating pulmonary structure and function due to the extremely high enhancement in spin polarization, the good solubility in the pulmonary parenchyma, and the excellent chemical sensitivity to its surrounding environment. Generally, the quantitative structural and functional information of the lung are evaluated using hyperpolarized 129Xe by employing the techniques of chemical shift saturation recovery (CSSR) and xenon polarization transfer contrast (XTC). Hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer (Hyper‐CEST) is another method for quantifying the exchange information of hyperpolarized 129Xe by using the exchange of xenon signals according to its different chemical shifts, and it has been widely used in biosensor studies in vitro. However, the feasibility of using hyperpolarized 129Xe CEST to quantify the pulmonary gas exchange function in vivo is still unclear. In this study, the technique of CEST was used to quantitatively evaluate the gas exchange in the lung globally and regionally via hyperpolarized 129Xe MRS and MRI, respectively. A new parameter, the pulmonary apparent gas exchange time constant (Tapp), was defined, and it increased from 0.63 s to 0.95 s in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats (induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide exposure) versus the controls with a significant difference (P = 0.001). Additionally, the spatial distribution maps of Tapp in COPD rats' pulmonary parenchyma showed a regionally obvious increase compared with healthy rats. These results indicated that hyperpolarized 129Xe CEST MR was an effective method for globally and regionally quantifying the pulmonary gas exchange function, which would be helpful in diagnosing lung diseases that are related to gas exchange, such as COPD.
Botnet detection based on network flow summary and deep learning
Authors: Pektaş Abdurrahman , Acarman Tankut
Published: July 2018

A botnet is a group of compromised Internet‐connected devices controlled remotely by cyber criminals to launch coordinated attacks and to perform various malicious activities. Since botnets continuously adapt themselves to the evolving countermeasures introduced by both network and host‐based detection mechanism, the traditional approaches do not provide adequate protection to botnet threat. On the one hand, behavioral analysis of network traffic can play a key role to detect botnets. For instance, behavioral analysis can be applied to observe and discover communication patterns that botnets operate during their life cycle. On the other hand, deep learning has been successfully applied to various classification tasks, and it is also a promising solution for botnet discovery. In this paper, we apply deep neural network to detect botnet by modeling network traffic flow. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated with publicly available large‐scale communication traces. The experimental results illustrate that deep learning is an efficient and effective method for identifying botnet traffic with a high true positive rate (attack detection rate) and low false positive alarm rate.
Global and local POD models for the prediction of compressible flows with DG methods
Authors: Ferrero Andrea , Iollo Angelo , Larocca Francesco
Published: July 2018

Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) allows to compress information by identifying the most energetic modes obtained from a database of snapshots. In this work, POD is used to predict the behavior of compressible flows by means of global and local approaches, which exploit some features of a discontinuous Galerkin spatial discretization. The presented global approach requires the definition of high‐order and low‐order POD bases, which are built from a database of high‐fidelity simulations. Predictions are obtained by performing a cheap low‐order simulation whose solution is projected on the low‐order basis. The projection coefficients are then used for the reconstruction with the high‐order basis. However, the nonlinear behavior related to the advection term of the governing equations makes the use of global POD bases quite problematic. For this reason, a second approach is presented in which an empirical POD basis is defined in each element of the mesh. This local approach is more intrusive with respect to the global approach but it is able to capture better the nonlinearities related to advection. The two approaches are tested and compared on the inviscid compressible flow around a gas‐turbine cascade and on the compressible turbulent flow around a wind turbine airfoil.
Composite finite element approximation for nonlinear parabolic problems in nonconvex polygonal domains
Authors: Pramanick Tamal , Sinha Rajen Kumar
Published: July 2018

We study a new class of finite elements so‐called composite finite elements (CFEs), introduced earlier by Hackbusch and Sauter, Numer. Math., 1997; 75:447‐472, for the approximation of nonlinear parabolic equation in a nonconvex polygonal domain. A two‐scale CFE discretization is used for the space discretizations, where the coarse‐scale grid discretized the domain at an appropriate distance from the boundary and the fine‐scale grid is used to resolve the boundary. A continuous, piecewise linear CFE space is employed for the spatially semidiscrete finite element approximation and the temporal discretizations is based on modified linearized backward Euler scheme. We derive almost optimal‐order convergence in space and optimal order in time for the CFE method in the L∞(L2) norm. Numerical experiment is carried out for an L‐shaped domain to illustrate our theoretical findings.
POxylated Dendrimer‐Based Nano‐in‐Micro Dry Powder Formulations for Inhalation Chemotherapy
Authors: Restani Rita B. , Pires Rita F. , Tolmatcheva Anna , Cabral Rita , Baptista Pedro V. , Fernandes Alexandra R. , Casimiro Teresa , Bonifácio Vasco D. B. , Aguiar‐Ricardo Ana
Published: July 2018

