bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Electron Density Distribution in Crystals of η6–[1,4–dihydrospiro(2H–3,1–benzoxazine–2,1′–cyclohexane)]tricarbonylchromium(0): Experiment vs Molecular Invariom
Authors: Fukin Georgy K. , Cherkasov Anton V. , Baranov Evgeny V. , Rumyantcev Roman V. , Sazonova Elena V. , Artemov Alexander N.
Published: October 2019

In this paper we present the results of a high–resolution single crystal X–ray diffraction experiment of η6–[1,4–dihydrospiro(2H–3,1–benzoxazine–2,1′–cyclohexane)]tricarbonylchromium(0) and a subsequent charge density study based on a topological analysis according to quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The key point of this investigation is a comparison of the experimental topological characteristics of the electron density in the chromium atom coordination sphere with the experimentally–theoretical ones obtained on the basis of “whole–molecule” aspherical scattering factors (molecular invariom). We have shown that molecular invarioms adequately reproduce the deformation electron density in the coordination sphere of the chromium atom, molecular graphs, noncovalent interaction (NCI) index isorsurfaces as well as the population of d–orbitals of the Cr atom. In addition, we found that a comparative analysis of atomic charges and volumes obtained experimentally and experimentally–theoretically allows “to find” a reasonable value of the atomic charge.
Facile Synthesis of Silver Hydroxyapatite (AgHAP) Reinforced Nanocomposites of Poly (styrene)‐Poly (methyl methacrylate) and Study of Their Mechanical and Blood‐Compatible Behavior
Authors: Choubey Rashmi , Chouhan Raje , Bajpai Jaya , Bajpai Anil Kumar
Published: October 2019

The present work focused on the synthesis of native silver hydroxyapatite (AgHAP) nanoparticles and their reinforcement into the host matrix of binary polymer blend of polystyrene (PS) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The structural and morphological studies of prepared nanoparticles and AgHAP reinforced PS‐PMMA nanocomposites were performed by various characterization techniques like Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The particle size analysis and zeta potential measurements were used to confirm nanosize of the AgHAP nanoparticles and their surface charges. The mechanical properties of AgHAP/PS/PMMA nanocomposites, such as microhardness and compressive strength, were also determined. The blood compatibility tests were performed to investigate biocompatible nature of the nanocomposites. The antibacterial property of the nanocomposites was also studied against S. aureus and E. coli species and the cytotoxic nature of the nanocomposites was conducted following 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐Yl)‐2,5‐Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay test.
Reduction Behavior of Oxide Scales Containing Different Structures on the Surface of Hot‐Rolled Steel Strip in Gas Mixture H2/Ar at 400–625 °C
Authors: Li Zhi-Feng , Wang Hao , Gao Ye , Cao Guang-Ming , Liu Zhen-Yu
Published: September 2019

The reduction behavior of the oxide scales with two different microstructures in the gas of H2:Ar = 1:2 at 400–625 °C is investigated in detail. The mass change in the scale is measured by thermogravimetric analysis, and a function between reduction degree, reduction temperature, and reaction time is established. The experiment results show that the increase in temperature has an accelerating influence on the reduction reaction of the scale with eutectoid (Fe3O4/α‐Fe) until reaching 550 °C, and then the further increase in temperature decelerates the reduction. For the scale without eutectoid, the reduction rate at 450 °C is extremely high, and then the rate decreases with the increase in temperatures. Additionally, the reduction rate in the scale with eutectoid is faster than that without eutectoid at the temperature range of this study. At 400–550 °C, a large number of phase interfaces appear within the scale with eutectoid, which can provide diffusion channels for hydrogen atoms and water molecules within the Fe oxides. When the temperature reaches 575–625 °C, the phase transformation in the scale (Fe3O4 + α‐Fe → FeO) is accompanied by the reduction reaction, which is believed to be responsible for the lower reaction rate.
Evaluating the performance of a decentralized graywater treatment system in a living building at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USA
Authors: Shillington Claire N. , Cianfrani Christina M. , Hews Sarah
Published: September 2019

Decentralized graywater treatment systems are growing in popularity as the threat of water scarcity rises and wastewater's potential as a resource is recognized. In 2016, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, completed construction of the R.W. Kern Center, a Living Building that incorporates physical filters and two constructed wetlands to treat graywater produced on‐site. Grab samples of graywater were collected from four sites between August 2016 and March 2019. This study characterizes mixed graywater from all the building's fixtures and graywater from a coffee bar. Untreated mixed graywater was observed with median concentrations of 180 mg/L for total suspended solids (TSS), 190 mg/L for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and 15 mg/L for total nitrogen (TN), primarily in the form of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). Concentrations of TSS, BOD5, and TN were reduced by 92%, 96%, and 73%, respectively, by the Kern Center's treatment system. Preliminary data from coffee bar effluent establish a wide range of high‐strength graywater quality. Because Living Buildings by design explore the connections between people and their built environments, this study also found that the behaviors of building occupants, particularly the café staff, had a direct impact on the functioning of the Kern Center's decentralized graywater treatment system.

Practitioner points

On‐site decentralized graywater treatment systems paired with waterless composting toilets are effective in reducing a building's water use and in meeting net‐zero water goals.

