bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BIM pilot project Granitztal tunnel chain – Development of data structures for tunnel structure and track superstructure
Authors: Exinger Christoph , Mulitzer Günther , Felsner Rudolf , Lemmerer Johann , Matt Robert , Griesser Ewald
Published: August 2018

An essential part of the Koralmbahn line, the Granitztal tunnel chain with a length of about 6.1 km runs between the Lavanttal and the Jauntal valleys and crosses the Deutsch Grutschen, the Granitztal and the Langer Berg. In early 2016, Austrian Railways ÖBB made a decision for the Granitztal tunnel chain project, which was then already under construction, to test the 3D model‐based Building Information Modelling (BIM) design method in addition to conventional 2D design. One essential precondition for the application of the BIM method on transport infrastructure projects was recognised as the required data structures. In addition to the definition of general project requirements and standards for BIM, work started on the structuring and classification of the construction elements required for the tunnel structure and their properties. Of equal importance are the spatial positioning and location of the construction elements and the definition of topological relationships to each other.

The article gives an insight into the current state of development of BIM data structures for tunnel structure and track superstructure at the ÖBB and is intended to make a contribution to initiating the development of such data structures by all the disciplines involved in tunneling and transport infrastructure. The prime intention is to provide the BIM data structures produced in this way as an active contribution to the further development of the open BIM standard IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) in the IFC Underground Construction Group at buildingSMART
DDX24 Mutations Associated With Malformations of Major Vessels to the Viscera
Authors: Pang Pengfei , Hu Xiaojun , Zhou Bin , Mao Junjie , Liang Yu , Jiang Zaibo , Huang Mingsheng , Liu Ruihong , Zhang Youyong , Qian Jiesheng , Liu Jinsong , Xu Jinxin , Zhang Yaqin , Zu Maoheng , Wang Yiming , He Huanhuan , Shan Hong
Published: August 2018

Vascular malformations present diagnostic and treatment challenges. In particular, malformations of vessels to the viscera are often diagnosed late or incorrectly due to the insidious onset and deep location of the disease. Therefore, a better knowledge of the genetic mutations underlying such diseases is needed. Here, we evaluated a four‐generation family carrying vascular malformations of major vessels that affect multiple organs, which we named “multiorgan venous and lymphatic defect” (MOVLD) syndrome. Genetic analyses identified an association between a mutation in DEAD‐box helicase 24 (DDX24), a gene for which the function is largely unknown, and MOVLD. Next, we screened 161 patients with sporadic vascular malformations of similar phenotype to our MOVLD family and found the same mutation or one of the two additional DDX24 mutations in 26 cases. Structural modeling revealed that two of the mutations are located within the adenosine triphosphate–binding domain of DDX24. Knockdown of DDX24 expression in endothelial cells resulted in elevated migration and tube formation. Transcriptomic analysis linked DDX24 to vascular system–related functions. Conclusion: Our results provide a link between DDX24 and vascular malformation and indicate a crucial role for DDX24 in endothelial cell functions; these findings create an opportunity for genetic diagnosis and therapeutic targeting of malformations of vessels to the viscera.
Optimized protocol for detection of native, full‐length HIV‐1 envelope on the surface of transfected cells
Authors: Altman J.B. , Liu X. , Itri V. , Zolla‐Pazner S. , Powell R.L.R.
Published: August 2018

Aims

Designing therapeutics against the HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) is only as accurate as the structure of the Env they are targeting. Conserving the structure of the Env trimer is crucial for proper experimental assessment of antibody binding and neutralization. However, Env is notably difficult to express by transfection of a recombinant Env plasmid. To increase surface expression, researchers commonly utilize c‐tail mutants of the gp41 transmembrane glycoprotein of HIV‐1, but mutations and deletions in this region can impact the overall conformation and stability of the Env trimer. Multiple studies have shown that while tail mutants have higher Env surface expression, they are easier to neutralize and have altered trimer conformations compared with wild‐type Env found in vivo on infected cells. To assess and characterize native cell surface Env structures, we sought a protocol that could reliably detect wild‐type Env surface expression by flow cytometry.

Methods and results

By avoiding fetal bovine serum–based buffers, significantly increasing the amounts of transfected plasmid and Env‐specific antibody and by selecting a bright, biotin + streptavidin‐PE detection system, we were able to increase the surface expression of transfected Env protein.

Conclusion

This protocol will allow for more precise assessment of antibody binding, epitope exposure, and Env structure, all of which will contribute to designing more effective vaccines and immunotherapeutics.
Screening for low muscularity in colorectal cancer patients: a valid, clinic‐friendly approach that predicts mortality
Authors: Cespedes Feliciano Elizabeth M. , Avrutin Egor , Caan Bette J. , Boroian Adam , Mourtzakis Marina
Published: August 2018

Background

Low skeletal muscle quantified using computed tomography (CT) scans is associated with morbidity and mortality among cancer patients. However, existing methods to assess skeletal muscle from CT are time‐consuming, expensive, and require training. Clinic‐friendly tools to screen for low skeletal muscle in cancer patients are urgently needed.

