bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Neural Reward Processing and Appetite‐Related Signaling in Obese Females: Evidence From Resting‐State fMRI
Authors: Zhang Peng , Liu Yang , Lv Han , Li Meng‐yi , Yu Feng‐xia , Wang Zheng , Ding He‐yu , Wang Li‐xue , Zhao Kai‐xin , Zhang Zheng‐yu , Zhao Peng‐fei , Li Jing , Yang Zheng‐han , Zhang Zhong‐tao , Wang Zhen‐chang
Published: January 2019

Background

The reward‐related regions have been considered a crucial component in the regulation of eating behavior. Furthermore, appetite‐related regions associated with reward can influence eating behaviors through altered functional activity related to food in brain areas associated with emotion, memory, sensory processing, motor function, and cognitive control.

Purpose

To investigate the key nodes in obese females of reward‐related regions and, based on key nodes, to evaluate the directionality of functional connectivity between key nodes and appetite‐related regions.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

Twenty‐eight obese and 28 normal‐weight female controls of similar age.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0 T MRI and echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence, 3D BRAVO sequence.

Assessment

The fMRI data preprocessing was based on the Data Processing & Analysis of Brain Imaging and Statistical Parametric Mapping 12. Degree centrality calculation was based on the GRETNA toolkit and granger causality analysis were based on the DynamicBC toolbox.

Statistical Tests: Independent two‐sample t‐tests were used to assess the differences in demographic and clinical data between two groups. Two‐sample t‐tests were conducted to test the difference in degree centrality and effective connectivity of key nodes between two groups.

Results

Compared with normal‐weight controls, obese females showed an increased degree centrality in the left ventral striatum/caudate (t = 2.96808, P < 0.05) and decreased degree centrality in right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (t = –3.3558, P < 0.05). The obese females showed directional effective connectivity between left ventral striatum/caudate and several regions (left inferior temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and right precentral gyrus) (P < 0.05). Directional effective connectivity was also observed between the right OFC and several regions (left middle temporal gyrus, cuneus, OFC, superior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobule) (P < 0.05).

Data Conclusion

The left ventral striatum/caudate and right OFC are key nodes in reward‐related regions. The key nodes with reward processing mainly enhance visual processing of information and further participate in cognitive, attention, and sensorimotor processing.

Level of Evidence: 1.

Technical Efficacy: Stage 4.

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:541–551.
Downscaling climate change of water availability, sediment yield and extreme events: Application to a Mediterranean climate basin
Authors: Zhang Rong , Corte‐Real João , Moreira Madalena , Kilsby Chris , Birkinshaw Stephen , Burton Aidan , Fowler Hayley J. , Forsythe Nathan , Nunes João Pedro , Sampaio Elsa , dos Santos Francisco Lúcio , Mourato Sandra
Published: January 2019

A robust hydrological impact assessment is indispensable for mitigation and adaptation planning. This study presents an integrated modelling methodology for evaluating climate change impacts on water availability, sediment yield and extreme events at the catchment scale. We propose the use of the spatial–temporal Neyman–Scott Rectangular Pulses (STNSRP) model—RainSim V3 and the rainfall conditioned daily weather generator—ICAAM‐WG, as well as the physically based spatially distributed hydrological model—SHETRAN. The change factor approach was applied for obtaining unbiased rainfall and temperature statistics. The ICAAM‐WG was developed based on the modified Climate Research Unit daily Weather Generator (CRU‐WG). The methodology is proposed to generate synthetic series of hourly precipitation, daily temperature and potential evapotranspiration, hourly runoff and hourly sediment discharge. We demonstrated a possible application in a 705‐km2 Mediterranean climate basin in southern Portugal. The case study showed the evaluation of future climate change impacts on annual and monthly water balance components and sediment yield, annual and seasonal flow duration curves, empirical extreme value distributions and the theoretical fits. It did not consider the possible uncertainty due to the limit of computational resources.

The methodology can be well justified as follows: (a) the use of synthetic hourly instead of daily precipitation enables SHETRAN to be more capable of reproducing reliable storm runoff processes and the consequent sediment transport processes; (b) the use of SHETRAN makes possible the impact assessment to be accessible for any model grid square within the study basin; (c) the use of a statistical–stochastic downscaling method facilitates the generation of the synthetic series with unlimited length. It makes possible robust hydrological impact assessments if uncertainties related to the global climate model, regional climate model, greenhouse gas emission scenario, downscaling method, hydrological model and observational data are considered.
A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method to simultaneously determinate chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid and imidacloprid metabolites in wheat
Authors: Huang Min , Qin Xinxian , Luo Xiaoshuang , Yu Weiwei , Yang Guoqiang , Zhang Kankan , Hu Deyu
Published: January 2019

