bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency‐dependent and montage‐based differences in phosphene perception thresholds via transcranial alternating current stimulation
Authors: Evans Ian D. , Palmisano Stephen , Loughran Sarah P. , Legros Alexandre , Croft Rodney J.
Published: July 2019

It is well known that applying transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to the scalp can generate artefactual visual perceptions of flashing or shimmering light known as phosphenes. The thresholds for generating these phosphenes have been used by international standards bodies to provide conservative estimates of the field strength required to interfere with human neural functioning and set safety limits accordingly. However, the precise relationship between electric currents and phosphene perception thresholds remains uncertain. The present study used tACS to systematically investigate the effects of the location and the frequency of stimulation on phosphene perception thresholds. These thresholds were obtained from 24 participants using a within‐subject design as a function of scalp stimulation sites (FPz‐Cz versus Oz‐Cz) and stimulation frequency (2–30 Hz in steps of 2 Hz). Phosphene perception thresholds were consistently lower for FPz‐Cz stimulation, and regardless of tACS location were lowest for 16 Hz stimulation. Threshold variation between participants was very small, which is meaningful when setting standards based on phosphenes. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:365–374. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
Social business collaboration at the bottom of the pyramid: The case of orchestration
Authors: Gold Stefan , Chowdhury Ilma Nur , Huq Fahian Anisul , Heinemann Kristin
Published: July 2019

Social business orchestrators (SBOs) help social businesses of various sizes to tackle major societal issues by filling gaps in knowledge and resources. However, research has overlooked these types of collaboration. Situated within a bottom of the pyramid context in Bangladesh, the current study sheds light on the process of value creation for SBO–social businesses partnerships by comparing different collaboration partners. Multiple case study research through the lens of the relational view were used to ask how SBOs facilitate value creation in social businesses by flexibly adapting resource inputs and governance mechanisms to the specific endowment and size of partners; this approach was informed by interviews and field note analyses. The combined deductive–inductive analysis enhances knowledge of idiosyncrasies of SBO–social business collaborations. Our study draws attention to the role of large orchestrators, whose model could be scaled and transferred to other world regions, including industrialised countries.
Environmental strategy in the global banking industry within the varieties of capitalism approach: The moderating role of gender diversity and board members with specific skills
Authors: Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , Pucheta‐Martínez María Consuelo
Published: July 2019

This research sets out to analyse environmental disclosure in the banking industry by considering the varieties of capitalism framework. This approach is concerned with the way companies interact strategically to resolve coordination issues arising from their operations, and it is supported by prior research. This is a fruitful perspective for exploring the association between country‐level factors and disclosure by firms, such as environmental reporting. This research is based on an international sample of countries operating in coordinated market economies (CMEs) and liberal market economies (LMEs). The results obtained show that financial institutions operating in CME countries are involved in more environmental matters than banks domiciled in LME countries. As regards the moderating variables, the evidence shows that women on the boards of banks in CME countries encourage the reporting of environmental information, as predicted. Nonetheless, and contrary to our expectations, members with specific skills on boards within CME cultures do not favour greater disclosure of environmental information compared with those on boards of banks operating in LME contexts.
Oridonin induces Mdm2‐p60 to promote p53‐mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in neuroblastoma
Authors: Zhu Han‐Qing , Zhang Chao , Guo Zhu‐Ying , Yang Jun‐Mei , Guo Jia‐Hui , Chen Chen , Yao Qiang‐Hua , Liu Feng , Zhang Quan‐Wu , Gao Feng‐Hou
Published: July 2019

Oridonin could induce NB (neuroblastoma) cells growth inhibition by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and the molecular mechanisms behind the effects deserve to be further explored. Here, oridonin was confirmed to cause the reactivation of p53 (cellular tumor antigen p53) to promote the expression of a series of apoptosis‐ and cell cycle arrest‐related proteins for the biological effects. During the process, oridonin relied on the caspase activation to cleave p53‐induced Mdm2 (E3 ubiquitin‐protein ligase Mdm2) to generate Mdm2‐p60. The generation of Mdm2‐p60 stabilized p53, and resulted in p53 accumulation for p53 continuous activation. In our research, it was also found that the reactivation of p53 induced by oridonin was closely related with the generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species). Taken together, these findings explain that oridonin exerts its anticancer activity partially by targeting the Mdm2‐p53 axis in NB cells, which lay an experimental base for future research of exploring the effects and molecular mechanisms of oridonin.
Synthesis and Characterization of an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor‐Selective RuII Polypyridyl–Nanobody Conjugate as a Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Karges Johannes , Jakubaszek Marta , Mari Cristina , Zarschler Kristof , Goud Bruno , Stephan Holger , Gasser Gilles
Published: July 2019

