bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancer lesion: Experience from a center in Southern Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Yung‐Yu , Lee I‐Lin , Wei Kuo‐Liang , Chang Te‐Sheng , Tung Shui‐Yi , Wu Cheng‐Shyong , Lin Yi‐Hsiung
Published: April 2015

Background

Limited data are available on the interval of disease‐free status after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer and precancer lesion in Taiwan. In this long‐term (2–105 months) follow‐up study, we analyzed the risk factors that affect the local recurrence and noncurative resection (non‐CR) of these lesions.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 65 consecutive treatment‐naïve patients with 69 EGC lesions who were selected to be treated by ESD. A total of 56 lesions (48 CR lesions and 8 non‐CR lesions) were analyzed for local recurrence after ESD.

Results and Discussion

ESD was curative for gastric epithelial tumors in 51 (73.9%) but not in 18 (26.1%) lesions. Unfortunately, five (8.93%) of these 56 lesions in 53 patients had local recurrence. None of the patients died from gastric cancer‐associated diseases during follow‐up. In our studies, the cumulative local recurrence rates were 5.3% in the CR group and 56.7% in the non‐CR group (p = 0.0091). The disease‐free status was high (94.7%) with CR. The risk factors that affect the non‐CR were tumor location (p = 0.013), deeper invasion (p < 0.001), undifferentiated histopathology (p < 0.001), and ulcer presence (p = 0.045).

Conclusion

ESD offers good outcome after treatment for EGC. To decrease the risk of local recurrence, preoperative diagnosis of tumor extent and accurate postoperative pathological evaluation are very important.
EXISTENTIAL-IMPORT MATHEMATICS
Authors: CORCORAN JOHN , MASOUD HASSAN
Published: April 2015

First-order logic haslimitedexistential import: the universalized conditional ∀x[S(x) → P(x)] implies its corresponding existentialized conjunction ∃x[S(x) & P(x)] insome but not allcases. We prove theExistential-Import Equivalence:

∀x[S(x) → P(x)] implies ∃x[S(x) & P(x)] iff ∃xS(x) is logically true.

The antecedent S(x) of the universalized conditional alone determines whether the universalized conditionalhas existential import: implies its corresponding existentialized conjunction.

Apredicateis a formula having onlyxfree. Anexistential-importpredicate Q(x) is one whose existentialization, ∃xQ(x), is logically true; otherwise, Q(x) isexistential-import-freeor simplyimport-free. Existential-import predicates are also said to beimport-carrying.

How widespread is existential import? How widespread are import-carrying predicates in themselves or in comparison to import-free predicates? To answer, let L be any first-order language with any interpretation INT in any [sc. nonempty] universe U. A subset S of U isdefinable inLunderINT iff for some predicate Q(x) in L, S is the truth-set of Q(x) under INT. S isimport-carrying definableiff S is the truth-set of an import-carrying predicate. S isimport-free definableiff S is the truth-set of an import-free predicate.

Existential-Importance Theorem: Let L, INT, and U be arbitrary. Every nonempty definable subset of U isbothimport-carrying definableandimport-free definable.

Import-carrying predicates are quite abundant, and no less so than import-free predicates. Existential-import implications hold as widely as they fail.

A particular conclusion cannot be validly drawn from a universal premise, or from any number of universal premises.—Lewis-Langford, 1932, p. 62.
How the State and Labor Saved Charitable Fundraising: Community Chests, Payroll Deduction, and the Public–Private Welfare State, 1920–1950
Authors: Morris Andrew
Published: April 2015

Payroll taxes and payroll deductions became ubiquitous in the United States by the mid-1940s, crucial to the financing of the emerging “mixed” welfare state as well as World War II. While scholars have firmly established the importance of elements of the warfare/welfare state such as Social Security, employer-based pensions and health insurance, and the mass income tax, voluntary sector institutions have garnered less attention. The history of payroll deduction demonstrates how this “infrastructural power” also advantaged institutions outside of the state, notably, charitable fundraising organizations commonly known as Community Chests (the forerunners of the United Way). Chests began to look toward the payroll deduction in the 1920s as an efficient and effective way of extracting donations from workers of modest means—though these were often fiercely resisted by an empowered labor movement in the 1930s. But it took the state's vast expansion of deductions during World War II, and the patriotic impulse of donating to war-related charities, to convince industrial unions and employers to support this method of donation. Like the income tax, this change in charitable giving remained in place after the war and became a vital element of financing this part of the public–private social safety net—a crucial boost to the voluntary sector from the state.
WHAT IS ART? A PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Scott-Phillips Thomas C.
Published: April 2015

What is art? Marcel Duchamp made this question pertinent when he developed his ‘Readymades’: ordinary, manufactured objects that he presented as art. In this paper, I use pragmatics – the branch of linguistics concerned with language use in context, and which has its historical roots in the philosophy of language – to argue that, if we accept that art is a form of communication, from artist to audience, then Duchamp was correct to claim that anything can be art, so long as it is presented as such.
How Much Carbon Dioxide Does Sunlight Release from Lakes?
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: April 2015

A study of more than 1000 lakes in Sweden helps model sunlight's ability to drive greenhouse gas emissions.
Aberrant MEK5/ERK5 signalling contributes to human colon cancer progression via NF-κB activation
Authors: Simões A E S , Pereira D M , Gomes S E , Brito H , Carvalho T , French A , Castro R E , Steer C J , Thibodeau S N , Rodrigues C M P , Borralho P M
Published: April 2015

