bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The interrelation of endothelial function and microvascular reactivity in different vascular beds, and risk assessment in hypertension: results from the Doxazosin–ramipril study
Authors: Jekell Andreas , Kalani Majid , Kahan Thomas
Published: September 2018

There are several non-invasive methods to study endothelial function, but their interrelation and association to cardiovascular risk have not been well evaluated. We studied macrovascular and microvascular endothelial function simultaneously in different vascular beds in relation to cardiovascular mortality risk (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation, SCORE) and hypertension induced cardiac organ damage, and their interrelationship. The study investigated 71 hypertensive patients by forearm post-ischemic flow-mediated vasodilation, pulse wave analysis (applanation tonometry) and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation for changes in reflection index, skin microvascular reactivity by laser Doppler fluxmetry with iontophoresis and heat-induced hyperaemia, and coronary microvascular function by subendocardial viability ratio (derived from pulse wave analysis). Flow mediated vasodilation related inversely to SCORE (r =  0.34, P = 0.011). Adding microalbuminuria and pulse wave velocity strengthened the associations. Pulse wave reflection changes did not relate to SCORE. Skin microvascular reactivity related inversely to SCORE (peak flux change to sodium nitroprusside r =  0.29, P = 0.033, and to heating r =  0.31, P = 0.018). Subendocardial viability ratio did not relate to SCORE. Endothelial function indices showed no consistent relation to cardiac target organ damage. The agreement between the different methods for evaluating indices of macrovascular and microvascular endothelial function was weak. In conclusion, indices of macrovascular and microvascular endothelial function relate to cardiovascular mortality risk. Their use may improve cardiovascular risk prediction in hypertension. However, methods representing different vascular beds show little interrelationship and are not interchangeable, which may depend on different pathogenetic mechanisms representing different aspects of future cardiovascular risk.

Trial registry: NCT02901977
Is data envelopment analysis a suitable tool for performance measurement and benchmarking in non-production contexts?
Authors: Wojcik Victoria , Dyckhoff Harald , Clermont Marcel
Published: September 2018

After 40 years of research with thousands of application-oriented scientific papers, empirical evidence that data envelopment analysis (DEA) has really improved the practice of performance measurement and benchmarking in real-life non-production contexts is rare. The main reason for this deficit may be that DEA is founded on the concepts of production theory such as production possibility set or returns to scale. These concepts can hardly be applied to pure multiple-criteria evaluation problems, which are often attempted to be solved using DEA. This paper systematically investigates strengths and weaknesses of DEA in the exemplary case of welfare evaluation using real data on 27 countries of the European Union. We analyze and explain the differences in the results of various frequently used DEA models for two different, but strongly connected sets of welfare indicators, thereby demonstrating the pitfalls, which often arise in the application of DEA, as well as some approaches for avoiding them.
Pubertal timing and callous‐unemotional traits in girls: Associations across two samples from the UK and Cyprus
Authors: Muñoz Centifanti Luna C. , Boydston Louisa , Wee Celeste , Demetriou Vasiliki , MacLellan Susanne , Anastassiou‐Hadjicharalambous Xenia
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Girls remain an understudied group when examining delinquency. Callous‐unemotional traits are chief among personality traits that relate to delinquency. Some suggest, however, that girls who evince callous‐unemotional traits delay their delinquent behavior until adolescence. This transitional period encompasses physical factors that relate to engagement in risky decision making, but we don't know how these factors relate to callous‐unemotional traits. Early pubertal timing shows positive associations with delinquency; we tested if this was also the case for callous‐unemotional traits.

Methods

We tested associations among pubertal timing (i.e., maturity and menarche age), delinquency, and callous‐unemotional traits within girls (ages 11–18 years) sampled from two European countries (UK and Cyprus). We also tested the interaction between callous‐unemotional traits and pubertal timing in statistically predicting delinquency to test if associations between early puberty and delinquency were moderated by callous‐unemotional traits.

Results

Greater callous‐unemotional traits were surprisingly negatively related to early pubertal timing. Those girls in the delayed menarche group had the highest level of callous‐unemotional traits, higher than the typical and early menarche groups. Only callous‐unemotional traits statistically predicted variance in delinquency and no moderation was evident.

Conclusions

The implications are that callous‐unemotional traits and the transition to puberty may be particularly important for girls’ adjustment in adolescence, particularly if menarche is delayed allowing girls to avoid punishment by capitalizing on their immaturity.
Case Study: Providing Nutritional Support to an Ultraendurance Runner in Preparation for a Self-Sufficient Multistage Ultramarathon: Rationed Versus Full Energy Provisions
Authors: Alcock Rebekah , McCubbin Alan , Camões-Costa Vera , Costa Ricardo J.S.
Published: September 2018

