bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large field-induced-strain at high temperature in ternary ferroelectric crystals
Authors: Wang Yaojin , Chen Lijun , Yuan Guoliang , Luo Haosu , Li Jiefang , Viehland D.
Published: October 2016

The new generation of ternary Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 ferroelectric single crystals have potential applications in high power devices due to their surperior operational stability relative to the binary system. In this work, a reversible, large electric field induced strain of over 0.9% at room temperature, and in particular over 0.6% above 380 K was obtained. The polarization rotation path and the phase transition sequence of different compositions in these ternary systems have been determined with increasing electric field applied along [001] direction based on x-ray diffraction data. Thereafter, composition dependence of field-temperature phase diagrams were constructed, which provide compositional and thermal prospectus for the electromechanical properties. It was found the structural origin of the large stain, especially at higher temperature is the lattice parameters modulated by dual independent variables in composition of these ternary solid solution crystals.
Quadratic function between arterial partial oxygen pressure and mortality risk in sepsis patients: an interaction with simplified acute physiology score
Authors: Zhang Zhongheng , Ji Xuqing
Published: October 2016

Oxygen therapy is widely used in emergency and critical care settings, while there is little evidence on its real therapeutic effect. The study aimed to explore the impact of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) on clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis. A large clinical database was employed for the study. Subjects meeting the diagnostic criteria of sepsis were eligible for the study. All measurements of PaO2 were extracted. The primary endpoint was death from any causes during hospital stay. Survey data analysis was performed by using individual ICU admission as the primary sampling unit. Quadratic function was assumed for PaO2 and its interaction with other covariates were explored. A total of 199,125 PaO2 samples were identified for 11,002 ICU admissions. Each ICU stay comprised 18 PaO2 samples in average. The fitted multivariable model supported our hypothesis that the effect of PaO2 on mortality risk was in quadratic form. There was significant interaction between PaO2 and SAPS-I (p = 0.007). Furthermore, the main effect of PaO2 on SOFA score was nonlinear. The study shows that the effect of PaO2 on mortality risk is in quadratic function form, and there is significant interaction between PaO2 and severity of illness.
Tetrameric structure of the restriction DNA glycosylase R.PabI in complex with nonspecific double-stranded DNA
Authors: Wang Delong , Miyazono Ken-ichi , Tanokura Masaru
Published: October 2016

R.PabI is a type II restriction enzyme that recognizes the 5′-GTAC-3′ sequence and belongs to the HALFPIPE superfamily. Although most restriction enzymes cleave phosphodiester bonds at specific sites by hydrolysis, R.PabI flips the guanine and adenine bases of the recognition sequence out of the DNA helix and hydrolyzes the N-glycosidic bond of the flipped adenine in a similar manner to DNA glycosylases. In this study, we determined the structure of R.PabI in complex with double-stranded DNA without the R.PabI recognition sequence by X-ray crystallography. The 1.9 Å resolution structure of the complex showed that R.PabI forms a tetrameric structure to sandwich the double-stranded DNA and the tetrameric structure is stabilized by four salt bridges. DNA binding and DNA glycosylase assays of the R.PabI mutants showed that the residues that form the salt bridges (R70 and D71) are essential for R.PabI to find the recognition sequence from the sea of nonspecific sequences. R.PabI is predicted to utilize the tetrameric structure to bind nonspecific double-stranded DNA weakly and slide along it to find the recognition sequence.
Novelty during a late postacquisition time window attenuates the persistence of fear memory
Authors: Katche Cynthia , Tomaiuolo Micol , Dorman Guido , Medina Jorge H. , Viola Haydee
Published: October 2016

Learning to avoid threats in the environment is highly adaptive. However, sometimes a dysregulation of fear memories processing may underlie fear-related disorders. Despite recent advances, a major question of how to effectively attenuate persistent fear memories in a safe manner remains unresolved. Here we show experiments employing a behavioural tool to target a specific time window after training to limit the persistence of a fear memory in rats. We observed that exposure to a novel environment 11 h after an inhibitory avoidance (IA) training that induces a long-lasting memory, attenuates the durability of IA memory but not its formation. This effect is time-restricted and not seen when the environment is familiar. In addition, novelty-induced attenuation of IA memory durability is prevented by the intrahippocampal infusion of the CaMKs inhibitor KN-93. This new behavioural approach which targets a specific time window during late memory consolidation, might represent a new tool for reducing the durability of persistent fear memories.
Modelling Methane Production and Sulfate Reduction in Anaerobic Granular Sludge Reactor with Ethanol as Electron Donor
Authors: Sun Jing , Dai Xiaohu , Wang Qilin , Pan Yuting , Ni Bing-Jie
Published: October 2016

