bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Techno‐economic analysis of co‐production of 2,3‐butanediol, furfural, and technical lignin via biomass processing based on deep eutectic solvent pretreatment
Authors: Zang Guiyan , Shah Ajay , Wan Caixia
Published: January 2020

This study analyzed the techno‐economic feasibility of a biomass conversion process enabled by high‐solid loading deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment for the co‐production of 2,3‐butanediol (BDO), furfural, and technical lignin. Aspen plus was used for process simulation; economic analysis models were developed to evaluate commercial potential; sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of key parameters on the production cost of 2,3‐BDO; and Monte‐Carlo simulation was used for uncertainty analysis. Two cases of high‐solid loading pretreatment (20% versus 27%) for DES pretreatment were compared. The process simulation results indicate that 78–79% of cellulose, 63–70% of xylan, and 40–44% of lignin in raw switchgrass are converted into 2,3‐BDO, furfural, and technical lignin, respectively. The minimum 2,3‐BDO selling price (MBSP) of these two cases is estimated to be 1703–1736 $ ton−1, which is about half of the current 2,3‐BDO market price. Sensitivity analyses show that the prices and recycle ratios of acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) have larger impacts on the MBSP, which indicates that further technical improvement should focus on reducing their consumption. The uncertainty analysis indicates that 20 and 27% solid loading systems have similar confident intervals, with 90% confidence interval of MBSP ranging from 1450–1990 $ ton−1. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
The role of KLF14 in multiple disease processes
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Shi Wenjie , Zhang Heng
Published: January 2020

Kruppel‐like factor 14 (KLF14) is a newly identified member of the KLF family. Expression of KLF14 is induced by TGF‐β in intrauterine and ectodermal tissue. Initial researches on KLF14 focused on its role in lipid and glucose metabolism. In recent years, however, the role of KLF14 in regulating cell signaling pathways, cell proliferation and differentiation has been explored. Moreover, the research has gradually extended into the field of tumorigenesis and immune regulation. This paper aims to briefly review the functions of KLF14 in physiologyical and pathological process.
Warnings for Boards When Governing Brilliant Jerks
Authors: Epstein Marc J. , Shelton Rob
Published: January 2020

Dr. Marc J. Epstein, PhD, and Rob Shelton are authors of two books, most recently The Brilliant Jerk Conundrum: Thriving with and Governing a Dominant Visionary. Dr. Epstein is a former distinguished research professor of management at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University in Houston, Texas, as well as a professor at Stanford Business School, Harvard Business School, and INSEAD. Shelton is a globally recognized Silicon Valley–based consultant, author, and speaker on entrepreneurial excellence, breakthrough innovation, and scaling to drive rapid growth. This article is about how betting on a dominant visionary is one of the biggest business gambles an investor, employee, or board member will ever make and how those on corporate boards need to know the difference.
Optimized immobilization of endoglucanase Cel9A onto glutaraldehyde activated chitosan nanoparticles by response surface methodology: The study of kinetic behaviors
Authors: Najavand Saeed , Habibnejad Mahdiyeh , Amani‐Ghadim A. R. , Rahimizadeh Parastou , Pazhang Mohammad
Published: January 2020

Immobilization of enzyme onto nanoparticles such as chitosan can have biotechnological importance. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) were prepared by Ionic gelation method and Endoglucanase Cel9A from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldariius (AaCel9A) immobilized on the nanoparticles. The FTIR results showed that the enzymes were immobilized on the ChNPs. The dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results illustrated that the AaCel9A‐ChNPs approximately had 40 nm diameters. For optimizing enzyme immobilization, response surface methodology was employed using different variables (pH, enzyme immobilization time, and enzyme to ChNPs ratio [E/Cs]). The results showed that the high immobilization efficiency was achieved in pH 7, E/Cs of 0.4 in 2.63 hr. The enzyme activity results showed that, immobilization increased optimum pH for activity (from 6.5 to 7.5) and the enzyme Km (from 3.703 to 12.195 [mg/ml]), which make it suitable to use in some industries such as detergents.
Prepare for legal, regulatory impact of allowing endorsement deals
Authors: O'Brien Timothy
Published: January 2020

Since the O'Bannon litigation, the possibility of student‐athletes profiting off their name, image, and likeness has been at the forefront of the national dialogue on possible forms of compensation within the world of collegiate athletics. An antitrust decision that determined the NCAA's limits on education‐related financial benefits were unlawful certainly added further fuel to the growing pay‐for‐play debate.
End‐of‐life quality metrics among medicare decedents at minority‐serving cancer centers: A retrospective study
Authors: Wasp Garrett T. , Alam Shama S. , Brooks Gabriel A. , Khayal Inas S. , Kapadia Nirav S. , Carmichael Donald Q. , Austin Andrea M. , Barnato Amber E.
Published: January 2020

Background

We calculated the performance of National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) cancer centers’ end‐of‐life (EOL) quality metrics among minority and white decedents to explore center‐attributable sources of EOL disparities.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with poor‐prognosis cancers who died between April 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 and had any inpatient services in the last 6 months of life. We attributed patients’ EOL treatment to the center at which they received the preponderance of EOL inpatient services and calculated eight risk‐adjusted metrics of EOL quality (hospice admission ≤3 days before death; chemotherapy last 14 days of life; ≥2 emergency department (ED) visits; intensive care unit (ICU) admission; or life‐sustaining treatment last 30 days; hospice referral; palliative care; advance care planning last 6 months). We compared performance between patients across and within centers.

