bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the Phase Transitions between Stable Equilibrium and Periodic Oscillations in Predator-prey Population Dynamics: A Theoretical Appraisal from an Extended Nicholson & Bailey Model
Authors: Béguinot Jean
Published: March 2020

Multi-phase patterns with more or less sharp phase transitions, first highlighted in thermodynamics, have progressively revealed having wider relevance, being encountered in various other contexts, for example fluid mechanics, and can even occur in the interactive dynamics in biological populations involving two or more species that share opposite interests, such as predator-prey or parasite-host pairs of species. In the latter, the pattern of abundances of both interacting species usually reaches an equilibrium level which can be either stable or cyclic (with large periodic oscillations in the latter case). Both alternative modes are separated by well-define boundaries and, accordingly, can relevantly be described in terms of phases and phase transitions. While this has recently been approached from very general perspectives, a more focused analysis is still lacking, regarding the nature of the phase transitions between stable and oscillatory equilibria and – still more importantly – how the nature of these phase transitions may possibly depend (or not) on the biological and contextual factors driving the parasite-host interactive dynamics. These issues are addressed hereafter, on a theoretical basis, yet intimately related to the real field context, by taking advantage of a newly derived extension of the classical Nicholson & Bailey model of parasite-host interactions. Highlighted in particular are the possibility of either first-order, second-order or continuous phase-transitions, depending on (i) the respective own dynamics of both host and parasite, (ii) the density of feeding resource for the host, (iii) the level of migration exchange in a meta-population context.
Extreme Thermophiles
Authors: Grogan Dennis W
Published: March 2020

Extreme thermophiles are microorganisms adapted to temperatures normally found only in hot springs, hydrothermal vents and similar sites of geothermal activity. These microorganisms include diverse archaea and bacteria and represent a wide range of metabolic strategies. The geothermal environments populated by extreme thermophiles provide chemical resources for microbial metabolism. Various molecular features enable the cells of extreme thermophiles to function optimally at these temperatures, which kill other cells. These features include low‐molecular weight compounds that stabilise the conformations of proteins and nucleic acids, enzymes with intrinsically stable folded conformations and unusual lipids that form highly impermeable membranes. Metabolic activities and intrinsically stable enzymes of extreme thermophiles offer advantages for industrial and diagnostic processes ranging from ore processing to molecular genotyping.

Key Concepts

Bacteria and archaea consist of very simple (prokaryotic) cells but they vary greatly with respect to metabolic capabilities, physiological limits and other fundamental properties.

The term ‘extreme thermophile’ usually denotes a microorganism which requires the temperatures found in geothermal environments for its optimal growth.

Geothermal environments provide inorganic nutrients and sources of chemical energy that certain bacteria and archaea can utilise.

Extreme thermophiles use two general strategies to avoid thermal denaturation of their enzymes: extrinsic stabilisation, conferred by certain small molecules, and intrinsic stabilisation, conferred by the specific structure and conformation of the enzyme itself.

The intrinsically thermostable enzymes of extreme thermophiles are useful for biotechnology because they allow chemical reactions to be catalysed with high specificity at high temperatures or under other harsh conditions.
Plant Organ Primordia
Authors: Campbell Michael , Adams Rachael
Published: March 2020

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) in plants is composed of totipotent cells that generate the major plant organs including leaves and flowers. Within the SAM synthesis and movement of auxin creates a hormonal flux. In production of leaf primordia, the hormonal flux alters a series small ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that impact the expression of homeotic genes. This results in the generation of a WUSCHEL/CLAVATA feedback loop that generate niches that result in the placement of leaf primordia. This placement of leaf primordia generates the overall phyllotaxis and nodal architecture that defines the major plant body. In perennial plants, seasonal cues alter primordia development resulting in shifts between true leaves and bud scales creating the overwintering meristem. How the transition between bud scales and leaf primordia occurs in unclear.

Key Concepts

The initiation of leaf primordia at nodes is regulated by an auxin gradient within the SAM.

A series of homeotic genes are associated with both SAM formation and establishment of leaf primordia and leaf organ symmetry including
Knotted1, WUSCHEL‐RELATED Homeobox 1
and
CLAVAT‐type (CLV)
homoeotic genes.

Small RNAs play a critical role in the developmental processes associated with the SAM development.

Auxin flux is directed by PIN1 transporter polarity controlled by
MONOPTEROS
.

Responses to seasonal variation alter leaf primordia development.
Hominoid Cranial Evolution
Authors: Schroeder Lauren , von Cramon‐Taubadel Noreen
Published: March 2020

Extant hominoid cranial variability, although marked, represents only a remnant of a temporally and geographically expansive evolutionary history. Attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary processes that have played a role in the morphological divergence of this superfamily have been complicated by a sparse hominoid fossil record, and ambiguity related to phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, morphological variation in the cranium is influenced by a complex combination of functional, developmental and architectural constraints, complicating our ability to tease apart specific evolutionary pressures. However, due to advances in the field of evolutionary quantitative genetics, recent studies of extant hominoid taxa have reconstructed the potential evolutionary processes that have generated cranial diversity. Collectively, these studies have shown that directional selection, although identified in the evolutionary path to hominins, was not the major driving force behind this divergence. Rather, it is a combination of genetic drift and stabilising selection that characterises the evolution of the hominoid cranium.

