bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Canal wall up surgery with mastoid and epitympanic obliteration in acquired cholesteatoma
Authors: Hellingman Catharine A. , Geerse Simon , de Wolf Maarten J. F. , Ebbens Fenna A. , van Spronsen Erik
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The objective of this study was to evaluate surgical outcome and residual and recurrence rates of canal wall up (CWU) surgery with obliteration of the mastoid and epitympanum.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral center.

Methods

Patients with (sequelae of) acquired cholesteatoma treated with primary or revision CWU surgery with obliteration of the epitympanum and mastoid were identified retrospectively from 2010 to 2014. Obliteration was performed with cartilage chips or a periosteal midtemporal flap in combination with bone pâté and/or hydroxyapatite. Patients were followed up with micro‐otoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI).

Results

Ninety‐nine ears in 96 patients were managed with obliteration of the epitympanum and mastoid following CWU surgery. Mean postoperative follow‐up was 39.6 (standard deviation [SD] = 16.3). Mean follow‐up until the last MRI‐DWI was 29.7 months (SD = 16.0). In total, 74 ears in 72 adult patients (mean age = 46.8 years) were operated and 25 ears in 24 pediatric patients (mean age = 12.8 years). The overall recurrence rate was 7.1%, and the residual rate was 7.1%. In comparison, before the introduction of obliteration, the residual rate in our clinic was 24.4% and the recurrence rate 39.7%. After CWU surgery with obliteration, recurrence in pediatric patients (16.0%) was more frequent than in adults (4.1%). Although this difference was not statistically significant, a trend was observed (P = .066).

Conclusions

Obliteration of the epitympanum and mastoid is a reliable and safe technique following CWU surgery for cholesteatoma, resulting in low residual and recurrence rates.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 129:981–985, 2019
Triacylglycerol‐Lowering Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid Is Not Influenced by Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphisms Involved in Lipid Metabolism in Humans
Authors: AbuMweis Suhad S. , Panchal Sunil K. , Jones Peter J. H.
Published: November 2018

The triacylglycerol (TAG)‐lowering effects of long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids, and in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are well documented, although these effects manifest large interindividual variability. The objective of this secondary analysis is to investigate whether common single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes involved in DHA synthesis and TAG metabolism are associated with the responsiveness of blood lipids, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein concentration to dietary treatment by DHA supplied in high‐oleic canola oil (HOCO). In a randomized, crossover‐controlled feeding trial, 129 subjects with metabolic syndrome received high‐oleic canola oil (HOCO) and high‐oleic canola oil supplemented with DHA (HOCO‐DHA), each for 4 weeks. During the HOCO‐DHA phase, the intake of DHA ranged from 1 to 2.5 g/day. The subjects were genotyped for apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms, and SNP including FADS1‐rs174561, FADS2‐rs174583, ELOVL2‐rs953413, ELOVL5‐rs2397142, CETP‐rs5882, SCD1‐rs2234970, PPARA‐rs6008259, and LIPF‐rs814628 were selected as important genes controlling fatty acid metabolism. Overall, consumption of HOCO‐DHA oil reduced blood concentrations of TAG by 24% compared to HOCO oil. The reduction in TAG was independent of genetic variations in the studied genes. Similarly, no treatment‐by‐gene interactions were evident in the response to other lipids, lipoproteins, or apolipoproteins to DHA supplementation. Nevertheless, a lower interindividual variation in the TAG response to DHA supplementation compared to other studies was observed in this analysis. The TAG‐lowering effect of a supplemental body‐weight‐based dose of DHA was not influenced by genetic variations in APOE, FADS1, FADS2, ELOVL2, ELOVL5, CETP, SCD1, PPARA, and LIPF.
Efficient Delivery of Tyrosinase Related Protein‐2 (TRP2) Peptides to Lymph Nodes using Serum‐Derived Exosomes
Authors: Park Ok , Choi Eun Seo , Yu Gyeonghui , Kim Jun Yeong , Kang Yoon Young , Jung Heesun , Mok Hyejung
Published: November 2018

Exosomes (EXO) are considered to be versatile carriers for biomolecules; however, the delivery of therapeutic peptides using EXOs poses several challenges. In this study, the efficiency of serum‐derived EXOs in delivering tyrosinase‐related protein‐2 (TRP2) peptides to lymph nodes is determined. TRP2 peptides are successfully incorporated into EXOs, which show a uniform and narrow size distribution of around 45 nm. The TRP2‐incorporated exosomes (EXO‐TRP2) are efficiently internalized into macrophages and dendritic cells, and are seen to display a punctate distribution. EXOs loaded with TRP2 together with MPLA, (EXO‐MPLA‐TRP2) result in a strong release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐6) from both RAW264.7 and DC2.4 cells. Finally, subcutaneous injection of fluorescently labeled EXO‐TRP2 followed by ex vivo imaging using in vivo imaging system (IVIS) show a strong fluorescent signal in the lymph nodes after only 1 h, which is maintained until at least 4 h after injection. Taken together, the findings suggest that serum‐derived EXOs can serve as promising carriers to deliver therapeutic peptides to lymph nodes for immunotherapy.
Thermadapt Shape Memory Polymers with Predictable and Arbitrary Shape Shifting
Authors: Wang Yongwei , Pan Yi , Zheng Zhaohui , Ding Xiaobin
Published: November 2018

