bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new avenue for obtaining insight into the functional characteristics of long noncoding RNAs associated with estrogen receptor signaling
Authors: Wu Liangcai , Xu Qianqian , Zhang Haohai , Li Ming , Zhu Chengpei , Jiang Minjie , Sang Xinting , Zhao Yi , Sun Qiang , Zhao Haitao
Published: August 2016

Estrogen receptor signalling plays important regulatory roles in multiple mammalian physiological processes. Dysregulation of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and/or its associated signalling pathway is strongly associated with the development, progression, transition and endocrine-resistance of breast cancer. Non-coding transcripts are essential regulators of almost every level of gene regulation. However, few long non-coding transcripts (lncRNAs) associated with the estrogen receptor signalling pathway have been well-described. We used array-based methods to identify 33 estrogen receptor agitation-related (ERAR) lncRNAs. A coding–non-coding gene co-expression network analysis suggested that 15 ERAR lncRNAs were associated with mitosis, DNA damage and DNA repair. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that five ERAR lncRNAs selected using the Random Forest-Recursive Feature Elimination algorithm were significantly correlated with endocrine resistance-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival as well as disease free survival. Our results suggest that ERAR lncRNAs may serve as novel biomarkers for guiding breast cancer treatment and prognosis. Furthermore, our findings reveal a new avenue by which estrogen receptor signalling can be further explored.
Efficacy of Electrical Stimulators for Bone Healing: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Sham-Controlled Trials
Authors: Aleem Ilyas S. , Aleem Idris , Evaniew Nathan , Busse Jason W. , Yaszemski Michael , Agarwal Arnav , Einhorn Thomas , Bhandari Mohit
Published: August 2016

Electrical stimulation is a common adjunct used to promote bone healing; its efficacy, however, remains uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials to establish the efficacy of electrical stimulation for bone healing. We identified all trials randomizing patients to electrical or sham stimulation for bone healing. Outcomes were pain relief, functional improvement, and radiographic nonunion. Two reviewers assessed eligibility and risk of bias, performed data extraction, and rated the quality of the evidence. Fifteen trials met our inclusion criteria. Moderate quality evidence from 4 trials found that stimulation produced a significant improvement in pain (mean difference (MD) on 100-millimeter visual analogue scale = −7.7 mm; 95% CI −13.92 to −1.43; p = 0.02). Two trials found no difference in functional outcome (MD = −0.88; 95% CI −6.63 to 4.87; p = 0.76). Moderate quality evidence from 15 trials found that stimulation reduced radiographic nonunion rates by 35% (95% CI 19% to 47%; number needed to treat = 7; p < 0.01). Patients treated with electrical stimulation as an adjunct for bone healing have less pain and are at reduced risk for radiographic nonunion; functional outcome data are limited and requires increased focus in future trials.
Head movement, an important contributor to human cerebrospinal fluid circulation
Authors: Xu Qiang , Yu Sheng-Bo , Zheng Nan , Yuan Xiao-Ying , Chi Yan-Yan , Liu Cong , Wang Xue-Mei , Lin Xiang-Tao , Sui Hong-Jin
Published: August 2016

The suboccipital muscles are connected to the upper cervical spinal dura mater via the myodural bridges (MDBs). Recently, it was suggested that they might work as a pump to provide power for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of the suboccipital muscles contractions on the CSF flow. Forty healthy adult volunteers were subjected to cine phase-contrast MR imaging. Each volunteer was scanned twice, once before and once after one-minute-head-rotation period. CSF flow waveform parameters at craniocervical junction were analyzed. The results showed that, after the head rotations, the maximum and average CSF flow rates during ventricular diastole were significantly increased and the CSF stroke volumes during diastole and during entire cardiac cycle were significantly increased. This suggested that the CSF flow was significantly promoted by head movements. Among the muscles related with head movements, only three suboccipital muscles are connected to the upper cervical spinal dura mater via MDBs. It was believed that MDBs might transform powers of the muscles to CSF. The present results suggested that the head movements served as an important contributor to CSF dynamics and the MDBs might be involved in this mechanism.
Centri-voltammetric detection of epinephrine
Authors: Altuntas Derya Bal , Ören Tuğba , Anik Ulku
Published: August 2016

In this study, centri-voltammetry was applied to epinephrine detection for the first time.
Synthesis and characterization of a homogeneous and silica supported homoleptic cationic tungsten(vi) methyl complex: application in olefin metathesis
Authors: Dey Raju , Samantaray Manoja K. , Poater Albert , Hamieh Ali , Kavitake Santosh , Abou-Hamad Edy , Callens Emmanuel , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Cavallo Luigi , Basset Jean-Marie
Published: August 2016

We describe here a facile synthesis of a cationic tungsten-methyl complex for the application in olefin metathesis.
Efficient photoluminescent thin films consisting of anchored hybrid perovskite nanoparticles
Authors: Martínez-Sarti Laura , Koh Teck Ming , La-Placa Maria-Grazia , Boix Pablo P. , Sessolo Michele , Mhaisalkar Subodh G. , Bolink Henk J.
Published: August 2016

