bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary Perspective on Adolescence
Authors: Weisfeld Glenn E. , Goetz Stefan M. M. , Zilioli Samuele
Published: January 2020

The evolutionary perspective, particularly as it pertains to behavioral sex differences, has been underappreciated in adolescent psychology. This perspective, embodied by ethology and evolutionary psychology, provides several advantages to scholars of adolescence. It fosters integration of adolescent psychology into the biological sciences, including genetics, neuroscience, endocrinology, and medicine. It offers a species‐wide perspective, focusing attention on timeless, universal behaviors in lieu of a parochial emphasis on one's own society. It emphasizes functional analysis of normal behaviors, providing a vantage point for understanding individual variants such as male risk taking, cultural variants such as polygyny, and pathological variants such as obesity. It furnishes a theoretical framework for understanding how the normal adolescent achieves independence from parents, secures a mate, and prepares for parenthood. This perspective is now being applied to the study of genetically programmed alternative developmental pathways to meet various environmental conditions, under the rubric of life history theory.
Predictors of Puberty Onset
Authors: Tremblay Line , Larivière Michel
Published: January 2020

Pubertal development progresses via distinct stages marked by the initiation of morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes. The onset and course of puberty are sensitive to an array of factors: genetic (e.g., gender, body fat ratios), environmental (e.g., geography, stress), and behavioral (e.g., eating, stress reactivity). Epidemiological data underline important variations in puberty onset both between and within populations, leading experts in the field to consider two aspects of this sphere of development—that is, pubertal status and onset. The former refers to current pubertal attainment in its own right and the latter to an individual's pubertal standing relative to existing normative data. By way of an example, several researchers have documented the negative consequences of its premature onset (e.g., increased risks for health problems, growth issues, and psychosocial adjustment issues). As such, considerable work has been completed regarding the identification, description, and better understanding of the mechanisms involved in puberty onset.
Puberty and Body Image
Authors: Mulgrew Kate
Published: January 2020

During puberty, adolescents experience rapid physical changes to their body within a culture that highly values appearance. Triggers of body dissatisfaction include increased weight, perceived pressure or teasing from parents and peers about weight, internalization of mass media and cultural standards of the ideal appearance, and social comparison. In turn, increased body dissatisfaction may lead to problematic weight management behaviors such as dieting, increased depressive symptoms, and lowered self‐esteem. However, most adolescents are able to successfully navigate these challenges and can develop a positive body image, including body appreciation.
Neurobiology of Aggression and Violence
Authors: Enticott Peter G. , Curtis Ashlee , Ogloff James R. P.
Published: January 2020

Aggression is a normal part of child development, and aggressive behavior typically declines sharply after the toddler years. There are, however, some individuals who continue to exhibit high levels of aggression, and this can develop into serious and maladaptive violent behavior. This entry explores the neurological basis of aggression and violence, which is taken from extensive (but converging) animal and human literature. It examines how aggression and violence are characterized in childhood and adolescence, particularly within child and adolescent psychiatry, and likely adult outcomes for aggressive and violent young people. It then reviews literature that examines how brain structures, brain function, and brain chemistry underpin aggressive and violent behaviors in children and adolescents. Ultimately, the neurobiology of aggression can be best understood in the context of aberrant neural circuitry, and the neurochemical and epigenetic determinants of this brain signature for violence.
Adolescent Smoking
Authors: Conner Mark , Grogan Sarah
Published: January 2020

This entry defines smoking and focuses on the most common form of smoking, which is cigarette smoking. Evidence relating to the prevalence of smoking, and the associated health effects, are then reviewed. The predictors of smoking initiation in adolescents, and interventions to reduce smoking initiation in this group, are explored, as are work on electronic cigarette (e‐cigarette) use and its associations with smoking initiation in adolescents.
Growth Disorders
Authors: Schoelwer Melissa J. , Rogol Alan D.
Published: January 2020

A variety of factors influence growth during adolescence, including genetics, hormones, nutrition, and timing and tempo of puberty. Many pubertal disorders result in abnormal patterns of growth; therefore, good understanding of pubertal maturation is essential. Although key pubertal events follow a fairly typical time course, there is significant interindividual variation even within what is considered normal puberty. Adolescents whose pubertal onset falls into the extremes, either early or late, are particularly vulnerable to psychosocial consequences.
Bullying in Adolescence
Authors: Jones Siân E.
Published: January 2020

This entry gives a brief overview of the field of traditional bullying in adolescence, reviewing international research on the topic, to outline current understanding of the problem. It begins by defining traditional bullying and its prevalence, then considers how traditional bullying manifests in adolescence and its potential psychological developmental underpinnings at this life stage. Attention is paid to the risk factors that increase the likelihood of traditional bullying in adolescence, and to the social context in which it plays out. The entry concludes with a review of intervention strategies that have demonstrated some success in reducing traditional bullying in this age group.
Parent Attachment
Authors: Sierra Hernandez Carlos A. , Moretti Marlene M.
Published: January 2020

