bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exome sequence analysis in consanguineous Pakistani families inheriting Bardet‐Biedle syndrome determined founder effect of mutation c.299delC (p.Ser100Leufs*24) in BBS9 gene
Authors: Muzammal Muhammad , Zubair Muhammad , Bierbaumer Sophie , Blatterer Jasmin , Graf Ricarda , Gul Aisha , Abbas Safdar , Badar Muhammad , Abbasi Ansar Ahmad , Khan Muzammil Ahmad , Windpassinger Christian
Published: July 2019

Background

Bardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) is characterized by a heterogeneous phenotypic spectrum of retinopathy, intellectual disability (ID), obesity, polydactyly, and kidney dysfunctions as the major clinical features. Genetic investigations have reported 21 BBS genes, the products of which are mostly located at the centrosome, basal body or the ciliary transition zone.

Methods

In the present genetic report, we analyzed two apparently unrelated consanguineous BBS families from Dera Ismail Khan (D.I.Khan) district, Pakistan. Genetic mapping was performed using Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing.

Results

Whole exome sequencing identified a recently reported single base deletion NM_001033604.1:c.299delC in the fourth exon of BBS9 in both families. The identified frameshift mutation is predicted to cause premature truncation of the expressed protein (p.Ser100Leufs*24). This mutation has previously been mapped in a consanguineous Pakistani family; therefore this is the second report of this particular mutation in two additional BBS families originating from different locations.

Conclusion

We speculate the evolutionary significance of this mutation and assume its strong founder effect in the Khaisoori tribe of D.I.Khan. Based on these findings, we suggest developing a molecular diagnostic test that may be used for premarital and prenatal screening of families at risk of BBS.
Screening for Tay‐Sachs disease carriers by full‐exon sequencing with novel variant interpretation outperforms enzyme testing in a pan‐ethnic cohort
Authors: Cecchi Alana C. , Vengoechea Elizabeth S. , Kaseniit Kristjan E. , Hardy Melanie W. , Kiger Laura A. , Mehta Nikita , Haque Imran S. , Moyer Krista , Page Patricia Z. , Muzzey Dale , Grinzaid Karen A.
Published: July 2019

Background

Pathogenic variants in HEXA that impair β‐hexosaminidase A (Hex A) enzyme activity cause Tay‐Sachs Disease (TSD), a severe autosomal‐recessive neurodegenerative disorder. Hex A enzyme analysis demonstrates near‐zero activity in patients affected with TSD and can also identify carriers, whose single functional copy of HEXA results in reduced enzyme activity relative to noncarriers. Although enzyme testing has been optimized and widely used for carrier screening in Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) individuals, it has unproven sensitivity and specificity in a pan‐ethnic population. The ability to detect HEXA variants via DNA analysis has evolved from limited targeting of a few ethnicity‐specific variants to next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of the entire coding region coupled with interpretation of any discovered novel variants.

Methods

We combined results of enzyme testing, retrospective computational analysis, and variant reclassification to estimate the respective clinical performance of TSD screening via enzyme analysis and NGS. We maximized NGS accuracy by reclassifying variants of uncertain significance and compared to the maximum performance of enzyme analysis estimated by calculating ethnicity‐specific frequencies of variants known to yield false‐positive or false‐negative enzyme results (e.g., pseudodeficiency and B1 alleles).

Results

In both AJ and non‐AJ populations, the estimated clinical sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were higher by NGS than by enzyme testing. The differences were significant for all comparisons except for AJ clinical sensitivity, where NGS exceeded enzyme testing, but not significantly.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that performance of an NGS‐based TSD carrier screen that interrogates the entire coding region and employs novel variant interpretation exceeds that of Hex A enzyme testing, warranting a reconsideration of existing guidelines.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study on the Resistant Mechanism of Insects to Imidacloprid due to Y151‐S and R81T Mutations in nAChRs
Authors: Tian Jiaqi , Zhang Qianqian , An Xiaoli , Liu Hongli , Liu Yingqian , Liu Huanxiang
Published: July 2019

Imidacloprid (IMI) is the first widely used neonicotinoid insecticide due to its high insecticidal activity and low toxicity. However, as its extensive use in crop protection, many insects are resistant to IMI. One of the main resistance mechanisms of insects to IMI is Y151‐S and R81T mutations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). However, how these two mutations affect the interaction of IMI with nAChR is unknown. Here, to uncover the resistant mechanism of nAChR to IMI due to Y151‐S and R81T mutations, molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM‐GBSA) calculation, residue interaction network (RIN) analysis were performed. Due that the structure of nAChR is still unkonwn, the crystal structure of lymnaea stagnalis acetylcholine binding protein (Ls‐AChBP) was used here to simulate nAChR. Y151 and R81 in nAChR correspond to H145 and Q55 in Ls‐AChBP, respectively. The calculated binding free energy indicated that two mutations reduced the binding ability of IMI with Ls‐AChBP. Q55T mutation reduced the contribution of several key residues, such as W53, T55, Y113, T144 and C187. As for H145‐S mutation, the contribution of W53, Q55 and Y113 residues also decreased. RIN analysis showed that two mutants changed the binding pocket by changing the conformation of residues that interact directly with the mutated residues. The obtained resistance mechanism of IMI will be helpful for the design of potent insecticides.
Dynamics of an HIV‐1 virus model with both virus‐to‐cell and cell‐to‐cell transmissions, general incidence rate, intracellular delay, and CTL immune responses
Authors: Yan Hong , Xiao Yanyu , Yan Qian , Liu Xianning
Published: July 2019

