bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Injury and Illness Rates During Ultratrail Running
Authors: Vernillo G. , Savoldelli A. , La Torre A. , Skafidas S. , Bortolan L. , Schena F.
Published: April 2016

This study aimed to describe injury/illness rates in ultratrail runners competing in a 65-km race to build a foundation for injury prevention and help race organizers to plan medical provision for these events. Prospectively transcribed medical records were analysed for 77 athletes at the end of the race. Number of injuries/illnesses per 1 000 runners and per 1 000-h run, overall injury/illness rate and 90% confidence intervals and rates for major and minor illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, and skin disorders were analysed. A total of 132 injuries/illnesses were encountered during the race. The overall injuries/illnesses were 1.9 per runner and 187.9 per 1000-h run. Medical illnesses were the most prominent medical diagnoses encountered (50.3%), followed by musculoskeletal injuries (32.8%), and skin-related disorders (16.9%). Despite the ultra-long nature of the race, the majority of injuries/illnesses were minor in nature. Medical staff and runners should prepare to treat all types of injuries and illnesses, especially the fatigue arising throughout the course of an ultratrail run and injuries to the lower limbs. Future studies should attempt to systematically identify injury locations and mechanisms in order to better direct injury prevention strategies and plan more accurate medical care.
Facet Effusion without Radiographic Instability Has No Effect on the Outcome of Minimally Invasive Decompression Surgery
Authors: Tamai Koji , Kato Minori , Konishi Sadahiko , Matsumura Akira , Hayashi Kazunori , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: April 2016

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective

Lumbar segmental instability is a key factor determining whether decompression alone or decompression and fusion surgery is required to treat lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Some recent reports have suggested that facet joint effusion is correlated with spinal segmental instability. The aim of this study is to report the effect of facet effusion without radiographic segmental instability on the outcome of less-invasive decompression surgery for LSS.

Methods

Seventy-nine patients with LSS (32 women, mean age: 69.1 ± 9.1 years) who had no segmental instability on dynamic radiographs before undergoing L4–L5 microsurgical decompression and who were followed for at least 2 years postoperatively were analyzed. They were divided into three groups on the basis of the existence and size of L4–L5 facet effusion using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging: grade 0 had no effusion ( n = 31), grade 1 had measurable effusion ( n = 35), and grade 2 had large effusion ( n = 13). Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS), and the Short-Form (SF)-36 scores were recorded preoperatively and 12 and 24 months postoperatively.

Results

JOA score; VAS of low back pain, leg pain, and numbness; and SF-36 (physical component summary and mental component summary) scores did not differ significantly between the three groups in every terms ( p = 0.921, 0.996, 0.950, 0.693, 0.374, 0.304, and 0.624, respectively, at final follow-up).

Conclusion

In the absence of radiographic instability, facet joint effusion has no effect on the outcome of less-invasive decompression surgery.
Pseudospectral Gaussian quantum dynamics: Efficient sampling of potential energy surfaces
Authors: Heaps Charles W. , Mazziotti David A.
Published: April 2016

Trajectory-based Gaussian basis sets have been tremendously successful in describing high-dimensional quantum molecular dynamics. In this paper, we introduce a pseudospectral Gaussian-based method that achieves accurate quantum dynamics using efficient, real-space sampling of the time-dependent basis set. As in other Gaussian basis methods, we begin with a basis set expansion using time-dependent Gaussian basis functions guided by classical mechanics. Unlike other Gaussian methods but characteristic of the pseudospectral and collocation methods, the basis set is tested with N Dirac delta functions, where N is the number of basis functions, rather than using the basis function as test functions. As a result, the integration for matrix elements is reduced to function evaluation. Pseudospectral Gaussian dynamics only requires O(N) potential energy calculations, in contrast to O(N2) evaluations in a variational calculation. The classical trajectories allow small basis sets to sample high-dimensional potentials. Applications are made to diatomic oscillations in a Morse potential and a generalized version of the Henon-Heiles potential in two, four, and six dimensions. Comparisons are drawn to full analytical evaluation of potential energy integrals (variational) and the bra-ket averaged Taylor (BAT) expansion, an O(N) approximation used in Gaussian-based dynamics. In all cases, the pseudospectral Gaussian method is competitive with full variational calculations that require a global, analytical, and integrable potential energy surface. Additionally, the BAT breaks down when quantum mechanical coherence is particularly strong (i.e., barrier reflection in the Morse oscillator). The ability to obtain variational accuracy using only the potential energy at discrete points makes the pseudospectral Gaussian method a promising avenue for on-the-fly dynamics, where electronic structure calculations become computationally significant.
Positive solution for a quasilinear elliptic equation involving critical or supercritical exponent
Authors: Liu Haidong
Published: April 2016

This paper concerns the quasilinear elliptic equation −Δu+u−Δ(u2)u=up−2u+μuq−2uinRN, where N ≥ 3, 2 < p < 2 ⋅ 2∗ = 4N/(N − 2) ≤ q, and μ is a positive parameter. For μ > 0 sufficiently small, existence of a positive solution will be proved via variational methods together with truncation technique and L∞-estimate. The main novelty is that no growth condition is required for the nonlinearity.
Flow-driven pattern formation in the calcium-oxalate system
Authors: Bohner Bíborka , Endrődi Balázs , Horváth Dezső , Tóth Ágota
Published: April 2016

