bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlations between serum amyloid A, C‐reactive protein and clinical indices of patients with acutely exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Lin Tian‐Lai , Chen Wei‐Wen , Ding Zhi‐Rong , Wei Si‐Can , Huang Ming‐Lian , Li Cai‐Hui
Published: January 2019

Background

To explore the correlations between SAA, CRP, and clinical indices of patients with acutely exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods

A total of 120 patients with AECOPD and another 120 with remitted COPD were enrolled in an AECOPD group and a COPD remission group, respectively. Meanwhile, 120 healthy subjects were included as a control group. SAA, CRP, PCT, Fbg, IL‐8, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IP‐10 levels were detected. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were measured.

Results

Compared with control group, the serum levels of SAA, CRP, PCT, Fbg, IL‐8, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IP‐10 significantly increased in COPD remission group (P < 0.05). The levels of AECOPD group significantly exceeded those of COPD remission group (P < 0.05). The levels of AECOPD patients with different GOLD grades were significantly different (P < 0.05). AECOPD group had significantly lower FEV1 and FEV1/FVC than those of COPD remission group (P < 0.05). The CAT score of AECOPD patients was (18.41 ± 2.55) points. The levels of SAA, CRP, PCT, Fbg, IL‐8, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IP‐10 were negatively correlated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, and positively correlated with CAT score. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of SAA was largest (0.931). The cutoff values for SAA, CRP, PCT and Fbg were 18.68 mg/L, 14.70 mg/L, 0.39 μg/L, 3.91 g/L, 0.46 μg/L, 24.17 μg/L, 7.18 mg/L, and 83.19 ng/L, respectively.

Conclusions

Serum levels of SAA, CRP, PCT, Fbg, IL‐8, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IP‐10 in AECOPD patients were elevated, which may undermine pulmonary functions. SAA can be used as an effective index for AECOPD diagnosis and treatment.
Positive correlation between vitamin D receptor gene TaqI variant and gastric cancer predisposition in a sample of Iranian population
Authors: Parsamanesh Negin , Moossavi Maryam , Tavakkoli Tahmineh , Javdani Hossein , Fakharian Tahereh , Moossavi Seyedeh Zahra , Naseri Mohsen
Published: January 2019

Gastric cancer is the second cause of cancer‐related mortality and the fourth most common cancers worldwide. Owing to the immune modulatory effect of vitamin D in the body, the role of vitamin D receptor gene in vitamin D regulation receives a great deal of research interest. The aim of the current study was to highlight the association between two variants of TaqI and FokI in the vitamin D receptor gene and gastric cancer predisposition in a sample of South Khorasan population. The present investigation consisted of 69 patients affected with gastric cancer and 100 healthy individuals. The genomic DNA was extracted by salting out the protocol from peripheral venous blood. Genotyping of TaqI and FokI variants were performed by PCR‐RFLP method. Our findings manifested that TC genotype of TaqI polymorphism was statistically significant between the case and the control groups (p = 0.002). Moreover, the frequency of TC + CC genotypes was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.009). Furthermore, we could not find any meaningful association between FokI variant and the participant groups. The present results declared that, in our population, TC genotype of TaqI polymorphism has an association with gastric cancer susceptibility. In addition, more investigation with greater sample sizes is needed to confirm our results.
Association between body composition, survival, and toxicity in advanced esophagogastric cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy
Authors: Dijksterhuis Willemieke P.M. , Pruijt Maarten J. , van der Woude Stephanie O. , Klaassen Remy , Kurk Sophie A. , van Oijen Martijn G.H. , van Laarhoven Hanneke W.M.
Published: January 2019

Background

Palliative systemic treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic esophagogastric cancer may result in improved overall survival and quality of life but can also lead to considerable toxicity. In various cancer types, severe muscle mass depletion (sarcopenia) and poor muscle strength are associated with decreased survival and increased chemotherapy‐related toxicity. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of body composition on survival and chemotherapy toxicity in esophagogastric cancer patients treated with first‐line palliative chemotherapy.

Methods

A total of 88 patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer treated with standard first‐line palliative systemic therapy consisting of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapOx) between January 2010 and February 2017 were included. Skeletal muscle index (SMI), reflecting muscle mass, and skeletal muscle density (SMD), associated with muscle strength, were measured using pre‐treatment of all patients and evaluation computed tomography scans after three treatment cycles of 65 patients and were used to determine sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (i.e. sarcopenia and body mass index >25 kg/m2). The associations between body composition (SMI, SMD, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity) and survival and toxicity were assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses, respectively.

