bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socially Embedded Anti‐Corruption Governance: Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Gong Ting , Xiao Hanyu
Published: July 2017

In this study, we seek to identify and explain what factors influence citizens' propensity to confront corruption by reporting suspected corruption cases. From a macro–micro interactive perspective, which we term ‘socially embedded anti‐corruption governance’, we make two propositions focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic factors, respectively. We believe, first, that citizens' response to suspected corrupt behaviour is a good indicator of the level of their tolerance for corruption. If corruption is unacceptable to citizens, they would be more likely to report suspected corruption cases. However, a low level of tolerance of corruption alone does not necessarily explain why people report corruption. We further argue that people's willingness to confront corruption is also affected by the extent to which they are satisfied with and have confidence in the government's anti‐corruption endeavours. Drawing on data collected from an original survey of 1025 local residents in Hong Kong, we test the two hypotheses. Our findings confirm that the propensity to report suspected corruption results from both a low level of tolerance towards corruption and the positive perception of the quality of anti‐corruption governance. The implications of our findings for other regions, especially Mainland China, are explored. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Challenges of measuring accurate estradiol levels in aromatase inhibitor‐treated postmenopausal breast cancer patients on vaginal estrogen therapy
Authors: Niravath Polly , Bhat Raksha , Al‐Ameri Mohamed , AlRawi Ahmed , Foreman Claudette , Trivedi Meghana V.
Published: July 2017

Breast cancer patients who are taking adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) therapy typically have extremely low estradiol levels, which are undetectable by routine clinical laboratories. Thus, it becomes difficult to assess the safety of interventions such as low‐dose vaginal estrogen, which may increase estradiol levels. In this study, we aimed to assess the utility of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure low estradiol concentrations in breast cancer survivors on AI therapy treated with either vaginal estrogen or lubricant for atrophic vaginitis as a part of clinical trial. The samples were tested using two independent ELISA kits. Some of the samples were also evaluated using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) for comparison. We found that while the results by ELISA were reproducible, they were not accurate when compared to LC‐MS/MS. It is possible that medications or supplements may cross‐react with the ELISA reagents and confound the assessment; however, those were often not the reason for the discrepancy. Our results highlight the need for developing novel, reliable, and clinically accessible assays to measure ultra‐low estradiol levels to improve care of breast cancer survivors. At this stage, based on our findings, we recommend using MS‐based assays for estradiol quantitation for breast cancer survivors, whenever necessary.
Precipitation Estimates from SMOS Sea‐Surface Salinity
Authors: Supply A. , Boutin J. , Vergely J.‐L. , Martin N. , Hasson A. , Reverdin G. , Mallet C. , Viltard N.
Published: July 2017

Two L‐Band (1.4 GHz) microwave radiometer missions, Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) currently provide sea‐surface salinity (SSS) measurements. At this frequency, salinity is measured in the first centimetre below the sea surface, which makes it very sensitive to the presence of fresh water lenses linked to rain events. A relationship between salinity anomaly (ΔS) and rain rate (RR) is derived in the Pacific intertropical convergence zone from SMOS SSS measurements and Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) RR. It is then used to develop an algorithm to estimate RR from SMOS SSS measurements. A heuristic function is developed to correct the SMOS‐estimated negative RR due to measurement noise. Correlation between SMOS and SSMIS RR and between SMOS and Integrated MultisatellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) RR are high when SMOS and SSMIS passes are less than 15 min apart (r = 0.7 at 1° × 1° resolution), showing a good quality of SMOS RR retrievals. When the time shift between SMOS and SSMIS passes increases, the correlation between SMOS and IMERG RR diminishes. This suggests that L‐band radiometry can provide information complementary to GPM missions to improve RR products interpolated at high temporal resolution. The retrieval is successfully tested on SMAP SSS. We also check that our algorithm provides reliable estimates of RR when averaged at a monthly time‐scale.
Optimal lateral aseismic performance analysis of mega‐substructure system with modularized secondary structures
Authors: Ye Zhihang , Wu Gang
Published: July 2017

A major type of mega‐substructure system is yet to fulfill its full potential of vibration control because of the fragility originating from excessive inter‐story drift of its secondary structures during earthquake. We propose an innovative subtype of mega‐substructure system to overcome this fragility and further improve its lateral aseismic performance. This subtype takes advantage of modular construction techniques. The secondary structures, which consist of suspended discrete modules, provide protection to nonstructural members against excessive inter‐story drift. Additionally, springs that provide inter‐story stiffness remain elastic. These effects extend the inter‐story drift limit of secondary structure and make sufficient relative motion possible. We carried out single‐objective and dual‐objective optimizations to derive optimum parameters and capture the potentials of representative models. Mean square responses under power spectral density functions of ground acceleration were set as optimization objectives. It is shown that the proposed systems further suppress the response of primary structure at the expense of additional response of secondary structure, which can be accommodated by the aforementioned protection effect. Mechanisms are revealed in the perspective of transfer function curves. Robustness and time history performances are also verified.
Entity disambiguation with decomposable neural networks
Authors: Sun Yaming , Ji Zhenzhou , Lin Lei , Tang Duyu , Wang Xiaolong
Published: July 2017

