bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DL‐3‐n‐butylphthalide alleviates vascular cognitive impairment by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and the Shh/Ptch1 signaling‐pathway in rats
Authors: Niu Xiao‐Li , Jiang Xin , Xu Guo‐Dong , Zheng Gui‐Min , Tang Zhi‐Peng , Yin Nan , Li Xiu‐Qin , Yang Yan‐Yan , Lv Pei‐Yuan
Published: October 2018

Background

DL‐3‐n‐butylphthalide (NBP) has been approved to be effective in improving cognitive deficits. The aim of the current study was to determine whether NBP protects against cognitive deficits in a rat model of vascular dementia (VD) induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) by regulating the sonic hedgehog (Shh)/patched1 (Ptch1) pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‐related markers.

Methods

Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2VO) to established the model of VD. These rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham, model, NBP30 (30 mg/kg), NBP
60 (60 mg/kg), and NBP
120 (120 mg/kg) groups. The Morris water maze test was used to assess for cognitive function at 4 weeks after operation.

Results

NBP significantly alleviated spatial learning and memory impairment, and inhibited the loss of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Western blot analysis and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that plasticity‐related synaptic markers and the Shh/Ptch1 pathway significantly increased in the NBP treated groups, while ERS‐related markers decreased.

Conclusion

The results of the current study prove that the Shh/Ptch1 pathway plays an essential role in the model of VD. NBP had protective effects on cognitive impairment induced by CCH. This mechanism was associated with ERS and the Shh/Ptch1 pathway. Meanwhile, the Shh/Ptch1 pathway and ERS may interact with each other.
3D convolutional neural networks for detection and severity staging of meniscus and PFJ cartilage morphological degenerative changes in osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament subjects
Authors: Pedoia Valentina , Norman Berk , Mehany Sarah N. , Bucknor Matthew D. , Link Thomas M. , Majumdar Sharmila
Published: October 2018

Background

Semiquantitative assessment of MRI plays a central role in musculoskeletal research; however, in the clinical setting MRI reports often tend to be subjective and qualitative. Grading schemes utilized in research are not used because they are extraordinarily time‐consuming and unfeasible in clinical practice.

Purpose

To evaluate the ability of deep‐learning models to detect and stage severity of meniscus and patellofemoral cartilage lesions in osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) subjects.

Study Type

Retrospective study aimed to evaluate a technical development.

Population

In all, 1478 MRI studies, including subjects at various stages of osteoarthritis and after ACL injury and reconstruction.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T MRI, 3D FSE CUBE.

Assessment

Automatic segmentation of cartilage and meniscus using 2D U‐Net, automatic detection, and severity staging of meniscus and cartilage lesion with a 3D convolutional neural network (3D‐CNN).

Statistical Tests

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, specificity and sensitivity, and class accuracy.

Results

Sensitivity of 89.81% and specificity of 81.98% for meniscus lesion detection and sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 80.27% for cartilage were achieved. The best performances for staging lesion severity were obtained by including demographics factors, achieving accuracies of 80.74%, 78.02%, and 75.00% for normal, small, and complex large lesions, respectively.

Data Conclusion

In this study we provide a proof of concept of a fully automated deep‐learning pipeline that can identify the presence of meniscal and patellar cartilage lesions. This pipeline has also shown potential in making more in‐depth examinations of lesion subjects for multiclass prediction and severity staging.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:400–410.
Epstein‐Barr virus, but not human cytomegalovirus, is associated with a high‐grade human papillomavirus–associated cervical lesions among women in North Carolina
Authors: Kienka Tamina , Varga Matthew G. , Caves Josie , Smith Jennifer S. , Sivaraman Vijay
Published: October 2018

Statement of the problem

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is known to contribute to cervical carcinogenesis, yet other cofactors that may contribute to oncogenesis are poorly understood. Herein, we examine whether the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV), two oncomodulatory viruses, are associated with HPV‐mediated cervical neoplastic progression.

Methods

Sixty patient cervical brush samples from a study of North Carolina women were obtained. HPV RNA positivity was determined by Aptima testing (Hologic Corporation, Marlborough, MA). The level of viral transcripts for EBV and CMV was quantified (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis), and the coinfection status with HPV was then compared with the patient's cervical cytology grade.

Results

Over one‐third (38.3%) of the study population was CMV positive, whereas 43.3% was EBV positive. When sample data were stratified by the cytology grade, 36.5% (19/52) of normal patients, 75% (3/4) of low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and 100% (4/4) of patients with high‐grade SIL (HSIL) were EBV positive. Conversely, 35.2% (18/52) of normal patients, 25% (1/4) of patients with LSIL, and 50% (2/4) of patients with HSIL were CMV positive. When examining only HPV positive–associated HSIL, 100% (4/4) were positive for both HPV and EBV detection. This suggests that co‐viral detection with HPV and EBV is associated with more advanced HSIL cervical lesions, while CMV displayed no clear association with a higher grade of cervical cytology.

