bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3-D micro-architecture and mechanical response of soil cemented via microbial-induced calcite precipitation
Authors: Terzis Dimitrios , Laloui Lyesse
Published: January 2018

We introduce the application of microbial-induced calcite precipitation via the ureolytic soil bacterium Sporosarcina Pasteurii in freeze-dried form, as a means of enhancing overall MICP efficiency and reproducibility for geotechnical engineering applications. We show that the execution of urea hydrolysis and CaCO3precipitation persist as a “cell-free” mechanism upon the complete breakdown of rehydrated cell clusters. Further, strength and stiffness parameters of bio-cemented sands are determined. Medium-grained bio-cemented sand yields compressive strengths up to 12 MPa while, surprisingly, fine-grained sand yields up to 2.5 MPa for similar bond contents. To understand the observed discrepancies, we undertake a systematic study of the bio-cemented material’s microstructure, by combining a series of microstructural inspection tools. The study extends beyond conventional qualitative and textural characterization and provides with new insight into the material’s peculiar 3D micro-architecture. We apply a new methodology towards quantifying crucial microscopic characteristics such as the particle sizes of the crystalline bond lattice, the bond-grain contacts and particle orientations. Bonds are found to exhibit distinctive geometries and morphologies when MICP applies to different base materials. We thus contribute to the debate on the importance of factors affecting: (i) MICP efficiency, (ii) the mechanical response and (iii) peculiar micro-architecture of bio-improved geo-materials.
Food Law and Sustainable Food Processing: A Comparison of the EU and the USA
Authors: Fortin Neal D.
Published: January 2018

Throughout most of history, production of sufficient food was the primary goal of sustainability. Our current era has seen the rise of the “power of green”, consumer motivation to purchase products produced in a more sustainable system. There has also been significant government legislation addressing sustainability issues. This chapter explores and compares US and EU sustainability law that relates to food processing. Many similarities are seen but also some differences in the approaches of the two regions. The role of private standards is also discussed and their importance examined.
Cold Plasma Processing to Improve Food Safety
Authors: Niemira Brendan A.
Published: January 2018

Cold plasma is an antimicrobial process being developed for application as a food safety and processing technology. This novel intervention is the subject of an expanding research effort by groups around the world. A variety of devices can be used to generate cold plasma to sanitize foods, but a common defining characteristic is that processing is a non-thermal operation, i.e. the inactivation of food-borne pathogens via mechanisms that do not rely on heat. Cold plasma may be regarded as an ionized gas, with the ionization process initiated by high-voltage electrical discharges, microwaves, or other energy sources. The resulting complex mixture of ions, free electrons, radicals, and other reactive chemical species has an antimicrobial effect via the generation of UV radiation, ozone, charged particles, oxygen radicals, and other reactive species. This chapter describes the modes of action of cold plasma, discusses the primary types of technologies used in cold plasma processing, describes potential applications in food processing and packaging, and delineates the most promising areas of research, both ongoing and for the future.
Developments in the Processing of Foods and Natural Products Using Pressurized Fluids
Authors: Srinivas Keerthi , King Jerry W.
Published: January 2018

Critical fluids have historically been applied as an extraction and/or reaction medium in the food, agricultural and nutraceutical industries. The solution thermodynamic properties of solvents such as water above its boiling point and under pressure, also known as “subcritical water,” is now commonly being employed as an option for the extraction of some polar components such as flavonoids and carbohydrates from natural products. This chapter discusses the application of super- and subcritical fluids in the extraction, reaction, and/or hydrolysis of value-added products from food and agricultural matrices. This chapter has been updated with the latest achievements in the field and the several industries using supercritical fluid technology to produce high-value products from food and agricultural matrices. The focus of this chapter is not limited only to sub- and supercritical fluids but also covers the integration of multi-fluid and multi-phase processing of food and agricultural matrices to produce high-value products. Multi-fluid processing platforms integrate supercritical carbon dioxide and subcritical fluids (such as water and ethanol) at different stages to extract selectively non-polar and polar compounds, respectively, from the food matrices, thereby achieving the highest value from the low-cost feed streams. Multi-phase processing platforms using “gas-expanded” fluids can be tuned using temperature and pressure to extract selectively various high-value compounds from food and agricultural matrices, namely those that have polarity between those of supercritical carbon dioxide and subcritical water. Enhanced mass transfer during supercritical fluid processing has been achieved using expellers and extruders and such processes have been applied for the effective extraction of oil from various oilseeds.
Membrane Separations
Authors: Dewettinck Koen , Le Thien Trung , Nguyen Viet Bao
Published: January 2018

Membrane technology plays an important role in food processing. This technique not only helps reduce the use of solvents in separating food components (milk fat, milk proteins, polyphenolic compounds, etc.) but also improves the quality and stability of many food products (fruit juice, wine and beer, etc.). An overview of membrane technology (definition, classification, principles and operating conditions) and its application in food processing is presented in this chapter. In this new edition, the latest information in many fields has been updated, including new membrane materials, membrane performance enhancement and new applications in food processing introduced during the past decade.
A quantitative LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of deuvortioxetine, vortioxetine and their carboxylic acid metabolite in rat plasma, and its application to a toxicokinetic study
Authors: Qin Mei , Qiao Hong-qun , Yuan Yan-juan , Shao Qing
Published: January 2018

