bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free‐Standing Graphene‐Encapsulated Silicon Nanoparticle Aerogel as an Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Hu Xiaozhen , Jin Yan , Zhu Bin , Tan Yingling , Zhang Su , Zong Linqi , Lu Zhenda , Zhu Jia
Published: May 2016

Silicon is a remarkable candidate for lithium‐ion battery anodes, due to the highest theoretical specific capacity, low working potential, and abundance on earth. However, the volume of Si changes ≈300 % during the lithiation–delithiation cycling, leading to pulverization and poor electrical contact between Si and the current collector, resulting in fast fading capacity. To overcome these problems, we develop a novel free‐standing anode by encapsulating Si nanoparticles into a lightweight, flexible, and conductive graphene network by utilizing a facile freeze‐drying strategy. The Si nanoparticles are tightly anchored on the ultrathin and flexible graphene sheets, which can serve as mechanical support, electrical network, and buffer layer for Si. This free‐standing aerogel exhibits superior electrochemical performance, and the specific capacity is 617 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.8 A g−1, 4 times that of a traditional Si electrode on Cu foil fabricated by a typical slurry method.
Single‐Molecule Force Spectroscopy Reveals Multiple Binding Modes between DOPA and Different Rutile Surfaces
Authors: Li Yiran , Liu Huanyu , Wang Tiankuo , Qin Meng , Cao Yi , Wang Wei
Published: May 2016

Inspired by marine mussel adhesive systems, numerous 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)‐containing surface coating materials have been recently designed. It is well known that DOPA has a strong adhesion ability to different kinds of wet surfaces. However, the molecular mechanism of DOPA adhesion remains elusive. Recent biophysical studies of DOPA adhesion by both surface force apparatus (SFA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) suggest that DOPA can bind to a wide range of surfaces exhibiting diverse chemical properties through different binding mechanisms. Here, using AFM‐based single‐molecule force spectroscopy, we show that even for chemically well‐defined crystal surfaces, DOPA can bind to them by multiple binding modes. The binding forces between DOPA and different rutile TiO2 surfaces can vary within a broad range from 40–800 pN at a pulling speed of 1000 nm s−1 and are largely dependent on the surface properties. Our findings indicate that the local chemical environment can greatly affect DOPA adhesion, and that single‐molecule force spectroscopy is a unique tool to reveal the heterogeneity of DOPA adhesion to the same surface.
Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots Incorporated into Dye‐Sensitized TiO2 Photoanodes with Dual Contributions
Authors: Shi Yan , Na Yong , Su Ting , Li Liang , Yu Jia , Fan Ruiqing , Yang Yulin
Published: May 2016

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were prepared through bottom‐up synthesis, which possess excitation wavelength‐dependent photoluminescence properties upon excitation by near visible light. For the first time, CQDs were incorporated into N719‐sensitized TiO2 photoelectrodes as the electron‐transport medium, presenting dual contributions to the photo‐to‐electrical energy conversion: 1) spectral response compensation for the dye‐sensitized TiO2 film at around 400 nm was successfully observed in the incident photon‐to‐current conversion measurements; and 2) intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy showed that the electron transport time, charge collection efficiency, and electron diffusion length in the TiO2 electrode were all improved after CQDs incorporation. An example of using the CQDs‐ containing photoanode in a solar cell device resulted in enhancements of 32 % and 21 % for the short‐circuit current density and photo‐to‐electrical conversion efficiency, respectively.
Forest area and connectivity influence root‐associated fungal communities in a fragmented landscape
Authors: Vannette Rachel L. , Leopold Devin R. , Fukami Tadashi
Published: May 2016

Habitat fragmentation is well known to affect plant and animal diversity as a result of reduced habitat area and connectivity, but its effects on microorganisms are poorly understood. Using high‐throughput sequencing of two regions of the rRNA gene, we studied the effects of forest area and connectivity on the diversity and composition of fungi associated with the roots of the dominant tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, in a lava‐fragmented landscape on the Island of Hawaii. We found that local fungal diversity increased with forest area, whereas fungal species composition was correlated with fragment connectivity. Fragment size and connectivity were significant predictors even when we included environmental covariates, which were also associated with fungal diversity and composition. Fungal species composition was more similar among highly connected fragments than among poorly connected ones. We also identified individual taxa that varied in abundance with connectivity. Taken together, our results show that habitat fragmentation can alter microbial diversity and composition via differential response among fungal phyla and individual taxa to habitat connectivity.
Sympathetic neural signaling via the β2‐adrenergic receptor suppresses T‐cell receptor‐mediated human and mouse CD8+ T‐cell effector function
Authors: Estrada Leonardo D. , Ağaç Didem , Farrar J. David
Published: May 2016

