bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs) based on covalent-grafting of [Zn2(MP)3(OAc)] into PVK
Authors: Fu Guorui , He Yani , Li Wentao , Miao Tiezheng , Lü Xingqiang , He Hongshan , Liu Li , Wong Wai-Yeung
Published: January 2020

Using [Zn2(MP)3(OAc)]-grafted polymer as a single emitting layer, record-high efficiencies and weak (ca. 25%) efficiency roll-off are realized for cost-effective and large-area flexible WPLEDs.
Double-stranded RNA and Toll-like receptor activation: a novel mechanism for blood pressure regulation
Authors: Dela Justina Vanessa , Giachini Fernanda R. , Priviero Fernanda , Webb R. Clinton
Published: January 2020

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), such as TLR4 and 9, recognize pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and are associated with increased blood pressure (BP). TLR3, residing in the endosomal compartment, is activated by viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) leading to activation of TIR receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF) dependent pathway. Besides foreign pathogens, the immune system responds to endogenous markers of cellular damage such as mitochondrial dsRNA (mtdsRNA). New evidence has shown a link between dsRNA and increased BP. Moreover, TLR3 activation during pregnancy was demonstrated to develop preeclampsia-like symptoms in both rats and mice. Hence, we hypothesize that the dsRNA derived from viral nucleic acids or cellular damage (mtdsRNA) will increase the inflammatory state through activation of TLR3, contributing to vascular dysfunction and increased BP. Therefore, inhibition of TLR3 could be a therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension with potential improvement in vascular reactivity and consequently, a decrease in BP.
Effects of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training on Videofluoroscopic Measures of Swallowing: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mancopes Renata , Smaoui Sana , Steele Catriona M.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is increasingly utilized in dysphagia rehabilitation; however, little is known about the effects of this approach on swallowing function or physiology. We conducted a systematic review to appraise and synthesize evidence regarding the effects of EMST on videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing in individuals with medical diagnoses, in which dysphagia is a concern.

Method

A literature search was conducted according to Cochrane guidelines. Of 292 nonduplicate articles, 11 were judged to be relevant for review. These underwent detailed review for study quality, risk of bias evaluation, and synthesis of swallowing outcomes.

Results

The selected articles described EMST in a variety of patient populations using either the EMST150 or the Phillips Threshold positive expiratory pressure device. The typical protocol involved five sets of five breaths through the device (25 breaths/day), 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Exercise loads were set between 50% and 75% depending on the population, and treatment was typically supervised by a clinician weekly. The Penetration–Aspiration Scale was the most commonly reported videofluoroscopic outcome measure. Conclusions differed as to whether or not swallowing improved following a course of EMST. Differences in videofluoroscopy protocols, methods of summarizing participant performance, and statistical approaches across studies meant that meta-analysis of swallowing outcomes could not be completed.

Conclusion

This review failed to find clear evidence regarding the effects of EMST on videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing. Heterogeneity in the etiologies and baseline severity of dysphagia across studies and in the methods used to measure swallowing outcomes was a particular barrier to data synthesis.
Self‐adaptive weighted synthesised local directional pattern integrating with sparse autoencoder for expression recognition based on improved multiple kernel learning strategy
Authors: Du Lingshuang , Wu Yongbo , Hu Haifeng , Wang Weixuan
Published: January 2020

This study presents a novel method for solving facial expression recognition (FER) tasks which uses a self‐adaptive weighted synthesised local directional pattern (SW‐SLDP) descriptor integrating sparse autoencoder (SA) features based on improved multiple kernel learning (IMKL) strategy. The authors’ work includes three parts. Firstly, the authors propose a novel SW‐SLDP feature descriptor which divides the facial images into patches and extracts sub‐block features synthetically according to both distribution information and directional intensity contrast. Then self‐adaptive weights are assigned to each sub‐block feature according to the projection error between the expressional image and neutral image of each patch, which can highlight such areas containing more expressional texture information. Secondly, to extract a discriminative high‐level feature, they introduce SA for feature representation, which extracts the hidden layer representation including more comprehensive information. Finally, to combine the above two kinds of features, an IMKL strategy is developed by effectively integrating both soft margin learning and intrinsic local constraints, which is robust to noisy condition and thus improve the classification performance. Extensive experimental results indicate their model can achieve competitive or even better performance with existing representative FER methods.
Lossless digital image watermarking in sparse domain by using K‐singular value decomposition algorithm
Authors: Deeba Farah , Kun She , Dharejo Fayaz Ali , Zhou Yuanchun
Published: January 2020

The crucial hurdle faced by the watermarking technique is to maintain the steadiness corresponding to several attacks while assisting a sufficient level of security. In this study, a robust lossless sparse domain‐based watermarking approach combined with discrete cosine transform (DCT) is introduced to hide the secret message in the selected significant sparse elements of the host image. The proposed method takes advantage of a sparse representation‐based dictionary learning process. To enhance the security of the original image, the authors first apply the DCT on a secret message. These DCT coefficients with some regularised parameters will be inserted into the selected significant sparse coefficients. At the extraction stage, the secret message is extracted from those significant sparse coefficients by employing the sparse domain orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm. Finally, the inverse DCT is applied to extract the secret message without any information loss. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, different commonly used attacks are simulated. Simulation results in terms of peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, structural similarity, normal correlation, and feature similarity indicate that the proposed method can recover the hidden secret message accurately against seven different types of attacks including speckle, Gaussian, salt and pepper, rotate, crop, fold, and blur attack.
Robust random walk for leaf segmentation
Authors: Hu Jing , Chen Zhibo , Zhang Rongguo , Yang Meng , Zhang Shuai
Published: January 2020

