bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Miniaturized matrix solid‐phase dispersion coupled with supramolecular solvent‐based microextraction for the determination of paraben preservatives in cream samples
Authors: Yıldız Elif , Çabuk Hasan
Published: April 2018

An analytical method is presented for the determination of paraben preservatives in semisolid cream samples by matrix solid‐phase dispersion combined with supramolecular solvent‐based microextraction. Due to the oily and sticky nature of the sample matrix, parabens were first extracted from the samples by matrix solid‐phase dispersion using silica as sorbent material with a clean‐up performed with tetrahydrofuran in the elution step. The eluate (500 μL), 1‐decanol (120 μL), and water (4.4 mL) were then mixed in a polyethylene pipette to form supramolecular solvent. Finally, the analytes in the supramolecular solvent were separated and determined by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Under optimal extraction conditions, the extraction recoveries of the studied compounds were obtained in the range of 63–83%. The limits of detection for the analytes were between 0.03 and 0.04 μg/g. The precision of the method varied between 4.0–6.7 (intraday) and 6.2–7.9% (interday). Finally, the optimized procedure was applied to the determination of the target preservatives in a variety of cream samples (diaper rash, skin allergy, face and hand moisturizing) with satisfactory recoveries (86–102%).
Composite Polymeric Membranes with Directionally Embedded Fibers for Controlled Dual Actuation
Authors: Liu Li , Bakhshi Hadi , Jiang Shaohua , Schmalz Holger , Agarwal Seema
Published: April 2018

In this paper, preparation method and actuation properties of an innovative composite membrane composed of thermo‐ and pH‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) fibers (average diameter ≈ 905 nm) embedded within a passive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix at different angles with degree of alignment as high as 98% are presented. The composite membrane has a gradient of TPU along the thickness. It has the capability of temperature‐ and pH‐dependent direction‐, and size‐controlled actuation in few minutes. The stresses generated at the responsive fiber and nonresponsive matrix provide actuation, whereas the angle at which fibers are embedded in the matrix controls the actuation direction and size. The temperature has no effect on actuation and actuated forms at pH 7 and above, whereas the size of the actuated forms can be controlled by the temperature at lower pH. The membranes are strong enough to reversibly lift and release ≈426 times weight of their own mass (2.47 g metal ring is lifted by a 5.8 mg membrane). Soft actuators are of interest as smart scaffolds, robotics, catalysis, drug release, energy storage, electrodes, and metamaterials.
Reconfigurable and Reprocessable Thermoset Shape Memory Polymer with Synergetic Triple Dynamic Covalent Bonds
Authors: Wang Yongwei , Pan Yi , Zheng Zhaohui , Ding Xiaobin
Published: April 2018

Degradable shape memory polymers (SMPs), especially for polyurethane‐based SMPs, have shown great potential for biomedical applications. How to reasonably fabricate SMPs with the ideal combination of degradability, shape reconfigurability, and reprocessability is a critical issue and remains a challenge for medical disposable materials. Herein, a shape memory poly(urethane‐urea) with synergetic triple dynamic covalent bonds is reported via embedding polycaprolactone unit into poly(urethane‐urea) with the hindered urea dynamic bond. The single polymer network is biodegradable, thermadapt, and reprocessable, without sacrificing the outstanding shape memory performance. Such a shape memory network with plasticity and reprocessability is expected to have significant and positive impact on the medical device industry.
The Influence of Processing Conditions on the Polypropylene Apparent Viscosity Measured Directly in the Mold Cavity
Authors: Sykutera Dariusz , Wajer Łukasz , Kościuszko Artur , Szewczykowski Piotr P. , Czyżewski Piotr
Published: April 2018

Measurements of rheological properties of polymeric materials play an increasingly important role in the polymer plastics industry. Knowledge about the plasticized material flow behavior is essential at the injection molds design stage. The polymeric viscosity curves usually are determined by a capillary rheometer tests. Nevertheless, the rheological properties determined this way differ from those observed during actual processing conditions. This paper presents a comparison of apparent viscosity measurements of polypropylene conducted by three methods. The first one was plastometer measurements made at different masses of test load. The second method evaluated the viscosity in the injection mold cavity equipped with pressure and temperature sensors. Capillary rheometer was used as the third method. It was observed that polypropylene viscosity curves, determined by different methods have a similar pattern. Comparing changes in apparent viscosity values obtained with the capillary rheometer and directly in the mold cavity, the largest differences were found for the shear rate below 1000 s −1. This proves the non‐isothermal measurement in the injection mold cavity. In the range of shear rate above 1000 s−1, the apparent viscosity determined directly in the injection mold was about 40 Pa · s greater than that measured by the rheometer, regardless of the test temperature. The results recorded by the plastometer reflect the real polypropylene viscosity curve at low shear rate values in a better way.
Hyers‐Ulam‐Rassias stability of nonlinear integral equations through the Bielecki metric
Authors: Castro L. P. , Simões A. M.
Published: April 2018