Direct cell‐to‐cell transmission of HIV‐1 is a more efficient means of virus infection than virus‐to‐cell transmission. In this paper, we incorporate both these transmissions into an HIV‐1 virus model with nonlinear general incidence rate, intracellular delay, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses. This model admits three types of equilibria: infection‐free equilibrium, CTL‐inactivated equilibrium, and CTL‐activated equilibrium. By using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle invariance principle, it is verified that global threshold dynamics of the model can be explicitly described by the basic reproduction numbers.
Analytical solution for the evolution of exit point along the sloping seepage face
Authors: Tang Yuehao , Jiang Qinghui
Published: July 2019

This paper developed an analytical solution for the problem of exit point evolution on the seepage face in the unconfined aquifer with sloping interface. A theoretical model for the groundwater drawdown problem in a half‐infinite aquifer with a sloping boundary is built in accordance with the linearized one‐dimensional Boussinesq equation and the Neumann boundary condition at the seepage point. The homotopy analysis method is then adopted for solving this dynamic boundary problem. By constructing two continuous deformations, the original problem could be converted into a group of subproblems with the same physical essence and similar mathematical solutions. To compare this analytical solution, a numerical model based on the finite volume method is developed, which employs adaptive grids to settle the dynamic boundary condition. The comparisons show that the analytical solution agrees with the numerical model well. The results are useful for the quantification of various hydrological problems. The methodology applied in this study is referential for other dynamic boundary problems as well.
Predicting the functional independence during the recovery phase for poststroke patients
Authors: AL‐Fayyadh Sadeq
Published: July 2019

Background

Successful recovery of stroke survivors can be challenging. However, when targeted functional capacities are predicted early in the recovery phase, necessary nursing intervention can be initiated aiming at supporting the client moving forward in the rehabilitation journey.

Aim(s)

This study aimed to evaluate stroke self‐efficacy of poststroke patients and identify the differences in stroke self‐efficacy level among some relevant variables.

Design

A descriptive cross‐sectional design was employed to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

Methods

A purposive sample of 207 poststroke patients who were recovering from stroke in three major teaching hospitals at Baghdad city were recruited to participate in the study. Data collection process started 3 November 2016 –15 May 2017. Inclusion criteria embraced stroke patients who were adult, have Glasgow Coma Scale score 14–15, capable of giving written or verbal consent. The modified version of the stroke self‐efficacy questionnaire was used for data collection.

Results

A significant statistical difference at the p‐value ≤ 0.05 level, in stroke self‐efficacy, was verified among subjects’ age, residency, stroke incidence and patient's knowledge about his/her stroke medical diagnosis.
What Does Free Community College Buy? Early Impacts from the Oregon Promise
Authors: Gurantz Oded
Published: July 2019

This paper examines the Oregon Promise, a state‐level program that exclusively subsidizes in‐state community college attendance. I estimate impacts using a difference‐in‐difference design that links students in states with essentially universal 10th‐grade PSAT coverage to national‐level postsecondary enrollment data. I find that the implementation of the Oregon Promise increased enrollment at two‐year colleges by roughly four to five percentage points for the first two eligible cohorts. In the first year of the program, the increase in community college enrollment comes primarily from students shifting out of four‐year colleges, whereas in the second year the program predominately increases overall postsecondary enrollment.
Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of [Zn (II)‐Trp]+ and ninhydrin in aqueous and cationic CTAB surfactant
Authors: Kumar Dileep , Rub Malik Abdul
Published: July 2019

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of [Zn (II)‐Trp]+ and ninhydrin in aqueous and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant have been executed in CH3COOH‐CH3COONa buffers of pH 5.0. Spectrophotometric as well as conductometric techniques were employed to carry out the study at experimental temperature. The values of rate constant (kobs in aqueous and kψ in CTAB surfactant) and binding parameters (KB for [Zn (II)‐Trp]+ and KN for ninhydrin) have been determined by the means of a computer program referred to as linear least squares technique. Fractional‐ and first‐order kinetics were found in ninhydrin and [Zn (II)‐Trp]+, respectively, in aqueous and cationic CTAB. Study was catalyzed and accelerated by CTAB surfactant. An increase in CTAB surfactant concentration from 0 to 45 mmol kg−1 resulted to an increase in kψ from 2.5 × 10−5 s−1 to 22.7 × 10−5 s−1. Surfactant concentration beyond 45 mmol kg−1 had a slow decreasing effect in kψ. In order to elucidate CTAB effect on kψ, a pseudo‐phase model of micelles was applied.
A New Equation of State for Detonation Products of RDX‐Based Aluminized Explosives
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Hong‐fu , Bai Fan , Huang Feng‐lei , Hussain Tariq
Published: July 2019

