bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Detailed Biological and Chemical Investigation of Sixteen Achillea Species’ Essential Oils via Chemometric Approach
Authors: Yener Ismail , Yilmaz Mustafa Abdullah , Olmez Ozge Tokul , Akdeniz Mehmet , Tekin Fetullah , Hasimi Nesrin , Alkan Mehmet Huseyin , Ozturk Mehmet , Ertas Abdulselam
Published: January 2020

Representatives of the Achillea genus are widely used as foods or nutraceuticals. Considering the increasing demand for herbal dietary supplements with health promoting effects, the objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils obtained from sixteen Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. wilhelmsii subsp. wilhelmsii, A. aleppica subsp. zederbaueri, A. vermicularis, A. monocephala, A. nobilis, A. goniocephala, A. sintenisii, A. coarctata, A. kotschyi subsp. kotschyi, A. millefolium subsp. millefolium, A. lycaonica, A. spinulifolia, A. teretifolia, A. setacea, and A. schischkinii). Anticholinesterase, antiurease, antityrosinase enzymes inhibition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, toxic and cytotoxic activities of obtained essential oils were investigated. DPPH activities were found to be very low in all studied samples, while ABTS and CUPRAC antioxidant activities were found to be moderate. In addition, all samples were found to have moderate anticholinesterase and antimicrobial effects. It has been determined that the studied species have low cytotoxicity and high toxicity. Besides, chemical composition of the essential oils were determined by GC/MS and the results were chemometrically analyzed. The chemometric analyses of Achillea species collected from nine different regions were accomplished by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) techniques. According to the PCA analysis, A. nobilis subsp. neilreichii was found to be different from all studied species in terms of essential oil composition. The major components found in these species were piperitone, camphor, α‐terpinene, eucalyptol, artemisia ketone, endo‐borneol, β‐eudesmol and verbenol. The fact that camphor was toxic and found in majority of the studied species stands out as a remarkable result.
Antiepileptic drug optimization using ambulatory electrocorticographic data from an implanted brain‐responsive neurostimulator
Authors: Tjong Elysia , Peng Yen‐Yi
Published: January 2020

Effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been traditionally monitored by patient‐reported seizures. A 31‐year‐old male patient was treated with a responsive neurostimulation system (RNS). The ambulatory electrocorticographic data were used to guide AED choice and dosing in achieving subsidence of disabling seizures and minimization of the adverse effects of polypharmacy.
An Aqueous Hybrid Zinc‐Bromine Battery with High Voltage and Energy Density
Authors: Yuan Xinhai , Mo Jun , Huang Jie , Liu Jun , Liu Canming , Zeng Xianxiang , Zhou Wenxin , Yue Junpei , Wu Xiongwei , Wu Yuping
Published: January 2020

The zinc‐bromine redox flow battery (ZBB) is an ideal device of energy storage systems. Nevertheless, its energy density is relatively low compared to those of Li‐ion batteries, due to its low output voltage. Herein, a high‐voltage aqueous hybrid zinc‐bromine battery system (AHZBBs) was developed, where K+‐conducting membrane was used to segregate neutral‐alkaline hybrid electrolytes and redox couples of Br2/Br−and [Zn(OH)4]2−/Zn at the positive and negative electrode. Benefited from an efficient and stable cathode catalyst (carbon‐manganite nanoflakes), this AHZBB delivered a high average output voltage of 2.15 V and energy density of 276.7 Wh/kg without capacity attenuation after 200 cycles. More importantly, this work provides an efficient avenue to elevating the output voltage and energy density, and will strongly encourage studies on redox flow batteries.
Bipolar Electrochemistry Exfoliation of Layered Metal Chalcogenides Sb2S3 and Bi2S3 and their Hydrogen Evolution Applications
Authors: Tan Shu Min , Mayorga‐Martinez Carmen C. , Sofer Zdeněk , Pumera Martin
Published: January 2020

Efficient exfoliation and downsizing of Sb2S3 and Bi2S3 layered compounds by using scalable bipolar electrochemistry on their suspensions in aqueous media are here demonstrated. The resulting samples were characterized in detail by transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy; their electrochemistry toward hydrogen evolution was also investigated. Hydrogen evolution ability of exfoliated Sb2S3 and Bi2S3 was investigated and compared to the bulk counterparts.
Metallacarboranes as Photoredox Catalysts in Water
Authors: Guerrero Isabel , Kelemen Zsolt , Viñas Clara , Romero Isabel , Teixidor Francesc
Published: January 2020