We analyse different kinds of stabilities for classes of nonlinear integral equations of Fredholm and Volterra type. Sufficient conditions are obtained in order to guarantee Hyers‐Ulam‐Rassias, σ‐semi‐Hyers‐Ulam and Hyers‐Ulam stabilities for those integral equations. Finite and infinite intervals are considered as integration domains. Those sufficient conditions are obtained based on the use of fixed point arguments within the framework of the Bielecki metric and its generalizations. The results are illustrated by concrete examples.
Collocation‐variation difference schemes for differential‐algebraic equations
Authors: Bulatov Mikhail V. , Solovarova Liubov S.
Published: April 2018

We consider the initial value problem in linear differential‐algebraic equations and highlight the difficulties of the construction of numerical methods for these problems. We propose one‐step difference schemes based on the collocation‐variational approach and show the principal difference between these algorithms and the known difference schemes. The analysis of the particular cases of such schemes are given.
On the existence of an inertial manifold for a deconvolution model of the 2D mean Boussinesq equations
Authors: Bisconti Luca , Catania Davide
Published: April 2018

We show the existence of an inertial manifold (ie, a globally invariant, exponentially attracting, finite‐dimensional manifold) for the approximate deconvolution model of the 2D mean Boussinesq equations. This model is obtained by means of the Van Cittern approximate deconvolution operators, which is applied to the 2D filtered Boussinesq equations.
Effects of Prebiotic Fiber Xylooligosaccharide in Adenine‐Induced Nephropathy in Mice
Authors: Yang Jieping , Li Qing , Henning Susanne M. , Zhong Jin , Hsu Mark , Lee Rupo , Long Jianfeng , Chan Brenda , Nagami Glenn T. , Heber David , Li Zhaoping
Published: April 2018

Scope

This study evaluates the effect of the prebiotic fiber xylooligosaccharide (XOS) on kidney function and gut microbiome in mice with adenine‐induced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Method and results

Mice are fed the control diet containing adenine for 3 weeks to induce CKD and are switched to XOS supplemented (2 or 7%) or control diets for another 3 weeks. Mice with CKD exhibit increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and kidney histopathology. XOS significantly reverses kidney injuries in CKD mice. Analysis of cecum microbiota reveales that adenine‐induced CKD does not change alpha diversity, and XOS induces a decrease of alpha diversity in control mice and mice with CKD. Beta diversity analysis shows significant clustering according to experimental groups. Six out of the nine bacterial genera enriched in CKD are significantly reduced with XOS intervention. Furthermore, XOS increases cecal short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in both control and CKD mice. Cecal SCFAs and blood propionate are negatively correlated with BUN. XOS also decreases blood p‐cresol sulfate in CKD mice, likely resulting from altered microbial tyrosine metabolism.

Conclusion

These results show that XOS intervention improves kidney function in mice with CKD, and is associated with profound changes in microbial composition and metabolism.
Diffusion tensor imaging using multiple coils for mouse brain connectomics
Authors: Nouls John C. , Badea Alexandra , Anderson Robert B.J. , Cofer Gary P. , Allan Johnson G.
Published: April 2018

The correlation between brain connectivity and psychiatric or neurological diseases has intensified efforts to develop brain connectivity mapping techniques on mouse models of human disease. The neural architecture of mouse brain specimens can be shown non‐destructively and three‐dimensionally by diffusion tensor imaging, which enables tractography, the establishment of a connectivity matrix and connectomics. However, experiments on cohorts of animals can be prohibitively long. To improve throughput in a 7‐T preclinical scanner, we present a novel two‐coil system in which each coil is shielded, placed off‐isocenter along the axis of the magnet and connected to a receiver circuit of the scanner. Preservation of the quality factor of each coil is essential to signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) performance and throughput, because mouse brain specimen imaging at 7 T takes place in the coil‐dominated noise regime. In that regime, we show a shielding configuration causing no SNR degradation in the two‐coil system. To acquire data from several coils simultaneously, the coils are placed in the magnet bore, around the isocenter, in which gradient field distortions can bias diffusion tensor imaging metrics, affect tractography and contaminate measurements of the connectivity matrix. We quantified the experimental alterations in fractional anisotropy and eigenvector direction occurring in each coil. We showed that, when the coils were placed 12 mm away from the isocenter, measurements of the brain connectivity matrix appeared to be minimally altered by gradient field distortions. Simultaneous measurements on two mouse brain specimens demonstrated a full doubling of the diffusion tensor imaging throughput in practice. Each coil produced images devoid of shading or artifact. To further improve the throughput of mouse brain connectomics, we suggested a future expansion of the system to four coils. To better understand acceptable trade‐offs between imaging throughput and connectivity matrix integrity, studies may seek to clarify how measurement variability, post‐processing techniques and biological variability impact mouse brain connectomics.
Effects of a supportive care bundle on sleep variables of preterm infants during hospitalization
Authors: Lan Hsiang‐Yun , Yang Luke , Hsieh Kao‐Hsian , Yin Ti , Chang Yue‐Cune , Liaw Jen‐Jiuan
Published: April 2018

