bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ECHR and the Essence of Fundamental Rights: Searching for Sugar in Hot Milk?
Authors: Van Drooghenbroeck Sébastien , Rizcallah Cecilia
Published: September 2019

The concept of the “essence”—as well as the related concepts of “substance” or “core”—of fundamental rights is absent from the text of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), but regularly appears in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) since the Belgian Linguistic case of 1968. Yet, fifty years after its explicit emergence in the Convention’s legal order, it must be observed that a clear understanding of this concept and of its practical utility is still lacking. Indeed, the idea of the essence of fundamental rights has never been clearly defined in its case law, which remains essentially pragmatic and unprincipled in this field. This Article will therefore attempt to remedy this shortcoming by sketching out the different functions assigned to the concepts of the essence, substance, and core of rights in the ECtHR’s case law. It is postulated that the concepts of the essence, substance, and core of fundamental rights are invoked for three different types of purposes. First, the concepts of the essence, substance, and core are—apparently at least—used by the ECtHR to fix the “limit on the limits,” for example, the inalienable part of fundamental rights safeguarded from any possible restriction. Second, this concept has been a vehicle for expanding the Convention’s sphere of protection for the purposes of guaranteeing its effectiveness. Third, the concepts of the essence, substance, and core of fundamental rights also constitute a “reviewing tool” used by the Court to determine the intensity of the States’ obligations on the basis of a prioritization among a series of values at stake. Although these three different functions can be identified on paper, the practical usefulness, workability, and desirability of the concepts of the essence, substance, and core will be questioned.
Fluid deformable surfaces
Authors: Voigt A.
Published: September 2019

Lipid membranes are examples of fluid deformable surfaces, which can be viewed as two-dimensional viscous fluids with bending elasticity. With this solid–fluid duality any shape change contributes to tangential flow and vice versa any tangential flow on a curved surface induces shape deformations. This tight coupling between shape and flow makes curvature a natural element of the governing equations. The modelling and numerical tools outlined in Torres-Sánchez et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 872, 2019, pp. 218–271) open a new field of study by enabling the exploration of the role of curvature in this context.
Numerical stability analysis of a vortex ring with swirl
Authors: Hattori Yuji , Blanco-Rodríguez Francisco J. , Le Dizès Stéphane
Published: September 2019

The linear instability of a vortex ring with swirl with Gaussian distributions of azimuthal vorticity and velocity in its core is studied by direct numerical simulation. The numerical study is carried out in two steps: first, an axisymmetric simulation of the Navier–Stokes equations is performed to obtain the quasi-steady state that forms a base flow; then, the equations are linearized around this base flow and integrated for a sufficiently long time to obtain the characteristics of the most unstable mode. It is shown that the vortex rings are subjected to curvature instability as predicted analytically by Blanco-Rodríguez & Le Dizès (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 814, 2017, pp. 397–415). Both the structure and the growth rate of the unstable modes obtained numerically are in good agreement with the analytical results. However, a small overestimation (e.g. 22 % for a curvature instability mode) by the theory of the numerical growth rate is found for some instability modes. This is most likely due to evaluation of the critical layer damping which is performed for the waves on axisymmetric line vortices in the analysis. The actual position of the critical layer is affected by deformation of the core due to the curvature effect; as a result, the damping rate changes since it is sensitive to the position of the critical layer. Competition between the curvature and elliptic instabilities is also investigated. Without swirl, only the elliptic instability is observed in agreement with previous numerical and experimental results. In the presence of swirl, sharp bands of both curvature and elliptic instabilities are obtained for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}=a/R=0.1$, where $a$ is the vortex core radius and $R$ the ring radius, while the elliptic instability dominates for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}=0.18$. New types of instability mode are also obtained: a special curvature mode composed of three waves is observed and spiral modes that do not seem to be related to any wave resonance. The curvature instability is also confirmed by direct numerical simulation of the full Navier–Stokes equations. Weakly nonlinear saturation and subsequent decay of the curvature instability are also observed.
Wave drag on asymmetric bodies
Authors: Benham G. P. , Boucher J. P. , Labbé R. , Benzaquen M. , Clanet C.
Published: September 2019

An asymmetric body with a sharp leading edge and a rounded trailing edge produces a smaller wave disturbance moving forwards than backwards, and this is reflected in the wave drag coefficient. This experimental fact is not captured by Michell’s theory for wave drag (Michell Lond. Edinb. Dubl. Phil. Mag. J. Sci., vol. 45 (272), 1898, pp. 106–123). In this study, we use a tow-tank experiment to investigate the effects of asymmetry on wave drag, and show that these effects can be replicated by modifying Michell’s theory to include the growth of a symmetry-breaking boundary layer. We show that asymmetry can have either a positive or a negative effect on drag, depending on the depth of motion and the Froude number.
Odd-viscosity-induced stabilization of viscous thin liquid films
Authors: Kirkinis E. , Andreev A. V.
Published: September 2019

