bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lack of beta-arrestin signaling in the absence of active G proteins
Authors: Grundmann Manuel , Merten Nicole , Malfacini Davide , Inoue Asuka , Preis Philip , Simon Katharina , Rüttiger Nelly , Ziegler Nicole , Benkel Tobias , Schmitt Nina Katharina , Ishida Satoru , Müller Ines , Reher Raphael , Kawakami Kouki , Inoue Ayumi , Rick Ulrike , Kühl Toni , Imhof Diana , Aoki Junken , König Gabriele M. , Hoffmann Carsten , Gomeza Jesus , Wess Jürgen , Kostenis Evi
Published: January 2018

G protein-independent, arrestin-dependent signaling is a paradigm that broadens the signaling scope of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) beyond G proteins for numerous biological processes. However, arrestin signaling in the collective absence of functional G proteins has never been demonstrated. Here we achieve a state of “zero functional G” at the cellular level using HEK293 cells depleted by CRISPR/Cas9 technology of the Gs/q/12 families of Gα proteins, along with pertussis toxin-mediated inactivation of Gi/o. Together with HEK293 cells lacking β-arrestins (“zero arrestin”), we systematically dissect G protein- from arrestin-driven signaling outcomes for a broad set of GPCRs. We use biochemical, biophysical, label-free whole-cell biosensing and ERK phosphorylation to identify four salient features for all receptors at “zero functional G”: arrestin recruitment and internalization, but—unexpectedly—complete failure to activate ERK and whole-cell responses. These findings change our understanding of how GPCRs function and in particular of how they activate ERK1/2.
Structure of International Simple Glass and properties of passivating layer formed in circumneutral pH conditions
Authors: Collin Marie , Fournier Maxime , Frugier Pierre , Charpentier Thibault , Moskura Mélanie , Deng Lu , Ren Mengguo , Du Jincheng , Gin Stéphane
Published: January 2018

Knowing the structure of a material is necessary to understand its evolution under various influences; here, the alteration by water of a reference glass of nuclear interest, called International Simple Glass (ISG), is studied. The ISG atomic structure has not yet been thoroughly characterized. Short- and medium-range order in this six-oxide glass was investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) methods. Combining the simulated data with experimental observations acquired from both pristine and altered ISG provided new insight into the formation of surface layers and passivation of the underlying glass. In the tested conditions of 90 °C, silica-saturated solution, and pH90°C 7, the passivating layer partly inherits the structure of the pristine glass network despite the release of mobile elements (Na, B, and some Ca), with a reorganization of the silicate network following B release. The layer appears to minimize its internal energy by relaxing strain accumulated during glass quenching. The resulting passivated glass shows a strong resistance to hydrolysis. The nanopores of this hydrated material, displaying a mean pore size of ∼1 nm, are filled with various water species. Water speciation determination inside the nanopores is therefore an achievement for future water dynamic study in the passivated glass.
Spectral mapping of brain functional connectivity from diffusion imaging
Authors: Becker Cassiano O. , Pequito Sérgio , Pappas George J. , Miller Michael B. , Grafton Scott T. , Bassett Danielle S. , Preciado Victor M.
Published: January 2018

Understanding the relationship between the dynamics of neural processes and the anatomical substrate of the brain is a central question in neuroscience. On the one hand, modern neuroimaging technologies, such as diffusion tensor imaging, can be used to construct structural graphs representing the architecture of white matter streamlines linking cortical and subcortical structures. On the other hand, temporal patterns of neural activity can be used to construct functional graphs representing temporal correlations between brain regions. Although some studies provide evidence that whole-brain functional connectivity is shaped by the underlying anatomy, the observed relationship between function and structure is weak, and the rules by which anatomy constrains brain dynamics remain elusive. In this article, we introduce a methodology to map the functional connectivity of a subject at rest from his or her structural graph. Using our methodology, we are able to systematically account for the role of structural walks in the formation of functional correlations. Furthermore, in our empirical evaluations, we observe that the eigenmodes of the mapped functional connectivity are associated with activity patterns associated with different cognitive systems.
Ag-migration effects on the metastable phase in CaCu3Ti4O12 capacitors
Authors: Lee Ji-Won , Lee Gun-Hyun , Shin Dong-Jin , Kim Jinhwan , Jeong Soon-Jong , Koh Jung-Hyuk
Published: January 2018

The silver migration effect into the metastable phase forms a micro-electric path, to enhance the relative dielectric permittivity of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics for electronic devices. Controlling the sintering time uniquely develops the metastable phase of as-sintered CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics. A post-heating process that applies the migration of silver into the metastable phase increases the relative dielectric permittivity. At 1 kHz frequency, the relative dielectric permittivity at room temperature of the silver-migrated CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics sintered for 2 h is 565.9 × 103, almost 52 times higher than that of the as-sintered CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns of the large and small grains were similar, but differed from those of the metastable region, including the grain boundary of the as-sintered CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics sintered for 2 h by TEM technique. This phenomenon suggests that enabling Ag-migration into the metastable phase develops a micro-electric path that improves the relative dielectric permittivity of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics.
Random neuronal ensembles can inherently do context dependent coarse conjunctive encoding of input stimulus without any specific training
Authors: George Jude Baby , Abraham Grace Mathew , Rashid Zubin , Amrutur Bharadwaj , Sikdar Sujit Kumar
Published: January 2018

