bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ORDERING PROPERTIES OF EXTREME CLAIM AMOUNTS FROM HETEROGENEOUS PORTFOLIOS
Authors: Zhang Yiying , Cai Xiong , Zhao Peng
Published: April 2019

In the context of insurance, the smallest and largest claim amounts turn out to be crucial to insurance analysis since they provide useful information for determining annual premium. In this paper, we establish sufficient conditions for comparing extreme claim amounts arising from two sets of heterogeneous insurance portfolios according to various stochastic orders. It is firstly shown that the weak supermajorization order between the transformed vectors of occurrence probabilities implies the usual stochastic ordering between the largest claim amounts when the claim severities are weakly stochastic arrangement increasing. Secondly, sufficient conditions are established for the right-spread ordering and the convex transform ordering of the smallest claim amounts arising from heterogeneous dependent insurance portfolios with possibly different number of claims. In the setting of independent multiple-outlier claims, we study the effects of heterogeneity among sample sizes on the stochastic properties of the largest and smallest claim amounts in the sense of the hazard rate ordering and the likelihood ratio ordering. Numerical examples are provided to highlight these theoretical results as well. Not only can our results be applied in the area of actuarial science, but also they can be used in other research fields including reliability engineering and auction theory.
A NEW MINORITY? International JD Students in US Law Schools
Authors: Ballakrishnen Swethaa S. , Silver Carole
Published: April 2019

This Article reveals the significance of a new and growing minority group within US law schools—international students in the Juris Doctor (JD) program. While international students have received some attention in legal education scholarship, it mostly has been focused on their participation in the context of programs specially designed for this demographic (e.g. postgraduate programs like the LLM and SJD). Drawing from interview data with fifty-eight international JD students across seventeen graduating US law schools, our research reveals the rising importance of international students as actors within a more mainstream institutional context. In examining the ways these students navigate their law school environments, we find that although international status often impacts identity and participation, not all students encounter its impact similarly. Particularly, while some students use the identity to their advantage, others cannot escape negative implications, even with effort. This is consistent with other scholarship on minority students, and adds to a growing literature that uses their socialization experiences to better understand professional stratification. To unpack these different ways of “being international,” we borrow from Goffman’s theorization of stigma to suggest illustrative variations in the ways international students experience their environments. In doing so, we offer an introductory landscape to better understand this growing population and hope this enables new insights to theorize about other kinds of minority experience.
Experimental Investigation of 14C in the Primary Coolant of the 10 MW High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor
Authors: Xie F , Peng W , Cao J , Feng X , Wei L , Tong J , Li F , Sun K
Published: April 2019

The very high temperature reactor (VHTR) is a development of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and one of the six proposed Generation IV reactor concept candidates. The 10 MW high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR-10) is the first pebble-bed gas-cooled test reactor in China. A sampling system for the measurement of carbon-14 (14C) was established in the helium purification system of the HTR-10 primary loop, which could sample 14C from the coolant at three locations. The results showed that activity concentration of 14C in the HTR-10 primary coolant was 1.2(1) × 102 Bq/m3 (STP). The production mechanisms, distribution characteristics, reduction routes, and release types of 14C in HTR-10 were analyzed and discussed. A theoretical model was built to calculate the amount of 14C in the core of HTR-10 and its concentration in the primary coolant. The activation reaction of 13C has been identified to be the dominant 14C source in the core, whereas in the primary coolant, it is the activation of 14N. These results can supplement important information for the source term analysis of 14C in HTR-10 and promote the study of 14C in HTGRs.
A sequential, exploratory, mixed-methods approach for development and validation of a context-specific knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire on micronutrients for literate mothers of school-age children
Authors: Konapur Archana , Krishnapillai Madhavan Nair , Nagalla Balakrishna , Gavaravarapu SubbaRao M
Published: April 2019

Objective

To develop and validate a context-specific comprehensive knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire for literate mothers on factors affecting micronutrient status of 6–10-year-old children.

Design

Sequential exploratory mixed-methods study using focus group discussions (FGD) and psychometric validation.

Setting

Seven randomly selected villages with >500 households with three to five family members each, in Ghatkesar sub-district, Medchal district, Telangana state, India.

Participants

Literate mothers from middle-income households with at least one child (6–10 years) for FGD (n44), for testing the internal consistency (n80) and for test–retest reliability (n30).

Results

The themes for FGD were diet diversity, micronutrients, cooking and eating practices, national programmes and sunlight exposure. Knowledge among caregivers about sources of micronutrients, deficiency symptoms, cooking/eating practices was low, while attitude towards diet diversity and sunlight was good. Non-availability of fruits and vegetables was a barrier to diet diversity. About 72 % of the questions from the item pool were based on FGD. After content validity, 125 items were selected for the questionnaire which, upon psychometric validation, was reduced to an eighty-eight-item questionnaire with difficulty index of 0·10–0·91, discrimination index of 0·09–0·68, Cronbach’sαof 0·78 (reliability of knowledge and attitude) and 0·50 (practice). A Bland–Altman plot showed good agreement between test and retest scores.

