bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coherent manipulation of valley states at multiple charge configurations of a silicon quantum dot device
Authors: Schoenfield Joshua S. , Freeman Blake M. , Jiang HongWen
Published: June 2017

Qubits based on silicon quantum dots are emerging as leading candidates for the solid-state implementation of quantum information processing. In silicon, valley states represent a degree of freedom in addition to spin and charge. Characterizing and controlling valley states is critical for the encoding and read-out of electrons-in-silicon-based qubits. Here, we report the coherent manipulation of a qubit, which is based on the two valley states of an electron confined in a silicon quantum dot. We carry out valley qubit operations at multiple charge configurations of the double quantum dot device. The dependence of coherent oscillations on pulse excitation level and duration allows us to map out the energy dispersion as a function of detuning as well as the phase coherence time of the valley qubit. The coherent manipulation also provides a method of measuring valley splittings that are too small to probe with conventional methods.
Antibody therapies for the prevention and treatment of viral infections
Authors: Salazar Georgina , Zhang Ningyan , Fu Tong-Ming , An Zhiqiang
Published: June 2017

Antibodies are an important component in host immune responses to viral pathogens. Because of their unique maturation process, antibodies can evolve to be highly specific to viral antigens. Physicians and researchers have been relying on such high specificity in their quest to understand host–viral interaction and viral pathogenesis mechanisms and to find potential cures for viral infection and disease. With more than 60 recombinant monoclonal antibodies developed for human use in the last 20 years, monoclonal antibodies are now considered a viable therapeutic modality for infectious disease targets, including newly emerging viral pathogens such as Ebola representing heightened public health concerns, as well as pathogens that have long been known, such as human cytomegalovirus. Here, we summarize some recent advances in identification and characterization of monoclonal antibodies suitable as drug candidates for clinical evaluation, and review some promising candidates in the development pipeline.
Magnetic ground state of SrRuO3 thin film and applicability of standard first-principles approximations to metallic magnetism
Authors: Ryee Siheon , Han Myung Joon
Published: June 2017

A systematic first-principles study has been performed to understand the magnetism of thin film SrRuO3 which lots of research efforts have been devoted to but no clear consensus has been reached about its ground state properties. The relative t2g
level difference, lattice distortion as well as the layer thickness play together in determining the spin order. In particular, it is important to understand the difference between two standard approximations, namely LDA and GGA, in describing this metallic magnetism. Landau free energy analysis and the magnetization-energy-ratio plot clearly show the different tendency of favoring the magnetic moment formation, and it is magnified when applied to the thin film limit where the experimental information is severely limited. As a result, LDA gives a qualitatively different prediction from GGA in the experimentally relevant region of strain whereas both approximations give reasonable results for the bulk phase. We discuss the origin of this difference and the applicability of standard methods to the correlated oxide and the metallic magnetic systems.
A Low-cost, Highly-stable Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrate by Si Nanowire Arrays Decorated with Au Nanoparticles and Au Backplate
Authors: Lee Bi-Shen , Lin Ding-Zheng , Yen Ta-Jen
Published: June 2017

We present a facile and cost-effective manner to fabricate a highly sensitive and stable surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. First, a silicon nanowire array (SiNWA) is tailored by metal-assisted chemical etching (MaCE) method as a scaffold of the desired SERS substrate. Next, with an oblique angle deposition (OAD) method, optimized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are successfully decorated on the surface of the SiNWA. These AuNPs enable a strong localized electric field, providing abundant hot spots to intensify the Raman signals from the targeting molecules. By applying a well-established methodology, Taguchi method, which is invented for designing experiments, the optimized combination of parameters is obtained efficiently. The experimental results are also confirmed by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation calculations. Besides, a gold metal backplate (AuMBP) is applied to further enhancing the Raman signal intensity. Based on this developed SERS substrate, we demonstrated an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.78 × 106 and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 4.2%. Both EF and CV indicate a highly stable property and the optimized SERS substrate substantially outperform the commercial product. In the end, we also demonstrate a quantitative measurement on practical application of detecting malachite green (MG) with concentration from 10 nM to 100 μM.
Cbl-mediated K63-linked ubiquitination of JAK2 enhances JAK2 phosphorylation and signal transduction
Authors: Liu Chun-Shan , Yang-Yen Hsin-Fang , Suen Ching-Shu , Hwang Ming-Jing , Yen Jeffrey Jong-Young
Published: June 2017

JAK2 activation is crucial for cytokine receptor signal transduction and leukemogenesis. However, the underlying processes that lead to full activation of JAK2 are unclear. Here, we report a positive role for ubiquitination of JAK2 during GM-CSF-induced activation. Upon GM-CSF stimulation, JAK2 ubiquitination is significantly enhanced through K63-linked poly-ubiquitination. Studies employing both knockout and overexpression of Cbl, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, led to the conclusion that Cbl specifically promotes JAK2 ubiquitination, and this was further confirmed in vitro using a Cbl ubiquitination assay. Moreover, following GM-CSF stimulation, the levels of phospho-JAK2 and -STAT5 and a STAT5 luciferase reporter assay were all reduced in Cbl knockout cells and this effect could be rescued by Cbl expression. Mechanistically, Cbl can interact with, and ubiquitinate JAK2 FERM and kinase domains via the Cbl TKB domain. Using lysine-to-arginine site-directed mutagenesis, K970 in the kinase domain of JAK2 was identified as the ubiquitination site important for promoting full JAK2 activation by Cbl via K63-conjugated poly-ubiquitination. Our study suggests that GM-CSF-induced JAK2 activation is enhanced by Cbl-mediated ubiquitination of JAK2. Targeting ubiquitination of JAK2 might offer a novel therapeutic strategy against JAK2-mediated disorders.
Detecting the Orbital Angular Momentum of Electro-Magnetic Waves Using Virtual Rotational Antenna
Authors: ZHANG Chao , MA Lu
Published: June 2017

Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) is a typical spatial mode of an Electro-Magnetic (EM) wave. Correctly detecting the OAM mode is fundamental and of foremost importance when applying the phenomenon to wireless transmission in free space. It is found that when rotating an OAM wave, a rotational Doppler shift that is proportional to the rotation speed and the OAM mode number can be observed. This property can be used for OAM detection, i.e., different OAM modes are identified by measuring the corresponding rotational Doppler frequency shifts. In previous work, this method was implemented by mechanically rotating the OAM wave, resulting in a small frequency shift. Since the high-speed mechanical rotation is hard to manufacture in a real system, it brings limitations to the bandwidth for each OAM wave. In this paper, we report on an OAM mode detection method based on digitally rotating a virtual antenna. The transmitter and receiver are physically fixed, but the Virtual Rotational Antenna (VRA) is obtained by interpolating the signals received from transverse-mounted receiving antennas. A large rotational Doppler shift occurs as a consequence of using digital processing, resulting in more capability for wideband wireless data transmission with the larger shifted frequency.
Decreased Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), Not Proteinuria, Is Associated with Asymptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis in Chinese General Population
Authors: Li Zhaoxia , Li Jinxin , Wang Anxin , Pan Hua , Wu Shouling , Zhao Xingquan
Published: June 2017

Abstarct

The relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is defined by declined estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or proteinuria, and asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is largely unknown. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study by recruiting 5209 participants free of previous stroke, transient ischemic attack and coronary heart disease. eGFR was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula and proteinuria was estimated with urine dipstick. The presence of ICAS was assessed by transcranial color-coded Doppler (TCD). Out of the whole population, 684 (13.1%) participants suffered ICAS. After adjusting for the confounding factors, eGFR < 45 ml/min/m2 was an independent risk factor of asymptomatic ICAS (odds ratio [OR], 3.29, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67–6.51), but the trend was different between the two groups stratified by the age of 60 (P = 0.01). However, the association between proteinuria and asymptomatic ICAS was not statistically significant. In conclusion, declined eGFR, not proteinuria, is associated with asymptomatic ICAS in Chinese general population, especially in people over 60 years old.
Bi-2212/1T-TaS2 Van der Waals junctions: Interplay of proximity induced high-T

c
superconductivity and CDW order
Authors: Li Ang J. , Zhu Xiaochen , Stewart G. R. , Hebard Arthur F.
Published: June 2017

Understanding the coexistence, competition and/or cooperation between superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is an elusive goal which, when realized, promises to reveal fundamental information on this important class of materials. Here, we use four-terminal current-voltage measurements to study the Van der Waals interface between freshly exfoliated flakes of the high-T
c
superconductor, Bi-2212, and the CDW-dominated TMD layered material, 1T-TaS2. For highly transparent barriers, there is a pronounced Andreev reflection feature providing evidence for proximity-induced high-T
c
superconductivity in 1T-TaS2 with a surprisingly large energy gap (~20 meV) equal to half that of intrinsic Bi-2212 (~40 meV). Our systematic study using conductance spectroscopy of junctions with different transparencies also reveals the presence of two separate boson modes, each associated with a “dip-hump” structure. We infer that the proximity-induced high-T
c
superconductivity in the 1T-TaS2 is driven by coupling to the metastable metallic phase coexisting within the Mott commensurate CDW (CCDW) phase and associated with a concomitant change of the CCDW order parameter in the interfacial region.
Transcranial random noise stimulation and cognitive training to improve learning and cognition of the atypically developing brain: A pilot study
Authors: Looi Chung Yen , Lim Jenny , Sella Francesco , Lolliot Simon , Duta Mihaela , Avramenko Alexander Alexandrovich , Cohen Kadosh Roi
Published: June 2017

Learning disabilities that affect about 10% of human population are linked to atypical neurodevelopment, but predominantly treated by behavioural interventions. Behavioural interventions alone have shown little efficacy, indicating limited success in modulating neuroplasticity, especially in brains with neural atypicalities. Even in healthy adults, weeks of cognitive training alone led to inconsistent generalisable training gains, or “transfer effects” to non-trained materials. Meanwhile, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a painless and more direct neuromodulation method was shown to further promote cognitive training and transfer effects in healthy adults without harmful effects. It is unknown whether tRNS on the atypically developing brain might promote greater learning and transfer outcomes than training alone. Here, we show that tRNS over the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (dlPFCs) improved learning and performance of children with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) during arithmetic training compared to those who received sham (placebo) tRNS. Training gains correlated positively with improvement on a standardized mathematical diagnostic test, and this effect was strengthened by tRNS. These findings mirror those in healthy adults, and encourage replications using larger cohorts. Overall, this study offers insights into the concept of combining tRNS and cognitive training for improving learning and cognition of children with learning disabilities.
sRNA and cis-antisense sRNA identification in Staphylococcus aureus highlights an unusual sRNA gene cluster with one encoding a secreted peptide
Authors: Bronsard Julie , Pascreau Gaetan , Sassi Mohamed , Mauro Tony , Augagneur Yoann , Felden Brice
Published: June 2017