Sleep is important for preterm infants' brain development, but they are frequently exposed to painful procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that disturb their sleep cycle and affect their growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the prolonged effects of a supportive care bundle (modulation of the infants' states, non‐nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking, and oral sucrose feeding) on preterm infants' sleep variables (sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep latency, and frequency of wake bouts) during hospitalization. The team recruited 65 preterm infants (gestational age at birth 28‐36 weeks, average birth weight 1,652 g) from a Level III NICU at a medical center in Taiwan. Infants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions to be administered while receiving intrusive procedures: (1) control condition (usual care, including routine procedures, positioning, and gentle touch); or (2) intervention condition in which the supportive care bundle was added to usual care. Sleep variables were measured using actigraphy for a baseline of three continuous days on the 6th to 8th days after birth and again for 3 continuous days when infants weighed ≧1,950 g. Two forms of generalized estimating equation analyses with control of significant covariates were used for data analysis. The supportive care bundle not only significantly increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time but also significantly decreased duration of sleep latency and frequency of wake bouts. These results provide evidence to support the incorporation of the supportive care bundle into NICU clinical practice during intrusive procedures.
Identifying and siding the stylohyoid bone for North American artiodactyls
Authors: Lubinski P.M. , Hale T.A.
Published: April 2018

The stylohyoid is the largest bone in the hyoid complex surrounding the throat in artiodactyls. There is little published information to allow its identification to species or anatomical side. Our study examined comparative stylohyoid bones to provide criteria for taxonomic identification, using 494 animals representing 13 artiodactyl species, including all species native to the continental United States. The goal was to find criteria showing at least 95% success in separating between species or species groups. Osteometric and discrete feature criteria were found to provide strong distinctions between some species through an iterative set of comparisons arranged in a dichotomous key. For example, a small artiodactyl bone could be identified as pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) with 100% success (n = 260) if it exhibited both an S‐shaped dorsal aspect and a ratio of angle width to anterior end width > 1.6. Consistent criteria could not be found for some other species, notably between small bovids and between the 2 species of deer (Odocoileus sp.). Our study also extracted stylohyoids in place to provide criteria for siding, using 28 carcasses representing 7 species, and found they can be readily sided based on a marked concavity on the lateral side.
Surface molecularly imprinted polymers based ZnO quantum dots as fluorescence sensors for detection of diethylhexyl phthalate with high sensitivity and selectivity
Authors: Wang Yangyang , Zhou Zhiping , Xu Wanzhen , Luan Yu , Lu Yi , Yang Yanfei , Liu Tianshu , Li SongJun , Yang Wenming
Published: April 2018

This work describes the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers using ZnO quantum dots, which were used for the selective detection of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) and ZnO were used as functional monomer, crosslinker, initiator and optical material, respectively. Molecularly imprinted polymers were successfully synthesized, and the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and amount was from 0.5 to 40 µmol L−1for DEHP. The coefficient of correlation was 0.9923 and the imprinting factor was 11.16. The results were above 97.50% and relative standard deviation below 3.86% for the detection of DEPH in actual water samples. This study could provide a novel method using molecularly imprinted polymers for highly selective and sensitive detection of DEHP. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Enhanced fracture energy during deformation through the construction of an alternating multilayered structure for polyolefin blends
Authors: Zhou Yan , Zhou Yi , Deng Hua , Yuan Li , Chen Yumin , Zhang Shanshan , Fu Qiang
Published: April 2018

The effects of polymer blend components on the phase morphology, crystallization behavior and mechanical performance of materials processed by high speed thin‐wall injection molding (HSTWIM) and compression molding (CM) processes were investigated. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) containing different ratios of rubber phase (0%, 18% and 21%) were selected to construct different blends. HSTWIM is shown to trigger the formation of a multilayered structure for these blends with oriented polymer crystals and epitaxial growth of HDPE crystals on PP. Such a layered structure is thought to provide a good template for morphological control of various functional polymer composites. Moreover, the addition of rubber in the multilayered structure with the rubber phase partially distributed between layers is observed. These issues are thought to be responsible for the much enhanced fracture energy compared with specimens from CM. The structural details and formation mechanism of these layered structures consisting of different compositions were investigated. Such a study could provide some guidelines for the preparation of high performance bio‐mimic materials or various functional polymer composites with alternating multilayered structure. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Perceptions of Zimbabwean trainee/educational psychologists regarding the training on their support roles and responsibilities in inclusive education
Authors: Nkoma Elliott
Published: April 2018

The study used focus group interviews at three administrative offices (provinces) that house trainee/educational psychologists in order to explore their experiences on how they learn about their support roles and responsibilities regarding the implementation of inclusive education. 13 trainee/educational psychologists from these provinces volunteered to participate in the study. The study used a qualitative design based on a phenomenological perspective and inductive thematic content was used to analyse data. The results indicate that trainee/educational psychologists had known their support roles through master's degree programmes, a single 2016 workshop, personally guided reading and collaborative work with workmates. Their views indicated inadequate training and supervision, and negative feelings towards internship after master's programme, payment of supervisors, continuing professional development points, lack of degree programmes in Master of Science in educational psychology, and location of conferences. The results provide important information about educational psychology in Zimbabwe with important implications for training and policy making.
Leadership styles predict career readiness in early college high‐school students
Authors: Villarreal Sofia , Montoya Jared A. , Duncan Phyllis , Gergen Esther
Published: April 2018

