bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint bit and power loading for adaptive MIMO OFDM VLC systems
Authors: Siddiqi Umair F. , Narmanlioglu Omer , Uysal Murat , Sait Sadiq M.
Published: January 2020

Visible light communication (VLC) is a short‐range wireless access technology based on the dual use of illumination structure. The frequency‐selective characteristics of VLC channels motivate the use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In addition, the presence of multiple light sources in most indoor spaces makes multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) communication techniques a natural solution for VLC systems. In this paper, we investigate the design of an adaptive MIMO OFDM system. Specifically, we propose adaptive bit and power loading for a direct current–biased OFDM VLC system with MIMO mode switching between repetition coding and spatial multiplexing. We formulate the adaptive algorithm design as an optimization problem where we aim to maximize spectral efficiency through the proper selection of modulation order, power level, and MIMO mode, while satisfying a targeted bit error rate. To solve the underlying NP‐hard problems, we use a simulated annealing heuristic. We present Monte Carlo simulation results for a typical indoor setting and illustrate the performance improvements through link adaptation.
Fishnet‐Like, Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Films Directly Anchored on Carbon Cloths as Binder‐Free Electrodes for High‐Performance Supercapacitor
Authors: Wu Jing , Xu Liming , Zhou Weiqiang , Jiang Fengxing , Liu Peipei , Zhang Hui , Jiang Qinglin , Xu Jingkun
Published: January 2020

The low specific capacitance and energy density of carbon electrode has extremely limited the wide application of supercapacitors. For developing a high‐performance carbon electrode using a simple and effective method, a fishnet‐like, N‐doped porous carbon (FNPC) film is prepared by calcining the KOH‐activated polyindole precoated on carbon cloths. The FNPC film is tightly anchored on carbon cloths without any binder. The FNPC film with 3.8 at% N content exhibits a fairly high specific capacitance of 416 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1. Moreover, the assembled button‐type cell with two FNPC film electrodes shows a high energy density of 16.4 Wh kg−1, a high power density of 67.4 kW kg−1, and long‐term cyclic stability of 92% of the initial capacitance after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g−1. The high performances mainly came from the integration of pseudocapacitance and electrical double‐layer capacitance behavior, wettability, fishnet‐like nanostructure, as well as the low interfacial resistivity. This strategy provides a practical, uncomplicated, and low‐cost design of binder‐free flexible carbon materials electrode for high‐performance supercapacitors.
Small bowel adenocarcinoma: Results from a nationwide prospective ARCAD‐NADEGE cohort study of 347 patients
Authors: Aparicio Thomas , Henriques Julie , Manfredi Sylvain , Tougeron David , Bouché Olivier , Pezet Denis , Piessen Guillaume , Coriat Romain , Zaanan Aziz , Legoux Jean‐Louis , Terrebone Eric , Pocard Marc , Gornet Jean‐Marc , Lecomte Thierry , Lombard‐Bohas Catherine , Perrier Hervé , Lecaille Cédric , Lavau‐Denes Sandrine , Vernerey Dewi , Afchain Pauline ,   NADEGE Investigators
Published: January 2020

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare tumour. We conducted a prospective cohort to describe the prevalence, survival and prognostic factors in unselected SBA patients. The study enrolled patients with all stages of newly diagnosed or recurrent SBA at 74 French centres between January 2009 and December 2012. In total, 347 patients were analysed; the median age was 63 years (range 23–90). The primary tumour was in the duodenum (60.6%), jejunum (20.7%) and ileum (18.7%). The prevalence of predisposing disease was 8.7%, 6.9%, 1.7%, 1.7% and 0.6% for Crohn disease, Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, celiac disease and Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome, respectively. At diagnosis, 58.9%, 5.5% and 35.6% of patients had localised and resectable, locally advanced unresectable and metastatic disease, respectively. Crohn disease was significantly associated with younger age, poor differentiation and ileum location, whereas Lynch syndrome with younger age, poor differentiation, early stage and duodenum location. Adjuvant chemotherapy (oxaliplatin‐based in 89.9%) was performed in 61.5% of patients with locally resected tumours. With a 54‐months median follow‐up, the 5‐year overall survival (OS) was 87.9%, 78.2% and 55.5% in Stages I, II and III, respectively. The median OS of patients with Stage IV was 12.7 months. In patients with resected tumours, poor differentiation (p = 0.047) and T4 stage (p = 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of death. In conclusion, our study showed that the prognosis of advanced SBA remains poor. Tumour characteristics differed according to predisposing disease. In SBA‐resected tumours, the prognostic factors for OS were grade and T stage.
Use of human liver and EpiSkin™ S9 subcellular fractions as a screening assays to compare the in vitro hepatic and dermal metabolism of 47 cosmetics‐relevant chemicals
Authors: Eilstein Joan , Grégoire Sébastien , Fabre Aurélie , Arbey Eric , Géniès Camille , Duplan Hélène , Rothe Helga , Ellison Corie , Cubberley Richard , Schepky Andreas , Lange Daniela , Klaric Martina , Hewitt Nicola J. , Jacques‐Jamin Carine
Published: January 2020

The abundance of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) is different in the skin and liver; therefore, it is important to differentiate between liver and skin metabolism when applying the information to safety assessment of topically applied ingredients in cosmetics. Here, we have employed EpiSkin™ S9 and human liver S9 to investigate the organ‐specific metabolic stability of 47 cosmetic‐relevant chemicals.

