bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and rhizobacteria affect the physiology and performance ofSulla coronariaplants subjected to salt stress by mitigation of ionic imbalance
Authors: Hidri Rabaa , Mahmoud Ouissal Metoui-Ben , Farhat Nejia , Cordero Irene , Pueyo Jose J. , Debez Ahmed , Barea José-Miguel , Abdelly Chedly , Azcon Rosario
Published: March 2019

Salt stress has become a major menace to plant growth and productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF;Rhizophagus intraradices) in combination or not with plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR;Pseudomonassp. (Ps) andBacillus subtilis) on the establishment and growth ofSulla coronariaplants under saline conditions. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse andS. coronariaseedlings were stressed with NaCl (100 mM) for 4 weeks. Plant biomass, mineral nutrition of shoots and activities of rhizosphere soil enzymes were assessed. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth while increasing sodium accumulation and electrolyte leakage from leaves. However, inoculation with AMF, whether alone or combined with the PGPRPseudomonassp. alleviated the salt‐induced reduction of dry weight. Inoculation with only AMF increased shoot nutrient concentrations resulting in higher K+: Na+, Ca2+: Na+, and Ca2+: Mg2+ratios compared to the non‐inoculated plants under saline conditions. The co‐inoculation with AMF andPseudomonassp. under saline conditions lowered shoot sodium accumulation, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to non‐inoculated plants and plants inoculated only with AMF. The findings strongly suggest that inoculation with AMF alone or co‐inoculation with AMF andPseudomonassp. can alleviate salt stress of plants likely through mitigation of NaCl‐induced ionic imbalance, thereby improving the nutrient profile.
Effects and mechanism of free amino acids on browning in the processing of black garlic
Authors: Liu Pengli , Lu Xiaoming , Li Ningyang , Zheng Zhenjia , Zhao Ruixuan , Tang Xiaozhen , Qiao Xuguang
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Black garlic is produced by heating raw garlic at a high temperature for a long time without any additives. The thermal processing induces many chemical reactions, such as the Maillard reaction, which causes the color change from white to dark brown. Garlic contains a variety of amino acids, and the effect of each amino acid on browning is not fully understood. This work investigated the effect and mechanism of free amino acids on the browning of black garlic using model solutions containing garlic neutral polysaccharide, hydrolyzed garlic neutral polysaccharide, fructose, and free amino acids.

RESULTS

A significant increase in reducing sugar was detected when garlic neutral polysaccharide was heated with glycine. The browning intensity of garlic neutral polysaccharide‐glycine model solution was obviously higher after heating at 80 °C compared with that of garlic neutral polysaccharide solution. The model solution containing histidine had the greatest browning degree. The histidine model has a stable pH value, and almost no 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) was detected.

CONCLUSION

Amino acid can promote the breaking of the garlic neutral polysaccharide chain and can react with the fructose generated to form browning. Histidine has the greatest effect on the browning, because histidine could eliminate the inhibiting effect of organic acid on Maillard reaction due to the buffer ability, and histidine had high reactivity in the late stage of Maillard reaction. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
High‐level expression of PRSS3 correlates with metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Fei , Hu Yi‐Lin , Feng Ying , Guo Yi‐Bing , Liu Yi‐Fei , Mao Qin‐Sheng , Xue Wan‐Jiang
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

Serine protease‐3 (PRSS3) is a known contributor to the genesis and development of malignant tumors, although its role in gastric cancer (GC) is still unclear.

Methods

PRSS3 expression in GC tissue samples and its relationship with clinicopathological features were analyzed. Effects of GC cellular responses to the introduction of small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated and short hairpin RNA (shRNA)‐mediated interference with tumor
PRSS3 expression were also assessed.

Results

PRSS3 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues, and PRSS3 protein levels were higher in tumors that developed metastases soon after the surgery compared with those that remained metastasis‐free. High expression of PRSS3 was associated with tumor N staging and independently predictive of postoperative prognosis in patients with GC. The V1 variant of PRSS3 was primarily detected in GC tissue and cell lines, the others (V2‐V4) being scarcely detectable. Methylation and demethylation drugs had no impact on expression levels of any
PRSS3 transcriptional variant. The downregulated
PRSS3 expression suppressed GC cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

PRSS3 appears to act as an oncogene of GC. High PRSS3 expression portends postoperative metastasis, serving as an effective biomarker of poor therapeutic outcomes.
Multilevel Palate and Tongue Base Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Mulholland Graeme B. , Jeffery Caroline C. , Ziai Hedyeh , Hans Varinder , Seikaly Hadi , Pang Kenny P. , Rotenberg Brian W.
Published: March 2019

Objective

To evaluate multilevel palate and tongue base surgery as a method of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea by comparing the pre‐ and postoperative apnea‐hypopnea index.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review. MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines for conducting systematic reviews. Two authors screened all articles and performed methodological quality assessment. Relevant articles where reviewed in detail. Standard inclusion criteria were applied for article selection. Relevant data were extracted and summarized, a difference of means random‐effects model was performed. Our primary outcome measure was change in apnea‐hypopnea index pre‐/postsurgical treatment.

