bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The efficiency of the brain connectome is associated with cerebrovascular reactivity in persons with white matter hyperintensities
Authors: Reginold William , Sam Kevin , Poublanc Julien , Fisher Joe , Crawley Adrian , Mikulis David J.
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the organization of the brain connectome and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in persons with white matter hyperintensities. Diffusion tensor and CVR mapping 3T MRI scans were acquired in 31 participants with white matter hyperintensities. In each participant, the connectome was assessed by reconstructing all white matter tracts with tractography and segmenting the whole brain into multiple regions. Graph theory analysis was performed to quantify how effectively tracts connected brain regions by measuring the global and local efficiency of the connectome. CVR in white matter and gray matter was correlated with the global and local efficiency of the connectome, while adjusting for age, gender, and gray matter volume. For comparison, white matter hyperintensity volume was also correlated with global and local efficiency. White matter CVR was positively correlated with the global efficiency (coefficient: 23.3, p = .005) and local efficiency (coefficient: 2850, p = .004) of the connectome. Gray matter CVR was positively correlated with the global efficiency (coefficient: 21.3, p < .001) and local efficiency (coefficient: 2670, p < .001) of the connectome. White matter hyperintensity volume was negatively correlated with global efficiency (coefficient: −0.0002, p = .003) and local efficiency (coefficient: −0.024, p = .003) of the connectome. The association between CVR and the brain connectome suggests that impaired cerebrovascular function may be part of the pathophysiology of the disruption of the brain connectome in persons with white matter hyperintensities.
Do differences in reported expenditures between household scanner data and expenditure surveys matter in health policy research?
Authors: Zhen Chen , Muth Mary , Okrent Abigail , Karns Shawn , Brown Derick , Siegel Peter
Published: May 2019

Household scanner data are increasingly used to inform health policy such as sugar‐sweetened beverage taxes. This article examines whether differences in the level of reported expenditures between IRI Consumer Network scanner panel and the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) lead to important differences in demand elasticities and policy simulation outcomes. Using each dataset, we estimated a structural consumer demand system with seven food groups and a numéraire good. To compare the two datasets on a level playing field, we went to great lengths to ensure that the explanatory variables in the two demand models were comparably constructed. Results indicate that scanner data households are not consistently more price responsive than the general population and underreported Consumer Network expenditures do not seem to result in systematic differences in price elasticities. The income elasticities are uniformly lower in Consumer Network than in CES for higher income households because of the positive association between income and the degree of underreporting. This, however, has limited effects on uncompensated price elasticities and policy simulations because food budget shares are small for higher income households. Overall, these findings support continued use of household scanner data in health policy research related to effects of price (dis)incentives.
The potential therapeutic and prognostic impacts of the c‐MET/HGF signaling pathway in colorectal cancer
Authors: Parizadeh Seyed Mostafa , Jafarzadeh‐Esfehani Reza , Fazilat‐Panah Danial , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Shahidsales Soodabeh , Khazaei Majid , Parizadeh Seyed Mohammad Reza , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon A. , Avan Amir
Published: May 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and a common cause of cancer‐related mortality globally. In spite of the improvements in the early diagnosis of CRC, approximately one‐third of patients develop metastasis and then have a very poor survival rate. The mesenchymal–epithelial transition factor (c‐MET) is a tyrosine kinase cell surface receptor activated by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Activation of c‐MET/HGF signaling pathway regulates a variety of biological processes including cell motility, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, and the development and progression of cancer cells. Recent studies have suggested that the c‐MET/HGF signaling pathway is involved in the carcinogenesis of CRC. In this review, we summarize the main findings of recent studies investigating the role of c‐MET/HGF signaling pathway in CRC and the potential of the c‐MET/HGF signaling pathways in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019
A comparative study of HAMSCs/HBMSCs transwell and mixed coculture systems
Authors: Bian Yifeng , Du Yifei , Wang Ruixia , Chen Ning , Du Xin , Wang Yuli , Yuan Hua
Published: May 2019

Our previous studies indicated that a coculture system containing human amnion‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAMSCs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) has the potential of application for bone regeneration. However, there is currently no enough comparative investigation between HAMSCs/HBMSCs transwell and mixed coculture systems. This study aimed to assess the phenotype and mechanisms regulated by indirect and direct coculture systems, respectively. Two in vitro models were employed with HAMSCs and HBMSCs at a ratio of 3:1, and then were analyzed by a series of processes, including flow cytometry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) substrate assays, Alizarin red S staining, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and Western blot analysis. We found that cell proliferation, ALP activity, mineralized matrix formation, and osteoblast‐related mRNA expression were accelerated in transwell coculture system compared with mixed coculture system. Conditioned medium from transwell coculture system achieved an elevated level of vascular endothelial growth factor and induced more vascular structures in human umbilical vein endothelial cells than those of mixed coculture system. Moreover, we observed that transwell coculture system, promoted osteogenesis and angiogenesis by maintaining stemness through extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. U0126, a selective inhibitor of ERK1/2 MAPK signaling, significantly suppressed maintaining of the stemness‐based effects on transwell coculture system. Taken together, our results compared the merits of two different models and clarified the role of HAMSCs/HBMSCs transwell coculture system in the development of bone tissue engineering. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019
Therapeutic plasma exchange for management of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia: Results of an international practice survey
Authors: Onwuemene Oluwatoyosi A. , Zantek Nicole D. , Rollins‐Raval Marian A. , Raval Jay S. , Kiss Joseph E. , Ipe Tina S. , Kuchibhatla Maragatha , Pagano Monica B. , Wong Edward C. C.
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Anti‐heparin/platelet factor 4 antibody immune complexes resulting from heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) are removed by therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). We sought to define TPE in HIT practice patterns using an international survey.

