bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of multilayer electromagnetic shields: A genetic algorithm approach
Authors: Sagalianov I. Y. , Vovchenko L. L. , Matzui L. Y. , Lazarenko A. A. , Oliynyk V. V. , Lozitsky O. V. , Ritter U.
Published: February 2016

Composites filled with carbon nanoplatelets designed as multi‐layer electromagnetic shields are considered because of their interesting electromagnetic characteristics, such as high electrical conductivity and excellent microwave absorption and shielding behaviour. Layers disposal, their composition and electrical parameters, number and thicknesses are optimized through a real‐coded genetic algorithm to achieve the minimization of the transmitted waves and minimization of reflection loss of the absorbing composites as coating on metal surface. Numerical design of wide frequency band radar absorbing multi‐layer composite structures and highly shielding structures are presented and compared with experimental results.
Properties of Invar alloy Fe‐30.9 % Ni‐1.23 % C after dispersion of structure by upsetting
Authors: Nadutov V. M. , Vashchuk D. L. , Davidenko O. A. , Zaporozhets O. I. , Svystunov Y. O.
Published: February 2016

The effect of cold plastic deformation by upsetting of the carbon‐containing Invar Fe‐30.9 % Ni‐1.23 % C alloy on structure, magnetic and elastic properties was studied by means of X‐ray diffraction and Mössbauer analysis, magnetic and ultrasonic methods. The crystal lattice distortion and additional dissolution of graphite in austenite increase magnetization, hyperfine magnetic fields at iron nuclei, the Curie temperature essentially smearing this phase transition. These changes are caused by weakened interatomic bond in the Invar alloy detected in decreased elastic moduli and the Debye temperature.
Gene expression signatures associated with suppression of TRAMP prostate carcinogenesis by a kavalactone‐rich Kava fraction
Authors: Tang Su‐Ni , Zhang Jinhui , Jiang Peixin , Datta Palika , Leitzman Pablo , O'Sullivan M. Gerard , Jiang Cheng , Xing Chengguo , Lü Junxuan
Published: February 2016

Kava (Piper methysticum Forster) extract and its major kavalactones have been shown to block chemically induced lung tumor initiation in mouse models. Here we evaluated the chemopreventive effect of a kavalactone‐rich Kava fraction B (KFB), free of flavokavains, on carcinogenesis in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model and characterized the prostate gene expression signatures. Male C57BL/6 TRAMP mice were fed AIN93M diet with or without 0.4% KFB from 8 wk of age. Mice were euthanized at 16 or 28 wk. The growth of the dorsolateral prostate (DLP) lobes in KFB‐treated TRAMP mice was inhibited by 66% and 58% at the respective endpoint. Anterior and ventral prostate lobes in KFB‐treated TRAMP mice were suppressed by 40% and 49% at 28 wk, respectively. KFB consumption decreased cell proliferation biomarker Ki‐67 and epithelial lesion severity in TRAMP DLP, without detectable apoptosis enhancement. Real time qRT‐PCR detection of mRNA from DLP at 28 wk showed decreased expression of cell cycle regulatory genes congruent with Ki‐67 suppression. Microarray profiling of DLP mRNA indicated that “oncogene‐like” genes related to angiogenesis and cell proliferation were suppressed by KFB but tumor suppressor, immunity, muscle/neuro, and metabolism‐related genes were upregulated by KFB in both TRAMP and WT DLP. TRAMP mice fed KFB diet developed lower incidence of neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECa) (2 out of 14 mice) than those fed the basal diet (8 out of 14 mice, χ2 = 5.6, P < 0.025). KFB may, therefore, inhibit not only TRAMP DLP epithelial lesions involving multiple molecular pathways, but also NECa. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cerebellar ataxia in progressive supranuclear palsy: An autopsy study of PSP‐C
Authors: Koga Shunsuke , Josephs Keith A. , Ogaki Kotaro , Labbé Catherine , Uitti Ryan J. , Graff‐Radford Neill , van Gerpen Jay A. , Cheshire William P. , Aoki Naoya , Rademakers Rosa , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Ross Owen A. , Dickson Dennis W.
Published: February 2016

Background

Cerebellar ataxia is an exclusion criterion for the clinical diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, but a variant with predominant cerebellar ataxia has been reported. The aims of this study were to estimate the frequency of progressive supranuclear palsy with predominant cerebellar ataxia in an autopsy series from the United States and to compare clinical, pathologic, and genetic differences between progressive supranuclear palsy with and without predominant cerebellar ataxia.

Method

We selected 100 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy who had been evaluated at the Mayo Clinic (referred to as the Mayo Clinic patient series) from our brain bank database (N = 1085). We next enriched in cases likely to have cerebellar ataxia by searching the remaining 985 cases for (1) an antemortem diagnosis of multiple system atrophy or (2) neuropathologic evidence of prominent degeneration of the cerebellum or cerebellar afferent nuclei. Subsequently, clinical, pathologic, and genetic features were compared between the two groups.

Results

One patient in the Mayo Clinic patient series (1%) met criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy with predominant cerebellar ataxia and had both cerebellar and mild midbrain atrophy on MRI. Four patients were identified with the targeted search. Four of the five patients were clinically misdiagnosed as multiple system atrophy. The severity of tau‐related pathology and cerebellar degeneration were not different between the two groups. No differences were detected in tau genotypes.

