bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: outcomes following an acute heart failure hospitalization
Authors: Buggey Jonathan , Alenezi Fawaz , Yoon Hyun Ju , Phelan Matthew , DeVore Adam D. , Khouri Michel G. , Schulte Phillip J. , Velazquez Eric J.
Published: April 2017

Aims

While abnormal resting LV GLS has been described in patients with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), its prognostic significance when measured during an acute heart failure hospitalization remains unclear. We assessed the association between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute HFpEF.

Methods and results

We studied patients discharged alive for acute HFpEF from Duke University Medical Center between 2007 and 2010. Among patients with measurable LV GLS, we performed 2D, speckle‐tracking analysis and Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between continuous LV GLS and outcomes. Baseline characteristics were stratified by normal (≤−16%) or abnormal (>−16%) LV GLS for comparison. Among 463 patients, the median LV GLS was −12.8% (Interquartile range, −15.8 to −10.8%) and was abnormal in 352 (76%). Overall patients in the cohort were generally elderly, female and had hypertension. After multivariable adjustment, worse outcomes were noted between LV GLS and mortality (HR 1.19 per 1% increase; 95% CI 1.00–1.42; P = 0.046) and a composite endpoint of mortality or rehospitalization at 30 days (HR 1.08 per 1% increase; 95% CI 0.99–1.18; P = 0.08). There was no association between LV GLS and mortality or a composite of mortality or rehospitalization at 1 year.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of patients hospitalized with acute HFpEF have abnormal LV GLS suggesting unrecognized myocardial systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, worse LV GLS is associated with worse clinical outcomes at 30 days but not by1 year.
Hunting, age structure, and horn size distribution in bighorn sheep
Authors: Schindler Susanne , Festa‐Bianchet Marco , Hogg John T. , Pelletier Fanie
Published: April 2017

Trophy hunting, the selective removal of animals for human recreation, can contribute to conservation when appropriately managed. Yet, little is known about how harvest rates or different definitions of trophy affect age structure and trophy size in harvested animals and in survivors because no controlled studies exist. To investigate the impacts of different management regimes, we developed an individual‐based model for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), based on empirical data on survival from a protected population and data on horn growth from 2 populations that differed in their growth rates. One population showed slow horn growth and the other population fast horn growth. We subjected these model populations to varying harvest rates and 2 different hunting regulations: 4/5 curl and full‐curl definitions of a trophy male. We found that the effect of hunting regulations depends on horn growth rate. In populations with fast horn growth, the effects of trophy hunting on male age structure and horn size were greater and the effect of a change in the definition of legal male smaller than in populations with slow growth rates. High harvest rates led to a younger age structure and smaller horn size. Both effects were weakened by a more restrictive definition of trophy male. As harvest rates increased past 40% of legal males, the number of males harvested increased only marginally because an increasing proportion of the harvested males included those that had just become legal. Although our simulation focused on bighorn sheep, the link between horn growth rate and harvest effects may be applicable for any size‐selective harvest regime. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Motion‐corrected simultaneous cardiac positron emission tomography and coronary MR angiography with high acquisition efficiency
Authors: Munoz Camila , Neji Radhouene , Cruz Gastão , Mallia Andrew , Jeljeli Sami , Reader Andrew J. , Botnar Rene M. , Prieto Claudia
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Develop a framework for efficient free‐breathing simultaneous whole‐heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) and cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) on a 3 Tesla PET‐MR system.

Methods

An acquisition that enables nonrigid motion correction of both CMRA and PET has been developed. The proposed method estimates translational motion from low‐resolution 2D MR image navigators acquired at each heartbeat and 3D nonrigid respiratory motion between different respiratory bins from the CMRA data itself. Estimated motion is used for correcting the CMRA as well as the emission and attenuation PET data sets to the same respiratory position. The CMRA approach was studied in 10 healthy subjects and compared for both left and right coronary arteries (LCA, RCA) against a reference scan with diaphragmatic navigator gating and tracking. The PET‐CMRA approach was tested in 5 oncology patients with 18F‐FDG myocardial uptake. PET images were compared against uncorrected and gated PET reconstructions.

Results

For the healthy subjects, no statistically significant differences in vessel length and sharpness (P > 0.01) were observed between the proposed approach and the reference acquisition with navigator gating and tracking, although data acquisition was significantly shorter. The proposed approach improved CMRA vessel sharpness by 37.9% and 49.1% (LCA, RCA) and vessel length by 48.0% and 36.7% (LCA, RCA) in comparison with no motion correction for all the subjects. Motion‐corrected PET images showed improved sharpness of the myocardium compared to uncorrected reconstructions and reduced noise compared to gated reconstructions.