Thin viscous liquid films sitting on a solid substrate support nonlinear capillary waves, driven by surface shear stresses at a liquid–gas interface. When surface tension is spatially dependent other mechanisms, such as the thermocapillary effect, influence the dynamics of thin films. In this article we show that in liquids with broken time-reversal symmetry the character of the aforementioned waves and of the thermocapillary effect are significantly modified due to the presence of odd or Hall viscosity in the liquid. This is because odd viscosity gives rise to new terms in the pressure gradient of the flow thus modifying the evolution equation of the liquid–gas interface accordingly. These terms in turn break the reflection symmetry of the evolution equation leading the system to evolve from a pitchfork to a Hopf bifurcation. The odd-viscosity incipient waves can stabilize unstable thin liquid films. For instance, we show that they can suppress the thermocapillary instability. We establish the parameter ranges that odd viscosity has to satisfy in order to initiate those waves that will lead to stability.
Formation of compound droplets during fragmentation of turbulent buoyant oil jet in water
Authors: Xue Xinzhi , Katz Joseph
Published: September 2019

Fragmentation of a vertical buoyant silicone oil jet injected into sugar water is elucidated by refractive index matching and planar laser-induced fluorescence. Compound droplets containing multiple water droplets, some with smaller oil droplets, form regularly at jet Reynolds numbers of $Re=1358$ and 2122 and persist for at least up to 30 nozzle diameters. In contrast, they rarely appear at $Re=594$. The origin of some of the encapsulated water droplets can be traced back to the entrained water ligaments during the initial roll-up of Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices. Analysis using random forest-based procedures shows that the fraction of compound droplets does not vary significantly with $Re$, but increases rapidly with droplet diameter, reaching 78 % for 2 mm droplets. Consequently, the size distributions of compound droplets have peaks that increase in magnitude and shift to a lower diameter with increasing $Re$. On average, the interior pockets raise the oil–water interfacial area by 15 %, increasing with diameter and axial location. Also, while the oil droplets are deformed by the jet’s shear field, the interior interfaces remain nearly spherical, consistent with prior studies of the deformation of isolated compound droplets for relevant capillary numbers and viscosity ratio.
Effect of supplementation fat during the last 3 weeks of uterine life and the preweaning period on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf
Authors: Jolazadeh A. R. , Mohammadabadi T. , Dehghan-banadaky M. , Chaji M. , Garcia M.
Published: September 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing essential fatty acids (FA), during late gestation and the preweaning and early weaning periods on passive immunity, growth, health, rumen fermentation parameters, blood metabolites and behaviour of dairy calves. During the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, cattle (n 120), within parity, were randomly assigned to one of three diets with different fat supplements: (a) no supplemental fat (CON), (b) supplement rich in linoleic acid (CSO), or (c) supplement rich in EPA and DHA (CFO). Eighty-four newborn Holstein calves were randomly assigned, within the prepartum diets, to one of two calf starters: no fat supplement (FC-0) or 2 % Ca-salt of unsaturated FA (FC-2). Overall, the interaction between dam diets and calf starters did not affect calf performance or any other parameter measured. Calves born from dams fed fat (CSO or CFO) performed better than calves born from dams fed CON. Namely, calves born from dams fed fat had greater plasma concentrations of IgG (P < 0·01), better apparent efficiency of IgG absorption (P < 0·01) and average daily gain (ADG, 597 v. 558 g/d; P = 0·02), and lower rectal temperature (RT; P < 0·01). Calves fed a calf starter rich in unsaturated FA (FC-2) had greater (P ≤ 0·01) ADG, skeletal growth, feed efficiency, and weaning weight compared with FC-0-fed calves. Furthermore, calves fed FC-2 had lower RT during the pre- and post-weaning periods (P ≤ 0·04) and fewer days with diarrhoea (P < 0·001) compared with calves fed CF-0. Time spent eating, ruminating, standing, lying, and on non-nutritive oral behaviour did not differ by treatment. Similarly, treatments did not affect ruminal fermentation parameters. At 28 and 77 d of age, calves fed CF-2 had higher plasma concentrations of albumin and cholesterol (P ≤ 0·02) and lower urea N compared with calves fed CF-0. Plasma concentrations of alkaline phosphatase were higher in calves fed CF-2 compared with those fed CF-0, when they were 77 d old. These findings support feeding moderate amounts of long-chain PUFA during late uterine life or during the preweaning period have beneficial effects on calf metabolism, growth, and health performance.
Grammar learning strategies as a key to mastering second language grammar: A research agenda
Authors: Pawlak Mirosław
Published: September 2019

Although major advances have been made in research on language learning strategies (LLS), there are some areas that have been somewhat surprisingly neglected by specialists. This applies without doubt to the strategies that learners draw on to better understand and learn grammar rules but also to employ grammar structures in real-time processing, as required in spontaneous communication. In this paper, I outline a research agenda for grammar learning strategies (GLS), identifying three distinct lines of inquiry: (1) identification and measurement of GLS, (2) examination of factors moderating GLS use, and (3) strategies-based instruction as applied to GLS. Although these three areas are to some extent reflective of the main foci of empirical investigations in research on LLS, in each case, I try to demonstrate how cutting-edge theoretical and empirical developments can be applied to the study of GLS. For each of the three areas, I propose research tasks the execution of which has the potential of moving research on GLS forward.
Keeping up with the clinical advances: tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Elkurd Mazen T. , Bahroo Laxman
Published: September 2019

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) was first described in 1964, but treatment for this sometimes poorly characterized condition lagged decades as it was labored by medico-legal implications. TD has often been lumped with other medication-induced disorders and incorrectly classified as extrapyramidal symptoms. TD is likely to be under-recognized for many of these reasons. Though diverse in its presentations, TD is distinct in terms of time course, pathophysiology, and phenomenology.
TENSOR PRODUCTS OF STEINBERG ALGEBRAS
Authors: RIGBY SIMON W.
Published: September 2019

