bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The bioliq® Entrained‐Flow Gasifier – a Module for the German Energiewende
Authors: Eberhard Mark , Santo Ulrike , Böning David , Schmid Hannah , Michelfelder Bernd , Zimmerlin Bernd , Günther Armin , Weigand Peter , Müller‐Hagedorn Matthias , Stapf Dieter , Kolb Thomas
Published: January 2018

Das bioliq®‐Verfahren wurde am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) zur Herstellung von synthetischen Kraftstoffen aus Restbiomasse entwickelt. Das mehrstufige Verfahren berücksichtigt sowohl die dezentrale Verfügbarkeit von Biomasse als auch die Notwendigkeit einer großtechnischen Synthese von Kraftstoffen. Der gesamte Prozess wird im Pilotmaßstab am KIT betrieben. Der Hochdruckflugstromvergaser, von Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, wandelt die in einer Schnellpyrolyse vorbehandelte Biomasse in Synthesegas um, das in der anschließenden Synthese zur Benzinproduktion eingesetzt wird. Erste Ergebnisse der Anlage werden präsentiert.
Bleichsysteme für Haushaltswaschmittel
Authors: Dreja Michael , Hätzelt André , Bluhm Nadine
Published: January 2018

Die Weiterentwicklung von chemischen Bleichsystemen, insbesondere von aktivierter und katalysierter Persauerstoffbleiche in festen Waschmitteln, hat zu signifikanten Verbesserungen bei der Leistungsfähigkeit solcher Produkte in Bezug auf Fleckentfernung, Weißgrad und Hygiene geführt. Heute existieren metallhaltige und metallfreie organische Katalysatoren, die in Kombination mit dem weit verbreiteten System Percarbonat/TAED die Lücke zwischen 20 °C und 40 °C schließen. Umwelt und Verbraucher profitieren neben der Reduktion der Dosierung um 75 % in den letzten 40 Jahren von direkten Kosteneinsparungen durch geringeren Energieverbrauch bei Reduktion der Waschtemperatur. Die Kompaktierung hat neue Produktformen wie vordosierte Waschmittelportionen ermöglicht. Offen sind weiterhin die Anwendung katalytischer Bleichsysteme in Flüssigwaschmitteln und die Nutzung von Sauerstoff aus der Luft. Die weiter voranschreitende Integration von Waschmitteln in Waschmaschinen, etwa durch automatische Dosierung und verbesserte Fleckensensorik, wird dazu führen, dass Bleichsysteme in Zukunft weiter optimiert und noch gezielter eingesetzt werden können, um das Waschen noch nachhaltiger und verbraucherfreundlicher zu gestalten.
Evidence‐based adequacy criteria for instrumented urine cytology using cytospin preparations
Authors: Renshaw Andrew A. , Gould Edwin W.
Published: January 2018

Cytospin preparations of instrumented urine cytology specimens with less than 10 urothelial cells or more than 50 urothelial cells/10 hpfs are both associated with significantly increased false negative rates compared to cases with 10‐49 urothelial cells/10 hpfs.
Effects of intravenous home dobutamine in palliative end‐stage heart failure on quality of life, heart failure hospitalization, and cost expenditure
Authors: Martens Pieter , Vercammen Jan , Ceyssens Wendy , Jacobs Linda , Luwel Evert , Van Aerde Herwig , Potargent Peter , Renaers Monique , Dupont Matthias , Mullens Wilfried
Published: January 2018

Aims

In patients with palliative end‐stage heart failure, interventions that could provide symptomatic relief and prevent hospital admissions are important. Ambulatory continuous intravenous inotropes have been advocated by guidelines for such a purpose. We sought to determine the effect of intravenous dobutamine on symptomatic status, hospital stay, mortality, and cost expenditure.

Methods and results

All consecutive end‐stage heart failure patients not amenable for advanced therapies and discharged with continuous intravenous home dobutamine from a single tertiary centre between April 2011 and January 2017 were retrospectively analysed. Dobutamine (fixed dose) was infused through a single‐lumen central venous catheter with a small pump that was refilled by a nurse on a daily basis. Symptomatic status was longitudinally assessed as the change in New York Heart Association class and patient global assessment scale. Antecedent and incident heart failure hospitalizations were determined in a paired fashion, and cost impact was assessed. A total of 21 patients (age 77 ± 9 years) were followed up for 869 ± 647 days. At first follow‐up (6 ± 1 weeks) after the initiation of dobutamine, patients had a significant improvement in New York Heart Association class (−1.29 ± 0.64; P < 0.001), global assessment scale (<0.001), and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (6247 vs. 2543 pg/mL; P = 0.033). Incident heart failure hospitalizations assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly reduced (P < 0.001 for all) in comparison with antecedent heart failure hospitalizations over the same time period. Cost expenditure was significantly lower at 3 (P < 0.001), 6 (P = 0.005), and 12 months (P = 0.001) after initiation of dobutamine. Mortality rate at 1 year was 48% with 9/12 (75%) patients dying at home, most often from progressive pump failure.