Results

Of 88 patients, 75% was male, and median age was 63 (interquartile range 56–69) years. The majority of patients had an adenocarcinoma (83%). Before start of treatment, 49% of the patients were sarcopenic, and 20% had sarcopenic obesity. Low SMD was observed in 50% of patients. During three cycles CapOx, SMI significantly decreased, with a median decrease of 4% (interquartile range −8.6–−0.4). Median progression‐free and overall survival were 6.9 and 10.1 months. SMI, SMD, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity (both pre‐treatment and after three cycles) were neither associated with progression‐free nor overall survival. Pre‐treatment SMD was independently associated with grade 3–4 toxicity (odds ratio 0.94; 95% confidence interval 0.89–1.00) and sarcopenic obesity with grade 2–4 neuropathy (odds ratio 3.82; 95% confidence interval 1.20–12.18).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia was not associated with survival or treatment‐related toxicity in advanced esophagogastric cancer patients treated with CapOx. Pre‐treatment sarcopenic obesity was independently associated with the occurrence of grade 2–4 neurotoxicity and skeletal muscle density with grade 3–4 toxicity.
Authentication of herbal drug Tukhm‐e‐balango (Lallemantia royleana Benth.) using microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization
Authors: Rashid Sofia , Zafar Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Shinwari Muhammad Ibrar , Yaseen Ghulam , Sultana Shazia , Memon Rabia Asma , Zehra Syeda Alia , Wibawa Puto Agus Hendra
Published: January 2019

The study is aimed to provide a comprehensive account on authentication of herbal drug named as Tukhm‐e‐balango (Lallemantia royleana Benth.) from the seeds of Ocimum basilicum by using microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization. The crude medicinal plants and their parts are often adulterated or substituted in market due to improper identification by the consumers while among herbal plant sellers, taxonomic confusion is caused due to morphological similarities of the plant parts and lack of a standard identification system.In microscopy, both herbarium and fresh specimens were studied using qualitative and quantitative morphological characteristics of leaves, seeds, and pollen. For pharmacognosy, solubility, fluorescence, and physicochemical characterizers were analyzed whereas a total phenolic and flavonoids contents was determined in addition to DPPH radical scavenging activity. In current study, microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization clearly differentiated L. royleana from O. basilicum. The major problem in herbal drug industry is caused due to confusion and controversy of certain synonyms used for more than one or two drugs. Sometimes, under the same common or local name, entirely different taxa are being sold in herbal markets. It is concluded that correct and proper identification of medicinal plants is very crucial to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, as many medicinal plants are intentionally or unintentionally adulterated with similar species or varieties. In herbal market, the seeds of L. royleana are adulterated with seeds of O. basilicum due to their similar morphology.
InGaAs/InP DHBT small‐signal model up to 325 GHz with two intrinsic base resistances
Authors: Chen Yapei , Zhang Yong , Li Xiao , Cheng Wei , Sun Yan , Lu Haiyan , Xiao Fei , Xu Ruimin
Published: January 2019

In this paper, a novel small‐signal equivalent‐circuit model of terahertz InGaAs/InP double‐heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) is presented. Two intrinsic base resistances are introduced to represent the nonuniform extrinsic impedance of base‐emitter and base‐collector junctions separately. This treatment makes the high‐frequency model more close to the triple‐mesa InP DHBT structure. Systematical parasitic parameter extraction method and intrinsic element initialization of a 0.5 μm * 5μm InGaAs/InP DHBT are presented. As a high‐frequency device model, inter‐electrode parasitic capacitances are calculated by three‐dimensional electromagnetic simulation. The proposed model results in a good agreement with measured multibiased S‐parameters up to 325 GHz.
Possible causes of the flooding over south China during the 2015/2016 winter
Authors: Guo Li , Zhu Congwen , Liu Boqi
Published: January 2019

Sequential heavy rainfall clusters and resultant severe winter flooding was observed over South China during the 2015/2016 super El Niño event. In the present, the intra‐seasonal oscillations (ISOs) related with heavy rainfall over East Asia from late autumn to early winter in 2015/2016 were investigated using the daily in situ rainfall records and the NCEP‐DOE Reanalysis data set. Results suggested that the successive heavy winter rainfall events in 2015/2016 were contributed by the ISOs with significant periods of 10–25 and 30–45 days. The wet phase of 10–25‐day ISO was jointly induced by the anomalous convergence of the low‐level water vapour associated with the tropical–subtropical interaction and the upper‐level divergence attributed to the eastwards propagating wavetrain. However in the wet phase of the 30–45‐day ISO, the anomalous upper‐level divergence was possibly caused by the weaker East Asian trough and the stronger barotropic westerly in subtropics. The 30–45‐day ISO can facilitate the eastwards propagation of the 10–25‐day ISO by providing a benefit upper‐level waveguide. Afterwards, the low‐level southwesterly surrounding the Tibetan Plateau gets enhanced to bring more moisture into South China where the winter flooding was serious in 2015/2016. In contrast, the more‐than‐normal winter rainfall was weaker in the super El Niño of 1997/1998 due to the lack of the 30–45‐day ISO. Therefore, the strongest winter rainfall anomaly over SC was ascribed to the superposition between the wet phases of 10–25 and 30–45‐day ISOs in 2015/2016.
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound Features of Hepatic Reactive Lymphoid Hyperplasia: Correlation With Histopathologic Findings
Authors: Dong Cai‐hong , Lu Qing , Wang Wen‐ping , Ji Zheng‐biao , Wang Xi
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To find certain specifics of hepatic reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (HRLH) on contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging as diagnostic imaging clues by retrospectively analyzing its enhancement features.