We prove that$A_{R}(G)\otimes _{R}A_{R}(H)\cong A_{R}(G\times H)$if$G$and$H$are Hausdorff ample groupoids. As part of the proof, we give a new universal property of Steinberg algebras. We then consider the isomorphism problem for tensor products of Leavitt algebras, and show that no diagonal-preserving isomorphism exists between$L_{2,R}\otimes L_{3,R}$and$L_{2,R}\otimes L_{2,R}$. In fact, there are no unexpected diagonal-preserving isomorphisms between tensor products of finitely many Leavitt algebras. We give an easy proof that every$\ast$-isomorphism of Steinberg algebras over the integers preserves the diagonal, and it follows that$L_{2,\mathbb{Z}}\otimes L_{3,\mathbb{Z}}\not \cong L_{2,\mathbb{Z}}\otimes L_{2,\mathbb{Z}}$(as$\ast$-rings).
ON 2-HOLONOMY
Authors: ABBASPOUR HOSSEIN , WAGEMANN FRIEDRICH
Published: September 2019

We construct a cycle in higher Hochschild homology associated to the two-dimensional torus which represents 2-holonomy of a nonabelian gerbe in the same way as the ordinary holonomy of a principal G-bundle gives rise to a cycle in ordinary Hochschild homology. This is done using the connection 1-form of Baez–Schreiber. A crucial ingredient in our work is the possibility to arrange that in the structure crossed module$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}:\mathfrak{h}\rightarrow \mathfrak{g}$of the principal 2-bundle, the Lie algebra$\mathfrak{h}$is abelian, up to equivalence of crossed modules.
The Historicity of Sexuality: Knowledge of the Past in the Emergence of Modern Sexual Science
Authors: Downham Moore Alison M.
Published: September 2019

From the very moment the concept of sexuality emerged in nineteenth-century European medical and psychiatric thought, it became a topic of historicization. This historicization formed a consistent habit of thought in many of the medical and psychiatric texts that first enunciated sexuality as a distinct field of meaning. Dialogue between doctors and the first historians of sexuality informed the emergence of both sexology and of the historiography of sexuality. This dialogue suggests a need to rethink the origins of sexual historiography, situating current historians within a continuous genealogy, rather than as transcendental observers marked by epistemological rupture from earlier biological theories of sexual evolution.
Husten, Auswurf, Fieber – eine häufige Trias, aber nicht immer banal
Authors: Keusch Stephan
Published: September 2019

Zusammenfassung. Wir berichten über eine 72-jährige Asthmatikerin, die nach einer infektgetriggerten Exazerbation im Verlauf eine Pneumonie entwickelte. Anhand dieses Beispiels werden empfehlenswerte und diagnostische Schritte sowie Therapieentscheidung und Verlaufsbeobachtung aufgezeigt.
Indirekte und direkte nichtsuizidale Selbstverletzungen bei Mädchen und jungen Frauen mit Essstörungen
Authors: Nitkowski Dennis , Wünsch-Leiteritz Wally , Braks Karsten , Hristova Stella , Petermann Franz
Published: September 2019

Zusammenfassung. Nichtsuizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) tritt häufig bei Essstörungen auf. Die Befundlage zum Zusammenhang zwischen einem restriktiv-asketischen beziehungsweise bulimischen Essverhalten und NSSV ist jedoch nicht konsistent. Es wird geprüft, ob borderlinespezifische Gedanken die Beziehung zwischen asketischen beziehungsweise bulimischen Essverhalten auf der einen Seite und NSSV auf der anderen Seite mediieren. Eine Stichprobe von 74 Mädchen und jungen Frauen im Alter von 14 bis 21 Jahren ( M = 17.49; SD = 1.85), die eine Anorexie oder eine Bulimie aufweisen, bearbeiteten Fragebögen zu NSSV, borderlinespezifischen Gedanken sowie zu asketischen und bulimischen Verhaltensweisen. Borderline-Gedanken mediierten den Zusammenhang zwischen asketischem Verhalten auf der einen Seite und der Anzahl an bisher genutzten NSSV-Methoden und NSSI zur psychischen Regulation auf der anderen Seite. Bei Bulimie fand sich hingegen keine Mediation. Ein asketisches Verhalten ist bei Mädchen und jungen Frauen mit einer Essstörung über Borderline-Gedankenmuster mit der Anzahl an NSSV-Methoden und der Nutzung von NSSV zur psychischen Regulation verbunden. Ein primär durch Essattacken gekennzeichnetes Verhalten weist keinen Zusammenhang mit NSSV auf. Die verschiedenen Arten von gestörtem Essverhalten sollten separat auf einen Zusammenhang mit NSSV untersucht werden.
Evaluating China's Water Security for Food Production: The Role of Rainfall and Irrigation
Authors: Zhu Wenbin , Jia Shaofeng , Devineni Naresh , Lv Aifeng , Lall Upmanu
Published: September 2019

