bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Lewis Acidity of Cr‐Doped Nanocrystalline SnO2: Effect on Surface NH3 Oxidation and Sensory Detection Pattern
Authors: Garshev Alexey V. , Ivanov Vladimir K. , Krotova Alina A. , Filatova Darya G. , Konstantinova Elizaveta A. , Naberezhnyi Daniil O. , Khmelevsky Nikolay O. , Marikutsa Artem V. , Kots Pavel A. , Smirnov Andrey V. , Rumyantseva Marina N. , Gaskov Alexander M. , Krivetskiy Valeriy V.
Published: June 2019

Understanding ammonia oxidation over metal oxide surfaces is crucial for improving its detection with resistive type gas sensors. Formation of NOx during this process makes sensor response and calibration unstable. Cr‐doping of nanocrystalline metal oxides has been reported to suppress NO2 sensitivity and improve response towards NH3, however the exact mechanism of such chromium action remained unknown. Herein, by using EPR spectroscopy we demonstrate formation of Cr(VI) lattice defects on the surface of nanocrystalline Cr‐doped SnO2. Enhancement of Cr‐doped SnO2 surface acidity and ammonia adsorption as a result has been revealed by using in situ IR spectroscopy. Moreover, a decrease in concentration of free electrons in the conduction band has been shown as a result of substitutional Cr(III) defects formation. Weaker NOx chemisorption during ammonia oxidation over SnO2 surface after Cr doping has been found with the use of mass‐spectrometry assisted NH3 thermo‐programmed desorption. The given example of surface acidity adjustment and electronic configuration by means of doping may find use in the design of new gas‐sensing metal oxide materials.
Real‐Time Observation of Diarylethene‐Based Photoswitches in a Cyclic Peptide Environment
Authors: Schweigert Caroline , Babii Oleg , Afonin Sergii , Schober Tim , Leier Julia , Michenfelder Nadine C. , Komarov Igor V. , Ulrich Anne S. , Unterreiner Andreas‐Neil
Published: June 2019

The front cover artwork is provided by the research groups of A. S. Ulrich and A.‐N Unterreiner, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany). The image illustrates the analyzed diarylethene (DAE)‐based photoswitches incorporated into a cyclic peptide with variable size. The Jablonski diagram shows possible relaxation pathways after photoexcitation with dominant triplet absorption. Concomitantly, the fluorescence intensity increases with smaller ring sizes resulting in less efficient ring closure. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cptc.201900005.
Feedback of coastal marshes to climate change: Long‐term phenological shifts
Authors: Mo Yu , Kearney Michael S. , Turner R. Eugene
Published: June 2019

Coastal marshes are important carbon sinks facing serious threats from climatic stressors. Current research reveals that the growth of individual marsh plants is susceptible to a changing climate, but the responses of different marsh systems at a landscape scale are less clear. Here, we document the multi‐decadal changes in the phenology and the area of the extensive coastal marshes in Louisiana, USA, a representative of coastal ecosystems around the world that currently experiencing sea‐level rise, temperature warming, and atmospheric CO2 increase. The phenological records are constructed using the longest continuous satellite‐based record of the Earth's ecosystems, the Landsat data, and an advanced modeling technique, the nonlinear mixed model. We find that the length of the growing seasons of the intermediate and brackish marshes increased concomitantly with the atmospheric CO2 concentration over the last 30 years, and predict that such changes will continue and accelerate in the future. These phenological changes suggest a potential increase in CO2 uptake and thus a negative feedback mechanism to climate change. The areas of the freshwater and intermediate marshes were stable over the period studied, but the areas of the brackish and saline marshes decreased substantially, suggesting ecosystem instability and carbon storage loss under the anticipated sea‐level rise. The marshes' phenological shifts portend their potentially critical role in climate mitigation, and the different responses among systems shed light on the underlying mechanisms of such changes.
Drivers and patterns of microbial community assembly in a Lyme disease vector
Authors: Couper Lisa I. , Kwan Jessica Y. , Ma Joyce , Swei Andrea
Published: June 2019

Vector‐borne diseases constitute a major global health burden and are increasing in geographic range and prevalence. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that the vector microbiome can impact pathogen dynamics, making the microbiome a focal point in vector‐borne disease ecology. However, efforts to generalize preliminary findings across studies and systems and translate these findings into disease control strategies are hindered by a lack of fundamental understanding of the processes shaping the vector microbiome and the interactions therein. Here, we use 16S rRNA sequencing and apply a community ecology framework to analyze microbiome community assembly and interactions inIxodes pacificus, the Lyme disease vector in the western United States. We find that vertical transmission routes drive population‐level patterns inI. pacificusmicrobial diversity and composition, but that microbial function and overall abundance do not vary over time or between clutches. Further, we find that theI. pacificusmicrobiome is not strongly structured based on competition but assembles nonrandomly, potentially due to vector‐specific filtering processes which largely eliminate all but the dominant endosymbiont,Rickettsia. At the scale of the individualI. pacificus, we find support for a highly limited internal microbial community, and hypothesize that the tick endosymbiont may be the most important component of the vector microbiome in influencing pathogen dynamics.
Integration effect of O2‐plasma to an excimer‐laser‐assisted metal organic deposition process for functionalization of photoelectrodes
Authors: Nishikawa Masami , Segawa Ryusei , Saito Nobuo , Ishibashi Takayuki , Nakajima Tomohiko , Tsuchiya Tetsuo
Published: June 2019