This study examined leadership style as a predictor of career readiness among a sample of (N = 281) students from two early college high schools from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Participants included 165 females and 116 males ranging from 14 to 19 years of age and 96.8% identified as Hispanic. Participants provided demographic information and reported their own leadership style using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5x) as well as their career readiness using the Employability Skills Inventory (ESI). Additionally, pre‐existing district Texas Success Initiative (TSI) data was used to identify college readiness in Reading, Writing, and Math. The results indicated that college readiness, dual enrollment, year in school and gender predicted some of the dimensions of career readiness, but leadership style emerged as a significant predictor of all eight dimensions of career readiness.
Tchebichef image moment approach to the prediction of protein secondary structures based on circular dichroism
Authors: Li Sha Sha , Li Bao Qiong , Liu Jin Jin , Lu Shao Hua , Zhai Hong Lin
Published: April 2018

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is a widely used technique for the evaluation of protein secondary structures that has a significant impact for the understanding of molecular biology. However, the quantitative analysis of protein secondary structures based on CD spectra is still a hard work due to the serious overlap of the spectra corresponding to different structural motifs. Here, Tchebichef image moment (TM) approach is introduced for the first time, which can effectively extract the chemical features in CD spectra for the quantitative analysis of protein secondary structures. The proposed approach was applied to analyze reference set and the obtained results were evaluated by the strict statistical parameters such as correlation coefficient, cross‐validation correlation coefficient and root mean squared error. Compared with several specialized prediction methods, TM approach provided satisfactory results, especially for turns and unordered structures. Our study indicates that TM approach can be regarded as a feasible tool for the analysis of the secondary structures of proteins based on CD spectra. An available TMs package is provided and can be used directly for secondary structures prediction.
Clustering of multi‐domain protein sequences
Authors: Mehrotra Prachi , Ami Vimla Kany G. , Srinivasan Narayanaswamy
Published: April 2018

The overall function of a multi‐domain protein is determined by the functional and structural interplay of its constituent domains. Traditional sequence alignment‐based methods commonly utilize domain‐level information and provide classification only at the level of domains. Such methods are not capable of taking into account the contributions of other domains in the proteins, and domain‐linker regions and classify multi‐domain proteins. An alignment‐free protein sequence comparison tool, CLAP (CLAssification of Proteins) was previously developed in our laboratory to especially handle multi‐domain protein sequences without a requirement of defining domain boundaries and sequential order of domains. Through this method we aim to achieve a biologically meaningful classification scheme for multi‐domain protein sequences. In this article, CLAP‐based classification has been explored on 5 datasets of multi‐domain proteins and we present detailed analysis for proteins containing (1) Tyrosine phosphatase and (2) SH3 domain. At the domain‐level CLAP‐based classification scheme resulted in a clustering similar to that obtained from an alignment‐based method. CLAP‐based clusters obtained for full‐length datasets were shown to comprise of proteins with similar functions and domain architectures. Our study demonstrates that multi‐domain proteins could be classified effectively by considering full‐length sequences without a requirement of identification of domains in the sequence.
Characterization of low‐abundance species in the active pharmaceutical ingredient of CIGB‐300: A clinical‐grade anticancer synthetic peptide
Authors: Garay Hilda , Espinosa Luis Ariel , Perera Yasser , Sánchez Aniel , Diago David , Perea Silvio E. , Besada Vladimir , Reyes Osvaldo , González Luis Javier
Published: April 2018

CIGB‐300 is a first‐in‐class synthetic peptide‐based drug of 25 amino acids currently undergoing clinical trials in cancer patients. It contains an amidated disulfide cyclic undecapeptide fused to the TAT cell‐penetrating peptide through a beta‐alanine spacer. CIGB‐300 inhibits the CK2‐mediated phosphorylation leading to apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro, and in vivo in cancer patients. Despite the clinical development of CIGB‐300, the characterization of peptide‐related impurities present in the active pharmaceutical ingredient has not been reported earlier. In the decision tree of ICHQ3A(R2) guidelines, the daily doses intake, the abundance, and the identity of the peptide‐related species are pivotal nodes that define actions to be taken (reporting, identification, and qualification). For this, purity was first assessed by reverse‐phase chromatography (>97%) and low‐abundance impurities (≤0.27%) were collected and identified by mass spectrometry. Most of the impurities were generated during peptide synthesis, the spontaneous air oxidation of the reduced peptide, and the lyophilization step. The most abundant impurity, with no biological activity, was the full‐length peptide containing Met17 transformed into a sulfoxide residue. Interestingly, parallel and antiparallel dimers of CIGB‐300 linked by 2 intermolecular disulfide bonds exhibited a higher antiproliferative activity than the CIGB‐300 monomer. Likewise, very low abundance trimers and tetramers of CIGB‐300 linked by disulfide bonds (≤0.01%) were also detected. Here we describe for the first time the presence of active dimeric species whose feasibility as novel CIGB‐300 derived entities merits further investigation.
Estimating the variance for heterogeneity in arm‐based network meta‐analysis
Authors: Piepho Hans‐Peter , Madden Laurence V. , Roger James , Payne Roger , Williams Emlyn R.
Published: April 2018

