bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematite Photoanodes: Synergetic Enhancement of Light Harvesting and Charge Management by Sandwiched with Fe2TiO5/Fe2O3/Pt Structures
Authors: Wang Lei , Nguyen Nhat Truong , Huang Xiaojuan , Schmuki Patrik , Bi Yingpu
Published: October 2017

Efficient charge separation and transport as well as high light absorption are key factors that determine the efficiency of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices. Here, a PEC device consisting of a hematite nanoporous film deposited on Pt nanopillars, followed by the decoration with an Fe2TiO5 passivation layer, is designed and fabricated. This structure can largely improve the light absorption in the composite materials, and significantly enhance the water oxidation performance of hematite photoanodes. The Fe2TiO5 thin shell and Pt underlayer significantly improve the interfacial charge transfer while minimizing the hole‐migration length in Fe2O3 photoanodes, leading to a drastically increased photocurrent density. Specially, the Fe2TiO5/Fe2O3/Pt photoanode yields an excellent photoresponse for PEC water splitting reactions with 1.0 and 2.4 mA cm−2 obtained at 1.23 and 1.6 VRHE under AM 1.5G illumination in 1 m KOH. The resulting photocurrents are 2.5 times enhanced compared to a pristine Fe2O3 photoanode of the same geometry. These results demonstrate a synergistic charge transfer effect of Fe2TiO5 and Pt layers on hematite for the improvement of PEC water oxidation.
Multiscale Nanoparticle Assembly: From Particulate Precise Manufacturing to Colloidal Processing
Authors: Niederberger Markus
Published: October 2017

Nanoparticle assembly and colloidal processing are two techniques with the goal to fabricate materials and devices from preformed particles. While colloidal processing has become an integral part of ceramic processing, nanoparticle assembly is still mainly limited to academic interests. It typically starts with the precise synthesis of building blocks, which are generally not only considerably smaller than those used for colloidal processing, but also better defined in terms of size, shape, and size distribution. Their arrangement into 1D, 2D, and 3D architectures is performed with great accuracy well beyond what is achieved by colloidal processing. At the same time, the final assembly is not sintered such that the intrinsic, nanospecific properties of the initial building blocks are preserved or even lead to collective behavior. However, in contrast to colloidal processing the structures accessible by nanoparticle assembly are often limited to a small length scale. The review presents selected examples of nanoparticle assembly and colloidal processing with the goal to reveal the capabilities of these two techniques to fabricate novel materials from preformed building blocks, and also to demonstrate the immense opportunities that would arise if the two methods could be combined with each other.
Glutathione‐Activatable and O2/Mn2+‐Evolving Nanocomposite for Highly Efficient and Selective Photodynamic and Gene‐Silencing Dual Therapy
Authors: He Dinggeng , Hai Luo , He Xing , Yang Xue , Li Hung‐Wing
Published: October 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied in cancer treatment by converting O2 into reactive singlet oxygen (1O2) to kill cancer cells. However, the effectiveness of PDT is limited by the fact that tumor hypoxia causes an inadequate O2 supply, and the overexpressed glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells consumes reactive oxygen species. Herein, a multifunctional hybrid system is developed for selective and highly efficient PDT as well as gene‐silencing therapy using a novel GSH‐activatable and O2/Mn2+‐evolving nanocomposite (GAOME NC). This system consists of honeycomb MnO2 (hMnO2) nanocarrier loaded with catalase, Ce6, and DNAzyme with folate label, which can specifically deliver payloads into cancer cells. Once endocytosed, hMnO2 carriers are reduced by the overexpressed GSH to Mn2+ ions, resulting in the reduction of GSH level and disintegration of GAOME NC. The released catalases then trigger the breakdown of endogenous H2O2 to generate O2, which is converted by the excited Ce6 into 1O2. The self‐sufficiency of O2 and consumption of GSH effectively enhance the PDT efficacy. Moreover, DNAzyme is freed for gene silencing in the presence of self‐generated Mn2+ ions as cofactors. The rational synergy of enhanced PDT and gene‐silencing therapy remarkably improve the in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of cancers.
Roll‐to‐Roll Fabrication of Flexible Orientated Graphene Transparent Electrodes by Shear Force and One‐Step Reducing Post‐Treatment
Authors: Hu Xiaotian , Meng Xiangchuan , Xiong Jian , Huang Zengqi , Yang Xia , Tan Licheng , Chen Yiwang
Published: October 2017

Flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) are core sections for wearable photoelectric devices. However, the inevitable poor mechanical stability and expensive cost limit that the indium tin oxide FTEs are ineligible for future devices. In this work, the shear force of slot‐die printing during roll‐to‐roll process is creatively applied to form thin layer of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for fabricating oriented poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate:RGO composite. The hydroiodic acid post‐treatment can remove insulating content of conductive polymer as well as reduce the graphene oxide to enhance the conductivity of FTEs to 1949 S cm−1 with a sheet resistance of 51 Ω □−1 and 82% transmittance. In addition, these FTEs demonstrate remarkable flexural endurance even under extreme bending situation. The FTEs possess a low cost of only 2.8 $ for per square meter due to the carbon materials and roll‐to‐roll technologies. Finally, the FTEs are faultlessly employed in polymer solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 8.32% based on 1.01 cm2 effective area.
An Application of Diazonium‐Induced Anchoring Process in the Fabrication of Micro‐Electromechanical Systems
Authors: Zeb Gul , Zafar Madiha , Palacin Serge , Le Xuan Tuan
Published: October 2017