Methylammonium lead bromide nanoparticles are synthetized with a new bifunctional ligand which allows anchoring of the nanoparticles on a variety of conducting and semiconducting surfaces, showing bright photoluminescence with a quantum yield exceeding 50%.
Direct visualization of sub-femtomolar circulating microRNAs in serum based on the duplex-specific nuclease-amplified oriented assembly of gold nanoparticle dimers
Authors: Guo Longhua , Lin Yi , Chen Chen , Qiu Bin , Lin Zhenyu , Chen Guonan
Published: August 2016

The combination of DSNSA and oriented assembly of AuNPs was used for direct visualization of sub-femtomolar circulating microRNAs in serum.
Interaction of Rhodamine 6G molecules with graphene: a combined computational–experimental study
Authors: Zhang Kan , Yu Shansheng , Jv Baoming , Zheng Weitao
Published: August 2016

R6G molecules can effectively tune the electronic structures of graphene.
Fabrication of hierarchical TiO2 coated Co20Ni80 particles with tunable core sizes as high-performance wide-band microwave absorbers
Authors: Chen Chen , Liu Qinghe , Bi Han , You Wenbin , She Wen , Che Renchao
Published: August 2016

Multifunctional composite microspheres with a Co20Ni80 core and anatase TiO2 shells (Co20Ni80@TiO2) are synthesized by combining a solvothermal reaction and a calcination process, and include a series of microspheres with different core sizes (100 nm, 500 nm and 1 μm).
Proton conduction via lattice water molecules in oxalato-bridged lanthanide porous coordination polymers
Authors: Ishikawa Ryuta , Ueno Shunya , Yagishita Sadahiro , Kumagai Hitoshi , Breedlove Brian K. , Kawata Satoshi
Published: August 2016

The proton conducting properties of two different structural types of porous coordination polymers [La2(ox)3(H2O)6]·4H2O (1) and [Er2(ox)3(H2O)6]·12H2O (2), where ox2− = oxalate, were investigated.
A label-free infrared opto-fluidic method for real-time determination of flow rate and concentration with temperature cross-sensitivity compensation
Authors: Sadeghi Jalal , Ghasemi Amir Hossein Baradaran , Latifi Hamid
Published: August 2016

A label free opto-fluidic method is introduced as a technique that offers the ability to determine in-line microfluidic properties.
A highly sensitive colorimetric chemodosimeter for cyanide anion by Michael addition based on a coumarin derivative
Authors: Leng Yan-Li , Zhang Jian-Hui , Li Qiao , Zhang You-Ming , Lin Qi , Yao Hong , Wei Tai-Bao
Published: August 2016

An efficient colorimetric and fluorescent cyanide chemosensor has been reported based on an intramolecular charge transfer mechanism.
Whispering-gallery-mode based CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite microrod lasers with high quality factors
Authors: Wang Kaiyang , Sun Shang , Zhang Chen , Sun Wenzhao , Gu Zhiyuan , Xiao Shumin , Song Qinghai
Published: August 2016

High-quality-factor whispering gallery mode lasers in CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite microrod lasers.
Cefuroxime derived copper nanoparticles and their application as a colorimetric sensor for trace level detection of picric acid
Authors: Hussain Masood , Nafady Ayman , Sirajuddin Sirajuddin , Hussain Sherazi Syed Tufail , Shah Muhammad Raza , Alsalme Ali , Kalhoro Muhammad Siddique , Mahesar Sarfaraz Ahmed , Siddiqui Samia
Published: August 2016

Picric acid is used as explosive material in destructive weapons and nuclear technology. Due to higher solubility in water it can create health issues and its monitoring is crucial for safer environment and health.
Microfluidic synthesis of chiral salen Mn(ii) and Co(ii) complexes containing lysozyme
Authors: Tanaka Daiki , Kawakubo Wataru , Tsuda Erika , Mitsumoto Yuya , Yoon Dong Hyun , Sekiguchi Tetsushi , Akitsu Takashiro , Shoji Shuichi
Published: August 2016

Efficient microfluidic synthesis of chiral salen Mn(ii) and Co(ii) complexes containing lysozyme was achieved.
Understanding the effect of Mn2+ on Yb3+/Er3+ upconversion and obtaining a maximum upconversion fluorescence enhancement in inert-core/active-shell/inert-shell structures
Authors: Huang Zhangyu , Gao Huiping , Mao Yanli
Published: August 2016

NaYF4@NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+/Mn2+@NaYF4 (C/Sd/S) nanoparticles were synthesized which show an obvious efficiency enhancement of red upconversion emission.
A simple and sensitive resonance light scattering method based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles for selective detection of microRNA-21
Authors: Ren Ming , Wang Shijun , Cai Changqun , Chen Chunyan , Chen Xiaoming
Published: August 2016

A novel resonance light scattering method based on analyte-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles for the determination of microRNAs was developed.
Rapid and facile synthesis of high-quality, oleate-capped PbS nanocrystals
Authors: Tilluck W. Ryan , Morris Alexander L. , Gurchiek Jason K. , Evans Amanda D. , Van Patten P. Gregory
Published: August 2016

A convenient method for the synthesis of high quality PbS nanocrystals is studied and reported.
Recovery of ITO nanopowder from a waste ITO target by a simple co-precipitation method
Authors: Choi Dongchul , Yun Wan Soo , Son Yongkeun
Published: August 2016