POxylated polyurea dendrimer (PUREG4OOx48)‐based nanoparticles were loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) and micronized with chitosan (CHT) by using supercritical CO2‐assisted spray drying (SASD). Respirable, biocompatible, and biodegradable dry powder formulations (DPFs) were produced to effectively transport and deliver the chemotherapeutics with a controlled rate to the deep lung. In vitro studies performed with the use of the lung adenocarcinoma cell line showed that DOX@PUREG4OOx48 nanoparticles were much more cytotoxic than the free drug. Additionally, the DPFs did not show higher cytotoxicity than the respective nanoparticles, and DOX‐DPFs showed a higher chemotherapeutic effect than PTX formulations in adenocarcinoma cells.
Effectiveness of risk minimization measures for the use of cilostazol in United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, and Germany
Authors: Castellsague Jordi , Poblador‐Plou Beatriz , Giner‐Soriano Maria , Linder Marie , Scholle Oliver , Calingaert Brian , Bui Christine , Arana Alejandro , Laguna Clara , Gonzalez‐Rubio Francisca , Roso‐Llorach Albert , Prados‐Torres Alexandra , Perez‐Gutthann Susana
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of risk minimization measures—labeling changes and communication to health care professionals—recommended by the European Medicines Agency for use of cilostazol for the treatment of intermittent claudication in Europe.

Methods

Observational study of cilostazol in The Health Improvement Network (United Kingdom), EpiChron Cohort (Spain), SIDIAP (Spain), Swedish National Databases, and GePaRD (Germany).

Among new users of cilostazol, we compared the prevalence of conditions targeted by the risk minimization measures in the periods before (2002‐2012) and after (2014) implementation. Conditions evaluated were prevalence of smoking, cardiovascular conditions, concurrent use of ≥2 antiplatelet agents, concurrent use of potent CYP3A4/CYP2C19 inhibitors and high‐dose cilostazol, early monitoring of all users, and continuous monitoring of users at high cardiovascular risk.

Results

We included 22 593 and 1821 new users of cilostazol before and after implementation of risk minimization measures, respectively. After implementation, the frequency of several conditions related to the labeling changes improved in all the study populations: prevalence of use decreased between 13% (EpiChron) and 57% (SIDIAP), frequency of cardiovascular contraindications decreased between 8% (GePaRD) and 84% (EpiChron), and concurrent use of high‐dose cilostazol and potent CYP3A4/CYP2C19 inhibitors decreased between 6% (Sweden) and 100% (EpiChron). The frequency of other conditions improved in most study populations, except smoking, which decreased only in EpiChron (48% reduction).

Conclusions

This study indicates that the risk minimization measures implemented by the EMA for the use of cilostazol have been effective in all European countries studied, except for smoking cessation before initiating cilostazol, which remains an area of improvement.
Using project‐based learning with Venezuelan teachers to enhance teacher attitudes about school‐based drug abuse prevention: A control‐group comparison study
Authors: Amesty Elvia , Páez Doris
Published: July 2018

Because teachers have regular access to youth, they have the potential of playing a significant role in health promotion and drug abuse prevention strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training and encouraging project‐based learning methods on Venezuelan teachers’ attitudes toward school‐based drug abuse prevention programs. Specifically, an experimental group of grades 4–9 teachers received direct training in project‐based learning strategies and drug prevention content. Their attitudes were compared to those of a wait‐list control group. A key finding showed that the experimental group reported a more favorable attitude toward the effectiveness of school‐community drug prevention strategies. Additionally, teachers in the experimental group reported that the program increased (1) the school's relationship with the community, (2) parental involvement, and (3) their own awareness of the significant role teachers can play in students’ drug abuse prevention. As a very preliminary exploration of this topic, the paper also discusses study limitations, future research directions, and how this work relates to the broader concept of internationalization.
Investigation about the complexation of trimethylammonium‐derived pillar[5]arene with indole and azaindole derivatives
Authors: Montecinos Rodrigo , Diaz‐Wilson Fernanda , Bravo‐Sepulveda Alexis , Salas Cristian O. , Recabarren‐Gajardo Gonzalo , Nome Faruk
Published: July 2018