A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously determine chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and imidacloprid metabolites in soil, wheat grain, and wheat straw matrices. Satisfactory linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9965) of the method was obtained for all analytes. The ranges of limits of detection and limits of quantification for seven analytes in three matrices were 0.17–66.7 and 0.5–200 μg/kg, respectively. Average recoveries were 72.85–81.25% for chlorpyrifos, 78.54–84.70% for imidacloprid, 73.83–81.03% for imidacloprid olefin, 71.47–80.61% for 5‐hydroxy imidacloprid, 71.79–81.32% for imidacloprid urea, 70.42–82.20% for imidacloprid nitroguanidine, and 70.91–82.46% for imidacloprid 6‐chloronicotinic acid in soil, wheat grain, and wheat straw. The intra‐ and interday relative standard deviations were less than 8%. The established method was successfully applied for the residual analysis of chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and imidacloprid metabolites in actual soil, wheat grain, and wheat straw samples. The results indicated that the established method could be used to detect trace amounts of chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and imidacloprid metabolites in wheat and that the method might be able to provide some data on the detection of these seven compounds in other crops.
Improvement of the Fourier Transform Near Infrared Method to Evaluate Extra Virgin Olive Oils by Analyzing 1,2‐Diacylglycerols and 1,3‐Diacylglycerols and Adding Unesterified Fatty Acids
Authors: Azizian Hormoz , Wang Selina C. , Li Xueqi , Kramer John K. G.
Published: January 2019

Extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) command higher prices because they contain health‐promoting nutrients and desirable sensory characteristics. Many targeted methods have limited success in determining olive oil authenticity. Therefore, attention has been paid to rapid spectroscopic methods that provide the composition of multiple components. A Fourier transform near infrared (FT‐NIR) method was reported that identified five major fatty acids and volatiles in EVOO, plus four models that identify common adulterants and their content. However, it did not include diacylglycerol (DAG) and unesterified fatty acids (FFA) known to be associated with freshness of the oil. The newly improved FT‐NIR method now includes 1,2‐DAG and 1,3‐DAG models based on the DAG isomer content in freshly prepared EVOO, and a FFA model based on quantitative addition of oleic acid. The new FT‐NIR method was used to reassess previously used EVOO products to evaluate their freshness. Based on these results and review of the published data, we propose several revisions to the EVOO regulation: limit FFA to ≤0.5%, include 1,2‐DAG and 1,3‐DAG in standard, place no limit on 1,2‐DAG because it characterizes the oils, set the 1,3‐DAG content to ≤1.0%, and lower the content of 18:2n‐6 to 1.5%.
A new numerical model for understanding free and dissolved gas progression toward the atmosphere in aquatic methane seepage systems
Authors: Jansson Pär , Ferré Bénédicte , Silyakova Anna , Dølven Knut Ola , Omstedt Anders
Published: January 2019

We present a marine two‐phase gas model in one dimension (M2PG1) resolving interaction between the free and dissolved gas phases and the gas propagation toward the atmosphere in aquatic environments. The motivation for the model development was to improve the understanding of benthic methane seepage impact on aquatic environments and its effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas composition. Rising, dissolution, and exsolution of a wide size‐range of bubbles comprising several gas species are modeled simultaneously with the evolution of the aqueous gas concentrations. A model sensitivity analysis elucidates the relative importance of process parameterizations and environmental effects on the gas behavior. The parameterization of transfer velocity across bubble rims has the greatest influence on the resulting gas distribution, and bubble sizes are critical for predicting the fate of emitted bubble gas. High salinity increases the rise height of bubbles; whereas temperature does not significantly alter it. Vertical mixing and aerobic oxidation play insignificant roles in environments where advection is important. The model, applied in an Arctic Ocean methane seepage location, showed good agreement with acoustically derived bubble rise heights and in situ sampled methane concentration profiles. Coupled with numerical ocean circulation and biogeochemical models, M2PG1 could predict the impact of benthic methane emissions on the marine environment and the atmosphere on long time scales and large spatial scales. Because of its flexibility, M2PG1 can be applied in a wide variety of environmental settings and future M2PG1 applications may include gas leakage from seafloor installations and bubble injection by wave action.
Conformal Stretch Sensors for High Resolution Motion Sensing and Control
Authors: Lin Lancy , Chu Michael , Park Sun‐Jun , Zakashansky Julia Alice , Khine Michelle
Published: January 2019

While motion sensors such as accelerometers are commonplace now, highly sensitive conformal sensors that can quantify fine motion with high resolution remain to be realized. Current strain sensors exhibit a trade‐off between dynamic range and strain sensitivity; these sensors therefore are not suitable for applications that require both large strain and excellent signal resolution, such as gesture control for virtual and augmented reality or feedback or prosthetics. Shape‐memory polymers coupled with thin films on stretchable elastomeric support substrates have recently emerged as fabrication platforms that improve strain sensor characteristics. Herein, skin‐mountable strain sensors are introduced, with large dynamic ranges (over 350%), higher gauge factor (GF) with linear responses to strain (from 0–150%), smaller footprint sizes, and less hysteresis compared to other sensors. It is demonstrated that these sensors are able to resolve down to 5° resolution of the proximal interphalangeal joint, which would enable gesture control for gaming and other motion sensing and control applications. Because these sensors have a small form factor and are low‐cost and disposable, such technology can find various electronic applications.
Decomposition of integral self‐affine multi‐tiles
Authors: Fu Xiaoye , Gabardo Jean‐Pierre
Published: January 2019

