bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Notch Signal Pathway in Mucosal Cell Metaplasia in Mouse Acute Otitis Media
Authors: Liu Xiang , Cong Ning , Cheng Xiang , Ma Rui , Wang Jing , Huang Yi-bo , Zhao Meng , Wang Xin-wei , Chi Fang-Lu , Ren Dong-Dong
Published: June 2017

Otitis media (OM) is a major cause of morbidity in pediatric and adult patients. This inflammatory condition is characterized by mucous cell hyperplasia that is thought to produce mucins from the middle ear mucosa. We are interested in the role of Notch signalling pathway in this inflammatory process. Using an acute otitis media (AOM) mouse model through injection of Streptococcus Pneumoniae into the middle ear, histopathologic examination and quantitative RT-PCR, acute inflammation with the thickness of mucosa, Goblet cell hyperplasia, and cilia loss were determined and gene expression related to the Notch signaling pathway were evaluated. Upregulation of the mucous cell markers, Argr2 and Muc5AC, and downregulation of the cilia cell marker, Foxj1 and Dnai2, were observed in AOM. In addition, genes encoding Notch receptors and ligands (Notch1, Notch2, Notch3, Notch4 and Dll1) and the Notch target genes (Hes1, Hes5, Hey1, NRARP) in AOM decreased significantly. The expression of the Notch1 and Jagged1 also showed down-regulation throughout the mouse middle ear epithelium. Taken together, this study suggests that downregulation of the Notch signaling pathway is involved in the mucosa hyperplasia during AOM.
Self-compensation in arsenic doping of CdTe
Authors: Ablekim Tursun , Swain Santosh K. , Yin Wan-Jian , Zaunbrecher Katherine , Burst James , Barnes Teresa M. , Kuciauskas Darius , Wei Su-Huai , Lynn Kelvin G.
Published: June 2017

Efficient p-type doping in CdTe has remained a critical challenge for decades, limiting the performance of CdTe-based semiconductor devices. Arsenic is a promising p-type dopant; however, reproducible doping with high concentration is difficult and carrier lifetime is low. We systematically studied defect structures in As-doped CdTe using high-purity single crystal wafers to investigate the mechanisms that limit p-type doping. Two As-doped CdTe with varying acceptor density and two undoped CdTe were grown in Cd-rich and Te-rich environments. The defect structures were investigated by thermoelectric-effect spectroscopy (TEES), and first-principles calculations were used for identifying and assigning the experimentally observed defects. Measurements revealed activation of As is very low in both As-doped samples with very short lifetimes indicating strong compensation and the presence of significant carrier trapping defects. Defect studies suggest two acceptors and one donor level were introduced by As doping with activation energies at ~88 meV, ~293 meV and ~377 meV. In particular, the peak shown at ~162 K in the TEES spectra is very prominent in both As-doped samples, indicating a signature of AX-center donors. The AX-centers are believed to be responsible for most of the compensation because of their low formation energy and very prominent peak intensity in TEES spectra.
3D models of the hematopoietic stem cell niche under steady-state and active conditions
Authors: Rödling Lisa , Schwedhelm Ivo , Kraus Saskia , Bieback Karen , Hansmann Jan , Lee-Thedieck Cornelia
Published: June 2017

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow are able to differentiate into all types of blood cells and supply the organism each day with billions of fresh cells. They are applied to cure hematological diseases such as leukemia. The clinical need for HSCs is high and there is a demand for being able to control and multiply HSCs in vitro. The hematopoietic system is highly proliferative and thus sensitive to anti-proliferative drugs such as chemotherapeutics. For many of these drugs suppression of the hematopoietic system is the dose-limiting toxicity. Therefore, biomimetic 3D models of the HSC niche that allow to control HSC behavior in vitro and to test drugs in a human setting are relevant for the clinics and pharmacology. Here, we describe a perfused 3D bone marrow analog that allows mimicking the HSC niche under steady-state and activated conditions that favor either HSC maintenance or differentiation, respectively, and allows for drug testing.
Study on Optimal Selection of Wavelet Vanishing Moments for ECG Denoising
Authors: Peng Ziran , Wang Guojun
Published: June 2017

The frequency characteristics of wavelets and the vanishing moments of wavelet filters are both important parameters of wavelets. Clarifying the relationship between the wavelet frequency characteristics and the vanishing moments of the wavelet filter can provide a theoretical basis for selecting the best wavelet. In this paper, the frequency characteristics of wavelets were analyzed by mathematical modeling, the mathematical relationship between wavelet frequency characteristics and vanishing moments was clarified, the optimal wavelet base function was selected hierarchically according to the amplitude frequency characteristics of ECG signal, and an accurate notch filter was realized according to the frequency characteristics of the noise. The experimental results showed that the optimal orthogonal wavelet analysis for the ECG signals with different frequency characteristics could make the high frequency energy distribution sparser, and the method proposed in this paper could effectively preserve the singularity of the signal and reduce the signal distortion.
Anisotropic etching of graphite and graphene in a remote hydrogen plasma
Authors: Hug D. , Zihlmann S. , Rehmann M. K. , Kalyoncu Y. B. , Camenzind T. N. , Marot L. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Zumbühl D. M.
Published: June 2017

