bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Negative regulation of EGFR signalling by the human folliculin tumour suppressor protein
Authors: Laviolette Laura A. , Mermoud Julien , Calvo Isabel A. , Olson Nicholas , Boukhali Myriam , Steinlein Ortrud K. , Roider Elisabeth , Sattler Elke C. , Huang Dachuan , Teh Bin Tean , Motamedi Mo , Haas Wilhelm , Iliopoulos Othon
Published: June 2017

Germline mutations in the Folliculin (FLCN) tumour suppressor gene result in fibrofolliculomas, lung cysts and renal cancers, but the precise mechanisms of tumour suppression by FLCN remain elusive. Here we identify Rab7A, a small GTPase important for endocytic trafficking, as a novel FLCN interacting protein and demonstrate that FLCN acts as a Rab7A GTPase-activating protein. FLCN−/− cells display slower trafficking of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) from early to late endosomes and enhanced activation of EGFR signalling upon ligand stimulation. Reintroduction of wild-type FLCN, but not tumour-associated FLCN mutants, suppresses EGFR signalling in a Rab7A-dependent manner. EGFR signalling is elevated in FLCN−/− tumours and the EGFR inhibitor afatinib suppresses the growth of human FLCN−/− cells as tumour xenografts. The functional interaction between FLCN and Rab7A appears conserved across species. Our work highlights a mechanism explaining, at least in part, the tumour suppressor function of FLCN.
Identifying the neck margin status of ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic head by multiphoton microscopy
Authors: Xu Jian , Chen Youting , Chen Hong , Hong Zhipeng , Shi Zheng , Zhuo Shuangmu , Zhu Xiaoqin , Chen Jianxin
Published: June 2017

Complete surgical resection is the only option for improving the survival of patients with ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic head. After resection, determining the status of resection margins (RMs) is crucial for deciding on the nature of the follow-up treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether multiphoton microscopy (MPM) could be considered a reliable tool for determining the status of pancreatic neck margins by identifying tumour cells of ductal adenocarcinoma in these margins in the pancreatic head, and our results were affirmative. In particular, MPM could identify tumour cells in the nerves. It was also found that the quantification of the difference between normal duct cells and tumour cells was possible. In addition, the content of collagen could be quantified and used as a marker for differentiating ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic head from normal pancreatic tissues, eventually leading to the identification of R0 and R1 resections of the pancreatic neck margin. With the development of the clinical applications of the multiphoton endoscope, MPM has the potential to provide in vivo real-time identification of RM status during surgery.
Generation of megahertz-band spin currents using nonlinear spin pumping
Authors: Watanabe Shingo , Hirobe Daichi , Shiomi Yuki , Iguchi Ryo , Daimon Shunsuke , Kameda Mai , Takahashi Saburo , Saitoh Eiji
Published: June 2017

Spin pumping enables the generation of d.c. and gigahertz-band (GHz-band) voltages from an applied microwave via magnetization dynamics when combined with inverse spin Hall effects. However, generating such voltages in the in-between frequency region, or the megahertz (MHz) band, has been difficult since ferromagnetic resonance usually occurs in the GHz band. Here we show that in spite of GHz-band microwaves applied, MHz-band voltages can be generated by spin pumping with use of nonlinear magnetization dynamics in Y3Fe5O12. The mechanism is ascribed to the MHz-band oscillation of the amplitude of the magnetization precession, which is projected onto a rectified voltage component via spin pumping. The present finding could be useful for frequency down-conversion thanks to the simple and durable structure, continuous-wave operation, and the tunability of an output frequency with low magnetic fields.
Comparison of traditional culture and molecular qPCR for detection of simultaneous carriage of multiple pneumococcal serotypes in African children
Authors: Olwagen Courtney P. , Adrian Peter V. , Madhi Shabir A.
Published: June 2017

S. pneumoniae is a common colonizer of the human nasopharynx in high income and low-middle income countries. Due to limitations of standard culture methods, the prevalence of concurrent colonization with multiple serotypes is unclear. We evaluated the use of multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect multiple pneumococcal serotypes/group colonization in archived nasopharyngeal swabs of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine naive children who had previously been investigated by traditional culture methods. Overall the detection of pneumococcal colonization was higher by qPCR (82%) compared to standard culture (71%; p < 0.001), with a high concordance (kappa = 0.73) of serotypes/groups identified by culture also being identified by qPCR. Also, qPCR was more sensitive in detecting multiple serotype/groups among colonized cases (28.7%) compared to culture (4.5%; p < 0.001). Of the additional serotypes detected only by qPCR, the majority were of lower density (<104 CFU/ml) than the dominant colonizing serotype, with serotype/group 6A/B, 19B/F and 23F being the highest density colonizers, followed by serotype 5 and serogroup 9A/L/N/V being the most common second and third colonizers respectively. The ability of qPCR to detect multiple pneumococcal serotypes at a low carriage density might provide better insight into underlying mechanism for changes in serotype colonization in PCV vaccinated children.
Supercharging SpyCatcher toward an intrinsically disordered protein with stimuli-responsive chemical reactivity
Authors: Cao Yang , Liu Dong , Zhang Wen-Bin
Published: June 2017