Indoles and azaindoles are very interesting heterocycles found in naturally occurring and synthetic molecules exhibiting several biological activities associated with its physicochemical properties. Here, we report a study about the inclusion complex formation between trimethylammonium‐derived pillar[5]arene (P5A) with indole and azaindole derivatives by NMR and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results indicate that indole forms the most stable inclusion complex of the hosts, with its benzene fragment incorporated near to the centre of the cavity. On the other hand, 5‐azaindole presents a weaker interaction with P5A, orienting preferentially the pyrrole moiety toward the host cavity. 7‐Azaindole switches between two conformations with the pyridine fragment incorporated inside the cavity. Based on these results, we believe these preliminary study of how the guest structure modifies the structure of the inclusion complexes, and the molecular recognition can be further used in the preparation of new functional supramolecular systems including drug delivery systems.
A Novel Method for Gas Generation Law Calculation of Fractured Propellant Charge
Authors: Li Chao , Rui Xiaoting , Wang Yan , Zhao Xin
Published: July 2018

Aimed at the problem that the gas generation law of fractured propellant charge cannot be calculated by geometry method accurately due to various shapes and sizes of fractured propellant charge, a method for calculating the equivalent form function of fractured propellant charge based on the initial dynamic vivacity ratio theory is proposed. The equivalent form functions of propellant charge with different fracture degrees are deduced from this method on the basis of the initial dynamic vivacity ratio test results. Based on the equivalent form functions of propellant charge with different fracture degrees, the relationship between the maximum bore pressure in tank gun and the initial dynamic vivacity ratio of the fractured propellant charge at the bottom of projectile is established, which lays a theoretical foundation for the criteria of propellant charge launch safety.
Neovascular Age‐Related Macular Degeneration: A Visual Acuity Model of Natural Disease Progression and Ranibizumab Treatment Effect
Authors: Mulyukov Zufar , Weber Sebastian , Pigeolet Etienne , Clemens Andreas , Lehr Thorsten , Racine Amy
Published: July 2018

Intravitreal ranibizumab is a first‐line therapy for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD), but there is a need to optimize patient outcomes while minimizing treatment burden. Here, we developed an indirect response, nonlinear, mixed effects model of disease progression and drug effect in anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment‐naïve patients. A total of 1,524 treatment‐naïve patients and 29,754 visual acuity observations from the ANCHOR, MARINA, PIER, and EXCITE clinical trials informed the model. The model accurately described natural nAMD disease progression and predicted mean visual acuity gains in the HARBOR study, notably with a 2.0 mg ranibizumab dose not used for model development. Furthermore, individualized treatment regimens were shown by simulation to be a viable alternative to the commonly used pro re nata or fixed monthly dosing regimen approaches. Therefore, this model could be a useful tool to predict the outcomes of different, more patient‐tailored treatment regimens in nAMD.
Automated Scale Reduction of Nonlinear QSP Models With an Illustrative Application to a Bone Biology System
Authors: Hasegawa Chihiro , Duffull Stephen B.
Published: July 2018

Integrating quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) into pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PKPD) has resulted in models that are highly complex and often not amenable to further exploration via estimation or design. Because QSP models are usually depicted using nonlinear differential equations it is not straightforward to apply some model reduction techniques, such as proper lumping. In this study, we explore the combined use of linearization and proper lumping as a general method to simplification of a nonlinear QSP model. We illustrate this with a bone biology model and the reduced model was then applied to describe bone mineral density (BMD) changes due to denosumab dosing. The methodologies used in this study can be applied to other multiscale models for developing a mechanism‐based structural model for future analyses.
Zinc Interstitial Rich ZnO Honeycomb Nanostructures for Deep UV Photodetection
Authors: Agrawal Jitesh , Dixit Tejendra , Palani Anand Iyamperumal , Rao Mamidanna Sri Ramachandra , Singh Vipul
Published: July 2018

Pristine ZnO nanostructures (NSs) are less sensitive to deep UV radiations, which restrict their usage to near UV region only. In order to extend its usability in deep UV region; Zn interstitial rich honeycomb (HC) NSs of ZnO is developed. The device shows remarkably high photoresponsivity of 1150 A W−1 in deep UV region (λ = 254 nm). Additionally, enhanced deep UV photosensitivity is observed and can be attributed to the incorporation of Zn ions in ZnO lattice and large surface to volume ratio of HC NSs. Furthermore, in dark conditions, the width of the depletion region is comparable to the thickness of HC NSs (20 nm) that results in complete depletion of charge carriers in NSs, which results in significant reduction in dark current. Moreover, HC NSs are provided continuous conduction path which eliminates the potential barrier forming at the NSs interfaces, resulting in efficient charge transportation. The measured photocurrent to dark current ratio is as large as ≈6 orders of magnitude. Such large photosensitivity in the deep UV region of electromagnetic spectrum makes these devices a promising candidate for development of deep UV photo‐detectors for commercial applications.
Robust ‐gain codesign of networked control systems
Authors: Sun Wei , Zeng Zhitao , Luo Chengchuan , Nguang Sing‐Kiong
Published: July 2018

This paper examines the problem of codesigning a robust
‐gain networked control system along with the network's properties such as sampling interval, service rate, and packet dropout. On the basis of the generalized integral inequality of Bessel‐Legendre inequality approach, sufficient conditions for the existence of a robust
‐gain controller that incorporates the network's properties are derived and expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, two examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Bank‐derived material dominates fluvial sediment in a suburban Chesapeake Bay watershed
Authors: Cashman Matthew J. , Gellis Allen , Sanisaca Lillian Gorman , Noe Gregory B. , Cogliandro Vanessa , Baker Anna
Published: July 2018

Excess fine sediment is a leading cause of ecological degradation within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. To effectively target sediment mitigation measures, it is necessary to identify and quantify the delivery of sediment sources to local waterbodies.