In this study, the authors focus on the task of leaf segmentation under different imaging conditions (e.g. backgrounds and shadows). A new method ‐ robust random walk (RW) is proposed to propagate the prior of user's specified pixels. Specifically, they first employ RWs to take the relationship of pairwise pixels into consideration. A superpixel‐consistent constraint is added to make the edges of segmentation smooth. Owing to the effect of illumination, some parts of a leaf surface are brighter than others and it may further harm the subsequent label propagation. To address this problem, they learn a common subspace by taking into account the illumination of local and non‐local pixels. By doing so, it has good adaptability to process noise interfering and non‐uniform illumination. In addition, since RW only considers the pairwise relationship of pixels, it will be sensitive to the specified and connected pixels. Thus, they further employ a log‐likelihood ratio to predict the probability of a pixel belonging to the background and use it to guide the label propagation. Based on the proposed method, they can obtain a smoothed and robust leaf segmentation. Experimental results on unconstrained leaf images demonstrate the efficiency of their algorithm.
Securing DICOM images by a new encryption algorithm using Arnold transform and Vigenère cipher
Authors: Boussif Mohamed , Aloui Noureddine , Cherif Adnene
Published: January 2020

This study presents a novel encryption method for the security of DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) images used in medical applications. The proposed algorithm splits the original image into blocks of size 16 × 16 pixels, then encrypts it through three steps. Firstly, the keys k1, k2, k3 and k4 are transformed from four vectors of 16 pixels to a matrix of 16 × 16 pixels. Then, the proposed algorithm encrypts the image block‐by‐block using the Vigenère cipher algorithm. For each block, the proposed algorithm modifies the key using Arnold transform. The proposed encryption algorithm is scalable with colour images and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression. The cryptanalysis of the proposed algorithm demonstrates that it passed the cryptography attacks tests with success. Its running time shows that it is faster than a typical and recent image encryption algorithm.
Construction of high dynamic range image based on gradient information transformation
Authors: Liu Yanyu , Zhou Dongming , Nie Rencan , Hou Ruichao , Ding Zhaisheng
Published: January 2020

This study proposes a fusion method for high dynamic range images based on gradient information transformation. In the proposed work, the authors first measure the three exposure weights of the source images, namely, local contrast, luminance and spatial structure. Then, the exposure weights are merged through a multi‐scale Laplacian pyramid scheme. For the weight maps measurement, the dense scale‐invariant feature transform method is used to calculate the local contrast around each pixel location, rather than a single pixel. The image luminance levels are computed in the gradient domain to get more visual information and the authors leverage the dictionary learning to effectively extract the luminance of images. Additionally, to better preserve the spatial structure of the source images, the just‐noticeable‐distortion technique is employed. By comparing the experimental results both subjectively and objectively, it is evident that the proposed method represents an improvement over some exciting methods.
Compressive sensed video recovery via iterative thresholding with random transforms
Authors: Belyaev Evgeny , Codreanu Marian , Juntti Markku , Egiazarian Karen
Published: January 2020

The authors consider the problem of compressive sensed video recovery via iterative thresholding algorithm. Traditionally, it is assumed that some fixed sparsifying transform is applied at each iteration of the algorithm. In order to improve the recovery performance, at each iteration the thresholding could be applied for different transforms in order to obtain several estimates for each pixel. Then the resulting pixel value is computed based on obtained estimates using simple averaging. However, calculation of the estimates leads to significant increase in reconstruction complexity. Therefore, the authors propose a heuristic approach, where at each iteration only one transform is randomly selected from some set of transforms. First, they present simple examples, when block‐based 2D discrete cosine transform is used as the sparsifying transform, and show that the random selection of the block size at each iteration significantly outperforms the case when fixed block size is used. Second, building on these simple examples, they apply the proposed approach when video block‐matching and 3D filtering (VBM3D) is used for the thresholding and show that the random transform selection within VBM3D allows to improve the recovery performance as compared with the recovery based on VBM3D with fixed transform.
Joint low‐rank project embedding and optimal mean principal component analysis
Authors: Chen Xiuhong , Sun Huiqiang
Published: January 2020

Principal component analysis (PCA) is the most widely used unsupervised dimensionality reduction approach. A number of variants of PCA have been proposed to improve the robustness of the algorithm. However, the existing methods either cannot select the useful features consistently or is still sensitive to outliers. In order to reveal the intrinsic manifold structure and preserve the global structure of data, it is needed to learn more efficient optimal projection matrix for sample sets with outliers. To this end, the authors propose a novel PCA, named low‐rank project embedding and optimal mean principal component analysis (abbreviated as LRPE‐OMPCA), which can learn the optimal mean and the optimal projection matrix and preserve the global geometric information and discriminative structure captured by the self‐representation coefficient weight matrix into the low‐dimensional embedding subspace. Thus, not only can the proposed method further reduce the influence of outliers but also can discard the useless features, which effectively improve the robustness of the method. An effective iterative algorithm to solve the LRPE‐OMPCA is designed. Experimental results on several image databases illustrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Microtrip‐line‐slot feed dual‐band dual‐mode element and array antenna based on mushroom structure
Authors: Cao Wenquan , Jin Jun , Zhong Xingjian , Shao Wei , Huang Ronggang , Xue Hong
Published: January 2020