In this work, a mathematical model based on growth kinetics of microorganisms and substrates transportation through biofilms was developed to describe methane production and sulfate reduction with ethanol being a key electron donor. The model was calibrated and validated using experimental data from two case studies conducted in granule-based Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactors. The results suggest that the developed model could satisfactorily describe methane and sulfide productions as well as ethanol and sulfate removals in both systems. The modeling results reveal a stratified distribution of methanogenic archaea, sulfate-reducing bacteria and fermentative bacteria in the anaerobic granular sludge and the relative abundances of these microorganisms vary with substrate concentrations. It also indicates sulfate-reducing bacteria can successfully outcompete fermentative bacteria for ethanol utilization when COD/SO42− ratio reaches 0.5. Model simulation suggests that an optimal granule diameter for the maximum methane production efficiency can be achieved while the sulfate reduction efficiency is not significantly affected by variation in granule size. It also indicates that the methane production and sulfate reduction can be affected by ethanol and sulfate loading rates, and the microbial community development stage in the reactor, which provided comprehensive insights into the system for its practical operation.
Purine and pyrimidine metabolism: Convergent evidence on chronic antidepressant treatment response in mice and humans
Authors: Park Dong Ik , Dournes Carine , Sillaber Inge , Uhr Manfred , Asara John M. , Gassen Nils C. , Rein Theo , Ising Marcus , Webhofer Christian , Filiou Michaela D. , Müller Marianne B. , Turck Christoph W.
Published: October 2016

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used drugs for the treatment of psychiatric diseases including major depressive disorder (MDD). For unknown reasons a substantial number of patients do not show any improvement during or after SSRI treatment. We treated DBA/2J mice for 28 days with paroxetine and assessed their behavioral response with the forced swim test (FST). Paroxetine-treated long-time floating (PLF) and paroxetine-treated short-time floating (PSF) groups were stratified as proxies for drug non-responder and responder mice, respectively. Proteomics and metabolomics profiles of PLF and PSF groups were acquired for the hippocampus and plasma to identify molecular pathways and biosignatures that stratify paroxetine-treated mouse sub-groups. The critical role of purine and pyrimidine metabolisms for chronic paroxetine treatment response in the mouse was further corroborated by pathway protein expression differences in both mice and patients that underwent chronic antidepressant treatment. The integrated -omics data indicate purine and pyrimidine metabolism pathway activity differences between PLF and PSF mice. Furthermore, the pathway protein levels in peripheral specimens strongly correlated with the antidepressant treatment response in patients. Our results suggest that chronic SSRI treatment differentially affects purine and pyrimidine metabolisms, which may explain the heterogeneous antidepressant treatment response and represents a potential biosignature.
Colorimetric Biosensors for Bacterial Detection
Authors: Suaifan G. A. R. Y.
Published: October 2016

For thousands of years, humans have suffered from food poisoning as a result of microbial contamination. Pathogenic microbes can cause numerous illnesses, from minor skin infections to life-threatening diseases. Conventional detection techniques are often time-consuming, requiring trained personnel, sophisticated instruments, and long processing times, making their online implementation impossible for control of biomedical problems. Thus, new types of highly sensitive, selective, low-cost, and nanostructured biosensors are being developed, capable of detecting microbial pathogens in a variety of fields (e.g., clinical diagnostics, food analysis, and environmental monitoring). These methods use nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, graphene, graphene oxides, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanowires/nanorods, plasmonic nanostructures, and photonic crystals in the construction of colorimetric biosensor sensing platforms. This chapter describes pioneering work in the development of colorimetric biosensors capable of detecting microbial pathogens qualitatively and quantitatively.
Colored spectrum characteristics of thermal noise on the molecular scale
Authors: Zhu Zhi , Sheng Nan , Fang Haiping , Wan Rongzheng
Published: October 2016

The power spectrum of thermal noise for polar molecules in water manifests 1/fspectral characteristics.
Spin-state diversity in a series of Co(ii) PNP pincer bromide complexes
Authors: Shaffer David W. , Bhowmick Indrani , Rheingold Arnold L. , Tsay Charlene , Livesay Brooke N. , Shores Matthew P. , Yang Jenny Y.
Published: October 2016

We describe the structural and electronic impacts of modifying the bridging atom in a family of Co(ii) pincer complexes with the formula Co(t-Bu)2PEPyEP(t-Bu)2Br2 (Py = pyridine, E = CH2, NH, and O for compounds 1–3, respectively).
DFT study of the formation mechanism of anthraquinone from the reaction of NO2 and anthracene on NaCl clusters: the role of NaNO3
Authors: Luo Chao , Yu Qiming , Wang Hongming
Published: October 2016

NaNO3 is able to oxidize anthracene and plays a catalytic role in the reaction process.
Bromide anion-triggered visible responsive metallogels based on squaramide complexes
Authors: Wu Di , Jiang Ruyong , Luo Liang , He Zhen , You Jingsong
Published: October 2016

Raman spectroscopy is applied to gain insight into the gelation mechanism of metallogels.
Low-dimensional materials facilitate the conjugation between fluorogenic boronic acids and saccharides
Authors: Guo Shi , Chen Jie , Cai Bi-Ying , Chen Wen-Wen , Li Yu-Fei , Sun Xiaolong , Chen Guo-Rong , He Xiao-Peng , James Tony D.
Published: October 2016

We show that low-dimensional materials enhance the conjugation between fluorogenic phenylboronic acids and saccharides.
Amorphous nanosized Al–Ti–Mn trimetal hydrous oxides: synthesis, characterization and enhanced performance in arsenic removal
Authors: Thanh Dong Nguyen , Bastl Zdeněk , Černá Karla , Ulbrich Pavel , Lederer Jaromír
Published: October 2016

