bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solid Organozinc Pivalates: A New Class of Zinc Organometallics with Greatly Enhanced Air- and Moisture-Stability
Authors: Chen Yi-Hung , Ellwart Mario , Malakhov Vladimir , Knochel Paul
Published: May 2017

Organozinc species are powerful reagents for performing carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bond-forming reactions in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst. However, extended applications of zinc reagents have been hampered by their moderate air- and moisture­-stability. This short review presents our recent developments on the preparation of solid aryl, benzyl, heteroaryl, allyl zinc pivalates and zinc amide enolate reagents with greatly enhanced stability toward to air and moisture.

1 Introduction

2 Preparation of Organozinc Pivalates

2.1 Using Organic Halides as Substrates

2.2 Using a Directed Metalation on Functionalized Arenes and Heteroarenes

2.3 Preparation of Solid Allylic Zinc Pivalates

3 General Reactivity Patterns of Organozinc Pivalates

3.1 General Aspects

3.2 Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings

3.3 Other Carbon–Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions Using Organozinc Pivalates

3.4 Preparation and Reactions of Solid, Salt-Stabilized Zinc Amide Enolates as New, Convenient Reformatsky Reagents

4 Conclusion
Palladium-Catalyzed Double Borylation of Diaryl Sulfoxides with Diboron
Authors: Yorimitsu Hideki , Saito Hayate , Nogi Keisuke
Published: May 2017

Borylation of the C–S bond of diaryl sulfoxides with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B2pin2) is accomplished by means of a phosphine-ligated palladium catalyst and LiN(SiMe3)2 as a base. Both of the aryl rings of the diaryl sulfoxides are converted into borylated products.
Cobalt-Catalyzed Monoselective ortho-C–H Ethylation of Carboxamides with Triethylaluminum
Authors: Xu Kun , Tan Zhoumei , Zhang Haonan , Zhang Sheng
Published: May 2017

A 1,10-phenanthroline ligated cobalt catalyst is reported for the ortho-C–H ethylation of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and alkenyl carboxamides with inexpensive triethylaluminum. This reaction represented the first example of cobalt-catalyzed monoselective direct ortho-C–H ethylation reaction with aluminum reagent as an alkyl donor.
Waste-Free Swift Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Diarylmethyl Thioethers from Diaryl Carbinols
Authors: Peddinti Rama , Singh Pallavi
Published: May 2017

A waste-free and swift protocol to synthesize symmetrical and unsymmetrical diarylmethyl thioethers from diaryl carbinols and thiols in good to quantitative yields is reported. The thiol scope included alkyl and aryl thiols bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. Short reaction time, high atom economy, inexpensive activator, free from workup and aryl halides, and gram-scale synthesis are the significant features of the new protocol.
Can Recombinant Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor Modulate Inflammatory Response in Extreme Low Gestational Age Newborns?: Effect of rhG-CSF on Cytokines in ELGAN
Authors: Kocherlokata Prabhakar , Crow Mary , Vakkalanka Radhakrihna , La Gamma Edmund
Published: May 2017

Background Elevated levels of cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are common in critically ill neonates, and may contribute to organ-based injury during acute illness contributing to neurodevelopmental delay. In both animals and human adults, recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is associated with a reduction in TNF-α blood levels.

Objective We aim to determine whether rhG-CSF treatment affects the blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6 or the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 in extremely-low-gestational age neonates (ELGANs) compared with conventional medical management.

Methods The study included three groups of ELGANs between 2 and 4 days of age as subjects. Control group (n = 5); treated, nonseptic group (n = 10); and treated, septic group (n = 5) neonates were treated with conventional measures. In addition, the test subjects were treated with 10 μg/kg/d of rhG-CSF intravenously for 3 consecutive days. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured before and 24 hours after completion of the study.

Results The average TNF-α levels increased after birth in control subjects but did not rise in rhG-CSF treated subjects. A nonsignificant decrease of IL-6 and IL-10 blood levels was noted in all the subjects independent of the drug treatment.

Conclusion The use of rhG-CSF is associated with lower TNF-α levels in ELGANs.

Speculation During critical illness or sepsis, rhG-CSF may have unanticipated benefits as a drug that can elevate neutrophil number and function in neonates while simultaneously limiting collateral injury due to TNF-α.
Salivary Cortisol, Perceived Stress, and Metabolic Syndrome: A Matched Case-Control Study in Female Shift Workers
Authors: Garcez Anderson , Weiderpass Elisabete , Canuto Raquel , Lecke Sheila , Spritzer Poli , Pattussi Marcos , Olinto Maria
Published: May 2017