Conclusion

Feasibility of a new respiratory motion‐compensated simultaneous cardiac PET‐CMRA acquisition has been demonstrated. Magn Reson Med 79:339–350, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Biodegradable Di‐ and Tri‐Block Copolymers Based on Ethylene Carbonate Polymer as Hydrophobic Segment
Authors: Abdul‐Karim Rubina , Musharraf Syed Ghulam , Malik Muhammad Imran
Published: April 2017

Synthesis of novel amphiphilic biodegradable block copolymers based on ethylene carbonate is reported in this study. Polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (MeO‐PEO) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of varying molar masses are used as macro‐initiator for ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene carbonate in the presence of sodium stannate trihydrate as a heterogeneous transesterification catalyst. Earlier elution of block copolymer from macro‐initiator in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicated the successful synthesis of the block copolymers. Ratios of both types of blocks are varied systematically. Liquid chromatography at critical conditions is used for the analysis of the non‐critical individual blocks, and if there are any critical segments that are not attached to the non‐critical block. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of ethylene carbonate‐based amphiphilic block copolymers. Chromatographic critical conditions of the ethylene carbonate polymer are also reported for the first time. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1887–1893
Soft interactions and volume exclusion by polymeric crowders can stabilize or destabilize transient structure in disordered proteins depending on polymer concentration
Authors: Rusinga Farai I. , Weis David D.
Published: April 2017

The effects of macromolecular crowding on the transient structure of intrinsically disordered proteins is not well‐understood. Crowding by biological molecules inside cells could modulate transient structure and alter IDP function. Volume exclusion theory and observations of structured proteins suggest that IDP transient structure would be stabilized by macromolecular crowding. Amide hydrogen exchange (HX) of IDPs in highly concentrated polymer solutions would provide valuable insights into IDP transient structure under crowded conditions. Here, we have used mass spectrometry to measure HX by a transiently helical random coil domain of the activator of thyroid and retinoid receptor (ACTR) in solutions containing 300 g L−1and 400 g L−1of Ficoll, a synthetic polysaccharide, using a recently‐developed strong cation exchange‐based cleanup method [Rusinga, et al., Anal Chem 2017;89:1275–1282]. Transiently helical regions of ACTR exchanged faster in 300 g L−1Ficoll than in dilute buffer. In contrast, one transient helix exchanged more slowly in 400 g L−1Ficoll. Nonspecific interactions destabilize ACTR helicity in 300 g L−1Ficoll because ACTR engages with the Ficoll polymer mesh. In contrast, 400 g L−1Ficoll is a semi‐dilute solution where ACTR cannot engage the Ficoll mesh. At this higher concentration, volume exclusion stabilizes ACTR helicity because ACTR is compacted in interstitial spaces between Ficoll molecules. Our results suggest that the interplay between nonspecific interactions and volume exclusion in different cellular compartments could modulate IDP function by altering the stability of IDP transient structures. Proteins 2017; 85:1468–1479. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pressure relief valve inspection interval
Authors: Trotta Thiago , Kashou Charles , Faulk Nancy
Published: April 2017

Determining the correct interval for pressure relief valve inspection, testing, and maintenance remains a major challenge for facilities covered by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Process Safety Management Standard. To this end, guidance is provided by API Standard 510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: In‐Service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration, by API Recommended Practice 576, Inspection of Pressure‐relieving Devices, by API Standard 520, Sizing, Selection, and Installation of Pressure‐Relieving Devices, Part II‐Installation, and by NB‐23, National Board Inspection Code—Part 2 Inspection. Furthermore, ASME BPVC, Sections I and VIII, provide general guidelines for the repair of pressure relief valves.

However, the testing and inspection interval listed, up to ten years, is the maximum time span between shop inspections and overhaul. Further direction is often requested for determining the proper interval for valves in typical process services, especially in cases of PRV chattering. Recent API STD 520 Part II guidance on performing engineering analyses for PRV installations, based on service and specific installation, is included here.

In this paper, a decision‐making approach to determining these intervals based on a combined understanding of risk‐based inspection, quality assurance, engineering analyses, and facility experience is presented. The approach provides process operators and managers with additional assistance in making this determination. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Process Saf Prog 37:37–41, 2018
Oil and gas resources of the Jurassic horizons of West Siberia: The current state and prospects for exploration in the context of the predictions by Academician I.M. Gubkin
Authors: Brekhuntsov A.M. , Nesterov I.I. , Nechiporuk L.A.
Published: April 2017

We have analyzed the predictions of the petroleum potential of West Siberia made by Academician I.M. Gubkin in his public reports and scientific works. We outline the strategy of oil exploration in the area east of the Urals, set up in the early postwar period, and the current state of research into the petroleum potential of the province. Special attention is focused on Jurassic deposits, which were regarded by I.M. Gubkin as oil-promising. At present, the largest volumes of predicted oil and gas resources of the province are concentrated in Jurassic and Neocomian plays.
Thermal maturity of uppermost Middle Jurassic sediments in the West Siberian basin
Authors: Fomin A.N.
Published: April 2017

More than 1500 measurements of vitrinite reflectance (Rvt0), along with mathematical modeling and computing, have been used to map the uppermost Middle Jurassic sediments of the West Siberian basin according to thermal maturity (catagenesis). The thermal maturity varies within the grades PC3 to AC2. Sediments are the least mature along the margins of the basin, and the maturity grade increases progressively toward its central and northern parts (grades MC12−MC2). It reaches a maximum in the north (AC2), where the sediments which subsided to large depths became exposed to high temperatures and pressures. The maturity zones of Jurassic sediments in the West Siberian basin form a typical pattern of regional catagenesis.
Geologic prerequisites for high petroleum potential of the northern Siberian Platform
Authors: Starosel’tsev V.S. , Divina T.A. , Krol’ L.A. , Shishkin B.B.
Published: April 2017