Entity disambiguation is a fundamental task in natural language processing and computational linguistics. Given a query consisting of a mention (name string) and a background document, entity disambiguation aims at linking the mention to an entity from a reference knowledge base such as Wikipedia. A main challenge of this task is how to effectively represent the meaning of the mention and the entity, based on which the semantic relatedness between the mention and the entity could be conveniently measured. Towards this goal, we introduce computational models to effectively represent the mention and the entity in some vector space. We decompose the problem into subproblems and develop various neural network architectures, all of which are purely data‐driven and capable of learning continuous representations of the mention and the entity from data. To effectively train the neural network models, we explore a simple yet effective way that enables us to collect millions of training examples from Wikipedia without using any manual annotation. Empirical results on two benchmark datasets show that our approaches based on convolutional neural network and long short‐term memory consistently outperform top‐performed systems on both datasets. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1215. doi: 10.1002/widm.1215

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining

Algorithmic Development > Web Mining
The value of postmortem computed tomography in paediatric natural cause of death: a Dutch observational study
Authors:   on behalf of the Dutch NODO Group, van Rijn Rick R. , Beek Erik J. , van de Putte Elise M. , Teeuw Arianne H. , Nikkels Peter G. J. , Duijst Wilma L. J. M. , Nievelstein Rutger-Jan A.
Published: July 2017

Background

Postmortem CT is a relatively new field of interest within paediatric radiology. This paper focusses on its value in cases of unexpected natural death.

Objective

We report on an observational Dutch study regarding the value of postmortem CT in children with an assumed natural unexpected death because postmortem CT is part of the Dutch NODO (additional investigations of cause of death) procedure.

Materials and methods

We included consecutive children who fulfilled criteria for the NODO procedure and were therefore referred to one of the centres for the procedure. Postmortem CT was performed in all cases and skeletal survey was performed in all children ages <5 years. The cause of death was defined in a consensus meeting.

Results

We included a total of 54 children (30 boys, median age 1.1 years, and 24 girls, median age 0.8 years). A definitive cause of death was established in 38 cases. In 7 cases the cause of death could be identified on postmortem CT. In 7 cases imaging findings were clinically relevant but did not lead to a cause of death. In the remaining 40 cases postmortem CT did not add to the diagnostic workup.

Conclusion

Our study shows that in a group of children who unexpectedly died of an assumed natural cause of death and in whom a cause of death was found at autopsy, postmortem CT detected the cause of death in a minority of cases (12.9%). In the majority of cases (74.1%) postmortem CT did not add value in diagnosing the cause of death.
Epidemiology of Traumatic Injuries at an Urban Hospital in Port‐au‐Prince, Haiti
Authors: Zuraik Christopher , Sampalis John
Published: July 2017

Background

Traumatic injuries represent a major burden of disease worldwide. Haiti lacks statistics on the epidemiology of traumatic injuries, as there is no formal injury surveillance program. This study will assess the burden of traumatic injuries in an urban trauma center in the capital city of Port‐au‐Prince, Haiti.

Methods

A retrospective, cross‐sectional chart review study at an urban trauma hospital was carried out for the period December 1, 2015, to January 31, 2016. Data were obtained through the hospital’s main patient logbook, medical charts, and trauma registry forms. Data on medical documentation, demographics, and injury characteristics were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 410 patients were evaluated for treatment of traumatic injuries during the 2‐month study. The mean age in years was 30, with 66.3% male and 78.4% less than 41 years of age. There were 6.6 injuries per day and no correlation between frequency of injury and day of the week. Road traffic accidents accounted for 43.0% of trauma modes. The mean and median length of stay were 6.6 and 3.0 days. 9.0% of patients suffered severe trauma (ISS ≥ 16). 21.0% of patients with traumatic brain injury suffered severe head injuries. Extremity trauma was the most frequently injured anatomical region (50.0%). 22.7% of patients were admitted, and 15.1% patients underwent at least one surgical procedure.

Conclusions

Road traffic accidents are the primary reason for injury; thus, prevention initiatives and improved trauma care may provide substantial public health benefits.
Simultaneous production of intracellular triacylglycerols and extracellular polyol esters of fatty acids by Rhodotorula babjevae and Rhodotorula aff. paludigena
Authors: Garay Luis A , Sitepu Irnayuli R , Cajka Tomas , Cathcart Erin , Fiehn Oliver , German J Bruce , Block David E , Boundy-Mills Kyria L
Published: July 2017

Microbial oils have been analyzed as alternatives to petroleum. However, just a handful of microbes have been successfully adapted to produce chemicals that can compete with their petroleum counterparts. One of the reasons behind the low success rate is the overall economic inefficiency of valorizing a single product. This study presents a lab-scale analysis of two yeast species that simultaneously produce multiple high-value bioproducts: intracellular triacylglycerols (TG) and extracellular polyol esters of fatty acids (PEFA), two lipid classes with immediate applications in the biofuels and surfactant industries. At harvest, the yeast strain Rhodotorula aff. paludigena UCDFST 81-84 secreted 20.9 ± 0.2 g L−1 PEFA and produced 8.8 ± 1.0 g L−1 TG, while the yeast strain Rhodotorula babjevae UCDFST 04-877 secreted 11.2 ± 1.6 g L−1 PEFA and 18.5 ± 1.7 g L−1 TG. The overall glucose conversion was 0.24 and 0.22 g(total lipid) g(glucose)  −1, respectively. The results present a stable and scalable microbial growth platform yielding multiple co-products.
A macroecological perspective for phenological research under climate change
Authors: Doi Hideyuki , Gordo Oscar , Mori Terutaka , Kubo Mayumi T.
Published: July 2017