In contrast to the situation with self‐affine tiles, the representation of self‐affine multi‐tiles may not be unique (for a fixed dilation matrix). Let be an integral self‐affine multi‐tile associated with an integral, expansive matrix B and let K tile by translates of . In this work, we propose a stepwise method to decompose K into measure disjoint pieces  satisfying in such a way that the collection of sets forms an integral self‐affine collection associated with the matrix B and this with a minimum number of pieces . When used on a given measurable subset K which tiles by translates of , this decomposition terminates after finitely many steps if and only if the set K is an integral self‐affine multi‐tile. Furthermore, we show that the minimal decomposition we provide is unique.
Update on treatments for nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease—an evidence‐based medicine review
Authors: Seppi Klaus , Ray Chaudhuri K. , Coelho Miguel , Fox Susan H. , Katzenschlager Regina , Perez Lloret Santiago , Weintraub Daniel , Sampaio Cristina ,   and the collaborators of the Parkinson's Disease Update on Non‐Motor Symptoms Study Group on behalf of the Movement Disorders Society Evidence‐Based Medicine Committee
Published: January 2019

Objective

To update evidence‐based medicine recommendations for treating nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Background

The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Evidence‐Based Medicine Committee's recommendations for treatments of PD were first published in 2002, updated in 2011, and now updated again through December 31, 2016.

Methods

Level I studies testing pharmacological, surgical, or nonpharmacological interventions for the treatment of nonmotor symptoms in PD were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion and quality scoring were as previously reported. The disorders covered were a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, autonomic dysfunction, disorders of sleep and wakefulness, pain, fatigue, impaired olfaction, and ophthalmologic dysfunction. Clinical efficacy, implications for clinical practice, and safety conclusions are reported.

Results

A total of 37 new studies qualified for review. There were no randomized controlled trials that met inclusion criteria for the treatment of anxiety disorders, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive sweating, impaired olfaction, or ophthalmologic dysfunction. We identified clinically useful or possibly useful interventions for the treatment of depression, apathy, impulse control and related disorders, dementia, psychosis, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, drooling, orthostatic hypotension, gastrointestinal dysfunction, urinary dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and pain. There were no clinically useful interventions identified to treat non‐dementia‐level cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

The evidence base for treating a range of nonmotor symptoms in PD has grown substantially in recent years. However, treatment options overall remain limited given the high prevalence and adverse impact of these disorders, so the development and testing of new treatments for nonmotor symptoms in PD remains a top priority. © 2019 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
An optical wireless communication system deploying active high‐pass pre‐emphasis circuit for high speed application
Authors: Silveira David , Wijekoon Wimansha , Lee Ghang‐Ho
Published: January 2019

This article presents a high‐speed optical wireless communication link with a newly proposed pre‐emphasis circuit to increase transmission performance at higher data rates. The effectiveness of the pre‐emphasis circuit has been verified through testing on an optical wireless link implemented with existing laser communications components in our laboratory operating at 1550 nm. When the proposed pre‐emphasis circuit is included in the optical wireless link, we achieved bit‐error‐rate (BER) power penalty improvements of 1.6, 2.2, and 1.0 dB at 155 Mbps, 622 Mbps, and 1.244 Gbps, respectively at the BER of 2 × 10−3 compared with the optical wireless communication links without pre‐emphasis circuit. For the lower BER of 10−9, BER power penalty improvements of 2.2, 3.7, 0.7 dB at 155 Mbps, 622 Mbps, and 1.244 Gbps are observed, which show the effectiveness of our proposed pre‐emphasis circuit in optical wireless communications link.
The negative impact of the environment on methylation/epigenetic marking in gametes and embryos: A plea for action to protect the fertility of future generations
Authors: Menezo Yves , Dale Brian , Elder Kay
Published: January 2019

Life expectancy has increased since World War II, and this may be attributed to several aspects of modern lifestyles. However, now we are faced with a downturn, which seems to be the result of environmental issues. This paradigm is paralleled with reduced human fertility, decreased sperm quality, increased premature ovarian failure, and diminished ovarian reserve syndromes.

Endocrine disruptor chemicals and other toxic chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, plasticizers, to mention a few, are a rising concern in today's environment. Some of these are commonly used in the domestic setting: cleaning material and cosmetics and they have a known impact on epigenesis and imprinting via perturbation of methylation processes. Pollution from polyaromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter <10 and <2.5 μm, and ozone released into the air, all affect fertility. Poor food processing management is a source of DNA adduct formation, which impairs the quality of gametes. An important concern is the nanoparticles that are present in food and are thought to induce oxidative stress. Now is the time to take a step backward. Global management of the environment and food production is required urgently to protect the fertility of future generations.
Mapping hepatic blood oxygenation by quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) MRI
Authors: Wengler Kenneth , Wang Jinhong , Serrano Sosa Mario , Gumus Serter , He Andrea , Hussain Shahid , Huang Chuan , Tae Bae Kyong , He Xiang
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Abnormalities in hepatic oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption may serve as a significant indicator of hepatic cellular dysfunction and may predict treatment response. However, conventional and oxygen‐enhanced hepatic BOLD MRI can only provide semiquantitative assessment of hepatic oxygenation.

