bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phototransformations of some 3‐cyclohexenyloxychromenones: Synthesis of Spirocyclic compounds
Authors: Khanna Radhika , Dalal Aarti , Berar Urmila , Singh Sandeep , Kamboj Ramesh C.
Published: January 2019

The phototransformation of the 3‐cyclohexenyloxychromenones by irradiation with a pyrex‐filtered light from a 125 W Hg vapor lamp under an inert atmosphere into the spirocyclic fused xanthenones was described. The efficacy of the protocol depended upon the position (o‐, m‐, or p‐) of the cyclohexenyloxy group appended to the 2‐aryl moiety on the chromenone nucleus, which was further invoked by steric, electronic, and proximity considerations. The structure(s) of the substrates and photoproducts were established using the spectroscopic (IR and NMR) data.
Neutrophils injure gallbladder interstitial Cajal‐like cells in a guinea pig model of acute cholecystitis
Authors: Lin Meng‐Juan , Chen Lei , Huang Zhen‐Peng , Qiu Hu , Yu Bao‐Ping
Published: January 2019

Acute cholecystitis is a common disease with gallbladder dysmotility. Disease pathogenesis involves immune cell infiltration as well as changes in gallbladder interstitial Cajal‐like cells (ICLCs). However, it remains unclear if or how the immune cells affect ICLC morphology, density, distribution, and function in gallbladder tissue during acute cholecystitis. In this study, we explored the acute cholecystitis‐related alterations in gallbladder ICLCs in a guinea pig model, focusing on the effects of neighboring neutrophils. Adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups (control, 24 hr common bile duct ligation [CBDL], 48‐hr CBDL, and antipolymorphonuclear neutrophil [PMN] treated) and analyzed using methylene blue staining and immunofluorescence. Gallbladder contractility was also monitored. To culture gallbladder ICLCs, collagenase digestion was performed on tissue from 10‐ to 15‐day‐old guinea pigs. Neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood of experimental animals 48‐hr postsurgery were also cocultured with the gallbladder ICLCs. Intracellular calcium was detected with Fluo‐4 AM dye. Our results showed that gallbladder ICLC density significantly declined during acute cholecystitis and was accompanied by shortening of the cellular processes and damage to their network‐like structure. However, pretreatment with anti‐PMN partially prevented these changes. Gallbladder contraction was also significantly decreased during acute cholecystitis, and this appeared to be mediated by the neutrophils. Moreover, ICLCs cocultured with neutrophils also had shortened and reduced processes and impaired network‐like structure formation. Intracellular calcium transient was less sensitive to contraction agonists and inhibitors when cocultured with neutrophils. Taken together, neutrophils greatly affect gallbladder ICLCs and dysmotility during acute cholecystitis.
Crime location choices: A geographical analysis of German serial killers
Authors: Synnott John , Bakker Marije , Ioannou Maria , Canter David , van der Kemp Jasper
Published: January 2019

The present study examined whether there are different processes operating in the crime location choices between body‐disposing and non‐body‐disposing serial killers and between sexual serial killers and acquisitive serial killers. A sample of 49 series of solved German serial killings is used to examine the differences in travelled distances between these groups of killers. Nonparametric tests revealed that body‐disposing and non‐body‐disposing serial killers and sexual and acquisitive serial killers did not constitute subgroups of serial killers regarding their spatial behaviour. The results suggest that the compared groups are subjected to the same factors that influence their travelled distances. Furthermore, the possible role of planning and anticipated emotions in crime location choices of serial killers is discussed, as well as the limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.
Exploring and Promoting the College Attendance and Success of Racial/Ethnic Minority Students
Authors: Bauman Stephanie San Miguel , Acker‐Hocevar Michele , Talbot Danny L. , Visaya Amelia , Valencia Monica , Ambriz Jennifer
Published: January 2019

Using consensual qualitative research methodology and being mindful of both challenges and successes, the authors explored diverse students’ experiences with higher education. The authors used semistructured interviews with 7 students with racial/ethnic minority backgrounds to investigate the circumstances under which these students decided to attend college and experienced success. Multiple factors that were reported to contribute to students’ college attendance and success emerged, including individual factors, psychological factors, social factors, and cultural/environmental factors.

Utilizando una metodología de investigación cualitativa consensuada y teniendo en cuenta tanto los desafíos como los éxitos, los autores exploraron las experiencias de estudiantes diversos en la educación superior. Los autores usaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con 7 estudiantes de minorías raciales/étnicas para investigar las circunstancias en las que estos estudiantes decidieron cursar estudios universitarios y tuvieron éxito. Surgieron múltiples factores reportados que contribuyeron a la asistencia y al éxito de los estudiantes en la universidad, incluyendo factores individuales, factores psicológicos, factores sociales y factores culturales/del entorno.
Signal enhancement in laser diode thermal desorption‐triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis using microwell surface coatings
Authors: Dion‐Fortier Annick , Gravel Alexia , Guérette Cassandra , Chevillot Fanny , Blais Sonia , Auger Serge , Picard Pierre , Segura Pedro A.
Published: January 2019

