bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development agencies of the future: The limits of adaptation
Authors: Lundsgaarde Erik , Fejerskov Adam Moe 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe analysis of the future of development agencies commonly adopts a view that the adaptability of agencies to a set of external challenges in the global development landscape determines their fitness for the future. This article offers alternative entry points for reflections on the future role of development agencies in managing global challenges. It argues that recent analysis focusing on agency adaptation has two key limitations. First, it does not adequately account for the existing diversity of organizational forms and the differences in the functions that development agencies assume. Second, it does not acknowledge that agency adaptation can reflect organizational dynamics involving the pursuit of sustained legitimacy rather than a rational response to external challenges. As a consequence, agencies encouraged to change in order to maintain relevance may extend their engagement to areas where they lack expertise, implying a tradeoff between organizational adaptation and effectiveness. The article concludes that further analysis of possible trajectories for development agencies should emphasize the place of organizations within a domestic and international division of labor and the varied strengths of current organizational alternatives to orient future decisions on how to invest in the infrastructure for global cooperation.
Validity of web‐based self‐assessment of pubertal development against pediatrician assessments
Authors: Peng Xiaoxia , Peng Yaguang , Li Yuchuan , Nie Xiaolu , Gong Chunxiu , Wu Di , Ni Xin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractImportanceA web‐based instrument for self‐assessment of puberty could be convenient and feasible for large‐scale multicenter population‐based epidemiological studies for Tanner stages evaluation.ObjectiveTo validate web‐based self‐assessment of pubertal development against assessment by a pediatrician.MethodsOutpatients aged 8–18 years were consecutively recruited in the endocrinology department of Beijing Children's Hospital from October 2016 to August 2017. A web‐based self‐assessment instrument for pubertal development was introduced to participants by an appointed pediatrician. Tanner stage of puberty was self‐assessed by participants in a private environment. Participants were then examined by a senior pediatrician underwent blinded assessment. Weighted kappa and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate agreement. The accuracy of the web‐based instrument for self‐assessment of pubertal onset was evaluated according to sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive valueResultsA total of 174 participants (including 82 girls and 92 boys) were assessed consecutively. Correlation coefficients were 0.872 for pubic hair and 0.933 for testicular volume (P<0.001) among boys; a similar result was obtained for the weighted kappa value (0.825). For girls, the correlation coefficient and weighted kappa for pubic hair was 0.785 and 0.878, respectively. However, breast self‐assessment had a medium level of agreement with pediatrician assessment (weighted kappa, 0.495; correlation coefficient, 0.643). Moreover, the accuracy of self‐assessment in children aged 10 years or above was better than that in children aged less than 10 years.InterpretationAssessment of pubertal development using a web‐based self‐assessment instrument could be less accurate among children aged less than 10 years, especially for girls’ breast assessment. Therefore, self‐assessment of pubertal development, especially for breast development, should be interpreted cautiously.
Improving pediatric resident laryngoscopy training through the use of a video laryngoscope
Authors: Lilitwat Weerapong , McInnes Andrew , Chauhan Jigar 
Published: October 2018

AbstractImportanceOpportunities for pediatric residents to perform direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (DLTI) are few and the success rate is low.ObjectiveWe hypothesize that incorporation of video laryngoscope (McGrath MAC) into pediatric residents DLTI simulation course will improve the simulated DLTI success rate.MethodsResidents were given 3 attempts at DLTI: (1) baseline using a conventional laryngoscope (CL); (2) using a video laryngoscope (VL); and (3) again using the CL. Residents were given up to 120 seconds to complete each DLTI attempt. Time to successful DLTI was collected. Residents recorded their best view (larynx, epiglottis, vocal cords) with each DLTI attempt.ResultsPrior to the intervention, 15/17 (88.2%) and 16/17 (94.1%) of the participants reported prior exposure to DLTI as “less than 10 total attempts” in simulated and live patients respectively. Seventeen pediatric residents performed 51 DLTI attempts (34 with a CL and 17 with the VL). Success rates for DLTI are as follows: Baseline with CL 11/17 (64.7%), VL 12/17 (70.6%), and last attempt with CL 13/17 (76.5%) (P = 0.15). Compared to the baseline, the use of VL resulted in a shorter but non‐significant decrease in time to successful DLTI (Mean 34.2 sec [SD, 22.0] vs. 56.5 sec [SD, 40.2]; P = 0.08). Repeat attempts at DLTI with the CL, however, were significantly shorter than baseline (Mean 20.3 sec [SD, 12.8] vs. 56.5 sec [SD, 40.2]; P = 0.003). Using the VL, more residents could visualize the vocal cords compared to the baseline (14/17 [82.3%] vs. 9/17 [52.9%]; P = 0.03).InterpretationRepeated training is certainly a way to improve successful DLTI. Use of VL as a new teaching method led to greater visualization of the vocal cords, shortening operating time and raising self‐confidence.
Proteomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Diagnostics
Authors: Wu Anthony Yan‐Tang , Ueda Koji , Lai Charles Pin‐Kuang 
Published: October 2018

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes and microvesicles are lipid bilayer‐encapsulated nanoparticles released by cells, ranging from 40 nm to several microns in diameter. Biological cargoes including proteins, RNAs, and DNAs can be ferried by EVs to neighboring and distant cells via biofluids, serving as a means of cell‐to‐cell communication under normal and pathological conditions, especially cancers. On the other hand, EVs have been investigated as a novel “information capsule” for early disease detection and monitoring via liquid biopsy. This review summarizes current advancements in EV subtype characterization, cancer EV capture, proteomic analysis technologies, as well as possible EV‐based multiomics for cancer diagnostics.
Dual Management of Electrons and Photons to Get High‐Performance Light Emitting Devices Based on Si Nanowires and Si Quantum Dots with Al2O3‐Ag Hybrid Nanostructures
Authors: Ji Yang , Lin Zewen , Liu Xiaolong , Liu Jian , Yang Huafeng , Li Dongke , Liu Jingjing , Xu Jun , Li Wei , Chen Kunji 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSilicon quantum dot (Si QD)‐based light emitting devices are fabricated on Si nanowire (Si NW) arrays. Through inserting Al2O3‐Ag hybrid nanostructures (Al2O3‐Ag HNs) between Si NWs and Si QDs, both photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) are remarkably enhanced compared to the control sample. The PL enhancement can be mainly attributed to passivation effect of Al2O3 to p‐type Si NWs and enlarged absorption cross‐section due to the local surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles. The EL intensity is enhanced by 14.9‐fold at the same injection current under a lower applied voltage, which may result from the high injection efficiency of electrons and the promoted waveguide effect of nanowire structures with Al2O3‐Ag HNs. It is demonstrated that light emitting device performances can be well improved by careful management of both electrons and photons via controlling the interface conditions of Si NWs/Si QDs.
Separation in D‐optimal experimental designs for the logistic regression model
Authors: Park Anson R. , Mancenido Michelle V. , Montgomery Douglas C. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe D‐optimality criterion is often used in computer‐generated experimental designs when the response of interest is binary, such as when the attribute of interest can be categorized as pass or fail. The majority of methods in the generation of D‐optimal designs focus on logistic regression as the base model for relating a set of experimental factors with the binary response. Despite the advances in computational algorithms for calculating D‐optimal designs for the logistic regression model, very few have acknowledged the problem of separation, a phenomenon where the responses are perfectly separable by a hyperplane in the design space. Separation causes one or more parameters of the logistic regression model to be inestimable via maximum likelihood estimation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the tendency of computer‐generated, nonsequential D‐optimal designs to yield separation in small‐sample experimental data. Sets of local D‐optimal and Bayesian D‐optimal designs with different run (sample) sizes are generated for several “ground truth” logistic regression models. A Monte Carlo simulation methodology is then used to estimate the probability of separation for each design. Results of the simulation study confirm that separation occurs frequently in small‐sample data and that separation is more likely to occur when the ground truth model has interaction and quadratic terms. Finally, the paper illustrates that different designs with identical run sizes created from the same model can have significantly different chances of encountering separation.