Postganglionic sympathetic neurons innervate secondary lymphoid organs and secrete norepinephrine (NE) as the primary neurotransmitter. NE binds and signals through five distinct members of the adrenergic receptor family. In this study, we show elevated expression of the β2‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) on primary human CD8+ effector memory T cells. Treatment of both human and murine CD8+ T cells with NE decreased IFN‐γ and TNF‐α secretion and suppressed their cytolytic capacity in response to T‐cell receptor (TCR) activation. The effects of NE were specifically reversed by β2‐specific antagonists. Adrb2−/− CD8+ T cells were completely resistant to the effects of NE. Further, the ADRB2‐specific pharmacological ligand, albuterol, significantly suppressed effector functions in both human and mouse CD8+ T cells. While both TCR activation and stimulation with IL‐12 + IL‐18 were able to induce inflammatory cytokine secretion, NE failed to suppress IFN‐γ secretion in response to IL‐12 + IL18. Finally, the long‐acting ADRB2‐specific agonist, salmeterol, markedly reduced the cytokine secretion capacity of CD8+ T cells in response to infection with vesicular stomatitis virus. This study reveals a novel intrinsic role for ADRB2 signaling in CD8+ T‐cell function and underscores the novel role this pathway plays in adaptive T‐cell responses to infection.
N‐Allenyl Amides and O‐Allenyl Ethers in Enantioselective Catalysis
Authors: Manoni Elisabetta , Bandini Marco
Published: May 2016

Nowadays asymmetric catalysis is an established reality in the organic synthesis community. Nevertheless, the range of applicability both in organic and in organometallic transformations is so large that seeking for new developments seems unstoppable. In this direction, from time to time a new class of “silent” organic compounds rises to prominence and creates new perspectives in the field. Allenyl amides and allenyl ethers are eminent examples of chemical “perturbation” of the current asymmetric synthetic scenario, with recent applications in metal‐based and metal‐free catalytic enantioselective manipulations. Besides their recent rediscovery in an asymmetric and catalytic context, this family of electron‐rich allenes has already gained credit in terms of synthetic flexibility and the latest achievements in the field are summarized in this article.
Direct Assembly of Benzo[e]indoles by Diels–Alder Reaction of Arynes and 2‐Vinylpyrroles
Authors: Yuan Jing , Wu Xin‐Yan , Sha Feng
Published: May 2016

A direct synthetic strategy for the construction of benzo[e]indoles by Diels–Alder reaction of 2‐vinylpyrroles and arynes was developed. By introducing CHPh2 as the N‐protecting group, the arynes selectively reacted with the external vinyl group instead of the pyrrole ring itself. A series of substituted benzo[e]indoles were afforded with high selectivity in good yields.
Copper‐Catalyzed C–H Alkynylation/Intramolecular Cyclization Cascade for the First Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated Pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolines
Authors: Xu Zhiliang , Ni Fei , Han Jing , Tao Lili , Deng Hongmei , Shao Min , Chen Jie , Zhang Hui , Cao Weiguo
Published: May 2016

A highly efficient and simple route for the first synthesis of CF3‐substututed pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolines from quinolines, terminal alkynes, and methyl 4,4,4‐trifluorobut‐2‐ynoate is reported. The noteworthy feature of this report is that the method involves a two‐step protocol to synthesize tricyclic heterocycles in a one‐pot fashion through CuI‐catalyzed C–H alkynylation for the formation of alkynyl‐substituted 1,2‐dihydroquinolines, followed by a CuII‐assisted intramolecular cyclization under air. This strategy tolerates a wide range of substrates with a variety of functional groups under mild conditions, and gives the products in good to excellent yields.
Different prognostic roles of tumor suppressor gene BAP1 in cancer: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Luchini Claudio , Veronese Nicola , Yachida Shinichi , Cheng Liang , Nottegar Alessia , Stubbs Brendon , Solmi Marco , Capelli Paola , Pea Antonio , Barbareschi Mattia , Fassan Matteo , Wood Laura D , Scarpa Aldo
Published: May 2016

Biallelic inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1‐associated protein 1 (BAP1) has been demonstrated in several cancers, but its prognostic role has not been completely explained. We aimed to investigate the risk associated with loss of BAP1 (BAP1‐) for all‐cause mortality, cancer‐specific mortality and recurrence of disease in subjects with cancer. PubMed and SCOPUS were searched from database inception until 09/15/2015 without language restrictions. Prospective studies reporting data on prognostic parameters in subjects with cancer, comparing participants with presence of BAP1 (BAP1+) vs. BAP1‐ were included. Data were summarized using risk ratios (RR) for number of deaths/recurrences and hazard ratios (HR) for time‐dependent risk related to BAP1‐ adjusted for potential confounders. From 261 hits, 12 studies (including 13 cohorts) with 3,447 participants (BAP1‐: n = 697; BAP1+: n = 2,750), with a median follow‐up over 60 months, were meta‐analyzed. Compared to BAP1+, BAP1‐ significantly increased all‐cause mortality, cancer‐specific mortality and risk of recurrence in all the tumor types analyzed, except for mesothelioma, in which the presence of BAP1 mutations correlates with a better prognosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BAP1 mutated colorectal and renal carcinomas are associated with high‐tumor grading (P < 0.0001), and that BAP1 mutated is more common in women than in men (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, on the basis of our meta‐analysis, we have demonstrated a peculiar role of BAP1 in influencing the prognosis in cancer. Thus, BAP1 could be considered as an important potential target for personalized medicine. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structures around the Tinjar‐West Baram Line in northern Kalimantan and seafloor spreading in the proto‐South China Sea
Authors: Zheng Q. L. , Li S. Z. , Suo Y. H. , Li X. Y. , Guo L. L. , Wang P. C. , Zhang Y. , Zang Y. B. , Jiang S. H. , Somerville I. D.
Published: May 2016