Constructed wetlands can effectively treat graywater produced in a central campus building with public spaces, office spaces, and a coffee bar.

On‐site decentralized graywater treatment systems require cooperation from both building occupants and water operators in order to function properly.
University–utility partnerships: Best practices for water innovation and collaboration
Authors: Brown Morgan , Karimova Fidan , Love Nancy , Pagilla Krishna , Bott Charles , He Zhen , Liner Barry , Merther Susan
Published: October 2019

University–utility partnerships (UUPs) are mutually beneficial collaborations that promote and accelerate innovation in the water sector. The Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) program worked with representatives from universities and utilities to define successful methods and strategies for establishing strong university–utility collaborative partnerships. Overall, partners in a successful university–utility collaboration need to be honest and realistic to match university capabilities and utility needs. In order to manage expectations at both organizations, utilities and universities must understand their respective points of view. Building and maintaining strong relationships should be a primary concern. Successful UUPs are built upon strong relationships between organizations rather than just strong research ideas. Different implementation structures should be considered for UUPs depending on what works best for both organizations. Common hurdles to overcome when implementing UUPs include working across distances and managing risks related to financing, intellectual property, and public outreach.

Practitioner points

University–utility collaborative partnerships are mutually beneficial and promote innovation throughout the water sector as a whole

Establishing successful partnerships can be challenging, but difficulties can be mitigated by following the described best practices

Partnerships can be structured and implemented in a variety of ways depending on the specific needs of each organization involved
Asymptotic Analysis of Dotsenko–Fateev Integrals
Authors: Lenells Jonatan , Viklund Fredrik
Published: September 2019

We develop a method for evaluating asymptotics of certain contour integrals that appear in conformal field theory under the name of Dotsenko–Fateev integrals and that are natural generalizations of the classical hypergeometric functions.We illustrate the method by establishing a number of estimates that are useful in the context of martingale observables for multiple Schramm–Loewner evolution processes.
Gravitational deformation of ring-focus antennas for VGOS: first investigations at the Onsala twin telescopes project
Authors: Lösler Michael , Haas Rüdiger , Eschelbach Cornelia , Greiwe Ansgar
Published: September 2019

The receiving properties of radio telescopes used in geodetic and astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) depend on the surface quality and stability of the main reflector. Deformations of the main reflector as well as changes in the sub-reflector position affect the geometrical ray path length significantly. The deformation pattern and its impact on the VLBI results of conventional radio telescopes have been studied by several research groups using holography, laser tracker, close-range photogrammetry and laser scanner methods. Signal path variations (SPV) of up to 1 cm were reported, which cause, when unaccounted for, systematic biases of the estimated vertical positions of the radio telescopes in the geodetic VLBI analysis and potentially even affect the estimated scale of derived global geodetic reference frames. As a result of the realization of the VLBI 2010 agenda, the geodetic VLBI network is currently extended by several new radio telescopes, which are of a more compact and stiffer design and are able to move faster than conventional radio telescopes. These new telescopes will form the backbone of the next generation geodetic VLBI system, often referred to as VGOS (VLBI Global Observing System). In this investigation, for the first time the deformation pattern of this new generation of radio telescopes for VGOS is studied. ONSA13NE, one of the Onsala twin telescopes at the Onsala Space Observatory, was observed in several elevation angles using close-range photogrammetry. In general, these methods require a crane for preparing the reflector as well as for the data collection. To reduce the observation time and the technical effort during the measurement process, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was used for the first time. Using this system, the measurement campaign per elevation angle took less than 30 min. The collected data were used to model the geometrical ray path and its variations. Depending on the distance from the optical axis, the ray path length varies in a range of about $$\pm \,1\,\hbox {mm}$$±1mm. To combine the ray path variations, an illumination function was introduced as weighting function. The resulting total SPV is about $$- \,0.5$$-0.5 mm. A simple elevation-dependent SPV model is presented that can easily be used and implemented in VLBI data analysis software packages to correct for gravitational deformation in VGOS radio telescopes. The uncertainty is almost $$200\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$200μm ($$2\sigma $$2σ) and is derived by Monte Carlo simulations applied to the entire analysis process.
On models of physiologically structured populations and their reduction to ordinary differential equations
Authors: Diekmann Odo , Gyllenberg Mats , Metz Johan A. J.
Published: September 2019

Considering the environmental condition as a given function of time, we formulate a physiologically structured population model as a linear non-autonomous integral equation for the, in general distributed, population level birth rate. We take this renewal equation as the starting point for addressing the following question: When does a physiologically structured population model allow reduction to an ODE without loss of relevant information? We formulate a precise condition for models in which the state of individuals changes deterministically, that is, according to an ODE. Specialising to a one-dimensional individual state, like size, we present various sufficient conditions in terms of individual growth-, death-, and reproduction rates, giving special attention to cell fission into two equal parts and to the catalogue derived in an other paper of ours (submitted). We also show how to derive an ODE system describing the asymptotic large time behaviour of the population when growth, death and reproduction all depend on the environmental condition through a common factor (so for a very strict form of physiological age).
Interconnection of Biological Knowledge Using NikkajiRDF and Interlinking Ontology for Biological Concepts
Authors: Kushida Tatsuya , Kozaki Kouji , Kawamura Takahiro , Tateisi Yuka , Yamamoto Yasunori , Takagi Toshihisa
Published: September 2019