Network meta‐analysis can be implemented by using arm‐based or contrast‐based models. Here we focus on arm‐based models and fit them using generalized linear mixed model procedures. Full maximum likelihood (ML) estimation leads to biased trial‐by‐treatment interaction variance estimates for heterogeneity. Thus, our objective is to investigate alternative approaches to variance estimation that reduce bias compared with full ML. Specifically, we use penalized quasi‐likelihood/pseudo‐likelihood and hierarchical (h) likelihood approaches. In addition, we consider a novel model modification that yields estimators akin to the residual maximum likelihood estimator for linear mixed models. The proposed methods are compared by simulation, and 2 real datasets are used for illustration. Simulations show that penalized quasi‐likelihood/pseudo‐likelihood and h‐likelihood reduce bias and yield satisfactory coverage rates. Sum‐to‐zero restriction and baseline contrasts for random trial‐by‐treatment interaction effects, as well as a residual ML‐like adjustment, also reduce bias compared with an unconstrained model when ML is used, but coverage rates are not quite as good. Penalized quasi‐likelihood/pseudo‐likelihood and h‐likelihood are therefore recommended.
Aurantio‐obtusin, an anthraquinone from cassiae semen, ameliorates lung inflammatory responses
Authors: Kwon Ki Sun , Lee Ju Hee , So Kyung Su , Park Byung Kyu , Lim Hyun , Choi Jae Sue , Kim Hyun Pyo
Published: April 2018

The purpose of the present study is to find the natural compound(s) having a therapeutic potential to treat lung inflammatory disorders. In our screening procedure, the methanol extract of the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia (cassiae semen) inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase‐catalyzed nitric oxide production in alveolar macrophages (MH‐S). From the extract, 8 major anthraquinone derivatives were successfully isolated. They are chrysophanol, physcion, 2‐hydroxy‐emodin 1‐methyl ether, obtusifolin, obtusin, aurantio‐obtusin, chryso‐obtusin, and gluco‐obtusifolin, among which aurantio‐obtusin (IC50 = 71.7 μM) showed significant inhibitory action on nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide‐treated MH‐S cells, mainly by downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. This down‐regulatory action of aurantio‐obtusin was mediated at least in part via interrupting c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase/IκB kinase/nuclear transcription factor‐κB pathways. Aurantio‐obtusin also inhibited IL‐6 production in IL‐1β‐treated lung epithelial cells, A549. Importantly, this compound (10 and 100 mg/kg) by oral administration attenuated lung inflammatory responses in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury. Therefore, it is for the first time found that aurantio‐obtusin may have a therapeutic potential for treating lung inflammatory diseases.
Single Si atom supported on defective boron nitride nanosheet as a promising metal‐free catalyst for N2O reduction by CO or SO2 molecule: A computational study
Authors: Esrafili Mehdi D.
Published: April 2018

The low‐temperature reduction of N2O plays a significant role for solving the growing environmental and health issues caused by emission of this greenhouse gas. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible reaction pathways for the reduction of N2O by CO or SO2 molecule over Si‐doped boron nitride nanosheet (Si‐BNNS). According to our results, a B or N‐vacancy defect in BN sheet could be able to greatly stabilize the single Si adatom. The relatively large diffusion barrier for the Si atom over the defective BN sheet also indicates Si‐BNNS is stable enough to be utilized in catalytic reduction of N2O. The large charge‐transfer from the surface to N2O leads to the spontaneous dissociation of this molecule into N2 molecule and an activated oxygen atom (Oads). The Oads moiety is then eliminated by CO or SO2 molecule. The calculated activation energies and reaction energies reveal that the Si atom located on top of the B‐vacancy site has a large catalytic activity toward the reduction of N2O by CO or SO2.
Pseudocapacitive Sodium Storage by Ferroelectric Sn2P2S6 with Layered Nanostructure
Authors: Huang Sheng , Meng Chao , Xiao Min , Ren Shan , Wang Shuanjin , Han Dongmei , Li Yuning , Meng Yuezhong
Published: April 2018

Sodium ion batteries (SIB) are considered promising alternative candidates for lithium ion batteries (LIB) because of the wide availability and low cost of sodium, therefore the development of alternative sodium storage materials with comparable performance to LIB is urgently desired. The sodium ions with larger sizes resist intercalation or alloying because of slow reaction kinetics. Most pseudocapacitive sodium storage materials are based on subtle nanomaterial engineering, which is difficult for large‐scale production. Here, ferroelectric Sn2P2S6 with layered nanostructure is developed as sodium ion storage material. The ferroelectricity‐enhanced pseudocapacitance of sodium ion in the interlayer spacing makes the electrochemical reaction easier and faster, endowing the Sn2P2S6 electrode with excellent rate capability and cycle stability. Furthermore, the facile solid state reaction synthesis and common electrode fabrication make the Sn2P2S6 that becomes a promising anode material of SIB.
Correction to: Nicotine inhibits activation of microglial proton currents via interactions with α7 acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Noda Mami , Kobayashi AI
Published: April 2018