Arsenite oxidation and arsenate adsorption on surface of amorphous nanosized Al–Ti–Mn trimetal hydrous oxides.
Preparation of Pickering emulsions with short, medium and long chain triacylglycerols stabilized by starch nanocrystals and their in vitro digestion properties
Authors: Liang Rong , Jiang Yanwei , Yokoyama Wally , Yang Cheng , Cao Guangqun , Zhong Fang
Published: October 2016

In vitrodigestion fate of food-grade Pickering emulsions stabilized by starch nanocrystals were varied by incorporating short, medium and long chain triacylglycerols.
Heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites for enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of spiro-OMeTAD-based solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Yan Haoran , Tian Xin , Pang Yongxin , Feng Bo , Duan Ke , Zhou Zuowan , Weng Jie , Wang Jianxin
Published: October 2016

In this study, solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (ss-DSSCs) were fabricated with g-C3N4 and Ag co-modified TiO2 nanoparticles as photoanode materials.
Experimental investigation of sulfite oxidation enhancement in a micro-pore aeration system
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zheng Cheng-hang , Zhang Yong-xin , Xu Zhe-wei , Wang Li , Li Cun-jie , Gao Xiang
Published: October 2016

Seawater wet flue gas desulfurization is a promising process for coal-fired power plants.
Ultrafine Pt nanoparticle decoration with CoP as highly active electrocatalyst for alcohol oxidation
Authors: Xiao Xin , Huang Dekang , Luo Yanping , Li Man , Wang Mingkui , Shen Yan
Published: October 2016

Ultrafine Pt nanoparticles decorated with CoP provide a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for alcohol oxidation.
Copolymerization and phase separation behaviors of benzoxazine–amine thermosets
Authors: Xu YaZhen , Wang Jun , Fu FeiYa , Liu XiangDong
Published: October 2016

A benzoxazine/amine mixture exhibits phase separation in its cured resin through competitive copolymerization paths.
A general strategy for colloidal stable ultrasmall amorphous mineral clusters in organic solvents
Authors: Sun Shengtong , Gebauer Denis , Cölfen Helmut
Published: October 2016

A general gas diffusion strategy using 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid as a ligand and ethanol as a solvent was developed to fabricate stable amorphous mineral clusters with a core size of less than 2 nm.
Metabolomics as a tool to evaluate the toxicity of formulations containing amphotericin B, an antileishmanial drug
Authors: Santos Délia C. M. , Lima Marta L. , Toledo Juliano S. , Fernandes Paula A. , Aguiar Marta M. G. , López-Gonzálvez Ángeles , Ferreira Lucas A. M. , Fernandes Ana Paula , Barbas Coral
Published: October 2016

Metabolomics detects metabolic alterations associated with early AmB-induced nephrotoxicity and differences were observed by comparing conventional AmB (C-AmB) and AmB-loaded NE.
Bioassay of prion-infected blood plasma in PrP transgenic Drosophila
Authors: Thackray Alana M. , Andreoletti Olivier , Bujdoso Raymond
Published: October 2016

In pursuit of a tractable bioassay to assess blood prion infectivity, we have generated prion protein (PrP) transgenic Drosophila, which show a neurotoxic phenotype in adulthood after exposure to exogenous prions at the larval stage. Here, we determined the sensitivity of ovine PrP transgenic Drosophila to ovine prion infectivity by exposure of these flies to a dilution series of scrapie-infected sheep brain homogenate. Ovine PrP transgenic Drosophila showed a significant neurotoxic response to dilutions of 10−2 to 10−10 of the original scrapie-infected sheep brain homogenate. Significantly, we determined that this prion-induced neurotoxic response in ovine PrP transgenic Drosophila was transmissible to ovine PrP transgenic mice, which is indicative of authentic mammalian prion detection by these flies. As a consequence, we considered that PrP transgenic Drosophila were sufficiently sensitive to exogenous mammalian prions to be capable of detecting prion infectivity in the blood of scrapie-infected sheep. To test this hypothesis, we exposed ovine PrP transgenic Drosophila to scrapie-infected plasma, a blood fraction notoriously difficult to assess by conventional prion bioassays. Notably, pre-clinical plasma from scrapie-infected sheep induced neurotoxicity in PrP transgenic Drosophila and this effect was more pronounced after exposure to samples collected at the clinical phase of disease. The neurotoxic phenotype in ovine PrP transgenic Drosophila induced by plasma from scrapie-infected sheep was transmissible since head homogenate from these flies caused neurotoxicity in recipient flies during fly-to-fly transmission. Our data show that PrP transgenic Drosophila can be used successfully to bioassay prion infectivity in blood from a prion-diseased mammalian host.
Indoor user navigation for CA in LTE‐advanced
Authors: Wang Chiapin , Fang Shih‐Hau , Kuo Wen‐Hsing , Wu Hsiao‐Chun
Published: October 2016

