bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leukotriene B4 receptor type 2 protects against pneumolysin-dependent acute lung injury
Authors: Shigematsu Misako , Koga Tomoaki , Ishimori Ayako , Saeki Kazuko , Ishii Yumiko , Taketomi Yoshitaka , Ohba Mai , Jo-Watanabe Airi , Okuno Toshiaki , Harada Norihiro , Harayama Takeshi , Shindou Hideo , Li Jian-Dong , Murakami Makoto , Hoka Sumio , Yokomizo Takehiko
Published: October 2016

Although pneumococcal infection is a serious problem worldwide and has a high mortality rate, the molecular mechanisms underlying the lethality caused by pneumococcus remain elusive. Here, we show that BLT2, a G protein-coupled receptor for leukotriene B4 and 12(S)-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), protects mice from lung injury caused by a pneumococcal toxin, pneumolysin (PLY). Intratracheal injection of PLY caused lethal acute lung injury (ALI) in BLT2-deficient mice, with evident vascular leakage and bronchoconstriction. Large amounts of cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs), classically known as a slow reactive substance of anaphylaxis, were detected in PLY-treated lungs. PLY-dependent vascular leakage, bronchoconstriction and death were markedly ameliorated by treatment with a CysLT1 receptor antagonist. Upon stimulation by PLY, mast cells produced cysLTs that activated CysLT1 expressed in vascular endothelial cells and bronchial smooth muscle cells, leading to lethal vascular leakage and bronchoconstriction. Treatment of mice with aspirin or loxoprofen inhibited the production of 12-HHT and increased the sensitivity toward PLY, which was also ameliorated by the CysLT1 antagonist. Thus, the present study identifies the molecular mechanism underlying PLY-dependent ALI and suggests the possible use of CysLT1 antagonists as a therapeutic tool to protect against ALI caused by pneumococcal infection.
Surface step terrace tuned microstructures and dielectric properties of highly epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films on vicinal LaAlO3 substrates
Authors: Yao Guang , Gao Min , Ji Yanda , Liang Weizheng , Gao Lei , Zheng Shengliang , Wang You , Pang Bin , Chen Y. B. , Zeng Huizhong , Li Handong , Wang Zhiming , Liu Jingsong , Chen Chonglin , Lin Yuan
Published: October 2016

Controllable interfacial strain can manipulate the physical properties of epitaxial films and help understand the physical nature of the correlation between the properties and the atomic microstructures. By using a proper design of vicinal single-crystal substrate, the interface strain in epitaxial thin films can be well controlled by adjusting the miscut angle via a surface-step-terrace matching growth mode. Here, we demonstrate that LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates with various miscut angles of 1.0°, 2.75°, and 5.0° were used to tune the dielectric properties of epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) thin films. A model of coexistent compressive and tensile strained domains is proposed to understand the epitaxial nature. Our findings on the self-tuning of the compressive and tensile strained domain ratio along the interface depending on the miscut angle and the stress relaxation mechanism under this growth mode will open a new avenue to achieve CCTO films with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which is critical for the design and integration of advanced heterostructures for high performance capacitance device applications.
Epimerisation of chiral hydroxylactones by short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases accounts for sex pheromone evolution in Nasonia
Authors: Ruther Joachim , Hagström Åsa K. , Brandstetter Birgit , Hofferberth John , Bruckmann Astrid , Semmelmann Florian , Fink Michaela , Lowack Helena , Laberer Sabine , Niehuis Oliver , Deutzmann Rainer , Löfstedt Christer , Sterner Reinhard
Published: October 2016

Males of all species of the parasitic wasp genus Nasonia use (4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolide (RS) as component of their sex pheromone while only N. vitripennis (Nv), employs additionally (4R,5R)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolide (RR). Three genes coding for the NAD+-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) NV10127, NV10128, and NV10129 are linked to the ability of Nv to produce RR. Here we show by assaying recombinant enzymes that SDRs from both Nv and N. giraulti (Ng), the latter a species with only RS in the pheromone, epimerise RS into RR and vice versa with (4R)-5-oxo-4-decanolide as an intermediate. Nv-derived SDR orthologues generally had higher epimerisation rates, which were also influenced by NAD+ availability. Semiquantitative protein analyses of the pheromone glands by tandem mass spectrometry revealed that NV10127 as well as NV10128 and/or NV10129 were more abundant in Nv compared to Ng. We conclude that the interplay of differential expression patterns and SDR epimerisation rates on the ancestral pheromone component RS accounts for the evolution of a novel pheromone phenotype in Nv.
Re-evaluation of all-plastic organic dye laser with DFB structure fabricated using photoresists
Authors: Tsutsumi Naoto , Nagi Saori , Kinashi Kenji , Sakai Wataru
Published: October 2016