To assess the impact of rationed versus full estimated energy provisions on markers of physiological strain in response to a simulated 250 km multistage ultramarathon (MSUM), on two separate occasions, the ultraendurance runner performed a laboratory simulated MSUM, with rationed (RP: 3303±75 kcal⋅day-1) and full (FP: 7156±359 kcal⋅day-1) provisions. Total daily energy expenditure was determined using dual-method indirect calorimetry. Resting metabolic rate, iDXA, and body water were measured at baseline, day 3, and post-MSUM. Blood, urine, and feces were collected, and mood state was measured, d 1 to 5 (before and after running) to determine various physiological strain indices. Heart rate, RPE, thermal comfort, gastrointestinal symptoms, and non-protein oxidation rates were measured every 30 min during running. Data were analyzed using single-subject design analysis and interpreted using Cohen's effect size. Energy expenditure was lower on RP (6943±145 kcal⋅day-1) than FP (7486±143 kcal⋅day-1) (Cohen's δ=-3.1). More pronounced exertional strain (RPE δ=1.2, thermal conform δ=0.6, rectal temperature δ=1.0, and plasma cortisol concentration δ=1.7) was observed on RP as the MSUM progressed. Total carbohydrate and fat oxidation during running decreased (0.76 vs. 1.82 g⋅min-1; δ=-3.9) and increased (0.91 vs. 0.54 g⋅min-1; δ=3.7), respectively, more profoundly on RP as the MSUM progressed. Gastrointestinal symptoms were modestly lower in RP (δ=-0.26). Exercise-induced leukocytosis, cytokinaemia, and neutrophil responses were higher on RP. Iron status markers were trivial. Higher mood disturbance and fatigue were reported on RP. The ultraendurance runner presented greater physiological and psychophysiological disturbances, in response to a laboratory simulated MSUM, on rationed energy provisions, despite the lighter pack-weight.
Linear‐Circular Statistical Modeling of Lake Ice‐Out Dates
Authors: Beyene Mussie T. , Jain Shaleen , Gupta Ramesh C.
Published: September 2018

Over the past few decades, lake ice phenology in northern temperate lakes has exhibited increased interannual variability. The resulting increase in the incidence of unusually early spring lake ice‐out dates has the potential to affect stability, health, and function of the lake ecosystems. Characterizing the dependency of spring lake ice‐out date to winter and/or spring climate variables offers foreknowledge on the annual lake ice cover season, as the spring ice‐out date is an integrated response to prevailing weather/climate conditions during winter and spring. Here a circular regression framework is presented where ice‐out date regression models, conditioned on a suite of predictor winter and/or spring climate variables (i.e., degree days and snowfall), are developed for 12 Maine lakes to determine the relative import of winter and spring meteorological conditions on year‐to‐year variability of ice‐out dates in Maine lakes. In the circular regression models, ice‐out dates are expressed as points on a unit circle instead of real line, as it preserves the periodicity and order of time‐of‐day variables independent of the choice of reference point. Results show that (a) the magnitude and variance of seasonal spring temperatures explain more than half of the total variability in spring ice‐out date for Maine lakes, (b) the modulating efficacy of spring snowfall on the timing of spring ice‐out dates is the strongest in northern interior Maine lakes, (c) the role of winter degree days in determining the ice‐out dates in Maine lakes is significant across all climate regions, and (d) the effect of winter snowfall on ice‐out dates is significant in coastal Maine lakes. Diagnostics suggest that there are other climatic and nonclimatic variables that produce shifts in the lake ice‐out dates.
Wind Speed Governs Turbulence in Atmospheric Inversions
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: September 2018

Measurements made during a field campaign in Idaho indicate that the speed of winds 2 meters above Earth’s surface determines the type of turbulence present in nighttime inversions.
Evidence for Radiative‐Convective Bistability in Tropical Atmospheres
Authors: Dewey M. , Goldblatt C.
Published: September 2018

Earth's energy balance requires that energy absorbed and emitted at the top of the atmosphere be equal; to first order this balance is maintained via the Planck feedback: outgoing longwave radiation increases as surface temperature increases. Failure of the Planck feedback to stabilize the climate is described by three generally independent phenomena: the super‐greenhouse effect, the runaway greenhouse, and multiple equilibria of radiative‐convective atmospheres. Here we use satellite observations and models to show that the existence of the super‐greenhouse gives rise to a radiative‐convective instability which is relevant to Earth's tropics. The super‐greenhouse is caused by the low troposphere becoming optically thick, causing a positive feedback on near surface temperature and moisture, driving deep convection, column moistening, and reduced outgoing longwave radiation. Aspects of the runaway greenhouse physics are implicated, but a local runaway greenhouse is avoided. These results have implications for understanding the response of the tropics to a warming world.
Understanding and Reducing Future Uncertainty in Midlatitude Daily Heat Extremes Via Land Surface Feedback Constraints
Authors: Donat Markus G. , Pitman Andrew J. , Angélil Oliver
Published: September 2018

Climate simulations of future hot extremes exhibit large uncertainties regarding the magnitude of projected warming. We identify two mechanisms that influence how strongly future heat extremes intensify in climate models. First, the magnitude of extreme temperature increases is determined by changes in preceding seasonal precipitation, connected to amplified warming via soil moisture decreases. Second, there are large differences in how models respond to moisture variability; those with a stronger response under current climate simulate larger future increases in hot extremes. We build on this mechanistic understanding of future uncertainty and develop a novel constraint, the observed precipitation‐hot temperature relationship, focused on the conditions on the actual hottest day, to identify climate models with realistic land‐atmosphere feedbacks on hot extremes. Applying this constraint to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 ensemble reduces the probability of the largest increases in projected heat extremes, particularly over Europe and North America.
Hydrological Connectivity in Vegetated River Deltas: The Importance of Patchiness Below a Threshold
Authors: Wright Kyle , Hiatt Matthew , Passalacqua Paola
Published: September 2018