Laser‐diode thermal desorption (LDTD) is an ionization source usually coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQMS) and specifically designed for laboratories requiring high‐throughput analysis. It has been observed that surface coatings on LDTD microwell plates can improve the sensitivity of the analysis of small polar molecules. The objective of the present study is to understand and quantify the effect of microwell surface coatings on signal intensity of small organic molecules of clinical, environmental, and forensic interest. Experiments showed that the peak areas of diclofenac, chloramphenicol, salicylic acid, and 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol obtained by LDTD‐QqQMS increased by up to 3 orders of magnitude when using microwells coated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Tests with different chelating agents and polytetrafluoroethylene as microwell surface coatings showed that nitrilotriacetic acid gave significantly higher peak areas for five out of the nine compounds that showed signal enhancement using chelating agents as coatings. Scanning electron microscopy studies of EDTA‐coated and uncoated microwells showed that analytes deposited in the former formed more uniform and thinner films than in the latter. The enhancement effect of surface coatings in LDTD‐QqQMS was explained mainly by the formation of homogenous and thinner layers of nanocrystals of analytes that are easier to desorb thermally than the layers formed when the analytes dry in direct contact with the bare stainless‐steel surface. Chemisorption of some analytes to the stainless‐steel surface of the microwell plate appeared to be a minor factor. Surface coatings widen the number of compounds analyzable by LDTD‐QqQMS and can also improve sensitivity and limits of detection.
Responses of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus to two consecutive drying–rewetting cycles in soils
Authors: Pezzolla Daniela , Cardenas Laura M. , Mian Ishaq A. , Carswell Alison , Donovan Neil , Dhanoa Mewa S. , Blackwell Martin S. A.
Published: January 2019

Drying and rewetting cycles are known to be important for the dynamics of carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) in soils. This study reports the short‐term responses of these nutrients to consecutive drying and rewetting cycles and how varying soil moisture content affects microbial biomass C and P (MBC and MBP), as well as associated carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The soil was incubated for 14 d during which two successive drying–rewetting episodes were imposed on the soils. Soils subjected to drying (DRW) were rewetted on the seventh day of each drying period to return them to 60% water holding capacity, whilst continually moist samples (M), with soil maintained at 60% water holding capacity, were used as control samples. During the first seven days, the DRW samples showed significant increases in extractable ammonium, total oxidized nitrogen, and bicarbonate extractable P concentrations. Rewetting after the first drying event produced significant increases only in CO2 flux (55.4 µg C g−1 d−1). The MBC and MBP concentrations fluctuated throughout the incubation in both treatments and only the second drying–rewetting event resulted in a significantly MBC decrease (416.2 and 366.8 mg kg−1 in M and DRW soils, respectively).

The two drying–rewetting events impacted the microbial biomass, but distinguishing the different impacts of microbial versus physical impacts of the perturbation is difficult. However, this study, having a combined approach (C, N, and P), indicates the importance of understanding how soils will react to changing patterns of drying–rewetting under future climate change.
Identification of short‐chain poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrates in Saiga horn extracts using LC–MS/MS
Authors: Pataridis Statis , Romanov Oleg , Mikšík Ivan
Published: January 2019

Saiga horn extracts were analyzed with the goal of obtaining new information about compounds present in it. The purpose of this study is to find synthetic alternatives to Saiga horn extract, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, by identifying potentially biologically active compounds in the extracts. Using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry, we have been able to identify a series of short‐chain polyhydroxybutyrates in alcoholic extracts of Saiga horn. Optimized high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry methods for analysis of short‐chain poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrates were developed and subsequently applied to investigate Saiga horn extract for the presence of these compounds, which might explain its biological actions, particularly for its antipyretic and procoagulant properties.
Hollow Microcapsules with Controlled Mechanical Properties Templated from Pickering Emulsion Droplets
Authors: Wang Xue , Chen Linlin , Sun Guanqing , Liu Ren
Published: January 2019

Hollow microcapsules with controlled mechanical strength are obtained from Pickering emulsion templates. The shell of the hollow microcapsules comprising UV‐curable resin and reactive silica nanoparticles enables tuning of the mechanical properties in a controlled manner. The results show that the particle stabilizer can be packed regularly on the oil–water interface and the shell thickness of microcapsules can be increased to 1–2 µm compared with traditional preparation methods. Hollow particles with thicker walls can prevent collapse and breakage. In this work, a nanoindentation device is used to measure the mechanical properties of hollow particles, and the results show a clear trend of reduced modulus and hardness decreases with increasing ratio of prepolymers in the reaction mixture. When the mass of PUA varies from 10% to 30%, the hardness decreases from 0.09 to 0.04 GPa, while the reduced modulus decreases from 0.17 to 0.06 GPa. The control of mechanical properties of the microcapsule can enhance its uses in conventional areas as well as in new fields such as precise micro force sensors etc.
Simple Synthesis of Elastomeric Photomechanical Switches That Self‐Heal
Authors: Li Shuo , Tu Yaqi , Bai Hedan , Hibi Yusuke , Wiesner Lennard W. , Pan Wenyang , Wang Kaiyang , Giannelis Emmanuel P. , Shepherd Robert F.
Published: January 2019