Conjunctive encoding of inputs has been hypothesized to be a key feature in the computational capabilities of the brain. This has been inferred based on behavioral studies and electrophysiological recording from animals. In this report, we show that random neuronal ensembles grown on multi-electrode array perform a coarse-conjunctive encoding for a sequence of inputs with the first input setting the context. Such an encoding scheme creates similar yet unique population codes at the output of the ensemble, for related input sequences, which can then be decoded via a simple perceptron and hence a single STDP neuron layer. The random neuronal ensembles allow for pattern generalization and novel sequence classification without needing any specific learning or training of the ensemble. Such a representation of the inputs as population codes of neuronal ensemble outputs, has inherent redundancy and is suitable for further decoding via even probabilistic/random connections to subsequent neuronal layers. We reproduce this behavior in a mathematical model to show that a random neuronal network with a mix of excitatory and inhibitory neurons and sufficient connectivity creates similar coarse-conjunctive encoding of input sequences.
ATP-mediated Events in Peritubular Cells Contribute to Sterile Testicular Inflammation
Authors: Walenta Lena , Fleck David , Fröhlich Thomas , von Eysmondt Hendrik , Arnold Georg J. , Spehr Jennifer , Schwarzer J. Ullrich , Köhn Frank-Michael , Spehr Marc , Mayerhofer Artur
Published: January 2018

Peritubular myoid cells, which form the walls of seminiferous tubules in the testis, are functionally unexplored. While they transport sperm and contribute to the spermatogonial stem cell niche, specifically their emerging role in the immune surveillance of the testis and in male infertility remains to be studied. Recently, cytokine production and activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were uncovered in cultured peritubular cells. We now show that human peritubular cells express purinergic receptors P2RX4 and P2RX7, which are functionally linked to TLRs, with P2RX4 being the prevalent ATP-gated ion channel. Subsequent ATP treatment of cultured peritubular cells resulted in up-regulated (pro-)inflammatory cytokine expression and secretion, while characteristic peritubular proteins, that is smooth muscle cell markers and extracellular matrix molecules, decreased. These findings indicate that extracellular ATP may act as danger molecule on peritubular cells, able to promote inflammatory responses in the testicular environment.
Seizure development in the acute intrahippocampal epileptic focus
Authors: Li Lin , Kriukova Kseniia , Engel Jerome , Bragin Anatol
Published: January 2018

Currently, an epileptic seizure is considered to involve a temporary network that exists for a finite period of time. Formation of this network evolves through spread of epileptiform activity from a seizure onset zone (SOZ). Propagation of seizures evoked by kainic acid injection in hippocampus to different brain areas was analyzed at macro- and micro-intervals. The mean latency of seizure occurrence in different brain areas varied between 0.5 sec and 85 sec (mean 14.9 ± 14.5 (SD)), and it increased after each consecutive seizure in areas located contralateral to the area of injection, but not in the ipsilateral sites. We have shown that only 41% of epileptic individual events in target brain areas were driven by epileptic events generated in the SOZ once the seizure began. Fifty-nine percent of epileptiform events in target areas occurred one millisecond before or after events in the SOZ. These data illustrate that during seizure maintenance, only some individual epileptiform events in areas outside of SOZ could be consistently triggered by the SOZ; and the majority must be triggered by a driver located outside the SOZ or brain areas involved in ictal activity could be coupled to each other via an unknown mechanism such as stochastic resonance.
Publisher Correction: Functionalized Non-vascular Nitinol Stent via Electropolymerized Polydopamine Thin Film Coating Loaded with Bortezomib Adjunct to Hyperthermia Therapy
Authors: Aguilar Ludwig Erik , Tumurbaatar Batgerel , Ghavaminejad Amin , Park Chan Hee , Kim Cheol Sang
Published: January 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Sporadic nesting reveals long distance colonisation in the philopatric loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
Authors: Carreras Carlos , Pascual Marta , Tomás Jesús , Marco Adolfo , Hochscheid Sandra , Castillo Juan José , Gozalbes Patricia , Parga Mariluz , Piovano Susanna , Cardona Luis
Published: January 2018

The colonisation of new suitable habitats is crucial for species survival at evolutionary scale under changing environmental conditions. However, colonisation potential may be limited by philopatry that facilitates exploiting successful habitats across generations. We examine the mechanisms of long distance dispersal of the philopatric loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) by analysing 40 sporadic nesting events in the western Mediterranean. The analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA and 7 microsatellites of 121 samples from 18 of these nesting events revealed that these nests were colonising events associated with juveniles from distant populations feeding in nearby foraging grounds. Considering the temperature-dependent sex determination of the species, we simulated the effect of the incubation temperature and propagule pressure on a potential colonisation scenario. Our results indicated that colonisation will succeed if warm temperature conditions, already existing in some of the beaches in the area, extend to the whole western Mediterranean. We hypothesize that the sporadic nesting events in developmental foraging grounds may be a mechanism to overcome philopatry limitations thus increasing the dispersal capabilities of the species and the adaptability to changing environments. Sporadic nesting in the western Mediterranean can be viewed as potential new populations in a scenario of rising temperatures.
Premature polyadenylation of MAGI3 is associated with diminished N6-methyladenosine in its large internal exon
Authors: Ni Thomas K. , Elman Jessica S. , Jin Dexter X. , Gupta Piyush B. , Kuperwasser Charlotte
Published: January 2018