In this study, the authors tackle the problem of carrier aggregation (CA) in downlink of long‐term evolution advanced (LTE‐A) femtocell networks. They propose a novel approach in a new perspective: namely, user navigation, to improve the CA performance of an LTE‐A system in the indoor environment. The proposed indoor user navigation (IUN) algorithm exploits the a priori knowledge of radio interferences between femtocells to build a geometric quality‐of‐service (QoS) map, which can be utilised to navigate users toward the locations suitable for performing CA to satisfy the QoS requirements. The simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed IUN algorithm to improve the CA performance in terms of the aggregate throughput for the LTE‐A femtocell networks.
Adaptive quantised observer‐based output feedback control for non‐linear systems with input and output quantisation
Authors: Guo Xiang‐Gui , Wang Jian‐Liang , Liao Fang
Published: October 2016

This study investigates the case of simultaneous input and output quantisation for a class of non‐linear output feedback systems subject to uncertain non‐linear dynamics and non‐zero initial states. An adaptive quantised observer‐based output feedback controller is designed to guarantee bounded stability and H∞ performance despite input and output quantisation. In comparison with the existing work, the main contributions of this study are that: (i) an important lemma is proposed to remove the matrix equality constraint used in many existing results, and three new design methods in strict terms of linear matrix inequality techniques are proposed; (ii) this study focuses on eliminating the impact of both input and output quantisation errors. Since the impact of input and output quantisation errors cannot be fully eliminated, the estimation error is proved to be ultimately bounded and to converge to a residual set; and (iii) an adaptive compensation term is constructed to compensate for the time‐variant effects caused by non‐linear dynamics and uncertain parameter vectors. Finally, two numerical examples are given to show the efficacy and advantages of the proposed methods.
Economic scheduling model of microgrid considering the lifetime of batteries
Authors: Liu Chunyang , Wang Xiuli , Wu Xiong , Guo Jingli
Published: October 2016

Because of the uncertainty of renewable energy generation and load, batteries as energy storage devices play an important role in ensuring the safety and reliability of microgrid. To take full advantage of the batteries, the battery lifetime characteristics are analysed, and a weighted Wh throughput method is proposed to estimate the battery lifetime. To improve the economy of microgrid, an economic scheduling model of microgrid in grid‐connected mode is established with the consideration of battery lifetime. For fast and efficiently solving the model, a technique is developed to convert the optimisation problem into a mixed integer linear programming problem and a mixed integer linear programming algorithm is applied to solve it. The proposed method has been validated on a microgrid, which consists of a wind turbine, a photovoltaic system, a micro turbine, a fuel cell, a diesel engine and a battery energy storage system (BESS). The simulation results show that the BESS is managed rationally and the total operation cost of microgrid over scheduling period is decreased by applying the proposed scheduling method.
Three‐dimensional separate descendant‐based SPIHT algorithm for fast compression of high‐resolution medical image sequences
Authors: Song Xiaoying , Huang Qijun , Chang Sheng , He Jin , Wang Hao
Published: October 2016

To provide a fast compression algorithm for high‐resolution medical image sequences, an efficient three‐dimensional (3D) separate descendant‐based (SBD) set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) algorithm (3D SDB‐SPIHT) is proposed in this study. To accelerate the transformation, 3D integer wavelet transform is used first. Based on an efficient spatial–temporal tree structure, which is designed for the transformed coefficients, the authors propose a fast coding scheme by separating the descendant set into offspring set and leaves set. The proposed algorithm has more selectivity in deciding the scanning and coding of the descendant sets and hence the coding time is accelerated. Experimental results demonstrate that 3D SDB‐SPIHT compresses medical images faster compared with traditional 3D SPIHT and other variations of 3D SPIHT.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy and Percutaneous Angiography: The Diuturnity of Sven-Ivar Seldinger of Mora, Pasquale Ciaglia of Utica
Authors: Pollock Richard A.
Published: October 2016

In the latter part of the 20th century, three developments intersected: skin-to-artery catheterization, percutaneous tracheostomy, and market introduction of video-chip camera-tipped endoscopes. By the millennium, every vessel within the body could be visualized radiographically, and percutaneous tracheostomy (with tracheal-ring “dilation,” flawless high-resolution intratracheal video-imagery, and tracheal intubation) could consistently be achieved at the patient's bedside. Initiated through the skin and abetted by guide-wire insertion, these procedures are the lasting gifts of Sven-Ivar Seldinger (1921–1998) of Mora, Sweden, and Pasquale Ciaglia (1912–2000) of Utica, New York. Physicians and surgeons managing intracranial, craniofacial, and maxillofacial injury are among those honoring the Seldinger–Ciaglia “collaboration.”
Plasmonic silicon solar cell comprised of aluminum nanoparticles: Effect of nanoparticles' self-limiting native oxide shell on optical and electrical properties
Authors: Parashar Piyush K. , Sharma R. P. , Komarala Vamsi K.
Published: October 2016