ITO was recovered from a waste ITO target by co-precipitation method.
An A–π–A′ structural ratiometric fluorescent probe based on benzo[e]indolium for bisulfite and its application in sugar samples and living cells
Authors: Sun Yue , Li Ying , Ma Xiaotao , Duan Lian
Published: August 2016

An A–π–A′ structural ratiometric fluorescent probe 1 bearing a benzo[e]indolium moiety was developed for the detection of HSO3− in PBS buffer solution.
High-pressure spectroscopic study of silver azide
Authors: Li Dongmei , Zhu Peifen , Wang Yanju , Liu Bingbing , Jiang Junru , Huang Xiaoli , Wang Xiaoli , Zhu Hongyang , Cui Qiliang
Published: August 2016

The pressure-induced structural phase transition and evolution of N3−in AgN3are revealed by spectroscopic study.
Transition metal-free synthesis of α-ketoamides from arylmethyl ketones and alkylphosphoramides
Authors: Behera Ahalya , Ali Wajid , Tripathy Manisha , Sahoo Diptimayee , Patel Bhisma K.
Published: August 2016

Synthesis of α-ketoamides from arylmethyl ketones and hexalkylphosphoramides using TBAI as the catalyst and TBHP as the oxidant.
Organocatalytic tandem enantioselective Michael-cyclization of isatin-derived β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with 3-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one or 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives
Authors: Yin Shao-Jie , Zhang Shao-Yun , Zhang Jun-Qi , Sun Bing-Bing , Fan Wei-Tai , Wu Bing , Wang Xing-Wang
Published: August 2016

An efficient tandem Michael-cyclization has been reported to provide two types of enantio-enriched spiro-oxindole derivatives in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.
Synthesis and properties of perfluorocarbon chain terminated poly(ether sulfone)
Authors: Zhu Ye , Zhang Hai-Bo , Ding Lian-Jun , Chen Zheng , Sun Da-Ye , Jiang Zhen-Hua
Published: August 2016

Perfluorocarbon groups or related compounds are usually used to modify polymer materials because of their low surface energy properties.
Construction of an octosyl acid backbone catalyzed by a radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme and a phosphatase in the biosynthesis of high-carbon sugar nucleoside antibiotics
Authors: He Nisha , Wu Pan , Lei Yongxing , Xu Baofu , Zhu Xiaochen , Xu Gudan , Gao Yaojie , Qi Jianzhao , Deng Zixin , Tang Gongli , Chen Wenqing , Xiao Youli
Published: August 2016

This work provides, for the first time, significantin vitroevidence for the biosynthetic origins of octosyl acid through free radical and dephosphorylation enzymatic reactions.
Molybdenum-supported amorphous MoS3 catalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution in solar-water-splitting devices
Authors: Liu Bofei , Jin Zhonghua , Bai Lisha , Liang Junhui , Zhang Qixing , Wang Ning , Liu Caichi , Wei Changchun , Zhao Ying , Zhang Xiaodan
Published: August 2016

Highly active, low-temperature, and Earth-abundant Mo supported a-MoS3 catalysts are demonstrated for efficient water reduction in solar-water-splitting devices.
Controlled positioning of MOFs in interfacially polymerized thin-film nanocomposites
Authors: Van Goethem C. , Verbeke R. , Hermans S. , Bernstein R. , Vankelecom I. F. J.
Published: August 2016

An advanced synthesis protocol for the preparation of Thin-Film Nanocomposite (TFN) membranes is presented.
Awareness‐based model for region‐based cosegmentation
Authors: Yang Bai , Yu Huimin , Zheng Weiwei , Huang Wei
Published: August 2016

A unified awareness‐based cosegmentation model is presented. In contrast with existing cosegmentation methods, awareness information is introduced as a global constraint in a combinatorial auction‐style energy model. The approach consists of an awareness‐based segmentation model followed by a ‘structural forest’ optimisation framework and this approach aims to take full advantage of awareness prior in both the initial process and segmentation process. Experimental results show that it is comparable with the state‐of‐the‐art methods. Furthermore, it opens interesting perspectives to fuse awareness and structural constraints in an unsupervised manner.
Prediction of the contact angle of colloids and microfluids during electrowetting
Authors: Hadidimasouleh Roghayeh , Sahba Yaghmaee Maziar , Raissi Babak , Riahifar Reza
Published: August 2016

A new generalised model of the electrowetting of microfluids has been proposed. Instead of the conventional Young–Lippmann formula, dynamic minimising of the total energy of system which is superposition of capillary free energy and electric energy has been utilised to calculate the contact angle as indicator of wetting behaviour. The change of interfacial energy of liquid/solid interface and change in relative permittivity of solution in the presence of colloid particles have also been considered in the developed model. The model predicts that contact angle saturation decreases in the presence of colloid particles both in DC and AC conditions. The model also predicts that the reduction of contact angle by applying potential is higher in the case of TiO2/water microfluidic system which is in agreement with experimental data reported in literature.
Spray coating of polymer electret with polystyrene nanoparticles for electrostatic energy harvesting
Authors: Xu Yixin , Luo Anxin , Zhang Ai , Zhang Yulong , Tang Bin , Wang Kai , Wang Fei
Published: August 2016