In situ generation of diazonium cations and their subsequent reduction and grafting is a versatile technique to modify a variety of substrates. In the absence of a conducting substrate, the grafting of aminophenylene layer can be achieved with assistance of a reducing agent (diazonium‐induced anchoring process—DIAP). Here, a systematic investigation of the possible effect of the type substrate on the thickness of aminophenyl layer is carried out using Fe powder reducing agent. The study is carried out on three different substrates: p‐doped Si, TiN, and Cu films and concludes that the film‐growth mechanism is independent of the type of substrate. This work is particularly important for many industrial applications, which require unifying a single film deposition process for multiple structural materials. The first results obtained with mechanical Si test structures clearly show that surface amination at room temperature, in open air, and aqueous medium using DIAP can be easily integrated into the fabrication of microelectromechanical systems and, therefore, can potentially replace the currently industrialized organic‐based silanization process.
Untranslated Parts of Genes Interpreted: Making Heads or Tails of High‐Throughput Transcriptomic Data via Computational Methods
Authors: Szkop Krzysztof J. , Nobeli Irene
Published: October 2017

In this review we highlight the importance of defining the untranslated parts of transcripts, and present a number of computational approaches for the discovery and quantification of alternative transcription start and poly‐adenylation events in high‐throughput transcriptomic data. The fate of eukaryotic transcripts is closely linked to their untranslated regions, which are determined by the position at which transcription starts and ends at a genomic locus. Although the extent of alternative transcription starts and alternative poly‐adenylation sites has been revealed by sequencing methods focused on the ends of transcripts, the application of these methods is not yet widely adopted by the community. We suggest that computational methods applied to standard high‐throughput technologies are a useful, albeit less accurate, alternative to the expertise‐demanding 5′ and 3′ sequencing and they are the only option for analysing legacy transcriptomic data. We review these methods here, focusing on technical challenges and arguing for the need to include better normalization of the data and more appropriate statistical models of the expected variation in the signal.
A comparative study on intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and lysozyme proteins in presence of different divalent ions from their solution and thin film conformations
Authors: Bhowal Ashim Chandra , Kundu Sarathi
Published: October 2017

Optical emission behaviours of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin, from bulk and thin film geometry, were studied in the presence of three different divalent ions (Mg2+, Ca2+ or Ba2+) using different spectroscopic [steady‐state fluorescence, UV–Vis and Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR)] techniques. Additionally, protein thin films on silicon surfaces were prepared and morphological studies were carried out using atomic force microscopy. Dynamic quenching was mainly identified for both proteins in the presence of Mg2+, Ca2+ and Ba2+ ions. The molecular conformation of the proteins was modified in thin films compared with that in solution, consequently quenching efficiencies also varied. ATR‐FTIR studies confirmed the conformational changes of proteins in the presence of all divalent ions. All metal ions used were divalent in nature and belonged to the same group of the periodic table but, depending on their individual characteristics such as electron affinity, ionic radius, etc., the magnitude of the protein and hydrated ion interaction varied and accordingly the quenching efficiency was modified. Quenching was maximum for Ca2+ ions, followed by the other two ions. Our study clearly illustrates the geometry‐dependent physical and biological functions of proteins.
Chitosan‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Permeability and Antifouling of Ultrafiltration Membranes
Authors: Xue Juanqin , Wang Sen , Han Xiaolong , Wang Yuqi , Hua Xiufu , Li Jiding
Published: October 2017

Chitosan‐functionalized graphene oxide (CS‐GO) was synthesized and incorporated into a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane. The effect of CS‐GO addition on the morphology and membrane performance was studied through water contact angle, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, porosity, pore size, and permeation measurements as well as rejection tests and antifouling experiments. The CS‐GO/PVDF membrane exhibited higher water flux, bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection rate, and water flux recovery ratio, and lower BSA solution flux attenuation rate than those of unfilled PVDF, CS/PVDF, and GO/PVDF membranes. The excellent water permeability and antifouling performance can be attributed to the high hydrophilicity and good dispersion of CS‐GO in the matrix.
Investigation into Ethanol Purification Using Polymeric Membranes and a Pervaporation Process
Authors: Raoufi Nahid , Asadollahzadeh Mehdi , Shirazian Saeed
Published: October 2017

A comprehensive computational fluid dynamics simulation was developed for the rational design of a bioethanol purification system using a pervaporation process by tailoring the hydrodynamics of the process. The process involves the removal of water from a water/ethanol liquid mixture using a dense polymeric membrane. The model domain was divided into two compartments comprising the feed and the membrane. To describe water transport in the feed solution, the Maxwell‐Stefan approach was used, whereas for mass transfer inside the membrane the molecular diffusion mechanism was adopted. The governing equations were solved numerically by using a finite element method. The model was capable of predicting mass transfer along with momentum transfer in the feed and membrane compartments.
Nanosegregated Chiral Materials with Self‐Assembled Hierarchical Mesophases: Effect of Thermotropic and Photoinduced Polymorphism in Rodlike Molecules
Authors: Jeon Sung‐Wook , Kim Dae‐Yoon , Araoka Fumito , Jeong Kwang‐Un , Choi Suk‐Won
Published: October 2017

