bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diuron Metabolism in Two Sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum)Cultivars
Authors: Liu Lii-Chyuan , Shimabukuro R. H. , Nalewaja J. D.
Published: May 2018

The uptake, distribution, and metabolism of diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] by sugarcane(Saccharum officinarumL.) cultivars ‘PR980’ and ‘PR1048’ were determined 3 and 10 days after root treatment with 18.4 μM14C-ring-labeled diuron. Uptake and distribution did not account for the differential tolerance of the two cultivars to diuron. Concentration of unmetabolized diuron was higher in the shoot and root of susceptible cultivar PR1048 than in tolerant cultivar PR980 at 3 and 10 days after treatment. The predominant metabolic pathway for diuron metabolism in both susceptible and tolerant sugarcane cultivars appeared to be the formation of mono-methyl diuron and its conjugation. The metabolic process was more rapid in PR980 than PR1048, apparently accounting for the tolerance of PR980.
(r) we Americanised?
Authors: Li Jian
Published: April 2018

“Spa(R) … Could you tell me where I can find a spa(r)?” “Are you sure you want to find a spar?” A Chinese traveller, inquiring about the nearest spa while on a tour in South Africa, left the local hotel receptionist confused. This anecdote involved the overuse of the R-colouring sound and aroused my interest in rhoticity in China English. Rhoticity in English refers to ‘the production of historical or orthographic /r/ in the syllable coda of words such as father and card” (Becker, 2014: 141). However, since the R-colouring sound in English, a simple allophone feature, does not distinguish word meanings, its pronunciation features and phonological environments have seldom been taught in EFL classes in China.
La conjecture de Manin pour une famille de variétés en dimension supérieure
Authors: DESTAGNOL KEVIN
Published: April 2018

Inspired by a method of La Bretèche relying on some unique factorisation, we generalise work of Blomer, Brüdern and Salberger to prove Manin's conjecture in its strong form conjectured by Peyre for some infinite family of varieties of higher dimension. The varieties under consideration in this paper correspond to the singular projective varieties defined by the following equation$$ x_1 y_2y_3\cdots y_n+x_2y_1y_3 \cdots y_n+ \cdots+x_n y_1 y_2 \cdots y_{n-1}=0 $$in ℙℚ2n−1for alln⩾ 3. This paper comes with an Appendix by Per Salberger constructing a crepant resolution of the above varieties.
Misrepresented Interests: Business, Medicare, and the Making of the American Health Care State
Authors: Swenson Peter A.
Published: April 2018

A belief that there is a pervasive and enduring adversarial relationship between business and the welfare state is shared widely across scholarly disciplines engaged in historical and comparative analysis of social politics. According to that view, each stage in the expansion of the American welfare state was a defeat for capitalists. Detailed evidence on the politics of health care, with special focus on the passage of Medicare in 1965, casts serious doubt on this dominant view about class politics, the welfare state, and the power of business. It shows that much of the literature takes a hazardous inferential leap from national business organizations’ official positions against reform to overconfident conclusions about actual business opinions. The literature also mistakenly discounts evidence of business support for moderate reforms as strategic camouflage of actual opposition designed to head off more radical ones. Extensive evidence reveals enormous division within business rather than unity about the health care state, and a great deal of support from large and powerful corporations for its creation and expansion. Evidence about the economic implications of health insurance for businesses, including before and after Medicare, and all the way to the Affordable Care Act of 2010, indicates that the support was genuine, not strategic, and that sometimes it was critical for passage. That support calls for new thinking about how to answer the perennial question about class power in America: “Who actually governs?”
Does the Collapsing Principle Rule Out Borderline Cases?
Authors: GUSTAFSSON JOHAN E.
Published: April 2018

If ‘F’ is a predicate, then ‘Fer than’ or ‘more F than’ is a corresponding comparative relational predicate. Concerning such comparative relations, John Broome's Collapsing Principle states that, for any x and y, if it is false that y is Fer than x and not false that x is Fer than y, then it is true that x is Fer than y. Luke Elson has recently put forward two counter-examples to this principle, allegedly showing that it yields contradictions if there are borderline cases. In this article, I argue that the Collapsing Principle does not rule out borderline cases, but I also argue that the principle is implausible.
The development of temperament and character during adolescence: The processes and phases of change
Authors: Zohar Ada H. , Zwir Igor , Wang Jiayu , Cloninger C. Robert , Anokhin Andrey P.
Published: April 2018