Results

Of 1,172 studies identified from January 2006 to March 2017, 46 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. This included 11 surgical subgroups and 1,806 patients. Methodological quality and risk of bias assessments were completed. There was strong male predominance 86.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 10.3%), and the average age was 46.8 (SD = 4.0) years. All studies included overweight to obese patients (average body mass index = 29.1 [SD = 3.5]). The average preoperative apnea‐hypopnea index was 39.0 (SD = 15.4), and the average postoperative apnea‐hypopnea index decreased to 18.3 (SD = 7.5). Meta‐analysis data yielded a decrease in apnea‐hypopnea index of −23.67 with a 95% confidence interval of −27.27 to −20.06.

Conclusions

Non–maxillomandibular advancement, multilevel surgical procedures for obstructive sleep apnea demonstrate significant improvements in reduction of apnea‐hypopnea index following surgery in addition to improvement in many other sleep‐specific outcomes. Future research should include larger, higher‐level studies that compare surgical treatments and identify factors associated with outcomes.

Level of Evidence

NA

Laryngoscope, 129:1712–1721, 2019
Sclerotherapy and Topical Nasal Propranolol: An Effective and Safe Therapy for HHT‐Epistaxis
Authors: Esteban‐Casado Santos , Martín de Rosales Cabrera Ana M. , Usarralde Pérez Angela , Martínez Simón Jose Javier , Zhan Zhou Estefanía , Marcos Salazar M. Sol , Pérez Encinas Montserrat , Botella Cubells Luisa
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Epistaxis is the most frequent clinical manifestation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Several topical, systemic, and surgical treatments have been tried, but none have been completely effective. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether a combined treatment sclerotherapy and topical therapy with propranolol 0.5% nasal formulation would reduce the epistaxis due to HHT and improve patient's quality of life.

Methods

An observational cross‐sectional study was carried out. The primary outcome measure was frequency and severity of epistaxis as measured by the epistaxis severity score (ESS) at baseline (4 weeks before therapy) and at least 4 weeks after the treatment was implemented. Quality of life was analyzed using EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D) scale and visual analogue (VAS) scale before and after treatment.

Results

A total of 38 consecutive patients subjected to the combined treatment were evaluated (mean age: 57.2 years, standard deviation [SD] = 13.9; 60.5% women). The mean time of treatment was 37.1 weeks (SD = 14.9). Combined therapy significantly reduces frequency and severity of epistaxis, with an ESS improvement of 5 points from 6.9 ± 2.6 to 1.9 ± 1.3 (P < 0.05); however, the EQ‐5D scale increased from 0.66 ± 0.27 to 0.93 ± 0.12 (P < 0.05). The difference in VAS means showed an increase from 44.6 ± 28.3 to 82.5 ± 12.5 (P < 0.05). The increases in quality of life are in line with the drop in ESS.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that combined therapy (sclerotherapy and topical nasal propranolol) significantly reduced the epistaxis due to HHT and increased patients’ quality of life.

Level of Evidence

2c

Laryngoscope, 129:2216–2223, 2019
Identification of a Novel CNV at 8q13 in a Family With Branchio‐Oto‐Renal Syndrome and Epilepsy
Authors: Men Meichao , Li Wu , Chen Hongsheng , Wu Jiayu , Feng Yong , Guo Hui , Li Jia‐Da
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Branchio‐oto‐renal (BOR) syndrome is characterized by branchial defects, hearing loss, preauricular pits, and renal anomalies, whereas patients with all symptoms except renal defects are diagnosed as branchio‐oto (BO) syndrome. BOR/BO is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant syndromic hearing loss, and EYA1 is the major causative gene. In this study, clinical and genetic analyses as well as auditory rehabilitation were performed in a Chinese family with BOR/BO syndrome.

Methods

Three affected individuals from a Chinese family were analyzed by whole exome sequencing (WES) to analyze the single nucleotide variants and copy number variations (CNVs). Whole genome sequencing was used to identify the breakpoints of CNVs; and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to verify the CNVs. Furthermore, cochlea implantation was performed in one patient to reconstruct hearing.

Results

A heterozygous 2.69 Mb deletion at chromosome 8q13 (chr8: 69582185‐72275725) cosegregates with the BOR/BO symptoms in this family, resulting in heterozygous loss of the EYA1 gene. In addition to typical BOR/BO symptoms, epilepsy or gastroesophageal reflux was observed in some patients. Cochlear implantation resulted in significant hearing improvement in one patient.

