bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of novel nanoemulsions, with improved properties, based on rosemary essential oil and biopolymers
Authors: Martin‐Piñero M José , García M Carmen , Santos Jenifer , Alfaro‐Rodriguez Maria‐Carmen , Muñoz José
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, it is of great interest to develop stable and sustainable formulations that act as nanocarriers of active ingredients. In this work, the droplet size distribution, rheology and physical stability of nanoemulsions with improved properties containing rosemary essential oil and biopolymers as a function of the concentration of these polysaccharides were investigated.

RESULTS

Mean diameters below 150 nm were achieved, indicating nanostructures were obtained. Regardless of gum type, a gel‐like structure and a shear thinning behaviour was achieved. In addition, an increase of G′, G″ and viscosity and a decrease of J0, J1, J2, λ1 and λ2 with increasing gum concentration were observed, due to the formation of a three‐dimensional network in the aqueous phase. Slight differences between nanoemulsions containing welan or xanthan were found. Creaming, depletion flocculation and gel aggregation were the main destabilization processes at low, intermediate and high gum concentration, respectively. A 0.4 wt% gum nanoemulsion exhibited the best physical stability.

CONCLUSION

These stable and sustainable nanoemulsions with improved rheological properties contribute to the development of biodegradable and non‐toxic food or agrochemical products. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Ultrasound Findings Aid Decisions to Repair Partial Articular Supraspinatus Tendon Avulsion
Authors: Yoon Kisyck , Kim Hyungsuk , Han Sung Bin , Song Hyun Seok
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Ultrasound (US) is useful for diagnosing full‐thickness rotator cuff tears and high‐grade partial‐thickness bursal‐side tears. However, anisotropy artifacts make it difficult to identify partial articular supraspinatus tendon avulsion (PASTA) by US. This study was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of US for PASTA and to uncover sensitive findings that could aid decisions to repair.

Methods

Patients who underwent preoperative US examinations and supraspinatus tendon confirmation by arthroscopic examinations were enrolled. We analyzed 52 PASTA cases involving greater than 50% thickness of the tendon and 52 age‐ and sex‐matched cases with an intact supraspinatus. Two orthopedic surgeons blinded to the diagnosis interpreted US videos of the supraspinatus tendon. Six findings (echo defect, tendon delamination, echo change, tendon thickness, tendon fiber pattern, and cartilage interface sign) were assessed. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for each US finding.

Results

The cases consisted of 46 men and 58 women. The US diagnosis of PASTA showed sensitivity of 64.7%, specificity of 94.1%, and accuracy of 79.4%. The echo change in the short axis showed the highest sensitivity. Thinning and delamination showed the highest specificity of 100%. In contrast to previous reports, the sensitivity of the cartilage interface sign was low in both long‐axis images (17.6%) and short‐axis images (29.4%).

Conclusions

Preoperative diagnostic US to aid decisions regarding PASTA repair showed high specificity (94.1%) and moderate accuracy (79.4%). However, the sensitivity was only 64.7% and was affected by the examiner's experience with US.
Evaluation of yield, yield stability, and yield–protein relationship in 17 commercial faba bean cultivars
Authors: Skovbjerg Cathrine Kiel , Knudsen Jens Nørgaard , Füchtbauer Winnie , Stougaard Jens , Stoddard Frederick L. , Janss Luc , Andersen Stig Uggerhøj
Published: April 2020

Faba bean is a legume crop with high protein content and considerable potential for wider cultivation in cool climates. However, it has a reputation for having unstable yield with large interannual variability, mostly attributed to yearly variation in rainfall. In this study, 17 commercial cultivars of faba bean were evaluated for seed yield, yield stability and the relationship between seed yield and protein content at four locations in Denmark and Finland during 2016–2018. We found that location and year effects accounted for 89% of the total seed yield variation. Cultivar × environment (GxE) interactions were small (2.4%) and did not cause reranking of cultivars across environments. Yield stability contributed little to the mean yield of the cultivars, as high‐yielding cultivars consistently outperformed the lower yielding genotypes, even under the most adverse conditions. Similarly, GxE effects on protein content were limited, and we found an overall negative correlation of −0.61 between seed yield and protein content for the cultivars and environments studied. These data may be helpful for selecting cultivars for field use or for use in breeding programmes, considering that future faba bean pricing could depend on both protein quantity and concentration.
Pelvic multi‐organ segmentation on cone‐beam CT for prostate adaptive radiotherapy
Authors: Fu Yabo , Lei Yang , Wang Tonghe , Tian Sibo , Patel Pretesh , Jani Ashesh B. , Curran Walter J. , Liu Tian , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: April 2020

Background and purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a deep learning‐based approach to simultaneously segment five pelvic organs including prostate, bladder, rectum, left and right femoral heads on cone‐beam CT (CBCT), as required elements for prostate adaptive radiotherapy planning.