We studied the pattern of personality development in a longitudinal population-based sample of 752 American adolescents. Personality was assessed reliably with the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory at 12, 14, and 16 years of age. The rank-order stability of Junior Temperament and Character Inventory traits from age 12 to 16 was moderate (r = .35). Hierarchical linear modeling of between-group variance due to gender and within-group variance due to age indicated that harm avoidance and persistence decreased whereas self-directedness and cooperativeness increased from age 12 to 16. Novelty seeking, reward dependence, and self-transcendence increased from age 12 to 14 and then decreased. This biphasic pattern suggests that prior to age 14 teens became more emancipated from adult authorities while identifying more with the emergent norms of their peers, and after age 14 their created identity was internalized. Girls were more self-directed and cooperative than boys and maintained this advantage from age 12 to 16. Dependability of temperament at age 16 was mainly predicted by the same traits at earlier ages. In contrast, maturity of character at age 16 was predicted by both temperament and character at earlier ages. We conclude that character develops rapidly in adolescence to self-regulate temperament in accord with personally valued goals shaped by peers.
Latent trajectories of internalizing symptoms from preschool to school age: A multi-informant study in a high-risk sample
Authors: Klein Annette M. , Schlesier-Michel Andrea , Otto Yvonne , White Lars O. , Andreas Anna , Sierau Susan , Bergmann Sarah , Perren Sonja , von Klitzing Kai
Published: April 2018

Recent proposals suggest early adversity sets in motion particularly chronic and neurobiologically distinct trajectories of internalizing symptoms. However, few prospective studies in high-risk samples delineate distinct trajectories of internalizing symptoms from preschool age onward. We examined trajectories in a high-risk cohort, oversampled for internalizing symptoms, several preschool risk/maintenance factors, and school-age outcomes. Parents of 325 children completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire on up to four waves of data collection from preschool (3–5 years) to school age (8–9 years) and Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment interviews at both ages. Multi-informant data were collected on risk factors and symptoms. Growth mixture modelling identified four trajectory classes of internalizing symptoms with stable low, rising low-to-moderate, stable moderate, and stable high symptoms. Children in the stable high symptom trajectory manifested clinically relevant internalizing symptoms, mainly diagnosed with anxiety disorders/depression at preschool and school age. Trajectories differed regarding loss/separation experience, maltreatment, maternal psychopathology, temperament, and stress-hormone regulation with loss/separation, temperament, maternal psychopathology, and stress-hormone regulation (trend) significantly contributing to explained variance. At school age, trajectories continued to differ on symptoms, disorders, and impairment. Our study is among the first to show that severe early adversity may trigger a chronic and neurobiologically distinct internalizing trajectory from preschool age onward.
Circle maps with gaps: Understanding the dynamics of the two-process model for sleep–wake regulation
Authors: BAILEY M. P. , DERKS G. , SKELDON A. C.
Published: May 2018

For more than 30 years the ‘two-process model’ has played a central role in the understanding of sleep/wake regulation. This ostensibly simple model is an interesting example of a non-smooth dynamical system, whose rich dynamical structure has been relatively unexplored. The two-process model can be framed as a one-dimensional map of the circle, which, for some parameter regimes, has gaps. We show how border collision bifurcations that arise naturally in maps with gaps extend and supplement the Arnold tongue saddle-node bifurcation set that is a feature of continuous circle maps. The novel picture that results shows how the periodic solutions that are created by saddle-node bifurcations in continuous maps transition to periodic solutions created by period-adding bifurcations as seen in maps with gaps.
Does language loss follow a principled structural path? Evidence from Jersey Norman French
Authors: JONES MARI C.
Published: April 2018

This study examines contact-induced change in Jèrriais, the severely endangered Norman variety currently spoken by some 1% of the population of Jersey, one of the British Channel Islands. Today, English dominates all linguistic domains of island life, and all speakers of Jèrriais are bilingual. The analysis uses original data to test empirically whether Myers-Scotton's (2002) five theoretical assumptions about the structural path of language attrition (broadly defined as language loss at the level of the individual) also have relevance for the process of language obsolescence (broadly defined as language loss at the level of the community). It explores i) whether Jèrriais is undergoing contact influenced language change owing to its abstract grammatical structure being split and recombined with English, a hypothesis related to Myers-Scotton's Abstract Level model; and ii) whether different morpheme types of Jèrriais are related to the production process in different ways and are, accordingly, more or less susceptible to change during the process of language obsolescence, a hypothesis related to Myers-Scotton's 4-M model. In addition to its contribution to linguistic theory, this study increases existing knowledge about Jèrriais and makes data from this language available for systematic comparison with other languages.
Administrative health databases for addressing emerging issues in adults with CHD: a systematic review
Authors: Cohen Sarah , Gilutz Harel , Marelli Ariane J. , Iserin Laurence , Benis Arriel , Bonnet Damien , Burgun Anita
Published: April 2018