In cancer, tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are frequently truncated, causing their encoded products to be non-functional or dominant-negative. We previously showed that premature polyadenylation (pPA) of MAGI3 truncates the gene, switching its functional role from a TSG to a dominant-negative oncogene. Here we report that MAGI3 undergoes pPA at the intron immediately downstream of its large internal exon, which is normally highly modified by N6-methyladenosine (m6A). In breast cancer cells that upregulate MAGI3
pPA
, m6A levels in the large internal exon of MAGI3 are significantly reduced compared to cells that do not express MAGI3
pPA
. We further find that MAGI3
pPA
transcripts are significantly depleted of m6A modifications, in contrast to highly m6A-modified full-length MAGI3 mRNA. Finally, we analyze public expression data and find that other TSGs, including LATS1 and BRCA1, also undergo intronic pPA following large internal exons, and that m6A levels in these exons are reduced in pPA-activated breast cancer cells relative to untransformed mammary cells. Our study suggests that m6A may play a role in regulating intronic pPA of MAGI3 and possibly other TSGs, warranting further investigation.
Chromium removal from aqueous solution by a PEI-silica nanocomposite
Authors: Choi Keunsu , Lee Soonjae , Park Jin Ock , Park Jeong-Ann , Cho So-Hye , Lee Seung Yong , Lee Jun Hee , Choi Jae-Woo
Published: January 2018

It is essential and important to determine the adsorption mechanism as well as removal efficiency when using an adsorption technique to remove toxic heavy metals from wastewater. In this research, the removal efficiency and mechanism of chromium removal by a silica-based nanoparticle were investigated. A PEI-silica nanoparticle was synthesized by a one-pot technique and exhibited uniformly well-dispersed PEI polymers in silica particles. The adsorption capacity of chromium ions was determined by a batch adsorption test, with the PEI-silica nanoparticle having a value of 183.7 mg/g and monolayer sorption. Adsorption of chromium ions was affected by the solution pH and altered the nanoparticle surface chemically. First principles calculations of the adsorption energies for the relevant adsorption configurations and XPS peaks of Cr and N showed that Cr(VI), [HCrO4]− is reduced to two species, Cr(III), CrOH2+ and Cr3+, by an amine group and that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions are adsorbed on different functional groups, oxidized N and NH3+.
Ohmic Heating of Foods
Authors: Lyng James G. , McKenna Brian M. , Arroyo Cristina
Published: January 2018

Ohmic heating is the direct passage of an electric current through food and the subsequent heating of the food due to its electrical resistance. The absence of an intermediate step between the energy source (electricity) and the food that is common in other processes provides significant energy savings and efficiencies. It is a very rapid process and therefore there is little time for heat loss from the food and environmental losses are minimised. Therefore, it can justifiably be regarded as one of the greenest food heating processes. Although the concept is simple, the application is not. Ohmic heating of foods has developed significantly over the past three decades but it has been known for significantly longer. In the 1950s and 1960s, significant research was undertaken into the process, largely at the request of electrical utility companies, rather than the food industry. Those efforts did not result in significant industrial applications, primarily because of problems with electrode design, electrode polarisation and fouling. Other difficulties include applying an electric current directly to a food consisting of food particles of conductivity differing from that of the main food matrix. Current advances in developing materials for making electrodes to conduct the electricity to the food and a better understanding of the heating process of complex foods, obtained by improved modelling and computational techniques, give this ‘green’ process a very bright future.
High-intensity Pulsed Light Processing
Authors: de Moraes Jaqueline O. , Moraru Carmen I.
Published: January 2018

Pulsed light (PL) technology involves applying a few very short pulses (1 µs to 0.1 s) of high-intensity, broad-spectrum light to kill viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds. The key component of a “pulsed light unit” is a flashlamp filled with an inert gas, typically xenon, which emits radiation in the range 200–1100 nm, spanning the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared region. The main mechanism by which PL causes cell death is the effect of UV light on microbial DNA. However, other mechanisms, including photochemical and photothermal effects, have also been reported. Survival curves for PL treatment are non-linear. The effectiveness of PL is affected by the interaction of the substrate with the incident light. Therefore, the treatment is most effective on smooth, non-reflecting surfaces or in clear liquids. The most suitable food industry applications include disinfection of food contact surfaces, including food packaging, and surface decontamination of unpackaged foods, food packaged in UV-transparent materials, fruit juices, and water. The chapter provides an overview of the principles of PL technology, the main factors influencing its performance, and the current and potential applications for food safety and preservation.
A dynamical process of optically trapped singlet ground state 85Rb133Cs molecules produced via short-range photoassociation
Authors: Li Zhonghao , Gong Ting , Ji Zhonghua , Zhao Yanting , Xiao Liantuan , Jia Suotang
Published: January 2018

We investigate the dynamical process of optically trapped X1Σ+ (v′′ = 0) state 85Rb133Cs molecules distributed in J′′ = 1 and J′′ = 3 rotational states.
Synthesis and catalytic activity of N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) cobalt hydride for Kumada coupling reactions
Authors: Qi Xinghao , Sun Hongjian , Li Xiaoyan , Fuhr Olaf , Fenske Dieter
Published: January 2018