We investigated the interconnection on knowledge of biological molecules, biological phenomena, and diseases to efficiently collect information regarding the functions of chemical compounds and gene products, roles, applications, and involvements in diseases using knowledge graphs (KGs) developed from Resource Description Framework (RDF) data and ontologies. NikkajiRDF linked open data provide information on approximately 3.5 million chemical compounds and 694 application examples. We integrated NikkajiRDF with Interlinking Ontology for Biological Concepts (IOBC), including approximately 80,000 concepts, information on gene products, drugs, and diseases. Using IOBC’s ontological structure, we confirmed that this integration enabled us to infer new information regarding biological and chemical functions, applications, and involvements in diseases for 5038 chemical compounds. Furthermore, we developed KGs from IOBC and added protein, biological phenomena, and disease identifiers used in major biological databases: UniProt, Gene Ontology, and MeSH to the KGs. Using the extended KGs and federated search to the DisGeNET, we discovered more than 60 chemicals and 700 gene products, involved in 32 diseases.
The Cultural Evolution of Human Nature
Authors: Stanford Mark
Published: September 2019

Recent years have seen the growing promise of cultural evolutionary theory as a new approach to bringing human behaviour fully within the broader evolutionary synthesis. This review of two recent seminal works on this topic argues that cultural evolution now holds the potential to bring together fields as disparate as neuroscience and social anthropology within a unified explanatory and ontological framework.
Human Resource Disclosures in UK Corporate Annual Reports: To What Extent Do These Reflect Organisational Priorities Towards Labour?
Authors: Vithana K. , Soobaroyen T. , Ntim C. G.
Published: September 2019

Our study analyses the nature, quality and extent of human resource disclosures (HRDs) of UK Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 firms by relying on a novel disclosure index measuring the depth and breadth of disclosures. Contextually, we focus on the 5-year period following the then Labour government’s attempts to encourage firms to formally report on their human resource management practices and to foster deeper employer–employee engagement. First, we evaluate the degree to which companies report comprehensively (or substantively) on a number of HRD items that we classify as “procedural” or “sustainable.” Second, we hypothesise that a company’s employee relation ideology (using a proxy to measure a company’s level of “unitarism”) is positively associated with HRD. Our results indicate that: (i) whilst there has been an increase in the breadth of HRD in terms of procedural and sustainable items being disclosed, the evolution towards a more comprehensive and in-depth form of HRD remains rather limited; and (ii) there is a positive association between a company’s employee relation ideology (unitarism) and the level of HRD. Theoretically, we conceive of HRD both as a reflection of an organisation’s orientation towards a key stakeholder (unitarist relations with labour) and a legitimacy seeking exercise at a time of changing societal conditions. We contribute to the scant literature on the extent and determinants of HRD since prior research tends to subsume employee-related disclosures within the broader concept of social, ethical or intellectual capital disclosures. We also propose a disclosure checklist to underpin future HRD research.
Understanding How Immigrant Fertility Differentials Vary over the Reproductive Life Course
Authors: Wilson Ben
Published: October 2019

Studies of immigrant fertility differentials indicate that foreign-born women have more children than native-born women, at least for some origin groups. Yet little is known about variation in cumulative fertility differentials over the life course, including the extent to which this variation develops into completed fertility differentials. This research responds with an analysis of cumulative fertility differentials in the UK for a cohort of women born between 1942 and 1971. Findings are consistent with age-specific patterns that have been documented for immigrant groups in the UK, but underline the importance of taking a cohort perspective, which helps to distinguish between the tempo and quantum of fertility. Immigrants have significantly higher completed fertility than UK-born natives if they were born in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jamaica, or Western and Central Africa, but the profile of their cumulative fertility differentials—versus the UK-born—varies considerably over the life course, especially by age at migration. For example, women from Bangladesh and Pakistan have similar levels of cumulative fertility at age 40, but very different age patterns of cumulative fertility from ages 20–40. There is a consistent pattern of relatively delayed Pakistani fertility at early ages, especially for those arriving at later ages, but the same is not true for women from Bangladesh. Overall, these results imply that researchers should beware of variation in cohort fertility over the life course—with respect to both the quantum and tempo of fertility—when analysing immigrant childbearing, in addition to variation by origin and age at arrival.
Comparison of high versus low frequency cerebral physiology for cerebrovascular reactivity assessment in traumatic brain injury: a multi-center pilot study
Authors: Thelin Eric P. , Raj Rahul , Bellander Bo-Michael , Nelson David , Piippo-Karjalainen Anna , Siironen Jari , Tanskanen Päivi , Hawryluk Gregory , Hasen Mohammed , Unger Bertram , Zeiler Frederick A.
Published: October 2019