China's water stress and its pressure on food security is a widely recognized crisis. A framework is proposed and applied at the provincial level to evaluate China's water security for food production. It is based on a water stress index that accounts for the deficit between water supply and aggregate demand of 23 major field crops over the study period (1961–2015). The water demand is estimated based on method recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The water supply is composed of rainfall and irrigation. Consequently, the water security of both rainfed and irrigated agriculture is evaluated in our research, and the respective contribution of rainfall and irrigation is distinguished. Suggestions regarding adjustment in irrigation investment and planting area are proposed for practical application. The framework also holds great potential to investigate the impact of climate change and the virtual water flow of crops.
Plant roots increase both decomposition and stable organic matter formation in boreal forest soil
Authors: Adamczyk Bartosz , Sietiö Outi-Maaria , Straková Petra , Prommer Judith , Wild Birgit , Hagner Marleena , Pihlatie Mari , Fritze Hannu , Richter Andreas , Heinonsalo Jussi
Published: September 2019

Boreal forests are ecosystems with low nitrogen (N) availability that store globally significant amounts of carbon (C), mainly in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). Although crucial for future climate change predictions, the mechanisms controlling boreal C and N pools are not well understood. Here, using a three-year field experiment, we compare SOM decomposition and stabilization in the presence of roots, with exclusion of roots but presence of fungal hyphae and with exclusion of both roots and fungal hyphae. Roots accelerate SOM decomposition compared to the root exclusion treatments, but also promote a different soil N economy with higher concentrations of organic soil N compared to inorganic soil N accompanied with the build-up of stable SOM-N. In contrast, root exclusion leads to an inorganic soil N economy (i.e., high level of inorganic N) with reduced stable SOM-N build-up. Based on our findings, we provide a framework on how plant roots affect SOM decomposition and stabilization.
Evolution, dynamic expression changes and regulatory characteristics of gene families involved in the glycerophosphate pathway of triglyceride synthesis in chicken (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Yang Liyu , Liu Ziming , Ou Kepeng , Wang Taian , Li Zhuanjian , Tian Yadong , Wang Yanbin , Kang Xiangtao , Li Hong , Liu Xiaojun
Published: September 2019

It is well documented that four gene families, including the glycerophosphate acyltransferases (GPATs), acylglycerophosphate acyltransferases (AGPATs), lipid phosphate phosphohydrolases (LPINs) and diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs), are involved in the glycerophosphate pathway ofde novotriglyceride (TG) biosynthesis in mammals. However, no systematic analysis has been conducted to characterize the gene families in poultry. In this study, the sequences of gene family members in the glycerophosphate pathway were obtained by screening the public databases. The phylogenetic tree, gene structures and conserved motifs of the corresponding proteins were evaluated. Dynamic expression changes of the genes at different developmental stages were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The regulatory characteristics of the genes were analyzed byin vivoexperiments. The results showed that theGPAT,AGPATandLPINgene families have 2, 7 and 2 members, respectively, and they were classified into 2, 4 and 2 cluster respectively based on phylogenetic analysis. All of the genes exceptAGPAT1were extensively expressed in various tissues. Estrogen induction upregulated the expression ofGPAMandAGPAT2, downregulated the expression ofAGPAT3,AGPAT9,LPIN1andLPIN2, and had no effect on the expression of the other genes. These findings provide a valuable resource for further investigation of lipid metabolism in liver of chicken.
Neurobiological and behavioural responses of cleaning mutualisms to ocean warming and acidification
Authors: Paula José Ricardo , Repolho Tiago , Pegado Maria Rita , Thörnqvist Per-Ove , Bispo Regina , Winberg Svante , Munday Philip L. , Rosa Rui
Published: September 2019

Cleaning interactions are textbook examples of mutualisms. On coral reefs, most fishes engage in cooperative interactions with cleaners fishes, where they benefit from ectoparasite reduction and ultimately stress relief. Furthermore, such interactions elicit beneficial effects on clients’ ecophysiology. However, the potential effects of future ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) on these charismatic associations are unknown. Here we show that a 45-day acclimation period to OW (+3 °C) and OA (980 μatm pCO2) decreased interactions between cleaner wrasses (Labroides dimidiatus) and clients (Naso elegans). Cleaners also invested more in the interactions by providing tactile stimulation under OA. Although this form of investment is typically used by cleaners to prolong interactions and reconcile after cheating, interaction time and client jolt rate (a correlate of dishonesty) were not affected by any stressor. In both partners, the dopaminergic (in all brain regions) and serotoninergic (forebrain) systems were significantly altered by these stressors. On the other hand, in cleaners, the interaction with warming ameliorated dopaminergic and serotonergic responses to OA. Dopamine and serotonin correlated positively with motivation to interact and cleaners interaction investment (tactile stimulation). We advocate that such neurobiological changes associated with cleaning behaviour may affect the maintenance of community structures on coral reefs.
Combination treatment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and ursodeoxycholic acid dissolves cholesterol gallstones in mice
Authors: Jang Sung Ill , Fang Sungsoon , Kim Kwang Pyo , Ko Younhee , Kim Hyoseon , Oh Jieun , Hong Ga Young , Lee Su Yeon , Kim Joon Mee , Noh Ilkoo , Lee Dong Ki
Published: September 2019