The development of shape memory polymers (SMPs) with a better linear relationship between the shape retention ratio (R
ret) and the corresponding stress relaxation (R
σ) can address scientific challenges, such that the arbitrary shape shifting can be realized and a desired and accurate strain can be obtained during the procedure of stress relaxation. This method is predictable, accurate, time‐saving, and can prevent the deterioration of materials. However, almost no attention is paid to the predictable and arbitrary shape‐shifting phenomenon. Here, a new phenomenon that the materials exhibit a relatively better linear relationship and the major factor behind the phenomenon—there is a better linear relationship with the decrease in the molecular weight between the cross‐linking points (M
c)—are found. Such a one shape memory network with combined catalyst‐free, arbitrary shape shifting, and reprocessability without sacrificing the outstanding shape memory performance, is expected to have a significant and positive impact on the medical device industry, and provides a new strategy for the design of thermadapt SMPs.
Thermal Field‐Flow Fractionation for the Investigation of the Thermoresponsive Nature of Star and Linear Polystyrene
Authors: Greyling Guilaume , Lederer Albena , Pasch Harald
Published: November 2018

Thermal field‐flow fractionation (ThFFF) is a powerful alternative to commonly used column‐based techniques to characterize star polymers according to their solution behavior, as well as different molecular parameters, such as size and composition. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that ThFFF is an effective tool to investigate the thermoresponsive nature of polymers. ThFFF analysis of linear and star polystyrene in THF, dimethylacetamide, and cyclohexane shows that star polymers are more temperature‐sensitive than their linear analogs regarding their sizes in solution. This temperature sensitivity influences the retention behavior in ThFFF. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the thermodynamic quality of the solvent significantly influences both the thermal diffusion coefficient and the temperature‐sensitive nature of the samples. Finally, changing the thermodynamic quality of the solvent causes deviations in determining the number of chain ends from ThFFF data.
Progress in the Field of Water‐ and/or Temperature‐Triggered Polymer Actuators
Authors: Agarwal Seema , Jiang Shaohua , Chen Yiming
Published: November 2018

Water‐ and/or temperature‐triggered polymer actuators have great potential in robotics, microfabrication and micromanipulation, cell culture, artificial scaffolds, muscles, and motors. In the past few years, a large amount of work has been carried out, and several innovative concepts have been proposed to address challenges such as actuation with large‐scale displacement in a very short time, actuation of large‐sized samples, complex 3D shaping, directional control, multiresponsive actuation, and strong actuators. Herein, the progress made in the field of actuators triggered by water, temperature, and a combination of both is presented, emphasizing the new concepts of fast and direction‐controlled actuation, the corresponding mechanisms, the associated challenges, and future tasks and perspectives.
Photoresponsive, Water‐Soluble Supramolecular Dendronized Polymer with Specific Lysosome‐Targetable Bioimaging Application in Living Cells
Authors: Li Hang , Wu Jie , Yin Jia‐Fu , Wang Huan , Wu Yongquan , Kuang Gui‐Chao
Published: November 2018

A novel photoresponsive, water‐soluble supramolecular dendronized polymer (SDP) is prepared through a γ ‐cyclodextrin (γ ‐CD)‐coumarin host–guest interaction. The supramolecular formation, photoresponsive process, and fluorescence properties are investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques and spectrometric measurements. Upon different‐wavelength light irradiation, this supramolecular polymer undergoes noncovalent polymer and covalent polymer conversion due to coumarin cycloaddition and cleavage reactions. In addition, SDP for bioimaging in Michigan Cancer Foundation‐7 (MCF‐7) cells is performed and results show that the obtained SDP has good biocompatibility and is lysosome‐targetable. This research enriches the field of supramolecular dendrimers and the photo‐stimulation response material may have application prospects in organelle‐targeting applications.
Observations of mountain waves with interference generated by coastal mountains in South Africa
Authors: van der Mescht Deon , Geldenhuys Markus
Published: November 2018

A fatal light‐aircraft crash in December 2015 highlighted the severity of mountain waves occurring north of the Tsitsikamma Mountains along the southern Cape coast of South Africa. EUMETSAT visible‐channel imagery was used to identify three features of the wave event. The waves occurred to the north of the coastal mountains; they displayed evidence of lee‐side interference and they appeared to be generated by terrain features south of the east–west‐orientated main Tsitsikamma Ridge. These three characteristics were used to identify 20 additional events over the period 2008–2016. It was found that the mountain waves were formed in the west to southwest low‐level winds, which are associated with passing cold fronts, upper‐air cut‐off lows and ridging high‐pressure systems. Three geographical areas were identified where severe turbulence may occur during such events. The first was an area of wave interference where waves generated by the Karatara Ridge, situated in an adjacent mountain range, intersected waves generated by Formosa, the highest point in the Tsitsikamma Mountains. The other two areas of potential severe turbulence were identified owing to the presence of waves propagating in different directions, and crossing at different altitudes, in the lee of the isolated peaks Formosa and Witelskop. Formosa also appeared to generate two distinct primary wave shapes, each with a unique range of summit wind directions. The duration of wave events was estimated to be between 3 and 5 hr. Finally, events were observed where clear slots of suppressed mountain waves appeared among visible mountain waves in the lee of Witelskop.
Series solutions of a semilinear wave equation
Authors: Boumenir Amin
Published: November 2018