The aluminum nanoparticles' (Al NPs) morphology is optimized initially, for maximum light confinement into a silicon substrate. With self-limiting native oxide shell on the Al NPs after ageing, the maximum photocurrent enhancement (from 26.89 to 29.21 mA/cm2) from a silicon solar cell is observed as compared to the bare cell, in surface plasmon resonance and off-resonance regions due to improved light forward scattering, with no occurrence of Fano resonances. Related to the electrical properties of the plasmonic device, an increase in fill factor (from 56.11 to 62.58) and a decrease in series resistance (from 1.80 Ω to 1.24 Ω) are also observed after the oxide layer formation on Al NPs. The passive partial dielectric oxide layer at the interface helped in electrical passivation by reducing lateral resistance to current flow along the plane of the interface. A finite-element method is also adapted to calculate spatial and angular radiative dipole field distributions for the experimentally optimized Al NPs' size on a silicon substrate, without and with oxide inclusion in NPs for explaining the plasmonic device performance enhancement. With oxide inclusion, Al NPs' dipole field exhibited a large shift towards a silicon due to the modified dielectric environment as compared to without oxide. Bruggeman effective medium theory (for dielectric response) is also used to explain the results with the modification in peak radiative power, spectral field distribution, and spatial and angular radiative dipole field distributions of Al NPs with oxide inclusion in Al.
Modeling the relaxation of internal DNA segments during genome mapping in nanochannels
Authors: Jain Aashish , Sheats Julian , Reifenberger Jeffrey G. , Cao Han , Dorfman Kevin D.
Published: October 2016

We have developed a multi-scale model describing the dynamics of internal segments of DNA in nanochannels used for genome mapping. In addition to the channel geometry, the model takes as its inputs the DNA properties in free solution (persistence length, effective width, molecular weight, and segmental hydrodynamic radius) and buffer properties (temperature and viscosity). Using pruned-enriched Rosenbluth simulations of a discrete wormlike chain model with circa 10 base pair resolution and a numerical solution for the hydrodynamic interactions in confinement, we convert these experimentally available inputs into the necessary parameters for a one-dimensional, Rouse-like model of the confined chain. The resulting coarse-grained model resolves the DNA at a length scale of approximately 6 kilobase pairs in the absence of any global hairpin folds, and is readily studied using a normal-mode analysis or Brownian dynamics simulations. The Rouse-like model successfully reproduces both the trends and order of magnitude of the relaxation time of the distance between labeled segments of DNA obtained in experiments. The model also provides insights that are not readily accessible from experiments, such as the role of the molecular weight of the DNA and location of the labeled segments that impact the statistical models used to construct genome maps from data acquired in nanochannels. The multi-scale approach used here, while focused towards a technologically relevant scenario, is readily adapted to other channel sizes and polymers.
The effects of rearing diet, sex and age on the fatty acid profile of Chios lambs
Authors: Tsiplakou E. , Papadomichelakis G. , Sparaggis D. , Sotirakoglou K. , Georgiadou M. , Zervas G.
Published: October 2016

A total of 40 lambs of Chios breed were used to determine the effect of rearing system, sex and age on the fatty acid (FA) profile of M. semimembranosus proprius (SP), M. longissimus dorsii (LD) and M. triceps brachii (TB). The lambs were assigned into two groups balanced for bodyweight and sex. The first group (n = 20) underwent natural rearing (natural) and received only maternal milk until weaning. The second group (n = 20) weaned at birth and subjected to artificial suckling (artificial) with a commercial milk replacer. At 35 days of age, 10 animals from each group were weighed and slaughtered. The remaining lambs of both groups, after weaning were fed daily 100 g barley hay per animal and a commercial concentrate diet ad libitum up to 90 days of age, where they were also weighed and slaughtered. The results showed that the FA profile of lamb muscles was related with that of suckled milk (natural or artificial). Sex did not affect the FA profile, whereas the increase in the slaughtered age lead to changes in the FA profile of lamb muscles (SP, LD, TB). In conclusion, both rearing system and age change the FA profile of lamb muscles, but not in the same manner in all of them (SP, LD, TB).
Electro-plastic effect on tensile deformation behaviour and microstructural mechanism of AZ31B alloy
Authors: Bao W. , Chu X. , Lin S. , Gao J.
Published: October 2016

The influences of electropulse on mechanical properties of AZ31B alloy were investigated by the electro-plastic (EP) tensile tests. The results show that the flow stress decreases with the increase of the root mean square (RMS) current density, while the elongation to fracture almost remains unchanged after it reaches a certain value. The higher peak current density can lead to a more potent EP effect when the RMS current density remains approximate. The results of microstructure analysis indicate that, the electropulse can reduce the dynamic recrystallisation temperature and promote the grain boundary sliding. The inverse eutectic reaction ( α +  β = L) will take place at the necking zone under high electropulse, which can optimise the deformation mechanism before the liquid phase is too much.
Localisation of plastic deformation in friction stir and electron beam copper welds
Authors: Forsström A. , Luumi L. , Bossuyt S. , Hänninen H.
Published: October 2016

Optical strain measurement through digital image correlation during tensile testing was utilised to study the effect of strain rate and welding defects on localisation of plastic deformation in friction stir welded and electron beam welded phosphorous-alloyed oxygen-free copper. Welds cut from full-size nuclear waste copper canisters and additionally made defective welds were studied. Optical strain measurement represents a new way of studying deformation of materials and obtaining local material data. The data was used to construct strain maps and estimate local true stress–strain curves. Using Gini coefficients to quantify strain localisation, it appears that the lower strain rate resulted in slightly faster localisation of plastic deformation with lower stress level.
A novel function for the MAP kinase SMA-5 in intestinal tube stability
Authors: Geisler Florian , Gerhardus Harald , Carberry Katrin , Davis Wayne , Jorgensen Erik , Richardson Christine , Bossinger Olaf , Leube Rudolf E.
Published: October 2016