This study was designed to evaluate MEK5 and ERK5 expression in colon cancer progression and to ascertain the relevance of MEK5/ERK5 signalling in colon cancer. Expression of MEK5 and ERK5 was evaluated in 323 human colon cancer samples. To evaluate the role of MEK5/ERK5 signalling in colon cancer, we developed a stable cell line model with differential MEK5/ERK5 activation. Impact of differential MEK5/ERK5 signalling was evaluated on cell cycle progression by flow cytometry and cell migration was evaluated by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Finally, we used an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of colon cancer to assess tumour growth and progression. Our results demonstrated that MEK5 and ERK5 are overexpressed in human adenomas (P<0.01) and adenocarcinomas (P<0.05), where increased ERK5 expression correlated with the acquisition of more invasive and metastatic potential (P<0.05). Interestingly, we observed a significant correlation between ERK5 expression and NF-κB activation in human adenocarcinomas (P<0.001). We also showed that ERK5 overactivation significantly accelerated cell cycle progression (P<0.05) and increased cell migration (P<0.01). Furthermore, cells with overactivated ERK5 displayed increased NF-κB nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity (P<0.05), together with increased expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin (P<0.05). We further demonstrated that increased NF-κB activation was associated with increased IκB phosphorylation and degradation (P<0.05). Finally, in the mouse model, lymph node metastasis was exclusively seen in orthotopically implanted tumours with overactivated MEK5/ERK5, and not in tumours with inhibited MEK5/ERK5. Our results suggested that MEK5/ERK5/NF-κB signalling pathway is important for tumour onset, progression and metastasis, possibly representing a novel relevant therapeutic target in colon cancer treatment.
Plasticity of Listeriolysin O Pores and its Regulation by pH and Unique Histidine
Authors: Podobnik Marjetka , Marchioretto Marta , Zanetti Manuela , Bavdek Andrej , Kisovec Matic , Cajnko Miša Mojca , Lunelli Lorenzo , Serra Mauro Dalla , Anderluh Gregor
Published: April 2015

Pore formation of cellular membranes is an ancient mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis that allows efficient damaging of target cells. Several mechanisms have been described, however, relatively little is known about the assembly and properties of pores. Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a pH-regulated cholesterol-dependent cytolysin from the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, which forms transmembrane β-barrel pores. Here we report that the assembly of LLO pores is rapid and efficient irrespective of pH. While pore diameters at the membrane surface are comparable at either pH 5.5 or 7.4, the distribution of pore conductances is significantly pH-dependent. This is directed by the unique residue H311, which is also important for the conformational stability of the LLO monomer and the rate of pore formation. The functional pores exhibit variations in height profiles and can reconfigure significantly by merging to other full pores or arcs. Our results indicate significant plasticity of large β-barrel pores, controlled by environmental cues like pH.
Block copolymer self-assembly for nanophotonics
Authors: Stefik Morgan , Guldin Stefan , Vignolini Silvia , Wiesner Ulrich , Steiner Ullrich
Published: April 2015

From tunable reflectors to 3D metamaterials, the self-assembly of block copolymers is advancing nanostructures for photonic applications.
Fabrication of tungsten nanocrystals and silver–tungsten nanonets: a potent reductive catalyst
Authors: Ghosh Sirshendu , Khamarui Saikat , Saha Manas , De S. K.
Published: April 2015

Ag–W bimetallic plasmonic heterostructures were synthesized with tunable LSPR properties over the full solar spectrum region and exploited in reduction catalytic processes driven by light energy.
Carbon functionalized metal organic framework/Nafion composites as novel electrode materials for ultrasensitive determination of dopamine
Authors: Wang Yang , Ge Huali , Ye Guiqin , Chen Huanhuan , Hu Xiaoya
Published: April 2015

Nafion/C/Al-MIL-53-(OH)2 electrode materials were synthesized and used for the determination of dopamine at nano-molar levels.
Potentiometric and hybrid electronic tongues for bioprocess monitoring – an overview
Authors: Ciosek Patrycja , Wróblewski Wojciech
Published: April 2015

The development of potentiometric and hybrid electronic tongue systems based on flow-through sensor arrays dedicated to the monitoring of selected bioprocesses.
A trifunctional mesoporous silica-based, highly active catalyst for one-pot, three-step cascade reactions
Authors: Biradar Ankush V. , Patil Vijayshinha S. , Chandra Prakash , Doke Dhananjay S. , Asefa Tewodros
Published: April 2015

We report the synthesis of a trifunctional catalyst containing amine, sulphonic acid and Pd nanoparticle catalytic groups anchored on the pore walls of SBA-15. The catalyst efficiently catalyzes one-pot three-step cascade reactions.
Graphene networks and their influence on free-volume properties of graphene–epoxidized natural rubber composites with a segregated structure: rheological and positron annihilation studies
Authors: He Canzhong , She Xiaodong , Peng Zheng , Zhong Jieping , Liao Shuangquan , Gong Wei , Liao Jianhe , Kong Lingxue
Published: April 2015

The motion of ENR chains is retarded by the geometric confinement of “GE networks”, producing a high-density interfacial region in the vicinity of GE nanoplatelets.
Experimental and computational study of solvent effects on one- and two-photon absorption spectra of chlorinated harmines
Authors: Hršak Dalibor , Holmegaard Lotte , Poulsen Anton S. , List Nanna H. , Kongsted Jacob , Denofrio M. Paula , Erra-Balsells Rosa , Cabrerizo Franco M. , Christiansen Ove , Ogilby Peter R.
Published: April 2015

