bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbonylated Indoles from PdII-Catalyzed Intermolecular Reactions of Indolyl Cores
Authors: Le Bras Jean , Muzart Jacques
Published: May 2019

This review summarizes palladium-catalyzed carbonylation, transmetalation, and cross-coupling reactions that lead to carbonylated indoles from indoles and indolyl compounds. Special attention is drawn to procedures involving the C(sp2)–H substitution of free (NH)-indoles or (N-substituted)-indoles. Proposed mechanisms are described with, in some cases, personal comments.

1 Introduction

2 Carbonylative Reactions

2.1 Indolyl Halides as Starting Substrates

2.2 Indolyl Iodides as Intermediates

2.3 Indolylborates as Intermediates

2.4 C(sp2)–H Reactions

2.4.1 Carboxylation

2.4.2 Carbonylative Alkoxylation

2.4.3 Carbonylative Arylation

2.4.4 Carbonylative Alkenylation

2.4.5 Carbonylative Alkylation

2.4.6 Double Carbonylation

3 Cross-Coupling of Stannyl- or Mercurioindoles

4 Cross-Coupling of Indoles

4.1 Aldehydes

4.2 Alcohols

4.3 α-Diketones

4.4 α-Oxo Esters

4.5 α-Oxocarboxylic Acids

4.6 Nitriles

4.7 Isocyanides

4.8 Isothiocyanates and Isocyanates

4.9 α-Aminocarbonyl Compounds

4.10 Vinyl Ethers or Vinyl Amides

4.11 Toluene and Substituted Toluenes

4.12 Bromodichloromethane

5 Conclusion
Formation of Aryl [1-Cyano-4-(dialkylamino)butadienyl] Ketones from Pyridines
Authors: Gim Hyo Jin , Jung Michael E.
Published: May 2019

Treatment of 2-chloropyridine with LDA and the Weinreb amide of benzoic acid afforded three unusual products, namely N-methylbenzamide, 2-chloropyridine-3-methanol, and the ring-opened addition product. This same final product could also be obtained from 2-chloro-3-benzoylpyridine on treatment with LDA. Mechanistic insight for the formation of these products is provided.
Management of Post-Traumatic Osteomyelitis in the Lower Limb: Current State of the Art
Authors: Chan James K. K. , Ferguson Jamie Y. , Scarborough Matthew , McNally Martin A. , Ramsden Alex J.
Published: May 2019

Osteomyelitis (OM) of the lower limb represents a large unmet global healthcare burden. It often arises from a contiguous focus of infection and is a recognized complication of open fractures or their surgical treatment, arthroplasty, and diabetic foot ulcers. Historically, this debilitating condition is associated with high rates of recurrence and secondary amputation. However, excellent long-term outcomes are now achieved by adopting a multidisciplinary approach with meticulous surgical debridement, skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction, and tailored antimicrobial treatment. This review focuses on the modern evidence-based management of post-traumatic OM in the lower limb from a reconstructive plastic surgery perspective, highlighting the latest developments and areas of controversy.
Free Tissue Transfer in Pediatric Lower Limb Trauma
Authors: Srikanth R.
Published: May 2019

Free tissue transfer has become the standard in wound coverage and further refinements have given us newer flap donor sites or modifications of existing flaps to decrease morbidity; smaller vessels are being anastomosed, a direct spin-off following successful distal replantations. Younger children are presenting with traumatic defects similar to adults. Although there were apprehensions of free tissue transfer in children occasioned by smaller vessels, duration of procedure and concerns of growth following flap harvest, reports of small and large series have appeared in the literature with similar success. Pediatric-free tissue transfer is now an established entity. This article seeks to arrive at a consensus based on a review of the existing literature on free flaps for skin and soft-tissue coverage of lower limb trauma in children.
A Review on the Orthoplastic Approach to Lower Limb Reconstruction
Authors: Mendenhall Shaun D. , Ben-Amotz Oded , Gandhi Rikesh A. , Levin L. Scott
Published: May 2019

Just as in the craft of carpentry, a stable foundation and framework are absolutely essential to the final function of a building, but no more important than the drywall, trim, and paint that make the building functional, durable, and livable. Reconstruction of the lower extremity is similar; the orthopaedic surgeon must obtain stable fixation of the damaged or diseased bone once a thorough debridement of nonviable bone is performed, while the plastic or orthopaedic soft tissue surgeon must provide vascularized, stable coverage. These two components are complementary and both contribute to the success or failure of functional limb restoration. The stability of bone repair will predict the ultimate functional status, while the vascularized envelope will enhance the biology of bone and soft tissue healing. When both components are properly attended to, the result is often a functional limb with an acceptable appearance. While a single surgeon need not perform both of these tasks (although some may choose to do so), the orthopaedic and plastic surgeon involved in this care must have a clear understanding of each other's role and their importance for a good outcome. This is what we call the orthoplastic approach to reconstructive surgery of the extremities, that is, the application of principles and practice of both specialties applied simultaneously to optimize the outcomes in limb reconstruction. In this review article, we discuss the history of orthoplastic surgery, the key elements of orthoplastic surgery, and thoughts on factors that lead to good outcomes through select cases.
Ultrafast dynamics of the dipole moment reversal in a polar organic monolayer
Authors: García Rey Natalia , Arnolds Heike
Published: May 2019

