bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrastretchable, Super Tough, and Rapidly Recoverable Nanocomposite Double‐Network Hydrogels by Dual Physically Hydrogen Bond and Vinyl‐Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles Macro‐Crosslinking
Authors: Wu Linlin , Zhuang Zhenzhen , Li Shuai , Ma Xiaofeng , Diao Wenjing , Bu Ximan , Fang Ying
Published: February 2019

It remains a challenge to develop tough hydrogels with recoverable or healable properties after damage. Herein, a new nanocomposite double‐network hydrogel (NC‐DN) consisting of first agar network and a homogeneous vinyl‐functionalized silica nanoparticles (VSNPs) macro‐crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAM) second network is reported. VSNPs are prepared via sol‐gel process using vinyltriethoxysilane as a silicon source. Then, Agar/PAM‐SiO2 NC‐DN hydrogels are fabricated by dual physically hydrogen bonds and VSNPs macro‐crosslinking. Under deformation, the reversible hydrogen bonds in agar network and PAM nanocomposite network successively break to dissipate energy and then recombine to recover the network, while VSNPs in the second network could effectively transfer stress to the network chains grafted on their surfaces and maintain the gel network. As a result, the optimal NC‐DN hydrogels exhibit ultrastretchable (fracture strain 7822%), super tough (fracture toughness 18.22 MJ m‐3, tensile strength 431 kPa), rapidly recoverable (≈92% toughness recovery after 5 min resting at room temperature), and self‐healable (can be stretched to 1331% after healing) properties. The newly designed Agar/PAM‐SiO2 NC‐DN hydrogels with tunable network structure and mechanical properties by multi‐bond crosslinking provide a new avenue to better understand the fundamental structure‐property relationship of DN hydrogels and broaden the current hydrogel research and applications.
Production of extracellular vesicles with light‐induced proton pump activity by proteorhodopsin‐containing marine bacteria
Authors: Kwon Yong Min , Patra Ajit Kumar , Chiura Hiroshi Xavier , Kim Sang‐Jin
Published: February 2019

The production and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a common process occurring in various types of bacteria. However, little is known regarding the functions of EVs derived from marine bacteria. We observed that during cell growth, Sediminicola sp. YIK13, a proteorhodopsin (PR)‐containing marine flavobacterium, produces EVs (S13EVs). Transmission electron microscopy showed that Sediminicola sp. YIK13 released two spherical vesicle types, with mono‐ and/or bi‐layered membranes, in the culture. Interestingly, the S13EVs have an orange pigment, indicating the presence of putative carotenoid and PR pigments ascribed to the parental cells. The S13EVs demonstrated the same PR‐derived absorption peak spectrum and light‐induced proton pump activity as the parental cells. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of the S13EVs revealed the presence of PR. We confirmed the 16S rRNA gene, pro gene, and genes required for chromophore retinal synthesis, namely blh and crtI, in the DNA packaged into these vesicles. In addition, by metagenomic sequencing, we found microbial rhodopsin‐related genes in vesicles derived from natural aquatic environments. Our results suggest that EVs as well potentially pursue horizontal gene transfer of diverse microbial rhodopsin genes in marine ecosystems.
The promising novel biomarkers and candidate small molecule drugs in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma: Evidence from bioinformatics analysis of high‐throughput data
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wu Qiong , Wang Ziheng , Xu Ran , Hu Xinyi , Sun Yidan , Wang Qiuhong , Ju Fei , Ren Shiqi , Zhang Chenlin , Qin Lin , Ma Qianqian , Zhou You Lang
Published: February 2019

Background

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the most common subtype of renal tumor. However, the molecular mechanisms of KIRC pathogenesis remain little known. The purpose of our study was to identify potential key genes related to the occurrence and prognosis of KIRC, which could serve as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for KIRC.

Methods

Three gene expression profiles from gene expression omnibus database were integrated to identify differential expressed genes (DEGs) using limma package. Enrichment analysis and PPI construction for these DEGs were performed by bioinformatics tools. We used Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database to further analyze the expression and prognostic values of hub genes.

The GEPIA database was used to further validate the bioinformatics results. The Connectivity Map was used to identify candidate small molecules that could reverse the gene expression of KIRC.

Results

A total of 503 DEGs were obtained. The PPI network with 417 nodes and 1912 interactions was constructed. Go and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs were most significantly enriched in excretion and valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, respectively. Six DEGs with high degree of connectivity (ACAA1, ACADSB, ALDH6A1, AUH, HADH, and PCCA) were selected as hub genes, which significantly associated with worse survival of patients. Finally, we identified the top 20 most significant small molecules and pipemidic acid was the most promising small molecule to reverse the KIRC gene expression.

