bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Impact of Film Disorder and Local Surface Potential in Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy of PEDOT
Authors: Muñoz William A. , Crispin Xavier , Fahlman Mats , Zozoulenko Igor V.
Published: December 2017

The spectra of conducting polymers obtained using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) exhibit a typical broadening of the tail σUPS ≈ 1 eV, which by an order of magnitude exceeds a commonly accepted value of the broadening of the tail of the density of states σDOS ≈ 0.1 eV obtained using transport measurements. In this work, an origin of this anomalous broadening of the tail of the UPS spectra in a doped conducting polymer, PEDOT (poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)), is discussed. Based on the semiempirical approach and using a realistic morphological model, the density of valence states in PEDOT doped with molecular counterions is computed. It is shown that due to a disordered character of the material with randomly distributed counterions, the localized charge carriers in PEDOT crystallites experience spatially varying electrostatic potential. This leads to spatially varying local vacuum levels and binding energies. Taking this variation into account the UPS spectrum is obtained with the broadening of the tail comparable to the experimentally observed one. The results imply that the observed broadening of the tail of the UPS spectra in PEDOT provides information about a disordered spatially varying potential in the material rather than the broadening of the DOS itself.
Functional Polymer Opals and Porous Materials by Shear‐Induced Assembly of Tailor‐Made Particles
Authors: Gallei Markus
Published: December 2017

Photonic band‐gap materials attract enormous attention as potential candidates for a steadily increasing variety of applications. Based on the preparation of easily scalable monodisperse colloids, such optically attractive photonic materials can be prepared by an inexpensive and convenient bottom‐up process. Artificial polymer opals can be prepared by shear‐induced assembly of core/shell particles, yielding reversibly stretch‐tunable materials with intriguing structural colors. This feature article highlights recent developments of core/shell particle design and shear‐induced opal formation with focus on the combination of hard and soft materials as well as crosslinking strategies. Structure formation of opal materials relies on both the tailored core/shell architecture and the parameters for polymer processing. The emphasis of this feature article is on elucidating the particle design and incorporation of addressable moieties, i.e., stimuli‐responsive polymers as well as elaborated crosslinking strategies for the preparation of smart (inverse) opal films, inorganic/organic opals, and ceramic precursors by shear‐induced ordering.
Noise contamination from PET blood sampling pump: Effects on structural MRI image quality in simultaneous PET/MR studies
Authors: Bartlett Elizabeth , DeLorenzo Christine , Parsey Ramin , Huang Chuan
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To fully quantify PET imaging outcome measures, a blood sampling pump is often used during the PET acquisition. With simultaneous PET/MR studies, a structural magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo (MP‐RAGE) may also be acquired while the pump is generating electromagnetic noise. This study investigated whether this noise contamination would be detrimental to the quantification of volume and cortical thickness measures obtained from automated segmentation of the MP‐RAGE image.

Methods

MP‐RAGE T1w structural images were acquired for a phantom and 10 healthy volunteers (five female, 27.2 ± 5.1 y old) with the blood sampling pump and without. The white matter signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) was computed for all images. Region‐wise cortical thickness and volume were extracted with Freesurfer 5.3.0.

Results

The phantom SNR and the white matter human subject SNR was degraded in the MP‐RAGE images acquired with the pump (P = 0.005; white matter SNR: 43.9 and 50.8 with the pump and without). Intrasession, region‐wise volume and cortical thickness estimates were significantly overestimated with the pump (percent difference: 1.14 ± 2.67% for volume (P = 0.0003) and 0.34 ± 1.59% (P = 0.02) for cortical thickness). Regions with percent differences greater than 5% between pump conditions were those close to tissue–air interfaces: entorhinal, frontal pole, parsorbitalis, temporal pole, and medial orbitofrontal. Synthetically adding Gaussian noise to the without pump MP‐RAGE images yielded similar, significant detriments to cortical morphometry compared to without the pump.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that the use of PET blood sampling pumps may generate unstructured, Gaussian‐distributed noise in MP‐RAGE images that significantly alters the accuracy of Freesurfer‐derived volume and cortical thickness estimates. While many cortical regions showed a percent difference of less than 1% with the pump, regions close to tissue–air interfaces, subject to larger susceptibility artifacts, were significantly affected. This potential for decreased accuracy should be considered in PET/MR research studies utilizing blood sampling pumps, as well as any MRI study utilizing radiofrequency noise producing devices such as functional MRI task equipment and physiologic monitoring devices.
Method and basis set dependence of the NICS indexes of aromaticity for benzene
Authors: Gajda Łukasz , Kupka Teobald , Broda Małgorzata A. , Leszczyńska Małgorzata , Ejsmont Krzysztof
Published: December 2017