We present a combined experimental and computational study of one- and two-photon absorption spectra of protonated chloroharmines in aqueous and acetonitrile solutions.
Controlled synthesis of monodisperse α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate nanoellipsoids with a porous structure
Authors: Jiang Guangming , Chen Qiaoshan , Jia Caiyun , Zhang Sen , Wu Zhongbiao , Guan Baohong
Published: April 2015

Monodisperse α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate nanoellipsoids are synthesized through a Na2EDTA-mediated self-assembly procedure. Further thermal annealing treatment could generate porous structure.
Influence of the interface in quantum corrections on the low-temperature resistance of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 trilayer masking thin films
Authors: Jin Yuan , Cui Xiao-Peng , Han Wei-Hua , Cao Shi-Xun , Gao Yu-Ze , Zhang Jin-Cang
Published: April 2015

We report the low temperature resistance upturn is mainly due to the quantum correction effects driven by the weak localization and the electron–electron interaction in such a strongly correlated system, and the contribution of each factor varies with grain boundaries.
Physical chemistry and membrane properties of two phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate isomers
Authors: Slochower David R. , Wang Yu-Hsiu , Radhakrishnan Ravi , Janmey Paul A.
Published: April 2015

The most highly charged phospholipids, polyphosphoinositides, are often involved in signaling pathways that originate at cell–cell and cell–matrix contacts, and different isomers of polyphosphoinositides have distinct biological functions that cannot be explained by separate highly specific protein ligand binding sites [Lemmon, Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol., 2008, 9, 99–111].
Structure and energy level alignment at the dye–electrode interface in p-type DSSCs: new hints on the role of anchoring modes from ab initio calculations
Authors: Muñoz-García Ana B. , Pavone Michele
Published: April 2015

The thermodynamic driving force for hole injection in p-DSSCs is maximized by the dye anchoring modes that minimize electrode surface distortions.
In situ unravelling structural modulation across the charge-density-wave transition in vanadium disulfide
Authors: Sun Xu , Yao Tao , Hu Zhenpeng , Guo Yuqiao , Liu Qinghua , Wei Shiqiang , Wu Changzheng
Published: April 2015

Local structural evolution and electrical property variation in VS2 were analyzed via in situ X-ray absorption fine structure measurement and theoretical calculations.
Structural characterization of gas-phase cysteine and cysteine methyl ester complexes with zinc and cadmium dications by infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy
Authors: Coates Rebecca A. , McNary Christopher P. , Boles Georgia C. , Berden Giel , Oomens Jos , Armentrout P. B.
Published: April 2015

Zinc and cadmium dications bind cysteine in tridentate structures at the amine and carbonyl groups and deprotonated sulfur atom.
Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes containing bioactive O,O-chelated ligands: homoleptic and heteroleptic metal-based biomolecules
Authors: Mendiguchia Barbara Sanz , Aiello Iolinda , Crispini Alessandra
Published: April 2015

Zn(ii) or Cu(ii) highly stable complexes with chelatedO,O-donor ligands from natural extractions give rise to drug delivery systems, new biologically active complexes and potential diagnostic agents due to their intrinsic spectroscopic properties.
Noyori–Ikariya catalyst supported on tetra-arylphosphonium salt for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in water
Authors: Zimbron Jeremy M. , Dauphinais Maxime , Charette André B.
Published: April 2015

An easily prepared, low weight, recyclable supported Noyori–Ikariya catalyst is described. The ruthenium precatalyst provides excellent conversions and high enantioselectivities for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones in water.
A straightforward metal-free synthesis of 2-substituted thiazolines in air
Authors: Trose Michael , Lazreg Faïma , Lesieur Mathieu , Cazin Catherine S. J.
Published: April 2015

A range of 2-substituted 4,5-dihydrothiazoles was easily synthesised from the reaction of nitriles with cysteamine in the presence of a catalytic amount of NaOH.
Direct determination of chromium in empty medicine capsules by tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry
Authors: Goncalves Daniel A. , Gu Jiyan , dos Santos Mirian C. , Jones Bradley T. , Donati George L.
Published: April 2015

Trace levels of Cr in empty medicine capsules determined in less than 12 min per sample (LOD = 0.4 µg g−1).
Fast, high-yield synthesis of amphiphilic Ag nanoclusters and the sensing of Hg2+ in environmental samples
Authors: Xia Nan , Yang Jie , Wu Zhikun
Published: April 2015

Ag30(Capt)18 was synthesized, precisely identified and employed for colorimetric probing of Hg2+ in environmental samples based on the AGR mechanism.
Correction: Synthesis and properties of clickable A(B-b-C)20 miktoarm star-shaped block copolymers with a terminal alkyne group
Authors: Huang Bing , Chen Min , Zhou Shuxue , Wu Limin
Published: April 2015

Correction for ‘Synthesis and properties of clickable A(B-b-C)20 miktoarm star-shaped block copolymers with a terminal alkyne group’ by Bing Huang et al., Polym. Chem., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5py00338e.
Atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral P,S-ligands based on arynes
Authors: Berthelot-Bréhier Anaïs , Panossian Armen , Colobert Françoise , Leroux Frédéric R.
Published: April 2015