We investigate the etching of a pure hydrogen plasma on graphite samples and graphene flakes on SiO2 and hexagonal boron-nitride substrates. The pressure and distance dependence of the graphite exposure experiments reveals the existence of two distinct plasma regimes: the direct and the remote plasma regime. Graphite surfaces exposed directly to the hydrogen plasma exhibit numerous etch pits of various size and depth, indicating continuous defect creation throughout the etching process. In contrast, anisotropic etching forming regular and symmetric hexagons starting only from preexisting defects and edges is seen in the remote plasma regime, where the sample is located downstream, outside of the glowing plasma. This regime is possible in a narrow window of parameters where essentially all ions have already recombined, yet a flux of H-radicals performing anisotropic etching is still present. At the required process pressures, the radicals can recombine only on surfaces, not in the gas itself. Thus, the tube material needs to exhibit a sufficiently low H radical recombination coefficient, such as found for quartz or pyrex. In the remote regime, we investigate the etching of single layer and bilayer graphene on SiO2 and hexagonal boron-nitride substrates. We find isotropic etching for single layer graphene on SiO2, whereas we observe highly anisotropic etching for graphene on a hexagonal boron-nitride substrate. For bilayer graphene, anisotropic etching is observed on both substrates. Finally, we demonstrate the use of artificial defects to create well defined graphene nanostructures with clean crystallographic edges.
Black phosphorus: a two-dimensional reductant for in situ nanofabrication
Authors: Huang Hao , Xiao Quanlan , Wang Jiahong , Yu Xue-Feng , Wang Huaiyu , Zhang Han , Chu Paul K.
Published: June 2017

The reducing capability of two-dimensional black phosphorus is demonstrated. The high reducing ability and unique two-dimensional morphology of black phosphorus not only facilitate in situ synthesis of Au nanoparticles and BP@Au composites, but also enable multiscale control of local reduction of GO to reduced GO (rGO). The novel two-dimensional reductant has large potential in various in situ nanofabrication applications.
A road map for multi-way calibration models
Authors: Escandar Graciela M. , Olivieri Alejandro C.
Published: June 2017

A road map is proposed for the selection of a multi-way calibration model according to the data properties.
Squishy nanotraps: hybrid cellulose nanocrystal-zirconium metallogels for controlled trapping of biomacromolecules
Authors: Sheikhi A. , van de Ven T. G. M.
Published: June 2017

A brick-and-mortar-like ultrasoft nanocomposite metallogel is formed by crosslinking cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with ammonium zirconium carbonate (AZC) to trap and reconfigure dextran, a model biomacromolecule.
Turning on the red phosphorescence of a [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Cl)]Cl complex by amide substitution: self-aggregation, toxicity, and cellular localization of an emissive ruthenium-based amphiphile
Authors: Siewert B. , Langerman M. , Hontani Y. , Kennis J. T. M. , van Rixel V. H. S. , Limburg B. , Siegler M. A. , Talens Saez V. , Kieltyka R. E. , Bonnet S.
Published: June 2017

Dodecylamide functionalization of [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl led to an emissive, self-assembling, and cytotoxic complex targeting membranes.
A silver(i)-induced higher-ordered structure based on planar chiral tetrasubstituted [2.2]paracyclophane
Authors: Gon Masayuki , Morisaki Yasuhiro , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: June 2017

Ag(i) coordination enhanced the signal intensity of circular dichroism and decreased that of circularly polarized luminescence of a planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane structure.
Total synthesis of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) through a Si-assisted allylic substitution
Authors: López-Pérez Borja , Maestro Miguel A. , Mouriño Antonio
Published: June 2017

A total synthesis of calcitriol through a Si-assisted substitution to generate the trans-hydrindane core and an asymmetric CuH-catalyzed 1,4-reduction of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ester to access the steroid configuration at C20 is described.
Rare earth elements and 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratio measurements using tandem ICP-CRC-MS/MS: characterization of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)
Authors: Amr M. A. , Dawood N. D. A. , Helal A. I. , Russell B.
Published: June 2017

Herein, tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with a collision/reaction cell (ICP-CRC-MS/MS) was used to accurately characterize the rare earth element (REE) pattern and the radiogenic isotope ratios of 143Nd/144Nd.
An automated optofluidic biosensor platform combining interferometric sensors and injection moulded microfluidics
Authors: Szydzik C. , Gavela A. F. , Herranz S. , Roccisano J. , Knoerzer M. , Thurgood P. , Khoshmanesh K. , Mitchell A. , Lechuga L. M.
Published: June 2017

This work presents an on-chip valve-based microfluidic automation module, capable of performing the complex fluid handling required for photonic biosensors.
Enantioselective synthesis of dihydroquinazolinone derivatives catalyzed by a chiral organocatalyst
Authors: Ayyanar Siva , Vijaya Ponmuthu Kottala , Mariyappan Madhappan , Ashokkumar Veeramanoharan , Sadhasivam Velu , Balakrishnan Sankar , Chinnadurai Chithiraikumar , Murugesan Sepperumal
Published: June 2017

The asymmetric condensation/amine addition cascade reaction catalysed by a effective chiral organocatalyst for the formation of 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones with high yields (up to 99%) and ee's (up to 97%).
The amyloid architecture provides a scaffold for enzyme-like catalysts
Authors: Al-Garawi Z. S. , McIntosh B. A. , Neill-Hall D. , Hatimy A. A. , Sweet S. M. , Bagley M. C. , Serpell L. C.
Published: June 2017

Structure of zinc-bound peptides that form catalytic amyloid provides insights into how the amyloid scaffold provides catalytic binding site.
Synthesis of hollow Cu1.8S nano-cubes for electromagnetic interference shielding
Authors: Jiang Wanchun , Wu Fan , Jiang Yijun , Sun Mengxiao , Zhang Kun , Xia Yilu , Wang Derong , Xie Aming
Published: June 2017

