bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency‐dependent empirical modeling for intrinsic output capacitance and conductance of HR PD‐SOI MOSFETs
Authors: Lee Changjo , Lee Seonghearn
Published: December 2018

A high resistivity PD‐SOI MOSFET equivalent circuit model including a parallel connection of intrinsic output capacitance and conductance with frequency‐dependent empirical equations is newly proposed to accurately simulate their abrupt change in the low‐frequency region. This new empirical model is superior to a conventional RC one, because equivalent circuit structure and parameter extraction process are simpler. Better agreements with measured Y22‐parameter are obtained for the new model than the conventional one.
Design of a multiband ground radiation antenna by utilizing balun excitation
Authors: Wang Chien‐Jen , Hsu Chia‐Wei
Published: December 2018

The design and performance of a triple‐band ground radiation antenna with a compact balun are shown in this paper. A microstrip balun is integrated with a modified rectangular ground plane has provided wideband frequency characteristics. With the help of the theory of the characteristic mode, the resonance phenomenon of the rectangular ground plane is analyzed. An eight‐like‐loop slit is embedded in the ground plane to excite multiple resonant modes. In, addition, by etching two rectangular slots at two terminals of the eight‐like‐loop slit, the capacitance of the ground‐plane resonator decreases such that the impedance‐matching condition in the upper‐frequency band can be improved. Finally, a triple‐band frequency performance is derived by embedding a simple matching circuit. The proposed antenna achieves the measured impedance bandwidths from 1.02 to 1.06, from 1.35 to 1.62, and from 1.96 to 2.55 GHz. The simulated current distributions of a ground‐plane prototype are also experimentally verified.
Design guidelines for helicone antennas with improved gain
Authors: Sadeghikia Fatemeh , Horestani Ali K.
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study is to present guidelines to design a helicone antenna (helix with conical ground conductor) with an optimum gain while keeping the physical size of the antenna as small as possible. To this end, variations of the antenna gain with the dimensions of the conical ground, including its inner diameter, height, and angle, are numerically computed, and guidelines for accelerating the design and optimization of the antenna are extracted. Note that, in most of applications, a trade‐off between physical compactness and performance of an antenna has to be made. Thus, in this investigation, the guidelines are developed with the aim of achieving a compromise between the maximum radiation gain and minimum physical dimensions. It is shown that following the proposed design guidelines the gain of a helical antenna can be increased up to 5 dB, while the antenna has an acceptable physical size.
Accuracy improvement of micro‐electro‐mechanical system microwave power sensor based on self‐reference algorithm
Authors: Li Chenglin , Liao Xiaoping , Chen Chen
Published: December 2018

This article presents a self‐reference algorithm to improve the accuracy of micro‐electro‐mechanical system thermoelectric microwave power sensor (5‐15 GHz). The output thermovoltage of the sensor is not only a function of the input signal power, but also relates to the signal frequency, resulting in low accuracy of the sensor. In this article, a mathematical model is established for the sensor to analyze the reasons for frequency dependence. Moreover, an algorithm is derived from analyzing the characteristics of the model and the experimental results. The algorithm relieves the dependence on the thermovoltage and frequency. Experiments show that the relative error of the sensor based on the proposed self‐reference algorithm decreases from 22% to 1.6%, and the SD is smaller than 0.4 mW. This self‐reference algorithm plays critical role in the practical application of microwave power sensors.
Design and characterization of the double‐layered defected ground structure transmission line with less radiation loss
Authors: Han Sang‐Min , Kim Jung Ouk , Yoon Won‐Sang , Lim Jongsik , Ahn Dal
Published: December 2018

A double‐layered DGS transmission line is proposed with a smaller DGS size and less radiation loss. Changing the air boundary to a dielectric boundary reduces the effective electric length at the DGS aperture area. An equivalent circuit model is introduced to analyze the DGS transmission line and the resonator circuit designs. Due to the increase in the effective dielectric constant, the proposed structure can be realized with less sensitivity to metallic environments. From the experimental results, the proposed double‐layered DGS can achieve a reduction of 90.1% in size and insensitivity at up to 5 mm of separation from the DGS aperture to the metallic plate.
An electric field controlled dual resonator magneto‐electric band‐stop filter
Authors: Popov Maksym A. , Zavislyak Igor V. , Zhou Peng , Li Tianqian , Shah Piyush J. , Howe Brandon M. , McConney Micheal E. , Srinivasan Gopalan , Page Micheal R.
Published: December 2018

A band‐stop filter with dual resonators of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) operating in the S‐ and C‐bands was designed and characterized. Such multiferroic composite resonators allow for mechanical strain mediated control of the ferromagnetic resonance frequency of YIG via a DC voltage applied to PZT. The electric field E‐tuning of the central frequency of the individual resonators by 65‐70 MHz has been utilized for the control of the isolation characteristics by 17 dB and to achieve a maximum transmission loss of 37 dB. The 3 dB‐width of the stop‐band can also be tuned between 40 and 100% when a DC voltage is applied to only one of the two resonators. Such E‐tuning of filter characteristics are of interest for applications in communication systems.
Wrapped ultra‐wide band radar sensor based on resistively loaded bow‐tie antenna for near zone sensing applications
Authors: Lee Doojin , Melek William , Shaker George
Published: December 2018