Metallacarboranes with the shape of the Greek letter θ, such as [Co(C2B9H11)2]−, were tested, for the first time, as efficient photoredox catalysts in the oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic alcohols in water. Their efficiency is linked to their high solubility in water, their high oxidizing power (Co4+/3+), and their absence of fluorescence on excitation, among others. In most of the studied examples, using a catalyst load of 0.4 mol % gave high yields of 90–95 % with selectivity greater than 99 %. By reducing the catalyst load to 0.01 mol %, quantitative conversion of reactants to products was achieved, in some cases with greater than 99 % yield, high catalyst efficiency reaching a turnover number of 10 000, and a higher yield with a 45 times lower concentration of catalyst. The metallacarboranes can be recovered easily by precipitation on addition of [NMe4]Cl. A pathway for the photoredox‐catalyzed oxidation of alcohols is proposed.
Hydrogen Production System by Light‐Induced α‐FeOOH Coupled with Photoreduction
Authors: Yamada Tetsuya , Suzuki Norihiro , Nakata Kazuya , Terashima Chiaki , Matsushita Nobuhiro , Okada Kiyoshi , Fujishima Akira , Katsumata Ken‐ichi
Published: January 2020

Invited for the cover of this issue is Tetsuya Yamada, Ken‐ichi Katsumata and co‐workers at Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo University of Science. The image depicts rust producing hydrogen and purifying the pollutants at the same time by photocatalytic reaction. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201903642.
Chemical‐looping gasification of coal with CuFe2O4 oxygen carriers: The reaction characteristics and structural evolution
Authors: An Mei , Guo Qingjie , Ma Jingjing , Hu Xiude
Published: January 2020

In this study, coal gasification to produce synthesis gas by chemical looping was investigated with CuFe2O4 oxygen carriers (OCs), including the reaction characteristics and structural evolution process. It was found that the presence of a CuFe2O4 OC increases the gasification reaction rate of coal in comparison to the use of inert bed material (silica sand). The CuFe2O4 OC enhanced the performance of hematite and improved the ability to produce syngas of CuO OCs. During the chemical looping process, CuFe2O4 was reduced to Fe3O4 and Cu. Furthermore, N2 adsorption/desorption and scanning electron microscopy images verified that the released O2 and the generated CO2 by the CuFe2O4 OCs improved the carbon conversion and facilitated the pore opening and expansion shown by the increase in specific surface area. This can be used as a theoretical reference that can be used to gain a better understanding of the microscopic mechanism for how CuFe2O4 OCs can accelerate the chemical looping gasification of coal.
Blood‐based circulating tumor DNA mutations as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for lung cancer
Authors: Leung Maria , Freidin Maxim B. , Freydina Daria V. , Von Crease Charlotte , De Sousa Paulo , Barbosa Monica T. , Nicholson Andrew G. , Lim Eric
Published: January 2020

Background

The objectives of the current study were to develop an initial blood‐based circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) gene signature and to validate the clinical test performance in patients with early primary and secondary lung cancer.

Methods

Between January 2009 and October 2014, a total of 211 patients with known or suspected lung cancer donated their blood prior to surgery and were followed up to May 2018. ctDNA was extracted from plasma and from corresponding formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues. The blood was analyzed in a blinded manner and pathology reports were issued that were blinded to the blood test results. The reference standard was histopathology confirmed cancer in the resected surgical specimens as reported according to World Health Organization criteria and staged using the eighth edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors criteria.

Results

Of 211 consenting patients, 19 (9.0%) were excluded, leaving 192 participants, consisting of 95 men (49%) and with a mean age of 63 years (SD, 15 years). The clinical test performance for the blood‐based diagnostic signature demonstrated a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI, 67%‐81%), specificity of 89% (95% CI, 70%‐98%), positive predictive value of 98% (95% CI, 93%‐100%), and negative predictive value of 35% (95% CI, 24%‐48%) when compared with conventional clinical histopathology reporting of the resected tissue.

Conclusions

The results of the current study suggested that blood‐based ctDNA analysis of cancer mutations is a specific, noninvasive test for the diagnosis of cancer.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of low‐dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for the prevention of cancer‐associated thrombosis in the United States
Authors: Li Ang , Carlson Josh J. , Kuderer Nicole M. , Schaefer Jordan K. , Li Shan , Garcia David A. , Khorana Alok A. , Carrier Marc , Lyman Gary H.
Published: January 2020

Background

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that low‐dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including rivaroxaban and apixaban, may help reduce the incidence of cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods

A cost‐utility analysis was performed from the health sector perspective using a Markov state‐transition model in patients with cancer who are at intermediate‐to‐high risk for VTE. Transition probability, relative risk, cost, and utility inputs were obtained from a meta‐analysis of the RCTs and relevant epidemiology studies. Differences in cost, quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs), and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) per patient were calculated over a lifetime horizon. One‐way, probabilistic, and scenario sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

In patients with cancer at intermediate‐to‐high risk for VTE, treatment with low‐dose DOAC thromboprophylaxis for 6 months, compared with placebo, was associated with 32 per 1000 fewer VTE and 11 per 1000 more major bleeding episodes over a lifetime. The incremental cost and QALY increases were $1445 and 0.12, respectively, with an ICER of $11,947 per QALY gained. Key drivers of ICER variations included the relative risks of VTE and bleeding as well as drug cost. This strategy was 94% cost effective at the threshold of $50,000 per QALY. The selection of patients with Khorana scores ≥3 yielded the greatest value, with an ICER of $5794 per QALY gained.