This article introduces a simple two‐stage method to synthesize and program a photomechanical elastomer (PME) for light‐driven artificial muscle‐like actuations in soft robotics. First, photochromic azobenzene molecules are covalently attached to a polyurethane backbone via a two‐part step‐growth polymerization. Next, mechanical alignment is applied to induce anisotropic deformations in the PME‐actuating films. Cross‐linked through dynamic hydrogen bonds, the PMEs also possess autonomic self‐healing properties without external energy input. This self‐healing allows for a single alignment step of the PME film and subsequent “cut and paste” assembly for multi‐axis actuation of a self‐folded soft‐robotic gripper from a single degree of freedom optical input.
Recovery of a fractional diffusion equation from a single boundary measurement
Authors: Boumenir Amin , Kim Tuan Vu
Published: January 2019

We prove that we can uniquely recover the coefficient of a one‐dimensional fractional diffusion equation from a single boundary measurement and also provide a constructive procedure for its recovery. The algorithm is based on the well‐known Gelfand‐Levitan inverse spectral theory of Sturm‐Liouville operators. Note that the nonlocal nature of the fractional derivative makes it more difficult to observe the solution and extract the spectral data.
Pro: Praxisnahe Studiengänge sichern das Fachkräfteangebot
Authors: Dercks Achim
Published: January 2019

Hochschulen stehen in der Verantwortung, ihre Absolventen bestmöglich auf die Anforderungen des Arbeitsmarkts vorzubereiten, meint Achim Dercks.
Proteine im Getreide und die Backeigenschaften
Authors: Geißlitz Sabrina , Scherf Katharina A. , Köhler Peter
Published: January 2019

Ob ein Weizenbrot locker wird und eine gleichmäßige Krume bekommt oder beim Backen eher flach bleibt, hängt von Menge und Zusammensetzung der Glutenproteine im Getreide ab. Die Ergebnisse einer Vergleichsstudie erlauben es nun, die Backqualität der Weizenarten Dinkel, Emmer und Einkorn schnell und verlässlich vorherzusagen.
Adsorbenzien: Organisch‐anorganische Hybride
Authors: Prelot Bénédicte , Hesemann Peter
Published: January 2019

Mit supramolekularer Chemie lassen sich Oberflächeneigenschaften von Feststoffen kontrollieren. Damit hergestellte Ionosilicas eignen sich als Adsorptionsmittel für den Anionenaustausch, und mit ihnen lassen sich wahrscheinlich Abwässer reinigen und aufarbeiten sowie Wirkstoffe im Körper transportieren.
Temperatur‐ statt pH‐Sensoren
Authors: Ehrensberger Christian
Published: January 2019

Thermosensoren kontrollieren die Temperatur, die meist wichtigste Messgröße in der Prozessanalytik. Um den Kalibrieraufwand dafür zu senken, gibt es jetzt immer häufiger selbstkalibrierende Systeme, und zwar sowohl bei Titrationen als auch bei Inline‐Messungen.
FCI‐Seminar „Strategisch und erfolgreich kommunizieren“
Authors: Grünert Anna , Korytiaková Eva
Published: January 2019

Anfang Oktober veranstaltete der Fonds der Chemischen Industrie „Das etwas andere Seminar für Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und zukünftige Führungskräfte“ in Frankfurt. Während der zweitägigen Veranstaltung hatten dreißig Stipendiatinnen die Möglichkeit, an Workshops und Vorträgen teilzunehmen und sich mit Führungskräften aus Akademia und Industrie austauschen.
EU‐Chemikalienrecht
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: January 2019

Reach, die europäische Verordnung über die Registrierung, Bewertung, Zulassung und Beschränkung chemischer Stoffe, bleibt in Arbeit.
Generationenübergreifend
Authors: De Sanctis Laura , Haubold Stephan , Gottschalk Sandra
Published: January 2019

Familiengeführte Unternehmen und die Werte, die bei den meisten dahinter stehen, werden als immer wichtiger wahrgenommen. Warum die chemische Industrie nicht wegsehen sollte.
Chemieunternehmen: Segel neu gesetzt
Authors: Süssmuth Lisa
Published: January 2019

BASF‐Chef Martin Brudermüller setzt mit neuer Strategie auf Nachhaltigkeit, Verbund und Digitalisierung.
Functional dissection of the ARGONAUTE7 promoter
Authors: Hoyer J. Steen , Pruneda‐Paz Jose L. , Breton Ghislain , Hassert Mariah A. , Holcomb Emily E. , Fowler Halley , Bauer Kaylyn M. , Mreen Jacob , Kay Steve A. , Carrington James C.
Published: January 2019