Methods

From June 2010 to June 2017, 18 histopathologically confirmed HRLH lesions in 18 patients were included in this retrospective study. The lesion's location, maximum diameter, shape, margin, echogenicity, and color flow signal on conventional ultrasound (US) imaging and enhancement pattern, presence of a feeding artery, and donutlike enhancement on CEUS imaging were observed and recorded. The lesion size on CEUS imaging at peak enhancement and that on conventional US imaging were compared and recorded.

Results

All of the lesions showed homogeneous hypoechogenicity with a regular well‐defined margin on conventional US imaging, with a mean diameter ± SD of 14.3 ± 4.6 mm (range, 8–24 mm). On CEUS imaging, all of the lesions showed “quick‐wash‐in and quick‐wash‐out,” which showed complete homogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and wash‐out in the second half of the arterial phase or first half of the portal phase. In 83.3% (15 of 18) of the lesions, the lesion size that was enhanced at peak was enlarged compared with the hypoechoic area on conventional US imaging, and transient donutlike enhancement appeared when the lesion showed wash‐out. In 55.6% (10 of 18) of cases, the feeding artery was detected.

Conclusions

Enlarged complete homogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase, consequently followed by quick wash‐out of the lesion and the appearance of donutlike enhancement, may be the CEUS features of HRLH.
Engineering of a chromogenic enzyme screening system based on an auxiliary indole‐3‐carboxylic acid monooxygenase
Authors: Časaitė Vida , Sadauskas Mikas , Vaitekūnas Justas , Gasparavičiūtė Renata , Meškienė Rita , Skikaitė Izabelė , Sakalauskas Mantas , Jakubovska Jevgenija , Tauraitė Daiva , Meškys Rolandas
Published: January 2019

Here, we present a proof‐of‐principle for a new high‐throughput functional screening of metagenomic libraries for the selection of enzymes with different activities, predetermined by the substrate being used. By this approach, a total of 21 enzyme‐coding genes were selected, including members of xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and amidohydrolase families. The screening system is based on a pro‐chromogenic substrate, which is transformed by the target enzyme to indole‐3‐carboxylic acid. The later compound is converted to indoxyl by a newly identified indole‐3‐carboxylate monooxygenase (Icm). Due to the spontaneous oxidation of indoxyl to indigo, the target enzyme‐producing colonies turn blue. Two types of pro‐chromogenic substrates have been tested. Indole‐3‐carboxaldehydes and the amides of indole‐3‐carboxylic acid have been applied as substrates for screening of the ALDHs and amidohydrolases, respectively. Both plate assays described here are rapid, convenient, easy to perform, and adaptable for the screening of a large number of samples both inEscherichia coliandRhodococcussp. In addition, the fine‐tuning of the pro‐chromogenic substrate allows screening enzymes with the desired substrate specificity.
Monte Carlo simulations of out‐of‐field skin dose due to spiralling contaminant electrons in a perpendicular magnetic field
Authors: Malkov Victor N. , Hackett Sara L. , van Asselen Bram , Raaymakers Bas W. , Wolthaus Jochem W. H.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential skin dose toxicity contribution of spiralling contaminant electrons (SCE) generated in the air in an MR‐linac with a 0.35 or 1.5 T magnetic field using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo (MC) code. Comparisons to experimental results at 1.5 T are also performed.

Methods

An Elekta generated phase space file for the Unity MR‐linac is used in conjunction with the EGSnrc enhanced electric and magnetic field transport macros to simulate surface dose profiles and depth‐dose curves in panels located 5 cm away from the beam edge and positioned either parallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field. Electrons generated in the air will spiral along the magnetic field lines, and though surface doses within the field will be reduced, the electrons can contribute to out‐of‐field surface doses.

Results

Surface dose profiles showed good agreement with experimental findings and the maximum simulated doses at surfaces perpendicular to the magnetic field were 3.77 ± 0.01% and 3.55 ± 0.01% for 1.5 and 0.35 T. These results are expressed as a percentage of the maximum dose to water delivered by the photon beam. The surface dose variations in the out‐of‐field region converge to the 0 T doses within the first 0.5 cm of material. An asymmetry in the dose distribution in surfaces positioned on either side of the photon beam and aligned parallel to the magnetic field is determined to be due to the magnetic field directing electrons deeper into, or localizing them to the surface of, the measurement panel.