Conclusions

Co‐viral detection with EBV may increase the oncogenicity and/or serve as a viral marker of progression to HPV‐associated high‐grade cervical dysplasia.
Frequency analysis of precipitation extremes under climate change
Authors: Mo Chongxun , Ruan Yuli , He Jiaqi , Jin JuLiang , Liu Peng , Sun Guikai
Published: October 2018

Frequency analysis of precipitation extremes is significant for the selection of design rainfalls, which are essential inputs for the design of water infrastructure projects, especially when the climate has changed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose a framework for more reasonably analysing the frequency of extreme rainfalls. The proposed framework consists of a maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) method for analysing the parameter trends, a hydrological variation diagnosis system to determine abrupt change times, generalized extreme value (GEV) and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) models for frequency analysis of precipitation extremes, and an ensemble‐methods approach for choosing the most appropriate distributions. The methodology was successfully implemented using a 52‐year time series (1963–2014) of rainfall data recorded by eight rain gauges in Chengbi River basin (south China). The results show that the rainfall series mutated in 1993 and that the entire data set could be divided into two slices (1963–1992 and 1993–2014). Climate change was found to have some impacts on the precipitation extremes: the extreme rainfall value and the parameters of GEV and GPD were variable in the context of climate change. Furthermore, the GPD distribution model outperformed the GEV distribution model.
On tree‐decompositions of one‐ended graphs
Authors: Carmesin Johannes , Lehner Florian , Möller Rögnvaldur G.
Published: October 2018

A graph is one‐ended if it contains a ray (a one way infinite path) and whenever we remove a finite number of vertices from the graph then what remains has only one component which contains rays. A vertex v dominates a ray in the end if there are infinitely many paths connecting v to the ray such that any two of these paths have only the vertex v in common. We prove that if a one‐ended graph contains no ray which is dominated by a vertex and no infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays, then it has a tree‐decomposition such that the decomposition tree is one‐ended and the tree‐decomposition is invariant under the group of automorphisms. This can be applied to prove a conjecture of Halin from 2000 that the automorphism group of such a graph cannot be countably infinite and solves a recent problem of Boutin and Imrich. Furthermore, it implies that every transitive one‐ended graph contains an infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays.
A compact dual circular patch pattern reconfigurable antenna
Authors: Abdulkawi Wazie M. , Malik Waqar A. , Sheta Abdel‐Fattah A. , Alkanhal Majeed A.
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a low‐profile wideband pattern reconfigurable dual circular patch antenna. The basic unit of the antenna is based on the mathematical model of a circular patch antenna design. Although to optimize the large size of the structure, an innovative way of introducing slots is presented that effectively reduces the overall size. Two different types of slotted circular structures are proposed with optimized sizes. The first design is based on L‐slots, while the second is the dual vertical slotted antenna. Both structures are designed and simulated on FR4 and RT‐Duriod 5880 substrates using the EM simulators, IE3D, and HFSS. The optimized antenna structure among the proposed ones has dual circular patches and the pattern reconfigurability is achieved by only two PIN diode switches. Thus, a steering capability of the antenna beam in two different directions at the same resonant frequency is achieved. The antenna covers a wideband of 500 MHz (ie, 1.3‐1.8 GHz) with a high gain of 3.95 and 4.05 dB for both switching cases. To validate the designs, the antennas are fabricated on FR4 epoxy substrate. The measured results are closely related to the simulated results, thus making the design suitable for recent and upcoming multistandard wireless communication systems.
A compact patch antenna with enhanced bandwidth and efficiency on a fishnet metasurface ground plane in extremely low profile
Authors: Wei Juzheng , Deng Xiao , Xu Xiaofei
Published: October 2018

A compact patch antenna is proposed in this work which is designed on a fishnet metasurface ground plane. The impedance bandwidth and radiation efficiency are further enhanced for the proposed meta‐antenna, compared with a conventional one. To verify the design, one proof of the conceptual patch antenna is studied on an optimized metasurface ground plane. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement. Measured results show that the meta‐antenna has a compact patch size as 0.22λ0 × 0.22λ0. The measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth is 1.74% and the radiation efficiency is 74%. However for the conventional antenna, the patch size is much larger as 0.31λ0 × 0.31λ0. The bandwidth is only 0.73% and the efficiency is 52%. Prominent enhancement of bandwidth and efficiency has been observed for the meta‐antenna while the patch area has reduced nearly 50% compared with those for a conventional antenna. Note the meta‐antenna substrate thickness is only 0.5 mm (0.0036λ0), the extremely low profile makes it easy to be integrated with other circuit modules for future portable wireless applications.
Principal component analysis modeling of Head‐and‐Neck anatomy using daily Cone Beam‐CT images
Authors: Tsiamas Panagiotis , Bagher‐Ebadian Hassan , Siddiqui Farzan , Liu Chang , Hvid Christian A. , Kim Joshua P. , Brown Stephen L. , Movsas Benjamin , Chetty Indrin J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To model Head‐and‐Neck anatomy from daily Cone Beam‐CT (CBCT) images over the course of fractionated radiotherapy using principal component analysis (PCA).