ARGONAUTES are the central effector proteins of RNA silencing which bind target transcripts in a small RNA‐guided manner. Arabidopsis thaliana has 10 ARGONAUTE (AGO) genes, with specialized roles in RNA‐directed DNA methylation, post‐transcriptional gene silencing, and antiviral defense. To better understand specialization among AGO genes at the level of transcriptional regulation we tested a library of 1497 transcription factors for binding to the promoters of AGO1, AGO10, and AGO7 using yeast 1‐hybrid assays. A ranked list of candidate DNA‐binding TFs revealed binding of the AGO7 promoter by a number of proteins in two families: the miR156‐regulated SPL family and the miR319‐regulated TCP family, both of which have roles in developmental timing and leaf morphology. Possible functions for SPL and TCP binding are unclear: we showed that these binding sites are not required for the polar expression pattern of AGO7, nor for the function of AGO7 in leaf shape. Normal AGO7 transcription levels and function appear to depend instead on an adjacent 124‐bp region. Progress in understanding the structure of this promoter may aid efforts to understand how the conserved AGO7‐triggered TAS3 pathway functions in timing and polarity.
Controlled Self‐Assembly of Mesoporous CuO Networks Guided by Organic Interlinking
Authors: Ayllón José Antonio , Fraile Julio , Domingo Concepción
Published: January 2019

The controlled aggregation of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) induced by a multitopic carboxylic acid allows the formation of mesoporous structures with high surface area, in the order of 100 m2 g−1, as demonstrated herein. The main novelty in the designed process is the use, as a previous step, of a sacrificeable monotopic carboxylate ligand for capping the CuO NPs. This step avoids the often observed unwanted behavior of uncontrolled aggregation and material densification. The monotopic 3,6,9‐trioxadecanoate (HTODA) is used as the capping agent to prepare TODA@CuO, a starting material that forms colloidal dispersions in ethanol. For NPs self‐assembly, the bulky tricarboxylic acid 4,4′,4′′,‐benzene‐1,3,5‐triyl‐tris(benzoic acid) (H3BTB) is chosen as an efficient interlinker in the controlled aggregation. The obtained mesoporous network shows a considerable thermal stability, retaining ≈70% of its specific surface area after annealing at 300 °C under vacuum. Thermal treatment involves TODA capping agent elimination, but not BTB linker. The simultaneous reduction of the CuO NPs to a Cu2O/Cu mixture is observed.
A New Family of Two‐Dimensional Topological Materials: CdX (X = F, Cl, Br, and I)
Authors: Yi Xiao , Wang Wei , Zhou Pan , Zou Zheng Chun , Sun Li Zhong
Published: January 2019

Two‐dimensional (2D) transition‐metal halides have attracted great interest owing to their versatile applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and renewable energy storage/conversions. Using first‐principles calculations, it is proposed that a new series of 2D transition‐metal halide CdX (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) monolayers with honeycomb lattice structure show topological properties. When omitting the spin–orbital coupling (SOC) effect, all of them behave as Dirac semimetal whose Fermi surface is composed of two Dirac points at high symmetry K and K’ points in Brillouin zone. When considering the SOC effect, CdCl, CdBr, and CdI monolayers behave as topological insulators with global band gap, whereas CdF is converted from Dirac semimetal into topological metal with local band gap. The nontrivial topological properties are further proved by their nontrivial edge states. The fascinating properties of the CdX (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) monolayers show their potential for future quantum computing and next generation of high‐speed electronic devices.
Disorder Control in Crystalline GeSb2Te4 and its Impact on Characteristic Length Scales
Authors: Dück Matthias M. , Schäfer Tobias , Jakobs Stefan , Schön Carl‐Friedrich , Niehaus Hannah , Cojocaru‐Mirédin Oana , Wuttig Matthias
Published: January 2019

Crystalline GeSb2Te4 (GST) is a remarkable material, as it allows to continuously tune the electrical resistance by orders of magnitude without involving a structural phase transition or stoichiometric changes. While well‐ordered specimen are metallic, increasing amounts of disorder eventually lead to an insulating state with vanishing conductivity in the 0 K limit, but a similar number of charge carriers. Hence, GST provides ideal grounds to explore the impact of disorder on transport properties. Here, a sputter‐deposition process is employed that enables growing biaxially textured GST films with large grain sizes on mica substrates. The resulting films exhibit a systematic variation between metallic and truly insulating specimen upon varying deposition temperature. Transport measurements reveal that their electron mean free path can be altered by a factor of 20, while always remaining more than an order of magnitude smaller than the lateral grain size. This proves unequivocally that grain boundaries play a negligible role for electron scattering, while intra‐grain scattering, presumably by disordered vacancies, dominates. These findings underline that the insulating state and the system's evolution toward metallic conductivity are intrinsic properties of the material.
The Effects of Competition on Prescription Payments in Retail Pharmacy Markets
Authors: Chen Jihui
Published: January 2019

Using pharmacy claims from New Hampshire between 2009 and 2011, I study the extent to which pharmacy competition affects prescription payments. I measure pharmacy competition by the distance to nearby rivals, as well as a fixed‐travel‐time Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) (Dunn and Shapiro ). After controlling for various factors, including insurer, pharmacy, drug, and area characteristics, I find higher average drug prices in more concentrated seller (pharmacy) markets, but lower prices in more concentrated buyer (insurer) markets. Ceteris paribus, pharmacies with high market power (concentration in the 90th percentile) charge 2.78% more than those with low market power (concentration in the 10th percentile). The distance effect is more pronounced if a nearby pharmacy belongs to the same national chain. In addition, I show heterogeneous distance effects across different drug types and areas. My analysis contributes to the empirical literature on competition measures by adding new evidence from the retail pharmaceutical market.
Measurement of Ce/Ti Content in Austenitic Stainless Steel Welding Wire
Authors: Meng Xiang‐Li , Fan Xi‐Ying , Guo Yong‐Huan
Published: January 2019

