bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A supramolecular network derived by rotaxane tethering three ureido pyrimidinone groups
Authors: Rao Si-Jia , Nakazono Kazuko , Liang Xiaobin , Nakajima Ken , Takata Toshikazu
Published: April 2019

A rotaxane-cross-linked supramolecular network with good mechanical properties resulting from a trifunctional [2]rotaxane via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.
Copper-catalyzed ring-opening C(sp3)–N coupling of cycloketone oxime esters: access to 1°, 2° and 3° alkyl amines
Authors: Tian Li , Gao Shuangqiu , Wang Rui , Li Yang , Tang Chunlin , Shi Lili , Fu Junkai
Published: April 2019

Access to 1°, 2° and 3° alkyl amines through copper-catalyzed C(sp3)–N coupling of cycloketone oxime esters was realized.
Electron-pair bonding in real space. Is the charge-shift family supported?
Authors: Casals-Sainz J. Luis , Jiménez-Grávalos F. , Francisco E. , Martín Pendás A.
Published: April 2019

Charge-shift bonding (CSB) has been introduced as a distinct third family of electron-pair links that adds to the covalent and ionic tradition.
Ag nanoframes: controllable reduction of AgClxBr1−x nanocubes
Authors: Zhao Jiali , Cheng Xuejun , Zhao Gui , Lu Yan , Wang Yawen , Wang Hong , Chen Hongyu
Published: April 2019

We have reported a new approach for synthesizing Ag nanoframes and achieved the morphological transformation by controlling the etching rate.
The role of glass crystallization processes in preparation of high Li-conductive NASICON-type ceramics
Authors: Vizgalov Victor A. , Nestler Tina , Vyalikh Anastasia , Bobrikov Ivan A. , Ivankov Oleksandr I. , Petrenko Viktor , Avdeev Mikhail V. , Yashina Lada V. , Itkis Daniil M.
Published: April 2019

One of the approaches to tackle the problem of limited electrolyte electrochemical stability, which controls the development of novel electrochemical storage devices, is the use of solid electrolytes.
Using hydrogenated and perfluorinated gases to probe the interactions and structure of fluorinated ionic liquids
Authors: Lepre Luiz Fernando , Pison Laure , Otero Ines , Gautier Arnaud , Dévemy Julien , Husson Pascale , Pádua Agilio A. H. , Costa Gomes Margarida
Published: April 2019

Ionic liquids with perfluorinated instead of hydrogenated alkyl chains dissolve larger quantities of perfluorocarbon gases that are solvated in their apolar domains.
Structure and proton conduction in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) semi-permeable membranes: a multi-scale computational approach
Authors: Molina Jarol , de Pablo Juan J. , Hernández-Ortiz Juan P.
Published: April 2019

The design of polymeric membranes for proton or ionic exchange highly depends on the fundamental understanding of the physical and molecular mechanisms that control the formation of the conduction channels.
Photoionization studies of reactive intermediates using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Dyke John M.
Published: April 2019

Photoionization with synchrotron radiation enables sensitive and selective monitoring of reactive intermediates in environments such as flames and plasmas.
Protein conformational alterations induced by the retinal excited state in proton and sodium pumping rhodopsins
Authors: Ghosh Mihir , Jung Kwang-Hwan , Sheves Mordechai
Published: April 2019

Light-induced charge redistribution in the retinal chromophore, followed by a protein conformational change.
The multiple dissociation constants of glutathione disulfide: interpreting experimental pH-titration curves with ab initio MD simulations
Authors: Arunachalam Vaishali , Tummanapelli Anil Kumar , Vasudevan Sukumaran
Published: April 2019

Dissociation constants calculated from ab initio MD simulations can aid the interpretation of the pH-titration curves of complex systems.
Polymorphic layered copper phosphonates: exfoliation and proton conductivity studies
Authors: Liu Bei , Liu Jing-Cui , Shen Yang , Feng Jian-Shen , Bao Song-Song , Zheng Li-Min
Published: April 2019

α-Cu(4-cnappH)(H2O) (α-Cu-1), α-Cu(4-cnappH)(H2O)·0.5H2O (α-Cu-2) and β-Cu(4-cnappH)(H2O) (β-Cu) [4-cnappH3 = (4-carboxynaphthalen-1-yl)phosphonic acid] are polymorphic layered compounds. Proton conduction is more favorable in α-Cu-2 than in α-Cu-1, but exfoliation into nanosheets decreases the conductivity.
Hydroporator: a hydrodynamic cell membrane perforator for high-throughput vector-free nanomaterial intracellular delivery and DNA origami biostability evaluation
Authors: Kizer Megan E. , Deng Yanxiang , Kang GeoumYoung , Mikael Paiyz E. , Wang Xing , Chung Aram J.
Published: April 2019

We present a hydrodynamic cell deformation-induced intracellular delivery platform, termed “hydroporator”.
A hydrogel-driven microfluidic suction pump with a high flow rate
Authors: Seo Jaedeok , Wang Cong , Chang Sooyoung , Park Jungyul , Kim Wonjung
Published: April 2019

A portable, non-powered, long-term working microfluidic suction pump driven by a superabsorbent polymer was developed.
The catalytic evaluation of bimetallic Pd-based nanocatalysts supported on ion exchange resin in nitro and alkyne reduction reactions
Authors: Silva Tábata R. , de Oliveira Daniela C. , Pal Tarasankar , Domingos Josiel B.
Published: April 2019