A rapid, simple, efficient and stable method based on LC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of deuvortioxetine, vortioxetine and their carboxylic acid metabolite in rat plasma has been established and validated.
Controlled synthesis of t-Se nanomaterials with various morphologies via a precursor conversion method
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Fu Qingshan , Xue Yongqiang , Cui Zixiang
Published: January 2018

A precursor (a-Se) conversion method was presented to prepare t-Se nanomaterials with different morphologies.
Enhancing the capacity of oxygen carriers for selective oxidations through phase cooperation: bismuth oxide and ceria–zirconia
Authors: Chan Martin S. C. , Baldovi Herme G. , Dennis J. S.
Published: January 2018

Interfacing selective catalysts with oxygen carriers enhances capacity without affecting the surface chemistry, simplifying the design of selective oxygen carriers.
An all-solid-state biocompatible ion-to-electron transducer for bioelectronics
Authors: Sheliakina M. , Mostert A. B. , Meredith P.
Published: January 2018

The first all solid state organic electrochemical transistor based upon the skin pigment melanin.
Observation of a low temperature n–p transition in individual titania nanotubes
Authors: Brahmi Hatem , Neupane Ram , Xie Lixin , Singh Shivkant , Yarali Milad , Katwal Giwan , Chen Shuo , Paulose Maggie , Varghese Oomman K. , Mavrokefalos Anastassios
Published: January 2018

Observation of a low temperature n–p transition in anatase phase individual titania nanotubes fabricated by anodic oxidation.
Two-color dark-field (TCDF) microscopy for metal nanoparticle imaging inside cells
Authors: Rodríguez-Fajardo Valeria , Sanz Vanesa , de Miguel Ignacio , Berthelot Johann , Aćimović Srdjan S. , Porcar-Guezenec Rafael , Quidant Romain
Published: January 2018

While the applicability of standard DF to detect plasmonic nanoparticles in cells is limited by the scattering from the cell's compartments, TCDF overcomes this limitation by using the scattering information of two colors.
Synthesis, aggregation and responsivity of block copolymers containing organic arsenicals
Authors: Tanaka Joji , Tani Seiji , Peltier Raoul , Pilkington Emily H. , Kerr Andrew , Davis Thomas P. , Wilson Paul
Published: January 2018

Block copolymers containing an organic arsenical (AsAm) have been synthesised by aqueous SET-LRP.
Electron beam lithography of poly(glycidol) nanogels for immobilization of a three-enzyme cascade
Authors: Lockhart Jacob N. , Hmelo Anthony B. , Harth Eva
Published: January 2018

Nanogels devices with spatial confinement of multiple enzymes resulted in retention of bioactivity after 30 days with a 5 fold higher chromogenic output compared to free enzyme cascade devices.
Tailoring the morphology of AIEgen fluorescent nanoparticles for optimal cellular uptake and imaging efficacy
Authors: Zhang Jianxu , Xu Bin , Tian Wenjing , Xie Zhigang
Published: January 2018

We have demonstrated a new approach for regulating the morphology and emission of AIE-active organic nanoparticles by assembling different amphiphilic copolymers.
Diselenolane-mediated cellular uptake
Authors: Chuard Nicolas , Poblador-Bahamonde Amalia I. , Zong Lili , Bartolami Eline , Hildebrandt Jana , Weigand Wolfgang , Sakai Naomi , Matile Stefan
Published: January 2018

Selenophilicity, minimized dihedral angles, acidic selenols, multitarget hopping: cytosolic delivery with 1,2-diselenolanes outperforms 1,2-dithiolanes, by far.
HIF1A gene rs10873142 polymorphism is associated with risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Chinese Han population: a case–control study
Authors: Wang Licheng , Tang Yanliang , Chen Ye
Published: January 2018

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term poor airflow. Recently, variants in the hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1A) gene were found to be associated with COPD risk. The present study aimed to identify whether rs10873142 polymorphism (an intronic polymorphism) in HIF1A gene was related to COPD in a Chinese population. We genotyped HIF1A gene rs10873142 polymorphism in a case–control study with 235 COPD cases and 548 controls in a Chinese Han population. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the chi-squared (χ2) test, genetic model analysis, and stratification analysis. In the genetic model analysis, we found that the TT genotype (TT compared with CC: OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02–2.60; P=0.042) and T allele (T compared with C: OR: 1.29; 95%CI, 1.02–1.60; P=0.032) showed significant correlation with the risk of COPD. However, in stratification analyses of age, BMI, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FEV, we failed to find any association between HIF1A gene rs10873142 polymorphism with COPD risk. The present study supports that HIF1A gene rs10873142 polymorphism may be associated with increased risk of COPD in a Chinese Han population. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case–control study uncovering that the HIF1A gene rs10873142 polymorphism increases the risk of COPD in a Chinese Han population.
Acoustic Analysis of Voice in Singers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gunjawate Dhanshree R. , Ravi Rohit , Bellur Rajashekhar
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Singers are vocal athletes having specific demands from their voice and require special consideration during voice evaluation. Presently, there is a lack of standards for acoustic evaluation in them. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the available literature on the acoustic analysis of voice in singers.