Conclusion

Although our data cannot provide definitive information about how to make an accurate clinical diagnosis, they should serve to raise awareness of progressive supranuclear palsy with predominant cerebellar ataxia in the differential diagnosis of multiple system atrophy. © 2016 Movement Disorder Society
Establishment and use of new MDCK II cells overexpressing both UGT1A1 and MRP2 to characterize flavonoid metabolism via the glucuronidation pathway
Authors: Wang Meifang , Yang Guangyi , He Yu , Xu Beibei , Zeng Min , Ge Shufan , Yin Taijun , Gao Song , Hu Ming
Published: February 2016

Scope

The purpose of this study is to characterize how overexpression of an efflux transporter and an UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) affects the cellular kinetics of glucuronidation processes.

Methods and results

A new MDCK II cell line overexpressing both MRP2 and UGT1A1 (MDCKII‐UGT1A1/MRP2 cells) was developed and used to determine how overexpression of an efflux transporter affects the kinetics of cellular flavonoid glucuronide production. The results showed that most model flavonoids (from a total of 13) were mainly metabolized into glucuronides in the MDCKII‐UGT1A1/MRP2 cells and the glucuronides were rapidly excreted. Flavonoids with three or fewer hydroxyl group at 7, 3′ or 6 hydroxyl group were also metabolized into sulfates. Mechanistic studies using 7‐hydroxylflavone showed that its glucuronide was mainly (90%) effluxed by BCRP with a small (10%) but significant contribution from MRP2. Maximal velocity of glucuronide production MDCK‐MRP2/UGT1A1 cells showed a fairly good correlation (R2 >0.8) with those derived using UGT1A1 microsomes, but other kinetic parameters (e.g., Km) did not correlate.

Conclusion

Overexpression of a second efficient efflux transporter did not significantly change the fact that BCRP is the dominant transporter for flavonoid glucuronide nor did it diminish the influence of the efflux transporter as the “gate keeper” of glucuronidation process.
Effects of formalin fixation and temperature on MR relaxation times in the human brain
Authors: Birkl Christoph , Langkammer Christian , Golob‐Schwarzl Nicole , Leoni Marlene , Haybaeck Johannes , Goessler Walter , Fazekas Franz , Ropele Stefan
Published: February 2016

Post‐mortem MRI of the brain is increasingly applied in neuroscience for a better understanding of the contrast mechanisms of disease induced tissue changes. However, the influence of chemical processes caused by formalin fixation and differences in temperature may hamper the comparability with results from in vivo MRI.

In this study we investigated how formalin fixation and temperature affect T1, T2 and T2* relaxation times of brain tissue. Fixation effects were examined with respect to changes in water content and crosslinking. Relaxometry was performed in brain slices from five deceased subjects at different temperatures. All measurements were repeated after 190 days of formaldehyde immersion. The water content of unfixed and fixed tissue was determined using the wet‐to‐dry ratio following drying. Protein weight was determined with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE).

Fixation caused a strong decrease of all relaxation times, the strongest effect being seen on T1, with a reduction of up to 76%. The temperature coefficient of T1 was lower in the fixed than unfixed tissue, which was in contrast to T2, where an increase of the temperature coefficient was observed following fixation. The reduction of the water content after fixation was in the range of 1–6% and thus not sufficient to explain the changes in relaxation time. Results from SDS‐PAGE indicated a strong increase of the protein size above 260 kDa in all brain structures examined.

Our results suggest that crosslinking induced changes of the macromolecular matrix are responsible for T1 shortening and a decreased temperature dependency. The relaxation times provided in this work should allow optimization of post‐mortem MRI protocols for the brain. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural analysis of the active site architecture of the VapC toxin from Shigella flexneri
Authors: Xu Kehan , Dedic Emil , Brodersen Ditlev E.
Published: February 2016

The VapC toxin from the Shigella flexneri 2a virulence plasmid pMYSH6000 belongs to the PIN domain protein family, which is characterized by a conserved fold with low amino acid sequence conservation. The toxin is a bona fide Mg2+‐dependent ribonuclease and has been shown to target initiator tRNAfMet in vivo. Here, we present crystal structures of active site catalytic triad mutants D7A, D7N, and D98N of the VapC toxin in absence of antitoxin. In all structures, as well as in solution, VapC forms a dimer. In the D98N structure, a Hepes molecule occupies both active sites of the dimer and comparison with the structure of RNase H bound to a DNA/RNA hybrid suggests that the Hepes molecule mimics the position of an RNA nucleotide in the VapC active site. Proteins 2016; 84:892–899. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimized material solutions for advanced DRAM peripheral transistors
Authors: Spessot Alessio , Ritzenthaler Romain , Schram Tom , Horiguchi Naoto , Fazan Pierre
Published: February 2016

The fabrication of peripheral CMOS devices for DRAM memories requires specific optimization with respect to a standard logic flow, imposed by the additional constraints linked to the memory element fabrication. Several process tunings are needed to keep pace with the request for low leakage and low cost devices combined with the needs of highly performant and resilient circuits. In this article, we summarize the most significant developments achieved in recent years focusing on HKMG Gate stack, junction tuning, silicide optimization for DRAM peripheral transistors. Three different solutions with different fabrication complexity and performance for HKMG, optimized junction, and thermally stable NiPt silicide fabrication, all compatible with the DRAM requirements, are discussed.
Traveling heater method growth and characterization of CdMnTe crystals for radiation detectors
Authors: Wu Wenqi , Zhang Jijun , Wang Linjun , Min Jiahua , Liang Xiaoyan , Wen Xuliang
Published: February 2016