Conclusions

Low‐dose DOAC thromboprophylaxis for 6 months appears to be cost‐effective in patients with cancer who are at intermediate‐to‐high risk for VTE. The implementation of this strategy in patients with Khorana scores ≥3 may lead to the highest cost‐benefit ratio.
P2X7 and A2A receptor endogenous activation protects against neuronal death caused by CoCl2‐induced photoreceptor toxicity in the zebrafish retina
Authors: Medrano Matías P. , Pisera‐Fuster Antonella , Bernabeu Ramón O. , Faillace María Paula
Published: January 2020

Injured retinas in mammals do not regenerate and heal with loss of function. The adult retina of zebrafish self‐repairs after damage by activating cell‐intrinsic mechanisms, which are regulated by extrinsic signal interactions. Among relevant regulatory extrinsic systems, purinergic signaling regulates progenitor proliferation during retinogenesis and regeneration and glia proliferation in proliferative retinopathies. ATP‐activated P2X7 (P2RX7) and adenosine (P1R) receptors are involved in the progression of almost all retinopathies leading to blindness. Here, we examined P2RX7 and P1R participation in the retina regenerative response induced by photoreceptor damage caused by a specific dose of CoCl2. First, we found that treatment of uninjured retinas with a potent agonist of P2RX7 (BzATP) provoked photoreceptor damage and mitotic activation of multipotent progenitors. In CoCl2‐injured retinas, blockade of endogenous extracellular ATP activity on P2RX7 caused further neurodegeneration, Müller cell gliosis, progenitor proliferation, and microglia reactivity. P2RX7 inhibition in injured retinas also increased the expression of lin28a and tnfα genes, which are related to multipotent progenitor proliferation. Levels of hif1α, vegf3r, and vegfaa mRNA were enhanced by blockade of P2RX7 immediately after injury, indicating hypoxic like damage and endothelial cell growth and proliferation. Complete depletion of extracellular nucleotides with an apyrase treatment strongly potentiated cell death and progenitor proliferation induced with CoCl2. Blockade of adenosine P1 and A2A receptors (A2AR) had deleterious effects and deregulated normal timing for progenitor and precursor cell proliferation following photoreceptor damage. ATP via P2RX7 and adenosine via A2AR are survival extracellular signals key for retina regeneration in zebrafish.
Server‐aided revocable attribute‐based encryption for cloud computing services
Authors: Cui Hui , Hon Yuen Tsz , Deng Robert H. , Wang Guilin
Published: January 2020

Attribute‐based encryption (ABE) has been regarded as a promising solution in cloud computing services to enable scalable access control without compromising the security. Despite of the advantages, efficient user revocation has been a challenge in ABE. One suggestion for user revocation is using the binary tree in the key generation phase of an ABE scheme, which enables a trusted key generation center to periodically distribute the key update information to all nonrevoked users over a public channel. This revocation approach reduces the size of key updates from linear to logarithmic in the number of users. But it requires each user to keep a private key of the logarithmic size, and asks each nonrevoked user to periodically update his/her decryption key for each new time period. To further optimize user revocation in ABE, a server‐aided revocable ABE (SR‐ABE) scheme has been proposed, in which almost all workloads of users incurred by the user revocation are outsourced to an untrusted server, and each user only needs to store a private key of the constant size. In addition, SR‐ABE does not require any secure channel for the key transmission, and a user only needs to perform a small amount of calculations to decrypt a ciphertext. In this paper, we revisit the notion of SR‐ABE, and present a generic construction of SR‐ABE, which can transform a revocable ABE (RABE) scheme to an SR‐ABE scheme. In addition, we give an instantiation of SR‐ABE by applying the generic construction on a concrete RABE scheme, and implement an instantiation of SR‐ABE and an RABE scheme to evaluate the performance of SR‐ABE.
The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC): From look‐backs to look‐ahead
Authors: Baloch Zubair , LiVolsi Virginia A.
Published: January 2020

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was formalized in October 2007 by experts in thyroidology at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The first edition of the TBSRTC book was published in 2010 and the second edition in 2018. The TBSRTC is widely employed in cytology practices in the United States and has also served as a model for similar tiered classification schemes for reporting thyroid cytopathology specimens. The tremendous success of TBSRTC cannot be underscored, it has provided a diagnostic framework which is well aligned with the present and the future of thyroid nodule management.
Spatial and temporal patterns of environmental DNA detection to inform sampling protocols in lentic and lotic systems
Authors: Bedwell Mallory E. , Goldberg Caren S.
Published: January 2020