The need for population-based studies of adults with CHD has motivated the growing use of secondary analyses of administrative health data in a variety of jurisdictions worldwide. We aimed at systematically reviewing all studies using administrative health data sources for adult CHD research from 2006 to 2016. Using PubMed and Embase (1 January, 2006 to 1 January, 2016), we identified 2217 abstracts, from which 59 studies were included in this review. These comprised 12 different data sources from six countries. Of these, 55% originated in the United States of America, 28% in Canada, and 17% in Europe and Asia. No study was published before 2007, after which the number of publications grew exponentially. In all, 41% of the studies were cross-sectional and 25% were retrospective cohort studies with a wide variation in the availability of patient-level compared with hospitalisation-level episodes of care; 58% of studies from eight different data sources linked administrative data at a patient level; and 37% of studies reported validation procedures. Assessing resource utilisation and temporal trends of relevant epidemiological and outcome end points were the most reported objectives. The median impact factor of publication journals was 4.04, with an interquartile range of 3.15, 7.44. Although not designed for research purposes, administrative health databases have become powerful data sources for studying adult CHD populations because of their large sample sizes, comprehensive records, and long observation periods, providing a useful tool to further develop quality of care improvement programmes. Data linkage with electronic records will become important in obtaining more granular life-long adult CHD data. The health services nature of the data optimises the impact on policy and public health.
The development of a consensus-based nutritional pathway for infants with CHD before surgery using a modified Delphi process
Authors: Marino Luise V. , Johnson Mark J. , Hall Nigel J. , Davies Natalie J. , Kidd Catherine S. , Daniels M. Lowri , Robinson Julia E. , Richens Trevor , Bharucha Tara , Darlington Anne-Sophie E. ,   British Dietetic Association Paediatric Cardiology Interest Group
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Despite improvements in the medical and surgical management of infants with CHD, growth failure before surgery in many infants continues to be a significant concern. A nutritional pathway was developed, the aim of which was to provide a structured approach to nutritional care for infants with CHD awaiting surgery.

Materials and methods

The modified Delphi process was development of a nutritional pathway; initial stakeholder meeting to finalise draft guidelines and develop questions; round 1 anonymous online survey; round 2 online survey; regional cardiac conference and pathway revision; and final expert meeting and pathway finalisation.

Results

Paediatric Dietitians from all 11 of the paediatric cardiology surgical centres in the United Kingdom contributed to the guideline development. In all, 33% of participants had 9 or more years of experience working with infants with CHD. By the end of rounds 1 and 2, 76 and 96% of participants, respectively, were in agreement with the statements. Three statements where consensus was not achieved by the end of round 2 were discussed and agreed at the final expert group meeting.

Conclusions

Nutrition guidelines were developed for infants with CHD awaiting surgery, using a modified Delphi process, incorporating the best available evidence and expert opinion with regard to nutritional support in this group.
Teaching Students to Hear the Other Side: Using Web Design and Election Events to Build Empathy in the Political Science Classroom
Authors: Caughell Leslie
Published: April 2018

Research suggests that technology in the political science classroom may enhance student experiences and help instructors achieve their student-learning outcomes. Yet, how technology may foster more empathy for opposing viewpoints—an essential characteristic of deliberative democracy—has received less attention. This article outlines an assignment that required students to use WordPress to construct a campaign website for an opposition candidate and write a paper justifying their content and design choices. After completing this assignment, students demonstrated increased knowledge of the candidates for whom they designed websites. Additionally, they displayed a greater level of confidence in the competence of those candidates and a greater understanding of why the candidates would appeal to certain voters. Students also expressed a belief that the assignment provided a tangible professional skill that they would use in the future, and they indicated that their belief in the demonstrated utility of the assignment made it more enjoyable and engaging. This assignment provides one example of how technology may be used in the political science classroom in a way that facilitates student engagement and democratic citizenship, while also helping the instructor to gauge students’ ability to apply course content to contemporary events.
Illness Perceptions Predict Cognitive Performance Validity
Authors: Henry George K. , Heilbronner Robert L. , Suhr Julie , Gornbein Jeffrey , Wagner Eveleigh , Drane Daniel L.
Published: April 2018

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of psychological variables to cognitive performance validity test (PVT) results in mixed forensic and nonforensic clinical samples.Methods:Participants included 183 adults who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological examination. Criterion groups were formed, that is, Credible Group or Noncredible Group, based upon their performance on the Word Memory Test and other stand-alone and embedded PVT measures.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three significant predictors of cognitive performance validity. These included two psychological constructs, for example, Cogniphobia (perception that cognitive effort will exacerbate neurological symptoms), and Symptom Identity (perception that current symptoms are the result of illness or injury), and one contextual factor (forensic). While there was no interaction between these factors, elevated scores were most often observed in the forensic sample, suggesting that these independently contributing intrinsic psychological factors are more likely to occur in a forensic environment.Conclusions:Illness perceptions were significant predictors of cognitive performance validity particularly when they reached very elevated levels. Extreme elevations were more common among participants in the forensic sample, and potential reasons for this pattern are explored. (JINS, 2018,24, 1–11)
Gut immunity: its development and reasons and opportunities for modulation in monogastric production animals
Authors: Broom Leon J. , Kogut Michael H.
Published: April 2018