Key Concepts

Morphological diversity in the hominoid cranium is extensive.

Cranial diversity is influenced by evolutionary, developmental, functional, structural forces and constraints.

Extant hominoids are a small fraction of all hominoids that have ever lived.

The hominoid fossil record is fragmentary and phylogenetic relationships are ambiguous.

Quantitative genetic analyses indicate a combination of evolutionary processes have shaped the hominoid cranium.
Providing worked examples for learning multiple principles
Authors: Schalk Lennart , Roelle Julian , Saalbach Henrik , Berthold Kirsten , Stern Elsbeth , Renkl Alexander
Published: March 2020

Worked examples support learning. However, if they introduce easy‐to‐confuse concepts or principles, specific ways of providing worked examples may influence their effectiveness. Multiple worked examples can be introduced blocked (i.e., several for the same principle) or interleaved (i.e., switching between principles), and can be sequentially or simultaneously presented. Crossing these two factors provides four ways of presenting worked examples: blocked/sequential, interleaved/sequential, blocked/simultaneous, and interleaved/simultaneous. In an experiment with university students (N = 174), we investigated how these two factors influence the acquisition of procedural and conceptual knowledge about different, but closely related (thus, easy‐to‐confuse) stochastic principles. Additionally, we assessed the ability of students to discriminate between principles with verification tasks. Simultaneous presentation benefitted procedural knowledge whereas, interleaved presentation benefitted conceptual knowledge. No significant differences were found for verification tasks. The results suggest that it is worthwhile to adapt the presentation of the worked examples to the learning goals.
Attempting Randomized Housing First Research in a Community Context: Reflections on Failure
Authors: Brown Molly , Tran Anh‐Dao , Cummings Camilla , Fay Lauren , Malone Daniel , Fyall Rachel , Tsemberis Sam
Published: March 2020

Highlights

Experimental housing research relying on existing community resources may face complex barriers.

Key stakeholders present issues encountered in an attempted Housing First randomized trial.

Lessons learned include enhancing buy‐in with partnering organizations and local policymakers.
Workplace indoor environmental quality and asthma‐related outcomes in healthcare workers
Authors: Rollins Steven M. , Su Feng‐Chiao , Liang Xiaoming , Humann Michael J. , Stefaniak Aleksandr B. , LeBouf Ryan F. , Stanton Marcia L. , Virji Mohammed A. , Henneberger Paul K.
Published: March 2020

Background

Asthma‐related health outcomes are known to be associated with indoor moisture and renovations. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of these indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors in healthcare facilities and their association with asthma‐related outcomes among workers.

Methods

New York City healthcare workers (n = 2030) were surveyed regarding asthma‐related symptoms, and moisture and renovation factors at work and at home during the last 12 months. Questions for workplace moisture addressed water damage (WD), mold growth (MG), and mold odor (MO), while for renovations they addressed painting (P), floor renovations (FR), and wall renovations (WR). Regression models were fit to examine associations between work and home IEQ factors and multiple asthma‐related outcomes.

Results

Reports of any moisture (n = 728, 36%) and renovations (n = 1412, 70%) at work were common. Workplace risk factors for asthma‐related outcomes included the moisture categories of WD by itself, WD with MO (without MG), and WD with MG and MO, and the renovation category with the three factors P, FR, and WR. Reports of home IEQ factors were less frequent and less likely to be associated with health outcomes. Data analyses suggested that MG and/or MO at work and at home had a synergistic effect on the additive scale with a symptom‐based algorithm for bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Conclusions

The current study determined that moisture and renovation factors are common in healthcare facilities, potentially putting workers at risk for asthma‐related outcomes. More research is needed to confirm these results, especially prospective studies.
A new tool for urban governance or just rhetoric? The case of participatory budgeting in Taipei City
Authors: Kuo Nai‐Ling , Chen Ting‐Yu , Su Tsai‐Tsu
Published: March 2020

Increasing interest in participatory budgeting has been observed in local governments around the world. This paper stresses direct citizen participation in the budgeting process leads to good governance, deepens democracy and improves social justice, while also highlighting some challenges in its efficiency and effectiveness. Unlike participatory budgeting, the Sub‐borough Chiefs Forum is a community‐based representative democratic mechanism; it could be regarded as a form of participatory budgeting in a broad sense. If so, then did the Taipei programme simply duplicate the goals of the Forum or lead to a better governance by making up for the inadequacies of the Chiefs Forum? To find out whether the Taipei participatory budgeting programme made a difference, we carried out qualitative and quantitative comparisons of projects passed under the participatory budgeting process and at the Forum. We also interviewed several participatory budgeting participants and sub‐borough chiefs. The findings suggested that participatory budgeting and the Forum generated different proposals and budget requests, and the Taipei programme supplemented the shortcomings of the Forum and therefore led to deeper civic engagement and better urban governance.
Principles of Aggregation‐Induced Emission: Design of Deactivation Pathways for Advanced AIEgens and Applications
Authors: Suzuki Satoshi , Sasaki Shunsuke , Sairi Amir Sharidan , Iwai Riki , Tang Ben Zhong , Konishi Gen‐ichi
Published: March 2020