The precipitation reaction of calcium oxalate is studied experimentally in the presence of spatial gradients by controlled flow of calcium into oxalate solution. The density difference between the reactants leads to strong convection in the form of a gravity current that drives the spatiotemporal pattern formation. The phase diagram of the system is constructed, the evolving precipitate patterns are analyzed and quantitatively characterized by their diameters and the average height of the gravity flow. The compact structures of calcium oxalate monohydrate produced at low flow rates are replaced by the thermodynamically unstable calcium oxalate dihydrate favored in the presence of a strong gravity current.
Pyridine adsorption and diffusion on Pt(111) investigated with density functional theory
Authors: Kolsbjerg Esben L. , Groves Michael N. , Hammer Bjørk
Published: April 2016

The adsorption, diffusion, and dissociation of pyridine, C5H5N, on Pt(111) are investigated with van der Waals-corrected density functional theory. An elaborate search for local minima in the adsorption potential energy landscape reveals that the intact pyridine adsorbs with the aromatic ring parallel to the surface. Piecewise interconnections of the local minima in the energy landscape reveal that the most favourable diffusion path for pyridine has a barrier of 0.53 eV. In the preferred path, the pyridine remains parallel to the surface while performing small single rotational steps with a carbon-carbon double bond hinged above a single Pt atom. The origin of the diffusion pathway is discussed in terms of the C2–Pt π-bond being stronger than the corresponding CN–Pt π-bond. The energy barrier and reaction enthalpy for dehydrogenation of adsorbed pyridine into an adsorbed, upright bound α-pyridyl species are calculated to 0.71 eV and 0.18 eV, respectively (both zero-point energy corrected). The calculations are used to rationalize previous experimental observations from the literature for pyridine on Pt(111).
Close packing of rods on spherical surfaces
Authors: Smallenburg Frank , Löwen Hartmut
Published: April 2016

We study the optimal packing of short, hard spherocylinders confined to lie tangential to a spherical surface, using simulated annealing and molecular dynamics simulations. For clusters of up to twelve particles, we map out the changes in the geometry of the closest-packed configuration as a function of the aspect ratio L/D, where L is the cylinder length and D the diameter of the rods. We find a rich variety of cluster structures. For larger clusters, we find that the best-packed configurations up to around 100 particles are highly dependent on the exact number of particles and aspect ratio. For even larger clusters, we find largely disordered clusters for very short rods (L/D = 0.25), while slightly longer rods (L/D = 0.5 or 1) prefer a global baseball-like geometry of smectic-like domains, similar to the behavior of large-scale nematic shells. Intriguingly, we observe that when compared to their optimal flat-plane packing, short rods adapt to the spherical geometry more efficiently than both spheres and longer rods. Our results provide predictions for experimentally realizable systems of colloidal rods trapped at the interface of emulsion droplets.
Structural properties of Bi2Te3 topological insulator thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (111) BaF2 substrates
Authors: Fornari Celso I. , Rappl Paulo H. O. , Morelhão Sérgio L. , Abramof Eduardo
Published: April 2016

Structural properties of topological insulator bismuth telluride films grown epitaxially on (111) BaF2 with a fixed Bi2Te3 beam flux were systematically investigated as a function of substrate temperature and additional Te flux. A layer-by-layer growth mode is observed since the early stages of epitaxy and remains throughout the whole deposition. Composition of the epitaxial films produced here stays between Bi2Te3 and Bi4Te5, as determined from the comparison of the measured x-ray diffraction curves with calculations. The substrate temperature region, where the growth rate remains constant, is found to be the most appropriate to obtain ordered Bi2Te3 films. Line width of the L = 18 Bi2Te3 diffraction peaks as low as 140 arcsec was obtained, indicating high crystalline quality. Twinning domains density rises with increasing growth temperature and reducing Te extra flux. X-ray reflectivity curves of pure Bi2Te3 films with thickness from 165 to 8 nm exhibited well defined interference fringes, evidencing homogeneous layers with smooth surface. Our results demonstrate that Bi2Te3 films with very well controlled structural parameters can be obtained. High structural quality Bi2Te3 films as thin as only eight quintuple layers grown here are promising candidates for intrinsic topological insulator.
Goos-Hänchen-like shift in biased silicene
Authors: Zhu Bang-Shan , Wang Yu , Lou Yi-Yi
Published: April 2016

We have theoretically studied the Goos-Hänchen-like shift of spinor-unpolarized beams tunneling through various gate-biased silicene nanostructures. Following the stationary-phase method, lateral displacement in single-, dual-, and multiple-gated silicene systems has been systematically demonstrated. It is shown for simple single-gated silicene that lateral displacement can be generally enhanced by Fabry-Perot interference, and near the transition point turning on the evanescent mode a very large lateral shift could be observed. For the dual-gated structure, we have also shown the crucial role of localized modes like quantum well states in enhancing the beam lateral displacement, while for the multiple gate-biased systems the resulting superlattice subbands are also favorable for lateral displacement enhancement. Importantly, including the degeneracy-broken mechanisms such as gate-field and magnetic modulations, a fully spinor-resolved beam can be distinguished from the rest counterparts by aligning the incident beam with a proper spinor-resolved transition point, localized state, and subband, all of which can be flexibly modulated via electric means, offering the very desirable strategies to achieve the fully spinor-polarized beam for functional electronic applications.
Microfluidic volumetric flow determination using optical coherence tomography speckle: An autocorrelation approach
Authors: De Pretto Lucas R. , Nogueira Gesse E. C. , Freitas Anderson Z.
Published: April 2016