The role of theory level in prediction of benzene magnetic indexes of aromaticity is analysed and compared with calculated nuclear magnetic shieldings of 3He used as NMR probe. Three closely related nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS) based indexes were calculated for benzene at SCF‐HF, MP2, and DFT levels of theory and the impact of basis set on these quantities was studied. The changes of benzene NICS(0), NICS(1), and NICS(1)zz parameters calculated using SCF‐HF, MP2 and several density functionals were within 1 to 3 ppm. Similar deviations between magnetic indexes of aromaticity were observed for values calculated with selected basis sets. Only very small effect of polar solvent on benzene aromaticity was predicted. The 3He nuclear magnetic isotropic shielding (σ) and its zz‐components (σzz) of helium atom approaching the centre of benzene ring from above produced similar curves versus benzene‐He distance to NICS parameters calculated for similarly moving Bq ghost atom. We also propose an experimental verification of NICS calculations by designing the 3He NMR measurement for benzene saturated with helium gas or in low temperature matrices.
Local blood flow in peripheral nerves and their ganglia: Resurrecting key ideas around its measurement and significance
Authors: Zochodne Douglas W.
Published: December 2017

Over 3 decades ago, seminal work by Phillip Low and colleagues established exquisite physiology around the measurement of nerve blood flow (NBF). Although not widely explored recently, its connection to the clinic has awaited human methodology. While human studies have not achieved a convincing level of rigour, newer imaging technologies are offering early information. The peripheral nerve trunk has parallel blood flow compartments that include epineurial flow dominated by arteriovenous shunts and downstream endoneurial blood flow (EBF). NBF and EBF have lower values than central nervous system blood flow, lack autoregulation yet have sympathetic and peptidergic neurovascular control. Contrary to expectation, injury to nerves is often associated with rises in NBF rather than ischemia, a finding of biological interest corroborated by human studies. Despite its potential importance, quantitative human measurements of EBF and NBF are not yet available. However, with development, careful NBF analysis may present new insights into nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 57: 884–895, 2018
Domain clustering for inter‐domain path computation speed‐up
Authors: Maggi Lorenzo , Leguay Jérémie , Cohen Johanne , Medagliani Paolo
Published: December 2017

We consider a multi‐domain network scenario and we study the Inter‐Domain Path Computation problem under the Domain Uniqueness constraint (‐), that is, a path cannot visit a domain twice. It is known that hierarchical Path Computation Element (h‐PCE) architecture, that is commonly used to solve ‐, shows poor scalability with respect to the number of domains. For this reason, we devise a new domain clustering concept allowing one to artificially reduce the number of domains in an offline phase, in order to solve ‐ with lower complexity at run‐time. More specifically, we first prove the ‐completeness of the feasibility problem associated with ‐ and the inapproximability of ‐ itself. Yet, we show that the number of domains is the real computational bottleneck for the solution of ‐. Then we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a domain clustering to be proper, that is, without loss of optimality. Such a condition can be verified offline on the inter‐domain graph. We finally show via numerical experiments the impact of the inter‐domain treewidth on the computational speed‐up brought by proper clustering.
A geometry projection method for the topology optimization of curved plate structures with placement bounds
Authors: Zhang Shanglong , Gain Arun L. , Norato Julián A.
Published: December 2017

Single‐curvature plates are commonly encountered in mechanical and civil structures. In this paper, we introduce a topology optimization method for the stiffness‐based design of structures made of curved plates with fixed thickness. The geometry of each curved plate is analytically and explicitly represented by its location, orientation, dimension, and curvature radius, and therefore, our method renders designs that are distinctly made of curved plates. To perform the primal and sensitivity analyses, we use the geometry projection method, which smoothly maps the analytical geometry of the curved plates onto a continuous density field defined over a fixed uniform finite element grid. A size variable is ascribed to each plate and penalized in the spirit of solid isotropic material with penalization, which allows the optimizer to remove a plate from the design. We also introduce in our method a constraint that ensures that no portion of a plate lies outside the design envelope. This prevents designs that would otherwise require cuts to the plates that may be very difficult to manufacture. We present numerical examples to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed method.
Two‐scale topology optimization in computational material design: An integrated approach
Authors: Ferrer A. , Cante J.C. , Hernández J.A. , Oliver J.
Published: December 2017

In this work, a new strategy for solving multiscale topology optimization problems is presented. An alternate direction algorithm and a precomputed offline microstructure database (Computational Vademecum) are used to efficiently solve the problem. In addition, the influence of considering manufacturable constraints is examined. Then, the strategy is extended to solve the coupled problem of designing both the macroscopic and microscopic topologies. Full details of the algorithms and numerical examples to validate the methodology are provided.
The relationship of waist circumference and body mass index to grey matter volume in community dwelling adults with mild obesity
Authors: Hayakawa Y. K. , Sasaki H. , Takao H. , Yoshikawa T. , Hayashi N. , Mori H. , Kunimatsu A. , Aoki S. , Ohtomo K.
Published: December 2017

Objective

Previous work has shown that high body mass index (BMI) is associated with low grey matter volume. However, evidence on the relationship between waist circumference (WC) and brain volume is relatively scarce. Moreover, the influence of mild obesity (as indexed by WC and BMI) on brain volume remains unclear. This study explored the relationships between WC and BMI and grey matter volume in a large sample of Japanese adults.

Methods

The participants were 792 community‐dwelling adults (523 men and 269 women). Brain magnetic resonance images were collected, and the correlation between WC or BMI and global grey matter volume were analysed. The relationships between WC or BMI and regional grey matter volume were also investigated using voxel‐based morphometry.