Life cycles of animals and plants worldwide are shifting in response to recent climate change. Macroecology, which deals with biological patterns and processes at a large scale, is ideally suited to address this global phenomenon, thus providing a more general and generalizable understanding of the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. To date, a macroecological approach to examining phenological changes based on historical ground observations remains mostly unexplored, as the phenological studies have been conducted at local scales, while the recent new technologies, e.g., remote sensing, can extend phenological study to global scales. Because phenology is probably the most widely used bioindicator of climate change, thus allowing for studies at the macroscale. Some meta‐analyses have indeed employed broad‐scale, long‐term datasets to estimate overall shift rates in the timing of plant and animal phenological events. However, none has provided a convincing macroecological view of current phenological shifts, and few attempts have been made to make global‐scale predictions of phenological responses under future climatic scenarios. Understanding spatial variability and clines may be essential for comprehending phenological variations stemming from future climate change. Here, we discuss how ecological mechanisms discovered in macroecology may provide new insights for understanding spatial variation of sensitivity of phenology to climate change.
A Polyakov Formula for Sectors
Authors: Aldana Clara L. , Rowlett Julie
Published: July 2017

We consider finite area convex Euclidean circular sectors. We prove a variational Polyakov formula which shows how the zeta-regularized determinant of the Laplacian varies with respect to the opening angle. Varying the angle corresponds to a conformal deformation in the direction of a conformal factor with a logarithmic singularity at the origin. We compute explicitly all the contributions to this formula coming from the different parts of the sector. In the process, we obtain an explicit expression for the heat kernel on an infinite area sector using Carslaw–Sommerfeld’s heat kernel. We also compute the zeta-regularized determinant of rectangular domains of unit area and prove that it is uniquely maximized by the square.
A comparative meta-analysis of neurocognition in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Bora E.
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Cognitive impairment is a familial and heritable aspect of major psychoses and might be a shared vulnerability marker for schizophrenia and BP. However, it is not clear whether some aspects of cognitive deficits are uniquely associated with risk for specific diagnoses.

Methods:

A novel meta-analysis of cognitive functions in first-degree relatives of probands with bipolar disorder (BP-Rel) and schizophrenia (Sch-Rel) was conducted. Current meta-analysis included 20 studies and compared cognitive functions of 1341 Sch-Rel, 939 BP-Rel and 1427 healthy controls.

Results:

Sch-Rel was associated with cognitive deficits in all domains (d = 0.20–0.58) and BP-Rel underperformed healthy controls in processing speed, verbal fluency and speed based executive function tests (d = 0.33–0.41). Sch-Rel underperformed BP-Rel in general intellectual ability, working memory, verbal memory, planning, processing speed and fluency (d = 0.24–0.42).

Conclusions:

Inefficiency in processing information and impaired processing speed might be common vulnerability factors for major psychoses. On the other hand, low performance in accuracy based tasks and deficits in general intellectual ability, verbal learning, planning and working memory might be more specifically associated with risk for schizophrenia.
The association of genetic polymorphisms of hypoxia inducible factor‐1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor with increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case–control study
Authors: Yu Zhen‐Gang , Wang Bing‐Zhe , Cheng Zhao‐Zhong
Published: July 2017

Accumulated data over the years have suggested that hypoxia inducible factor‐1 alpha (HIF‐1α) and its downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene may be linked with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aims to investigate the association of HIF‐1α and VEGF genetic polymorphisms and their correlated risks with COPD. COPD patients (case group) and healthy individuals (control group) were recruited. DNA was extracted to detect HIF‐1α and VEGF genetic polymorphisms. Basal lung volume and forced expiratory capacity in 1st second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/predicted value (pred)% were calculated. Genotype and allele distributions in HIF‐1α and VEGF genes were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier curves and logistic regression model were used for analysis of survival and COPD risk factors. Haplotypes for HIF‐1α rs11549465 and rs11549467 were analyzed. FEV1/FVC and FEV1/pred% in the case group were lower than the control group. Frequencies of HIF‐1α rs11549465 CT + TT genotype and T allele, and rs11549467 GA + AA genotype and A allele were higher in the case group than the control group. Patients with rs11549465 CT + TT had higher COPD risk than those with the CC genotype. Patients with rs11549467 GA + AA showed higher COPD risk and lower FEV1/FVC and FEV1/pred% than those with the GG genotype. Patients with HIF‐1α TA haplotype showed higher COPD risk than those with the CG haplotype. Survival rate of patients with HIF‐1α rs11549467 GG genotype was higher than those with the GA + AA genotype. HIF‐1α rs11549467 polymorphism may be associated with COPD risk.
The K-type and H-type transitions of natural convection boundary layers
Authors: Zhao Yongling , Lei Chengwang , Patterson John C.
Published: July 2017