Functional modalities of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) based on speckle analysis are emerging in the literature. We propose a simple approach to the autocorrelation of OCT signal to enable volumetric flow rate differentiation, based on decorrelation time. Our results show that this technique could distinguish flows separated by 3 μl/min, limited by the acquisition speed of the system. We further perform a B-scan of gradient flow inside a microchannel, enabling the visualization of the drag effect on the walls.
Time evolution of two-dimensional quadratic Hamiltonians: A Lie algebraic approach
Authors: Sandoval-Santana J. C. , Ibarra-Sierra V. G. , Cardoso J. L. , Kunold A.
Published: April 2016

We develop a Lie algebraic approach to systematically calculate the evolution operator of a system described by a generalized two-dimensional quadratic Hamiltonian with time-dependent coefficients. Although the development of the Lie algebraic approach presented here is mainly motivated by the two-dimensional quadratic Hamiltonian, it may be applied to investigate the evolution operators of any Hamiltonian having a dynamical algebra with a large number of elements. We illustrate the method by finding the propagator and the Heisenberg picture position and momentum operators for a two-dimensional charge subject to uniform and constant electro-magnetic fields.
A nanosecond pulsed laser heating system for studying liquid and supercooled liquid films in ultrahigh vacuum
Authors: Xu Yuntao , Dibble Collin J. , Petrik Nikolay G. , Smith R. Scott , Joly Alan G. , Tonkyn Russell G. , Kay Bruce D. , Kimmel Greg A.
Published: April 2016

A pulsed laser heating system has been developed that enables investigations of the dynamics and kinetics of nanoscale liquid films and liquid/solid interfaces on the nanosecond time scale in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Details of the design, implementation, and characterization of a nanosecond pulsed laser system for transiently heating nanoscale films are described. Nanosecond pulses from a Nd:YAG laser are used to rapidly heat thin films of adsorbed water or other volatile materials on a clean, well-characterized Pt(111) crystal in UHV. Heating rates of ∼1010 K/s for temperature increases of ∼100–200 K are obtained. Subsequent rapid cooling (∼5 × 109 K/s) quenches the film, permitting in-situ, post-heating analysis using a variety of surface science techniques. Lateral variations in the laser pulse energy are ∼±2.7% leading to a temperature uncertainty of ∼±4.4 K for a temperature jump of 200 K. Initial experiments with the apparatus demonstrate that crystalline ice films initially held at 90 K can be rapidly transformed into liquid water films with T > 273 K. No discernable recrystallization occurs during the rapid cooling back to cryogenic temperatures. In contrast, amorphous solid water films heated below the melting point rapidly crystallize. The nanosecond pulsed laser heating system can prepare nanoscale liquid and supercooled liquid films that persist for nanoseconds per heat pulse in an UHV environment, enabling experimental studies of a wide range of phenomena in liquids and at liquid/solid interfaces.
Slope and amplitude asymmetry effects on low frequency capacitively coupled carbon tetrafluoride plasmas
Authors: Bruneau B. , Korolov I. , Lafleur T. , Gans T. , O'Connell D. , Greb A. , Derzsi A. , Donkó Z. , Brandt S. , Schüngel E. , Schulze J. , Johnson E. , Booth J.-P.
Published: April 2016

We report investigations of capacitively coupled carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) plasmas excited with tailored voltage waveforms containing up to five harmonics of a base frequency of 5.5 MHz. The impact of both the slope asymmetry, and the amplitude asymmetry, of these waveforms on the discharge is examined by combining experiments with particle-in-cell simulations. For all conditions studied herein, the discharge is shown to operate in the drift-ambipolar mode, where a comparatively large electric field in the plasma bulk (outside the sheaths) is the main mechanism for electron power absorption leading to ionization. We show that both types of waveform asymmetries strongly influence the ion energy at the electrodes, with the particularity of having the highest ion flux on the electrode where the lowest ion energy is observed. Even at the comparatively high pressure (600 mTorr) and low fundamental frequency of 5.5 MHz used here, tailoring the voltage waveforms is shown to efficiently create an asymmetry of both the ion energy and the ion flux in geometrically symmetric reactors.
Co and Cu co-doped ZnO epitaxial films—A magnetically soft nano-composite
Authors: Ney V. , Venkataraman V. , Henne B. , Ollefs K. , Wilhelm F. , Rogalev A. , Ney A.
Published: April 2016

A series of Co/Cu co-doped ZnO epitaxial films has been grown on sapphire substrates to investigate the possibilities of tailoring the magnetic properties in functional ZnO-Co/Cu nano-composites. The growth was performed using reactive magnetron sputtering varying the oxygen partial pressure to tune the incorporation of the dopants and the resulting valence state. At high oxygen pressures, Co2+ is formed and the resulting magnetic properties are very similar to phase pure paramagnetic Co-doped ZnO samples. However, the formation of a secondary CuO phase reduces the overall structural quality of the layers and virtually no substitutional incorporation of Cu2+ in ZnO could be evidenced. At low oxygen pressures, a significant fraction of metallic Co and Cu forming nanometer-sized superparamagnetic precipitates of a Co/Cu alloy can be evidenced which are embedded in a ZnO host matrix.
Quantum dynamics of water dissociative chemisorption on rigid Ni(111): An approximate nine-dimensional treatment
Authors: Jiang Bin , Song Hongwei , Yang Minghui , Guo Hua
Published: April 2016