The rank order of the metabolic rate of six chemicals in primary human hepatocytes and liver S9 matched relatively well. XME pathways in liver S9 were also present in EpiSkin S9; however, the rate of metabolism tended to be lower in the latter. It was possible to rank chemicals into low‐, medium‐ and high‐clearance chemicals and compare rates of metabolism across chemicals with similar structures. The determination of the half‐life for 21 chemicals was affected by one or more factors such as spontaneous reaction with cofactors or non‐specific binding, but these technical issues could be accounted for in most cases. There were seven chemicals that were metabolized by liver S9 but not by EpiSkin S9: 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol, resorcinol, cinnamyl alcohol and 2‐acetylaminofluorene (slowly metabolized); and cyclophosphamide, benzophenone, and 6‐methylcoumarin.

These data support the use of human liver and EpiSkin S9 as screening assays to indicate the liver and skin metabolic stability of a chemical and to allow for comparisons across structurally similar chemicals. Moreover, these data can be used to estimate the systemic bioavailability and clearance of chemicals applied topically, which will ultimately help with the safety assessment of cosmetics ingredients.
Increased Burden of Common Risk Alleles in Children With a Significant Fracture History
Authors: Manousaki Despoina , Kämpe Anders , Forgetta Vincenzo , Makitie Riikka E , Bardai Ghalib , Belisle Alexandre , Li Rui , Andersson Sture , Makitie Outi , Rauch Frank , Richards J Brent
Published: January 2020

Extreme presentations of common disease in children are often presumed to be of Mendelian etiology, but their polygenic basis has not been fully explored. We tested whether children with significant fracture history and no osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are at increased polygenic risk for fracture. A childhood significant fracture history was defined as the presence of low-trauma vertebral fractures or multiple long bone fractures. We generated a polygenic score of heel ultrasound-derived speed of sound, termed “gSOS,” which predicts risk of osteoporotic fracture. We tested if individuals from three cohorts with significant childhood fracture history had lower gSOS. A Canadian cohort included 94 children with suspected Mendelian osteoporosis, of which 68 had negative OI gene panel. Two Finnish cohorts included 59 children with significant fracture history and 22 with suspected Mendelian osteoporosis, among which 18 had no OI. After excluding individuals with OI and ancestral outliers, we generated gSOS estimates and compared their mean to that of a UK Biobank subset, representing the general population. The average gSOS across all three cohorts (n = 131) was −0.47 SD lower than that in UK Biobank (n = 80,027, p = 1.1 × 10−5). The gSOS of 78 individuals with suspected Mendelian osteoporosis was even lower (−0.76 SD, p = 5.3 × 10−10). Among the 131 individuals with a significant fracture history, we observed 8 individuals with gSOS below minus 2 SD from the mean; their mean lumbar spine DXA-derived bone mineral density Z-score was −1.7 (SD 0.8). In summary, children with significant fracture history but no OI have an increased burden of common risk alleles. This suggests that a polygenic contribution to disease should be considered in children with extreme presentations of fracture. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Reference intervals for thyroid‐stimulating hormone and thyroid hormones using the access TSH 3rd IS method in China
Authors: Li Zhen‐Zhen , Yu Ben‐Zhang , Wang Ji‐Liang , Yang Qin , Ming Jia , Tang Yu‐Rong
Published: January 2020

Background

To calculate the reference intervals for thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones using the Access TSH 3rd IS method and evaluate the differences between age and genders in Chinese populations.

Methods

This study collected 349 serum samples of healthy subjects were from Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital in China. Subjects who tested positive for thyroid peroxidase antibody or thyroglobulin antibody were excluded. Accordingly, 313 subjects were included for establishing reference intervals for the thyroid hormones. The serum concentrations of TSH, total and free thyroxine (TT4 and FT4), and total and free triiodothyronine (TT3 and FT3) were measured using the Access TSH 3rd IS method. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles or mean with standard deviation were calculated as the reference interval as appropriate.

Results

The reference intervals for TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, and TT3 calculated in present study were 0.61‐4.16 mIU/L, 0.67‐1.11 ng/dL, 2.63‐4.33 pg/mL, 5.56‐11.33 μg/dL, and 0.72‐1.32 ng/mL, respectively. The FT3, TT4, and TT3 levels in males were significantly higher than in females (P < .05), while TSH levels in males were significantly lower than in females (P < .05). The levels of FT3 in subjects with the age of less than 30 years were significantly higher than other groups (P < .05).