There is a current surge of interest in the development of novel photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT), as those currently approved are not completely ideal. Among the tested compounds, we have previously investigated the use of RuII polypyridyl complexes with a [Ru(bipy)2(dppz)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ scaffold (bipy=2,2′‐bipyridine; dppz=dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine; phen=1,10‐phenanthroline). These complexes selectively target DNA. However, because DNA is ubiquitous, it would be of great interest to increase the selectivity of our PDT PSs by linking them to a targeting vector in view of targeted PDT. Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and in‐depth photophysical evaluation of a nanobody‐containing RuII polypyridyl conjugate selective for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in view of targeted PDT. Using ICP‐MS and confocal microscopy, we could demonstrate that our conjugate has high selectivity for the EGFR receptor, which is a crucial oncological target because it is overexpressed and/or deregulated in a variety of solid tumors. However, in contrast to expectations, this conjugate was found to not produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells and is therefore not phototoxic.
Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia in acquired complete atrioventricular block without a pacemaker: A case report
Authors: Aratake Shungo , Yasuda Atsushi , Sawamura Shigehito
Published: July 2019

Pregnancy with complete atrioventricular block is rare, and its perioperative management is controversial. We successfully managed cesarean section in a pregnancy with acquired complete atrioventricular block under spinal anesthesia without a pacemaker. Asymptomatic pregnant women with acquired complete atrioventricular block can tolerate cesarean section under spinal anesthesia without a pacemaker.
Self‐Standing Membranes Consisting of Inherently Chiral Electroactive Oligomers: Electrosynthesis, Characterization and Preliminary Tests in Potentiometric Setups
Authors: Arnaboldi Serena , Vigo Daniele , Longhi Mariangela , Orsini Francesco , Riva Sephira , Grecchi Sara , Giacovelli Elena , Guglielmi Vittoria , Cirilli Roberto , Longhi Giovanna , Mazzeo Giuseppe , Benincori Tiziana , Mussini Patrizia R.
Published: July 2019

Self‐standing chiral electroactive synthetic membranes are presented, prepared by oxidative electro‐oligomerization of a thiophene‐based “inherently chiral” electroactive monomer on indium tin oxide (ITO) or fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes, followed by detachment of the electrodeposited thin films in aqueous solution. The membranes, possibly mesoporous, consist of a mixture of open and cyclic “inherently chiral” oligomers, that is, in which both chirality and electroactivity originate from the same source, and this is the main conjugated backbone featuring a tailored torsion. Such a combination can afford outstanding chirality manifestations. The electrosynthesis conditions significantly modulate the oligomer distribution. Racemate films are compared to enantiopure ones. Circular dichroism confirms that (R)‐ or (S)‐ enantiopure films are obtained, starting from the corresponding (R)‐ or (S)‐ enantiopure monomers. Reliable transmembrane potential readings are obtained in preliminary tests in ion‐selective electrode (ISE)‐like setups, consistent with those predicted considering the membrane features, offering a first step towards extension of the protocol to chiral experiments.
Transistor‐Based Work‐Function Measurement of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Ultra‐Low‐Power, Rationally Designed Chemical Sensors
Authors: Gardner David W. , Gao Xiang , Fahad Hossain M. , Yang An‐Ting , He Sam , Javey Ali , Carraro Carlo , Maboudian Roya
Published: July 2019

A classic challenge in chemical sensing is selectivity. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an exciting class of materials because they can be tuned for selective chemical adsorption. Adsorption events trigger work‐function shifts, which can be detected with a chemical‐sensitive field‐effect transistor (power ≈microwatts). In this work, several case studies were used towards generalizing the sensing mechanism, ultimately towards our metal‐centric hypothesis. HKUST‐1 was used as a proof‐of‐principle humidity sensor. The response is thickness independent, meaning the response is surface localized. ZIF‐8 is demonstrated to be an NO2‐sensing material, and the response is dominated by adsorption at metal sites. Finally, MFM‐300(In) shows how standard hard–soft acid–base theory can be used to qualitatively predict sensor responses. This paper sets the groundwork for using the tunability of metal–organic frameworks for chemical sensing with distributed, scalable devices.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Dimorphic Dibenzo[cde,opq]rubicene
Authors: Suresh Joghee R. , Whitener Glenn , Theumer Gabriele , Bröcher Dirk J. , Bauer Ingmar , Massa Werner , Knölker Hans‐Joachim
Published: July 2019

Dibenzo[cde,opq]rubicene has been synthesized by an eight‐step reaction sequence including an iron‐mediated [2+2+1] cycloaddition and a flash vacuum pyrolysis as key steps. Two crystal modifications of the S‐shaped, planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon have been obtained and characterized by X‐ray diffractometry.
A General Mechanism of Diffusion in Hamiltonian Systems: Qualitative Results
Authors: Gidea Marian , de la Llave Rafael , M‐Seara Tere
Published: July 2019

We present a general mechanism to establish the existence of diffusing orbits in a large class of nearly integrable Hamiltonian systems. Our approach is based on following the “outer dynamics” along homoclinic orbits to a normally hyperbolic invariant manifold. The information on the outer dynamics is encoded by a geometrically defined “scattering map.” We show that for every finite sequence of successive iterations of the scattering map, there exists a true orbit that follows that sequence, provided that the inner dynamics is recurrent. We apply this result to prove the existence of diffusing orbits that cross large gaps in a priori unstable models of arbitrary degrees of freedom, when the unperturbed Hamiltonian is not necessarily convex and the induced inner dynamics is not necessarily a twist map, and the perturbation satisfies explicit conditions that are generic.