To prevent photocorrosion of a Cu2O photocathode, composition of a TiO2 layer onto the Cu2O is one of the most effective solutions. For crystallization of the TiO2 layer alone without heat‐damage to the underlying Cu2O layer, which is easy to oxidize to CuO, we developed the integration process of O2‐plasma and an excimer‐laser irradiation, that a metal‐organic precursor film is crystalized by irradiation of the excimer‐laser in O2‐plasma. The TiO2 layer could be crystalized with lower oxygen vacancies by the laser irradiation in O2‐plasma compared to that prepared by the irradiation in air. Furthermore, the oxidation of Cu2O to CuO was drastically restricted due to the highly crystalized TiO2 in which oxygen ions were hard to diffuse to the interface of TiO2/Cu2O. The photocorrosion of the obtained film during water reduction reaction was also restricted. This O2‐plasma integrated process is effective for selective crystallization of metal‐oxide films for functionalization of photoelectrodes.
Regio‐ and Diastereoselective Organo‐Zinc‐Promoted Arylation of trans‐2,3‐Diaryloxiranes by Arylboronic Acids: Stereoselective Access to trans‐2,3‐Diphenyl‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran
Authors: Laurita Teresa , Chiummiento Lucia , Funicello Maria , D'Orsi Rosarita , Sallemi Deborah , Tofani Daniela , Lupattelli Paolo
Published: June 2019

ortho‐Oxo substituted trans 2,3‐diaryloxiranes were regio‐ and stereoselectively arylated by arylzinc reagents, obtained from the corresponding boronic acids by B–Zn exchange. The reaction was quite general, irrespective to the aryl nucleophile and proceeded via a ring opening at the α‐carbon with respect to the substituted aryl ring. The stereoselectivity was from high to complete toward the alcohol resulted from retention of configuration at the electrophilic carbon. The method allowed a direct and high yielding access to trans 2,3‐diphenyl‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran, which is a key structural motif in resveratrol dimers as viniferins. The use of enantioenriched starting diaryloxiranes resulted in no loss of stereochemical integrity in the final trans 2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran, which was characterized for the first time in enantioenriched form.
Borane‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Tertiary Amides Activated by Oxalyl Chloride: DFT Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Zhu Hui , Qu Zheng‐Wang , Grimme Stefan
Published: June 2019

For the first time, extensive DFT calculations provide complete mechanistic insights into the electrophilic activation of tertiary amides with oxalyl chloride (COCl)2 and the subsequent borane‐catalyzed reduction using dihydrogen H2. The amide carbonyl group is activated via a fast, electrophilic attack by (COCl)2 at oxygen, followed by a slower nucleophilic attack by in‐situ formed chloride Cl– at carbon, which is thermodynamically favoured by exergonic CO2 and CO release to form the separately solvated chloroiminium and Cl– ions. The borane BAr3 (Ar = 2,6‐F2C6H3) catalyst and solvated Cl– act as a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) to cleave H2 over a barrier of about 24 kcal/mol, affording the transient borate HBAr3– (and the HCl by‐product) that rapidly reduce the chloroiminium cation into tertiary amine in the HCl salt form. However, the recently adopted one‐pot amide reduction is suffering the BAr3 catalyst trapping by amide substrates that effectively increases the rate‐limiting H2‐cleavage barrier by about 3–5 kcal/mol. Stepwise amide activation and reduction is thus suggested for milder reaction conditions and higher product yields.
Geochemical effects of cement mineral variations on water–rock–CO2 interactions in a sandstone reservoir as an experiment and modeling study
Authors: Liu Ning , Cheng Jianmei
Published: June 2019

The complexity of water–rock–CO2 interactions associated with CO2 geological storage requires more comprehensive understanding with regard to the geochemical characteristics of reservoirs. In this paper, five groups of batch reactions and coupled simulations were conducted, in which rocks of different cementation types were reacted with purified water and CO2 at 180°C and 18 Mpa for 15 days, to reveal the possible geochemical effects of cement mineral variations on water–rock–CO2 interactions. With water chemistry and mineral alteration being monitored, the thermodynamics and kinetic characteristics of each CO2–water–rock system were fully analyzed in PHREEQC by the method of mineral saturation index, mineral phases diagram, and kinetics modeling to reveal the possible reaction paths and to compare their geochemical differences, which are caused by cement mineral variations. The experiment identified quite different dissolution characteristics and rates for cement minerals, and as a result, favored a diverse water chemistry and precipitation of different secondary minerals. Generally, the sensitive orders of cement mineral variations due to water–rock–CO2 interactions are carbonates, argillaceous, and siliceous minerals. The modeling showed good consistency with experiment results especially in cation evolution but underestimated the dissolution rate of alkali feldspar and carbonate mineral solubility. In addition, the modeling also predicted the carbonate reprecipitation of dolomite and calcite as cement minerals themselves, as well as dolomite precipitation at the expense of chlorite and calcite dissolution, which we failed to observe in the experiment. Thus, special attention should be paid to cement mineral variations when conducting CO2 injection in sandstone reservoirs. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Social Science Blues
Authors: Turkheimer Eric
Published: June 2019