A simple protocol to produce bimetallic Pd-based nanocatalysts supported on Amberlite resin is presented. Superior catalytic activity and selectivity in nitro and alkyne reduction reactions was achieved, opening up new possibilities in the development of cheaper and selective catalysts for these important industrial reactions.
Colloidal synthesis of SnS nanocrystals with dimension-dependent photoelectrochemical properties
Authors: Wu Yuxuan , Wei Tingcha , An Xiaoqiang , Liu Li-Min
Published: April 2019

SnS nanocrystals synthesized by the colloidal injection method exhibited dimension-dependent photocathodic behaviour for photoelectrochemical applications.
Direct access to benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline and 6H-chromeno[3,4-b]quinoline cores through gold-catalyzed annulation of anthranils with arenoxyethynes and aryl propargyl ethers
Authors: Patil Manoj D. , Liu Rai-Shung
Published: April 2019

This work reports a facile annulation of anthranils with aryloxyethynes or aryl propargyl ethers to construct useful benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline and 6H-chromeno[3,4-b]quinoline frameworks, respectively.
Demystifying a hexuronic acid ligand that recognizes Toxoplasma gondii and blocks its invasion into host cells
Authors: Subramani Balamurugan , Shantamurthy Chethan D. , Maru Parag , Belekar Meenakshi A. , Mardhekar Sandhya , Shanmugam Dhanasekaran , Kikkeri Raghavendra
Published: April 2019

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous eukaryotic pathogen responsible for toxoplasmosis in humans and animals.
Understanding the asymmetry between advancing and receding microscopic contact angles
Authors: Omori T. , Kobayashi Y. , Yamaguchi Y. , Kajishima T.
Published: April 2019

Our molecular dynamics simulation has revealed the asymmetric behaviour between the advancing and receding contact angles even on smooth surfaces.
Interface modification by a multifunctional ammonium salt for high performance and stable planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Wang Shuo , Zhu Yu , Wang Chengyan , Ma Ruixin
Published: April 2019

Interface modification by a multifunctional ammonium salt for high performance and stable planar perovskite solar cells.
Confined pyrolysis of metal–organic frameworks to N-doped hierarchical carbon for non-radical dominated advanced oxidation processes
Authors: Zhang Ming , Luo Rui , Wang Chaohai , Zhang Wuxiang , Yan Xin , Sun Xiuyun , Wang Lianjun , Li Jiansheng
Published: April 2019

The possible degradation and synergistic mechanism for non-radical dominated advanced oxidation processes.
Comparison of cytokine/chemokine levels in aqueous humor of primary open-angle glaucoma patients with positive or negative outcome following trabeculectomy
Authors: Gajda-Deryło Beata , Stahnke Thomas , Struckmann Stephan , Warsow Gregor , Birke Kerstin , Birke Marco T. , Hohberger Bettina , Rejdak Robert , Fuellen Georg , Jünemann Anselm G.
Published: April 2019

We aimed to identify differences in cytokine/chemokine levels in the aqueous humor (AH) of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients who suffered from scarring, compared with POAG patients with no scarring after trabeculectomy surgery. Identification of differently expressed cytokines and chemokines may help to understand scarring and fibrotic processes following trabeculectomy, and to make predictions for the outcome of fistulating surgery in the future. Furthermore, the identification of cell signaling pathways involved in fibrosis offers the opportunity for a more specific antifibrotic therapy with reduced side effects, and an improvement in long-term surgical outcome.

Eight samples of AH were collected during trabeculectomy surgery and commercially available cytokine/chemokine arrays were used. Specific, differently expressed proteins (cytokines/chemokines) in AH samples from patients with positive and negative surgery outcomes were detected. These proteins were classified based on their known profibrotic, inflammatory, adhesive, and apoptotic properties. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were among the most important profibrotic cytokines that we detected. Differences in the fold change of protein expression were highly significant between patients after successful and failed trabeculectomy surgery, and these were processed and visualized using ExprEssence software.

This pilot study revealed differences in concentrations of cytokines/chemokines in AH between the two examined groups of patients. Our findings suggest that a positive outcome from trabeculectomy is strongly related to an inhibition of the fibrosis process.
German nursing shortage in hospitals – Homemade by Profititis?
Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Deufert Daniela
Published: April 2019

The shortage of nursing staff in Germany compromises public healthcare in deference to profits explaining why this is on the daily political and media agenda. In Germany, over a 22 year period, significant savings were achieved by decreases in: (1) hospital beds by −29.3% saving 119 000 beds, (2) patient care and treatment days by −23% saving 43.1 million patient days, and (3) length of hospital stay in days by −39% saving 4.7 days. This occurred together with the parallel increase of treated patient cases by +26.5% with an additional burden of 4.1 million patients. Since 2010, as birth rates increase again treatment cases will also increase. In parallel, the percentage of total nurses has decreased (−2.1%) as well as that of registered nurses in hospitals between 1999 (325 539) and 2009 (324 337) have decreased (−0.4%), in conjunction with nurses employed in preventive and rehabilitation facilities (+15.1%) and/or in outpatient care facilities (+41.1%) and/or nursing homes (+24.8%) and/or nurses working in retirement homes (+77.9%). This “profititis” endangers both patient care and detracts from people joining the nursing profession. It might even be a short-sighted tightrope act which, in the end, might counteract the marketing strategy of “patient safety” by risking quality of patient care. Maybe healthcare politics would be well-advised to re-think the fact that as the population gets older and as birth rates and immigration increases, these factors could result in increased patient caseloads in hospitals which need to be addressed now so as to avert a future crisis.
Structural Health Monitoring by Magnetic Sensing in Concrete Structures via Embedded Shape Memory Alloy Components
Authors: Davis Allen , Mirsayar Mirmilad , Hartl Darren
Published: April 2019