Methods

A 31‐item online survey was disseminated through the American Society for Apheresis. After institutional duplicate responses were eliminated, a descriptive analysis was performed.

Results

The survey was completed by 94 respondents from 78 institutions in 18 countries. Twenty‐nine institutions (37%) used TPE for HIT (YES cohort) and 49 (63%) did not (NO cohort). Most NO respondents (65%) cited “no requests received” as the most common reason for not using TPE. Of the 29 YES respondents, 10 (34%) gave incomplete information and were excluded from the final analysis, leaving 19 responses. Of these, 18 (95%) treated ≤10 HIT patients over a 2‐year period. The most common indications were cardiovascular surgery (CS; 63%) and HIT‐associated thrombosis (HT; 26%). The typical plasma volume processed was 1.0 (63% CS and 58% HT). For CS, the typical replacement fluid was plasma (42%) and for HT, it was determined on an individual basis (32%). For CS, patients were treated with a set number of TPE procedures (37%) or laboratory/clinical response (37%). For HT, the number of TPE procedures typically depended on laboratory/clinical response (42%).

Conclusion

In a minority of responding institutions, TPE is most commonly used in HIT to prophylactically treat patients who will undergo heparin re‐exposure during CS. Prospective studies are needed to more clearly define the role of TPE in HIT.
Telemental health training in the Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System
Authors: Caver Kelly A. , Shearer Erika M. , Burks Derek J. , Perry Kristen , De Paul Nicola F. , McGinn Meghan M. , Felker Bradford L.
Published: May 2019

As a pioneer of training in the field of psychology, the Veterans Affairs (VA) HealthCare System serves as a leader in the training in and provision of Telemental Health (TMH) services in the United States. To meet goals toward continued expansion of these services, the VA TMH training program includes both web‐based didactic courses and a skills competency test at a basic level with supervision and consultation in TMH for more advanced training and is available to staff psychologists and psychologist trainees. Despite these efforts, barriers for training in and implementation of TMH occur at the provider, system, and patient level. At the national level, the VA is actively working to resolve these barriers and we share site‐specific examples implemented by the VA Puget Sound Health Care System promoting access through TMH team to further address barriers to training and implementation.
A Simple and Efficient Process for the Synthesis of Novel Heterocycles Containing Benzofuran Moiety Using Thiocarbohydrazide as a Precursor
Authors: Baashen Mohammed A.
Published: May 2019

A simple and efficient process for the synthesis of novel heterocycles starting from thiocarbohydrazide was reported. Reaction of 2‐acetylbenzofuran (1) and thiocarbohydrazide (2) in ethanol containing acetic acid produced the corresponding thiocarbohydrazone 3 in 86% yield. Reaction of 3 and isatin (4) gave N,2‐bis(2‐oxoindolin‐3‐ylidene)hydrazine‐1‐carbothiohydrazine (6) in 65% yield, rather than the expected product, 3‐[(1‐methyl‐1‐benzofur‐2‐ylmethylidene)amino]‐1‐{[(3Z)‐2‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indol‐3‐ylidene]amino}thiourea (5). Reaction of 2‐((3‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene)hydrazine carbothioamide (9) and chloroacetic acid or hydrazonoyl chloride 11 in basic medium gave (Z)‐2‐((E)‐((3‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene)hydrazono)thiazolidin‐4‐one (10) or 2‐((E)‐2‐((3‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐1‐ phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene)hydrazinyl)‐4‐((E)‐(4‐fluorophenyl)diazenyl)‐5‐methylthiazole (12) in 62% or 74%, respectively.
Wrapping With Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor‐Impregnated Collagen Sheet Reduces Rat Sciatic Nerve Allodynia
Authors: Mukai Michiaki , Uchida Kentaro , Hirosawa Naoya , Murakami Kenichi , Kuniyoshi Kazuki , Inoue Gen , Miyagi Masayuki , Sekiguchi Hiroyuki , Shiga Yasuhiro , Inage Kazuhide , Orita Sumihisa , Suzuki Takane , Matsuura Yusuke , Takaso Masashi , Ohtori Seiji
Published: May 2019