Organic solid-state lasers (OSSLs) with distributed feedback structures can detect nanoscale materials and therefore offer an attractive sensing platform for biological and medical applications. Here we investigate the lasing characteristics, i.e., the threshold and slope efficiency, as a function of the grating depth in OSSL devices with distributed feedback (DFB) structure fabricated using photoresists. Two types of photoresists were used for the DFB structures: a negative photoresist, SU-8 2002, and a positive photoresist, ma-P 1275. The DFB structure was fabricated using a Lloyd-mirror configuration. The active layer was a rhodamine 6G-doped cellulose acetate waveguide. The threshold for the first order mode (m  = 1) was lower than that for the second and third order modes (m = 2, and 3). A low threshold of 27 μJ cm−2 pulse−1 (58 nJ) was obtained using SU-8 2002, with m = 1. The slope efficiency was evaluated as a function of grating depth for each mode and increased as the grating depth increased.
Identification of the key structural elements of a dihydropyrimidinone core driving toward more potent Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors
Authors: Teracciano S. , Chini M. G. , Vaccaro M. C. , Strocchia M. , Foglia A. , Vassallo A. , Saturnino C. , Riccio R. , Bifulco G. , Bruno I.
Published: October 2016

Dramatic improvement in the biological activity of DHPM derivatives as a new class of Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors for cancer therapy.
The microfluidic lighthouse: an omnidirectional gradient generator
Authors: Nakajima A. , Ishida M. , Fujimori T. , Wakamoto Y. , Sawai S.
Published: October 2016

Omnidirectional flow devices for quantitative analysis of chemotactic reorientation and steering in fast migrating cells such asDictyosteliumand neutrophils.
Photodynamic therapy of drug-resistant human colon adenocarcinoma using verteporfin-loaded TPGS nanoparticles with tumor homing and penetrating peptide functionalization
Authors: Yang Mengshi , Jiang Di , Chen Zhilong , Chen Jun
Published: October 2016

tLyp-1-modified nanoparticles loaded with VP (t-NP) as a dual-targeting drug delivery systemviaNRP-1-mediated endocytosis and penetration.
(NH4)2SO4-assisted polycondensation of dicyandiamide for porous g-C3N4 with enhanced photocatalytic NO removal
Authors: Li Peidong , Zhang Wendong , Zhang Yuxin , Sun Yanjuan , Dong Fan
Published: October 2016

A facile (NH4)2SO4-modified polycondensation strategy was developed for thin porous g-C3N4 with highly enhanced visible light photocatalytic NO removal.
Modification of MnCo2Ox catalysts by NbOx for low temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3
Authors: Xu Tengfei , Wang Can , Wu Xiaodong , Zhao Baohuai , Chen Ze , Weng Duan
Published: October 2016

Among the NbOx modified MnCo2Ox catalysts by co-precipitation, MnCo2Nb0.5Ox presented high activity, N2 selectivity and H2O resistance for NH3-SCR reaction at low temperatures.
Reduced electrochemical performances of proton exchange membrane fuel cells due to gaseous diffusion in electrolytes
Authors: Huo Weirong , Ye Luhan , Lv Weiqiang , Niu Yinghua , Fei Jipeng , Waqas Muhammad , He Weidong
Published: October 2016

An out-of-cell device is designed to measure diffusivities in the electrolyte of PEMFCs. The critical diffusivity values of PEMs are obtained at various operation conditions. This work allows for the evaluation on PEMs before intact cell assembly.
Secondary polarization in electrorheological phenomenon
Authors: Guo Xiaosong , Yu Xiaoguang , Chen Yulu , Feng Zijia , Li Qinglin , Sun Zhenheng , Li Guicun , Hao Chuncheng , Lei Qingquan
Published: October 2016

The Schematic illustration of the distribution of the electric field between two testing parallel-plates after the formation of chainlike structure in electrorheological fluids.
A new recyclable functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 catalyst grafted with chiral Fe(iii) sites for the enantioselective aminolysis of racemic epoxides under solvent free conditions
Authors: Halder Mita , Bhanja Piyali , Roy Susmita , Ghosh Swarbhanu , Kundu Sudipta , Islam Md. Mominul , Islam Sk. Manirul
Published: October 2016

A mesoporous SBA-15 supported chiral Fe(iii)-catalyst was prepared and used for the synthesis of chiral β-amino alcohols with very good yields and enantioselectivities (ee upto 98%) under neat conditions at RT.
Copper-catalyzed N-(hetero)arylation of amino acids in water
Authors: Sharma Krishna K. , Mandloi Meenakshi , Rai Neha , Jain Rahul
Published: October 2016

A transition metal-catalyzed, environmentally benign, rapid and cost-effective method for the N-(hetero)arylation of zwitterionic amino acids in water is reported.
Improving the stability of titania nanosheets by functionalization with polyelectrolytes
Authors: Rouster Paul , Pavlovic Marko , Szilagyi Istvan
Published: October 2016

Highly stable suspensions of titanate nanosheets were designed by surface functionalization with P(AAm-co-DADMAC) copolymer.
A nitrogen–sulfur co-doped porous graphene matrix as a sulfur immobilizer for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Xu Jing , Su Dawei , Zhang Wenxue , Bao Weizhai , Wang Guoxiu
Published: October 2016

The combination of the physical adsorption of lithium polysulfides onto porous graphene and the chemical binding of polysulfides to N and S sites promotes reversible Li2S/polysulfide/S conversion, realizing high performance Li–S batteries with long cycle life and high-energy density.
Ultrafine nickel–cobalt alloy nanoparticles incorporated into three-dimensional porous graphitic carbon as an electrode material for supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Shengwen , Zhao Qian , Tong Mingyu , Zhu Xiaoguang , Wang Guozhong , Cai Weiping , Zhang Haimin , Zhao Huijun
Published: October 2016

