bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomics analysis and biological investigation of three Malvaceae plants
Authors: Abdelhafez Omnia Hesham , Othman Eman Maher , Fahim John Refaat , Desoukey Samar Yehia , Pimentel‐Elardo Sheila Marie , Nodwell Justin R. , Schirmeister Tanja , Tawfike Ahmed , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Metabolomics is a fast growing technology that has effectively contributed to many plant‐related sciences and drug discovery.

Objective

To use the non‐targeted metabolomics approach to investigate the chemical profiles of three Malvaceae plants, namely Hibiscus mutabilis L. (Changing rose), H. schizopetalus (Dyer) Hook.f. (Coral Hibiscus), and Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. (Sleeping Hibiscus), along with evaluating their antioxidant and anti‐infective potential.

Methodology

Metabolic profiling was carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC–HR–ESI–MS) for dereplication purposes. The chemical composition of the studied plants was further compared by principal component analysis (PCA). The antioxidant and anti‐infective properties of their different extracts were correlated to their phytochemical profiles by orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA).

Results

A variety of structurally different metabolites, mostly phenolics, were characterized. Comparing the distribution pattern of these tentatively identified metabolites among the studied plant species/fractions revealed the chemical uniqueness of the dichloromethane fraction of M. arboreus. Some extracts and fractions of these plants demonstrated noteworthy antioxidant and antitrypanosomal potential; the latter was partly attributed to their anti‐protease activities. The active principles of these plants were pinpointed before any laborious isolation steps, to avoid the redundant isolation of previously known compounds.

Conclusion

This study highlighted the use of the established procedure in exploring the metabolomes of these species, which could be helpful for chemotaxonomic and authentication purposes, and might expand the basis for their future phytochemical analysis. Coupling the observed biological potential with LC–MS data has also accelerated the tracing of their bioactive principles.
Control of the STC power in PV modules' supplies for utility scale plants
Authors: Pérez Leonardo , Coello Jorge , Lorenzo Eduardo
Published: August 2019

This article presents a specific procedure to control the standard test conditions (STC) power in photovoltaic (PV) modules. It also shows the results of its application on a supply of approximately 700 000 multicrystalline p‐type silicon BSF technology PV modules made by a worldwide known manufacturer (Tier‐1, Q4 2015). First, during the manufacturing process, the analysis of the STC power measurements of the whole supply carried out by the modules' manufacturer is included, where the quality of these measurements was evaluated through a comparative contrast study in an independent laboratory on a sample of 4000 modules. In addition, the light‐induced degradation (LID) on 180 modules and the resistance to the potential induced degradation (PID) in a sample of 125 modules were characterized and critically analyzed. Secondly, during operation phase, the analysis of the STC power after the first 2 years of operation of the modules in desert conditions was also included. These measurements were carried out on a sample of 2000 modules making use of an accredited mobile laboratory. The overall results showed the effectiveness of the implementation of the aforementioned procedure, which is based on the use of a set of reference modules (primary standards) with common calibration origin. It proved to be an effective way of reducing uncertainties all along the quality control process. The susceptibility to PID, as observed on the PID test (chamber method) specified in IEC TS 62804, was practically negligible, and the average LID degradation after 20 kWh/m2 of exposition to the sun was 1.5%. Finally, the degradation rate in the second year of operation was 0.32% with respect to the initial degradation occurred during the whole first year.
Direct observation of hydrogen at defects in multicrystalline silicon
Authors: Tweddle David , Hamer Phillip , Shen Zhao , Markevich Vladimir P. , Moody Michael P. , Wilshaw Peter R.
Published: August 2019

Hydrogen passivation is a key industrial technique used to reduce the recombination activity of defects in multicrystalline silicon (mc‐Si). However, not all dislocations and grain boundaries respond well to traditional hydrogen passivation techniques. In order to understand the reasons for these different behaviours, and how superior passivation might be achieved, a method is required for the direct observation of hydrogen at these defects. Here, we present a novel characterisation technique based on a combination of transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), atom probe tomography (APT), and isotopic substitution that enables unambiguous detection and quantification of hydrogen atoms present at crystallographic defects in mc‐Si.
The impact of diurnal variation of PSA on timing of measurement in prostate biopsy
Authors: Uzun Hakkı , Arpa Medeni
Published: August 2019

Background

Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) synthesis is related to testosterone, which has a diurnal rhythm. PSA might have a diurnal variation and the timing of measurement could change the clinical practice for prostate biopsy.

Methods

Male patients complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms (group 1) and diagnosed with prostate cancer (group 2) were recruited into the study. Morning fasting blood samples were withdrawn between 9.00 and 11.00 am for the determination of biochemical parameters, PSA (PSA1), total testosterone (T1), and estradiol (E1) levels. In the afternoon, between 15.00 and 15.30 pm, blood samples were again obtained from the same participants at the same day and the serum concentration of PSA (PSA2), total testosterone (T2), and estradiol (E2) were measured.