At the dawn of the new century, Robert Plomin was gloomy. As he recounts in Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, attempts to find the DNA responsible for the heritability of behavior failed. Month after month, journals would report new findings of specific genes for behavioral phenotypes, but they never replicated. One amazing genomic methodology after another was developed in biological genetics and applied to medicine, where it succeeded, and then to human behavior, where it failed. This was the moment of Plomin's despair. He had, with great intellectual courage, staked his reputation on the existence of actionable scientific knowledge of the DNA‐based genesis of twin‐based heritability. But Blueprint is hardly the product of a gloomy author. Quite the opposite: it is a declaration of victory of nature over nurture, a celebration of the vindication of Plomin as a scientist and of behavior genetics as a field of study. What happened between 2000 and 2019 to brighten Plomin's outlook so radically? Were the genes for schizophrenia and intelligence finally discovered? Are we at last on our way to understanding why, at a biological level, all differences in human behavior are substantially heritable? Alas, no. What happened is that Robert Plomin gave up on the search for individual genes that explain heritability and decided to be satisfied with much less.
A Critical Analysis of Media Discourse on Affirmative Action and Asian Americans
Authors: Museus Samuel D. , Wang Amy C. , White Hannah Hyun , Na Vanessa S.
Published: June 2019

Several misconceptions shape the discourse on affirmative action and Asian Americans, and institutions of higher education should do more to challenge these myths and educate the public about the realities of this debate.
Modeling AANAPISI Community College–University Collaboration: A Case Study of Asian American Studies‐Centered Faculty and Curriculum Development
Authors: Catallozzi Lori A. , Tang Shirley Suet‐ling , Gabbard Glenn , Kiang Peter Nien‐chu
Published: June 2019

Collaborations between 2‐ and 4‐year funded AANAPISIs with shared student and community profiles offer unique opportunities to leverage resources to efficiently and effectively serve their students.
Evaluation of serum long noncoding RNA NEAT and MiR‐129‐5p in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shaker Olfat G. , Abdelwahed Mostafa Y. , Ahmed Naglaa A. , Hassan Essam A. , Ahmed Tarek I. , Abousarie Moustafa A. , Ayoub Shymaa E.
Published: June 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent form of cancer. Various long non coding RNA (lncRNAs) and micro RNA have been confirmed to have a role in the progression of HCC. Our aim was to investigate for the first time the expression profile of serum level of LNC NEAT (nuclear enrich abundant transcript) and MiR‐129‐5p in HCC patients and their relations with patient's clinical and biochemical investigations rather than previous studies on tissue cell lines. Our study includes 72 subjects divided into 36 as control subjects and 36 patients with HCC. Complete physical and laboratory investigations were done on all subjects. RNAs were extracted from sera of all subjects. RNAs were reversed transcribed into cDNAs using Qiagen, Valenica, CA. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed using Rotor gene Q System (Qiagen). Relative NEAT1 expression level was significantly increased in serum of HCC patients 4.7 (1.31–6.82) (p < .0001). Meanwhile MiR‐129‐5p relative expression level was significantly decreased in serum of HCC patients 0.17 (0.14–20) (p < .0001). Also there was negative significant correlation between the expression level of LNC NEAT and MiR‐129‐5p in HCC group (p < .0001). ROC curve analysis revealed that LNC NEAT; AUC = 0.981, p < .0001, cutoff value (1.02), sensitivity 100%, specificity 88.9%. MiR‐129‐5p; AUC = 0.997, p < .0001, cutoff value (0.43), sensitivity 100%, specificity 97.2%. Serum LNC NEAT and MiR‐129‐5p could be used as potential biomarkers for HCC cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
Air‐core fiber or photonic‐crystal rod, which is more suitable for energetic femtosecond pulse generation and three‐photon microscopy at the 1700‐nm window?
Authors: Gan Mengyao , He Chen , Liu Hongji , Zhuang Ziwei , Qiu Ping , Wang Ke
Published: June 2019

Energetic femtosecond pulses at the 1700‐nm window are a prerequisite for deep‐tissue three‐photon microscopy (3PM). Soliton self‐frequency shift (SSFS) in photonic‐crystal (PC) rod has been the only technique to generate such pulses suitable for 3PM. Here we demonstrate through SSFS in an air‐core fiber, we can generate most energetic femtosecond soliton pulses at the 1700‐nm window, 5.2 times higher than that from PC rod. However, the air‐core soliton pulse width is 5.9 times longer than that of PC rod soliton. Based on comparative 3PM excited with both air‐core and PC rod solitons, we propose the more suitable source for 3PM. We further elucidate the challenge of generating shorter soliton pulses from air‐core fibers through numerical simulation.
Influence of Attachment Style on Sexual Abuse Survivors' Posttraumatic Growth
Authors: Nelson Kristina M. , Hagedorn W. Bryce , Lambie Glenn W.
Published: June 2019

