bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High on creativity: The impact of social liberalization policies on innovation
Authors: Vakili Keyvan , Zhang Laurina
Published: January 2018

Research Summary:We use a large‐sample inductive approach to explore the impact of two social liberalization policies (legalization of same‐sex civil unions and medical marijuana) and one anti‐liberalization policy (passage of abortion restrictions) on innovation. First, we show that liberalization policies increase state‐level patenting, while the anti‐liberalization policy reduces patenting. Next, we examine three possible mechanisms that could explain the findings. The results suggest that liberalization policies can increase the collaboration diversity of inventors, and hence, the rate, novelty, and impact of their innovation output, through promoting more liberal views and more openness to diversity. We also find speculative evidence that social liberalization policies increase entrepreneurial entry through promoting more diverse social interactions. We do not find evidence for liberal policies attracting top inventors from other regions.

Managerial Summary:How does the social context impact the rate and direction of innovation? This article examines this question by exploring the impact of two social liberalization policies (legalization of same‐sex civil unions and medical marijuana) and one anti‐liberalization policy (passage of abortion restrictions) on innovation in the United States. We first show that liberalization policies increase patenting, while the anti‐liberalization policy reduces patenting. Further analyses highlight the impact of these policies on individuals’ openness to diversity as a driving mechanism. We show that inventors collaborate with more diverse partners after the implementation of liberalization policies, producing more innovations and more novel and impactful ones. We discuss the implications for firm location decisions, the impact of corporate social responsibility on innovation, and sources of regional competitive advantage.
Photo‐Reconfigurable Azopolymer Etch Mask: Photofluidization‐Driven Reconfiguration and Edge Rectangularization
Authors: Choi Jaeho , Kang Hong Suk , Jo Wonhee , Kim Shin‐Hyun , Jung Yeon Sik , Kim Hee‐Tak
Published: January 2018

Directional photofluidization of azobenzene materials has provided unprecedented opportunities for the structural reconfiguration of circular holes, line gaps, ellipsoidal holes, and nanofunnel‐shaped micro/nanoarchitectures. However, all the reconfigured structures have a parabolic or round wall due to the tendency of the photofluidized azobenezene materials to minimize the surface area, which limits their use as a reconfigurable etch‐mask for the lithography process. In this work, a simple method is presented that can change the round walls of azopolymer architectures into rectangular walls, which is named rectangularization. By irradiating far‐field light on reconfigured azopolymer in a conformal contact with a flat polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, the round wall transforms to a rectangular one because the azopolymer adheres along the PDMS surface while being photofluidized. As a result, the rectangularization process creates a variety of structural features and sizes ranging from a few micrometers to 150 nm having a rectangular wall. By exploiting the rectangularization process, the concept of a photo‐reconfigurable etch mask is achieved, which transfers the mask patterns to a silicon pattern with a high structural fidelity and imparts a considerable flexibility to the lithography process.
Palladium‐Decorated Silicon Nanomesh Fabricated by Nanosphere Lithography for High Performance, Room Temperature Hydrogen Sensing
Authors: Gao Min , Cho Minkyu , Han Hyeuk‐Jin , Jung Yeon Sik , Park Inkyu
Published: January 2018

A hydrogen (H2) gas sensor based on a silicon (Si) nanomesh structure decorated with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles is fabricated via polystyrene nanosphere lithography and top‐down fabrication processes. The gas sensor shows dramatically improved H2 gas sensitivity compared with an Si thin film sensor without nanopatterns. Furthermore, a buffered oxide etchant treatment of the Si nanomesh structure results in an additional performance improvement. The final sensor device shows fast H2 response and high selectivity to H2 gas among other gases. The sensing performance is stable and shows repeatable responses in both dry and high humidity ambient environments. The sensor also shows high stability without noticeable performance degradation after one month. This approach allows the facile fabrication of high performance H2 sensors via a cost‐effective, complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) compatible, and scalable nanopatterning method.
Advances in Stimuli‐Responsive Polypeptide Nanogels
Authors: Jiang Zhongyu , Chen Jinjin , Cui Liguo , Zhuang Xiuli , Ding Jianxun , Chen Xuesi
Published: January 2018

Polymer nanogels, which are nanosized particles of hydrogels formed by physically or chemically crosslinking polymers, are one of the most promising nanoplatforms for use in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, gene therapy, and bioimaging. Polypeptide nanogels exhibit many advantages for applications in biomedical fields, including stable 3D structures, high drug‐loading efficiency, excellent biocompatibility, stimuli responsiveness, and so forth. More specifically, smart polypeptide nanogels undergo suitable transitions under endogenous (e.g., reduction, reactive oxygen species, pH, and enzymes) or exogenous stimuli (e.g., light, temperature, voltage, and magnetic fields) for on‐demand drug delivery. Here, a comprehensive introduction to the preparation and applications of diverse stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanogels is given. Moreover, the opportunities and challenges of polypeptide nanogels for the development of biomedicine are briefly predicted.
On symmetry‐modulated distributions: revisiting an old result and a step further
Authors: Azzalini Adelchi , Regoli Giuliana
Published: January 2018

