bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Test Study on the Stress and Deformation Behaviors of a Shaft Supported by a Prefabricated Prestressed Structure
Authors: Zhao Guoqing , Meng Suyun , Guan Chengli , Yang Yuyou
Published: February 2019

Soil deformation control is the key to shaft support. To better control soil deformation, improve construction efficiency, and reduce pollution, this study proposed a prefabricated prestressed supporting structure. The structure consisted of prefabricated steel structure units and special prestressed components. The structure units were applied to retain the soil. The screws were used for prestressing. Field prototype tests were conducted to assess the support effects and analyze the stress and deformation behaviors of the shaft. The earth pressure, the stress in the structure unit, and the lateral displacement of the soil were monitored. The measured earth pressure varied between the earth pressure at rest and the passive earth pressure. The stress of the supporting structure was far less than the yield strength of steel. Changes in the earth pressure and structural stress can be divided into four stages: rapid attenuation, fluctuation, slow change, and stabilization. Both the earth pressure and the structure stress completed the major attenuation within three days of prestressing. The surrounding soil moved out from the shaft under prestress conditions and exhibited an obvious space-time effect. The study of stress and deformation provides guidance for the construction of newly prefabricated prestressed structures.
Experimental Investigation on the Deformability, Ultrasonic Wave Propagation, and Acoustic Emission of Rock Salt Under Triaxial Compression
Authors: Li Haoran , Dong Zhikai , Ouyang Zuolin , Liu Bo , Yuan Wei , Yin Hongwu
Published: February 2019

Ultrasonic waves, which constitute an active testing method, and acoustic emissions (AE), which can be applied as passive testing technology, can reveal rock damage processes in different ways. However, few studies so far have simultaneously adopted both, owing to the limitations of the experimental apparatus. However, the simultaneous use of both methods can improve the experimental efficiency and help to understand the rock damage evolution more comprehensively. In this study, concurrent experiments of ultrasonic waves and AE activities were carried out on rock salt under uniaxial compression, and the deformation characteristics were measured. The fracture process was divided into four stages with individual characteristics: the elastic compression stage, brittle-ductile transition with crack initiation, brittle-ductile transition with damage initiation, and plastic deformation and strain hardening stage. The ultrasonic wave velocity, crack density, ultrasonic wave amplitude, and attenuation coefficient were obtained to evaluate the damage process. The ultrasonic wave amplitude and the attenuation coefficient were recommended as forecast indicators, owing to their sensitivity and operability of measurement. The confining pressure had an inhibitory effect on crack expansion and on the AE activity, and the damage ultimate stress was defined and determined according to the AE activity and energy release characteristics. Four critical strengths of the crack initiation threshold stress, dilatancy boundary stress, short-term strength, and damage ultimate stress of rock salt were determined and then discussed. These results are valuable in evaluating rock damage and guiding the operation of underground salt caverns.
Dual Zero-Watermarking Scheme for Two-Dimensional Vector Map Based on Delaunay Triangle Mesh and Singular Value Decomposition
Authors: Xi Xu , Zhang Xinchang , Liang Weidong , Xin Qinchuan , Zhang Pengcheng
Published: February 2019

Digital watermarking is important for the copyright protection of electronic data, but embedding watermarks into vector maps could easily lead to changes in map precision. Zero-watermarking, a method that does not embed watermarks into maps, could avoid altering vector maps but often lack of robustness. This study proposes a dual zero-watermarking scheme that improves watermark robustness for two-dimensional (2D) vector maps. The proposed scheme first extracts the feature vertices and non-feature vertices of the vector map with the Douglas-Peucker algorithm and subsequently constructs the Delaunay Triangulation Mesh (DTM) to form a topological feature sequence of feature vertices as well as the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) matrix to form intrinsic feature sequence of non-feature vertices. Next, zero-watermarks are obtained by executing exclusive disjunction (XOR) with the encrypted watermark image under the Arnold scramble algorithm. The experimental results show that the scheme that synthesizes both the feature and non-feature information improves the watermark capacity. Making use of complementary information between feature and non-feature vertices considerably improves the overall robustness of the watermarking scheme. The proposed dual zero-watermarking scheme combines the advantages of individual watermarking schemes and is robust against such attacks as geometric attacks, vertex attacks and object attacks.
Diagnostic of Langmuir Solitons in Plasmas Using Hydrogenic Spectral Lines
Authors: Oks Eugene
Published: February 2019

The development of various spectroscopic diagnostics of relatively weak Langmuir waves in plasmas and their successful implementation have a history of over 50 years. As for spectroscopic diagnostics of Langmuir solitons (i.e., relatively strong Langmuir waves) in plasmas, there have only been very few theoretical papers. The most promising result so far was based on using satellites of the dipole-forbidden spectral lines of He, Li, or He-like and Li-like ions. It was shown that, in the case of Langmuir solitons, the peak intensity of the satellites of the dipole-forbidden lines can be significantly enhanced—by orders of magnitude—compared to the case of non-solitonic Langmuir waves. This distinctive feature of satellites under Langmuir solitons allows them to be distinguished from non-solitonic Langmuir waves. In the present paper, we perform a general study of the effects of Langmuir solitons on arbitrary spectral lines of hydrogen or hydrogen-like ions. Then, using the Ly-beta line as an example, we compare the main features of the profiles for the case of the Langmuir solitons with the case of the non-solitonic Langmuir waves of the same amplitude. We also show how the line profiles depend on the amplitude of the Langmuir solitons and on their separation from each other within the sequence of the solitons.
The Effect of Buffers on Weak Acid Uptake by Vesicles
Authors: Hannesschlaeger Christof , Barta Thomas , Pechova Hana , Pohl Peter
Published: February 2019