The article Nicotine inhibits activation of microglial proton currents via interactions with α7 acetylcholine receptors, written by Mami Noda and AI Kobayashi, was originally published Online First without open access. After publication in volume 67, issue 1, pages 235–245
Megaprosthesis limb salvage surgery: Outcome and challenges in treating advanced bone tumour cases in vast archipelago in Indonesia. A case series
Authors: Kamal Achmad Fauzi , Pitarini Astuti , Prabowo Yogi
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Limb salvage is considered as a more popular option in Indonesia, as amputation is considered offensive and taboo for many Indonesian cultures and societies. We evaluated the outcome of a series of LSSs with megaprosthesis and their challenges during treatments in Indonesia as the biggest archipelago nation in the world.

Methods:

Thirty-two patients originated from different islands in Indonesia with advanced lower extremity bone tumours were prospectively reviewed. Data was obtained from surgeries, which was conducted between 2011 and 2015 by two orthopaedic oncologist at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Functional outcome using musculoskeletal tumour society (MSTS) score and oncological outcome were evaluated manually during every outpatient visit at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

Results:

Eight patients originate from Sumatra, one from Moluccas island, and twenty-three based in the Java island. We documented fourteen osteosarcomas, two cases of metastatic bone disease, fifteen giant cell tumours, and one chondromyxoid fibroma. Compared to preoperative score (mean 5.3, MSTS Score range 0–10), postoperative result (mean 25.2, MSTS Score range 53.3–90) at two year revealed 4.75 fold of improvement. Nearly half of the patient (40.6%) showed excellent score (MSTS Score range 76.6–96.6) after one year. We reported several complications including: infection, knee dislocation, mechanism extensor disturbance, amputation, and nerve injury. Lower MSTS score was correlated with higher serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) (p = 0,031) and increase intraoperative blood loss (p = 0,033). Complication was found to be associated with tumours that underwent extensive soft tissue reconstruction procedure (p = 0,021).

Conclusion:

Functional outcome up to 24 months recorded satisfying result. Several complications occurred during our study also passed struggles for our patients during follow up care due to geographical challenges. Nevertheless, for carefully selected patients in Indonesia, LSS with megaprosthesis is an option that technically visible and culturally acceptable.

Highlights:
Linear and weakly nonlinear analysis of Rayleigh–Bénard convection of perfect gas with non-Oberbeck–Boussinesq effects
Authors: Liu Shuang , Xia Shu-Ning , Yan Rui , Wan Zhen-Hua , Sun De-Jun
Published: April 2018

The influences of non-Oberbeck–Boussinesq (NOB) effects on flow instabilities and bifurcation characteristics of Rayleigh–Bénard convection are examined. The working fluid is air with reference Prandtl number $Pr=0.71$ and contained in two-dimensional rigid cavities of finite aspect ratios. The fluid flow is governed by the low-Mach-number equations, accounting for the NOB effects due to large temperature difference involving flow compressibility and variations of fluid viscosity and thermal conductivity with temperature. The intensity of NOB effects is measured by the dimensionless temperature differential $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}$. Linear stability analysis of the thermal conduction state is performed. An $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}^{2}$ scaling of the leading-order corrections of critical Rayleigh number $Ra_{cr}$ and disturbance growth rate $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ due to NOB effects is identified, which is a consequence of an intrinsic symmetry of the system. The influences of weak NOB effects on flow instabilities are further studied by perturbation expansion of linear stability equations with regard to $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}$, and then the influence of aspect ratio $A$ is investigated in detail. NOB effects are found to enhance (weaken) flow stability in large (narrow) cavities. Detailed contributions of compressibility, viscosity and buoyancy actions on disturbance kinetic energy growth are identified quantitatively by energy analysis. Besides, a weakly nonlinear theory is developed based on centre-manifold reduction to investigate the NOB influences on bifurcation characteristics near convection onset, and amplitude equations are constructed for both codimension-one and -two cases. Rich bifurcation regimes are observed based on amplitude equations and also confirmed by direct numerical simulation. Weakly nonlinear analysis is useful for organizing and understanding these simulation results.
Stationary crossflow vortices near the leading edge of three-dimensional boundary layers: the role of non-parallelism and excitation by surface roughness
Authors: Butler Adam , Wu Xuesong
Published: April 2018