A facile method was developed to synthesize ultrafine Ni–Co alloy nanoparticles embedded into 3D porous graphitic carbon, an excellent electrode material for supercapacitors.
Pd2Sn [010] nanorods as a highly active and stable ethanol oxidation catalyst
Authors: Luo Zhishan , Lu Jianmin , Flox Cristina , Nafria Raquel , Genç Aziz , Arbiol Jordi , Llorca Jordi , Ibáñez Maria , Morante Joan Ramon , Cabot Andreu
Published: October 2016

Pd2Sn nanorods show excellent performance and stability as anode electrocatalysts for the EOR in alkaline media.
Light-weight functional layer on a separator as a polysulfide immobilizer to enhance cycling stability for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Wu Feng , Qian Ji , Chen Renjie , Ye Yusheng , Sun Zhiguo , Xing Yi , Li Li
Published: October 2016

A light-weight boron-functionalized reduced graphene oxide layer coated on a separator to improve the cycling stability and rate performance of lithium–sulfur batteries.
Dual crosslinked hyaluronic acid nanofibrous membranes for prolonged prevention of post-surgical peritoneal adhesion
Authors: Sheu Chialin , Shalumon K. T. , Chen Chih-Hao , Kuo Chang-Yi , Fong Yi Teng , Chen Jyh-Ping
Published: October 2016

A HA NFM crosslinked with FeCl3and BDDE shows prolonged degradation to prevent peritoneal adhesion.
Qualitätsindikatoren des IQTIG: Sanktionen rücken näher
Authors: Mau Jens
Published: October 2016

Das IQTIG hat seinem Auftraggeber GBA ein Konzept für „planungsrelevante Qualitätsindikatoren“ geliefert. Im Januar 2016 sollen sie kommen. Die Krankenhausszene ist mit dem Papier ganz und gar nicht zufrieden.
Brandschutz: Mit einem rohen Ei im Hinterkopf
Authors: Thalmayr Maria
Published: October 2016

Die Teilnehmer der jüngsten Fortbildungsveranstaltung der Regionalgruppe Südbayern traten ihre Heimreise mit einem rohen Ei in der Tasche an. Mit diesem eigenwilligen Give away wollte Andreas Stangneth über seinen aufrüttelnden Vortrag hinaus daran erinnern, wie empfindlich und schützenswert die Leben von Patienten, Besuchern und Mitarbeitern im Krankenhaus sind.
Berufsbild Technikmanager im Gesundheitswesen: Echte „Leathermen“
Authors: Thalmayr Maria
Published: October 2016

Kaum jemand, der mit Krankenhaustechnik selbst nichts zu tun hat, kann ermessen, wie umfangreich, vielschichtig und gleichzeitig erfolgsrelevant dieses Aufgabenfeld ist. Ein europaweit einheitliches Berufsbild für Technikmanager im Gesundheitswesen wird dazu beitragen, die Bedeutung dieser Alleskönner für die Gesundheit an sich und die Gesundheitswirtschaft deutlicher wahrzunehmen.
Geevarughese Chacko: Der Kontakt mit alten Menschen ist Inspiration
Authors: Sickinger Nina
Published: October 2016

AUSLÄNDISCHE MITARBEITER BERICHTEN AUS DEUTSCHEN KLINIKEN 1977 kam der heute 69-jährige Geevarughese Chacko nach Deutschland, engagierte sich aber weiterhin für seine indische Heimatstadt, in der er 1985 ein Krankenhaus mitgründete und -finanzierte. Der Chefarzt der Geriatrie könnte längst Pensionär sein, doch er will erst „ab Anfang nächsten Jahres etwas weniger arbeiten …“.
Gate-tunable and thickness-dependent electronic and thermoelectric transport in few-layer MoS2
Authors: Kayyalha Morteza , Maassen Jesse , Lundstrom Mark , Shi Li , Chen Yong P.
Published: October 2016

Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in layered transition metal dichalcogenides such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Most studies so far have focused on the electronic and optoelectronic properties of single-layer MoS2, whose band structure features a direct bandgap, in sharp contrast to the indirect bandgap of thicker MoS2. In this paper, we present a systematic study of the thickness-dependent electrical and thermoelectric properties of few-layer MoS2. We observe that the electrical conductivity (σ) increases as we reduce the thickness of MoS2 and peaks at about two layers, with six-times larger conductivity than our thickest sample (23-layer MoS2). Using a back-gate voltage, we modulate the Fermi energy (EF) of the sample where an increase in the Seebeck coefficient (S) is observed with decreasing gate voltage (EF) towards the subthreshold (OFF state) of the device, reaching as large as 500  μV/K in a four-layer MoS2. While previous reports have focused on a single-layer MoS2 and measured Seebeck coefficient in the OFF state, which has vanishing electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power factor (PF=S2σ), we show that MoS2-based devices in their ON state can have PF as large as >50μWcm K2 in the two-layer sample. The PF increases with decreasing thickness and then drops abruptly from double-layer to single-layer MoS2, a feature we suggest as due to a change in the energy dependence of the electron mean-free-path according to our theoretical calculation. Moreover, we show that care must be taken in thermoelectric measurements in the OFF state to avoid obtaining erroneously large Seebeck coefficients when the channel resistance is very high. Our study paves the way towards a more comprehensive examination of the thermoelectric performance of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors.
Reaction of Ni film with In0.53Ga0.47As: Phase formation and texture
Authors: Zhiou Seifeddine , Nguyen-Thanh Tra , Rodriguez Philippe , Nemouchi Fabrice , Rapenne Laetitia , Blanc Nils , Boudet Nathalie , Gergaud Patrice
Published: October 2016