Conclusion

The present study provided a valid basis for the reference intervals for TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, and TT3 in Chinese populations. In addition, this present study indicated that age and gender should be considered in diagnostic evaluation of thyroid diseases.
Preparation of Cu@SiO2composite nanoparticle and its tribological properties as water‐based lubricant additive
Authors: Liu Tiantian , Zhou Changhua , Gao Chuanping , Zhang Yujuan , Yang Guangbin , Zhang Pingyu , Zhang Shengmao
Published: January 2020

In this paper, to solve the problem that di‐n‐hexadecyldithiophosphate (DDP)‐modified Cu nanoparticles initially used as oil‐based lubricant additive cannot be directly used in water‐based lubricants, we adopt a water‐in‐oil reverse micro‐emulsion method to incorporate hydrophobic Cu nanoparticles into silica spheres for obtaining water‐dispersible Cu@SiO2nanoparticles. The effects of reaction conditions on the morphology and microstructure of Cu@SiO2nanoparticles were investigated. Furthermore, the tribological properties of the as‐prepared Cu@SiO2nanoparticles as a lubricant additive in distilled water were investigated with a UMT‐2MT tribometer. Results indicate that the as‐prepared Cu@SiO2nanoparticles exhibit good dispersion stability and antioxidant ability in distilled water. Besides, Cu@SiO2nanoparticles can significantly improve the tribological properties of distilled water, which is attributed to the formation of a protective and lubricious film consisting of Cu, FeS and SiO2on the rubbed steel surface.
Ketogenic Diet Potentiates Electrical Stimulation–Induced Peripheral Nerve Regeneration after Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury in Rats
Authors: Li Ji , Liu Yang , Liu Huan‐qiu , Chen Lei , Li Rui‐jun
Published: January 2020

Scope

Recent findings indicate that the ketogenic diet (KD) is neuroprotective and electrical stimulation (ES) can improve functional recovery from peripheral nerve injury. However, it is not clear whether KD and ES play a synergistical role in the peripheral nerve recovery following injury.

Methods and results

A KD consisting of a 3:1 ratio of fat to carbohydrate + protein is used and is coupled with ES treatment in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury. Neuromuscular recovery is evaluated by electromyography, and axonal regeneration and myelination by histological methods. The effects on insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and IGF‐1 receptor expression in peripheral nerve tissue, pre‐ and post‐nerve injury, are also investigated. The combination of KD and ES synergistically increases muscle force in biceps femoris and gluteus maximus and prevents development of hypersensitivity in biceps femoris. It promotes peripheral nerve regeneration by increasing total axons, axon density, and axonal diameter, as well as myelin thickness and axon/fiber ratio. These effects are due to modulation of the IGF system as the treatment expression of IGF‐1 and IGF‐1 receptor in regenerated nerve tissue.

Conclusion

The results establish that KD and ES promote peripheral nerve regeneration. Patients recovering from peripheral nerve injury may benefit from this combinational approach.
Dynamically tunable high‐efficiency broadband terahertz linear polarization converter based on Dirac semimetal metamaterials
Authors: Meng Wanli , Hou Baoyu , Cao Qiuhong , Lin Hongmei , Zhou Wei , Li Zhaoxin , Li Dehua
Published: January 2020

An electrically‐tunable polarization converter with a dynamic range of 2.026 to 2.481 THz is designed and simulated in this work. A dumbbell‐like Dirac semimetal metamaterial is fabricated and attached to a Teflon plate, with a perfect electric conductor as the substrate. Simulation results show that for a 22‐μm‐thick Teflon plate and a Fermi level is 60 meV, the polarization conversion rate reaches 100% at the two resonance frequencies of 2.072 and 2.428 THz. Moreover, the polarization conversion rate exceeds 85% in the frequency range of 2.026 to 2.481 THz.
Optical performance of hybrid metal‐insulator‐metal plasmonic waveguide for low‐loss and efficient photonic integration
Authors: Kumar Pintu , Singh Dharmendra K. , Ranjan Rakesh
Published: January 2020

The fundamental mode characteristics of hybrid metal‐insulator‐metal plasmonic waveguide (HMIMPW), consists of a high‐index layer sandwiched between two spacer/low‐index and metal layers, has been explored to achieve relatively high power density with smaller effective mode area in low‐index waveguide region at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The HMIMPW has the advantage of low power loss with relatively large propagation distance, of order of several tens of λ. The simulation results have demonstrated that with spacer thickness of 10 nm, significantly higher confinement of optical mode power (> 65%) can be realized in the spacer region of HMIMPW with relatively smaller effective area of 0.0060 μm2 together with the power density > 200 μm−2. This type of analysis and results are very desirable for several specific applications, like optical sensing, nonlinear optics, optical manipulations. Further, the investigations on crosstalk performance between two parallel HMIMPWs have been addressed in order to realize the high integration density over the photonic chip. The decoupling separation of nearly 560 nm has been accomplished with the thicknesses of low‐ and high‐index regions, respectively, of 10 and 50 nm.
Structural changes from heating amber and copal as observed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Lambert Joseph B. , Nguyen Truongan V. , Levy Allison J. , Wu Yuyang , Santiago‐Blay Jorge A.
Published: January 2020

Structural changes caused by heating of fossilized (amber) and semifossilized (copal) resins have been examined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A set of 28 samples was constituted to include different geographical sources, degrees of maturation, colors, and structural groupings. The onset of structural alterations was determined by observation of the lowest temperature at which spectral changes occurred. Both proton spectra in solution and carbon‐13? spectra in the solid state then were recorded of cooled samples after heating for 12 hr at temperature increments, until liquification of the sample began. The spectra of both nuclides exhibit loss of a few peaks, broadening of most peaks, and enhancement of the unsaturated or aromatic region at the expense of saturated resonances. Such changes are irreversible and lead to a harder and less soluble material on cooling. The changes parallel those that occur with maturation of fossil resins or materials that lead to coal.
A pH‐Switchable Triple Hydrogen‐Bonding Motif
Authors: Coubrough Heather M. , Balonova Barbora , Pask Christopher M. , Blight Barry A. , Wilson Andrew J.
Published: January 2020