We are concerned with the reconstruction of series solutions of a semilinear wave equation with a quadratic nonlinearity. The solution which may blow up in finite time is sought as a sum of exponential functions and is shown to be a classical one. The constructed solutions can be used to benchmark numerical methods used to approximate solutions of nonlinear equations.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides Increase Mucin Expression in Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Authors: Wu Richard You , Li Bo , Koike Yuhki , Määttänen Pekka , Miyake Hiromu , Cadete Marissa , Johnson‐Henry Kathene C. , Botts Steven R. , Lee Carol , Abrahamsson Thomas R. , Landberg Eva , Pierro Agostino , Sherman Philip M.
Published: November 2018

Scope

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of morbidity and death in preterm infants, occurring more often in formula‐fed than breastfed infants. Studies in both rats and humans show that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) lower the incidence of NEC, but the mechanism underlying such protection is currently unclear.

Methods and Results

By extracting HMOs from pooled human breastmilk, the impact of HMOs on the intestinal mucin levels in a murine model of NEC are investigated. To confirm the results, the findings are validated by exposing human intestinal epithelial cells and intestinal organoids to HMOs and evaluated for mucin expression. HMO‐gavage to pups increases Muc2 levels and decreases intestinal permeability to macromolecular dextran. HMO‐treated cells have increased Muc2 expression, decreased bacterial attachment and dextran permeability during challenge by enteric pathogens. To identify the mediators involved in HMO induction of mucins, it is demonstrated that HMOs directly induce the expression of chaperone proteins including protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Suppression of PDI activity removes the protective effects of HMOs on barrier function in vitro as well as NEC protection in vivo.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results provide insights to the possible mechanisms by which HMOs protect the neonatal intestine through upregulation of mucins.
Expectant long‐term follow‐up of patients with chronic urinary retention
Authors: Abello Alejandro , DeWolf William C. , Das Anurag K.
Published: November 2018

Aims

To describe urologic complications in patients with chronically elevated post‐void residual (PVR) volumes and to evaluate other related risk factors during a long‐term follow‐up in patients managed conservatively.

Methods

Non‐neurogenic patients who refused surgical intervention of the prostate and had PVR volumes >300 mL on two or more separate occasions at least 6 months apart were included. We followed this cohort over time, recorded complications and evaluated risk factors for complications.

Results

Twenty‐eight men with a mean age of 74 were followed for a median of 56 months (IQR: 26‐101 months); 26 had benign prostatic hyperplasia with a median prostate size of 55 cc. Baseline median PVR was 468 cc (IQR: 395‐828) and follow‐up median PVR was 508 cc (IQR: 322‐714). During follow‐up, 13 patients (46%) had at least one complication with acute urinary retention being the most common occurring in 10 patients (36%) with 15 episodes. Other complications presented in less than 15%, and no patients developed permanent renal insufficiency. Patients with prostate size ≥ 100 cc had significantly higher total number of acute retention episodes (P‐value: 0.01).

Conclusions

Although the presence of CUR could commonly predispose to episodes of acute retention, severe complications are infrequent although present. Additionally, prostate size may play a role in increasing some adverse outcomes. With proper counseling about different complications, patients with retention who denied surgical treatment can be safely followed for at least 5 years without renal deterioration.
Photoresist materials comprising photobase generators and epoxy resins bearing carboxylic acids to lead to marked enhancement of base‐catalyzed cross‐linking reactions
Authors: Terada Kiwamu , Furutani Masahiro , Arimitsu Koji
Published: November 2018

Most of the photopatterning materials based on epoxy resins utilize photoacid generators (PAGs), which generate superacids as catalysts. They have been used for high aspect ratio photoresists in the fabrication of MEMS devices. However, there is a drawback, in that the acidic species from PAGs will induce metal corrosion. One of the approaches to overcome this problem is the use of photobase generators (PBGs) because organic bases would induce no corrosion. Although there have been many previous investigations of PBGs, only a few articles have mentioned photoreactive materials relying on PBGs because of their low photosensitivity. We report here highly sensitive photopatterning materials comprising PBGs and an epoxy resin bearing carboxylic acid groups. As a result, the photopatterning materials showed higher photosensitivity than conventional epoxy resin systems. We obtained high‐photosensitivity (up to 900 mJ/cm2), high‐resolution (10‐μm line‐and‐space) patterning materials in films, 10 μm in thickness.
Mixed matrix membrane comprising polyimide with crystalline porous imide‐linked covalent organic framework for N2/O2 separation
Authors: Yuan Xiaoxu , Wang Yilei , Deng Guoxiong , Zong Xueping , Zhang Chunxue , Xue Song
Published: November 2018