In the context of modulated‐symmetry distributions, there exist various forms of skew‐elliptical families. We present yet another one, but with an unusual feature: the modulation factor of the baseline elliptical density is represented by a distribution function with an argument that is not an odd function, as it occurs instead with the overwhelming majority of similar formulations, not only with other skew‐elliptical families. The proposal is obtained by going back to the use of a lemma known since 1999, which can be seen as the general frame for a vast number of existing formulations, and use it on a different route. The broader target is to show that this “mother lemma” can still generate novel progeny. The final part of the paper examines a further level of generalization of the “mother‐lemma” where symmetry conditions are removed. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microstructure evolution during tempering of martensitic Fe–C–Cr alloys at 700 °C
Authors: Hou Ziyong , Babu R. Prasath , Hedström Peter , Odqvist Joakim
Published: January 2018

The microstructure evolution of two martensitic alloys Fe–0.15C–(1.0 and 4.0) Cr (wt%) was investigated, using X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, electron channeling contrast imaging and transmission electron microscopy, after interrupted tempering at 700 °C. It was found that quenching of 1-mm-thick samples in brine was sufficient to keep most of the carbon in solid solution in the martensite constituent. The high dislocation density of the martensite decreased rapidly during the initial tempering but continued tempering beyond a few minutes did not further reduce the dislocation density significantly. The initial martensitic microstructure with both coarse and fine laths coarsened slowly during tempering for both alloys. However, a clear difference between the two alloys was distinguished by studying units separated by high-angle boundaries (HABs). In the low-Cr alloy, M3C precipitates formed and coarsened rapidly, thus they caused little hindrance for migration of HABs, i.e., coarsening of the HAB units. On the other hand, in the high-Cr alloy, M7C3precipitates formed and coarsened slowly, thus they were more effective in pinning the HABs than M3C in the low-Cr alloy, i.e., coarsening of HAB units was minute in the high-Cr alloy.
Utilization of the Tablet Application Proband in Pedigree Construction and Assessment
Authors: McCarty Andrew Joseph , Miller Jeffrey M. , Fecteau Heather , Pennington Jeffrey W , Kessler Lisa
Published: January 2018

Many medical institutions have converted to a digital model for record keeping due to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. This Act provides incentives to health care systems to accelerate and encourage the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems. The pedigree as a tool in medicine provides an efficient method to assess and represent an individual's health and family health risks that may otherwise not be apparent in the medical record in a clearly identifiable way (Schuette, J. L., & Bennett 2009). Many clinicians continue to construct pedigrees using pen and paper method despite findings of improved identification of at risk patients with similar electronic intake tools (Arar et al. in Personalized Medicine 2011 8:523–32). The goal of this study was to explore the patient and practitioner experience with electronic pedigree programs using Proband, an application developed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for genetic counselors to construct pedigrees during genetic counseling sessions directly on iPads. The first part of this study looked at the patient experience and assessed time to take the pedigree and the impact of using an electronic pedigree tool on the relationship between participant and genetic counselor. This involved 50 participants and was compared with the traditional paper method of taking a pedigree. There was no statistical significance found between the two different mediums in accuracy, speed, and rapport with provider. The second part of the study assessed the usability of Proband by ten genetic counselors. Overall, the application received a system usability score of 90/100 with a majority (7/10) of counselors agreeing that they would use this application in their clinic. The positive outcome of this study encourages future work to assess the impact and usability of programs on a larger scale as they continue to integrate into current electronic health records.
Sturmian words and Cantor sets arising from unique expansions over ternary alphabets
Authors: KWON DOYONG
Published: January 2018

Over a finite alphabet$A$of real numbers, unique expansions in base$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$are considered. A real number$G_{A}$called the generalized golden ratio is a critical point of a situation of unique expansions. If$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}G_{A}$. Komornik, Lai and Pedicini [Generalized golden ratios of ternary alphabets.J. Eur. Math. Soc.13(4) (2011), 1113–1146] investigated the case where$A$consists of three real numbers, and demonstrated that Sturmian words curiously emerge out of the generalized golden ratio. The present paper focuses on Sturmian words under this context. For a given alphabet$A=\{a_{1},a_{2},a_{3}\}$with$a_{1}<a_{2}<a_{3}$, we give a complete characterization of the corresponding Sturmian words effectively and algorithmically, which reveals interesting structures behind the generalized golden ratios.
A characterization of postcritically minimal Newton maps of complex exponential functions
Authors: MAMAYUSUPOV KHUDOYOR
Published: January 2018

We obtain a unique, canonical one-to-one correspondence between the space of marked postcritically finite Newton maps of polynomials and the space of postcritically minimal Newton maps of entire maps that take the form$p(z)\exp (q(z))$for$p(z)$,$q(z)$polynomials and$\exp (z)$, the complex exponential function. This bijection preserves the dynamics and embedding of Julia sets and is induced by a surgery tool developed by Haïssinsky.
Evaluating the benefits of a youth mental health curriculum for students in Nicaragua: a parallel-group, controlled pilot investigation
Authors: Ravindran Arun V. , Herrera Andres , da Silva Tricia L. , Henderson Joanna , Castrillo Magda Esther , Kutcher Stan
Published: January 2018

Background.