Pyridine layers on Cu(110) possess a strong electric field due to the large dipole of adsorbed pyridine. This electric field is visible as an enhanced sum frequency response from both the copper surface electrons and the aromatic C–H stretch of pyridine via a third order susceptibility. In response to a visible pump pulse, both surface electron and C–H stretch sum frequency signals are reduced on a subpicosecond time scale. In addition, the relative phase between the two signals changes over a few hundred femtoseconds, which indicates a change in the electronic structure of the adsorbate. We explain the transients as a consequence of the previously observed pyridine dipole field reversal when the pump pulse excites electrons into the pyridine π* orbital. The pyridine anions in the pyridine layer cause a large-scale structural change which alters the pyridine-copper bond, reflected in the altered sum frequency response.
Enhancement of dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and electrocaloric properties in slightly doped (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 ceramic by samarium
Authors: Turki Olfa , Slimani Ahmed , Seveyrat Laurence , Sassi Zina , Khemakhem Hamadi , Lebrun Laurent
Published: May 2019

We investigated the structural, dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and electrocaloric properties of the samarium doped (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 (NBT-6BT) ceramic. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra confirm the coexistence of the rhombohedral and tetragonal structures for a low amount of Sm (≤8 mol. %), while the compositions with a higher amount of Sm2O3 (11 mol. %) have a pseudocubic structure. The thermal dependency of the dielectric permittivity revealed two phase transitions from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric at low temperatures, then to paraelectric phase at higher temperatures. The substitution of NBT-6BT with 2 mol. % of Sm2O3 remarkably enhances the ferroelectric and the piezoelectric properties of the (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 ceramic. Furthermore, a large electrocaloric effect (ΔT=1.4K) was directly measured on the ceramic doped with 2 mol. % of Sm2O3 under an applied electric field of 50 kV/cm.
Correlating thermoelectric (Bi,Sb)2Te3 film electric transport properties with microstructure
Authors: Siegal M. P. , Podkaminer J. , Lima-Sharma A. L. , Sharma P. A. , Medlin D. L.
Published: May 2019

The room temperature electronic transport properties of 1 μm thick Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 (BST) films correlate with overall microstructural quality. Films with homogeneous composition are deposited onto fused silica substrates, capped with SiN to prevent both oxidation and Te loss, and postannealed to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 °C. BST grain sizes and (00l) orientations improve dramatically with annealing to 375 °C, with smaller increases to 450 °C. Tiny few-nanometer-sized voids in the as-deposited film grain boundaries coalesce into larger void sizes up to 300 nm with annealing to 350 °C; the smallest voids continue coalescing with annealing to 450 °C. These voids are decorated with few-nanometer-sized Sb clusters that increase in number with increasing annealing temperatures, reducing the Sb content of the remaining BST film matrix. Resistivity decreases linearly with increasing temperature over the entire range studied, consistent with improving crystalline quality. The Seebeck coefficient also improves with crystalline quality to 350 °C, above which void coalescence and reduced Sb content from the BST matrix correlate with a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient. Nevertheless, a plateau exists for an optimal power factor between 350 and 450 °C, implying thermal stability to higher temperatures than previously reported.
Advanced photo-assisted capacitance–voltage characterization of insulator/wide-bandgap semiconductor interface using super-bandgap illumination
Authors: Hiraiwa Atsushi , Okubo Satoshi , Horikawa Kiyotaka , Kawarada Hiroshi
Published: May 2019

To accurately analyze the deep states at the insulator/wide-bandgap semiconductor interface, this study reassessed and improved the conventional photoassisted capacitance–voltage (PACV) method. First, as previously pointed out, the illumination time under depletion should be long enough that the voltage shift caused by interface-state depopulation (in n-type semiconductors) saturates. Excessive illumination, however, causes insulator charging, thereby apparently increasing estimated values. To solve this problem, this study proposes to measure reference characteristics just after postillumination ones. Secondly, the postillumination measurements should be started without delay after turning off the light or may be carried out with the samples being illuminated. Thirdly, the depletion should be deep enough that the magnitude of band bending in the substrate at the beginning of the postillumination measurements is larger than 1 V. This guideline considerably relaxes a previous one that required a band bending of bandgap or larger. Furthermore, this study developed a method for compensating the interface-state depopulation (in n-type) during the reference measurements, in which the depopulation causes the so-called stretch-out. The results thus obtained from an Al/Al2O3/GaN capacitor agreed fairly well with those by a recently developed transient photoassisted capacitance method, supporting the validity of both methods. Being less sensitive to the gate-insulator charging, the advanced PACV method developed here has an advantage over the transient method and, therefore, will help advance the technology for fabricating high-performance, high-reliability insulator/wide-bandgap semiconductor insulators.
Laser-induced fluorescence of the CHFCHO radical and reaction of OH radicals with halogenated ethylenes
Authors: Masumoto Ichiro , Washida Nobuaki , Inomata Satoshi , Muraoka Azusa , Yamashita Koichi
Published: May 2019