30 wt% hollow Cu1.8S nano-cubes loaded in wax can display 30 dB of EMI shielding effectiveness in the range of 2–18 GHz with a sample thickness of only 1 mm.
Na3V2(PO4)3 coated by N-doped carbon from ionic liquid as cathode materials for high rate and long-life Na-ion batteries
Authors: Yao Yu , Jiang Yu , Yang Hai , Sun Xizhen , Yu Yan
Published: June 2017

A facile and simple hydrothermal assisted sol–gel route was developed to prepare nitrogen doped carbon coated Na3V2(PO4)3 nanocomposites (denoted as NVP@C–N) as cathodes for sodium ion batteries (NIBs).
On the computational fluid dynamics of PEM fuel cells (PEMFCs): an investigation on mesh independence analysis
Authors: Esfeh H. Kazemi , Azarafza A. , Hamid M. K. A.
Published: June 2017

The results clearly show that the polarization curve is not enough to check the independency in grid in PEMFC computational fluid dynamic modeling.
Nanoparticles co-delivering pVSVMP and pIL12 for synergistic gene therapy of colon cancer
Authors: Xiao Yuanyuan , Yang Yuping , Wu Yujiao , Wang Chunmei , Cheng Hao , Zhao Wei , Li Yang , Liu Beibei , Long Jianlin , Guo Wenhao , Gao Guangping , Gou Maling
Published: June 2017

Nanoparticles delivering therapeutic genes have promising applications in cancer treatments.
Anionic ancillary ligands in cyclometalated Ru(ii) complex sensitizers improve photovoltaic efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells: insights from theoretical investigations
Authors: Lu Teng-Fei , Li Wei , Bai Fu-Quan , Jia Ran , Chen Jie , Zhang Hong-Xing
Published: June 2017

Comprehensive understanding of the impact of anionic ligands in Ru complex dyes on the performance of DSSCs by theoretical calculations.
Coordinative integration of a metal-porphyrinic framework and TiO2nanoparticles for the formation of composite photocatalysts with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities
Authors: Zhao Yanming , Dong Yuze , Lu Futai , Ju Chenggong , Liu Lin , Zhang Jie , Zhang Bao , Feng Yaqing
Published: June 2017

A porphyrinic metal-organic framework (porph-MOF)-based composite photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance is successfully constructed involving a bridging linker 4-PySH and TiO2nanoparticles.
A systematic study on effects of precursors and solvents for optimization of solution-processed oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors
Authors: Lim Keon-Hee , Lee Jinwon , Huh Jae-Eun , Park Jintaek , Lee Jun-Hee , Lee Sung-Eun , Kim Youn Sang
Published: June 2017

Here we report a systematic study on the effects of precursors and solvents in solution-processed oxide semiconductor thin film transistors.
Role of ESAT-6 in renal injury by regulating microRNA-155 expression via TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in mice with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Zhou Zhong-Qi , Wang Zhi-Kui , Zhang Lei , Ren Yue-Qin , Ma Zhong-Wei , Zhao Nan , Sun Fu-Yun
Published: June 2017

The study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism involved in the early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) in renal injury through regulation of the expression of miR-155 through the oll-like receptor (TLR)-4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) signaling pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-infected mice. Sixty C57BL/6 mice with MTB-induced renal injury were randomly assigned into control, MTB, mimic, inhibitor, inhibitor + ESAT6, and inhibitor + ESAT6 + TAK242 groups. Body weight, the ratio of kidney weight to body weight (Kw/Bw), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr) of mice were measured. Flow cytometry was used to detect renal activation in mice. Expressions of miR-155 and ESAT6 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting was used to examine the expressions of ESAT6, TLR4, and MyD88. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured by qRT-PCR and ELISA. Compared with the control group, the BUN and Scr levels as well as the expression levels of miR-155, TLR4, MyD88, TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ increased, while Kw/Bw decreased in the MTB and mimic groups. In comparison with the MTB group, the above indexes except Kw/Bw were elevated in the mimic group, but were reduced in the inhibitor group, while the Kw/Bw dropped in the mimic group but increased in the inhibitor group. Compared with the inhibitor group, the Kw/Bw decreased while the rest of the indexes increased in the inhibitor + ESAT6 group. ESAT6 may induce renal injury by promoting miR-155 expression through the TLR-4/MyD88 signaling pathway in MTB-infected mice.
SwitchTable: An efficient anti‐collision algorithm for RFID networks
Authors: Chuang Po‐Jen , Tsai Wei‐Ting
Published: June 2017

Radio frequency IDentification (RFID) applications in the Internet of Things usually use multiple readers to read multiple tags. In such a practice, reader collisions may critically affect the performance. To obtain better reading schedules for the readers in order to enhance the RFID performance, the authors introduce a new and efficient anti‐collision algorithm – the SwitchTable algorithm – in this study. The authors build the new algorithm over the concepts of the four‐colour theorem and also the switch tables to fix the loopholes in existing algorithms – mainly the practice of variable MaxColor and the broadcast of kick signals. The authors’ SwitchTable algorithm sets MaxColor to four according to the four‐colour theorem, to avoid possible collisions and solve the problem of previous dynamic MaxColor change. It meanwhile uses a colour switch mechanism which works by switch tables and unicasting switch signals (not broadcasting kick signals) to remove the impact of sending kick signals and attain more efficient planned colour change. Extended simulation runs are carried out to evaluate the performance of various anti‐collision algorithms, including DCS, ColorWave, ColorTable and the authors’ SwitchTable. The results show that, with the new features, the authors’ new algorithm produces constantly better transmission success ratios and throughput, particularly in more complex RFID networks.
Dynamic state estimation‐based fault locating on transmission lines
Authors: Liu Yu , Sakis Meliopoulos A.P. , Tan Zhenyu , Sun Liangyi , Fan Rui
Published: June 2017

