bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microgradient separation technique for purification and fractionation of permethylated N‐glycans before mass spectrometric analyses
Authors: Rehulka Pavel , Zahradnikova Martina , Rehulkova Helena , Dvorakova Petra , Nenutil Rudolf , Valik Dalibor , Vojtesek Borivoj , Hernychova Lenka , Novotny Milos V.
Published: February 2018

Analysis of N‐glycans released enzymatically from patients’ sera or other clinical samples may provide diagnostically and prognostically important information on human disease. Permethylation of these biomolecules simultaneously increases their hydrophobicity and substantially improves their detection parameters in the following mass spectrometric analyses. The overall procedure, from the glycan cleavage to the final mass spectrometric determinations, includes several steps involving extraction, derivatization, and purification. During these steps, certain polymeric contaminants that may have been coincidentally introduced could hamper the final measurements. To understand and counter these interferences and further fractionate or preconcentrate these glycans, we introduce here an effective microgradient chromatographic technique that employs a small reversed‐phase microcolumn connected to a gas‐tight microsyringe delivering a mobile‐phase gradient. After loading the glycan fraction onto the microcolumn, three elution steps are recommended: (1) remove polar contaminants; (2) recover permethylated glycans for either liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry or matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry; and (3) remove larger polymeric contaminants and regenerate the precolumn. We further demonstrate that the trapped second fraction can be beneficially preconcentrated and further separated to achieve matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric detection of the derivatized N‐glycans up to 6300 Da. The enhanced detection capabilities for tetra‐antennary N‐glycans are of increasing interest in disease biomarker discovery.
Epidemiology and prognostic indicators in laryngeal lymphoma: A population‐based analysis
Authors: Hong Scott A. , Tajudeen Bobby A. , Choi Sunah , Husain Inna A.
Published: February 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To characterize the epidemiology of primary laryngeal lymphoma and to determine the prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with this disease.

Study Design

A retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, including cases from 1973 to 2014.

Methods

A population‐based analysis was conducted with patients from more than 15 different geographic regions across the United States. Patients were chosen based on a diagnosis of lymphoma and a primary lymphoma site within the larynx. Two hundred cases were eligible based on the inclusion criteria, and characteristic as well as clinical variables were then extracted from the database and analyzed. Characteristic and clinical variables included age, race, sex, primary site of lymphoma involvement, general histology, specific histologic subtype, tumor grade, and Ann Arbor staging. Exposure variables that were analyzed included radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) were the main outcomes calculated using multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 200 cases of laryngeal lymphoma were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 64.2 years. The cohort was composed of 53% males. B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) accounted for 74% of cases, whereas natural killer/T‐cell NHL accounted for 10% of cases. A total of 53.1% of patients received radiation therapy, whereas 47.5% received chemotherapy. The median OS was 9.15 years and median DSS was 24.5 years. OS at 2, 5, and 10 years was 74%, 63%, and 44%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, older age, male sex, and advanced Ann Arbor staging were associated with worse OS, whereas only male sex and advanced Ann Arbor staging were associated with worse DSS (all P values < .05). Radiation and chemotherapy were not associated with improved survival.

Conclusions

Female sex and lower Ann Arbor staging are independent positive prognostic indicators for survival, whereas other clinical variables such as grade and histology do not have an effect on survival. Radiation and chemotherapy do not appear to confer a mortality benefit in patients with primary laryngeal lymphoma, which may have implications on clinical decision making as well as patient education about disease prognosis.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 128:2044–2049, 2018
Role of narrow‐band imaging in detection of head and neck unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Filauro Marta , Paderno Alberto , Perotti Pietro , Marchi Filippo , Garofolo Sabrina , Peretti Giorgio , Piazza Cesare
Published: February 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

There is no general consensus on what kind of examination to include in an optimal detection strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary (SCCUPs). This study investigates the role of narrow‐band imaging (NBI) in their identification.

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

Twenty‐nine consecutive patients affected by SCCUPs were referred at two academic institutions. Selection criteria were: 1) lymph node cytology positive for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); 2) no evidence of any primary at white light (WL); 3) negative contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography‐CT; and 4) no contraindication to general anesthesia. Each patient underwent office‐based NBI panendoscopy. If a suspicious area was identified, a biopsy was performed for histological confirmation. When no suspicious area was detected in the office, patients underwent WL and NBI under general anesthesia. If this examination was still negative, bilateral tonsillectomy and base of the tongue (BOT) mucosectomy were performed.

Results

Office‐based NBI identified 10 SCCs (34.5%), one in the nasopharynx, three in the tonsil, four in the BOT, and two in the supraglottis. In only one (3.5%) NBI‐negative patient was a primary found in the BOT. In one (3.5%) we found an NBI suspicious area during panendoscopy under general anesthesia, but histology did not confirm this finding after BOT mucosectomy. Seventeen (58.6%) patients remained as having true SCCUPs. NBI sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive values, and accuracy were 91%, 95%, 91%, 95%, and 90%, respectively.