Hydrological connectivity in coastal deltas is important for delivering flow, sediment, and nutrients to the island interiors. The roughness of island vegetation limits connectivity, but how important is the spatial distribution of vegetation? Using hydrodynamic modeling, we test the influence of vegetated percent cover, patch size, and stem density on the discharge‐fraction allocated to the islands of an idealized delta complex, modeled after Wax Lake Delta. We find that heterogeneity has negligible effects when vegetation is relatively sparse but is important when vegetation is relatively dense and covers less than a “disconnectivity” threshold of 40–50% of the islands, near the theoretical percolation limit. Below this threshold, preferential flow paths develop in the islands, which alter the hydraulics and residence time distribution of the delta complex and enhance potential sediment transport with respect to model runs with uniform vegetation. Patchiness has hydrogeomorphic and biogeochemical implications, which should be considered when modeling deltaic systems.
Gulf Stream Variability in the Context of Quasi‐Decadal and Multidecadal Atlantic Climate Variability
Authors: McCarthy G. D. , Joyce T. M. , Josey S. A.
Published: September 2018

The Gulf Stream plays an important role in North Atlantic climate variability on a range of timescales. The North Atlantic is notable for large decadal variability in sea surface temperatures (SST). Whether this variability is driven by atmospheric or oceanic influences is a disputed point. Long time series of atmospheric and ocean variables, in particular long time series of Gulf Stream position, reveal differing sources of SST variability on quasi‐decadal and multidecadal timescales. On quasi‐decadal timescales, an oscillatory signal identified in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) controls SST evolution directly via air‐sea heat fluxes. However, on multidecadal timescales, this relationship between the NAO and SST changes, while the relationship between the NAO and Gulf Stream position remains consistent in phase and resonant in amplitude. Recent changes in the Gulf Stream Extension show a weakening and broadening of the current, consistent with increased instability. We consider these changes in the context of a weakening Atlantic overturning circulation.
Exacerbation of the 2013–2016 Pan‐Caribbean Drought by Anthropogenic Warming
Authors: Herrera Dimitris A. , Ault Toby R. , Fasullo John T. , Coats Sloan J. , Carrillo Carlos M. , Cook Benjamin I. , Williams A. Park
Published: September 2018

The Caribbean islands are expected to see more frequent and severe droughts from reduced precipitation and increased evaporative demand due to anthropogenic climate change. Between 2013 and 2016, the Caribbean experienced a widespread drought due in part to El Niño in 2015–2016, but it is unknown whether its severity was exacerbated by anthropogenic warming. This work examines the role of recent warming on this drought, using a recently developed high‐resolution self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index data set. The resulting analysis suggest that anthropogenic warming accounted for ~15–17% of the drought's severity and ~7% of its spatial extent. These findings strongly suggest that climate model projected anthropogenic drying in the Caribbean is already underway, with major implications for the more than 43 million people currently living in this region.
Acoustic Emissions and Microseismicity in Granular Slopes Prior to Failure and Flow‐Like Motion: The Potential for Early Warning
Authors: Hu Wei , Scaringi Gianvito , Xu Qiang , Huang Runqiu
Published: September 2018

Rain‐triggered landslides in loosely packed granular deposits are highly hazardous because of their sudden failure, flow‐like motion, and high mobility. Predicting their initiation and establishing monitoring and early‐warning strategies based on the actual mechanisms of failure, rather than on statistical‐empirical relations, can be challenging. Experiments on artificial granular slopes revealed a systematic instability‐triggering process entailing the internal erosion and seepage‐driven transport of small grains. This rearrangement of matter generates acoustic signals and microseismicity detectable prior to any pore water pressures spikes or macroscopic deformations, which are common proxies for slope stability monitoring. Acoustic emissions are more pronounced in loose assemblies, while they are much weaker in densely packed mixtures, which will not exhibit fluid‐like motion. Acoustic sensors and accelerometers in support to monitoring networks for flow‐like landslides can improve our early warning capabilities, as long as their good performance is confirmed in real‐scale applications.
Examining Wave Vector and Minimum Cyclotron Resonant Electron Energy of EMIC Waves With Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
Authors: Liu Si , Zhang Jian , Chen Lunjin , Zhu Hui , He Zhaoguo
Published: September 2018

Wave number vectors k and minimum cyclotron resonant electron energies Emin of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are analyzed via the phase differencing technique by using Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission data. It is demonstrated that the phase differencing method provides an estimate of the dominant wave number when finite k spectrum broadenings occur. A case study is conducted for the EMIC event on 20 November 2015, showing remarkable agreements with spectral analysis in wave propagation directions. We find that obtained wave vectors, roughly agreeing with the validity of cold plasma theory, might significantly vary from wave packet to wave packet. Numerical calculations indicate that Emin can range from 0.5 to tens of MeV, suggesting that EMIC waves can effectively interact with those relativistic electrons. This study enriches our understanding of the applicability of phase differencing. It further supports that EMIC waves can be responsible for the loss of electrons with an extremely broad energy range in the magnetosphere.
A Baseline for the Predictability of U.S. Cloud‐to‐Ground Lightning
Authors: Tippett Michael K. , Koshak William J.
Published: September 2018