Extensive mutation creates a supercharged, intrinsically disordered protein, SpyCatcher(−), with stimuli-responsive reactivity toward SpyTag.
Viologen-templated bromoplumbate: a new in situ synthetic method and energy gap engineering
Authors: Sun Cai , Wang Ming-Sheng , Zhang Xian , Zhang Ning-Ning , Cai Lin-Rong , Guo Guo-Cong
Published: June 2017

A newin situsynthesis strategy for viologen-based compounds was developed, which is much milder than the traditional solvothermal method.
Structural landscape of multicomponent solids of 5-aminosalicylic acid
Authors: Goswami Pramod Kumar , Kumar Vineet , Thaimattam Ram , Ramanan Arunachalam
Published: June 2017

Crystallization of ten new multicomponent solids of 5-aminosalicylic acid with various inorganic and organic coformers has been achieved by mechanochemical and solvent evaporation techniques.
Cu(ii) frameworks from a “mixed-ligand” approach
Authors: Fidelli Athena M. , Kessler Vadim G. , Escuer Albert , Papaefstathiou Giannis S.
Published: June 2017

Combination of di-2-pyridyl ketone with polycarboxylates in the CuII chemistry has afforded a series of coordination polymers and hydrogen-bonded frameworks.
Exploring the structure and photodissociation mechanism of the electronic states of iodocarbene, CHI: a theoretical contribution
Authors: Shan Shimin , Yan Peiyuan , Zhang Xiaomei , Yin Shuang , Yuan Xiang , Xu Haifeng , Yan Bing
Published: June 2017

Interactions between the electronic states of CHI were investigated and the dissociation mechanism was explored in the ultraviolet region.
Mechanistic insights into dioxygen activation, oxygen atom exchange and substrate epoxidation by AsqJ dioxygenase from quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations
Authors: Song Xudan , Lu Jiarui , Lai Wenzhen
Published: June 2017

A detailed QM/MM investigation of dioxygen activation, oxygen atom exchange and substrate epoxidation by AsqJ is presented to provide important insights into the reactive iron–oxo species in an FeII/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase.
Limiting the valence: advancements and new perspectives on patchy colloids, soft functionalized nanoparticles and biomolecules
Authors: Bianchi Emanuela , Capone Barbara , Coluzza Ivan , Rovigatti Lorenzo , van Oostrum Peter D. J.
Published: June 2017

Artistic representation of limited valance units consisting of a soft core (in blue) and a small number of flexible bonding patches (in orange).
Hydrogen sulfide donor micelles protect cardiomyocytes from ischemic cell death
Authors: Takatani-Nakase T. , Katayama M. , Matsui C. , Hanaoka K. , van der Vlies A. J. , Takahashi K. , Nakase I. , Hasegawa U.
Published: June 2017

A nanosized H2S donor micelle releases H2S intracellularly and prevents cardiomyocyte apoptosis in an in vitro ischemia model.
Synergetic nanoporous Mn–Ru oxides as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Zakaria Mohamed B. , Chikyow Toyohiro
Published: June 2017

Nanoporous Mn–Ru mixed oxides were derived from Mn–Ru CP nanocubes with a similar morphology through annealing in air at 400 degree for effecient electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen.
Synthesis of paramagnetic dendritic silica nanomaterials with fibrous pore structure (Fe3O4@KCC-1) and their application in immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa with enhanced catalytic activity and stability
Authors: Ali Zafar , Tian Lei , Zhang Baoliang , Ali Nisar , khan Muhammad , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: June 2017

Paramagnetic mesoporous fibrous silica (Fe3O4@KCC-1) was prepared and its surface was functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES).
One-pot mass preparation of MoS2/C aerogels for high-performance supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Yan , He Ting , Liu Guanglei , Zu Lianhai , Yang Jinhu
Published: June 2017

A MoS2/C composite aerogel realized by simple one-pot mass preparation exhibits high energy-storage performance for supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries.
Structure-induced variation of thermal conductivity in epoxy resin fibers
Authors: Zeng Xiaoliang , Xiong Yucheng , Fu Qiang , Sun Rong , Xu Jianbin , Xu Dongyan , Wong Ching-Ping
Published: June 2017

Structure-induced variation of thermal conductivity in epoxy resin fibers was observed and understood.
Miniaturised unequal Wilkinson power divider using lumped component elements
Authors: Heydari M. , Roshani S.
Published: June 2017

A compact two‐way unequal Wilkinson power divider with a power division ratio of 2 is proposed. The proposed design can reduce more than 75% of the occupied area, compared with the conventional unequal power divider using composite transmission line. In the proposed design, the total transmission‐line length is much less than conventional one. A resistor and a compensative capacitor are used to isolate output ports. The proposed divider is designed, fabricated and tested. The results show that at the designed frequency of 1.5 GHz, the input return loss (s11) and output return losses (s22, s33) are better than 20 dB and the output ports isolation (s23) is better than 25 dB.
Capacity withholding assessment in the presence of integrated generation and transmission maintenance scheduling
Authors: Salarkheili Saeed , Nazar Mehrdad Setayesh
Published: June 2017

In oligopoly power markets, maintenance of equipments may be scheduled strategically for exercising capacity withholding. In this study, an approach for analysing the capacity withholding of generation companies (GenCos) considering integrated generation and transmission maintenance scheduling (IGTMS) is proposed. This approach is based on some indices, which compare different types of power markets to analyse the effect of IGTMS on the capacity withholding of GenCos. The indices provide valuable information about capacity withholding, nodal price distortion, wealth transfer and loss of social welfare. The complex interactions of IGTMS with the capacity withholding of GenCos are provided with assessing extensive numerical simulations on two IEEE test systems.
Generalised rough intuitionistic fuzzy c‐means for magnetic resonance brain image segmentation
Authors: Namburu Anupama , Samayamantula Srinivas Kumar , Edara Srinivasa Reddy
Published: June 2017

Intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs), rough sets are efficient tools to handle uncertainty and vagueness present in images and recently are combined to segment medical images in the presence of noise and intensity non homogeneity (INU). These hybrid algorithms are sensitive to initial centroids, parameter tuning and dependency with the fuzzy membership function to define the IFS. In this paper, a novel clustering algorithm, namely generalized rough intutionistic fuzzy c‐means (GRIFCM) is proposed for brain magnetic resonance (MR) image segmentation avoiding the dependency with the fuzzy membership function. In this algorithm, each pixel is categorized into three rough regions based on the thresholds obtained by the image data by minimizing the noise. These regions are used to create IFS. The distance measure based on IFS eliminate's the influence of noise and INU present in the image producing accurate brain tissue segmentation. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through simulation and compared it with existing k‐means (KM), fuzzy c‐means (FCM), Rough fuzzy c‐means (RFCM), Generalized rough fuzzy c‐means (GRFCM), soft rough fuzzy c‐means (SRFCM) and rough intuitionistic fuzzy c‐means (RIFCM) algorithms. Experimental results prove the superiority of the proposed algorithm over the considered algorithms in all analyzed scenarios.
Cycle‐based variable speed limit methodology for improved freeway merging
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhang Lei , Hale David K. , Hu Jia , Huang Zhitong
Published: June 2017

Studies and field implementations demonstrate that variable speed limit (VSL) systems help freeway traffic congestion mitigations. This study presents a cycle‐based variable speed limit (CVSL) strategy that could variate speed limits in the upstream segment of freeway merging areas. CVSL reduces speed limits in a fraction of a cycle. This variation creates artificial gaps on freeway mainlines, which in turn increases merging opportunities for incoming on‐ramp vehicles. CVSL retains VSL's benefit in reducing delays while overcoming its shortcoming of no significant throughput increase. The authors establish analytical CVSL delay models, including freeway mainline and ramp delays with CVSL speed as a decision variable, and propose a robotic solution method to minimise the delays. The delay model and solutions are implemented and independently evaluated in microscopic traffic simulation. Particularly, the CVSL system is implemented and interfaced with the transportation flow open‐source microscopic model (ETFOMM). Detector information from ETFOMM is fed into the delay model, and the optimised speed limit is fed back to ETFOMM. Two performance measures, total travel delay and throughput, are used to evaluate the CVSL system. Their simulation evaluation indicated up to 16% delay reduction and 6% throughput increase. This CVSL strategy is ready for field evaluation.
Ovary as a Biomarker of Health and Longevity: Insights from Genetics
Authors: Pangas Stephanie , Rajkovic Aleksandar
Published: June 2017

Reproductive fitness and its influence on overall health has been a topic of significant study and interest. Multiple studies have found that age at last reproduction associates with overall health. Women who conceive later in life are significantly more likely to outlive their peers who are unable to conceive. The mechanisms behind these observations are not well understood. Earlier age at menopause associates with shorter life span, increased risk for diabetes mellitus, and increased risk of heart disease, and represents a surrogate marker for the age at last reproduction. Recent applications of genome-wide association studies as well as whole-exome sequencing to familial primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and menopause have identified new genomic regions that link reproductive aging and adverse health outcomes. The preponderance of DNA damage response genes in menopause and POI represents a relatively new paradigm in this area, and links overall aging and reproduction at the molecular level. Identification of the subset of individuals who are at risk for adverse health outcomes remains a significant and high priority research challenge. The combination of epidemiologic studies in women with diminished ovarian reserves, ovarian insufficiency, and early menopause, as well as appropriate animal studies, will be necessary to dissect genotype–phenotype correlations not only in the cause of ovarian dysfunction but also in the cause of adverse health outcomes.
Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and the Long-Term Health Consequences
Authors: Torbati Tina , Dutra Erika , Shufelt Chrisandra
Published: June 2017

The menstrual cycle is a reproductive vital sign and provides insight into hormonal imbalance as well as pregnancy. The significance of estrogen, however, extends beyond fertility and plays a role on tissues and organs throughout the body. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is a common form of secondary amenorrhea resulting in estrogen deficiency in young premenopausal women. While reversible, the cause of this disorder is related to psychological stress, excessive exercise, disordered eating, or a combination of these factors resulting in suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis. The resulting loss of estrogen has profound effects on many systems throughout the body, including cardiac, skeletal, psychological, and reproductive. Often, these young women are “walking well,” as they do not have bothersome symptoms of low estrogen and are unaware of the consequences of estrogen deficiency. This review focuses on the health consequences of hypothalamic amenorrhea, current research, and available treatment options.
Associations between Maternal and Fetal Inherited Thrombophilias, Placental Characteristics Associated with Vascular Malperfusion, and Fetal Growth
Authors: Freedman Alexa , Hogue Carol , Dudley Donald , Silver Robert , Stoll Barbara , Pinar Halit , Goldenberg Robert , Drews-Botsch Carolyn
Published: June 2017