Methods

We included 807 scans from non‐metastatic colorectal cancer patients. With the digital ruler available in most radiological software, we implemented an abbreviated method to assess skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), which consisted of assessing the height and width of the psoas and paraspinal muscles and computing their combined ‘linear area’ in centimetres squared (cm2). A subset of CT scans was assessed twice by two analysts to compute intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability. We derived cut‐points for ‘low’ linear area using optimal stratification and then calculated the sensitivity and specificity of these cut‐points relative to standard methods (total L3 cross‐sectional area assessed with Slice‐O‐Matic research software). We further evaluated the association of low linear area with death from any cause after colorectal cancer diagnosis in Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographics, smoking, body mass index category, and tumour characteristics.

Results

The linear area was highly correlated with total cross‐sectional area assessed using standard methods [r = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91, 0.93] overall and within subgroups defined by age, sex, and body mass index group. Intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability were equally high (both intra‐class correlations = 0.98). Cut‐points for low linear area were sensitive (0.75; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.80) and specific (0.77; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.80) for identifying low skeletal muscle relative to the standard of total L3 cross‐sectional area. The hazard ratio and 95% CI for death associated with a low linear area were hazard ratio = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.25.

Conclusions

Clinic‐friendly methods that assess linear area from CT scans are an accurate screening tool to identify low skeletal muscle among non‐metastatic colorectal cancer patients. These linear measures are associated with mortality after colorectal cancer, suggesting they could be clinically useful both to improve prognostication and to provide a practical screening tool to identify cancer patients who require nutrition or exercise intervention.
An Analytically Defined Fire‐Suppressing Foam Formulation for Evaluation of Fluorosurfactant Replacement
Authors: Hinnant Katherine M. , Giles Spencer L. , Snow Arthur W. , Farley John P. , Fleming James W. , Ananth Ramagopal
Published: August 2018

A 4‐component, analytically defined, reference fluorosurfactant formulation (Ref‐aqueous film forming foam [AFFF]) composed of 0.3% fluorocarbon‐surfactant concentrate (Capstone 1157), 0.2% hydrocarbon‐surfactant concentrate (Glucopon 215 UP), and 0.5% diethylene glycol mono butyl ether by volume in distilled water was found to have rapid fire extinction comparable to a commercial AFFF in tests conducted on a bench scale and a large scale (28 ft2, part of US Military Specification, MIL‐F‐24385F). The Ref‐AFFF was analytically characterized to provide the identity and quantity of the chemical structures of the surfactant molecules that were lacking for commercial AFFF formulations. To arrive at an acceptable Ref‐AFFF formulation, 3 candidate formulations containing different hydrocarbon surfactants in varying amounts were evaluated and ranked relative to a commercial AFFF using a bench‐scale fire‐extinction apparatus; varying the hydrocarbon surfactant was found to affect the fire‐extinction time. The ranking was confirmed by the large‐scale tests suggesting that the bench‐scale apparatus is a reasonable research tool for identifying surfactants likely to succeed in the large‐scale test. In the future, replacing the fluorocarbon surfactant with an alternative surfactant in the Ref‐AFFF enables a direct comparison of fire extinction and environmental impact to identify an acceptable fluorine‐free formulation.
Virtual viewpoints reconstruction via Fourier slice transformation
Authors: Zhao Jian , Xia Jun
Published: August 2018

We propose a new method of calculating the arbitrary viewpoints for auto‐stereoscopic display. The three‐dimensional (3D) object is first virtually reconstructed in 3D spaces by mapping each pixel with a depth according to the depth mapping. We then calculate the Fourier spectrum of the 3D object by the fast Fourier transformation. The arbitrary viewpoints are reconstructed by “slicing” the 3D Fourier spectrum. To repair “black hole” artifacts, the regions in the background are calculated by advanced boundary in‐painting. Experimental results show the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm to calculate viewpoints with arbitrary viewing angles. A comparison is also presented, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is more accurate than conventional method, and the advanced boundary in‐painting can save three quarters of time than the conventional in‐painting method.
How do data collection and processing methods impact the accuracy of long‐term trend estimation in lake surface‐water temperatures?
Authors: Gray Derek K. , Hampton Stephanie E. , O'Reilly Catherine M. , Sharma Sapna , Cohen Rachel S.
Published: August 2018

Identifying significant changes across lake ecosystems is important for understanding impacts of global environmental change. Synthesizing data on lake warming trends is challenging because individual lake datasets differ in the: (1) length of the time series available for analysis and (2) frequency of data collection (e.g., daily vs. monthly observations). This study aimed to address how dataset length, frequency of data collection, and strength of temperature trends could impact both the accuracy of summer surface‐water temperature trends and their statistical significance. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we found that accuracy in trend estimates and the ability to recover statistically significant trends were both directly related to trend strength, dataset length, and sampling frequency. To consistently retrieve statistically significant trend estimates that deviated < 25% from the true values, 30‐yr datasets with high warming rates (≥ 0.75°C decade−1) were required. These findings have important implications for efforts to analyze lake temperature trends, as the characteristics of many existing datasets fall within a range where our simulations predict low accuracy in trend estimates as well as a low probability of achieving statistical significance. Longer datasets are needed to accurately estimate warming trends and evaluate drivers of lake surface‐temperature changes, highlighting the need to support existing long‐term monitoring projects occurring across the globe, and to encourage updates to remotely sensed lake temperature datasets.
Broadband Coherent Raman Scattering Microscopy
Authors: Polli Dario , Kumar Vikas , Valensise Carlo M. , Marangoni Marco , Cerullo Giulio
Published: August 2018

