bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Solid‐Phase Synthesis of an Fe‐N‐C Electrocatalyst for High‐Power Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Liu Qingtao , Liu Xiaofang , Zheng Lirong , Shui Jianglan
Published: December 2017

The environmentally friendly synthesis of highly active Fe‐N‐C electrocatalysts for proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is desirable but remains challenging. A simple and scalable method is presented to fabricate FeII‐doped ZIF‐8, which can be further pyrolyzed into Fe‐N‐C with 3 wt % of Fe exclusively in Fe‐N4 active moieties. Significantly, this Fe‐N‐C derived acidic PEMFC exhibits an unprecedented current density of 1.65 A cm−2 at 0.6 V and the highest power density of 1.14 W cm−2 compared with previously reported NPMCs. The excellent PEMFC performance can be attributed to the densely and atomically dispersed Fe‐N4 active moieties on the small and uniform catalyst nanoparticles.
Selective Nascent Polymer Catch‐and‐Release Enables Scalable Isolation of Multi‐Kilobase Single‐Stranded DNA
Authors: Krieg Elisha , Shih William M.
Published: December 2017

Scalable methods currently are lacking for isolation of long ssDNA, an important material for numerous biotechnological applications. Conventional biomolecule purification strategies achieve target capture using solid supports, which are limited in scale and susceptible to contamination owing to nonspecific adsorption and desorption on the substrate surface. We herein disclose selective nascent polymer catch and release (SNAPCAR), a method that utilizes the reactivity of growing poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylate) chains to capture acrylamide‐labeled molecules in free solution. The copolymer acts as a stimuli‐responsive anchor that can be precipitated on demand to pull down the target from solution. SNAPCAR enabled scalable isolation of multi‐kilobase ssDNA with high purity and 50–70 % yield. The ssDNA products were used to fold various DNA origami. SNAPCAR‐produced ssDNA will expand the scope of applications in nanotechnology, gene editing, and DNA library construction.
Structure Re‐determination and Superconductivity Observation of Bulk 1T MoS2
Authors: Fang Yuqiang , Pan Jie , He Jianqiao , Luo Ruichun , Wang Dong , Che Xiangli , Bu Kejun , Zhao Wei , Liu Pan , Mu Gang , Zhang Hui , Lin Tianquan , Huang Fuqiang
Published: December 2017

2H MoS2 has been intensively studied because of its layer‐dependent electronic structures and novel physical properties. Though the metastable 1T MoS2 with a [MoS6] octahedron was observed over the microscopic area, the true crystal structure of 1T phase has not been strictly determined. Moreover, the true physical properties have not been demonstrated from experiments owing to the challenge for the preparation of pure 1T MoS2 crystals. 1T MoS2 single crystals were successfully synthesized and the crystal structure of 1T MoS2 re‐determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. 1T MoS2 crystallizes in the space group P
m1 with a cell of a=b=3.190(3) Å and c=5.945(6) Å. The individual MoS2 layer consists of MoS6 octahedra sharing edges with each other. More surprisingly, the bulk 1T MoS2 crystals undergo a superconducting transition of Tc=4 K, which is the first observation of superconductivity in pure 1T MoS2 phase.
Cross‐Coupling of Sodium Sulfinates with Aryl, Heteroaryl, and Vinyl Halides by Nickel/Photoredox Dual Catalysis
Authors: Yue Huifeng , Zhu Chen , Rueping Magnus
Published: December 2017

An efficient photoredox/nickel catalyzed sulfonylation reaction of aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl halides has been achieved for the first time. This newly developed sulfonylation protocol provides a versatile method for the synthesis of diverse aromatic sulfones at room temperature and shows excellent functional group tolerance. The electrophilic coupling partners are not limited to aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl bromides and iodides, but also includes less reactive aryl chlorides as suitable substrates for this transformation.
Esmaeilzadeh–Roshanfekr equation of state coupled with CPA model: Application in viscosity modeling
Authors: Bakhtyari Ali , Makarem Mohammad Amin , Esmaeilzadeh Feridun
Published: December 2017

The present study aims to evaluate the performance of the cubic plus association model for the estimation of physical properties of associating fluids. In this regard, this model with different physical terms was evaluated. Soave–Redlich–Kwong, Peng–Robinson, Patel–Teja, and Esmaeilzadeh–Roshanfekr cubic equations were utilized as the physical contribution in the model. This was the first study to evaluate 3‐parameter equations such as Patel–Teja and Esmaeilzadeh–Roshanfekr. Experimental vapor pressure and saturated liquid molar densities were employed to obtain the parameters of pure components. All the models were capable of representing the data. However, new cubic plus association equations of states showed better performance due to the presence of an additional fitting parameter. These parameters were then used to calculate liquid viscosity data of associating fluids in a broad range of temperature and pressure. Free volume and friction theories were applied for this purpose. All the models were successful in estimation of viscosity data. However, friction models managed to obtain less error. Maximum observed error, which was less than 5%, was obtained in estimation of ethylene glycol viscosity by the free volume theory. Consequently, cubic plus association models with different physical terms can precisely estimate physical properties of highly associating fluids. Besides, the application of 3‐parameter equations for the physical contribution leads to better estimations in both saturated liquid densities and liquid viscosities.
Effect of resveratrol and pterostilbene on aging and longevity
Authors: Li Yi‐Rong , Li Shiming , Lin Chi‐Chien
Published: December 2017