Results

A total of 160 and 30 patients were enrolled in groups 1 and 2, respectively. One hundred forty (87.5%) and 26 (86.6%) patients had a decrease in the PSA levels when measured in the afternoon. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test determined a statistically significant difference between the PSA levels measured in the morning and in the afternoon in each group. An analysis of covariance test revealed no statistically significant difference in PSA concentration between the groups after adjustment for baseline concentration (F(1.187) = 0.203, P = .653). There was a weak positive correlation between PSA1/PSA2 and T1/T2, rs (160) = 0.163, P = .034. An extra unit increase in PSA1 concentration leads to a 0.805 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.781‐0.830) and 0.828 (95% CI, 0.807‐0.849) ng/mL increase in PSA2 concentration in groups 1 and 2, respectively, that is, patients with and without prostate cancer had a similar decrease in the PSA levels. When measured in the afternoon, 66.6% and 50% patients with a morning PSA level over 3 or 4 ng/mL had a PSA drop below these levels, respectively.

Conclusions

PSA has a diurnal variation and the timing of measurement may alter the decision of the clinician for transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy.
The impact of backbone N‐methylation on the structure‐activity relationship of Leu10‐teixobactin
Authors: Velkov Tony , Swarbrick James D. , Hussein Maytham H. , Schneider‐Futschik Elena K. , Hoyer Daniel , Li Jian , Karas John A.
Published: August 2019

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global human health; therefore, new anti‐infective therapeutics are required. The cyclic depsi‐peptide teixobactin exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against several Gram‐positive pathogens. To study the natural product's mechanism of action and improve its pharmacological properties, efficient chemical methods for preparing teixobactin analogues are required to expedite structure‐activity relationship studies. Described herein is a synthetic route that enables rapid access to analogues. Furthermore, our new N‐methylated analogues highlight that hydrogen bonding along the N‐terminal tail is likely to be important for antimicrobial activity.
Solution‐Grown Hypervalent CsI3 Crystal for High‐Sensitive X‐Ray Detection
Authors: Zhang Bin-Bin , Liu Xin , Xiao Bao , Gao Kaige , Dong Song-Tao , Xu Yadong , He Yucong , Zhou Jian , Jie Wanqi
Published: August 2019

Herein, a novel binary compound hypervalent CsI3 crystal is designed for X‐ray detection. Solution‐grown rod‐like CsI3 single crystal is identified as a semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.79 eV and high resistivity of 2.17 × 109 Ω cm, which make it suitable for X‐ray detection. Based on carbon/CsI3 crystal/carbon device, a high X‐ray sensitivity of up to 158.1 ± 6.0 μC Gy−1 cm−2 is achieved under a low electrical field of 55 V mm−1, which is eight times higher than that of the commercial α‐Se X‐ray detectors. The high sensitivity of hypervalent CsI3 is attributed to the long carrier life time (≈470 μs) and large photocurrent gain (150%). The potential applications of photoconversion and nuclear radiation detection using alkali halides are demonstrated.
Invasive tracheal aspergillosis after chemoradiotherapy treatment
Authors: Lee Shok Yin , Nguyen Phan , Chapman Sally
Published: August 2019

Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis is a rare disease with most reported cases in the literature occurring in immunocompromised hosts. We report an unusual case of a patient with persistent cough and dyspnoea in the context of prior chemoradiotherapy for primary lung cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abnormal soft tissue mass surrounding the trachea and carina, with focal moderate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) activity on positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed fungal hyphae associated with necrosis and cartilage invasion, subsequently confirmed to be Aspergillus fumigatus complex. The patient was commenced on antifungal therapy promptly and had a good clinical response to treatment.
Iterative feedback tuning for Hamiltonian systems based on variational symmetry
Authors: Satoh Satoshi , Fujimoto Kenji
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes a novel iterative feedback tuning (IFT) for Hamiltonian systems, which can describe a practically important class of nonlinear systems. Hamiltonian systems have a special property called variational symmetry, and it can be used to estimate the input‐output mapping of the variational adjoint for certain input‐output mappings of the systems. First, we derive a modified variational symmetry to adapt to the gradient estimation of an optimal control–type cost function with respect to adjustable parameters of a controller. Second, we provide an IFT algorithm based on the property, which generates the optimal parameters minimizing the cost function by iteration of experiments. The proposed algorithm requires less number of experiments to estimate the gradient than the conventional IFT methods for nonlinear systems. We also provide a method to optimize the elements of the dissipation matrix, which does not directly appear in the Hamiltonian function, by equipping a dynamic feedback of the generalized coordinate. Moreover, we provide an IFT algorithm considering parameter constraints so that the parameters can be optimized within a prescribed search range. Finally, a numerical simulation of a two‐link robot manipulator including a comparison with the conventional IFT methods demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Power of Series Books for Struggling Readers
Authors: Leathers Jacqueline
Published: August 2019

Voices From the Classroom essays share readers’ reflections on teaching experiences, advice for new teachers, and perspectives on current issues.
Flooding water and society
Authors: Camargo Alejandro , Cortesi Luisa
Published: August 2019