Conclusions

Continuous intravenous home dobutamine in patients with palliative end‐stage heart failure is feasible and associated with improved symptomatic status, heart failure hospitalizations, and health‐care‐related costs. Nevertheless, results should be interpreted in the context of the small and retrospective design. Larger studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of dobutamine in palliative end‐stage heart failure.
Influence of Phase Composition of Bulk Tungsten Vanadium Oxides on the Aerobic Transformation of Methanol and Glycerol
Authors: Delgado Daniel , Chieregato Alessandro , Soriano M. Dolores , Rodríguez‐Aguado Elena , Ruiz‐Rodríguez Lidia , Rodríguez‐Castellón Enrique , López Nieto José M.
Published: January 2018

A series of W–V–O catalysts with different m‐WO3 and h‐WO3 phase contents were hydrothermally synthesized by employing different tungsten, vanadium, and ammonium precursors and characterized by powder XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM, X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, NH3 temperature programmed desorption, H2 temperature‐programmed reduction, and XPS. Finally, the acid/redox properties were analyzed by using aerobic transformation of methanol as a characterization reaction. A correlation between phase composition as well as acid and redox properties was observed, which were correlated to the catalytic performance of the title materials in a one‐pot oxydehydration reaction of glycerol. The hexagonal tungsten bronze (h‐WO3) phase shows a significantly higher concentration of acid sites than monoclinic m‐WO3, so that the acid properties of W–V–O oxides are directly related to the presence of h‐WO3 crystals. The presence of a higher concentration of acid sites in V‐containing h‐WO3 crystals is a key factor to achieve high selectivity to both acrolein and acrylic acid during one‐pot glycerol oxydehydration. Also, V sites in h‐WO3 show higher selectivity in the consecutive reaction (partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid), while V sites in the m‐WO3 phase fundamentally lead to the formation of carbon oxides.
Incidence and prognostic impact of cytogenetic aberrations in patients with systemic mastocytosis
Authors: Naumann Nicole , Jawhar Mohamad , Schwaab Juliana , Kluger Sebastian , Lübke Johannes , Metzgeroth Georgia , Popp Henning D. , Khaled Nada , Horny Hans‐Peter , Sotlar Karl , Valent Peter , Haferlach Claudia , Göhring Gudrun , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Meggendorfer Manja , Hofmann Wolf‐Karsten , Cross Nicholas C.P. , Reiter Andreas , Fabarius Alice
Published: January 2018

The clinical behavior of systemic mastocytosis (SM) is strongly associated with activating mutations in KIT (D816V in >80% of cases), with the severity of the phenotype influenced by additional somatic mutations, for example, in SRSF2, ASXL1, or RUNX1. Complex molecular profiles are frequently associated with the presence of an associated hematologic neoplasm (AHN) and an unfavorable clinical outcome. However, little is known about the incidence and prognostic impact of cytogenetic aberrations. We analyzed cytogenetic and molecular characteristics of 109 patients (KIT D816V+, n = 102, 94%) with indolent (ISM, n = 26) and advanced SM (n = 83) with (n = 73, 88%) or without AHN. An aberrant karyotype was identified in SM‐AHN (16/73, 22%) patients only. In patients with an aberrant karyotype, additional somatic mutations were identified in 12/16 (75%) patients. Seven of 10 (70%) patients with a poor‐risk karyotype, for example, monosomy 7 or complex karyotype, and 1/6 (17%) patients with a good‐risk karyotype progressed to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (n = 7) or mast cell leukemia (n = 1) within a median of 40 months (range 2‐190, P = .04). In advanced SM, the median overall survival (OS) of poor‐risk karyotype patients was significantly shorter than in good‐risk/normal karyotype patients (4 vs 39 months; hazard ratio 11.7, 95% CI 5.0‐27.3; P < .0001). Additionally, the shortened OS in patients with poor‐risk karyotype was independent from the mutation status. In summary, a poor‐risk karyotype is an independent prognostic variable in advanced SM. Cytogenetic and molecular analyses should be routinely performed in all patients with advanced SM ± AHN because these investigations greatly support prognostication and treatment decisions.
Cretaceous basalts of the High Arctic large igneous province at Axel Heiberg Island (Canada): Volcanic stratigraphy, geodynamic setting, and origin
Authors: Dostal Jaroslav , MacRae Andrew
Published: January 2018

The Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ~96 Ma) basaltic rocks of the Strand Fiord Formation of the Sverdrup Basin of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Nunavut, Canada, are a part of the High Arctic large igneous province. The basaltic suite reaches a thickness of almost 1,000 m on Axel Heiberg Island in its depocentre and over 700 m at the studied section. The rocks are variably fractionated tholeiitic basalts, which are geochemically similar to many other continental flood basalts, particularly to low Ti basalts of flood basalt provinces. Geochemical as well as Sr (87Sr/86Srinitial~ 0.7045 to 0.7067) and Nd (ƐNd(t)~ +1.3 to +4.3) isotopic signatures of the basalts were inherited during partial melting of spinel peridotite of an ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle, which was modified around 0.7–0.9 Ga by a metasomatic event. The melting generating the Cretaceous basalts was probably triggered by a mantle plume but was also associated with basin rifting and stretching. There is evidence of plume‐induced doming and uplift of the crust prior to and during the eruption of the basalts as documented by the progression from marine sedimentation to subaerial/lacustrine and then back to marine sedimentation in the Sverdrup Basin centre. The basalts represent parts of the Early Cretaceous igneous province that is dispersed around the Arctic Ocean due to the opening of the Canada Basin, which is inferred to be related to a mantle plume.
Involvement of the dorsal hippocampus in expression and extinction of cocaine‐induced conditioned place preference
Authors: Hitchcock Leah N. , Lattal K. Matthew
Published: January 2018