An imide‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) was successfully synthesized by directly heating a mixture of melamine and biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) in a tubular oven at 335°C. The crystalline and nanostructure of this COF was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET). A mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was prepared by blending the COF into the commercial P84 polyimide in solution. It is found that the COF particles not only act as gas channels for N2 and O2 permeation but also provided an inverse permselective property with higher permeability of N2. The effect of COF nanostructure and its loading amount on N2 and O2 permeability and selectivity has been investigated.
Incubation optimizes the promoting effects of rewards on creativity
Authors: Zhang Ze , Zhang Weitao , Wu Xiaofei , Tan Tengteng , Luo Jing
Published: November 2018

We tested the incubation effect on promoting problem‐solving insight in a “test–incubation–retest” procedure in different groups receiving a reward notification (RN) before or after the incubation phase, or no RN. Only RN given before incubation significantly promoted creative performance, implying that incubation may help optimize the promoting effects of reward on creativity.
Improved part strength for the fused deposition 3D printing technique by chemical modification of polylactic acid
Authors: Alturkestany Mohammed T. , Panchal Vishrut , Thompson Michael R.
Published: November 2018

Fused deposition method (FDM) is popular as a plastic 3D printing technique. One of the drawbacks of this technology is its low bonding strength between layers, reducing through‐plane mechanical properties of a part compared with in‐plane strength within the layers themselves. This study focuses on altering the molecular structure of a polylactic acid by chain extension to increase the adhesion strength between layers, quantified by peel testing, in order to increase overall part strength. Four different samples were prepared in a high shear mixer, processed into filament and printed by a FDM‐type 3D printer. These samples were characterized for their thermal, rheological, mechanical and adhesion properties. The findings showed that the chain extender‐modified resins exhibited higher layer‐to‐layer adhesion strength as well as increased viscosity corresponding to an increasing degree of branching. The interlayer diffusion and entanglement of newly created branch chain ends improved bonding between the printed layers resulting in higher tensile properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E59–E64, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Heterotrimeric G‐Protein‐Dependent Proteome and Phosphoproteome in Unstimulated Arabidopsis Roots
Authors: Song Gaoyuan , Brachova Libuse , Nikolau Basil J. , Jones Alan M. , Walley Justin W.
Published: November 2018

The G‐protein complex is a cytoplasmic on–off molecular switch that is set by plasma membrane receptors that activate upon binding of its cognate extracellular agonist. In animals, the default setting is the “off” resting state, while in plants, the default state is constitutively “on” but repressed by a plasma membrane receptor‐like protein. De‐repression appears to involve specific phosphorylation of key elements of the G‐protein complex and possibly target proteins that are positioned downstream of this complex. To address this possibility, protein abundance and phosphorylation state are quantified in wild type and G‐protein deficient Arabidopsis roots in the unstimulated resting state. A total of 3246 phosphorylated and 8141 non‐modified protein groups are identified. It has been found that 428 phosphorylation sites decrease and 509 sites increase in abundance in the G‐protein quadrupole mutant lacking an operable G‐protein‐complex. Kinases with known roles in G‐protein signaling including MAP KINASE 6 and FERONIA are differentially phosphorylated along with many other proteins now implicated in the control of G‐protein signaling. Taken together, these datasets will enable the discovery of novel proteins and biological processes dependent on G‐protein signaling.
Facile Synthesis of Mg2+‐Doped Carbon Dots as Novel Biomaterial Inducing Cell Osteoblastic Differentiation
Authors: Yang Mingxi , Meng Yang , Liu Junjun , Yu Weixian , Yang Bai
Published: November 2018

Carbon dots (CDs), as an emerging fluorescent nanomaterial with low toxicity, has been widely applied in various bio‐related fields. However, investigations on their capabilities in guiding osteogenic differentiation are rarely seen, which has great significance in osteoporosis therapy and bone regeneration. Herein, for the first time, a new kind of Mg2+‐doped CDs is facilely synthesized through a one‐step hydrothermal method from metal gluconate salts. The CDs can serve as nanocarrier of Mg2+ ions entering into cells, and the bioessential metal ions subsequently stimulate osteoblastic differentiation by improving alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and upregulation related mRNA expression. Noteworthy, the raw material has almost negligible performance on osteoblastic differentiation compared to Mg‐CDs, which is due to the ultrasmall sizes of CDs and the efficient uptake by cells. Moreover, benefitting from the fluorescence properties, Mg‐CDs can also be applied as cell labeling agents. This work proposes a new strategy to synthesize multifunctional metal ion‐doped CDs, which might had great potential in serving as promising nanodrugs for bone loss therapy.
Site‐to‐Site Reproducibility and Spatial Resolution in MALDI–MSI of Peptides from Formalin‐Fixed Paraffin‐Embedded Samples
Authors: Ly Alice , Longuespée Rémi , Casadonte Rita , Wandernoth Petra , Schwamborn Kristina , Bollwein Christine , Marsching Christian , Kriegsmann Katharina , Hopf Carsten , Weichert Wilko , Kriegsmann Jörg , Schirmacher Peter , Kriegsmann Mark , Deininger Sören‐Oliver
Published: November 2018

Purpose

To facilitate the transition of MALDI–MS Imaging (MALDI–MSI) from basic science to clinical application, it is necessary to analyze formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues. The aim is to improve in situ tryptic digestion for MALDI–MSI of FFPE samples and determine if similar results would be reproducible if obtained from different sites.