Conclusions

In the present study, office‐based NBI increased the detection rate of head and neck SCCUPs by 34.5% and should be strongly recommended as an adjunctive tool in their diagnostic workup.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 128:2060–2066, 2018
Diagnosis of small vestibular schwannomas using constructive interference steady state sequence
Authors: Liudahl Adam A. , Davis Andrew B. , Liudahl Danielle S. , Maley Joan , Policeni Bruno , Hansen Marlan R.
Published: February 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of constructive interference steady state (CISS) sequencing compared to gadolinium‐enhanced T1 (GdT1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to screen for small vestibular schwannomas (VSs), and to assess the overall diagnostic confidence of neuroradiologists in their ability to accurately diagnose or rule out VSs using CISS imaging compared to a GdT1 MRI

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

Chart review from 2011 to 2015 was performed for VS/benign cerebellopontine angle tumors. Two blinded, board‐certified neuroradiologists each independently reviewed the axial CISS sequence and answered a set of questions that determined their confidence in diagnosis of VS. Next, each neuroradiologist independently reviewed the corresponding GdT1 MRI sequence and completed the same questionnaire.

Results

The majority of the lesions were in the lateral internal auditory canal, with eight intralabyrinthine tumors. The overall sensitivity of CISS for both readers was 93.5%. All tumor locations had high sensitivities except for the intralabyrinthine location (62.3%). Four of the eight total intralabyrinthine lesions were missed by at least one reader. Each reader was highly confident in diagnosing VSs with CISS, which approximated that of GdT1 MRI.

Conclusions

This study's results showed that CISS examinations for screening of small VS approximated that of GdT1. Neuroradiologists had high sensitivity, perfect specificity, and felt confident in ruling out a VS on CISS sequence while feeling extremely confident in diagnosing one on CISS. Intralabyrinthine lesions and lesions ≤3.0 mm are most at risk for not being detected on CISS examinations.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 128:2128–2132, 2018
A prospective, randomized, placebo‐controlled study of inferior turbinate surgery
Authors: Harju Teemu , Numminen Jura , Kivekäs Ilkka , Rautiainen Markus
Published: February 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to compare radiofrequency ablation, diode laser, and microdebrider‐assisted inferior turbinoplasty techniques in the treatment of chronic nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate enlargement, and to compare these techniques with a placebo procedure.

Study Design

Prospective, randomized, single‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study.

Methods

A total of 98 consecutive patients with enlarged inferior turbinates due to persistent year‐round rhinitis were randomized into a placebo, radiofrequency ablation, diode laser, and microdebrider‐assisted inferior turbinoplasty groups in a ratio of 1:2:2:2. All the procedures were carried out under local anesthesia with the patients' eyes covered. Assessments were conducted prior to surgery and 3 months subsequent to the surgery.

Results

The severity of nasal obstruction measured by visual analog scale score decreased statistically significantly in all the groups, including placebo. Radiofrequency ablation (P = .03), diode laser (P = .02), and microdebrider‐assisted inferior turbinoplasty (P = .04) all decreased the symptom score of the severity of nasal obstruction statistically significantly more compared to the placebo procedure.

Conclusions

The placebo effect had a large role in the overall improvement of the severity of nasal obstruction after the inferior turbinate surgery. However, all three techniques provided a statistically significant additional reduction of the severity of nasal obstruction compared to the placebo procedure.

Level of Evidence

1b. Laryngoscope, 128:1997–2003, 2018
On the Cauchy problem for the nonlinear Schrodinger equations including fractional dissipation with variable coefficient
Authors: Darwich Mohamad
Published: February 2018

This paper is devoted to the Cauchy problem for the nonlinear Schrodinger equation with time‐dependent fractional damping term. We prove the local existence result, and we study the global existence and blow‐up solutions.
Technical Note: On the size of susceptibility‐induced MR image distortions in prostate and cervix in the context of MR‐guided radiation therapy
Authors: Emmerich Julian , Laun Frederik B. , Pfaffenberger Asja , Schilling Rebecca , Denoix Michael , Maier Florian , Sterzing Florian , Bostel Tilman , Straub Sina
Published: February 2018

Purpose

To investigate the extent of MR image distortions in the pelvis caused by susceptibility‐induced field inhomogeneities in MR images in the context of a study on MR‐guided radiotherapy.

Methods

Using a high‐bandwidth double‐echo gradient echo sequence, field maps and distortion maps of the pelvis were calculated and evaluated for 219 exams (92 of female and 127 of male patients) to investigate patient‐related image distortions caused by susceptibility differences in an ongoing study on MR‐guided radiotherapy. The evaluation of distortions in the regions “rectum”, “prostate”, “cervix”, and in a reference region in the gluteus maximus was based on masks drawn by two readers.

Results

Distortions in the prostate and cervix were smaller than 0.03 px (0.1 mm) for 99% of voxels, and reached a maximum value of 0.09 px (0.3 mm). In the reference region, maximum distortions were smaller than in the prostate and cervix.