Although the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is complex and multifactorial, there is limited information if psychological factors, such as stress exposure, are involved in the etiology of MetS. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between MetS and cortisol levels and perceived stress levels among women shift workers in Southern Brazil. A matched case-control study was conducted, including 50 cases of MetS and 200 age-matched controls (±3 years, 4 for each case). Salivary cortisol levels were evaluated immediately after waking and one upon returning home from work. Perceived stress levels were measured by the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items (PSS-10). Multivariate-adjusted associations between MetS and salivary cortisol levels and perceived stress levels were assessed by conditional logistic regression. Means±standard deviations of salivary cortisol levels were not signiﬁcantly different between cases and controls either immediately after waking (5.37±4.10 vs. 6.03±5.39 nmol/l; p = 0.53) or after work (2.74±2.87 vs. 2.78±2.85 nmol/l; p = 0.93). There was no significant difference in perceived stress level between cases and controls (14.2±5.9 vs. 15.5±5.6; p = 0.15). No independent association was observed in the multivariate model between MetS and salivary cortisol level or perceived stress level after these exposures were stratified into tertiles. Overall, there was no difference between women with or without MetS in regard to the free salivary cortisol and perceived stress. Our results do not support an association between stress exposure and MetS among women shift workers.
2017 GPOH Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Neuroblastic Tumors
Authors: Simon Thorsten , Hero Barbara , Schulte Johannes , Deubzer Hedwig , Hundsdoerfer Patrick , von Schweinitz Dietrich , Fuchs Jörg , Schmidt Matthias , Prasad Vikas , Krug Barbara , Timmermann Beate , Leuschner Ivo , Fischer Matthias , Langer Thorsten , Astrahantseff Kathy , Berthold Frank , Lode Holger , Eggert Angelika
Published: May 2017

The clinical course of neuroblastoma is more heterogeneous than any other malignant disease. Most low-risk patients experience regression after limited or even no chemotherapy. However, more than half of high-risk patients die from disease despite intensive multimodal treatment. Precise patient characterization at diagnosis is key for risk-adapted treatment. The guidelines presented here incorporate results from national and international clinical trials to produce recommendations for diagnosing and treating neuroblastoma patients in German hospitals outside of clinical trials.
Topical lidocaine inhibits spasm during colonoscopy: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial (with video)
Authors: Nemoto Daiki , Utano Kenichi , Isohata Noriyuki , Endo Shungo , Kumamoto Kensuke , Koshimizu Taka-aki , Lefor Alan , Togashi Kazutomo
Published: May 2017

Background and study aims Topical peppermint oil prevents intestinal spasm, but can cause rebound spasm. Lidocaine hydrochloride, a local anesthetic, may work as an antispasmodic by blocking Na + channels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of topical lidocaine on the inhibition of colonic spasm during colonoscopy, compared with peppermint oil.

Patients and methods A randomized, controlled double-blind trial was conducted in an academic endoscopy unit. Patients requiring endoscopic resection were randomly allocated to colonoscopy with topical administration of lidocaine (n = 30) or peppermint oil (n = 30). Similar vials containing different solutions were randomly numbered. Allocation was made based on the vial number. The solution used and the vial number were not revealed during the study. Two endoscopists performed all procedures using midazolam, without anticholinergic agents. When a pre-selected lesion was identified, the solution in the assigned vial was dispersed and the bowel observed for 5 minutes. The primary endpoint was the duration of spasm inhibition, and a secondary endpoint was the occurrence of rebound spasm stronger than before dispersion.

Results There were no significant differences in patient demographics. Spasm was inhibited in almost all patients in both groups, with a similar median duration (lidocaine 227 sec vs. peppermint 212.5 sec, P = 0.508). In contrast, rebound spasm occurred less frequently in the lidocaine group (lidocaine 7 % vs. peppermint 47 %, P = 0.001). There were no adverse events or symptoms associated with administration of the solutions.

Conclusions The inhibitory effect of lidocaine is not superior to peppermint oil. However, lidocaine significantly decreases the frequency of rebound spasms.
Preparation and Characterization of Copolymeric Polymersomes for Protein Delivery
Authors: Nomani Alireza , Nosrati Hamed , Manjili Hamidreza , Khesalpour Leila , Danafar Hossein
Published: May 2017

Biodegradable copolymeric polymersomes have been used for controlled drug delivery of proteins. These polymersomes important areas to overcome formulation associated problems of the proteins. The aim of this study was to develop polymersomes using biodegradable copolymers for delivery of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Encapsulated BSA by mPEG-PCL polymersomes led to formation of BSA-loaded mPEG-PCL polymersomes. The polymersomes synthesized with the protein-polymer ratio of 1:4 at 15 000 rpm gave maximum loading, minimum polydispersion with maximally sustained protein release pattern, among the prepared polymersomes. Investigation on FTIR and DSC results revealed that such a high encapsulation efficiency is due to strong interaction between BSA and the copolymer.The particles size and their morphology of polymersomes were determined by DLS and AFM.The encapsulation efficiency of BSA was 91.02%. The results of AFM showed that the polymersomes had spherical shapes with size of 49 nm.The sizes of BSA-loaded polymersomes ranged from 66.06 nm to 84.97 nm. The results showed that polymersomes exhibited a triphasic release, for BSA. Overall, the results indicated that mPEG–PCL polymersomes can be considered as a promising carrier for proteins.
S2k-Leitlinie Idiopathische Lungenfibrose – Update zur medikamentösen Therapie 2017
Authors: Behr Jürgen , Günther Andreas , Bonella Francesco , Geißler Klaus , Koschel Dirk , Kreuter Michael , Prasse Antje , Schönfeld Nicolas , Sitter Helmut , Müller-Quernheim Joachim , Costabel Ulrich
Published: May 2017