One patch antenna with dual‐band dual‐mode (DMDB) characteristic based on mushroom structure is designed and analysed in this study. The antenna operates at two modes: the bidirectional mode with endfire radiation patterns and the directional mode with broadside radiation patterns. The equivalent circuit, dispersion diagrams, field distributions, reflection coefficients and radiation patterns are given for confirming the working principle. Compared with the former DMDB antennas, array antenna could be designed to realise gain enhancement for both the two modes. Both element and 1 × 2 array antenna prototypes were fabricated for verification. The measured results show that the two modes resonant at about 9.8 and 11.95 GHz, respectively. Comparing with the element, gain enhancement of about 2.8 and 2.1 dB are realised by the array for the endfire and broadside modes, respectively. With pattern diversity and array realisation, this antenna type owns potential application value in wireless communication systems.
EK θ multilevel inverter – a minimal switch novel configuration for higher number of output voltage levels
Authors: Bhaskar Mahajan Sagar , Meraj Mohammad , Iqbal Atif , Ben‐Brahim Lazhar , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar , Abu‐Rub Haitham
Published: January 2020

In this study, a new multilevel inverter (MLI) configuration is proposed to generate higher number of levels with minimal control switches. The proposed inverter's nomenclature is EK θ MLI, termed from its stems of shape. Conventional single‐phase H‐bridge module is modified to design the structure of θ MLI called ‘θ cell’ (where, K  = 0) by incorporating three symmetrical DC‐sources and replacing one leg of H‐bridge by bidirectional switches. The θ cell of the proposed EK θ MLI generates five‐level AC waveform at the output by using only four controlled switches (two unidirectional and two bidirectional). Therefore, the size, cost and switching logic of the MLI is reduced. The basic structure of EK θ MLI called ‘Eθ MLI’ (where K  = 1) is designed which is capable of generating seven‐level. For further extension, double‐switch‐E cell (DS‐E cell) is added in the middle and each DS‐E cell increases the four levels by utilising two bidirectional switches and two DC supplies. The generalised MLI configuration is explained in niceties to generate a higher number of levels (more than 5). The modes of operation, voltage across the switches, power losses of EK θ are discussed. The proposed MLI is experimentally investigated using level shifting pulse width modulation.
Particle acceleration in coalescent and squashed magnetic islands
Authors: Xia Q. , Zharkova V.
Published: January 2020

Aims.Particles are known to have efficient acceleration in reconnecting current sheets with multiple magnetic islands that are formed during a reconnection process. Using the test-particle approach, the recent investigation of particle dynamics in 3D magnetic islands, or current sheets with multiple X- and O-null points revealed that the particle energy gains are higher in squashed magnetic islands than in coalescent ones. However, this approach did not factor in the ambient plasma feedback to the presence of accelerated particles, which affects their distributions within the acceleration region.

Methods.In the current paper, we use the particle-in-cell (PIC) approach to investigate further particle acceleration in 3D Harris-type reconnecting current sheets with coalescent (merging) and squashed (contracting) magnetic islands with different magnetic field topologies, ambient densities ranging between 108 − 1012m−3, proton-to-electron mass ratios, and island aspect ratios.

Results.In current sheets with single or multiple X-nullpoints, accelerated particles of opposite charges are separated and ejected into the opposite semiplanes from the current sheet midplane, generating a strong polarisation electric field across a current sheet. Particles of the same charge form two populations: transit and bounced particles, each with very different energy and asymmetric pitch-angle distributions, which can be distinguished from observations. In some cases, the difference in energy gains by transit and bounced particles leads to turbulence generated by Buneman instability. In magnetic island topology, the different reconnection electric fields in squashed and coalescent islands impose different particle drift motions. This makes particle acceleration more efficient in squashed magnetic islands than in coalescent ones. The spectral indices of electron energy spectra are ∼ − 4.2 for coalescent and ∼ − 4.0 for squashed islands, which are lower than reported from the test-particle approach. The particles accelerated in magnetic islands are found trapped in the midplane of squashed islands, and shifted as clouds towards the X-nullpoints in coalescent ones.

Conclusions.In reconnecting current sheets with multiple X- and O-nullpoints, particles are found accelerated on a much shorter spatial scale and gaining higher energies than near a single X-nullpoint. The distinct density and pitch-angle distributions of particles with high and low energy detected with the PIC approach can help to distinguish the observational features of accelerated particles.
A new hybrid radiative transfer method for massive star formation
Authors: Mignon-Risse R. , González M. , Commerçon B. , Rosdahl J.
Published: January 2020

Context. Frequency-dependent and hybrid approaches for the treatment of stellar irradiation are of primary importance in numerical simulations of massive star formation.

Aims. We seek to compare outflow and accretion mechanisms in star formation simulations. We investigate the accuracy of a hybrid radiative transfer method using the gray M1 closure relation for proto-stellar irradiation and gray flux-limited diffusion (FLD) for photons emitted everywhere else.