Conclusions

The questionnaire developed and validated using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach can be used for assessing KAP on micronutrients and factors affecting consumption of diverse diets in rural Indian households.
Type 2 diabetes and physical activity: barriers and enablers to diabetes control in Eastern India
Authors: Sanghamitra Pati , Eunice Lobo , Sandipana Pati , Shayma Desaraju , Pranab Mahapatra
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has tremendous morbidity burden owing to disease management and complication prevention. Behavior modification identified as a key to management includes healthy diet and regular physical activity (PA). This study aims to identify patterns and preferences of PA of T2D patients and explore perceived enablers and barriers for diabetes control in Bhubaneswar.

Methods:

Cross-sectional, facility-based study conducted in the private sector from June to August 2014 recruited 321 T2D patients using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and associations of PA were computed.

Results:

Almost two-thirds of patients (59%) were reported performing PA frequently. Majority patients cited walking as the most preferred mode of PA (79%) with 41% performing PA daily. Actual versus perceived weight was a complete mismatch with most patients misjudging their weight. Reasons for enabling PA included ‘controlling diabetes’ and ‘doctor’s advice’ as key factors, while ‘lack of time’ and ‘unwillingness’ were main barriers among inactive patients.

Conclusion:

Counseling on PA by physicians during routine visits, along with tailored or patient-specific interventions should be considered. Focus on social support for positive behavioral changes and motivation play a central role in diabetes control.
Digital Trade, E-Commerce, the WTO and Regional Frameworks
Authors: JANOW MERIT E. , MAVROIDIS PETROS C.
Published: April 2019

The digitalization of trade is a reality, and yet the regulation of the world trading system as embedded in the World Trade Organization (WTO) only tangentially, if at all, touches upon this issue. True, digitalization of the economy, the fourth industrial revolution as it is colloquially referred to, is a recent phenomenon, and to some extent post-dates the conclusion of the Uruguay round agreements (1994). True also, however, is the reality that the world trading system has shown a remarkable inability to adjust to modern business realities in its multilateral rule architecture. To the extent these transformations are being reflected in new rules, they are being introduced in regional or bilateral frameworks, albeit in an incomplete fashion. It is also the case that the world is witnessing several different regimes around data and information economy developing in the world today – most notably in the US, Europe, and China. As always, part of the reason that international frameworks have not been born stems from the fact that international rules rarely occur before domestic regulatory and legal regimes are well developed.
The paradox of productivity: agricultural productivity promotes food system inefficiency
Authors: Benton Tim G. , Bailey Rob
Published: April 2019

Non-technical summary

The principal policy focus for food has been to increase agricultural productivity and to liberalize markets allowing globalized trade. This focus has led to huge growth in the supply of agricultural produce, more calories becoming available, and price declining. The availability of cheaper calories increasingly underpins diets creating malnourishment through obesity, and global competition incentivizes producers who can produce the most, cheaply, typically with environmental damage. We propose re-focusing, away from yields per unit input, to the food system's overall productivity and efficiency – the number of people that can be fed healthily and sustainably per unit input.
Perceived Social Support and Mental Health After Suicide Loss
Authors: Oexle Nathalie , Sheehan Lindsay
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Background: Despite great need, social support is limited after suicide loss, which could contribute to worse mental health outcomes including increased suicidality among suicide loss survivors. Aims: To examine the associations between perceived social support, grief difficulties, depressive symptoms, suicidality, and personal growth among 195 suicide loss survivors. Method: The associations between perceived social support, grief difficulties, depressive symptoms, suicidality, and personal growth were tested using linear regression modeling. Results: In controlled models, more perceived social support was significantly associated with decreased grief difficulties, depressive symptoms, and suicidality, as well as with increased personal growth. Limitations: Participants were mostly Caucasian women who participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that programs to increase social support after suicide loss may be an important aspect of suicide postvention.
Cohesion‐Induced Enhancement of Aeolian Saltation
Authors: Comola F. , Gaume J. , Kok J. F. , Lehning M.
Published: April 2019

The wind‐driven saltation of granular material plays a key role in various geophysical processes on Earth, Mars, Venus, and Titan. Although interparticle cohesion is known to limit the number of grains lifted from the surface through aerodynamic entrainment and granular splash, the role of cohesion in the development of saltation from onset to steady state is still poorly understood. Using a numerical model based on the discrete element method, we show that saltation over cohesive beds sustains itself at wind speeds 1 order of magnitude smaller than those necessary to initiate it, giving rise to hysteresis in which the occurrence of transport depends on the history of the wind. Our results further suggest that saltation over cohesive beds requires much longer distances to saturate, thereby increasing the size of the smallest stable bed forms. These findings have implications for dune formation, dust emission, and snow sublimation over cohesive beds.
Laboratory Earthquakes in Large‐Scale Rock Experiments Reveal Singular Crack‐Like Rupture Dynamics
Authors: Svetlizky Ilya
Published: April 2019

Slip initiation along natural faults is mediated through propagating rupture fronts. What mechanisms drive these ruptures, how fast they propagate, and what makes them stop are central questions of earthquakes source mechanics. Xu et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016797) and Kammer and McLaskey (2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.01.031) study rapid rupture propagation in large‐scale rock experiments. Their detailed high‐speed strain measurements reveal that rupture fronts are analogous to shear cracks, driven by singular fields at their tip. By comparing these measurements with simulations and analytical fracture mechanics solutions, the authors provide estimates of the fracture energy and frictional properties that regularize these singularities. Building on that, the fracture mechanics framework has been successfully employed to describe rupture arrest and propagation.
Fathering Within Transnational and Mixed-Status Mayan Families: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Hershberg Rachel M. , Lykes M. Brinton
Published: April 2019