Autologous vein wrapping is used to treat recurrent chronic constriction neuropathy and traumatic peripheral nerve injury. However, its use is restricted due to the inability to obtain sufficiently long veins for larger grafts. We previously reported that vein‐derived basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promotes heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), which reduces allodynia via its anti‐inflammatory properties. To mimic vein wrapping, we developed a collagen sheet impregnated with bFGF. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) was induced in male Wistar rats as a model of sciatic nerve injury, and the rats were divided into three groups: (i) untreated after CCI surgery (control group), (ii) treated with a collagen sheet wrap impregnated with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS/CS group), and (iii) treated with a collagen sheet wrap impregnated with bFGF (bFGF/CS group). Pain behavior (von Frey test) was evaluated on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 5, 7, and 14. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was conducted on sciatic nerve RNA to quantify HO‐1 gene, Hmox1, expression. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine HO‐1 protein levels on POD 1. von Frey testing showed significantly greater pain hypersensitivity in the control and PBS/CS groups than the bFGF/CS group. In the bFGF/CS group, Hmox1 messenger RNA and HO‐1 protein levels were significantly increased in the sciatic nerve compared with the control and PBS/CS groups on PODs 1 and 5 and POD 1, respectively. The bFGF/CS group showed decreased allodynia and HO‐1 induction, as observed with vein wrapping. Therefore, local application of bFGF may be an alternative treatment strategy for compressive neuropathy and peripheral nerve trauma in clinical settings. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2258–2263, 2019
Evaluation of the Suitability of Miniature Pigs as an Animal Model of Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans
Authors: Tóth Ferenc , Johnson Casey P. , Mills Benigno , Nissi Mikko J. , Nykänen Olli , Ellermann Jutta , Ludwig Kai D. , Tompkins Marc , Carlson Cathy S.
Published: May 2019

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is a developmental disease characterized by formation of intra‐articular (osteo)chondral flaps or fragments. Evidence‐based treatment guidelines for JOCD are currently lacking. An animal model would facilitate study of JOCD and evaluation of diagnostic and treatment approaches. The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of miniature pigs as a model of JOCD at the distal femur. First, stifle (knee) joints harvested from three juvenile miniature pigs underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to establish the vascular architecture of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage. Second, vessels supplying the axial or abaxial aspects of the medial femoral condyle were surgically interrupted in four additional juvenile miniature pigs, and the developing epiphyseal cartilage lesions were monitored using three consecutive MRI examinations over nine weeks. The miniature pigs were then euthanized, and their distal femora were harvested for histological evaluation. Vascular architecture of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage in the miniature pigs was found to be nearly identical to that of juvenile human subjects, characterized by separate vascular beds supplying the axial and abaxial aspects of the condyles. Surgical interruption of the vascular supply to the abaxial aspect of the medial femoral condyle resulted in ischemic cartilage necrosis (a precursor lesion of JOCD) in 75% (3/4) of the miniature pigs. Cartilage lesions were identified during the first MRI performed 3 weeks post‐operatively. No clinically apparent JOCD‐like lesions developed. In conclusion, miniature pigs are suitable for modeling JOCD precursor lesions. Further investigation of the model is warranted to assess induction of clinically apparent JOCD lesions. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2130–2137, 2019
Preoperative Tumor Staging of Gastric Cancer: Comparison of Double Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound and Multidetector Computed Tomography
Authors: He Ping , Miao Li‐ying , Ge Hui‐yu , Wang Tian‐li , Ye Ju‐xiang , Meng Ling‐mei , Xue Heng , Zhang Fan , Zhao Bo
Published: May 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of double contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the preoperative tumor staging of gastric cancer (GC) to stratify patients for suitable treatment.

Methods

Fifty‐four patients with GC proved by histologic findings were included. The sensitivity and specificity of double CEUS and MDCT for tumor staging were calculated and compared. The differences between these methods were evaluated by using the area under the curve (AUC) from a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

There were no significant differences in AUC values for T1 and T2 stages between double CEUS and MDCT (P = .190 and .256, respectively). However, the sensitivity of double CEUS in the detection of the T1 stage was higher than that of MDCT (88% versus 75%). The AUC values of MDCT for T3 and T4 stages were 0.833 and 0.905, which were both significantly higher than those of double CEUS (0.759 and 0.696; P < .05). The sensitivities of double CEUS and MDCT for the T3 stage were both 89%, but the accuracy and specificity of double CEUS were lower than those of MDCT (76% versus 83% and 63% versus 78%). The specificities of double CEUS and MDCT for the T4 stage were both 98%, but the accuracy and sensitivity of double CEUS were lower than those of MDCT (85% versus 94% and 42% versus 83%).

Conclusions

Multidetector CT is superior to double CEUS for T3 and T4 GC, and double CEUS may be regarded as an important complementary method to MDCT.
A Prospective Study in the Treatment of Lentigines in Asian Skin Using 532 nm Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser
Authors: Chan Mandy W.M. , Shek Samantha Yee‐Nam , Yeung Chi Keung , Chan Henry Hin‐Lee
Published: May 2019

Background and Objective

To evaluate safety and efficacy of treatment with the picosecond Nd:YAG 532 nm for lentigines in Asian skin.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

This was a prospective, open‐label cohort study, using a novel picosecond 532‐nm laser for the treatment of facial lentigines. Subjects received up to three laser treatments every 4–6 weeks and were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks after final treatment. Primary endpoint was degree of improvement in lentigines at 12 weeks after the final treatment, assessed by treating investigator based on Physicians Global Assessment. Secondary end‐points included degree of improvement in lentigines at 12 weeks after final treatment, assessed by subject (Subject's Global Assessment), and change in mean relative Melanin index (MI) value at 3 months after final treatment as compared to baseline as assessed by mexameter measurement.