Conclusions

A novel deletion involving the whole EYA1 gene was identified by WES. To the best of our knowledge, epilepsy or gastroesophageal reflux was reported in BOR/BO patients for the first time, which expanded the BOR/BO phenotypes spectrum. Successful auditory rehabilitation can be achieved with cochlear implantations in some BOR/BO patients.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:526–532, 2020
Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Outcomes in Cirrhosis
Authors: Wong Florence , Reddy K. Rajender , O’Leary Jacqueline G. , Tandon Puneeta , Biggins Scott W. , Garcia‐Tsao Guadalupe , Maliakkal Benedict J. , Lai Jennifer C. , Fallon Michael B. , Vargas Hugo E. , Subramanian Ram , Thuluvath Paul J. , Kamath Patrick S. , Thacker Leroy , Bajaj Jasmohan S.
Published: March 2019

We hypothesize that the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with cirrhosis has increased due to the increased prevalence of CKD‐associated comorbidities, such as diabetes. We aimed to assess the characteristics of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis with CKD and its impact on renal and patient outcomes. The North American Consortium for the Study of End‐Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD) prospectively enrolled nonelectively admitted patients with cirrhosis and collected data on demographics, laboratory results, in‐hospital clinical course, and postdischarge 3‐month outcomes. CKD positive (CKD+) patients, defined as having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; Modification of Diet in Renal Disease–4 variable formula) of ≤60 mL/minute for >3 months, were compared with chronic kidney disease negative (CKD–) patients for development of organ failures, hospital course, and survival. There were 1099 CKD+ patients (46.8% of 2346 enrolled patients) who had significantly higher serum creatinine (2.21 ± 1.33 versus 0.83 ± 0.21 mg/dL in the CKD– group) on admission, higher prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis etiology, diabetes, refractory ascites, and hospital admissions in the previous 6 months compared with the CKD– group (all P < 0.001). Propensity matching (n = 922 in each group) by Child‐Pugh scores (9.78 ± 2.05 versus 9.74 ± 2.04, P = 0.70) showed that CKD+ patients had significantly higher rates of superimposed acute kidney injury (AKI; 68% versus 21%; P < 0.001) and eventual need for dialysis (11% versus 2%; P < 0.001) than CKD– patients. CKD+ patients also had more cases of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure as defined by the NACSELD group, which was associated with reduced 30‐ and 90‐day overall survival (P < 0.001 for both). A 10 mL/minute drop in eGFR was associated with a 13.1% increase in the risk of 30‐day mortality. In conclusion, patients with CKD should be treated as a high‐risk group among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis due to their poor survival, and they should be monitored carefully for the development of superimposed AKI.
Antegrade Hepatic Artery and Portal Vein Perfusion Versus Portal Vein Perfusion Alone in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Shaji Mathew Johns , Kumar K.Y. Santosh , Nair Krishnanunni , Thankamony Amma Binoj Sivasankara Pillai , Krishnakumar Lakshmi , Balakrishnan Dinesh , Gopalakrishnan Unnikrishnan , Menon Ramachandran Narayana , Sunny Aleena , Dhar Puneet , Othiyil Vayoth Sudheer , Surendran Sudhindran
Published: March 2019

Traditionally, deceased donor liver grafts receive dual perfusion (DP) through the portal vein and the hepatic artery (HA) either in situ or on the back table. HA perfusion is avoided in living donor liver grafts for fear of damage to the intima and consequent risk of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT). However, biliary vasculature is predominantly derived from the HA. We hypothesized that antegrade perfusion of the HA in addition to the portal vein on the back table could reduce the incidence of postoperative biliary complications. Consecutive adult patients undergoing living donor liver transplantations were randomized after donor hepatectomy to receive graft perfusion of histidine‐tryptophan‐ketoglutarate solution either via both the HA and portal vein (DP group, n = 62) or only through the portal vein (standard perfusion [SP] group, n = 62). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of biliary complications (biliary leak/stricture). Secondary endpoints included HAT and patient survival. The incidence of biliary stricture was significantly lower in the DP group (6.5% versus 19.4%; odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.09‐0.95; P = 0.04). There was no significant reduction in the incidence of HAT, bile leak, or hospital stay between the 2 groups. The 3‐year mortality and graft survival rates were significantly higher among patients who received DP compared with SP (P = 0.004 and P = 0.003, respectively). On multivariate analysis, nonperfusion of the HA and preceding bile leak were found to be risk factors for the development of biliary stricture (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, DP of living donor liver grafts through both the HA and portal vein on the back table may protect against the development of biliary stricture. This could translate to improved patient survival in the short term.
Antifungal and plant growth promotion activity of volatile organic compounds produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Authors: Wu Yuncheng , Zhou Jinyan , Li Chengguo , Ma Yan
Published: March 2019

Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by F. oxysporum f.sp. niveum (FON), is a devastating disease that causes extensive losses throughout the world. Five bacterial strains (L3, h, β, b, and L) isolated from the watermelon rhizosphere showed antagonistic activity against FON during in vitro tests. Strain L3 produced diffusible and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which showed the strongest antifungal activity. Arabidopsis thaliana plantlets exposed to VOCs produced by strain L3 showed a 2.39‐fold increase in biomass, 1.40‐fold increase in primary root length, and 5.05‐fold increase in number of lateral roots. Confocal laser scanning microscope showed that the GFP‐labeled strain L3 could colonize along the elongation and differentiation zones of watermelon roots. In greenhouse pot experiments, the biocontrol efficiency of strain L3 against fusarium wilt of watermelon was up to 68.4% in comparison with the control treatment. In addition, inoculation of the strain L3 resulted in a 23.4% increase in plant fresh weight. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the strain L3 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens L3. Fourteen VOCs produced by strain L3 were identified through GC‐MS analysis. Of nine VOCs tested, 2‐nonanone and 2‐heptanone were proved to have strong antifungal properties. Acetoin and 2,3‐butanediol were found to promote plant growth. The results suggested B. amyloliquefaciens L3 was a potential biocontrol agent, and that VOCs produced by B. amyloliquefaciens L3 play important roles in the process of biocontrol and plant growth promotion.
The Gulf of Nicoya (Costa Rica) Fisheries System: Two Decades of Change
Authors: Alms Viola , Wolff Matthias
Published: March 2019

In the early 1990s, ecological and fishery data from the Gulf of Nicoya (Pacific Ocean) were holistically analyzed, and a trophic model was constructed using the Ecopath modeling approach. The results indicated that this tropical estuary, which is a Costa Rican fishery hot spot, was already overexploited by shrimp trawlers and the longline fleet, and recent observations suggest further deteriorations in this system. To evaluate the ecosystem and socioeconomic changes in the Gulf of Nicoya over the last 20 years, the 1993 model was reconstructed with data from 2013 to compare both system states. Although the summary statistics of both states (i.e., 1993 and 2013) suggested that the system maintained its general functionality and even enabled the total harvest to increase by approximately 20%, a more detailed analysis of the levels of the functional groups suggested that the system was further degraded as follows: (1) most shrimp, eel, and catfish species decreased their share in the catches, with severe economic losses for the fishery; (2) of the species that substantially increased their share in the catches, most were short-lived, low-value species, such as small pelagic and small demersal fishes; and (3) catches of long-lived, high-trophic-level fish, such as rays, sharks, mackerels, and barracudas, decreased. A picture emerged in which the advancing fishery of low-trophic-level species with low economic value enabled the total harvest to increase, while valuable shrimp resources and higher-trophic-level species were depleted. These developments caused a tremendous economic loss of approximately 50%.
Mental health crises among youth worsens over past decade
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2019

A new study addressing the mental health needs of youth found increases over the last decade in serious psychological distress, major depression and suicidal thoughts, including more attempts and completed suicides. While the increases have occurred in young adults under 26, there have been no corresponding increase in older adults, researchers found.
FDA approves first drug for postpartum depression treatment
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced March 20 the approval of Zulresso (brexanolone) injection for intravenous (IV) use for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) in adult women. This is the first drug approved by the FDA specifically for PPD, a press release stated.
Analysis of dynamic spherical cavity expansion in undrained modified Cam Clay soil
Authors: Zhou Hang , Liu Hanlong , Li Yingzhen
Published: March 2019

In order to capture the influence of the cavity expansion velocity, this paper presents a semianalytical solution for dynamic spherical cavity expansion in modified Cam Clay (MCC) soil. The key problem is solving the six coupled partial differential equations (PDEs) of cavity expansion, in which the dynamic term is considered in the stress equilibrium equation. The similarity transformation technique is used to transform the PDEs into ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Subsequently, the numerical method using the function “ODE45” in MATLAB is selected to solve the ODEs, which allows the stress and excess pore pressure around the expanding spherical cavity wall to be obtained. The proposed semianalytical solution for dynamic spherical cavity expansion was validated by comparting the degenerate solution with the published quasistatic solution for the MCC model. Parametric study was then conducted to capture the influence of the cavity wall velocity on the cavity expansion response. The proposed solution has potential application to geotechnical problems such as dynamic pile driving, the dynamic cone penetration test, and so forth.
Serum Levels of Prealbumin and Albumin for Preoperative Risk Stratification
Authors: Loftus Tyler J. , Brown Michelle P. , Slish John H. , Rosenthal Martin D.
Published: March 2019

Preoperative risk stratification has long been developed as a strategy to predict postoperative outcomes and potentially alter or optimize comorbidities and modifiable risk. Malnutrition is among the most common potentially modifiable risk factors and the strongest predictor of poor postsurgical outcomes. Historically, malnutrition has been difficult to address for healthcare providers because of the lack of a cohesive definition. Adding to the confusion has been the use of serum levels of albumin and prealbumin as biomarkers for malnutrition; many fail to understand that these visceral proteins are only valid as markers of nutrition status while at homeostasis. Surgical need is often driven by both sterile and non‐sterile inflammation, but during this pathologic mechanism, hepatic reprioritization shunts visceral protein synthesis, rendering albumin and prealbumin invalid as biomarkers for malnutrition. Ultimately, understanding these limitations and embracing better indicators of malnutrition will improve preoperative risk stratification.
Effect of layered graphene oxide on the structure and properties of bovine serum albumin grafted polyacrylonitrile hybrid bionanocomposites
Authors: Sahoo Gyanaranjan , Sarkar Niladri , Swain Sarat K.
Published: March 2019