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by significant biological, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Adolescents also increasingly seek autonomy from parents as they establish peer and romantic relationships. Despite earlier beliefs that the relevance of attachment with parents diminishes during adolescence, evidence shows that attachment security within the parent–teen relationship continues to play a key role in determining adolescent health. While the function of attachment relationships with parents changes dramatically from infancy to adolescence, teens continue to turn to their parents for a secure base and benefit from the security within the relationship well into early adulthood. In particular, attachment security with parents plays a critical role in the formation of adolescent emotion regulation strategies, peer and romantic relationships, and autonomy development. Security within the parent–teen relationship represents a balance between autonomy and connectedness—a balance that often involves conflict and requires negotiation between parents and their teens. Just as in earlier stages of development, the capacity of parents to respond to the needs of their teens with sensitivity and attuned provision of a secure base and safe haven remains paramount. Evidence‐informed, attachment‐based interventions that are designed to promote attachment security within the parent–teen relationship are discussed in this entry.
Sibling Relationships in Adolescence
Authors: Howe Nina , Persram Ryan J. , Bergeron Catherine
Published: January 2020

Across the globe, the vast majority of adolescents have siblings, who play an important socialization role in one another's development, given their long and mutually constructed history and strong attachment to one another. Critical theory for understanding the role of adolescent siblings in the family and in each other's lives is discussed from the perspective of relationships, family systems, social learning, psychodynamic, and behavioral–genetic theories. These theories provide a framework for the discussion of characteristics of the sibling relationship, which includes a focus on structural features, cultural differences, and relationship quality as key factors. Associations between sibling relationship quality and developmental outcomes include both positive and negative outcomes. Positive outcomes focus on prosocial behaviors such as kindness, sympathy, and emotional self‐regulation, whereas negative outcomes include aggression, bullying, and engaging in at‐risk behaviors such as delinquency and substance abuse. In addition, the association between relationship quality and psychopathology is covered, and also interventions for dealing with problematic sibling relationships. Finally, the effects of parents on sibling relations and different types of sibling relationships (i.e., children with a sibling with special needs, step‐ and half‐siblings, singletons) are also reviewed.
Parent Conflict Resolution
Authors: Branje Susan
Published: January 2020

Parent–adolescent conflict is normative, and whether and how conflicts are resolved tend to be more important for adolescent adjustment than the actual occurrence of conflicts. On average, both parents' and adolescents' use of positive conflict resolution tends to increase, and negative conflict resolution tends to decrease, with age, although individual differences in personality and empathy also affect conflict resolution. Parents' conflict management behaviors in the marital relationship and in the parent–child relationship are important for adolescents' development of conflict resolution skills. Although conflicts between parents and children become more intense during adolescence, these conflicts are also thought to be a means of negotiating relational changes. Parents and adolescents are more likely to realign their relationship toward greater egalitarianism and reciprocity when parents and adolescents are able to constructively manage their conflicts within the context of a warm and trustful parent–child relationship, in which expressing negative emotions does not threaten the relationship.
Adolescent‐to‐Parent Violence and Abuse
Authors: Miles Caroline
Published: January 2020

Adolescent‐to‐parent violence and abuse is a complex form of family violence incorporating a range of behaviors including verbal abuse and threats, damaging parental and/or familial property, emotional and financial abuse, and physical assaults. Adolescent‐to‐parent violence and abuse has historically been a hidden and silent phenomenon, surrounded by stigma; however, many practitioners working with families in a support capacity encounter this form of family violence as a routine part of their work. There has been a recent growth in academic research on adolescent‐to‐parent violence and abuse, alongside an increased recognition of the problem within the broader framework of domestic violence and abuse. However, there are inconsistencies in research findings and there remains much work to be done in understanding the complex etiology of this type of violence, and developing effective responses.
School Context
Authors: Parris Leandra , Banks Brea M. , Christie Margaret , Lucas‐Nihei Jessica N. , Lacey Heather , Swerdlik Mark E.
Published: January 2020

This entry describes the school context, which is vital to the development of youth. School climate, broadly, encompasses multiple dimensions that influence how adolescents learn and perform in academic and social contexts. The four core components of school climate—school safety, teaching and learning, interpersonal relationships, and the institutional environment—are discussed in relation to how each influences students' development and performance. Key points from this entry include the need for research related to culturally responsive practices in schools, a balanced view regarding academic and social–emotional development for adolescents in schools, and the need to address school climate across multiple domains to enhance adolescent development.
Vocational Guidance
Authors: Bakshi Anuradha J.
Published: January 2020