The intestine performs the critical roles of nutrient acquisition, tolerance of innocuous and beneficial microorganisms, while retaining the ability to respond appropriately to undesirable microbes or microbial products and preventing their translocation to more sterile body compartments. Various components contribute to antimicrobial defenses in the intestine. The mucus layer(s), antimicrobial peptides and IgA provide the first line of defense, and seek to trap and facilitate the removal of invading microbes. If breached, invading microbes next encounter a single layer of epithelial cells and, below this, the lamina propria with its associated immune cells. The gut immune system has developmental stages, and studies from different species demonstrate that innate capability develops earlier than acquired. In addition, various factors may influence the developmental process; for example, the composition and activity of the gut microbiota, antimicrobials, maternally derived antibodies, host genetics, and various stressors (e.g. feed deprivation). Therefore, it is clear that particularly younger (meat-producing) animals are reliant on innate immune responses (as well as passive immunity) for a considerable period of their productive life, and thus focusing on modulating appropriate innate responses should be an intervention priority. The gut microbiota is probably the most influential factor for immune development and capability. Interventions (e.g. probiotics, prebiotics, antibodies, etc.) that appropriately modulate the composition or activity of the intestinal microbiota can play an important role in shaping the desired functionality of the innate (and acquired) response. In addition, innate immune mediators, such as toll-like receptor agonists, cytokines, etc., may provide more specific ways to suitably modulate the response. A better understanding of mucosal immunology, signaling pathways, and processes, etc., will provide even more precise methods in the future to boost innate immune capability and minimize any associated (e.g. nutrient) costs. This will provide the livestock industry with more effective options to promote robust and efficient productivity.
Farmer use of intermediated market channels: a review
Authors: Dimitri Carolyn , Gardner Karen
Published: April 2018

Intermediated markets are relatively new market channels that have the potential to expand local and regional food systems while increasing the viability of small- and medium-sized farms. The intermediated channels comprise a short supply chain linking farmers with consumers through the use of intermediary such as a distributor or supermarket. In many instances, these supply chains embed social or environmental values, such as supporting local farming. In this paper, we examine the current state of knowledge about the intermediated market channel. The first source of knowledge consists of data from federal and private sources. Next, we review a selection of the published literature focusing on farmer use of intermediated market channels in the USA. The main intermediated channels include direct to institutions, such as schools and hospitals; food hubs; and direct to retail. The paper finishes by raising questions about future of intermediated markets, based on the findings of the literature review and data.
Cover crops use in Midwestern US agriculture: perceived benefits and net returns
Authors: Plastina Alejandro , Liu Fangge , Miguez Fernando , Carlson Sarah
Published: April 2018

Despite being generally accepted as a promising conservation practice to reduce nitrate pollution and promote soil sustainability, cover crop adoption in Midwestern US agriculture is low. Based on focus groups, surveys and partial budgets, we calculated the annual net returns to cover crop use for farmers in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota; and elicited farmers’ perceptions about the pros and cons of incorporating cover crops to their row cropping systems. The novelty of our methodology resides in comparing each farmer's practices in the portion of their cropping system with cover crops (typically small), against their practices in the other portion of their cropping system without cover crops. The resulting comparisons, accounting for farmer heterogeneity, are more robust than the typical effects calculated by comparing indicators across cover crop users and unrelated non-adopters. Our results highlight the complicated nature of integrating cover crops into the crop production system and show that cover crops affect whole farm profitability through several channels besides establishment and termination costs. Despite farmers’ positive perceptions about cover crops and the availability of cost-share programs, calculated annual net returns to cover crops use were negative for most participants.
Browning‐Related Decreases in Water Transparency Lead to Long‐Term Increases in Surface Water Temperature and Thermal Stratification in Two Small Lakes
Authors: Pilla Rachel M. , Williamson Craig E. , Zhang Jing , Smyth Robyn L. , Lenters John D. , Brentrup Jennifer A. , Knoll Lesley B. , Fisher Thomas J.
Published: May 2018

Surface water temperatures are warming in many lakes across the globe, and this is widely attributed to warming air temperatures. Yet two lakes in Pennsylvania (USA) have shown long‐term increases in surface water temperatures over the past 27 summers during a period with no significant increase in regional air temperature. We examined the relationship between long‐term trends in seven metrics of whole‐lake thermal structure in two lakes and several potential driver variables. Driver variables included water transparency, lake pH, and meteorological variables. Both lakes exhibited significant surface warming and hypolimnetic cooling, resulting in stronger thermal stratification that further reduced mixing and heat transfer to deep waters. During this time period, there were no long‐term trends in solar radiation or in thawing degree days, but annual precipitation and lake pH increased. Water transparency greatly decreased due to increased dissolved organic matter quantity and color, most likely due to increased precipitation and recovery from anthropogenic acidification. In both lakes, the changes in lake thermal structure and heat distribution were strongly related to the decreases in water transparency and increases in dissolved organic matter. This transparency‐mediated mechanism may augment the effects of air temperature‐driven lake warming in other regions where decreasing transparency is also prevalent, further enhancing increases in surface water temperature and thermal stratification. These results have important ecological and biogeochemical implications, highlighting the need for investigations of multiple drivers to fully understand how lakes will respond to future climate change.
Author Correction: Role of hypoxia in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: Metabolic repression and selective translation of HK2 facilitates development of DLBCL
Authors: Bhalla Kavita , Jaber Sausan , Nahid M. Nanaji , Underwood Karen , Beheshti Afshin , Landon Ari , Bhandary Binny , Bastian Paul , Evens Andrew M. , Haley John , Polster Brian , Gartenhaus Ronald B.
Published: May 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Continuous, semi-automatic monitoring of ground deformation using Sentinel-1 satellites
Authors: Raspini Federico , Bianchini Silvia , Ciampalini Andrea , Del Soldato Matteo , Solari Lorenzo , Novali Fabrizio , Del Conte Sara , Rucci Alessio , Ferretti Alessandro , Casagli Nicola
Published: May 2018