Accurate fault locating minimises labour and outage time. Efforts to increase the accuracy of fault locating methods are on‐going. In this study, a dynamic state estimation‐based fault locating (EBFL) method is proposed. Best implementation requires GPS synchronised sample value measurements at both ends of the line. The dynamic state estimator operates on the sampled values using a detailed dynamic model of the line, which includes the fault location as a state. Specifically, the dynamic line model is represented as a multi‐section transmission line model, inclusive of phase conductor type and size, shield wire(s) type and size, and tower ground impedances, integrated with the fault model. This study presents extensive numerical experiments demonstrating that the method has higher accuracy than traditional fault locating methods for different fault types, locations and impedances. Additionally, the method works for both two‐terminal and three‐terminal transmission lines.
Image denoising using generalised Cauchy filter
Authors: Karami Azam , Tafakori Laleh
Published: June 2017

In many image processing analysis, it is important to significantly reduce the noise level. This study aims at introducing an efficient method for this purpose based on generalised Cauchy (GC) distribution. Therefore, some characteristics of GC distribution is considered. In particular, the characteristic function of a GC distribution is derived by using the theory of positive definite densities and utilising the density of a GC random variable as the characteristic function of a convolution of two generalised non‐symmetric Linnik variables. Further, GC distribution is considered as a filter and in the proposed method for image noise reduction the optimal parameters of GC filter is defined by using the particle swarm optimisation. The proposed method is applied to different types of noisy images and the obtained results are compared with four state‐of‐the‐art denoising algorithms. Experimental results confirm that their method could significantly reduce the noise effect.
Vorkommen und Diagnostik der OCD beim Hund
Authors: Piesnack Susann , Köhler Claudia , Fromme Vivian , Alef Michaele , Kiefer Ingmar
Published: June 2017

Die Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) ist bei Hunden eine häufig diagnostizierte Lahmheitsursache. Sie
tritt in der Regel bei jungen, schnell wachsenden mittelgroßen und großen Hunden auf. Die
Verdachtsdiagnose ergibt sich durch die Anamnese mit einer Krankheitshäufung im jugendlichen Alter ab dem
5. Monat, andererseits durch die Lahmheitsuntersuchung. Die Diagnosesicherung erfolgt dann durch die
Bildgebung, meist durch die Röntgendiagnostik des entsprechenden Gelenks.
Der BARF-Trend in der Hundeernährung – Eine Herausforderung für den Tierarzt?
Authors: Vervuert Ingrid , Rückert Cornelia
Published: June 2017

Das Füttern von sog. BARF-Rationen ist ein aktueller Ernährungstrend bei Hunden. Der Übersichtsartikel
beschreibt das tierärztliche Spannungsfeld zwischen Motivation und Kenntnisstand der Hundebesitzer auf
der einen Seite und den wesentlichen Nachteilen der BARF-Fütterung auf der anderen Seite. Bei vielen
Hundebesitzern besteht der Wunsch nach einer „natürlichen und gesunden Fütterung“, wohingegen die
Nachteile der BARF-Fütterung maßgeblich durch Imbalancen in der Nährstoffzufuhr und der Kontamination mit
Salmonellen hauptsächlich durch rohes Geflügelfleisch gekennzeichnet sind.
Long-Term Challenges to Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries
Authors: Darain Haider , Ullah Irfan , Dildar Muhammad , Ibrar Muhammad
Published: June 2017

Über die Langzeitfolgen des Erdbebens im Jahr 2005 in Pakistan für Patienten, die eine Rückenmarksverletzung erlitten haben, wurde wenig berichtet. Obwohl seitdem mehr als 10 Jahre vergangen sind, benötigen betroffene Patienten in diesen Regionen immer noch ein umfassendes Rehabilitationsprogramm. Insgesamt 180 Teilnehmer wurden für diese Befragung kontaktiert; zur Datenerhebung wurde ein Fragebogen zur gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität genutzt. Die gesammelten Daten wurden mit SPSS, Version 23, ausgewertet. Ein Großteil der Teilnehmer ordnete sich in die Kategorie ‚schlechter Gesundheitszustand‘ ein. Die durchschnittliche Zeit, in der die Teilnehmer in den letzten 30 Tagen physische und psychische Beschwerden hatten, betrug 3,0 ± 1,6 Tage, beziehungsweise 4,8 ± 1,8 Tage. Die Hauptprobleme dieser Patienten sind nach wie vor Rückenschmerzen und Gehunfähigkeit. In den vom Erdbeben betroffenen Gebieten besteht immer noch Verbesserungsbedarf in der Rehabilitation von Menschen mit Behinderungen, insbesondere mit Rückenmarksverletzungen.
Die intestinale Mikrobiota beim Hund
Authors: Schneider Marianne
Published: June 2017