Current accepted cerebrovascular reactivity indices suffer from the need of high frequency data capture and export for post-acquisition processing. The role for minute-by-minute data in cerebrovascular reactivity monitoring remains uncertain. The goal was to explore the statistical time-series relationships between intra-cranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pressure reactivity index (PRx) using both 10-s and minute data update frequency in TBI. Prospective data from 31 patients from 3 centers with moderate/severe TBI and high-frequency archived physiology were reviewed. Both 10-s by 10-s and minute-by-minute mean values were derived for ICP and MAP for each patient. Similarly, PRx was derived using 30 consecutive 10-s data points, updated every minute. While long-PRx (L-PRx) was derived via similar methodology using minute-by-minute data, with L-PRx derived using various window lengths (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 min; denoted L-PRx_5, etc.). Time-series autoregressive integrative moving average (ARIMA) and vector autoregressive integrative moving average (VARIMA) models were created to analyze the relationship of these parameters over time. ARIMA modelling, Granger causality testing and VARIMA impulse response function (IRF) plotting demonstrated that similar information is carried in minute mean ICP and MAP data, compared to 10-s mean slow-wave ICP and MAP data. Shorter window L-PRx variants, such as L-PRx_5, appear to have a similar ARIMA structure, have a linear association with PRx and display moderate-to-strong correlations (r ~ 0.700, p < 0.0001 for each patient). Thus, these particular L-PRx variants appear closest in nature to standard PRx. ICP and MAP derived via 10-s or minute based averaging display similar statistical time-series structure and co-variance patterns. PRx and L-PRx based on shorter windows also behave similarly over time. These results imply certain L-PRx variants may carry similar information to PRx in TBI.
Trends in dispensing oral emergency contraceptives and safety issues: a survey of German community pharmacists
Authors: Said André , Ganso Matthias , Freudewald Leonard , Schulz Martin
Published: September 2019

Background Oral emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate are available without prescription and only in pharmacies in Germany since March 2015. Due to this change community pharmacists are responsible for evaluating whether the product is appropriate and to educate women on proper use. Objective To measure the utilization of emergency contraceptives without a prescription and describe potential concerns and safety issues identified by community pharmacists in Germany. Setting The Drug Commission of German Pharmacists' nationwide network of reference pharmacies which includes 860 community pharmacies. Methods Reference community pharmacies were asked to participate in the eleven-questions online survey. Respondents were asked to recall their experiences with oral emergency contraceptives in the past 3 months. Data were collected between January 8 and February 19, 2018. Main outcome measure The survey focused on the utilization of emergency contraceptives without a prescription in Germany, and on the pharmacists’ experiences with (potential) problems and concerns regarding safe use. Results In total, 555 community pharmacies (64.5%) participated. Overall 38.2% of community pharmacists stated they dispensed six to ten courses of emergency contraceptives within the past 3 months. In addition, 54.3% of the pharmacists estimated they dispensed emergency contraceptives exclusively without prescription and 35.9% dispensed more than 30% of emergency contraceptives during night-time and emergency services. Moreover, 82.8% of pharmacists stated that emergency contraceptives were requested not by the women concerned but a third person and 44.3% identified uncertainties in woman's self-diagnosis. Three out of four pharmacists had concerns about the effective and safe use of emergency contraceptives. In situations suggesting sexually transmitted diseases, or suspicion for use of force, 59.5% and 55.8% of the pharmacists, respectively, dispensed emergency contraceptives. In cases of acute health impairment or chronic disease, or (potentially) relevant drug/drug interaction, the vast majority (91.0% and 90.5%) did not. Here, most pharmacists referred to gynecologists. Conclusion Pharmacists had safety concerns when dispensing emergency contraceptives. Professional expertise in evaluating the need for oral emergency contraceptives and the proper use is needed.
Do increasing respiratory costs explain the decline with age of forest growth rate?
Authors: West P. W.
Published: September 2019

Once forests have achieved a full canopy, their growth rate declines progressively with age. This work used a global data set with estimates from a wide range of forest types, aged 20‒795 years, of their annual photosynthetic production (gross primary production, GPP) and subsequent above- plus below-ground biomass production (net primary production, NPP). Both GPP and NPP increased with increasing mean annual temperature and precipitation. GPP was then unrelated to forest age whilst NPP declined progressively with increasing age. These results implied that autotrophic respiration increases with age. It has been proposed that GPP should decline in response to increasing water stress in leaves as water is raised to greater heights as trees grow taller with age. However, trees may make substantial plastic adjustment in morphology and anatomy of newly developing leaves, xylem and fine roots to compensate for this stress and maintain GPP with age. This work reviews the possibilities that NPP declines with age as respiratory costs increase progressively in, any or all of, the construction and maintenance of more complex tissues, the maintenance of increasing amounts of live tissue within the sapwood of stems and coarse roots, the conversion of sapwood to heartwood, the increasing distance of phloem transport, increased turnover rates of fine roots, cost of supporting very tall trees that are unable to compensate fully for increased water stress in their canopies or maintaining alive competitively unsuccessful small trees.
Developing Sukh-Beas as a potential recharge site during wet years for Bari Doab
Authors: Basharat Muhammad , Basharat Maham
Published: September 2019