The Tinjar‐West Baram Line is a NW‐trending trans‐lithospheric fault in northern Kalimantan; its northwestern extension into the South China Sea (SCS) is the West Baram Line. In this paper, we propose that the geodynamic processes of the proto‐South China Sea (PSCS) played a key role in the formation and evolution of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line, based on previous studies of the strata, crustal thicknesses, gravity anomalies and other characteristics of the blocks adjacent to the Tinjar‐West Baram Line and the palaeomagnetic‐based plate reconstructions of the PSCS. The Tinjar‐West Baram Line has a close link to the subduction of the PSCS. Structural restoration reveals that (1) before 35 Ma, the Tinjar‐West Baram Line was a NE‐trending transform fault, which is consistent with the NE‐trending strike‐slip faults widely distributed in the East Asian Continental Margin, in the PSCS. (2) From the perspective of tectonic evolution, the extinction of the PSCS and the spreading of the SCS drove the Luconia Block in the northern SCS to accrete to the western side of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line. This process resulted in a contrast of crustal rocks adjacent to the Tinjar‐West Baram Line; to the east of this line, the Nansha Trough is oceanic crust, whereas to the west of this line the Luconia Block has an affinity with continental crust. The velocity and thickness of the crust show great differences on either side of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line. (3) The kinematic analysis of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line reveals that the collisional orogeny between the Luconia and Kalimantan blocks happened at 45–37 Ma on the west of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line; on its eastern side, the Nansha Trough was subducting south towards Kalimantan Island. During the interval 35–10 Ma, the kinematics of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line shows a feature of dextral strike‐slip faulting. (4) The earlier published palaeomagnetic data show that the Kalimantan Block experienced a counterclockwise rotation of about 50° during the period from 25 to 10 Ma. In addition, the exert counterclockwise rotation of about 20° of the Tinjar‐West Baram Line happened due to the resistance of the Luconia Block. Therefore, the Tinjar‐West Baram Line changed from an early NE‐trending to late NW‐trending structure which results in its present day tectonic framework. Thus, we suggest that the Tinjar‐West Baram Line was originally a NE‐trending transform fault of the PSCS extending to the continental crust. Subsequently, the Tinjar‐West Baram Line became the western border of the PSCS, accompanying the collisional orogeny between the Luconia and Kalimantan blocks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IL‐6‐specific autoantibodies among APECED and thymoma patients
Authors: Kärner Jaanika , Pihlap Maire , Ranki Annamari , Krohn Kai , Trebusak Podkrajsek Katarina , Bratanic Nina , Battelino Tadej , Willcox Nick , Peterson Pärt , Kisand Kai
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Both autoimmune polyendocrinopathy‐candidiasis‐ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) and the rare thymoma patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) have neutralizing autoantibodies to Th17 cytokines and significant defects in production of IL‐22 and IL‐17F by their T cells. The cause of these defects is unknown. We hypothesized that they might result from autoimmunity against upstream cytokines normally responsible for generating and maintaining Th17 cells.

Methods

Luciferase immunoprecipitation (LIPS) was used to screen for autoantibodies to IL‐6, IL‐1β, TGF‐β3, IL‐21, and IL‐23 in patients with APECED or thymoma. We used Western blotting to assess the conformation‐dependence of the IL‐6 autoantibodies and flow cytometric analysis of intracellular phospho‐STAT3 induction to assess IL‐6‐neutralizing capacity in IgGs isolated from patient and control sera. We also used Luminex xMAP to measure serum cytokine levels.

Results

We found autoantibodies binding to conformational epitopes of IL‐6 in 19.5% of 41 patients with APECED and 12.5% of 104 with thymoma—especially in those with long disease durations. The autoantibodies were predominantly of IgG1 subclass and failed to neutralize IL‐6 activity. Notably, serum levels of the IL‐6 and IL‐17A cytokines were higher in anti‐IL‐6 seropositive than—negative APECED patients or healthy controls. We also detected autoantibody binding to IL‐23 in 27.9% of thymoma patients, resulting from cross‐recognition through the p40 subunit it shares with IL‐12.

Conclusions

IL‐6 and IL‐17A elevation in these seropositive patients suggests that antibody‐binding may protect IL‐6 from degradation and prolong its half‐life in vivo.
Fluorescent probes for nanoscopy: four categories and multiple possibilities
Authors: Ni Ming , Zhuo Shuangmu , So Peter T. C. , Yu Hanry
Published: May 2016

Nanoscopy enables breaking down the light diffraction limit and reveals the nanostructures of objects being studied using light. In 2014, three scientists pioneered the development of nanoscopy and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This recognized the achievement of the past twenty years in the field of nanoscopy. However, fluorescent probes used in the field of nanoscopy are still numbered. Here, we review the currently available four categories of probes and existing methods to improve the performance of probes.

