bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodality Imaging Agents with PET as the Fundamental Pillar
Authors: Ni Dalong , Ehlerding Emily B. , Cai Weibo
Published: July 2018

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides quantitative information in vivo with ultra‐high sensitivity but is limited by its relatively low spatial resolution. Therefore, PET has been combined with other imaging modalities, and commercial systems such as PET/computed tomography (CT) and PET/magnetic resonance (MR) have become available. Inspired by the emerging field of nanomedicine, many PET‐based multimodality nanoparticle imaging agents have been developed in recent years. This Minireview highlights recent progress in the design of PET‐based multimodality imaging nanoprobes with an aim to overview the major advances and key challenges in this field and substantially improve our knowledge of this fertile research area.
Enhanced photoluminescence properties of electrospun Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres for white lighting devices
Authors: Pangul Chaitali Niranjan , Anwane Shyamkant Wasudeorao , Kondawar Subhash Baburao
Published: July 2018

Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres with diameters from 200 to 500 nm were made using an electrospinning technique. The as‐fabricated amorphous nanofibres resulted in good crystalline continuous nanofibres through calcination. Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) light spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photoluminescence (PL). XRD showed the well defined peaks of ZnO. UV–vis spectra showed a good absorption band at 360 nm. FTIR spectra showed a Zn–O stretching vibration confirming the presence of ZnO. Photoluminescence spectra of Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres showed an emission peak in the visible region that was free from any ZnO defect emission. Emissions at 480 nm and 575 nm in the Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres were the characteristic peaks of dopant Dy3+ and implied efficient energy transfer from host to dopant. Luminescence intensity was found to be increased with increasing doping concentration and reduction in nanofibre diameter. Colour coordinates were calculated from photometric characterizations, which resembled the properties for warm white lighting devices.
Digital assessment of individual engineering assignments in mass courses
Authors: Aleyaasin Majid
Published: July 2018

In this article a digitally assisted tool, that uses a master computer program for a particular assignment, and enables quick and semi‐automatic assessment is introduced. Since the data allocated to each student is different from the other classmates, acquiring the correct results depends on the sole effort of the student. The master program will produces the correct results in a tabular format. Then student is asked to provide his/her results with same format, and submit the work to the course web site. The marker assesses the work by running the master program and observing the correct results. In last step the student's result with the same format will be compared with the correct results and an appropriate feedback will be provided for that student. In the first experiment 300 undergraduate students with different mathematical knowledge, have been asked to find the acceptable ranges of a gear ratios for a particular electromechanical device and submit their results. In the 2nd experiment 40 postgraduate students have been, with different engineering and science degrees, asked to find the optimal passive fire protection system for the structural elements. It is concluded that for strengthening the innovation in students, apart from group projects, the individual assignments are also necessary. The digital method described in this paper, can reduce the assessment time substantially, also provides appropriate feedback for each student. Future applications, improvements are discussed, commented upon.
Stable 2D Bisthienoacenes: Synthesis, Crystal Packing, and Photophysical Properties
Authors: Wang Zunzhi , Li Jinfeng , Zhang Simeng , Wang Qi , Dai Gaole , Liu Bingqing , Zhu Xiaolin , Li Zhongguo , Kolodziej Charles , McCleese Christopher , Burda Clemens , Sun Wenfang , Chen Long
Published: July 2018

Two novel 2D bisthienoacenes with annulated thiophene units at different positions were developed. Both 1,2‐ and 1,4‐addition of the α,β‐unsaturated ketone moieties lead to the major formation of four‐fold alkylsilylethynyl substituted 2D heteroacenes (namely BTT‐4TIPS and BTP‐4TIPS). The photophysical, electrochemical properties, crystal packing structures, and charge carrier transport performances were investigated in detail.
Arginine/Tryptophan‐Rich Cyclic α/β‐Antimicrobial Peptides: The Roles of Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Solvent‐Accessible Surface Areas upon Activity and Membrane Selectivity
Authors: Bagheri Mojtaba , Amininasab Mehriar , Dathe Margitta
Published: July 2018

The bacterial selectivity of an amphiphilic library of small cyclic α/β‐tetra‐, α/β‐penta‐, and α/β‐hexapeptides rich in arginine/tryptophan (Arg/Trp) residues, which contains asymmetric backbone configurations and differ in hydrophobicity and alternating d,l‐amino acids, was investigated against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The structural analyses showed that the peptides tend to form assemblies of different shapes. All‐l‐peptides, especially the most hydrophobic pentamers, were more strongly anti‐B. subtilis. With the exception to cyclo(Phe‐d‐Trp‐β3hArg‐Arg‐d‐Trp) (Phe=phenylalanine), the peptides had no effects on inner membrane of E. coli, but lyzed the lipopolysaccharide layer according to their activity pattern. The activities adversely changed with a decrease in the number of amide intramolecular hydrogen bonds in assemblies of diastereomeric peptides and the ratio of hydrophobic/hydrophilic solvent‐accessible surface areas. The remarkable enhanced entropic contribution for the partitioning of the least conformationally constrained cyclo(Trp‐d‐Phe‐β3hTrp‐Arg‐d‐Arg) sequence into the membranes supported the strong self‐assembly behavior, therefore making the peptide less penetrable through the E. coli outer layer.
Aktiv oder passiv? – Elektrochemische Unterrichtsbausteine zur Passivität der Metalle
Authors: Oetken Marco , Ducci Matthias
Published: July 2018