A key aspect of substance abuse is that drug taking often occurs in a specific context. As a consequence, exposure to drug‐associated contexts can trigger cravings and relapse, even after long periods of abstinence. Although many studies have demonstrated that the hippocampus is critical for developing and retrieving contextual and spatial memories, comparatively little is known about the role of the hippocampus in acquiring and inhibiting memories involving contexts and drugs of abuse. We examined the effects of hippocampal inactivation on expression of cocaine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) after initial acquisition or extinction of CPP in C57BL/6 mice. During acquisition of CPP, distinct tactile cues were paired with cocaine (20 mg kg−1, intraperitoneal, CS+) and different tactile cues were paired with saline (CS−) on alternate days. Groups differed in whether the CS+ and CS− cues were presented in the same large space (one‐compartment procedure) or distinct small spaces (two‐compartment procedure), as previous findings demonstrate that a two‐compartment configuration facilitates acquisition and attenuates extinction of a cocaine‐induced CPP. Microinjection of the GABAA agonist, muscimol, into the dorsal hippocampus impaired (1) retrieval of a place preference after acquisition, (2) extinction of a place preference, and (3) retrieval of extinction. These effects differed depending on the spatial configuration during acquisition or extinction, suggesting that the dorsal hippocampus may differentially modulate drug seeking during retrieval and extinction of CPP.
Access to What? English, Texts, and Social Justice Pedagogy
Authors: Brauer Lydia
Published: January 2018

Drawing from Buckingham's media education framework, this article uses content analysis to review one of the most recent and far‐reaching disciplinary constructions of English in the United States, the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, in light of its engagement with larger social practices involved in text production, representation, and audience meaning making. This analysis demonstrates that the Common Core's Anchor Standards miss significant opportunities to connect texts and literacies to broader social, economic, and political contexts of text content, production, and reception—contexts that can provide a disciplinary foundation for social justice pedagogy in English language arts.
Comparative RNA‐Seq transcriptome analysis on silica induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice silicosis model
Authors: Chen Jiayi , Yao Yuqin , Su Xiaolan , Shi Ying , Song Xuejiao , Xie Linshen , You Jia , Tian Liantian , Yang Luo , Fang Aiping , Xiong Jingyuan
Published: January 2018

Silicosis is a long‐established public health issue in developing countries due to increasingly serious air pollution and poorly implemented occupational safety regulation. Inhalation of silica triggers cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, pulmonary inflammation and eventually silicosis. Current understanding in the pathogenesis and mechanism of silicosis is limited, and no effective cure is clinically available once silicosis is developed. A number of studies were conducted to investigate silica‐induced alternate gene expressions in pulmonary cells. However, transcriptome analysis in a silicosis animal model is needed. This study was performed to evaluate the transcriptional alternations in silicotic mice using comparative RNA‐Seq. A silicosis mice model was established by intratracheal instillation of silica suspensions, and validated by histological examinations. High‐throughput sequencing and differential gene expression analysis revealed 749 upregulated genes and 70 downregulated genes in the silicosis model. Genes related to immune cell interactions, immune cell responses and inflammation were significantly enriched. Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction and downstream JAK‐STAT signaling pathways were the most significantly enriched KEGG pathways. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed to validate further the differential expression patterns of representative genes. The reported results in this study provide the basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms for silica‐induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, and support the prevention and treatment of silicosis.
The effects of wireless electromagnetic fields on the activities of carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes in various tissues of rats
Authors: Kocyigit Umit Muhammet , Taslimi Parham , Gurses Fatih , Soylu Sinan , Durna Dastan Sevgi , Gulcin İlhami
Published: January 2018

The purpose of our study is to assist in understanding the effects of wireless electromagnetic waves on carbonic anhydrase (CA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes activities in the different tissues of the rats. For this purpose, two different groups each of which contains eight rats (n = 8) were formed as being control group and wireless electromagnetic wave‐administered group. The rats were necropsied after 60 min from the injection of chemicals into the rats intraperitoneally. The different tissues of the rats were extracted. CA and AChE enzymes activities were measured for each tissue. All the experimental results were provided in mean ± S.D. Statistical significance was identified to be P < 0.05. It was observed that there were significant changes of enzyme activities in wireless‐administered group in salivary gland, stomach, colon, liver, and striated muscle tissues.
Misregulation of membrane trafficking processes in human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Dzierlenga Anika L. , Cherrington Nathan J.
Published: January 2018

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remodels the expression and function of genes and proteins that are critical for drug disposition. This study sought to determine whether disruption of membrane protein trafficking pathways in human NASH contributes to altered localization of multidrug resistance‐associated protein 2 (MRP2). A comprehensive immunoblot analysis assessed the phosphorylation, membrane translocation, and expression of transporter membrane insertion regulators, including several protein kinases (PK), radixin, MARCKS, and Rab11. Radixin exhibited a decreased phosphorylation and total expression, whereas Rab11 had an increased membrane localization. PKCδ, PKCα, and PKA had increased membrane activation, whereas PKCε had a decreased phosphorylation and membrane expression. Radixin dephosphorylation may activate MRP2 membrane retrieval in NASH; however, the activation of Rab11/PKCδ and PKA/PKCα suggest an activation of membrane insertion pathways as well. Overall these data suggest an altered regulation of protein trafficking in human NASH, although other processes may be involved in the regulation of MRP2 localization.
Interleukin‐6 contributes to chemoresistance in MDA‐MB‐231 cells via targeting HIF‐1α
Authors: Wang Ke , Zhu Xue , Zhang Kai , Yin Yongxiang , Chen Yu , Zhang Ting
Published: January 2018