This study explores fathering within a small sample of Mayan transnational and mixed-status families divided between the Northeastern United States and the Quiché region of Guatemala. A positive masculinities framework informs this theoretical thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 7 migrant fathers and 2 sons-as-fathers who were caring for younger siblings in Guatemala. Analyses sought to illuminate how the performances of fathering in the context of migration depart from and sometimes challenge hegemonic conceptions of masculinities evident in much of the migration scholarship. In total, 5 themes capturing varying performances of fathering were identified: (a) staying-at-home, (b) emotionally expressing cross-border relationality, (c) communicating within the family about return and consejos (conventional wisdom), (d) sons-as-fathers caring for family members here and there, and (e) maintaining the household intergenerationally. We discuss how the transnationalizing of these Mayan families has contributed to more diverse gendered roles and relationships, with a focus on some of the potential positive influences of this process on family relationships. Implications for future research about the various ways in which fathers and sons contribute to their transnational families, especially in difficult sociopolitical contexts, are discussed.
A calcium/cAMP signaling loop at the ORAI1 mouth drives channel inactivation to shape NFAT induction
Authors: Zhang Xuexin , Pathak Trayambak , Yoast Ryan , Emrich Scott , Xin Ping , Nwokonko Robert M. , Johnson Martin , Wu Shilan , Delierneux Céline , Gueguinou Maxime , Hempel Nadine , Putney James W. , Gill Donald L. , Trebak Mohamed
Published: April 2019

ORAI1 constitutes the store-operated Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel crucial for life. Whereas ORAI1 activation by Ca2+-sensing STIM proteins is known, still obscure is how ORAI1 is turned off through Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI), protecting against Ca2+ toxicity. Here we identify a spatially-restricted Ca2+/cAMP signaling crosstalk critical for mediating CDI. Binding of Ca2+-activated adenylyl cyclase 8 (AC8) to the N-terminus of ORAI1 positions AC8 near the mouth of ORAI1 for sensing Ca2+. Ca2+ permeating ORAI1 activates AC8 to generate cAMP and activate PKA. PKA, positioned by AKAP79 near ORAI1, phosphorylates serine-34 in ORAI1 pore extension to induce CDI whereas recruitment of the phosphatase calcineurin antagonizes the effect of PKA. Notably, CDI shapes ORAI1 cytosolic Ca2+ signature to determine the isoform and degree of NFAT activation. Thus, we uncover a mechanism of ORAI1 inactivation, and reveal a hitherto unappreciated role for inactivation in shaping cellular Ca2+ signals and NFAT activation.
Anatomical and functional investigation of the marmoset default mode network
Authors: Liu Cirong , Yen Cecil Chern-Chyi , Szczupak Diego , Ye Frank Q. , Leopold David A. , Silva Afonso C.
Published: April 2019

The default mode network (DMN) is associated with a wide range of brain functions. In humans, the DMN is marked by strong functional connectivity among three core regions: medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and the medial parietal and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Neuroimaging studies have shown that the DMN also exists in non-human primates, suggesting that it may be a conserved feature of the primate brain. Here, we found that, in common marmosets, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC; peak at A8aD) has robust fMRI functional connectivity and reciprocal anatomical connections with the posterior DMN core regions (PPC and PCC), while the mPFC has weak connections with the posterior DMN core regions. This strong dlPFC but weak mPFC connectivity in marmoset differs markedly from the stereotypical DMN in humans. The mPFC may be involved in brain functions that are further developed in humans than in other primates.
Conserved phosphorylation hotspots in eukaryotic protein domain families
Authors: Strumillo Marta J. , Oplová Michaela , Viéitez Cristina , Ochoa David , Shahraz Mohammed , Busby Bede P. , Sopko Richelle , Studer Romain A. , Perrimon Norbert , Panse Vikram G. , Beltrao Pedro
Published: April 2019

Protein phosphorylation is the best characterized post-translational modification that regulates almost all cellular processes through diverse mechanisms such as changing protein conformations, interactions, and localization. While the inventory for phosphorylation sites across different species has rapidly expanded, their functional role remains poorly investigated. Here, we combine 537,321 phosphosites from 40 eukaryotic species to identify highly conserved phosphorylation hotspot regions within domain families. Mapping these regions onto structural data reveals that they are often found at interfaces, near catalytic residues and tend to harbor functionally important phosphosites. Notably, functional studies of a phospho-deficient mutant in the C-terminal hotspot region within the ribosomal S11 domain in the yeast ribosomal protein uS11 shows impaired growth and defective cytoplasmic 20S pre-rRNA processing at 16 °C and 20 °C. Altogether, our study identifies phosphorylation hotspots for 162 protein domains suggestive of an ancient role for the control of diverse eukaryotic domain families.
Quantum reservoir processing
Authors: Ghosh Sanjib , Opala Andrzej , Matuszewski Michał , Paterek Tomasz , Liew Timothy C. H.
Published: April 2019