Methods

A hepatic quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) model was proposed for noninvasive mapping of hepatic venous blood oxygen saturation (Yv) and deoxygenated blood volume (DBV) in human subjects. The validity and the estimation bias of the proposed model were evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. Eight healthy subjects were scanned after written consent with institutional review board approval.

Results

Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that the proposed single‐compartment hepatic qBOLD model leads to significant deviation of the predicted T2* decay profile from the simulated signal due to high hepatic blood volume fraction. Small relative estimation bias for hepatic Yv and significant overestimation for hepatic DBV were observed, which can be corrected by applying the calibration curves established from simulations. After correction, the mean hepatic Yv in human subjects was 56.8 ± 6.8%, and the mean hepatic DBV was 0.190 ± 0.035, consistent with measurements from other invasive approaches. Except in regions with significant vascular contamination, the maps for hepatic Yv and DBV were relatively homogenous.

Conclusions

With estimation bias correction, the hepatic qBOLD approach enables noninvasive mapping of hepatic blood volume and oxygenation in human subjects. The established protocol may be used to quantitatively assess hepatic tissue hypoxia in multiple liver diseases.
“The advancing of management”: Cross‐sector agents and rationalization of nonprofits in Eastern China
Authors: Song Chengcheng , Yin Juelin
Published: January 2019

This study examines and extends former theoretical argument of nonprofit rationalization in the Chinese context. Based on a survey study of 179 nonprofit organizations across Zhejiang province of Eastern China, we find that nonprofits led by individuals with prior business experience and with more extensive business networking are more likely to adopt rationalized rules and practices. Moreover, the results indicate support for the mediation effect of business networking on the relationship between prior experience and rationalization. We also find the moderation effects of management training on the direct effect of prior business experience and on business networking, as well as the indirect effect of prior business experience on rationalization via business networking. Our findings contribute to explaining the formation of rationalization in the Chinese nonprofit sector and provide implications for future research, practice, and policy.
PVC/PEMA‐based blended nanocomposite gel polymer electrolytes plasticized with room temperature ionic liquid and dispersed with nano‐ZrO2 for zinc ion batteries
Authors: Sai Prasanna Candhadai Murali , Austin Suthanthiraraj Samuel
Published: January 2019

Nanocomposite gel polymer electrolytes (NCGPEs) comprising of the solution of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate [Zn(OTf)2] in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIMTFSI) ionic liquid entrapped in poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) blend and dispersed with zirconia (ZrO2) nanofiller has been prepared via simple solution casting method. The free standing film of the composite gel polymer electrolyte system exhibited the maximum room temperature ionic conductivity of 3.63 × 10−4 Scm−1 at 3 wt% nanofiller concentration with the accomplishment of highest zinc ion transference number of 0.66. The interaction and complexation among various constituents of the resultant NCGPEs has been confirmed from X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopic studies. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses further corroborates the improved thermal behavior of ZrO2 added gel polymer electrolytes as compared with that of filler‐free gel electrolytes. The porous morphology of the thin films was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) whereas the electrochemical properties of the NCGPEs were studied utilizing linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3402–3411, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Fabrication of superabsorbent nanofibers based on sodium polyacrylate/poly(vinyl alcohol) and their water absorption characteristics
Authors: Choi Sejin , Kim Hye Ri , Kim Han Seong
Published: January 2019

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have been widely studied and used in various industries. In this study, SAPs based on sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) were successfully prepared in the form of nanofibers using the electrospinning technique. The heat‐treated superabsorbent nanofibers (SANs) with 7 wt% of NaPAA and containing both crystal structures and crosslinks presented the best absorption performance, with up to 3.9 times and 134% increase in the absorption area and swelling ratio, respectively. Furthermore, the crystal structure and crosslinking of the SANs enabled them to maintain their fiber network during water absorption and recovery. The absorption rate of SANs having both crystal structures and crosslinks was slightly lower than that of nanofibers with only crystal structures, but it was still higher than that of SAPs because of the highly porous nature of the nanowebs. The easy processing and structural stability of SANs are expected to be useful in a wide range of applications. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
How Energetic are cyclo‐Pentazolates?
Authors: Christe Karl O. , Dixon David A. , Vasiliu Monica , Haiges Ralf , Hu Bingcheng
Published: January 2019