A stimuli responsive linear hydrogen bonding motif, capable of in situ protonation and deprotonation, has been investigated. The interactions of the responsive hydrogen bonding motif with complementary partners were examined through a series of 1H NMR experiments, revealing that the recognition preference of the responsive hydrogen bonding motif in a mixture can be switched between two states.
Perceived contributions of multifunctional landscapes to human well‐being: Evidence from 13 European sites
Authors: Fagerholm Nora , Martín‐López Berta , Torralba Mario , Oteros‐Rozas Elisa , Lechner Alex M. , Bieling Claudia , Stahl Olafsson Anton , Albert Christian , Raymond Christopher M. , Garcia‐Martin Maria , Gulsrud Natalie , Plieninger Tobias
Published: January 2020

Multifunctional landscapes provide critical benefits and are essential for human well‐being. The relationship between multifunctional landscapes and well‐being has mostly been studied using ecosystem services as a linkage. However, there is a challenge of concretizing what human well‐being exactly is and how it can be measured, particularly in relation to ecosystem services, landscape values and related discussions.

In this paper, we measure self‐reported well‐being through applying an inductive free‐listing approach to the exploration of the relationships between landscape multifunctionality and human well‐being across 13 rural and peri‐urban sites in Europe.

We developed a face‐to‐face online survey (n = 2,301 respondents) integrating subjective perceptions of well‐being (free‐listing method) with mapping perceived ecosystem service benefits (Public Participation GIS, PPGIS approach).

Applying content analysis and diverse statistical methods, we explore the links between well‐being (i.e. perceived well‐being items such as tranquillity, social relations and health) and social‐ecological properties (i.e. respondents' sociocultural characteristics and perception of ecosystem service benefits).

We identify 40 different well‐being items highlighting prominently landscape values. The items form five distinct clusters: access to services; tranquillity and social capital; health and nature; cultural landscapes; and place attachment. Each cluster is related to specific study sites and explained by certain social‐ecological properties.

Results of our inductive approach further specify pre‐defined conceptualizations on well‐being and their connections to the natural environment. Results suggest that the well‐being contributions of multifunctional landscapes are connected to therapeutic well‐being effects, which are largely neglected in the ecosystem services literature.

Our results further point to the context‐specific character of linkages between landscapes and human well‐being. The clusters highlight that landscape‐supported well‐being is related to multiple interlinked items that can inform collective visions of well‐being in the future.

For landscape planning and management, we highlight the need for place‐specific analysis and consideration of perceptions of local people to identify the contributions to their well‐being.

Future research would benefit from considering the experiential qualities of value and well‐being as they relate to direct experiences with the landscape and wider psychological needs, specifically over time.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Organic/inorganic hybrid nanostructured composites of liquid nitrile rubber‐based quaternary ammonium salt‐modified montmorillonite and epoxy resin: preparation and tribological behaviors
Authors: Yi Hongling , Hu Meiling , Yao Donggang , Wei Ting , Lin Heng , Zheng Baicun
Published: January 2020

A new type of polymer derivative, carboxyl‐terminated butadiene nitrile rubber‐based quaternary ammonium salt (CTBN‐QAS), has been synthesized and used for the functionalization of sodium montmorillonite (MMT‐Na) via a cationic exchange process. The resulting CTBN‐QAS‐modified MMT (CTBN‐QAS‐MMT) exhibits exfoliated and/or intercalated structures as indicated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Further CTBN‐QAS‐MMT was incorporated into diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with different loadings to produce organic/inorganic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites. Studies were conducted on tribological behavior and dynamic mechanical properties by ring‐on‐block wear tester and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The results show that as‐prepared nanostructured epoxy has better wear resistance and lower friction coefficient than pure epoxy polymer (EP), and the best wear resistance is obtained at 6 phr (parts per hundred) CTBN‐QAS‐MMT‐modified EP. Wear surface morphology analysis shows that the friction mechanism is abrasive wear. Additionally, the good friction resistance and decreased wear loss are correlated with higher glassy storage modulus and lower tan δ. The improved tribological behavior is due to the formation of hybrid organic/inorganic nanostructured epoxy material.
Fuzzy smart failure modes and effects analysis to improve safety performance of system: Case study of an aircraft landing system
Authors: Daneshvar Sahand , Yazdi Mohammad , Adesina Kehinde A.
Published: January 2020