In the field of structural health monitoring (SHM), innovative methods of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) are currently being investigated with the purpose of providing prognostic information toward safer, longer lasting structures. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate NDE techniques with existing structural reinforcement techniques for in situ measurement capability, increasing service life. Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) offer the potential for NDE via magnetic sensing, while further offering the multi-functionality of crack closing and structural reinforcement. The current research proposes a novel SHM approach for concrete structures using embedded MSMAs for magnetic sensing, and investigates the properties of such a system.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks with Conventional and Corrosion Resistant Reinforcement
Authors: Shen Ligang , Soliman Mohamed , Ahmed Samir , Waite Christopher
Published: April 2019

Reinforced concrete (RC) bridge decks suffer from corrosion-induced damage due to aggressive environmental conditions or de-icing chemicals. Significant expenditures are typically required to conduct routine maintenance and repairs of affected RC bridges. Compared to conventional steel reinforcement (i.e. black rebar), corrosion resistant reinforcement is initially more expensive but provides longer service life. In this paper, corrosion-induced cracking time, traffic delays associated with bridge deck maintenance, and the environmental impact associated with these activities are integrated into a probabilistic framework to investigate the life-cycle cost of RC bridge decks with conventional and corrosion resistant reinforcement. Monte Carlo simulation is implemented to quantify the probabilistic life-cycle cost of the bridge deck. Preliminary results obtained from this project show that corrosion resistant reinforcement has lower life-cycle cost compared to conventional reinforcement. The indirect cost associated with traffic delays accounts for over 50% of the total life-cycle cost for the investigated case study.
Fit-in GFRP Liner for Retrofitting Corroded Metal Culverts
Authors: Chennareddy Rahulreddy , Bogus Halter Susan , Reda Taha Mahmoud M.
Published: April 2019

Corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) have been used as culverts in North America since the 1950s. Today, corrosion of CMPs is a major problem that requires an urgent and efficient solution to retrofit thousands of corroded CMPs across the country. One potential solution gaining wide acceptance is to use a fit-in Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) liner inside the old CMPs and to connect them using polymer grout. In this paper, a methodology to retrofit corrugated metal culvert using a fit-in GFRP profile liner was developed and implemented. First, material characterization of the GFRP material and the epoxy grout were carried out for proper design of the retrofit system. Second, full-scale CMP-GFRP composite section was tested under three-point bending configuration to observe the retrofitted culvert behavior to failure. The new CMP-GFRP section develops full composite action and shows failure capacity of 75 kip with a deflection of 3.52 in at the end of the test. Post failure of the polymeric grout, GFRP pipe failure was observed at mid-span location starting on the tension side. A finite element model was developed to understand the behavior of the CMP-GFRP composite pipe and to allow for the efficient design of the proposed retrofitting system.
Nanoscale Quantification of Moisture Susceptibility of Paving Asphalts
Authors: Roy Sumon , Hossain Zahid
Published: April 2019

Moisture-induced damage due to stripping is one of the major concerns to the highway agencies in recent years. In this study, nanoscopic investigations were carried out to examine the effects of moisture in asphalt binders. An Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was used to estimate the asphalt binder’s modulus and adhesion values, which were believed to be indicators of binder’s resistance to moisture damage. To this end, two Performance Grade (PG) binders and their modified counterparts using polyphosphoric acid (PPA), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), and SBS plus PPA were tested in this study. Test results show significant reductions of adhesion and modulus values after water immersion of the asphalt binders. AFM data also reveals that SBS-modified binders exhibit better moisture resistance compared to the base binder. Findings of this study are expected to help transportation professionals to achieve a better understanding of moisture damage of asphalt binders at a molecular level and their suitability in pavements.
Application of a Disaggregation Method for the Generation of Climate Changed Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves for Predicting Future Extreme Rainfall Impacts on Transportation Infrastructure
Authors: Do Lago Cesar , Mendiondo Eduardo , Olivera Francisco , Giocomoni Marcio
Published: April 2019

Potential consequences of climate change are the increase in the magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall storm events. In order to assess what are the potential impacts of climate change in the transportation infrastructure, new intensity-duration-frequency curves are needed. In this study, projected IDF curves were created based on three Global Climate Models (GCM) for the representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. The selected GCMs are: ACCESS1-0, CSIRO-MK3-0-6 and GFDL-ESM2M. Projected IDFs for the near (2025-2049), mid (2050-2074) and far future (2075-2099) were created after disaggregating the project rainfall time series using the Bartlett-Lewis Rectangular Pulses Stochastic Model. The projected IDFs were compared with the IDF currently used and generated based on historical data. The results indicate that climate change is likely to decrease rainfall intensities in all the future horizons in the tested area of San Antonio, Texas. Further analysis is recommended, including the use of bias correction of those GCM models and use of a broader range of models that can better quantify uncertainty of the future rainfall regime.
Lifecycle Environmental Impact of High-Speed Rail System in the Houston-Dallas I-45 Corridor
Authors: Chipindula Jesuina , Botlaguduru Venkata , Choe Doeun , Kommalapati Raghava
Published: April 2019