A spray‐coating method for cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) electret material with polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles is developed here. Compared with the traditional polymer electret materials, the COC electrets with PS nanoparticles achieved better surface charge stability when exposed to harsh environment at high humidity or high temperature. With the spray coating technique, they can easily control the thickness of the electret layer. The surface charge stability of the electret has been detailed studied with various concentrations of the nanoparticles. They have also applied the spray coated electret to electrostatic energy harvesting devices. The experiments confirmed that the energy harvesting devices can generate more stable power output using the spray coated electret with nanoparticles.
Different roles of electron beam in two stream instability in an elliptical waveguide for generation and amplification of THz electromagnetic waves
Authors: Safari S. , Jazi B. , Jahanbakht S.
Published: August 2016

In this work, two stream instability in a metallic waveguide with elliptical cross-section and with a hollow annular dielectric layer is studied for generation and amplification of THz electromagnetic waves. Dispersion relation of waves and their dependents to geometric dimensions and characteristics of the electron beam are analyzed. In continuation, the diagrams of growth rate for some operating frequencies are presented, so that effective factors on the growth rates, such as geometrical dimensions, dielectric constant of dielectric layer, accelerating voltage, and applied current intensity are analyzed. It is shown that while an electron beam is responsible for instability, another electron beam plays a stabilizing role.
Quantum modes of atomic waveguides by series techniques
Authors: Golding William M.
Published: August 2016

Atom waveguides are used to manipulate cold atoms in atom interferometers. The creation of atom interferometers using cold atoms in miniature magnetic waveguides is one of many goals of current atom chip research. To achieve a complete understanding of atom propagation in a complicated device such as a guided atom interferometer, a detailed understanding of the ground state and other nearby states is needed. The Frobenius series solutions for the bounded transverse modes of an atomic waveguide are presented here and arbitrary precision arithmetic is used to evaluate the series solutions without roundoff errors. The waveguide potential considered is an infinitely long quadrupole magnetic potential as used in various atom chip waveguides. The simplest case of a guided spin-12 particle is presented here. However, the basic series techniques can be extended to both higher order multipole potentials and higher spin particles, including atoms with hyperfine splitting. The low-field and the high-field seeking states together form the spectrum of the waveguide Hamiltonian. In the limit where the transverse dimension of the guide tends to infinity, the spectrum of the guide changes from a discrete set of low- and high-field seeking states to a continuum of high-field seeking states embedded with a discrete set of low-field seeking states. Although the low-field seeking states are not truly bound, the system is an approximate example of bound states in a continuum first discussed by von Neumann and Wigner. Depending on boundary conditions, the solutions form either a discrete set or a continuum of orthogonal waveguide modes. These are useful for further analysis of ideal waveguide behavior as well as the detailed perturbation studies necessary for analysis of atomic waveguide interferometers.
Membrane curvature generated by asymmetric depletion layers of ions, small molecules, and nanoparticles
Authors: Różycki Bartosz , Lipowsky Reinhard
Published: August 2016

Biomimetic and biological membranes consist of molecular bilayers with two leaflets that are typically exposed to different aqueous solutions. We consider solutions of “particles” that experience effectively repulsive interactions with these membranes and form depletion layers in front of the membrane leaflets. The particles considered here are water-soluble, have a size between a few angstrom and a few nanometers as well as a rigid, more or less globular shape, and do neither adsorb onto the membranes nor permeate these membranes. Examples are provided by ions, small sugar molecules, globular proteins, or inorganic nanoparticles with a hydrophilic surface. We first study depletion layers in a hard-core system based on ideal particle solutions as well as hard-wall interactions between these particles and the membrane. For this system, we obtain exact expressions for the coverages and tensions of the two leaflets as well as for the spontaneous curvature of the bilayer membrane. All of these quantities depend linearly on the particle concentrations. The exact results for the hard-core system also show that the spontaneous curvature can be directly deduced from the planar membrane geometry. Our results for the hard-core system apply both to ions and solutes that are small compared to the membrane thickness and to nanoparticles with a size that is comparable to the membrane thickness, provided the particle solutions are sufficiently dilute. We then corroborate the different relationships found for the hard-core system by extensive simulations of a soft-core particle system using dissipative particle dynamics. The simulations confirm the linear relationships obtained for the hard-core system. Both our analytical and our simulation results show that the spontaneous curvature induced by a single particle species can be quite large. When one leaflet of the membrane is exposed, e.g., to a 100 mM solution of glucose, a lipid bilayer can acquire a spontaneous curvature of ±1/(270 nm). Our theoretical results can be scrutinized by systematic experimental studies using a large variety of different types of particles.
Hydrocarbon adsorption in an aqueous environment: A computational study of alkyls on Cu(111)
Authors: Montemore Matthew M. , Andreussi Oliviero , Medlin J. Will
Published: August 2016