Results

A total of 20 patients (3 male, and 17 female) of Asian‐descent with Fitzpatrick skin type III and IV, with lentigines on the face were included in this study. A total of 89 lesions were treated with the laser setting of 532‐nm, 750 picoseconds, fluence of 0.2–0.5 J/cm
2, and spot size of 4 mm. One hundred and thirty‐seven treatment sessions were given in total. Eighteen patients (90%) achieved a moderate to significant improvement at 12‐week follow‐up based on a 5‐grade physician global assessment scale. The improvement rate of relative MI (MI in the lesion minus normal skin) was 33.30 ± 18.71 and 37.63 ± 19.25% at 4‐ and 12‐week follow‐up. Post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurred in 14 of 137 sessions (10.2%), and hypopigmentation occurred in one patient with five lesions (3.6%).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that using picosecond Nd:YAG laser 532 nm for removal of solar lentigines in darker skin type appears to be safe and effective. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Limitations

Small study group.
High CYP2E1 activity aggravates hepatofibrosis by limiting macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype
Authors: Guo Yuan‐yuan , Xu Chen , Fang Yan , Wang Cai‐e , Gao Na , Wen Qiang , Qiao Hai‐ling
Published: May 2019

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is an important drug‐metabolizing enzyme that has been recognized as one of the risk factors for hepatofibrosis. Macrophages play key roles in regulating hepatofibrosis progression and resolution. However, whether CYP2E1 is involved in the regulation of macrophage polarization during hepatofibrosis is still unclear. Herein, we measured CYP2E1 activity and the expression of CD163 (an M2 marker) and CD68 (a pan‐macrophage marker) in hepatofibrotic tissue from HCC patients (n = 26) with comparison to normal liver tissue (n = 26). The relationship of CYP2E1 activity in vivo and the CD163/CD68 ratio (an indicator of M2 polarization), as well as the extent of hepatofibrosis, were evaluated in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐treated Sprague‐Dawley rats. Strikingly, CYP2E1 activity and expression of CD68 increased and the CD163/CD68 ratio decreased, especially in hepatofibrotic tissue with higher CYP2E1 activity. Expression of α‐SMA, Ki67, and PCNA were positively correlated with CYP2E1 activity and inversely correlated with the CD163/CD68 ratio. Furthermore, CYP2E1 activity showed an inverse correlation with the CD163/CD68 ratio. Overall, high CYP2E1 activity aggravates hepatofibrosis by restraining M2 macrophage polarization, providing a novel insight for understanding the profibrotic activity of CYP2E1 and a promising avenue for hepatofibrosis therapy.
A set theory justification of Garuti's compatibility index
Authors: Garuti Claudio E.
Published: May 2019

This paper is oriented to increase the certainty and reliability of G index through different examples and show that G index expression can be reached by two different paths. The first path is using concepts of vector algebra in a weighted space. The second path is using concepts of set theory. Next, comparing G index with others known compatibility indices, and finally using set theory to show that the G index is a sort of generalization of the Jaccard (J) index. The generalization is because G index considers the weights of the elements that belong to different sets. This generalization make G applicable in the decision‐making domain to measure similarity (compatibility or closeness) between priority vectors, between system values and also for patterns recognition, among others important features.
Deep residual network for off‐resonance artifact correction with application to pediatric body MRA with 3D cones
Authors: Zeng David Y. , Shaikh Jamil , Holmes Signy , Brunsing Ryan L. , Pauly John M. , Nishimura Dwight G. , Vasanawala Shreyas S. , Cheng Joseph Y.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To enable rapid imaging with a scan time–efficient 3D cones trajectory with a deep‐learning off‐resonance artifact correction technique.

Methods

A residual convolutional neural network to correct off‐resonance artifacts (Off‐ResNet) was trained with a prospective study of pediatric MRA exams. Each exam acquired a short readout scan (1.18 ms ± 0.38) and a long readout scan (3.35 ms ± 0.74) at 3 T. Short readout scans, with longer scan times but negligible off‐resonance blurring, were used as reference images and augmented with additional off‐resonance for supervised training examples. Long readout scans, with greater off‐resonance artifacts but shorter scan time, were corrected by autofocus and Off‐ResNet and compared with short readout scans by normalized RMS error, structural similarity index, and peak SNR. Scans were also compared by scoring on 8 anatomical features by two radiologists, using analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey's test and two one‐sided t‐tests. Reader agreement was determined with intraclass correlation.

Results

The total scan time for long readout scans was on average 59.3% shorter than short readout scans. Images from Off‐ResNet had superior normalized RMS error, structural similarity index, and peak SNR compared with uncorrected images across ±1 kHz off‐resonance (P < .01). The proposed method had superior normalized RMS error over −677 Hz to +1 kHz and superior structural similarity index and peak SNR over ±1 kHz compared with autofocus (P < .01). Radiologic scoring demonstrated that long readout scans corrected with Off‐ResNet were noninferior to short readout scans (P < .05).