The increasing prevalence of cholesterol gallstone disease places an economic burden on the healthcare system. To identify novel therapeutics, we assessed the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in combination with UDCA in a mouse model of cholesterol gallstones. Gallstone dissolution, gallbladder wall thickness, mucin gene expression in the gallbladder, and levels of phospholipids, cholesterol, and bile acids in bile and serum were analysed. RNA was extracted from the liver for mRNA sequencing and gene expression profiling. Combination treatment resulted in greater gallstone dissolution compared with the control group, and PUFA and combination treatments reduced the thickness of the gallbladder wall. Expression levels of mucin genes were significantly lower in the UDCA, PUFA, and combination groups. Transcriptome analyses revealed that combination treatment modulated hepatic lipid metabolism. The PUFA and combination groups showed elevated bile phospholipid and bile acid levels and a lower cholesterol saturation index. Combination treatment with PUFA and UDCA dissolves cholesterol gallstones in mice by decreasing mucin production, increasing levels of phospholipids and bile acids in bile, and decreasing cholesterol saturation. Further studies of the therapeutic effects of combination PUFA and UDCA treatment in patients with cholesterol gallstones are warranted.
Determination and analysis of harmful components in synthetic running tracks from Chinese primary and middle schools
Authors: Wu Xiaoxiao , Li Ning , Ji Hanxu , Zhang Haifeng , Bu Jiangtao , Zhang Xiaoming , Qian Shasha , Yang Yang , Han Bing , Wang Haojie , Ye Ping , Zhou Jungui , Zhang Chi
Published: September 2019

In China, incidences involving pupils suffering health problems caused by synthetic running tracks have attracted the public’s attention. However, the existence of known and unknown harmful chemicals in the tracks have not yet been explored. Here, the levels of 16 known harmful ingredients were firstly analyzed in 167 school running tracks. In all samples, the recognized toxic solvents and additives, such as the benzene series, soluble mercury, 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MOCA) and toluene diisocyanate monomer (TDI) were under the limits of detection. In contrast, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) soluble lead, cadmium and chromium were found in 86%, 88%, 46%, 81%, 43% and 83% of the specimens, respectively. The levels, toxicology and distribution of these known chemicals were evaluated. Then, a static-headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method in full scan mode was employed to screen for unknown volatile chemicals. Three groups of chemicals reflecting different kinds of pollution sources were discovered: new solvents, such as N, N-Dimethylformamide, new additives, such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid, and by-products, such as carbon disulfide. In summary, the existence of potential risk factors in school plastic tracks was revealed through exhaustive testing. Moreover, most of the hazardous components detected have been recently included in a new national standard to improve the safety performance of synthetic running tracks.
Numerical simulations of tunable ultrashort power splitters based on slotted multimode interference couplers
Authors: Huang Chia-Chien , Sun Te-Chia
Published: September 2019

This paper presents an ultracompact tunable device for power splitting and switching by tuning the Fermi energy level of monolayer patternless graphene underneath a slotted multimode interference (MMI) coupler operating in the mid-infrared, λ = 9–11 μm. By introducing a high-index silicon slot in the central region of the MMI structure, which can significantly shorten the beat length, the proposed device has an approximately 4.5-fold reduction in device length and a two-fold improvement in power transmission compared with conventional MMI couplers without slotting. The device has a footprint of only 0.30 × 0.65 μm2 (<λ/10), making it the smallest power splitter and switcher. Over the bandwidth of 2 μm, the power transmission of the proposed device is nearly uniform. Extending the operating bandwidth is limited only by the practically achievable Fermi energy of graphene. For the fabrication tolerance, the numerical results show that the relative power variations are lower than 5%, even though the dimension variations are greater than 15%. With its advantages of tunability, compact footprint, and broadband operation, the proposed device is suitable for highly dense photonic integrated circuits.
The expression of PD-L1 in salivary gland carcinomas
Authors: Vital Domenic , Ikenberg Kristian , Moch Holger , Rössle Matthias , Huber Gerhard F.
Published: September 2019

Objective was to analyze the role of PD-L1 and its relation to demographic, patho-clinical and outcome parameters in salivary gland carcinoma (SGC) patients. Patients treated for salivary gland carcinomas between 1994 and 2010 were included. A retrospective chart review for baseline characteristics, pathohistological, clinical and outcome data was performed. Immunohistochemistry for PD-L1 was performed using tissue microarrays. PD-L1 expression was assessed in tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIC) and statistical analysis with regard to baseline and outcome data was performed. Expression of PD-L1 (by means ≥1% of the cells with PD-L1 positivity) was present in the salivary gland carcinoma cells of 17%, in the TIIC of 20% and in both tumor cells and TIIC of 10% the patients. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and both tumor cells and TIIC was related to tumor grading (p = 0.035 and p = 0.031, respectively). A trend towards higher grading was also seen for PD-L1 expression in TIICs (p = 0.058). Patients with salivary duct carcinomas and PD-L1 expressing TIICs showed a significantly worse DFS and OS (p = 0.022 and p = 0.003, respectively), those with both tumor cells and TIIC expressing PD-L1 a significantly worse DFS (p = 0.030). PD-L1 expression is present in 17% and 20% of salivary gland carcinoma cells and TIIC. Ten percent of the patient showed a PD-L1 positivity in both tumor cells and TIIC. This is related to high tumor grading and therefore might be a negative prognostic factor.
REVEL and BayesDel outperform other in silico meta-predictors for clinical variant classification
Authors: Tian Yuan , Pesaran Tina , Chamberlin Adam , Fenwick R. Bryn , Li Shuwei , Gau Chia-Ling , Chao Elizabeth C. , Lu Hsiao-Mei , Black Mary Helen , Qian Dajun
Published: September 2019