In order to explain the detonation performance of RDX‐based aluminized explosives with different aluminum particle sizes, a new equation of state (EOS) for aluminized explosives is proposed. The proposed EOS regards the gasification of aluminum particles as a real reaction. The proposed EOS takes account of constituent aluminum particle sizes. The proposed EOS was implemented in LS‐DYNA as a user defined EOS and validated by simulating the experiments of metal plates acceleration caused by detonation of RDX‐based aluminized explosives. The numerical results reproduce the experimental finding that the reaction rate of aluminum particles increases with the decrease of aluminum particle size. The proposed EOS has several advantages over the previously reported equations of state for aluminized explosives. The reaction rate of aluminum constituents is calculated theoretically from their gasification reaction rate equation eliminating the need for experimental calibration of the corresponding empirical parameters.
Rapid and High‐Yielding Formation of CL‐20/DNDAP Cocrystals via Self‐Assembly in Slightly Soluble‐Medium with Improved Sensitivity and Thermal Stability
Authors: Liu Ning , Duan Binghui , Lu Xianming , Mo Hongchang , Bi Fuqiang , Wang Bozhou , Zhang Jiaoqiang , Yan Qi‐Long
Published: July 2019

In this study, the energetic 2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane/2,4‐dinitro‐2,4‐diazapentane (CL‐20/DNDAP) cocrystals were successfully fabricated via an efficient self‐assembly strategy. The formation processes of CL‐20/DNDAP cocrystal in solvents of H2O, H2O/methyl acetate, and 2‐propanol have been investigated by using the powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) qualitative/quantitative analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both theoretical and experimental studies confirmed that the most satisfying results can be achieved by using 2‐propanol at 30 °C with crystallization time of 2 h, with a high yield up to 98.2 %. The addition of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) is effective in controlling its morphology with a narrow size distribution. Furthermore, the cocrystal exhibits better thermal stability and improved mechanical sensitivity compared with the one prepared by spray drying method. This work provides a simple and convenient approach for the preparation of energetic cocrystals, and the CL‐20/DNDAP cocrystal with high energy and low sensitivity is desirable for various applications.
Patterns of care and outcomes in small cell carcinoma of the prostate: A national cancer database analysis
Authors: Metzger April L. , Abel Stephen , Wegner Rodney E. , Fuhrer Russell , Mao Shifeng , Miller Ralph , Beriwal Sushil , Horne Zachary D.
Published: July 2019

Background

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate is a rare, aggressive disease. Evidence is limited; however, the current standard of care is chemotherapy. The benefit of local treatment modalities is unknown.

Methods

We queried the National Cancer Database identifying all SCC/neuroendocrine cases of the prostate, excluding those with unknown nodal or metastatic status, unknown treatment, or those not receiving chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using Kaplan‐Meier curves. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify factors associated with survival. A further subgroup analysis was performed on the utility of local therapy on survival in the nonmetastatic setting.

Results

Our final cohort included 657 patients with a median age of 68. Most patients had positive lymph nodes (60.1%) and metastatic disease (70.0%). Median survival was 12 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 11.1‐13.3 months) with a median follow‐up of 11.8 months. Metastatic disease, age greater than or equal to 70, omission of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and lower income (P < .05 for all) were all associated with reduced OS. Patients with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) greater than or equal to 33 ng/mL and those receiving ADT had better survival (P < .05). Those with nonmetastatic disease were more likely to undergo prostatectomy and/or prostatic/pelvic radiation (P < .0001). Prostatic/pelvic radiation in the nonmetastatic setting was associated with longer survival (P = .02). Though well powered, our study is limited by the selection bias inherent to all observational studies, despite the statistical methods utilized to reduce this effect.

Conclusions

Although chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, radiation to the prostate/pelvis may be beneficial in the nonmetastatic setting. In addition to chemotherapy, ADT may benefit patients with an elevated PSA.
Protein structure prediction using sparse NOE and RDC restraints with Rosetta in CASP13
Authors: Kuenze Georg , Meiler Jens
Published: July 2019

Computational methods that produce accurate protein structure models from limited experimental data, for example, from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, hold great potential for biomedical research. The NMR‐assisted modeling challenge in CASP13 provided a blind test to explore the capabilities and limitations of current modeling techniques in leveraging NMR data which had high sparsity, ambiguity, and error rate for protein structure prediction. We describe our approach to predict the structure of these proteins leveraging the Rosetta software suite. Protein structure models were predicted de novo using a two‐stage protocol. First, low‐resolution models were generated with the Rosetta de novo method guided by nonambiguous nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) contacts and residual dipolar coupling (RDC) restraints. Second, iterative model hybridization and fragment insertion with the Rosetta comparative modeling method was used to refine and regularize models guided by all ambiguous and nonambiguous NOE contacts and RDCs. Nine out of 16 of the Rosetta de novo models had the correct fold (global distance test total score > 45) and in three cases high‐resolution models were achieved (root‐mean‐square deviation < 3.5 å). We also show that a meta‐approach applying iterative Rosetta + NMR refinement on server‐predicted models which employed non‐NMR‐contacts and structural templates leads to substantial improvement in model quality. Integrating these data‐assisted refinement strategies with innovative non‐data‐assisted approaches which became possible in CASP13 such as high precision contact prediction will in the near future enable structure determination for large proteins that are outside of the realm of conventional NMR.
DRoP: Automated detection of conserved solvent‐binding sites on proteins
Authors: Kearney Bradley M. , Schwabe Michael , Marcus Kendra C. , Roberts Daniel M. , Dechene Michelle , Swartz Paul , Mattos Carla
Published: July 2019