Conclusion

The proposed method can correct off‐resonance artifacts from rapid long‐readout 3D cones scans to a noninferior image quality compared with diagnostically standard short readout scans.
Neurocognitive Deficits in a Cohort With Class 2 and Class 3 Obesity: Contributions of Type 2 Diabetes and Other Comorbidities
Authors: Fernando Heshan J. , Cohen Ronald A. , Gullett Joseph M. , Friedman Jeffrey , Ayzengart Alexander , Porges Eric , Woods Adam J. , Gunstad John , Ochoa Christa M. , Cusi Kenneth , Gonzalez‐Louis Rachel , Donahoo William T.
Published: May 2019

Objective

This study examined the relationship between specific metabolic and vascular risk factors and cognition in adults with severe obesity.

Methods

A total of 129 adults (with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) underwent a baseline clinical evaluation and neuropsychological assessment. Regression analyses examined the relationship between cognition and medical factors (BMI, hemoglobin A1c, diabetes, hypertension, continuous positive airway pressure use, obstructive sleep apnea [OSA], and osteoarthritis).

Results

Diabetes was associated with deficits in overall cognitive performance and with deficits in the executive processing speed and verbal fluency domains. Hemoglobin A1c was inversely related to overall cognitive performance and deficits in the attention domain. Participants using continuous positive airway pressure to treat OSA had stronger learning and memory performance, whereas OSA was associated with reduced total learning. Elevated BMI together with diabetes diagnosis was associated with reduced verbal fluency and greater variability in sustained attention.

Conclusions

Obesity‐associated comorbidities most notably appeared to have a greater relative influence on cognitive performance than BMI itself in adults with severe obesity. This likely reflects the fact that a very elevated BMI was ubiquitous and thereby probably exerted a similar influence among all adults in the cohort. Accordingly, in the context of severe obesity, diabetes and other comorbidities may have greater sensitivity to cognitive deficits than BMI alone.
Electrical characterization intercomparison of high‐efficiency c‐Si modules within Asian and European laboratories
Authors: Monokroussos Christos , Salis Elena , Etienne Damien , Zhang XiaoYu , Dittmann Sebastian , Friesen Gabi , Morita Kengo , Stang Johannes , Herbrecht Thomas , Fakhfouri Vahid , Rebeaud Nicolas , Pavanello Diego , Müllejans Harald
Published: May 2019

This work presents the results of a high‐efficiency (HE) photovoltaic (PV) module round‐robin intercomparison between five Asian and European ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories and one industrial laboratory based in Europe. The scope of the round‐robin was to examine the measurements comparability for this PV technology with respect to ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory conformity assessment and also to examine the accuracy of step‐like methods towards transient errors against already validated methods. The devices under test were four types of HE c‐Si PV modules with efficiencies varying between 16.5% and 19.0%. The results indicate that a satisfactory agreement was achieved with maximum deviations of 1.59% in Pmax, 1.13% in Isc, and 0.64% in Voc for all devices under test. The weighted standard deviations in Pmax per device type, which can be seen as a conservative estimate of interlaboratory agreement for HE c‐Si PV, ranged within 0.82% to 2.23% (k = 2). The accuracy of step‐like methods towards transient errors was evaluated by comparing a second series of results at fixed Isc for each module under test, eliminating the influence of the effective irradiance measurement. This work suggests that the contribution of capacitive errors was in the range (0.47 ± 0.19) % (k = 2). A spectral mismatch sensitivity analysis showed that an accurate measurement of the spectral irradiance and of the involved spectral responsivities together with the punctual correction for the spectral mismatch can reduce the error in the measurement of PV modules performance of about 2% even in the case of c‐Si against c‐Si and class AAA solar simulators.
Atomic layer etching of SiO2 with Ar and CHF3 plasmas: A self‐limiting process for aspect ratio independent etching
Authors: Dallorto Stefano , Goodyear Andy , Cooke Mike , Szornel Julia E. , Ward Craig , Kastl Christoph , Schwartzberg Adam , Rangelow Ivo W. , Cabrini Stefano
Published: May 2019

With ever increasing demands on device patterning to achieve smaller critical dimensions, the need for precise, controllable atomic layer etching (ALE) is steadily increasing. In this work, a cyclical fluorocarbon/argon plasma is successfully used for patterning silicon oxide by ALE in a conventional inductively coupled plasma tool. The impact of plasma parameters and substrate electrode temperature on the etch performance is established. We achieve the self‐limiting behavior of the etch process by modulating the substrate temperature. We find that at an electrode temperature of −10°C, etching stops after complete removal of the modified surface layer as the residual fluorine from the reactor chamber is minimized. Lastly, we demonstrate the ability to achieve independent etching, which establishes the potential of the developed cyclic ALE process for small scale device patterning.
Structural insight into the high reduction potentials observed for Fusobacterium nucleatum flavodoxin
Authors: Mothersole Robert G. , Macdonald Marta , Kolesnikov Maxim , Murphy Michael E. P. , Wolthers Kirsten R.
Published: May 2019