Bari Doab is depleting the most in groundwater and therefore needs to be recharged. This paper presents a possibility of recharging Bari Doab through the abandoned Sukh-Beas channel. For this purpose, 25 cross sections were taken and ten infiltration tests were performed. Three different HEC-RAS models were run to find its channel capacity at different reaches. The infiltration capacity of the Sukh-Beas Nallah was found to be a total of about 808 cfs, which can be used to recharge the groundwater, after some necessary steps have been taken to improve the infrastructure.
The potential of using micro-sized crosslinked polymer gel to remediate water leakage in cement sheaths
Authors: Abdulfarraj Murad , Imqam Abdulmohsin
Published: September 2019

Cementing is a major step in the construction and sealing of hydrocarbon wells. During the life cycle of the well, cement is prone to cracking due to a change in downhole conditions. This research investigates the use of micro-sized crosslinked polymer gel as a sealant material to mitigate cracked cement sheaths. Two experimental setups were designed to investigate water leakage through cement. The impact of polymer gel strength on the gel’s ability to seal cement cracks was investigated using four gel strengths, including 500 pa, 1200 pa, 1450 pa, and 2440 pa. The impact of the width of the cement crack was also investigated using 0.5, 2, 3.2, and 6.75 mm. Results showed that the polymer gel propagated across fractures like a piston with no gravity effect and with angle with gravity effect. Blocking efficiency to water flow is controllable, and it can be increased if a high strength polymer gel is selected. To the authors’ knowledge, very little experimental work has been conducted to investigate the use of crosslinked micro-gel in cement zonal isolation. This study can provide the oil and gas industry with a better understanding of the materials to use in improving cement zonal isolation and thus reduce the impact of cement failure.
Perspectives on Poverty in Europe. Following in Tony Atkinson’s Footsteps
Authors: Jenkins Stephen P.
Published: September 2019

I address four topics: how our capacities to monitor poverty in Europe have improved substantially over recent decades; how progress on EU poverty reduction has been disappointing and why this has been; conceptual and measurement issues; and the future direction of EU-level anti-poverty actions. I follow in the footsteps of a giant—my perspectives are essentially elaborations of points made by Tony Atkinson.
Sample preparation method to improve the efficiency of high-throughput single-molecule force spectroscopy
Authors: Jin Lei , Kou Li , Zeng Yanan , Hu Chunguang , Hu Xiaodong
Published: October 2019

Inefficient sample preparation methods hinder the performance of high-throughput single-molecule force spectroscopy (H-SMFS) for viscous damping among reactants and unstable linkage. Here, we demonstrated a sample preparation method for H-SMFS systems to achieve a higher ratio of effective target molecules per sample cell by gas-phase silanization and reactant hydrophobization. Digital holographic centrifugal force microscopy (DH-CFM) was used to verify its performance. The experimental result indicated that the DNA stretching success ratio was improved from 0.89% to 13.5%. This enhanced efficiency preparation method has potential application for force-based DNA stretching experiments and other modifying procedures.
Vermiremediation strategy for remediation of Kuwaiti oil contaminated soil
Authors: Almutairi Meshari
Published: October 2019

The role of vermiremediation technique has been accepted all over the world for many years to reduce the concentrations of pollutant in the contaminated soil to acceptable levels. However, limited study has been found in the case of Kuwaiti oil contaminated sand using earthworms. This paper address the potential of decomposing petroleum hydrocarbons in terms of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) present in Kuwaiti oil contaminated sand ranging from 5000 to 25,000 mg/kg using earthworms (Eisenia fetida). It was observed that the TPH of < 5000 mg/kg was not harmful for the survival of earthworms, nevertheless TPH of 10,000 mg/kg reduced their survival to 50%. Moreover, the results indicate that that vermiremediation could effectively reduce the TPH of about 5000 mg/kg every 5 weeks. This study suggested that the crude oil could be consider as one of the main challenging for the survival of earthworms, therefore several factors such as type of soil, moisture content, temperature, organic matter content and pH need to maintain and enhance during the remediation process to support the earthworm’s activity.
Femoropopliteal bypass for chronic lower limb ischemia: A prospective cohort study and single center cases series
Authors: Baram Aram , Abdullah Twana N. , Taha Abdulsalm Y.
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT

Background:

Peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD) is a steadily increasing global epidemic. Femoropopliteal bypass (FPB) is the traditional therapeutic option whenever endovascular treatments failed or not indicated. We present our experience in lower limb revascularization.

Patients and methods:

Prospective observational cohort single center study included 158 patients with intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischemia (CLI). The patients were placed in 7 Rutherford categories & their angiographic findings were graded according to Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II) criteria. The ipsilateral great saphenous vein was used for revascularization.

Results:

male patients were 113 (71.5%); female were 45 (28.5%). Age ranged from 39 to 77 years, with a mean of 60.7 ± 7.8 years. About 79.1% of patients were in the 6th & 7th decades. Only 26 patients (16.5%) had severe IC & 83.5% had CLI. Almost all patients with Rutherford category 3–6 had an ankle brachial index (ABI) less than 0.70. Most Femoropopliteal lesions (n = 115, 72.8%)near half infrapopliteal lesions (n = 74, 46.8%) were of TASC II B & C types. Majority of patients received a vein graft. Distally, 100 grafts (66.7%) were sutured below the knees whereas the remainder were either behind (n = 31) or above the knees (n = 8). The follow up ranged from 1 month to 11 years. One & 5 year patency rates of vein grafts were 88.7% & 70.2% respectively.