Die idiopathische Lungenfibrose (idiopathische pulmonale Fibrose, IPF) ist eine schwerwiegende Lungenerkrankung, die häufig innerhalb von zwei bis vier Jahren nach Diagnosestellung zum Tod führt. Seit Veröffentlichung der deutschen IPF-Leitlinie im Jahr 2013 liegen neue Therapiestudien vor, die eine Neubewertung der Behandlungsstrategien erfordern. Abweichend von der Vorgängerleitlinie wurde in der aktuellen Überarbeitung nicht mehr das GRADE-System sondern die Oxford Evidenzsystematik mit drei Empfehlungsgraden (A, B, C) verwendet, weil dieses System eine differenziertere Betrachtung erlaubt. Folgende Medikamente wurden mit dem Empfehlungsgrad A und dem Evidenzgrad 1-b als nicht geeignet für die Behandlung der IPF klassifiziert: Triple-Therapie aus Prednisolon, Azathioprin und Acetylcystein; Antikoagulation mit Vitamin-K-Antagonisten; Imatinib; Ambrisentan; Bosentan; Macitentan. Weniger eindeutig ist die negative Bewertung des Phosphodiesterase-5-Inhibitors Sildenafil und der Acetylcystein-Monotherapie (Empfehlungsgrad B, Evidenzgrad 2-b). Eindeutig positiv fiel die Empfehlung für Nintedanib und Pirfenidon zur Behandlung von IPF-Patienten aus (Empfehlungsgrad A, Evidenzgrad 1-a). Mit Empfehlungsgrad C und Evidenzgrad 4 wurde der generelle Einsatz von Antazida zur Behandlung der IPF als nicht zu empfehlen bewertet, da die Datenlage widersprüchlich ist; hier weicht die deutsche Leitlinie auch am deutlichsten von der internationalen Leitlinie ab. Am Ende der Leitlinie wird aus Expertensicht zu offenen Fragen in der Therapie der IPF Stellung genommen, für die bisher keine ausreichende Evidenzbasis existiert.
Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Bendamustine and its Active Metabolite, γ-Hydroxybendamustine in Small Volume Mice and Dog Plasma and its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Mice and Dogs
Authors: Chandrashekar Devaraj , Suresh Ponnayyan , Kumar Rajnish , Bhamidipati Ravi , Mullangi Ramesh , Richter Wolfgang , Srinivas Nuggehally
Published: May 2017

A highly sensitive, specific and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of bendamustine (BM) and γ-hydroxybendamustine (HBM) in small volume (20 µL) mice and dog plasma using phenacetin as an internal standard (IS) as per regulatory guidelines. Both the analytes and IS were extracted from mice and dog plasma using a liquid-liquid extraction method. Chromatography was achieved on Atlantis dC18 column using an isocratic mobile phase (0.2% formic acid:acetonitrile, 25:75) at a flow rate of 0.40 mL/min. The total chromatographic run time was 3.0 min and the elution of BM, HBM and IS occurred at ~1.2, 1.2 and 2.0 min, respectively. A linear response function was established 0.11–518 ng/mL for both the analytes in mice and dog plasma. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precisions were in the range of 3.46–12.9 and 3.63–8.23%; 1.15–9.00 and 7.86–9.49% for BM and HBM, respectively in mice plasma and 2.15–6.49 and 1.73–13.1%; 4.35–13.9 and 4.33–10.5% for BM and HBM, respectively in dog plasma. This novel method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice and dogs.
Oral Administration of (S)-Allyl-l-Cysteine and Aged Garlic Extract to Rats: Determination of Metabolites and Their Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Park Taehoon , Oh Ju-Hee , Lee Joo Hyun , Park Sang , Jang Young , Lee Young-Joo
Published: May 2017

(S)-Allyl-l-cysteine is the major bioactive compound in garlic. (S)-Allyl-l-cysteine is metabolized to (S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide, N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine, and N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide after oral administration. An accurate LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of (S)-allyl-l-cysteine and its metabolites in rat plasma, and the feasibility of using it in pharmacokinetic studies was tested. The analytes were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring using an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer. Because significant quantitative interference was observed between (S)-allyl-l-cysteine and N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine as a result of the decomposition of N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine at the detector source, chromatographic separation was required to discriminate (S)-allyl-l-cysteine and its metabolites on a reversed-phase C18 analytical column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. The calibration curves of (S)-allyl-l-cysteine, (S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide, N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine, and N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide were linear over each concentration range, and the lower limits of quantification were 0.1 µg/mL [(S)-allyl-l-cysteine and N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine] and 0.25 µg/mL [(S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide and N-acetyl-(S)-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide]. Acceptable intraday and inter-day precisions and accuracies were obtained at three concentration levels. The method satisfied the regulatory requirements for matrix effects, recovery, and stability. The validated LC-MS/MS method was successfully used to determine the concentration of (S)-allyl-l-cysteine and its metabolites in rat plasma samples after the administration of (S)-allyl-l-cysteine or aged garlic extract.
A new method for measuring the neutron lifetime using an in situ neutron detector
Authors: Morris C. L. , Adamek E. R. , Broussard L. J. , Callahan N. B. , Clayton S. M. , Cude-Woods C. , Currie S. A. , Ding X. , Fox W. , Hickerson K. P. , Hoffbauer M. A. , Holley A. T. , Komives A. , Liu C.-Y. , Makela M. , Pattie R. W. , Ramsey J. , Salvat D. J. , Saunders A. , Seestrom S. J. , Sharapov E. I. , Sjue S. K. , Tang Z. , Vanderwerp J. , Vogelaar B. , Walstrom P. L. , Wang Z. , Wei Wanchun , Wexler J. W. , Womack T. L. , Young A. R. , Zeck B. A.
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we describe a new method for measuring surviving neutrons in neutron lifetime measurements using bottled ultracold neutrons (UCN), which provides better characterization of systematic uncertainties and enables higher precision than previous measurement techniques. An active detector that can be lowered into the trap has been used to measure the neutron distribution as a function of height and measure the influence of marginally trapped UCN on the neutron lifetime measurement. In addition, measurements have demonstrated phase-space evolution and its effect on the lifetime measurement.
Magnetoelectric write and read operations in a stress-mediated multiferroic memory cell
Authors: Klimov Alexey , Tiercelin Nicolas , Dusch Yannick , Giordano Stefano , Mathurin Théo , Pernod Philippe , Preobrazhensky Vladimir , Churbanov Anton , Nikitov Sergei
Published: May 2017