This study investigated the directional relationship between adults' (N= 292) attachment styles and perceived impact of child sexual abuse with their experience of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Structural equation modeling results identified that attachment style served as a partial mediator between trauma and PTG scores, with the mediating effect contributing to 8% of the variance in the presence of PTG (p< .05; standardized coefficient = −.31).
Expanding Perspectives: Systemic Approaches to College Students Experiencing Depression
Authors: Newhart Sean , Mullen Patrick R. , Gutierrez Daniel
Published: June 2019

Family and peer systems significantly influence college students' mental health. Nevertheless, many clinicians use treatment models that fail to consider multiple factors from different systems of individuals' lives. The authors discuss research highlighting the influence of students' systems on their mental health, specifically depression. Next, they provide a brief introduction to systems theory and approaches and use 2 case illustrations to present systemic approaches for treating students with depression. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Survivors' Stories: Navigating Parenthood After Surviving Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Haiyasoso Maria , Trepal Heather
Published: June 2019

Survivors of child sexual abuse may have strained relational functioning in adulthood, which may affect their parenting practices. Understanding that stories indicate personal meanings attributed to a phenomenon, the authors utilized narratology to learn the parenting stories of 9 survivors. Findings include the following themes: negotiating a balance of protecting and letting go, using relational images as guideposts for parenting decisions, and exploring functioning in relational contexts.
Study of bone remodeling in corticotomy‐assisted orthodontic tooth movement in rats
Authors: Zhou Yuling , He Xin , Zhang Dongliang
Published: June 2019

The goal of this study was to determine the structure change of the alveolar bone and the expression of a group of bone remodeling‐related factors. Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Selective alveolar decortication (SAD), tooth movement (TM), and “combined therapy” (SAD+TM) was performed in group I, II, and III, respectively. On days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 42, a Micro‐CT scan was performed on the maxillary alveolar bone and tooth. In addition, on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42, some of the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and tissues were harvested. Analysis of scan data revealed a significant decrease in bone density of the alveolar bone at 14 days post‐surgery, and increased at 42 days post‐surgery to a level higher than that before the surgery. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis were performed to explore gene expression profile in three groups (SAD, TM, and SAD+TM), and a large number of differentially expressed genes were identified. In addition, real‐time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the expression of bone remodeling‐related factors. The expression of osteoblast‐related cytokines, including osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin, and osteoclast regulators macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) and RANKL (activator of nuclear factor KB receptor ligand) were increased in group III, suggesting that there was increased bone synthesis and activation of bone absorption. Moreover, group III had a unique alveolar bone remodeling pattern: RANKL and osteoprotegerin‐promoted alveolar remodeling. In conclusion, during the early stage of orthodontic tooth movement, corticotomy can accelerate the movement of teeth, modulate the state of bone metabolism, and activate osteogenesis and osteoclast, which support the theory of regional acceleratory phenomenon.
LncRNA MALAT1 is involved in sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity in developing rats
Authors: Hu Xueyan , Hu Xiaodong , Huang Guirong
Published: June 2019

Objective

The purpose of this study is to uncover the effects of long chain noncoding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) on sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity in developing rats.

Methods

Sevoflurane neurotoxicity model was established by sevoflurane treatment in 7‐day‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats. The rats were treated with Sevo or MALAT1 small interfering RNA to detect the MALAT1 expression, pathological change, ultrastructure, neuronal apoptosis, expression of apoptosis‐related proteins, expression of neurotrophic factors BDNF and NGF, spatial learning and memory function change, as well as neuron cell density of hippocampal tissues.

Results

MALAT1 was highly expressed in hippocampus tissues of rats. Downregulation of MALAT1 alleviated the pathological change, improved the ultrastructure, inhibited apoptosis of neuronal cells, declined caspase 3 and Bax while elevated Bcl‐2, BDNF and NGF, improved capability of spatial learning and memory, and increased density of hippocampal neurons in hippocampal tissues of sevoflurane‐induced rats.

Conclusion

Suppression of MALAT1 can reduce the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons induced by sevoflurane anesthesia, improve the capability of spatial learning, and memory function and alleviate the loss of hippocampal nerve cells in developing rats. To a certain extent, it plays the role of protecting brain nerve cells.
A Straightforward Synthesis of Six‐Membered‐Ring Heterocyclic α‐Aminophosphonic Acids from N‐Acyliminium Ions
Authors: Argüello‐Velasco Rubén Oswaldo , Sánchez‐Muñoz Grecia Katherine , Viveros‐Ceballos José Luis , Ordóñez Mario , Kafarski Pawel
Published: June 2019