Supramolecular chirality in a binary mixture of achiral bent‐core (BC) and achiral rodlike mesogens was observed. Three different nanosegregated mesophases were determined in the binary system, and meaningful changes in circular dichroism (CD) were detected near the phase‐transition temperatures of the rodlike mesogens. The highest CD intensity in the binary system was noted in the nanosegregated mesophase, in which the BC mesogens were in the helical nanofilament (HNF) phase and the rodlike mesogens were in the smectic A phase. The supramolecular chirality in the binary mixture was attributed to the self‐assembled hierarchical chiral superstructures. Based on the experimental results, plausible scenarios for the chiral superstructures of the rodlike molecules embedded in the HNF networks are suggested. In addition, a system comprising BC and rodlike molecules doped with a photoresponsive compound exhibited remarkable photoswitching of CD intensity. According to the isothermal photoinduced phase transition of the embedded molecules in BC molecular HNFs, the observed CD intensities can be dynamically and reversibly modulated. Such a material with easily controllable functionality is of considerable interest in the field of materials science.
Chiral Catenanes and Rotaxanes: Fundamentals and Emerging Applications
Authors: Evans Nicholas H.
Published: October 2017

Molecular chirality provides a key challenge in host–guest recognition and other related chemical applications such as asymmetric catalysis. For a molecule to act as an efficient enantioselective receptor, it requires multi‐point interactions between host and chiral guest, which may be achieved by an appropriate chiral 3D scaffold. As a consequence of their interlocked structure, catenanes and rotaxanes may present such a 3D scaffold, and can be chiral by inclusion of a classical chiral element and/or as a consequence of the mechanical bond. This Minireview presents illustrative examples of chiral [2]catenanes and [2]rotaxanes, and discusses where these molecules have been used in chemical applications such as chiral host–guest recognition and asymmetric catalysis.
A Pure Polyproline Type I‐like Peptoid Helix by Metal Coordination
Authors: Zborovsky Lieby , Smolyakova Alisa , Baskin Maria , Maayan Galia
Published: October 2017

Peptoids, N‐substituted glycine oligomers, are an important class of foldamers that can adopt polyproline‐type helices (PP‐I and PP‐II), given that the majority of their sequence consists of chiral, bulky side chains. Herein a new approach for the stabilization of a pure PP‐I‐like peptoid helix through metal coordination is introduced. A systematic spectroscopic study was performed on a series of peptoid heptamers bearing two 8‐hydroxyquinoline ligands at fixed positions, and a mixture of chiral benzyl and alkyl substituents in varied positions along the peptoid backbone. When the benzyl groups are located at the 3rd and 4th positions, the peptoid (7P6) gives upon Cu2+ binding a circular dichroism (CD) signal similar to that of a PP‐I helix. Exciton couplet CD spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy, as well as modifications to the length of 7P6 and derivatization through acetylation provided insights into the unique folding of 7P6 upon Cu binding, showing that it is led by two competing driving forces, namely coordination geometry and sequence.
Ultra‐Fast Molecular Rotors within Porous Organic Cages
Authors: Hughes Ashlea R. , Brownbill Nick J. , Lalek Rachel C. , Briggs Michael E. , Slater Anna G. , Cooper Andrew I. , Blanc Frédéric
Published: October 2017

Using variable temperature 2H static NMR spectra and 13C spin‐lattice relaxation times (T1), we show that two different porous organic cages with tubular architectures are ultra‐fast molecular rotors. The central para‐phenylene rings that frame the “windows” to the cage voids display very rapid rotational rates of the order of 1.2–8×106 Hz at 230 K with low activation energy barriers in the 12–18 kJ mol−1 range. These cages act as hosts to iodine guest molecules, which dramatically slows down the rotational rates of the phenylene groups (5–10×104 Hz at 230 K), demonstrating potential use in applications that require molecular capture and release.
Body mass index at adolescence and risk of noncardia gastric cancer in a cohort of 1.79 million men and women
Authors: Levi Zohar , Kark Jeremy D. , Twig Gilad , Katz Lior , Leiba Adi , Derazne Estela , Tzur Dorit , Liphshitz Irena , Keinan‐Boker Lital , Afek Arnon
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

This study assessed adolescent predictors of noncardia gastric cancer (NCGC) with a focus on the body mass index (BMI) in late adolescence.

METHODS

This study analyzed a cohort of 1,087,358 Israeli Jewish males and 707,212 Israeli Jewish females who underwent a compulsory physical examination between the ages of 16 and 19 years from 1967 to 2002. By linkage to the national cancer registry, participants were followed for NCGC through December 31, 2012. With a median follow‐up of 23 years, 515 NCGC cases occurred (379 men and 136 women), and the median age was 47.0 years (interquartile range, 39.3‐53.4 years). Multivariate‐adjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for NCGC according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BMI percentiles at the baseline (normal weight, 5th to <85th percentile; overweight, 85th to <95th percentile; and obesity, ≥95th percentile) as well as the country of birth, residential socioeconomic status (SES), and education.