Non-parallelism, i.e. the effect of the slow variation of the boundary-layer flow in the chordwise and spanwise directions, in general produces a higher-order correction to the growth rate of instability modes. Here we investigate stationary crossflow vortices, which arise due to the instability of the three-dimensional boundary layer over a swept wing, focusing on a region near the leading edge where non-parallelism plays a leading-order role in their development. In this regime, the vortices align themselves with the local wall shear at leading order, and so have a marginally separated triple-deck structure, consisting of the inviscid main boundary layer, an upper deck and a viscous sublayer. We find that the streamwise (and spanwise) variations of both the base flow and the modal shape must be accounted for. An explicit expression for the growth rate is derived that shows a neutral point occurs in this regime, downstream of which non-parallelism has a stabilising effect. Stationary crossflow vortices thus have a viscous and non-parallel genesis near the leading edge. If an ‘effective pressure minimum’ occurs within this region then the growth rate becomes unbounded, and so the previous analysis is regularised within a localised region around it. A new instability is identified. The mode maintains its three-tiered structure, but the pressure perturbation now plays a passive role. Downstream, the instability evolves into a Cowley, Hocking & Tutty (Phys. Fluids, vol. 28, 1985, pp. 441–443) instability associated with a critical layer located in the lower deck. Finally, we consider the receptivity of the flow in the non-parallel regime: generation of stationary crossflow modes by arrays of chordwise-localised, spanwise-periodic surface roughness elements. The flow responds differently to different Fourier spectral content of the roughness, giving the lower deck a two-part structure. We find that roughness elements with sharper edges generate stronger modes. For roughness elements of fairly moderate height, the resulting nonlinear forcing leads to the so-called super-linearity of receptivity, namely, the amplitude of the generated crossflow mode deviates from the linear dependence on the roughness height even though the perturbation in the boundary layer remains linear.
Finding a Common Ground: Löwith and Nishida
Authors: CANTIN-BRAULT ANTOINE
Published: April 2018

Karl Löwith moved to Japan in 1936 where he became acquainted with the founder of the School of Kyôto, Nishida Kitarô. Löwith was unable to appreciate the meaning of Nishida’s philosophy and maintained, until the late 1940s, a Eurocentric point of view regarding Japanese culture. Nonetheless, beyond this missed historical encounter between Löwith and Nishida lies a space of philosophical common ground located in a shared understanding of time and history that puts much emphasis on the eternal present and the impossibility of thinking history as a linear progression bringing salvation, as some philosophies of history have attempted to prove.
What Is First Philosophy? An Appreciation of Catherine Zuckert, Postmodern Platos
Authors: O'Connor David K.
Published: April 2018

Catherine Zuckert’s Postmodern Platos is built around Leo Strauss’s complex response to Martin Heidegger’s vision of the prephilosophic starting points of philosophy, his phenomenology of human existence. Zuckert accepts too much of this spare phenomenology, and so gives too bleak an account of what philosophy can be. A richer account is available in Plato’s Phaedrus, and is even intimated at crucial points of Strauss’s own writings. The cheerful “first philosophy” built on this erotic phenomenology is truer than Heideggerian bleakness to where philosophy begins in practice, as much for Zuckert as for Strauss and Heidegger: in the experience of the eros of the conversation between teacher and student.
The Question of the Examined Life
Authors: Gillespie Michael Allen
Published: April 2018

This essay calls into question Zuckert's claim in Postmodern Platos that Strauss provides the best contemporary defense of the superiority of the philosophic life against the claims of Nietzsche and Heidegger that it leads to nihilism and despair. For her, Strauss persuasively draws on Plato, read through Alfarabi and Maimonides, to defend this view by showing that the philosopher understands the true ends of human life as a whole which is part of the whole, and thus provides a vision of the noblest, best, and most beautiful. I argue that this claim is implausible, that Strauss's Platonic vision of the ends of human life is obscure, and that even if correct, it does not offer an answer to the question of the relative value of these heterogenous ends, and thus does not demonstrate that the philosophic life is more worth living than any other form of life.
CONSTITUTIONS, RULE FOLLOWING, AND THE CRISIS OF CONSTRAINT
Authors: Crocker Thomas P. , Hodges Michael P.
Published: April 2018

We diagnose a paradox said to exist for liberal constitutionalism. Constitutional rules seemed to fail to constrain in times of expediency or under conditions of necessity, occasions when constraints might be most needed. From this failure, a form of rule skepticism seems to undermine liberal constitutionalism's claims to govern and constrain official behavior, especially during times of emergency. On closer inspection, we identify three different forms this purported rule skepticism might take: contestation over rule applications, skepticism about rule determinations, or rule cynicism. We resolve the apparent paradox by demonstrating how rule skepticism is either unwarranted or cynically deployed, but in neither case raises a legitimate challenge to liberal constitutionalism.
The Global Food‐Energy‐Water Nexus
Authors: D'Odorico Paolo , Davis Kyle Frankel , Rosa Lorenzo , Carr Joel A. , Chiarelli Davide , Dell'Angelo Jampel , Gephart Jessica , MacDonald Graham K. , Seekell David A. , Suweis Samir , Rulli Maria Cristina
Published: April 2018