An unprecedented atropo-diastereoselective aryl–aryl coupling via arynes allows for the modular synthesis of enantiopure P,S-ligands.
The quantitative detection of the uptake and intracellular fate of albumin nanoparticles
Authors: Jiang Liqun , Zhao Xin , Zheng Chunli , Li Fang , Maclean James L. , Chen Fangcheng , Swami Archana , Qian Hai , Zhu Jiabi , Ge Liang
Published: April 2015

Little has been investigated about the intracellular fate of organic nanoparticles (NPs), which is important for the safety and drug delivery efficiency of NPs. In this work, the intracellular disassociation and hydrolysis of albumin NPs were detected based on FRET.
A microfluidic-based controllable synthesis of rolled or rigid ultrathin gold nanoplates
Authors: Fu Qiang , Ran Guangjun , Xu Weilin
Published: April 2015

A microfluidic-based controllable seeded synthesis of rolled or rigid ultrathin gold nanoplates.
Effects of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical properties of biochar derived from vermicompost and its potential use as an environmental amendment
Authors: Yang Gang , Wang Zhanghong , Xian Qiming , Shen Fei , Sun Cheng , Zhang Yanzong , Wu Jun
Published: April 2015

Biochar derived from vermicompost can be employed as an excellent adsorbent for removing contaminants from aqueous solutions.
External control over tautomeric distribution and inter-conversion: new insights into the realm of catalyzed tautomerization
Authors: Bandyopadhyay B. , Biswas P.
Published: April 2015

Relative stabilities of tautomers and tautomeric barriers are extensively modulated by use of carboxylic acids and amine bases.
Understanding the opposite electrical responses of an individual ZnO nanowire under different bending deformations
Authors: Shao R. W. , Zheng K.
Published: April 2015

Opposite electrical responses have been observed in the same individual ZnO nanowire during bendingviachanges in the contact modes.
Quaternary semiconductor Cu2ZnSnS4 loaded with MoS2 as a co-catalyst for enhanced photo-catalytic activity
Authors: Gogoi Gaurangi , Arora Sonia , Vinothkumar Natarajan , De Mahuya , Qureshi Mohammad
Published: April 2015

Quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) loaded with 1% MoS2 shows excellent photo-catalytic activity for water oxidation, leading to efficient H2 generation (AQY 22.67%), as well as in the degradation of an organic pollutant.
Facile synthesis of hydrophilic magnetic graphene@metal–organic framework for highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides
Authors: Zhao Man , Zhang Xiangmin , Deng Chunhui
Published: April 2015

A hydrophilic magnetic graphene@metal–organic framework (MOF) was designed and synthesized for highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides.
Facile synthesis of polyaniline/carbon dot nanocomposites and their application as a fluorescent probe to detect mercury
Authors: Wang Xiufang , Zhang Jun , Zou Wensheng , Wang Runxia
Published: April 2015

Novel polyaniline/carbon dot nanocomposites have been synthesized using a simple method, and a PANI/Cdot “off–on” fluorescent probe has been constructed for the simple, ultrasensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ in aqueous media.
Pyridinum-based flexible tripodal cleft: a case of fluorescence sensing of ATP and dihydrogenphosphate under different conditions and cell imaging
Authors: Ghosh Kumaresh , Tarafdar Debojyoti , Samadder Asmita , Khuda-Bukhsh Anisur Rahman
Published: April 2015

Pyridinium-based chemosensor1built on tris(aminomethyl)amine (tren) has been designed, synthesized and established as a chemosensor for ATP over ADP, AMP and a series of other anions in aqueous CH3CN at pH 6.5.
Excellent hydrogen evolution by a multi approach via structure–property tailoring of titania
Authors: Shwetharani R. , Fernando C. A. N. , Balakrishna Geetha R.
Published: April 2015

Titania as a doped and coupled semiconductor with Fe and Fe2O3, respectively, allows favorable alignment of band edges for remarkable hydrogen evolution.
Directly probing the effect of the solvent on a catalyst electronic environment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Men Shuang , Lovelock Kevin R. J. , Licence Peter
Published: April 2015

The anion of an ionic liquid can significantly influence the electronic environment of a metal centre, and thus impact upon reaction performance in a model Suzuki cross coupling reaction.
Reduction chemical reaction synthesized scalable 3D porous silicon/carbon hybrid architectures as anode materials for lithium ion batteries with enhanced electrochemical performance
Authors: Li Qun , Yin Longwei , Gao Xueping
Published: April 2015

A 3D interconnected porous silicon/carbon hybrid material is synthesized by a controllably magnesiothermic reduction route from silica aerogels and exhibits excellent lithium ion storage performance with long cyclic life and perfect rate capability.
Correction: Photoinduced dynamics of a cyanine dye: parallel pathways of non-radiative deactivation involving multiple excited-state twisted transients
Authors: Upadhyayula Srigokul , Nuñez Vicente , Espinoza Eli M. , Larsen Jillian M. , Bao Duoduo , Shi Dewen , Mac Jenny T. , Anvari Bahman , Vullev Valentine I.
Published: April 2015

Correction for ‘Photoinduced dynamics of a cyanine dye: parallel pathways of non-radiative deactivation involving multiple excited-state twisted transients’ by Srigokul Upadhyayula et al., Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 2237–2251.
Hierarchical porous Ni/NiO core–shells with superior conductivity for electrochemical pseudo-capacitors and glucose sensors
Authors: Zhang Chao , Qian Lihua , Zhang Ke , Yuan Songliu , Xiao Junwu , Wang Shuai
Published: April 2015