Magnetic memory cells associated with the stress-mediated magnetoelectric effect promise extremely low bit-writing energies. Most investigations have focused on the process of writing information in memory cells, and very few on readout schemes. The usual assumption is that the readout will be achieved using magnetoresistive structures such as Giant Magneto-Resistive stacks or Magnetic Tunnel Junctions. Since the writing energy is very low in the magnetoelectric systems, the readout energy using magnetoresistive approaches becomes non negligible. Incidentally, the magneto-electric interaction itself contains the potentiality of the readout of the information encoded in the magnetic subsystem. In this letter, the principle of magnetoelectric readout of the information by an electric field in a composite multiferroic heterostructure is considered theoretically and demonstrated experimentally using [N×(TbCo2/FeCo)]/[Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3](1−x)−[PbTiO3]x stress-mediated ME heterostructures.
Note: Evaluation of magnetometry data acquired from elongated samples
Authors: Hayden M. E. , Lambinet V. , Gomis S. , Gries G.
Published: May 2017

We document and validate an analytic expression for the flux integral characterizing the response (or sensitivity) of a magnetometer equipped with second-order axial gradiometer coils to long, thin, uniformly magnetized samples. We then demonstrate an application inspired by this analysis, in which magnetometric sensitivity to weak magnetic signatures is readily and appreciably enhanced by increasing the sample volume (and hence the quantity of analyte) well beyond conventional limits.
A nonlinear, three-dimensional model for ocean flows, motivated by some observations of the Pacific Equatorial Undercurrent and thermocline
Authors: Constantin A. , Johnson R. S.
Published: May 2017

Using the salient properties of the flow observed in the equatorial Pacific as a guide, an asymptotic procedure is applied to the Euler equation written in a suitable rotating frame. Starting from the single overarching assumption of slow variations in the azimuthal direction in a two-layer, steady flow that is symmetric about the equator, a tractable, fully nonlinear, and three-dimensional system of model equations is derived, with the Coriolis terms consistent with the β-plane approximation retained. It is shown that this asymptotic system of equations can be solved exactly. The ability of this dynamical model to capture simultaneously fundamental oceanic phenomena, which are closely inter-related (such as upwelling/downwelling, zonal depth-dependent currents with flow reversal, and poleward divergence along the equator), is a novel and compelling feature that has hitherto been elusive. While details are presented for the equatorial flow in the Pacific, the analysis demonstrates that other flow configurations can be accommodated within the framework of this approach, depending on the choice of the underlying velocity profile and of the various parameters; the method is therefore applicable to a range of ocean flows with a similar three-dimensional structure.
Adsorption of atmospheric gases on cementite 010 surfaces
Authors: Muñoz Ramo David , Jenkins Stephen J.
Published: May 2017

We study the adsorption of a series of small molecules on the nonstoichiometric {010} surface of cementite (θ-Fe3C) by means of first-principles calculations. We find that CO, N2, H2O, and CH4 prefer to adsorb over iron atoms in an atop configuration. O2, CO2, and the OH radical prefer a configuration bridging two iron atoms and CH2O adsorbs in a configuration bridging a surface iron atom and a surface carbon atom. Adsorption energies are small for H2, CO2, and CH4, indicating a physisorption process, while those for CO, CH2O and especially for O2 and the OH radical are large, indicating a strong chemisorption process. H2O and N2 display adsorption energies between these two extremes, indicating moderate chemisorption. The dissociation of H2, CH2O, the OH radical, and O2 is favoured on this surface. Comparison with adsorption on Fe{100} surfaces indicates that most of these gases have similar adsorption energies on both surfaces, with the exception of CO and the OH radical. In addition, we find similarities between the reactivities of cementite and Mo2C surfaces, due to the similar covalent character of both carbides.
A coarse-grain molecular dynamics study of oil–water interfaces in the presence of silica nanoparticles and nonionic surfactants
Authors: Katiyar Parul , Singh Jayant K.
Published: May 2017