The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus expresses a set of transcriptional factors and small RNAs (sRNAs) to adapt to environmental variations. Recent harmonization of staphylococcal sRNA data allowed us to search for novel sRNAs using DETR’PROK, a computational pipeline for identifying sRNA in prokaryotes. We performed RNA-Seq on Newman strain and identified a set of 48 sRNA candidates. To avoid bioinformatic artefacts, we applied a series of cut-offs and tested experimentally each selected intergenic region. This narrowed the field to 24 expressed sRNAs, of which 21 were new and designated with Srn identifiers. Further examination of these loci revealed that one exhibited an unusual condensed sRNA cluster of about 650 nucleotides. We determined the transcriptional start sites within this region and demonstrated the presence of three contiguous sRNA genes (srn_9342, srn_9344 and srn_9345) expressed from the positive strand, and two others (srn_9343 and srn_9346) transcribed from the opposite one. Using comparative genomics, we showed that genetic organization of the srn_9342-9346 locus is specific to Newman and that its expression is growth-phase dependent and subjected to nutrient deprivation and oxidative stress. Finally, we demonstrated that srn_9343 encodes a secreted peptide that could belong to a novel S. aureus toxin-antitoxin system.
Non-Darcy interfacial dynamics of air-water two-phase flow in rough fractures under drainage conditions
Authors: Chang Chun , Ju Yang , Xie Heping , Zhou Quanlin , Gao Feng
Published: June 2017

Two-phase flow interfacial dynamics in rough fractures is fundamental to understanding fluid transport in fractured media. The Haines jump of non-Darcy flow in porous media has been investigated at pore scales, but its fundamental processes in rough fractures remain unclear. In this study, the micron-scale Haines jump of the air-water interface in rough fractures was investigated under drainage conditions, with the air-water interface tracked using dyed water and an imaging system. The results indicate that the interfacial velocities represent significant Haines jumps when the meniscus passes from a narrow “throat” to a wide “body”, with jump velocities as high as five times the bulk drainage velocity. Locally, each velocity jump corresponds to a fracture aperture variation; statistically, the velocity variations follow an exponential function of the aperture variations at a length scale of ~100 µm to ~100 mm. This spatial-scale-invariant correlation may indicate that the high-speed local velocities during the Haines jump would not average out spatially for a bulk system. The results may help in understanding the origin of interface instabilities and the resulting non-uniform phase distribution, as well as the micron-scale essence of the spatial and temporal instability of two-phase flow in fractured media at the macroscopic scale.
Selective breeding and selection mapping using a novel wild-derived heterogeneous stock of mice revealed two closely-linked loci for tameness
Authors: Matsumoto Yuki , Goto Tatsuhiko , Nishino Jo , Nakaoka Hirofumi , Tanave Akira , Takano-Shimizu Toshiyuki , Mott Richard F. , Koide Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2017

Tameness is a major behavioral factor for domestication, and can be divided into two potential components: motivation to approach humans (active tameness) and reluctance to avoid humans (passive tameness). We identified genetic loci for active tameness through selective breeding, selection mapping, and association analysis. In previous work using laboratory and wild mouse strains, we found that laboratory strains were predominantly selected for passive tameness but not active tameness during their domestication. To identify genetic regions associated with active tameness, we applied selective breeding over 9 generations for contacting, a behavioural parameter strongly associated with active tameness. The prerequisite for successful selective breeding is high genetic variation in the target population, so we established and used a novel resource, wild-derived heterogeneous stock (WHS) mice from eight wild strains. The mice had genetic variations not present in other outbred mouse populations. Selective breeding of the WHS mice increased the contacting level through the generations. Selection mapping was applied to the selected population using a simulation based on a non-selection model and inferred haplotype data derived from single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We found a genomic signature for selection on chromosome 11 containing two closely linked loci.
The Enterococcus faecalis virulence factor ElrA interacts with the human Four-and-a-Half LIM Domains Protein 2
Authors: Jamet Alexandre , Dervyn Rozenn , Lapaque Nicolas , Bugli Francesca , Perez-Cortez Naima G. , Blottière Hervé M. , Twizere Jean-Claude , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Posteraro Brunella , Serror Pascale , Maguin Emmanuelle
Published: June 2017

The commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis is a common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. The increasing prevalence of multi-antibiotic resistant E. faecalis strains reinforces this public health concern. Despite numerous studies highlighting several pathology-related genetic traits, the molecular mechanisms of E. faecalis virulence remain poorly understood. In this work, we studied 23 bacterial proteins that could be considered as virulence factors or involved in the Enterococcus interaction with the host. We systematically tested their interactions with human proteins using the Human ORFeome library, a set of 12,212 human ORFs, in yeast. Among the thousands of tested interactions, one involving the E. faecalis virulence factor ElrA and the human protein FHL2 was evidenced by yeast two-hybrid and biochemically confirmed. Further molecular characterizations allowed defining an FHL2-interacting domain (FID) of ElrA. Deletion of the FID led to an attenuated in vivo phenotype of the mutated strain clearly indicating that this interaction is likely to contribute to the multifactorial virulence of this opportunistic pathogen. Altogether, our results show that FHL2 is the first host cellular protein directly targeted by an E. faecalis virulence factor and that this interaction is involved in Enterococcus pathogenicity.
An implantable multimodal sensor for oxygen, neurotransmitters, and electrophysiology during spreading depolarization in the deep brain
Authors: Hobbs Caddy N. , Johnson Justin A. , Verber Matthew D. , Mark Wightman R.
Published: June 2017

An implantable 5 μm sensor is characterized for simultaneous measurements of oxygen, dopamine, and electrophysiology in the deep brain during spreading depolarizations.
Structural organization in the trimethylamine iodine monochloride complex
Authors: Marshall William G. , Jones Richard H. , Knight Kevin S. , Clews John , Darton Richard J. , Miller William , Coles Simon J. , Pitak Mateusz B.
Published: June 2017

The combination of a strong N⋯I–Cl halogen bond and a weak C–H⋯Cl hydrogen bond lead to the formation of dimeric species in the solid.
Kinetics study of the CN + CH4 hydrogen abstraction reaction based on a new ab initio analytical full-dimensional potential energy surface
Authors: Espinosa-Garcia Joaquin , Rangel Cipriano , Suleimanov Yury V.
Published: June 2017

We have developed an analytical full-dimensional potential energy surface, named PES-2017, for the gas-phase hydrogen abstraction reaction between the cyano radical and methane.
Two side chains, three supramolecules: exploration of fluorenone derivatives towards crystal engineering
Authors: Hu Yi , Miao Kai , Xu Li , Zha Bao , Long Mengying , Miao Xinrui , Deng Wenli
Published: June 2017

We explored the chain length effect on inducing the self-assembly of diverse structures by tiny modification of the alkyl chains.
Using multi criteria decision analysis to evaluate nanotechnology: nAg enabled textiles as a case study
Authors: Hicks Andrea L.
Published: June 2017

Nanosilver enabled textiles represent an advancement in clothing technology, due to their antimicrobial nature.
Expectations of food satiation and satiety reviewed with special focus on food properties
Authors: Fiszman Susana , Tarrega Amparo
Published: June 2017

Expectations of satiation are beliefs about the extent to which food is expected to deliver fullness and expectation of satiety relates to the extent to which food is expected to give respite from hunger and to inhibit further eating.
Two luminescent Zn(ii)/Cd(ii) metal–organic frameworks as rare multifunctional sensors
Authors: Zhang Jinfang , Gong Linpei , Feng Jiaoyang , Wu Junjie , Zhang Chi
Published: June 2017

Herein, two luminescent Zn(ii)/Cd(ii) metal–organic frameworks were developed as rare multifunctional sensors for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+, Al3+, and TNP.
Liquid like nucleation in free-standing nanoscale films
Authors: Rani Pooja , Kumar Arun , Vishwanadh B. , Ali Kawsar , Arya A. , Tewari R. , Subramaniam Anandh
Published: June 2017

Nanoscale free-standing solid films show liquid like nucleation behaviour (). The concept of 'depth sensitive lattice fringe imaging' is introduced.
Carbazole-based copolymers via direct arylation polymerization (DArP) for Suzuki-convergent polymer solar cell performance
Authors: Gobalasingham Nemal S. , Ekiz Seyma , Pankow Robert M. , Livi Francesco , Bundgaard Eva , Thompson Barry C.
Published: June 2017

Direct arylation polymerization (DArP) is used to synthesize a variety of carbazole-based copolymers for evaluation in solar cells.
Iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric reductive amination of aromatic ketones
Authors: Huang Haizhou , Wu Zitong , Gao Guorui , Zhou Le , Chang Mingxin
Published: June 2017

Diphenylmethanamine offers excellent stereocontrol and easy deprotection to provide primary amines in the studied asymmetric reductive amination.
Candidate photoferroic absorber materials for thin-film solar cells from naturally occurring minerals: enargite, stephanite, and bournonite
Authors: Wallace Suzanne K. , Svane Katrine L. , Huhn William P. , Zhu Tong , Mitzi David B. , Blum Volker , Walsh Aron
Published: June 2017

A search for photoactive ferroelectric minerals reveals three candidates, which are investigated using first-principles materials modelling.
Controlling the morphology and crystallization of a thiophene-based all-conjugated diblock copolymer by solvent blending
Authors: Cui Huina , Yang Xiubao , Peng Juan , Qiu Feng
Published: June 2017