Water and ligand binding play critical roles in the structure and function of proteins, yet their binding sites and significance are difficult to predict a priori. Multiple solvent crystal structures (MSCS) is a method where several X‐ray crystal structures are solved, each in a unique solvent environment, with organic molecules that serve as probes of the protein surface for sites evolved to bind ligands, while the first hydration shell is essentially maintained. When superimposed, these structures contain a vast amount of information regarding hot spots of protein‐protein or protein‐ligand interactions, as well as conserved water‐binding sites retained with the change in solvent properties. Optimized mining of this information requires reliable structural data and a consistent, objective analysis tool. Detection of related solvent positions (DRoP) was developed to automatically organize and rank the water or small organic molecule binding sites within a given set of structures. It is a flexible tool that can also be used in conserved water analysis given multiple structures of any protein independent of the MSCS method. The DRoP output is an HTML format list of the solvent sites ordered by conservation rank in its population within the set of structures, along with renumbered and recolored PDB files for visualization and facile analysis. Here, we present a previously unpublished set of MSCS structures of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) and use it together with published structures to illustrate the capabilities of DRoP.
Nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of Pisum sativum defensin 2 provides evidence for the presence of hydrophobic surface‐clusters
Authors: Pinheiro‐Aguiar Ramon , do Amaral Virginia S. G. , Pereira Iuri B. , Kurtenbach Eleonora , Almeida Fabio C. L.
Published: July 2019

Pisum sativum defensin 2 (Psd2) is a small (4.7 kDa) antifungal peptide whose structure is held together by four conserved disulfide bridges. Psd2 shares the cysteine‐stabilized alpha‐beta (CSαβ) fold, which lacks a regular hydrophobic core. All hydrophobic residues are exposed to the surface, except for leucine 6. They are clustered in the surface formed by two loops, between β1 and α‐helix and β2 and β3 sheets. The observation of surface hydrophobic clusters reveals a remarkable evolution of the CSαβ fold to expose and reorganize hydrophobic residues, which facilitates creating versatile binding sites.
Diffusion of Phosphorus and Boron from Atomic Layer Deposition Oxides into Silicon
Authors: Beljakowa Svetlana , Pichler Peter , Kalkofen Bodo , Hübner René
Published: July 2019

Oxides containing group III or group V elements (B2O3/Sb2O5 and P2O5/Sb2O5) are grown by plasma‐assisted atomic layer deposition (ALD) on single‐crystalline silicon and serve as dopant sources for conformal and shallow doping. Transport phenomena in ALD‐oxide–Si structures during rapid thermal annealing (RTA) are investigated subsequently by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The XPS and TEM analyses of the annealed ALD‐oxide–Si structures demonstrate that the ALD oxide converts to a silicon oxide and partially evaporates during annealing. In addition, dopant‐containing, spherical, and partially crystalline particles form in the oxide, and Si‐P precipitates at the oxide–Si interface. After diffusion annealing at 1000 °C, the SIMS analyses reveal phosphorus and boron concentration profiles in the silicon substrate with maximum concentrations exceeding their solid solubility limits by roughly one order of magnitude. Experimental doping profiles of phosphorus and boron in silicon are compared with simulation results, considering a slight injection of self‐interstitials and dynamical defect clustering.
Layer‐Switching Mechanisms in Sb2Te3
Authors: Wang Jiang-Jing , Wang Jun , Xu Yazhi , Xin Tianjiao , Song Zhitang , Pohlmann Marc , Kaminski Marvin , Lu Lu , Du Hongchu , Jia Chun-Lin , Mazzarello Riccardo , Wuttig Matthias , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2019

Interfacial phase‐change memory (iPCM) based on layer‐structured Ge‐Sb‐Te crystals has been recently proposed, offering an energy‐efficient implementation of nonvolatile memory cells and supplementing the development of Ge‐Sb‐Te‐based phase‐change random access memories (PRAMs). Although the working principle of iPCM is still under debate, it is believed that layer‐switching plays a role in the switching process between the low‐resistance and high‐resistance states of iPCM memory cells. However, the role of Ge in forming swapped bilayers—the key elements for layer‐switching—is not yet clarified. This work manages to achieve layer‐switching in Sb2Te3 thin films by manipulating the formation of bilayer defects using magnetron sputtering and post‐thermal annealing. By combining scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) experiments with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the essential role of Sb‐Te intermixing is elucidated in stabilizing swapped bilayers at a low energy cost. In situ STEM experiments provide a real‐time and real‐space view of dynamical reconfiguration of van der Waals‐like gaps in Sb2Te3 thin films under electron‐beam irradiation. The results show that the Ge atoms are not necessary for the formation and motion of swapped bilayers, providing atomic insights on the layer‐switching mechanism in layer‐structured binary and ternary group V‐ and IV–V‐tellurides for memory applications.
Quantum Spin Hall Materials
Authors: Cao Chuanwu , Chen Jian‐Hao
Published: July 2019

The quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect describes the state of matter in certain 2D electron systems, in which an insulating bulk state arises together with helical states at the edge of the sample. In stark contrast to its closest kin, the integer quantum Hall state, the QSH state exists only in time‐reversal symmetric system (e.g., in non‐magnetic materials and without the application of external magnetic field). This article reviews the development of the understanding and construction of the QSH states after their first theoretical proposal, with an emphasis on the materials perspective. Certain semiconductor quantum wells and 2D materials with strong spin–orbit coupling have been found to support QSH states.
Data‐based optimal Denial‐of‐Service attack scheduling against robust control based on Q‐learning
Authors: An Liwei , Yang Guang‐Hong
Published: July 2019

Attack optimization is an important issue in securing cyber‐physical systems. This paper investigates how an attacker should schedule its denial‐of‐service attacks to degrade the robust performance of a closed‐loop system. The measurements of system states are transmitted to a remote controller over a multichannel network. With limited resources, the attacker only has the capacity to jam sparse channels and to decide which channels should be attacked. Under an
framework, a data‐based optimal attack strategy that uses Q‐learning is proposed to maximize the effect on the closed‐loop system. The Q‐learning algorithm can adaptively learn the optimal attack using data sniffed over the wireless network without requiring a priori knowledge of system parameters. Simulation results sustain the performance of the proposed attack scenario.
A modelling approach for correcting reporting delays in disease surveillance data
Authors: Bastos Leonardo S , Economou Theodoros , Gomes Marcelo F C , Villela Daniel A M , Coelho Flavio C , Cruz Oswaldo G , Stoner Oliver , Bailey Trevor , Codeço Claudia T
Published: July 2019

One difficulty for real‐time tracking of epidemics is related to reporting delay. The reporting delay may be due to laboratory confirmation, logistical problems, infrastructure difficulties, and so on. The ability to correct the available information as quickly as possible is crucial, in terms of decision making such as issuing warnings to the public and local authorities. A Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach is proposed as a flexible way of correcting the reporting delays and to quantify the associated uncertainty. Implementation of the model is fast due to the use of the integrated nested Laplace approximation. The approach is illustrated on dengue fever incidence data in Rio de Janeiro, and severe acute respiratory infection data in the state of Paraná, Brazil.
Synthesis and Catalytic Application of Poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid‐co‐acrylamide) Grafted on Graphene Oxide
Authors: Boroujeni Kaveh Parvanak , Tohidiyan Zeinab , Fadavi Abdulhamid , Eskandari Mohammad Mehdi , Shahsanaei Hekmat Allah
Published: July 2019

Graphene oxide was grafted with poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid‐co‐acrylamide) (GO–poly(AMPS–co–AM)) by free radical copolymerization of the corresponding monomers namely acrylamide (AM) and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid (AMPS). The benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as initiator. The GO–poly(AMPS–co–AM) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), Raman spectroscopy, X–ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The GO–poly(AMPS–co–AM) exhibited the acidic site loading of 0.85 mmol g−1, the maximum degradation temperatures (Tmax) of 212, 292, and 406 °C, the char yield of 30% at 800 °C, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 29.5, an estimated band gap of 4.7 eV, and the fluorescence emission bands of 722, 800, and 880 nm at the excitation wavelengths (λmax) of 360, 400, and 440 nm, respectively. The GO–poly(AMPS–co–AM) was used as a reusable catalyst for the preparation of 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthenes through the condensation of an aldehyde with 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexanedione (dimedone) in H2O/EtOH (1:1) as green solvents at room temperature.
SiCx/TiCx Nanostructured Material from Ti3SiC2 for High Rate Performance of Lithium Storage
Authors: Li Chenyang , Xue Zhe , Qin Jiaqian , Sawangphruk Montree , Rajendran Saravanan , Zhang Xinyu , Liu Riping
Published: July 2019

A new SiCx/TiCx electrode material has been synthesized by ball‐milling of Ti3SiC2 MAX phase. To demonstrate the possible applications for lithium‐ion batteries, the electrochemical properties of the SiCx/TiCx nanocomposite was studied. The results indicate that this new material has a higher specific capacity (170 mAh/g) than those of pure SiC (93 mAh/g), TiC (75 mAh/g), and the mixture of SiC‐TiC (122 mAh/g) at current density of 100 mA/g for 300 cycles. Furthermore, the SiCx/TiCx nanocomposite has a specific capacity of 110 mAh/g, better than those of artificial graphite (labeled: SAG−R, 26 mAh/g) and mesocarbon microbeads (labeled: MCMB, 21 mAh/g), at current density of 1 A/g for 1000 cycles. The enhancement mechanism of the SiCx/TiCx nanostructure has been discussed by the DFT calculation. Further development of this anode material may enable practical applications for long cycling and fast charge‐discharge anode in rechargeable batteries.
Super‐Elastic Magnetic Structural Color Hydrogels
Authors: Zhang Yalan , Wang Yu , Wang Huan , Yu Ying , Zhong Qifeng , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: July 2019