In this work, we have studied the effect of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (NPs), in the presence of nonionic surfactants (Triethylene glycol monododecyl ether and Tween 20), on the oil–water (n-octane–water, n-dodecane–water and n-hexadecane–water) interfacial tensions (IFTs) at 300 K, using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations based on the MARTINI force field. Simulation results indicate that silica NPs solely do not affect the IFT. However, the silica NPs may or may not increase the IFT of oil–water containing nonionic surfactant, depending on the tendency of the surfactant to adsorb on the surface of NPs. The adsorption occurs due to the formation of hydrogen bonds, and adsorption increases with a decrease in pH, as seen in experimental studies. In this work, we found that the oil–water IFT increases with an increasing amount of adsorption of the surfactant on NPs. At a fixed amount of adsorption of the surfactant on NPs, the IFT behavior is indifferent to the change in concentration of NPs. However, the IFT decreases with an increase in surfactant concentration. We present a detailed analysis of the density profile and intrinsic width of the interface. The IFT behavior is found to correlate extremely well with the intrinsic width of the interface. The current study provides an explanation for the increase in IFT observed in a recent experiment [N. R. Biswal et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 120, 7265–7274 (2016)] for various types of NPs and nonionic surfactant systems.
Study on the interactions between two identical oscillation bubbles and a free surface in a tank
Authors: Liu N. N. , Cui P. , Ren S. F. , Zhang A. M.
Published: May 2017

A boundary element method based on the incompressible potential flow theory is adopted to investigate the interaction between two identical oscillating bubbles and a free surface in a tank. An axisymmetric numerical model is established, and certain numerical techniques are proposed to address coefficient matrix singularity and fluid-structure intersection. Experiments with spark-generated bubbles in a cylindrical tank recorded by a high-speed camera are conducted, and the numerical results are validated. On this basis, a typical case of bubbles interacting with a free surface in a tank with relatively small inter-bubble and bubble-free surface distances is carefully studied. A crown-shaped water column at the free surface is observed both numerically and experimentally. The maximum volume of the lower bubble is found to be much larger than that of the upper one. The effects of the inter-bubble and bubble-wall distances on bubble dynamics and free surface motion are analyzed. The results can provide a useful reference for underwater explosion experiments in the confined fluid field.
Rayleigh-Taylor instability in thin liquid films subjected to harmonic vibration
Authors: Sterman-Cohen Elad , Bestehorn Michael , Oron Alexander
Published: May 2017

The dynamics of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a two-dimensional thin liquid film placed on the underside of a planar substrate subjected to either normal or tangential harmonic forcing is investigated here in the framework of a set of long-wave evolution equations accounting for inertial effects derived earlier by Bestehorn, Han, and Oron [“Nonlinear pattern formation in thin liquid films under external vibrations,” Phys. Rev. E 88, 023025 (2013)]. In the case of tangential vibration, the linear stability analysis of the time-periodic base state with a flat interface shows the existence of the domain of wavenumbers where the film is unstable. In the case of normal vibration, the linear stability analysis of the quiescent base state reveals that the instability threshold of the system is depicted by a combination of distinct thresholds separate for the Rayleigh-Taylor and Faraday instabilities. The nonlinear dynamics of the film interface in the case of the static substrate results in film rupture. However, in the presence of the substrate vibration in the lateral direction, the film interface saturates in certain domains in the parameter space via the mechanism of advection induced by forcing, so that the continuity of the film interface is preserved even in the domains of linear instability while undergoing the time-periodic harmonic evolution. On the other hand, sufficiently strong forcing introduces a new inertial mode of rupture. In the case of the normal vibration, the film evolution may exhibit time-periodic, harmonic or subharmonic saturated waves apart of rupture. The enhancement of the frequency or amplitude of the substrate forcing promotes the destabilization of the system and a tendency to film rupture at the nonlinear stage of its evolution. A possibility of saturation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability by either normal or unidirectional tangential forcing in three dimensions is also demonstrated.
High quality factor manganese-doped aluminum lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors sensitive to frequencies below 100 GHz
Authors: Jones G. , Johnson B. R. , Abitbol M. H. , Ade P. A. R. , Bryan S. , Cho H.-M. , Day P. , Flanigan D. , Irwin K. D. , Li D. , Mauskopf P. , McCarrick H. , Miller A. , Song Y. R. , Tucker C.
Published: May 2017

Aluminum lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors (LEKIDs) sensitive to millimeter-wave photons have been shown to exhibit high quality factors, making them highly sensitive and multiplexable. The superconducting gap of aluminum limits aluminum LEKIDs to photon frequencies above 100 GHz. Manganese-doped aluminum (Al-Mn) has a tunable critical temperature and could therefore be an attractive material for LEKIDs sensitive to frequencies below 100 GHz if the internal quality factor remains sufficiently high when manganese is added to the film. To investigate, we measured some of the key properties of Al-Mn LEKIDs. A prototype eight-element LEKID array was fabricated using a 40 nm thick film of Al-Mn deposited on a 500 μm thick high-resistivity, float-zone silicon substrate. The manganese content was 900 ppm, the measured Tc = 694 ± 1mK, and the resonance frequencies were near 150 MHz. Using measurements of the forward scattering parameter S21 at various bath temperatures between 65 and 250 mK, we determined that the Al-Mn LEKIDs we fabricated have internal quality factors greater than 2 × 105, which is high enough for millimeter-wave astrophysical observations. In the dark conditions under which these devices were measured, the fractional frequency noise spectrum shows a shallow slope that depends on bath temperature and probe tone amplitude, which could be two-level system noise. The anticipated white photon noise should dominate this level of low-frequency noise when the detectors are illuminated with millimeter-waves in future measurements. The LEKIDs responded to light pulses from a 1550 nm light-emitting diode, and we used these light pulses to determine that the quasiparticle lifetime is 60 μs.
Large anisotropic spin relaxation time of exciton bound to donor states in triple quantum wells
Authors: Ullah S. , Gusev G. M. , Bakarov A. K. , Hernandez F. G. G.
Published: May 2017