Methods and materials

Eighteen oropharyngeal Head‐and‐Neck cancer patients, treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), were included in this retrospective study. Normal organs, including the parotid and submandibular glands, mandible, pharyngeal constrictor muscles (PCMs), and spinal cord were contoured using daily CBCT image datasets. PCA models for each organ were developed for individual patients (IP) and the entire patient cohort/population (PP). The first 10 principal components (PCs) were extracted for all models. Analysis included cumulative and individual PCs for each organ and patient, as well as the aggregate organ/patient population; comparisons were made using the root‐mean‐square (RMS) of the percentage predicted spatial displacement for each PC.

Results

Overall, spatial displacement prediction was achieved at the 95% confidence level (CL) for the first three to four PCs for all organs, based on IP models. For PP models, the first four PCs predicted spatial displacement at the 80%–89% CL. Differences in percentage predicted spatial displacement between mean IP models for each organ ranged from 2.8% ± 1.8% (1st PC) to 0.6% ± 0.4% (4th PC). Differences in percentage predicted spatial displacement between IP models vs the mean IP model for each organ based on the 1st PC were <12.9% ± 6.9% for all organs. Differences in percentage predicted spatial displacement between IP and PP models based on all organs and patients for the 1st and 2nd PC were <11.7% ± 2.2%.

Conclusion

Tissue changes during fractionated radiotherapy observed on daily CBCT in patients with Head‐and‐Neck cancers, were modeled using PCA. In general, spatial displacement for organs‐at‐risk was predicted for the first 4 principal components at the 95% confidence levels (CL), for individual patient (IP) models, and at the 80%–89% CL for population‐based patient (PP) models. The IP and PP models were most predictive of changes in glandular organs and pharyngeal constrictor muscles, respectively.
Structural modeling and mRNA expression of epididymal β‐defensins in GnRH immunized boars: A model for secondary hypogonadism in man
Authors: Weber Augusto , Alves Jayse , Abujamra Ana L. , Bustamante‐Filho Ivan C.
Published: October 2018

Human secondary hypogonadism is associated with impaired testicular function, however, little is known about its impact on sperm epididymal maturation. Endocrine disruption in the epididymis could impair the secretion of key proteins, such as β‐defensins, responsible for spermatozoa maturation during epididymal transit. This study evaluated the sequence and structural similarities between porcine epididymal β‐defensins porcine β‐defensins (pBD3), pBD4, pBD125, and pEP2C and their human homologs using bioinformatics integrated with information derived from protein databanks. We then verified whether the expression ofpBD3, pBD4,pBD125, andpEP2Cgenes in the testis and epididymis are influenced by disruption of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐testicular (HPT) axis in a pig model for male human secondary hypogonadism. Upon modeling porcine β‐defensins, structural and functional analysis confirmed the presence of motifs associated with β‐defensin function, validating the models generated in silico. pBD3 and pBD4 showed acceptable structural alignments with human β‐defensins BDEF103 and BDEF110, respectively. In addition, evaluation of hormonal regulation of β‐defensins was assessed by analyzing the expression of these four β‐defensins in adult boars immunized against gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH). Our results indicate that HPT axis disruption modifies the expression ofpBD3, pBD4, pBD125, andpEP2Cin boar testis and epididymis, suggesting an endocrine‐dependent regulation of β‐defensins in swine epididymis. In conclusion, sequence and structural homology between pBD3 and pBD4 and their human homologs provide a basis for using the pig as a model for the study of human secondary hypogonadism. Further investigation of the human homologs in hypogonadal men could elucidate the connections between fertility and epididymal expression of β‐defensins.
Validation of Peptide Identification Results in Proteomics Using Amino Acid Counting
Authors: Bubis Julia A. , Levitsky Lev I. , Ivanov Mark V. , Gorshkov Mikhail V.
Published: October 2018

The efficiency of proteome analysis depends strongly on the configuration parameters of the search engine. One of the murkiest and nontrivial among them is the list of amino acid modifications included for the search. Here, an approach called AA_stat is presented for uncovering the unexpected modifications of amino acid residues in the protein sequences, as well as possible artifacts of data acquisition or processing, in the results of proteome analyses. The approach is based on comparing the amino acid frequencies of different mass shifts observed using the open search method introduced recently. In this work, the proposed approach is applied to publicly available proteomic data is applied and its feasibility for discovering unaccounted modifications or possible pitfalls of the identification workflow is demonstrated.

The algorithm is implemented in Python as an open‐source command‐line tool available at https://bitbucket.org/J_Bale/aa_stat/.
A real‐time WAXS and SAXS study of the structural evolution of LLDPE bubble
Authors: Zhao Haoyuan , Zhang Qianlei , Ali Samard , Li Lifu , Lv Fei , Ji Youxin , Su Fengmei , Meng Lingpu , Li Liangbin
Published: October 2018

The structural evolution during the linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) film blowing has been studied with a combination of home‐made blown film apparatus and in situ WAXS and SAXS measurements. Analyzing the evolution of orientation parameters and crystallinity of the bubble shows that the blown film process can be divided into four regions. Distinctly different features of LLDPE bubble are observed in first three regions: (a) lower orientation parameters during the blown film process, (b) higher crystallinity is required to form a deformable crystalline crosslinked network, and (c) the weaker stretching effect and the difficulty of reaching equilibrium when the crystal network deforms. These results should provide a basis for understanding the poor blown film stability of LLDPE. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 1404–1412
Clinical Proteomics for Post‐Hematopoeitic Stem Cell Transplantation Outcomes
Authors: Paczesny Sophie , Metzger Jochen
Published: October 2018