The K-type and H-type transitions of a natural convection boundary layer of a fluid of Prandtl number 7 adjacent to an isothermally heated vertical surface are investigated by means of three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS). These two types of transitions refer to different flow features at the transitional stage from laminar to turbulence caused by two different types of perturbations. To excite the K-type transition, superimposed Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) and oblique waves of the same frequency are introduced into the boundary layer. It is found that a three-layer longitudinal vortex structure is present in the boundary layer undergoing the K-type transition. The typical aligned $\wedge$-shaped vortices characterizing the K-type transition are observed for the first time in pure natural convection boundary layers. For exciting the H-type transition, superimposed TS and oblique waves of different frequencies, with the frequency of the oblique waves being half of the frequency of the TS waves, are introduced into the boundary layer. Unlike the three-layer longitudinal vortex structure observed in the K-type transition, a double-layer longitudinal vortex structure is observed in the boundary layer undergoing the H-type transition. The successively staggered $\wedge$-shaped vortices characterizing the H-type transition are also observed in the downstream boundary layer. The staggered pattern of $\wedge$-shaped vortices is considered to be caused by temporal modulation of the TS and oblique waves. Interestingly the flow structures of both the K-type and H-type transitions observed in the natural convection boundary layer are qualitatively similar to those observed in Blasius boundary layers. However, an analysis of turbulence energy production suggests that the turbulence energy production by buoyancy rather than Reynolds stresses dominates the K-type and H-type transitions. In contrast, the turbulence energy production by Reynolds stresses is the only factor contributing to the transition in Blasius boundary layers.
A multifractal model for the momentum transfer process in wall-bounded flows
Authors: Yang X. I. A. , Lozano-Durán A.
Published: July 2017

The cascading process of turbulent kinetic energy from large-scale fluid motions to small-scale and lesser-scale fluid motions in isotropic turbulence may be modelled as a hierarchical random multiplicative process according to the multifractal formalism. In this work, we show that the same formalism might also be used to model the cascading process of momentum in wall-bounded turbulent flows. However, instead of being a multiplicative process, the momentum cascade process is additive. The proposed multifractal model is used for describing the flow kinematics of the low-pass filtered streamwise wall-shear stress fluctuation $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{l}^{\prime }$, where $l$ is the filtering length scale. According to the multifractal formalism, $\langle {\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}^{\prime }}^{2}\rangle \sim \log (Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}})$ and $\langle \exp (p\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{l}^{\prime })\rangle \sim (L/l)^{\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}_{p}}$ in the log-region, where $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$ is the friction Reynolds number, $p$ is a real number, $L$ is an outer length scale and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}_{p}$ is the anomalous exponent of the momentum cascade. These scalings are supported by the data from a direct numerical simulation of channel flow at $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}=4200$.
Management and Organization Review Special Issue ‘Business Model Innovation in Transforming Economies’
Authors: Volberda Henk , Mihalache Oli , Fey Carl , Lewin Arie Y.
Published: July 2017

Transforming economies such as the BRIC countries – Ex-Soviet Republics, or Eastern European countries – share national aspirations of becoming innovation economies. These aspirations have stimulated a push for entrepreneurship and experimentation with new ways of doing things. This has created a fascinating context for research on business model innovation, relating to the way incumbent firms adapt their business models or come up with entirely new models. Similarly, new business models may be originated by start-up companies that often are challenging and leapfrogging the ‘tired’ old business models or simply invent new ones. However, research that specifically explores indigenous business model innovation in the context of these transforming economies is still in its early stages. The MOR special issue on ‘Business Model Innovation in Transforming Economies’ aims to address this gap by soliciting research uncovering successful new business models that is indigenous to these economies, as they transition to becoming innovation economies themselves and contribute to strategy and management theory development.
From Post-Global to Post-Truth: African Literature beyond Commonsense
Authors: Adesanmi Pius
Published: July 2017

This article discusses Tejumola Olaniyan’s submissions in his essay “African Literature in the Post-Global Age: Provocations on Field Commonsense” by problematizing some of his submissions on the temporalities, especially the global and the post-global, that have inflected the field of African literary discourse since the second half of the twentieth century. In doing this, the essay queries the idea that the category of the nation-state has been exhausted or overwhelmed by the global and the post-global. The essay suggests instead that the nation-state has been retooled and rearmed by a nascent temporality, the post-truth, in ways that have significant consequences for African literatures.
D’ un usage particuliar du genre en canadien-français: la féminisation des noms à initiale vocalique
Authors: Barbaud Ph. , Ducharme Ch. , Valois D.
Published: July 2017

Le présent article poursuit deux objectifs principaux. Le premier consiste à établir la base empirique d’un usage particulier du genre en français parlé du Canada (FC) à savoir la féminisation des noms qui commencent par une voyelle. Le second fait état des résultats d’une recherche sociolinguistique menée sur corpus et portant sur la relation qui existe entre cet usage linguistique et la stratification sociale des locuteurs canadiens-français.