The product of convective available potential energy and precipitation rate is used as a proxy for U.S. cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning. The proxy is computed from numerical weather prediction model outputs and thus provides a simple method for producing CG lightning threat forecasts. Here three types of forecasts are considered: number of CG flashes, spatial extent of CG lightning occurrence, and lightning/no lightning maps at 1∘×1∘ resolution. Forecasts have statistically significant skill for lead times up to 15 days depending on the type of forecast. Verification of the forecasts over the United States provides a predictability baseline against which other approaches can be compared.
Evidence for Changes in Arctic Cloud Phase Due to Long‐Range Pollution Transport
Authors: Coopman Q. , Riedi J. , Finch D. P. , Garrett T. J.
Published: September 2018

Reduced precipitation rates allow pollution within air parcels from midlatitudes to reach the Arctic without being scavenged. We use satellite and tracer transport model data sets to evaluate the degree of supercooling required for 50% of a chosen ensemble of low‐level clouds to be in the ice phase for a given meteorological regime. Our results suggest that smaller cloud droplet effective radii are related to higher required amounts of supercooling but that, overall, pollution plumes from fossil fuel combustion lower the degree of supercooling that is required for freezing by approximately 4 °C. The relationship between anthropogenic plumes and the freezing transition temperature from liquid to ice remains to be explained.
The Impact of Slab Rollback on Earth's Surface: Uplift and Extension in the Hinterland of the North American Cordillera
Authors: Cassel Elizabeth J. , Smith M. Elliot , Jicha Brian R.
Published: September 2018

Slab rollback processes alter the intraplate force balance and buoyancy of the overriding plate, driving surface uplift or extension. From ca. 55–24 Ma, Farallon slab rollback produced migrating volcanism and sedimentation across the western United States as stress on the North American plate transitioned from subduction‐driven compression to widespread extension. Hypotheses regarding rollback‐driven surface deformation differ widely in timing and magnitude. Here we combine hydrogen isotope ratios with high‐resolution geochronology to show that a high‐elevation plateau extended westward from the Sevier‐Laramide fold‐thrust belt across Utah and eastern Nevada prior to slab rollback. Quantitative paleoelevation estimates show that this plateau had obtained over 80% of peak paleoelevations by middle Eocene. Slab rollback, heating, and lithospheric delamination generated 400–600 m of Oligocene surface uplift. Concurrent extension limited overall uplift and rollback‐induced mantle flow likely contributed to the propagation of upper crustal extension that formed the Basin and Range province.
Global Distribution of Proton Rings and Associated Magnetosonic Wave Instability in the Inner Magnetosphere
Authors: Yuan Zhigang , Ouyang Zhihai , Yu Xiongdong , Huang Shiyong , Yao Fei , Funsten H. O.
Published: September 2018

Using the Van Allen Probe‐A observations, we obtained the global distribution of proton rings and calculated the linear wave growth rate of fast magnetosonic (MS) waves in the region L ~3–6. Our statistical and calculated results demonstrate that MS waves can be locally excited on the dayside outside the plasmapause, as well as in the dusk sector inside the plasmapause. The frequency range of unstable MS waves is strongly modulated by the ratio of the proton ring velocity (Vr) to the local Alfvén speed (VA). High harmonic MS waves (ω > 20ΩH+) can be excited outside the plasmapause where Vr/VA < 1, while low harmonic MS waves (ω < 10ΩH+) with frequencies less than ~30 Hz are found to be excited both outside and inside the plasmapause where 1 < Vr/VA < 2.
Constraining the Dip of Shallow, Shallowly Dipping Thrust Events Using Long‐Period Love Wave Radiation Patterns: Applications to the 25 October 2010 Mentawai, Indonesia, and 4 May 2018 Hawaii Island Earthquakes
Authors: Lay Thorne , Ye Lingling , Kanamori Hiroo , Satake Kenji
Published: September 2018

Constraining precise faulting geometry for shallow, shallowly dipping thrust earthquakes is a common challenge. Plate boundary megathrust faults near the trench and décollement faults beneath volcanic islands and nappes may dip only a few degrees. Long‐period point source moment tensor waveform inversions provide limited resolution of shallow fault dip angle. The possibility of splay faulting requires precise dip estimation. High sensitivity to dip is provided by long‐period Love wave amplitude azimuthal radiation patterns, which undergo rapid change from four lobed to two lobed as dip decreases from 10° to 0°. Modeling variability in Love wave nodal amplitudes allows the dip to be determined to within a few degrees. This is demonstrated for the 25 October 2010 Mentawai (MWW 7.8) tsunami earthquake, which ruptured the 2.0–5.0° dipping megathrust beneath the shallow sedimentary wedge offshore of Indonesia, and the 4 May 2018 Hawaii Island (MWW 6.9) thrust earthquake, which ruptured the 2.5–7.5° dipping décollement under the island flank.
Hydrological Interpretation of a Statistical Measure of Basin Complexity
Authors: Pande Saket , Moayeri Mehdi
Published: September 2018