Pregnancy results in alterations in coagulation processes, which may increase the risk of thrombosis. Inherited thrombophilia mutations may further increase this risk, possibly through alterations in the placenta, which may result in pregnancy complications such as poor fetal growth. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the association of fetal growth, approximated by birth weight for gestational age percentile, with genetic markers of thrombophilia and placental characteristics related to vascular malperfusion. We analyzed data from the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network's population-based case–control study conducted in 2006–2008. Study recruitment occurred in five states: Rhode Island and counties in Massachusetts, Georgia, Texas, and Utah. The analysis was restricted to singleton, nonanomalous live births ≤42 weeks' gestation with a complete placental examination and successful testing for ≥1 thrombophilia marker (858 mothers, 902 infants). Data were weighted to account for oversampling, differential consent, and availability of placental examination. We evaluated five thrombophilia markers: factor V Leiden, factor II prothrombin, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C and C677T, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in both maternal blood and placenta/cord blood. We modeled maternal and fetal thrombophilia markers separately using linear regression. Maternal factor V Leiden mutation was associated with a 13.16-point decrease in adjusted birth weight percentile (95% confidence interval: −25.50, −0.82). Adjustment for placental abnormalities related to vascular malperfusion did not affect the observed association. No other maternal or fetal thrombophilia markers were significantly associated with birth weight percentile. Maternal factor V Leiden may be associated with fetal growth independent of placental characteristics.
Impact of Venous Thromboembolism on the Formation and Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis: The Tromsø Study
Authors: Lind Caroline , Småbrekke Birgit , Rinde Ludvig , Hindberg Kristian , Mathiesen Ellisiv , Johnsen Stein , Arntzen Kjell , Njølstad Inger , Lijfering Willem , Brækkan Sigrid , Hansen John-Bjarne
Published: June 2017

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with increased risk of arterial cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and development of atherosclerosis secondary to VTE may be an intermediate between VTE and CVD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether incident VTE was associated with subsequent carotid atherosclerosis formation and progression in a population-based observational study. Subjects attending two or more ultrasound examinations of the right carotid artery, with measurement of total plaque area (TPA), in the Tromsø Study in 1994–1995, 2001–2002, and/or 2007–2008 were eligible. We identified 150 subjects diagnosed with first-lifetime VTE between the initial and follow-up visit, and randomly selected 600 age- and sex-matched subjects without VTE between the visits. Subjects with VTE and carotid plaque(s) at the first visit had 4.1 mm2 (β: 4.13, 95% CI: −1.72 to 9.98) larger change in TPA between the first and second visit compared with subjects without VTE after adjustment for change in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. The association remained after restricting the analyses to VTE events diagnosed in the first half of the time interval between the carotid ultrasounds (β: 4.02, 95% CI: −3.66 to 11.70), supporting that the change in TPA occurred subsequent to the VTE. No association was found between VTE and novel carotid plaque formation. In conclusion, we found a possible association between VTE and atherosclerosis progression in those with already established carotid plaques, but not between VTE and novel plaque formation. The association between VTE and carotid plaque progression was not mediated by low-grade inflammation assessed by hs-CRP.
Verbal and Nonverbal Memory in Hemispherectomy: Lateralization Effects
Authors: Marion Sarah , Asarnow Robert , Mathern Gary , Wilson Rodney
Published: June 2017

Hemispherectomy is a routine surgery performed for children with intractable seizures and often in the midst of a life-threatening emergency such as status epilepticus. As the following article will demonstrate, studies of neurocognitive outcome in general, and memory in specific, following hemispherectomy are mixed, although findings tend to indicate stronger lateralization of verbal memory. This is often demonstrated by loss of verbal memory following left hemispherectomy, although there are few studies focusing solely on hemispherectomy and neurocognitive outcome. We examined data from 25 patients who participated in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program (right hemisphere = 7; left hemisphere = 18). The California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version was used as a verbal memory correlate, and the doors visual recall was used as a correlate of nonverbal memory. Based on a review of the literature, we hypothesized that (1) verbal memory would be significantly different between hemispheres with higher scores in the remaining left hemisphere; (2) nonverbal memory would be significantly different between hemispheres with higher scores in the remaining right hemisphere. Exploratory analyses were also undertaken. Implications for lateralization, medical factors, and plasticity are discussed.
Die Evidenz der Wirksamkeit von Ultraschalltherapie bei myofaszialen Schmerzen bleibt unbestimmt
Authors: Ammer K.
Published: June 2017

Chinesische Autoren haben eine Metaanalyse über die Wirksamkeit der Ultraschalltherape bei myofaszialen Schmerz publiziert. Analysiert wurden randomisierte kontrollierte Studien, die zwischen Jänner 1966 und Mai 2016 Veränderungen von Schmerzen und Körperfunktionen nach Ultraschallbehandlung im Vergleich zu einer Kontrolltherapie berichteten. Die Qualität der eingeschlossenen Studien und das Bias-Risiko wurde entsprechend der Empfehlungen der Cochrane Collaboration beurteilt. Die standardisierte Mittelwerts Differenz (standardized mean difference, SMD) zwischen Ultraschall- und Kontrollintervention wurden bestimmt.
Wirkung und Nebenwirkungen von Ibuprofen
Authors: Jahn Florentine
Published: June 2017