Results

Global grey matter volume was not correlated with WC or BMI. Voxel‐based morphometry analysis revealed significant negative correlations between both WC and BMI and regional grey matter volume. The areas correlated with each index were more widespread in men than in women. In women, the total area of the regions significantly correlated with WC was slightly greater than that of the regions significantly correlated with BMI.

Conclusions

Results show that both WC and BMI were inversely related to regional grey matter volume, even in Japanese adults with somewhat mild obesity. Especially in populations with less obesity, such as the female participants in current study, WC may be more sensitive than BMI as a marker of grey matter volume differences associated with obesity.
Single‐step solution polymerization of poly(alkylene terephthalate)s: synthesis parameters and polymer characterization
Authors: Giol Elena Diana , Van den Brande Niko , Van Mele Bruno , Van Vlierberghe Sandra , Dubruel Peter
Published: December 2017

Poly(alkylene terephthalate)s represent one of the most frequently used polymer classes worldwide. Well‐known examples include poly(ethylene terephthalate) (n = 2) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (n = 4). The conventional synthesis method for these polymers is based on melt polycondensation, a two‐stage process performed under harsh conditions that includes the synthesis of an intermediate prepolymer and the presence of a catalyst, which may induce toxicity issues. The present work reports on a straightforward single‐step solution polycondensation method performed under mild conditions and in the absence of a catalyst. A homologous series of poly(alkylene terephthalate)s (n = 5 − 10) of molar masses up to 20 000 g mol−1 and dispersity <2.4 was synthesized and characterized thoroughly. Great attention was given to the thermal properties assessment by using state‐of‐the‐art techniques and a highly sensitive prototype technique called rapid heat − cool DSC. Similar to melt‐synthesized polyesters, a particular odd − even trend of the thermal properties versus the number of methylene groups within the monomer unit was revealed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report covering a single‐step solution‐based polycondensation performed in the absence of a catalyst that results in highly reproducible polyesters possessing unaltered thermal properties compared to polyesters synthesized through industrially applied conventional routes. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
A plasma/liquid microreactor for radical reaction chemistry: An experimental and numerical investigation by EPR spin trapping
Authors: Zhang Mengxue , Ognier Stéphanie , Touati Nadia , Hauner Ines , Guyon Cedric , Binet Laurent , Tatoulian Michael
Published: December 2017

In this paper, a novel plasma/liquid microreactor has been developed to generate and inject radical species with the aim to perform chemical synthesis reactions in liquid phase. Plasma has always been considered as a source of reactive species, such as radicals, atoms, electrons, etc., with applications mostly dedicated to surface modifications of materials. By injecting reactive species created by the plasma to the liquid phase, it is possible to initiate liquid phase synthesis reactions. In addition, gas/liquid interactions can be enhanced with a high surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio by confining the plasma and the liquid in diphasic micro‐structured systems. Herein is reported a novel plasma/liquid microreactor for liquid phase radical reactions. Radicals are generated in the gas phase in a steady flow microreactor and then transported to the liquid phase. The spin trapping reaction and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy have been used to identify and quantify the radical species generated in the microreactor. Hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen atoms have been detected and measured in the liquid phase, indicating the huge potential of the microreactor as a handful tool for chemical synthesis.
The Influence of n‐AlGaN Inserted Layer on the Performance of Back‐Illuminated AlGaN‐Based p‐i‐n Ultraviolet Photodetectors
Authors: Chen Yiren , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Zhiming , Jiang Hong , Miao Guoqing , Song Hang
Published: December 2017

In this paper, comparison between back‐illuminated p‐i‐n AlGaN‐based ultraviolet photodetectors (UV‐PDs) with and without an n‐AlGaN inserted layer is carried out. The results show that the introduction of n‐AlGaN interlayer significantly reduces the dark current of AlGaN‐based UV‐PDs. The mechanism involved is clarified and can be attributed to the role of n‐AlGaN interlayer which depletes to isolate the leakage paths generated by dislocations of AlGaN material. Besides, it also greatly improves the spectral performances of the p‐i‐n AlGaN‐based UV‐PDs, which can be related to the additional built‐in electric fields introduced by n‐AlGaN inserted layer that contribute to separate and transport the photon‐generated carriers.
An Efficient All‐Plastic Organic Waveguide Solid‐State Laser Devices with Distributed Bragg Reflector
Authors: Tsutsumi Naoto , Yamazaki Ryo
Published: December 2017

Organic dye or polymer waveguide laser is a promising next‐generation solid‐state laser device, because they are not only easily and inexpensively fabricated as laser sources, but also have high potential for bio‐sensing for hazardous materials and environments. The active layer and the effective resonator consist of all‐organic materials, which can be processed by solution‐casting or spin‐coating. Here, laser performances of all‐plastic organic waveguide solid‐state laser devices are reported with Bragg mirror and micro‐cavity, both being fabricated by the relief gratings. Waveguide consists of a high quantum yield organic dye of pyrromethene 567 as a lasing emitter and a cellulose acetate (CA) film as a waveguide matrix. The distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) region and the distributed feedback (DFB) resonator as a micro‐cavity are fabricated in the waveguide devices using a negative photoresist SU‐8 by an interference technique. The performances of lasing threshold and slope efficiency for both organic waveguide devices with DBR region and DFB resonator are evaluated. The slope efficiency of 2.01% and the lasing threshold of 45 µJ cm−2 are measured for the waveguide device with DBR region, whereas the waveguide device with DFB resonator gives the slope efficiency of 0.72% and the lasing threshold of 140 µJ cm−2.
Electrochemical Properties of the Ultrasonically Activated Thermally Expanded Graphite–Polyaniline Hybrid Material
Authors: Fedorovskaya Ekaterina O. , Bulusheva Lyubov G. , Smirnov Dmitry A. , Okotrub Alexander V.
Published: December 2017