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Effect of macrophages on in vitro corrosion behavior of magnesium alloy
Authors: Zhang Jian , Hiromoto Sachiko , Yamazaki Tomohiko , Niu Jialin , Huang Hua , Jia Gaozhi , Li Haiyan , Ding Wenjiang , Yuan Guangyin
Published: May 2016

The influence of cells on the corrosion behavior of biomedical magnesium alloy is an important but less studied topic, which is helpful for understanding the inconsistent corrosion rates between in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this work, macrophages were directly cultured on Mg–2.1Nd–0.2Zn–0.5Zr (wt %, abbreviated as JDBM) alloy surface for 72 or 168 hours. Macrophages retained good viability and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was greatly promoted on the alloy. Weight loss, Mg2+ concentration, and cross‐section observation results demonstrated that macrophages accelerated the in vitro corrosion of JDBM. The coverage of cell body did not affect the local thickness of corrosion product layer. The corrosion product layer had a porous inner Mg(OH)2 layer and a dense outer layer mainly composed of O, P, Mg, and Ca. The uniform acceleration of JDBM corrosion was attributed to the omnidirection diffusion of ROS from macrophages. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2476–2487, 2016.
pKa prediction for acidic phosphorus‐containing compounds using multiple linear regression with computational descriptors
Authors: Yu Donghai , Du Ruobing , Xiao Ji‐Chang
Published: May 2016

Ninety‐six acidic phosphorus‐containing molecules with pKa 1.88 to 6.26 were collected and divided into training and test sets by random sampling. Structural parameters were obtained by density functional theory calculation of the molecules. The relationship between the experimental pKa values and structural parameters was obtained by multiple linear regression fitting for the training set, and tested with the test set; the R2 values were 0.974 and 0.966 for the training and test sets, respectively. This regression equation, which quantitatively describes the influence of structural parameters on pKa, and can be used to predict pKa values of similar structures, is significant for the design of new acidic phosphorus‐containing extractants. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transient midventricular ballooning syndrome with thrombus post pericardiocentesis in a patient with malignant breast cancer
Authors: Moon Donggyu , Lee Su Nam , Lee Bong Woo , Lee Kangmin , Lee Eung Koo , Son Seong Wan
Published: May 2016

One day after pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion in a patient with malignant breast cancer, the clinical and echocardiographic examination for recurrent dyspnea suggested stress cardiomyopathy with mid left ventricular ballooning and thrombus rather than pericardial decompression syndrome. Physicians should therefore pay attention to the possibility of ventricular dysfunction with thrombus post pericardiocentesis and to differences between stress cardiomyopathy and pericardial decompression syndrome. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:53–57, 2017
Applicability Domains and Consistent Structure Generation
Authors: Kaneko Hiromasa , Funatsu Kimito
Published: May 2016

In de novo molecular design, quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) and quantitative structure‐property relationship (QSPR) models are important to estimate activity and property values, respectively, for virtual molecular structures. To operate QSAR and QSPR models appropriately, applicability domains (ADs) of the models must be defined because estimated values are unreliable for virtual molecular structures that are dissimilar to structures of training compounds. We describe several methods to construct AD models, and then introduce a structure generator to change molecular structures that exist outside ADs to conform to ADs.
Non‐hematopoietic effects of endogenous erythropoietin on lean mass and body weight regulation
Authors: Reinhardt Martin , Dey Soumyadeep , Tom Noguchi Constance , Zhang Yuanyuan , Krakoff Jonathan , Thearle Marie S.
Published: May 2016

Objective

To investigate the concurrent relationships between human plasma erythropoietin concentrations and energy expenditure (EE), body composition, plasma leptin concentrations, and associations with weight change.

Methods

Plasma to measure erythropoietin and leptin; data for body composition; 24‐h EE measured in a whole‐room calorimeter; and 75 g oral glucose tolerance testing were available from 109 full‐heritage Pima Indians (55% male) from a larger study designed to understand the causes of obesity. Seventy‐nine subjects had data for weight at a later visit (mean follow‐up=4.3 ± 1.9 years) to calculate percent weight change per year.

Results

Erythropoietin, adjusted for covariates, correlated with 24‐h EE (r =0.26,P =0.007), sleeping EE (r =0.29,P =0.003), fat‐free mass (r =0.19,P =0.05), and fat mass (r =0.27,P =0.005), but not insulin or glucose measures. The association of erythropoietin with 24‐h EE was fully mediated by fat‐free mass. Erythropoietin associated with leptin in women (ρ = 0.36,P =0.01), but not in men (P =0.9), independently from fat mass. The association of erythropoietin with percent weight change per year was in opposing directions (interaction:P =0.002) in males (r =−0.35,P =0.02) versus females (r =0.37,P =0.02).