The quantum dynamics of water dissociative chemisorption on the rigid Ni(111) surface is investigated using a recently developed nine-dimensional potential energy surface. The quantum dynamical model includes explicitly seven degrees of freedom of D2O at fixed surface sites, and the final results were obtained with a site-averaging model. The mode specificity in the site-specific results is reported and analyzed. Finally, the approximate sticking probabilities for various vibrationally excited states of D2O are obtained considering surface lattice effects and formally all nine degrees of freedom. The comparison with experiment reveals the inaccuracy of the density functional theory and suggests the need to improve the potential energy surface.
Structural, electronic structure, and band alignment properties at epitaxial NiO/Al2O3 heterojunction evaluated from synchrotron based X-ray techniques
Authors: Singh S. D. , Nand Mangla , Das Arijeet , Ajimsha R. S. , Upadhyay Anuj , Kamparath Rajiv , Shukla D. K. , Mukherjee C. , Misra P. , Rai S. K. , Sinha A. K. , Jha S. N. , Phase D. M. , Ganguli Tapas
Published: April 2016

The valence band offset value of 2.3 ± 0.2 eV at epitaxial NiO/Al2O3 heterojunction is determined from photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. Pulsed laser deposited thin film of NiO on Al2O3 substrate is epitaxially grown along [111] direction with two domain structures, which are in-plane rotated by 60° with respect to each other. Observation of Pendellosung oscillations around Bragg peak confirms high interfacial and crystalline quality of NiO layer deposited on Al2O3 substrate. Surface related feature in Ni 2p3/2 core level spectra along with oxygen K-edge soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy results indicates that the initial growth of NiO on Al2O3 substrate is in the form of islands, which merge to form NiO layer for the larger coverage. The value of conduction band offset is also evaluated from the measured values of band gaps of NiO and Al2O3 layers. A type-I band alignment at NiO and Al2O3 heterojunction is also obtained. The determined values of band offsets can be useful in heterojunction based light emitting devices.
Boltzmann transport calculation of thermoelectric properties in Ag2Se1−xTex (x = 0.0 and 0.5)
Authors: Yun Jae Hyun , Lee Min-Ho , Kim Jae Nyung , Shim Ji Hoon , Rhyee Jong-Soo
Published: April 2016

We calculated the thermoelectric properties of the Ag-based chalcogenides Ag2Se and Ag2Se0.5Te0.5 (AST) at room temperature using the Boltzmann transport equations within the density functional theory. We confirmed that the power factor S2σ and electronic figure-of-merit ZTe of the Ag2Se0.5Te0.5 compound can be enhanced by hole doping as compared with Ag2Se due to enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity. The localized electrons introduced by Te doping give rise to heavy valence bands and a small band gap near the Fermi energy. We also investigated the thermoelectric properties of the compounds in terms of the two-band model within the assumption of arbitrary isotropic band dispersions. We suggest that the hole doping in the AST compound can produce a good candidate for p-type thermoelectric material by controlling the effective mass of valence band and small band gap opening. Using large atomic size elements for chemical potential tuning and isostructural substitution in Ag2Se related chalcogenides can be a good route to increase the thermoelectric performance.
Magnetostructural transition and magnetocaloric effect in highly textured Ni-Mn-Sn alloy
Authors: Czaja P. , Chulist R. , Szczerba M. J. , Przewoźnik J. , Olejnik E. , Chrobak A. , Maziarz W. , Cesari E.
Published: April 2016

Ni49.4Mn38.5Sn12.1 near single crystal was obtained by the Bridgman method. At room temperature, it consisted of a mixture of the parent austenite phase with the cubic L21 Heusler structure (ac = 5.984 Å) and modulated, tetragonal martensite phase 4M (at = 4.337 Å, ct = 5.655 Å). Under the application of a magnetic field, the specimen undergoes field induced reverse martensitic transformation, which combined with the Curie transition in austenite leads to the coexistence of direct and inverse magnetocaloric effects. The maximum entropy change at 280 K and under 5 T amounts to 3.4 J·kg−1·K−1 for the structural transition and at 316 K reaches −2.7 J·kg−1·K−1 for the magnetic transformation. The magnetic entropy change occurs over a wide temperature span leading to improved refrigerant capacity of 101 J·kg−1 (5 T). Hysteretic losses are considerably reduced, which is promising with respect to improved cyclic stability of such a material.
The influence of A-site strontium ion in controlling the microstructure and electrical properties of P1−xSxZNZT ceramics
Authors: Zheng Mupeng , Hou Yudong , Yue Yunge , Chen Hongxi , Zhu Mankang
Published: April 2016