We report the crystallization and microphase separation behavior of an all-conjugated poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly[3-(6-hydroxy)hexylthiophene] (P3HT-b-P3HHT) block copolymer in mixed solvents and demonstrate how the conformations of P3HT and P3HHT chains influence the photophysical properties of the copolymer.
An aptamer-patterned hydrogel for the controlled capture and release of proteins via biorthogonal click chemistry and DNA hybridization
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Du Jie , Li Yuli , Wu Jincai , Yu Feng , Chen Yong
Published: June 2017

An aptamer-patterned hydrogel can realize immobilization and controlled release of proteins in a spatiotemporal manner.
Packaging cordycepin phycocyanin micelles for the inhibition of brain cancer
Authors: Zhao Mengyang , Chen Liyi , Chen Wuya , Meng Zhan , Hu Kaikai , Du Shiwei , Zhang Lingkun , Yin Liang , Wu Baoyan , Guan Yan-Qing
Published: June 2017

A novel small size and electroneutral Phy–Dex–Cord micelles was successfully developed, which can be delivered to tumor cells and inhibit the brain tumor.
Tungsten–copper clusters assembled on porous alumina for optical limiting applications
Authors: Wu Haiming , Yuan Chengqian , Luo Zhixun
Published: June 2017

Large-area assembly of WCu4S4(py)6Br2clusters on AAO was achieved with superior OL properties retainable for multilevel clustering.
All‐digital synchronous 2 × time‐difference amplifier based on time register
Authors: Lyu Yinxuan , Feng Jianhua , Ye Hongfei , Yu Dunshan
Published: June 2017

A novel 2 × time‐difference amplifier (TDA) in 65 nm CMOS technology is presented. Unlike traditional analogue TDA, the proposed TDA, employing an all‐digital synchronous architecture, achieves 2 × TDA in a time subtracting way based on time register. Multi‐path negative skewed gated delay cells are utilised to minimise gating skew error in the time register. To make up for the delay mismatch in the two time registers, a foreground calibration scheme that calibrates the input offset of the phase detectors at the same time is applied. The TDA gain ranges from 1.99 to 2.02 over ± 150 ps input time‐difference range and the standard variation of the gain is 0.02 under various process, voltage and temperature (PVT) conditions. The simulated average of power consumption is 62 μW under 100 MHz clock frequency.
Dynamic impact analysis of DFIG‐based wind turbine generators on low‐frequency oscillations in power system
Authors: Gupta Abhilash K. , Verma Kusum , Niazi Khaleequr R.
Published: June 2017

The increasing integration of wind turbines mainly doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) introduces dynamic interaction with the conventional synchronous generators (SGs) affecting the damping of low‐frequency electromechanical oscillations (LFEOs) in the system. This study presents a complete impact analysis of DFIG integration on system damping. The damping ratio sensitivity to inertia is used to evaluate the impact of DFIG integration on the critical modes. This study identifies that the impact could be positive or negative based on the location of DFIG. The results obtained are verified by detailed eigenvalue analysis and time‐domain simulations for different operating conditions with three‐phase fault. The negative impact on damping is improved by optimally tuned power oscillation dampers (PODs) with input signals obtained from the phasor measurement units. The impact on dynamic performance of the system due to removal of SGs and addition of DFIGs is investigated. The DFIG penetration is increased on the basis of participation of SGs in critical modes and the results of sensitivity analysis. The proposed approach is tested on standard IEEE 39‐bus test system. The investigations carried out in this work can be employed for planning studies of power system integrated with DFIG for identifying their suitable locations and improving LFEO damping with their high penetration.
Fast segmentation of ultrasound images by incorporating spatial information into Rayleigh mixture model
Authors: Bi Hui , Tang Hui , Yang Guanyu , Li Baosheng , Shu Huazhong , Dillenseger Jean‐Louis
Published: June 2017

As a particular case of the finite mixture model, Rayleigh mixture model (RMM) is considered as a useful tool for medical ultrasound (US) image segmentation. However, conventional RMM relies on intensity distribution only and does not take any spatial information into account that leads to misclassification on boundaries and inhomogeneous regions. The authors proposed an improved RMM with neighbour (RMMN) information to solve this problem by introducing neighbourhood information through a mean template. The incorporation of the spatial information made RMMN more robust to noise on the boundaries. The size of the window which incorporates neighbour information was resized adaptively according to the local gradient distribution. They evaluated their model on experiments on synthetic data and real US images used by high‐intensity focused ultrasound therapy. On this data, they demonstrated that the proposed model outperforms several state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of both segmentation accuracy and computation time.
Soft‐switching DC–DC Cuk converter operating in discontinuous‐capacitor‐voltage mode
Authors: Poorali Behzad , Adib Ehsan , Farzanehfard Hosein
Published: June 2017