This article presents the pulse radiating and imaging performances of a wrapped resistively loaded bow‐tie antenna (WRLBA) which has a reduced aperture size for utilizing near zone sensing applications. The pulse radiating performances of the WRLBA are investigated and evaluated by comparing to those of the nonloaded wrapped bow‐tie antenna (WBA). The calculated fidelity factor and evaluation factor (EF) of the WRLBA on the boresight direction are 0.97 and 0.07, respectively. The monostatic radar experiment has been shown that two copper targets with a radius of 2 cm are reconstructed at 15 and 20 cm, respectively. Based on the evaluation of the pulse radiating performances and imaging experiment, the proposed WRLBA is a suitable candidate for imaging applications in the vicinity of the targets.
A magnetic‐loop based monopole antenna for GPR applications
Authors: Raza Ali , Lin Wenbin , Liu Yunlin , Sharif Abu Bakar , Chen Yanzheng , Ma Cunliang
Published: December 2018

A new planar antenna is proposed for multiple applications in ground‐penetrating radar. The proposed antenna offers ultra‐wide band characteristics ranging from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The antenna composed of two elements: an electrical tree‐shaped portion and a magnetic loop antenna, made by joining an electrical antenna with a ground plane via 50 Ohm resistor. The loop antenna portion provides a low‐frequency operation without increasing physical size of the antenna. Proposed antenna has relatively small dimensions 20 × 22.5 cm2 as compared with similar antennas covering the same bandwidth. Time domain analysis of this antenna is done to check its performance for applications in impulse‐based radar systems. The antenna has been manufactured and experimental results are added to validate simulation results.
A 3.5 GHz low insertion loss variation CMOS phase shifter
Authors: Tsai Jeng‐Han , Lin Yu‐Hui , Hung Chuan‐Chi
Published: December 2018

A 3.5 GHz low insertion loss variation phase shifter has been designed and fabricated on standard 0.18‐μm CMOS process. To achieve over 360° continuously phase tuning range, the phase shifter consists of a switch type phase shifter (STPS) and a reflection type phase shifter (RTPS). The phase‐invertible variable attenuator (PIVA) topology which can provide two states with 180° phase‐shift while maintaining low amplitude imbalance is adopted. The RTPS provides over 189° continuously phase tuning. The experimental results show that the 3.5 GHz phase shifter demonstrates over 360° continuously phase tuning range with low insertion loss variation of 1 dB at 3.5 GHz. The maximum insertion loss is 13.5 dB at 3.5 GHz and the dc consumption is zero. The chip size is 1.08 mm × 0.82 mm.
Bandwidth enhancing method using tri‐ring resonator metamaterial for small devices
Authors: Tamrakar Maruti , Usha Kiran K.
Published: December 2018

Metamaterials are composite structures of the specific behavior for electromagnetic properties of permittivity, permeability, and refraction, which are not commonly found in regular materials. Metamaterial structure, which has negative value of permittivity and permeability that shows passband response in transmission line, where as if any of these two properties has opposite polarity then it shows stopband response. These behaviors of metamaterial are frequency dependent and have resonance for particular frequencies. At frequency resonance, the traditional metamaterials have narrow band response and to improve its frequency bandwidth, a method using tri‐ring resonator is proposed with increasing number of order of resonator. The proposed metamaterial structure is simulated in fullwave simulator and MATLAB tool is used to analyze the properties of metamaterial structure from simulated S‐parameter. Proposed technique gives flexibility to use the design for multiple application like, rejection filter for Bluetooth 2.4 GHz, Wi‐Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), WiMAX (2.5 and 3.4 GHz), and 5G (3.4‐3.8 GHz).
Upregulation of long noncoding RNA TUG1 by EGR1 promotes adenomyotic epithelial cell migration and invasion through recruiting EZH2 and suppressing TIMP2
Authors: Shi Beibei , Tu Hongxiang , Sha Lixiao , Luo Xishao , Wu Wenlie , Su Ying , Yang Simeng , Wang Hanchu
Published: December 2018

Emerging studies showed that lncRNA taurine upregulated 1 (TUG1) plays important roles in diverse biological processes. However, there is no previously published research reporting the regulatory role of lncRNAs in the progression of adenomyosis. In the present study, we found that TUG1 is upregulated in human adenomyosis, and the overexpression of TUG1 is associated with the transcription factor early growth response 1 (EGR1). Functionally, the knockdown of TUG1 inhibited adenomyotic epithelial cell migration and invasion but not growth. The mechanistic experiments demonstrated that the function of TUG1 in adenomyotic epithelial cell invasion is, at least in part, through recruiting the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) to the promoter of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) and negatively regulating its expression. Our study demonstrated that TUG1 promotes the migration and invasion of human adenomyotic epithelial cells, and EGR1/TUG1/EZH2/TIMP2 may be a potential therapeutic target for adenomyosis.
Finite‐horizon Markov population decision chains with constant risk posture
Authors: White Amanda M. , Canbolat Pelin G.
Published: December 2018