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the most effective form of tumor immunotherapy available to date. However, while HSCT can induce beneficial graft‐versus‐leukemia (GVL) effect, the adverse effect of graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), which is closely linked to GVL, is the major source of morbidity and mortality following HSCT. Until recently, available diagnostic and staging tools frequently fail to identify those at higher risk of disease progression or death. Furthermore, there are shortcomings in the prediction of the need for therapeutic interventions or the response rates to different forms of therapy. The past decade has been characterized by an explosive evolution of proteomics technologies, largely due to important advances in high‐throughput MS instruments and bioinformatics. Building on these opportunities, blood biomarkers have been identified and validated both as promising diagnostic tools, prognostic tools that risk‐stratify patients before future occurrence of GVHD and as predictive tools for responsiveness to GVHD therapy and non‐relapse mortality. These biomarkers might facilitate timely and selective therapeutic intervention. This review summarizes current information on clinical proteomics for GVHD as well as other complications following HSCT. Finally, it proposes future directions for the translation of clinical proteomics to discovery of new potential therapeutic targets to the development of drugs.
On the cation–π capabilities of small all sp2‐carbon host structures. Evaluation of [6.8]3cyclacene from relativistic DFT calculations
Authors: Ortolan Alexandre O. , Charistos Nicholas D. , Guajardo‐Maturana Raul , Ulloa Carolina Olea , Caramori Giovanni F. , Parreira Renato L. T. , Muñoz‐Castro Alvaro
Published: October 2018

Cation–π interactions are noncovalent forces with essential roles in the stability of protein structures, molecular recognition, and host–guest chemistry. In this work, we discuss the formation of cation–π complexes involving one of the smallest characterized nanobelts to date, given [6.8]3cyclacene, by using relativistic DFT‐D calculations. Such nanobelt exhibits a noteworthy all‐sp2 carbon backbone, leading to a rigid and confined host framework. Our results reveal that the inclusion of representative cations, such as Ag+ and Sn2+, appears to be plausible, revealing that it is feasible to obtain these compounds experimentally. Such systems involves two contrasting coordination modes, where the Ag+ cation remains coordinated in the upper face of the nanobelt, whereas the Sn2+ is able to be located at the center of the structure. In addition, the coordination of isoelectronic Cd2+ and In+ was also discussed. Moreover, the bonding characteristics of the resulting cation–π interaction show that the π‐orbitals from the nanobelt 1 are able to moderate the charge transfer, according to the selected cation, which can be seen as an interesting strategy to tune the amount of charge of the π‐backbone in nanobelts. We envisage that the use of more rigid host in the formation of cation–π interactions will be beneficial to gain a better understanding about the metal coordination and also to tune the capabilities of related nanobelts or nanotubes sections.
Functionalized MoS2 Nanovehicle with Near‐Infrared Laser‐Mediated Nitric Oxide Release and Photothermal Activities for Advanced Bacteria‐Infected Wound Therapy
Authors: Gao Qin , Zhang Xiao , Yin Wenyan , Ma Dongqing , Xie Changjian , Zheng Lirong , Dong Xinghua , Mei Linqiang , Yu Jie , Wang Chaozhan , Gu Zhanjun , Zhao Yuliang
Published: October 2018

The rising dangers of bacterial infections have created an urgent need for the development of a new generation of antibacterial nanoagents and therapeutics. A new near‐infrared 808 nm laser‐mediated nitric oxide (NO)‐releasing nanovehicle (MoS2‐BNN6) is reported through the simple assembly of α‐cyclodextrin‐modified MoS2 nanosheets with a heat‐sensitive NO donor N,N′‐di‐sec‐butyl‐N,N′‐dinitroso‐1,4‐phenylenediamine (BNN6) for the rapid and effective treatment of three typical Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria (ampicillin‐resistant Escherichia coli, heat‐resistant Escherichia faecalis, and pathogen Staphylococcus aureus). This MoS2‐BNN6 nanovehicle has good biocompatibility and can be captured by bacteria to increase opportunities of NO diffusion to the bacterial surface. Once stimulated by 808 nm laser irradiation, the MoS2‐BNN6 nanovehicle not only exhibits photothermal therapy (PTT) efficacy but also can precisely control NO release, generating oxidative/nitrosative stress. The temperature‐enhanced catalytic function of MoS2 induced by 808 nm laser irradiation simultaneously accelerates the oxidation of glutathione. This acceleration disrupts the balance of antioxidants, ultimately resulting in significant DNA damage to the bacteria. Within 10 min, the MoS2‐BNN6 with enhanced PTT/NO synergetic antibacterial function achieves >97.2% inactivation of bacteria. The safe synergetic therapy strategy can also effectively repair wounds through the formation of collagen fibers and elimination of inflammation during tissue reconstruction.
Vessel‐on‐a‐chip with Hydrogel‐based Microfluidics
Authors: Nie Jing , Gao Qing , Wang Yidong , Zeng Jiahui , Zhao Haiming , Sun Yuan , Shen Jian , Ramezani Hamed , Fu Zhenliang , Liu Zhenjie , Xiang Meixiang , Fu Jianzhong , Zhao Peng , Chen Wei , He Yong
Published: October 2018