Herein, one‐pot synthetic protocol is utilized to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) reinforced bovine serum albumin grafted polyacrylonitrile (BSA‐g‐PAN) microspheres through emulsifier‐free in situ emulsion polymerization route by using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. The surface morphologies of pure PAN, BSA‐g‐PAN hybrid polymer, and BSA‐g‐PAN/GO hybrid bionanocomposites are observed through scanning electron microscope. Pure PAN shows the self‐assembled cauliflower like morphology which is found to be structurally interfered due to grafting between BSA and PAN. Moreover, the growth of cauliflower like morphology is influenced by the incorporation of GO platelets within BSA‐g‐PAN matrix, due to strong interfacial adhesion between GO and PAN. Transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy techniques are used to evaluate structural distributions of layered GOs within BSA‐g‐PAN chains. Due to filling up of microvoids of BSA‐g‐PAN structure by the GO layers, the oxygen permeability of the hybrid bionanocomposite is reduced by 22 folds with incorporation of only 3 wt% of GO. Moreover, the BSA‐g‐PAN/GO hybrid bionanocomposite shows significant antibacterial activities against bacteria such as S. aureus and E. coli. Primarily, thermal, gas barrier, biodegradability, antimicrobial, and mechanical properties of the synthesized hybrid bionanocomposites are studied to explore the hybrid bionanocomposite in packaging applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3989–4003, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Multi‐Omics Profiling for NF1 Target Discovery in Neurofibromin (NF1) Deficient Cells
Authors: Carnes Rachel M. , Mobley James A. , Crossman David K. , Liu Hui , Korf Bruce R. , Kesterson Robert A. , Wallis Deeann
Published: March 2019

Loss of NF1 is an oncogenic driver. In efforts to define pathways responsible for the development of neurofibromas and other cancers, transcriptomic and proteomic changes are evaluated in a non‐malignant NF1 null cell line. NF1 null HEK293 cells were created using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and they are compared to parental cells that express neurofibromin. A total of 1222 genes and 132 proteins are found to be differentially expressed. The analysis is integrated to identify eight transcripts/proteins that are differentially regulated in both analyses. Metacore Pathway analysis identifies Neurogenesis NGF/TrkA MAPK‐mediated signaling alterations. Next, the data set is compared with other published studies that involve analysis of cells or tumors deficient for NF1 and it is found that 141 genes recur in the sample and others; only thirteen of these genes recur in two or more studies. Genes/proteins of interest are validated via q‐RT‐PCR or Western blot. It is shown that KRT8 and 14‐3‐3σ protein levels respond to exogenously introduced mNf1 cDNA. Hence, transcripts/proteins that respond to neurofibromin levels are identified and they can potentially be used as biomarkers.
RAId: Knowledge‐Integrated Proteomics Web Service with Accurate Statistical Significance Assignment
Authors: Ogurtsov Aleksey Y. , Alves Gelio , Yu Yi‐Kuo
Published: March 2019

Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics starts with identifications of peptides and proteins, which provide the bases for forming the next‐level hypotheses whose “validations” are often employed for forming even higher level hypotheses and so forth. Scientifically meaningful conclusions are thus attainable only if the number of falsely identified peptides/proteins is accurately controlled. For this reason, RAId continued to be developed in the past decade. RAId employs rigorous statistics for peptides/proteins identification, hence assigning accurate P‐values/E‐values that can be used confidently to control the number of falsely identified peptides and proteins. The RAId web service is a versatile tool built to identify peptides and proteins from tandem mass spectrometry data. Not only recognizing various spectra file formats, the web service also allows four peptide scoring functions and choice of three statistical methods for assigning P‐values/E‐values to identified peptides. Users may upload their own protein database or use one of the available knowledge integrated organismal databases that contain annotated information such as single amino acid polymorphisms, post‐translational modifications, and their disease associations. The web service also provides a friendly interface to display, sort using different criteria, and download the identified peptides and proteins. RAId web service is freely available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Yu/raid
Healing, Pain and Function after Midshaft Clavicular Fractures: A Systematic Review of Treatment with Immobilization and Rehabilitation
Authors: Catapano Michael , Hoppe Daniel , Henry Patrick , Nam Diane , Robinson Lawrence R. , Wasserstein David
Published: March 2019

Objective

To systematically evaluate the scientific literature examining the efficacy of nonoperative management for midshaft clavicular fractures, specifically looking at the effect of immobilization and/or functional rehabilitation.

Type

Systematic review.

Literature Survey

MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL databases were searched.

Methodology

Inclusion criteria included adult patients enrolled in a controlled study evaluating bony healing, pain and/or function‐related improvements after a strict nonoperative treatment plan for management of midshaft clavicle fractures.