Conclusions

Using a geometric uncertainty of 0.2 px (0.6 mm) in margin definition for organs that are close to the rectum like the prostate and the cervix would be a cautious choice to account for susceptibility‐induced distortions that can arise during MR‐based treatment guidance for the imaging setting used in this study. Since distortions are inversely proportional to the readout bandwidth of the sequence, safety margins need to be adapted adequately. Additional sources of image distortions like gradient nonlinearities are not included in our margin recommendations and should be considered separately.
Development of a portable quality control application using a tablet‐type electronic device
Authors: Ono Tomohiro , Miyabe Yuki , Akimoto Mami , Mukumoto Nobutaka , Ishihara Yoshitomo , Nakamura Mitsuhiro , Mizowaki Takashi
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Our aim was to develop a portable quality control (QC) application using a thermometer, a barometer, an angle gauge, and a range finder implemented in a tablet‐type consumer electronic device (CED) and to assess the accuracies of the measurements made.

Methods

The QC application was programmed using Java and OpenCV libraries. First, temperature and atmospheric pressure were measured over 30 days using the temperature and pressure sensors of the CED and compared with those measured by a double‐tube thermometer and a digital barometer. Second, the angle gauge was developed using the accelerometer of the CED. The roll and pitch angles of the CED were measured from 0 to 90° at intervals of 10° in the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) directions. The values were compared with those measured by a digital angle gauge. Third, a range finder was developed using the tablet's built‐in camera and image‐processing capacities. Surrogate markers were detected by the camera and their positions converted to actual positions using a homographic transformation method. Fiducial markers were placed on a treatment couch and moved 100 mm in 10‐mm steps in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. The values were compared with those measured by the digital output of the treatment couch. The differences between CED values and those of other devices were compared by calculating means ± standard deviations (SDs).

Results

The means ± SDs of differences in temperature and atmospheric pressure were −0.07 ± 0.25°C and 0.05 ± 0.10 hPa, respectively. The means ± SDs of the difference in angle was −0.17 ± 0.87° (0.15 ± 0.23° degrees excluding the 90° angle). The means ± SDs of distances were 0.01 ± 0.07 mm in both the lateral and longitudinal directions.

Conclusions

Our portable QC application was accurate and may be used instead of standard measuring devices. Our portable CED is efficient and simple when used in the field of medical physics.
Regionally distinct patterns of STAT3 phosphorylation in the seminiferous epithelia of mouse testes
Authors: Nagasawa Keiya , Imura‐Kishi Kasane , Uchida Aya , Hiramatsu Ryuji , Kurohmaru Masamichi , Kanai Yoshiakira
Published: February 2018

In mouse testes, Sertoli cells support the continuous process of spermatogenesis, which is dependent on seminiferous epithelial cycles along the longitudinal axis of the seminiferous tubule. Sertoli cell function is modulated partly by local cytokines and/or growth factors derived from adjacent tissues such as blood vessels, macrophages, rete testis, etc. However, the spatial activation patterns by local signals in vivo remain unclear. In this study, we focused on Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) signaling in Sertoli cells, because STAT is a major crucial cytokine transducer for somatic cyst cell regulation in Drosophila testis niches. In mouse testes, STAT3 was ubiquitously expressed in Sertoli cells throughout the seminiferous tubules. Phosphorylated STAT3 (p‐STAT3) was predominantly observed in the Sertoli cells within the valve‐like structure adjacent to the rete testis (i.e., the Sertoli valve [SV]) in the terminal segment of the proximal seminiferous tubules. In the distal seminiferous tubules with active spermatogenesis, most Sertoli cells were negative for anti‐p‐STAT3 staining. Albeit rarely, a small patch of several p‐STAT3‐positive Sertoli cells was detected frequently in seminiferous epithelial cycle stages I–VI. Such p‐STAT3‐positive ratios in the convoluted seminiferous epithelia were significantly increased in germ cell‐less testes than in the wild‐type testes, but with considerably lower ratios than in the SV region. These findings imply that regionally distinct patterns of STAT3 phosphorylation in the Sertoli cells depend on either location or spermatogenic activity in normal healthy testes in vivo, highlighting a novel entry point to understanding STAT signaling in mammalian spermatogenesis.
Spatiotemporal regularization for digital image correlation: Application to infrared camera frames
Authors: Charbal A. , Roux S. , Hild F. , Vincent L.
Published: February 2018