The meaning and scope of vocational guidance in adolescence are outlined in the first section. Specifically, vocational guidance is a process through which youth are empowered to make informed decisions about their educational and career trajectories and to act on these. More broadly, it includes objectives such as helping youth clarify their purpose in life. The second and third sections describe the history, evolution, and changing scope of vocational guidance. From the 1960s the adjective
career
has increasingly replaced the adjective
vocational
, such that terms like
career guidance
,
career counseling
,
career development
, and
career interventions
are more frequently used than
vocational guidance
. Lifelong guidance and the use of collaborative, narrative approaches are other changes in the field. The fourth section presents models and theories relevant to vocational guidance, ranging from person–environment fit theories to positions that emphasize the role of chance. The final section identifies contextual concerns and challenges including those relating to the differences between developed and developing world contexts.
Adolescent Refugees
Authors: Lemonaki Elena , Leman Patrick
Published: January 2020

Young people may be forced to become refugees for a number of reasons, such as war, fear of persecution, natural disasters, poverty, and famine. Forced displacement and resettling in a new country is obviously, itself, a challenging and stressful experience. This challenge can be even more pronounced for adolescents due to the complexity of this period of transition between childhood and adulthood, and the numerous developmental changes that it involves. This entry focuses on how important aspects of being an adolescent, such as identity development, interact with the circumstances and consequences of being a refugee and the associated psychological impact of loss, trauma, psychological disorders, and adjustment difficulties during different phases of the refugee experience.
Globalization
Authors: Jensen Lene Arnett
Published: January 2020

In today's world, children seldom reach adulthood knowing of only one culture. Increasingly, they have interactions with people from diverse cultures, either firsthand or indirectly through various media. Exposure and openness to globalization is particularly pronounced among adolescents and emerging adults, and globalization impacts their development in a wide variety of areas, including moral values, gender roles, health and body image, language, identity, and relationships with parents. Future research needs to pay more attention to younger children, local circumstances, and diverse responses to globalization.
Sexism and Gender Stereotyping
Authors: Robnett Rachael D. , John Jennifer E. , Underwood Carrie R. , Thoman Sarah E.
Published: January 2020

This entry provides an overview of sexism and gender stereotyping in two critical domains of adolescent development: academics and romantic relationships. In the section focusing on academics, the coverage mainly centers on inequities that adolescent girls experience in math‐related fields of study; however, there is also discussion of the academic challenges that boys from marginalized groups encounter. The section focusing on romantic relationships details the ways in which hostile sexism and benevolent sexism shape heterosexual dating norms, expectations, and practices. The entry concludes with a discussion of implications and future directions, which emphasizes the importance of interventions that are sensitive to adolescents' membership in multiple social categories.
Romantic Interactions
Authors: Russell Ashley N. , Welsh Deborah P. , Roberson Patricia N. E.
Published: January 2020

This entry defines and illustrates the study of romantic interactions. Those who study romantic interactions do so by observing both direct and indirect interactions within the context of the adolescent romantic relationship. Researchers use various methodologies, such as self‐report questionnaire, direct observation, or integrated approaches, to address key research hypotheses. These approaches to studying adolescent romantic partners inform researchers on the attitudes, beliefs, schemas, and behaviors that commonly characterize dating in this specific developmental period.
Same‐Sex Relationships and LGBTQ Youth
Authors: Morgan Elizabeth M.
Published: January 2020

The number, type, quality, and function of adolescent sexual and romantic relationships are generally similar across sexual and gender identities, but there are multiple unique considerations for understanding LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) adolescents' experiences that continue to shift along with social and political climates. The diversity of experience within and between the subsets of adolescents who identify as sexual and gender minorities and engage in same‐sex relationships is especially notable. Quality sexual and relationship experiences can yield positive outcomes, especially with regard to sexual identity development, but challenges primarily associated with navigating stigma and discrimination are of concern for LGBTQ adolescents. Future research is required to more fully understand same‐sex relationships and LGBTQ youth, especially for adolescents with nonbinary sexual and/or gender identities and with multiple minority social identities.
Bipolar Disorders in Adolescence
Authors: Freeman Andrew J. , Sherwood Samantha N.
Published: January 2020

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a mood disorder marked by the presence of mania and typically depressive episodes. Historically, PBD was considered extremely rare; however, since the late 1990s, it has been recognized as occurring in children and adolescents with a prevalence of approximately 1.8%. Although biological explanations focused on mood regulation are the primary explanations for PBD, substantially more research in this domain, as well as others, is necessary before strong theories about the development and maintenance of PBD are substantiated. Tools for the accurate diagnosis of PBD are available. Treatment options primarily focus on medications to regulate mood such as lithium, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics. Psychotherapies are underresearched, but three approaches are considered probably efficacious. They focus on regulating family stress, social rhythm, and psychoeducation.
Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders in Adolescence
Authors: Rosa‐Alcázar Ana Isabel , Iniesta‐Sepúlveda Marina , Rosa‐Alcázar Ángel
Published: January 2020