Over the past years, several studies have found that foods rich in polyphenols protect against age‐related disease, such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension and Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol and pterostilbene, the polyphenol found in grape and blueberries, have beneficial effects as anti‐aging compounds through modulating the hallmarks of aging, including oxidative damage, inflammation, telomere attrition and cell senescence. In this review, we discuss the relationship between resveratrol and pterostilbene and possible aging biomarker, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and high‐calorie diets. Moreover, we also discuss the positive effect of resveratrol and pterostilbene on lifespan, aged‐related disease, and health maintenance. Furthermore, we summarize a variety of important mechanisms modulated by resveratrol and pterostilbene possibly involved in attenuating age‐associated disorders. Overall, we describe resveratrol and pterostilbene potential for prevention or treatment of several age‐related diseases by modulating age‐related mechanisms. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(1):69–82, 2018
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia secondary to myeloproliferative neoplasms or after lenalidomide exposure
Authors: Alhuraiji Ahmad , Naqvi Kiran , Huh Yang O. , Ho Coty , Verstovsek Srdan , Bose Prithviraj
Published: December 2017

Key Clinical Message

Philadelphia‐negative (Ph−) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) do rarely transform to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While causality is difficult to establish, a few cases of ALL arising after exposure to lenalidomide for registered indications (multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome with 5q deletion) have been described in the literature.
Differential Modulating Effect of MoS2 on Amyloid Peptide Assemblies
Authors: Wang Jie , Liu Lei , Ge Daohan , Zhang Hongxing , Feng Yonghai , Zhang Yibang , Chen Menglin , Dong Mingdong
Published: December 2017

The abnormal fibrillogenesis of amyloid peptides such as amyloid fibril and senior amyloid plaques, is associated with the pathogenesis of many amyloid diseases. Hence, modulation of amyloid assemblies is related to the possible pathogenesis of some diseases. Some two‐dimensional nanomaterials, that is, graphene oxide, tungsten disulfide, exhibit strong modulation effects on the amyloid fibrillogenesis. Herein, the modulation effect of molybdenum disulfide on two amyloid peptide assemblies based on the label‐free techniques is presented, including quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), AFM, and CD spectroscopy. MoS2 presents different modulating effects on the assembly of amyloid‐β peptide (33–42) [Aβ (33–42)] and amylin (20–29), mainly owing to the distinct affinity between amyloid peptides and MoS2. This is to our knowledge the first report of MoS2 as a modulator for amyloid aggregation. It enriches the variety of 2D nanomodulators of amyloid fibrillogenesis and explains the mechanism for the self‐assembly of amyloid peptides, and expands the applications of MoS2 in biology.
Enantioselective recognition of carboxylic acids by novel fluorescent triazine‐based thiazoles
Authors: Halay Erkan , Bozkurt Selahattin
Published: December 2017

Hydrogen bonding and π‐π interactions take special part in the enantioselectivity task. In this regard, because of having both hydrogen acceptor and hydrogen donor groups, melamine derivatives become more of an issue for enantioselectivity. In the light of such information, triazine‐based chiral, fluorescence active novel thiazole derivatives L1 and L2 were designed and synthesized from (S)‐(−)‐2‐amino‐1‐butanol and (1S,2R)‐(+)‐2‐amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol. The structural establishment of these compounds was made by spectroscopic methods such as FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR. While the solution of these compounds in DMSO did not show any fluorescence emission, it was observed that the emission increased 44‐fold for L1 and 55‐fold for L2 in 95% water, similar to the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characterized compounds. In this regard, enantioselective capabilities of these compounds against carboxylic acids were tested, and in experiments carried out at a ratio of 40/60 DMSO/H2O, it was determined that R‐2ClMA increased the fluorescence emission of L1 chiral receptor by 2.59 times compared to S‐isomer.
Exploring Structure–Activity Relationships with Three‐Dimensional Matched Molecular Pairs—A Review
Authors: Ehmki Emanuel S. R. , Rarey Matthias
Published: December 2017

A matched molecular pair (MMP) consists of two small molecules that differ by a few atoms only. The minor structural difference between the molecules allows a detailed analysis of changes in properties. Three‐dimensional (3D) MMPs extend the concept of chemical similarity by spatial similarity. Conformations must be generated, and superimpositions have to be calculated. The additional complexity and uncertainty as well as the smaller amount of available experimental data substantially complicates the derivation of models. Nonetheless, there are some benefits that make the transition worthwhile. The 3D concept gives detailed insight into mechanisms behind several methods classically used by the 2D MMP approach. It can help to analyze disrupted series of structure–activity relationships or extend the 2D MMP concept with scaffold hopping. One of the most powerful features is the high confidence structure–activity relationship transfer between series of analogues. Several research groups have approached the problem from different directions. The models vary especially in the 3D similarity measure used and complexity of the applied descriptor selected or designed. Nonetheless, all approaches have increased the amount of information available by incorporating 3D structural information.
Improving bone health in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy: Results of a randomized phase 2 trial
Authors: Alibhai Shabbir M.H. , Breunis Henriette , Timilshina Narhari , Hamidi Maryam S. , Cheung Angela M. , Tomlinson George A. , Manokumar Tharsika , Samadi Osai , Sandoval Joanna , Durbano Sara , Warde Padraig , Jones Jennifer M.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Strategies to improve bone health care in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are not consistently implemented. The authors conducted a phase 2 randomized controlled trial of 2 education‐based models‐of‐care interventions to determine their feasibility and ability to improve bone health care.