As social scientists of water, we need to keep evaluating the analytical tools we use. Through the example of floods, we here develop a critique of one of those tools, the hydrosocial cycle framework, in order to expand our conceptualizations of water. The hydrosocial cycle is a re‐elaboration of the classical hydrological cycle which explicitly politicizes and denaturalizes the study of hydrological systems. In political ecology, such a conceptual framework has been pivotal to the understanding of how water circulates in society through a complex web of power relations, economic structures, and processes that are at the same time spatial and historical. But when we deploy this concept to examine floods, a number of limitations emerge. In this article, we formulate three specific theses which focus on those limitations: (a) an overemphasis on society, (b) a lack of attention to ecology and, more generally the relationships between water and other nonhuman elements and processes, and (c) a heuristic overreliance on the metaphors of flow and cycle. In developing these three theses, we discern alternative paths of analysis to conceptualize floodwaters at a time when these events increasingly constitute a significant threat to humans and nonhumans alike. Our hope is that this critique will also contribute to broader interdisciplinary debates about water and society.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Human Water > Water Governance
Enhanced Ar‐K X‐ray emission observed in EBIT at electron energies around 6,500 eV
Authors: Biela Weronika , Warczak Andrzej , Mucha Adam , Malarz Adam
Published: August 2019

Recently (2015) at the Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University, a commercial electron beam ion source (Dresden EBIT, DREEBIT Co.) was installed for teaching and scientific purposes. The first experiments were focused on observation of radiative recombination and dielectronic recombination (DR). A good resolution of the X‐ray spectra for DR in argon encouraged a more detailed search. An investigation of higher order resonances, namely, trielectronic recombination (TR: KK‐LLL, KK‐LLM,…) in argon ions, was initiated. The present experiment was conducted while scanning the electron beam energy of the EBIT over the region 5,700–7200 eV. This electron energy region was expected to manifest an enhancement of the Ar‐K X‐ray emission due to TR processes mentioned above. Indeed, a maximum‐like behavior of the radiation intensity was observed.
Scalar phenomenology in type-II seesaw model
Authors: Primulando R. , Julio J. , Uttayarat P.
Published: August 2019

Abstract

In this work we study the viable parameter space of the scalar sector in the type-II seesaw model. In identifying the allowed parameter space, we employ constraints from low energy precision measurements, theoretical considerations and the 125-GeV Higgs data. These tools prove effective in constraining the model parameter space. Moreover, the triplet also offers a rich collider phenomenology from having additional scalars that have unique collider signatures. We find that direct collider searches for these scalars can further probe various parts of the viable parameter space. These parts can be parametrized by the electroweak scalar triplet vacuum expectation value, the mass splitting of the singly- and doubly-charged scalars, and the doubly-charged Higgs mass. We find that different regions of the viable parameter space give rise to different collider signatures, such as the same-sign dilepton, the same-sign W and the multilepton signatures. By investigating various LEP and LHC measurements, we derive the most updated constraints over the whole range of parameter space of the type-II seesaw model.
Optimization of choke size for two-phase flow using artificial intelligence
Authors: Khamis Mohammad , Elhaj Murtada , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez
Published: August 2019

Currently, engineers are using numerical correlations to describe the flow of oil and gas through chokes. These numerical correlations are not 100% accurate, as indicated by other studies, so there is a need to find a better approach to describe and calculate the choke size. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for better results. In this study, AI was used to estimate the optimum choke size that is required to meet the desired flow rate. Four techniques are used in this study: artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic (FL), support vector machines, and functional networks. Results obtained using these techniques were compared. After researching each technique, FL was found to give the best predictions.
Fraud risk assessment within blockchain transactions
Authors: Goffard Pierre-O.
Published: August 2019

The probability of successfully spending twice the same bitcoins is considered. A double-spending attack consists in issuing two transactions transferring the same bitcoins. The first transaction, from the fraudster to a merchant, is included in a block of the public chain. The second transaction, from the fraudster to himself, is recorded in a block that integrates a private chain, exact copy of the public chain up to substituting the fraudster-to-merchant transaction by the fraudster-to-fraudster transaction. The double-spending hack is completed once the private chain reaches the length of the public chain, in which case it replaces it. The growth of both chains are modelled by two independent counting processes. The probability distribution of the time at which the malicious chain catches up with the honest chain, or, equivalently, the time at which the two counting processes meet each other, is studied. The merchant is supposed to await the discovery of a given number of blocks after the one containing the transaction before delivering the goods. This grants a head start to the honest chain in the race against the dishonest chain.
Extremes of multitype branching random walks: heaviest tail wins
Authors: Bhattacharya Ayan , Maulik Krishanu , Palmowski Zbigniew , Roy Parthanil
Published: August 2019

We consider a branching random walk on a multitype (withQtypes of particles), supercritical Galton–Watson tree which satisfies the Kesten–Stigum condition. We assume that the displacements associated with the particles of typeQhave regularly varying tails of index$\alpha$, while the other types of particles have lighter tails than the particles of typeQ. In this paper we derive the weak limit of the sequence of point processes associated with the positions of the particles in thenth generation. We verify that the limiting point process is a randomly scaled scale-decorated Poisson point process using the tools developed by Bhattacharya, Hazra, and Roy (2018). As a consequence, we obtain the asymptotic distribution of the position of the rightmost particle in thenth generation.
The sharp threshold for jigsaw percolation in random graphs
Authors: Cooley Oliver , Kapetanopoulos Tobias , Makai Tamás
Published: August 2019