Spontaneous Raman (SR) microscopy allows label‐free chemically specific imaging based on the vibrational response of molecules; however, due to the low Raman scattering cross section, it is intrinsically slow. Coherent Raman scattering (CRS) techniques, by coherently exciting vibrational oscillators in the focal volume, increase signal levels by several orders of magnitude under appropriate conditions. In its single‐frequency version, CRS microscopy has reached very high imaging speeds, up to the video rate; however, it provides information which is not sufficient to distinguish spectrally overlapped chemical species within complex heterogeneous systems, such as cells and tissues. Broadband CRS combines the acquisition speed of CRS with the information content of SR, but it is technically very demanding. In this Review, the current state of the art in broadband CRS microscopy, both in the coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and the stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) versions are reviewed. Different technical solutions for broadband CARS and SRS, working both in the frequency and in the time domains, are compared and their merits and drawbacks assessed.
Relative catalytic efficiencies and transcript levels of three d‐ and two l‐lactate dehydrogenases for optically pure d‐lactate production in Sporolactobacillus inulinus
Authors: Wu Bin , Yu Qi , Zheng Shan , Pedroso Marcelo Monteiro , Guddat Luke W. , He Bingfang , Schenk Gerhard
Published: August 2018

As the optical purity of the lactate monomer is pivotal for polymerization, the production of optically pure d‐lactate is of significant importance. Sporolactobacillus inulinus YBS1‐5 is a superior optically pure d‐lactate‐producing bacterium. However, little is known about the relationship between lactate dehydrogenases in S. inulinus YBS1‐5 and the optical purity of d‐lactate. Three potential d‐lactate dehydrogenase (D‐LDH1‐3)‐ and two putative l‐lactate dehydrogenase (L‐LDH1‐2)‐encoding genes were cloned from the YBS1‐5 strain and expressed in Escherichia coli D‐LDH1 exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency toward pyruvate, whereas two L‐LDHs showed low catalytic efficiency. Different neutralizers significantly affected the optical purity of d‐lactate produced by strain YBS1‐5 as well as the transcription levels of ldhDs and ldhLs. The high catalytic efficiency of D‐LDH1 and elevated ldhD1 mRNA levels suggest that this enzyme is essential for d‐lactate synthesis in S. inulinus YBS1‐5. The correlation between the optical purity of d‐lactate and transcription levels of ldhL1 in the case of different neutralizers indicate that ldhL1 is a key factor affecting the optical purity of d‐lactate in S. inulinus YBS1‐5.
Muscle imaging in laminopathies: Synthesis study identifies meaningful muscles for follow‐up
Authors: GóMez‐Andrés David , Díaz‐Manera Jordi , Alejaldre Aida , Pulido‐Valdeolivas Irene , GonzáLez‐mera Laura , Olivé Montse , Vilchez Juan José , De Munain Adolfo LóPez , Paradas Carmen , Muelas Nuria , SáNchez‐MontáÑez Ángel , Alonso‐Jimenez Alicia , De la banda Marta Gómez García , Dabaj Ivana , Bonne Gisèle , Munell Francina , Carlier Robert Y. , Quijano‐Roy Susana
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Particular fibroadipose infiltration patterns have been recently described by muscle imaging in congenital and later onset forms of LMNA‐related muscular dystrophies (LMNA‐RD). Methods: Scores for fibroadipose infiltration of 23 lower limb muscles in 34 patients with LMNA‐RD were collected from heat maps of 2 previous studies. Scoring systems were homogenized. Relationships between muscle infiltration and disease duration and age of onset were modeled with random forests. Results: The pattern of infiltration differs according to disease duration but not to age of disease onset. The muscles whose progression best predicts disease duration were semitendinosus, biceps femoris long head, gluteus medius, and semimembranosus. Discussion: In LMNA‐RD, our synthetic analysis of lower limb muscle infiltration did not find major differences between forms with different ages of onset but allowed the identification of muscles with characteristic infiltration during disease progression. Monitoring of these specific muscles by quantitative MRI may provide useful imaging biomarkers in LMNA‐RD. Muscle Nerve 58:812–817, 2018
Evaluation and Comparison of a Habitat Suitability Model for Postdrift Larval Lake Sturgeon in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers
Authors: Krieger Joseph R. , Young Ryan T. , Diana James S.
Published: August 2018