A Pb1−xSrx(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.2(Zr0.5Ti0.5)0.8O3 (P1−xSxZNZT, 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) system was prepared through a conventional solid oxide process. Increasing addition of Sr2+ was found to induce a continuous decrease in grain size from 2.46 μm to 1.14 μm, accompanied by a phase transformation from coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal phases to tetragonal phase only. The underlying mechanism of the evolution of dielectric and ferroelectric behavior in the P1−xSxZNZT ferroelectric ceramics was ascribed to the synergy between the grain size effect and the dilution of Pb-O covalency. Additionally, the grain size effect on domain wall displacement was found to be the main origin of the superior permittivity and piezoelectricity of the ceramics at intermediate grain size. The optimal electrical properties achieved for the P0.95S0.05ZNZT specimen at a grain size of about 1.79 μm, d33 = 465 pC/N, d33 × g33 = 11 047 × 10−15 m2/N make this material promising for multilayer energy harvesting device applications.
The slow collisional E×B ion drift characterized as the major instability mechanism of a poorly magnetized plasma column with an inward-directed radial electric field
Authors: Pierre Thiéry
Published: April 2016

The low-frequency instability of a cylindrical poorly magnetized plasma with an inward-directed radial electric field is studied changing the gas pressure and the ion cyclotron frequency. The unstable frequency always decreases when the gas pressure is increased indicating collisional effects. At a fixed pressure, the unstable frequency increases with the magnetic field when the B-field is low and decreases at larger magnetic field strength. We find that the transition between these two regimes is obtained when the ion cyclotron frequency equals the ion-neutrals collision frequency. This is in agreement with the theory of the slow-ion drift instability induced by the collisional slowing of the electric ion drift [A. Simon, Phys. Fluids 6, 382 (1963)].
Graphene based plasmonic terahertz amplitude modulator operating above 100 MHz
Authors: Jessop D. S. , Kindness S. J. , Xiao L. , Braeuninger-Weimer P. , Lin H. , Ren Y. , Ren C. X. , Hofmann S. , Zeitler J. A. , Beere H. E. , Ritchie D. A. , Degl'Innocenti R.
Published: April 2016

The terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum holds great potential in many fields of study, from spectroscopy to biomedical imaging, remote gas sensing, and high speed communication. To fully exploit this potential, fast optoelectronic devices such as amplitude and phase modulators must be developed. In this work, we present a room temperature external THz amplitude modulator based on plasmonic bow-tie antenna arrays with graphene. By applying a modulating bias to a back gate electrode, the conductivity of graphene is changed, which modifies the reflection characteristics of the incoming THz radiation. The broadband response of the device was characterized by using THz time-domain spectroscopy, and the modulation characteristics such as the modulation depth and cut-off frequency were investigated with a 2.0 THz single frequency emission quantum cascade laser. An optical modulation cut-off frequency of 105 ± 15 MHz is reported. The results agree well with a lumped element circuit model developed to describe the device.
Low-energy electron inelastic mean free path in materials
Authors: Nguyen-Truong Hieu T.
Published: April 2016

We show that the dielectric approach can determine electron inelastic mean free paths in materials with an accuracy equivalent to those from first-principle calculations in the GW approximation of many-body theory. The present approach is an alternative for calculating the hot-electron lifetime, which is an important quantity in ultrafast electron dynamics. This approach, applied here to solid copper for electron energies below 100 eV, yields results in agreement with experimental data from time-resolved two-photon photoemission, angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements in the energy ranges 2–3.5, 10–15, and 60–100 eV, respectively.
Photon-activated electron hopping in a single-electron trap enhanced by Josephson radiation
Authors: Lotkhov S. V. , Jalali-Jafari B. , Zorin A. B.
Published: April 2016

Using a Josephson junction interferometer (DC SQUID) as a microwave source for irradiating a single-electron trap, both devices fabricated on the same chip, we study the process of photon-assisted tunneling as an effective mechanism of single photon detection. High sensitivity down to a very small oscillation amplitude vJ∼10 nV≪Eact≲hfJ and down to low photon absorption rates Γph ∼ (1–50) Hz, as well as a clear threshold type of operation with an activation energy Eact ∼ 400 μeV, is demonstrated for the trap with respect to the microwave photons of frequency fJ ∼ (100–200) GHz. Tunable generation is demonstrated with respect to the power and frequency of the microwave signal produced by the SQUID source biased within the subgap voltage range. A much weaker effect is observed at the higher junction voltages along the quasiparticle branch of the I–V curve; this response mostly appears due to the recombination phonons.
Spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching in Ta/Co20Fe60B20/MgO structures under small in-plane magnetic fields
Authors: Cao Jiangwei , Zheng Yuqiang , Su Xianpeng , Hao Liang , Wang Ying , Bai Jianmin , Wei Fulin
Published: April 2016

Spin-orbit torque (SOT)-induced magnetization switching under small in-plane magnetic fields in as-deposited and annealed Ta/CoFeB/MgO structures is studied. For the as-deposited samples, partial SOT-induced switching behavior is observed under an in-plane field of less than 100 Oe. Conversely, for the annealed samples, an in-plane field of 10 Oe is large enough to achieve full deterministic magnetization switching. The Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction at the Ta/CoFeB interface is believed to be the main reason for the discrepancy of the requisite in-plane magnetic fields for switching in the as-deposited and annealed samples. In addition, asymmetric field dependence behavior of SOT-induced magnetization switching is observed in the annealed samples. Deterministic magnetization switching in the absence of an external magnetic field is obtained in the annealed samples, which is extremely important to develop SOT-based magnetoresistive random access memory.
Blue light reduces organ injury from ischemia and reperfusion
Authors: Yuan Du , Collage Richard D. , Huang Hai , Zhang Xianghong , Kautza Benjamin C. , Lewis Anthony J. , Zuckerbraun Brian S. , Tsung Allan , Angus Derek C. , Rosengart Matthew R.
Published: April 2016