Materials and methods

We propose to utilize both CBCT and CBCT‐based synthetic MRI (sMRI) for the segmentation of soft tissue and bony structures, as they provide complementary information for pelvic organ segmentation. CBCT images have superior bony structure contrast and sMRIs have superior soft tissue contrast. Prior to segmentation, sMRI was generated using a cycle‐consistent adversarial networks (CycleGAN), which was trained using paired CBCT‐MR images. To combine the advantages of both CBCT and sMRI, we developed a cross‐modality attention pyramid network with late feature fusion. Our method processes CBCT and sMRI inputs separately to extract CBCT‐specific and sMRI‐specific features prior to combining them in a late‐fusion network for final segmentation. The network was trained and tested using 100 patients’ datasets, with each dataset including the CBCT and manual physician contours. For comparison, we trained another two networks with different network inputs and architectures. The segmentation results were compared to manual contours for evaluations.

Results

For the proposed method, dice similarity coefficients and mean surface distances between the segmentation results and the ground truth were 0.96 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.67 mm; 0.91 ± 0.08, 0.93 ± 0.96 mm; 0.93 ± 0.04, 0.72 ± 0.61 mm; 0.95 ± 0.05, 1.05 ± 1.40 mm; and 0.95 ± 0.05, 1.08 ± 1.48 mm for bladder, prostate, rectum, left and right femoral heads, respectively. As compared to the other two competing methods, our method has shown superior performance in terms of the segmentation accuracy.

Conclusion

We developed a deep learning‐based segmentation method to rapidly and accurately segment five pelvic organs simultaneously from daily CBCTs. The proposed method could be used in the clinic to support rapid target and organs‐at‐risk contouring for prostate adaptive radiation therapy.
Magic‐angle‐spinning‐induced local ordering in polymer electrolytes and its effects on solid‐state diffusion and relaxation NMR measurements
Authors: Messinger Robert J. , Vu Huynh Tan , Bouchet Renaud , Sarou‐Kanian Vincent , Deschamps Michaël
Published: April 2020

Magic‐angle‐spinning (MAS) enhances sensitivity and resolution in solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. MAS is obtained by aerodynamic levitation and drive of a rotor, which results in large centrifugal forces that may affect the physical state of soft materials, such as polymers, and subsequent solid‐state NMR measurements. Here, we investigate the effects of MAS on the solid‐state NMR measurements of a polymer electrolyte for lithium‐ion battery applications, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) doped with the lithium salt LiTFSI. We show that MAS induces local chain ordering, which manifests itself as characteristic lineshapes with doublet‐like splittings in subsequent solid‐state 1H, 7Li, and 19F static NMR spectra characterizing the PEO chains and solvated ions. MAS results in distributions of stresses and hence local chain orientations within the rotor, yielding distributions in the local magnetic susceptibility tensor that give rise to the observed NMR anisotropy and lineshapes. The effects of MAS were investigated on solid‐state 7Li and 19F pulsed‐field‐gradient (PFG) diffusion and 7Li longitudinal relaxation NMR measurements. Activation energies for ion diffusion were affected modestly by MAS. 7Li longitudinal relaxation rates, which are sensitive to lithium‐ion dynamics in the nanosecond regime, were essentially unchanged by MAS. We recommend that NMR researchers studying soft polymeric materials use only the spin rates necessary to achieve the desired enhancements in sensitivity and resolution, as well as acquire static NMR spectra after MAS experiments to reveal any signs of stress‐induced local ordering.
Misconceived expectations: Patient reflections on the total knee replacement journey
Authors: Bunzli Samantha , O'Brien Penny , Klem Nardia , Incoll Ian , Singh Jasvinder , Davaris Myles , Choong Peter , Dowsey Michelle
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Fifty per cent of patients consent for total knee replacement (TKR) with unrealistic expectations about what it involves and can achieve. A framework is needed to help surgeons identify key knowledge gaps and misconceptions that can be targeted during the informed consent process. In this qualitative study, we explored knowledge gaps and misconceptions by asking patients to reflect on their expectations along the TKR journey.

Methods

Eligible adults were ≥18 years, 12‐month post‐TKR and had completed a validated expectations questionnaire pre‐TKR as part of a joint replacement registry. To capture a variety of perspectives, people with a range of pre‐TKR expectation scores were invited. In interviews, participants reflected on anticipated and actual experiences and unexpected experiences they had along the way. Transcripts were analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Recruitment ceased when thematic saturation was reached.

Ethics Approval

Ethical approval for this study was granted by the St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Ethics Committee (LRR 077/18).

Results

In the final sample (n = 20; 50% female; median age = 72 years; contralateral TKR = 11), all participants described instances where their anticipated and actual experiences diverged, including high expectations of improvements in pain/function (pre‐surgical optimism), lacking awareness about anaesthetic procedures (perioperative misunderstandings), feeling unprepared for the length of the recovery period (post‐operative misestimations) and trying to make sense of ongoing functional limitations (long‐term misattributions).