Conclusions

These results confirm the SCE dose contribution in surfaces perpendicular to the magnetic field and show these doses to be of the order of a few percentage of the maximum dose to water of the beam. Good agreement in the dose profiles is seen in comparisons between the MC simulations and experimental work. The effect is apparent in 0.35 and 1.5 T magnetic fields and dissipates within the first few millimeters of material. It should be noted that only SCEs from beam anteriorly incident on the patient will influence the patient surface dose, and the use of beams incident over different angles will reduce the dose to any particular patient surface.
Surface Tension of the Black Hole Horizon
Authors: Shu Liangsuo , Cui Kaifeng , Liu Xiaokang , Liu Zhichun , Liu Wei
Published: January 2019

The idea of treating the horizon of a black hole as a stretched membrane with surface tension has a long history. In this work, we discuss the microscopic origin of the surface tension of the horizon in quantum pictures of spaces, which are Bose‐Einstein condensates of gravitons. The horizon is a phase interface of gravitons, the surface tension of which is found to be a result of the difference in the strength of the interaction between the gravitons on its two sides. The gravitational source, such as a Schwarzschild black hole, creates a transitional zone by changing the energy and distribution of its surrounding gravitons. Archimedes' principle for gravity can be expressed as follows: “the gravity on an object is equal to the weight of the gravitons that it displaces.”
Circular migration in a context of free mobility: Evidence from linked population register data from Finland and Sweden
Authors: Weber Rosa , Saarela Jan
Published: January 2019

Circular migration in settings of free mobility has received increasing policy attention. However, due to data constraints, little is known about the mechanisms underlying it. Using linked Finnish and Swedish register data that allow us to follow Finnish migrants across national borders, we analyse whether the determinants of circular migration differ from those of the first and return move. People move freely between Sweden and Finland, as they are in the common Nordic labour market. Event history analysis shows that many moves are temporary and short term. Moreover, the patterns of circular migration reflect those of the first emigration and first return, respectively. Swedish speakers and individuals who are not married are more prone to emigrate for the first and second time, whereas Finnish speakers and married individuals have a higher risk of return migration. This implies that circular migration may amplify demographic features related to emigration and return migration.
A novel event‐triggered extended state observer for networked control systems subjected to external disturbances
Authors: Yu Yang , Yuan Yuan , Yang Hongjiu , Liu Huaping
Published: January 2019

In this paper, the event‐triggered‐based state estimation problem is investigated for a class of nonlinear networked control systems subjected to external disturbances. A novel event‐triggered extended state observer (ESO) is utilized to estimate the so‐called total disturbance, and an output predictor is adopted for the proposed ESO between two consecutive transmission instants. It is also worth pointing out that, in the newly proposed ESO, an event‐triggered mechanism is adopted to update the measurement signal so as to save the communication resource. The sufficient conditions are provided such that the estimation error dynamics is exponentially ultimately bounded. Furthermore, it is proven that the Zeno behavior does not exist for the event‐triggering rules. A number of numerical simulations are conducted to verify the validity of the theoretical results.
Chondroitin Sulfate Glycosaminoglycan Scaffolds for Cell and Recombinant Protein-Based Bone Regeneration
Authors: Andrews Seth , Cheng Albert , Stevens Hazel , Logun Meghan T. , Webb Robin , Jordan Erin , Xia Boao , Karumbaiah Lohitash , Guldberg Robert E. , Stice Steven
Published: January 2019

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-loaded collagen sponges remain the clinical standard for treatment of large bone defects when there is insufficient autograft, despite associated complications. Recent efforts to negate comorbidities have included biomaterials and gene therapy approaches to extend the duration of BMP-2 release and activity. In this study, we compared the collagen sponge clinical standard to chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (CS-GAG) scaffolds as a delivery vehicle for recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) and rhBMP-2 expression via human BMP-2 gene inserted into mesenchymal stem cells (BMP-2 MSC). We demonstrated extended release of rhBMP-2 from CS-GAG scaffolds compared to their collagen sponge counterparts, and further extended release from CS-GAG gels seeded with BMP-2 MSC. When used to treat a challenging critically sized femoral defect model in rats, both rhBMP-2 and BMP-2 MSC in CS-GAG induced comparable bone formation to the rhBMP-2 in collagen sponge, as measured by bone volume, strength, and stiffness. We conclude that CS-GAG scaffolds are a promising delivery vehicle for controlling the release of rhBMP-2 and to mediate the repair of critically sized segmental bone defects. Stem Cells Translational Medicine  2019;8:575–585
Mechanics of frictional contact for an arbitrary oriented orthotropic material
Authors: Çömez İsa , Yilmaz Korhan Babacan
Published: January 2019

In this study, the frictional contact problem of a half plane which has monoclinic material property is considered in the framework of linear elasticity theory. The monoclinic half plane is pressed by a rigid cylindrical punch that transmits both normal and tangential loads. The general expressions of the stress and displacement are determined with using integral transform technique. Utilizing the boundary conditions of the problem, a second kind singular integral equation, in which the unknowns are the contact stress and the contact width is obtained. The singular integral equation is solved numerically using the Gauss‐Jacobi integration formulas and the effect of the fiber angle, the friction coefficient, the punch radius, material type and the external load on the contact stress and in‐plane stress are given. The analytical solution is compared with the finite element solution and good agreement is obtained.
Study of backward terahertz radiation from intense picosecond laser–solid interactions using a multichannel calorimeter system
Authors: Liu H. , Liao G.-Q. , Zhang Y.-H. , Zhu B.-J. , Zhang Z. , Li Y.-T. , Scott G. G. , Rusby D. , Armstrong C. , Zemaityte E. , Bradford P. , Woolsey N. , Huggard P. , McKenna P. , Neely D.
Published: January 2019