The first silylene Co(iii) hydride6, an efficient catalyst for Kumada cross-coupling reactions, was preparedviaSi–H activation.
A new approach to fabricate the Mn(ii)-based magnetic refrigerant through incorporation of a diamagnetic {LiO4} spacer
Authors: Wu Jia-Wei , Wang Xue , Tian Chong-Bin , Du Shao-Wu
Published: January 2018

We synthesized a new 3D MOF composed of 1D heterometallic inorganic Mn(ii)–Li(i) chains in which the paramagnetic Mn(ii) ions were separated by diamagnetic {LiO4} connectors. It shows a significant MCE with −ΔSm of 30.4 J kg−1 K−1 for ΔH = 8 T at 2 K.
Intrinsic hydrophilic nature of epitaxial thin-film of rare-earth oxide grown by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Prakash Saurav , Ghosh Siddhartha , Patra Abhijeet , Annamalai Meenakshi , Motapothula Mallikarjuna Rao , Sarkar Soumya , Tan Sherman J. R. , Zhunan Jia , Loh Kian Ping , Venkatesan T.
Published: January 2018

Herein, we report a systematic study of water contact angle (WCA) of rare-earth oxide thin-films.
A selective and sensitive nanosensor for fluorescent detection of specific IgEs to purified allergens in human serum
Authors: Yun Jianrong , Duan Fang , Liu Liming , Chen Xiulai , Liu Jia , Luo Qiuling , Wu Jing
Published: January 2018

The effective magnetic fluorescence sensing platform was employed to amplify signal and capture target IgE in one step.
Laser driven quantum rings: one byte logic gate implementation
Authors: Cricchio Dario , Fiordilino Emilio
Published: January 2018

We study the effect of the carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) on the high harmonic generation (HHG) from a quantum ring driven by two short orthogonal lasers polarized along the x and y axes.
Pit evolution around the fusion line of a NiCrMoV steel welded joint caused by galvanic and stress-assisted coupling corrosion
Authors: Weng Shuo , Huang Yuhui , Xuan Fuzhen , Yang Fuqian
Published: January 2018

Pit evolution around the fusion line of a welded joint caused by galvanic and stress-assisted coupling corrosion has been investigated.
Self-assembled layer-by-layer partially reduced graphene oxide–sulfur composites as lithium–sulfur battery cathodes
Authors: Yao Cen , Sun Yu , Zhao Kaisen , Wu Tong , Mauger Alain , Julien Christian M. , Cong Lina , Liu Jia , Xie Haiming , Sun Liqun
Published: January 2018

The general procedures for the synthesis of the self-assembled layer-by-layer prGO/S composites.
Cell membrane mimetic PVDF microfiltration membrane with enhanced antifouling and separation performance for oil/water mixtures
Authors: Meng Fan-Ning , Zhang Meng-Qian , Ding Kai , Zhang Ting , Gong Yong-Kuan
Published: January 2018

The contradictory natures of cell membrane antifouling and mussel-inspired universal adhesion are integrated on a membrane to impart superhydrophilic and antifouling properties.
A self-powered flexible hybrid piezoelectric–pyroelectric nanogenerator based on non-woven nanofiber membranes
Authors: You Ming-Hao , Wang Xiao-Xiong , Yan Xu , Zhang Jun , Song Wei-Zhi , Yu Miao , Fan Zhi-Yong , Ramakrishna Seeram , Long Yun-Ze
Published: January 2018

A flexible hybrid piezoelectric–pyroelectric nanogenerator has been constructed using non-woven nanofiber membranes, which can individually or simultaneously harvest mechanical and thermal energies.
A first-principles investigation of the ScO2 monolayer as the cathode material for alkali metal-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Zhixiao , Deng Huiqiu , Zhang Shiguo , Hu Wangyu , Gao Fei
Published: January 2018

The ScO2 monolayer as the cathode material can deliver high specific capacity, voltage and energy density.
The rapid emergence of two-dimensional nanomaterials for high-performance separation membranes
Authors: Zhu Junyong , Hou Jingwei , Uliana Adam , Zhang Yatao , Tian Miaomiao , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: January 2018

Two-dimensional nanomaterials are rapidly emerging as promising building blocks for the design of molecular sieving membranes with remarkable separation performance.
Silk fibroin as a biotemplate for hierarchical porous silica monoliths for random laser applications
Authors: Santos Moliria V. , Pecoraro Édison , Santagneli Silvia H. , Moura André L. , Cavicchioli Maurício , Jerez Vladimir , Rocha Lucas A. , de Oliveira Luiz Fernando C. , Gomes Anderson S. L. , de Araújo Cid B. , Ribeiro Sidney J. L.
Published: January 2018

Bombyx mori silk fibroin offers unlimited opportunities for functionalization, processing, and biological integration.
Propionate enters GABAergic neurons, inhibits GABA transaminase, causes GABA accumulation and lethargy in a model of propionic acidemia
Authors: Morland Cecilie , Frøland Anne-Sofie , Pettersen Mi Nguyen , Storm-Mathisen Jon , Gundersen Vidar , Rise Frode , Hassel Bjørnar
Published: January 2018