Die intestinale Mikrobiota ist ein dynamisches System, das individuellen und lokalen
Schwankungen unterliegt. Der Beitrag informiert über Veränderungen der Mikroflora bei
akuten Diarrhoen und chronischen Darmerkrankungen sowie über verschiedene Analysemethoden
zum Nachweis der Bakterienflora.
Lung Metastasectomy for Pulmonary Metastatic Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Macherey Sascha , Mallmann Peter , Malter Wolfram , Doerr Fabian , Heldwein Matthias , Wahlers Thorsten , Hekmat Khosro
Published: June 2017

Breast carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis can be treated locally or systemically. Following primary tumour resection patients with isolated, completely resectable pulmonary nodules and definite functional operability can be offered lung metastasis resection. Following metastasectomy a median survival of 32 to 96.6 months can be achieved with corresponding five-year survival rates between 30.8 and 54.4%. The procedure is associated with a mortality rate of 0 to 3%. The most important independent prognostic factor for long-term survival is complete resection of all lung lesions. The configuration and pattern of metastasis as well as disease-free interval, hormone and HER2/neu receptor status also appear to influence prognosis, but are of lesser importance. Intrapulmonary recurrence of metastases may, after careful selection on a case-by-case basis, also be treated operatively. In some cases this is associated with a favourable long-term prognosis. Pulmonary metastasectomy should be the treatment of choice for selected patients with metastatic breast carcinoma.
Calcium sulfuricum
Authors: Lucae Christian
Published: June 2017

Auf Basis einer Fallsammlung wird die Arzneifindung von Calcium sulfuricum erläutert. Es handelt sich um eine im Repertorium schlecht repräsentierte Arznei, die eher in klinischen Rubriken vertreten ist. Unter Abgleich der existierenden Arzneimittelprüfungen werden Vorschläge für Ergänzungen im Repertorium erarbeitet. Als „hitziges Calcium carbonicum“ kommt es vor allem bei Eiterungsprozessen zur Anwendung.
Fetal Central Blood Flow Alterations in Human Fetuses with Umbilical Artery Reverse Diastolic Flow
Authors: Fouron Jean-Claude , Teyssier Georges , Shalaby Laila , Lessard Manon , van Doesburg Nicolaas H.
Published: June 2017

Blood flow velocimetry studies in animal fetuses with reverse diastolic flow in the umbilical artery have shown marked changes in the fetal central circulation characterized by a retrograde diastolic flow in the descending aorta, and as far as the aortic arch, along with a significant forward diastolic flow in the arteries going to the brain. Documentation and the implications of this phenomenon in human fetuses, to date, have not been reported. Doppler echographic evaluations of the diastolic patterns in the umbilical artery, descending aorta, the aortic arch, and the common carotid artery were performed on 5 fetuses in whom reverse diastolic flow was observed in the umbilical artery. In all five cases reverse diastolic flow was observed not only in the umbilical artery but also in the aortic arch. In the carotid artery, however, a forward diastolic flow was always recorded. It can be concluded, by inference, that in these fetuses, the area of lowest resistance was no longer the placenta, as seen in normal conditions, but the cerebral circulation. Furthermore, in four fetuses the retrograde component of the flow profiles was more prominent in the aortic arch compared with the descending aorta, suggesting that, in diastole, blood was coming from the pulmonary artery through the ductus arteriosus.
Facing the challenge of predicting the standard formation enthalpies of n-butyl-phosphate species with ab initio methods
Authors: Saab Mohamad , Réal Florent , Šulka Martin , Cantrel Laurent , Virot François , Vallet Valérie
Published: June 2017

Tributyl-phosphate (TBP), a ligand used in the PUREX liquid-liquid separation process of spent nuclear fuel, can form an explosive mixture in contact with nitric acid that might lead to a violent explosive thermal runaway. In the context of safety of a nuclear reprocessing plant facility, it is crucial to predict the stability of TBP at elevated temperatures. So far, only the enthalpies of formation of TBP are available in the literature with rather large uncertainties, while those of its degradation products, di-(HDBP) and mono-(H2MBP), are unknown. In this goal, we have used state-of-the art quantum chemical methods to compute the formation enthalpies and entropies of TBP and its degradation products di-(HDBP) and mono-(H2MBP) in gas and liquid phases. Comparisons of levels of quantum chemical theory revealed that there are significant effects of correlation on their electronic structures, pushing for the need of not only high level of electronic correlation treatment, namely, local coupled cluster with single and double excitation operators and perturbative treatment of triple excitations, but also extrapolations to the complete basis to produce reliable and accurate thermodynamics data. Solvation enthalpies were computed with the conductor-like screening model for real solvents [COSMO-RS], for which we observe errors not exceeding 22 kJ mol−1. We thus propose with final uncertainty of about 20 kJ mol−1 standard enthalpies of formation of TBP, HDBP, and H2MBP which amounts to −1281.7 ± 24.4, −1229.4 ± 19.6, and −1176.7 ± 14.8 kJ mol−1, respectively, in the gas phase. In the liquid phase, the predicted values are −1367.3 ± 24.4, −1348.7 ± 19.6, and −1323.8± 14.8 kJ mol−1, to which we may add about −22 kJ mol−1 error from the COSMO-RS solvent model. From these data, the complete hydrolysis of TBP is predicted as an exothermic phenomena but showing a slightly endergonic process.
Girsanov reweighting for path ensembles and Markov state models
Authors: Donati L. , Hartmann C. , Keller B. G.
Published: June 2017