Discussion and Conclusion

These findings are captured in a preliminary framework of therapeutic misconception. Although future research is needed to test this framework prospectively in larger, more generalisable samples, surgeons can consider these key knowledge gaps and misconceptions when consenting for TKR.
In vivo detection of d‐amino acid oxidase with hyperpolarized d‐[1‐13C]alanine
Authors: Radaelli Alice , Gruetter Rolf , Yoshihara Hikari A. I.
Published: April 2020

d‐amino acid oxidase (DAO) is a peroxisomal enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of several neutral and basic d‐amino acids to their corresponding α‐keto acids. In most mammalian species studied, high DAO activity is found in the kidney, liver, brain and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and its main function is to maintain low circulating d‐amino acid levels. DAO expression and activity have been associated with acute and chronic kidney diseases and with several pathologies related to N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypo/hyper‐function; however, its precise role is not completely understood. In the present study we show that DAO activity can be detected in vivo in the rat kidney using hyperpolarized d‐[1‐13C]alanine. Following a bolus of hyperpolarized d‐alanine, accumulation of pyruvate, lactate and bicarbonate was observed only when DAO activity was not inhibited. The measured lactate‐to‐d‐alanine ratio was comparable to the values measured when the l‐enantiomer was injected. Metabolites downstream of DAO were not observed when scanning the liver and brain. The conversion of hyperpolarized d‐[1‐13C]alanine to lactate and pyruvate was detected in blood ex vivo, and lactate and bicarbonate were detected on scanning the blood pool in the heart in vivo; however, the bicarbonate‐to‐d‐alanine ratio was significantly lower compared with the kidney. These results demonstrate that the specific metabolism of the two enantiomers of hyperpolarized [1‐13C]alanine in the kidney and in the blood can be distinguished, underscoring the potential of d‐[1‐13C]alanine as a probe of d‐amino acid metabolism.
On “Optimal” h‐independent convergence of Parareal and multigrid‐reduction‐in‐time using Runge‐Kutta time integration
Authors: Friedhoff Stephanie , Southworth Ben S.
Published: April 2020

Although convergence of the Parareal and multigrid‐reduction‐in‐time (MGRIT) parallel‐in‐time algorithms is well studied, results on their optimality is limited. Appealing to recently derived tight bounds of two‐level Parareal and MGRIT convergence, this article proves (or disproves) hx‐ and ht‐independent convergence of two‐level Parareal and MGRIT, for linear problems of the form , where is symmetric positive definite and Runge‐Kutta time integration is used. The theory presented in this article also encompasses analysis of some modified Parareal algorithms, such as the θ‐Parareal method, and shows that not all Runge‐Kutta schemes are equal from the perspective of parallel‐in‐time. Some schemes, particularly L‐stable methods, offer significantly better convergence than others as they are guaranteed to converge rapidly at both limits of small and large htξ, where ξ denotes an eigenvalue of and ht time‐step size. On the other hand, some schemes do not obtain h‐optimal convergence, and two‐level convergence is restricted to certain regimes. In certain cases, an factor change in time step ht or coarsening factor k can be the difference between convergence factors ρ≈0.02 and divergence! The analysis is extended to skew‐symmetric operators as well, which cannot obtain h‐independent convergence and, in fact, will generally not converge for a sufficiently large number of time steps. Numerical results confirm the analysis in practice and emphasize the importance of a priori analysis in choosing an effective coarse‐grid scheme and coarsening factor. A Mathematica notebook to perform a priori two‐grid analysis is available at https://github.com/XBraid/xbraid‐convergence‐est.
Regional differences in access to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation among pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Truong Tony H , Pole Jason D , Bittencourt Henrique , Schechter Tal , Cuvelier Geoff D. E. , Paulson Kristjan , Rayar Meera , Mitchell David , Schultz Kirk R. , O'Shea Debbie , Barber Randy , Sung Lillian
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Indications for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are primarily dependent on risk stratification at diagnosis and relapse status. We sought to determine whether access to HSCT is influenced by regional and socioeconomic factors.

Methods

Children with newly diagnosed AML aged < 15 years between 2001 and 2015 were identified using the Cancer in Young People in Canada national population–based registry. Factors potentially associated with the receipt of HSCT were studied using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Overall, 568 children with newly diagnosed AML were included and 262 (46%) received HSCT. A greater proportion of patients, 103/157 (65.6%), underwent HSCT after first or subsequent relapse compared to 159/411 (38.7%) patients who underwent transplant before relapse. Among patients for whom HSCT would be considered before relapse, factors associated with higher odds of HSCT in a multivariable analysis were: poor versus good‐risk cytogenetics (Odds ratio [OR]: 30.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.7–117.0), diagnosis during 2012–2015 versus 2001–2006 (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.6–6.3), diagnosis in eastern Canada versus central Canada (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.9–7.3), and age 10–14 years versus age < 1 year (OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.3–12.8). Among patients for whom HSCT would be considered after first relapse, higher odds of HSCT was associated with diagnosis at a HSCT center (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–4.1).

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed at a HSCT performing center and patients from eastern Canada had higher odds of receiving HSCT. This may suggest preferential access to HSCT for certain patients.
French Translation and Validation of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment for Gluteal Tendinopathy Questionnaire
Authors: Beaudart Charlotte , Gillier Mario , Bornheim Stephen , Van Beveren Julien , Bruyère Olivier , Kaux Jean‐François
Published: April 2020

Background

Developed in 2015, the Victorian Institute for Sport Assessment for Gluteal Tendinopathy (VISA‐G) is the first patient‐reported outcome measure tool specifically designed to measure the severity of disability associated with greater trochanteric pain syndrome. There is currently no French version of the VISA‐G questionnaire.