We also mention several other applications where this mechanism is easy to verify (analytically or numerically), such as the planar elliptic restricted three‐body problem and the spatial circular restricted three‐body problem.

Our method differs, in several crucial aspects, from earlier works. Unlike the well‐known “two‐dynamics” approach, the method we present here relies on the outer dynamics alone. There are virtually no assumptions on the inner dynamics, such as on existence of its invariant objects (e.g., primary and secondary tori, lower‐dimensional hyperbolic tori, and their stable/unstable manifolds, Aubry‐Mather sets), which are not used at all. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of Immune Cells from Adipose Tissue
Authors: Bapat Sagar P. , Liang Yuqiong , Zheng Ye
Published: July 2019

Adipose tissue (AT) serves a crucial role in maintaining organismal metabolic homeostasis. Studies have demonstrated that AT is populated with a diverse array of immune cells that coordinate and regulate AT function. This adipo‐immune system is highly dynamic, reflecting the physiologic state of the organism (e.g., obese, lean, aged, or young) as well as the constant physiologic remodeling of AT associated with the daily rhythms of fasting and feeding. Many of the adaptive and maladaptive functional changes of AT are regulated by changes in the quantity and quality of distinct sets of AT‐resident immune cells. Here we present protocols to assess the dynamic state of the immune system within AT by constructing censuses of adipose‐resident immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, NK cells, innate lymphocytes, T cells, and B cells, etc.) based on flow cytometry, which we term adipo‐immune profiles (AIPs). Constructing AIPs can be an integral part of assessment for AT health and function. This article describes the protocols to generate such AIPs. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Even obligate symbioses show signs of ecological contingency: Impacts of symbiosis for an invasive stinkbug are mediated by host plant context
Authors: Couret Jannelle , Huynh‐Griffin Lynn , Antolic‐Soban Ivan , Acevedo‐Gonzalez Tarik Salam , Gerardo Nicole M.
Published: July 2019

Many species interactions are dependent on environmental context, yet the benefits of obligate, mutualistic microbial symbioses to their hosts are typically assumed to be universal across environments. We directly tested this assumption, focusing on the symbiosis between the sap‐feeding insect Megacopta cribraria and its primary bacterial symbiont Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata. We assessed host development time, survival, and body size in the presence and absence of the symbiont on two alternative host plants and in the insects' new invasive range. We found that association with the symbiont was critical for host survival to adulthood when reared on either host plant, with few individuals surviving in the absence of symbiosis. Developmental differences between hosts with and without microbial symbionts, however, were mediated by the host plants on which the insects were reared. Our results support the hypothesis that benefits associated with this host–microbe interaction are environmentally contingent, though given that few individuals survive to adulthood without their symbionts, this may have minimal impact on ecological dynamics and current evolutionary trajectories of these partners.

OPEN RESEARCH BADGES

This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kg4bc56
Litter accumulation alters the abiotic environment and drives community successional changes in two fenced grasslands in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Hou Dongjie , He Weiming , Liu Changcheng , Qiao Xianguo , Guo Ke
Published: July 2019

Fencing is an effective and practical method for restoring degraded grasslands in northern China. However, little is known about the role of excess litter accumulation due to long‐term fencing in regulating abiotic environment and driving changes in community structure and function. We conducted a three‐year field experiment in two fenced grasslands in Inner Mongolia, and monitored light quantity, soil temperature, and soil moisture continuously, and determined community height, community aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), and the relative dominance of different plant functional groups. Litter accumulation reduced light quantity and soil temperature but increased soil moisture. The regulating effects of litter accumulation on soil temperature and soil moisture fluctuated temporally and gradually weakened over the growing season. Litter accumulation also altered community vertical structure and function by increasing community height and ANPP. The increase in soil moisture increased the relative dominance of rhizome grasses but suppressed bunch grasses, thereby shifting bunch grass grasslands to rhizome grass grasslands. Our findings provide a potential mechanism for community succession in the context of litter accumulation in fenced grasslands and indicate that the vegetation and ecosystem services of degraded grasslands are improved after appropriate fencing.
Vocal networks remain stable after a disturbance in Emei music frogs
Authors: Deng Ke , Cui Jian-Guo
Published: July 2019