Ibuprofen ist ein weit verbreitetes nichtsteroidales Antiphlogistikum (NSAID). Es hemmt durch Blockade des aktiven Zentrums die Cyclooxygenase 1 und 2 (COX-1 und COX-2) reversibel. In höheren Konzentrationen als die zur Hemmung der COX-1 und COX-2 notwendig sind, zeigt es Antitumor-Aktivität. In OTC-Dosierung (over the counter) (<1200 mg/d) ist das Risiko zur Entstehung von gastrointestinalen Blutungen geringer als bei Diclofenac, Naproxen, Piroxicam oder Indomethacin. Mit Erhöhung der Dosis (2400–3200 mg/d) und Verlängerung der Therapiedauer steigt das Risiko für gastrointestinale Nebenwirkungen. Bei höheren Dosierungen und schon eingeschränkter Nierenfunktion kann Ibuprofen zu einem akuten Nierenversagen führen. Eine Kontrolle der Nierenfunktion ist in diesen Fällen angezeigt. Bei Kindern bis zu 12 Jahren, bei Schwangeren und auch älteren Patienten sollte Paracetamol der Vorzug gegeben werden. Patienten mit Hypertonie, welche mit ACE-Hemmern, Angiotensin-II-Rezeptorenblockern oder Thiazid-Diuretika behandelt werden, sollten Ibuprofen nicht über einen längeren Zeitraum einnehmen. Bei gleichzeitiger Einnahme von Ibuprofen und Acetylsalicylsäure wird die irreversible Hemmung von ASS auf die COX-1 vermindert, da Ibuprofen eine höhere Affinität zum aktiven Zentrum der COX-1 besitzt.

Eine kurzzeitige Behandlung mit Ibuprofen ist meist unproblematisch. Bei längerfristiger Therapie und höherer Dosierung muss zwischen niedrigem und hohem gastrointestinalem und kardiovaskulärem Risiko differenziert werden.
Warum wenden sich Ärzte der Homöopathie zu?
Authors: Walther Daniel
Published: June 2017

Der Beitrag liefert einen Überblick über die Gründe und persönlichen Motive von Ärzten und Heilpraktikern, die sich für die Homöopathie entschieden haben. Grundlage sind 26 biografische Kurzberichte. Nach einer kurzen Darstellung der Sozialstruktur werden die geschilderten Beweggründe 4 Kategorien zugeteilt. Am häufigsten wandten sich die Autoren wegen ihrer Unzufriedenheit mit der Schulmedizin der Homöopathie zu. Fast ebenso viele wurden selbst oder ihre Kinder mit homöopathischen Arzneimitteln erfolgreich behandelt. Anziehend wirkten darüber hinaus Heilerfolge durch die Homöopathie, deren Zeuge die Autoren geworden sind. Einige gaben letztlich ihr Selbstverständnis als ganzheitlich denkender und behandelnder Arzt als Hauptgrund an.
Hyoscyamus in der Pädiatrie
Authors: Hadulla Michael
Published: June 2017

Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt die Behandlung einer Empfindungsstörung bei einer 4-jährigen Patientin mit Hyoscyamus niger. In der anschließenden Diskussion wird auf die Bedeutung gut geprüfter und in der Praxis bewährter Arzneimittel eingegangen, ergänzt durch 2 weitere exemplarische Hyoscyamus-Kasuistiken aus der Pädiatrie.
Die Vereinigung der Gegensätze
Authors: Winter Norbert
Published: June 2017

Ein faszinierendes Kapitel der Geistesgeschichte ist der Dialog, der sich zwischen dem Physiker und Nobelpreisträger Wolfgang Pauli und dem Psychologen Carl Gustav Jung entwickelte. Die Annäherung an eine gemeinsame Ebene zwischen der modernen Quantenphysik und der Jungʼschen Psychologie greift die Erkenntnisse der neuen Physik auf und lässt sie in ein konsequent neues Verständnis von wissenschaftlichem Denken übergehen. Das so gewonnene Weltbild spannt den Bogen zwischen rationaler Wissenschaft und intuitivem Erleben, zwischen Natur- und Geisteswissenschaft, Materie und Geist – und ermöglicht den Beginn eines fruchtbaren Dialogs zwischen den unterschiedlichsten erkenntnissuchenden und therapeutischen Strömungen. Und dabei – ohne jegliche Absicht und ohne jegliche physikalische Grenzüberschreitung – weitet sich das Verständnis von Wissenschaft derart, dass die Homöopathie als ganz natürlicher Aspekt einer in aller Tiefe verstandenen Naturbetrachtung gesehen werden kann. Und dies mit all ihren Implikationen, ihren Besonderheiten und mit all den seltsamen Phänomenen, die homöopathische Praktiker mitunter zum Staunen bringen.
Computertomographie - häufig unterschätzt, selten überschätzt (Teil 2)
Authors: Bosch Beate , Kiefer Ingmar , Oechtering Gerhard , Alef Michaele
Published: June 2017

Insbesondere beim Nachweis fokaler Veränderungen des Lungenparenchyms weist die klassische Röntgendiagnostik als Summationsverfahren Nachteile auf. Hier ist die Computertomographie durch die überlagerungsfreie und hoch auflösende Darstellung der Lungenstrukturen im Vorteil. Durch geeignete Fensterlagen können Übergänge von Lungen- zu Weichteilgewebe oder Knochen detaillierter beurteilt werden. Bei gezielter Indikationsstellung stellt die CT damit eine sinnvolle und zunehmend notwendige Ergänzung zur konventionellen Röntgenuntersuchung dar.
Tierbestattung - Rechtslage und Praxis
Authors: Feldkamp Reinhard
Published: June 2017