Synthesis

A total of 10 articles were included in the study. Only four studies contained level I evidence; four studies were prospective case series without a control, and one was a retrospective case series without a control. Half of studies used a strict immobilization period, and most utilized a period of functional rehabilitation. There were no direct comparisons between rehabilitation protocols. Studies without a strict immobilization period had a nonunion rate of 5% to 24% and residual pain in 35% to 83% of patients compared to studies with a strict immobilization period with a nonunion rate of 3% to 29% and residual pain in 14% to 49% of patients. Studies including functional rehabilitation protocol reported functional as measured by the Constant Shoulder Score of 87.8 to 96, out of a maximum of 100 representing no functional limitations, and nonunion rates of 12% to 25% compared to 81 to 85 and 3% to 29% in those without a rehabilitation protocol.

Conclusions

No studies directly examine the effect of immobilization and functional rehabilitation on clinical outcomes for midshaft clavicular fractures. Future studies are needed to better elucidate the most effective treatment.

Level of Evidence

I
Diel rhythms of sexual behavior and pheromone responses in Phauda flammans Walker (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)
Authors: Zheng Xia‐Lin , Liu Jun‐Yan , Zhang Zhi‐Lin , Wang Pan , Lu Wen
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Phauda flammans Walker is a notorious defoliating pest of Ficus spp. in Southeast Asian. Sex pheromones have been identified as an effective method of biological control. However, little is known about the sex pheromone communication of P. flammans due to a lack of knowledge regarding the diel rhythms of sexual behavior and a lack of field tests using sex pheromone attractants.

RESULTS

Adults of P. flammans eclosed from 6:00 to 16:00 h with a peak at 11:00–12:00 h and mated from 9:00 to 19:00 h with a peak at 14:00–15:00 h. The attraction of virgin males to P. flammans females suggested the utilization of sex pheromones. We identified Z‐9‐hexadecenal and (Z,Z,Z)‐9,12,15‐octadecatrienal as the primary components and found that they elicited the largest electroantennographic detection responses from the antennae of males. Field tests confirmed that P. flammans males can be captured by the two synthetic pheromone components at a ratio of 1:1. The capture of only males in field tests using the synthetic compounds confirmed the activity of the identified sex pheromone candidates.

CONCLUSION

The results provide useful information for the design of standardized sex pheromone traps for the monitoring as well as trapping of P. flammans in the field. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Cardiovascular risk prediction for primary prevention
Authors: Laight David
Published: March 2019

Risk prediction tools such as QRISK identify those at higher risk of heart attack and stroke, based on traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors, with a view to primary prevention, eg with statins. This article considers how this important aspect of public health management can be optimised.
Implementing the EU Falsified Medicines Directive
Authors: Ogden Joy
Published: March 2019

The European Union's Falsified Medicines Directive, which came into force on 9 February, has laid down rigorous rules for pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists to follow in a bid to eradicate the pernicious impact of fake drugs infiltrating the legal supply chain. Joy Ogden reports on the progress so far.
Red‐Shifted Absorption of C‐Dots for Utilization in Hybrid Nano‐Optoelectronics by Application of Systematically Synthesized Precursor Molecules
Authors: Dissinger Frank , Zimmermann Kseniia , Jaros Angelina , Meierhofer Florian , Cammi Davide , Voss Tobias , Waldvogel Siegfried R.
Published: March 2019

In this work, a facile, easy and scalable synthetic protocol is modified at the precursor level to shift absorption of the resulting carbon nanodots (C‐dots) to larger wavelengths. Using the knowledge about possible intermediates during the solvothermal pyrolysis for predictions of the final absorption of the products, several types of precursor variations from the original mixture of citric acid (CA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) are being tested. Syntheses over distinct steps of refined aromatic amine compounds with different size and number of functional groups are performed and the structures transferred into the pyrolysis protocol. UV–VIS measurements prove the success of the red‐shifted absorption of the resulting products and show limitations of the precursor‐vise tunability. Photoluminescence measurements are conducted with the most promising example of each optimization category to prove a correlation between absorption and luminescence behavior. 1H DOSY NMR experiments are used for size comparison between the particles in solution to check for an impact between particle size and absorption. Optimized, tailor‐made C‐dots are tested as light‐harvesters for application in hybrid nanodevices in combination with ZnO nanowire arrays. The photoconductivity can be increased tremendously in wavelengths above the semiconductor band gap using the tuned C‐dots as photosensitizers.
In‐depth probe of researching interfacial charge transfer process for organic solar cells: A promising bisadduct fullerene derivatives acceptor
Authors: Li Ming‐Yang , Yin Hang , Sui Ming‐Yue , Wang Fei , Liu Yan‐Hui , Sun Guang‐Yan
Published: March 2019

The charge transfer (CT) mechanism at the donor/acceptor (D/A) interface plays an irreplaceable role in the photoelectric conversion of efficient bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs), which affects the resulting competition between charge separation and charge recombination. Extensive CT studies have preferred monoadduct fullerene derivatives (M60, M70) due to their unique spherical geometry with fewer factors to consider. However, the effect of carbon cage size, substituent group properties and the number of CT properties have not been much discussed. Here, sulfur‐containing bisadducts (B60, B70) were selected to explore whether they are also suitable for CT research like classical monoadducts. Using density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory, interface stacking configuration, key parameters relevant to CT states, charge separation, and recombination rates were determined to confirm the characteristics of B60 and B70 as a good acceptor applied to interfacial research. This work points to the CT mechanism along the route of DA → D*A → D+A− through a theoretical analysis and also provides candidates for the theoretical interface photoelectric process in BHJ OSCs: bisadduct fullerene derivatives as good acceptor materials.
Opening up curricula to redistribute epistemic agency: A framework for supporting science teaching
Authors: Ko Mon‐Lin Monica , Krist Christina
Published: March 2019