Hydrogel structures equipped with internal microchannels offer more in vivo‐relevant models for construction of tissues and organs in vitro. However, currently used microfabrication methods of constructing microfluidic devices are not suitable for the handling of hydrogel. This study presents a novel method of fabricating hydrogel‐based microfluidic chips by combining the casting and bonding processes. A twice cross‐linking strategy is designed to obtain a bonding interface that has the same strength with the hydrogel bulk, which can be applied to arbitrary combinations of hydrogels. It is convenient to achieve the construction of hydrogel structures with channels in branched, spiral, serpentine, and multilayer forms. The experimental results show that the combination of gelatin and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) owns the best biocompatibility and can promote cell functionalization. Based on these, a vessel‐on‐a‐chip system with vascular function in both physiological and pathological situations is established, providing a promising model for further investigations such as vascularization, vascular inflammation, tissue engineering, and drug development. Taken together, a facile and cytocompatible approach is developed for engineering a user‐defined hydrogel‐based chip that can be potentially useful in developing vascularized tissue or organ models.
Remodeling Tumor‐Associated Macrophages and Neovascularization Overcomes EGFRT790M‐Associated Drug Resistance by PD‐L1 Nanobody‐Mediated Codelivery
Authors: Yin Weimin , Yu Xiaolu , Kang Xuejia , Zhao Yuge , Zhao Pengfei , Jin Hongyue , Fu Xuhong , Wan Yakun , Peng Chengyuan , Huang Yongzhuo
Published: October 2018

Precision medicine has made a significant breakthrough in the past decade. The most representative success is the molecular targeting therapy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with oncogenic drivers, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as first‐line therapeutics for substituting chemotherapy. However, the rapidly developed TKI resistance invariably leads to unsustainable treatment. For example, gefitinib is the first choice for advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutation, but most patients would soon develop secondary EGFRT790M mutation and acquire gefitinib resistance. TKI resistance is a severe emergency issue to be solved in NSCLC, but there are a few investigations of nanomedicine reported to address this pressing problem. To overcome EGFRT790M‐associated drug resistance, a novel delivery and therapeutic strategy is developed. A PD‐L1 nanobody is identified, and first used as a targeting ligand for liposomal codelivery. It is found that simvastatin/gefitinib combination nanomedicine can remodel the tumor microenvironment (e.g., neovascularization regulation, M2‐macrophage repolarization, and innate immunity), and display the effectiveness of reversing the gefitinib resistance and enhancing the EGFRT790M‐mutated NSCLC treatment outcomes. The novel simvastatin‐based nanomedicine provides a clinically translatable strategy for tackling the major problem in NSCLC treatment and demonstrates the promise of an old drug for new application.
In Situ Fabrication of Heterostructure on Nickel Foam with Tuned Composition for Enhancing Water‐Splitting Performance
Authors: Zheng Xuerong , Zhang Yiqi , Liu Hui , Fu Dongju , Chen Jianjun , Wang Jihui , Zhong Cheng , Deng Yida , Han Xiaopeng , Hu Wenbin
Published: October 2018

Exploiting economical and high‐performance bifunctional electrocatalysts toward hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER) is at the heart of overall water splitting in large‐scale application. Herein, an in situ and stepwise strategy for synthesizing core–shell Ni3(S1−xSex)2@NiOOH (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanoarray heterostructures on nickel foam with tailored compositions for enhancing water‐splitting performance is reported. A series of Ni3(S1−xSex)2 nanostructures is firstly grown on nickel foam via an in situ reaction in a heated polyol solution system. Ni3(S1−xSex)2@NiOOH nanocomposites are subsequently prepared via electrochemical oxidation and the oxidation degree is systematically investigated by varying the oxidation time. Benefitting from the vertical standing architecture, abundant exposed active sites, and synergetically interfacial enhancement, Ni3(S0.25Se0.75)2@NiOOH heterojunctions with electrochemical polarization for 8 h exhibit superior HER and OER behaviors, achieving a water‐splitting current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a small overpotential of 320 mV as well as boosted reaction kinetics and long‐term stability. This work should shed light on the controllable synthesis of metal‐based hybrid materials and provide a promising direction for developing the highest‐performing electrocatalysts based on interfacial and heterostructural regulation for advanced electrochemical energy conversion technologies.
Confederated cloud—Design consideration for distributed utility computing system of systems
Authors: Biran Yahav , Dubow Joel
Published: October 2018