Im Laufe der Zeit und je nach Kulturkreis haben sich unterschiedliche Formen und Rituale der Tierbestattung entwickelt. Sie spiegeln kulturelle wie weltanschaulich-religiöse Einstellungen zwischen Mensch und Tier wider. Der folgende Beitrag erläutert die geltende Rechtslage und gibt Einblick in die Praxis der Tierbestattung.
Characteristics of surface plasmon coupled quantum well infrared photodetectors
Authors: Hsu Wei-Cheng , Ling Hong-Shi , Wang Shiang-Yu , Lee Chien-Ping
Published: June 2017

Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs) with different structures were characterized for the study of surface plasmon wave coupling. Detailed comparisons between surface plasmon coupled and etched grating coupled devices were investigated. A bias dependence for the enhancement of the responsivity of surface plasmon coupled devices was found, especially for the samples with non-uniform quantum wells. The non-uniform QWIPs with surface plasmon coupling showed an asymmetric enhancement with respect to the bias directions. Stronger enhancements were shown under the biases when a higher effective electric field region is close to the collector. The change of the photocarrier escape probability due to the narrow coupling bandwidth of the surface plasmon wave is attributed to this unexpected bias dependence.
Using force-based adaptive resolution simulations to calculate solvation free energies of amino acid sidechain analogues
Authors: Fiorentini Raffaele , Kremer Kurt , Potestio Raffaello , Fogarty Aoife C.
Published: June 2017

The calculation of free energy differences is a crucial step in the characterization and understanding of the physical properties of biological molecules. In the development of efficient methods to compute these quantities, a promising strategy is that of employing a dual-resolution representation of the solvent, specifically using an accurate model in the proximity of a molecule of interest and a simplified description elsewhere. One such concurrent multi-resolution simulation method is the Adaptive Resolution Scheme (AdResS), in which particles smoothly change their resolution on-the-fly as they move between different subregions. Before using this approach in the context of free energy calculations, however, it is necessary to make sure that the dual-resolution treatment of the solvent does not cause undesired effects on the computed quantities. Here, we show how AdResS can be used to calculate solvation free energies of small polar solutes using Thermodynamic Integration (TI). We discuss how the potential-energy-based TI approach combines with the force-based AdResS methodology, in which no global Hamiltonian is defined. The AdResS free energy values agree with those calculated from fully atomistic simulations to within a fraction of kBT. This is true even for small atomistic regions whose size is on the order of the correlation length, or when the properties of the coarse-grained region are extremely different from those of the atomistic region. These accurate free energy calculations are possible because AdResS allows the sampling of solvation shell configurations which are equivalent to those of fully atomistic simulations. The results of the present work thus demonstrate the viability of the use of adaptive resolution simulation methods to perform free energy calculations and pave the way for large-scale applications where a substantial computational gain can be attained.
Hydrodynamics of submerged turbulent plane offset jets
Authors: Dey Subhasish , Ravi Kishore Galla , Castro-Orgaz Oscar , Ali Sk Zeeshan
Published: June 2017

The results of an experimental study on the turbulent flow characteristics in submerged plane offset jets are presented. The vertical profiles of time-averaged velocity components and Reynolds stresses at different horizontal locations are depicted to illustrate their variations across the pre-attachment, impingement, and wall jet regions. The characteristic lengths and the jet profile of submerged offset jets in the pre-attachment region are determined from the velocity profiles. The regional profiles of velocity and Reynolds stresses are analyzed in the context of the self-similarity, the decay of their representative scales, and the development of the length scales. The self-similarity characteristics in the pre-attachment and wall jet regions are preserved better than those in the impingement region. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) fluxes suggest that within the jet layer in the pre-attachment region, an upward advection of low-speed fluid streaks induces a strong retardation to the jet; while in the wall jet region, an inrush of low-speed fluid streaks induces a weak retardation. Analysis of the TKE budget reveals that within the jet layer, the TKE diffusion rate and the pressure energy diffusion rate oppose each other, and the peaks of the dissipation rate lag from those of the corresponding production rate.
Cryogenic loading of argon pressure medium in diamond anvil high pressure cells with in situ pressure determination
Authors: Pugh E.
Published: June 2017

A versatile system for cryogenic loading of argon pressure medium into the sample space of a diamond anvil cell has been developed. The system has been designed such that, with suitable adaptors, a wide range of diamond anvil cell designs can be pressurized. The pressure in the cell can be monitored during pressurization using the ruby fluorescence method via optical fiber access into the loading chamber. This enables the precise and accurate setting of the loading pressure in the cell.
Experimental and numerical study of frequency-dependent transport loss in YBa2Cu3O7–δ coated conductors with ferromagnetic substrate and copper stabilizer
Authors: Liu Guole , Zhang Guomin , Yu Hui , Jing Liwei , Ai Liwang , Liu Qi
Published: June 2017