Results

Among 126,434 patients, 10,119 received treatment at one of 54 NCI/NCCN centers. In aggregate, performance was worse among minorities for ED visits (10.3% vs 7.4%, P < .01), ICU admissions (32.9% vs 30.4%, P = .03), no hospice referral (39.5% vs 37.0%, P = .03), and life‐sustaining treatment (19.4% vs 16.2%, P < .01). Despite high within‐center correlation for minority and white metrics (0.61‐0.79; P < .01), five metrics demonstrated worse performance as the concentration of minorities increased: ED visits (P = .03), ICU admission (P < .01), no hospice referral (P < .01), and life‐sustaining treatments (P < .01).

Conclusion

EOL quality metrics vary across NCI/NCCN centers. Within center, care was similar for minority and white patients. Minority‐serving centers had worse performance on many metrics.
In vitro evaluation of antidiabetic potential of hesperidin and its aglycone hesperetin under oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cell line
Authors: Dhanya R. , Jayamurthy P.
Published: January 2020

The present study investigates the in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of hesperidin and hesperetin under oxidative stress induced in L6 myotubes. Also, the study attempts to reveal the effect of glycosylation (hesperetin) on the biological activities of hesperidin. Oxidative stress is the leading cause of complications associated with diabetes. Both hesperidin and hesperetin reduce oxidative stress directly by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and by up‐regulating natural antioxidant defence system like glutathione. Hesperidin and hesperetin at 10μM inhibited the non‐enzymatic glycation of proteins (65.57% and 35.6%, respectively), the critical reaction involved in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which has a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Additionally, these compounds induced glucose uptake in L6 myotubes following acute and chronic treatment. The percentage 2‐NBDG uptake shown by both the compounds was comparable with that of the antidiabetic drug, rosiglitazone (30.4%). Both the compounds downregulated PI3 kinase activity whereas GLUT4, IRS, and AKT were upregulated in L6 myotubes pointing to the possible overlapping with the insulin signalling pathway.

Significance of the study

Evidence suggest that oxidative stress occurs in diabetes and could have a role in the development of insulin resistance. Oral hypoglycaemic agents which target on increasing insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity or that reduce the rate of carbohydrate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract are used to manage type 2 diabetes. But these therapies rarely target the real cause of type 2 diabetes and have severe adverse effects. The observations from the present study provide significant evidence for hesperidin and hesperetin, to be considered as a dietary supplement to manage type 2 diabetes and to suppress oxidative stress mediated diabetic pathophysiology.
MiR‐643 inhibits lipopolysaccharide‐induced endometritis progression by targeting TRAF6
Authors: Zhao Rui , Wang Jing , Zhang Xiaojuan , Chen Yang
Published: January 2020

Endometritis is a prevalent disease with inflammation of uterus endangering women reproductive health. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in inflammatory disorders, including endometritis. However, the role and mechanism of miR‐643 in endometritis development remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of miR‐643 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammatory response and clarify the potential mechanism. LPS‐treated human endometrial epithelial cells (HEECs) were cultured to investigate the role of miR‐643 in vitro. The expression levels of miR‐643 and tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were measured via quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. LPS‐induced inflammatory response was assessed by inflammatory cytokines secretion via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The activation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway was investigated by western blot. The interaction between miR‐643 and TRAF6 was validated by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation. The expression of miR‐643 was decreased and TRAF6 protein level was enhanced in LPS‐treated HEECs. The overexpression of miR‐643 suppressed LPS‐induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β [IL‐1β], and IL‐6) and activation of NF‐κB pathway. The knockdown of TRAF6 inhibited LPS‐induced inflammatory response in HEECs. TRAF6 was validated as a target of miR‐643 and TRAF6 restoration reversed the effect of miR‐643 on inflammation response in LPS‐treated HEECs. Collectively, miR‐643 attenuated LPS‐induced inflammatory response by targeting TRAF6, indicating a novel avenue for the treatment of endometritis.
Influence of Hydrogen Bond Donating Sites in UiO‐66 Metal‐Organic Framework for Highly Regioselective Methanolysis of Epoxides
Authors: Das Aniruddha , Anbu Nagaraj , Sk Mostakim , Dhakshinamoorthy Amarajothi , Biswas Shyam
Published: January 2020