This study examines the contributions of sediment sources within Upper Difficult Run, a suburbanized watershed in Fairfax County, Virginia. A source sediment library was constructed from stream banks, forest soils, and road dust. Target sediments were collected from fine channel deposits and suspended sediment during 16 storm events from 2008 to 2012. Apportionment of targets to sources was performed using Sed_SAT, a publicly available toolkit for sediment fingerprinting.

Bed sediment was dominated by stream bank material (mean: 98%), with minor contributions from forests (2%). Suspended fine sediments were also dominated by stream banks (suspended sediment concentration‐weighted mean: 91%), with minor contributions from roads (8%) and forests (<1%). Stream banks dominated at all discharges, and on the rising limb and at peak flow, sediment concentrations increased due to bank material rather than surface erosion.

Sediment budget data indicated that direct bank erosion was insufficient to account for the suspended load derived from stream banks. However, bank‐derived sediment re‐mobilized from in‐channel storage could account for this difference and, combined, resulted in a sediment delivery ratio of 0.847 for all bank‐derived sediments.

Results demonstrate that stream bank erosion is responsible for the majority of fine sediment in this suburban watershed of the Chesapeake Bay drainage area. Thus, management actions to control upland sources of sediment may have limited effect on the sediment conditions of Upper Difficult Run, whereas efforts focusing on bank stabilization, channel restoration, and/or stormwater management to reduce bank erosion may improve the ecological condition of these waterbodies.
Telemetry observations of predation and migration behaviour of brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts negotiating an artificial lake
Authors: Schwinn Michael , Baktoft Henrik , Aarestrup Kim , Lucas Martyn C. , Koed Anders
Published: July 2018

Eutrophication of coastal areas as a consequence of the agricultural use of fertilizers is a widespread problem. The development of artificial lakes and constructed wetlands in nutrient‐rich rivers is a widely used management tool in the fight to decrease eutrophication. Juvenile salmonids that have to negotiate these lakes during their downstream migration to the sea are commonly subjected to high mortality due to increased predation pressure and delayed passage. In this study, we double tagged 39 brown trout smolts with passive integrated transponder and radio tags to gain further insight into predation rates and migration patterns during their passage of an artificial lake in a Danish lowland stream in the spring of 2016. Thirty‐four of the tagged smolts, caught and released upstream, entered the lake, of which 22 (65%) successfully exited the lake. Four smolts (12%) returned upstream to the river. Three smolts were predated in the lake by two northern pike (Esox lucius). Three tags were recovered from the lake bottom, and two disappeared out of the study area after a last detection in the lake. Tracking the smolts manually and by automatic listening stations showed highly erratic movement patterns during lake passage. Further, we observed long delays of up to 27 days after the smolts reached the river mouth and before they entered the sea, potentially due to low sea water temperature or due to the stocking of a large amount of hatchery‐reared brown trout smolts. The results are discussed in the context of abiotic and biotic factors, which differed considerably in the year 2016 compared with previous years.
Fostering students’ epistemic agency through the co‐configuration of moth research
Authors: Stroupe David , Caballero Marcos D. , White Peter
Published: July 2018

We argue that students should take on roles as epistemic agents—those who shape knowledge production and practices of a community. In this study, the research team—a science educator and two scientists—worked with a sixth‐grade teacher to provide 90 students with opportunities to take up epistemic agency over a 22‐day unit about moth ecology. We used cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) to analyze the co‐configuration of activity. During planning, tensions arose among the research team around how and why to position students as epistemic agents, while still attending to meaningful science questions. During instruction, students prompted the constant negotiation of epistemic roles and practices as they acted on shifting agentic participation structures.
Room Temperature Synthesis of BiOI/Bi5O7I p–n Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity for 17α‐Ethynylestradiol
Authors: Wang Shan , Chen Yu , Long Yanju , Li Lingxin , Wang Lulu , Zhang Sifeng , Jiang Fengzhi
Published: July 2018