We analyse the jigsaw percolation process, which may be seen as a measure of whether two graphs on the same vertex set are ‘jointly connected’. Bollobás, Riordan, Slivken, and Smith (2017) proved that, when the two graphs are independent binomial random graphs, whether the jigsaw process percolates undergoes a phase transition when the product of the two probabilities is$\Theta({1}/{(n\ln n)})$. We show that this threshold is sharp, and that it lies at${1}/{(4n\ln n)}$.
Who is the infector? General multi-type epidemics and real-time susceptibility processes
Authors: Britton Tom , Leung Ka Yin , Trapman Pieter
Published: August 2019

We couple a multi-type stochastic epidemic process with a directed random graph, where edges have random weights (traversal times). This random graph representation is used to characterise the fractions of individuals infected by the different types of vertices among all infected individuals in the large population limit. For this characterisation, we rely on the theory of multi-type real-time branching processes. We identify a special case of the two-type model in which the fraction of individuals of a certain type infected by individuals of the same type is maximised among all two-type epidemics approximated by branching processes with the same mean offspring matrix.
The museum in the lab: historical practice in the experimental sciences at Cambridge, 1874–1936
Authors: JARDINE BORIS
Published: August 2019

This paper explores the hoarding, collecting and occasional display of old apparatus in new laboratories. The first section uses a 1936 exhibition of Cambridge's scientific relics as a jumping-off point to survey the range of historical practices in the various Cambridge laboratories. This panoramic approach is intended to show the variety and complexity of pasts that scientists had used material to conjure in the years prior to the exhibition. Commerce and commemoration emerge as two key themes. The second part turns to the Cavendish Laboratory (experimental physics) to explore the highly specific senses of time and memorialization at play in the early years of the laboratory (c.1874–1910), and the way these were transformed over the subsequent generations leading up to the 1936 moment. The key figure here is James Clerk Maxwell, whose turn to history involved a mix of antiquarianism and modernism. The paper concludes with an attempt to characterize the meanings and significances of ‘the museum in the lab’. This phenomenon ought to be understood in terms of the wide range of ‘collections’ present in laboratory spaces.
“Living a Philosophical Contradiction?”: Progressive Education in the Archdiocese of Vancouver's Catholic Schools, 1936–1960
Authors: Gemmell K. M.
Published: August 2019

Progressive education swept across Canada in the early to mid-twentieth century, restructuring schools, introducing new courses, and urging teachers to reorient the classroom to the interests and needs of the learner. The women religious who taught in Vancouver's Catholic schools negotiated the revised public school curriculum, determined to utilize the latest methods and meet public school standards in hopes of receiving government funding. But they were equally adamant about preserving Catholic beliefs regarding human life and resisting “false” philosophy. Despite their caution, progressive education began to transform Catholic pedagogy in this period, most notably in religious education. Looking back over the decades, Catholic educators in the early 1960s would observe that progressive education had brought about a shift in schools that emphasized process over content and self-expression over discipline. They found themselves questioning whether the curriculum undermined revealed knowledge by overemphasizing empirical science as the foundation for all knowledge.
On oblique liquid curtains
Authors: Weinstein Steven J. , Ross David S. , Ruschak Kenneth J. , Barlow Nathaniel S.
Published: August 2019

In a recent paper (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 861, 2019, pp. 328–348), Benilov derived equations governing a laminar liquid sheet (a curtain) that emanates from a slot whose centreline is inclined to the vertical. The equations are valid for slender sheets whose characteristic length scale in the direction of flow is much larger than its cross-sectional thickness. For a liquid that leaves a slot with average speed, $u_{0}$, volumetric flow rate per unit width, $q$, surface tension, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$, and density, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$, Benilov obtains parametric equations that predict steady-state curtain shapes that bend upwards against gravity provided $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}qu_{0}/2\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}<1$. Benilov’s parametric equations are shown to be identical to those derived by Finnicum, Weinstein, and Ruschak (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 255, 1993, pp. 647–665). In the latter form, it is straightforward to deduce an alternative solution of Benilov’s equations where a curtain falls vertically regardless of the slot’s orientation. This solution is consistent with prior experimental and theoretical results that show that a liquid curtain can emerge from a slot at an angle different from that of the slot centreline.
Japanese Imperialism and Environmental Disease on a Soy Frontier, 1890–1940
Authors: Christmas Sakura
Published: August 2019

This article focuses on the 1935 discovery of what is now believed to be a selenium deficiency disorder in the Japanese client state of Manchukuo. The epicenter of this disease had served as pasture for Oirat Mongols until the late nineteenth century. Opening up the land for reclamation by Chinese migrants put greater pressure on each acre to produce food. With a limited supply of selenium in the soil, the intake of this mineral by crops decreased over time, especially under the extractive conditions of the soybean industry during the Japanese occupation. Japanese theories on climate and hygiene made legible the consequences of transforming this nomadic borderland into an agrarian heartland on colonized bodies. By bringing attention to the understudied Mongol territories in Manchukuo, this essay goes beyond environmental histories bound by the nation-state to reveal the corporeal costs of settler colonialism and ecological imperialism.
The Latin of the New Vindolanda Tablets
Authors: Adams J.N.
Published: August 2019