Propionic acidemia is the accumulation of propionate in blood due to dysfunction of propionyl-CoA carboxylase. The condition causes lethargy and striatal degeneration with motor impairment in humans. How propionate exerts its toxic effect is unclear. Here, we show that intravenous administration of propionate causes dose-dependent propionate accumulation in the brain and transient lethargy in mice. Propionate, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, entered GABAergic neurons, as could be seen from increased neuronal histone H4 acetylation in the striatum and neocortex. Propionate caused an increase in GABA (γ-amino butyric acid) levels in the brain, suggesting inhibition of GABA breakdown. In vitro propionate inhibited GABA transaminase with a Ki of ∼1 mmol/l. In isolated nerve endings, propionate caused increased release of GABA to the extracellular fluid. In vivo, propionate reduced cerebral glucose metabolism in both striatum and neocortex. We conclude that propionate-induced inhibition of GABA transaminase causes accumulation of GABA in the brain, leading to increased extracellular GABA concentration, which inhibits neuronal activity and causes lethargy. Propionate-mediated inhibition of neuronal GABA transaminase, an enzyme of the inner mitochondrial membrane, indicates entry of propionate into neuronal mitochondria. However, previous work has shown that neurons are unable to metabolize propionate oxidatively, leading us to conclude that propionyl-CoA synthetase is probably absent from neuronal mitochondria. Propionate-induced inhibition of energy metabolism in GABAergic neurons may render the striatum, in which >90% of the neurons are GABAergic, particularly vulnerable to degeneration in propionic acidemia.
The role of angiopoietin-like protein 4 in phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy
Authors: Sun Yu , Li Yi , Liu Chen , Xue Ruicong , Dong Bin , Huang Huiling , Peng Longyun , Liu Jun , Dong Yugang
Published: January 2018

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a multifunctional secreted protein that can be induced by fasting, hypoxia and glucocorticoids. ANGPTL4 has been associated with a variety of diseases; however, the role of ANGPTL4 in cardiac hypertrophy remains poorly understood. In our study, we aimed to explore the effect of ANGPTL4 on phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Our results showed that knockdown of ANGPTL4 expression significantly exacerbated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as demonstrated by increased hypertrophic marker expression, including ANP and cell surface area. Moreover, significantly reduced fatty acid oxidation, as featured by decreased CPT-1 levels, was observed in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes following ANGPTL4 down-regulation. Furthermore, knockdown of ANGPLT4 led to down-regulated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), which is the key regulator of cardiac fatty acid oxidation. In addition, ANGPTL4 silencing promoted the activation of JNK1/2, and JNK1/2 signaling blockade could restore the level of PPARα and significantly ameliorate the ANGPTL4 knockdown-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Therefore, our study demonstrated that ANGPTL4 regulates PPARα through JNK1/2 signaling and is required for the inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Mining taxi trajectories for most suitable stations of sharing bikes to ease traffic congestion
Authors: Jing Weipeng , Kang Jian , Liu Meiling
Published: January 2018

Sharing bike service is a new emerging public transportation, which has been the hottest topic for months. Sharing bike service provides flexible demand‐oriented transit services for city commuters. However, as large amount of sharing bikes flood into big cities, problems caused by chaotic order of sharing bikes are emerging slowly. The authors aim to draw support from taxi trajectories to analyse current traffic condition and improve it with sharing bikes. In this study, the authors propose a traffic congestion finding framework, called CF. In CF, derived from the points density‐based clustering method of inspiration, the authors propose a new clustering method (CF‐Dbscan) and successfully applied it to the clustering of trajectories. A road network matching algorithm (CF‐Matching) helps to match GPS points to road net even if points are in low‐sampling‐rate. They also employ a ranking feedback mathematical model to adjust the number of sharing bikes of different stations to meet people's demand and reduce redundancy. The first experiment proves that the proposed clustering algorithm performs better than traditional DBSCAN. Another experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework in reducing traffic congestion. The experimental results prove that with the proposed framework the authors can achieve the purpose of easing traffic congestion.
Galactic cold cores
Authors: Juvela M. , Malinen J. , Montillaud J. , Pelkonen V.-M. , Ristorcelli I. , Tóth L. V.
Published: January 2018

Context. The Galactic Cold Cores (GCC) project has made Herschel photometric observations of interstellar clouds where Planck detected compact sources of cold dust emission. The fields are in different environments and stages of star formation.

Aims. Our aim is to characterise the structure of the clumps and their parent clouds, and to study the connections between the environment and the formation of gravitationally bound objects. We also examine the accuracy to which the structure of dense clumps can be determined from sub-millimetre data.

Methods. We use standard statistical methods to characterise the GCC fields. Individual clumps are extracted using column density thresholding. Based on sub-millimetre measurements, we construct a three-dimensional radiative transfer (RT) model for each field. These are used to estimate the relative radiation field intensities, to probe the clump stability, and to examine the uncertainty of column density estimates. We examine the structural parameters of the clumps, including their radial column density profiles.

Results. In the GCC fields, the structure noise follows the relations previously established at larger scales and in lower-density clouds. The fractal dimension has no significant dependence on column density and the values DP = 1.25 ± 0.07 are only slightly lower than in typical molecular clouds. The column density probability density functions (PDFs) exhibit large variations, for example, in the case of externally compressed clouds. At scales r > 0.1 pc, the radial column density distributions of the clouds follow an average relation of N ~ r−1. In spite of a great variety of clump morphologies (and a typical aspect ratio of 1.5), clumps tend to follow a similar N ~ r−1 relation below r ~ 0.1 pc. RT calculations indicate only factor 2.5 variation in the local radiation field intensity. The fraction of gravitationally bound clumps increases significantly in regions with AV > 5 mag but most bound objects appear to be pressure-confined.