Twenty years ago, the concept of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) was proposed, and this unique luminescent property has attracted scientific interest ever since. However, AIE denominates only the phenomenon, while the details of its underlying guiding principles remain to be elucidated. This minireview discusses the basic principles of AIE based on our previous mechanistic study of the photophysical behavior of 9,10‐bis(N,N‐dialkylamino)anthracene (BDAA) and the corresponding mechanistic analysis by quantum chemical calculations. BDAA comprises an anthracene core and small electron donors, which allows the quantum chemical aspects of AIE to be discussed. The key factor for AIE is the control over the non‐radiative decay (deactivation) pathway, which can be visualized by considering the conical intersection (CI) on a potential energy surface. Controlling the conical intersection (CI) on the potential energy surface enables the separate formation of fluorescent (CI:high) and non‐fluorescent (CI:low) molecules [control of conical intersection accessibility (CCIA)]. The novelty and originality of AIE in the field of photochemistry lies in the creation of functionality by design and in the active control over deactivation pathways. Moreover, we provide a new design strategy for AIE luminogens (AIEgens) and discuss selected examples.
Carbene‐Stabilized Disilicon as a Silicon‐Transfer Agent: Synthesis of a Dianionic Silicon Tris(dithiolene) Complex
Authors: Wang Yuzhong , Tope Cynthia A. , Xie Yaoming , Wei Pingrong , Urbauer Jeffrey L. , Schaefer Henry F. , Robinson Gregory H.
Published: March 2020

Reaction of carbene‐stabilized disilicon (1) with the lithium‐based dithiolene radical (2.) affords the first dianionic silicon tris(dithiolene) complex (3). Notably, the formation of 3 represents the unprecedented utilization of carbene‐stabilized disilicon (1) as a silicon‐transfer agent. The nature of 3 was probed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and DFT computations.
PdII‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Arylation of Cyclobutyl Ketones Using a Chiral Transient Directing Group
Authors: Xiao Li‐Jun , Hong Kai , Luo Fan , Hu Liang , Ewing William R. , Yeung Kap‐Sun , Yu Jin‐Quan
Published: March 2020

The use of chiral transient directing groups (TDGs) is a promising approach for developing PdII‐catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)−H activation reactions. However, this strategy is challenging because the stereogenic center on the TDG is often far from the C−H bond, and both TDG covalently attached to the substrate and free TDG are capable of coordinating to PdIIcenters, which can result in a mixture of reactive complexes. We report a PdII‐catalyzed enantioselective β‐C(sp3)−H arylation reaction of aliphatic ketones using a chiral TDG. A chiral trisubstituted cyclobutane was efficiently synthesized from a mono‐substituted cyclobutane through sequential C−H arylation reactions, thus demonstrating the utility of this method for accessing structurally complex products from simple starting materials. The use of an electron‐deficient pyridone ligand is crucial for the observed enantioselectivity. Interestingly, employing different silver salts can reverse the enantioselectivity.
Stereoselectivity and nonmigratory insertion mechanism of dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate into metallocene‐hydride of Cp2M(L)H [Cp =η5‐C5H5; M = Nb, V; L = CO, P (OMe)3]: A DFT study
Authors: Huo Suhong , Li Xiaoyan , Zeng Yanli , Meng Lingpeng
Published: March 2020

The insertion of an alkyne into transition metal–hydrogen bonds is a key elementary step in catalytic polymerization and hydrogenation processes. It was found that a (Z)‐ or (E)‐type alkyenyl complex can be formed throughtrans/cisstereospecific processes. In this work, the reaction mechanism of Cp2M(L)H [Cp =η5‐C5H5; M = Nb, V; L = CO, P (OMe)3] with dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate (DMAD), and the factors influencing the stereoselectivity have been investigated based on density functional theory calculations. The calculated results show that all of the reactions are exothermic. For L = CO, theZ‐isomer product forms first even at low temperatures because of the low Gibbs free energy barrier (ΔG#). Then theZ‐proconverts toE‐pro, while for L = P (OMe)3, the exclusive product is theE‐isomer. For different metal centers, the reaction mechanisms of the Cp2M(CO)H + DMAD (M = Nb and V) reaction are similar, while their products are different at room temperature. For M = Nb, because the energy barrier of the isomerization fromZ‐protoE‐prois low and the relative free energies ofZ‐proandE‐proare almost equal, bothZ‐proandE‐procan be obtained. While for the Cp2V(CO)H + DMAD reaction, only theZ‐procan be obtained under mild conditions,E‐procan be obtained only at high temperatures. For the Cp2M(CO)H+DMAD(M=V and Nb) reactions, the formation ofE‐isomer products proceeds via two five‐membered ring transition states. The calculated results provide an reasonable explanation for the experimental results and predict a new insertion reaction.
Synthetic application of gold complexes on magnetic supports
Authors: Amirmahani Najmeh , Rashidi Mohsen , Mahmoodi Nosrat O.
Published: March 2020