We have studied the spin dynamics of a dense two-dimensional electron gas confined in a GaAs/AlGaAs triple quantum well by using time-resolved Kerr rotation and resonant spin amplification. Strong anisotropy of the spin relaxation time up to a factor of 10 was found between the electron spins oriented in-plane and out-of-plane when the excitation energy is tuned to an exciton bound to neutral donor transition. We model this anisotropy using an internal magnetic field and the inhomogeneity of the electron g-factor. The data analysis allows us to determine the direction and magnitude of this internal field in the range of a few mT for our studied structure, which decreases with the sample temperature and optical power. The dependence of the anisotropic spin relaxation was directly measured as a function of several experimental parameters: excitation wavelength, sample temperature, pump-probe time delay, and pump power.
A calibration method for the higher modes of a micro-mechanical cantilever
Authors: Shatil N. R. , Homer M. E. , Picco L. , Martin P. G. , Payton O. D.
Published: May 2017

Micro-mechanical cantilevers are increasingly being used as a characterisation tool in both material and biological sciences. New non-destructive applications are being developed that rely on the information encoded within the cantilever's higher oscillatory modes, such as atomic force microscopy techniques that measure the non-topographic properties of a sample. However, these methods require the spring constants of the cantilever at higher modes to be known in order to quantify their results. Here, we show how to calibrate the micro-mechanical cantilever and find the effective spring constant of any mode. The method is uncomplicated to implement, using only the properties of the cantilever and the fundamental mode that are straightforward to measure.
Functionalization of graphene quantum dots by fluorine: Preparation, properties, application, and their mechanisms
Authors: Zuo Wenbin , Tang Libin , Xiang Jinzhong , Ji Rongbin , Luo Lin , Rogée Lukas , Ping Lau Shu
Published: May 2017

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) possess unique photoelectronic properties ascribed to quantum confinement and edge effects, which have evoked important development and wide application in the optoelectronic field. Doping GQDs with heteroatoms can further modulate the energy band structure and thus produce unexpected properties. Herein, we obtained fluorine-doped GQDs (F-GQDs) by adopting an effective preparation technique, which includes the treatment of the as-prepared reaction precursor, fluorinated carbon fibers, with ultrasonic liquid phase exfoliation. The proposed method is simple, handy, and low-cost, opening up an alternate approach to prepare F-GQDs. Through multiple characterization techniques, the effective incorporation of fluorine in GQDs was confirmed, and the as-prepared F-GQDs exhibit excellent photoelectrical properties and good ultraviolet absorption performances. Accordingly, we have fabricated a vertical photovoltaic UV detector based on F-GQDs. The unoptimized device has an exceptionally large ratio of photocurrent to dark current of magnitude ∼105, and its detectivity (D*) could stabilize at around 1012 Jones at room temperature under λ = 365 nm light irradiation and reverse bias voltage.
The electro-mechanical behaviour of flexural ultrasonic transducers
Authors: Dixon Steve , Kang Lei , Ginestier Michael , Wells Christopher , Rowlands George , Feeney Andrew
Published: May 2017

Flexural ultrasonic transducers are capable of high electro-mechanical coupling efficiencies for the generation or detection of ultrasound in fluids. They are the most common type of ultrasonic sensor, commonly used in parking sensors, because the devices are efficient, robust, and inexpensive. The simplest design consists of a piezoelectric disc, bonded to the inner surface of a metal cap, the face of which provides a vibrating membrane for the generation or detection of ultrasonic waves in fluids. Experimental measurements demonstrate that during the excitation of the piezoelectric element by an electrical voltage, there are three characteristic regions, where the frequency of the emitted ultrasonic wave changes during the excitation, steady-state, and the final decay process. A simple mechanical analogue model is capable of describing this behaviour.
Study of the carrier transfer across the GaNP nanowire electrolyte interface by electron paramagnetic spin trapping
Authors: Philipps Jan M. , Stehr Jan E. , Hofmann Detlev M. , Buyanova Irina A. , Eickhoff Martin
Published: May 2017

We investigate the transfer of photoexcited charge carriers from GaP and GaNP nanowires to an electrolyte by bias-dependent photocurrent and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as a spin trap. The results of the latter show that hydroxyl radicals are created over the entire applied bias range from −1000 mV to +1300 mV by hole transfer. In contrast, the photocurrent changes from cathodic to anodic at the open circuit potential of the three-electrode setup with the nanowire sample acting as the working electrode. The experiments show that the photoelectrochemical response of GaNP nanowires is significantly stronger compared to that of the GaP nanowires.
Why the Moratorium on Human-Animal Chimera Research Should Not be Lifted
Authors: Moy Alan
Published: May 2017