In this paper, the Cd0.9Mn0.1Te (CdMnTe) crystals were grown by the self‐designed Traveling Heater Method (THM) crystal growth system. Two types of polycrystalline CdMnTe feed ingots synthesized in a traditional rocking furnace and in a vertical Bridgman furnace were adopted during the THM growth, and the as‐grown crystals were denominated as CMT1 and CMT2, respectively. The crystal and detector properties, including the Te inclusions, Mn composition, PL spectrum, electrical and energy response properties were characterized. The results showed that the CMT2 ingot had less Te inclusion and more uniform Mn composition distribution along the ingot than CMT1 ingot. During the THM growth, the polycrystalline feed material synthesized by VB technique favoured a smooth and low concave growth interface, which decreased the formation of Te inclusions and Mn variation in the ingot. The resistivity of the CdMnTe crystal grown by THM was in the range of (0.5‐4)×1010 Ω·cm. The PL spectra indicated that CMT2 crystal possesses higher crystalline quality as compared to CMT1 crystal, with lower impurity concentration and defects. The fabrication CdMnTe single element planar detectors under the 59.5 keV 241Am radiation showed that the energy resolution of CMT1 and CMT2 crystals was 17.2% and 12.7%, respectively. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gamma‐ray tolerance of CdS/CdTe photodiodes for radiation tolerant compact image sensor with field emitter array
Authors: Okamoto Tamotsu , Igari Tomoya , Gotoh Yasuhito , Sato Nobuhiro , Akiyoshi Masafumi , Takagi Ikuji
Published: February 2016

The effect of gamma irradiation on two types (superstrate‐ and substrate‐type) of CdS/CdTe photodiodes, which we have proposed as potential photoconducting films for compact image sensors with a field emitter array (FEA), was investigated. A 60Co gamma‐ray source was employed, and the total gamma irradiation dose was more than 500 kGy. For the superstrate‐type structure, the irradiation caused the short‐circuit current density (JSC) to decrease, probably due to the resulting decreased transmittance of the glass substrate. On the other hand, little degradation of the I ‐V characteristics or spectral response was observed after the gamma irradiation for the substrate‐type structure. These results suggest that, taking into account the decrease in transmittance of the glass substrate, the CdS/CdTe photodiodes have sufficient tolerance to high gamma‐ray exposure. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Combining rival π‐space descriptions of O3 and of SO2
Authors: Penotti Fabio E. , Cooper David L.
Published: February 2016

Two rival solutions have emerged from applications of spin‐coupled (SC) theory, also known as the full‐generalized valence bond (full‐GVB) approach, to the π system of O3. The lowest solution (SCd) corresponds to significant diradical character but there is a second solution (SCc) which lies fairly close in energy. Combining these two descriptions, it turns out that both of them make significant contributions, with neither being dominant. The situation is entirely different for SO2, with the SCc description being overwhelmingly dominant over SCd. It can be concluded from an examination of various combinations of rival π‐space descriptions for both molecules that neither of the SCc nor SCd solutions provides a very satisfactory description on its own of the π system in O3, but that SO2 is already fairly well described by SCc before the explicit incorporation of any SCd character. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Laser dissection sampling modes for direct mass spectral analysis
Authors: Cahill John F. , Kertesz Vilmos , Van Berkel Gary J.
Published: February 2016

Rationale

Laser microdissection coupled directly with mass spectrometry provides the capability of on‐line analysis of substrates with high spatial resolution, high collection efficiency, and freedom on shape and size of the sampling area. Establishing the merits and capabilities of the different sampling modes that the system provides is necessary in order to select the best sampling mode for characterizing analytically challenging samples.

Methods

The capabilities of laser ablation spot sampling, laser ablation raster sampling, and laser 'cut and drop' sampling modes of a hybrid optical microscopy/laser ablation liquid vortex capture electrospray ionization mass spectrometry system were compared for the analysis of single cells and tissue.

Results

Single Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells were monitored for their monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and diacylglyceryltrimethylhomo‐Ser (DGTS) lipid content using the laser spot sampling mode, which was capable of ablating individual cells (~4–15 μm) even when agglomerated together. Turbid Allium Cepa cells (~150 μm) having unique shapes difficult to precisely measure using the other sampling modes could be ablated in their entirety using laser raster sampling. Intact microdissections of specific regions of a cocaine‐dosed mouse brain tissue were compared using laser 'cut and drop' sampling. Since in laser 'cut and drop' sampling whole and otherwise unmodified sections are captured into the probe, 100% collection efficiencies were achieved. Laser ablation spot sampling has the highest spatial resolution of any sampling mode, while laser ablation raster sampling has the highest sampling area adaptability of the sampling modes.