High rates of mental illness and addictions are well documented among youth in Nicaragua. Limited mental health services, poor mental health knowledge and stigma reduce help-seeking. The Mental Health Curriculum (MHC) is a Canadian school-based program that has shown a positive impact on such contributing factors. This pilot project evaluated the impact of the MHC on mental wellness and functioning among youth in Leon, Nicaragua.

Methods.

High school and university students (aged 14–25 years) were assigned to intervention (12-week MHC;n  =  567) and control (wait-list;n  =  346) groups in a non-randomized design. Both groups completed measures of mental health knowledge, stigma and function at baseline and 12 weeks. Multivariate analyses and repeated measures analyses were used to compare group outcomes.

Results.

At baseline, intervention students showed higher substance use (mean difference [MD]  =  0.24) and lower perceived stress (MD = −1.36) than controls (p  <  0.05); there were no other group differences in function. At 12 weeks, controlling for baseline differences, intervention students reported significantly higher mental health knowledge (MD  =  1.75), lower stigma (MD  =  1.78), more adaptive coping (MD  =  0.82), better lifestyle choices (MD  =  0.06) and lower perceived stress (MD = −1.63) (p  <  0.05) than controls. The clinical significance as measured by effect sizes was moderate for mental health knowledge, small to moderate for stigma and modest for the other variables. Substance use also decreased among intervention students to similar levels as controls (MD  =  0.03) (p > 0.05).

Conclusions.

This pilot investigation demonstrates the benefits of the MHC in a low-and-middle-income youth population. The findings replicate results found in Canadian student populations and support its cross-cultural applicability.
Revisiting slope influence in turbulent bedload transport: consequences for vertical flow structure and transport rate scaling
Authors: Maurin Raphael , Chauchat Julien , Frey Philippe
Published: January 2018

Gravity-driven turbulent bedload transport has been extensively studied over the past century in regard to its importance for Earth surface processes such as natural riverbed morphological evolution. In the present contribution, the influence of the longitudinal channel inclination angle on gravity-driven turbulent bedload transport is studied in an idealised framework considering steady and uniform flow conditions. From an analytical analysis based on the two-phase continuous equations, it is shown that: (i) the classical slope correction of the critical Shields number is based on an erroneous formulation of the buoyancy force, (ii) the influence of the slope is not restricted to the critical Shields number but affects the whole transport formula and (iii) pressure-driven and gravity-driven turbulent bedload transport are not equivalent from the slope influence standpoint. Analysing further the granular flow driving mechanisms, the longitudinal slope is shown to not only influence the fluid bed shear stress and the resistance of the granular bed, but also to affect the fluid flow inside the granular bed – responsible for the transition from bedload transport to debris flow. The relative influence of these coupled mechanisms allows us to understand the evolution of the vertical structure of the granular flow and to predict the transport rate scaling law as a function of a rescaled Shields number. The theoretical analysis is validated with coupled fluid–discrete element simulations of idealised gravity-driven turbulent bedload transport, performed over a wide range of Shields number values, density ratios and channel inclination angles. In particular, all the data are shown to collapse onto a master curve when considering the sediment transport rate as a function of the proposed rescaled Shields number.
Geometric generalised Lagrangian-mean theories
Authors: Gilbert Andrew D. , Vanneste Jacques
Published: January 2018