The solid-state reaction between Ni and In0.53Ga0.47As on an InP substrate was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. Due to the monocrystalline structural aspect of the so-formed intermetallic, it was necessary to measure by XRD a full 3D reciprocal space mapping in order to have a complete overlook over the crystalline structure and texture of the intermetallic. The formation of the intermetallic was studied upon several different Rapid Thermal Annealings on the as-deposited samples. Pole figures analysis shows that the intermetallic features a hexagonal structure (P63/mmc) with an NiAs-type (B8) structure. Although only one hexagonal structure is highlighted, the intermetallic exhibits two different domains characterized by different azimuthal orientations, axiotaxial relationship, and lattice parameters. The intermetallic phases seem to present a rather wide range of stoichiometry according to annealing temperature. The texture, structure, and stoichiometry of the intermetallic are discussed along with the evolution of lattice parameters of the Ni-InGaAs phase.
Structure and dynamics of binary liquid mixtures near their continuous demixing transitions
Authors: Roy Sutapa , Dietrich S. , Höfling Felix
Published: October 2016

The dynamic and static critical behavior of a family of binary Lennard-Jones liquid mixtures, close to their continuous demixing points (belonging to the so-called model H′ dynamic universality class), are studied computationally by combining semi-grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations and large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, accelerated by graphic processing units (GPU). The symmetric binary liquid mixtures considered cover a variety of densities, a wide range of compressibilities, and various interactions between the unlike particles. The static quantities studied here encompass the bulk phase diagram (including both the binodal and the λ-line), the correlation length, and the concentration susceptibility, of the finite-sized systems above the bulk critical temperature Tc, the compressibility and the pressure at Tc. Concerning the collective transport properties, we focus on the Onsager coefficient and the shear viscosity. The critical power-law singularities of these quantities are analyzed in the mixed phase (above Tc) and non-universal critical amplitudes are extracted. Two universal amplitude ratios are calculated. The first one involves static amplitudes only and agrees well with the expectations for the three-dimensional Ising universality class. The second ratio includes also dynamic critical amplitudes and is related to the Einstein–Kawasaki relation for the interdiffusion constant. Precise estimates of this amplitude ratio are difficult to obtain from MD simulations, but within the error bars our results are compatible with theoretical predictions and experimental values for model H′. Evidence is reported for an inverse proportionality of the pressure and the isothermal compressibility at the demixing transition, upon varying either the number density or the repulsion strength between unlike particles.
Sn vacancies in photorefractive Sn2P2S6 crystals: An electron paramagnetic resonance study of an optically active hole trap
Authors: Golden E. M. , Basun S. A. , Evans D. R. , Grabar A. A. , Stoika I. M. , Giles N. C. , Halliburton L. E.
Published: October 2016

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to identify the singly ionized charge state of the Sn vacancy (VSn−) in single crystals of Sn2P2S6 (often referred to as SPS). These vacancies, acting as a hole trap, are expected to be important participants in the photorefractive effect observed in undoped SPS crystals. In as-grown crystals, the Sn vacancies are doubly ionized (VSn2−) with no unpaired spins. They are then converted to a stable EPR-active state when an electron is removed (i.e., a hole is trapped) during an illumination below 100 K with 633 nm laser light. The resulting EPR spectrum has g-matrix principal values of 2.0079, 2.0231, and 1.9717. There are resolved hyperfine interactions with two P neighbors and one Sn neighbor. The isotropic portions of these hyperfine matrices are 167 and 79 MHz for the two 31P neighbors and 8504 MHz for the one Sn neighbor (this latter value is the average for 117Sn and 119Sn). These VSn− vacancies are shallow acceptors with the hole occupying a diffuse wave function that overlaps the neighboring Sn2+ ion and (P2S6)4− anionic unit. Using a general-order kinetics approach, an analysis of isothermal decay curves of the VSn− EPR spectrum in the 107–115 K region gives an activation energy of 283 meV.
Growth of ScN(111) on Sc2O3(111) for GaN integration on Si(111): Experiment and ab-initio calculations
Authors: Sana P. , Tetzner H. , Dabrowski J. , Lupina L. , Costina I. , Thapa S. B. , Storck P. , Schroeder T. , Zoellner M. H.
Published: October 2016