Flavodoxins are small flavin mononucleotide (FMN)‐containing proteins that mediate a variety of electron transfer processes. The primary sequence of flavodoxin from Fusobacterium nucleatum, a pathogenic oral bacterium, is marked with a number of distinct features including a glycine to lysine (K13) substitution in the highly conserved phosphate‐binding loop (T/S‐X‐T‐G‐X‐T), variation in the aromatic residues that sandwich the FMN cofactor, and a more even distribution of acidic and basic residues. The Eox/sq (oxidized/semiquinone; −43 mV) and Esq/hq (semiquinone/hydroquinone; −256 mV) are the highest recorded reduction potentials of known long‐chain flavodoxins. These more electropositive values are a consequence of the apoprotein binding to the FMN hydroquinone anion with ~70‐fold greater affinity compared to the oxidized form of the cofactor. Inspection of the FnFld crystal structure revealed the absence of a hydrogen bond between the protein and the oxidized FMN N5 atom, which likely accounts for the more electropositive Eox/sq. The more electropositive Esq/hq is likely attributed to only one negatively charged group positioned within 12 Å of the FMN N1. We show that natural substitutions of highly conserved residues partially account for these more electropositive reduction potentials.
To add or not to add a new treatment arm to a multiarm study: A decision‐theoretic framework
Authors: Lee Kim May , Wason James , Stallard Nigel
Published: May 2019

Multiarm clinical trials, which compare several experimental treatments against control, are frequently recommended due to their efficiency gain. In practise, all potential treatments may not be ready to be tested in a phase II/III trial at the same time. It has become appealing to allow new treatment arms to be added into on‐going clinical trials using a “platform” trial approach. To the best of our knowledge, many aspects of when to add arms to an existing trial have not been explored in the literature. Most works on adding arm(s) assume that a new arm is opened whenever a new treatment becomes available. This strategy may prolong the overall duration of a study or cause reduction in marginal power for each hypothesis if the adaptation is not well accommodated. Within a two‐stage trial setting, we propose a decision‐theoretic framework to investigate when to add or not to add a new treatment arm based on the observed stage one treatment responses. To account for different prospect of multiarm studies, we define utility in two different ways; one for a trial that aims to maximise the number of rejected hypotheses; the other for a trial that would declare a success when at least one hypothesis is rejected from the study. Our framework shows that it is not always optimal to add a new treatment arm to an existing trial. We illustrate a case study by considering a completed trial on knee osteoarthritis.
Zinc Thiolate Enables Bright Cu‐Deficient Cu‐In‐S/ZnS Quantum Dots
Authors: Hansen Eric C. , Bertram Sophie N. , Yoo Jason J. , Bawendi Moungi G.
Published: May 2019

Copper indium sulfide (CIS) colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are a promising candidate for commercially viable QD‐based optical applications, for example as colloidal photocatalysts or in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). CIS QDs with good photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) and tunable emission wavelength via size and composition control are previously reported. However, developing an understanding and control over the growth of electronically passivating inorganic shells would enable further improvements of the photophysical properties of CIS QDs. To improve the optical properties of CIS QDs, the focus is on the growth of inorganic shells via the popular metal‐carboxylate/alkane thiol decomposition reaction. 1) The role of Zn‐carboxylate and Zn‐thiolate on the formation of ZnS shells on Cu‐deficient CIS (CDCIS) QDs is studied, 2) this knowledge is leveraged to yield >90% PLQY CDCIS/ZnS core/shell QDs, and 3) a mechanism for ZnS shells grown from zinc‐carboxylate/alkane thiol decomposition is proposed.
Recent Development in Separators for High‐Temperature Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Ali Shamshad , Feng Chao , Chen Dongjiang , Han Jiecai , He Weidong
Published: May 2019

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are promising energy storage devices for integrating renewable resources and high power applications, owing to their high energy density, light weight, high flexibility, slow self‐discharge rate, high rate charging capability, and long battery life. LIBs work efficiently at ambient temperatures, however, at high‐temperatures, they cause serious issues due to the thermal fluctuation inside batteries during operation. The separator is a key component of batteries and is crucial for the sustainability of LIBs at high‐temperatures. The high thermal stability with minimum thermal shrinkage and robust mechanical strength are the prime requirements along with high porosity, ionic conductivity, and electrolyte uptake for highly efficient high‐temperature LIBs. This Review deals with the recent studies and developments in separator technologies for high‐temperature LIBs with respect to their structural layered formation. The recent progress in monolayer and multilayer separators along with the developed preparation methodologies is discussed in detail. Future challenges and directions toward the advancement in separator technology are also discussed for achieving remarkable performance of separators in a high‐temperature environment.
LY303511 displays antiproliferation potential against oral cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Tang Jen‐Yang , Xu Yi‐Hua , Lin Li‐Ching , Ou‐Yang Fu , Wu Kuang‐Han , Tsao Li‐Yi , Yu Tzu‐Jung , Huang Hurng‐Wern , Wang Hui‐Ru , Liu Wangta , Chang Hsueh‐Wei
Published: May 2019