The concurrent rise of artificial intelligence and quantum information poses an opportunity for creating interdisciplinary technologies like quantum neural networks. Quantum reservoir processing, introduced here, is a platform for quantum information processing developed on the principle of reservoir computing that is a form of an artificial neural network. A quantum reservoir processor can perform qualitative tasks like recognizing quantum states that are entangled as well as quantitative tasks like estimating a nonlinear function of an input quantum state (e.g., entropy, purity, or logarithmic negativity). In this way, experimental schemes that require measurements of multiple observables can be simplified to measurement of one observable on a trained quantum reservoir processor.
Expansion of the spin cycloid in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films
Authors: Burns Stuart R. , Sando Daniel , Xu Bin , Dupé Bertrand , Russell Lachlan , Deng Guochu , Clements Richard , Paull Oliver H. C. , Seidel Jan , Bellaiche Laurent , Valanoor Nagarajan , Ulrich Clemens
Published: April 2019

Understanding and manipulating complex spin texture in multiferroics can offer new perspectives for electric field-controlled spin manipulation. In BiFeO3, a well-known room temperature multiferroic, the competition between various exchange interactions manifests itself as non-collinear spin order, i.e., an incommensurate spin cycloid with period 64 nm. We report on the stability and systematic expansion of the length of the spin cycloid in (110)-oriented epitaxial Co-doped BiFeO3 thin films. Neutron diffraction shows (i) this cycloid, despite its partly out-of-plane canted propagation vector, can be stabilized in thinnest films; (ii) the cycloid length expands significantly with decreasing film thickness; (iii) theory confirms a unique [$$11\bar 2$$

11

2

¯

] cycloid propagation direction; and (iv) in the temperature dependence the cycloid length expands significantly close to TN. These observations are supported by Monte Carlo simulations based on a first-principles effective Hamiltonian method. Our results therefore offer new opportunities for nanoscale magnonic devices based on complex spin textures.
Impaired illness awareness in schizophrenia and posterior corpus callosal white matter tract integrity
Authors: Gerretsen Philip , Rajji Tarek K. , Shah Parita , Shahab Saba , Sanches Marcos , Graff-Guerrero Ariel , Menon Mahesh , Pollock Bruce G. , Mamo David C. , Mulsant Benoit H. , Voineskos Aristotle N.
Published: April 2019

Impaired illness awareness (Imp-IA) in schizophrenia is associated with interhemispheric imbalance, resulting in left hemisphere dominance, primarily within the posterior parietal area (PPA). This may represent an interhemispheric “disconnection syndrome” between PPAs. To test this hypothesis, we aimed to determine if diffusion-based measures of white matter integrity were disrupted in the corpus callosal tracts linking PPAs (i.e., splenium) in patients with Imp-IA in schizophrenia. T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted scans were acquired on a 1.5T GE scanner for 100 participants with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia and 134 healthy controls aged 18 to 79 years. The corpus callosal white matter tracts were compared among patients with Imp-IA (n = 40), intact illness awareness (n = 60), and healthy controls. White matter disruption was measured with fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Group differences in FA were found in the splenium, with patients with Imp-IA having the lowest FA, which remained significant after controlling for sex, age, global cognition, and premorbid intelligence. No group differences in MD were observed. Splenial white matter tracts of the corpus callosum appear compromised in patients with Imp-IA. Transcallosal interhemispheric PPA white matter disruption may represent a “disconnection syndrome”, manifesting as Imp-IA in schizophrenia. Future studies are required to investigate the effects of noninvasive brain stimulation interventions, such as transcranial direct current or magnetic stimulation, on Imp-IA in association with white matter changes in patients with schizophrenia.
Effectiveness of Dettol Antiseptic Liquid for Inactivation of Ebola Virus in Suspension
Authors: Cutts Todd A. , Ijaz M. Khalid , Nims Raymond W. , Rubino Joseph R. , Theriault Steven S.
Published: April 2019

The efficacy of Dettol Antiseptic Liquid (DAL) for inactivating Ebola virus (Makona C07 variant) (EBOV/Mak) within an organic load in suspension was evaluated per ASTM E1052-11. Three DAL lots were evaluated at dilutions of 1:10, 1:20, and 1:40, with contact times of 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 min. Approximately 7 log10 tissue culture infectious dose50 (TCID50) of EBOV/Mak was exposed to DAL at ambient temperature. Each dilution tested reduced the infectious EBOV/Mak titer by ~5 log10 within one min. Detectable virus was still present after an 0.5-min exposure, but each DAL dilution caused >4 log10 reduction within this time. Detection of virus below the limit of detection of the TCID50 assay was assessed by inoculating flasks of Vero E6 cells with undiluted neutralized sample and evaluating the cultures for cytopathic effect after 14 days incubation. No infectious virus was detected with this non-quantitative method in samples subjected to DAL for 5 or 10 min, regardless of the dilution evaluated. The rapid and substantial inactivation of EBOV/Mak by DAL suggests that use of this hygiene product could help prevent the spread of Ebola virus disease during outbreaks.
Structural prerequisites for CRM1-dependent nuclear export signaling peptides: accessibility, adapting conformation, and the stability at the binding site
Authors: Lee Yoonji , Pei Jimin , Baumhardt Jordan M. , Chook Yuh Min , Grishin Nick V.
Published: April 2019