Growth mechanism of ScN on Sc2O3 for integration of Ga-polar GaN on Si(111) is investigated by in-situ X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, ex-situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and ab-initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The ScN films are grown by molecular beam epitaxy from e-beam evaporated Sc and N plasma. The films grow in a layer-by-layer (Frank–van der Merwe, FM) fashion. Diffusion of nitrogen into Sc2O3 and segregation of oxygen onto ScN are observed. The segregated O atoms are gradually removed from the surface by N atoms from the plasma. Experiment and theory show that nitrogen cannot be efficiently incorporated into Sc2O3 by exposing it to N plasma alone, and calculations indicate that anion intermixing between ScN and Sc2O3 should be weak. On the basis of ab-initio data, the in-diffusion of N into Sc2O3 is attributed mostly to the effect of interaction between ScN ad-dimers on the Sc2O3 surface in the initial stage of growth. The segregation of O to the ScN surface is understood as driven by the tendency to compensate build-up of the electric field in the polar ScN film. This segregation is computed to be energetically favorable (by 0.4 eV per O atom) already for a monolayer of ScN; the energy gain increases to 1.0 eV and 1.6 eV per O atom for two and three ScN layers, respectively. Finally, it is verified by DFT that the ScN deposition method in which Sc metallic film is deposited first and then nitridized would lead to strong incorporation of O into the grown film, accompanied by strong reduction of the Sc2O3 substrate.
Effects of oxidation on tensile deformation of iron nanowires: Insights from reactive molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Aral Gurcan , Wang Yun-Jiang , Ogata Shigenobu , van Duin Adri C. T.
Published: October 2016

The influence of oxidation on the mechanical properties of nanostructured metals is rarely explored and remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, in this work, we systematically investigate the mechanical properties and changes in the metallic iron (Fe) nanowires (NWs) under various atmospheric conditions of ambient dry O2 and in a vacuum. More specifically, we focus on the effect of oxide shell layer thickness over Fe NW surfaces at room temperature. We use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the variable charge ReaxFF force field potential model that dynamically handles charge variation among atoms as well as breaking and forming of the chemical bonds associated with the oxidation reaction. The ReaxFF potential model allows us to study large length scale mechanical atomistic deformation processes under the tensile strain deformation process, coupled with quantum mechanically accurate descriptions of chemical reactions. To study the influence of an oxide layer, three oxide shell layer thicknesses of ∼4.81 Å, ∼5.33 Å, and ∼6.57 Å are formed on the pure Fe NW free surfaces. It is observed that the increase in the oxide layer thickness on the Fe NW surface reduces both the yield stress and the critical strain. We further note that the tensile mechanical deformation behaviors of Fe NWs are dependent on the presence of surface oxidation, which lowers the onset of plastic deformation. Our MD simulations show that twinning is of significant importance in the mechanical behavior of the pure and oxide-coated Fe NWs; however, twin nucleation occurs at a lower strain level when Fe NWs are coated with thicker oxide layers. The increase in the oxide shell layer thickness also reduces the external stress required to initiate plastic deformation.
Highly stable solution processed metal-halide perovskite lasers on nanoimprinted distributed feedback structures
Authors: Brenner Philipp , Stulz Mareike , Kapp Dorothee , Abzieher Tobias , Paetzold Ulrich W. , Quintilla Aina , Howard Ian A. , Kalt Heinz , Lemmer Uli
Published: October 2016

We report on the performance and stability of distributed feedback lasers based on the solution-processed methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3). The CH3NH3PbI3 layers are processed via solution-casting in ambient atmosphere onto nanoimprinted second order Bragg gratings. This way, we achieve highly polarized surface-emitted lasing at room temperature with a linewidth of less than 0.2 nm and a laser threshold of 120 kW/cm2. The lasing is stable; no change in the laser emission within 15 h of pulsed excitation with a repetition rate of 1 kHz (corresponding to >5 × 107 pulses) is observed, exceeding the stability achieved for solution processed organic semiconductor lasers. Furthermore, adjustment of the grating period allowed the lasing wavelength to be varied over the entire bandwidth of the amplified spontaneous emission (between 781 and 794 nm). The fabrication process of nanoimprinting followed by solution-casting of the gain material demonstrates that stable CH3NH3PbI3 lasers are compatible with scalable production technologies and offers a route towards electrically pumped diode architectures.
The intermolecular interaction in D2 − CX4 and O2 − CX4 (X = F, Cl) systems: Molecular beam scattering experiments as a sensitive probe of the selectivity of charge transfer component
Authors: Cappelletti David , Falcinelli Stefano , Pirani Fernando
Published: October 2016

Gas phase collisions of a D2 projectile by CF4 and by CCl4 targets have been investigated with the molecular beam technique. The integral cross section, Q, has been measured for both collisional systems in the thermal energy range and oscillations due to the quantum “glory” interference have been resolved in the velocity dependence of Q. The analysis of the measured Q(v) data provided novel information on the anisotropic potential energy surfaces of the studied systems at intermediate and large separation distances. The relative role of the most relevant types of contributions to the global interaction has been characterized. Extending the phenomenology of a weak intermolecular halogen bond, the present work demonstrates that while D2 − CF4 is basically bound through the balance between size (Pauli) repulsion and dispersion attraction, an appreciable intermolecular bond stabilization by charge transfer is operative in D2 − CCl4. We also demonstrated that the present analysis is consistent with that carried out for the F(2P)–D2 and Cl(2P)–D2 systems, previously characterized by scattering experiments performed with state-selected halogen atom beams. A detailed comparison of the present and previous results on O2–CF4 and O2–CCl4 systems pinpointed striking differences in the behavior of hydrogen and oxygen molecules when they interact with the same partner, mainly due to the selectivity of the charge transfer component. The present work contributes to cast light on the nature and role of the intermolecular interaction in prototype systems, involving homo-nuclear diatoms and symmetric halogenated molecules.
Level set formulation of two-dimensional Lagrangian vortex detection methods
Authors: Hadjighasem Alireza , Haller George
Published: October 2016