Die Passivierbarkeit von Eisen und Aluminium führt zu einem erstaunlichen (elektro‐)chemischen Verhalten dieser Metalle. Im Folgenden werden konkrete Vorschläge gemacht, wie diese spannende Thematik in den Chemieunterricht integriert werden kann.
Etherification of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to Biofuel Additive Catalyzed by Aquivion® PFSA Modified Mesoporous Silica
Authors: Dou Youwei , Zhang Mengyuan , Zhou Shuai , Oldani Claudio , Fang Wenhao , Cao Qiue
Published: July 2018

Catalytic etherification of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with isobutene (IB) to a biodiesel additive, that is, 5‐(tert‐butoxymethyl)‐furfural (tBMF), is studied on the Aquivion® perfluorosulfonic acid resin (PFSA) modified mesoporous silica (Aquivion®/m‐SiO2) solid acid. Mesoporous silica, composed of amorphous silica‐particle aggregates, is synthesized by the sol–gel method using the amphiphilic Aquivion® PFSA as both the acidic and the template reagent. The silica surface is then modified by the Aquivion® resin, leading to the hybrid Aquivion®/m‐SiO2 solid acid bearing highly accessible sulfonic acid sites and adequate porous structure. The catalytic properties, including composition, thermal stability, acidity, porosity, and morphology, are characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, XPS, TGA/DTG, elemental analysis, potentiometric titration, N2 physisorption, SEM, and TEM. The influence of different reaction parameters, such as catalyst dosage, reaction time and temperature, reactants composition, and solvent, is investigated. The optimal Aquivion®/m‐SiO2 catalyst (10 wt.‐%), with an accessible acidity of 45 µmolH+ gcatal.–1 demonstrates 78 % conversion of HMF and 66 % yield of tBMF, in the presence of THF, after 3 h at 90 °C, whereas the yield of byproduct 5,5′‐[oxy‐bis(methylene)]bis‐2‐furfural (OBMF), generated by the oligomerization of HMF, is lowered to 4 %. The developed catalyst demonstrates good stability after regeneration for five consecutive cycles.
Molybdenum(II) Complexes with α‐Diimines: Catalytic Activity in Organic and Ionic Liquid Solvents
Authors: Saraiva Marta S. , Nunes Carla D. , Félix Vítor , Ribeiro Ana P. C. , de Castro Carlos Nieto , Calhorda Maria José
Published: July 2018

The new [MoX(η3‐C3H5)(CO)2(α‐diimine)] complexes with: (i) X = Br or triflate and α‐diimine = 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) and dipyridophenazine (dppz); and (ii) X = Br and α‐diimine = phen and dppz, with several substituents, are synthesized and characterized. The structures of [MoBr(η3‐C3H5)(CO)2(Cl‐phen)] and [Mo(CF3SO3)(η3‐C3H5)(CO)2(dppz)] are determined by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. These and three complexes of 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy), and its two derivatives with Me and tBu substituents, are tested in the homogeneous catalytic epoxidation of several olefins in dichloromethane, exhibiting, in general, a good selectivity towards the respective epoxide and relatively low TOFs. For the first time, the oxidation of cis‐cyclooctene with some of these catalysts is also conducted in a variety of room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). In the presence of [MoBr(η3‐C3H5)(CO)2(phen)], the conversions, in general, increase, compared with the reactions in organic solvents. Interestingly, different chemoselectivity is found when [C6mim][Ntf2] and [C2mim][FAP] are used with diol (24–26 %). On the other hand, [MoBr(η3‐C3H5)(CO)2(L)] (L = Me‐phen or dppz) exhibits much lower conversions in the RTILs tested than in common organic solvents.
Metal‐Catalyzed C–H Functionalization Processes with “Click”‐Triazole Assistance
Authors: Guerrero Itziar , Correa Arkaitz
Published: July 2018

The functionalization of otherwise unreactive C–H bonds holds great promise for reducing reliance on existing functional groups while improving energy efficiency and atom economy. One of the most powerful strategies exploits chelation assistance through reversible coordination with metal catalysts. This microreview summarizes the most recent advances in the use of 1,2,3‐triazoles as versatile directing groups in the field of C–H functionalization. The main feature is the modular and straightforward assembly of the required triazoles through “click” chemistry, and such procedures therefore constitute practical synthetic tools of utmost importance for the late‐stage diversification of “click compounds”, which are ubiquitous moieties in drug discovery and material science.
Estimation of the multivariate conditional tail expectation for extreme risk levels: Illustration on environmental data sets
Authors: Di Bernardino Elena , Prieur Clémentine
Published: July 2018