Gold nanocatalysts (GNCs) have recently become a hot topic and are widely used in chemistry. Between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalyses, two main types of catalyses, heterogeneous catalysts have gained importance because of their ease of separation from the mixture with low contamination of the products. Currently, nano‐heterogeneous catalysis is the main subject in a wide range of research studies because nanostructures have unique abilities that are found only at the nano‐level of the molecular world. This review selectively discusses the magnetic phenomena of heterogeneous GNCs, in which their inherent magnetic property provides many advantages over the nonmagnetic counterparts and also highlights the synthesis, development, and recyclability of various types of magnetic GNCs in well‐known organic reactions. These insights are useful for researchers working on the future of magnetic‐type gold nanocatalysis to enhance organic transformations, in both rate and yield.
Surface modification of aramid fibers with CaCl2 treatment and secondary functionalization of silane coupling agents
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Shi Zhenyu , Cui Peng , Duan Ningmin , Li Xin
Published: March 2020

Aramid fibers have excellent mechanical properties as the main reinforcing filler in high‐performance composites. However, the adhesion properties between fibers and most polymer matrices were poor. In this study, aramid fiber (AF) was modified by KH550 through surface coating based on the treatment with CaCl2 solution. The new surface treated with complexing agents could act as an active platform for secondary reactions for further modification. The surface morphology and composition of the treated aramid fibers were tested by scanning electron spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the interlaminar shear strength and the tensile strength of aramid fiber‐reinforced polymer (AFRP) of were evaluated. The results showed that the silane coupling agent KH550 was successfully grafted onto the surface of aramid fibers after treatment with CaCl2. Interlayer shear strength is greatly improved and the tensile strength of AFRP through further grafting with KH550 on the surface treated with CaCl2 was improved by 48.7%, compared with untreated aramid fiber. In the current scenario, this study is of immense importance because it validates the possibility of secondary modification after fiber complexation modification and useful modification methods, and provides a new direction for the modification of AF.
Preparation of hybrid PU/PCL fibers from steviol glycosides via electrospinning as a potential wound dressing materials
Authors: Mehteroğlu Ezgi , Çakmen Ayşe B. , Aksoy Büşra , Balcıoğlu Sevgi , Köytepe Süleyman , Ateş Burhan , Yılmaz İsmet
Published: March 2020

In this study, the synthesis and application of biocompatible steviol glycosides based polyurethane/poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PU/PCL) fibers was performed by electrospinning as a potential wound dressing materials that can be used for the closure of nonhealing wounds. During electrospinning, steviol glycoside‐based polyurethane structures were used in blend formation with poly (ε‐caprolactone) for easy producibility. Steviol glycosides are a natural abundant and easily accessible source as the main component of the wound dressing material due to their free hydroxyl groups, high biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity. The structure of steviol glycosides is composed of saccharide units and the free OH groups. Thus, steviol glycosides act as a crosslinker within the polyurethane structure and provides mechanical strength. For the production of steviol glycosides based PU/PCL fibers first, the steviol glycosides as a monomer were isolated from the stevia rebudiana. Then, polyurethane structures containing stevia glycoside were synthesized with hexamethylene diisocyanate, lactose and PEG‐200 by solution polymerization technique. PCL was added to the prepared polyurethanes in a ratio of 1:2 and formation of nanofiber structure. The prepared wound dressing material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscope techniques. Swelling degree, water content and oxygen permeability assay of the steviol glycosides based PU/PCL wound dressing material was determined. In biocompatibility test, cell viability value of PU/PCL fibrous materials in indirect cytotoxicity test was determined as 86.9% and cell adhesion on hybrid PU/PCL fibers was showed as morphological. In accordance with this target, the steviol glycosides based PU/PCL wound dressing material can be produced easily and low cost. As a result, the wound dressing materials obtained with their high biocompatibility and low costs will be an effective and fast method for the healing of open wounds of diabetics.
Coastal breeding aggregations of threatened stingrays and guitarfish in the Levant
Authors: Chaikin Shahar , Belmaker Jonathan , Barash Adi
Published: March 2020

Stingrays and guitarfish are globally threatened by overexploitation, particularly so in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, very little information is known about their ecology, behaviour, and taxonomy in the Mediterranean, and especially in the Levant, where water temperature, salinity, and the impact of invasive species are relatively high.

Although it has been suggested that some species may aggregate in the Levant, this has not been formally documented and the scale of this phenomenon, the taxonomic composition, and the temporal dynamics are unknown.

Visual surveys were conducted, which allowed the documentation of stingrays and guitarfish behaviour, and which was not available from data based on fishery catches. The census took place within a marine protected area over a period of 3 years.

Altogether, we documented 675 batoid observations. One of the observed species is Endangered (Glaucostegus cemiculus) and one is Vulnerable (Dasyatis pastinaca), whereas the others are classed as Least Concern (Torpedo torpedo and Torpedo marmorata), Data Deficient (Taeniurops grabatus), non‐assessed within the Mediterranean (Dasyatis chrysonota), and Not Evaluated (Himantura uarnak). Results show clear seasonal patterns, with dense aggregations recorded during spring and early summer, when densities reached 85 observations per kilometre. In addition, there were clear indications of breeding behaviour in D. pastinaca and D. chrysonota, including the first recorded documentation of D. pastinaca courtship in the Mediterranean.