We present the continuous monitoring of ground deformation at regional scale using ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-1constellation of satellites. We discuss this operational monitoring service through the case study of the Tuscany Region (Central Italy), selected due to its peculiar geological setting prone to ground instability phenomena. We set up a systematic processing chain of Sentinel-1 acquisitions to create continuously updated ground deformation data to mark the transition from static satellite analysis, based on the analysis of archive images, to dynamic monitoring of ground displacement. Displacement time series, systematically updated with the most recent available Sentinel-1 acquisition, are analysed to identify anomalous points (i.e., points where a change in the dynamic of motion is occurring). The presence of a cluster of persistent anomalies affecting elements at risk determines a significant level of risk, with the necessity of further analysis. Here, we show that the Sentinel-1 constellation can be used for continuous and systematic tracking of ground deformation phenomena at the regional scale. Our results demonstrate how satellite data, acquired with short revisiting times and promptly processed, can contribute to the detection of changes in ground deformation patterns and can act as a key information layer for risk mitigation.
Essential role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation from Graves’ orbital fibroblasts
Authors: Tsai Chieh-Chih , Wu Shi-Bei , Kau Hui-Chuan , Wei Yau-Huei
Published: May 2018

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) associated with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of many fibrotic disorders. However, it is not clear whether this interaction also takes place in GO. In this study, we investigated the role of CTGF in TGF-β-induced extracellular matrix production and myofibroblast transdifferentiation in Graves’ orbital fibroblasts. By Western blot analysis, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 induced the expression of CTGF, fibronectin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in Graves’ orbital fibroblasts. In addition, the protein levels of fibronectin and α-SMA in Graves’ orbital fibroblasts were also increased after treatment with a recombinant human protein CTGF (rhCTGF). Moreover, we transfected the orbital fibroblasts with a small hairpin RNA of CTGF gene (shCTGF) to knockdown the expression levels of CTGF, which showed that knockdown of CTGF significantly diminished TGF-β1-induced expression of CTGF, fibronectin and α-SMA proteins in Graves’ orbital fibroblasts. Furthermore, the addition of rhCTGF to the shCTGF-transfected orbital fibroblasts could restore TGF-β1-induced expression of fibronectin and α-SMA proteins. Our findings demonstrate that CTGF is an essential downstream mediator for TGF-β1-induced extracellular matrix production and myofibroblast transdifferentiation in Graves’ orbital fibroblasts and thus may provide with a potential therapeutic target for treatment of GO.
Additional mitochondrial DNA influences the interactions between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in a bovine embryo model of nuclear transfer
Authors: Srirattana Kanokwan , St. John Justin C.
Published: May 2018

We generated cattle embryos using mitochondrial supplementation and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), named miNT, to determine how additional mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) modulates the nuclear genome. To eliminate any confounding effects from somatic cell mtDNA in intraspecies SCNT, donor cell mtDNA was depleted prior to embryo production. Additional oocyte mtDNA did not affect embryo development rates but increased mtDNA copy number in blastocyst stage embryos. Moreover, miNT-derived blastocysts had different gene expression profiles when compared with SCNT-derived blastocysts. Additional mtDNA increased expression levels of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, cell cycle and DNA repair. Supplementing the embryo culture media with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A (TSA), had no beneficial effects on the development of miNT-derived embryos, unlike SCNT-derived embryos. When compared with SCNT-derived blastocysts cultured in the presence of TSA, additional mtDNA alone had beneficial effects as the activity of glycolysis may increase and embryonic cell death may decrease. However, these beneficial effects were not found with additional mtDNA and TSA together, suggesting that additional mtDNA alone enhances reprogramming. In conclusion, additional mtDNA increased mtDNA copy number and expression levels of genes involved in energy production and embryo development in blastocyst stage embryos emphasising the importance of nuclear-mitochondrial interactions.
Endowing CuTCNQ with a new role: a high-capacity cathode for K-ion batteries
Authors: Ma Jing , Zhou En , Fan Cong , Wu Bo , Li Chao , Lu Zheng-Hong , Li Jingze
Published: May 2018

CuTCNQ with a cuprous cation (Cu+) and an organic anion (TCNQ−) has been initially synthesized as an organic cathode for K-ion batteries, which can realize a three-electron redox mechanism and a maximum specific discharge capacity of 244 mA h g−1.
A tunable THz absorber consisting of an elliptical graphene disk array
Authors: Su Zengping , Wang Yueke , Luo Xin , Luo Hao , Zhang Chao , Li Mingxing , Sang Tian , Yang Guofeng
Published: May 2018