Chemoresistance is a critical challenge in the clinical treatment of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). It has been well documented that inflammatory mediators from tumor microenvironment are involved in the pathogenesis of TNBC and might be related to chemoresistance of cancer cells. In this study, the contribution of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), one of the principal oncogenic molecules, in chemoresistance of a TNBC cell line MDA‐MB‐231 was first investigated. The results showed that IL‐6 treatment could induce upregulation of HIF‐1α via the activation of STAT3 in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, which consequently contributed to its effect against chemotherapeutic drug‐induced cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis. However, knockdown of HIF‐1α attenuated such effect via affecting the expressions of apoptosis‐related molecules as Bax and Bcl‐2 and drug transporters as P‐gp and MRP1. This study indicated that targeting at IL‐6/HIF‐1α signaling pathway might be an effective strategy to overcome chemoresistance in TNBC therapy.
Maladaptive repetitive thought as a transdiagnostic phenomenon and treatment target: An integrative review
Authors: Kaplan Deanna M. , Palitsky Roman , Carey Angela L. , Crane Tracy E. , Havens Cody M. , Medrano Michael R. , Reznik Samantha J. , Sbarra David A. , O'Connor Mary‐Frances
Published: January 2018

Objective

Maladaptive repetitive thought (RT), the frequent and repetitive revisiting of thoughts or internal experiences, is associated with a range of psychopathological processes and disorders. We present a synthesis of prior research on maladaptive RT and develop a framework for elucidating and distinguishing between five forms of maladaptive RT.

Method

In addition to the previously studied maladaptive RT (worry, rumination, and obsession), this framework is used to identify two additional forms of maladaptive RT (yearning and interoceptive RT). We then present a review of extant psychotherapy intervention research targeting maladaptive RT, focusing both on specific empirically based treatment strategies, and also constructs within treatments that impact maladaptive RT.

Conclusion

The paper concludes with recommendations for future basic and intervention research on maladaptive RT and related psychopathologies.
Effect of ethanol on the antimicrobial properties of chlorhexidine over oral biofilm
Authors: Duarte Pedro Henrique Marks , da Silva Paula Barcellos , Rosa Ricardo Abreu da , Montagner Francisco , Duarte Marco Antônio Húngaro , Kuga Milton Carlos , Só Marcus Vinícius Reis
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 95% ethanol irrigation, with 5 or 10 min of action, on the antibacterial properties of 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), on oral biofilm, evaluated with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Oral biofilm development was induced in 80 sterilized bovine dentin blocks, distributed in two groups (5 or 10 min) and 4 subgroups, according to time and the solution used: Saline (SALINE5, SALINE10); Saline followed by CHX (SALINE/CHX5, SALINE/CHX10); Ethanol (ETHANOL5, ETHANOL10), Ethanol followed by CHX (ETHANOL/CHX5, ETHANOL/CHX10). The surface of the block was dyed with Live/Dead® BacLight. Images from different areas were analyzed by BioImage L program. The total biovolum (µm³), biovolum of live cells (green), percentage of live cells of the thickness of the biofilm visualized in CLSM and on surface biofilm were evaluated. Total biovolum and biovolum of living cells showed similar results among the different groups (p > .05). The percentage of living cells in total thickness of the biofilm also was similar among the groups (p > .05), except ETHANOL5, SALINE/CHX10, ETHANOL10, and ETHANOL/CHX10 that showed lower percentage than SALINE5 (p < .05). The ETHANOL10 and ETHANOL/CHX10 also showed lower percentage of living cells than ETHANOL/CHX5 and SALINE10 (p < .05). In relation to biofilm surface, SALINE/CHX5, SALINE/CHX10, ETHANOL5, ETHANOL10, ETHANOL/CHX5, and ETHANOL/CHX10 showed a lower percentage of living cells percentage than SALINE5 and SALINE10 groups (p < .05). Therefore, ethanol has no effect on antimicrobial properties of 2% chlorhexidine, prior when used as endodontic irrigating solution.
Regional frequency analysis of extreme rainfall in Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Forestieri Angelo , Lo Conti Francesco , Blenkinsop Stephen , Cannarozzo Marcella , Fowler Hayley J. , Noto Leonardo V.
Published: January 2018

Extreme rainfall events have large impacts on society and are likely to increase in intensity under climate change. For design and management decisions, particularly regarding hydraulic works, accurate estimates of precipitation magnitudes are needed at different durations. In this article, an objective approach of the regional frequency analysis (RFA) has been applied to precipitation data for the island of Sicily, Italy. Annual maximum series for rainfall with durations of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h from about 130 rain gauges were used. The RFA has been implemented using principal component analysis (PCA) followed by a clustering analysis, through thek‐means algorithm, to identify statistically homogeneous groups of stations for the derivation of regional growth curves. Three regional probability distributions were identified as appropriate from an initial wider selection of distributions and were compared – the three‐parameter log‐normal distribution (LN3), the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution, and the two component extreme value (TCEV) distribution. The regional parameters of these distributions were estimated using L‐moments and considering a hierarchical approach. Finally, assessment of the accuracy of the growth curves was achieved by means of the relative bias and relative root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) using a simulation analysis of regional L‐moments. Results highlight that for the lower return periods, all distributions showed the same accuracy while for higher return periods the LN3 distribution provided the best result. The study provides an updated resource for the estimation of extreme precipitation quantiles for Sicily through the derivation of growth curves needed to obtain depth–duration–frequency (DDF) curves.
Synthesis of PtAu Alloy Nanocrystals in Micelle Nanoreactors Enabled by Flash Heating and Cooling
Authors: Zhang Dongtang , Chen Chunnian , Wang Xiayan , Guo Guangsheng , Sun Yugang
Published: January 2018