Large seasonal stingrays and guitarfish aggregations in shallow waters have not, to our knowledge, been documented in the Mediterranean Sea previously. This highlights the importance of conserving shallow habitats as potential breeding grounds. As these sites are easily reached while both snorkelling and diving, the aggregation of these charismatic species can serve as potential ecotourism sites. Finally, this study shows the benefits of using simple visual census, as opposed to catch‐based methods, to record both the diversity and the behaviour of batoids.
Colonic transit in patients after anterior resection: prospective, comparative study using single-photon emission CT/CT scintigraphy
Authors: Ng K-S , Russo R , Gladman M A
Published: March 2020

Background

Bowel dysfunction after anterior resection is well documented, but its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. No study has assessed whether postoperative variation in colonic transit contributes to symptoms. This study measured colonic transit using planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT in patients after anterior resection, stratified according to postoperative bowel function.

Methods

Symptoms were assessed using the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score. Following gallium-67 ingestion, scintigraphy was performed at predefined time points. Nine regions of interest were defined, and geometric centre (GC), percentage isotope retained, GC velocity index and colonic half-clearance time (T½) determined. Transit parameters were compared between subgroups based on LARS score using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Results

Fifty patients (37 men; median age 72·6 (range 44·4–87·7) years) underwent planar and SPECT scintigraphy. Overall, 17 patients had major and nine had minor LARS; 24 did not have LARS. There were significant differences in transit profiles between patients with major LARs and those without LARS: GCs were greater (median 5·94 (range 2·35–7·72) versus 4·30 (2·12–6·47) at 32 h; P = 0·015); the percentage retained isotope was lower (median 53·8 (range 6·5–100) versus 89·9 (38·4–100) per cent at 32 h; P = 0·002); GC velocity indices were greater (median 1·70 (range 1·18–1·92) versus 1·45 (0·98–1·80); P = 0·013); and T½ was shorter (median 38·3 (17·0–65·0) versus 57·0 (32·1–160·0) h; P = 0·003). Percentage tracer retained at 32 h best discriminated major LARS from no LARS (area under curve (AUC) 0·828).

Conclusion

Patients with major LARS had accelerated colonic transit compared with those without LARS, which may help explain postoperative bowel dysfunction in this group. The percentage tracer retained at 32 h had the greatest AUC value in discriminating such patients.
p210BCR‐ABL1‐ Chronic myeloid leukemia presents with monocytosis
Authors: Wang Xiaofei , Wang Fei , Wang Zie , Li Yuantang , Wang Devin , Wu Huanling , Zhang Bingchang
Published: March 2020

Rare cases of CML present with monocytosis as well as morphologic dysplasia and harbor p210BCR‐ABL1. Cytogenetic and molecular studies must be performed to confirm the diagnosis of this kind of CML.
Counselor Actions to Facilitate Client Change During Life‐Design Counseling
Authors: Tian Xiaopeng , Hou Zhi‐Jin , Wang Danni , Savickas Suzanne , Chang Xueliang , Cao Ying , Jia Yin
Published: March 2020

The authors examined whether and how counselor interventions foster client change during life‐design counseling (Savickas, 2015). Two counseling sessions were conducted. Interviews with the 2 clients and the counselor after each counseling session were done in accordance with interpersonal process recall (Larsen, Flesaker, & Stege, 2008). The results indicated a scheme of counselor interventions that corresponded to client change. Specifically, the counselor fostered client reflection and reflexivity by (a) exploring original constructions, (b) identifying problematic themes in the constructions, (c) interpreting those themes, (d) identifying and recording client change and reflection, (e) connecting the themes to current issues, (f) facilitating a process of critical review, and (g) facilitating the reconstruction process. The results add a counselor's perspective to the research on client change and suggest a study of cases facilitated by counselors with diverse styles and skills that could further identify links between client change and counselor intervention.
Publication Patterns of Counselor Educators at Comprehensive Universities
Authors: Hatchett Gregory , Sylvestro Hallie , Coaston Susannah
Published: March 2020

The authors examined the publication patterns of 821 counselor educators across 174 comprehensive universities for the years 2008 through 2017. Nearly half of the sample did not have any journal article publications, and the median number of publications was 1. Several institutional variables were useful for predicting article publication counts.
The Impact of Teaching Preparation Practices on Self‐Efficacy Toward Teaching
Authors: Suddeath Eric , Baltrinic Eric , Dugger Suzanne
Published: March 2020

Coursework in teaching, fieldwork, and supervised teaching experiences were examined as predictors of counselor education doctoral students’ (N = 149) self‐efficacy toward teaching. Results revealed that all 3 variables related significantly to self‐efficacy toward teaching. Results suggested that students’ satisfaction with supervision of teaching was particularly important in strengthening self‐efficacy.
Surface Modification for Promoting Durable, Efficient, and Selective Electrocatalysts
Authors: Lenne Quentin , Leroux Yann R. , Lagrost Corinne
Published: March 2020

Intensive research into the design of catalysts involved in energy conversion and fuel cell technologies has allowed great progress in the field. However, durable, efficient and selective electrocatalytic systems for the activation of fuel molecules at the lowest cost are still needed. The most developed strategies consist of tailoring the shape, size and composition of metallic nanomaterials. Yet, deliberate surface modification of the catalysts should be considered as a promising alternative approach. The functionalization of metallic catalysts with organic ligands has been recently demonstrated to promote high catalytic activity. This Review focuses on the functionalization of metallic or alloy catalysts with organic ligands, showing the impact of the surface modification for different materials and different reactions. Hybrid systems based on this alternative strategy could contribute to the elaboration of cutting‐edge systems for electrocatalysis.
Recruiting, selecting, retaining, and monitoring successful investment managers: A review of a scattered literature
Authors: Furnham Adrian
Published: March 2020