Herein, we present an adjustable absorber consisting of a periodically patterned elliptical graphene disk array, which absorbs in the THz region.
Photoinduced interfacial charge separation dynamics in zeolitic imidazolate framework
Authors: Pattengale Brian , Huang Jier
Published: May 2018

We report the ultrafast charge separation dynamics in ZIF-67 through electron transfer to methylene blue.
Hydrochar supported bimetallic Ni–Fe nanocatalysts with tailored composition, size and shape for improved biomass steam reforming performance
Authors: Gai Chao , Zhang Fang , Yang Tianxue , Liu Zhengang , Jiao Wentao , Peng Nana , Liu Tingting , Lang Qianqian , Xia Yu
Published: May 2018

The synthesis scheme for the formation pathway of monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles supported on hydrochar derived from lignin-rich precursory biomass.
A microengineered human corneal epithelium-on-a-chip for eye drops mass transport evaluation
Authors: Bennet Devasier , Estlack Zachary , Reid Ted , Kim Jungkyu
Published: May 2018

A microengineered human corneal epithelium-on-a-chip is developed to mimicin vivoanatomical and physiological conditions for topical ophthalmological drug testing.
Molecular cobalt salophen catalyst-integrated BiVO4 as stable and robust photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Liu Yidan , Jiang Yi , Li Fei , Yu Fengshou , Jiang Wenchao , Xia Lixin
Published: May 2018

Stable and robust photoanodes were assembled by introducing cobalt salophen complexes onto BiVO4 electrodes for PEC water oxidation.
Boosting energetic performance by trimerizing furoxan
Authors: He Chunlin , Gao Haixiang , Imler Gregory H. , Parrish Damon A. , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: May 2018

A new series of trifuroxans were designed and synthesized. The large numbers of N-oxide bonds in the molecules contribute to boost their energetic performances.
An outstanding effect of graphite in nano-MgH2–TiH2 on hydrogen storage performance
Authors: Lotoskyy Mykhaylo , Denys Roman , Yartys Volodymyr A. , Eriksen Jon , Goh Jonathan , Nyamsi Serge Nyallang , Sita Cordellia , Cummings Franscious
Published: May 2018

Mg nanoparticles in Mg–Ti–C do not sinter but, on the contrary, are further refined thus dramatically improving the cycle stability.
Differences in Neuritogenic Activity and Signaling Activation of Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, and Their Aglycones in Neuro-2a cells
Authors: Nalinratana Nonthaneth , Meksuriyen Duangdeun , Ongpipattanakul Boonsri
Published: May 2018

Madecassoside (MS) and asiaticoside (AS) along with their aglycones, madecassic acid (MA) and asiatic acid (AA), are considered the major neuroactive triterpenoid constituents of Centella asiatica. In this study, we aimed to compare MS, AS, MA, and AA for their neurite outgrowth activities and mechanisms in Neuro-2a cells. Immunofluorescent cell staining showed MS and AS significantly increased the percentage of neurite-bearing cells (%NBC) and the neurite length with higher potency than MA and AA. The triterpenoid glycosides induced sustained extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, while their aglycones activated only transient signaling of ERK1/2. Suppression of ERK1/2 activation significantly abolished not only cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation but also the increment of %NBC and neurite length in MS- and AS-treated cells. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation did not produce similar blockage of CREB activation and neurite outgrowth in MA- and AA-treated cells. On the other hand, inactivation of protein kinase B (Akt) resulted in a suppression of neurite lengthening in all studied triterpenoids. This is the first study discerning the different signaling pathways of neurite outgrowth activity induced by C. asiatica triterpenoid glycosides and aglycones. Neurite outgrowth activity of the glycosides MS and AS was found to involve the activation of sustained ERK phosphorylation leading to CREB activation, while ERK activation was not associated with MA- and AA-induced neurite outgrowth. In addition, Akt activation was evident to be more involved in neurite elongation process.
Pharmaceutical-Oriented Methoxylation of Aryl C(sp2)–H Bonds using Copper Catalysts
Authors: Ding Chengrong , Zhang Guofu , Zhu Jianfei , Tong Chaolai
Published: May 2018

A pharmaceutical-oriented, copper(II)-catalyzed methoxylation of aryl C(sp2)–H bonds has been developed. This simple and environmentally benign reaction system occurs efficiently using oxygen as oxidant with broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance.
Nursing Information Flow in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Wei Quan , Courtney Karen
Published: May 2018

Objective Long-term care (LTC), residential care requiring 24-hour nursing services, plays an important role in the health care service delivery system. The purpose of this study was to identify the needed clinical information and information flow to support LTC Registered Nurses (RNs) in care collaboration and clinical decision making.

Methods This descriptive qualitative study combines direct observations and semistructured interviews, conducted at Alberta's LTC facilities between May 2014 and August 2015. The constant comparative method (CCM) of joint coding was used for data analysis.