A new laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of the 2-fluorovinoxy (CHFCHO) radical was first observed around 335 nm. The radical was produced in the reaction of an OH radical with 1,2-difluoroethylene (CHF=CHF). A single weak band was observed, which was assigned to the 000 band of the B̃-X̃ transition of the trans-CHFCHO radical. The B̃←X̃ electronic transition energy (T0) for trans-CHFCHO was 29 871 cm−1, which was just 3 cm−1 lower than that of its isomer, the 1-fluorovinoxy (CH2CFO) radical. The fluorescence lifetime at 29 871 cm−1 was shorter than 20 ns. This means that strong predissociation is probable at v′ = 0 in the excited B̃ state of trans-CHFCHO. From an analysis of the dispersed fluorescence spectrum, some of the vibrational frequencies can be assigned for the ground electronic state: ν3 = 1557 cm−1 (C—O stretch), ν7 = 1162 cm−1 (C—C stretch), and ν8 = 541 cm−1 (CCO bend). These vibrational assignments were supported by ab initio calculations. The structure of the C—C—O skeleton and the spectroscopic character of trans-CHFCHO were close to those of CHClCHO and CH2CHO than those of CH2CFO. For the reaction of CH2=CHF with O(3P), the formation of both the regioisomeric radicals, i.e., 1- and 2-fluorovinoxy radicals, was confirmed. The regioselectivity of the oxygen atom added to the double bond of monofluoroethylene is discussed.
Geometric optimization of riblet-textured surfaces for drag reduction in laminar boundary layer flows
Authors: Raayai-Ardakani Shabnam , McKinley Gareth H.
Published: May 2019

Micro-scale riblets are shown to systematically modify viscous skin friction in laminar flows at high Reynolds numbers. The textured denticles of native sharkskin are widely cited as a natural example of this passive drag reduction mechanism. Since the structure of a viscous boundary layer evolves along the plate, the local frictional drag changes are known empirically to be a function of the length of the plate in the flow direction, as well as the riblet spacing, and the ratio of the height to spacing of the riblets. Here, we aim to establish a canonical theory for high Reynolds number laminar flow over V-groove riblets to explore the self-similarity of the velocity profiles and the evolution of the total frictional drag exerted on plates of different lengths. Scaling analysis, conformal mapping, and numerical calculations are combined to show that the potential drag reduction achieved using riblet surfaces depends on an appropriately rescaled form of the Reynolds number and on the aspect ratio of the riblets (defined in terms of the ratio of the height to spacing of the texture). We show that riblet surfaces require a scaled Reynolds number lower than a maximum threshold to be drag-reducing and that the change in drag is a nonmonotonic function of the aspect ratio of the riblet texture. This physical scaling and the computational results presented here can be used to explain the underlying physical mechanism of this mode of passive drag reduction to rationalize the geometric dimensions of shark denticles, as well as the results of experiments with shark denticle replicas of various sizes, and guide designs for optimizing the textural parameters that result in friction-reducing surfaces.
Efficient equilibration of hard spheres with Newtonian event chains
Authors: Klement Marco , Engel Michael
Published: May 2019

An important task in the simulation of hard spheres and other hard particles is structure prediction via equilibration. Event-driven molecular dynamics is efficient because its Newtonian dynamics equilibrates fluctuations with the speed of sound. Monte Carlo simulation is efficient if performed with correlated position updates in event chains. Here, we combine the core concepts of molecular dynamics and event chains into a new algorithm involving Newtonian event chains. Measurements of the diffusion coefficient, nucleation rate, and melting speed demonstrate that Newtonian event chains outperform other algorithms. Newtonian event chains scale well to large systems and can be extended to anisotropic hard particles without approximations.
Observation of single optical site of Eu and Mg codoped GaN grown by NH3-source molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Sekiguchi Hiroto , Sakai Masaru , Kamada Takuho , Yamane Keisuke , Okada Hiroshi , Wakahara Akihiro
Published: May 2019

Eu-doped GaN (GaN:Eu) is a promising solid-state material for quantum information devices owing to its ideal quantum levels. However, a decrease of Eu concentration and the unification of optical sites are required for these devices to access an Eu ion. In this article, the effect of Eu concentration on the optical properties of Mg-codoped GaN:Eu was evaluated. The photoluminescence intensity from Eu ions increased linearly with increasing Eu concentration up to 1 × 1019 cm−3, beyond which the intensity saturated. This resulted from the increase of the sharp luminescence line at 620.5 nm (site A), which has a large excitation cross section, with increasing Eu concentration in the range of low Eu concentrations; an excess Eu concentration leads to the formation of other types of optical sites with a low transfer efficiency or inactive sites. For a low Eu concentration of 3 × 1018 cm−3, all optical sites except a specific optical site corresponding to site A disappeared, and the unification of optical sites was suggested. This result is expected to be valuable to realize quantum information devices.
First-principles studies of superhard BC8N structures
Authors: Gao Yufei , Ying Pan , Wu Yingju , Chen Shuai , Ma Mengdong , Wang Linyan , Zhao Zhisheng , Yu Dongli
Published: May 2019

We report first-principles calculations of the electronic and mechanical properties of three monoclinic BC8N structures (space group: Pm, No. 6), namely, BC8N-1, BC8N-2, and BC8N-3, by employing a newly developed ab initio particle swarm optimization methodology for crystal structure prediction. The mechanical stability and dynamical stability of these BC8N structures are confirmed based on the calculated results of elastic constants and phonon dispersions. Among the three proposed BC8N phases, BC8N-3 has a negative formation energy of −0.002 eV/atom, indicating that it may be synthesized from diamond and cubic boron nitride. Investigation of their electronic properties shows that all three BC8N phases are semiconductors with an indirect bandgap ranging from 2.52 eV to 4.61 eV. Using a semiempirical microscopic hardness theoretical model, we estimate that the three BC8N phases are potential superhard materials with the Vickers hardness of 75.72, 77.21, and 78.43 GPa. Based on the Pugh criterion, the B/G ratios of the proposed BC8N are 0.92, 0.92, and 0.90, which are all higher than that of diamond (0.83), implying their ductile nature. These multiple excellent properties enable BC8N materials to have wide potential applications as optical and electronic device absorbents, cutting tools, coatings, and so on.
Room temperature crystal structure and high temperature structural and magnetic phase transitions in Sr(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 ceramic
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Singh Akhilesh Kumar
Published: May 2019