Significance

It is well established that light regulates mammalian biology. And yet, we have been unable to define and thus harness the underlying mechanisms so as to apply them to alter the course of human disease. In this study we determine that the spectrum of light is a critical determinant of its effect on critical illness. We show that an acute and short (24 h) exposure to high-illuminance (1,400 lx) blue spectrum (peak 442 nm) light prior to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) significantly attenuates the degree of organ injury. Our characterization of the biological mechanisms through which blue light beneficially alters the cellular response to I/R provides an opportunity to develop novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of many diseases.
Imaging the dynamics of individual electropores
Authors: Sengel Jason T. , Wallace Mark I.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Transient permeabilization of the cell membrane is needed to introduce genes and drugs into cells, and electroporation (the physical breakdown of a bilayer membrane under an external electric field) is the most common method to achieve this. By applying an electric field to an artificial lipid bilayer, we have been able to visualize the presence of individual electropores in the bilayer. We exploit droplet interface bilayers (formed from the contact between an aqueous droplet and a hydrogel surface immersed in a phospholipid/oil solution) to provide simultaneous single-channel electrical recording and fluorescence imaging of the bilayer.
Tracking solvent and protein movement during CO
2
release in carbonic anhydrase II crystals
Authors: Kim Chae Un , Song HyoJin , Avvaru Balendu Sankara , Gruner Sol M. , Park SangYoun , McKenna Robert
Published: April 2016

Significance

Carbonic anhydrases catalyze the fast interconversion of carbon dioxide and water into bicarbonate and proton. In this study, we use the method of high-pressure cryocooling to capture the gaseous carbon dioxide in crystals of carbonic anhydrase and follow the sequential structure changes as the carbon dioxide is released. These “snapshots” enable us to “slow down” and visualize the water and protein motions that form a “proton wire” as the carbon dioxide exits the enzyme’s active site. This study provides an understanding of the importance of water rearrangements within an enzyme-active site and further suggests that such a method could be generally applied to other protein-mediated reactions that use gaseous molecules.
Recruitment of the NineTeen Complex to the activated spliceosome requires AtPRMT5
Authors: Deng Xian , Lu Tiancong , Wang Lulu , Gu Lianfeng , Sun Jing , Kong Xiangfeng , Liu Chunyan , Cao Xiaofeng
Published: April 2016