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous condition characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Clinical characteristics and consequences of the disorder in adolescent lives are described here, highlighting the great impairment OCD can cause in social and academic areas. The entry also addresses other psychopathological disorders that are frequently comorbid to OCD, increasing distress and complicating prognosis and treatment response. In addition, biological and psychological theoretical models of disorder etiology are described. Finally, the entry mentions the main assessment instruments and treatment strategies for OCD that have received empirical support, putting an emphasis on exposure, with response prevention as the first line of psychological treatment.
Adolescent Growth Spurt
Authors: Malina Robert M.
Published: January 2020

The adolescent growth spurt in height, which is variable in timing and tempo, is the primary focus of this entry, although concurrent changes with sexual maturation are also considered. Both the growth spurt and sexual maturation are driven by hormones of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Body weight, segments of height (trunk and leg length), components of body composition, and several functional parameters also have well‐defined growth spurts, which vary relative to the timing of the spurt in height. This entry also briefly discusses the implications of individual differences in the timing of the growth spurt and pubertal maturation for adolescent behaviors, physical performance, and sport, for efforts to predict age at peak height velocity and adult health.
Cross‐cultural differences in eyewitness memory reports
Authors: Anakwah Nkansah , Horselenberg Robert , Hope Lorraine , Amankwah‐Poku Margaret , van Koppen Peter J.
Published: January 2020

Increasingly, investigators conduct interviews with eyewitnesses from different cultures. The culture in which people have been socialised can impact the way they encode, remember, and report information about their experiences. We examined whether eyewitness memory reports of mock witnesses from collectivistic (sub‐Saharan Africa) and individualistic (Northern Europe) cultures differed regarding quantity and quality of central and background details reported. Mock witnesses (total N = 200) from rural Ghana, urban Ghana, and the Netherlands were shown stimuli scenes of crimes in Dutch and Ghanaian settings and provided free and cued recalls. Individualistic culture mock witnesses reported the most details, irrespective of detail type. For each cultural group, mock witnesses reported more correct central details when crime was witnessed in their own native setting than a non‐native setting, though for different recall domains. The findings provide insight for legal and investigative professionals as well as immigration officials eliciting memory reports in cross‐cultural contexts.
A Circulating Bioreactor Reprograms Cancer Cells Toward a More Mesenchymal Niche
Authors: Calamak Semih , Ermis Menekse , Sun Han , Islam Saiful , Sikora Michael , Nguyen Michelle , Hasirci Vasif , Steinmetz Lars M. , Demirci Utkan
Published: January 2020

Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease, and cancer cells dynamically interact with the mechanical microenvironment such as hydrostatic pressure, fluid shear, and interstitial flow. These factors play an essential role in cell fate and circulating tumor cell heterogeneity, and can influence the cellular phenotype. In this study, a peristaltic continuous flow reactor is designed and applied to HCT‐116 colorectal carcinoma cells to mimic the fluid dynamics of circulation. With this intervention, a CD44/CD24‐cell subpopulation emerges, and 100 genes are significantly regulated. The expression of cells at 4 h in the flow reactor is very similar to TGF‐ß treatment, which is an inducer of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. ATF3 and SERPINE1 are significantly upregulated in these groups, suggesting that the mesenchymal transition is induced through this signaling pathway. This flow reactor model is satisfactory on its own to reprogram colorectal cancer cells toward a more mesenchymal niche mimicking circulation of the blood.
Nanoparticle‐Shelled Catalytic Bubble Micromotor
Authors: Adams Laura L. A. , Lee Daeyeon , Mei Yongfeng , Weitz David A. , Solovev Alexander A.
Published: January 2020

Nanoparticle‐shelled bubbles, prepared with glass capillary microfluidics, are functionalized to produce catalytic micromotors that exhibit novel assembly and disassembly behaviors. Stable microbubble rafts are assembled at an air–solvent interface of nonaqueous propylene carbonate (PC) solvent by creating a meniscus using a glass capillary. Upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide fuel, catalytic microbubbles quickly break free from the bubble raft by repelling from each other and self‐propelling at the air–fuel interface (a mixture of PC and aqueous hydrogen peroxide). While most of micromotors generate oxygen bubbles on the outer catalytic shell, some micromotors contain cracks and eject bubbles from the hollow shells containing air. Nanoparticle‐shelled bubbles with a high buoyancy force are particularly attractive for studying novel propulsion modes and interactions between catalytic bubble micromotors at air–fuel interfaces.
Bioinspired Unidirectional Liquid Spreading Channel–Principle, Design, and Manufacture
Authors: Zhang Xiangyu , Wang Dongyue , Zhang Yixuan , Zhang Deyuan , Li Zeming , Liu Hao
Published: January 2020