The room temperature structure of the perovskite Sr(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 ceramic has been investigated by Rietveld structure refinement using high resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The correct structure is determined to be tetragonal in the space group I4/mcm ruling out orthorhombic (Pbnm), tetragonal (P4 mm), and monoclinic structures previously reported by authors. The high temperature structural phase transition has been studied by Rietveld analysis using the high resolution XRD data in the temperature range of 300–850 K. A high temperature structural phase transition is observed from tetragonal (I4/mcm) to cubic (Pm3̅m) phase around ∼630 K. This phase transition was also confirmed by the heat flow experiment using differential scanning calorimetry. To confirm the nature of phase transition, we have studied the variation of integrated intensity (ISL) of superlattice peak and the oxygen octahedral tilt angle (φ) in a tetragonal structure with temperature. The temperature variations of these two parameters provide evidence for the tricritical nature of the phase transition. A magnetic phase transition is discovered in temperature dependence of magnetization M(T) around ∼708 K, which coincides with the dielectric anomaly temperature in loss tangent.
A generic method for equipping arbitrary rf discharge simulation frameworks with external lumped element circuits
Authors: Schmidt Frederik , Trieschmann Jan , Gergs Tobias , Mussenbrock Thomas
Published: May 2019

External electric circuits attached to radio-frequency plasma discharges are essential for the power transfer into the discharge and are, therefore, a key element for plasma operation. Many plasma simulations, however, simplify or even neglect the external network. This is because a solution of the circuit’s auxiliary differential equations following Kirchhoff’s laws is required, which can become a tedious task especially for large circuits. This work proposes a method which allows one to include electric circuits in any desired radio-frequency plasma simulation. Conceptually, arbitrarily complex external networks may be incorporated in the form of a simple netlist. The suggested approach is based on the harmonic balance concept, which splits the whole system into the nonlinear plasma and the linear circuit contribution. A mathematical formulation of the influence of the applied voltage on the current for each specific harmonic is required and proposed. It is demonstrated that this method is applicable for both simple global plasma models and more complex spatially resolved Particle-in-Cell simulations.
Superconcentrated aqueous electrolyte and UV curable polymer composite as gate dielectric for high-performance oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors
Authors: Lee Eun Goo , Park Jintaek , Lee Sung-Eun , Lee Junhee , Im Changik , Yoo Gayeong , Yoo Jeeyoung , Kim Youn Sang
Published: May 2019

Due to the increasing miniaturization, lightweight, wearable, and portable electronic devices, there is an increasing need to reduce power consumption through the lower operating voltages of thin-film transistors (TFTs). In this study, we proposed a “water-in-bisalt” (WiBS) and an ultraviolet (UV)-curable polymer composite material, which is an aqueous electrolyte with a high capacitance, and realized a dielectric material for low power consumption and a stable voltage range of TFTs that can be handled in the ambient condition. We fabricated a free-standing WiBS/polymer dielectric film with a high capacitance value of 6.72 uF/cm2 at 0.5 Hz and high electrochemical stability by embedding a WiBS electrolyte into the UV crosslinked polymer network by photocuring. The devices of InOx TFTs using WiBS/polymer dielectric films show excellent electrical characteristics: an on/off current ratio of over 103, a subthreshold swing of 110 mV/dec at a drain voltage of 0.1 V, and a linear field-effect mobility of 30.7 cm2/Vs at a drain voltage of 0.1 V and a gate voltage of 1 V.
A strong interaction between torsion and vibration in S and S1 m-fluorotoluene
Authors: Stewart Laurence D. , Gascooke Jason R. , Lawrance Warren D.
Published: May 2019

We report results of a two dimensional laser induced fluorescence study of torsional states, low frequency vibrations, and combinations of torsion with low frequency vibration in m-fluorotoluene up to 560 cm−1 in S0 and 350 cm−1 in S1. Evidence is presented for interactions between torsion and low frequency vibrations in both S0 and S1, demonstrating that the coupling of torsion and vibration observed previously in toluene and p-fluorotoluene extends to a molecule with a threefold torsional barrier. This barrier is low in S0 (20 cm−1) and modest in S1 (116 cm−1). The methyl torsion-vibration interaction is much larger for the mode involving out-of-plane wagging of the methyl group with respect to the planar frame compared with the analogous out-of-plane fluorine atom motion. Methyl group out-of-plane modes were found to be most important for torsion-vibration interactions in toluene and p-fluorotoluene, and the evidence is accumulating that this motion is fundamental in torsion-vibration interactions. Fits of the experimental band positions yield torsion-vibration coupling constants, torsional potential terms (V3 and V6), and rotational constants (F) for the methyl torsion in S0 and S1. The inclusion of torsion-vibration coupling primarily affects V6 and F: |V6| is reduced and F increased, as was seen previously for the G12 molecules, toluene and p-fluorotoluene. The torsional barrier height does not appear to influence the magnitude of the torsion-vibration interaction: the coupling constants for the out-of-plane CH3 wag mode are almost the same in S0 and S1 (15.5 cm−1 and 14.0 cm−1, respectively).
HD (v = 1, j = 2, m) orientation controls HD–He rotationally inelastic scattering near 1 K
Authors: Perreault William E. , Mukherjee Nandini , Zare Richard N.
Published: May 2019