The development of efficient sampling protocols for the capture of environmental DNA (eDNA) could greatly help improve accuracy of occupancy monitoring for species that are difficult to detect. However, the process of developing a protocol in situ is complicated for rare species by the fact that animal locations are often unknown. We tested sampling designs in lake and stream systems to determine the most effective eDNA sampling protocols for two rare species: the Sierra Nevada yellow‐legged frog (Rana sierrae) and the foothill yellow‐legged frog (Rana boylii). We varied water volume, spatial sampling, and seasonal timing in lakes and streams; in lakes we also tested multiple filter types. We found that filtering 2 L versus 1 L increased the odds of detection in streams 5.42X (95% CI: 3.2–9.19X) in our protocol, from a probability of 0.51–0.85 per technical replicate. Lake sample volumes were limited by filter clogging, and we found no effect of volume or filter type. Sampling later in the season increased the odds of detection in streams by 1.96X for every 30 days (95% CI: 1.3–2.97X) but there was no effect for lakes. Spatial autocorrelation of the quantity of yellow‐legged frog eDNA captured in streams ceased between 100 and 200 m, indicating that sampling at close intervals is important.
Predicting the stability of multitrophic communities in a variable world
Authors: Yeager Mallarie E. , Gouhier Tarik C. , Hughes A. Randall
Published: January 2020

Identifying the factors that destabilize communities is critical for predicting and mitigating the ecological impacts of environmental change. Although theory has shown that local ecosystem size and regional dispersal can determine biodiversity, less is known about the direct and indirect effects of these factors on community stability. Here we show that multitrophic community instability of invertebrates and fishes in coastal ponds is negatively related to local pond size and positively related to distance to the ocean, a proxy for dispersal limitation. Importantly, the effects of pond size and distance on instability were direct rather than indirectly mediated by species richness. This suggests that the diversity–stability relationship is an epiphenomenon whose resolution is neither necessary nor sufficient to understand the stability of these multitrophic communities. Instead, well‐established and easily measured local and regional factors historically linked to species richness can be used to predict multitrophic community stability in a variable world.
Inoculum handling alters the strength and direction of plant–microbe interactions
Authors: Peacher Madison D. , Meiners Scott J.
Published: January 2020

The pooling of soil samples in plant–microbe interaction studies is commonly employed, but the impact of sample handling has rarely been explored experimentally. Concerns have been raised that sample pooling may reduce biological variation leading to inflated type I errors or may alter the magnitude of microbial effects observed, invalidating the results achieved. To assess the impact of inocula pooling on plant–microbe interactions, we examined the reciprocal influence of unpooled and pooled soil microbial inocula on growth ofSolidago altissimaandSchizachyrium scoparium, with and without inoculum sterilization. Soil pooling had no effect on the variance among replicates in either plant species. However, pooling dramatically altered the magnitude and direction of microbial impacts on plant performance. Pooling ofSolidago altissimasoil increased the antagonistic effects on growth of both target species. In contrast, pooling ofSchizachyrium scopariumsoil shifted impacts onSolidago altissimafrom effectively neutral to slightly positive. Pooling in this system altered both the strength and direction of plant–microbe interactions relative to unpooled soils. Therefore soil mixing should be avoided when the research goal is to determine naturally occurring interaction strengths, even within a single habitat.
Cost‐effectiveness of a cardiac contractility modulation device in heart failure with normal QRS duration
Authors: Witte Klaus , Hasenfuss Gerd , Kloppe Axel , Burkhoff Daniel , Green Michelle , Moss Joe , Peel Alison , Mealing Stuart , Durand Zaleski Isabelle , Cowie Martin R.
Published: January 2020

Aims

The objective of this paper is to assess whether cardiac contractility modulation (via the Optimizer System) plus standard of care (SoC) is a cost‐effective treatment for people with heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) III, left ventricular ejection fraction of 25–45%, and narrow QRS] compared against SoC alone from the perspective of the English National Health Service.

Methods and results

We developed a regression equation‐based cost‐effectiveness model, using individual patient data from three randomized control trials (FIX‐HF‐5 Phases 1 and 2, and FIX‐HF‐5C) to populate the majority of parameters. A series of regression equations predicted NYHA class over time, mortality, all‐cause hospitalization rates, and health‐related quality of life. We conducted the analysis in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence reference case, modelling costs from an English National Health Service perspective, and considering outcomes in quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) over a patient lifetime perspective. Our base case analysis produced an incremental cost per additional QALY of GBP22 988 (€25 750) when comparing Optimizer + SoC to SoC alone. This result was not sensitive to parameter uncertainty but was sensitive to the time horizon over which costs and QALYs were captured and the duration over which a survival benefit with Optimizer + SoC can be assumed to apply.

Conclusions

Cardiac contractility modulation is likely to be cost‐effective in people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, NYHA III, and narrow QRS, provided that the treatment benefit can be maintained beyond the duration of the existing clinical trial follow‐up. This analysis supports the current recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology that this therapy may be considered for such patients.
Changing “us” and hostility towards “them”—Implicit theories of national identity determine prejudice and participation rates in an anti‐immigrant petition
Authors: Bauer Christina Anna , Hannover Bettina
Published: January 2020