Synthesis and characterization of eight single chain length chlorinated paraffin standards and their use for quantification
Authors: Sprengel Jannik , Vetter Walter 
Published: October 2018

RationaleQuantification of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) via gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ionization low‐resolution mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI‐MS) is a very common practice, although the quality of the results has been disputed due to insufficient mass resolution and the strong impact of the degree of chlorination on the GC/ECNI‐MS response.MethodsFor further tests we synthesized eight single chain length CP standards (C10–C17) with chlorine contents between 51.1% and 61.3%. The individual single chain length standards, 1 + 1 mixtures of two chain length standards and self‐prepared mixtures of short‐chain and medium‐chain CPs were quantified by linear regression according to a previously reported method (method 1) as well as by exponential regression (method 2).ResultsConcentrations obtained from single chain length CP standards deviated between −74% and 152% from the target value. However, the error became smaller when self‐prepared CP mixes with two and four chain lengths were analysed. For short‐chain CP (SCCP) mixture analysis, both methods produced good results (<25% deviation from the target value). In the case of medium‐chain CP (MCCP) mixtures, however, method 2 (17–34% deviation) was more accurate than method 1 (43–52% deviation).ConclusionsBoth methods 1 and 2 are fit for GC/ECNI‐MS analysis of SCCP mixtures, while the improved method 2 is recommended for quantification of MCCP mixtures.
What's in a whisker? Disentangling ecological and physiological isotopic signals
Authors: McHuron Elizabeth A. , Holser Rachel R. , Costa Daniel P. 
Published: October 2018

RationaleStable isotope analysis of keratinized tissues is an informative tool for quantifying foraging ecology that can address questions related to niche specialization and temporal variation in behavior. Application of this approach relies on an understanding of tissue growth and how isotope ratios relate to physiological and ecological processes, data that are lacking for many species.MethodsWe collected paired whisker length measurements from northern elephant seals to estimate growth and shedding patterns (n = 16). A subset of seals (n = 5) carried a satellite tag and time–depth recorder across the 7+ month foraging trip following the annual pelage molt. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were measured in whisker segments grown across the 6+ week fasting on land and the subsequent foraging trip; profiles were combined with growth parameters to timestamp each segment and investigate relationships with foraging behavior.ResultsWhisker loss and initial regrowth primarily occurred during the annual pelage molt, but newly grown whiskers exhibited active, nonlinear growth across the foraging trip. The δ13C and δ15N values were higher in segments grown on land than at sea and exhibited a characteristic decline upon departure from the rookery. There was a relationship between latitude and longitude and δ15N values, and individual whisker segments grown at sea could be classified to the correct ecoregion with 81% accuracy.ConclusionsFasting affected both δ13C and δ15N values and the ability to exclude these values from ecological investigations is crucial given the temporal overlap with tissue growth. The rapid decline in isotope ratios upon departure can be used to isolate portions of the whisker with a strong physiological signal, even for whiskers with unknown growth histories. The active growth across the foraging trip combined with the ability to identify differences in foraging behavior validates the utility of this approach for addressing ecological questions.