Many in silico predictors of genetic variant pathogenicity have been previously developed, but there is currently no standard application of these algorithms for variant assessment. Using 4,094 ClinVar-curated missense variants in clinically actionable genes, we evaluated the accuracy and yield of benign and deleterious evidence in 5 in silico meta-predictors, as well as agreement of SIFT and PolyPhen2, and report the derived thresholds for the best performing predictor(s). REVEL and BayesDel outperformed all other meta-predictors (CADD, MetaSVM, Eigen), with higher positive predictive value, comparable negative predictive value, higher yield, and greater overall prediction performance. Agreement of SIFT and PolyPhen2 resulted in slightly higher yield but lower overall prediction performance than REVEL or BayesDel. Our results support the use of gene-level rather than generalized thresholds, when gene-level thresholds can be estimated. Our results also support the use of 2-sided thresholds, which allow for uncertainty, rather than a single, binary cut-point for assigning benign and deleterious evidence. The gene-level 2-sided thresholds we derived for REVEL or BayesDel can be used to assess in silico evidence for missense variants in accordance with current classification guidelines.
Centrifugal Force-Driven Modular Micronozzle System: Generation of Engineered Alginate Microspheres
Authors: Kang Sung-Min , Lee Go-Woon , Huh Yun Suk
Published: September 2019

In this study, we developed a modular micronozzle system that can control the flow of fluid based on centrifugal force and synthesize functional alginate microspheres with various structures and sizes. Our method is to fabricate a programmable microreactor that can be easily manufactured without the conventional soft-lithography process using various sequences of the micronozzles with various inner diameters. To overcome the obstacles of pump-based microfluidic devices that need to be precisely controlled, we designed the programmable microreactor to be driven under centrifugal force with a combination of micronozzles, thus enabling the mass production of various functional alginate microspheres within a few minutes. The programmable microreactor designed through the arrangement of the modular micronozzles enables the formation of various types of alginate microspheres such as core-shell, Janus, and particle mixture. These materials are controlled to a size from 400 µm to 900 µm. In addition, our platform is used to generate pH-responsive smart materials, and to easily control various sizes, shapes, and compositions simultaneously. By evaluating the release process of model drugs according to the pH change, the possibility of drug delivery application is confirmed. We believe that our method can contribute to development of biomaterials engineering that has been limited by the requirement of sophisticated devices, and special skills and/or labor.
Optical and magnetic properties of the ground state of Cr3+ doping ions in REM3(BO3)4 single crystals
Authors: Prokhorov A. A. , Chernush L. F. , Melnik T. N. , Minikayev R. , Mazur A. , Babin V. , Nikl M. , Lančok J. , Prokhorov A. D.
Published: September 2019

New data about the state of Cr3+ doping ions in a single crystal of YGa3(BO3)4 have been obtained by studying different methods. Using electron paramagnetic resonance, it was found that the Cr3+ ions substitute the trivalent gallium ions. The obtained spin Hamiltonian parameters of the Cr3+ ions in the YGa3(BO3)4 single crystal (g = 1.9743 ± 0.0004; D = −0.465 ± 0.001 cm−1; E = −0.013 ± 0.001 cm−1) were analyzed and compared with those in TmAl3(BO3)4, EuAl3(BO3)4, and YAl3(BO3)4. The deviation of the Z-axis in the spectrum from the crystallographic axis С3 is 1,7 degrees in YGa3(BO3)4. In situ X-ray diffraction was used to study the structural and elastic properties of huntite-type borates in the temperature range of RT-1073 K. In the radioluminescence (RL) spectra, the Cr3+-related emission bands were observed in the red wavelength range, and the presence of other defect-related bands was also registered in some cases. Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curves were acquired over a wide temperature range, and the trap depths of the most prominent bands were calculated. The 11B NMR spectra show that two nonequivalent spectral components exist for BO3 structural elements.
Non-ideal behavior of a treadmill depends on gait phase, speed, and weight
Authors: Tielke Austin , Ahn Jooeun , Lee Hyunglae
Published: September 2019

Noticeable differences exist between treadmill and overground walking; kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation patterns differ between the two. Many previous studies have attributed the differences to changes in visual information, air resistance, and psychological effects such as fear. In this study, we demonstrate that no treadmill serves as an inertial frame of reference. Considering the linear momentum principle, the finite sampling rate of the controller, and the limited power of the treadmill motor, we predict that 1) the error of the treadmill speed periodically varies depending on the locomotion phase and 2) this non-ideal behavior becomes more evident as the locomotion speed or the weight of the walker increases. Experimental observation confirmed our predictions by quantifying the variation of the actual treadmill belt speed and the ground reaction force in the anterior–posterior direction for different locomotion speeds and subject weights. These results emphasize a need for design criteria like the minimum sampling rate and the minimum motor power that treadmill locomotion studies should consider.
Effect of exogenous spermidine on floral induction, endogenous polyamine and hormone production, and expression of related genes in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)
Authors: Qin Ling , Zhang Xin , Yan Jie , Fan Lu , Rong Chunxiao , Mo Chuanyuan , Zhang Manrang
Published: September 2019