A microwave‐assisted flash heating and cooling strategy has been developed for the rapid synthesis of bimetallic alloy nanocrystals made of immiscible metals in microemulsion micelle nanoreactors. The promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts of PtAu alloy nanocrystals with tunable compositions have been successfully synthesized by using the new strategy. The water‐in‐oil (w/o) microemulsion micelles contain strong microwave‐absorbing species (including metal ion precursors, reducing reagent, water, n‐butanol) and they are surrounded with cyclohexane that barely absorbs microwave. The selective absorption of microwave energy in the micelles enables the rapid production of well‐mixed PtAu alloy melt at extremely high local temperatures while the micelle walls are cooled with the cold pool of cyclohexane to freeze the PtAu alloy melt into PtAu alloy nanocrystals with a uniform distribution of metal atoms. Such flash heating inside micelle containers followed by the flash cooling on the micelle walls results in a non‐equilibrium thermodynamic condition to benefit the formation of alloy nanocrystals composed of two immiscible metals.
Underwater video monitoring of fish passage in the Mekong River at Sadam Channel, Khone Falls, Laos
Authors: Hawkins P.R. , Hortle K.G. , Phommanivong S. , Singsua Y.
Published: January 2018

This paper describes the first measurement of fish passage in the Mekong River at Khone Falls. The site was in the Sadam Channel, which was modified in 2013 to improve fish passage and mitigate closure of Sahong Channel for the Don Sahong hydropower project. Underwater cameras recorded 149 hr of discontinuous video from January 18 to 26, 2015, which showed a major upstream migration by small cyprinid fish. Daily catch surveys in the same channel showed most fish migrated on days when video records were almost complete. We used stratified hourly sampling to review 17% of the available video and counted 14,783 fish and identified 16 taxa. The most abundant species were Labiobarbus leptocheilus, Henicorhynchus lobatus, and Henicorhynchus siamensis, and these fishes migrated almost exclusively during daylight. We calculated passage rates for West Sadam Channel from video samples and extrapolated those results to Sadam Channel, by assuming equivalent passage rates for both East and West Sadam Channels. This assumption was based on observations that fish were evenly distributed between both banks below the confluence, and they migrated close to each bank, so we assumed that there was an even split at the confluence and neither channel was preferred for upstream passage. Although channel modification improved fish passage efficiency, we estimated that artisanal fishers caught 79% of migrating fish in Sadam Channel, so fishing pressure remains the greatest risk to successful fish passage. Active fisheries management will be necessary to sustain and further improve passage efficiency in future.
Fully Roll‐to‐Roll Printed P3HT/Indene‐C60‐Bisadduct Modules with High Open‐Circuit Voltage and Efficiency
Authors: Apilo Pälvi , Välimäki Marja , Po Riccardo , Väisänen Kaisa‐Leena , Richter Henning , Ylikunnari Mari , Vilkman Marja , Bernardi Andrea , Corso Gianni , Hoppe Harald , Roesch Roland , Meitzner Rico , Schubert Ulrich S. , Hast Jukka
Published: January 2018

Indene‐C60‐bisadduct (ICBA) can represent an excellent choice as an acceptor of organic solar cells due to the, at most, similar cost, higher efficiency, and higher open‐circuit voltage (VOC) obtained in small‐scale devices compared to phenyl[60]butyrate methyl ester ([60]PCBM). We have investigated ICBA in printed solar cells and assessed the upscale of the printing process to a roll‐to‐roll (R2R) pilot production. Performances of poly(3‐hexylthiophene):ICBA solar cells are confirmed to be superior compared to [60]PCBM. Using large scale 2D R2R printing techniques, with both active material systems excellent processability, reproducibility, and yield are reached. At first, ICBA based large area modules (57 cm2) showed significant loss in efficiency. However, stressing the devices by exposure to sunlight was found to lead high efficiency modules with a VOC of 0.78 V per cell and a PCE of 3.4%. This is among the highest VOC per cell values realized with fully R2R processed organic photovoltaic modules and among the highest PCEs with P3HT based R2R processed modules. Imaging techniques have allowed to identify that stressing with sunlight partially burns shunts and recovers S‐shaped behavior in the ICBA‐based modules.
Compact inverted index storage using general‐purpose compression libraries
Authors: Petri Matthias , Moffat Alistair
Published: January 2018

Efficient storage of large inverted indexes is one of the key technologies that support current web search services. Here we re‐examine mechanisms for representing document‐level inverted indexes and within‐document term frequencies, including comparing specialized methods developed for this task against recent fast implementations of general‐purpose adaptive compression techniques. Experiments with the Gov2‐URL collection and a large collection of crawled news stories show that standard compression libraries can provide compression effectiveness as good as or better than previous methods, with decoding rates only moderately slower than reference implementations of those tailored approaches. This surprising outcome means that high‐performance index compression can be achieved without requiring the use of specialized implementations.
Public health response to a measles outbreak on a university campus in Australia, 2015
Authors: Smith J. , Banu S. , Young M. , Francis D. , Langfeldt K. , Jarvinen K.
Published: January 2018