A p‐n heterojunction photocatalyst BiOI/Bi5O7I has been synthesized via a mixed solvent method at room temperature. The physical and chemical properties of as‐prepared composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV‐vis DRS, BET and PL. The photocatalytic performance of BiOI/Bi5O7I composite was evaluated by the photocatalytic decomposition of 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2) under visible light irradiation. The results revealed that the BiOI/Bi5O7I composite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure BiOI and pure Bi5O7I. The mass ratio of BiOI/Bi5O7I and effect of pH value for photocatalytic activity of BiOI/Bi5O7I composite were investigated. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism of the degradation process was thoroughly elucidated. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the BiOI/Bi5O7I composite should be attributed to fabrication of BiOI/Bi5O7I p‐n heterojunction, which was responsible for efficient separation and transfer of electron‐hole pairs.
Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐ and 2‐Haloarylbenzimidazole‐N1‐acetamido Conjugates and a Preliminary Evaluation of Their Antifungal Properties
Authors: Abdel‐Wahab Sherief M. , Abdelsamii Zakaria K. , Abdel‐Fattah Hanan A. , El‐Etrawy Abdallah S. , Dawe Louise N. , Swaroop Toreshettahally R. , Georghiou Paris E.
Published: July 2018

A series of new 2‐arylbenzimidazole‐N‐1 acetamido conjugates have been synthesized and characterized. Their antifungal activities were evaluated against fluconazole‐resistant C. albicans and A. fumigatus by the inhibition zone technique and were compared with the standard amphotericin B. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for the most potent compounds, after preliminary structure‐activity analysis. Based upon these results a sub‐set of twelve ethylglycinyl ester conjugates bearing fluoro, chloro or bromo substituents on the 2‐phenyl moiety were examined for structure‐activity relationships using an agarose diffusion method employing a hypersensitive Sacharomyces cerevisiae strain. None of these compounds however showed significant activity at the concentrations tested. Single‐crystal X‐ray determinations were conducted on two of the newly synthesized compounds and were compared with DFT computational analysis.
2,2′,6,6′‐Tetraisopropylbenzidine‐Based Sterically Encumbered Ditopic C2‐Symmetric Ligand Systems and Supramolecular Building Blocks
Authors: Jangir Ritambhara , Kaleeswaran Dhananjayan , Murugavel Ramaswamy
Published: July 2018

Starting from 2,2′,6,6′‐tetra‐isopropylbenzidine (TBZ), a family of sterically encumbered pseudo‐C2‐symmetric based ligand systems and supramolecular building blocks have been synthesized. Schiff base scaffolds (iPr)4(C6H2)2(NAr′)2 (1‐9) (Ar′=‐CH(C6H4)(OH) (1); ‐CH(C6H2)(Me)2(OH) (2); ‐CH(C6H2)(tBu)2(OH) (3); ‐CH(C6H2)(tBu)(Br)(OH) (4); ‐CH(C6H3)(OMe)(OH) (5); ‐CH(C6H4)(4‐OH) (6); ‐CH(2‐Py) (7); ‐CH(3‐Py) (8); ‐CH(4‐Py) (9)), (iPr)4(C6H2)2(NH(C)(CH)(CO)Me2)2 (10), (NH2(iPr)4(C6H2)2)2(N(C)(CH)(C)N)Me2 (11), (NH2(iPr)4(C6H2)2N(CO)(C6H4)(CH2) (12) and (iPr)4(C6H2)2(N(CO)(C6H4)(CH2))2 (13) have been assembled through condensation of TBZ with the corresponding formyl compounds. TBZ was also further employed to synthesize two carboxylic acid derivatives, ((iPr)4(C6H2)2(N(CH2COOH)2)2) (14) and ((iPr)4(C6H2)2(COOH)2) (16), both potential connector ligands for MOFs. To explore main group chemistry aspects of TBZ, bis‐ and tetra‐trimethylsilyl derivatives (iPr)4(C6H2)2(R)2 (R=(‐NH(SiMe3))2 (17) and (‐N(SiMe3)2)2 (18)) have been synthesized. The bis‐dichlorophosphine derivative ((iPr)4(C6H2)2(N(PCl2)2)2) (19), a compound with promising chemistry for P‐based covalent organic frameworks, has been synthesized by a solvent‐free reaction of TBZ with excess PCl3.
Pressure‐Induced Amorphization of MOF‐5: A First Principles Study
Authors: Erkartal Mustafa , Durandurdu Murat
Published: July 2018