This paper deals with the problem of estimating the multivariate version of the conditional tail expectation introduced in the recent literature. We propose a new semiparametric estimator for this risk measure, essentially based on statistical extrapolation techniques, well designed for extreme risk lev els. We prove a central limit theorem for the obtained estimator. We illustrate the practical properties of our estimator on simulations. The performances of our new estimator are discussed and compared with the ones of the empirical Kendall's process‐based estimator, previously proposed by the authors. We conclude with two applications on real data sets: rainfall measurements recorded at three stations located in the south of Paris (France) and the analysis of strong wind gusts in the northwest of France.
Retracted: A simple algorithm for reducing the operation frequency of residential water pumps during peak hours of power consumption
Authors: Ahmad Hussein , Atikol Ugur
Published: July 2018

In developing countries where water supply pressure is low, or frequent water outages and electricity shortages happen, domestic end‐users are forced to install water pump‐storage systems, consisting of water pumps and ground‐level and rooftop tanks to satisfy their daily water demands. This contributes to increasing electrical energy consumption, particularly during peak electricity demand hours. This study presents a simple, practical, computational, and cost‐effective shifting water level control algorithm to manage water‐energy nexus, by reducing pump‐storage system electric energy consumption during peak hours. The proposed algorithm requires a simple modification to the existing water level control scheme, by installing an additional float switch in the rooftop water tank below the currently available float switch that is usually adjusted to trigger the pump when the level in the tank drops by 5‐10% from the maximum level. Based on the simulation results, the algorithm preserves the domestic end‐users’ comfortable daily water demand and reduces water pump energy consumption during peak hours by 90%. During off‐peak hours, the control algorithm triggers the pump to refill the rooftop tank based on the upper float switch when water level drops by 5%, while during peak hours, the pump is triggered only when the water drops by 30%. The performance of the algorithm is found to be comparable to the performance of the model predictive control (MPC) approach developed for the same purpose, but MPC needs a high computation capacity and a complex analog feedback level sensor. The algorithm succeeds in reducing and shifting pump energy consumption under various possible operation scenarios and water demand disturbances. A mathematical model is developed for the domestic water pump‐storage system using Matlab/Simscape to cope with the complexity of solving nonlinear fluid flow equations and measure the data required to develop the control algorithm. The performance of the algorithm is tested based on a real case study.
Eco‐efficiency evaluation of petrochemical enterprises: An application of 3D state‐space model
Authors: Wang Yanqiu , Zhu Zhiwei , Ma Zixin
Published: July 2018

This paper attempts to focus on the application of the ecological carrying capacity theory and the three‐dimensional state‐space model to th eco‐efficiency evaluation of petrochemical enterprises. This research differs from the existing literature, which focuses on business’ eco‐efficiency from behavioral motivation and strategic perspective. This paper proposes a three‐dimensional state‐space model of ecological efficiency of petrochemical enterprises by adopting a combination of ecological carrying index and state space. This model in a three‐dimensional geometric space takes petrochemical enterprises as a pressurer for natural resources and natural environment. The three axes of space represent the economic status of petrochemical enterprises, the use of resources, and the impact of enterprises on the environment, respectively. It attempts to quantitatively describe economic activities of petrochemical enterprises and the interaction with resources and environment. It focuses on applying the model to calculate the ecological carrying capacity of petrochemical enterprises, verifying the feasibility and applicability of the model in calculating the ecological efficiency of enterprises, and providing theoretical tools for enterprises to make ecological efficiency judgments. The results show that this method can help to find out the problems with resources, economy, and environment during the development of petrochemical enterprises and provide the basis for managers to make strategic decisions of sustainable development.
Emergence of symmetry selectivity in the visual areas of the human brain: fMRI responses to symmetry presented in both frontoparallel and slanted planes
Authors: Keefe Bruce D. , Gouws André D. , Sheldon Aislin A. , Vernon Richard J. W. , Lawrence Samuel J. D. , McKeefry Declan J. , Wade Alex R. , Morland Antony B.
Published: July 2018

Symmetry is effortlessly perceived by humans across changes in viewing geometry. Here, we re‐examined the network subserving symmetry processing in the context of up‐to‐date retinotopic definitions of visual areas. Responses in object selective cortex, as defined by functional localizers, were also examined. We further examined responses to both frontoparallel and slanted symmetry while manipulating attention both toward and away from symmetry. Symmetry‐specific responses first emerge in V3 and continue across all downstream areas examined. Of the retinotopic areas, ventral occipital VO1 showed the strongest symmetry response, which was similar in magnitude to the responses observed in object selective cortex. Neural responses were found to increase with both the coherence and folds of symmetry. Compared to passive viewing, drawing attention to symmetry generally increased neural responses and the correspondence of these neural responses with psychophysical performance. Examining symmetry on the slanted plane found responses to again emerge in V3, continue through downstream visual cortex, and be strongest in VO1 and LOB. Both slanted and frontoparallel symmetry evoked similar activity when participants performed a symmetry‐related task. However, when a symmetry‐unrelated task was performed, fMRI responses to slanted symmetry were reduced relative to their frontoparallel counterparts. These task‐related changes provide a neural signature that suggests slant has to be computed ahead of symmetry being appropriately extracted, known as the “normalization” account of symmetry processing. Specifically, our results suggest that normalization occurs naturally when attention is directed toward symmetry and orientation, but becomes interrupted when attention is directed away from these features.
The principal–agent problem and owner‐managers: An instrumental variables application to nursing home quality
Authors: Huang Sean Shenghsiu , Bowblis John R.
Published: July 2018