This report describes the effective public health response to a measles outbreak involving a university campus in Brisbane, Australia. Eleven cases in total were notified, mostly university students. The public health response included targeted measles vaccination clinics which were established on campus and focused on student groups most likely to have been exposed. The size of the university population, social interaction between students on and off campus, as well as limited vaccination records for the university community presented challenges for the control of this extremely infectious illness. We recommend domestic students ensure vaccinations are current prior to matriculation. Immunisation information should be included in university student enrolment packs. Incoming international students should ensure routine vaccinations are up-to-date prior to arrival in Australia, thereby reducing the risk of importation of measles and other infectious diseases.
Why is Toru Hashimoto Called ‘a Japanese version of Trump’ or ‘Hitler’? A Linguistic Examination of Hashimoto's Attack on His Opponents
Authors: SHIBATA MASAKI
Published: January 2018

The former Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is the focus of much public attention in Japan. He is a polarizing figure who is both liked and disliked in equal measures, and his political character, including his argumentative approach, has been widely discussed by the Japanese and international media, as well as within academic research. For example, theJapan Timeslabelled his speech style as ‘a Japanese version of Donald Trump and the former Tokyo mayor, Shintaro Ishihara, said Hashimoto's speech is like ‘Hitler's’. This study examines the differences between Hashimoto's rhetoric and that of other Japanese politicians. Of the various tactics involved in the argumentative strategy of Hashimoto, this study specifically focuses on his attacking of opponents, which is one of the common and important tactics used in political debate. This study analyses the three linguistic approaches used in political debate: the policies or character of the target; the evaluative meanings of attack, and negotiation used to reduce the assertiveness of attack. The data were drawn from a televised political debate, in which Hashimoto was required to debate with three opponents who opposed his points of view. This study demonstrates that the target and the evaluative meanings behind Hashimoto's attacks were not remarkably different from the other politicians. However, Hashimoto did not use negotiation and and he was more assertive in presenting criticisms while the other politicians’ criticisms were mediated by negotiation.
Will Clean Air Fade Away?
Authors: Sadegh Mojtaba , Pierce Jennifer , AghaKouchak Amir , Glenn Nancy , Curl Cynthia
Published: January 2018

Government-sponsored research and regulations enabled western U.S. states to clean up their air, despite industrial and population growth. Proposed funding cuts could undo this progress.
High-fidelity entanglement swapping and generation of three-qubit GHZ state using asynchronous telecom photon pair sources
Authors: Tsujimoto Yoshiaki , Tanaka Motoki , Iwasaki Nobuo , Ikuta Rikizo , Miki Shigehito , Yamashita Taro , Terai Hirotaka , Yamamoto Takashi , Koashi Masato , Imoto Nobuyuki
Published: January 2018

We experimentally demonstrate a high-fidelity entanglement swapping and a generation of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state using polarization-entangled photon pairs at telecommunication wavelength produced by spontaneous parametric down conversion with continuous-wave pump light. While spatially separated sources asynchronously emit photon pairs, the time-resolved photon detection guarantees the temporal indistinguishability of photons without active timing synchronizations of pump lasers and/or adjustment of optical paths. In the experiment, photons are sufficiently narrowed by fiber-based Bragg gratings with the central wavelengths of 1541 nm & 1580 nm, and detected by superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with low timing jitters. The observed fidelities of the final states for entanglement swapping and the generated three-qubit state were 0.84 ± 0.04 and 0.70 ± 0.05, respectively.
Controlling AOX1 promoter strength in Pichia pastoris by manipulating poly (dA:dT) tracts
Authors: Yang Jun , Cai Haiming , Liu Jie , Zeng Min , Chen Jiawei , Cheng Qingmei , Zhang Linghua
Published: January 2018

Alcohol oxidase I (AOX1) promoter is the most popular but strictly-regulated methanol inducible promoter for heterologous protein expression in Pichia pastoris. In recent years, AOX1 promoter libraries have been developed with deletion or insertion methods. The present research manipulated poly (dA:dT) tracts in this promoter to control promoter strength, which hadn’t been tried before. There were 34 variants derived from the native AOX1 promoter constructed. And variants were integrated into the same genomic location and upstream of the same reporter gene porcine growth hormone (pGH). To test the transferability of the results obtained from reporter gene pGH, the variants were connected to reporter gene Lac Z. The resulted promoter library spanned an activity range between 0.25 and 3.5 fold of the wild-type promoter activity. In addition, activities of variants correlated with their predicted nucleosome architecture, which were directed by poly (dA:dT) tracts. The cumulative sum of predicted nucleosome affinity across the region (−820 to −540) was related to promoters strength in single deletion variants on a proportional basis. Overall, the research promotes understanding of the regulatory patterns for AOX1 promoter and suggested that varying promoter expression of engineering nucleosome architecture was also a feasible approach in P. pastoris.
Development of Vaccine Preferences among Parents of Newborns
Authors: Knowles Jamie , Lohr Jacob , Yarnall J.
Published: January 2018

Objective Vaccine hesitancy and refusal and the resulting outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases continue to be an issue today. Most of contemporary research on these issues has focused on underlying characteristics of non-vaccinators and ambivalent parents; however, few studies have looked into how or when vaccine preferences develop. In this study, we sought to explore when parental preferences for vaccines develop in relation to a pregnancy. We also examined self-reported influences on vaccine decision making.