METHODS

A single‐center parallel‐group randomized controlled trial of men with prostate cancer who were receiving ADT was performed. Participants were randomized 1:1:1 to 1) a patient bone health pamphlet and brief recommendations for their family physician (BHP+FP); 2) a BHP and support from a bone health care coordinator (BHP+BHCC); or 3) usual care. The primary efficacy outcome was receipt of a bone mineral density (BMD) test within 6 months. Secondary efficacy outcomes included guideline‐appropriate calcium and vitamin D use and bisphosphonate prescriptions for men at high fracture risk. Feasibility endpoints included recruitment, retention, satisfaction, contamination, and outcome capture. The main analysis used logistic regression with a 1‐sided P of .10. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT02043236).

RESULTS

A total of 119 men were recruited. The BHP+BHCC strategy was associated with a greater percentage of men undergoing a BMD test compared with the usual‐care group (78% vs 36%; P<.001). BMD ordering also was found to be increased with the BHP+FP strategy (58% vs 36%; P = .047). Both strategies were associated with higher percentages of patients using calcium and vitamin D, but only the BHP+FP arm was statistically significant (P = .039). No men were detected to be at high fracture risk. All but one feasibility endpoint was met.

CONCLUSIONS

Educational strategies to improve bone health care appear feasible and are associated with improved BMD ordering in men receiving ADT. Cancer 2018;124:1132‐40. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of Activated Porous Biocarbons with a High Nitrogen Content for CO2 Capture
Authors: Singh Mr. Gurwinder , Lakhi Kripal S. , Park Dae‐Hwan , Srivastava Prashant , Naidu Ravi , Vinu Ajayan
Published: December 2017

A facile one‐pot synthesis of porous activated biocarbons with a high nitrogen content (NEPBs) through a simple in‐situ self‐assembly of Arundo donax and urea combined with a solid state activation using KOH/ZnCl2 is presented. NEPBs show dominant microporous character and possess a high nitrogen content in the form of pyridinic‐N and pyrrolic‐N and a high specific surface area. The nitrogen content of NEPBs was determined to be in the range of 7.74–19.15%, which was much higher than that of biocarbon derived from non‐activated biomass (1.12%). We also demonstrate that the nitrogen content of NEPBs can easily be tuned by adjusting the impregnation ratios of urea and KOH/ZnCl2. The NEPBs show impressively high CO2 adsorption capacities of 4.8 mmol g−1 at 0 °C/1 bar and 14.1 mmol g−1 at 0 °C/30 bar. A high value of the isosteric heat of adsorption is observed (39 kJ mol−1), confirming the role of nitrogen to enhance the CO2 adsorption capacities through a strong adsorbent‐adsorbate interaction. It is anticipated that the strategy presented here could be extended for the generation of a series of other biomass‐based porous carbon materials with much higher nitrogen contents and controlled textural properties for applications including energy storage and conversion and carbon capture.
Gaussian Curvature and Gyroscopes
Authors: Cox Graham , Levi Mark
Published: December 2017

We relate Gaussian curvature to the gyroscopic force, thus giving a mechanical interpretation of the former and a geometrical interpretation of the latter. We do so by considering the motion of a spinning disk constrained to be tangent to a curved surface. It is shown that the spin gives rise to a force on the disk that is equal to the magnetic force on a point charge moving in a magnetic field normal to the surface, of magnitude equal to the Gaussian curvature, and of charge equal to the disk's axial spin. In a special case, this demonstrates that the precession of Lagrange's top is due to the curvature of a sphere determined by the parameters of the top. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A PSO‐based task scheduling algorithm improved using a load‐balancing technique for the cloud computing environment
Authors: Ebadifard Fatemeh , Babamir Seyed Morteza
Published: December 2017

Dynamic on‐demand resource provisioning is one of the primary goals of the cloud computing task scheduling process. Task scheduling is a nondeterministic polynomial time (NP)‐hard problem and is responsible for assigning tasks to virtual machines (VMs) in a way that increases the resource utilization and performance, reduces response time, and keeps the whole system balanced. In this paper, we present a static task scheduling method based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm where the tasks are assumed to be non‐preemptive and independent. We have improved the performance of the basic PSO method using a load‐balancing technique. We have compared our proposed method with round robin (RR) task scheduling, improved PSO task scheduling and a load‐balancing technique. The simulation results show that our method outperforms these algorithms by an increase of resource utilization of 22% and a decrease of makespan by 33%, compared with the basic PSO algorithm. The results illustrate that our proposed method converges to the near optimal solution faster than the basic PSO algorithm and is more efficacious with more tasks.
Growth at Room Temperature and Investigation of Physicochemical Characteristics of New Semi‐Organic BaxCa1‐xC4H4O4 (x = 0.2, 04, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8) Crystals
Authors: Christy D. S. , Mahadevan C. K. , Sahaya Shajan X.
Published: December 2017