This article attempts a comprehensive and multi‐disciplinary review of a scattered literature on the characteristics of successful investment managers. It considers nonpeer reviewed papers and reports written by organizations and human resource experts but also empirical papers from those in disciplines such as business studies, economics, finance, psychology, and psychiatry. It focuses on three issues: Ability, personality, and motivation. Most of the studies have concentrated on motivation and various themes are apparent suggesting that it is possible to profile successful investment managers.
Fluorogenic Bifunctional trans‐Cyclooctenes as Efficient Tools for Investigating Click‐to‐Release Kinetics
Authors: de Geus Mark A. R. , Maurits Elmer , Sarris Alexi J. C. , Hansen Thomas , Kloet Max S. , Kamphorst Kiki , ten Hoeve Wolter , Robillard Marc S. , Pannwitz Andrea , Bonnet Sylvestre A. , Codée Jeroen D. C. , Filippov Dmitri V. , Overkleeft Herman S. , van Kasteren Sander I.
Published: March 2020

The inverse electron demand Diels–Alder pyridazine elimination reaction between tetrazines and allylic substituted trans‐cyclooctenes (TCOs) is a key player in bioorthogonal bond cleavage reactions. Determining the rate of elimination of alkylamine substrates has so far proven difficult. Here, we report a fluorogenic tool consisting of a TCO‐linked EDANS fluorophore and a DABCYL quencher for accurate determination of both the click and release rate constants for any tetrazine at physiologically relevant concentrations.
Engineering Lithium Ions Embedded in NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide Lattices To Activate Laminated Ni2+ Sites as High‐Efficiency Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts
Authors: Sun Zemin , Yuan Mengwei , Shi Kefan , Liu Yuhui , Wang Di , Nan Caiyun , Li Huifeng , Sun Genban , Yang Xiaojing
Published: March 2020

NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been denoted as benchmark non‐noble‐metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, for laminates of NiFe LDHs, the edge sites are active, but the basal plane is inert, leading to underutilization as catalysts for the OER. Herein, for the first time, light and electron‐deficient Li ions are intercalated into the basal plane of NiFe LDHs. The results of theoretical calculations and experiments both showed that electrons would be transferred from near Ni2+ to the surroundings of Li+, resulting in electron‐deficient properties of the Ni sites, which would function as “electron‐hungry” sites, to enhance surface adsorption of electron‐rich oxygen‐containing groups, which would enhance the effective activity for the OER. As demonstrated by the catalytic performance, the Li−NiFe LDH electrodes showed an ultralow overpotential of only 298 mV at 50 mA cm−2, which was lower than that of 347 mV for initial NiFe LDHs and lower than that of 373 mV for RuO2. Reasonable intercalation adjustment effectively activates laminated Ni2+ sites and constructs the electron‐deficient structure to enhance its electrocatalytic activity, which sheds light on the functional treatment of catalytic materials.
Fluorescently Labelled ATP Analogues for Direct Monitoring of Ubiquitin Activation
Authors: Hammler Daniel , Stuber Katrin , Offensperger Fabian , Scheffner Martin , Zumbusch Andreas , Marx Andreas
Published: March 2020

Simple and robust assays to monitor enzymatic ATP cleavage with high efficiency in real‐time are scarce. To address this shortcoming, we developed fluorescently labelled adenosine tri‐, tetra‐ and pentaphosphate analogues of ATP. The novel ATP analogues bear — in contrast to earlier reports — only a single acridone‐based dye at the terminal phosphate group. The dye's fluorescence is quenched by the adenine component of the ATP analogue and is restored upon cleavage of the phosphate chain and dissociation of the dye from the adenosine moiety. Thereby the activity of ATP‐cleaving enzymes can be followed in real‐time. We demonstrate this proficiency for ubiquitin activation by the ubiquitin‐activating enzymes UBA1 and UBA6 which represents the first step in an enzymatic cascade leading to the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to substrate proteins, a process that is highly conserved from yeast to humans. We found that the efficiency to serve as cofactor for UBA1/UBA6 very much depends on the length of the phosphate chain of the ATP analogue: triphosphates are used poorly while pentaphosphates are most efficiently processed. Notably, the novel pentaphosphate‐harbouring ATP analogue supersedes the efficiency of recently reported dual‐dye labelled analogues and thus, is a promising candidate for broad applications.
Overcoming resistance to osimertinib in non–small cell lung cancer: Hopes, doubts, and in‐between
Authors: Passaro Antonio , Malapelle Umberto , Attili Ilaria , de Marinis Filippo
Published: March 2020