0.1. Illustration du phénomène. Une observation empirique même sommaire de la façon dont les Canadiens français font usage du genre grammatical à l’oral amène à constater une tendance à la féminisation qui affecte généralement les noms à initiale vocalique (en abrégé les NIV). La même tendance ne semble pas se retrouver parmi les substantifs qui commencent par une consonne. C’est du moins la conclusion que l’on peut dégager de la recherche accomplie il y a quelques années par Tucker, Lambert & Rigault (1977). II s’ensuit que le genre s’y distribue de façon aléatoire (mais voir plus loin, section 2.6).
Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: prognostic factors
Authors: Coombs A C , Butler A , Allison R
Published: July 2017

Background:

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the most common parotid malignancy in Australasia. Prognostic indicators are not clearly defined and the extent of surgical resection required is controversial.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 63 patients who underwent surgery for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland at a tertiary hospital over a 10-year period.

Results:

The five-year overall survival rate was 53 per cent, the disease-specific survival rate was 78 per cent and the locoregional control rate was 72 per cent. Immunosuppression and no adjuvant radiotherapy were associated with a significant reduction in disease-specific survival. None of the factors analysed had a significant effect on locoregional control rates.

Conclusion:

More extensive surgery, including lateral temporal bone resection, may improve local control rates in cases of more advanced disease. The reduced survival of immunocompromised patients must be considered when planning their management.
Second-order differential equations with random perturbations and small parameters
Authors: Kamenskii M. , Pergamenchtchikov S. , Quincampoix M.
Published: July 2017

We consider boundary-value problems for differential equations of second order containing a Brownian motion (random perturbation) and a small parameter and prove a special existence and uniqueness theorem for random solutions. We study the asymptotic behaviour of these solutions as the small parameter goes to zero and show the stochastic averaging theorem for such equations. We find the explicit limits for the solutions as the small parameter goes to zero.
Philosophy vs. Mysticism: an Islamic Controversy
Authors: Leaman Oliver
Published: July 2017

Islamic philosophy makes a sharp distinction between different categories of believers. Some, and indeed most, believers follow Islam in an unquestioning and natural manner. They adhere to the legal requirements of the religion, carry out the basic rules concerning worship, pilgrimage, charity and so on, and generally behave as orthodox and devout Muslims. Some are more devout than others, and some occasionally behave in ways reprehensible to the teachings of Islam, but on the whole for the ordinary believer Islam presents no serious theoretical problems. There may well be practical problems in reconciling what they wish to do with what Islam instructs them to do, but this for most people is not something which leads them to question their faith as such. It merely leads them to wonder how to reconcile in a practical way the rival demands of religion and their personal wishes.
Facing Truths: Ethics and the Spiritual Life
Authors: McGhee Michael
Published: July 2017

In this paper I continue an enterprise begun in earlier work (McGhee, 1988, 1989) in which I attempt to naturalize into a western philosophical context concepts that derive from the practice of Buddhist meditation. In particular I shall try to make use of the notion of samādhi (sometimes translated as ‘concentration’) and vipassanā or insight. I should stress that I make no attempt at a scholarly explication of these terms but try rather to establish a use for them through reflection on experience, and by making a connection with concerns from aesthetics about expression and intentionality: I do so as a moral philosopher seeking to retrieve the Greek virtues of continence and temperance, which I have tried to relate to stages in the emergence of what I call an ‘ethical sensibility’, so that temperance, for instance, is the natural state of one in whom such a sensibility is flourishing. But I see the development of that sensibility as the concentration or gathering of a person's energies into its structure, into the sustaining of the thought or perception upon which action or non-action depends, as well as into the sustaining of action itself. In talking of ‘energy’ here I am trying to develop an idea of Simone Weil's in which she refers to ‘the energy available for action’.
Ultra-low-loss high-pass filter with air-core short-circuit coaxial cable
Authors: Liu Hongfei , Weinreb Sander
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a novel ultra-low-loss high-pass filter with 3 dB cutoff frequency of 890 MHz for astronomical receiver radio frequency interference mitigation application. The filter consists of three series capacitors, four shunt inductors, and microstrip circuit board. Specially, 4 shunt inductors are actualized by fabricating air-core short-circuit coaxial cable inductors in the filter box body, and the quality factor of these cable inductors is up to 762.2 and 1046, respectively, at 1.4 GHz. In the expected passband of 1.1–1.9 GHz, S parameters measurement show that insertion loss is lower than 0.16 dB and two-port return loss is larger than 20 dB; noise measurement show that filter noise temperature is lower than 8 at 300 K ambient temperature. Noise sources of this filter are analyzed by simulation and measurement.
Patientensicherheit in der Versorgung psychisch erkrankter Menschen in der Schweiz
Authors: Richard Aline , Mascherek Anna C. , Schwappach David L. B.
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: In der Versorgung psychisch Erkrankter findet bislang kaum eine systematische Auseinandersetzung mit Patientensicherheit statt. Dies, obwohl psychische Erkrankungen weltweit mit einer hohen Prävalenz und Krankheitslast verbunden sind, und das Risiko für Fehler und Schädigungen – z. B. Selbst- und Fremdgefährdung oder Fehler in der nichtmedikamentösen Therapie – der Patientinnen / Patienten bei dieser vulnerablen Gruppe gross ist. Fragestellung / Ziel: Ziel des Projekts war, prioritäre Handlungsfelder und -strategien zur Förderung der Patientensicherheit in der Versorgung psychisch Erkrankter zu entwickeln. Methode: Die Stiftung Patientensicherheit Schweiz hat gemeinsam mit Expertinnen / Experten Round-Table-Diskussionen und eine Delphi-Befragung durchgeführt, um Handlungsfelder entlang des Behandlungspfades zu definieren, zu priorisieren und daraus Aktionsfelder abzuleiten. Ergebnisse: Ein Aktionsplan wurde entwickelt, indem neun Handlungsfelder definiert und nach Wichtigkeit priorisiert wurden. Strukturelle Fehler und Fehler im Bereich der Diagnostik wurden mit der höchsten Priorität bewertet. Daraus folgend wurden vier Aktionsfelder (Sensibilisierung, Forschung, Umsetzung und Aus- und Weiterbildung) erarbeitet. Diese beinhalten praxisrelevante Ansatzpunkte zur Verbesserung der Patientensicherheit. Schlussfolgerung: Der Aktionsplan zeigt auf, welche Themen für die Patientensicherheit im Bereich der Versorgung von Patientinnen / Patienten mit psychischer Erkrankung wichtig sind und bietet Ansatzpunkte für die Entwicklung sowohl von Handlungsstrategien als auch konkreter Aktivitäten.
Even odder after twenty-three years: the superconducting order parameter puzzle of Sr2RuO4
Authors: Mackenzie Andrew P. , Scaffidi Thomas , Hicks Clifford W. , Maeno Yoshiteru
Published: July 2017

