bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low utility of Oncotype DX® in the clinic
Authors: Ricks‐Santi Luisel J. , McDonald John Tyson
Published: February 2017

Precision medicine tools are currently making their way into the clinic and being utilized to diagnose, prognose, and individualize cancer care. The multi‐gene expression‐based assay, Oncotype DX® (ODX), is a genomic tumor profiling tool that determines the expression of 21 tumor‐ associated genes; it helps determine the risk for distant recurrence and whether chemotherapy is an appropriate course of treatment in patients with early stage, estrogen receptor (ER) positive, HER2 negative, and lymph node negative (or 1–3 positive lymph nodes) invasive BCa. The aim of this study was to determine the overall utilization and uptake of the ODX genomic test in a cross‐sectional analysis of the Virginia Tumor registry, compare utilization in African Americans (AAs) and Caucasian Americans (CAs), and determine the profile of patients referred for testing. Caucasian (89.7%) patients made up the majority of the ODX testers compared to AAs (10.3%) (P < 0.0001). Those who received ODX testing were less likely to have higher grade and higher stage tumors, and were less likely to be ER negative (RR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.01–0.31), progesterone receptor (PR) negative (RR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.27–0.45), HER2 amplified (RR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.17–0.43), or triple negative (RR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.14–0.33). Of the patients that were eligible (n = 3924), 10.5% (n = 412) received ODX testing. Specifically, 11.7% of the Caucasian patients and 5.1% of AAs patients received ODX testing (P < 0.001). Our analysis confirmed that the utilization of ODX was low and that AAs were much less likely to receive ODX testing.
Chronic lead malposition diagnosis and management: discussion of two cases and literature review
Authors: Almomani Ahmed , Abualsuod Amjad , Paydak Hakan , Peer Wilburt , Maskoun Waddah
Published: February 2017

Key Clinical Message

Management of lead malposition is crucial to avoid complications and is carried out on case‐by‐case bases. The 12‐lead ECG during pacing and chest X‐ray are essential during initial workup and recommended for new patients to the device clinic. Echocardiography and CT scan are important to confirm the location and plan appropriate therapy.
Thrombosis in a bleeding disorder: case of thromboembolism in factor VII deficiency
Authors: Ramdass Sheryl K. , Loh Kah Poh , Howard Leslie M.
Published: February 2017

Key Clinical Message

Congenital factor VII deficiency (FVIID) is a rare disorder with a wide range of bleeding manifestations. The disorder does not protect patients against occurrence of thrombosis, and deep vein thrombosis can occur in the setting of surgery and recombinant factor VIIa replacement.
Catalytic Oxidation of Soot Spray‐Coated Lithium Zirconate in a Plate Reactor
Authors: Emmerich Thomas , Lotz Katrin , Sliozberg Kirill , Schuhmann Wolfgang , Muhler Martin
Published: February 2017

A plate reactor was designed to investigate the catalytic soot oxidation applying glass ceramic plates coated with lithium zirconate. The results are compared to the corresponding powder catalysts in thermogravimetric experiments. The deposition of soot by spray coating resulted in an intimate contact mode equivalent to the mortaring preparation of the tight contact powder samples. In the presence of lithium ions the soot oxidation temperature was decreased significantly both in the thermobalance and in the plate reactor.
Intrinsic gasification rate of oil sands fluid coke with carbon dioxide and steam
Authors: Vejahati Frank , Gupta Rajender
Published: February 2017

Petroleum coke is a byproduct of oil sands upgrading which can be utilized as a low‐cost feedstock for further value‐added operations such as gasification. The design and scale up of gasifiers for oil sands coke demands reliable data on the intrinsic reaction rates, which are currently missing from the literature. The intrinsic gasification rates for char‐CO2, and char‐H2O reactions were determined for Canadian oil sands fluid coke. Four different specific surface area measurement techniques were used to normalize the specific reaction rate calculated from the weight loss profiles of TGA: N2‐BET surface area, two micro‐porosity measurement techniques based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Dubinin‐Radushkevich (DR) models, and finally active surface area (ASA) measured by CO2 chemisorption at different levels of conversion (char conversion). The specific reaction rates, calculated at different levels of conversion were divided by different surface areas, in order to find the specific surface area that results in the best reduction in the variability of reaction rate, r(X), by using surface area as a regressor variable. Overall, ASA was found to be the best regressor for deriving the intrinsic rates. Surface areas based on the N2‐BET technique were also proven to be a better choice for normalizing the specific rates compared to the ones based on DFT and DR models.
Detection and Manipulation of the Stress Response Protein Metallothionein
Authors: Bhandari Sadikshya , Melchiorre Clare , Dostie Kristen , Laukens Debby , Devisscher Lindsey , Louwrier Ariel , Thees Amy , Lynes Michael A.
Published: February 2017