We evaluated composition and spatial distribution of riverine nursery habitat for larval Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River, Michigan, and Fighting Island Channel of the Detroit River, Ontario, using a habitat suitability model (HSM) and fish collections. Although model outputs indicated similar portions of high-quality habitat in the Middle Channel (16.9%) and Fighting Island Channel (15.7%), larval abundance and dispersal patterns varied between these systems. Analysis with Akaike's information criterion indicated that a regression model using sand–silt substrate performed best at predicting the observed water-volume-standardized CPUE (number of larvae·h−1·m−3) in the Middle Channel. Of 93 larvae that were collected in the Middle Channel, most were found to cluster at three distinct areas of high- and moderate-quality habitat, which was composed predominately of sand–silt substrate. Lengths of larvae varied by as much as 9 mm, and the degree of yolk sac absorption also varied, indicating that larvae in the Middle Channel remained within the channel after a short drift downstream. Of the 25 larvae that were collected in Fighting Island Channel, distribution was sporadic, and occurrence did not significantly correlate with measured habitat variables. Larvae were relatively homogeneous in size and yolk sac stage, indicating that newly emerged larvae did not utilize available habitat in Fighting Island Channel but instead drifted into the main channel of the Detroit River. Dispersal patterns indicate variability in young Lake Sturgeon ecology, which is dependent on local habitat conditions—most notably, substrate composition. Furthermore, modeled larval–habitat associations found in this study were compared to a similar study on larval Lake Sturgeon from the North Channel of the St. Clair River. Model outputs from all three systems accurately accounted for observed larval dispersal patterns among both rivers. This supports the transferability of an HSM parameterized for Lake Sturgeon from individual river reaches within two large river systems.
Plant somatic mutations in nature conferring insect and herbicide resistance
Authors: Simberloff Daniel , Leppanen Christy
Published: August 2018

Because of the role of the meristem in plant growth and reproduction, somatic mutations in plants have long been suspected of conferring herbivore and pathogen resistance on individual plants and, in the case of trees, individual branches within single plants. A few instances of resistance to phytophagous insects owing to somatic mutations have been reported in the literature. More recently, a striking example has demonstrated how somatic mutations confer resistance to an herbicide on an invasive plant, Hydrilla verticillata. The array of new methods for manipulating genomes (e.g., gene‐editing) plus existing examples of somatic mutation‐associated resistance suggest that such mutations might be useful in silviculture, agriculture, and horticulture. Answering several general questions about somatic mutations in plants would facilitate such applications: Why are so few examples reported? Do other cases exist but go undetected for want of adequate attention or methods? Under what circumstances do somatic mutations enter gametophytes? © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Forecasting wind gusts in winter storms using a calibrated convection‐permitting ensemble
Authors: Pantillon Florian , Lerch Sebastian , Knippertz Peter , Corsmeier Ulrich
Published: August 2018

Windstorms associated with low‐pressure systems from the North Atlantic are the most important natural hazards for central Europe. Although their predictability has generally improved over the last decades, forecasting wind gusts is still challenging, due to the multiple scales involved. One of the first ensemble prediction systems at convection‐permitting resolution, COSMO‐DE‐EPS, offers a novel 2.8‐km dataset over Germany for the 2011–2016 period. The high resolution allows representation of mesoscale features that are barely captured by global models, while the long period allows both investigation of rare storms and application of statistical post‐processing. Ensemble model output statistics based on a truncated logistic distribution substantially improve forecasts of wind gusts in the whole dataset. However, some winter storms exhibit uncharacteristic forecast errors that cannot be reduced by post‐processing. During the passage of the most severe storm, gusts related to a cold jet are predicted relatively well at the time of maximum intensity, whereas those related to a warm jet are poorly predicted at an early phase. Wind gusts are overestimated during two cases of frontal convection, which suggests that even higher resolution is needed to resolve fully the downward mixing of momentum and the stabilization resulting from convective dynamics. In contrast, extreme gusts are underestimated during a rare case involving a possible sting jet, but this arises from the representation of the synoptic rather than the mesoscale. The synoptic scale also controls the ensemble spread, which is inherited mostly from the initial and boundary conditions. This is unsurprising, but leads to high forecast uncertainty in the case of a small, fast‐moving cyclone crossing the model domain. These results illustrate how statistical post‐processing can help identify the limits of predictability across scales in convection‐permitting ensemble forecasts. They may guide the development of regime‐dependent statistical methods to improve forecasts of wind gusts in winter storms further.
Dysregulation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Antioxidant Responses in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Redondo Juliana , Sarkar Pamela , Kemp Kevin , Heesom Kate J , Wilkins Alastair , Scolding Neil J , Rice Claire M
Published: August 2018

The potential of autologous cell-based therapies including those using multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is being investigated for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions. However, the phenotype of MSC in neurological diseases has not been fully characterized. We have previously shown that MSC isolated from patients with progressive MS (MS-MSC) have reduced expansion potential, premature senescence, and reduced neuroprotective potential in vitro. In view of the role of antioxidants in ageing and neuroprotection, we examined the antioxidant capacity of MS-MSC demonstrating that MS-MSC secretion of antioxidants superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP) is reduced and correlates negatively with the duration of progressive phase of MS. We confirmed reduced expression of SOD1 and GSTP by MS-MSC along with reduced activity of SOD and GST and, to examine the antioxidant capacity of MS-MSC under conditions of nitrosative stress, we established an in vitro cell survival assay using nitric oxide-induced cell death. MS-MSC displayed differential susceptibility to nitrosative stress with accelerated senescence and greater decline in expression of SOD1 and GSTP in keeping with reduced expression of master regulators of antioxidant responses nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α. Our results are compatible with dysregulation of antioxidant responses in MS-MSC and have significant implications for development of autologous MSC-based therapies for MS, optimization of which may require that these functional deficits are reversed. Furthermore, improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms may yield novel insights into MS pathophysiology and biomarker identification.
Interactions between hydrogenated diamond surface and adsorbates with different concentration of NO2 molecules: A first‐principles study
Authors: Liu Fengbin , Chen Wenbin , Cui Yan , Jiao Zhiwei , Qu Min , Cao Leigang
Published: August 2018