Methods. We have coupled the FLD module of the adaptive-mesh refinement code RAMSES with RAMSES-RT, which is based on the M1 closure relation and the reduced speed-of-light-approximation. Our hybrid (M1+FLD) method takes an average opacity at the stellar temperature for the M1 module, instead of the local environmental radiation field. Due to their construction, the opacities are consistent with the photon origin. We have tested this approach in radiative transfer tests of disks irradiated by a star for three levels of optical thickness and compared the temperature structure with the radiative transfer codes RADMC-3D and MCFOST. We applied it to a radiation-hydrodynamical simulation of massive star formation.

Results. Our tests validate our hybrid approach for determining the temperature structure of an irradiated disk in the optically-thin (2% maximal error) and moderately optically-thick (error smaller than 25%) regimes. The most optically-thick test shows the limitation of our hybrid approach with a maximal error of 65% in the disk mid-plane against 94% with the FLD method. The optically-thick setups highlight the ability of the hybrid method to partially capture the self-shielding in the disk while the FLD alone cannot. The radiative acceleration is ≈100 times greater with the hybrid method than with the FLD. The hybrid method consistently leads to about + 50% more extended and wider-angle radiative outflows in the massive star formation simulation. We obtain a 17.6 M⊙ star at t ≃ 0.7τff, while the accretion phase is still ongoing, with a mean accretion rate of ≃7 × 10−4 M⊙ yr−1. Finally, despite the use of refinement to resolve the radiative cavities, no Rayleigh–Taylor instability appears in our simulations, and we justify their absence by physical arguments based on the entropy gradient.
Nucleosynthesis of light trans-Fe isotopes in ccSNe: Implications from presolar SiC-X grains
Authors: Akram Waheed , Farouqi Khalil , Hallmann Oliver , Kratz Karl-Ludwig
Published: January 2020

This contribution presents an extension of our r-process parameter study within the high-entropy-wind (HEW) scenario of corecollapse supernovae (ccSNe). One of the primary aims of this study was to obtain indications for the production of classical p-, s- and r-isotopes of the light trans-Fe elements in the Solar System (S.S.). Here, we focus on the nucleosynthesis origin of the anomalous isotopic compositions of Zr, Mo and Ru in presolar SiC X-grains (SNe grains). In contrast to the interpretation of other groups, we show that these grains do not represent the signatures of a ‘clean’ stellar scenario, but rather, are mixtures of an exotic nucleosynthesis component and S.S. material. We further confirm the results of our earlier studies whereby sizeable amounts of all stable p-, s- and r-isotopes of Zr, Mo and Ru can be co-produced by moderately neutron-rich ejecta of the low-entropy, charged-particle scenario of ccSNe (type II). The synthesis of these isotopes through a ‘primary’ production mode provides further means to revise the abundance estimates of the light trans-Fe elements from so far favoured ‘secondary’ scenarios like Type Ia SNe or neutron-bursts in exploding massive stars.
Resonant reactions of astrophysical interest studied by means of the Trojan Horse Method. Two case studies
Authors: La Cognata Marco , Spitaleri Claudio , Cherubini Silvio , Gulino Marisa , Lamia Livio , Pizzone Rosario G. , Romano Stefano , Tumino Aurora
Published: January 2020

Resonant reactions in astrophysics play and important role as un- expected resonances may enhance the astrophysical factor with respect to the direct reaction contribution, altering the predicted nucleosynthesis scenarios by changing, for instance, the expected nucleosynthesis path. They also are of great interest in nuclear structure studies, since the determination of energies, spin-parities and partial widths sheds light on the occurrence of cluster structures, for instance. However, nuclear reactions in most astrophysical environments usually take place at energies below about 1 MeV, leading to an exponential de- crease of the cross sections due to the effect of the penetration of the Coulomb barrier. Also, at energies so low to be comparable with those associated to elec- tronic degrees of freedom, the effect of atomic and/or molecular clouds cannot be neglected, resulting in a shielding of nuclear charges and in an enhancement of the cross sections with respect to the case of bare nuclei (the so called elec- tron screening effect). Owing to vanishingly small cross sections and ambigui- ties in the extrapolation due to the electron screening, supplying accurate cross sections for astrophysical modeling is extremely challenging. Indirect methods have been introduced to explore the energy range of astrophysical interest with no need of extrapolation, even guided by theoretical arguments. In particular, the Trojan Horse Method makes use of quasi-free reactions with three particles in the exit channel,a+A ^ c + C + s,to deduce the cross section of the reaction of astrophysical interest,a + x ^ c + C,under the hypothesis thatAshows a strongx+scluster structure. Even if measurements are carried out above astro- physical energies to be free from Coulomb suppression and electron screening, the range of astrophysical interest can be covered thanks to the x - s intercluster motion and binding energy. In these proceedings we will show the application of the THM, in the case of resonant reactions, using the generalised R-matrix approach introduced by A.M. Mukhamedzhanov. We will discuss the possibil- ity to extract resonance parameters from the Trojan Horse data and perform a full spectroscopic study of low-energy and even sub-threshold resonances. In particular, we will focus on the19F(p, a)16O and the13C(a, n)16O reactions, of particular importance in the case of asymptotic giant branch stars and in the synthesis of heavy elements by means of the s-process.
Dispersion (asymptotic) theory of charged-particle transfer reactions and nuclear astrophysics
Authors: Yarmukhamedov R. , Tursunmakhatov K.I. , Igamov S.B.
Published: January 2020