Conclusions

Non‐hematopoietic endogenous erythropoietin action may be involved in body weight regulation in opposing directions in men and women, i.e., weight loss in men and weight gain in women.
Gas‐phase Acidities of 2‐Aryl‐2‐chloro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethanes and Related Compounds. Experimental and Computational Studies
Authors: Mishima Masaaki , Abboud José‐Luis M. , Fujio Mizue , Suenaga Masahiko , Koch Heinz F. , Koch Judith G.
Published: May 2016

The gas‐phase acidities (GA) of 2‐aryl‐2‐chloro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethanes (1a), 2‐aryl‐2‐fluoro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethanes (2a), and related compounds, XC6H4CH(Z)R where Z = Cl (1) or F (2) and R = C2F5 (b), t‐C4F9 (c), C(CF3)2C2F5 (d), C(CF3)2Me (e), Me (f), H (g), were investigated experimentally and computationally. On the basis of an excellent linear correlation (R2 > 0.99) of acidities of 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f and 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f where there is no fluorine atom at β‐position to the deprotonation site with the corrected number of fluorine atoms contained in the fluorinated alkyl group, the extent of β‐fluorine negative hyperconjugation of the CF3 and C2F5 groups (ΔGoβ‐F) was evaluated. The GAel values given by subtraction ΔGoβ‐F from the apparent GA value were considered to represent the electronic effect of the substituent X. The substituent effects on the GAel values and GA values for 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f and 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f were successfully analyzed in terms of the Yukawa–Tsuno equation. The variation of resonance demand parameter r− with the R group observed for various XC6H4CH(Z)R was linearly related to the GA (GAel) value of the respective phenyl‐substituted fluorinated alkanes. On the other hand, the corresponding correlation for the ρ values provided three lines for ArCH(Cl)R, ArCH(F)R and ArCH2R, respectively. These results supported our previous conclusion that the r− and ρ values are governed by the thermodynamic stability of the parent ion (ring substituent = H). Other factors arising from an atom bonded to the acidic center also influence the ρ value. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dielectric pearl‐necklace model of flexible polyelectrolytes for electrostatic solvation energy calculations
Authors: Roig Alejandro R. , Alessandrini José Luis
Published: May 2016

The electrostatic component of the solvation free energy of polyelectrolytes in the description of dilute polymer solutions through the introduction of a dielectric dependent pearl‐necklace model is taken into account. In this two‐dielectric model, the solvent is assumed to have a high dielectric constant while the pearls are modeled as charged spheres with low dielectric constant (εin). Generalized Born (GB) models of electrostatic solvation give approximate solutions to the Poisson electrostatic problem through the Born radii of the pearls. Explicit calculations of the mean dimensions of the molecule, as a function of the solvation free energy, are performed on a minimal polyelectrolyte model (MPM), consisting of three identical beads with a single degree of freedom—the bond angle. Born radii calculated from the GB‐Z6model (based on Kirkwood electrostatics) and from the GB‐Z4model (based on the Coulomb Field Approximation) are compared with “perfect” radii (calculated from the Green's function of finite difference Poisson equation (PE)) in a wide range of molecular conformations. The best agreement is obtained with the first GB model.

The descreening effect described by GB is demonstrated in both, good and poor solvent conditions, described with Lennard‐Jones nonpolar interaction and variable dielectric constant of the pearls of the necklace. It is found that the electrostatic expansion factor of the mean squared end‐to‐end distance depends on the electric chargeQof the beads and the dielectric constant of the molecule. This function displays, in good and poor solvents, a maximum at high values ofQ(∼10) and the height increases with lowerεin. For instance, in the good solvent regime, the electrostatic swelling of the molecule is ∼6% in a one‐dielectric model but it amounts to 12% in the two‐dielectric model with GB‐Z6electrostatic solvation whenεin = 7 (or increases up to 26% forεin = 1), forQ = 10. The electrostatic swelling is less relevant for lower values of electric charge (Q∼1). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2016,54, 1748–1759
Global output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for upper‐triangular nonlinear systems with improved maximum allowable transmission delay
Authors: Zhang Daoyuan , Shen Yanjun
Published: May 2016

This paper addresses the problem of output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for upper‐triangular nonlinear systems with improved maximum allowable transmission delay. A class of hybrid systems are firstly introduced. The transmission delay may be larger than the sampling period. Then, sufficient conditions are proposed to guarantee global exponential stability of the hybrid systems. Based on these sufficient conditions and a linear continuous‐discrete observer, an output feedback control law is presented to globally exponentially stabilize the feedforward nonlinear system. The improved maximum allowable transmission delay is also given. The results are also extended to output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for lower‐triangular nonlinear systems. Finally, illustrative examples are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian probit model with spatially varying coefficients for brain decoding using fMRI data
Authors: Zhang Fengqing , Jiang Wenxin , Wong Patrick , Wang Ji‐Ping
Published: May 2016

Recent advances in human neuroimaging have shown that it is possible to accurately decode how the brain perceives information based only on non‐invasive functional magnetic resonance imaging measurements of brain activity. Two commonly used statistical approaches, namely, univariate analysis and multivariate pattern analysis often lead to distinct patterns of selected voxels. One current debate in brain decoding concerns whether the brain's representation of sound categories is localized or distributed. We hypothesize that the distributed pattern of voxels selected by most multivariate pattern analysis models can be an artifact due to the spatial correlation among voxels. Here, we propose a Bayesian spatially varying coefficient model, where the spatial correlation is modeled through the variance‐covariance matrix of the model coefficients. Combined with a proposed region selection strategy, we demonstrate that our approach is effective in identifying the truly localized patterns of the voxels while maintaining robustness to discover truly distributed pattern. In addition, we show that localized or clustered patterns can be artificially identified as distributed if without proper usage of the spatial correlation information in fMRI data. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An improved MSK‐BCS modulation for global navigation satellite systems in C band
Authors: Liu Meihong , Zhan Xingqun , Li Wei , Jing Shuai , Chen Maolin
Published: May 2016