Significance

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is involved in various developmental processes by globally regulating pre-mRNA splicing of diverse genes, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here we demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that
Arabidopsis
PRMT5 promotes the recruitment of the NineTeen Complex and splicing factors in the catalytic reactions to the spliceosome, thus promoting global pre-mRNA splicing. Our findings uncover a key molecular mechanism for PRMT5 in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing, which fills a major gap in understanding of the role for PRMT5 in spliceosome assembly. Due to the conservation of PRMT5 in plants and animals, our finding is likely a fundamental molecular mechanism applicable to all eukaryotes, thereby shedding light on PRMT5 functions and spliceosome activation in animals.
Reticulate evolution is favored in influenza niche switching
Authors: Ma Eric J. , Hill Nichola J. , Zabilansky Justin , Yuan Kyle , Runstadler Jonathan A.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Are the processes that result in the exchange of genes between microbes quantitatively advantageous for those microbes when switching between ecological niches? To address this question, we consider the influenza A virus as a model microbe, with its ability to infect multiple host species (ecological niches) and undergo reassortment (exchange genes) with one another. Here, through our analysis of sequence data from the Influenza Research Database and the Barcode of Life Database, we find that the greater the quantitative difference between influenza hosts, the greater the proportion of reassortment events were found. More broadly, for microbes, we infer that reticulate evolutionary processes should be quantitatively favored when switching between ecological niches.
Spatially distinct and metabolically active membrane domain in mycobacteria
Authors: Hayashi Jennifer M. , Luo Chu-Yuan , Mayfield Jacob A. , Hsu Tsungda , Fukuda Takeshi , Walfield Andrew L. , Giffen Samantha R. , Leszyk John D. , Baer Christina E. , Bennion Owen T. , Madduri Ashoka , Shaffer Scott A. , Aldridge Bree B. , Sassetti Christopher M. , Sandler Steven J. , Kinoshita Taroh , Moody D. Branch , Morita Yasu S.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Mycobacterium
is a family of bacteria that includes a number of dangerous pathogens. Arresting the growth of mycobacteria may be possible through the disruption of control points that regulate cell envelope biosynthesis. We demonstrate that
Mycobacterium smegmatis
possesses a spatially distinct biosynthetic membrane domain enriched in the polar growth region of the cell. This membrane domain may act as an organizing center to spatiotemporally coordinate biosynthetic activities during growth in live cells. Thus, our findings provide an important insight into the potential regulatory mechanisms of lipid metabolism in mycobacteria.
Targeted erythropoietin selectively stimulates red blood cell expansion in vivo
Authors: Burrill Devin R. , Vernet Andyna , Collins James J. , Silver Pamela A. , Way Jeffrey C.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Erythropoietin is used to treat anemia but has prothrombotic side effects that limit its use. We have demonstrated in vivo the ability to target erythropoietin to red blood cell precursors and away from platelet precursors, thereby potentially avoiding off-target effects. We have systematically determined the protein design features required for in vivo success of the engineered protein. Our results reveal how rational engineering of protein drugs can be used to reduce side effects, with broad implications for designers of therapeutic signaling systems.
Nickel-pincer cofactor biosynthesis involves LarB-catalyzed pyridinium carboxylation and LarE-dependent sacrificial sulfur insertion
Authors: Desguin Benoît , Soumillion Patrice , Hols Pascal , Hausinger Robert P.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Nicotinic acid is a precursor of the ubiquitous cofactors nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Previous studies revealed that nicotinic acid is required for lactate racemization, an enzymatic activity that enables microorganisms to produce or use both isomers of lactate. Lactate racemase (Lar) was shown to harbor a nicotinic acid-derived cofactor that coordinates a nickel ion, forming a pincer complex. The biosynthesis of this cofactor requires three accessory proteins: LarB, LarC, and LarE. Here, we describe this biosynthetic pathway by showing that LarB carboxylates and hydrolyzes the NAD precursor nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NaAD) and LarE sacrificially inserts two sulfur atoms into the product of LarB. Finally, LarC inserts the nickel ion to form the mature cofactor.
Musical intervention enhances infants’ neural processing of temporal structure in music and speech
Authors: Zhao T. Christina , Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Musicians show enhanced musical pitch and meter processing, effects that generalize to speech. Yet potential differences between musicians and nonmusicians limit conclusions. We examined the effects of a randomized laboratory-controlled music intervention on music and speech processing in 9-mo-old infants. The Intervention exposed infants to music in triple meter (the waltz) in a social environment. Controls engaged in similar social play without music. After 12 sessions, infants’ temporal information processing was assessed in music and speech using brain measures [magnetoencephalography (MEG)]. Compared with controls, intervention infants exhibited enhanced neural responses to temporal violations in both music and speech, in both auditory and prefrontal cortices. The intervention improves infants’ detection and prediction of auditory patterns, skills important to music and speech.
Extended survival of misfolded G85R SOD1-linked ALS mice by transgenic expression of chaperone Hsp110
Authors: Nagy Maria , Fenton Wayne A. , Li Di , Furtak Krystyna , Horwich Arthur L.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive paralyzing condition affecting ∼1:1,000 adults, associated with death of motor neurons, for which there is no effective treatment. ALS is inherited in 10% of cases, whereas the remainder are “sporadic,” yet all behave very similarly. In mice, the condition has been modeled by transgenesis with mutant versions of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (∼2% of human cases). Mutant SOD1s misfold and form aggregates inside the cytosol of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Recently, a disaggregating machinery has been described consisting of three chaperones, one of which, Hsp110, plays a rate limiting role. Here, we have transgenically overexpressed Hsp110 in motor neurons of a mutant SOD1 strain and observed extended survival.
Relationships among CFTR expression, HCO
3
−
secretion, and host defense may inform gene- and cell-based cystic fibrosis therapies
Authors: Shah Viral S. , Ernst Sarah , Tang Xiao Xiao , Karp Philip H. , Parker Connor P. , Ostedgaard Lynda S. , Welsh Michael J.
Published: April 2016

Significance

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (
CFTR
) gene mutations cause cystic fibrosis (CF), and airway infections cause most morbidity. In airways, the CFTR forms a channel that secretes chloride and bicarbonate. A persistent question for CF gene- and cell-based therapies is how much CFTR is needed to correct host defense defects that predispose to infection. In addressing this question, we were informed by discoveries that, without CFTR-mediated bicarbonate secretion, liquid covering airways becomes abnormally acidic, which impairs airway host defenses. By studying airway epithelia from CF, non-CF, and CFTR heterozygote piglets, we found a relatively linear relationship between amounts of CFTR, bicarbonate secretion, and host defense properties. The results have direct implications for developing therapeutics. They may also explain the risk of airway disease in CF carriers.
Gender Differences in a Dutch Forensic Sample of Severe Violent Offenders
Authors: Muller Eline , Kempes Maaike
Published: April 2016

Awareness is growing that the knowledge we have on male offenders, to a large extent, may not be applicable to female offenders. The current study was performed in a Dutch forensic assessment center. The sample consisted of 140 female offenders and 140 male matched-controls. The study focused on the mental disorders, psychological factors, and crime-related variables of female offenders in comparison to those of their male counterparts. The results of this study indicate that female offenders differ from male offenders on various variables. More specifically, female offenders were more often depressed, more often had traits of a borderline personality, were more often sexually and physically abused and emotionally neglected, showed more self-harming behavior, and had a lower self-esteem. These results suggest that more research on gender differences in offenders is needed to provide insight in how a gender specific forensic treatment should be established.
Adaptation of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety for Use in Children: A Preliminary Analysis
Authors: Deacy Amanda D. , Gayes Laurie A. , De Lurgio Stephen , Wallace Dustin P.
Published: April 2016