Nuclear export signal (NES) motifs function as essential regulators of the subcellular location of proteins by interacting with the major nuclear exporter protein, CRM1. Prediction of NES is of great interest in many aspects of research including cancer, but currently available methods, which are mostly based on the sequence-based approaches, have been suffered from high false positive rates since the NES consensus patterns are quite commonly observed in protein sequences. Therefore, finding a feature that can distinguish real NES motifs from false positives is desired to improve the prediction power, but it is quite challenging when only using the sequence. Here, we provide a comprehensive table for the validated cargo proteins, containing the location of the NES consensus patterns with the disordered propensity plots, known protein domain information, and the predicted secondary structures. It could be useful for determining the most plausible NES region in the context of the whole protein sequence and suggests possibilities for some non-binders of the annotated regions. In addition, using the currently available crystal structures of CRM1 bound to various classes of NES peptides, we adopted, for the first time, the structure-based prediction of the NES motifs bound to the CRM1’s binding groove. Combining sequence-based and structure-based predictions, we suggest a novel and more straight-forward approach to identify CRM1-binding NES sequences by analysis of their structural prerequisites and energetic evaluation of the stability at the CRM1’s binding site.
High-throughput single-cell whole-genome amplification through centrifugal emulsification and eMDA
Authors: Fu Yusi , Zhang Fangli , Zhang Xiannian , Yin Junlong , Du Meijie , Jiang Mengcheng , Liu Lu , Li Jie , Huang Yanyi , Wang Jianbin
Published: April 2019

Single-cell whole-genome sequencing (scWGS) is mainly used to probe intercellular genomic variations, focusing on the copy number variations or alterations and the single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) occurring within single cells. Single-cell whole-genome amplification (scWGA) needs to be applied before scWGS but is challenging due to the low copy number of DNA. Besides, many genomic variations are rare within a population of cells, so the throughput of currently available scWGA methods is far from satisfactory. Here, we integrate a one-step micro-capillary array (MiCA)-based centrifugal droplet generation technique with emulsion multiple displacement amplification (eMDA) and demonstrate a high-throughput scWGA method, MiCA-eMDA. MiCA-eMDA increases the single-run throughput of scWGA to a few dozen, and enables the assessment of copy number variations and alterations at 50-kb resolution. Downstream target enrichment further enables the detection of SNVs with 20% allele drop-out.
Piperine-mediated suppression of voltage-dependent Ca2+influx and glutamate release in rat hippocampal nerve terminals involves 5HT1Areceptors and G protein βγ activation
Authors: Hsieh Ting Yang , Chang Yi , Wang Su Jane
Published: April 2019

Piperine is the crucial alkaloid component of black pepper (Piper nigrumLinn.) and has neuroprotective effects.
Synthesis of magnetite hybrid nanocomplexes to eliminate bacteria and enhance biofilm disruption
Authors: Zhang Chao , Du Caijuan , Liao Jian-You , Gu Yunhao , Gong Yuzhu , Pei Jie , Gu Hongwei , Yin Dong , Gao Lizeng , Pan Yue
Published: April 2019

Magnetite hybrid nanocomplexes are fabricated to eliminate bacteria and enhance biofilm disruption in the presence of a magnetic field.
Ladder-like [CrCu] coordination polymers containing unique bridging modes of [Cr(C2O4)3]3− and Cr2O72−
Authors: Kanižaj Lidija , Molčanov Krešimir , Torić Filip , Pajić Damir , Lončarić Ivor , Šantić Ana , Jurić Marijana
Published: April 2019

Three coordination polymers having ladder-like topologies owing to the novel bridging modes of [Cr(C2O4)3]3− or Cr2O72− show a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between copper(ii) ions through the oxalate bridge.
Synthesis of volatile, reactive coinage metal 5,5-bicyclic amidinates with enhanced thermal stability for chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Tong Liuchuan , Davis Luke M. , Gong Xian , Feng Jun , Beh Eugene S. , Gordon Roy G.
Published: April 2019

Coinage metal bicyclic amidinates for chemical vapor deposition.
Meso and micro-scale effects of loading and air scouring on nitrifying bio-cord biofilm
Authors: Tian Xin , Delatolla Robert
Published: April 2019

The municipal wastewater treatment industry is currently facing the challenges of increased loading, restricted land availability and stringent discharge regulations.
Long-term performance evaluation of an anoxic sulfur oxidizing moving bed biofilm reactor under nitrate limited conditions
Authors: Khanongnuch Ramita , Di Capua Francesco , Lakaniemi Aino-Maija , Rene Eldon R. , Lens Piet N. L.
Published: April 2019

An anoxic sulfur-oxidizing moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating sulfur and nitrate-contaminated synthetic wastewater was monitored for 306 days under feed nitrogen-to-sulfur (N/S) molar ratios of 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1.
3-Ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS) III homologues and their roles in natural product biosynthesis
Authors: Nofiani Risa , Philmus Benjamin , Nindita Yosi , Mahmud Taifo
Published: April 2019

KAS III-like enzymes play a significant role in natural product biosynthesis through C–C, C–O, and/or C–N bond formation.
Decoupling segmental relaxation and ionic conductivity for lithium-ion polymer electrolytes
Authors: Bresser Dominic , Lyonnard Sandrine , Iojoiu Cristina , Picard Lionel , Passerini Stefano
Published: April 2019

This perspective reviews current strategies to decouple segmental motion and ionic conductivity for lithium polymer battery electrolytes, including an outlook for potential future improvements.
Folic acid functionalized hollow nanoparticles for selective photodynamic therapy of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Dam Duncan Hieu M. , Zhao Lingzhi , Jelsma Sophia A. , Zhao Yanli , Paller Amy S.
Published: April 2019