Reconsidering mass spectrometric fragmentation in electron ionization mass spectrometry – new insights from recent instrumentation and isotopic labelling exemplified by ketoprofen and related compounds
Authors: Assaf Jaber , Kollmeier Annette Sophie , Müller Christian , Parr Maria Kristina 
Published: October 2018

RationaleIn various fields of chemical analyses, structurally unknown analytes are considered. Proper structure confirmation may be challenged by the low amounts of analytes that are available, e.g. in early stage drug development, in metabolism studies, in toxicology or in environmental analyses. In these cases, mass spectrometric techniques are often used to build up structure proposals for these unknowns. Fragmentation reactions in mass spectrometry are known to follow definite pathways that may help to assign structural elements by fragment ion recognition. This work illustrates an investigation of fragmentation reactions for gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometric characterization of benzophenone derivatives using the analgesic drug ketoprofen and seven of its related compounds as model compounds.MethodsDeuteration and 18O‐labelling experiments along with high‐resolution accurate mass and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were used to further elucidate fragmentation pathways and to substantiate rationales for structure assignments. Low‐energy ionization was investigated to increase confidence in the identity of the molecular ion.ResultsThe high‐resolution mass analyses yielded unexpected differences that led to reconsideration of the proposals. Site‐specific isotopic labelling helped to directly trace back fragment ions to their respective structural elements. The proposed fragmentation pathways were substantiated by MS/MS experiments.ConclusionsThe described method may offer a perspective to increase the level of confidence in unknown analyses, where reference material is not (yet) available.
Novel Concept to Endow Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Surfaces with Reactive Surface Groups
Authors: Ziegler Lisa , Simon Frank , Boldt Regine , Reuter Uta , Janke Andreas , Zimmerer Cordelia 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) moldings with poly(vinylamine) (PVAm) was performed to produce a novel composite material with a reactive surface, which can be subsequently functionalized to be (bio)compatible. The synthetic potential of the composite material was achieved by endowing the surface with a high density of primary amino groups. To graft the PVAm layer onto PMMA, an interlayer of polymerized dopamine (PDA) was deposited on the PMMA surface. This PDA layer acted as a reactive adhesion promoter. When varying the oxidizing agents, the oxidative polymerization of dopamine was extensively studied concerning deposition rate and homogeneity. Dess‐Martin periodinane possess a mean PDA deposition rate of 14.6 nm⋅h−1 and was the well suited oxidizing agent. The composite surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The phenomenological surface properties were studied by electrokinetic measurements.
Smart Hydrogel Microfluidics for Single‐Cell Multiplexed Secretomic Analysis with High Sensitivity
Authors: Hsu Myat Noe , Wei Shih‐Chung , Guo Song , Phan Dinh‐Tuan , Zhang Yong , Chen Chia‐Hung 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSecreted proteins determine a range of cellular functionalities correlated with human health and disease progression. Because of cell heterogeneity, it is essential to measure low abundant protein secretions from individual cells to determine single‐cell activities. In this study, an integrated platform consisting of smart hydrogel immunosensors for the sensitive detection of single‐cell secretions is developed. A single cell and smart hydrogel microparticles are encapsulated within a droplet. After incubation, target secreted proteins from the cell are captured in the smart hydrogel particle for immunoassay. The temperature‐induced volume phase transition of the hydrogel biosensor allows the concentration of analytes within the gel matrix to increase, enabling high‐sensitivity measurements. Distinct heterogeneity for live cell secretions is determined from 6000 cells within 1 h. This method is tested for low abundant essential secretions, such as interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 secretions of both suspended cells (HL60) and adherent cells (MCF7 and MDA‐MB‐231). This platform is highly flexible and can be used to simultaneously measure a wide range of clinically relevant cellular secretions; it thus represents a novel tool for precise biological assays.