RESULTS

In comparison with normal weight, adolescent obesity, but not overweight, was associated in both men and women with the risk of subsequent NCGC (unadjusted HR, 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25‐3.06; adjusted HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.12‐2.83). Immigration from the former Soviet Union (FSU), a low education level, and a low residential SES were also associated with the risk for NCGC with adjusted HRs of 2.67 (95% CI, 1.86‐3.83), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.53–2.25), and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.13‐1.93), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that adolescent obesity, but not overweight, is associated with an increased risk for NCGC. Immigration from the FSU, a low residential SES, and a low education level are also significantly associated with the risk for NCGC. Cancer 2018;124:356‐63. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Aerogel Photocatalyst Composed of Transparent Mesoporous Polymethylsilsesquioxane Softly Post‐Modified with a Visible‐Light‐Absorbing Metal Complex
Authors: Sanda Suresh , Kanamori Kazuyoshi , Takei Toshiaki , Tashiro Kentaro
Published: October 2017

Physical adsorption of various metal complexes including multinuclear heterometallic species onto polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) aerogel afforded their highly transparent mesoporous hybrids. One of the fabricated materials containing Ru(II) tris‐phenanthroline complex RuPhen3−OH (RuPhen3−OH@PMSQ) exhibited a photocatalytic activity for the dehydrogenation of the Hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridine 1H2, which was close to that observed for the corresponding homogeneous system. The photocatalytic activity of RuPhen3−OH@PMSQ was superior than that of RuPhen3−OH on other silica gels having larger or smaller pores, suggesting that the pore size of the PMSQ aerogel plays an important role for the high photocatalytic activity by allowing both the light and substrates to easily access the catalysts located at the inner space of the material.
Proof of the Achievability Conjectures for the General Stochastic Block Model
Authors: Abbe Emmanuel , Sandon Colin
Published: October 2017

In a paper that initiated the modern study of the stochastic block model (SBM), Decelle, Krzakala, Moore, and Zdeborová, backed by Mossel, Neeman, and Sly, conjectured that detecting clusters in the symmetric SBM in polynomial time is always possible above the Kesten‐Stigum (KS) threshold, while it is possible to detect clusters information theoretically (i.e., not necessarily in polynomial time) below the KS threshold when the number of clusters k is at least 4. Massoulié, Mossel et al., and Bordenave, Lelarge, and Massoulié proved that the KS threshold is in fact efficiently achievable for k = 2, while Mossel et al. proved that it cannot be crossed at k = 2. The above conjecture remained open for k ≥ 3.

This paper proves the two parts of the conjecture, further extending the results to general SBMs. For the efficient part, an approximate acyclic belief propagation (ABP) algorithm is developed and proved to detect communities for any k down to the KS threshold in quasi‐linear time. Achieving this requires showing optimality of ABP in the presence of cycles, a challenge for message‐passing algorithms. The paper further connects ABP to a power iteration method on a nonbacktracking operator of generalized order, formalizing the interplay between message passing and spectral methods. For the information‐theoretic part, a nonefficient algorithm sampling a typical clustering is shown to break down the KS threshold at k = 4. The emerging gap is shown to be large in some cases, making the SBM a good case study for information‐computation gaps. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Translational High‐Dimensional Drug Interaction Discovery and Validation Using Health Record Databases and Pharmacokinetics Models
Authors: Chiang Chien‐Wei , Zhang Pengyue , Wang Xueying , Wang Lei , Zhang Shijun , Ning Xia , Shen Li , Quinney Sara K. , Li Lang
Published: October 2017

Polypharmacy increases the risk of drug–drug interactions (DDIs). Combining epidemiological studies with pharmacokinetic modeling, we detected and evaluated high‐dimensional DDIs among 30 frequent drugs. Multidrug combinations that increased the risk of myopathy were identified in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and electronic medical record (EMR) databases by a mixture drug‐count response model. CYP450 inhibition was estimated among the 30 drugs in the presence of 1 to 4 inhibitors using in vitro / in vivo extrapolation. Twenty‐eight three‐way and 43 four‐way DDIs had significant myopathy risk in both databases and predicted increases in the area under the concentration–time curve ratio (AUCR) >2‐fold. The high‐dimensional DDI of omeprazole, fluconazole, and clonidine was associated with a 6.41‐fold (FAERS) and 18.46‐fold (EMR) increased risk of myopathy local false discovery rate (<0.005); the AUCR of omeprazole in this combination was 9.35. The combination of health record informatics and pharmacokinetic modeling is a powerful translational approach to detect high‐dimensional DDIs.
Identification and evolution of latrophilin receptor gene involved in Tribolium castaneum devolopment and female fecundity
Authors: Gao Shanshan , Liu Xing , Liu Juanjuan , Xiong Wenfeng , Song Xiaowen , Wu Wei , Wei Luting , Li Bin
Published: October 2017