Water availability is a major factor constraining humanity's ability to meet the future food and energy needs of a growing and increasingly affluent human population. Water plays an important role in the production of energy, including renewable energy sources and the extraction of unconventional fossil fuels that are expected to become important players in future energy security. The emergent competition for water between the food and energy systems is increasingly recognized in the concept of the “food‐energy‐water nexus.” The nexus between food and water is made even more complex by the globalization of agriculture and rapid growth in food trade, which results in a massive virtual transfer of water among regions and plays an important role in the food and water security of some regions. This review explores multiple components of the food‐energy‐water nexus and highlights possible approaches that could be used to meet food and energy security with the limited renewable water resources of the planet. Despite clear tensions inherent in meeting the growing and changing demand for food and energy in the 21st century, the inherent linkages among food, water, and energy systems can offer an opportunity for synergistic strategies aimed at resilient food, water, and energy security, such as the circular economy.
Exoplanet-Hunting Telescope Launches
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: April 2018

Scanning for traces of faraway worlds, TESS will make observations over an area hundreds of times larger than that observed by its predecessor, the Kepler Space Telescope.
International Collaboration Within the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Framework for International Space Weather Services (2018–2030)
Authors: Mann I. R. , Di Pippo S. , Opgenoorth H. J. , Kuznetsova M. , Kendall D. J.
Published: April 2018

Severe space weather is a global threat that requires a coordinated global response. In this Commentary, we review some previous successful actions supporting international coordination between member states in the United Nations (UN) context and make recommendations for a future approach. Member states of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) recently approved new guidelines related to space weather under actions for the long‐term sustainability of outer space activities. This is to be followed by UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE)+50, which will take place in June 2018 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the first UNISPACE I held in Vienna in 1968. Expanded international coordination has been proposed within COPUOS under the UNISPACE+50 process, where priorities for 2018–2030 are to be defined under Thematic Priority 4: Framework for International Space Weather Services. The COPUOS expert group for space weather has proposed the creation of a new International Coordination Group for Space Weather be implemented as part of this thematic priority. This coordination group would lead international coordination between member states and across international stakeholders, monitor progress against implementation of guidelines and best practices, and promote coordinated global efforts in the space weather ecosystem spanning observations, research, modeling, and validation, with the goal of improved space weather services. We argue that such improved coordination at the international policy level is essential for increasing global resiliency against the threats arising from severe space weather.
Optically sizing single atmospheric particulates with a 10-nm resolution using a strong evanescent field
Authors: Yu Xiao-Chong , Zhi Yanyan , Tang Shui-Jing , Li Bei-Bei , Gong Qihuang , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Xiao Yun-Feng
Published: April 2018

Although an accurate evaluation of the distribution of ultrafine particulate matter in air is of utmost significance to public health, the usually used PM2.5 index fails to provide size distribution information. Here we demonstrate a low-profile and cavity-free size spectrometer for probing fine and ultrafine particulate matter by using the enhanced particle-perturbed scattering in strong optical evanescent fields of a nanofiber array. The unprecedented size resolution reaches 10 nm for detecting single 100-nm-diameter nanoparticles by employing uniform nanofibers and controlling the polarizations of the probe light. This size spectrometry was tested and used to retrieve the size distribution of particulate matter in the air of Beijing, yielding mass concentrations of nanoparticles, as a secondary exercise, consistent with the officially released data. This nanofiber-array probe shows potential for the full monitoring of air pollution and for studying early-stage haze evolution and can be further extended to explore nanoparticle interactions.
Therapeutic endocannabinoid augmentation for mood and anxiety disorders: comparative profiling of FAAH, MAGL and dual inhibitors
Authors: Bedse Gaurav , Bluett Rebecca J. , Patrick Toni A. , Romness Nicole K. , Gaulden Andrew D. , Kingsley Philip J. , Plath Niels , Marnett Lawrence J. , Patel Sachin
Published: April 2018

Recent studies have demonstrated anxiolytic potential of pharmacological endocannabinoid (eCB) augmentation approaches in a variety of preclinical models. Pharmacological inhibition of endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes, such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), elicit promising anxiolytic effects in rodent models with limited adverse behavioral effects, however, the efficacy of dual FAAH/MAGL inhibition has not been investigated. In the present study, we compared the effects of FAAH (PF-3845), MAGL (JZL184) and dual FAAH/MAGL (JZL195) inhibitors on (1) anxiety-like behaviors under non-stressed and stressed conditions, (2) locomotor activity and body temperature, (3) lipid levels in the brain and (4) cognitive functions. Behavioral analysis showed that PF-3845 or JZL184, but not JZL195, was able to prevent restraint stress-induced anxiety in the light–dark box assay when administered before stress exposure. Moreover, JZL195 treatment was not able to reverse foot shock-induced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated zero maze or light–dark box. JZL195, but not PF-3845 or JZL184, decreased body temperature and increased anxiety-like behavior in the open-field test. Overall, JZL195 did not show anxiolytic efficacy and the effects of JZL184 were more robust than that of PF-3845 in the models examined. These results showed that increasing either endogenous AEA or 2-AG separately produces anti-anxiety effects under stressful conditions but the same effects are not obtained from simultaneously increasing both AEA and 2-AG.