To investigate how molecular orientations affect low energy scattering, we have studied the rotational relaxation of HD (v = 1, j = 2, m) → (v′ = 1, j′ = 0) by collision with ground-state He, where v, j, and m designate the vibrational, rotational, and magnetic quantum numbers, respectively. We experimentally probed different collision geometries by preparing three specific m sublevels, including an m entangled sublevel, belonging to a single rovibrational (v = 1, j = 2) energy level within the ground electronic state of HD using Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage. Low collision energies (0–5 K) were achieved by coexpanding a 1:19 HD:He mixture in a highly collimated supersonic beam, which has defined the direction of the collision velocity and restricted the incoming orbital angular momentum states, defined by the quantum number l, to l ≤ 2. Partial wave analysis of experimental data shows that a single l = 2 input orbital dominates the scattered angular distribution, implying the presence of a collisional resonance. The differential scattering angular distribution exhibits a greater than fourfold stereodynamic preference for the m = 0 input state vs m = ±2, when the quantization axis is oriented parallel to the collision velocity.
Reptiles of Victoria
Authors: Robertson Peter , Coventry A. John
Published: May 2019

Victoria's reptiles are not often encountered by urban dwellers, with many species now threatened. You may have glimpsed a skink darting into the undergrowth, a snake slithering along a walking path or a blue-tongued lizard sunning itself near your garden shed. Yet the turtles, skinks, geckos, goannas, snakes and other reptiles that call Victoria home are fascinating and important members of urban and rural ecosystems.
Reptiles of Victoria is the first regional guide to all reptiles known to occur in Victoria. It contains keys and illustrated descriptions to allow identification of the 123 native, introduced and vagrant reptile species and describes their biology, ecology, distributions and the habitats in which they live. It also indicates the level of risk that the venomous snakes pose to humans and includes a brief section on first aid for snake bites. Natural history enthusiasts and professional and amateur herpetologists will find this an essential guide.
Minerals in pastures—are we meeting the needs of livestock?
Authors: Masters David G. , Norman Hayley C. , Thomas Dean T.
Published: May 2019

In Australia, ruminants rely on introduced pastures or native vegetation for most or all of their nutritional requirements. Recent pasture selection and breeding programs have focused on improving or facilitating the establishment, persistence and growth of plants, with little emphasis on nutritive value or mineral composition. In some cases, such as selection for phosphorus (P) utilisation efficiency, mineral supply from plants may even decrease. Currently, a significant proportion of pasture plants contain less calcium (Ca), P, magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), sulfur, copper, iodine, zinc, selenium or cobalt than is required for growth and reproduction, with significant genetic variation among and within legumes and grasses. Young crops and shrubs are now also an integral part of grazing systems. Many young crops contain concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na and potassium (K) that are low or imbalanced for ruminants. Conversely, many shrubs contain minerals at levels higher than required by livestock. Livestock requirements may have changed in recent years with animals selected for more efficient feed conversion, and flock and herd structures changed to increase productivity. New studies have indicated that higher mineral supply may be beneficial during periods of oxidative stress related to growth, reproduction, and external stresses such as heat and parasites. These results indicate that mineral supply from pastures is not sufficient to support high levels of production for at least part of the year and that designing grazing system to incorporate the complementary benefits of grasses, legumes, crop forage and shrubs may improve the mineral status of grazing ruminants.
Breeding for disease resistance by editing plant susceptibility genes.
Authors: Sun KaiLe Sun KaiLe , Zheng Zheng Zheng Zheng , Jacobsen E. , Visser R. G. F. , Bai YuLing Bai YuLing
Published: May 2019

Plants are continuously attacked by a broad range of pathogens. World-wide, farmers use large amounts of chemicals to secure crop yield. Breeding for disease resistance is a major objective of breeding activities in order to minimize the yield and quality loss associated with diseases. Although, resistance can often be obtained by introgression of major resistance genes (
R
-genes) from wild crop relatives, resistance conferred by R-genes is rarely durable. Recently, increased research with a focus on suppression of plant immunity has led to the identification of (potential) disease-susceptibility genes (S-genes) in
Arabidopsis
. Taking a few examples of conserved
S
-gene function between
Arabidopsis
and crops, this review demonstrates how to impair plant
S
-genes, complementary to the introgression of
R
-genes, to achieve durable and broad-spectrum resistance.
A novel Ca2+-signal transduction inhibitor, kujigamberol C, isolated from Kuji amber
Authors: Takahashi Honoka , Koshino Hiroyuki , Maruyama Miku , Shinden Hisao , Kimura Ken-ichi
Published: May 2019