Social network analysis has been widely used to investigate the dynamics of social interactions and the evolution of social complexity across a range of taxa. Anuran species are highly dependent on vocal communication in mate choice; however, these species have rarely been the subject of social network analysis. The present study used social network analysis to investigate whether vocal network structures are consistent in Emei music frog (Babina daunchina) after the introduction of a simulated exotic rival of varying competitiveness into the social group. We broadcasted six categories of artificial calls (either highly sexually attractive calls produced from inside male nests or calls of low sexual attractiveness produced outside nests with three, five or seven notes, respectively) to simulate an intruder with different levels of competitiveness. We then constructed vocal networks for two time periods (before and after the disturbance) and quantified three network metrics (strength, closeness, and betweenness) that measure different aspects of individual‐level position. We used the mean values of these network metrics to evaluate group‐level changes in network structure. We found that the mean strength, mean closeness and mean betweenness were consistent between two time periods in all ponds, despite the fact that the positions of some individuals had changed markedly after disturbance. In addition, there was no significant interaction effect between period and numbers of notes on the three network metrics. These finding suggest that the structure of vocal networks in Emei music frogs remain stable at the group level after a conspecific disturbance, regardless of the intruder's competitiveness.
Temporal trends in incidence and patient characteristics in cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction from 2010 to 2017: a Danish cohort study
Authors: Helgestad Ole K.L. , Josiassen Jakob , Hassager Christian , Jensen Lisette O. , Holmvang Lene , Sørensen Anne , Frydland Martin , Lassen Annmarie T. , Udesen Nanna L.J. , Schmidt Henrik , Ravn Hanne B. , Møller Jacob E.
Published: July 2019

Aim

We sought to describe the contemporary annual incidence of cardiogenic shock (CS) following acute myocardial infarction (AMICS), the proportion of patients developing CS following ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and other temporal changes in AMICS in Denmark between 2010 and 2017.

Methods and results

Medical records of patients suspected of having AMICS during 2010–2017 were reviewed to identify consecutive patients with AMICS in a cohort corresponding to two‐thirds of the Danish population. Due to changes in recruitment area over the study period, population‐based incidence could only be calculated from 2012 to 2017. A total of 1716 patients with AMICS were identified and an increase in the annual incidence was observed, from a nadir 65.3 per million person‐years in 2013 to 80.0 per million person‐years in 2017 (P‐value for trend < 0.001). This trend corresponded to an increase in patients with non‐STEMI and a decrease in patients developing CS after STEMI (10.0–6.6%, P‐value for trend < 0.001) Also, mean arterial blood pressure at the time of AMICS was lower (63 ± 11 mmHg to 61 ± 13 mmHg, P‐value for trend = 0.001) and the frequency of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 30% increased (61.8%–71.4%, P‐value for trend = 0.004). The annual 30‐day mortality during the study period remained unchanged at about 50%.

Conclusion

The incidence rate of AMICS increased in the Danish population between 2012 and 2017. Fewer patients with STEMI developed CS, and haemodynamic severity of CS increased during the study period; however, survival rates remained unchanged.
Monomer hapten and hapten‐specific IgG inhibit mast cell activation evoked by multivalent hapten with different mechanisms
Authors: Suzuki Ruriko , Inoh Yoshikazu , Yokawa Satoru , Suzuki Ryo , Furuno Tadahide , Hirashima Naohide
Published: July 2019

Aggregation of IgE bound to high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) by multivalent antigen induces mast cell activation. Reportedly, disaggregation of aggregated FcεRI immediately terminated degranulation, and formation of co‐ligated FcεRI and low affinity IgG receptor FcγRIIB blocked degranulation by inhibitory signal via SH2‐containing inositol 5’‐phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) phosphorylation. However, their molecular mechanisms to inhibit mast cell activation have been unclear in detail. Herein, we found that addition of excess monomeric hapten (TNP‐alanine) to multivalent antigen (TNP‐OVA)‐activated rat basophilic leukemia cells and mouse bone marrow‐derived mast cells induced immediate and transient Syk dephosphorylation, which was previously phosphorylated by TNP‐OVA addition. Syk dephosphorylation correlated to rapidly decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i), terminated degranulation, and suppressed cytokine production through inhibition of Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Addition of hapten‐specific IgG monoclonal antibody (anti‐TNP IgG1) to activated mast cells induced translocation of SHIP1 to the plasma membrane and its phosphorylation, indicating that co‐ligation of FcεRI and FcγRIIB after FcεRI aggregation can lead to SHIP1 activation. SHIP1 phosphorylation led to gradually decreased [Ca2+]i, weak inhibition of degranulation, and strong inhibition of cytokine production. Our findings clearly show the inhibitory mechanism of cell function in activated mast cells by operating Fc receptor crosslinking.
Metal‐Free Aerobic Oxidative C–O Coupling of C(sp3)–H with Carboxylic Acids Catalyzed by DDQ andtert‐Butyl Nitrite
Authors: Pan Decheng , Pan Zilong , Hu Zhiming , Li Meichao , Hu Xinquan , Jin Liqun , Sun Nan , Hu Baoxiang , Shen Zhenlu
Published: July 2019

The formation of the C–O bond is one of the hot topics in the area of C(sp3)–H bond functionalization. A metal‐free oxidative cross‐coupling between benzylic C(sp3)–H bond and carboxylic acids has been developed. The reactions were performed with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) as the catalyst,tert‐butyl nitrite (TBN) as the co‐catalyst, and molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. A variety of diarylmethanes could be successfully coupled with various carboxylic acids to obtain diarylmethanol esters in good to excellent yields. In addition, 2‐benzylbenzoic acids could be converted into phthalides in moderate yields through an intramolecular oxidative cyclization.
Using the Occupational Network Database to Assess and Improve English Language Communication for the Workplace
Authors: Oliveri María Elena , McCulla Laura
Published: July 2019