We propose here the use of the variational level set methodology to capture Lagrangian vortex boundaries in 2D unsteady velocity fields. This method reformulates earlier approaches that seek material vortex boundaries as extremum solutions of variational problems. We demonstrate the performance of this technique for two different variational formulations built upon different notions of coherence. The first formulation uses an energy functional that penalizes the deviation of a closed material line from piecewise uniform stretching [Haller and Beron-Vera, J. Fluid Mech. 731, R4 (2013)]. The second energy function is derived for a graph-based approach to vortex boundary detection [Hadjighasem et al., Phys. Rev. E 93, 063107 (2016)]. Our level-set formulation captures an a priori unknown number of vortices simultaneously at relatively low computational cost. We illustrate the approach by identifying vortices from different coherence principles in several examples.
Effects of temperature dependence of electrical and thermal conductivities on the Joule heating of a one dimensional conductor
Authors: Antoulinakis F. , Chernin D. , Zhang Peng , Lau Y. Y.
Published: October 2016

We examine the effects of temperature dependence of the electrical and thermal conductivities on Joule heating of a one-dimensional conductor by solving the coupled non-linear steady state electrical and thermal conduction equations. The spatial temperature distribution and the maximum temperature and its location within the conductor are evaluated for four cases: (i) constant electrical conductivity and linear temperature dependence of thermal conductivity, (ii) linear temperature dependence of both electrical and thermal conductivities, (iii) the Wiedemann–Franz relation for metals, and (iv) polynomial fits to measured data for carbon nanotube fibers and for copper. For (i) and (ii), it is found that there are conditions under which no steady state solution exists, which may indicate the possibility of thermal runaway. For (i), analytical solutions are constructed, from which explicit expressions for the parameter bounds for the existence of steady state solutions are obtained. The shifting of these bounds due to the introduction of linear temperature dependence of electrical conductivity (case (ii)) is studied numerically. These results may provide guidance in the design of circuits and devices in which the effects of coupled thermal and electrical conduction are important.
Investigation of the thermal stability of Mo-In0.45Ga0.47As for applications as source/drain contacts
Authors: Walsh Lee A. , Weiland Conan , McCoy Anthony P. , Woicik Joseph C. , Lee Rinus T. P. , Lysaght Pat , Hughes Greg
Published: October 2016

The electrical and chemical stability of Mo-InGaAs films for source-drain applications in transistor structures has been investigated. It was found that for 5 nm thick Mo films, the sheet resistance remains approximately constant with increasing anneal temperatures up to 500 °C. A combined hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of the chemical structure of the Mo-InGaAs alloy system as a function of annealing temperature showed that the interface is chemically abrupt with no evidence of inter-diffusion between the Mo and InGaAs layers. These results indicate the suitability of Mo as a thermally stable, low resistance source-drain contact metal for InGaAs-channel devices.
Thermodiffusion, molecular diffusion and Soret coefficients of aromatic+n-alkane binary mixtures
Authors: Larrañaga Miren , Bou-Ali M. Mounir , Lapeira Estela , Lizarraga Ion , Santamaría Carlos
Published: October 2016

In the present work, we have measured the thermodiffusion coefficient of 51 binary liquid mixtures at 25 oC. These mixtures correspond to the series of the aromatics toluene and 1-methylnaphthalene with n-alkanes nCi (i = 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14) at different mass fractions in the whole range. For that, we have used the thermogravitational technique. It is shown that the thermodiffusion coefficient is a linear function of the mass fraction in all the mixtures. Extrapolating the lines, we obtain the thermodiffusion coefficient in dilute solutions of n-alkanes for both toluene and 1-methylnaphthalene. These limiting values show a linear dependence with the inverse of the product of the molecular weights. In addition, we have measured the molecular diffusion coefficient of all the mixtures at 0.5 of mass fraction and at 25 oC, by the sliding symmetric tubes technique. It is observed that the product of this coefficient with the viscosity at the same concentrations takes a constant value for each of the series considered. Finally, we have also determined the Soret coefficient of the equimass mixtures by the combination of the measurements of thermodiffusion and molecular diffusion coefficients.
Communication: Thermal unimolecular decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO: A kinetic study
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Lam , McCaslin Laura , McCarthy Michael C. , Stanton John F.
Published: October 2016

The thermal decomposition of syn-ethanal-oxide (syn-CH3CHOO) through vinyl hydrogen peroxide (VHP) leading to hydroxyl radical is characterized using a modification of the HEAT thermochemical protocol. The isomerization step of syn-CH3CHOO to VHP via a 1,4 H-shift, which involves a moderate barrier of 72 kJ/mol, is found to be rate determining. A two-dimensional master equation approach, in combination with semi-classical transition state theory, is employed to calculate the time evolution of various species as well as to obtain phenomenological rate coefficients. This work suggests that, under boundary layer conditions in the atmosphere, thermal unimolecular decomposition is the most important sink of syn-CH3CHOO. Thus, the title reaction should be included into atmospheric modeling. The fate of cold VHP, the intermediate stabilized by collisions with a third body, has also been investigated.
Vector variational problem with knitting boundary conditions
Authors: Carita Graça , Goncharov Vladimir , Smirnov Georgi
Published: October 2016