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a safety and reliability technique that is widely used to evaluate, design, and process a system against diverse possible ways through which the potential failure has a tendency to occur. In conventional FMEA, the risk evaluation is determined by risk priority number (RPN) obtained by multiplying of three risk factors—severity, occurrence, and detection. However, because of many shortages in conventional FMEA, the RPN scores have been widely criticized along issues bothering on ambiguity and vagueness, scoring, appraising, evaluating, and selecting corrective actions. In this paper, we propose a new integrated fuzzy smart FMEA framework where the combination of fuzzy set theory, analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used, respectively, to handle uncertainty and to increase the reliability of the risk assessment. These are achieved by employing a heterogeneous group of experts and determining the efficiency of FMEA mode with adequate priority and corrective actions using RPN, time, and cost as indicators. A numerical example (aircraft landing system) is provided to exemplify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model. The outputs of the proposed model compared with the conventional risk assessment technique results show its effectiveness, reliability, and propensity for real applications.
Toward Rigorous Materials Production: New Approach Methodologies Have Extensive Potential to Improve Current Safety Assessment Practices
Authors: Nymark Penny , Bakker Martine , Dekkers Susan , Franken Remy , Fransman Wouter , García‐Bilbao Amaia , Greco Dario , Gulumian Mary , Hadrup Niels , Halappanavar Sabina , Hongisto Vesa , Hougaard Karin Sørig , Jensen Keld Alstrup , Kohonen Pekka , Koivisto Antti Joonas , Dal Maso Miikka , Oosterwijk Thies , Poikkimäki Mikko , Rodriguez‐Llopis Isabel , Stierum Rob , Sørli Jorid Birkelund , Grafström Roland
Published: January 2020

Advanced material development, including at the nanoscale, comprises costly and complex challenges coupled to ensuring human and environmental safety. Governmental agencies regulating safety have announced interest toward acceptance of safety data generated under the collective term New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), as such technologies/approaches offer marked potential to progress the integration of safety testing measures during innovation from idea to product launch of nanomaterials. Divided in overall eight main categories, searchable databases for grouping and read across purposes, exposure assessment and modeling, in silico modeling of physicochemical structure and hazard data, in vitro high‐throughput and high‐content screening assays, dose‐response assessments and modeling, analyses of biological processes and toxicity pathways, kinetics and dose extrapolation, consideration of relevant exposure levels and biomarker endpoints typify such useful NAMs. Their application generally agrees with articulated stakeholder needs for improvement of safety testing procedures. They further fit for inclusion and add value in nanomaterials risk assessment tools. Overall 37 of 50 evaluated NAMs and tiered workflows applying NAMs are recommended for considering safer‐by‐design innovation, including guidance to the selection of specific NAMs in the eight categories. An innovation funnel enriched with safety methods is ultimately proposed under the central aim of promoting rigorous nanomaterials innovation.
Optimizing beta cell function through mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated mitochondria transfer
Authors: Rackham Chloe L. , Hubber Ella L. , Czajka Anna , Malik Afshan N. , King Aileen J. F. , Jones Peter M.
Published: January 2020

Pretransplant islet culture is associated with the loss of islet cell mass and insulin secretory function. Insulin secretion from islet β-cells is primarily controlled by mitochondrial ATP generation in response to elevations in extracellular glucose. Coculture of islets with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) improves islet insulin secretory function in vitro, which correlates with superior islet graft function in vivo. This study aimed to determine whether the improved islet function is associated with mitochondrial transfer from MSCs to cocultured islets. We have demonstrated mitochondrial transfer from human adipose MSCs to human islet β-cells in coculture. Fluorescence imaging showed that mitochondrial transfer occurs, at least partially, through tunneling nanotube (TNT)-like structures. The extent of mitochondrial transfer to clinically relevant human islets was greater than that to experimental mouse islets. Human islets are subjected to more extreme cellular stressors than mouse islets, which may induce “danger signals” for MSCs, initiating the donation of MSC-derived mitochondria to human islet β-cells. Our observations of increased MSC-mediated mitochondria transfer to hypoxia-exposed mouse islets are consistent with this and suggest that MSCs are most effective in supporting the secretory function of compromised β-cells. Ensuring optimal MSC-derived mitochondria transfer in preculture and/or cotransplantation strategies could be used to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, thus enabling the more widespread application of clinical islet transplantation.
Typifications and nomenclatural notes in Physalis (Solanaceae) from the United States
Authors: Pretz Chelsea , Deanna Rocío
Published: January 2020

Physalis is an economically important and morphologically diverse genus of plants with solitary flowers and fruits that are enveloped by an inflated fruiting calyx. Although work to resolve phylogenetic relationships in this clade is ongoing, Physalis remains a taxonomically complex genus with multiple nomenclatural problems. Here, we review 28 species from the United States and their synonyms as well as clarification on the status of their types. We propose 53 typifications. We select a lectotype for 49 names and a neotype for three names (P. ixocarpa, P. linkiana, P. ramosissima). We additionally designate an epitype for P. longifolia.
Power generation control of a hydrostatic wind turbine implemented by model‐free adaptive control scheme
Authors: Lin Shuyue , Qi Pengyuan , Zhao Xiaowei
Published: January 2020

The hydrostatic wind turbine (HWT) is a type of wind turbine that uses hydrostatic transmission (HST) drivetrain to replace the traditional gearbox drivetrain. Without the fragile and expensive gearbox and power converters, HWT can potentially reduce the maintenance costs owing to the gearbox and power converter failures in wind power system, especially in offshore cases. We design an MFAC torque controller to regulate the pump torque of the HWT and compared with an
torque controller. Then we design an MFAC pitch controller to stabilise the rotor speed of HWT and compared with a gain‐scheduling proportional‐integral (PI) controller and a gain‐scheduling PI controller with antiwindup (PIAW). The results indicate that MFAC torque controller provides more effective tracking performance than the
controller and that MFAC pitch controller shows better rotor speed stabilisation performance in comparison with the gain‐scheduling PI controller and PIAW.
Nonparametric volatility prediction
Authors: Klemelä Jussi
Published: January 2020

Volatility can be defined as the conditional expectation of the squared return of a financial asset. Many of the classical nonparametric regression estimators can be applied in volatility prediction. Examples of nonparametric estimators include moving averages and kernel estimators. However, it has been difficult to beat some parametric estimators from the generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroscedastic family using nonparametric estimators. We review some promising suggestions for nonparametric volatility prediction.