Method

A systematic review of studies on acoustic analysis of voice in singers (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest, Cochrane, Ovid, Science Direct, and Shodhganga) was carried out. Key words based on PIO (population–investigation–outcome) were used to develop search strings. Titles and abstracts were screened independently, and appropriate studies were read in full for data extraction.

Results

Of the 895 studies, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. Great variability was noted in the instruments and task used. Different acoustic measures were employed, such as fundamental frequency, perturbation, cepstral, spectral, dysphonia severity index, singing power ratio, and so forth.

Conclusion

Overall, a great heterogeneity was noted regarding population, tasks, instruments, and parameters. There is a lack of standardized criteria for the evaluation of singing voice. In order to implement acoustic analysis as a part of comprehensive voice evaluation exclusively for singers, there is a certain need for methodical sound studies.
Acceleration for proximal stochastic dual coordinate ascent algorithm in solving regularised loss minimisation with norm
Authors: Tan Beibei , Liu Benyong
Published: January 2018

An accelerated version of the proximal stochastic dual coordinate ascent (SDCA) algorithm in solving regularised loss minimisation with norm is presented, wherein a momentum is introduced and the strong theoretical guarantees of SDCA are shared. Moreover, it is also suitable for various key machine learning optimisation problems including support vector machine (SVM), multiclass SVM, logistic regression, and ridge regression. In particular, the Nestrov's estimate sequence technique to adjust the weight coefficient dynamically and conveniently is adopted. It is applied for training linear SVM from the large training dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed method has a competitive classification performance and faster convergence speed than state‐of‐the‐art algorithms.
Active power control of a photovoltaic system without energy storage using neural network‐based estimator and modified P&O algorithm
Authors: R. Subha , S. Himavathi
Published: January 2018

This study proposes a variable step size modified P&O algorithm for active power control (APC) that ensures that a predetermined amount of power, which is less than the maximum power, is extracted from the photovoltaic system without any energy storage. Under varying environmental conditions, the maximum available power varies and care should be taken to ensure that the desired operating point is below and on the right side of the current maximum power point (MPP). This requires real‐time estimation of MPP. A neural network (NN)‐based MPP estimator is proposed. With NN‐based MPP estimator and modified P&O algorithm, a novel APC scheme is shown to perform well under varying environmental and demand conditions. This method of APC has been validated through simulation and experimental results.
Retracted: Robust virtual inertia control to support frequency stability of an islanded microgrid
Authors: Kerdphol Thongchart , Rahman Fathin Saifur , Mitani Yasunori , Watanabe Masayuki , Hongesombut Komsan
Published: January 2018

The following article published in IET Renewable Power Generation, Kerdphol, Thongchart; Rahman, Fathin Saifur; Mitani, Yasunori; Watanabe, Masayuki; Hongesombut, Komsan; 'Robust virtual inertia control to support frequency stability of an islanded microgrid', IET Renewable Power Generation, 2017, DOI: 10.1049/iet‐rpg.2017.0510 on 7 December 2017 has been retracted due to a breach of the IET’s Policy in Relation to Plagiarism, Infringement of Copyright and Infringement of Moral Rights and Submission to Multiple Publications.
Exploring amazonian fats and oils blends by computational predictions of solid fat content
Authors: Santos Moisés Teles dos , Morgavi Pablo , Le Roux Galo A.C.
Published: January 2018

The Amazon region has richness of oleaginous plants that have attracted attention due to its unique properties. Integrating local communities in an economic chain of valorization of fats/oils can enhance the social dimension of local oleaginous industry sustainability. Given the large diversity of raw materials and the possibility to mix them in different proportions, an experimental effort must be done to evaluate the physical properties of such feedstocks. In this context, the development of computational tools able to estimate physical properties based on rigorous thermodynamic models can orient the experimental efforts thorough the mixtures of fats and oils most promising. The evaluation of the melting curves of nine Amazonian oils and fats is done by using thermodynamic modeling of the solid-liquid equilibrium and optimization tools. The binary blends of different raw materials were also evaluated. An average absolute error of 4.5 °C was observed for the melting point and an absolute error of 3.8% was observed for the Solid Fat Content predictions over different temperatures and blends composition.
Time Spent on Dedicated Patient Care and Documentation Tasks Before and After the Introduction of a Structured and Standardized Electronic Health Record
Authors: Joukes Erik , Abu-Hanna Ameen , Cornet Ronald , de Keizer Nicolette
Published: January 2018

Background Physicians spend around 35% of their time documenting patient data. They are concerned that adopting a structured and standardized electronic health record (EHR) will lead to more time documenting and less time for patient care, especially during consultations.

Objective This study measures the effect of the introduction of a structured and standardized EHR on documentation time and time for dedicated patient care during outpatient consultations.

Methods We measured physicians' time spent on four task categories during outpatient consultations: documentation, patient care, peer communication, and other activities. Physicians covered various specialties from two university hospitals that jointly implemented a structured and standardized EHR. Preimplementation, one hospital used a legacy-EHR, and one primarily paper-based records. The same physicians were observed 2 to 6 months before and 6 to 8 months after implementation.

We analyzed consultation duration, and percentage of time spent on each task category. Differences in time distribution before and after implementation were tested using multilevel linear regression.