The literature on provider ownership has primarily focused broadly on for‐profits compared with nonprofits and chains versus nonchains. However, the understanding of more nuanced ownership arrangements within individual facilities is limited. Utilizing the principal–agent and managerial control frameworks, we study the role of managerial ownership and its relationship to quality among for‐profit nursing homes (NHs). We identify NH administrators with more than 5% ownership (owner‐manager) from Ohio Medicaid Cost Reports (2005–2010) and link these data to long‐stay resident records in the Minimum Data Set. Using differential distance to the nearest NHs with a salaried manager relative to an owner‐manager, we address the differential selection into these two types of NHs. After instrumenting for admissions to owner‐managed NHs, quality among long‐stay residents at owner‐managed NHs is generally better than NHs with salaried managers. We find suggestive evidence that the magnitudes of quality difference are larger when the principal–agent problem is likely more pronounced, such as when NHs that are part of a multifacility chain and located in more concentrated markets.
Accuracy of patient recall for self‐reported doctor visits: Is shorter recall better?
Authors: Dalziel Kim , Li Jinhu , Scott Anthony , Clarke Philip
Published: July 2018

In health economics, the use of patient recall of health care utilisation information is common, including in national health surveys. However, the types and magnitude of measurement error that relate to different recall periods are not well understood. This study assessed the accuracy of recalled doctor visits over 2‐week, 3‐month, and 12‐month periods by comparing self‐report with routine administrative Australian Medicare data. Approximately 5,000 patients enrolled in an Australian study were pseudo‐randomised using birth dates to report visits to a doctor over three separate recall periods. When comparing patient recall with visits recorded in administrative information from Medicare Australia, both bias and variance were minimised for the 12‐month recall period. This may reflect telescoping that occurs with shorter recall periods (participants pulling in important events that fall outside the period). Using shorter recall periods scaled to represent longer periods is likely to bias results. There were associations between recall error and patient characteristics. The impact of recall error is demonstrated with a cost‐effectiveness analysis using costs of doctor visits and a regression example predicting number of doctor visits. The findings have important implications for surveying health service utilisation for use in economic evaluation, econometric analyses, and routine national health surveys.
The effect of chronic disease family history on the adoption of healthier lifestyles
Authors: Sá Alexandre , Peleteiro Bárbara
Published: July 2018

Aim

To determine the influence of family history (FH) and personal history (PH) of chronic disease (CD) in the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was based on the EPIPorto cohort (n = 1588). Participants were grouped taking into account FH and PH of CD, such as diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, asthma, and cancer, and if at least one of the first‐degree relatives had died from the CD. Age‐, sex‐, and education‐adjusted odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Subjects with PH and FH of CD were more likely to follow recommendations regarding salt intake but less likely regarding obesity measures. Overall, similar results were observed when repeating the analyses according to the type of CD, particularly in those with diabetes.

Conclusions

Recommendations towards healthier lifestyles are not followed by individuals with history of CD, at least in what concerns obesity measures. Our study suggests reducing obesity as a major target for interventions in these groups of individuals.
EGFR‐mediated signaling pathway influences the sensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma to JQ1
Authors: Liu Xiaojing , Li Qing , Huang Ping , Tong Dongdong , Wu Haitao , Zhang Fenghe
Published: July 2018

Inhibiting BRD4 has emerged as a promising anticancer strategy, and inhibitors such as JQ1 can suppress cell growth in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the mechanism through which JQ1 exerts its anticancer activity has not been reported. Moreover, JQ1 does not markedly inhibit proliferation and increase apoptosis in OSCC when used as a monotherapy. Herein, we explore the mechanism of JQ1 in OSCC and probe ways to increase its therapeutic potential. In this study, we used two cell lines, Cal27, and Scc25. We found that BRD4 was highly expressed in OSCC tissues when compared with adjacent non‐tumor tissues, and JQ1 worked through the EGFR‐mediated signaling pathway in tumor cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that JQ1 induced an increased treatment effect in vitro and in vivo when combined with a PI3K inhibitor. Interestingly, subsequent mechanistic analyses indicated that further suppressing EGFR and BRD4 expression was instrumental to this functional synergism. Moreover, we found that upregulating EGFR expression by EGF stimulation protected cells treated with JQ1 from apoptosis, while knockdown of EGFR before addition of JQ1 successfully mimicked the combination treatment results. In summary, our findings revealed that JQ1 can act by inhibiting the EGFR‐mediated signaling pathway, and EGFR expression influences the sensitivity of OSCC to JQ1. Regarding clinical use, this study demonstrates that BRD4 is a novel therapeutic target and EGFR can be used as a biomarker to identify the most appropriate anti‐BRD4 treatment strategy in OSCC.
High prevalence of serum IgG antibodies reacting to specific mimotopes of BK polyomavirus, a human oncogenic polyomavirus, in patients affected by uveal melanoma
Authors: Bononi Ilaria , Mazzoni Elisa , Pietrobon Silvia , Torreggiani Elena , Rossini Marika , Violanti Sara , Perri Paolo , Tognon Mauro , Martini Fernanda
Published: July 2018

The uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common human intraocular tumor. The BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a small DNA tumor virus whose footprints have been detected in different human cancers. BKPyV has oncogenic potential. Indeed, BKPyV, when inoculated into experimental animals, induces tumors of different histotypes, whereas in vitro, it transforms mammalian cells, including human cells from distinct tissues. In this investigation, the association between UM and BKPyV was studied employing indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using synthetic peptides that mimic BKPyV viral capsid 1 (VP1) antigens. Indirect ELISAs were used to detect serum IgG antibodies against this polyomavirus with oncogenic potential in samples from patients with UM and controls, represented by healthy subjects (HS). It was found that serum samples from patients with UM had a higher prevalence of BKPyV antibodies, 85% (51/60), compared with that detected in HS1, 62% (54/87), and HS2, 57% (68/120). The different prevalence of BKPyV antibodies detected in UM versus the two control groups, HS1 and HS2, is statistically significant (p < 0.005). Our immunologic data suggest a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies against BKPyV VP1 epitopes in serum samples from patients with UM compared with HS. These results indicate an association between UM and BKPyV, suggesting that this small DNA tumor virus may be a cofactor in the UM onset or progression.
The role of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐2 alpha in angiogenesis
Authors: Befani Christina , Liakos Panagiotis
Published: July 2018

Angiogenesis is a key enabling feature of mammalian embryonic development and tumor progression, which provides oxygen and nutrients that are required for vessel growth and tumor cell growth, respectively. Hypoxia is a driver of this phenomenon and is considered to be one of the most potent initiators of angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo through stabilization of the transcription factors, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 and ‐2 (HIF‐1 and HIF‐2). Although these proteins are highly homologous, emerging evidence suggests that they have unique transcriptional targets and differential impact on angiogenesis. Although HIF‐1α is the best known and widely described isoform, recent studies suggest that HIF‐2α is a critical regulator of physiological and pathophysiological angiogenesis and, at least, the similiarly important as HIF‐1α. Indeed, HIF‐2α has been shown to regulate multiple aspects of angiogenesis, including cell proliferation, migration, maturation of blood vessels, and metastasis. In this review, we focus on recent insights into HIF‐2α expression, activation, and function under hypoxic and nonhypoxic conditions. We also summarize the current knowledge on the crosstalk between HIF‐2 and angiogenesis, describing reported phenotypical changes of HIF‐2α genetic models and HIF‐2 target genes implicated in angiogenesis. Finally, we provide a survey of recent pharmacologic strategies to specifically target HIF‐2 activity.
Study on the mechanism behind lncRNA MEG3 affecting clear cell renal cell carcinoma by regulating miR‐7/RASL11B signaling
Authors: He Hongchao , Dai Jun , Zhuo Ran , Zhao Juping , Wang Haofei , Sun Fukang , Zhu Yu , Xu Danfeng
Published: July 2018

The goal of this research was to study the relationships between maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), microRNA‐7 (miR‐7), and RASL11B, and explore their influence on the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Microarray analysis was conducted using the data provided by The Cancer Genome Atlas. The expression levels of MEG3 and miR‐7 in CCRCC and adjacent tissue samples were ascertained by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The cell proliferation activity was unmasked by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cell apoptosis and cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify target relationships. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect cell migration and invasion ability. Decreased MEG3 expression was observed in CCRCC tissues and cells. Overexpression of MEG3 accelerated apoptosis; inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion; and induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in CCRCC. MiR‐7, directly binding to MEG3, was overexpressed in the CCRCC tissues and could inhibit the apoptosis and promote the migration and invasion of CCRCC cells. RASL11B, lowly expressed in CCRCC, was a target of miR‐7. After the overexpression of RASL11B, G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest was induced; cell apoptosis was promoted; and the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CCRCC cells were inhibited. MEG3 could up‐regulate RASL11B to inhibit the cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest; and promote cell apoptosis by suppressing miR‐7 in CCRCC.
Capacity value of wind power using kd tree and nearest neighbor search algorithm
Authors: Nayak Ashwini K. , Mohanty Kanungo B.
Published: July 2018

Electrical power demand is increasing cumulatively with the increase in population. Economic and environmental impacts restrict the expansion of conventional generation but prompting for intermittent wind sources due to its economic and environmental benefits. But the average capacity value of the wind power is not the same as that of the same rated conventional generation due to its intermittent nature and wind speed dependence. Several definitions of capacity value of wind power are proposed on the basis of reliability evaluation of the system. The estimation of capacity value is not easy as at hourly step wind speed is changing so the power. Therefore, a new procedure is developed here to accumulate all the information like the sequential value of wind power, their reliability indices, and the corresponding capacity values using the capacity value definitions in a single database. To search the capacity value of the wind power, the database is represented in a multidimensional k‐dimensional tree and nearest neighbor search algorithm is implemented. A case study is considered to validate the proposed methodology.
Reconstruction of cranioplasty using the thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap: A case series
Authors: Scaglioni Mario F. , Giunta Gabriele
Published: July 2018

Background

Complex defects resulting in ablation of the scalp, the calvaria, the dura, and the underlying brain are still challenging. These defects require cranioplasty to restore the bone cosmetic and functional roles and free‐flap soft tissue reconstruction to prevent cranioplasty exposure and further infection. Different materials have been used in cranioplasty, while different free flaps have been proposed in those cases. In this article, we present a case series of cranioplasty reconstruction with thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP).