National identity definitions determine who belongs to the national ingroup (e.g., “us Germans”) versus the “foreign” outgroup prone to hostile outgroup bias. We conducted five studies in two countries investigating if viewing the ingroup's national identity as fixed exacerbates the perceived divide between ingroup and outgroup and thus increases anti‐immigrant hostility, while a malleable view blurs the divide and reduces anti‐immigrant hostility. In a Prestudy (58 participants), an Implicit Theory of National Identity Scale was developed. In Studies 1 (154 participants) and 2 (390 participants), our scale predicted individuals’ prejudice and participation rates in a hypothetical referendum and a real petition against immigrants. In Studies 3 (225 participants) and 4 (225 participants), experimental evidence was obtained. Leading participants to believe that the definition of “a true compatriot” changes over time (rather than remaining the same) resulted in lower levels of prejudice and participation rates in an anti‐immigrant petition.
Fabrication of Non‐enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor Based on Pd−Mn Alloy Nanoparticles Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Lan Jianjun , Zhang Xiaoxia , Fan Youjun , Zhang Panyu , Liu Chengzhou , Jiang Zhe , Wang Xiaoqu , Zeng Jianqiang , Chen Wei
Published: January 2020

Mixed metals alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon nanomaterial are the most attractive candidates for the fabrication of non‐enzymatic electrochemical sensor with enhanced electrochemical performance. In this study, palladium‐manganese alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd−Mn/rGO) are prepared by a simple reduction protocol. Further, a novel enzyme‐free glucose sensing platform is established based on Pd−Mn/rGO. The successful fabrication of Pd−Mn alloy nanoparticles and their attachment at rGO are thoroughly characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, Raman, TEM and XPS. The electrochemical activity and sensing features of designed material towards glucose detection are explored by amperometric measurments in 0.1 M NaOH at the working voltage of −0.1 V. Thanks to the newly designed Pd−Mn/rGO nanohybrid for their superior electrorochemical activity towards glucose comprising the admirable sensing features in terms of targeted selectivity, senstivity, two linear parts and good stability. The enhanced electrochemical efficacy of Pd−Mn/rGO electrocatalyst may be credited to the abundant elecrocatalytic active sites formed during the Pd−Mn alloying and the electron transport ability of rGO that augment the electron shuttling phenomenon between the electrode material and targeted analyte.
A community‐based social P2P network for sharing human life digital memories
Authors: Ur Rahman Haseeb , Merabti Madjid , Llewellyn‐Jones David , Sudirman Sud , Ghani Anwar
Published: January 2020

Social peer‐to‐peer (P2P) networks are usually designed by reflecting a user's interest/behavior for structuring the underlying network. Human interest is affected by various factors such as age, locality, and so on which changes after some time. The behavior when reflected in a network, results in peers moving within the network in order to connect the peer with peers of the same behavior/interest. Especially in community‐based schemes when a peer leaves a community the data that a peer was sharing will not be accessible in the same community anymore. It has an effect on the performance of the network due to the inaccessibility of data and the unavailability of connections, which affect network robustness. We address this issue by considering entities in data in the form of digital memories of a user and structuring network according to entity‐based communities. The simulation results for the proposed entity‐based community are demonstrated, which shows the effect on network performance during varying network size and traffic.
Advanced persistent threat organization identification based on software gene of malware
Authors: Chen Weixiang , Helu Xiaohan , Jin Chengjie , Zhang Man , Lu Hui , Sun Yanbin , Tian Zhihong
Published: January 2020

Since the concept of IoT (Internet of Things) was proposed, it has digitized the real world and has a wide range of applications. However, with tremendous evolution in data acquisition and transfer, a new type of attack represented by advanced persistent threat (APT) has attracted wide attention. APT organization identification for malware is a method to detect APT attacks. However, most of malware is tailored to the goal, it is complex and changeable, or can be updated very quickly. The traditional analysis method is difficult to obtain the source information of APT organization from the malware in the IoT. To this end, we propose a software genes method to solve this problem. Software gene is binary fragment of specific function or information in the software body. In this paper, different from traditional data flow and instruction flow, a new gene model is proposed which combine with knowledge graph of malware behavior. We fill the processed malware information into the gene model to obtain the APT organization gene pool. Of course, the gene pool should be optimized to include the genetic characteristics of APT. In theory, there genetic characteristics can help us identify malware and APT accurately in the IoT. However, biological genetic similarity algorithms cannot be used directly. A genetic similarity algorithm for APT organization identification of malware will be designed instead. Simulations on real‐world dataset corroborate theoretical analysis and reveal the possibility of using genes for malware traceability.
Intermediary asset pricing in commodity futures returns
Authors: Yin Libo , Nie Jing , Han Liyan
Published: January 2020

This paper assesses the extent to which intermediary capital (IC) risk contributes toward explaining commodity futures returns. We find that the IC effect is substantially positive and continues to grow as the financialization of commodities deepens. Positive and negative IC risks play asymmetric roles, with the effect of negative IC strengthening in recent subperiods. We further confirm the heterogeneous roles of IC across individual commodities by cross‐section analyses. Overall, the effect of the positive IC risk factor varies significantly. Portfolios with low basis, low open interest, low momentum, and low liquidity earn significantly higher returns than counterparty portfolios.
Transient effect of mossy fiber stimulation on spatial firing of CA3 neurons in familiar and novel environments
Authors: Lee Joonyeup , Bae Chanmee , Lee Doyun , Jung Min Whan
Published: January 2020