A multichannel calorimeter system is designed and constructed which is capable of delivering single-shot and broad-band spectral measurement of terahertz (THz) radiation generated in intense laser–plasma interactions. The generation mechanism of backward THz radiation (BTR) is studied by using the multichannel calorimeter system in an intense picosecond laser–solid interaction experiment. The dependence of the BTR energy and spectrum on laser energy, target thickness and pre-plasma scale length is obtained. These results indicate that coherent transition radiation is responsible for the low-frequency component (${<}$1 THz) of BTR. It is also observed that a large-scale pre-plasma primarily enhances the high-frequency component (${>}$3 THz) of BTR.
Long-time asymptotic expansions for Navier-Stokes equations with power-decaying forces
Authors: Cao Dat , Hoang Luan
Published: January 2019

The Navier-Stokes equations for viscous, incompressible fluids are studied in the three-dimensional periodic domains, with the body force having an asymptotic expansion, when time goes to infinity, in terms of power-decaying functions in a Sobolev-Gevrey space. Any Leray-Hopf weak solution is proved to have an asymptotic expansion of the same type in the same space, which is uniquely determined by the force, and independent of the individual solutions. In case the expansion is convergent, we show that the next asymptotic approximation for the solution must be an exponential decay. Furthermore, the convergence of the expansion and the range of its coefficients, as the force varies are investigated.
Explicit asymptotics for certain single and double exponential sums
Authors: Kalimeris K. , Fokas A. S.
Published: January 2019

By combining classical techniques together with two novel asymptotic identities derived in recent work by Lenells and one of the authors, we analyse certain single sums of Riemann-zeta type. In addition, we analyse Euler-Zagier double exponential sums for particular values of Re{u} and Re{v} and for a variety of sets of summation, as well as particular cases of Mordell-Tornheim double sums.
Is Social Media Transforming Canadian Electioneering? Hybridity and Online Partisan Strategies in the 2012 Quebec Election
Authors: Giasson Thierry , Le Bars Gildas , Dubois Philippe
Published: January 2019

This article investigates the extent to which provincial political parties made use of social media in their strategy, organization and communication in order to achieve their electoral goals during the Quebec 2012 general election. Using data from a series of 19 interviews conducted with online strategists and campaign directors from the five leading parties active in the 2012 election, we identify the strategic objectives these organizations followed when developing their social media campaigns. The strategists' narratives reveal that social media became a central component of electioneering and that parties were carrying out, in various forms, hybrid campaigns that combined traditional and emergent communication technologies and employed both old and new types of organizational principles.
What determines financial literacy in Japan?
Authors: Kadoya Yoshihiko , Khan Mostafa Saidur Rahim
Published: January 2019

This study investigates the factors affecting financial literacy in Japan using data from Osaka University's Preference Parameter Study. We examine several demographic, socio-economic, and psychological variables drawn from the social learning, consumer socialization, and psychological theories of learning. The results indicate that the demographic factors of gender, age, and education; the socio-economic factors of income and occupation; and the psychological factor of perceptions of the future significantly affect the level of financial literacy. The results are robust to different measures of financial literacy and emphasize that social contact and people's future orientation can improve financial literacy levels in Japan.
The Brittle‐Ductile Transition Predicted by a Physics‐Based Friction Law
Authors: Aharonov Einat , Scholz Christopher H.
Published: January 2019

A theory of the brittle‐ductile transition (BDT) is shown to be a direct consequence of a recently developed physics‐based constitutive law for rock friction (Aharonov & Scholz, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013829), which assumes exponential creep on contacts. The theory was previously tested against experimental data for sliding at low ambient temperature and stress. Here, theoretical interpretation of experimental data at high temperature and stress shows that at some point the real area of contact reaches a maximum value beyond which it becomes fixed. The constitutive law shows that this marks the onset of the BDT, beyond which sliding changes from frictional to an exponential flow law for low‐temperature plasticity. Application to the Earth's crust shows that beyond this point, strength fall linearly with depth until it intersects the power law for bulk flow of the country rock, which marks the lower boundary of the BDT. Modeling, constrained by experimental data for granite, predicts that the BDT starts at a temperature of about 300°C, at a depth of 11–13 km in the continental crust, depending on fault slip rate and temperature gradient. The completion of the BDT is similarly calculated to occur around 475°, at 16–18 km, in agreement with laboratory and field observations. The BDT is thus found to be a region spanning about 175°C with a width of several kilometers. Within the exponential flow region, the structural outcome would be a relatively narrow mylonitized fault zone, which widens into a broader region of shear at the base of the BDT.
Modeling the Angular Dependence of Emissivity of Randomly Rough Surfaces
Authors: Warren T. J. , Bowles N. E. , Donaldson Hanna K. , Bandfield J. L.
Published: January 2019