Structural color hydrogels are promising candidates as scaffold materials for tissue engineering and for matrix cell culture and manipulation, while their super‐elastic features are still lacking due to the irreconcilable interfere of the precursor and the self‐assembly unit. This hinders many of their practical biomedical applications where elasticity is required. Herein, hydrophilic and size‐controllable Fe3O4@poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) (PSSMA)@SiO2 magnetic response photonic crystals are fabricated as the assembly units of the structural color hydrogels by orderly packing of core–shell colloidal nanocrystal clusters via a two‐step facile synthesis approach. These units are capable of responding instantaneously to an external magnetic field with resistance to interference of ions, thus, by integrating super‐elastic hydrogels, super‐elastic magnetic structural color hydrogels can be achieved. The structural color arises from the dynamic ordering of the magnetic nanoparticles through the contactless control of external magnetic field, allowing regional polymerization of hydrogels via changing orientation and strength of external magnetic field. These regionally polymerized super‐elastic magnetic structural color hydrogels can work as anti‐counterfeiting labels with super‐elastic identification, which may be widely used in the future.
Cu‐Promoted Reversed Elemental Distribution for Electrochemically Intermetallic Diffusion Improved Cu2ZnSnSe4 Photovoltaic Device Beyond 9% Efficiency
Authors: Liu Jingling , Li Shuang , Liu Xinsheng , Jia Erguang , Chang Songfeng , Shen Xingfen , Cheng Ke , Du Zuliang
Published: July 2019

Electrodeposition (ED) presents a substantially technical advantage over other methods, conducted with a simply equipped nonvacuum green process. Zn deposition is recognized as the biggest challenge in the process of electrodepositing CuZnSn‐based photovoltaic materials, due to the fiercely competitive reaction with H2O. Herein, Cu‐promoted Zn deposition from a preferred Cu/Sn/Zn stacked electrodeposition process is proposed. Intermetallic diffusion is confirmed to be positively reinforced during Zn electrodeposition, leading to a dense prefabricated alloyed layer with a reversed elemental distribution. Thus, a high‐quality Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) absorber layer with up–down microsized grains is achieved by a two‐step sequence selenization, thereby reducing the Voc deficit and space‐charge‐region (SCR) recombination. With these sequential positive effects, a power conversion efficiency of 9.1% is achieved, accompanied with a depressed Voc deficit of 556 mV, to be the highest efficiency on electrodeposited CZTSe‐based devices. Additional processes of antireflective coating or surface treatments are expected to further improve the efficiency. This work highly contributes to the progress of high‐performance Cu‐kesterite solar cells by the low‐cost green electrodeposition process.
Screening a genomic library for genes involved in propionate tolerance in Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Park Young‐Kyoung , Nicaud Jean‐Marc
Published: July 2019

Microbial oils are regarded as promising alternatives to fossil fuels. For bio‐oil production to be sustainable over the long term, utilizing low‐cost substrates like volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is crucial. Increasing attention is being paid to one of the most common VFAs: propionate, a substrate that could be used to produce the odd‐chain FAs of industrial interest. However, little is known about microbial responses to propionate‐induced stress and the genes involved. Using genomic library screening, we identified two genes involved in propionate tolerance in Yarrowia lipolytica—MFS1 and RTS1. Strains containing each of the genes displayed enhanced tolerance to propionate even when the genes were expressed in truncated form via a replicative plasmid. Compared with the control strain, the strain overexpressing MFS1 under a constitutive promoter displayed greater tolerance to propionate: It had a shorter lag phase and higher growth rate in propionate medium (0.047 hr−1 versus 0.030 hr−1 for the control in 40 g/L propionate); it also accumulated more total lipids and more odd‐chain lipids (10% and 3.3%, respectively) than the control. The strain overexpressing RTS1 showed less tolerance for propionate than the strains harboring the truncated form (0.057 hr−1 versus 0.065 hr−1 in 40 g/L propionate medium) but still had higher tolerance than the control strain. Furthermore, the overexpression of RTS1 seemed to confer tolerance to other weak acids such as lactate, formic acid, malic acid, and succinic acid. This work provides a basis for better understanding the response to propionate‐induced stress in Y. lipolytica.
Schauder Estimates for a Class of Potential Mean Field Games of Controls
Authors: Bonnans J. Frédéric , Hadikhanloo Saeed , Pfeiffer Laurent
Published: July 2019

An existence result for a class of mean field games of controls is provided. In the considered model, the cost functional to be minimized by each agent involves a price depending at a given time on the controls of all agents and a congestion term. The existence of a classical solution is demonstrated with the Leray–Schauder theorem; the proof relies in particular on a priori bounds for the solution, which are obtained with the help of a potential formulation of the problem.
Quality Improvement of Damage Control Laparotomy: Impact of the Establishment of a Single Korean Regional Trauma Center
Authors: Kang Wu Seong , Jo Young Goun , Park Yun Chul
Published: July 2019

Background

Damage control laparotomy (DCL) is a lifesaving technique to minimize the lethal triad of coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis. The government has nominated and supported our center as one of the regional trauma centers of South Korea since 2014. This study aimed to investigate the improving outcomes of patients undergoing DCL before and after the establishment of the trauma center.