Thermally expanded graphite (TEG) is used as a template for precipitation of polyaniline from an aqueous solution of aniline hydrochloride and sodium persulfate used as an oxidant. In the first case, the TEG sample is used without treatment, in the second case the TEG sample is activated by ultrasonication before the polyaniline precipitation. Raman spectroscopy shows the formation of polymer layers on the surface of graphene layers. Near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal the influence of the TEG ultrasonication on the chemical state of polyaniline in the hybrid. This material shows a large specific capacitance in a 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte due to the Faradaic processes in the polyaniline and high stability during the cycling.
Rainfall regimes over northwestern Australia
Authors: Clark S. , Reeder M.J. , Jakob C.
Published: December 2017

Annual precipitation in northwestern Australia has been increasing since the 1950s. The work presented here investigates the causes of rainfall using K‐means clustering to classify daily rainfall patterns into regimes, demonstrating their link to known synoptic structures in northern Australia and explaining the overall change in rainfall in terms of these regimes. After first removing tropical cyclones and assigning them to two regimes based on their location, six additional rainfall regimes are identified. The eight regimes fall into four groups: two associated with localized thunderstorms, two associated with monsoonal lows, two associated with tropical cyclones and two involving interactions with the midlatitudes. The increase in rainfall is dominated by an increase in the number of tropical cyclones in the Pilbara region of northwestern Australia. There is also an increase in the frequency of monsoonal lows and midlatitude interactions at the expense of days with isolated storms. The change in the rainfall intensity of each regime is far less important than the change in their frequency. The trend in precipitation is therefore largely due to an increase in organized rain‐bearing synoptic structures, as opposed to a change in the precipitation associated with these structures.
Evaluation of diurnal variation of GPM IMERG‐derived summer precipitation over the contiguous US using MRMS data
Authors: O Sungmin , Kirstetter Pierre‐Emmanuel
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates the accuracy of the Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), which provides merged microwave and infrared satellite precipitation estimates, over the contiguous US. The study focuses on diurnal variations in precipitation during a two‐year summer period (June–August, 2014–2015). The normalized amplitude and phase of the diurnal cycle of IMERG are evaluated against those of ground reference from the Multi‐Radar/Multi‐Sensor system in terms of precipitation amount, frequency and intensity on a 1°/1 hr scale. IMERG well captures large‐scale regional features of the diurnal cycle of precipitation and overall agrees well with the reference for both diurnal and semidiurnal variations. The comparison results indicate that the IMERG precipitation estimates can be a reliable alternative to ground‐based measurements even at the subdaily scale; however, region‐specific data discrepancies are still observed. For instance, we reveal that IMERG substantially overestimates normalized amplitude of diurnal precipitation in the central US, while IMERG tends to underestimate diurnal variations over the mountain regions in the western and eastern US. In terms of phase, we find a significant difference in the timing of peak precipitation between convective and stratiform regions of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the Great Plains. This time shift is more apparent during the mature and dissipation stages of MCSs, which lead to relatively early peaks in the diurnal cycle of precipitation from IMERG. This phase bias implies a higher sensitivity of IMERG towards the convective regions of MCSs, supposedly because of the brightness temperature depression coming from ice particles aloft sampled by spaceborne passive microwave sensors. Such discrepancy between the actual and satellite‐estimated precipitation timing can be challenging, e.g. when the satellite data are used to study subdaily precipitation processes or to validate numerical simulations. Consequently, our assessment of the IMERG performances highlights the need for improvements in the IMERG system.
Load sharing in series configuration
Authors: Krivtsov Vasiliy , Amari Suprasad , Gurevich Vladimir
Published: December 2017

In reliability engineering, load sharing is typically associated with a system in parallel configuration. Examples include bridge support structures, electric power supply systems, and multiprocessor computing systems. We consider a reliability maximization problem for a high‐voltage commutation device, wherein the total voltage across the device is shared by the components in series configuration. Here, the increase of the number of load‐sharing components increases component–level reliability (as the voltage load per component reduces) but may decrease system–level reliability (because of the increased number of components in series). We provide the solution for the 2 popular life‐load models: the proportional hazard and the accelerated failure time models with the underlying exponential and Weibull distributions for both a single and dual failure modes.
Sparse Fisher's linear discriminant analysis for partially labeled data
Authors: Lu Qiyi , Qiao Xingye
Published: December 2017