Water operator partnerships: Peer learning and the politics of solidarity in water and sanitation service provision
Authors: Beck Andrea 
Published: October 2018

The limitations of public–private partnerships as a way to finance and manage water and sanitation systems in developing countries have become increasingly evident since the 2000s. In response, scholars have begun to inquire about “alternatives to privatization,” with a focus on strengthening social equity and universality in access to essential services. Among the alternatives discussed are so‐called Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs), which have been promoted globally since 2006 with support from the United Nations. Today, more than 200 such peer‐learning partnerships have been formed between water and sanitation operators around the world. Yet, academic research on WOPs is still in its infancy. This article reviews the existing literature on WOPs, addressing their origins and their global evolution, along with key controversies surrounding private‐sector involvement. Relying on self‐reported WOPs data from a global online database, it further illustrates the North–South distribution and the different spatial scales of peer partnerships to date. What emerges from the analysis is that WOPs have become a proliferating, yet insufficiently understood, partnership modality in the water sector. In identifying entry points for future research, the article suggests that the comparative study of WOPs can shed new light on transnational partnerships, South–South cooperation, and the politics of solidarity in water and sanitation service provision.This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water
Human Water > Water Governance
Human Water > Rights to Water
TORC1‐signalling is down‐regulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiaehsp30Δ cells by SNF1‐dependent mechanisms
Authors: Singh Ajeet , Chowdhury Daipayan , Gupta Avinash , Meena Ramesh Chand , Chakrabarti Amitabha 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHsp30 is a plasma membrane localized heat shock protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae whose expression is induced by numerous environmental stressors. Elucidation of its mechanism of action has remained elusive primarily because hsp30Δ cells do not show a strong phenotype. To identify cellular functions associated with Hsp30, we thus compared the transcriptome of BY4741hsp30Δ with that of its wild type counterpart. Our studies indicate down‐regulation of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1)‐dependent gene‐expression programme in hsp30Δ cells. We further show that TORC1‐signalling through its effectors (Sch9 and Tap42) was down‐regulated in the deletion strain. Specifically, (a) phosphorylation levels of Sch9 were lower and nuclear exclusion of Rim15 (Sch9‐downstream function) was overridden in hsp30Δ cells, (b) membrane association of Tor1 and Tap42 was lower in hsp30Δ cells, and (c) Tap42‐downstream functions were abrogated in the deletion strain. Furthermore, transcription factors Rtg1, Rtg3, Gat1, and Gln3 were localized in the nucleus of the hsp30Δ as observed upon inactivation of TORC1. Studies aimed at determining how TORC1‐signalling is down‐regulated in hsp30Δ cells indicated that total reducing sugar levels were lower and ADP:ATP ratio was higher in hsp30Δ cells —conditions known to activate the Snf1 kinase and consequently to the inactivation of TORC1. We thus determined if TORC1‐signalling could be restored in hsp30Δ cells upon the deletion of SNF1. Sch9 phosphorylation levels (TORC1‐signalling) was restored to wild type levels in hsp30Δsnf1Δ cells. TORC1‐signalling is thus down‐regulated in hsp30Δ cells by SNF1‐dependent mechanisms. A probable role for Hsp30 is discussed.
The Planning and Establishment of a Sample Preparation Laboratory for Drug Discovery
Authors: Dufresne Claude 
Published: October 2018

Nature has always been a productive source of new drugs. With the advent of HTS, it has now become possible to rapidly screen large sample collections. In addition to seeking greater diversity from natural products sources (microorganisms, plants, etc.), fractionation of the crude extracts prior to screening is becoming a more important part of our efforts. As sample preparation protocols become more involved, automation can help achieve and maintain a desired sample throughput. To address the needs of our screening program, two robotic systems were designed. The first system processes crude extracts all the way to 96-well plates, containing solutions suitable for screening in biological and biochemical assays. The system can dissolve crude extracts, fractionate them on SPE cartridges, dry and weigh each fraction, redissolve them to a known concentration, and prepare mother plates. The second system replicates mother plates into a number of daughter plates.
Tools for Analyzing Microarray Expression Data
Authors: Grewal Anoop , Conway Andrew 
Published: October 2018

Microarray technologies have emerged as key tools for genomic expression analysis for the purposes of studying disease states, identifying drug targets, and profiling time-, tissue- or stage-dependent changes. The resulting volume of data generated necessitates the use of bioinformatics tools to find interesting gene expression patterns, to identify statistically significant changes across experiments, and to provide additional tools relevant to data mining. We have developed a comprehensive workbench solution, GeneSpring™, which (1) comes with an intuitive interface incorporating organized file management, (2) handles data from multiple array formats, (3) includes multiple data display formats, (4) includes a suite of statistical clustering tools, and (5) incorporates automated annotation and cross-referencing. We will discuss the set of algorithms collectively designed to facilitate gene function identification from large scale genomic expression experiments.