The assessment of weak acid membrane permeability (Pm) frequently involves large unilamellar vesicles. It relies on measurements of the intravesicular pH drop, ΔpHin, in response to a sudden augmentation of external acid concentration. However, ΔpHin may be primarily governed by non-instantaneous protonation and deprotonation reactions of (i) the acid itself, (ii) the buffer molecules, and (iii) the fluorescent pH reporter dye. Moreover, buffer concentration and acid gradient also serve as determinants of ΔpHin, as we show here. The uniexponential time constant (τ) of ΔpHin(t) is an invalid measure of Pm as Arrhenius plots of Pm and τ reveal different activation energies for acid influx. We calculate Pm by fitting a mathematical model to experimental stopped-flow traces. The model takes into account not only the time course of total internal buffer capacity but also (i) water self-dissociation, (ii) volume changes due to acid induced osmotic water flow, and (iii) the spontaneous membrane proton leak. It allows extracting a Pm of 30.8 ± 3.5 μm/s for formic acid for 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) vesicles.
The Role of Buffers in Wild-Type HEWL Amyloid Fibril Formation Mechanism
Authors: Brudar Sandi , Hribar-Lee Barbara
Published: February 2019

Amyloid fibrils, highly ordered protein aggregates, play an important role in the onset of several neurological disorders. Many studies have assessed amyloid fibril formation under specific solution conditions, but they all lack an important phenomena in biological solutions—buffer specific effects. We have focused on the formation of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) fibrils in aqueous solutions of different buffers in both acidic and basic pH range. By means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence measurements and CD spectroscopy, we have managed to show that fibrillization of HEWL is affected by buffer identity (glycine, TRIS, phosphate, KCl-HCl, cacodylate, HEPES, acetate), solution pH, sample incubation (agitated vs. static) and added excipients (NaCl and PEG). HEWL only forms amyloid fibrils at pH = 2.0 under agitated conditions in glycine and KCl-HCl buffers of high enough ionic strength. Phosphate buffer on the other hand stabilizes the HEWL molecules. Similar stabilization effect was achieved by addition of PEG12000 molecules to the solution.
Effects of Capsaicin on Biomimetic Membranes
Authors: Sharma Neha , Phan Huong T. T. , Yoda Tsuyoshi , Shimokawa Naofumi , Vestergaard Mun’delanji C. , Takagi Masahiro
Published: February 2019

Capsaicin is a natural compound that produces a warm sensation and is known for its remarkable medicinal properties. Understanding the interaction between capsaicin with lipid membranes is essential to clarify the molecular mechanisms behind its pharmacological and biological effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of capsaicin on thermoresponsiveness, fluidity, and phase separation of liposomal membranes. Liposomal membranes are a bioinspired technology that can be exploited to understand biological mechanisms. We have shown that by increasing thermo-induced membrane excess area, capsaicin promoted membrane fluctuation. The effect of capsaicin on membrane fluidity was dependent on lipid composition. Capsaicin increased fluidity of (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membranes, while it rigidified DOPC and cholesterol-based liposomes. In addition, capsaicin tended to decrease phase separation of heterogeneous liposomes, inducing homogeneity. We imagine this lipid re-organization to be associated with the physiological warming sensation upon consumption of capsaicin. Since capsaicin has been reported to have biological properties such as antimicrobial and as antiplatelet, the results will help unravel these biological properties.
Adaptive Kinetic Architecture and Collective Behavior: A Dynamic Analysis for Emergency Evacuation
Authors: Johnson Angella , Zheng Size , Nakano Aiichiro , Schierle Goetz , Choi Joon-Ho
Published: February 2019

Adaptive kinetic architecture has emerged from a need for innovative designs that adapt to the environment and changing needs of the occupants. Architectural design and modes of egress are critical in an emergency. Flocking describes a certain collective behavior where agents are brought together in groups and move as a cohesive unit from place to place. Collective behavior may be observed in microscopic as well as macroscopic environments. Crowd modeling incorporates the study of human behavior, mathematical modeling, and molecular or fluid dynamics. The simulation of agents and their movement in the built environment is beneficial for design professionals, scientists, and engineers. Human behavior in panic situations is notably similar to fluids and molecules. The objective of this research was to evaluate the movement of agents in buildings using discrete dynamic simulation. We used a novel discrete molecular dynamics technique to simulate the evacuation of agents in panic situations. Various adaptive geometric configurations were analyzed for improved crowd flow. Kinetic walls were modeled in order to evaluate design optimization as it relates to rates of egression. This research proposes the use of kinetic walls to improve safety and efficiency during an emergency evacuation. Adaptive geometric configurations show improvements over the conventional design framework.
The Enigmatic Protein Kinase C-eta
Authors: Basu Alakananda
Published: February 2019