Folic acid conjugated hollow silica nanocarriers loaded with zinc phthalocyanine are employed for selective photodynamic therapy of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Three new metal coordination polymers of bifunctional imidazolate/tetrazolate bridges: the only example of a three-dimensional framework based on rare [Co4(μ3-OH)2(μ2-Cl)2]4+ mixed oxo-chloro-clusters
Authors: Yang Lili , Zhou Jian , Zou Hua-Hong , Tang Qiuling
Published: April 2019

The interconnection of rare [Co4(μ3-OH)2(μ2-Cl)2]4+ mixed oxo-chloro-clusters and bifunctional bridges gives a new three-dimensional framework with unusual spin-canting behavior.
Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of perfluoroalkyl-substituted β-lactones via a concerted asynchronous [2 + 2] cycloaddition: a synthetic and computational study
Authors: Barrios Antúnez Diego-Javier , Greenhalgh Mark D. , Brueckner Alexander C. , Walden Daniel M. , Elías-Rodríguez Pilar , Roberts Patrick , Young Benjamin G. , West Thomas H. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Ha-Yeon Cheong Paul , Smith Andrew D.
Published: April 2019

A study into the Lewis base-catalysed enantioselective synthesis of polyfluorinated β-lactones.
Mesoporous carbon cubes derived from fullerene crystals as a high rate performance electrode material for supercapacitors
Authors: Bairi Partha , Maji Subrata , Hill Jonathan P. , Kim Jung Ho , Ariga Katsuhiko , Shrestha Lok Kumar
Published: April 2019

Mesoporous carbon cubes derived from high temperature heat-treatment of mesoporous crystalline fullerene C70cubes showed excellent electrochemical supercapacitive performance.
Exploring the rate dependence of phase evolution in P2-type Na2/3Mn0.8Fe0.1Ti0.1O2
Authors: Goonetilleke Damian , Wang Sunny , Gonzalo Elena , Galcerán Montserrat , Saurel Damien , Day Sarah J. , Fauth Francois , Rojo Teófilo , Sharma Neeraj
Published: April 2019

P2-type Na2/3Mn0.8Fe0.1Ti0.1O2, a promising high-performance electrode material for use in ambient temperature sodium-ion batteries, is examined using operando and long-term in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies to reveal the structural evolution during battery function.
Sulfur-deficient MoS2 grown inside hollow mesoporous carbon as a functional polysulfide mediator
Authors: Wang Hong-En , Li Xuecheng , Qin Ning , Zhao Xu , Cheng Hua , Cao Guozhong , Zhang Wenjun
Published: April 2019

Engineering sulfur vacancies in ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets enabled enhanced trapping of polysulfide intermediates with propelled redox conversion kinetics.
Fine-tuning the coordination atoms of copper redox mediators: an effective strategy for boosting the photovoltage of dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Zhao Yawei , Shen Junyu , Yu Ze , Hu Maowei , Liu Chong , Fan Jiandong , Han Hongxian , Hagfeldt Anders , Wang Mei , Sun Licheng
Published: April 2019

Herein, we report a new class of copper complexes bearing a tetradentate polythioether ligand, [(S4)Cu]2+/+ (12+/+, S4 = 1,4,8,11-tetrathiocyclotetradecane), as a redox mediator in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs).
A highly efficient alkaline HER Co–Mo bimetallic carbide catalyst with an optimized Mo d-orbital electronic state
Authors: Liu Gejun , Bai Haipeng , Ji Yujin , Wang Lie , Wen Yunzhou , Lin Haiping , Zheng Lirong , Li Youyong , Zhang Bo , Peng Huisheng
Published: April 2019

A Co–Mo bimetallic carbide catalyst with an optimized electronic state was fabricated and great alkaline HER performance was achieved.
Mo-based 2D MOF as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for reduction of N2 to NH3: a density functional theory study
Authors: Cui Qianyi , Qin Gangqiang , Wang Weihua , K. R. Geethalakshmi , Du Aijun , Sun Qiao
Published: April 2019

A Mo-based MOF is an efficient electrocatalyst for the N2 reduction reaction with a low overpotential of 0.18 V.
A universal route to N-coordinated metals anchored on porous carbon nanosheets for highly efficient oxygen electrochemistry
Authors: Ren Jin-Tao , Yuan Zhong-Yong
Published: April 2019

Highly porous carbon nanosheets with N-coordinated metals are rationally developed and show outstanding electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution performance.
Oxygen vacancy-enriched MoO3−x nanobelts for asymmetric supercapacitors with excellent room/low temperature performance
Authors: Wu Qi-Long , Zhao Shi-Xi , Yu Le , Zheng Xiao-Xiao , Wang Yi-Feng , Yu Lü-Qiang , Nan Ce-Wen , Cao Guozhong
Published: April 2019

In situ synthesized oxygen vacancy-enriched MoO3−x nanobelts realized excellent electrochemical performance as asymmetric supercapacitors at room/low temperature.
Self-evolved hydrogen peroxide boosts photothermal-promoted tumor-specific nanocatalytic therapy
Authors: Gao Shanshan , Lu Xiangyu , Zhu Piao , Lin Han , Yu Luodan , Yao Heliang , Wei Chenyang , Chen Yu , Shi Jianlin
Published: April 2019

Highly efficient nanocatalytic tumor therapy has been achieved by in situ self-supplied H2O2-triggered and photothermally-promoted Fenton reaction by the rational design of two-dimensional composite nanoreactors.
Organic bulk-heterojunction injected perovskite films for highly efficient solar cells
Authors: Hu Ke-Hao , Wang Zhao-Kui , Meng Li , Wang Kai-Li , Zhang Yue , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: April 2019