This paper is a detailed study of the language of the writing-tablets from Vindolanda reported on by Bowman et al. in this volume.
English EU terminology in Serbian
Authors: Stojičić Violeta
Published: August 2019

The process of aligning Serbian legislation with the legislation of the EU has stimulated the creation of a large body of specialized lexis and the modernization of the existing lexicon. In this paper, I discuss the linguistic mechanisms of contact-induced secondary term creation processes in the Serbian language within the scope of EU legislation and activities under the influence of English. Regarding the standardization of EU legislation terminology, Peruzzo (2012: 177) explores the need for the uniformity of terminology within every language in the EU. Namely, every language should be allowed ‘normative flexibility’ in adopting EU legislative provisions, but should also guarantee the maximum degree of uniform interpretation and the terms used should be clear, simple and precise. This means that in every EU language, consistent use of uniform terminology is of vital importance not only within a single text, but also across different texts related to the same issue. Fischer (2010: 28) observes two steps in the creation of terms in the EU: (1) terms are created in the dominating languages, predominantly in the procedural languages of English, French and German, and (2) they are translated into all other languages. She concludes that in most languages terms are created on the basis of a source term by translation, and that the creation of EU terminology can be described as a process in which (1) multilingual primary term-creation for the dominant languages is followed by (2) a secondary activity, intra-conceptual term-transfer for most other languages.
Using Standardized Checklists Increase the Completion Rate of Critical Actions in an Evacuation from the Operating Room: A Randomized Controlled Simulation Study
Authors: Acar Yahya A. , Mehta Neil , Rich Mary-Ann , Yilmaz Banu Karakus , Careskey Matthew , Generoso Jose , Fidler Richard , Hirsch Jan
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

Hospital evacuations of patients with special needs are extremely challenging, and it is difficult to train hospital workers for this rare event.

Hypothesis/Problem:

Researchers developed an in-situ simulation study investigating the effect of standardized checklists on the evacuation of a patient under general anesthesia from the operating room (OR) and hypothesized that checklists would improve the completion rate of critical actions and decrease evacuation time.

Methods:

A vertical evacuation of the high-fidelity manikin (SimMan3G; Laerdal Inc.; Norway) was performed and participants were asked to lead the team and evacuate the manikin to the ground floor after a mock fire alarm. Participants were randomized to two groups: one was given an evacuation checklist (checklist group [CG]) and the other was not (non-checklist group [NCG]). A total of 19 scenarios were run with 28 participants.

Results:

Mean scenario time, preparation phase of evacuation, and time to transport the manikin down the stairs did not differ significantly between groups (P = .369, .462, and .935, respectively). The CG group showed significantly better performance of critical actions, including securing the airway, taking additional drug supplies, and taking additional equipment supplies (P = .047, .001, and .001, respectively). In the post-evacuation surveys, 27 out of 28 participants agreed that checklists would improve the evacuation process in a real event.

Conclusion:

Standardized checklists increase the completion rate of pre-defined critical actions in evacuations out of the OR, which likely improves patient safety. Checklist use did not have a significant effect on total evacuation time.
DYNAMICS OF A SIMPLE ENDOGENOUS GROWTH MODEL WITH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
Authors: Byrska Dominika , Krawiec Adam , Szydłowski Marek
Published: August 2019

We study an impact of the financial intermediation on economic growth. We assume the simple model of the economic growth in the form of an autonomous dynamical system with a financial sector represented by banks and real sector represented by households and firms. We assume that financial intermediation services are described by financial intermediation technology which is a function depending on the share of labor employed by banks. Investments realized by firms depend not only on savings accumulated by banks but also on financial intermediation technology. We obtain a three-dimensional dynamical system and analyze the existence of a saddle equilibrium in the growth process associated with financial intermediation. Using mathematical methods of dynamical systems, we analyze growth paths, and we study the stationary states of the system and their stability. We found that equilibrium is reached only by trajectories located on two submanifolds. The resulting analysis provides an insight into the saddle solution with a stable incoming separatrix lying on one of the invariant manifolds.
Vulvodynie: Diagnostik und Management
Authors: Ghisu Gian-Piero
Published: August 2019

Zusammenfassung. Die Vulvodynie ist durch chronische, idiopathische, mindestens drei Monate andauernde vulväre Schmerzen definiert. Nach Ausschluss spezifischer und gezielt behandelbarer schmerzhafter Vulvaerkrankungen sollten realistische Therapieziele der chronisch verlaufenden Vulvodynie vereinbart werden. Das Therapiekonzept wird multimodal, interdisziplinär und individualisiert erstellt und umfasst die Kombination allgemeiner Empfehlungen mit physio- und psychotherapeutischen Massnahmen. Die unentbehrliche pharmakologische Therapie erfolgt im Off-Label Use und sieht den topischen und/oder systemischen Einsatz verschiedener Substanzen und Substanzkombinationen vor. Chirurgische Möglichkeiten sind gerade bei Frauen mit therapieresistenter provozierbarer Vulvodynie als mögliche Option anzusehen. So sind auch alternative Therapiemöglichkeiten wie Akupunktur, Hypnose und transkutane elektrische Nervenstimulation prüfenswert.
Agranulozytose nach Metamizol-Reexposition und Cefepim-induzierte Enzephalopathie mit fatalem Ausgang
Authors: Skaistys Ana , Rätz Bravo Alexandra E. , Leuppi-Taegtmeyer Anne , Zysset Yvonne
Published: August 2019