Hydrocarbon chains are important intermediates in various aqueous-phase surface processes, such as CO2 electroreduction, aqueous Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and aqueous phase reforming of biomass-derived molecules. Further, the interaction between water and adsorbed hydrocarbons represents a difficult case for modern computational methods. Here, we explore various methods for calculating the energetics of this interaction within the framework of density functional theory and explore trade-offs between the use of low water coverages, molecular dynamics approaches, and minima hopping for identification of low energy structures. An effective methodology for simulating low temperature processes is provided by using a unit cell in which the vacuum space is filled with water, employing the minima hopping algorithm to search for low-lying minima, and including dispersion (van der Waals) interactions. Using this methodology, we show that a high coverage of adsorbed alkyls is destabilized by the presence of water, while a low coverage of alkyls is stabilized. Solvation has a small effect on the energetics of hydrocarbon chain growth, generally decreasing its favorability at low temperatures. We studied higher temperatures by running molecular dynamics simulations starting at the minima found by the minima hopping algorithm and found that increased temperatures facilitate chain growth. The self-consistent continuum solvation method effectively describes the alkyl-water interaction and is in general agreement with the explicit solvation results in most cases, but care should be taken at high alkyl coverage.
Matrix-isolation and computational study of H2CCCl and H2CCBr radicals
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Duarte Luís , Khriachtchev Leonid
Published: August 2016

We report on two new radicals, H2CCCl and H2CCBr, prepared in low-temperature noble-gas matrices and characterized using infrared spectroscopy. These radicals are made by UV photolysis of HCCCl and HCCBr and subsequent thermal annealing to mobilize hydrogen atoms in the matrices and promote their reaction with the residual precursor molecules. Three characteristic infrared bands are observed for each radical. The assignments are supported by quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and CCSD(T) levels of theory with the def2-TZVPPD basis set.
Spotting the difference in molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecules
Authors: Sakuraba Shun , Kono Hidetoshi
Published: August 2016

Comparing two trajectories from molecular simulations conducted under different conditions is not a trivial task. In this study, we apply a method called Linear Discriminant Analysis with ITERative procedure (LDA-ITER) to compare two molecular simulation results by finding the appropriate projection vectors. Because LDA-ITER attempts to determine a projection such that the projections of the two trajectories do not overlap, the comparison does not suffer from a strong anisotropy, which is an issue in protein dynamics. LDA-ITER is applied to two test cases: the T4 lysozyme protein simulation with or without a point mutation and the allosteric protein PDZ2 domain of hPTP1E with or without a ligand. The projection determined by the method agrees with the experimental data and previous simulations. The proposed procedure, which complements existing methods, is a versatile analytical method that is specialized to find the “difference” between two trajectories.
Electronic origin of strain effects on solute stabilities in iron
Authors: Liu Wei , Li Xiangyan , Xu Yichun , Liu C. S. , Liang Yunfeng
Published: August 2016

Nonuniform strain fields might induce the segregation of alloying solutes and ultimately lead to the mechanical performance degradation of body-centered-cubic (bcc) Fe based steels serving in extreme environments, which is worthy of investigation. In this paper, two typical volume-conserving strains, shear strain (SS) and normal strain (NS), are proposed to investigate the strain effects on solute stabilities in bcc iron by first-principles calculations. For solutes in each transition metal group, the calculated substitution energy change due to SS exhibits a linear dependence on the valence d radius of the solutes, and the slope decreases in an exponential manner as a function of the absolute difference between the Watson's electronegativity of iron and the averaged value of each transition metal group. This regularity is attributed to the Pauli repulsion between the solutes and the nearest neighboring Fe ions modulated by the hybridization of valence d bands and concluded to be originated from the characteristics of valence d bonding between the transition-metal solutes and Fe ions under SS. For main-group and post transition-metal solutes, the considerable drop of substitution energy change due to NS is concluded to be originated from the low-energy side shift of the widened valence s and p bands of the solutes. Our results indicate that the stabilities of substitutional solutes in iron under volume-conserving strain directly correlate with the intrinsic properties of the alloying elements, such as the valence d radius and occupancy, having or not having valence s and p bands.
High charge-discharge performance of Pb0.98La0.02(Zr0.35Sn0.55Ti0.10)0.995O3 antiferroelectric ceramics
Authors: Xu Chenhong , Liu Zhen , Chen Xuefeng , Yan Shiguang , Cao Fei , Dong Xianlin , Wang Genshui
Published: August 2016

The energy storage performance and charge-discharge properties of Pb0.98La0.02(Zr0.35Sn0.55Ti0.10)0.995O3 (PLZST) antiferroelectric ceramics were investigated through directly measuring the hysteresis loops and pulse discharge current-time curves. The energy density only varies 0.2% per degree from 25 °C to 85 °C, and the energy efficiency maintains at about 90%. Furthermore, an approximate calculating model of maximum power density pmax was established for the discharge process. Under a relatively high working electric field (8.2 kV/mm), this ceramics possess a greatly enhanced power density of 18 MW/cm3. Moreover, the pulse power properties did not show degradation until 1500 times of charge-discharge cycling. The large released energy density, high energy efficiency, good temperature stability, greatly enhanced power density, and excellent fatigue endurance combined together make this PLZST ceramics an ideal candidate for pulse power applications.
P-doped organic semiconductor: Potential replacement for PEDOT:PSS in organic photodetectors
Authors: Herrbach J. , Revaux A. , Vuillaume D. , Kahn A.
Published: August 2016