The BHJ composed of PTB7 and ITIC was penetrated into the CH3NH3PbI3 layer via anti-solvent engineering.
Enhanced thermal degradation stability of the Sr2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphor by ultra-thin Al2O3 coating through the atomic layer deposition technique in a fluidized bed reactor
Authors: Zhao Yujie , Yin Liangjun , ten Kate O. M. , Dierre Benjamin , Abellon Ruben , Xie Rong-Jun , van Ommen J. Ruud , Hintzen H. T.
Published: April 2019

Enhanced thermal degradation stability of the Sr2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphor by ultra-thin Al2O3 coating through FB-ALD.
Molecular structure–electrical performance relationship for OFET-based memory elements comprising unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethenes
Authors: Dashitsyrenova Dolgor D. , Lvov Andrey G. , Frolova Lyubov A. , Kulikov Alexander V. , Dremova Nadezhda N. , Shirinian Valerii Z. , Aldoshin Sergey M. , Krayushkin Mikhail M. , Troshin Pavel A.
Published: April 2019

A series of photochromic diarylethenes with different bridge moieties have been investigated as light-sensitive components of photoswitchable OFET-based memory devices.
Photochemical synthesis of dendritic silver nano-particles for anti-counterfeiting
Authors: Zhao Zhi , Chamele Ninad , Kozicki Michael , Yao Yu , Wang Chao
Published: April 2019

An ambient condition, polymer assisted photo-synthesis of silver dendrites with highly tunable geometry and sizes.
Carbon radio recombination lines from gigahertz to megahertz frequencies towards Orion A
Authors: Salas P. , Oonk J. B. R. , Emig K. L. , Pabst C. , Toribio M. C. , Röttgering H. J. A. , Tielens A. G. G. M.
Published: April 2019

Context. The combined use of carbon radio recombination lines (CRRLs) and the 158μm-[CII] line is a powerful tool for the study of the energetics and physical conditions (e.g., temperature and density) of photodissociation regions (PDRs). However, there are few observational studies that exploit this synergy.

Aims. Here we explore the relation between CRRLs and the 158μm-[CII] line in light of new observations and models.

Methods. We present new and existing observations of CRRLs in the frequency range 0.15–230 GHz with ALMA, VLA, the GBT, Effelsberg 100m, and LOFAR towards Orion A (M 42). We complement these observations with SOFIA observations of the 158μm-[CII] line. We studied two PDRs: the foreground atomic gas, known as the Veil, and the dense PDR between the HII region and the background molecular cloud.

Results. In the Veil we are able to determine the gas temperature and electron density, which we use to measure the ionization parameter and the photoelectric heating efficiency. In the dense PDR, we are able to identify a layered PDR structure at the surface of the molecular cloud to the south of the Trapezium cluster. There we find that the radio lines trace the colder portion of the ionized carbon layer, the C+/C/CO interface. By modeling the emission of the 158μm-[CII] line and CRRLs as arising from a PDR we derive a thermal pressure >5 × 107 K cm−3 and a radiation field G0 ≈ 105 close to the Trapezium.

Conclusions. This work provides additional observational support for the use of CRRLs and the 158μm-[CII] line as complementary tools to study dense and diffuse PDRs, and highlights the usefulness of CRRLs as probes of the C+/C/CO interface.
Large-eddy simulation of Sandia Flame F using structural subgrid-scale models and partially-stirred-reactor approach
Authors: Lu Hao , Chen Wuzhong , Zou Chun , Yao Hong
Published: April 2019

Owing to the strong interaction between turbulence and combustion, it is particularly challenging to accurately predict local flame extinctions in a turbulent flame at high Reynolds numbers. Subgrid-scale (SGS) parameterization and model for calculating the filtered reaction rates are the main determinants of an accurate large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flow. This study integrates the recently introduced gradient-type structural SGS models with a simplified partially-stirred-reactor approach to simulate a piloted partially premixed jet flame, Sandia Flame F. An advantage of using the nonlinear SGS models is that they can provide reverse energy transfer from subgrid to resolved scales. To quantitatively understand the performance of the LES framework, we have comprehensively compared temperature and mass fractions of major and minor species with experimental data. The statistics of the simulated field show good agreement with measurements and a notable improvement over previous simulations. Results support the assertion that the proposed nonlinear LES framework can capture extinction and re-ignition in turbulent flames with reasonable computational cost.
Instantaneous linear stability of plane Poiseuille flow forced by spanwise oscillations
Authors: Zhao Chen , Chen Zhenli , Li Dong
Published: April 2019