This study proposes a strategic framework to guide teachers’ curriculum adaptation, planning, and enactment as a lever for redistributing epistemic agency. This framework intends to position teachers as strategic decision‐makers around when and how to open up aspects of their curriculum. We argue that seeing the aspects of Next Generation Science Standards‐aligned curricula—the methods of investigation, the anchoring phenomena, and the explanatory models students construct—as entry points for redistributing epistemic agency may help teachers make inroads to shifting their classroom practice towards more responsive instruction. Importantly, our tool acknowledges that there are different “levels” at which teachers might strategically decide to open up space for student decision‐making. These decisions may have a differential impact on students’ subsequent participation in science practices. In this paper, we will use three cases to highlight the specific and incremental ways that teachers can open up aspects of the curriculum and how those openings redistributed epistemic agency in their classroom. We argue that this framework may be used as a tool for engaging teachers in conversation about how they can begin to position students as partners in the epistemic decisions that drive classroom activity.
Introduction to special issue: Epistemic tools in science education
Authors: Stroupe David , Moon Jean , Michaels Sarah
Published: March 2019

We argue that unless teachers provide students with openings to take up some form of epistemic agency through the use of tools, and if students do not perceive and act on such openings, then the rhetoric of the Framework and Next Generation Science Standards—focused on participation in practices—is empty and aims to perpetuate the status quo of current and problematic science teaching and learning. Drawing on our own work and that of others, including the authors in this special issue of Science Education, we assert that epistemic tools and their principled use in classrooms have an important role in disrupting the status quo.
Epistemic tools in engineering design for K‐12 education
Authors: Kelly Gregory J. , Cunningham Christine M.
Published: March 2019

Engineering design provides unique ways to include epistemic tools to support collaborative sense‐making, reasoning with evidence, and assessing knowledge. Engineering design processes often require students to apply science concepts to solve problems. We draw from five engineering curricular units that engaged students in specific epistemic practices of engineering: constructing models and prototypes, making trade‐offs between criteria and constraints, and communicating through uses of conventionalized verbal, written, and symbolic models. Through analysis of curriculum products, student artifacts, and classroom discourse, we show how engaging in such practices requires the use of epistemic tools that shape, and are shaped by, the knowledge construction work of the members of the classrooms. The epistemic tools foster creating, sharing, and assessing knowledge claims. Six principles of practice for education demonstrate how such tools can be educative. These principles evince how epistemic tools support goal‐directed, concerted activity that can support the learning of disciplinary knowledge and practice and offer the potential to increase student agency.
Supporting knowledge construction in elementary engineering design
Authors: Wendell Kristen B. , Andrews Chelsea J. , Paugh Patricia
Published: March 2019

Engineering design learning experiences are increasingly offered as part of elementary school, but research on how to support young learners’ knowledge construction during classroom engineering is still preliminary. Questions remain about how classroom supports can make engineering thinking visible so that students build engineering knowledge along with engineering products. We report results from a case study of an 11‐day teaching experiment in two elementary classrooms. With the classroom teachers, we guided fourth and fifth graders to document their design iterations with a digital notebooking tool, participate in whole‐class design talks, and create and exhibit posters with “stomp rocket” design recommendations. We conducted a microethnographic analysis of students’ interactions with these notebooking, talk, and poster tools. Our findings characterize how students constructed engineering design knowledge through the discourse of sense‐making about rocket phenomena, decision‐making for specific rocket iterations, and representation‐making for external audiences. These results have implications for elementary engineering instruction: it appears productive for learning to structure whole‐class design talks around representations of sequences of prototypes over time, rather than focusing only on current or best physical prototypes, and to structure engineering curriculum units so that they culminate with student‐generated sets of design recommendations, rather than single design solutions.
“Water is a gift that destroys”: Making a national natural resource in Lesotho
Authors: Hoag Colin
Published: March 2019