Conclusions

This study first uncovered six key genes in KIRC which contributed to improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of KIRC pathogenesis. ACAA1, ACADSB, ALDH6A1, AUH, HADH, and PCCA could serve as the promising novel biomarkers for KIRC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Compact UWB MIMO antenna with cross‐shaped unconnected ground stub using characteristic mode analysis
Authors: Singh Harsh Verdhan , Tripathi Shrivishal
Published: February 2019

In this letter, a compact ultrawideband (UWB) multi‐input‐multi‐output (MIMO) antenna with cross‐shaped unconnected Ground stub using characteristic mode analysis (CMA) is presented. The proposed work consists of two elliptical shape monopole UWB antenna with a cross‐shaped stub in the ground plane. The compact MIMO antenna has the dimension of 25 × 25 × 1.6 mm3. These monopoles are able to excite several characteristic modes (CMs), which support to wideband resonance, and cross‐shaped stub support CM at lower frequency band in the ground plane and reduces mutual coupling between monopoles. The UWB MIMO antenna is resonating in frequency bands from 2.97 to 13.8 GHz bandwidth with a good mutual coupling (<−15 dB). The diversity performance envelop correlation coefficient (ECC) and diversity gain (DG) of the antenna are less than 0.05 and more than 9.97, respectively. The experimental result confirming a good treaty with the simulated ones, so that the proposed antenna is suitable for compact UWB MIMO applications.
Compact asymmetric cross‐shaped rectangular dielectric resonator antenna for wideband circular polarization
Authors: Kumar Rajkishor , Chaudhary Raghvendra Kumar
Published: February 2019

A compact asymmetric cross‐shaped dielectric resonator (DR) antenna with broadside wideband circularly polarized has been investigated by using the coaxial probe feeding technique. The presented antenna consists of the asymmetric cross‐shaped DR, a metal strip, and a coaxial feed. Here, the metal strip is used at the corner of the cross‐shaped DR to reduce the excessive tangential electric field and acts as a mirror for the normal filed components. Therefore, the orthogonal modes TExδ11 and TEy1δ1 are excited at resonance frequencies of 4.55 GHz and 5.55 GHz in this antenna structure, and because of these modes, the proposed antenna is able to produce CP fields. The antenna with −10 dB impedance bandwidth provides the measured results of 43.84%, whereas the measured 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth is found to be 11.23%. Moreover, the proposed antenna shows low profile geometry, that is, 0.175λ0, where λ0 is the wavelength at the central frequency.
Simple conductor roughness modeling for microstrip lines
Authors: Huang Binke , Wang Xubing , Vandenbosch Guy A. E.
Published: February 2019

The accurate characterization of the effect of conductor surface roughness in microwave transmission lines is crucial in the analysis and design of microwave circuits, in particular at high frequencies. This paper proposes an accurate correction factor based method to calculate the effect of conductor surface roughness from the per‐unit‐length (P.U.L.) parameters and the complex propagation constant of a microstrip line. Then, this correction factor is applied to extract the dielectric properties of microstrip lines, thus taking into account the conductor surface roughness. The simulation results show a good agreement with the given standard values.
An ultra compact triple band antenna for X/Ku/K band applications
Authors: Mishra Brijesh
Published: February 2019

A simple and practical method to design an ultra compact (128 mm2) patch antenna for X, Ku, and K band applications is presented. The antenna parameters such as current distributions, return loss, antenna gain, radiation pattern, efficiency, and group delay are discussed. Proposed design resonates at three frequencies of 8.9 GHz (simulated) and 8.7 GHz (measured), 16.5 GHz (simulated) and 16.4 GHz (measured), and 19.8 GHz (simulated) and 19.6 GHz (measured) were presented. The proposed prototype achieves peak gain of 8.08 dBi (simulated) and 8.4 dBi (measured), 8.02 dBi (simulated) and 8.3 dBi (measured), and 3.12 dBi (simulated) and 3.8 dBi (measured) in X, Ku, and K band, respectively. The overall maximum efficiency is found to be 88% for Ku band, 87.7% for X‐band, and 78% for K‐band. Group delay variation remains below the accepted range (0.8 ns). The proposed antenna is analyzed using HFSS software by ANSYS and the simulated results have been validated by experimental results.
Heartbeat detection using a Doppler radar sensor based on the scaling function of wavelet transform
Authors: Choi Cheol‐Ho , Park Jae‐Hyun , Lee Ha‐Neul , Yang Jong‐Ryul
Published: February 2019