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small molecular weight stress response proteins that play a central role as reservoir of essential divalent heavy metal cations such as zinc and copper, and also can diminish the effects of toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium. Historically, MT has been considered to be an intracellular protein with roles to play in the management of heavy metals, as a regulator of cellular redox potential, and as a buffer of free radicals. Our recent studies have highlighted immunomodulatory role of MT in inflammatory diseases and also in the progression of metastatic cell movement. Hence, manipulation and detection of MT is essential for its possible use as a diagnostic and in therapeutic interventions of chronic inflammation. This review describes procedures used to detect MT using techniques such as western immunoblot, competition ELISA, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, it also describes the use of a colorimetric cell proliferation assay (CellTiter 96 AQueous One Solution/MTS) to study the proliferative effect of MT. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A simple unit cell structure for an efficient sketch of series‐connected multilevel inverters
Authors: Choupan Reza , Nazarpour Daryoush , Golshannavaz Sajjad
Published: February 2017

This paper develops a simple design of unit cells to be taken in use in series‐connected multilevel inverters. The proposed structure not only reduces the part counts efficiently but also increases the number of generated levels in the output voltage. By aggregating the cascaded series‐connected units as the basic module, the proposed structure follows one H‐bridge circuit. The basic module acts as the initial stage in direct current/alternative current conversion within which all the positive and zero levels are produced. Afterwards, the H‐bridge circuit affords the production of symmetric sine‐wave by realizing negative levels. To assure the expected operational objectives, we developed three different algorithms to determine the magnitude of input direct current voltage sources. Moreover, to further investigate the proposed structure, different switching algorithms such the fundamental switching frequency and pulse width modulation level shifting approaches are implemented and compared with each other. Extensive numerical and experimental studies are conducted to yield in a suitable evaluation platform. The obtained results demonstrate a superior performance of the proposed structure rather than the conventional topologies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating partial regulation in spatiotemporal models of community dynamics
Authors: Thorson James T. , Munch Stephan B. , Swain Douglas P.
Published: February 2017

Niche‐based approaches to community analysis often involve estimating a matrix of pairwise interactions among species (the “community matrix”), but this task becomes infeasible using observational data as the number of modeled species increases. As an alternative, neutral theories achieve parsimony by assuming that species within a trophic level are exchangeable, but generally cannot incorporate stabilizing interactions even when they are evident in field data. Finally, both regulated (niche) and unregulated (neutral) approaches have rarely been fitted directly to survey data using spatiotemporal statistical methods. We therefore propose a spatiotemporal and model‐based approach to estimate community dynamics that are partially regulated. Specifically, we start with a neutral spatiotemporal model where all species follow ecological drift, which precludes estimating pairwise interactions. We then add regulatory relations until model selection favors stopping, where the “rank” of the interaction matrix may range from zero to the number of species. A simulation experiment shows that model selection can accurately identify the rank of the interaction matrix, and that the identified spatiotemporal model can estimate the magnitude of species interactions. A 40‐yr case study for the Gulf of St. Lawrence marine community shows that recovering grey seals have an unregulated and negative relationship with demersal fishes. We therefore conclude that partial regulation is a plausible approximation to community dynamics using field data and hypothesize that estimating partial regulation will be expedient in future analyses of spatiotemporal community dynamics given limited field data. We conclude by recommending ongoing research to add explicit models for movement, so that meta‐community theory can be confronted with data in a spatiotemporal statistical framework.
Unimpaired endogenous pain inhibition in the early phase of complex regional pain syndrome
Authors: Kumowski N. , Hegelmaier T. , Kolbenschlag J. , Maier C. , Mainka T. , Vollert J. , Enax‐Krumova E.
Published: February 2017

Background

The complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by distal generalisation of pain beyond the initial trauma. This might be the result of impaired endogenous pain inhibition.

Method

We compared Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) between patients with CRPS (n = 24; pain: 4.5 ± 2.2, NRS 0–10; disease duration <1 year), neuralgia (n = 17; pain: 5.5 ± 1.1) and healthy subjects (n = 23) and its correlation with loss and gain of function as assessed by Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). CPM was assessed with heat as test stimulus (TS) and cold water as conditioning stimulus (CS). The early CPM‐effect was calculated as difference between heat pain during and before conditioning, the late CPM‐effect, 5 minutes after and before conditioning, respectively.

Results

Heat pain decreased comparably after CS in all groups, resulting in a significant CPM‐effect (healthy: −12.5 ± 12.4, NRS 0–100; CRPS: −14.7 ± 15.7; neuralgia: −7.9 ± 9.8; p < 0.001). When compared to healthy subjects, heat pain declined significantly steeper in CRPS patients (healthy: −2.0 ± 5.5, NRS 0–100/10 s; CRPS: −6.3 ± 8.1; p < 0.05). Only CRPS patients demonstrated a late CPM effect (−6.0 ± 9.0, p < 0.005).

Neither spontaneous pain nor any QST parameter correlated with CPM, with the exception of a decreased cold pain threshold, which correlated with an enhanced CPM in CRPS patients only (r = −0.456, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

An impairment of endogenous pain inhibition does not explain the extent of pain in the early stage of CRPS or in neuralgia. The unexpectedly high CPM in CRPS patients might result from activation of the intact descending pathways in response to central sensitization, as cold hyperalgesia correlated with the CPM‐effect.