Cloud computing advances are enabling cloud tenants to host and process their IT workloads in a safe, reliable, and cost‐effective manner. Federated clouds help cloud providers optimize many business parameters such as computing resource utilization. Federated clouds also introduce business risks to the cloud service providers in situations such as fewer tenants and various misconfigurations of energy, security, and load distributions arising from some possible sources. Yet, the rewards outweigh the risks when the federation implementation is successful. This work proposes a different optimization strategy that clarifies and simplifies the design trade‐offs for the federated clouds. We call it the confederated cloud. The strategy for it is to recruit customer groups by providing domain‐specific market services to cloud service providers that have a common market or business characteristics. The confederation will be a federation of domain groups, thus forming an interim cloud grouping that will retain domain‐specific privacy and governance structure and the confederation structure provide services on a more efficient or cost‐effective basis than can individual cloud service providers. This will help cloud providers to increase their datacenter resource utilization, decrease energy consumption, improve security, and increase revenue. It will also support cloud providers to set a suitable computing price for each computing resource type that matches the specific cloud group domain requirements. This solution will enable domain‐specific tenant groups to maintain controls of what is competitively vital and pool resources where it is advantageous to do so. The resulting architecture will be a decentralized system of systems that offers multicloud providers deployments similar to the centralized cloud federation. The confederated cloud system of systems described introduces a new system of systems engineering paradigm that uses domain‐specific governance for otherwise open communities that collaborate throughout the system life cycle. The confederated cloud system of systems has no explicit requirements for the cloud provider and cloud providers will not be aware of confederation services. Nonetheless, cloud providers might also not be aware of such system of systems. A successful confederated cloud will advantageous for many tenants. This enhanced market for cloud providers will help advance and drive the evolution of federated clouds.
Crosscutting concepts and achievement: Is a sense of size and scale related to achievement in science and mathematics?
Authors: Chesnutt Katherine , Gail Jones M. , Corin Elysa N. , Hite Rebecca , Childers Gina , Perez Mariana P. , Cayton Emily , Ennes Megan
Published: October 2018

This study examined the relationship between students' (N = 229) concepts of size and scale and students' achievement in science and mathematics over a 3‐year period. Size and scale are considered one of the big ideas in science that permeates disparate science and mathematics content areas, yet little is known about the relationship between students' conceptualization of size and scale and students' achievement in science and mathematics. The study used a modified panel longitudinal design to follow the same class of students over a 3‐year period. The goal was to explore whether understandings of size and scale are related to achievement in mathematics and science. Results indicated a strong positive significant relationship existed between students' understanding of size and scale and students' science achievement in grades 5 and 8. There was a positive significant relationship between students' concepts of size and scale and students' mathematics achievement in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. An examination of the relationships is included as well as a discussion of the integration of crosscutting concepts into science and mathematics instruction as a way to support deep learning.
The holographic entropy zoo
Authors: May Alex , Hijano Eliot
Published: October 2018

Abstract

We study the holographic dual of a two parameter family of quantities known as the α-z divergences. Many familiar information theoretic quantities occur within this family, including the relative entropy, fidelity, and collision relative entropy. We find explicit bulk expressions for the boundary divergences to second order in a state perturbation whenever α is an integer and z ≥ 0, as well as when z ∈ {0, ∞} and α ∈ ℝ. Our results apply for perturbations around an arbitrary background state and in any dimension, under the assumption of the equality of bulk and boundary modular flows.
The role of parental affection and psychological control in adolescent athletes’ symptoms of school and sport burnout during the transition to upper secondary school
Authors: Aunola Kaisa , Sorkkila Matilda , Viljaranta Jaana , Tolvanen Asko , Ryba Tatiana V.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

The transition from compulsory school to upper secondary school is a challenging period for adolescents. Especially challenging it can be for adolescents who aim to integrate two domains of achievement, such as an athletic career and academic education. The pressure from two intertwined achievement domains may make student‐athletes vulnerable to symptoms of burnout. The study examined the role of mothers' and fathers’ affection and psychological control as possible risk or protective factors in the symptoms of school and sport burnout among 15–16 year olds adolescent athletes in Finland.

Methods

The adolescents’ (n = 391) burnout symptoms in the two domains were measured using questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of the first grade of upper secondary school. Mothers (n = 258) and fathers (n = 191) filled in questionnaires concerning their parenting behaviors at the beginning of the school year.

Results & conclusions

The results showed that the athletes’ symptoms of both school and sport burnout increased across the school year. Maternal affection buffered against the increase of school burnout, but only when not combined with simultaneous psychologically controlling mothering.
Assessment of nasal functions and their relationship with cholesteatoma formation in patients with unilateral chronic otitis media
Authors: Arslan F , Binar M , Aydin U
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the nasal functions of patients with unilateral chronic otitis media using rhinomanometry, comparing chronic otitis media sides with healthy sides, chronic otitis media patients with cholesteatoma and without cholesteatoma, and patients with healthy individuals.

Methods

This prospective study included 102 patients with unilateral chronic otitis media (48 with and 54 without cholesteatoma). The control group comprised 40 individuals without any ear or nasal pathologies. All patients underwent active anterior rhinomanometry to measure nasal airway resistance and a saccharin test to measure mucociliary transport times.