Conclusions

Laser ablation spot sampling has the highest spatial resolution of any sampling mode, useful in this case for the analysis of single cells. Laser ablation raster sampling was best for sampling regions with unique shapes that are difficult to measure using other sampling modes. Laser 'cut and drop' sampling can be used for cases where the highest sensitivity is needed, for example, monitoring drugs present in trace amounts in tissue. Published in 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Steganalysis of analysis‐by‐synthesis speech exploiting pulse‐position distribution characteristics
Authors: Tian Hui , Wu Yanpeng , Chang Chin‐Chen , Huang Yongfeng , Liu Jin , Wang Tian , Chen Yonghong , Cai Yiqiao
Published: February 2016

Steganography in low bit‐rate speech streams is an important branch of Voice‐over‐Internet Protocol steganography. From the point of preventing cybercrimes, it is significant to design effective steganalysis methods. In this paper, we present a support‐vector‐machine‐based steganalysis of low bit‐rate speech exploiting statistic characteristics of pulse positions. Specifically, we utilize the probability distribution of pulse positions as a long‐time distribution feature, extract Markov transition probabilities of pulse positions according to the short‐time invariance characteristic of speech signals, and employ joint probability matrices to characterize the pulse‐to‐pulse correlation. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method with a large number of G.729a‐encoded speech samples and compare it with the state‐of‐the‐art methods. The experimental results demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms the previous ones on detection accuracy, false positive rate, and false negative rate at any given embedding rates or with any sample lengths. Particularly, this method can successfully detect steganography employing only one or a few of the potential cover bits, which is hard to be effectively detected by the existing methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exact confidence intervals for the average causal effect on a binary outcome
Authors: Li Xinran , Ding Peng
Published: February 2016

Based on the physical randomization of completely randomized experiments, in a recent article in Statistics in Medicine, Rigdon and Hudgens propose two approaches to obtaining exact confidence intervals for the average causal effect on a binary outcome. They construct the first confidence interval by combining, with the Bonferroni adjustment, the prediction sets for treatment effects among treatment and control groups, and the second one by inverting a series of randomization tests. With sample size n, their second approach requires performing O(n4)randomization tests. We demonstrate that the physical randomization also justifies other ways to constructing exact confidence intervals that are more computationally efficient. By exploiting recent advances in hypergeometric confidence intervals and the stochastic order information of randomization tests, we propose approaches that either do not need to invoke Monte Carlo or require performing at most O(n2)randomization tests. We provide technical details and R code in the Supporting Information. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing moderation in network meta‐analysis with individual participant data
Authors: Dagne Getachew A. , Brown C. Hendricks , Howe George , Kellam Sheppard G. , Liu Lei
Published: February 2016

Meta‐analytic methods for combining data from multiple intervention trials are commonly used to estimate the effectiveness of an intervention. They can also be extended to study comparative effectiveness, testing which of several alternative interventions is expected to have the strongest effect. This often requires network meta‐analysis (NMA), which combines trials involving direct comparison of two interventions within the same trial and indirect comparisons across trials. In this paper, we extend existing network methods for main effects to examining moderator effects, allowing for tests of whether intervention effects vary for different populations or when employed in different contexts. In addition, we study how the use of individual participant data may increase the sensitivity of NMA for detecting moderator effects, as compared with aggregate data NMA that employs study‐level effect sizes in a meta‐regression framework. A new NMA diagram is proposed. We also develop a generalized multilevel model for NMA that takes into account within‐trial and between‐trial heterogeneity and can include participant‐level covariates. Within this framework, we present definitions of homogeneity and consistency across trials. A simulation study based on this model is used to assess effects on power to detect both main and moderator effects. Results show that power to detect moderation is substantially greater when applied to individual participant data as compared with study‐level effects. We illustrate the use of this method by applying it to data from a classroom‐based randomized study that involved two sub‐trials, each comparing interventions that were contrasted with separate control groups. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of Temperature on the Colloidal Stability of Polymer‐Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Cell Culture Media
Authors: Zyuzin Mikhail V. , Honold Tobias , Carregal‐Romero Susana , Kantner Karsten , Karg Matthias , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: February 2016

The temperature‐dependence of the hydrodynamic diameter and colloidal stability of gold‐polymer core‐shell particles with temperature‐sensitive (poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)) and temperature‐insensitive shells (polyallylaminine hydrochloride/polystyrensulfonate, poly(isobutylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride)‐graft‐dodecyl) are investigated in various aqueous media. The data demonstrate that for all nanoparticle agglomeration, i.e., increase in effective nanoparticle size, the presence of salts or proteins in the dispersion media has to be taken into account. Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) coated nanoparticles show a reversible temperature‐dependent increase in size above the volume phase transition of the polymer shell when they are dispersed in phosphate buffered saline or in media containing protein. In contrast, the nanoparticles coated with temperature‐insensitive polymers show a time‐dependent increase in size in phosphate buffered saline or in medium containing protein. This is due to time‐dependent agglomeration, which is particularly strong in phosphate buffered saline, and induces a time‐dependent, irreversible increase in the hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticles. This demonstrates that one has to distinguish between temperature‐ and time‐induced agglomerations. Since the size of nanoparticles regulates their uptake by cells, temperature‐dependent uptake of thermosensitive and non‐thermosensitive nanoparticles by cells lines is compared. No temperature‐specific difference between both types of nanoparticles could be observed.
Systems Genetics Analysis of a Recombinant Inbred Mouse Cell Culture Panel Reveals Wnt Pathway Member Lrp6 as a Regulator of Adult Hippocampal Precursor Cell Proliferation
Authors: Kannan Suresh , Nicola Zeina , Overall Rupert W. , Ichwan Muhammad , Ramírez-Rodríguez Gerardo , N. Grzyb Anna , Patone Giannino , Saar Kathrin , Hübner Norbert , Kempermann Gerd
Published: February 2016