Classification is an important tool with many useful applications. Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is a traditional model‐based classification method which makes use of the Gaussian distributional information. However, in the high‐dimensional, low‐sample‐size setting,LDAcannot be directly deployed because the sample covariance is not invertible. While there are modern methods for high‐dimensional data, they may not fully use the information asLDAdoes. Hence in some situations, it is still desirable to use a model‐based method for classification. This paper exploits the potential ofLDAin a more complicated data setting. In many real applications, it is costly to manually place labels on observations; consequently, often only a small portion of labeled data is available while a large number of observations are left without labels. It is a great challenge to obtain good classification performance through the labeled data alone, especially in the high‐dimensional setting. In order to overcome this issue, we propose a semisupervised sparseLDAclassifier to take advantage of the seemingly useless unlabeled data, which helps to boost the classification performance in some situations. A direct estimation method is used to reconstructLDAand achieve sparsity; meanwhile we employ the difference‐convex algorithm to handle the nonconvex loss function associated with the unlabeled data. Theoretical properties of the proposed classifier are studied. Our simulated examples help understand when and how the information extracted from the unlabeled data can be useful. A real data example further illustrates the usefulness of the proposed method.
How does soaking wood in various pH buffers impact ToF‐SIMS spectra?
Authors: Goacher Robyn E. , Michienzi Courtney L.
Published: December 2017

During the production of biofuels and/or bioproducts, wood and other lignocellulosic materials are frequently exposed to buffers during enzyme treatments. Buffer pH varies according to the activity profiles of the enzyme(s) used. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) is an increasingly valuable analytical tool for the surface analysis of lignocellulosic solids, allowing for characterization of the lignin and polysaccharides at the surface, along with other components such as protein and inorganic salts. Despite the use of ToF‐SIMS to characterize dilute acid and alkali pretreatments of wood, the exposure of wood to buffers of intermediate pH range has not been studied as it relates to ToF‐SIMS analysis. This leads to the question: “How does soaking wood in various pH buffers impact ToF‐SIMS spectra?” Accordingly, a softwood (spruce) and hardwood (birch) were soaked in universal buffers ranging from pH 5 to 10, and then positive ion ToF‐SIMS spectra were acquired from the washed wood. Deacetylation was evident for both wood species above pH 8. Additionally, at higher pH, birch ToF‐SIMS spectra revealed a relative loss in polysaccharide peaks attributed to hemicellulose and an increase in lignin peaks. This study provides a basis for understanding the pH‐dependent alteration of wood solids in aqueous solution, which is important for understanding the controls in enzyme treatments.
Recovery Mechanism of Degraded Black Phosphorus Field‐Effect Transistors by 1,2‐Ethanedithiol Chemistry and Extended Device Stability
Authors: Kwak Do‐Hyun , Ra Hyun‐Soo , Yang Jinhoon , Jeong Min‐Hye , Lee A‐Young , Lee Wonki , Hwang Jun Yeon , Lee Joo‐Hyoung , Lee Jong‐Soo
Published: December 2017

Black phosphorus (BP) has drawn enormous attention for both intriguing material characteristics and electronic and optoelectronic applications. In spite of excellent advantages for semiconductor device applications, the performance of BP devices is hampered by the formation of phosphorus oxide on the BP surface under ambient conditions. It is thus necessary to resolve the oxygen‐induced degradation on the surface of BP to recover the characteristics and stability of the devices. To solve this problem, it is demonstrated that a 1,2‐ethanedithiol (EDT) treatment is a simple and effective way to remove the bubbles formed on the BP surface. The device characteristics of the degraded BP field‐effect transistor (FET) are completely recovered to the level of the pristine cases by the EDT treatment. The underlying principle of bubble elimination on the BP surface by the EDT treatment is systematically analyzed by density functional theory calculation, atomic force microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. In addition, the performance of the hexagonal boron nitride‐protected BP FET is completely retained without changing device characteristics even when exposed to 30 d or more in air. The EDT‐induced recovering effect will allow a new route for the optimization of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on BP.
Recent Advances in Rare Earth Doped Inorganic Crystalline Materials for Quantum Information Processing
Authors: Kunkel Nathalie , Goldner Philippe
Published: December 2017

Since quantum information technologies are expected to offer communication security and high computational capacities, research in the field is currently attracting a lot of attention. Among the materials studied so far, rare earth doped inorganic insulators are one of the most promising. With the different available trivalent rare earth ions, the visible and the IR range including the telecom wavelength at 1.5 μm can be covered. Transitions are usually narrow, and at low temperatures, long optical and spin coherence times can often be observed. Investigations using bulk single crystals have already led to many promising results. Recently, spectroscopic studies have been extended to other forms of inorganic materials, such as transparent ceramics, thin films, and nanoparticles for single rare‐earth qubits. Progress in these areas is expected to offer many new possibilities for the design of quantum light‐matter interfaces and scalable quantum memories and processors.
The Respiratory Rate: A Neglected Triage Tool for Pre‐hospital Identification of Trauma Patients
Authors: Yonge John D. , Bohan Phillip Kemp , Watson Justin J. , Connelly Christopher R. , Eastes Lynn , Schreiber Martin A.
Published: December 2017

Background

Under‐triaged trauma patients have worse clinical outcomes. We evaluated the capability of four pre‐hospital variables to identify this population at the lowest level trauma activation (level 3).