The spatiotemporal response of a stainless steel plate undergoing cyclic laser shock is recorded with an infrared camera, and digital image correlation is used to analyze both displacement and temperature fields. Two very challenging difficulties are addressed: (i) large gray‐level variations (due to temperature changes) and (ii) convection effects affecting images. To this aim, a spatiotemporal regularization is designed exploiting a numerical model of the test. The thermomechanical space‐time predictions are first processed through Karhunen‐Loève decomposition to extract dominant temporal and spatial modes. The temporal modes are then inserted in a spatiotemporal digital image correlation framework to estimate the experimental spatial modes that account for both gray‐level variations (and hence temperature) and displacement fields. It is shown that with only 3 modes, the full thermomechanical response of the material is captured. The temporal regularization issued from the model also allows the spurious effect of convection to be filtered out. Due to the drastic decrease in the number of degrees of freedom because of data reduction, the number of analyzed frames can be reduced from 50 down to 6 to capture the thermomechanical response, thereby leading to enhanced efficiency.
Stimuli‐responsive polymer nanocomposites based on styrene‐butadiene rubber and bacterial cellulose whiskers
Authors: Chen Yang , Li Geng , Yin Qing , Jia Hongbing , Ji Qingmin , Wang Liping , Wang Dongni , Yin Biao
Published: February 2018

Water‐induced mechanically adaptive rubber nanocomposites were prepared by mixing bacterial cellulose whiskers (BCWs) suspension with styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) latex, followed by evaporation method. The structure, morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, water stimuli‐responsive behavior, and biodegradability of SBR/BCWs nanocomposite films were investigated. The results showed that the hydrophilic whiskers had a significant reinforcement effect on the storage modulus of SBR matrix, which originated from the formation of a rigid three‐dimensional filler network within matrix by strong hydrogen bonding between whiskers. The SBR/BCWs nanocomposites showed pronounced water stimuli‐responsive behavior compared with neat SBR. The storage modulus of SBR/BCWs nanocomposite could be decreased by 99.2% after equilibrium water swelling. This remarkable water‐triggered modulus change is attributed to the disentanglement of BCWs network via competitive hydrogen bonding with water.
Toughness of Scots pine ‐ polymethyl methacrylate composite
Authors: Kyzioł Lesław , Szwabowicz Marek L.
Published: February 2018

A series of 1,600 samples of the sapwood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), part of them in natural state, but majority subjected to polymerization with various level of impregnation with methyl methacrylate, were tested for toughness on Charpy's impact machine. The goal of the experiment was to investigate how polymerization improves toughness and, additionally, how exposure to low temperatures and to the action of seawater influences this property of the material tested. It was found that within impregnation levels and temperatures tested variability of toughness due to these two factors is almost linear and in practical considerations may be predicted based on an empirical formula. It was also found that exposure to the action of seawater weakens the material. To verify anisotropy of toughness in the plane perpendicular to the grain all samples were consistently cut out such that one pair of opposite lateral faces were tangent to the growth rings. Half of the whole set of samples was fractured with an impact directed perpendicular to the growth rings and the other half with an impact directed in the tangential direction. The results show that although in general toughness is slightly higher in the direction perpendicular to the growth rings than in the tangent direction, the difference may be neglected in practical considerations. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:811–822, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Positron lifetime study of PAN‐based carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Munirathnamma Lakkur Munirajappa , Ravikumar Harijan Basavaraju
Published: February 2018

Microstructural characterization of polyacrylonitrile‐based carbon fiber (PAN‐CF) reinforced polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethersulfone (PES) polymer composites have been performed. The positron lifetime parameters viz., o‐Ps lifetime (τ3), o‐Ps intensity (I3) and fractional free volume (Fv) of PAN‐CF reinforced PBT (PBT/PAN‐CF) and PAN‐CF reinforced PES (PES/PAN‐CF) composites are correlated with the mechanical properties. The fractional free volume obtained experimentally show negative deviation from the linear additivity relation in PBT/PAN‐CF composites for lower wt% of PAN‐CF loading. This indicates the improved adhesion between PAN‐CF and polymeric chains of PBT matrix in PBT/PAN‐CF composites. The positive deviation of fractional free volume (Fv) in PES/PAN‐CF composites suggests the formation of interface between PAN‐CF and polymeric chains of PES matrix. The increased glass transition temperature (Tg) of PBT/PAN‐CF composites suggests the reduced main chain and segmental mobility of PBT polymeric matrix by the presence of PAN‐CFs. The decreased glass transition temperature (Tg) in PES/PAN‐CF composites indicates the reduced molecular packing due to interface formation. The increased crystallinity and improved mechanical properties of PBT/PAN‐CF and PES/PAN‐CF polymer composites are attributed to the increased nucleation density of carbon fibers in the composites. The FTIR results suggest the improved chemical interaction between the functional groups of PAN‐CF and PBT matrix. The hydrodynamic interaction is also high in PBT/PAN‐CF than PES/PAN‐CF composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E939–E952, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Influence of Age on Warfarin Dose, Anticoagulation Control, and Risk of Hemorrhage
Authors: Shendre Aditi , Parmar Gaurav M. , Dillon Chrisly , Beasley Timothy Mark , Limdi Nita A.
Published: February 2018

Objective

We assessed the influence of age on warfarin dose, percentage time in target range (PTTR), and risk of major hemorrhage.