Experimental Design

FFPE tissues (mouse intestine, human ovarian teratoma, tissue microarray of tumor entities sampled from three different sites) are prepared for MALDI–MSI. Samples are coated with trypsin using an automated sprayer then incubated using deliquescence to maintain a stable humid environment. After digestion, samples are sprayed with CHCA using the same spraying device and analyzed with a rapifleX MALDI Tissuetyper at 50 µm spatial resolution. Data are analyzed using flexImaging, SCiLS, and R.

Results

Trypsin application and digestion are identified as sources of variation and loss of spatial resolution in the MALDI–MSI of FFPE samples. Using the described workflow, it is possible to discriminate discrete histological features in different tissues and enabled different sites to generate images of similar quality when assessed by spatial segmentation and PCA.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Spatial resolution and site‐to‐site reproducibility can be maintained by adhering to a standardized MALDI–MSI workflow.
Treatment policy estimands for recurrent event data using data collected after cessation of randomised treatment
Authors: Roger James H. , Bratton Daniel J. , Mayer Bhabita , Abellan Juan J. , Keene Oliver N.
Published: November 2018

In the past, many clinical trials have withdrawn subjects from the study when they prematurely stopped their randomised treatment and have therefore only collected ‘on‐treatment’ data. Thus, analyses addressing a treatment policy estimand have been restricted to imputing missing data under assumptions drawn from these data only. Many confirmatory trials are now continuing to collect data from subjects in a study even after they have prematurely discontinued study treatment as this event is irrelevant for the purposes of a treatment policy estimand. However, despite efforts to keep subjects in a trial, some will still choose to withdraw. Recent publications for sensitivity analyses of recurrent event data have focused on the reference‐based imputation methods commonly applied to continuous outcomes, where imputation for the missing data for one treatment arm is based on the observed outcomes in another arm. However, the existence of data from subjects who have prematurely discontinued treatment but remained in the study has now raised the opportunity to use this ‘off‐treatment’ data to impute the missing data for subjects who withdraw, potentially allowing more plausible assumptions for the missing post‐study‐withdrawal data than reference‐based approaches. In this paper, we introduce a new imputation method for recurrent event data in which the missing post‐study‐withdrawal event rate for a particular subject is assumed to reflect that observed from subjects during the off‐treatment period. The method is illustrated in a trial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where the primary endpoint was the rate of exacerbations, analysed using a negative binomial model.
Influenza vaccine: Where are we and where do we go?
Authors: Keshavarz Mohsen , Mirzaei Hamed , Salemi Maryam , Momeni Fatemeh , Mousavi Mohammad Javad , Sadeghalvad Mona , Arjeini Yaser , Solaymani‐Mohammadi Farid , Sadri Nahand Javid , Namdari Haideh , Mokhtari‐Azad Talat , Rezaei Farhad
Published: November 2018

The alarming rise of morbidity and mortality caused by influenza pandemics and epidemics has drawn attention worldwide since the last few decades. This life‐threatening problem necessitates the development of a safe and effective vaccine to protect against incoming pandemics. The currently available flu vaccines rely on inactivated viral particles, M2e‐based vaccine, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and virus like particle (VLP). While inactivated vaccines can only induce systemic humoral responses, LAIV and VLP vaccines stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses. Yet, these vaccines have limited protection against newly emerging viral strains. These strains, however, can be targeted by universal vaccines consisting of conserved viral proteins such as M2e and capable of inducing cross‐reactive immune response. The lack of viral genome in VLP and M2e‐based vaccines addresses safety concern associated with existing attenuated vaccines. With the emergence of new recombinant viral strains each year, additional effort towards developing improved universal vaccine is warranted. Besides various types of vaccines, microRNA and exosome‐based vaccines have been emerged as new types of influenza vaccines which are associated with new and effective properties. Hence, development of a new generation of vaccines could contribute to better treatment of influenza.
Historical and predicted variations of baseflow in China's Poyang Lake catchment
Authors: Li Yunliang , Zhang Qi
Published: November 2018

Baseflow availability and its contribution to streamflow are critical for planning and management of catchment hydrology and ecology. This study uses a digital filtering technique, statistical methods, and hydrological projection to investigate historical and future baseflow characteristics with respect to climate and land use impacts, exemplified by the large Poyang Lake catchment (China). Digital filtering results show that annual baseflow varied between 25 × 108 and 820 × 108 m3/year for the catchment rivers during 1953–2014. The results reveal that on average 62% of the long‐term streamflow in the catchment is derived from baseflow contribution. Statistics show a generally increasing trend in the annual baseflow and baseflow index (BFI) for most of the rivers over the past 60 years, with the major frequencies varying between 5 and 20 years. Although the trends in baseflow and BFI are attributable to the combined effects of climate and land use change across the catchment, baseflow variations are expected to be more sensitive to climate than land use changes. In general, precipitation plays a dominant role in controlling baseflow and can be used as an indication of the variations in baseflow at the subcatchment scale. Hydrological projection shows that annual baseflow and BFI are likely to increase by up to 31% and 13% during 2018–2035, respectively, based on historical baseflow trends. Our results indicate that management approaches for the catchment that consider groundwater and surface water as a joint resource will be needed to effectively manage the current and future river regime, its water resources, and water quality.
Investigation of Ti/CuO interface by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy
Authors: Chopra Dev Raj , Pearson Justin Seth , Durant Darius , Bhakta Ritesh , Chourasia Anil R.
Published: November 2018