Latrophilins (LPHs) are adhesion G‐protein‐coupled receptors comprising three paralogous forms (LPH‐1, LPH‐2, and LPH‐3) and known receptors for α‐latrotoxin, which are involved in growth, development, adaptability, and schizophrenia and other diseases in vertebrates. However, the functions of LPH are poorly understood in most insects. Here, phylogenetic and synteny analysis indicated that LPH‐1 and LPH‐3 evolved separately from a common ancestor LPH‐2. Then, latrophilin (Tclph) was cloned in Tribolium castaneum, and three alternatively spliced transcripts (Tclpha, Tclphb and Tclphc) were identified. All these three Tclphs were highest expressed at the early adult stage, and strongly expressed in central nervous system of adults. Larval RNA interference (RNAi) against Tclph caused 24% adult wing abnormal, 30% insect death, and led to 100% reductions in beetle fecundity. Fecundity deficiency was rescued by reciprocal crosses with wild‐type females, but not males. And dissection results revealed that 63% of dsTclph female ovaries were atrophied. Further, exon‐specific RNAi illustrated that neither knockdown of Tclpha nor Tclphc resulted in development defects and reductions in beetle fecundity. Thus, it indicated that Tclphb was essential for development and female fecundity in T. castaneum. Moreover, Tclph knockdown increased the expression of the foxo, plc, and pka genes, which most likely modulated the effects of Tclph on development and reproduction in T. castaneum.
Enhancing the diversity of breeding invertebrates within field margins of intensively managed grassland: Effects of alternative management practices
Authors: Fritch Rochelle A. , Sheridan Helen , Finn John A. , McCormack Stephen , Ó hUallacháin Daire
Published: October 2017

Severe declines in biodiversity have been well documented for many taxonomic groups due to intensification of agricultural practices. Establishment and appropriate management of arable field margins can improve the diversity and abundance of invertebrate groups; however, there is much less research on field margins within grassland systems. Three grassland field margin treatments (fencing off the existing vegetation “fenced”; fencing with rotavation and natural regeneration “rotavated” and; fencing with rotavation and seeding “seeded”) were compared to a grazed control in the adjacent intensively managed pasture. Invertebrates were sampled using emergence traps to investigate species breeding and overwintering within the margins. Using a manipulation experiment, we tested whether the removal of grazing pressure and nutrient inputs would increase the abundance and richness of breeding invertebrates within grassland field margins. We also tested whether field margin establishment treatments, with their different vegetation communities, would change the abundance and richness of breeding invertebrates in the field margins. Exclusion of grazing and nutrient inputs led to increased abundance and richness in nearly all invertebrate groups that we sampled. However, there were more complex effects of field margin establishment treatment on the abundance and richness of invertebrate taxa. Each of the three establishment treatments supported a distinct invertebrate community. The removal of grazing from grassland field margins provided a greater range of overwintering/breeding habitat for invertebrates. We demonstrate the capacity of field margin establishment to increase the abundance and richness in nearly all invertebrate groups in study plots that were located on previously more depauperate areas of intensively managed grassland. These results from grassland field margins provide evidence to support practical actions that can inform Greening (Pillar 1) and agri‐environment measures (Pillar 2) of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Before implementing specific management regimes, the conservation aims of agri‐environment measures should be clarified by defining the target species or taxonomic groups.
Conservation implications for dingoes from the maternal and paternal genome: Multiple populations, dog introgression, and demography
Authors: Cairns Kylie M. , Brown Sarah K. , Sacks Benjamin N. , Ballard J. William O.
Published: October 2017

It is increasingly common for apex predators to face a multitude of complex conservation issues. In Australia, dingoes are the mainland apex predator and play an important role in ecological functioning. Currently, however, they are threatened by hybridization with modern domestic dogs in the wild. As a consequence, we explore how increasing our understanding of the evolutionary history of dingoes can inform management and conservation decisions. Previous research on whole mitochondrial genome and nuclear data from five geographical populations showed evidence of two distinct lineages of dingo. Here, we present data from a broader survey of dingoes around Australia using both mitochondrial and Y chromosome markers and investigate the timing of demographic expansions. Biogeographic data corroborate the presence of at least two geographically subdivided genetic populations, southeastern and northwestern. Demographic modeling suggests that dingoes have undergone population expansion in the last 5,000 years. It is not clear whether this stems from expansion into vacant niches after the extinction of thylacines on the mainland or indicates the arrival date of dingoes. Male dispersal is much more common than female, evidenced by more diffuse Y haplogroup distributions. There is also evidence of likely historical male biased introgression from domestic dogs into dingoes, predominately within southeastern Australia. These findings have critical practical implications for the management and conservation of dingoes in Australia; particularly a focus must be placed upon the threatened southeastern dingo population.
Functional redundancy modifies species–area relationship for freshwater phytoplankton
Authors: Várbíró Gábor , Görgényi Judit , Tóthmérész Béla , Padisák Judit , Hajnal Éva , Borics Gábor
Published: October 2017