A Zr(IV)‐based UiO‐66 metal‐organic framework (MOF) (named 1) was synthesized by employing 1‐(aminomethyl)naphthalene‐2‐ol appended terephthalate linker and Zr(IV) salt via solvothermal method and subsequently characterized. Furthermore, the potential efficiency of activated (named 1′) form of as‐synthesized MOF was investigated as an organocatalyst for the ring‐opening of epoxide by methanol. The catalytic performance of 1 and 1′ was studied in the methanolysis of styrene oxide as a model substrate and the activity of 1′ was also examined with various alcohols. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the catalytic performance of 1′ reached 96 % conversion of styrene oxide to its corresponding product with 98 % regioselectivity. The reusability and stability of the catalyst were proved by recycling up to four runs in the methanolysis of styrene oxide. The Lewis acidity originating from metal nodes and hydrogen bond donating (HBD) sites in the linker is distributed homogeneously throughout the framework, thus playing crucial role in the activation of epoxide with easy accessibility.
Desulfurization of Model Oil through Adsorption over Activated Charcoal and Bentonite Clay Composites
Authors: Ullah Sana , Hussain Sajjad , Ahmad Waqas , Khan Hammad , Khan Khurram Imran , Khan Saad Ullah , Khan Sabir
Published: January 2020

Adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from model oil was investigated using composites of pure activated charcoal and pure bentonite clay. DBT adsorption was carried out in batch mode experiments at laboratory scale, where the developed composite materials showed a synergistic effect in removal of DBT from the model oil in terms of improved surface acidity of the pure activated charcoal and mesoporous structure of the pure bentonite clay. Thermodynamics, kinetics, and optimization of various adsorption parameters were investigated. Kinetic analyses proved that DBT adsorption followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. To study the thermodynamics of the adsorption, different isotherm adsorption models were applied. The Langmuir isotherm best fitted to the adsorption data. Various thermodynamic parameters were evaluated, including Gibbs free energy, entropy, and enthalpy.
Ab Initio Analysis of Metal–Ligand Bonding in An(COT)2 with An=Th, U in Their Ground‐ and Core‐Excited States
Authors: Ganguly Gaurab , Sergentu Dumitru‐Claudiu , Autschbach Jochen
Published: January 2020

Relativistic multireference ab initio wave function calculations with the restricted active space second‐order perturbation theory (RASPT2) were performed on thorocene and uranocene to determine the actinide N4,5‐edge and carbon K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) intensities and the metal–ligand orbital mixing in the ground state and core‐excited states. Calculated spectral intensities show very good agreement with the experiments and therefore allow detailed and unambiguous assignment of the observed spectral features. φ‐type covalent bonding or antibonding interactions are observed for thorocene in the core‐excited states, though not in the ground state. This is because the molecular orbital of φ symmetry, which is the in‐phase combination of the ligand Lφ and the Th 5fφ orbitals, can be populated with electrons in core‐excited states, whereas it is essentially unoccupied in the ground state. For uranocene, the XANES spectra do not reveal much information beyond multiplet broadening, despite the presence of distinct peaks in the spectra. Every core‐excited peak is best characterized by its own set of bond orbitals, as the excited state covalency is clearly different from the ground state covalency.
Synthesis and Systematic Structural Analysis of Cationic Half‐Sandwich Ruthenium Chalcogenocarbonyl Complexes
Authors: Suzuki Ayumi , Mutoh Yuichiro , Tsuchida Noriko , Fung Chi‐Wai , Kikkawa Shoko , Azumaya Isao , Saito Shinichi
Published: January 2020

Although the chemistry of transition‐metal complexes with carbonyl (CO) and thiocarbonyl (CS) ligands has been well developed, their heavier analogues, namely selenocarbonyl (CSe) and tellurocarbonyl (CTe) complexes remain scarce. The limited availability of such CSe and CTe complexes has so far hampered our understanding of the differences between such chalcogenocarbonyl (CE: E=O, S, Se, Te) ligands. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of a series of cationic half‐sandwich ruthenium CE complexes of the type [CpRu(CE)(H2IMes)(CNCH2Ts)][BArF4] (Cp=η5‐C5H5−; H2IMes=1,3‐dimesitylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene; ArF=3,5‐(CF3)2C6H3). A combination of X‐ray diffraction analyses, NMR spectroscopic analyses, and DFT calculations revealed an increasing π‐accepting ability of the CE ligands in the order O<S<Se<Te. A variable‐temperature NMR analysis of the thus obtained chiral‐at‐metal CE complexes indicated high stereochemical stability.
Luminescence‐Driven Electronic Structure Determination in a Textbook Dimeric DyIII‐Based Single‐Molecule Magnet
Authors: Guettas Djamila , Gendron Frédéric , Fernandez Garcia Guglielmo , Riobé François , Roisnel Thierry , Maury Olivier , Pilet Guillaume , Cador Olivier , Le Guennic Boris
Published: January 2020

A textbook dysprosium dinuclear complex based on acetylacetone ligands, [Dy2(acac)4(μ2‐acac)2(H2O)2], has been synthesized and fully characterized. This simple dimeric lanthanide complex shows well‐resolved solid‐state luminescence and behaves as a single‐molecule magnet under zero DC field. A seminal crystal‐field approach is used to marry both magnetism and luminescence in the frame of an energetic picture.
Trigonostemons G and H, dinorditerpenoid dimers with axially chiral biaryl linkage from Trigonostemon chinensis
Authors: Zhu Qin , Tang Chunping , Mándi Attila , Kurtán Tibor , Ye Yang
Published: January 2020