A convenient synthesis of phosphonic analogues of pipecolic acid and its heterocyclic analogues is reported. The major step of the elaborated procedure is the introduction of the phosphonate group into the skeleton of the appropriate cyclic amide through N‐acyliminium ions. The former ones were obtained by preparation of the hemiaminals or their methyl ethers from the N‐protected cyclic amides. Finally, the reaction with trimethyl phosphite in the presence of BF3·OEt2 afforded the desired phosphonates, which were converted into phosphonic acids by the hydrolysis of phosphonate moiety with simultaneous cleavage of the nitrogen protecting groups.
Comparing Diagnosis of Fetal Growth Restriction and the Potential Impact on Management and Outcomes Using Different Growth Curves
Authors: Strassberg Emmie Ruth , Schuster Meike , Rajaram Akhila M. , Paglia Michael J. , Neubert A. George , Ross John W. , Sun Haiyan , Mackeen A. Dhanya
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The diagnosis of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is managed with close fetal surveillance and often requires iatrogenic delivery, as there is an associated increased risk of fetal demise. However, there is no standard reference for fetal growth. We sought to compare the intrauterine growth curve of Hadlock et al (Radiology 1991; 181:129–133) to other known growth curves to determine which one best identifies fetuses at risk without overburdening the patient and health care system with unnecessary intervention.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed charts of singleton euploid pregnancies with a diagnosis of FGR (per Hadlock) at a tertiary care center from June 2014 to May 2015. We applied the estimated fetal weights from ultrasound at diagnosis of FGR to 4 population‐based growth curves by Brenner et al (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1976; 126:555–564), Williams et al (Obstet Gynecol 1982; 59:624–632), Alexander et al (Obstet Gynecol 1996; 87:163–168), and Duryea et al (Obstet Gynecol 2014; 124:16–22) and reassessed the incidence of FGR using each curve. We reviewed pregnancy demographics, risk factors, pregnancy management, and outcomes of FGR cohorts on each curve to evaluate whether poor outcomes may be missed or interventions may be avoided using the population‐based curves. A sensitivity analysis was also done to see how well each curve predicted small‐for‐gestational‐age birth weights.

Results

Applying any of the population‐based growth curves decreased the number of FGR diagnoses, iatrogenic deliveries, and primary cesarean deliveries. Brenner's growth curve identified the least number of FGR diagnoses at 22 of the 107 identified by Hadlock. Williams’ growth curve performed best in the sensitivity analysis with sensitivity of 99% and specificity of 97%. A small number of patients with absent/reversed end‐diastolic flow would have been missed by applying the population curves.

Conclusions

Applying the population‐based growth curves instead of Hadlock's for diagnosis of FGR decreases its incidence, therefore decreasing the number of visits for ultrasound and fetal surveillance and the number of iatrogenic deliveries. However, using these curves could miss a few fetuses with increased risk of fetal demise.
Targeting ERK beyond the boundaries of the kinase active site in melanoma
Authors: Sammons Rachel M. , Ghose Ranajeet , Tsai Kenneth Y. , Dalby Kevin N.
Published: June 2019

Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) constitute a point of convergence for complex signaling events that regulate essential cellular processes, including proliferation and survival. As such, dysregulation of the ERK signaling pathway is prevalent in many cancers. In the case of BRAF‐V600E mutant melanoma, ERK inhibition has emerged as a viable clinical approach to abrogate signaling through the ERK pathway, even in cases where MEK and Raf inhibitor treatments fail to induce tumor regression due to resistance mechanisms. Several ERK inhibitors that target the active site of ERK have reached clinical trials, however, many critical ERK interactions occur at other potentially druggable sites on the protein. Here we discuss the role of ERK signaling in cell fate, in driving melanoma, and in resistance mechanisms to current BRAF‐V600E melanoma treatments. We explore targeting ERK via a distinct site of protein‐protein interaction, known as the D‐recruitment site (DRS), as an alternative or supplementary mode of ERK pathway inhibition in BRAF‐V600E melanoma. Targeting the DRS with inhibitors in melanoma has the potential to not only disrupt the catalytic apparatus of ERK but also its noncatalytic functions, which have significant impacts on spatiotemporal signaling dynamics and cell fate.
Medical decision making: Selection of the appropriate surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment
Authors: Hancerliogullari Koksalmis Gulsah , Hancerliogullari Kadir Oymen , Cetinguc Basak , Durucu Murat , Calisir Fethi
Published: June 2019

This study is designed to provide paediatric surgeons' perspectives on the relative importance of the criteria for choosing a surgical mode for undescended testicle treatment between open surgery (orchiopexy) or laparoscopic surgery and determine the suitable surgical mode by using the multicriteria decision‐making method. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods are utilized. A decision hierarchy is set with a goal, criteria, and alternatives. Our model is developed on the basis of four main criteria (time‐related, patient‐related, recovery‐related, and complication‐related factors) and 11 subcriteria (operation duration, length of stay in hospital, preoperative preparation time, recovery period after surgery, age of patient, weight of patient, aesthetic appearance, quality of life satisfaction, recurrence, possibility of infection, and vital function) as well as two alternatives, laparoscopy and open surgery. An online questionnaire was sent to the paediatric surgeons; responses from the 31 experts (i.e., paediatric surgeons) indicate that the most important criteria are found to be the time‐related factors, especially preoperative preparation time. On the other hand, the least important criteria are found to be complication‐related factors. Moreover, laparoscopy is chosen as the most suitable method for the undescended testicle using the AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methods. This study helps paediatric surgeons' decision making by elucidating their priority criteria and representing their decision‐making process in terms of quantity with the help of AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methodologies.
APC‐EDFA‐based scintillation‐suppressed photodetection in satellite optical communication
Authors: Hong Yan‐Qing , Shin Won‐Ho , Han Sang‐Kook
Published: June 2019