Protein kinase C (PKC), a multi-gene family, plays critical roles in signal transduction and cell regulation. Protein kinase C-eta (PKCη) is a unique member of the PKC family since its regulation is distinct from other PKC isozymes. PKCη was shown to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death. It was also shown to contribute to chemoresistance in several cancers. PKCη has been associated with several cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. However, mice lacking PKCη were more susceptible to tumor formation in a two-stage carcinogenesis model, and it is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the role of PKCη in cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this review article is to discuss how PKCη regulates various cellular processes that may contribute to its contrasting roles in cancer.
New Insights into Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 in Cancer and Metastasis
Authors: Sun Yutong , Ma Li
Published: February 2019

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is one of the most abundant, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in normal tissues. This lncRNA is highly conserved among mammalian species, and based on in vitro results, has been reported to regulate alternative pre-mRNA splicing and gene expression. However, Malat1 knockout mice develop and grow normally, and do not show alterations in alternative splicing. While MALAT1 was originally described as a prognostic marker of lung cancer metastasis, emerging evidence has linked this lncRNA to other cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, and leukemia. The role described for MALAT1 is dependent on the cancer types and the experimental model systems. Notably, different or opposite phenotypes resulting from different strategies for inactivating MALAT1 have been observed, which led to distinct models for MALAT1′s functions and mechanisms of action in cancer and metastasis. In this review, we reflect on different experimental strategies used to study MALAT1′s functions, and discuss the current mechanistic models of this highly abundant and conserved lncRNA.
The Phylogeographic Diversity of EBV and Admixed Ancestry in the Americas–Another Model of Disrupted Human-Pathogen Co-Evolution
Authors: Corvalán Alejandro H. , Ruedlinger Jenny , de Mayo Tomas , Polakovicova Iva , Gonzalez-Hormazabal Patricio , Aguayo Francisco
Published: February 2019

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an etiological agent for gastric cancer with significant worldwide variations. Molecular characterizations of EBV have shown phylogeographical variations among healthy populations and in EBV-associated diseases, particularly the cosegregated BamHI-I fragment and XhoI restriction site of exon 1 of the LMP-1 gene. In the Americas, both cosegregated variants are present in EBV carriers, which aligns with the history of Asian and European human migration to this continent. Furthermore, novel recombinant variants have been found, reflecting the genetic makeup of this continent. However, in the case of EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBV-associated GC), the cosegregated European BamHI-“i” fragment and XhoI restriction site strain prevails. Thus, we propose that a disrupted coevolution between viral phylogeographical strains and mixed human ancestry in the Americas might explain the high prevalence of this particular gastric cancer subtype. This cosegregated region contains two relevant transcripts for EBV-associated GC, the BARF-1 and miR-BARTs. Thus, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or targeted sequencing of both transcripts may be required to clarify their role as a potential source of this disrupted coevolution.
Progressive Oncological Surgery Is Associated with Increased Curative Resection Rates and Improved Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Primavesi Florian , Stättner Stefan , Jäger Tarkan , Göbel Georg , Presl Jaroslav , Tomanová Katerina , Buchner Selina , Maglione Manuel , Resch Thomas , Hutter Jörg , Öfner Dietmar , Dinnewitzer Adam
Published: February 2019

Background: Secondary resection rates in first-line chemotherapy trials for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remain below 15%, representing a clear contrast to reports by specialised surgical centres, where progressive liver, peritoneal-surface, and pulmonary surgery increased access to curative-intent treatment. We present a long-term evaluation of oncosurgical management in a single-centre, analysing the aggregate effect of gradual implementation of surgical subspecialties and systemic treatments on mCRC patients’ resection rates and prognosis. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed mCRC from 2003 to 2014 were retrospectively categorised into palliative treatment (PAT) and curative intent surgery (CIS) and three time periods were analysed for treatment changes and factors associated with survival. Results: Four hundred-twenty patients were treated (PAT:250/CIS:170). Over time periods, the number of presenting patients remained consistent, whereas curative resection rates increased from 29% to 55%, facilitated by an increment of patients undergoing hepatectomy (21 to 35%), pulmonary surgery (6 to 17%), and peritonectomy/intraoperative chemotherapy (0 to 8%). Also, recently, significantly more multi-line systemic treatments were applied. The median survival markedly improved from 21.9 months (2003–2006; 95% confidence interval (CI) 17.3–26.5) to 36.5 months (2011–2014; 95% CI 26.6–46.4; p = 0.018). PAT was a significant factor of poor survival and diagnosis of mCRC in the latest time period was independently associated with a distinctly lower risk for palliative treatment (odds ratio 0.15). Conclusions: In modern eras of medical oncology, achieving appropriate resection rates through utilization of state-of-the-art oncological surgery by dedicated experts represents a cornerstone for long-term survival in mCRC.
Anti-Invasion and Antiangiogenic Effects of Stellettin B through Inhibition of the Akt/Girdin Signaling Pathway and VEGF in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Cheng Shu-Yu , Chen Nan-Fu , Lin Pi-Yu , Su Jui-Hsin , Chen Bing-Hung , Kuo Hsiao-Mei , Sung Chun-Sung , Sung Ping-Jyun , Wen Zhi-Hong , Chen Wu-Fu
Published: February 2019