Zusammenfassung. Wir stellen den Fall einer 83-jährigen Patientin vor, die in der Folge verschiedener, wahrscheinlich medikamenteninduzierter Komplikationen (Agranulozytose unter Metamizol und Cefepim-induzierte Enzephalopathie) gestorben ist. Bei ersten Symptomen (z.B. Fieber, Mukositis, Halsschmerzen) ist Metamizol sofort zu stoppen und eine Reexpositionen durch nachhaltige Dokumentation und Ausgabe eines Notfall- oder Allergiepasses zu vermeiden. Bei Anwendung von Cefepim ist die Nierenfunktion gerade beim multimorbiden geriatrischen Patienten engmaschig zu überwachen und die Dosis entsprechend anzupassen.
Unfälle durch Gartenarbeit – Bagatelle oder Ernst?
Authors: Schaudt Jil , Ziegenhorn Stephan , Lienert Jasmin , Exadaktylos Aristomenis , Klukowska-Rötzler Jolanta
Published: August 2019

Zusammenfassung. Gartenarbeit ist eine beliebte Freizeitaktivität in der Schweiz. Pro Jahr werden ungefähr eine Million Nichtberufsunfälle registriert, davon ereignen sich etwa 600 000 zu Hause oder während der Ausübung eines Hobbies, einschliesslich 16 000 Unfällen bei der Gartenarbeit. Ziel dieser retrospektiven Analyse ist die Untersuchung von Gartenarbeitsunfällen. Die Daten wurden aus der elektronischen Datenbank des Universitären Notfallzentrums des Inselspitals Bern gesammelt und retrospektiv ausgewertet. Patienten im Alter von 16 Jahren oder älter, die einen Unfall während der Gartenarbeit als Freizeitaktivität erlitten, wurden in die Analyse eingeschlossen. Jüngere Patienten wurden in einem separaten Notfallzentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche behandelt und somit nicht ausgewertet. Anschliessend wurden die Daten nach Alter, Geschlecht, Triagekategorie, Unfallmechanismus, unfallverursachendem Objekt, betroffenen Körperregionen, Diagnosen, Schweregrad der Verletzung (monotraumatisch, kombiniert mit mehr als einer betroffenen Körperregion oder Polytrauma) und ambulanter oder stationärer Behandlung analysiert. Unfälle bei der privaten Gartenarbeit ereigneten sich vorwiegend bei Erwachsenen im Alter von 40–69 Jahren. Dabei waren Männer häufiger als Frauen betroffen. Die Patienten zogen sich vorwiegend Augenverletzungen und Hautwunden zu. Exponierte Körperstellen wie Augen, Finger, Kopf und Gesicht waren am häufigsten betroffen. Es handelte sich vorwiegend um monotraumatische Verletzungen, die ambulant behandelt werden konnten. Stürze und ähnliche Ereignisse wie Stolpern führten häufig zu Unfällen. Unfälle wurden hauptsächlich durch organisches Material oder durch die fehlerhafte und nachlässige Anwendung von Werkzeugen verursacht. Die Datenanalyse zeigte, dass ein Grossteil der Unfälle durch einfache Präventionsmassnahmen verhindert werden könnten.
A New Inverse Phase Speed Spectrum of Nonlinear Gravity Wind Waves
Authors: Björkqvist Jan‐Victor , Pettersson Heidi , Drennan William M. , Kahma Kimmo K.
Published: August 2019

The rear face of the wave spectrum is described by an equilibrium and a saturation subrange. Although accurate information about these ranges are highly relevant for wave modeling and many practical applications, there have been inconsistencies between results originating from temporal and spatial measurements. These discrepancies have been explained by the Doppler shift and the harmonics of nonlinear waves. We present high‐frequency wave measurements from the Baltic Sea gathered with R/V Aranda using a wave staff array, which provided directional frequency‐wavenumber data. In addition to the traditional wavenumber and frequency spectra, F(k) and S(ω), we also define a new spectrum that is a function of the inverse phase speed. We denote this spectrum Q(ν), where ν=kω−1. The properties of this Q‐spectrum were studied using data from four different sites. A strongly forced fetch‐limited case showed an equilibrium‐to‐saturation transition in the Q‐spectrum, with less variations in the equilibrium constants compared to the frequency spectra. The transition to a saturation regime happened around Uν=3 in all spectra where an equilibrium range was identified. Most duration‐limited spectra had no equilibrium range in the inverse phase speed domain. The absence of an equilibrium range was consistent with the wavenumber domain, but the frequency spectra still showed an apparent equilibrium subrange extending to ωU/g=5. The consistency of the saturation ranges between the Q‐spectrum and the wavenumber spectrum indicate a weak Doppler shift effect. We deduced that the main factor distorting the frequency spectra was wave nonlinearities.
Seasonal Dynamics of Organic Matter Composition and Its Effects on Suspended Sediment Flocculation in River Water
Authors: Lee B.J. , Kim J. , Hur J. , Choi I. H. , Toorman E. A. , Fettweis M. , Choi J. W.
Published: August 2019