The heartbeat detection using the scaling function of Wavelet transform is proposed for a Doppler radar sensor. The conventional methods such as the fast‐Fourier transform and the autocorrelation show the respiration rate and the heartbeat from the raw data of the radar sensors acquiring for a sufficient sampling time. The methods have the limit to detect the biometric information that varies with real‐time because they only show the overall statistical information of the sampled data. In the proposed method, the scaling function in the Daubechies wavelet transform can be used to accurately find out the periodicity of radar signals for detecting heartbeat varying in real‐time. The results of the signal processing using the radar signals acquired for 3 min results show that the proposed method lowered a mean error rate of 2.5% and a SD of 2.0% compared with the method using the wavelet function. The proposed method in the measurement for 1 minute using the radar sensor also showed the lowest mean error rate of 3.8% and the low SD of 3.2% using the contact sensor as the reference among various signal processing methods including auto‐correlation and peak detection with filtering.
The effect of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on glucoCEST signal in a preclinical model of glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Xiang , Xu Jiadi , Knutsson Linda , Liu Jing , Liu Huanling , Li Yuguo , Lal Bachchu , Laterra John , Artemov Dmitri , Liu Guanshu , van Zijl Peter C. M. , Chan Kannie W. Y.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The mammalian target of rapamycin is an enzyme that regulates cell metabolism and proliferation. It is up‐regulated in aggressive tumors, such as glioblastoma, leading to increased glucose uptake and consumption. It has been suggested that glucose CEST signals reflect the delivery and tumor uptake of glucose. The inhibitor rapamycin (sirolimus) has been applied as a glucose deprivation treatment; thus, glucose CEST MRI could potentially be useful for monitoring the tumor responses to inhibitor treatment.

Methods

A human U87‐EGFRvIII xenograft model in mice was studied. The mice were treated with a mammalian target of Rapamycin inhibitor, rapamycin. The effect of the treatment was evaluated in vivo with dynamic glucose CEST MRI.

Results

Rapamycin treatment led to significant increases (P < 0.001) in dynamic glucose‐enhanced signal in both the tumor and contralateral brain as compared to the no‐treatment group, namely a maximum enhancement of 3.7% ± 2.3% (tumor, treatment) versus 1.9% ± 0.4% (tumor, no‐treatment), 1.7% ± 1.1% (contralateral, treatment), and 1.0% ± 0.4% (contralateral, no treatment). Dynamic glucose‐enhanced contrast remained consistently higher in treatment versus no‐treatment groups for the duration of the experiment (17 min). This was confirmed with area‐under‐curve analysis.

Conclusion

Increased glucose CEST signal was found after mammalian target of Rapamycin inhibition treatment, indicating potential for dynamic glucose‐enhanced MRI to study tumor response to glucose deprivation treatment.
Modular 31P wideband inversion transfer for integrative analysis of adenosine triphosphate metabolism, T1 relaxation and molecular dynamics in skeletal muscle at 7T
Authors: Ren Jimin , Sherry A. Dean , Malloy Craig R.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

For efficient and integrative analysis of de novo adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, creatine‐kinase–mediated ATP synthesis, T1 relaxation time, and ATP molecular motion dynamics in human skeletal muscle at rest.

Methods

Four inversion‐transfer modules differing in center inversion frequency were combined to generate amplified magnetization transfer (MT) effects in targeted MT pathways, including Pi ↔ γ‐ATP, PCr ↔ γ‐ATP, and 31Pγ(α)ATP ↔ 31PβATP. MT effects from both forward and reverse exchange kinetic pathways were acquired to reduce potential bias and confounding factors in integrated data analysis.

Results

Kinetic data collected using 4 wideband inversion modules (8 minutes each) yielded the forward exchange rate constants, kPCr→γATP = 0.31 ± 0.05 s–1 and kPi →γATP = 0.064 ± 0.012 s–1, and the reverse exchange rate constants, kγATP→Pi = 0.034 ± 0.006 s–1 and kγATP→PCr = 1.37 ± 0.22 s–1, respectively. The cross‐relaxation rate constant, σγ(α) ↔ βATP was –0.20 ± 0.03 s–1, corresponding to ATP rotational correlation time τc of 0.8 ± 0.1 × 10–7 seconds. The intrinsic T1 relaxation times were Pi (9.2 ± 1.4 seconds), PCr (6.2 ± 0.4 seconds), γ‐ATP (1.8 ± 0.1 seconds), α‐ATP (1.4 ± 0.1 seconds), and β‐ATP (1.1 ± 0.1 seconds). Muscle ATP T1 values were found to be significantly longer than those previously measured in the brain using a similar method.

Conclusion

A combination of multiple inversion transfer modules provides a comprehensive and integrated analysis of ATP metabolism and molecular motion dynamics. This relatively fast technique could be potentially useful for studying metabolic disorders in skeletal muscle.
Integration schemes with substepping algorithms for creep analysis in geomaterials
Authors: Quevedo Roberto , Firme Pedro , Roehl Deane
Published: February 2019

This paper describes a robust and efficient methodology for predicting displacements, deformations, and stresses in geomaterials that are susceptible to creep. The methodology is based on two integration schemes, which consider substepping algorithms. The first scheme is used for integrating space‐time relations in a global sense, whereas the second scheme is used for integrating stress‐stain relations in a local sense. Different from previous studies, both integration schemes are easy to implement and general in the sense that they can be applied to any type of creep law. Through an in‐house finite element simulator, several numerical tests are performed. They include triaxial and wellbore closure analyses considering soft soils and salt rocks. The results show that the combination of both schemes leads to stable and accurate solutions with reduced computational time.
Quality of experience and quality of service‐aware handover for video transmission in heterogeneous networks
Authors: Medeiros Iago , Pacheco Lucas , Rosário Denis , Both Cristiano , Nobre Jéferson , Cerqueira Eduardo , Granville Lisandro
Published: February 2019