Significance

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is not impaired in the early phase of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and neuralgia. Only in CRPS higher CPM was associated with lower cold pain thresholds.
Modification of Surface Oxide Layer of Fe‐Cr‐Al Alloy with Coating Materials for SOFC Applications
Authors: Pham H.‐C. , Taniguchi S. , Inoue Y. , Matsuda J. , Chou J.‐T. , Misu Y. , Matsuoka K. , Sasaki K.
Published: February 2017

We investigated the treatment of Fe‐Cr‐Al alloy for application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The electrical resistance of the Al2O3‐based surface oxide layer on the alloy decreased and was stable when La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF), La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSM), LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3 (LNF), or Pr0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (PrSM) were first coated on the alloy and heat treated at 700 °C in air. The activation energy, calculated from the resistance, also suggested that the surface oxide became more conductive with treatment. The surface oxide layer after treatment had a microstructure of columns growing outward in the same direction, containing small amounts of elements such as Sr, Ni, Fe, La, Mn, and Pr. The microstructure consists of polycrystalline γ‐Al2O3 and small amounts of Al compounds with these elements. In the case of the LNF coating, the formation of NiAl2O4 was observed. The enhanced electrical conductivity may have resulted from the arrangement of the columnar structure, along with the electronic conduction path generated by the reaction of γ‐Al2O3 with these elements.
Parenting styles and home literacy opportunities: Associations with children's oral language skills
Authors: Bingham Gary E. , Jeon Hyun‐Joo , Kwon Kyong‐Ah , Lim Chaehyun
Published: February 2017

This study examined associations among parenting style, home literacy practices, and children's language skills. A total of 181 ethnically diverse parents, primarily African American, and their preschool‐aged child participated. Results suggest that an authoritative parenting style was positively associated with informal home literacy (book reading) practices and formal literacy (parental teaching) practices whereas an authoritarian parenting style was negatively associated with informal home literacy practices. Informal home literacy experience was positively and parents' teaching literacy was negatively related to children's oral language scores. In a mediational model, parents who were more likely to have authoritative parenting style provided their children with informal (reading) home literacy experiences, which in turn, was associated with children's oral language skill. Parent education was positively related to home literacy experiences and directly related to children's oral language skill. Findings suggest that researchers should acknowledge multiple aspects of parenting when considering relations among home literacy practices and children's language and literacy development.

Highlights

Parenting style is associated with parents' engagement in home literacy activities with children.

The relation between parenting style and children's oral language skills is mediated by the home literacy environment.

Parent education has a strong and direct impact on children's oral language skills.
Charge Transfer Variability in Misfit Layer Compounds: Comparison of SnS‐SnS2 and LaS‐TaS2
Authors: Lorenz Tommy , Baburin Igor A. , Joswig Jan‐Ole , Seifert Gotthard
Published: February 2017

The present paper compares and discusses two selected misfit (layer) compounds exemplarily, namely SnS‐SnS2 and LaS‐TaS2. We have employed a density‐functional theory‐based approach to calculate structural, energetic, and electronic properties of these structures. We have put emphasis on the difference between single layers, combined double‐layer systems and periodically stacked bulk structures. Especially the varying magnitudes of charge transfer between the sublayers were studied. We demonstrate how the chemical constitution of the sublayers affects the interlayer interactions: these may be a weak non‐bonding van‐der‐Waals dominated interlayer interaction as in SnS‐SnS2 and many other layered structures or a strong interaction related to a remarkable charge transfer between the layers as in LaS‐TaS2.
sp2‐Iminosugar α‐glucosidase inhibitor 1‐C‐octyl‐2‐oxa‐3‐oxocastanospermine specifically affected breast cancer cell migration through Stim1, β1‐integrin, and FAK signaling pathways
Authors: Gueder Nahla , Allan Ghada , Telliez Marie‐Sophie , Hague Frédéric , Fernandez José M. , Sanchez‐Fernandez Elena M. , Ortiz‐Mellet Carmen , Ahidouch Ahmed , Ouadid‐Ahidouch Halima
Published: February 2017

Aberrant glycosylation changes on many glycoproteins are often related to cancer progression and metastasis. sp2‐Iminosugar‐type castanospermine analogues, inhibitors of α‐glucosidases, have been reported to exhibit antitumor activity. However, their effects on cell migration and the underlying molecular mechanism are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effect of the pseudo‐C‐octyl glycoside 2‐oxa‐3‐oxocastanospermine derivatives (CO‐OCS) on breast cancer cells (MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells), and MCF‐10A mammary normal cell lines. We showed that CO‐OCS treatment results in the drastic decrease of breast cancer cell migration without affecting cell proliferation. Furthermore, CO‐OCS significantly reduced both the expression of β1‐integrin, which is a crucial interacting partner of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), and the phosphorylation rates of FAK and ERK1/2. CO‐OCS also drastically reduced Ca2+ entry through Store Operated Channels (SOC). Orai1 and Stim1, two N‐glycosylated proteins, are involved in Store‐Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE), and are essential for breast tumor cell migration. Our results showed that CO‐OCS decreased the expression, at the protein level, of Stim1 without affecting that of Orai1. Moreover, cell migration and SOCE were attenuated by CO‐OCS as well as when Stim1 was silenced. In contrast, in MCF‐10A cells, CO‐OCS slightly reduced cell migration, but was without effect on gene expression of Stim1, Orai1, β1‐integrin, or FAK and ERK1/2 activation. Our results provide strong evidence for a significant effect of CO‐OCS on breast cancer cell migration and support that this effect was associated with β1‐integrin, Stim1, and FAK signaling pathways.
Monitoring of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle represents another option for neural monitoring during thyroid surgery: Normative vagal and recurrent laryngeal nerve posterior cricoarytenoid muscle electromyographic data
Authors: Liddy Whitney , Barber Samuel R. , Lin Brian M. , Kamani Dipti , Kyriazidis Natalia , Lawson Bradley , Randolph Gregory W.
Published: February 2017