Organic matter (OM) and suspended sediment are abundant, and interact with each other, in rivers and lakes. OM is usually adsorbed by suspended sediment and causes either particle stabilization or flocculation. In this study, the OM composition and suspended sediment flocculation potential of river water were regularly measured throughout the year 2016. The OM composition of the river water samples was measured with a liquid chromatography‐organic carbon detection system and fluorescence excitation‐emission matrix spectroscopy, and the flocculation potential was measured in a standard jar test experiment. Results from the OM analyses and flocculation potential tests, in association with a multivariate data analysis, demonstrated that the OM composition and flocculation potential of the river water were dynamic under different meteorological, hydrological, ecological, and anthropogenic conditions and closely correlated with each other. Dry seasons with low rainfall and water discharge induced a lacustrine condition and led to the OM composition being more aquagenic and flocculation‐favorable. The most favorable condition for the enhancement of flocculation was during algae bloom and associated with the production of biopolymers from algae. In contrast, rainy seasons were advantageous for stabilization of suspended sediment because of excessive transport of terrigenous humic substances from catchment areas into the river. Such terrigenous humic substances enhanced stabilization by creating enhanced electrostatic repulsion via adsorption onto the sediment surface. Findings from this research provide a better insight into the highly complex behaviors of and interactions between OM and suspended sediment in natural water environments.
Observational Evidence for Two Modes of Coupling Between Sea Surface Temperatures, Tropospheric Temperature Profile, and Shortwave Cloud Radiative Effect in the Tropics
Authors: Fueglistaler S.
Published: August 2019

Tropical average shortwave cloud radiative effect (SWCRE) anomalies observed by CERES/EBAF v4 are explained by observed average sea surface temperature (
) and the difference between the warmest 30% where deep convection occurs and
). Observed tropospheric temperatures show variations in boundary layer capping strength over time consistent with the evolution of SST#. The CERES/EBAF v4 data confirm that associated cloud fraction changes over the colder waters dominate SWCRE. This observational evidence for the “pattern effect” noted in General Circulation Model simulations suggests that SST# captures much of this effect. The observed sensitivities (dSWCRE/d
W·m−2·K−1, dSWCRE/dSST#≈−4.8W·m−2·K−1) largely reflect El Niño–Southern Oscillation. As El Niño develops,
increases and SST# decreases (both increasing SWCRE). Only after the El Niño peak, SST# increases and SWCRE decreases. SST# is also relevant for the tropical temperature trend profile controversy and the discrepancy between observed and modeled equatorial Pacific SST trends. Causality and implications for future climates are discussed.
Arctic Ocean Response to Greenland Sea Wind Anomalies in a Suite of Model Simulations
Authors: Muilwijk Morven , Ilicak Mehmet , Cornish Sam B. , Danilov Sergey , Gelderloos Renske , Gerdes Rüdiger , Haid Verena , Haine Thomas W. N. , Johnson Helen L. , Kostov Yavor , Kovács Tamás , Lique Camille , Marson Juliana M. , Myers Paul G. , Scott Jeffery , Smedsrud Lars H. , Talandier Claude , Wang Qiang
Published: August 2019

Multimodel Arctic Ocean “climate response function” experiments are analyzed in order to explore the effects of anomalous wind forcing over the Greenland Sea (GS) on poleward ocean heat transport, Atlantic Water (AW) pathways, and the extent of Arctic sea ice. Particular emphasis is placed on the sensitivity of the AW circulation to anomalously strong or weak GS winds in relation to natural variability, the latter manifested as part of the North Atlantic Oscillation. We find that anomalously strong (weak) GS wind forcing, comparable in strength to a strong positive (negative) North Atlantic Oscillation index, results in an intensification (weakening) of the poleward AW flow, extending from south of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, through the Nordic Seas, and all the way into the Canadian Basin. Reconstructions made utilizing the calculated climate response functions explain ∼50% of the simulated AW flow variance; this is the proportion of variability that can be explained by GS wind forcing. In the Barents and Kara Seas, there is a clear relationship between the wind‐driven anomalous AW inflow and the sea ice extent. Most of the anomalous AW heat is lost to the atmosphere, and loss of sea ice in the Barents Sea results in even more heat loss to the atmosphere, and thus effective ocean cooling. Release of passive tracers in a subset of the suite of models reveals differences in circulation patterns and shows that the flow of AW in the Arctic Ocean is highly dependent on the wind stress in the Nordic Seas.
Avenanthramide A triggers potent ROS-mediated anti-tumor effects in colorectal cancer by directly targeting DDX3
Authors: Fu Rong , Yang Peng , Li Zongwei , Liu Wen , Amin Sajid , Li Zhuoyu
Published: August 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant gastrointestinal tumor with high mortality worldwide. Drug resistance and cytotoxicity to normal cells are the main causes of chemotherapeutic treatment failure in CRC. Therefore, extracting the bioactive compounds from natural products with anti-carcinogenic activity and minimal side-effects is a promising strategy against CRC. The present study aims to evaluate the anti-carcinogenic properties of avenanthramides (AVNs) extracted from oats bran and clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated that AVNs treatment suppressed mitochondrial bioenergetic generation, resulting in mitochondrial swelling and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Further study indicated that AVNs treatment significantly reduced DDX3 expression, an oncogenic RNA helicase highly expressed in human CRC tissues. DDX3 overexpression reversed the ROS-mediated CRC apoptosis induced by AVNs. Of note, we identified Avenanthramide A (AVN A) as the effective ingredient in AVNs extracts. AVN A blocked the ATPase activity of DDX3 and induced its degradation by directly binding to the Arg287 and Arg294 residues in DDX3. In conclusion, these innovative findings highlight that AVNs extracts, in particular its bioactive compound AVN A may crack the current hurdles in the way of CRC treatment.
Persistent accelerations disentangle Lagrangian turbulence
Authors: Bentkamp Lukas , Lalescu Cristian C. , Wilczek Michael
Published: August 2019