Because of the congestion of current navigation signals in the L band, the frequency band between 5010 and 5030 MHz allocated as C band with smaller ionospheric errors can be taken as a candidate band for global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The main objective of C band signal design is to achieve band limitation, compatibility, multipath resistance, satisfactory tracking, and acquisition performance. The minimum shift keying (MSK) chip waveform has been proven to be effective in providing better spectrum confinement and a constant envelope. However, the MSK chip waveform with an arbitrary binary coded symbol (BCS) may not meet the requirements of the C band. Thus, the BCS sequence ([s0,s1,⋯ ,sn − 1],fc) = ([1,1,1,1,−1,−1,1,−1,1,−1],1) is obtained by means of a thorough computer search for low autocorrelation side lobes based on a Neuman–Hofman code of length 10 with MSK pulses form MSK‐BCS ([1,1,1,1,−1,−1,1,−1,1,−1],1). It is proved to have better autocorrelation with a sharp main lobe and smaller side lobes, larger Gabor bandwidth, smaller Cramér–Rao lower bound, and less multipath error; more importantly, it can satisfy the threshold of leakage out of band. It will be of great significance for signal design in C band. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lagrangian method for deriving electrically dual power converters applicable to nonplanar circuit topologies
Authors: Umetani Kazuhiro
Published: May 2016

This paper proposes a novel method for deriving dual converters, namely deriving current‐source converters from voltage‐source counterparts, and vice versa. The conventional derivation method is based on the transformation of circuit topology, in which series connections are converted into parallel connections, and vice versa. However, this method cannot be directly applied to nonplanar circuits because they do not allow perfect topological transformation, although many of them are known to have duals. Lagrangian dynamics does not depend on the topological relation to transform a system into another equivalent system; therefore, it possibly avoids problems related to topological transformation and may provide a universal and systematic method that can be consistently applied to nonplanar circuits. This paper discusses the derivation of duals using Lagrangian dynamics. Along with the theory, this paper presents two examples of Lagrangian derivation of duals. One derives a dual of a planar circuit, to which the topological transformation is applicable. The other derives two duals of a nonplanar circuit. Consequently, these examples suggest that the proposed method is a prospective candidate for universal and systematic derivation of duals. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Digital compensation of second‐ and third‐order nonlinear distortions generated by blocker signals
Authors: Mendoza‐Valencia Paulino , Laguna‐Sanchez Gerardo , Prieto‐Guerrero Alfonso
Published: May 2016

Deeply integrated systems in chips commonly include a digital and an analog front end on the same die. These analog front‐end schemes for wireless communications could be implemented under the concept called software‐defined radio (SDR). Digital signal processing is commonly used to perform signal filtering and channel equalization, and, recently, to improve front‐end radio performance by removing the undesirable effects of the analog front‐end imperfections. These wide‐band SDR are currently implemented without the surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter, because it is difficult to integrate a highly configurable one, as is required in wide‐band systems. An analog front end without this filter has no efficient protection against blocker signal effects, specifically against nonlinear distortions due to the analog front‐end imperfections. This paper proposes an algorithm to simultaneously remove second‐ and third‐order nonlinear distortions caused by a blocker signal, departing from a behavioral model and a band‐pass sampling pure digital algorithm to recover the blocker signal information. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Diagnosis and management of breast cancer in men
Authors: Sellers Laura , Miller Rowan , Aggarwal Ajay
Published: May 2016

Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Compared with female breast cancer, it is associated with a worse overall survival, predominantly due to advanced stage at presentation.1 The authors discuss the evidence to date regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation and mode of diagnosis, as well as current treatment strategies.
Staging PET–CT Scanning Provides Superior Detection of Lymph Nodes and Distant Metastases than Traditional Imaging in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Garg Pankaj Kumar , Deo Suryanarayana V. S. , Kumar Rakesh , Shukla Nootan Kumar , Thulkar Sanjay , Gogia Ajay , Sharma Daya Nand , Mathur Sandeep R.
Published: May 2016

Background

This study was designed to evaluate the role of a single 18‐FDG positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET–CT) scan in comparison to multiple organ‐directed conventional investigations (CI) as a staging tool in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) to detect regional and distant metastasis.

Methods

All eligible patients were subjected to CI (chest X‐ray, abdominal sonography, and bone scintigraphy) followed by a single 18‐FDG PET–CT scan. Standard imaging criteria were used for diagnosis of metastasis. Histopathological confirmation was undertaken for suspicious lesions. An exploratory analysis was done to assess the impact of PET–CT on the staging of LABC and how it resulted in a change in management.

Result

The study included 79 patients of LABC. PET–CT detected distant metastasis in 36 (45.5 %) patients while CI could identify distant metastasis in 20 (25.3 %) patients. Two of the 36 patients in whom PET–CT detected distant metastasis were false positive. Overall PET–CT upstaged the disease in 38 (48.1 %) patients as compared to CI: stage III to stage IV migration in 14 (17.7 %) patients due to identification of additional sites of distant metastasis, and within stage III upstaging in 24 (30.3 %) patients due to identification of additional regional lymphadenopathy. PET–CT led to a change in management plan in 14 (17.7 %) patients.