Design

Warfarin users recruited into a large prospective inception cohort study were categorized into three age groups: young (younger than 50 yrs), middle aged (50–70 yrs), and elderly (older than 70 yrs). The influence of age on warfarin dose and PTTR was assessed using regression analysis; risk of major hemorrhage was assessed using proportional hazards analysis. Models were adjusted for demographic, clinical, and genetic factors.

Setting

Two outpatient anticoagulation clinics.

Participants

A total of 1498 anticoagulated patients.

Outcomes

Warfarin dose (mg/day), PTTR, major hemorrhage.

Results

Of the 1498 patients, 22.8% were young, 44.1% were middle aged, and 33.1% were elderly. After accounting for clinical and genetic factors, compared with young warfarin users, warfarin dose requirements were 10.6% lower among the middle aged and an additional 10.6% lower for the elderly. Compared with young patients, middle‐aged and elderly patients spent more time in target international normalized ratio (INR) range (p<0.0001), despite having fewer INR assessments (p<0.0001). Compared with young warfarin users, absolute risk of hemorrhage was marginally higher among the middle aged (p=0.08) and significantly higher among the elderly (p=0.016). Compared with young warfarin users, after adjustment, the relative risk of hemorrhage increased by 31% for each age category (p=0.026).

Conclusions

In a real‐world setting, despite achieving better anticoagulation control, elderly patients had a higher risk of major hemorrhagic events. As the population ages and the candidacy for oral anticoagulation increases, strategies that mitigate the elevated risk of hemorrhage need to be identified.
Relationship between hope and depression in college students: A cross‐lagged regression analysis
Authors: li Zhihua , Wang Yi , Mao Xinjie , Yin Xiayun
Published: February 2018

Objective

This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression and two dimensions of hope (pathways thinking and agency thinking) in college students and explore the dynamics of the causal relationship between these variables.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted and included 381 college students. Hope and depression were measured using Snyder's State Hope Scale and the Center for Epidemiological Survey Depression Scale respectively, four times within a year (at 4‐month intervals), and cross‐lagged regression analysis was performed.

Results

The bidirectional paths between pathways thinking and depression were highly significant. The paths from agency thinking to depression were non‐significant, but the paths from depression to agency thinking were significant.

Conclusion

There was a significant bidirectional relationship between pathways thinking and depression. In addition, depression levels predicted levels of agency thinking, but levels of agency thinking did not predict depression levels. Therefore, interventions for depression should include strategies that assist individuals in the use of pathways thinking to establish specific routes via which to achieve their goals. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plume transition from solid to hollow with increasing the bias value of a sinusoidal voltage applied to an argon plasma jet
Authors: Li Xuechen , Lin Xiaotong , Wu Kaiyue , Jia Pengying , Dong Lifang , Ran Junxia
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a detailed study is carried out on an argon plasma jet excited by a biased sinusoidal voltage. Results indicate that, with increasing the biased voltage from negative polarity to positive one, the resultant plume transits from solid to hollow. Through implementing fast photography, a plump guided bullet is found to propagate in the solid plume, in which a negative streamer mechanism is involved. However, a positive streamer mechanism is involved in the hollow plume. It behaves as a thin guided streamer starting out from the driven electrode end, which subsequently evolves into branching streamers propagating in the flow periphery. To investigate the formation mechanism of the two plumes, the intensity ratio of spectral lines is investigated.
Relation Between Electrical and Optical Properties of p‐Type NiO Films
Authors: Ono Mizuki , Sasaki Kohei , Nagai Hiroki , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Higashiwaki Masataka , Kuramata Akito , Yamakoshi Shigenobu , Sato Mitsunobu , Honda Tohru , Onuma Takeyoshi
Published: February 2018

Relation between the electrical and optical properties of p‐type NiO films prepared either by RF sputtering or by the molecular precursor method is studied in terms of changes in crystallinity, resistivity ρ and absorption coefficients α. Values of α are correlated with electronic structures near the valence band maximum, which are obtained from the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and the density functional theory calculations. The ρ and α values are found to be strongly influenced by the crystallinity as well as the Ni vacancies as acceptor‐type intrinsic point defects.
External RBS analysis setup at University of Göttingen: RBS analysis for liquid samples
Authors: Saito M. , Holm K. , Bregolin F. L. , Hofsäss H.
Published: February 2018