Semi‐organic single crystals of barium ‐ calcium succinate have been grown by the slow evaporation solution growth technique for the first time with reasonable size. It illustrate like a routine growth methodologies and characterization but many applications demand crystals with greater flexibility and it can able to control and alter the properties of the single crystal. One of the useful approaches is to prepare hybrid crystals, their properties are different from the single component crystals. In this context the present work is considered. Crystal structure, chemical composition and thermal stability of the five grown crystals have been determined by carrying out single crystal X‐ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopic, atomic absorption spectroscopic and thermogravimetric analyses. The grown crystals have been characterized optically, mechanically and electrically by carrying out optical transmittance, photoluminescence, second harmonic generation efficiency, microhardness and electrical (both AC and DC) measurements. Results obtained in the present study indicate the possibility of growing single phased mixed crystals with the end members being non‐isomorphous and with tuned thermal, optical, mechanical and electrical properties.
Morphology‐Controlled Preparation of α‐Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate from Phosphogypsum by Semi‐Liquid Method
Authors: Mi Yang , Chen Deyu , He Yulong , Wang Shuzhou
Published: December 2017

Phosphogypsum (PG), a by‐product of phosphoric acid industry, causes environmental issues. In this paper, PG was effectively transformed into alpha‐calcium sulfate hemihydrate (ɑ‐CSH) via a semi‐liquid method. The phase evolution and the effects of different organic acids and pH values on crystal morphology of the α‐CSH were investigated by SEM, XRD and EDS. The properties of the prepared α‐CSH with different aspect ratio were also compared. The results indicate that PG can be successfully transformed into α‐CSH by the semi‐liquid method at 140 °C for 3.0 h. The morphology of the produced α‐CSH is significantly influenced by the concentrations of organic acid and pH value. α‐CSH crystal with well‐morphology is obtained under the condition of 0.1 wt.% maleic acid and pH = 7.0. The obtained α‐CSH with uniform particle size has the aspect ratio of 1.2. The 2 h and 3 d bending/compressive strengths of the hardened paste prepared from the α‐CSH reach 6.4/20.6 MPa and 10.5/43.7 MPa respectively, which are comparable to those of the commercial α‐CSH. Moreover, the lower aspect ratio of ɑ‐CSH results in more compact microstructure and higher mechanical strengths of the hardened paste.
Efficient Yttrium(III) Chloride‐Treated TiO2 Electron Transfer Layers for Performance‐Improved and Hysteresis‐Less Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Minghua , Huan Yahuan , Yan Xiaoqin , Kang Zhuo , Guo Yan , Li Yong , Liao Xinqin , Zhang Ruxiao , Zhang Yue
Published: December 2017

Hybrid organic–inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells have attracted widespread attention, owing to their high performance, and have undergone rapid development. In perovskite solar cells, the charge transfer layer plays an important role for separating and transferring photogenerated carriers. In this work, an efficient YCl3‐treated TiO2 electron transfer layer (ETL) is used to fabricate perovskite solar cells with enhanced photovoltaic performance and less hysteresis. The YCl3‐treated TiO2 layers bring about an upward shift of the conduction band minimum (ECBM), which results in a better energy level alignment for photogenerated electron transfer and extraction from the perovskite into the TiO2 layer. After optimization, perovskite solar cells based on the YCl3‐treated TiO2 layers achieve a maximum power conversion efficiency of about 19.99 % (19.29 % at forward scan) and a steady‐state power output of about 19.6 %. Steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements and impedance spectroscopy are carried out to investigate the charge transfer and recombination dynamics between the perovskite and the TiO2 electron transfer layer interface. The improved perovskite/TiO2 ETL interface with YCl3 treatment is found to separate and extract photogenerated charge rapidly and suppress recombination effectively, which leads to the improved performance.
Why georeferencing matters: Introducing a practical protocol to prepare species occurrence records for spatial analysis
Authors: Bloom Trevor D. S. , Flower Aquila , DeChaine Eric G.
Published: December 2017

Species Distribution Models (SDMs) are widely used to understand environmental controls on species’ ranges and to forecast species range shifts in response to climatic changes. The quality of input data is crucial determinant of the model's accuracy. While museum records can be useful sources of presence data for many species, they do not always include accurate geographic coordinates. Therefore, actual locations must be verified through the process of georeferencing. We present a practical, standardized manual georeferencing method (the Spatial Analysis Georeferencing Accuracy (SAGA) protocol) to classify the spatial resolution of museum records specifically for building improved SDMs. We used the high‐elevation plant Saxifraga austromontana Wiegand (Saxifragaceae) as a case study to test the effect of using this protocol when developing an SDM. In MAXENT, we generated and compared SDMs using a comprehensive occurrence dataset that had undergone three different levels of georeferencing: (1) trained using all publicly available herbarium records of the species, minus outliers (2) trained using herbarium records claimed to be previously georeferenced, and (3) trained using herbarium records that we have manually georeferenced to a ≤ 1‐km resolution using the SAGA protocol. Model predictions of suitable habitat for S. austromontana differed greatly depending on georeferencing level. The SDMs fitted with presence locations georeferenced using SAGA outperformed all others. Differences among models were exacerbated for future distribution predictions. Under rapid climate change, accurately forecasting the response of species becomes increasingly important. Failure to georeference location data and cull inaccurate samples leads to erroneous model output, limiting the utility of spatial analyses. We present a simple, standardized georeferencing method to be adopted by curators, ecologists, and modelers to improve the geographic accuracy of museum records and SDM predictions.
Why does oriental arborvitae grow better when mixed with black locust: Insight on nutrient cycling?
Authors: Chen Xuedong , Tang Ming , Zhang Xinlu , Hamel Chantal , Li Wei , Sheng Min
Published: December 2017