Conclusion

PET–CT has a role in identifying additional sites of regional lymphadenopathy and distant metastasis to upstage the disease in a significant number of LABC patients in comparison to CI; this would help in accurate staging, selecting optimal treatment, and better prognostication of disease.
The Greatest Priority for Genetic Counseling: Effectively Meeting Our Clients’ Needs 2014 NSGC Natalie Weissberger Paul National Achievement Award
Authors: Biesecker Barbara Bowles
Published: May 2016

Receipt of the 2014 Natalie Weissberger Paul (NWP) National Achievement Award was a highlight of my career. Thank you to all who nominated me for this prestigious NSGC recognition. I am humbled to join past NWP award winners many of whom are admired mentors, treasured colleagues and friends. I would like to express what a privilege it is to honor Natalie Weissberger Paul for whom this award is named. Twenty‐nine years ago I co‐edited a volume of the Birth Defects Original Article Series with Natalie summarizing a conference co‐funded by the March of Dimes and NSGC (Biesecker et al., 1987). Natalie demonstrated her devotion to children with special needs through her work at the March of Dimes. As such I believe she would concur with the focus of my remarks on the partners in our work: our clients.
Clinical Issues‐June 2016
Authors: Wood Amber , Ogg Mary J. , Chambers Kerrie
Published: May 2016

This Month

Use of alcohol (ethanol)‐based hand rubs (ABHRs) during pregnancy

Key words: alcohol, ethanol, hand rub, ABHR, hand sanitizer.

Working when experiencing a shingles infection

Key words: shingles, varicella, zoster, employee health.

Cleaning rigid containers

Key words: rigid container, container, instrument pan.
A retrospective study of HIV, antiretroviral therapy, and pregnancy‐associated hypertension among women in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Stoner Marie C.D. , Vwalika Bellington , Smid Marcela C. , George Shalin , Chi Benjamin H. , Stringer Elizabeth M. , Stringer Jeffrey S.A.
Published: May 2016

Objective

To investigate the association between HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and pregnancy‐associated hypertension (PAH) in an HIV‐endemic setting.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of pregnant women for whom information was recorded between February 2006 and December 2012 in the Zambia Electronic Perinatal Record System, which captures data from 25 facilities in Lusaka, Zambia. PAH was defined as eclampsia, pre‐eclampsia, hypertension, or elevated blood pressure (> 140/80 mm Hg) during delivery admission. Logistic regression estimated the odds of PAH among women by HIV serostatus, and by most recent CD4 T lymphocyte count and ART status among women with HIV infection.

Results

Among 249 771 women included in the analysis, 5354 (2.1%) had PAH. Compared with women without HIV infection, women with HIV infection not receiving ART had lower odds of PAH (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.78–0.95), whereas those with HIV infection who had initiated ART had higher odds of PAH (AOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01–1.32). No association was found between PAH and timing of ART initiation or CD4 lymphocyte count.

Conclusion

In a large African urban cohort, women with untreated HIV infection had the lowest odds of PAH. Treatment with ART could increase PAH risk beyond that of women without HIV infection and those with untreated infection.
A Spiral of Distrust: A Panel Study on the Relation between Political Distrust and Protest Voting in Belgium
Authors: Hooghe Marc , Dassonneville Ruth
Published: May 2016

Low levels of political trust are associated with a preference for protest parties. Some authors have argued that in this manner protest parties indirectly contribute to the stability of electoral democracy, functioning as a ‘safety valve’ for political discontent. In this article, we investigate the relationship between protest voting and political trust in a dynamic perspective, relying on a five-year Belgian panel study. We confirm that citizens with low levels of political trust are more likely to vote for protest parties. Additionally, we point out that decreasing levels of trust significantly increase the probability of voting for a protest party, even controlling for absolute levels of trust. Most importantly, having voted for a protest party in 2009 is linked to a subsequent further drop in political trust during the 2009–14 observation period. The panel analysis suggests that distrust and protest voting reinforce one another, leading to a potential spiral of distrust.
Unstart phenomena induced by mass addition and heat release in a model scramjet
Authors: Im S. , Baccarella D. , McGann B. , Liu Q. , Wermer L. , Do H.
Published: May 2016

The unstart phenomena in a model scramjet with a free stream Mach number of 4.5 were investigated at an arc-heated hypersonic wind tunnel. High-speed schlieren imaging and high resonance frequency pressure measurements were used to capture the flow features during the unstart process. Three unstart conditions were tested: (i) a low-enthalpy free stream with mass loading, (ii) a high-enthalpy free stream with mass loading and (iii) a high-enthalpy free stream with mass loading and heat release. It was revealed that the unstart threshold and the time from the onset to the completion of unstart depended strongly on the mass loading rate and the heat exchange. The negative heat addition (cooling) significantly increased the threshold of mass flow rate triggering unstart. The decrement of the mass flow rate threshold for unstart was observed in the presence of heat release by combustion. The observed transient and quasi-steady behaviours of the unstart shockwave system and the jet motion were similar in all of the test conditions. On the other hand, at the lip of inlet model, the unstart shockwave under the cold free stream condition exhibited a relatively steady behaviour while severe oscillatory flow motions of the jet and the unstart shockwave were observed in the combustion-driven unstart process. The different unstarted flow behaviours between the three flow conditions were explained using a simplified one-dimensional flow choking analysis and use of the Korkegi criterion.
Response and receptivity of the hypersonic boundary layer past a wedge to free-stream acoustic, vortical and entropy disturbances
Authors: Qin Fufeng , Wu Xuesong
Published: May 2016