A Markov population decision chain concerns the control of a population of individuals in different states by assigning an action to each individual in the system in each period. This article solves the problem of finding policies that maximize expected system utility over a finite horizon in Markov population decision chains with finite state‐action space under the following assumptions: (1) The utility function exhibits constant risk posture, (2) the progeny vectors of distinct individuals are independent, and (3) the progeny vectors of individuals in a state who take the same action are identically distributed. The main result is that it is possible to solve the problem with the original state‐action space without augmenting it to include information about the population in each state or any other aspect of the system history. In particular, there exists an optimal policy that assigns the same action to all individuals in a given state and period, independently of the population in that period and such a policy can be computed efficiently. The optimal utility operators that find the maximum of a finite collection of polynomials (rather than affine functions) yield an optimal solution with effort linear in the number of periods. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 65: 580–593, 2018
A novel use of value iteration for deriving bounds for threshold and switching curve optimal policies
Authors: Ertiningsih Dwi , Bhulai Sandjai , Spieksma Flora
Published: December 2018

In this article, we develop a novel role for the initial function v0 in the value iteration algorithm. In case the optimal policy of a countable state Markovian queueing control problem has a threshold or switching curve structure, we conjecture, that one can tune the choice of v0 to generate monotonic sequences of n‐stage threshold or switching curve optimal policies. We will show this for three queueing control models, the M/M/1 queue with admission and with service control, and the two‐competing queues model with quadratic holding cost. As a consequence, we obtain increasingly tighter upper and lower bounds. After a finite number of iterations, either the optimal threshold, or the optimal switching curve values in a finite number of states is available. This procedure can be used to increase numerical efficiency.
New advances in the mathematical modeling of the continuous bulk process for the production of high‐impact polystyrene using multifunctional initiators
Authors: Laganá María L. , Berkenwald Emilio , Acuña Pablo , Enríquez Medrano Javier , Morales Graciela , Estenoz Diana
Published: December 2018

New advances in the mathematical modeling of the bulk continuous high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) process are presented. The model consists of three modules that allow the simulation of: (1) a polymerization reactor train, (2) a devolatilization (DV) stage, and (3) structure–properties relationships. The model is based on a kinetic mechanism that includes thermal initiation, chemical initiation by sequential decomposition of a multifunctional initiator, propagation, transfer to monomer, transfer to rubber, termination by combination and re‐initiation, as well as high temperature crosslinking and oligomer generation reactions. The present model is comprehensive from a kinetic perspective, since it can be used to simulate a HIPS process using initiators of any functionality and structure. The model is adjusted and validated using previously unpublished experimental data for bulk continuous HIPS polymerization in a pilot‐scale plant. The experimental work includes a series of polymerizations using three different multifunctional initiators: (1) luperox‐331 M80 (L331), (2) pinacolone diperoxide, and (3) diethyl ketone triperoxide. The pilot plant comprised the main stages of an industrial HIPS process: prepolymerization, finishing and DV. Theoretical results show a good agreement with the experimental measurements. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E231–E246, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Interfacial crosslinking of self‐assembled triblock copolymer nanoparticles via alkoxysilane hydrolysis and condensation
Authors: Teo Guo Hui , Zetterlund Per B. , Thickett Stuart C.
Published: December 2018

The use of amphiphilic triblock copolymers bearing a reactive alkoxysilane middle block as polymeric stabilizers is reported in this work. A series of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate‐b‐(3‐trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate‐b‐benzyl methacrylate (PEGMA‐b‐MPS‐b‐BzMA) triblock copolymers were prepared by RAFT solution polymerization and polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA), respectively, where the various block lengths and overall composition were varied. The copolymers prepared by solution polymerization were employed as oil‐in‐water stabilizers where upon application of a catalyst, the 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS) block at the droplet interface was crosslinked to yield capsule‐like structures. The effectiveness of interfacial crosslinking was validated by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. In situ self‐assembly by the PISA method resulted in spherical nanoparticles of controllable size that were readily crosslinked by addition of base, with significant enhancement of colloidal stability. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1897–1907
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor attenuates chronic ischemia‐induced prostatic hyperplasia in a rat model
Authors: Fujii Shinji , Yamashita Shinichi , Hayashi Natsuho , Goto Takuro , Koyama Juntaro , Sato Takuma , Shimada Shuichi , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Izumi Hideaki , Kawamorita Naoki , Mitsuzuka Koji , Ito Akihiro , Arai Yoichi
Published: December 2018

Background

Many elderly men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Recently, chronic ischemia in the prostate has been suggested to be related to BPH. Thus, the impact of chronic ischemia on the development of prostatic hyperplasia and the efficacy of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor for hyperplasia were evaluated in a rat model with chronic ischemia induced by local atherosclerosis.

Methods

Eighteen male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham operation, regular diet, placebo (SRP); arterial endothelial injury, high cholesterol diet, placebo (AHP); or arterial endothelial injury, high cholesterol diet, and tadalafil as a PDE5 inhibitor (AHT). The endothelial injury in the common iliac arteries was performed using a 2‐Fr Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter through an incision in the femoral artery into the common iliac artery. Diet and oral drugs were administrated for 8 weeks after surgery. At 8 weeks, blood flow to the ventral prostate (VP) was measured using laser speckle blood flow analysis, and the VP was histologically evaluated.