Texas has the highest rate of the U.S energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and transportation is one of the major contributors. The Houston–Dallas corridor is the busiest routes in Texas. Recently, the development of an intercity High-Speed Rail System (HSR) with Shinkansen N700 series trains has commenced. This study builds the life cycle inventories for vehicles and infrastructure in the HSR system, and conducts a preliminary environmental life cycle assessment. Results indicate that over the design life of the HSR system the total GHG emissions from the vehicle life-time are 9.695 kgCO2eq/VKT, and fossil-fuel usage during vehicle operation is the primary contributor (97%). For the infrastructure, total life-time GHG emissions are 239 kgCO2eq/VKT, out of which, 94% are from the construction stage. Infrastructure is the dominant contributor to end-point impacts in human health category, with 58% of total impact across all damage categories.
Mitigating Traffic Congestion on I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, LA
Authors: Ahmed Samir , Osman Osama , Codjoe Julius
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate treatments and strategies to mitigate traffic congestion on the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, LA. Based on VISSIM simulation results, combination of supply- and demand-oriented measures will be required. Rehabilitation of the old bridge on US-190 and the existing US-190/US-61 corridor, overall demand management of I-10 EB traffic, reduction in percent trucks traveling eastbound on I-10 during the A.M. peak, and ramp metering at the on-ramp west of the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge appear to be feasible and effective solutions.
Urban Intersections and Traffic Safety in the City of San Antonio
Authors: Adegbite Qasim , Billah Khondoker , Sharif Hatim , Dessouky Samer
Published: April 2019

Intersections are high-risk locations on roadways and often experience high incidence of crashes. Better understanding of the factors contributing to crashes and deaths at intersections is crucial. This study analyzed the factors related to crash incidence and crash severity at intersections in San Antonio for crashes from 2013 to 2017 and identified hotspot locations based on crash frequency and crash rates. Binary logistic regression model was considered for the analysis using crash severity as the response variable. Factors found to be significantly associated with the severity of intersection crashes include age of driver, day of the week, month, road alignment, and traffic control system. The crashes occurred predominantly in the highdensity center of the city (downtown area). Overall, the identification of risk factors and their impact on crash severity would be helpful for road safety policymakers to develop proactive mitigation plans to reduce the frequency and severity of intersection crashes.
Wireless Sensing using Vehicle Headlamps for Intelligent Transportation Systems: Proof of Concept
Authors: Abuella Hisham , Ekin Sabit , Ahmed Samir , Miramirkhani Farshad , Kebapci Burak , Uysal Murat
Published: April 2019

Vehicular communication and sensing technologies are mainly based on the conventional radio frequency (RF) or laser technologies. These systems suffer from several issues such as RF interference and poor performance in scenarios where the incidence angle between the speed detector and the vehicle is rapidly varying. Introducing a new sensing technology will add diversity to these systems and enhance the reliability of the real-time data. In this study, we investigate our speed estimation sensing system named “Visible Light Detection and Ranging (ViLDAR)”. ViLDAR utilizes visible light sensing technology to measure the variation of the vehicle's headlamp light intensity and estimate the vehicle speed. The measurement settings of the ViLDAR experiments are presented. The preliminary results obtained in the real-world environment/setting are promising when compared to the simulations. Additional measurements using the ViLDAR prototype will be conducted under different conditions and scenarios to further optimize the system.
Experimental Evaluation of Engineered Cementitious Composites as Reflective Crack Control Interlayer for Composite Pavements
Authors: Bhuyan Mohammad , Khattak Mohammad , Zhang Qian , Schlader Emilee
Published: April 2019

Reflective cracking at transverse joints is considered as a predominant distress in composite pavements. Various interlayers have been used previously to prevent or retard reflective cracking. Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) is a special type of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious material that is expected to perform better as an interlayer due to its higher tensile strength and ductility. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ECC as an interlayer system experimentally. A laboratory test protocol was designed to simulate repeated traffic loads to measure the fatigue performance of ECC interlayer system using digital image correlation (DIC) technique. It was found that the composite pavement specimens with ECC interlayer provided significantly higher fatigue life as compared to the control specimens without interlayer. This result indicates that ECC could be used as a potential effective interlayer system to retard or mitigate reflective cracking.
Development of a Conceptual Model for Accelerated Project Prioritization after Disaster Event
Authors: Martins Claudia , Ghanbari Laleh , Wang Chao , Moreu Fernando
Published: April 2019

There is a need for rapid and responsive infrastructure repair and construction after natural disaster events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. These natural disasters often shut down basic infrastructure systems, including roads, bridges, water supply, and power supply, as experienced recently in several Region 6 states as well as in other states around the country. Accelerated construction practices are often used in these situations to speed up the traditional, and often slow, project delivery process. However, after a natural disaster, several and different types of transportation infrastructure components are in need of inspection, rehabilitation or reconstruction, and transportation agencies are challenged with the task of prioritizing these accelerated projects. This paper studied the current practices and institutional barriers to identify the critical decision criteria and to develop a conceptual model for prioritizing needs for accelerated construction after disaster events, specifically hurricanes and flooding which commonly affect Region 6.
A human case of Dioctophyma renale (giant kidney worm) accompanied by renal cancer and a retrospective study of dioctophymiasis
Authors: Yang Fengkun , Zhang Weizhe , Gong Baiyan , Yao Lan , Liu Aiqin , Ling Hong
Published: April 2019