This article is categorized under:

Applications of Computational Statistics > Computational Finance

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Nonparametric Methods

Statistical Models > Time Series Models
Male characteristics as predictors of genital color and display variation in vervet monkeys
Authors: Young Mirjam M. I. , Winters Sandra , Young Christopher , Weiß Brigitte M. , Troscianko Jolyon , Ganswindt André , Barrett Louise , Henzi S. Peter , Higham James P. , Widdig Anja
Published: January 2020

In the animal kingdom, conspicuous colors are often used for inter- and intra-sexual communication. Even though primates are the most colorful mammalian taxon, many questions, including what potential information color signals communicate to social partners, are not fully understood. Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) are ideal to examine the covariates of color signals. Males have multi-colored genitals, which they present during distinctive male-male interactions, known as the “Red-White-and-Blue” (RWB) display, but the genitals are also visible across a variety of other contexts, and it is unclear what this color display signals to recipients. We recorded genital color presentations and standardized digital photos of male genitals (N = 405 photos) over one mating season for 20 adult males in three groups at the Samara Private Game Reserve, South Africa. We combined these with data on male characteristics (dominance, age, tenure length, injuries, and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations). Using visual modeling methods, we measured single colors (red, white, blue) but also the contrasts between colors. We assessed the frequency of the RWB genital display and male variation in genital coloration and linked this to male characteristics. Our data suggest that the number of genital displays increased with male dominance. However, none of the variables investigated explained the inter- and intra-individual variation in male genital coloration. These results suggest that the frequency of the RWB genital display, but not its color value, is related to dominance, providing valuable insights on covariation in color signals and their display in primates.

Significance statement

Conspicuous colors in animals often communicate individual quality to mates and rivals. By investigating vervet monkeys, a primate species in which males present their colorful genitals within several behavioral displays, we aim to identify the covariates of such colorful signals and their behavioral display. Using visual modeling methods for the color analysis and combining behavioral display data and color data with male characteristics, we found that high-ranking males displayed their colorful genitals more frequently than lower-ranking ones. In contrast, color variation was not influenced by male dominance, age, tenure length, or health. Our results can serve as a basis for future investigations on the function of colorful signals and behavioral displays, such as a badge of status or mate choice in primates.
Edoxaban versus warfarin in vitamin K antagonist experienced and naïve patients from the edoxaban versus warfarin in subjects undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (ENSURE-AF) randomised trial
Authors: Kozieł Monika , Al-Saady Naab , Hjortshøj Søren P. , Goudev Assen , Huber Kurt , Cohen Ariel , Jin James , Melino Michael , Winters Shannon M. , Goette Andreas , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: January 2020

Background

In ENSURE-AF study, edoxaban had similar efficacy and safety profile versus enoxaparin–warfarin (enox–warf) in patients undergoing electrical cardioversion of non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of edoxaban versus enox–warf in patients who were vitamin K antagonists (VKA) naïve or experienced at time of randomisation into ENSURE-AF trial.

Methods

The primary efficacy endpoint was a composite of stroke, systemic embolic event, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death during the overall study period, 28 days on study drug after cardioversion and 30 days follow-up. The primary safety endpoint was the composite of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding during the on-medication period from time of first dose to last dose of study drug taken + 3 days.

Results

Of 2199 patients enrolled in ENSURE-AF, 1095 were randomised to edoxaban and 1104 to enox–warf. There were numerically fewer primary efficacy endpoint events with edoxaban than enox–warf irrespective of whether VKA experienced or naïve (0.5% vs. 0.9%, 0.3% vs. 1.4%, respectively). There were no significant differences in the primary safety endpoint [odds ratio (OR) 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72–6.81 in anticoagulant experienced patients, OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.15–3.60 in anticoagulant naïve patients] and in major bleeding rates regardless of treatment or VKA experience (OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.06–6.04, OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.01–9.25, respectively).

Conclusions

Edoxaban had comparable efficacy and safety to optimized anticoagulation with enox–warf. The primary efficacy and safety endpoint outcomes were broadly similar between VKA experienced or naïve patients.
Restoration of intestinal continuity after stoma formation for Crohn’s disease in the era of biological therapy
Authors: Müller Catharina , Bergmann Michael , Stift Anton , Argeny Stanislaus , Speake Doug , Unger Lukas , Riss Stefan
Published: January 2020

Background

The rate of restoration of intestinal continuity after colonic resection and stoma creation in patients with Crohn’s disease has not been well-documented in the era of biologics. Thus, the incidence of restoration of intestinal continuity since the introduction of biological drugs was assessed.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n = 43) who underwent colonic resection with ileostomy or colostomy formation for Crohn’s disease at a single tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2014 were identified. Data from individual chart review were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were personally contacted for follow-up.