Heterogeneous networks offer a wide range of multimedia services, such as entertainment, advertising, and video conferences. In this multimedia scenario, users can access video content via heterogeneous wireless networks, such as LTE macro and small cells. Users also expect to receive real‐time videos with Quality of Experience (QoE) support, which is a challenging task due to the great diversity of radio base stations in such heterogeneous environments. In this article, we introduce a Quality of Service (QoS‐)/QoE‐ and Radio‐aware (SER) handover management algorithm for heterogeneous networks to provide video dissemination with QoS/QoE support. SER algorithm considers the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to adjust the degree of importance of each criterion in order to select the appropriate radio base station that the mobile node must connect, allowing efficient handover decision making for video transmission with high user experience. Simulation results show that the SER algorithm delivered videos with significant improvement on QoE than existing handover algorithms.
Resource availability–aware adaptive provisioning of virtual data center networks
Authors: Gilesh Malayam Parambath , Madhu Kumar S D , Jacob Lillykutty
Published: February 2019

Optimal provisioning of virtual networks with varying topologies on their physical counterpart is a major challenge in cloud data centers. Embedding the virtual network on the shared physical infrastructure poses a multitude of challenges to the infrastructure provider. This paper proposes a hybrid approach which adapts to the availability and fragmentation level of residual resources for near‐optimal mapping of multiple virtual data center networks on a substrate data center network. The proposed technique uses coordinated static and dynamic embedding phases, adaptively, to maximize the density of embedding which increases the revenue of the cloud service provider. Also, it judiciously modifies the existing mappings for efficient utilization of resources. Empirical results show that the proposed hybrid approach can attain ∼10% higher acceptance ratio compared with the existing exact and heuristic techniques in the literature. With the proposed mixed integer programming model for static embedding, the average path length is reduced by 20% compared with the existing techniques.
Weak Cn coupling for multipatch isogeometric analysis in solid mechanics
Authors: Dittmann M. , Schuß S. , Wohlmuth B. , Hesch C.
Published: February 2019

The objective of this contribution is to design a novel methodology to enforce interface conditions preserving higher‐order continuity across the interface. In recent years, isogeometric methods using NURBS as basis functions have gained increasing attention, especially in the context of higher‐order partial differential equations. They require, in general, higher continuity across interfaces, and thus, new methodologies for domain decomposition constraints capable to deal with those requirements have to be developed. In this contribution, we introduce, in a first step, the coupling constraints using a Euclidean norm on the interface and construct new basis functions. A reformulation as saddle point system allows for a comparison with classical mortar approaches and leads finally to an extended mortar method to enforce Cn continuity.
High‐order asymptotic‐preserving schemes for linear systems: Application to the Goldstein–Taylor equations
Authors: Chalons Christophe , Turpault Rodolphe
Published: February 2019

In this work, we address the numerical approximation of linear systems with possibly stiff source terms which induce an asymptotic diffusion limit. More precisely, we are interested in the design of high‐order asymptotic‐preserving schemes. Our approach is based on a very simple modification of the numerical flux associated with the usual HLL scheme. This alteration can be understood as a numerical diffusion reduction technique and allows to capture the correct asymptotic behavior in the diffusion limit and to consider uniformly high‐order extensions. We more specifically consider the case of the Goldstein–Taylor model but the overall approach is shown to be easily adapted to more general systems.
Discarded in the trash: Burials of African enslaved individuals in Valle da Gafaria, Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)
Authors: Ferreira Maria Teresa , Coelho Catarina , Wasterlain Sofia N.
Published: February 2019

In 2009, an excavation carried out in Valle da Gafaria, Lagos, Portugal, allowed for the recovery of the skeletal remains of 158 individuals buried in a dump used during the 15th–17th centuries. The archaeological context of the findings, the presence of African items associated with the skeletons, the skulls' morphology, and the presence of intentionally modified teeth suggest that these individuals were African enslaved individuals. The aim of this work is to analyse how these men, women, and children were inhumed according to their sex and age (adults vs. non‐adults). Adults were mostly buried in supine position (54.3%). However, more women (27.3%) than men (9.5%) were inhumed in prone position. In non‐adults, the most common positions were the supine (36.2%) and the lateralis (38.8%). The foetal position was more commonly found in non‐adults (25.0%) than adults (4.3%, only women). Both adults (79.4%) and non‐adults (80.0%) were mostly buried with an orientation other than the typical Christian canonical practice at the time (head to west and feet to east). More non‐adult individuals (66.7%) appear to have been buried with care than adults (38.8%). Regarding both the orientation and the burial care, no differences were found between the sexes. Pieces of evidence of having been tied were found in four females, one male, and one non‐adult individual. All these results support the hypothesis that these individuals were discarded, bringing light to the way these African enslaved individuals were treated even at their death.
Distraction and facilitation: The impact of emotional sounds in an emoji oddball task
Authors: Hjärtström Hanna , Sörman Daniel E. , Ljungberg Jessica K.
Published: February 2019