LY303511 was developed as a negative control of LY294002 without pan‐phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibition. We hypothesize LY303511 generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce apoptosis for killing oral cancer cells. In MTS assay, LY303511 dose‐responsively decreases survival in three kinds of oral cancer cells but little damage to normal oral cells (HGF‐1). Two oral cancer cells (CAL 27 and SCC‐9) with highly sensitivity to LY303511 were used. In 7‐aminoactinomycin D (7AAD) assay, LY303511 slightly increases subG1 population in oral cancer cells. In annexin V/7AAD and/or pancaspase assays, LY303511 induces apoptosis in oral cancer cells but HGF‐1 cells remains in basal level. In oxidative stress, LY303511 induces ROS and mitochondrial superoxide in oral cancer cells. In 8‐oxo‐2'‐deoxyguanosine assay, LY303511 induces oxidative DNA damage in oral cancer cells. In zebrafish model, LY303511 inhibits CAL 27‐xenografted tumor growth. Therefore, LY303511 displays antiproliferation potential against oral cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Stronger together—A framework for measuring interdisciplinary understanding
Authors: Kumar Samarth , Zöphel Christoph , Martius Anna , Cabadag Rengin , Plewnia Frederik , Pruditsch Nick , Sakowski Bastian A. , Möst Dominik
Published: May 2019

Our society currently faces complex ecological, social, and economic challenges that require collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches. Although interest in interdisciplinary research is growing, it is still confronted with significant obstacles stemming from difficulties in establishing a common understanding. While others have evaluated interdisciplinary in a top‐down funding‐oriented ex ante manner or a result‐oriented ex post manner, this focus paper intends to create a framework that enables the measurement of interdisciplinary understanding within a group. Therefore, using the case of the interdisciplinary Boysen‐TU Dresden Research Group, a framework for measuring interdisciplinary understanding (MIU) is presented. The basis of the framework is the development of dimensions based on the specific composition and requirements of the interdisciplinary group. With this framework, two main contributions are provided. First, interdisciplinary understanding within a research group can be measured with respect to the defined dimensions. Through discussions on the differences of the understanding of projects over the dimensions, it is possible to establish a common understanding of projects. Second, the interdisciplinarity within a group or interdisciplinary distance between two specific research projects can be evaluated in order to identify possible difficulties in understanding, as well as recognizing potentials for interdisciplinary research. The MIU framework and the dimensions established in this paper can be adapted and transferred to any interdisciplinary research group to improve joint understanding of researchers and enable them to tackle complex techno‐societal problems of the future.

This article is categorized under:

Energy and Climate > Economics and Policy

Energy Research & Innovation > Economics and Policy
Soft limits of Yang-Mills amplitudes and conformal correlators
Authors: Fan Wei , Fotopoulos Angelos , Taylor Tomasz R.
Published: May 2019

Abstract

We study tree-level celestial amplitudes in Yang-Mills theory — Mellin transforms of multi-gluon scattering amplitudes that convert them into the correlators of conformal primary fields on two-dimensional celestial sphere. By using purely field-theoretical methods, we show that the soft conformal limit of celestial amplitudes, in which one of the primary field operators associated to gauge bosons becomes a dimension one current, is dominated by the contributions of low-energy soft particles. This result confirms conclusions reached by using Yang-Mills theory formulated in curvilinear coordinates, as pioneered by Strominger. By using well-known collinear limits of Yang-Mills amplitudes, we derive the OPE rules for the primary fields and the holomorphic currents arising in the conformally soft limit. The Ward identities following from OPE have the same form as the identities derived by using soft theorems.
Surgical Training in South Africa: An Overview and Attempt to Assess the Training System from the Perspective of Foreign Trainees
Authors: Mantica Guglielmo , Fransvea Pietro , Virdis Francesco , Hardcastle Timothy C. , Ackermann Hilgard , Terrone Carlo , Costa Gianluca , Van der Merwe André , Balducci Genoveffa , Steyn Elmin
Published: May 2019

Background

Currently, there are no objective reports evaluating the quality of the South African surgical training. The aim of this study is to evaluate the current state of surgical training in South Africa from an external impartial point of view and to rate the experience of short‐term supernumerary registrars and fellows (STSRF) within the South African training system.

Methods

A 29‐item survey was distributed via e‐mail and social media to non‐South African trainees who worked in South Africa as STSRF for a period of at least 1 month during the past 5 years. The survey evaluated the surgical, clinical and academic training received during their elective period in a South African department.

Results

Sixty‐four STSRF replied to the survey. Sixty‐two percent of STSRF attended a trauma unit during their experience. For the majority of respondents, open and emergency surgical exposure, as well as experience as first surgeon, is significantly higher in the South African system, while minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery exposure is significantly less. Research project involvement is significantly less, for the STSRF, as opposed to lectures and teaching that constitute a higher percentage. No significant difference was found regarding exposure to hands‐on activities.