A new asymptotic theory is proposed for the peripheral transfer A(x,y)Breaction at low energies within the three-body (A,aand y) model by com bining the dispersion theory and DWBA, where x= y +a, B= A + a,andais a transferred particle. The results of the analysis of the differential cross sections of the proton transfer9Be(1°B,9Be)1°B reaction at the1°B projectile energy of 100 MeV populating the ground and excited states of the residual nucleus are presented. New estimates and their uncertainties are obtained for values of the asymptotic normalization coefficients for9Be +p ^1°B and for the astrophys- ical S factors at stellar energy of the radiative capture9Be(ρ, γ)1°B reaction.
LENS - Laser Energy for Nuclear Science facility @ LNS
Authors: Altana Carmen , Lanzalone Gaetano , Muoio Annamaria , Tudisco Salvatore
Published: January 2020

A dedicated laboratory at Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) of Catania was realized with the aim to investigate nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest in plasma environment. In this contribution, the facility LENS (Laser Energy for Nuclear Science), useful to study laser- produced plasmas, will be described and some results will be presented.
The calculation of astrophysical S factors for E1 and E2 capture data of 12C(α , γ)16O reaction at 300 keV
Authors: Ashok Kumar Mondal , Chinmay Basu
Published: January 2020

The astrophysical S factors of E1 and E2 capture data of 12C( α , γ) reaction at 300 keV have been calculated based on our recent determined ANC values of 6.92 MeV and 7.12 MeV states of 16O using R-matrix. The S-factors are extrapolated into the range of burning temperature and the S-factors at 300 keV are S E1= (86 ± 34) keV b and SE2= (60 ± 33) keV b.
Nuclear β-decays in plasmas: how to correlate plasma density and temperature to the activity
Authors: Naselli Eugenia , Mascali David , Caliri Claudia , Castro Giuseppe , Celona Luigi , Galatá Alessio , Gammino Santo , Mazzaglia Maria , Romano Francesco Paolo , Giuseppe Torrisi , Santonocito Domenico , Cosentino Gianluigi , Amaducci Simone
Published: January 2020

Magnetized plasmas in compact traps may become experimental en-vironments for the investigation of nuclear beta-decays of astrophysical inter-est. In the framework of the project PANDORA (Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry) the research ac-tivities are devoted to demonstrate the feasibility of an experiment aiming atmeasuring lifetimes of radionuclides of astrophysical interest when changing the charge state distribution of the in-plasma ions and the other plasma param- eters such as density and temperature. This contribution describes the multidi-agnostics setup now available at INFN-LNS, which allows unprecedented in-vestigations of magnetoplasmas properties in terms of density, temperature and charge state distribution (CSD). The setup includes an interfero-polarimeter for total plasma density measurement, a multi-X-ray detectors system for X-ray spectroscopy (including time resolved spectroscopy), an X-ray pin-hole camera for high-resolution 2D space resolved spectroscopy, a two-pin plasma-chamber immersed antenna for the detection of plasma radio-self-emission, and differ- ent spectrometers for the plasma-emitted visible light characterization. The setup is also suitable for other studies of astrophysical interest, such as turbulent plasma regimes dominated by the so-called Cyclotron Maser Instability, which is a typical kinetic turbulence occurring in astrophysical objects like magnetized stars, brown dwarfs, etc. A description of recent results about plasma parame- ters characterization in quiescent and turbulent Electron Cyclotron Resonance-heated plasmas will be given.
Study of the neutron induced reaction 17O(n,α)14C at astrophysical energies via the Trojan Horse Method
Authors: Oliva A. A. , Lamia L. , Guardo G. L. , Spitaleri C. , Cherubini S. , Cvetinovic A. , D’Agata G. , de Sereville N. , Pietro A. Di , Figuera P. , Gulino M , Hammache F , Hayakawa S. , Indelicato I. , Cognata M. La , Commara M. La , Lattuada D. , Lattuada M. , Manico G. , Mazzocco M. , Messina S. , Palmerini S. , Pizzone R.G. , Pumo M.L. , Rapisarda G.G. , Romano S. , Sergi M.L. , Soic N. , Spartà R. , Tumino A.
Published: January 2020

Neutron induced reactions are fundamental for the nucleosynthesis of elements in the universe. Indeed, to correctly study the reactions involved in the well-known s-process in stars, which produce about half of the elements beyond the iron peak, it is mandatory to know the neutron abundance available in those stars. The 17O(n, a)14C reaction is one of the so-called “neutron poisons” for the pro- cess and it could play an important role in the balance of the neutron abundance. The reaction is therefore investigated in the energy range of astrophysical inter- est between 0 and 350 keV in the center of mass by applying the Trojan Horse Method to the three body reaction 2H(17O, a14C)H.
How do charged environments affect low-energy fusion rates? Screening effects in laser-induced non-neutral plasmas
Authors: Perrotta Salvatore Simone , Bonasera Aldo
Published: January 2020