Results

Of the 43 patients 8 (18.4%) had a proctectomy leaving 35 patients (81.4%) with the rectum preserved. Of the 30 patients qualifying for final analysis restoration of bowel continuity was finally achieved in 10 patients (33.3%). Permanent stoma rates were comparable in the group of patients with and without biological therapy after surgery (64.3% vs. 60%). The median follow-up period was 7 years (range 3–15 years). Of the patients 20 suffered from perianal disease involvement (66.7%), which was associated with a higher rate of permanent stoma (n = 16/20, 80%) in contrast to patients without perianal disease (n = 4/10, 40%,p = 0.045).

Conclusion

The overall incidence of stoma formation was low for patients with Crohn’s disease; however, once a stoma is created the chance of ending up with a permanent stoma is high even in the era of biologics. Despite the use of new therapeutic agents perianal disease increases the risk of a permanent stoma.
Aptamer-based cocaine assay using a nanohybrid composed of ZnS/Ag2Se quantum dots, graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles as a fluorescent probe
Authors: Adegoke Oluwasesan , Pereira-Barros Magda A. , Zolotovskaya Svetlana , Abdolvand Amin , Daeid Niamh Nic
Published: January 2020

Authors report on a new fluoro-graphene-plasmonic nanohybrid aptamer-based fluorescent nanoprobe for cocaine. To construct the nanoprobe, newly synthesized glutathione-capped ZnS/Ag2Se quantum dots (QDs) were first conjugated to graphene oxide (GO) to form a QD-GO nanocomposite. The binding interaction resulted in a fluorescence turn-ON. Thereafter, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were directly adsorbed on the QD-GO nanocomposite to form a novel QD-GO-CTAB-AuNP nanohybrid assembly that resulted in a fluorescence turn-OFF. Streptavidin (strep) was then adsorbed on the QDs-GO-CTAB-AuNP nanohybrid assembly which allowed binding to a biotinylated MNS 4.1 anticocaine DNA aptamer (B) receptor. The addition of cocaine into the strep-B-QDs-GO-CTAB-AuNP aptamer nanoprobe system aided affinity to the aptamer receptor and in turn turned on the fluorescence of the nanoprobe in a concentration-dependent manner. Under optimum experimental conditions, we found the strep-B-QD-GO-CTAB-AuNP to be far superior in its sensitivity to cocaine than the tested strep-B-QDs (no GO and CTAB-AuNPs), strep-B-QD-CTAB-AuNP (no GO) and strep-B-QD-GO (no CTAB-AuNP). In addition, the investigation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) amplified signal from tested plasmonic NPs shows that CTAB-AuNPs was far superior in amplifying the fluorescence signal of the nanoprobe. A detection limit of 4.6 nM (1.56 ng.mL−1), rapid response time (~2 min) and excellent selectivity against other drugs, substances and cocaine metabolites was achieved. The strep-B-QD-GO-CTAB-AuNP aptamer-based fluorescent nanoprobe was successfully applied for the determination of cocaine in seized adulterated cocaine samples.
Presence of active MRI lesions in patients suspected of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with high disease activity and chance at conversion after a 6-month follow-up period
Authors: Rusman Tamara , John Marie-Luise B. , van der Weijden Mignon A. C. , Boden Bouke J. H. , van der Bijl Carmella M. A. , Bruijnen Stefan T. G. , van der Laken Conny J. , Nurmohamed Mike T. , van der Horst-Bruinsma Irene E.
Published: January 2020

Objectives

The primary aim is to evaluate signs of inflammation on MRI of sacroiliac joints (SIJ)/spine in inflammatory back pain (IBP) patients suspected of nr-axSpA with high disease activity. Secondary aims are to describe the onset of new inflammatory lesions at MRI after 6 months and to evaluate gender differences in the presence of inflammation.

Method

Consecutively, patients with IBP with at least two spondyloarthritis features, high disease activity (BASDAI ≥ 4), and who were TNFi naïve, had a MRI of SIJ and spine. In the absence of active lesions, MRI was repeated after 6 months. MRI images were scored according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada method.

Results

Sixty-nine patients were included (53% female), of whom 39% showed signs of inflammation at the first MRI: 30.9% of the SIJ, 19.1% of the spine and 2.4% at both sites, irrespective of the CRP levels. Males more often showed inflammatory signs at the MRI of the SIJ and spine compared with females (45.5% vs. 33.3%). Consistently, the median SPARCC score was higher in males: for SIJ 14.0 (IQR 2.3–25.0) and for spine 11.5 (IQR 8.5–25.6). Only one patient (4.7%) without baseline inflammatory signs showed active lesions of SIJ after 6 months.