This paper proposes an improved topology for the conventional DC–DC Cuk converter operating in discontinuous‐capacitor‐voltage mode which provides soft‐switching conditions for all the semiconductor devices. The improved topology has only three passive components in addition to the elements of the conventional counterpart, an extra winding, an auxiliary diode, and an auxiliary inductor. Therefore, without using any extra active switch, the soft‐switching operation is attained and the switching losses are reduced. In the proposed converter, the power switch turns on and off under zero‐current‐switching and zero‐voltage‐switching conditions, respectively. In addition, the switch current is reduced in comparison with the conventional Cuk converter resulting in lower current stress. Also, the leakage inductance energy is recycled and continuity of the input and output currents are preserved. It is shown that reduction of the switch current and soft‐switching operation improves the overall efficiency. Analysis of the proposed converter together with the design guidelines is presented. Moreover, the experimental results of a 100 W prototype producing −24 V from 150 V input voltage are provided and compared with the results obtained from a similar prototype of the conventional Cuk converter.
Formulation and evaluation of long‐term allocation problem for renewable distributed generations
Authors: Tanaka Ikki , Yuge Hirokana , Ohmori Hiromitsu
Published: June 2017

The penetration rate of renewable energy into the power systems has been increasing in many countries. The governments and international energy organisations have announced the long‐term visions such as power generation and penetration rate of renewable energy. However, the specific installation plans and scenarios have not been discussed and determined. Although plenty of researches related to optimal allocation problem of renewable energy‐based distributed generations (DGs) have been proposed in past decade, most of the studies have considered only 1 year's allocation and daily annual system operation. Therefore, this study proposes a novel scenario‐based two‐stage stochastic programming problem for long‐term allocation of DGs. Also, a scenario generation procedure is presented for solving the problem. Furthermore, few studies have focused on the evaluations and analyses of the optimal solutions in various aspects. Thus, this study shows the optimal allocation results on 34‐bus distribution network, considering the different scenario generation methods and number of scenarios. The authors finally discuss the important points and indicate that decision makers have to consider several important issues. In addition, they developed and released a general‐purpose framework for optimal allocation of DGs as an open source.
Platelets Protect Cardiomyocytes from Ischemic Damage
Authors: Walsh Tony , Poole Alastair
Published: June 2017

Platelets are classically known for their roles in bleeding control and occlusive thrombus formation causing ischemic tissue damage. Recently, nonclassical roles for platelets have been described, many of which may be mediated by the heterogeneous cargo that platelets secrete from granular stores upon activation. Using an in vitro model of ischemic injury to ventricular cardiomyocytes, we observed that platelets, through secreted factors, delayed the rate of cardiomyocyte death during ischemia. This protective effect appeared independent of platelet dense granule cargo, but required α-granule components stromal cell-derived factor-1α and transforming growth factor-β1. Protein kinase C activity within cardiomyocytes was responsible for mediating the protective signals initiated by the released platelet cargo. Importantly, pretreating platelets with a P2Y12 antagonist, but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor aspirin, substantially attenuated this protective effect. These findings therefore reveal a paradoxically protective role for platelet activation during cardiac ischemia and could have important implications for the use of antiplatelet therapeutics in the management of myocardial infarction.
The IMPROVEDD VTE Risk Score: Incorporation of D-Dimer into the IMPROVE Score to Improve Venous Thromboembolism Risk Stratification
Authors: Gibson C. , Spyropoulos Alex , Cohen Alexander , Hull Russell , Goldhaber Samuel , Yusen Roger , Hernandez Adrian , Korjian Serge , Daaboul Yazan , Gold Alex , Harrington Robert , Chi Gerald
Published: June 2017

Background The IMPROVE score is a validated venous thromboembolism (VTE) assessment tool to risk stratify hospitalized, medically ill patients based on clinical variables. It was hypothesized that addition of D-dimer measurement to derive a new IMPROVEDD score would improve identification of at risk of VTE.

Methods The association of the IMPROVE score and D-dimer ≥ 2 × the upper limit of normal (ULN) with the risk of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis, nonfatal pulmonary embolism, or VTE-related death was evaluated in 7,441 hospitalized, medically ill patients randomized in the APEX trial. Based on the Cox regression analysis, the IMPROVEDD score was derived by adding two points to the IMPROVE score if the D-dimer was ≥ 2 × ULN.

Results Baseline D-dimer was independently associated with symptomatic VTE through 77 days (adjusted HR: 2.22 [95% CI: 1.38–1.58], p = 0.001). Incorporation of D-dimer into the IMPROVE score improved VTE risk discrimination (ΔAUC: 0.06 [95% CI: 0.02–0.09], p = 0.0006) and reclassification (continuous NRI: 0.34 [95% CI: 0.17–0.51], p = 0.001; categorical NRI: 0.13 [95% CI: 0.03–0.23], p = 0.0159). Patients with an IMPROVEDD score of ≥2 had a greater VTE risk compared with those with an IMPROVEDD score of 0 to 1 (HR: 2.73 [95% CI: 1.52–4.90], p = 0.0007).

Conclusion Incorporation of D-dimer into the IMPROVE VTE risk assessment model further improves risk stratification in hospitalized, medically ill patients who received thromboprophylaxis. An IMPROVEDD score of ≥2 identifies hospitalized, medically ill patients with a heightened risk for VTE through 77 days.
Variceal Bleeds in Patients with Biliary Atresia
Authors: Witt Mauri , Bax Niels , Verkade Henkjan , Scheenstra René , de Kleine Ruben , Hulscher Jan , van Wessel Daan
Published: June 2017

Introduction Portal hypertension often occurs in biliary atresia (BA). The subsequent development of esophageal varices and bleeding from these varices are a well-known complication. We aim to describe the incidence and severity of variceal bleeding in patients with BA. In addition, we describe the characteristics of patients who experienced variceal bleeds.