We consider a variational problem with a polyconvex integrand and nonstandard boundary conditions that can be treated as minimization of the strain energy during the suturing process in plastic surgery. Existence of minimizers is proved and necessary optimality conditions are discussed.
Global Production with Export Platforms*
Authors: Tintelnot Felix
Published: October 2016

Most international commerce is carried out by multinational firms, which use their foreign affiliates both to serve the market of the host country and to export to other markets outside the host country. In this article, I examine the determinants of multinational firms’ location and production decisions and the welfare implications of multinational production. The few existing quantitative general equilibrium models that incorporate multinational firms achieve tractability by assuming away export platforms—that is, they do not allow foreign affiliates of multinationals to export—or by ignoring fixed costs associated with foreign investment. I develop a quantifiable multicountry general equilibrium model, which tractably handles multinational firms that engage in export platform sales and that face fixed costs of foreign investment. I first estimate the model using German firm-level data to uncover the size and nature of costs of multinational enterprise and show that the fixed costs of foreign investment are large. Second, I calibrate the model to data on trade and multinational production for twelve European and North American countries. Counterfactual analysis reveals that multinationals play an important role in transmitting technological improvements to foreign countries and that the pending Canada-EU trade and investment agreement could divert a sizable fraction of the production of EU multinationals from the U.S. to Canada.
An overview on safety of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Matucci Andrea , Nencini Francesca , Pratesi Sara , Maggi Enrico , Vultaggio Alessandra
Published: October 2016

Purpose of review

Biological agents have been a treatment option for many chronic immune-mediated diseases as well as oncological conditions. The issue of infusion reactions is of particular importance and at least in some cases related to the immunogenicity of these drugs with the production of antidrug antibodies. Infectious diseases are a well described side-effect of certain biological agents, even if, at least regarding the biological agents used for the treatment of allergic diseases and immune-mediated diseases, the risk has been reduced. Biological agents clearly impact the physiological functions of the immune system also those connected to immunosurveillance against cancers. This review discusses the safety profile to the main biological agents currently in use in allergic and chronic immune-mediated diseases.

Recent findings

By reducing chronic inflammation in immune-mediated diseases, biological agents decrease mortality, cardiovascular events without increasing significantly the risk of cancer. In addition, specific clinical procedure enables the identification of potentially reactive patients and the prevention of acute severe reactions. Overall, the ratio between therapeutic and side-effects is clearly in favor of the former.

The safety profile of biological agents is, just as much as their efficacy, one of the fundamental criteria justifying their clinical broad use.
Breast cancer risk is increased in the years following false-positive breast cancer screening
Authors: Goossens Mathijs C. , De Brabander Isabel , De Greve Jacques , Vaes Evelien , Van Ongeval Chantal , Van Herck Koen , Kellen Eliane
Published: October 2016

A small number of studies have investigated breast cancer (BC) risk among women with a history of false-positive recall (FPR) in BC screening, but none of them has used time-to-event analysis while at the same time quantifying the effect of false-negative diagnostic assessment (FNDA). FNDA occurs when screening detects BC, but this BC is missed on diagnostic assessment (DA). As a result of FNDA, screenings that detected cancer are incorrectly classified as FPR. Our study linked data recorded in the Flemish BC screening program (women aged 50–69 years) to data from the national cancer registry. We used Cox proportional hazards models on a retrospective cohort of 298 738 women to assess the association between FPR and subsequent BC, while adjusting for potential confounders. The mean follow-up was 6.9 years. Compared with women without recall, women with a history of FPR were at an increased risk of developing BC [hazard ratio=2.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.92–2.31)]. However, 22% of BC after FPR was due to FNDA. The hazard ratio dropped to 1.69 (95% confidence interval: 1.52–1.87) when FNDA was excluded. Women with FPR have a subsequently increased BC risk compared with women without recall. The risk is higher for women who have a FPR BI-RADS 4 or 5 compared with FPR BI-RADS 3. There is room for improvement of diagnostic assessment: 41% of the excess risk is explained by FNDA after baseline screening.
Massachusetts Healthcare Reform and Trends in Emergent Colon Resection
Authors: Eskander Mariam F. , Bliss Lindsay A. , McCarthy Ellen P. , de Geus Susanna W. L. , Chau Ng Sing , Nagle Deborah , Rodrigue James R. , Tseng Jennifer F.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND:

Insurance impacts access to therapeutic options, yet little is known about how healthcare reform might change the pattern of surgical admissions.

OBJECTIVE:

We compared rates of emergent admissions and outcomes after colectomy before and after reform in Massachusetts with a nationwide control group.

DESIGN:

This study is a retrospective cohort analysis in a natural experiment. Prereform was defined as hospital discharge from 2002 through the second quarter of 2006 and postreform from the third quarter of 2006 through 2012. Categorical variables were compared by χ2. Piecewise functions were used to test the effect of healthcare reform on the rate of emergent surgeries.

SETTINGS:

The study included acute care hospitals in the Massachusetts Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (2002–2012) and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2011).

PATIENTS:

Patients aged 18 to 64 years with public or no insurance who underwent inpatient colectomy (via International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedural code) were included and patients with Medicare were excluded.

INTERVENTION:

Massachusetts health care reform was the study intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

We measured the rate of emergent colectomy, complications, and mortality.