To identify why tree growth differs by afforestation type is a matter of prime concern in forestry. A study was conducted to determine why oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) grows better in the presence of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) than in monoculture. Different types of stands (i.e., monocultures and mixture of black locust and oriental arborvitae, and native grassland as a control) were selected in the Loess Plateau, China. The height and diameter at breast height of each tree species were measured, and soil, shoot, and root samples were sampled. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) attributes, shoot and root nutrient status, height and diameter of black locust were not influenced by the presence of oriental arborvitae. For oriental arborvitae, however, growing in mixture increased height and diameter and reduced shoot Mn, Ca, and Mg contents,AMfungal spore density, and colonization rate. Major changes in soil properties also occurred, primarily in soil water,NO3‐N, and available K levels and in soil enzyme activity. The increase in soil water, N, and K availability in the presence of black locust stimulated oriental arborvitae growth, and black locust in the mixed stand seems to suppress the development ofAMsymbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots, especially the production ofAMfungal spores and vesicles, through improving soil water and N levels, thus freeing up carbon to fuel plant growth. Overall, the presence of black locust favored oriental arborvitae growth directly by improving soil water and fertility and indirectly by repressingAMsymbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots.
Detecting rare carnivores using scats: Implications for monitoring a fox incursion into Tasmania
Authors: Ramsey David S. L. , Barclay Candida , Campbell Catriona D. , Dewar Elise , MacDonald Anna J. , Modave Elodie , Quasim Sumaiya , Sarre Stephen D.
Published: December 2017

The ability to detect the incursion of an invasive species or destroy the last individuals during an eradication program are some of the most difficult aspects of invasive species management. The presence of foxes in Tasmania is a contentious issue with recent structured monitoring efforts, involving collection of carnivore scats and testing for foxDNA, failing to detect any evidence of foxes. Understanding the likelihood that monitoring efforts would detect fox presence, given at least one is present, is therefore critical for understanding the role of scat monitoring for informing the response to an incursion. We undertook trials to estimate the probability of fox scat detection through monitoring by scat‐detector dogs and person searches and used this information to critically evaluate the power of scat monitoring efforts for detecting foxes in the Tasmanian landscape. The probability of detecting a single scat present in a 1‐km2survey unit was highest for scat‐detector dogs searches (0.053) compared with person searches () for each 10 km of search effort. Simulation of the power of recent scat monitoring efforts undertaken in Tasmania from 2011 to 2015 suggested that single foxes would have to be present in at least 20 different locations or fox breeding groups present in at least six different locations, in order to be detected with a high level of confidence (>0.80). We have shown that highly structured detection trials can provide managers with the quantitative tools needed to make judgments about the power of large‐scale scat monitoring programs. Results suggest that a fox population, if present in Tasmania, could remain undetected by a large‐scale, structured scat monitoring program. Therefore, it is likely that other forms of surveillance, in conjunction with scat monitoring, will be necessary to demonstrate that foxes are absent from Tasmania with high confidence.
Amount or intensity? Potential targets of exercise interventions in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Bobenko Anna , Bartels Inke , Münch Marlene , Trippel Tobias , Lindhorst Ruhdja , Nolte Kathleen , Herrmann‐Lingen Christoph , Halle Martin , Duvinage André , Düngen Hans‐Dirk , Gelbrich Götz , Tschöpe Carsten , Hasenfuss Gerd , Wachter Rolf , Pieske Burkert , Edelmann Frank
Published: December 2017

Aims

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a common condition with no pharmacological treatment. Physical activity (PA) improves symptoms and quality of life (QoL), but no clear recommendations exist on PA in HFpEF patients. We investigated the association of PA (amount/intensity) on clinical phenotype in HFpEF.

Methods and results

The Aldosterone in Diastolic Heart Failure trial investigated spironolactone vs. placebo in stable HFpEF patients. At baseline, all patients underwent detailed phenotypization including echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6 minute walking test (6MWT), and QoL assessment (36‐item Short‐Form questionnaire). PA was assessed by a self‐report questionnaire, classified in metabolic equivalents of task (MET) and analysed with regard to exercise capacity, diastolic function, and QoL. Four hundred twenty‐two patients (52% women, age 67 ± 8 years, New York Heart Association II and III) were classified by weekly MET hours into a low (<70), middle (70–140), or high (>140) level of PA. Total PA correlated positively with 6MWT distance (r = 0.17; P = 0.002) and physical function of QoL (r = 0.10; P = 0.05), but not with peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2). In contrast, both 6MWT distance and peakVO2 were significantly higher in patients who performed high‐intensity PA for >8 h/week (P < 0.001, P = 0.02, respectively). Time of high‐intensity PA was related to higher 6MWT distance (r = 0.21, P < 0.001), peakVO2, and better physical function of QoL (both r = 0.13, P = 0.01), whereas low‐intensity PA did not show significant associations. Interestingly, PA was not related to any measure of diastolic function.