Angiogenesis and invasion are highly related with tumor metastatic potential and recurrence prediction in the most aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). For the first time, this study reveals that marine-sponge-derived stellettin B reduces angiogenesis and invasion. We discovered that stellettin B reduces migration of glioblastoma cells by scratch wound healing assay and invasion via chamber transwell assay. Further, stellettin B downregulates Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling pathways, which are essential for invasion and angiogenesis in glioblastoma. This study further demonstrates that stellettin B affects filamentous actin (F-actin) rearrangement by decreasing the cross-linkage of phosphor-Girdin (p-Girdin), which attenuates glioblastoma cell invasion. Moreover, stellettin B blocks the expression and secretion of a major proangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in glioblastoma cells. Stellettin B also reduces angiogenic tubule formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vivo, we observed that stellettin B decreased blood vesicle formation in developmental zebrafish and suppressed angiogenesis in Matrigel plug transplant assay in mice. Decreased VEGF transcriptional expression was also found in stellettin B–treated zebrafish embryos. Overall, we conclude that stellettin B might be a potential antiangiogenic and anti-invasion agent for future development of therapeutic agents for cancer therapy.
A H2AX–CARP-1 Interaction Regulates Apoptosis Signaling Following DNA Damage
Authors: Sekhar Sreeja C. , Venkatesh Jaganathan , Cheriyan Vino T. , Muthu Magesh , Levi Edi , Assad Hadeel , Meister Paul , Undyala Vishnu V. , Gauld James W. , Rishi Arun K.
Published: February 2019

Cell Cycle and Apoptosis Regulatory Protein (CARP-1/CCAR1) is a peri-nuclear phosphoprotein that regulates apoptosis via chemotherapeutic Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and a novel class of CARP-1 functional mimetic (CFM) compounds. Although Adriamycin causes DNA damage, data from Comet assays revealed that CFM-4.16 also induced DNA damage. Phosphorylation of histone 2AX (γH2AX) protein is involved in regulating DNA damage repair and apoptosis signaling. Adriamycin or CFM-4.16 treatments inhibited cell growth and caused elevated CARP-1 and γH2AX in human breast (HBC) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. In fact, a robust nuclear or peri-nuclear co-localization of CARP-1 and γH2AX occurred in cells undergoing apoptosis. Knock-down of CARP-1 diminished γH2AX, their co-localization, and apoptosis in CFM-4.16- or Adriamycin-treated cells. We found that CARP-1 directly binds with H2AX, and H2AX interacted with CARP-1, but not CARP-1 (Δ600–652) mutant. Moreover, cells expressing CARP-1 (Δ600–652) mutant were resistant to apoptosis, and had diminished levels of γH2AX, when compared with cells expressing wild-type CARP-1. Mutagenesis studies revealed that H2AX residues 1–35 harbored a CARP-1-binding epitope, while CARP-1 amino acids 636–650 contained an H2AX-interacting epitope. Surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that CARP-1 (636–650) peptide bound with H2AX (1–35) peptide with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 127 nM. Cells expressing enhanced GFP (EGFP)-tagged H2AX (1–35) peptide or EGFP-tagged CARP-1 (636–650) peptide were resistant to inhibition by Adriamycin or CFM-4.16. Treatment of cells with transactivator of transcription (TAT)-tagged CARP-1 (636–650) peptide resulted in a moderate, statistically significant abrogation of Adriamycin-induced growth inhibition of cancer cells. Our studies provide evidence for requirement of CARP-1 interaction with H2AX in apoptosis signaling by Adriamycin and CFM compounds.
Novel Ran-RCC1 Inhibitory Peptide-Loaded Nanoparticles Have Anti-Cancer Efficacy In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Haggag Yusuf A. , Matchett Kyle B. , Falconer Robert A. , Isreb Mohammad , Jones Jason , Faheem Ahmed , McCarron Paul , El-Tanani Mohamed
Published: February 2019

The delivery of anticancer agents to their subcellular sites of action is a significant challenge for effective cancer therapy. Peptides, which are integral to several oncogenic pathways, have significant potential to be utilised as cancer therapeutics due to their selectivity, high potency and lack of normal cell toxicity. Novel Ras protein-Regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (Ran-RCC1) inhibitory peptides designed to interact with Ran, a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer, were delivered by entrapment into polyethylene glycol-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) PEG-PLGA polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). A modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used to optimise the physicochemical properties of these peptide-loaded biodegradable NPs. The anti-cancer activity of peptide-loaded NPs was studied in vitro using Ran-expressing metastatic breast (MDA-MB-231) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines, and in vivo using Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma-bearing mice. The anti-metastatic activity of peptide-loaded NPs was investigated using migration, invasion and colony formation assays in vitro. A PEG-PLGA-nanoparticle encapsulating N-terminal peptide showed a pronounced antitumor and anti-metastatic action in lung and breast cancer cells in vitro and caused a significant reduction of tumor volume and associated tumor growth inhibition of breast cancer model in vivo. These findings suggest that the novel inhibitory peptides encapsulated into PEGylated PLGA NPs are delivered effectively to interact and deactivate Ran. This novel Ran-targeting peptide construct shows significant potential for therapy of breast cancer and other cancers mediated by Ran overexpression.
Kinetic Study of the Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene over Supported Palladium under Tail-End Conditions
Authors: Urmès Caroline , Schweitzer Jean-Marc , Cabiac Amandine , Schuurman Yves
Published: February 2019