Many fluctuation-driven phenomena in fluids can be analysed effectively using the generalised Lagrangian-mean (GLM) theory of Andrews & McIntyre (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 89, 1978, pp. 609–646) This finite-amplitude theory relies on particle-following averaging to incorporate the constraints imposed by the material conservation of certain quantities in inviscid regimes. Its original formulation, in terms of Cartesian coordinates, relies implicitly on an assumed Euclidean structure; as a result, it does not have a geometrically intrinsic, coordinate-free interpretation on curved manifolds, and suffers from undesirable features. Motivated by this, we develop a geometric generalisation of GLM that we formulate intrinsically using coordinate-free notation. One benefit is that the theory applies to arbitrary Riemannian manifolds; another is that it establishes a clear distinction between results that stem directly from geometric consistency and those that depend on particular choices. Starting from a decomposition of an ensemble of flow maps into mean and perturbation, we define the Lagrangian-mean momentum as the average of the pull-back of the momentum one-form by the perturbation flow maps. We show that it obeys a simple equation which guarantees the conservation of Kelvin’s circulation, irrespective of the specific definition of the mean flow map. The Lagrangian-mean momentum is the integrand in Kelvin’s circulation and distinct from the mean velocity (the time derivative of the mean flow map) which advects the contour of integration. A pseudomomentum consistent with that in GLM can then be defined by subtracting the Lagrangian-mean momentum from the one-form obtained from the mean velocity using the manifold’s metric. The definition of the mean flow map is based on choices made for reasons of convenience or aesthetics. We discuss four possible definitions: a direct extension of standard GLM, a definition based on optimal transportation, a definition based on a geodesic distance in the group of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms, and the ‘glm’ definition proposed by Soward & Roberts (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 661, 2010, pp. 45–72). Assuming small-amplitude perturbations, we carry out order-by-order calculations to obtain explicit expressions for the mean velocity and Lagrangian-mean momentum at leading order. We also show how the wave-action conservation of GLM extends to the geometric setting. To make the paper self-contained, we introduce in some detail the tools of differential geometry and main ideas of geometric fluid dynamics on which we rely. These include variational formulations which we use for alternative derivations of some key results. We mostly focus on the Euler equations for incompressible inviscid fluids but sketch out extensions to the rotating–stratified Boussinesq, compressible Euler, and magnetohydrodynamic equations. We illustrate our results with an application to the interaction of inertia-gravity waves with balanced mean flows in rotating–stratified fluids.
Rapidly rotating precessing cylinder flows: forced triadic resonances
Authors: Lopez Juan M. , Marques Francisco
Published: January 2018

Rapidly rotating cylinder flows subjected to low-amplitude precessional forcing are studied numerically over a range of cylinder and precessional rotation rates. For sufficiently small rotation rates, viscous effects lead to a forced overturning flow that is steady in the precession (table) frame of reference. Increasing the rotation rates, this forced flow loses stability in a Hopf bifurcation, which can be either supercritical or subcritical, and may preserve or break the symmetry of the system, depending on the parameter regime studied. Regardless of these details of the Hopf bifurcation, it is found that the Hopf instability is associated with a slightly detuned triadic resonance between the forced overturning flow and two free Kelvin modes (inviscid eigenmodes of the rotating cylinder). Further increases in rotation rates lead to a sequence of secondary instabilities which also follow a generic pattern irrespective of the parameter regime investigated. The relationship between this sequence of instabilities and the resultant nonlinear dynamics with the experimentally observed phenomenon of resonant collapse is discussed.
The optimal kinematic dynamo driven by steady flows in a sphere
Authors: Chen L. , Herreman W. , Li K. , Livermore P. W. , Luo J. W. , Jackson A.
Published: January 2018

We present a variational optimization method that can identify the most efficient kinematic dynamo in a sphere, where efficiency is based on the value of a magnetic Reynolds number that uses enstrophy to characterize the inductive effects of the fluid flow. In this large-scale optimization, we restrict the flow to be steady and incompressible, and the boundary of the sphere to be no-slip and electrically insulating. We impose these boundary conditions using a Galerkin method in terms of specifically designed vector field bases. We solve iteratively for the flow field and the accompanying magnetic eigenfunction in order to find the minimal critical magnetic Reynolds number $Rm_{c,min}$ for the onset of a dynamo. Although nonlinear, this iteration procedure converges to a single solution and there is no evidence that this is not a global optimum. We find that $Rm_{c,min}=64.45$ is at least three times lower than that of any published example of a spherical kinematic dynamo generated by steady flows, and our optimal dynamo clearly operates above the theoretical lower bounds for dynamo action. The corresponding optimal flow has a spatially localized helical structure in the centre of the sphere, and the dominant components are invariant under rotation by $\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}$.
The curvilinear relationship between career plateauing and organizational citizenship behavior
Authors: Song Gi R. , Kim Kyoung S. , Lee Min W.
Published: January 2018

According to social exchange theory, the motivation for organizational citizenship behavior can be understood with the help of the frameworks of obligation to reciprocate and expected reciprocity. This study predicts that the true motivation for organizational citizenship behavior could be differentiated conditional on the career plateau. These relationships predict the existence of a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between the career plateau and organizational citizenship behavior. In addition to exploring this relationship, the study attempted to discover the effect of organizational commitment and job involvement on the relationship. As a result, a U-shaped curvilinear relationship is applied between career plateau and four dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior except civic virtue. Commitment and involvement show unexpected moderating effects on those curved relationships.
Partial melting of oceanic sediments in subduction zones and its contribution to the petrogenesis of peraluminous granites in the Chinese Altai
Authors: LUO QUN , ZHANG CHEN , JIANG SHU , LIU LUOFU , LIU DONGDONG , KONG XIANGYE , LIU XIAOYU , WANG XINPENG
Published: January 2018