For native and nonnative English speakers, employment increasingly requires proficiency in communication, given its critical role in employees' ability to successfully carry out work‐related activities. Although communicating competently is important for employability, survey findings have suggested that employers believe that colleges are not teaching communication skills sufficiently and are not preparing students adequately for success in their future workplaces. To better inform student preparation and workforce readiness in the United States, we examine (a) which communication skills and language abilities matter more for employment performance and (b) how frequently communicative activities (e.g., face‐to‐face, telephone, e‐mail) occur across job zones. To address these objectives, we analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Network (O*NET) database, which houses data on the skills and abilities employees need for successful employment and the skills employers search for in employees and which serves as an extensive resource to inform job analysis. We found differences regarding which communication skills matter by job zone. There was agreement across job zones regarding the importance of oral comprehension. On average, respondents across job zones agreed that it matters for more than 70% of jobs. In contrast, writing matters for more than 70% of jobs only in Job Zone 5 (i.e., occupations requiring more than a bachelor's degree). Study implications suggest that improved training and assessment of workplace English communication skills requires providing learners with opportunities to practice the tasks and types of communication targeted to their job zones.
Targeted molecular characterization shows differences between primary and secondary myelofibrosis
Authors: Courtier Frédéric , Garnier Séverine , Carbuccia Nadine , Guille Arnaud , Adélaide José , Chaffanet Max , Hirsch Pierre , Luque Paz Damien , Slama Bohrane , Vey Norbert , Ugo Valérie , Delhommeau François , Rey Jérome , Birnbaum Daniel , Murati Anne
Published: July 2019

Introduction

In BCR‐ABL1‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelofibrosis (MF) is either primary (PMF) or secondary (SMF) to polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia. MF is characterized by an increased risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a shortened life expectancy.

Methods

Because natural histories of PMF and SMF are different, we studied by targeted next generation sequencing the differences in the molecular landscape of 86 PMF and 59 SMF and compared their prognosis impact.

Results

PMF had more ASXL1 (47.7%) and SRSF2 (14%) gene mutations than SMF (respectively 27.1% and 3.4%, P = .04). Poorer survival was associated with RNA splicing mutations (especially SRSF2) and TP53 in PMF (P = .0003), and with ASXL1 and TP53 mutations in SMF (P < .0001). These mutations of poor prognosis were associated with biological features of scoring systems (DIPSS and MYSEC‐PM score). Mutations in TP53/SRSF2 in PMF or TP53/ASXL1 in SMF were more frequent as the risk of these scores increased. This allowed for a better stratification of MF patients, especially within the DIPSS intermediate‐1 risk group (DIPSS) or the MYSEC‐PM high risk group. AML transformation occurred faster in SMF than in PMF and patients who transformed to AML were more SRSF2‐mutated and less CALR‐mutated at MF sampling.

Conclusions

PMF and SMF have different but not specific molecular profiles and different prognosis depending on the molecular profile. This may be due to differences in disease history. Combining mutations and existing scores should improve prognosis assessment.
Long‐term exhumation history of the Gangdese magmatic arc: Implications for the evolution of the Kailas Basin, western Tibet
Authors: Shen Tianyi , Wang Guocan , Bernet Matthias , Replumaz Anne , Ai Keke , Song Bowen , Zhang Kexin , Zhang Pan
Published: July 2019

Constraining the long‐term exhumation history of the Gangdese magmatic arc is critical for understanding the coupled evolution of orogenic exhumation and accumulation of basin sediments on the southern Tibetan Plateau. We present new zircon fission‐track (ZFT) data from sandstones in the Mt. Kailas area, western Tibet, to decipher the relation between source rock exhumation and sediment deposition in the basin. Two sedimentary members were recognized in the Kailas Basin which are the Eocene conglomerates in the hanging wall of the Great Counter Thrust and the Oligocene–Miocene Kailas Formation in the footwall. The Eocene conglomerates were mostly derived from the Lhasa Terrane to the north with recycling of pre‐Cenozoic sediments, containing zircons that experienced post‐magmatic cooling after the Indian–Asian collision and buried deeply later by the Oligocene–Miocene Kailas Formation. The ZFT analysis from the Kailas Formation illustrates significant cooling during the Oligocene (ca. 32 Ma) in the source region, indicating that the Gangdese magmatic arc rocks were eroded rapidly during that time. The alternate increasing and decreasing of the southernmost Gangdese magmatic arc progresses are linked to dynamic topography deflection induced by the northward subduction of the Indian Plate since the Oligocene and subsequent southward overturning of the Indian mantle slab. Basin subsidence and formation of the Kailas Formation seems also be driven by dynamic topography since the Oligocene.
The genesis and gold mineralization of the crypto‐explosive breccia pipe in the Yixingzhai gold region, central North China Craton
Authors: Zhang Ju‐Quan , Li Sheng‐Rong , Santosh M. , Luo Jun‐Yan , Li Cheng‐Lu , Song Ji‐Ye , Lu Jing , Liang Xian
Published: July 2019