Hippocampal mossy fibers have long been proposed to impose new patterns to learn onto CA3 neurons during new memory formation. However, inconsistent with this theory, we found in our previous study that mossy fiber stimulation induces only transient changes in CA3 spatial firing in a familiar environment. Here, we tested whether mossy fiber stimulation affects CA3 spatial firing differently between familiar and novel environments. We compared spatial firing of CA3 neurons before and after optogenetic stimulation of mossy fibers in freely behaving mice in a familiar and three sets of novel environments. We found that CA3 neurons are more responsive to mossy fiber stimulation in the novel than familiar environments. However, we failed to obtain evidence for long‐lasting effect of mossy fiber stimulation on spatial firing of CA3 neurons in both the familiar and novel environments. Our results provide further evidence against the view that mossy fibers carry teaching signals.
Building a systems thinking prevention workforce
Authors: Bensberg Monica , Allender Steven , Sacks Gary
Published: January 2020

Issue addressed

Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) was a large‐scale intervention that adopted a systems approach to prevention. It established the capability of an inexperienced workforce by cultivating their understanding of systems theories, tools and practice. This paper explores how this capacity was developed and what helped and hindered the process.

Methods

This qualitative research included 31 primary semi‐structured interviews that focused on participants' understanding of systems thinking. Deductive thematic analysis was undertaken. A workforce development framework informed the coding that was used to create a causal loop diagram.

Results

The findings display the multiple influencers on capacity‐building. Practice change was enabled with training—although it lacked coordination and participation was limited. Yet, the systems approach was strengthened with governance arrangements, policies, funding, team support and leadership that empowered practitioners to trial systems methods. Capacity‐building was hindered by HTV's unspecified theory that made it harder for novice practitioners to grasp. Funding cuts due to political changes reduced the initiative's duration and prompted resignations, causing the newfound experience to exit the workforce.

Conclusion

Capacity‐building for systems practice requires a holistic approach of simultaneous, complimentary actions that address the individual and environmental influences of workforce development, especially the drivers of organisational culture that facilitate new practice.

So what?

Effective training methods should specifically teach skills and knowledge that help practitioners to implement systems thinking. The workforce development requirements of other contributors also need to be considered, in addition to the policies, opportunities and resources that embed practice change.
Targets of biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and risk of multiple myeloma
Authors: Calip Gregory S. , Patel Pritesh R. , Sweiss Karen , Wu Zhaoju , Zhou Jifang , Asfaw Alemseged A. , Adimadhyam Sruthi , Lee Todd A. , Chiu Brian C.‐H.
Published: January 2020

Several commonly used immune‐suppressing biologic drugs target proteins and cytokines involved in myeloma pathogenesis. Our objective was to determine whether targeted biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are associated with risk of multiple myeloma (MM). We conducted a nested case–control study within a retrospective cohort of 56,886 commercially insured adults undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis between 2009 and 2015 using the Truven Health MarketScan Databases. MM cases (n = 287) were matched to up to 10 controls (n = 2,760) on age, sex and rheumatologic indication using incidence density sampling without replacement. Our exposures of interest were biologic DMARDs targeting tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin 6, cytotoxic t‐lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 and depletion of B cells. Relative risks were estimated as adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using conditional logistic regression models. Cases and controls were similar with respect to use of prescription NSAIDs and concurrent conventional‐synthetic DMARDs. Cases had slightly fewer etanercept users (4% vs. 7%) and slightly more tocilizumab users (1.4% vs. 0.4%). Compared to patients treated with only conventional‐synthetic DMARDs, those receiving concomitant conventional‐synthetic plus biologic DMARDs had lower risk of developing MM (OR = 0.48; 95% CI 0.30–0.88; p = 0.02). Risks differed by drug target with an inverse association observed with use of etanercept inhibiting tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.30–1.02; p = 0.06) and a positive association with tocilizumab inhibiting interleukin‐6 (OR = 4.33; 95% CI 1.33–14.19; p = 0.02) compared to biologic DMARD‐naïve patients. Further investigation is warranted to understand the roles of drugs suppressing tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and interleukin‐6 in myeloma pathogenesis.
TRANSDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION IN IRRIGATED SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA
Authors: Froebrich Jochen , Ludi Eva , Bouarfa Sami , Rollin Dominique , Jovanovic Nebo , Roble Maria , Ajmi Tarek , Albasha Rami , Bah Sékou , Bahri Haithem , Barberá Gonzalo , van Beek Christy , Cheviron Bruno , Chishala Benson , de Clercq Willem , Coulibaly Yacouba , Dicko Mohammed , Diawara Bandiougou , Dolinska Aleksandra , Ducrot Raphaëlle , Erkossa Teklu , Famba Sebastiao , Fissahaye Degol , De Miguel Garcia Angel , Habtu Solomon , Hanafi Salia , Harper Julia , Heesmans Hanneke , Jamin Jean‐Yves , van't Klooster Kees , Mason Nathaniel , Mailhol Jean‐Claude , Marlet Serge , Mekki Insaf , Musvoto Constansia , Mosello Beatrice , Mweetwa Alice , Oates Naomi , Phiri Elijah , Pradeleix Ludivine , Querner Erik , Rozanov Andrei , Ker Rault Philippe , Rougier Jean‐Emmanuel , Shepande Chizumba , Sánchez Reparaz Maite , Tangara Bréhima , De Vente Joris , de Witt Marlene , Xueliang Cai , Zairi Abdelaziz
Published: January 2020