In this short review, we aim to provide a topical update on the status of efforts to understand the superconductivity of Sr2RuO4. We concentrate on efforts to identify a superconducting order parameter symmetry that is compatible with all the major pieces of experimental knowledge of the material, and highlight some major discrepancies that have become even clearer in recent years. As the pun in the title suggests, we have tried to start the discussion from scratch, making no assumptions even about fundamental issues such as the parity of the superconducting state. We conclude that no consensus is currently achievable in Sr2RuO4, and that the reasons for this go to the heart of how well some of the key probes of unconventional superconductivity are really understood. This is, therefore, a puzzle that merits continued in-depth study.
Genome-wide differential mRNA expression profiles in follicles of two breeds and at two stages of estrus cycle of gilts
Authors: Chu Qingpo , Zhou Bo , Xu Feilong , Chen Ruonan , Shen Chunyan , Liang Tingting , Li Yuan , Schinckel Allan P.
Published: July 2017

Estrus expression by gilts and sows is hereditable and important for heat detection. To better understand the molecular biological mechanisms of estrus expression in gilts, the mRNA expression profiles of follicular tissue from Large White gilts in diestrus (LD, n = 3) and estrus (LE, n = 3), and Chinese indigenous Mi gilts in diestrus (MD, n = 2) and estrus (ME, n = 3) were investigated using RNA sequencing. We detected 122,804-335,295 SNPs, 6,140-14,947 InDel and 12 types of AS events (39.57% TSS, 34.90% TTS) in 11 samples. A total of 2,838 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in LD vs MD, LE vs ME, LE vs LD, or ME vs MD comparisons. Two DEGs (ACP5 and PIGS) were observed in all comparisons. Two new genes (ENSSSCG00000028235 and ENSSSCG00000021903) were exclusively expressed in Mi and Large White gilts, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses indicate that these DEGs are involved in single-organism process, catalytic activity, cell adhesion and enriched in ECM-receptor interaction, olfactory transduction, ovarian steroidogenesis, steroid biosynthesis and CAMs signaling pathways. These results of RNA-Seq have provided important information for screening the key functional genes or molecular markers of estrus expression in gilts.
Chondroprotection by urocortin involves blockade of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1
Authors: Lawrence K. M. , Jones R. C. , Jackson T. R. , Baylie R. L. , Abbott B. , Bruhn-Olszewska B. , Board T. N. , Locke I. C. , Richardson S. M. , Townsend P. A.
Published: July 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterised by progressive destruction of articular cartilage and chondrocyte cell death. Here, we show the expression of the endogenous peptide urocortin1 (Ucn1) and two receptor subtypes, CRF-R1 and CRF-R2, in primary human articular chondrocytes (AC) and demonstrate its role as an autocrine/paracrine pro-survival factor. This effect could only be removed using the CRF-R1 selective antagonist CP-154526, suggesting Ucn1 acts through CRF-R1 when promoting chondrocyte survival. This cell death was characterised by an increase in p53 expression, and cleavage of caspase 9 and 3. Antagonism of CRF-R1 with CP-154526 caused an accumulation of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) over time and cell death. These effects could be prevented with the non-selective cation channel blocker Gadolinium (Gd3+). Therefore, opening of a non-selective cation channel causes cell death and Ucn1 maintains this channel in a closed conformation. This channel was identified to be the mechanosensitive channel Piezo1. We go on to determine that this channel inhibition by Ucn1 is mediated initially by an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and a subsequent inactivation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), whose metabolites are known to modulate ion channels. Knowledge of these novel pathways may present opportunities for interventions that could abrogate the progression of OA.
Industrial water resources management based on violation risk analysis of the total allowable target on wastewater discharge
Authors: Yue Wencong , Cai Yanpeng , Xu Linyu , Yang Zhifeng , Yin Xin’An , Su Meirong
Published: July 2017