The enclave state of Lesotho served as a labor reserve for South Africa's mining industries for more than a century before the the migrant labor economy declined dramatically in the 1990s. The Lesotho government has since hung its hopes on becoming another kind of reserve for South Africa: a water reservoir. A treaty between the two countries initiated the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a multibillion‐dollar effort to dam and divert water from the mountains of Lesotho to the arid industrial areas south of Johannesburg. Just as the infrastructure of South African apartheid‐era labor reserves required “upstream” engineering, whether material, social, or symbolic, so too does its water reservoir. One example of symbolic engineering, described here, includes the construction of Lesotho as a place defined by water abundance. Elites in Lesotho have sought to deploy water as a symbol of national identity, sovereignty, and economic prosperity, integrating rivers, dam reservoirs, and hydroelectric infrastructure into its national iconography. But while it is true that water is abundant in rivers that flow out of the highlands, the country is plagued by regular droughts and spotty water access. Everyday notions of water in Lesotho emphasize these contingent, capricious, and even destructive qualities. Scrutinizing contradictions between the representation of water and local realities, I show that the production of water commodities entails more than water's disarticulation from its meaningful cultural contexts, as depicted in literature on water commodification elsewhere. Water commodification in Lesotho—and therefore Lesotho's status as a water reservoir for South African industry—is dependent on water engineers' ability first to link water to those local contexts. That is, engineers generate a type of water that is locally emplaced but unfamiliar to local people. In conclusion, I show how everyday notions of water in Lesotho call into question anthropological depictions of the “harmonious” water threatened by commodification.
Ethylene Polymerization Using Site‐Selective Pyridine‐Amide Based Iron Complexes
Authors: Mishra Anurag , Prabhu Parashiva , Gocher Chandra , Gupta Virendrakumar
Published: March 2019

The ligand N’,N’‐bis(6‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide (1) in their di‐deprotonated forms have been used to synthesize two new iron (III) 2 and 3 metal complexes. The iron(III) is surrounded by two tridentate ligands for complex 2, and one tridentate ligand for complex 3. Both complexes have been characterized by NMR, UV‐Visible, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The solid‐state structure of 2 was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Both iron complexes were further studied for ethylene polymerization in the presence of co‐catalyst methylaluminoxane (MAO) under various reaction conditions. It was found that the pincer containing complex 3 exhibited good activities for ethylene polymerization at 80 °C, while the bis‐ligated iron complex 2 did not show activity for ethylene polymerization.
Programming Motions of DNA Origami Nanomachines
Authors: Wang Fei , Zhang Xueli , Liu Xiaoguo , Fan Chunhai , Li Qian
Published: March 2019

DNA nanotechnology enables the precise fabrication of DNA‐based machines with nanoscale dimensions. A wide range of DNA nanomachines are designed, which can be activated by specific inputs to perform various movement and functions. The excellent rigidity and unprecedented addressability of DNA origami have made it an excellent platform for manipulating and investigating the motion behaviors of DNA machines at single‐molecule level. In this Concept, power supply, machine actuation, and motion behavior of DNA machines on origami platforms are summarized and classified. The strategies utilized for programming motion behavior of DNA machines on DNA origami are also discussed with representative examples. The challenges and outlook for future development of manipulating DNA nanomachines at the single molecule level are presented and discussed.
A Review on Iron Oxide‐Based Nanoarchitectures for Biomedical, Energy Storage, and Environmental Applications
Authors: Tanaka Shunsuke , Kaneti Yusuf Valentino , Septiani Ni Luh Wulan , Dou Shi Xue , Bando Yoshio , Hossain Md. Shahriar A. , Kim Jeonghun , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: March 2019

Iron oxide nanoarchitectures with distinct morphologies from 1D to 3D have been developed using various wet chemical methods. They have been employed for a wide range of applications, including energy storage, biomedical, and environmental applications. The functional properties of iron oxide nanoarchitectures depend on the size, shape, composition, magnetic properties, and surface modification. To overcome the limitations of pure iron oxide nanostructures, hybridizations with various inorganic materials (e.g., silica, metals, metal oxides) and carbon‐based materials have been proposed. Herein, the recent advances in the preparation of various iron oxide nanoarchitectures are reviewed along with their functional applications in energy storage, biomedical, and environmental fields. Finally, the effects of various parameters on the functional performance of iron oxide nanostructures for these applications are summarized and the trends and future outlook on the development of iron oxide nanoarchitectures for these applications are also given.
SPring‐8 BL36XU: Synchrotron Radiation X‐Ray‐Based Multi‐Analytical Beamline for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells under Operating Conditions
Authors: Uruga Tomoya , Tada Mizuki , Sekizawa Oki , Takagi Yasumasa , Yokoyama Toshihiko , Iwasawa Yasuhiro
Published: March 2019

We designed and constructed a beamline BL36XU at the 8 GeV synchrotron radiation facility SPring‐8 to provide information required for the development of next‐generation polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) by clarifying the dynamic aspects of structures and electronic states of cathode catalysts under PEFC operating conditions and in the deterioration processes by accelerated durability test protcols. To investigate the mechanism and degradation process for the cathode electrocatalysis in practical PEFCs, we developed advanced time‐ and spatially‐resolved in‐situ/operando X‐ray absorption fine structure measurement systems and complementary analytical systems (X‐ray emission spectroscopy (XES), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray computer tomography (CT) and hard X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES)) and combined them to develop multi‐analytical systems at BL36XU. Multi‐analytical systems are very powerful for observing spatial‐temporal features of the transient processes occurring in complex systems such as PEFCs. This account describes the design, performance, and research results of the BL36XU and multi‐analytical in‐situ/operando systems.