Results We observed 24 physicians (162 hours, 439 consultations). We found no significant difference in consultation duration or number of consultations per hour. In the legacy-EHR center, we found the implementation associated with a significant decrease in time spent on dedicated patient care (−8.5%). In contrast, in the previously paper-based center, we found a significant increase in dedicated time spent on documentation (8.3%) and decrease in time on combined patient care and documentation (−4.6%). The effect on dedicated documentation time significantly differed between centers.

Conclusion Implementation of a structured and standardized EHR was associated with 8.5% decrease in time for dedicated patient care during consultations in one center and 8.3% increase in dedicated documentation time in another center. These results are in line with physicians' concerns that the introduction of a structured and standardized EHR might lead to more documentation burden and less time for dedicated patient care.
How Does the Patient React After Reading the Informed Consent Form of a Gynecological Surgery? A Qualitative Study
Authors: Amorim Andrea Cristina , Santos Luis Guilherme Teixeira dos , Poli-Neto Omero Benedicto , Brito Luiz Gustavo Oliveira
Published: January 2018

Objective To analyze the reaction of women after reading the Informed Consent Form (ICF) before undergoing elective gynecological/urogynecological surgeries.

Methods A qualitative study with 53 women was conducted between September 2014 and May 2015. The analysis of the content was conducted after a scripted interview was made in a reserved room and transcribed verbatim. We read the ICF once more in front of the patient, and then she was interviewed according to a script of questions about emotions and reactions that occurred about the procedure and her expectations about the intra- and postoperative period.

Results The women had a mean age of 52 years, they were multiparous, and most had only a few years of schooling (54.7%). The majority (60.4%) of them had undergone urogynecological surgeries. Hysterectomy and colpoperineoplasty were the most frequent procedures. Ten women had not undergone any previous abdominal surgery. Fear (34.6%) was the feeling that emerged most frequently from the interviews after reading the ICF, followed by indifference (30.8%) and resignation (13.5%). Nine women considered their reaction unexpected after reading the ICF. Three patients did not consider the information contained in the ICF to be sufficient, and 3 had questions about the surgery after reading the document.

Conclusion Reading the ICF generates fear in most women; however, they believe this feeling did not interfere in their decision-making process.
Medikamentenassoziierte Kiefernekrosen – von der Diagnose zur Therapie
Authors: Ristow Oliver , Hoffmann Jürgen , Freudlsperger Christian
Published: January 2018

Bisphosphonate und Denosumab spielen eine bedeutende Rolle bei der medikamentösen Therapie von Erkrankungen des Skelettsystems, insbesondere der Osteoporose und ossär metastasierenden Tumorerkrankungen. Grundsätzlich werden diese antiresorptiv wirksamen Medikamente sehr gut vertragen und ihre Anwendung gilt als nebenwirkungsarm. Jedoch haben sich die medikamentenassoziierten Kiefernekrosen in den vergangenen Jahren zu einer bedeutsamen, die Lebensqualität des Patienten einschränkenden Nebenwirkung dieser osteotropen Pharmaka herauskristallisiert. Bei einer verspäteten Diagnose oder Behandlung kann die medikamentenassoziierte Kiefernekrose einen komplikationsträchtigen und behandlungsintensiven Verlauf zeigen. Daher ist es das Ziel, die nötigen prophylaktischen, präventiven und therapeutischen Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um deren Einnahme zu optimieren und das Auftreten dieser Nebenwirkung zu minimieren.
Die proximale Humerusfraktur des geriatrischen Patienten
Authors: Plecko Michael
Published: January 2018

Frakturen am proximalen Humerus stellen beim alten Patienten mit erheblicher Osteoporose auch heute noch, trotz der stark verbesserten Implantate und der verfeinerten Operationstechnik, eine große Herausforderung dar. In Abhängigkeit von den persönlichen Bedürfnissen eines geriatrischen Patienten, der Erwartungshaltung, dem Aktivitätsniveau, den kognitiven Fähigkeiten sowie der Frakturform, der Knochendurchblutung, dem Grad der Osteoporose, dem Zustand der Rotatorenmanschette und dem Grad der Arthrose ist heute ein individuell angepasstes Behandlungskonzept zu favorisieren. Dabei spielt auch die konservative Therapie eine zunehmende Rolle, da bei manchen Patienten weniger die weitgehende Wiederherstellung der Beweglichkeit als vielmehr die Schmerzfreiheit im Vordergrund steht. Es ist also eine individuelle Nutzen-Risiko-Abwägung notwendig und das Behandlungsziel und die notwendige Behandlungsstrategie mit dem Patienten bzw. seinen Angehörigen zu diskutieren und festzulegen. Die winkelstabile Plattenosteosynthese sollte im Bedarfsfall mit Zusatzmaßnahmen wie einer Zementaugmentation oder einem Knochengraft kombiniert werden, um ein sekundäres Nachsinken mit sekundärer Schraubenperforation zu vermeiden. Bei nicht sinnvoll rekonstruierbaren Frakturen hat die inverse Schulterprothese im geriatrischen Patientengut die Frakturhemiprothese weitgehend abgelöst und bietet eine gute Möglichkeit, rasch Schmerzfreiheit und eine brauchbare Alltagsfunktion zu erreichen.
Detection of early neoplasia in Barrett’s esophagus using lectin-based near-infrared imaging: an ex vivo study on human tissue
Authors: Neves André , Di Pietro Massimiliano , O’Donovan Maria , Waterhouse Dale , Bohndiek Sarah , Brindle Kevin , Fitzgerald Rebecca
Published: January 2018

Background and study aims Endoscopic surveillance for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is limited by long procedure times and sampling error. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging minimizes tissue autofluorescence and optical scattering. We assessed the feasibility of a topically applied NIR dye-labeled lectin for the detection of early neoplasia in BE in an ex vivo setting.