Boosting the productivity of smallholder farming systems continues to be a major need in Africa. Challenges relating to how to improve irrigation are multi‐factor and multisectoral, and they involve a broad range of actors who must interact to reach decisions collectively. We provide a systematic reflection on findings from the research project EAU4Food, which adopted a transdisciplinary approach to irrigation for food security research in five case studies in Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tunisia. The EAU4Food experiences emphasize that actual innovation at irrigated smallholder farm level remains limited without sufficient improvement of the enabling environment and taking note of the wider political economy environment. Most project partners felt at the end of the project that the transdisciplinary approach has indeed enriched the research process by providing different and multiple insights from actors outside the academic field. Local capacity to facilitate transdisciplinary research and engagement with practitioners was developed and could support the continuation and scaling up of the approach. Future projects may benefit from a longer time frame to allow for deeper exchange of lessons learned among different stakeholders and a dedicated effort to analyse possible improvements of the enabling environment from the beginning of the research process. © 2020 The Authors. Irrigation and Drainage published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage
Dynamic metabolomic analysis of intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Dai Die , Chen Jingchao , Jin Menglu , Zhang Zunjian , Chen Wei‐Hua , Xu Fengguo
Published: January 2020

Intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury (IIR) is a life‐threatening abdominal emergency. Compared to traditional steady‐state works, we profiled the blood of rats over 72 hr (15 time points) and examined dynamic changes in molecular pathways during IIR. Using a series of methods designed for dynamic datasets analysis (batch effects corrections, metabolomics data reduction, and different features selection), we identified 39 significant different metabolites and discovered the trends of these molecules. Four main patterns were uncovered by a longitudinal pattern recognition method. Furthermore, pathway networks were explored to uncover the possible mechanisms of IIR. We found that IIR is a complex physiological process involved in multiple pathways, such as biosynthesis of amino acids, 2‐oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, arginine‐related metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Among which, metabolites related with phenylalanine tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism reached a peak during the early stage of reperfusion, while molecules in biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids metabolism declined. Our work provides a feasible scheme to understand dynamic molecule variation and will provide new explications about the effect of intestinal ischemia reperfusion from a dynamic perspective.
Comparison between high definition FT‐IR, Raman and AFM‐IR for subcellular chemical imaging of cholesteryl esters in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Roman Maciej , Wrobel Tomasz P. , Paluszkiewicz Czeslawa , Kwiatek Wojciech M.
Published: January 2020

The family of vibrational spectroscopic imaging techniques grows every few years and there is a need to compare and contrast new modalities with the better understood ones, especially in the case of demanding biological samples. Three vibrational spectroscopy techniques (high definition Fourier‐transform infrared [FT‐IR], Raman and atomic force microscopy infrared [AFM‐IR]) were applied for subcellular chemical imaging of cholesteryl esters in PC‐3 prostate cancer cells. The techniques were compared and contrasted in terms of image quality, spectral pattern and chemical information. All tested techniques were found to be useful in chemical imaging of cholesterol derivatives in cancer cells. The results obtained from FT‐IR and Raman imaging showed to be comparable, whereas those achieved from AFM‐IR study exhibited higher spectral heterogeneity. It confirms AFM‐IR method as a powerful tool in local chemical imaging of cells at the nanoscale level. Furthermore, due to polarization effect, p‐polarized AFM‐IR spectra showed strong enhancement of lipid bands when compared to FT‐IR.
Ensuring the fit of an evidence‐based curriculum for high‐risk Latina young mothers using implementation science
Authors: Youn Soo Jeong , Aguilar‐Silvan Yesenia , Baldwin Molly , Chablani‐Medley Anisha , Patrick Kaylie A. , Shtasel Derri L. , Marques Luana
Published: January 2020

Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to evaluate the fit of a Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) curriculum implemented within a community organization and inform possible adaptations to fit the mental health difficulties of high‐risk Latina young mothers. The PRECEDE–PROCEED implementation framework guided the assessment and results. Focus groups were conducted with high‐risk Latina young mothers and staff members to assess the priority mental health problems, environmental stressors and factors contributing and maintaining these difficulties, and existing resources that could be leveraged to address them. Latina young mothers experience a variety of mental health needs and immigration and interpersonal‐related stressors. The organization's existing CBT curriculum was found to be feasible and a good fit for the target population. Proposed minor adaptations included a focus on parenting. Results support the robust effects of CBT interventions, including when delivered by paraprofessionals to a high‐risk population in a low‐resource community setting.
A longitudinal analysis of the completeness of maternal HIV testing, including repeat testing in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: de Beer Shani , Kalk Emma , Kroon Max , Boulle Andrew , Osler Meg , Euvrard Jonathan , Timmerman Venessa , Davies Mary‐Ann
Published: January 2020