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced its plans to lift its moratorium on funding research that involves injecting human embryonic stem cells into animal embryos, which would allow for the creation of part-human and part-animal organisms known as chimeras. The NIH allowed only one month to receive public comments in the midst of a presidential election campaign. Lifting the moratorium means that, for the first time, the federal government will begin spending taxpayer dollars on the creation and manipulation of new organisms that would blur the line between humans and animals. Interestingly, this government effort is creating an uncommon coalition between pro-life groups and animal rights activists that oppose this medical research on ethical grounds; the former seeking to ensure the welfare of human embryos and the latter seeking to protect the well-being of animals. Unlike the issue of abortion, this research is complex. Yet, it is important that the pro-life laity and clergy be adequately informed on some of the basic science and ethics that surround this research. To fully understand why this research is unethical and why the NIH is pursuing this particular research, it is important to understand the ethical tenets governing human-subject research and why secular scientists are pursuing this scientific field.
Identifying Organisms
Authors: Napier Stephen
Published: May 2017

Defenders of human, embryonic, destructive stem-cell research and early abortion typically argue for their position by showing that you and I do not come into existence at conception but rather at some point after. Eugene Mills has provided an ingenious argument that you and I could not have come into existence at conception. I argue against Mills's argument on two counts: first, his argument depends upon a cursory limning of human conception, and when fuller details are considered, a premise in his argument is undercut. Second, Mills's argument invites us to ask questions about how to identify individual organisms. Given a fuller description of human conception and some plausible metaphysical principles, I argue that Mills should hold instead that you and I do in fact come into being at conception.

One way to argue that early abortions are permissible is to argue against the view that you and I come into existence at conception. Most abortion rights defenders argue for this conclusion by noting that in order for you and I to exist, there must be developed psychological capacities. Eugene Mills takes a different route and argues that you and I could not come into existence at conception because that would mean being identical to an egg – which he rightly notes we cannot be. I argue against Mills in this article.
Using Voice Recognition Software to Collect Fisheries Biodata: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Sitar Shawn P. , Traynor Daniel J.
Published: May 2017

Biological data collection and processing involves numerous steps, is time consuming, and is error prone. We developed the Voice Data Recording System (VDRS) that eliminates multiple steps in the traditional process by integrating voice recognition software with a normalized, relational database to capture data onto a laptop computer. We compared traditional and VDRS methods and report efficiency and error rates based on Lake Superior Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush survey data collected during 2000–2016. Efficiency was measured by data collection rate and processing duration. Data collection rates were not different between methods. Processing duration for the traditional method averaged 200 staff hours per year, whereas the VDRS has no data processing. Error rates measured for the traditional data method averaged 5% and the VDRS had 0% error. We found that the VDRS is more efficient and less error prone than the traditional method of data collection and provides substantial cost and time savings.
Selection and Evaluation of Indexes Commonly Used to Determine Contamination with T-2 Toxin in Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei by the Grey Relational Method
Authors: Lu Pengli , Wang Yaling , Dai Zhe , Sun Lijun , Xu Defeng , Liu Ying , Ye Riying , Gooneratne Ravi , Bi Siyuan
Published: May 2017

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of the mycotoxin T-2 toxin in feed on muscle performance in the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, evaluate indexes of physiological variables that indicate T-2 toxin contamination in the shrimp using the grey relational method, and determine the dose–response relationships between T-2 toxin and the indexes. Of the 6 physical, 7 biochemical, and 17 nutritional indexes examined, the values of the grey relational coefficients were highest for the hepatopancreas: body weight ratio (HBR), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, and serine (SER) content (0.83, 0.68, and 0.82, respectively). Therefore, the HBR, ALT activity, and SER content were selected as appropriate indexes for contamination of Pacific white shrimp muscle with T-2 toxin. Based on their dose–response relationship curves, mean effective doses of 1.45, 1.69, and 1.33 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of feed were obtained for the HBR, ALT activity, and SER content, respectively. These results offer technical reference points for the evaluation and control of T-2 toxin in shrimp feed.