Due to the rarity of human cases and the nonspecific clinical symptoms of dioctophymiasis, Dioctophyma renale infection is not well recognized and is easily neglected or misdiagnosed. Recently, we diagnosed a human case of dioctophymiasis accompanied by renal cancer. To enhance the understanding of human dioctophymiasis, this case is presented here, and a retrospective study of this disease was conducted based on relevant papers screened from PubMed and three Chinese databases. In the end, 32 papers describing 37 human cases of dioctophymiasis were assessed. These cases were distributed in ten countries of Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, with the highest number in China (n = 22). The majority of the cases occurred in adults (91.9%, 34/37) and involved the kidneys (83.8%, 31/37). Ectopic parasitism mainly occurred in subcutaneous tissue (83.3%, 5/6). A proportion of 45.9% (17/37) of individuals had a history of eating raw or undercooked fish or frogs. The main clinical manifestations of human dioctophymiasis were loin pain (59.5%) and hematuria (59.5%). All the cases were diagnosed based on the morphological characteristics of eggs or adults in urine or tissue sections. Currently, there is no strictly defined therapeutic approach. This is the first retrospective analysis of human cases of dioctophymiasis. These review data will deepen our understanding of dioctophymiasis and help avoid misdiagnosis in clinical practice.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – current treatment recommendations and future developments
Authors: Roeb Elke , Geier Andreas
Published: April 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), nonalcoholic steato hepatitis (NASH) and NASH cirrhosis. NAFLD is the leading cause of liver diseases in the Western world (Central Europe, United States). The NAFLD incidence increases because of increasing type 2 diabetes and obesity. This article reviews the scientific findings of epidemiology, diagnostic, and therapeutic management of NAFLD. Lifestyle modifications (low-caloric Mediterranean diet and exercise training) to reduce weight are a major factor in the treatment of NAFLD.

Pharmacological therapies may be useful in patients with NASH and fibrosis as well as nonresponders to lifestyle modifications. Currently, however, no pharmacological substances are approved for the indication NASH.
Zukünftige Aufgaben des Notarztes – wegweisende Aspekte aus den Nachbarländern
Authors: Gretenkort Peter , Dörges Volker , Sefrin Peter , Beneker Jörg , Riebandt Frank ,   (Arbeitsgruppe „Strukturfragen“ der BAND)
Published: April 2019

Der Vergleich mit Nachbarländern zeigt, dass auch in traditionellen Paramedic-Systemen auf Notärzte im prähospitalen Einsatz nicht verzichtet wird. Sie sollen bestimmte zumeist invasive Maßnahmen auf fachärztlichem Niveau gewährleisten. Dabei ist das Ausbildungsniveau bei den nichtärztlichen Mitarbeitern meist höher einzuschätzen als bei uns. Bei der Zielsetzung für unser zukünftiges Notarztsystem können Erfahrungen aus den Nachbarländern einbezogen werden. Zu fordern sind spezifische Expertise und Erfahrung bei medizinischen Kernaufgaben. Eine gute Aufgabenteilung im Team mit den nichtärztlichen Mitarbeitern und die Delegation ärztlicher Maßnahmen setzen verbesserte Rechtssicherheit bei allen Beteiligten voraus. Kurze Einsatzzeiten und logistische Verbesserungen sind durch den Primäreinsatz von Helikoptern auch zur Nachtzeit möglich.
Faziale Hauttumore: Resektion und plastische
Defektrekonstruktion – Teil 2
Authors: Sadick Haneen , Häussler Daniel , Rotter Nicole
Published: April 2019

Lokale Lappenplastiken nach Resektion von Gesichtshauttumoren erfordern eine
sorgfältige Planung und Erfahrung in der Durchführung. Dieser Beitrag gibt eine
Übersicht über die am häufigsten angewandten, verlässlichen Methoden zur
Rekonstruktion von Defekten durch lokale Lappenplastiken im Bereich von Nase,
Ohr, Wange und Stirn. In diesem zweiten Teil wird auf spezifische Situationen im
Bereich der genannten anatomischen Bereiche eingegangen.
Neugeborene: Erstversorgung und Reanimation ohne Kinderarzt
Authors: Kaßberger Fabian
Published: April 2019