Austenitic stainless steel (ASS) welding wire is a widely used filler metal for ferritic stainless steel (FSS). The microstructure of ASS is fine and it also has good weldability. However, the welded joints will appear hot cracks and dehisce under tensile force, and the grain boundaries will be corroded easily. In order to solve these problems, 14 kinds of Ce/Ti formulas are optimized by means of uniform test design and curve fitting. Then, the powders containing CeO2/TiO2 are added into the welded joints. After welding, a series of mechanical properties tests are conducted according to national standards. Then, the mechanical properties data are analyzed comprehensively by analyzing variance, boxplot as well as MATLAB 3D surface chart. The results show that sample 8 with the Ce/Ti amount of 0.24%/0.72% in ASS welding wire has better comprehensive mechanical properties. Compared with the samples without Ce/Ti, the yield strength, tensile strength, impact energy of normal temperature, and impact energy of heat treatment of welded joints increase by 127.2%, 41.9%, 841.8%, and 118.1% respectively.
Detection and Numerical Simulation of Non‐Metallic Inclusions in Continuous Casting Slab
Authors: Li Xianglong , Li Baokuan , Liu Zhongqiu , Niu Ran , Liu Qiang , Huang Xuechi , Xu Guodong , Ruan Xiaoming
Published: January 2019

A high‐efficiency fast‐detection platform (FDP) is set up to detect the spacial distribution of non‐metallic inclusions in slab. The spacial distribution of inclusion in the slab is asymmetrical and non‐uniform. In the vertical part of the caster, more inclusions are found in the loose side; while in the bending part, more inclusions are found in the fixed side. Two main sources of inclusions are revealed through SEM + EDS method: slag entrapment and oxidation of molten steel. The reason for these large inclusions is because of the high super heat and excessive rate of water cooling, since the micro structure is proven to be Widmanstatten. Then, a large eddy simulation (LES) model coupled with solidification is developed to study the inclusion transport and entrapment in the mold. Results show that the velocity near the fixed side is larger than that in the loose side, leading to the fact that more inclusions are removed from the top surface at the fixed side. Smaller inclusions are easier taken deep into the bending part of the caster, and are dragged by the curvature of fixed side, leading to the fact that inclusions in the fixed side are more than that in the loose side.
Microstructural Analysis of the Recrystallization Behavior of Low Alloyed Steels
Authors: Esterl Raphael , Sonnleitner Markus , Schnitzer Ronald
Published: January 2019

The recrystallization behavior of five low alloyed steels is investigated using double hit deformation tests. It is shown, that Niobium has the biggest influence in retarding the recrystallization kinetics. Further, the microstructural evolution dependent on strain and temperature during deformation is studied with a picric acid etchant and light‐optical analysis. It is shown how the microstructure of two differently alloyed ultra‐high strength steels changes along with the peculiarities of the corresponding stress–strain curves including the evolution of grain size and aspect ratio of the prior austenite grain. The findings on the different recrystallization kinetics with the role of recrystallization retarding elements are further reinforced by investigations on the Zener‐Hollomon parameter and the activation energy needed for dynamic recrystallization. A rolling scenario on a deformation dilatometer is simulated on a hardenable and a micro‐alloyed steel to illustrate the microstructural evolution between the rolling steps. It is shown, how the two ultra‐high strength steels perform different in their microstructural evolution, as the waiving of micro‐alloying elements (MAE) provides finer austenite grains.
Effect of Sb–Ba–Ce–Si–Fe Post Inoculants on Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of As‐Cast Pearlitic Ductile Iron
Authors: Lia Bok‐Gyu , Sim Kyong‐Ho , Kim Ryong‐Chol
Published: January 2019

The effect of the post inoculation by using the newly developed Sb–Ba–Ce–Si–Fe inoculant on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the as‐cast pearlitic ductile iron is investigated. The chemical composition of the post inoculant is 56.1% of Si, 1.4% of Ca, 3.5% of Ba, 4.9% of Ce, 10.3% of Sb and Fe. The post inoculation is simultaneously carried out with the nodularizing treatment of graphite in a ladle. The reasonable additive amount of the Sb–Ba–Ce–Si–Fe inoculant is 0.2%. When the Sb–Ba–Ce–Si–Fe inoculant is added by 0.2%, the pearlite content is 90%, and there are 270 spheroidal graphite nodules per 1 mm2. In addition, the size of graphite nodules is 30–40 μm, and the layer thickness of pearlites is about 125 nm. In this case, the mechanical properties of the as‐cast pearlitic ductile iron are as follows; the tensile strength is 750 MPa, the elongation is 4%, the hardness is HB 270.
Overexpressed Hsp70 alleviated formaldehyde‐induced apoptosis partly via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in human bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Liu Lulu , Huang Yun , Feng Xiangling , Chen Jihua , Duan Yanying
Published: January 2019