Results

There were no significant differences in nasal airway resistance and mucociliary transport time between the chronic otitis media sides and unaffected sides in the 102 patients (p = 0.72 and p = 0.28, respectively), between the non-suppurative chronic otitis media patients (without cholesteatoma) and chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma patients (p > 0.05), or between the study and control groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The present study, with a larger sample size compared to previously published literature, supports the conclusion that unilateral nasal obstruction is unlikely to lead to chronic otitis media on the same side. The results also suggest that nasal functions do not contribute to the development of cholesteatoma.
President Donald Trump as global health’s displacement activity
Authors: Harman Sophie , Davies Sara E.
Published: October 2018

The United States presidential election of Donald Trump in 2016 was observed by global health commentators as posing dire consequences for the progress made in global health outcomes, governance, and financing. This article shares these concerns, however, we present a more nuanced picture of the global health governance progress narrative pre-Trump. We argue that Trump’s presidency is a displacement activity to which global health’s pre-existing inequalities and problems of global health security, financing, and reproductive health can be attributed. Unfettered access to sexual and reproductive rights, sustained financing of health system strengthening initiatives, affordable medicines and vaccines, and a human security-centred definition of global health security were already problematic shortfalls for global health governance. Trump no doubt exacerbates these concerns, however, to blame his presidency for failings in these areas ignores the issues that have been endemic to global health governance prior to his presidency. Instead of using Trump as a displacement activity, his presidency could be an opportunity to confront dependency on US financing model, the lack of a human-security centred definition of global health security, and the norm of restricting reproductive health. It is such engagement and confrontation with these issues that could see Trump’s presidency as being a catalyst for change rather than displacement as a means of preserving the uncomfortable status quo in global health. We make this argument by focusing on three specific areas of US-led global health governance: reproductive health and the ‘global gag rule’, health financing and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and pandemic preparedness and global health security.
Depression et Maladie de Parkinson: étude d’une série de 135 parkinsoniens
Authors: Anguenot A. , Loll P.Y. , Neau J.P. , Ingrand P. , Gil R.
Published: October 2018

Objective:

La fréquence de la dépression au cours de la maladie de Parkinson (MP) conduit à s’interroger sur les difficultés du diagnostic et sur les liens entre la dépression et l’histoire naturelle de la maladie.

Méthodes:

Une série consécutive de 135 sujets atteints d’une MPidiopathique a été examinée sur le plan psychiatrique (DSM-III-R, échelle de dépression de Goldberg), neurologique (en distinguant les signes “axiaux” des autres signes parkinsoniens), neuropsychologique ( et en particulier tests frontaux).

Résultats:

Plus de la moitié des sujets ont une dépression qui apparaît plus fréquente dans les formes akinétiques et les formes fluctuantes de la maladie. Les sujets déprimés n’ont pas de déficit cognitif plus marqué mais leurs scores aux tests frontaux sont plus élevés. En outre les signes axiaux de la maladie (instabilité posturale, rigidité axiale) sont plus marqués chez les parkinsoniens déprimés, suggérant un lien entre la dépression et les lésions non dopaminergiques de la maladie. Alors que le ralentissement, les troubles de l’appétit et du sommeil, la fatigue peuvent être observés même chez des parkinsoniens non dépressifs, la séparation de la population parkinsonienne en plusieurs groupes montre que certains symptômes ne sont jamais rencontrés chez les parkinsoniens non dépressifs: il en est ainsi apparu que “l’impression que la vie ne vaut pas la peine d’être vécue”, “la perte d’espoir pour l’avenir”, “l’impression de ne pas être à la hauteur, de ne rien faire de bien”, “la baisse d’énergie”, “la tristesse matinale” caractérisent la dépression parkinsonienne. La dépression parkinsonienne revêt deux grandes formes cliniques. La première est la plus riche en manifestations somatiques: troubles du sommeil, fatigue matinale; elle correspond aux dépressions les plus sévères avec une absence d’espoir pour l’avenir , une perte de confiance en soi. La seconde est pauvre en manifestations somatiques alors que l’apathie y est très fréquente ainsi que le ralentissement.

Conclusions:

Cette étude permet ainsi de préciser les symptômes de la dépression parkinsonienne qui doit être mieux reconnue pour être plus souvent traitée. Les liens entre la dépression et les signes axiaux de la maladie expliquent sans doute pourquoi la L-dopa et les agonistes dopaminergiques améliorent les signes moteurs de la dépression sans agir le plus souvent sur les manifestations dépressives.
Cortical Location of Benign Paroxysmal Rhythms in the Electrocorticogram
Authors: McLachlan Richard S. , Lubus Neda
Published: October 2018

Background:

Six/second spike waves, 14 and 6/second positive spikes and small sharp spikes are apiculate paroxysmal rhythms in the electroencephalogram, thought to be of no diagnostic importance. The cortical origin of these discharges is documented in this report.

Methods:

These waveforms were assessed in recordings from the surface of the cerebral cortex using implanted subdural electrodes in 61 patients monitored for possible epilepsy surgery.

Results:

Eight patients had 6/second spike wave, four had 14 and 6/second positive spikes and 3 had small sharp spikes. The 6/second spike waves were localised to the posterior cingulate gyrus, a more restricted region than would be predicted from scalp recordings and the 14 and 6/second spikes to the posterior mesial temporal cortex. Small sharp spikes were more widely distributed but also predominated in the posterior mesial temporal area. None of the discharges were congruent with the focus of seizure origin and no interaction with other interictal spikes was found.