In this work, we describe new developments in the external analysis setup at University of Göttingen. The aim of this work is to expand the ability of the setup for performing Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in atmospheric condition. This work presents the detail of the developed device for external RBS, as well as the initial result of RBS analysis for a volatile liquid sample. We also made an electrochemical cell with a Si3N4 window designed for external RBS analysis. By using this setup, we have successfully acquired the change of composition around an electrode/liquid electrolyte interface. Since RBS can give us quantitative depth information, the external RBS developed here will open a way to characterize a solid‐liquid interface quantitatively and understand the chemical reaction of the interface.
Super‐Absorbent Polymer Valves and Colorimetric Chemistries for Time‐Sequenced Discrete Sampling and Chloride Analysis of Sweat via Skin‐Mounted Soft Microfluidics
Authors: Kim Sung Bong , Zhang Yi , Won Sang Min , Bandodkar Amay J. , Sekine Yurina , Xue Yeguang , Koo Jahyun , Harshman Sean W. , Martin Jennifer A. , Park Jeong Min , Ray Tyler R. , Crawford Kaitlyn E. , Lee Kyu‐Tae , Choi Jungil , Pitsch Rhonda L. , Grigsby Claude C. , Strang Adam J. , Chen Yu‐Yu , Xu Shuai , Kim Jeonghyun , Koh Ahyeon , Ha Jeong Sook , Huang Yonggang , Kim Seung Wook , Rogers John A.
Published: February 2018

This paper introduces super absorbent polymer valves and colorimetric sensing reagents as enabling components of soft, skin‐mounted microfluidic devices designed to capture, store, and chemically analyze sweat released from eccrine glands. The valving technology enables robust means for guiding the flow of sweat from an inlet location into a collection of isolated reservoirs, in a well‐defined sequence. Analysis in these reservoirs involves a color responsive indicator of chloride concentration with a formulation tailored to offer stable operation with sensitivity optimized for the relevant physiological range. Evaluations on human subjects with comparisons against ex situ analysis illustrate the practical utility of these advances.
Using a Task Analysis Process for Reading and Writing Assignments
Authors: Philippakos Zoi A.
Published: February 2018

Proficient writers spend substantial time planning for writing, and that planning begins with analyzing the writing task. They spend time considering the topic, the audience and its needs, and the genre and form of the writing. This rhetorical analysis helps them set goals, orient their attention, and get organized. Task analysis can also help students navigate reading tasks and challenging combined reading–writing tasks. This teaching tip explains a process for critically reading and analyzing writing tasks, as well as combined reading–writing tasks, that can be immediately applied in teachers’ classrooms.
Intellectual property policies for solar geoengineering
Authors: Reynolds Jesse L. , Contreras Jorge L. , Sarnoff Joshua D.
Published: February 2018

Governance of solar geoengineering is important and challenging, with particular concern arising from commercial actors’ involvement. Policies relating to intellectual property, including patents and trade secrets, and to data access will shape private actors’ behavior and regulate access to data and technologies. There has been little careful consideration of the possible roles of and interrelationships among commercial actors, intellectual property, and intellectual property policy. Despite the current low level of commercial activity and intellectual property rights in this domain, we expect both to grow as research and development continue. Given the public good nature of solar geoengineering, the relationship between the public and private sectors would likely assume a procurement structure. Innovative policy approaches to intellectual property and data access that are specific to solar geoengineering are warranted. These current circumstances also present opportunities for the development of policy and norms that might soon be lost. We consider some possible approaches, and recommend a bottom‐up, primarily nonstate, voluntary “research commons” for patents and data that are related to solar geoengineering. This would facilitate information sharing and limit data fragmentation and trade secrecy. It would also provide an incentive for commons members to pledge to limit some forms of intellectual property acquisition and to assure access on reasonable terms, thereby limiting the need for enforcement. This should help reduce downstream barriers to innovation and to encourage the potential development of technologies at reasonable cost. Such a research commons might also catalyze the adoption of best practices in research and development.

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > Private Governance of Climate Change

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice
The Promise and Pitfalls of Facebook Advertising: a Genetic Counselor's Perspective
Authors: Verbrugge Jennifer , Rumbaugh Malia , Cook Lola , Schulze Jeanine , Miller Mandy , Heathers Laura , Arnedo Vanessa , Kuhl Maggie McGuire , Foroud Tatiana
Published: February 2018

Facebook advertising is a powerful tool for increasing the outreach and recruitment of research participants. We describe our experience as genetic counselors within the context of an internet‐based research study, recruiting subjects for a Parkinson disease (PD) biomarker study.
Optimization of fMRI methods to determine laterality of cortical activation during ankle movements of children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Hilderley A.J. , Taylor M.J. , Fehlings D. , Chen J.L. , Wright F.V.
Published: February 2018