In much animal research, genetic variation is rather avoided than used as a powerful tool to identify key regulatory genes in complex phenotypes. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is one such highly complex polygenic trait, for which the understanding of the molecular basis is fragmented and incomplete, and for which novel genetic approaches are needed. In this study, we aimed at marrying the power of the BXD panel, a mouse genetic reference population, with the flexibility of a cell culture model of adult neural precursor proliferation and differentiation. We established adult-derived hippocampal precursor cell cultures from 20 strains of the BXD panel, including the parental strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. The rates of cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation were measured, and transcriptional profiles were obtained from proliferating cultures. Together with the published genotypes of all lines, these data allowed a novel systems genetics analysis combining quantitative trait locus analysis with transcript expression correlation at a cellular level to identify genes linked with the differences in proliferation. In a proof-of-principle analysis, we identified Lrp6, the gene encoding the coreceptor to Frizzled in the Wnt pathway, as a potential negative regulator of precursor proliferation. Overexpression and siRNA silencing confirmed the regulatory role of Lrp6. As well as adding to our knowledge of the pathway surrounding Wnt in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, this finding allows the new appreciation of a negative regulator within this system. In addition, the resource and associated methodology will allow the integration of regulatory mechanisms at a systems level.
Using combinatorial testing to build navigation graphs for dynamic web applications
Authors: Wang Wenhua , Sampath Sreedevi , Lei Yu , Kacker Raghu , Kuhn Richard , Lawrence James
Published: February 2016

Modelling a software system is often a challenging prerequisite to automatic test case generation. Modelling the navigation structure of a dynamic web application is particularly challenging because of the presence of a large number of pages that are created dynamically and the difficulty of reaching a dynamic page unless a set of appropriate input values are provided for the parameters. To address the first challenge, some form of abstraction is required to enable scalable modelling. For the second challenge, techniques are required to select appropriate input values for parameters and systematically combine them to reach new pages. This paper presents a combinatorial approach in building a navigation graph for dynamic web applications. The navigation graph can then be used to automatically generate test sequences for testing web applications. The novelty of our approach is twofold. First, we use an abstraction scheme to control the page explosion problem, where pages that are likely to have the same navigation behaviour are grouped together and are represented as a single node in the navigation graph. Second, assuming that values of individual parameters are supplied manually or generated from other techniques, we combine parameter values such that well‐defined combinatorial coverage of input parameter values is achieved. Using combinatorial coverage can significantly reduce the number of requests that have to be submitted while still achieving effective coverage of the navigation structure. We implement our combinatorial approach in a tool, Tansuo, and apply the tool on seven open‐source web applications. We evaluate the effectiveness of Tansuo's exploration process guided by t‐way coverage, for t = 1,2,3, with respect to code coverage, and find that the navigation structure exploration by Tansuo, in general, results in high code coverage (more than 80% statement coverage for most of our subject applications when dead code is removed). We compare Tansuo's effectiveness with two other navigation graph tools and find that Tansuo is more effective. Our empirical results indicate that using pairwise coverage in Tansuo results in the efficient generation of navigation graphs and effective exploration of dynamic web applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic and Political Determinants of the Effects of FDI on Growth in Transition and Developing Countries
Authors: Elkomy Shimaa , Ingham Hilary , Read Robert
Published: February 2016

This study investigates the role of human capital and political development in determining the magnitude of the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on growth for a panel of 61 transition and developing countries for the period 1989 to 2013. A baseline growth model incorporating these variables is tested and then extended to include FDI interaction effects with human capital (measured using secondary school enrollment data) and political development (based on Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index scores). These growth interaction effects between FDI and human capital vary according to regime type. Political development in conjunction with FDI appears to suppress the effects of FDI on growth in authoritarian countries while enhancing them in hybrid democracies. For more democratic countries, domestic investment is a more important driver of growth. The effects of FDI on growth in the ten transition economies included in the sample data set are found to be insignificant. Although this result might seem to differ from a priori expectations, it is in line with the findings of most earlier studies that cover the period up to 2004. The paper also provides no strong evidence that a critical threshold of human capital is required to generate beneficial spillover growth effects from inflows of FDI. The paper provides new and more detailed insights into the effects of FDI on growth with particular respect to human capital and political regime covering a large number of transition and developing countries based on an up‐to‐date data set covering a 25‐year period to 2013. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sulforaphane‐induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL‐60 cells through extrinsic and intrinsic signal pathways and altering associated genes expression assayed by cDNA microarray
Authors: Shang Hung‐Sheng , Shih Yung‐Luen , Lee Ching‐Hsiao , Hsueh Shu‐Ching , Liu Jia‐You , Liao Nien‐Chieh , Chen Yung‐Liang , Huang Yi‐Ping , Lu Hsu‐Feng , Chung Jing‐Gung
Published: February 2016