Die Erstversorgung von Neugeborenen nach Geburt ist für alle Beteiligten im Rettungsdienst aufgrund der Seltenheit und fehlender Routine eine besondere Herausforderung. Die Anpassung des Neugeborenen an die „neue Umgebung“ verläuft zwar meist ohne Probleme. Kommt es jedoch zu Störungen dieser Anpassung, sind rasches Handeln und spezielles Wissen gefragt. Handlungsgrundlage ist dabei die aktuelle Leitlinie des European Resuscitation Council 1. Der Beitrag liefert eine Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Punkte – angepasst an die präklinische Situation im Rettungsdienst.
Antiangiogenic Iridoids from Stachys ocymastrum and Premna resinosa
Authors: Iannuzzi Anna Maria , Camero César Muñoz , DʼAmbola Massimiliano , DʼAngelo Valeria , Amira Smain , Bader Ammar , Braca Alessandra , De Tommasi Nunziatina , Germanò Maria Paola
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the isolation of one new iridoid glucoside, 6β-acetoxyipolamiide (1), and thirteen (2 – 14) known congeners from two Lamiaceae species, Stachys ocymastrum and Premna resinosa, leaf extracts is reported. The structural determination of the isolated compounds was performed by mono- and bidimensional NMR spectroscopic analysis as well as MS experiments. The isolates were assayed for their antiangiogenic activity by two in vivo models, zebrafish embryos and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. The compounds with a significant antiangiogenic activity in both assays were β-hydroxyipolamiide (2), ipolamiide (3), and buddlejoside A5 (8). 6-O-α-l-(3″-O-p-Methoxycinnamoyl-4″-O-acetyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (13) and 6-O-α-l-(2″-trans-caffeoyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (6) showed the best antiangiogenic response on blood vessel growth in zebrafish embryos, whereas saccatoside (10) and 6-O-α-l-(2″-O

-

p-methoxycinnamoyl-3″-O-acetyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (14) resulted in a strong reduction of capillary formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay.
Effect of a High-Fat Diet and Metformin on Placental mTOR Signaling in Mice
Authors: Grace Matthew , Dotters-Katz Sarah , Zhou Chunxiao , Manuck Tracy , Boggess Kim , Bae-Jump Victoria
Published: April 2019

Objective This study was aimed to measure the effects of a high-fat diet and metformin on placental mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in mice.

Study Design Pregnant friend virus B (FVB)-strain mice were allocated on embryonic day (e) 0.5 to one of four groups; group 1: control diet (CD, 10% fat) + control treatment (CT), group 2: CD + metformin treatment (MT), group 3: high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat) + CT, and group 4: HFD + MT. Metformin (2.5 mg/mL) was provided in water; CT mice received water. Fetuses and placentas were collected. Western blot measured placental p-Akt and p-S6 expression.

Results 20 dams (five/group) and 192 fetuses were studied. Compared with CD-fed, HFD-fed dams had higher placental p-Akt protein expression (p < 0.0001). Among HFD-dams, placental p-Akt was higher in metformin-treated compared with control-treated (p < 0.001). Among CD-fed dams, there was no significant difference in placental p-S6 expression in MT versus CT groups. Among HFD-fed dams placental p-S6 expression was lower in those exposed to metformin-treated versus controls (p = 0.001).

Conclusion Increased placental mTOR signaling and metformin inhibition of placental mTOR signaling only occurred in the presence of an HFD exposure. These findings suggest that metformin may modulate placental mTOR signaling in the presence of metabolic exposures during pregnancy.
Association of Surgical Resection, Disability, and Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma
Authors: Ahmadipour Yahya , Kaur Monika , Pierscianek Daniela , Gembruch Oliver , Oppong Marvin Darkwah , Mueller Oliver , Jabbarli Ramazan , Glas Martin , Sure Ulrich , El Hindy Nicolai
Published: April 2019

Objective Extent of resection (EOR) and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) are at odds in glioblastoma (GBM) surgery, that is, the anticipated postoperative disability limits the EOR. This study analyzes the correlation of different surgical modalities with the resulting physical status and survival of patients with GBM.

Methods A total of 565 patients with primary GBM were operated on in a single institution between 2006 and 2014. Possible surgical modalities comprised supratotal resection (SLR), gross total resection (GTR; ≥ 95% by volume), tumor debulking (TDB; ≤ 95% by volume), and stereotactic biopsy (SB). Pre- and postoperative KPS before and up to 4 weeks after surgery as well as overall survival (OS) rate were determined retrospectively. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results Median postoperative KPS was ≥ 70, irrespective of surgical modality. Mean OS was 12.5 months. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥ 70 years (HR: 1.93), preoperative KPS < 70 (HR: 2.15), and unmethylation in MGMT promoter (HR: 1.27) as independent factors for worse OS. Regarding surgical modality, SB was associated with the worst survival (HR: 2.3) followed by TDB (HR: 1.36). SLR was inferior to GTR (HR: 1.27).

Conclusion Higher EOR in patients with GBM does not seem inevitably correlated with increasing functional impairment, but better survival, provided there is a balanced preoperative indication. Nevertheless, SLR does not seem to be superior to GTR. Whenever possible, maximal safe resection should be considered in patients with GBM, even if an EOR ≥ 95% is not possible.
Cesium-131 Interstitial Brachytherapy for Recurrent Malignancies of Skull Base
Authors: Savard Corey , Epps Gregory , Ad Voichita , Curry Joseph , Evans James , Farrell Christopher , Nyquist Gurston , Luginbuhl Adam
Published: April 2019

Background Recurrent malignancy of the skull base poses a treatment challenge due to a lack of treatment options and potential for damage to surrounding structures.

Methods Case report of two patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of skull base previously treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Results In both cases, the recurrent tumor was treated with endoscopic surgical resection and intraoperative cesium-131 (Cs-131) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT). Total dose delivered to tumor bed was 57 and 60 Gy, respectively. With a half- life of 9 days, the majority of the radiation dose had been delivered within the first 40 days following implant and there have been no treatment-related complications reported.