Late Carboniferous magmatism in the Chinese Altai provides an important view of geodynamic processes active during crustal growth in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). In this study, five representative peraluminous granite plutons from the Chinese Altai were selected for systematic geochronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic analyses (Table 1). These granites were emplaced between 449 and 327 Ma in an active subduction zone, and have moderate to high SiO2 (66.54–76.13 wt%), moderate Na2O+K2O (6.27–7.66 wt%), and high Al2O3 contents (12.43–16.18 wt%). All granite samples in this study showed significant decoupling of the Nd and Hf isotope systems. Results show negative εNd(t) values (−3.3 to −0.9), and predominantly positive εHf(t) values (+0.24 to +8.01, n=57) except for a few negative εHf(t) values (−7.44 to −0.03, n=9), high Mg# values (28.69–53.33), high Nd/Hf ratios (4.26–43.57), and enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g. Pb, Th, and U), suggesting that the granites were derived from the partial melting of oceanic sediments and the associated mantle wedge, with fractionation of plagioclase, K-feldspar and biotite. In situ zircon Hf isotopic analyses yield negative εHf(t) values from −30.6 to −13.7 for the zircon xenocrysts. The U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic ratios of these zircon xenocrysts were probably inherited from oceanic sediments. Zircon saturation temperatures suggest that these peraluminous granites were emplaced at 537–765°C. We propose that: (1) the Nd isotopic system more faithfully reflects the source of peraluminous magmas in the Chinese Altai than the Hf isotopic system, and (2) the oceanic sediment recycling was an important process during continental growth in the CAOB.
Managerial Ability and the Shareholder Tax Sensitivity of Dividends
Authors: Guan Jenny Xinjiao , Li Oliver Zhen , Ma Jiameng
Published: January 2018

We examine the impact of managerial ability on the shareholder tax sensitivity of dividends. We find that managerial ability increases the sensitivity of dividends to the dividend tax penalty. In addition, the positive association between managerial ability and the shareholder tax sensitivity of dividends decreases in institutional ownership. Further, managerial ability increases the shareholder tax sensitivity of the substitution of dividends with share repurchases. Finally, evidence from tax reforms reveals that high ability managers are more responsive to a reduction in dividend tax penalty than to an increase. We conclude that managerial ability influences the formation of tax-efficient dividend policies.
Spatially localized particle energization by Landau damping in current sheets produced by strong Alfvén wave collisions
Authors: Howes Gregory G. , McCubbin Andrew J. , Klein Kristopher G.
Published: January 2018

Understanding the removal of energy from turbulent fluctuations in a magnetized plasma and the consequent energization of the constituent plasma particles is a major goal of heliophysics and astrophysics. Previous work has shown that nonlinear interactions among counterpropagating Alfvén waves – or Alfvén wave collisions – are the fundamental building block of astrophysical plasma turbulence and naturally generate current sheets in the strongly nonlinear limit. A nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation of a strong Alfvén wave collision is used to examine the damping of the electromagnetic fluctuations and the associated energization of particles that occurs in self-consistently generated current sheets. A simple model explains the flow of energy due to the collisionless damping and the associated particle energization, as well as the subsequent thermalization of the particle energy by collisions. The net particle energization by the parallel electric field is shown to be spatially localized, and the nonlinear evolution is essential in enabling spatial non-uniformity. Using the recently developed field–particle correlation technique, we show that particles resonant with the Alfvén waves in the simulation dominate the energy transfer, demonstrating conclusively that Landau damping plays a key role in the spatially localized damping of the electromagnetic fluctuations and consequent energization of the particles in this strongly nonlinear simulation.
Tryptophan supplementation and serotonin function: genetic variations in behavioural effects
Authors: Gibson E. L.
Published: January 2018

The neurotransmitter serotonin has a role in affective disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as sleep, cognitive function and appetite. This review examines the evidence that serotonin-related genotypes may moderate the behavioural effects of supplementation with the serotonin precursor amino acidl-tryptophan (TRP), on which synthesis of serotonin (or 5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) depends. However, 95 % of serotonin is synthesised and used in the periphery, and TRP is also metabolised via non-5-HT routes such as the kynurenine pathway. Moreover, understanding of genotypes involved in regulation of serotonin raises questions over the generalisability of TRP effects on behaviour across individuals with varied serotonergic genotypes. To date, only differences between variants of the 5-HT transporter-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) have been investigated in relation to behavioural effects of TRP supplementation. Effects of 5-HTTLPR genotypes are usually compared between the alleles that are either high (L/L′) or low (S/S′) expressing of mRNA for the 5-HT transporter receptor. Yet, another key genetic variable is sex: in women, the S/S′ genotype predicts sensitivity to improved mood and reduced cortisol by TRP supplementation, during stressful challenges, whereas the L/L′ genotype protects against stress-induced mood deterioration. In men, the L/L′ genotype may confer risk of stress-induced increases in negative affect; there are insufficient data to assess effects on male S/S′ genotypes. However, better-powered studies to detect sex by genotype by stress by TRP interactions, as well as consideration of more genotypes, are needed before strong conclusions and recommendations for behavioural effects of TRP treatment can be reached.
Efficient acceleration of a dense plasma projectile to hyper velocities in the laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration scheme
Authors: Badziak J. , Krousky E. , Marczak J. , Parys P. , Pisarczyk T. , Rosiński M. , Sarzynski A. , Chodukowski T. , Dostal J. , Dudzak R. , Kalinowska Z. , Kucharik M. , Liska R. , Pfeifer M. , Ullschmied J. , Zaraś-Szydłowska A.
Published: January 2018