Amorphous metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and the amorphization of crystalline MOFs under mechanical stimuli are attracting considerable interest in last few years. However, we still have limited knowledge on their atomic arrangement and the physical origin of crystalline‐to‐amorphous phase transitions under mechanical stimuli. In this study, ab initio simulations within a generalized gradient approximation are carried out to investigate the high‐pressure behavior of MOF‐5. Similar to the previous experimental findings, a pressure‐induced amorphization is observed at 2 GPa through the simulations. The phase transformation is an irreversible first order transition and accompanied by around 68% volume collapse. Remarkably, the transition arises from local distortions and, contrary to previous suggestions, does not involve any bond breaking and formation. Additionally, a drastic band gap closure is perceived for the amorphous state. This study has gone some way towards enhancing our understanding of pressure‐induced amorphization in MOFs.
The Comprehensive Understanding of as an Evaluation Parameter for Electrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Wei Chao , Xu Zhichuan J.
Published: July 2018

Comparing the overpotential required to reach the current density of (per geometric area of an electrode) (η@) is a popular method of ranking electrocatalysts for water‐splitting reactions, i.e., the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, such methodology is, in essence, not reasonable for studying the intrinsic chemistry difference of electrocatalysts. To have a rational understanding of η@, here, its historical origin and its limitations on reflecting the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity are discussed. The η@ is a valid practical parameter to assess water‐splitting devices, but it cannot determine whether a particular electrocatalyst is intrinsically active or not.
Health is wealth: Concern for households’ solid waste self‐disposal practices
Authors: Onanuga Margaret Yejide , Odunsi Oluwafemi
Published: July 2018

This study examines the challenges posed by solid waste by assessing the disposal methods practiced by residents in the Ijebu‐Ode Local Government Area (LGA) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained through questionnaire administration. One out of every 10 houses was selected for sampling in six randomly selected wards of Ijebu‐Ode LGA. Three hundred and twelve questionnaires were administered on heads of households. Information elicited from the respondents covered solid waste disposal practices, the rationales behind those practices, and the respondents’ perceptions of environmental problems, including environmental health problems that could emanate from such practices. Data on environmental problems and environmental health problems measured on a 5‐point Likert scale were analyzed using Aggregate Weighted Mean Index. The computed Environmental Problem Indices (EPIs) and Environmental Health Problem Indices (EHPIs) were used to determine the severity of the respective challenges. The results established that blockage of drains with an EPI of 4.15 was a very severe environmental problem and flood hazard with an EPI of 3.55 was a severe environmental problem resulting from solid waste disposal practices. Incidence of malaria and cholera, with EHPIs of 2.85 and 2.56, respectively, were however ranked as not severe environmental health problems. The study concluded that solid waste disposal practices in Ijebu‐Ode LGA were unhygienic and unsafe, hence the need for government intervention to ensure the adoption of the necessary measures toward a safe and healthy environment.
Dealing with the spiraling incidence of knife crime
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: July 2018

This year has witnessed record numbers of deaths and serious penetrating injuries, mainly in young men, from knife wounds in London. And it's not just a London issue: knife crime involving young victims across England and Wales has surged by 69% in the last four years. Roger Kirby discusses some of the socio‐political explanations behind the rise in violence and its impact on the medical community involved in treating the victims.
70 years of the NHS – from cradle to grave?
Authors: Charles Goddard Jonathan
Published: July 2018

The National Health Service was 70 years old on 4 July this year. As Jonathon Goddard describes it was, and still is, a pioneering venture in national health services around the globe. In this article he provides a potted history from early beginnings to the present day, including how urology developed as a specialty alongside the new NHS.
Myocardial strain abnormalities in fetuses with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum
Authors: Cohen J. , Binka E. , Woldu K. , Levasseur S. , Glickstein J. , Freud L. R. , Chelliah A. , Chiu J. S. , Shah A.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

Global and regional myocardial deformation have not been well described in fetuses with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS). Speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE), an angle‐independent technique for assessing global and regional strain, may be a more sensitive way of determining ventricular systolic dysfunction compared with traditional 2D echocardiography. The aim of this study was to assess myocardial deformation in fetuses with PA/IVS compared with control fetuses and to determine if, in fetuses with PA/IVS, strain differs between those with and those without right ventricle‐dependent coronary circulation (RVDCC).

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of fetuses with PA/IVS examined at two medical centers between June 2005 and October 2017. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) regional and global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate were obtained using STE, and comparisons were made between fetuses with PA/IVS and gestational age (GA)‐matched controls. Postnatal outcome was assessed, including the presence of RVDCC.

Results

Fifty‐seven fetuses with PA/IVS and 57 controls were analyzed at a mean GA of 26.5 ± 5 weeks. LV‐GLS was significantly decreased in fetuses with PA/IVS compared with controls (−17.4 ± 1.7% vs −23.7 ± 2.0%, P < 0.001). LV strain rate was also significantly decreased (−1.01 ± 0.21/s vs −1.42 ± 0.20/s, P < 0.001). Fetuses with PA/IVS had decreased strain in all segments. Similarly, RV strain was significantly decreased in fetuses with PA/IVS (−11.6 ± 3.8% vs −24.6 ± 2.5%, P < 0.0001). Thirty‐six patients had postnatal cardiac catheterization performed to define coronary anatomy; 10 fetuses had RVDCC. Fetuses with RVDCC had decreased LV strain compared with those without (−15.8 ± 1.2% vs −17.9 ± 1.7%, P = 0.009). RV strain was also decreased in fetuses with RVDCC vs those without (−7.0 ± 2.9% vs −12.1 ± 3.2%, P = 0.0004).