A novel labdane type diterpenoid, 15-nor-8-labden-13-ol, named kujigamberol C, was isolated from Kuji amber using a modified isolation method to increase the yield of biologically active compounds. The structure was determined using HREIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Kujigamberol C showed growth-restoring activity against mutant yeast via Ca2+-signal transduction.
Soy hydrolysate enhances the isoproterenol-stimulated lipolytic pathway through an increase in β-adrenergic receptor expression in adipocytes
Authors: Ng Su-Ping , Nomura Wataru , Mohri Shinsuke , Takahashi Haruya , Jheng Huei-Fen , Ara Takeshi , Nagai Hiroyuki , Ito Tetsuro , Kawada Teruo , Goto Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2019

Activation of the adipose lipolytic pathway during lipid metabolism is mediated by protein kinase A (PKA), which responds to β-adrenergic stimulation, leading to increased lipolysis. Soy is well known as a functional food and it is able to affect lipolysis in adipocytes. However, the mechanism by which soy components contribute to the lipolytic pathway remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we show that hydrolyzed soy enhances isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis and activation of PKA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We also found that the expression of β-adrenergic receptors, which coordinate the activation of PKA, is elevated in adipocytes differentiated in the presence of soy hydrolysate. The activity of the soy hydrolysate towards β-adrenergic receptor expression was detected in its hydrophilic fraction. Our results suggest that the soy hydrolysate enhances the PKA pathway through the upregulation of β-adrenergic receptor expression and thereby, increase lipolysis in adipocytes.
Agonists that stimulate secretion promote the recruitment of CFTR into membrane lipid microdomains
Authors: Abu-Arish Asmahan , Pandžić Elvis , Kim Dusik , Tseng Hsin Wei , Wiseman Paul W. , Hanrahan John W.
Published: May 2019

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a tightly regulated anion channel that mediates secretion by epithelia and is mutated in the disease cystic fibrosis. CFTR forms macromolecular complexes with many proteins; however, little is known regarding its associations with membrane lipids or the regulation of its distribution and mobility at the cell surface. We report here that secretagogues (agonists that stimulate secretion) such as the peptide hormone vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and muscarinic agonist carbachol increase CFTR aggregation into cholesterol-dependent clusters, reduce CFTR lateral mobility within and between membrane microdomains, and trigger the fusion of clusters into large (3.0 µm2) ceramide-rich platforms. CFTR clusters are closely associated with motile cilia and with the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) that is constitutively bound on the cell surface. Platform induction is prevented by pretreating cells with cholesterol oxidase to disrupt lipid rafts or by exposure to the ASMase functional inhibitor amitriptyline or the membrane-impermeant reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate. Platforms are reversible, and their induction does not lead to an increase in apoptosis; however, blocking platform formation does prevent the increase in CFTR surface expression that normally occurs during VIP stimulation. These results demonstrate that CFTR is colocalized with motile cilia and reveal surprisingly robust regulation of CFTR distribution and lateral mobility, most likely through autocrine redox activation of extracellular ASMase. Formation of ceramide-rich platforms containing CFTR enhances transepithelial secretion and likely has other functions related to inflammation and mucosal immunity.
The bulk conversion depth of the NV-center in diamond: computing a charged defect in a neutral slab
Authors: Löfgren Robin , Pawar Ravinder , Öberg Sven , Larsson J Andreas
Published: May 2019

The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV−) center in diamond has properties that make it a promising candidate for applications such as a qubit in room temperature quantum computing, single-molecule photoluminescence and NMR sensor, and as a single photon source for quantum cryptography. For many of its uses it is desirable to have the NV-center close to the diamond surface. In this work, we use density functional theory simulations to investigate how the distance of the NV− center to a surface, and its orientation, affect its properties, including the zero-phonon-line. We study the three technologically important surfaces terminated with fluorine, oxygen/hydroxyl and nitrogen. Since the NV-center is charged it requires special measures to simulate within a slab-model. We use the recently proposed charging with a substitutional donor in the diamond lattice resulting in a neutral super-cell, which provides very satisfactory results. We have found that the NV-centers properties converge to bulk values already at 5 Å depth.
Comparison of 24-Hour Ambulatory Central Blood Pressure Reduction Efficacy Between Fixed Amlodipine or Up-Titrated Hydrochlorothiazide Plus Losartan: The K-Central Study
Authors: Cho Eun Joo , Lee Hae Young , Sung Ki Chul , Park Sungha , Sohn Il-Suk , Park Chang Gyu , Choi Dong-Ju , Ha Jong Won , Ahn Young Keun , Shin Jinho , Hong Soon-Jun , Kim Soon Kil , Chung Wook-Jin , Yoo Byung Su , Hong Taek Jong , Youn Ho Joong , Cho Myeong-Chan , Chae Shung Chull , Kim Young Jo , Kim Chong-Jin
Published: May 2019

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to evaluate non-inferiority of office mean systolic blood pressure (BP) reduction efficacy and superiority of 24-hour ambulatory central BP reduction efficacy between losartan combined with fixed dose amlodipine (L/A group) and dose up-titrated hydrochlorothiazide (L/H group) according to office BP.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial in 231 patients with hypertensive (mean age = 59.2 ± 12.2 years). Patients received losartan 50 mg monotherapy for 4 weeks, followed by additional use of amlodipine 5 mg or hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg for 20 weeks after randomization. The patients who did not achieve the BP goal after 4 weeks’ randomization received an increased dose of 100 mg/5 mg for the L/A group and 100 mg/25 mg for L/H group, respectively. The 24-hour ambulatory central BP was measured at baseline and after 20 weeks’ treatment.