Results Nine RNs from six LTC facilities participated in the study. The RN practice environment includes two essential RN information management aspects: information resources and information spaces. Ten commonly used information resources by RNs included: (1) RN-personal notes; (2) facility-specific templates/forms; (3) nursing processes/tasks; (4) paper-based resident profile; (5) daily care plans; (6) RN-notebooks; (7) medication administration records (MARs); (8) reporting software application (RAI-MDS); (9) people (care providers); and (10) references (i.e., books). Nurses used a combination of shared information spaces, such as the Nurses Station or RN-notebook, and personal information spaces, such as personal notebooks or “sticky” notes. Four essential RN information management functions were identified: collection, classification, storage, and distribution. Six sets of information were necessary to perform RN care tasks and communication, including: (1) admission, discharge, and transfer (ADT); (2) assessment; (3) care plan; (4) intervention (with two subsets: medication and care procedure); (5) report; and (6) reference. Based on the RN information management system requirements, a graphic information flow model was constructed.

Conclusion This baseline study identified key components of a current LTC nursing information management system. The information flow model may assist health information technology (HIT) developers to consolidate the design of HIT solutions for LTC, and serve as a communication tool between nurses and information technology (IT) staff to refine requirements and support further LTC HIT research.
Embolized Guidewire into Central Aorta: A Nightmare in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Nath R.K. , Sarowa Manoj , Pandit Neeraj , Agrawal Richa
Published: April 2018

A 4-month-old preterm, critically ill infant weighing 3.8 kg was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit with congestive cardiac failure due to a large ventricular septal defect and its sequelae. During an attempt to insert a central line into the right subclavian vein at bedside, the guidewire inadvertently entered the subclavian artery and embolized distally. After multiple failed retrieval attempts, including surgical femoral cut-down to retrieve the wire, it was removed finally by fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous catheterization with the help of a cardiac bioptome and a gooseneck snare utilizing a novel maneuver.
Gas solubility in dilute solutions: A novel molecular thermodynamic perspective
Authors: Chialvo Ariel A.
Published: May 2018

We present an explicit molecular-based interpretation of the thermodynamic phase equilibrium underlying gas solubility in liquids, through rigorous links between the microstructure of the dilute systems and the relevant macroscopic quantities that characterize their solution thermodynamics. We apply the formal analysis to unravel and highlight the molecular-level nature of the approximations behind the widely used Krichevsky-Kasarnovsky [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 57, 2168 (1935)] and Krichevsky-Ilinskaya [Acta Physicochim. 20, 327 (1945)] equations for the modeling of gas solubility. Then, we implement a general molecular-based approach to gas solubility and illustrate it by studying Lennard-Jones binary systems whose microstructure and thermodynamic properties were consistently generated via integral equation calculations. Furthermore, guided by the molecular-based analysis, we propose a novel macroscopic modeling approach to gas solubility, emphasize some usually overlook modeling subtleties, and identify novel interdependences among relevant solubility quantities that can be used as either handy modeling constraints or tools for consistency tests.
Magnetohydrodynamic pressure drop and flow balancing of liquid metal flow in a prototypic fusion blanket manifold
Authors: Rhodes Tyler J. , Smolentsev Sergey , Abdou Mohamed
Published: May 2018

Understanding magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) phenomena associated with the flow of electrically conducting fluids in complex geometry ducts subject to a strong magnetic field is required to effectively design liquid metal (LM) blankets for fusion reactors. Particularly, accurately predicting the 3D MHD pressure drop and flow distribution is important. To investigate these topics, we simulate a LM MHD flow through an electrically non-conducting prototypic manifold for a wide range of flow and geometry parameters using a 3D MHD solver, HyPerComp incompressible MHD solver for arbitrary geometry. The reference manifold geometry consists of a rectangular feeding duct which suddenly expands such that the duct thickness in the magnetic field direction abruptly increases by a factor rexp. Downstream of the sudden expansion, the LM is distributed into several parallel channels. As a first step in qualifying the flow, a magnitude of the curl of the induced Lorentz force was used to distinguish between inviscid, irrotational core flows and boundary and internal shear layers where inertia and/or viscous forces are important. Scaling laws have been obtained which characterize the 3D MHD pressure drop and flow balancing as a function of the flow parameters and the manifold geometry. Associated Hartmann and Reynolds numbers in the computations were ∼103 and ∼101-103, respectively, while rexp was varied from 4 to 12. An accurate model for the pressure drop was developed for the first time for inertial-electromagnetic and viscous-electromagnetic regimes based on 96 computed cases. Analysis shows that flow balance can be improved by lengthening the distance between the manifold inlet and the entrances of the parallel channels by utilizing the effect of flow transitioning to a quasi-two-dimensional state in the expansion region of the manifold.
Confinement of picosecond timescale current pulses by tapered coplanar waveguides
Authors: Peters N. , Rosamond M. , Li L. , Linfield E. H. , Davies A. G. , Ali M. , Hickey B. J. , Cunningham J.
Published: May 2018