In this work, we present an alternative to the use of PEDOT:PSS as hole transport and electron blocking layers in organic photodetectors processed by solution. As Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is known to be sensitive to humidity, oxygen, and UV, removing this layer is essential for lifetime improvements. As a first step to achieving this goal, we need to find an alternative layer that fulfills the same role in order to obtain a working diode with similar or better performance. As a replacement, a layer of poly[(4,8-bis-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b′)dithiophene)-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-)-2-6-diyl)] (PBDTTT-c) p-doped with the dopant tris-[1-(trifluoroethanoyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)ethane-1,2-dithiolene] (Mo(tfd-COCF3)3) is used. This p-doped layer effectively lowers the hole injection barrier, and the low electron affinity of the polymer prevents the injection of electrons into the active layer. We show similar device performance under light and the improvements of detection performance with the doped layer in comparison with PEDOT:PSS, leading to a detectivity of 1.9 × 1013 cm (Hz)1/2 (W)−1, competitive with silicon diodes used in imaging applications. Moreover, contrary to PEDOT:PSS, no localization of the p-doped layer is needed, leading to a diode active area defined by the patterned electrodes.
Efficiency of rumen microbial protein synthesis in cattle grazing tropical pastures as estimated by a novel technique
Authors: Bowen M. K. , Poppi D. P. , McLennan S. R.
Published: August 2016

The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) in cattle grazing a range of tropical pasture types was examined using a new method of intra-jugular infusion of chromium–EDTA to estimate urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Seven pasture types were studied in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, over a 13-month period. These included native tropical grass (C4) pasture (major species Heteropogon contortus and Bothriochloa bladhii) studied in the early wet, the wet–dry transition and the dry season; introduced tropical grass (C4) pasture (Bothriochloa insculpta) in the mid-wet season; two introduced tropical legume species (C3; Lablab purpureus and Clitoria ternatea); and the temperate-grass (C3) pasture, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). There was a large range in EMPS across pasture types, with a range of 26–209 g microbial crude protein per kilogram digestible organic matter intake (DOMI). Estimated rumen-degradable protein (RDP) supply (42–525 g/kg DOMI) was the major factor associated with EMPS across the range of pasture types studied. EMPS in steers grazing all tropical grass pastures was low (<130 g/kg DOMI) and limited by RDP supply. Negative linear relationships (P < 0.05) between EMPS and concentrations of both neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in extrusa were evident. However, non-fibre carbohydrate in extrusa, total non-structural carbohydrate concentration in plucked pasture leaf, rumen fluid and particle dilution rate, protozoal concentration in rumen fluid and rumen fluid pH were not correlated with EMPS. It was concluded that EMPS was well below 130 g microbial crude protein per kilogram DOMI when cattle grazed unfertilised, tropical grass pastures in south-eastern Queensland and that RDP was the primary limiting nutrient. High EMPS was associated with a very high RDP, vastly in excess of RDP requirements by microbes.
Evaluation of Substrate Properties for Settlement of Caribbean Staghorn Coral Acropora cervicornis Larvae in a Land-Based System
Authors: Patterson Joshua T , Flint Mark , Than John , Watson Craig A
Published: August 2016

Stony coral culture has recently been the focus of increasing interest and effort, with most production taking place by asexual reproduction through fragmentation. In corals grown for reef restoration, techniques for sexual propagation offer the potential to increase genetic diversity of species for which this is a concern. After decades of population decline, the Caribbean staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2006, along with its congener, elkhorn coral A. palmata. We used practical large-scale, land-based culture conditions with aquaria set up in a choice/no-choice design to test three substrate properties for their influence on settlement and metamorphosis in staghorn coral planula larvae. This transitional life stage is critical for sexual reproduction and currently represents a culture bottleneck. A total of 999 live primary polyps were produced across all experimental substrates. Planula larvae showed significant preference for substrates that were biologically conditioned, top oriented, and rugose. Conditioning was essentially prerequisite for settlement and metamorphosis, with orientation and texture also affecting larval settling. Although the ideal combination of substrate properties produced lower settling and metamorphosis rates than those observed in smaller-scale culture experiments with elkhorn coral, results are informative in the development of reliable aquaculture techniques for sexual propagation of Caribbean Acropora in land-based systems.
CSAM: Compressed SAM format
Authors: Cánovas Rodrigo , Moffat Alistair , Turpin Andrew
Published: August 2016

Motivation: Next generation sequencing machines produce vast amounts of genomic data. For the data to be useful, it is essential that it can be stored and manipulated efficiently. This work responds to the combined challenge of compressing genomic data, while providing fast access to regions of interest, without necessitating decompression of whole files.

Results: We describe CSAM (Compressed SAM format), a compression approach offering lossless and lossy compression for SAM files. The structures and techniques proposed are suitable for representing SAM files, as well as supporting fast access to the compressed information. They generate more compact lossless representations than BAM, which is currently the preferred lossless compressed SAM-equivalent format; and are self-contained, that is, they do not depend on any external resources to compress or decompress SAM files.

Availability and Implementation: An implementation is available at https://github.com/rcanovas/libCSAM.

Contact:  canovas-ba@lirmm.fr

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online.
A long journey to short abbreviations: developing an open-source framework for clinical abbreviation recognition and disambiguation (CARD)
Authors: Wu Yonghui , Denny Joshua C , Trent Rosenbloom S , Miller Randolph A , Giuse Dario A , Wang Lulu , Blanquicett Carmelo , Soysal Ergin , Xu Jun , Xu Hua
Published: August 2016

Objective: The goal of this study was to develop a practical framework for recognizing and disambiguating clinical abbreviations, thereby improving current clinical natural language processing (NLP) systems’ capability to handle abbreviations in clinical narratives.