Objective

Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) of laryngeal nerves using electromyography (EMG) is routinely performed using endotracheal tube surface electrodes adjacent to the vocalis muscles. Other laryngeal muscles such as the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) are indirectly monitored. The PCA may be directly and reliably monitored through an electrode placed in the postcricoid region. Herein, we describe the method and normative data for IONM using PCA EMG.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Methods

Data were reviewed retrospectively for thyroid and parathyroid surgery patients with IONM of laryngeal nerves from January to August 2016. Recordings of vocalis and PCA EMG amplitudes and latencies with stimulation of laryngeal nerves were obtained using endotracheal (ET) tube‐based and postcricoid surface electrodes.

Results

Data comprised EMG responses in vocalis and PCA recording channels with stimulation of the vagus, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve from 20 subjects (11 left, 9 right), as well as PCA EMG threshold data with RLN stimulation from 17 subjects. Mean EMG amplitude was 725.69 ± 108.58 microvolts (µV) for the ipsilateral vocalis and 329.44 ± 34.12 µV for the PCA with vagal stimulation, and 1,059.75 ± 140.40 µV for the ipsilateral vocalis and 563.88 ± 116.08 µV for the PCA with RLN stimulation. There were no statistically significant differences in mean latency. For threshold cutoffs of the PCA with RLN stimulation, mean minimum and maximum threshold intensities were 0.37 milliamperes (mA) and 0.84 mA, respectively.

Conclusion

This study shows robust and reliable PCA EMG waveforms with direct nerve stimulation. Further studies will evaluate feasibility and application of the PCA electrode as a complementary quantitative tool in IONM.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 128:283–289, 2018
Risk aversion in Entrepreneurship Panels: Measurement Problems and Alternative Explanations
Authors: Hamböck Christian , Hopp Christian , Keles Cigdem , Vetschera Rudolf
Published: February 2017

In this study, we investigate the pitfalls associated with measuring risk aversion within studies of entrepreneurial behavior. First, we raise substantial concerns as to whether standard questions employed can be used to infer risk aversion among nascent entrepreneurs. In our work we show that the US, Canadian and Swedish panel study datasets do not offer evidence that entrepreneurs are more risk averse than non‐entrepreneurs. In fact, we show that the measurements used for risk aversion in these studies are not compatible with classic expected utility theory. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that probability weighting may even counteract the respondent's risk attitude. Therefore, inferring the respondent's risk attitude from choices in the panel study datasets can be misleading in the presence of probability weighting. We therefore suggest that alternative theories of decision making under risk, like prospect theory, are relevant and should be taken into account in future studies on entrepreneurship. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Curing enhancement and network effects in multi‐walled carbon nanotube‐filled vulcanized natural rubber: evidence for solvent sensing
Authors: Ponnamma Deepalekshmi , Varughese Konnanilkunnathil Thomas , Al‐Maadeed Mariam Al Ali , Thomas Sabu
Published: February 2017

Electrically and thermally conductive polymer composites offer great possibilities in various electronic fields because of their low weight and ease of processing. This paper addresses the curing behaviour and network properties of conducting multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)‐reinforced natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites, emphasizing the sensing and diffusion performances. NR/MWCNT composites were prepared following a special master batch technique which allows the appropriate distribution of nanotubes within the elastomer. The sensing responses of the composites towards solvents were observed as variations in electrical resistance. Thermal resistance and glass transition behaviour were examined and correlated with the swelling measurements as evidence for solvent sensing. An optimum level of 3 phr of MWCNTs is understood to lead to the best properties for the NR/MWCNT composites. Finally, the structural morphology and interfacial interactions were found to have correlations with cure reactions, glass transition temperatures and sensing responses of all compositions. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Femtosecond laser fabrication of high‐Q whispering gallery mode microresonators via two‐photon polymerization
Authors: Tomazio Nathália B. , Otuka Adriano J. G. , Almeida Gustavo F. B. , Roselló‐Mechó Xavier , Andrés Miguel V. , Mendonça Cleber R.
Published: February 2017

Whispering gallery mode microresonators have been triggering considerable advances in science due to their ability to confine light within small dielectric volumes, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. Lithographic approaches have been the dominant technique for fabricating microresonators; however, they restrict the choice of materials due to their multistep processing nature. As an alternative, they report the direct laser fabrication of acrylic based hollow microcylinder resonators, via two‐photon polymerization, with good structural integrity and sidewall roughness of 1.5 nm, which make them promising candidates for photonic applications in the near‐infrared. Such polymeric microresonators exhibit finesse close to 103 and a quality factor of 1
105, a performance achieved without any additional processing step, which would restrict the choices of materials to be incorporated into the polymeric resonator. This advantage thereby broadens the widespread use of the polymeric microresonators, making them an excellent platform for lasing and nonlinear optics studies in the near‐infrared. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 569–574
On the Interval Estimation of Stress–Strength Reliability for Exponentiated Scale Family of Distributions
Authors: Patil K.P. , Kulkarni H.V.
Published: February 2017