Conclusions

The South African system still provides excellent surgical and clinical exposure as well as teaching. However, minimally invasive surgery training and research are generally lacking for the STSRF. Exchange programs between South African and developed country institutes should be improved and encouraged in order to gain mutual benefits.
A Method of approximation for a zero of the sum of maximally monotone mappings in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Wega Getahun Bekele , Zegeye Habtu
Published: May 2019

Our purpose of this study is to construct an algorithm for finding a zero of the sum of two maximally monotone mappings in Hilbert spaces and discus its convergence. The assumption that one of the mappings is α-inverse strongly monotone is dispensed with. In addition, we give some applications to the minimization problem. Our method of proof is of independent interest. Finally, a numerical example which supports our main result is presented. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear mappings.
On Hilbert class field tower for some quartic number fields
Authors: Azizi Abdelmalek , Talbi Mohamed , Talbi Mohammed
Published: May 2019

We determine the Hilbert 2-class field tower for some quartic number fields k whose 2-class group Ck,2 is isomorphic to ℤ/2ℤ×ℤ/2ℤ.
Beneficial effects of pioglitazone, a selective peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ agonist in prenatal valproic acid‐induced behavioral and biochemical autistic like features in Wistar rats
Authors: Mirza Roohi , Sharma Bhupesh
Published: May 2019

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in children. It is diagnosis by two main behavioral phenotypes i.e. social‐communication impairments and repetitive behavior. ASD is complex disorder with unsolved etiology due to multiple genes involvement, epigenetic mechanism and environmental factors. Valproic acid (VPA), a teratogen is known to induce characteristic features related to ASD in rodents. Numerous studies suggest the potential therapeutic effects of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma (PPAR‐γ) in different brain disorders. This research evaluates the utility of selective agonist of PPAR‐γ, pioglitazone in prenatal VPA induced experimental ASD symptomatology in Wistar rats. The prenatal administration of VPA has induced social impairment, repetitive behavior, hyperlocomotion, anxiety and low exploratory activity in rats. Also, prenatal VPA‐treated rats have shown higher levels of oxidative stress (increased in thiobarbituric acid reactive species, and decreased in reduced glutathione level) and inflammation (increased in interleukin‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and decreased in interleukin‐10) in the cerebellum, brainstem and prefrontal cortex. Treatment with pioglitazone significantly attenuated the prenatal VPA‐induced social impairment, repetitive behavior, hyperactivity, anxiety and low exploratory activity. Furthermore, pioglitazone also reduced the prenatal VPA‐induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aforementioned brain regions. Hence, it may be concluded that pioglitazone may provide neurobehavioral and biochemical benefits in prenatal VPA‐induced autistic phenotypes in rats.
In re Herbert Reis
Authors: Franck Thomas M.
Published: May 2019

The July ’86 issue of this Journal contains a brief appreciation of the honor done to this country and profession by the election of the U.S. member, Professor Herbert Reis, to the second vice-presidency of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. We said, at that time, that the “election of Mr. Reis … is a significant recognition of his eminence as a legal scholar by the community of his peers.” Its significance is underscored by the difficulty any American has, nowadays, in being chosen for high office in any international group.
Computer Crime Legislation in the United States
Authors: Nycum Susan H.
Published: May 2019

Thirty-three states have enacted statutes that encompass in some way what is referred to in this paper as “computer crime”. In some states, computer crime laws are referred to as such only because of the inclusion of the word computer in some general provision. In others, complex and specific statutes exist.

Each of the computer crime state statutes presently in effect has its own peculiar combination of a variety of possible offenses. The bulk of the statutes proscribe as computer crime a core set of activities such as accessing, altering, damaging or destroying a computer with the intent to devise or execute any scheme or artifice to defraud or deceive. This “computer crime”, and a few others to be outlined later, are found in a majority of the state statutes with some individual variations. This paper presents a list of computer crimes common to many of the statutes, describes variations in those crimes and examines in more detail the unusual crimes.
Third-Party Effects of “Res Judicata”: Recent Developments in Italian Law
Authors: Carpi Federico
Published: May 2019

I am very happy and honoured by my friend Prof. Stephen Goldstein's invitation to give my own modest contribution to the vigorous cultural life of this University, and in particular to this seminar, dedicated this year to the in-depth study of that most important subject, “res judicata”.

A final judgment represents the coat of arms of judicial activity, that which clearly separates and distinguishes this function distinctly from other functions of the State, i.e., legislative and administrative. In my view, the concept of a final judgment in a legal system, at a particular moment in history, is of unique interest in understanding the structure of that system's legal proceedings, its conception of adjudication and the ideology which inspires it.

The subject thus becomes central in the science of legal proceedings; the temptation for me to deal with it at length is very strong. I realize, though, that the usefulness of a survey of a foreign system depends on simplifying and limiting the description. That is why I have singled out one aspect of res judicata, i.e., the finality as part of a judgment, and I have chosen to deal only with recent developments in the Italian doctrine of party limits.
The Supreme Court of Israel: Present Trends and Concepts
Authors: Shamgar Meir
Published: May 2019

Our concepts and values are part and parcel of a philosophy broader than law, according to the expression used by Justice Robert Jackson in his description of the place of the Supreme Court as a unit in the complex and interdependent scheme of the democratic system of government. Drawing from the multitude of conceptions and ways of thought which characterize the Weltanschauung of the protagonists of a system of law based on the belief in the rights of the individual and in the rule of law, I would like to mention three aspeots and dwell on two of them in some detail. The first is represented by the evolutionary approach in the interpretation of the law; the second aspect is the permanent concern for judicial independence, and the third is transmuted into the ongoing mission of the court to enable human beings, as such, to confront the problems created by the effacing effects of modern society. The three above-mentioned aspects are separate but, in my opinion, not only do they overlap when we try to classify the phenomena representing them, but they are at least co-related and often even interdependent. Let us turn first of all to what I termed the evolutionary approach.