The sensitivity of molecular dynamics on changes in the potential energy function plays an important role in understanding the dynamics and function of complex molecules. We present a method to obtain path ensemble averages of a perturbed dynamics from a set of paths generated by a reference dynamics. It is based on the concept of path probability measure and the Girsanov theorem, a result from stochastic analysis to estimate a change of measure of a path ensemble. Since Markov state models (MSMs) of the molecular dynamics can be formulated as a combined phase-space and path ensemble average, the method can be extended to reweight MSMs by combining it with a reweighting of the Boltzmann distribution. We demonstrate how to efficiently implement the Girsanov reweighting in a molecular dynamics simulation program by calculating parts of the reweighting factor “on the fly” during the simulation, and we benchmark the method on test systems ranging from a two-dimensional diffusion process and an artificial many-body system to alanine dipeptide and valine dipeptide in implicit and explicit water. The method can be used to study the sensitivity of molecular dynamics on external perturbations as well as to reweight trajectories generated by enhanced sampling schemes to the original dynamics.
Experimental percolation studies of random networks
Authors: Feinerman A. , Weddell J.
Published: June 2017

This report establishes an experimental method of studying electrically percolating networks at a higher resolution than previously implemented. This method measures the current across a conductive sheet as a function of time as elliptical pores are cut into the sheet. This is done utilizing a Universal Laser System X2-600 100 W CO2 laser system with a 76 × 46 cm2 field and 394 dpc (dots/cm) resolution. This laser can cut a random system of elliptical pores into a conductive sheet with a potential voltage applied across it and measures the current versus time. This allows for experimental verification of a percolation threshold as a function of the ellipse’s aspect ratio (minor/major diameter). We show that as an ellipse’s aspect ratio approaches zero, the percolation threshold approaches one. The benefit of this method is that it can experimentally measure the effect of removing small pores, as well as pores with complex geometries, such as an asterisk from a conductive sheet.
Plasma fireball: A unique tool to fabricate patterned nanodots
Authors: Chauhan S. , Barman T. , Bhatnagar M. , Ranjan M. , Mukherjee S.
Published: June 2017

A large plasma fireball is formed using a reverse biased planar sputter magnetron source. The magnetic field considerably reduces the contact area of the anode with the plasma and results in the formation of the fireball. Ions are extracted from the fireball using a large voltage cathode sheath of the grounded sample holder. The physical mechanism for the extraction of the ions from the fireball along with the effect of the sample holder on the fireball and the discharge current is discussed. The device is shown as a novel tool for developing nanodot patterns on a GaSb substrate without the use of additional ion source or power supplies. Variable nanodot patterns produced simply by the alteration of discharge conditions demonstrate unique surface wettability and reflection properties.
The effect of the gap distance between an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet nozzle and liquid surface on OH and N2 species concentrations
Authors: Ghimire Bhagirath , Sornsakdanuphap Jirapong , Hong Young June , Uhm Han Sup , Weltmann Klaus-Dieter , Choi Eun Ha
Published: June 2017

An argon plasma jet at atmospheric pressure was operated at various gap distances between the nozzle of the plasma jet and the water surface in order to study the formation of OH and N2 species in the vicinity of the water surface. Plasma was generated using a 24 kHz sinusoidal power supply at a steady gas flow-rate of 200 sccm. The electron temperature and rotational temperature of gas species were measured using optical emission spectroscopy and found to decrease with increasing gap distance. Meanwhile, the electron density calculated from jet current measurement increased with increasing gap distance. The average OH concentration reduced from 6.10 × 1015 cm−3 to 1.35 × 1015 cm−3, as the gap distance increased from 1 to 4 mm. The 337 nm N2 second positive system studied by optical emission spectroscopy and temporal emission signals increased with increasing gap distance. Plasma activated water was also made from various gap distances in order to confirm the presence of particular reactive oxygen or nitrogen species inside the water. The maximum observed absorbance corresponding to nitrogen oxide was in the spectral range of 230–250 nm from the 4 mm gap distance, while another maximum was recorded in the range of 250–260 nm corresponding to H2O2 from the 1 mm gap distance. Our experimental observations indicate that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species may be generated above the water surface or penetrate into some biological fluids, suggesting that their particular production can be tailored by the variation of the gap distance.
Alignment of the hydrogen molecule under intense laser fields
Authors: Lopez Gary V. , Fournier Martin , Jankunas Justin , Spiliotis Alexandros K. , Rakitzis T. Peter , Chandler David W.
Published: June 2017

Alignment of the electronically excited E,F state of the H2 molecule is studied using the velocity mapping imaging technique. Photofragment images of H+ due to the dissociation mechanism that follows the 2-photon excitation into the (E,F; ν = 0, J = 0) electronic state show a strong dependence on laser intensity, which is attributed to the high polarizability anisotropy of the H2 (E,F) state. We observe a marked structure in the angular distribution, which we explain as the interference between the prepared J = 0 and Stark-mixed J = 2 rovibrational states of H2, as the laser intensity increases. Quantification of these effects allows us to extract the polarizability anisotropy of the H2 (E,F J = 0) state yielding a value of 312 ± 82 a.u. (46 Å3). By comparison, CS2 has 10 Å3, I2 has 7 Å3, and hydrochlorothiazide (C7H8ClN3O4S2) has about 25 Å3 meaning that we have created the most easily aligned molecule ever measured, by creating a mixed superposition state that is highly anisotropic in its polarizability.
Bohm potential and inequality of group and energy transport velocities of plasmonic waves on metal-insulator waveguides
Authors: Moradi Afshin
Published: June 2017