The experimental study of the plasma projectile acceleration in the laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration (LICPA) scheme is reported. In the experiment performed at the kilojoule PALS laser facility, the parameters of the projectile were measured using interferometry, a streak camera and ion diagnostics, and the measurements were supported by two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. It is shown that in the LICPA accelerator with a 200-J laser driver, a 4-μg gold plasma projectile is accelerated to the velocity of 140 km/s with the energetic acceleration efficiency of 15–19% which is significantly higher than those achieved with the commonly used ablative acceleration and the highest among the ones measured so far for any projectiles accelerated to the velocities ≥100 km/s. This achievement opens the possibility of creation and investigation of high-energy-density matter states with the use of moderate-energy lasers and may also have an impact on the development of the impact ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Informed Programme in a Community Perinatal Team
Authors: Wilson Hannah , Donachie Alexandra L.
Published: January 2018

Background:Adapted DBT programmes have been well documented but little has been published on such programmes in the perinatal period.Aim:To assess the effectiveness of a stand-alone DBT skills group for perinatal women with emotion dysregulation.Method:A stand-alone DBT-informed skills training group was offered to 21 women with emotional dysregulation under the care of a perinatal community mental health team; 14 completed the programme. Staff received support via a consultation group. Modules included mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness adapted to the specific demands of parenting infants. Outcome measures were collected at three time points: assessment, start of the group and at the end.Results:Statistical analysis showed significant reduction in CORE scores over the intervention period (t(13) = 5.32,p< .001; Cohen'sd= 0.83), with similar effects on the Mental Health Confidence Scale (t(13) = ‒8.03,p< .001, Cohen'sd= 0.83) and Living with Emotions Scale (t(13) = ‒9.42,p< .001, Cohen'sd= 0.93). There were no significant changes on these three measures from assessment to start of the group.Conclusions:In this uncontrolled study, the intervention period was associated with reduced distress, increased confidence and ability to regulate emotion. Recommendations for continuing this model of service delivery are made. Further research is needed.
Changes in Emotion Processing following Brief Augmented Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy for Functional Neurological Symptoms
Authors: Williams Isobel Anne , Howlett Stephanie , Levita Liat , Reuber Markus
Published: January 2018

Background: Functional neurological symptoms (FNS) are considered non-volitional and often very disabling, but are not explainable by neurological disease or structural abnormalities. Brief Augmented Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy (BAPIT) was adapted to treat the putative emotion processing deficits thought to be central to FNS aetiology and maintenance. BAPIT for FNS has previously been shown to improve levels of distress and functioning, but it is unknown whether improvements on such measures correlate with changes in emotion processing ‒ which this treatment focuses on. Aim: To determine (a) whether the recently developed Emotional Processing Scale-25 can be used to demonstrate BAPIT-associated changes in patients with FNS, and (b) whether changes in the EPS-25 are associated with changes in previously validated outcome measures. Method: 44 patients with FNS completed questionnaires including the EPS-25 and measures of clinical symptomology (health-related quality of life (SF-36), somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), psychological distress (CORE-10) and illness understanding (BIPQ)) pre- and post-therapy. Results: At group level, emotion processing improved following therapy (p = .049). Some measures of clinical symptomology also improved, namely health-related quality of life (p = .02) and illness understanding (p = .01). Improvements in the EPS-25 correlated with improvements in mental health-related quality of life and psychological distress. Conclusions: Emotion processing and some measures of clinical symptomology improved in patients with FNS following BAPIT. The EPS-25 demonstrated changes that correlated with previously validated outcome measures. The EPS-25 is a suitable measure of psychotherapy-associated change in the FNS patient population.
MODELLING HYDROGEN CLEARANCE FROM THE RETINA
Authors: FARROW D. E. , HOCKING G. C. , CRINGLE S. J. , YU D.-Y.
Published: January 2018

The human retina is supplied by two vascular systems: the highly vascular choroidal, situated behind the retina; and the retinal, which is dependent on the restriction that the light path must be minimally disrupted. Between these two circulations, the avascular retinal layers depend on diffusion of metabolites through the tissue. Oxygen supply to these layers may be threatened by diseases affecting microvasculature, for example diabetes and hypertension, which may ultimately cause loss of sight.