Objective

To translate the VISA‐G questionnaire into French (VISA‐GF) and to test its psychometric performances.

Design

Cross‐sectional study, validation study.

Setting

Clinics in Liège, Belgium and in France.

Patients

Participants with greater trochanteric pain syndrome and control asymptomatic participants.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

French translation of the VISA‐G and psychometric performances of the questionnaire tested using internal consistency, construct validity and test–retest reliability with a 7‐day interval.

Results

The eight items of the VISA‐G questionnaire were translated without any difficulties. The psychometric validation study included 106 participants (median age 53 [58‐64] years old, 65 women [61.3%]). The questionnaire discriminates well between pathologic (n = 52) and asymptomatic participants (n = 54). Moreover, we found a good internal consistency and excellent test–retest reliability for the VISA‐GF questionnaire. We also confirmed the construct validity and did not find any floor or ceiling effects.

Conclusions

The VISA‐GF has been shown to be a valid and reliable way to measure the severity of disability associated with greater trochanteric pain syndrome in French‐speaking participants.
Engineering of multiple trypsin/chymotrypsin sites in Cry3A to enhance its activity against Monochamus alternatus Hope larvae
Authors: Guo Yajie , Wang Yafang , O'Donoghue Anthony J , Jiang Zhenze , Carballar‐Lejarazú Rebeca , Liang Guanghong , Hu Xia , Wang Rong , Xu Lei , Guan Xiong , Zhang Feiping , Wu Songqing
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3 toxins exhibit specific toxicity against several coleopteran larvae. However, owing to its low toxicity to Monochamus alternatus, Cry3A toxin is not useful for managing M. alternatus larvae. Here we assessed the proteolytic activation of Cry3Aa toxin in M. alternatus larval midgut and increased its toxicity by molecular modification.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that insufficient processing of Cry3Aa protoxin and non‐specific enzymatic digestion of Cry3Aa toxin in the midgut of M. alternatus larvae led to low toxicity. The results of transcriptome analysis, enzymatic assay with fluorogenic substrates, and multiplex substrate profiling by mass spectrometry showed that the main digestive enzymes in M. alternatus larval midgut were trypsin‐like proteases that preferentially cleaved peptides with arginine and lysine residues. Consequently, trypsin recognition sites were introduced into the Domain I of Cry3Aa protoxin in the loop regions between α‐helix 3 and α‐helix 4 to facilitate proteolytic activation. Multiple potential trypsin cleavage sites away from the helix sheet and functional regions in Cry3Aa proteins were also mutated to alanine to prevent non‐specific enzymatic digestion. Bioassays indicated that a modified Cry3Aa‐T toxin (K65A, K70A, K231A, K468A, and K596A) showed a 9.5‐fold (LC50 = 12.3 μg/mL) increase in toxicity to M. alternatus larvae when compared to native Cry3Aa toxin.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights an effective way to increase the toxicity of Cry3Aa toxin to M. alternatus, which may be suitable for managing the resistance of transgenic plants to other pests, including some of the most important pests in agriculture. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Urbanisation and differential vulnerability to coastal flooding among migrants and nonmigrants in Bangladesh
Authors: Liu Zhen , Balk Deborah
Published: April 2020

Like much of Asia, Bangladesh will see an urban transition in the coming decades. Yet, its urbanisation will be unprecedented in terms of climate vulnerabilities. Little is known about urbanisation and migrants, in the context of these vulnerabilities, in part because demographic inquiry and training (with a few notable exceptions) has only begun in the last decade to embrace new, spatial data and methods of analysis—especially those involving earth‐observing satellites. This descriptive analysis examines urban change along with low‐elevation coastal zone (LECZ) data as a proxy for flood exposure, using data from satellites, and integrates those features with socioeconomic characteristics and migration information from demographic and health survey data (DHS 2000–2014). We describe where urban change has occurred in the past 40 years, with a focus on understanding change occurring in LECZ areas. We then describe vulnerabilities of the households and migrants in areas of urban change from about 2004 onward, both in terms of their potential exposure to flooding and socioeconomic characteristics. We find that moderate‐risk, 7‐10m LECZ areas are not only more built‐up than higher elevation areas, but they have also had appreciably more urban development as measured by built‐up change than other areas. Although we found that poor urban households are more likely to be located in flood‐prone areas, poor households were also less likely to be in areas that are built‐up. The 0‐6m LECZ has lower proportions of urban in‐migrants, but among those migrants to cities, the flood‐prone LECZ is more likely to be the destination of poor migrants. This paper suggests that climate adaptation plans should be spatially specific because poor migrants are more likely to be located in LECZ areas that are more prone to flooding.
Legal geographies of irregular migration: An outlook on immigration detention
Authors: Könönen Jukka
Published: April 2020