Methods: We developed an open-source framework for clinical abbreviation recognition and disambiguation (CARD) that leverages our previously developed methods, including: (1) machine learning based approaches to recognize abbreviations from a clinical corpus, (2) clustering-based semiautomated methods to generate possible senses of abbreviations, and (3) profile-based word sense disambiguation methods for clinical abbreviations. We applied CARD to clinical corpora from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and generated 2 comprehensive sense inventories for abbreviations in discharge summaries and clinic visit notes. Furthermore, we developed a wrapper that integrates CARD with MetaMap, a widely used general clinical NLP system.

Results and Conclusion: CARD detected 27 317 and 107 303 distinct abbreviations from discharge summaries and clinic visit notes, respectively. Two sense inventories were constructed for the 1000 most frequent abbreviations in these 2 corpora. Using the sense inventories created from discharge summaries, CARD achieved an F1 score of 0.755 for identifying and disambiguating all abbreviations in a corpus from the VUMC discharge summaries, which is superior to MetaMap and Apache’s clinical Text Analysis Knowledge Extraction System (cTAKES). Using additional external corpora, we also demonstrated that the MetaMap-CARD wrapper improved MetaMap’s performance in recognizing disorder entities in clinical notes. The CARD framework, 2 sense inventories, and the wrapper for MetaMap are publicly available at https://sbmi.uth.edu/ccb/resources/abbreviation.htm. We believe the CARD framework can be a valuable resource for improving abbreviation identification in clinical NLP systems.
A web-based and mobile patient-centered ‘‘microblog’’ messaging platform to improve care team communication in acute care
Authors: Dalal Anuj K , Schnipper Jeffrey , Massaro Anthony , Hanna John , Mlaver Eli , McNally Kelly , Stade Diana , Morrison Constance , Bates David W
Published: August 2016

Communication in acute care settings is fragmented and occurs asynchronously via a variety of electronic modalities. Providers are often not on the same page with regard to the plan of care. We designed and developed a secure, patient-centered “microblog” messaging platform that identifies care team members by synchronizing with the electronic health record, and directs providers to a single forum where they can communicate about the plan of care. The system was used for 35% of patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit over a 6-month period. Major themes in messages included care coordination (49%), clinical summarization (29%), and care team collaboration (27%). Message transparency and persistence were seen as useful features by 83% and 62% of respondents, respectively. Availability of alternative messaging tools and variable use by non-unit providers were seen as main barriers to adoption by 83% and 62% of respondents, respectively. This approach has much potential to improve communication across settings once barriers are addressed.
Using clinical data to predict high-cost performance coding issues associated with pressure ulcers: a multilevel cohort model
Authors: Padula William V , Gibbons Robert D , Pronovost Peter J , Hedeker Donald , Mishra Manish K , Makic Mary Beth F , Bridges John FP , Wald Heidi L , Valuck Robert J , Ginensky Adam J , Ursitti Anthony , Venable Laura Ruth , Epstein Ziv , Meltzer David O
Published: August 2016

Objective: Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) have a mortality rate of 11.6%, are costly to treat, and result in Medicare reimbursement penalties. Medicare codes HAPUs according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient-Safety Indicator 3 (PSI-03), but they are sometimes inappropriately coded. The objective is to use electronic health records to predict pressure ulcers and to identify coding issues leading to penalties.

Materials and Methods: We evaluated all hospitalized patient electronic medical records at an academic medical center data repository between 2011 and 2014. These data contained patient encounter level demographic variables, diagnoses, prescription drugs, and provider orders. HAPUs were defined by PSI-03: stages III, IV, or unstageable pressure ulcers not present on admission as a secondary diagnosis, excluding cases of paralysis. Random forests reduced data dimensionality. Multilevel logistic regression of patient encounters evaluated associations between covariates and HAPU incidence.

Results: The approach produced a sample population of 21 153 patients with 1549 PSI-03 cases. The greatest odds ratio (OR) of HAPU incidence was among patients diagnosed with spinal cord injury (ICD-9 907.2: OR = 14.3; P < .001), and 71% of spinal cord injuries were not properly coded for paralysis, leading to a PSI-03 flag. Other high ORs included bed confinement (ICD-9 V49.84: OR = 3.1, P < .001) and provider-ordered pre-albumin lab (OR = 2.5, P < .001).

Discussion: This analysis identifies spinal cord injuries as high risk for HAPUs and as being often inappropriately coded without paralysis, leading to PSI-03 flags. The resulting statistical model can be tested to predict HAPUs during hospitalization.

Conclusion: Inappropriate coding of conditions leads to poor hospital performance measures and Medicare reimbursement penalties.
Developing an evidence base of best practices for integrating computerized systems into the exam room: a systematic review
Authors: Patel Minal R , Vichich Jennifer , Lang Ian , Lin Jessica , Zheng Kai
Published: August 2016

Objective: The introduction of health information technology systems, electronic health records in particular, is changing the nature of how clinicians interact with patients. Lack of knowledge remains on how best to integrate such systems in the exam room. The purpose of this systematic review was to (1) distill “best” behavioral and communication practices recommended in the literature for clinicians when interacting with patients in the presence of computerized systems during a clinical encounter, (2) weigh the evidence of each recommendation, and (3) rank evidence-based recommendations for electronic health record communication training initiatives for clinicians.