An accurate model of retinal blood flow will therefore facilitate the study of retinal oxygen supply and, hence, the complications caused by systemic vascular disease. Here, two simple models of the blood flow and exchange of hydrogen with the retina are presented and compared qualitatively with data obtained from experimental measurements. The models capture some interesting features of the exchange and highlight effects that will need to be considered in a more sophisticated model and in the interpretation of experimental results.
China Catching Up to United States in Research and Development
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2018

China recently overtook the European Union in spending on basic and applied research in science and engineering.
The consequences of niche and physiological differentiation of archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidisers for nitrous oxide emissions
Authors: Hink Linda , Gubry-Rangin Cécile , Nicol Graeme W , Prosser James I
Published: January 2018

High and low rates of ammonium supply are believed to favour ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), respectively. Although their contrasting affinities for ammonium are suggested to account for these differences, the influence of ammonia concentration on AOA and AOB has not been tested under environmental conditions. In addition, while both AOB and AOA contribute to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil, N2O yields (N2O–N produced per NO2−–N generated from ammonia oxidation) of AOA are lower, suggesting lower emissions when AOA dominate ammonia oxidation. This study tested the hypothesis that ammonium supplied continuously at low rates is preferentially oxidised by AOA, with lower N2O yield than expected for AOB-dominated processes. Soil microcosms were supplied with water, urea or a slow release, urea-based fertiliser and 1-octyne (inhibiting only AOB) was applied to distinguish AOA and AOB activity and associated N2O production. Low ammonium supply, from mineralisation of organic matter, or of the fertiliser, led to growth, ammonia oxidation and N2O production by AOA only, with low N2O yield. High ammonium supply, from free urea within the fertiliser or after urea addition, led to growth of both groups, but AOB-dominated ammonia oxidation was associated with twofold greater N2O yield than that dominated by AOA. This study therefore demonstrates growth of both AOA and AOB at high ammonium concentration, confirms AOA dominance during low ammonium supply and suggests that slow release or organic fertilisers potentially mitigate N2O emissions through differences in niche specialisation and N2O production mechanisms in AOA and AOB.
Cell death-based approaches in treatment of the urinary tract-associated diseases: a fight for survival in the killing fields
Authors: Martin-Sanchez Diego , Fontecha-Barriuso Miguel , Sanchez-Niño Maria Dolores , Ramos Adrian M. , Cabello Ramiro , Gonzalez-Enguita Carmen , Linkermann Andreas , Sanz Ana Belén , Ortiz Alberto
Published: January 2018

Urinary tract-associated diseases comprise a complex set of disorders with a variety of etiologic agents and therapeutic approaches and a huge global burden of disease, estimated at around 1 million deaths per year. These diseases include cancer (mainly prostate, renal, and bladder), urinary tract infections, and urolithiasis. Cell death plays a key role in the pathogenesis and therapy of these conditions. During urinary tract infections, invading bacteria may either promote or prevent host cell death by interfering with cell death pathways. This has been studied in detail for uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Inhibition of host cell death may allow intracellular persistence of live bacteria, while promoting host cell death causes tissue damage and releases the microbes. Both crystals and urinary tract obstruction lead to tubular cell death and kidney injury. Among the pathomechanisms, apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy represent key processes. With respect to malignant disorders, traditional therapeutic efforts have focused on directly promoting cancer cell death. This may exploit tumor-specific characteristics, such as targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling and mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) activity in renal cancer and inducing survival factor deprivation by targeting androgen signaling in prostate cancer. An area of intense research is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, aiming at unleashing the full potential of immune cells to kill cancer cells. In the future, this may be combined with additional approaches exploiting intrinsic sensitivities to specific modes of cell death such as necroptosis and ferroptosis. Here, we review the contribution of diverse cell death mechanisms to the pathogenesis of urinary tract-associated diseases as well as the potential for novel therapeutic approaches based on an improved molecular understanding of these mechanisms.
Necroptosis and neutrophil-associated disorders
Authors: Wang Xiaoliang , Yousefi Shida , Simon Hans-Uwe
Published: January 2018

Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrosis and is dependent on a signaling pathway involving receptor interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). Necroptosis is considered to have important functions in inflammation and, based on studies with animal disease models, is believed likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of many human inflammatory diseases. In neutrophils, necroptosis has recently been reported to be triggered by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) stimulation, ligation of adhesion receptors, exposure to monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, or phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Because neutrophils are involved in many kinds of tissue inflammation and disease, neutrophil necroptosis probably plays a vital role in such processes. Dissecting the signaling pathway of neutrophil necroptotic death may help to identify novel drug targets for inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss different mechanisms which regulate neutrophil necroptosis and are thus potentially important in neutrophil-associated disorders.
Cell death-based treatments of melanoma:conventional treatments and new therapeutic strategies
Authors: Mattia Gianfranco , Puglisi Rossella , Ascione Barbara , Malorni Walter , Carè Alessandra , Matarrese Paola
Published: January 2018