Conclusions. The host clouds of the cold clumps in the GCC sample have statistical properties similar to general molecular clouds. The gravitational stability, peak column density, and clump orientation are connected to the cloud background while most other statistical clump properties (e.g. DP and radial profiles) are insensitive to the environment. The study of clump morphology should be continued with a comparison with numerical simulations.
Interaction between a pulsating jet and a surrounding disk wind
Authors: Tabone B. , Raga A. , Cabrit S. , Pineau des Forêts G.
Published: January 2018

Context. The molecular richness of fast protostellar jets within 20–100 au of their source, despite strong ultraviolet irradiation, remains a challenge for the models investigated so far. Aim.We aim to investigate the effect of interaction between a time-variable jet and a surrounding steady disk wind, to assess the possibility of jet chemical enrichement by the wind, and the characteristic signatures of such a configuration.

Methods. We have constructed an analytic model of a jet bow shock driven into a surrounding slower disk wind in the thin shell approximation. The refilling of the post bow shock cavity from below by the disk wind is also studied. An extension of the model to the case of two or more successive internal working surfaces (IWS) is made. We then compared this analytic model with numerical simulations with and without a surrounding disk wind.

Results. We find that at early times (of order the variability period), jet bow shocks travel in refilled pristine disk wind material, before interacting with the cocoon of older bow shocks. This opens the possibility of bow shock chemical enrichment (if the disk wind is molecular and dusty) and of probing the unperturbed disk wind structure near the jet base. Several distinctive signatures of the presence of a surrounding disk wind are identified, in the bow shock morphology and kinematics. Numerical simulations validate our analytical approach and further show that at large scale, the passage of many jet IWS inside a disk wind produces a stationary V-shaped cavity, closing down onto the axis at a finite distance from the source.
Design and Implementation of a Visual Analytics Electronic Antibiogram within an Electronic Health Record System at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital
Authors: Simpao Allan , Ahumada Luis , Larru Martinez Beatriz , Cardenas Ana , Metjian Talene , Sullivan Kaede , Gálvez Jorge , Desai Bimal , Rehman Mohamed , Gerber Jeffrey
Published: January 2018

Background Hospitals use antibiograms to guide optimal empiric antibiotic therapy, reduce inappropriate antibiotic usage, and identify areas requiring intervention by antimicrobial stewardship programs. Creating a hospital antibiogram is a time-consuming manual process that is typically performed annually.

Objective We aimed to apply visual analytics software to electronic health record (EHR) data to build an automated, electronic antibiogram (“e-antibiogram”) that adheres to national guidelines and contains filters for patient characteristics, thereby providing access to detailed, clinically relevant, and up-to-date antibiotic susceptibility data.

Methods We used visual analytics software to develop a secure, EHR-linked, condition- and patient-specific e-antibiogram that supplies susceptibility maps for organisms and antibiotics in a comprehensive report that is updated on a monthly basis. Antimicrobial susceptibility data were grouped into nine clinical scenarios according to the specimen source, hospital unit, and infection type. We implemented the e-antibiogram within the EHR system at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a tertiary pediatric hospital and analyzed e-antibiogram access sessions from March 2016 to March 2017.

Results The e-antibiogram was implemented in the EHR with over 6,000 inpatient, 4,500 outpatient, and 3,900 emergency department isolates. The e-antibiogram provides access to rolling 12-month pathogen and susceptibility data that is updated on a monthly basis. E-antibiogram access sessions increased from an average of 261 sessions per month during the first 3 months of the study to 345 sessions per month during the final 3 months.

Conclusion An e-antibiogram that was built and is updated using EHR data and adheres to national guidelines is a feasible replacement for an annual, static, manually compiled antibiogram. Future research will examine the impact of the e-antibiogram on antibiotic prescribing patterns.
Improving Perinatology Residents' Skills in Breaking Bad News: A Randomized Intervention Study
Authors: Setubal Maria Silvia Vellutini , Antonio Maria Ângela Reis Goes Monteiro , Amaral Eliana Martorano , Boulet John
Published: January 2018

Objective Breaking bad news (BBN) is particularly difficult in perinatology. Previous research has shown that BBN skills can be learned and improved when taught and practiced. This project evaluated whether a structured training session would enhance perinatology residents' skills in BBN.

Methods This was a randomized controlled intervention study with year 1 to 4 Perinatology residents from a medical school in Brazil, during the 2014/15 school year. A total of 61 out of 100 (61%) eligible residents volunteered to a structured training program involving communicating a perinatal loss to a simulated patient (SP) portraying the mother followed by the SP's immediate feedback, both video recorded. Later, residents were randomly assigned to BBN training based on a setting, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotion and summary (SPIKES) strategy with video reviews (intervention) or no training (control group). All residents returned for a second simulation with the same SP blinded to the intervention and portraying a similar case. Residents' performances were then evaluated by the SP with a checklist. The statistical analysis included a repeated measures analysis of covariance (RM-ANCOVA). Complementarily, the residents provided their perceptions about the simulation with feedback activities.

Results Fifty-eight residents completed the program. The simulations lasted on average 12 minutes, feedback 5 minutes and SPIKES training between 1h and 2h30m. There was no significant difference in the residents' performances according to the SPs' evaluations (p = 0.55). The participants rated the simulation with feedback exercises highly. These educational activities might have offset SPIKES training impact.