The identification of resistance mechanisms to third‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors—in particular osimertinib—should be considered as a cornerstone for understanding treatment individualization in an era of precision medicine, potentially improving patient outcomes significantly through a multifactorial strategy.
NRG/RTOG 1122: A phase 2, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study of bevacizumab with and without trebananib in patients with recurrent glioblastoma or gliosarcoma
Authors: Lee Eudocia Q. , Zhang Peixin , Wen Patrick Y. , Gerstner Elizabeth R. , Reardon David A. , Aldape Kenneth D. , deGroot John F. , Pan Edward , Raizer Jeffrey J. , Kim Lyndon J. , Chmura Steven J. , Robins H. Ian , Connelly Jennifer M. , Battiste James D. , Villano John L. , Wagle Naveed , Merrell Ryan T. , Wendland Merideth M. , Mehta Minesh P.
Published: March 2020

Background

Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) alone does not improve overall survival (OS) in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). The angiopoiein (Ang)–TIE2 system may play a role in tumor survival under VEGF inhibition. We conducted a phase 2, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled trial of bevacizumab plus trebananib (a novel Fc fusion protein that sequesters Ang1/Ang2) over bevacizumab alone in rGBM.

Methods

Patients ≥18 years of age with a Karnofsky performance status ≥70 and GBM or variants in first or second relapse were randomized to bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks plus trebananib 15 mg/kg every week or bevacizumab plus placebo. The primary endpoint was 6‐month progression‐free survival (PFS).

Results

After an initial 6‐patient lead‐in cohort confirmed the safety of combining bevacizumab and trebananib, 115 eligible patients were randomized to the control (n = 58) or experimental treatment (n = 57). In the control arm, 6‐month PFS was 41.1%, median survival time was 11.5 months (95% CI, 8.4‐14.2 months), median PFS was 4.8 months (95% CI, 3.8‐7.1 months), and radiographic response (RR) was 5.9%. In the experimental arm, 6‐month PFS was 22.6%, median survival time was 7.5 months (95% CI, 6.8‐10.1 months), median PFS was 4.2 months (95% CI, 3.7‐5.6 months), and RR was 4.2%. The rate of severe toxicities was not significantly different between arms.

Conclusion

The combination of bevacizumab and trebananib was well tolerated but did not significantly improve 6‐month PFS rate, PFS, or OS for patients with rGBM over bevacizumab alone. The shorter PFS in the experimental arm with a hazard ratio of 1.51 (P = .04) suggests that the addition of trebananib to bevacizumab is detrimental.
Trajectories of sickness absence and disability pension in the 2 years before and 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis: A Swedish longitudinal population‐based cohort study
Authors: Chen Lingjing , Alexanderson Kristina A. E.
Published: March 2020

Background

After breast cancer (BC) diagnosis, work incapacity often occurs among working‐age women. We investigated the trajectories of previous and subsequent sickness absence and/or disability pension (SA/DP) days, and risk factors for consistently high levels of future SA/DP among these women.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study included all 3536 women in Sweden aged 19‐64 years who received a first BC diagnosis in 2010. Their annual SA/DP net days from 2 years before to 3 years after diagnosis were calculated. SA/DP patterns were depicted by a group‐based trajectory model. Logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs of >90 or >180 SA/DP days/year.

Results

Three trajectories of SA/DP days/year were identified: increasing only in year+1 (61% of all), increasing then decreasing in year+3 (30%), and constantly very high (9%). The risk factors associated with annual SA/DP days >90 (long) and >180 days (extreme long) were similar. Factors associated with having >90 SA/DP days for years 1‐3 were: stage II (OR, 4.59; 95% CI, 2.98‐7.07), stage III+IV (OR, 26.57; 95% CI, 13.52‐52.22), prediagnosis SA 1‐30 days (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.30‐5.70), prediagnosis SA >90 days (OR, 24.52; 95% CI, 12.25‐49.08), and prediagnosis DP (OR, 659.97; 95% CI, 292.52‐>999.99). Conversely, adjusting for prediagnosis SA/DP and stage, sociodemographic factors were not associated with high levels of SA/DP.

Conclusion

After BC diagnosis, SA/DP increased significantly but then decreased. The absolute majority had no SA/DP during year 3. Advanced cancer stage and previous high SA/DP rendered the greatest risk for future high SA/DP. More knowledge is needed for applying the information in rehabilitation and return‐to‐work planning.
Xylem vessel‐diameter–shoot‐length scaling: ecological significance of porosity types and other traits
Authors: Olson Mark , Rosell Julieta A. , Martínez‐Pérez Cecilia , León‐Gómez Calixto , Fajardo Alex , Isnard Sandrine , Cervantes‐Alcayde María Angélica , Echeverría Alberto , Figueroa‐Abundiz Víctor A. , Segovia‐Rivas Alí , Trueba Santiago , Vázquez‐Segovia Karen
Published: March 2020