Results

In the AHP group, prostatic blood flow was reduced, and mean VP weight and the interstitial area were significantly enlarged compared with the SRP group. In the AHT group, tadalafil administration obviously ameliorated the reduction of prostatic blood flow relative to the AHP group. Importantly, mean VP weight and the morphological changes in the AHT group were significantly smaller than those in the AHP group.

Conclusions

Enlargement of the VP resulted from chronic ischemia induced by local arteriosclerosis. Also, administration of tadalafil attenuated VP enlargement. Chronic ischemia in the prostate might thus contribute to the development of BPH, and PDE5 inhibitors might provide an innovative approach to preventing BPH.
Animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome: A review of hormone‐induced rodent models focused on hypothalamus‐pituitary‐ovary axis and neuropeptides
Authors: Osuka Satoko , Nakanishi Natsuki , Murase Tomohiko , Nakamura Tomoko , Goto Maki , Iwase Akira , Kikkawa Fumitaka
Published: December 2018

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and a major cause of infertility; however, the pathophysiology of this syndrome is not fully understood. This can be addressed using appropriate animal models of PCOS. In this review, we describe rodent models of hormone‐induced PCOS that focus on the perturbation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovary (HPO) axis and abnormalities in neuropeptide levels.

Methods

Comparison of rodent models of hormone‐induced PCOS.

Main findings

The main method used to generate rodent models of PCOS was subcutaneous injection or implantation of androgens, estrogens, antiprogestin, or aromatase inhibitor. Androgens were administered to animals pre‐ or postnatally. Alterations in the levels of kisspeptin and related molecules have been reported in these models.

Conclusion

The most appropriate model for the research objective and hypothesis should be established. Dysregulation of the HPO axis followed by elevated serum luteinizing hormone levels, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic disturbance contribute to the complex etiology of PCOS. These phenotypes of the human disease are recapitulated in hormone‐induced PCOS models. Thus, evidence from animal models can help to clarify the pathophysiology of PCOS.
Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters: A Tertiary Centre Perspective and Quality Assurance Study
Authors: Hamidizadeh Ramin , Liu David , Khosa Faisal , Chung John , Klass Darren , Homayoon Behrang
Published: December 2018

Purpose

To conduct a retrospective review and quality assurance study of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval over a two-year period at a tertiary care centre.

Methods

Patients who underwent IVC filter placement or retrieval over a two-year period were identified. Medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, filter indication, time to filter retrieval, and complications.

Results

IVC filters were placed in 229 patients between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. 113 retrievals were attempted and 101 filters were successfully retrieved (89.4%). Median time to first retrieval attempt was 48 days (range of 5–728). Seventy-one patients died in the interval after filter insertion before a retrieval attempt at a median time of 27 days (range of 3–430). In 17 patients, retrieval was complicated by or delayed because of penetration of IVC wall (n = 6), large thrombus burden trapped by filter (n = 5), filter tilt or migration (n = 3), and unclear reasons (n = 3). Time-to-first unsuccessful retrieval attempt was 141 days (median). Of all filters placed, 55.9% were never retrieved. Excluding deceased patients with in-situ filters (n = 71) and unsuccessful retrievals left in-situ as permanent filters (n = 5), there remains 52 patients (33%), with a median filter in-situ time of 488 days.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that as many as 33% of patients may have been lost to follow-up of their in-situ IVC filter. Considering widespread reports of long-term complications and the recent safety alert issued by Health Canada, it is evident that a unified strategy is needed to track patients post filter insertion.
Effect of Patient Characteristics on Vessel Enhancement in Pediatric Chest Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Masuda Takanori , Nakaura Takeshi , Funama Yoshinori , Sato Tomoyasu , Nitta Tetsuya , Higaki Toru , Baba Yasutaka , Matsumoto Yoriaki , Imada Naoyuki , Awai Kazuo
Published: December 2018

Introduction

To evaluate the effect of sex, age, height, cardiac output (CO), total body weight (TBW), body surface area (BSA), and lean body weight (LBW) on vessel enhancement of the ascending aorta in pediatric chest computed tomography angiography (c-CTA).

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study received institutional review board approval; parental prior informed consent for inclusion was obtained for all patients. All 50 patients were examined using our routine protocol; iodine (600 mg/kg) was the contrast medium (CM). Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced scans were obtained. We calculated the CM volume per vessel enhancement and performed univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis of the relationship between CM volume per vessel enhancement and each of the body parameters.

Results

All patient characteristics were significantly related to CM volume per vessel enhancement ( P < .05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between CM volume per vessel enhancement and TBW, BSA, and LBW, but not the patient sex, age, CO, and height. The LBW model for CM volume per vessel enhancement yielded the highest determination coefficient (R2 = .913) and the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (400.324).