This paper studies how streamflow predictability varies with basin characteristics. We introduce an index of basin complexity that is based on a model of least statistical complexity that is needed to reliably predict daily streamflow of the basin. We then relate it with climate, vegetation and soil characteristics of the basin. Daily streamflow is modeled using k nearest neighbor model of lagged streamflow that predicts next time step streamflow based on the occurrences of similar streamflow events from the past. In order to calculate basin complexity, we identify difficult streamflow events of the basin and then use Vapnik‐Chervonenkis generalization theory, which trades off model performance with Vapnik‐Chervonenkis dimension (i.e., a measure of model complexity), to find a k nearest neighbor model of appropriate complexity for predicting a difficult streamflow event of the basin. The average of selected model complexities corresponding to difficult events is then defined as the basin's complexity. Basin complexity of 412 Model Parameter Estimation Experiment basins from continental United States are then related with its six basin characteristics. All the characteristics have been derived from the Model Parameter Estimation Experiment database to represent climate, vegetation and soil characteristics of the basins in a concise manner. Results find that more complex basins that are drier have less seasonal rainfall, vegetation with more storage capacity (i.e., smaller 5‐week Normalized Difference Vegetation Index gradient), and faster responsive soils. The results reaffirm prior observations that minimum complexity that is required to model a basin depends on its climate and landscape characteristics (e.g., complex models do not perform well in dry basins).
Responses of Unimpaired Flows, Storage, and Managed Flows to Scenarios of Climate Change in the San Francisco Bay‐Delta Watershed
Authors: Knowles N. , Cronkite‐Ratcliff C. , Pierce D. W. , Cayan D. R.
Published: September 2018

Projections of meteorology downscaled from global climate model runs were used to drive a model of unimpaired hydrology of the Sacramento/San Joaquin watershed, which in turn drove models of operational responses and managed flows. Twenty daily climate change scenarios for water years 1980–2099 were evaluated with the goal of producing inflow boundary conditions for a watershed sediment model and for a hydrodynamical model of the San Francisco Bay‐Delta estuary. The resulting time series of meteorology, snowpack, unimpaired flow, reservoir storage, and managed flow were analyzed for century‐scale trends. In the Sacramento basin, which dominates Bay‐Delta inflows, all 20 scenarios portrayed warming trends (with a mean of 4.1 °C) and most had precipitation increases (with a mean increase of 9%). Sacramento basin snowpack water equivalent declined sharply (by 89%), which was associated with a major shift toward earlier unimpaired runoff timing (33% more flow arriving prior to 1 April). Sacramento basin reservoirs showed large declines in end‐of‐September storage. Water‐year averaged outflows increased for most scenarios for both unimpaired and impaired flows, and frequency of extremely high daily unimpaired and impaired flows increased (increases of 175% and 170%, respectively). Managed Delta inflows were projected to experience large increases in the wet season and declines in the dry season. Changes in management strategy and infrastructure can mitigate some of these changes, though to what degree is uncertain.
Targeting proteasome-associated deubiquitinases as a novel strategy for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
Authors: Xia Xiaohong , Liao Yuning , Guo Zhiqiang , Li Yanling , Jiang Lili , Zhang Fangcheng , Huang Chuyi , Liu Yuan , Wang Xuejun , Liu Ningning , Liu Jinbao , Huang Hongbiao
Published: September 2018

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is expressed in ~67% of breast cancers and is critical to their proliferation and progression. The expression of ERα is regarded as a major prognostic marker, making it a meaningful target to treat breast cancer (BCa). However, hormone receptor-positive BCa was sometimes irresponsive or even resistant to classic anti-hormonal therapies (e.g., fulvestrant and tamoxifen). Hence, novel anti-endocrine therapies are urgent for ERα+ BCa. A phase II study suggested that bortezomib, an inhibitor blocking the activity of 20 S proteasomes, intervenes in cancer progression for anti-endocrine therapy in BCa. Here we report that proteasome-associated deubiquitinases (USP14 and UCHL5) inhibitors b-AP15 and platinum pyrithione (PtPT) induce growth inhibition in ERα+ BCa cells. Further studies show that these inhibitors induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis associated with caspase activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the downregulation of ERα. Moreover, we suggest that b-AP15 and PtPT block ERα signaling via enhancing the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of ERα and inhibiting the transcription of ERα. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that proteasome-associated deubiquitinases inhibitors b-AP15 and PtPT may have the potential to treat BCa resistant to anti-hormonal therapy.
CCL19 suppresses angiogenesis through promoting miR-206 and inhibiting Met/ERK/Elk-1/HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Zhuoqing , Zhu Congcong , Chen Chun , Zong Yaping , Feng Hao , Liu Di , Feng Wenqing , Zhao Jingkun , Lu Aiguo
Published: September 2018