Conclusions

A higher amount of PA is related to higher submaximal exercise capacity and physical function of QoL. Regarding maximal exercise capacity, only high‐intensity PA showed significant association in HFpEF patients.
Molecules with Two Electronic Energy Levels: Study of Nanoparticles in the Atom‐Phonon Coupling Model Including a Surface Effect
Authors: Nasser Jamil A. , Chassagne Luc , Alayli Yasser , Allal Salah E. , de Zela Francisco , Linares Jorge
Published: December 2017

We discuss a two‐dimensional model that leads to results which reproduce, at least qualitatively, some of the experimentally observed features of spin‐conversion compounds. The molecules of these compounds have two electronic energy levels separated by Δ. The values of the elastic constants of the springs contained in the molecules are lower in the upper level. Consequently, the phonon branches of the crystal depend on the electronic states of the molecules. The fundamental level is a low spin (LS) state and the excited one is a high spin (HS) state. We study the thermal variation of the high spin fraction, i.e., the fraction of molecules in the (HS) level by using a model of atom‐phonon coupling with a boundary effect: Δ = Δb for molecules within the bulk, and Δ = Δse < Δb for molecules on the boundary. These values are compound‐dependent, but independent of the size of the crystal. Our results qualitatively reproduce two seemingly contradictory experimental results as well as the disappearance and reappearance of the hysteresis loop that is observed when the number N of molecules of the crystal is very small. Our model explains why the width of the hysteresis loop decreases with decreasing N. We find that, for any number of molecules, the entropy of the crystal vanishes at 0 K, in accordance with the third law of thermodynamics.
Estimation and inference in spatially varying coefficient models
Authors: Mu Jingru , Wang Guannan , Wang Li
Published: December 2017

Spatially varying coefficient models are a classical tool to explore the spatial nonstationarity of a regression relationship for spatial data. In this paper, we study the estimation and inference in spatially varying coefficient models for data distributed over complex domains. We use bivariate splines over triangulations to represent the coefficient functions. The estimators of the coefficient functions are consistent, and rates of convergence of the proposed estimators are established. A penalized bivariate spline estimation method is also introduced, in which a roughness penalty is incorporated to balance the goodness of fit and smoothness. In addition, we propose hypothesis tests to examine if the coefficient function is really varying over space or admits a certain parametric form. The proposed method is much more computationally efficient than the well‐known geographically weighted regression technique and thus usable for analyzing massive data sets. The performances of the estimators and the proposed tests are evaluated by simulation experiments. An environmental data example is used to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Fig extract drying: The relationship between the main operating parameters of a pilot‐scale spray dryer and product specifications
Authors: Kalantari Maryam , Niakousari Mehrdad , Haghighi‐Manesh Soroush , Rasouli Mehrdad
Published: December 2017

This study aims to optimize extraction and drying conditions of fig syrup. Drying was done in a pilot scale two‐fluid nozzle spray dryer. A total of 27 experiments were conducted with varying inlet air temperatures, air flow rates, and also a maltodextrin (MD)‐ low methoxyl pectin (LMP) ratios. While feed rate, feed temperature, and compressed air flow rate of the atomizer were kept constant. The results of differential scanning calorimetry revealed that high levels of glucose and fructose in the extract resulted in a low glass transition temperature of fig syrup. By an increase in the inlet air temperature, the powder bulk density decreased. However, the MD:LMP ratio and the air flow rate were not significantly effective (p < 0/05) in changing the bulk density. SEM micrographs of spray‐dried particles and particle size distribution analysis showed that particles were largely in a range of 5 to 50 μm. The best powders were obtained at an inlet air temperature of 170°C.
Deficit irrigation improves phenolic content and antioxidant activity in leafy lettuce varieties
Authors: Malejane Dunsfort N. , Tinyani Peter , Soundy Puffy , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: December 2017

This study investigated the effect of deficit irrigation at three management allowable depletion levels (MAD) 25%, 50%, and 75% on phytochemicals, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, glucose, fructose, and fresh and dry mass in two green leafy lettuce cultivars (Lollo Bionda and Vera) at harvest. Genotype response was observed during deficit irrigation on fresh and dry mass at harvest. Vera revealed similar fresh mass at MAD levels 25% and 50%. Chicoric acid, caftaric acid, and chlorogenic and caffeic acid tended to increase at 50% MAD, while kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin increased at 75% MAD in both cultivars indicating increasing antioxidant properties. Ascorbic acid content declined with increasing MAD levels and no definite trend on β‐carotene content was noted in these cultivars with respect to MAD irrigation. Deficit irrigation at 50% and 70% increased glucose concentration in cv. Lollo Bionda. Deficit irrigation influences the abiotic stress condition that stimulates the biosynthesis of phytochemicals in plants and improves crop quality. However, deficit irrigation can affect marketable crop yield. Based on findings of this study, the lettuce cv. Vera can be recommended as a suitable cultivar for deficit irrigation (at MAD 50% levels) for improving dietary phytochemicals and crop quality without compromising fresh mass for marketing.
Myelination and mTOR
Authors: Figlia Gianluca , Gerber Daniel , Suter Ueli
Published: December 2017