We analyze geologic and geophysical factors enhancing the prerequisites for the high petroleum potential of East Siberia that were formulated by A.A. Trofimuk in 1960. The main updates concern the northern Siberian Platform, where it is indeed possible to significantly increase its petroleum potential and to refine the localization of large and giant, mostly oil accumulations.
Geologic prerequisites for increment of the mineral resources base of the Yurubchen–Kuyumba petroleum production center
Authors: Mel’nikov N.V. , Smirnov E.V. , Maslennikov M.A. , Protsko A.N. , Borovikova L.V.
Published: April 2017

The Yurubchen–Kuyumba petroleum production center is being formed in the central part of Krasnoyarsk region, in the middle reaches of the Podkamennaya Tunguska River. It comprises the Kamo arch, the most elevated area of the Baikit anteclise, and its slopes. The main hydrocarbon (HC) resources (app. 820 mln tons) occur in the unique Riphean petroleum fields (Yurubchen and Kuyumba) of the Yurubchen–Tokhomo petroleum accumulation zone (YuT PAZ). The first commercial gas inflow was obtained from the Kuyumbinskaya-1 well in 1973, and that of oil from the Kuyumbinskaya-2 and 9 wells, in 1976. The Yurubchen–Tokhomo petropeum accumulation zone was originally established in 1986 under the Complex Plan for Optimization of Regional, Prospecting, and Exploration Works in the Yurubchen–Tokhomo Petroleum Accumulation Zone. Nowadays the main resources and reserves of oil, gas and condensate are located in two petroliferous complexes, Riphean (main) and Vendian (supplementary). The extension, structure, and petroleum potential of the reservoirs of these complexes are discussed in the paper. To facilitate continuation of the prospecting and exploration works of the new oil fields and reservoirs, it is proposed to include the adjacent territories of the YuT PAZ (Omoro PAZ, Vaivida and Taimba petroleum prospects, Turama and Mutorai underexplored prospects) into the Yurubchen–Kuyumba petroleum production center. We propose support of stable annual oil production in the Yurubchen–Kuyumba petroleum production center as the main purpose of the petroleum exploration works.
Correction: Corrigendum: MHC-dependent inhibition of uterine NK cells impedes fetal growth and decidual vascular remodeling
Authors: Kieckbusch Jens , Gaynor Louise M. , Moffett Ashley , Colucci Francesco
Published: April 2017

Nature Communications 5: Article number: 3359 (2014); Published: 28 February 2014; Updated: 20 April 2017 This Article was originally published under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license, but has now been made available under a CC BY 4.0 license. The PDF and HTML versions of the paper have been modified accordingly.
Discovering charge density functionals and structure-property relationships with PROPhet: A general framework for coupling machine learning and first-principles methods
Authors: Kolb Brian , Lentz Levi C. , Kolpak Alexie M.
Published: April 2017

Modern ab initio methods have rapidly increased our understanding of solid state materials properties, chemical reactions, and the quantum interactions between atoms. However, poor scaling often renders direct ab initio calculations intractable for large or complex systems. There are two obvious avenues through which to remedy this problem: (i) develop new, less expensive methods to calculate system properties, or (ii) make existing methods faster. This paper describes an open source framework designed to pursue both of these avenues. PROPhet (short for PROPerty Prophet) utilizes machine learning techniques to find complex, non-linear mappings between sets of material or system properties. The result is a single code capable of learning analytical potentials, non-linear density functionals, and other structure-property or property-property relationships. These capabilities enable highly accurate mesoscopic simulations, facilitate computation of expensive properties, and enable the development of predictive models for systematic materials design and optimization. This work explores the coupling of machine learning to ab initio methods through means both familiar (e.g., the creation of various potentials and energy functionals) and less familiar (e.g., the creation of density functionals for arbitrary properties), serving both to demonstrate PROPhet’s ability to create exciting post-processing analysis tools and to open the door to improving ab initio methods themselves with these powerful machine learning techniques.
Value of evidence from syndromic surveillance with cumulative evidence from multiple data streams with delayed reporting
Authors: Struchen R. , Vial F. , Andersson M. G.
Published: April 2017

Delayed reporting of health data may hamper the early detection of infectious diseases in surveillance systems. Furthermore, combining multiple data streams, e.g. aiming at improving a system’s sensitivity, can be challenging. In this study, we used a Bayesian framework where the result is presented as the value of evidence, i.e. the likelihood ratio for the evidence under outbreak versus baseline conditions. Based on a historical data set of routinely collected cattle mortality events, we evaluated outbreak detection performance (sensitivity, time to detection, in-control run length) under the Bayesian approach among three scenarios: presence of delayed data reporting, but not accounting for it; presence of delayed data reporting accounted for; and absence of delayed data reporting (i.e. an ideal system). Performance on larger and smaller outbreaks was compared with a classical approach, considering syndromes separately or combined. We found that the Bayesian approach performed better than the classical approach, especially for the smaller outbreaks. Furthermore, the Bayesian approach performed similarly well in the scenario where delayed reporting was accounted for to the scenario where it was absent. We argue that the value of evidence framework may be suitable for surveillance systems with multiple syndromes and delayed reporting of data.
High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors obtained via Recycled Jute: Bio-Waste to Energy Storage Approach
Authors: Zequine Camila , Ranaweera C. K. , Wang Z. , Dvornic Petar R. , Kahol P. K. , Singh Sweta , Tripathi Prashant , Srivastava O. N. , Singh Satbir , Gupta Bipin Kumar , Gupta Gautam , Gupta Ram K.
Published: April 2017