The Ti/CuO interface has been studied by the techniques of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Thin films of titanium were deposited on a CuO substrate at room temperature by the e‐beam technique. The photoelectron spectra of titanium and copper were found to exhibit significant chemical interaction at the interface. The titanium overlayer was observed to get oxidized to TiO2, while the CuO was observed to get reduced to elemental copper. This chemical interaction was observed to occur until a thickness of 7 nm of the titanium overlayer. For thicknesses greater than this value, the presence of unreacted titanium in the sample was detected. Barrier characteristics at the Ti/CuO interface were also carried out for substrate temperatures of 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, and 600°C as a function of the titanium overlayer thickness. A linear trend in the barrier thickness of the overlayer was observed between 400°C and 600°C substrate temperatures. The atomic force microscopy micrographs of the unannealed samples depicted layer‐by‐layer growth of elemental titanium on copper. At the Ti/CuO interface in such samples, the micrographs exhibited island formation of TiO2 corresponding to the Volmer‐Weber growth model. This formation has been interpreted as the relaxation in the strain energy. The percentage coverage of the underlying substrate by the TiO2 islands showed a linear trend for the thicknesses of the titanium overlayer investigated. The average size of these islands also showed a linear trend as a function of the thickness of the overlayer.
Parameter settings in a compact laser‐nitriding system for titanium composed of a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow
Authors: Ohtsu Naofumi , Saito Wataru , Yamane Misao
Published: November 2018

The aim of the present study was to form a nitride layer on a titanium (Ti) substrate through a compact laser‐nitriding system comprising a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow. To obtain a high‐quality layer, the effects of pulse frequency and gas flow rate on the surface characteristics were investigated by using plasma emission analysis as well as X‐ray analyses. Optical emission spectra from the laser‐induced plasma mainly consisted of ionic Ti lines, and their intensities when the pulse frequency was 15 Hz were much higher than those for 8 Hz. Similarly, the reflections from the δ‐TiN phase in the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern were enhanced when using 15 Hz. On the other hand, the flow rate of nitrogen gas blow had a significant effect on the thickness of the thin oxide layer that formed above the nitride layer. Using a lower flow rate resulted in the formation of a thicker oxide layer. The higher pulse frequency and the faster flow rate were beneficial for obtaining a higher‐quality layer because of the enhancement of nitridation and the suppression of oxidation, respectively.
Effects of thermal treatment on hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance of Ti surface
Authors: Boonrungsiman Suwimon , Prompinit Panida , Khemthong Pongtanawat , Wutikhun Tuksadon , Treethong Alongkot , Kasamechonchung Panita , Chanlek Narong , Maniratanachote Rawiwan , Horprathum Mati , Pankiew Apirak , Pornthreeraphat Suppanit , Khemasiri Narathon , Klamchuen Annop
Published: November 2018

Surface treatment of titanium (Ti) surface has been extensively studied to improve its properties for biomedical applications, including hydrophilicity, corrosion resistance, and tissue integration. In this present work, we present the effects of thermal oxidation as surface modification method on metallic titanium (Ti). The Ti foils were oxidized at 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, and 600°C under air atmosphere for 3 hours, which formed oxide layer on Ti surface. The physicochemical properties including surface chemistry, roughness, and thickness of the oxide layer were evaluated in order to investigate how these factors affected surface hydrophilicity, microhardness, and corrosion resistance properties of the Ti surface. The results revealed that surfaces of all oxidized samples were modified by formation of titanium dioxide layer, of which morphology, phase, and thickness were changed according to the oxidized temperatures. Increasing oxidation temperature led to the formation of thicker oxide layer and phase transformation of anatase to rutile. The presence of the oxide layer helped the improvement of corrosion resistance and microhardness. The most improvement in surface roughness was found in the specimens treated at 400°C, which significantly improved surface hydrophilicity. But both surface roughness and hydrophilicity reduced when oxidized at 500°C and 600°C, suggesting that hydrophilicity was dominated by the surface roughness. In addition, this surface treatment did not reduce the biocompatibility of the metallic Ti substrates against murine osteoblasts (MC3T3).
Optical Properties of Individual Aragonite Plates from Nacre
Authors: Lertvachirapaiboon Chutiparn , Pienpinijtham Prompong , Wongravee Kanet , Ekgasit Sanong
Published: November 2018

The unique structural architecture of nacre from sea shells (e. g., mussel, pearl oyster, and abalone shells) is the basis of this substance's brilliant iridescent coloration. In fact, nacre consists of alternating bilayers of plate‐shaped aragonite and an organic binder. In this paper, we first report the optical characteristics of individual aragonite plates derived from nacre. A simple chemical method is employed to disintegrate nacre without structural and polymorphism changes. Implementation of this method enable us to investigate the optical properties of individual aragonite plates. Evidence indicate that most light is transmitted by aragonite plates, a phenomenon that contributes substantially to the fantastic iridescent colors displayed by nacre. Reflected light, on the other hand, displays wavelength selectivity that depends on the thickness of the aragonite plates. As typical material applications, natural aragonite plates are utilized as transparent fillers and as a pigment for surface coating. Aside from their use as optical materials, aragonite plates can also be employed as a solid support for the growth of metal nanoparticles and utilize for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
PTSA‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 6‐Aminouracils with Diimines: Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidine‐2,4‐diones
Authors: Khodabakhshi Mohammad R. , Kiamehr Mostafa , Moghaddam Firouz M. , Villinger Alexander , Langer Peter
Published: November 2018