The incidence of malignant melanoma has continued to rise during the past decades. However, in the last few years, treatment protocols have significantly been improved thanks to a better understanding of the key oncogenes and signaling pathways involved in its pathogenesis and progression. Anticancer therapy would either kill tumor cells by triggering apoptosis or permanently arrest them in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Unfortunately, melanoma is often refractory to commonly used anticancer drugs. More recently, however, some new anticancer strategies have been developed that are “external” to cancer cells, for example stimulating the immune system’s response or inhibiting angiogenesis. In fact, the increasing knowledge of melanoma pathogenetic mechanisms, in particular the discovery of genetic mutations activating specific oncogenes, stimulated the development of molecularly targeted therapies, a form of treatment in which a drug (chemical or biological) is developed with the goal of exclusively destroying cancer cells by interfering with specific molecules that drive growth and spreading of the tumor. Again, after the initial exciting results associated with targeted therapy, tumor resistance and/or relapse of the melanoma lesion have been observed. Hence, very recently, new therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of the immune system function have been developed. Since cancer cells are known to be capable of evading immune-mediated surveillance, i.e., to block the immune system cell activity, a series of molecular strategies, including monoclonal antibodies, have been developed in order to “release the brakes” on the immune system igniting immune reactivation and hindering metastatic melanoma cell growth. In this review we analyze the various biological strategies underlying conventional chemotherapy as well as the most recently developed targeted therapies and immunotherapies, pointing at the molecular mechanisms of cell injury and death engaged by the different classes of therapeutic agents.
MIF inhibits the formation and toxicity of misfolded SOD1 amyloid aggregates: implications for familial ALS
Authors: Shvil Neta , Banerjee Victor , Zoltsman Guy , Shani Tom , Kahn Joy , Abu-Hamad Salah , Papo Niv , Engel Stanislav , Bernhagen Jurgen , Israelson Adrian
Published: January 2018

Mutations in superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. It has been suggested that toxicity of mutant SOD1 results from its misfolding, however, it is yet unclear why misfolded SOD1 accumulates specifically within motor neurons. We recently demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)—a multifunctional protein with cytokine/chemokine activity and cytosolic chaperone-like properties—inhibits the accumulation of misfolded SOD1. Here, we show that MIF inhibits mutant SOD1 nuclear clearance when overexpressed in motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells. In addition, MIF alters the typical SOD1 amyloid aggregation pathway in vitro, and, instead, promotes the formation of disordered aggregates, as measured by Thioflavin T (ThT) assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. Moreover, we report that MIF reduces the toxicity of misfolded SOD1 by directly interacting with it, and that the chaperone function and protective effect of MIF in neuronal cultures do not require its intrinsic catalytic activities. Importantly, we report that the locked-trimeric MIFN110C mutant, which exhibits strongly impaired CD74-mediated cytokine functions, has strong chaperone activity, dissociating, for the first time, these two cellular functions. Altogether, our study implicates MIF as a potential therapeutic candidate in the treatment of ALS.
Cellular death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and diabetic complications
Authors: Volpe Caroline Maria Oliveira , Villar-Delfino Pedro Henrique , dos Anjos Paula Martins Ferreira , Nogueira-Machado José Augusto
Published: January 2018

Chronic or intermittent hyperglycemia is associated with the development of diabetic complications. Several signaling pathways can be altered by having hyperglycemia in different tissues, producing oxidative stress, the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as well as the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and cellular death (pathological autophagy and/or apoptosis). However, the signaling pathways that are directly triggered by hyperglycemia appear to have a pivotal role in diabetic complications due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, and cellular death. The present review will discuss the role of cellular death in diabetic complications, and it will suggest the cause and the consequences between the hyperglycemia-induced signaling pathways and cell death. The signaling pathways discussed in this review are to be described step-by-step, together with their respective inhibitors. They involve diacylglycerol, the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and NADPH-oxidase system, and the consequent production of ROS. This was initially entitled the “dangerous metabolic route in diabetes”. The historical usages and the recent advancement of new drugs in controlling possible therapeutical targets have been highlighted, in order to evaluate the evolution of knowledge in this sensitive area. It has recently been shown that the metabolic responses to stimuli (i.e., hyperglycemia) involve an integrated network of signaling pathways, in order to define the exact responses. Certain new drugs have been experimentally tested—or suggested and proposed—for their ability to modulate the possible biochemical therapeutical targets for the downregulation of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, heart disease, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and cellular death. The aim of this study was to critically and didactically evaluate the exact steps of these signaling pathways and hence mark the indicated sites for the actions of such drugs and their possible consequences. This review will emphasize, besides others, the therapeutical targets for controlling the signaling pathways, when aimed at the downregulation of ROS generation, oxidative stress, and, consequently, cellular death—with all of these conditions being a problem in diabetes.