Patients and Methods

From April 2016 to January 2018, 5 patients underwent cranioplasty reconstruction using alloplastics and TDAP flap. Two patients underwent primary cranioplasty and 3 patients underwent secondary cranioplasty. The superficial temporal vessels were always dissected as recipient vessels.

Results

The flap sizes range from 40 to 80 cm2 (mean 57 cm2) and the maximum pedicle length was 12 cm (mean 10 cm). All the donor sites were closed primary with minimal morbidity. No postoperative complications were experienced. All the flaps provided stable coverage with an acceptable color match. The mean follow‐up time was 4 months.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the TDAP may be employed in postcranioplasty reconstruction. The TDAP has more advantages compared to other flaps used in alloplastic reconstruction: a broad large surface, a long pedicle, and a thinner thickness.
A multiple‐input–single‐output fractional‐order Hammerstein model identification based on modified neural network
Authors: Jahani Moghaddam Mohammad , Mojallali Hamed , Teshnehlab Mohammad
Published: July 2018

This paper presents a new multiple‐input–single‐output nonlinear system identification method based on Hammerstein model, which includes a fractional transfer function and a Modified Radial Basis Function Neural Network (MRBFNN) as linear dynamic part and static nonlinear subsystem, respectively. The size of Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) grows with the number of inputs exponentially. As a novel idea, the MRBFNN is proposed, whose adjustable parameters are far fewer than other RBFNNs presented yet. A Modified Genetic Algorithm is used to identify the fractional orders and the centers and widths of MRBFNN and obtain an initial estimation of other unknown parameters. The Recursive Least Square (RLS) method is used to improve the estimation by updating the weighting parameters of MRBFNN and the transfer function coefficients. The convergence analysis of the proposed RLS is provided. Simulation results show the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method.
Small Organic Azides as High Energy Materials: Perazidoacetylene, ‐ethylene, and ‐allene
Authors: Martin William R. , Ball David W.
Published: July 2018

Compounds containing the azide group are already being used as primary explosives or energetic polymers/plasticizers. Here we present a short survey of the energy content of three small organic molecules that have been fully derivatized by N3 groups. Calculated thermodynamic and molecular properties indicate that their specific enthalpies of decomposition and combustion are in the range of those for current high energy‐density materials.
2.45 GHz microwave radiation induced oxidative and nitrosative stress mediated testicular apoptosis: Involvement of a p53 dependent bax‐caspase‐3 mediated pathway
Authors: Shahin Saba , Singh Surya Pal , Chaturvedi Chandra Mohini
Published: July 2018

Deleterious effects of MW radiation on the male reproduction are well studied. Previous reports although suggest that 2.45 GHz MW irradiation induced oxidative and nitrosative stress adversely affects the male reproductive function but the detailed molecular mechanism occurring behind it has yet to be elucidated. The aim of present study was to investigate the underlying detailed pathway of the testicular apoptosis induced by free radical load and redox imbalance due to 2.45 GHz MW radiation exposure and the degree of severity along with the increased exposure duration. Twelve‐week old male mice were exposed to 2.45 GHz MW radiation [continuous‐wave (CW) with overall average Power density of 0.0248 mW/cm2and overall average whole body SAR value of 0.0146 W/kg] for 2 hr/day over a period of 15, 30, and 60 days. Testicular histology, serum testosterone, ROS, NO, MDA level, activity of antioxidant enzymes, expression of pro‐apoptotic proteins (p53 and Bax), anti‐apoptotic proteins (Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL), cytochrome‐c, inactive/active caspase‐3, and uncleaved PARP‐1 were evaluated. Findings suggest that 2.45 GHz MW radiation exposure induced testicular redox imbalance not only leads to enhanced testicular apoptosis via p53 dependent Bax‐caspase‐3 mediated pathway, but also increases the degree of apoptotic severity in a duration dependent manner.
A simple worldsheet black hole
Authors: Dubovsky Sergei
Published: July 2018

Abstract

We study worldsheet theory of confining strings in two-dimensional massive adjoint QCD. Similarly to confining strings in higher dimensions this theory exhibits a non-trivialS-matrix surviving even in the strict planar limit. In the process of two-particle scattering a zigzag is formed on the worldsheet. It leads to an interesting non-locality and exhibits some properties of a quantum black hole. Ordinarily, identical quantum particles do not carry identity. On the worldsheet they acquire off-shell identity due to strings attached. Identity implies complementarity. We discuss similarities and differences of the worldsheet scattering with the$$ T\overline{T} $$TT¯deformation. We also propose a promising candidate for a supersymmetric model with integrable confining strings.
AN EXTREME-VALUE THEORY APPROXIMATION SCHEME IN REINSURANCE AND INSURANCE-LINKED SECURITIES
Authors: Aviv Rom
Published: July 2018