Hierarchical porous Ni/NiO core–shells are configured as a high-performance electrochemical electrode for energy storage and electrochemical sensing.
Calcium-modified microporous starch with potent hemostatic efficiency and excellent degradability for hemorrhage control
Authors: Chen Fangping , Cao Xiaoyan , Chen Xiaolong , Wei Jie , Liu Changsheng
Published: April 2015

CaMS has been successfully developed to control hemorrhaging, and its hemostatic efficacy together with degradable properties were evaluated.
Quintuple perovskites Ln2Ba3Fe5−xCoxO15−δ(Ln = Sm, Eu): nanoscale ordering and unconventional magnetism
Authors: Kundu Asish K. , Lebedev Oleg I. , Volkova Nadezhda E. , Seikh Md. Motin , Caignaert Vincent , Cherepanov Vladimir A. , Raveau Bernard
Published: April 2015

Perovskite Sm2Ba3Fe3Co2O14.07consists of 90° chemically twinned nanodomains with five-fold periodicity and exhibits short range AFM interactions within the nanodomains.
Secreted Frizzled-related protein 3 (sFRP3)-mediated suppression of interleukin-6 receptor release by A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) is abrogated in the osteoarthritis-associated rare double variant of sFRP3
Authors: Oldefest Mirja , Düsterhöft Stefan , Desel Christine , Thysen Sarah , Fink Christine , Rabe Björn , Lories Rik , Grötzinger Joachim , Lorenzen Inken
Published: April 2015

To avoid malformation and disease, tissue development and homoeostasis are co-ordinated precisely in time and space. Secreted Frizzled-related protein 3 (sFRP3), encoded by the Frizzled-related protein gene (FRZB), acts as an antagonist of Wnt signalling in bone development by delaying the maturation of proliferative chondrocytes into hypertrophic chondrocytes. A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) is a transmembrane protease that is essential for developmental processes and promotes cartilage maturation into bone. sFRP3 is chondroprotective and is expressed in chondrocytes of healthy articular cartilage. Upon damage to cartilage, sFRP3 is down-regulated. Rare variants of sFRP3 are associated with osteoarthritis. The present study demonstrates a novel function of sFRP3 in suppression of the enzymatic activity of ADAM17 which results in the inhibition of ADAM17-meditated interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) shedding. By contrast, the rare double variant of sFRP3 failed to suppress ADAM17. The shed soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) is linked to inflammation, cartilage degeneration and osteolysis. Accordingly, enhanced activity of ADAM17 in cartilage, caused by the expression of the rare double sFRP3 variant, provides an explanation for the genetic effect of sFRP3 variants in joint disease. The finding that sFRP3 interacts with the ADAM17 substrate IL-6R also suggests a new regulatory mechanism by which the substrate is protected against shedding.
Cofactor specificity motifs and the induced fit mechanism in class I ketol-acid reductoisomerases
Authors: Cahn Jackson K.B. , Brinkmann-Chen Sabine , Spatzal Thomas , Wiig Jared A. , Buller Andrew R. , Einsle Oliver , Hu Yilin , Ribbe Markus W. , Arnold Frances H.
Published: April 2015

Although most sequenced members of the industrially important ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI) family are class I enzymes, structural studies to date have focused primarily on the class II KARIs, which arose through domain duplication. In the present study, we present five new crystal structures of class I KARIs. These include the first structure of a KARI with a six-residue β2αB (cofactor specificity determining) loop and an NADPH phosphate-binding geometry distinct from that of the seven- and 12-residue loops. We also present the first structures of naturally occurring KARIs that utilize NADH as cofactor. These results show insertions in the specificity loops that confounded previous attempts to classify them according to loop length. Lastly, we explore the conformational changes that occur in class I KARIs upon binding of cofactor and metal ions. The class I KARI structures indicate that the active sites close upon binding NAD(P)H, similar to what is observed in the class II KARIs of rice and spinach and different from the opening of the active site observed in the class II KARI of Escherichia coli. This conformational change involves a decrease in the bending of the helix that runs between the domains and a rearrangement of the nicotinamide-binding site.
Short-term dietary salt supplementation blunts telmisartan induced increases in plasma renin activity in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Chen Angela X. , Jerums George , Baqar Sara , Lambert Elisabeth , Somarajah Goji , Thomas Georgina , O’Callaghan Christopher , MacIsaac Richard J. , Ekinci Elif I.
Published: April 2015

Current guidelines recommend low dietary salt intake (LDS) in patients with diabetes to reduce blood pressure (BP). However, low salt intake has been associated with higher mortality rates in people with diabetes. Our aim is to examine the effect of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), telmisartan, with and without dietary sodium chloride (NaCl) supplementation, on BP [mean arterial pressure (MAP)], plasma renin activity (PRA), serum aldosterone level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (RCT), 28 patients with type 2 diabetes, treated with telmisartan (40 mg daily), received 2 weeks of placebo or NaCl capsules (100 mmol/24 h). Following a 6-week washout, the protocol was repeated in reverse. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium excretion (24hUNa), ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring and blood tests were performed before and after each study phase. The telmisartan-associated increase in PRA was blunted by approximately 50% during salt supplementation compared with placebo; median PRA was 2.3 μg/l/h with placebo compared with 1.7 μg/l/h with salt (P<0.001). A trend towards blunting of ARB induced increases in serum aldosterone was also demonstrated. Salt supplementation significantly reduced the MAP lowering effects of telmisartan (P<0.05). The present study demonstrates that salt supplementation blunts the telmisartan induced increase in PRA in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Meeting the Hearing Health Care Needs of the Oldest Older Adult
Authors: Weinstein Barbara E.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the auditory needs of and approaches to management of the oldest older adult.