A new and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of 5,7‐diaryl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidine‐2,4‐dione derivatives by cyclization of 6‐aminouracils with N,N′‐bis(arylmethylidene)arylmethanes (diimines). The products were formed in good yields and with very good anti‐diastereoselectivity. The best yields were obtained when p‐toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) was used as the catalyst. The solvent also played an important role in the optimization. An amino‐substituted 6‐aminouracil and a corresponding sulfur analog could be successfully employed. In addition, various diimines, electron rich and neutral, could be successfully employed. The products are of relevance as analogs of biologically active drugs and natural products.
Nanoemulsion Improves the Antifungal Activity of Allylic Thiocyanates against Yeasts and Filamentous Pathogenic Fungi
Authors: Dalla Lana Daiane F. , Giuliani Laura M. , Reolon Jéssica B. , Lopes William , Vainstein Marilene H. , Danielli Letícia J. , Bergamo Vanessa Z. , Pippi Bruna , Apel Miriam A. , Teixeira Mário L. , de Oliveira Luis F. S. , Machado Michel M. , de Andrade Saulo F. , Sá Marcus M. , Ferreira Misael , Munaretto Laiéli S. , Cruz Letícia , Silveira Gustavo P. , Elayne Edilma , Fuentefria Alexandre M.
Published: November 2018

We report the antifungal and antichemotactic activities of a series of allylic thiocyanates with low toxicity. We also show improved antifungal activity of the most promising compound when used in a nanoemulsion (NE). The 4‐chlorophenyl‐substituted allylic thiocyanate (compound 11) exhibited a broad spectrum of antifungal activity and showed antichemotactic effects with 100% reduction in leucocyte migration. Minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 25 to 50 μg mL−1, and the mechanism of action was related to complexation with fungal ergosterol. The NE containing compound 11 enhanced the antifungal activity approximately 64‐fold for dermatophytes and 4‐fold for Candida spp.. Compound 11 was not mutagenic and did not cause cell death or significant haemoloysis, although it exhibited mild dose‐dependent DNA damage. It was not an irritant for chorioallantoic membrane of fertile white eggs and exhibited 100% inhibition of fungal growth in an in vivo model of dermatophytosis. Our data indicate that allylic thiocyanates are very promising for the antifungal potential in nanostructured systems, with associated anti‐inflammatory effect.
Field experience with obfuscating million‐user iOS apps in large enterprise mobile development
Authors: Wang Pei , Wu Dinghao , Chen Zhaofeng , Wei Tao
Published: November 2018

In recent years, mobile apps have become the infrastructure of many popular Internet services. It is now common that a mobile app serves millions of users across the globe. By examining the code of these apps, reverse engineers can learn various knowledge about the design and implementation of the apps. Real‐world cases have shown that the disclosed critical information allows malicious parties to abuse or exploit the app‐provided services for unrightful profits, leading to significant financial losses. One of the most viable mitigations against malicious reverse engineering is to obfuscate the apps. Despite that security by obscurity is typically considered to be an unsound protection methodology, software obfuscation can indeed increase the cost of reverse engineering, thus delivering practical merits for protecting mobile apps. In this paper, we share our experience of applying obfuscation to multiple commercial iOS apps, each of which has millions of users. We discuss the necessity of adopting obfuscation for protecting modern mobile business, the challenges of software obfuscation on the iOS platform, and our efforts in overcoming these obstacles. We especially focus on factors that are unique to mobile software development that may affect the design and deployment of obfuscation techniques. We report the outcome of our obfuscation with empirical experiments. We additionally elaborate on the follow‐up case studies about how our obfuscation affected the app publication process and how we responded to the negative impacts. This experience report can benefit mobile developers, security service providers, and Apple as the administrator of the iOS ecosystem.
Fabrication of hydrotalcite containing N/P/S and its ternary synergistic efficiency on thermostability and fire resistance of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
Authors: Gu Xiaoyu , Sun Wenxiang , Guo Jia , Bu Xiangxing , Li Hongfei , Zhang Sheng , Sun Jun
Published: November 2018