To elucidate the effects of NO2 and H2O molecules on the surface conductivity of hydrogenated diamond film, models of various adsorbates containing different molecular ratio of NO2 and H2O on hydrogenated diamond (100) surfaces were constructed. The adsorption energies, equilibrium geometries of adsorbates, density of states, and atomic Mulliken populations were studied by using first‐principles method. The results showed that H2O molecule in the adsorbate could weaken the interactions between the adsorbates and hydrogenated diamond surface significantly. Compared with H2O molecule, NO2 molecule relaxes more dramatically when adsorbed on hydrogenated diamond surface. In addition, density of states for C(100):H–2NO2, C(100):H–NO2, and C(100):H–NO2 + H2O systems are very similar to each other, which indicates an obvious peak at valence band maximum level for all the three samples. It can be attributed to mainly single occupied molecule orbital of NO2 molecule and slightly C–H bond of C(100):H substrate. When the adsorbates contain one NO2 and two H2O molecules, the peak shifts slightly into valence band, but its intensity increases significantly. All the samples exhibit p‐type surface conductivity when adsorbed with pure NO2 molecules, and the surface conductivity remains as H2O molecules added into the NO2 adsorbate layer. However, for oxygenated diamond surface, very week interactions generate between diamond surface and various adsorbates. All the oxygenated diamond (100) surfaces with various adsorbates containing different NO2 and H2O molecules on it exhibit an insulating property.
Pseudocapacitive Ni‐Co‐Fe Hydroxides/N‐Doped Carbon Nanoplates‐Based Electrocatalyst for Efficient Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Liu Wu‐Jun , Hu Xiao , Li Hong‐Chao , Yu Han‐Qing
Published: August 2018

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity of a transition metal oxides/hydroxides based electrocatalyst is related to its pseudocapacitance at potentials lower than the OER standard potential. Thus, a well‐defined pseudocapacitance could be a great supplement to boost OER. Herein, a highly pseudocapacitive Ni‐Fe‐Co hydroxides/N‐doped carbon nanoplates (NiCoFe‐NC)‐based electrocatalyst is synthesized using a facile one‐pot solvothermal approach. The NiCoFe‐NC has a great pseudocapacitive performance with 1849 F g−1 specific capacitance and 31.5 Wh kg−1 energy density. This material also exhibits an excellent OER catalytic activity comparable to the benchmark RuO2 catalysts (an initiating overpotential of 160 mV and delivering 10 mA cm−2 current density at 250 mV, with a Tafel slope of 31 mV dec−1). The catalytic performance of the optimized NiCoFe‐NC catalyst could keep 24 h. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemically active surface area, and other physicochemical and electrochemical analyses reveal that its great OER catalytic activity is ascribed to the Ni‐Co hydroxides with modular 2‐Dimensional layered structure, the synergistic interactions among the Fe(III) species and Ni, Co metal centers, and the improved hydrophily endowed by the incorporation of N‐doped carbon hydrogel. This work might provide a useful and general strategy to design and synthesize high‐performance metal (hydr)oxides OER electrocatalysts.
Impact of Lanthanide Nanomaterials on Photonic Devices and Smart Applications
Authors: Zhou Jiajia , Leaño Julius L. , Liu Zhenyu , Jin Dayong , Wong Ka‐Leung , Liu Ru‐Shi , Bünzli Jean‐Claude G.
Published: August 2018

Half a century after its initial emergence, lanthanide photonics is facing a profound remodeling induced by the upsurge of nanomaterials. Lanthanide‐doped nanomaterials hold promise for bioapplications and photonic devices because they ally the unmatched advantages of lanthanide photophysical properties with those arising from large surface‐to‐volume ratios and quantum confinement that are typical of nanoobjects. Cutting‐edge technologies and devices have recently arisen from this association and are in turn promoting nanophotonic materials as essential tools for a deeper understanding of biological mechanisms and related medical diagnosis and therapy, and as crucial building blocks for next‐generation photonic devices. Here, the recent progress in the development of nanomaterials, nanotechnologies, and nanodevices for clinical uses and commercial exploitation is reviewed. The candidate nanomaterials with mature synthesis protocols and compelling optical uniqueness are surveyed. The specific fields that are directly driven by lanthanide doped nanomaterials are emphasized, spanning from in vivo imaging and theranostics, micro‐/nanoscopic techniques, point‐of‐care medical testing, forensic fingerprints detection, to micro‐LED devices.
Analysis of the predictive value of clinical and sonographic variables in children with suspected acute appendicitis using decision tree algorithms
Authors: Reddan Tristan , Corness Jonathan , Harden Fiona , Mengersen Kerrie
Published: August 2018

Introduction

We evaluated the predictive value of sonographic and clinical variables in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children using decision tree modelling.

Methods

Data pooled from two prior studies in the same population of children referred for ultrasound examination of suspected acute appendicitis. Ultrasound and clinical variables were collated and compared with patient records. Decision tree algorithms were used to model data to identify highly discriminatory variables. Receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed on different models of appendiceal diameter criteria.