Methods Consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for BE-related early neoplasia were recruited. Freshly collected EMR specimens were sprayed at the bedside with fluorescent lectin and then imaged. Punch biopsies were collected from each EMR under NIR light guidance. We compared the fluorescence intensity from dysplastic and nondysplastic areas within EMRs and from punch biopsies with different histological grades.

Results 29 EMR specimens were included from 17 patients. A significantly lower fluorescence was found for dysplastic regions across whole EMR specimens (P < 0.001). We found a 41 % reduction in the fluorescence of dysplastic compared to nondysplastic punch biopsies (P < 0.001), with a sensitivity and specificity for dysplasia detection of 80 % and 82.9 %, respectively.

Conclusion Lectin-based NIR imaging can differentiate dysplastic from nondysplastic Barrett’s mucosa ex vivo.
Neue Herausforderungen: Feststellung des irreversiblen Ausfalls der Hirnfunktion bei Neugeborenen, Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Masuhr Florian , Dame Christof , Gratopp Alexander , Hoffmann Olaf
Published: January 2018

Hintergrund Gemäß der 4. Fortschreibung der Richtlinie zur Feststellung des irreversiblen Ausfalls der Gesamtfunktion des Großhirns, des Kleinhirns und des Hirnstamms muss bis zum vollendeten 14. Lebensjahr ein Facharzt für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin mit entsprechender Zusatzqualifikation an der Diagnostik mitwirken. In dieser retrospektiven Analyse soll untersucht werden, wer die Diagnostik bislang durchführte und welche Herausforderungen sich aus der aktuellen Richtlinie ergeben.

Patienten und Methode Retrospektive Auswertung des Patientenregisters der Deutschen Stiftung Organtransplantation (Organisationszentrale Nordost) aus den Jahren 2001–2010 unter Berücksichtigung der Vorgaben der 4. Fortschreibung vom 01. Juli 2015.

Ergebnisse 133 Patienten im Alter von 0–17 Jahren erhielten Diagnostik zur Feststellung des irreversiblen Ausfalls der Hirnfunktion. Ätiologisch dominierten in den ersten 6 Lebensmonaten sekundäre Hirnschädigungen, während danach traumatische und andere primäre Hirnschäden überwogen. Mit zunehmendem Alter sank der Anteil der Patienten, die auf neonatologischen/pädiatrischen Intensivstationen behandelt wurden bzw. Diagnostik durch Fachärzte für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin erhielten, kontinuierlich ab. Diese Fachärzte waren bei mehr als zwei Dritteln der pädiatrischen Patienten nicht an der abschließenden Feststellung des irreversiblen Hirnfunktionsausfalls beteiligt.

Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung Seit Inkrafttreten der 4. Fortschreibung müssen intensivmedizinisch ausgebildete und mit dem diagnostischen Vorgehen vertraute Fachärzte für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin wesentlich häufiger an der Feststellung des irreversiblen Ausfalls der Hirnfunktion mitwirken. Diesbezüglich sollten die ärztlichen Weiterbildungsordnungen weiterentwickelt, die Versorgungsstrukturen angepasst und Konsiliardienste etabliert werden.
Covered vs. uncovered self-expandable metal stents for malignant distal biliary strictures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tringali Alberto , Hassan Cesare , Rota Matteo , Rossi Marta , Mutignani Massimiliano , Aabakken Lars
Published: January 2018

Background Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are used for palliation of distal malignant biliary strictures, but the role of covered SEMS is less clear. We performed an up-to-date meta-analysis to compare the performance of covered and uncovered SEMS in patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary strictures.

Methods A computerized medical search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library between 2000 and December 2016 to identify all randomized trials that compared covered with uncovered SEMS in patients with distal malignant biliary strictures. Primary outcomes were stent failure and patient mortality; secondary outcomes were stent dysfunction and adverse events. Pooled estimates were computed using the random effects model.

Results Overall, 11 RCTs involving 1272 patients were included. The primary outcomes of stent failure and patient mortality did not differ significantly between covered and uncovered SEMS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.68, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.40 – 1.17; HR 0.89, 95 %CI 0.76 – 1.05, respectively). However, stent migration and sludge formation were much more common with covered SEMS (odds ratio [OR] 5.11, 95 %CI 1.84 – 14.17; OR 2.46, 95 %CI 1.37 – 4.43). The use of covered SEMS was associated with a lower rate of tumor ingrowth (OR 0.21, 95 %CI 0.09 – 0.50) but a higher rate of tumor overgrowth (OR 2.00, 95 %CI 1.15 – 3.48) compared with uncovered stents. The rates of procedure-related adverse events were similar in both groups.