Conclusions:

FPB using saphenous graft yield a very good graft patency, low rates of amputation, morbidity and mortality. Long-term patency is excellent.

Highlights:
Characteristics and Motivating Factors of Attendees of a Regional Student-Run Wilderness Medicine Conference
Authors: Stuart Christina M. , Tindle Kailey C. , Phillips Lara L.
Published: September 2019

Despite recent growth, opportunities for preclinical medical students to engage with the field of wilderness medicine remain geographically, financially, and logistically limited. Attendees of the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Student Wilderness Medicine Conference were invited to complete a post hoc web-based survey after the event. Results of the survey were analyzed to determine the demographic characteristics and motivating factors for attendance, as well as perceived conference performance and future behavioral intention of survey respondents. The majority of attendees were preclinical level medical students, 37% of whom were affiliated with their institutions’ wilderness medicine interest group and 40% of whom were affiliated with an emergency medicine interest group. Intrinsically motivating factors such as personal interest and opportunities for educational enrichment were significantly more important in determining conference attendance than extrinsically motivating factors such as cost and networking opportunities. Data from this conference support many encouraging trends and suggest that regional conferences may represent a practical way to increase access to wilderness medicine in the preclinical medical student population and thereby influence career decision.
On first exit times and their means for Brownian bridges
Authors: Geiss Christel , Luoto Antti , Salminen Paavo
Published: October 2019

For a Brownian bridge from 0 to y, we prove that the mean of the first exit time from the interval

$\left( -h,h \right),h>0$

, behaves as

${\mathrm{O}}(h^2)$

when

$h
\downarrow 0$

. Similar behaviour is also seen to hold for the three-dimensional Bessel bridge. For the Brownian bridge and three-dimensional Bessel bridge, this mean of the first exit time has a puzzling representation in terms of the Kolmogorov distribution. The result regarding the Brownian bridge is applied to provide a detailed proof of an estimate needed by Walsh to determine the convergence of the binomial tree scheme for European options.
Boundary effect in competition processes
Authors: Shcherbakov Vadim , Volkov Stanislav
Published: October 2019

This paper is devoted to studying the long-term behaviour of a continuous-time Markov chain that can be interpreted as a pair of linear birth processes which evolve with a competitive interaction; as a special case, they include the famous Lotka–Volterra interaction. Another example of our process is related to urn models with ball removal. We show that, with probability one, the process eventually escapes to infinity by sticking to the boundary in a rather unusual way.
Cataphora, expletives and impersonal constructions in the history of Icelandic
Authors: Booth Hannah
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a diachronic account for the emergence of the expletiveþaðin Icelandic impersonal constructions. Using data from the IcePaHC corpus (Wallenberg et al. 2011), I show that a cataphorically referentialþaðfunctions as a topic position placeholder in Old Icelandic (1150-1350) in impersonals with a clausal argument. The corpus findings indicate thatþaðspread from this early cataphoric context to impersonals which lack the clausal argument, with ‘say-type predicates’ acting as a bridging context. Strikingly, this coincides with another change whereby cataphoricþaðbecomes increasingly restricted to the topic position in constructions with a clausal subject. I interpret this as evidence that cataphoricþaðis losing its subject status in such contexts and becoming a topic position placeholder, in line with its function in impersonals. This sheds light on the mixed status of cataphoricþaðin modern Icelandic and challenges the ‘Prefinite First Hypothesis’ for the diachrony of Germanic expletives (e.g. Faarlund 1990).
600 Years of Grape Harvests Document 20th Century Climate Change
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: September 2019

A 664-year record of grape harvest dates from Burgundy, France, reveals significantly warmer temperatures since 1988.
Nuclear Winter May Bring a Decade of Destruction
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: September 2019

New climate models present a grim prediction of what would happen worldwide after a nuclear war between the United States and Russia.
Correction: MUC1-C represses the RASSF1A tumor suppressor in human carcinoma cells
Authors: Rajabi Hasan , Hata Tsuyoshi , Li Wei , Long Mark D. , Hu Qiang , Liu Song , Raina Deepak , Kui Ling , Yasumizu Yota , Hong Deli , Samur Mehmet , Kufe Donald
Published: October 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Tensorial stress−strain fields and large elastoplasticity as well as friction in diamond anvil cell up to 400 GPa
Authors: Levitas Valery I. , Kamrani Mehdi , Feng Biao
Published: October 2019