Methods We recruited and administered a short survey to parents at the North Carolina Women's Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC, following the birth of their child from February to April 2015.

Results A total of 166 parents (55%) completed the entire survey. Seventy-two percent of surveyed parents reported deciding on their vaccine preferences for their newborn before conception. Parents who were older, Caucasian, married, and had attained higher levels of education were significantly more likely to develop preconception vaccine preferences. The presence of partner conversations in the past and the desire for more information on vaccines were also significant predictors of preconception vaccine preference development. After logistic regression adjustment, only education level and past vaccine conversations remained significant. The most common influences for vaccine decision making were family, friends, and medical staff and organizations.

Conclusion Our study documents that a majority of parents establish vaccine decision making and preferences before conception. Notable influences from friends, family, and medical sources are part of the process. These findings suggest that vaccine information and interventions currently are given too late in the vaccine preference decision-making process.
Die atypische Femurfraktur als Sonderfall der Alterstraumatologie
Authors: Oberthür Swantje , Sehmisch Stephan , Schilling Arndt , Lehmann Wolfgang , Siggelkow Heide , Hoffmann Daniel
Published: January 2018

Atypische Femurfrakturen (AFF) stellen einen Sonderfall in der Alterstraumatologie dar und machen im Hinblick auf die Gesamtzahl der Femurfrakturen nur einen geringen Anteil aus. Im Gegensatz zur klassischen Fraktur des proximalen Femurs sind AFF subtrochantär bzw. im Schaftbereich lokalisiert, entstehen häufig ohne adäquates Unfallereignis und zeigen charakteristische Merkmale im Röntgenbild. In vielen Fällen kommt es zu einem bilateralen Auftreten von AFF. Klinisch besteht oftmals Tage bis Monate vor der Diagnose einer AFF ein Prodromalschmerz im entsprechenden Bein bzw. der Leistengegend. Durch die American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) wurden Haupt- und Nebenkriterien zur Definition einer atypischen Femurfraktur erstellt. Diese sollen die Diagnosestellung erleichtern. Zu den Hauptkriterium zählen u. a. die peri- oder endostale Verdickung der lateralen Kortikalis sowie das Fehlen einer Frakturtrümmerzone. Um eine Fraktur als AFF zu definieren, müssen mindestens 4 der 5 Hauptkriterien erfüllt sein. Es gibt Evidenz für eine Korrelation zwischen AFF und der (Langzeit-)Einnahme von Bisphosphonaten. Atypische Femurfrakturen können jedoch auch ohne Bisphosphonateinnahme auftreten. Ist eine AFF diagnostiziert, sollte die Bisphosphonattherapie pausiert werden. Für die Therapie unterscheidet man zwischen kompletter und inkompletter Fraktur. Komplette AFF werden operativ zumeist mit einer Marknagelosteosynthese stabilisiert. Inkomplette Frakturen können konservativ therapiert werden – es gibt jedoch eine hohe Versagerrate mit Progress in eine komplette Fraktur, sodass bei persistierenden Schmerzen eher die prophylaktische Marknagelosteosynthese empfohlen wird. Der Behandlungsverlauf nach bisphosphonatassoziierten AFF ist häufiger mit perioperativen Komplikationen vergesellschaftet als die Behandlung von „typischen“ Femurfrakturen. Somit ist die Kenntnis der Pathophysiologie und der Therapieoptionen der Schlüssel zur erfolgreichen Behandlung dieser Verletzung.
Giant magnetoresistance in perpendicularly magnetized synthetic antiferromagnetic coupling with Ir spacer
Authors: Fukushima A. , Taniguchi T. , Sugihara A. , Yakushiji K. , Kubota H. , Yuasa S.
Published: January 2018

Perpendicularly magnetized magnetic tunnel junction (p-MTJ) is a key element for developing high-density spin-transfer torque switching magnetoresistive random access memory. Recently, a large exchange coupling (IEC) in the synthetic antiferromagnetic reference layer with Ir interlayer was observed in p-MTJs. The evaluation of the IEC is, however, difficult due to the electrostatic breakdown of MTJs. This study demonstrates the evaluation of the IEC with Ir interlayer in giant magnetoresistive (GMR) nanopillar. We fabricated three kinds of perpendicularly magnetized GMR elements; bottom-free structures with Cu or Ir spacer, and top-free structure with Ir spacer. The magnetoresistance (RH) loops of all samples show sharp changes of the magnetoresistance at the magnetic fields over ±10 kOe, indicating the existence of the large IECs. In particular, a sharp change of the magnetoresistance at the field over ±20 kOe was found for the element with Cu of 2 nm thickness.
Optimization design of toroidal core for magnetic energy harvesting near power line by considering saturation effect
Authors: Park Bumjin , Kim Dongwook , Park Jaehyoung , Kim Kibeom , Koo Jay , Park HyunHo , Ahn Seungyoung
Published: January 2018

Recently, magnetic energy harvesting technologies have been studied actively for self-sustainable operation of applications around power line. However, magnetic energy harvesting around power lines has the problem of magnetic saturation, which can cause power performance degradation of the harvester. In this paper, optimal design of a toroidal core for magnetic energy harvesters has been proposed with consideration of magnetic saturation near power lines. Using Permeability-H curve and Ampere’s circuital law, the optimum dimensional parameters needed to generate induced voltage were analyzed via calculation and simulation. To reflect a real environment, we consider the nonlinear characteristic of the magnetic core material and supply current through a 3-phase distribution panel used in the industry. The effectiveness of the proposed design methodology is verified by experiments in a power distribution panel and takes 60.9 V from power line current of 60 A at 60 Hz.
An analytic method predicts beating phenomena in asymmetric Gaussian beams
Authors: Cockbill Louisa
Published: January 2018