Materials and Methods We included all infants treated for BA at our center between March 1987 and August 2015. Variceal bleeding was defined as hematemesis and/or melena with presence of varices at endoscopy. Findings at endoscopy and ultrasound, laboratory tests, clearance of jaundice, fibrosis-grade at Kasai portoenterostomy, and several varices prediction scores were documented. Routine endoscopies were not performed.

Results In this study, 74 patients were included. During follow-up, 18 out of 74 patients (24%) developed variceal bleeding at an age of 9 months (range, 4–111). Twelve patients were listed for liver transplantation at the time of bleeding. Patients who did not clear their jaundice developed variceal bleeds more often and earlier in life. Bleeds were treated with sclerotherapy, banding, or octreotide. Four patients did not receive treatment. No bleeding-related mortality occurred.

Conclusion One-fourth of the children diagnosed with BA experience variceal bleeds during follow-up. Most of these children are younger than 1 year and often already listed for transplantation. Major complications did not occur after variceal bleeding.
Effect of initial densities in the lattice Boltzmann model for non-ideal fluid with curved interface
Authors: Gong Jiaming , Oshima Nobuyuki
Published: June 2017

The effect of initial densities in a free energy based two-phase-flow lattice Boltzmann method for non-ideal fluids with a curved interface was investigated in the present work. To investigate this effect, the initial densities in the liquid and gas phases coming from the saturation points and the equilibrium state were adopted in the simulation of a static droplet in an open and a closed system. For the purpose of simplicity and easier comparison, the closed system is fabricated by the implementation of the periodic boundary condition at the inlet and outlet of a gas channel, and the open system is fabricated by the implementation of a constant flux boundary condition at the inlet and a free-out boundary condition at the outlet of the same gas channel. By comparing the simulation results from the two types of initial densities in the open and closed systems, it is proven that the commonly used saturation initial densities setting is the reason for droplet mass and volume variation which occurred in the simulation, particularly in the open system with a constant flux boundary condition. Such problems are believed to come from the curvature effect of the surface tension and can be greatly reduced by adopting the initial densities in the two phases from equilibrium state.
In depth nano spectroscopic analysis on homogeneously switching double barrier memristive devices
Authors: Strobel Julian , Hansen Mirko , Dirkmann Sven , Neelisetty Krishna Kanth , Ziegler Martin , Haberfehlner Georg , Popescu Radian , Kothleitner Gerald , Chakravadhanula Venkata Sai Kiran , Kübel Christian , Kohlstedt Hermann , Mussenbrock Thomas , Kienle Lorenz
Published: June 2017

Memristors based on a double barrier design have been analyzed by various nanospectroscopic methods to unveil details about their microstructure and conduction mechanism. The device consists of an AlOx tunnel barrier and a NbOy/Au Schottky barrier sandwiched between the Nb bottom electrode and the Au top electrode. As it was anticipated that the local chemical composition of the tunnel barrier, i.e., oxidation state of the metals as well as concentration and distribution of oxygen ions, has a major influence on electronic conduction, these factors were carefully analyzed. A combined approach was chosen in order to reliably investigate electronic states of Nb and O by electron energy-loss spectroscopy as well as map elements whose transition edges exhibit a different energy range by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy like Au and Al. The results conclusively demonstrate significant oxidation of the bottom electrode as well as a small oxygen vacancy concentration in the Al oxide tunnel barrier. Possible scenarios to explain this unexpected additional oxide layer are discussed and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were applied in order to identify its influence on conduction mechanisms in the device. In light of the deviations between observed and originally sought layout, this study highlights the robustness of the memristive function in terms of structural deviations of the double barrier memristor device.
Mechanochemical feedback underlies coexistence of qualitatively distinct cell polarity patterns within diverse cell populations
Authors: Park JinSeok , Holmes William R. , Lee Sung Hoon , Kim Hong-Nam , Kim Deok-Ho , Kwak Moon Kyu , Wang Chiaochun Joanne , Edelstein-Keshet Leah , Levchenko Andre
Published: June 2017

Significance

Directional cell migration accompanied by cell polarization is key to progression of aggressive cancers, such as melanoma. Cells can display diverse dynamical patterns, with no single mechanism proposed to account for all of them. We show that a simple model predicts the simultaneous presence of random, oscillatory, and persistent dynamic polarization and migration patterns. This mechanism postulates spatially distributed, mechanochemical feedback, coupling the dynamically changing extracellular matrix–cell contacts to the activation of signaling downstream of the Rho-family small GTPases. We validate this mechanism experimentally and use it to explain the transition from a more benign to a more aggressive cell behavior in melanoma progression. This mechanistic analysis framework is general and can be used for diverse stochastic cell migration behaviors in cancer.
A Multiregional Approach for Estimating the Economic Impact of Harvest Restrictions on Saltwater Sportfishing
Authors: Seung Chang K. , Lew Daniel K.
Published: June 2017

Previous economic impact studies associated with recreational fishing have used models that ignore impacts occurring outside of the modeled region. This study develops a multiregional computable general equilibrium (MRCGE) model to evaluate the economic effects across multiple regions resulting from changing limits on sport anglers’ harvest of several important species in Alaska. Fishing participation changes arising due to changes in the limits are predicted from a stated-preference model. Next, an MRCGE model is used to estimate the economic effects in Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and rest of the United States. By accounting for the economic linkages among the three regions, this study shows the importance of multiregional approaches for more accurately measuring economic impacts even when fishery managers may only be concerned about the economic, social, and biological effects occurring in the primary region.