Method

This article is an overview of principles of geriatric care and implications of untreated hearing loss for function, management, and care of the oldest older adult.

Conclusions

Person-centered care is at the heart of health care delivery to the oldest older adult, who typically suffers from multimorbidity. Given the high prevalence of moderate to severe hearing loss in this cohort and the functional limitations of untreated hearing loss, audiologists must become proactive in educating stakeholders on the importance of identifying and referring the oldest older adult for management of hearing health care needs. Audiologists have an integral role to play in collaborating with health care professionals in optimizing health care for the oldest older adult.
Dual‐setting characteristic for directional overcurrent relays considering multiple fault locations
Authors: Saleh Khaled Ahmed , Zeineldin Hatem Hussein , Al‐Hinai Amer , El‐Saadany Ehab F.
Published: April 2015

Optimal relay settings are determined where coordination constraints are modelled considering only either one fault location (near end or midpoint) or two fault locations (near and far end) on a feeder. This study, first, investigates whether considering one or two fault locations is sufficient to guarantee proper coordination for faults at all other locations on a feeder. The results show that violations, in the coordination constraints, can occur at various points along the feeder if the relays are coordinated considering one or two fault locations. In addition, considering multiple fault locations while determining the optimal relay setting can avoid such problem but on the expense of the overall relay tripping time. Thus, a dual‐setting characteristic for directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) is proposed instead of the conventional inverse time‐current characteristic. The study is conducted on the power transmission system of IEEE 24‐bus and the power distribution system of IEEE 14‐bus. The proposed characteristic achieves notable reduction in total DOCRs operating time over the conventional characteristic for both test systems while achieving proper coordination across a broader range of possible fault locations.
Bidirectional multilevel shunt compensator with simultaneous functionalities based on the conservative power theory for battery‐based storages
Authors: Busarello Tiago Davi Curi , Pomilio José Antenor
Published: April 2015

Renewable energy and storage technologies have a meaningful growth in the past decades. The use of multilevel topologies within these technologies is being preferable chosen because of the better features over the conventional full bridge inverters when the applications involve high power processing. Moreover, digital control algorithms make possible power electronics converters to be operated in different manners without changing their structure. This study presents a bidirectional multilevel shunt compensator (BMSC) able to perform different and simultaneous tasks. There are seven possible modes of operation that a decision taker may demand to the BMSC. The control strategy is based on the conservative power theory. The phase‐locked loop, the proportional–integral tuning procedure and how the decision taker works are presented. The seven operation modes were experimentally verified and the BMSC efficacy is proved.
Charge transport in organic crystals: Critical role of correlated fluctuations unveiled by analysis of Feynman diagrams
Authors: Packwood Daniel M. , Oniwa Kazuaki , Jin Tienan , Asao Naoki
Published: April 2015

Organic crystals have unique charge transport properties that lie somewhere between delocalised band-type transport and localised hopping transport. In this paper, we use a stochastic tight-binding model to explore how dynamical disorder in organic crystals affects charge transport. By analysing the model in terms of Feynman diagrams (virtual processes), we expose the crucial role of correlated dynamical disorder to the charge transport dynamics in the model at short times in the order of a few hundred femtoseconds. Under correlated dynamical disorder, the random motions of molecules in the crystal allow for low-energy “bonding”-type interactions between neighboring molecular orbitals can persist over long periods of time. On the other hand, the dependence of charge transport on correlated dynamical disorder also tends to localize the charge, as correlated disorder cannot persist far in space. This concept of correlation may be the “missing link” for describing the intermediate regime between band transport and hopping transport that occurs in organic crystals.
Shear flow instabilities induced by trapped ion modes in collisionless temperature gradient turbulence
Authors: Palermo F. , Garbet X. , Ghizzo A. , Cartier-Michaud T. , Ghendrih P. , Grandgirard V. , Sarazin Y.
Published: April 2015

One important issue in turbulence self-organization is the interplay between the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability and streamers and/or zonal flows. This question has been debated for a long time. The effects of the KH instability and its position in the sequence of events between streamers, turbulence, and zonal flows have been investigated with a reduced gyro-bounce averaged kinetic code devoted to study the primary ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability linked to trapped ion modes (TIM). In toroidal geometry, the specific dynamics of TIM linked to trapped particles becomes important when the frequency of ITG modes falls below the ion bounce frequency, allowing one to average on both the cyclotron and bounce motion fast time scales. This reduction of the number of degrees of freedom leads to a strong reduction of computer resources (memory and computation time). Bounce-averaged gyrokinetic code can be considered as a toy model able to describe basic structures of turbulent transport in tokamak devices. In particular, by means of this code, we have observed that the energy injected in the system by the TIM instability is exchanged between streamers and zonal flows by means of KH vortices that grow along these structures in the nonlinear phase. The energy transfer occurs throughout the relaxation phase of the streamer growth leading to a modification of the KH modes and to the generation of the zonal flows.
Atomic layer deposition of superparamagnetic and ferrimagnetic magnetite thin films
Authors: Zhang Yijun , Liu Ming , Zhang Yuepeng , Chen Xing , Ren Wei , Ye Zuo-Guang
Published: April 2015