Application of one-to-one Hamiltonian resonance describes and predicts beating transitions in laser beams.
APAtrap: identification and quantification of alternative polyadenylation sites from RNA-seq data
Authors: Ye Congting , Long Yuqi , Ji Guoli , Li Qingshun Quinn , Wu Xiaohui
Published: January 2018

Motivation

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) has been increasingly recognized as a crucial mechanism that contributes to transcriptome diversity and gene expression regulation. As RNA-seq has become a routine protocol for transcriptome analysis, it is of great interest to leverage such unprecedented collection of RNA-seq data by new computational methods to extract and quantify APA dynamics in these transcriptomes. However, research progress in this area has been relatively limited. Conventional methods rely on either transcript assembly to determine transcript 3′ ends or annotated poly(A) sites. Moreover, they can neither identify more than two poly(A) sites in a gene nor detect dynamic APA site usage considering more than two poly(A) sites.

Results

We developed an approach called APAtrap based on the mean squared error model to identify and quantify APA sites from RNA-seq data. APAtrap is capable of identifying novel 3′ UTRs and 3′ UTR extensions, which contributes to locating potential poly(A) sites in previously overlooked regions and improving genome annotations. APAtrap also aims to tally all potential poly(A) sites and detect genes with differential APA site usages between conditions. Extensive comparisons of APAtrap with two other latest methods, ChangePoint and DaPars, using various RNA-seq datasets from simulation studies, human and Arabidopsis demonstrate the efficacy and flexibility of APAtrap for any organisms with an annotated genome.

Availability and implementation

Freely available for download at https://apatrap.sourceforge.io.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
OPAL: prediction of MoRF regions in intrinsically disordered protein sequences
Authors: Sharma Ronesh , Raicar Gaurav , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Patil Ashwini , Sharma Alok
Published: January 2018

Motivation

Intrinsically disordered proteins lack stable 3-dimensional structure and play a crucial role in performing various biological functions. Key to their biological function are the molecular recognition features (MoRFs) located within long disordered regions. Computationally identifying these MoRFs from disordered protein sequences is a challenging task. In this study, we present a new MoRF predictor, OPAL, to identify MoRFs in disordered protein sequences. OPAL utilizes two independent sources of information computed using different component predictors. The scores are processed and combined using common averaging method. The first score is computed using a component MoRF predictor which utilizes composition and sequence similarity of MoRF and non-MoRF regions to detect MoRFs. The second score is calculated using half-sphere exposure (HSE), solvent accessible surface area (ASA) and backbone angle information of the disordered protein sequence, using information from the amino acid properties of flanks surrounding the MoRFs to distinguish MoRF and non-MoRF residues.

Results

OPAL is evaluated using test sets that were previously used to evaluate MoRF predictors, MoRFpred, MoRFchibi and MoRFchibi-web. The results demonstrate that OPAL outperforms all the available MoRF predictors and is the most accurate predictor available for MoRF prediction. It is available at http://www.alok-ai-lab.com/tools/opal/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The future of continuing medical education: the roles of medical professional societies and the health care industry
Authors:   ESC Board, Achenbach Stephan , Badimon Lina , Anker Stefan , Bax Jeroen , Bueno Hector , Casadei Barbara , Clarke Sarah Catherine , Clarke Nigel , Cosentino Francesco , Filippatos Gerasimos , Fitzsimons Donna , Graham Ian Maklim , Grobbee Diederick E , Haude Michael , Hindricks Gerhard , Kearney Peter , Kirchhof Paulus , Kristensen Steen Dalby , Leclercq Christophe , Lettino Maddalena , Linde Cecilia , Luscher Thomas F , Merkely Bela , Olsson Gunnar , Fausto Jose Pinto , Popescu Bogdan Alexandru , Ruschitzka Frank , Simoons Maarten L , Vahanian Alec , Weidinger Franz , Windecker Stephan , Zamorano Jose Luis
Published: January 2018

In recent years, wide ranging biomedical innovation has provided powerful new approaches for prevention, diagnosis and management of diseases. In order to translate such innovation into effective practice, physicians must frequently update their knowledge base and skills through continuing medical education and training. Medical Professional Societies, run as not-for-profit organizations led by peers, are uniquely placed to deliver balanced, disease oriented and patient centred education. The medical industry has a major role in the development of new, improved technology, devices and medication. In fact, the best innovations have been achieved through collaboration with scientists, clinical academics and practicing physicians. Industry has for many years been committed to ensure the optimal and safe application of its products by providing unrestricted support of medical education developed and delivered by international and national learned societies. Recently adopted Codes of Practice for the Pharmaceutical and Device industry were intended to enhance public trust in the relationship between biomedical industry and physicians. Unexpectedly, changes resulting from adoption of the Codes have limited the opportunity for unconditional industry support of balanced medical education in favour of a more direct involvement of industry in informing physicians about their products. We describe the need for continuing medical education in Cardiovascular Medicine in Europe, interaction between the medical profession and medical industry, and propose measures to safeguard the provision of high quality, balanced medical education.