Globally charged environments can modify the rates of nuclear re- actions at the energies relevant for nuclear fusion energy production. This issue was addressed using the screening potential approach, deriving approximate an- alytical results for some scenarios of interest. The developed model predicts that fusion is hindered for reactions between thermal nuclei, while an enhancement is expected for secondary reactions and cluster Coulomb explosion beam-target reactions.
Preliminary results for the19F(ρ,α)16O reaction cross section measured at INFN-LNS
Authors: Petruse T , Guardo G. L. , Cognata M. La , Lattuada D. , Spitalieri C. , Balabanski D. L. , Agiksoz E. , Acosta L. , Capponi L. , Carbone D. , Cherubini S. , Choudhury D. , D’Agata G. , Pietro A. Di , Figuera P. , Gulino M. , Kilik A. I. , Commara M. La , Lamia L. , Matei C. , Palmerini S. , Pizzone R. G. , Romano S. , Soderstrom P.-A. , Sparta R. , Tumino A. , Onses S. Vinales
Published: January 2020

The19F(ρ,α)16O reaction is an important fluorine destruction chan- nel in the proton-rich outer layers of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and it might also play a role in hydrogen-deficient post-AGB star nucleosynthesis. At present, theoretical models overproduce F abundances in AGB stars with re-spect to the observed values, thus calling for further investigation of the nuclear reaction rates involved in the production and destruction of fluorine. In the last years, new direct and indirect measurements improved significantly the knowl- edge of19F(ρ,α)16O cross section at deeply sub-Coulomb energies (below 0.8 MeV). However, those data are larger by a factor of 1.4 with respect the previ- ous data reported in the NACRE compilation in the energy region 0.6-0.8 MeV. Using the Large High resolution Array of Silicons for Astrophysics (LHASA), we performed a new direct measurement of the19F(ρ,α)16O. The goal of this experiment is to reduce the uncertainties in the nuclear reaction rate of the19F(ρ,α)16O reaction. Here, experimental details, the calibration procedure and angular distributions are presented.
Study of 3He(n,p)3H reaction at cosmological energies with trojan horse method
Authors: Spampinato C. , Pizzone R.G. , Spartà R. , Couder M. , Tan W. , Burian V. , Chae K.Y. , D’Agata G. , Guardo G.L. , Indelicato I. , Cognata M. La , Lamia L. , Lattuada D. , Mrazek J. , Oliva A. , Palmerini S. , Prajapati P.M. , Rapisarda G.G. , Romano S. , Sergi M.L. , Spitaleri C. , Tumino A. , Wiescher M. , Anguilar S. , Bardyan D. , Blankstein D. , Boccioli L. , Callahan L. , Clark A. , Frentz B. , Hall M. , Gula A. , Henderson S. , Kelmar R. , Liu Q. , Long J. , Majumdar A. , McGuinness S. , Nelson A. , O’Malley P. , Seyymour C. , Skulski M. , Wilkinson J.
Published: January 2020

In the network of reactions present in the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the 3He(n, p)3H has an important role which impacts the final 7Li abundance. The Trojan Horse Method (THM) has been applied to the 3He(d, pt)H reaction in order to extract the astrophysical S(E)-factor of the 3He(n, p)3H in the Gamow energy range. The experiment will be described in the present work together with the first preliminary results.
Metallurgical comparison of various production routes for low and ultra-low carbon steels
Authors: Brachet D. , Gatellier C. , Zbaczyniak Y. , Nadif M. , Chapellier Ph. , Leclercq A.
Published: January 2020

Low and ultra-low carbon steels are produced either by an argon-oxygen mixed injection technique at the converter or by the use of a vacuum degasser (RH). These two techniques are perfectly suitable for producing steels with maximum carbon contents of respectively 90 and 40 ppm.

The kinetics of the decarburization in the vacuum degasser can be enhanced by a development of the extraction capacity and/or by an increase of the specific stirring flow rates.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Buprenorphine/Naloxone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Clinical Feasibility and Optimizing Assay Precision
Authors: Elarabi Hesham Farouk , Hasan Nael , Marsden John , Radwan Doaa , Adem Abdu , Almamari Samya , Elrasheed Abuelgasim
Published: January 2020

Introduction Compliance with sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone (SL-BUP/NX) is associated with higher abstinence from illicit opioid use. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been recommended for adherence monitoring of buprenorphine (BUP) maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but to date there have been no reported clinical applications. In this TDM feasibility study, we investigated BUP assay precision in 15 adults with OUD who had been stabilized on buprenorphine/naloxone.

Methods Using solid phase extraction, BUP recovery was contrasted at 100 mMol and 1 Molar of acetic acid wash solution. Precision was determined by applying the condition generating highest recovery using 0.2 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL standards. Four blood samples were drawn to examine the BUP peak and trough plasma concentrations, and BUP elimination rate was estimated. BUP recovery was examined again in a random sample and contrasted with the concentration predicted applying first-order kinetics.

Results Higher BUP recovery was achieved with 1 Molar wash (94.3%; p=0.05). Precision ranged from 15–20%. The estimated limit of detection (LoD) and limit of quantitation (LoQ) were 0.02 and 0.069 ng/mL, respectively. BUP peak and trough concentrations were successfully examined, and BUP trough concentrations were replicated confirming steady state. BUP concentrations were predicted at a variance of −7.20% to 1.54 %.