Conclusion Intraoperative Cs-131 IBT is a feasible adjuvant treatment option for patients with recurrent malignancies of the skull base. These are the first known cases of Cs-131 IBT used for recurrent NPC.
Calibration process for rechargeable cell and battery test systems
Authors: Fleischauer M. D. , Tang D. , Gyenes B. , Olsen B. C. , Johnson A. D.
Published: April 2019

Coulombic efficiency is a powerful metric for evaluating the performance of materials in rechargeable cells and batteries. The ideal Coulombic efficiency, the ratio of charge removed to charge inserted, is unity. Some specialized systems can accurately measure cell capacity and Coulombic efficiency within 0.001%, which requires precise control and measurement of current, voltage, time, and temperature. Most battery electrode and electrolyte research is not performed with such precise but complex systems. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a simple, robust procedure to measure and possibly improve the accuracy of capacity and Coulombic efficiency measurements on standard systems in their as-used state. This approach is built on a commercially available thin film rechargeable cell for micro or milliampere currents and can be extended to, e.g., 18 650, cells for higher currents. An improved method to display Coulombic efficiency data is also presented. Regular, consistent calibration of testing systems and reporting of system resolution at specified test conditions is encouraged.
Design and application of a high-pressure combustion chamber for studying propellant flames with laser diagnostics
Authors: Tancin Ryan J. , Mathews Garrett C. , Goldenstein Christopher S.
Published: April 2019

This manuscript presents the design and initial application of a high-pressure combustion chamber (HPCC). The HPCC exhibits several unique design attributes to enable high-fidelity studies of propellant-combustion physics at high pressures. The HPCC employs a flangeless and weldless design to provide a compact, easy to access, and relatively light weight (for its size and pressure capability) test chamber. It has a cylindrical test volume of 13.1 L and is capable of operating at pressures from approximately 0.4 mbar to 200 bar. The vessel is equipped with a ZnSe window to enable the laser ignition of propellants and energetic materials and 4 sapphire windows (2″ diameter and 4″ × 2″ slots) to enable the use of multiple optical diagnostics spanning the ultraviolet to mid-infrared. The sapphire windows are mounted in plugs with adjustable length to bring the windows inside of the test volume and facilitate line-of-sight optical measurements. The vessel can be accessed from the top and bottom via removable 5″ diameter plugs, and the bottom plug can be modified to enable studies of gaseous jets and flames. Some of the HPCC’s testing capabilities are demonstrated via high-speed IR imaging and laser-absorption-spectroscopy measurements of temperature and CO in laser-ignited HMX (i.e., 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane) flames at pressures from 2 to 25 bar.
Molecular dynamics study of structure, folding, and aggregation of poly-glycine-alanine (Poly-GA)
Authors: Zheng Size , Sahimi Ali , Shing Katherine S. , Sahimi Muhammad
Published: April 2019

Poly-glycine-alanine (poly-GA) proteins are widely believed to be one of the main toxic dipeptide repeat molecules associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia diseases. Using discontinuous molecular dynamics simulation and an all-atom model of the proteins, we study folding, stability, and aggregation of poly-GA. The results demonstrate that poly-GA is an aggregation-prone protein that, after a long enough time, forms β-sheet-rich aggregates that match recent experiment data and that two unique helical structures are formed very frequently, namely, β-helix and double-helix. The details of the two structures are analyzed. The analysis indicates that such helical structures are stable and share the characteristics of both α-helices and β-sheets. Molecular simulations indicate that identical phenomena also occur in the aggregation of poly-glycine-arginine (poly-GR). Therefore, we hypothesize that proteins of type (GX)n in which X may be any non-glycine amino acid and n is the repeat length may share the same folding structures of β-helix and double-helix and that it is the glycine in the repeat that contributes the most to this characteristic. Molecular dynamics simulation with continuous interaction potentials and explicit water molecules as the solvent supports the hypothesis. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular dynamics simulation of the phenomena involving poly-GA and poly-GR proteins.
Modeling of direct-drive cylindrical implosion experiments with an Eulerian radiation-hydrodynamics code
Authors: Sauppe J. P. , Haines B. M. , Palaniyappan S. , Bradley P. A. , Batha S. H. , Loomis E. N. , Kline J. L.
Published: April 2019

Recent improvements to xRAGE, Los Alamos National Laboratory's Eulerian radiation-hydrodynamics code, have enabled the computation of laser-driven experiments relevant to inertial confinement fusion and high energy density physics. Here, previous directly driven cylindrical implosion experiments are modeled in order to benchmark xRAGE design simulations for future cylindrical implosion experiments, representing the first attempt to model such systems with an Eulerian code with adaptive mesh refinement. Simulations in 2D of transverse and axial cross-sections of the cylindrical target are performed, and the results are combined to form a 3D representation of the imploding cylinder. Synthetic radiographs are produced and analyzed from the simulation results, allowing for a direct comparison with experimentally measured quantities. The zeroth-order hydrodynamic trajectories of targets with no specified initial perturbation are well matched by the computations. Simulations of targets with a preimposed sinusoidal perturbation in the azimuthal direction show single-mode instability growth that is in agreement with the available data, but higher fidelity experimental measurements are required to enable more detailed comparisons. The mode growth observed in computations compares favorably with predictions of a linear theory for the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability.
Polynomial-product states: A symmetry-projection-based factorization of the full coupled cluster wavefunction in terms of polynomials of double excitations
Authors: Gomez John A. , Henderson Thomas M. , Scuseria Gustavo E.
Published: April 2019