Particles in turbulence frequently encounter extreme accelerations between extended periods of quiescence. The occurrence of extreme events is closely related to the intermittent spatial distribution of intense flow structures such as vorticity filaments. This mixed history of flow conditions leads to very complex particle statistics with a pronounced scale dependence, which presents one of the major challenges on the way to a non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of turbulence. Here, we introduce the notion of persistent Lagrangian acceleration, quantified by the squared particle acceleration coarse-grained over a viscous time scale. Conditioning Lagrangian particle data from simulations on this coarse-grained acceleration, we find remarkably simple, close-to-Gaussian statistics for a range of Reynolds numbers. This opens the possibility to decompose the complex particle statistics into much simpler sub-ensembles. Based on this observation, we develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for Lagrangian single-particle statistics that captures the acceleration, velocity increments as well as single-particle dispersion.
Enantioselective benzylic C–H arylation via photoredox and nickel dual catalysis
Authors: Cheng Xiaokai , Lu Huangzhe , Lu Zhan
Published: August 2019

The asymmetric cross-coupling reaction is developed as a straightforward strategy toward 1,1-diaryl alkanes, which are a key skeleton in a series of natural products and bioactive molecules in recent years. Here we report an enantioselective benzylic C(sp3)−H bond arylation via photoredox/nickel dual catalysis. Sterically hindered chiral biimidazoline ligands are designed for this asymmetric cross-coupling reaction. Readily available alkyl benzenes and aryl bromides with various functional groups tolerance can be easily and directly transferred to useful chiral 1,1-diaryl alkanes including pharmaceutical intermediates and bioactive molecules. This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions without the use of external redox reagents.
Visualisation of dCas9 target search in vivo using an open-microscopy framework
Authors: Martens Koen J. A. , van Beljouw Sam P. B. , van der Els Simon , Vink Jochem N. A. , Baas Sander , Vogelaar George A. , Brouns Stan J. J. , van Baarlen Peter , Kleerebezem Michiel , Hohlbein Johannes
Published: August 2019

CRISPR-Cas9 is widely used in genomic editing, but the kinetics of target search and its relation to the cellular concentration of Cas9 have remained elusive. Effective target search requires constant screening of the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and a 30 ms upper limit for screening was recently found. To further quantify the rapid switching between DNA-bound and freely-diffusing states of dCas9, we developed an open-microscopy framework, the miCube, and introduce Monte-Carlo diffusion distribution analysis (MC-DDA). Our analysis reveals that dCas9 is screening PAMs 40% of the time in Gram-positive Lactoccous lactis, averaging 17 ± 4 ms per binding event. Using heterogeneous dCas9 expression, we determine the number of cellular target-containing plasmids and derive the copy number dependent Cas9 cleavage. Furthermore, we show that dCas9 is not irreversibly bound to target sites but can still interfere with plasmid replication. Taken together, our quantitative data facilitates further optimization of the CRISPR-Cas toolbox.
SNARE protein SEC22B regulates early embryonic development
Authors: Wu Shin-Rong J. , Khoriaty Rami , Kim Stephanie H. , O’Shea K. Sue , Zhu Guojing , Hoenerhoff Mark , Zajac Cynthia , Oravecz-Wilson Katherine , Toubai Tomomi , Sun Yaping , Ginsburg David , Reddy Pavan
Published: August 2019

The highly conserved SNARE protein SEC22B mediates diverse and critical functions, including phagocytosis, cell growth, autophagy, and protein secretion. However, these characterizations have thus far been limited to in vitro work. Here, we expand our understanding of the role Sec22b plays in vivo. We utilized Cre-Lox mice to delete Sec22b in three tissue compartments. With a germline deletion of Sec22b, we observed embryonic death at E8.5. Hematopoietic/endothelial cell deletion of Sec22b also resulted in in utero death. Notably, mice with Sec22b deletion in CD11c-expressing cells of the hematopoietic system survive to adulthood. These data demonstrate Sec22b contributes to early embryogenesis through activity both in hematopoietic/endothelial tissues as well as in other tissues yet to be defined.