Directional emissivity (DE) describes how the emissivity of an isothermal surface changes with viewing angle across thermal infrared wavelengths. The Oxford Space Environment Goniometer (OSEG) is a novel instrument that has been specifically designed to measure the DE of regolith materials derived from planetary surfaces. The DE of Nextel high‐emissivity black paint was previously measured by the OSEG and showed that the measured emissivity decreases with increasing emission angle, from an emissivity of 0.97 ± 0.01 at 0° emission angle to an emissivity of 0.89 ± 0.01 at 71° emission angle. The Nextel target measured was isothermal (<0.1 K surface temperature variation), and the observed change in emissivity was due to Fresnel‐related effects and was not due to nonisothermal effects. Here we apply several increasingly complex modeling techniques to model the measured DE of Nextel black paint. The modeling techniques used here include the Hapke DE model, the Fresnel equations, a multiple slope Fresnel model, and a Monte Carlo ray tracing model. It was found that only the Monte Carlo ray tracing model could accurately fit the OSEG measured Nextel data. We show that this is because the Monte Carlo ray tracing model is the only model that fully accounts for the surface roughness of the Nextel surface by including multiple scattering effects.
A promoter variant in ZNF804A decreasing its expression increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the Han Chinese population
Authors: Zhang Linna , Qin Yue , Gong Xiaohong , Peng Rui , Cai Chunquan , Zheng Yufang , Du Yasong , Wang Hongyan
Published: January 2019

Synaptic pathology may be one of the cellular substrates underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ZNF804A is a transcription factor that can affect or regulate the expression of many candidate genes involved in ASD. It also localizes at synapses and regulates neuronal and synaptic morphology. So far, few reports have addressed possible associations between ZNF804A polymorphisms and ASD. This study aimed to investigate whether ZNF804A genetic variants contribute to ASD susceptibility and its possible pathological role in the disorder. We analyzed the relationship of two polymorphisms (rs10497655 and rs34714481) in ZNF804A promoter region with ASD in 854 cases versus 926 controls. The functional analyses of rs10497655 were then performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays. The variant rs10497655 was significantly associated with ASD (P = 0.007851), which had a significant effect on ZNF804A expression, with the T risk allele homozygotes related with reduced ZNF804A expression in human fetal brains. HSF2 acted as a suppressor by down-regulating ZNF804A expression and had a stronger binding affinity for the T allele of rs10497655 than for the C allele. This was the first experiment to elucidate the process in which a disease-associated SNP affects the level of ZNF804A expression by binding with the upstream regulation factor HSF2. This result indicates that the rs10497655 allelic expression difference of ZNF804A during the critical period of brain development may have an effect on postnatal phenotypes of ASD. It reveals new roles of ZNF804A polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
Regrowth-delay body as a bacterial subcellular structure marking multidrug-tolerant persisters
Authors: Yu Jiayu , Liu Yang , Yin Huijia , Chang Zengyi
Published: January 2019

Bacteria have long been recognized to be capable of entering a phenotypically non-growing persister state, in which the cells exhibit an extended regrowth lag and a multidrug tolerance, thus posing a great challenge in treating infectious diseases. Owing to their non-inheritability, low abundance of existence, lack of metabolic activities, and high heterogeneity, properties of persisters remain poorly understood. Here, we report our accidental discovery of a subcellular structure that we term the regrowth-delay body, which is formed only in non-growing bacterial cells and sequesters multiple key proteins. This structure, that dissolves when the cell resumes growth, is able to be viewed as a marker of persisters. Our studies also indicate that persisters exhibit different depth of persistence, as determined by the status of their regrowth-delay bodies. Our findings imply that suppressing the formation and/or promoting the dissolution of regrowth-delay bodies could be viable strategies for eradicating persisters.
Spin current generation and relaxation in a quenched spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate
Authors: Li Chuan-Hsun , Qu Chunlei , Niffenegger Robert J. , Wang Su-Ju , He Mingyuan , Blasing David B. , Olson Abraham J. , Greene Chris H. , Lyanda-Geller Yuli , Zhou Qi , Zhang Chuanwei , Chen Yong P.
Published: January 2019

Understanding the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and many-body interactions on spin transport is important in condensed matter physics and spintronics. This topic has been intensively studied for spin carriers such as electrons but barely explored for charge-neutral bosonic quasiparticles (including their condensates), which hold promises for coherent spin transport over macroscopic distances. Here, we explore the effects of synthetic SOC (induced by optical Raman coupling) and atomic interactions on the spin transport in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), where the spin-dipole mode (SDM, actuated by quenching the Raman coupling) of two interacting spin components constitutes an alternating spin current. We experimentally observe that SOC significantly enhances the SDM damping while reducing the thermalization (the reduction of the condensate fraction). We also observe generation of BEC collective excitations such as shape oscillations. Our theory reveals that the SOC-modified interference, immiscibility, and interaction between the spin components can play crucial roles in spin transport.
Central body fatness is a stronger predictor of cancer risk than overall body size
Authors: Barberio Amanda M. , Alareeki Asalah , Viner Benjamin , Pader Joy , Vena Jennifer E. , Arora Paul , Friedenreich Christine M. , Brenner Darren R.
Published: January 2019