To improve the capabilities of conventional methodologies in facilitating industrial water allocation under uncertain conditions, an integrated approach was developed through the combination of operational research, uncertainty analysis, and violation risk analysis methods. The developed approach can (a) address complexities of industrial water resources management (IWRM) systems, (b) facilitate reflections of multiple uncertainties and risks of the system and incorporate them into a general optimization framework, and (c) manage robust actions for industrial productions in consideration of water supply capacity and wastewater discharging control. The developed method was then demonstrated in a water-stressed city (i.e., the City of Dalian), northeastern China. Three scenarios were proposed according to the city’s industrial plans. The results indicated that in the planning year of 2020 (a) the production of civilian-used steel ships and machine-made paper & paperboard would reduce significantly, (b) violation risk of chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharge under scenario 1 would be the most prominent, compared with those under scenarios 2 and 3, (c) the maximal total economic benefit under scenario 2 would be higher than the benefit under scenario 3, and (d) the production of rolling contact bearing, rail vehicles, and commercial vehicles would be promoted.
The effect of calorie restriction on mouse skeletal muscle is sex, strain and time-dependent
Authors: Boldrin Luisa , Ross Jacob A. , Whitmore Charlotte , Doreste Bruno , Beaver Charlotte , Eddaoudi Ayad , Pearce Daniel J. , Morgan Jennifer E.
Published: July 2017

Loss of skeletal muscle mass and function occurs with increasing age. Calorie restriction (CR) increases the lifespan of C57Bl/6 mice, but not in the shorter-lived DBA/2 strain. There is some evidence that calorie restriction reduces or delays many of the age-related defects that occur in rodent skeletal muscle. We therefore investigated the effect of short (2.5 month) and longer term (8.5 and 18.5 months) CR on skeletal muscle in male and female C57Bl/6 and DBA/2 mice. We found that short-term CR increased the satellite cell number and collagen VI content of muscle, but resulted in a delayed regenerative response to injury.Consistent with this, the in vitro proliferation of satellite cells derived from these muscles was reduced by CR. The percentage of stromal cells, macrophages, hematopoietic stem cells and fibroadipogenic cells in the mononucleated cell population derived from skeletal muscle was reduced by CR at various stages. But overall, these changes are neither consistent over time, nor between strain and sex. The fact that changes induced by CR do not persist with time and the dissimilarities between the two mouse strains, combined with sex differences, urge caution in applying CR to improve skeletal muscle function across the lifespan in humans.
Naringenin Impairs Two-Pore Channel 2 Activity And Inhibits VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis
Authors: Pafumi Irene , Festa Margherita , Papacci Francesca , Lagostena Laura , Giunta Cristina , Gutla Vijay , Cornara Laura , Favia Annarita , Palombi Fioretta , Gambale Franco , Filippini Antonio , Carpaneto Armando
Published: July 2017

Our research introduces the natural flavonoid naringenin as a novel inhibitor of an emerging class of intracellular channels, Two-Pore Channel 2 (TPC2), as shown by electrophysiological evidence in a heterologous system, i.e. Arabidopsis vacuoles lacking endogenous TPCs. In view of the control exerted by TPC2 on intracellular calcium signaling, we demonstrated that naringenin dampens intracellular calcium responses of human endothelial cells stimulated with VEGF, histamine or NAADP-AM, but not with ATP or Angiopoietin-1 (negative controls). The ability of naringenin to impair TPC2-dependent biological activities was further explored in an established in vivo model, in which VEGF-containing matrigel plugs implanted in mice failed to be vascularized in the presence of naringenin. Overall, the present data suggest that naringenin inhibition of TPC2 activity and the observed inhibition of angiogenic response to VEGF are linked by impaired intracellular calcium signaling. TPC2 inhibition is emerging as a key therapeutic step in a range of important pathological conditions including the progression and metastatic potential of melanoma, Parkinson’s disease, and Ebola virus infection. The identification of naringenin as an inhibitor of TPC2-mediated signaling provides a novel and potentially relevant tool for the advancement of this field of research.
Precise spatio-temporal control of rapid optogenetic cell ablation with mem-KillerRed in Zebrafish
Authors: Buckley C. , Carvalho M. T. , Young L. K. , Rider S. A. , McFadden C. , Berlage C. , Verdon R. F. , Taylor J. M. , Girkin J. M. , Mullins J. J.
Published: July 2017

The ability to kill individual or groups of cells in vivo is important for studying cellular processes and their physiological function. Cell-specific genetically encoded photosensitizing proteins, such as KillerRed, permit spatiotemporal optogenetic ablation with low-power laser light. We report dramatically improved resolution and speed of cell targeting in the zebrafish kidney through the use of a selective plane illumination microscope (SPIM). Furthermore, through the novel incorporation of a Bessel beam into the SPIM imaging arm, we were able to improve on targeting speed and precision. The low diffraction of the Bessel beam coupled with the ability to tightly focus it through a high NA lens allowed precise, rapid targeting of subsets of cells at anatomical depth in live, developing zebrafish kidneys. We demonstrate that these specific targeting strategies significantly increase the speed of optoablation as well as fish survival.
Electrical properties of graphene-metal contacts
Authors: Cusati Teresa , Fiori Gianluca , Gahoi Amit , Passi Vikram , Lemme Max C. , Fortunelli Alessandro , Iannaccone Giuseppe
Published: July 2017