Measurement of laterality of motor cortical activations may provide valuable information about lower limb control in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Evidence from upper limb research suggests that increased contralateral activity may accompany functional gains. However, lower limb areas of activation and associated changes have been underexplored due to challenges with imaging motor cortical leg representations. In this study, methods for a task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ankle dorsiflexion paradigm were refined with three pilot groups of participants: (i) adults (n = 5); (ii) typically developing (TD) children (n = 5) and; (iii) children with UCP (n = 4). Parameters of experimental design, task resistance, reproducibility, and pre‐scan procedures were tested/refined using a staged development approach with additions or changes introduced if image quality did not meet pre‐defined standards. When image quality was acceptable for two consecutive participants, the next participant group was recruited to test/refine the next parameter. The final paradigm involved an event‐related design of a single dorsiflexion movement against individualized resistance, with two runs per leg. It included a pre‐scan session to increase child comfort and determine task resistance. This paradigm produced valid data for laterality index (LI) calculations to determine the ratio of activity in each hemisphere. Ventricle and lesion masks were used in non‐linear image registration, and individual thresholds were used for extent‐based LI calculations. LI of dominant ankle movements were contralateral (LI ≥ +0.2) for TD children (mean LI = +0.89, std = 0.27) and children with UCP (mean LI = +0.86, std = 0.26). For the affected ankle of children with UCP, LI values indicated ipsilateral and/or contralateral activation (mean LI = +0.02, std = 0.71, range −0.92 to +1.00). This fMRI paradigm will support investigations of cortical activation and mechanisms of skill improvement following lower limb interventions.
Recent advance in high-pressure solid-state metathesis reactions
Authors: Lei Li , Zhang Leilei
Published: February 2018

High-pressure solid-state metathesis (HPSSM) reaction is an effective route to novel metal nitrides. A recent advance in HPSSM reactions is presented for a number of examples, including 3d transition metal nitrides (ε-Fe3N, ε-Fe3−xCoxN, CrN, and Co4Nx), 4d transition metal nitrides (MoNx), and 5d transition metal nitrides (Re3N, WNx). Thermodynamic investigations based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations on several typical HPSSM reactions between metal oxides and boron nitride indicate that the pressure could reduce the reaction enthalpy ΔH. High-pressure confining environment thermodynamically favors an ion-exchange process between metal atom and boron atom, and successfully results in the formation of well-crystalized metal nitrides with potential applications.
Social Information Processing and Aggravation of Conduct in Young Offenders
Authors: Franco Mariana Guedes de Oliveira , Bazon Marina Rezende
Published: February 2018

The present study investigated the differences in patterns of social information processing (SIP) among adolescents with two trajectories of offending: group 1 (G1) composed of adolescents with atrajectory of major persistent offenses, which includes illegal acts considered violent; group 2 (G2) composed of individuals with a trajectory ofminor persistent offenses, in which there is no escalation of the gravity of the offenses; and a comparison group (G3) with adolescents without involvement in offenses. SIP is one of the theoretical models most widely evoked to study and explain violent behavior in children/adolescents, in regarding the psychological processes that underlie behavior, specifically the cognitive nature. The participants answered a self-report delinquency interview and a SIP measure protocol. The results showed differences between the groups of offenders (G1 and G2) and the comparison group (G3) on the SIP pattern related to the competent responses. G1 and G2 revealed a SIP pattern poorly associated with socially competent behavior. However, G1 presented an SIP pattern more associated with the emission of aggressive behaviors. This pattern, although also present in G2, is more evident for those adolescents who reported committing crimes with the use of violence against people.
Medical Liability for Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Human Experimentation: International Standards and Comparative Models from Arab Jurisdictions
Authors: Mattar Mohamed Y.
Published: February 2018

Conducting experiments on humans may subject them to abuse and exploitation. The international community has developed principles, rules and norms that provide for safeguards against exploitative human experimentation. Recruiting a person by illegal means for illicit purposes has been criminalized as human trafficking. This article attempts, for the first time, to address human experimentation as a form of human trafficking. The article advocates for an expansive definition of the concept of human trafficking to include not only sex or labor but also medical or scientific tests that are conducted in violation of the law, also arguing that the international medical ethical principles, rules and norms may be more appropriately analyzed by using the three basic elements of a case of human trafficking, namely: (a) absence of consent; (b) abuse of a position of vulnerability; and (c) exploitation.
Sound wave scattering in a flow duct with azimuthally non-uniform liners
Authors: Jiang Hanbo , Lau Alex Siu Hong , Huang Xun
Published: February 2018

Novel acoustic liner designs often incorporate new materials with non-uniform impedance distributions. Therefore, new methods are required for their modelling and analysis. In this paper, a theoretical model is developed to investigate the scattering of sound waves from an axially symmetrical flow duct with a semi-infinite, azimuthally non-uniform acoustic lining on the duct wall. More specifically, the incorporation of Fourier series expansions into the Wiener–Hopf method leads to an analytical model with a matrix kernel, which is further factorised by using the pole-removal method to obtain a closed-form solution. A new mathematical method is developed to solve the residues associated with the pole-removal technique. The proposed model has been verified and validated by comparing with corresponding computational results. In addition to shedding light on the possible physical effect of azimuthally non-uniform liners along with an axial hard–soft interface, the current model enhances the theoretical modelling capability for a complicated set-up of practical importance, and can be used to investigate new liner designs for passive noise control in flow ducts.
The effects of irregular shape on the particle stress of dilute suspensions
Authors: Daghooghi Mohsen , Borazjani Iman
Published: February 2018