The kinetics of the selective hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of an excess of ethylene has been studied over a 0.05 wt. % Pd/α-Al2O3 catalyst. The experimental reaction conditions were chosen to operate under intrinsic kinetic conditions, free from heat and mass transfer limitations. The data could be described adequately by a Langmuir–Hinshelwood rate-equation based on a series of sequential hydrogen additions according to the Horiuti–Polanyi mechanism. The mechanism involves a single active site on which both the conversion of acetylene and ethylene take place.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Microcystins by TiO2 Using UV-LED Controlled Periodic Illumination
Authors: Schneider Olivia M. , Liang Robert , Bragg Leslie , Jaciw-Zurakowsky Ivana , Fattahi Azar , Rathod Shasvat , Peng Peng , Servos Mark R. , Zhou Y. Norman
Published: February 2019

Toxic microcystins (MCs) produced by freshwater cyanobacteria such as Microcystis aeruginosa are of concern because of their negative health and economic impacts globally. An advanced oxidation process using UV/TiO2 offers a promising treatment option for hazardous organic pollutants such as microcystins. The following work details the successful degradation of MC-LA, MC-LR, and MC-RR using a porous titanium–titanium dioxide (PTT) membrane under UV-LED light. Microcystin quantitation was achieved by sample concentration and subsequent LC–MS/MS analysis. The PTT membrane offers a treatment option that eliminates the need for the additional filtration or separation steps required for traditional catalysts. Controlled periodic illumination was successfully used to decrease the total light exposure time and improve the photonic efficiency for a more cost-effective treatment system. Individual degradation rates were influenced by electrostatic forces between the catalyst and differently charged microcystins, which can potentially be adjusted by modifying the solution pH and the catalyst’s isoelectric point.
Behavior of Metalloproteinases in Adipose Tissue, Liver and Arterial Wall: An Update of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling
Authors: Berg Gabriela , Barchuk Magalí , Miksztowicz Verónica
Published: February 2019

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is required for many physiological and pathological processes. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases which are able to degrade different components of the ECM and nucleus matrix and to cleave numerous non-ECM proteins. Among pathological processes, MMPs are involved in adipose tissue expansion, liver fibrosis, and atherosclerotic plaque development and vulnerability. The expression and the activity of these enzymes are regulated by different hormones and growth factors, such as insulin, leptin, and adiponectin. The controversial results reported up to this moment regarding MMPs behavior in ECM biology could be consequence of the different expression patterns among species and the stage of the studied pathology. The aim of the present review was to update the knowledge of the role of MMPs and its inhibitors in ECM remodeling in high incidence pathologies such as obesity, liver fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease.
No Causal Effect of Telomere Length on Ischemic Stroke and Its Subtypes: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Cao Weijie , Li Xingang , Zhang Xiaoyu , Zhang Jie , Sun Qi , Xu Xizhu , Sun Ming , Tian Qiuyue , Li Qihuan , Wang Hao , Liu Jiaonan , Meng Xiaoni , Wu Lijuan , Song Manshu , Hou Haifeng , Wang Youxin , Wang Wei
Published: February 2019

Background: Epidemiological studies observing inconsistent associations of telomere length (TL) with ischemic stroke (IS) are susceptible to bias according to reverse causation and residual confounding. We aimed to assess the causal association between TL, IS, and the subtypes of IS, including large artery stroke (LAS), small vessel stroke (SVS), and cardioembolic stroke (CES) by performing a series of two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches. Methods: Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were involved as candidate instrumental variables (IVs), summarized from a genome-wide meta-analysis including 37,684 participants of European descent. We analyzed the largest ever genome-wide association studies of stroke in Europe from the MEGASTROKE collaboration with 40,585 stroke cases and 406,111 controls. The weighted median (WM), the penalized weighted median (PWM), the inverse variance weighted (IVW), the penalized inverse variance weighted (PIVW), the robust inverse variance weighted (RIVW), and the Mendelian randomization-Egger (MR-Egger) methods were conducted for the MR analysis to estimate a causal effect and detect the directional pleiotropy. Results: No significant association between genetically determined TL with overall IS, LAS, or CES were found (all p > 0.05). SVS was associated with TL by the RIVW method (odds ratio (OR) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54–0.97, p = 0.028), after excluding rs9420907, rs10936599, and rs2736100. Conclusions: By a series of causal inference approaches using SNPs as IVs, no strong evidence to support the causal effect of shorter TL on IS and its subtypes were found.
Cilia Distal Domain: Diversity in Evolutionarily Conserved Structures
Authors: Soares Helena , Carmona Bruno , Nolasco Sofia , Viseu Melo Luís , Gonçalves João
Published: February 2019