The stress–strength reliabilityR=P(X1<X2) whereX1andX2represent the stress applied and strength of an equipment, respectively, plays a crucial role in setting warranty periods while launching new brands of a product. The paper addresses the issue of estimatingRwhenX1andX2belong to the exponentiated scale family, which includes the popular EED that has proven to be an excellent model for lifetime distributions. The cases of known/unknown and equal/unequal scale parameters are handled separately. For known scale parameter, a generalized pivot quantity for the shape parameter andRare developed. The interval estimates ofRbased on the proposed generalized pivot quantity exhibited uniformly best performance. For an unknown scale parameter, a maximum scale invariant likelihood estimator of the shape and an allied estimator of the scale are introduced. The parametric bootstrap interval estimates ofRbased on a proposed maximum scale invariant likelihood estimator of the shape parameter exhibited best performance among others. An application in setting warranty periods is illustrated based on two real data sets. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Study of Control Chart for Monitoring Exponentially Distributed Characteristics Based On Type‐II Censored Samples
Authors: Huang Shuo , Yang Jun , Xie Min
Published: February 2017

In this paper, control charts for monitoring the exponential type‐II censoring samples are investigated. Such data are very common in many practical inspection scenarios in reliability context when items are replaced in groups after a period of time. The average time to signal, which involves both the number and the time of samples inspected until a signal occurs, is a good criterion to evaluate the performance of control charts. We propose an average time to signal‐unbiased control chart with known parameter and compare the proposed method with the traditional ones. The results indicate the proposed control chart is more sensitive to system deterioration. Then the effects of parameter estimation on the proposed control charts are evaluated. Because the control limits with estimated parameters result in more false alarms, an adjusted control chart with estimated parameters is proposed and the self‐starting control chart based on a sequential sampling scheme is adopted to solve the phase I problem. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the implementation of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specific Photothermal Ablation Therapy of Endometriosis by Targeting Delivery of Gold Nanospheres
Authors: Guo Xiaomeng , Li Wei , Zhou Jialin , Hou Wanqing , Wen Xue , Zhang Hanbo , Kong Fenfen , Luo Lihua , Li Qingpo , Du Yongzhong , You Jian
Published: February 2017

Endometriosis is difficult to treat since the side effects of the current therapeutic method and the high recurrence rate; thus, newer and safer therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. This work investigates the enhanced permeability and retention effect of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) in endometriosis to increase the delivery of HAuNS into lesion cells. The surface of HAuNS is successfully conjugated with a TNYL peptide that has specific affinity for the EphB4 receptor, which is a member of the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is found that the EphB4 receptor is overexpressed in endometriosis lesions. The data indicate that both QDs and HAuNS can efficiently accumulate in endometriotic lesions through permeable vessels and the TNYL‐conjugated HAuNS (TNYL‐HAuNS) accumulate more via the interaction with EphB4. The specific photothermal ablation therapy based on TNYL‐HAuNS significantly inhibits the growth of the endometriotic volume and induces the atrophy and degeneration of ectopic endometrium with no detectable toxicity to the normal organs. The level of TNF‐α and estradiol also significantly decreases in the endometriotic lesions, indicating that the treatment enables a recovery from hormonal imbalance and inflammatory injury. This work can be a valuable reference for future endometriosis therapy.
The Rise and Fall of Comradeship
Authors: Kühne Thomas
Published: February 2017

This is an innovative account of how the concept of comradeship shaped the actions, emotions and ideas of ordinary German soldiers across the two world wars and during the Holocaust. Using individual soldiers' diaries, personal letters and memoirs, Kühne reveals the ways in which soldiers' longing for community, and the practice of male bonding and togetherness, sustained the Third Reich's pursuit of war and genocide. Comradeship fuelled the soldiers' fighting morale. It also propelled these soldiers forward into war crimes and acts of mass murders. Yet, by practising comradeship, the soldiers could maintain the myth that they were morally sacrosanct. Post-1945, the notion of kameradschaft as the epitome of humane and egalitarian solidarity allowed Hitler's soldiers to join the euphoria for peace and democracy in the Federal Republic, finally shaping popular memories of the war through the end of the twentieth century.
Inferring structure in bipartite networks using the latent blockmodel and exact ICL
Authors: WYSE JASON , FRIEL NIAL , LATOUCHE PIERRE
Published: February 2017

We consider the task of simultaneous clustering of the two node sets involved in a bipartite network. The approach we adopt is based on use of the exact integrated complete likelihood for the latent blockmodel. Using this allows one to infer the number of clusters as well as cluster memberships using a greedy search. This gives a model-based clustering of the node sets. Experiments on simulated bipartite network data show that the greedy search approach is vastly more scalable than competing Markov chain Monte Carlo-based methods. Application to a number of real observed bipartite networks demonstrate the algorithms discussed.
Creating context for social influence processes in multiplex networks
Authors: OSTOIC J. ANTONIO RIVERO
Published: February 2017