Methods

A retrospective review of adult trauma activations from 2004 to 2014 was completed. Pre‐hospital vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale were converted to categorical variables. Patients were under‐triaged based on meeting current level 1 or 2 criteria, or requiring a pre‐defined critical intervention. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between the pre‐hospital variables and under‐triaged patients. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for a comprehensive model, grouping all causes of under‐triage as a single unit, and 16 individual models, one for each under‐triage criterion. A new level 2 criterion was generated and internally validated.

Results

In total, 12,332 activations occurred during the study period. Four hundred and sixty‐six (5.9%) patients were under‐triaged. Compared to patients with a normal respiratory rate (RR), tachypneic patients were more likely to be under‐triaged for any reason, OR 1.7 [1.3–2.1], p < 0.001. In the individual event analysis, tachypneic patients were more likely to have flail chest, OR 22 [2.9–168.3], p = 0.003; require a chest tube, OR 3 [1.8–4.9], p < 0.001; or require emergent intubation, OR 1.6 [1.1–2.8], p = 0.04, compared to patients with a normal RR. The data‐driven triage modification was tachypnea with suspected thoracic injury which reduced the under‐triage rate by 1.2%.

Conclusion

Tachypnea with suspected thoracic injury is the strongest level 2 triage modification to reduce level 3 under‐triage.
Paenibacillus sp. A59 GH10 and GH11 Extracellular Endoxylanases: Application in Biomass Bioconversion
Authors: Ghio Silvina , Ontañon Ornella , Piccinni Florencia E. , Marrero Díaz de Villegas Rubén , Talia Paola , Grasso Daniel H. , Campos Eleonora
Published: December 2017

The cost-efficient degradation of xylan to fermentable sugars is of particular interest in second generation bioethanol production, feed, food, and pulp and paper industries. Multiple potentially secreted enzymes involved in polysaccharide deconstruction are encoded in the genome of Paenibacillus sp. A59, a xylanolytic soil bacterium, such as three endoxylanases, seven GH43 β-xylosidases, and two GH30 glucuronoxylanases. In secretome analysis of xylan cultures, ten glycoside hydrolases were identified, including the three predicted endoxylanases, confirming their active role. The two uni-modular xylanases, a 32-KDa GH10 and a 20-KDa GH11, were recombinantly expressed and their activity on xylan was confirmed (106 and 85 IU/mg, respectively), with differences in their activity pattern. Both endoxylanases released mainly xylobiose (X2) and xylotriose (X3) from xylan and pre-treated biomasses (wheat straw, barley straw, and sweet corn cob), although only rGH10XynA released xylose (X1). rGH10XynA presented optimal conditions at pH 6, with thermal stability at 45–50 °C, while rGH11XynB showed activity in a wider range of pH, from 5 to 9, and was thermostable only at 45 °C. Moreover, GH11XynB presented sigmoidal kinetics on xylan, indicating possible cooperative binding, which was further supported by the structural model. This study provides a detailed analysis of the complete set of carbohydrate-active enzymes encoded in Paenibacillus sp. A59 genome and those effectively implicated in hemicellulose hydrolysis, contributing to understanding the mechanisms necessary for the bioconversion of this polysaccharide. Moreover, the two main free secreted xylanases, rGH10XynA and rGH11XynB, were fully characterized, supporting their potential application in industrial bioprocesses on lignocellulosic biomass.
Metamaterial-based graphene thermal emitter
Authors: Shi Cheng , Mahlmeister Nathan H. , Luxmoore Isaac J. , Nash Geoffrey R.
Published: December 2017

A thermal emitter composed of a frequency-selective surface metamaterial layer and a hexagonal boron nitride-encapsulated graphene filament is demonstrated. The broadband thermal emission of the metamaterial (consisting of ring resonators) was tailored into two discrete bands, and the measured reflection and emission spectra agreed well with the simulation results. The high modulation frequencies that can be obtained in these devices, coupled with their operation in air, confirm their feasibility for use in applications such as gas sensing.
A Multi-Attribute Examination of Consumer Conformity in Group-Level Ordering
Authors: Lee Jacob C. , Kim Jungkeun , Kwak Kyuseop
Published: December 2017

Using real data acquired from transaction receipts at a cafe, the present research examined individuals’ menu choices made in a group setting. Building on previous research, the present research proposed and examined what we call the group referencing effect, and found that individuals’ menu choices were more likely to conform to the precedent menu choices made by the others in their group. A unique empirical contribution of the present research is that conformity was assessed and emerged at two levels: end-choice level (whether the choices are the same) and attribute-level (whether the attribute(s) of the choices are the same, independent of whether the end-choice is the same; i.e., similarity). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Injury patterns in road traffic victims comparing road user categories: Analysis of 811 consecutive cases in the emergency department of a level I institution in a low-income country
Authors: Chichom-Mefire A. , Palle-Ngunde J. , Fokam P.G. , Mokom-Awa A. , Njock R. , Ngowe-Ngowe M.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT

Background:

More than a million people die every day on world's roads and according to current estimates traffic related injuries will become the 5th highest killer in the world by 2030. Low and middle-income countries carry over 90% of this burden with substantial socio-economic consequences. Policies to reduce this burden are currently centered on preventive measures and the care of the injured is still neglected. This study aims at describing the crash characteristics and pattern of injuries in an urban area of a middle-income country with particular emphasis on the differential analysis of various road user categories.