Intermediate filaments are major cytoskeletal components whose assembly into complex networks and isotype-specific functions are still largely unknown. Caenorhabditis elegans provides an excellent model system to study intermediate filament organization and function in vivo. Its intestinal intermediate filaments localize exclusively to the endotube, a circumferential sheet just below the actin-based terminal web. A genetic screen for defects in the organization of intermediate filaments identified a mutation in the catalytic domain of the MAP kinase 7 orthologue sma-5(kc1). In sma-5(kc1) mutants, pockets of lumen penetrate the cytoplasm of the intestinal cells. These membrane hernias increase over time without affecting epithelial integrity and polarity. A more pronounced phenotype was observed in the deletion allele sma-5( n678) and in intestine-specific sma-5(RNAi). Besides reduced body length, an increased time of development, reduced brood size, and reduced life span were observed in the mutants, indicating compromised food uptake. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that the luminal pockets include the subapical cytoskeleton and coincide with local thinning and gaps in the endotube that are often enlarged in other regions. Increased intermediate filament phosphorylation was detected by two-dimensional immunoblotting, suggesting that loss of SMA-5 function leads to reduced intestinal tube stability due to altered intermediate filament network phosphorylation.
The residue at position 5 of the N-terminal region of Src and Fyn modulates their myristoylation, palmitoylation, and membrane interactions
Authors: Gottlieb-Abraham Efrat , Gutman Orit , Pai Govind M. , Rubio Ignacio , Henis Yoav I.
Published: October 2016

The interactions of Src family kinases (SFKs) with the plasma membrane are crucial for their activity. They depend on their fatty-acylated N-termini, containing N-myristate and either a polybasic cluster (in Src) or palmitoylation sites (e.g., Fyn). To investigate the roles of these moieties in SFK membrane association, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching beam-size analysis to study the membrane interactions of c-Src-GFP (green fluorescent protein) or Fyn-GFP fatty-acylation mutants. Our studies showed for the first time that the membrane association of Fyn is more stable than that of Src, an effect lost in a Fyn mutant lacking the palmitoylation sites. Unexpectedly, Src-S3C/S6C (containing cysteines at positions 3/6, which are palmitoylated in Fyn) exhibited fast cytoplasmic diffusion insensitive to palmitoylation inhibitors, suggesting defective fatty acylation. Further replacement of the charged Lys-5 by neutral Gln to resemble Fyn (Src-S3C/S6C/K5Q) restored Fyn-like membrane interactions, indicating that Lys-5 in the context of Src-S3C/S6C interferes with its myristoylation/palmitoylation. This was validated by direct myristoylation and palmitoylation studies, which indicated that the residue at position 5 regulates the membrane interactions of Src versus Fyn. Moreover, the palmitoylation levels correlated with targeting to detergent-resistant membranes (rafts) and to caveolin-1. Palmitoylation-dependent preferential containment of Fyn in rafts may contribute to its lower transformation potential.
Efficient detection of differentially methylated regions using DiMmeR
Authors: Almeida Diogo , Skov Ida , Silva Artur , Vandin Fabio , Tan Qihua , Röttger Richard , Baumbach Jan
Published: October 2016

Motivation

Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) generate big epidemiological datasets. They aim for detecting differentially methylated DNA regions that are likely to influence transcriptional gene activity and, thus, the regulation of metabolic processes. The by far most widely used technology is the Illumina Methylation BeadChip, which measures the methylation levels of 450 (850) thousand cytosines, in the CpG dinucleotide context in a set of patients compared to a control group. Many bioinformatics tools exist for raw data analysis. However, most of them require some knowledge in the programming language R, have no user interface, and do not offer all necessary steps to guide users from raw data all the way down to statistically significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and the associated genes.

Results

Here, we present DiMmeR (Discovery of Multiple Differentially Methylated Regions), the first free standalone software that interactively guides with a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) scientists the whole way through EWAS data analysis. It offers parallelized statistical methods for efficiently identifying DMRs in both Illumina 450K and 850K EPIC chip data. DiMmeR computes empirical P-values through randomization tests, even for big datasets of hundreds of patients and thousands of permutations within a few minutes on a standard desktop PC. It is independent of any third-party libraries, computes regression coefficients, P-values and empirical P-values, and it corrects for multiple testing.

Availability and Implementation

DiMmeR is publicly available at http://dimmer.compbio.sdu.dk.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Atrial fibrillation septal pacing: translation of modelling results
Authors: Luca Adrian , Kallmyer Todd , Virag Nathalie
Published: October 2016

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) septal pacing consists of rapid pacing from a ring of electrodes around the atrial septum, leading to local capture of both atria during AF. The present model-based study evaluated the impact of the number of stimulation electrodes in the septal ring on AF capture for different types of sustained AF dynamics.