Methods: We conducted a literature search of 6 databases, resulting in 52 articles included in the analysis. We extracted information such as study setting, research design, sample, findings, and implications. Recommendations were distilled based on consistent support for behavioral and communication practices across studies.

Results: Eight behavioral and communication practices received strong support of evidence in the literature and included specific aspects of using computerized systems to facilitate conversation and transparency in the exam room, such as spatial (re)organization of the exam room, maintaining nonverbal communication, and specific techniques that integrate the computerized system into the visit and engage the patient. Four practices, although patient-centered, have received insufficient evidence to date.

Discussion and Conclusion: We developed an evidence base of best practices for clinicians to maintain patient-centered communications in the presence of computerized systems in the exam room. Further work includes development and empirical evaluation of evidence-based guidelines to better integrate computerized systems into clinical care.
The Significance of Base Deficit in Acidemic Term Neonates
Authors: Knutzen L. , Svirko E. , Impey L.
Published: August 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;213(3):373.e1–e7)

A lack of oxygen during the intrapartum period is a well-known and significant factor leading to cerebral palsy and mortality in infants. The degree of risk can be estimated after delivery by examining pH levels in the umbilical artery. An arterial pH of <7.00 along with a base deficit of 12 mmol/L or higher is believed to be particularly significant in predicting morbidity. The authors of this study have attempted to evaluate this association, hypothesizing that the level of arterial base deficit does not have any extra predictive value in acidemic neonates beyond what can be learned from the arterial pH.
Umbilical Artery pH and Base Deficit in Obstetrics
Authors: Cahill A.G.
Published: August 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;213(3):257–258)

When a child is delivered, it is important to be able to find objective measures which can be obtained at birth to accurately inform an obstetrician as to whether the infant is healthy and if that infant has any increased risk factors for future morbidities. An example of such a marker is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, which serves as an indicator from the neonatal period for cerebral palsy. For many years, infant risk for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy has been assessed by measuring pH at birth. However, many have questioned whether there might be better indicators, such as a large base deficit or lactate. Others have raised the equally important question of whether any of these indicators are in fact reliable.
Predictive Value of the sFlt-1:PlGF Ratio in Women With Suspected Preeclampsia
Authors: Zeisler H. , Llurba E. , Chantraine F. , Vatish M. , Cathrine Staff A. , Sennström M. , Olovsson M. , Brennecke S.P. , Stepan H. , Allegranza D. , Dilba P. , Schoedl M. , Hund M. , Verlohren S.
Published: August 2016

(N Engl J Med. 2016;374:13–22)

Preeclampsia is a serious multisystem disorder affecting up to 5% of pregnancies worldwide. A reliable predictor of preeclampsia would be helpful in allowing health care providers to identify women at risk for developing the disorder. Serum levels of circulating maternal soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) are known to be elevated in preeclampsia, while levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) are decreased. A high ratio of sFlt-1 to PlGF indicates an increased risk for preeclampsia and could potentially be a more reliable predictor than either of those factors alone. The authors of this study sought to evaluate the ratio as a predictive tool among women with suspected preeclampsia.
Sedative-hypnotic Binding to 11β-hydroxylase
Authors: Pejo Ervin , Zhou Xiaojuan , Husain S. Shaukat , Raines Douglas E.
Published: August 2016

Background

Etomidate potently suppresses adrenocortical steroid synthesis with potentially deleterious consequences by binding to 11β-hydroxylase and inhibiting its function. The authors hypothesized that other sedative-hypnotics currently in clinical use or under development (or their metabolites) might bind to the same site at clinically relevant concentrations. The authors tested this hypothesis by defining etomidate’s affinity for this site and the potencies with which other sedative-hypnotics (and their metabolites) inhibit etomidate binding.

Methods

3H-etomidate’s binding to adrenal membranes from Sprague-Dawley rats was characterized with a filtration assay, and its dissociation constant was defined using saturation and homologous ligand competition approaches. Half-inhibitory concentrations of sedative-hypnotics and metabolites were determined from the reduction in specific 3H-etomidate binding measured in the presence of ranging sedative-hypnotic and metabolite concentrations.

Results

Saturation and homologous competition studies yielded 3H-etomidate dissociation constants of 40 and 21 nM, respectively. Half-inhibitory concentrations of etomidate and cyclopropyl methoxycarbonyl metomidate (CPMM) differed significantly (26 vs. 143 nM, respectively; P < 0.001), and those of the carboxylic acid (CA) metabolites etomidate-CA and CPMM-CA were greater than or equal to 1,000× higher than their respective parent hypnotics. The half-inhibitory concentration of dexmedetomidine was 2.2 µM, whereas those of carboetomidate, ketamine, and propofol were greater than or equal to 50 µM.

Conclusion

Etomidate’s in vitro dissociation constant for 11β-hydroxylase closely approximates its in vivo adrenocortical half-inhibitory concentration. CPMM produces less adrenocortical suppression than etomidate not only because it is metabolized faster but also because it binds to 11β-hydroxylase with lower affinity. Other sedative-hypnotics and metabolites bind to 11β-hydroxylase and inhibit etomidate binding only at suprahypnotic concentrations.