This paper analyses the response and receptivity of the hypersonic boundary layer over a wedge to free-stream disturbances including acoustic, vortical and entropy fluctuations. Due to the presence of an attached oblique shock, the boundary layer is known to support viscous instability modes whose eigenfunctions are oscillatory in the far field. These modes acquire a triple-deck structure. Any of three elementary types of disturbance with frequency and wavelength on the triple-deck scales interacts with the shock to generate a slow acoustic perturbation, which is reflected between the shock and the wall. Through this induced acoustic perturbation, vortical and entropy free-stream disturbances drive significant velocity and temperature fluctuations within the boundary layer, which is impossible when the shock is absent. A quasi-resonance was identified, due to which the boundary layer exhibits a strong response to a continuum of high-frequency disturbances within a narrow band of streamwise wavenumbers. Most importantly, in the vicinity of the lower-branch neutral curve the slow acoustic perturbation induced by a disturbance of suitable frequency and wavenumbers is in exact resonance with a neutral eigenmode. As a result, the latter can be generated directly by each of three types of free-stream disturbance without involving any surface roughness element. The amplitude of the instability mode is determined by analysing the disturbance evolution through the resonant region. The fluctuation associated with the eigenmode turns out to be much stronger than the free-stream disturbances due to the resonant nature of excitation, and in the case of acoustic disturbances, to the well-known amplification effect of a strong shock. Moreover, excitation at the neutral position means that the instability mode grows immediately without undergoing any decay, or missing any portion of the unstable region. All these indicate that this new mechanism is particularly efficient. The boundary-layer response and coupling coefficients are calculated for typical values of parameters.
Gender, class and lodging in urban Finland around 1900
Authors: MORING BEATRICE
Published: May 2016

The popular image, if any, related to lodging in industrial and urban society is one of young male lodgers and female landladies. The aim of this article is to discuss the identity of lodgers and landlords/ladies in gender, age and social perspective. Can we find evidence for proximity in origin, gender and social class between those who looked for and those who provided lodgings? While the middle classes saw lodging as a social evil, were their fears of moral and hygienic degradation realistic? Was keeping lodgers a way of fleecing vulnerable migrants and forcing them into a life of squalor? Or is it possible that the people who acquired an extra room, for a bit of income, or squeezed in an extra bed, were at the mercy of builders and slum landlords with multiple houses? We should perhaps remind ourselves that the ultimate power of control of building quality and flat size lay in the hands of the social class that was pointing its finger at those at the bottom of the social ladder. Through the combination of surveys and census data with oral history collections from early twentieth-century Finland a narrative is constructed of the life as a lodger or landlord/landlady of the working class, demonstrating networks of friendship and mutual support, as well as systems of lodging that were simple economic arrangements for the survival of both parties.
Assessing the performance of mental health service facilities for meeting patient priorities and health service responsiveness
Authors: Bramesfeld A. , Stegbauer C.
Published: May 2016

The World Health Organisation has defined health service responsiveness as one of the key-objectives of health systems. Health service responsiveness relates to the ability to respond to service users’ legitimate expectations on non-medical issues when coming into contact with the services of a healthcare system. It is defined by the areas showing respect for persons and patient orientation. Health service responsiveness is particularly relevant to mental health services, due to the specific vulnerability of mental health patients but also because it matches what mental health patients consider as good quality of care as well as their priorities when seeking healthcare. As (mental) health service responsiveness applies equally to all concerned services it would be suitable as a universal indicator for the quality of services’ performance. However, performance monitoring programs in mental healthcare rarely assess health service performance with respect to meeting patient priorities. This is in part due of patient priorities as an outcome being underrepresented in studies that evaluate service provision. The lack of studies using patient priorities as outcomes transmits into evidence based guidelines and subsequently, into underrepresentation of patient priorities in performance monitoring. Possible ways out of this situation include more intervention studies using patient priorities as outcome, considering evidence from qualitative studies in guideline development and developing performance monitoring programs along the patient pathway and on key-points of relevance for service quality from a patient perspective.
Digital Visualisation in Classics Teaching and Beyond
Authors: Nicholls Matthew
Published: May 2016

For the last few years, I have been working on an extensive digital model of ancient Rome as it appeared in the early 4thCentury AD. This sort of visualisation lends itself to many applications in diverse fields: I am currently using it for research work into illumination and sightlines in the ancient city, have licensed it for broadcast in TV documentaries and publication in magazines, and am working with a computer games studio to turn it into an online game where players will be able to walk round the streets and buildings of the entire city (when not engaged in trading with or assassinating one another). Later this year I will be making a free online course, or MOOC, about the architecture of ancient Rome, which will largely be illustrated by this model.
OCR Exams FAQs
Authors: Bristow Caroline
Published: May 2016

Caroline is the OCR Subject Specialist, and here she explains how the OCR Classics team is supporting teachers through general qualifications reform.