Although species–area relationship (SAR) is among the most extensively studied patterns in ecology, studies on aquatic and/or microbial systems are seriously underrepresented in the literature. We tested the algal SAR in lakes, pools and ponds of various sizes (10−2–108 m2) and similar hydromorphological and trophic characteristics using species‐specific data and functional groups. Besides the expectation that species richness increases monotonously with area, we found a right‐skewed hump‐shaped relationship between the area and phytoplankton species richness. Functional richness however did not show such distortion. Differences between the area dependence of species and functional richness indicate that functional redundancy is responsible for the unusual hump‐backed SAR. We demonstrated that the Small Island Effect, which is a characteristic for macroscopic SARs can also be observed for the phytoplankton. Our results imply a so‐called large lake effect, which means that in case of large lakes, wind‐induced mixing acts strongly against the habitat diversity and development of phytoplankton patchiness and finally results in lower phytoplankton species richness in the pelagial. High functional redundancy of the groups that prefer small‐scale heterogeneity of the habitats is responsible for the unusual humpback relationship. The results lead us to conclude that although the mechanisms that regulate the richness of both microbial communities and communities of macroscopic organisms are similar, their importance can be different in micro‐ and macroscales.
A New Self‐Tuning Power‐Factor‐Based Vector Control Method for Efficient Wide‐Speed Range Sensorless Drive of Permanent‐Magnet Synchronous Motors
Authors: HARADA SYOUTA , SHINNAKA SHINJI
Published: October 2017

As a simple sensorless vector control method for permanent‐magnet synchronous motor (PMSMs), a power‐factor‐based vector control (PFVC) method has been reported. This method has the attractive characteristics that three functions such as current limit, efficiency and sensorless drive can be performed simultaneously in a simple manner. However, it was developed under the assumption that there is no practical voltage limit, and that it cannot be applied over the rated speed. This paper proposes a new PFVC method that allows PMSMs to be driven even over the rated speed under application of a practical voltage limit, while keeping the desired characteristics. The effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method are verified through extensive experiments.
A New Control Method of Suppressing the DC‐Capacitor Voltage Ripple Caused by Third‐Order Harmonic Compensation in Three‐Phase Active Power Filters
Authors: MANNEN TOMOYUKI , FUKASAWA ISSEI , FUJITA HIDEAKI
Published: October 2017

This paper proposes a new control method suitable for active power filters, which can reduce the dc capacitor voltage ripple associated with the third‐order harmonic current compensation. The proposed method superimposes a negative‐sequence fundamental current on the compensating current to cancel out the active power ripple caused by the third‐order harmonic current. As a result, the proposed method has the capability to eliminate the dc capacitor voltage ripple oscillating at double the source frequency. Experimental results obtained by a 10‐kW three‐phase diode rectifier load verify the validity of the proposed method. The proposed method exhibits a small dc capacitor voltage ripple reduced to 43% of that using the conventional method.
Second‐Harmonic and Terahertz Generation in a Prussian‐Blue Analogue
Authors: Ould‐Hamouda Amine , Iazzolino Antonio , Tokoro Hiroko , Ohkoshi Shin‐Ichi , Freysz Eric
Published: October 2017

Second‐harmonic and terahertz generation is performed in the Rb0.94Mn[Fe(CN)6]0.98·0.3H2O Prussian‐blue analogue. Second‐harmonic generation experiments are carried out between 1100 and 1700 nm and within the hysteresis loop of this compound. In the low‐ and high‐temperature phases, our measurements indicate that the effective second‐order nonlinear component χ(2) of this material is small, compared with α‐quartz. However, in the high‐temperature phase and close to 1100 nm, its χ(2) is enhanced by more than one order of magnitude. Terahertz generation indicates that in this frequency range, the effective χ(2) of this compound is high and comparable with that of ZnTe. Finally, we demonstrate that within the thermal hysteresis loop of this Prussian‐blue analogue, one can modulate the χ(2) by photoswitching it from the low‐temperature to the high‐temperature phase.
A Straightforward Access to Cyclotriveratrylene Analogues with C1 Symmetry: Toward the Synthesis of Monofunctionalizable Cryptophanes
Authors: Milanole Gaëlle , Gao Bo , Mari Emilie , Berthault Patrick , Pieters Grégory , Rousseau Bernard
Published: October 2017

A straightforward and practical access to various C1‐symmetric cyclotriveratrylene derivatives from a monohalogenated cyclotriphenolene is described. This unique scaffold can be used as a precursor for the rapid construction of monofunctionalizable cryptophane‐based biosensors for hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI.
EPCAL: ETS Platform for Collaborative Assessment and Learning
Authors: Hao Jiangang , Liu Lei , von Davier Alina A. , Lederer Nathan , Zapata‐Rivera Diego , Jakl Peter , Bakkenson Michael
Published: October 2017

Most existing software tools for online collaboration are designed to support the collaboration itself instead of the study of collaboration with a systematic team and task management system. In this report, we identify six important features for a platform to facilitate the study of online collaboration. We then introduce the Educational Testing Service Platform for Collaborative Assessment and Learning (EPCAL), which was developed to encompass these features to enable both large‐scale online collaboration itself and the research on these collaborations. The collaboration management features of the EPCAL also make it an ideal tool for teachers to carry out computer‐supported collaborative learning and assessment activities in classroom settings.
Late Mesozoic transition from Andean‐type to Western Pacific‐type of the East China continental margin—Is the East China Sea basement an allochthonous terrain?
Authors: Ding Weiwei , Li Jiabiao , Wu Zhaocai , Li Sanzhong , Lin Xiubin
Published: October 2017