Our goal is to remedy the failure of symmetry-adapted coupled-cluster theory in the presence of strong correlation. Previous work along these lines has taken us from a diagram-level analysis of the coupled-cluster equations to an understanding of the collective modes which can occur in various channels of the coupled-cluster equations to the exploration of non-exponential wavefunctions in efforts to combine coupled-cluster theory with symmetry projection. In this manuscript, we extend these efforts by introducing a new, polynomial product wavefunction ansatz that incorporates information from symmetry projection into standard coupled-cluster theory in a way that attempts to mitigate the effects of the lack of size extensivity and size consistency characteristic of symmetry-projected methods. We describe the new approach in detail within the context of our previous efforts, explore some illustrative calculations, and consider one route for reducing the computational cost of the new method.
Transient superdiffusion of polydisperse vacuoles in highly motile amoeboid cells
Authors: Thapa Samudrajit , Lukat Nils , Selhuber-Unkel Christine , Cherstvy Andrey G. , Metzler Ralf
Published: April 2019

We perform a detailed statistical analysis of diffusive trajectories of membrane-enclosed vesicles (vacuoles) in the supercrowded cytoplasm of living Acanthamoeba castellanii cells. From the vacuole traces recorded in the center-of-area frame of moving amoebae, we examine the statistics of the time-averaged mean-squared displacements of vacuoles, their generalized diffusion coefficients and anomalous scaling exponents, the ergodicity breaking parameter, the non-Gaussian features of displacement distributions of vacuoles, the displacement autocorrelation function, as well as the distributions of speeds and positions of vacuoles inside the amoeba cells. Our findings deliver novel insights into the internal dynamics of cellular structures in these infectious pathogens.
Response of active Brownian particles to shear flow
Authors: Asheichyk Kiryl , Solon Alexandre P. , Rohwer Christian M. , Krüger Matthias
Published: April 2019

We study the linear response of interacting active Brownian particles in an external potential to simple shear flow. Using a path integral approach, we derive the linear response of any state observable to initiating shear in terms of correlation functions evaluated in the unperturbed system. For systems and observables which are symmetric under exchange of the x and y coordinates, the response formula can be drastically simplified to a form containing only state variables in the corresponding correlation functions (compared to the generic formula containing also time derivatives). In general, the shear couples to the particles by translational as well as rotational advection, but in the aforementioned case of xy symmetry, only translational advection is relevant in the linear regime. We apply the response formulas analytically in solvable cases and numerically in a specific setup. In particular, we investigate the effect of a shear flow on the morphology and the stress of N confined active particles in interaction, where we find that the activity as well as additional alignment interactions generally increase the response.
A predictive model for two-surface multipactor stability and growth based on chaos theory
Authors: Siddiqi M. , Kishek R. A.
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a novel theoretical approach on multipactor discharge based on principles from nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory is extended to a parallel-plate geometry with radio-frequency (RF) and DC electric-fields. Maps that relate the RF emission phase to the RF arrival phase are developed with no a priori assumptions on the electron trajectories (neglecting space-charge effects). A wide range of system parameters are scanned in the theory, resulting in bifurcation diagrams that recover a plethora of resonant and nonresonant modes. This new approach agrees well with conventional resonance theory where applicable but also provides insight on parameter regions where the former theory is limited. Further, it is found that the attractor form manifests in the exponential growth rate, where higher-periodicity and chaotic modes dilute multipactor growth. These theoretical predictions are validated against particle-in-cell simulations.
Accurate characterization of the lowest triplet potential energy surface of SO2 with a coupled cluster method
Authors: Kumar Praveen , Kłos Jacek , Poirier Bill , Alexander Millard H. , Guo Hua
Published: April 2019

The near-equilibrium potential energy surface (PES) of the ã 3B1 state of SO2 is developed from explicitly correlated spin-unrestricted coupled cluster calculations with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations with an augmented triple-zeta correlation-consistent basis set. The lowest-lying ro-vibrational energy levels of several sulfur isotopologues have been determined using this PES. It is shown that the new ab initio PES provides a much better description of the low-lying vibrational states than a previous PES determined at the multi-reference configuration interaction level. In particular, the theory-experiment agreement for the three lowest-lying vibrational transitions is within 1–3 cm−1.
A reference-free clustering method for the analysis of molecular break-junction measurements
Authors: Cabosart Damien , El Abbassi Maria , Stefani Davide , Frisenda Riccardo , Calame Michel , van der Zant Herre S. J. , Perrin Mickael L.
Published: April 2019

Single-molecule break-junction measurements are intrinsically stochastic in nature, requiring the acquisition of large datasets of “breaking traces” to gain insight into the generic electronic properties of the molecule under study. For example, the most probable conductance value of the molecule is often extracted from the conductance histogram built from these traces. In this letter, we present an unsupervised and reference-free machine learning tool to improve the determination of the conductance of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)dithiol from mechanically controlled break-junction (MCBJ) measurements. Our method allows for the classification of individual breaking traces based on an image recognition technique. Moreover, applying this technique to multiple merged datasets makes it possible to identify common breaking behaviors present across different samples, and therefore to recognize global trends. In particular, we find that the variation in the extracted molecular conductance can be significantly reduced resulting in a more reliable estimation of molecular conductance values from MCBJ datasets. Finally, our approach can be more widely applied to different measurement types which can be converted to two-dimensional images.