Conclusions:

These benign paroxysmal rhythms can appear incidentally in the electrocorticograms of patients with focal epilepsy and should not be confused with focal pathological spike activity or considered to be of any value in localizing the seizure focus.
Petrous Apex Granulomas: CT and MR Imaging
Authors: Hentschel Stephen , Durity Felix
Published: October 2018

A 29-year-old male complained of a four month history of horizontal, spontaneous, and nonprogressive diplopia. On examination he had a mild left sixth nerve palsy. The rest of his general and neurologic examinations were normal.

Computed tomography scanning demonstrated a nonenhancing, well-circumscribed, lesion in the left petrous apex (Figure 1). The opposite apex was well pneumatized. The lesion abutted the medial wall of the horizontal canal of the internal carotid artery and pointed towards the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus. Unfortunately, CT bone windows were not available for this case but would have been helpful in terms of the differential diagnosis. An MRI demonstrated a predominantly high signal mass on T1 and T2 sequences (Figure 2). The diagnosis was a petrous apex granuloma.
Demander de l'aide à la permanence d'accès aux droits d'un centre social: modalités de construction des requêtes
Authors: TRAVERSO VÉRONIQUE
Published: October 2018

L'article porte sur la formulation des demandes des usagers dans une permanence d'accès au droit dans un centre social en France. Il se concentre sur les usagers habituels, dont certains sont peu francophones, et met en évidence des procédés spécifiques par rapport aux descriptions existantes de la formulation des requêtes en français. L'article se situe dans une approche de linguistique interactionnelle multimodale, à partir de laquelle est décrite la construction progressive et collaborative des demandes et la variété des ressources, y compris gestuelles, utilisées par les usagers pour les formuler. L'objectif est, d'une part, d'examiner l'influence de la formulation de la requête sur le traitement qui en est fait par la médiatrice. C'est, d'autre part, de mettre en évidence les ressources privilégiées par les demandeurs.
Life-course BMI and biomarkers in persons aged 60 years or older: a comparison of the USA and Costa Rica
Authors: Rehkopf David H , Duong Andrew , Dow William H , Rosero-Bixby Luis
Published: October 2018

Objective

There is a large literature linking current BMI to levels of cardiovascular risk biomarkers, but it is unknown whether measures of BMI earlier in the life course and maximum BMI are predictive of current levels of biomarkers. The objective of the current study was to determine how current, maximum and age-25 BMI among individuals over the age of 60 years are associated with their current levels of cardiovascular risk biomarkers.

Design

Cross-sectional study with retrospective recall.

Setting

Costa Rica (n 821) and the USA (n 4110).

Subjects

Nationally representative samples of adults aged 60 years or over.

Results

We used regression models to examine the relationship between multiple meaures of BMI with four established cardiovascular risk biomarkers. The most consistent predictor of current levels of systolic blood pressure, TAG and HDL-cholesterol was current BMI. However, maximum BMI was the strongest predictor of glycosylated Hb (HbA1c) and was also related to HDL-cholesterol and TAG. HbA1c was independent of current BMI. We found that these relationships are consistent between Costa Rica and the USA for HbA1c and for HDL-cholesterol.

Conclusions

Current levels of cardiovascular risk biomarkers are not only the product of current levels of BMI, but also of maximum lifetime BMI, particularly for levels of HbA1c and for HDL-cholesterol. Managing maximum obtained BMI over the life course may be most critical for maintaining the healthiest levels of cardiovascular risk.
Atomic-Scale Grain Boundary Relaxation Modes in Metals and Ceramics
Authors: Merkle K.L.
Published: October 2018

Abstract: The atomic-scale structure of tilt grain boundaries has been studied by high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) in several ceramics and metals such as NiO, yttria stabilized zirconia, Au, and Al. It is found that when grain boundaries are formed between two crystals a considerable variety of modes of relaxations, i.e., the rearrangements of atoms in and near the grain boundary core are possible, depending on grain boundary geometry and the interatomic interactions. The atomic relaxations within and near the grain boundary core often include relaxations that involve the formation of stacking faults in low-stacking-fault energy fcc materials. Grain boundary dissociations are also observed for several grain boundary geometries. Computer simulations of grain boundary structures in metals have in general been able to reproduce the relaxation features at least on a qualitative level. In contrast, ceramic grain boundaries typically are more complex and not always tractable by simple computer relaxation procedures, since the formation of point defects and partial occupancy of atomic columns may be involved in the relaxation processes. It is found that when a boundary is not allowed to relax to its lowest energy state due to geometrical constraints, a multitude of grain boundary core structures can exist. Such conditions are expected to be characteristic for nanocrystalline materials. Because of its close connection to grain boundary properties, quantification of the volume expansion by HREM techniques is an important goal of grain boundary research. Image simulations of grain boundaries suggest that for most materials of interest the 3-fold astigmatism must be corrected to better than 100 nm to achieve the desired accuracies.