The mechanisms underlying the role of chemokines in tumor angiogenesis is still not fully understood. In this study, we detected the influence of CCL19 on colorectal cancer (CRC) angiogenesis. The expression of CCL19 and CD31 in CRC tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Human CRC cell lines SW1116 and SW620 stably transfected with CCL19 lentivirus and CCL19 shRNA, and HUVEC stably transfected with CCR7 shRNA were used in our study. Our study showed that CCL19 was significantly low-expressed in CRC tissues and positively related to highly tumor microvessel density. In vitro, we observed that CCL19 high-expressed SW1116 supernatant was able to inhibit proliferation, migration, and sprouting responses of HUVEC, whereas CCL19 low-expressed SW620 supernatant can promote HUVEC angiogenesis. Additionally, we further demonstrated that these functions maybe achieved through promoting miR-206 thus inhibiting Met/ERK/Elk-1/HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway in a CCR7-dependent manner. Mice angiogenesis model also confirmed that elevated expression of CCL19 inhibit the angiogenesis of CRC in vivo. In summary, our results supported that CCL19 can inhibit CRC angiogenesis through promoting miR-206 thus inhibiting Met/ERK/Elk-1/HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway. This may be a novel therapeutic option for anti-vascular treatment in CRC.
HGK-sestrin 2 signaling-mediated autophagy contributes to antitumor efficacy of Tanshinone IIA in human osteosarcoma cells
Authors: Yen Jia-Hau , Huang Sheng-Teng , Huang Hung-Sen , Fong Yi-Chin , Wu Yi-Ying , Chiang Jen-Huai , Su Yuan-Chih
Published: September 2018

Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) is a diterpenoid naphthoquinone isolated from the herb Salvia miltiorrhiza with antitumor effects manifested at multiple levels that are mechanistically obscure. In our previous studies, we illustrated that TIIA treatment triggered apoptosis in human osteosarcoma 143B cells both in vitro and in vivo, accompanied with mitochondrial dysfunction. Importantly, the overall survival rate of patients with osteosarcoma who were randomly recruited to S. miltiorrhiza treatment was significantly higher than those without. Pursuing this observation, we evaluated the potential effect of TIIA on autophagy induction in osteosarcoma both in vivo and in vitro. We discovered that TIIA inhibited osteosarcoma cell survival through class I PI3K and Akt signaling pathways. In contrast, expression of class III PI3K required in the early stages of autophagosome generation was predominantly enhanced by TIIA treatment. Our study indicated that treatment of TIIA effectively induced autophagy in human osteosarcoma cells, which contributed to the blockade of anchorage-independent growth of osteosarcoma cells and ameliorated tumor progression in NOD/SCID mice. We demonstrated that TIIA-mediated autophagy occurred in a sestrin 2 (SESN2)-dependent but not Beclin 1-dependent manner. In addition, we defined the activation of HGK (MAP4K4 or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase)/SAPK/JNK1/Jun kinase pathways in upregulating transcription of SESN2, in which TIIA triggered HGK/JNK1-dependent Jun activation and led to increased Jun recruitment to AP-1-binding site in the SESN2 promoter region. Our results offer novel mechanistic insight into how TIIA inhibits osteosarcoma growth and suggest TIIA as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer.
SIRT1 suppresses the migration and invasion of gastric cancer by regulating ARHGAP5 expression
Authors: Dong Guoying , Wang Bo , An Yifei , Li Juan , Wang Xin , Jia Jihui , Yang Qing
Published: September 2018

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the top five malignant tumors worldwide by the incidence and mortality rate. However, the mechanisms underlying its progression are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of SIRT1, a class III deacetylase, in the invasion and metastasis of GC. Here, we found that knockdown of SIRT1 promoted GC cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Forced expression of SIRT1 in GC cells had the opposite effects. Then, we used mRNA microarray to identify the target genes that are regulated by SIRT1 and found that ARHGAP5 was downregulated by SIRT1. The results of the mRNA microarray were confirmed in several GC cell lines. Furthermore, SIRT1 inhibited the expression of ARHGAP5 by physically associating with transcription factor c-JUN and deacetylating and inhibiting the transcriptional activity of c-JUN. Then the expression dynamics and clinical significance of ARHGAP5 were analyzed using clinical samples and database. The expression of ARHGAP5 was increased in GC, and positively correlated with tumor size, tumor infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage. And multivariate analyses indicated that ARHGAP5 served as an independent prognostic marker of GC. In addition, the biological effects of ARHGAP5 in SIRT1-mediated inhibition of GC migration and invasion were investigated using both in vitro and in vivo models. Silencing of ARHGAP5 considerably inhibited the migration and invasion of GC, and ARHGAP5 was found to be involved in the SIRT1-mediated inhibition of GC migration and invasion. Our results indicate that SIRT1 suppresses migration and invasion of GC by downregulating ARHGAP5 through an interaction with c-JUN, and these phenomena represent a novel mechanism of the antitumor action of SIRT1.
Simultaneous ultrafast determination of six alkaloids in mainstream cigarette smoke by DART-MS/MS
Authors: Li Chao , Li E'xian , Wu Yiqin , You Junheng , Liu Wei , Cui Zhuwen , Li Lijun , Liu Zhihua , QIN Yunhua
Published: September 2018

To determine nicotine, nornicotine, myosmine, anatabine, anabasine and nicotyrine in mainstream cigarette smoke simultaneously, a novel method based on Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) Ionization technique combined with mass spectrometry was established by optimizing parameters such as injection rate, type of extraction solvent and extraction solvent dosage.
Synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles by nickel-catalyzed arylative cyclizations of N-tosyl alkynamides
Authors: Gillbard Simone M. , Chung Chieh-Hsu , Karad Somnath Narayan , Panchal Heena , Lewis William , Lam Hon Wai
Published: September 2018

The synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles by the nickel-catalyzed reaction of N-tosyl alkynamides with arylboronic acids is reported.
Dy(iii) zig-zag chains assembled in a 3D framework with single-molecule magnet behaviour
Authors: Bai Chao , Li Chuan-Ti , Hu Huai-Ming , Liu Bin , Li Jin-Dian , Xue Ganglin
Published: September 2018

A new lanthanide-based framework, [Dy(STP)(1,2-bdc)]n (1), represents 1D dysprosium zigzag chain architecture in a 3D framework and displays SMM behaviour under zero dc field.
Formation of hierarchically-ordered nanoporous silver foam and its electrocatalytic properties in reductive dehalogenation of organic compounds
Authors: Mishura Andrey M. , Lytvynenko Anton S. , Gavrilenko Konstantin S. , Baranchikov Alexander E. , Grabovaya Natalia V. , Kiskin Mikhail A. , Kolotilov Sergey V.
Published: September 2018

Nanostructuring of silver notably improved its electrocatalytic activity in reductive dehalogenation of a variety of aryl and alkyl bromides.
Adsorption of hexavalent chromium by novel chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide)/permutit electrospun nanofibers
Authors: Wang Panpan , Wang Lihua , Dong Shujun , Zhang Guohui , Shi Xuejuan , Xiang Chunhui , Li Lili
Published: September 2018

The Cr(vi) adsorption mechanism by CS/PEO/PT composite nanofibers includes electrostatic interaction, chelation, reduction and ion exchange.
In situ generation of plasmonic cavities for high sensitivity fluorophore and biomolecule detection
Authors: Byrne Daragh , McDonagh Colette
Published: September 2018

Plasmonic cavities are grown in situ via Au labelled antibodies yielding a highly responsive fluorescence based biosensing platform.
Recent progress in microwave absorption of nanomaterials: composition modulation, structural design, and their practical applications
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Juan , Guo Ao‐Ping , Wang Guang‐Sheng , Yin Peng‐Gang
Published: September 2018

The increasing electromagnetic (EM) radiation arise from the vast usage of EM techniques in civilian and military fields has spawned extensive concerns on scientific research with respect to EM wave absorbers. Nanomaterials, as a new type of nano‐absorbing agent, have been investigated in detail over the recent years. This review article aims at elaborating the influence of component regulation and structural design on microwave absorption (MA) performance. Combined with the experimental efforts towards the development of nano‐absorbers, the relevant absorption mechanisms are also discussed. In addition, from a prospective point, only focus on the exploration of absorbent itself is not enough, but also need matrix material to support. Based on this circumstance, the study summarises various kinds of polymer‐based nanocomposites used as excellent absorbers for practical MA applications.
Synchronous control strategy of dual five‐level converters based on the improved SVPWM
Authors: Zhu Junjie , Sun Xingfa , Nie Ziling , Rui Wanzhi , Han Yi , Wu Yanhao
Published: September 2018

This Letter has proposed a synchronous control strategy of dual five‐level converters based on the improved space vector pulse‐width modulation (SVPWM). Firstly, the main topology of the neutral point clamped (NPC) five‐level converter was introduced and its operational principle was analysed. Then, the space voltage vector diagram was offered. Considering the reduction of switching loss, the optimisation of the synthesis method of target voltage vectors and the addition of the neutral‐point potential balancing algorithm can lead to an improved SVPWM strategy for the five‐level converter. The analysis of the switching rules proves that the improved SVPWM has an advantage over the traditional three‐segment SVPWM due to its fewer times of switching. On the basis of the improved SVPWM, a synchronous control method of dual single‐phase five‐level converters is proposed to carry out a real‐time control of the dual five‐level converters through the combinational‐encoding transmission of output pulses. Thus, the synchronous control method can, to a great extent, solve the problems caused by the traditional dual five‐level independent control method, such as high hardware cost, the complexity of control, and poor synchronous performance. Simulations and experiments show that the proposed synchronous control method is feasible and effective.
Parabolic trough solar–thermal–wind–diesel isolated hybrid power system: active power/frequency control analysis
Authors: Ranjan Sudhanshu , Chandra Das Dulal , Behera Soumyashree , Sinha Nidul
Published: September 2018

This study investigates the frequency control of an isolated hybrid power system (HPS) in the presence of parabolic‐trough solar thermal power system (STPS), wind generator, diesel engine generator and battery energy storage system to ensure the system reliability. Dynamic performance of the HPS has been analysed considering the degree of penetration of solar thermal power. The inclusion of parabolic‐trough‐based STPS in such study is a maiden work. For coordinated control of the whole system and to damp out the oscillations occurring due to the disturbances, proportional–integral (PI) and PI–derivative controllers are incorporated whose gain parameters are simultaneously optimised by genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimisation, and mine blast algorithm (MBA). MBA‐based control strategy in such a hybrid system has been reported for the first time. The dynamic response analysis with different algorithms figured out that the parameters of controllers tuned by MBA provide a significant improvement in the performance of HPS.
Battery–supercapacitor hybrid energy storage system for wind power suppression based on the turbulence model of wind speed
Authors: Yu Peng , Liu Xinghua , Zhang Yong , Hu XingWang , Kong Gang , Zhao Peng , Cheng Yan , Li Sun , Zuo Xinbin , Sun Shumin
Published: September 2018