Conclusions

Fetuses with PA/IVS have decreased global and regional LV and RV strain compared with controls. The finding of decreased LV strain may be due to altered ventricular mechanics in the context of a hypertensive right ventricle and/or abnormal coronary perfusion. Moreover, fetuses that were found to have RVDCC postnatally had decreased LV and RV strain compared with those that did not. These results encourage further investigation to assess whether fetal ventricular strain could be a prenatal predictor of RVDCC. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Reactivity of 2,6‐Dihalophenyl Lithium Reagents Towards Chlorosilanes. Synthesis and Structure of 2,3‐ and 2,6‐Dihalophenyl(di‐)silanes
Authors: Schröder Artem , Denhof Andreas , Lork Enno , Beckmann Jens
Published: July 2018

The reaction of 2,6‐dihalophenyllithium 2,6‐X2C6H3Li (X = F, Cl, Br) with the chlorosilanes ClMe2SiSiCl2Me, SiCl4, and HSiCl3 afforded the diaryldisilanes (2,6‐X2C6H3SiMe2)2 [X = F (1a), Cl (1b), Br (1c)] and the diaryl‐ and triarylsilanes (2,6‐X2C6H3)2SiCl2 [X = F (3a), Cl (3a)], (2,3‐Br2C6H3)2SiCl2 (4c), (2,6‐F2C6H3)3SiH (6a), and (2,6‐X2C6H3)2Si(H)Cl [X = Cl (7b), Br (7c)], respectively. The formation of 4c was rationalized on the basis of an equilibrium that exists between the aryllithium isomers 2,6‐Br2C6H3Li and 2,3‐Br2C6H3Li. Reduction of 3a, 3b, 4c, 7b, and 7c using LiAlH4 provided the diarylsilanes (2,6‐X2C6H3)2SiH2 [X = F (2a), Cl (2b), Br (2c)] and (2,3‐Br2C6H3)2SiH2 (5c), respectively. The products were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 19F, 29Si) and in case of 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 5c, and 6a also by X‐ray crystallography.
New 2D and 3D Coordination Polymers by Dehydration of 1∞[MII(tF‐BDC)(H2O)4] (MII = Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and tF‐BDC2– = Tetrafluoroterephthalate)
Authors: Stastny Carina , Dolfus Benedikt , Brombach Christiane T. , Dresen Dominique , Disch Sabrina , Glaum Robert , Ruschewitz Uwe
Published: July 2018

By dehydration of the known coordination polymers 1∞[MII(tF‐BDC)(H2O)4] (MII = Co2+, Zn2+ and tF‐BDC2– = tetrafluoroterephthalate) the homoleptic anhydrous coordination networks 3∞[MII(tF‐BDC)] were obtained as polycrystalline powders. Their crystal structures (C2/c, Z = 4) were solved and refined by means of synchrotron powder diffraction data. These structures are characterized by [MIIO4] tetrahedra, which are connected by the tF‐BDC2– linkers to form a 3D non‐porous coordination network. The dehydration leads to a change from a [MIIO6] octahedral coordination in the hydrate to a tetrahedral coordination sphere in the anhydrous compound. For the cobalt compounds this leads to a color change from pale rose to deep blue upon heating and dehydration, which was analyzed by means of UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy and measurements of the magnetic susceptibilities. In contrast, 1∞[NiII(tF‐BDC)(H2O)4] can only partly be dehydrated to form 2∞[NiII(tF‐BDC)(H2O)2] (P1, Z = 1) with retention of the octahedral [NiIIO6] coordination in both compounds. At higher temperatures the tF‐BDC2– linker starts to decompose, before a complete dehydration can take place.
Postnatal development of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the anterior piriform cortex
Authors: Pardo Grace Violeta Espinoza , Lucion Aldo Bolten , Calcagnotto Maria Elisa
Published: July 2018