Liquid unidirectional spreading without energy input has attracted worldwide attentions owing to its potential applications in various fields. The liquid transfer between the adjacent microcavities on the peristome of Nepenthes alata provides great inspiration in that the concave curvature edge structure has the possibility to induce liquid directional spreading. Herein, the effect of concave curvature edge on liquid spreading is found to be different from that of the solid edge described by the Gibbs inequality condition. In this condition, there exist two liquid transfer states, namely conduction and resistance. Taking the advantages of the concave curvature edge, a new unidirectional liquid spreading channel is designed and fabricated by the traditional machining method, and its liquid directional spreading function is validated. This article provides a theoretical and technical support for the design and fabrication of liquid unidirectional spreading channel without an external energy input.
Nonvolatile Resistive Switching in Nanocrystalline Molybdenum Disulfide with Ion‐Based Plasticity
Authors: Belete Melkamu , Kataria Satender , Turfanda Aykut , Vaziri Sam , Wahlbrink Thorsten , Engström Olof , Lemme Max C.
Published: January 2020

Non‐volatile resistive switching is demonstrated in memristors with nanocrystalline molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as the active material. The vertical heterostructures consist of silicon (Si), vertically aligned MoS2, and chrome/gold metal electrodes. Electrical characterizations reveal a bipolar and forming‐free switching process with stable retention for at least 2500 s. Controlled experiments carried out in ambient and vacuum conditions suggest that the observed resistive switching is based on hydroxyl ions (OH−). These originate from catalytic splitting of adsorbed water molecules by MoS2. Experimental results in combination with analytical simulations further suggest that electric field driven movement of the mobile OH− ions along the vertical MoS2 layers influences the energy barrier at the Si/MoS2 interface. The scalable and semiconductor production compatible device fabrication process used in this work offers the opportunity to integrate such memristors into existing Si technology for future neuromorphic applications. The observed ion‐based plasticity may be exploited in ionic‐electronic devices based on transition metal dichalcogenides and other 2D materials for memristive applications.
Missense variants in the Arg206 residue of HNRNPH2: Further evidence of causality and expansion of the phenotype
Authors: Peron Angela , Novara Francesca , La Briola Francesca , Merati Elisabetta , Giannusa Emanuela , Segalini Elena , Anniballi Gloria , Vignoli Aglaia , Ciccone Roberto , Canevini Maria Paola
Published: January 2020

Missense variants in HNRNPH2 cause Bain type syndromic X‐linked intellectual disability (XLID). To date, only six affected females and three affected males have been reported in the literature, and the phenotype has yet to be delineated in detail. Here, we report on a 35‐year‐old female with a novel de novo variant in HNRNPH2, providing further evidence that missense changes in the nuclear localization sequence cause Bain type XLID and that aminoacid 206 likely represents a mutational hotspot. We expand the phenotype of Bain type XLID to include breathing, sleep and movement disorders, cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, stereotypies, and hypersensitivity to noise. Our data indicate that the phenotype may be broader and more variable than initially reported, and suggest Rett syndrome as a possible differential diagnosis.
Chimeric LuxR Transcription Factors Rewire Natural Product Regulation
Authors: Mukherji Ruchira , Zhang Shuaibing , Chowdhury Somak , Stallforth Pierre
Published: January 2020

LuxR‐type transcriptional activator proteins frequently regulate the expression of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). With only a fraction of bacterial BGCs being expressed under standard culturing conditions, modulation of LuxRs would provide a powerful approach to activate silent clusters. We show that by exploiting the modular nature of LuxR proteins, it is possible to construct functional chimeric LuxRs, which enables both the rewiring of quorum sensing systems and the activation of silent BGCs. Importantly, our strategy allowed us to identify the novel natural product pseudomonol from a bacterium of the genus Pseudomonas.
Unprecedented Sequence Control and Sequence‐Driven Properties in a Series of AB‐Alternating Copolymers Consisting Solely of Acrylamide Units
Authors: Kametani Yuki , Tournilhac François , Sawamoto Mitsuo , Ouchi Makoto
Published: January 2020

Herein, we report a method to synthesize a series of alternating copolymers that consist exclusively of acrylamide units. Crucial to realizing this polymer synthesis is the design of a divinyl monomer that contains acrylate and acrylamide moieties connected by two activated ester bonds. This design, which is based on the reactivity ratio of the embedded vinyl groups, allows a “selective” cyclopolymerization, wherein the intramolecular and intermolecular propagation are repeated alternately under dilute conditions. The addition of an amine to the resulting cyclopolymers afforded two different acryl amide units, i.e., an amine‐substituted acryl amide and a 2‐hydroxy‐ethyl‐substituted acryl amide in alternating sequence. Using this method, we could furnish ten types of alternating copolymers; some of these exhibit unique properties in solution and in the bulk, which are different from those of the corresponding random copolymers, and we attributed the differences to the alternating sequence.
Stable Prenucleation Calcium Carbonate Clusters Define Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation
Authors: Avaro Jonathan T. , Wolf Stefan L. P. , Hauser Karin , Gebauer Denis
Published: January 2020