Emotional stimuli are argued to capture attention and consume attentional resources differently depending on their emotional content. The present study investigates the impact of the automatic detection of unexpected and to‐be‐ignored emotional stimuli on human behavioral responses, and aims to unravel the differences in distraction between two negative emotional stimuli: sadness and anger. Forty participants (Mage = 25.5 years) performed a visual categorization task where angry and sad emoji faces were presented after either a standard neutral tone (in 80% of trials) or a deviant emotional sound (tone changing in pitch; sad or angry sound in 10% of trials each) that was to be ignored. Deviant trials were either congruent (e.g., sad sound—sad face) or incongruent (e.g., angry sound—sad face). Although the stimuli presented to the participants were brief and to‐be‐ignored, results indicate that participants were significantly more distracted by sad compared to angry stimuli (seen as prolonged response times). Findings are discussed with reference to the nature of the two negative emotions.
Setting the beat of an internal clock: Effects of dexamphetamine on different interval ranges of temporal processing in healthy volunteers
Authors: Graham‐Schmidt Kyran T. , Martin‐Iverson Mathew T. , Waters Flavie A.V.
Published: February 2019

Drug studies are powerful models to investigate the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying temporal processing in humans. This study administered dexamphetamine to 24 healthy volunteers to investigate time perception at different time scales, along with contributions from working memory. Healthy volunteers were administered 0.45 mg/kg dexamphetamine or placebo in a double‐blind, crossover, placebo‐controlled design. Time perception was assessed using three experimental tasks: a time‐discrimination task, which asked participants to determine whether a comparison interval (1200 ± 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 ms) was shorter or longer than a standard interval (1200 ms); a retrospective time estimation task, which required participants to verbally estimate time intervals (10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 s) retrospectively; and a prospective time‐production task, where participants were required to prospectively monitor the passing of time (10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 s). Working memory was assessed with the backwards digit span. On the discrimination task, there was a change in the proportion of long‐to‐short responses and reaction times in the dexamphetamine condition (but no association with working memory), consistent with an increase in the speed of an internal pacemaker, and an overestimation of durations in the timing of shorter intervals. There was an interaction between dexamphetamine, working memory, and performance on the estimation and production tasks, whereby increasing digit span scores were associated with decreasing interval estimates and increased produced intervals in the placebo condition, but were associated with increased interval estimates and decreased produced intervals after dexamphetamine administration. These findings indicate that the dexamphetamine‐induced increase in the speed of the internal pacemaker was modulated by the basal working memory capacity of each participant. These findings in healthy humans have important implications for the role of dopamine, and its contributions to timing deficits, in models of psychiatric disorders.
Insight into Salivary Gland Proteomes of Two Polyphagous Stink Bugs: Nezara viridula L. and Halyomorpha halys Stål
Authors: Serteyn Laurent , Francis Frederic
Published: February 2019

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys Stål, and the southern green stink bugs (SGSBs), Nezara viridula L., are widely distributed in Europe, even if the date of introduction and the diet differ. Saliva of Hemipteran pests plays essential roles in the interaction between insects and their host plants. The salivary proteomes of several aphid species have been studied and found to differ according to the species, while no comparative investigation between phytophagous stink bugs has been performed yet. Here, the salivary proteins from two bugs, BMSB and SGSB, are analyzed using LC‐MS/MS. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD011920 and PXD011976. A total of 238 and 305 proteins are identified in salivary glands of BMSB and SGSB, respectively. In comparison with salivary proteome from other Hemiptera, the most striking feature of the salivary gland proteomes of SGSB and BMSB is the similar pattern of protein functions between both species. Some of the proteins are speculated to play a significant role in plant–insect interactions. The results herein provide a framework for future research to elucidate the molecular basis of differential impact of piercing–sucking insects on host plants.
Organizing thermodynamic data obtained from multicomponent polymer electrolytes: Salt‐containing polymer blends and block copolymers
Authors: Loo Whitney S. , Balsara Nitash P.
Published: February 2019