Received January 25, 2017; accepted June 16, 2017 Published online September 5, 2017
Confederate Memory in Post-Confederate Atlanta—a Prolegomena
Authors: Adamczyk Christopher Lee
Published: June 2017

The landscape surrounding a memory site strongly influences how it is perceived by the people who visit it. As landscapes are prone to change over time, it is important to acknowledge the ways that such change exerts influence over visitors’ experiences. Through a historically oriented in situ investigation of Atlanta’s Civil War commemoration sites, I reconstruct a narrative from that city’s history that demonstrates how changing contexts, physical and social, can influence both the use of memory sites and the construction of future memory sites. I suggest that change in these sites’ fragmented surroundings prompted the construction of new monuments that were chiefly informed by ideological inadequacies created by transformed landscapes at older memory sites.
Doing Rhetorical StudiesIn Situ: The Nomad Citizen in Jordan
Authors: Hayes Heather Ashley
Published: June 2017

In this essay, I explore the ways that doing rhetoric in situ can reveal sets of decolonizing practices within interdisciplinary rhetorical studies. I discuss the idea of rhetoric in situ and its possibility for establishing sets of decolonizing practices in rhetorical studies drawing from fieldwork methods found in disciplines including anthropology. I advance a call for a more literal interpretation of in situ as one way of demonstrating the ways that historians and critics of rhetoric contribute to the conceptual world of publics to co-create imagined rhetorical possibilities with displaced persons. By way of demonstrating the methodological approach I’m advancing in this essay, I turn to a set of discourses born from my own fieldwork, completed on the northern border of Jordan in 2014, amidst the Syrian refugee crisis. In analyzing discourse from two refugee families living in the Mafraq Governorate of Jordan after escaping the violence of the Syrian conflict, I offer the concept of the “nomad citizen” as one way to expand understandings of citizenship in rhetorical studies to be more responsive to crises of transnational migration born out of colonialism.
SocratesEx Situ
Authors: Kennerly Michele
Published: June 2017

Socrates is an oddity. This past decade has seen both his radical contextualization through archeological efforts to locate him in the public spaces of his native Athens and his radical decontextualization through studies of his reception in later times and places. What unifies those seemingly divergent investigations of Socrates is a fascination with discovering and discerning where Socrates belongs. Socrates’ own contemporaries called him “atopos” (odd, literally, out-of-place), and our contemporary attempts to locate him seem to oppose this displacement, on the one hand, and capitalize upon it, on the other. By seeking Socrates in his own time and place, we may come to understand better how his very movements marked him as out of step with Athenian norms and how such a demarcation affects how we map rhetoric’s borders during that formative time. By seeking Socrates in other times and places, we learn that Socrates himself is a rhetorical topos returned to again and again by people who find or think themselves similarly marked as odd, inappropriate, unbelonging, or out of place. This location work matters for Rhetoric because Socrates is such an atopic (odd) figure in our history.
Phase-change materials for non-volatile memory devices: from technological challenges to materials science issues
Authors: Noé Pierre , Vallée Christophe , Hippert Françoise , Fillot Frédéric , Raty Jean-Yves
Published: June 2017

Chalcogenide phase-change materials (PCMs), such as Ge-Sb-Te alloys, have shown outstanding properties, which has led to their successful use for a long time in optical memories (DVDs) and, recently, in non-volatile resistive memories. The latter, known as PCM memories or phase-change random access memories (PCRAMs), are the most promising candidates among emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies to replace the current FLASH memories at CMOS technology nodes under 28 nm. Chalcogenide PCMs exhibit fast and reversible phase transformations between crystalline and amorphous states with very different transport and optical properties leading to a unique set of features for PCRAMs, such as fast programming, good cyclability, high scalability, multi-level storage capability, and good data retention. Nevertheless, PCM memory technology has to overcome several challenges to definitively invade the NVM market. In this review paper, we examine the main technological challenges that PCM memory technology must face and we illustrate how new memory architecture, innovative deposition methods, and PCM composition optimization can contribute to further improvements of this technology. In particular, we examine how to lower the programming currents and increase data retention. Scaling down PCM memories for large-scale integration means the incorporation of the PCM into more and more confined structures and raises materials science issues in order to understand interface and size effects on crystallization. Other materials science issues are related to the stability and ageing of the amorphous state of PCMs. The stability of the amorphous phase, which determines data retention in memory devices, can be increased by doping the PCM. Ageing of the amorphous phase leads to a large increase of the resistivity with time (resistance drift), which has up to now hindered the development of ultra-high multi-level storage devices. A review of the current understanding of all these issues is provided from a materials science point of view.