In search of affordable, flexible, lightweight, efficient and stable supercapacitors, metal oxides have been shown to provide high charge storage capacity but with poor cyclic stability due to structural damage occurring during the redox process. Here, we develop an efficient flexible supercapacitor obtained by carbonizing abundantly available and recyclable jute. The active material was synthesized from jute by a facile hydrothermal method and its electrochemical performance was further enhanced by chemical activation. Specific capacitance of 408 F/g at 1 mV/s using CV and 185 F/g at 500 mA/g using charge-discharge measurements with excellent flexibility (~100% retention in charge storage capacity on bending) were observed. The cyclic stability test confirmed no loss in the charge storage capacity of the electrode even after 5,000 charge-discharge measurements. In addition, a supercapacitor device fabricated using this carbonized jute showed promising specific capacitance of about 51 F/g, and improvement of over 60% in the charge storage capacity on increasing temperature from 5 to 75 °C. Based on these results, we propose that recycled jute should be considered for fabrication of high-performance flexible energy storage devices at extremely low cost.
Therapeutic effects of anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody on pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in mice
Authors: Fu Li , Liu Keyue , Wake Hidenori , Teshigawara Kiyoshi , Yoshino Tadashi , Takahashi Hideo , Mori Shuji , Nishibori Masahiro
Published: April 2017

Inflammatory processes in brain tissue have been described in human epilepsy of various etiologies and in experimental models of seizures. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is now recognized as representative of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In the present study, we focused on whether anti-HMGB1 antibody treatment could relieve status epilepticus- triggered BBB breakdown and inflammation response in addition to the seizure behavior itself. Pilocarpine and methyl-scopolamine were used to establish the acute seizure model. Anti-HMGB1 mAb showed inhibitory effects on leakage of the BBB, and on the HMGB1 translocation induced by pilocarpine. The expression of inflammation-related factors, such as MCP-1, CXCL-1, TLR-4, and IL-6 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex were down-regulated by anti-HMGB1 mAb associated with the number of activated astrocytes, microglial cells as well as the expression of IL-1β. Both hematoxylin & eosin and TUNEL staining showed that the apoptotic cells could be reduced after anti-HMGB1 mAb treatment. The onset and latency of Racine stage five were significantly prolonged in the anti-HMGB1 mAb group. These results suggested that anti-HMGB1 mAb prevented the BBB permeability, reduced HMGB1 translocation while inhibiting the expression of inflammation-related factors, protected against neural cell apoptosis and prolonged Racine stage 5 seizure onset and latency.
Linear dynamics of classical spin as Möbius transformation
Authors: Galda Alexey , Vinokur Valerii М.
Published: April 2017

Though the overwhelming majority of natural processes occur far from the equilibrium, general theoretical approaches to non-equilibrium phase transitions remain scarce. Recent breakthroughs introduced a description of open dissipative systems in terms of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics enabling the identification of a class of non-equilibrium phase transitions associated with the loss of combined parity (reflection) and time-reversal symmetries. Here we report that the time evolution of a single classical spin (e.g. monodomain ferromagnet) governed by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation in the absence of magnetic anisotropy terms is described by a Möbius transformation in complex stereographic coordinates. We identify theparity-timesymmetry-breaking phase transition occurring in spin-transfer torque-driven linear spin systems as a transition between hyperbolic and loxodromic classes of Möbius transformations, with the critical point of the transition corresponding to the parabolic transformation. This establishes the understanding of non-equilibrium phase transitions as topological transitions in configuration space.
Insecticidal activity of garlic essential oil and their constituents against the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Plata-Rueda Angelica , Martínez Luis Carlos , Santos Marcelo Henrique Dos , Fernandes Flávio Lemes , Wilcken Carlos Frederico , Soares Marcus Alvarenga , Serrão José Eduardo , Zanuncio José Cola
Published: April 2017

This study evaluated the insecticidal activity of garlic, Allium sativum Linnaeus (Amaryllidaceae) essential oil and their principal constituents on Tenebrio molitor. Garlic essential oil, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl sulfide oil were used to compare the lethal and repellent effects on larvae, pupae and adults of T. molitor. Six concentrations of garlic essential oil and their principal constituents were topically applied onto larvae, pupae and adults of this insect. Repellent effect and respiration rate of each constituent was evaluated. The chemical composition of garlic essential oil was also determined and primary compounds were dimethyl trisulfide (19.86%), diallyl disulfide (18.62%), diallyl sulfide (12.67%), diallyl tetrasulfide (11.34%), and 3-vinyl-[4H]-1,2-dithiin (10.11%). Garlic essential oil was toxic to T. molitor larva, followed by pupa and adult. In toxic compounds, diallyl disulfide was the most toxic than diallyl sulfide for pupa > larva > adult respectively and showing lethal effects at different time points. Garlic essential oil, diallyl disulfide and diallyl sulfide induced symptoms of intoxication and necrosis in larva, pupa, and adult of T. molitor between 20–40 h after exposure. Garlic essential oil and their compounds caused lethal and sublethal effects on T. molitor and, therefore, have the potential for pest control.
Novel interactions of the von Hippel-Lindau (pVHL) tumor suppressor with the CDKN1 family of cell cycle inhibitors
Authors: Minervini Giovanni , Lopreiato Raffaele , Bortolotto Raissa , Falconieri Antonella , Sartori Geppo , Tosatto Silvio C. E.
Published: April 2017