Trigonostemons G and H, two novel dimeric dinorditerpenoids, were isolated from the stem barks of Trigonostemon chinensis. Their planar structures and relative configurations were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Trigonostemons G and H possess a homodimeric biaryl skeleton obtained from two rearranged chiral nonracemic abietane‐type dinorditerpenes through an axially chiral biaryl 11,11′‐linkage. Torsional scan and computation of the transition states were carried out to estimate the rotational energy barrier, and the axial chirality (aS) was determined by time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The positive n‐π* ECD transitions of the isolated carbonyl chromophore above 300 nm could be used to determine the central chirality of trigonostemon G independently by ECD calculations of the diastereomers.
Detection of HER2+ Breast Cancer Cells using Bioinspired DNA‐Based Signal Amplification
Authors: Rafiee Sarah D. , Kocabey Samet , Mayer Michael , List Jonathan , Rüegg Curzio
Published: January 2020

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are promising biomarkers for metastatic cancer detection and monitoring progression. However, detection of CTCs remains challenging due to their low frequency and heterogeneity. Herein, we report a bioinspired approach to detect individual cancer cells, based on a signal amplification cascade using a programmable DNA hybridization chain reaction (HCR) circuit. We applied this approach to detect HER2+ cancer cells using the anti‐HER2 antibody (trastuzumab) coupled to initiator DNA eliciting a HCR cascade that leads to a fluorescent signal at the cell surface. At 4 °C, this HCR detection scheme resulted in highly efficient, specific and sensitive signal amplification of the DNA hairpins specifically on the membrane of the HER2+ cells in a background of HER2− cells and peripheral blood leukocytes, which remained almost non‐fluorescent. The results indicate that this system offers a new strategy that may be further developed toward an in vitro diagnostic platform for the sensitive and efficient detection of CTC.
Global impedance attenuation network for multistage OTAs driving a broad range of load capacitor
Authors: Aminzadeh Hamed , Valinezhad Mohammad Mahdi , Grasso Alfio Dario
Published: January 2020

Advanced multistage amplifiers suffer from load‐dependent stability issues, which limit the load capacitor range they can drive. In this work, the concept of global impedance attenuation (GIA) network is introduced to improve an amplifier's stability in the presence of significant load capacitor variations. Composed of multiple parallel resistor‐capacitor (RC) branches, the equivalent high‐frequency output impedance of gain stages is shaped by the GIA network such that a desired frequency spectrum is obtained over a wide range of load capacitor. The parasitic poles at the output of the gain stages are nullified by the proposed network, thereby simplifying the amplifier's transfer function and reducing the minimum load capacitor it can drive. The idea is applied to design a three‐stage operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with cascode global impedance attenuation (CGIA). Small‐signal analysis shows that the OTA is stable regardless of the load capacitor, and it can drive very small to ultra‐large load capacitors. This feature is verified by the post‐layout simulations of a CGIA amplifier in 0.18‐μm complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The core occupies a die area of 0.0053 mm2 while consuming a static current of 10.97 μA from 1.8‐V voltage supply. The unity‐feedback configuration is unconditionally stable for any load capacitor higher than 10 pF. To the best of our knowledge, this corresponds to the widest range of load capacitance reported for prior‐art three‐stage amplifiers.
Coverage and connectivity aware critical target monitoring for wireless sensor networks: Novel NSGA‐II–based approach
Authors: Harizan Subash , Kuila Pratyay
Published: January 2020

As sensor nodes have limited sensing and transmission capability, their efficient deployment takes an important role in proper monitoring of the critical targets in various applications of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The key issues that need to be taken care during deployment are the lesser number of deployed sensors, coverage of the targets, and connectivity between the sensor nodes. In this paper, we have proposed NSGA‐II with modified dominance to solve the node deployment problem with the aforementioned three conflicting objectives. The conventional domination method is modified for better performance of the NSGA‐II. An intelligent representation of chromosome is provided. Three conflicting objectives are derived to evaluate the chromosomes. Extensive simulation on the proposed algorithm and the statistical test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc analysis are performed.
Share strategies with professors to support students with autism
Authors: Santhanam Siva priya
Published: January 2020

Students with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder have begun to attend colleges and universities in high numbers in the last decade. These students often demonstrate an excellent ability to learn and have the curiosity and motivation for learning. However, they experience difficulties in college classrooms and face frustrations when they are unable to succeed. Although many students with ASD graduate from high school and pursue higher education, only one‐third of these students graduate from a four‐year university.
Learn how to effectively manage conflicts with supervisors
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: January 2020