In the present work, the stability of a plane Poiseuille flow forced by spanwise oscillations is studied via the instantaneous linear stability theory (LST). For streamwise Poiseuille flow and a spanwise Stokes layer, the superposition of these two linearly stable flows can lead to transient growth of perturbations. Periodic and aperiodic growth rates over time are found. Mode-crossing is observed in the aperiodic mode. Effects of oscillation amplitude W0 and frequency Ω are studied. The maximum instantaneous growth rate increases with increasing W0. At low W0, the stability of the flow is dominated by the corresponding Poiseuille flow or by the interactions between the two flows. At high W0, the stability characteristics of the Poiseuille–Stokes flow are very similar to those of the corresponding Stokes layer. It is demonstrated that oscillations have destabilizing effects in short-time intervals of one oscillation period. Oscillations of extremely low or high Ω have much weaker effects than those of medium Ω. The transient growth of the most unstable mode is traced by using direct numerical simulation (DNS). Instantaneous LST can capture the transient growth but fails to predict the accurate growth rate when the amplification ratio is higher than e9. The difference between LST and DNS is mainly due to the incorrect production of LST without nonlinear transportation. From the growing phase to the decay phase of the transient mode, the production term shifts from the destabilizing role to the stabilizing role because of the correlation-phase reversal of the perturbation velocities.
On-chip isolation and enrichment of circulating cell-free DNA using microfluidic device
Authors: Gwak Hogyeong , Kim Junmoo , Cha Sunyeong , Cheon Yong–Pil , Kim Seung-Il , Kwak Bongseop , Hyun Kyung-A , Jung Hyo-Il
Published: April 2019

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), containing cancer-specific DNAs derived from tumor cells, plays an important role in real-time monitoring of disease progression. Due to the abnormal growth of cancer and the promotion of cancer cell apoptosis by chemotherapy, the higher cfDNA concentration than healthy individuals is closely correlated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Also, the mutation detection in tumor cell-derived cfDNA can be used to predict tumor progression. Human blood contains many blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets), proteins, extracellular vesicles, and so on. These blood components act as the inhibitors when the cfDNA is analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. So, analysis of cfDNA using whole blood directly may affect the sensitivity of the analysis or result in false-negative. The conventional methods of cfDNA isolation, such as silica absorption and polymer-mediated enrichment, are labor-intensive and time-consuming processes that can also lead to the loss of cfDNA in cumbersome procedures. Here, we designed an integrated microfluidic chip capable of on-chip cfDNA extracting to reduce sample loss and processing time. Our proposed device minimizes the number of experimental steps from 5 to 1, the total processing time from 42 to 19 min, and the required volume of washing reagents from 2 to 0.4 ml for cfDNA enrichment compared to the conventional method.
Decreased expression of DNA methyltransferases in the testes of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia leads to changes in global DNA methylation levels
Authors: Uysal Fatma , Akkoyunlu Gokhan , Ozturk Saffet
Published: April 2019

DNA methylation plays key roles in epigenetic regulation during mammalian spermatogenesis. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) function in de novo and maintenance methylation processes by adding a methyl group to the fifth carbon atom of the cytosine residues within cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) and non-CpG dinucleotide sites. Azoospermia is one of the main causes of male infertility, and is classified as obstructive (OA) or non-obstructive (NOA) azoospermia based on histopathological characteristics. The molecular background of NOA is still largely unknown. DNA methylation performed by DNMTs is implicated in the transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis-related genes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cellular localisation and expression levels of the DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B proteins, as well as global DNA methylation profiles in testicular biopsy samples obtained from men with various types of NOA, including hypospermatogenesis (hyposperm), round spermatid (RS) arrest, spermatocyte (SC) arrest and Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome. In the testicular biopsy samples, DNMT1 expression and global DNA methylation levels decreased gradually from the hyposperm to SCO groups (P<0.05). DNMT3A expression was significantly decreased in the RS arrest, SC arrest and SCO groups compared with the hyposperm group (P<0.05). DNMT3B expression was significantly lower in the RS arrest and SCO groups than in the hyposperm group (P<0.05). Although both DNMT1 and DNMT3A were localised in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the spermatogenic cells, staining for DNMT3B was more intensive in the nucleus of spermatogenic cells. In conclusion, the findings suggest that significant changes in DNMT expression and global DNA methylation levels in spermatogenic cells may contribute to development of male infertility in the NOA groups. Further studies are needed to determine the molecular biological effects of the altered DNMT expression and DNA methylation levels on development of male infertility.
Defining mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)‐derived small extracellular vesicles for therapeutic applications
Authors: Witwer Kenneth W. , Van Balkom Bas W.M. , Bruno Stefania , Choo Andre , Dominici Massimo , Gimona Mario , Hill Andrew F. , De Kleijn Dominique , Koh Mickey , Lai Ruenn Chai , Mitsialis S. Alex , Ortiz Luis A. , Rohde Eva , Asada Takashi , Toh Wei Seong , Weiss Daniel J. , Zheng Lei , Giebel Bernd , Lim Sai Kiang
Published: April 2019

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are transiting rapidly towards clinical applications. However, discrepancies and controversies about the biology, functions, and potency of MSC‐sEVs have arisen due to several factors: the diversity of MSCs and their preparation; various methods of sEV production and separation; a lack of standardized quality assurance assays; and limited reproducibility of in vitro and in vivo functional assays. To address these issues, members of four societies (SOCRATES, ISEV, ISCT and ISBT) propose specific harmonization criteria for MSC‐sEVs to facilitate data sharing and comparison, which should help to advance the field towards clinical applications. Specifically, MSC‐sEVs should be defined by quantifiable metrics to identify the cellular origin of the sEVs in a preparation, presence of lipid‐membrane vesicles, and the degree of physical and biochemical integrity of the vesicles. For practical purposes, new MSC‐sEV preparations might also be measured against a well‐characterized MSC‐sEV biological reference. The ultimate goal of developing these metrics is to map aspects of MSC‐sEV biology and therapeutic potency onto quantifiable features of each preparation.