Proof is given for the inequality between the group velocity and the energy velocity of plasmonic waves on metal-insulator waveguides considering the Bohm potential.
High mobility dry-transferred CVD bilayer graphene
Authors: Schmitz Michael , Engels Stephan , Banszerus Luca , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Stampfer Christoph , Beschoten Bernd
Published: June 2017

We report on the fabrication and characterization of high-quality chemical vapor-deposited (CVD) bilayer graphene (BLG). In particular, we demonstrate that CVD-grown BLG can be detached mechanically from the copper foil by a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystal after oxidation of the copper-to-BLG interface. Confocal Raman spectroscopy reveals an AB-stacking order of the BLG crystals and a high structural quality. From transport measurements on fully encapsulated hBN/BLG/hBN Hall bar devices, we extract charge carrier mobilities up to 180 000 cm2/(Vs) at 2 K and up to 40 000 cm2/(Vs) at 300 K, outperforming state-of-the-art CVD bilayer graphene devices. Moreover, we show an on-off ratio of more than 10 000 and a band gap opening with values of up to 15 meV for a displacement field of 0.2 V/nm in such CVD grown BLG.
Spreading resistance at the nano-scale studied by scanning tunneling and field emission spectroscopy
Authors: Barimar Prabhava S. N. , Naydenov Borislav , Li Jing , Boland John J.
Published: June 2017

We explore the capability of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to study nanoscale Si(100) device layers in silicon-on-insulators (SOIs). These device layers are a macroscopic 2D silicon sheet, and understanding the effective coupling of charge in and out of this sheet allows the determination of whether it is possible to accurately measure the electronic properties of the sheet. Specifically, we examine how the spreading resistance is manifested following the processing of SOI device layers with various doping levels. Depending on the doping level, ultra-thin SOI can exhibit significant blue shifts of the peaks in the tunneling and field emission spectra. By comparing these peak shifts with the film resistivity, it is possible to estimate the contribution of the spreading resistance in STM and STS. We show that STM can be used to study the effective n-type dopant concentrations in the 1013–1016 cm−3 range. Furthermore, we demonstrate that with a sufficiently high doping level, 5 nm thick SOI device-layers can be measured and exhibit bulk like electronic characteristics.
Scattering and polarization conversion of electromagnetic waves obliquely incident on a magnetized plasma layer
Authors: Cho Suwon
Published: June 2017

This paper addresses the scattering of electromagnetic waves obliquely incident on a magnetized plasma layer. It is shown that the polarizations of the waves can be converted when they are obliquely incident on a magnetized plasma layer. The scattering coefficients of the incident and converted waves are computed based on the analytic solutions of a uniform magnetized plasma slab. The total transmittance and reflectance are similar to those of the normal incidence, but the individual scattering coefficients of the incident and converted waves vary, depending on the dispersion characteristics of the ordinary and extraordinary modes in the plasma. The contributions of the converted wave increase with the wave number parallel to the magnetic field but decrease as the frequency increases above the upper hybrid resonance, regardless of the parallel wave number.
Controlled cytotoxicity of plasma treated water formulated by open-air hybrid mode discharge
Authors: Lu P. , Boehm D. , Cullen P. , Bourke P.
Published: June 2017

Plasma treated liquids (PTLs) provide a means to convey a broad range of effects of relevance for food, environmental, or clinical decontamination, plant growth promotion, and therapeutic applications. Devising the reactive species ingredients and controlling the biological response of PTLs are of great interest. We demonstrate an approach by using an open-air hybrid mode discharge (HMD) to control the principal reactive species composition within plasma treated water (PTW), which is then demonstrated to regulate the cytotoxicity of PTW. The cytotoxicity of HMD produced PTW demonstrates a non-monotonic change over the discharge time. Although hydrogen peroxide and nitrite are not the sole effectors for cell death caused by PTW, using them as principal reactive species indicators, cytotoxicity can be removed and/or enhanced by formulating their concentrations and composition through adjusting the discharge mode and time on-line during PTW generation without the addition of additional working gas or chemical scavengers. This work demonstrates that a hybrid mode discharge can be employed to generate a PTW formulation to control a biological response such as cytotoxicity. This provides insights into how plasma treated liquids may be harnessed for biological applications in a specific and controllable manner.
Carbonyl iron based magnetorheological effects with silver nanoparticles via green-assisted coating
Authors: Hajalilou Abdollah , Kianvash Abbas , Shameli Kamyar , Lavvafi Hossein
Published: June 2017

Carbonyl iron (CI) particles are widely used in magnetorheological (MR) fluids due to their excellent magnetic properties, i.e., high saturation magnetization and low coercivity. However, pristine CI-based MR fluids have major shortcomings, which restrict their applications: abrasion of device surfaces during operation, redispersion difficulties after caking, iron oxidation, and severe sedimentation of CI particles due to higher density compared to the carrier liquid. As a remedy, the CI particles were coated with Ag shell by green-assisted method and stabilized with honey. The CI and CI-Ag particles were separately dispersed in Polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil, and the subsequent rheological effects were evaluated. Although the MR effects, e.g., yield stress and shear viscosity of CI-Ag-based MR fluids, varied slightly compared to the original one, the dispersion qualities, e.g., sedimentation stability, were remarkably improved.
Glutamate transporter GLAST controls synaptic wrapping by Bergmann glia and ensures proper wiring of Purkinje cells
Authors: Miyazaki Taisuke , Yamasaki Miwako , Hashimoto Kouichi , Kohda Kazuhisa , Yuzaki Michisuke , Shimamoto Keiko , Tanaka Kohichi , Kano Masanobu , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: June 2017