The objective of this review is to organize literature data on the thermodynamic properties of salt‐containing polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide) (PS/PEO) blends and polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) diblock copolymers. These systems are of interest due to their potential to serve as electrolytes in all‐solid rechargeable lithium batteries. Mean‐field theories, developed for pure polymer blends and block copolymers, are used to describe phenomenon seen in salt‐containing systems. An effective Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, χeff, that increases linearly with salt concentration is used to describe the effect of salt addition for both blends and block copolymers. Segregation strength, χeffN, where N is the chain length of the homopolymers or block copolymers, is used to map phase behavior of salty systems as a function of composition. Domain spacing of salt‐containing block copolymers is normalized to account for the effect of copolymer composition using an expression obtained in the weak segregation limit. The phase behavior of salty blends, salty block copolymers, and domain spacings of the latter systems, are presented as a function of chain length, composition and salt concentration on universal plots. While the proposed framework has limitations, the universal plots should serve as a starting point for organizing data from other salt‐containing polymer mixtures. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1177–1187
Novel Ca2+‐independent carbohydrate recognition of the C‐type lectins, SPL‐1 and SPL‐2, from the bivalve Saxidomus purpuratus
Authors: Unno Hideaki , Itakura Shuhei , Higuchi Shuhei , Goda Shuichiro , Yamaguchi Kenichi , Hatakeyama Tomomitsu
Published: February 2019

Novel Ca2+‐independent C‐type lectins, SPL‐1 and SPL‐2, were purified from the bivalve Saxidomus purpuratus. They are composed of dimers with either identical (SPL‐2 composed of two B‐chains) or distinct (SPL‐1 composed of A‐ and B‐chains) polypeptide chains, and show affinity for N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)‐ and N‐acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)‐containing carbohydrates, but not for glucose or galactose. A database search for sequence similarity suggested that they belong to the C‐type lectin family. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed definite structural similarities between their subunits and the carbohydrate‐recognition domain (CRD) of the C‐type lectin family. Nevertheless, these lectins (especially SPL‐2) showed Ca2+‐independent binding affinity for GlcNAc and GalNAc. The crystal structure of SPL‐2/GalNAc complex revealed that bound GalNAc was mainly recognized via its acetamido group through stacking interactions with Tyr and His residues and hydrogen bonds with Asp and Asn residues, while widely known carbohydrate‐recognition motifs among the C‐type CRD (the QPD [Gln‐Pro‐Asp] and EPN [Glu‐Pro‐Asn] sequences) are not involved in the binding of the carbohydrate. Carbohydrate‐binding specificities of individual A‐ and B‐chains were examined by glycan array analysis using recombinant lectins produced from Escherichia coli cells, where both subunits preferably bound oligosaccharides having terminal GlcNAc or GalNAc with α‐glycosidic linkages with slightly different specificities.
Fuzzy de Sitter Space from kappa‐Minkowski Space in Matrix Basis
Authors: Jurman Danijel
Published: February 2019

We consider the Lie group generated by the Lie algebra of κ‐Minkowski space. Imposing the invariance of the metric under the pull‐back of diffeomorphisms induced by right translations in the group, we show that a unique right invariant metric is associated with . This metric coincides with the metric of de Sitter space‐time. We analyze the structure of unitary representations of the group relevant for the realization of the non‐commutative κ‐Minkowski space by embedding into ‐dimensional Heisenberg algebra. Using a suitable set of generalized coherent states, we select the particular Hilbert space and realize the non‐commutative κ‐Minkowski space as an algebra of the Hilbert‐Schmidt operators. We define dequantization map and fuzzy variant of the Laplace‐Beltrami operator such that dequantization map relates fuzzy eigenvectors with the eigenfunctions of the Laplace‐Beltrami operator on the half of de Sitter space‐time.
Structural and Magnetic Properties of Y3+ Doped Ni–Cu–Co Ferrites Prepared by Sol–Gel Auto‐Combustion Method
Authors: Pan Xiaoguang , Sun Aimin , Han Yingqiang , Zhang Wei , Zhao Xiqian , Zou Jide
Published: February 2019

In this work, rare earth Y3+ ion doped Ni0.2Cu0.2Co0.6Fe2−xYxO4 (x = 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1) ferrite nanoparticles are synthesized by sol–gel auto‐combustion technology. High purity metal nitrates and citric acid are used as precursor solutions, and citric acid is used as a complexing agent. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements are used to investigate the effect of Y3+ doping on the structure and magnetic properties of the samples. The analysis of the XRD patterns confirms that all the samples showed cubic spinel structure. The FT‐IR also confirms the spinel structure of ferrite, and with the increase of Y3+ ion content, the peak of the Fe–O bond moved to high frequency. It has been proved that the synthesized ferrite has pure phase and structure by EDX, and Y3+‐doping is successfully achieved. The magnetic parameters of the samples are measured by VSM at room temperature with a maximum magnetic field of 1 T. By characterization with VSM it can be found that saturation magnetization and remanent magnetization increase first and then decrease with increasing doping amount of Y3+ ions. Compared with pure sample and other doped samples, the best magnetic properties are obtained when the doping amount of Y3+ ions is x = 0.025.
Field‐programmable gate arrays and quantum Monte Carlo: Power efficient coprocessing for scalable high‐performance computing
Authors: Cardamone Salvatore , Kimmitt Jonathan R. R. , Burton Hugh G. A. , Todman Timothy J. , Li Shurui , Luk Wayne , Thom Alex J. W.
Published: February 2019