The enthalpies of formation of the cyclo‐pentazolates and azides of N2H5+, NH3OH+, NH4+, C(NH2)3+, and N(CH3)4+ were calculated with the G3MP2 method and together with the experimental densities used to predict with the Cheetah program the performances of these salts as explosives and propellants. As explosives, the cyclo‐N5− (c‐N5−) salts outperform the corresponding azides by a significant amount but as rocket propellants, their performance is slightly inferior. Although the c‐N5− salts are potential building blocks for future energetic materials, their predicted performances are not revolutionary, fall within the range of CHNO compounds, and do not approach those expected for polynitrogen cations or neutral polynitrogens. Our lattice energy calculations also indicate that the previously reported experimental value of 114.28±0.84 kJ mol−1 for the enthalpy of formation of solid NH4N3 may need revision.
DNA Origami Ring Structures as Construction Element of Self‐Thermophoretic Swimmers
Authors: Heerwig Andreas , Schubel Martin , Schirmer Christine , Herms Alexander , Cichos Frank , Mertig Michael
Published: January 2019

This work reports on the construction of mechanically stable DNA origami ring structures that can act as thermophoretic active elements of self‐thermophoretic nanoswimmers or as coupling elements either to other thermophoretic active particles or to cargo elements. The DNA origami structures are designed according to given geometric parameters and physical requirements, synthesized, as well as characterized by agarose gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy. The tailored binding of gold nanoparticles is proven by STEM.
Global reactivity indexes and nonparametric statistics in the study of the proapoptotic activity of coumarins
Authors: Guerrero Tomás , Torices‐Saucedo Adrián , Castro María Eugenia , Juárez‐Cerrillo Sergio F. , Meléndez Francisco J. , Matus Myrna H. , Durand‐Niconoff J. Sergio
Published: January 2019

Coumarins are widely distributed as secondary metabolites and are popular structural motifs among known anticancer agents; their planarity and electronic environment are very important building blocks for bioactive compounds. Due to the broad scope of their biological activity, anticancer properties of these molecules remain an important goal for medicinal chemistry. In this work, the knowledge and understanding of the correlation between electronic environment and global reactivity of a series of hydroxycoumarins lead to develop a statistical model to study the proapoptotic activity of this type of compounds. Thus, the analysis of the charge distribution within the molecule and experimental data of proapoptotic activity of known coumarins are analyzed through a regression model. This model offers the possibility of predicting whether a structural related coumarin will show the desired activity or not, which increases the ability to a target‐directed approach in the development of anticancer therapeutic agents.
Long‐term outcomes of freeze‐all strategy: A retrospective analysis from a single ART center in Japan
Authors: Asada Yoshimasa , Tokoro Mikiko , Sonohara Megumi , Fukunaga Noritaka , Hattori Yukio , Hashiba Yoshiki
Published: January 2019

Purpose

To demonstrate the benefits of the freeze‐all strategy for in vitro fertilization treatment based on retrospective analyses.

Methods

Post‐thaw embryo survival rates of slow‐frozen embryos in 294 cycles and vitrified embryos in 12 195 cycles were assessed. Progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) levels per mature oocyte by age category were assessed in 9081 cycles and pregnancy rates with fresh embryo transfer and frozen‐thawed embryo transfer by P4 level were assessed in 1535 cycles.

Results

The survival rates of frozen‐thawed embryos were 92.5% with slow freezing and 99.1% with vitrification. P4 levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection showed a trend toward an increase with age. The pregnancy rate per mature oocyte with fresh embryo transfer decreased dependently upon P4 level, while that with frozen‐thawed embryo transfer was not affected by P4 level. The pregnancy rates with frozen‐thawed embryo transfer were higher than those with fresh embryo transfer in patients aged 42 years or younger.

Conclusions

The freeze‐all strategy is a valuable treatment option which allows the separation of an embryo transfer cycle from an oocyte retrieval cycle, especially for patients with high P4 levels at oocyte retrieval and patients of advanced maternal age.
Fish passes design discharge requirements for successful operation
Authors: Wolter Christian , Schomaker Christian
Published: January 2019

Longitudinal connectivity is one of the prime issues addressed in river restoration our days. At the same time, mitigation of climate change impacts by modes of renewable energy increasingly puts pressure on the remaining free flowing river stretches for hydroelectricity production. At the site level, this trade‐off manifests in the negotiation of water for upstream and downstream fish passage versus losses for hydroelectricity production. This study has compiled and analysed 193 studies evaluating fish passes designed to provide upstream migration for all species and size classes of the respective river system. The overall assessment of functioning and discharge dedicated to fish pass maintenance, site, and river characters were provided by the studies. The main objective here was deriving general guidance for the minimum amount of water needed for fully functioning upstream fish passage in relation to river size. There was a significant correlation between functionality and design discharge of a fish pass. Fully functioning fish passes (N = 92) had median design discharge of 5% of the mean average discharge of the river, restrictedly functioning of 1.1% and not functioning of 0.22%. A power model could be derived of design discharge needs in relation to river discharge, which is inversely related to river size. In large rivers, a rather small share of mean discharge is sufficient, whereas in small rivers, it cannot be further downscaled due to dimensions. This model might provide first guidance in adjusting needs for both hydroelectricity generation and fish conservation in regulated rivers.
Perfluoroheptane‐Loaded Hollow Gold Nanoshells Reduce Nanobubble Threshold Flux
Authors: Shin Jeong Eun , Ogunyankin Maria O. , Zasadzinski Joseph A.
Published: January 2019