Conclusion There was a risk reduction of about 32 % for both stent failure and patient mortality with covered SEMS but this difference was not significant. Migration and sludge rates were higher with covered SEMS, whereas tumor ingrowth was more likely with uncovered SEMS. The data show no added benefit of covered SEMS; further stent evolution is desirable.
Photothermoelastic contrast in nanoscale infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Morozovska Anna N. , Eliseev Eugene A. , Borodinov Nikolay , Ovchinnikova Olga S. , Morozovsky Nicholas V. , Kalinin Sergei V.
Published: January 2018

The contrast formation mechanism in nanoscale Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy is analyzed. The temperature distribution and elastic displacement across the illuminated T-shape boundary between two materials with different IR-radiation absorption coefficients and thermo-physical and elastic properties located on a rigid substrate are calculated self-consistently for different frequencies f ∼ (1 kHz–1 MHz) of IR-radiation modulation (fully coupled problem). Analytical expressions for the temperature and displacement profiles across the “thermo-elastic step” are derived in the decoupling approximation for f = 0 (“static limit”), and conditions for approximation validity at low frequencies of IR-modulation are established. The step height was found to be thickness-independent for thick layers and proportional to the square of the thickness for very thin films. The theoretical results will be of potential interest for applications in the scanning thermo-ionic and thermal infrared microscopies for relatively long sample thermalization times and possibly for photothermal induced resonance microscopy using optomechanical probes.
Single photon sources in 4H-SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors
Authors: Abe Y. , Umeda T. , Okamoto M. , Kosugi R. , Harada S. , Haruyama M. , Kada W. , Hanaizumi O. , Onoda S. , Ohshima T.
Published: January 2018

We present single photon sources (SPSs) embedded in 4H-SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). They are formed in the SiC/SiO2 interface regions of wet-oxidation C-face 4H-SiC MOSFETs and were not found in other C-face and Si-face MOSFETs. Their bright room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) was observed in the range from 550 to 750 nm and revealed variable multi-peak structures as well as variable peak shifts. We characterized a wide variety of their PL spectra as the inevitable variation of local atomic structures at the interface. Their polarization dependence indicates that they are formed at the SiC side of the interface. We also demonstrate that it is possible to switch on/off the SPSs by a bias voltage of the MOSFET.
Bulk-limited electrical behaviors in metal/hydrogenated diamond-like carbon/metal devices
Authors: Guo Peng , Chen Rende , Sun Lili , Li Xiaowei , Ke Peiling , Xue Qunji , Wang Aiying
Published: January 2018

Regardless of used metal contact combinations, bulk-limited electrical behaviors were observed in metal/hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC)/metal (MSM) devices through the study of I-V curves and temperature dependence of conductivity. For MSM devices with DLC deposited at a substrate bias of −50 V, the I-V curves exhibited ohmic electrical behaviors in the range of 0–1 V and followed the Poole-Frenkel mechanism in the range of 1–5 V. Moreover, the carrier transport was dominated by the thermally activated process with an activation energy of 0.1576 eV in the temperature range of 160–400 K. The bulk-limited behaviors of MSM devices could be attributed to the relatively high bulk resistance of the DLC layer. This result offers the fundamental insight into DLC based electrical devices and brings forward the concept to fabricate functional carbon based materials.
Plasmonic micropillars for precision cell force measurement across a large field-of-view
Authors: Xiao Fan , Wen Ximiao , Tan Xing Haw Marvin , Chiou Pei-Yu
Published: January 2018

A plasmonic micropillar platform with self-organized gold nanospheres is reported for the precision cell traction force measurement across a large field-of-view (FOV). Gold nanospheres were implanted into the tips of polymer micropillars by annealing gold microdisks with nanosecond laser pulses. Each gold nanosphere is physically anchored in the center of a pillar tip and serves as a strong, point-source-like light scattering center for each micropillar. This allows a micropillar to be clearly observed and precisely tracked even under a low magnification objective lens for the concurrent and precision measurement across a large FOV. A spatial resolution of 30 nm for the pillar deflection measurement has been accomplished on this platform with a 20× objective lens.
Methods to induce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in full-Heusler Co2FeSi thin layers in a magnetic tunnel junction structure
Authors: Shinohara Koki , Suzuki Takahiro , Takamura Yota , Nakagawa Shigeki
Published: January 2018

In this study, to obtain perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) using half-metallic ferromagnets (HMFs), several methods were developed to induce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in full-Heusler Co2FeSi (CFS) alloy thin layers in an MTJ multilayer composed of a layered CFS/MgO/CFS structure. Oxygen exposure at 2.0 Pa for 10 min after deposition of the bottom CFS layer was effective for obtaining PMA in the CFS layer. One of the reasons for the PMA is the formation of nearly ideal CFS/MgO interfaces due to oxygen exposure before the deposition of the MgO layer. The annealing process was effective for obtaining PMA in the top CFS layer capped with a Pd layer. PMA was clearly observed in the top CFS layer of a Cr(40 nm)/Pd(50 nm)/bottom CFS(0.6 nm)/MgO(2.0 nm)/top CFS(0.6 nm)/ Pd(10 nm) multilayer, where the top CFS and Pd thin films were deposited at RT and subsequently annealed at 300°C. In addition to the continuous layer growth of the films, the crystalline orientation alignment at the top CFS/Pd interface probably attributes to the origin of PMA at the top CFS layer.
Broadband asymmetric transmission of linearly polarized electromagnetic waves based on chiral metamaterial
Authors: Stephen Lincy , Yogesh N. , Subramanian V.
Published: January 2018