Eukaryotic cilia are microtubule-based organelles that protrude from the cell surface to fulfill sensory and motility functions. Their basic structure consists of an axoneme templated by a centriole/basal body. Striking differences in ciliary ultra-structures can be found at the ciliary base, the axoneme and the tip, not only throughout the eukaryotic tree of life, but within a single organism. Defects in cilia biogenesis and function are at the origin of human ciliopathies. This structural/functional diversity and its relationship with the etiology of these diseases is poorly understood. Some of the important events in cilia function occur at their distal domain, including cilia assembly/disassembly, IFT (intraflagellar transport) complexes’ remodeling, and signal detection/transduction. How axonemal microtubules end at this domain varies with distinct cilia types, originating different tip architectures. Additionally, they show a high degree of dynamic behavior and are able to respond to different stimuli. The existence of microtubule-capping structures (caps) in certain types of cilia contributes to this diversity. It has been proposed that caps play a role in axoneme length control and stabilization, but their roles are still poorly understood. Here, we review the current knowledge on cilia structure diversity with a focus on the cilia distal domain and caps and discuss how they affect cilia structure and function.
Deposition Time and Annealing Effects of ZnO Seed Layer on Enhancing Vertical Alignment of Piezoelectric ZnO Nanowires
Authors: Slimani Tlemcani Taoufik , Justeau Camille , Nadaud Kevin , Poulin-Vittrant Guylaine , Alquier Daniel
Published: February 2019

Well aligned crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) on ZnO/Au/Ti/Si substrates were grown by so-called “hydrothermal synthesis”. ZnO seed layers with different thicknesses ranging from 5 to 100 nm, achieved by controlling the deposition time, were prepared by radio-frequency sputtering, followed by a post-annealing treatment in air at 400 °C. The effects of deposition time and annealing treatment of ZnO seed layers on the subsequent growth of ZnO NWs were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results reveal that the quality and growth behaviors of ZnO NWs are strongly dependent on both the thickness and the heat treatment of the ZnO seed layers. This work is an optimization step of an easy, cost-effective, and industrially scalable process flow recently developed for the fabrication of a high performance, nanocomposite-based stretchable nanogenerator (SNG) on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The morphological improvement of hydrothermally grown ZnO NWs may therefore lead to higher performance SNGs for the targeted application of mechanical energy harvesting, in order to supply flexible and wearable electronics.
Surface Characterization and Copper Release of a-C:H:Cu Coatings for Medical Applications
Authors: Nißen Stefan , Heeg Jan , Wienecke Marion , Behrend Detlef , Warkentin Mareike , Rokosz Krzysztof , Gaiaschi Sofia , Chapon Patrick
Published: February 2019

This paper focuses on the surface properties of a-C:H:Cu composite coatings for medical devices and how the release of Cu2+ ions from such coatings can be controlled. The released Cu ions have the potential to act as a bactericidal agent and inhibit bacterial colonization. A PVD–PECVD hybrid process was used to deposit a-C:H:Cu composite coatings onto Ti6Al4V substrates. We examine the layer surface properties using atomic force microscopy and static contact angle measurements. An increasing surface roughness and increasing contact angle of Ringer’s solution was measured with increasing copper mole fraction (XCu) in the coatings. The contact angle decreased when a supplementary bias voltage of −50 V was used during the a-C:H:Cu deposition. These findings are in line with earlier published results regarding these types of coatings. The release of Cu2+ ions from a-C:H:Cu coatings in Ringer’s solution was measured by anodic stripping voltammetry. Different layer structures were examined to control the time-resolved Cu release. It was found that the Cu release depends on the overall XCu in the a-C:H:Cu coatings and that an additional a-C:H barrier layer on top of the a-C:H:Cu layer effectively delays the release of Cu ions.
Cross-Shelf Differences in the Response of Herbivorous Fish Assemblages to Severe Environmental Disturbances
Authors: McClure Eva C. , Richardson Laura E. , Graba-Landry Alexia , Loffler Zoe , Russ Garry R. , Hoey Andrew S.
Published: February 2019

Cross-shelf differences in coral reef benthic and fish assemblages are common, yet it is unknown whether these assemblages respond uniformly to environmental disturbances or whether local conditions result in differential responses of assemblages at different shelf positions. Here, we compare changes in the taxonomic and functional composition, and associated traits, of herbivorous reef fish assemblages across a continental shelf, five years before and six months after two severe cyclones and a thermal bleaching event that resulted in substantial and widespread loss of live hard coral cover. Each shelf position maintained a distinct taxonomic assemblage of fishes after disturbances, but the assemblages shared fewer species among shelf positions. There was a substantial loss of species richness following disturbances within each shelf position. Total biomass of the herbivorous fish assemblage increased after disturbances on mid- and outer-shelf reefs, but not on inner-shelf reefs. Using trait-based analyses, we found there was a loss of trait richness at each shelf position, but trait specialisation and originality increased on inner-shelf reefs. This study highlights the pervasiveness of extreme environmental disturbances on ecological assemblages. Whilst distinct cross-shelf assemblages can remain following environmental disturbances, assemblages have reduced richness and are potentially more vulnerable to chronic localised stresses.
Introduction to Special Issue on “Electromagnetic Technologies for Medical Diagnostics: Fundamental Issues, Clinical Applications and Perspectives”
Authors: Kosmas Panagiotis , Crocco Lorenzo
Published: February 2019