Tapered coplanar waveguides with integrated photoconductors were designed, fabricated, and measured, with pulsed transmission results comparing well with High Frequency Structure Simulator simulations which predict increased confinement and electric field concentration in the tapered region. Devices made with titanium/gold metallisation were used to demonstrate transmission and confinement, while the magnetoresistive properties of devices with cobalt/copper multilayers were used to demonstrate the field concentration. In the latter case, a mathematical framework was developed to understand the relationship between tapering effects and the picosecond magnetoresistance response.
Socioeconomic status and risk of kidney dysfunction: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study
Authors: Vart Priya , Grams Morgan E , Ballew Shoshana H , Woodward Mark , Coresh Josef , Matsushita Kunihiro
Published: May 2018

Background

There is strong evidence of an association between socioeconomic status (SES) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the association of SES with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the rate of change in kidney function is unclear.

Methods

A cohort of 14 086 participants with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (1987–89) were studied. The association of annual household income, educational attainment and neighborhood deprivation with incident ESRD, incident CKD and change in eGFR using four measurements over ∼23 years was assessed.

Results

A total of 432 participants developed ESRD and 3510 developed CKD over a median follow-up time of ∼23 years. After adjustment for demographics and baseline eGFR, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident ESRD compared with the high-income group was 1.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–1.99 in the medium-income group and 2.30 (95% CI 1.75–3.02) in the low-income group (P-trend < 0.001), and for CKD was 1.10 (95% CI 1.01–1.20) in the medium-income group and 1.30 (95% CI 1.17–1.44) in the low-income group (P-trend < 0.001). After full adjustments, the HR for ESRD was 1.33 (95% CI 1.03–1.70) in the medium-income group and 1.50 (95% CI 1.14–1.98) in the low-income group (P-trend = 0.003) and for CKD was 1.01 (95% CI 0.92–1.10) in the medium-income group and 1.04 (95% CI 0.93–1.16) in the low-income group (P-trend = 0.50). The eGFR decline was 5% and 15% steeper in the medium- and low-income groups, respectively, after full adjustment (P-trend < 0.001). Results were similar, with lower educational attainment and higher neighborhood deprivation being associated with adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

SES (annual household income, educational attainment or neighborhood deprivation) was associated not only with ESRD risk but also with eGFR decline, although the association with CKD appeared weaker.
Assessing the potential for intraguild predation among taxonomically disparate micro-carnivores: marsupials and arthropods
Authors: Potter Tamara I. , Greenville Aaron C. , Dickman Christopher R.
Published: May 2018

Interspecific competition may occur when resources are limited, and is often most intense between animals in the same ecological guild. Intraguild predation (IGP) is a distinctive form of interference competition, where a dominant predator selectively kills subordinate rivals to gain increased access to resources. However, before IGP can be identified, organisms must be confirmed as members of the same guild and occur together in spaceandtime. The lesser hairy-footed dunnart (Sminthopsis youngsoni, Dasyuridae) is a generalist marsupial insectivore in arid Australia, but consumes wolf spiders (Lycosaspp., Lycosidae) disproportionately often relative to their availability. Here, we test the hypothesis that this disproportionate predation is a product of frequent encounter rates between the interactants due to high overlap in their diets and use of space and time. Diet and prey availability were determined using direct observations and invertebrate pitfall trapping, microhabitat use by tracking individuals of both species-groups, and temporal activity using spotlighting and camera traps. Major overlap (greater than 75% similarity) was found in diet and temporal activity, and weaker overlap in microhabitat use. Taken together, these findings suggest reasonable potential, for the first time, for competition and intraguild predation to occur between taxa as disparate as marsupials and spiders.
Reduced graphene oxide-loaded nanocomposite scaffolds for enhancing angiogenesis in tissue engineering applications
Authors: Chakraborty S. , Ponrasu T. , Chandel S. , Dixit M. , Muthuvijayan V.
Published: May 2018

Tissue engineering combines cells, scaffolds and signalling molecules to synthesize tissues
in vitro
. However, the lack of a functioning vascular network severely limits the effective size of a tissue-engineered construct. In this work, we have assessed the potential of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a non-protein pro-angiogenic moiety, for enhancing angiogenesis in tissue engineering applications. Polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose (PVA/CMC) scaffolds loaded with different concentrations of rGO nanoparticles were synthesized via lyophilization. Characterization of these scaffolds showed that the rGO-loaded scaffolds retained the thermal and physical properties (swelling, porosity and
in vitro
biodegradation) of pure PVA/CMC scaffolds.
In vitro
cytotoxicity studies, using three different cell lines, confirmed that the scaffolds are biocompatible. The scaffolds containing 0.005 and 0.0075% rGO enhanced the proliferation of endothelial cells (EA.hy926)
in vitro
.
In vivo
studies using the chick chorioallantoic membrane model showed that the presence of rGO in the PVA/CMC scaffolds significantly enhanced angiogenesis and arteriogenesis.