This paper elaborates on two theories of social influence processes to multiplex network structures. First, cohesion influence is based on mutual communication made by different types of relations, and second comparison influence that is built on contrasting types of tie. While a system of bundles with a mutual character constitutes the setting for a multiplex network exposure measure within cohesion, comparison influence is defined algebraically through classes of actors in terms of a weakly balanced semiring structure that considers positive, negative, and also ambivalent types of tie. A case study with these approaches is made on an entrepreneurial community network with formal business relations, informal friendship ties, and perceived competition among the firms, and the methods are validated with the Sampson Monastery data set.
Local-global principles for Weil–Châtelet divisibility in positive characteristic
Authors: CREUTZ BRENDAN , VOLOCH JOSÉ FELIPE
Published: February 2017

We extend existing results characterizing Weil-Châtelet divisibility of locally trivial torsors over number fields to global fields of positive characteristic. Building on work of González-Avilés and Tan, we characterize when local-global divisibility holds in such contexts, providing examples showing that these results are optimal. We give an example of an elliptic curve over a global field of characteristic 2 containing a rational point which is locally divisible by 8, but is not divisible by 8 as well as examples showing that the analogous local-global principle for divisibility in the Weil-Châtelet group can also fail.
Genetic polymorphisms and their association with brain and behavioural measures in heterogeneous stock mice
Authors: Janecka Magdalena , Marzi Sarah J. , Parsons Michael J. , Liu Lin , Paya-Cano Jose L. , Smith Rebecca G. , Fernandes Cathy , Schalkwyk Leonard C.
Published: February 2017

Although the search for quantitative trait loci for behaviour remains a considerable challenge, the complicated genetic architecture of quantitative traits is beginning to be understood. The current project utilised heterogeneous stock (HS) male mice (n = 580) to investigate the genetic basis for brain weights, activity, anxiety and cognitive phenotypes. We identified 126 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in regulation of neurotransmitter systems, nerve growth/death and gene expression, and subsequently investigated their associations with changes in behaviour and/or brain weights in our sample. We found significant associations between four SNP-phenotype pairs, after controlling for multiple testing. Specificity protein 2 (Sp2,rs3708840), tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1,rs262731280) and serotonin receptor 3A (Htr3a,rs50670893) were associated with activity/anxiety behaviours, and microtubule-associated protein 2(Map2,rs13475902) was associated with cognitive performance. All these genes except forTph1were expressed in the brain above the array median, and remained significantly associated with relevant behaviours after controlling for the family structure. Additionally, we found evidence for a correlation betweenHtr3aexpression and activity. We discuss our findings in the light of the advantages and limitations of currently available mouse genetic tools, suggesting further directions for association studies in rodents.
Controlled doping by self-assembled dendrimer-like macromolecules
Authors: Wu Haigang , Guan Bin , Sun Yingri , Zhu Yiping , Dan Yaping
Published: February 2017

Doping via self-assembled macromolecules might offer a solution for developing single atom electronics by precisely placing individual dopants at arbitrary location to meet the requirement for circuit design. Here we synthesize dendrimer-like polyglycerol macromolecules with each carrying one phosphorus atom in the core. The macromolecules are immobilized by the coupling reagent onto silicon surfaces that are pre-modified with a monolayer of undecylenic acid. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are employed to characterize the synthesized macromolecules and the modified silicon surfaces, respectively. After rapid thermal annealing, the phosphorus atoms carried by the macromolecules diffuse into the silicon substrate, forming dopants at a concentration of 1017 cm−3. Low-temperature Hall effect measurements reveal that the ionization process is rather complicated. Unlike the widely reported simple ionization of phosphorus dopants, nitrogen and carbon are also involved in the electronic activities in the monolayer doped silicon.
Upregulation of MiR-205 transcriptionally suppresses SMAD4 and PTEN and contributes to human ovarian cancer progression
Authors: Li Juanni , Hu Kuan , Gong Guanghui , Zhu Ding , Wang Yixuan , Liu Hailing , Wu Xiaoying
Published: February 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as critical regulators of gene expression and their deregulation is associated with the development and progression of various cancers. This study aimed to investigate the biological role and mechanism of miR-205 in ovarian cancer (OC). MiR-205 was upregulated in OC tissues and cells in comparison to the controls. Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-205 was significantly associated with poor overall survival of OC patients. Functional study indicated that ectopic expression of miR-205 significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and chemoresistance of OC cells. SMAD4 and PTEN were identified as direct targets of miR-205 using luciferase reporter assays, real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and western blot. Most interestingly,in vivostudies indicated that miR-205 markedly promoted the growth and metastasis of tumors and the expression of miR-205 was also found to be inversely correlated with that of SMAD4 and PTEN in nude mice. Overall, we suggest that miR-205 functions as an oncogenic miRNA by directly binding to SMAD4 and PTEN, providing a novel target for the molecular treatment of ovarian cancer.
TDAG8 involved in initiating inflammatory hyperalgesia and establishing hyperalgesic priming in mice
Authors: Dai Shih-Ping , Huang Ya-Han , Chang Chung-Jen , Huang Yu-Fen , Hsieh Wei-Shan , Tabata Yasuhiko , Ishii Satoshii , Sun Wei-Hsin
Published: February 2017