Conclusions

Our findings support the delivery of an iodine dose adjusted to the LBW at c-CTA.
Cochlear duct length along the outer wall vs organ of corti: Which one is relevant for the electrode array length selection and frequency mapping using Greenwood function?
Authors: Dhanasingh Anandhan
Published: December 2018

Cochlear duct length (CDL) measurement or estimation is a hot topic for various research groups in the cochlear implant (CI) field as of today. Getting the CDL along the outer wall (LW) and organ of corti (OC) is possible but considering the clinical application especially in the selection of the electrode array length and applying Greenwood's frequency function, we need to have a clear understanding on the CDL in general and as well on the Greenwood's frequency function. It is very clear from the histology images of the cochlea with straight electrode inside, that the electrode locates itself right under the basilar membrane. Also the Greenwood's frequency function involves a variable that corresponds to the CDL at the basilar membrane/organ of corti level. This brings us to conclude that the CDL at the OC is relevant for the selection of electrode array length and in applying Greenwood's frequency function. The ratio between CDL (LW) and CDL (OC) is 0.9 which is a very important number that needs to be remembered when converting CDL (LW) to CDL (OC).
Remote Sensing Leads to Better Understanding of Polar Regions
Authors: Grosse Guido , Jones Benjamin
Published: December 2018

Fifteenth International Circumpolar Remote Sensing Symposium; Potsdam, Germany, 10–14 September 2018
The Fate of Root Carbon in Soil: Data and Model Gaps
Authors: Malhotra Avni , Sihi Debjani , Iversen Colleen
Published: December 2018

Root Trait and Soil Carbon Workshop; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 31 July to 1 August 2018
Reflections on the Legacy of Grove Karl Gilbert, 1843–1918
Authors: Anderson Robert
Published: December 2018

In the company of other explorers as passionate as he was about geomorphology, Gilbert derived one fundamental geological insight after another from the landscapes of the American West.
Captivating Geoscience Videos of 2018
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: December 2018

As the year comes to a close, look back on interesting Earth and planetary science phenomena captured on camera.
New Horizons Spacecraft to Reach Farthest Body in Solar System Yet
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: December 2018

The flyby of Ultima Thule on New Year’s Day will give us our first glimpse of a mysterious Kuiper Belt object.
Extended Spectral Analysis of Tidal Variability in the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Devlin Adam T. , Pan Jiayi , Lin Hui
Published: December 2018

Ocean tides have experienced large‐scale changes over the past century, in concert with regionally variable global mean sea level (MSL) rise. Additionally, there can be coherencies between MSL and tidal fluctuations that are active at shorter time scales. This combination of water level variabilities may enhance the probabilities of exceeding flood levels under high‐tide events, leading to increased frequency of short‐term coastal inundation and nuisance flooding. Previous studies have established the tidal anomaly correlation (TAC) method to analyze covariability of individual tidal components and MSL in the Pacific Ocean, as well as their combination as a proxy for the change in the highest astronomical tide (δ‐HAT). Here we extend this methodology to new regions and perform analyses of 170 tide gauges in the North Atlantic Ocean, considering the eight largest gravitational tides and seven overtides. Results indicate that nearly all gauges (95%) exhibit strong individual TACs in one or more tidal constituents, and over half show significant δ‐HATs, with a near‐equal occurrence of positive and negative tendencies. The most coherent connections of tides and MSL were found on the U.S. East Coast and in the marginal waters of Europe. At some locations, all tidal variabilities act in the same direction, which may amplify possible flood level. At other locations major parts of the tidal spectrum may counteract the MSL rise and partially mitigate extreme water levels due to tidal evolution. In either case, an understanding of regional tidal changes correlated to MSL changes can be instructive in guiding future coastal development efforts.
Solar Wind Implantation Into the Lunar Regolith: Monte Carlo Simulations of H Retention in a Surface With Defects and the H2 Exosphere
Authors: Tucker O. J. , Farrell W. M. , Killen R. M. , Hurley D. M.
Published: December 2018

The solar wind implants protons into the top 20–30 nm of lunar regolith grains, and the implanted hydrogen will diffuse out of the regolith but also interact with oxygen in the regolith oxides. We apply a statistical approach to estimate the diffusion of hydrogen in the regolith hindered by forming temporary bonds with regolith oxygen atoms. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to track the temporal evolution of bound OH surface content and the H2 exosphere. The model results are consistent with the interpretation of the Chandrayaan‐1 M3 observations of infrared absorption spectra by surface hydroxyls as discussed in Li and Milliken (2017, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1701471). The model reproduced the latitudinal concentration of OH by using a Gaussian energy distribution of f(U0 = 0.5 eV, UW = 0.078–0.1 eV) to characterize the activation energy barrier to the diffusion of hydrogen in space weathered regolith. In addition, the model results of the exospheric content of H2 are consistent with observations by the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Therefore, we provide support for hydroxyl formation by chemically trapped solar wind protons.
Chemical characterization of different gourmet table salts by atomic spectrometry and FT-Raman spectroscopy
Authors: da Silva Campos Almeida Náira , Almeida Pessanha Pedro Victor , Sant'Ana Antonio Carlos , Santos Simões Bruna Eduarda , Almeida Mariana Ramos , Sabarense Céphora Maria , Arromba de Sousa Rafael
Published: December 2018