One of the key challenges in realizing superparamagnetism in magnetic thin films lies in finding a low-energy growth way to create sufficiently small grains and magnetic domains which allow the magnetization to randomly and rapidly reverse. In this work, well-defined superparamagnetic and ferrimagnetic Fe3O4 thin films are successfully prepared using atomic layer deposition technique by finely controlling the growth condition and post-annealing process. As-grown Fe3O4 thin films exhibit a conformal surface and poly-crystalline nature with an average grain size of 7 nm, resulting in a superparamagnetic behavior with a blocking temperature of 210 K. After post-annealing in H2/Ar at 400 °C, the as-grown α−Fe2O3 sample is reduced to Fe3O4 phase, exhibiting a ferrimagnetic ordering and distinct magnetic shape anisotropy. Atomic layer deposition of magnetite thin films with well-controlled morphology and magnetic properties provides great opportunities for integrating with other order parameters to realize magnetic nano-devices with potential applications in spintronics, electronics, and bio-applications.
Relationship between the discharge mode and the spatial oxygen plasma distribution in a large size ferrite inductively coupled plasmas
Authors: Kim Hyun Jun , Hwang Hye Ju , Kim Dong Hwan , Cho Jeong Hee , Chae Hee Sun , Chung Chin-Wook
Published: April 2015

The electrical characteristics and the spatial distribution of oxygen plasma according to the number of turns in ferrite inductively coupled plasmas (ferrite ICPs) are investigated. Through a new ICP model, which includes the capacitive coupling and the power loss of the ferrite material with the conventional ICP model, the variation of the oxygen discharge characteristics depending on the number of turns is simply understood by the electrical measurement, such as the antenna voltages and the currents. As the number of the turns increases, the capacitive coupling dominantly affects the spatial plasma distribution. This capacitive coupling results in a center focused density profile along the radial direction. In spite of the same discharge conditions (discharge chamber, neutral gas, and pressure), the spatial plasma distribution over 450 mm has drastic changes by increasing number of the turns. In addition, the effect of the negative species to the density profile is compared with the argon discharge characteristics at the same discharge configuration.
Automated setup for magnetic hysteresis characterization based on a voltage controlled current source with 500 kHz full power bandwidth and 10 A peak-to-peak current
Authors: Calabrese G. , Capineri L. , Granato M. , Frattini G.
Published: April 2015

This paper describes the design of a system for the characterization of magnetic hysteresis behavior in soft ferrite magnetic cores. The proposed setup can test magnetic materials exciting them with controlled arbitrary magnetic field waveforms, including the capability of providing a DC bias, in a frequency bandwidth up to 500 kHz, with voltages up to 32 V peak-to-peak, and currents up to 10 A peak-to-peak. In order to have an accurate control of the magnetic field waveform, the system is based on a voltage controlled current source. The electronic design is described focusing on closed loop feedback stabilization and passive components choice. The system has real-time hysteretic loop acquisition and visualization. The comparisons between measured hysteresis loops of sample magnetic materials and datasheet available ones are shown. Results showing frequency and thermal behavior of the hysteresis of a test sample prove the system capabilities. Moreover, the B-H loops obtained with a multiple waveforms excitation signal, including DC bias, are reported. The proposal is a low-cost and replicable solution for hysteresis characterization of magnetic materials used in power electronics.
Nanowires of Fe/multi-walled carbon nanotubes and nanometric thin films of Fe/MgO
Authors: Newman Alexander , Khatiwada Suman , Neupane Suman , Seifu Dereje
Published: April 2015

We observed that nanowires of Fe grown in the lumens of multi-walled carbon nanotubes required four times higher magnetic field strength to reach saturation compared to planar nanometric thin films of Fe on MgO(100). Nanowires of Fe and nanometric thin films of Fe both exhibited two fold magnetic symmetries. Structural and magnetic properties of 1-dimensional nanowires and 2-dimensional nanometric films were studied by several magnetometery techniques. The θ-2θ x-ray diffraction measurements showed that a (200) peak of Fe appeared on thin film samples deposited at higher substrate temperatures. In these samples prepared at higher temperatures, lower coercive field and highly pronounced two-fold magnetic symmetry were observed. Our results show that maximum magnetocrystalline anisotropy occurred for sample deposited at 100 °C and it decreased at higher deposition temperatures.
Electric field-induced reversible trapping of microtubules along metallic glass microwire electrodes
Authors: Kim Kyongwan , Sikora Aurélien , Nakayama Koji S. , Umetsu Mitsuo , Hwang Wonmuk , Teizer Winfried
Published: April 2015

Microtubules are among bio-polymers providing vital functions in dynamic cellular processes. Artificial organization of these bio-polymers is a requirement for transferring their native functions into device applications. Using electrophoresis, we achieve an accumulation of microtubules along a metallic glass (Pd42.5Cu30Ni7.5P20) microwire in solution. According to an estimate based on migration velocities of microtubules approaching the wire, the electrophoretic mobility of microtubules is around 10−12 m2/Vs. This value is four orders of magnitude smaller than the typical mobility reported previously. Fluorescence microscopy at the individual-microtubule level shows microtubules aligning along the wire axis during the electric field-induced migration. Casein-treated electrodes are effective to reversibly release trapped microtubules upon removal of the external field. An additional result is the condensation of secondary filamentous structures from oriented microtubules.
On the nonlinear stability of a quasi-two-dimensional drift kinetic model for ion temperature gradient turbulence
Authors: Plunk G. G.
Published: April 2015