The application of microwave technologies in medical imaging and diagnostics is an emerging topic within the electromagnetic (EM) engineering community [...]
Machine-Learning-Based Laboratory Developed Test for the Diagnosis of Sepsis in High-Risk Patients
Authors: Calvert Jacob , Saber Nicholas , Hoffman Jana , Das Ritankar
Published: February 2019

Sepsis, a dysregulated host response to infection, is a major health burden in terms of both mortality and cost. The difficulties clinicians face in diagnosing sepsis, alongside the insufficiencies of diagnostic biomarkers, motivate the present study. This work develops a machine-learning-based sepsis diagnostic for a high-risk patient group, using a geographically and institutionally diverse collection of nearly 500,000 patient health records. Using only a minimal set of clinical variables, our diagnostics outperform common severity scoring systems and sepsis biomarkers and benefit from being available immediately upon ordering.
UAV-Derived Himalayan Topography: Hazard Assessments and Comparison with Global DEM Products
Authors: Watson C. Scott , Kargel Jeffrey S. , Tiruwa Babulal
Published: February 2019

Topography derived using human-portable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure from motion photogrammetry offers an order of magnitude improvement in spatial resolution and uncertainty over small survey extents, compared to global digital elevation model (DEM) products, which are often the only available choice of DEMs in the high-mountain Himalaya. Access to fine-resolution topography in the high mountain Himalaya is essential to assess where flood and landslide events present a risk to populations and infrastructure. In this study, we compare the topography of UAV-derived DEMs, three open-access global DEM products, and the 8 m High Mountain Asia (HMA) DEMs (released in December 2017) and assess their suitability for landslide- and flood-related hazard assessments. We observed close similarity between UAV and HMA DEMs when comparing terrain elevation, river channel delineation, landside volume, and landslide-dammed lake area and volume. We demonstrate the use of fine-resolution topography in a flood-modelling scenario relating to landslide-dammed lakes that formed on the Marsyangdi River following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. We outline a workflow for using UAVs in hazard assessments and disaster situations to generate fine-resolution topography and facilitate real-time decision-making capabilities, such as assessing landslide-dammed lakes, mass movement volumes, and flood risk.
Entropy Generation Rate Minimization for Methanol Synthesis via a CO2 Hydrogenation Reactor
Authors: Li Penglei , Chen Lingen , Xia Shaojun , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2019

The methanol synthesis via CO2 hydrogenation (MSCH) reaction is a useful CO2 utilization strategy, and this synthesis path has also been widely applied commercially for many years. In this work the performance of a MSCH reactor with the minimum entropy generation rate (EGR) as the objective function is optimized by using finite time thermodynamic and optimal control theory. The exterior wall temperature (EWR) is taken as the control variable, and the fixed methanol yield and conservation equations are taken as the constraints in the optimization problem. Compared with the reference reactor with a constant EWR, the total EGR of the optimal reactor decreases by 20.5%, and the EGR caused by the heat transfer decreases by 68.8%. In the optimal reactor, the total EGRs mainly distribute in the first 30% reactor length, and the EGRs caused by the chemical reaction accounts for more than 84% of the total EGRs. The selectivity of CH3OH can be enhanced by increasing the inlet molar flow rate of CO, and the CO2 conversion rate can be enhanced by removing H2O from the reaction system. The results obtained herein are in favor of optimal designs of practical tubular MSCH reactors.
Phase Transition in Frustrated Magnetic Thin Film—Physics at Phase Boundaries
Authors: Diep Hung T.
Published: February 2019

In this review, we outline some principal theoretical knowledge of the properties of frustrated spin systems and magnetic thin films. The two points we would like to emphasize: (i) the physics in low dimensions where exact solutions can be obtained; (ii) the physics at phase boundaries where interesting phenomena can occur due to competing interactions of the two phases around the boundary. This competition causes a frustration. We will concentrate our attention on magnetic thin films and phenomena occurring near the boundary of two phases of different symmetries. Two-dimensional (2D) systems are in fact the limiting case of thin films with a monolayer. Naturally, we will treat this case at the beginning. We begin by defining the frustration and giving examples of frustrated 2D Ising systems that we can exactly solve by transforming them into vertex models. We will show that these simple systems already contain most of the striking features of frustrated systems such as the high degeneracy of the ground state (GS), many phases in the GS phase diagram in the space of interaction parameters, the reentrance occurring near the boundaries of these phases, the disorder lines in the paramagnetic phase, and the partial disorder coexisting with the order at equilibrium. Thin films are then presented with different aspects: surface elementary excitations (surface spin waves), surface phase transition, and criticality. Several examples are shown and discussed. New results on skyrmions in thin films and superlattices are also displayed. By the examples presented in this review we show that the frustration when combined with the surface effect in low dimensions gives rise to striking phenomena observed in particular near the phase boundaries.
Non-Equilibrium Liouville and Wigner Equations: Classical Statistical Mechanics and Chemical Reactions for Long Times
Authors: Álvarez-Estrada Ramon F.
Published: February 2019