Conclusion The SPIKES training did not significantly impact the residents' performance. The residents endorsed the simulation with feedback as a useful training modality. Further research is needed to determine which modality is more effective.
Alterstraumazentrum – Warum? Was bedeutet das für die Struktur?
Authors: Förch Stefan , Mayr Edgar
Published: January 2018

Die aktuelle Bevölkerungsentwicklung mit gestiegener Lebenserwartung und zunehmender Überalterung der Bevölkerung ist eine der größten Herausforderungen in der Medizin allgemein und ganz speziell auch in der Unfallchirurgie. Diese Entwicklung ist keineswegs abgeschlossen, sondern wird sich in Zukunft noch fortsetzen. Um die Behandlung von geriatrischen Patienten mit Frakturen zu optimieren, werden nicht nur in Deutschland immer mehr Alterstraumazentren gebildet. In diesen spezialisierten Zentren soll nicht nur die operative Behandlung an die sog. „fragility fractures“ angepasst werden, sondern vielmehr der Patient mit allen seinen Komorbiditäten in einem interdisziplinären Gesamtkonzept therapiert werden. Dies erfordert neben dem interdisziplinären Team aus Unfallchirurgen, Geriatern, spezialisierter Pflege, Physio-, Ergotherapie und Sozialdienst auch entsprechende strukturelle Voraussetzungen wie z. B. gemeinsame Visiten und Besprechungen oder angepasste Patientenzimmer, Therapie- und Gruppenräume. Auch wenn bis dato keine harte Evidenz vorliegt, zeigen sich in den vorliegenden Studien zunehmend die Vorteile von Alterstraumazentren gegenüber der konventionellen rein unfallchirurgischen Behandlung z. B. in Hinblick auf Komplikationen, Krankenhausmortalität oder das funktionelle Outcome.
Frakturen des Fußes beim älteren Patienten – was ist anders?
Authors: Ochman Sabine , Raschke Michael
Published: January 2018

Im Gegensatz zu Frakturen des oberen Sprunggelenkes sind Frakturen des Fußes keine typischen Verletzungen des älteren Patienten. Die aktuelle Literatur liefert nur wenige Erkenntnisse über die Besonderheiten oder Unterschiede zum jüngeren Patienten. Dennoch sind Verletzungen des Fußes nicht selten in dieser Altersgruppe, zum einen bedingt durch Risikofaktoren wie eine osteoporotische Knochenstruktur und Sturzneigung, zum anderen bedingt durch den mittlerweile hohen Aktivitätslevel der Patienten. Die Behandlung stellt aufgrund der oftmals kompromittierten Weichteilverhältnisse, der schlechten Knochenqualität, vorbestehender Deformitäten sowie degenerativer Veränderungen und der häufig nicht einzuhaltenden Teilbelastung im Rahmen der Behandlung eine Herausforderung dar. Im Gegensatz zum jüngeren Patienten finden sich beim älteren andere Frakturmorphologien sowie therapeutisch andere Gesichtspunkte aufgrund von Komorbiditäten. Wie auch beim jungen Patienten steht die Wiederherstellung der Funktion und Mobilität an oberster Stelle des therapeutischen Regimes.
Critical Care EEG: Möglichkeiten und Limitationen
Authors: Koren Johannes , Herta Johannes , Baumgartner Christoph
Published: January 2018

Unklare quantitative und qualitative Bewusstseinsstörungen, nicht-konvulsive Anfälle und Status epileptici sowie Sedierungs- und Therapiemanagement sind Indikationen für die Anwendung von kontinuierlichem EEG Monitoring auf der Intensivstation. Durch technologische und wissenschaftliche Fortschritte gewinnt das Neuromonitoring mittels EEG bei intensivpflichtigen Patienten in den letzten Jahren immer mehr an Bedeutung und kommt immer häufiger zur Anwendung. Aufgrund des hohen personellen und technischen Aufwandes, in Zeiten begrenzter Ressourcen, ist ein pragmatisches Vorgehen bei der Indikationsstellung notwendig. Dies gilt v. a. auf neurologischen Intensivstationen, wo metabolische, ischämische, entzündliche, traumatische und strukturelle Hirnschädigungen besonders oft eine differenzialdiagnostische Abklärung mittels EEG verlangen. Im Rahmen dieses Artikels soll die aktuelle Literatur, wie auch wichtige pathologische EEG Muster anhand von Beispielen übersichtlich dargestellt werden.
Stabilizing effect of helical current drive on tearing modes
Authors: Yuan Y. , Lu X. Q. , Dong J. Q. , Gong X. Y. , Zhang R. B.
Published: January 2018

The effect of helical driven current on the m = 2/n = 1 tearing mode is studied numerically in a cylindrical geometry using the method of reduced magneto-hydro-dynamic simulation. The results show that the local persistent helical current drive from the beginning time can be applied to control the tearing modes, and will cause a rebound effect called flip instability when the driven current reaches a certain value. The current intensity threshold value for the occurrence of flip instability is about 0.00087I0. The method of controlling the development of tearing mode with comparative economy is given. If the local helical driven current is discontinuous, the magnetic island can be controlled within a certain range, and then, the tearing modes stop growing; thus, the flip instability can be avoided. We also find that the flip instability will become impatient with delay injection of the driven current because the high order harmonics have been developed in the original O-point. The tearing mode instability can be controlled by using the electron cyclotron current drive to reduce the gradient of the current intensity on the rational surfaces.
Plasma and radiation detection via fiber interferometry
Authors: Dolan D. H. , Bell K. , Fox B. , Jones S. C. , Knapp P. , Gomez M. R. , Martin M. , Porwitzky A. , Laity G.
Published: January 2018