The giant optical activity of chiral metamaterials (CMMs) holds great potential for tailoring the polarization state of an electromagnetic (EM) wave. In controlling the polarization state, the aspect of asymmetric transmission (AT), where a medium allows the EM radiation to pass through in one direction while restricting it in the opposite direction, adds additional degrees of freedom such as one-way channelling functionality. In this work, a CMM formed by a pair of mutually twisted slanted complementary metal strips is realized for broadband AT accompanied with cross-polarization (CP) conversion for linearly polarized EM waves. Numerically, the proposed ultra-thin (∼λ/42) CMM shows broadband AT from 8.58 GHz to 9.73 GHz (bandwidth of 1.15 GHz) accompanied with CP transmission magnitude greater than 0.9. The transmission and reflection spectra reveal the origin of the asymmetric transmission as the direction sensitive cross polarization conversion and anisotropic electric coupling occurring in the structure which is then elaborated with the surface current analysis and electric field distribution within the structure. An experiment is carried out to verify the broadband AT based CP conversion of the proposed CMM at microwave frequencies, and a reliable agreement between numerical and experimental results is obtained. Being ultra-thin, the reported broadband AT based CP conversion of the proposed CMM is useful for controlling radiation patterns in non-reciprocal EM devices and communication networks.
3D reconstruction of pentacene structural organization in top-contact OTFTs via resonant soft X-ray reflectivity
Authors: Capelli Raffaella , Nardi Marco Vittorio , Toccoli Tullio , Verucchi Roberto , Dinelli Franco , Gelsomini Carolina , Koshmak Konstantin , Giglia Angelo , Nannarone Stefano , Pasquali Luca
Published: January 2018

Herein, we describe the use of soft X-ray reflectivity at the carbon K-edge to study the molecular organization (orientation, structure, and morphology) of pentacene active films in a top-contact transistor geometry. This technique is not affected by sample charging, and it can be applied in the case of insulating substrates. In addition, the sampling depth is not limited to the near-surface region, giving access to buried device interfaces (metal/organic and dielectric/organic). Spectral lineshape simulations, based on ab-initio calculations using a realistic 3D layer-by-layer model, allow us to unravel the details of the molecular organization in all the specific and crucial areas of the active film, overcoming the limitations of conventional approaches. The tilt angle of the long molecular axis in the whole film is found to progressively decrease with respect to the substrate normal from 25° to 0° with the increasing film thickness. A full vertical alignment, optimal for in-plane charge hopping, is reached only after the complete formation of the first five monolayers. Remarkably, starting from the first one in contact with the dielectric substrate, all the monolayers in the stack show a change in orientation with the increasing thickness. On the other hand, at the buried interface with a gold top-contact, the molecules assume a flat orientation that only propagates for two or three monolayers into the organic film. Top-contact devices with the highest performances can thus be obtained using films of at least ten monolayers. This explains the observed thickness dependence of charge mobility in pentacene transistors.
Multistate intermittency on the route to chaos of a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback from a long external cavity
Authors: Choi Daeyoung , Wishon Michael J. , Chang C. Y. , Citrin D. S. , Locquet A.
Published: January 2018

We observe experimentally two regimes of intermittency on the route to chaos of a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback from a long external cavity as the feedback level is increased. The first regime encountered corresponds to multistate intermittency involving two or three states composed of several combinations of periodic, quasiperiodic, and subharmonic dynamics. The second regime is observed for larger feedback levels and involves intermittency between period-doubled and chaotic regimes. This latter type of intermittency displays statistical properties similar to those of on-off intermittency.
Identification of genes required for
Mycobacterium abscessus
growth in vivo with a prominent role of the ESX-4 locus
Authors: Laencina Laura , Dubois Violaine , Le Moigne Vincent , Viljoen Albertus , Majlessi Laleh , Pritchard Justin , Bernut Audrey , Piel Laura , Roux Anne-Laure , Gaillard Jean-Louis , Lombard Bérengère , Loew Damarys , Rubin Eric J. , Brosch Roland , Kremer Laurent , Herrmann Jean-Louis , Girard-Misguich Fabienne
Published: January 2018

Significance

The coevolution of mycobacteria and amoebae seems to have contributed to shaping the virulence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in macrophages. We identified a pool of genes essential for the intracellular survival of
Mycobacterium abscessus
inside amoebae and macrophages and discovered a hot spot of transposon insertions within the orthologous ESX-4 T7SS locus. We generated a mutant with the deletion of a structural key ESX component, EccB
4
. We demonstrate rupture of the phagosomal membrane only in the presence of an intact
eccB

4

gene. These results suggest an unanticipated role of ESX-4 T7SS in governing the intracellular behavior of a mycobacterium. Because
M. abscessus
lacks ESX-1, it is tempting to speculate that ESX-4 operates as a surrogate for ESX-1 in
M. tuberculosis
.
Single-cell transcriptomics of the developing lateral geniculate nucleus reveals insights into circuit assembly and refinement
Authors: Kalish Brian T. , Cheadle Lucas , Hrvatin Sinisa , Nagy M. Aurel , Rivera Samuel , Crow Megan , Gillis Jesse , Kirchner Rory , Greenberg Michael E.
Published: January 2018