The role of a midlevel professional has its challenges, including knowing how to effectively manage conflict with supervisors. Conflict with supervisors might stem from a lack of autonomy, differing or changing expectations, miscommunication, different leadership styles, philosophical differences, or failing to explain the rationale behind decisions, according to Marcy Louis, Associate Director of Campus Life and Student Development at Texas A&M University‐Commerce; and Anton Ward‐Zanotto, Associate Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct at the University of Washington. They spoke at the annual conference for the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor: Fine‐needle aspiration cytology findings of a rare soft tissue neoplasm
Authors: Kumari Neha , Anthony Michael L. , Durgapal Prashant , Joshi Prashant P. , Rajput Deepak , Singh Ashok
Published: January 2020

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumors (OFMTs) are rare tumors of uncertain origin and intermediate (rarely metastasizing) biologic potential, with characteristic morphology of an encapsulated tumor containing polygonal cells in an abundant fibromyxoid matrix surrounded by a peripheral layer of metaplastic lamellar bone. FNA cytology of OFMT has not been sufficiently reported and till date cytological features of only seven cases have been reported so far. We report another case of OFMT in a 55‐year‐old female presenting with longstanding swelling in thigh. On fine‐needle aspiration, a tumor with moderate cellularity and myxoid areas was seen; coupled with compatible radiological findings, a diagnosis of OFMT was suggested. Establishing a correct diagnosis is important as although OFMT is benign in nature, local recurrences or rarely distant metastasis have been seen of this tumor. Hence, a high degree of suspicion with radiological correlation is of utmost importance for identification of this entity.
Studies of athlete biological passport biomarkers and clinical parameters in male and female users of anabolic androgenic steroids and other doping agents
Authors: Börjesson Annica , Lehtihet Mikael , Andersson Alexander , Dahl Marja‐Liisa , Vicente Veronica , Ericsson Magnus , Ekström Lena
Published: January 2020

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and other performance enhancing substances can change over time, so there is a need to constantly update what substances are used and can be detected. Six women and 30 men anabolic androgenic steroid users were recruited who filled out an anonymous questionnaire about their use of performance enhancing substances during the past year. Sampling took place on a single occasion and included blood and urine collection. Our aim was to identify which doping agents can be detected in men and women self‐reporting AAS use. The first choice of substances differed between men (testosterone) and women (oxandrolone). The use of growth hormones was reported among men (10%) and women (50%). Growth hormone releasing factors/secretagogs were reported by about ~ 20% in both genders. Nandrolone was the most frequently detected anabolic androgenic steroid even in those who did not report use in the past year. Of the current male testosterone users, 82% exhibited testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratios of > 4. Men with current testosterone use displayed 4‐fold and 6‐fold higher median T/E, respectively, when compared with recent and previous testosterone users (P = 0.0001). Dermal testosterone use in women (n = 2) was not associated with a T/E ratio of > 4, but with supra‐physiological total serum testosterone concentrations. Changes in gonadotropins and hematological parameters were associated with the time of the last anabolic androgenic steroid intake in men, whereas in women these biomarkers were within the normal range. This highlights gender specific differences and indicates the need for additional biomarkers in female athletes.
Normal development in Ambystoma mexicanum: A complementary staging table for the skull based on Alizarin red S staining
Authors: Atkins Jade B. , Houle Laurent , Cantelon Alanna S. , Maddin Hillary C.
Published: January 2020

Background

As the role of Ambystoma mexicanum, or the Mexican axolotl, expands in research applications beyond its traditional use in studies of limb regeneration, a staging table that is more anatomically extensive is required. Here, we describe axolotl skull development as it relates to previously established developmental stages that were based on limb development.

Results

We find that most key developmental events in the skull correspond to these previously established stages, creating easily recognizable stages of axolotl throughout skull morphogenesis.

Conclusions

With this complementary staging table in hand, researchers can stage axolotl larvae when limb data are missing or incomplete, or when cranial data alone is available.
Reappraising plastid markers of the red algae for phylogenetic community ecology in the genomic era
Authors: Zhan Shing Hei , Shih Chun‐Chi , Liu Shao‐Lun
Published: January 2020

Selection of appropriate genetic markers to quantify phylogenetic diversity is crucial for community ecology studies. Yet, systematic evaluation of marker genes for this purpose is scarcely done. Recently, the combined effort of phycologists has produced a rich plastid genome resource with taxonomic representation spanning all of the major lineages of the red algae (Rhodophyta). In this proof‐of‐concept study, we leveraged this resource by developing and applying a phylogenomic strategy to seek candidate plastid markers suitable for phylogenetic community analysis. We ranked the core genes of 107 published plastid genomes based on various sequence‐derived properties and their tree distance to plastid genome phylogenies. The resulting ranking revealed that the most widely used marker, rbcL, is not necessarily the optimal marker, while other promising markers might have been overlooked. We designed and tested PCR primers for several candidate marker genes, and successfully amplified one of them, rpoC1, in a taxonomically broad set of red algal specimens. We suggest that our general marker identification methodology and the rpoC1 primers will be useful to the phycological community for investigating the biodiversity and community ecology of the red algae.
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) plant detection using mobile cameras
Authors: Ozcan Koray , Sharma Anuj , Bradbury Steven P. , Schweitzer Dana , Blader Teresa , Blodgett Sue
Published: January 2020