The threshold flux for nanobubble formation and liposome rupture is reduced by 50–60% by adding a liquid mixture of tetradecanol and perfluoroheptane to the interior cavity of 40 nm diameter hollow gold nanoshells (HGN), and allowing the tetradecanol to solidify to hold the perfluoroheptane in place. On absorption of picosecond pulses of near‐infrared light, the perfluoroheptane vaporizes to initiate cavitation‐like nanobubbles as the HGN temperature increases. The lower spinodal temperature and heat capacity of perfluoroheptane relative to water causes the threshold flux for nanobubble formation to decrease. The perfluoroheptane‐containing HGN can be linked via thiol–PEG–lipid tethers to carboxyfluorescein‐containing liposomes and shows a similar decreased flux necessary for liposome contents release.
Influence of contamination layer on thickness evaluation by X‐ray reflectometry
Authors: Azuma Yasushi , Kurokawa Akira
Published: January 2019

In this study, the effect of allowing for a contamination layer on a SiO2 film/Si substrate system on thickness determination by X‐ray reflectometry (XRR) was investigated. The calculated XRR profiles obtained using a calculation model that utilizes a contamination layer for analysis showed good agreement with measured profiles. Further, the obtained physical structures were promising and within acceptable limits. Where the existence of a contamination layer was ignored in the calculation process, a part of the thickness of the contamination layer was incorporated into the determined thickness of the SiO2 layer. In that case, the evaluated thickness was proportional to the density ratio between the contaminated and SiO2 layers. The results of investigation of the effect of X‐ray energy on layer thickness determination indicated that the effects of contamination also depend on the X‐ray energy used for XRR measurements. These effects increase in the case of experiments that employ X‐ray energy with a high contrast for the contamination.
New axion searches at flavor factories
Authors: Vidal Xabier Cid , Mariotti Alberto , Redigolo Diego , Sala Filippo , Tobioka Kohsaku
Published: January 2019

Abstract

We assess the impact of searches at flavor factories for new neutral resonances that couple to both photons and gluons. These are well motivated by “heavy axion” solutions of the strong CP problem and by frameworks addressing both Dark Matter and the Higgs hierarchy problem. We use LHCb public diphoton data around the B

s
mass to derive the current best limit on these resonances for masses between 4.9 and 6.3 GeV. We estimate that a future LHCb dedicated search would test an axion decay constant of O(TeV) for axion masses in the few-to-tens of GeV, being fully complementary to the low mass ATLAS and CMS searches. We also derive the impact of BABAR searches based on ϒ decays and the future Belle-II reach.
Counterfactual knowability revisited
Authors: Schlöder Julian J.
Published: January 2019

Anti-realism is plagued by Fitch’s paradox: the remarkable result that if one accepts that all truths are knowable, minimal assumptions about the nature of knowledge entail that every truth is known. Dorothy Edgington suggests to address this problem by understanding p is knowable to be a counterfactual claim, but her proposal must contend with a forceful objection by Timothy Williamson. I revisit Edgington’s basic idea and find that Williamson’s objection is obviated by a refined understanding of counterfactual knowability that is grounded in possible courses of inquiry. I arrive at a precise definition of knowability that is not just a technical avoidance of paradox, but is metaphysically sound and does justice to the anti-realist idea.
An Academic Genealogy of Psychometric Society Presidents
Authors: Wijsen Lisa D. , Borsboom Denny , Cabaço Tiago , Heiser Willem J.
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we present the academic genealogy of presidents of the Psychometric Society by constructing a genealogical tree, in which Ph.D. students are encoded as descendants of their advisors. Results show that most of the presidents belong to five distinct lineages that can be traced to Wilhelm Wundt, James Angell, William James, Albert Michotte or Carl Friedrich Gauss. Important psychometricians Lee Cronbach and Charles Spearman play only a marginal role. The genealogy systematizes important historical knowledge that can be used to inform studies on the history of psychometrics and exposes the rich and multidisciplinary background of the Psychometric Society.
Spatial and Social Distance at the Onset of the Fertility Transition: Sweden, 1880–1900
Authors: Klüsener Sebastian , Dribe Martin , Scalone Francesco
Published: January 2019