Nitrate intercalated hydrotalcite (NO3−‐HTC) was first prepared as precursor; a schiff base derivative containing N, P, and S was synthesized and its structure was characterized. Later the schiff base derivative was used as intercalation to replace NO3− in hydrotalcite. The final product was schiff base derivative intercalated hydrotalcite, which was named as benzaldehyde–taurine–hypophosphorous (BTP)‐HTC. The results showed both NO3−‐HTC and BTP‐HTC can effectively improve the flame retardant and thermostability of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In cone calorimeter test, the peak heat release rate of EVA was 1421.2 kW/m2 and reduced sharply to 746.1/584.5 kW/m2 for 20 wt% NO3−‐HTC/BTP‐HTC adding, respectively. At same time, the total heat release was also decreased from 120.6 MJ/m2 for EVA to 81.0/70.0 MJ/m2, respectively. Morphology observation and composition analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) documented the residue left after combustion of EVA/NO3−‐HTC was just ash containing Mg and Al; but for EVA/BTP‐HTC, coherent char layer containing Mg, Al, and P was left. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal degradation of EVA was prolonged by either NO3−‐HTC or BTP‐HTC; and char content was kept to 8.6% and 11.0%, respectively. The whole results documented either NO3−‐HTC or BTP‐HTC improved the combustion behavior and thermostability of EVA, and BTP‐HTC showed excellent effect. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:255–261, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
A clockwork solution to the flavor puzzle
Authors: Alonso Rodrigo , Carmona Adrian , Dillon Barry M. , Kamenik Jernej F. , Camalich Jorge Martin , Zupan Jure
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We introduce a set of clockwork models of flavor that can naturally explain the large hierarchies of the Standard Model quark masses and mixing angles. Since the clockwork only contains chains of new vector-like fermions without any other dynamical fields, the flavor constraints allow for relatively light new physics scale. For two benchmarks with gear masses just above 1 TeV, allowed by flavor constraints, we discuss the collider searches and the possible ways of reconstructing gear spectra at the LHC. We also examine the similarities and differences with the other common solutions to the SM flavor puzzle, i.e., with the Froggatt-Nielsen models, where we identify a new clockworked version, and with the Randall-Sundrum models.
Phenomenology of GeV-scale heavy neutral leptons
Authors: Bondarenko Kyrylo , Boyarsky Alexey , Gorbunov Dmitry , Ruchayskiy Oleg
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We review and revise phenomenology of the GeV-scale heavy neutral leptons (HNLs). We extend the previous analyses by including more channels of HNLs production and decay and provide with more refined treatment, including QCD corrections for the HNLs of masses

$$ \mathcal{O} $$

O

(1) GeV. We summarize the relevance of individual production and decay channels for different masses, resolving a few discrepancies in the literature. Our final results are directly suitable for sensitivity studies of particle physics experiments (ranging from proton beam-dump to the LHC) aiming at searches for heavy neutral leptons.
BaryoGEN, a Monte Carlo generator for sphaleron-like transitions in proton-proton collisions
Authors: Bravo Cameron , Hauser Jay
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Sphaleron and instanton solutions of the Standard Model provide violation of baryon and lepton numbers and could lead to spectacular events at the LHC or future colliders. Certain models of new physics can also lead to sphaleron-like vacuum transitions. This nonperturbative physics could be relevant to the generation of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. We have developed BaryoGEN, an event generator that facilitates the exploration of sphaleron-like transitions in proton-proton collisions with minimal assumptions. BaryoGEN outputs standard Les Houches Event files that can be processed by PYTHIA, and the code is publicly available. We also discuss various approaches to experimental searches for such transitions in proton-proton collisions.
Flavor physics in the multi-Higgs doublet models induced by the left-right symmetry
Authors: Iguro Syuhei , Muramatsu Yu , Omura Yuji , Shigekami Yoshihiro
Published: November 2018

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the multi-Higgs doublet models, that could be effectively induced by the extended Standard Model (SM). In particular, we focus on the phenomenology in the supersymmetric model with left-right (LR) symmetry, where the down-type and the up-type Yukawa couplings are unified and the Yukawa coupling matrices are expected to be hermitian. In this model, several Higgs doublets are introduced to realize the realistic fermion mass matrices, and the heavy Higgs doublets have flavor changing couplings with quarks and leptons. The LR symmetry is assumed to break down at high energy to realize the Type-I seesaw mechanism. The supersymmetry breaking scale is expected to be around 100 TeV to achieve the 125 GeV Higgs. In such a setup, the flavor-dependent interaction of the Higgs fields becomes sizable, so that we especially discuss the flavor physics induced by the heavy Higgs fields in our work. Our prediction depends on the structure of neutrinos, e.g., the neutrino mass ordering. We demonstrate how the flavor structure of the SM affects the flavor violating couplings. In our analysis, we mainly focus on the four-fermi interaction induced by the scalar exchanging, and we propose a simple parameterization for the coefficients. Then, we find the correlations among the flavor observables and, for instance, see that our prediction for the μ → 3e process could be covered by the future experiment, in one case where the neutrino mass hierarchy is normal.
Large N bilocals at the infrared fixed point of the three dimensional O(N) invariant vector theory with a quartic interaction
Authors: Mulokwe Mbavhalelo , Rodrigues João P.
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We study the three dimensional O(N) invariant bosonic vector model with a

$$ \frac{\lambda }{N}{\left({\phi}^a{\phi}^a\right)}^2 $$

λ
N

ϕ
a

ϕ
a

2

interaction at its infrared fixed point, using a bilocal field approach and in an 1/N expansion. We identify a (negative energy squared) bound state in its spectrum about the large N conformal background. At the critical point this is identified with the Δ = 2 state. We further demonstrate that at the critical point the Δ = 1 state disappears from the spectrum.