Conclusions TDM for BUP maintenance treatment of OUD is feasible, and simple adjustment of the assay conditions enhances BUP recovery.
Involvement of NO in Antinociception of NSAIDS in Murine Formalin Hind Paw Assay
Authors: Noriega Viviana , Miranda Hugo F. , Prieto Juan Carlos , Sotomayor-Zárate Ramón , Sierralta Fernando
Published: January 2020

There are different animal models to evaluate pain among them the formalin hind paw assay which is widely used since some of its events appear to be similar to the clinical pain of humans. The assay in which a dilute solution of formalin is injected into the dorsal hindpaw of a murine produces two ‘phases’ of pain behavior separated by a inactive period. The early phase (Phase I) is probably due to direct activation of nociceptors and the second phase (Phase II) is due to ongoing inflammatory input and central sensitization. Mice were used to determine the potency antinociceptive of piroxicam (1,3,10,and 30 mg/kg), parecoxib (0.3, 1,3,10 and 30 mg/kg), dexketoprofen (3,10,30 and 100 mg/kg) and ketoprofen (3,10,30 and 100 mg/kg). Dose-response for each NSAIDs were created before and after 5 mg/kg of L-NAME i.p. or 5 mg/kg i.p. of 7-nitroindazole. A least-squares linear regression analysis of the log dose–response curves allowed the calculation of the dose that produced 50% of antinociception (ED50) for each drug. The ED50 demonstrated the following rank order of potency, in the phase I: piroxicam > dexketoprofen > ketoprofen > parecoxib and in the phase II: piroxicam > ketoprofen > parecoxib > dexketoprofen. Pretreatment of the mice with L-NAME or 7-nitroindazol induced a significant increase of the analgesic power of the NSAIDs, with a significant reduction of the ED50. It is suggested that NO may be involved in both phases of the trial, which means that nitric oxide regulates the bioactivity of NSAIDs.
Alkyl Tosylates as Alkylating Reagents in the Catellani Reaction
Authors: Gao Qianwen , Liu Ze-Shui , Hua Yu , Zhou Siwei , Cheng Hong-Gang , Zhou Qianghui
Published: January 2020

A cooperative catalytic system involving a Pd/XPhos complex and inexpensive 5-norbornene-2-carbonitrile that enables the use of alkyl tosylates as alkylating reagents in the Catellani reaction has been developed. This mild, scalable protocol is compatible with a range of readily available functionalized aryl iodides and alkyl tosylates, as well as terminating olefins (45 examples, up to 97% yield).
Synthesis of Amylosic Supramolecular Materials by Glucan Phosphorylase-Catalyzed Enzymatic Polymerization According to the Vine-Twining Approach
Authors: Kadokawa Jun-ichi
Published: January 2020

This article overviews the synthesis of amylosic supramolecular materials through inclusion complexation in glucan phosphorylase (GP)-catalyzed enzymatic polymerization. Amylose is a polysaccharide that is known to form inclusion complexes with a number of hydrophobic small guest molecules. A pure amylose can be synthesized by the enzymatic polymerization of α-d-glucose 1-phosphate monomer with a maltooligosaccharide primer catalyzed by GP. The author has reported that the propagating amylosic chain in the enzymatic polymerization twines around hydrophobic polymers present in aqueous reaction media to form supramolecular inclusion complexes. As it is similar to the way that vines of a plant grow around a rod, this polymerization is termed ‘vine-twining polymerization’. Amylosic supramolecular network materials have been obtained through the vine-twining polymerization by using copolymers, where hydrophobic guest polymers are covalently grafted on hydrophilic main-chain polymers. The enzymatically produced amylosic chains form complexes with the guest polymers among graft copolymers, which act as cross-linking points to form supramolecular networks, resulting in the formation of soft materials, such as gels and films. Vine-twining polymerization using appropriately designed guest polymers has also been performed, which leads to supramolecular products that exhibit new functionality.

1 Introduction

2 Vine-Twining Polymerization to Form Supramolecular Inclusion Complexes

3 Selective Complexation of Amylose toward Guest Polymers in Vine-Twining Polymerization

4 Hierarchical Architecture of Amylosic Supramolecular Network Materials by Vine-Twining Polymerization Approach

5 Hierarchical Fabrication of Amylosic Supramolecular Materials by Vine-Twining Polymerization Using Designed Guest Polymers

6 Conclusions
Effect of Simvastatin Use in Free Tissue Transfer: An Experimental Study in a Rat Epigastric Free Flap Model
Authors: Abdelfattah Usama , Elbanoby Tarek , Kim Eun Na , Park Eun Jung , Suh Hyunsuk Peter , Hong Joon Pio Jp
Published: January 2020

Background Statins are traditionally used in lowering cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein biosynthesis, but recent reports show their beneficial effect on microcirculation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of simvastatin on the microcirculation and in conjunction with aspirin in a rat free epigastric flap model.

Methods Thirty-six Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into group A (control, n = 12), group B (simvastatin treated, n = 12), and group C (simvastatin and aspirin, n = 12). Bilateral free epigastric skin flap was used to evaluate the effect. At 48 hours, flaps biopsies were evaluated for inflammatory activity, nitric oxide content, and thrombomodulin regulation in the endothelial lining of microvessels. Flap survival was evaluated on day 7.

Results The diameter of microvessels and nitric oxide activity in groups B and C were significantly higher than in group A (p < 0.005 and 0.015, respectively). The perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates and intravascular adhesions were predominant in group A compared with groups B and C (p < 0.005). Groups B and C demonstrated significant higher degree of thrombomodulin expression. The flap survival rate on day 7 was 70.8% for group A, and 87.5% and 91.7%, respectively, for groups B and C without significance between the two (p = 0.675).