RESULTS:

The unadjusted rate of emergent colectomies was lower in Massachusetts after reform but did not change nationally over the same time period. For emergent surgeries in Massachusetts, a piecewise model with an inflection point (peak) in the third quarter of 2006, coinciding with implementation of healthcare reform in Massachusetts, had a lower mean squared error than a linear model. In comparison, the national rate of emergent surgeries demonstrated no change in pattern. Postreform, length of stay decreased by 1 day in Massachusetts; however, there were no significant improvements in other outcomes.

LIMITATIONS:

The study was limited by its retrospective design and unadjusted analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was a unique and sustained decline in the rate of emergent colon resection among publically insured and uninsured patients after 2006 in Massachusetts, in contradistinction to the national pattern, suggesting improved access to care associated with health insurance expansion. The reasons for lack of improvement in outcomes are multifactorial.
Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Limoges-Gonzalez Michele , Al-Juburi Amar
Published: October 2016

Anal squamous cell cancer (SCC) is a relatively uncommon cancer in the United States. Anal SCC has long been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity and/or men who have sex with men. The incidence of anal SCC has been increasing in both genders regardless of HIV status. Few clinicians are aware that white women, when not controlling for gender and sexual preference together, have the highest incidence of anal SCC. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), dysplastic cells of the anal canal due to human papilloma virus infection, is believed to be the precursor to anal SCC. A vaccination has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of high-risk human papilloma virus infections in presexually active girls and boys. Currently, there are no consensus guidelines for AIN screening, treatment or follow-up. Although anal SCC is treatable when caught early, treatment is often associated with significant morbidity. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of anal SCC and its precursor, AIN, in the non-HIV+ and non-MSM populations, and discuss means by which to decrease the incidence of anal SCC in all populations.
Screening for Psychosocial and Family Risk in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders
Authors: Cunningham Carin , Cho Elise , Shaffer Michele L. , Bradford Miranda C. , Palermo Tonya
Published: October 2016

Objectives:

Screening for psychosocial comorbidity is recommended for pediatric patients presenting at an initial gastroenterology (GI) outpatient consultation. We developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the GI Screener to address the need for a screening tool specific to pediatric GI patients.

Methods:

128 patients (8–18 years old, 63% female) and 126 parents completed age‐specific versions of the GI Screener and 3 validated psychosocial comparison instruments (The Behavioral Assessment System for Children, The Functional Disability Inventory, The General Functioning scale of the Family Assessment Device) at their initial GI consultation. (30%) of families repeated the measures 2 weeks later. We identified GI Screener content domains and retained items using exploratory factor analysis. We evaluated internal consistency, construct validity, cross‐informant reliability, and test‐retest reliability of the trimmed measures.

Results:

Exploratory factor analysis identified 2 factors in both the parent and child scales: Symptom Impact and Emotional Functioning. Internal consistency estimates for the trimmed scales were good (Cronbach's alpha >0.75) for both Child and Parent scales. We found that the GI Screener for both patient and parents had good construct validity. Cross‐informant reliability between Parent and Child scales at baseline had an estimated correlation of 0.56, while intra class correlation coefficients between baseline and 2‐week scores showed high test‐retest reliability (>0.7).

Conclusions:

The GI Screener is a brief, valid and reliable measure that can aid in identifying families who are at high risk for psychosocial comorbidity facilitating the targeted delivery of psychosocial intervention and efficient use of health care resources.
MicroRNA-210, MicroRNA-331, and MicroRNA-7 Are Differentially Regulated in Treated HIV-1–Infected Individuals and Are Associated With Markers of Systemic Inflammation
Authors: Ballegaard Vibe , Ralfkiaer Ulrik , Pedersen Karin K. , Hove Malene , Koplev Simon , Brændstrup Peter , Ryder Lars P. , Madsen Hans O. , Gerstoft Jan , Grønbæk Kirsten , Nielsen Susanne D.
Published: October 2016

Objective:

Inflammation may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HIV-1 infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of inflammation. In treated HIV-1–infected individuals, we aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs with known roles in inflammation and CVD risk and to investigate associations between these and systemic inflammation.

Methods:

In a screening cohort including 14 HIV-1–infected individuals and 9 uninfected controls, microarray profiling was performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Differentially regulated miRNAs previously related to inflammation and CVD were validated using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in 26 HIV-1–infected individuals and 20 uninfected controls. Validated miRNAs were measured in PBMCs, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G, lipids, and fasting glucose were measured, and associations with validated miRNAs were assessed with multiple linear regression analysis.

Results:

Upregulation of miR-210, miR-7, and miR-331 was found in PBMCs from HIV-1–infected individuals when compared with those from uninfected controls (P < 0.005). In contrast, miR-210 and miR-331 were downregulated in CD8+ T cells. In multivariate analysis, miR-210 in CD8+ T cells was negatively associated with LPS (P = 0.023) and triglycerides (P = 0.003) but positively associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P = 0.004). MiR-7 in PBMC was positively associated with interleukin-6 (P = 0.025) and fasting glucose (P = 0.005), whereas miR-331 was negatively associated with LPS (P = 0.006). In PBMCs from HIV-1–infected individuals with low cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G, miR-7, miR-29a, miR-221, and miR-222 were downregulated.

Conclusion:

In 2 independent cohorts, miR-210, miR-7, and miR-331 were differentially regulated in treated HIV-1–infected individuals and associated with markers of systemic inflammation.