Sulforaphane (SFN), one of the isothiocyanates, is a biologically active compound extracted from cruciferous vegetables, and has been shown to induce cytotoxic effects on many human cancer cells including human leukemia cells. However, the exact molecular mechanism and altered gene expression associated with apoptosis is unclear. In this study, we investigated SFN‐induced cytotoxic effects and whether or not they went through cell‐cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis and further examined molecular mechanism and altered gene expression in human leukemia HL‐60 cells. Cell viability, cell‐cycle distribution, sub‐G1 (apoptosis), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ production, levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and caspase‐3, −8, and −9 activities were assayed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis‐associated proteins levels and gene expressions were examined by Western blotting and cDNA microarray assays, respectively. Results indicated that SFN decreased viable cells, induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis based on sub‐G1 phase development. Furthermore, SFN increased ROS and Ca2+ production and decreased the levels of ΔΨm and activated caspase‐3, −8, and −9 activities in HL‐60 cells. SFN significantly upregulated the expression of BAX, Bid, Fas, Fas‐L, caspase‐8, Endo G, AIF, and cytochrome c, and inhibited the antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl‐x and XIAP, that is associated with apoptosis. We also used cDNA microarray to confirm several gene expressions such as caspase −8, −3, −4, −6, and −7 that are affected by SFN. Those results indicated that SFN induced apoptosis in HL‐60 cells via Fas‐ and mitochondria‐dependent pathways. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 311–328, 2017.
Re: Review of the correlation between blood flow velocity and polycythemia in the fetus, neonate and adult: appropriate diagnostic levels need to be determined for twin anemia‐polycythemia sequence. A. Lucewicz, K. Fisher, A.Henry and A. W. Welsh. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016; 47: 152–157
Authors: Lewi L.
Published: February 2016

Linked Comment: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016; 47: 152–157
Dynamic PCI allocation on avoiding handover confusion via cell status prediction in LTE heterogeneous small cell networks
Authors: Xiao Zhu , Li Tong , Ding Wei , Wang Dong , Zhang Jie
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we investigate the inbound handover confusion in the two‐tier macrocell‐small cell networks with help of mobility prediction. Instead of studying the mobile user's (MU) movement, we propose an analytical model for the activity status of small cells, which is to exploit the statistical property of inbound handover events that would happen in small cells. We design the cell status prediction algorithm to obtain the optimal prediction outcome of the next status for the small cells. On avoiding the handover confusion, we develop a dynamic allocation approach of physical cell identifier according to the prediction results. We design (i) the cell status prediction‐based strategy, by which the dedicated PCIs will be assigned to the small cells with busy activity status while the other small cells share the public PCIs, and (ii) an integrated strategy in order to fully exploit the usage of PCI. We formulate the preference relation for small cells via reference signal received quality relation integrated with status prediction information using Bayesian average method. Simulation results reveal that the proposed algorithms yield higher accuracy than the conventional methods; in the meantime, handover confusions can be reduced significantly during the inbound handover. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Structure, and Characterization of 3, 4′‐Bis‐1H‐1, 2,4‐triazolium Picrate Salt: A New High‐Energy Density Material
Authors: Mi Zhenhao , Bi Yan‐Gang , Feng Yong‐An , Zhang Tonglai
Published: February 2016

The environmentally friendly high‐energy density salt (TRTR)(PA) (TRTR = 3, 4′‐bis‐1, 2,4‐1H‐triazole, PA = 2, 4,6‐trinitrophenol, picric acid) was synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray single crystal diffraction results illustrate that the structure of title salt belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P21/c. Many parallel relationships exist in the molecule, as well as a strong intramolecular π–π stacking interaction. The DSC result shows only one exothermal decomposition step at 229.1 °C. The TG‐DTG curve demonstrates a 75.9 % mass loss from 180 °C to 300 °C at a rate of 3.01 %·K–1. Experimental data show that the combustion heat approximately equals to TNT (–15.22 MJ·kg–1) and the enthalpy of formation is +332.2 kJ·mol–1. Non–isothermal kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were obtained by two methods (Kissinger and Ozawa). Detonation pressure and velocity were calculated to be 23.4 GPa and 7.32 km·s–1, respectively. Additionally, the sensitivities towards impact and friction were assessed with relevant standard methods.
Outcomes of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancers (TNBC) Compared with Non‐TNBC: Does the Survival Vary for All Stages?
Authors: Agarwal Gaurav , Nanda Gitika , Lal Punita , Mishra Anjali , Agarwal Amit , Agrawal Vinita , Krishnani Narendra
Published: February 2016

Background

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and worse outcomes. In a study at a tertiary care breast unit in a developing country, clinico‐pathological attributes and outcomes of patients with TNBC were compared with (c.w.) ER, PR, and/or HER2 expressing tumors (non‐TNBC).

Patients and methods

Medical records of 1213 consecutive breast cancer patients managed during 2004–2010 were reviewed. An evaluable cohort of 705 patients with complete treatment and follow‐up (median 36 months) information
was thus identified. Patients were categorized per ER, PR & HER2 status into TNBC, and ER/PR+ and/or HER2+ groups. Clinico‐pathological parameters, response to NACT, and OS & DFS were compared between TNBC and non‐TNBC groups.