Introduction

The virtual elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV cannot be achieved without complete maternal HIV testing. The World Health Organization recommends that women in high HIV prevalent settings repeat HIV testing in the third trimester, and at delivery or directly thereafter. The Western Cape Province (South Africa) prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) guidelines recommend a repeat maternal HIV test between 32 and 34 weeks gestation and at delivery in addition to testing at the first antenatal visit (ideally <20 weeks gestation). There are few published longitudinal studies on the uptake of initial and repeated maternal HIV testing programmes in sub‐Saharan Africa. We aimed to investigate the implementation of initial and repeat maternal HIV testing guidelines in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

Between 2013 and 2016 we established an electronic PMTCT register that consolidated routine data from a primary healthcare facility and its secondary and tertiary referral sites in Cape Town. This provided a longitudinal record for each participant, from first antenatal visit to delivery. Utilizing these data, we conducted a retrospective analysis investigating the completeness of maternal HIV testing according to the PMTCT HIV testing guidelines in Cape Town, and predictors of complete testing, from 2014 to 2016.

Results

Among 8558 enrolled pregnant women, 7213 (84%) were not known to be HIV positive at their first visit and thus eligible for HIV testing; 91% of them received ≥1 HIV test during pregnancy/delivery. Testing at the first visit was 98% among the 85% of women who attended antenatal care. Among women eligible to receive all three recommended HIV tests, only 11% achieved all three tests. Delivery HIV testing completion among all women without an HIV‐positive diagnosis was 23%. HIV prevalence at delivery was 21% and HIV incidence between first visit and delivery in those with ≥2 HIV tests was 0.2%. Women who enrolled after 2014 were more likely to receive the three recommended tests (aOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.81) and retest at delivery (aOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.39).

Conclusions

Implementation of maternal HIV testing in Cape Town improved between 2014 and 2016 but major gaps remain, particularly at delivery.
Have Five Decades of Development Engineering Research Improved Sanitation in Southern Africa?
Authors: Muller Mike
Published: January 2020

In developed countries, public health engineering has been closely associated with extensions of life expectancy and declines in infant mortality well beyond the contributions of medicine. However, different approaches have had to be taken in poorer countries. This paper uses cases from South and Southern Africa to illustrate the challenges and the responses and to consider whether these reflect a formal ‘development engineering’ approach. While external agencies have actively promoted a variety of approaches, engineered interventions were most successful where they took account of social, economic and environmental contexts, reflected local preferences and were developed by, or in close coordination with, the operational institutions concerned. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The case of the grass‐eating suids in the Plio‐Pleistocene Turkana Basin: 3D dental topography in relation to diet in extant and fossil pigs
Authors: Rannikko Janina , Adhikari Hari , Karme Aleksis , Žliobaitė Indre , Fortelius Mikael
Published: January 2020

Two separate subfamilies of Plio‐Pleistocene African pigs (suids) consecutively evolved hypsodont and horizodont molars with flat occlusal surfaces, commonly interpreted as an adaptive trait to a grazing diet, similar to that of the present warthogs (Phacochoerusspp.). To investigate this in detail, we studied the 3D‐dental topography of fossil specimens from the Turkana Basin, using geographic information systems‐based methods. To establish baselines for interpretation of the Turkana Basin suids, topography of third molars of extant suids with known diets were analyzed: grazing warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), herbivorous mixed‐feeder forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), omnivorous generalist wild boar (Sus scrofa), omnivorous fruit and tuber eater bush pig (Potamochoerusspp.), and omnivorous fruit eater babirusa (Babyrousaspp.) In addition, we analyzed supposedly browsing Miocene suids,Listriodonspp. The same topographic measures were applied to Plio‐Pleistocene specimens from the Turkana Basin, Kenya:Notochoerus euilus,Notochoerus scotti,Kolpochoerus heseloni, andMetridiochoerus andrewsi. With some differences between techniques, 3D‐dental topography analysis of extant suid molars mostly predicts the dietary differences between the species correctly. The grazingP.africanusdiffers from both the omnivorous suids and the herbivorous mixed‐feederH.meinertzhageniin all except one metrics. The omnivorous mostly tropical suids,PotamochoerusandBabyrousa, primarily differ from the generalist,S.scrofa, in the orientation patch count analysis, showing higher occlusal complexity in the latter. Although, there might be significant gaps between the morphological changes and the ecological changes, we conclude that based on comparison of dental topography with the present‐day suids,N.scottiandM.andrewsiwere most likely highly specialized grazers, whileN.euilusandK.heseloniretained more of their ancestral, omnivorous heritage, but consumed grasses more than the extant omnivorous suids.

Research highlights

Dental topography can predict different diets in present‐day wild pigs.

The Plio‐Pleistocene pigs in the Turkana Basin had dental topography mostly similar to extant grazing warthog, although some species also had resemblances to omnivorous forest pigs.