Photonic Doppler velocimetry tracks motion during high-speed, single-event experiments using telecommunication fiber components. The same technology can be applied in situations where there is no actual motion, but rather a change in the optical path length. Migration of plasma into vacuum alters the refractive index near a fiber probe, while intense radiation modifies the refractive index of the fiber itself. These changes can diagnose extreme environments in a flexible, time-resolved manner.
Ab initio based calculations of the thermal conductivity at the micron scale
Authors: Chaput Laurent , Larroque Jérôme , Dollfus Philippe , Saint-Martin Jérôme , Lacroix David
Published: January 2018

Heat transport in bulk semiconductors is well understood, and during the last few years, it has been shown that it can be computed accurately from ab initio calculations. However, describing heat transport in micro- and nanodevices used in applications remains challenging. In this paper, we propose a method, based on the propagation of wave packets, for solving the phonon Boltzmann transport equation parametrized with ab initio calculations. It allows computing the thermal conductivity of micro- and nano-sized systems, without adjustable parameters, and for any materials. The accuracy and applicability of the method are demonstrated by computing the cross plane thermal conductivity of cubic and hexagonal silicon thin films as a function of their thickness.
Ion energy distribution function in the wall layer at a negative wall potential with respect to the plasma
Authors: Sukhomlinov Vladimir S. , Mustafaev Alexander S. , Murillo Oskar
Published: January 2018

On the basis of the kinetic approach, the self-consistent problem of the gas discharge ion distribution function in the sheath near a surface at a negative potential with respect to the plasma is solved. For the first time, the solution takes into account the dependence of the ion charge exchange cross section from the atom on the ion energy, as well as the real ion distribution function in the unperturbed plasma. It is shown that the dependence of the charge exchange cross section on the ion energy significantly affects the shape of the ion distribution function. It is found that the mean energy of the ions near the wall depends on the electron mean energy in the unperturbed plasma. It was also found that, at the same electron mean energy, the form of the distribution function has practically no effect on the ion distribution function in the wall sheath. The calculations are in good agreement with the known mass spectrometric measurements of the ion distribution function. The obtained results give an opportunity to develop a self-consistent solution of the wall layer structure problem including the quasi-neutral presheath.
Factors affecting occlusion pressure and ischemic preconditioning
Authors: Brown Henry , Binnie Martyn J. , Dawson Brian , Bullock Nicola , Scott Brendan R. , Peeling Peter
Published: January 2018

Purpose: To determine the effect of limb selection (upper/lower), cuff width (small (6 cm)/medium (13 cm) upper; medium/large (18 cm) lower) and anthropometry on arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Methods: Twenty athletes (10 females and 10 males) had surface anthropometry and dual x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessments before using Doppler ultrasound to confirm AOP for each limb. Subsequently, 5 min of occlusion occurred, with near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measuring muscle oxygenation changes. Resultant AOP was compared between sexes, limbs and cuff sizes using linear regression models. Results: Mean AOP was higher in the lower limbs than the upper limbs (161 ± 18 vs. 133 ± 12 mm Hg; p < .001), and with smaller cuffs in upper (161 ± 16 vs. 133 ± 12 mm Hg; p < .001), but not lower limbs (161 ± 16 vs. 170 ± 26 mm Hg; p = .222). Sex and resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) accounted for 77% (small cuff) to 83% (medium cuff) of variance in AOP for upper limbs, and 61% (medium cuff) to 63% (large cuff) in lower limbs. Including anthropometry accounted for 82% (small cuff) to 89% (medium cuff) and 78% (medium cuff) to 79% (large cuff) of variance for upper and lower limbs, respectively. Adding DXA variables improved the explained variance up to 83% (small cuff) to 91% (medium cuff) and 79% (medium cuff) to 87% (large cuff) for upper and lower limbs, respectively. NIRS data showed significantly greater tissue oxygenation changes in upper versus lower limbs. Conclusions: The AOP in athletes is dependent on limb occluded, sex, SBP, limb and cuff size, and body composition.
Learning rapidly about the relevance of visual cues requires conscious awareness
Authors: Travers Eoin , Frith Chris D , Shea Nicholas
Published: January 2018

Humans have been shown to be capable of performing many cognitive tasks using information of which they are not consciously aware. This raises questions about what role consciousness actually plays in cognition. Here, we explored whether participants can learn cue-target contingencies in an attentional learning task when the cues were presented below the level of conscious awareness and how this differs from learning about conscious cues. Participants’ manual (Experiment 1) and saccadic (Experiment 2) response speeds were influenced by both conscious and unconscious cues. However, participants were only able to adapt to reversals of the cue-target contingencies (Experiment 1) or changes in the reliability of the cues (Experiment 2) when consciously aware of the cues. Therefore, although visual cues can be processed unconsciously, learning about cues over a few trials requires conscious awareness of them. Finally, we discuss implications for cognitive theories of consciousness.