Results

TNBC patients (n = 249) comprised 35.3 % of the study cohort (n = 705), and were significantly younger than non‐TNBC patients (mean age 49.1 ± 11.2y c.w. 51.8 ± 11.3, p = 0.02). The TNM stage at presentation was similar in the two groups (Stage I and II—37 % c.w. 44.3 %, Stage III—47.5 % c.w. 39.5 %, Stage IV—15.5 % c.w. 16.2 % in TNBC c.w. Non‐TNBC; p = 0.09). Tumor size (5.7 ± 2.9 cm TNBC c.w. 5.4 ± 2.8 cm non‐TNBC, p = 0.22) was similar but lymph nodal (cN) metastases were more frequent in TNBC (77.3 % c.w. 69.8 %; p = 0.03). TNBC had higher histologic grade (97.1 % gr II/III in TNBC c.w. 91.2 % non‐TNBC, p = 0.01) and higher incidence of LVI (20.4 % in TNBC c.w. 13.5 %, p = 0.03). Patient groups received similar multi‐disciplinary surgical, radiation, and systemic treatment. Comparable proportion of patients in 2 groups were treated with NACT (42 % c.w. 38 %), which resulted in pathological complete response (pCR) in 27.5 % TNBC patients c.w. 17.1 % non‐TNBC patients (p = 0.04). Both OS (81.8 ± 4.52 c.w. 97.90 ± 3.87 months, p < 0.001) and DFS (89.2 ± 5.1 c.w. 113.8 ± 4.3 months, p < 0.001) were shorter in TNBC than non‐TNBC group. On stage‐wise comparison, OS differed significantly only in stage III (47.4 ± 5.3 months in TNBC c.w. 74.5 ± 4.4 in non‐TNBC; p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed tumor stage and IHC subtyping into TNBC c.w. non‐TNBC as most important factors predictive of survival.

Conclusions

TNBC occurred at younger age and exhibited aggressive pathology as compared to non‐TNBC patients. Although patients with TNBC exhibited better chemo‐sensitivity, they had worse DFS and OS compared to the non‐TNBC patients. The survival of Stage III TNBC patients was significantly worse compared to non‐TNBC group; while in stages I, II, and IV, survival were not significantly different.
The positive Indian Ocean Dipole–like response in the tropical Indian Ocean to global warming
Authors: Luo Yiyong , Lu Jian , Liu Fukai , Wan Xiuquan
Published: February 2016

Climate models project a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (pIOD)–like SST response in the tropical Indian Ocean to global warming. By employing the Community Earth System Model and applying an overriding technique to its ocean component (version 2 of the Parallel Ocean Program), this study investigates the similarities and differences of the formation mechanisms for the changes in the tropical Indian Ocean during the pIOD versus global warming. Results show that their formation processes and related seasonality are quite similar; in particular, wind–thermocline–SST feedback is the leading mechanism in producing the anomalous cooling over the eastern tropics in both cases. Some differences are also found, including the fact that the cooling effect of the vertical advection over the eastern tropical Indian Ocean is dominated by the anomalous vertical velocity during the pIOD but by the anomalous upper-ocean stratification under global warming. These findings are further examined through an analysis of the mixed layer heat budget.
Lungenkarzinom und rheumatoide Arthritis
Authors: Rubbert-Roth A. , Zander T. , Kneitz C. , Baerwald C. , Wirtz H. , Witt C.
Published: February 2016

Lungenkrebs ist eine häufige Erkrankung, die v. a. im höheren Alter auftritt. Die Möglichkeiten der medikamentösen Behandlung dieser Tumoren haben sich in den letzten 10 Jahren deutlich erweitert. Für bestimmte molekulare Subgruppen kann heute eine gezielte Therapie das Überleben der Patienten relevant verbessern. Aktuell finden Immuntherapeutika wie PDL1 („programmed death ligand“)/PD1 („programmed cell death protein 1 receptor“)-Antikörper Eingang in die Klinik, die bei einer Subgruppe von Patienten zu einem deutlich verlängerten Überleben führen können. Aufgrund der hohen Inzidenz des Lungenkarzinoms einerseits und von rheumatischen Erkrankungen andererseits treten diese Erkrankungen immer wieder auch gemeinsam auf und erfordern ein interdisziplinäres Management. Die Erfolge der verbesserten Therapie des Lungenkarzinoms führen dazu, dass auch die Behandlung von begleitenden Erkrankungen wieder mehr in den Fokus rückt. Andererseits kann der Eingriff in das Immunsystem durch die Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren zu neuen Herausforderungen bei gleichzeitig bestehenden Autoimmunerkrankungen führen. Die Möglichkeit eines effektiven Lungenkarzinomscreenings in der Zukunft stellt ebenfalls eine Verbesserung der Mortalität in Aussicht. Daher ergibt sich auch bei Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis die Frage nach einer optimalen Überwachung unter immunsuppressiver Therapie. Ziel dieses Reviews ist es, die Interaktion der beiden Erkrankungen Lungenkarzinom und rheumatoide Arthritis im Hinblick auf die aktuelle Datenlage zu diskutieren.
Kinetics of Bis‐Allylic Hydroperoxide Synthesis in the Iron‐Containing Lipoxygenase 2 from Cyanothece and the Effects of Manganese Substitution
Authors: Newie Julia , Kasanmascheff Müge , Bennati Marina , Feussner Ivo
Published: February 2016