Coordinated changes in gene expression underlie the early patterning and cell-type specification of the central nervous system. However, much less is known about how such changes contribute to later stages of circuit assembly and refinement. In this study, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing to develop a detailed, whole-transcriptome resource of gene expression across four time points in the developing dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a visual structure in the brain that undergoes a well-characterized program of postnatal circuit development. This approach identifies markers defining the major LGN cell types, including excitatory relay neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells. Most cell types exhibit significant transcriptional changes across development, dynamically expressing genes involved in distinct processes including retinotopic mapping, synaptogenesis, myelination, and synaptic refinement. Our data suggest that genes associated with synapse and circuit development are expressed in a larger proportion of nonneuronal cell types than previously appreciated. Furthermore, we used this single-cell expression atlas to identify the Prkcd-Cre mouse line as a tool for selective manipulation of relay neurons during a late stage of sensory-driven synaptic refinement. This transcriptomic resource provides a cellular map of gene expression across several cell types of the LGN, and offers insight into the molecular mechanisms of circuit development in the postnatal brain.
On optimal Scott sentences of finitely generated algebraic structures
Authors: Harrison-Trainor Matthew , Ho Meng-Che
Published: January 2018

Scott showed that for every countable structure

A

\mathcal {A}

, there is a sentence of the infinitary logic

L

ω
1

ω

\mathcal {L}_{\omega _1\omega }

, called a Scott sentence for

A

\mathcal {A}

, whose countable models are exactly the isomorphic copies of

A

\mathcal {A}

. Thus, the least quantifier complexity of a Scott sentence of a structure is an invariant that measures the complexity “describing” the structure. Knight et al. have studied the Scott sentences of many structures. In particular, Knight and Saraph showed that a finitely generated structure always has a

Σ
3
0

\Sigma ^0_3

Scott sentence. We give a characterization of the finitely generated structures for which the

Σ
3
0

\Sigma ^0_3

Scott sentence is optimal. One application of this result is to give a construction of a finitely generated group where the

Σ
3
0

\Sigma ^0_3

Scott sentence is optimal.
Intracellular vesicle trafficking plays an essential role in mitochondrial quality control
Authors: Gerards Mike , Cannino Giuseppe , González de Cózar Jose M. , Jacobs Howard T.
Published: January 2018

The Drosophila gene products Bet1, Slh, and CG10144, predicted to function in intracellular vesicle trafficking, were previously found to be essential for mitochondrial nucleoid maintenance. Here we show that Slh and Bet1 cooperate to maintain mitochondrial functions. In their absence, mitochondrial content, membrane potential, and respiration became abnormal, accompanied by mitochondrial proteotoxic stress, but without direct effects on mtDNA. Immunocytochemistry showed that both Slh and Bet1 are localized at the Golgi, together with a proportion of Rab5-positive vesicles. Some Bet1, as well as a tiny amount of Slh, cofractionated with highly purified mitochondria, while live-cell imaging showed coincidence of fluorescently tagged Bet1 with most Lysotracker-positive and a small proportion of Mitotracker-positive structures. This three-way association was disrupted in cells knocked down for Slh, although colocalized lysosomal and mitochondrial signals were still seen. Neither Slh nor Bet1 was required for global mitophagy or endocytosis, but prolonged Slh knockdown resulted in G2 growth arrest, with increased cell diameter. These effects were shared with knockdown of betaCOP but not of CG1044, Snap24, or Syntaxin6. Our findings implicate vesicle sorting at the cis-Golgi in mitochondrial quality control.
Effect of a Postpartum Training Program on the Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gluppe Sandra L , Hilde Gunvor , Tennfjord Merete K , Engh Marie E , Bø Kari
Published: January 2018

Background

Diastasis recti abdominis affects a significant number of women during the prenatal and postnatal period.

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the effect of a postpartum training program on the prevalence of diastasis recti abdominis.

Design

The design was a secondary analysis of an assessor-masked randomized controlled trial.

Methods

One hundred seventy-five primiparous women (mean age = 29.8 ± 4.1 years) were randomized to an exercise or control group. The interrectus distance was palpated using finger widths, with a cutoff point for diastasis as ≥2 finger widths. Measures were taken 4.5 cm above, at, and 4.5 cm below the umbilicus. The 4-month intervention started 6 weeks postpartum and consisted of a weekly, supervised exercise class focusing on strength training of the pelvic floor muscles. In addition, the women were asked to perform daily pelvic floor muscle training at home. The control group received no intervention. Analyses were based on intention to treat. The Mantel-Haenszel test (relative risk [RR] ratio) and the chi-square test for independence were used to evaluate between-group differences on categorical data.

Results

At 6 weeks postpartum, 55.2% and 54.5% of the participants were diagnosed with diastasis in the intervention and control groups, respectively. No significant differences between groups in prevalence were found at baseline (RR: 1.01 [0.77–1.32]), at 6 months postpartum (RR: 0.99 [0.71–1.38]), or at 12 months postpartum (RR: 1.04 [0.73–1.49]).

Limitations

The interrecti distance was palpated using finger widths, and the sample included women with and without diastasis.

Conclusions

A weekly, postpartum, supervised exercise program, including strength training of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, in addition to daily home training of the pelvic floor muscles, did not reduce the prevalence of diastasis.