The importance of body size versus weight distribution for cancer risk is unclear. We investigated associations between measures of body size and shape and the risk of developing cancer. The study population consisted of 26,607 participants from the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project cohort. Two main measures of body shape and size were examined: i) body mass index (BMI) and ii) waist circumference (WC). Incident cancers were identified via linkage to the Alberta Cancer Registry. Cox proportional hazards models were used. Males and females classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg /m−2) have a 33% and 22% increased risk of all-cancer, respectively, than their normal weight counterparts. Similar all-cancer risk increases are observed for those above sex-specific WC guidelines. Mutual adjustment for WC attenuates the association between BMI and all-cancer risk, especially among females. Central adiposity appears to be a stronger predictor of all-cancer risk than body size.
Machine learning coarse grained models for water
Authors: Chan Henry , Cherukara Mathew J. , Narayanan Badri , Loeffler Troy D. , Benmore Chris , Gray Stephen K. , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K. R. S.
Published: January 2019

An accurate and computationally efficient molecular level description of mesoscopic behavior of ice-water systems remains a major challenge. Here, we introduce a set of machine-learned coarse-grained (CG) models (ML-BOP, ML-BOPdih, and ML-mW) that accurately describe the structure and thermodynamic anomalies of both water and ice at mesoscopic scales, all at two orders of magnitude cheaper computational cost than existing atomistic models. In a significant departure from conventional force-field fitting, we use a multilevel evolutionary strategy that trains CG models against not just energetics from first-principles and experiments but also temperature-dependent properties inferred from on-the-fly molecular dynamics (~ 10’s of milliseconds of overall trajectories). Our ML BOP models predict both the correct experimental melting point of ice and the temperature of maximum density of liquid water that remained elusive to-date. Our ML workflow navigates efficiently through the high-dimensional parameter space to even improve upon existing high-quality CG models (e.g. mW model).
Author Correction: Information-based autonomous reconfiguration in systems of interacting DNA nanostructures
Authors: Petersen Philip , Tikhomirov Grigory , Qian Lulu
Published: January 2019

The original version of this Article omitted a reference to previous work in ‘Stojanovic, M. N. & Stefanovic, D. A deoxyribozyme-based molecular automaton. Nat. Biotechnol. 21, 1069–1074 (2003)’. This has been added as reference 42. The following has been added after the third sentence of the fifth paragraph of the Discussion: ‘Integration could also allow more sophisticated information processing, for example as shown by the classic deoxyribozyme-based automaton that plays tic-tac-toe42, to direct structural reconfiguration (Supplementary Discussion)’. This has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Occupational-like organophosphate exposure disrupts microglia and accelerates deficits in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Voorhees Jaymie R. , Remy Matthew T. , Erickson Claire M. , Dutca Laura M. , Brat Daniel J. , Pieper Andrew A.
Published: January 2019

Occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), though the mechanism is unclear. To investigate this, we subjected 4-month-old male and female wild-type (WT) and TgF344-AD rats, a transgenic AD model, to an occupational CPF exposure paradigm that recapitulates biomarkers and behavioral impairments experienced by agricultural workers. Subsequent cognition and neuropathology were analyzed over the next 20 months. CPF exposure caused chronic microglial dysregulation and accelerated neurodegeneration in both males and females. The effect on neurodegeneration was more severe in males, and was also associated with accelerated cognitive impairment. Females did not exhibit accelerated cognitive impairment after CPF exposure, and amyloid deposition and tauopathy were unchanged in both males and females. Microglial dysregulation may mediate the increased risk of AD associated with occupational organophosphate exposure, and future therapies to preserve or restore normal microglia might help prevent AD in genetically vulnerable individuals exposed to CPF or other disease-accelerating environmental agents.
A study on mechanism of resistance distribution characteristics of oxide-based resistive memory
Authors: Hur Ji-Hyun , Kim Deok-kee
Published: January 2019

Although oxide-based resistive switching memory (OxRAM) is one of the strong next-generation high capacity memory candidates, it has the critical disadvantage that deviations of resistance levels is too severe to be adopted as a high capacity memory device. More specifically, it is known that the larger on/off current ratios in multi-level operated OxRAMs, the greater deviation of resistance levels from the targeted values. However, despite the seriousness of the problem there has been no concrete theoretical study on the underlying mechanisms of the phenomenon. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical model that clearly explain the underlying mechanism of making such characteristics of programmed resistance levels in multi-level OxRAMs. From this model, we can understand why there is a proportional relationship between resistance level and its deviation, and why it has such a specific range of proportionality constant measured experimentally. And this understanding can certainly reveal the true limitations of OxRAMs’s performance.
Mendelian randomization provides support for obesity as a risk factor for meningioma
Authors: Takahashi Hannah , Cornish Alex J. , Sud Amit , Law Philip J. , Disney-Hogg Linden , Calvocoressi Lisa , Lu Lingeng , Hansen Helen M. , Smirnov Ivan , Walsh Kyle M. , Schramm Johannes , Hoffmann Per , Nöthen Markus M. , Jöckel Karl-Heinz , Schildkraut Joellen M. , Simon Matthias , Bondy Melissa , Wrensch Margaret , Wiemels Joseph L. , Claus Elizabeth B. , Turnbull Clare , Houlston Richard S.
Published: January 2019