The Yixingzhai gold deposit is a quartz‐vein–type deposit accompanied by skarn iron and porphyry molybdenum mineralization. There are four crypto‐explosive breccia pipes which provide an important ore‐controlling structure. Here we investigate the composition and compositional zoning of the native gold, garnet, and epidote in the Tietangdong skarn breccia pipe through detailed petrography, electron probe microanalysis, and elemental mapping. The native gold compositions show that they were formed in a relative higher temperature condition. Based on their composition and optical characteristics, the zoning in garnet can be divided into three types. The garnets of Generations 1 and 3 show high contents of spessartine (2.91–10.17 mol%) and grossular (20.94–54.71 mol%) and anomalous birefringence, indicating that they formed under relatively higher pressure and temperature and lower oxygen fugacity. The garnets of Generation 2 are mainly composed of andradite (75.70–99.98 mol%) and show compositional homogeneity, with formation under relative lower pressure and temperature and higher oxygen fugacity conditions. Magmatic‐hydrothermal pulses and multiple crypto‐explosions could be the main geological processes that caused the formation of the zoning textures. Zoning in epidote is more complex than that in garnet, and from core to the rim, the iron content shows an abrupt increase and aluminium content shows decrease. There is also decrease in iron and increase in aluminium in the inner part. These features might record multiple crypto‐explosion processes. Combining the complex replacement features of iron oxides and sulphides in the breccia pipe, we suggest that the Tietangdong breccia pipe formed through several crypto‐explosions. The fluid system in the breccia pipe activated during multiple crypto‐explosions, and oxygen fugacity varied greatly, which was disadvantageous to the accumulation and precipitation of ore‐forming elements. Crypto‐explosions destroyed the ore bodies formed during the early stage, resulting in their scattered distribution throughout the breccia pipe. Cone fractures formed eventually with the shrinking of the cooling breccia pipe after the magmatism ceased. Those fractures provided important ore‐hosting structures for the gold mineralization during the late stage. Our research indicates that there is high prospecting potential for porphyry Mo, Cu, and Au deposits in the deeper domains of the breccia pipes.
Major, trace, and REE geochemistry of the Meghna River sediments, Bangladesh: Constraints on weathering and provenance
Authors: Hossain H.M. Zakir
Published: July 2019

The major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) compositions of sediments from the Meghna River in Bangladesh have been examined to infer their sediment type, compositional maturity, chemical weathering intensity, provenance, and tectonic setting. Geochemically, the sediments are classified as litharenites, shale, and wacke. The ICV (Index of Compositional Variability) values (0.92 to 1.10) indicate that the sediments have low compositional and mineralogical maturity. Major and trace element abundances display marked depletion of Na2O, CaO, MgO, K2O, Fe2O3T, Sr, and Ba relative to UCC (upper continental crust), suggesting loss of feldspars during chemical weathering in the source. Zirconium, Th, Ce, and Y are enriched relative to UCC, indicating that these elements are primarily controlled by resistant heavy minerals. The CIA (Chemical Index of Alteration), PIA (Plagioclase Index of Alteration), and Rb/Sr and K2O/Rb ratios of the river sediments suggest low to moderate intensity of chemical weathering in the source area. Chondrite‐normalized REE patterns show that high LREE enrichment, nearly flat HREE fractionation (LaN/YbN = 7.62 to 8.73) and marked negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.49 to 0.69) suggesting a felsic source provenance. Several discriminant function diagrams and immobile trace element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Ce/Sc, and Ti/Zr) and REEs (∑LREE/HREE, Eu/Eu*, and GdN/YbN) parameters indicate that the river sediments were primarily derived from a common felsic source rock, with composition close to the average rhyolite, granodiorite, granite, and UCC. Tectonic setting signatures of the Meghna River sediments are both active continental margin and passive margin environments.
Modulation of local field potentials and neuronal activity in primate hippocampus during saccades
Authors: Doucet Guillaume , Gulli Roberto A. , Corrigan Benjamin W. , Duong Lyndon R. , Martinez‐Trujillo Julio C.
Published: July 2019

Primates use saccades to gather information about objects and their relative spatial arrangement, a process essential for visual perception and memory. It has been proposed that signals linked to saccades reset the phase of local field potential (LFP) oscillations in the hippocampus, providing a temporal window for visual signals to activate neurons in this region and influence memory formation. We investigated this issue by measuring hippocampal LFPs and spikes in two macaques performing different tasks with unconstrained eye movements. We found that LFP phase clustering (PC) in the alpha/beta (8–16 Hz) frequencies followed foveation onsets, while PC in frequencies lower than 8 Hz followed spontaneous saccades, even on a homogeneous background. Saccades to a solid grey background were not followed by increases in local neuronal firing, whereas saccades toward appearing visual stimuli were. Finally, saccade parameters correlated with LFPs phase and amplitude: saccade direction correlated with delta (≤4 Hz) phase, and saccade amplitude with theta (4–8 Hz) power. Our results suggest that signals linked to saccades reach the hippocampus, producing synchronization of delta/theta LFPs without a general activation of local neurons. Moreover, some visual inputs co‐occurring with saccades produce LFP synchronization in the alpha/beta bands and elevated neuronal firing. Our findings support the hypothesis that saccade‐related signals enact sensory input‐dependent plasticity and therefore memory formation in the primate hippocampus.
Understanding public health insurance in India: A design perspective
Authors: Maurya Dayashankar
Published: July 2019