Myelinating cells surround axons to accelerate the propagation of action potentials, to support axonal health, and to refine neural circuits. Myelination is metabolically demanding and, consistent with this notion, mTORC1—a signaling hub coordinating cell metabolism—has been implicated as a key signal for myelination. Here, we will discuss metabolic aspects of myelination, illustrate the main metabolic processes regulated by mTORC1, and review advances on the role of mTORC1 in myelination of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Recent progress has revealed a complex role of mTORC1 in myelinating cells that includes, besides positive regulation of myelin growth, additional critical functions in the stages preceding active myelination. Based on the available evidence, we will also highlight potential nonoverlapping roles between mTORC1 and its known main upstream pathways PI3K‐Akt, Mek‐Erk1/2, and AMPK in myelinating cells. Finally, we will discuss signals that are already known or hypothesized to be responsible for the regulation of mTORC1 activity in myelinating cells.
Political ties and firm performance: The effects of proself and prosocial engagement and institutional development
Authors: Liu Haijian , Yang Jing Yu , Augustine Darline
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: We examine the value of political ties on firm performance in an emerging economy. Using social exchange theory, we posit that political connections propel firms to engage more in proself and prosocial activities, which mediate the relationship between political ties and firm performance. The institutional environment moderates the dual mediations such that as the institutional environment improves, the mediation effect through proself engagement weakens, whereas the mediation effect through prosocial engagement strengthens. We found support for these propositions by analyzing two samples of firms in China: A surveyed sample of 363 small‐ and medium‐sized firms and data from 2,780 publicly listed firms from 1999 to 2014. Our findings shed light on the strategic value of political ties, coinciding with the development of institutional environments.

Managerial Summary: Political ties have been considered important for firm survival and performance in emerging economies, as they enable firms to obtain critical information and resources to buffer uncertainty and build up competitive advantages. Our study demonstrates that what truly matters may not be a firm’s political ties themselves but the firm’s strategic engagement in both proself and prosocial activities in order to maintain social exchange with governments. Also, our study reveals that the development of institutional environments alters the business–government exchange and influences a firm’s proself and prosocial engagement differently, making the value of political ties on a firm’s performance difficult to predict.
The pursuit of international opportunities in family firms: Generational differences and the role of knowledge‐based resources
Authors: Fang Hanqing , Kotlar Josip , Memili Esra , Chrisman James J. , De Massis Alfredo
Published: December 2017

Research Summary:We argue that willingness (attitude toward risk, return, and socioemotional wealth), ability (extent of control), and resource availability influence the internationalization of family firms. We hypothesize that the internationalization of family firms led by founding and later generation family members differs from the internationalization of nonfamily firms and from each other and that knowledge‐based resources moderate the relationship. Longitudinal analysis of 4,925 firm‐year observations of S&P 1500 manufacturing firms from 2002 to 2008 shows that compared to nonfamily firms, family firms run by founding (later generation) family members internationalize less (more). Knowledge resources increase (decrease) the internationalization of founder‐led (later generation) family firms. Overall, how family ownership influences firm behavior is likely to vary as much by its type as its amount.

Managerial Summary:We explore the internationalization of family firms based on a sample of S&P 1500 manufacturing firms from 2002 to 2008. Compared to nonfamily firms, family firms run by founding family members internationalize less, and family firms run by later generation members internationalize more. However, as knowledge resources increase, the internationalization of founder‐led family firms increases, whereas the internationalization of firms led by later generation family members decreases. Therefore, our findings suggest that knowledge resources can facilitate or hamper international expansion in family firms, depending on the generation of family control. These findings underscore the role of goals, governance, and resources as important drivers of differences in internationalization between family and nonfamily firms, as well as of variations in internationalization among family firms.
A functional polymorphism in TFF1 promoter is associated with the risk and prognosis of gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Weizhi , Li Zheng , Wang Jiwei , Du Mulong , Li Bowen , Zhang Lei , Li Qing , Xu Jianghao , Wang Linjun , Li Fengyuan , Zhang Diancai , Xu Hao , Yang Li , Gong Weida , Qiang Fulin , Zhang Zhengdong , Xu Zekuan
Published: December 2017