Although AC transport losses of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) coated conductors (CCs) have been studied extensively, the frequency dependence of transport losses still needs more investigations. This paper presents a study on the frequency dependence (in the range of 50–1000 Hz) of the transport losses in YBCO CCs with ferromagnetic substrate and copper stabilizer by the use of both experimental and finite element methods (FEMs). The finite element model (FEM) is based on H-formulation and E-J power law, and calculated AC transport losses accord with the experimental ones. The contributions of ferromagnetic (Ni-5at.%W substrate), eddy current (conventional metal), and hysteresis (superconducting YBCO) losses are extracted. It is shown that the AC transport loss per cycle increases with the frequency due to the growing contribution of eddy current loss. More than 80% of eddy current loss comes from the copper stabilizer adjacent to the ferromagnetic substrate. The influence of magnetic substrate on AC loss is also studied, and it is found that YBCO CCs with non-magnetic substrates are more suitable for high-frequency applications.
Growth and magnetooptical properties of anisotropic TbF3 single crystals
Authors: Valiev Uygun V. , Karimov Denis N. , Burdick Gary W. , Rakhimov Rakhim , Pelenovich Vasiliy O. , Fu Dejun
Published: June 2017

This paper investigates the Faraday effect and absorption and luminescence spectra of single-crystal TbF3 measured at 90 K and 300 K. The optical-quality single-phase TbF3 crystals (structural type β-YF3) were grown by the Bridgman technique. Faraday rotation angles were measured at remagnetization along the [100] crystallographic axis. Low temperature optical measurements were carried out along the [100] axis. “Quasi-doublet” sublevels with energy at 0 cm−1, 65 cm−1, and 190 cm−1, and also a singlet sublevel with energy at 114 cm−1 located in the ground 7F6 multiplet were determined from the low temperature luminescence spectra. The Van-Vleck behavior of the magnetic susceptibility χb can be satisfactorily explained by the magnetic mixing of wave functions belonging to the ground and first excited “quasi-doublet” sublevels at 0 and 65 cm−1, respectively. Analysis of the oscillation dependences of the rotation angle showed that the value of the natural birefringence (Δn ≈ 0.0186) remains nearly constant within the wavelength and temperature ranges under investigation. As the temperature decreases, we find significant increases in the oscillation amplitude of the rotation angle and in the Verdet constant V. The spectral dependences V(χ) are linear throughout the temperature range. The magnetooptical activity of TbF3 can be explained by means of the spin- and parity-allowed electric-dipole 4f → 5d transitions in the Tb3+ ions.
Space charge deposition in tubular channel ferroelectrets: A combined fluorescence imaging/LIMM study with finite element analysis
Authors: Nepal Neerajan , Altafim Ruy Alberto Pisani , Mellinger Axel
Published: June 2017

Ferroelectrets, i.e., soft materials with electric charges deposited on the surfaces of internal voids, are well known for their potential in transducer applications and energy harvesting. Due to their regular geometry and optical transparency, tubular channel ferroelectrets (manufactured by laminating polymer films around a polytetrafluoroethylene template which is later removed) are well-suited for studying the process of charge deposition. Understanding how space charges are formed on the internal surfaces will lead to improvements in the charge density and in the piezoelectric performance of these films. In this work, the inception voltage for dielectric barrier discharges (and hence the onset of charge deposition) was measured using two independent techniques, fluorescence imaging and the laser intensity modulation method (LIMM). The results (around 1.4–1.7 kV, depending on the void height) are in agreement within ±50 V. The internal electric field distribution was calculated using finite element analysis (FEA). Combined with Paschen's law, these calculations explained the experimentally observed discharge patterns, starting from the channel edges in thick samples, but glowing more uniformly in films with void heights of 50 μm or less. A time-dependent FEA simulation of the LIMM measurement reproduced the observed thermoelastic resonances and their effect on the LIMM signal, and explained its seemingly erratic behavior. This approach has great potential for analyzing LIMM and thermal pulse data obtained in inhomogeneous materials.
Field electron emission enhancement in lithium implanted and annealed nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films
Authors: Sankaran K. J. , Srinivasu K. , Yeh C. J. , Thomas J. P. , Drijkoningen S. , Pobedinskas P. , Sundaravel B. , Leou K. C. , Leung K. T. , Van Bael M. K. , Schreck M. , Lin I. N. , Haenen K.
Published: June 2017

The field electron emission (FEE) properties of nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films were enhanced due to Li-ion implantation/annealing processes. Li-ion implantation mainly induced the formation of electron trap centers inside diamond grains, whereas post-annealing healed the defects and converted the a-C phase into nanographite, forming conduction channels for effective transport of electrons. This resulted in a high electrical conductivity of 11.0 S/cm and enhanced FEE performance with a low turn-on field of 10.6 V/μm, a high current density of 25.5 mA/cm2 (at 23.2 V/μm), and a high lifetime stability of 1,090 min for nitrogen incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films.
Structure-based control of complex networks with nonlinear dynamics
Authors: Zañudo Jorge Gomez Tejeda , Yang Gang , Albert Réka
Published: June 2017

Significance

Many biological, technological, and social systems can be encoded as networks over which nonlinear dynamical processes such as cell signaling, information transmission, or opinion spreading take place. Despite many advances in network science, we do not know to what extent the network architecture shapes our ability to control these nonlinear systems. Here we extend a recently developed control framework that addresses this question and apply it to real networks of diverse types. Our results highlight the crucial role of a network’s feedback structure in determining robust control strategies, provide a dynamic-detail-independent benchmark for other control methods, and open up a promising research direction in the control of complex networks with nonlinear dynamics.
Experimental evolution reveals an effective avenue to release catabolite repression via mutations in XylR
Authors: Sievert Christian , Nieves Lizbeth M. , Panyon Larry A. , Loeffler Taylor , Morris Chandler , Cartwright Reed A. , Wang Xuan
Published: June 2017