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) are host plants of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). It is important to detect milkweed plant locations to assess the status and trends of monarch habitat in support of monarch conservation programs. In this paper, we describe autonomous detection of milkweed plants using cameras mounted to vehicles. For detection, we used both aggregated channel features (ACF) for running the detectors on embedded computing platforms with central processing unit and faster region‐based convolutional neural network (Faster R‐CNN) with a ResNet architecture‐based detector that is suitable for graphics processing unit optimized processing. The ACF‐based model produced 0.89 mean average precision (mAP) on the training dataset and 0.29 mAP on the test dataset, whereas the ResNet‐based Faster R‐CNN model provided 0.98 mAP on training and 0.44 mAP on the test dataset. The detections were used to calculate approximate densities of milkweed plants in geo‐referenced locations based on global positioning system point correspondences of recorded images. Probability‐of‐count distributions are compared for the actual milkweed plant locations near roadsides. This is one of the first examples of using automated milkweed plant detection and density mapping using a vehicle‐mounted camera.
Increasing ibuprofen degradation in constructed wetlands by bioaugmentation with gravel containing biofilms of an ibuprofen‐degrading Sphingobium yanoikuyae
Authors: Balciunas Eduardo Marcos , Kappelmeyer Uwe , Harms Hauke , Heipieper Hermann J.
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of ibuprofen in laboratory scale constructed wetlands. Four (planted and unplanted) laboratory‐scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands were supplemented with ibuprofen in order to elucidate (i) the role of plants on ibuprofen removal and (ii) to evaluate the removal performance of a bioaugmented lab scale wetland. The planted systems showed higher ibuprofen removal efficiency than an unplanted one. The system planted with Juncus effusus was found to have a higher removal rate than the system planted with Phalaris arundinacea. The highest removal rate of ibuprofen was found after inoculation of gravel previously loaded with a newly isolated ibuprofen‐degrading bacterium identified as Sphingobium yanoikuyae. This experiment showed that more than 80 days of CW community adaptation for ibuprofen treatment could be superseded by bioaugmentation with this bacterial isolate.
Experiential learning, market partnerships bolster small college's success
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: January 2020

Colby‐Sawyer College is a small, liberal arts and sciences school nestled in New Hampshire's Dartmouth‐Lake Sunapee region. In 2017, it reported total enrollment of 1,043 students: 989 at the undergraduate level, 13 in graduate programs, and 41 online students.
Partner with Disability Services to educate prospective students about available services
Authors: Hamblet Elizabeth C.
Published: January 2020

Research shows that many students who received disability accommodations in high school do not register for them in college. Their reasons include not knowing accommodations are available or where to go to register, and a sense of stigma. To help bridge the knowledge gap and make prospective students feel comfortable, partner with the Disability Services Office. Educating prospective students can help you recruit them, and their use of services could help you retain them once they enroll.
Neue Werkstoffe für die Mikroelektronik
Authors: Böttger Ulrich
Published: January 2020

Ob Mikrofon oder Tintenstrahlkopf: Von ferroelektrischen Bauelementen profitieren zahlreiche Anwendungen. Die Ingenieurwissenschaften versprechen sich viel von neuartigen und umweltverträglicheren Schichten auf der Basis von Hafnium‐ und Zirkonoxid. Die Grundlagenforschung dazu war bisher mit einigen Überraschungen verbunden.
Early Cretaceous to Eocene magmatic records in Ladakh arc: Constraints from U–Pb ages of Deosai volcanics, northern Pakistan
Authors: Jadoon Umair Khan , Ding Lin , Baral Upendra , Qasim Muhammad
Published: January 2020

This research provides a detailed U–Pb geochronological record of Deosai volcanics in the western Himalaya. The volcanics comprise basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite and are part of the Kohistan–Ladakh arc, exposed east of the Nanga Parbat–Haramosh Massif. Based on the U–Pb ages, this volcanic suite is classified into three chronostratigraphic units: (a) Chota Pani volcanics, (b) Shatung Nala volcanics, and (c) Bara Pani volcanics, with ages ranging between 123–115, 86–63, and 48–46 Ma, respectively. This study suggests that the Chota Pani volcanics are arc‐related, as their ages coincide well with the timing of initiation of the Kohistan–Ladakh arc. The Shatung Nala volcanics may have formed as a result of a collision between Kohistan–Ladakh arc and Karakoram Block (Eurasian Plate). Moreover, the U–Pb cluster age of Bara Pani volcanics coincides with the initial collision time between Indian and Eurasian plates in the western Himalaya, which strongly suggests its emplacement associated with the continental–continental collision. In addition, the dated granitic samples, yielding 120.9 ± 4.5, 80.2 ± 1.4, 50.42 ± 0.55, and 45.24 ± 0.64 Ma ages, provide further support that the emplacement of Deosai volcanic rocks took place as a consequence of closure of the northern and southern sutures, respectively.
Immune Checkpoint Axes Are Dysregulated in Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis
Authors: Li Wei , Xia Ying , Yang Jing , Guo Haitao , Sun Guoqing , Sanyal Arun J. , Shah Vijay H. , Lou Yongliang , Zheng Xiaoqun , Chalasani Naga , Yu Qigui
Published: January 2020