Trefoil Factor 1 (TFF1, also named pS2), which serves as the gastrointestinal mucosal protector, is known as gastric‐specific tumor suppressor gene. However, the genetic variants of TFF1 are still not well studied. In our study, we aim to explore the effects of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) of TFF1 on risk and prognosis of gastric cancer. Seven tagSNPs of TFF1 gene were first analyzed in the discovery set, which was consisted of 753 cases and 950 cancer‐free controls. Then, the validation set (940 cases and 1,042 controls) was used for further evaluation. Moreover, we also tested the relation between these tagSNPs and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). A series of experiments were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. We found that rs3761376 AA in the promoter region of TFF1, could reduce the expression of TFF1 by affecting the binding affinity of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, ERα), and thereby increased the risk of GC (1.29, 1.08–1.53). Moreover, the rs3761376 AA genotype was also found associated with worse prognosis among patients receiving 5‐FU based chemotherapy after surgery (1.71, 1.18–2.48). Further functional assays demonstrated that TFF1 could increase the chemosensitivity of 5‐FU by modulating NF‐κB targeted genes. These results identified the effect of rs3761376 on TFF1 expression, which accounted for the correlation with susceptibility and prognosis of GC; and this genetic variant may be a potential biomarker to predict the risk and survival of GC.
HDAC inhibitors restore BRAF‐inhibitor sensitivity by altering PI3K and survival signalling in a subset of melanoma
Authors: Gallagher Stuart J. , Gunatilake Dilini , Beaumont Kimberley A. , Sharp Danae M. , Tiffen Jessamy C. , Heinemann Anja , Weninger Wolfgang , Haass Nikolas K. , Wilmott James S. , Madore Jason , Ferguson Peter M. , Rizos Helen , Hersey Peter
Published: December 2017

Mutations in BRAF activate oncogenic MAPK signalling in almost half of cutaneous melanomas. Inhibitors of BRAF (BRAFi) and its target MEK are widely used to treat melanoma patients with BRAF mutations but unfortunately acquired resistance occurs in the majority of patients. Resistance results from mutations or non‐genomic changes that either reactivate MAPK signalling or activate other pathways that provide alternate survival and growth signalling. Here, we show the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) panobinostat overcomes BRAFi resistance in melanoma, but this is dependent on the resistant cells showing a partial response to BRAFi treatment. Using patient‐ and in vivo‐derived melanoma cell lines with acquired BRAFi resistance, we show that combined treatment with the BRAFi encorafenib and HDACi panobinostat in 2D and 3D culture systems synergistically induced caspase‐dependent apoptotic cell death. Key changes induced by HDAC inhibition included decreased PI3K pathway activity associated with a reduction in the protein level of a number of receptor tyrosine kinases, and cell line dependent upregulation of pro‐apoptotic BIM or NOXA together with reduced expression of anti‐apoptotic proteins. Independent of these changes, panobinostat reduced c‐Myc and pre‐treatment of cells with siRNA against c‐Myc reduced BRAFi/HDACi drug‐induced cell death. These results suggest that a combination of HDAC and MAPK inhibitors may play a role in treatment of melanoma where the resistance mechanisms are due to activation of MAPK‐independent pathways.
Characteristics Analysis of Summer Maize Yield Loss Caused by Drought Stress in the Northern Huaihe Plain, China
Authors: Geng Simin , Yan Denghua , Yang Zhiyong , Zhang Zhongbo , Yang Meijian , Kan Guangyuan
Published: December 2017

Summer maize is a major crop in the Northern Huaihe Plain. To simulate maize yield losses caused by drought stress in 13 cities, the DSSAT‐CERES‐Maize model was selected as a tool, which was calibrated and validated based on drought stress experimental observations conducted in 2013 in Bengbu, China. Results indicate the numbers of years of low, low‐mid, mid, mid‐high and high loss percentage as 25–37, 3–9, 1–6, 0–5 and 1–13, respectively. There was a higher risk of high loss percentage in the south, with higher risk of low‐mid loss percentage in the north‐east and higher risk of mid‐high loss percentage in the west. Compared with the proportion of high loss percentage during 1961–1980, in the high loss percentage years, it decreased by 5–30% in the south and increased by 1–15% in the south‐west during 1981–2015. However, in mid‐high loss percentage years, the proportion increased by 5–25% in the north, with less change in other areas. In low‐mid loss percentage years, the proportion increased by 5–20% in the south‐east and decreased by 5–34.4% in the north. The yield loss decreased on average 766 000 t and 15% after rational allocation of water resources, which improves drought resistance in the Northern Huaihe Plain. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of HYDRUS (2D/3D) for Predicting the Influence of Subsurface Drainage on Soil Water Dynamics in a Rainfed‐Canola Cropping System
Authors: Karandish Fatemeh , Darzi‐Naftchali Abdullah , Šimůnek Jiří
Published: December 2017

The HYDRUS (2D/3D) model was applied to investigate the probable effects of different subsurface drainage systems on the soil water dynamics under a rainfed‐canola cropping system in paddy fields. Field experiments were conducted during two rainfed‐canola growing seasons on the subsurface‐drained paddy fields of the Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. A drainage pilot consisting of subsurface drainage systems with different drain depths and spacings was designed. Canola was cultivated as the second crop after the rice harvest. Measurements of the groundwater table depth and drain discharge were taken during the growing seasons. The performance of the HYDRUS‐2D model during the calibration and validation phases was evaluated using the model efficiency (EF), root mean square error (RMSE), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) and mean bias error (MBE) measures. Based on the criteria indices (MBE = 0.01–0.17 cm, RMSE = 0.05–1.02 and EF = 0.84–0.96 for drainage fluxes, and MBE = 0.01–0.63, RMSE = 0.34–5.54 and EF = 0.89–0.99 for groundwater table depths), the model was capable of predicting drainage fluxes as well as groundwater table depths. The simulation results demonstrated that HYDRUS (2D/3D) is a powerful tool for proposing optimal scenario to achieve sustainable shallow aquifers in subsurface‐drained paddy fields during winter cropping. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.