Chronic pain, resulting from injury, arthritis, and cancer, is often accompanied by inflammation. High concentrations of protons found in inflamed tissues results in tissue acidosis, a major cause of pain and hyperalgesia. Acidosis signals may mediate a transition from acute to chronic hyperalgesia (hyperalgesic priming) via proton-sensing G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The expression of T-cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8), a proton-sensing GPCR, is increased during inflammatory hyperalgesia. Attenuating TDAG8 expression in the spinal cord inhibits bone cancer pain, but whether TDAG8 is involved in inflammatory hyperalgesia or hyperalgesic priming remains unclear. In this study, we used TDAG8-knockout or -knockdown to explore the role of TDAG8 in pain. Suppressed TDAG8 expression delayed the onset of inflammatory hyperalgesia and shortened hyperalgesic time in mice. In a dual acid-injection model (acid [pH 5.0] injected twice, 5 days apart), shRNA inhibition of TDAG8 shortened the duration of the second hyperalgesia. Similar results were found in TDAG8-deficient mice. The dual administration of TDAG8 agonist also confirmed that TDAG8 is involved in hyperalgsic priming. Accordingly, TDAG8 may mediate acidosis signals to initiate inflammatory hyperalgesia and establish hyperalgesic priming.
Multidimensional metrics of niche space for use with diverse analytical techniques
Authors: Bowes Rachel E. , Thorp James H. , Reuman Daniel C.
Published: February 2017

Multidimensional data are integral to many community-ecological studies and come in various forms, such as stable isotopes, compound specific analyses (e.g., amino acids and fatty acids), and both biodiversity and life history traits. Scientists employing such data often lack standardized metrics to evaluate communities in niche space where more than 2 dimensions are involved. To alleviate this problem, we developed a graphing and analytical approach for use with more than two variables, based on previously established stable isotope bi-plot metrics. We introduce here our community metrics as R scripts. By extending the original metrics to multiple dimensions, we created n-dimensional plots and metrics to characterize any set of quantitative measurements of a community. We demonstrate the utility of these metrics using stable isotope data; however, the approaches are applicable to many types of data. The resulting metrics provide more and better information compared to traditional analytic frameworks. The approach can be applied in many branches of community ecology, and it offers accessible metrics to quantitatively analyze the structure of communities across ecosystems and through time.
Honeybee locomotion is impaired by Am-CaV3 low voltage-activated Ca2+ channel antagonist
Authors: Rousset M. , Collet C. , Cens T. , Bastin F. , Raymond V. , Massou I. , Menard C. , Thibaud J.-B. , Charreton M. , Vignes M. , Chahine M. , Sandoz J. C. , Charnet P.
Published: February 2017

Voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels are key transducers of cellular excitability and participate in several crucial physiological responses. In vertebrates, 10 Ca2+ channel genes, grouped in 3 families (CaV1, CaV2 and CaV3), have been described and characterized. Insects possess only one member of each family. These genes have been isolated in a limited number of species and very few have been characterized although, in addition to their crucial role, they may represent a collateral target for neurotoxic insecticides. We have isolated the 3 genes coding for the 3 Ca2+ channels expressed in Apis mellifera. This work provides the first detailed characterization of the honeybee T-type CaV3 Ca2+ channel and demonstrates the low toxicity of inhibiting this channel. Comparing Ca2+ currents recorded in bee neurons and myocytes with Ca2+ currents recorded in Xenopus oocytes expressing the honeybee CaV3 gene suggests native expression in bee muscle cells only. High‐voltage activated Ca2+ channels could be recorded in the somata of different cultured bee neurons. These functional data were confirmed by in situ hybridization, immunolocalization and in vivo analysis of the effects of a CaV3 inhibitor. The biophysical and pharmacological characterization and the tissue distribution of CaV3 suggest a role in honeybee muscle function.
Mechanisms of absorption and desorption of CO2 by molten NaNO3-promoted MgO
Authors: Jo Seung-Ik , An Young-In , Kim Kang-Yeong , Choi Seo-Yeong , Kwak Jin-Su , Oh Kyung-Ryul , Kwon Young-Uk
Published: February 2017

We present details of the mechanism of absorption and desorption of carbon dioxide by molten NaNO3-promoted MgO and their implications for the applications of alkali nitrate-promoted MgO absorbents with many repeated absorption and desorption cycles.
Gene essentiality prediction based on fractal features and machine learning
Authors: Yu Yongming , Yang Licai , Liu Zhiping , Zhu Chuansheng
Published: February 2017

Predicting bacterial essential genes using only fractal features.
Synthesis and optimization of a reactive oxygen species responsive cellular delivery system
Authors: Perez-Lopez Ana M. , Valero Elsa , Bradley Mark
Published: February 2017