Conclusion Simvastatin significantly improves the free flap survival by effective anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, and anticoagulant activities. Combined therapy did not have an antagonistic effect and further study is needed to see synergistic action through different mechanisms.
Effects of Femur Position on Radiographic Assessment of Femoral Head and Neck Excision Completeness in Cats
Authors: Howser Alicia L. , Vinayak Arathi , Ward Michael P. , Kim Jongmin , Vogel Peter L. , Ikuta Courtney L.
Published: January 2020

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of femoral position on radiographic assessment of completeness of femoral head and neck excision (FHNE) in cats.

Study Design The study included 20 femurs from adult cats. Complete FHNE was performed on 10 femurs and incomplete excision consisting of inadequate excision of the distal medial femoral neck was performed on 10 femurs. The lesser trochanter was maintained in all femurs. Each femur was positioned through a predetermined set of eight radiographic views about the long axis. Sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP) and accuracy were calculated for each femoral position.

Results Craniocaudal views of the femur in external rotation (30° and 45°) had the highest SE, SP and accuracy (SE: 97.5% and 97.5%; SP: 92.5% and 95%; and accuracy: 95% and 96%, respectively) followed by external rotation of 15 (SE: 92.5%, SP: 87.5% and accuracy: 90%) relative to standard craniocaudal (SE: 57.5%, SP: 72.5%, accuracy: 65%) and lateromedial (SE: 2.5%, SP: 0%, accuracy: 1%) radiographic views.

Conclusions Evaluation of craniocaudal radiographic views with the femurs in external rotation can increase the ability to assess the adequacy of the FHNE in cats.
New Insights on Pulmonary Paracoccidioidomycosis
Authors: Queiroz-Telles Flá vio de , Peçanha Pietrobom Paula Massaroni , Rosa Júnior Marcos , Baptista Rodrigo de Melo , Peçanha Paulo Mendes
Published: January 2020

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is one of the most relevant systemic endemic mycoses in Latin American countries, especially in South American countries, with endemic and hyperendemic areas. The real burden of PCM may be underestimated because of a lack of compulsory case notification. Recent phylogenetic data revealed that Paracoccidioides brasiliensis comprises several cryptic species including P. brasiliensis and P. lutzii. However, the genetic biodiversity of Paracoccidioides does not affect the clinical manifestations or therapeutic response to therapy. Lung involvement is a common finding, especially in patients experiencing the chronic form of the disease, and, because of its similarities with tuberculosis, clinicians must be alert to the possibility of PCM in patients with chronic respiratory manifestations and epidemiological risk factors for this fungal disease.
Alterations in Surgically Created Intimal Lesions: An Observation Study in the Aortic Rat Model
Authors: Wolff Constantin T. , Ritschl Lucas M. , Düring Monika von , Fichter Andreas M. , Mücke Thomas
Published: January 2020

Background Intimal injury in microvessels due to common risk factors such as atherosclerosis or inadequate manipulation are known to have a major impact on developing thrombosis and eventually vascular obstruction. Understanding of these injuries is therefore of great significance to prevent far-reaching consequences such as flap loss in free tissue transfer. It was the aim of this study to evaluate artificially induced intimal lesions with focus on alteration in size and configuration.

Methods Intimal defects were created surgically in the abdominal aorta of 30 male Wistar rats. After planimetric measurement of the defect sizes, configuration of defects were classified as round, horizontal, or vertical. Seven days postoperatively, the rats underwent a second-look surgery. Finally, the abdominal aorta was harvested, and the endothelial defects were reevaluated concerning size and configuration using a defined pattern.

Results The mean defect size created intraoperatively was 1.68 ± 0.6 mm2. The classification of the defects configurations resulted in 43.3% round, 20% horizontal, and 36.7% vertical defects. Reevaluation at 7 days after surgery showed defect shrinkage in 96.7% in total and 42.8% averaging due to reendothelialization. A shift in defect configuration was detected in 56.7%, the strongest being in vertical defect configurations (100%). Vascular occlusion did not occur in any of the specimen.

Conclusion Intimal injuries undergo a fast repair process in terms of size reduction and configuration modification due to reendothelialization. Especially vertical defects, representing a great risk for thrombus formation, convert into lower risk horizontal defect configurations. In high-flow vessels such as the rat aortas, small endothelial damage seems to have no significant impact to produce complete vascular occlusion. Still, all efforts should be made to avoid any kind of intimal injury.
Invasive Candidiasis
Authors: Gonzalez-Lara María F. , Ostrosky-Zeichner Luis
Published: January 2020

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is the most frequent health care associated invasive fungal infection. It is also associated with high morbidity, mortality, and cost. The most frequent etiologic agent is Candida albicans, but non-albicans species are increasing and associated with reduced antifungal susceptibility and outbreaks. Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant species recently described. IC presents as a spectrum of disease, going from fungemia to deep-seated candidiasis, and to septic shock with multiorgan failure. Diagnosis of IC is challenging. Several biomarkers and molecular methods are available for improving diagnosis. Early initial treatment with echinocandins is the treatment of choice. Step-down therapy when antifungal susceptibility is available is possible. Several new antifungal agents for the treatment of IC are in clinical development.