Flower bud formation in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is difficult, which severely constrains commercial production. Spermidine (Spd) plays an important role in floral induction, but the mechanism of its action is incompletely understood. To investigate the effect of Spd on flowering, 6-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple trees were treated with 1 × 10−5 mol L−1 Spd to study the responses of polyamines [putrescine (Put), Spd and spermine (Spm)], hormones [gibberellins (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA)], and polyamine-, hormone- and flowering-related genes. Spd application promoted flowering during floral induction by increasing MdGA2ox2 (gibberellin 2-oxidase) through GA3 reduction and increasing MdNCED1 and MdNCED3 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) through ABA enrichment during 60 to 80 days after full bloom. The flowering rate as well as the expressions of flower-related genes, except for MdLEY (LEAFY), also increased, thereby promoting flowering. In addition, spraying with Spd significantly increased the contents of endogenous polyamines except for Spm in terminal buds by increasing the expressions of polyamine-associated genes. We hypothesize that the contribution of Spd to flowering is related to crosstalk among polyamines, hormone signals, and related gene expressions, which suggests that Spd participates in the apple floral induction process.
Urinary estrogens as a non-invasive biomarker of viable pregnancy in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Authors: Wilson Kirsten S. , Wauters Jella , Valentine Iain , McNeilly Alan , Girling Simon , Li Rengui , Li Desheng , Zhang Hemin , Rae Mick T. , Howie Forbes , Andrew Ruth , Duncan William Colin
Published: September 2019

Female giant pandas show complex reproductive traits, being seasonally monoestrus, displaying a variable length embryonic diapause and exhibiting pseudopregnancy. Currently, there is no confirmatory non-invasive biomarker of blastocyst implantation or pregnancy. This study aimed to monitor urinary estrogens across gestation in pregnancy (n = 4), pseudopregnancy (n = 4) and non-birth cycles (n = 5) in the giant panda. A pregnancy-specific profile of estrogens corrected for urinary specific gravity was identified during the gestation period. Pregnant females showed increasing concentrations of estrogens for 29 days until birth, no increase was observed during pseudopregnancy and the two profiles were distinguishable from each other for the final 2 weeks of the cycle suggesting the estrogens are of placental origin. This allowed a nomogram, starting at a known fixed point during the cycle, to be created and tested with cycles of known outcome, and cycles which were inseminated but did not result in a birth. Non-birth profiles showed deviations from that of pregnancy. We believe these deviations indicate the point of failure of the placenta to support a developing cub. Non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of estrogen concentrations therefore has the potential to be developed as a panda pregnancy test to predict viable cub development.
Inter-arm Blood Pressure Difference is Associated with Recurrent Stroke in Non-cardioembolic Stroke Patients
Authors: Chang Yoonkyung , Kim Jinkwon , Kim Yong-Jae , Song Tae-Jin
Published: September 2019

Recurrent stroke increases mortality and aggravates the disability of stroke patients. We hypothesized that increased inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference and inter-arm diastolic blood pressure difference would be related to recurrent stroke in non-cardioembolic stroke patients. A total of 1226 consecutive non-cardioembolic first-ever ischemic stroke patients, in whom bilateral brachial blood pressures were measured by an automated ankle-brachial index measuring device, were included in our study. Recurrent stroke was defined as newly developed neurologic symptoms with relevant lesions on brain CT and/or MRI after 7 days or hospital discharge. Inter-arm systolic and diastolic blood pressure differences ≥10 mmHg were noted in 9.7% (120/1226) and 5.0% (62/1226) of patients, respectively. During a median 24 months of follow-up, 105 (8.5%) patients experienced recurrent stroke. Patients who had inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference ≥10 mmHg showed increased risk of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio:1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–3.00, p = 0.033). Moreover, inter-arm diastolic blood pressure difference ≥10 mmHg was also independently associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio:2.92, 95% confidence interval: 1.59–5.34, p = 0.001). In conclusion, inter-arm blood pressure difference ≥10 mmHg may be associated with increased risk recurrent stroke in non-cardioembolic stroke patients.
Tuning of the Electro-Optical Properties of Tetraphenylcyclopentadienone via Substitution of Oxygen with Sterically-Hindered Electron Withdrawing Groups
Authors: Coluccini Carmine , Anusha Puliparambil Thilakan , Chen Hsin-Yi Tiffany , Liao Sheng-Lun , Ko Ying Kuan , Yabushita Atsushi , Luo Chih Wei , Ng Yoke Mooi , Khung Yit Lung
Published: September 2019

In this report, the substitution of the oxygen group (=O) of Tetraphenylcyclopentadienone with =CR2 group (R = methyl ester or nitrile) was found to have tuned the electro-optical properties of the molecule. Although both groups are electrons withdrawing in nature, their absorption from UV-vis spectra analysis was observed to have been blue-shifted by methyl ester substitution and red-shifted by nitrile substitution. Interestingly, these substitutions helped to enhance the overall intensity of emission, especially in the context of methyl ester substitution whereby the emission was significantly boosted at higher concentrations due to hypothesized restrictions of intramolecular motions. These observations were explained through detailed descriptions of the electron withdrawing capability and steric properties of the substituents on the basis of density functional theory calculations.
Aerosol-induced modification of organised convection and top-of-atmosphere radiation
Authors: Nishant Nidhi , Sherwood Steven C. , Geoffroy Olivier
Published: September 2019