Reactive oxygen species responsive delivery systems for the detection of peroxides in live macrophages have been designed. The oxidative cleavage of a boronic ester to a phenol triggered by hydrogen peroxide followed by self-immolation of a ROS-sensitive cleavable linkervia1,6-elimination allowed the disturbance of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer turning on the near-infrared fluorescence.
Ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-2 to -9 is a more accurate predictive biomarker in women with suspected pre-eclampsia
Authors: Feng Hao , Wang Li , Zhang Min , Zhang Zhiwei , Guo Wei , Wang Xietong
Published: February 2017

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a condition unique to pregnancy, and abnormal expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been implicated in its pathogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the reliability of plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and their relative ratio in predicting PE. A total of 318 women with suspected PE were recruited for the study, who were subsequently either cleared or diagnosed of PE and grouped accordingly. Their baseline characteristics were compared. Blood samples were also collected from all participants, to determine the plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. The predictive values of levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as their ratio, were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Either MMP-2 or MMP-9 alone did not exhibit any obvious differences between normal and PE pregnancies. However the ratio of MMP-2/MMP-9 was significantly higher in PE-affected pregnancy than normal control group. ROC curve analysis also indicated that the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio provided better compromise between specificity and sensitivity in distinguishing PE from normal pregnancies, than either of the two MMPs alone. MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio is a more accurate biomarker to predict PE than either MMP-2 or MMP-9 alone.
Inchworm Monte Carlo for exact non-adiabatic dynamics. I. Theory and algorithms
Authors: Chen Hsing-Ta , Cohen Guy , Reichman David R.
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we provide a detailed description of the inchworm Monte Carlo formalism for the exact study of real-time non-adiabatic dynamics. This method optimally recycles Monte Carlo information from earlier times to greatly suppress the dynamical sign problem. Using the example of the spin–boson model, we formulate the inchworm expansion in two distinct ways: The first with respect to an expansion in the system–bath coupling and the second as an expansion in the diabatic coupling. The latter approach motivates the development of a cumulant version of the inchworm Monte Carlo method, which has the benefit of improved scaling. This paper deals completely with methodology, while Paper II provides a comprehensive comparison of the performance of the inchworm Monte Carlo algorithms to other exact methodologies as well as a discussion of the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.
Laboratory simulations of the atmospheric mixed-layer in flow over complex topography
Authors: Perry Steven G. , Snyder William H.
Published: February 2017

A laboratory study of the influence of complex terrain on the interface between a well-mixed boundary layer and an elevated stratified layer was conducted in the towing-tank facility of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The height of the mixed layer in the daytime boundary layer can have a strong influence on the concentration of pollutants within this layer. Deflections of streamlines at the height of the interface are primarily a function of hill Froude number (Fr), the ratio of mixed-layer height (zi) to terrain height (h), and the crosswind dimension of the terrain. The magnitude of the deflections increases as Fr increases and zi/h decreases. For mixing-height streamlines that are initially below the terrain top, the response is linear with Fr; for those initially above the terrain feature the response to Fr is more complex. Once Fr exceeds about 2, the terrain-related response of the mixed layer interface decreases somewhat with increasing Fr (toward more neutral flow). Deflections are also shown to increase as the crosswind dimensions of the terrain increase. Comparisons with numerical modeling, limited field data, and other laboratory measurements reported in the literature are favorable. Additionally, visual observations of dye streamers suggest that the flow structure exhibited for our elevated inversions passing over three dimensional hills is similar to that reported in the literature for continuously stratified flow over two-dimensional hills.
Electro-optic probe measurements of electric fields in plasmas
Authors: Nishiura M. , Yoshida Z. , Mushiake T. , Kawazura Y. , Osawa R. , Fujinami K. , Yano Y. , Saitoh H. , Yamasaki M. , Kashyap A. , Takahashi N. , Nakatsuka M. , Fukuyama A.
Published: February 2017

The direct measurements of high-frequency electric fields in a plasma bring about significant advances in the physics and engineering of various waves. We have developed an electro-optic sensor system based on the Pockels effect. Since the signal is transmitted through an optical fiber, the system has high tolerance for electromagnetic noises. To demonstrate its applicability to plasma experiments, we report the first result of measurement of the ion-cyclotron wave excited in the RT-1 magnetosphere device. This study compares the results of experimental field measurements with simulation results of electric fields in plasmas.
Atom shutter using bender piezoactuator
Authors: Kim Huidong , Lee Won-Kyu , Yu Dai-Hyuk , Heo Myoung-Sun , Park Chang Yong , Lee Sangkyung , Lee Young Kyu
Published: February 2017

A flag-type atom shutter based on a rotating lever that is driven by a bender piezoelectric actuator was developed to manipulate atomic beams. The shutter flag was displaced by ∼10 mm to open and close a 5-mm-diameter aperture with a shutter time of 13 ms that produced small mechanical vibrations. The short-term shutter time stability for each cycle was 0.03 ms and the long-term stability over an average of 20 000 cycles was 0.02 ms. The operational cycle number (lifetime) of the shutter reached 2.0 × 106 cycles after an intermittent operation over a period of eight months in an ultra-high vacuum chamber, and another shutter in an atmospheric environment swung for 2.6 × 107 cycles of continuous operation at 5 Hz for a period of 60 days without major problems. The shutter was shown to be compatible with the operation in an ultra-high vacuum at a low 10−7 Pa level after a gentle baking treatment.