Geophysical features and crustal structure of the East China Sea basement were revealed based on geophysical inversion analysis with recent gravity and magnetic data. Our results show great differences between the East China Sea continental shelf basins and the Zhemin Volcanic Belt in the coastal South China Block with respect to geophysical features and crustal structures. These areas are separated by distinct geophysical and crustal changes, approximately along a line 100 km from the coastline of China. We hypothesize that the East China Sea basement is a buoyant allochthon in the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate, and that the East China margin was an Andean‐type active continental margin until the collision of the East China Sea basement with the South China Block in the Late Cretaceous, which jammed the Late Cretaceous Trench, terminating the subduction and the related granitoid magmatism. The East China continental margin was dominated by dextral transtension with limited magmatism due to the NNW‐trend motion of the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate with a reduced convergence rate until the Middle Eocene. The renewed westward subduction of the present‐day Pacific Plate replaced the East China Andean‐type continental margin with a Western Pacific‐type one. The detailed reconstructed tectonic model for the East China Sea since the Mesozoic is presented in this paper.
Geochemistry, geochronology, and geological implications of the granitoids associated with the Dongfengshan gold deposit, Heilongjiang Province, NE China
Authors: Wutiepu Wukeyila , Yang Yanchen , Tan Yan , Han Shijiong , Guo Yufei , Wang Qingshuang , Wang Xueyang , Wang Fengbo
Published: October 2017

The Dongfengshan gold deposit in Heilongjiang Province of China is located at the western margin of the Jiamusi Massif. The mineralization is closely related to the intrusion of the Permian granite porphyry. In this paper, we present new zircon U–Pb ages and whole‐rock geochemical analyses of the granitoids from the Dongfengshan deposit. They are classified as peraluminous high‐K calc‐alkaline to shoshonitic A‐type granites, with enrichment in the large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, U, and Th) and depletion in the high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, P, Ti, and Zr) and clear negative Eu anomalies. The zircons from the granite porphyry are both magmatic and hydrothermal, with the former yielding ages of 281.7 ± 3.3 and 282.1 ± 3.5 Ma that represent the timing of crystallization of this Early Permian pluton. The hydrothermal zircons yield an age of 280.5 ± 0.3 Ma, representing the hydrothermal age, which coincide with the emplacement of the igneous rocks. These data suggest that the Early Permian magmatic and mineralization event led to the formation of the Dongfengshan gold deposit. In comparison, zircons from the monzogranite yield a weighted age of 523.0 ± 6.4 Ma, indicating that magmatism of the study area occurred in the Early Cambrian. On the basis of the regional geological history and the new geochemical and isotopic data from intrusions, we suggest that diagenesis and mineralization of the Dongfengshan gold deposit took place in a postcollisional extensional tectonic setting during the Early Permian.
Meta‐analysis of full ROC curves using bivariate time‐to‐event models for interval‐censored data
Authors: Hoyer Annika , Hirt Stefan , Kuss Oliver
Published: October 2017

Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses are the cornerstones of evidence‐based medicine and inform treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of individual patients as well as policy decisions in health care. Statistical methods for the meta‐analysis of intervention studies are well established today. Meta‐analysis for diagnostic accuracy trials has also been a vivid research area in recent years, which is especially due to the increased complexity of their bivariate outcome of sensitivity and specificity. The situation is even more challenging when single studies report a full ROC curve with several pairs of sensitivity and specificity, each pair for a different threshold. Researchers frequently ignore this information and use only 1 pair of sensitivity and specificity from each study to arrive at meta‐analytic estimates. Although methods to deal with the full information have been proposed, they have some disadvantages, eg, the numbers or values of thresholds have to be identical across studies, or the precise values of thresholds are ignored. We propose an approach for the meta‐analysis of full ROC curves including the information from all thresholds by using bivariate time‐to‐event models for interval‐censored data with random effects. This approach avoids the problems of previous methods and comes with the additional advantage that it allows for various distributions of the underlying continuous test values. The results from a small simulation study are given, which show that the approach works well in practice. Furthermore, we illustrate our new model using an example based on the population‐based screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Meta‐analysis of test accuracy studies using imputation for partial reporting of multiple thresholds
Authors: Ensor J. , Deeks J.J. , Martin E.C. , Riley R.D.
Published: October 2017

Introduction

For tests reporting continuous results, primary studies usually provide test performance at multiple but often different thresholds. This creates missing data when performing a meta‐analysis at each threshold. A standard meta‐analysis (no imputation [NI]) ignores such missing data. A single imputation (SI) approach was recently proposed to recover missing threshold results. Here, we propose a new method that performs multiple imputation of the missing threshold results using discrete combinations (MIDC).

Methods

The new MIDC method imputes missing threshold results by randomly selecting from the set of all possible discrete combinations which lie between the results for 2 known bounding thresholds. Imputed and observed results are then synthesised at each threshold. This is repeated multiple times, and the multiple pooled results at each threshold are combined using Rubin's rules to give final estimates. We compared the NI, SI, and MIDC approaches via simulation.