RESULTS

Office mean systolic BP reduction of L/A group was not inferior to L/H group after 4 weeks’ treatment (–17.6 ± 13.3 vs. –14.4 ± 12.6 mm Hg, P = 0.0863) and was not significantly different after 20 weeks’ treatment. (–15.7 ± 14.0 vs. –14.7 ± 15.1 mm Hg, P = 0.6130) The 24-hour ambulatory central systolic BP was significantly more reduced in the L/A group compared with that in the L/H group after 20 weeks’ treatment (–9.37 ± 10.67 vs. –6.28 ± 10.50 mm Hg, P = 0.0407). The 24-hour ambulatory central systolic BP at the completion of the study and its reduction magnitude were independently associated with reductions in aortic pulse wave velocity, pulse pressure, and wave reflection magnitude.

CONCLUSION

Office systolic BP reduction with L/A was not inferior to L/H after 4 week’s treatment. The combination of losartan and amlodipine was more favorable in 24-hour ambulatory central hemodynamics beyond BP-lowering efficacy than the combination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide, regardless of office BP.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT02294539
Extreme Dipping: Always Means Nocturnal Hypotension?
Authors: Cuspidi Cesare , Caffi Giovanni , Dell’Oro Raffaella , Tadic Marijana , Sala Carla , Grassi Guido , Mancia Giuseppe
Published: May 2019

AIM

Although nocturnal hypotension is considered the key factor responsible for the increased cardiovascular risk associated with the extreme dipping (ED) pattern, no information is available on its prevalence in this setting. Therefore, we have assessed this topic in a cohort of patients referred to a single out-patient hypertension center.

METHODS

A large database of individual 24-hour ambulatory BP recordings from untreated individuals with a history of hypertension and treated individuals with hypertension was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 339 of 7,074 patients (4.5%) exhibited an ED pattern (207 had a nighttime reduction in both systolic and diastolic BP ≥ 20% compared to daytime values and 132 a nighttime reduction in diastolic BP ≥ 20%). Among patients with ED, the prevalence of nocturnal hypotension varied from 9.1% to 45.0% depending on the criteria used (i.e., mean nighttime BP < 90/50 mm Hg or < 100/60 mm Hg), and the prevalence of nocturnal hypertension (i.e., mean nighttime BP ≥ 120/70 mm Hg) was 19.5%. Compared with untreated patients, those taking antihypertensive drugs were more likely to have nocturnal hypotension and less likely to have nocturnal hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the view that ED pattern is a condition not always associated with nocturnal hypotension because a large fraction of ED patients has normal or elevated mean BP nocturnal values.
Definitions of post-coronary artery bypass grafting myocardial infarction: variations in incidence and prognostic significance
Authors: Belley-Cote Emilie P , Lamy André , Devereaux P J , Kavsak Peter , Lamontagne François , Cook Deborah J , Kennedy Kevin , Vincent Jessica , Ou Yongning , Tagarakis George , Whitlock Richard P
Published: May 2019

OBJECTIVES

Using data from the CORONARY trial (n = 4752), we evaluated the incidence and prognostic significance of myocardial infarction (MI) applying different definitions based on peak postoperative creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme and cardiac troponin levels. We then aimed to identify the peak cardiac troponin during the first 3 postoperative days that was independently associated with a 2-fold increase in 30-day mortality.

METHODS

To combine different assays, we analysed cardiac troponins in multiples of their respective upper limit of normal (ULN). We identified the lowest threshold with a hazard ratio (HR) >2 for 30-day mortality independent of EuroSCORE and on- versus off-pump surgery.

RESULTS

Depending on the definition used based on creatine kinase-MB, the incidence of MI after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) ranged from 0.6% to 19% and the associated HRs for 30-day mortality ranged from 2.7 to 6.9. Using cardiac troponin (1528 patients), the incidence of MI ranged from 1.7% to 13% depending on the definition used with HRs for 30-day mortality ranging from 5.1 to 7.2. The first cardiac troponin threshold we evaluated, 180xULN, was associated with an adjusted HR for 30-day mortality of 7.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4–17.1] when compared to <130xULN. The next independent threshold was 130xULN with an adjusted HR for 30-day mortality of 7.8 (95% CI 2.3–26.1). The next cardiac troponin tested threshold (70xULN) did not meet criteria for significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results illustrate that the incidence and prognosis of a post-CABG MI varies based on the definition used. Validated post-CABG MI diagnostic criteria formulated from their independent association with important clinical outcomes are needed.
The genomes of pecan and Chinese hickory provide insights into Carya evolution and nut nutrition
Authors: Huang Youjun , Xiao Lihong , Zhang Zhongren , Zhang Rui , Wang Zhengjia , Huang Chunying , Huang Ren , Luan Yumeng , Fan Tongqiang , Wang Jianhua , Shen Chen , Zhang Shenmei , Wang Xinwang , Randall Jennifer , Zheng Bingsong , Wu Jiasheng , Zhang Qixiang , Xia Guohua , Xu Chuanmei , Chen Ming , Zhang Liangsheng , Jiang Wenkai , Gao Lizhi , Chen Zhiduan , Leslie Charles A , Grauke L J , Huang Jianqin
Published: May 2019

Background

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and Chinese hickory (C. cathayensis) are important commercially cultivated nut trees in the genus Carya (Juglandaceae), with high nutritional value and substantial health benefits.