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, which can induce apoptosis in lung cell and is related to the pathogenesis of asthma, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is an ATP‐dependent molecular chaperone and exhibits an anti‐apoptosis ability in a variety of cells. Previous studies reported that the expression of Hsp70 was induced when organisms were exposed to FA. Whether Hsp70 plays a role in the FA‐induced apoptosis and the involved cell signaling pathway remain largely unknown. In this study, human bronchial epithelial cells with overexpressed Hsp70 and the control were exposed to different concentrations of FA (0, 40, 80, and 160 μmol/L) for 24 hours. Apoptosis and the expression levels of PI3K, Akt, p‐Akt, MEK, p‐MEK, and GLI2 were detected by Annexin‐APC/7AAD double‐labeled flow cytometry and western blot. The results showed that overexpression of Hsp70 decreased the apoptosis induced by FA and alleviated the decline of PI3k and p‐Akt significantly. Inhibitor (LY 294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K‐Akt) test result indicated that PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway was involved in the inhibition of FA‐induced apoptosis by Hsp70 overexpression and also active in the maintenance of GLI2 level. However, it also suggested that other signaling pathways activated by overexpressed Hsp70 participated in this process, which was needed to be elucidated in further research.
Parity violation
Authors: Berger Robert , Stohner Jürgen
Published: January 2019

Violation of (space) parity in atomic physics, molecular physics and chemistry is briefly reviewed. The review is structured by frequently asked questions related to the concept of space parity, its violation and the consequences thereof in physics, chemistry and biology.

This article is categorized under:

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy

Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Thermochemistry
“Capacity”, “best interests”, “will and preferences” and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Authors: Szmukler George
Published: January 2019

The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the most up‐to‐date international legal instrument concerning the rights of persons with disabilities. Such persons are taken to include those with serious mental disorders. According to an authoritative interpretation of a crucial Article (Article 12 ‐ Equal recognition before the law) by the UN CRPD Committee, involuntary detention and treatment of people with mental health disabilities are prohibited under the Convention. Both conventional mental health law and “capacity‐based” law are deemed to violate the Convention. However, some other UN bodies are not in full agreement (for example, the UN Human Rights Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment), while others are less explicitly absolutist (for example, the Human Rights Council). Furthermore, strong criticisms of the position of the CRPD Committee have been mounted from a number of academic quarters. These criticisms center on whether the role of a person's ability to make a decision can be ignored, no matter the circumstances. Much of the above debate turns on the concept of “legal capacity” and the now often‐repeated precept that one must always respect the “will and preferences” of the person with a disability. However, “will and preferences” remains undefined. In this paper, I offer an analysis of “will and preferences” that can clarify interventions that may be acceptable or non‐acceptable under the terms of the UN Convention.
The evidence‐based group‐level symptom‐reduction model as the organizing principle for mental health care: time for change?
Authors: van Os Jim , Guloksuz Sinan , Vijn Thomas Willem , Hafkenscheid Anton , Delespaul Philippe
Published: January 2019

The content and organization of mental health care have been heavily influenced by the view that mental difficulties come as diagnosable disorders that can be treated by specialist practitioners who apply evidence‐based practice (EBP) guidelines of symptom reduction at the group level. However, the EBP symptom‐reduction model is under pressure, as it may be disconnected from what patients need, ignores evidence of the trans‐syndromal nature of mental difficulties, overestimates the contribution of the technical aspects of treatment compared to the relational and ritual components of care, and underestimates the lack of EBP group‐to‐individual generalizability. A growing body of knowledge indicates that mental illnesses are seldom “cured” and are better framed as vulnerabilities. Important gains in well‐being can be achieved when individuals learn to live with mental vulnerabilities through a slow process of strengthening resilience in the social and existential domains. In this paper, we examine what a mental health service would look like if the above factors were taken into account. The mental health service of the 21st century may be best conceived of as a small‐scale healing community fostering connectedness and strengthening resilience in learning to live with mental vulnerability, complemented by a limited number of regional facilities. Peer support, organized at the level of a recovery college, may form the backbone of the community. Treatments should be aimed at trans‐syndromal symptom reduction, tailored to serve the higher‐order process of existential recovery and social participation, and applied by professionals who have been trained to collaborate, embrace idiography and maximize effects mediated by therapeutic relationship and the healing effects of ritualized care interactions. Finally, integration with a public mental health system of e‐communities providing information, peer and citizen support and a range of user‐rated self‐management tools may help bridge the gap between the high prevalence of common mental disorder and the relatively low capacity of any mental health service.
Innovations and changes in the ICD‐11 classification of mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Reed Geoffrey M. , First Michael B. , Kogan Cary S. , Hyman Steven E. , Gureje Oye , Gaebel Wolfgang , Maj Mario , Stein Dan J. , Maercker Andreas , Tyrer Peter , Claudino Angelica , Garralda Elena , Salvador‐Carulla Luis , Ray Rajat , Saunders John B. , Dua Tarun , Poznyak Vladimir , Medina‐Mora María Elena , Pike Kathleen M. , Ayuso‐Mateos José L. , Kanba Shigenobu , Keeley Jared W. , Khoury Brigitte , Krasnov Valery N. , Kulygina Maya , Lovell Anne M. , de Jesus Mari Jair , Maruta Toshimasa , Matsumoto Chihiro , Rebello Tahilia J. , Roberts Michael C. , Robles Rebeca , Sharan Pratap , Zhao Min , Jablensky Assen , Udomratn Pichet , Rahimi‐Movaghar Afarin , Rydelius Per‐Anders , Bährer‐Kohler Sabine , Watts Ann D. , Saxena Shekhar
Published: January 2019