Results

Both imputation methods outperform the NI method in simulations. There was generally little difference in the SI and MIDC methods, but the latter was noticeably better in terms of estimating the between‐study variances and generally gave better coverage, due to slightly larger standard errors of pooled estimates. Given selective reporting of thresholds, the imputation methods also reduced bias in the summary receiver operating characteristic curve. Simulations demonstrate the imputation methods rely on an equal threshold spacing assumption. A real example is presented.

Conclusions

The SI and, in particular, MIDC methods can be used to examine the impact of missing threshold results in meta‐analysis of test accuracy studies.
A historical perspective and evolution of the treatment of male urinary incontinence
Authors: Chong Julio T. , Simma‐Chiang Vannita
Published: October 2017

Aims

To describe the historical changes from antiquity until present in the presentation and treatment of male urinary incontinence.

Methods

A literature review of PubMed articles in English pertaining to male incontinence was performed.

Results

Male urinary incontinence was first mentioned in Egyptian manuscripts in 1500 B.C. In 1564, Ambroise Pare designed portable urinals for incontinent males. Wilhem Hildanus created the first condom catheter with pig bladder in the 1600s and was also credited with fashioning the first penile clamp. Lorenz Heister introduced a perineal bulbar urethral compression belt in 1747 which would provide the blueprint for air‐inflated bulbar urethral compression devices such as the one designed by S.A. Vincent in 1960. Robert Gersuny performed the first periurethral paraffin injection bulking therapy in the late 19th century. In 1929, Frederic Foley introduced the modern catheter, and also credited with conception of the first artificial sphincter. From 1970 to 1973, Joseph Kaufman surgically created bulbar compression for post‐prostatectomy incontinence, but not before designing the first male sling with John Berry in 1958. In 1973, F. Brantley Scott introduced the first multi‐component artificial inflatable sphincter. Improvements upon periurethral bulking therapy occurred rapidly in the late 20th century with Teflon, collagen, autologous adipose, tissue and cross‐linked silicone gels. Since 2007, stem cell injection therapy has emerged as a new therapeutic option for incontinence; however, results are mixed and remains experimental.

Conclusion

Treatment for male urinary incontinence has evolved from noninvasive devices to various surgical procedures. Artificial sphincters remain the gold‐standard therapy for male urinary incontinence.
Improving projection‐based eigensolvers via adaptive techniques
Authors: Galgon Martin , Krämer Lukas , Lang Bruno
Published: October 2017

We consider subspace iteration (or projection‐based) algorithms for computing those eigenvalues (and associated eigenvectors) of a Hermitian matrix that lie in a prescribed interval. For the case that the projector is approximated with polynomials, we present an adaptive strategy for selecting the degree of these polynomials such that convergence is achieved with near‐to‐optimum overall work without detailed a priori knowledge about the eigenvalue distribution. The idea is then transferred to the approximation of the projector by numerical integration, which corresponds to FEAST algorithm proposed by E. Polizzi in 2009. [E. Polizzi: Density‐matrix‐based algorithm for solving eigenvalue problems. Phys. Rev. B 2009; 79:115112]. Here, our adaptation controls the number of integration nodes. We also discuss the interaction of the method with search space reduction methods.
On two high‐order families of frozen Newton‐type methods
Authors: Amat S. , Argyros I. , Busquier S. , Hernández‐Verón M. A.
Published: October 2017

This paper is devoted to the study of two high‐order families of frozen Newton‐type methods. The methods are free of bilinear operators, which constitute the main limitation of the classical high‐order iterative schemes. Both families are natural generalizations of an efficient third‐order method. Although the methods are more demanding, a semilocal convergence analysis is presented using weaker conditions.
Methods for solving underdetermined systems
Authors: Qian Jiang , Andrew Alan L. , Chu Delin , Tan Roger C. E.
Published: October 2017

We compare some alternative methods for computing solutions of underdetermined linear systems, Ax=b. Each method involves solving an associated system with a different nonsingular coefficient matrix,
. We obtain bounds on the condition numbers of these nonsingular matrices and test the methods on numerical examples. We discuss implications for computing eigenvector derivatives and make some recommendations.
Polymerization and characterization of novel poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene/pyrrole) nanoparticles: A comparison between microwave and conventional method
Authors: El‐Aassar M.R. , Fakhry Hala
Published: October 2017

In this study, poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene/pyrrole) or poly(AN‐co‐ST/Py) copolymer was successfully synthesized using microwave preparation technique, and its comparison with the conventional heating method is investigated. Different polymerization factors affecting on the preparation conditions and conversion yield such as monomer concentration, comonomers ratio, initiator concentration, cosolvent ratio, cosolvent type, polymerization temperature, and polymerization time have a considerable effect on the conversion yield %, functional groups, and molecular weight. The copolymerization process was approved by Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The formation of poly(AN‐co‐ST/Py) nanoparticles was confirmed by SEM, and their possible formation mechanisms were also proposed. The SEM images of poly(AN‐co‐ST/Py) prepared by the microwave method showed that the synthesized copolymer had spikes or rods with spherical structure of the produced copolymers than the poly(AN‐co‐ST/Py) nanoparticles prepared by the conventional heating method. Microwave method showed advantages for the produced copolymers compared to that prepared by conventional method, where it can offer a copolymer in short time, high yield, and more thermally stable copolymers, rather than conventional method.