The irregular shape of particles in suspensions is typically approximated by simple geometries such as spheres or ellipsoids. We investigate the accuracy of such an approximation by comparing two irregular-shaped particles with different initial orientations against their equivalent spheroids in dilute volume fractions. Our results show that the average shear particle stress (and also intrinsic viscosity) of irregular particles can be 20 %–120 % higher than the maximum value of their geometric or kinematic equivalent spheroidal particles, and closer to spheroids with higher aspect ratios. We found that two geometric factors of an irregular shape, i.e., dimensionless surface-to-volume ratio and moment of inertia per unit volume (non-dimensionalized by the one-half the largest diameter of the particle), are correlated with the particle stress. In fact, the shear particle stress of a ring-shaped particle, which has a very large value of these factors, is five times larger than its equivalent spheroid. The correlation of these geometric factors with particle stress is further confirmed by considering two families of shapes (cylinder- and sphere-like particles). We also found that acceleration stress and especially Reynolds stress (stress mechanisms due to inertia) can have average values comparable to the stresslet term and effectively increase and decrease the absolute value of the first normal stress difference $N_{1}$ and second normal stress difference $N_{2}$, respectively. However, their contribution to the shear particle stress is negligible. Our results pave the way to define better equivalent particles for irregular ones.
Testing linear marginal stability in stratified shear layers
Authors: Howland C. J. , Taylor J. R. , Caulfield C. P.
Published: February 2018

We use two-dimensional direct numerical simulations of Boussinesq stratified shear layers to investigate the influence of the minimum gradient Richardson number $Ri_{m}$ on the early time evolution of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability to its saturated ‘billow’ state. Even when the diffusion of the background velocity and density distributions is counterbalanced by artificial body forces to maintain the initial profiles, in the limit as $Ri_{m}\rightarrow 1/4$, the perturbation growth rate tends to zero and the saturated perturbation energy becomes small. These results imply, at least for such canonical inflectional stratified shear flows, that ‘marginally unstable’ flows with $Ri_{m}$ only slightly less than 1/4 are highly unlikely to become ‘turbulent’, in the specific sense of being associated with significantly enhanced dissipation, irreversible mixing and non-trivial modification of the background distributions without additional externally imposed forcing.
Capital, Market, and Labour in the Western Cape Winelands c.1900: Agricultural Capitalism?
Authors: Olsson Lars
Published: February 2018

This article is a case study of the political economy of the Western Cape Winelands c.1900. The analysis covers three intertwined processes that were crucial for the advance of a capitalist mode of production: the making of capital, the making of a commodity market, and the making of a labouring class. The making of capital was achieved after the mid-1800s. However, even at the end of the century, the market for Cape wines and the making of a labouring class remained obstacles to the advance of capitalism. Some wealthy farm owners, though, were about to overcome these obstacles. A small group of them were of old Afrikaner origin, while others, mostly investor capitalists of British origin, were quite successful in establishing a capitalist mode of production on their wine farms. In particular, drawing on a vast array of primary sources, we discuss the many labour recruitment programmes that were organized as private and state initiatives.
A Meta-Analytic Re-Appraisal of the Framing Effect
Authors: Steiger Alexander , Kühberger Anton
Published: February 2018

Abstract. We reevaluated and reanalyzed the data of Kühberger’s (1998) meta-analysis on framing effects in risky decision making by using p-curve. This method uses the distribution of only significant p-values to correct the effect size, thus taking publication bias into account. We found a corrected overall effect size of d = 0.52, which is considerably higher than the effect reported by Kühberger (d = 0.31). Similarly to the original analysis, most moderators proved to be effective, indicating that there is not the risky-choice framing effect. Rather, the effect size varies with different manipulations of the framing task. Taken together, the p-curve analysis shows that there are reliable risky-choice framing effects, and that there is no evidence of intense p-hacking. Comparing the corrected estimate to the effect size reported in the Many Labs Replication Project (MLRP) on gain-loss framing (d = 0.60) shows that the two estimates are surprisingly similar in size. Finally, we conducted a new meta-analysis of risk framing experiments published in 2016 and again found a similar effect size (d = 0.56). Thus, although there is discussion on the adequate explanation for framing effects, there is no doubt about their existence: risky-choice framing effects are highly reliable and robust. No replicability crisis there.
When Your Weird Science Gets Stopped at Airport Security
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: February 2018

“Gamma ray spectrometer,” “rock hammer,” and “putty knife” are not phrases that airport security likes to hear.
A New Massive Open Online Course on Natural Disasters
Authors: Stix John , Gyakum John , Caissy Karolane , Guadagno Angela , Steeves-Fuentes Alexander , Yan Wei Wei , Roop Frank , Vungoc Pierre-André , Walker Claire , Finkelstein Adam , Winer Laura
Published: February 2018

Two professors put their college course online. Enrollment jumped more than 20-fold, and a forum for exchanging ideas with a multigenerational international community was born.
Measuring Emissions from Smoldering Peat Fires
Authors: Branscombe Alexandra
Published: February 2018

A new study measures emission factors for tropical peatland fires in Malaysia.