The contents of Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Na were studied in 23 common and gourmet salt samples by atomic spectrometry after an acid dissolution procedure using diluted nitric acid.
Displacement reactions between environmentally and biologically relevant ligands on TiO2 nanoparticles: insights into the aging of nanoparticles in the environment
Authors: Wu Haibin , Gonzalez-Pech Natalia I. , Grassian Vicki H.
Published: December 2018

Coatings on nanoparticle (NP) surfaces play a key role in dictating their behavior in the environment.
Gallium, neon and helium focused ion beam milling of thin films demonstrated for polymeric materials: study of implantation artifacts
Authors: Allen Frances I. , Velez Nathan R. , Thayer Rachel C. , Patel Nipam H. , Jones Mary Ann , Meyers Gregory F. , Minor Andrew M.
Published: December 2018

The focused helium ion beam is ideally suited to precision milling of thin films avoiding implantation artifacts.
Synapse behavior characterization and physical mechanism of a TiN/SiOx/p-Si tunneling memristor device
Authors: Zhou Zhenyu , Yan Xiaobing , Zhao Jianhui , Lu Chao , Ren Deliang , Lu Nianduan , Wang Jingjuan , Zhang Lei , Li Xiaoyan , Wang Hong , Zhao Mengliu
Published: December 2018

The demand for massive deep learning neural networks has driven the development of nanoscale memristor devices, which perform brain-inspired neuromorphic computing.
Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy and Pregnancy: A Clinical Case Series
Authors: Hari Anupama , Zulfeen Momina , Madhavaneni Sindhu
Published: December 2018

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a primary myocardial disorder caused by mutations in several different genes coding for contractile proteins. Although HOCM is being increasingly diagnosed in women of reproductive age due to widespread use of echocardiography and screening programs, there are fewer studies of HOCM in pregnancy owing to the rarity of the disease and poor recognition. Our clinical case series includes five cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its management. The authors describe five women presenting with HOCM with varied symptoms. All patients except one had favorable outcome. Neonatal outcome was good except for a second trimester intrauterine fetal demise. Intensive care unit (ICU) requirement ranged from 5 to 10 days. Two cases were established cases of HOCM. Pain relief was adequate with narcotics, although regional anesthesia was given to one with HOCM with corrected obstruction. No hypotension or deterioration was noted. Although it is believed that HOCM is well tolerated in pregnancy, it is important to have the diagnosis since management differs. Inadvertent regional anesthesia or hypotension due to blood loss or heightened sympathetic response to pain may prove detrimental to these patients. Maternal and fetal outcome are good. Prenatal routine echocardiography screening may prove efficient in identifying high-risk women, for early referral and better management.
Arrhythmia in Pregnancy
Authors: Sridevi Chennapragada
Published: December 2018

Arrhythmias in pregnancy are uncommon. They are associated with significant hemodynamic burden on a pregnant mother. Tachycardia that induces hemodynamic instability affects the fetus and neonate apart from the mother. In this review, a brief attempt is made to discuss various arrhythmias that occur in pregnancy and their management.
Cardiac Drugs in Pregnancy
Authors: Aruna Donepudi , Padmaja Mekala
Published: December 2018

Heart disease complicating pregnancy is an indirect cause of maternal mortality and its incidence in India is 1 to 4%. Cardiac disease in pregnant women is most commonly due to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), congestive heart failure, and less commonly due to ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy. Though the frequency of RHD has decreased worldwide, it is still predominant in developing countries such as India. Around 15 to 52% of cardiac abnormalities first diagnosed during routine antenatal checkups or due to the signs and symptoms caused by physiologic changes of pregnancy. The most common clinical features of cardiac lesions such as breathlessness, pedal edema, and murmurs that mimic normal physiologic changes in pregnancy pose a diagnostic difficulty for obstetricians.
Pregnancy in Congenital Heart Diseases
Authors: Bakhru Shweta
Published: December 2018

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) affect 0.8 to 1.5% of general population. With increase in awareness and medical services, more number of patients with CHDs have entered into adulthood. One of the peculiar physiologic changes in women is going through pregnancy. Misconceptions are common in women with CHD. This write-up is to provide some brief information about CHD patients going through pregnancy. General cardiovascular risk and individual disease-related risks are discussed.
Phosphatase PP2A is essential for T
H
17 differentiation
Authors: Xu Qin , Jin Xuexiao , Zheng Mingzhu , Rohila Deepak , Fu Guotong , Wen Zhuoyu , Lou Jun , Wu Songquan , Sloan Richard , Wang Lie , Hu Hu , Gao Xiang , Lu Linrong
Published: December 2018