Method

The period from January 2011 to December 2017 was divided into pre‐trauma center (pre‐TC) (2011–2013) and trauma center (TC) (2014–2017) periods. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors and risk‐adjusted cumulative sum (RA‐CUSUM), and graphs were used to monitor the change in mortality.

Result

Of the 485 patients who underwent trauma laparotomy, DCL was performed for 119 patients (24.5%). The operation time (99 vs. 80 min, p = 0.022), time from admission to operation (125 vs. 112 min, p = 0.010), time from admission to first treatment (119 vs. 99 min, p = 0.004), and time from admission to first transfusion (70 vs. 52 min, p = 0.009) were significantly shortened in the TC period. The ratio of plasma to packed red blood cells in massive transfusions (≥PRBCs 10 units within the first 24 h) was significantly increased in the TC period (0.56 vs. 0.72, p = 0.004). RA‐CUSUM curves revealed that the risk‐adjusted 30‐day mortality improved and then plateaued in the TC period.

Conclusion

After the implementation of a trauma center, more prompt intervention and damage control resuscitation could be achieved. Moreover, risk‐adjusted mortality of DCL was improved.
Comparison of Topical, Systemic, and Combined Therapy with Steroids on Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Çetin Kenan , Sıkar Hasan E. , Göret Nuri E. , Rona Günay , Barışık Nagehan Ö. , Küçük Hasan F. , Gulluoglu Bahadır M.
Published: July 2019

Background

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a benign disorder of the breast, for which the optimal treatment modality remains missing.

Methods

A total of 124 patients with a histopathologically proven diagnosis of IGM were enrolled in a prospective, randomized parallel arm study. Patients were treated with topical steroids in Group T (n: 42), systemic steroids (0.8 mg/kg/day peroral) in Group S (n: 42), and combined steroids (0.4 mg/kg/day peroral + topical) in Group C (n: 40). Compliance with the therapy, response to the therapy, the duration of therapy, side effects and the recurrence rates were compared.

Results

Sixteen patients did not comply with the treatment, and the highest ratio of compliance with therapy was seen in Group T (p < 0.05). Complete clinical regression (CCR) was observed in 90 (83.3%) patients. Response to the treatment (RT) was evaluated radiologically and observed in 89.8% of the patients. There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding CCR, RT and the recurrence rate. The longest duration of therapy was observed in Group T (22 ± 9.1‐week), whereas the shortest was observed in Group S (11.7 ± 5.5‐week) (p < 0.001). The systemic side effects were significantly lower in Group T in comparison with Groups S and C (2.4% vs. 38.2% and 30.3%, respectively) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The efficiency of the treatment was similar for all groups, both clinically and radiologically. Although the duration of therapy was longer in Group T, the lack of systemic side effects increased the compliance of the patients with the therapy. Therefore, topical steroids would be among first‐line treatment options of IGM.
Combinatorial expression of different β-carotene hydroxylases and ketolases in Escherichia coli for increased astaxanthin production
Authors: Wu Yuanqing , Yan Panpan , Liu Xuewei , Wang Zhiwen , Tang Ya-Jie , Chen Tao , Zhao Xueming
Published: July 2019

In natural produced bacteria, β-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ) and β-carotene ketolase (CrtW) convert β-carotene into astaxanthin. To increase astaxanthin production in heterologous strain, simple and effective strategies based on the co-expression of CrtZ and CrtW were applied in E. coli. First, nine artificial operons containing crtZ and crtW genes from different sources were constructed and, respectively, introduced into E. coli ZF237T, a β-carotene producing host. Among the nine resulting strains, five accumulated detectable amounts of astaxanthin ranging from 0.49 to 8.07 mg/L. Subsequently, the protein fusion CrtZ to CrtW using optimized peptide linkers further increased the astaxanthin production. Strains expressing fusion proteins with CrtZ rather than CrtW attached to the N-terminus accumulated much more astaxanthin. The astaxanthin production of the best strain ZF237T/CrtZAs-(GS)1-WBs was 127.6% and 40.2% higher than that of strains ZF237T/crtZ  As  W  Bs and ZF237T/crtZ  Bs  W  Ps, respectively. The strategies depicted here also will be useful for the heterologous production of other natural products.
Soy Isoflavone Improved Female Sexual Dysfunction of Mice Via Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Pathway
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhu Yuan , Pan Lianjun , Xia Haiping , Ma Jiehua , Zhang Aixia
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common endocrine disease that impairs the quality of life for many women. The existing therapy strategies still have many disadvantages. It is necessary to explore new pharmacologic treatments that are effective and safe.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of soy isoflavone (SI) on FSD in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and Main Outcome Measures

Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to determine vaginal blood flow. Serum hormone levels and histologic changes of the vagina were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichome staining. The mRNA and protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was then evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays.