Significance

Here we show that GLAST, a major glutamate transporter in the cerebellar cortex, is essential for synaptic wrapping by Bergmann glia and synaptic wiring on Purkinje cells (PCs) by parallel fibers (PFs) and climbing fibers (CFs). Without GLAST, monoinnervation of PCs by single strong CFs and segregation of CF and PF territories along PC dendrites cannot develop normally or be maintained. PCs are frequently innervated by additional CF, whereas innervation by main CFs becomes weaker. Ectopic PF synapses appear at proximal dendrites, causing disruption of CF and PF territory segregation along PC dendrites. We conclude that GLAST is indispensable for the establishment of excitatory synaptic wiring to PCs through competition between CFs and between CFs and PFs.
Early Christian Rhetoric(s)In Situ
Authors: Geraths Cory
Published: June 2017

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, an unprecedented number of Gnostic manuscripts were unearthed at sites across Egypt. Discovered on the Cairo antiquities market, in ancient trash heaps, and in buried jars, these papyri have radically refigured the landscape of early Christian history. Rhetoric, however, has overlooked the Gnostics. Long denigrated as heretical, Gnostic texts invite historians of rhetoric to (re)consider the role of gender in the early Church, the interplay between gnōsis and contemporary rhetorical concepts, and the development of early Christian rhetorical practice(s) within diverse historical contexts, including the Second Sophistic. In response to recent calls for rhetorical archaeology, this essay returns to Cairo, Oxyrhynchus, and Nag Hammadi. These three locations refigure early Christian rhetoric(s) in situ.
Fourier frames for singular measures and pure type phenomena
Authors: Lev Nir
Published: June 2017

Let

μ
\mu

be a positive measure on

R

d

\mathbb {R}^d

. It is known that if the space

L
2

(
μ
)

L^2(\mu )

has a frame of exponentials, then the measure

μ
\mu

must be of “pure type”: it is either discrete, absolutely continuous or singular continuous. It has been conjectured that a similar phenomenon should be true within the class of singular continuous measures, in the sense that

μ
\mu

cannot admit an exponential frame if it has components of different dimensions. We prove that this is not the case by showing that the sum of an arc length measure and a surface measure can have a frame of exponentials. On the other hand we prove that a measure of this form cannot have a frame of exponentials if the surface has a point of non-zero Gaussian curvature. This is in spite of the fact that each “pure” component of the measure separately may admit such a frame.
Multiplicity of solutions for nonlinear nonhomogeneous Robin problems
Authors: Papageorgiou Nikolaos , Rădulescu Vicenţiu
Published: June 2017

We consider a nonlinear nonhomogeneous Robin problem, with an indefinite concave term near the origin and a perturbation of arbitrary growth. By modifying the perturbation and using a variant of the symmetric mountain pass theorem due to Heinz (J. Diff. Equ. 66 (1987)), we show that the problem has a whole sequence of distinct nontrivial smooth solutions converging to the trivial solution.
Characterising the Exposure of Prison Staff to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke
Authors: Semple Sean , Sweeting Helen , Demou Evangelia , Logan Greig , O’Donnell Rachel , Hunt Kate ,   on behalf of the Tobacco in Prisons (TIPs) Research Team
Published: June 2017

Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is an avoidable and harmful exposure in the workplace but >25000 prison staff continue to be exposed on a daily basis in the UK and many more worldwide. SHS exposures in prisons are incompletely understood but may be considerable given the large proportion of smoking prisoners and limited ventilation. This study characterized the exposure of prison staff to SHS in all 15 prisons in Scotland using multiple methods. Exposure assessment strategies included 6-day area measurement of fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and airborne nicotine in each prison together with short (30-minute) measurements of PM2.5 covering a range of locations/activities. Pre- and post-shift saliva samples were also gathered from non-smoking staff and analysed for cotinine to estimate exposure. There was evidence of exposure to SHS in all prisons from the results of PM2.5 and nicotine measurements. The salivary cotinine results from a sub-sample of non-smoking workers indicated SHS exposures of similar magnitude to those provided by the 6-day area measurements of PM2.5. There was a high degree of exposure variability with some locations/activities involving exposure to SHS concentrations that were comparable to those measured in bars in Scotland prior to smoke-free legislation in 2006. The median shift exposure to SHS-PM2.5 was ~20 to 30 µg m−3 and is broadly similar to that experienced by someone living in a typical smoking home in Scotland. This is the most comprehensive assessment of prison workers’ exposure to SHS in the world. The results are highly relevant to the development of smoke-free policies in prisons and should be considered when deciding on the best approach to provide prison staff with a safe and healthy working environment.
modPhEA: model organism Phenotype Enrichment Analysis of eukaryotic gene sets
Authors: Weng Meng-Pin , Liao Ben-Yang
Published: June 2017

Motivation

Genome-scale phenotypic data are available for many model organisms, yet existing tools to functionally interpret gene sets from these phenotypic data are largely based on mutagenesis-derived phenotypes observed in mouse or human.

Results

Data from both mutagenesis and knockdown experiments are incorporated into modPhEA to allow users to perform enrichment analyses based on phenotypes observed in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans), fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), zebrafish (Danio rerio), mouse (Mus musculus) and humans (Homo sapiens). The phenotypes analysed can be customized to investigate complex traits and gene sets from any fully sequenced animal or fungal genome are also supported by modPhEA.

Availability and implementation

Freely available on the web at http://evol.nhri.org.tw/modPhEA/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.