The morphological and functional development of inhibitory circuit in the anterior piriform cortex (aPC) during the first three postnatal weeks may be crucial for the development of odor preference learning in infant rodents. As first step toward testing this hypothesis, we examined the normal development of GABAergic synaptic transmission in the aPC of rat pups during the postnatal days (P) 5–8 and 14‐17. Whole cell patch‐clamp recordings of layer 2/3 (L2/3) aPC pyramidal cells revealed a significant increase in spontaneous (sIPSC) and miniature (mIPSC) inhibitory postsynaptic current frequencies and a decrease in mIPSC rise and decay‐time constant at P14‐P17. Moreover, as the development of neocortical inhibitory circuit can be driven by sensory experience, we recorded sIPSC and mIPSC onto L2/3 aPC pyramidal cells from unilateral naris‐occluded animals. Early partial olfactory deprivation caused by naris occlusion do not affected the course of age‐dependent increase IPSC frequency onto L2/3 aPC pyramidal cell. However, this age‐dependent increase of sIPSC and mIPSC frequencies were lower on aPC pyramidal cells ipsilateral to the occlusion side. In addition, the age‐dependent increase in sIPSC frequency and amplitude were more pronounced on aPC pyramidal cells contralateral to the occlusion. While mIPSC kinetics were not affected by age or olfactory deprivation, at P5‐P8, the sIPSC decay‐time constant on aPC pyramidal cells of both hemispheres of naris‐occluded animals were significantly higher when compared to sham. These results demonstrated that the GABAergic synaptic transmission on the aPC changed during postnatal development by increasing inhibitory inputs on L2/3 pyramidal cells, with increment in frequency of both sIPSC and mIPSC and faster kinetics of mIPSC. Our data suggested that the maturation of GABAergic synaptic transmission was little affected by early partial olfactory deprivation. These results could contribute to unravel the mechanisms underlying the development of odor processing and olfactory preference learning.
Inland advance of supraglacial lakes in north-west Greenland under recent climatic warming
Authors: Gledhill Laura A. , Williamson Andrew G.
Published: July 2018

The inland advance of supraglacial lakes (SGLs) towards the interior regions of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) may have implications for the water volumes reaching the subglacial drainage system, and could consequently affect long-term ice-sheet dynamics. Here, we investigate changes to the areas, volumes and elevation distributions of over 8000 manually delineated SGLs using 44 Landsat images of a 6200 km2 sector of north-west Greenland over three decades (1985–2016). Our results show that SGLs have advanced to higher maximum (+418 m) and mean (+299 m) elevations, and that there has been a near-doubling of total regional SGL areas and volumes over the study period, accelerating after 2000. These changes were primarily caused by an increased SGL area and volume at high (≥1200 m a.s.l.) elevations, where SGL coverage increased by over 2750% during the study period. Many of the observed changes, particularly the post-2000 accelerations, were driven by changes to regional surface-temperature anomalies. This study demonstrates the past and accelerating response of the GrIS's hydrological system due to climatic warming, indicating an urgent need to understand whether the increasingly inland SGLs will be capable of hydrofracture in the future, thus determining their potential implications for ice-sheet dynamics.
Experimental evidence of velocity profile inversion in developing laminar flow using magnetic resonance velocimetry
Authors: Reci A. , Sederman A. J. , Gladden L. F.
Published: July 2018

A discrepancy exists between the predictions of analytical solutions of approximate Navier–Stokes equations and numerical finite-difference solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations regarding the development of laminar flow at the entrance to cylindrical pipes for Newtonian fluids. Starting from a uniform velocity profile at the entrance to the pipe, analytical solutions of approximate Navier–Stokes equations predict the velocity profile to have a maximum at the centre of the pipe at all times. In contrast, numerical finite-difference solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations have suggested that the location of the velocity maximum moves from the wall towards the centre of the pipe at a short distance from the entrance, after which it remains at the centre of the pipe. This study presents the first experimental evidence of the moving velocity maximum from the wall towards the centre of the pipe. The initial uniform velocity profile was achieved by flowing the fluid through a monolith composed of narrow parallel channels and the flow development was investigated using magnetic resonance velocimetry. The experimentally observed variation of the position and size of the velocity maximum with the Reynolds number and the distance from the entrance to the pipe is shown to be in good agreement with the predictions of numerical finite-difference solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations.
Spectroscopic Observations of Visual Double Stars
Authors: West Frederick R.
Published: July 2018

There are certain visual double stars which, when close to a node of their relative orbit, should have enough radial velocity difference (10-20 km/s) that the spectra of the two component stars will appear resolved on high-dispersion spectrograms (5 Å/mm or less) obtainable by use of modern coude and solar spectrographs on bright stars. Both star images are then recorded simultaneously on the spectrograph slit, so that two stellar components will appear on each spectrogram.
Calcul des Erreurs Moyennes Affectant Les Mesures D'Étoiles Doubles Visuelles
Authors: Dommanget J.
Published: July 2018

Au cours de recherches bibliographiques diverses, nous avons remarqué que bien des observateurs se sont servis et se servent encore de formules par trop approximatives pour calculer - lorsqu'ils le font - les erreurs moyennes affectant leurs mesures