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an intermediate step during the precipitation of calcium carbonate, and is assumed to play a key role in biomineralization processes. Here, we have developed a model where ion association thermodynamics in homogeneous phases determine the liquid–liquid miscibility gap of the aqueous calcium carbonate system, verified experimentally using potentiometric titrations, and kinetic studies based on stopped‐flow ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism explains the variable solubilities of solid amorphous calcium carbonates, reconciling previously inconsistent literature values. Accounting for liquid–liquid amorphous polymorphism, the model also provides clues to the mechanism of polymorph selection. It is general and should be tested for systems other than calcium carbonate to provide a new perspective on the physical chemistry of LLPS mechanisms based on stable prenucleation clusters rather than un‐/metastable fluctuations in biomineralization, and beyond.
An Air‐Stable Heterobimetallic Si2M2 Tetrahedral Cluster
Authors: Dübek Gizem , Hanusch Franziska , Munz Dominik , Inoue Shigeyoshi
Published: January 2020

Air‐ and moisture‐stable heterobimetallic tetrahedral clusters [Cp(CO)2MSiR]2 (M=Mo or W; R=SitBu3) were isolated from the reaction of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized silyl(silylidene) metal complexes Cp(CO)2M=Si(SitBu3)NHC with a mild Lewis acid (BPh3). Alternatively, treatment of the NHC‐stabilized silylidene complex Cp(CO)2W=Si(SitBu3)NHC with stronger Lewis acids such as AlCl3 or B(C6F5)3 resulted in the reversible coordination of the Lewis acid to one of the carbonyl ligands. Computational investigations revealed that the dimerization of the intermediate metal silylidyne (M≡Si) complex to a tetrahedral cluster instead of a planar four‐membered ring is due to steric bulk.
Chemical characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial and cutaneous wound healing potentials of gold nanoparticles usingAllium saralicumR.M. Fritsch
Authors: Hu Xing , Ahmeda Ahmad , Zangeneh Mohammad Mahdi
Published: January 2020

The use of herbal medicines dates back a long way in history. Herbal medicines have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their good therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects than modern medicines. Recently, researchers have used gold nanoparticles synthesized by plants in the prevention, control, and treatment of infectious disorders and cutaneous wounds. The aims of this study were to synthesize gold nanoparticles from aqueous extract ofAllium saralicumR.M. Fritsch (AuNPs) and assess their therapeutic capacities. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FT‐IR results offered polysaccharides and protein inA. saralicumwere the sources of reducing power, reducing gold ions to AuNPs. According to XRD analysis, the crystal size of the nanoparticles was 41.6 nm. TEM and FE‐SEM images exhibited average diameters of 45 nm for the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized AuNPs had great cell viability on HUVECs line and showed this method was nontoxic. The 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging test indicated similar antioxidant potentials forA. saralicum, AuNPs, and butylated hydroxytoluene. To determine the antifungal and antibacterial properties of HAuCl4,A. saralicum, and AuNPs, agar diffusion tests were used. The aim of the application both HAuCl4andA. saralicumin microbial tests was to investigate the synergism effects between them. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were specified by macro‐broth dilution assay. AuNPs exhibited higher antifungal and antibacterial effects than all standard antibiotics (p≤ 0.01). The MIC and MBC of AuNPs against all bacteria were in the ranges 1–4 mg/ml and 2–8 mg/ml, respectively. The MIC and MFC of AuNPs against all fungi were in the ranges 1–4 mg/ml and 2–4 mg/ml, respectively.In vivopart, AuNPs ointment group raised significantly (p≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, vessel, hydroxyl proline, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, fibroblast, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate and decreased significantly (p≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, and lymphocyte compared to other groups in rats. The results of FT‐IR, UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, and FE‐SEM analyses confirm that the aqueous extract ofA. saralicumleaves can be used to yield gold nanoparticles with a notable amount of remedial effects without any cytotoxicity against HUVECs.
Influence of two‐phase behavior of ethylene ionomers on diffusion of water
Authors: Nagayama Kei , Kapur Jane , Morris Barry A.
Published: January 2020

In this study, diffusion of water into ethylene ionomers neutralized with sodium or zinc cations (Na‐ionomer and Zn‐ionomer, respectively) was studied by in situ Fourier transform near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Water ingress was measured by NIR from the edge of the laminated glass toward the center and the measured water concentration profiles were analyzed by Fick's second law or the modified Jacobs–Jones model, which describes diffusion into a two‐phase system of different density and polarity. It was found that the modified Jacobs–Jones model agrees well with the measured water concentration profiles of ionomers, while the Fickian model fits well to the poly(vinyl‐butyral) (PVB) results. The modified Jacobs–Jones model was also confirmed to apply to water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) data of another sodium ionomer (Na‐ionomer‐HTM) with a higher melting temperature than Na‐ionomer. The water diffusion coefficient for Na‐ionomer, Zn‐ionomer, and PVB are compared, and the diffusion parameters are discussed considering the higher‐ordered structures of ionomers studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Simulating conditions that PV modules encounter in field applications, model projections show that Zn‐ionomer and Na‐ionomer‐HTM give significantly lower water permeation than PVB, and due to its low diffusion coefficient, Na‐ionomer will have significantly less water ingress than PVB. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48929.
Flame resistant properties of LDPE/PLA blends containing halogen‐free flame retardant
Authors: Arslan Figen , Dilsiz Nursel
Published: January 2020