Following approval of the ICD‐11 by the World Health Assembly in May 2019, World Health Organization (WHO) member states will transition from the ICD‐10 to the ICD‐11, with reporting of health statistics based on the new system to begin on January 1, 2022. The WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will publish Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines (CDDG) for ICD‐11 Mental, Behavioural and Neurodevelopmental Disorders following ICD‐11’s approval. The development of the ICD‐11 CDDG over the past decade, based on the principles of clinical utility and global applicability, has been the most broadly international, multilingual, multidisciplinary and participative revision process ever implemented for a classification of mental disorders. Innovations in the ICD‐11 include the provision of consistent and systematically characterized information, the adoption of a lifespan approach, and culture‐related guidance for each disorder. Dimensional approaches have been incorporated into the classification, particularly for personality disorders and primary psychotic disorders, in ways that are consistent with current evidence, are more compatible with recovery‐based approaches, eliminate artificial comorbidity, and more effectively capture changes over time. Here we describe major changes to the structure of the ICD‐11 classification of mental disorders as compared to the ICD‐10, and the development of two new ICD‐11 chapters relevant to mental health practice. We illustrate a set of new categories that have been added to the ICD‐11 and present the rationale for their inclusion. Finally, we provide a description of the important changes that have been made in each ICD‐11 disorder grouping. This information is intended to be useful for both clinicians and researchers in orienting themselves to the ICD‐11 and in preparing for implementation in their own professional contexts.
The impact of pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions to improve physical health outcomes in people with schizophrenia: a meta‐review of meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , Firth Joseph , Correll Christoph U. , Solmi Marco , Siskind Dan , De Hert Marc , Carney Rebekah , Koyanagi Ai , Carvalho André F. , Gaughran Fiona , Stubbs Brendon
Published: January 2019

We summarized and compared meta‐analyses of pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions targeting physical health outcomes among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Major databases were searched until June 1, 2018. Of 3,709 search engine hits, 27 meta‐analyses were included, representing 128 meta‐analyzed trials and 47,231 study participants. While meta‐analyses were generally of adequate or high quality, meta‐analyzed studies were less so. The most effective weight reduction interventions were individual lifestyle counseling (standardized mean difference, SMD=–0.98) and exercise interventions (SMD=–0.96), followed by psychoeducation (SMD=–0.77), aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=–0.73), topiramate (SMD=–0.72), d‐fenfluramine (SMD=–0.54) and metformin (SMD=–0.53). Regarding waist circumference reduction, aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=–1.10) and topiramate (SMD=–0.69) demonstrated the best evidence, followed by dietary interventions (SMD=–0.39). Dietary interventions were the only to significantly improve (diastolic) blood pressure (SMD=–0.39). Switching from olanzapine to quetiapine or aripiprazole (SMD=–0.71) and metformin (SMD=–0.65) demonstrated best efficacy for reducing glucose levels, followed by glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (SMD=–0.39), dietary interventions (SMD=–0.37) and aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=–0.34), whereas insulin resistance improved the most with metformin (SMD=–0.75) and rosiglitazone (SMD=–0.44). Topiramate had the greatest efficacy for triglycerides (SMD=–0.68) and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol (SMD=–0.80), whereas metformin had the greatest beneficial effects on total cholesterol (SMD=–0.51) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol (SMD=0.45). Lifestyle interventions yielded small effects for triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL‐cholesterol (SMD=–0.35 to –0.37). Only exercise interventions increased exercise capacity (SMD=1.81). Despite frequent physical comorbidities and premature mortality mainly due to these increased physical health risks, the current evidence for pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions in people with schizophrenia to prevent and treat these conditions is still limited and more larger trials are urgently needed.
Formal reliability analysis of redundancy architectures
Authors: Bozzano Marco , Cimatti Alessandro , Mattarei Cristian
Published: January 2019

Reliability is a fundamental property for critical systems. A thorough evaluation of the reliability is required by the certification procedures in various application domains, and it is important to support the exploration of the space of the design solutions. In this paper we propose a new, fully automated approach to the reliability analysis of complex redundant architectures. Given an abstract description of the architecture, the approach automatically extracts a fault tree and a symbolic reliability function, i.e. a program mapping the probability of fault of the basic components to the probability that the overall architecture deviates from the expected behavior. The proposed approach heavily relies on formal methods, by representing the architecture blocks as Uninterpreted Functions, and using the so-called
miter
construction to model the deviation from the nominal behavior. The extraction of all the deviation conditions is reduced to an AllSMT problem, and we extract the reliability function by traversing the Binary Decision Diagram corresponding to the quantified formula. Predicate abstraction is used to partition and speed up the computation. The approach has been implemented leveraging formal tools for model checking and safety assessment. A thorough experimental evaluation demonstrates its generality and effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Investigating Salesperson Performance Factors: A Systematic Review of the Literature on the Characteristics of Effective Salespersons
Authors: Herjanto Halimin , Franklin Drew
Published: January 2019