Results

There were 687 examinations included. Diameter modelling indicated that categorical assessment – below 6 mm as negative, diameters between 6 and 8 mm equivocal for appendicitis and above 8 mm positive – was more accurate (AUROC = 0.921) than the most accurate binary cut‐off (7 mm, AUROC = 0.886). Decision tree analysis supported categorical diameter criteria, demonstrated that the presence of echogenic mesentery was an important variable and showed that common blood test results can be complementary discriminators of ultrasound findings.

Discussion

The use of a binary appendiceal diameter cut‐off was less accurate than a three‐category model. Absence of peri‐appendiceal mesentery inflammation is an important negative predictor of appendicitis in children, even without direct visualisation of the appendix.
Mechanisms on Superfine Alumina Inclusions Formation by Al‐Deoxidation Reaction for liquid Iron
Authors: Zhao Yang , Wang Guocheng , Shang Deli , Lei Hong , Wang Qi , Cao Lei
Published: August 2018

In order to investigate the formation mechanism of alumina particles in early stages of Al‐deoxidation reaction, the samples are prepared by Al‐deoxidation for Fe–O (90 ppm) melt in confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The shapes of alumina inclusions are irregular in various samples, and their equivalent radius is between 15 and 150 nm based on the observation of field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The size and number density of alumina inclusions increase with the increase of temperature of deoxidation while decrease with the increase of cooling rate. Based on the EDS results and Fe–Al phase diagram, it is found that the Al‐deoxidation reaction zone is mainly composed of the FeAl, Fe2Al5, and FeAl3 phase. The average size of alumina particles in the FeAl phase are larger than that of in the Fe2Al5 phase. Alumina particle is not observed in the FeAl3 phase by FESEM. The observation and estimation based on the growth mechanisms of inclusions indicate that the growth of nanoscale alumina with large size is controlled by the diffusion growth and Brownian collision in high temperature melt, while nanoscale alumina with small size are secondary precipitate phase in the process of solidification.
Depletion of Collagen IX Alpha1 Impairs Myeloid Cell Function
Authors: Probst Kristina , Stermann Jacek , Bomhard Inga , Etich Julia , Pitzler Lena , Niehoff Anja , Bluhm Björn , Xu Haifeng C. , Lang Philipp A. , Chmielewski Markus , Abken Hinrich , Blissenbach Birgit , Machova Alzbeta , Papadopoulou Nikoletta , Brachvogel Bent
Published: August 2018

The trabecular extracellular matrix (ECM) forms a three-dimensional scaffold to stabilize the bone marrow, provide substrates for cell-matrix interactions and retain, present or release signals to modulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development. However, the impact of trabecular ECM components on hematopoiesis has been poorly studied. Using collagen IX alpha1 - deficient (Col9a1(−/−)) mice, we revealed that a lack of collagen IX alpha1 results in a disorganized trabecular network enriched in fibronectin, and in a reduction in myeloid cells, which was accompanied by a decrease in colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor expression on monocytes from the bone marrow. In contrast, B-cell numbers in the bone marrow and T-cell numbers in the thymus remained unchanged. Alterations in the bone marrow microenvironment may not only reduce myeloid cell numbers, but also have long-term implications for myeloid cell function. Mice were infected with Listeria moncytogenes to analyze the function of myeloid cells. In this case, an inadequate macrophage-dependent clearance of bacterial infections was observed in Col9a1(−/−) mice in vivo. This was mainly caused by an impaired interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated activation of macrophages. The loss of collagen IX alpha1 therefore destabilizes the trabecular bone network, impairs myeloid cell differentiation, and affects the innate immune response against Listeria.
How different are corporate social responsibility motives in a developing country? Insights from a study of Indian agribusiness firms
Authors: Raj Anup , Kuznetsov Andrei , Arun Thankom , Kuznetsova Olga
Published: August 2018

Against the backdrop of increasing foreign direct investment flows in the developing economies in Asia, the investigation of topical aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the region increases in importance. We examine the CSR motives of four large indigenous agribusiness firms in India with a view of assessing the validity of the claim that CSR in this country, compared to developed countries, is influenced substantially more by moral, cultural, and religious considerations and less by self‐interest and profit seeking. Unlike numerous other investigations of CSR that rely on questionnaires and company reports, our data are drawn from in‐depth interviews and theme analysis revealing some intricate motives behind CSR behavior and business conditions that inspire them. Our findings challenge some previously reported results and indicate that the degree to which such a behavior is affected by the state of economic development and cultural differences may be smaller than is often argued.
Gauge invariance induced relations and the equivalence between distinct approaches to NLSM amplitudes
Authors: Du Yi-Jian , Zhang Yong
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In this paper, we derive generalized Bern-Carrasco-Johansson (BCJ) relations for color-ordered Yang-Mills amplitudes by imposing gauge invariance conditions and dimensional reduction appropriately on the new discovered graphic expansion of Einstein-Yang-Mills amplitudes. These relations are also satisfied by color-ordered amplitudes in other theories such as bi-scalar theory and nonlinear sigma model (NLSM). As an application of the gauge invariance induced relations, we further prove that the three types of BCJ numerators in NLSM, which are derived from Feynman rules, Abelian Z-theory and Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula respectively, produce the same total amplitudes. In other words, the three distinct approaches to NLSM amplitudes are equivalent to each other.
Corrections in the relative entropy of black hole microstates
Authors: Michel Ben , Puhm Andrea
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Inspired by the recent work of Bao and Ooguri (BO), we study the distinguishability of the black hole microstates from the thermal state as captured by the average of their relative entropies: the Holevo information. Under the assumption that the vacuum conformal block dominates the entropy calculation, BO find that the average relative entropy vanishes on spatial regions smaller than half the size of the CFT. However, vacuum block dominance fails for some microstates of the M = 0 BTZ black hole. We show that this renders the average relative entropy nonzero even on infinitesimal intervals at O(c
0).
Pharmacovigilance in oncology
Authors: Baldo Paolo , Fornasier Giulia , Ciolfi Laura , Sartor Ivana , Francescon Sara
Published: August 2018