In this study, mixing petroleum‐based low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) with biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is used as polymer matrix. Boron compounds, metal hydroxides, melamine (MLM), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and pentaerythritol (PER) were used as reinforcement materials to improve flame resistance of polymer matrix. The composite materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, limiting oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical test, and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The LOI analysis showed that for samples, which included MLM, APP, and PER, the LOI values were dramatically improved. Especially, the LOI value of sample Q (LDPE80/PLA20/APP30/PER15/MLM15/ZB3) was enhanced about 95.17% compared to polymer mixing. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48960.
Reduced‐order extended state observer based event‐triggered sliding mode control for DC‐DC buck converter system With parameter perturbation
Authors: Wang Junxiao , Rong Jiayi , Yu Li
Published: January 2020

Aiming to reduce the influence of system model parameter uncertainties for the DC‐DC buck converter control system with high performance requirement, a reduced‐order extended state observer based event‐triggered sliding mode control method (RESO‐ESMC) is proposed in this paper. First, a reduced‐order extended state observer is designed to estimate the system state and total disturbances, including load resistance disturbance and input voltage variation. Then, based on the estimation, the novel event triggered sliding mode controller is constructed for the DC‐DC buck converter system, aiming for the event triggered mechanism to avoid unnecessary computation. In addition, it should be noted that, unlike the extended state observer based sliding mode control method (ESO‐SMC) presented in [1], the proposed method in this paper uses a reduced‐order extended state observer, that is simple to implement and does not require the current sensor, which reduces the cost in practical applications. The stability of the closed‐loop system is also analyzed using Lyapunov stability theorem. Compared with re‐designed ESO‐SMC, which is also in current sensor‐less mode, simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control method performs better in transient and disturbance rejection, but the steady state performance is sacrificed.
A decision‐analytic approach to screening in chemical alternatives assessment
Authors: Gerst Michael D. , Kenney Melissa A. , Howard Brett E. , Giraud Robert J.
Published: January 2020

Material selection in the chemistry value chain involves consideration of many objectives, including cost, performance, health risk, and environmental impact. Alternatives assessment is an emerging tool for guiding complex decisions with respect to these goals. As a relatively new method, the process is not yet well developed, especially with respect to how trade‐offs among objectives can be assessed accurately and inexpensively. Using paint strippers alternatives assessment as an illustrative example, we show how an established decision‐analytic method, known as comparative screening, allows for a multistep process with gradually increasing information needs. Compared with existing methodological approaches, comparative screening instills flexible and consistent treatment of trade‐offs. This is important because it maximizes the potential for a robust assessment while minimizing arduous data collection. Further, its use in the alternatives assessment process can support the selection of more sustainable materials.
Identification of three m6A‐related mRNAs signature and risk score for the prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Zedong , Li Fazhan , Peng Yu , Fang Jianyu , Zhou Jun
Published: January 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is extremely harmful to human health. In recent years, N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation in eukaryotic mRNA has been increasingly implicated in cancer pathogenesis and prognosis. In this study, we downloaded the expression profile and clinical information of 307 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and 64 patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and univariate Cox analysis revealed that METTL14 was a prognostic m6A RNA methylation regulator. For further study on the related genes of METTL14, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was used to find the relationship between METTL14 and gene expression, and univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods were used to identify hub genes that may be associated with HCC prognosis. The results indicated that cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase, glutamic‐oxaloacetic transaminase 2, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 were key genes affecting the prognosis of HCC patients, and m6A methylation of these mRNAs may be regulated by METTL14. Finally, a nomogram was constructed based on the hub gene expression levels, and its prediction accuracy and discriminative ability were measured by the C‐index and a calibration curve. In conclusion, METTL14, an m6A RNA methylation regulator, may participate in the malignant progression of HCC by adjusting the m6A of cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase, glutamic‐oxaloacetic transaminase 2, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2, and these genes are useful for prognostic stratification and treatment strategy development.
A multicenter phase II trial of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cetuximab followed by chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Enokida Tomohiro , Ogawa Takenori , Homma Akihiro , Okami Kenji , Minami Shujiro , Nakanome Ayako , Shimizu Yasushi , Maki Daisuke , Ueda Yuri , Fujisawa Takao , Motegi Atsushi , Ohkoshi Akira , Taguchi Jun , Ebisumoto Koji , Nomura Shogo , Okano Susumu , Tahara Makoto
Published: January 2020

Background

Induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA‐SCCHN) often compromises compliance with subsequent chemoradiotherapy (CRT), which negatively affects outcomes. Here, we assessed the combination of paclitaxel (PTX), carboplatin (CBDCA), and cetuximab (Cmab) as IC for unresectable LA‐SCCHN.