Methods and results

Using a biophysical model of AF based on CT scans from an AF patient, models with different AF substrates (Cholinergic AF and Meandering Wavelets) were created by varying the atrial membrane kinetics. Rapid pacing was applied from the septum area with a ring of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12 electrodes during 20 seconds at a pacing cycle lengths (PCLs) in the range 60–100% of AF cycle length (AFCL), in 4% steps. Percentage of captured tissue during rapid pacing was determined using 24 sensing electrode pairs evenly distributed on the atrial surface. Results were averaged over 10 AF simulations. For Cholinergic AF, the number of stimulation electrodes on the septal ring had no significant impact on AF capture independently of AF dynamics. For Meandering Wavelets, more electrodes were needed to achieve AF capture in the presence of complex AF.

Conclusion

Changes in AF substrate significantly impacted septal pacing outcomes and response to rapid AF pacing may similarly vary patient-to-patient. The number of stimulation electrodes had a lesser impact, suggesting that the design of a ring with 3–4 electrodes around the septum would be sufficient for most AF dynamics.
Analysis of genes involved in the PI3K/Akt pathway in radiation- and MNU-induced rat mammary carcinomas
Authors: Showler Kaye , Nishimura Mayumi , Daino Kazuhiro , Imaoka Tatsuhiko , Nishimura Yukiko , Morioka Takamitsu , Blyth Benjamin J. , Kokubo Toshiaki , Takabatake Masaru , Fukuda Maki , Moriyama Hitomi , Kakinuma Shizuko , Fukushi Masahiro , Shimada Yoshiya
Published: October 2016

The PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the most important signaling networks in human breast cancer, and since it was potentially implicated in our preliminary investigations of radiation-induced rat mammary carcinomas, our aim here was to verify its role. We included mammary carcinomas induced by the chemical carcinogen 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea to determine whether any changes were radiation-specific. Most carcinomas from both groups showed activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, but phosphorylation of AKT1 was often heterogeneous and only present in a minority of carcinoma cells. The negative pathway regulator Inpp4b was significantly downregulated in both groups, compared with in normal mammary tissue, and radiation-induced carcinomas also showed a significant decrease in Pten expression, while the chemically induced carcinomas showed a decrease in Pik3r1 and Pdk1. Significant upregulation of the positive regulators Erbb2 and Pik3ca was observed only in chemically induced carcinomas. However, no genes showed clear correlations with AKT phosphorylation levels, except in individual carcinomas. Only rare carcinomas showed mutations in PI3K/AKT pathway genes, yet these carcinomas did not exhibit stronger AKT phosphorylation. Thus, while AKT phosphorylation is a common feature of rat mammary carcinomas induced by radiation or a canonical chemical carcinogen, the mutation of key genes in the pathways or permanent changes to gene expression of particular signaling proteins do not explain the pathway activation in the advanced cancers. Although AKT signaling likely facilitates cancer development and growth in rat mammary carcinomas, it is unlikely that permanent disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway genes is a major causal event in radiation carcinogenesis.
Tumor regression patterns by follow-up duration in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Kong Moonkyoo , Hong Seong Eon
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of tumor regression with respect to follow-up duration after chemoradiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A total of 27 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included and received definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Patterns of primary tumor regression and development of locoregional recurrences were evaluated by imaging studies every 1 to 2 months. Primary tumors gradually regressed over the period of follow-up. The median time to full regression was 4.9 months (range, 1.5–19.4). In 61.5% of patients, the primary tumor continued to regress for >4 months after completion of chemoradiotherapy. Six patients experienced locoregional recurrence during follow-up, all of which occurred after full regression of the primary tumor. A patient group with delayed regression did not have poorer prognosis than a patient group with early regression. Older age, non-current-smoker status, advanced T stage, and higher daily radiation dose were significantly associated with delayed primary tumor regression. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma continued to regress for >4 months after chemoradiotherapy in a considerable number of patients. We recommend waiting for >4 months for full regression of nasopharyngeal carcinomas after chemoradiotherapy, if signs of persistent or recurrent disease are not evident on follow-up examination.
The Role of Risk-Reducing Surgery in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hartmann Lynn C. , Lindor Noralane M.
Published: October 2016

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2016;374:454–468)

This review article addresses issues associated with the care of women in families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome who have not had cancer themselves. Issues addressed include optimal risk assessment for breast and ovarian cancers, the effectiveness of risk-reducing surgery, side effects of the procedures and alternative strategies for cancer prevention as well as the best ways to help with the decision-making process.
Gestational Alloimmune Liver Disease
Authors: Anastasio Hannah B. , Grundy Maureen , Birsner Meredith L. , Blakemore Karin J.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND:

Gestational alloimmune liver disease, a form of profound liver failure in the newborn, is the main underlying cause of the entity formerly known as neonatal hemochromatosis. Antepartum maternal intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been shown to prevent gestational alloimmune liver disease, which otherwise has a recurrence risk above 90% in subsequent pregnancies.

CASE:

A 30-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 0120, presented early in gestation. Her previous pregnancy had been complicated by fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, and ultimately fatal fulminant neonatal liver failure. With gestational alloimmune liver disease recognized as the primary diagnosis for the liver failure, we began maternal weekly IVIG therapy. She delivered a healthy newborn at term without evidence of hepatic dysfunction.