Business and consumer buying behaviour has changed dramatically in recent time; a fact that is not lost on selling organisations when considering how best to recalibrate salesperson performance measures in response. However, a contemporary, systematic review of the academic literature concerning those most effective salesperson performance factors is markedly absent. This study joins a long line of investigatory efforts regarding the characteristics and habits of successful salesperson performance by adopting meta-analysis techniques to investigate the salesperson performance literature, content-analysing over 250 published articles from 1986 to 2017 and synthesising the findings into a new salesperson performance typology. The study finds that personal, organisational, co-worker, buyer and situational dimensions are responsible for increasing salespersons’ performance. Additionally, this work offers a parsimonious overview of current key salesperson performance research as well as a clear agenda for future salesperson performance research.
Inventory agility upon demand shocks: Empirical evidence from the financial crisis
Authors: Udenio Maximiliano , Hoberg Kai , Fransoo Jan C.
Published: January 2019

The objective of this paper is to identify antecedents of inventory agility (i.e., the capability to quickly adapt inventories to changes in demand) upon demand shocks based on the awareness‐motivation‐capability (AMC) framework and to explore the link between inventory agility and financial performance. We introduce an empirical measure of inventory agility based on the deviation of relative inventories (i.e., inventory days) from their forecasted values. We hypothesize that firms with higher awareness, motivation, and capabilities are associated with higher inventory agility in the presence of demand shocks. We define two empirical measures for each of the three dimensions of the AMC framework in the context of inventory agility: awareness (i.e., market orientation and technology orientation), motivation (i.e., gross margin and liquidity), and capabilities (i.e., inventory management capability and resource availability). In addition, we incorporate the constraining factor model (CFM) into the AMC framework, thus allowing for complementarity among the different measures. In this view, the influence of each of the measures on inventory agility varies according to which of the measures is the constraining factor for a given firm. The 2008 financial crisis may have tested firms' inventory agility more than any other crisis since the Great Depression, as an unprecedented collapse of demand coincided with a reduction in credit availability. Therefore, for our analysis, we use firm‐level empirical data from 1263 public U.S. manufacturing firms for the 2005–2011 period. We find that firms' motivation and capabilities are key factors associated with inventory agility. Through the CFM, we show that identifying the constraining factors leads to a more refined understanding of the moderating effects of the antecedents of inventory agility. In a separate analysis, we find that inventory agility is positively associated with a number of financial performance metrics during crisis periods. We distinguish between inventory underages and overages and find that, during the crisis, they are both associated with lower financial performance. Furthermore, we find evidence that higher underages (overages) magnify the effect of overages (underages). Among other managerial insights, our findings suggest that the use of inventory reductions as a quick way to increase liquidity must be gauged against their potential impact on other aspects of financial performance.
Quo Vadis, Eastern Europe?
Authors: Sugar Peter F.
Published: January 2019

As these pages are being written, a fragile cease-fire is holding in Croatia, and the Bosnian legislature is about to declare Bosnia-Hercegovina an independent state despite the strenuous opposition of close to forty percent of the population. When hostilities began in Croatia, the Serb insurgents there called themselves cetniks and referred to their enemies as ustasa, World War II labels which the Serb media promptly adopted. Bosnian Serbs might call themselves cetniks too, should it come to open hostilities in that republic, but they will have trouble finding a label that would be applicable not only to their Croat, but also to their Muslim enemies.
Greater Serbia: A New Reality in the Balkans
Authors: Lukic Reneo
Published: January 2019

“We Serbs must militarily defeat our enemies and conquer the territories we need.”

Vojislav Maksimovic, Member

Bosnian Serb Parliament

“I don't see what's wrong with Greater Serbia. There's nothing wrong with a greater Germany, or with Great Britain.”

Bosnian Serb Leader

Radovan Karadžić

The break-up of Yugoslavia has come about as a result of national, economic and political conflicts which by the end of 1987 had taken on unprecedented dimensions. At that point, latent political conflicts between various republics came into the open. More specifically, the conflict between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo had turned into a low-intensity war. Under Slobodan Miloševićs leadership in Serbia, the Serbo-Slovenian conflict over Kosovo deepened, forcing other republics and provinces to take sides. The Slovenian leadership opposed a military solution to the Serbo-Albanian conflict in Kosovo. By 1990 the Serbo-Slovenian conflict had spilled over into Croatia, completely polarizing the Yugoslav political elite into two distinct camps; one encompassed Slovenia and Croatia, the other Serbia and Montenegro, with Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina playing the role of unsuccessful mediators.
The Collapse of the Soviet Union: Nationalism During Perestroika and Afterwards
Authors: Khazanov Anatoly
Published: January 2019

*“Democracy is next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities.”

—John Stuart Mill

“I have no doubt that this great Eastern Slav empire … has entered the last decades of its existence … Marxist doctrine has delayed the break-up of the Russian Empire—the Third Rome—but it does not possess the power to prevent it.”

—Andrei Amal'rik

Our times do not make much of prophets. The Soviet dissident, Andrei Amal'rik, went to the Gulag for his prophecy, which nevertheless turned out to be remarkably correct.