Methods

Induction chemotherapy consisted of weekly CBDCA area under the plasma concentration‐time curve = 1.5, PTX 80 mg/m2 and Cmab with an initial dose of 400 mg/m2 followed by 250 mg/m2 for 8 weeks. Following IC, CDDP (20 mg/m2, 4 days × 3 cycles) and concurrent radiotherapy (70 Gy/35 fr) were started. Primary endpoint was the proportion of CRT completion (%CRT completion). PCE was planned to be deemed effective if the Bayesian posterior probability (PP), defined as the probability that %CRT completion was larger than the threshold value of 65%, exceeded 84%.

Results

Thirty‐five patients were enrolled. Cases were hypopharynx/oropharynx/larynx in 17/17/1 patients, all at Stage IV. Of 35 patients, 34 (97%) completed IC and 32 received CRT and met the criteria of full analysis set (FAS). In FAS, the %CRT completion was 96.9%, and PP was 99.9%, exceeding the prespecified boundary of 84%. Mean cumulative dose and relative to dose intensity of CDDP in CRT was 232.5 mg/m2 and 100%, respectively. Response rate was 88.6% by IC and 93.8% in the CRT phase. Three year overall survival was 83.5%. Main grade 3 toxicities included neutropenia (11.4%) and skin rash (5.7%) during IC; and oral mucositis (31.3%) and neutropenia (12.5%) during CRT. No grade 4 toxicity or treatment‐related death was seen.

Conclusions

PCE as IC was feasible, with promising efficacy and no effect on compliance with subsequent CRT in unresectable LA‐SCCHN.
Why Women Commit Filicide: Opinions of Health, Social Work, Education and Policy Professionals in Malaysia
Authors: Razali Salmi , Kirkman Maggie , Fisher Jane
Published: January 2020

Although filicide is discussed with concern in the print media and online in Malaysia, there is little empirical evidence about its aetiology or appropriate responses. We sought to elucidate the opinions of health, social work, education and policy professionals in Malaysia on the causes of, and solutions to, filicide. Fifteen informants participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews. Informants attributed responsibility for filicide to girls and women as a consequence of their failure to comply with social norms and religious teachings; the stigmatised social position of women who are pregnant and unmarried was identified as a contributing factor. No informant mentioned the impact of gender‐based violence, including sexual violence against girls and women. Informants' views reflect the dominant discourse of filicide in Malaysia, which is that it results from women's failure to adhere to Malaysian norms of morality, religion, customs and traditions. Solutions were largely directed at changing the behaviour of girls and women. Given the disparities between the public discourse and evidence of the experiences of women convicted of filicide, interventions that promote social change might be more effective than strategies targeting women.

‘We sought to elucidate the opinions of health, social work, education and policy professionals in Malaysia on the causes of, and solutions to, filicide’

‘Filicide is generally agreed to denote the crime of a parent killing her or his child aged up to 18 years’

Key Practitioner Messages

There are adverse consequences for children and women in Malaysia when responsibility for child safety is placed on individual women and not referred to a society structured on strict gender roles and masculine power.

Practitioners in Malaysia would benefit from international support to understand the effects of marginalised women's experiences.
Did court allow football player's disability lawsuit to proceed against university?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: January 2020

The plaintiff was a University of Southern Mississippi football player.
Molecular Diversity from Arid‐Land Plants: Valorization of Terpenes and Biotransformation Products
Authors: Bailen Maria , Martínez‐Díaz Rafael A. , Hoffmann Joseph J. , Gonzalez‐Coloma Azucena
Published: January 2020

Asteraceae plants from arid lands are a source of biomass, resin and latex rich in terpenoids with diverse biological effects. Thirty‐six previously isolated terpenes, comprising sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes and quassinoids, isolated from arid‐land plants and a series of metabolites from the biotransformation of some lead compounds were evaluated against insect pests (Spodoptera littoralis, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi), cells (insect, hamster, murine and human tumoral cells) and parasites (Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum). Among the insecticidal sesquiterpenes, maalian‐1α,8α‐diol (12) and γ‐eudesmol (17) were antifeedant against L. decemlineata, M. persicae and cytotoxic to Sf9 insect cells, and (−)‐maali‐3‐en‐8α‐ol (10), (+)‐maaliane‐5α,8α,9α‐triol (11), chrysothame (31) and holacanthone (35) were antifeedant against S. littoralis. The parasite L. infantum was slightly more sensitive than T. cruzi to the test compounds (39 % vs. 33 % of active compounds) with compound 17 and the biotransformed diterpene 27 being antiparasitic to L. infantum, with no cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells. Moreover, sesquiterpenes 3 and 17, and grindelane diterpenes 22, 23 and 26 showed selective activity against chemoresistant human colon, cervical and melanoma cancer cells. Thus, considering our results, the best candidates for future studies are compounds 17 and 3, due to their activity on insect pests, parasites (17) and tumoral cells (3, 17, 22, 23 and 26).