In this article, I discuss legal geographies of irregular migration, drawing on a case study on immigration detention in Finland. Based on analysis of detention records, four different types of legal geographies are identified, relating to south–north movement of third‐country nationals inside Europe, criminalised Eastern European EU citizens, irregularity during the asylum process (in particular, related to the Dublin Regulation) and irregularly residing foreign nationals, including deportable long‐term residents. The analysis focuses on the relations between space, law and persons during detainees' irregular migration trajectories, paying attention to their varying entry routes, residence times, legal grounds for removal and detention and removal countries. I argue for the need for empirically contextualised analysis that addresses the complex relations between law and geography beyond a particular national context, in order to better understand the dynamics of irregular migration in all its variety.
Theoretical examination of covalency in berkelium(IV) carbonate complexes
Authors: Albrecht‐Schmitt Thomas E. , Hobart David E. , Páez‐Hernández Dayan , Celis‐Barros Cristian
Published: April 2020

Experimental studies on the speciation of berkelium in carbonate media have shown that complexation of berkelium(III) by carbonate results in spontaneous oxidation to berkelium(IV) and that multiple species can be present in solution. We studied two proposed structures present in solution based on theoretical comparisons with spectroscopic data previously reported for Bk(IV) carbonate solutions. The multiconfigurational character of the ground and low‐lying excited states in both complexes is demonstrated to result from the strong spin‐orbit coupling. Although bonding in Bk(IV) carbonate and carbonate‐hydroxide complexes is dominated by strong Coulombic forces, the presence of non‐negligible covalent character is supported by ligand‐field theory, natural localized orbitals, topological studies of the electron density, and energy transition state natural orbitals for chemical valence. Bond orders based on natural localized molecular orbitals show that BkOH bonds possess enhanced orbital overlap, which is reflected in the bond strength. This is also observed in the decomposition of the orbital interaction energy into individual deformation density pairs.
Investor sentiment‐styled index in index futures market
Authors: Li Weiping , Liu Wenwen
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we define and analyze the sentiment‐styled index for the CSI 300 index futures in the Chinese futures market. Our sentiment‐styled index for the CSI 300 index futures from April 16, 2010 to April 30, 2019 is constructed by the first and second principal component analyses, rather than only by the first principal component analysis used in the Baker and Wurgler (Journal of Finance 61(4): 1645–1680, 2006) method. The sentiment‐styled index explains 78.38% of the sample variance. The vector error correction model is adapted to study the dynamics of cointegration of the sentiment‐styled index and the logarithmic futures price. We use the GARCH‐DCC model to illustrate the spillover effect between the sentiment‐styled index and the Chinese futures market. We show that this investor sentiment‐styled index does have the price discovery from the Granger causality and common factor weights and the hedging function from the Baba–Engle–Kraft–Kroner model empirically; furthermore, we use the curvature term of the sentiment‐styled index to determine the multiple unit roots. More empirical results for the sentiment‐styled index of the Chinese stock market, the sentiment‐styled index of the CSI 300 index futures, and the return of the CSI 300 index futures market are studied in this paper.
“Paint it black”: Wealth‐in‐people and Early Classic Maya blackware pottery
Authors: Callaghan Michael G.
Published: April 2020

During the Early Classic period in the Maya lowlands (AD 250–600), black serving vessels were placed as offerings in the highest‐status elite burials. Complicated forms and sophisticated decorative conventions transformed these simple ceramic containers into precious social valuables that were deposited with only the most privileged individuals. This article presents new data, analyses, and interpretations of the production and exchange of Early Classic blackware that are informed by the concepts of wealth‐in‐people as wealth‐in‐knowledge. I specifically ask whether Early Classic Maya blackware was produced and exchanged by highly skilled artisans who were commissioned by political elites in an effort to grow political followers through gifting and increase a leader's wealth‐in‐people. This research demonstrates that Early Classic blackware was produced and consumed as a means to aid kings in becoming venerated ancestors. Blackware was part of a performative process of maintaining a leader's social network that continued in death and that was emphasized by descendants as a means to further legitimize their own accession and political futures.
Fluorescent Polyaniline Nanoclips (PANCs): A Highly Sensitive and Selective Chemical Sensor for the Detection of Hg (II) Ions in Aqueous Media
Authors: Marieeswaran Muppidathi , Panneerselvam Perumal
Published: April 2020

Novel fluorescent biosensor constructed by polyaniline nanoclips (PANCs) embedded with FAM‐ssDNA for precise detection of mercury ions (Hg2+). The PANCs was adapted to fabricate by an oxidative template method and characterized via various analytical techniques, namely scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), powder X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), circular dichroism (CD spectra) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Based on the strong adsorption property of PANCs was despite a strong quenching of FAM‐ssDNA fluorescence. Furthermore, FAM‐ssDNA was a strong surface absorption on the surface of polyaniline nanoclips through non‐covalent interaction. The fluorescence intensity decreased denotes the electrons transfer from the nitrogen in polyaniline nanoclips to fluorophore of ssDNA as well as may be photo‐induced electron transfer (PET). Meanwhile, the addition of mercury ion into a detection probe, which increases the fluorescence intensity due to the desorption. However, the strong binding ability between mercury ion and thymine of FAM‐ss DNA leads to form T‐Hg2+‐T duplex mismatch. These results indicate the significant fluorescence intensity was improved and the Hg2+ sensor was developed. Interestingly, the sensing probe reached the detection limit at 4 nM with rapid response and showed high selectivity towards mercury ions compared to other metal ions. Furthermore, the polyaniline nanoclips were potentially applied for the real samples.
Investigating the mix of strategic choices and performance of transaction platforms: Evidence from the crowdfunding setting
Authors: Dushnitsky Gary , Piva Evila , Rossi‐Lamastra Cristina
Published: April 2020