Germline inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor predisposes patients to develop different highly vascularized cancers. pVHL targets the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1α) for degradation, modulating the activation of various genes involved in hypoxia response. Hypoxia plays a relevant role in regulating cell cycle progression, inducing growth arrest in cells exposed to prolonged oxygen deprivation. However, the exact molecular details driving this transition are far from understood. Here, we present novel interactions between pVHL and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor family CDKN1 (p21, p27 and p57). Bioinformatics analysis, yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to predict, dissect and validate the interactions. We found that the CDKN1 proteins share a conserved region mimicking the HIF-1α motif responsible for pVHL binding. Intriguingly, a p27 site-specific mutation associated to cancer is shown to modulate this novel interaction. Our findings suggest a new connection between the pathways regulating hypoxia and cell cycle progression.
Revealing Hidden Conformational Space of LOV Protein VIVID Through Rigid Residue Scan Simulations
Authors: Zhou Hongyu , Zoltowski Brian D. , Tao Peng
Published: April 2017

VIVID(VVD) protein is a Light-Oxygen-Voltage(LOV) domain in circadian clock system. Upon blue light activation, a covalent bond is formed between VVD residue Cys108 and its cofactor flavin adenine dinucleotide(FAD), and prompts VVD switching from Dark state to Light state with significant conformational deviation. However, the mechanism of this local environment initiated global protein conformational change remains elusive. We employed a recently developed computational approach, rigid residue scan(RRS), to systematically probe the impact of the internal degrees of freedom in each amino acid residue of VVD on its overall dynamics by applying rigid body constraint on each residue in molecular dynamics simulations. Key residues were identified with distinctive impacts on Dark and Light states, respectively. All the simulations display wide range of distribution on a two-dimensional(2D) plot upon structural root-mean-square deviations(RMSD) from either Dark or Light state. Clustering analysis of the 2D RMSD distribution leads to 15 representative structures with drastically different conformation of N-terminus, which is also a key difference between Dark and Light states of VVD. Further principle component analyses(PCA) of RRS simulations agree with the observation of distinctive impact from individual residues on Dark and Light states.
Perturbed oral motor control due to anesthesia during intraoral manipulation of food
Authors: Grigoriadis Joannis , Kumar Abhishek , Svensson Peter , Svensson Krister G. , Trulsson Mats
Published: April 2017

Sensory information from periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs) surrounding the roots of natural teeth is important for optimizing the positioning of food and adjustment of force vectors during precision biting. The present experiment was designed to test the hypothesis; that reduction of afferent inputs from the PMRs, by anesthesia, perturbs the oral fine motor control and related jaw movements during intraoral manipulation of morsels of food. Thirty healthy volunteers with a natural dentition were equally divided into experimental and control groups. The participants in both groups were asked to manipulate and split a spherical candy into two equal halves with the front teeth. An intervention was made by anesthetizing the upper and lower incisors of the experimental group while the control group performed the task without intervention. Performance of the split was evaluated and the jaw movement recorded. The experimental group demonstrated a significant decrease in measures of performance following local anesthesia. However, there was no significant changes in the duration or position of the jaw during movements in the experimental and control group. In conclusion, transient deprivation of sensory information from PMRs perturbs oral fine motor control during intraoral manipulation of food, however, no significant alterations in duration or positions of the jaw during movements can be observed.
Anatomy of terminal moraine segments and implied lake stability on Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal, from electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)
Authors: Thompson Sarah S. , Kulessa Bernd , Benn Douglas I. , Mertes Jordan R.
Published: April 2017

Moraine-dammed lakes at debris-covered glaciers are becoming increasingly common and pose significant outburst flood hazards if the dam is breached. While moraine subsurface structure and internal processes are likely to influence dam stability, only few sites have so far been investigated. We conducted electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys at two sites on the terminal moraine complex of the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal, to aid assessment of future terminus stability. The resistivity signature of glacier ice at the site (100–15 kΩ m) is more consistent with values measured from cold glacier ice and while this may be feasible, uncertainties in the data inversion introduce ambiguity to this thermal interpretation. However, the ERT data does provide a significant improvement to our knowledge of the subsurface characteristics at these sites, clearly showing the presence (or absence) of glacier ice. Our interpretation is that of a highly complex latero-terminal moraine, resulting from interaction between previous glacier advance, recession and outburst flooding. If the base-level Spillway Lake continues to expand to a fully formed moraine-dammed glacial lake, the degradation of the ice core could have implications for glacial lake outburst risk.
Copper indium gallium selenide based solar cells – a review
Authors: Ramanujam Jeyakumar , Singh Udai P.
Published: April 2017

Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) based solar cells are receiving worldwide attention for solar power generation.
Correction: High precision, localized proton gradients and fluxes generated by a microelectrode device induce differential growth behaviors of pollen tubes
Authors: Hu Chengzhi , Vogler Hannes , Aellen Marianne , Shamsudhin Naveen , Jang Bumjin , Burri Jan T. , Läubli Nino , Grossniklaus Ueli , Pané Salvador , Nelson Bradley J.
Published: April 2017

Correction for ‘High precision, localized proton gradients and fluxes generated by a microelectrode device induce differential growth behaviors of pollen tubes’ by Chengzhi Hu et al., Lab Chip, 2017, 17, 671–680.
The multi-output incoherent feedforward loop constituted by the transcriptional regulators LasR and RsaL confers robustness to a subset of quorum sensing genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bondí Roslen , Longo Francesca , Messina Marco , D'Angelo Francesca , Visca Paolo , Leoni Livia , Rampioni Giordano
Published: April 2017

Thelasmulti-output IFFL-1 splits the QS regulon into two distinct sub-regulons with different robustness with respect to LasR fluctuations.
Effect of nucleobase change on cytosine deamination through DNA photo-cross-linking reaction via 3-cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside
Authors: Sethi Siddhant , Ooe Minako , Sakamoto Takashi , Fujimoto Kenzo
Published: April 2017

Guanine, when replaced with inosine in the photo-responsive ODN containing 3-cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside (CNVK), can accelerate photo-mediated cytosine deamination by many-folds under physiological conditions.
EGF-targeting lipodisks for specific delivery of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents to tumour cells
Authors: Ahlgren Sara , Fondell Amelie , Gedda Lars , Edwards Katarina
Published: April 2017

We report on the construction of tumour targeting PEG-stabilized lipodisks capable of receptor mediated intracellular delivery of curcumin.
Construction of 3D pomegranate-like Na3V2(PO4)3/conducting carbon composites for high-power sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Enhui , Xiang Wei , Rajagopalan Ranjusha , Wu Zhenguo , Yang Junghoon , Chen Mingzhe , Zhong Benhe , Dou Shi Xue , Chou Shulei , Guo Xiaodong , Kang Yong-Mook
Published: April 2017

This study employed a conductive carbon grown in situ to obtain an NVP@C composite with a pomegranate-like structure, which exhibited excellent rate performance.
Two-dimensional CoNi nanoparticles@S,N-doped carbon composites derived from S,N-containing Co/Ni MOFs for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Tong Mingyu , Liu Shengwen , Zhang Xian , Wu Tianxing , Zhang Haimin , Wang Guozhong , Zhang Yunxia , Zhu Xiaoguang , Zhao Huijun
Published: April 2017

CoNi alloy nanoparticles incorporated into S,N-doped carbon structure was obtained by pyrolysis treatment of 2D S,N-containing Co/Ni MOFs nanosheets, as electrode material exhibiting high supercapacitor performance.
Multifunctional shape-memory foams with highly tunable properties via organo-phase cryo-polymerization
Authors: Wong Tuck-Whye , Wu Jingjun , Yang Miao , Abdul Kadir Mohammed Rafiq , Wahit Mat Uzir , Zhao Qian
Published: April 2017

Cryo-polymerization is used as a simple yet effective method to prepare multifunctional shape-memory foam.
Highly exposed nickel cobalt sulfide–rGO nanoporous structures: an advanced energy-storage electrode material
Authors: Annamalai K. P. , Liu Lile , Tao Yousheng
Published: April 2017

Uncontrollable diffusion and the associated decrease in rate have hampered the development of robust nanostructured porous metal sulfides to date.
Fabrication of a new physiological macroporous hybrid biomaterial/bioscaffold material based on polyphosphate and collagen by freeze-extraction
Authors: Müller Werner E. G. , Neufurth Meik , Ackermann Maximilian , Tolba Emad , Wang Shunfeng , Feng Qingling , Schröder Heinz C. , Wang Xiaohong
Published: April 2017

A macroporous hybrid biomaterial/bioscaffold material, eliciting morphogenetic activity, was fabricated with polyphosphate, chondroitin sulfate and collagen by the freeze-extraction technology.
Robust silk fibroin/bacterial cellulose nanoribbon composite scaffolds with radial lamellae and intercalation structure for bone regeneration
Authors: Chen Jian , Zhuang Ao , Shao Huili , Hu Xuechao , Zhang Yaopeng
Published: April 2017

Biomimetic scaffolds with a gradient gap distance and robust mechanical properties were prepared using silk fibroin and bacterial cellulose.
Multi-site binding of epigallocatechin gallate to human serum albumin measured by NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry
Authors: Eaton Joshua D. , Williamson Mike P.
Published: April 2017