Results

We obtained >187.22 and 178.87 gigabases of sequence, and ~288× and 248× genome coverage, to a pecan cultivar (“Pawnee”) and a domesticated Chinese hickory landrace (ZAFU-1), respectively. The total assembly size is 651.31 megabases (Mb) for pecan and 706.43 Mb for Chinese hickory. Two genome duplication events before the divergence from walnut were found in these species. Gene family analysis highlighted key genes in biotic and abiotic tolerance, oil, polyphenols, essential amino acids, and B vitamins. Further analyses of reduced-coverage genome sequences of 16 Carya and 2 Juglans species provide additional phylogenetic perspective on crop wild relatives.

Conclusions

Cooperative characterization of these valuable resources provides a window to their evolutionary development and a valuable foundation for future crop improvement.
Integrating multiple community perspectives in intervention development
Authors: Molina Yamilï¿½ , Watson Karriem S , San Miguel Liliana G , Aguirre Karen , Hernandez-Flores Mariana , Giraldo Tatiana B , Lucio Araceli , Coronado Nora , Matthews Phoenix A
Published: May 2019

We offer a framework and exemplify how to integrate multiple community perspectives in research to develop breast cancer screening interventions among Latinas non-adherent to national guidelines. We leverage members of an academic institution’s community consultative service [community engagement advisory board (CEAB) members]; study team members [community health workers (CHWs)] and study-eligible individuals (non-adherent Latinas). First, we asked what was needed from CEAB members (N=17), CHWs (N=14) and non-adherent Latinas (N=20) in one-time semi-structured group consultations and focus groups. Second, we drafted materials. Third, we conducted group consultations and focus groups with a new set of CEAB members (N=13), CHWs (N=17) and non-adherent Latinas (N=16) to reflect on our initial analysis and draft materials. Fourth, we finalized interventions. Certain recommendations were shared across stakeholders and simple to integrate (e.g. costs → access to free services). Some recommendations varied, but complementary integration was possible (e.g. location versus recruitment → multiple recruitment in multiple community areas). Others were distinct across stakeholders and resulted in strategies to recognize participants’ agency and inform their choices about breast cancer screening (e.g. differences in preferred information about screening → personalized information and evidence about all screening options).
Explicit inverse of tridiagonal matrix with applications in autoregressive modelling
Authors: Tan Linda S L
Published: May 2019

We present the explicit inverse of a class of symmetric tridiagonal matrices, which is almost Toeplitz, except that the first and last diagonal elements are different from the rest. This class of tridiagonal matrices is of special interest in complex statistical models, which uses the first-order autoregression to induce dependence in the covariance structure, for instance, in econometrics or spatial modelling. They also arise in interpolation problems using the cubic spline. We show that the inverse can be expressed as a linear combination of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind and present results on the properties of the inverse, such as bounds on the row sums, the trace of the inverse and its square and their limits as the order of the matrix increases.
The Effect of Auditory Stimuli on User’s Meditation and Workload in a Brain–Computer Interface Game
Authors: Vasiljevic Gabriel Alves Mendes , de Miranda Leonardo Cunha
Published: May 2019

The advancement of Brain–computer interface (BCI) technology allowed for the development of applications not only for physically-impaired users, but for entertainment purposes as well. However, there are still numerous challenges in the development of such applications, as it is not known to which extent external stimuli may interfere with the captured brain signals. Being so, understanding the possible limitations caused by these external stimuli may help developers and designers in the development of future BCI-based applications. This paper presents the results of a controlled experiment designed for investigating the effects of auditory stimuli (AS) on subjects playing a neurofeedback-based game. The experiment consisted of sixteen volunteer subjects who played a total of twelve game matches each, for a total of 144 matches, over the course of three experiment sessions. Statistical analysis and qualitative instruments were employed to investigate key features of the subjects’ interaction with the game over time, especially regarding the influence of AS in both subjects’ performance and self-assessed, subjective workload. It was concluded that the subjects’ level of meditation tends to increase over time, that the self-assessed workload tends to decrease over time, and that the game’s AS did neither significantly influenced the performance nor the subjective workload of the subjects.

Research Highlights

The influence of auditory stimuli (AS) was investigated with a brain–computer interface game. Meditation level and workload were assessed and evaluated in a controlled experiment setup. Subjects’ performance tends to increase over time, while self-assessed workload tends to decrease. The presence of AS did not influenced the subjects’ meditation level and workload.
The Material-Experiential Asymmetry in Discounting: When Experiential Purchases Lead to More Impatience
Authors: Goodman Joseph K , Malkoc Selin A , Rosenboim Mosi
Published: May 2019

Consumers routinely make decisions about the timing of their consumption, making tradeoffs between consuming now or later. Most of the literature examining impatience considers monetary outcomes (i.e., delaying dollars), implicitly assuming that how the money is spent does not systematically alter impatience levels and patterns. The authors propose an impatience asymmetry for material and experiential purchases based on utility duration. Five studies provide evidence that consumers are more impatient toward experiential purchases compared to material purchases and that this increased impatience is driven by whether the value is extracted over a shorter utility duration (often associated with experiential purchases) or a longer utility duration (often associated with material purchases). Thus, when an experience is consumed over a longer period of time, the results show that impatience can be diminished. Additional results show that the effect holds in both delay and expedite frames and suggest that the results cannot be explained by differences in scheduling, time sensitivity, affect, ownership, future time perspective, or future connectedness.