Massively parallel architectures offer the potential to significantly accelerate an application relative to their serial counterparts. However, not all applications exhibit an adequate level of data and/or task parallelism to exploit such platforms. Furthermore, the power consumption associated with these forms of computation renders “scaling out” for exascale levels of performance incompatible with modern sustainable energy policies. In this work, we investigate the potential for field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to feature in future exascale platforms, and their capacity to improve performance per unit power measurements for the purposes of scientific computing. We have focused our efforts on variational Monte Carlo, and report on the benefits of coprocessing with a FPGA relative to a purely multicore system.
D‐type iterative learning control for one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems
Authors: Gu Panpan , Tian Senping
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the problem of iterative learning control for a class of nonlinear systems is studied. Here, the nonlinear functions satisfy the one‐sided Lipschitz and quadratically inner‐bounded conditions. For such nonlinear systems, open‐loop and closed‐loop D‐type learning algorithms are adopted, respectively, and furthermore, the convergence conditions of the D‐type learning algorithms are established. It is shown that both algorithms can ensure that the system output converges to the desired trajectory on the whole time interval. Finally, the validity of the presented D‐type learning algorithms is verified by a numerical example.
Neutrophils Derived from Genetically Modified Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Circulate and Phagocytose Bacteria In Vivo
Authors: Trump Lisa R. , Nayak Ramesh C. , Singh Abhishek K. , Emberesh Sana , Wellendorf Ashley M. , Lutzko Carolyn M. , Cancelas Jose A.
Published: February 2019

Bacterial and fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients. Donor-derived neutrophil transfusions have been used for prophylaxis or treatment for infection in neutropenic patients. However, the short half-life and the limited availability of large numbers of donor-derived neutrophils for transfusion remain a significant hurdle in the implementation of neutrophil transfusion therapy. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity of neutrophils generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), a potentially unlimited resource to produce neutrophils for transfusion. Phenotypic analysis of iPSC-derived neutrophils reveal reactive oxygen species production at similar or slightly higher than normal peripheral blood neutrophils, but have an ∼50%–70% reduced Escherichia coli phagocytosis and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). Signaling of granulocytic precursors identified impaired AKT activation, but not ERK or STAT3, in agonist-stimulated iPSC-derived neutrophils. Expression of a constitutively activated AKT in iPSC-derived neutrophils restores most phagocytic activity and NET formation. In a model of bacterial induced peritonitis in immunodeficient mice, iPSC-derived neutrophils, with or without corrected AKT activation, migrate similarly to the peritoneal fluid as peripheral blood neutrophils, whereas the expression of activated AKT significantly improves their phagocytic activity in vivo. Stem Cells Translational Medicine  2019;8:557–567
Vibration characteristic analysis of rotor in excitation winding inter‐turn short circuit state of turbo generator
Authors: Yucai Wu , Minghan Ma , Yonggang Li , Luo Wang
Published: February 2019

The distribution characteristics of fault electromagnetic field and temperature field and the unbalanced stresses on the rotor could be obtained through establishing a three‐dimensional model of the rotor and two‐dimensional models of the stator and rotor, and respectively solving the electromagnetic field and the temperature field of excitation winding inter‐turn short circuit fault by using the finite element analysis method. Two kinds of unbalanced stresses can be respectively equivalent to the unbalanced masses on the rotor surface. The equivalent centrifugal forces as excitation are added into the rotor dynamic equation, and solving the dynamic equation of the rotor by means of Newmark can finally obtain the rotor vibration response. The results show that the fault will cause the changes of amplitude and phase of rotor fundamental frequency vibration. So the amplitude and phase difference of the rotor fundamental frequency vibration can be used as the fault criterion in order to make an accurate diagnosis of excitation winding inter‐turn short circuit fault. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Investigation of lanthanum trioxypurine with zinc stearate and pentaerythritol as complex thermal stabilizers for poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Ye Feng , Ye Qiufeng , Guo Xiaojie , Zhan Haihua , Fang Cheng , Hu Diefei , Mao Qijing
Published: February 2019

Lanthanum trioxypurine (LaTr) was triumphantly synthesized by reacting trioxypurine and lanthanum nitrate at neutral condition and was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal stability effect of LaTr with its assistant thermal stabilizers about zinc stearate (ZnSt2) and pentaerythritol (Pe) on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated by Congo red test, discoloration test, UV–vis spectroscopy test, and thermal decomposition kinetics. The results showed that the addition of LaTr as thermal stabilizer could significantly enhance static stability time and long‐term stability of PVC. It could be mainly attributed to the anions in the structure of LaTr, could efficiently absorb the hydrogen chloride released by PVC, and have ability to replace unstable chlorine atoms on structure of PVC. Moreover, the mixing of LaTr, Pe, and ZnSt2could reveal an excellent synergistic effect and both promote the initial color and the long‐term thermal stability of PVC. The thermal stability of PVC reached the optimal state when the ratio of LaTr/Pe/ZnSt2was 1.8/0.6/0.6. In addition, compared with the reaction energyEaand UV–vis spectroscopy test's result of PVC samples, the order of PVC's thermal stability was PVC/LaTr/Pe/ZnSt2 > PVC/LaTr/Pe > PVC/LaTr. The result was further ascertained that LaTr/Pe/ZnSt2showed excellent synergistic effect and could be used as an excellent complex thermal stabilizer for PVC. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:347–358, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Data mining tools
Authors: Bartschat Andreas , Reischl Markus , Mikut Ralf
Published: February 2019