Received April 28, 2016 accepted April 9, 2017 Published online July 26, 2017
Validity and reliability of the Moxy oxygen monitor during incremental cycling exercise
Authors: Crum E. M. , O'Connor W. J. , Van Loo L. , Valckx M. , Stannard S. R.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: The Moxy is a novel, cutaneously placed muscle oxygen monitor which claims to measure local oxygen saturation (SmO2) and total haemoglobin (THb) using near‐infrared spectroscopy. If shown to be reliable, its data storage and telemetric capability will be useful for assessing localised O2 usage during field‐based exercise. This study investigated the reliability of the Moxy during cycling and assessed the correlations between its measurements, whole‐body O2 consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR). Methods: Ten highly trained cyclists performed an incremental, step‐wise cycling protocol on two occasions while wearing the Moxy. SmO2, THb, VO2 and HR were recorded in the final minute of each five‐minute stage. Data were analysed using Spearman's Order‐Rank Coefficient (SROC), Intraclass Correlation (ICC), and Coefficient of Variance (COV). Significance was set at p ≤ .05. Results: SmO2 showed a ‘strong’ or ‘very large’ correlation between trials (SROC: r = 0.842–0.993, ICC: r = 0.773–0.992, p ≤ .01) and was moderately correlated with VO2 and HR (r = −0.71–0.73, p ≤ .01). SmO2 showed a moderate to high reliability at low intensities, but this decreased as relative exercise intensity increased. THb showed poor correlations between tests and with the other measured variables, but was highly reliable at all power outputs. Conclusions: The Moxy is a reliable device to measure SmO2 at low to moderate intensities, but at higher intensities, greater variation in measurements occurs, likely due to tissue ischaemia or increased movement artefacts due to more frequent muscular contractions. THb has low variation during exercise, and does not appear to be a valid indicator of muscle oxygenation.
From Common Market to European Union
Authors: Arnull Anthony
Published: May 2017

The EEC Treaty said that the common market should be established gradually over a transitional period comprising three stages. When the transitional period expired in 1969, the common market was still far from complete. ‘From Common Market to European Union’ explains how in February 1986, the Member States signed a new treaty called the Single European Act committing them to establishing the internal market by the end of 1992. At the same time, the Member States began to explore widening the remit of the EEC to embrace additional policy areas. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty on European Union was signed, giving birth to a new legal entity: the European Union.
How secondary EU law is made
Authors: Arnull Anthony
Published: May 2017

The EU has a number of law-making procedures, which seek to reconcile swirling national, institutional, and political rivalries. Like all legislation, the measures they generate represent compromises, but they have on the whole been remarkably successful in achieving their objectives. ‘How secondary EU law is made’ outlines the ordinary legislative procedure, which applies in many important areas of EU competence, and the process of enhanced cooperation. It goes on to describe special legislative procedures and the range of legal acts that may be adopted. Finally, it considers whether the EU makes too much law and the democratic legitimacy of its law-making procedures.
Hierarchical probabilistic models for multiple gene/variant associations based on next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Vavoulis Dimitrios V , Taylor Jenny C , Schuh Anna
Published: May 2017

Motivation

The identification of genetic variants influencing gene expression (known as expression quantitative trait loci or eQTLs) is important in unravelling the genetic basis of complex traits. Detecting multiple eQTLs simultaneously in a population based on paired DNA-seq and RNA-seq assays employs two competing types of models: models which rely on appropriate transformations of RNA-seq data (and are powered by a mature mathematical theory), or count-based models, which represent digital gene expression explicitly, thus rendering such transformations unnecessary. The latter constitutes an immensely popular methodology, which is however plagued by mathematical intractability.

Results

We develop tractable count-based models, which are amenable to efficient estimation through the introduction of latent variables and the appropriate application of recent statistical theory in a sparse Bayesian modelling framework. Furthermore, we examine several transformation methods for RNA-seq read counts and we introduce arcsin, logit and Laplace smoothing as preprocessing steps for transformation-based models. Using natural and carefully simulated data from the 1000 Genomes and gEUVADIS projects, we benchmark both approaches under a variety of scenarios, including the presence of noise and violation of basic model assumptions. We demonstrate that an arcsin transformation of Laplace-smoothed data is at least as good as state-of-the-art models, particularly at small samples. Furthermore, we show that an over-dispersed Poisson model is comparable to the celebrated Negative Binomial, but much easier to estimate. These results provide strong support for transformation-based versus count-based (particularly Negative-Binomial-based) models for eQTL mapping.

Availability and implementation

All methods are implemented in the free software eQTLseq: https://github.com/dvav/eQTLseq

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Finite-time distributed formation tracking control of multi-UAVs with a time-varying reference trajectory
Authors: Zhao Wei , Li Renfu , Zhang Huaipin
Published: May 2017

This article studies finite-time distributed formation tracking control of a second-order multi-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. To reduce the burden of the system’s computation and communication, a distributed framework is designed in the control of the formation configuration, in which a time-varying reference trajectory is known by the following UAVs as exogenous input that decides the UAVs moving target. Then, time-triggered and event-triggered consensus control protocols are proposed and theoretically proved to achieve the formation flight in finite time. Finally, a numerical simulation is conducted for the formation tracking control of a typical multi-UAV system to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control protocols.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Iridoviridae
Authors: Chinchar V. Gregory , Hick Paul , Ince Ikbal Agah , Jancovich James K , Marschang Rachel , Qin Qiwei , Subramaniam Kuttichantran , Waltzek Thomas B , Whittington Richard , Williams Trevor , Zhang Qi-Ya ,   ICTV Report Consortium
Published: May 2017

The Iridoviridae is a family of large, icosahedral viruses with double-stranded DNA genomes ranging in size from 103 to 220 kbp. Members of the subfamily Alphairidovirinae infect ectothermic vertebrates (bony fish, amphibians and reptiles), whereas members of the subfamily Betairidovirinae mainly infect insects and crustaceans. Infections can be either covert or patent, and in vertebrates they can lead to high levels of mortality among commercially and ecologically important fish and amphibians. This is a summary of the current International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Iridoviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/iridoviridae.