Most studies on the fertility transition have focused either on macro-level trends or on micro-level patterns with limited geographic scope. Much less attention has been given to the interplay between individual characteristics and contextual conditions, including geographic location. Here we investigate the relevance of geography and socioeconomic status for understanding fertility variation in the initial phase of the Swedish fertility transition. We conduct spatially sensitive multilevel analyses on full-count individual-level census data. Our results show that the elite constituted the vanguard group in the fertility decline and that the shift in fertility behavior occurred quickly among them in virtually all parts of Sweden. Other socioeconomic status groups experienced the decline with some delay, and their decline patterns were more clustered around early centers of the decline. Long-distance migrants initially had higher fertility than people living close to their birthplace. However, as the fertility decline unfolded, this advantage was either reduced or reversed. This supports the view that migration and fertility are linked in this process. Our results confirm that socioeconomic status differences were of considerable relevance in structuring the fertility transition. The degree to which spatial distance fostered spatial variation in the fertility decline seems to have been negatively correlated with socioeconomic status, with the pattern of decline among the elite showing the lowest degree of spatial variation.
Machine Learning Approach to Enhance the Performance of MNP-Labeled Lateral Flow Immunoassay
Authors: Yan Wenqiang , Wang Kan , Xu Hao , Huo Xuyang , Jin Qinghui , Cui Daxiang
Published: January 2019

The use of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-labeled immunochromatography test strips (ICTSs) is very important for point-of-care testing (POCT). However, common diagnostic methods cannot accurately analyze the weak magnetic signal from ICTSs, limiting the applications of POCT. In this study, an ultrasensitive multiplex biosensor was designed to overcome the limitations of capturing and normalization of the weak magnetic signal from MNPs on ICTSs. A machine learning model for sandwich assays was constructed and used to classify weakly positive and negative samples, which significantly enhanced the specificity and sensitivity. The potential clinical application was evaluated by detecting 50 human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) samples and 59 myocardial infarction serum samples. The quantitative range for HCG was 1–1000 mIU mL−1 and the ideal detection limit was 0.014 mIU mL−1, which was well below the clinical threshold. Quantitative detection results of multiplex cardiac markers showed good linear correlations with standard values. The proposed multiplex assay can be readily adapted for identifying other biomolecules and also be used in other applications such as environmental monitoring, food analysis, and national security.
Editorial
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: January 2019

It's customary at this time of year to look back at what the past 12 months have taught us. And one lesson I think we can draw is that the greatest threat to information security is ourselves.
Zero-day recovery: the key to mitigating the ransomware threat
Authors: Fagioli Alex
Published: January 2019

Combine zero-day exploits with ransomware and you have a cyberthreat that few organisations are equipped to handle. If all the focus is placed on cyber defence, what happens when those defences are breached? Financial harm, reputational damage and operational chaos commonly follow. But by bringing IT support and cyber security teams together, organisations can chart another way forward – a zero-day recovery architecture to transform ransomware from a critical business challenge to a mere irritant.

Combine zero-day exploits with ransomware and you have a cyberthreat that few organisations are equipped to handle.

If all the focus is placed on cyber defence, what happens when those defences are breached? Financial harm, reputational damage and operational chaos commonly follow. But by bringing IT support and cyber security teams together, organisations can chart another way forward – a zero-day recovery architecture to transform ransomware from a critical business challenge to a mere irritant, explains Alex Fagioli of Tectrade.
GDPR – project or permanent reality?
Authors: Perry Rob
Published: January 2019

With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) deadline now months in the past, you'd be forgiven for thinking that your work on compliance – at least with this regulation – is done. However, even though the May 2018 date for the beginning of enforcement of this regulation is behind us, being GDPR compliant is not a one-time event, but a long-term ongoing commitment. Making the mistake that you don't have to think about it anymore could be costly.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is here, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that your work on compliance – at least with this regulation – is done.

However, being GDPR compliant is not a one-time event, but a long-term ongoing commitment. It needs to become an established part of your business if you are to avoid the risks of fines or legal action that non-compliance could bring. However, that could be good because many organisations are finding it drives better data management practices that can improve business performance, says Rob Perry of ASG Technologies.
Understanding the evolution of malware
Authors: Rendell Darrel
Published: January 2019

A phishing campaign was recently observed to be distributing a form of ransomware known as Hermes. 1 The similarities between this campaign and those used to distribute GandCrab and Sigma ransomware demonstrate the efficacy and ubiquity of the recently coined ‘ransomware as a service’ model, which has become prevalent in the past 24 months.
Macroeconomics for Professionals
Authors: Lipschitz Leslie , Schadler Susan
Published: January 2019

Understanding macroeconomic developments and policies in the twenty-first century is daunting: policy-makers face the combined challenges of supporting economic activity and employment, keeping inflation low and risks of financial crises at bay, and navigating the ever-tighter linkages of globalization. Many professionals face demands to evaluate the implications of developments and policies for their business, financial, or public policy decisions. Macroeconomics for Professionals provides a concise, rigorous, yet intuitive framework for assessing a country's macroeconomic outlook and policies. Drawing on years of experience at the International Monetary Fund, Leslie Lipschitz and Susan Schadler have created an operating manual for professional applied economists and all those required to evaluate economic analysis.
Converge rates towards stationary solutions for the outflow problem of planar magnetohydrodynamics on a half line
Authors: Yin Haiyan
Published: January 2019