The development and application of data mining algorithms requires the use of powerful software tools. With challenges such as big data encountered in economy or gene sequencing for life science, data mining is important for daily problems as well as specialized fields. However, the large variety of requirements and user groups lead to a huge number and diversity of software tools. We give an overview by discussing the historical development and presenting a range of existing state‐of‐the‐art data mining and related tools. This paper is an update of our previous article from 2011 following the encyclopedic aspect of Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews to include new findings or references and changing outdated information. However, since the paper should be able to stand alone, it includes many still valid elements of the previous article. Following the original paper, we propose criteria for the tool categorization based on different user groups, data structures, data mining tasks and methods, visualization and interaction styles, import and export options for data and models, platforms, and license policies. These criteria are then used to classify data mining tools into nine different categories. The typical characteristics of these types are explained and a selection of the most important tools is categorized.

This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Data Mining Software Tools
Stress‐induced mRNP granules: Form and function of processing bodies and stress granules
Authors: Guzikowski Anna R. , Chen Yang S. , Zid Brian M.
Published: February 2019

In response to stress, cells must quickly reprogram gene expression to adapt and survive. This is achieved in part by altering levels of mRNAs and their translation into proteins. Recently, the formation of two stress‐induced messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) assemblies named stress granules and processing bodies has been postulated to directly impact gene expression during stress. These assemblies sequester and concentrate specific proteins and RNAs away from the larger cytoplasm during stress, thereby providing a layer of posttranscriptional gene regulation with the potential to directly impact mRNA levels, protein translation, and cell survival. The function of these granules has generally been ascribed either by the protein components concentrated into them or, more broadly, by global changes that occur during stress. Recent proteome‐ and transcriptome‐wide studies have provided a more complete view of stress‐induced mRNP granule composition in varied cell types and stress conditions. However, direct measurements of the phenotypic and functional consequences of stress granule and processing body formation are lacking. This leaves our understanding of their roles during stress incomplete. Continued study into the function of these granules will be an important part in elucidating how cells respond to and survive stressful environmental changes.

This article is categorized under:

Translation > Translation Regulation

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes

RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization
‘Modern-Day Fagins’, ‘Gaudy Mansions’ and ‘Increasing Numbers’: Narratives on Roma Migrants in the Build-Up to the British EU Referendum
Authors: Leggio Daniele Viktor
Published: February 2019

The increase in migration flows within and into Europe has been accompanied by a growing policy focus on migration management. As in any policy debate, actors mobilise both factual claims and assumptions about the problems to be tackled and the population groups involved, in turn fashioning narratives that shape concrete policies. The article focuses on the policy narratives that developed in the UK around the migration of Roma groups between 2009 and 2014. I will show how the mobilisation of narratives on the criminal nature of Roma migration and about a sudden influx of Roma matched stereotypical images about the ‘Gypsies’. This made both narratives convincing as they fitted expectations about the Roma, to the point that their weak factual basis was ignored. This, in turn, contributed to refocusing the UK debate on migration from the need to reform the benefit system, to the need to reduce migration overall and eventually challenging the EU principle of freedom of movement. I will highlight the role of scholarly research in contributing to the development of policy narratives, calling for scholars to avoid sensationalising our findings, even if this is seen as an attempt to gain support for inclusive migration policies.
Fate of three bioluminescent pathogenic bacteria fed through a cascade of urine microbial fuel cells
Authors: Ieropoulos Ioannis , Obata Oluwatosin , Pasternak Grzegorz , Greenman John
Published: February 2019

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is currently gaining recognition as one of the most promising bioenergy technologies of the future. One aspect of this technology that has received little attention is the disinfection of effluents and the fate of pathogenic organisms that find their way into the waste stream. In this study, three independent trials were carried out to evaluate the fate of three bioluminescent pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) introduced into the anodic chamber of a urine-fed cascade of 9 MFCs with matured, electroactive biofilms. These are common examples of enteric human pathogens, which could contaminate urine or waste streams. The results showed that the average power generation in the closed circuit cascade reached 754 ± 16 µW, with an average pathogen log-fold reduction of 6.24 ± 0.63 compared to 2.01 ± 0.26 for the open circuit cascade for all three pathogens. The results suggest that the bio-electrochemical reactions associated with electricity generation were the primary driving force for the inactivation of the introduced pathogens. These findings show that pathogenic organisms introduced into waste streams could be inactivated by the power-generating process within the MFC cascade system, thereby preventing propagation and thus rendering the effluent safer for possible reuse.