The affinity of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) for human serum albumin (HSA) was measured in physiological conditions using NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). NMR estimated the Ka (self-dissociation constant) of EGCG as 50 mM. NMR showed two binding events: strong (n1=1.8 ± 0.2; Kd1 =19 ± 12 μM) and weak (n2∼20; Kd2 =40 ± 20 mM). ITC also showed two binding events: strong (n1=2.5 ± 0.03; Kd1 =21.6 ± 4.0 μM) and weak (n2=9 ± 1; Kd2 =22 ± 4 mM). The two techniques are consistent, with an unexpectedly high number of bound EGCG. The strong binding is consistent with binding in the two Sudlow pockets. These results imply that almost all EGCG is transported in the blood bound to albumin and explains the wide tissue distribution and chemical stability of EGCG in vivo.
Mitochondria: a central target for sex differences in pathologies
Authors: Ventura-Clapier Renée , Moulin Maryline , Piquereau Jérôme , Lemaire Christophe , Mericskay Mathias , Veksler Vladimir , Garnier Anne
Published: April 2017

It is increasingly acknowledged that a sex and gender specificity affects the occurrence, development, and consequence of a plethora of pathologies. Mitochondria are considered as the powerhouse of the cell because they produce the majority of energy-rich phosphate bonds in the form of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) but they also participate in many other functions like steroid hormone synthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, ionic regulation, and cell death. Adequate cellular energy supply and survival depend on mitochondrial life cycle, a process involving mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and quality control via mitophagy. It appears that mitochondria are the place of marked sexual dimorphism involving mainly oxidative capacities, calcium handling, and resistance to oxidative stress. In turn, sex hormones regulate mitochondrial function and biogenesis. Mutations in genes encoding mitochondrial proteins are the origin of serious mitochondrial genetic diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is also an important parameter for a large panel of pathologies including neuromuscular disorders, encephalopathies, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), metabolic disorders, neuropathies, renal dysfunction etc. Many of these pathologies present sex/gender specificity. Here we review the sexual dimorphism of mitochondria from different tissues and how this dimorphism takes part in the sex specificity of important pathologies mainly CVDs and neurological disorders.
CDS circuit with BLA function for X‐ray CCD applications
Authors: Lu Bo , Chen Yong , Luo Jiajun , Zhou Yumei
Published: April 2017

Correlated double sampling (CDS) circuits are essential to process the X‐ray charge‐coupled devices (CCDs) that have been used in the modern X‐ray astronomical field. A novel CDS circuit is presented. The innovation of the circuit is that it greatly improves the noise and linearity performances through moving the clamping switch out of the signal path as well as omitting the sampling switch which eliminates the nonlinearity and thermal noise introduced by these switches. Also, a baseline adjustment (BLA) circuit is incorporated so as to make efficient use of the dynamic range of the ADC, making the CDS circuit flexible to interface the CCD operating under a wide range of temperatures. A prototype application‐specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is designed with GlobalFoundries 0.35 μm CMOS process and the experimental results show that with pixel rate varying from 100 kHz to 1 MHz, the integral nonlinearity and equivalent input noise performances are quite consistent, which are better than 27 ppm and 23 μV, respectively, within a dynamic range of 1.5 Vpp. The effective adjustment range of the BLA is at least 2 V, and the power consumption for a single CDS core is 10 mW approximately from a 3.3 V power supply.
Optical 64‐QAM transmitter using binary driven QPSK modulators
Authors: Albakay N. , Nguyen L.
Published: April 2017

Optical 64‐QAM transmitter using QPSK modulators in tandem driven by binary electrical signals is proposed. The proposed transmitter eliminates the need for complex electronics required for the generation of multiple‐level signals and provides a Gray‐coded constellation with high quality eye diagrams. The design could be scaled to higher‐order QAM based on the user needs.
Master–slave DC droop control for paralleling auxiliary DC/DC converters in electric bus applications
Authors: Federico Ibanez , Jose Echeverria , Luis Fontan
Published: April 2017

This study reviews the causes of power losses in a DC/DC converter, relates those losses with efficiency profiles, and details different strategies for maximising efficiency when several converters are placed in parallel. The research is focused on electric bus applications, where several converters are usually connected in parallel in order to fulfil the power requirements of the bus models. In a bus, the low‐voltage DC link (28 V) resembles a microgrid that has some generators (DC/DC converters), an energy storage system (lead–acid batteries) and certain loads. To share the converters’ output power, a droop control is proposed. Furthermore, traditional droop control is improved by adding a master–slave control. The proposed master–slave droop control improves efficiency by more than 3% at low power with no additional hardware. Experimental results show how two 5 kW converters work in parallel using the proposed control.
Quasi‐Born approximation scattering and inverse scattering of multiple scattering targets
Authors: Marengo Edwin A.
Published: April 2017

Conditions in which forward scattering of multiple scattering point‐like targets behaves like Born approximation scattering are derived in the framework of the Foldy–Lax multiple scattering model. The derived quasi‐Born approximable regime leads to a new prefiltering method which allows the solution of the inverse scattering problem for two targets without iterations, even though the corresponding forward map from scatterer to data is in general non‐linear as a result of multiple scattering interactions. The developed methodology filters out, prior to the inversion, multiple scattering contributions in the data. The quasi‐Born approximation data characteristics are elaborated in detail. The developed quasi‐Born approximation scattering theory is found to be relevant also for specialised scatterers that are constituted by a dominant target surrounded by weakly scattering targets which can be continuous such as lines and surfaces.
OPA1 in Lipid Metabolism: Function of OPA1 in Lipolysis and Thermogenesis of Adipocytes
Authors: Chu Dinh-Toi , Tao Yang , Taskén Kjetil
Published: April 2017