This article proposes automatic power control (APC)‐erbium‐doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)‐based scintillation‐suppressed photodetection in satellite optical communication (SOC). It is mainly based on the dynamic gain characteristic of APC‐EDFA. In order to improve the performance, high pass filter (HPF) and Manchester on‐off‐keying (M‐OOK) are introduced as supplemental methods. The proposed scheme is evaluated experimentally under various turbulence channel strengths. The experimental results show that the scintillation effect is suppressed using APC‐EDFA with pump power reduction compared to gain saturation, and an approximate 5.83 dB signal‐to‐noise ratio improvement is obtained compared to adaptive threshold decision with instantaneous turbulence channel state information under a scintillation index of 0.2990.
Liquid‐metal‐fluidically polarization reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna
Authors: Lee Minjae , Son Hyunwoo , Lim Daecheon , Lee Sukwon , Lim Sungjoon
Published: June 2019

In this article, we propose a liquid‐metal‐fluidically polarization reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna. The edge‐truncated patch is designed to generate circular polarization (CP), and two microfluidic channels are designed for the polarization reconfigurability. Therefore, the polarization of the proposed antenna is switched to linear polarization (LP) from the CP when the liquid metal is injected on the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic channels are fabricated on the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material, and eutectic gallium‐indium (EGaIn) is used as the liquid metal. The performance of the proposed antenna is numerically and experimentally demonstrated. The measured 10‐dB impedance bandwidth is 1.579‐1.619 GHz and 1.563‐1.587 GHz for the CP and LP modes, respectively. At the CP mode, the measured axial ratio (AR) and RHCP gain at 1.595 GHz are 2.267 dB and 6.59 dBic, respectively. At the LP mode, the measured AR and peak gain at 1.585 GHz are 12.335 dB and 5.18 dBi, respectively.
Hardware implementation of contention aware optical switching node for data center networks
Authors: Yadav Vikas , Nithin Vijayan , Mishra Shivam , Hemanth Chandran , Sangeetha Rengachary Gopalan
Published: June 2019

In the multistage bidirectional networks, the same node is accessed multiple times in the same time slot resulting in contention. In this article, we experimentally demonstrate the contention resolution with minimum electronics. This is verified in the experimental testbed and the data is switched from one node to other node without contention. The results are verified in terms of eye diagram in both the directions.
A fully conservative block‐centered finite difference method for Darcy–Forchheimer incompressible miscible displacement problem
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Rui Hongxing
Published: June 2019

In this paper, a block‐centered finite difference method is derived for the Darcy–Forchheimer incompressible miscible displacement problem in porous media by introducing an auxiliary flux variable to guarantee full mass conservation. Error estimates for the pressure, velocity, concentration, and auxiliary flux in different discrete norms are established rigorously and carefully on nonuniform grids. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented to show that the convergence rates are in agreement with the theoretical analysis.
Thermal behavior and kinetics study of carbon/epoxy resin composites
Authors: Xu Yanying , Yang Yang , Shen Ruiqing , Parker Trent , Zhang Ying , Wang Zhi , Wang Qingsheng
Published: June 2019

Carbon/epoxy laminates and foam‐core sandwich composites are frequently used as engineering materials within the aerospace sector. However, epoxy resin matrix and foam‐core materials are highly flammable. In this work, the thermal behaviors of carbon/epoxy laminates and foam‐core sandwich composites were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates in atmospheric air. The morphological images of specimens and the residue after pyrolysis at different characteristic temperatures were further investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, thermogravimetric Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the vapors and gases evolved during the thermal decomposition. It was determined that the pyrolysis reactions of carbon/epoxy laminates and foam‐core sandwich composites consist of three decomposition steps. Furthermore, an increase in the heating rate of each material results in higher initial and final temperatures for each thermal decomposition step. Kinetic parameters for the decomposition for carbon/epoxy composites were estimated using Kissinger, Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa, and Starink methods, and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters were obtained. Through analysis of the reaction kinetics, it was determined that the pyrolysis reactions of carbon/epoxy composites are not easily activated, requiring significant activation energy, but the series of reactions take place easily once this energy barrier is overcome.
Enhancing Rate Performances of Carbon Based Supercapacitors
Authors: Mao Zhan Xin , Zhang Wenjing , Wang Min Jie , Peng Lishan , Hong Wei , Deng Jianghai , Li Jing , Wei Zidong
Published: June 2019