Flowering plants predominantly conduct water in tubes known as vessels, with vessel diameter playing a crucial role in plant adaptation to climate and reactions to climate change. The importance of vessels makes it essential to understand how and why vessel diameter, plant height, and other ecological factors are interrelated. Although shoot length is by far the main driver of variation in mean vessel diameter across angiosperms, much remains to be understood regarding the factors accounting for the abundant variation around they‐axis in plots of mean species vessel diameter against shoot length. Here, we explore the potential role of porosity types, wood density, leaf phenology, background imperforate tracheary element type, vasicentric tracheids, vascular tracheids, perforation plate type, and successive cambia in causing variation in they‐intercept or slope of the mean species vessel‐diameter– and vessel‐density–shoot‐length associations at the shoot tip and base. We detected numerous cases of ecologically significant variation. For example, latewood vessels of ring porous species scale with a lower slope than earlywood, i.e., latewood vessels are relatively narrow in taller plants. This pattern is likely the result of selection favoring freezing‐induced embolism resistance via narrow vessels. Wood density was negatively associated with vessel diameter, with low wood density plants having wider vessels for a given height. Species with scalariform perforation plates scale with a lower shoot base vessel‐diameter–shoot‐length slope, likely reflecting selection against scalariform plates in wide vessels. In other cases, functional groups scaled similarly. For example, species with successive cambia did not differ from those with conventional single cambia in their mean vessel‐diameter–shoot‐length scaling, rejecting our prediction that species with successive cambia should have narrower vessels for a given shoot length. They did, however, have fewer vessels per unit shoot cross‐sectional area than plants of similar heights, likely because vessels have longer functional lifespans (and therefore are fewer) in species with successive cambia. Our methods illustrate how vessel diameter can be studied taking shoot length into account to detect ecologically important variation and construct theory regarding plant adaptation via the hydraulic system that includes plant size as a vital element.
Experimental study of the co‐gasification of wood and polyethylene in a two‐stage gasifier
Authors: Harouna Ibrahim G. , Berger Benjamin , Hervé Jeanmart , Sanogo Oumar , Daho Tizane , Ouiminga Salifou K. , Koulidiati Jean
Published: March 2020

Co‐gasification of wood mixed with 20% (mass fraction) of polyethylene (PE) in a two‐stage NOTAR® fixed‐bed gasifier was studied in the present paper. The ratio of air flow injected in the pyrolyzer and air flow injected in the oxidation zone is called the air ratio (AR). The AR of 0.35, 0.43, and 0.49 were used for test runs. Mass and energy balances were established. The study showed the feasibility of co‐gasification of wood mixed with 20% of PE in the two‐stage gasifier. However, considerable quantity of residues rich in fixed carbon content (17% of the fuel mass and 69% of fixed carbon content) was produced due to a low reactivity of the charcoal obtained after the pyrolysis. AR increasing reduces the gas CO content due to overconsumption of char at the pyrolysis stage. H2 and CH4 highest values are obtained for the intermediate AR = 0.43 which maximized the LHV, energy efficiency, and carbon conversion with respectively 4674 kJ/Nm3, 64.35%, and 74.52%. Low reactivity and carbon content of the pyrolysis char likely lead to lower performance of co‐gasification of PE mixed with wood compared to wood gasification.
Simulation of compressibility of entrapped air in an incompressible free surface flow using a pressure‐based method for unified equations
Authors: Shin Sangmook
Published: March 2020

A pressure‐based method is developed to solve the unified conservation laws for incompressible and compressible fluids. A polytropic law is used to model the compressibility of a gas and decouple the energy equation. The pressure field is calculated by solving a single‐pressure Poisson equation for the entire flow domain. The effects of the compressibility of the gas are reflected in the source term of the Poisson equation. The continuities of pressure and normal velocity across a material interface are achieved without any additional treatment along the interface. To validate the developed method, the oscillation of a water column in a closed tube due to the compression and expansion of air in the tube is simulated. The computed time history of the pressure at the end wall of the tube is in good agreement with other computational results. The free drop of a water column in a closed tank is simulated. The time history of the pressure at the center of the bottom of the tank shows good agreement with other reported results. The developed code is applied to simulate the air cushion effect of entrapped air in a dam break flow. The computed result is in good agreement with other experimental and computational results until the air is entrapped. As the entrapped air pocket undergoes rapid pulsation, the pressure field of water around the air pocket oscillates synchronously.
Sparse Bayesian vector autoregressions in huge dimensions
Authors: Kastner Gregor , Huber Florian
Published: March 2020

We develop a Bayesian vector autoregressive (VAR) model with multivariate stochastic volatility that is capable of handling vast dimensional information sets. Three features are introduced to permit reliable estimation of the model. First, we assume that the reduced‐form errors in the VAR feature a factor stochastic volatility structure, allowing for conditional equation‐by‐equation estimation. Second, we apply recently developed global–local shrinkage priors to the VAR coefficients to cure the curse of dimensionality. Third, we utilize recent innovations to sample efficiently from high‐dimensional multivariate Gaussian distributions. This makes simulation‐based fully Bayesian inference feasible when the dimensionality is large but the time series length is moderate. We demonstrate the merits of our approach in an extensive simulation study and apply the model to US macroeconomic data to evaluate its forecasting capabilities.
Monkey‐Wrenching Natural Gas Pipelines
Authors: Makholm Jeff D.
Published: March 2020

We are living in a time of high‐profile litigation regarding what had been, until the era of intense focus on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, one of the most noncontroversial elements of US interstate natural gas pipeline regulation: the certification of new interstate pipelines. From 1999 until 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved and certificated 400 new interstate natural gas pipeline capacity projects—greatly expanding the nation's interstate pipeline capacity to accommodate new unconventional natural gas fields and a rising demand for the fuel generally (including for new gas‐fired generation that is driving coal from US electricity markets).