Based on the turbulence model, the volatility of real‐time wind speed is discussed, which is composed of an average component and a fluctuant component. By deriving the probability density function of fluctuant wind speed and investigating the probability density curve, the authors decompose the fluctuant wind power into the steady fluctuation and peak fluctuation. According to the properties of steady fluctuation and peak fluctuation, the authors determine that the energy storage system applied into the real‐time wind power fluctuation should be of the performance of high power density, high energy density and long cycle life. Through the comparative analysis on the energy storage performance, the battery and supercapacitor are proved to be suitable for regulating the steady and peak fluctuation, respectively. According to that task assignment, the energy storage performance of a battery–supercapacitor hybrid system is investigated. Based on the wind power decomposition, this study develops a new capacity configuration method for the hybrid system and gives an example analysis. By that method, the battery and supercapacitor in the hybrid system can be allocated proper energy and power capacity to balance the steady and peak fluctuation, respectively. Consequently, their energy storage merits can be fully utilised.
Detailed description and analysis of the cross‐coupling magnetic saturation on permanent magnet synchronous motor
Authors: Shi Yu , Chai Jianyun , Sun Xudong , Mu Shujun
Published: September 2018

Permanent‐magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) has obtained more attention, acquired more applications, and received great reputation due to its high torque density and simple structure. While exploiting its high torque capability, PMSM's control strategy faces great challenge at high overload scenario due to core‐saturation effect. This study presents a detailed physical description and analysis on the effect of cross‐coupling magnetic saturation in PMSM. Applying the conventional i d  = 0 control strategy on a 1.5 MW surface mounted permanent‐magnet synchronous generator, this study discusses the cause and influence of cross‐coupling effect, presents the unbalanced magnetic permeance between direct ‐(d ‐) and quadrature‐(q ‐)axis magnetic circuit. Either d ‐ or q ‐axis electromotive force (mmf) would generate both d ‐ and q ‐axis flux, especially those induced by permanent magnets. Then a permeance‐fixed finite‐element analysis is applied to separate the influence between permanent magnets and armature current. Finally, this study proposes a revised maximum‐torque‐per‐ampere trajectory for surface‐PMSM at high overload situation.
Modified hill climbing MPPT algorithm with reduced steady‐state oscillation and improved tracking efficiency
Authors: Zhu Weiwei , Shang Liqun , Li Pengwei , Guo Hangchen
Published: September 2018

To ensure the photovoltaic (PV) system can still output maximum power under changing environmental conditions, a modified hill climbing algorithm is proposed. The algorithm uses a variable step‐size strategy to reduce the steady‐state oscillations and prevent operating point from diverging away from the maximum power point by introducing boundary conditions. To verify its effectiveness, the proposed algorithm is compared with the conventional and adaptive hill climbing method under the environmental condition of irradiance step change and gradual change. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can increase the dynamic response speed of the PV system by 75% under varying irradiance, and can achieve a steady‐state tracking accuracy of 99.8%. Besides, the proposed algorithm only needs to embed several lines of additional programs in the conventional hill climbing maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control program and does not require additional hardware components, which reduces the cost of PV power generation.
Small‐signal stability analysis of Energy Internet through differential inclusion theory
Authors: Hu Pan , Chen Hongkun , Zhu Xiaohang , Chen Lei
Published: September 2018

In this study, small‐signal stability issue associated with uncertainty excitation is investigated by using differential inclusion theory. Specifically, a polytopic linear differential inclusion (PLDI) model for Energy Internet is developed, in which a modified non‐sequence Monte Carlo method is introduced to identify a series of time‐variant operation states. Additionally, a simplified small‐signal model of renewable energy sources (RES) with virtual synchronous generator control is proposed, and the outputs of RES are modelled as time‐varying elements in PLDI model to reflect the inner stochastic excitation in the linearised matrix. The stability criterion for the stochastic time‐varying system is mathematically deduced based on convex hull Lyapunov function. Simulation demonstrates the benefits of the proposed model in describing system stochastic characteristics and reducing computational burden.
Transient stability analysis based on the state‐plane trajectory and the relative kinetic energy change rate
Authors: Liu Zhijian , Sun Yingbi , Song Qi , Hai Shifang , Zhang Han
Published: September 2018

Due to the widespread application of the wide area measurement system in power systems, it has become feasible to identify the transient stability of a power system on‐line. A real‐time transient stability identification method combining state‐plane trajectory and relative kinetic energy is proposed. First, the correlation between the minimum value of the state‐plane trajectory and the system stability is analysed in a single‐machine infinite system. On this basis, the relationship between the concavity–convexity of the trajectory and the transient stability is discussed in detail. Second, the calculation of the transient energy is introduced to analyse the energy transformation and a sub‐criterion is presented. The comprehensive application of trajectory characteristics and energy criteria can accurately determine the transient stability of all of the units, which is of great practical significance for accurately cutting off the unstable units when system faults occur. A simulation analysis with the IEEE New England 10‐machine 39‐bus system verified the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method.