Although continuously increased capacitance records have been reported, the rate performance of carbon based supercapacitors is still short of expectation. We herein present a facile but general surface engineering route, which is able to remarkably increase the rate capability by 26% on average, particularly for various carbon based materials. The adopted HNO3‐H2O2 acid treatment process introduces copious heteroatoms and transfers the surface to be superhydrophilic, which largely improve the accessible interior surface areas for higher capacitances under high current densities, thus producing better rate performances.
Short‐Term Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells Affected by In Situ Interface Modification
Authors: Sun Kai , Wang Yanyan , Xu Haoyuan , Zhang Jing , Zhu Yuejin , Hu Ziyang
Published: June 2019

Device stability is the most important issue that hinders perovskite solar cell (PSC) commercialization, given the achieved efficiency of PSC that exceeds 23%. The perovskite materials and contact layers throughout the device stack are scrutinized with regard to stability, but research has mainly focused on the examination of long‐term behavior. Herein, the impacts on the short‐term stability of PSCs, which are always overlooked, are investigated. The short‐term stability of the PSCs is correlated to the additives of the solution‐processed hole‐transport layer. These additives exert a critical impact underneath the perovskite layer. A kinetically enduring Lewis acid–base reaction between the additives and the perovskite manipulates both the energy‐band alignment and the charge transfer at the interface, accounting for short‐term evolution of figures of merit in PSCs. Our revelation of the impacts on the short‐term stability of PSCs calls for a re‐evaluation of interface modification induced by solution‐process engineering, thereby compensating for the overall device stability and allowing for progress toward commercialization.
Do people exploit risk–reward structures to simplify information processing in risky choice?
Authors: Leuker Christina , Pachur Thorsten , Hertwig Ralph , Pleskac Timothy J.
Published: June 2019

The high rewards people desire are often unlikely. Here, we investigated whether decision-makers exploit such ecological correlations between risks and rewards to simplify their information processing. In a learning phase, participants were exposed to options in which risks and rewards were negatively correlated, positively correlated, or uncorrelated. In a subsequent risky choice task, where the emphasis was on making either a ‘fast’ or the ‘best’ possible choice, participants’ eye movements were tracked. The changes in the number, distribution, and direction of eye fixations in ‘fast’ trials did not differ between the risk–reward conditions. In ‘best’ trials, however, participants in the negatively correlated condition lowered their evidence threshold, responded faster, and deviated from expected value maximization more than in the other risk–reward conditions. The results underscore how conclusions about people’s cognitive processing in risky choice can depend on risk–reward structures, an often neglected environmental property.
Roles of age, gender and psychological difficulties in adolescent mentalizing
Authors: Poznyak Elena , Morosan Larisa , Perroud Nader , Speranza Mario , Badoud Deborah , Debbané Martin
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of mentalizing – the imaginative capacity to understand one's own and others' behaviour in terms of underlying mental states. Yet, factors and mechanisms underlying individual differences in adolescent mentalizing remain poorly understood. This exploratory study examined whether and how a) age and gender and b) psychological difficulties correlate with mentalizing performance in adolescents from the general population.

Methods

89 adolescents from Geneva, Switzerland (54 females, age 12–17 years) completed a computerized task of mentalizing and a self‐report measure of psychopathology.

Results

Mentalizing performance improved with age. Males showed lower scores on the mentalizing task and made more hypermentalizing errors than females. The main findings revealed a negative association between mentalizing performance and self‐reported attention problems. Post‐hoc analyses further demonstrated that self‐reported attentional difficulties were particularly associated with weaker scores on items requiring mentalizing about intentions, while self‐reported withdrawal/depression symptoms were particularly associated with weaker scores on items requiring mentalizing about emotions and thoughts.

Conclusion

The present study highlights a negative association between attentional difficulties and mentalizing performance in community adolescents. Moreover, it provides preliminary evidence suggesting that age, gender and psychological difficulties can be distinctively associated with patterns of correct and incorrect mentalizing in community adolescents. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Clinical retrospective analysis of 15 cases of choanal atresia – Our experience
Authors: Abdul Cader Segana Hasan , Shah Fahim Ahmed , Reghunandanan Nair
Published: June 2019

Objective

Choanal atresia is a rare congenital disorder due to failed recanalization of the nasal fossae during fetal development. This article focuses on our experience in dealing with choanal atresia and its management. Here we discuss the varied clinical symptoms that the patients presented with, the clinical tests and investigations that were specific in diagnosing this condition and surgical management of these cases with endoscopic transnasal choanaplasty with stenting and follow up topical Mitomycin C application.

Material and methods

This is a retrospective study based on computerized medical record review of the patients born in Department of ENT of Sur Hospital between 2002 and 2017. The patients were assessed with detailed history, presentation of clinical symptoms and all underwent nasal endoscopy and CT scans for assessing the atretic type. These patients underwent transnasal endoscopic choanaplasty under general anesthesia using microdebrider and stented using endotracheal tube. The patients were regularly followed up for review with nasal endoscopy after discharge between 4th and 7th postoperative period. The parents were educated on nursing care and the stent was removed in 4 weeks, all patients had Mitomycin C applied to the neochoana and were on regular follow up for a year with no recurrence.