Conclusions

Almost 40% of the IBP patients suspected of nr-axSpA, with high disease activity, showed inflammatory lesions on MRI of SIJ and/or spine, which occurred more often in males compared with females. In the majority (95.3%), an MRI without inflammatory lesions remained negative after 6 months despite high disease activity.Key Points• Forty percent of inflammatory back pain patients with high disease activity showed inflammatory signs on MRI of the SIJ and/or spine.• Only 4% of baseline MRIs without inflammatory signs at baseline conversed to an MRI with inflammatory signs after 6 months.• Male inflammatory back pain patients with high disease activity showed more often inflammatory signs on MRI compared with females.
Catering to Otherness: Levinasian Consumer Ethics at Restaurant Day
Authors: Hietanen Joel , Sihvonen Antti
Published: January 2020

There is a rich tradition of inquiry in consumer research into how collective consumption manifests in various forms and contexts. While this literature has shown how group cohesion prescribes ethical and moral positions, our study explores how ethicality can arise from consumers and their relations in a more emergent fashion. To do so, we present a Levinasian perspective on consumer ethics through a focus on Restaurant Day, a global food carnival that is organized by consumers themselves. Our ethnographic findings highlight a non-individualistic way of approaching ethical subjectivity that translates into acts of catering to the needs of other people and the subversion of extant legislation by foregrounding personal responsibility. These findings show that while consumer gatherings provide participants a license to temporarily subvert existing roles, they also allow the possibility of ethical autonomy when the mundane rules of city life are renegotiated. These sensibilities also create ‘ethical surplus’, which is an affective excess of togetherness. In the Levinasian register, Restaurant Day thus acts as an inarticulable ‘remainder’—a trace of the possibility of being able to live otherwise alongside one another in city contexts.
Absence of Functional Nav1.8 Channels in Non-diseased Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Casini Simona , Marchal Gerard A. , Kawasaki Makiri , Nariswari Fransisca A. , Portero Vincent , van den Berg Nicoline W.E. , Guan Kaomei , Driessen Antoine H.G. , Veldkamp Marieke W. , Mengarelli Isabella , de Groot Joris R. , Verkerk Arie O. , Remme Carol Ann
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Several studies have indicated a potential role for SCN10A/NaV1.8 in modulating cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia susceptibility. However, by which mechanism SCN10A/NaV1.8 impacts on cardiac electrical function is still a matter of debate. To address this, we here investigated the functional relevance of NaV1.8 in atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs), focusing on the contribution of NaV1.8 to the peak and late sodium current (INa) under normal conditions in different species.

Methods

The effects of the NaV1.8 blocker A-803467 were investigated through patch-clamp analysis in freshly isolated rabbit left ventricular CMs, human left atrial CMs and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs).

Results

A-803467 treatment caused a slight shortening of the action potential duration (APD) in rabbit CMs and hiPSC-CMs, while it had no effect on APD in human atrial cells. Resting membrane potential, action potential (AP) amplitude, and AP upstroke velocity were unaffected by A-803467 application. Similarly, INa density was unchanged after exposure to A-803467 and NaV1.8-based late INa was undetectable in all cell types analysed. Finally, low to absent expression levels of SCN10A were observed in human atrial tissue, rabbit ventricular tissue and hiPSC-CMs.

Conclusion

We here demonstrate the absence of functional NaV1.8 channels in non-diseased atrial and ventricular CMs. Hence, the association of SCN10A variants with cardiac electrophysiology observed in, e.g. genome wide association studies, is likely the result of indirect effects on SCN5A expression and/or NaV1.8 activity in cell types other than CMs.
Reconsidering the Evidence That Systematic Phonics Is More Effective Than Alternative Methods of Reading Instruction
Authors: Bowers Jeffrey S.
Published: January 2020

There is a widespread consensus in the research community that reading instruction in English should first focus on teaching letter (grapheme) to sound (phoneme) correspondences rather than adopt meaning-based reading approaches such as whole language instruction. That is, initial reading instruction should emphasize systematic phonics. In this systematic review, I show that this conclusion is not justified based on (a) an exhaustive review of 12 meta-analyses that have assessed the efficacy of systematic phonics and (b) summarizing the outcomes of teaching systematic phonics in all state schools in England since 2007. The failure to obtain evidence in support of systematic phonics should not be taken as an argument in support of whole language and related methods, but rather, it highlights the need to explore alternative approaches to reading instruction.
Time-dependent transcriptome profile of genes involved in triacylglycerol (TAG) and polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis in Nannochloropsis gaditana during nitrogen starvation
Authors: Janssen Jorijn H. , Spoelder Jacco , Koehorst Jasper J. , Schaap Peter J. , Wijffels René H. , Barbosa Maria J.
Published: January 2020

In this research, the gene expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism of the eustigmatophyte alga Nannochloropsis gaditana was measured by transcriptomic data. This microalga can be used as a source of triacylglycerol (TAG) and the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Insight in TAG and EPA production and regulation are needed to improve their productivity. Nitrogen starvation induces TAG accumulation in N. gaditana. Previous research showed that during nitrogen starvation, EPA was translocated from the polar lipids to TAG and de novo synthesized in N. gaditana. Therefore, the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid translocation and de novo TAG synthesis were measured. Furthermore, the genes involved in de novo EPA synthesis such as elongases and desaturases were studied. The expression levels were measured during the first hours of nitrogen starvation and the subsequent period of 14 days. One phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) gene involved in translocation of fatty acids from membrane lipids to TAG was upregulated. In addition, several lipases were upregulated, suggesting that these enzymes might be responsible for the translocation of EPA to TAG. Most desaturases and elongases involved in de novo EPA synthesis were downregulated during nitrogen starvation, except for Δ9 desaturase which was upregulated. This upregulation correlates with the increase in oleic acid. Due to the presence of many hypothetical genes, improvement in annotation is needed to increase our understanding of these pathways and their regulation.