CONCLUSION:

Recognition of gestational alloimmune liver disease enables antepartum treatment that dramatically alters the course of disease.
Body Mass Index and the Spontaneous Onset of Parturition
Authors: Hermesch Amy C. , Allshouse Amanda A. , Heyborne Kent D.
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the onset of parturition throughout gestation.

METHODS:

This was a secondary analysis of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Preterm Prediction Study. Time-to-spontaneous-birth-event (ie, “survival”) methods were used to study the association of BMI with the timing of spontaneous onset of labor throughout gestation with indicated births censored at delivery. A Kaplan-Meier estimate of the probability of spontaneous labor was compared with a log rank test across five categories of BMI (kg/m2): underweight (less than 18.5), normal weight (18.5–24.99), preobese (25–29.99), obese I (30–34.99), and obese II+ (35 or greater). A proportional hazards model was estimated to compare time to spontaneous onset of labor adjusted for multiple variables known to be associated with the onset of labor.

RESULTS:

Normal-weight women (n=1,054) had a median delivery gestational age of 39 3/7 weeks. Obese II+ women (n=178) had a median delivery gestational age 5 days later than normal-weight women (P<.001). Delivery gestational age of preobese (n=866) and obese I (n=548) women was not significantly different from normal-weight women. Underweight women (n=41) had a median delivery gestational age 5 days earlier than normal-weight women (P<.001). Compared with women with normal BMIs, obese II+ women were significantly less likely and underweight women significantly more likely to enter spontaneous labor at all gestational ages. In the multivariable model, BMI was significantly associated with spontaneous onset of labor throughout pregnancy (BMI [five-unit] adjusted hazard ratio 0.874, 0.829–0.921).

CONCLUSION:

Body mass index is significantly associated with the likelihood of the spontaneous onset of labor at all gestational ages with gestational age at the time of delivery and BMI being inversely related. This novel observation unifies previous reports focusing on the association of overweight and underweight BMIs and preterm and postterm birth and may inform discussions surrounding elective induction of labor at term.
Safety of Outpatient Surgical Abortion for Obese Patients in the First and Second Trimesters
Authors: Benson Lyndsey S. , Micks Elizabeth A. , Ingalls Carly , Prager Sarah W.
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the relationship between obesity and surgical abortion complications in the outpatient setting.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 4,968 women undergoing surgical abortion at a large outpatient clinic network from September 2012 to July 2014. We used log-binomial regression to evaluate body mass index (BMI) as an independent risk factor for first- and second-trimester abortion complications. Body mass index was analyzed as both a continuous and categorical predictor. We assessed complications including need for uterine reaspiration (including same-day reaspiration), uterine perforation, cervical laceration, infection, emergency department visit or hospitalization, and excessive blood loss defined as estimated blood loss greater than or equal to 100 mL.

RESULTS:

The majority (77%) of procedures was performed in the first trimester. Forty-seven percent of women were normal weight or underweight, 28% were overweight, and 25% were obese, including 4% with BMI greater than or equal to 40. The overall complication rate was 1.7%; the most common complications were need for uterine reaspiration (1.0%) and excessive blood loss (0.6%). Obesity was not associated with increased risk of surgical complications, including when adjusting for age, gestational age, and history of prior cesarean delivery.

CONCLUSION:

In a high-volume outpatient abortion clinic with experienced health care providers, abortion is very safe. Obesity does not appear to be an independent predictor for abortion complications and should not be used in isolation to refer women to hospital-based facilities for abortion care in the first or second trimester.
Postpartum Blood Loss in Women Treated for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Authors: Furrer Romana , Winter Katharina , Schäffer Leonhard , Zimmermann Roland , Burkhardt Tilo , Haslinger Christian
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate postpartum blood loss in women with treated intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

METHODS:

In a retrospective case–control study, 15,083 deliveries including 348 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (2.3%) were analyzed from 2004 to 2014. To adjust for differences in baseline characteristics, a propensity analysis was performed and women in the control group were matched to the women in the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy group in a 5:1 ratio. Blood loss was analyzed by estimated blood loss and Δ hemoglobin (Hb, difference between prepartum and postpartum Hb). A subgroup analysis regarding severity of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy based on maximum bile acid level (mild [less than 40 micromoles/L], moderate [40–99 micromoles/L], and severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy [100 micromoles/L or greater]) was performed. Differences in estimated blood loss, ΔHb, and meconium staining between subgroups were analyzed. A Spearman rank correlation was performed to evaluate the association of bile acid levels and blood loss within subgroups.

RESULTS:

Estimated blood loss (median 400 [300–600] mL compared with 400 [300–600] mL, P=.22), ΔHb (14.0 [5.0–22.0] compared with 12.0 [4.0–21.0] g/L, P=.09), meconium staining (14.5% compared with 11.4%, P=.12), and number of stillbirths after 26 weeks of gestation (0.6% compared with 1.8%, P=.10) were not significantly different in the study compared with the control group. In moderate and severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, meconium staining was observed significantly more often compared with that in a control group (23.0% and 32.3% compared with 11.4%, P<.01). There was no correlation between estimated blood loss or ΔHb and severity of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS:

In our cohort of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy who are treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and have planned delivery (induction of labor or planned cesarean delivery) at 38 weeks of gestation, no differences in postpartum blood loss were seen.