Results

Fifteen patient records were analyzed, 10 females and 5 males, ages varying from newborns up to 14 years old. Unilateral to bilateral choanal atresia was 4:1 ratio and female‐male showed 2:1 ratio. Right malformation was predominant in both sexes in unilateral atresia. Mixed imperforation (bone‐membranous) was the most frequently observed type, followed by bone malformation. The commonest symptom during diagnosis was rhinorrhea and the least one was respiratory failure. Majority of cases were diagnosed by CT scans of sinuses. Around 10% patients presented with cardiac problems. None had restenosis in one year follow up.

Conclusions

Neonates with acute respiratory insufficiency due to choanal atresia can be diagnosed with simple bedside tests like cold spatula test, less invasive tests like failure to pass intranasal catheter, CT scan. Surgical correction with endoscopic intranasal choanaplasty is the way to address this problem and could avoid radical palatal approach, less morbidity and high success rate.
How do emergency departments and emergency leaders catalyze positive change through quality improvement collaborations?
Authors: Chartier Lucas B. , Mondoux Shawn E. , Stang Antonia S. , Dukelow Adam M. , Dowling Shawn K. , Kwok Edmund S. H. , Trivedi Sachin V. , Tepper Joshua , Lang Eddy
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) plays an important role in addressing shortcomings in optimal healthcare delivery. However, there is little published guidance available for emergency department (ED) teams with respect to developing their own QIPS programs. We sought to create recommendations for established and aspiring ED leaders to use as a pathway to better patient care through programmatic QIPS activities, starting internally and working towards interdepartmental collaboration.

Methods

An expert panel comprised of ten ED clinicians with QIPS and leadership expertise was established. A scoping review was conducted to identify published literature on establishing QIPS programs and frameworks in healthcare. Stakeholder consultations were conducted among Canadian healthcare leaders, and recommendations were drafted by the expert panel based on all the accumulated information. These were reviewed and refined at the 2018 CAEP Academic Symposium in Calgary using in-person and technologically-supported feedback.

Results

Recommendations include: creating a sense of urgency for improvement; engaging relevant stakeholders and leaders; creating a formal local QIPS Committee; securing funding and resources; obtaining local data to guide the work; supporting QIPS training for team members; encouraging interprofessional, cross-departmental, and patient collaborations; using an established QIPS framework to guide the work; developing reward mechanisms and incentive structures; and considering to start small by focusing on a project rather than a program.

Conclusion

A list of 10 recommendations is presented as guiding principles for the establishment and sustainable deployment of QIPS activities in EDs throughout Canada and abroad. ED leaders are encouraged to implement our recommendations in an effort to improve patient care.
HERZ–MORREY SPACES ON THE UNIT BALL WITH VARIABLE EXPONENT APPROACHING AND DOUBLE PHASE FUNCTIONALS
Authors: MIZUTA YOSHIHIRO , OHNO TAKAO , SHIMOMURA TETSU
Published: June 2019

Our aim in this paper is to deal with integrability of maximal functions for Herz–Morrey spaces on the unit ball with variable exponent $p_{1}(\cdot )$ approaching $1$ and for double phase functionals $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{d}(x,t)=t^{p_{1}(x)}+a(x)t^{p_{2}}$, where $a(x)^{1/p_{2}}$ is nonnegative, bounded and Hölder continuous of order $\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}\in (0,1]$ and $1/p_{2}=1-\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}/N>0$. We also establish Sobolev type inequality for Riesz potentials on the unit ball.
Shifted phenology in the pine processionary moth affects the outcome of tree–insect interaction
Authors: Rocha S. , Caldeira M.C. , Burban C. , Kerdelhué C. , Branco M.
Published: June 2019

In the Mediterranean and temperate regions, an increase in the frequency and intensity of drought events has been recorded, probably due to climate change. In consequence, trees will more frequently experience hydric stress, a condition that can be expected to affect insect–tree interactions, while adaptation mechanisms may be further in course. The effect of tree water stress on the performance of two allochronic populations ofThaumetopoea pityocampawas here studied. Namely, we compared a unique population of this insect, in which the larvae develop in the summer (SP), with the typical population having winter larval development (WP), to test the adaptation hypothesis to host plant status. Larvae of each population were fed on needles of young pottedPinus pinasterplants under two water supply regimes: (i) well-watered (control) and (ii) subjected to 3 months of drought stress. Compared to control, stressed plants had higher amounts of soluble sugars, phenols, and higher C/N ratio, whereas water content and chlorophylls concentrations were lower. In general,T. pityocampalarvae had lower performances on water-stressed plants, as shown by lower survival rates, lower needle consumption, and longer development times. Yet, the detrimental effects of tree stress were only significant for the WP larvae, while SP larvae were able to overcome such conditions. Results demonstrate that tree water stress can negatively affectT. pityocampapopulations. Furthermore, the evidence is also provided that responses to the physiological condition of the host trees may occur at the population level, as a result of adaptation mechanisms driven by climate change.