Methods:

in this prospective cohort analysis conducted over a period of 5 months in the casualty department of the largest hospital in the city of Douala in Cameroon, all patients admitted after sustaining a traffic related injury were analyzed for crash characteristics, pattern and severity of injury and final outcome after a maximum follow-up period of 1 week. The analysis compared various user categories for different variables.

Results:

a total of 811 cases could be analyzed. These included 586 (72.2%) males for a sex-ratio of 2.6/1. Motorized two-wheelers and pedestrians represented overall over 80% of all victims and the most frequent collision involved a motorcycle and a tourist car. Over 95% of victims did not use a protective device. Most patients sustained external soft tissue lesions frequently involving the limbs and face. A total of 280 patients (34.52%) sustained a limb fracture. The most frequently fractured bones were the tibia, fibula and femur. Most injury cases were minor or moderate and collision between a motorcycle and a truck resulted in a significantly more severe injury. Motorized two-wheelers and pedestrian were significantly more exposed to external injuries while car occupants were more exposed to chest and spine injuries.

Conclusion:

crash characteristics in Douala are greatly influenced by the popularization of motorized two-wheelers who are exposed to collision with tourist cars. Victims mostly tend to develop external lesions resulting in minor injuries. However, there is need to emphasize on the need to associate to current preventive measures an appropriate policy of management of the injured.

Highlights:
Mulberry anthocyanins improves thyroid cancer progression mainly by inducing apoptosis and autophagy cell death
Authors: Long Hou‐Long , Zhang Feng‐Feng , Wang Hong‐Ling , Yang Wen‐Shi , Hou Hai‐Tao , Yu Jing‐Kui , Liu Bin
Published: December 2017

Dietary anthocyanin compounds have multiple biological effects, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐atherosclerotic characteristics. The present study evaluated the anti‐tumor capacity of mulberry anthocyanins (MA) in thyroid cancer cells. Our data showed that MA suppressed SW1736 and HTh‐7 cell proliferation in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Meanwhile, flow cytometry results indicated that MA significantly increased SW1736 and HTh‐7 cell apoptosis. We additionally observed that SW1736 and HTh‐7 cell autophagy was markedly enhanced after MA treatment. Importantly, anthocyanin‐induced cell death was largely abolished by 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA) or chloroquine diphosphate salt (CQ) treatment, suggesting that MA‐induced SW1736 and HTh‐7 cell death was partially dependent on autophagy. In addition, activation of protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal protein S6 (S6) were significantly suppressed by anthocyanin exposure. In summary, MA may serve as an adjunctive therapy for thyroid cancer patients through induction of apoptosis and autophagy‐dependent cell death.
Artemisia capillaris inhibited enterovirus 71‐induced cell injury by preventing viral internalization
Authors: Yen Ming‐Hong , Huang Ching‐I. , Lee Min‐Sheng , Cheng Ya‐Ping , Hsieh Chia Jung , Chiang Lien‐Chai , Chang Jung‐San
Published: December 2017

Artemisia capillaris (A. capillaris) is a common herbal drug used for thousands years in ancient China. A. capillaris has been empirically used to manage hand‐foot‐mouth disease (HFMD), which is commonly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71). EV71 can cause meningoencephalitis with mortality and neurologic sequelae without effective management. It is presently unknown whether A. capillaris is effective against EV71 infection. To test the hypothesis that it could protect cells from EV71‐induced injury, a hot water extract of A. capillaris was tested in human foreskin fibroblast cells (CCFS‐1/KMC) and human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD cells) by plaque reduction assay and flow cytometry. Inhibition of viral replication was examined by reverse quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). Its effect on translations of viral proteins (VP0, VP1, VP2, protease 2B and 3AB), and apoptotic proteins were examined by western blot. A. capillaris was dose‐dependently effective against EV71 infection in both CCFS‐1/KMC cells and RD cells by inhibiting viral internalization. However, A. capillaris was minimally effective on viral attachment, VP2 translation, and inhibition of virus‐induced apoptosis. Further isolation of effective molecules is needed. In conclusion, A. capillaris has anti‐EV71 activity mainly by inhibiting viral internalization. A. capillaris would be better to manage EV71 infection in combination with other agents.
Functional Impairments in a Patient with Morvan Syndrome: A Case Presentation
Authors: Tow Stephanie , Carozza Desi , Barker Kim
Published: December 2017

A 48‐year‐old man with lung squamous cell carcinoma was admitted to acute care with cognitive impairment after recent chemotherapy. He developed myoclonus, ataxia, agitation, and visual hallucinations. Morvan syndrome, a rare voltage‐gated potassium channel antibody disorder characterized by neuromyotonia with central nervous system dysfunction, was eventually diagnosed. He received plasmapheresis and was admitted to inpatient rehabilitation, where he safely participated in therapies. By focusing on neuromuscular rehabilitation, balance training, fine motor skills, and cognitive retraining emphasizing skills relevant to the patient's premorbid cognitive activities, the patient demonstrated significant functional improvement, decreasing the burden of care of his caregivers.