Little is known about the causes of meningioma. Obesity and obesity-related traits have been reported in several epidemiological observational studies to be risk factors for meningioma. We performed an analysis of genetic variants associated with obesity-related traits to assess the relationship with meningioma risk using Mendelian randomization (MR), an approach unaffected by biases from temporal variability and reverse causation that might have affected earlier investigations. We considered 11 obesity-related traits, identified genetic instruments for these factors, and assessed their association with meningioma risk using data from a genome-wide association study comprising 1,606 meningioma patients and 9,823 controls. To evaluate the causal relationship between the obesity-related traits and meningioma risk, we consider the estimated odds ratio (OR) of meningioma for each genetic instrument. We identified positive associations between body mass index (odds ratio [ORSD] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–1.56, P = 0.028) and body fat percentage (ORSD = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.01–1.63, P = 0.042) with meningioma risk, albeit non-significant after correction for multiple testing. Associations for basal metabolic rate, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and waist circumference with risk of meningioma were non-significant. Our analysis provides additional support for obesity being associated with an increased risk of meningioma.
A cross-sectional study on the age-related cortical and trabecular bone changes at the femoral head in elderly female hip fracture patients
Authors: Whitmarsh Tristan , Otake Yoshito , Uemura Keisuke , Takao Masaki , Sugano Nobuhiko , Sato Yoshinobu
Published: January 2019

Bone is in a continuous state of remodeling whereby old bone is absorbed and new bone is formed in its place. During this process, new formations reinforce the bone in the direction of the dominant stress trajectories through a functional adaptation. In normal aging, the balance between bone resorption and formation can be shifted. How this affects the functional adaptation remains to be investigated. Furthermore, how or whether the bone continues to change beyond the age of 85 is not yet studied in detail. In this study we examined the age-related changes in the cortical and trabecular bone in old age, and assessed whether we can find evidence of the presence of functional adaptation. We measured cortical and trabecular parameters from micro-computed tomography scans of the femoral head extracted from hip fracture patients between the age of 70 and 93 years. A significant decrease in global trabecular bone mineral density (38.1%) and cortical thickness (13.0%) was seen from the 9th to the 10th decade of life. The degree of anisotropy was maintained globally as well as locally in both high and low stress regions. The local trabecular bone mineral density decreased in both high stress and low stress regions between the 9th and 10th decade of life with similar trends. This suggests that the role of functional adaptation in maintaining the bone structural integrity in old age may be limited. This study highlights the need for a controlled clinical trial examining the cause of the continued bone degradation throughout old age.
Solute trapping in Al-Cu alloys caused by a 29 Tesla super high static magnetic field
Authors: Zheng Tianxiang , Zhou Bangfei , Zhong Yunbo , Wang Jiang , Shuai Sansan , Ren Zhongming , Debray Francois , Beaugnon Eric
Published: January 2019

Solidification of Al-Cu alloys has been investigated using a 29 Tesla super high static magnetic field (SHSMF). The results show that, by imposing a 29 Tesla SHSMF, the size of primary phases and spacing of eutectic structure have been refined through the increase of undercooling which results from the suppression of diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficient of atoms in the liquid matrix decreases to be about 1.2 × 10−12 m2/s. The lattice constants are reduced and high dislocation density forms in the primary phase, which induces a solute trapping effects. The spacing of (110) plane in Al2Cu is corrected to be 4.3123 Å and 4.2628 Å for Al-40 wt.%Cu alloys treated without and with a SHSMF. The spacing of (111) plane in Al is corrected to be 2.3351 Å and 2.3258 Å for Al-26 wt.%Cu alloys treated without and with a SHSMF. The compression yield strength has been improved by about 42% from 268 MPa to 462 MPa for Al-26 wt.%Cu and 42.5% from 248 MPa to 431 MPa for Al-40 wt.%Cu. The maximum elastic strain increases from about 2% to 4.3% for Al-26 wt.%Cu and from 2% to 4% for Al-40 wt.%Cu. It is expected that SHSMF is beneficial to process materials with high mechanical properties.
Volume entropy for modeling information flow in a brain graph
Authors: Lee Hyekyoung , Kim Eunkyung , Ha Seunggyun , Kang Hyejin , Huh Youngmin , Lee Youngjo , Lim Seonhee , Lee Dong Soo
Published: January 2019

Brain regions send and receive information through neuronal connections in an efficient way. In this paper, we modelled the information propagation in brain networks by a generalized Markov system associated with a new edge-transition matrix, based on the assumption that information flows through brain networks forever. From this model, we derived new global and local network measures, called a volume entropy and the capacity of nodes and edges on FDG PET and resting-state functional MRI. Volume entropy of a metric graph, a global measure of information, measures the exponential growth rate of the number of network paths. Capacity of nodes and edges, a local measure of information, represents the stationary distribution of information propagation in brain networks. On the resting-state functional MRI of healthy normal subjects, these measures revealed that volume entropy was significantly negatively correlated to the aging and capacities of specific brain nodes and edges underpinned which brain nodes or edges contributed these aging-related changes.