Research Summary

The platform literature offers keen insights on the pricing and non‐pricing strategies that transaction platforms undertake. We supplement this work by studying how platforms mix together their strategic choices and the association with platforms’ performance. To that end, we focus on crowdfunding platforms; a prominent setting of transaction platforms. We present an inductive large‐N study of the population of 788 crowdfunding platforms that operated in EU‐15 countries up to 2018. Our contribution is threefold: (a) identifying common mixes of strategic choices; (b) tracking deviations from these mixes; and (c) associating these with platforms’ survival and growth. We discuss our findings and how they advance knowledge at the intersection of the platform and strategic management literatures.

Managerial Summary

Notable transaction‐platforms such as eBay, LinkedIn, and Tencent have an aggregate market‐value in the hundreds of billions of dollars. We know that platforms’ success is driven by the strategic choices they undertake. Yet, we know less about how they mix together these choices and the association with platforms’ performance. Our study addresses this gap by focusing on a prominent setting: crowdfunding. Using data on the population of 788 crowdfunding platforms in EU‐15 countries, we show that these platforms cluster around three common mixes of strategic choices. Moreover, crowdfunding platforms do not strictly adhere to the strategy mix they are affiliated with. Interestingly, there is a positive association between the degree to which a platform's choices differentiate from its strategy mix and platform's subsequent performance.
A vision system for canning with fish sensing using rule‐based matching and segmentation
Authors: Zhang Yi , You Mengbo , Miyoshi Tasuku , Akashi Takuya
Published: April 2020

We develop a machine vision system as a key component of a robot‐assisted packaging system, which can guide the robot arms to pack the roast sauries into cans. For gripping strategy generation, the system is required not only to be able to detect the roast saury area but also estimate the geometric parameters. Besides, according to different canning requirements, it is also necessary to distinguish the type of fish parts. Facing these challenges, we propose a novel rule‐based matching method combined with an improved efficient graph‐based image segmentation (EGIS) method for sensing the fish part. Specifically, the matching method applies our originally designed rule‐based similarity under a genetic algorithm framework combined with deterministic crowding technique, which is used to sensing one type of fish parts. On the other hand, we improve the EGIS by introducing a shape restriction to deal with leftover fish parts. The experiments are implemented for two different types of fish part in the real factory environment. The result of our method achieved a mean location accuracy of 93.5% with a practical average processing time of 2.6 s per image. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Simulation and prediction of electrooxidation removal of ammonia and its application in industrial wastewater effluent
Authors: Ding Jing , Gao Qingwei , Wang Yuhan , Zhao Guanshu , Wang Kun , Jiang Junqiu , Li Junjing , Zhao Qingliang
Published: April 2020

A FLUENT software able to predict and assess the electrooxidation of ammonia from the simulation of ammonia concentration and flow field distribution was developed in this study. The flow field‐based models of ammonia removal were simulated and modified through the experimental results. The parameter of reaction constant k is corrected to 0.00195, and the modified model fitted well with experimental values, with the error less than 4%. The electrode depth of 4 cm was assessed to be optimal for ammonia removal based on the comparison of the simulation results on ammonia concentration and flow field distribution. The prediction result applied in the industrial wastewater treatment indicated that complete could be achieved at 0.27 Ah/L, and about 50% of total nitrogen was removed at 0.8 Ah/L. About 7% of chloride ions were converted into inorganic by‐products, indicating low biological toxicity and risk on environment. The energy consumption increased with the promotion of removal efficiency of total nitrogen, requiring 5.4 kWh/m3 to remove 50% total nitrogen at 0.8 Ah/L. The results show the practicability and feasibility of this FLUENT software tool on the simulation and prediction of electrooxidation process, which can provide the simulation parameter settings for the subsequent application.

Practitioner points

A FLUENT software based on the simulation of ammonia concentration and flow field distribution was able to predict and assess ammonia electrooxidation.

A modified model is provided with a rate constant k of 0.00195 and the distinction of 4% with experimental results.

The optimal electrode depth was predicted to be 4 cm via the obtained model.

Complete ammonia and about 50% of total nitrogen could be at 0.27 Ah/L and 0.8 Ah/L, receptively.