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a severe inflammatory liver disease that develops in some heavy drinkers. The immune system in patients with AH is hyperactive and yet dysfunctional. Here, we investigated whether this immune‐dysregulated state is related to the alcoholic impact on immune checkpoints (ICPs). We used multiplex immunoassays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to quantify plasma levels of 18 soluble ICPs (sICPs) from 81 patients with AH, 65 heavy drinkers without liver diseases (HDCs), and 39 healthy controls (HCs) at baseline, 33 patients with AH and 32 HDCs at 6‐month follow‐up, and 18 patients with AH and 29 HDCs at 12‐month follow‐up. We demonstrated that baseline levels of 6 sICPs (soluble T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 [sTIM‐3], soluble cluster of differentiation [sCD]27, sCD40, soluble Toll‐like receptor‐2 [sTLR‐2], soluble herpesvirus entry mediator [sHVEM], and soluble lymphotoxin‐like inducible protein that competes with glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry on T cells [sLIGHT]) were up‐regulated, while 11 sICPs (soluble B‐ and T‐lymphocyte attenuator [sBTLA], sCD160, soluble cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 [sCTLA‐4], soluble lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 [sLAG‐3], soluble programmed death 1 [sPD‐1], sPD ligand 1 [sPD‐L1], sCD28, soluble glucocorticoid‐induced tumor necrosis factor receptor‐related protein [sGITR], sGITR ligand [sGITRL], sCD80, and inducible T‐cell costimulator [sICOS]) were down‐regulated in patients with AH compared to HDCs. The up‐regulated sICPs except sLIGHT and down‐regulated sCD80, sCD160, sCTLA‐4, and sLAG‐3 correlated positively or negatively with AH disease severity, bacterial translocation, and inflammatory factors. At follow‐up, abstinent patients with AH still had higher levels of several sICPs compared to HDCs. We also compared expression of 10 membrane‐bound ICPs (mICPs) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with AH and HCs by flow cytometry and found that several mICPs were dysregulated on blood cells from patients with AH. The function and regulation of sICPs and mICPs were studied using PBMCs from patients with AH and HCs. Recombinant sHVEM affected tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interferon‐γ production by T cells from patients with AH and HCs. Conclusion: Both sICPs and mICPs were dysregulated in patients with AH, and alcohol abstinence did not fully reverse these abnormalities. The HVEM axis plays a role in regulating T‐cell function in patients with AH.
A systematic review on ear anthropometry and its industrial design applications
Authors: Fu Fang , Luximon Yan
Published: January 2020

Ergonomics is extensively studied to provide a scientific understanding of humans’ physical and cognitive use of products and workplaces. Ergonomics of the external ear is crucial for the industrial design of various ear‐related products. For this review, 50 articles regarding ear anthropometry and its applications in product design that met determined inclusion criteria were selected after searching four databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct. Previous anthropometric information acquired with traditional measurement, photogrammetric method, and three dimensional (3D) anthropometric techniques (photogrammetry, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, 3D scanning, and ear impression). Those studies demonstrated that demographic factors, including age, ethnicity, gender, and ear symmetry, should be considered when designing for specific markets. Ear sizes kept growth throughout the entire lifetime. Results also showed that males had larger ear sizes than females in most populations. Most of linear, area, and ratio dimensions showed a good symmetry between left and right ears, while angular dimensions tended to be nonsymmetric. Differences in anthropometric findings existed among Asian, Western, and African populations. Hence, there is a need to establish more universal anthropometric databases for different ethnicities to meet the development of product form and function. Furthermore, fit and comfort perception was important to be examined for product design, which can be studied through questionnaire on comfort perception, analysis online comments of consumers, and virtual fit analysis. With a comprehensive presentation of literature, future research opportunities were inspired from the perspective of industrial design.
Risk of specific types of ovarian cancer after borderline ovarian tumors in Denmark: A nationwide study
Authors: Hannibal Charlotte G. , Frederiksen Kirsten , Vang Russell , Kurman Robert J. , Kjaer Susanne K.
Published: January 2020

Population‐based evidence regarding risk of ovarian cancer after a borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) is sparse. We aimed to examine the incidence of specific types of ovarian cancer in women with serous or mucinous BOTs in a nationwide cohort study with up to 36 years of follow‐up. Using the nationwide Danish Pathology Data Bank, we identified 4,281 women with a BOT (2,058 serous BOTs and 2,223 mucinous BOTs) in Denmark during 1978–2012. We computed standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) to compare the incidence of ovarian cancer among women with BOTs compared to general population rates. We found that a serous BOT was especially and strongly associated with subsequent serous ovarian cancer (SIR = 9.2; 95% CI: 6.8–12.2), and that a mucinous BOT was strongly related to mucinous ovarian cancer (SIR = 18.6; 95% CI: 10.8–29.8). The SIRs remained elevated ≥10 years after a serous BOT and up to 5–9 years after a mucinous BOT. The increased incidence of serous ovarian cancer in women with a serous BOT was mostly pronounced in women <50 years at the serous BOT diagnosis. In conclusion, women with a serous BOT experience long‐term increased incidence of serous ovarian cancer, and women with a mucinous BOT have long‐term elevated incidence of mucinous ovarian cancer compared to the general population. This is the first population‐based study to show compelling evidence of the histo‐specific increased risk of ovarian cancer following specific types of BOTs. Thus, these results are supportive of the hypothesis that BOTs may be precursor lesions to carcinomas of the corresponding histologic type.
System Engineering and Dependability: Methodology of Model Synchronization between System Architecture Models and Risk Analysis
Authors: Legendre Anthony , Lanusse Agnès , Rauzy Antoine
Published: January 2020