Aerosol effects on cloud cover and precipitation could affect the global climate but have proven difficult to verify, because cloud and rain amounts are so strongly influenced by local meteorological conditions. Here model and observational evidence is presented that an increase in CCN concentration slightly invigorates mixed-phase convective clouds and narrows tropical convergence and rain bands, while expanding associated cloud cover particularly at mid-levels. A suite of model simulations with various approaches indicates a 4 ± 3.8% decrease in the rain-to-cloud area ratio per doubling of the CCN concentration, an effect also detected in satellite observations. Idealised numerical experiments suggest the area ratio change is due to the invigoration-induced static stability increase. Although the invigoration and cloud amount changes are much smaller than suggested in some studies, in simulations the latter cool the planet by 0.71 ± 0.25 W/m2 in deep convective regions, suggesting a global effect of order 0.2–0.5 W/m2, per aerosol doubling. The contribution to present-day anthropogenic forcing is even harder to quantify but could compare to that of the direct aerosol radiative forcing. These results indicate a previously unrecognised pathway for aerosols to indirectly cool the climate by altering convective clouds dynamically.
High temperature self-assembly one-step synthesis of a structurally ordered PtFe catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Gao Xiaoyan , Chen Siguo , Deng Jianghai , Ibraheem Shumaila , Li Jia , Zhou Qiuyun , Lan Huiying , Zou Xiao , Wei Zidong
Published: September 2019

Herein, we present a high-temperature self-assembly strategy that directly allows the transformation of adsorbed Pt(NH3)42+ and Fe3+ sources into structurally ordered face-centered tetragonal (fct)-PtFe alloy NPs (2.6 ± 0.2 nm).
Improved luminescence properties by the self-assembly of lanthanide compounds with a 1-D chain structure for the sensing of CH3COOH and toxic HS− anions
Authors: Xu Yuan-Yi , Chen Peng , Gao Ting , Li Hong-Feng , Yan Peng-Fei
Published: September 2019

A family of lanthanide compounds has been explored and enhanced luminescence has been accomplished by doping method. A brand new and multifunctional fluorescence probe was developed, which was able to detect CH3COOH and HS− with different mechanisms.
Persistent homology analysis of osmolyte molecular aggregation and their hydrogen-bonding networks
Authors: Xia Kelin , Anand D. Vijay , Shikhar Saxena , Mu Yuguang
Published: September 2019

Dramatically different patterns can be observed in the topological fingerprints for hydrogen-bonding networks from two types of osmolyte systems.
Identification of oxygen diffusion mechanisms in Nd1−xAExBaInO4−x/2 (AE = Ca, Sr, Ba) compounds through molecular dynamics
Authors: Li Chenyi , Dammak Hichem , Dezanneau Guilhem
Published: September 2019

Association of oxygen positions with specific crystallographic sites by a density-based clustering method. The oxygens which are not associated with any crystallographic sites are considered as interstitials.
Porosity controls the catalytic activity of platinum nanoparticles
Authors: Yu Wenmiao , Batchelor-McAuley Christopher , Chang Xin , Young Neil P. , Compton Richard G.
Published: September 2019

Dendritic/mesoporous nanoparticle structures arise naturally and result from aggregation based growth mechanisms. For the 70 nm particles studied herein, up to 60% of the catalytic surface is contained in the internal structure of the particle.
Direct detection of polar structure formation in helium nanodroplets by beam deflection measurements
Authors: Niman John W. , Kamerin Benjamin S. , Kranabetter Lorenz , Merthe Daniel J. , Suchan Jiří , Slavíček Petr , Kresin Vitaly V.
Published: September 2019

Self-assembly, via long-range forces, of highly polar molecular complexes in helium nanodroplets is revealed by electric deflection of nanodroplet beams.
Switching of the reaction enthalpy from exothermic to endothermic for decomposition of H2CO3 under confinement
Authors: Mallick Subhasish , Kumar Pradeep
Published: September 2019

Various size fullerenes (C60, C70 and C84) have been used as a means of confinement to study the decomposition reaction of carbonic acid alone as well as in the presence of a single water molecule in a confined environment.
Combinations of furoxan and 1,2,4-oxadiazole for the generation of high performance energetic materials
Authors: Xiong Hualin , Yang Hongwei , Lei Caijin , Yang Pengjiu , Hu Wei , Cheng Guangbin
Published: September 2019

Energetic materials, comprising furoxan and 1,2,4-oxadiazole backbones, were synthesized by nitrating 3,3′-bis(5-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4,4′-azofuroxan, followed by cation metathesis, giving compounds with high density, high detonation performance and acceptable sensitivities.
A “turn-on” sensor based on MnO2coated UCNPs for detection of alkaline phosphatase and ascorbic acid
Authors: Liang Mei-yu , Zhao Bing , Xiong Yan , Chen Wen-xin , Huo Jian-zhong , Zhang Fei , Wang Lu , Li Yan
Published: September 2019

A “turn-on” sensor was designed to detect ALP and AA based on the redox reaction between AA and MnO2coated UCNPs.
Diastereoselective diazenyl formation: the key for manganese-catalysed alcohol conversion into (E)-alkenes
Authors: Azofra Luis Miguel , Poater Albert
Published: September 2019

The proposed reaction mechanism for the unprecedented direct transformation of primary alcohols into alkenes catalysed by Mn(i)-PNP complexes consists of two cycles.
Miniaturized, rapid separation of neodymium from ultramafic and chondritic samples prior to high precision measurements of 142,143Nd/144Nd isotope ratios by TIMS
Authors: Pin Christian , Gannoun Abdelmouhcine
Published: September 2019

An improved method is described for isolating Nd from challenging silicate materials. This scheme does not involve evaporation steps and can be performed in about 12 hours, allowing the separation of Nd from Sm, Ce and Pr with good yields.