About 7% of chloride ions were converted into inorganic by‐products in industrial wastewater with high chloride.
Regulating cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate: “Sources,” “sinks,” and now, “tunable valves”
Authors: Getz Michael , Rangamani Padmini , Ghosh Pradipta
Published: April 2020

A number of hormones and growth factors stimulate target cells via the second messenger pathways, which in turn regulate cellular phenotypes. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger that facilitates numerous signal transduction pathways; its production in cells is tightly balanced by ligand‐stimulated receptors that activate adenylate cyclases (ACs), that is, “source” and by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that hydrolyze it, that is, “sinks.” Because it regulates various cellular functions, including cell growth and differentiation, gene transcription and protein expression, the cAMP signaling pathway has been exploited for the treatment of numerous human diseases. Reduction in cAMP is achieved by blocking “sources”; however, elevation in cAMP is achieved by either stimulating “source” or blocking “sinks.” Here we discuss an alternative paradigm for the regulation of cellular cAMP via GIV/Girdin, the prototypical member of a family of modulators of trimeric GTPases, Guanine nucleotide Exchange Modulators (GEMs). Cells upregulate or downregulate cellular levels of GIV‐GEM, which modulates cellular cAMP via spatiotemporal mechanisms distinct from the two most often targeted classes of cAMP modulators, “sources” and “sinks.” A network‐based compartmental model for the paradigm of GEM‐facilitated cAMP signaling has recently revealed that GEMs such as GIV serve much like a “tunable valve” that cells may employ to finetune cellular levels of cAMP. Because dysregulated signaling via GIV and other GEMs has been implicated in multiple disease states, GEMs constitute a hitherto untapped class of targets that could be exploited for modulating aberrant cAMP signaling in disease states.

This article is categorized under:

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models

Biological Mechanisms > Cell Signaling
Effective Control of the Electron‐donating Ability of Phosphines by using Phosphazenyl and Phosphoniumylidyl Substituents
Authors: Werra Janina A. , Wünsche Marius A. , Rathmann Patrick , Mehlmann Paul , Löwe Pawel , Dielmann Fabian
Published: April 2020

Phosphoniumylidyl and phosphazenyl groups are effective substituents to increase the electron‐donating ability of tertiary phosphines. However, the influence of structural variations among those substituents on the electronic properties of the phosphines is little explored. Herein, we show that protonation of the ylidic carbon atom of phosphoniumylidyl phosphines increases the Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) by ΔTEP = 16.0–18.8 cm–1. Furthermore, phosphazenyl phosphines were synthesized with isopropyl groups (NP{iPr}3) and tetramethylguanidino groups (NP{tmg}3) at the phosphonium center. Determination of their TEP values reveals a remarkable low substituent parameter of χ = –18.5 cm–1 for the NP(tmg)3 group. In addition, we prepared the corresponding gold(I) complexes and determined their solid‐state structures using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies to analyze the steric profile of the new phosphine ligands.
Education Truly Matters: Key Lessons from Mexico’s Educational Reform for Educating the Whole Child
Authors: Bonilla-Rius Elisa
Published: April 2020

Mexico’s 2012–2018 federal administration launched an extensive educational reform whose main goal was to transform its large and complex education system, so as to prepare students to successfully face twenty first century challenges. The assumption being that, by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in this rapidly changing world, Mexico will in turn become prosperous, fair and free. It entailed rethinking the conceptualization and structure of the system, and involved profound transformations in its organizational, budgetary, technical, pedagogical and administrative spheres, with quality and equity as guiding principles. Two disruptive innovations –which steered the process– stand out: teachers’ appraisals and the new national curriculum. About this curriculum, three, of several salient features, discussed in this chapter, are: its learning outcomes’ structure, which effectively articulate twelve of the fifteen grades of compulsory education; the introduction, from PreK to12th grade, of socioemotional learning; and curricular autonomy as a means to achieving pedagogical innovations in schools. Unfortunately, this reform defied deeply rooted uses and habits of various stakeholders and treaded on many political interests, which resulted in a convoluted process that has threatened its consolidation. The new president campaigned against the reform. It is still uncertain what policies would continue.
Peru: A Wholesale Reform Fueled by an Obsession with Learning and Equity
Authors: Saavedra Jaime , Gutierrez Marcela
Published: April 2020

After decades of expansion, the Peruvian education system had relatively high levels of access, but low and heterogeneous quality. The depth of the learning crisis was seen in 2013, when Peru ranked last in PISA. The country responded by implementing an ambitious reform which built on previous efforts, which is described in detail in this chapter. The reform was composed of four pillars: (i) Revalorize teachers’ career by making selection and promotion meritocratic, attracting the best into the profession, and supporting teacher professional development through school-based coaching; (ii) Improve the quality of learning for all by revising the curriculum, expanding early childhood education and full-day schooling, providing direct support to schools (through lesson plans and school grants) and carrying out several deep institutional reforms to the university system; (iii) Effective management of the school and the education system, including the use of learning assessment data for school planning. This entailed increasing school autonomy, introducing meritocracy in the selection of principals, and creating a culture of evidence-based decision making; and (iv) Close the infrastructure gap. The reform process required strong political and financial commitment and resulted in impressive improvements in student learning. Most importantly, it led to a change in mindsets towards a focus on learning.
How Do We Arrange?
Authors: Willison John
Published: April 2020