Background Side effects of cancer therapy are one of the most important issues faced by cancer patients during their illness. Pharmacovigilance, namely the science and activities aimed at monitoring the safety of drugs, is particularly important in oncology, due to the intrinsic biologic toxicity of antineoplastic agents, their narrow therapeutic windows, and the high doses and rigid timing of treatment regimens. Aim of the review To identify the main issues in carrying out an effective pharmacovigilance activity in oncology. Method We searched PubMed for articles about pharmacovigilance in relation to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy for cancer, using MeSH terms and text words. We also searched Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Micromedex, the Cochrane Library, two pharmacovigilance databases and the gray literature for articles published in 2012–2018. Overall, 137 articles were considered potentially relevant and were critically appraised independently by two authors, leading to the inclusion of 44 relevant studies, guidelines and reviews. Another 10 important research reports were included in the review. Results Eight critical issues of pharmacovigilance in oncology were identified. These issues pertain to: terminology; range of side effects; targeted therapy and immunotherapy; chemoradiotherapy; generic drugs and biosimilars; drug interactions, pharmacogenetics and polypharmacy; special patient categories; and under-reporting of ADRs. Conclusion The importance of pharmacovigilance in oncology must be highlighted with every effort, to improve safety and offer cancer patients every possible help to improve their quality of life during such a critical period of their lives.
Cybervictimisation of adolescents predicts higher rumination, which in turn, predicts worse sleep over time☆
Authors: Jose Paul E. , Vierling Alexandra
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Research has suggested that cybervictimised adolescents experience poorer health outcomes, including less sleep. The present study was designed to determine whether cybervictimisation's ability to predict sleep adequacy (i.e., number of nights in the previous week of 8 h or more of sleep) would be mediated by adaptive coping (i.e., problem solving) as well as maladaptive coping (i.e., rumination).

Methods

A three year longitudinal study with an initial sample of 2179 New Zealand adolescents (854 females and 920 males; 10–15 years old at T1) obtained self‐report data on frequencies of cybervictimisation, use of problem solving and rumination coping strategies, and sleep adequacy.

Results

Findings from longitudinal cross‐lag path analyses indicated that: 1) cybervictimisation predicted lower levels of sleep one year later; and 2) rumination, but not problem solving, mediated the temporal relationship of cybervictimisation on sleep adequacy. Cybervictimisation predicted increases in rumination, and it, in turn, predicted diminished sleep.

Conclusions

Cybervictimised adolescents not only reported higher rumination and sleep inadequacy concurrently, but levels of cybervictimisation predicted these ill effects one and two years later as well. Negative consequences of being cybervictimised were discerned long after the experience of being victimised online.
Physical activity as an option to reduce adverse effect of EMF exposure during pregnancy
Authors: DastAmooz Sima , Tahmasebi Boroujeni Shahzad , Shahbazi Mehdi , Vali Yasamin
Published: August 2018

The popularity of using wireless fidelity over the last decades increased apprehensions about impact of high frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on health. Most of previous studies mentioned adverse effect of EMF on cognitive processes, but so far, no study has provided a way to control adverse effects of EMF exposure. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Wi‐Fi EMF and physical activity on spatial learning and motor function in pregnant rat's offspring. Forty Albino‐Wistar pregnant rats divided randomly into four groups (EMF, physical activity, combined 2.4GHZ EMF and physical activity and control groups). For assessing spatial learning in 56 post‐natal days’ old (PND) male offspring, Morris Water Maze (MWM) was used and to examine motor function Open‐field test was taken. Although results of MWM test revealed that Wi‐Fi modem EMF caused impairment in spatial learning in rats exposed to EMF but physical activity could reduce negative effect of EMF in pregnant rat's offspring who exposed during pregnancy but performed swimming. In addition, results of open‐field test showed that litter's motor function in EMF group significantly declined in comparison with physical activity and combined 2.4GHZ EMF and physical activity groups. According to our findings, it can be concluded that execution physical activity individually or along with wave‐exposed pregnancy can significantly progressive effect on offspring' cognitive and motor functions.
The silent killer presenting as pulmonary valve stenosis
Authors: Nicolaou Nicolas , Flint Nigel , Nicolaou Mark Andrew , Conradie Chris
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT

Chronic Thrombo-Embolic Pulmonary Disease (CTEPD) is usually a silent disease representing a small group of patients who at some stage had suffered a thrombo-embolic event in which the individual may or may not have been aware of. It is estimated that this syndrome develops in approximately 3.8% of patients having suffered an acute Pulmonary Embolus (PE) thus representing a pool of patients estimated in the literature to be in the vicinity of 19,000 [1] It has further been documented that this condition is seriously underdiagnosed and is thought to represent in excess of 100,000 individuals in the United States with CTEPD which potentially could be “cured”.