We review and improve previous work on non-equilibrium classical and quantum statistical systems, subject to potentials, without ab initio dissipation. We treat classical closed three-dimensional many-particle interacting systems without any “heat bath” (h b), evolving through the Liouville equation for the non-equilibrium classical distribution W c, with initial states describing thermal equilibrium at large distances but non-equilibrium at finite distances. We use Boltzmann’s Gaussian classical equilibrium distribution W c , e q, as weight function to generate orthogonal polynomials (H n’s) in momenta. The moments of W c, implied by the H n’s, fulfill a non-equilibrium hierarchy. Under long-term approximations, the lowest moment dominates the evolution towards thermal equilibrium. A non-increasing Liapunov function characterizes the long-term evolution towards equilibrium. Non-equilibrium chemical reactions involving two and three particles in a h b are studied classically and quantum-mechanically (by using Wigner functions W). Difficulties related to the non-positivity of W are bypassed. Equilibrium Wigner functions W e q generate orthogonal polynomials, which yield non-equilibrium moments of W and hierarchies. In regimes typical of chemical reactions (short thermal wavelength and long times), non-equilibrium hierarchies yield approximate Smoluchowski-like equations displaying dissipation and quantum effects. The study of three-particle chemical reactions is new.
Entropy-Induced Self-Assembly of Colloidal Crystals with High Reflectivity and Narrow Reflection Bandwidth
Authors: Chen Xiaoyi , Xu Hongbo , Pan Mengyao , Zhao Jiupeng , Li Yao , Song Ying
Published: February 2019

Cracks and defects, which could result in lower reflectivity and larger full width at half maximum (FWHM), are the major obstacles for obtaining highly ordered structures of colloidal crystals (CCs). The high-quality CCs with high reflectivity (more than 90%) and 9.2 nm narrow FWHM have been successfully fabricated using a fixed proportion of a soft matter system composed of silica particles (SPs), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), and ethanol. The influences of refractivity difference, volume fractions, and particle dimension on FWHM were illuminated. Firstly, we clarified the influences of the planar interface and the bending interface on the self-assembly. The CCs had been successfully fabricated on the planar interface and presented unfavorable results on the bending interface. Secondly, a hard sphere system consisting of SPs, PEGDA, and ethanol was established, and the entropy-driven phase transition mechanism of a polydisperse system was expounded. The FWHM and reflectivity of CCs showed an increasing trend with increasing temperature. Consequently, high-quality CCs were obtained by adjusting temperatures (ordered structure formed at 90 °C and solidified at 0 °C) based on the surface phase rule of the system. We acquired a profound understanding of the principle and process of self-assembly, which is significant for preparation and application of CCs such as optical filters.
Chemical Kinetics Roots and Methods to Obtain the Probability Distribution Function Evolution of Reactants and Products in Chemical Networks Governed by a Master Equation
Authors: Muñoz-Cobo José-Luis , Berna Cesar
Published: February 2019

In this paper first, we review the physical root bases of chemical reaction networks as a Markov process in multidimensional vector space. Then we study the chemical reactions from a microscopic point of view, to obtain the expression for the propensities for the different reactions that can happen in the network. These chemical propensities, at a given time, depend on the system state at that time, and do not depend on the state at an earlier time indicating that we are dealing with Markov processes. Then the Chemical Master Equation (CME) is deduced for an arbitrary chemical network from a probability balance and it is expressed in terms of the reaction propensities. This CME governs the dynamics of the chemical system. Due to the difficulty to solve this equation two methods are studied, the first one is the probability generating function method or z-transform, which permits to obtain the evolution of the factorial moment of the system with time in an easiest way or after some manipulation the evolution of the polynomial moments. The second method studied is the expansion of the CME in terms of an order parameter (system volume). In this case we study first the expansion of the CME using the propensities obtained previously and splitting the molecular concentration into a deterministic part and a random part. An expression in terms of multinomial coefficients is obtained for the evolution of the probability of the random part. Then we study how to reconstruct the probability distribution from the moments using the maximum entropy principle. Finally, the previous methods are applied to simple chemical networks and the consistency of these methods is studied.
A Mutual Blocking Technology Applied to Dual Power Source Switching Control
Authors: Chen Hsin-Chuan , Kuo Ping-Huan , Huang Chiou-Jye
Published: February 2019

In many industries and medical power system applications, dual power source design is often used to ensure that the equipment runs continuously, even when the main power supply is shut down. However, the voltage feedback between two independent power supplies and low loss output are critical issues for the system energy dissipation. Without using a dedicated chip, a new mutual blocking control technology is proposed in this paper to effectively solve the problem of voltage feedback existing in the conventional dual power system. In addition, without adding much hardware cost, the proposed dual power switch design can completely avoid voltage feedback and achieve a low voltage loss of about 30 mV when the load current is less than 0.5 A.