Objective Anxiety has both state/trait and cognitive/somatic dimensions, and these distinctions may be particularly relevant for children with medical problems. This two-part study adapted the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and confirmed its factor structure in a sample of children in a primary care clinic. Methods STICSA items were adapted for reading level and piloted in a small group of children. Next, 250 children (12.3 ± 2.7 years) completed the adapted version, the STICSA-C. Results Separate confirmatory factor analyses conducted on the State and Trait forms of the STICSA-C confirmed the two-factor structure of the original measure (i.e., cognitive and somatic anxiety) and suggested an improved parsimonious model. Conclusions Support was found for use of the STICSA-C as a reasonably good internally consistent measure for assessing cognitive and somatic anxiety in pediatric samples. Further investigation of its reliability and validity with replication in pediatric populations is warranted.
A Survey of Physical Therapists' Attitudes and Practice Patterns Regarding Intervention During a Red Blood Cell Transfusion
Authors: Rosenfeldt Anson B. , Pilkey Lauren M. , Butler Robert S.
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

Blood cell transfusions occur in approximately 12% of individuals who are hospitalized and undergo a procedure. There is a lack of evidence to guide physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in the delivery of physical therapy services to individuals receiving an red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. The purpose of this survey was to determine current practice patterns in this patient population.

Methods:

An electronic survey was distributed to PTs and PTAs across the state of Ohio.

Results:

Of the 262 respondents, 54.8% of individuals felt comfortable delivering physical therapy services to individuals receiving an RBC transfusion. PTs with a doctoral degree and those who worked in an inpatient hospital or long-term acute care setting were more likely to treat. Respondents required an average minimum hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 6.9 g/dL to deliver physical therapy services to individuals who were anemic and receiving an RBC transfusion. Nine-point-two percent of respondents reported that their institution had a policy regarding the delivery of physical therapy services during an RBC transfusion.

Conclusion:

Responses revealed variability in practice patterns among PTs and PTAs regarding comfort level, likelihood to treat, Hb concentration, institutional policies, and perceived barriers pertaining to the delivery of physical therapy services to individuals receiving an RBC transfusion. There is a need for further research on this topic to guide therapists in the clinical decision-making process.
Endoscopic Variceal Ligation followed by Argon Plasma Coagulation Against Endoscopic Variceal Ligation Alone
Authors: Kamal Ahmed , Abd Elmoety Amr A. , Hamza Yasser , Zeid Ahmed
Published: April 2016

Goals:

Our aim was to study the efficacy and the safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in secondary prophylaxis against esophageal varices in view of many contraindications and side effects to β-blockers in cirrhotic patients.

Background:

Rebleeding rates from esophageal varices after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) are high; thus, the current recommendation is to combine nonselective β-blockers to it, but side effects and relative contraindications to nonselective β-blockers hinder their usage or require discontinuation in 15% to 20% of the cirrhotic patients. Thus, it is important to find another combination.

Study:

This study included all patients admitted to the Alexandria Main University Hospital during the period between April 2012 and October 2012 with variceal bleeding. After exclusions, the total number of included patients was 40. All participants were subjected to EVL and eradication of varices, and then they were randomized to either APC (group 1) or just observation (group 2). Both groups were followed up by endoscopy every 3 months for 30 months.

Results:

During the 2.5-year follow-up, 21% of the participants in group 1 experienced esophageal variceal recurrence, but no one needed rebanding. In group 2, 68.4% of the participants experienced esophageal variceal recurrence (P=0.003) and 63.2% underwent rebanding (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

APC after esophageal variceal eradication using EVL can decrease the risk of recurrence of esophageal varices and the need for rebanding. This technique may be recommended in secondary prophylaxis against esophageal variceal bleeding in those who have contraindications, are intolerant, or are noncompliant to nonselective β-blockers.
Medicaid Health Home Reducing Costs and Reliance on Emergency Department
Authors: Shane Dan M. , Nguyen-Hoang Phuong , Bentler Suzanne E. , Damiano Peter C. , Momany Elizabeth T.
Published: April 2016

Background:

The Affordable Care Act allowed an optional Medicaid State Plan benefit for states to establish Health Homes coordinating care for people who have chronic conditions. Differences in medical home program incentives and implementation styles are important to understand in evaluating effects on key outcomes such as cost and acute care. In Iowa, a Medicaid Health Home (MHH) program was developed targeting Medicaid members with multiple chronic conditions. Provider patient management payments were tied to the number of chronic conditions of MHH members.

Objectives:

To assess the effects of an Iowa MHH program on total spending, emergency department (ED) utilization, and ED spending.

Data:

Claims data from January 2011 through December 2013; per member per month unit of analysis.

Research Design:

We use a difference-in-difference regression design comparing pre/post outcomes for MHH members to pre/post outcomes for Medicaid members not participating in the MHH. We include individual fixed effects and matched controls to minimize the potential for confounding. In addition, we include a series of administrative covariates to control for individual demographic and geographic variation.

Results:

Participation in the MHH program reduced spending by $132 per member per month. There is also evidence that the largest cost savings occur with a lag, as those in the program longer than a year showed the most savings. Members were less likely to visit the ED compared with traditional Medicaid recipients and ED spending was also lower for MHH members.

Conclusions:

Participation in a MHH program led to fewer ED visits and lower overall spending among Medicaid recipients in Iowa.