Level of Evidence

V
The Archean formation of the Sarmatian continental crust
Authors: Lobach-Zhuchenko S.B. , Ryborak M.V. , Saltykova T.E. , Sergeev S.A. , Lokhov K.I. , Bobrova E.M. , Sukach V.V. , Skublov S.G. , Berezhnaya N.G. , Al’bekov A.Yu.
Published: December 2017

Based on our new U–Pb isotope data (SHRIMP-II) for the Voronezh Crystalline Massif (VCM) and on published U–Pb data for the Archean rocks of the Ukrainian Shield (USh), we have substantiated the main stages of the Archean evolution of the Sarmatian crust, a fragment of the basement of the East European Platform. New data have been obtained for 20 indicative rocks of the Kursk block (KB) of the VCM. We compared the Eoarchean and Paleoarchean KB rocks (mafic rocks and tonalites of the Oboyan’ complex), orthogneisses of the USh Dniester–Bug province (Bug granulite complex), and tonalites and mafic rocks of the USh Azov Province and have established the existence of ancient continental crust (3.75–3.60 Ga) in Sarmatia. The presence of Paleoarchean xenogenic zircons in younger intrusions indicates a wide spread of Paleoarchean rocks in the deep VCM crust section. In the Mesoarchean (3.2–3.0 Ga), eastern Sarmatia (KB and Azov and Middle Dnieper provinces) was a single granite–greenstone terrain. Two stages of felsic magmatic activity have been dated: 3.15–3.10 Ga (volcanics in the greenstone belts and tonalite–trondhjemite granites in the VCM and USh) and 3.05–3.00 Ga (volcanics and tonalite–trondhjemite granites in the USh and granites in the VCM KB). Magmatic and tectono-metamorphic processes (2.95–2.85 Ga) have been established throughout the eastern part of Sarmatia. The latest Mesoarchean endogenic activity (2.85–2.80 Ga) testifies to the tectonic differentiation of the area. Mafic and felsic magmatism, deformations, metamorphism, and ultrametamorphism under amphibolite and granulite facies conditions took place in the most part of the KB and in the Azov and Bug areas. It is shown that ultrametamorphic granites formed from an ancient (3.0–3.5 Ga) protolith. The USh Middle Dnieper province had a different tectonic position. Here, intrusion of post-tectonic granites and formation of mature sediments proceeded at 2.81–2.86 Ga. Our geochronological data show that most of the Sarmatian continental crust formed in the Mesoarchean as a result of both the intrusion of juvenile material and the reworking of the older protolith rocks. Neoarchean events (2.8–2.5 Ga) are weakly expressed in Sarmatia in contrast to Baltia, another large fragment of the East European Platform basement, where endogenic processes at 2.65–2.75 Ga were the major crust-forming geologic events.
New methods of assessment, structure, and development of oil and gas resources of mature petroleum provinces (Volga–Ural province)
Authors: Kontorovich A.E. , Livshits V.R.
Published: December 2017

This study describes a new method for quantification of hypothetical oil and gas resources, which is considered to be an alternative to conventional estimates by analogy to geologically similar plays and is most appropriate for maturely explored provinces. This method is based on the size–frequency distribution of oil accumulations in sedimentary basins and has never been applied to petroleum exploration. The new approach makes it possible to assess the oil resources concentrated in small and smallest oil fields, which may become the main targets for petroleum exploration. This study reviews the discovery and exploration history of the Volga–Ural province and provides estimates of initial and hypothetical oil resources and the size distribution of undiscovered field and the number of their pools. It was shown that given the volume of exploratory drilling of 500–550 thousand m per year, it is expected that more than three billion tons of oil would be produced from small and smallest fields of this province by the mid-21st century, with a stable annual production of 40–50 million tons. It was shown that the development of small and smallest oil fields is performed by small and medium-sized oil companies, which can be delivered through a dedicated government program.
Feasibility and efficacy data from a ketogenic diet intervention in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Taylor Matthew K. , Sullivan Debra K. , Mahnken Jonathan D. , Burns Jeffrey M. , Swerdlow Russell H.
Published: December 2017

Introduction

We assessed the feasibility and cognitive effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) in participants with Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

The Ketogenic Diet Retention and Feasibility Trial featured a 3‐month, medium‐chain triglyceride–supplemented KD followed by a 1‐month washout in clinical dementia rating (CDR) 0.5, 1, and 2 participants. We obtained urine acetoacetate, serum β‐hydroxybutyrate, food record, and safety data. We administered the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive subscale and Mini–Mental State Examination before the KD, and following the intervention and washout.

Results

We enrolled seven CDR 0.5, four CDR 1, and four CDR 2 participants. One CDR 0.5 and all CDR 2 participants withdrew citing caregiver burden. The 10 completers achieved ketosis. Most adverse events were medium‐chain triglyceride–related. Among the completers, the mean of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive subscale score improved by 4.1 points during the diet (P = .02) and reverted to baseline after the washout.

Discussion

This pilot trial justifies KD studies in mild Alzheimer's disease.