It is broadly accepted that health policy is crucially affected by contextual conditions. Yet, little is known about how the context limits the effectiveness of public health insurance (PHI) programs and the extent to which these limitations could be overcome. The objective of the paper is to address these issues on the basis of the examination of 17 PHI schemes introduced by federal and state governments in India since independence. Faced with the challenge of simultaneously expanding insurance coverage while containing costs, governments have overwhelmingly favored the latter. At the same time, governments have lacked the capacity to monitor performance, which has led providers to compromise quality in return for low payment rates. While there have been modest improvements in recent years, reform efforts have been hindered by contextual conditions that constrain the use of measures to control profiteering by for‐profit agencies. The paper argues that system‐wide data on the quality of providers (system‐level operational capacity) and the ability of public agencies to monitor quality and link it with payment (organizational‐level operational capacity) critically determined the program effectiveness. We demonstrate the interaction between contextual variables, program design elements, and policy capacity linking to performance, arguing for a broader approach to understand PHI performance. We extend the present frameworks on PHI effectiveness that have narrowly focused on the design of health financing functions without factoring unfavorable context and limited policy capacity in developing countries. The paper contributes to improving PHI performance operating in unfavorable contextual conditions in India and elsewhere.
Finite difference Legendre wavelet collocation method applied to the study of heat mass transfer during food drying
Authors: Upadhyay Subrahamanyam , Singh Vineet K. , Rai K. N.
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we studied a single‐phase‐lag model of heat and moisture transfer in a finite slab, cylinder or sphere, undergoing industrial drying of foods. The present model is a boundary value problem of a system of two nonlinear second‐order hyperbolic partial differential equations. The solution of the present is model obtained by using finite difference Legendre wavelet collocation (FDLWCM) and Galerkin methods. In case of constant moisture diffusivity, we observe that the finite difference Legendre wavelet Galerkin and collocation solutions are exactly the same. Laplace transform and FDLWCM solutions are approximately the same. The L
2 norm error decreases as Legendre wavelet basis functions increases and strip size decreases. The
L
2 norm relative error increases as Luikov number increases.
L
2 norm relative error is highest in cylindrical shape and lowest in slab shape while in between spherical shape. The effects of the dimensionless parameters of heat and mass transfer are discussed in detail.
Natural convection in a triangular cavity filled with air under the effect of external air stream cooling
Authors: Saleem Khalid B. , Alshara Ahmed K.
Published: July 2019

Natural convection in a triangular cavity filled with air is investigated numerically. In this paper, the cavity is exposed to air stream cooling exerted on its sides and it is heated by a fixed heat flux from the base. The air inside the cavity is assumed to be laminar and obeying Boussinesq approximation. The governing equations are solved numerically using the finite volume technique with SIMPLE algorithm. The results are achieved with a range of Rayleigh number (104 < Ra < 107), free stream Reynolds number (103 < Re∞ < 1.5 × 104), four aspect ratios (AR = 0.25, 0.5, 0.866, and 1) and five inclination angles (ϕ = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°). The influence of these parameters is displayed on the stream function, isotherms lines, local and average Nusselt numbers. The results reveal that the heat transfer rate increases as Rayleigh number, free stream Reynolds number and AR increase. The highest heat transfer rate is obtained at ϕ = 0° while the lowest one is obtained at ϕ = 90°. Furthermore, as the AR augments, the local and average Nusselt numbers are enhanced and the stream function is formed of two symmetric counter‐rotating vortices.
MUC‐1 aptamer targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging of pancreatic cancer in vivo and in vitro experiment
Authors: Zou Qi , Zhang Chong‐Jie , Yan Yu‐Zhong , Min Zhi‐Jun , Li Chun‐Sheng
Published: July 2019

This study aims to explore the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in mucin 1 (MUC1) modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) targeting human pancreatic cancer (PC). The MUC1 target‐directed probe was prepared through MUC1 conjugated to SPION using the chemical method to assess its physiochemical characteristics, including hydration diameter, surface charge, and magnetic resonance signal. The cytotoxicity of MUC1‐USPION was verified by MTS assay. BxPC‐3 was cultured with MUC1‐USPION and SPION in different concentrations. The combined condition of the targeted probes and cells were observed through Prussian blue staining. The nude mice model of pancreatic cancer was established to investigate the application of the probe. MRI was performed to determine the intensity of the signal of the transplanted tumor, while immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of MUC1 after taking the transplanted tumor specimen. The particle size of the prepared molecular probe was 63.5 ± 3.2 nm, and the surface charge was 10.2 mV. Furthermore, the probe solution could significantly reduce the MRI at T2, and the magnetic resonance transverse relaxation rate (ΔR2) has a linear relationship with the concentration of iron in the solution. The cell viability of MUC1‐USPION in different concentrations revealed no statistical difference, according to the MTS assay. In vitro, the MRI demonstrated decreased T2WI signal intensity in both groups, especially the targeting group. In vivo, MUC1 could selectively accumulate in the nude mice model, and significantly reduce the T2 signal strength. In subsequent experiments, the expression of MUC1 was high in pancreatic cancer tissues, but low in normal pancreatic tissues, as determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The prepared samples can be combined with pancreatic cancer tissue specificity by in vivo imaging, providing reliable early in vivo imaging data for disease diagnosis.
Exosomes derived from oviduct cells mediate the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway in cumulus cells
Authors: Lee Seok Hee , Oh Hyun Ju , Kim Min Jung , Lee Byeong Chun
Published: July 2019