Modern industry faces new challenges making classical organization in “disciplinary silos” ill‐adapted to demands for complex and evolving systems. We advocate promoting inter‐team communication in a “Multidisciplinary Organization” can manage complexity better: it allows early problem discovery, offers solutions to more complex issues, and favors early solution emergence. Indeed the transition to such organization requires new collaborative processes and methods to integrate various engineering fields earlier and along the development cycle. In this paper, we propose a collaborative approach to set‐up adapted modeling and methodological practices in the enterprise. It leverages the rising interest for Model‐Based Systems Engineering and related modeling technologies to offer a new approach to different engineering discipline model synchronization to support their collaboration. This approach considers the studied system context (under several viewpoints), applied processes, applied methods, and viewpoints produced by engineers. We illustrate it by creating a collaboration framework between two particular engineering fields: system architecture design and avionics applicative safety analysis at different life cycle stages.
“How Emotional Do I Make It?”: Making a Stance in Multimodal Compositions
Authors: Rowsell Jennifer
Published: January 2020

For literacy educators, there is a need to understand students’ pathways into composition and mediate contemporary, multimodal compositional pathways with more academic ones. In an effort to mediate between middle and high school students’ schooling and curricular demands and their everyday interests and investments in media and communicational systems, the author offers educators a way to frame composition that attends to the potential and affordances of multiple modes of expression and representation. Combining affect theory with Arendt's writings on thinking and embodiment, the author presents a research study with adolescents who made stances in selfies, self‐portraits, and written artist statements that are indicative of new rhetorical and compositional practices. Stance, as a construct in modern compositions, represents the ways that young people interface with ideas and experiences within the world that materialize in and animate their designs. Stance provides young people with a space to tell the stories they want to tell through media and mediums of their choosing.
Fast multipole method for three‐dimensional systems with periodic boundary condition in two directions
Authors: Yoshii Noriyuki , Andoh Yoshimichi , Okazaki Susumu
Published: January 2020

We derived a new expression for the electrostatic interaction of three‐dimensional charge‐neutral systems with two‐dimensional periodic boundary conditions (slab geometry) using a fast multipole method (FMM). Contributions from all the image cells are expressed as a sum of real and reciprocal space terms, and a self‐interaction term. The reciprocal space contribution consists of two parts: zero and nonzero terms of the absolute value of the reciprocal lattice vector. To test the new expressions, electrostatic interactions were calculated for a randomly placed charge distribution in a cubic box and liquid water produced by molecular dynamics calculation. The accuracy could be controlled by the degree of expansion of the FMM. In the present expression, the computational complexity of the electrostatic interaction of N‐particle systems is order N, which is superior to that of the conventional two‐dimensional periodic Ewald method for a slab geometry and the particle mesh Ewald method with a large empty space at an interface of the unit cell. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anisotropic charge carrier transport of optoelectronic functional selenium‐containing organic semiconductor materials
Authors: Zheng Daoyuan , Guo Yurong , Zhang Mingxing , Feng Xia , Zhu Lina , Qiu Lijuan , Jin Xiaoning , Zhao Guangjiu
Published: January 2020

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) materials are currently under intense investigation because of their potential applications such as organic field‐effect transistors, organic photovoltaic devices, and organic light‐emitting diodes. Inspired by the selenization strategy can promote anisotropic charge carrier migration, and selenium‐containing compounds have been proved to be promising materials as OSCs both for hole and electron transfer. Herein, we now explore the anisotropic transport properties of the series of selenium‐containing compounds. For the compound containing SeSe bond, the SeSe bond will break when attaching an electron, thus those compounds cannot act as n‐type OSCs. About the different isomer compounds with conjugated structure, the charge transfer will be affected by the stacking of the conjugated structures. The analysis of chemical structure and charge transfer property indicates that Se‐containing materials are promising high‐performance OSCs and might be used as p‐type, n‐type, or ambipolar OSCs. Furthermore, the symmetry of the selenium‐containing OSCs will affect the type of OSCs. In addition, there is no direct relationship between the R groups with their performance, whether it or not as p‐type OSCs or n‐types. This work demonstrates the relationship between the optoelectronic function and structure of selenium‐containing OSCs materials and hence paves the way to design and improve optoelectronic function of OSCs materials.