Phosphatase PP2A expression levels are positively correlated to the clinical severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and IL17A cytokine overproduction, indicating a potential role of PP2A in controlling T
H
17 differentiation and inflammation. By generating a mouse strain with ablation of the catalytic subunit α of PP2A in peripheral mature T cells (PP2A cKO), we demonstrate that the PP2A complex is essential for T
H
17 differentiation. These PP2A cKO mice had reduced T
H
17 cell numbers and less severe disease in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. PP2A deficiency also ablated C-terminal phosphorylation of SMAD2 but increased C-terminal phosphorylation of SMAD3. By regulating the activity of RORγt via binding, the changes in the phosphorylation status of these R-SMADs reduced
Il17a
gene transcription. Finally, PP2A inhibitors showed similar effects on T
H
17 cells as were observed in PP2A cKO mice, i.e., decreased T
H
17 differentiation and relative protection of mice from EAE. Taken together, these data demonstrate that phosphatase PP2A is essential for T
H
17 differentiation and that inhibition of PP2A could be a possible therapeutic approach to controlling T
H
17-driven autoimmune diseases.
Different roles of E proteins in t(8;21) leukemia: E2-2 compromises the function of AETFC and negatively regulates leukemogenesis
Authors: Liu Na , Song Junhong , Xie Yangyang , Wang Xiao-Lin , Rong Bowen , Man Na , Zhang Meng-Meng , Zhang Qunling , Gao Fei-Fei , Du Mei-Rong , Zhang Ying , Shen Jian , Xu Chun-Hui , Hu Cheng-Long , Wu Ji-Chuan , Liu Ping , Zhang Yuan-Liang , Xie Yin-Yin , Liu Ping , Huang Jin-Yan , Huang Qiu-Hua , Lan Fei , Shen Shuhong , Nimer Stephen D. , Chen Zhu , Chen Sai-Juan , Roeder Robert G. , Wang Lan , Sun Xiao-Jian
Published: December 2018

The AML1-ETO fusion protein, generated by the t(8;21) chromosomal translocation, is causally involved in nearly 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases. In leukemic cells, AML1-ETO resides in and functions through a stable protein complex, AML1-ETO–containing transcription factor complex (AETFC), that contains multiple transcription (co)factors. Among these AETFC components, HEB and E2A, two members of the ubiquitously expressed E proteins, directly interact with AML1-ETO, confer new DNA-binding capacity to AETFC, and are essential for leukemogenesis. However, the third E protein, E2-2, is specifically silenced in AML1-ETO–expressing leukemic cells, suggesting E2-2 as a negative factor of leukemogenesis. Indeed, ectopic expression of E2-2 selectively inhibits the growth of AML1-ETO–expressing leukemic cells, and this inhibition requires the bHLH DNA-binding domain. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses reveal that, despite some overlap, the three E proteins differentially regulate many target genes. In particular, studies show that E2-2 both redistributes AETFC to, and activates, some genes associated with dendritic cell differentiation and represses MYC target genes. In AML patients, the expression of E2-2 is relatively lower in the t(8;21) subtype, and an E2-2 target gene,
THPO
, is identified as a potential predictor of relapse. In a mouse model of human t(8;21) leukemia, E2-2 suppression accelerates leukemogenesis. Taken together, these results reveal that, in contrast to HEB and E2A, which facilitate AML1-ETO–mediated leukemogenesis, E2-2 compromises the function of AETFC and negatively regulates leukemogenesis. The three E proteins thus define a heterogeneity of AETFC, which improves our understanding of the precise mechanism of leukemogenesis and assists development of diagnostic/therapeutic strategies.
Structured environments fundamentally alter dynamics and stability of ecological communities
Authors: Vallespir Lowery Nick , Ursell Tristan
Published: December 2018

Significance

Many microbial communities of ecological and medical importance reside in complex and heterogeneous environments, such as soils or intestinal tracts. While many studies consider the effects of flow or chemical gradients in structuring these communities, how the physical structure of the environment shapes community dynamics and outcomes remains poorly understood. Using simulations of competitive microbial communities, we show that stability and dynamics qualitatively shift in environments with complex surface structures compared with open isotropic environments. Therefore, in addition to biochemical interactions between species, our work suggests that the physical structure of the environment is an equally important determinant of dynamics and stability in microbial communities, in a manner dependent on the specific patterns of interactions within that community.
Dnase1l3deletion causes aberrations in length and end-motif frequencies in plasma DNA
Authors: Serpas Lee , Chan Rebecca W. Y. , Jiang Peiyong , Ni Meng , Sun Kun , Rashidfarrokhi Ali , Soni Chetna , Sisirak Vanja , Lee Wing-Shan , Cheng Suk Hang , Peng Wenlei , Chan K. C. Allen , Chiu Rossa W. K. , Reizis Boris , Lo Y. M. Dennis
Published: December 2018

Circulating DNA in plasma consists of short DNA fragments. The biological processes generating such fragments are not well understood. DNASE1L3 is a secreted DNASE1-like nuclease capable of digesting DNA in chromatin, and its absence causes anti-DNA responses and autoimmunity in humans and mice. We found that the deletion ofDnase1l3in mice resulted in aberrations in the fragmentation of plasma DNA. Such aberrations included an increase in short DNA molecules below 120 bp, which was positively correlated with anti-DNA antibody levels. We also observed an increase in long, multinucleosomal DNA molecules and decreased frequencies of the most common end motifs found in plasma DNA. These aberrations were independent of anti-DNA response, suggesting that they represented a primary effect of DNASE1L3 loss. PregnantDnase1l3−/−mice carryingDnase1l3+/−fetuses showed a partial restoration of normal frequencies of plasma DNA end motifs, suggesting that DNASE1L3 fromDnase1l3-proficient fetuses could enter maternal systemic circulation and affect both fetal and maternal DNA fragmentation in a systemic as well as local manner. However, the observed shortening of circulating fetal DNA relative to maternal DNA was not affected by the deletion ofDnase1l3. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that DNASE1L3 plays a role in circulating plasma DNA homeostasis by enhancing fragmentation and influencing end-motif frequencies. These results support a distinct role of DNASE1L3 as a regulator of the physical form and availability of cell-free DNA and may have important implications for the mechanism whereby this enzyme prevents autoimmunity.
Lizard nest environments differ between suburban and forest habitats
Authors: Tiatragul Sarin , Hall Joshua M , Pavlik Nathaniel G , Warner Daniel A
Published: December 2018