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Transonic flow hysteresis in a twin intake model
Authors: Kuzmin A.
Published: August 2018

Turbulent airflow in a supersonic intake model of rectangular cross-section is studied numerically. Instability of shock waves formed in the intake and ahead of the entrance is examined. Solutions of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are obtained with a finite-volume solver of second-order accuracy. The expulsion and the swallowing of the shocks with a variation of free-stream parameters are studied at both subsonic and supersonic conditions prescribed at the outlet. Hysteresis in the dependence of 2D flow on the free-stream velocity and angle-of-attack is documented. An influence of 3D effects on the flow is examined.
THEZHOU XUN周訓 AND “ELEVATING THE WORTHY” (SHANG XIAN尚賢)
Authors: Fech Andrej
Published: August 2018

The present paper aims to investigate the idea of “elevating the worthy” (shang xian尚賢) as it appears in the newly found manuscriptZhou xun周訓. This manuscript is part of the Peking University collection (Beijing daxue cang Xi-Han zhushu北京大學藏西漢竹書), presumably copied in the first half of the first centuryb.c.e. In sharp contrast to most recently discovered manuscripts promulgating “elevating the worthy,” theZhou xunintroduces the meritocratic principle to support hereditary power transfer, by positing that the right to rule should be passed on to the most able son of a ruler. I argue that this position served several purposes. First, it provided a solution to the central problem of abdication discourse, namely, the conflict between the principles of “respecting worthies” (zun xian尊賢) and “loving kin” (ai qin愛親). Second, this interpretation of “elevating the worthy” entailed a significant extension of the number of potential contenders to the throne, challenging the system of primogeniture, the very cornerstone of political order in early China. This fundamental challenge appears to be deliberate and can be interpreted as an attempt to formulate a new paradigm for the ruling house of Zhou. The complete absence of the idea of Heaven's Mandate (tian ming天命) from theZhou xuncertainly underscores its radical departure from Zhou conventional claims to power. However, I argue that, given the close association between theZhou xunand theLüshi chunqiu呂氏春秋, it is also plausible that the former's theory was created to justify the Zhou's overthrow by the Qin 秦. In any case, theZhou xunprovides us with new insights into how the idea of “elevating the worthy” was applied to politics in early China.
Programming to Promote Information Literacy in the Era of Fake News
Authors: Osborne Caroline L.
Published: August 2018

Given the instant availability of information and the proliferation of questionable news, the ability to critically examine information before consuming it, is of increasing importance. The need for excellent information literacy skills is evident but lacking. This article highlights reasons as to resistance to existing information literacy efforts and suggests components for information literacy programming with a focus on fake news.
AN AX-KOCHEN-ERSHOV THEOREM FOR MONOTONE DIFFERENTIAL-HENSELIAN FIELDS
Authors: HAKOBYAN TIGRAN
Published: August 2018

Scanlon [5] proves Ax-Kochen-Ershov type results for differential-henselian monotone valued differential fields with many constants. We show how to get rid of the condition with many constants.
PAIRWISE NONISOMORPHIC MAXIMAL-CLOSED SUBGROUPS OF SYM(ℕ) VIA THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE REDUCTS OF THE HENSON DIGRAPHS
Authors: AGARWAL LOVKUSH , KOMPATSCHER MICHAEL
Published: August 2018

Given two structures${\cal M}$and${\cal N}$on the same domain, we say that${\cal N}$is a reduct of${\cal M}$if all$\emptyset$-definable relations of${\cal N}$are$\emptyset$-definable in${\cal M}$. In this article the reducts of the Henson digraphs are classified. Henson digraphs are homogeneous countable digraphs that omit some set of finite tournaments. As the Henson digraphs are${\aleph _0}$-categorical, determining their reducts is equivalent to determining the closed supergroupsG≤ Sym(ℕ) of their automorphism groups.

A consequence of the classification is that there are${2^{{\aleph _0}}}$pairwise noninterdefinable Henson digraphs which have no proper nontrivial reducts. Taking their automorphisms groups gives a positive answer to a question of Macpherson that asked if there are${2^{{\aleph _0}}}$pairwise nonconjugate maximal-closed subgroups of Sym(ℕ). By the reconstruction results of Rubin, these groups are also nonisomorphic as abstract groups.
EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS INVARIANT UNDER GROUP ACTIONS
Authors: RZEPECKI TOMASZ
Published: August 2018

We extend some recent results about bounded invariant equivalence relations and invariant subgroups of definable groups: we show that type-definability and smoothness are equivalent conditions in a wider class of relations than heretofore considered, which includes all the cases for which the equivalence was proved before.

As a by-product, we show some analogous results in purely topological context (without direct use of model theory).