We study a quasi-two-dimensional electrostatic drift kinetic system as a model for near-marginal ion temperature gradient driven turbulence. A proof is given for the nonlinear stability of this system under conditions of linear stability. This proof is achieved using a transformation that diagonalizes the linear dynamics and also commutes with nonlinear E × B advection. For the case when linear instability is present, a corollary is found that forbids nonlinear energy transfer between appropriately defined sets of stable and unstable modes. It is speculated that this may explain the preservation of linear eigenmodes in nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. Based on this property, a dimensionally reduced (∞×∞→1) system is derived that may be useful for understanding dynamics around the critical gradient of Dimits.
Electrical characterization of multilayer HfSe2 field-effect transistors on SiO2 substrate
Authors: Kang Moonshik , Rathi Servin , Lee Inyeal , Lim Dongsuk , Wang Jianwei , Li Lijun , Khan Muhammad Atif , Kim Gil-Ho
Published: April 2015

We fabricated and characterized two-dimensional field-effect transistors (FETs) based on hafnium diselenide (HfSe2) crystalline nanoflakes. The HfSe2 FET exhibits an n-type semiconductor behavior with a high on/off current ratio exceeding 7.5 × 106. In the temperature range of 120 K–280 K, the thermally activated transport is observed at high carrier concentrations, while at low concentrations and low temperatures hopping conduction dominates the transport mechanism. We also observed the metal insulator transition at carrier density of ∼1.8 × 1012 cm−2. This initial report on the physical and electrical characterization of two dimensional HfSe2 material demonstrates the feasibility of this semiconducting material for electronic devices.
Improved magnetoelectric effect in magnetostrictive/piezoelectric composite with flux concentration effect for sensitive magnetic sensor
Authors: Zhang Hao , Lu Caijiang , Xu Changbao , Xiao Yingjie , Gui Junguo , Lin Chenhui , Xiao Yong
Published: April 2015

The magnetoelectric (ME) composite with the flux concentration effect is designed, fabricated, and characterized for detecting weak ac magnetic-field. The high-permeability Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 (FeCuNbSiB) foils act as flux concentrators and are bonded at the free ends of traditional ME laminates. With the improved ME responses in the proposed ME composite based on the flux concentration effect, the output sensitivities under zero-biased magnetic field can reach 7 V/Oe and 15.8 mV/Oe under the resonance frequency of 177.36 kHz and the off-resonance frequency of 1 kHz, respectively. The results indicate that the proposed ME composites show promising applications for high-sensitivity self-biased magnetic field sensors and ME transducers.
High mobility AlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown on Si substrates using a large lattice-mismatch induced stress control technology
Authors: Cheng Jianpeng , Yang Xuelin , Sang Ling , Guo Lei , Hu Anqi , Xu Fujun , Tang Ning , Wang Xinqiang , Shen Bo
Published: April 2015

A large lattice-mismatch induced stress control technology with a low Al content AlGaN layer has been used to grow high quality GaN layers on 4-in. Si substrates. The use of this technology allows for high mobility AlGaN/GaN heterostructures with electron mobility of 2040 cm2/(V·s) at sheet charge density of 8.4 × 1012 cm−2. Strain relaxation and dislocation evolution mechanisms have been investigated. It is demonstrated that the large lattice mismatch between the low Al content AlGaN layer and AlN buffer layer could effectively promote the edge dislocation inclination with relatively large bend angles and therefore significantly reduce the dislocation density in the GaN epilayer. Our results show a great potential for fabrication of low-cost and high performance GaN-on-Si power devices.
Atomic origin of high-temperature electron trapping in metal-oxide-semiconductor devices
Authors: Shen Xiao , Dhar Sarit , Pantelides Sokrates T.
Published: April 2015

MOSFETs based on wide-band-gap semiconductors are suitable for operation at high temperature, at which additional atomic-scale processes that are benign at lower temperatures can get activated, resulting in device degradation. Recently, significant enhancement of electron trapping was observed under positive bias in SiC MOSFETs at temperatures higher than 150 °C. Here, we report first-principles calculations showing that the enhanced electron trapping is associated with thermally activated capturing of a second electron by an oxygen vacancy in SiO2 by which the vacancy transforms into a structure that comprises one Si dangling bond and a bond between a five-fold and a four-fold Si atoms. The results suggest a key role of oxygen vacancies and their structural reconfigurations in the reliability of high-temperature MOS devices.
High internal quantum efficiency in AlGaN multiple quantum wells grown on bulk AlN substrates
Authors: Bryan Zachary , Bryan Isaac , Xie Jinqiao , Mita Seiji , Sitar Zlatko , Collazo Ramón
Published: April 2015

The internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of Al0.55Ga0.45N/AlN and Al0.55Ga0.45N/Al0.85Ga0.15N UVC MQW structures was analyzed. The use of bulk AlN substrates enabled us to undoubtedly distinguish the effect of growth conditions, such as V/III ratio, on the optical quality of AlGaN based MQWs from the influence of dislocations. At a high V/III ratio, a record high IQE of ∼80% at a carrier density of 1018 cm−3 was achieved at ∼258 nm. The high IQE was correlated with the decrease of the non-radiative coefficient A and a reduction of midgap defect luminescence, all suggesting that, in addition to dislocations, point defects are another major factor that strongly influences optical quality of AlGaN MQW structures.