The performance of devices and systems based on two-dimensional material systems depends critically on the quality of the contacts between 2D material and metal. A low contact resistance is an imperative requirement to consider graphene as a candidate material for electronic and optoelectronic devices. Unfortunately, measurements of contact resistance in the literature do not provide a consistent picture, due to limitations of current graphene technology, and to incomplete understanding of influencing factors. Here we show that the contact resistance is intrinsically dependent on graphene sheet resistance and on the chemistry of the graphene-metal interface. We present a physical model of the contacts based on ab-initio simulations and extensive experiments carried out on a large variety of samples with different graphene-metal contacts. Our model explains the spread in experimental results as due to uncontrolled graphene doping and suggests ways to engineer contact resistance. We also predict an achievable contact resistance of 30 Ω·μm for nickel electrodes, extremely promising for applications.
Transglycosylation by a chitinase from Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae generates longer chitin oligosaccharides
Authors: Mallakuntla Mohan Krishna , Vaikuntapu Papa Rao , Bhuvanachandra Bhoopal , Das Subha Narayan , Podile Appa Rao
Published: July 2017

Humans have exploited natural resources for a variety of applications. Chitin and its derivative chitin oligosaccharides (CHOS) have potential biomedical and agricultural applications. Availability of CHOS with the desired length has been a major limitation in the optimum use of such natural resources. Here, we report a single domain hyper-transglycosylating chitinase, which generates longer CHOS, from Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae 13047 (EcChi1). EcChi1 was optimally active at pH 5.0 and 40 °C with a Km of 15.2 mg ml−1, and kcat/Km of 0.011× 102 mg−1 ml min−1 on colloidal chitin. The profile of the hydrolytic products, major product being chitobiose, released from CHOS indicated that EcChi1 was an endo-acting enzyme. Transglycosylation (TG) by EcChi1 on trimeric to hexameric CHOS resulted in the formation of longer CHOS for a prolonged duration. EcChi1 showed both chitobiase and TG activities, in addition to hydrolytic activity. The TG by EcChi1 was dependent, to some extent, on the length of the CHOS substrate and concentration of the enzyme. Homology modeling and docking with CHOS suggested that EcChi1 has a deep substrate-binding groove lined with aromatic amino acids, which is a characteristic feature of a processive enzyme.
Flavonoid Enhances the Glyoxalase Pathway in Cerebellar Neurons to Retain Cellular Functions
Authors: Frandsen Joel , Narayanasamy Prabagaran
Published: July 2017

Oxidative stress is damaging to cells and contributes to aging and neurodegenerative disease. This state is mediated by production of imbalanced molecules, and reactive dicarbonyl compounds - mainly methylglyoxal. The glyoxalase pathway is an antioxidant defense system utilized to detoxify methylglyoxal and neutralize free radicals. Pathway dysfunction leads to overproduction and accumulation of toxic, prooxidant compounds. We hypothesize flavonoid treatment as a means to enhance the glyoxalase pathway’s ability to detoxify in neurons. This study found that flavonoid treatment in methylglyoxal treated cerebellar neurons increased the functioning of glyoxalase pathway by enhancing expression of glyoxalase-1 and glyoxalase-2 proteins, decreased cell death and increased cellular viability. Flavonoids also significantly contributed in the retention of synaptic functions (VGLUT1 and GAD65) in cerebellar neurons. In addition, flavonoids were found to be involved in pAkt - NF-κB signaling pathway through a reduction in phosphorylation of Akt. The data here show flavonoid compounds have the potential to protect the brain from aging and neurodegenerative disease.
GTSE1 promotes cell migration and invasion by regulating EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis
Authors: Wu Xiaojuan , Wang Hongbo , Lian Yifan , Chen Lubiao , Gu Lin , Wang Jialiang , Huang Yanlin , Deng Meihai , Gao Zhiliang , Huang Yuehua
Published: July 2017

G2 and S phase-expressed-1 (GTSE1) regulates G1/S cell cycle transition. It was recently reported to be overexpressed in certain human cancers, but its significance and mechanism(s) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Here, we showed preferential GTSE1 upregulation in human HCC tissues and cell lines that positively correlated with Ki67. GTSE1 knockdown by short hairpin RNA resulted in deficient colony-forming ability and depleted capabilities of HCC cells to migrate and invade. Conversely, exogenous GTSE1 overexpression enhanced colony formation and stimulated HCC cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, GTSE1 silencing was associated with the downregulation of N-cadherin, β-catenin, and Snail, whereas GTSE1 overexpression caused the opposite effects. GTSE1 upregulated Snail via both transcription and protein degradation pathways. Additionally, GTSE1 modulated the sensitivity of HCC to 5-fluorouracil therapy. High GTSE1 correlates with chemo-resistance, while low GTSE1 increases drug sensitivity. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that high GTSE1 levels were significantly associated with poor overall survival. In conclusion, high expression of GTSE1 is commonly noted in HCC and is closely correlated with migration and invasion by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulation. Activated GTSE1 significantly interferes with chemotherapy efficacy and influences the probability of survival of patients with HCC. GTSE1 may thus represent a promising molecular target.