Various phenomena (fracture, phase transformations, and chemical reactions) studied under extreme pressures in diamond anvil cell are strongly affected by fields of all components of stress and plastic strain tensors. However, they could not be measured. Here, we suggest a coupled experimental−theoretical−computational approach that allowed us (using published experimental data) to refine, calibrate, and verify models for elastoplastic behavior and contact friction for tungsten (W) and diamond up to 400 GPa and reconstruct fields of all components of stress and large plastic strain tensors in W and diamond. Despite the generally accepted strain-induced anisotropy, strain hardening, and path-dependent plasticity, here we showed that W after large plastic strains behaves as isotropic and perfectly plastic with path-independent surface of perfect plasticity. Moreover, scale-independence of elastoplastic properties is found even for such large field gradients. Obtained results open opportunities for quantitative extreme stress science and reaching record high pressures.
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury alters diurnal locomotor activity and response to the light change in mice
Authors: Wang Yu-Syuan , Hsieh Wei , Chung Jia-Ru , Lan Tsuo-Hung , Wang Yun
Published: October 2019

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common cause of brain damage with a high incidence of multiple mTBIs found among athletes and soldiers. The purpose of this study is to examine the diurnal behavioral changes after multiple mTBIs. Adult mice were anesthetized; mTBI was conducted by dropping a 30-g weight to the right temporal skull once (mTBI1) or three times (mTBI3) over 3-week. Open-field motor behavior was recorded for 3 days after the last mTBI. In the first 4-hour exploratory phase, mTBI1 or mTBI3 equally reduced locomotor activity. A significant reduction of locomotor activity was found in the dark cycle between 4–72 hour in mTBI1 or mTBI3 mice; higher motor activity was seen after mTBI3 compared to mTBI1. In the light cycle, mTBI3 mice demonstrated an earlier immobilization followed by hyperactivity. The response to light change significantly correlated with the number of impacts. The IBA1 and BAX protein levels were equally increased in the lesioned cortex after mTBI1 and mTBI3. mTBI3 selectively upregulated the expression of circadian clock gene Per1 in hypothalamus and hippocampus as well as iNOS expression in the lesioned side cortex. Our data suggest multiple mTBIs alter diurnal locomotor activity and response to the change of light, which may involve Per1 expression in the lesioned brain.
Straightening of light in a one dimensional dilute photonic crystal
Authors: Gevorkian Zhyrair , Gasparian Vladimir , Cuevas Emilio
Published: October 2019

Light transport in a dilute photonic crystal is considered. The analytical expression for the transmission coefficient is derived. Straightening of light under certain conditions in a one-dimensional photonic crystal is predicted. Such behavior is caused by the formation of a localized state in transversal motion. The main contribution to the central diffracted wave transmission coefficient is due to states, that either close to the conductance band’s bottom or deeply localized in the forbidden gap. Both these states suppress mobility in the transverse direction and force light to be straightened. Straightening of light in the optical region along with small reflection make these systems very promising for use in solar cells.
Electrocortical changes associating sedation and respiratory depression by the opioid analgesic fentanyl
Authors: Montandon Gaspard , Horner Richard L.
Published: October 2019

Opioid drugs are the mainstay of pain management but present the side-effect of respiratory depression that can be lethal with overdose. In addition to their respiratory effect, opioids also induce a profound sedative state and produce electrocortical features characteristic of a state of reduced brain arousal, similar to anaesthesia or sleep. In such states, respiratory activity depends more on the integrity of the brainstem respiratory network than it does during wakefulness. Accordingly, we propose that sedation by fentanyl induces specific electrocortical changes consistent with reduced brain arousal, and that the magnitude of respiratory depression is associated with distinct electrocortical changes. To these aims, we determined the effects of systemic injections of fentanyl (dosage 100 µg ·kg) versus control on electrocortical  and respiratory activities of freely-behaving rats. We found that fentanyl induced electrocortical changes that differed from those observed in sleep or wakefulness. Fentanyl increased δ (1–3 Hz) frequency power (P < 0.001), but reduced α (7.5–13.5 Hz) and β2 (20–30 Hz) powers (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively), when compared to wakefulness. Interestingly, respiratory rate depression by fentanyl was significantly correlated with increased θ power (R = 0.61, P < 0.001), therefore showing a clear association between electrocortical activity and the magnitude of respiratory rate depression. Overall, we provide new evidence linking specific electrocortical changes to the severity of respiratory depression by opioids, which highlights the importance of considering the cortical and subcortical effects of opioids in addition to their impacts on breathing when evaluating opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Divergent evolutionary trajectories following speciation in two ectoparasitic honey bee mites
Authors: Techer Maeva A. , Rane Rahul V. , Grau Miguel L. , Roberts John M. K. , Sullivan Shawn T. , Liachko Ivan , Childers Anna K. , Evans Jay D. , Mikheyev Alexander S.
Published: October 2019

Multispecies host-parasite evolution is common, but how parasites evolve after speciating remains poorly understood. Shared evolutionary history and physiology may propel species along similar evolutionary trajectories whereas pursuing different strategies can reduce competition. We test these scenarios in the economically important association between honey bees and ectoparasitic mites by sequencing the genomes of the sister mite species Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni. These genomes were closely related, with 99.7% sequence identity. Among the 9,628 orthologous genes, 4.8% showed signs of positive selection in at least one species. Divergent selective trajectories were discovered in conserved chemosensory gene families (IGR, SNMP), and Halloween genes (CYP) involved in moulting and reproduction. However, there was little overlap in these gene sets and associated GO terms, indicating different selective regimes operating on each of the parasites. Based on our findings, we suggest that species-specific strategies may be needed to combat evolving parasite communities.
Combretastatin A4 nanodrug combined plerixafor for inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis simultaneously
Authors: Jiang Jian , Shen Na , Song Wantong , Yu Haiyang , Sakurai Kazuo , Tang Zhaohui , Li Gao
Published: September 2019

Inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis simultaneously is an important issue for tumor therapy.
Novel α-ketoamide based diazeniumdiolates as hydrogen peroxide responsive nitric oxide donors with anti-lung cancer activity
Authors: Fu Junjie , Han Jing , Meng Tingting , Hu Jing , Yin Jian
Published: October 2019

Novel α-ketoamide based diazeniumdiolates activated by hydrogen peroxide to release nitric oxide and exert anti-cancer activity.
Flexible heteroatom-doped graphitic hollow carbon fibers for ultrasensitive and reusable electric current sensing
Authors: Jiang Zhiping , Shao Yue , Zhao Peng , Wang Hong
Published: October 2019

Flexible, highly conductive, robust nitrogen (N), sulfur (S) co-doped graphitic hollow carbon fibers (CFs) were directly fabricated by vacuum carbonization of “human hairs”.
Multivalent glycoligands with lectin/enzyme dual specificity: self-deliverable glycosidase regulators
Authors: González-Cuesta Manuel , Goyard David , Nanba Eiji , Higaki Katsumi , García Fernández José M. , Renaudet Olivier , Ortiz Mellet Carmen
Published: October 2019

Multimannosides assembled onto cyclodextrin or cyclopeptide cores exhibit dual specificity towards the macrophage mannose receptor and lysosomal glycosidases.
Protection strategies for directionally-controlled synthesis of previously inaccessible metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs): the cases of carboxylate- and amino-functionalised Rh(ii)-MOPs
Authors: Albalad Jorge , Carné-Sánchez Arnau , Grancha Thais , Hernández-López Laura , Maspoch Daniel
Published: October 2019

Herein we report that strategic use of protecting groups in coordination reactions enables directional inhibition that leads to synthesis of metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) highly functionalized with carboxylic acid and amine groups.
Serendipity of a topological nontrivial band gap in the 2D borophene subunit lattice with broken mirror symmetry
Authors: Wang Aizhu , Shen Lei , Zhao Mingwen , Zhang Xiaoming , He Tao , Li Weifeng , Feng Yuanping , Liu Hong
Published: September 2019

Spin–orbit coupling can open a global band gap in the WB4 lattice, giving rise to a topologically nontrivial phase.
New application of in silico methods in identifying mechanisms of action and key components of anti-cancer herbal formulation YIV-906 (PHY906)
Authors: Liu Shuhan , He Xibing , Man Viet Hoang , Ji Beihong , Liu Junjun , Wang Junmei
Published: October 2019

Human metabolites and herbal chemicals from YIV-906 can act as phosphate mimics and occupy the catalytic centre of DUSP3.
Elucidating the optical spectra of [Au25(SR)18]q nanoclusters
Authors: Juarez-Mosqueda Rosalba , Mpourmpakis Giannis
Published: October 2019

Density functional theory calculations reveal how optical spectra of [Au25(SR)18]q nanoclusters (q = −1, 0, +1) change with different ligands.
Diffusivity and glass transition of polymer chains in polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Huan , Sun Dan-Dan , Peng Yi , Huang Jian-Hua , Luo Meng-Bo
Published: October 2019

Diffusivity and glass transition temperature of polymer nanocomposites are governed by a dynamic confinement parameter.
Atomic order, electronic structure and thermodynamic stability of nickel aluminate
Authors: Elias Ishfaque , Soon Aloysius , Huang Jun , S. Haynes Brian , Montoya Alejandro
Published: September 2019

Nickel aluminate, NiAl2O4, adopts the inverse tetragonalP4122 structure and remains largely inverse below 1000 K.
Thickness biased capture of CO2 on carbide MXenes
Authors: Morales-García Ángel , Mayans-Llorach Marc , Viñes Francesc , Illas Francesc
Published: October 2019

Density functional theory simulations and ab initio kinetic phase diagrams reveal that the CO2 capabilities of MXenes are barely affected by their width.
Matrix infrared spectroscopy of F2BMF and FBWF2 (M = Cr, Mo and W) complexes and quantum chemistry calculations
Authors: Xu Bing , Li Wenjing , Pu Zhen , Yu Wenjie , Huang Tengfei , Cheng Juanjuan , Wang Xuefeng
Published: October 2019

Cr, Mo, and W atom reactions with BF3 give inserted complexes F2B–MF (M = Cr, Mo, and W) and terminal borylene complex FBWF2.
Large-scale preparation of micro-gradient structured sub-micro fibrous membranes with narrow diameter distributions for high-efficiency air purification
Authors: Zhou Mengjuan , Fang Mengzhen , Quan Zhenzhen , Zhang Hongnan , Qin Xiaohong , Wang Rongwu , Yu Jianyong
Published: October 2019

Micro-gradient structured PAN sub-micro fibrous membrane with high-efficiency air purification performance was fabricated via one-step free surface electrospinning with large-scale yield, firstly demonstrated as air filters.