Nesting success is critical for oviparous species to maintain viable populations. Many species often do not provide parental care (e.g. oviparous reptiles), so embryos are left to develop in the prevailing conditions of the nest. For species that occupy diverse habitats, embryos must be able to complete development across a broad range of environmental conditions. Although much research has investigated how environmental conditions influence embryo development, we know little about how nest conditions differ between diverse habitats. Anolis lizards are commonly found in various habitats including those heavily modified by humans (e.g. cities). We describe nest sites of anoles in two different habitat types: a suburban area and a nearby forest. The suburban area had less total nesting habitat but a greater variety of microenvironment conditions for females to use for nesting, compared to the forest. Suburban nests were warmer and drier with greater thermal variance compared to forest nests. Finally, we use data from the literature to predict how nest conditions may influence development. Our study provides the first quantitative assessment of anole nest sites in human-modified environments and shows how suburban habitats may generate variation in developmental rate.
Residual or Recurrent Precancerous Lesions After Treatment of Cervical Lesions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–infected Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Treatment Failure
Authors: Debeaudrap Pierre , Sobngwi Joelle , Tebeu Pierre-Marie , Clifford Gary M
Published: December 2018

Background

Screening and treating premalignant cervical lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ [CIN2+]) is an effective way to prevent cervical cancer, and recommendations exist for the monitoring of treatment success. Yet, there is no specific recommendation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, who are at a known, increased risk of cervical cancer.

Methods

A systematic review was performed by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies published from January 1980 through May 2018. Eligible studies described the prevalence of histologically- and/or cytologically-defined lesions in HIV-infected women at least 6 months post-treatment. The primary endpoint was treatment failure, defined as the presence of residual and/or recurrent high-grade CIN2+/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions post-treatment. The pooled prevalence in HIV-infected women and the odds ratios (ORs) for HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected women were estimated using random-effects models.

Results

Among 40 eligible studies, the pooled prevalence of treatment failure in HIV-infected women was 21.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.8–27.0). There was no significant difference in the treatment failure prevalence for cryotherapy (13.9%, 95% CI 6.1–21.6) versus loop electrosurgical excision procedure (13.8%, 95% CI 8.9–18.7; P = .9), but the treatment failure prevalence was significantly higher in women with positive (47.2%, 95% CI 22.0–74.0) than with negative (19.4%, 95% CI 11.8–30.2) excision margin (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5–7.7). Treatment failure was significantly increased in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected women, both overall (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0–3.5) and in all sub-group analyses.

Conclusions

There is strong evidence for an increased risk of treatment failure in HIV-infected women, in comparison to their HIV-negative counterparts. The only significant predictor of treatment failure in HIV-infected women was a positive margin status, but further data is needed on long-term outcomes after ablative treatment in HIV-infected women.
Parametric definition of the influence of a paper in a citation network using communicability functions
Authors: Pichardo-Corpus Juan A , Contreras J Guillermo , de la Peña José A
Published: December 2018

Communicability functions quantify the flow of information between two nodes of a network. In this work, we use them to explore the concept of the influence of a paper in a citation network. These functions depend on a parameter. By varying the parameter in a continuous way we explore different definitions of influence. We study six citation networks, three from physics and three from computer science. As a benchmark, we compare our results against two frequently used measures: the number of citations of a paper and the PageRank algorithm. We show that the ranking of the articles in a network can be varied from being equivalent to the ranking obtained from the number of citations to a behaviour tending to the eigenvector centrality, these limits correspond to small and large values of the communicability-function parameter, respectively. At an intermediate value of the parameter a PageRank-like behaviour is recovered. As a test case, we apply communicability functions to two sets of articles, where at least one author of each paper was awarded a Nobel Prize for the research presented in the corresponding article.
Handling short-period scattering using augmented Marchenko autofocusing
Authors: Dukalski Marcin , Mariani Elisa , de Vos Koos
Published: December 2018

Marchenko autofocusing constructs arbitrary acoustic wavefields inside an unknown heterogeneous medium from a single-sided, bandlimited in practice, reflection response by solving the Marchenko equation. Presence of short-period scattering leads to erroneous solutions and therefore incorrect medium characterization. We show that augmenting this equation with energy conservation and minimum phase conditions enables to correct these erroneous solutions, and thus it removes the long-/short-period timescale separation and solves this long standing problem.