We establish a “top-down” approximation scheme to approximate loss distributions of reinsurance products and Insurance-Linked Securities based on three input parameters, namely the Attachment Probability, Expected Loss and Exhaustion Probability. Our method is rigorously derived by utilizing a classical result from Extreme-Value Theory, the Pickands–Balkema–de Haan theorem. The robustness of the scheme is demonstrated by proving sharp error-bounds for the approximated curves with respect to the supremum and L2 norms. The practical implications of our findings are examined by applying it to Industry Loss Warranties: the method performs very accurately for each transaction. Our approach can be used in a variety of applications such as vendor model blending, portfolio optimization and premium calculation.
Prodigality, Avarice and Anger
Authors: Fontaine Laurence
Published: July 2018

In a status society, such as early modern Europe, the development of the market economy threatened social hierarchies. At a time when religion was the source of power, priests and warriors strove to protect themselves from what was a foreseeable attack going to the very root of their domination, which was jeopardized by the potentialities of the capitalist economy. They therefore developed religious, legal and moral tools to counter capital accumulation and interest-bearing loans in order to break the motor of capitalism. Avarice, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and usury, which was punished by excommunication, were the moral weapons used to exclude those from the community who hoarded money or who charged, however little, interest on loans. But whereas greed, the disease of market exchange, was considered one of the Seven Deadly Sins, prodigality, which lies at the heart of aristocratic exchange, was considered one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Contemporary theatre, with its misers and spendthrifts, is a perfect place to hear echoes of the struggles between the antagonistic values in society, and to follow the way in which individuals reacted to the conflicts that these struggles provoked.

The essay is based on literary works reflecting behaviors that could also be echoed in judicial archives and in texts from writers of the time. It analyses plays from Shakespeare (Timon of Athens, The Merchant of Venice), Ben Jonson (Volpone) and Molière (The Miser).
The Persistence of Pardons and the End of Attainder
Authors: Norton Matthew
Published: July 2018

Pardons are a well-known form of lawful but extrajudicial power over criminal classifications. They are still in regular use in rule of law regimes around the world. Attainder is the less well-known power to condemn via a legislative rather than a judicial act. Despite their structural similarities, pardon and attainder have exhibited divergent trajectories. One is ubiquitous, the other extinct. Focusing on the divergent trajectories of pardon and attainder during the framing of the U.S. Constitution and thereafter, the article advances an explanation for these phenomena based on asymmetries in the relational facts linking pardon and attainder to other thick moral constructs that constituted the moral system of the framers and their successors. Those facts mattered in their own right, but it was in light of the matrix of founding era moral interpretations that the framers grasped and institutionalized their significance.
Quantifier Variance Dissolved
Authors: Finn Suki , Bueno Otávio
Published: July 2018

Quantifier variance faces a number of difficulties. In this paper we first formulate the view as holding that the meanings of the quantifiers may vary, and that languages using different quantifiers may be charitably translated into each other. We then object to the view on the basis of four claims: (i) quantifiers cannot vary their meaning extensionally by changing the domain of quantification; (ii) quantifiers cannot vary their meaning intensionally without collapsing into logical pluralism; (iii) quantifier variance is not an ontological doctrine; (iv) quantifier variance is not compatible with charitable translation and as such is internally inconsistent. In light of these troubles, we recommend the dissolution of quantifier variance and suggest that the view be laid to rest.
Almost Identical, Almost Innocent
Authors: Hawley Katherine
Published: July 2018

In his 1991 book, Parts of Classes, David Lewis discusses the idea that composition is identity, alongside the idea that mereological overlap is a form of partial identity. But this notion of partial identity does nothing to help Lewis achieve his goals in that book. So why does he mention it? I explore and resolve this puzzle, by comparing Parts of Classes with Lewis's invocation of partial identity in his 1993 paper ‘Many But Almost One’, where he uses it to address Unger's problem of the many. I raise some concerns about this way of thinking of partial identity, but conclude that, for Lewis, it is an important defence against accusations of ontological profligacy.
Compatibilism, Indeterminism, and Chance
Authors: Mackie Penelope
Published: July 2018

Many contemporary compatibilists about free will and determinism are agnostic about whether determinism is true, yet do not doubt that we have free will. They are thus committed to the thesis that free will is compatible with both determinism and indeterminism. This paper explores the prospects for this version of compatibilism, including its response to the argument (traditionally employed against incompatibilist accounts of free will) that indeterminism would introduce an element of randomness or chance or luck that is inimical to free will and moral responsibility.
Spaces of Possibility
Authors: Williamson Timothy
Published: July 2018