Lipoxygenases (LOX) catalyze the regio‐ and stereospecific insertion of dioxygen into polyunsaturated fatty acids. While the catalytic metal of LOX is typically a non‐heme iron, some fungal LOX contain manganese as catalytic metal (MnLOX). In general, LOX insert dioxygen at C9 or C13 of linoleic acid leading to the formation of conjugated hydroperoxides. MnLOX (EC 1.13.11.45), however, catalyze the oxygen insertion also at C11, resulting in bis‐allylic hydroperoxides. Interestingly, the iron‐containing CspLOX2 (EC 1.13.11.B6) from Cyanothece PCC8801 also produces bis‐allylic hydroperoxides. What role the catalytic metal plays and how this unusual reaction is catalyzed by either MnLOX or CspLOX2 is not understood. Our findings suggest that only iron is the catalytically active metal in CspLOX2. The enzyme loses its catalytic activity almost completely when iron is substituted with manganese, suggesting that the catalytic metal is not interchangeable. Using kinetic and spectroscopic approaches, we further found that first a mixture of bis‐allylic and conjugated hydroperoxy products is formed. This is followed by the isomerization of the bis‐allylic product to conjugated products at a slower rate. These results suggest that MnLOX and CspLOX2 share a very similar reaction mechanism and that LOX with a Fe or Mn cofactor have the potential to form bis‐allylic products. Therefore, steric factors are probably responsible for this unusual specificity. As CspLOX2 is the LOX with the highest proportion of the bis‐allylic product known so far, it will be an ideal candidate for further structural analysis to understand the molecular basis of the formation of bis‐allylic hydroperoxides.
Russian politics and the Soviet past: Reassessing Stalin and Stalinism under Vladimir Putin
Authors: Sherlock Thomas
Published: February 2016

Evidence drawn from the intersection of historical memory and politics in Russia underline not only on-going framing battles over the Soviet past. The evidence suggests that the Kremlin is unwilling to develop and impose on society historical narratives which promote chauvinism, hypernationalism, and re-Stalinization. Although such an agenda has some support among incumbent elites and in society, it remains subordinate in terms of political influence as of early 2016. Instead, the regime is now extending support to groups in society and the political establishment which favor a critical assessment of the Soviet era, including Stalinism. This emerging criticism of the Soviet past serves a number of important goals of the leadership, including re-engagement with the West.

To this end, the Kremlin recently approved new history textbooks critical of the Soviet past as well as a significant program that memorializes the victims of Soviet repressions. Yet the regime is unlikely to usher in thorough de-Stalinization which would threaten its power. Instead, the Kremlin is attempting to assemble a grand narrative that approves, as well as criticizes – in different measures – each of the regimes that existed in the 20th century (tsarist, communist, and post-communist). This incipient narrative constitutes a form of bricolage, which involves the retrieval and reassembly of diverse, often conflicting, elements to solve a problem. Here the problem is the long-standing, divisive issue of how to evaluate the history of 20th century Russia and its different regimes. The Kremlin now seeks to knit together the diverse identities of these regimes through the unifying historical thread of the Russian state. This act of bricolage also seeks to reconcile the contradictions within each regime: elements of the new narrative can be expected to condemn the inhumanity of Stalin and Stalinism while other facets will extol industrialization and the Great Patriotic War as the achievements of Russian-led Soviet society. From this perspective, neither re-Stalinization nor de-Stalinization is likely to occur in Putin’s Russia. Nevertheless, if recent initiatives remain in place, critical assessments of Soviet foreign and domestic policies will become increasingly commonplace.
TheGlobal Turnin Legal Theory
Authors: Xifaras Mikhail
Published: February 2016

Familiar legal theories are epistemologically and politically stato-centric theories; they aim to rationalize intra- and inter-national legal systems. If this Westphalian approach were to be abandoned, then its replacement might be called Global Law, which invites theorizing that is not stato-centric. When that change happens, one would talk about aGlobal Turnin legal theory. Describing this turn is the aim of the paper.

This description is articulated around two ideas about the history and geography of the globalizing of Law, and three intuitions about the fate of legal theory itself once thisGlobal Turnis taken. Namely, how theorizing Law from this perspective leads to focus on what is emerging and circulating, how the aesthetics of legal thinking shifts towards perspectivism and dissociation, and how more pluralistic, eclectic and pragmatic modes of reasoning and arguing about Law become dominant. What follows is neither a substantial or positivistic analysis, nor a prediction or a wish, but an attempt to point out tendencies which might be essential features of contemporary legal thinking.
METRIC INEQUALITIES
Authors: NAOR ASSAF , SCHECHTMAN GIDEON
Published: February 2016

For every$p\in (0,\infty )$we associate to every metric space$(X,d_{X})$a numerical invariant$\mathfrak{X}_{p}(X)\in [0,\infty ]$such that if$\mathfrak{X}_{p}(X)<\infty$and a metric space$(Y,d_{Y})$admits a bi-Lipschitz embedding into$X$then also$\mathfrak{X}_{p}(Y)<\infty$. We prove that if$p,q\in (2,\infty )$satisfy$q<p$then$\mathfrak{X}_{p}(L_{p})<\infty$yet$\mathfrak{X}_{p}(L_{q})=\infty$. Thus, our new bi-Lipschitz invariant certifies that$L_{q}$does not admit a bi-Lipschitz embedding into$L_{p}$when$2<q<p<\infty$. This completes the long-standing search for bi-Lipschitz invariants that serve as an obstruction to the embeddability of$L_{p}$spaces into each other, the previously understood cases of which were metric notions of type and cotype, which however fail to certify the nonembeddability of$L_{q}$into$L_{p}$when$2<q<p<\infty$. Among the consequences of our results are new quantitative restrictions on the bi-Lipschitz embeddability into$L_{p}$of snowflakes of$L_{q}$and integer grids in$\ell _{q}^{n}$, for$2<q<p<\infty$. As a byproduct of our investigations, we also obtain results on the geometry of the Schatten$p$trace class$S_{p}$that are new even in the linear setting.