In this paper, convergence rates of solutions towards stationary solutions for the outflow problem of planar magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are investigated. Inspired by the relationship between MHD and Navier-Stokes, we prove that the global solutions of the planar MHD converge to the corresponding stationary solutions of Navier-Stokes equations. We obtain the corresponding convergence rates based on the weighted energy method when the initial perturbation belongs to some weighted Sobolev space.
Collisions of acoustic solitons and their electric fields in plasmas at critical compositions
Authors: Verheest Frank , Hereman Willy A.
Published: January 2019

Acoustic solitons obtained through a reductive perturbation scheme are normally governed by a Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation. In multispecies plasmas at critical compositions the coefficient of the quadratic nonlinearity vanishes. Extending the analytic treatment then leads to a modified KdV (mKdV) equation, which is characterized by a cubic nonlinearity and is even in the electrostatic potential. The mKdV equation admits solitons having opposite electrostatic polarities, in contrast to KdV solitons which can only be of one polarity at a time. A Hirota formalism has been used to derive the two-soliton solution. That solution covers not only the interaction of same-polarity solitons but also the collision of compressive and rarefactive solitons. For the visualization of the solutions, the focus is on the details of the interaction region. A novel and detailed discussion is included of typical electric field signatures that are often observed in ionospheric and magnetospheric plasmas. It is argued that these signatures can be attributed to solitons and their interactions. As such, they have received little attention.
Ionospheric Ambipolar Electric Fields of Mars and Venus: Comparisons Between Theoretical Predictions and Direct Observations of the Electric Potential Drop
Authors: Collinson Glyn , Glocer Alex , Xu Shaosui , Mitchell David , Frahm Rudy A , Grebowsky Joseph , Andersson Laila , Jakosky Bruce
Published: January 2019

We test the hypothesis that their dominant driver of a planetary ambipolar electric field is the ionospheric electron pressure gradient (∇Pe). The ionospheres of Venus and Mars are mapped using Langmuir probe measurements from NASA's Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) and Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) missions. We then determine the component of the ionospheric potential drop that can be explained by the electron pressure gradient drop along a simple draped field line. At Mars, this calculation is consistent with the mean potential drops measured statistically by MAVEN. However, at Venus, contrary to our current understanding, the thermal electron pressure gradient alone cannot explain Venus' strong ambipolar field. These results strongly motivate a return to Venus with a comprehensive plasmas and fields package, similar to that on MAVEN, to investigate the physics of atmospheric escape at Earth's closest analog.
CO2 Wettability of Sandstones: Addressing Conflicting Capillary Behaviors
Authors: Garing C. , Benson S. M.
Published: January 2019

Understanding the capillary and wetting behavior of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and brine in reservoir rocks is crucial for reliable predictions of geologic carbon storage, as it strongly impacts CO2 migration and residual trapping in the reservoir. The wetting state of such systems can be assessed through laboratory measurements of the capillary pressure characteristic curve. However, while some studies reported consistent scaling with strongly water wet systems, some others observed deviations from hydrophilic conditions. We present core‐flooding drainage capillary pressure measurements using scCO2/water and N2/water on a Berea sandstone, untreated, then fired, and then exposed to scCO2 for 28 days. The purpose is to investigate the impact of firing and longer exposure to scCO2, two potential sources for variability in experimental observations, on capillarity and wettability. The results show excellent agreement among all the core‐flooding capillary pressure data, suggesting no change in wetting state due to firing or longer exposure.
Using a Scenario‐Neutral Framework to Avoid Potential Maladaptation to Future Flood Risk
Authors: Broderick Ciaran , Murphy Conor , Wilby Robert L. , Matthews Tom , Prudhomme Christel , Adamson Mark
Published: January 2019

This study develops a coherent framework to detect those catchment types associated with a high risk of maladaptation to future flood risk. Using the “scenario‐neutral” approach to impact assessment the sensitivity of Irish catchments to fluvial flooding is examined in the context of national climate change allowances. A predefined sensitivity domain is used to quantify flood responses to +2 °C mean annual temperature with incremental changes in the seasonality and mean of the annual precipitation cycle. The magnitude of the 20‐year flood is simulated at each increment using two rainfall‐runoff models (GR4J, NAM), then concatenated as response surfaces for 35 sample catchments. A typology of catchment sensitivity is developed using clustering and discriminant analysis of physical attributes. The same attributes are used to classify 215 ungauged/data‐sparse catchments. To address possible redundancies, the exposure of different catchment types to projected climate is established using an objectively selected subset of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 ensemble. Hydrological model uncertainty is shown to significantly influence sensitivity and have a greater effect than ensemble bias. A national flood risk allowance of 20%, considering all 215 catchments is shown to afford protection against ~48% to 98% of the uncertainty in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 subset (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5; 2070–2099), irrespective of hydrological model and catchment type. However, results indicate that assuming a standard national or regional allowance could lead to local over/under adaptation. Herein, catchments with relatively less storage are sensitive to seasonal amplification in the annual cycle of precipitation and warrant special attention.