This chapter, ‘How do we arrange?’ provides numerous examples of teachers using the MELT to arrange and prompt more sophisticated thinking across the educational trajectory. These examples help to introduce others’ pedagogical interpretations of what form the MELT had needed to take on and how it needed to be implemented in order for it to work in each of their contexts.
Cryptography Core Technology
Authors: Cheng Chen-Mou , Kodera Kenta , Miyaji Atsuko , Okumura Shinya
Published: April 2020

In this chapter, we describe the analysis of security basis. One is the analysis of elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem (ECDLP). ECDLP is one of the public-key cryptosystems that can achieve a short key size but it is not a post-quantum cryptosystem. Another is analysis to learning with error (LWE), which is a post-quantum cryptosystem and has the functionality of homomorphic encryption. These two security bases have important roles in each protocol described in Sect. 2.2.4.2
Secure Data Management Technology
Authors: Mimoto Tomoaki , Kiyomoto Shinsaku , Miyaji Atsuko
Published: April 2020

In this chapter, we introduce data anonymization techniques for several types of datasets. Data anonymity of anonymized datasets is an index for estimating the (maximum) reidentification risk from anonymized datasets and is generally defined as a quantitative index based on adversary models. The adversary models are implicitly defined according to the attributes in the datasets, use cases, and anonymization techniques. We first review existing anonymization techniques and the adversary models behind the data anonymity definitions for anonymization techniques; then, we propose a common anonymity definition and its adversary model, which is applicable to several types of anonymization techniques. Furthermore, some extensions of the definition, which is optimized for specific types of datasets, are presented in the chapter.
Melanoma-associated fibroblasts impair CD8+ T cell function and modify expression of immune checkpoint regulators via increased arginase activity
Authors: Érsek Barbara , Silló Pálma , Cakir Ugur , Molnár Viktor , Bencsik András , Mayer Balázs , Mezey Eva , Kárpáti Sarolta , Pós Zoltán , Németh Krisztián
Published: April 2020

This study shows that melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) suppress cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and reveals a pivotal role played by arginase in this phenomenon. MAFs and normal dermal fibroblasts (DFs) were isolated from surgically resected melanomas and identified as Melan-A-/gp100-/FAP+ cells. CTLs of healthy blood donors were activated in the presence of MAF- and DF-conditioned media (CM). Markers of successful CTL activation, cytotoxic degranulation, killing activity and immune checkpoint regulation were evaluated by flow cytometry, ELISPOT, and redirected killing assays. Soluble mediators responsible for MAF-mediated effects were identified by ELISA, flow cytometry, inhibitor assays, and knock-in experiments. In the presence of MAF-CM, activated/non-naïve CTLs displayed dysregulated ERK1/2 and NF-κB signaling, impeded CD69 and granzyme B production, impaired killing activity, and upregulated expression of the negative immune checkpoint receptors TIGIT and BTLA. Compared to DFs, MAFs displayed increased amounts of VISTA and HVEM, a known ligand of BTLA on T cells, increasedl-arginase activity and CXCL12 release. Transgenic arginase over-expression further increased, while selective arginase inhibition neutralized MAF-induced TIGIT and BTLA expression on CTLs. Our data indicate that MAF interfere with intracellular CTL signaling via soluble mediators leading to CTL anergy and modify immune checkpoint receptor availability vial-arginine depletion.

Graphic abstract
Translational genomics for achieving higher genetic gains in groundnut
Authors: Pandey Manish K. , Pandey Arun K. , Kumar Rakesh , Nwosu Chogozie Victor , Guo Baozhu , Wright Graeme C. , Bhat Ramesh S. , Chen Xiaoping , Bera Sandip K. , Yuan Mei , Jiang Huifang , Faye Issa , Radhakrishnan Thankappan , Wang Xingjun , Liang Xuanquiang , Liao Boshou , Zhang Xinyou , Varshney Rajeev K. , Zhuang Weijian
Published: April 2020

Key message

Groundnut has entered now in post-genome era enriched with optimum genomic and genetic resources to facilitate faster trait dissection, gene discovery and accelerated genetic improvement for developing climate-smart varieties.

Cultivated groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea), an allopolyploid oilseed crop with a large and complex genome, is one of the most nutritious food. This crop is grown in more than 100 countries, and the low productivity has remained the biggest challenge in the semiarid tropics. Recently, the groundnut research community has witnessed fast progress and achieved several key milestones in genomics research including genome sequence assemblies of wild diploid progenitors, wild tetraploid and both the subspecies of cultivated tetraploids, resequencing of diverse germplasm lines, genome-wide transcriptome atlas and cost-effective high and low-density genotyping assays. These genomic resources have enabled high-resolution trait mapping by using germplasm diversity panels and multi-parent genetic populations leading to precise gene discovery and diagnostic marker development. Furthermore, development and deployment of diagnostic markers have facilitated screening early generation populations as well as marker-assisted backcrossing breeding leading to development and commercialization of some molecular breeding products in groundnut. Several new genomics applications/technologies such as genomic selection, speed breeding, mid-density genotyping assay and genome editing are in pipeline. The integration of these new technologies hold great promise for developing climate-smart, high yielding and more nutritious groundnut varieties in the post-genome era.