We care not just how things are but how they could have been otherwise – about possibility and necessity as well as actuality. Many philosophers regard such talk as beyond the reach of respectable science, since observation tells us how things are but (allegedly) not how they could have been otherwise. I argue that, on the contrary, such criticisms are ill-founded: possibility and necessity are studied in natural science, for example through phase spaces, abstract mathematical representations of the possible states of a physical system. The possibility is objective, not merely epistemic, though it may be more restricted than pure metaphysical possibility. The elements of a phase space are very similar to Kripke's possible worlds, despite being time slices rather than total histories. The absence of explicit modal operators in the mathematical models used by scientists does not show science to be non-modal; rather, it manifests reliance on a mathematical framework for theorizing about objective possibility similar to the mathematical framework of possible worlds model theory.
In Situ Analysis of Opal in Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: Rapin W. , Chauviré B. , Gabriel T. S. J. , McAdam A. C. , Ehlmann B. L. , Hardgrove C. , Meslin P.‐Y. , Rondeau B. , Dehouck E. , Franz H. B. , Mangold N. , Chipera S. J. , Wiens R. C. , Frydenvang J. , Schröder S.
Published: July 2018

Silica enrichments resulting in up to ~90 wt% SiO2 have been observed by the Curiosity rover's instruments in Gale crater, Mars, within the Murray and Stimson formations. Samples acquired by the rover drill revealed a significant abundance of an X‐ray amorphous silica phase. Laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) highlights an overall correlation of the hydrogen signal with silica content for these Si‐enriched targets. The increased hydration of the high‐silica rocks compared to the surrounding bedrock is also confirmed by active neutron spectroscopy. Laboratory LIBS experiments have been performed to calibrate the hydrogen signal and show that the correlation observed on Mars is consistent with a silica phase containing on average 6.3 ± 1.4 wt% water. X‐ray diffraction and LIBS measurements indicate that opal‐A, amorphous hydrated silica, is the most likely phase containing this water in the rocks. Pyrolysis experiments were also performed on drilled samples by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument to measure volatile content, but the data suggests that most of the water was released during handling prior to pyrolysis. The inferred low‐temperature release of water helps constrain the nature of the opal. Given the geological context and the spatial association with other phases such as calcium sulfates, the opal was likely formed from multiple diagenetic fluid events and possibly represents the latest significant water‐rock interaction in these sedimentary rocks.
A Southwest Pacific Perspective on Long‐Term Global Trends in Pliocene‐Pleistocene Stable Isotope Records
Authors: Patterson M. O. , McKay R. , Naish T. , Bostock H. C. , Dunbar R. , Ohneiser C. , Woodard S. C. , Wilson G. , Caballero‐Gill R.
Published: July 2018

Continuous stable isotope records from marine sediment cores spanning the Pliocene have been used to assess the oceans' response to major perturbations in the climate system as the oceans play an integral role in regulating the global distribution of heat and gases. The Early to mid‐Pliocene has previously been characterized as a time of relative warmth followed by Late Pliocene Southern Hemisphere cooling and bipolar glaciation at ~2.7 Ma. Previous studies have predominantly focused on the Atlantic and Equatorial Pacific Oceans. In this study, we extended the deep water benthic foraminifera stable isotope record from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1123 in the southwest Pacific, back to the warm Early Pliocene. This is a high‐latitude site at the gateway where the abyssal waters enter the Pacific Ocean and provides information about the connection between the Southern Ocean and the Pacific. We identify a dichotomy between the deep southwest Pacific and South Atlantic δ13C records spanning the mid‐Pliocene and suggest that this is most likely the result of variations in the relative contributions of Northern versus Southern Hemisphere deep waters to the different basins. At 3.6 Ma, δ13C values start to decrease; this is interpreted to represent alteration in preformed values as a result of increased remineralization of carbon caused by a reduction in deep ocean ventilation in the Southern Ocean. This is likely the consequence of a greater extent and seasonal duration of sea ice in the Southern Ocean from Antarctic Ice Sheet expansion and cooling.
Spatial Correlation of Contact Angle and Curvature in Pore‐Space Images
Authors: AlRatrout Ahmed , Blunt Martin J. , Bijeljic Branko
Published: July 2018

We study the in situ distributions of contact angle and oil/brine interface curvature measured within millimeter‐sized rock samples from a producing hydrocarbon carbonate reservoir imaged after waterflooding using X‐ray microtomography. We analyze their spatial correlation combining automated methods for measuring contact angles and interfacial curvature (AlRatrout et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.07.018), with a recently developed method for pore‐network extraction (Raeini et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.96.013312). The automated methods allow us to study image volumes of diameter approximately 1.9 mm and 1.2 mm long, obtaining hundreds of thousands of values from a data set with 435 million voxels. We calculate the capillary pressure based on the mode oil/brine interface curvature value and associate this value with a nearby throat in the pore space. We demonstrate the capability of our methods to distinguish different wettability states in the samples studied: water‐wet, weakly oil‐wet, and mixed‐wet. The contact angle and oil/brine interface curvature are spatially correlated over approximately the scale of an average pore. There is a wide distribution of contact angles within a single pore. A range of local oil/brine interface curvature is found with both positive and negative values. There is a correlation between interfacial curvature and contact angle in trapped ganglia, with ganglia in water‐wet patches tending to have a positive curvature and oil‐wet regions seeing negative curvature. We observed a weak correlation between average contact angle and pore size, with the larger pores tending to be more oil‐wet.