OPA1 (Optic Atrophy 1) is a mitochondrial GTPase known to regulate fission of mitochondria. It was recently also shown to locate on lipid droplets in adipocytes where it functions as an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) that mediates adrenergic control of lipolysis by facilitating PKA phosphorylation of perilipin (Plin1). In brown adipocytes indirect evidence support the notion that OPA1 regulation of fission serves to increase thermogenesis, which thereby contributes to dissipation of energy. In white adipocytes, OPA1 located on lipid droplets serves as a gatekeeper to control lipolysis induced by adrenergic agonists. However, the function of OPA1 in lipolysis and thermogenesis in inducible brown adipocytes (brite/beige cells) remains elusive. Here we discuss the role of OPA1 in lipid metabolism.
In-vitro-Aktivität von Mecillinam gegen Escherichia coli: Urinisolate von Patienten im niedergelassenen Versorgungsbereich in Deutschland
Authors: Kresken Michael , Körber-Irrgang Barbara , Naber Kurt
Published: April 2017

Die Behandlung der akuten unkomplizierten Zystitis soll entsprechend nationaler und internationaler Leitlinien primär mit Fosfomycin-Trometamol, Nitrofurantoin, Nitroxolin oder Pivmecillinam erfolgen. Die weitaus meisten ambulant erworbenen Harnwegsinfektionen werden durch Escherichia coli verursacht. Pivmecillinam (X-SYSTO®) ist das oral verfügbare Prodrug des Penicillin-Derivats Mecillinam, das seit März 2016 wieder auf dem deutschen Markt zur Verfügung steht. Das Ziel der Studie war, den Anteil der Mecillinam-resistenten Stämme bei E. coli-Isolaten vor der Einführung von X-SYSTO® in Deutschland zu ermitteln.

Im Rahmen einer In-vitro-Studie wurden die minimalen Hemmkonzentrationen (MHK) von Mecillinam für 494 E.-coli-Urinisolate (einschließlich multiresistenter Stämme) bestimmt. Die Bakterienisolate waren im Zeitraum Oktober bis Dezember 2013 in 25 Laboren von Patienten aus dem niedergelassenen Bereich gesammelt worden. Die Bewertung der Erregerempfindlichkeit als Mecillinam-sensibel (MHK ≤ 8 mg/l) bzw. resistent (MHK > 8 mg/l) erfolgte mithilfe der Grenzwerte des European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST).

Die Konzentrationen von Mecillinam, die zur Hemmung von 50 % bzw. 90 % der getesteten Isolate benötigt wurden, betrugen 1 und 4 mg/l für Isolate mit dem Extended-Spektrum-β-Laktamase-Phänotyp und 0,25 und 4 mg/l für die übrigen Isolate. Insgesamt wurden 98 % der Isolate als Mecillinam-sensibel und 2 % als resistent bewertet.

Die Ergebnisse stützen die Empfehlung, Pivmecillinam als eine primäre Option zur Erstlinientherapie der akuten unkomplizierten Zystitis zu betrachten.
Entwicklung und Evaluation des Online-Portals herzwegweiser.de - Ein Informationsangebot für die Nachsorge kardiologischer Rehabilitanden und deren Behandler in Berlin-Brandenburg
Authors: Stamm-Balderjahn Sabine , Bartel Susanne , Wilke Kristin , Spyra Karla
Published: April 2017

Um Rehabilitanden mit Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen aus der Region Berlin-Brandenburg in der Phase-III-Rehabilitation zu unterstützen, wurde das Internet-Portal 'herzwegweiser.de' entwickelt. Es bietet für Patienten neben der Aufklärung über ihr konkretes Krankheitsbild detaillierte Informationen zu Nachsorgeangeboten (z. B. Herzgruppen) in ihrer Wohnumgebung. Für das medizinische und therapeutische Fachkollegium wurde neben spezifischen Informationen (z. B. Behandlungsleitlinien) eine Vermittlungsbörse für Übungsleiter und Ärzte zur Betreuung von Herzgruppen eingerichtet.

Innerhalb eines Mixed-Methods-Designs wurden zunächst leitfadengestützte Interviews geführt, um die Erwartungen und Bedarfe an das Internet-Portal zu ermitteln. Nach Implementation des Portals erfolgte im Hinblick auf Akzeptanz und Benutzerfreundlichkeit eine teilstandardisierte schriftliche Befragung, an der 105 Rehabilitanden und 42 medizinische Fachkollegen teilnahmen. Die Auswertung der Fragebögen wurde mit Häufigkeitsverteilungen, Mittelwertvergleichen und Chi-Quadrat-Tests vorgenommen.

Die Webseite erhielt hohe Zustimmungsquoten in der nutzerseitigen Bewertung. Über 90% der Rehabilitanden bewerteten Inhalt, Aufbau, Design sowie die Suchfunktion des Portals positiv, bei den medizinischen Fachkollegen waren es über 85%. Das Portal weiterempfehlen würden 97% der Rehabilitanden und 95% der Fachkollegen.

Das Internet-Portal kann als Vorbild für die Einrichtung entsprechender Portale für weitere Regionen und ggf. andere Krankheitsbilder dienen.