Significance

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising renewable feedstock for microbial production of fuels and chemicals. D-glucose and D-xylose are the most abundant sugars in lignocellulosic materials. Economically feasible bioconversion of lignocellulose requires simultaneous utilization of both sugars, which is primarily prevented by carbon catabolite repression. Here we characterize the genetic basis of three independent laboratory evolution trajectories for improved xylose fermentation and reveal an effective way to release carbon catabolite repression in
Escherichia coli
.
Nonredox thiolation in tRNA occurring via sulfur activation by a [4Fe-4S] cluster
Authors: Arragain Simon , Bimai Ornella , Legrand Pierre , Caillat Sylvain , Ravanat Jean-Luc , Touati Nadia , Binet Laurent , Atta Mohamed , Fontecave Marc , Golinelli-Pimpaneau Béatrice
Published: June 2017

Significance

Posttranscriptional modifications of tRNA are essential for translational fidelity. More specifically, mechanisms of selective sulfuration of tRNAs are still largely unknown, and the enzymes responsible for these reactions are incompletely investigated. Therefore, characterizing such systems at the molecular level is greatly valuable to our understanding of a whole class of tRNA modification reactions. We study TtuA, a representative member of a tRNA modification enzyme superfamily, and show that it intriguingly catalyzes a nonredox sulfur insertion within tRNA using a catalytically essential [4Fe-4S] cluster. This report opens perspectives regarding functions of iron-sulfur proteins in biology as well as chemical reactions catalyzed by iron-sulfur clusters.
Zero-field magnetic response functions in Landau levels
Authors: Gao Yang , Niu Qian
Published: June 2017

Significance

In experiment, Landau levels in solids are used to analyze the band structure, and recently to extract the Berry phase, a key topological aspect of the Bloch band. Our theory offers a fresh understanding of the Landau level quantization by demonstrating its relation with the magnetic response functions such as magnetization and susceptibility. It offers a more appropriate and universal way to determine the Berry phase, as well as the susceptibility from experimental data. Our theory also allows theoretical calculation of Landau levels with higher accuracy for realistic models, which are otherwise hard to obtain.
Actin turnover maintains actin filament homeostasis during cytokinetic ring contraction
Authors: Chew Ting Gang , Huang Junqi , Palani Saravanan , Sommese Ruth , Kamnev Anton , Hatano Tomoyuki , Gu Ying , Oliferenko Snezhana , Sivaramakrishnan Sivaraj , Balasubramanian Mohan K.
Published: June 2017

Cytokinesis in many eukaryotes involves a tension-generating actomyosin-based contractile ring. Many components of actomyosin rings turn over during contraction, although the significance of this turnover has remained enigmatic. Here, using Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, we investigate the role of turnover of actin and myosin II in its contraction. Actomyosin ring components self-organize into ∼1-µm-spaced clusters instead of undergoing full-ring contraction in the absence of continuous actin polymerization. This effect is reversed when actin filaments are stabilized. We tested the idea that the function of turnover is to ensure actin filament homeostasis in a synthetic system, in which we abolished turnover by fixing rings in cell ghosts with formaldehyde. We found that these rings contracted fully upon exogenous addition of a vertebrate myosin. We conclude that actin turnover is required to maintain actin filament homeostasis during ring contraction and that the requirement for turnover can be bypassed if homeostasis is achieved artificially.
Four-dimensional gradient shrinking solitons with pinched curvature
Authors: Zhang Zhu-Hong
Published: June 2017

We show that any four-dimensional gradient shrinking soliton with pinched Weyl curvature

(
∗
)

(*)

and satisfying

c
1

≤
R
≤

c
2

c_1 \le R \le c_2

for some positive constant

c
1

c_1

and

c
2

c_2

, will have nonnegative Ricci curvature. As a consequence, we prove that it must be a finite quotient of

S

4

\mathbb {S}^4

,

C
P

2

\mathbb {CP}^2

, or

S

3

×

R

\mathbb {S}^3 \times \mathbb {R}

. In particular, a compact four-dimensional gradient shrinking soliton with pinched Weyl curvature

(
∗
)

(*)

must be

S

4

\mathbb {S}^4

,

R

P
4

RP^4

or

C
P

2

\mathbb {CP}^2

.
Haspin inhibition reveals functional differences of interchromatid axis–localized AURKB and AURKC
Authors: Quartuccio Suzanne M. , Dipali Shweta S. , Schindler Karen
Published: June 2017

Aneuploidy is the leading genetic abnormality contributing to infertility, and chromosome segregation errors are common during female mammalian meiosis I (MI). Previous results indicate that haspin kinase regulates resumption of meiosis from prophase arrest, chromosome condensation, and kinetochore–microtubule attachments during early prometaphase of MI. Here we report that haspin inhibition in late prometaphase I causes acceleration of MI, bypass of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), and loss of interchromatid axis–localized Aurora kinase C. Meiotic cells contain a second chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) population, with Aurora kinase B (AURKB) bound to INCENP. Haspin inhibition in oocytes from Aurkc−/− mice, where AURKB is the sole CPC kinase, does not alter MI completion timing, and no change in localization of the SAC protein, MAD2, is observed. These data suggest that AURKB on the interchromatid axis is not needed for SAC activation and illustrate a key difference between the functional capacities of the two AURK homologues.