Results

Vaginal blood flow was found to be remarkably lower in adult mice, and SI was shown to increase vaginal blood flow in a dose-dependent manner (P < .05). The results of ELISA and H&E and Masson’s trichome staining suggest that SI had a positive effect on FSD, as evidenced by the levels of hormones in serum and histologic changes of the vagina, which changed consistently. In addition, the level of eNOS was positively correlated with the concentration of SI, and eNOS inhibitor was able to reverse the improvement in sexual function induced by SI.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that SI could improve sexual function by upregulating the eNOS pathway. Therefore, SI might serve as a promising candidate for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
Shear stress-driven flow: the state space of near-wall turbulence as
Authors: Doohan Patrick , Willis Ashley P. , Hwang Yongyun
Published: July 2019

An inner-scaled, shear stress-driven flow is considered as a model of independent near-wall turbulence as the friction Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}\rightarrow \infty$. In this limit, the model is applicable to the near-wall region and the lower part of the logarithmic layer of various parallel shear flows, including turbulent Couette flow, Poiseuille flow and Hagen–Poiseuille flow. The model is validated against damped Couette flow and there is excellent agreement between the velocity statistics and spectra for the wall-normal height $y^{+}<40$. A near-wall flow domain of similar size to the minimal unit is analysed from a dynamical systems perspective. The edge and fifteen invariant solutions are computed, the first discovered for this flow configuration. Through continuation in the spanwise width $L_{z}^{+}$, the bifurcation behaviour of the solutions over the domain size is investigated. The physical properties of the solutions are explored through phase portraits, including the energy input and dissipation plane, and streak, roll and wave energy space. Finally, a Reynolds number is defined in outer units and the high-$Re$ asymptotic behaviour of the equilibria is studied. Three lower branch solutions are found to scale consistently with vortex–wave interaction (VWI) theory, with wave forcing localising around the critical layer.
A Bracketing Relationship between Difference-in-Differences and Lagged-Dependent-Variable Adjustment
Authors: Ding Peng , Li Fan
Published: July 2019

Difference-in-differences is a widely used evaluation strategy that draws causal inference from observational panel data. Its causal identification relies on the assumption of parallel trends, which is scale-dependent and may be questionable in some applications. A common alternative is a regression model that adjusts for the lagged dependent variable, which rests on the assumption of ignorability conditional on past outcomes. In the context of linear models, Angrist and Pischke (2009) show that the difference-in-differences and lagged-dependent-variable regression estimates have a bracketing relationship. Namely, for a true positive effect, if ignorability is correct, then mistakenly assuming parallel trends will overestimate the effect; in contrast, if the parallel trends assumption is correct, then mistakenly assuming ignorability will underestimate the effect. We show that the same bracketing relationship holds in general nonparametric (model-free) settings. We also extend the result to semiparametric estimation based on inverse probability weighting. We provide three examples to illustrate the theoretical results with replication files in Ding and Li (2019).
Deformation partitioning in mountain belts: insights from analogue modelling experiments and the Taiwan collisional orogen
Authors: Malavieille Jacques , Dominguez Stephane , Lu Chia-Yu , Chen Chih-Tung , Konstantinovskaya Elena
Published: July 2019

Many orogens on the planet result from plate convergence involving subduction of a continental margin. The lithosphere is strongly deformed during mountain building involving subduction of a plate composed generally of accreted continental margin units and some fragments of downgoing oceanic crust and mantle. A complex deformation involving strong partitioning of deformation modes and kinematics produces crustal shortening, accompanied by crustal thickening. Partitioning depends on three main factors: (1) rheologic layering of the lithosphere; (2) interaction between tectonics and surface processes; (3) subduction kinematics and 3D geometry of continental margins (oblique convergence, shape of indenters). Here we present an original view and discussion on the impact of deformation partitioning on the structure and evolution of orogens by examining the Taiwan mountain belt as a case study. Major unsolved questions are addressed through geological observations from the Taiwan orogen and insights from analogue models integrating surface processes. Some of these questions include: What is the role played by décollements or weak zones in crustal deformation and what is the impact of structural heterogeneities inherited from the early extensional history of a rifted passive continental margin? What is the relationship between deep underplating, induced uplift and flow of crustal material during erosion (finite strain evolution during wedge growth)? Are syn-convergent normal faults an effect of deformation partitioning and erosion? What is the role of strain partitioning on the location of major seismogenic faults in active mountain belts? What can be learned about the long-term and the present-day evolution of Taiwan?
The effect of child death on birth spacing in Nigeria
Authors: Ewemade Jude , Akinyemi Joshua , DeWet Nicole
Published: July 2019

Studies have focused on the effect of short birth spacing on childhood mortality, yet very little attention has been paid to the possibility of an inverse relationship such that child mortality might also positively or negatively affect birth spacing. In Nigeria, where both fertility and child mortality are high, this inverse relationship is a possible reason for the country’s high fertility. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of child death on time to birth of the next child. Data were drawn from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey. The study sample comprised 188,986 live births born to women aged 15–49 years within the five years preceding the survey. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to the data, and hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals calculated. More than half of the mothers (68%) already had a next birth by 36 months after the death of the index child. Controlling for other covariates, the Cox regression model showed that the likelihood of next birth was higher when the index child had died compared with when the index child survived (HR: 2.21; CI: 2.03–2.41). Sub-group analysis by geo-political regions in Nigeria showed that in all regions there was a higher likelihood of having a next birth following the death of a preceding child. Death of the index child was found to be a major factor that shortens the length of birth intervals in Nigeria. It is therefore important that the Government of Nigeria intensifies efforts aimed at reducing infant mortality and encouraging adequate birth spacing.