Current studies indicate that application of oviduct cells (OCs) in in vitro system create microenvironment similar to the in vivo conditions by releasing multiple growth factors which has beneficial effects on the development of cumulus‐oocyte complexes and embryos. In particular, recent evidence with a coculture system indicates that there is a reciprocal relationship between canine OCs and cumulus cells and that oviductal secretions can promote changes in cellular protein/gene expression. Despite the fact that OCs respond to cumulus cells, a clear understanding of the mechanism by which the components released from OCs that play a role in modulating the biological function of cumulus cells is still elusive. Therefore, we hypothesized that exosomes derived from OCs (OC‐Exo), which efficiently mediate cellular communication by transferring their molecular cargo to recipient cells, could be key modulators of the cross‐talk with cumulus cells. We aimed to characterize OC‐Exo and decipher their physiological effects on cumulus cells via the epidermal growth factor receptor/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (EGFR/MAPK) pathway, which is one of the prerequisite pathways for cell development. Exposure of OC‐Exo improved physiological cumulus cell condition including cell concentration, viability, and proliferation rate could reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the apoptotic rate. Moreover, exosomes could enhance the messenger RNA transcript and protein levels related to EGFR signaling in cumulus cells. The present study provides the first evidence that OC‐Exo effectively enhance the physiological condition of cumulus cells exposed to GW4869 or Gefitinib via the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway and this could be the primary mediators of molecular interactions among cumulus cells and shedding light on the role of exosomes in cumulus cells might permit improvement of oocyte and embryo development in vitro.
Microstructural modification of organo‐montmorillonite with Gemini surfactant containing four ammonium cations: molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and adsorption capacity for copper ions
Authors: Chu Yuting , Khan Muhammad Asim , Zhu Sidi , Xia Mingzhu , Lei Wu , Wang Fengyun , Xu Ying
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND

Copper is a heavy metal that is widely available in nature and has attracted people's attention because of its toxicity and difficult biodegradability. Using modified montmorillonite to adsorb copper ions (Cu2+) was widely adopted because of its simple operation, high efficiency, and easy availability.

RESULTS

Na‐montmorillonite (Na‐Mt) was modified through a Gemini surfactant (containing four ammonium cations) to explore the adsorption capacity for Cu2+ in aqueous media. The resulting product is called G‐Mt. FT‐IR XRDBET results indicated that Gemini surfactant has significantly intercalated into the montmorillonite interlayers. The results ofbatch adsorption experiments presented that the amount of adsorbed (qe) depend on pH value and qe (G‐Mt) can reach to 29.30 mg/g, which was greater than that of Na‐Mt (25.30 mg/g) when pH is 6.0 and initial Cu2+ concentration is 75 mg/L. The experimental data matched well with Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic analysis implied that adsorption of Cu2+ was endothermic and a spontaneous process. Molecular dynamics (MD) models were carried out to investigate the microstructure and kinetic information of Gemini cations in the interlayer of G‐Mt. The results elucidated that the distribution and interaction characteristic of ammonium cations of Gemini surfactant including four ammonium cations were completely different from that of the quaternary ammonium salts containing asingle ammonium cation.

CONCLUSION

Generally, considering the comprehensive performances, polyamine Gemini surfactant to modify montmorillonite can improve its ability to adsorb Cu2+. The micro environment in the interlayer space and adsorption properties of G‐Mt on Cu2+, which will improve the potential utilization of G‐Mt in soil remediation or wastewater treatment. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparative study on extraction methods of threshold voltage for thin‐film transistors
Authors: Bai Ziheng , Shi Xuewen , Wang Jiawei , Lu Nianduan , Duan Xinlv , Yang Guanhua , Dong Chaofang , Xiao Kui , Li Ling
Published: July 2019

In this work, we proposed three methods on extracting threshold voltage of ploy‐silicon thin‐film transistors, such as, extrapolation of the linear region, transconductance linear extrapolation, and second derivation. Based on these different methods, one can extract various values of threshold voltages, as well as their temperature dependence. In room temperature, the second derivation method is the most appropriate for thin‐film transistors. More remarkably, the different methods show the different temperature dependence of mobility, corresponding to different charge transport mechanisms. That is, hopping dominates the transport mechanism for extrapolation of the linear region method, while it will occur to transform from band‐like to hopping mechanism for the second derivative method.